Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Uniko Brand Ambassador...Snowflake Shaker

Hello,
Carol here with my Brand Ambassador Inspiration post for March.  

The calendar says Spring has sprung but, where I live, apparently Winter didn't receive the memo, as we're in the midst of yet another bout of snow and cold temperatures. More reason to stay inside and all the more reason to complete a card that I had started back in January! I know I 'should' be showcasing Uniko's gorgeous blooms but...the 'muses' called for something that befits the weather we're having! Let's just call it a 'winter' flower rather than a snowflake *grin*

Full-panel acetate-wrap shaker (so easy!) featuring: Let It Snow stencil background, Designer Die Sparkling Snowflake and a sentiment from Simply Said Blocks: Christmas.


Hopefully, March's blustery departure will herald a lovely April arrival (minus any April Fool's shenanigans)!


Thank you for dropping by!


Friday, March 27, 2020

Just Us Girls Challenge #529~Photo Week...Do What Makes Your Soul Shine

Hello,

Welcome to Just Us Girls Challenge #529, where our lovely Lisa has selected a valley of beautiful flowers overlooking a lake as this week's photo inspiration.  I would love to step into this peaceful, uplifting scene right now!


As this is the closing challenge for March, we bid adieu to Vicky Hayes as our guest designer. Thank you, Vicky, for sharing your incredible creativity with us; you've been a wonderful source of inspiration! Please wander to her blog for a visit and, afterwards, drop by at my wonderful JUGS team's places: Sue, Angie, Vicki, Ina, Bobby, Nancy, Lisa, Maria and Cécile. If you have a chance to comment, that would be a real treat.

I've brought more of my Pinkfresh Inked Blooms into play, with a focus on the colours and the tree framing design of the photo.  Love the sentiment...and one I hope that resonates with all of you as we navigate these uncertain times in our own fashions.


That's it from me; turning the stage over to you! 
 Looking forward to seeing how this lovely meadow of spring flowers inspires you! 

Thank you for dropping by!


Thursday, March 26, 2020

STAMPlorations Throwback Thursday (March 2020)

Hello,

A warm welcome to my third, and final, STAMPlorations Throwback Thursdays, where we select a previous card/project - one of our own or a teammate's - and 're-vision' it in three ways.


Once again, I've stepped outside my to draw inspiration from incredibly talented, always something eye-catching STAMP designer, Terri Koszler !  Even though her style covers a wide range and are always stunning, it's her  perfectly executed, eye-catching CAS cards that really catch my eye, soooo...I thought I'd try to give CAS a la Terri a try!

The specific card I've selected - featuring two stickers, a stenciled band and a black stamped image - is the one (of a trio) she created for Sticker Monday here:


Ready to see how Terri inspired me?  Let's go....

Project #1 
This 'warm up' card follows Terri's closely: same die cut ("Kathryn" is adorable!), 'framed' stenciling and a sentiment. Aside from the sun, I've also followed her colour scheme: shades of pink (pink clouds are fun *grin*), black-and-white.



STAMPlorations Products:
Kathryn's Big Wishes dies and stamps

Project #2
For this card, I used all three of Terri's elements - stenciling, frame-fashion rather than band-fashion, black stamped image, two stickers, same palette. Given our world's current situation, we need' to keep sending those good vibes, even when it's challenging to do so!



STAMPlorations Products:

Project #3
Bookmark!! I used three of Terri's elements here: pink/white, die cuts and, of course, stenciling. Yes, my 'books' is a tad crooked but that's okay! Gives it a 'novel' touch *grin*




I learned so much from dabbling with Terri's style and trying to add a few  touches of my own. A huge THANK YOU to Terri for being so incredibly inspiring.

There you have it: my Throwback Thursdays are a wrap! 

Two reminders: 
  • Shery is offering a $15 gift code to one lucky winner who will be drawn from all comments left on the Throwback Thursday post for the month, as well as from my post, here.
  • If any of the products have caught your eye, I invite you to use my discount code - STAMPGIRLCAROLM - when you shop at the STAMPlorations Online Store (some great deals to be had!)


Thank you for dropping by!


Just for Fun! Hello Honey Bee and Happy Birthday Fox...

