*This or That Instagram Hop*

 For the entire month of December, the choice on the This or That Instagram Hop is Holiday Treats or Holiday Drinks.  This will be a tough one for me as I don't have a lot of food or drink stamps... I think most of mine will be Holiday Treats... or at least todays is!

Card Info

*Stamps:  Lawn Fawn Simply Celebrate Winter; The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

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

*Dies:  Lawn Fawn Simply Celebrate Winter

*Embossing:  Spellbinders Peppermint Stripes

*Embellishments:  Liquid Pearls

*Time Out Challenges#303*

 Today we start the last challenge of 2025 at Time Out Challenges.  We will be back in the new year to hopefully inspired your creativity!

We have an awesome photo challenge for this last challenge... be sure to tell us in your post how you were inspired by the photo below.

I find photo inspiration challenges difficult... but here's my tip for how I approached this one.  I looked at the photo as individual elements...  colours, locations, shapes... so I was inspired by the red and gold I saw in the photo as well as these friends together making memories.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler

*Stamps:  Concord & 9th Winter Greenery; Mama Elephant Merry Greetings
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Gina K Cherry Red and Grass Green

*Stencils:  Concord & 9th Winter Greenery

*Foil Plate:  Spellbinders Plaid Tidings

*Foil:  Spellbinders gold

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges:  Time Out #303

*Mini Slimline Instagram Hop*

 Hello creative friends... it's time for the Mini Slimline Instagram Hop!  Each month, a group of my creative friends join me in sharing a mini slimline card.  There are no rules other than the card has to be a mini slimline.

Of course, I am sharing another Christmas card today (it is going to be SO hard to get out of Christmas card mode!).  I used a new to me die set to create my card for today.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler; Bazzill gold mirror

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Tidings of Christmas

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Spellbinders Vintage Layered Ornaments; The Ton Easy Expressions Holidays

*{BYSHC} Sketch #64*

 Happy December, creative friends!  I am in SHOCK that we are flipping the page on to the last month of 2025!  

A new month means a new sketch at Build Your Stash Holiday Card Makers...

I chose some papers from one paper pack... the easiest way to make sure they all go together!  I like to try to choose two papers that have a white base and two that are a colourful base.

Card Info

*Cardstock  Stampin' Up! Granny Apple Green

*Paper:  American Crafts

*Stamps:  Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers #64

*My Favorite Instagram Hop*

 This week on the My Favorite Instagram Hop, we are playing with our favourite hair or clothing fad. I wasn't going to play with this one because nothing popped in to my head.  Then, this past weekend, I had an idea and I ran with it!

I LOVE that ugly Christmas sweaters have made a comeback.  I love that people host parties, that people make their own, that my office has us wear them on the Friday before Christmas.  They are just so much fun!

I bought a few sheets of this 12X12 paper from Photoplay a few years ago and used my Brother Scan 'n Cut to cut out all of the sweaters... sadly, I'm down to my last handful.  I'll be sad when they're gone!

I decided to showcase three of them on a fun embossed background on a mini slimline card.

Card Info

*Paper:  Photoplay Tulla & Norbert's Christmas Party

*Stamps:  Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Embossing:  Lisa Horten Layered Bubbles
*Tools:  Brother Scan 'n Cut

*Challenges:  Inkspirational #355

*Addicted to CAS #297*

 This week, I am hosting the challenge at Addicted to CAS....  this is the prompt that I chose...

Of course, metallics, to me, are perfect at Christmas, but I know that some of my design team friends went a completely different way!  I can't wait to see what you create!

I decided on a metallic snowflake... backed with a little black to make it pop!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up Basic Black; Lawn Fawn Holographic

*Stamps:  Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Dies:  Impression Obsession Snowflakes; Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Addicted to CAS #297

*CAS on Friday #323*

The CAS on Friday challenge that starts today is Christmas themed... super easy for me to do!  In case you haven't figured it out already, I LOVE making Christmas cards!

I kept my card pretty simple, using some texture along with only white and gold (and a little black in my sentiment).

Card Info

*Cardstock:  unknown gold glitter

*Stamps:  the Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Catherine Pooler Jolly Trees; Ellen Hutson Essential Circles; The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Embossing:  Stampin' Up! Soft Waves

*Challengs:  CAS on Friday #323

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 As soon as I saw the choices for the This or That Instagram Hop for this week, I knew what I wanted to do!  For this week, it's "no words" or "only words".  I chose an only words theme for my card.

I started with a stitched rectangle layer and cut a bunch of the letters to create the word JOY several times over.  In fact, I layered each of the letters in white twice, except the centre word that I layered in gold instead.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Bazill gold mirror

*Dies:  MFT Stiched Rectangles, Filled With Joy

*Challenges:  Just Add Ink #774

*Rainbow Connection Instagram Hop*

 Another month, another clean and simple rainbow coloured card for the Rainbow Connection Instagram Hop!  For my card today, I used three colours of Distress Oxide ink and let them overlap to create a full rainbow.  I then cut a snowflake swirl out of the panel I ink blended.  I cut a small white panel for the front of my card and added a bit of the blended panel behind it on one side for a little something extra.  I added some pearls and a sentiment to finish it off.

Card Info

*Stamps: The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Distress Oxide in Picked Raspberry, Salty Ocean, Mustard Seed

*Dies:  Hero Arts Snowflake Cluster; The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Embellishments:  Studio Katia Arctic Breeze Pearls

*Birthday Bounce Instagram Hop*

 This month on the Birthday Bounce Instagram Hop, we are playing with the theme of "animals".  We gather each month on Instagram to share birthday cards following this common theme.

I am deep in to my Christmas card making stash these days so I pulled out a Christmas set and added a cold birthday greeting!

