*Build Your Stash Instagram Hop*

 I almost didn't participate in the Build Your Stash for Everyday Occasions Instagram Hop this month...  the theme is "baby" and I don't have a lot of variety in my stash for baby cards (nor a reason to be sending them at this point in my life)... I was digging through my stash and changed my mind when I cam across this sentiment stamp set that I don't think I've ever inked up before...  I usually try to make at least two cards for this hop, but this month you get only one.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up Bubble Bath, Balmy Blue

*Stamps:  Honeybee Stamps Hooray

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Art Impressions Baby Mini DIes

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*AAA Colourful #29*

 A brand new colourboard challenge starts today at AAA Colourful.  Some really pretty colours to inspire you!

I chose to play with the pink, green, blue and teal that I see in this image to create my card.  But I struggled a bit to put things together.  I hope it came out OK...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Seaside Spray, Bermuda Bay, Magenta Madness, Garden Green

*Stamps:  Honeybee Stamps Best of Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne
*Dies:  Picket Fence Studio Fanciful Feathers; Honeybee Stamps Best of Everything
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  AAA Colourful #29

*Scraps Only Instagram Hop*

 This month for the Scraps Only Instagram Hop, we are playing with our favourite colour using only scraps and left over pieces from other projects.  I started keeping a bin of extras a few years ago that I go through regularly to find pieces that will work on a project.  The larger pieces of cardstock are not scraps, but everything else on this card was found in my bin of extras!

But I cheated... I didn't go with my favourite colour.  Instead I went with my favourite colour combination.  I had coloured up a couple of these butterflies a few weeks ago and the extra one was in the bin of extras!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black
*Stamps:  Gina K You Give Me Butterflies; Honeybee Best of Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics

*Dies:  Unknown stitched rectangle; Gina K You Give Me Butterflies

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges:  Just Us Girls #826

*Build Your Stash Instagram Hop*

 This month for the Build Your Stash Instagram Hop, we are building our stash of cards we'd send to someone who was sick. I like to try to make at least two cards for this hop each month and thankfully I was able to do that this time.

For my first card, I chose some deep colours to highlight a pretty white flower...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black Bumblebee

*Stamps:  Honey Bee Best of Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne
*Dies:  Waffle Flower Nesting Squares; Prism Studio Stitched Nesting Squares; Spellbinders Floral Spray
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

For card number two, I reached in to my bin of extras and grabbed some of these beautiful die cut washi tape pieces.

Card Info

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everying

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses

*Dies:  MFT Stitched Rectangles; Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses

*Addicted to CAS #302*

 It's time for a new clean and simple challenge at Addicted to CAS...

I have a few different things I could have played with for this challenge, but none of them were speaking to me the day I wanted to work on this challenge card.  I decided to go for a super simple card with just a little pop of colour.  To create the sun rays, I simply used my Scor Pal to emboss some lines.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Summer Sun
*Stamps:  Honeybee Stamps Best of Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Stitched Circles

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Addicted to CAS #302

*Time Out Challenges 307*

 Challenge #307 at Time Out Challenges is one of our annual favourites...  Running Stitch Designs creates an inspiration piece for us to use for the challenge and then it's the prize for the winner of this challenge.

First, let's look at the inspiration piece...

You can find inspiration any where... the concept of a bag, the colours, the patterns....  I chose to play with some pastel stripes and dots for my card today...

Card Info

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Lighter Than Air

*Stamps:  Honeybee Stamps Best of Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  A Jillian Vance Designs Daisy;  Honeybee Stamps Best of Everything; MFT Stitched Rectangles

*Challenges:  Time Out #307

*CAS Colours & Sketches #579*

 There's a fabulous new sketch at CAS Colours & Sketches, this time designed by Amanda.  

I took my idea from a few days ago and played with it again, this time using some layering stamps.  Instead of using all three layers of this stamp, I only used two.  I love the hint of colour on the petals.  By using my Misti and rotating my cardstock, I only had to place each stamp once.

