Ingenious Inkling

Santa Brought Me Mid-Century Modern

For our first card-making prompt at Jingle Belles, we're breaking-out the gifts Santa brought us. 

I have had this Simon Says Stamp Ring Wreath Die on my wish list for quite some time ... and I was thrilled with out my first card using it turned out.

I started by die cutting my wreath from black cardstock for the frame.

Next, I die cut the wreath using two different shades of teal glitter paper and a sheet of silver glitter paper (actually I used scraps of glitter paper and cut out multiple partial wreaths ... since a lot of the circles are the same size, this works well).  It was so relaxing to fill in all of the circles.

I stamped Joy from Simon Says Stamp Big Words - Encouraging Words (using my MISTI made it fool proof even after I had adhered the wreath to my cardstock).  I finished with a black cardstock bow punched with the Stampin' Up Bow Builder.  I just love the mid-century modern feel of the glittery bauble wreath.

I'm also joining the Anything Goes Challenge at Simon Says Stamp.

MISTI Layered Stamping

There is no better way to spend New Year's Eve than getting inky with my MISTI. 

Since the theme at the Impression Obsession Challenge is Anything Goes, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to create a masculine birthday card I need to get in the mail.

I started by stamping Impression Obsession Gentlemen Silhouette in Gina K. design Kraft ink on Watercolor Paper and clear embossed.

 

Next I created layered stamping with three colors of Distress Ink (Mustard Seed, Antique Linen & Crushed Olive) and Seth Apter's Solar System Stamps.

Impression Obsession Cover-A-Card Birthday Words Background was inked with Brushed Corduroy, Crushed Olive & Gathered Twigs Distress Inks and stamped on top.  I wiped some of the text away from my embossed Gentlemen, but left some of it intact.

After I finished, I realized I needed to stamp one more image to help ground my Gentlemen, so I added a line of ovals from Impression Obsession's Primatives  ... the MISTI makes this so easy to do.

 

I trimmed down my image to around 5" square and mounted on a bronze metallic cardstock base.  I finished with a row of Eyelet Outlet Champagne Gems along the edge.

I believe they look quite dapper ... I imagine them singing a rousing happy birthday to the recipient.

I'm also linking-up at Creatalicious Challenge where the theme is also Anything Goes.

Thursday Link Love

Another week of blogland discoveries:

• Free Alternative Gift Tags
• Cinnamon Bun Scones ... the best of both worlds
• Love Mike Barr's Rain Paintings
• I want to make Melted Crayon Art
• Boston Cream Pie Pancakes ... my oh my
• This cold weather has me craving Butternut Squash Soup ... this Chai Butternut Squash Soup sounds good too
• Tutorial for a pretty Bubble Chandelier (shown)
• I also need to break-out my Spiralizer for the new year
• Have you ever tried Face Tapping (I usually squeeze the points between my eye brows, but I'm going to try tapping next time)
• My Freezer needs some attention

Have a tremendous Thursday!

Washi Tape Herringbone Valentine

This week I had fun creating a Herringbone Background using Washi Tape (you can find the Tutorial at Technique Junkies).

I combined lots of *love* themed tapes for a pretty Valentine's Day (or Anniversary) design.  This is my background after I trimmed the edges.

 

Next I mounted my panel on black cardstock for some contrast.

 

 

I stamped Technique Junkies Love Heart in Red and added it to the center of my design.

 

 

 

I'd love to see how you use this technique with your Washi Tape Collection

 

Eyelet Outlet Products Used:

• Blue/Red Heart Washi
• Heart Graph Washi Tape
• Love Washi Tape - Pink
• Skinny Heart Washi Tape
• Headphone Washi Tape
• Red Heart Washi Tape

My 10 Favorites of 2017

I always enjoy looking back on my year of creations ... and thinking about what I want to create in the coming year.  

Here are my 10 favorite non-holiday cards & artsy creations from this year in no particular order (here are my top 5 Holiday cards for 2017).

1 - A Co-worker requested a Pizza-themed design.  I had fun using lots of paper punches to put together a "supreme* design.  I love playing with stamps and inks ... but sometimes I love the simplicity of just creating with paper.

