Modern Layered Florals Birthday Cards...Seize the Birthday Challenge #193

Hello,

Our rainy, cool weekend appears to have taken a hold here in my part of Alberta, spilling over into Monday.  Perfect weather for staying inside and crafting, which is precisely what I'm doing!

Today, I'm sharing two cards for  Seize the Birthday Challenge #193. 

The Pinkfresh Studio Chevron pop-out stamp is simply awesome and is what I used to create my two backgrounds here, as well as a few others in different colours. Add a bouquet from Modern Layered Florals and you have cards that come together easily for a variety of occasions. Love when the products do all the heavy lifting! 

Thank you for dropping by!

STAMPlorations Stencil Sunday (June 28, 2020)...*Partial* Stenciling (and some 'design innovations')

Hello,

Welcome to my final June Stencil Sunday post where, once again, I'm sharing some simple ways to play with the wonderful array of stencils available at STAMPlorations.

My title for this round is "Partial" Stenciling, where I've departed from my usual way of using stencils on full panels. Three cards use dies to create the partial stenciling; one was done deliberately. Let's wander...

Card 1

Dots All Over Stencil

Tulip Prints Stencil

Peeled Paint, Spun Sugar, Picked Raspberry DI/DOX inks

Here, I was trying some double stenciling, but the results for the entire panel weren't entirely successful. This one 'nearly' headed to the recycle bin, until I realized that using a die from my stash would save the pretty sections. No sentiment as yet; I just wanted you to see the results 'as is.' Reminder: save all your 'mistakes'; they can be transformed!

Card 2

Bold Florals stencil

Peeled Paint, Spun Sugar, Picked Raspberry DI/DOX inks

In reviewing previous showcases of this stencil, I've always gone full-panel, as I find the flowers to be a fabulous combination of whimsical loveliness. Here, just for something different, I used a die to change the focal panel shape and added it to a lime background. Again - no sentiment. I see plenty of notecard sets that are sentiment free, so this one falls into that category.

Card 3

Trendy Blooms Dies - CUTplorations

Tribal Weave Stencil

Thank You Coffee - Shery Russ Designs

Here, partial stenciling of the Tribal Weave stencil creates a pretty background for a floral cluster. Nothing 'original', but certainly a different look from me!

Card 4

 Leaf Prints 2 - ARTplorations Stencil

Thank You Coffee - Shery Russ Designs

In May, Leaf Prints 2 featured in my Stencil Sunday showcase. One of my 'attempts' didn't make it beyond the drawing board stage: alcohol ink blended background with a glitter paste Leaf Prints stencil overlay. I decided the leaves weren't visible enough, but I wasn't quite ready to give it the heave-ho. See what I mean....

Over time, I came across Sandy Allnock's Ethereal Alcohol Ink Tiles post and decided that dividing my 'messed up' panel into hexagons might salvage it. And so I did! While the full effect of the Leaf Prints stencil isn't discernible, its fine lines of glitter add a special touch to the hexagons. Again: when you set aside some of the mistakes, you can be sure a design innovation will appear at some point! 

I've had a TON of fun sharing 6 Stencil Sundays with you; I hope that you were able to find a few sparks of different ways to ignite your love for stencils. For all your kind comments; THANK YOU!!

Before you go:

PRIZES! For a chance to win a $15 gift code to the STAMPlorations store, leave a comment here and on the STAMPlorations blog by July 8th. Winners will be announced on July 10th!

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!

Inkspirational Challenge #216~Sketch...Much Appreciocean (ocean scene)

Hello,

Welcome to Inkspirational Challenge #216 where SKETCH is our prompt. So many ways to interpret this: you can select a sketch challenge as your inspiration or use 'sketched' images or 'sketch' your own sketch'. Whatever you choose, let's have fun!

