Birgit & Marcia's July 2016 Challenge - In Bloom: Eva's Favorite Flowers

Hello friends.  It's that time of month again where BIRGIT and I challenge ourselves, and this month we are using Winnie & Walter's In Bloom: Eva's Favorite Flowers.  In order to stir up a bit more commenting on our blogs during these challenges, BIRGIT and I have both decided to offer a giveaway, so make sure you read to the end!  :0)

So let's get started!  I got this stamp set as part of the 1st Stamp of Approval (SOA) box set over a year ago, and am ashamed to admit I had never even opened the package.  Then last month BIRGIT posted a couple cards on her blog using this set, and saying how much she loved it and how versatile it was...ok, then I felt like even more of a slacker!  It seemed like a good idea to ask if this might be a good choice for our next challenge, and BIRGIT readily agreed.  And of course once I got started, I ended up loving the set too!

I used the Curtis background stamp (Casual Fridays) in shades of blue, and then added a couple of the flowers that I fussy cut, along with a few leaves, sequins, and a Casual Fridays die cut sentiment.

I used a SSS Gingham background stamp and Real Red ink to stamp the lower third of this card, and then added the leaves and tulips (my favorite flower in the set!) that I also fussy cut.  My sentiment is from WPlus9 Hand Lettered Hello.

I think this is my favorite of the 5 cards I made.  I used Smoky Slate and black inks to stamp the different flowers, and then added a simple die cut frame that Birgit had sent me (I believe it's from an IO die?).  I love the way the simple pop of color sets this card off.  The die cut "You" and sentiment are both from Casual Fridays.

I have to admit I kinda like the way this card turned out too!  My photograph doesn't really do it justice, but I love the look of stamping with white (pigment ink) on kraft and then stamping over it with color when the white dries.  The banner is a die cut from Catherine Pooler with a SU! Think Big Favorites sentiment embossed in white.

My last card is just a very simple collage of some of the flowers in the set using some brighter colored inks.  The sentiment is from SU!'s Rose Wonder set.

Make sure you stop by BIRGIT's blog to check out what she has done with these same stamps...I know she will blow you away with her creativity!  Make sure you leave her some love too and you could win!

We would both LOVE to hear from you in our comment section...let us know what you think of our monthly challenges, if you'd like to play along with us, and if you have any ideas to challenge us with too!  We are both giving away a little collection of die cuts to one random lucky winner from each of our blogs, so make sure you comment to win!  Here is a photo of the die cuts I'm planning to give away:

I have been going crazy over these Gina Marie Designs (www.WHOLESALECRAFTINGSUPPLIES.COM), so here is a small sampling of some of my recent die purchases from them.  If you'd like to win these, just leave a comment...easy peasy!!  We'll each choose a winner next Monday morning (August 8).  :0)

EDITED TO ADD WINNER:  Because I couldn't figure out how to use Random Generator I did this the old fashioned way and put all the names on a slip of paper, folded them up, added them to a bag, and had my daughter pick a slip of paper from the bag.  And the name she chose was: (Add drumroll please!)  Loll Thompson  Congrats Loll!  I'll be sending out your die cuts this week!  A BIG thank you to all who commented on Birgit and my blogs for this challenge...we loved hearing your thoughts and hope you'll all stop by the end of this month when we play again!

Thanks so much for stopping by today...I love it when you do!