Top Picks Challenge #330 and Reminder Post - Challenge #331 - Use A Stencil

 Welcome to our two part post.

First, a reminder that you have until Friday, January 3rd at 11:59 pm (GMT) to play in Challenge #331 -Use A Stencil - found HERE. (Yes...a three week challenge, so two more weeks to go!)

Challenge #330 closed with 18 entries for our Mood Board challenge. During the busy festive season, we appreciate that you carved out time to play along with us. The array of interpretations of the mood board speaks to your abundance of creative. We so appreciate that you share your talents with us.

Our Top Picks:

Fran

Fran's sweet house in the night scene showcases a variety of techniques that accentuate her creativity and attention to detail. An absolutely wonderful take on the mood board.

Greta

Greta's village and starry night scene dresses up her black bag beautifully. Such a creative take on the mood board.

Toni

Toni's sparkly gold village, starry background and scripty sentiment is a pretty take on the mood board.

Congratulations to our Top Picks; please take your badge.

We'd like to take this opportunity to wish our players a most festive holiday season and, for those who celebrate, a most Merry Christmas~

Challenge #331 - Use Stencils - THREE WEEK CHALLENGE

Welcome to Inkspirational; we're delighted you're joining us.

Before we address challenge information and inspiration, we have some news to share:

First: this will be our wrap-up challenge for 2024. To give our team a bit of a break - and you, our wonderful participants, more playing time - it will run for THREE weeks rather than the usual two. If you receive new crafting supplies as Christmas gifts, be sure to share them with us! 

Second: things will look a bit different for us in 2025 as our wonderful teammate, Marina, has decided - after being part of Inkspirational for the past 12 years - to step down. I don't even have words to express how deeply - and on how many levels - she will be missed. Her creativity, her support and encouragement, her insights...those gaps will be felt for a very long time. She's assured us that she'll continue to play in challenges, so we'll keep her at her word! Marina...the door is always open. We love you!

Our challenge for the next three weeks is: Use Stencils. No twists; just embrace whatever stencils are catching your fancy of late and dazzle us with your inky delights. 

Inspiration from the Design Team:

Julia

Marlena

Marina 

Carol

Nonni and Pia will join us for Reminder Posts.

Looking forward to your stencil sensations filling the gallery.

*****

The Link will remain open until Friday, January 3rd, 2025 @ 11:59pm (GMT).

We will be back on Saturday, Dec. 21 with a Reminder Post and Top Picks for Challenge #331

We will also be back on Saturday, Dec. 28 with a Reminder Post.

Hope you're enjoying the magic of the festive season! 

Top Picks Challenge #329 and Reminder Post - Challenge #330 - Mood Board

Welcome to our two part post.

First, a reminder that you have until Friday, Dec. 13th at 11:59 pm (GMT) to play in Challenge #330 -Mood Board - found HERE. 

Second, Challenge #329 closed with 24 entries for our Word Prompt - SANTA challenge. From traditional to modern versions of Santa, that's 24 crafters on the Nice List! Thank you for sharing your creativity with us and, in so doing, making selecting Top Picks even more challenging! We appreciate your enthusiasm.

Our Top Picks

 (We've selected four, because we want to be on the Nice List, too.)

Jo

Jo's Santa suit, complete with some textured fur, is a festive delight!

Annette

Annette's stained glass Santa is so eye-catching, as are the accompanying papers, greenery and ribbons.

Linda

Linda's vintage, beautifully coloured St. Nick makes us feel jolly!

Michaela

Michaela's glittery, dancing Santa and reindeer are too cute; who wouldn't love to join in to a rousing bout of Jingle Bells!

Congratulations to our Top Picks; please take your badge.

Challenge #330 - Mood Board

Welcome to Inkspirational; we're delighted you're here.

We've just wrapped up our Santa challenge and, because the festive season is upon us, we're continuing with our Christmas/Holidays theme. For the next two weeks, you're invited to draw inspiration from the mood board below. 

What catches your eye: the holiday sentiment in a chalkboard style, the wood grain and brick background, the images, the pleats and folds that create a 3D effect, the neutral colours, the festive, peaceful vibe? Perhaps a combination of elements? So many possibilities...

Reminder: please remember that mood boards are created as 'inspiration,' offering multiple avenues for you to explore. Let us know what sparked your creativity; we're excited to see your interpretations. 

Inspiration from the Design Team:

Julia

Pia 

Marlena

Nonni

Carol

Marina 

We look forward to seeing you in the gallery with your takes on the Mood Board.

The Link will be open until Friday, Dec. 13 @ 11:59pm (GMT)

We'll be back on Saturday, Dec. 7 with a Reminder Post and Top Picks for Challenge #329.

Top Picks Challenge #328 and Reminder Post - Challenge #329 - Word Prompt - Santa

 Welcome to our two part post.

First, a reminder that you have until Friday, Nov. 29 at 11:59 pm (GMT) to play in Challenge #329 -Word Prompt - Santa - found HERE. 

Second, Challenge #328 closed with 83 entries for our Designer's Choice - LAYER IT. From layered dies cuts, to layered stencils, to layers of colour (pencils/watercolour), to layers of clothing...and much more...you definitely nailed the layers theme! Thank you for sharing your creativity with us and, in so doing, making selecting Top Picks even more challenging! It's a good problem to have; we so appreciate your enthusiasm.

Our Top Picks:

Deanne

Deanne's shaped card is delightful - and the nautical-themed layers make it extra special. Lucky 6-year-old receiving this card!

