*This or That Instagram Hop*

 This week for the This or That Instagram Hop, we got to choose between ice skates or roller skates.  Since I've been busy making some Christmas cards this week, I chose ice skates.  I have this cute set of stamps that has giraffes on skates.  I got to pull out my Copics for a little simple colouring again too!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  MFT Giraffes on Ice; Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

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

*Etc:  Stampin' Up! Wonderful Snowflakes

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers Christmas in July

*Pattern Paper Instagram Hop*

 I am in love with the simplicity of the card I'm sharing today, a card I made following the Christmas in July theme for the Pattern Paper Instagram Hop... I used some simple embossed lines, a simple die and some pretty pattern papers... 

Card Info

*Paper:  Carta Bella Merry & Bright

*Stamps:  Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Catherine Pooler Jolly Trees; Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Tools:  Scor-Buddy
*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers Christmas in July

*BYSHCardmakers Linky Party*

 Yup... another Christmas card! I hope you aren't sick of them yet!

Another scrap buster card today... but for bigger scraps.  These are 1" strips of my favourite paper pack.  I think it's important to combine dark ones and light ones together so it's not overwhelming.  I added a simple sentiment in between the strips.

Card Info

*Paper;  Stampin' Up! Tidings of Christmas

*Stamps:  Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Challenges:  Spring Into Christmas Linky Party

*{BYSHC} Sketch #68*

 Happy April, creative friends!  A new months means there's a new sketch to inspire your Christmas Cards at Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers!

I cheated a bit with my first card...  I saw this patterned paper in my stash and I thought it fit the sketch absolutely perfectly!  And honestly, I wasn't sure what I'd ever use it for!  I added some navy blue element to the card and a simple stamped and die cut sentiment to finish it off.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Night of Navy

*Paper:  Siple Stories Winter Wonder

*Stamps:  Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Laying Ovals:  Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  BYSHCMakers #68

*{BYSHC} Sketch #67 Take 2*

The end of March!  Already?!  I'm back with my second and final card using the current sketch at Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers.

I chose to use some more masculine looking apers for today with some plaid and a wonderful reindeer die!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Peaceful Prints

*Stamps:  Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Dies:  Penny Black Reindeer Leaps; Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers #67

*Crushing Christmas Instagram Hop*

 Our theme for this month for the Crushing Christmas Instagram Hop is Jolly Gingerbread.  I pulled out some cute papers from my stash as well as a fun stamp that I coloured quickly with my Copics

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  Doodlebug Milk & Cookies
*Stamps:  Lawn Fawn Simply Celebrate Winter; Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

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

*Dies:  Lawn Fawn Simply Celebrate Winter; Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*{BYSHC} Sketch #66*

 It's the beginning of February and time for a new sketch at Build Your Stash Holiday Card Makers.  We hope to inspire you to make a Christmas card or two every month to help you feel less overwhelmed in November!

First, let's see the sketch!

I've made two cards using this sketch and am sharing my first one today.  I tried to go clean and simple but I just wanted some texture on my biggest layer.  Some will say it's clean and simple, but truly it's not.  It's pretty close!

Card Info
*Paper:  vellum

*Stamps:  Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Ink: Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Snowflakes; Waffle Flower Nesting Circles; Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments
*Foil Plate:  Pinkfresh Studio Snowflakes

*Foil:  Spellbinders Aura

*Embossing:  Simon Says Stamp SnowflakeVisions

*Challenges:  BYSHC #66

*Crushing Christmas Instagram Hop*

 How are we already more than halfway through the month of January!?  I'm still struggling to type 2026 at work (in fact, last week I typed 2027 a few times!)  

This is our first Crushing Christmas Instagram Hop of 2026.  Our theme this month is Pattern Paper.  I chose to highlight one of my favourite pattern paper packs for my card today along with a beautiful big sentiment.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Tidings of Christmas

*Stamps:  Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Ink:  Verafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Waffle Flower Nesting Circles, Additional Circles

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 All month long, we are playing with HOLIDAY TREATS or HOLIDAY DRINKS for the This or That Instagram Hop... once again, I have chosen holiday treats.  I went with a sparkly candy cane striped paper to start, added a shiny snowflake and a candycane topped with a bow.

Card Info

*Paper:  Michael's pack from ages ago

*Stamps:  Stampin' Up! Candy Cane Season; Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Stampin' Up! Real Red

*Punch:  Stampin' Up! Candy Cane

*Etc:  Stampin Up! Wonderful Snowflakes; ribbon from my stash

*AAA Colourful Challenge #23*

 What a wonderful colourboard for our last challenge of 2025 at AAA Colourful...  I can't wait to see how you are inspired by these colours!

