*Another Linky Party Post*

 It has been so fun, diving in to my stash of holiday card supplies!  Part of me wants to run out and buy so much more, but I also enjoy playing with the items I already have.

For this card, I mixed a foil cardstock with a glitter cardstock and a simple tree die.

Card Info
*Cardstock: unknown brush gold foil; unknown gold glitter; Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  MFT Christmas Wishes

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Concord & 9th Iconic Christmas

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers Falling for the Holidays Linky Party

*My Favourite Instagram Hop*

 This week on the My Favourite Instagram Hop, we are playing with our favourite leaf stamps or dies.  Since I'm on a Christmas kick at the moment, I pulled out some holly berry dies to create a simple Christmas card!

Card Info

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Peaceful Prints; unknown red glitter

*Stamps:  MFT Christmas Wishes
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Holly Berries

*Etc:  Michael's ribbon

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers Falling for the Holidays

*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

*CAS Colours & Sketches #596*

 Hello friends... it's time for a new challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches.  Challenge #596 is a colour challenge that is totally fall-inspired.

These are not colours that are in my wheelhouse.  But you know what?  I love how my card turned out!  I guess it was good for me to step out of my comfort zone for a minute or two LOL!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Mossy Meadow, Golden Glow, Cajun Craze

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Slim Strips; Spellbinders Floral Spray

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  CAS Colours & Sketches #596

*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

*Addicted to CAS Challenge #318*

 It's kind of an oxymoron that the team is playing with a "happy" challenge after recently finding out that one of our creative friends has passed away.  I'm on a few design teams with Toni and have admired her work for a lot of years...  she will be missed.

I'm sure that Toni would want for us to continue creating and sharing, so that's what we'll do.  Today I am sharing the card I made for the current challenge at Addicted to CAS.

I think I've made a card similar to this before... but it was truly the first idea that popped in to my head (and let me tell you, my creativity has been struggling lately).

Card Info

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Pattern Party

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Big Happy; MFT Stitched Rectangles

*Challenges:  Addicted to CAS #318

*Build Your Stash Instagram Hop*

 Every month (or at least most months), I play along with an Instagram Hop where we are challenged to dig in to our stash to create 1 or more cards following a common theme.  This month, our theme was wedding, engagement or anniversary.

I decided to make a couple of anniversary cards...

My first card, I used these cute puffins and did a simple colouring on them...

Card Info

*Stamps:  Lawn Fawn Stud Puffins; MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Stampin' Up! Real Red; Memento Tuxedo Black; Versafine Clair Nocturne; Copics
*Dies:  MFT Stitched Rectangles

For my second card, I did some ink blending on my card front and then added a die cut panel on top of it.  I used only three colours of Distress Ink and was sure to overlap my colours to get my rainbow.

Card Info

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Distress Ink Picked Raspberry, Scattered Straw, Salty Ocean

*Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Floral Sparkle

*CAS on Friday Challenge #344*

The team at CAS on Friday is playing with a "shades of grey" theme for this weeks challenge.  Since I had so many ideas in my head for the splatter card I did the other day, I decided to play with the idea again.  Instead of multiple shades of ink, I used only black ink and did off stamping to get the different shades of grey.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin Up! Basic Black
*Stamps:  MFT Distressed Patterns; unknown sentiment

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  CAS on Friday #344

*This or That Instagram Hop*

I'm here to share my card for the This or That Instagram Hop... we had to choose between reality and fantasy this week.  I mixed it up a little more and added a little fantasy to my reality!

Who wouldn't love a garden full of rainbow flowers?  So I ink blended over some hot foil to create my heart of rainbow flowers!  I found it kind of got lost on the white paper so I added a black banner behind it to help it pop a little more

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black
*Ink:  whatever was left on my ink blending brushes
*Foil Plate:  This Calls for Confetti Heart Bloom

*Foil:  Spellbinders black

*Dies:  MFT Celebrate; Stampin' Up! Banners; This Calls for Confetti Heart Bloom
*Etc:  Nuvo Aqua Shimmer

*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

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 This week for the This or That Instagram Hop, we had to choose between Scarecrows and Woodland Creatures.  I was going to do woodland creatures until I saw this fun scarecrow in my stash...  I stamped it up, coloured it with Copics and die cut it out.

