Serendipity Stamps June Blog Hop and Challenge Reminder (Believe and Imagine...Magic Happens!)

Hello!

I'm excited to welcome you to the Serendipity Stamps July Blog Hop, where this month's theme is Inspirational (Believe, Create, Dream Imagine).  When you hop along with us (you should have arrived here from wonderfully talented Patti's blog) you'll be treated to some dazzling creativity AND and a prize opportunity.

  Here's the hop order:

Mary's Blog

Jeanne Jachna

Jenny Gropp

Julie Warner

Karen Amidon

Marybeth Lopez

Miriam Napier

Patti Kehl

Carol Mayne (you are here)

Vickie Zimmer

Please leave comments on all the blogs as you hop; one commenter will be selected to win a $20 gift certificate for Serendipity Stamps! You have until Midnight on Sunday July 24 (US EST) to leave comments; the lucky winner will be posted on Mary's Blog on Monday July 25. Enticing!!


Imagine. Dream. Create. Believe.  Words that inspire; words that have the power to create magic. And that's what I tried to capture in the cards I designed for this event, using the awesome, cut-like-butter Imagine and Believe dies that *had* to be showcased in shimmery gold foil paper (stacked atop two additional layers cut from water-colour paper).  The foil paper is a challenge to photograph, but in real life, these dies are knockouts! I paired them with the wizard's hat and sentiment from the Magic set.

A second photo, trying to capture how pretty the sentiment is in gold.  A highlight of this die: the swirl in the *g* becomes the dot (or tittle, as Laura B has taught us *grin) for the *i*.  Love it!

For those Harry Potter fans in the audience: a second card using Gryffindor colours: red and gold:

And, to wrap things up, a couple of note cards.  These word dies placed on a patterned background would make a pretty  gift set...ideas percolating...

The dies, the stamps...oh, you will definitely see these in action in the near future! We all could use a little 'magic' in our lives, right? Right! 


Before I send you off to Vickie Zimmer's blog to see her marvelous creation, I'm wondering:

Have you played along with our latest challenge: SSCB#57 Just ADD Water!

If I can do this, you most certainly can!!

The challenge guidelines - with a $20 prize as incentive - are easy to follow:
As long as your cards/projects (yes, more than one is a-okay) focuses on the theme and includes ONE Serendipity product (of the oodles available...do check the amazing and vast selections in the shop!),
you are in the running!

Looking forward to seeing you in the gallery; 

the link up is open until midnight, July 29.

Interested in shopping? Of course you are!!  Check out this darling Sprinkler image, which is the 50% off June "Stamp of the Month." Sweetness, right?

You can also enjoy free shipping July 20-24 on all Continental US orders $25 and more.

Also sharing at:
Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies July Challenge

Thank you so much for spending time with me today; your visit brings me immense joy!

You are Spooktacular....Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #203~Holiday, CAS(E) this Sketch #181, AAA Cards Game #69~One Stash Favourite, The Paper Players #304~Watercolour

Hello!

Hope you're having a great week! I understand that many of you experiencing swelter-fest temperatures at the moment.  Wanna do some 'trades'? I'll send some of our rain, clouds, winds and cool temperatures, in exchange for some of your heat (not all....just some), your sunshine and your breezes?  Deal? Deal!

Anyway, today, my DT and I welcome to Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #203~Holiday

Evidently, the 'cool' weather conditions have shifted me into thinking about Fall, and in so doing, to one of my favourite "holidays": Halloween!  I'm absolutely smitten with Halloween images, which is rather curious, given we don't "celebrate" the event, aside from doling out treats to the kids who come our way. Just something about cutie-patootie Halloween stamps/dies makes me smile...and I do wind up making oodles of Halloween tags/mini cards for my niece and nephew, as well as their classmates and daycare pals, as well as their teachers.  I mean, who doesn't like a hug from a sweet 'mummy' now and then *grin*

Here's my inspiration card for the challenge, which follows wonderful Leigh's layout over at CAS(E) this Sketch #181:

Yes, I 'deliberately' made this smooshy, sprinkly-ish panel for my little dude, who I then gently, gently barely-any-water painted with the same distress inks (Wilted Violet, Carved Pumpkin and Mowed Lawn).  He needed a pal, so along came a spider...and you know the rest...

Now, it's your turn! 

Looking forward to seeing your Holiday-themed creativity in the ATSM Gallery!

Also sharing at:

AAA Cards Game #69~One Stash Favourite (Halloween-themed images)

The Paper Players #304~Watercolour

Thank you for spending time with me today;  your visit brings me immense joy!

