little inklings

So Happy!

Happy Saturday everyone! Hope you're all having a great weekend. Our weekend started off pretty good, with nice weather, and some time to get a few things done around the house, stamping included.

I have to confess, I've been a bit of a slacker lately, with my challenges. I even missed Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge deadline last week {GASP}. I know, I know, its quite sad - I look forward to her challenges so much, I feel like I don't fill my creative quota for the week, if I miss. I did put a card together after the fact, which I will share with you this week. But today, I was bound and determined to get back on the wagon, and I did, putting this card together this afternoon, which is quite the accomplishment - stamping during daylight hours. I went to post it before the entry deadline, and wouldn't ya know it, my internet went down - for FOUR HOURS. So, I'm posting anyway, hoping for some grace. Kristina's challenge was to use Sahara Sand, Whisper White, So Saffron and Wild Wasabi. I always find Sahara Sand a challenge to work with, but I liked how this one turned out. Hope you do too. :)

Here's how I made it: I started with a 8 1/2" x 4 1/4" piece of Wild Wasabi card stock (CS), folded in half. The next layer is a 4 " x 4" square of So Saffron CS. The next layer is a 3 3/4" square of Sahara Sand. Along the top, I used my Jumbo Stampin' Around Lots of Dots wheel, inking it up with Wild Wasabi ink. This wheel is tricky - you have to line up the seam at the edge of the paper, before you roll, since there is a bit of a break in the spacing there. Next, I cut a 3 3/4" x 1 " strip of Whisper White CS, and inked up the Nursery Letters jumbo wheel in So Saffron, and rolled it over. Then finished the strip off with the Spiral punch, adhering to the card front. Next I added the Wild Wasabi double stitched ribbon.  

The stars and the sentiment are from the Nursery Necessities set, which is ADORABLE, I might add. I stamped the large star first, on So Saffron CS, in So Saffron ink, then punched out using the Large Star punch. The small star is stamped on Sahara Sand Paper, in Wild Wasabi, then also punched out, this time using the small star punch. I added the So Saffron brad in the middle, then adhered both the Stars to the card front using dimensionals. Last, I added the sentiment, stamping it in Wild Wasabi ink on So Saffron CS, and punching it out using the Word Window punch, and adhering it to the card front with dimensionals. All three layers are also adhered using dimensionals. 

Here's the supplies I used:

Paper: Wild Wasabi, So Saffron, Sahara Sand & Whisper White Card stock

Ink: Wild Wasabi, So Saffron Classic Inks

Stamps: Nursery Necessities, Nursery Letters Jumbo Wheel, Lots of Dots Jumbo Wheel

Extras: Spiral, Word Window, Large Star & Small Star punches, Dimensionals, Rich Regals Brads, Wild Wasabi Double Stitch Ribbon

Oozing Summer?

I am SO ready for summer!! Bring on the BBQs and popsicles, sandboxes and eternally filthy kitchen floors. Tell me you know what I'm talking about... I have two boys.. who love bugs, dirt, rocks and sand.. and it all ends up on my kitchen floor. I could sweep and mop every single day, and my floors would still resemble that of a flora & fauna display at the local museum. But still, I say BRING IT ON!! 

It was so nice here today. I suppose after two weeks of rain, I'll call just about anything nice.. but really! I didn't even wear a coat to work.. (here's where Jen T comments on how she doesn't even own a coat :) How JEALOUS am I that she gets to call MAUI home?? )

I put this card together for a recent workshop, and I think it oozes summer. I liked how it came together. This Priceless set is so pur-tee. Hope you like it.. and are enjoying a bit of summer, where ever you are!

 

Here's how I made it: I started with a 8 1/2" x 4 1/4" piece of Rose Red cardstock (CS) which I stamped with the Paisley back ground stamp in matching ink, then rounded the two bottom corners with my corner rounder.

Next, I scalloped a 4 1/4" x 1" strip of Chocolate Chip CS using my Slit punch (leave me a comment if you want to know how to do this). I adhered the scallop behind a strip of Close to Cocoa Designer Series Paper that measured 4 1/4" x 2", and wrapped a strip of Chocolate Chip narrow grosgrain ribbon around it to hide the seam. Then adhered the combined pieces to the cardfront using adhesive.

