Inspired By All The Little Things - featuring Bonnie Joynt

Hello everyone!  It's Karen with you today, I am going to be your hostess on the third Saturday of every month, and for my first week, I've chosen this photo of a gorgeous bucket full of tulips - a sure sign of spring!  The colours and flowers really spoke to me, along with that piece of grey & white gingham in behind.  Something else that inspires me, is the amazing artwork of my friend Bonnie Joynt.  I love to stitch on my cards, but Bonnie takes stitching to a whole new level!  You'll want to check out her blog, Stoney Stitches to see more of her amazing work.  Here's a bit more about Bonnie:

Bonnie Joynt

1. What is the name of your blog?  When and why did you start it?
The name of my blog that I started in September of 2012 is Stoney Stitches.  I wanted to try to enter some cardmaking challenges, so I needed a blog to showcase my cards.

2. What is your style of cardmaking?
I almost exclusively make hand stitched cards using embroidery floss and paper.

3.Who inspires you as a designer?
Karen Day has always been my biggest source of inspiraton.  She introduced me to paper crafting in 2000 and I have not stopped playing with paper since then.  I love going to her blog and seeing her beautiful designs!

4. What sort of things inspired you as a cardmaker?  Photos? Sketches? Other designers?
I get inspired by other cards that I see in the crafting world.  I also get inspired by card requests from friends.  Recently, I had a friend who wanted a special tea card for a friend, so I designed a whimsical tea cup card.

5. Share something about yourself that we may not know.
I lived for six months in Marseille, France many years ago.  I went back 5 years ago, and fell in love with the country all over again.  In the future I hope to spend a lot more time in France.

Thanks, Bonnie! (you made me blush...)  Here's the card that she designed especially for this week's challenge:

 And a close up so you can see the stitches:

and a little something from me:

Karen Day

Jeanne Jachna

We hope you will play along with us!

The linky will close on Thursday, March 24th at 11:55pm. (PST)

Some simple rules to keep things organized and enjoyable:

Please use the graphic for your post and link back to this post.
Any posts that are offensive will be removed.
Please comment on the submissions of others...we all love the support!
Yes you can combine with other challenges but NOT other inspiration challenges please.
Have fun and challenge yourself!

An InLinkz Link-up

Inspired by "Inspiring Stand Outs" {Our Weekly Winners}

Thank you all so much for joining us this week at Inspired by #6!

We loved seeing how you were inspired in all of your creative projects. A special thank you to Kate Lorenzini for being our Creative Guest this week! 

Both Kate and I have chosen one stand out!

These are the two submissions that have earned a special Inspiring Stand Out badge this week. Please go ahead and display the badge on your blog!

Kate Lorenzini's Choice for Stand Out this week is:

Shona Chambers

I really loved seeing everyone's creations and getting to know many of you a bit better through your blogs.  I narrowed my favorites down to six and would choose each for very different reasons, but since we are asked to choose one standout, it's Shona's card, which I kept gravitating to.  Remember what I said about white space in my interview? I really am drawn in by all of the clean space punctuated by the circle, which seems to be die cut a bit off center so the bottom is somewhat wider, which I really like, as well as the use  of the wood grain paper.  I also like the movement Shona created with her tulips and leaves.  The sentiment contributes to the movement, as do the sequins, and the rectangle die provides some contrast with its angles.  I enjoyed the use of blue flowers and purple (after the blue-purple flower conundrum!), and would love to see an alternate version using yellow!  All around a standout in my book!   

Jeanne's choice for stand out this week is: 

Elizabeth Stewart

There were so many beautiful cards this week it was so hard to choose just one!   I am so glad you joined us I can't tell you how much I enjoyed seeing so many different interpretations of the inspiration photo!  Honestly I'm drooling over more than just a few!  The one that I keep coming back to is this beauty from Elizabeth Stewart!  I love the wonderful scene she created using so many different die cuts!   I'm addicted to color and this one makes my heart happy! 

Congratulations and thanks so much to all of you who played along with us this week! 

The next challenge goes live at 5:00 am PST March 19.

Inspired by All the Little Things - Featuring Kate Lorenzini

Hi! Jeanne here this week! I'm so excited! This is my first post on Inspired by All the Little Things blog, and as Lesley's partner in crime I get to pick out the inspiration photo the second week of every month! Spring is in the air and I'm beginning to see little bits of green peeking up from the ground! I can't wait to see all the bulbs I planted in the fall bloom! 

My guest this week is Kate Lorenzini - from Pinned and Penned.  I'm inspired by Kate's attention to detail.. yummy layers, embellishments, and bits of gold!

Kathryn Lorenzini

Time to meet Kate and find out a little bit more about her!  I just know you're going to be smitten with her style!

1. What is the name of your blog? My website is called “Pinned & Penned.”

When and why did you start it? The idea started brewing way back in 2008 when I was sewing frequently and toying with the idea of starting a line of fabric goods. While I love sewing, I realized that I did not want create for profit given the time-consuming nature of it, and the fact that I would quickly come to dislike sewing if I did! However, I wanted a place to showcase my clothing and accessories, as well as my writing, so Pinned & Penned was born in 2011 on a different platform. Of course, after my re-entry into paper crafting in 2013, the focus changed to paper goods, as did the website, but the name stuck! And as a writer and teacher of writing, I do love sharing a poem every now and then, and crafting a good post.

