Flourishes

Hello Everyone,

For today I am playing along with Less is More Challenge. Their challenge concentrates on my most neglected stamps, flourish stamps.  Like my paisleys from a previous post, I need to use them more often. I think I am sensing a New Year's resolution! Anyway, while I think about that here is my card for tonight.

Soft and subtle color highlight the flourish along with the sentiment
and minimal heart embellishments.

One layer with lots of personality! The sentiment was created the negative
of a die I used for a previous card. Never know when you are going to need those scraps.

Fussy cut the bottom the flourish to
give it a bit more dimension.

Entering Challenge:
Less is More: Week 258- Flourish

Yup, still working on my CAS skills. Oh how I wanted to layer this up with all sorts of fussy stuff but had to resist. Hold me back from my die-cutter, rhino bling, and well... everything. But I think at the end of the day it turned out pretty well.

At first, however, I wanted to create a completely white card. I have tried many times and failed all times. This card was planned to be an all white card but it needed color. However, I will persevere and come up with an entirely white card soon. I think I may have one in the works right now (don't hold your breathe).

Time to go to bed. I want to give a big warm thank you for stopping by and I do hope to see you soon. Until then, take care and happy crafting!

All the Best,
Shawna

Lovin' Paisley

Hello Everyone,

For tonight I am playing along with CAS(E) this Sketch and Colour Q.  I am so glad for these challenges because I wanted to use these paisley stamps for awhile now.. Here is my chance.. Enjoy!

I thought the sketch from CAS(E) this Sketch and the color challenge
 from Colour Q would be a good match.

The paisleys were stamped with white ink then either
colored or stamped over with a coordinating design

Detail showing the flower from Altnew.

Entering Challenges:

CAS(E) this Sketch: CTS #154

Colour Q: cQc #323

  

I adore paisleys! Probably as much, if not more, then circles. I wish I had more inspiration to use them. Maybe now is my time to use more paisleys. When I look at a card with paisleys I go wild! Their  movement, swirls, and fantastic designs can be colored all sorts of fantastic vibrant or subtle colors.

This set came from Technique Tuesday. I am not sure if it is still available as I bought mine from Ebay. This set provides endless possibilities of patterns and sizes. If you are in love with paisleys as much as I am; surely you will love this set.

I guess I should get off my soapbox and go to bed. Thank you so much for joining me this evening. Take care and we will see you soon!

All the best,
Shawna

Color Sketch

Hello Again!

The sick bug is going around and guess who is it? Me, yuck! This cold is bad enough to make me feel lousy but not so lousy that I am completely bed bound. I stand while I craft and it took all my efforts to stand let alone craft. I managed to get some crafting done but I couldn't finish the inspiration card.

Oh, I didn't tell you? There is a new challenge at Make My Monday challenge blog! For this week we will be working on sketch developed by Marina. Before I reveal her sketch I want to show you my card for today, enjoy.

Allowing the flowers to drift out of the circle creates a more
interesting effect then confining it to the shape.

Sketch Challenge
at Make My Monday

Of course I would like to play along with

Color Throwdown: ctd#374 (by the way, I love your new look!!)

Detail of the flower. I used Brillance silver ink
to add just a hint of shimmer.

One of my favorite color combinations.
The orange enamel dots are just the perfect amount of bling.

I encourage you to stop on over to Make My Monday and play along and see what the other DT's have created. I am looking forward to see how you interpret the sketch. See you over there, until then, take care..

All the Best,
Shawna

Superhero Dad

Hello Everyone,

For tonight I am playing along with Sketch Saturday, The Friday Mashup, and The Male Room. Here is my card for tonight.

The dots were inspired by an art movement call Pop Art.
Dots were one its main features.

I can't think of a better hero then dad!
Speech bubbles are also a signature element of the Pop Art movement.

The Man, The Myth, The Legend.
Couldn't say it better myself

Challenges Entered:
Sketch Saturday: #393 by Alex
the Friday Mashup: FM238- Bang! Pow! Zap!
The Male Room: TMR#26-16

    

Pop Art is what came to mind when I saw the photo inspiration for The Friday Mashup. Click here for information on Pop Art. The mashup queue to create a story strip brought Sketch Saturday to the forefront. Both challenges I thought would work perfectly together.

