STAMPOTIQUE DESIGNERS' CHALLENGE 171: USE YOUR FAVORITE COLORS!

You know what day it is!  The Stampotique Designers' Challenge has been posted, and sweet Nellie van Leeuwen is at the helm.  She is taking it a bit easy on us this week!  Here's Nellie's challenge:

No explanation needed for this week's challenge. I'm asking you to use your favourite colours. Use as many colours as you want. I think we all have favourite colour combinations, colours that always match, colours that work for us, colours we turn to when we lack a bit of inspiration. Mine are variations of green and blue. What are yours?
                                                                                                             Groetjes,  Nellie

Now, you would expect that my post today would be full of bright and cheery primary colors, but...NOT!  I am a huge fan of the vintage genre and its color palette is much more subdued.  I find great pleasure in creating with this color palette:

So, now, you will not be surprised at my "make" for this week.  I have chosen to make a vintage postcard with brown, beige, cream and just touch of maroon and soft orange. 

And, the reveal:

 I have used the following Stampotique stamps in my project:

Vintage Postcard

Paris Postcard

1879 Postmark

Splattered Mug

I am so happy that you stopped by today.  Don't forget to join as a follower and leave a comment so that you will qualify for the BIG GIVEAWAY ending in just two days.  Details here!  You just might win a FREE STAMPOTIQUE STAMP FROM ME!  Here's an example of how Stampotique Design Team member France Papillon used this stamp in a background:

I hope you will take some time this week to get crafty and create something in your favorite color palette.  Two lucky artists (randomly drawn) will receive a $30 gift certificate from Stampotique Originals for their products or anything they cell on their website.  

Cheers!

STAMPOTIQUE DESIGNERS' CHALLENGE 170: GHOULS AND GOBLINS!

Ah, yes, it's Stampotique Day!  The very talented Kristen Catalano is our host this week at the Stampotique Designers' Challenge, and she is in the mood for Ghouls and Goblins! Here's her challenge:

Calling all Pumpkins, Ghosts, Dragons, and Witches too, we’ve got a SPOOKY time planned just for you!!!!!!!!

I completely LOVE Halloween, and any chance I get to make a spooky project, I will. This week I am challenging you to create a project inspired by Halloween.  Can’t wait to see what you come up with.

Kristen

For this challenge, I made my Halloween card for my older grandson.  At 14, Justin is full of...well, let's say spirit!  I am sure that he and his best buds could think of more tricks than treats!  My card contains just a word of caution as well as a bit of humor!  I have used the following Stampotique stamps for this card:

Paris Lamp Post (the base of the lamp)*

Circles Cube (lamp bulb and background)*

Barcode Text #2 (BAD IDEA, GROUNDED)*

Checkers (sweet boy image)*

Scratches (background stamp)

*denotes stamps from the NEW RELEASES

And, the reveal:

Thanks for visiting today and for leaving a comment so that I will know you came by. Don't forget about your chance to win a FREE STAMPOTIQUE STAMP from me!  Details here.  A perfect example of how you might use this great background stamp is one that Stampotique Design Team member Corrie Herriman created:

Now, go get crafty and created your own ghouls and goblins submission for a chance to win one of two $30 gift certificates from Stampotique given away to two randomly-drawn artists at the end of this month.  Submission details are here.

Cheers!

STAMPOTIQUE DESIGNERS' CHALLENGE 169: BLACK, PINK & PURPLE

Carol Fox, my teammate from the U.K., is in charge this week, and she is challenging us to use black, pink and purple in our projects for the Stampotique Designers' Challenge!  Really, Carol, black, pink and purple?  Seems a bit of an odd challenge to me, but, in the end, I loved it!  Here is what Carol had to say:

I love strong colors that really pop on the page, so I ask you to feature black, pink and purple on your make for the challenge this week.  Carol x

I wanted to make a tag/bookmark for a friend whose husband has had a stroke and is now in an extended care nursing home. She has a tough road ahead of her (as does he), so wanted her to know she needed to focus on getting through today...one second, one minute, one hour, one day!

I used these Stampotique stamps in my project:

Ms. Snottie

Circle Cube

One Second, One Minute...

And here's my tag/bookmark:

Thanks for coming by today, and also for taking the time to leave a comment so that I will know you were here.  If you haven't yet joined as a follower, take a moment to do that, too, as I am having a GIVEAWAY this month.  Details here!  

I hope you will take some time this week to get crafty!  At the end of the month, two lucky artists will each receive a $30 gift certificate for anything on the Stampotique Originals website.  

Cheers!

