Friday 12 September 2014

NBUS Inspired!

Hello!

I am sure you are ready for the weekend.....I am :)  Hopefully I can fit lots of crafting in around football, swimming, homework, cleaning - maybe I can miss the cleaning bit out!

The fabulous Darnell has her second NBUS Challenge and I have SO MUCH schtuff that needs using it seems only polite to play along...and to play along with a few other challenges too!

 
I inked up a few of the stamps from Sheena Douglass's A Little Bit Oriental for the first time for this card to go along with the oriental theme at Addicted to CAS.  I repeat stamped the line of characters (no idea what they say!) and stamped the charm in red, added gold and triple heat embossed.  A very simple design but definitely oriental!  This is my second entry.
 
I also wanted to play along with the fab new challenge over on the Simon Says Stamp Flickr Group being hosted by Barb Engler.  The current challenge has a colour theme:
 
Color Challenge Inspiration by Simon.Says.Stamp
 
I had fun playing with SSS products including my SSS stars stencil for the first time:
 
 
 
I used SSS balloon dies, diagonal stripe stencil and star stencil along with the sentiments which I used as strings on the balloons (I love doing that!).  I have softened the colours from the challenge but have used the red/orange, green, yellow and grey.  The challenge closes on 18 September so there is still time to join in.
 
I will also link up with Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge to make your own background.
 
Thanks for helping me to get started on my mountain of unused products, Darnell.  I still have loads to go at so hope to make something else this weekend :)
 
 
 Never-Before-Used-Schtuff (Stamps, Dies, EFs, etc.)
 
Thanks for stopping by and for leaving a comment!
 
Sarah x

11 comments:

  1. Two fabulous cards Sarah. LOVE how you've repeat stamped the oriental characters. Perfect with the simple box framing and the embellishment in red and gold. Thanks for sharing with us at ATCAS.

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  2. These two cards show the range of your exceptional design talents, Sarah! The Asian-inspired card is poised and elegant and so beautiful! I've not spoken it in years, but I'm pretty sure it says, "USE your NBUS!" The way you have matted and made the panels is perfection!! Then you've also made a delightful light and whimsical birthday card with fun striping, stars, sediment strings, and colors!! I love them both! You're very welcome and I thank you back for promoting and playing in my second NBUS Challenge!! Hugs, Darnell

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  3. Sarah I love your take I the ATCAS challenge, the colours are perfect and the repeat stamping inspired. And the fading greay edges to your second card caught my eye immediately. I was thinking 'how did she do that??' Panda stencil it is!! I must invest in some stencils. I have one!! Miss the cleaning, it sounds like you are going to be a taxi service most of the weekend so cleaning can wait. Take TIME OUT to craft (sorry couldn't miss getting that in!!)

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  4. These are both fab, Sarah ... the oriental one is so cool and crisp ... and the balloons are brilliant with the yummy stars and those fantastic sentiment strings! Oh, and yes, leave the cleaning! Anita :)

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  5. Love the diversity in your cards, Sarah. The elegant and classic oriental one and the colorful and whimsical balloons. I think those sentiments make perfect strings and have used them myself.

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  6. Two great cards Sarah - love the oriental one which is so typically oriental with those crisp black, white and red colours and your balloons are fab, especially the sentiment strings (must go and have a look for those!!! lol). Definitely ditch the housework!!!! 😄 Thanks for playing at ATCAS.

    Karen x

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  7. Two fabulous cards, Sarah! I love how you stamped the oriental characters and charm! The color combo is so perfect, too!
    On your 2nd card, your balloons are so pretty in those soft colors and I love your stenciled background! Such a great idea to use the swirly sentiment for your balloon strings, too!
    For someone who has so much going on with work and an active family, you always create the most beautiful cards!!!

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  8. Cool and super fun! Love ur oriental card and those faded diagonal stripes on ur second card are so awesome '

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  9. How jealous I am that you have a huge pile of un-used craft goodies!! Mine little stashed gets thrashed every week, its a wonder all my stamps haven't staged a walk-out! Fantastic idea using the sentiments as balloon strings and love the little stars on the balloons. How incredible that you had the perfect stamps for the oriental challenge!! I really like this challenge but have nothing I could deem 'oriental' in my stash. The stamps look almost hand-brushed and its so perfect with the framing of black. Its a bit of a winner I think!

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  10. Very cool cards Sarah - the balloons are fabulous and love the stripy background.

    Thanks joining us at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.
    Hugs,
    Caryn xxx

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