Mandala Thank You...Inkspirational Challenge #164~Photo Challenge

Hello,

My blogging is rather sporadic of late. Reason: officiating bike race after bike race after bike race...as well as doing some behind-the-scenes support with the new road bike coordinator. My 'volunteering' has nearly become 'full time' (minus the salary *grin*) and I'm loving it! Best part: a significant number of races are scheduled in/around where my mom lives, which means plenty of visits with her AND my darling niece and nephew! Yayyy!

Welcome to Inkspirational Challenge #164~Photo Inspiration.  Isn't this image fantastic?  Vibrant, sunny, organic...oh, the possibilities....

Please drop by to see how this marvelous piece of art inspired my teammates; their creations are amazing:

Sandie

Shauna

Marina

Kylie

Nonni

Yvonne

Shape and colours caught my eye and I *had* to give some long-neglected stamps some major TLC...

Concord & 9th: Many Mandalas

That's it from me! 

Looking forward to seeing your translations of this photo!

Thank you for dropping by!

Lovely Blooms...Just Us Girls Challenge #447~Wild Card Week

Hello,

Welcome to Just Us Girls Challenge #447~Wild Card Week, where our wonderful Vicki has decided to open the floodgates with an 'Anything Goes' theme! In addition, she's giving away a prize (random draw) if we get over 75 entries! Enter as often as you want and...go WILD!!

If you've come from - or are heading to - the challenge blog, you'll see an array of fabulous cards from our June Guest Designer, ever-so-talented Hannelie Bester (THANK YOU so much for sharing your incredible talents with us this month, Hannelie!)  - and my talented teammates: Sue, Angie, Vicki, Ina, Bobby, Nancy, Lisa, Maria.

Today, I'm sharing two cards, the panels designed over the course of the 30 Day Colouring Challenge. Inspiration for the left one came from Michelle, of The Card Grotto fame; the second (on the right) was my attempt to try some colour blends of my own, inspired by the current book cover over at The Library Challenge #10~The Rose Garden.  Still a HUGE learning curve with my zigs! Haven't given up on them just yet *grin* 

Studio Katia: Lovely Blooms

Studio Katia: Birthday Greetings 

NOTE: Honoured and thrilled to receive Librarian's Choice recognition, alongside two other designers. THANK YOU!

Looking forward to seeing your *Anything Goes* creations in the gallery!

Also sharing at:

Always Happy Birthday June Challenge~Anything Goes

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge~Anything Goes

Seize the Birthday Challenge~Anything Goes

Thank you for dropping by!

Pineapple Thanks...Just Us Girls Challenge #446~Photo Week

Hello,

Welcome to Just Us Girls Challenge #446~Photo Week, where Maria is inspiring us with this absolutely adorable tropical-fruit owl! Isn't he a 'hoot'?!

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

Pineapples for me all the way!

Hero Arts: Colour Layering Pineapple stamps and dies

Lawn Fawn inks

Studio Katia Scalloped Frames

Turning the stage over to you.

Looking forward to seeing your *Photo-inspired* creations in the gallery!

Thank you for dropping by!

Flamingos Thanks....Inkspirational Challenge #163~Designer's Choice: Small Stamps

Hello,

Welcome to Inkspirational Challenge #13~Designer's Choice, where our sweet, talented Nonni is inviting us to use *small stamps* on our cards/projects.

Guidelines: please use stamps smaller than 2 inch diameter.You may use one or two large stamps (eg sentiment) but the majority of your design should be small stamps. 

We're delighted to have a wonderfully talented Guest Designer joining us: Valerie.  Her card is marvelous, as are those by my teammates:

Sandie

Shauna

Marina

Kylie

Nonni

Yvonne

Little flamingos are my *small stamps* of choice, happily sporting their colourful feathers to deliver a big ol' Thanks!

Simon Says Stamps: Fingerprint Doodles

MFT: Thanks

That's it from me! 

Looking forward to seeing how *small stamps* inspire you!

Thank you for dropping by!

Tiny Ninjas Thank You...Just Us Girls Challenge #445~Colour Week

Hello,

Welcome to Just Us Girls Challenge #445~Colour Week, where our talented Ina has selected Red, Black and Your Choice to incorporate into your design.

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

Red and Black saw me reaching for my Mama Elephant Tiny Ninjas, who haven't had a play for a good long while! They're delivering a Thank You message, complete with a couple of bouquets of red and purple flowers; as you've guessed, purple is 'my' *your choice* colour.

