*Build Your Stash Holiday Card Makers Spring Into Christmas Linky Party*

Wow!  That title is a mouthful!  

It's time for the Spring Into Christmas Holiday Linky Party, your chance to win one of MANY prizes for simply creating and sharing holiday cards over the next week!  We are so excited to watch you grow your stash of holiday cards!

I was happy to dig in to the favourite part of my creative stash to make some Christmas cards!  I was inspired by a similar card that I saw in Pinterest... 

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Granny Apple Green, Cherry Cobbler; vellum

*Stamps:  Concord & 9th Winter Greenery

*Ink:  Versamark

*Embossing:  Wow! White Detail powder; Tonic Studio Bountiful Baubles

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Alphabet Al A Mode

*CAS on Friday Challenge #321*

The challenge prompt at CAS on Friday is "birthday"...  My card isn't as clean and simple as I would have liked since this is a clean and simple challenge, but I do love how it turned out!  I am really enjoying these mostly white on white cards lately!  I purchased this die while I was in Ontario visiting my sister.  Stamp Art in London Ontario is in the process of closing so I was happy to have been able to have one more shopping spree in their store. I got this die there.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Tonic Studio Sew Pretty Butterfly Column

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  CAS on Friday #321

*BYSHCardmakers Falling for the Holidays Linky Party*

Another Christmas card for you today...  I used a couple of thin strips of patterned paper to create this cute card. The hardest part about this card was keeping the woven part of the papers together while trying to adhere it to my panel.

Card Info
*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Handsome Hunter
*Paper:  DCWV December 25th
*Stamps:  Tonic Studios A Candy Cane Christmas
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne
*Dies: Spellbinders Bottle Brush Trees
*Tools:  Perfect Layers
*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers Falling for the Holidays Linky Party

 

*Build Your Stash Instagram Hop*

 The theme this month for the Build Your Stash Instagram Hop is sympathy cards.  These are the cards we never want to send, but they are always good to have on hand.  I will admit that I sort of enjoy making sympathy cards.  Sympathy cards lean in to my card making style... clean and simple with muted colours.

With this hop, we make at least one card following the monthly theme... I try hard to always make two.  This month is no exception.

For my first card, I tried an idea I saw where you stamp a floral image and leave it without colouring... then add a pop of colour with something else.  I used a Pinkfresh Studio washi tape butterfly for my pop of colour.

Card Info

*Stamps:  Toni Studios Botanical Burst; MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi Tape:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies

*Etc:  foam adhesive

For my second card, I used no colour at all.  I bought this new embossing folder and decided to leave it as the highlight of my card.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black
*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Something for Everything

*Embossing:  Lisa Horton Bold Daisy Background

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*CAS Colours & Sketches #561*

 It's time for a colour challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches.  These are some deep and rich colours for this challenge!

Lately I've found myself using paper and dies more often than stamps and markers (or other colouring media) to create my cards, so I decided to play a little.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Gorgeous Grape

*Stamps:  Tonic Studios Summer Flowers; Uniko Birthday Wishes

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

*Tools:  Perfect Layers
*Challenges:  CAS Colours & Sketches #561

*Paper Players #682*

I'm playing along with the current sketch over at The Paper Players...  I had a lot of ideas in my head for the sketch but decided to play with this idea in the end.  I have a friend who needs a big hug these days, so this will be in the mail right away.

To create my window panels, I started with a square piece of white cardstock and I stamped and coloured my peony on it.  I then cut that square in to quarters and used my Perfect Layers Tool to make a 1/16" mat on each of the small squares.  To help me get it all lined up, I put those panels on to white cardstock and cut each of them again with the Perfect Layers Tool.  I was then able to place the square evenly by just butting them up to each other.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Images:  Tonic Studios Peony Bloom; MFT Something for Everyone

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Copics

*Dies:  MFT Something for Everyone

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Etc:  WOW clear embossing powder

*Challenges:  Paper Players #682

*AAACards #218*

It's time for a new clean and simple challenge at AAA Cards!  We have a sketch for you this week with the added optional twist of flowers.  Of course I did both (because I love florals!)  Share your card with us HERE for a chance to be chosen as a guest designer in an upcoming challenge!