I did something that I don't think I've ever done before... I used colour cardstock as my base for ink blending!  I used a pretty light blue colour and blended some other shades around the edges before running my panel through my Big Shot with an embossing folder.  The only thing I would change about this card would be to have masked off the sentiment before doing the ink spatter.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Spellbinders Cascade

*Stamps:  Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Distress ink Peacock Feathers, Evergreen Bough

*Embossing:  Spellbinders Notched Corner Poinsettia

*Etc:  Kuretake Gamsai metallic watercolour paint

*Challenges:  AAA Colourful #23

*{BYSHC} Sketch #64*

 Happy December, creative friends!  I am in SHOCK that we are flipping the page on to the last month of 2025!  

A new month means a new sketch at Build Your Stash Holiday Card Makers...

I chose some papers from one paper pack... the easiest way to make sure they all go together!  I like to try to choose two papers that have a white base and two that are a colourful base.

Card Info

*Cardstock  Stampin' Up! Granny Apple Green

*Paper:  American Crafts

*Stamps:  Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers #64

*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

*Addicted to CAS #297*

 This week, I am hosting the challenge at Addicted to CAS....  this is the prompt that I chose...

Of course, metallics, to me, are perfect at Christmas, but I know that some of my design team friends went a completely different way!  I can't wait to see what you create!

I decided on a metallic snowflake... backed with a little black to make it pop!

Card Info

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

*Stamps:  Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Dies:  Impression Obsession Snowflakes; Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Addicted to CAS #297

*Atlantic Hearts Sketch #655*

 Happy Monday, my friends....  there's a new sketch today at Atlantic Hearts.  It's a super simple sketch, in my opinion... with so many ways you could execute it.

First, the sketch...

While I have used the same colour palette as several other cards I've shared recently, I did use different paper.  

Card Info

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

*Paper:  Stapin' Up! All is Bright

*Stamps:  Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Atlantic Hearts #655

*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

*My Favorite Instagram Hop*

 Happy Sunday, creative friends.  This week on my My Favorite Instagram Hop, we are playing with our favourite colour combination.  I decided to go with a colour combo I enjoy playing with at Christmas... it's not my favourite in that I don't do a lot of cards with these colours, but I do love how they look together!  I feel like they are a little unexpected at Christmas.

I paired the colours with a simple JOY stamp and die set as well as a beautiful new embossing folder I bought.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Granny Apple Green, Soft Sky, Pretty in Pink

*Stamps:  MFT Filled with Joy

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Filled with Joy

*Embossing:  Tonic Studios Bountiful Baubles

*CAS Colours & Sketches #572*

 What a fun new sketch from Suzy over at CAS Colours & Sketches.  I saw it and knew exactly what items to pull from my stash.  I love it when it's that easy!

I pulled out some of  m favourite things from my stash...  this patterned paper, the shade of red and the dies.  They all get used a lot when I'm  making Christmas cards!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler, Soft Succulent

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Tidings of Christmas

*Stamps: Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies: Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments; Spellbinders Christmas Blassings

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Embellishments:  Kaiser Pearls

*Challenges:  CAS Colours  & Sketches #572

*Atlantic Hearts Sketch #653*

I had an idea pop in to my head when I saw the current sketch at Atlantic Hearts... but I'm not honestly sure how I feel about it.  First, here's the sketch

And this is  my interpretation of it.  It's one of those cards that I thought "oh ya" as soon as I was done making it... but the more I look at it, the more I don't like it!

Card Info

*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Handsome Hunter, Cherry Cobbler, Certainly Celery

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! True Love

*Stamps:  Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies: Lisa Horton Christmas Floral Builder;  Stampin' Up! Layering Ovals

*Embossing:  Lisa Horton Christmas Floral Builder

*Embellishments:  HAI Supply gold pearls 

*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

*{BYSHC} Sketch #59 Take 2*

One last Christmas card for you this week...  my second and final card for the July sketch at Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers...

For my card today, I used some of my favourite patterned paper and a big sentiment with a pretty gold bell to finish it off...

Card Info

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

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Tidings of Chrsitmas

*Stamps:  Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Sounds of the Season; Waffle Flower Nesting Circles, Additional Circles

*Challenges:  BYSHC#59; Build Your Stash Christmas in July Linky Party