Aren't these little guys cute?

Mama Elephant: Tiny Ninjas
Studio Katia: Dotted Patterns~Fancy Circle
Wilted Violet Distress Oxide; red/purple copics

Turning the stage over to you.

Looking forward to seeing your innovative *Red, Black and Your Choice* creations in the gallery!

Also sharing at:

Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #396~Anything Goes

Thank you for dropping by!

STAMPlorations 5th Birthday Event...Three Favourite Oldies and some Newcomers

Hello,

This June, STAMPlorations turns FIVE and a full-on Birthday Bash Palooza is happening, with inspiration posts from the STAMPlorations gals, CASE and Link-Up parties, prizes, sales, freebies, and more!

I'm honoured and grateful to part of the STAMPlorations' family; thank you, Shery, for your support, generosity and wonderful design opportunities! I LOVE being a STAMP gal!

Here, as well as at the STAMPlorations Blog, I'm sharing my Top 3 Favourite Projects (narrowing to three was a real challenge!), along with a couple new projects.
Let's start with some oldies:

Favourite #1

STAMPlorations The Bee's Knees *And Coffee* 

Favourite #2

Bloomtangled Colouring Pages

 Flutter Zen 2 Butterfly

Celebrate CUTploration

 Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies

Favourite #3 - I made 25 of these for my nephew's kindergarten class! Tooooo much fun!

 Layered Snowman

 Luggage Tags Nesting Dies

Two NEW cards, featuring STAMPlorations products I reach for time and again - STENCILS - and my 'usual' style - CAS.  I'm 'very' CAS!

Card 1: 

Two Blooms and a Bud ARTplorations Stencil

 Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies

Distress Inks: Mermaid Lagoon, Mustard Seed, Picked Raspberry

Card #2

Leaf Prints ARTplorations Stencil

Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies

Life is Good CUTplorations

Distress Inks: Twisted Citron, Lucky Clover, Peacock Feathers, Salty Ocean

Hope my CAS creations spark ideas of ways to give YOUR stencils a chance to shine on the stage.

Of course, we want YOU to be part of the festivities!
Three options...do one, or two or, hopefully, all three!

• Link up your wish list HERE for a chance to be one of five winners of $25 worth of products on your list.
• Leave comments on this blog and on the designers’ blogs throughout the month for a chance to be one of five winners of a $25 gift certificate.
• CASE any of my projects and/or any projects from this post and all the posts we’ll be publishing in June. 
• Link Up your project(s) HERE for a chance to be one of five winners of a $50 gift certificate.

Now, your turn to get crafty, CASE projects and share with us!

CASEing, commenting, and linking up to the wishlist linky party end on July 3. Winners will be announced on July 10 on the STAMPlorations Blog. We're excited to see your beautiful projects fill the gallery.

Before you head to the full project post, check out the amazing June Promotions Shery's offering at the STAMPlorations Store:

• $5 Birthday Bash Surprise Bags (while supplies last)
• 50% Off Flash Sale:  Every Monday: select products will be placed in the FLASH SALE category, where they will be 50% off automatically…no coupon code needed. Sale ends every Tuesday night 11:59 pm Pacific. PLUS… take an extra 20% OFF when you use this code: STAMPGIRLCAROLM
• Freebie Days:  Every Wednesday to Sunday, all orders (no minimum) qualify for a free item (any in-stock 3×5 stamp or any word/phrase die up to $10 value)… PLUS… take an extra 20% OFF when you use this code: STAMPGIRLCAROLM

Talk about a celebration, right!? 

Looking forward to seeing your designs in the gallery!

Thank you for dropping by!

Uniko Studio June 2018 Design Team Blog Hop & GIVEAWAY!

Hello,

Welcome to the Uniko Design June 2081 Design Team Blog Hop & GIVEAWAY! You know what that means: inspiration + prizes!  

Bev has invited the team to use a product that needs some more 'stage time' - and this month, the Beautiful Blooms trio are the chosen ones: 

                     Beautiful Blooms I Clear Stamp Set          Beautiful Blooms I Designer Dies

Beautiful Blooms I can be bought as a clear stamp set and designer die bundle HERE.

Beautiful Blooms II

Beautiful Blooms III

Bev's thinking / reasoning in designing the Beautiful Blooms series was to have some modern blooms that didn't necessarily reflect a particular flower, leaving them open to interpretation.  I think we can all agree: these blooms are filled with possibilities!