2. What is your style of card making?
Layered, and mostly contemporary. Whether it’s clean and layered, or a much busier piece, I really love playing with patterns, shapes, textures, and fonts. Shaping paper and making more architectural pieces that pop off the page is often a part of my designs.

3. Who inspires you as a designer?
The first answer might surprise you--people who create with lots of delicious, open, clean white space! People who incorporate design principles of proportion, balance, pattern, etc. well because this is an area of learning for me. People who take risks that work, offer an unexpected turn or element in their design, or are witty. People who fit those descriptions? Joy Taylor, Jocelyn Olson, Aga, Therese Calvird, Maria Fischer, Keren Baker are just a few in my book!

4. What sort of things inspire you as a card maker? Photos? Sketches? Other designers?

Anthropologie. From the store windows to the clothes and home goods, I just love their aesthetic. Martha Stewart Living Magazine. Seriously! Can’t tell you how often I have an issue open to one of her gorgeous floral, food, or interior design spreads. Life in the PNW in general, and living on the beach—the colors, textures of nature are ever-changing and inspiring. And of course fashion. Have a whole Pinterest board devoted to compelling designers that I use for my creations-- love Runway Inspired Challenge!

5. Share something about yourself we may not know.

In 1999, I traveled cross-country in a big old (1950’s era) converted hippie bus called the Ark with about 25 other American and international folks for only $400. We departed from Boston, hiked the Badlands, got lost in Canyonlands, camped under the stars, swam in the Mississipi, met bikers in Sturges, bathed in the red-rock rivers of Utah, drove through the night desert to Las Vegas, and so, so much more in between, finally landing on the Pacific shores of San Francisco. It was my first journey west, and it changed my life.

Here is Kate's Card inspired by this weeks photo!

Kate Lorenzini

And here is my take on the inspiration photo...

Jeanne Jachna

We hope you will play along with us!

The linky will close on Thursday, March 17th at 11:55pm. (PST)

Some simple rules to keep things organized and enjoyable:

1. Please use the graphic for your post and link back to this post.
2. Any posts that are offensive will be removed.
3. Please comment on the submissions of others...we all love the support!
4. Yes you can combine with other challenges but NOT other inspiration challenges please.
5. Have fun and challenge yourself!

An InLinkz Link-up

Inspired by "Inspiring Stand Outs" {Our Weekly Winners}

Thank you all so much for joining us this week at Inspired by #5!

We loved seeing how you were inspired in all of your creative projects. A special thank you to Amy Tsuruta for being our Creative Guest this week! 

Both our Amy and I have chosen one stand out!

These are the two submissions that have earned a special Inspiring Stand Out badge this week. Please go ahead and display the badge on your blog!

Amy Tsuruta's Choice for Stand Out this week is:

Michele Ferguson

Such a gorgeous gallery of cards!  I was especially inspired by Michele's beauty of a card.  Her use of white space and patterned paper is always perfect.  I continue to love the view looking down into a coffee/tea cup and the combo of the vellum and embossing makes for a gorgeous way to finish off her design. 

http://icardeveryone.blogspot.com/2016/03/inspired-by-all-little-things-challenge.html

Lesley's choice for Stand Out this week is:

Laura Jane

So many beautitful cards in the gallery but Laura Jane's card kept catching my eye! I love the swirl of the die cut flowers and how they mimic the embossed swirl of the butterflies in the inspiration photo. I also love that she created a shaker card. It is so fresh, pretty and unique!

http://ahiaf.blogspot.ca/2016/03/tea-roses.html

Comgratulations ladies and thank you to everyone who played along with us this week! We will be back in one hour with a brand new challenge! In the meantime, we do have a Design Team Call on....be sure to check it out!

The next challenge goes live at 5:00 am PST.

Smiles,

Lesley

Design Team Call for Inspired by All the Little Things

Inspired by All the Little Things is having a Design Team Call. 

We are looking for 4 card designers to join our team.

Here are the terms:

1. Make one card each week based on the inspiration.
2. Comment on the submissions of others. (we will use a commenting schedule)
3. Post your card and the challenge graphic onto your blog each week. (you MUST have a blog)
4. Stay on for a 4 month term. 

We are looking for designers who are team players and who take good, clear photos of their work.

No experience is necessary.

To apply please send an email to thepaperplayers @ yahoo.ca (no spaces) and 

put Inspired by Design Team Call in the subject line.

In your application, please include:

1. A link to your blog.
2. Attach the photos of three of your favourite cards you have made.
3. Links to three of your best blog posts.
4. Tell us a bit about yourself.

Deadline to apply is Friday, March 18th at Noon (PST). I will reply within 48 hours to let you know if I have received your application. If you do not hear from me, please send again.

We will be emailing all successful applicants by Sunday, March 20th.

Thank you for considering joining our team!

Hugs!

