Let's Make Art, Crafty Girl...Just Us Girls Challenge #460~Wild Card Week

Hello, 

Welcome to Just Us Girls Challenge #460~Wild Card Week, where our wonderful Angie has selected STRIPES to inspire us.  Horizontal, vertical, diagonal...bring on those stripes!

Recently, my local retailer - scrapshotz - had a sale on her Simple Stories products. Her inventory included a variety of items from the Crafty Girl collection and, even though I've strayed away from patterned papers and have never - prior to this - used stickers or pre-made chipboard, I was smitten! I've already made four cards with this 'kit'...and the stripes challenge ensured another two to be made...

Another card for my sweet, crafty niece...

and another (I decided 'plaid' = stripes).   I'm going to pepper Ms T with 'crafty girl' cards!!

For sensational STRIPES creations, please visit my fabulous design team - Sue, Angie, Vicki, Ina, Bobby, Nancy, Lisa, Maria - and our super talented September Guest Designer, Julie Beech.

Looking forward to seeing your interpretations of the STRIPES (whatever direction/s they may be) in the gallery.

Also sharing at:

Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #311~Anything Goes

Always Fun Challenges #77~Anything Goes

Thank you for dropping by!

Nativity, Angel and Sparkly Trees...STAMPlorations Christmas Redux

Hello,

NEWSFLASH: Christmas Eve is three months away! Three! Oh my stars!

If you're like me - a 'nearly last minute' Christmas card-maker - then the STAMPlorations team and I have 'precisely' what you - and I - need!

Welcome to the STAMPlorations Christmas CUTplorations Redux Blog Hop

This hop serves to offer you:

• incentive to start on your Christmas/Holiday cards AND 
• the opportunity to leave comments for a chance to win one of two prizes: choice of two (2) Christmas word/phrase dies or a $15 GC to the store.

Commenting closes October 5. 

Winner to be announced on October 10 in the September Winners post.

My cards were pure delight to create. The first two feature the lovely Christmas Icons - Christmas Angel and Christmas Icons - Nativity dies, paired with sentiments from one of my absolute favourite sets, Warm Hands, Warm Hearts.

My third card (shhh...don't tell Shery I made a third one) showcases Christmas Icons - Christmas Tree #2 die, backed with glitter paper, and set atop the Christmas Tree 1 ARTplorations stencil, by Sanna Lippert), using Nuvo Glitter Glimmer Paste in Moonstone.  The sparkle, in real life, is soooo pretty!

Additional products: Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies
Distress Inks

Simple designs, easily reproduced (and wildly cheering three cards completed *grin*).  I'm planning to make several of these to mail; a few colour changes will keep me 'entertained'.

Time to send you off to see the rest of the team's gorgeous creations; dazzle and 'festive merriment' guaranteed!

****Extra info:

From September 24 to October 8 (2 weeks) dies in the Christmas Dies section are 10% off - no coupon needed. The discount is automatically applied in the shopping cart. Use my code - STAMPGIRLCAROLM - for an extra 20% OFF 

Thank you for dropping by!

Crafty Girl!...Inkspirational Challenge #170~Photo Challenge

Hello,

Welcome to Inkspirational Challenge #170, where this fabulous Crafts photo serves as our inspiration.

My wonderful team and I are thrilled that Ilse is joining us as our Guest Designer.  Her card is lovely and please, do visit her blog; you'll be dazzled!  My teammates would be thrilled if you stopped at their places, too:

Sandie

Shauna

Kylie

Marina

Nonni

When I first saw this photo, way back when, I quivered! No ideas were pinging; no products were leaping out, calling for attention. AND THEN, out of the blue, my local retailer - scrapshotz - had a sale on her Simple Stories products. Her inventory included a variety of items from the Crafty Girl collection and, even though I've strayed away from patterned papers and have never - prior to this - used stickers or pre-made chipboard, I was smitten! Had. to. order! I had a blast making these cards and may, just may, have acquired a taste for these 'kit' type items.

 

This one is for my sister-in-law's mom...

This, for my sweet niece...

and this one...

and this one, too. *grin*

The group together...

Plenty of 'leftovers' still on the play list!

Looking forward to seeing your CRAFTY CRAFTS delights in the gallery!

Thank you for dropping by!

Leafy Thanks...Just Us Girls Challenge #459~Photo Week

Hello, 

Welcome to Just Us Girls Challenge #459~Photo Challenge, where our sweet Maria has selected this lovely Fall photo to inspire us.  I'm currently at my mom's, where we're having a heaping helping of winter right now! Apparently, a return to autumn weather is on the radar but today...brrrr!!!

