*{BYSHC} Sketch #75*

 Happy November, my friends!!  I hope you had a fabulous Halloween and that you're reading to face the holiday season that's coming!!!  I don't know where this fall has gone already... time sure goes by fast, the older I get!

It's time for a fabulous new sketch at Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers...

I stared at this sketch for a long time before I came up with an idea.  The first thing that came to my head was a striped element along the right hand side.  Then came the idea of the embossed panel... and the rest just came together... but it took forever!

Card Info

*Paper:  Carta Bella Merry & Bright

*Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp Christmas Blessings

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Spellbinders Christmas Blooms

*Embossing:  Gina K Flora & Fauna

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers Sketch #75

Embossing Folder Instagram Hop*

 Good morning... how is it the last week of October already?  My Christmas cards are in full swing but I haven't gotten past the idea of thinking about Christmas shopping.  Every year I plan to be different with the shopping and every year it seems to get later!  GAH!

I'm here with you this morning to share my creation for the Embossing Folder Instagram Hop...  this month our theme is "pattern party".  I chose to play with some 1" squares and two different embossing folders.  I cut the squares before embossing and then placed them where I wanted them in the embossing folder.  I used a little tape to keep the squares in place, but that sort of backfired on me for one of them (and you can see a tape mark across it if you look closely enough.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Spellbinders Windy

*Stamps:  Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Embossing:  Stampin' Up! Soft Waves; Simon Says Stamp Snowflake Visions

*Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #705*

 It's time for a wonderful new sketch at Atlantic Hearts...

... and I chose to go Christmas for mine!  I used a simple pattern paper to cut some very simple trees as my focal point.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  unknown gold sparkle

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Peaceful Prints

*Stamps:  Mama Elephant Jingle Greetings

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Concord & 9th Iconic Christmas

*Tools:  Perfect Layers; Stampin' Up! Scallop Border Punch

*Challenges:  Atlantic Hearts #705

*One Final Card for the Linky Party*

 I'm so sad that the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Falling for the Holiday Linky Party is almost over!  You have until the end of the day to share your creations!  It's been so much fun seeing the cards that everyone else is creating for the upcoming winter holidays.

I found a card similar to this on Pinterest and decided to make one for myself.  I used the negative piece from cutting a small white snowflake for the front panel of my card... and then cut the snowflake again in silver cardstock and put the inside pieces in as well.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  unknown silver mirror
*Paper:  DCWV Dec 25th

*Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp Clean Line Christmas

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Impression Obsession Snowflakes

*Embellishments:  Pinkfresh Studio Iridescent Clear Drops
*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers Falling for the Holidays Linky Party

*BYSHCardmakers Falling for the Holiday Linky Party*

 This is the time of year that I usually start making more Christmas cards than everyday occasions... and I LOVE it!  I love the items in my Christmas stash so much!  I have a lot, but tend to use the same things over and over again.  Maybe I need to hide some of my go-tos for a while LOL!

Today I created a card with a gorgeous embossing folder and a simple sentiment...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler; unknown gold foil

*Stamps:  Mama Elephant Jingle Greetings
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Waffle Flower Nesting Circles; Spellbinders Scalloped Circles
*Embossing:  Tonic Studio Bountiful Baubles
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:   Falling for the Holidays Linky Party

*AAA Colourful #33*

 It's the middle of the month which means it's time for a new colour challenge at AAA Colourful.  Take a look at this interesting colourboard we are challenged with this month...

I will admit I was STUMPED (LOL) on this one, until I looked at the colours broken out of the image.  That was so helpful for me this month!  I know someone who's recently moved and thought I'd make a card for her as she transitions from her home of almost 60 years to a new apartment.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  MFT Hanging With My Gnomies

*Dies:  MFT Hanging With My Gnomies
*Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Versafine Clair Nocturne; Copics

*Challenges:  AAA Colourful #33

*Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #703*

 There's a gorgeous new sketch at Atlantic Hearts that starts today... I hope it will inspire your creativity!!!

I sat with this sketch for a while, trying to decide how to make it in a style I am more comfortable with.  I tried a few elements (nothing adhered down) and then I came up with this... and I am in love!  What you can't see very well in the photo is that my two white panels are embossed with a soft wave pattern...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Something for Everything; Waffle Flower Nesting Rectangles
*Embossing:  Altenew Soft Waves

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Etc:  Stamplorations Blushing Blooms ATCs

*Challenges:  AHSC#703

*CAS Instagram Hop*

 This month, the Clean and Simple Instagram Hop is playing with the theme of "Black & White"... one of my favourites!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Pattern Party

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Birthday
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Love From Lizi Stitched Rectangles; The Ton Easy Expressions Birthday; Spellbinders Floral Spray

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 I had fun playing with the This or That themes this week and almost did a card that featured both stripes and dots... and I guess I kinda of did in the end since I did some ink blended stripes and then flicked some water on it to create some dots!

Card Info

*Stamps:  Pinkfresh Studio Simplest Gestures; Waffle Flower Sweet Lattice Sentiments

*Ink;  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Shaded Lilac, Salty Ocean (oxides)
*Dies:  Waffle Flower Sweet Lattice Sentiments

*Mini Slimline Instagram Hop*

 I'm here today with my card that I'm sharing along with the Mini Slimline Instagram Hop.  I really do think that this is my favourite shape to work with other than a standard quarter fold card.  It's a challenge to keep it CAS, but I do enjoy trying!

My card today is created from scraps that were in my bin of extras!  Don't you wish your bin of extras had stuff like this in it?

