Seize The Birthday - Spring

We've got a new challenge for you at Seize The Birthday, and our optional topping is Spring, appropriately enough!

This might not seem like a spring-themed card at first, but all over my village, magnolia buds are bursting out, and although this flower isn't specifically a magnolia, it's the closest I've got ;)  The flower and leaves are Altenew, the background is Uniko, and the sentiment was already stamped and cut out, so I'm not quite sure who it belongs to.

Pop on over to the Seize The Birthday blog for some more inspiration from our surprise party guest, Tenia Nelson, and the rest of the design team, and play along with us.

STAMPlorations Inspiration #209

It's Inspiration Tuesday at STAMPlorations, and today we're highlighting Shery's line of stamps, Shery Russ Designs.  From now till 1 April all of Shery's stamps are 10% off, no discount needed.  If you use my code STAMPGIRLSHIRLEY while you're shopping you'll get a further 20% off stamps, stencils and dies in the store.

I've used the Zen Birthday Background stamp, colouring the areas around the cake and adding black to parts of the cake to help it stand out.  Then it was just a case of adding torn washi tape.

Pop on over to the STAMPlorations blog for more fabulous inspiration from the rest of the design team, and don't forget to leave a comment for your chance to win a $10 gift certificate to the store.

STAMPlorations Inspiration #208

It's Inspiration Tuesday at STAMPlorations, and today we're focusing on Deepti's range of stamps, Dee's Artsy Impressions.  From now till 25 March Deepti's stamps are 10% off, no coupon needed, and if you use my code STAMPGIRLSHIRLEY you'll get another 20% off these and other stamps, dies and stencils in the store.

I used Live Love Ride with a sentiment from Balloons and Banners and a rosette made with stamps from Frames and Flowers.

In my village on the first Saturday in July there's a church procession.  It's called Coffee Day, but nobody can actually say why it's called that.  The procession is headed by the church leaders, followed by the Sunday schools, the Scout packs, brass bands, general congregation and bringing up the rear are two shire horses pulling wagons decorated with paper flowers.  The wagons hold the smaller children who are too young to walk the course.  The horses' harnesses are also decorated with flowers.

Pop on over to the STAMPlorations blog for some more fabulous inspiration from the team, and don't forget to leave a commentator your chance to win a gift certificate to the store.

Seize The Birthday - Dots and Stripes

Hello, and welcome to a new challenge at Seize The Birthday!  Our optional topping for this challenge is Dots And Stripes, but if you don't fancy that, you can still play along with any birthday-themed project.

The cow and 'grass' stamps are by Tim Holtz, and the birthday sentiment is from Dee's Artsy Impressions at STAMPlorations.

Our surprise party guest is Tenia Nelson of Jazzy Paper Designs.  Pop on over to the Seize The Birthday blog to see cards from Tenia and the rest of the design team, and play along with us.

ETA:  I'm adding this to Day of the Month Challenge, Want You To Be Happy Day, at Cornelia's suggestion.

Watermarking

I'm over on the STAMPlorations blog tonight with four cards using a stamp from the current STAMP club set, Bloomful, which you can see on the background of this card.

I sponged a card panel with Distress Oxides then spritzed my stamp with water before stamping onto the card. The longer you leave the stamp in position the better the image 'bleaches' a watermark.  I added a large helenium image coloured with Distress Inks and pencils, and a sentiment banner.  I almost always stamp sentiments in black, but I thought black would have been too harsh on this card.

I'm entering this into The Flower Challenge - Anything Goes

and Simon Says Monday Challenge - Feminine/Girly

STAMPlorations Inspiration #207

Hello, and welcome to Inspiration Tuesday at STAMPlorations blog  This week we're focusing on Becca's line of stamps, Big Grins by Becca Cruger.  From now till 18 March all Becca's stamps are 10% off, no coupon needed.  And if you use my code STAMPGIRLSHIRLEY you'll get a further 20% off.

I've used Sweet and Sassy Mom, and because I was using a bright, bold background, I wanted to keep the flowers uncoloured for impact.  That stripy border down the side is made by using one of the stamps from Llama Tell You.

Pop on over to the STAMPlorations blog for some more fabulous inspiration using Becca's stamps, and don't forget to leave a comment for your chance to win a $10 gift certificate to the store.

STAMPlorations Inspiration #206

Hello, and welcome to Inspiration Tuesday at STAMPlorations.  This week we're focusing on my line of stamps, The Bee's Knees.  From now till 11 March they will be 10% off, no coupon needed.  And if you use my code STAMPGIRLSHIRLEY you'll get another 20% off, yay!

I've used Hashtag Walkies for my card.  This little whippet isn't too keen on being colour coordinated with its owner, and is dreaming of a more individual look, like her little friend, lol!

Pop on over to the STAMPlorations blog for some more fabulous inspiration using my stamps, and don't forget to leave a comment for your chance to win a $10 gift certificate.

Craft Stamper Take It, Make It

Hello, and welcome to a new challenge at Craft Stamper Take It, Make It.  It's Anything Goes, as long as you use polymer/rubber stamps.

I've used some of the new Tim Holtz Media Marks stamps over a smooshed background that also had background text by AALL and Create stamped in Distress Oxide.  I coloured the leaves and 'flowers' with Sharpie paint pens.

We've got a fab prize for one randomly selected entry:

The winner chosen by the Design Team will have their entry published in the magazine along with a profile, and a chance to guest design in a future challenge.

Pop on over to the Craft Stamper blog for some more fabulous inspiration from the team, and play along!