Inspired by all the little things

I am currently obsessed with challenge blogs and recently stumbled across two new ones that I wanted to share with you...I hope you take a moment to check them out!

The first is from Concord & 9th and is called Where Creativity meets C9 .  They post a new challenge on the 9th of each month.  Their current challenge is floral and you'll find plenty of inspiration in all the designers samples.

The second one is Inspired by All the Little Things and it is a bi-weekly challenge. The current challenge is floral as well.  I love their inspiration photo and look forward to seeing what comes next month!

I found similar inspiration in my own backyard...(and although my photography skills do this gorgeous rose justice)... I think you'll be able to see the color inspiration in the project I'm sharing today.

I used the Wreath Turnabout from Concord & 9th and Catherine Pooler Ink on Desert Storm cardstock.  I added the lines onto the leaves with a fine point green sharpie and then stamped the sentiment on a die cut stitched circle from MFT.  I attached it to the wreath with some Scrapbook Adhesive Foam Squares for a bit of added dimension.

note: After looking a my pictures, I realized my circle was slightly off and have since repositioned that.  All part of the learning process...😁 

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you find some inspiration that sparks your creativity today!
Hugs and happy crafting ❥❣❥

Flowers & Smiles for Mother's Day!

Happy Saturday!  Today I created two cards for the MFT Color Challenge #93...just in time for Mother's Day🎕.

I was inspired by the MFT color challenge and used as many MFT products as possible.  I used the Bold Blooms set to stamp the background for one card on Ellen Hutson Oyster cardstock and the dies to cut flowers from the Tiny Check Brights 6x6 paper pad on Ellen Hutson Black cardstock for the second. The 100 lb. weight of these cardstocks is awesome!

I used the Smile dienamics for the sentiment.  I cut the word smile from both the grass cardstock and the tiny checks lavender paper and then swapped them in the negative space...It's a Two For...love that!

These are versatile products that I can see myself using over and over again in so many ways...  which is something I always take into consideration when purchasing stamps (especially if I'm investing in the dies as well).  I want my crafting dollar to stretch as far as it can 😛😳!

 I hope these projects brought a smile to your face and that you enjoy a wonderful Mothers Day full of Smiles, Love and Hugs!

Pattern Happy Card Challenge

Hi all...in a previous post I promised I would keep you up to date on Card Challenge sites as I found them.  Well today I have a new one to share.  Pattern Happy is new to the crafting world and they have a monthly Super Sketch Challenge on their blog.  You should definitely check them out!

Here is the sketch for their first challenge:

 I took the basic layout and started by choosing my pattern paper and sentiment.  I chose a pink Geo pattern from the Geofetti 6x6 paper pack. Next I picked my sentiment...I wanted something happy!
I tried the sentiment straight like the sketch shows, but decided I liked it at an angle better...so I made a slight adjustment.  That's the beauty of a challenge sketch, it's meant to be a guide and you can take some creative license😀

The next step was to create the pattern on the white card stock.  I used components from the Bloom Builder set to stamp a random pattern with Catherine Pooler Ink in Rose Petal.

The shape component was the hardest for me.  I knew I wanted to use a die cut flower cluster as my shape, but had a hard time getting it to look how I had it pictured in my brain.  In the end, I die cut some flowers from the bloom builder set.  Some on white cardstock with colored inks and some on the patterned paper.  To make them stand out I cut out an oval from bright yellow polka dot paper from the same pad and that helped them to pop off the background.

I think it turned out to be a happy card...I hope you do too💕  Be sure to check out Pattern Happy, their blog and monthly Super Sketch Challenge!  Hugs

Stretch your stamping with Freebies

I've been finding a lot of inspiration in challenge blogs recently. It's a fun place to get ideas when your creativity is a bit stagnant. One that was new to me was from Newton's Nook Designs.  Their challenge site Inky Paws has a bi-weekly challenge.

Like many challenges one of the components to play along for prizes is using their products, but what I love about this site was that they provide some free downloads in case you don't own any of their products yet...which I think is totally awesome because you can play along even if you are finding them for the first time...like me!!

I chose to print the warm and cozy wishes mittens, then added the word Birthday (the theme of this weeks challenge) with a stamp from my own collection.

I cut out the printed image with MFT's Rectangular Stitch Stax and cut a second rectangle (one size larger) out of patterned paper to act as a frame.  I sponged the edge of the image using Abandoned Coral Distress Ink and a dauber.

I colored in the mittens with Copic markers and then layered it all onto a coordinating color of cardstock trimmed to show just a border of my A2 white note card.  The final touch...a small heart cut out of glitter paper!

Thank You Newton's Nook for this fun down load...I appreciate your generosity💞  I hope that you will check them out and expand your craft stash with these free printables!  (I'll keep you posted as I come across others)

Now my dilemma...do I send this to someone now or wait until winter?  The weather has been so crazy lately that it's probably still snowing somewhere...so, I'm thinking I can still send it now😉!

Well hello gorgeous!

Hi friends, on the blog today is a card I created for the MFT Color Challenge.  I'm finding these challenges to be a great source of inspiration when you're just not sure what you want to create (it happens). Sometimes a color palette or a design layout suggestion is all you need to get those creative juices flowing...just sayin😉.   I have to admit, this challenge paired colors I normally would not have put together on my own...but to my surprise I ended up loving the result!  💟💟💟💟

The suggested colors made me think of flowers, so I went in that direction.  I had seen another designer arrange flower stamps inside a heart and used that as my inspiration for filling the inside of a circle.  I took small floral and dot stamps from various stamp sets and stamped them inside a circle that I drew lightly with a pencil.  I kept my pattern somewhat random but semi-symmetrical...if that's a thing...hehe. I colored them with COPIC Sketch Markers and cut the circle out with a stitched circle die cut.

Since black was also a color in the challenge I decided to use black and white patterned paper cut slightly smaller than the size of the card and a dotted circle as a background for the flower circle and black glossy cardstock to die cut the word hello.  I adhered them to a white A2 notecard and added a few finishing touches.   A few clear Nuvo Drops here and there and some Wink of Stella clear glitter on a petal or two and the card was complete...woohoo!

I hope you are inspired to try out the world of challenges.  Lot's of company sponsor them and give away gift cards to their stores...added bonus prize!!  Look for the Pin-Sights Challenge and Mix it Up Challenge at Ellen Hutson.  Mft has a the color challenge and more.  I'm just starting to explore this...so I will continue to fill you in on who has challenges as I find them.  Until next time...I hope you have a Card Happy week!