Sweet Birthday Wishes...Just Us Girls Challenge #434~Wild Card: CAS

Hello,

Wild Card Week over at Just Us Girls Challenge #434 and deligthful DT Angie has selected CAS for us to go crazy over! Yayyyy! LOVE CAS cards!

If you've come from - or are heading to - the challenge blog, you'll see an array of fabulous cards from our March Guest Designer Stef Perry and my talented teammates: Sue, Angie, Vicki, Ina, Bobby, Nancy, Lisa, Maria.

Even though Mother Nature continues to bring us winter weather (snow and freezing rain falling and brrrrr cold at -20C, with wind chill), I decided to focus on summer treats for my inspiration card...

A yummy double-scoop ice cream cone (Hero Arts layering stamps/dies) and, although it's hard to see, they're covered with shimmer and glimmer.  Craving sparked? Hope so...for ice cream and for joining us in the gallery!

Looking forward to seeing your CAS creations in the gallery!

Thank you for dropping by!

Birthday Balloons and Unicorn...TIME OUT Challenges #105~4th Birthday Celebration, Where Creativity Meets C9

Hello,

Hope you're having a wonderful week!  Running errands today; first one on the list is sharing a couple of cards made for TIME OUT Challenges #105~4th Birthday Celebration.  Four years old! WOW! Wishing the Challenge and the incredible DT a most marvelous birthday...with many, many, many more to come!

Since their wonderful sponsor is Concord and 9th, I'm also pairing my cards with the Where Creativity Meets C9 Challenge #18~Sketch.

 

My cards use a mix-and-match from two different sets: Unicorn Awesomeness and Happy Balloons.  The first sees the absolutely lovely, proud unicorn set atop a rainbow backdrop created with one of the stamps from the balloons set.  Hard to see, but the unicorn's horn is glittery gold glamorous.

The second card features hot air balloon, floating through fluffy, delicate clouds, which were made by transforming the cloud die from the Unicorn set into a stencil.  A bit of rainbow appearing in this one, too....

That's it from me...off to tackle the rest of my list...

Thank you for dropping by!

Feathers and Roses...Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #485~Photo

Hello,

Welcome to Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #485~Photo, where we have this stunning mood board to spark your creativity.  Swooning over the shades of blue...the dresses (I'd so wear one of those feathery gowns!), the roses, the cakes...everything! Simply gorgeous!

Two cards designed for the challenge; with the first featuring my HA peacock, set atop a background make with one of the feather stamps...

and the second using an MFT background roses stamp...(feeling 'meh' about this one - but I love the roses and wanted to try replicating them. Alas, water-colouring does me in every. single. time! So done with that! And nope...no more 'try this', 'try that'...okay, maybe once more. Everything water-colour-related gone/going into a box to be stashed out-of-sight...sighhhh!  Sorry, mini rant *grin*)

Please visit my wonderful team to see their beautiful photo-inspired cards, then join us in the gallery with your versions! Looking forward to seeing you there!

Also sharing at:

Cards in Envy Challenge~No Patterned Paper

A Blog Named Hero Challenge~Use Your Favourite Hero Arts Product (which are my lovely layered sets. I love them...LOVE!)

Thank you for dropping by!

Uniko Design Team Blog Hop (Revisit Fun Flowers Clear Stamp Set & Stencil)

Hello,

Welcome to the  Uniko Design Team Blog Hop, where we're showcasing the 'newbie' Fun Flowers stencil and its lovely 'older' companion, Fun Flowers Clear Stamp.  These two, together, make for some ah-mazing,incredibly pretty designs - as evidenced by the dazzling array my teammates created.!

Alas, the Fun Flowers stamp set doesn't *yet* reside in my collection, so my focus is on the stencil.  You've already seen my previous inked up versions when it first released.  Switched gears this time, in going with my current 'obsession' with stencils: dry-embossing.  An easy technique with delightful results (I may not need any more embossing folders now that I have this stencil-embossing thing figured out *grin*).

I added various sized bits of bling to the flower centers and a Happy Birthday sentiment from Simply Said Blocks.

For times when a quick card is needed, this technique - and stencil/stamp set - are just the ticket!

That's it from me; sending you off to hop, hop, hop.  Please leave comments as you journey along, as Bev is, once again, offering a wonderful gift to a lucky commenter: a £15 eGift Certificate.

Bev
Carol - Me 

Deborah 
Izzy 

Jane 
Julie
Linda

Lindsey

Rahmat
Sarah G

Sarah P
Wiebke 

You have until Saturday 7th April 2018 to comment. Enjoy!!

Thank you for dropping by!

