Ingenious Inkling

The Best Part in our Hearts

I needed to send a sympathy card yesterday and was was reminded that my stash is almost depleted.  When I saw Sharon's Stamp Simply challenge to make a sympathy card, I knew I needed to get at least one made this weekend while it was on my mind.  I used the Card Patterns Anniversary Sketch for my design.

There are certain songs that always remind me of loss and funerals.  When I was younger, I used to sing at a number of funerals.  The funeral home would call me when the family didn't have a chosen vocalist & let me know the songs they wanted for the service.  I would leave work in the middle of the day, step into a room with the pianist at the funeral home that was out of view of the service, and sing the songs.  When I was done, I would slip out the side door and return to the office.  I always felt blessed to hopefully provide a source of anonymous comfort to those who were hurting.  As I was thinking about those memories this morning, I chose vintage sheet music from one of those songs as the base for my card design.

 
I love this sentiment from River City Rubber Works for sympathy cards.  I cherish all of the wonderful memories I have of people in my life who are no longer with me.  I used printed twill for the vertical pieces in the design because Remember seemed like the perfect word.  I finished with layered hearts adding a bit of deep red for a pop of color.

Bird of Happiness

I knew I wanted to find time to play along with this week's Moxie Fab Blog Tuesday Trigger, which is to be inspired by this fabulous card by Kimberly Crawford.  Kimberly & her family recent relocated to my town of Cedar Rapids, so I'm excited to have another on-line creative soul nearby.  Her work inspires and pushes me to expand my creativity.

I wanted to incorporate the yellow & kraft color combination and a big bow.  I also used paper piercing and a border punch to incorporate a similar feel as the row of pearls.

I also wanted to incorporate the straight horizontal lines & this sketch from PageMaps fit the bill.

When looking for yellow designer papers in my collection, I found this wonderful little bird from Colorbok's Friendly Forest paper, that was printed on a yellow grid design.  I loved how the blue popped with this color combination.   I added a bow with my favorite May Arts ribbon and a sentiment from Hero Arts Thank You Messages with a touch of bling.

This card also works for Lucy's challenge to make a card inspired by another card you've seen.

Thanks for the inspiration ... this card makes me smile. 

PS ~ Can't wait to see what new is behind those Purple Curtains on the Prima Blog ... check it out.

Vivid Vintage Birthday

This card started with floral paper from Making Memories Vintage Findings Collection.  I don't think I ever would have combined these colors on my own, but I love the vivid happy feel.  I designed my card using a tall version of Jen's Sketch for You to Try.

 
The Inque Boutique Monarch stamps are my go-to flourish set because the clear stamp design alows me to add them after my card is all put together, like I did here, when I realized the tall design made that corner feel a bit empty.  I lined a scrap piece of paper up against the DP before stamping, so the ink didn't get on the card base.  I also love this new embossing folder and the fun water lily flower punch from Martha Stewart.

Unscripted Poppy Birthday

March snuck up on me, and I realized I have quite a few birthday cards I need for the month.  I decided to combine Lisa's new Poppy Seed Challenge with this week's Unscripted Sketch (flipped on its side).  Hero Arts has also announced Flickr Milestone, where they will be giving away lots of goodies when their Flickr gallery reaches 30,000 uploads.  It's also another one for the Gingersnap Random Redhead Challenge to make a Birthday Card.

The light yellow & flower stamp are captured in the Hero Arts Printed Flower that was stamped on yellow DP, cut out, and layered for an embellishment.  The Zva Creative crystals accent the punched flower border and the center of the layers blooms.

 
I stamped the Fabulous Birthday sentimenton white cardstock, but it was too stark against the rest of the busy design, so I overstamped CHF scratched grid in light blue to tone it down.

Has Time Enough

This card started with a scrap of K&Company's Que Sera Sera DP that was on top of my scrap box.  I punched it into a lace border and then used the colors to design my card with Laura's Sketch 46 from 2 Sketches 4 You.

I have fallen in love with the Zva Creative flourishes ... the pearls are so dainty and I love how I can cut them apart to make multiple cards from one flourish.  If I have tiny pieces left, I add them (like I did in the corner) or cut the individual pearls apart (like I did for the centers of the flowers in the lace border).