I selected My Favorite Things Wednesday Sketch Challenge #495

and finally played my Ocean Fun images that has been sitting for far too long in my bought but not yet used pile. Indeed, I suspect this set is long since retired! Glad I have them! These sea creatures are delightful...easy to ink and those eyes! They make me laugh, as does the sentiment!

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

Marina, Shauna, Pia, Marlena, Nonni, Lindsey

Looking forward to seeing you in the gallery!

Thank you for dropping by!

Just Us Girls Challenge #542~Photo Week...Unicorn I Believe In You

Hello,

Welcome to Just Us Girls Challenge #542,where lovely Angie has selected this beautiful sky/silhouette photo as this week's inspiration. Oh, to be sitting under those palm trees, watching the sun set...or rise...

Mugdha joins us with a beautiful card as her finale for being our designer this month. Thank you, Mugdha for your inspiration throughout June! Please be sure to visit her card, as well as those by my teammates: Sue, Angie, Vicki, Ina, Bobby, Nancy, Lisa, Maria and Cécile. If you have a chance to leave comments, that would be a real treat.

I decided for a 'different' approach to my card, focusing on the colours - in the order they appear in the photo - rather than the 'scene'. My 'purple' moon (yes, Mr. Google says that is a thing!) is flanked by orange/pink clouds; combined, they're the co-stars for the star-of-the-stage Unicorn. I've inked up this Visible Image unicorn before, but not the other images...such fun to give them a play for this challenge.

That's it from me!

Looking forward to seeing how the photo inspires you this week!

Thank you for dropping by!

Just Us Girls Challenge #541~Colour Week...You're an Original All Star!

Hello,

Welcome to Just Us Girls Challenge #541, where our wonderful Vicki has selected turquoise, draft and white as this week's palette.

Mugdha joins us again as our guest designer this month. Her card is wonderful, as are those by my teammates: Sue, Angie, Vicki, Ina, Bobby, Nancy, Lisa, Maria and Cécile. If you have a chance to leave comments, that would be a real treat.

I finally took an opportunity to use my MFT Be Original stamps and dies for this week's challenge. Turquoise running shoes? Yes, please! I almost made a few more in other colours, but we'll save those for a share down the road...

That's it from me!

Looking forward to seeing how turquoise, kraft and white inspire you this week!

Thank you for dropping by!

Twofer Card Challenge #28~Circles/Bubbles...Thank You | You Are Amazing

Hello,

Finally taking some time to play in a few challenges and today, I've chosen to dive in to Twofer Card Challenge #28~Circles/Bubbles.  I 'think' my cards follow the rules...eeeeeeeee! If not, oops! I still had a ton of fun creating them!

Here's the duo:

I used The Stamp Market Circles and Sentiments to create my cards. The Thank You card sees several of the images used, along with the circles die (fiddly to stamp, but I like fiddly!). For the second, I selected the pretty floral circle and gave it a stage of its own, within a different circular frame. 

And the pair once again.....

Thank you for dropping by!

Have A Wheelie Happy Birthday...Seize the Birthday Challenge #192~All About Summer, Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #393~Holiday and 8th Birthday

Hello,

Time to play in some challenges!  A duo of cards today inspired by:

Seize the Birthday Challenge #192~All About Summer

 

and Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #393~Holiday and 8th Birthday

 

Summer...the all-too-short season we have here in Alberta! Warm weather, sunny skies, holiday travel and FAIRS (although this year sees things very much adjusted. No Calgary Stampede...)! With fairs come all kinds of rides that we see only during the summer months, one of which is ferris wheels! I've never been on a ferris wheel (heights...scary!), but I still find them fascinating from my vantage point on the ground.  My unicorn and his jungle pals, however, are far more adventurous than I! 

Here they are together...

Hope you enjoy my cards; those cute critters make me smile!

Thank you for dropping by!

STAMPlorations June 2020 CAS Card Challenge Reminder Post...Bloom Silhouette Thank You

Hello,

Welcome to my reminder post for the STAMPlorations June 2020 CAS Cards Challenge, where the theme is always Anything CAS Goes with an optional colour twist which, this month, is any shade of purple.