That should do it for me! I want to thank you for visiting me tonight and I hope to see you soon. Take care all!

All the best,
Shawna

Hello Gorgeous

Hello Everyone,

I am going to promise this is the last crafty announcement that I am the proud design team member for PINspirational. This is a fantastic challenge blog filled with all sorts of inspiration from well... Pinterest. I find the challenges thought provoking and fun. So without further ado, here is my card; enjoy.

The monochromatic design proves to be a bit serious
until you read the sentiment. Great male card for a special valentine.

I have decided not to use the sponsor image for this card but would like to give a shout out to Kitty Bee Designs and Bugaboo Digi Stamps. Their designs are darling and will sure to please.

And here is our challenge photo!

PINspirational Challenge #156

This can interrupted in many different ways like
theme, color, objects, or style.

I tried to capture the depth of the woods by first stamping trees in
the background  dark brown and die-cutting the trees in the foreground white.
Our owl is peeking through the woods.

The white trees also act to lighten up the card. I decided to leave the
border around the die cut image. It proves to make an excellent frame.

When I started coloring the owl I thought 'what on earth am I
going to do for a sentiment?' I looked at my stamps and saw
'Hello Gorgeous' and broke out laughing.
Perfect for such a serious look.

The challenge photo grabbed attention right away. I wanted to be more literal for my design. Its monochromatic theme is reflected from the photo which I love. I showed this to my husband and got a good chuckle.

The snow was brought to you by the horrible, yet very effective, masking fluid. Foul smelling product that works so well! I was so torn if I should tolerate the stench or stamp the snow. I decided to use the putrid fluid and get a fantastic result.

That should do it for me! I do hope you can play along at PINspirational. I am sure to see some awesome creations. Take care everyone and have a great day!

All the best,
Shawna

Iris Folding Note

Hello Everyone!

For today I am writing to announce Make My Monday has another card challenge for you to try. Before I reveal the challenge here is my inspiration card.

Iris folding is an old technique but a good one! It packs a design punch
with really not too much work. For the inspiration card I decided to create a thank you note.

This week is all about...

For those of you who don't know what iris folding is all about click here and you will find a tutorial to help you out. 
Also here is a link for free iris folding patterns.

I am not sure if this is a true iris fold because there isn't an actual iris.
However the design idea is the same.

Entering Challenges:
Just Us Girls: #324- Thank you

This card is actually very special. The paper I used is 30+ years old. It is the last of my Aunt's, now cousin's, wrapping paper from their store. It was given to my aunt as the last present wrapped with the remainder of the roll. I asked if I could use it saying: 'I will try to do it justice.' She looked at me and agreed. It is now displayed as a thank you note to her for a wonderful Christmas. I think, I hope, I did it justice.

If you haven't tried this technique before, then you are in for a treat. The surprise happens when you turn it over and see the results of your labor.

Well that is all for me! Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to visit and I hope this prompts you to play along at Make My Monday. Enjoy, have fun, and see you soon!

All the best,
Shawna

Sympathy in Gold

Hello everyone,

Now that the new year is here I have an announcement! I am now part of the MHK Design team! Mynn, the owner, has put together some amazing stamp sets using vintage images and modern sentiments.  I am so excited to spending 2016 with this remarkable company and design team. With that said I introducing my first MHK Designs card and of course entering a challenge that inspired the design. Here is my card, enjoy.

The wildflowers in the background and colored flowers in the foreground help create a serene scene. I thought this image was too delicate to use my Coastal Cabana markers so instead I used my PrismaColor pencils.

Lots of white space surround the flowers. The flowers are from
MHK Designs digital stamp collection. I thought the color scheme would
be a perfect fit for this type of card.

Gold gilding creates a sense of elegance and care; conveying
a feel though color and design.

Detail featuring the flowers.
Once the background flowers were in my photo editing software I washed them out and the colored image had more contrast to pop it to the foreground.

Entering Challenges:

ColourQ: cQc #322

The gold gilding came from a new toy I received for Christmas; the machine is called the Anna Griffin Minc and wow do I love it! Foil is applied seamlessly using the pre-cut dies that come with the machine. This will become a staple product for my craft area and needless to say you will see more projects with foil! Well I will get off my soapbox!

Thank you for joining me today and I do hope you will join me soon at TheGrandStampede!! Take care all and see you soon!

All the best,

Shawna