To create my snowy sky, I used a chunk embossing powder that I sprinkled on the front of my panel and then I heated it from below so it would melt without blowing away.  I created my snowy hill by simply tearing a piece of cardstock.

Card Info
*Stamps:  Kraftin' Kimmie It's Penguining to Look a Lot Like Christmas; MFT Polar Penguins

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

*Etc:  Stampendous Chunky White embossing powder; foam adhesive

*CAS Colours & Sketches #574*

 The current challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches is a sketch... 

I decided to go super clean and simple with my card using this sketch.  I dug out this gorgeous ornament flourish die and cut it out of gold mirror cardstock.  I added a matted layer (because that's just my style) and a simple sentiment.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Bazzil gold mirror; Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Paper Trey Ink Signature Christmas

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Birch Press Laskett Ornament

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  CAS Colours & Sketches #574; Just Add Ink #774

*Atlantic Hearts Sketch #657*

 Another fabulous sketch from Atlantic Hearts to play with this week.  

I chose to play with an idea I saw on Instagram where you take two papers, cut them in to even rectangles and then cut those rectangles in half to create two quilted panels.  I used all papers from one paper pack as well as a simple stamped sentiment.

Card Info

*Paper:  Simple Stories Winter Wonder

*Stamps:  Catherine Pooler Nice List

*Challenges:  Atlantic Hearts #657

*Pattern Paper Instagram Hop*

 It's a full day of creative posts today!  I had four design team obligations that all fell on today!  They range from midnight to noon so make sure you either come back later or scroll!

This month for the Pattern Paper Hop, we were supposed to play with Paper Piecing.  I think I sort of did it right, although when I think of paper piecing, I think of piecing papers in to die cut images.  Instead I used scraps to create a quilted card front.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler; Bazill gold mirror

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Tidings of Christmas

*Stamps:  Mama Elephant Jingle Greetings

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Stitched Circles; MFT Stitched Circles
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Crushing Christmas Instagram Hop*

We are playing with die cutting for the Crushing Christmas Instagram Hop this month.  I bought this mittens die when I was in Ontario visiting my sister and I took my final trip to Stamp Art to shop.  This die was one of the ones that was used in their classroom and I got it for $5.  How can you pass up a $5 mittens die??

I cut the mittens out of white and then layered coloured cardstock behind the mittens to create these cute and fun little mittens.

This is a new favourite die in my stash... perfect for the challenge at The Paper Players

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Pretty in Pink, Granny Apple Green, Soft Sky

*Stamps:  MFT Giraffes on Ice

*Ink: Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Poppystamps Stacked Mittens; MFT Filled With Joy

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  The Paper Players #764

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 This week on the This or That Instagram Hop, we had to choose between Left or Right.  I tend to make most of my cards with a left sided focus, so I did a right handed one for my card today.  A few scraps of pattern paper and some shiny gone and I am in LOVE with this card!

I'm also entering it in to the challenge at The Paper Players... not an image, but I am using my new favourite Christmas pattern paper for this one!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black; Bazill gold mirror

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Modern Christmas

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Memory Box Knotted Circle Wreaths; The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  The Paper Players#764; Simply Clean and Simple

*Time Out Challenges #302*

 We have a pick 2 challenge at Time Out Challenges... simply share your creation using at least two of the words found in the graphic below...

I chose the words white, corner, sparkle and emboss... yup, I went overboard LOL!

Card Info

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Marie Snowflake; The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday
*Embossing:  Simon Says Stamp Snowflake Visions

*Etc:  Nuvo Aqua Shimmer Pen

*Challenges:  Time Out #302

*Freshly Made Sketches #713*

 I'm off to start my work week in about an hour, but had a little time to play in my craft room after getting myself ready for work.  Sometimes I spend that time getting some blog posts ready, but I did those the other day when I wasn't feeling overly creative which left me with some time on my hands today.

I saw the new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches while I was scrolling my phone after my shower this morning and had an idea in my head before I even finished styling my hair!  It was tough to use such a large piece of this gorgeous pattern paper, but I am IN LOVE with how this card turned out (and besides, I purchased 3 packages of this paper LOL!)

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler; Bazill gold mirror

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Modern Christmas

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Spellbinders Christmas Blooms

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges:  Freshly Made Sketches #713

*The Paper Players #764*

 I actually created three cards in the last two days just for the sake of playing,  I struggle to make cards other than my design team requirements because I seem to rely on a prompt of some sort.  And with a design team obligation, I can't just say "nah, doesn't speak to me" so I have to force myself to figure out that prompt.  And when I'm behind on design team duties, I don't even have time to look at other challenges.  Christmas cards come easily to me so my design team obligations for this month were knocked out pretty darn quickly!

So I decided to play with a clean and simple challenge at The Paper Players... Their prompt is your favourite holiday image so I pulled out my favourite snowflake to make my card.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Night of Navy; Lawn Fawn Holographic

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Impression Obsession Snowflakes; The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday
*Embossing:  Sizzix

*Embellishments:  Pinkfresh Studio Iridescent Clear Drops

*Challenges:  The Paper Players #764

*Just Us Girls #801*

I spent a good chunk of today out of the house with appointments, but managed a little time in my creative space.  I should probably start on my December design team duties, but I couldn't resist playing with another challenge (or maybe two)...

Tonight I'm sharing the card I made for the current challenge at Just Us Girls...  their challenge prompt is winter.  I chose to go with some snowflakes to make a Christmas card.  And since winter is dark, I also chose to use black and whtie!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  Echo Park Christmas Salutations

*Stamps:  MFT Christmas Wishes

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  unknown snowflake;  MFT Christmas Wishes

*Embellishments:  Pinkfresh Studio Iridescent Clear Drops

*Tools:  Perfect Layers
*Challenges:  Just Us Girls #801