Ingenious Inkling

Joy of Fiber

I wanted to do something fun and a bit funky for the {Caardvarks} Eat More Fiber! challenge.  On craft shows, I have seen those who sew (not me yet, but I am starting a sewing class in a few weeks) stitch together all sorts of ribbons or fabric pieces between a some sort of dis-solvable sheets.  When they wash away the sheets, it forms a new solid piece of fabric held together by all of the stitches.  I decided to try something similar with paper.

I covered my card front with a piece of pink Basic Grey Infuse DP.  Then, since I don't own a Xyron, I completely covered the DP with a sheet of sticky dots adhesive.  I took various pieces of Bazzill Basics Monochromatic Pomegranate (I think that is the color ... the packaging is long gone) and began pressing it into the adhesive in random patterns.  After the majority of the card was covered, I snipped small pieces of fibers to fill in any spots that were still sticky.  I wrapped a single strand of one fiber multiple times around the card-front to form a band. 

I wanted a small image that didn't obscure too much of the fiber design.  This stamp from Stampin' Up's Happiest of Holidays set is supposed to be a poinsettia.  However, I think it provides the perfect funky flower accent when stamped in ColorBox Chalk Rouge on a scrap of pink Karen Neuburger DP.  I added some A Muse Micro Dot Twinkle to the flower and matted it on black cardstock for a little pop.  A Love epoxy sticker was also bordered in black and attached with a pop dot.

A girl can't get too much fiber!

October Getaway Destination

I finally decided on a destination for our late October long weekend getaway -- the Inn at Lonesome Hollow (is that a great name or what).   The leaves should still be beautiful for a drive along the river and through the countryside. 

We're going to check out the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium and some Wisconsin sites as well.  I've already started my list of restaurant possibilities.  It should be a nice time ... now I just have to wait patiently for October.  I'll have a full vacation recap after the trip.

Karen Neuburger Serenity

This card is for Sketch Challenge 139 on SCS.  I also wanted to use the colors from this week's Color Challenge 129 - Purely Pomegranate, Old Olive and Pretty in Pink.  I realized this pretty Paper Salon Karen Neuburger Serenity swatch book papers contained these shades, so I added them to the design.  I added a few Primas with a flower brad and a Kolette Hall Studio G Stamp in ColorBox Charcoal. 

I colored the flower on the stamp with an olive Prismacolor pencil, covered it with PSX Diamond Sparkles and added a tiny Hero Arts bling.  I always feel better when I end my day with a little creativity.  These are fun colors & a great sketch.  Enjoy your Friday.

Color Me Silly

The Basic Grey papers used on this card are from the Color Me Silly collection.  I love all of these fun bright colors.  I trimmed along the circles to form a scalloped border and added some stripes for contrast.  It qualifies for the August 19th Dot Dot Dot Dash Dash Dash Challenge at Daring Cardmakers (better late than never). 

I stamped Full Fluffles by Stampendous in Colorbox Chalk Peony ink on the Yellow DP and colored it with clear glaze, clear sparkle and orange sparkle Sakura pens.  I stamped Savvy Happy Birthday to you Wavy on the same DP and punched it out with my Word Window punch.  I added some fun sparkly ribbon and attach the image using pop dots.  Remember, life's uncertain ... eat dessert first!

I-squared Inspiration Winner

Random.org says that Betty (22) is the winner of a little I² Inspiration.  Thanks for all of the awesome getaway idea.  I loved them all, and now I have lots of new places to consider for future trips.

Betty - e-mail me with your mailing address, so I can get your goodies in the mail.

Breathe

Sometimes it seems that in my quest to get my work published, to complete design challenges, and to keep caught up on birthday and holiday cards, I seldom make a card "just because" any more.  As I was going through my papers tonight, this beautiful pad of Basic Grey Infuse paper caught my eye.  I love Basic Grey's 6x6" pads because all of the papers coordinate so beautifully, and there are always coordinating solid pages. 

