Inspired by All the Little Things {Spotlight on Lee Ann Barrett}

So I have decided to start a weekly segment on my blog called "Inspired by...All the Little Things". We are on Week 2 already! It will be a Sunday feature and it will post at no specific time...as it is all about inspiration! Maybe as the week's go on, I will nail down a specific time! Ha! I have always wanted to highlight and celebrate other designers. There are so many who really inspire me!!! And so this week I have my first Guest!

Today's inspiration is one of my favourite things; flowers! Bright, sunshiny and happy!  

I asked my friend Lee Ann Barrett to design a card today based on the inspiration! Just look at the stunning card she created! I was awestruck when I saw it!!! She is SUCH an inspiration to me!

Lee Ann Barrett

 I asked her to share a bit about herself...

What is the name of your blog? When and why did you start it?
The name of my blog is Greyt Paper Crafts.  The 'grey' part of it is in honor of my grey hound, Bella.  I started card making for Operation Write Home and started my blog so that I could participate in their blog hops and challenges. 

What is your style of card making?
My style of card making is ever changing.  I've tried everything and can tell you what I a not- shabby chic!  I lean towards clean but not too cutesy.  I like CAS but it does not come easy to me. I have been on a coloring kick lately. Some have described my card making as elegant, but lately I am staying away from a lot of layers and fru fru.  :)  After making countless cards with layers, swirls flowers at the like, it is my goal to make cards that are mailable!

Who inspires you as a designer?
I have been greatly inspired my Iwona Palamountain, but sadly, she is not blogging anymore.  Recently, I have been inspired by the amazing Kim Wiener (blog- Wienerhoneymooners ) and Cornelia Wenokor (blog- Stempel Spass).  If you haven't seen these ladies' creative works, check them out! 

What sort of things inspire you as a card maker? Photos? Sketches? Other designers?
No one specific thing inspires me; sometimes it is colors, sometimes it is a sketch.  Usually, I put images and elements down and move things around until I get something I like.  Not very glamorous is it?!  :)

Share something about yourself we may not know?

I worked in the operating room, specializing in neurosurgery.  

Thank you so much, Lee Ann for being my first guest at Inspired by All the Little Things! You have inspired me so much!!! Are you inspired by Lee Ann or the inspiration photo? Come and share a card or project if you make one using the photo. We would love to see your work! The linky will be open for the next two months.

An InLinkz Link-up

Power Poppy Challenge {Just for You}

Tonight I wanted to play along with the month long challenge at Power Poppy. The challenge is called "Stretch Yourself" to create a Tall Card and to do something or use something new! Well, I decided to ink up a new Stampin' Up rose stamp that I recently purchased for the first time!

Using Ranger Archival Ink, I stamped the rose onto watercolour paper. Then I watercoloured the image with distress inks...using pink, red and green. Then I stamped some french script and ink spots from an old set called "Fall Foliage". I stamped the background and sponged the edges in River Rock. A simple. vellum butterfly with two rhinestones finishes it off!

My poor camera is without batteries and I didn't charge them this week...so I am using my phone to take the photos. A little darker than usual. I hope you don't mind!

Happy weekend! I hope you get the chance to get crafty!

Beautiful {MOJO, CTD & SSS}

A simple card for the current MOJO Sketch, the Color Throwdown and the Simon Says Stamp Challenges! Except, I remembered the sketch incorrectly and put the layout backward on my card! Ha! Oh well!!! I was totally inspired to play along and I could not wait to use this pretty script paper! But I played with the correct colours! Whew!

  

I had so much fun making this card!!! I am going back to make more cards tonight! I hope you are enjoying your evening of fun!

SugarPea Designs {Sugar Sketch #38}-You Make my Heart Dance!

Hello stamping friends! It is time for another fun sketch at SugarPea Designs! Don't forget, you have all month to play along with our sketches and one random winner will win a gift certificate to the SugarPea Designs Online Store!!! So come and play along!

Here is the Sketch! I hope you will come and play along with us at  SugarPea Designs!

The rules are very simple…

• Create a new card or project using the sketch provided.
• SugarPea Designs stamps are NOT required to play along or to win but would be appreciated 
• You may rotate/flip the sketch & replace shapes – so long as the original sketch layout is recognizable.
• Upload to your blog or other Online Gallery using Keyword: SPDSS38 so that we may check out your beautiful work.
• One randomly selected winner will receive a $25 Gift Certificate to the SugarPea Designs store. However, if the winning entry features a SugarPea Designs stamp we will increase the prize to $75!
• We will announce our Sweet Picks and our Main Winner at the end of each month.
• The more times you play along during the month, the better chance you have of winning!

For my card, I used...

Everyday is Christmas

Feeling Sentimental

Everyday is Christmas SugarCuts

The Challenge #58 {Masculine Inspiration Challenge}

Hello and Welcome to Week Four at The Challenge! This week we have a masculine themed inspiration challenge and we cannot wait to see what you create! I don't know about you but I am always in need of masculine cards! Have fun!

