Meowy Halloween Bookmarks...The Heart Desires Challenge #17, House of Cards October Challenge, Creatalicious Challenge #125, Simon Says Wednesday Challenge

Hello....

A plethora of Halloween challenges the last couple of weeks are 'this close' to wrapping up, so I'm skedaddling in with the 27 (yes, you read that right) bookmarks I made for my niece and her Grade 2 class!  I wasn't 100% sure what I'd make for her group, but then I spotted The Heart Desires Challenge #17 inspiration board.  Decision made; sprung into action...getting to the finale was a bit of a journey and yes, I may have emitted an Arrrghhhhh or 10 in the process!

Anyway, here are photos of 'nearly' all of my Studio Katia Meowy Halloween kitty bookmarks.  This is the absolute first time I've used copic markers to any significant extent, so please...forgive the blending blunders you see (and trust me, many can be seen!).  Some kitties have two pumpkins; some one. Everyone has a spider web, thee little stars and a ribbon. 

We will NOT discuss how long these took to make, but oh my stars...I smiled my way through (nearly) every step of the process.  The BEST part was delivering them to Ms. T.  She was thrilled - and promptly claimed *her* kitty (one with a purple hat and green collar, but I beyond that, I don't recall).  Aunty c's heart is smiling!  Oh, and Mr. C was all good with the tags I made for him (and he also claimed a bookmark...and a tag...and a 'something else' *grin* that I'll share in a separate post).

Enough chatter...some single book mark photos...(apologies for some blurring...)

  

  

a few group book mark photos (no one was double photographed, so you're seeing the whole herd)...

I think this tallies up to 24, but I know delivered 27(we counted them at least 10 times.Ms. T likes accuracy *grin*). Perhaps they were playing hide-and-seek during photo-op time.

All the kitties, in their box, ready to travel...

Wrap up thoughts: I really need some lessons on copic colouring and the Studio Katia sets: oh my stars! Awesomeness!!  

Thanks for strolling through this photo-heavy post...and Meowy Halloween to all who drop by!

Also sharing at:

Creatalicious Challenge #125~Anything Goes (optional twist Halloween)

House of Cards October Challenge~CAS Halloween and/or Colours

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge~Anything Goes

Reveal of My Brand-Spanking New Blog...Thanks and Thanks (plus two more)!!...Where Creativity Meets C9 Challenge #14~Shades of Concord & 9th

HELLO! HELLO!  HELLO!

Yes, I'm being  effervescent in my greeting today, because I'm over-the-moon ecstatic to share the reveal of my brand-spanking new blog!  Colourful (that header...swoon) crisp, clean (and will be more so, once I do a bit more tidying up.  I. LOVE. THIS. NEW. LOOK!

Full credit for this jazzy, snazzy update goes to sweet Loll, from Stamping with Loll fame, whose technological super powers and keen eye for design made it happen. Her ideas, her expertise, her creativity...lead to this and I couldn't be more thrilled!

THANK YOU X A MILLION, Loll! 

I've made a Thanks card (two actually) inspired by Where Creativity Meets C9 Challenge #14~Shades of Concord & 9th to express my gratitude to you for sharing your talents - and patience - with me!

Thanks Turnabout stamps and dies getting a work out...

Oh...and I have two more to add to the challenge!  Triangle Turnabout *finally* receiving some inking. This version uses all four turns...

and this, only one.  Hard to see, but my butterfly is a deep teal and the beautiful, a deep shimmery blue...

Hope my new blog catches your eye as much as it does mine! Playing here will be even MORE fun!

So glad you dropped by; your visit brings me joy!

Oh...and check out my new blog signature. Makes me happy!!

Haunted Mansion - Just Us Girls Challenge #416~Colour Week (Black Green Purple)

Hello,

Nearly forgot I had yet another (and maybe even a few more little somethings) Halloween card ready to share; good thing I went for a wander, as I just about missed a linky!

Wonderfully talented Vicki has a spooktacular colour palette for us at Just Us Girls Challenge #416:

Can't resist that combination and WOW....the DT created a wide range of delights with it! I went with a haunted mansion, sporting a purple roof, green gables, fences, awning and window frames, sitting in front of an 'eerie' purple/green sky...

Yes, the mansion is a 'wonky', but that's how the pieces came together; besides being a bit ramshackle, creaky and slightly askew *is* what creepy old houses are supposed to be, right? Right! (Actually, I fit that description too, *grin*)

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

Leafy Cheers To You...FUSION Card Challenge~Autumn Leaves

Hello,

Welcome to our new FUSION Card Challenge~Autumn Leaves, where both an image and sketch are ready to inspire.  This time, I was completely captivated by the photo; the contrast of the leaves, dressed in their fall palette, against the bokeh blue sky is simply stunning! We've been having crazy wind the past several days and the trees are pretty much bare. Still, the drifts and swirls of leaves are still about, so our landscape continues to be filled with colour.

