I see stuff, I make stuff as inspired by challenges out there and I'm loving the heightened creative design process this invokes.  My list of challenges this week also revealed I could respond to yet another two challenges using one idea, which surprised the heck out of me.

Here are the two challenges I'm responding to:

Let me tell you what inspired me within these two challenges.  The first one I saw was the Inspired By... and the s'mores picture just totally put me at Christmas for some reason.  Then, when I saw the TGIF Challenges post for a Christmas challenge, I couldn't believe how this all worked out for the inspiration I needed to design for both of these challenges.

​Here is my sweet little tag:

We often make tags but this is actually a tag card that has a top fold so there's a little more interest going on.  I actually started the entire project with the checked stencil pattern that I inked with blending brushes.  To construct the tag card, I cut cardstock 11 x 3 and scored at 5-1/2 and folded it in half.  To diecut the tag, the top of the die was placed slightly beyond the fold so that top fold area remained uncut. 

​I love the process of this tag creation!  There's so many little special parts of this tag.  A favorite section is the tiny tags at the top along with the twig button (made by my brother inlaw!), red/white twine and scrap wax string from packaging.

The inside of the tag just needed more red/white check leftover from the inked stencil.

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Forest Friends (A Muse Studio), Crazy Talk (Stampers Anonymous)
Papers:  Oatmeal (Unknown), Hammermill Copy, Cover, Cover, Welcome Home (Carta Bella)
Accessories:  Grid Stencil (Alt&New), Gingham Embossing Folder (Cricut Cuttlebug), Tags (Sizzix), Tree Line Hill (Poppy Stamps), Stitched Tag (MFT Stamps), Love Letter Ink (Memento), Vintage Sepie (Versafine), Vintage Photo (Distress Ink), Blending Brushes (Picket Fence), Prisma Glitter (Lawn Fawn), Quickie Glue Pen (Sakura), Foam Mounting Squares (Scrapbook Adhesives), Tombow Mono Glue

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

LYN

I always wondered how card makers could make one card for two (or more!) challenges.  Well, today I found a way that worked for me.  As new challenges post, I kept a notebook of the themes and suddenly, I saw where two challenges could be considered into one card!

Here are the two challenges I'm participating in today.  Click on each graphic for the site links:

Just for "funzies," I doodled my card!  Normally, I watercolor something and then doodle, but for some reason I felt like doodling first and not water coloring today.  The sentiment really applied for me to keep going too!

​Supplies Used:
Paper:  Hammermill Cover, Copy, Cover cardstock
Stamp:  So Hoppy Together (SU)
Accessories:  Recycled Color Pencils (Tombow), Gamsol Mineral Spirits (Gamblin) and Blending Stumps (Art Alternatives), Art Liner .05 Pen (Spectrum noir)

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

LYN

Masculine cards are not my first go to design, so I was glad to have a reason to create a guy card.  Thankfully, I brought most of my vast A Muse Studio collection to Florida and had a few options.  I decided to go with my little amigo guy who I haven't used is a very long time.

All images were stamped and either diecut or fussy cut.  The cactus and amigo were colored with Tombows and the banners were inked.  Card is all white but the blue background was used for photo purposes.  So fun!

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Hola Amigo and Fiesta (A Muse Studio
Paper:  Hammermill Color, Copy, Cover
Accessories:  Inks:  Parrot, Snapdragon, Fuchsia (Altenew Crisp Dye ink), Tombows (493,912, 933, 850, 133, 173, 055), Foam Mounting Squares (Scrapbook Adhesives), Twine (May Arts), Mono Multi Glue (Tombow), Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko)


Thanks for Stopping By!

xoxo

LYN

I basically took a photo from the inspiration board and replicated it! I had the perfect 6x6 paper background for the wood grain that I distressed the edge with scissors and then created the circle frame.  From there it was a matter of stamping the florals to surround the circle.

Supplies Used:
​Stamps:  First Frost (Stampin' Up)
Papers:  Hammermill Color, Cover, Copy, 6x6 Paper Pad (Welcome Home - Carta Bella)
Accessories:  Tombow Markers (direct to rubber and huff technique), Spellbinders Phrase Set 2 die words, Quickie Glue Pen (Sakura), Prisma Glitter (Lawn Fawn)

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

LYN

I was intrigued by this week's Freshly Made Sketches and loved the process of developing ideas in designing a card.  For example, my thoughts were along the lines of:  Do I make diecut circles?  Do I diecut within a circle? Do I ignore the circles?  See what I mean?  All that is part of the fun for me!  Notice on the sketch the three circles are aligned but you will see on my card nothing is aligned.  I think that's totally okay.  It's what a sketch invokes to inspire a card design.

Here's my card, super clean and super CAS and I'm super happy with it!  I'm sending this to my husband who's home in NY working while I'm here in Florida enjoying semi-retirement.  Note:  It's a white A2 card but I used the black background to pop the white better just for the photo.

