Sunday, May 28, 2017

Wish You the Most Beautiful Day...Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #409~Blossom, Powder, Lemon

Hello,

Welcome to Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #409, where we're tempting you with a most lovely palette of  Blossom (pink), Powder (light blue) and Lemon (yellow).  Check out this week's cupcakes: Dr. Suess!  Artistic and awesome!


Two of my Altenew sets came out to play....

First, Watercolour Wonders:


Second, Beautiful Day...


I need to bring these out more often, as the results always make me smile! Hope they do the same for you!

Please head over to see my team-mates' creations for marvelous inspirations.

Looking forward to seeing your luscious Blossom, Powder and Lemon creations in the gallery!

That's it from me; I'm dashing off to officiate a bike race (the second event of the weekend).  Blue skies...hope it stays that way!

Also sharing at:

Cards In Envy~Favorite Color Combo {Anything Goes} Card Challenge  Pink, blue and yellow are a favourite combination!

Adding the first card to the Altenew May 2017 Inspirations Challenge.


Thank you for dropping by; your visit is both welcomed and deeply appreciated!










Thursday, May 25, 2017

Birthday Collage...FUSION Challenge~Chalkboard Baking

Hello,

Welcome to the newest edition of the FUSION Challenge~Chalkboard Baking. Love that image,especially the wooden rolling pin with the teal handles! So cool! The cupcakes look mighty yummy, too! The sketch: another user-friendly delight!

A trio of cards...and the first is my nod to the chalkboard style. I'm not an embossing-powder embosser (for a # of reasons). I love the look when other people emboss; I'm not a fan of my results. This one, however, I rather like....and that's 100% due to the fabulous Uniko Block Party Birthday stamp. Isn't it awesome?  Embossed, a bit of colouring and done...


I  made a second, using distress inks (cracked pistachio and peacock feathers) for the background....

and a third (spiced marmalade, picked raspberry).

And that, my friends, is a wrap!

Please head over to see my team-mates' creations for marvelous inspirations:


Looking forward to seeing your designs in the FUSION gallery!


Also sharing at:

Uniko Challenge #41 Masculine



Thank you for dropping by; your visit is both welcomed and deeply appreciated!



Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Go. See. Do...Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #243~Holiday

Hello,

A sunny day yesterday saw us enjoy a wonderful hike in the foothills...such a pretty location. Today, more heat and sun...and tomorrow, the rains and winds loom! The "special warning" banner across the weather site I follow has me a bit sketched out; hopefully, things will be 'less' than what the weather folk are telling us.  Battening down the hatches!  Anyway...let's turn to brighter topics!

Welcome to Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #243~Holiday.


I decided to interpret 'holiday' as in 'going on a holiday' and have two cards to share.

Map Love by Concord & 9th, paired with a sentiment from W&W's Big, Bold and Fun.


Of course, part of  a holiday's *go, see, do* activities includes taking photos, so out came my Altenew mini camera set. Sketchy water-colouring with my Tombow markers.


My holiday pair....



Looking forward to your interpretations of "Holiday" this week!

See you in the gallery!

Also sharing at:

Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #344~Anything Goes

Thanks so much for dropping by; your visit brings me joy!


Monday, May 22, 2017

Veggie Kindness...CASology #249~Warm

Hello,

Happy May long weekend to those of you enjoying a holiday Monday!  Sunny and warm here! Yayyyy!

Quick post for CASology #249~Warm


 The thinking behind my two cards (just different background panels: scallop and postage stamp):

  • Images:  Warm = summer = gardens.  I love carrots! As for peppers, I like red ones only. Let's consider this one a 'hot red' pepper *grin*
  • Sentiment: Kindness = warms my heart.



Maybe we'll go find a farmers' market today...

Thanks so much for dropping by; your visit makes me feel all warm and fuzzy!


Friday, May 19, 2017

New Home Congratulations...Inkspirational Challenge #135~Word Prompt *Urban*

Hello!

A long weekend, and we have a list of chores "this long" to tackle, so you're being treated to a flash post today!  Welcome to Inkspirational Callenge #135, where the theme for the next two weeks is *URBAN*.