Critters from the Past and the Sea....Muse Challenge #174, Freshly Made Sketches #245 - A Sketch by Jen M, The Daily Marker 30 Day Colouring Challenge:, A Blog Named Hero~Masculine

Hello,

A quick post to share two cards I squeezed in today.

Over at Muse Challenge #174, our sweet, talented Tracey has shared this little charm to spark ideas:

My card - which I plan to send to my 4 year old nephew, Mr. C -  is pretty much a straightforward case of hers: a couple of "friendly' critters (tee hee), some flowers to parallel her fire and a smile-making sentiment.  For the record, my T-Rex is vegetarian *grin* and the stegosaurus has shimmery armor on his back, thanks to glossy accents. I also have some green stenciling in the background, but it's hard to see with the lighting I'm limited to using. Hopefully, the sun will shine soon....

My polychromos-coloured dinos are also heading to Kathy's The Daily Marker 30 Day Colouring Challenge:

My second card, featuring my new Hero Arts Colour Layering Seahorse once again, was inspired by
Freshly Made Sketches #235 by Jen M.

NOTE: Honoured and thrilled to receive an Honourable Mention at Freshly Made Sketches #245! Thank you, Shannon!

My 'ocean' was created with my 'water-colour' strip stamps, along with bubbles from MFT Distressed Patterns.  Again, apologies for the poor lighting.  I'm extra-happy because finally, I can join the gallery at A Blog Named Hero, where the theme this month is Masculine. My husband gave this two thumbs up, so guy-card it is!

That's it from me...hope  your Sunday was fabulous!

Thank you so much for spending part of your day with me; your visit brings me immense joy!

Tropical Papalooza...Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #367~Tropical, Happy Little Stampers July Anything Goes with Dies Challenge, Creataliciious Challenges #95~Anything Goes (add flowers), Uniko Challenge #34~Flowers, CAS Mix Up July 2016 Challenge

Hello!

On this very rainy, cool Sunday, I'm sooooo glad to be joining my amazing DT for Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #367~Tropical (warm temperatures, blue skies and water, flowers...bring 'em on!)

Source

Pineapple delights, right?  The recipe looks scrumptious (click source link), and what better to serve them on than pineapple plates, accompanied by pineapple napkins!  Yummo!

This week, we're sponsored by Your Next Stamp, who are generously offering a $25 gift certificate to the winner.

Before you go any further: be warned! I went a little *ahem* overboard with the theme! Prior to this challenge - and our trip to visit my mom-in-law in Kelowna where the brick-and-mortar craft store is - my stash's tropical images were flamingos and cool penguins.  Yes, those would have served the challenge well, but...when the Tim Holtz/Sizzix Tropical dies fell into my line of sight while shopping...I was captivated.  I can't defend why this Rocky Mountains dweller 'needs' tropical images, so I won't even try *grin*. I just did! Hibiscus, "big" palm tree, and even a tiki mask!  Soooo cool (and for some reason my husband is all over this set! Too funny!)

The flowers and leaves for the first two cards were die-cut from 'failed' water-colour panels; the palm tree and tiki mask trio are set atop panels that were a little more cooperative!  I know Zigs should be used for 'painting', but that doesn't go so well for me.  I scribbled them on a cookie sheet, spritzed with water, smooshed in paper and ta dahhhh...the performance landed a few successes *grin*

Enough chatting:  here's how *Tropical* inspired me:

NOTE: Thrilled and honoured to be selected as a Top 3 over at Creatalicious Challenges! THANK YOU!!

NOTE: Delighted to be selected as a Happy Little Stampers July Anything Goes with Dies Favourite! THANK YOU!

The trio below are sentiment free: no Aloha in my collection. I'll figure something out for the inside, once I know where they're headed...

That's it from me; I so appreciate your patience in scrolling through the set! Hopefully some inspiration came your way.  For some real dazzles and delights, please head over to the blog to see what our Surprise Sweetie, Christy Lynn, and my team have for you:

Amy

Birgit

Debbie

Deborah

Ek

Eva

Jen

Jennifer

Kamila

Naki

Nina

Sandy

YOUR TURN!  

Looking forward to seeing your Tropical designs in the gallery!

Also sharing at:

Happy Little Stampers July Anything Goes with Dies Challenge

Uniko Challenge #34~Flowers

CAS Mix Up July 2016 Challenge: Flowers and leaves made with 'messed up' panels using zig markers scribbled on a cookie sheet, then spritzed.  (Same with the backgrounds for the tiki mask and palm tree;  were a 'bit' better! Yayyy for the cookie sheet!). Sentiments are stamped (Uniko) and my 'your choice' option is die-cutting. 

Creatalicious Challenge #95~Anything Goes (optional add flowers - which I did)

Thank you for spending part of your day with me; your visit brings me joy!

