Challenge #8 Inspiration with Nora

Hello everyone!! Nora here to bring you some inspiration for Stamping Smiles Designs Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge #8.

I knew when I saw this card that I had to use the last row across--color inspiration, labels and food/drink for a card before it ended. Labels, food or drink and the fantastic color inspiration? What is not to love?

Here is the card I came up with.

The first thing I did for this card was to create the background. I die cut a white piece of card stock and used Ranger Ink Dylusions Mist in "After Midnight" and Heidi Swapp Color Shine in "Citron" to mist the background. When the panel was dry, I adhered it on an angle to a piece of blue card stock.

I then stamped the ice cream images from "Oh Happy Day" by Lia Griffith for Hero Arts onto white card stock using Memento "Tuxedo Black" ink and colored them in with Copic markers. Next I used Stickles glitter glue in the color scheme on the ice cream cone and Glossy Accents to cover all three of the stamped images. I set the treats aside to dry while I stamped the Altenew label sentiment in blue ink.

When everything was dry, I assembled the card. I used a scrap of powder blue card stock to make a banner to go across the card. I then adhered the ice cream confections over the banner. Next I adhered the stamped label using foam adhesive over the banner.  My last step was to adhere some clear sequins from Pretty Pink Posh.

I am really happy with how this card came out and cannot wait to send this to someone for their birthday. I hope this has inspired you to play along with us.

You still have a few more days to enter Stamping Smiles Designs Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge #8. The design team is always inspired by YOU and cannot wait to see what you create!!

Nora

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

Challenge Seven + A Few Announcements

Hi everyone and welcome back to another Stamping Smiles Designs Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge! Before we get to today's challenge and see projects from our design team we have a few of announcements. First, Ka, the challenge creator is currently away from the challenge blog for a while due to a surgery she had last week. We wish her a speedy recovery!

Secondly, we had to say goodbye to Stephanie as she step down from our design team last month due to a health protocol she's on. Stephanie will definitely be missed and we pray that this treatment will only help her and keep her strong.

We have asked Amina Ishfaq from our Social Media Design Team to fill in the spot and we're very excited to have her join the main design team. Welcome Amina! You can see all of her work on her blog at My Lime Journal.

And lastly, our Creative Fools Blog Hop hosted by our designer, Nora Noll starts today (9 a.m. CST exactly)! Come hop with us for some "punny" inspirations and win some awesome goodies! See you back here in just a little bit!

Okay, back to our challenge.  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 Fairytale Ending Photopolymer Stamp Set

Taylored Expressions Lavender Bouquet Cling Rubber Stamp Set

Neat and Tangled Heart of Gold Photopolymer Stamp Set

Here's some inspiration from our design team members.

Lindsey chose to do the first column down: bunny, decorative frame and washi tape.

Shannon also worked with the first column down: bunny, decorative frame and washi tape.

Olesya chose the first row horizontally: bunny, pocket and tag.

Nora chose the last row down for her card: tag, kraft, and potted plant.

Tracie also chose the third column down: tag, kraft and potted plants.

Amina also were inspired to work with the third row down: tag, kraft and potted plants.

Thank you for joining us in our 7th challenge. Please read the "Challenge Rules" tab at the top of the blog to be eligible for the prize. You have until Friday, April 15th at 11:55pm CST to submit your entries. We can not wait to see what you create! HAVE FUN!!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Challenge #6: Inspiration with Nora

Happy Monday everyone!! I hope you all had a fabulous weekend.

Nora here with an inspiration post for the Stamping Smiles Design Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge #6. This time I chose the last row down for my card-umbrella, critters and clouds.

I started off using a piece of patterned paper scrap that I had with clouds on it for my background and layered it over a top folding card measuring 4 1/4" by 5 1/2. I then die cut the clouds out of white card stock using Taylored Expressions "Rolling Clouds" die set. I layered the clouds over the patterned paper, popping the front one with foam adhesive to give it a bit of dimension.

Next I die cut the sun using the "Radiant Sun" die from My Favorite Things and blended Simon Says Stamps "Duckling" dye ink and "Spiced Marmalade" Distress Ink over the top. I tucked the sun between the two clouds.

I stamped the panda bear using Mama Elephants "Pandamonium" set and cut it with the matching dies. I then adhered him behind the sun.

I then added my favorite part of the whole card-the umbrella from Pretty Pink Posh's "Rainy Days" stamp set. Again, I used foam adhesive on the umbrella top to look as if the air had caught the panda and he was "floating" above the clouds.

My last step was to stamp the sentiment in black ink, also from the "Rainy Days" stamp set, add a few clear sequins from Pretty Pink Posh, and a bit of Christmas Red Stickles to the umbrella.

This is one of my most favorite cards I have created in a while and I hope it inspires you to join us for Stamping Smiles Designs Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge #6. There are still a few days left!! I cannot wait to see what you create.

Have a FABULOUS week!!

Nora

Challenge Six

Hello! Happy Hump Day to you! We hope everyone is enjoying their week so far! Anyway, a BIG THANK YOU to everyone who played in our last challenge - the cards were exceptional! We will be going through the entries in the next couple days and will announce the winners on Friday.

