*Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #673*

 There's a wonderful and simple new sketch at Atlantic Hearts today...  

I had some fun with some circles for my card... even with that big square element!   I used a fun pattern paper behind a stained glass style die and added an embossed panel to the bottom of the card.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Lemon Lime Twist
*Paper;  Stampin' Up! Bright & Beautiful

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Memory Box Stained Glass Floral; The Ton Easy Expressions

*Embossing:  Lisa Horton Crafts Layered Bubbles

*Embellishments:  unknown bling

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Atlantic Hearts #673; Just Us Girls #814

*My Favorite Instagram Hop*

 This week for the My Favorite Instagram Hop we were challenged to pay with our favourite thing that we will miss about winter...  LET ME BE CLEAR.... I will miss NOTHING about winter!  I hate the lack of daylight hours and long hours of darkness.  I dislike the cold and the wind.  The snow looks pretty but it's a lot of work to shovel it.  I get so frustrated with slippery streets.  Here in Calgary, March is historically our snowiest month of the year so I'm not missing anything about winter yet!

But... all that being said... I LOVE snowflakes.  I think they are beautiful.  So beautiful that I have a tattoo of snowflakes.  If we could get snowflakes (and snowmen) without everything else, I'd be OK with that.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black; vellum

*Paper:  Simple Stories Winter Wonder

*Dies:  Memory Box Jolly Snowflake Trio; Stampin' Up! Peace & Joy

*CAS on Friday Challenge #327*

 We have an "anything goes" clean and simple challenge at CAS on Friday that starts today.  No theme, just a CAS card!  What could be easier?!

Mine was so easy that I picked a bunch of extras from my bin of extras to create my card today... so I don't have much information on the items used.  I hope you can enjoy the card without knowing all of the details.

*Rainbow Connection Instagram Hop*

 Another rainbow themed card for you today, for the Rainbow Connection Instagram Hop.  For today, I chose a pretty brushed rainbow printed paper to go behind a die cut window.  I die actually cuts out the floral square, but I placed it back in to the hole it created on my front panel to create a window look.

Card Info

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Full of Life

*Stamps:  Waffle Flower Sweet Birthday Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Memory Box Stained Glass Floral; Waffle Flower Sweet Birthday Sentiments

*AAA Colourful #24*

 I can't believe we've been doing these fabulous AAA Colourful Colourboard Challenges for two years already!  Where has the time gone?

I'm not sure I was quite ready to play with shades of pink... but I couldn't not participate this month!

First here's the colourboard...

I chose to do some ink blending in shades of pink for my card... and added a white silhouette on top...

Card Info

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Spun Sugar, Kitsch Flamingo, Picked Raspberry

*Dies:  The Ton Easy Expressions; Memory Box Kensignton Border

*Tools:  Scor Buddy

*Challenges:  AAA Colourful #24

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 This week on the This or That Instagram Hop, we had to choose between Left or Right.  I tend to make most of my cards with a left sided focus, so I did a right handed one for my card today.  A few scraps of pattern paper and some shiny gone and I am in LOVE with this card!

I'm also entering it in to the challenge at The Paper Players... not an image, but I am using my new favourite Christmas pattern paper for this one!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black; Bazill gold mirror

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Modern Christmas

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Memory Box Knotted Circle Wreaths; The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  The Paper Players#764; Simply Clean and Simple

*{BYSHC} Sketch #50 Take 2*

I look at the October sketch at Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmaking and I see so many possibilities, including something super clean and simple! I love seeing what other people see when they work on these sketches!  

I did keep this card relatively simple by doing just an embossed background and a fun snowflake border.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Lawn Fawn Holographic Silver; Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Christmas

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Memory Box Frosyville Border; Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Christmas

*Embossing:  Simon Says Stamp Snowflake Visions

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  {BYSHC} #50: 

*Freshly Made Sketches #655*

 When I saw the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week, I had an idea in my head almost immediately.  I finally had some time in my creative space today and I came up with this card...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Lawn Fawn Holographic

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

*Dies:  Memory Box Frostyville Border; The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Embossing:  Simon Says Stamps Snowflake Visions

*Challenges:  Freshly Made Sketches #655

*{BYSHC} Sketch #49*

It's a new month which means there is a new sketch over at Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers.   This is a great sketch as I see it can be used to make something clean and simple, or it can be used to create something with a lot of texture and pattern.

