Couple more cards to share with you today! I have been able to craft up a storm lately, and I have been loving it! Well, most of it. There have been some "challenging" moments!!! You see, I promised myself that I would play along with more challenges this year. I used to be lost without a challenge. But I seem to have free-styling more and more these days. Which is good. But put a challenge in front of me now, and panic ensues!!! So how about we leave the challenge card to the end, and start with the free style one?!!
Card #1:
When the triangle trend first came out, I really didn't *love* it. But after seeing so many amazing creations with them, I've changed my mind! So this card evolved out of a fail. I had attempted an idea that I *thought* would work - that didn't. But I loved the colours that I used, so I wanted to try something else with the same colours. I spotted the little triangle in the PS Party Posse set, that is intended to be used as a party hat and used that to create a random pattern for the background. I also really wanted to use my new Mama Elephant set (another Black Friday purchase) on the card. The little critters are SO adorable in this set! I really liked the end result!
Card #2:
And the inspiration image:
I was bound and determined to play along with the Fusion Challenge. I just focussed on the sketch - but spent forever trying to make the it work. In the end, I only loosely followed it. But it was definitely the inspiration. I made it quite CAS, but the highlight for me was using the gold Tim Holtz distress paint, gifted to me by Ellen Hutson, to create the backgrounds for the birdies. I also water coloured the little birds to edge them up just a bit. But it was a struggle! Hopefully my perseverance will pay off, and future challenges will come a bit easier to me!
Love the freestyle with the wonderful triangles!!!! We must be on the same wavelength as I was about to pull out that umbrella stamp to use with the panda bears, when I got distracted and made a c's card, lol!
ReplyDeleteLove the fusion, cuteness is just your specualty miss Shannon!!!
So in my world, both are really wonderful cards. Love your take on the Fusion; you've made it your own, and that works--I mean really works. Just take a deep breath, and relax. If you don't feel you've got it for this week's sketch, pick another challenge or just wait till next week! Now you've made me want to pull out my MME set too! The first, free-style card is a delight as well. : ) Bev
ReplyDeleteOH that first card is just darling!!! Can't believe it evolved out of a fail?? Seriously, you didn't need to tell us that, because it totally looks like a full success to me! Love that little bunny with the umbrella! Must have it! haha! Second one is just adorable too! Great job on doing the Fusion challenge! I like to do the free-styling thing too :)
ReplyDeleteI've just had a catch-up of your great creations, Shannon! I've had Mister home for over two weeks and he's really messed up my visiting with my friends!! I love that you are free-styling, as well as the challenges. I free-styled for ten years before I even knew there were challenges! Now I mostly do challenges; funny how that works.
ReplyDeleteI think the fact that you are good at, and enjoy, designing your own cards shows that you need to be on a Design Team ... I hope the owners of Challenge Blogs will grab you up when they get the chance! I would, if I were! Hugs, Darnell
Ack, these are adorable! Squeal worthy! Will you please email me at camph27 at hotmail dot com so I can send you your prize, even if you live in Canada!
ReplyDeleteHow fun! I love your cards and wahooo on winning a prize from Heather!!!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh Auntie I love the 2nd one Soo much (even though the first one's great too) it's "adorbs" as u would say
ReplyDeletexoxo,
hope
Love them, but my fave is the one with the bunny :)
ReplyDeleteEeek, your triangle background is da bomb! Love both cards so much!
ReplyDeleteEeee...Shannon, your creativity is ROCKIN' fabulous! Freestyle looks good on you; challenges look good on you! No matter the direction, you are dazzling and delighting! If that darling umbrella-sporting bunny, tumbling through the cascade of awesome triangles is the result of a fail, well let's just say 'fail away' because the outcome is super duper fantastic! You have the magic touch with the ME stamps for sure. And your triple-birdy Fusion card, despite the frustration experienced (oh, how well I know the 'bound and determined' focus and the ensuing grrrr..when things don't work out as planned), is tremendously sweet! The little bird with the upturned beak is the eye-catcher for me; looks like he wants to give someone a sweet beak kissy *mwah*! More triangles there too...excellent! My dear friend, LOVE what you're creating - challenges, freestyle - no matter the direction, they're always fully infused with the Shannon-style and flair that we all adore! Keep 'em coming! Hugs~c
ReplyDeleteOHHHHHHHHH! Shannon-- I LOVE LOVE LOVE these cards! I LOVE that you resolved to play along with more challenges… great goal:) Sad that you get stressed out-- but know you are not alone! LOOOOOOOOOVE these little cards! I agree with the triangle trend-- so hated it…. but love it now:) LOVE that little bunny and umbrella! FAB! And your second card is just tooooooo cute! LOVE those little birdies! LOVE that wooden arrow! I must get some of those:)
ReplyDeleteFAB all around, Shannon! YOU ROCK <3
....well....if I could um.....rescue a so called 'failed' attempt and turn it into some unbelievable sweetness like you have...then heck, I'm game for giving this new 'technique' a try!!! You have captured the cuteness of the image beautifully in the colors that you used (especially the DP)! What I love most is the direction of the triangle directly below the little sweet hunny bunny that creates fabulous 'movement' of his soft descent to earth!
ReplyDeleteI think that you have done a fabulous job interpreting the sketch...remember it is always just a starting point. Soft colors, gorgeous white space, sweet little 'edged up' birdies and a trendy arrow...all 'point' to a very well designed card young lady! Gotta ask you about the ink...gorgeous aqua color....which brand/color? I LOVE IT!!!
I love that Mama Elephant set!!! The dies just came out, did you get them? The triangle background is just perfect for the whimsy of the stamps - I'm not good at "random" so I marvel at the way you put it together. And I have to say that you are clearly more creative than I am. I NEED challenges. I have to take a decision out of the cardmaking process - so if I use a challenge, I don't have to decide on the layout, or the colors - then I can just focus on everything else.
ReplyDeleteTHE BUNNY WITH THE UMBRELLA IS SO CUTE OH MY GOSHHHHH!!!!!
ReplyDeleteOh my sweetness. Love the little floating bunny. Cute chicks. You're so clever.
ReplyDeleteGreat take on the sketch and I love the little birds. Thanks for playing along with us in the Fusion card challenge and hope to see you again.
ReplyDeleteTwo gorgeous cards! The first one is so adorable! Your coloring is amazing and the second...love those sweet little birdies! Gorgeous color combination as well. So glad you could play with us at Fusion!
ReplyDeleteYou're working wonders with that ME set! I love the triangle bg...and the paper piecing you've done. The second card is perfectly adorable. Love your designs girlie :)
ReplyDeleteI'm in love with your first card and will CASE it after my ME set comes in! Such a cool design! Your second card is adorable--love those little PS birdies! LOVE!
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