 Sooo...my card was made in a complete panic - and I know it looks that way, too. Sighhhh! I simply didn't bring the right supplies to my mom's for a bit of crafting during the week (even though I thought I did! Poor planning on my part...), so a 'frantic' trip to a local retailer saw me buying a whole lot of stuff the Lawn Fawn Leaf Reveal Wheel.  Let's just consider this one a practice...Perhaps a new version later in the week that does justice to this set will happen, once I'm back in my crafting space. On the plus side: I love the reveal wheels oodles! 

For amazing inspiration (unlike mine!), please be sure to check out the cards created by my fabulous design team - Sue, Angie, Vicki, Ina, Bobby, Nancy, Lisa, Maria - and our super talented September Guest Designer, Julie Beech. 

Looking forward to seeing your interpretations of the FALL PHOTO in the gallery.

Thank you for dropping by!

UNIKO Studio Sept/Oct Challenge #49~Wonderful World (optional twist: THANKS)

Hello,

Rather quiet on my blog of late, as I've been spending the week with my mom and, of course, every moment I can with my niece and nephew, after school and betwixt-and-between their various activities. We squeezed in a wee bit of crafting yesterday; more planned for the weekend!

Today, my wonderful UNIKO teammates and I welcome you the Uniko Studio Sept/Oct Challenge #49~Wonderful World (optional twist: Thanks).

We have a lovely Autumn leaves image you may want to use as a prompt; however, you can interpret the theme in any fashion you see fit.  Just look to the 'wonderful world' surrounding you for inspiration.  

Joining us as our Guest Designer for this challenge is the wonderfully talented and awesome Hannelie from desertdiva. I'm sure you all know her blog and it's always a delight to pop by and say hello to her - HERE.

As you can see, the lovely leaves in the photo inspired my card...perfect opportunity to give some of my new Distress Oxide inks a try: 

Nature's Treasures II Stencil

Beautiful Clear Stamp Set

I'm sure we all agree with this sentiment!

For amazing inspiration, please visit the designers opening the challenge:

Izzy

Jane

Julie B

Linda

The rest of the team will share their creativity in a eminder post - Friday, October 5th, 8;00am GMT.

Lovely Bev has offered even more incentive to play along: 

  
THE PRIZES

• Main Winner Chosen By the DT - £25 eGift Certificate
• Random Twist Winner - £4 In Stock Clear Stamp Set of Winners Choosing
• Random Uniko Stamps Winner - £4 In Stock Clear Stamp Set of Winners Choosing
• Top 3 Chosen By DT - 150 Loyalty Reward Points

Please share your Wonderful World (optional twist: Thanks) designs by midnight (GMT) on Friday 26th October 2018 (7.00pm EDT).

Excited to see your interpretations of the theme!

Thank you for dropping by!

UNIKO STUDIO Design Team Blog Hop & Giveaway!

Hello,

Welcome to a new Uniko Design Team Blog Hop & GIVEAWAY. Between releases, Bev and the team take 'second looks' at a previously released product and give it some more TLC.  This month, however, selecting 'just one' product was posing too challenging (which makes sense, given alllll those amazing stamps, dies and stencils to choose from!), so we randomly selected a stamp 'family' and paired it with a sentiment 'family.'

Here's what we wound up with...and I'm sure you'll agree, they're a fabulous 'pairing'...

Large Background Scattered Polka Dots and Large Background Scattered Polka Hearts

  

Simply Said Blocks and Simply Said Blocks II

 

Stencil Scattered Polka Dots and Stencil Scattered Polka Hexagons

 

Sooo...with inspiration coming from the image at The Card Concept Challenge #5~Colourful Basics, 

I started with a rainbow of Stencil Scattered Polka Dots, (using only three inks: Mustard Seed, Picked Raspberry and Mermaid Lagoon) and paired it with speech bubbles (to reflect the lamp shades from the photo) from another sentiment set: Simply Said.  Clean, simple and just a wee bit layered: my favourite kind of card to make!

Then, because I had everything out, I decided to create some little notes for my sister-in-law to tuck into my niece and nephew's lunch boxes...

Here's the whole gang; I think I used a 'something' from every set we're showcasing...

These clear stamp sets and stencils are 'essentials' to anyone's collection, whether you're a clean and simple stamper/inker or a mixed media enthusiast. 

For truly amazing inspiration, check out how Bev and my fabulous design team were inspired. Commenting along the hop puts you in the running for a chance to win a Uniko £20 eGift Certificate. You have until midnight BST Saturday 22nd Sept 2018 to comment.

Happy Hopping!

Bev

Deborah 

Izzy

Jane 

Lindsey

Rahmat
Sarah G

Sarah P

Thank you for dropping by!

Sending Hugs& Thinking of You...Just Us Girls Challenge #458~Colour Week: Grey, Coral and Your Choice

Hello,

Welcome to Just Us Girls Challenge #458~Colour Week, where our lovely Bobby has chosen GREY, CORAL and YOUR CHOICE as our palette.

