Ingenious Inkling

When There Are No Words

This week's 52-Card Pick-Up Challenge is all about affirmations.  As I mulled that topic over in my mind, I thought not only of the importance of saying good things ... but also of the value in just being there, for yourself & for others, when there are no words.

Sketch is from 2 Sketches for You; papers are the Kioshi Collection from Basic Grey; and the quote is from Outlines and is accented with tiny adhesive pearls.  

A big thanks to Sharon Johnson of of Simply Ribbon who helped me get my hands on my favorite 5/8" May Arts Textured Two-Tone Ribbon.  I originally discovered this ribbon in a ribbon swap and have been on a quest to find it again every since.  Sharon special ordered it for me, and it arrived very quickly (she also carries a fabulous collection of Wordsworth & Rubber Soul stamps sets, which are also difficult to find).  Love the nice texture & subtle color variation.

The Sun is Like a Toy Balloon

The inspiration at the Oh Alice Blog this week is this wonderful quote:

"Little bread-and-butterflies kiss the tulips,
and the sun is like a toy balloon.
There are get up in the morning glories,
in the golden afternoon.
There are dizzy daffodils on the hillside,
strings of violets are all in tune,
Tiger lilies love the dandy lions,
in the golden afternoon,
the golden afternoon.
There are dog and caterpillars and a copper centipede,
where the lazy daisies love the very peaceful life they lead... "

They also provided a wonderful sketch to inspire.  The line about caterpillars seems perfect for this great embossed caterpillar sticker from the We R Memory Keepers 72 & Sunny collection.  I also used another Journaling Card and a sentiment cut from the paper (click through for a larger image if the font is too small to read).  

I used my Martha Stewart grass border punch, butterfly punch, and 1/2" & 7/8" square punches to make the photo corners.  I finished with a punched butterfly & some A Muse tiny bling.

Happy Monday!

Lime Butterflies

I wanted to sneak in a card for the Kraft Challenge at Gingersnap Designs before it ends tonight.  I saw that the Embellishment Magazine Color Challenge also incorporated Kraft in its color combination, so I decided to combine them both into one card.

This is certainly not a color combination I would have chosen myself, but I love how this card turned out.  

Since the Embellish Challenge required butterflies, I turned to my favorite butterfly designs ... Antique Engravings by Hero Arts. The grid design of the inspiration pictures also reminded me of this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch.  It also works for the Sky's the Limit Challenge at Wee Memories.

I stamped the Bold Flourish in India Ink on Kraft cardstock.  I cut three squares from Basic Grey Lime Rickey designer paper.  The butterflies were stamped on the squares (for the antennae) and then stamped again on a scrap of the same paper & clear embossed.  The detail cut butterflies were attached to the squares with glue dots on the bodies' centers.  

I finished with adhesive pearls on the dots of the flourish image (and a few more to balance out the card).  The sentiment is from Hero Arts Thank You Messages.

It's a Sunshine Day

Since the We R Memory Keepers 72 & Sunny Collection was still on my work table, and since it certainly is sunny and even warmer than 72 degrees in Iowa today, I decided to make some more bright & fun cards.  

These cards feature the fun 4" x 6" Albums Made Easy Pad, which is sized perfectly for card making.  The first one uses Fall To Layout #91 from the Clean & Simple Stamping Blog.  I flipped the sketch, so I could use this wonderful journal card quote.

The scallop is a coordinated embossed sticker.  The butterfly in the top right corner was cut from another piece of paper from the collection.  I finished with a layered embellishment that was punched from one of the paper designs.

The next one uses a sketch from a new-to-me blog ~ The Pink Elephant Challenge.  I loved the nice, large panel design on the sketch ... perfect for another journaling card design.

I added the embossed butterfly sticker and a few black gems, and viola ... a very quick and easy design.  I think all of these cards will eventually become a gift set ... I like to keep a few on hand for when I need a little gift.

Sugar Rush Love

I needed an anniversary card, so I combined Basic Grey's Sugar Rush Papers with the fabulous sketch from Everything But The Kitchen Sink ... so perfect for using leftover coordinating paper scraps.  