Before we get to today's challenge, we would first like to invite you to come join us for a super fun "Creative Fools" blog hop on April 1st! That's right! Stamping Smiles Designs Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge will have its very first blog hop, all organized by our very own designer, Nora Noll! The hop will start right here on the challenge blog at 9 a.m. CST. There will be lots of "punny" inspirations along with prizes to be won! Yep, so make sure to tell all your friends about this hop! The more, the merrier! And don't forget to mark it on your calendar so that you don't miss out on the hop along with some amazing inspirations and awesome prizes! :)

Okay, back to today's challenge. Who is ready for Spring to arrive? I know we are! Here in the Mid-west, we are seeing lots of signs of Spring already. Spring will finally be here very, very soon! Yay! We included in the challenge board showers, umbrellas, and clouds because they are just a few staples for this time of year. :) 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 Flower Blocks Stamp Set

Avery Elle Whale Hello Stamp Set

Memory Box Birthday Bunnies Stamp Set

Now it's time for some amazing SSD Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge Design Team Inspiration...

Lindsey went diagonal going up from the bottom: patterned papers, clean and simple, and umbrella.

Shannon went with the third column down: umbrella, critters, and clouds.

Olesya chose to work with the first row horizontally: showers, glossy accents, and umbrella.

Nora used the middle row across: celebrate, clean and simple, and critters.

Stephanie also chose the middle row across: celebrate, clean and simple, and critters.

Tracie went with the middle column down: glossy accents, clean and simple, and twine.

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

An InLinkz Link-up

Challenge Five

Hello everyone! Welcome back to another Stamping Smiles Designs Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge! We cannot believe we are on our 5th challenge already! Wow!! I guess time really flies when we're having fun playing with our crafty supplies, huh? :)

Who is ready for St. Patrick's Day and are excited for Spring to arrive? We know we are as you can tell from the inspiration photo below! Yep, you heard that right! For this challenge, we included an inspiration photo in the challenge board as one of the element. Whichever rows inspires you from this photo inspiration and our fifth Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge Board is what we challenge you to create! Just a reminder, if you choose the row without the photo inspiration, you may certainly use the photo as part of your design as long as you include the other three elements. Also, please make sure you are including the challenge graphic badge in your blog post and not the blog badge if you're playing for the prize. Thanks!

Photo Source

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.

Memory Box Stamps Bunny Tea Time Stamp Set

Clearly Besotted With Love Stamp Set

Clearly Besotted Still A Hoot Stamp Set

Now let's see what the design team cooked up for inspiration.

Lindsey used the middle column down: beads, gold and rainbow.

Shannon went with the second row across: friendship, gold and layers.

Olesya chose the 1st row across: green, beads and geometric shapes.

Nora was inspired by the top row across: green, beads and geometric shapes.

Stephanie chose to work with the 2nd row across: friendship, gold and layers.

Tracie chose 2nd row across: friendship, gold and layers.

Thank you for joining us in our fifth challenge. Please read the "Challenge Rules" tab at the top of the blog to be eligible for the prize. You have until Tuesday, March 15 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 Thursday for our challenge winners! Until then, happy crafting! :)

An InLinkz Link-up

Challenge #4 Inspiration with Nora

Hi everyone!! I hope you are having fun playing along with Stamping Smiles Design Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge #4. I have been looking at all your wonderful creations and am in awe of all the creativity. It is so interesting to see the different interpretations everyone has using this card.

Nora here to bring you a little inspiration using Challenge #4.

I chose the middle row from top to bottom with the elements-sequins, Distress Inks and stencil to create my card.

I used a technique on this card that I had never tried. It was using shimmer spray and Distress Ink with a stencil. I snapped some photos to give you a little photo tutorial of the process.

I inked a piece of white card stock with Peacock Feathers  Distress Ink. I did not use any fancy tools but literally rubbed the ink pad across the paper. 

Next I covered the inked card stock with the Echo Park"Branches" stencil and misted it with a clear shimmer spray. (You can also use water if you did not want the shimmer.) I sprayed just enough to cover the stencil but not enough to saturate the paper. I used a paper towel to blot any excess moisture there might have been on the stencil.

I slowly took the stencil off and used a heat gun to dry the panel. It might buckle a bit but once you adhere it to a card, it will be fine. You can also see that I did not mist the card evenly. I could have gone back to fix this but I liked the way it came out so I chose to leave it this way. 

I cut the panel down a bit and adhered it over a top folding white card base. I then added a strip of white and black polka dot paper at the bottom of the inked panel.

I used PaperTrey Ink's "Vintage Linens" stamp set to stamp the flowers in black dye ink. I then die cut them with the "Vintage Linens" matching die set. I adhered the leaves and flowers to the front of the card, using foam adhesive on the left flower to give it a bit of dimension.

I adhered three clear sequins randomly over the card and used clear Wink of Stella over the black leaves and the flower stamens. 

I chose to leave the card blank, figuring I could add a sentiment later, depending on what I want to use the card for.

There is still some time to play with the Challenge #4 card. I cannot wait to see what you create!!

Thank you for stopping by. Have a wonderful day!!

Nora