Ingenious Inkling

Embossed Heart Valentine

I got to start and end my day in my studio ... pretty much a perfect day for me.  I used Kazan's Sketch #16 at 2 Sketches 4 You to make another valentine.

 

I used the rest of the Rhonna Farrer cardstock from last week's sketch card.  Hearts were cute from Core'dinations Black Magic Cardstock.  The center heart was embossed with the Cuttlebug Textile Heart embossing folder and sanded.  The other two are Martha Stewart heart punches (with a Studio G Sentiment).  The lace border is also Martha Stewart.  I finished with the Inkadinkado Vine Flourish on the corners.

Thanks ladies for another great sketch.

Free X-Mas Smooches

We had a nice, relaxing day at my mother-in-law's home with lots of good food and conversation.  I had some fun trying out my new camera lens as a warm-up for our big family gathering on Sunday.  I snapped a close-up shot of my favorite Opus Christmas ornament.

Enjoy

Enjoy ... doesn't that sound like a good mantra for 2009? 

Today's SCS Creative Letters challenge was to find ways to create words using a mixture of letters and images.  I combined my SU Wishing You the Best image (stamped in ColorBox Peony, clear embossed, and punched with the SU scallop circle punch) with two different sets of white foam Thickers.  I used one of my final sheets of Purely Pomegranate cardstock (love that color) with designer paper from Basic Grey's Eva collection.

     

I've already had fun spending some of my holiday gift certificates on-line this morning ... and now we're off to lunch with family.  Enjoy the day!

Frosty Flourished Thank You

Today's SCS Sketch was perfect for some quick holiday thank you cards.

 

This design combines kraft cardstock, My Mind's Eye Frost Ice Crystals Paper, and the Hero Arts CardArt Thank You Flourish (stamped in ColorBox Chalk Prussian Blue on light blue Basic Grey Periphery DP and clear embossed).  I cut the designer paper 1/4" wider than the stamped sentiment for a bit more overlap.  So quick, easy, & flat for mailing.

Christmas Magic Boxes

After seeing these cool boxes on Nathalia's blog (she got the original idea from Leah at Life as Lou), I had to give them a try.  However, I did make a few modifications to my design.

 

Rather than follow her origami box design (which required cutting), I followed the origami box tutorial from SCS, which requires no cutting.  After trying quite a few papers, I decided that double-sided K-Company papers worked the best with the least amount of cracking (and I loved that there was pattern on the inside too).  I used my Scor-It to help ease the folding (and lessen the chance of cracking). 

Additionally, I made my lid with an 8 3/4" square (rather than 8 1/2") because I thought the 8 1/2" was just a bit too tight of a fit.  I also used red-lined tape (rather than liquid adhesive) to attach my boxes.

 

Thanks to both creative ladies for the inspiration.  They were a hit.

Holiday Love

I've been lovin' all of the holiday cards arriving in my mailbox, so I thought I would share some of the fun with you. 

The first is a wonderful little monsta holiday greeting from my friend Lauren ... Remember ... Just Say Noel.  You have got to click-on-over and check out the fabulously creative monsta cards she's been making for the holidays.

 

This next adorable card is from Amy at Tsuruta Designs ... I just love that fabulous paper in some of my favorite colors with the super-cool coordinating twill. 

This fabulous festive card arrived from Dawn (flowergal36 on SCS).  I love the glitzy red glitter paper and the chunky, sugary glitter that is scattered around his feet.

And last, but certainly not least, this wonderful card from my Gran ... I love that even though we live many miles apart, we can still stay close through our love of creating. 

 

Thanks to everyone for all of the great holiday mail. 

The Magic of Christmas

I thought I had all of my holiday cards done, but I miscounted, so I had to make a few more today.  Thank goodness for a great sketch from CPS.

 

This card combines Basic Grey Wassail papers, a sentiment sticker, Leaf Tree from Savvy Stamps in Maroon ColorBox Chalk and clear embossed, and punched snowflakes from metallic shimmer paper.

Silhouette Blooms

This week's SCS Featured Stamper is paulatracy from Paper Possibilities.

The inspiration for my card was Paula's with sympathy card.  I loved how she used colored pencils to color the SU Inspired By Nature image. 

I wasn't able to achieve quite the variation of color that she did (I had trouble covering up the image that was stamped in Lime Pastel ColorBox Chalk).  I used koh-i-noor pencils and gamsol.  If I did it again, I would try stamping in Versamark to allow for lighter colored pencil coverage.

I finished with strips of K&Company Smitten papers and celery cardstock.  The image from SU Tagger's Dozen was stamped in Rouge, clear embossed, and punched with a small Martha Stewart Tag Punch.  I attached it to the celery ribbon using two green metal jump rings.

Thanks to Paula for the inspiration.

Monochromatic Agapanthus

   

This month's SCS Dirty Dozen Inspiration challenge is this fabulous letter pressed calendar from iLee ... so many wonderful images and colors.  My card is inspired by the green silhouette blooms of April.

I decided to combine the challenge with this week's Beary Box Sketch.  I'm still trying to get the hang of using my new Nestabilities, so this was the perfect opportunity to give my Label One die cuts a try.

 

The Stampendous Agapanthus Cluster was stamped in Lime Pastel and Olive Pastel ColorBox Chalk Ink.  I added a small sentiment from a clear Studio G set and two punched butterflies with adhesive bling.  I cut the card base slightly shorter, so with the label hanging over the edge, it will still fit into a standard envelope.

Life Euphoria

To celebrate the end of 2008, Becky Fleck of PageMaps is having a year-end sketch contest.  And to sweeten the pot, Hero Arts has donated stamps, inks and note cards to one lucky winner. 

In keeping with the Basic Grey theme I've had going all week, this card features papers from the Euphoria line. 

The flourishes in the corners are Inkadinkado Vine Flourish stamped in ColorBox Chalk Wisteria.  The sentiment is from Stampin' Up's Delight in Life set.  I colored the tiny flower with Copic Spica Glitter Markers.

The flowers three different Prima's attached with a gemstone brad on top of green satin ribbon.  The border punch is from Martha Stewart, backed with white paper for contrast.

A big thanks to Becky for all of her sketch inspiration.