Monochromatic Cityscape

Hello Friends,

For today I am playing along with The Male Room. Their theme is choose any color and design a MONOCHROMATIC  card using the chosen color. In my case I used gray, black, and silver. Here is my card for today, enjoy!

Entering Challenge:

The Male Room: TMR#29- Monochromatic

This card reminds me of moving away the 'best wishes' sentiment seemed appropriate for this type of card. Also, I used chevron to indicate a sense of movement. The city scene in the background was a die cut that was cut into pieces.. A monochromatic design can give a sense of dimension; the city as an example for the background. As you move closer, the suburbs are lighter and closer to you. Well that is my two cents for the day..

Thank you again for taking time out of your busy day to come on over and spend some time in my corner of the internet. Take care and see you soon!!

All the best,

Shawna 

Refresh, Renew, Rejoice

Hello Again,

For today I am playing along with Freshly Made Sketches and Color Throwdown. For these challenges I will be featuring an Easter card, enjoy!

Circles is the theme for this card. This set from Papertrey Ink
spawned the whole design.

The dry embossed dots brings in some texture.

Stitched bunny circles were drawn in brown to match the sentiment.
I think it brings it all together. 

Challenges Entered:
Color Throwdown: ctd381
Freshly Made Sketches: FMS225

   

Oh Easter! I picture cute little girls in their new Sunday dresses plucking eggs out of a lush green lawn. Little boys dressed in their best doing the exact same thing. The thing is the weather doesn't always cooperate with this perfect picture. Easter in Michigan can be cold, dark, rainy and even snowy. Those poor kiddos need to put on their winter coats and boots to bear Winters last hold. Most are cold and some crying (rightfully so). So you know what? This Easter when it is cold and dank outside I will have to put on my rose colored glasses and wonder 'Where are those lush lawns?'.

Okay for real this is my last post for the day. I do hope you enjoy having me clutter up your inbox with posts.. I just hope you enjoyed your stay and I do appreciate you stopping by. Take care.

All the Best,
Shawna

Vice Versa

Hello All,

For today I am playing along with The Card Concept. This is an amazing challenge from them. I just love the colors and photo inspiration. Here is my card for today, enjoy!

The contrast from the black and white stripes makes this card
especially striking.

The flowers help to soften up the card. 

Detail shot showing the lined up sentiment and flowers.

Challenges Entered:

The Card Concept: #49- Floral Radiance

This two toned sentiment technique may look a bit familiar. Papertrey Ink did an excellent tutorial on how to do this. I have provided the link here... I have had it stashed in my memory for awhile now and thought now would a good time to use it.  You can do so many things with two toned sentiments technique.. It doesn't have to be black and white. You can use a monochromatic color palette or design with complimentary colors, or split complimentary colors.. The possiblies are just endless. I think I am going to have use this again for another challenge.

Well that should do it for me. I hope you had a good stay at TheGrandStampede and I hope to see  you soon. Until then take care and keep crafting my friends.

All the best,

Shawna

MHK Designer Feb Inspiration: Sneak peek

Hello All,

I am over at MHKDesigns today showing an inspiration card for the last few days of February. Here is a sneak peek at what you can expect.

Go on over to MHKDesigns to see the entire card

So come on over and see the entire card at MHKDesigns Blog. See you there!!

All the best,

Lets Go Fly a Kite

Hello All,

For today I writing on behalf Make My Monday challenge blog.. This week's theme is to have a kite on your card.. Here is my card for tonight, enjoy.

Challenge this week;
Must have a kite on your card.

Entering challenges:
Colour Q: cQc #330



I will write more later but now it is time for bed... Write you tomorrow.

all the best,
Shawna 

Breathing Room

Hello Everyone,

For today I am playing along with CAS-ology and Colour Q.  These two blog blend effortlessly to create a very colorful and CAS card.. Here is my design for tonight, enjoy.

Entering Challenges:
CASology: Week 186- Distress
ColourQ: cQc#330

  

Christopher

Dearest Friends,

I wanted to post this on the 23rd when I found out this terrible news but wanted to ask BozenA first to see if it was okay to post. She gave me her blessing..

I write to you with a heavy, heavy heart that Bozena from ArtCardBox lost her brother today due to an extended illness. Even though Bozena and I have never actually met I feel a kinship with her. It is hard to write as my eyes well with tears for her and her family. Bozena's mom is also in my heart not even imagining the grief of losing a child.

So no sketch challenge, no color challenge, no theme challenge; just a card I sent to him some time ago saying stay strong (badź silny in Polish) and it seems he did not disappoint. Please pray for BozenA and her family as they grieve for Christopher.

