Ingenious Inkling

Guest Designer at Funkie Junkie Boutique

Since I won The Music of Life Challenge at the Funkie Junkie Boutique, I was invited to be the Guest Designer for their current challenge - to create using Three Stencils which runs through 11:55pm Eastern Time on Tuesday, July 12th, 2022 (so come join the fun for a chance to win $25 for shopping).

I shopping my stash to find as many products from the Funkie Junkie Boutique to pull my designs together.  I started by applying clear gesso to a piece of designer paper from the 8"x8" Klimt Stamperia Collection.   My three stencils are  - Tim Holtz Ringer Layering Stencil, Tim Holtz Lace Layering Stencil and the Dylusions Small Martha's Most Massive Mat.

 

 

I used a paint brush and make-up sponge to apply Dylusions Shimmer Paints through the stencils.  I also dipped the stencil into paint and *stamped* with it to add more circles.

 

 

You can see one of my tricks for messy creating in the photo - I save all of the clear cellophane bags from stamp sets, stickers and papers and use them as disposable palettes - much easier than cleaning-up painty or sticky messes.  When I was done stenciling, I sprayed-on some Dina Wakley Media Gloss Sprays.

 

 

Once my paper dried, I cut it into two 4"x8" pieces to use as the bases for two slimline cards.  I started with a feminine design.  I created my dimensional rectangle by using the Tim Holtz Mini Mechanics embossing folder on a piece of watercolor paper.  After embossing I sprayed it with a mixture of the Media Glass Sprays.  When that dried, I used my finger and Black Marble Shimmer Paint to bring out the texture of the embossing.  I rescued a piece of the over-sprayed watercolor paper from the recycle to use on my card.

 

 

The Klimt & floral images were cut from other pieces of designer papers from the same Stamperia Collection.

 

 

The sentiments are from the Tim Holtz Metallic Sticker Book.  I sprayed the Prima Marketing Painted Flower lightly with more Gloss Spray to help tie it all together (which you can see more clearly in the close-up).

 

 

I finished with some Finnabair Art Extravagance Jewel Effect Texture Paste on the corners of the card front.

I used the other half of the 8"x8"x background for my masculine card.  In addition to more sentiments from the Tim Holtz Metallic Sticker Book, I added some of the black labels as well.  I also featured one of the Tim Holtz Baseboard Dolls as the focal image.

 

I finished with more of the Finnabair Texture Paste on the corners, some Dylusions Washi Tape and a few Japanese butterfly stickers from my stash.

 

 

I love the curled edge of the paper and how his boutonnière looks like the same flower as shown in the designer paper.

I had so much fun with these mixed media creations for the Funkie Junkie Boutique ... I hope you enjoyed them too.

Ink Blended Timeless Poppies

The newest challenge at Shopping our Stash is Blending In - we're creating with Ink Blending.

 

 

I love ink blending, but it's also a technique that I know I could use a lot of practice to get better.  I went through several possible ideas and settled on ink blending Gina K. Designs large Timeless Poppies image.  I started by stamping it in white pigment ink on white cardstock and then I embossed with detail white embossing powder.

 

 

Next I blended Gina K. Designs' Red Hot and Red Velvet inks on the blooms and Blue Lagoon and Tranquil Teal on the leaves and out to the edges of the card.

 

 

When I have done similar techniques in the past, I used a baby wipe when I was done ink blending to brighten back the white embossed detail ... only one thing I forgot ... Gina's inks are reactive.   I ended up swiping up and down the entire surface with the  baby wipe to get an overall similar look across the entire surface (but it also lightened the inks a bit).  

I stamped the sentiment from Gina K. Designs Grand Greetings using both shades of red ink with the darker shade along the bottom and added some glittery enamel dots.

I'm also linking-up at the Color Hues Challenge where the shades are red & blue.

 

Red, White & Blue Birthdays

There are still a few Red, White & Blue Challenges out there, and since it's too late to mail 4th of July cards, I went with using my patriotic papers to make some Birthday cards.

The first one is inspired by the Oh My Stars Cupcake Inspiration Challenge.

 

 

I found a fun cupcake in my stash that I topped with some fireworks.  I used this week's Atlantic Hearts Sketch for both of my cards (but managed to trim my triangles the wrong direction ... oh well, you get the picture).

 

 

I added a Make A Wish Sentiment from one of my wood block stamps.  It's also a Red, White & Blue Challenge at Simon Says Stamp.

Next-up is a color palette inspired by the Fusion Card Challenge.  

 

 

I used the other half of my paper triangles for another Atlantic Heart Challenge Sketch card.   The pinwheel sort of reminded me of the flower in the center of the inspiration photo.

 

I added some bling to the center of my pinwheel and used a sheer Happy Birthday sticker for my sentiment.  The papers are from a number of retired paper collections (I keep all of my red, white & blue collections together in one box - I didn't buy any new this year, since I have plenty to last me for a number of years LOL).

 

Bokeh Paper Roses

The sketch at AAA cards is about flowers and circles.

 

 

I chose my paper roses and then used circle punches to create my own stencil to add some lime green circles behind and around the blooms.

 

 

 

I added a tiny typed sentiment from CZ Design Clean Line Gratitude from Simon Says Stamp.

Summer Birthday Games

The current them at the Seize the Birthday Challenge is Summer Activities.  I grew-up in the hot and steamy Midwest, so after sweating through a game of Croquet or Lawn Darts, our summer activities (well pretty much our any time activities) turned to board games in the air conditioning.

 

 

These card features lots of stickers from the Simple Stories Family Fun Collection.

 

 

I finished with a sentiment from Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Background using this week's Sunday Stamps On the Side Sketch.

 

 

It's also a Summer Theme at Cardz 4 Guyz.