Are you looking for last week's winner? Please CLICK HERE.

Each week we have a fun challenge for your to try!!! We do a different style of challenge each week! We like to mix things up and keep them fresh!

Here is the monthly rotation:

Week 1-Sketch

Week 2-Colours

Week 3-Photo Inspiration

Week 4-Masculine Photo Inspiration

Week 5-Wild Card (a surprise!)

For my card, I decided to use an uninked stamp from Taylored Expressions! This is a card I will put away for my nephew, Archer! He has planes in his room! I was inspired by the colours in the photo and used some ready made ombre designer paper from My Mind's Eye! Easy peasy!

The design team have created some inspiration to get you in the crafting mood! Come and join us! Our weekly winner will be our next Guest Designer! So come and join the fun!

Featured Designer - Bev from Happy Dance

This is Bev's final card with us as our Featured Designer! 

Thank you for joining us this month, Bev!

Ina Grehan

(Guest Designer)

 Anita Madden

Broni Holcombe

Claire Broadwater

Diane Jaquay

Jinny Newlin

Kim Heggins

Laurel Seabrook

Lori Tecler

Nance Salkeld

Nina Forsyth

An InLinkz Link-up

The Challenge Winners

Thank you for joining us last week at The Challenge and for playing along with our Inspiration Challenge! The team and I have have chosen the winners! Wow! So many gorgeous cards!! The team and I were totally inspired!

Congratulations, 23. Bonnie Sharp!
What a stunning creation! The bird, the softness of the colours and the entire design was flawless!

I hope you will join us as our next Guest Designer for The Challenge! Please email me by clicking on the "MAIL ENVELOPE" icon on the top right hand side of my blog...above my photo. 

(In numerical "linked up" order)

13. Rachel Bergfeld

11. Jenny C

29. shirley-bee

Some honourable mentions...

7. Birgit

15. Shabby chic flowers

31. Karen L

33. Becca Cruger

Please join us in one hour, we will be back with a brand new challenge for you!

Inspired by All the Little Things {With Sympathy} A New Feature on My Blog

Hello stamping and crafting friends! Lately my style of card making has been shifting and I see that I am being influenced by so many styles...Shabby, Vintage, Country...I have always had a love for blue and white. Back when I was starting out and collecting items for my hope chest, I gravitated toward blue and white china. I love the blue and white roses! My entire home is made up of reclaimed furniture and items I have found 2nd hand...I love the "old" and worn look. 

So I have decided to start a weekly segment on my blog called "Inspired by...All the Little Things", It will be a Sunday feature and it will post at no specific time...as it is all about inspiration! I am a weekend crafter and so I may not have the chance to craft until Sunday; which is what I did today!

Altenew Vintage Roses

Verve Joyful Blooms

Lace from SRM Stickers

Butterfly Punches from Stampin' Up

Couture Creations Embossing Folder

This feature will not always be "shabby". In fact, I intend to just let the inspiration go where it may! I hope you will join me as I am going to include a link up below. This is NOT a challenge but I hope you will "play" along and share how you were inspired by my inspiration photo. Of course, you may not be inspired at all! But if you are...please share! 

I intend to invite guests from time to time...just so you can be inspired by others as well. 

The linky will remain open for the week...it will close next Sunday at Midnight (PST). Happy crafting! I cannot wait to see how you were inspired!

Some simple rules to keep things organized and enjoyable:

• Please use the graphic for your post and link back to this post.
• Any posts that are offensive to myself or others will be removed.
• Please comment on the submissions of others...we all love the support!
• Yes you can combine with other challenges but NOT other inspiration challenges please.
• Have fun and challenge yourself!

An InLinkz Link-up

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge & Curtain Call Challenge {Hello Friend}

Today I am sharing a card I made for two challenges; Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge-Best Friends and the Curtain Call Challenge-Girly. I have so many friends designing for Curtain Call, that I just HAD to join the fun!

I watercoloured the stamp set from Verve called Floral Notes and added some gold washi down the side of the pink designer paper. Then I stamped the bold sentiment from Winnie & Walter. A simple velum butterfly finished it off!

The Card Concept {Just Because}

Today I am so excited to be Guest Designing for The Card Concept. I am filling in for the Shabby Chic category and I must admit...shabby chic does not come easily to me! Ha! I decided to start with a sketch and went to the MOJO Monday blog to pick up a fabby sketch that totally inspired me!

The trick with Shabby Chic is to use vintage items such as lace and found things...and I did use lace but it is hard to see. I used a Verve set called Floral Notes and stamped the images with Ranger waterproof ink onto watercolour paper. Then I coloured them with a water pen and some distress inks. I mixed an orange and brown ink together to make the orange more "rusty" feeling...it was fun! Then I stamp some french script and using a stencil, added some ink spots on the card. Everything was sponged with distress ink...I tried my best and I hope you like my card!

Later, I decided to remake it with just ivory for the background and got rid of the brown papers...is it better?

 

I wanted to capture the texture on the cake...I hope you can see how I was inspired. 

Stop by the Card Concept and play along with us!