The original Beautiful Blooms has been in my stash since it was launched way-back-when and its seen plenty of use! Below are two of my favourite 'oldies'...

  

For this challenge, however, I decided to do something that I've never done with this set: straight up stamping of the blooms.  I was inspired by Bev's description of how this set came to be:

Beautiful Blooms I is a gorgeous floral set inspired by Russian vintage wallpaper. This fun, modern graphic floral can be used to create stunning focal points or all over backgrounds for your creative projects.

Soooo....thus inspired, I created 'my' version of a floral background and paired it with a sentiment from Originally Organic Additions.

The floral pattern makes me smile! I already have ideas for at least two more cards featuring these sets...stay tuned!

That's it from me...time for you to visit Bev and the rest of the team to see their *Beautiful Blooms*....

Bev
Carol You are here

Deborah 
Izzy 

Jane 
Julie
Linda

Lindsey

Rahmat
Sarah G

Sarah P
Wiebke 

Be sure to comment along the hop for your chance to win your choice from the 3 clear stamp sets being featured. You have until Midnight (GMT) Monday 18th June 2018 to comment.

Happy Hopping!

Also sharing at:

Little Red Wagon Challenge #449~A Rose By Any Other Name

The Flower Challenge #21~Use a Previous Challenge The previous challenge is Challenge #11~Focus on Background Stamping

 

Thank you for dropping by!

Thinking of You Painted Rose...Happy Little Stampers June 2018 Anything Goes with Dies Challenge

Hello,

Welcome to Happy Little Stampers June 2018 Anything Goes with Dies Challenge.

My Painted Rose came out for another play, this time using some new-to-me Catherine Pooler inks;I know have a whopping collection of three and let me tell you, that is definitely going to increase. These inks are certainly deserving of all the acclaim they're receiving!  Coverage sensational!

Die cuts include the panel, the rose and the sentiment (so delicate)

Swoon....

Our winner for this challenge will receive a $20 coupon to spend at the shop! Check out all the details HERE.

Looking forward to seeing your Anything Goes with Dies cards/projects in the gallery!

Also sharing at:

Watercooler Wednesday #173~Tenia's Feminine Anything Goes Challenge

The Flower Challenge #21~Use A Previous Challenge  The previous challenge is #18~Anything Goes

  

Thank you for dropping by!

Dahlia Smile...Happy Little Stampers June 2018 CAS Challenge~Smile

Hello,

Welcome to Happy Little Stampers June 2018 CAS Challenge~SMILE!

This month, we're joined by a guest designer whose CAS cards are simply sensational: Hannelie. Please leave her some love when you visit; smiles guaranteed!

Soooooo....I've had Concord and 9th's Dahlia Turnabout bundle for quite a while and finally, finally - two cards to mark its debut. My lining-up with the stamp isn't quite spot on but...close enough. More tinkering needed. As for the accompanying die: that one is still in the need-to-practice stage.  

Hope my Dahlia duo make YOU smile!

That's it from me; please head over to the blog to see how our wonderful guest designer and my talented teammates interpreted this month's theme. A reminder that we're looking for CAS designs.

Our winner for this challenge will receive a $20 coupon to spend at the shop! Check out all the details HERE.

IF YOU USE STAMPS BY HAPPY LITTLE STAMPERS AND YOU ARE OUR RANDOM WINNER, YOUR PRIZE WILL BE DOUBLED!

Thank you for dropping by!

Coffee: Source of All Super Powers...Inkspirational Challenge #162~Power

Hello,

A warm welcome to Inkspirational Challenge #162, where we're inviting you show us some *POWER* in your cards/projects!  Of course, you always fill the gallery with 'powerful' cards, but this time, we want it a 'bit' more obvious. Such a range of possibilities: using power in a sentiment; a 'super' hero image; a 'powerful' message...I'm positive your imaginations will come up with ever so many more ideas.

We're delighted to have a wonderfully talented Guest Designer joining us: Angie,  Her card is marvelous, as are those by my teammates:

Sandie

Shauna

Marina

Kylie

Nonni

Yvonne

Here's my take on the prompt, inspired by the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop and The Daily Marker 30 Day Colouring Challenge

I'm sure many of us agree: Coffee *is* a source of super powers!  

STAMPlorations: Coffee Petites, Coffee CUTplorations, Coffee Happy

That's it from me! 

Looking forward to seeing how *POWER* inspires you!

Thank you for dropping by!