Always with You

Hello Crafty Friends,

For today I'm sharing a very simple, easy-to-make card using multiple images from the same set.  This is one of the first sets to hit the MHKDesigns store. It is an 'oldie' but a goodie called Stencil in Roses! This set is a 'must have' for any digital collection. Here is my card for today, enjoy.

This set comes with the flowers already colored.
This makes the design fast, easy, and very effective.

A calming and wonderful sentiment to
encourage or comfort.

The MHKDesigns stamp sets are so amazingly interchangeable. Each set can work independently or with other sets without any conflict. I have used these digital elements to create a clean and simple card.

The images was imported using photo editing software. I took the colored images and layered them around till I was satisfied with the layout. In a new file I imported the sentiment and added the lines you see. After the layout and sentiment banner were done I simply printed them out, popped up the sentiment banner for a bit of dimension, scored and folded the card. Easy-peasy!

There is a lot more to discover at MHKDesigns Etsy Shop! Stop on over and see what we have to offer. You will be inspired as our Design Team was created such beautiful cards for each set. Keep stopping by to see more inspiration. Until then take care.

All the best,

Supplies Used:

Stencil in Roses

 

Happy Flippin Birthday

Hello Again Readers,

For tonight I am playing along again with Sunday Stamps and also with Creative with Stamps. I cannot get enough of Sunday Stamps color palette.. So fun and cheery.. Anyway, here is my card for today, enjoy!

The colorful splattered background works nicely with the flip-flops.
The flip-flops sit on white circles that help visually anchor them to the card.

A fun birthday card for a recipient that is just as
cheery and dynamic as this card.

I really like the orange shoes braking away from the uniformity of the others.
It also points your way to the sentiment! Love it!!

Challenges Entered:

Sunday Stamps: SSC131- Color Challenge

Creative with Stamps: Challenge #4- Ink Splatters

  

My cousin is celebrating her forty-second birthday today! And of course in classic fashion I am late sending out her card. Even though I had the idea days ago I procrastinated and it didn't come to fruition until today. UGH! Oh well better late then never, right? 

My cousin loves the beach. So I thought a card with flip-flops and a funky backdrop would perfectly fit her personality. The background reminds me of when we were kids and splatters were all the rage in fashion. Remember, the 80's, or would you rather forget? Swatch watches, bangle bracelets, hairspray, and spandex leggings with splatter tops was the 'in look' of the day. I remember my grandmother would say: 'Why on earth would you buy something with spattered paint? I can do that and save a lot of money.'. She said the same thing when ripped, acid washed jeans were all the rage. Anyway, I think my cousin is going to love it, even though it is late.

Okay for real this time I am going to bed. Thank you so much for stopping by and hope you enjoyed your stay! So, until next take care and happy crafting.

All the best,

Shawna 

Summer's Treasure

Hello Readers,

For today I am playing along with Sunday Stamps. As you will see this card is all about celebrating a life that was lived with love, devotion, and kindness. Here is my card for today, enjoy!

This is an unusual color palette for a sympathy card.
I thought however the sentiment needed bright colors that celebrate a life well lived.

 These bright and cheery colors reflect the attitude of the recipient.

Botanical Blooms seemed to be a perfect for this color palette.

Challenges Entered:
Sunday Stamps: SSC131- It's Color Time



My cousin called the other day to tell me the news that I have been dreading for so long. Her dog, Summer, passed away at the age of fourteen. She was a loving, patient, and kind animal who loved being close to you. So much so that when making dinner she insisted laying down between the cabinets and her people; no exception!  Our family dogsat for Summer a few years back when she did something very unexpected. Summer would always bark only when my cousin sneezed, and again, this was no exception! I happen to allergic to dogs, so naturally I sneezed when she was at our house. Well she barked at me! Unheard of since she only barked for my cousin. I knew right then we had a bonding moment. From that day forward every time I or my cousin sneezed she would bark. It is true a memory becomes a treasure. This memory has become my treasure. Thank you Summer. We will miss you.

Well I am ready to go bed so I want to say goodnight and thank you so much for joining me. I really appreciate your visit and hope that you will drop by again! Until then however, take care and happy crafting!!

All the best,
Shawna 

Guest Designer for Color Throwdown

Hello Readers!,

I am excited to have an opportunity to design with The Color Throwdown this week! I am a regular at CTD and it is such fun to be guest designing for them. So, with further ado here is my card for today, enjoy!

Callas are such wonderful flowers. Some of you may have used them for your wedding.
I am taking some artistic license here by exaggerating the colors.
I thought it was justified because of the abstracted depiction of the flowers.

Color palette for the week of 

July 27, 2016

Guest Designing for:

The Color Throwdown

The color palette for this week is very subtle and just beautiful.
I thought this might be a good sympathy card or, going the polar opposite, a wedding card.
So I went with a statement instead.

Popping up the sentiment gave the card balance
and a bit of dimension.

This was my photo inspiration.
I thought the soft pink would be perfect for the challenge.

Again, I want to give a special thank you to The Color Throwdown for inviting me to join them this week. I am touched to part of such an incredible blog! I do hope you can come by and visit with them and play along. Thank you all for stopping by my little corner of the internet! I do hope you will drop back in and see what is new at TheGrandStampede. Until next time take care and happy crafting!

All the best,
Shawna 

Believe in Miracles

Hello Readers,

For today I am playing along with Colour Q. Their color palette is just amazing this week.. I had so many ideas but then settled down with this one. Here is my card for today, enjoy!

The color combination is just beautiful for this type of card.

Added small white dots for stars.

The gold sentiment was actually glitter that was overheated and
turned into this beautiful shade of gold.

Detail showing the gold in the light.
Not too sparkly but has a lustery sheen. 