Our guest designer this week, is ultra-talented, mega-sweet Aileen, from Colour and Sparkle fame for her blog and @huh_what_pardon on instagram. When you read her bio, you'll understand. In addition to her impressive creativity, she has an awesome sense of humour!  Her card is nothing short of marvelous, as are those created by my sweet - and witty - teammates:


Plan 1 was to use my Paper Smooches city-scape die which, despite my valiant searching attempts, I couldn't find..grrr! The disappointment was short-lived, as I remembered my new Houses stamps from STAMPlorations. Execute Plan 2. My set of cards are more suburban than urban but...I believe I meet the definition (yayyy for Wikipedia, *grin*) of: 'relating to, or characteristic of cities or towns.'

So, without further ado, here are my Houses cards, with the images very very very loosely water-coloured with Tombow markers.  I haven't completely given up on water-colouring...yet.


Apologies for the blurriness on some of these; I'm at my wit's end in trying to find ways/ places to get good photos consistently. I spend more time taking-deleting-editing-deleting, repeat x 1000 - and still ending up with lame results - than I do making cards! Yeesh!

 
Kind of a girly neighbourhood.

Sometimes a little house can be a 'big' home.

I wasn't going to share this crowded little number, with the 'sort of' smooshed Hello, but decided why not? It's not especially well done, but in real life, it is kind of artsy cute-ish...


There you have it: my take on *Urban* with a trio of  'congrats on your new home' cards (plus the outlier).  Speaking of new homes....oops!  Gotta go!  We'll 'address' that topic later....

You know the routine!  
Looking forward to seeing your takes on *Urban* in the Ink gallery!

Just a note:  If you're interested in these fabulous Houses, or any other product from STAMPlorations, I invite you to use my code: STAMPGIRLCAROLM. Here's the details:


  • Customers who order and use your discount code will get 20% off on all stamps, stencils, and dies.
  • Customers can use your code to get discounts on all regular- and sale-priced items in the store.
  • Customers can not combine your code with any other discount codes.
Also sharing at:

STAMPlorations May Anything CAS Goes Challenge (Feminine Colours)


STAMPlorations Anything Goes Challenge


Simon Says Wednesday Challenge~Home Sweet Home


Thank you for dropping by; your visit brings me joy!







Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Bike, Bike and Bike....Serendipity Stamps May Blog Hop #2

Hello,

We're already on the second half of May and spring is slowly, ever so slowly wending its way in Alberta. Snowfall warning in effect in parts of the province that are very close to where we are. I kid you not! Yeesh!

So, let's just brighten the outlook, shall we, with a blog hop; specifically, Serendipity Stamps May Blog Hop #2.  Once again, my fantastic DT and I are showcasing some fabulous products that, hopefully, will inspire and delight. Your part is easy: by simply hopping along and leaving comments,  you're in the running for s a $20 gift certificate.  Here's the hop list....

Carol Mayne (you are here)

I have a trio of very, very CAS cards today. If you've followed me for a while, you likely know that my husband and I are involved in road bike racing; he's a National and Elite Commissaire (which is the fancy word for 'official'), as well as a competitor, depending on the event; I am a Provincial Commissaire. I do NOT race. No way!  I am, however, passionate about the sport! The first event of the season took place this past weekend, and yours truly was one of the officials. While most of the races were 'okay' (one bad crash sent three people to hospital and saw the race end early for two groups, as the incident happened at the finish line), the weather wasn't playing nicely: wind, rain, more wind, more rain.  Hopefully, the next race, in two weeks' time, will be held under sunny, breezy conditions...and I won't *have* to wear my winter woolies!

Anyway, that said, no surprise that I'm featuring bikes (Bicycle stamp), a bike-themed sentiment (Life is Like Riding) and birthday wishes (Happy Birthday) on my cards...




The font of the Life Is sentiment is soooo lovely and the bike is wonderfully detailed, which is why I left it 'as is'! It doesn't need 'my' colouring to make it the star of the stage; it does so all on its own!

That's it from me!  
Please head over to Serendipity Stamps Blog for more how-to-win details as well as for some scoops on sales. 
Hop, hop, hop! Next on the list is wonderfully talented Karen Amidon. Enjoy!

Thank you for dropping in today; your visit brings me joy! 



Sunday, May 14, 2017

Wishing You A Beautiful Day...Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #407~For Mother

Hello,

To all my wonderful friends and visitors who are moms (including moms to fur-babies): Happy Mother's Day!  To celebrate, the team over at Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #407, invite you to create cards/projects "For Mom".  Check out the bouquet of roses cupcakes...swooningly scrumptious!



