FINAL CHALLENGE: Challenge Twenty Two

Hello friends!

I hope this blog post finds you having a wonderful day. It is with a sad and heavy heart that I say we are closing the Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge after this FINAL challenge. It was a very hard decision to make but one that Ka and I both know needed to be done. For those of you that don't know, Ka, the challenge creator was in a bad accident last November and since then she has been a whirl wind of craziness dealing with lawyers and insurances and coping with depression. As a Design Team Coordinator, I have tried my best to keep up with everything - the challenge, four wild kids, and a husband who travels for work, BUT I have been unsuccessful in doing so.

Ka and I both are so GRATEFUL to everyone who take part in making this challenge so successful. It takes a lot of energy to blog and we seriously couldn't have done it without the friends that helped get it started and the friends that are with us today.

Last but not least, THANK YOU to everyone that participated during each challenge. All of your creations were stunning and so inspirational. We loved looking at each of them and being mesmerized by how each of you interpreted the challenge and we cannot wait to see it again for one last time. You are all really talented!

So, for this final 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.

Avery Elle Penguin Greetings Photopolymer Stamp Set

Neat & Tangled Little Santa Girl Photopolymer Stamp Set

Simon Says Stamp Furry Christmas Photopolymer Stamp Set

And now for some over-the-top AMAZING inspiration from our INCREDIBLE design team members.

Nora used the first column down: Bling, White on White and Scene.

Rachel was inspired by the top row across: Bling, Die-Cut Alphas, and Texture.

Varada created two cards using the second row across: White on White, Use Dimension, and Vellum.

Channin also played with the second row across: White on White, Use Dimension, and Vellum.

Judy used the diagonal row: Scene, Use Dimension, and Texture.

Thank you for joining us in our 17th challenge. Please read the "Challenge Rules" tab at the top of the blog to be eligible for the prize. You have until Wednesday, November 30th at 11:55pm CST to submit your entries. We can not wait to see what you create! HAVE FUN!

An InLinkz Link-up

Challenge Twenty One

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.

My Favorite Things Stamps Warmest Wishes Photopolymer Stamp Set

Lawn Fawn Winter in the Park Photopolymer Stamp Set

Avery Elle Penguin Greetings Photopolymer Stamp Set

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

Nora used the last row down: CAS, Builder Stamp and Pearls/Gemstones..

Rachel was inspired by the diagonal row going from top left to bottom right: Home Sweet Home, Thread/Twine/Jute and Pearls/Gemstones.

Varada used the second row across: Specialty Papers, Thread/Twine/Jute and Builder Stamps.

Channin played with the first row across: Home Sweet Home, Use Tiny Die-Cuts and CAS.

Judy used the third row down: CAS/Builder Stamps/Pearls/Gemstones.

Thank you for joining us in our 17th challenge. Please read the "Challenge Rules" tab at the top of the blog to be eligible for the prize. You have until Tuesday, November 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 #20 Inspiration with Varada

Hello crafty friends,

Varada here today, with inspiration for challenge #20. 

This time I decided to go with the middle vertical row - Frame, Dew drops and Sweets. I created a framed shaker tag with tiny seed beads / dew drops inside. This tag is adhered on to a pillow box that has real sweets inside! 

For the tag, I used the Winter Fun stamp set from Hero Arts. This stamp is an add-on stamp set for this month's My Monthly Hero kit. It has adorable images of animals and winter / holiday themed things like skates, sled, Christmas tree and a mailbox covered in snow.

I stamped and watercolored all the animals using Strathmore watercolor paper and Gansai Tambi watercolors. I used black Archival ink for stamping since this ink is waterproof and does not bleed with watercolors.

I created the background - lowest layer by stamping the tree, ink blending for the sky and adding snowflakes, sentiments and sparkle dots. While stamping the tree I used MISTI to lay out my elements and decide exactly where I wanted it.

I made the walls / frame of my shaker by repeated die cutting several pieces of card stock and layering them together with Glossy Accents. For the top most layer, I used a patterned paper and some packaging material.

Before adhering the top most layer, I layered the snowy hills, a giftbox and a badger and added dew drops / seed beads with some fake snow (Polar White Flower Soft) inside the tag.

For my sweet treats,  I created a pillow box using some patterned paper and a Sizzix die, added some peanut M&Ms inside and assembled everything. To have some pop of color, I adhered a red cardinal right on top (outside) the tag and added matching twine to it.

Here's the close of the top itself:

Although I used sweets inside my pillow box, the same idea can be used for other stocking stuffers - small jewelry, or a Christmas ornament, money or even a gift card - fits inside this pillow box. There are endless possibilities here!

Hope you liked my project and feel inspired to play with us.

Big thanks for dropping by!
~Varada

Challenge Twenty

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.

Avery Elle Penguin Greetings Photopolymer Stamp Set

Neat & Tangled Little Santa Girl Photopolymer Stamp Set

Simon Says Stamp Furry Christmas Photopolymer Stamp Set

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

Nora used the last row across: Puns, Sweets and Ink Smooshing.

Rachel was inspired by the last column down: Metallic, Monogrammed, and Smooshing Technique.

Varada used the first column down: Spinner card, Watercolor, and Use Puns.