Card Info

*Stamps:  Altenew Fabulous Florets; Honeybee Stamps Best of Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne, Purple Delight

*Challenges:  CAS Colours & Sketches #579; All About #2

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 This week, the participants in the This or That Instagram Hop had to choose between RAIN or SNOW. At this time of the year, I choose snow.  I don't love snow, but here in Calgary, the cold weather often results in sunny skies.  I'd take a day of snow and sunny skies for the rest of the week over a week of gloomy cloudy days because of rain.  Besides, snow is bright and white and fun (unless you have to try to drive to work in it!).  I complain about the snow, but honestly, I think it's pretty!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Seaside Spray

*Stamps:  Honeybee Best of Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Impression Obsession Snowflakes

*Embossing:  Simon Says Stamp Snowflake Visions

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*AAA Colourful #21*

Happy Day, creative friends!  It's the 15th of the month and time for a new colourboard challenge at AAA Colourful!  We are asking you to be inspired by the colours in the graphic to create a card this month

I chose the red, green and a dusty blue to highlight in my card today...  a simple wreath of flowers and some added colourful mats

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Real Red, Wild Wasabi, Misty Moonlight

*Stamps:   Honey Bee Stamps Best of Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Essentials by Ellen Essential Circles; Spellbinders Floral Spray, Be Bold Blooms

*Embellishments:  Kaiser Pearls

*Tool:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  AAA Colourful #21; Freshly Made Sketches #708

*Pattern Paper Instagram Hop*

 The Pattern Paper Instagram Hop is playing with an autumn theme this month.  I chose a few different papers with a silver accent in them.  Two of them I did some ink blending over to make them more fall like as the colours weren't quite what I wanted.  I thought that the kraft card base made it look more moody and fall.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Crumb Cake, Basic Black

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Thoughtful Designs, Silver & Gold, Full of Life

*Stamps:  Hero Arts Fall Pattern; Honey Bee Stamps Best of Everything

*Dies:  Hero Arts Fall Pattern; Honey Bee Stamps Best of Everything

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Pattern Paper Instagram Hop*

 Each month, a group of creatives on Instagram are playing with our stash of pattern paper.  I know I have a lot of paper in my stash, much of which is too pretty to use!  I'm still not quite at cutting in to those gorgeous papers, but I am in to using more paper from my stash.  So far, I'm doing OK and I haven't bought anything new (although there are a few in the group who have purchased new LOL!).

Our theme for July is "bright"... so I chose what I think to be the brightest paper in my stash!  

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black; vellum
*Paper:  Paper Rose Studio Rainbow Twirl 2.0

*Stamps:  Honey Bee Stamps Best of Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Honey Bee Stamps Best of Everything

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Sending Sunshine Instagram Hop*

 Each month, a group of us gather on Instagram to share cards that might help to lift someone up who's finding life a little rough.  A little piece of sunshine, if you will.

I bought this Taylored Expressions stamp and die set and was a little disappointed that the stamps and the dies don't line up.  So what I did today was cut the rainbow out of a white panel.  I took the arcs and did some ink blending on them and then put them back in to my die cut panel (the negative space).  I then stamped some of the elements from the stamp set on top.  I like how it turned out.

Card Info

*Stamps:  Taylored Expressions Over the Rainbow; Honeybee Stamps Best of Everything

*Ink:  Stampin' Up! Gorgeous Grape, Bermuda Bay, Granny Apple Green, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight; Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Taylored Expressions Over the Rainbow; MFT Stitched Rectangles

*Time Out Challenges #290*

Happy Thursday friends!  It's time for a new challenge at Time Out Challenges... and we are doing our Pick 2 challenge again!  Please choose any two (or more) of these elements to include on your card (and be sure to tell us which words you used in your post!)

