*Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #691*

 This is a fun new sketch at Atlantic Hearts that starts today...

I struggled quite a bit with getting the sizes of the the rectangles "just right" so I cheated a bit by using a full panel of pattern paper and dividing it with strips of red cardstock.  I kinda like how this one turned out...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Tidings of Christmas

*Stamps:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips, Simple Strips Backer; MFT Stitched Rectangles; Pinkfresh Slim Strips

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers Christmas in July ; Atlantic Hearts Sketch #691

*Surprise Graduation Hop*

 I participated in a surprise Graduation Hop for another Instagram creator named Brennan.  He is the host of the Crushin' Christmas Instagram Hop.  Brennan is just a young guy, graduating high school today and heading off to college in the fall.  A group of us thought it would be fun to surprise him with a Hop to celebrate the big day!

I don't have a lot of graduation themed stuff in my stash... the one thing I need is a graduation cap die because I am super sick of fussy cutting this one out!  I focussed on the colour purple as that is one of his high school colours.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Gorgeous Grape

*Stamps:  Taylored Expressions The Tassel

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Stampin' Up! Gorgeous Grape

*Dies:  MFT Impact Alphabet

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*CAS Colours & Sketches #581*

 What a fun sketch for us to play with for the current challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches!  Joanne did a great job with this one!

I had a few ideas in my head for this one... but when this one popped in to my mind, I knew I had to go for it!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Crumb Cake, Lovely Lipstick

*Stamps:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Birthday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Salty Ocean

*Dies:  Lawn Fawn Party Balloons; Taylored Expressions Simple Strips

*Stencil:  Lawn Fawn Slimline Cloudy

*Challenges:  CAS Colours & Sketches #581

*Freshly Made Sketches #727*

 Another sketch from Freshly Made that I really wanted to play with... but another card made when I wasn't feeling overly creative.  I think it turned out pretty well, but I feel like I always reach for these washi tape elements when I'm not feeling creative.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps;  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies; Prism Studio Sew Many Rectangles; Taylored Expressions Simple Strips

*Challenges:  Freshly Made Sketches #727; Just Add Ink #781

*Freshly Made Sketches #724*

 Just a fly by from me before I head off to start my work week... I had a little time this morning while I watched the end of the Canadian Olympic Men's Hockey Team win their quarter final game and I was intrigued with the new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.  I used a huge stamped image that also qualifies for the "make your mark" challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Altenew Graceful Gardenias; Taylored Expressions Simple Strips

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

*Dies:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Freshly Made Sketches #724; Addicted to Stamps and More #511

*CASE It Instagram Hop*

 This morning I am sharing a card that was inspired by a talented creator on Instagram for the CASE It Instagram Hop.  I feel in love with her card (that you'll see below) and knew in an instant I'd be playing with it.  

First, here's Milla's card...

Isn't it gorgeous?!  I love how rich her colours are!  And I love how the rest of the floral spray are in black and white on the front of the card.  Such a great interpretation of the spotlight technique.

My card didn't turn out as gorgeous as hers... but I tried to do something similar without copying directly.  I did the spotlight technique but with a smaller floral image.  Instead of a rectangular highlight, I went with a circular one. I kept my sentiment offset, but went to the other side of the card for it.  I hope you can see how my card was inspired by hers...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Altenew Graceful Gardenias; Taylored Expressions Simple Strips

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Altenew Baby Pink, Fuchsia, Magenta, Limeade, Lime

*Stencil:  Altenew Graceful Gardenias

*Dies:  Waffle Flower Nessting Circles, Additional Circles; Taylored Expressions Simple Strips

*Challenges:  Addicted to Stamps & More

*CAS on Friday #322*

 For this challenge at CAS on Friday, we are looking to see your rainbow themed clean and simple cards.  Since I am fully in to Christmas card mode, I decided to play with a rainbow Christmas card.

I started with a scrap of cardstock and drew lines in rainbow order across it with the chisel end of my Copics.  I adhered some white snowflakes to the front and then chopped down the panel to fit my card.  I added a quick sentiment and declared it done!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Granny Apple Green

*Stamps:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Christmas

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Copics

*Dies:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips; Simple Strips Backer; Picket Fence Studio Winter Snowflakes

*Challenges:  CAS on Friday #322

*Create It 3 Ways Instagram Hop*

Today is the 3rd Saturday of the month which means I am here with my cards for the Create It 3 Ways Instagram Hop.  Each month, we create 3 cards using at least one element the same on all three cards.  Our theme this month is Thankful.

