Ingenious Inkling

Hope Peace Faith

My evening has been full of getting ready to travel for the holidays.  I'll be away from the blog until Tuesday.  Of course, even though I have a to-do list a mile long, I had to take some time to create one last card ... I always go through serious withdrawal when I spend extended time away from my studio.

This card combines the colors from Kristina's Color Inspiration Challenge #32, Card-A Licious Challenge #7 to create a small card no bigger than 4" square, and Kazan's Sketch #14 from 2 Sketches 4 You.

Word stamp from My Sentiments Exactly! were stamped in Warm Red ColorBox Chalk on very vanilla cardstock and clear embossed.  The edges were distressed and sponged with more red.  It was then matted on distressed whisper white.  I've never combined white and vanilla before ... usually in my creating, it's one or the other.

Hero Arts DesignBlock Flourish was stamped in Warm Red on Riding Hood Red cardstock,clear embossed & distressed.  I finished with metallic Sahara Sand snowflakes & lattice border and a single red adhesive gem.

Wishing everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving surrounded by family and friends. 

Think Snow

This card is for Sketch #3 at the Beary Box Blog.  I saw Erum's fabulous creation, and thought I would give it a try.  However, now I realize that there was a noon deadline for this week's sketch ... oh well, I love how it turned out.

I used more Fiskars Heidi Grace Designs Shimmer Flocked Frost Boulevard paper, Core'Dinations Cardstock, a Studio G Snowman, the Martha Stewart snowflake punch and more of those plastic sentiments that I discovered today. 

My husband the postal carrier liked the card, but thought the sentiment should be Think No Snow.

Mod Squad Tree-O

Today's SCS featured stamper is EbethNeu (Elizabeth Neumann).  I chose her Stir It Up card for my inspiration.  I loved the layout featuring a triple element on a square card design.

 

I haven't done many cards in traditional Christmas colors this year, but I really love how the red and green Core'dinations Vintage Collection cardstock goes together.  These papers are from the fun Retro Mod Squad collection.  Don't you just love how the paper already has a pre-sanded look.

Since I was using retro papers, I decided to use the Retro Tree-o from Stampendous.  It is stamped in ColorBox Chalk Charcoal and Clear Embossed.  I colored the trees with Sakura Spica Glitter pens.  I initially colored the trees green, but they were a bit too green for the cardstock color, so I went back over and added touches of teal to bring them closer to the color I wanted.  The stars are colored with a Gold Sakura Gel Pen.

The ribbon was rescued from some packaging.  I love how Elizabeth cut the tails ... I never think to do that.  The Believe is one of those little plastic do-dads that you get in packages at Michael's (with the buttons).  I've had it for-ever ... and it worked out perfectly on this design.

Wishing you a wonderful Sunday.

Weekend Sketch & Blog Candy Delivery

We woke up to snow on the ground this morning.  It seemed too early for white sidewalks, but the weatherman quickly pointed out that we'd already had two inches by this time last year.  It's perfect weather for hanging out in my studio and getting some things marked off of my creative to-do list that have to get done this weekend.  I'll be traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday, so I will miss out on a long weekend in my studio.

I decided to use the scraps that had accumulated on my table for Beate's weekend sketch.  It was perfect for some quick and flat holiday cards.

 

The cardstock is from Core'dinations.  I really love the great weight, texture (one side has no texture so you can flip it over to stamp in detail), and color palette of their papers.  The designer paper is Fiskars Heidi Grace Designs Shimmer Flocked Paper Frost Boulevard.  The Michael's $1 sentiment is stamped in Prussian Blue chalk on white shimmery cardstock and clear embossed.  I finished with some ticket corner punches and a shimmer paper snowflake (new Martha Stewart punch).

It turned out that the winner of my last blog candy giveaway MissIowa lives near me.  I decided to deliver the blog candy in person, so we could meet. 

She was at a late night crop at our local scrapbooking store All About Pictures, so I popped in to admire the beautiful holiday cards she was making.  I love having so many 'virtual' stamping friends, but it's always great to meet people face-to-face.

