Ingenious Inkling

Fine and Dandy Baby

Tonight I needed a gender-neutral baby shower card big enough for a group of co-workers to sign.

When I saw the Inspirational Challenge at the Lily Pad Card Blog, my eyes were immediately drawn to this Masculine Happy Birthday Card by Vicky.  I loved the layout, kraft background, and colors, so I decided to use it as the inspiration for my card.

I assembled my panel using Fine & Dandy True Blue papers from My Minds Eye with a wrap of brown twine.  I stamped my baby carriage from Darcie's Small Beginnings on white cardstock and cut it out to adhere to the background.  I adorned it with some Stampin' Up tiny pom pom ribbon and a few gems.  The sentiment is a Michael's $1 bin find from long ago.

In the process of making this card, I had stamped the carriage in several colors.  I decided to use the orange one to make a second card using the same inspiration ... we've got quite a few expecting babies at the office, so I'm sure it will be put to good use soon.

I used a different combination of papers from the same collection and a wrap of PaperTrey Ink ribbon.  This time I added a scalloped punched border and SRM sticker sentiment along the bottom.

Mission accomplished.

You Mean the World to Me

I love this gorgeous kaleidoscope of butterflies at The Shabby Tea Room this week.

I have been hoarding this wonderful botantical paper from K&Company / Spotted Canary, so I finally broke it out for a little butterfly beauty.

I incorporated a scrap of Webster's Pages paper that was much too pretty to throw away and some K&Company Brenda Walton dimensional embellishments.  

I finished by sponging with Brushed Cordoroy Distress Ink and then added some Worn Lipstick to bring out the pink of the blooms.  Sentiment is from Hero Arts Live & Laugh ... another Mother's Day card completed.

Cosmopolitan Birthday

This week's SCS Inspiration Challenge site was suggested by Jenna Barber who thought Wild Wings was filled with inspiration possibilities.  I fell in love with this Cosmopolitan Area Rug ... the pattern reminded me of some new Basic Grey Hero Arts Sweet Threads stamps that had arrived in the mail this week, so I was happy to ink them up.

I also loved the color palette, so I tried to stay true.  I started with a brown cardstock background that I stamped multiple times with Hero Arts Envelope Pattern in Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink to add a bit of interest.

I stamped the open flower multiple times in Versamark on a dark ivory cardstock & clear embossed.  I cut the flowers into the shapes on the rug, and added distress ink (Brushed Corduroy, Rusty Hinge & Spiced Marmalade) to create a resist on all but the ivory, which I left plain.  This makes this card perfect for The Stamp Man Challenge to use a resist technique in your design.

After assembling my card, I stamped the Hero Arts Today & Always birthday sentiment in dark brown and attached the sentiment piece with foam tape for a little dimension.  Even though the underlying design is a flower, I think this card would work great for a masculine birthday.

I hope you find Inspiration.

Season's Greetings

This week's Jingle Belles Prompt is to create a card with no designer paper, a fabulous idea suggestioned by our Lovely Guest Star, Basic Jess.  I decided to go digital this week starting with Hero Arts Season's Greetings Collage printed on light blue textured cardstock.

I colored the holly leaves with several shades of green Prismacolor pencils, using an eraser to blend and add highlights.  I added brown to the tree & red to the berries for a bit more color.

I layered on some snowflakes punched from silver metallic cardstock and finished with red gems, red ribbon, and stickles to the berries and star on the top of the church for glittery sparkle.

Here's to Peace on Earth ...

Adorable Baby

It's the last day for Hero Arts Sketch Challenge this month, so I used a sketch to create a quick little baby card using Basic Grey's new Sweet Threads collection.

Love that little elephant & sentiment from from Hero Arts Adorable Baby Girl.

Thursday Link Love

More fun finds from skipping through the Internet:

• Love this beautiful book page wreath
• Yummy little chocolate layer cakes ... why does cake always taste better when there's frosting in the middle ... these take me back to days baking with my Easy Bake Oven.
• I realize Easter is past, but I am saving this very cool Easter Egg Card technique for next year ... so many possibilities.
• These manhole pillows would be a great addition to a guy's apartment.
• How cool are these DIY Vertical Terrariums.
• These owls (shown) are so stinkin' cute ... and look like they would be relatively easy to mass produce.
• Free printable vintage campers (reminds me of childhood)
• Love this awesome tag/card tutorial ... and a new make it & mail it challenge ... and the texture of the white painted board she uses for her photos.
• Great idea for turning your photographs into custom coloring books.
• Wish I was close enough to see this show of amazing collages by Jane Maxwell ... so inspiring.
• Some vibrant pothole art ... makes me smile.
• A great tutorial for Washi Tape Magnets ... so pretty.
• Cinnamon Roll Muffins ... they almost sound magical.
• Great idea for hanging your flip flops ... can't wait for summer shoes.

Happy Thursday!

I came, I went and I did it all

This week's challenge at the Stampotique Design Blog is a sketch.  I decided to ink up one of my Stampotique sentiments for a fun girlfriend card.  

Love this gorgeous paper from Webster's Pages and wonderful champagne pearls from Zva Creative.

No regrets my friends ... no regrets.

Asian Red & Gold

In keeping with the April Asian theme at the Gingersnap Challenge Blog, this month's color challenge is red & gold, which are good luck colors in Chinese culture.  

I really wanted a beautiful Geisha image for my card, but didn't have any, so I did what any industrious crafter would do ... went searching on Etsy.  I found these lovely Geisha collage sheets from Ephemera Emporia (and they have buy one get one free in April).

I paired my Geisha with some red and gold metallic origami paper and a vintage Stampin' Up sentiment (from 2000).

This card is also for the Say it with Subtlety Challenge at 365 Cards ... I think this card will be perfect for lots of people in my life ... because doesn't everyone appreciate a little harmony?

Happiness

The very talented Lisa has started a fun new challenge called Make it + Mail it.  

Since I mail almost all of my cards, this one is right up my alley.  I needed a card to include in a little "just because" package I am sending to my sister, so I combined some Artistic Outpost stamps for my design.

The Gazebo is from the new Windows & Doors set. I used a craft knife to cut out the windows so it could frame the smiling lady from AO's Happiness set.  I added a bit of sponging to help camoflage some of my cutting inaccuracies.

I used the Happiness sentiment and butterfly from the set to embellish my design.  I used a tiny butterfly on some Basic Grey white DP and some stamped scraps.  I attached it all to some wonderfully textured navy cardstock.

Happy Monday ... this card is headed to the post office.

Easter at the Farm

No card making today because I was hanging out with family at the farm.  It was the first sunny day it seems like we've had in weeks, so I had fun outside with my great-nephew Kolby.  He started out on the trampoline ...

but quickly wanted to move to Gater ... apparently he's learned to drive at the ripe old age of 5.  He told me he thought he'd be ready to pass his driver's test any day now.

He was quite proud of the muddy circles we made in the background.

Then great dane Harley decided to join us for a few trips around the farm.

Harley can give some seriously slobbery kisses with that big tongue.

Happy Easter!