I chose to make three cards using all of the same products.  I was visiting my sister when I made these cards so the die is hers and the patterned paper I used from her stash were papers that came from my Mom's stash (she passed away in 2010).

As you can see I used slim strips of the fall coloured patterned paper in a few different ways to create these cards.

*My Favourite Instagram Hop*

 This week on the My Favourite Instagram Hop, we are each playing with our favourite stencil.

I'm not sure that I have a favourite stencil, but how could I resist playing with these beautiful snowflakes!  This is a Taylored Expressions Create In Quads stencil... a multi-layer stencil that you use on a full sheet of cardstock to create several different panels.  What a great idea!

Card Info

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Christmas

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Catherine Pooler Black Jack Skylight, Samba

*Stencil:  Taylored Expressions Create in Quads Snowflake

*Etc:  Nuvo Glimmer Paste Moonstone

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*CAS Colours & Sketches #570*

 It's a rare month that we ended up with an extra Tuesday so there is another challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches.  And it's still my month for hosting so the sketch is something I dreamed up...

My first thought when I revisited this sketch was what I went with... a Christmas card.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  assorted glitter paper; Bazzill Gold Foil

*Stamps:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Holiday

*Ink:  Verafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Holiday; Catherine Pooler Jolly Trees

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenge:  CAS Colours & Sketches #570

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 The This or That Instagram Hop has us choosing between Sunlight and Twilight for our cards this week... I chose Twilight.

I used some ink blending to create a night sky with some stars created with splatters of Wink of Stella glitter ink pen.  I stamped some solid images to create the silhouette look.

Car Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Lil' Inker; Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Birthday

*Ink:  Tim Holtz Villainous Potion, Blueprint Sketch, Salty Ocean; Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Taylored Expressions Simple Stips

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Sending Sunshine Instagram Hop*

 Each month, a group of us gather on Instagram to share cards that might help to lift someone up who's finding life a little rough.  A little piece of sunshine, if you will.

I bought this Taylored Expressions stamp and die set and was a little disappointed that the stamps and the dies don't line up.  So what I did today was cut the rainbow out of a white panel.  I took the arcs and did some ink blending on them and then put them back in to my die cut panel (the negative space).  I then stamped some of the elements from the stamp set on top.  I like how it turned out.

Card Info

*Stamps:  Taylored Expressions Over the Rainbow; Honeybee Stamps Best of Everything

*Ink:  Stampin' Up! Gorgeous Grape, Bermuda Bay, Granny Apple Green, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight; Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Taylored Expressions Over the Rainbow; MFT Stitched Rectangles

*Atlantic Hearts Sketch #631*

 Happy Monday, creative friends!  We've had a beautiful weekend here in Calgary and the wonderfully warm and sunny weather is supposed to continue.  After about 10 days of mostly cloudy and rainy days, the sunshine is most welcome.

It's time for a new sketch challenge at Atlantic Hearts...

I put a fun little twist on my card following this sketch.  I started with a postcard instead of a folded card and added the side strips of patterned paper.  In the centre, I added a black panel and then a folded white card... so just the centre white panel opens up.  

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  MFT Black & White Stripes

*Stamps:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses, Fluttering Butterflies
*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses, Fluttering Butterflies; Taylored Expressions Simple Strips

*Challenges:  Atlantic Hearts #631

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 For the final This or That Instagram Hop of April, our choices were Sea or Sky...  I chose to go with sky.

I bought a new rainbow stamp and die set and was a little disappointed that once again, it's one die for all of the pieces.  I know that keeps the cost down, but I think I could have so much more fun with separate dies (if you know of a good rainbow die set that is multiple dies, please leave me a comment!)

I chose some beautiful rainbow paper to make my rainbow... 

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Spellbinders Saffron

*Paper: Paper Rose Studio Rainbow Twirl 2.0

*Stamps:  MFT Bitty Birthday Wishes
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Taylored Expressions Over The Rainbow

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*AAA Colourful #15*

It's time for a new colourboard challenge at AAA Colourful.  We have some gorgeous shades of blues and greens with a touch of a purply-pink for you to play with this month!

