*This or That Instagram Hop*

 This week on the This or That Instagram Hop, we are playing with either apples or pumpkins.  I don't think I have anything that would work for apples, so I went with pumpkins.  What is it about fall themed stamps that makes me pull out the "thank you" sentiments?

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black
*Stamps:  Waffle Flower Trick or Treat; The Ton Easy Expressions
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics

*Dies:  The Ton Easy Expressions

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Mini Slimline Instagram Hop*

 Another post from me this morning... this time for the Mini Slimline Instagram Hop.  I play with a group of friends on Instagram each month, sharing a mini slimline card.  We have no themes... just a love of the mini slimline size.  I, personally, like to play with a 6X6 piece of cardstock folded in half.  It's such a fun size to decorate!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Waffle Flower Sweet Birthday Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses

*Embossing:  Spellbinders Peppermint Strips

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses; Waffle Flower Sweet Birthday Sentiments

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*{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

*Rediscover Your Supplies Instagram Hop*

 Each month, I participate in a hop on Instagram that encourages us to use what we have in our stash to create a card following a common theme.  I joined because I find myself grabbing the same things from my stash more often than not and this forces me to dig through a little more and find something that hasn't been used much.

This month, our theme is "birthday"... and I went looking for this fabulous background stamp from Uniko.  I stamped it on a white panel with Memento ink, did some simple colouring with my Copics and then overstamped the image with Versafine Clair to make the image more crisp.  

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Uniko Block Party Birthday

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

*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

*Card Clubhouse Instagram Hop*

 This week for the Card Clubhouse Instagram Hop, the theme is "Leaf it to me".  I was recently in need of a few sympathy cards so I decided to use these pretty rainbow washi leaf prints to create a simple card for today...

Card Info

*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic Black

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

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses; The Ton Easy Expressions
*Tools:  Perfect Layers
*Challenges:  Paper Players 799; Simply Clean and Simple

*Happy Birthday Diane*

 Today we are celebrating my friend Diane with a birthday hop!  I hope you'll head over to see her Instagram profile to wish her a happy birthday.

I was inspired by Diane's two favourite colours... orange and teal! Not in my wheelhouse, but I like how it turned out!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Altenew Stamp a Splash of Colour; Concord & 9th Big Birthday Wishes

*Ink:  Catherine Pooler Tiki Torch, Aquatini; Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Embellishments:  Pinkfresh Studio Iridescent Clear Drops

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*CAS Colours & Sketches #592*

 It's time for a new colour challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches... some more rich, fall feeling colours to play with for this challenge...  How will you use them?

I like the colours, but I'm not sure I'm ready to break out the fall themed cards quite yet... Instead I used the colours on some pretty butterflies!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Misty Moonlight, Pecan Pie, Berry Burst

*Stamps:  Pinkfresh Studio Happy Birthday Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Love From Lizi Stitched Circles; Paper Rose Studio Little Etched Butterflies
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  CAS Colours & Sketches #592

*Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #695*

 Hello friends... there's a brand new sketch today at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenges...

This is such a versatile sketch... I can't wait to see what everyone creates using it!  I chose to keep my card clean and simple with a basic black and white theme.  My centre panel is embossed for a little interest.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Gina K Wreath Builder

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Spellbinders Scallop Circles; Waffle Flower Nesting Circles

*Embossing:  Lisa Horton Peonies

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Atlantic Hearts #695

*Happy Birthday Julie*

 Today we are celebrating Julie with an Instagram Hop!  Be sure to head on over to her account to wish her a happy birthday!

Some of her favourite things are shaker cards, the colour pink, dogs and sunflowers... I focussed on the colour pink!

Card Info

*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Bubble Bath

*Paper:  MFT Black & White Stripes

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Birthday

*Dies:  Paper Rose Studio Alora Layered Butterfly; The Ton Easy Expressions Birthday; MFT Stitched Rectangles
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Create It 3-Ways Instagram Hop*

 Hello my friends...  this month on the Create It 3-Ways Instagram Hop, we are playing with the theme of Thanks. We are each challenge to make 3 cards using the same theme... and each of us chooses something from our stash (or our stash of techniques) to highlight in all three of the cards we've made.

This month, I chose to use the same leaf die set on all three cards... each a little different.

