Ingenious Inkling

Chocolate Snowflakes

Angie's Chocolate Snowflake card she created for this week's Inspiration Challenge was so delicious, I had to try one myself.  I also managed to use up some more paper from my DP scrap bin (all Basic Grey I think) with Sketch 43 from Card Patterns.

The snowflake from the Believe set by Paperbag Studios is stamped in Memories Art Print Brown.  The snowflake trail stamped on the corners if from Inkadinkado Snowflakes set.  I finished with a few Memory box pearls and a punched snowflake from Martha Stewart, which qualifies this card for this week's Punch Happy Challenge at the new (to me) Crazy 4 Challenges Blog.  

Merry and Bright

After making this card, I had the remaining portion of a Prima Say It In Crystals Clear Swirls on my work table.  As I looked at it, I thought about how pretty it would be to have a holiday tree decorated in crystal gem flourishes. 

I cut my tree from adhesive-backed forest green felt (the adhesive backed felt is more sturdy).  Next, I laid the crystals over the felt and trimmed off a couple of places where they extended too far.  I then used the trimmed pieces to fill in any spaces on my tree. 

I stamped kraft cardstock with Hero Arts Wood Finish and crimped it for the trunk.  The background is a hand-made polka dot embossed paper that I sprayed with Pearl Glimmer Mist for an all-over sparkle.  The sentiment seemed perfect for all of that bling.  It is from one of the very first Verve sets Winter Wonder (when the stamps were still red rubber).  She did a polymer re-mix of the set, but omitted this sentiment.

I finished with one of the jeweled elements for the star on the top of the tree.

Peace on Earth

Yesterday. in my failed search for velvet in my studio, I did discover a stash of felt that I had forgotten about.  Included in the felt stack was some great sparkly holiday felt that I picked up on post-holiday clearance last year for pennies (with no idea what I would do with it).  I previously had a failed attempt at using felt with punches (trust me, don't try it), but this year I have Nestabilities, so I thought I would give that a try ... worked like a charm.

The sketch (love the combination of squares and circles) is CPS144.  The blue paper is some hand-made polka dot embossed paper that I also found yesterday in my search through the studio.  The background is stamped with Hero Arts Flourish Pine and the sentiment is a perennial favorite from Wordsworth - Square Peace, which I am unable to find on their website (highlighted with silver Sakura sparkle pen).
 

Paper Crafts Christmas

Today was one of those days.  I had an entire free day to play in my studio, and I have very little to show for it.  I tried several cards that ended up in the trash can.  Then I decided to try the current Paper Crafts Magazine challenge to make a card inspired by one of the designs in their publications. 

This led to me getting side-tracked by going through all of my crafty books and magazines and setting aside a large pile to donate.  Then I sat down and looked through my back issues of Paper Crafts trying to find something that interested me.  I loved this card found on page 123 of 2008's Paper Crafts 101 technique issue and thought the concept would made a great holiday card.

I remembered having some velvet, because I had tried the embossing technique in the past.  However, after spending a while searching through my studio, I realized that I had shared what was left of my velvet stash with a friend (keeping none for myself of course).  I decided to head down the street to JoAnn's and pick up some more, however all they had was spandex velveteen. 

Since I was already out, I headed across town to the other fabric store, but no luck there either.  When I got home, I tried embossing velvet ribbon, which melted directly to the base of my iron (lovely mess to clean up), and velvet paper, which failed as well.

At this point, I gave up on the velvet, and decided to take a different approach using Hero Arts Stunning Snowflakes with New Canvas ink and Ranger Silver Pearl Interference Embossing powder.  Several more cards ended up in the trash as I tried to get the frame drawn evenly on both sides (I tried a blue pen at first, but decided I liked Sakura silver better).

I finished with a sentiment from Hero Arts Holiday Sayings stamped in Ranger Adirondack Denim and embossed with the same EP and a silver Martha Stewart punched snowflake with a glittery snowball center.

And of course, after spending several hours on this card, I realized that I didn't completely read the challenge directions because in order to participate it is supposed to be a birthday or thank you card ... ugggh. 

Oh well, I love the card, and it works for the Gingersnap Random Redhead challenge to use a frame in your card design.  Now, back to the drawing board to see if I can come up with another card for the Paper Crafts challenge.  I always say, a bad day in in my studio is still better than a good day at the office.
 

