*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

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 Happy Thursday, creative friends!  This week on the This or That Instagram Hop, we had the choices of glitter or foil.  I really do love both (especially glitter paper) but I had this brand new hot foil plate in my possession that needed to be played with!  I am IN LOVE with how it turned out!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Hammermill Premium Colour Copy; Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Spellbinders Stylish Oval Birthday Wishes

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Picked Raspberry, Mowed Lawn, Carved Pumpkin

*Hot Foil Plate:  Alex Syberia Lush Peony Bouquet

*Foil"  Spellbinders gold

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Sending Sunshine Instagram Hop*

 Each month, I play along with a hop on Instagram where we share cards intending to spread a little sunshine in the world.  For my card today, I played with this fabulous This Calls For Confetti hot foil plate and stencil...  It's SO gorgeous!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black; Hammermill Premium Colour Copy Cover

*Foil Plates, Stencil and Dies:  This Calls For Confetti Heart Bloom

*Foil: Spellbinders gold

*Ink:  Tim Holtz Picked Raspberry, Spiced Marmalade, Mowed Lawn

*Rediscover Your Supplies Instagram Hop*

 We're playing with a "celebration" theme for the Rediscover Your Supplies Instagram Hop.  For this hop, we try to dig in to our stash to create cards following the common theme.  We are trying to use what's in our stash instead of buying something new (not that I'm not buying new still LOL)

I had an idea for this card and honestly, it took a few turns before I ended up with this... and I'm kind of glad it did!

Card Info

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Modern Christmas

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Foil Plate:  Pinkfresh Studio Butterflies

*Foil:  Spellbinders Aura

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Buterflies; MFT Something for Everything

*Embossing:  Stampin' Up! Brick & Mortar

*Just One Layer Instagram Hop*

We are playing with foiling this month for the Just One Layer Instagram Hop.... yup, nothing added to your card to create dimension!  This is hard for me!

I hot foiled my floral in the corner of my card front and did some simple ink blending through the matching stencil.  A simple stamped sentiment finished it off...

Card Info

*Stamps:  Concord & 9th Big Day Birthday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; leftover ink on my brushes

*Foil Plate:  Pinkfresh Studio Simplest Gesture

*Foil:  Spellbinders gold

*Birthday Bash Instagram Hop**

 I struggled a bit with my card for the Birthday Bash Instagram Hop...  I always struggle with this hop, but usually it's because I completely forget about the moodboard that goes with the challenge.  This month, I remembered the check the moodboard and knewa floral card would be easy.  And it all should have been easy as I LOVE shades of blues and pinks and purples... but I was running out of time and my ideas weren't coming together.  I almost feel like this is a frankenstein-esque project!  I really wanted to LOVE the goild foiling on that dark blue floral...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stain' Up! Blueberry Bushel

*Paper:  Paper Rose Studio Rainbow Twirl 2.0

*Stamps: The Ton Easy Expressions Birthday

*Ink:  Verafine Clair Nocturne
*Foiling Plate: PInkfresh Studio Simplest Gestures
*Foil:  Spellbinders Gold

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Simplest Gestures; The Ton Easy Expressions Birthday

*Etc: white Posca pen

*Card Clubhouse Instagram Hop*

 This week for the Card Clubhouse Instagram Hop we are playing with the prompt of "let it shine"...  I chose to use some different foil elements in my card and WOW is it shiny!

I started with a piece I foiled more than a year ago that's been sitting in my bin of extras.  I added a leftover strip of foiled pattern paper and put that layer on to a gold matted layer. 

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Bazzill gold mirror

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Modern Christmas

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

*Foil Plate:  Spellbinders Blooming Ornament

*Foil:  Spellbinders Gold

*Dies:  The Ton Easy Expressions; Spellbinders Blooming Ornament

*Tools:  Spellbinders Glimmer; Perfect Layers

My Favorite Instagram Hop*

 This week on the My Favorite Instagram Hop, we are playing with our favourite Valentine's or Love Themed products.

Let me tell you, I am so sick of red, pink and hearts right now!  I don't send Valentine's to people and now I have a huge stash thanks to all of the design team work I've done in the last few weeks.  I am close to being done with the love themed cards.

I'm not against love... I'm just tired of making these cards LOL!

Anyway... I grabbed a background I foiled at Christmas and didn't use to create my card today.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Lovely Lipstick

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Pattern Party

*Dies:  Hero Arts Infinity Hearts; Stampin' Up! Playful Alphabet

*Hot Foil Plate:  Spellbinders Plaid Tidings

*Foil:  Spellbinders Gold

*{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*

 The theme for December for the Crushing Christmas Instagram Hop is FREE STYLE... so no theme at all!

I used some of the snowflakes I had foiled a few wees ago with a simple die cut sentiment to make my card that I'm sharing with you today.

Card Info

*Stamps:  Alex Syberia Christmas Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Snowflakes; Alex Syberia Christmas Sentiments; MFT Stitched Rectangles

*Hot Foil Plate:  Pinkfresh Studio Snowflakes;
*Foil  Spellbinders

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges:  AAA#305; Inkspirational #357

*White on White Instagram Hop*

 We have a Christmas theme for the White on White Instagram Hop this month...  I played with my Spellbinders Glimmer and some white foil on white cardstock and fell in instant love with the panel I created.  to make the word JOY stand out, I cut three pieces and layered them up.  I managed a true white on white card this time!  No extra colour!

Card Info

*Dies:  Hero Arts Joy

*Hot Foil Plate:  Spellbinders Pine Sprays

*Foil:  Spellbinders Opal

*Challenges:  AAA#305

*CAS Colours & Sketches #575*

 As is our tradition at CAS Colours and Sketches, our last challenge of the year runs for an entire month... and you get to go back to any of our challenges this past year and make a seasonal card!

