Challenge #12 Inspiration with Lindsey

Good morning! Lindsey here, sharing some additional inspiration for Challenge #12.  It also marks my very last project as part of the Design Team.  I cannot believe how quickly the last 6 months have gone by!  What an absolute treat and privilege it has been to be a part of this team!  Ka, Mady, and all the DT, thank you so much (from the bottom of my heart!) for making this such an amazing experience for me.

For my project today I chose to work with the diagonal starting from the top left: doily, jute/natural twine, and metals.  We have a wedding to attend in a few weeks, so I used the colors and feel of their wedding as my inspiration. 

The doily anchors the entire focal point on this card, and I love the soft, feminine touch it adds. My main metal element is a silver wreath, which seemed a little to harsh in contrast at first.  So order to maintain a soft feel to this card, I added an offset vellum wreath on top.  My favorite touch on the wreath is the little twine twirls tucked under my loosely watercolored flowers.  I just think they are so fun!

This card is jam-packed with embellishments, which is not the norm for a CAS cardmaker like me, but I'm happy with how it turned out.  It's always good to stretch yourself from time to time, and I love that the Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge encourages me to do that.  I think the Challenge 12 Board has so many fun options, and I cannot wait to see how it inspires you to play along!

Card Supplies

Stamps: Concord & 9th (Flourish)

Ink: CTMH (sorbet), PTI (melon berry, ocean tides)

Dies: Clearly Besotted (congrats), PTI (rustic wreath)

Other: CTMH (twine), Pretty Pink Posh (sequins), Recollections (pearls), doily

Challenge Twelve

Hello! Welcome back to the Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge blog! We are excited you are here and hope that you are inspired! For this challenge, please use the challenge board below using three elements in a row of your choice. You can create in any way you like as long as we can see the elements in your design.

You are playing for one of the following 3"x 4" stamp sets. The winner will get to choose the stamp set of their choice. If you already have all three in your stash, why not play to give one of these sets as a gift for one of your crafty friend? You can click on the links below to read more about each stamp set.

Clearly Besotted Flower Blocks Photopolymer Stamp Set

Clearly Besotted With Love Photopolymer Stamp Set

Clearly Besotted Warm Solutions Photopolymer Stamp Set

And now for some amazing inspiration from our design team members.

Lindsey was inspired by the middle row across: arrows, jute/natural twine, and tag.

Shannon chose the first row across: doily, layers/dimension, and butterflies.

Olesya was inspired by the first row across: doily, layers & dimensions, and bird/bees/butterflies.

Nora chose to use the last row down: birds/bees/butterflies, tags, and metals.

Tracie used the middle row across: arrows, jute/natural twine, and tag.

Amina used the top row across: doily, layers and dimension, and butterflies/bees/birds.

Thank you for joining us in our 12th challenge. Please read the "Challenge Rules" tab at the top of the blog to be eligible for the prize. You have until Thursday, June 30 at 11:55pm CST to submit your entries. We can not wait to see what you create! HAVE FUN!

An InLinkz Link-up

Challenge Eleven

Hello! Welcome back to the Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge blog! We are excited you are here and hope that you are inspired! For this challenge, please use the challenge board below using three elements in a row of your choice. You can create in any way you like as long as we can see the elements in your design.

You are playing for one of the following 3"x 4" stamp sets. The winner will get to choose the stamp set of their choice. If you already have all three in your stash, why not play to give one of these sets as a gift for one of your crafty friend? You can click on the links below to read more about each stamp set.

Neat and Tangled Heart of Gold Photopolymer Stamp Set

Newton's Nook Designs Newton's Naptime Photopolymer Stamp Set

Taylored Expressions Sunflower Bouquet Red Rubber Cling Stamp Set

And now for some amazing inspiration from our design team members.

Lindsey was inspired by the middle column down: mixed alphas, ink splatters, and monochromatic.

Shannon worked with the diagonal row from top left to bottom right: yellow, ink splatters. and scalloped border.

Olesya was inspired by the third row down: garden, twine, and scalloped border..

Nora chose to use the last row across: inlaid design, monochromatic, and scalloped border.

Tracie used the middle column going down: mixed alphas, ink splatters, and monochromatic.

Amina went diagonal from top left to bottom right: yellow, ink splatters, and scalloped border.