Wishing You Oceans of Joy...Just Us Girls #352~Colour Week: Coral, Yellow, Pink; Words 2 Craft By #31~Just Keep Swimming

Hello, hello!

Hope everyone had a marvelous week!  We had a most delightful visit with my mom-in-law, enjoyed lovely warm temperatures and even went blueberry picking at a near-to-her-place U-Pick farm! I. Love. Blueberries!  We had our little pail filled in about 20 minutes, and have come home with close to 5 pounds of the tasty blue gems. I see blueberry muffins in my future...

Today, I'm once again delighted to be joining the Just Us Girls team with the new challenge: Just Us Girls Challenge #352~Colour Week:  Coral, Yellow and Pink. Scrumptious!

During our Kelowna visit, I had opportunity to shop in a real brick-and-mortar crafting store (Ever After...isn't that a great name?), where the sweet owner, Amanda, had set aside a 'please must have' set of stamps and dies for me:  Hero Arts Colour Layering Seahorse!  I didn't have opportunity to achieve 'finesse' in stamping with them (needed an 'extension on my 'homework' *grin*), so my card is a 'first effort' (please don't look too closely...rough edges to be seen...).  Still, I'm so glad that I decided to pair this set for the Colour Challenge....pink, coral yellow  just seemed 'right' for my little seahorse, starfish, shell and background bubbles.  I also made a shaker but I'll save it for down-the-road; the pink and coral sequins were great, but the clear ones: Nope! They're iridescent, so I felt they ventured too far from the colour parameters. Stay tuned...an appearance will happen.

Anyway, here's my card:

To all my wonderful friends, I truly do wish you oceans upon oceans of joy!  As you know, I'm still behind in commenting, but catching up...slowly, slowly!  Thank you for sticking with me!

Once again, THANK YOU to the amazing Just Us Girls team for this third outing with you! So. Much. Fun!

Hope you'll play along in this lovely colour challenge!  So many possibilities...

Also sharing at:

Words 2 Craft By #31~Just Keep Swimming

Happy Little Stampers July Anything Goes with Dies Challenge

Thank you for spending part of your day with me; your visit brings me joy!

Butterfly Celebrate...Inkspirational Challenge #113~Photo Inspiration, Happy Little Stamper July Anything Goes with Dies Challenge, Get Creative Challenges #43~Celebrations

Hello!

How quickly these summer weeks are flying....and it's already time for our new Inkspirational Challenge #113, where our ever-so-talented guest designer, Jane, along with my ultra creative DT:

Sandie

Shauna

Yvonne

Kim

Marina 

Nonni

invite you to feast your eyes on this chic and stylish cake for inspiration:  

Elegant...so elegant!

My solitary city-scape silhouette wasn't calling my name for this challenge, so I listened to what was: the 'creamy' background, the splatters and...no surprise...a butterfly...again!!  Simple...plenty of 'open' space...and, hopefully, a wee bit of sophistication...

Please head over to the Inkspirations site for more inspiration from our Jane and the team (and leave them some love; I know they'll be delighted); you'll be amazed! Guaranteed!  

Looking forward to seeing your creativity in the gallery!

Also sharing at:

Happy Little Stampers July Anything Goes with Dies Challenge

Get Creative Challenges #43~Celebrations

Thank you for spending part of your day with me; your visit brings me joy!

Floral Happy Birthday...Uniko Guest Designer, Uniko Theme Challenge~Flowers, 4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #307~Flowers

Hello!

Hope your summer is unfolding marvelously, whether you're traveling (as we are...heading home soon) or enjoying stay-cations.  

Today, I'm thrilled to be Guest Designing with Bev and her amazing DT over at Uniko

for this month's Uniko Challenge #34:

Oh the possibilities!!

Recently, Bev designed a "caught my eye', fabulous card that featured her Triangulate set. When her wonderful invitation to guest design for the flowers theme appeared, I knew precisely what I wanted to do: case her card just to 'see' if I could achieve a similar result with flowers.  Mission accomplished!  My card features the debut of my 'just for you' freebie that I received in a previous order...inked up in colours similar to those I know Bev loves, as do I...and arranged a la the style of her triangle pattern.  This card makes me smile; I hope it has the same impact on you!

The lines of the outline stamp are soooo wonderfully crisp; 

the solid stamps, wonderfully detailed! Pretty, plus!  Love. this. set!

I hope you'll bring out your flower images and play along with us!  All the details are at the Uniko blog, together with all kinds of flower inspiration from the talented Design Team. Please be sure to take a look; you will be soooo impressed!  

See you in the gallery!

Also sharing at:

4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #307~Flowers

Seize the Birthday~Bold and Bright

Thank you for spending part of your day with me; your visit brings me joy!