Ingenious Inkling

The Best Day Ever

The next section of my stash that needs re-stocked are wedding cards.  I love this week's Mojo Monday Tall & Skinny Sketch, so that was my starting point.

As I looked through my 12" papers, I found one from Pink Paislee Portfolio Collection that worked perfectly with that layout.

I added colors and design sections that were inspired by the Bright Spark picture at The Cure for the Monday Blues.  I sponged Saffron Ink on one of my hearts for more contrast, then I added more ink to the colors to help tie the design together.

Happy Birthday

When I saw this week's CAS(E) this Sketch, I knew I had found another use for the packaging from my Dear Lizzy Paper Pack bundle I picked-up at Michael's this weekend (see how I used my Maggie Holmes packaging here)

I cut the piece of the paper samples for my background *stripes* and topped it with coordinating sentiment and stars.

So quick, easy & fun ... and recyling too.

Best Dad Ever

I spent a good part of the morning re-claiming my studio space and trying to figure out a better storage method for my patterned paper.  

While I was organizing, I found a paper sample book that had been given to me by the marketing department at work (They usually recycle them once a year and know I love re-using the designs).  Some of the printed pages featured cars ... as well as this awesome wall of tools.

I paired it with some bright blue cardstock and a sentiment from Avery Elle The Man using this week's Freshly Made Sketch.

It's Your Day

Once again my masculine birthday card stash is depleted, so I used this week's Sketch from My Favorite Things to make one.

I stamped Spotlight Sentiments several times in Nighshift Blue Hybrid ink (love how it stamps) and punched out my circle with a 2" circle punch.  I also used the Die-namics Stitchable Dot Circle, but it didn't give much contrast with the words.

I finished with a vertical sentiment from Birthday ChalkBoard Greetings & some layered punched stars.

I'm also joining Less is More where they're challenge is to use words at the focal point of the design.

 

Look >>>> Happy

This morning I got up early to venture to Iowa City for my last big farmer's market of the year.  I took along Flat Stanley (or Flat Aaron as I called him, since he came from my nephew Aaron) for the adventure.

It was the perfect cool morning for driving with the sun room open and tunes blaring ... and I got to watch a gorgeous sunrise on my trip.

After the market (where I picked-up sweet corn, apples, and freshly baked goodies), I stopped at the Michael's store in Coralville, which always seems to have different things than I find at the Cedar Rapids store.  

Today's exciting find was a package of 60 pages of American Craft Papers designed by Maggie Holmes for $5.00 ... so of course I had to come home and cut into them.  

My inspiration came from two sources ... first, The Cutting Edge Challenge (which was perfect since I also wanted to use my brand new camera & sentiment die cuts from Echo Park).

Also from the SplitCoast Stampers Inspiration Challenge ... Christmas Tree Shops.  This Patterned Patchwork Quilt Set inspired me to use the quilt-like grid from the paper packaging that showed the different papers that were inside (see it behind the camera) ... it was just too pretty to throw away.

We Three Kings

The prompt at Jingle Belles is We Three Kings - to use at least three designer papers in your card.

Many years ago on my quest to find a crafty hobby that was *mine*, I took a quilting class through our local community education program.  I loved learning about the patterns, fabrics and colors.  It was amazing to me that multiple people could use the same quilting pattern, yet the end result looked completely different depending on the choices of the fabric patters and colors.  Those were the parts I liked about learning to quilt ... the sewing and quilting, not so much.

I love that the things I learned during that creative process are so applicable in *my carft* ... creating cards.

For my card, I started with the inspiration photo at the Weekly Christmas Card Challenge and used it to frame my design.  I loved the combination of pinks & reds with a hint of chocolate.

I started going through my hoarded 12"x12" papers (I still haven't found a good way to store them so they are accessible in my new studio).  I pulled out a number of papers that featured reds & pinks (none of which are actually Christmas papers or from the same paper collection.

I used the Sweet Sunday Sketch to frame my layout ... the strips of designer paper melted into the background design, so I matted them with *chocolate* brown cardstoc, which helps all of the patterns work together.

My focal element is another pocket card, which makes for quick card making.

Dance Dance Dance

Tonight I made a card to congratulate a young lady who made her school's dance team.  

 

I didn't have any dancing images, so instead I used text, glitter, sequins & stars ... perfect for Anything Goes at Simon Says Stamp.

 

Thursday Link Love

Another week of fun blogland finds:

• Cucumber Lemonade sounds so refreshing
• Tutorial for adorable DIY Owl Dresser Pulls
• Halloween Cookies with no cookie cutters ... the designs would be fun for cards too
• A round-up of amazing Decorative Gourds
• Fantastic Bird Shrine Magnets
• These Caprese Skewers look scrumptious
• Love the colors of this DIY Outdoor Mat
• Awesome Kirigami patterns

Fusion Challenge - Sunflowers

I love the gorgeous sunflower in the current Fusion Card Challenge.

I purchase many of my crafting supplies from Ellen Hutson.  She has a great selection, wonderful service, and loyalty discounts ... and she always includes a beautifully colored image with each order.  

My order in September included this gorgeous sunflower called Autumn in a Jar, which was perfect to feature in my Fusion design.

I combined three papers and embossing, which I thought captured the feel of the photograph.  I finished with an SRM Sentiment Sticker.

Marimekko Marvelous

When I saw the current challenge at Shopping Our Stash, I rushed to join the fun.  The challenge is to make a card inspired by your shower curtain. I won't lie, I LOVE my shower curtain ... I know that's a strong word for a shower curtain, but every time I see it in my home it makes me smile.

The curtain is called Kaiku by Marimekko and is designed by Maija Louekari.  I found it on our vacation in Washington DC, but the Marimekko designs have always spoken to me.  

The curtain was longer than a standard shower curtain, so I had to shorten the space between the top of the trees and the hooks.  The tailor could not understand why I would pay to have a *shower curtain* altered, or why I wanted him to alter in a more complicated manner, so that the pattern would not be affected ... obviously, he did not understand the things a person will do when art speaks to you.

I couldn't believe that I had never made a card inspired by my beloved shower curtain.  I started with my Birch Trees Die Cut from Impression Obsession die cut from some specialty cardstock with pieces of shredded money embedded in the paper.  I used a Square Card design for the current Impression Obsession Challenge.

I started with a light blue background to pull in the beautiful hues from the curtain design and then added two shades of green.  I finished with a pair of black birds to add a little more contrast to my trees.  The final touch was a Cosmo Cricket Sentiment sticker.