Thursday, 5 March 2026

Birthday CASE


Challenge #308 has just gone live at Time Out Challenges and this fortnight we are celebrating Time Out's 11th Birthday with a CASE of the very talented Stef Perry.  Stef's work can be seen on her blog Perry Papercrafts and there is always loads of inspiration!


Here's a closeup of Stef's lovely card!

Whenever I am CASEing, there is a nifty acronym coined by Ardyth Percy-Robb that I use to help me take inspiration from someone else's work but make it my own - L I M E S!

List
Include
Modify
Exclude
Spin

These are the list of things that I noted about this design 
the flowers;
the background texture;
the brown border top and bottom;
gold foiled and die cut sentiment;
spattering;
twine!

included
the flowers;
the brick texture;
gold foiled and die cut sentiment (Spellbinders GLP-380)!

I modified the borders to be a frame, 
excluded the string and spattering,
 and my Spin was I used die-cuts instead of stamping
    This challenge is sponsored by Waffle Flower who are offering our winner as voted by the Design Team, a generous $25 Store Credit.    


    The Top Pick as chosen by the Design Team will also be invited to join Time Out as a guest designer in a future challenge!  Speaking of guest designers, we are joined this challenge by Verena Shapiro - our winner of Challenge 303!  You can also see how Verena and the rest of the team have CASEd Stef's card over on the Challenge Blog!

    So I hope you can take some Time Out and join us this fortnight.  You have until the March 12th to link up your entries ... we can't wait to see how Donna's card will inspire you!

    I and grateful for and would like to enter the following challenges
    NBUS Challenge #84 - NBUS Sizzix Floral Layers die set by Sophie Guilar, Spellbinders GLP-380;
    Can You Handle the Pressure March Challenge - Embossing folder is Tim Holtz Brickwork;
    Ellibelle's Garden Party No. 12 - Anything in or from a garden;
    Shopping Our Stash Challenge SOS568 - Golden Years (use gold);

    Thanks for stopping by, I hope you go away a little inspired!  Your visits and comments are always a joy and always appreciated!  And if you leave a comment, I’ll know you were here and should be able to find you!


    Kate

    Sunday, 1 March 2026

    Not so Frosty Hugs




     Sparkles Christmas Challenge 182 has just gone live and Caz has chosen Snowman (men or person/s) as our theme for March!

    Finally, I had an excuse to use this NBUS snowman that came in the 2024 Advent Calendar from Gummiapan ... and this lovely Holly frame that came in the 2025 Advent Calendar!

    The frame was cut twice and stacked.  I embossed one of the frame negatives with an unbranded embossing folder for a snowy background.

    The snowman's body was cut three times for strength and dimension.  When I cut the first one, I placed a little sellotape behind the snowman to keep the bits in place (nose, eyes and buttons), then I coloured these bits and the arms with alcohol markers - I didn't need to be too careful because I cut another snowman (sans bits) and added this over the top!  On the 3rd snowman I removed the arms so they seemed to be further back than the body.

    Once I'd cut the snowman's man (from black cardstock) I went over with glossy accents and added this sprig of holly!  I also added glossy accents to the buttons.

    After agonising over a sentiment for way too long, I remembered that Olaf the snowman liked warm hugs and so I used this unconventional seasons greeting (Spellbinders Vivid Script) instead of something more traditional!  I also added glossy accents to this sentiment!

    Don't forget to check out all the great snowman inspiration on the Sparkles Christmas Challenges Blog and I look forward to seeing your snowmen in the gallery!

    I am grateful for and would like to enter the following challenges:
    NBUS Challenge #84 - NBUS Snowman and Holly Frame;
    Jingle Bells Fa La La La La Challenge - inspired by a Christmas song (Frosty the Snowman);
    Fab'n'Funky Challenge #631 - use Dies and/or Punches;
    Alphabet Challenge - V is for Volume - (i.e. dimension ... a fair bit of stacking and foam tape in this design);

    Thanks for stopping by, I hope you go away a little inspired!  Your visits and comments are always a joy and always appreciated!  And if you leave a comment, I’ll know you were here and how to find you!

    Kate

    Thursday, 19 February 2026

    Hello Lovely

     Challenge #307 at Time Out has just gone live and this fortnight we have a

    Photo Inspiration Challenge


    The inspiration for this challenge is actually the prize on offer - here's a closer look!


    Kim Heggins of Running Stitch Design is sponsoring this special challenge and is offering this lovely bag as a prize for our Top Pick as chosen by the Design Team (inside USA only - thank you for understanding).   Many of you will remember Kim as a former Design Team member at Time Out!  

    The Top Pick will also be invited to join Time Out as a guest designer in a future challenge!  Speaking of guest designers, our guest designer this fortnight is the very talented Michele Ferguson of I Card Everyone our winner from Challenge #302 - do pop over there for some lovely inspiration!   You can check out how Michele and my talented team mates were inspired by this lovely bag over on the Time Out Blog!

    I was fortunate to find snippets of a purple polka dot DP and striped vellum in my snippets boxes and the canopy and the chassis of this gorgeous NBUS Spellbinders Flower Cart gave me the perfect image to use them!  


    The cart's wood grain trimmings reminded me I had this NBUS 
    wood grain 
    frame set (Hero Arts Infinity Wood Frame) - and I love the bursting out of the frame effect!  

    Some more snippets of green, pink, purple and yellow and I had some flowers for my cart and I used Distress Ink to give them some depth! From snippets of silver I was able to cut a bucket to sit between the wheels and another larger bucket for the inside!


    I finally got to break open the Glimmer Machine I bought before Christmas 2024 and created a few sentiments.   It's still a learning curve for me but this "hello lovely" sentiment (Spellbinders GLP-379) didn't turn out too badly and nestled nicely on the cart without obscuring too much of the pretty striped vellum!  

      

    How does Kim's bag inspire you - I hope you can take some Time Out and come play cards with us this fortnight!

    I am grateful for and would like to enter the following challenges

    NBUS Challenge #83 - NBUS Flower Cart, Glimmer Machine, Spellbinders GLP-379, Woodgrain Frame;


    Neglected Stuff Challenge January - the Glimmer Machine and Woodgrain Frame;

    Inkspirational Challenge #361 - Inspired by the bouquets in this Visual Prompt;



    Thanks for stopping by, I hope you go away a little inspired!  Your visits and comments are always a joy and always appreciated!  And if you leave a comment, I’ll know you were here and how to find you!

    Kate