Inkspirational Challenge #331 - Use Stencils - Wishing You A Magical Holiday (Pinkfresh Studio - Holiday Magic)

Hello,

Welcome to Inkspirational Challenge #331.

Before I share my card, a bit of housekeeping to attend to:

First: this will be our wrap-up challenge for 2024. To give our team a bit of a break - and you, our wonderful participants, more playing time - it will run for THREE weeks rather than the usual two. If you receive new crafting supplies as Christmas gifts, be sure to share them with us! 

Second: things will look a bit different for us in 2025 as our wonderful teammate, Marina, has decided - after being part of Inkspirational for the past 12 years - to step down. I don't even have words to express how deeply - and on how many levels - she will be missed. Her creativity, her support and encouragement, her insights...those gaps will be felt for a very long time. She's assured us that she'll continue to play in challenges, so we'll keep her at her word! Marina...the door is always open. We love you!

Our challenge for the next three weeks is: Use Stencils. No twists; just embrace whatever stencils are catching your fancy of late and dazzle us with your inky delights. 

A few months ago, I fell head-over-heels for Pinkfresh Studios' Christmas in July collection. This set - Holiday Magic - is ohmystars lovely! Even though I've had the press plate, dies and stencils for a while, today marks their first 'official' showing. The press plate glimmers beautifully (I used silver foil); the stencils, align and ink wonderfully; the dies cut like butter.  So happy to have invested in this rather timeless set.

Please head over to the main blog to see the beautiful cards created by my wonderful teammates, then play along with us.

See you in the gallery!

Thank you for dropping by!

AAA Colourful - Colourboard #10 - Gifts of the Season Festive Tickets (Pinkfresh Studio)

Hello,

Hope everyone is having a wonderful festive season; Christmas will be here in a blink.

Dashing in with my card inspired by the beautiful red + green + gold image featured at AAA Colourful - Colourboard #10

Hopefully my bought-ages-ago but making its debut today Festive Tickets stamps, stencils and dies from Pinkfresh Studios hits all the colours. I already have more cards in the works using this fun collection.

Once again, thank you to the AAA Colourful team for their fabulous challenges and amazing design team inspiration.

Thank you for dropping by!

Color Hues Challenge #100 - Blue and Purple and Giveaway - Frosty Wishes for a Jolly Holiday (WF and LF)

Hello,

Welcome to our last - and milestone - challenge of 2024:  Colour Hues Challenge #100. To mark the occasion, our wonderfully talented hostess, Nancy, is offering a fabulous prize for one of our winners: a box of once-used or never-used Spellbinders products! Talk about incentive to play along! You can read all the details on the main blog. 

For this 100th, month-long challenge, we're inviting you to use hues of blue and purple on your cards/projects. 

I have a 'thing' for snowmen so I brought out Lawn Fawn's Build-A-Snowman, dressed him up in blue and purple (and yes...he does have a purple nose because carrots come in purple, paired him with a little blue jay friend and popped them up on a vellum oval (Pinkfresh). The snowy background and sentiment are from Waffle Flower (which I also have a 'thing' for...I love WF products!).

Please head over to the main blog to see my teammates' delightful blue and purple creations, then join us with one of your own.

The challenge will be open until December 29th @ 9:00 am EDT.

The winners will be posted an hour before our next challenge and the overall

 winner will have the opportunity to be a future Guest Designer.

Happy Crafting and, most important, Happy Holidays!

Thank you for dropping by!

Inkspirational Challenge #330 - Mood Board - Chic Merry Christmas (SB Press Plate)

Hello,

Welcome to Inkspirational Challenge #330.  We've just wrapped up our Santa challenge and, because the festive season is upon us, we're continuing with our Christmas/Holidays theme inviting you to draw inspiration from the mood board below. What catches your eye: the holiday sentiment in a chalkboard style, the wood grain and brick background, the images, the pleats and folds that create a 3D effect, the neutral colours, the festive, peaceful vibe? Perhaps a combination of elements? So many possibilities...

