Inspiration Challenge

You all have heard me gush before about Traveling Mama. First when I came across her blog back in February. Then when she started her Traveler's Inspiration Challenge this summer. Now I am hoping you again take the time to check in as her Traveling Tribe starts a new adventure. They have started an Etsy shop to raise money for a school in Morocco. You can learn all about it here on her blog.

Her recent challenge was to create something inspired from a series of pictures taken at a market. I was inspired by the little old man leaning over his sewing machine. I have wanted for over a year to use my machine to sew on paper. But I've been too intimidated.

But today was the day. Today I would be inspired to put that machine to use again. This time on paper. It was so excited to watch the stitching create the card. I have tackled my fear. You know what that means??? You'll be seeing more sewing from me in the future!!

Details: CTMH unless noted

Paper: red pattern (stash), Bamboo pattern Serendipity Collection

Ink: Black

Stamp: Say It In Style

Other: Kenmore sewing machine and white thread

Traveler's Inspiration Challenge # 6

What a beautiful picture this week at Traveling Mama! (Okay they are all beautiful I admit it.) This picture was taken in Ireland.

Guess what? I have a bridge story. There is a certain bridge on the road from POC to here, where if you look to the right you see a huge tree growing over the water with some large stones cascading down to the water's edge. I can't help but look at that view every time I take that road. I don't know why that relates to this picture, except it is a pretty view and, you know, it's a bridge scene.

Anyway. From this photo inspiration, I was drawn to the colors and the "scallops" of the bridge. Here's my card...

I sponged the ink onto the stamp to give it a softer look. I had to play with it on several scratch pieces of paper before I came up with this particular variation. I am so happy with how it finally turned out that I think I may base a workshop item on this technique in the future.

Thanks for stopping by!

Details: all CTMH unless noted

Paper: grey flannel cs, white cs and blue pattern from stash

Ink: olive, hollyhock

Stamp: Treasure Life

Other: scallop punch (SU!), sponge daubers, white ribbon (Hobby Lobby)

Traveler's Inspiration Challenge #4

Last week I just couldn't get a card to come together for Tina's challenge. This week though I was so inspired and very anxious to get to the scrap room.



I don't know exactly what jumped out at me first if it was the colors or the texture! I seem to be really inspired by architecture. I knew immediately that I wanted to use this texture plate and to mimic the stones on the corner. Little d helped with the rest by leaving the keyhole stamp on my desk. How appropriate is that for a door? Looking at it again the only thing I would change would be to use Juniper paper for the pop of blue rather than Twilight.


Thanks for stopping by!

Details: all CTMH unless noted
Paper: Twilight cs, Bamboo Textured cs, Colonial White cs, orange textured cs from stash
Ink: Bamboo, Desert Sand
Stamps: Key to My Heart
Other: Sanding block, edge distressor, cuttlebug embossing plate

Memories of my Bible (and art class)

Before I show you my card for the Traveler's Inspiration Challenge #2, I want to tell you a little story. When I was a little girl I used to stay at my Memaw's house alot. She always had stuff for me to do and she was always quite content to spend the whole day entertaining me. Hours on end of reading to me, singing songs, baking...you name it, she would spend time doing it with me.

Mostly she read from the Bible. My favorite Bible was the Children's Bible.

I was absolutely riveted. Not just to the stories that she made come alive, but also the detailed pictures. I was always enthralled with the buildings, the clothes, and the jars. Don't ask me why I was so fascinated with the pottery.

As a high school senior I took beginner's art on a whim. (I was already enrolled in band, debate, psychology, and sociology. I was looking for an easy elective. Hey I was a senior.) Anyway one of our assignments was to draw a cityscape. And time, any place--real or not. I immediately dug out my Children's Bible and drew my rendition of old time Jerusalem. I loved that project more that you can imagine. What is so funny is just last weekend in POC I dug out my old artwork and saw that drawing. I should have taken a picture of it. Well--next time I will.

When I saw the Traveling Challenge this week I didn't see an adobe, I saw an ancient Bible village!

I pulled out my Bethlehem stamp set and made a Christmas card.

I layered the buildings to give it dimension.

This project was a joy to work on. And I got to pull out my Children's Bible again and reminisce.

Details: all CTMH unless noted

Paper: colonial while cs, desert sand cs

Ink: desert sand

Stamps: Bethlehem

Other: colored pencils (EK Success)

Traveler's Inspiration Challenge #1

Okay I couldn't wait to join in with that challenge at Traveling Mama that I told you all about last week. If you didn't check over there...shame on you!...here is the inspiration picture.

Luscious aren't they? And they look so comfortable too! Well I have this stamp from Stampablities that is writing in the shape of a cute little heel. It says, "if the shoe fits..." I always add on the inside... "buy it in every color!" I knew it would be perfect for this challenge. I also used some Terrifically Tacky Tape to adhere some pastel seed beads. Those seed beads were a garage sale find!

I am so thrilled that Tina started this challenge. Her photos are beautiful and inspiring! Thanks for stopping by y'all!

Details: as mentioned plus

Paper: from stash

Ink: Blush, Taffy, Amethyst (all CTMH)