I always struggle with the placement of things like the sketch shows so I wanted to do something different.  Instead of making those circles my flowers, I decided to use the idea of circles to colour my floral image.  It's not exactly like the sketch but I think you can see the sketch in m creation.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Hammermill Premium Color Copy

*Images:  Tonic Botanical Burst; Winnie & Walter Bigger Bang Confetti; MFT Color Drops; Studio Katia Birthday Greetings

*Ink:  Verafine Clair Nocturne; Catherine Pooler It's a Girl, Melon Ice, Sixteen Candles, Oh Boy

*Challenges:  AAACards #218

*I Coloured*

About a week ago, I was chatting on a FB group I'm on about how I don't do a lot of colouring... I find it kind of stressful, trying to get things to look perfect.  I have no idea how to make shadows work (I'm terrible at spatial relations).  Not to mention, colouring takes TIME and I don't always want to spend that time.  Someone responded to my comment on that group and said I should set aside some time to just stamp up some images and colour.... without needing something that I could use.  Just allow myself the time to play.  So I did.

Last Wednesday morning before I left for work at noon, I stamped up some images and just coloured for the sake of colouring.  And I ended up with a few pieces I liked enough to make in to a card!  This is one of them.

Card Info

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Pattern Party

*Images:  Tonic Studios Peony Bloom; Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Birthday

*Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics

*Dies:  Tonic Studios Peony Bloom; Taylored Expressions Simple Strips

*Embellishments:  Studio Katia

*Love*

I love the look of lots of white with a hint of black to make a more sophisticated card... maybe should have used a little more black though...

Items Used

*Images:  Tonic Studios Botantical Burst

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Hero Arts Infinity Hearts

*Etc:  Cuttlebug Divine Swirls embossing folder; ribbon from my stash, foam adhesive

*Thinking of You*

I really should follow my own advice and have some Thinking of You and Sympathy cards on hand at all times... because sometimes when you need one, they are difficult to create.

I was stuck with what to do when I needed one when a friend lost her son unexpectedly earlier this summer.  Thankfully I found a few ideas on Pinterest that I liked and was able to merge those ideas in to a card I felt was appropriate.  That Stampin' Up! Birch background stamp is perfect for something like this, in my opinion.

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Wild Wasabi

*Images:  Stampin' Up! Birch, Heartfelt Blooms; Tonic Studios Summer Flowers

*Ink:  Catherine Pooler Twilight:  Gina K Amalgam; Copics

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Layering Ovals

*Tools:  Brother Scan 'n Cut

*Only Black & White*

I don't know....  I've seen some cards lately that are floral cards but only in black and white... and while I think they've been great, I'm not sure that I should have left one just black and white... I wonder if it needed a pop of colour... just a touch... somewhere....  Thoughts?

Items Used

*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Images:  Tonic Studios Botanical Burst; My Favorite Things Bitty Birthday Wishes

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Lawn Fawn Everyday Sentiments Banners

*Embellishments:  crystals from my stash

*Tools:  Brother Scan 'n Cut

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Scrap 'n Stamp Random Acts of Cardness*

I hope you'e had fun playing with the design team with the Random Acts of Cardness prompts this month.  A little secret you may not know is that each of us chooses the words we want to do on the days we are scheduled to appear on the Scrap 'n Stamp blog.  For today, I chose the word "cheers" thinking it was a great word to go along with our blog hop this month... and then I had no idea of what to do with it!

So I took a page from Chala's book and pulled out my Foil Quill and my Silhouette and had a go at it  You can't tell from this photo very well but the words are done in a great pink foil.  So much shimmer in person!

Items Used:

• Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White; Lawn Fawn Licorice; unknown holographic
• Images:  Tonic Studios
• Ink:  Gina K Amalgam; Copics
• Embellishments:  Crystal Stickles; pink foil
• Tools:  Perfect Layers; Foil Quill; Silhouette

*Another Year Full*

After a couple of cards in a row that I really loved, today you get one I'm just not 100% sure about.  It's OK, it's not awful... but it just doesn't make my heart sing.  Maybe it's just me... just not my "cup of tea" so to speak.  

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  Hammermill 100lb Premium Color Copy Cover; Stampin' Up! Melon Mambo

*Images:  Tonic Studios Peony Bloom; Gina K Where Flowers Bloom

*Ink:  Gina K Amalgam; Gina K Passionate Pink; Copics (YG21, YG25)

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Embellishments:  black Kaiser Pearls

*Shaped Stencil*

I love it when a card turns out how you envisioned it would....  this is a card that turned out almost perfectly.  I cut a heart shape out of a piece of paper to use as a mask with a stencil to create this wonderful card.