Two cards to share, using new Concord & 9th Seasonal Borders and accompanying Seasons dies. I had no clue how to recreate the photo (I'd need a PhD in masking/blending/stamping to accomplish that!), so I adapted by focusing on the leaves...

Nothing fancy with the inking; I used a variety of Lawn Fawn/Memento mini inks and dabbled a bit of one colour here, another there, until I achieved a 'blended' look.  Simple...and the beautiful intricate detail of the leaves is forgiving in hiding lines/edges where the inks meet. The sentiments are a deep blue rather that the black they 'appear' to be in the photo.  

Please head over to the FUSION blog see the marvelous cards designed by my wonderful design team:

Becca Cruger
Betty J
Carol Mayne - me
Jeanne Jachna
Karren Johnson
Linda Callahan
Lyndal Higgins 
Michelle Leone

Michelle Lupton
Michelle Williams

Looking forward to seeing your designs in the gallery!

Also sharing at:

Simon Says Monday Challenge~Monochrome

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge~Anything Goes

The Card Concept~Autumn Love 

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

Halloween Wreath...Challenge Reminder and Casing a Uniko Studio Designer

Hello,

Popping in here and here to remind you that a) Uniko Studios Challenge #43~Fall/Autumn

is still open for a few more days and b) the challenge also offers the optional twist of Halloween which opens doors for so many more possibilities.  The 'optional twist' is my theme for today's post...

With Halloween but a few days away, I decided to create yet one more Halloween card that doesn't include any 'spooky' creatures (okay, maybe one).  Curious?  I hope so!

My starting point was team-mate Sarah's wonderful inspiration card where she transformed a Christmas wreath set into a lovely Autumn card through the use of a fall palette.

Taking my lead from her, I wondered if something similar could be created using a Halloween palette.  *PING* moment!  I used the same Rustic Wreath base as Sarah did, paired it with a variety of images from Flower Power #1 and Background Builders: Seeing Stars, added a 'happy' from Simply Said Blocks and Halloween/wee pumpkins from my stash.  I placed the panel on a piece of shimmery bat designer paper, added the 'must have' spider *grin*...and ta dahhhh!

Same card, just a different pose...

With a change in sentiment - or the addition of 'birthday' - this could easily become a card for someone celebrating an October 31st birthday.

Hope you enjoyed my card, showcasing how delightfully flexible and versatile Uniko products can be!

Looking forward to visiting you in the gallery here!

Lakota Prayer...Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #265~Photo Inspiration

Hello,

Welcome to Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #265~Photo Inspiration, where we have this lovely quote to inspire us.

My Lakota Prayer and feather stamp called out for this challenge and I heeded its voice....

Hard to see, but the feather has been liberally coated with glitter (as has my desk, my Misti, my floor, me...). In real life, sparkly and shimmery!

Please visit my team-mates; their inspiration cards are amazing!

Turning the stage over to you; looking forward to seeing your designs in the gallery!

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

Concord & 9th Leaves Thanks...TIME OUT Challenge #94~Photo Inspiration, Words 2 Craft By Challenge #46

Hello,

My errand-list is yards long, so a quick post today.

The image at TIME OUT Challenge #94~Home Sweet Home Photo Inspiration

is sooooo cool! Who knew that shells and seahorses and pumpkins and twigs would pair so beautifully! Guess the Anythingology folks did!

As I was creating my DT cards for the current Inkspirational challenge, a 'ping' moment occurred!  I realized that my Concord & 9th inked leaves card would fit in the TIME OUT gallery 'if' I added a little something extra to reflect the lovely, crisp, 'edgy' seahorse...and so I did, in the form of the die-cut layered leaf outlines...

Simple and crisp. Like the inspiration photo. 

NOTE:  Delighted to be selected as one of three Honourable Mentions at TIME OUT Challenge #94! Thank you!

Off to tackle laundry...

Also sharing at: 

Words 2 Craft By Challenge #46~Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. 

Thanks so much for dropping by; knowing you visited makes me happy!

25 Days of Christmas Tags: Introduction to Design Teams

Hello,

It`s almost that time of the year again!

Lovely Tracey's 25 Days of Christmas Tags begins on November 1st and will run through to November 26th! Yes we have a bonus day.

All the details will be on her blog on November 1st. This year is going to be amazing and

 I'm soooooo excited to be part of a team who will be playing alongside her!

