Celebrate Florals...Serendipity Challenge #59~Leave It Bare

Hello...and Happy September 1st~

Today, I'm delighted to welcome you to the Serendipity Stamps Challenge Blog!  On the first of the month we post a new challenge with a central theme. The design team provides samples for inspiration at the beginning, and then again at the half way point of the challenge, but you get a whole month to join us!  The only 'rule' is that you use at least one Serendipity Stamp image on your creation. The incentive is an opportunity to win some goodies from Serendipity Stamps. Intrigued? I hope so!!

For this challenge, my team and I invite you to join us in Serendipity Challenge Blog #59~ Leave it Bare! Translation:  No pencils, paints, markers...just leave your fabulous stamps naked as a jaybird! Easy-peasy, right?  For those of us who find colouring  (and in my case, water-colouring!) images challenging, no need to fret! Let those stamps be!

I have, for you, a full panel of bare stamps, found in the oh-so-eye-catching Summer Flower Pops Background stamp. Love this: it reminds me of a colouring book page!  Let me tell you, I exercised incredible restraint not to colour these detailed lovely flowers (ummm...actually, I did colour them and oh my....Sorry, I digress), but they are just as eye-catching left black and white. A splash of colour with a distress-ink sponged Celebrate sentiment, a bit of typing for the 'add on" and...ta dahhhh!  Pretty and easy to recreate; isn't it wonderful when outstanding products do all the work!

Please be sure to visit my amazing DT, who I know will dazzle you with their creative nakedness (*grin*...had to)...I mean, with their stamps left bare:

Jeanne Jachna

Julie Warner

Karen Amidon

Marybeth Lopez

Miriam Napier

Patti Kehl

Vickie Zimmer

Want to go shopping? Of course you do! The Stamp of the Month for September (50% off) is this gorgeous collection of four images found in the Postoid Cling Stamp set.  So pretty; so richly detailed; so filled with possibilities...Some of the DT have used this stamp; you'll be blown away when you see their versions.

Your turn!

How will "leave it bare" play a role in your project?

What Serendipity Stamp will you feature?

Looking forward to seeing your creativity in the gallery!

Be sure to link up at the challenge blog by Midnight US EST September 29 

Thank you for spending part of your day with me; your visit brings me joy!

Grade 1...You've Got It Made!....CAS(E) this Sketch #187, Make My Monday Challenge #29~Back to School, Words 2 Craft By Challenge #32~A Single Step, Can You Case It Challenge #135~Back to School, Simon Says Wednesday Challenge~Anything Goes

.Hello,

So, you've only heard...er, read...me sharing about a bazillion kazillion times that my sweet niece, Ms. T will be starting Grade 1 tomorrow (or today, depending when you've stopped to visit).  While that is quite exciting for her, let's just say that Aunty C is...well, excited and nervous. She's a smart, sweet, personable gal...and her curiosity and zest or learning knows no bounds. Heck, I'd love to be her teacher *for reals* (I "might" be a just a bit envious of those who will be...); on the other hand, on some levels, I can still teach her stuff...or, as the case often is, she can teach me. Yes, being her aunty is the best. job. ever.

To mark this 'momentous' occasion, I made her a card (images from Alley Way stamps); a water-coloured one, no less! It's much prettier in real life, with sparkles on the crayon and paste, and glossy accents on the bookworm's glasses. Inside, I stamped: You've got it made.  You've got SMARTS!  She does...oodles of smarts...and cuteness, too!

As you can see, my design inspiration comes from CAS(E) This Sketch #187

After work tomorrow, I'm heading her direction.  Hopefully, all will go well - big girl britches are ready-to-wear for the solo highway drive - and I can deliver it in person. Hope she likes it and I'm especially looking forward to having her read me the sentiment inside!!

I'm also sharing over at:

Make My Monday Challenge #29~Back To School

Words 2 Craft By Challenge #32~A Single Step, with inspiration from this quotation (one of my favourites):

The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.  ~~ Lao-Tzu

Can You Case It Challenge #135~Back to School

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge~Anything Goes

Thank you so much for spending part of your day with me; your visit brings me joy!

Happy Happy Birthday Rose and Flourish...Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #209~CAS, STAMPlorations August Theme Challenge~Stamps and Markers/Pencils, and Anything Goes Challenge

Hello!

Back to work for me today (August 31st)! Gahhhhhhhhh! Okay, now that I have that out of my system, a hearty welcome Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #209~Clean and Simple

My card today showcases a variety of STAMPlorations products: Flourishes All Over, stenciled in  light blue, a sentiment from Party Time, and, a rose (from a set that I can't find in the shop), coloured with Chameleon pens, fussy cut, and set atop an inlaid die-cut stitched circle. 