I stamped Breathe by Stampers Anonymous on one of the solid papers.  I crimped a piece of the red paper to add some subtle texture and added a knotted silky brown ribbon.  For my corner, I stamped a small flower by Hero Arts on a 1 1/4" circle and mounted it on a 1 3/8" Brown Bazzill Bling circle.  I positioned the circles on the corner, and trimmed them to fit.  The ink is Art Print Brown by Memories.  I love the clean, serene feel of this card.

Remember there's still time to let me know your favorite weekend getaway & enter Monday's drawing for some I² Inspiration.   

"Live each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of each." ~ Henry David Thoreau

Poppy Nine Patch Inspired

Today's SCS Inspiration Challenge is Poppy Nine Patch by Don Li-Leger on Art.com.  There are so many beautiful cards in the Gallery.

I decided to take my inspiration from the two sage panels on the left.  I used the final scrap of my Cosmo Cricket Wanted paper and stamped Agapanthus Cluster by Stampendous in Warm Red Chalk Ink.  I stamped a Denami Bare Tree in Versamark along the left edge to try to mimic the sage grass look on the panel, but the Versamark didn't show up on the DP.  I embossed it with clear embossing powder to produce a little more definition.  I added an Anna Griffen sentiment in Charcoal and a black card base.

I love when I can produce single layer cards that still have a feel of dimension.  Don't forget to leave me a comment for Monday's I² Inspiration.

It Will Never Rain Roses

This card is for Beate's Weekend Challenge #16.  I knew the layout would require a tall image, and I had been wanting to ink up this Diva Lady Tiffany from Rubber Romance that I picked up at Eclectic Paperie.  After the very soggy week we've had, it only seemed appropriate.  I stamped her on Ivory cardstock and used my Prismacolor markers to color the image.  As children understand, there is something very relaxing and almost therapeutic about coloring.

The papers are from the Cosmo Cricket Jitterbug Collection.  I couldn't find a sentiment in my collection that seemed to work, so I searched the Internet for something related to rain and flowers.  I thought this quote by George Eliot worked perfectly.  I printed it in brown on ivory paper using Gill San MT font.  I added some Prima Flowers using a vintage button for the flower center.

It will never rain roses.  When we want to have more roses, we must plant more roses. ~ George Eliot

Pushing Your Buttons

I thought I'd try out this week's Who's Pushing Your Buttons? challenge at Daring Cardmakers.  I picked up a fun Foof-a-la bag of buttons at Frugalities that I wanted to try out.  I found this scrap of Bazzill Bling Brown (also from Frugalities) and a scrap of Cosmo Cricket Wanted DP lying on my work table that worked well with the buttons. 

I stamped  "friend (Stampin' Up Good Times) on a frosted button in Ranger Archival Sepia Ink, which produced a translucent effect on the button.  I added a metal word "lucky" from Basic Grey and some Deep Pool ribbon from Paper Source to finish off the card.  I cut the DP in a freehanded curve and then lined it with buttons attached with Glue Dots

I'm a proud aunt to a new niece.  My brother & sister-in-law their second child yesterday.  We are excited to welcome Lydia Belladonna to the family, and all are doing well.

There's still time to add your name to the drawing for Monday's I² Inspiration.

I-squared Inspiration

The blog counter passed 1,000 hits today.  That is amazing to me for my first month of blogging. 

So, you know what that means ... time for a little I² Inspiration.  I've got some K&Company red and green cards and envelopes to get you started on those holiday cards; a package of ten blue cards and matching envelopes; twenty-five 6" square envelopes; some epoxy definitions stickers; and three fun polka dot ribbons.  Who knows what else I might decide to add to the mix.

I've been working on planning an October 3-day weekend getaway with my husband to celebrate my 40th birthday.  Leave a Comment below and let me know your favorite long-weekend getaway destination.  I'm always looking for new travel ideas and destinations.

I'll do a drawing with a random number generator on Monday at around 7pm. 

Thanks for checking out my little corner of blogland.