2 - This card for Fusion card Challenge was such a fun graphic design to create ... I loved the dark inked sky and the pops of neon color from orange and green (and the reminder of how much I love traveling to NYC).  Offsetting die cuts were one of my fun techniques for the year to create both shades & pops of color.

3 - This card revisited a punched paper technique I first used in March 2007 ... so fun to make something old new again ... it was also a winner at Inspired by the Little Things.

4 - My group of Mother's Day Bouquet cards were so fun to make ... and it made me so happy to mail flowers that would last all year long.

5 - I've had another great year designing for Eyelet Outlet.  This card that re-purposed a Kleenex Box with lots of bling & blooms was so fun (and another NYC-themed design ... feels like it's time to plan my next trip).

6 - Lauren & I had a blast making marbled paper and Gel Press Prints at our annual art camp.  This card using one of my vibrant Gel Press Prints really popped.

7 - I had so much fun designing for with my MISTI for My Sweet Petunia this year (and am thrilled to be joining the My Sweet Petunia crew at Creativation in January).  I loved being able to stamp with Concord & 9th Turnabout stamps, especially the Dotty Turnabout.

8 - I also had a lot of fun designing for STAMPlorations CAS Challenge and new releases.  This grungy design for their Giving Thanks Blog Hop was lots of fun to make.

 

 

9 - I didn't color a lot this year, but loved how the neutral tones worked together on this Strange Bird from Unity (and loved that a discarded piece of watercolor paper became the star of the show).

10 - This Clean & Simple Design turned out exactly as I envisioned in my head (and was the winner at the Inspired by All the Little Things Challenge).  I love the texture of real wood paper.

I love the wide variety of designs ... and yet they are all a little bit of *me*.

PS - It was also a year of continuing to stretch myself with other artistic mediums

I took a mixed-media class with paints and collage to create this fun Scribb-a-Doodle Landscape canvas.

Lauren & I tried Paper Marbling for the first time and had a messy inky blast.

I took an art fabric weaving class and made this fun canvas.

And I took a glass casting class where we formed our image out of clay, built a mold, filled it with glass, and then sent it into the kiln.  Lots of work, but a great learning process ... I love the tactile feel of glass.

Hope you enjoyed taking a walk down memory lane with me ... looking forward to another fun year of creative inspiration.

I always enjoy looking back on my year of creations ... and thinking about what I want to create in the coming year.  

Here are my 10 favorite non-holiday cards & artsy creations from this year in no particular order (here are my top 5 Holiday cards for 2017).

1 - A Co-worker requested a Pizza-themed design.  I had fun using lots of paper punches to put together a "supreme* design.  I love playing with stamps and inks ... but sometimes I love the simplicity of just creating with paper.

2 - This card for Fusion card Challenge was such a fun graphic design to create ... I loved the dark inked sky and the pops of neon color from orange and green (and the reminder of how much I love traveling to NYC).  Offsetting die cuts were one of my fun techniques for the year to create both shades & pops of color.

3 - This card revisited a punched paper technique I first used in March 2007 ... so fun to make something old new again ... it was also a winner at Inspired by the Little Things.

4 - My group of Mother's Day Bouquet cards were so fun to make ... and it made me so happy to mail flowers that would last all year long.

5 - I've had another great year designing for Eyelet Outlet.  This card that re-purposed a Kleenex Box with lots of bling & blooms was so fun (and another NYC-themed design ... feels like it's time to plan my next trip).

6 - Lauren & I had a blast making marbled paper and Gel Press Prints at our annual art camp.  This card using one of my vibrant Gel Press Prints really popped.

7 - I had so much fun designing for with my MISTI for My Sweet Petunia this year (and am thrilled to be joining the My Sweet Petunia crew at Creativation in January).  I loved being able to stamp with Concord & 9th Turnabout stamps, especially the Dotty Turnabout.

8 - I also had a lot of fun designing for STAMPlorations CAS Challenge and new releases.  This grungy design for their Giving Thanks Blog Hop was lots of fun to make.

 

 

9 - I didn't color a lot this year, but loved how the neutral tones worked together on this Strange Bird from Unity (and loved that a discarded piece of watercolor paper became the star of the show).

