*My Favourite Instagram Hop*

 It's been a while since I've played along with the My Favourite Instagram Hop.  I took a break last month because the themes didn't inspire me right away and I've started giving myself permission to skip hops and challenges that don't speak to me.

But the challenge for today speaks to me!  We are playing with our Favourite Pattern.

I love both flowers and stripes, so I used both!

Card Info

*Paper:  MFT Black & White Stripes
*Stamps:  Hunkydory Crafts

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses

*Dies:  Hunkydory Crafts; Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses

*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

*CAS on Friday #341*

 The challenge at CAS on Friday this week is to make a round card.  I went searching for inspiration on Pinterestand found a card kind of like this one I made.  There was no name associated with the pin I found so I can't fully credit the creator, but click HERE to go see it...  It's gorgeous!

I started with cutting a stitched circle and cutting out the centre of it.  I folded the skinny circle in half.  I put the centre part back in to the whole I cut it out of and layered my elements on both the folded piece and the inset circle so that when you open the card, both pieces move...

Card Info

*Stamps:  Hunkydory Crafts

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies
*Dies:  Hunkydory Crafts; Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies; Love From Lizi Stitched Circles

*Challenges:  CAS on Friday #341

*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 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

*CASE It Instagram Hop*

 Hello friends... it's time for the monthly CASE It Instagram Hop.  Each month, a group of us each find a card that inspires us on Instagram and we use that card (each our own choice) to create something inspired by the card.  It can be a direct copy or we can take elements and be inspired to create something more unique.

My card today was inspired by my online friend Sandy... please go check out her Instagram profile and share some love on her creations!

Here is Sandy's card...

I LOVE a raised frame, especially when it's done in white  I changed things up by making my frame a stitched circle and instead of in blended leaves, I did some pretty washi flowers.  I kept the idea of stamping my sentiment inside of the frame.

Card Info

*Stamps:  Hunkydory

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses; MFT Stitched Circles

*Challenges:  All About Challenges #8

*CAS Colours & Sketches #591*

 There is a fabulous new sketch at CAS Colours & Sketches that starts today...  

I had some fun playing with the gorgeous Pinkfresh Studio printed washi tape and matching dies to create the focal point for my card...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Vines & Roses

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Vines & Roses; MFT Something for Everything

*Challenges:  CC&S #591

*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

*It's MY Birthday Instagram Hop*

 I am one of those people who loves their birthday...  getting older is a part of life.  I don't love that I'm closer to 60 than I am to 50, but I'm happy to be alive to celebrate another birthday.  I took the day off work, have spent some time reading and crafting... got my free breakfast at Denny's and am looking forward to dinner and cake with my family this evening.  Let's be honest, the best part of my birthday is the cake! LOL!

Anyway, I am hosting a birthday hop on Instagram this afternoon... I hope you'll go have a look at all of the cards my online friends made to celebrate my birthday!

I used some of my favourite things for this card today... some pretty flowers, black and white stripes, all items from my bin of extras and a clean and simple card!  LOL I should have made it a mini slimline too! LOL

Card Info

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Pattern Party; MFT Black & White Stripes
*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Rainbow Daisies

*Dies:  The Ton Easy Exprssions; Pinkfresh Studio Rainbow Daisies

*Happy Birthday Kelley!*

 Another Instagram Birthday Hop to share with you today... this time, for my friend Kelley!  She and I are birthday neighbours as my birthday is tomorrow!

I did a super cute mini slimline for Kelley with a piece of rainbow pattern paper that I honestly fine overwhelming in anything but small amounts.  I think it was perfect for this card!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  Paper Rose Studio Rainbow Twirl 2.0

*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

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Scraps Only Instagram Hop*

 Each month, I play along with a group of friends on Instagram where you do a hop that focusses on using up the scraps and extras that we have hanging around, waiting for a rainy day.  Our theme for this month is Red, White & Blue... and since I'm not a patriotic American (but instead, a proud Canadian), I didn't do a patriotic themed card...  These are some of the pieces of the Pinkfresh Washi that I've cut and that get ignored in my bin of extras...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic BLack

*Stamps:  Gina K Wreath Builder

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies, Vines & Roses

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Nesting Ovals; Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses, Fluttering Butterflies

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Time Out Challenges #316*

 There's a photo inspiration challenge at Time Out Challenges this week... First, let's look at the inspiration photo

I was inspired by the blue and white stripes of the pillow on the blue chair.  I took strips of white and navy cardstock and adhered them to a piece of printer paper.  I then cut it out with a stitched rectangle die and added it to a larger piece of navy cardstock.  