The butterflies are stamped on a 3" x 2" piece of Whisper White CS - First in full strength Rose Red ink, then stamping the second and third butterfly without re-inking in between, to fade the ink. I then filled the spaces with the little asterisk stamp in Close to Cocoa ink, sponge daubered around the edges and matted it to a 3 1/4" x 2 1/4" rectangle of Chocolate Chip. I adhered it to the cardfront, then using my mat pack, I paper pierced around the three exposed sides of the main image. The last step was to stamp the butterfly and the sentiment on a scrap piece of paper and cut/punch them out respectively. I adhered the butterfly to the card using sticky strip, as I found regular adhesive not to be sticky enough. And I adhered the sentiment using dimensionals.

 

Here's the supplies I used:

Stamps: Priceless, Paisley background stamp, All Holidays

Paper: Rose Red, Chocolate Chip & Whisper White card stock, Close to Cocoa Designer Series Paper.

Ink: Rose Red, Chocolate Chip and Close to Cocoa Ink

Extras: Corner Rounder, Slit Punch, Chocolate narrow grosgrain, Paper Piercer, Dimensionals, Sticky Strip

A Blue Bird-Day

Somebody stop me! I'm up to more Pun Fun!  I just love this cute little set. I think mostly becuase its not flowers. Can I confess? Sometimes I just need to make a card without any flowers on it. But I have so many flower sets that I love...I guess its just easy for me to go to these cute little guys for a different kind of card, altogether. This was another cutie and a quickie that we made at my recent workshop. And I thought it would be great for just about anyone to receive. Hope you like it!

Here’s how I made it: My card base is a 4 ¼” x 8 ½” piece of Wild Wasabi Cardstock (CS) folded in half. I then stamped the Polka Dot background stamp using Wild Wasabi ink, and trimmed about ½” off the front pane of the card and scalloped the edge with my corner rounder. I then added a bit of adhesive to the long side of a 4 ¼” x 1” strip of So Saffron. To get the panel perfectly straight, open up the Wild Wasabi card base and lay flat with the polka dots down, and the cut short side to the right. Line up the So Saffron strip with the 4 ¼” panel on the left, adhesive side up, then close the card. VOILA. The main image is a 2 ¼” x 2 ½” piece of Whisper White cardstock, with the Bird embossed using Basic Black craft ink and clear embossing powder. I then colored the birdie in, and adhered him to a 2 ½” x 2 ¾” Brocade Blue matte. I added him to the card front and tied the Brocade Blue wide grosgrain ribbon around the card.

Here’s the supplies I used:
Stamps: Polka Dot Background Stamp, Pun Fun
Paper: Wild Wasabi, So Saffron, Brocade Blue, Whisper White
Ink: Wild Wasabi, So Saffron, Brocade Blue, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Grey, Black Craft
Extras: Brocade Blue Wide grosgrain ribbon, Clear Embossing Powder, Dimensionals, Corner Rounder

Happy makes me happy

Doesn’t this card just make you HAPPY? It does for me, anyway. Its so cheery, which we definitely need here since the weather’s been so soggy and gloomy. This card started out as my submission for Beate’s Weekend Sketch Challenge, but ended up a few layers short of her fun sketch. Sometimes creative juices take you in a different direction…and you just have to go with it!

Here’s how I made it: My card base is a 5 ½” x 8 ½” piece of Confetti White Cardstock (CS) folded in half. The next layer is a 3 ¾” x 5” piece of the Fall Flowers Designer Series Paper (DSP) matted on a 4” x 5 ¼” piece of Not Quite Navy CS. I tied the Old Olive wide grosgrain ribbon around the middle, then added the photo corners and Not Quite Navy brads, using my mat pack for perfect brad placement. The main image is a 2 ¼” square piece of Whisper White CS. I first stamped the flowers, inking them up with a Soft Sky ink pad, then I used a Ruby Red and Old Olive marker for the flower centre and stem. I paper pierced the border, then adhered the image to a 2 ½” square Not Quite Navy matte and added it to the card front using dimensionals. The final step was to add the sentiment, which I first stamped on Soft Sky CS with Not Quite Navy ink and punched out with the large oval punch. I matted the sentiment by punching out two Not Quite Navy ovals, and adhered them together with a slight overlap. I then adhered the sentiment over top, and added the sentiment to the card using dimensionals. 