For my card, I masked off a section of my base panel, then used Shaded Lilac and Peeled Paint Distress inks with the Bloom Silhouette ARTplorations Stencil; a sentiment from Thank You Coffee - Shery Russ Designs completed my *very* CAS design! Aren't those blooms dreamy?!

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!

JUST A REMINDER: This will be our wrap-up CAS Cards challenge this season before we are off on a summer break to refresh and revitalize our creativity. We'll be back in October (it's not that far away, especially with the way time is passing so quickly) with brand new challenges. Of course, will plenty of exciting things will be going on throughout July-September to keep you busy, inspired and of course, offering plenty of chances to win new STAMPlorations prizes!

Thank you for dropping by!

Perfectly CAS June 2020 Challenge~Sparkle: Sparkly Rainbow Foiled Paper Hug

Hello,

Welcome to Perfectly CAS June 2020 Challenge, where we're inviting you to add SPARKLE to your cards! Bring out the shimmer, glimmer and shine!

Before I share my card: our lovely Kylie will be taking a break from all her Challenge blogs beginning in July, with plans to re-launch in January 2021. After 8 years of running multiple challenges, she more than deserves some time to refresh, relax and rejuvenate.

I'm smitten with foiling of late, so brought out a new foil for this challenge - Rainbow Shattered Glass - which I foiled onto a piece of transfer cardstock and ran through my laminator. Once the foil was adhered, I brought out my Paper Hugs die from The Stamp Market and created my card. In real life, this foil is soooo pretty and sparkly!

Please be sure to pop by my teammates' blogs, leave them some love, then bring your Perfectly CAS Sparkle creations to the gallery.

• A friendly 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.

Please: stay safe and healthy!

Thank you for dropping by!

STAMPlorations Stencil Sunday (June 14, 2020)...For the Guys and Gals

Hello,

Welcome to my first June Stencil Sunday post where, once again, I'm sharing some simple ways to play with the wonderful array of stencils available at STAMPlorations.

Guys and Gals...that's my theme for today's cards. I selected two of the new 6x6 stencils and created *his and her* versions through simple changes in colour and sentiments. Fun and definitely easy to make!

Card 1 - Guy Version

Up and Down - ARTplorations Stencil

Bold Sentiments: Hashtag Authentic

Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies

Cracked Pistachio, Twisted Citron, Salty Ocean, Blueprint Sketch Distress/Distress Oxide inks

Card 2 - Gal Version

Up and Down - ARTplorations Stencil

Hey Sunshine - Clear Stickers - I separated love + you from "Do what you love"

Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies

I used a little frame/arrow die from my stash, leaving the top portion of the

frame open to insert a small photo. 

Spun Sugar, Dried Marigold, Squeezed Lemonade, Twisted Citron, 

Tumbled Glass, Milled Lavender Distress/Distress Oxide inks

Card 3 - Guy Version

Arrow Which Way - ARTplorations Stencil

Bold Sentiments: Hashtag Authentic

Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies

Distress inks are the same as those in Card 1

RAD is a sticker from my stash and the You Are is stamped on a sentiment

die that I transformed into an arrow.

Card 4 - Gal Version

Arrow Which Way - ARTplorations Stencil

Frames and Flowers - Dee's Artsy Impressions

Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies

Picked Raspberry, Mustard Seed, Salty Ocean Distress inks

The arrow is a die from my stash

As you can see, I'm smitten with these two stencils that can be used every 'which way'!  Hope you found my Guys and Gals feature smile-making and inspiring.

Before you go:

PRIZES! For a chance to win a $15 gift code to the STAMPlorations store, leave a comment here and on the STAMPlorations blog by July 8th. Winners will be announced on July 10th!

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!).

I'll be back in a couple weeks for another Stencil Sunday! 

Thank you for dropping by!