Introducing the 25 Days of Christmas Tags Blog Design Team: Brianna Loeffelbein, Kim Heggins, Carol Mayne (me), Lindsey M-p and Michele Ferguson!

We'll be visiting and leaving love on your fabulous entries, as well as participating with our guests.

She also has an instagram team, ready and rarin' to go! 

Please welcome Maria Peters, Rowena Miniaci and Andreea Raghina

Tracey has an amazing line-up of sponsors joining in the festivities:

25 Days of Christmas Tags Sponsors 2017

  Simon Says Stamp

  Newtons Nook

  CAS-ual Fridays

  Reverse Confetti

  Altenew

  Lil Inker

  Birch Press

  Sunny Studio

  Paper Sweeties

  Winnie & Walter

  Studio Katia

  Lawn Fawn & Lawn Fanatics

  Neat & Tangled

  Concord & 9th and C9

  Muse

  Ellen Hutson

  Jillibean Soup

  Avery Elle

  Technique Tuesday

  Waffle Flower

  Uniko

  Pretty Pink Posh

  Stamplorations

  Right At Home

  Pink & Main

  High Hopes Rubber Stamps

Mark your calendars for November 1st; see you then!

Concord and 9th Leafy Thanks...Inkspirational Challenge #146~Autumn Sparklers Photo Inspiration

Hello,

 A round of applause and big THANK YOU to all those who entered the Inkspirational One-Layer challenge!  The gallery is filled to brimming with wonderful creations; selecting winners will be quite the task!

Hopefully, you'll return, bring along a friend or three, and join us for Inkspirational Challenge #146, where we're drawing inspiration from this lovely Autumn Sparkers photo:

Leaves, colours, sparkle, woodgrain, torn edges...so many entry points to tickle your fancy!

I have two cards today....one CAS; the other not-so-CAS.

First time using my Concord & 9th Barnwood Background. Yep..lovin' it, as I do the Give Thanks stamps (above) and Layering Leaves dies (below). The thanks is from the interlocking Thanks Card dies...and I have yet to use it as it was designed to be used.  I will...soon!

My talented teammates have lovely interpretations of the photo. Please

visit and leave them some love:

Sandie

Shauna

Marina

Nonni

Yvonne

Also sharing at:

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge~Photo Inspiration

Looking forward to seeing your creativity in the gallery!

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

                                                         

Daisies on Kraft....STAMPlorations October 2017 CAS Card Challenge Reminder Post~Anything CAS Goes (optional twist: Orange)

Hello,

The days are passing quickly and already, my wonderful teammates and I are back with a STAMPlorations CAS Card Challenge #19 Reminder Post.  If you haven't joined us yet, you still have time to create something CAS, with or without the optional colour twist: orange.

Back in September, I enrolled in the monthly online colouring classes over at Kit and Clowder, where we're taught by incredibly talented, motivating, Alyce Keegan.  She is, in a word, amazing! One of the (many!) perks of joining when I did was access to several additional classes, one of which was colouring on kraft. I've done this before, with 'meh' results, so I let it be. After watching Alyce's video, though, inspiration was renewed...and here's the result...two of my favourite STAMPlorations flowered, prisma pencil coloured on kraft.  

(Using Bloom Sketches, Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies, 

Trendy Feathers 1 (retired)

I'm amazed at how well kraft takes colour (when you sort of know what you're doing) and how wonderfully it blends.  Yes, I still have LOTS to learn and practice, but this is a good start - and I'm delighted to share it with you. 

I also made a couple more cards...for fun and to practice masking panel strips using distress and oxide inks. Kind of straight-ish *grin*

 Bloom Sketches

Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies

Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies

Boxed Blooms and Bold Sentiments

Trendy Leaves

Please head over to the main blog to see the incredible cards created by my wonderful team. You'll be dazzled and, I know, inspired to play along!  The guidelines are simple; the rewards for joining us, wonderful:

• Players can link up to 3 CAS cards.
• Players can enter a CAS card with or without the optional color twist.
• Non-STAMPlorations products are OK.

• Prizes: $10 GC for the winner; $5 GC to the top picks.
• If there are 50 or more entries: 1 random winner of product of choice (3x5 stamp set OR 2 standard size stencils OR 1 CUTplorations word/phrase die)

Easy and so inviting!  

Looking forward to seeing your CAS creations in the gallery!

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

                                                             

STAMPlorations blog | STAMPlorations shop

To receive 20% off STAMPlorations stamps, stencils and dies, I invite you to use my code: STAMPGIRLCAROLM. The code applies to regular and sale-priced products, but cannot be combined with other discount codes you have. Happy shopping!