*Crushing Christmas Instagram Hop*

 This month, our theme for the Crushing Christmas Instagram Hop is Snazzy Snowmen.  Of course I had to play!  I LOVE snowmen!!  I chose to play with a foiled snowflake that I had in my bin of extras as well as this adorable little snowman.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Mama Elephant Little Snowmen; Alex Syberia Christmas Sentiments

*Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Versafine Clair Nocturne; Copics
*Foil Plate:  Pinkfresh Studio Snowflakes
*Foil:  Spellbinders Iridescent

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Time Out Challenges#303*

 Today we start the last challenge of 2025 at Time Out Challenges.  We will be back in the new year to hopefully inspired your creativity!

We have an awesome photo challenge for this last challenge... be sure to tell us in your post how you were inspired by the photo below.

I find photo inspiration challenges difficult... but here's my tip for how I approached this one.  I looked at the photo as individual elements...  colours, locations, shapes... so I was inspired by the red and gold I saw in the photo as well as these friends together making memories.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler

*Stamps:  Concord & 9th Winter Greenery; Mama Elephant Merry Greetings
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Gina K Cherry Red and Grass Green

*Stencils:  Concord & 9th Winter Greenery

*Foil Plate:  Spellbinders Plaid Tidings

*Foil:  Spellbinders gold

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges:  Time Out #303

*Pattern Paper Instagram Hop*

 It's a full day of creative posts today!  I had four design team obligations that all fell on today!  They range from midnight to noon so make sure you either come back later or scroll!

This month for the Pattern Paper Hop, we were supposed to play with Paper Piecing.  I think I sort of did it right, although when I think of paper piecing, I think of piecing papers in to die cut images.  Instead I used scraps to create a quilted card front.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler; Bazill gold mirror

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Tidings of Christmas

*Stamps:  Mama Elephant Jingle Greetings

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Stitched Circles; MFT Stitched Circles
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*CASE It Instagram*

 This month, for the CASE It Instagram Hop, I chose to CASE a beautiful card by Kim Fee.  First, let me show you her card...

I was drawn to this card because of the colours... I love those gold and black and white stripes, the black accents and the white die cuts.  I changed my card up by flipping the layout, using a square instead of a circle, using a black mat intstead of stamping on a black piece and finally, by making mine a Christmas card with fir branches instead of leaves.

I love how this card turned out!  Thanks for the inspiration, Kim!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black; Bazzil Gold Foil

*Paper;  Stampin' Up! Modern Christmas

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

*Dies:  Spellbinders Christmas Blooms

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges:  Just Us Girls #800; Simply Clean and Simple; Addicted to Stamps & More #505

*{BYSHC} Sketch #59*

 There's a new sketch at Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers... a great one for patterned papers or anything else you want to use!

I chose to keep my first card rather clean and simple... using a huge snowflake as my focal point.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Lawn Fawn Holographic; unknown shimmer

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

*Dies:  Picket Fence Studio Alice Snowflake; Waffle Flower Nesting Circles

*Tools:  Perfect Layers
*Challenges:  BYSHC #59

*{BYSHC} Sketch #52 - Take 2*

 Good morning... I am here to share with you, my last card for the BYSHCmakers December Sketch.This month we've had a wonderful slimline sketch to play with... and I love slimlines!

I tried a few different things with my second card, but I struggled to find something I liked... until I came up with this one...  the patterned paper is a deep rich sort of olive green, sort of graphite colour with some gold accents.  I just love it!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Spellbinders Goold

*Paper:  Die Cuts With A View Dec 25th

*Stamps:  Mama Elephant Merry Greetings

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Spellbinders Bottlebrush Trees

*Embossing:  Gina K Christmas Flora

*Challenges:  BYSHC #52

*My Favourite Instagram Hop - Christmas Stash*

 It's time for another My Favourite Instagram Hop... and this time we got to use our favourites from our Christmas stash of supplies.  I'll give you 1 guess as to what one of my items was!

Yup, I used my favourite patterned paper... I also made my favourite style of card (clean and simple)... add in my favourite bit of sparkle and my favourite shade of red cardstock.... and then my signature matted layer and a favourite style of sentiment (where they use different fonts in one stamp) and you have my card for today...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler

*Paper:  unknown sparkle; Stampin' Up! Tidings of Christmas

*Stamps:  Mama Elephant Jingle Greetings

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 We've changed the name of the "Is It Fall or Is It Winter" Instagram Hop to "This or That"... each week, we will have two themes to choose from... a this or that, if you will.