(apologies for the very *soft* photo...overcast day....)

Turning the stage over to you!

What Clean and Simple creativity will you share in the gallery? Excited to see...

Also sharing at:

STAMPlorations August Theme Challenge~Stamps and Markers/Pencils

STAMPlorations Anything Goes Challenge

Seize the Birthday~Anything Goes

Thank you so much for spending part of your day with me; your visit brings me joy!

My Niece's and Nephew's Arts...Simon Says Summer Vacation: Kids' Challenge~Anything Goes with Glitter

Hello, hello...

If you've been following me for a while, you know that I'm *Aunty c* to my darling niece, Ms. T, who has somehow turned 6 years old in the blink of an eye, and charming nephew, Mr. C, who, in another blink, has turned 4. I've explained to them quite clearly that this 'growing up' stuff needs to sloooooowwwww down, however...apparently that's not the case.  Because they live four hours north of us, every moment I spend with them is beyond precious, and filled with giggles, wiggles and, in the case of this post, squiggles!

When I discovered, about mid-August, the Simon Says Summer Vacation: Kids' Challenge~Anything Goes with Glitter,

I decided that the two lights-of-my-life *had* to enter!  Added to my travel bag during my recent visit, I brought along some glitter...and we did some creating, using  canvases they had at home, paint, glitter (which is not showing up as I had hoped in the photos) and, as you'll see, other 'interesting' tools....

Ms. T decided they 'had' to create pieces of art with their initials on them (something she had seen 'somewhere'), so we did precisely that.  We masked off their respective *T* and *C*...and away they went, using brushes and marbles (yes, marbles)....You can guess who decided that 'pink and blue' would be the predominant colours (Hello, Ms. T...)

Tessa (age 6)

Connor (age 4)

After that, things went a little...ummm. haywire.  Mr. C (who had enough of being given instructions bossed around by his older sister) brought out his Hotwheels cars and in under a nanosecond, had one dunked in paint, and was running it over another canvas.  No way was Ms. T going to be left behind with that messy fun, so with her car in hand, the two of them created these.... 

The first is kind of funky with its explosions of colour....

while the second rather looks like wildflowers.  I have no idea how they wound up 'stopping' at just the 'right moment'...but they did....

Abstract art made in rather an 'abstract' way.  Because they both had a few 'zoom zooms' on each canvas, I'll consider these as collaborative efforts.  Again, wish you could see the glitter...

So, there you have it: a canvas, each, from my niece and nephew, followed with two pieces of joint-designing with Hotwheels cars, of all things.  Go figure!  Creativity, plus in my books (but then again, I am a biased *Aunty c*...)

Thank you so much for spending part of your day with me; your visit brings me joy!

Altenew Watercolour Wonders Thank You...Altenew August 2016 Inspiration Challenge~Flamingos, NBUS Challenge #7, Sweet Stamping Challenge~No Designer Paper

Hello,

We're at my mom-in-law's at the moment (yayyy for nice weather!),heading home in a couple hours, so I'll be super quick with my post.  Altenew's Watercolour Wonders set has been sitting in my NBUS pile for far too long! Last week, before we left, I gave it a whirl; the allure of Altenew August 2016 Inspiration Challenge~Flamingos was far toooo tempting to resist.

I know there's nothing particularly 'original' with my design, but...I'm thrilled *pats self on back* that I figured out the laying process (far easier than I initially thought).  I used Altenew Frosty Pink for the flowers,  Cotton Candy for the flower centers, Morning Frost for the leaves and sentiment from Many Thanks.

NOTE: Honoured and thrilled to be selected as a Sweet Stampin' Challenge Spotlight Top 3! THANK YOU!

In fact, after making three in pink, I enjoyed the layering so much that I just carried on in different colours (and here I thought I didn't like making 'multiples' of cards. HA! Do so!...well, up to a point).




Peach Parfait (flowers), Cotton Candy (centers), Frayed Leaf (leaves), Painted Greetings (sentiment).

Same as the one above, using Many Thanks sentiment.

Peach Parfait (flowers), Cotton Candy (centers), Frayed Leaf (leaves), Painted Greetings (sentiment).

Of course, being this is allll brand new schtuff, I'm joining awesome Darnell's NBUS Challenge #7. 

Sweet Stamping Challenge~No Designer Paper

 Darnell, thank you again for giving us opportunity to summit our stash mountain!! 

Thank you so much for spending part of your day with me; your visit brings me joy!