Challenges Entered:
Colour Q: cQc #351

Well that is it for me today! I am tired tonight and I feel like I making a bunch of typos so I am going to spare myself from much scrutiny and turn in early. Thank you for joining me and until next time, take care and happy stamping!

All the best, 

Shawna 

(Rough)ing it

Hello Readers,

For today I will be playing along with CASology. Their theme this week is about the word 'rough'. I decided to take a different spin on the idea of 'rough'. Here is my card for today, enjoy!

Minimal color highlights the jagged scene of the mountains in the
beautiful, yet unrelenting, wilderness.

This scene and sentiment are surrounded by distressed border
that was washed with water thus framing out the images as one entity

Detail of the wilderness scene and the perfect
sentiment that follows.

CASology: Week #207- Rough

This scene is beautiful, majestic, and also very harsh and unforgiving. I am imagining backcountry camping is what you would need to do to see such splendor. But as many of you know backcountry camping is not glamping (click here for explanation). In fact, it is the polar opposite. You hike into the wilderness with everything on your back to survive and then a little extra just in case. I can say with absolute certainly it is 'roughing' it!!

Backcountry camping is something I did about eighteen years ago. Dix Peak is the sixth highest peak in the Adirondacks which is located in upstate New York, USA. This is the peak that was chosen for me as an introduction to backcountry camping by my husband. I am here to say the hike is just as much a mental workout as it is a physical workout. While hiking, I imagined my prize for summiting would be a fantastic view! Unfortunately, it was raining and we were above the clouds. No view... Bummer! But not really because I had the satisfaction of summiting one of the 46er's! WaHoo me! 


Well that should do it for me. I hope you enjoyed your stay and my little story. I do appreciate your visits and thank you so much for stopping by my little corner of the internet. We will see you soon. Take care and happy crafting.

Tropical Flamingo

Hello Readers,

For today I am playing along with City Crafter Challenge and Cupcake Inspiration. Both challenges have a tropical theme and thought this card would be perfect, enjoy!

Lots of color and sparkle adorn this tropical scene. The word 'sparkle'
was traced using diamond Stickles.

Lots of color and also lots of white space lightening the
scene and also creating a frame around the focal image.

Detail of the flamingo and its colorful scene.
This scene was colored using Mexpy alcohol markers.
Outlining the flamingo in different shades of yellow highlights this fun bird.

Left: A good illustration of the sparkle on this card. Right: A better picture of the sparkle on the black paper.

 Challenges Entered:
City Crafter Challenge: Week 321- Typically Tropical
Cupcake Inspiration: Challenge 367- Tropical

  

This is a very special post today because today would have been my grandmother's 105th birthday!! I lived with my grandmother for nine years of my young adolescent life. This experience gave me an unique opportunity to know her more intimately than most of her grandchildren. She was a vibrant, positive, energetic woman who would line-dance in the middle of the night and proudly sing out of tune. Every year dad and I would give her a Waterford crystal 'something' which she displayed on her south facing bay window. Late in the day little rainbows refracted all over the room almost by magic. She lived until 92 and I will always remember her. I love you Mickey Nana.

Thank you so much for stopping by today. I do hope you can find some sparkle in your day and then pay it forward! Take care all and have a great day.

All the best,
Shawna

Bright and Bold

Hello Readers,

For today I will be playing along with Addicted to CAS, Seize the Birthday, and Virginia's View Challenge. 

And a big shout out to Becca Cruger from The Damsel of Distress on her 30th birthday! From one Leo to another I wish you a very happy birthday!  She is celebrating with a card linkup party and thought I would join in the fun!

As the title suggests this card is bright, bold, and beautiful. Here is my card for today, enjoy!

I really like the black splatters around all this color.
The word 'birthday' was heat embossed in white and then resisted
with the addition of watercolor.

Bright and cheery Happy Birthday.
Many friends and family have Summer birthdays.
So better to be prepared than sorry.

I used the faux bleaching technique again.
This time in the word 'Happy'.

 Challenges Entered:
Addicted to CAS: Challenge #92- Stripes
Virginia's View Challenge: #22- Summer Challenge
Seize the Birthday: Bold and Bright
Becca's Birthday Linkup Card Party


   

Celebrating Becca's 30th!

Bright and cheery is a good feeling, isn't it? I believe this card creates a sense of happiness. Why? Well the color of course and all the white space surrounding it makes the color shine even more brightly. I know exactly who I am going to give this to (wink, wink). This someone shines with brightness and cheer. This card could not be more perfect.

Thank you so much for stopping by today my corner of the internet. I really do appreciate it.. So until next time take care and happy, cheerful crafting to you all.

All the best,
Shawna 

Be Still

Hello Readers,

For today I am playing along with The Color Throwdown, Virginia's View Challenge and The Paper Players. Oh, was this card fun to make! I'll let you be the judge; here is my card for today, enjoy!

Collage of colors inspired by The Color Throwdown.
Using the masking technique to stamp the flowers around the sentiment block.

Each block is colored differently from the block adject to it.
And again using the masking technique around the border 

Detail of watercoloring.

Leaving the centers of the flower white gives it a sense of openness.

Challenges Entered:

The Color Throwdown: ctd402

The Paper Players: PP304

Virginia's View Challenge: #22- All About Colors

     

The children's program at our church is called Children in Worship. This program is a different way to worship and learn. Instead of just hearing stories they interact with stories in the form of props and play. Personal worship is also very important and of course singing. One hymn they sing is 'Be Still and Know that I am God'. I think I might have to follow their lead and try to be still more often. We shall see what becomes of it.

Well that should do it for me! I want to thank you all for your visit and reading my stories. So fun to share my life's moments with all of you. So until next time, take care and happy crafting!

All the best,

Shawna