This week, our choice was between sand and snow.  While in my real life, I much prefer sand (think beach!), I do love snowflakes and snow in my creative world.  I played with a lot of different snowy items from my stash for my card today...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Not Quite Navy; unknown silver sparkle

*Stamps:  Mama Elephant Little Snowmen

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Copics

*Dies:  Mama Elephant Little Snowmen; Poppy Stamps Snowscape; Penny Black Christmas Wonderland; Impression Obsession Small Snowflakes

*Embossing:  Simon Says Stamp Snowflake Visions

*Tools:  Perfect Layers; Brother Scan 'n Cut

*CAS Colours & Sketches #549*

 It's time for a new sketch at the CAS Colours & Sketches challenge blog....  This would be a great sketch for putting together a batch of cards for a gift or to donate somewhere.

I saw the sketch and knew exactly what I wanted to do...  snowflakes, of course!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  unknown blue shimmer; Lawn Fawn Holographic

*Stamps:  Mama Elephant Merry Greetings

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Impression Obsession Snowflakes

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  CC&S #549

*Addicted to CAS #271*

It's a snowy challenge at Addicted to CAS, and I was excited to play with it!  You know me and love of all things snowflake (unless it's actually snowing... then not so much!)

There are a lot of ways I could have gone with this theme, but I settled on a mostly monochromatic card.  I had to add a little sparkle, of course!

Card Info

*Cardstock: unknown silver glitter

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

*Embossing:  Sizzix/Tim Holtz

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Addicted to CAS #271; Simply Clean and Simple

*Time Out Challenges #276*

It's time for a new challenge at Time Out Challenges... and for the next two weeks we are encouraging you to show us your cozy cards!  You can interpret this however you'd like, as long as we can see how your card is "cozy".

I pulled out some ugly Christmas sweaters and a cable knit embossing folder to make my card.  These sweaters were a 12x12 piece of paper from Photoplay... I bought a couple of them and used my Brother Scan 'n Cut to cut them all out.  

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Shaded Spruce

*Paper:  Photoplay Tulla & Norbert's Christmas Party

*Stamps:  Mama Elephant Jingle Greetings

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Embossing:  Stampin' Up! Cable Knit

*Tools: Perfect Layers; Brother Scan 'n Cut

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges:  Time Out #276

*{BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays Linky Party*

 I'm back with another card to play along with the holiday linky party at Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers.  There are so many fabulous prizes to be won... and all you have to do is link up a new Christmas/holiday card you've made!

While I had the stuff out from the card I shared yesterday, I decided to try a rainbow coloured snowflake as well... which do you prefer?

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps: Mama Elephant Merry Greetings

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Hot Foil Plates:  Pinkfresh Studio Radiating Snowflake press plate

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Radiant Snowflake

*Foil:  Spellbinders Mini Rainbow

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Falling for the Holidays; Inkspirational #327

*Atlantic Hearts Sketch #599*

 WOW!  Atlantic Hearts is at 599 weekly sketches!  That's truly amazing!  This has been a great team to be designing for as the sketches are all top notch!  So far there has only been one that I've had to work with that I struggled with.

When I saw the sketch for this week, I had an idea in my head almost right away... but then I wondered if it was too soon to start making Christmas cards for other challenges...  I decided it was not!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stapin' Up! Evening Evergreen, Cherry Cobbler; Spellbinder gold mirror

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

*Dies:  Spellbinders Christmas Blooms; Waffle Flower Nestic Circles

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Atlantic Hearts #599

*{BYSHC} Sketch #48 Take 2*

I'm back with my second card using the August sketch from Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers...

For my first card I used some patterned paper... and honestly, that's what I was going to do with my second card too because I found a piece of paper I really liked.  But then I remembered this embossing folder that I hadn't used yet.  I popped a piece of white cardstock through my Big Shot with the embossing folder and I knew in a heartbeat that I wanted to use it.

