*Create It 3-Ways Instagram Hop*

 Each month, a group of us hop on Instagram, each sharing three cards we've made following a common theme.  The catch is, we each choose something to highlight in all three of our cards... a colour combination, a stamp set, a layout, a technique... something that will maybe help spark your creativity with the items already in your stash.

For March, our theme is sympathy cards... never something we like to make, but sadly something we need to have on hand.

In my mind, sympathy cards should be subtle and subdued.  I also like the imagery of a butterfly for sympathy cards.  All three of my cards use the same Pinkfresh Washi tape suite as well as the same sentiment stamp and die... and two of them feature the same embossing folder as well.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies; The Ton Easy Expressions
*Embossing:  Stampin' Up! Soft Waves
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Addicted to CAS #304*

 We have a great new challenge for you to play with at Addicted to CAS... and it's one of my favourite things!

I just love playing with stripes... so much so, I had trouble deciding which stripes I wanted to play with!  I ended up choosing this fun watercolour-like pattern paper that was actually a diagonal stripe so I cut it down with a die to make the stripes horizontal.  I even managed to use an extra piece I had cut to make a card last week!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cloud Cover

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Bright & Beautiful
*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Stitched Rectangles; Waffle Flower Nesting Rectangles; Prism Studio Essential Greenery

*Challenges:  Addicted to CAS #304

*Pattern Paper Posies*

 The theme for March for the Pattern Paper Party Instagram Hop is Flowers.  I used a fun floral paper to cut my flowers and leaves to create my card for today.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Pattern Party, Flowers & Field

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  The Ton Easy Expressions; Spellbinders Floral Spray

*Embellishments:  Pinkfresh Studio Iridescent Clear Drops

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  The Paper Players #777

*Crushing Christmas Instagram Hop*

 Our theme for this month for the Crushing Christmas Instagram Hop is Jolly Gingerbread.  I pulled out some cute papers from my stash as well as a fun stamp that I coloured quickly with my Copics

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  Doodlebug Milk & Cookies
*Stamps:  Lawn Fawn Simply Celebrate Winter; Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

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

*Dies:  Lawn Fawn Simply Celebrate Winter; Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*CAS on Friday #330*

 It's a spring themed challenge at CAS on Friday... and what's more spring-like than some pretty daisies?

I cut these open daisies and added a bright yellow centre to each of them and then added them to small white squares that I put on to my card front with foam adhesive.

My only regret is that my sentiment stamp was ripping and I couldn't get it quite straight when I stamped it on my card front... should have done that first, I guess LOL

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Crushed Curry

*Stamps:  Pinkfresh Studio Happy Birthday Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  A Jillian Vance Designs Open Daisies; Waffle Flower Nesting Squares

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges:  CAS on Friday #330; The Paper Players #777

*Time Out Challenges #309*

We have such a fun challenge for you at Time Out Challenges!  I can't wait to see how you interpret our idea of using a clear element on your project!

I went with a fully clear panel for my card front!  To do this, I cut a piece of acetate that was the same size as my card front but with an extra 1/2" on the folded side.  I scored the piece of acetate and put a piece of white cardstock inside the flap to create a card back.

The key to a card like this is to make it so that your adhesive doesn't show through.  I adhered my paper strips only in the centre 3/4" or so and then added the 1" gold strip to the inside of the card, putting adhesive only behind the paper strips.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  unknown brushed gold; acetate

*Paper:  Stampin' Up (don't know the name of it)

*Stamps:  Gina K Wreath Builder

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Stitched Circles

*Challenges:  Time Out #309

*Card Clubhouse Instagram Hop*

The Card Clubhouse Instagram Hop is welcoming spring this week...  it's not quite spring here in Calgary as I know we will get some more snow, but I am looking forward to the colours that start to pop when the weather turns warmer.

I had fun creating a clean and simple card using my favourite butterflies and lots of foam adhesive!

Card Info

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everying

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi Tape:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies; MFT Something for Everything; Stampin' Up! Tasteful Labels; MFT Stitched Rectangles

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*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

*Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #673*

 There's a wonderful and simple new sketch at Atlantic Hearts today...  

I had some fun with some circles for my card... even with that big square element!   I used a fun pattern paper behind a stained glass style die and added an embossed panel to the bottom of the card.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Lemon Lime Twist
*Paper;  Stampin' Up! Bright & Beautiful

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Memory Box Stained Glass Floral; The Ton Easy Expressions

*Embossing:  Lisa Horton Crafts Layered Bubbles

*Embellishments:  unknown bling

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Atlantic Hearts #673; Just Us Girls #814

*My Favourite Instagram Hop*

 We are playing with a Lucky Shamrock theme with the My Favourite Instagram Hop this week... I have a a few sentiments with the word "luck" or "lucky" in them but I can't think of anything else in my stash.

So I improvised!  The only problem was that I couldn't find a stamp that I could easily partially stamp the words "wishing you" so I should have changed my front panel.

I used a pattern paper from a Christmas package, an alphabet die set and a heart die to create my card!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Granny Apple Green; unknown gold shimmer

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Modern Christmas

*Dies:  Hero Arts Infinity Hearts; Spellbinders Be Bold Alpha; MFT Stitched Circles; Waffle Flower Nesting Circles

*Challenges:  Inkspirational #363

*AAA Colourful #26*

Happy Sunday, creative friends... it's time for a new colourboard challenge over at AAA Colourful!  I can't wait to see what colours YOU pull out of this fabulous graphic!