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Crazy Talk (Stampers Anonymous/Tim Holtz)
Paper:  Hammermill Color, Copy, Cover
Accessories:  Diecut Butterflies (Amuse Studio), Diagonal Stripes (Simon Says Stamp), Inks:  Fuchsia, Snapdragon, Orange Cream, Parrot, Fresh Leaf (Altenew), Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko), Blending Brushes (Picket Fence)

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

LYN

I was so excited to see Alt&New has a challenge every month!  I love their images and was thrilled that I had enough product here in Florida so I could participate.

I actually couldn't wait to start designing this card because I had an idea right away, which rarely happens.  ​

The first thing I did was to create the striped background using Alt&New Classy Stripes Stencil, Crisp Dye Inks and Blending Brushes.  Next, all stamping was done on watercolor paper with permanent dye ink.  

My fun began water coloring the flowers to attain the challenge pallet colors and then painting the remaining leaves and sprigs.  Sidenote:  This card was intended to be vertical and I even took a phone photo of the placement of the diecut pieces in that orientation.  However, when I was trying to imagine where a sentiment would go, I happened to turn the card to a horizontal direction.  Voila!  Tip:  Adding the scallop border grounded the card.  Cutting out parts of a sentiment and tucking them into the leaves  worked within this busy layout.

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Beautiful Day Stamps & Die Set (Alt&New)
Papers:  Watercolor (Arteza), Card Base (Hammermil Color, Copy, Cover)
Accessories:  (Alt&New) Baby Pink, Magenta, Warm Sunshine Crisp Dye Inks, Watercolor Pallet (Alt&New 36 Pan Set), Classy Stripes Stencil (Alt&New), Scallop Border (A Muse Studio), Versafine Onyx Black Ink (Tsukineko), Foam Mounting Tape (Scrapbook Adhesives), Blending Brush (Picket Fence), Adhesive (Tombow Mono Multi Glue)


Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

LYN

Another fun challenge this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  My first step was to score a border from the reverse side of the card front for "mountain" scores and then design the card from there.  I didn't want to mess up the design and have to re-score another one, so after stamping, I diecut the flower and leaf and affixed to the front.  Prior to affixing, I stamped the little sprigs.

Here's a closer view of the reverse score lines.  They are 1/4" apart.

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Beautiful Day Stamps & Dies (Altenew)
Papers:  Hammermill Color, Copy, Cover
Accessories:  Altenew Crisp Diy Ink Cubes - Flower (Chamomile, Snapdragon, Marigold), Leaf (Limeade, Lime, Fresh Leaf), Sprigs (Iceberg), Versafine Onyx Black, Sequins (my stash)


Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

LYN

I was intrigued by this week's challenge because it forced me to create a Christmas card in July, something I normally don't have the mojo for at this time of year.  I'd rather run out of time in December and crunch out cards under stress with a deadline looming!  LOL

Another challenge for me (always has been) is to create a true CAS card.  I will agonize over everything in creating a CAS card because my natural inclination is to "junk it up."  The word struggle comes to mind, but it doesn't mean I won't try to create a card in the truest definition of CAS just to see if it gets any easier!

So, here's my sweet little CAS card that probably took me well over an hour because I made a few prototype drafts before settling on this card.  I'm happy with it as it reflects my wonderful life here in Florida.  If I were home in NY, I'd be grabbing a bear image!!!  I had a terrible time photographing the white card, so I ended up scanning it!

I added a little bit of splatter with silver acrylic paint just for a bit of sparkle!  Santa hat and flamingo legs were colored directly with a Tombow marker.  Flamingo body was water colored with Tombow scribbled onto a slippery surface.

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Birds of a Feather (Lynda Kanase -Sizzix), Sentiment (Unknown)
Papers:  White Cardstock (Hammermill), Watercolor (Canon)
Accessories:  Tobow Markers - Red (#856), Pink (#703), Grey (N95), Silver Paint (Craftsmart), Versafine Onyx Black

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

LYN

I have limited ink supplies here in Florida, but no worries, I have plenty of watercolor paint to work with!  This card was such fun to make!  I love the process of where a card design takes me.  I also can't seem to stop making flamingo cards!!!  I LOVE what Florida does to me!!!

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Tickled Pink (Fun Stampers Journey)
Papers:  Hammermill Color, Copy, Cover (White), Martha Stewart (Pink), Strathmore (Watercolor)
Accessories:  Trellis Die Background (Alt&New), Watercolor Paint Pallet, Versafine Onyx Black, Prisma Glitter (Lawn Fawn), Quickie Glue Pen (Sakura), Tombow Mono Glue, Foam Mounting Squares (Scrapbook Adhesive)

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

LYN

This week's sketch is pretty simple and I couldn't wait to design a card!

The hibiscus and leaves were embossed in white, water colored and diecut.

I love the embossed texture of the circle!

Supplies Used:
Stamps/Dies:  Tropical Blooms (A Muse Studio), hugs (Spellbinders)
Papers:  Watercolor Paper (Strathmore), Hammermil Cover Stock, Welcome Home (Carta Bella), Gold Glitter Paper (Reflections)
Accessories:  Embossing Folder (Gingham - Cuttlebug), Koi Watercolor Field Sketch Kit, White Embossing Powder (Hero Arts), VersaMark Ink (Tsukineko), Ribbon (Ellen Huston), Sequins (my stash)

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

LYN