Hello,

Seems ages ago that I've made some 'just for fun' cards and, given what's happening in the world, I think I *need* to do that more!  I realize that we're all trying to find ways to keep anxiety at bay - be that crafting, reading, baking - so to keep that momentum going, I'll let the photos do the talking!


 

The hexagons have an orange/black/yellow layer and I used the inner pieces...


on this card.  The bee is tooooo cute!


My Happy Birthday Fox was inspired by The Card Concept Challenge #131~Woodland Nursery 



Please be safe and healthy!

Also sharing at:

Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #382~Make Your Mark

Allsorts Challenge #564~Anything in the Animal Kingdom

Simon Wednesday Challenge~Anything Goes



Thank you for dropping by!


Friday, March 20, 2020

Inkspirational Challenge #209~Photo Challenge...You Make the World A Better Place

Hello,

Welcome to Inkspirational Challenge #209, where we have this funky, artsy home decor photo as our inspiration.  Very cool!


I think the things that caught my eye are quite evident here! Yayyy for having Concord & 9th's Rooting for You set in my collection! I adore those little house plants and their cute pots!  And for the record: you, my friends, do make the world a better place!  Please, please, please: be safe!  Isolate, maintain social distance, wash your hands often, stay home as much as you can.  Hopefully, we'll see/hear some good news in the near future....


My wonderful teammates have interpreted the photo in most delightful fashions. Please visit and leave them some love, which I know will be deeply appreciated:


Looking forward to seeing you in the gallery!

Thank you for dropping by!


Just Us Girls Challenge #528~Colour Week...You Can Do Amazing Things

Hello,

Welcome to Just Us Girls Challenge #528, where our lovely Vicki has selected a cheerful, uplifting spring palette for us: yellow, blue and green.

We're thrilled to have talented Vicky Hayes as our guest designer; please wander to her blog for a visit and, afterwards, drop by at my wonderful JUGS team's places: Sue, Angie, Vicki, Ina, Bobby, Nancy, Lisa, Maria and Cécile. If you have a chance to comment, that would be a real treat.

Finally, finally my Pinkfresh Studio Inked Florals received some play time and ohmystars! These are so much fun to stamp and die-cut!  Please take note of the sentiment: in the midst of these uncertain, turbulent times, YOU - and by extension, WE - are capable of amazing things! The 'new normal' is not easy but united in being divided, we can overcome this! It's difficult to be upbeat, however, I'm trying....


That's it from me; turning the stage over to you!  Looking forward to seeing how yellow, blue and green inspire you! Let's see the gallery filled to bursting!


Thank you for dropping by!


Uniko March/April 2020 Challenge #58~Spots & Stripes (Optional Twist: Use A Stencil)...Flower Notes

Hello,

Hope this post finds you well - physically, emotionally, spiritually - during these uncertain times. Fingers crossed some good news will appear on the horizon...soon.

Welcome to Uniko March/April 2020 Challenge #58, where we're inviting you to use Spots and Stripes on your projects; using a stencil is the optional twist.

We're delighted to have Mac Mable as our Guest Designer; her creativity with this theme is simply dazzling! Do give her a visit.

I've gone ultra-super-totally simple with my cards, using Background Builders: Classic for the clipboard stripes, Flower Power 1, 2 and 6 stamps and dies, Simply Said (Just a note sentiment) and, for the second card, Scattered Polka Dots stencil.



Time for you to play along! 

As always, Bev is offering PRIZES: 
  • Main Winner Chosen By the DT - £25 eGift Certificate
  • Random Twist Winner - £5 In Stock Clear Stamp Set of Winners Choosing
  • Random Uniko Stamps Winner - £5 In Stock Clear Stamp Set of Winners Choosing
  • Top 3 Chosen By DT - 150 Loyalty Reward Points
The gallery is open until midnight (GMT), Friday, April 24, 2020. Looking forward to seeing how the theme inspires you!


Thank you for dropping by!


Sunday, March 15, 2020

STAMPlorations March 2020 CAS Challenge Reminder Post~Anything CAS Goes (optional colour twist: Light Blue)...Butterfly Kindness

Hello,

Welcome to my reminder post for the STAMPlorations March 2020 CAS Challenge


We're in the midst of another blast of winter...perfect timing for something to remind us that Spring *is* coming!!  Butterflies!  Since my collection of light blue inks is sparse, I went with Tropical Teal and Sea Glass for my Layered Butterflies. A sentiment from Bloom Happy rounds out my CAS card!