Mad Men Inspired

I don't watch a lot of TV, but AMC's Mad Men about an advertising agency on Madison Avenue in the 1960's is one show I don't miss.  No only do I love the characters and story, I love the fashion, furnishings and advertising campaign design .. so much eye candy.

So this week's SCS Inspiration challenge is to made a card inspired by the show.

My card is inspired by Betty's beautiful gown.  I love the texture on the bodice which looks like it might have a flower design.  I also love that wonderful headboard.

I embossed the blue cardstock with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder.  The shimmery ivory paper is some specialty paper that was already embossed with the floral design.

I didn't realize until today that I didn't do any stamping on the card.  I did finished with a textured ribbon and a disassembled silk flower layered with several punched circles and a pearl brad from the bridal section at Michael's.

I hope you find inspiration.

Holiday Disco Dancing

I know we did it last year, but I couldn't resist doing it again.  It still cracks me up.

Holiday Disco Dancing

Me So Corny

The November 20th Caardvarks Challenge ~ Me So Corny~ is to make a card inspired by this beautiful picture of Indian corn.

I found inspiration in the corn itself (living in Iowa, I actually collect corn stamps) as well as the colors and the texture of the barn wood.

The corn by Impression Obsession (one of my all time favorite corn stamps) is stamped in Dark Brown ColorBox Chalk ink on Bazzill Bling gold cardstock and clear embossed.  I colored the corn using chalk inks (rub the pads onto acrylic blocks to create your palette) and a blender pen. 

The red paper is from a package of specialty papers.  The subtle embossed texture reminded me of the texture of the barn wood in the photograph.

The sentiment is from a clear Studio G set stamped in CTMH Hydrangea and clear embossed.  The slightly scalloped edge circle is a Martha Stewart punch. 

To attach my charm, I knot the ribbon loosely and then slide the open jump ring through the knot.  Then a thread on the charm (that way you always make sure it's facing the right direction) and close the jump ring.  Then I slide the jump ring around so that the opening is inside the knot of the ribbon.

Show us your best corny creations ... up for grabs are some guest designer team spots for the Caardvarks 2009 New Year Kick-Off challenge.

Fun Finds

No stamping tonight ... instead I decided it was more important to clean up my studio.  My stamping table was so cluttered, it was difficult to find a smooth surface to stamp. 

I also got a huge box of goodies in the mail to creative with for the December 5th Caardvarks challenge, so I need room to spread it all out.  I'm a very visual and tactile person ... I need to look at things and touch them to get my creative juices flowing.  Speaking of Caardvarks challenges, there is a super-cool one starting tomorrow (November 20th).  It's one you don't want to miss.

Here are a couple of my recent favorite finds:

• A list of crockpot dishes for the holidays
• Amy's Friday Sketch... lovin' those pink snowflakes
• Enlightened Starbuck's Coffee Cake
• Marah Johnson's Metal Brad Magnets

• Elise's cool holiday wreathes from bottle caps and cardboard

Happy Thursday!

To You From Me

I hadn't planned to make any cards tonight, but then I saw Kristina's Color Inspiration challenge, and the wheels started turning. 

I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep until I got the idea onto paper.  My stash is seriously short on "just because" cards.

I stamped the So Saffron cardstock with my new CHF Fine Finials backgrounder (they've got a great sale on backgrounders going on) in Versamark and clear embossed.  The cardstock was then sprayed with Lavender Tea Memories Mists.  It produced a very cool abstract effect (click on the picture for a larger view).

The sentiment is from Stampin' Up's Best Yet set (I love small sentiments that fit inside various punched shapes).  I also love my SU curly label punch.  I finished with Martha Stewart punched borders, two felt flowers, and a copper brad. 

Thanks for another fun color inspiration challenge.

Semi-Handmade Holiday Cards

You know those cookbooks that combine ready-made and fresh ingredients for fast, delicious results?  Well, this is my version of that same concept applied to a card.

Each year, I always do some quick, easy, and flat holiday cards for my mother-in-law. 

I made a super-quick set of eight cards by combining two packages of cards from Michael's dollar bin (one regular size and one small square) with one 12"x12" pierce of cardstock.  The border punch is by Martha Stewart.