Butterfly Inspiration

Hello Crafty Friends,

Hi everyone! Today I'm sharing some inspiration using the highly versatile sets from MHKDesigns. The set I am featuring today is the Beginnings & Endings set. You have seen me use this set before for my other inspiration post back in February. 

The background and butterflies were produced using photo editing software. By adjusting layers and playing with color it allowed for a dimensional one layer card. Here is my card for today, enjoy!

I can understand why a group of butterflies are called a Kaleidoscope
while in contrast a group of caterpillars are called an Army.

I decided to keep the butterflies translucent and let some light filter through their wings
I added a bit of Wink of Stella to accentuate the lines on its wings.

I wanted to focus on the sky as a kaleidoscope of color
then by adding this beautiful sentiment it brought the entire together.

Details showing the Wink of Stella sparkle on the wings. 

There is a lot more to discover at MHKDesigns Etsy Shop! There always seems to something new to entice your creativity. I invite you to stop on over and see what we have to offer. I promise you will not be disappointed. 

Thank you so much for stopping by TheGrandStampede. I hope you will be able to join us this month at MHKDesigns challenge blog. If you don't yet have MHKDesigns product, not to worry, no purchase necessary to enter. See you there!

All the best,


Products Used:

Beginnings & Endings stamp set

Like Father, Like Son!

Hello Readers,

This is my debut as design team member at The Male Room. This challenge is about using up our stash. In this case, our challenge is to use up those...

Buttons! 

Please note the plural for the challenge. 

Here is my card for today, Enjoy!

This reminds me of my father's pajamas. I can envision a man
carrying his Sunday crossword to the table and then the ink pen explodes before he can solve a single clue.

Respectfully wearing his undershirt.
I chose to add a bit of dimension by not creasing the collar.

These buttons were from my husband's grandmother.
When she passed I inherited her craft supplies.
Talk about using up the stash of stuff.

Open up the card and you will find a bit of mess.
and the sentiment in red.

Detail of the shirt partially opened.

I do hope you can join us at The Male Room. It is always good to use up some of our stuff. I think we can all attest that we have enough supplies for a small town. So break out those buttons and use them up! 

Thank you so much for joining me yet again at TheGrandStampede. I do hope you enjoyed your visit and please pop back in from time to time to see what is new! Until then take care and happy stamping!

All the best,
Shawna

Surprise Birthday Beach Blog Hop!

Hello, and welcome to our SURPRISE Birthday Beach Blog Hop for the lovely Asha! You should have arrived here from Sathya's blog. If not, start at the MHKDesigns blog to complete the hop for more chances to WIN! We are celebrating a very special lady today, and we're doing so by creating beachy birthday cards to wish her many happy returns!

______________________________________

MHKDesigns Blog

introduces a new monthly challenge
for June/July. Here is your inspiration.

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As you can see (or not see) is our little girl. I just wanted the serene ocean so I edited her out using photo editing software. I tried to achieve a seamless scene by merging the two sides together.

Three shells anchoring (no pun intended) our vellum banner with sentiments from
two of MHKDesigns stamp sets! (See below) 

Detail of the shells colored with alcohol markers then fussy cut and layered.
The shells come from the Serene Seaside stamp set.

Thank you so much for joining in our hop to say "Happy Birthday" to a dear friend! Your next stop on the hop is Andrea's blog! 

All the best,

Supplies Used:

Eat Your Cake

Serene Seaside

Beachy Keen stamp set

#lvdad

Hello Readers,

For today I will be playing with Freshly Made Sketches. Here is my card for today, enjoy.

The die cut heart highlights the word 'dad'. This was made for my son to use.
and that he did!

All this paper came from a paper pack which means
I don't have to think if the colors coordinate.

Left: You will see the word 'dad' right away but look a bit closer and you will see the rest of the sentiment, #lv; Patterned paper in plaid seemed to be a good fit for this card. Also the heart die cut was chosen because I wanted to look more masculine and not so swirly.

Challenges Entered:
Freshly Made Sketches:FMS241



My kids literally talk in hashtags.. 'Hey mom, hashtag, I don't have homework.'. Our language is slowly getting shorter and shorter with all these new abbreviations due to text messaging seems be changing the way communicate. Grammar? What grammar! It is non existent which seems okay with me considering I am terrible at grammar. Seriously though, I don't think shorting language is such a bad thing. Pretty soon we will be using pictures to communicate.. OH wait did anyone say Emoticon!

That is it for now! Thank you so much for stopping by and spending some of your time with TheGrandStampede. So until next time take care and happy stamping!

All the best,
Shawna 

MHKDesigns June Release: 5th and Final Day

Hello Again Readers!

Welcome to the final day of our June release at MHKDesigns! The set we are featuring today is called 'Butterfly Elements'. This stamp set is so much fun, whimsical and can be used for so many applications. I think you will know why I enjoy it so much. Here is my card for today, enjoy.

I decided to enlarge the one element, the single butterfly stamp.
In my computer editing software I enlarged the butterfly and allowed the viney
leaves to fall of the card.

Here are the papers to go with the set. So pretty and so versatile!!

  

Left: Stenciled Roses; Right: Damsel in Distress

And now, let's talk about how to get this new set OR the entire release for FREE! Here's what you'll need to do...

1. Comment on the MHKDesigns blog.
2. Comment on each DT member's blog.
3. Join our MHKDesigners and Friends Facebook group and comment there.