Items Used
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Highland Heather
*Images:  Tonic Studio Summer Flowers
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Catherine Pooler It's A Girl, Flirty Fuchsia
*Stencil:  Gina K Mandala Burst
*Tools:  Life Changing Blending Brushes
*Embellishments:  Studio Katia Sparkling Crystals

*Fabulous!*

I made a promise to myself to colour a little more... maybe I'll get a bit better at it over time.... so this card features a big floral bouquet that required colouring.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Only Orange, Basic Black
*Images:  Tonic Studios Botanical Burst; Taylored Expressions Simple Strips
*Ink:  Gina K Amalgam; Copics
*Dies:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips, Simple Strips Backer
*Tools:  Perfect Layers; Gemini Jr
*Embellishments:  Kaiser Craft White Pearls

*Floral Celebration*

Happy Thursday everyone... at least I think that's what day it is!  With no one here heading out of the house on a regular schedule I truly don't know for sure what day it is.  I know Saturday and Sunday because there is no alarm clock set, but otherwise it's a toss up!

But hey, any day is a good day to craft!  I am looking forward to heading back to work in about a month but disappointed to lose my "every day is a crafty day" attitude!  I will still have some days off but who knows how creative I will be on those days... so at some point I may have to switch back to posting every second day or so.

I certainly don't get creative every day... but every day has the potential to be crafty!  While this is card #114 that I'm posting, I have more than 175 cards made so far in 2020! I have NEVER made this many individual designs in one year, let alone 6 months!  Cancer gave me a gift in a lot of time to create... and while the other things it gave me haven't been gifts, I will take the creative gift!

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb; unknown green
*Images:  Tonic Studios Summer Flowers; MFT Anything But Basic Birthday Wishes
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Catherine Pooler Sugared Lavender, Polished, Sage
*Dies:  Lawn Fawn Everyday Sentiments Banner

*Stripes of Colour*

I truly love how simple this card was to put together...  I love the look of coloured images and I wish I could colour like so many other people.... but I find colouring less than relaxing and I don't put enough practice in to it so my colouring is pretty beginner at best.... and I want it to look like an expert.  So my answer is to just not colour very often (which means I don't get in much practice and leaves me a beginner... what a circle, eh?)

Anyway... I saw a card like this online and I wanted to try it... and I ended up loving it!

*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie
*Images:  MFT Distressed Patterns; Tonic Studios Botanical Burst
*Ink:  Catherine Pooler Pink Champagne, Bellini, Tiara, Mint to Be, It's A Boy, Sweet Sixteen; Versafine Clair Nocturne
*Tools:  Perfect Layers
*Embellishments:  Studio Katia Arctic Breeze Pearls

*You Are The Best*

And here we are... the halfway point of May... it's hard to believe how long we've been staying home, trying to get used to a new way of living our lives.  I am thankful for my love of card making as I have spent a lot of time creating in the last few months.... sometimes all alone, sometimes with friends on video chat.  The video chat craft sessions have been fun and I seem to be more creative when there are like-minded others to craft with!

This is another white on white layered card.  It's necessary (at least for me) when I want to colour with copics but still have a wonderfully clean and simple card.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb
*Images:  Tonic Studios Summer Flowers
*Ink:  Gina K Amalgam; Copics
*Embellishments:  Glossy Accents; ribbon from my stash (that is largely ignored LOL)

*Another Year*

I am happy to report that as of about 430 this afternoon (630 eastern), I will be done chemo!  I went in on Tuesday for my 2 hour infusion and I come home with a bottle of another drug that infuses in to my system over 46 hours.  I wear it in a little fanny pack like bag and it's hooked up to a port in my chest for those 2 days.  It's not pretty, but it is necessary.  I am SO happy be done with round #12!!!  In all honesty, the time from my first treatment (early December) to now has truly flown by most of the time... but on the days I feel particularly crappy, it feels like forever.  I will have a few crappy days coming up (in fact today I'm already feeling pretty tired), but after that I will just continue to feel a little better every single day.

I was playing around and thought I'd try a Copic coloured card that is a little more muted than what I usually do.  I used a grey ink to stamp the flowers and then chose more pastel shades of ink to colour the image.  I love how it turned out....

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb
*Images:  AlteNew Weekend Doodles; Tonic Studios Summer Flowers; Copics
*Ink:  Lawn Fawn River Rock; Versafine Clair Nocturne
*Embellishments:  Studio Katia Sparkling Crystals

*Floral Fabulous*

I will admit, I don't have the patience for colouring.  I don't really enjoy it.  Maybe it's because I don't feel like I'm good at it?  I suck at shading, honestly.  I know I need to put in some practice to get better, but since I don't really love it, is it a waste of time?

That being said, I do love the look of Copics and I hope I do them at least a bit of justice when I do pull them out to colour.

I love these Tonic Studios images....  such beautiful florals!

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up Gorgeous Grape and Basic Black
*Images: Tonic Studios Botanical Burst; Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Background
*Ink:  Gina K Amalgam; Copics
*Dies: Taylored Expressions Simple Strips and Simple Strips Backer
*Tools:  Misti; Gemini Jr; Perfect Layers