I might have cheated a little bit, as I chose one of my own sketches...  sketch #568.

I had fun with some different foiled elements to make my card...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  assorted foil/mirror cardstock

*Stamps:  Concord & 9th Winter Greenery

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Sounds of the Season

*Hot Foil Plate:  Spellbinders Plaid Tidings

*Hot Foil:  Spellbinders Red

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  CAS Colours & Sketches #575

*Atlantic Hearts Sketch #659*

 A week in to December and I have a pretty good handle on my Christmas preparations.  The only package I need to get in the mail will be sent this afternoon, the baking is about half done, the Christmas cards are in the process of being written (the envelopes are addressed), the house is decorated...  I still have some shopping and wrapping to do, but I'll get there (I always do).

Today I am sharing a card following the new sketch at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenges... I used texture and pattern to turn the sketch in to a mostly white on white card.

First, the sketch...

And here's my take on the sketch...

Card Info

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Snowflakes; Stampin' Up! Banners; The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday; MFT Stitched Rectangles

*Embossing:  Simon Says Stamp Faceted Snowflakes

*Hot Foil Plate:  Pinkfresh Studio Snowflakes

*Foil:  Spellbinders holographic

*Challenges:  Atlantic Hearts Sketch #659

*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

*ATCs in to Cards Take 3*

 And finally... the last of the three cards I made using the ATCs I created for a different challenge a few weeks ago.  this card I ran with the black and white theme and used a larger black mat to set everything off.

*Time Out Challenges #279*

Happy New Year, my creative friends!  I hope that the holiday season treated all of you well and that you are all fresh and ready for whatever the New Year brings.  I spent a little time away from my creative space in the last 10 days or so, enjoying some time without deadlines.  But I am back today with my first design team card for 2025.

Time Out Challenges has a "Beginnings" themed challenge as our first challenge of 2025.  You can interpret this theme in any way you want...

I have been busy working in a crochet blanket for a little guy that showed up about 6 weeks early.  I finished in the last days before Christmas and needed a card to give with the gift.  A new baby is a pretty epic "beginning".  The little guy was in the NICU for several weeks, but got to go home with his Mom and Dad on December 30th... a great way for them to both finish off 2024 and to start 2025.

As this was the first card I was making after a little break from creating, it was a tough go.  I tried a few different things before settling on this design...

Card Info

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Full of Life

*Stamps:  Altenew Bundle of Joy

*Ink:  Versfine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Art Impressions Baby Mini Dies; Hero Arts Infinity Hearts; MFT stitched rectangles

*Foil Plate:  Spellbinders Twilight Sparkle Strip

*Foil:  Spellbinders Gold

*etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges:  Time Out #279

*2024 Spellbinders Advent Hop - Day 19*

 Sorry there was no post for day 18 of the Advent Calendar...  I couldn't come up with anything I liked so I skipped it!

But here I am, back with day 19!  I really need to figure out how to better photograph things I've foiled!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black; Hammermill Premium Colour Copy

*Stamps:  Spellbinders Advent Day 19

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Spellbinders Blooming Ornament

*Hot Foil Plates:  Spellbinders Blooming Ornament, solid

*Foil:  Spellbinders gold

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*2024 Spellbinders Advent Hop - Day 16*

 I will admit, I am not a fan of the style of type for this years Advent Calendar word dies...  So I kind of half-assed this card...  and then I couldn't get a good photo of the beautiful purple foil!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Hammermill Premium Colour Copy; Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Dies:  Spellbinders Advent Day 16

*Dies:  MFT Stitched Rectangles

*Foil Plate:  Spellbinders Slimline Confetti Background

*Foil:  Spellbinders purple

*{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

*Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Falling for the Holidays Linky Party*

 Welcome to the 2024 edition of the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Falling for the Holidays Linky Party!!!  There are SO many prizes to be won, just by linking up your card on the {BYSHC} Blog!  We will be sharing inspiration all week long and I hope you'll play along with us!!!

If you've been here for a while, you know that I LOVE my stash of holiday card making supplies!  I used to put them away every year and pretend they didn't exist until about October or November when I would turn my sights to making only Christmas cards.  I still turn to Christmas cards as the weather here in Calgary turns cold, but I decided it was more fun for me to give my favourite things more love throughout the year!  I now make a couple of Christmas cards every month.  And with this Linky Party, I have an excuse to start making the bulk of my Christmas cards!

My first card for the Linky Party is one using a brand new to me item.  In fact, I made this card, the day after it arrived in the mail (I couldn't find it locally so my sister bought it near her and mailed it to me).  This is my first time using a Press Plate... but I used it to foil (cuz I don't have and don't think I want a Betterpress system).

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Hammermill Premium Colour Copy

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Hot Foil Plate:  Pinkfresh Radiating Snowflake (press plate)

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Radiating Snowflake; The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Embossing:  Spellbinders Sun Rays

*Foil:  Spellbinders Speckled Prism

*Etc:  iCraft 3D foam adhesive

Look at all of these fabulous sponsors!  There will be SO MANY prizes to be won!

*Tawny Owl Paperie

*Not 2 Shabby
*Colorado Craft Cmpany

*RAM Stamps

*Gina K Designs
*Twiddler's Nook

*Taylored Expressions
*Lawn Fawn

*Angie Blom Digital Designs

*Therm O Web

*Newton's Nook Designs

*Pink & Main

*Jaded Blossom

*Unity

*Gina Marie Designs 

*A Colorful Life Designs