I see sunshine glinting off of what looks like ice bubbles... I used a kraft coloured cardstock as well as a pretty but muted yellow and a deep dark blue.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Crumb Cake, Night of Navy, Soft Saffron

*Stamps:  Studio Katia Birthday Greetings

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Paper Rose Studio Alora Layered Butterfly

*Embossing:  Stampin' Up! Soft Waves

*Challenges:  AAA Colourful #26; Just Add Ink #781

*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

*CASE It Instagram Hop*

 Each month, a group of us find a papercrafting creation on Instagram that inspires us enough to want to make a card based on that creation and we share it for the CASE It Instagram Hop  Some months I will copy that card almost exactly, some months I play with the elements to create something different but similar.

This month, I was inspired by Verena Shapiro.  This is her card

I fell in love first with the colours... out of my usual wheelhouse, but so freakin' pretty!  Of course her mini slimline caught my eye as well.  To create my card, I used the same colours and the leaves, but I made a more clean and simple version of her card.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Early Espresso, Cloud Cover, Fresh Freesia

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Prism Studios Essential Greenery

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Sending Sunshine Instagram Hop*

Each month, the Sending Sunshine Instagram Hop hopes to share a little sunshine through our cardmaking.  We make cards with uplifting messages and happy images in hopes of brightening someone's day.

I was inspired by a beautiful rainbow card that I saw that had a black element that really made the rainbow elements pop!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

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

*Washi Tape: Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses; Waffle Flower Nesting Circles
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Clean and Simple Instagram Hop*

 This month for the Clean and Simple Instagram Hop we are playing with the theme of friendship.  I chose my favourite colour combination and some simple floral dies to create a card to send to a friend...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black and two colours from a stash and I have no idea what they are LOL

*Stamps:  Paper Rose Studio Daisy Bouquet

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Pierced Blooms

*Tools:  Scor Pal; Perfect Layers

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 This week for the This or That Instagram Hop, we are choosing between Leprechauns and Gnomes.  I LOVE gnomes but I don't use them very often in my creating.  I bought this gnome die a few years ago... I just had to have it... and then I used it once or twice and never again.  For today, I played with some fun pattern papers to create this cutie.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Spellbinders Cloud, Chiffon; Stampin' Up! Night of Navy

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Pattern Party

*Stamps:  Paper Rose Gnomies

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Stitched Circles; Simon Says Stamp Li'l Gnome

*Embossing:  Lisa Horton Layered Bubbles

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges:  Just Us Girls #814

*Try A Sketch On Tuesday #690*

 I had some fun playing with the current sketch at Try a Sketch on Tuesday... I will admit that I really wanted to play with the sketch but wasn't feeling overly creative (has been a theme this week) so I'm not sure that the card is exactly what I wanted it to be.  

Here's the sketch...

I started out with stencilling a layer and then added a dark blue frame.  I added some Pinkfresh die cut washi tape elements and a simple sentiment to finish it off.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Night of Navy

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Salty Ocean

*Stencils:  Picket Fence Studio Sunburst

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses, Fluttering Butterlies

*Dies:  Prism Studio Sew Many Rectangles; Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses, Fluttering Butterflies; the Ton Easy Expressions

*Challenges:  TSOT #690

*White on White Instagram Hop*

 Good morning friends...  this month for the White on White Instagram Hop, we are playing with spring holidays.  Our cards will be mostly white on white, however we are allowed one accent colour to use.  So far, the only colour I've ever used has been black to stamp a sentiment.

Today is no different...  a super cute little bunny card

Card Info

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Carta Bella Bunny Buddies

*Embossing:  Spellbinders Loops
*Etc:  foam adhesive (for the tails!)
*Challenges:  All About #3

*My Favorite Instagram Hop*

 This week for the My Favorite Instagram Hop we were challenged to pay with our favourite thing that we will miss about winter...  LET ME BE CLEAR.... I will miss NOTHING about winter!  I hate the lack of daylight hours and long hours of darkness.  I dislike the cold and the wind.  The snow looks pretty but it's a lot of work to shovel it.  I get so frustrated with slippery streets.  Here in Calgary, March is historically our snowiest month of the year so I'm not missing anything about winter yet!

But... all that being said... I LOVE snowflakes.  I think they are beautiful.  So beautiful that I have a tattoo of snowflakes.  If we could get snowflakes (and snowmen) without everything else, I'd be OK with that.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black; vellum

*Paper:  Simple Stories Winter Wonder

*Dies:  Memory Box Jolly Snowflake Trio; Stampin' Up! Peace & Joy

*Addicted to CAS #303*

 Happy weekend, creative friends!  We've got a wonderful theme at Addicted to CAS this week, to help get you thinking about spring!

Here in Calgary we don't start gardening outside for a few more months.  March is actually our snowiest month of the year (historically).  But that doesn't stop us from dreaming of all of the beautiful things that will be growing soon!

Card Info

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

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses; Prism Studios Sew Many Rectangles; The Ton Easy Expressions
*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges:  Addicted to CAS #303

*CAS on Friday #329*

 We have a fabulous sketch for you this week at CAS on Friday!  I can't wait to see how you each interpret it!

I decided to play with some more gold elements for my card today, choosing some gold mirror cardstock and a beautiful die cut washi piece.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Bazill gold mirror

*Stamps: MFT Something for Everythign

*Ink: Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinfkresh Studio Vines & Roses

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses

*Challenges:  CAS on Friday #329