Ingenious Inkling

Snowman Thanks

Since there are five Wednesdays in November, it's time for a Blue Moon Challenge at Gingersnap creations ... Thank You Cards. 

Lauren suggested I check out the amazing digital creations of Anna Aspnes.  I thought these wonderful snowman gift tags would make fun card elements.  I deleted the *to* and *from* from the tags and sized them to about 1 1/4" for my card.  Memory Box paper was stamped with three different Hero Arts snowflakes (Get Merry & Holiday Cheer) in Azurite ink.

The sketch is this week's Twisted Sketches with a *twist* of glitter.  I punched a white snowflake and added lots of stickles glitter for sparkle.  I finished with a EAD Rub-on sentiment.

Rogue Redhead / Technique Junkies Blog Hop

Welcome to Stop #11 on the joint Rogue Redhead and Technique Junkies Blog Hop!  We are all having loads of fun with the new Technique Junkies' 3D and Fun Folds CD!

The Technique Junkies team has joined us to showcase the numerous great techniques on this new CD.  As you may know, the Technique Junkies Newsletter has been publishing rubber stamping technique tutorials since 2002. The 3D and Fun Folds CD contains 70 step-by-step technique tutorials in PDF format – perfect dimensions, perfect directions and great pictures for every step. Visit www.techniquejunkies.com for more details about the CD and the Technique Junkie Newsletter.

A fantastic group of design team members from both Rogue Redhead Designs and the Technique Junkie Newsletter, have helped put together this fabulous Blog Hop to kick off the 3D and Fun Folds CD.  Not only will the talented Technique Junkies team be hopping with the Rogue Crew today, they started hopping yesterday with Classy Cards N' Such and will be hopping again all the way through Friday one day each with PaperTemptress, Mark's Finest Papers, and Sweet n' Sassy Stamps.  Check the The Technique Junkie Newsletter Blog for more details.

After visiting me, you can head off to see Sharon Briss at Ill Tempered Ink for your next stop.

My project is called a Scallop Flower Box ... so perfect for all sorts of little gifts.  Mine will hold a necklace made by a friend.  I used two 12" sheets of two-sided Cosmo Cricket Storytime Collection paper for my design.

The row of books from Relish Reading were perfect for the decorative band I wrapped around the box ... and one of the sassy ladies from Milliner Misses decorates the front.  I paper pieced her hat with the coordinating paper I used for the scallops & added a bit of red colored pencil lipstick & a sparkling gem on her hat.

I love that the box design allows you to easily open and re-close the box while keeping everything intact ... and how cool is that big scalloped blossom.

If you get lost along the way, here's the whole list of hop stops for your convenience.

1. The Technique Junkie Newsletter Blog

2. Rogue Redhead Designs Blog

3. Jackie Kalchert

4. Beverly G., Rogue Crew

5. Jean Franks Beck, Rogue Crew

6. Holly Brown

7. Jane Bosi

8. Laura Liddell, Rogue Crew

9. Joanne Wardle, Rogue Crew

10. Chris Dickinson

11. Stephanie Severin, Rogue Crew

12. Sharon Briss, Chief Rogue

13. Pat Huntoon

Have fun along the way!

On Saturday, December 3, Pat from the Technique Junkie Newsletter will announce the winners from each company. Be sure to hop along on each day! 

There will be FIVE WINNERS! On Monday, December 5th, Pat will announce ONE LUCKY WINNER with a GRAND PRIZE with a bundle of prizes from all of the participating businesses.

If you have been following along already you should have come from Chris Dickinson.

If you are only starting here, please head back to the Technique Junkie Newsletter Blog and go from there.

You won't want to miss any stops along the way – in order to win you will need to comment on everyone’s blog AND Pat Huntoon's blog. There will be an additional chance to win by playing along in her Blog Hop!

Be Bold in the Dreams

This week at the Corrosive Challenge Blog, the theme is to CASE a design team member.  Since I was a guest designer for them in February, I thought it would be fun to go back and CASE one of my own designs (although now that I read the instructions for the challenge a second time, it appears the intent may be for you to specifically CASE one of the four cards posted this week).

I chose my Rock & Roll themed card I created for the Red, Orange & Yellow Challenge as my Inspiration.

I decided to stay with the Rock & Roll theme as well as the general layout of the card, although I did mix-up my color palette to coordinate with some Rock Star stickers I've had sitting on my work table for weeks just waiting for the right card.  The reflective metallic paper made it a bit challenging to photograph.  I used red glitter paper for my background for all-over sparkle

I added a bit of bling and an Everyday Sparkling Sentiment from Crescendoh to complete the design.

Rock on!

Enjoy Life ~ Second Edition

The final challenge at the Ellen Hutson birthday celebration is Julie's Color Challenge.

These colors are in the Out of Print Collection by Basic Grey ... my card features a design called Second Edition.  The sketch is this week's Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge.  The sentiment is one of the awesome new EAD Designs Random Words Stickerz sentiment that fits inside a 1" circle.

I received the good news that my most recent Chemo Angel assignment has completed treatment and graduated from the program.  I wanted to send her one last card of encouragement.  I know I've mentioned Chemo Angels before, but if you're interested in a non-profit that really provides critical support during one of life's most challenging times ... please consider volunteering ... or donating.

And remember ... enjoy life.

Artistic Outpost Sale

There's a sale going on at Artistic Outpost through November 30th.

For every $25 you spend, we'll send you a special gift code for $5** (GC must be used by March of 2012). 

Better yet!  These gift codes stack! If you spend $50 you will get a $10 certificate, spend $100 get a $15 certificate!  Remember, in the US you get free shipping*** when your order totals $50 ($250 internationally).

New stamps make awesome holiday gifts ...