10 - This Clean & Simple Design turned out exactly as I envisioned in my head (and was the winner at the Inspired by All the Little Things Challenge).  I love the texture of real wood paper.

I love the wide variety of designs ... and yet they are all a little bit of *me*.

PS - It was also a year of continuing to stretch myself with other artistic mediums

I took a mixed-media class with paints and collage to create this fun Scribb-a-Doodle Landscape canvas.

Lauren & I tried Paper Marbling for the first time and had a messy inky blast.

I took an art fabric weaving class and made this fun canvas.

And I took a glass casting class where we formed our image out of clay, built a mold, filled it with glass, and then sent it into the kiln.  Lots of work, but a great learning process ... I love the tactile feel of glass.

Hope you enjoyed taking a walk down memory lane with me ... looking forward to another fun year of creative inspiration.

OMG UR OLD

Time for the December Essentials by Ellen Pin-Sights Challenge.

I like the contrast of the black graffiti on the bright colors, so that is where I took my design.  I cut 5/8 inch strips of paper in all of the colors along the right side from my scrap bin and covered my card base.

I die cut Essentials by Ellen Banner Cake from Black cardstock and then a second time from Lime Green to fill in the cake.  I finished with two twine bows in the color of the bottom panel on my striped rainbow background.

Five Favorite Holiday Cards - 2017

Since Lauren & I started Jingle Belles in 2010, I've been recapping my five favorite Christmas cards of the year (you can find 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 & 2016 here) ... I always enjoy revisiting my creations for the year.

1 - Embossing Acetate reminded me of how a shallow icy puddle would crack when I carefully stepped on it as a kid ... it also reminded me of when those spider webs of frost form on an outdoor window.  I love the combination of the embossed texture with the warm texture of the layered felt snowflakes.  

2 - I loved how this beauty combined all sorts of recycled elements ... a paint chip, vintage reward stamps, and a gorgeous snowflake from an office holiday card received last year.

 

3 - Probably one of my goofiest holiday cards of the year, but it still makes me smile ... because who doesn't need a unicorn for Christmas.

4. It's been another great year designing for Eyelet Outlet (where this card is actually featured on their store site) and for My Sweet Petunia ... I loved how this winter scene came together featuring lots of fun winter brads and my MISTI for perfect sentiment placement (after all of the brads).

5.  This snowman tag from the 12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist was attached to a kraft card base and sent across the miles ... he's still my favorite snowman after lots of years and always makes me smile.

 And don't forget ... if you want to take back December 2018 one holiday card at a time, join the fun at Jingle Belles starting January 1st.

Ride 'em Cowgirl

When I saw this week's CAS(E) this Sketch, I stopped immediately and went to my scrap paper bin and started playing. 

I chose scraps from Cosmo Cricket's Wanted Collection on a Kraft Card Base ... odds are I'll make several more of these before the week ends.  It's like quilting with paper.

I added a 3-D sticker and a wrap of tan cord for my "lasso" to finish my design ... love it.

 

Faith

The STAMPlorations CAS Challenge runs through the entire month of December and the additional color challenge is to incorporate some GOLD.

I made two versions of the same card using Stencils, Bo Bunny Chiffon Stencil Paste and Stamps.

First one uses the Crisscrossed ARTPlorations Stencil with a stamp from STAMPlorations Faith Expressions stamped with Delicata Golden Glitz Ink.

For the second one I used the ARTplorations Gridlocked Stencil with the same combination.

You don't need STAMPlorations products to join the fun (but we'd love to see you feature them).

Thursday Link Love

Another week of blogland exploration:

• beautiful photos of Cat Eyes
• One Hour Egg Nog Cinnamon Rolls
• 10 reasons we don't stick with things ... just in time for those resolutions
• these Fabric Gift Pouches would be perfect all year 'round
• I totally want to make my own Yeti Sweater next year
• This Slightly Savory Snack Mix looks yummy
• I am always mesmerized by Pen & Ink Drawings
• My Grandma used BON APPÉTIT SEASONING ... didn't know I could make it myself
• Egg Nog Banana Bread sounds very festive
• Awesome technique for using simple stencils to create unique patterns
• How to make pretty Sugar Scrub Cubes (shown)

Have a Tremendous Thursday!