Card Info

*Stamps:  Lawn Fawn You Crow Girl; MFT Something for Everything

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

*Dies:  MFT Stitched Rectangles

*CAS Colours & Sketches #594*

 Hello friends... it's time for a new colour challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches. I hope you'll play along with us with this challenge!

Let's start with the colours you need to use...

These colours made me dream of spring (I am NOT a fall loving girlie)...  so I went with some beautiful flowers.  I will admit that I saw a card very similar to this on Pinterest so it's not totally my idea

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Peaceful Pine, Highland Heather, Bubble Bath

*Stamps:  Concord & 9th Big Day Birthday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Stiched Blooms
*Tools:  Scor Buddy

*Challenges:  CAS Colours & Sketches #594

*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

*Scraps Only Instagram Hop*

 This month for the Scraps Only Instagram Hop, we are digging in to our scraps and left over pieces to create fall themed cards.  I have a bunch of cut leaves in my bin of extras and while they aren't quite fall coloured, I thought the leaves worked with the theme.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Garden Green, Basic Grey

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Spellbiners Be Bold Blooms; MFT Stitched Rectangles; unknown stitched squares

*Card Clubhouse Instagram Hop*

 Good morning...  I'm here with my first post of the day, sharing a card I created for the "Think Fall" theme I was faced with for the Card Clubhouse Instagram Hop.

I am not a fall-loving girl.  Sure, I like wearing hoodies, but fall to me represents the end of summer (which is my favourite season).  We don't get a long summer here in Calgary... and fall brings cooler weather, trees losing their leaves and the threat of snow.

I started my card with a simple leaf stencil and some fall colours (not that the trees in Calgary have these colours).  I added this adorable squirrel to finish it off.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Trinity Stamps Nutty Squirrel

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Memento Tuxedo Black; Tim Holtz Distress Ink Scattered Straw, Fired Brick; Copics
*Stencil:  Lawn Fawn Autumn Breeze

*Dies:  MFT Stitched Rectangles

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Just Us Girls #838

*{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

*Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #697*

Hello creative friends... it's Monday which means there's a new sketch at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenges.  This sketch is honestly something like what I often lean to when I'm creating...

And even though it is something similar to what I normally lean towards, I struggled with this card!  I knew I wanted to keep it pretty clean and simple by using a lot of white elements, but then I struggled with what I wanted to do with the corner decorations.  I LOVE this Pinkfresh Washi (and the matching dies) but honestly, I struggle to know which way to play the pieces so that they make sense.

Card Info

*Stamps:  unknown
*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses

*Dis:  Pinkfresh Studio Vinces & Roses; MFT Stitched Rectangles
*Challenges:  Atlantic Hearts #697

*Happy Birthday Andrea*

 My friend, Andrea, is celebrating her birthday today with a hop on Instagram.  She mentioned that she loves the colours of the rainbow so that's what I played with...

I used black foil and hot foiled this gorgeous floral on to a white panel.  I cut the letters from a rainbow of colours and added two more layers of cardstock behind each to pop them up more on the card front.  I layered on a simple sentiment to finish it off.

Card Info

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

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

*Hot Foil Plate:  Alex Syberia Lush Peony Bouquet

*Foil:  Spellbinders Black

*Dies:  MFT Impact Alpha; The Ton Easy Expressions

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Rainbow Connection Instagram Hop*

 Good morning friends... I'm here today to share my card for the Rainbow Connection Instagram Hop.  Each month, a group of us play with the colours of the rainbow creating a somewhat clean and simple card.

I started with this beautiful butterfly, stamped on a white piece of cardstock.  I did a reverse mask and did some ink blending on it to create my rainbow  I then overstamped the butterfly to make sure that the outline was nice and crisp.

Card Info

*Stamps:  Paper Rose Studio Cleo Floral Butterfly; The Ton Easy Expressions

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

*Dies:  MFT Stitched Rectangles; The Ton Easy Expressions

*Addicted to CAS #315*

 I'm here today with my design team card for the current challenge at Addicted to CAS...

I went with a basic black and white card for my Anniversary card today...  I love this heart die because it cuts but the inside heart and the outline as well.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' UP! Basic Black

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Concord & 9th Tall Type Alpha; Love From Lizi Sitched Circles; MFT Something for Everything

*Challenges:  Addicted to CAS #315