*My Favourite Instagram Hop*

 We are playing with a Lucky Shamrock theme with the My Favourite Instagram Hop this week... I have a a few sentiments with the word "luck" or "lucky" in them but I can't think of anything else in my stash.

So I improvised!  The only problem was that I couldn't find a stamp that I could easily partially stamp the words "wishing you" so I should have changed my front panel.

I used a pattern paper from a Christmas package, an alphabet die set and a heart die to create my card!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Granny Apple Green; unknown gold shimmer

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Modern Christmas

*Dies:  Hero Arts Infinity Hearts; Spellbinders Be Bold Alpha; MFT Stitched Circles; Waffle Flower Nesting Circles

*Challenges:  Inkspirational #363

*My Favorite Instagram Hop*

 A fun challenge this week for the My Favorite Instagram Hop... we were challenged to CAS another designer that participates in the hop.  We could choose any one of the other players and any of their cards.

I chose this gorgeous card from Kelley.  I was drawn to the butterflies and the pretty stencilled background...

And here is my card, inspired by the one that Kelley made...  I used a similar colour for my stencilling but used a different stencil and only did a portion of my background.  I added some colourful butterflies in almost the same layout as her original card and added a mixed font sentiment like she used.  I also added my most favourite 1/16" black mat around my top layer.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  LDRS My Wish For You
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Salty Ocean, Twisted Citron

*Stencil:  Paper Rose Studio Big Drops
*Washi Tape:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies
*Embellishments:  clear drops

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Just Us Girls #812; Inkspirational #362; Just Add Ink #780

*Just One Layer Instagram Hop*

 The theme for this months Just One Layer Instagram Hop is paste...  I only have one paste in my stash but I was able to make it work!  

I started by using a layering stencil and inks on my card front.  I left one of the layers until the end and used some Stencil Butter with that layer instead of ink.  Once it was dry, I stamped my sentiment directly on to the card front.

Card Info

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink: Versafine Clair Nocturne; Catherine Pooler Samba, All That Jazz, Grape Crush, Mardi Gras

*Stencil:  MFT Flower Fusion

*Embellishments:  TCW Pearl White Stardust Butter

*Challenges:  Just Us Girls #812; Inkspirational #362; Just Add Ink #780

 

*Card Clubhouse Instagram Hop*

 This week for the Card Clubhouse Instagram Hop, our theme is "Unexpected Valentine"...a challenge to use unexpected colours for a Valentine's card.  I chose to go with black, white and gold as I find it elegant.  I was really tempted to add just a little pop of red, but decided that was too traditional.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Bazzill gold foil; Stampin' Up! Basic Black
*Paper:  MFT Black & White Stripes
*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Something for Everything; Hero Arts Infinity Hearts

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges: The Paper Players #771; Inkpirational #360 Addicted to Stamps & More #310

   

*Rediscover Your Supplies Instagram Hop*

 For the month of January, we are playing with the theme of Love for the Rediscover Your Supplies Instagram Hop.  As you may be aware, I am trying to get back to my clean and simple style more often and while this card isn't quite there, it's pretty close...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  unknown red foil

*Stamps:  MFT Something For Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Hero Arts Infinity Hearts; MFT Something for Everything

*Embossing:  Stampin' Up! Brick & Mortar

*Challenges:  Inkspirational #360

*Crushing Christmas Instagram Hop*

 The theme for December for the Crushing Christmas Instagram Hop is FREE STYLE... so no theme at all!

I used some of the snowflakes I had foiled a few wees ago with a simple die cut sentiment to make my card that I'm sharing with you today.

Card Info

*Stamps:  Alex Syberia Christmas Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Snowflakes; Alex Syberia Christmas Sentiments; MFT Stitched Rectangles

*Hot Foil Plate:  Pinkfresh Studio Snowflakes;
*Foil  Spellbinders

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges:  AAA#305; Inkspirational #357

*My Favorite Instagram Hop*

 This week on the My Favorite Instagram Hop, we are playing with our favourite hair or clothing fad. I wasn't going to play with this one because nothing popped in to my head.  Then, this past weekend, I had an idea and I ran with it!

I LOVE that ugly Christmas sweaters have made a comeback.  I love that people host parties, that people make their own, that my office has us wear them on the Friday before Christmas.  They are just so much fun!

I bought a few sheets of this 12X12 paper from Photoplay a few years ago and used my Brother Scan 'n Cut to cut out all of the sweaters... sadly, I'm down to my last handful.  I'll be sad when they're gone!

I decided to showcase three of them on a fun embossed background on a mini slimline card.

Card Info

*Paper:  Photoplay Tulla & Norbert's Christmas Party

*Stamps:  Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Embossing:  Lisa Horten Layered Bubbles
*Tools:  Brother Scan 'n Cut

*Challenges:  Inkspirational #355

*Time to Play*

 I've had a lot of creative time lately, but not a lot of time to just play with other challenges or my own ideas.  I've been busy with all of my design team obligations.  Last weekend, I finished off all of my design team creations for November so I have some time on my hands to just create this weekend.  I needed to get ahead of the curve because we have new windows being installed in our house later this week and at some point (Tuesday or Wednesday) I will have to move everything from near the window in my craft room... and lord knows how long it will take me to get things back together.

So yesterday was a day off for me (I get one Saturday off a month) and after running a few errands (and before heading to the pub to watch my football team win the Western Final), I created a few cards...

Today I am sharing one that I'm entering in to the challenges at Just Add Ink and Inkspirational.