That's it from me; time for you to play along.
  • You can find Challenge details here.
  • If you decide you 'need' some of the products I - or other designers have used - head over to the STAMPlorations Online Store (always great deals to be had!)
  • To receive an additional 20% off your purchases, I invite you to use my discount code: STAMPGIRLCAROLM
Looking forward to seeing your CAS cards in the gallery, with or without the twist!

Thank you for dropping by!


Saturday, March 14, 2020

Perfect CAS Challenge #7~Die Cuts...Thanks So Much


Hello,

Welcome to Perfectly CAS Challenge #7, where we're inviting you to use die cuts on your cards! I LOVE dies!


My Thanks So Much card features dies from The Stamp Market and die cut ephemera from Pinkfresh Studio. Love when companies play well together!


Turning the stage over to you! 

Looking forward to seeing your Perfectly CAS cards featuring *Die Cuts* in the gallery!

A reminder: For this challenge, we're asking you to use one-third (aka: the rule of thirds) or less on your card designs, leaving plenty of scrumptious white space (two-thirds of your panel) to draw our eyes to to your focal image. Kylie has included an easy-to-follow explanation on the challenge blog here.

Thank you for dropping by!


Uniko Brand Ambassador March 2020 Blog Hop, featuring Pure Florals: Gerbera

Hello,

Welcome to our Uniko Brand Ambassador March 2020 Blog Hop! On non-release months, Bev invites us to play with previously released products which, this go-round, are the popular, fashionable and pretty Pure Florals Gerbera.  Beautiful images AND coordinating dies = a must have match!

Plan A was to mask/stamp a background of flowers but, my masking went sideways! Plan B put into operation: stamping and die-cutting! This way, I could arrange the background blooms on  my card panel where I pleased, then ran the kit n' kaboodle through my Big Shot. The pink flower, with a few leaves tucked underneath, and the sentiment finished it off.


As usual we have our GIVEAWAY, so be sure to comment along the hop for your chance to win the Pure Florals Gerbera Clear Stamp Set.  

You have until midnight Sunday 22nd March 2020 to comment along the hop.

Carol you are here

Thank you for dropping by!


Friday, March 13, 2020

Just Us Girls Challenge #527~Trend Week...Dainty Blossoms Awesome (Black Background)

Hello

Welcome to Just Us Girls Challenge #527, where our sweet Bobby invites us to use Black Backgrounds as this week's trend.


We're thrilled to have talented Vicky Hayes as our guest designer; please wander to her blog for a visit and, afterwards, drop by at my wonderful JUGS team's places: Sue, Angie, Vicki, Ina, Bobby, Nancy, Lisa, Maria and Cécile. If you have a chance to comment, that would be a real treat.

My card features a variety of Pinkfresh Studio products which, in real life, are more visible and detailed than what appear in the photo. What is difficult to see is the 'notched' opening where the blooms have been tucked and the sparkle of the dots.  I feel a bit 'meh' about this one. I should have gone with one of the other ideas I had tossed about earlier in the week, before becoming side-tracked and stressed by the issues facing our world.  Yes, I am feeling fearful...and I know I'm not alone, which does offer comfort...


Anyway, aiming for some happier thoughts over the next few days and, with winter revisiting us here, I have even more reason to stay indoors and play!

Looking forward to seeing your Black Backgrounds in action over at the gallery!


Thank you for dropping by!


Sunday, March 8, 2020

Happy Little Stampers March 2020 Anything Goes with Dies Challenge...Little Notes

Hello,

OHMYSTARS! I'm late in publishing my post; blaming it on the time change (and an addled brain!)

Welcome to Happy Little Stampers March 2020 Anything Goes with Dies Challenge.


Your Next Stamp has some of the cutest images, including this adorable Little Notes set that I've used here...twice! The stamps/dies to create lined paper and clipboards: ACK! I can't even!  Lots of heart eyes for these cuties!!



Please visit my teammates; their creations are wonderful 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!

Thank you for dropping by!