Another Magical Dragon...Inkspirational Challenge #157~Designer's Choice: Mythical

Hello,

Welcome to Inkspirational Challenge #157~Designer's Choice...and the designer doing the choosing happens to be me! How lucky I am to have such a fabulous team willing to indulge me with my choice....

Joining us as our guest designer is Mimi, from She’s Crafty fame. Her blog name is 110% apt, because WOW! Mimi wields creativity to the nth degree. You name it; she creates it...cards, tags, wall decor...and her magic with library cards? Oh my stars!  Please visit her blog (her posts are wonderfully engaging); you'll come away dazzled, delighted an definitely inspired!  I'd love if you visited my talented teammates, too...they're the BEST!!

Sandie

Shauna

Marina 

Kylie

Yvonne

Nonni

My Mythical card features (another) play with MFT's Magical Dragons. This time, the princess and knight are part of the scene...

The cutie pie dragon is a 'left over' from the 25 (yes...25) dragon-themed tags I made for my niece, to share with her friends on her birthday earlier this month. I'll post photos of a couple down the road. Let's just say a LOT of copic colouring  (and despite all of that, I still haven't mastered blending and colour combinations...) and a LOT of fun happened!

Hope my enjoyed my little mythical scene; more important, I hope it gives you incentive to dive into your stash to find something mythical - elves, unicorns, dragons, fairies, wizards, to suggest just a few - and join us with a card, or three!

Looking forward to seeing your mythical creations in the gallery!

Thank you for dropping by!

Just Because and Thank You Flowers...Just Us Girls Challenge #433~Photo Week

Hello,

Welcome to Just Us Girls Challenge #433, where wonderful Bobby is inspiring us with a trio of gorgeous Spring/Easter themed images. Sigghhh...so pretty....

If you've come from - or are heading to - the challenge blog, you'll see an array of fabulous cards from our March Guest Designer Stef Perry and my talented teammates: Sue, Angie, Vicki, Ina, Bobby, Nancy, Lisa, Maria.

A combination of Uniko (Horizontal Stripes) and Concord and 9th (Brushed Blossom) sets for my first card;

Concord and 9th (Brushed Blossom for the sentiment and Aloha Fill-In stencils for the flowers) and Stamplorations (Pierced Curly Frames/Tags) products for the second.

Two cards means I was smitten by the lovely Spring/Easter mood-board! Hope something captures your eye and that you'll bring a card or two to the gallery

See you there!

Thank you for dropping by!

Fairy Wishes...The Library Challenge #2~The Hobbit, A Blog Named Hero Challenge~Use Your Favourite Hero Arts Products

Hello,

Hope everyone has had a wonderful week with signs of Spring beginning to appear. Snowing here, but bright blue sky is becoming visible as the clouds lift. I've been up to lots of behind-the-scenes crafting...time to catch up with a post or two.

Today, a card for The Library Challenge #2~The Hobbit,

featuring fairies, from another of my favourite Hero Arts sets...well, technically a kit...based on A Midsummer Night's Dream. The background is a blend of Spun Sugar, Picked Pistachio, Milled Lavender and Dusty Concord (much brighter in real life); the fairies are copic-coloured. Yes, their wings and dresses are liberally coated with sparkle!

I did some research about the appearance of fairies in the novel and discovered that, while technically, they don't appear, Tolkien does make several references to them, leading us to the understanding that "...fairies was a Hobbit name for Elves. Some lived in the land of the Faerie."  So, that's what I'm going with: a card with fairies or, if you prefer, elves (with wings *grin*).  Of course, I also drew inspiration from the colours on the cover and the content; The Hobbit is, indeed, a "true" fairy story (based on his essay “On Fairy-Stories” - which is quite interesting, I might add).

Okay, enough with the teacher-y stuff! Let's just say revisiting my memories of the novel, conducting a snippet of research and, above all, creating my card, were delightful! 

Since these 'elves' and their woodland surroundings are HA have a special place in my collection, it's also heading to A Blog Named Hero Challenge~Use Your Favourite Hero Arts Products

That's it from me!

Thank you for dropping by!

Seahorse Thank You...Just Us Girls Challenge #432~Colour Week: Turquoise, Brown & Khaki

Hello,

Well, we had a wee taste of Spring this week. Now, freezing rain and snow...ugh. Oh well, technically, it's still 'winter' here...at least until June *grin*

A warm welcome this week's Just Us Girls Challenge #432~Colour Week, where our charming Nancy invites us to use Turquoise, Brown and Khaki in our designs.