Here’s the supplies I used:
Stamps: Polka Dots & Paisley
Paper: Confetti White, Not Quite Navy, Whisper White
Cardstock, Fall Flowers Designer Series Paper
Ink: Not Quite Navy & Soft Sky Classic Inks, Rose Red & Old Olive Markers
Extras: Paper Piercer, Old Olive Wide Grosgrain Ribbon, Dimensionals, Photo Corner & Large Oval Punches, Earth Elements Brads

Genuine Elements

Can you stand yet another Bronc Buster Father's Day card from me? This set, and the Wanted set have really turned into my go-to for masculine cards, and I've enjoyed their versatility.
I hosted a workshop on the weekend, and this was one of the cards that we made. It was pretty fun to put together, and I tried to encorporate "genuine elements" like wood and leather. And I saw a really great card on SCS somewhere, that did this awesome lasso element, and thought it was pretty neat. Not sure how it would mail, though. Anyway - with Father's day approaching this Sunday, thought I would post one more idea for a last minute Dad's card. (It's easier than it looks, I promise..:)

Here’s how I made it: My card base is a 5 ½” x 8 ½” piece of Chocolate Chip Cardstock (CS) folded in half. The next layer is a 5 ¼” x 4” piece of River Rock Card Stock (CS) thats top half was stamped with the Weathered Background stamp, and sponged along the edges. The Blue Bayou panel added to the bottom measures 5” x 2”, and the Star & horseshoe design thingy was stamped using the coordinating ink and adhered to the bottom of the River Rock matte, leaving about a ¼” for a border. I then wrapped a strip of Chocolate Chip wide grosgrain ribbon around the middle, securing with snail adhesive. The main sentiment is a 3 ¼” x 2 ¼” piece of Chocolate Chip CS. The sentiment is embossed in the centre using Chocolate Chip Craft ink and Clear Embossing Powder. The edges were first sponged, then distressed with the distressing tool and adhered to the card front with Dimensionals. I then added that itty bitty 'Dad' sentiment, using Chocolate Chip Ink on a 1/2" square piece of River Rock CS, distressed the edges, then adhered it to the back of the main 'leather' sentiment. The final element was to add the lasso - which is hemp twine. I wrapped the twine around three of my fingers, three times, leaving a good 'tail' on either end. Then, wrapped one end around all three loops, and tied in place. I adhered it to the card front with a glue dot. 

Here’s the supplies I used:
Stamps: Bronc Buster, Weathered, Dad’s Day
Paper: Chocolate Chip, River Rock & Blue Bayou Cardstock
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa & Blue Bayou Classic Ink, Chocolate Chip Craft
Extras: Chocolate Chip Wide Grosgrain Ribbon, Dimensionals. Clear Embossing Powder, Hemp Twine, Sponge Daubers, Distressing Tool

Thrilled to Bits

I am absolutely Thrilled to Bits to tell you that I was recently invited to join the GreatSwapGirls2! A group of the most amazing, talented stampers EVER {Insert mental picture of me doing happy dance here}. Infact, I hardly felt worthy, and turth be told, a little intimidated, once I saw the list of other members that belonged to this invite-only group (I will be posting links to all these ladies' amamzing blogs on my site shortly, so you can marvel at them, like me). Anyway, I am going to do my best to keep up with their talent, and am truly honored and beyond excited to participate in the swaps. And I will, of course, be sharing peeks of my swaps with you.

Another Thrilled-to-Bits item to share, is an over-due Thank-You to Becky C for nominating me for the Kreativ Blogger award. Thank-you so much Becky for this sweet nomination. Oh - by the way, have you checked out Becky's blog and work yet? No? Go there immediately => {lakeshore stamper} . I LOVE LOVE LOVE her clean style, and I'm sure you will too!

