Ingenious Inkling

Graduation Hat Card

It's that time of year again ... time for graduation cards.  Graduation is such a big deal in Iowa with huge parties, so each one requires a card.  I went with the same design I used last year since it was so popular (and so easy to mass produce with color variations for the different schools).

I used Stampin' Up's Go Graduate! digital stamps (so I could print out multiple copies at once).  The card instructions are on this video tutorial, I made a few changes to make it easier for me (using a digital sentiment inside too & not shredding the ribbon).

The top is perfect for tucking in a check or a little cash.  The University of Iowa school colors are also perfect for this week's Dynamic Duo Challenge.  I didn't use embossing, but I did add a bit of texture with a yellow glaze pen on the cowboy boots.

All Buttoned-Up for the Holidays

This week at Jingle Belles we're All Buttoned-Up for the holidays ... create a holiday card using buttons (or brads or eyelets ... you know how many of those you have stashed away).

The inspiration for my card was this gorgeous Button Tree (and video tutorial) from Shari Carroll at Hero Arts.  I fully intended to attach DP to clear buttons ... but someone in my last great stuio reorganization, I temporarily *misplaced* all of my clear buttons.  So, I did what any creative sould would do ... I improvised.

I had a small package of Fancy Pants buttons on my studio table, so I pulled out all of the green (and then blue) ones to create my tree.  I used a cream cardstock base & added three sizes of blue and champagne pearls to fill in the empty spaces.

My background is Hero Arts Holly Flourish, which I stamped off once, so the ink would be lighter and a bit more vintage-looking.  I added kraft cardstock tree trunk and a wrap of ivory twine, together with a stamped Hero Arts sentiment to complete my design.

So pull out your buttons (or brads or eyelets) and get creative ... as we take back December, one holiday card at a time.

No Time Like the Present(s)

Well, it's that time of year again ... time to begin building-up your holiday stash for 2012.  At Jingle Belles we're planning to help you take back December ... one holiday card at a time.

We've made a few changes including posting every other week ... so you'll have more time to join each prompt ... and speaking of prompts ... this week's is ...

No Time Like the Present(s) 

Make a holiday card that incorporates GIFT WRAP:

as a background, as an accent, or using motifs cut from your favorite wrapping paper

OR

Make a holiday card with an image of present(s) on it!

I always buy my holiday wrapping paper at the after-holiday sales ... and I always look for papers that will work throughout the year like this metallic two-sided (teal & silver) paper.  I thought it would be fun to see if I could create something using origami, so I found this Wreath Tutorial and started folding.

The fold is very quick & easy and would make fun ornaments too.  I added a few punched holly leaves & some silver *berries* ... attached it to a silver metallic card base (framed by more wrapping paper) ... and added a grey EAD Designs rub-on sentiment."

Check out this week's post with lots of Lovely Guest Stars ... and join us as we take back December ... one holiday card at a time.

Boxes, Tiny Boxes

Tonight I made some tiny boxes for my magnets.  I'll add some tissue paper when I package them for gift giving.

Soon after starting, I remembered that thinner scrapbook paper works much better than two-sided paper or thicker cardstock-like designer paper.  The one below is some vintage Basic Grey Urban Couture ... I got a bit of cracking on the folds, so a sponge & ink solved that problem.

This Christmas Cardinal paper has been in my stash for years.  It is perfect for another tiny box.

More Magnet Mania

My Magnet Mania Tutorial from 2007 has been getting quite a few clicks through from Pinterest the last several weeks ... which reminded me how much fun I had making them ... so I decided to make another batch.

This time I used the Tiny Bubbles Collage Sheet from ARTChix Studio.  I loved how each image has a black frame around it which looks so cool under glass.

I particularly loved the Eiffel Tower and Purple Fish where the image goes across several circles ... and how fun are those bingo numbers.

I punched each picture using a 5/8" circle punch and used clear adhesive to stick it to the glass.  This time I used Liquid Nails rather than E6000, and it seems to be reacting a bit with the lighter papers as it dries.  I don't think it will be an issue for the random images, but it might be for ones with faces.  I suggesting testing with whatever medium you use and let it dry for several days first.

After those dried overnight, I used the same adhesive to attach the magnets and voila ... a fabulous magnet menagerie.

I usually package them in Origami Gift Boxes, but my sister pointed out that six would fit perfectly in an altoid tin.

Lonely this Christmas

The theme this week at Jingle Belles is Lonely this Christmas ... we're combating holiday loneliness with the fine ladies at the Order of the Opus Glueii.