Such a pretty combination but for some reason, my creativity was lost in transit. Plus, I don't have either true coral ink/papers or  nice grey ink/papers.  I resorted to casing - shamelessly - a card from Concord and 9th, as a start, in hopes something at least a smidgen more original would transpire...

I was 'this close' to sharing my copied version when, as I was shuffling through my C9 sets, Season Borders made its presence known. These lovely leaves - paired with a die cut sentiment from Painted Rose - were stamped on a very light grey background with a combination of Abandoned Coral and Ripe Persimmon distress inks.  Coral, grey and black: challenge accomplished!

For amazing inspiration, please be sure to check out the cards created by my fabulous design team - Sue, Angie, Vicki, Ina, Bobby, Nancy, Lisa, Maria - and our super talented September Guest Designer, Julie Beech. 

Looking forward to seeing your interpretations of CORAL, GREY AND ? COLOUR in the gallery.

Thank you for dropping by!

Sweetest Flavour...Happy Little Stampers September 2018 Anything Goes with Dies Challenge

Hello,

Welcome to Happy Little Stampers September 2018 Anything Goes with Dies Challenge

Fall may be in the air, but I'm not quite ready to switch from frosty treats to 'warmer' desserts just yet!  Featuring two cards using the Lawnfawn Reveal Wheel and Sweetest Flavour sets. I'm not one for interactive cards but this reveal wheel, along with the add-ons? Totally smitten! You'll see more in the near future!

Fancy some sherbet-colour ice cream....

or perhaps, with a turn of the wheel, something more icy blue might tingle your tastebuds...

Second card...more flavours.

Now I 'really' need to buy a ginormous roll of 3M double-sided foam tape:

Please visit my teammates to see their wonderful creations and, if you have a moment, leave them some love. I know they'll be thrilled!

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

Here's a little more incentive to play along:

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!

A Spider Web Doily...Inkspirational Challenge #169 ~Designer's Choice: Use a Doily

Hello,

Welcome to Inkspirational Challenge #169~Designer's Choice: Use A Doily, which was selected by our lovely former teammate, Yvonne.

My wonderful team and I are thrilled that Toni, from Frankie Helps Craft fame, is joining us as our Guest Designer. Toni's style covers the range, from elegant and classy, to cute and delightful, to downright punny and funny! Her card is lovely and please, do visit her blog; you'll be dazzled!  My teammates would be thrilled if you stopped at their places, too:

Sandie

Shauna

Kylie

Marina

Nonni

So, my card is a 'different' take on the theme, sparked when I googled *Halloween (because Halloween is coming fast, my friends...very fast), doily, handmade cards* and wound up here. What a fabulous discovery of alllllll kinds of projects using spider webs as doilies, so...given I have spider web dies/stamps and zero doilies (went searching in town and no luck), I decided to take liberty *grin* The 'doily web' is shimmery...quite pretty (in a Halloween-creepy-sort of way) in real life!

Looking forward to seeing your DOILY delights in the gallery!

Thank you for dropping by!

Simple Hand-drawn (stamped) Images...Just Us Girls Challenge #457~Trend Week

Hello,

Welcome to Just Us Girls Challenge #457~Trend Week, where I'm inviting you to use HAND-DRAWN ELEMENTS on your cards/projects. Let me explain...

I drew inspiration from the awesome On Trend class taught by incredibly talented, Taheerah Atchia, where we explored a variety of trends - fashion, home decor - that have spilled into the crafting world and see no signs of disappearing any time soon. Hand-drawn elements was one, which she defines a whimsical trend often seen in the form of hand-drawn graphic design/illustrated elements and and calligraphy. Imperfection is embraced!!

Given that, what are we inviting you to do?  Here's a few ideas:

• use your some of your 'outline' images, left 'as is' or with just a touch of colour; 
• be bold and create your own  'hand-drawn' illustrations; 
• showcase calligraphy - your own or that found in your stamp collection;
• interpret in whatever fashion you see fit!

Bottom line: have fun and remember: embrace imperfection!  For more ideas, do a Pinterest Hand-Drawn Elements search. So many cool ideas/images to spark your creativity...

A trio of cards from me that speak to 'simple', pretty hand-drawn elements...

Concord and 9th: Hello Lovely; Love You, Mean It 

STAMPlorations: The Bee's Knees Layered Butterfly

Concord & 9th: Hello Lovely, Studio Katia Friend diecut

Truly...just simple stamping! For those of you far more artsy than I, pick up your pens and hand-draw your images!  You're sure to dazzle and delight, whatever medium you choose!

For amazing inspiration, please be sure to check out the cards created by my fabulous design team -  Sue, Angie, Vicki, Ina, Bobby, Nancy, Lisa, Maria - and our super talented September Guest Designer, Julie Beech. 

Looking forward to seeing your interpretations of HAND-DRAWN ELEMENTS in the gallery.

Thank you for dropping by!