For my first card, I layered some pattern paper behind my front panel and put the die cut leaves back in to the holes I cut them out of.  I used some foam adhesive to pop up the sentiment in the centre of the card.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  Cocoa Vanilla Sunkissed

*Stamps:  Hunky Dory Crafts

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Foliage Shaker

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

For my second card, I cut out two of the leaves and coloured the cut out bits with three colours of Copics.  I layered the one leave up with foam adhesive and finished it off with a die cut sentiment.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Verafine Clair Nocturne; Copics

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Foliage Shaker; MFT Something for Everything

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

My last card uses three different mirror metallic cardstocks... I popped all the pieces out of each of the leaves and moved the inside colour to a different outside.  Gotta love paper piecing!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black; gold, silver and rose gold mirror

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Verasafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Foliage Shaker; MFT Something for Everything

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Happy Birthday Angy*

 Another Instagram Birthday to celebrate today... this time for Angy!  Angy didn't have any guidelines for what she liked to see on cards, so I just made a card using some happy colours!  I was inspired by my friend Sandi MacIver for this card...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Pool Party, Granny Apple Green, Magenta Madness

*Stamps:  Gina K Wreath Builder

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Spellbinders Floral Spray; Waffle Flower Nesting Circle Dies

*Embellishments:  Picket Fence Studio Day & Night Gem Mix

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Happy Birthday Naira*

 Today we are celebrating Naira with an Instagram Hop!  I hope you'll go visit her and give her some birthday love!

I created a clean and simple card with a little texture and a sweet butterfly to help her celebrate...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Birthday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies; The Ton Easy Expressions Birthday; Waffle Flower Nesting Circles
*Embossing:  Stampin' Up! Soft Waves

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*CAS Instagram Hop*

 I'm here today with my card for the Clean and Simple Instagram Hop.  Our theme this month is EMBOSSING.  I know that adding an embossing folder to a clean and simple card might confuse some... a true clean and simple card does not have an all over embossed background.  Instead, I'm encouraging people to figure out a way to use a small and effective amount of embossing on their card!

I used some scraps for my card... a leftover piece of embossed black cardstock and a scrap strip of pattern paper.  I added a pop of colour with this beautiful butterfly!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  MFT Black & White Stripes

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Birthday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies; The Ton Easy Expressions Birthday

*Embossing:  Altenew Deck Planks
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 This week on the This or That Instagram Hop, we are choosing between balloons and kites.  I don't think I have anything kite themed in my stash, so I went with balloons.

I chose to do a super clean and simple card with one fun balloon die and a sweet birthday sentiment.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Grey Granite, Granny Apple Green

*Stamps:  Picket Fence Studio Fancy Sentiments

*Dies:   Lawn Fawn Party Balloons

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Build Your Stash Instagram Hop*

 I was playing catch up this past week, trying to get on top of my design team duties.  On my days off I had one great day of creating and then a couple of days of sitting at my desk with no motivation.  So instead of multiple cards for the Build Your Stash Instagram Hop, I only have one.  Our theme this month is "sympathy"

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Granny Apple Green, Basic Black

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Cclair Nocturne

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Fern & Flora

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Time Out Challenges #319*

 It's time for a new Pick 2 Challenge at Time Out Challenges....  I can't wait to see what you all choose to play with!

I went overboard and chose FOUR instead of two...  CAS, Floral, Stitching and Birthday!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Poppy Parade, Summer Sun

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everythign
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Spellbinders Floral Spray; unknown stitched squares; Love From Lizi Stitched Nesting Rectangles

*Embellishments:  Pinkfresh Studio Iridescent Clear Drops

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Time Out #319

*Card Clubhouse Instagram Hop*

 We are playing with a fun idea for the Card Clubhouse Instagram Hop... it's a back to school/teacher theme with a twist.  For this Hop, we are playing with something card making that we think we could teach a class in.  Since I didn't need a card for a teacher, I appreciated the clarification of the theme.

I decided that I had two things to teach others... first, a clean and simple card and second, the art of using the extras in your stash!  Everything in this card was made using my bin of extras!

*{BYSHC} Sketch #72

 How on earth is it August already??!!!??  Why do the summer months fly by so fast and winter seems to last forever?

Anyway, there's a fabulous new sketch for you to use to get going on your Christmas cards over at Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers.

When I saw this sketch, I immediately had this idea ..,. and while it's not exactly the sketch, I think it's pretty darn close.  I LOVE how clean and simple this is!  This die was just absolutely perfect for this sketch!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black; silver mirror

*Stamps:  Alex Syberia Christmas Wishes

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Birch Press Drifting Snowflake

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers Sketch #72; Addicted to Stamps & More; Just Add Ink

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 This week for the This or That Instagram Hop, we had to choose between clean and simple or mixed media.  Honestly, I don't even know where to start with a mixed media card so I went with a clean and simple design.

I'm sure that no one is surprised.

Card Info
*Cardstock:  Stampin Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Waffle Flower Sweet Lattice Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Nesting Ovals; Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses; Waffle Flower Sweet Lattice Sentiments

*Embossing:  Stampin' Up! Soft Waves
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  All About Challenge #7