For todays card, I chose to go rather clean and simple with a snowy border and a small sentiment.  Shimmer paper (not glitter paper) is something I really enjoy using for Christmas cards.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  unknown shimmer

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

*Dies:  The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday; Memory Box Frostyville Border

*Embellishments:  Honey Bee Gem Stickers

*Challenges:  {BYSHC} #49

*Time Out Challenges #271*

Time Out is playing with a friendship/encouragement/support theme for challenge #271.  This is a great theme to work with as there are so many options!

I received a package in the mail the day before I made this card and decided to use my new die to create something for this challenge.  Butterflies, to me, symbolize transformation, hope, change... and I thought that went well with the theme.  I cut the piece out of a beautiful piece of pattern paper, added a few gems and a die cut sentiment.

Card Info

*Paper:  Paper Rose Studio Rainbow Twirl 2.0

*Stamps:  Pinkfresh Studio Circle Florals

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Memory Box Kensington Border; Pinkfresh Stufio Circle FLorals

*Embellishments:  gems from my stash

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges:  Time Out #271

*Addicted to CAS #262*

It's time for a new challenge at Addicted to CAS... and it's a summer themed challenge!  There are so many ways you could go with this one and I can't wait to see what everyone dreams up!

My card came about in an interesting way.  I used some glittery watercolour paints on this piece of black cardstock and when it dried, I use this die on the panel.  I forgot that the panel cuts a silhouette out of the cardstock and it wasn't going to work for the idea I had in my head for the CAS on Friday challenge.  So I put it all aside and tried something different for my card that I posted yesterday.

I sat down at my craft desk later that day to do something else, had an idea and had no time to execute it.  So I quickly laid it out in a way that would remind me what I was thinking and went off to work.  I don't get to create too much during my work week as my days are long, but as soon as I got home from work on Saturday, I put this card together.  I used the failed panel to place the cut outs to create this beautiful summer night (complete with dragonflies and northern lights) card.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

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

*Dies:  Memory Box Dancing Dragonfly Collage; The Ton Easy Expressions

*Etc:  Iulie Watercolrs Christmas Fuchsia, Colbat, Leaf

*Challenges:  Addicted to CAS #262

*Color Throwdown Guest Designer*

 I was super excited to be chosen as the Featured Stamper at Color Throwdown for challenge #778... and I was asked to be a guest designer for challenge #780.

As most of you know, I struggle with going outside my box with colours... I like what I like and I gravitate towards those colours.  So colour challenges are TOUGH for me!  I was a little worried about saying yes to being a guest designer.  The team at Color Throwdown were so quick to get back to me to give me the colours for the challenge I'd be joining them on... 

The afternoon I got the colours, I was at lunch with my younger son and he and I threw around some ideas for how to uses these colours.  All I knew for sure was that I didn't want to do another Valentine LOL!  This is the idea that stuck...

Card Info

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

*Images:  Pink Fresh Studio Circle Florals

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Memory Box Knotted Circle Wreaths; Stampin' Up! Pierced Blooms

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Embellishments:  Picket Fence Studio Day & Night Gem Mix

*Challenges:  Color Throwdown #780

*Freshly Made Sketches Guest Designer*

My entry for challenge #600 at Freshly Made Sketches was one of the ones chosen for an upcoming Guest Designer Spot... and today I am here to share my card for that challenge.  I had a lot of thoughts in my head about this sketch, but then I saw this die and I just had to try it.  I was so happen when it worked!

Here is the sketch...

And here is my card...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  unknown glitter; Lawn Fawn Iridescent

*Images:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Christmas

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Memory Box Batavia Snowbreeze; Impression Obsession Small Snowflakes; Taylored Expressions Simple Strips

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges:  Freshly Made Sketches #614

*Christmas Craft Creations October*

The theme at Christmas Craft Creations for the month of October is Monochromatic.  The shades of any colour would work.  I can't wait to see what you come up with!

