Thursday, August 20, 2015

Ellen Hutson Pin-sights Challenge and a Giveaway!



I'm really excited today to be guest designing for the Ellen Hutson Pin-Sights challenge.

The Essentials by Ellen Pin-Sights challenge is a monthly inspirational challenge based on a Pinterest Inspired photo/board.  Here's this months's board:



A random challenge participant will receive a $50 gift certificate to the Ellen Hutson store.  



To be eligible, you MUST use Essentials by Ellen products and the photo badge as inspiration. There will be an inlinkz on the CLASSroom challenge post where you can link up.

I got a little carried away and ended making two cards. 



This first card didn't turn out the way I planned.  I had planned to work in some florals, but for some reason this card wanted to be a Christmas card.  

I started by clear embossing some of the scribbled circle stamps and dots from the Boken Dots stamp set on some Mixed Media paper.    

Using my Kuretake watercolors, I added some dry brushstrokes in the colors from the inspiration board.  When that was dry, the embossing was ironed off.  



Using second generation stamping, in Versafine Smokey Gray, I re stamped the scribbled circle and dots.  I wasn't trying to line them up, I wanted to just create another layer.  Then I stamped the sentiment and stars, from the Brushstroke Christmas set, and embossed them in gold.  

The card was finished off with a bit of splatter, some sequins and some stitching.  



My second card is similar, but a little more controlled.  I started by creating a banal with cardstock strips in the inspiration colors.  I added some white acrylic paint in the corner and stamped the sentiment from Love You So.

Then I added some black die cuts.  Most are from my favorite set, the Bold Blossom Stand Alone dies.  I did add a solid die cut from the Matching set beneath the large bloom and a couple of sprays from the Wild Garden dies.



To soften things a bit I added some vellum cuts slightly offset from the leaves and sprays as well as a few sequins.  I also used my Wink of Stella pen on the little berry ends of the spray for some sparkle.  

I mentioned a giveaway right?  I have an extra set of my favorites, the Bold Blossom Stand Alone dies for one lucky winner.  



Just leave a comment by next Thursday the 27th and I'll announce a winner on the 28th.  Leave an extra comment if you're a follower and let me know how you follow:  Feedly, Bloglovin, Blogger, etc.  

OK please head over to the CLASSroom to check out the full post and see what the rest of the guest designers created, and be sure to join in!

66 comments:

  1. Wow! I love the cards designs and the colors you selected! You mentioned how the first card wasn't what you intended. What a lovely accident!

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  2. That's one gorgeous Christmas card, Miriam ... love the non traditional colours and all that yummy gold ... it really sparkles! Wonderful colour blocking ... the bold black is fabulous against the vibrant colour! Anita :)

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  3. I'm a happy Feedly follower! Anita :)

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  4. CONGRATS on the GDT!! These are just gorgeous! I am LOVING the happy colors!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  5. Love both your cards, the first one with less controlled background is my fave. Great colors from the Pinsights and love the touch of black in second card.

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  6. Wow…both are gorgeous, Miriam!!!

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  7. These are both amazing!! Congrats on your GD!!

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  8. Wow, the nontraditional Christmas card is fabulous! Love the fresh and festive feel of this card and the black flower and leaves on the second card pop wonderfully on the colourful striped background! Oh...I follow your blog with Feedly.

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  9. I love the direction that your card took--it was meant to be a Christmas card! Both cards are beauties, Miriam!

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  10. That Merry and Bright is a Stunning card! Love the unusual colors:)

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  11. Love your cards, especially the second one. I've looked at this die for weeks--the open leaf and bloom-what a great threat if I could win this set of dies! TFS

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  12. Love both of these Myriam! I think my fave is the first...love all of the circles and dots against the striated colours!

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  13. Stunning cards! I love the feel of the holiday card! I need to try the paint strokes, it turned out wonderful! Thanks for the chance to win some crafty goodies!

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  14. Love your pretty cards! The Bold Blossom Stand Alone die is fabulous... so striking cut from black paper! Love your pretty colors of your first card too, so pretty with the gold sentiment!

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  15. I am a follower through Blogger too!

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  16. Gorgeous! Breath taking beauties... I am awe struck ;)

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  17. I absolutely love both of these cards!!! Love how you ironed off the embossing you did on the first card!!

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  18. I'm not entering the giveaway because I already own this beautiful die set! But thank you :)

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  19. Both of these are just fabulous!!

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  20. Love both your cards! Thanks for the chance to win those great dies!