I used the words Ribbon, Repeat and Bold... but instead of real ribbon, I did a ribbon technique with patterned paper.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  MFT Bundles of Blossoms Brights
*Stamps:  Honeybee Best of Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Honeybee Best of Everything; Pinkfresh Studio Slim Strips

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges:  Time Out #290

*My Favourite Instagram Hop*

 For this week, the challenge for the My Favourite Instagram Hop was my favourite dairy product.  I wonder how many of us chose to use ice cream LOL!  

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Crumb Cake

*Paper:  assorted glitter papers

*Stamps:  Honeybee Best of Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Poppy Stamps Whittle Ice Cream Cone; MFT Stitched Rectangles
*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Atlantic Hearts Sketch #627*

 We have a wonderful new sketch for you at Atlantic Hearts...

I decided to play with a stencil instead of a stamped or die cut image for my card today...  I hope you can see the sketch in my creation...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Honey Bee Best of Everything

*Stencils:  Gina Ki Mandala Burst

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Picked Raspberry, Carved Pumpkin, Mustard Seed, Twisted Citron, Salty Ocean, Wilted Violet

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Embellishments:  Spellbinders Opal Gems

*Challenges:  Atlantic Hearts #627

*CAS Colours & Sketches #557*

There's a brand new colour challenge at CAS Colours and Sketches that starts today and runs for the next two weeks.  Colour challenges force me to use colours I wouldn't necessarily reach for, which helps me grow and discover things that I actually might like.  This colour challenge did just that. I love how these colours look together!  I had never cut in to any Pebbled Path or Moody Mauve cardstock before this!

I went for a simple floral die cut card for today.   I love how the Blackberry Bliss and Moody Mauve work together.  And the Pebbled Path is a surprise in there for me!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Moody Mauve, Pebbled Path, Blackberry Bliss, Basic Black

*Stamps:  Honeybee Best of Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Spellbinders Be Bold Blooms

*Embellishments:  Kaiser Pearls

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  CAS Colours & Sketches #557

*Create It 3-Ways Instagram Hop*

 I've got three cards for you today, all part of the Create It 3-Ways Instagram Hop.  Each month, a group of us play with a common theme and create 3 cards using something same in each of our three cards.  Our theme for March is "get well soon" and I chose to use the exact same piece of patterned paper on all three cards.  This is a great idea to not only build your stash of cards, but to encourage your creativity with one (or more) items in your stash.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Full of Life

*Stamps:  Honeybee Best of Everything; MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Waffle Flower Nesting Circles

*Embossing:  Spellbinders Leafy

*Embellishments:  Studio Katia Tiny Iridescent Pearls

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*AAA Colourful #14*

What a bright and fun colourboard challenge we have for you this month at AAA Colourful...

 Aren't those colours fun?!  The yellow is not a colour I usually reach for so it took me some time to figure out what I wanted to do.  I found this great patterned paper that had similar colours (although my yellow is a bit darker) and I cut it in to strips that made it look almost like bamboo!

Card Info

*Paper:  Stampin' Up Full of Life

*Stamps:  Honeybee Stamps Best of Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Slim Strips; Waffle Flower Nesting Circles; Honeybee Stamps Best of Everything

*Challenges:  AAA Colourful #14

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 Another instalment of the This or That Instagram Hop had me choosing between clover and flowers... I chose flowers!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Honeybee Stamps Best of Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses

*Die:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Atlantic Hearts Sketch #617*

 There's another beautiful sketch at Atlantic Hearts for you to play along with this week!  I hemmed and hawed for a bit before I landed on my design...

First... the sketch...

 I was first going to use some patterned paper along the left side of my card, but then decided on a large floral image instead... I think it turned out well (what do you think?)

Card Info
*Stamps:  Altenew Graceful Gardenias; Pinkfresh Studio Happy Birthday Sentiments
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne:  Catherine Pooler Green Tea, Sparkling Berry, Sangria
*Dies:  MFT Stitched Rectangles
*Stencils:  Altenew Graceful Gardenias
*Embellishments:  Honey Bee Pearl Stickers
*Challenges:  Atlantic Hearts #617; Addicted to Stamps & More