Here's a card I made using the new French Flight set ... love those three dashing gents ... so perfect for masculine cards ... and the Men in Your Life Challenge at the Here Come the Boys blog.

I added the small balloon and sentiment from Paris Exposition ... those two sets work so well together.  The designer paper is 7Gypsies framed by some red embossed cardstock for texture ... perfect for the Seeing Red Challenge at One Stitch at a Time.

 
**Gift Codes will be emailed to you in December.

***Please note if you order more than 6 sheets of EZMount cling foam, free shipping will not apply. These items are bulkier and require extra shipping costs.

Rustic Holiday Inchies

To Celebrate Ellen Hutson's 5th Birthday, Sharon has posted a Back In Time Challenge at The CLASSRoom encouraging us to re-visit prior blog posts and choose an older project to inspire a new version.  I chose this All Mixed Up Inchie INKling project from July 2011.  Julia made this sweet little inchie card & shared how inchies can help unify a design.

I went with the same card design, but decided to make my elements 1 1/4" because I like the look of the frame around the inchie elements.  To unify my design, I used traditional red & green inks for my stamped images.  I also added a bit of sparkle pen to each inchie (in the picture you can see it on the candle flame and in the center of the stars on the top row) to help tie things together even more.

All inchie stamps are from Inkadinkado.  I stamped the center element twice and popped-up the inchie for a bit of dimension to this other-wise very mailable 5" square card (I trimmed the card base down from a pre-made 5"x6 1/2" card, so I even have an envelope that won't require additional postage for a square design).

The red base paper is a piece of Basic Grey Fruitcake (oh how I wish they still put coordinating solid colors on the back of each of their patterned sheets ... those distressed solids are still some of my favorite go-to papers).  The inchies are punched from a piece of chipboard packaging I saved from a shirt (because those thicker pieces are just too good to throw away) ... which is perfect for the Lost and Found Challenge at the Basic Grey Challenge Blog.

It is also inspired by the Christmas Tree Challenge at Our Creative Corner ... now to go get these cards addressed, so they can go in the mail.

Memories, Joy & Delight

One of my favorite on-line stores, Ellen Hutson, is celebrating its 5th Birthday with some challenges, so I had to join the fun ... this card uses Julia's Sketch Challenge with papers and embellishments from Authentique's Wonder Collection.

The big felt snowflake from Stampin' Up coordinated perfectly with a circle sentiment from the collection.  Rather than use a single sentiment, I used Authentique's Diction Stickers.

You have until Wednesday night to link-up a sketch card for a chance to win some goodies.

Archaic Dinosaur Imagination

This week's SCS Inspiration Challenge comes from the wonderful bedding of Glenna Jean.  Chose the fantastic Cooper Collection ... and more specifically that fun picture hanging on the wall above the bed ... to inspire my card.

 

Here's a close-up shot.  I loved the dinosaurs along the top and the two different colors of polka dots along the bottom, so those are the elements I incorporated into my design.

 

I started with vintage Basic Grey Archaic paper and then added a stamped images in several colors from Artistic Outpost's Whimsical Melange (that cluster of circles is so versatile).  Next I used sequin waste as a mask and sponged orange & blue ink along the bottom.

I added a several rows of border stickers and a sticker sentiment from the collection (matted on brown cardstock & attached with foam tape) to complete the design.

I hope you find inspiration.

Sweet On You

Since our tummies are full with our Thanksgiving meal, we're ending our year at Jingle Belles with a food-themed prompt we're calling Candy Kisses ... create a card featuring your favorite holiday foods, drinks or candies ... yummm.

And we have an equally delicious sponsor for this week's prompt ... Rogue Redhead Designs.  They will be providing one random winner a $15 Voucer for the RRD Store.  RRD is celebrating its first birthday, so there are lots of fabulous sales at the RRD Store.  They also graciously provided Lauren and me with stamps for our cards this week.

I went straight for the candy and cupcakes ... and made a card for a girlfriend who loves Christmas goodies as much as I do (dark chocolate salted caramels anyone??).

I used this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch.  I stamped the Candy Kisses multiple times for my background. My cupcakes were stamped in pink.  I used a blender pen to color in the cherries on top & added some glossy accents for some shine.

 

I am also celebrating a Pink Christmas with the City Crafter Challenge Blog.  They're also playing with Pink & White at the Ribbon Girl Challenge Blog.

Hope you'll join us for our final Jingle Belles prompt of the year ... and in case you're wondering, Jingle Belles will be back in 2012 ... to again, take back December, one holiday card at a time.

Believe in the Magic

The talented Kryssi Ng is the featured artist at the CASE Study Challenge this month ... and this is the card to inspire us this week ... absolutely stunning

I loved the vertical and horizontal lines of the card, as well as the contrast of the sentiment with the stamped background, so those are elements I incorporated into my design.  I also used colors from this week's Color Throwdown Challenge ... which were perfect for another Christmas Tag Card.

I stamped Hero Arts Magical background in red along the bottom of a card base.

I added some chocolate chip cardstock strips (in part to disguise that after multiple attempts, I still could not stamp the background straight) and my 3-D gift tag.  The sentiment is an EAD Rub-on.  If I did this card again, I would use a lighter blue along the bottom for less *noise* with the sentiment.

I'm also joining the fun at the Tag You're It Challenge at Simon Says Stamp.

My husband took a new blog picture for me this afternoon ... although for the life of me, I can't figure out how to display any larger photo on the sidebar of my blog.  Here's the full shot.

My necklace is called Tuscan Sun & is from one of my all-time-favorite Etsy Stores ... TzaddiShop ... I get compliments every time I wear it ... and it's two-sided for two different looks.  If you're looking for a unique and very classy holiday gift ... check it out.