I was inspired by the image as well as the colours for my card.  I used this gorgeous layering stencil and then used the excess blue ink on the brush to just soften the background just a bit instead of being a stark white behind the stencilling.  I also decided to layer the stencilled panel and added a mat and foam adhesive to make the top panel pop a little more.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Birthay
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Catherine Pooler Be Bine, Suede Shoes, Mardi Grash

*Dies:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips; Waffle Flower Nesting Rectangles

*Stencil:  MFT Flower Fusion

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges:  AAA Colourful #15

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*My Favourite Hop - Snowflake Birthday*

 Happy Sunday friends!  I hope that the first few days of 2025 have treated you all kindly.  I've been at work for a few days and Calgary has been back to some colder temperatures.  We aren't 30 below, but it's not warm out LOL!

It's time for the first of many My Favourite Instagram Hops!  This is a weekly hop on Instagram that I hope to participate in more often than I don't.  It's a great way to look at my stash a little differently as I follow the "my favourite" theme each week.

Our challenge for this week is to make a birthday card using our favourite snowflake stamp, stencil or die.  Now, I am not sure that what I used is my favourite, but I sure do want it to be!  I used the Taylored Expressions Create in Quads Snowflake stencils, which I've used a few other times.  But to be honest, I never quite get the look I want.  I *want* these stencils to be my favourite and maybe with some more practice, they will be.

I did manage a non-Christmas look by choosing my favourite Tim Holtz Distress inks to use with my stencil... and of course added a little of my favourite embellishment (sparkle) to finish it all off...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Gorgeous Grape

*Stamps:  Pinkfresh Studio Happy Birthday Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Picked Raspeberr, Wilted Violet, Salty Ocean

*Stencil:  Taylored Expressions Creating in Quads Snowflakes

*Embellishments:  Frosted Lace Stickles

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*AAA Colourful #11*

Welcome back to another colourboard challenge with AAA Colourful.  We can't wait to see what you create with this fabulous inspiration.

As it is December, I am still in Christmas card making mode... so this colourboard challenged me just a little bit.  I searched my stash and found this tree stamp and die that I hadn't ever inked up so I decided to do a rainbow (ish) of trees.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Calypso Coral, So Saffron, Pool Party, Highland Heather, Gorgeous Grape, Basic Black

*Stamps:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Holiday; Simon Says Stamp Warmest Wishes

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Warmest Wishes; Taylored Expressions Simple Strips
*Tools:  ScorPal; Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  AAA Colourful #11

*{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: 

*Birthday Bounce Instagram Hop -- Cake*

It's time to be hopping over on Instagram with the Birthday Bounce Instagram Hop!  Every month, a group of us get together and post a birthday card following a common theme.  This month, our theme is cake.

Now, I will admit I almost skipped this month... I don't have any cake stamps.  The cupcake stamps and dies I had I sold in the last garage sale.  I have a few great cake sentiments but I wasn't sure what to put with them without a cake.

And then I remember the Scrapbooks & Cards Today weekend I signed up for last fall... there was a stencil set from Taylored Expressions in that mix of things.  I will be honest that I did not do the class for this product because I honestly hated it.  I hated the colours, the cake felt off in proportion.  I just couldn't do it.  The kit was in my box to sell at the garage sale, but it didn't sell.  So I pulled it out and had a better look at it.  And I saw that there was, in addition to the cake and the slice of cake, a cupcake stencil, stamps and die!

And while I still don't love this kit, I was able to create something to share with you today using some bright fun colours!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Lemon Lime Twist

*Stamps:  Taylored Expressions Cake Walk, Simple Strips Birthday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Salty Ocean, Twisted Citron, Wilted Violet, Candied Apple

*Stencils:  Taylored Expressions Cake Walk

*Dies:  Taylored Expressions Cake Walk, Simple Strips

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Birthday Bounce Instagram Hop

*So Grateful*

 I am always so grateful that you come to see my cards... I love being able to share my creativity with people who also enjoy being creative.  Thank you so much for visiting me here... and to those who leave comments, thank you for that!  

My card today I made following a sketch challenge with the Paper Craft Crew...  but I missed the deadline so I put it in my bin of cards to share.  I do that sometimes... miss deadlines for posting cards to challenges.

This card is not at all clean and simple, but I felt the need to showcase this gorgeous paper.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Fresh Freesia

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Hues of Happiness

*Images:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips; Pinkfresh Studio Slim Strips

*Tools:  ScorBuddy