*Addicted to CAS #291*

It's time for a new challenge at Addicted to CAS... and to be honest, I almost missed it!  I have everything written on a calendar on my desk and I managed to miss writing this challenge on it!  I was able to quickly throw together my card before heading off to start my work week on Wednesday

My card isn't as clean and simple as I'd like... and my photo does't show my design as well as I had hoped.  I took a piece of patterned paper and cut out some hexagons that I then matted with gold and put back in to their places with foam adhesive.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Spellbinders gold foil

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Flower & Field

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Scrapbook.com Nesting Hexagons; The Ton Easy Expressions

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  ATCAS #291

*CAS on Friday #316*

 The challenge at CAS on Friday is to use vellum in your clean and simple design.  I decided to try embossing a piece of vellum with an embossing folder.  I did a small strip and put it between my white panels and put a green panel behind it.  The colours were so subdued, I felt it would make a perfect sympathy card.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Wild Wasabi; unknown vellum

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  The Ton Easy Expressions
*Embossing:  Spellbinders Leafy

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  CAS on Friday #316

*Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #643*

 There's a wonderful new sketch at Atlantic Hearts this week.... so many ideas ran through my head...

I decided to play with the waves embossing folder that I've used several times before... and by doing it on the blues, it truly looks like waves this time!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Spellbinders Windy, Cascade, Celestial, Cosmic Sky, Indigo

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Something for Everything

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

*Challenges:  Atlantic Hearts #643

*CASE It Instagram Hop*

 Each month I host the CASE It Instagram Hop with some creative friends joining in the fun.  We each chose a card that we seen on Instagram and use it to inspire us to make something of our own.  Sometimes we copy the card almost exactly, using the items we have in our stash.  Sometimes we use the original card as a jumping off point to create something different with similar elements.  And sometimes it is somewhere in between.

For this month, I was inspired by this card by @marisealark

I loved the colours that Mari used in her card... I loved the blue and white with the hint of metallic.  I also liked the stiched element of it and the sentiment overlapping the centre of her design.  I knew in an instant that hers was the card I was going to CASE...

I did change things up a bit though...  Instead of layered petals, I have a layer of white in the centre of my flowers.  I did three flowers instead of two.  And instead of a coloured metallic element, I chose silver (and I skipped the "greenery").  I kept the the blue and white, I used a stitched element in a frame layer and I kept the sentiment overlapping the centre of my design.

I hope you can see the original design in my card... but that I tried to put my own twist on it.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Spellbinders Windy; silver mirror

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions

*Dies:  Spellbinders Be Bold Blooms; A Jillian Vance Open Daisies; MFT Stitched Rectangles; The Ton Easy Expressions

*CAS on Friday #315*

 The theme at CAS on Friday is "baby" so I had some fun with some pastel colours and those fun rainbow dies I showcased a few weeks ago...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Lemon Lolly; Spellbinders Blush, Mint, Windy

*Stamps:  MFT Essential Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Sunshine Vibes

*Embossing:  Stampin' Up! Soft Waves

*Challenges:  CAS on Friday #315

*CAS Colours & Sketches #566*

 There's a gorgeous new sketch at CAS Colours m& Sketches...

I pulled some bits from my bin of extras to create my card.  These aren't colours I would have thought to put together but I think they worked out.  They are good and bold!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Gorgeous Grape, Granny Apple Green, Melon Mambo, Mango Melody

*Stamps:  MFT Bitty Birthday Wishes

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Spellbinders Floral Spray, Be Bold Blooms

*Embossing:  Stampin' Up! Soft Waves
*Embellishments:  Studio Katia Arctic Breeze Pearls

*Challenges:  CC&S #566

*Build Your Stash Instagram Hop*

 The Build Your Stash Instagram Hop has us building up our stash of cards following a common theme each month.  This month, we are making thank you cards.  There are no rules, no other themes... just make 1 or more cards to help build up our stash so that we have cards on hand when we need them.

I got ambitious this month and instead of my customary 2 cards, I made 3!