STAMPOTIQUE DESIGNERS' CHALLENGE 168: USE BOOK TEXT

My Stampotique teammate and dear friend Corrie Herriman is the host this week for the Stampotique Designers' Challenge, and she is asking us to create a project using book text. Here is her direction:

Hello everybody and happy Wednesday to you all! Today it is my turn to host the challenge and I would like you to use book text. This is such a versatile material and when I get a bit stuck, I regularly reach for an old book to use the pages. I think everybody has an old book or magazine lying around to use. I can't wait to see what you come up with, but most of all have fun creating !!!   Corrie x

Much like Corrie, I find that book text, whether tucked into the background or a front-and-center element, can really give a creative boost when a bit stuck!  And, I was definitely "stuck" on this one.  I created two for the bin before finding inspiration in the book text I chose.  First, I was intrigued by the page number and knew that I wanted to include that.  I also noticed the chapter title "Novelist and Philosopher," and then I remembered one of my newer stamps called "Philip," who has a wishful, inquiring upward gaze.  Of course, at that point, I needed something at which Philip could be looking--and that was one of the Stampotique stamps just released called "Paris Lamp Post."  By this time, I was on a roll!  I added one of the new release text stamps ("When I Grow Up") to show what Philip might be thinking; then, for a little added interest, a bit of a border using one side of the brand new "Circles Cube."  A dab of yellow paint, an ink-dyed ribbon, a brad and done!  But here, you take a look:

I am pleased with my tag and with overcoming this challenge. Sometimes, it just takes more than one attempt to get where you most want to be--in art, as well as in life!  (I love you, Russ!)

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I appreciate both your visits and your comments.  Take a moment this week to do something crafty--even if for the first time!  At the end of the month, there will be a $30 gift certificate randomly awarded to two lucky artists submitting projects!  Guidelines for submissions are here.  You can purchase Stampotique stamps here. 

I am giving away BLOG CANDY this month!  Check out how to win a free brand new STAMPOTIQUE stamp from ME here!

Cheers!

STAMPOTIQUE DESIGNERS' CHALLENGE 167: MAKE IT MASCULINE!

Kim Howard is not only the Stampotique Design Team Coordinator, but also our hostess today and she is prompting us to make a masculine card for the Stampotique Designers' Challenge!  

Happy Hump Day!

I'm so excited to host the challenge this week as it's one I'm always struggling with.  In a home where the males outweigh the females, you wouldn't think it would take much to create a masculine card, but it's something I have had a hard time doing every time I sit down to make one.

I challenge you to show me your best masculine cards this week---are they ones that come naturally to you or do you draw a blank when you need to create one as well?

Cant wait to see all the possibilities you come up with this week!

Like Kim, creating masculine cards is difficult for me.  And, if that isn't a big enough challenge, two of the men in my life are under the age of 14!  That can be a double challenge!  But, for today, I created a birthday card for my adult son Bryan.  Sometimes, I think he looks forward to receiving my handmade cards as much as his two sons!

I drew my inspiration for this card from Pinterest, and made only minor adjustments, one being adding a bit of bling!  All papers, including the cards base, were made from scraps.

I hope you will take time this week to create a masculine card for Kim's challenge.  At the end of this month, two names will be drawn at random from all the submissions to receive a $30 gift certificate for anything in the Stampotique website.  Rules for submission can be found here.

Thank you for stopping by today.  I appreciate both your visits and your comments.  Be sure to check out my second post today (below) for a chance to win this Stampotique stamp from me!

Cheers!

BLOG GIVEAWAY! WIN A STAMPOTIQUE ORIGINALS' STAMP BY DANIEL TORRENTE

Glad you stopped by!  My goal this month is to reach 200 followers.  A lofty goal?  Perhaps, but we are going to have a lot of fun getting there!  For instance, I am giving away a Stampotique Originals' stamp called "Heads."  It is by the well-known stamp designer Daniel Torrente.  I will ship to anywhere in the world, so all are welcome to participate with confidence! Here's the stamp:

Over the next few weeks, I will show you how Stampotique Designers' Challenge Design Team members, Stampotique Guest Designers, and those who follow that blog have used this stamp in their artwork.  Here's a wonderful example from Jools Robertson.  She has used "Heads" behind the chain link fence as the sports fans!

There is not much to do:

• If you already follow my blog, let me know in your comment below; if not, sign up (in the right-hand sidebar) to become a follower and let me know that you did that.  After signing up "to follow," your best bet is to then "follow by e-mail" so that you will not miss an update.
• Share this post in your social media outlets and let me know that you did that.  I am not asking for a link--I trust that you will do so.
• In your comment below, tell me your favorite Stampotique Originals stamp (not necessary to own it)!

Easy as that!  I will announce the winner here on November 1--whether or not I reach my goal!

Cheers!