Sending love and sympathy to my dear friend.. Rest in peace Christopher..

With much sorrow,
Shawna

Lucky me?

Hello everyone!!

For today I am playing along with Saturday Sketches. With St. Patricks Day right around the corner I thought it would be a great idea to create a shamrock card. Well here it is, enjoy!

The color scheme seems very Irish. The gold ribbon is also a nice added
touch for St. Patricks Day.

I stamped the flowers and cut out a portion to over the frame. Then added
the 4 leaf clovers with dimensional adhesive. 

The 'lucky me' sentiment is a good sentiment.
it can be used for many other occasions other then
just St. Patrick's Day.

Entering Challenge: Sketch Saturday- #400 by Alex

I am proud to say I am American. Like most American we are mutts made up from countries all around the world. For me, my part of the world is Ireland. My grandmother was Irish so that makes me 25% Irish. I remember eating at my mothers house and every St. Patrick's Day we had boiled cabbage and brisket for dinner. Not the most fragrant meal but it was soooo good!! My family has not had the honor of this delicately probably because brisket is so high in cholstrel and fat.. Humm... Maybe this St. Patrick's Day I will have to find another, more body friendly, recipe. So for those of you in/from Ireland have any recipes out there pass them on.

Well that is all for me!! I want to thank you so much for stopping by. I am so lucky to have all of you who follow me and for some, got to know so well. See you soon and take care.

All the best,
Shawna 

Birthday Billboard

Hello All!

For today I am playing with City Crafters Challenge Blog, Freshly Made Sketches, and Sparkle & Shine Challenge.

To lighten up the card I left some of the borders on the chevs white.

The card reminds me of a billboard. 

Using my negative space I added a bit of glitter in assorted colors.

Entering Challenges:
City Crafters Challenge Blog: Week 299- Negativity 
Freshly Made Sketches: FM224
Sparkle & Shine Challenge: twenty four

   

This card reminds me of a birthday billboard.. Celebrating for all to see! I wonder if chevrons will ever go out of style. I don't think so because it is so classic and can be applied to so many applications, from fashion to.... well.... cards! It is so dark and gloomy today that I felt like using glitter in my negative space. It fills the card with color and sparkle.

That should do it for me.. Have to go and pick up my kiddo's from school.. Hopefully they had a good day.. Thank you so much for stopping by and spending time with me. I really do appreciate it.

All the Best,
Shawna

Dare to Dream

Hello Again,

For today I am writing for Make My Monday to say there is a new challenge this week! Before we get to the challenge here is my card, enjoy!

Using the window for a dreamy sky scene.
Colorful sequins from Winnie & Walter are just dazzling.

This weeks challenge:
Through the Window

The colors that were used are pastel and white.
Perfect for a congratulatory card.

A rhinestone was placed on the butterfly to visually connect with the
sparkly sequins inside the window.

Card in the direct light showing again the
shine and sparkle of the card.

Through the window can be looked at so many ways. It could mean the window of the heart, spirit, or maybe a broken window, or literally looking through a window. I decided to use my window for a dreamy shaker card. I am not really a pastel girl but thanks to these challenges it got me out of my comfort zone. And wow I love it!

Challenges Entered:
AAA Cards: Game #58- Sequins
The Paper Players- PP253- Up...up...and...away
City Crafter Challenge: Week 299- Negativity 
In(K)spire_me Challenge: #237

      

I do hope you can join us at Make My Monday. This is an interesting challenge with lots of possibilities. Thank you so much for stopping by and am curious to see what your take on this theme.
I will see you there!

All the Best,
Shawna

Spring

Hello Readers,

For today I am writing to let you all know there is a new challenge for MHKDesigns that starts today!! Here is my inspiration card, enjoy!

The background was done with sponging ink and applying white acrylic
paint and scrubbing it off. You can see some of the texture it left behind.

Check out all of MHKDesigns digital stamps
where Vintage Images Meet Modern Sentiments.

Our new color challenge for
the months of February/March

_____________________________________________________

I adore this set so much I thought I would use it again.
Aren't these colors gorgeous together? Perfect for a spring card.

Details showing the luster of the flower and sentiment. I decided to use pop up dots for the bird to create a bit more dimension. 

I hope you enjoyed our release week here at MHKDesigns. I sure had a wonderful time creating all the cards. It isn't too much work with such beautiful sets.

Thank you so much for joining me during this last week. Your comments were all read and so appreciated. I know we all have busy lives so I do appreciate the time you take to visit my corner of the internet. We will see you soon and until then take care.

All the Best,

Supplies Used:
Birds & Branches