Lipstick Botanicals

The current Gina K. Designs Monthly Mix Challenge is to use Black & White with one other color - I went with Gina K.'s Lipstick.

 

I wanted to use the Try Stampin' On Tuesday Sketch, so I used a stamp from Gina K. Designs Holiday Tapestry in Obsidian Amalgam Ink (holiday stamps aren't just for the holidays).

 

 

Next I added Lipstick Die cuts from Gina K. Designs Foliage Fillers and Botanical Duo.  I doubled the paper when I die cut the Botanical Duo, so that the pieces stayed inside the die cut on the bottom (when they weren't there, it was just a bit too busy against my stamped background).

 

 

I also took my design inspiration from the Just Add Ink Challenge with the black and white background and pop of color ... I just replaced the balloons with my foliage which has the same vertical feel on my slimline card design.

 

The sentiment is from Gina K. Designs Woodland Friends.  I finished with a few enamel dots.

Stars and/or Stripes, Forever

Since it's Independence Day in the USA this week, at Jingle Belles we're creating holiday cards featuring stars or stripes (or both).

I went with candy cane striped paper from Doodlebug's Night Before Christmas Collection for my background.

 

I added a red polka dot paper and tiny tags from the same collection.  I finished with an enamel dot at the top of each tag and a Tim Holtz Idea-ology Christmas Label Sticker.

 

My layout is a rotated variation on this week's Freshly Made Sketch.

I'm also linking-up at the Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes Challenge.

Come join us ... we can't wait to see what you create.

Thursday Link Love

Another week of blogland discoveries:

• Best Flea Markets by State
• Coconut Cream Poke Cake
• How to Deep Clean your Bathroom
• Watermelon Water looks refreshing
• Vintage Desk Makeover
• Fresh Corn Salad
• I want to do some patterned paper quilting on some cards
• how gorgeous is this Mediterranean Tomato Tart
• How to for Upcycled Bed Slat Shelving
• No Bake Mango Cheesecake
• I love the color palette of this Autumnal Boho Wedding (how fun are the shoes, swing & sparklers)
• Pineapple Dump Cake
• these strips of paper inspire me to play (I signed-up for the free Fodder Challenge, so I can learn to paper weave)
• I love all of the variation of wood in this home
• Skillet S'Mores Cookie (shown)
• Public Domain Artwork

Have a tremendous Thursday!

Mint Green Washi Foliage

This gorgeous Vilit Design Mint Green Washi Tape arrived while I was traveling, so I had to immediately give it a try.

I used one of my favorite techniques, which is to create a washi tape background applying the tape slightly at an angle.

 

 

I thought it would look best with some contrasting white foliage for the Use Your Stuff Plants and Flowers Challenge, so I die cut the Gina K. Designs Foliage Fillers & Botanical Duo.

 

 

I finished with a THANK YOU sentiment from Gina K. Designs Stately Flowers 10 (which fit absolutely perfectly on the thin washi stripe).  I finished with a scattering of enamel dots.

Des Moines Art Week

I finally got the opportunity to be in Des Moines for Art Week.  We stayed at the Surety Hotel, which was the perfect location to access all of the activities (and a great stay).  I wore one of my new t-shirts, which got lots of positive comments & asks where others could purchase it.

 

 

We started by exploring the outdoor Des Moines Art Festival.  It was sensory overload for us - if it hadn't have been so hot, I would have wanted to walk through it all a second time to try to take it in.  Instead I just went back to the few shops I knew I wanted to buy some items.  We had thought we would go back and enjoy the music performances at night, but we ended-up just wanting to relax at the bar at our hotel or in our room.

I couldn't resist both a large and smaller coordinating CREEPS ((Curiously Random Emotionally Elusive Peculiar Specimens) by Artist Chris Cumbie and a Rainbow Wooden Popsicle (from an artist who didn't sign his work or include a card in his packaging unfortunately).

 

 

Next we enjoyed an amazing supper at the Court Avenue Restaurant & Brewing Company.  The Pretzels made with the spent brewing grains were off the charts and served with three dipping sauces.  I also loved the house-brewed root beer float for dessert.

 

 

Saturday morning we finally got to experience the Des Moines Farmers Market.  I would love to come back a little later in the season when the vegetables would be more plentiful.  We did however get some fingerling potatoes, candy onions and green beans that I will be cooking-up later today.  Rod also enjoyed a Bratwurst on a Pretzel Roll for breakfast, and I got a Pretzel and some Honey Lemonade.

Next I took my cart and headed to the indoor Artfest Midwest for more Art Shopping.  I personally preferred the mix of Vendors at this event (more smaller items vs. mostly larger pieces of art at the outdoor show).  

My first purchase was a ramen bowl and spoon rest from Ron Netten Ceramics in Storm Lake, Iowa.

 

 

Next I enjoyed talking with and purchasing two purses from Ann Ringness Leather.  I love the amazing craftsmanship and all of the pockets.

 

 

After that, I got a lovely rope basket from Dew Drops Decor.  

 

 

My last stop was the amazing fused glass jewelry from Miss Olivia's Line - it totally made me want to get back into the glass studio again.  I particularly loved the pieces that she sandblasted after firing them ... they reminded me of amazing little pieces of complex sea glass.

 

 

It turned out to be a cooler afternoon after a morning rain, so we sat on the patio bar of our hotel and enjoyed some frosty beverages for a while.  I love when I tell a bartender to make me something sweet it Tequila and he nails it ... so delicious.

 

 

We enjoyed our final vacation breakfast at St. Kilda's Café.  Those Pineapple Preserves were off the chart with that hearty perfectly-toasted wheat bread.

 

 

It felt good to drive across Iowa again and see the corn swaying in the wind.  I'm already planning my next getaway in August ... can't wait.