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Night of Navy

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies

*Dies: Pinkfresh Fluttering Butterflies, Slim Strips; MFT Stitched Rectangles

*Challenges:  Time Out #316

*Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #687*

 Good morning, creative friends...  it's time for a new sketch at Atlantic Hearts!  I love trying to make these sketches a little closer to my clean and simple style when I can... and I am IN LOVE with the card I created today!

First, here's the sketch!

I love the overlapped framed squares on this sketch...

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
*Embossing:  Stampin' Up! Brick & Mortar

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Atlantic Hearts Sketch #687

*Happy Birthday Jerralyn*

 We are celebrating my online friend Jerralyn today... celebrating her birthday!  Head over to my Instagram Account to find this card and hop through to see all of the fabulous birthday cards that were made for her!

I kept my card pretty clean and simple.  I had these white die cut strips left over from another card so I used them on a smaller white panel and added some printed (and die cut) washi.  I even added a few gems to finish it off!

Card Info

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Birthday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  The Ton Easy Expressions Birthday; Pinkfresh Studio Slim Strips, Vines & Roses

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses

*Embellishments:  from my stash (Spellbinders I think)

*Build Your Stash Instagram Hop*

 This month, we are creating cards of gratitude for the Build Your Stash Instagram Hop.  The goal of this hop is to encourage the participants to make some basic cards that we might need throughout the year so that they are ready to be mailed when we need them.  I aim to make two cards following each theme.  Some months I fail.  This month I didn't!

In my effort to make more clean and simple cards (as they truly are where my heart is at), I did two simple cards to share today.

For this first card, I used some printed Washi and the matching die to cut out this gorgeous spring of leaves and added a simple stamped and die cut sentiment.

For my second card, I kept it simply black and white, breaking up the boredom with a simple embossing folder

Items Used

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Pinkfresh Studio Happy For You; Simon Says Stamp Thanks Words

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies
*Dies:  PInkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies, Happy For You
*Embossing:  Altenew Ribbon Waves

*Embellishments:  Pinkfresh Studio Iridescent Clear Drops
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*My Favourite Instagram Hop*

 This week we are playing with our favourite embossing folder for the My Favourite Instagram Hop.  I'm not sure that this is my favourite embossing folder, but it's certainly my most versatile folder ! I use it a lot!

I used the debossed side this time and dragged a grey ink pad across it to create my grout lines.

Card Info

*Stamps:  Waffle Flower Sweet Birthday Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Distress Hickory Smoke

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies; Waffle Flower Sweet Birthday Sentiments

*Embossing:  Stampin' Up! Brick & Mortar

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 We had to choose between LEGS and WINGS for the This or That Instagram Hop this week... and of course I went with wings (and of course I played with this gorgeous butterflies some more).

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Waffle Flower Sweet Birthday Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses, Fluttering Butterflies

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

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #681*

 It's time to share my design team creation for the current sketch at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenges.... but first, the sketch!

This card took me hours to put together.  I'd do an element and then change my mind... I did this more times than I can even remember!   But in the end, I think it turned out OK!

Card Info

*Paper:  MFT Bundles of Blossoms
*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Birthday
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Rainbow Daisies

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Rainbow Daisies; The Ton Easy Expressions Birthday

*Embossing:  Stampin' Up! Brick & Mortar

*Challenges:  Atlantic Hearts #681; Inkspirational #367

*Sending Sunshine Instagram Hop*

 Every month, I join a group of card makers for the Sending Sunshine Instagram Hop.  We make and share cards of encouragement in hopes of brightening the day of someone who needs it.

I will admit that I am feeling very behind in my creating (I like to have things done more than a week in advance) and when I do sit down to create, my mojo isn't flowing very well.  I am struggling to be creative lately.  I like the cards I am making, but I feel like I keep reusing the same products and the same ideas.

For my card today, I used some printed Pinkfresh Washi (and the matching dies) to create a happy rainbow card...

All of the items on this card are from Pinkfresh Studio.