For my first card, I used a strip of patterned paper and some black accents.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Full of Life

*Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Big Thanks
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

For my second card, I cut some thin strips of cardstock from some various shades of blue cardstock.  I layered a black sentiment die on top.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black; Spellbinders Celestial, Cascade, Malibu, Breeze, Windy

*Dies:  Essential by Ellen Positive Word

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

For my final card, I shifted gears and created a more colourful mini slimline card.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black; Roccocco Rose, Daffodil Delight, Pebbled Path

*Paper:  MFT Black & White Stripes

*Stamps:  Pinkfresh Studio You're The Best

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Spellbinders Be Bold Blooms; Pinkfresh Studio You're The Best

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*{BYSHC} Sketch #60*

 I have no idea where July went... here we are at August first already!  Calgary has had a terribly wet and cloudy summer so far.  It's felt more like fall around here most days.  I sure hope August brings us some better weather!

It's a new month which means there's a new inspiration sketch at Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers.

I saw the sketch and had an idea right away... but it didn't work out as I had hoped and I had to throw out a piece of pattern paper (the horror... but it wasn't something I loved anyway).  I learned from my mistakes and this card turned out better than I could have imagined it!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black; gold foil; gold sparkle

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! All is Bright

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies: The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday; Spellbinders Bottle Brush Trees

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers Sketch #60

*Holly Jolly Christmas*

 Good morning, creative friends... I am back with another Christmas card this morning.  I wanted to see what this embossing folder would look like with coloured cardstock... and I love it!

Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Sage Shado, Cherry Cobbler, Evening Evergreen

*Stamps:  Poppy Stamps Art Deco Christmas

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies: Spellbinders Christmas Blooms
*Embossing:  Spellbinders Notched Corner Pointsettie

*Embellishments:  HAI Supply Gems

*Challenges:  Addicted to Stamps & More #497; BYSHC Christmas in July

 

*CAS Colours & Sketches #565*

It's time for a new colour challenge at CAS Colours and Sketches.  This time, we have a wonderfully summer-feeling colour combination.  

I put together a wonderful bouquet of flowers to create my clean and simple card.  I added some white strips of cardstock on my white panel for just a little interest.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Strawberry Slush, Daffodil Delight, Garden Green

*Stamps:  Studio Katia Birthday Greetings
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Pierced Blooms; Pinkfresh Studio Slim Strips
*Embellishments:  Spellbinders Opal Gems

*Challenges:  CAS Colours & Sketches #565

*Merry & Bright*

Another Christmas card to share with you today...  playing along with the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Christmas in July Linky Party as well as entering it in to the Christmas themed challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More!

I started by cutting a white panel with a swoop die and I added a piece of patterned paper behind it.  I added a stamped sentiment to go with the die cut word and the greenery, matted it all in black and put it on to a card front.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Sage Shadow, Handsome Hunter, Basic Black; gold mirror

*Paper:  DCWV December 25th

*Stamps:  MFT Merry & Bright

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Joy Dies; Spellbinders Christmas Blooms; unknown border

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  BYSHC Christmas in July Linky Party; Addicted to Stamps & More #497

*Atlantic Hearts Sketch #639*

I am absolutely in LOVE with this sketch from Atlantic Hearts this week!  You could so easily make it clean and simple (as I did) or super involved if you added some extra patterned papers or texture.

I played with some of the cut washi tape pieces from my bin of extras for my card.  I love a good black and white striped patterned paper and LOVE that I had this thicker stripe in my stash.  It just felt right.  And my sentiment fit that box just perfectly!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper;  Stampin' Up! Pattern Party

*Stamps:  Spellbinders Stylish Oval Birthday Wishes

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies
*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges:  Atlantic Hearts #639

*My Favorite Instagram Hop*

 I'm here with my card for the My Favorite Instagram Hop... this week, our prompt is our favourite berry.  Now, I don't really have much in my stash for food or drink stamps and dies... so I had to think outside of the box for this one.

I started with a cardstock colour called "strawberry slush" and created some little flowers that remind me of the blossoms on my strawberry plants in the garden.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Strawberry Slush,  Wild Wasabi

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Copics

*Dies:  Essential Circles by Heather; MFT Something for Everything; Spellbinders Be Bold Blooms

*Embossing:  Spellbinders Leafy

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Crushing Christmas Instagram Hop*

 It's time for another Crushing Christmas Instagram Hop... this month, we are all playing with non-traditional colours.  My card is made from papers from a paper pad...no stamps or dies at all.  Just papers!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Spellbinders Indigo

*Paper:  Simple Stories Winter Wonder

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  BYSHC Christmas in July Linky Party

*BYSHC Christmas in July Linky Party Card #2*

 I've got another Christmas card for you today, entering in to the draw at the Build Your Stash Holiday Linky Party...  You can enter too!  Just create a new Christmas or Holiday card and click the link above to share it!  We'll be playing for a week... and then everyone that linked up at least one newly created card will get entered in to the draw to win one of more than 20 prizes!!!  See my post yesterday to see who all of our sponsors are!