If you've come from - or are heading to - the challenge blog, you'll see an array of fabulous cards from our March Guest Designer Stef Perry and my talented teammates: Sue, Angie, Vicki, Ina, Bobby, Nancy, Lisa, Maria.

In my mind, the palette spoke 'ocean images', so I reached for my Hero Arts Layering Seahorse set and Waves stencil and this happened...

NOTE: Honoured and thrilled to be selected as a A Blog Named Hero Challenge Favourite (April 13, 2018)! THANK YOU!

Seahorses may not be turquoise in real life, but in card-making land...anything is possible!

My card is heading to the A Blog Named Hero~Use Your Favourite Hero Arts Products gallery. I don't have a lot of their layering sets, but those I do (goldfish, seahorse, pineapple, peacock, ice cream), I love, love and LOVE!

Looking forward to seeing your turquoise, brown and khaki creations in the gallery!

Thank you for dropping by!

Uniko Studio Challenge #46~Colours (optional twist EASTER)

Hello,

Time for us to welcome Spring and what better way than with the new Uniko Studio Challenge #46 (Mar/April)~ Colour, with an optional twist of Easter.

Pastel colours, Easter bunnies, Easter eggs, polka dots, swirls, stripes...oh my! 

The gateways of  inspiration are unlimited!

Joining us as our Guest Designer for this challenge is uber-talented, innovative, witty and sweet Michele.  Her card is simply amazing; please visit her HERE and leave her some love. She'll be thrilled!

Soooo...time to share my designs and yes, I got carried away. Sorry...but the photo and the longing for Spring (snow and freezing rain happening here...ugh!) sparked abundant ideas. I got on a roll and just went with it.  Speaking of  being on a roll, let's get the show started....

First, one little Some Bunny nestled inside a frame created by embossing the Scattered Polka Dots Stencil then inking with pigment ink. I LOVE that the Uniko stencils emboss beautifully!

A second Some Bunny, paired with an embossed Scattered Polka Dots Stencil background and a Scattered Polka Dots stamped egg.  LOVE this bunny; that face! ACK! He's the only Easter bunny I have, or need, for that matter! He deserves plenty of stage time this time of year which I'm happy to accommodate (and he makes for a cute baby card, too!)

The pastel colours called for creating patterned backgrounds, so I designed two panels.

The first uses English Country Garden Butterflies flitting and fluttering over the panel, and a sentiment from the wonderfully versatile All Occasions Sentiments #6 set.

My second patterned background features Nature's Treasures II, with the pretty birthday sentiment from Simply Said Birthday.

Because the supplies were out, I couldn't resist another butterfly card: English Country Garden Butterflies and All Occasions Sentiments #6.

Finally, a set that recently joined my collection came out for a play: Happy Succulents paired with the bold Thanks from All Occasions Sentiments #6

Whew...yes, I went overboard; thank you so much for sticking with me!

Two tasks for you now:
1.  Please visit my teammates (links on the Uniko blog) to see theire beautiful cards.

2.  PLAY ALONG! You have plenty of time to share your creativity with us. The linky closes at midnight (GMT) on Friday 20th April 2018 (7.00pm EDT).

A Reminder Post at Uniko is scheduled for Friday, March 30th; here, when the other half of the team will showcase their inspirations.  

See you in the gallery!

Also sharing at:

Always Happy Birthday March Challenge~Anything Goes

Creative with Stamps Challenge #24~Bunny

Simon Says Monday Challenge~Easter/Spring

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge~Easter Inspired

My Time To Craft Challenge #366~Easter/Spring

Thank you for dropping by!

Floral Whale Thank You...Less Is More Challenge #366~Monochrome, Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #328

Hello, 

Do I have a whale of a tale for you!  Actually, that's only partially true! No wild-and-crazy stories to tell, but I do have a whale...with a tale...and FLOWERS!  Isn't this a cool image...

My whale is swimming over to Less Is More Challenge #366~Monochrome (a trio of Memento Inks: Bahama Blue, Bahama Blue and Paris Dusk for the image and Tumbled Ink DI for the bubbles)

and Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #328

NOTE: Honoured and thrilled to be *Showcased* at Less Is More Challenge #366. THANK YOU!

Hope you're having a great day...I'm off to shovel snow...again...

Thank you for dropping by!

Warm Holiday Wishes...Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #283~Holiday

Hello,

Welcome to Addicted to More Challenge #283~Holiday.

Sharing some pine cones (I love pine cones!), berries and pine boughs with you today, along with warm holiday wishes. The 'first' Christmas card of the year....yayyyyy!

Please visit my wonderful team to see their holiday inspired cards, then join us in the gallery with your versions! Looking forward to seeing you there!

Thank you for dropping by!