Reminder: please remember that mood boards are created as 'inspiration,' offering multiple avenues for you to explore. Let us know what caught your eye; we're excited to see your interpretations. 

The black and gold of the top center image caught my eye and, although I don't have any pretty 3D stars, I do have a Chic Merry Christmas Spellbinders Press Plate. First time using it - and first time glimmering a plate on black cardstock (Vicki Boutin). I was impressed by how well the paper accepted the foil (although I did have a couple of mess-ups along the way). A few bits of gold bling and voila...a quick Christmas card. 

You may - or may not - know that Canada Post is on strike. I won't be mailing Christmas cards this year, but I have quite the collection to give to my sister and my mom's care-giver. They'll hand deliver them to the wonderful staff at my mom's senior residence, as well as close-by family and friends. Hopefully, the cards will bring a smile to the recipients.

Please head over to the Inkspirational blog to see my teammates' wonderful creations, then play along with us.

Looking forward to seeing you in the gallery.

Thank you for dropping by!

Just Us Girls Challenge #755 ~ Stencil Week ~ Holly and Berries Joy (SB - Holly Glimmer Background and Sprig, Wax Seal - Joy)

Happy Thanksgiving to my American followers; may your day be filled with gratefulness and joy.

Welcome to Just Us Girls Challenge #755 - Stencil Week, where our talented Lisa is hostess for our final challenge of 2024. How quickly the year has flown! 

We are taking the month of December off, then returning in 2025 with a fresh batch of challenges. Our sweet teammate, Stephanie, has decided to step down. Stephanie, your talents and creativity will be missed immensely! .I'm joining in with the rest of the JUGS family to wish you only the best! 

This is also our final challenge with our November guest designer, Jenn Borjeson. Thank you, Jenn, for sharing your fabulous creativity with us.

My card is Spellbinders all the way: Glimmer Holly Background plate + stencil; Sealed Holly Sprigs and a Joy waxed seal. I'm smitten with the artsy appearance of the holly; so pretty. I made several versions of this card, as it's that simple to recreate. 

Please visit the main blog to see the wonderful inspiration from our guest designer and the rest of the team. Then, join us in the gallery with your stencil sensations.

From all of us here at Just Us Girls, 

we wish you a Happy Holiday Season!

Also sharing at:

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

The Sisterhood of Crafters - Anything Goes

Thank you for dropping by!

Just Us Girls Challenge #754 - Photo/Moodboard - Merry and Bright Gingerbread Postage Collage (Waffle Flower)

Hello,

Welcome to Just Us Girls Challenge #754 where our lovely hostess, Carol Mc, has selected a festive moodboard as inspiration this week. Lots of choices to spark your creativity.

Once again, we're delighted to have Jenn joining us as our November Guest Designer.

Oh, guess what...I used my Waffle Flower collection once again! This time, making its debut, is the Gingerbread stencil; I was inspired by the lowest left photo on the moodboard. Definitely gingerbread! 

Please head over to the main blog to see the fabulous cards created by Jenn

and the rest of the JUGS team. 

Looking forward to seeing your interpretations in the gallery.

Thank you for dropping by!

Color Hues Challenge #99 - Pink and Aqua - Holiday Bicycle Wishing You a Magical Holiday (Pinkfresh Studio)

Hello,

Welcome to Colour Hues Challenge #99, where our wonderful hostess, Marcia, invites us to use hues of Pink and Aqua for the next two weeks. This combination is a lovely non-traditional palette for Christmas, as well as a variety of other occasions. 

Along with a new challenge, we're also delighted to welcome a new member to the Design Team: sweet and talented Bonnie. So thrilled to have her on board!

Teresa is joining us as our Guest Designer for this challenge; her card is sure to bring you a smile.

When Pinkfresh Studio launched their Christmas release in July, I confess to exercising little restraint! The Radiating Snowflake, Magical Holiday holly and berries, Poinsettia Frames, Festive Grid...they all joined my collection, as did this sweet Holiday Bicycle. It's pretty, it's whimsical, it's fun, it's festive...and it looks fabulous in a variety of colours, especially pink and aqua. I'm pleased with the way this turned out; I hope you are, too.