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  21. I follow your blog by email via Blogger and look forward to getting your blog posts in my mailbox!

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  22. I see your lovely cards in my Blogger feed, and love them!
    =] Michele

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  23. Love that gorgeous Christmas card! The rich colors on both cards are stunning but really love the nontraditional look of the first.

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  24. Love that gorgeous Christmas card! The rich colors on both cards are stunning but really love the nontraditional look of the first.

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  25. Love that gorgeous Christmas card! The rich colors on both cards are stunning but really love the nontraditional look of the first.

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  26. Gorgeous cards and I just love the colors!!!

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  27. Love them both Miriam...so beautiful!

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  28. Love your cards Miriam, especially the first one. They are so pretty.

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  29. I have been following your blog through email for some time now! (Love your work!)

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  31. Oh my goodness! These are FABULOUS!

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  32. I have to say that this color combo is stunning - whether with the pops of gold or the dashes of black!! Both of these cards are awesome - they dazzled and delighted me to no end!! Love how you create - with such finesse and flair!!! I am wishing you a wonderful Friday and an awesome weekend!!!

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  33. I am one lucky, happy follower of your blog via Bloglovin'!! Thanks so much for all you do - you are amazing!!

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  34. Fabulous cards. Isn't it funny how cards tell us what they want to be.

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  35. Love how that Christmas card turned out - it's very modern holiday!

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  36. I follow on BlogLovin' and Feedly!

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  37. every time i look at these, i love them both more and more! really have enjoyed what has come out of Ellen Hutson this last year. Great designs! And you are an amazing designer!!

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  38. Yay you!!!!! I love the concept of this color trio for the holidays...awesome inspiration Miriam...thank you!!!! Both of your cards are wonderful! Please don't count me in for the giveaway...I have them:)

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  39. Wow!! Both cards are gorgeous!! Love using these colors for a Christmas card!!

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  40. this card is GORGEOUS.. i love how you added the color.. awesome card

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  41. YAY for guesting!! These are GORGEOUS!! LOVE.

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  42. They are both wonderful, Miriam! You really rocked the inspiration photo. Thanks, Paulette S.
    craftqueen417 at yahoo dot com
    http://paulettesprettypapercrafts dot wordpress dot com
    since Blogger and Google don't think it's important to release me from my blogger profile for a blog that no longer exists, since it was imported to WP 3 years ago! Nor will they delete it or let me edit it!

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  43. Thanks for this double chance for the lovely giveaway, Miriam! I enjoy following your blog via email delivered by Google. Thanks, Paulette S.
    craftqueen417 at yahoo
    http://paulettesprettypapercrafts dot wordpress dot com
    since blogger and google insist on keeping my blogger profile attached to me with outdated email and personal info. for a blog that no longer exists. They won't delete it or let me edit it. Thanks!

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  44. Gorgeous cards, the first one is just STUNNING!

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  45. Both cards are stunning!
    I'm torn between that gorgeous
    Christmas card and the amazing floral card
    (flowers are always a winner with me)!
    That background on the Christmas card is just so awesome :-)

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  47. My jaw just hit the floor Miriam!
    How do you do it?
    Seriously Girl!!
    A.MA.ZING!!!

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  48. Oh Miriam, this is so stunning!! Big congratulations on being the GD at Ellen Hutson, so exciting!! You will have blown them away with this design. I love Xmas cards that aren't traditional and the colours on this are beautiful. Can' wait to see what else you surprise us with during your Ellen Hutson spot!!

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  49. As you will have realised you can never get away from me!! I follow your blog so I receive your posts by email. I also follow you on Facebook and Instagram. That way I don't miss any of your amazingness!!!

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  50. Your card had a mind of its own and became a holiday card! And what a smashing one it is! Awesome techniques on both. Love that iron off. If I wasn't so lazy to dust off my iron, I'd try that someday! :) I really enjoy how these came together. :)

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  51. My jaw hit the floor when I saw your first card, Miriam--one of my all-time favorites! Can you explain how you did the dry brushing? I just adore that look! sghess4451@comcast dot net--if you have time--thank you! I had forgotten to check the challenge & hope to enter, although I only have the Bold Blossom stand alone set & need all the others you used in this post--LOL Thanks for all the inspiration!

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  52. I am obsessed with this card!

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  53. Over the top AMAZING, girl! Love what you've done with those bold, bright, happy colors, and your mixed media work is fantastic! Swoon!

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  54. Wow, aren't these two something else......!! I ADORE! SO MUCH!

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