Card Info
*Cardstock:  gold mirror

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Modern Christmas, Pattern Party

*Stamps:   The Ton Easy Expressions Birthday
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Foliage Shaker; The Ton Easy Expressions Birthday

*Atlantic Hearts Sketch #701*

 Hello friends... I'm here today to share my design team card using the current sketch at Atlantic Hearts.

I took some liberties with the sketch... I had an idea to cut up a piece of pattern paper into a bunch of little squares but I KNEW I'd hate putting that back together.  Instead I embossed some grid lines on to a panel with my Score Buddy and then decorated my card front.  I like that it gave me a more clean and simple look to this sketch.

Card Info

*Stamps:  LDRS My Wish For You
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Rainbow Daisies

*Dies:  Love From Lizi Stitched Circles; Pinkfresh Studio Rainbow Daisies

*Tools:  Score Buddy
*Challenges:  Atlantic Hearts #701

*Rainbow Connection Instagram Hop*

It's the time of the month where I'm playing along with some Instagram friends and all of the colours of the rainbow.  We try to use the colours of the rainbow on a somewhat clean and simple card.

I took inspiration from a card I saw on Pinterest (see it HERE)... but instead of it being monochromatic, I chose to use the colours of the rainbow for my elements.

Card Info

*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler, Pumpkin Pie, Bumblebee, Shaded Spruce, Night of Navy

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  VersafineClair Nocturne

*Dies:  Waffle Flower NextingCircles; Spellbinders Floral Spray; MFT Something for Everything

*Embellishments;  Picket Fence Day & Night Gems

*Crushing Christmas Instagram Hop*

 This month, my friends and I are playing with a monochromatic theme for the Crushing Christmas Instagram Hop... I bought this embossing folder a few months ago and had to see what it looked like so I embossed it almost as soon as I brought it home.  And then it sat on my desk.  Until now!

I left the embossed panel completely plain and added a simple stamped and die cut sentiment to it...

Card Info

*Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp Star Flakes

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Star Flakes
*Embossing:  Lisa Horton Winter Flowers

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Time Out Challenges #322*

 It's time for a new challenge at Time Out Challenges...

The colours of fall here in Calgary are kind of boring.  Our trees turn yellow and orange and not much else.  We already have trees that are turning yellow and it's only the middle of September!  Fall is short here!

I chose to do some ink blending in yellows and oranges to create a simple card for the challenge...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Gina K Crazy Daisy

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Mustard Seed and Festive Berries
*Stencil:  Gina K Mandala Brust

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Time Out #322

*AAA Colourful #32*

 It's time for a fabulous new colourboard challenge at AAA Colourful.  Let's have a look at the gorgeous photo...

There are some wonderful colours in there!  I chose some inks that came sort of close to these colours and did some ink blending with a multi-layer stencil.  My colours feel a little too light.... I should have deepened the ink blending I guess...

Card Info
*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Birthday
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Picked Raspberry, Candied Apple, Mowed Lawn, Twisted Citron
*Dies:  The Ton Easy Expressions Birthday; Gina K Fancy Florals
*Stencils:  Gina K Fancy Florals
*Embossing Folder:  Stampin' Up! Brick & Mortar
*Challenges:  AAA Colourful #32

*Atlantic Hearts Sketch #699*

 Every week, Atlantic Hearts publishes a new sketch for you all to play with...  I am on the design team but only post once every two weeks.  This is my week to share the sketch!

This card came together quite quickly for me as it's similar to a go to idea that lives in my head.  I love using a fun strip of something on my cards!  For this card I used a small strip of this gorgeous gold and black pattern paper.

Card Info

*Paper;  Stampin' Up! Modern Christmas

*Stamps:  Waffle Flower Sweet Birthday Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Rainbow Daisies
*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Rainbow Daisies; Waffle Flower Sweet Birthday Sentiments

*Embellishments:  Picket Fence Studio Day & Night Gem Mix

*Challenges:  Atlantic Hearts #699

*Sending Sunshine Instagram Hop*

 Every month, a group of us creative friends gather on Instagram to spread a little sunshine... we make cards of encouragement, meant to brighten someone's day.  I wanted to see what these gorgeous washi tape flowers would look like against a black background.  After I put it all together, I wished I had done some embossing on that black layer.

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 I haven't played along with the This or That IG Hop much in the past few weeks... but here we are with week #2 in a row!

This week, our choices were Sunflowers or Leaves. I was going to do leaves but I realized just how sick I was of playing with my leaf stamps and dies... So I coloured up this daisy to look a bit like a sunflower.

*My Favourite Instagram Hop*

 It's been a while since I've played along with the My Favourite Instagram Hop.  I took a break last month because the themes didn't inspire me right away and I've started giving myself permission to skip hops and challenges that don't speak to me.

But the challenge for today speaks to me!  We are playing with our Favourite Pattern.

I love both flowers and stripes, so I used both!

Card Info

*Paper:  MFT Black & White Stripes
*Stamps:  Hunkydory Crafts

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses

*Dies:  Hunkydory Crafts; Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses

*{BYSHC} Sketch #73*

 It's September and time for a new sketch at Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers.  I love seeing how everyone interprets these sketches every month...

I had just gotten this new stamp and die set in the mail and I couldn't wait to play with it!  I love how crisp this snowflake stamped up!  I LOVE how this card turned out... not quite as thrilled with my second card that you'll see in a few weeks.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  American Crafts
*Stamps:  MFT Christmas Wishes; Simon Says Stamp Christmas Star Flakes
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Christmas Wishes; Simon Says Stamp Christmas Star Flakes

*Embossing:  Simon Says Stamp Snowflake Visions

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers Sketch #73