Jackie C.

Jackie created layers with an assortment of patterned papers, but her real layering talent comes from the layers found in her pencil colouring. A work of art, indeed - and little wonder that she's become a colourist for the designers of these images.  

Donna

An array of layered die cuts can be found on Donna's cards; perfect for framing the beautiful image.

Joanne

Joanne's pink and white background layers are a pretty stage for her beautiful assortment of layered snowflakes. Gorgeous!

Congratulations to our Top Picks; please take your badge.

Challenge #329 - Word Prompt - Santa

Welcome back to Inkspirational; we're delighted you're joining us.

According to the calendar, we are about 39 days to Christmas and it will be here in a blink. We know many of you have started - or finished - your Christmas/Holiday cards, but for those who need a little extra oomph or those who love Christmas creating, our Word Prompt Challenge may have exactly the inspiration you need: SANTA. Anything Santa-themed, be it Santa himself, Santa clothing, Santa mustache and beard, Santa glasses, Santa expressions, etc., is welcome. 

Inspiration from the Design Team:

Julia

Marlena

Marina 

Carol

Pia 

Nonni

We *Ho Ho Ho* hope that we've inspired you to play along with us.

What style of SANTA will you share? Looking forward to seeing you in the gallery.

The Link will be open until Friday, November 29 @ 11:59pm (GMT)

We'll be back on Saturday, November 23, with a Reminder Post and Top Picks for Challenge #328. 

Top Picks Challenge #327 and Reminder Post - Challenge #328 - Designer's Choice - Layer It

 Welcome to our two part post.

First, a reminder that you have until Friday, Nov. 15 at 11:59 pm (GMT) to play in Challenge #328 -Designer's Choice - Layer It - found HERE. 

Second, Challenge #327 closed with 91 (yes, you read that correctly!) delightful Seasonal-inspired cards/projects.  Every season and an accompanying occasion was represented; so many ideas for year-round card-making. Thank you so much for embracing this theme with such enthusiasm. As usual, selecting top picks is a challenge when you're all so deserving of being highlighted.

Our Top Picks:

Stef

Stef's snowy winter night scene captures the winter/holiday season wonderfully; such a beautiful card.

Pauline

Pauline's soft, vintage Christmas ornaments card is a work of art; her painting with distress oxides is absolutely amazing.

Janja

Janja describes her card as as taking us "to the sea on a sunny autumn day" and she has accomplished precisely that with her lovely, tranquil, seasonal scene.

Congratulations to our Top Picks; please take your badge.

Challenge #328 - Designer's Choice - Layer It

Happy November (where has the time gone!) and welcome back to Inkspirational. We're delighted you're joining us.

For the next two weeks, we're inviting you to draw inspiration from Carol's Designer's Choice prompt: LAYER IT.  Layered die cuts, layering stencils, layering stencils with layered die cuts, layer cakes (made with layering stencils and die cuts LOL), layers of clothes, layer of ink...as long as we can see, or you can explain to us, how you've 'layered it', you're more than welcome to join the gallery. 

Inspiration from the Design Team:

Julia

Marlena

Nonni

Carol

Marina 

Pia 

Looking forward to seeing your "Layer It" creations in the gallery.

The Link will be open until Friday, Nov. 15th @ 11:59pm (GMT).

We will be back on Saturday, Nov. 9th with a Reminder Post and Top Picks for Challenge #327.

Top Picks Challenge #326 and Reminder Post - Challenge #327 - Seasonal

 Welcome to our two part post.

First, a reminder that you have until Friday, Nov. 1st at 11:59 pm (GMT) to play in Challenge #327 -Seasonal - found HERE. 

Second, Challenge #326 closed with 25 fabulous mood board-inspired entries. In my view, this was a challenging mood board, but all of you who played along proved otherwise! From colours, to images, to the 'vibe': you showed cleverness and ingenuity in your approaches. Thank you! As usual, selecting top picks is a challenge when you're all so deserving of being highlighted.

Our Top Picks:

Nance

Nance's mushroom garden and gnome capture the colours of the mood board in a most charming, whimsical fashion.  So cute!

Anke

Anke has certainly captured colours and images from the mood board with her beautiful Penny Black stamp; a lovely Autumn scene, indeed.

Trina

Trina has created a gorgeous vase of sunflowers; wouldn't you love to have this bouquet in real life? Fabulous take on the colours and image found on the mood board.

Congratulations to our Top Picks; please take your badge.

Challenge #327 - Seasonal

Welcome back to Inkspirational; thank you for joining us.

For the next two weeks, we invite you to draw inspiration from our SEASONAL-themed Challenge. 

Here's a quick description of the challenge:

We invite you to consider the four seasons - Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter - and create cards/projects based on occasions +  images that are quite 'specific' to those seasons.
For instance:

• Spring: Mother's Day, Easter, flowers, etc.
• Summer: summer vacations, school's out, weddings, beaches, Fourth of July, Canada Day, etc.
• Fall: harvest, Thanksgiving, Halloween, Remembrance Day, etc.
• Winter: Christmas, Hanukkah, winter activities.

These are just a few ideas to get you started; the team also has some fabulous inspiration for you.

Julia

Carol

Marlena

Pia 

Marina 

 

Looking forward to seeing your SEASONAL cards/projects in the gallery.

The Link will be open until Friday, Nov. 1 @ 11:59pm (GMT)

We will be back on Saturday, Oct. 26th with a Reminder Post and Top Picks for Challenge #326.