Sentiment from Verses is stamped in Pure Poppy ink and clear embossed ... and works for the Quotes Challenge at Gingersnap Creations.  I finished with a layered punched heart embellishment. 

72 and Sunny

On my recent travels, I picked up some fun papers and embossed paper stickers from the 72 and Sunny Collection from We R Memory Keepers.  What I really like about the 12" papers is that there is one larger pattern on one side and four 6x6" blocks of smaller patterns on the other side ... perfect for card making.  

The first one uses this week's CardPatterns Sketch.  I love that there is an entire square of borders that can be trimmed for multiple cards.

And another with the CardPatterns Sketch flipped the other way.  Sentiment is from PaperTrey Ink's Mixed Messages.

I was having so much fun, I also did one with this week's 2 Sketches 4 You sketch.  I stamped a couple of flies (from the coordinating clear stamp set) directly on the DP and again on two pieces of cardstock scraps.  I cut them out and attached them over the stamped images with foam tape.  I added a bit of Glitz glitter glue for sparkle.

The stamped sentiment on the inside says "Ribbit". 

Amy Atlas Inspired

This week's SCS Inspiration Challenge comes from the designs of Amy Atlas Events ... so much beauty to inspire.  I chose this dessert table created for Claudia Hanlin's Wedding Library in New York City.  Inspired by the Wedding Library's lovely, hand-screened Alan Campbell paper, the table included delicate treats such as cupcakes decorated with feathers and pearls, fleur-de-lis cookies and silhouette chocolates. 

I used this week's SCS Sketch Challenge and incorporated the brown paper flowers, feathers, a cameo, and the color palette.

I made the paper flower by punching multiple-sized circles from a thin brown paper bag.  I punched a hole in the center and attached them with a brad, and then cut multiple petals by cutting through all layers at once.  I finished by curling and separating the paper with my fingers.  My cameo flower center was printed from an online picture.

The Memory Box paper, which had a design that reminded me of the wallpaper pattern, was stamped with my custom-carved Tyggereye Feather stamp.  I finished some Martha Stewart seam binding ribbon.

I hope you find inspiration.

It Just Wouldn't Budge

I used the scraps of paper on my work table and this week's CPS Sketch to make a card for the 52-Card Pick-Up theme ... Forgiveness.  Sometimes for me, the hardest person to forgive is myself ... and I think this quote from River City Rubberworks sums that up well.

 TGIF.

Thursday Link Love

t's been another great week of discoveries in blogland:

• A great list of Ten Ways to Brighten Today (and who couldn't use a little brightness).
• 12 free bag & purse tutorials
• A tutorial for texty pretty paper posies
• This week I was discussing ideas for a friend's birthday party ... I love these Grown-Up Birthday Party Themes
• I thought these fun duct tape wallets would be great to include with $$ gifts for graduation.
• I love this idea for storing Distress Inks & the blending sponges for each color.
• I've been wondering what to do with some wooden blocks I have ... and I think I've found it with this thrifted book puzzle idea.
• I love anything with peanut butter cups ... and these brownies look to-die-for ... and so does this Peanut Butter Cup Trifle.
• Having grown-up in a house filled of albums ... I'm always fascinated by projects made from LPs ... these bookends look like fun.
• This motor-board template is fabulous for graduation cards.
• And if you need a smile ... check out these Happiness Photos.

Enjoy the day.

Hair Is Important

This week's the Jacksonbelle Rockstars have a fabulous sketch to inspire you (keyword JBE106).  I love the panel design, which was great for featuring Jenni Bowlin mini papers.  

I used stamps from Artistic Outpost's Hair is Important plate. My mother-in-law was a beautician, and I know she will love these fun vintage images.

The images were stamped in Chestnut Roan Chalk ink and colored with Prismacolor pencils, which works for the Spicy Supply challenge at the Gingersnap Creations blog to use your pencils.

 For more sketchy inspiration, be sure to check out the blogs of all of the Jacksonbelle Rockstars!

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