Ingenious Inkling

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.

Nebraska Art & Food Adventures

We just returned from a mini-vacation to Omaha and Des Moines, which involved lots of art and eats.  Today I'm sharing our Omaha stay.

Soon after landing at our hotel in Omaha, we ventured to Andersen O'Brian Fine Art, which was a gorgeously curated gallery filled with Nebraska artisans.  My favorite piece was Red Origin by Doug Johnson.  In researching the artist, a write-up talks about him discovering a quote that said “Find what you love, and then do it on evenings and weekends for the rest of your life.”  It was a revelation into his life as a painter of pictures, as that is what he had been doing for over three decades.  Another write-up described his work as Geometric Impressionism.   When you get close to the piece you can see the geometric shapes that make-up each piece of the design.  It was amazing.

 

 

We saw the work of Katrina Swanson in several local galleries including this one called Swirly Lollipops.  The bright colors and realistic images stole my heart.

 

 

We brought home two pieces by clay artist Sarah Hummel Jones - one of which you can see at the front right of the photograph (love those eyes and that there are designs on two sides that can be displayed both right-side-up and up-side-down).

 

 

For supper, we ventured to Maru Sushi Korean Grill.  My husband was stationed in Korea when he was in the military, and as we were dining he discussed how taste buds are tied to memories.  Both the service and the mail were top notch delicious.

We started with Mandu (Dumplings) and Kimchi Tempura, which was something we had never seen.  It was so good.

 

 

For our main course we had Beef Bulgogi, which was served with more Kimchi, Bean Sprouts and Potatoes.  All of the condiments gave the bites of beef and rice a different flavor and texture.

 

 

I also enjoyed a perfectly made Shrimp Tempura roll (I like the tempura to still be warm, so I can enjoy the crunch and contrast of textures and temperatures).

 

 

On our way out of Omaha the next morning, we stopped at Square Donut and enjoyed a few.  The Maple Bacon was quite delicious.

 

 

We had a wonderful time in Omaha.

Z is for Zombie

After my recent crowning as the Queen of Snark at the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers, I was invited to Guest Design for their Z is for Zombie Challenge.

 

Only one problem -  I have absolutely nothing zombie-like in my crafty stash, so had to get creative.  My husband suggested I turn one of my people stamps into a Zombie ... only one problem there, I don't really have people stamps.  Then I remembered a Paper Nest Dolls Doll Detectives set I recently purchased, and the birth of my Mystery Machine Velma Zombie card began (Velma was always my favorite ... I wanted to be her).

I stamped her in black ink (which for some reason decided to not cooperate with my alcohol markers) and colored her with colored pencils.  After that, I did some detail cutting and zombie-fying to put my card together.

 

 

I added a big more blood to the kraft background and a pair of spooky Doodlebug eyes peering out of the Mystery Machine.

I decided on a P!nk Song Lyric Sticker for my sentiment ... at least Velma has some shoes that are good for hopping around.