The stamps are Artistic Outpost's Happiness plate ... that quote is a good reminder for me.  It's so easy to rush through life and miss the moments that really matter.

Ice Skating Costume Inspired

This week's SCS Olympic-themed Inspiration Challenge is to create a card inspired by an Ice Skating Costume.  My card is inspired by the gorgeous costume worn byMeryl Davis during the Ice Dancing Competition.

I loved the contrast of the vibrant colors with the neutral background; the diagonal movement of the sash, and the touches of gold in the design, so those are the elements I incorporated into my card.

I started with a natural cardstock base & embossed Hero Arts Dandelion frame with clear embossing powder.  Next I sponged on vibrant shades of red & blue chalk inks incorporating the diagonal sash into my design.

The final touch was the sentiment from CHF's Ornamental Beauty & knotted gold metallic ribbon.

 
I hope you find inspiration.

Facebook Friday Fan on CPS

So very excited to be featured as today's Facebook Friday Fan on the CPS Blog for my Live in the Sunshine card for this week's sketch.

Thursday Link Love

Some of my favorite finds of the week:

• I've been craving biscuits lately, and these look easy & delicious.
• The amazing winter Olympics have made me long for a trip to this part of Canada ... we had such an awesome time (and awesome food ... I still dream of eating at Ginger again some day) in Toronto.  In the meantime, this Taste of Canada cookbook looks like it holds some yummy recipes.
• What a fun project to make coasters from shelf liner & a hole punch.
• When we were kids, we loved to place blankets over tables to create forts ... I love how Obsessively Stitching has taken it to the next level with her Army Bunker Tent.
• I know Valentine's Day is past, but I'm saving these awesome vintage Post Office Valentines for next year.
• These fun mustache crayons would make great gifts for kiddos ... or adults.
• The Pillsbury Bake-Off Recipes have been announced ... I love reading about the contestants and their yummy recipes.

Go For It

I have been loving the Winter Olympics ... so inspiring.  It really makes me want to plan another trip to Canada ... so many beautiful vistas to explore.  I needed a special masculine birthday card for someone who enjoys winter sports, so I used inspiration from the Olympics together with Get Sketchy Sketch #26.  This is also for the Random Redhead Challenge at the Gingersnap Creations Blog to make a Birthday Greeting.

 

Papers are a combination from various Die Cut With a View collections.  The Large Snowboarder from Stampington & Company is one of my favorite vintage images (1997).  I added two rub-on sentiments and Crystal Ice Stickles glitter glue to add some sparkle to the flying snow.

Go For It!

PS ~ Check out the new Zva Creative at the Jacksonbelle Blog (and don't miss the Jenni Bowlin & in-stock Stampavie that are now 30% off) 
 

Live in the Sunshine

Today's challenge at the Jacksonbelle Embellishments Blog is to make a card featuring flowers (keyword JBE094 if you upload to a gallery or link to the challenge post) ... maybe if we all make one, Spring will see the beauty and start heading our way.  It will be quite a while before Spring arrives in Iowa, but I know some of you are starting to see small hints.

I can't get enough of these yummy papers from My Mind's Eye.  These coordinated two-sided papers make it so easy to put a card together.  The large flower was included in the die cuts with the set & is embellished with some adhesive bling.  Make sure you check out the fun kits from MME that include papers and embellishments.

The sketch is this week's CPS and the sentiment is one of my favorites from Artistic Outpost's Outpost plate.

Also, make sure you check out all of the new My Favorite Things stamps in the store.  I'm usually not big on Easter cards, but this adorable set has changed my opinion.  The "favorite peeps" sentiment can be used all year long ... and how fun are those bunny ears peeking through the egg.

Make sure you pop over to see what all the Jacksonbelle Rockstars created for today's challenge:

Dawn Lusk

Julie Lacey

Heather Pulvirenti

Windy Robinson

Amy Tsuruta

Pam Varnell

Lynda Benden

Tobi Crawford

Jill Dunn

Heather Lee-Reppen

Shemaine Smith

Lindsey Botkin