In receiving this nominiation, I would then like to nominate a few awesome blogs that I visit often:
Jen T - for her blog: JenTapler Designs
Laurie F - for her blog: Inspired Designs
Stephanie H - for her blog: Seph's Stampin' Stuff

Ok - that's all I have for you now. Hope you all had an awesome Tuesday!

 

Sweets in Sour

Ok - first, I must apologize for inflicting on you my knack for terribly bad, cheesy play on words, like the one I used for this title. But second, you must try this super fun project!! This was the 'Anything but a card' project we did at my last club meeting, and they are great. I'm not exactly sure why they're called 'Sour Cream' containers, but regardless.. FUN! There is a tutorial on Splitcoast found here, in the event that my instructions below aren't totally clear. Check it out!

Here’s how I made it: Starting with a 4 ¼” by 5 ½” piece of Berry Bliss Designer Series Paper (DSP) (DSP is easier to work with - vs. Cardstock, since its just a bit thinner), Sticky Strip was added along one short edge, then half way along the long top side, forming an upside down ‘L’ with the first strip. An additional sticky strip was added to the long bottom edge, this time, right in the middle Removing the sticky strip backing on the upside down ‘L’, carefully roll the rectangle into a tube, then squeeze the bottom of the tube together. Fill the tube with candy or other treats (the pre-wrapped ones like Werthers work best), then peel the backing off the remaining centered sticky strip. Squeeze that end together in the opposite direction. Run each end thru 2-3 clicks of a paper crimper. Hand punch two rectangle squares on the bottom. Thread Chocolate Chip narrow grosgrain ribbon thru the holes, and tie in a bow. Last, create the scalloped sentiment, punching the scallop with the Scallop Punch, then stamping the sentiment on a scrap piece of Pretty in Pink CS with Chocolate Chip craft, sprinkle with clear embossing powder, heat to set then punch out with a 1 ¼” circle punch. 

Here’s the supplies I used: 

Stamps: All Holidays Paper: Berry Bliss, Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink 

Ink: Chocolate Chip Classic & Craft 

Extras: Dimensionals, Sticky Strip, Scallop & 1 ¼” Circle Punches, Hand Held Rectangle Punch, Chocolate Chip narrow grosgrain ribbon, Crimper 

Technique: 3D - Sour Cream Container

For an 'Old' Friend

 I was walking to an appointment a while back, when I noticed a display case with a tapestry of some sort in the window. It had this color combo. Isn't it striking? I love the Old Olive, Black and white together.
This is a really quick card, and another project we did at my last club meeting that featured the Thumping Technique. And it would seem that Thumping has some theraputic benefits! You get to 'stamp' out all your frustrations. But just don't get too carried away.. those markers can only stand so much! :)

Here’s how I made it: The card base is a 4 ¼” x 8 ½” piece of Basic Black Cardstock (CS) folded in half. On the next layer, I used the Thumping technique on the Whisper White 3 ¾” square, inking up the Pretty Petals Background stamp with Old Olive ink and thumping with a Basic Black marker. The edges were sponged with Old Olive and the Whisper White square then matted to a 4” Old Olive square. Next the photo corner and silver brads were added to the top left hand corner, and a double ribbon of wide Old Olive and Black grosgrain tied around the middle. The sentiment was stamped on a scrap piece of Whisper White using Old Olive craft ink, sprinkled with clear Embossing Powder, heated to set, punched out with the Large Oval punch then sponged in Old Olive around the edges. Two Large Ovals were punched in Basic Black, adhered together at the middle, then used as a matte for the sentiment, and added to the card front using Dimensionals.

Here’s the supplies I used:
Stamps: Pretty Petals Background Stamp, Carte Postale
Paper: Basic Black, Old Olive, Whisper White
Ink: Old Olive Classic & Craft, Basic Black Marker
Extras: Old Olive wide grosgrain ribbon, Black Gingham Ribbon, Dimensionals, Photo Corner & Large Oval Punch, Clear Embossing Powder, Silver Brads
Technique: Thumping

Hello, Inspiration!

