Ingenious Inkling

Just Another Mojo Monday

I just love Julee's Mojo Monday Sketches ... the perfect amount of layers (and she even includes measurements if you want precision) ... me, I'm more of a cut-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of crafter.

Since I still had Amy Tangerine's Oh Happy Life Collection on my studio table, those are the papers I used.  I also had a die cut white tag from the collection that I cut to make the square piece of the sketch.

 

That color combination is just dreamy ... I finished with a Daffodil Sticker (from The Dollar Tree I believe ... aren't those flower centers the perfect color) and another sticker sentiment.  

 

 

I decided to forgo any more embellishments since this birthday card needs to go through the mail and shouldn't require extra postage without any bumps and lumps.

Autumnal Amber Blend

It's Sunday, so that means some Ink Blending Practice ... I decided to have my blend take its inspiration from the current Rainbow Card Color Challenge ... Autumnal Amber.

 

 

I chose four colors of Amber-toned Distress Oxide Ink ... but unfortunately all ink pads were pretty dry (and I couldn't find the re-inkers - that will be my next studio treasure hunt), so I didn't love the end result.

 

 

One way to save a not-so-great-blend is a cover plate die ... I used Birch Press Design Delfina Layer C, which I thought left plenty of the blend to show through ... much better result in my opinion.

 

I reached into my vintage paper flower bag and layered some amber blooms with a big bold brad center.

I finished with a sentiment from Birch Press Design You are Awesome.

 

 

I'm also linking-up at the Ink Blending Challenge at TGIF Challenges.

And the Allsorts Challenge is also celebrating Autumnal Colors.

Enjoy Today

I do love a good layered sketch, and the one at The Paper Players this week is a keeper.

 

 

I love the artistic meditative process of playing with patterns and colors of paper.  I started with my new Soccer Paper Pad from Authentique.  It had a perfect little vintage Soccer image for the focal point.

 

I did add some gold cardstock for a bit more contrast of colors, but the remainder are all papers from the collection.  The sticker sentiment seemed perfect for the theme.

I'm also linking-up at the SPORTS Challenge at Use Your Stuff.

I was having so much fun, I pulled out Amy Tangerine's Oh Happy Life for another happy card.

 

I used the same scrap of gold cardstock in this design and added a few stickers from the collection for a bit more fun ... love the happy play of all those patterns.   Another sticker sentiment completed the design.

Wine Alone

I loved this Alcohol-themed Challenge at The TIME OUT Challenge.

 

 

 

I used this week's My Favorite Things Wednesday Sketch Challenge for my Clean & Simple layout.  Instead of circles, I used the My Favorite Things Stitched Tag Corner STAX Rectangle Die-Namics.

 

 

 

I used the Wine Glass Brads from Eyelet Outlet paired with the absolute perfect sentiment from My Favorite Things Good Time to Wine.  I used the colors of the wine glasses in my card with dark maroon cardstock and shimmery silver cardstock for the band.

 

 

While I was on an alcohol-theme, I made a second card for the Less is More Challenge - One Layer Card with a theme of Cheers.

 

 

I stamped the Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Beer Blueprint Bottle together with the Essentialsby Ellen It's All Good sentiment.

 

 

Now to get these cards in the mail ... have you been mailing your cards?

Halloween Monsters

Today's Stay Crafty with Hero Arts theme is Halloween or Fall ... since I need about 20 more Halloween cards to get my list covered, that's the theme I chose.

 

 

I also wanted to incorporate the {PIN}spirational Challenge which is one of my favorites ... Monsters.  Don't you love that little guy??

 

 

I started with the Hero Arts Nesting Monster Fancy Dies and die cut the three tiny Monsters from one of my hand-marbled papers to get a similar color feel to the inspiration Monster.  Next I added a variety of eyeball stickers to bring them to life and matted my white strip of paper with more of my hand-marbled paper.

 

 

 

I finished with a sentiment from the extremely versatile Hero Arts stamp set Celebrate Everyday using the layout from Freshly Made Sketches.

 

Are you making Halloween card yet?

Dashing Through the Snow

For our next prompt at Jingle Belles we're asking you to create projects that celebrate the white fluffy flakes of snow … it might be snowmen, snowflakes or just snowfall, but include some snow on your cards.

 

I used my new Mini Swirly Snowflake Stamps and my MISTI to create a snowy background.

 

 

I found a left-over die cut background on my studio table, so I used it for this week's Sketch from Crazy 4 Challenges by adding some Snowflakes punched from glitter paper and topped with Eyelet Outlet Bling.

 

 

 

 

I finished with a tiny Peace on Earth sentiment.

Steampunk Heart Strong

This week's Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge is Steampunk, so I pulled out my Steampunk Stickers from {a vintage girl} & her daughter for some cards ... remember my code SMILYNSTEF gets you 15% off your order.

 

 

I just love the floral elements in these designs, so I used those colors for my card base.

 

I added a tiny epoxy heart and some enamel dots before finishing with a stamped sentiment from Simon Says Stamp You Got This.  This stamp set is at least 2 years old, so I'm also linking-up at the Anything Goes Challenge at Retro Rubber.

 

 

I used even more of these lovely Steampunk stickers on my second card with another perfect stamped sentiment from the same You Got This stamp set.

 

That butterfly is just so cool.

Thursday Link Love

Another week of skipping through blogland:

• 10 Introvert Super Powers
• I do love a Soft Pumpkin Cookie
• Meditative Face Sculptures
• Honest Video Call Backgrounds
• have you ever made a Breakfast Board
• Rainbow Friendship Bracelet Tutorial (shown)
• Pretzel Beer Cheese Skillet 
• Free RBG Postcard Download 
• how cute is this Halloween Candy Bark
• how to draw a Maple Leaf
• I'm ready for some Baked Cinnamon Apples

Have a tremendous Thursday!

Raspberry Butterfly Ephemera Collage

I had fun shopping at The Ink Pad during their 22nd Anniversary Sale, so I got one of the Ephemera Envelopes they were giving away with purchases to celebrate.

I started with a Gel Press Print from my stash that I had splattered with Dina Wakley White Gloss Media (perfectly opaque even on my painted, inky dark background) and the gorgeous raspberry butterfly from my Ephemera envelope ... and then I built my collage around those using items from my envelope and from my own ephemera drawer. 

I like to just create my collages with my own "glue and go" method ... building up my layers without a lot of thought ... just letting the process happen organically.

 

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I finished with three sticker sentiments ... creating like this is such a relaxing process for me.

Fall Friendship Blooms

The September Monthly Mix Challenge at Gina K. Designs is Fall is Almost Here.  You can just start to smell Fall on those cooler mornings and soon the leaves will be turning.

 

 

I decided to combine my card with A Blog Named Hero Challenge to make a Clean & Simple design using the Hero Arts / Gina K. Designs Collaboration Set Friendship Blooms.

 

I stamped the blooms in Pinecone Versafine Clair Ink on Golden Cardstock ... I went with a tall & skinny layout, so I could include all of this big beautiful stamp.  I stamped it a second time on rust cardstock and detail cut several of the blooms.

I finished with sage marker highlights on the leaves and some green metallic ink on the little berries for a tiny bit of shimmer.