Card Info

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Paper:  Photoplay Tulla & Norbert's Christmas Party

*Embossing:  Stampin' Up!

*Dies;  The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Tools:  Brother Scan 'n Cut

*Challenges:  Just Add Ink #773; Inkspirational #354

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 This week on the This or That Instagram Hop, we had to choose between stars and hearts.  I chose to go with stars so that I could use this gorgeous star die.  I bought this set because of this star and keep forgetting I have it in my stash!  I love how it looks in the gold mirror cardstock!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Bazzill gold mirror

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Modern Christmas

*Stamps:  Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments; Stampin' Up! Christmas Trimmings; Waffle Flower Nesting Circles

*Embossing:  Stampin' Up! Soft Waves

*Challenges:  Inkspirational #353

*Patterned Paper Instagram Hop*

 On the 20th of each month, I play along the Patterned Paper Instagram Hop.  We are a group of creative people who play with our ever growing stash of patterned paper, in hopes of using up some our stash.  I am not playing along with the optional theme of Hallowe'en because I am totally over Hallowe'en at this point... so I used all patterned paper to create a Christmas card.

Card Info

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Tidings of Christmas

*Stamps:  MFT Christmas Wishes

*Ink:  Versafine Clair  Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Stitched Rectangles, Christmas Wishes; unknown stitched tree

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers Falling for the Holidays Linky Party; Inkspirational #352

*Crushing Christmas Instagram Hop*

It's time for another Crushing Christmas Instagram Hop.  I had to quickly make a new card for the hop because  misread the challenge prompt as "frosty" when it was actually "frosty flowers"  Whoops!  I looked to see if I could add a flower to the card I had made (the snowman I posted earlier today) and it was a no go.

I had a few ideas for frosty flowers, but settled on using a die I'd never pulled out before to cut some vellum pointsettias.

Card Info

*Paper:  vellum

*Stamps: Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Dies:  Waffle Flower Nesting Circles, Additional Circles; Dee's Destinctively Mini Poinsettis; Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Embellishments:  HAI Supply gold pearls

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers Falling For The Holidays Linky Party; Inkspirational #352

*My Favorite Instagram Hop*

 This week, the prompt for the My Favorite Instagram Hop is favourite shape.  I couldn't chose a basic shape for myself... but my favourite shape is snowflake.  I think they are absolutely beautiful both in nature and in my creativity.  I don't like the cold weather that comes with snowflakes, but I sure do think they are pretty!

Card Info

*Paper: Unknown silver sparkle

*Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp Clean Line Christmas

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Impressions Obsession Snowflakes; MFT Stitched Rectangles

*Embossing:  Simon Says Stamp Snowflake Visions

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  BYSHC Falling For The Holidays; Inkspirational #352

*Joy*

 Good morning crafty, friends... I'm here with another card for the BYSHC Falling for the Holidays Linky Party... a super great card today, showing how to use up some smaller scraps of your favourite pattern paper

Card Info
*Cardtock:  Unknown gold shimmer
*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Tidings of Christmas
*Dies:  Hero  Arts Joy; MFT Stitched Rectangles
*Challenges:  Inkspirational #352

*Addicted to CAS #287*

 Christmas in July seems to be the common theme for my design teams this month!  Be prepared to see a lot of Christmas cards in the coming weeks LOL!  Not that I mind... I LOVE making Christmas cards!  We are looking for clean and simple Christmas cards at Addicted to CAS!

I saw a card similar to this on Pinterest recently.  I changed up a few things to make it my own style.  I love how it turned out.  It's fun to prove that you can use patterned paper and still make a clean and simple card.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Tidings of Christmas

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Scrapbook.com Nested Hexagons; The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Embellishments:  silver cold

*Etc:  foam adhesives

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Addicted to CAS #287; Inkspirational #345

*Addicted to CAS #278*

 There's a new clean and simple challenge over at Addicted to CAS.  We want to see what you can create with stencils!  Remember to keep it clean and simple!

I had a few ideas in my head and the one I first worked with didn't work out the way I was hoping... so I pivoted and cut out some hexagon shapes from the stencilled panel to create this card.  The middle hexagon is popped up on foam adhesive to create a little more interest.

Card Info

*Stamps:  Gina K Mini Fancy Greetings

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Distress Ink Salty Ocean, Twisted Citron

*Dies:  Scrapbook.com Nested Hexagons

*Stencil:  Paper Rose Studio Big Drops

*Challenges:  Addicted to CAS #278: Inkspirational #336; Just Add Ink #741

*{BYSHC} Sketch #53 Take 2*

 I'm back with my second card using the sketch at {BYSH} Cardmakers... first up, the sketch...

I went a little more clean and simple for this card than for the first card I made using this sketch.  I used a wonderful snowflake embossing folders and a whole bunch of white!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stardream Sapphire

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Embossing:  Simon Says Stamp Snowflake Visions

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  {BYSH} Cardmakers #53; Inkspirational #333

*My Favourite Hop - Hallowe'en*

I'm playing along with the My Favourite Instagram Hop again today... this week it's our favourite Hallowe'en stamp or die set.

I don't have much in my stash for Hallowe'en... I don't send Hallowe'en cards.  But I LOVE the font of the word Hallowe'en in this Studio Katia stamp set...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Granny Apple Green, Gorgeous Grape

*Stamps:  Studio Katia Meowy Hallowe'en

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Slim Strips

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Embellishments:  from my stash

*Challenges:  Inkspirational 327