Inspired by Gaudi

Time Out Challenge #320 has just gone live and this fortnight we have a

Photo Inspiration Challenge

I snapped this photo last year when I toured Europe with my sister.  It was taken inside the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona and this photo does not do it justice!  It was a humbling experience to be inside such a work of art and I have to admit the beauty and majesty of the Sagrada Familia knocked the air right out of my lungs when I first saw it - I think I may even have shed a tear!  This is just one of dozens of arched windows, all slightly different and all designed to transform the incoming light into a kaleidoscope of colour on those interior columns and carefully placed so that the pattern changes with the morning and evening sun as well as the seasons!  I visited a few of the residences in Barcelona that he designed as well - Gaudi was a genius and like so many geniuses was largely unappreciated in his own time!  Fortunately there were enough people who did appreciate his genius and there are still examples of his genius dotted around Barcelona today!

Here's a closer look!

Challenge 320 is being sponsored by Top Flight Stamps and they are very kindly offering our top pick as chosen by the design team a $25 store credit!

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 this fortnight is Jane Taylor of Purple Jet our winner from Challenge #315.  Be sure to check out Jane's Instagram Account if you haven't visited her previously.   You can also see how my talented team mates were inspired on the Time Out Blog!

You may be inspired by the architecture, the colours or the shapes.  Please explain how you were inspired - especially if it isn't obvious!   You can enter as many times as you like but please limit your other challenges entered to 4 (5 including ours)!  I hope you can take some Time Out and join us this fortnight - you have until the July 22nd to link up your entries ... can't wait to see your creations in the gallery!

Normally I would have looked to my pile of NBUS items for inspiration but how could I pass on the opportunity to use this lovely window die (Poppystamps Arched Gothic Cathedral Window) again - I mean it's perfect isn't it!

For the "stained glass", I searched through my copious papers but I couldn't get the ombre look I wanted so I visited the digital site PNGWING and found this image which I loaded into Word and reoriented (so that the warmer reds were on the bottom and the cooler blues on the top) and resized to fit behind the window.

I cut the aperture from the card panel, placed the "stained glass" behind this, then added the die cut back into the aperture.  I stacked another of the background windows (there are 2 dies in the set) then added the finer silver die cut to the top.

I decided to go with a Christmas sentiment (Spellbinders Handmade Sentiments) and augment my Christmas card stash - after all we're over half way through the year now!

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

Christmas Cards All Year Round August Challenge - "P is for Peace" (which is what I felt inside the "Q is for quiet" Sagrada Familia); 

52 Christmas Card August Challenge - No Snow;

The Outlawz August Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas goes;

The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #209 - Anything Christmas Goes!

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

Harlequin Floral Tiles

Time Out Challenge #319 has just gone live and we have another Pick 2 Challenge!

The concept of a Pick 2 Challenge is simple - we give you 6 prompts to choose from and you use at least 2 to inspire your creation!  To be clear, you can pick more than 2 if you like - all 6 if you really want to challenge yourself - but just make sure to pick at least 2!

The Prompts for this challenge are

Monochrome, Geometric, Floral, Stitching, Birthday and CAS!

You can interpret these words any way you like but please explain if it isn't obvious and please remember we only allow a total of 5 challenges - ours plus 4 others!  I hope you enjoy our challenge and that you can take a little Time Out and join us for some fun!  

Challenge #319 is generously being sponsored by Newton's Nook and our Top Pick as chosen by the design team a $25 credit to their store.

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 Heather Heroldt of Handmade by Heather, our winner of Challenge #310.  Be sure to check out the Time Out Blog to see how how Heather and my talented team mates interpreted these six words!

It's been a while since I've managed all 6 word prompts but once I had chosen this diamond shape (Spellbinders Floral Mini Tiles die set) for its floral and geometric properties, the other four prompts just fell into place - I chose snippets of various pinks to make the card Monochrome, kept the design CAS and added a stitched frame and a Happy Birthday banner!  

I've left some space above the diamonds so I can add a name and personalise this birthday card once I've decided who I'll give it to ... should be a little more balanced once I do that!

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

Snippets Playground Challenge #538 - loads of snippets used;

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Monochrome;

Triple B August '26 Challenge - Blooms only;

Krafty Chicks Challenge #832- Birthday Week;

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

Keeping it Clean and Simple

Sparkles Christmas Challenge 187 has just gone live and Helen has chosen "CAS" as our theme for August!

I decided to use this halmbock die (2025 Gummiapan Advent Calendar) for my CAS design.  A halmbock is a traditional Scandinavian Christmas decoration often placed at the foot of the Christmas tree - made from woven straw and tied with (usually) red ribbon.  

Since the goat is often placed at the foot of the Christmas tree, I laid down a few branches (also from the 2025 Gummiapan Advent Calendar) to resemble just the bottom of a Christmas tree and added a few red baubles to make it look more festive.  The square panel was cut so that the rest of the tree is off the edge.

I wanted a "God Jul" sentiment (Waltzing Mouse Alpine Christmas) in keeping with the Scandinavian theme.

Using a small panel like this or an aperture is the easiest way I know of to keep a design CAS.  Loads of white space with a minimal colour palette relying on depth and texture for interest. 

I hope you can find time to join us this month at the Sparkles Christmas Challenge - I don't want to worry you but we're over half way through the year now!

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

NBUS Challenge #89 - NBUS Halmbock and Fir Branch;

The Outlawz August Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas goes;

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #69 - Anything Christmas Goes;

Krafty Chicks Challenge #831 - Week 5 Anything Goes;

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes;

The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes!

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