For today, I once again used a stamp from our new sponsor, Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps.  I added a fun embossed background, a little patterned paper and a mound of snow.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Spellbinders Windy

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Tidings of Christmas

*Stamps:  Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps It's Penguining To Look A Lot Like Christmas; The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

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

*Embossing:  Simon Says Stamp Snowflake Visions

*Dies:  unknown stitched border; The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Tools:  Brother Scan 'n Cut

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges:  BYSHC Christmas in July Linky Party

*Time Out #293*

There's a new challenge at Time Out Challenges... this time we are playing with the prompt of our favourite song.

I am turning 55 next week and I am in need of cards for all my friends who are turning the same age thsi year (I am still friends with people I met in elementary school... and one friend I've had for almost all of my 55 years!) and I need card to send to them this year.  To me, none of my old friends have ever aged.  One of my favourite songs is "Forever Young" by Alphaville.  It's a song from back in the mid-80s and I've loved it from the first time I heard it.  It's one of those ones that when my phone plays it, I have to turn up the volume and start it over.

For my card, I used a fun sentiment and some soft colours to make a pretty but cheeky card to send to one of those old friends...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black; Spellbinders Fairy Tale, Fog

*Stamps:  MFT Sassy Pants Birthday Greetings 2

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Linked Chain Circles, Stitched Chain Circles; Spellbinders Be Bold Blooms; Floral Spray

*Embellishments: Kaiser Pearls

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Time Out Challenges #293

*AAA Colourful #18*

 What a wonderful summer image to inspire us for the latest AAA Colourful challenge that starts today!  Take a look!

I don't know what it is about brightly coloured straws, but they've always made me think of summer and pool parties and fun with friends in the sunshine!  I pulled out these colours and created a beautiful floral spray...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Daffodil Delight, Sage Shadow, Garden Green, Melon Mambo, Mango Melody

*Paper:  MFT Black & White Stripes

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

*Dies:  Prism Studio Sew Many Rectangles; Spellbinders Be Bold Bloom; MFT Something for Everything

*Challenges:  AAA Colourful #18

*My Favourite Instagram Hop*

 I'm playing along with another week of the My Favourite Instagram Hop... this week our challenge was to make a card featuring our favourite sea creature.  I love dolphins, and have since I was a kid and watched the show "Flipper"... they seem so smart and if I could, I'd cuddle one.

I don't have a lot of water themed stuff, so I had to improvise...  I chose some water coloured cardstock and used a fun embossing folder on the strips to create the feeling of waves.  I cut the dolphin out of white cardstock and coloured up the majority of it with a grey Copic

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Spellbinders Seaside, Breeze, Windy

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Noturne; Copics

*Dies:  Poppy Stamps Whittle Dolphin; MFT Something for Everything

*Embossing:  Stampin' Up! Soft Waves
*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges:  Just Us Girls #783; Simply Clean and Simple

*Atlantic Hearts Sketch #637*

 I'm back with my take for sketch #637 for Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenges...  I'm not honestly sure how I feel about that solid green layer...

First, the sketch.

And now my card...

Card Info
*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Pear Pizzazz, Marina Mist, Always Artichoke

*Stamps:  MFT Bitty Birthday Wishes

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Spellbinders Floral Spray

*Embossing:  Stampin' Up! Soft Waves

*Embellishments:  iridescent ribbon; Kaiser Pearls

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Atlantic Hearts #637

*{BYSHC} Sketch #58 Take 2*

 I'm back with my second card using the June sketch at Build Your Stash Holiday Card Makers...

For my card today, I decided to use an embossed background instead of patterned paper.  I just absolutely LOVE snowflakes!  I used a small strip of holographic cardstock to cover up the spot where the two papers join up.

Card Info
*Cardstock:  Spellbinders Windy; Lawn Fawn Holographic; dark blue shimmer

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

*Dies:  unknown snowflakes from my bin of extras; The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Embossing:  Simon Says Stamp Snowflake Visions