Thank you for joining us in our 11th challenge. Please read the "Challenge Rules" tab at the top of the blog to be eligible for the prize. You have until Wednesday, June 15 at 11:55pm CST to submit your entries. We can not wait to see what you create! HAVE FUN!

An InLinkz Link-up

Challenge #10 Inspiration with Lindsey

Happy Sunday!  It's Lindsey back to share another card inspired by Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge #10.  This time I chose to work with the bottom row: bow, texture, vellum. 

I know embossing may not be everyone's first thought for texture, but it is my absolute favorite texture to feel on a card.  I just love to run my fingers over it, so I decided to use that on my card, which I made for my niece who recently played the leading role in her school play.  I really wanted this card to reflect her, and thought that a fun background was a great way to do that. So although it was not one of my official three elements, I incorporated the resist technique as well.

Okay, now this was the really fun part.  I decided to use a stencil for my embossed image.  I simply applied the versa mark ink directly to the stencil and placed it on top of the card, rubbing over the whole thing.  I knew the design wouldn't transfer perfectly, but that is exactly what I wanted.  I even wiped off a few areas and purposely left stray embossing powders because I loved the somewhat "messy" look it created.  After blending on some distress inks (blueprint sketch, peacock feathers, shaded lilac, wilted violet), I flicked lots of small and large splatters of water on top. 

I finished off my card with a vellum star (appropriate for the star of the show, don't you think?) and added the bow element as part of my exclamation point.

I had so much fun making this card.   And I'm sure you'll have fun, too, if you give Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge #10 a try.  Can't wait to see how it inspires you!

Challenge Ten

Hello and welcome back to another Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge from Stamping Smiles Designs! First, we want to THANK YOU to all those who participated in our last challenge! Your creations were amazing and brought springtime loveliness and sweetness to us! We love all of them so much! Thanks for sharing and linking with us!

For this new challenge, please take some inspiration from the challenge board below using three elements in a row of your choice to inspire your next project! Whatever rows you chose and are inspired by is what we challenge you to create! Can't wait to see how you interpret the elements of your choosing!

You are playing for one of the following 3"x 4" stamp sets. The winner will get to choose the stamp set of their choice. If you already have all three in your stash, why not play to give one of these sets as a gift for one of your crafty friend? You can click on the links below to read more about each stamp set.

Lawn Fawn Milk and Cookies Photopolymer Stamp Set

Clearly Besotted Fairytale Ending Photopolymer Stamp Set

Taylored Expressions Mixed Blooms Red Rubber Cling Stamp Set

And now for some amazing inspiration from some of our design team members.

Lindsey was inspired by the middle column: fade in/fade out effect, ombre, and texture.

Shannon worked with the diagonal row from bottom left to top right: bow, ombre, and baby.

Olesya used the diagonal row going top left to bottom right: chevron, ombre, and vellum.

Nora also was inspired by the same diagonal row: chevron, ombre, and vellum.

And, Tracie, also was inspired by this same diagonal row too!: chevron, ombre, and vellum.

Thank you for joining us in our 10th challenge. Please read the "Challenge Rules" tab at the top of the blog to be eligible for the prize. You have until Tuesday, May 31 at 11:55pm CST to submit your entries. We can not wait to see what you create! HAVE FUN!

An InLinkz Link-up

Challenge Nine

Hello and welcome back to another Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge from Stamping Smiles Designs! We are so happy you are here! :)

For challenge 9, we are in full Spring mood and are inspired by all the beautiful things we see outside our yards. Flowers, birds, ladybugs, and green grass are just a few of them. So, for this challenge, we'd love for you to take some inspiration from the challenge board below using three elements in a row of your choice! Whatever rows you chose and are inspired by is what we challenge you to create!

You are playing for one of the following 3"x 4" stamp sets. The winner will get to choose the stamp set of their choice. If you already have all three in your stash, why not play to give one of these sets as a gift for one of your crafty friend? You can click on the links below to read more about each stamp set.

Clearly Besotted Best Teacher Stamp Set

My Favorite Things BB Adventure Is Calling Stamp Set

Newton's Nook Designs Newton's Day Dream Stamp Set

And now for some amazing inspiration from our design team members.

Lindsey chose to work with the middle row across: birthday, sponging, and white space.

Shannon also used the second row across: birthday, sponging, and white space.