This week, Poppystamps is our sponsor, with the winner receiving a $20 gift certificate! Thank you!
 Altenew Painted Flowers set has been sitting i n my NBUS stash for a few months and when I saw this photo, decision to use it was easily made. Line-up lessons required and I found precisely what I needed in the free class - yes FREE -  at the Altenew Academy:  All About Layering...(and the sequel, All About Layering 2 in next on my list for a couple of other sets).  Thanks to Nicole P's video, which went through a number of start-pause-start episodes, I have a bit of a handle on how these lovely blooms work. Of course, more practice is required - and one flower still needs attention - but....I'm quite smitten with my first 'show-able' attempt!  Hope my mom will like the scattering of 'roses' when I give her this card later today....


Please head over to Cupcake Inspirations to see my team-mates' "For Mom" cards...you'll be dazzled!
Afterwards, design a card/project to share in the gallery! Looking forward to seeing your there!

Have a marvelous Sunday!

Thank you for dropping by; your visit brings me joy!



Thursday, May 11, 2017

Celebrate, Smile, Saying Hello...FUSION~Navy Patterns

Hello,

Welcome to the newest edition of FUSION Challenge~Navy Patterns, where we have a stylish, striking living room, paired with a friendly sketch, as inspiration sparks for the next two weeks.
My first two cards are the result of three inspiration sources: colours (obvious blue in the first; the yellow/peach from the tulips in the second), the sketch (teensy adaption with the sentiment) AND a trio of cards designed by ultra-talented, Debby Hughes: Live In The Moment Card Set Inspired By Instax Mini 8 With Capture Moments Stamp Set.

My first *case Debby* card, adapted for our sketch, turned out like this....


and my second, like so...

This masking/blending/stamping technique is fabulous! Indeed, you may see me giving it a go in the very near future!

Of course, I couldn't leave you without one of my beloved butterflies *grin*


Please head over to see my team-mates' creations for marvelous inspirations; their cards are navy-pattern gorgeous and sketch savvy!

Becca Cruger (taking a break)


Looking forward to seeing your designs in the FUSION gallery!


Thank you for dropping by; your visit is both welcomed and deeply appreciated!







Tuesday, May 9, 2017

Butterfly Hello....Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #241~Anything Goes

Hello,

Welcome to Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #241 featuring the ever popular Anything Goes as this week's inspiration. Bring it on!

Yes, I'm in full on butterfly mode. Sorry, but I have such a variety of new ones that they all warrant some play time. The trio here, fluttering through the clouds (this ef is ah-mazing! Darice clouds...), are the Blissful Butterflies stamp and die combination from Pretty Pink Posh.  So sweet! Tombow markers and a blender pen...not 'quite' water-colouring but close-ish....


Please be sure to visit my teammates to see where they've gone with their 'anythings', then join us in the gallery!  See you soon!

Thank you so much for dropping by; your visit brings me joy!





Monday, May 8, 2017

Yet More Butterflies....Happy Little Stampers May Anything Goes with Dies Challenge, Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge~Flutter

Hello,

WOW...May, already!  I imagine that blossoms and flowers are blooming for many of you; here, our 'darling buds of May' are being a bit hesitant, awaiting warmer weather. Hopefully, we'll see green leaves and vibrant petals soon...

Today, my teammates and I welcome you to Happy Little Stampers May Anything Goes with Dies Challenge

 where you have a chance to win:


Pretty marvelous incentive, indeed!

My showcase was inspired by the pretty monochromatic butterflies at Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge~Flutter


I've mentioned  previously (and often!) that I love my Concord & 9th Beautiful Butterflies, so I reached for the stamps and dies not once, but three times. The front panels are grey, the inside of the die cuts, yellow, pink and peach/coral....


(Adding this one to Less Is More Challenge Challenge #327~Yellow & Grey)




It took a bit of finagling on my part to align the die cuts with the background stamping (my engineering skills aren't that strong..), but the end result was well worth the time and puzzling. Butterflies make me wondrously happy!


Please be sure to visit my team-mates at HLS Anything Goes with Dies, then create a card/project (or three...) of your own and join us!

See you in the gallery!

Thank you so much for dropping by; your visit brings me joy!