Please drop by the main blog to see the wonderful inspiration from our Guest Designer and the rest of my fabulous team. Then, join us in the gallery with your take on Pink and Aqua.

The challenge will be open until November 29th @ 9:00 am EDT.

The winners will be posted an hour before our next challenge and the overall

 winner will have the opportunity to be a future Guest Designer.

Thank you for dropping by!

Inkspirational Challenge #329 - Word Prompt - Santa - Believe in the Magic of Christmas (TH)

Hello,

Welcome Inkspirational Challenge #329.  According to the calendar, we are about 39 days to Christmas and it will be here in a blink. We know many of you have started - or finished - your Christmas/Holiday cards, but for those who need a little extra oomph or those who love Christmas creating, our Word Prompt Challenge may have exactly the inspiration you need: SANTA. Anything Santa-themed, be it Santa himself, Santa clothing, Santa mustache and beard, Santa glasses, Santa expressions, etc., is welcome. 

I've had several of last year's Tim Holtz Christmas die and paper collections sitting in my stash for yep...nearly a year! Finally, Reindeers' Sleigh and Forest Shadows are making their debut, along with the striped background paper and chipboard sentiment. This card took a while to create (ink blending, mainly), but I'm pleased with the results. Not sure I'd consider these dies or this design for mass producing, but for 2 -3 cards for special people, absolutely.

Please head over to the main blog to see the fabulous Santa cards created by my awesome team.

We *Ho Ho Ho* hope that we've inspired you to play along with us.

Looking forward to seeing your Santa sensations in the gallery!

Thank you for dropping by!

Just Us Girls Challenge #753 - Word Week - Joy - Rocking Chair Bear JOY (Penny Black Rock On, Immense Joy)

Hello,

Welcome to Just Us Girls Challenge #753, where our lovely hostess, Sue, has selected JOY as our Word Week prompt. Certainly, a fitting choice as we approach the festive season...or any season/occasion, for that matter. 

Once again, we're delighted to have Jenn B joining us as our November Guest Designer. 

Penny Black dies and stamps are making their debut on my card today. That little bear (Rock and Roll), asleep in the rocking chair, is darling, isn't he! All tuckered our from a Christmas Day filled with immense JOY!  

Looking forward to seeing your JOY inspired cards in the gallery.

Thank you for dropping by!

AAA Colourful: Colourboard #9 - All is Calm Nativity (Penny Black, Spellbinders, Alex Syberia)

Hello,

Madly dashing in with my card for AAA Colourful: Colourboard #9.

I was 'this close' to making a Halloween card but then switched gears because a couple of new-comers joined my collection: Spellbinders Tunnel Clouds dies and Penny Black's circle Nativity. After watching a video, I figured out the tunnel clouds dies correctly. Whew! I inked the inside pieces from the Nativity die to capture the oranges/yellows of the colour board. 

Perhaps not a breath-take-away awesome card (none of mine are, actually!), but one that I enjoyed making. Oh...and I splattered gold paint to create a starry sky on the darkest blue panel.

Sentiment is from Alex Syberia Design's Moonlight collection.

Thank you AAA Colourboard designers for the fabulous challenges!

Thank you for dropping by!

Just Us Girls Challenge #752 - Color Week - Gold, White and Blue - Wishing You a Magical Holiday Radiating Snowflake (Pinkfresh Studio)

Hello,

Welcome to Just Us Girls Challenge #752 where, as hostess, I invite you use a palette of Gold, White and Blue this week. While this combination is lovely for the festive season, it's also one for a wide variety of themes/occasions. 

A new month also brings us a new Guest Designer: Jenn Borjeson. We're thrilled to have her sharing her creativity with us throughout November.

A suite of Pinkfresh Studio products are making their debut on my card: a stenciled version of the Radiating Snowflake, Festive Grid background and a gold glimmer-foiled sentiment from Holiday Magic. Gold bling for the sparkle - because Christmas cards 'need' sparkle.