I am SO in love with this card!!!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Spellbinders gold foil; Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler, Evening Evergreen

*Images:  Mama Elephant Merry Greetings

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Spellbinders Christmas Blooms;  Waffle Flower Additional Circles

*Embossing:  Spellbinders Peppermint Stripes

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Embellishments:  HAI Supply pearls

*Challenges:  BYSHC Sketch #48

*One More Christmas Card*

I think this will be my last Christmas Card in July for this year... maybe LOL!  At least it's the last one I've finished for now.

I was inspired by a card I saw in the Build Your Stash Christmas in July Linky Party... a card by Jenni at Wish I  Was Scrappin'.  I hope you'll go leave her some love for her fabulous card!  It's a fun way to use some smaller pieces of patterned paper.  I cut the papers in to 1/2" strips and glued them down on to a piece of printer paper, leaving a little gap of white between each strip.  Once dry, I turned the page and cut 1/2" strips that included all of the strips I'd glued down.  I then arranged them on a white panel to create this fun, quilted look.

Card Info

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

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Tidings of Christmas

*Images:  Mama Elephant Jingle Greetings

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Slim Strips; Wafle Flower Nesting Circles

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  BYSHC Christmas in July; Color Hues #97

   

*{BYSHC} Sketch #44 Take 2*

 Hello friends... I'm back with my second (and final) card using the April Sketch at Build Your Stash Holiday Card Makers... 

I like this card a lot more than the first one I shared with you... even if I took a little liberty with the sketch and didn't use anything other than a sentiment as my focal point...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler

*Paper: Stampin' Up! Tidings of Christmas

*Images:  Mama Elephant Jingle Greetings

*Ink:  Verafine Clair Nocturne

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges: {BYSHC} Spring Into Christmas Linky Party

*Christmas Card Throwdown*

I am playing alone with the November colour challenge at Christmas Card Throwdown... I saw the colours and had this idea pop in to my head.  If you enlarge the photo you'll see that I added some sparkle to the trees and snowbank...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin Up! Basic Black, Crumb Cake

*Images:  Mama Elephant Merry Greetings

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Die:  unknown (was bought at a garage sale)

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Embellishments:  Frosted Lace Stickles

*Challenges:  Christmas Card Throwdown

*Build Your Stash #32*

I'm back with another card using the April sketch at {BYSHC}Makers...  this is a monthly sketch challenge to help you build up your stash of Christmas Cards all year long!  I have never had this many Christmas cards made in April before!!  

I absolutely LOVE making Christmas cards... and while I know I'll be spending several months making nothing but Christmas cards, I am really enjoying playing with my stash a couple of times each month.  It's also great because I am using up old products rather than buying a bunch of new stuff... I am always so temped by the new and pretty releases from the stamp companies for Christmas!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Garden Green

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Peaceful Prints

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

*Dies:  Waffle Flower Additional Circles

*Embellishments:  Picket Fence Studio Candy Cane Gem Mix

*Challenges:  {BYSHC}#32

*Christmas Craft Creations March*

It's a one layer card challenge at Christmas Craft Creations and it's proving to be difficult for a lot of people as there are very few cards in the linky tool!  I hope you'll play along with us!

A one layer card to me means there is nothing extra put on top... no dies, no sentiment strips...  The card is flush with just the card front.  I cheated a little bit because I played with Copics which bleed through the cardstock I use.  I simply stamped and coloured on a panel the exact same size as my mini slimline card and adhered it to the front when I was done colouring it.

Card Info

*Images:  Northwoods Rubber Stamps; Mama Elephant Jingle Greetings

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

*Embellishments:  Frosted Lace and Christmas Red Stickles

*Challenges:  Christmas Craft Creations

*Build Your Stash February*

There's a new sketch for the month of February with the group at Build Your Stash Holiday Card Makers...and this is my first of two cards with the current sketch.

I had fun with some untraditional colours with my card that I'm sharing today...  a great rainbow of colours really!  I struggle with mixing patterns but am pleased with how this one turned out...  I already have an idea brewing for my second card using this sketch...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Granny Apple Green

*Paper:  MFT Colorful Christmas

*Images:  Mama Elephant Jingle Greetings

*Ink:  Versfine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Waffle Flower Additional Circles; Spellbinders Scallop Circles

*Tools:  Corner Chomper

*Challenges:  Build You Stash Holiday Card Makers February Sketch