Mynn will be choosing comments randomly from all these places after the release is over, and the authors of those comments will be our winners! So, the best way to win is to comment every day!

Asha | Cohenna | Donna | Janie | Judy | Jerrie | Jessica | Lilian
Michele | Mynn | NanaConnie | Rocky | Sathya | ---->Shawna<----

Printed out the enlarged butterfly and fussy cut around the upper part of the image.
I then layered MHKDesigns - Stenciled Roses PP for a pop of clear bright color. 

The sentiment could not be more fitting for this card.
It can be used for other cards as well. 

I colored the butterfly using different shades of color to get an ombre effect.
Notice the sparkle on the dots and the blue enamel dots that match beautifully with the PP.

Challenges Entered:
Stamplorations: June 2016- Sketch



Thanks for stopping by today, friends! I hope you enjoyed the release and maybe will feel inspired to try out a NEW* set to from the MHKDesigns Etsy shop! Don't forget to get all your commenting in for your chance to WIN, and please do join our monthly challenge, as well! New challenge tomorrow!

Supplies Used:

       

Left: Stenciled Roses patterned paper pack; Right: Butterfly Element stamp set

Magical Fairies

Hello Readers,

For today I am writing on behalf of Make My Monday to let you know there is a new challenge for the next two weeks. Before I reveal the challenge here is my card for today, enjoy.

Watercolor panel with a die cut fairy.
Such a pretty and magical backdrop for our little one.

The bold white border was masked off with painters tape
then watercolor applied. I held my breath while the tape was being removed. 

Our challenge for the next two weeks will be all about...
Fairies!

I got a call just the other day from my neighbor asking if my daughter had placed a fairy at one the many miniature homes in her garden. I went over to look at the figurine and was nothing that I recognized. Now the hunt was on to find the culprit of this special act of magic. She couldn't figure it out so I tell her 'Maybe we should just leave it as an act of magic.'. I don't know if she solved the mystery, but I would like to think a little fairy just needed a good home.

I do hope you to see you at Make My Monday these next two weeks. That should do it! Thank you so much for stopping by and we will see you soon.

All the best,

Shawna 

Happy Fathers Day

Hello Readers,

For today I am playing along with ColourQ, CASology, Addicted to Stamps and CAS(E) this Sketch. I gave this card to my husband this year I do hope you enjoy it. 

I sponged only the corner and edges per the sketch challenge. I used Distress Inks; Faded Jeans, Old Paper, and Antique Linen. A little bit of water was used to blend in the hard edges.

The gears are one die cut that I cut at a 45 degree angle along the
largest gear to make it around the corner.  

Detail showing the die cut gears, sponging and sentiment.

Challenges Entered:
CASology: Week #202- Masculine
CAS(E) this Sketch: CTS#177
ColourQ: cQc#346
Addicted to Stamps: Challenge #198- Holiday

       


Happy Father's Day to all the men out there privileged to have children call them 'Dad'! The men in my life are so paramount for my happiness and who I am today. Some are here with me and some are enjoying the universe but all of them have/has played a significant roll in my life. I honor them today with a prayer of love, kindness, and gratitude that is unmeasurable. Thank you for being mine. 

And speaking of men, I have a crafty announcement! You may have seen the announcement on The Male Room that I am one of their newest Design Team members! I couldn't be happier and more excited to start my position. 

Well now that I am as stuffed as a turkey I am going to waddle off to the couch with my husband and cuddle. Then walk the dog with our children in tow. Thank you so much for joining me once again at TheGrandStampede. I do appreciate every visit comment or not. So, until next time take care and happy stamping.

All the best,
Shawna 

MHKDesigns June Release: Day 4

Hello Again Readers!

Here we are at day four of the June release at MHKDesigns! I do hope you have enjoyed the release thus far. I know I have enjoyed your kind comments during this hop. Here is my card for today, enjoy.

This framed image reminded me of the Art Nouveau movement of the
late 19th early 20th centuries.
Images of nature were found everywhere around that time; street lamps, signs, balcony railings, jewelry, and furnishings just to name a few.
This card was trying to convey the colors used during that time. It is a bit saturated, but the hue is similar to the colors used.

 Here are the papers to go with the set. Aren't they fun!!

  
 Left: Sunflower Sampler; Right: Very Distressing

And now, let's talk about how to get this new set OR the entire release for FREE! Here's what you'll need to do...

1. Comment on the MHKDesigns blog.
2. Comment on each DT member's blog.
3. Join our MHKDesigners and Friends Facebook group and comment there.

Mynn will be choosing comments randomly from all these places after the release is over, and the authors of those comments will be our winners! So, the best way to win is to comment every day!

Asha | Cohenna | Donna | Janie | Judy | Jerrie | Jessica | Lilian
Michele | Mynn | NanaConnie | Rocky | Sathya | ---->Shawna<----

When showing this card to my friends they mentioned it would be fantastic for a
college student. I guess the big letter 'U' gives the impression of a university.
This is something I didn't notice while making the card but they are right!

Above: I colored the flourishes in gold and used a gold shimmer paper for the large 'U'
Below: The wooden dragonfly was used for balance and follows the use of nature that was found during this period.

 Thanks for stopping by today, friends! We will be back tomorrow with another *NEW* set to share from the MHKDesigns Etsy shop! Don't forget to get all your commenting in for your chance to WIN, and please do join our monthly challenge, as well! Until tomorrow, happy stamping!







Supplies Used:

I've Been Framed stamp set