Warning: The following is actual dialogue from my house, and may be offensive to some men who don't understand stamping.
DH says: Honey? It's noon? Where are you?What are you doing? Have you showered yet?
Crazy stamper wife replies: Just a minute, I just have to get this card idea out of my head.. be right there! I'm so lucky my hubby understands me. Ever since I posted the Heathcote Gardens bedding pic for inspiration, I've had this card in my head, but seemed to struggle with finding the time to put it together. I finally snuck away for a few hours, and I'm glad I did. I think it came out pretty close to how I envisioned it. Hope you like it.
Now - the fun stuff.... As promised, a random winner has been drawn {read: my 3 year-old choose a name from his Lightning McQueen lunchbox} and the winner is... AMY! Amy submitted this beautiful card, that can be viewed on her blog, Gone INKognito. Congrats Amy! I'll email you shortly with some instructions, so I can get your goodies to you :)

Thanks for playing along. Would you like another challenge? Leave me a comment.... :) !
 

Here's how I made it:  I started with Very Vanilla card stock (CS) as the base, measuring 8 ½” x 4 ¼”. I stamped it with the Stitched Background stamp in Chocolate Chip Classic Ink. I added a strip of Ruby Red CS measuring 4 ¼” x 2” to the bottom half of the card, then rounded the corners. Next, using a scrap piece of Old Olive CS that measured 4 ¼” wide, I scalloped the trim using my slit punch, sponged the scallops with Old Olive ink and adhered it to the card front with adhesive. I then sponged all around the edges of the card with Chocolate Chip ink, and heat embossed the sentiment using Chocolate Chip craft and Clear embossing powder. Then repeating the heat embossing, I made the butterfly on a scrap piece of paper, colored it in using Blender pens, cut it out and added it using a dimensional. Last step – I added that yummy Chocolate Chip Ribbon.

 

Here’s the supplies I used:
Stamps: Sweet Shapes, Stitched Background stamp, Fun & Fast Notes
Paper: Very Vanilla, Ruby Red, Old Olive
Ink: Chocolate Chip Classic & Craft, Old Olive, Ruby Red
Extras: Clear Embossing Powder, Slit Punch, Corner Rounder, Dimensionals, Chocolate Chip wide grosgrain ribbon

Sharing You with Me

Kristina's back with her 10th Color Inspiration Challenge, and it's a good thing, as I think I was starting to suffer withdrawals. But alas, she's somehow helped to enable me into another late night carding session... up until midnight, AGAIN! EEK! Good thing sleep is so over-rated. The challenge? To build a card using Not Quite Navy, Old Olive, So Saffron, Bashful Blue & Whisper White. Hope you like my hedgehog. Ain't she sweet?

  

Here’s how I made it: The card base is a 5 ½” x 8 ½” piece of Confetti White Cardstock (CS) folded in half. The next layer is a 5 ¼” x 4” piece of Not Quite Navy CS stamped with the Polka Dot background stamp in matching NQ Navy ink. I adhered a 5 ¼” x 2 ½” strip of Fall Flowers Designer Series Paper (DSP) to the bottom half, then used a scrap piece of So Saffron CS that was 5 ¼” wide, scalloped the bottom using my Slit Punch, then adhered it to the NQ Navy matte. I sponged around the edges of the matted layers using NQ Navy ink, then added the Old Olive wide grosgrain ribbon. The Hedgehog is stamped on a 2 ½” x 2 ¼” piece of Whisper White CS. I used Chocolate Chip craft ink, sprinkled clear embossing powder, heated to set, then repeated on a scrap piece, for just the butterfly, so I could cut it out and add it to the card with a dimensional, but colored the hedgehog and butterfly with Blender Pens first. The Old Olive matte for the Hedgehog is a 2 ¾” x 2 ½” sponged with matching ink. I assembled the images and matte, paper pierced the border and added it to the card front using Dimensionals, then adhered the layers to the card front, again using Dimensionals 

Here’s the supplies I used: 
Stamps: Polka Dot Background Stamp, Fun & Fast Notes
Paper: Confetti White, Not Quite Navy, Old Olive & So Saffron CS, Fall Flowers DSP
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Bashful Blue, Old Olive, So Saffron Classic Inks, Chocolate Chip Craft
Extras: Old Olive wide grosgrain, Slit Punch, Dimensionals, Clear Embossing Powder, Paper Piercer, Blender Pens