Olesya was inspired by the first row down: flowers, birthday, and masking technique.

Nora also was inspired by the first row down: flowers, birthday, and masking technique.

Tracie chose to work with the first row across: flowers, wood veneers, and things that fly.

Amina worked with the last column down: things that fly, white space and scene.

Thank you for joining us in our 9th challenge. Please read the "Challenge Rules" tab at the top of the blog to be eligible for the prize. You have until Sunday, May 15 at 11:55pm CST to submit your entries. We can not wait to see what you create! HAVE FUN!

An InLinkz Link-up

Challenge #8 Inspiration with Lindsey

Hi, there!  I'm so happy to be sharing another card I made using Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge #8 as inspiration.  The most intimidating element for me on the board was "color".  Coloring certainly isn't a strong point for me, and I usually avoid it.  However, I purchased some Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers a couple months ago when I found them on a sale that I couldn't resist, and I decided that it was about time I get over my fear and try them out.  The elements I chose to work with on this particular card come from the middle row: holiday, color, and die-cut negatives.

I started my card by die-cutting a branch of leaves (from PTI's Turning a New Leaf dies) twice out of a panel of watercolor paper.  Instead of inking up my stamps, I used my Zig markers to color them.  It creates a light blotchy look, but that's okay because you are going back in and coloring the images directly on the paper as well and blending with a water brush. (Marika Rahtu gives an excellent tutorial here using a much more detailed version of this method.) 

The florals on my card are images from PTI's Brushed Blooms set.  Since this set already stamps with a watercolor look to it, it really helps simplify watercoloring for a beginner like myself.  I finished off my card with a sentiment from an old WPlus9 set, Mother's Day Bouquet.  I purposely left the sentiment uneven looking, hoping that it would give a look of being hand-painted.

This card has a wonderful amount of dimension to it that is hard to capture in photos.  The large leaves were stamped in the negative die-cut space and the other images in the floral spray are popped up at varying heights. It's almost like there is a real bouquet tucked inside the card, which I love.  

Well, that's it for me today.  Thanks so much for stopping by!  I am having so much fun being challenged by the Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge boards.  I sure hope that you'll give them a try and join us for Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge #8!

Challenge Eight

Hello and welcome back to another Stamping Smiles Designs Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge!

For challenge 8, we added a fun color inspiration to the mix! We hope you'll like it! Whichever rows inspires you, whether it be the row with the color inspiration or a row without is what we challenge you to create! You certainly may incorporate the color combo as part of your design, if you choose to work with a row without the color inspiration. Just make sure you include the other three elements in your design. Thank you!

Here's some explanation of the elements upbove:

• 3 of a Kind - Use any 3 same items or images such as 3 enamel accents, 3 cupcakes, 3 candles and etc...
• Color - Take out your coloring pencils, Copics, watercolor crayons or other coloring mediums and color. If you are coloring an image, you are good!
• Label - You may use label stamps, label makers to create your labels or use label stickers for your project.

You are playing for one of the following 3"x 4" stamp sets. The winner will get to choose the stamp set of their choice. If you already have all three in your stash, why not play to give one of these sets as a gift for one of your crafty friend? You can click on the links below to read more about each stamp set.

Clearly Besotted Warm Solutions II Photopolymer Stamp Set

Taylored Expressions Zinnia Bouquet Cling Rubber Stamp Set

Memory Box I'm Owl Yours Photopolymer Stamp Set

Here's some AMA-ZING inspiration from our DT members to help get you started! We just love every single one of them!

Lindsey chose to do the top row: 3 of a kind, enamel accents, and square card.

Shannon went diagonal from bottom left to top right: color inspiration, color and square card.

Olesya chose the 3rd row vertically: square card, die-cut negatives, and food/drink.

Nora was inspired by the last row down: square card, die cut negatives, and food and drink.

Tracie chose to work with the 1st row across: 3 of a kind, enamel accents, and square card.

Amina worked with the diagonal row top left to bottom right: 3 of a kind, color and food/drink.

Thank you for joining us in our 8th challenge. Please read the "Challenge Rules" tab at the top of the blog to be eligible for the prize. You have until Saturaday, April 30 at 11:55pm CST to submit your entries. We can not wait to see what you create! HAVE FUN and don't forget to check back on Tuesday for our challenge winners! Until then, happy crafting! :)

An InLinkz Link-up