I decided to go pretty simple with grey and white... I hope it counts as monochromatic!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Smoky Slate

*Images:  Simon Says Stamp Christmas Blessings

*Ink:  Versamark

*Dies:  Memory Box Telluride Snowflake; Simon Says Stamp Christmas Blessings

*Embellishments:  silver bling

*Etc:  foam adhesive; Wow white embossing powder

*Challenges:  Christmas Craft Creations; Build Your Stash Holiday Linky Party; Inkspirational

*Bats About You*

I don't know why, but when I saw the sketch at Atlantic Hearts this morning, I was inspired to make a Hallowe'en card.  I don't have a clue who I'll send it to, but I have a Hallowe'en card in my stash now LOL!

Card Info

*Cardstock: Stampin' Up Basic Black, Only Orange, Gorgeous Grape

*Images:  Waffle Flower Trick or Treat

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Memory Box Cave Bat

*Challenges:  Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #544

*Create It 3 Ways Instagram Hop*

It's time for the monthly Create It 3 Ways Instagram Hop!  I'm sharing my cards here but I hope you'll head on over to my Instagram Profile to follow the links of the other creators to see what they've done for this hop!

The overall theme of this monthly hop is a fun one....  it's a create it 3 ways theme!  Each month we will have a different theme to play with... and each member of the team will create three projects in that theme using something from their craft rooms in three ways.  A team member could use the same stamp, the same layout, the same technique, the same colour combination (or anything else you think of).... but use it for three different projects following the monthly theme.

For June, our theme is summer.

If you head to my Intstagram Profile you'll be able to find more information about this hop and see all of the other links!

I decided to play with the same Patterned Paper for my cards... and in that, I guess I also have three cards in the same colour palette.  I've also used a black border on all three cards and sentiments all from the same stamp set.  

Here are all three cards...

And now for each card in the series...

Card Info
*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  Cocoa Vanilla Sunkissed

*Images:  Gina K Where Flowers Bloom

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Tasteful Labels

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

Card Info
*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black
*Paper:  Cocoa Vanilla Sunkissed
*Images:  Gina K Where Flowers Bloom
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne
*Dies:  Memory Box Knotted Circle Wreaths
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

Card Info
*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black
*Paper:  Cocoa Vanilla Sunkissed
*Images:  Gina K Where Flowers Bloom
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne
*Dies:  Scrapbook.com Nested Hexagons
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Guest Designer -- Christmas Card Throwdown*

I am super excited to be playing along as a guest designer with the team at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown for their current challenge.  I was chosen as the winner of one of their previous challenge with THIS card.

I don't make a lot of square cards but this sketch was a lot of fun for me!  

I absolutely love the simplicity of my card following this sketch.  I could see making more of this one!

Card Info

*Paper:  assorted glitter

*Images:  Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Pink Fresh Studio Slimline Strips; Memory Box Square Basics

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  52 Christmas Card Throwdown

*Change the Orientation*

This card was all put together with the idea of it being a dangling snowflake... the chain link string at the top with the snowflake at the bottom... and then I saw the card on it's side and changed my mind!  The sentiment fit in there absolutely perfectly!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black; Lawn Fawn Iridescent Silver

*Images:  PaperTreyInk Signature Christmas

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Memory Box Telluride Snowflake

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*CAS Colours & Sketches #496*

What a wonderful colour challenge for Christmas cards this week at CAS Colours & Sketches!  I'm glad it's Christmas card season because I don't think I'd be excited about this colour combination at any other time LOL!  I can't wait to see what YOU have created using these colours!  Be sure to share your creations HERE!

I am so happy that I found this Spellbinders die set... I've used it several times this year.  I love that pinecone die!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Soft Succulent, Old Olive, Early Espresso

*Images:  Mama Elephant Jingle Greetings

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturned

*Dies:  Memory Box Knotted Circle Wreath; Spellbinders Christmas Blooms

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Embellishments:  Frosted Lace Stickles

*Challenges:  CAS Colours & Sketches #496

*Simple Wreath*

This card is a mix of some extras fro my bin and some other things I cut especially for this card.  I knew I wanted a wreath like card so I cut the knotted circle and then dug through my bin of extras for some flowers and leaves that might work.  I then foiled my sentiment and cut it out to finish off the card.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black and others from my stash

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Pierced Blooms; Memory Box Knotted Circle Wreaths; Spellbinders Yana's Sentiments;  Waffle Flower Additional Circles

*Foil Plate:  Spellbinders Yana's Sentiments Foil Plate and Dies

*Foil:  Spellbinders Copper