Just A Note and Chocolate...Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #373~Sweet Inside

Hello,

Ready for more decadent delights? Hope so! This week, we're inviting you to  play along with  Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #373~Sweet Inside. Look at that abundance of frosting goodness, set atop a jammy filling. These remind me of the cupcake tarts my grandma used to make: tart crust, a dollop of jam, cupcake batter, baked, then iced. Nothing like having your cake - and 'pie' - and eating it, too!

This week, we're sponsored by

The Greeting Farm is generously providing a prize of $20 gift certificate to our randomly chosen winner. Thank you!

My interpretation is as literal as it gets! My new little Just A Note die and stamp set came out for a play...

 and nestled inside: a little chunk o'chocolate!

Of course, I had to make another (and a few 'nothers more...). Neon inks on this one and yep, chocolate inside, too. I'm planning to make several of these little notes for my brother and sister-in-law to tuck into Ms. T's lunchbox now and again. Grade 1 is, after all, quite a journey....

What's super cool: Amy T is our Surprise Sweetie! Be sure to check out her 'Sweet Inside" card, along with those by my teamies:

Amy

Birgit

Debbie

Deborah

Ek

Eva

Jen

Jennifer

Kamila

Naki

ina

Sandy

Your turn! 
What Sweet Insides will you share with us?
Looking forward to seeing your creations in the gallery!

Thank you so much for spending part of your day with me; your visit brings me joy!

Happy Birthday Candles and Stripes....Inkspirational Challenge #116~Primary Colours

Hello!

Welcome to Inkspirational Challenge #116, where our fabulously talented Guest Designer, Shona Chambers, along with my amazing teammates - Shauna, Pia, Nonni,Sandie, Marina , Yvonne - invite you to use Primary Colours - red, yellow, blue - on your creations.

I am having a full-on, full-fledged love affair with Concord and 9th products; a couple *ahem* of sets have recently made their way into my collection.  Today, images from Eat Cake, are making their debut.  I've paired them with my 'watercolour' stripes stamp...

Of course, I had to make a second.

This set is ever so much fun...and filled with possibilities! Guaranteed you'll be seeing more of it soon!

Your turn! How will Primary Colours inspire you?

Looking forward to seeing your creativity in the gallery!

Also sharing at:

Seize the Birthday~Anything Goes

Happy Little Stampers~Anything Goes with Dies

Thank you for spending part of your day with me; your visit brings me joy!

Thank You Rose...Tag, You're It Challenge #54 Reminder Post (Featured Artist: Michelle Short), STAMPlorations August CAS Card Challenge and Anything Goes

Hello!

Popping in with a reminder that you still have time to play over at Tag, You're It Challenge #54, where ever-so-talented Michelle Short has created this beautiful inspiration tag for us:

Michelle Short

 Guest Featured Designer 

For my reminder tag, I stamped, Chameleon marker coloured and fussy cut (yes, I did!) a rose from STAMPlorations, placed it on a sponged-and-water droplet sprinkled background and added a teeny tag with a crystal bit o' bling.

Please check out the fabulous interpretations by our amazing guest designer, Donna Mikasa, as well as my sweet, creative teammates: 
Bobby, Jen, Marybeth, Nancy, Susan, Kelly, Anja and Tracey,  Delight and dazzle guaranteed!

Looking forward to seeing your Michelle-inspired tags in the gallery!

Also sharing at: 
STAMPlorations August Cas Card Challenge

 STAMPlorations Anything Goes Challenge

Thank you so much for spending part of your day with me; your visit brings me joy!

Flamingo Birthday....Freshly Made Sketches #250, Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge~Flamingo, Uniko Challenge #35~Inspired by a Song Title, Less is More Challenge #290~Exotic

Hello,

Back with a second card - and minimal babbling (I hear you cheering!):

Heading to the galleries at: 

Freshly Made Sketches #250

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge~Flamingo

Uniko Challenge #35~Inspired by a Song Title.

My inspiration (okay, okay...I remembered it 'after the fact') is from Tracy Byrd's song, "Pink Flamingos' (some good country twang happening in that tune!)

Less is More Challenge #290~Exotic (if my card is too busy, totally understand if you remove it from the gallery)

Recipe:

• Flamingo - Reverse Confetti Fabulous Flamingo
• Leaves: Uniko Paradise Leaves Clear Stamps
• Tiny Pink Flowers:  Uniko Paradise Clear Stamps 
• Sentiment: Uniko Simply Said Birthday

That's all from me.  Watching the  Olympic closing ceremonies is my next 'do' task. I'll miss the excitement that's kept me entertained for the past couple of weeks.  The Tour of Spain road bike race (Spain's 'equivalent' of the Tour de France), however, has started...that makes me happy.  Actually, it makes my husband super happy *grin

Thanks so much for spending part of your day with me; your visit brings me joy!