Channin played with diagonal row from bottom left to top right: Metallics, Dew Drops, and Use Puns.

Judy used the last row across: Puns, Sweets, and Smooshing Technique

Thank you for joining us in our 17th challenge. Please read the "Challenge Rules" tab at the top of the blog to be eligible for the prize. You have until Monday, October 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 Nineteen

Hello and welcome back to the Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge blog! We are so excited you are here to play with us! We hope that you are inspired! For this challenge, we added a color inspiration element to the challenge board. We decided instead of us providing a color inspiration board for you lovelies, we're going to have you pull out a color combination that you've been dying to try either from a magazine ads or a photo or if you prefer getting your color inspiration board from another challenge blog, that works too. Wherever it comes from, just make sure you share the color inspiration on your blog post & let us know that those are the colors you are using for your element. Please don't forget to use all three elements in a row for project. 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.

Lawn Fawn Winter in the Park Photopolymer Stamp Set

My Favorite Things Stamp Warmest Wishes Photopolymer Stamp Set

Neat & Tangled Little Angel Photopolymer Stamp Set

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

Nora used the top row across: Color Inspiration, Polka Dots, and Birthday.

Rachel was also inspired by the same row across: Color Inspiration, Polka Dots, and Birthday.

Rachel's drew the colors from this Autumn Colors Combo Board.

Varada was inspired by the first row down: Color Inspiration, Alphabet Stamps and Background Wash.

Varada used the color in this photo to inspire her project! What a beautiful sight! We absolutely love the gorgeous Fall colors!

Channin also worked with same elements as Varada: Color Inspiration, Alphabet Stamps, and Background Wash.

Judy worked with the top row across: Color Inspiration, Polka Dots, and Birthday.

Thank you for joining us in our 19th challenge. Please read the "Challenge Rules" tab at the top of the blog to be eligible for the prize. You have until Saturday, October 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 #18 Inspiration with Varada

Hi friends,

Varada here, with some inspiration for challenge #18.

I hope you are having fun playing along with Tic-Tac-Toe challenge #18. I decided to create a card using the middle row: Friendship + Blues and Greens + Ink Blending.

Here's my card featuring the August 2016 My Monthly Hero Kit from Hero Arts. 

As you will notice, this is a shaped card - it is oval and not a regular rectangular card. The large oval die that comes with My Monthly Hero August 2016 card kit makes creating oval cards a breeze. Below is a quick tip video I made showing two ways to make such shaped cards. 

For my card, I used two separate oval pieces. While they were still separate, I ink blended green blue inks. I added several different types of inks together for getting that effect. Once I was happy overall, I stamped some ferns and mushrooms using Versa Magic Hint of Pesto ink. I also stamped "our friendship is" from MFT stamps "Because you" stamp set using Hero Arts brown ink. I did not have any stamp with the word, "Magical", so I wrote it using black permanent marker and added some shine on top using Sakura stardust pen. For the dot on the "i", I added a very tiny star.

Next I die cut two more frames - the trees one that comes with the kit and the floral one which is an add-on. The tree one I cut out of brown card stock and ink blended on the floral one. I also cut the tree one out of some fun foam. Using glossy accents, I adhered all my pieces together and made the shaker with some green + blue sequins.

As a final touch, I stamped and die cut a fairy (also from the same kit) and colored her with Zig real brush markers. I used Ranger Archival black ink for stamping and used stickles on my fairy wings for some sparkle :-)

Simply love this card kit and the way my card turned out. Hope you liked it too and feel inspired to play with us.

Big thanks for dropping by!
~Varada

Challenge Eighteen

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

Avery Elle Whale Hello Photopolymer Stamp Set

Newton's Nook Designs Newton's Perfect Pumpkin Photopolymer Stamp Set

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

Nora used the diagonal from top left to bottom right: stencil, blues and greens, and texture.

Rachel was inspired by the diagonal row going from top left to bottom right: stencil, blues and greens, and texture.

Varada was inspired by the third row down: Back to School, Ink Blending, and Texture.

Channin played with the diagonal row top left to bottom right: Stencil, Blues and Greens, and Texture.

Judy worked with the middle row across: Friendship, Blues and Greens, and Ink Blending. .

Thank you for joining us in our 17th challenge. Please read the "Challenge Rules" tab at the top of the blog to be eligible for the prize. You have until Friday, September 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 Seventeen

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 You're A Hoot II Photopolymer Stamp Set

Taylored Expressions Mixed Blooms Red Rubber Cling Stamp Set

Neat & Tangled Heart of Gold Photopolymer Stamp Set

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

Nora used the top row across: Window Card, Critter and Sequins..

Amina went with the third row down: Sequins, Thank You, and Fall Theme.

Rachel created this adorable window card using the top row across: Window Card, Critter, and Sequins.

Varada was inspired by the third row down: Sequins, Thank you and Fall Theme.

Channin played with the first row across: Window Card, Critter, and Sequins.

Judy worked with the third row down: Sequins, Thank You, and Fall Theme.

Thank you for joining us in our 17th challenge. Please read the "Challenge Rules" tab at the top of the blog to be eligible for the prize. You have until Thursday, September 15 at 11:55pm CST to submit your entries. We can not wait to see what you create! HAVE FUN!

An InLinkz Link-up