Oliebollen Robot Love

This week's SCS Inspiration Challange comes from the whimsical children's items from Oliebollen which was suggested by Barbarar20.  I loved all of the bright fun colors.

I needed a birthday card for a little boy who was turning five.  Since the gift accompanying the card was a Transformer, I thought a robot theme would work perfectly.  My card inspired by these very fun French Bull Robot Juice Cups.

I loved the colors of the top left robot and the squire background design.  I stamped Bloop from Starving Artistamps Urban collection on the white background and then four more times on white, grey, orange and yellow to paper piece my design.

 
The background is Core'dinations cardstock embossed with a QuicKutz Retro Squares embossing folder and sanded to bring out the texture.  I finished with a couple of adhesive gems and yellow ribbon loops.  The birthday sentiment went on the inside.

Got Snow?

When I saw the cool long-card sketch at Get Sketchy, it made me think of my Festive Snowmen stamp from Stamps Happen.  The bonus challenge is Autumn ... and in Iowa, Autumn often means some surprise snow storms.

My designer paper scrap bin is beyond overflowing, so I also decided to try to focus on making cards from scraps this weekend. This card is made entirely of scraps of cardstock and designer paper.

 

The current Challenge at Caardvarks is to Color it! and paper piecing is one of my favorite ways to use up scraps and add color to an image (Tanis did an adorable paper pieced card for the challenge). 

I stamped the image a second time on a scrap of orange designer paper to cut out all of the noses. 

Next, I stamped a portion of the stamp on five different designer paper scraps to paper piece the scarves.  I added white Inkssentials pen to the polka dots on this green scarf. 

I emboss all of my images with clear embossing powder because I think it makes it easier to detail cut.  Also, two of my favorite tools for detailed paper piecing are my Sakura Quickie Glue Pen & my Westcott Blooms 3" Titanium Scissors.

The red DP scrap is stamped multiple times with Hero Arts Dot Snowflake Borderusing Warm Red ColorBox Chalk Ink.  The sentiment is from A Muse.

 

Lucy Meets Kazan

Tonight I combined Lucy's first color challenge with Kazan's Sketch #40 from 2 Sketches 4 You. 

I used my favorite kraft paper that comes in the bulk packages at Hobby Lobby ... I love the grocery-sack like texture of the paper and the slight variations in color.

I dug out my long-neglected Stampin' Up So many Scallops set for a birthday design.  I used A Muse micro dot twinkle stickers for the candle flames.  The polka dot embossing folderis from QuicKutz (love the look with textured card stock) & the String of Beads corner punch is EK Success.

And of course, it wouldn't be a Lucy inspired design if I didn't include a touch of white twine.

Happy Turkey Day ... hope yours is filled with love & laughter. 

Scrap Buster Autumn Tree

Today's Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger is this fabulous Scrap Buster tree from Cluck Cluck Sew.  I loved the idea of making leaves from a combination of patterns.  The sketch is CPS 143.

I used papers from the Cosmo Cricket Nutmeg Mini Deckand PaperTreyInk Vintage Cream cardstock.  The fall tree from Morningstar Stamps was stamped in Chestnut Roan, and it was adorned with fall leaves punched from the designer paper.   I finished with very tiny mushrooms from Niko Art.  Sentiment is from Rosie's Roadshow.

Monday Link Love

Here are a few of my recent favorite blog finds:

• Free Vector Art ... so many fun possibilities
• Crocheting with raffia ... love this coaster
• A cool tutorial on how to create your own designer masking tape
• I love pound cake and this recipe for Almond Lemon Ricotta Pound Cake looks scrumptious
• This amazing pink tree made of punched leaves ... makes me want to get out all of my punches and see what kinds of trees I can create
• These amazing cards inspired me to order these gorgeous stamps from Art Journey ... can't wait until they arrive

Happy blurfing.

Wishing You

I love the fabulous colors in this week's Raspberry Suite Color Challenge ... and did you see those cool Pioneer Woman t-shirts??

I decided to combine the colors with Get Sketchy #15 and a cool Large Tropical Sheer  Raspberry Blossom and Moss leaves from Creative Impressions

The Light Aqua background was stamped in Versamark with Hero Arts Design Block Flourish and clear embossed because it reminded me of the flourished design in the t-shirt.  I tore a piece of Core'dinations Moss cardstock for the dual-colored edge.

 
The sentiment is from Wordsworth and the crystal flourish is Prima.  I finished with a punched lavendar flower and a light aqua gem.