*{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

*Addicted to CAS #216*

The thing I like most about being on design teams is being forced to think outside of my box once in a while.  It's also the hardest thing about being on design teams LOL!

The challenge for the next two weeks with Addicted to CAS is to use water as your focus...  of course, as I'm sitting here typing this blog post, I have thought of a few other ways that I could have interpreted the prompt (water colour, for example!).  Share your creations with us HERE For your chance to be chosen as a guest designer in an upcoming challenge!

This was one of those challenges that made me think for a bit... I'm not a big fan of sea life etc so I don't have a lot to choose from with a water theme... but I do have this great die that worked out well...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Seaside Spalsh, Grey Granite; unknown silver glitter

*Images:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Birthday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Layering Ovals; Memory Box Whittle Dolphin; Taylored Expressions Simple Strips

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges:  Addicted to CAS #216

*A Square Card*

I don't make a lot of square cards... but this design that was in my head just seemed right to be on a square instead of a rectangular base.  It's very similar to a card I posted a few days ago.... in fact, the die is the one I had cut for the original card but it was too delicate for the paper I had already cut.

Card Info

*Paper:  MFT Party Time

*Images:  Studio Katia Birthday Greetings

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Memory Box Stained Glass Floral; Stampin' Up! Banners Framelits

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*One Year Older*

I bought some new patterned paper by My Favorite Things last week... a more muted rainbow coloured pad.  I love the wonky strips of this pattern!

I hope that the open line daisy doesn't get too lost on top of it.  I cut a window in the front white panel and put the patterned paper behind it... you can't tell here, but it adds some interest in person.

Card Info

*Paper:  MFT Party Time
*Images:  MFT Anything But Basic Birthday Wishes

*Dies:  Memory Box Square Basics; A Jillian Vance Open Daisy

*Embellishments:  a pearl from my stash

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Addicted to CAS #214*

Happy Saturday everyone!  It's time for a new clean and simple challenge at Addicted to CAS!  We are playing with one of my favourite themes this week...

I had hoped that my new Taylored Expressions snowflake stencil would have arrived in time for me to play with it for this challenge, but it didn't.  But that's OK.  I played with some dies I haven't used before in some colours I took a chance with.  I am in LOVE with this colour combination of black, white, silver and kraft!  I made this as a birthday card but it could very easily be a Christmas card or a thank you card as well.

I hope you'll play along with us... share your clean and simple snowflake themed cards with us HERE for your chance to be chosen to be a guest designer in an upcoming challenge.

Card Info

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

*Images:  MFT Polar Penguins

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Die:  Memory Box Jolly Snowflake Trio

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Addicted to CAS #214

*Addicted to CAS #212*

It feels like *forever* since there was an Addicted to CAS Challenge... it was all the way back last year LOL!  But seriously, it feels like it's been a while!  But we are back after a little break for the holidays with a new clean and simple challenge.  

As you can see from the graphic below, the challenge for the next two weeks is triangles.  

I had a few things pop in to my head but since I don't have any triangle stamps I couldn't do them.  I struggled with an idea I could actually pull off and then remembered this Celebratory Banner die that I got as a free gift with purchase a few years ago... pennants are triangles!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Balmy Blue

*Paper:  Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid Remix

*Images:  MFT Bitty Birthday Wishes

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Celebratory Banner

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Addicted to CAS #212

*CAS Colours & Sketches #451*

Welcome to the first CAS Colours & Sketches challenge for 2022!  If you are new to this challenge, this is a weekly clean and simple challenge that has one week a colour challenge and the next week a sketch challenge.  Each member of the Design Team hosts for a month... and this month, our host is Joanne.  As always, you must use the challenge colours as the prominent colours in your creation, however you can include neutrals as well.  If you don't have these Stampin' Up! colours, improvise with whatever is in your stash, as long as you get as close as you can to these colours

I'm excited to be a part of this design team, but let me tell you, this one challenged me as I don't think I would have put pink and red with purple on my own!  If I didn't have a commitment to design something for this challenge, I probably would have skipped this challenge!

I guess I learned I need to push myself a little bit...

Items Used

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Highland Heather, Petal Pink, Poppy Parade, Grey Granite

*Stamps:  Studio Katia Birthday Greetings

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

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

*Embellishments:  Studio Katia Tiny Iridescent Bubbles

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

I hope you'll play along with us this week!  I look forward to seeing what you do with these colours!!  Share your creations HERE!