Instead of just making a card this week, we're asking you to make a holiday card for Jingle Belles and a project inspired by the card ... it can be a tag, gift card holder or gift bag ... whatever you'll be glad you have done when the holidays roll around ... for the Order of the Opus Glueii challenge (get it ... so the card isn't lonely??) 

Here's my card using this week's Sketchbook Saturday layout and some great vintage Tim Holtz holiday papers I discovered in my stash this week (sort of like my own little Christmas in June).

The sentiment from CatsLife Press is stamped on the packaging backing chipboard from some stickers.  The ivory border is cut from a paper sample book that the marketing team at work saves for me (rather than recycling them when they're out of date).  I added several ivory buttons with red twine as embellishments.

My gift bag is made from the same Tom Holtz Collection using the 2-5-7-10 Bag Tutorial from SplitCoast Stampers.  I added a chipboard image from Crafty Secrets.

I used papers from the same collection to make a tag.  The snowman is Inkadinkado & sentiment is Paper Source.  I added snowflakes in brown from Verve's Winter Wonders.

Here's my entire set together ... certainly not Lonely this Christmas.

We will draw a random prize from the pool of participants in both prompts.

The prize includes Holly Jolly Acrylic Stamps from My Mind's Eye, Susan Winget Glad Tidings Grand Adhesions Dimensional Stickers from K&Company, and a Vintage Postcard Kit from Crafty Secrets.

Single Layer Masked Misting

Since we're celebrating cowboys and cowgirls at the Gingersnap Creations Blog this month ... the technique is masking.  Hop on over to Gingersnap Creations to see my photo tutorial for how to create this fun masked misted background.

The vintage rodeo image is from the Graphics Fairy.

Pocket Coloring Books

When I saw these fabulous Pocket Notebooks, I thought about how fun it would be to transform this concept into a Pocket Coloring Books for my nieces & nephews.  

I started by downloading lots of free coloring pages of their favorite things like ballerinas and princesses for the girls ... and cartoon characters, trains, and animals for the boys.  I used Word to re-size them to ATC dimensions (2.5" x 3.5") and printed them on white cardstock for added sturdiness.

I used images from the new Artistic Outpost Think & Wonder set for my Pocket Coloring Book Covers.

The first one was stamped on Webster's Pages DP.  I pulled in the color from the paper by coloring in several letters of the alphabet with Prismacolor Pencils.  I detail cut several butterflies from the remaining part of the paper and used a glue stick to attach them over the image.

I stamped the same image for the back and adhered them both to chipboard to add to the sturdiness of the book.  I finished by attaching the pages with a Binder Ring from the office supply store and added scraps of ribbon, including Outpost Attic Findings, to finish the design.

The second one has an image & sentiment from the set stamped on more Webster's Pages DP.  I punched tiny butterflies from the paper and added a number strip cut from the page along the bottom, which works for the ResQ Challenge to Get In Line.

Chipboard front & back and more fun textured ribbon, including some velvet ric-rac finish the design.

For my third Pocket Coloring Book, I stamped on more Webster's Pages DP and added another vertical strip of numbers to coordinate with the horizontal letters on the paper.

I added some boyish ribbons including twill and measuring tape to finish the design.

I'm entering these projects in the Tatertots & Jello Weekend Wrap-Up Party.

I found a perfectly-sized gift bag at Michaels, so I decorated it to hold these Pocket Coloring Books.

More Webster's Pages trimmed into a hand-drawn heart.  I finished with sentiments around the edges and a wonderful paper bloom.

This was such a fun project, especially finding free coloring pages on-line depicting each child's favorite things.  Now they will each have their own personalized little coloring book that's small enough to travel with them.

Tea Bag Valentine

In keeping with the Hot Beverage theme this month at the Gingersnap Creations Blog, today's Random Redhead Challenge is to make a Tea Bag holder.  I used Beate's Tutorial on SplitCoast Stampers for my design.

My main paper is Tim Holtz Vintage Shabby Designer Paper (perfect because it's two-sided) stamped with Hero Arts Heart Flourish and adorned with a little valentine cut from a piece of 12" K&Company Brenda Walton designer paper.  

Rather than use a ribbon or band to close my holder, I used a strip of cardstock attached at the back with a Velcro square & adorned with a wonderful metal rose brad by Dear Lizzy that was included in My Funky Valentine kit from Pixie Dust Paperie.  I used Doodlebug Crushed Velvet Brads on the spine of my holder.

Inside I used a very vintage piece of Doodlebug paper to hold my two tea bags and two more Brenda Walton Valentine images.  I used a circle punch on each pocket to make removing the tea bags easier.

Coffee Filter Flower Tutorial

Check out my Coffee Filter Flower tutorial today at the Gingersnap Creations Blog.  Here's a peek ...

Happy Monday.