Lesley

Inspired by All the Little Things~Featuring Amy Tsuruta

Hello and welcome to our very first Inspired By All The Little Things post on our new blog! I have to say, we were blown away by the wonderful support we have received in our first week! Thank you so much!

One of my favourite people I have met in this crazy, crafty world is Amy Tsuruta.

Everyone knows Amy! She is such a lovely person and I am proud to say, we are birthday twins! I had the chance to meet her a couple of years ago and I hope this summer we will be able to connect once again!!! Amy is a prolific designer; she amazes me with her talent, energy and enthusiasm. She is by far one of the nicest and most genuine people I have ever met.

I asked Amy to be our fist Official guest here on the new blog! I knew inviting Amy meant I needed to have a coffee/tea inspired graphic!!! 

Amy Tsuruta

I asked Amy to share a bit about herself...

1. What is the name of your blog? When and why did you start it?

Tsuruta Designs

I started it in November 2007 and it was a great time to transition from the Splitcoaststampers platform.  

2. What is your style of card making?

I generally tend to fall back onto clean + simple designs but still love to layer pattern paper!

3. Who inspires you as a designer?

I couldn't just name one person as an inspiration...I find that the entire paper crafting community is an inspiration to me.  I devote my early mornings to my Feedly.  It's a process I thoroughly enjoy....seeing everyone's blogs and projects is one of the favorite parts of my day!

4. What sort of things inspire you as a card maker? Photos? Sketches? Other designers?

I would definitely say all of the above.  I love a great challenge but I love to take away different ideas from designers, whether it is a card design or how they use color....

  

5. Share something about yourself that we may not know?

Hmmmm...I've never had a Snickers bar.

Here is Amy's delightful CAS card using this week's inspiration!

The Team wanted to also create a card for this week's inspiration! These ladies just inspire me SO much!!! I hope you will play along with us this week! We would love to have you join us!

Karen Day

Jeanne Jachna

Tracey McNeely

Lesley Croghan

We hope you will play along with us!

The linky will close on Thursday, March 10th at 11:55pm. (PST)

Some simple rules to keep things organized and enjoyable:

• Please use the graphic for your post and link back to this post.
• Any posts that are offensive will be removed.
• Please comment on the submissions of others...we all love the support!
• Yes you can combine with other challenges but NOT other inspiration challenges please.
• Have fun and challenge yourself!

An InLinkz Link-up

Welcome to the new home for "Inspired by All the Little Things"

Hello and welcome to the new home of Inspired by All the Little Things. I was hosting this feature on my blog but it was getting lost there. I wanted to create a place where we could celebrate crafters; their talent and their hearts.

I asked 3 of my dearest crafting pals to help me "run" things. I will be the graphic designer but using their inspiration choices. In fact, each of us will have one week in a month and we will host our own "Creative Guest". We will send them an inspiration graphic and some questions to answer! Then we will post the "Inspiration Challenge" so you can play along should you be inspired.

Let me introduce my partners in crime (in alphabetical order of course)...

Jeanne Jachna

Hi!  I’m Jeanne Jachna.  I’m a married, stay at home mom of two young adults, and one very active Akita puppy. I live in Northwest Indiana near Chicago.   I like to read, garden, and cook, but I have been completely captivated by paper crafting.  I can’t resist a new set of stamps, bling, big bows and colorful paper.  I love to layer on lots of die cuts and mix different patterned papers together.   My time crafting is a sweet escape and a fun way to express myself.  I started my blog, A Kept Life (link http://akeptlife.blogspot.com), in 2011.  It’s been so fun to express myself through crafting, and I’m blessed with the many friends I’ve made who share my paper crafting obsession.    I’m so excited to share my creations  with you!

Karen Day

I am a clothing designer that retired a few years back when I started my family.  I was a stay at home Mom for years until I became a part-time home stager, and now am working at our local library.  My husband and I are new empty nesters, with my son in 3rd year University, and my daughter in her 1st- both studying business at different schools. I've been a crafter all my life, trying just about everything!  My two main passions are knitting and cardmaking, which take up most of my free time.  I have a weakness for patterned paper, and you'll find my design style to be bright, with lots of colour and patterns happening.  I adore colouring with Copic markers, and am working on improving my skills with watercolours.  I love participating in challenges, and enjoy being on several design teams.

Tracey McNeely

Hi, I'm Tracey McNeely, and my blog is In My Creative Opinion. I am a Canadian girl that lives in the beautiful Muskoka's of Ontario . I taught high school for 18 years before my MS made it too difficult for me to do my job, so I left my job to become a stay at home mom . I have been married to my high school sweetheart for 25 years  and we have two fabulous kids Ben who is 21 and Brooklyn, 18. We are empty nesters now as both kids are away at University. I have always enjoyed crafts and I have been making handmade cards since I was in my teens. My craft of choice now is playing with paper, stamps, dies, ink and Copic markers. More recently I have fallen in love with watercolours! I am so excited to be a part of the new Inspired By team. Lesley and I go back a way now and I am thrilled to be designing with her again!

We will start this Inspiration Challenge on Saturday, March 5th at 5am (PST).  We hope you will join in the fun!

Smiles,