Please head over to the main blog to see the lovely cards created by Jenn and the rest of my talented teammates.

Then...join us in the gallery!

Looking forward to seeing how Gold, White and Blue inspire you.

Also sharing at:

Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #480 - Die Cuts and Stencils - I used PFS Radiating Snowflake stencil and die.

Thank you for dropping by!

Inkspirational Challenge #328 - Designer's Choice - Layer It - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (WF Postage dies and Christmas stencil, Honey Bee Stamps)

Hello,

Welcome to Inkspirational Challenge #328 where my Designer's Choice inspiration is LAYER IT.  Layered die cuts, layering stencils, layering stencils with layered die cuts, layer cakes (made with layering stencils and die cuts LOL), layers of clothes, layer of ink...as long as we can see, or you can explain to us, how you've 'layered it', you're more than welcome to join the gallery. 

My card uses an assortment of layers: embossed snowflake panel (with an extra smooth panel for reinforcement) layered on to a card base; Waffle Flower postage collage dies (also with extra backing) and layering Christmas stencils.  They - and the sentiment - are also layered with foam tape. This is a hefty card! LOL! Oh...and a layer of Simon Hurley's Slippery When Wet gold paste on there, too. 

How will you *Layer It*?

Looking forward to seeing what you create in the gallery!

Thank you for dropping by!

Color Hues Challenge #98 - Red and Black - Merry Christmas Santa Ornament (Spellbinders)

Hello,

Welcome to Color Hues Challenge #98, where our lovely hostess, Karen, invites us to use hues of red and black as inspiration for the next two weeks. This classy combination certainly has a holiday flair, but it can be used for many occasions as well.

We're also wishing a fond farewell to our teammate, Cindy Beach, who will be very much missed. Cindy: may your new journey be filled with joy. Once you're settled, hopefully we'll see you crafting and inspiring once again.

Joining us for this challenge are two talented designers: Izzy and Colleen B.. Wonderful to have you on board. 

HO! HO! HO! 

A Santa suit ornament from Nichol Spohr's Festive Ornaments/Merry Mug & Circle Delights Collection came out to play for this challenge. I've paired it with an ornaments embossing folder and a Spellbinder's sentiment. Easy!

Looking forward to seeing how Black and Red inspire you!

The challenge will be open until November 14th @ 9:00 am EDT.

The winners will be posted an hour before our next challenge and the overall

 winner will have the opportunity to be a future Guest Designer.

Thank you for dropping by!

Just Us Girls Challenge #751 - CASE DT - Happy Birthday Floral Spray and Wax Seal

Hello,

Welcome to Just Us Girls Challenge #751, where Ina is our hostess for CASE A DT Week.  Each team member creates a card of their own choice; you select which one takes your fancy and CASE it. Please remember to mention whose card you cased in your description. 

Pinkfresh tape florals, Spelllbinders glimmer background and a soft pink wax seal Happy Birthday.

Simple to make!

Your turn: Ready, Set. CASE! 

Looking forward to seeing how you were inspired by my fabulous team!

Thank you for dropping by!

Just Us Girls Challenge #750 - Anything Stencil - Pumpkins BOO! (Spellbinders)

Hello,

Welcome to Just Us Girls Challenge #750, where Bobby is our hostess for our popular Stencil Week. Any stencil; any occasion.

Once again, we're delighted to be joined by our October Guest Designer: Kerry Parkinson.

I used my BetterPress Society Pumpkin Background plate for my card. The background is foiled; way easier than trying to get solid ink coverage. And, because I'm still in Halloween mode, my pumpkins became Jack O'lanterns with faces and sentiment from Concord & 9th. Cuteness! 

Looking forward to seeing your stencil sensations in the gallery.

Also sharing at:

Double D Challenges: Pumpkin

Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge -  October 2024 Anything Goes Halloween

Crazy is our Fame - Stencils are our Game - October Challenge - Halloween

Inspirational Station Prompt #66 - inspired by the Jack O'Lanterns

Thank you for dropping by!