Ingenious Inkling

Chalk Prints

When I saw this chalk printing video by Cassie Stephenz, I knew I didn't have the high pigment chalk she used, but I was curious if any of the chalks I had in my studio might produce a similar effect.

All I could find were these vintage Pebbles Shimmer Chalks, so I figured I would give it a try.  I used a blade to pull out the half-circles of chalk & shave them onto the top of the water.

 

 

I tried four different color combinations after my initial blues, and pulled these four prints ... not as vibrant as Cassie's, but still pretty cool.  I sprayed the paper with clear varnish spray to keep the chalk from rubbing off onto my fingers and everything else.

 

 

I used the yellow and coral print at the top right to make this card with the Simon Says Stamp CZ Design Love You Sending Sunshine Die Cut cut from coral cardstock & vellum..

 

Birthday Candles

I ordered from the recent Echo Park paper sale, and I also picked-up the current Card Kit, which was birthday-themed.  

I used the Sketch from Hand Stamped Sentiments (rotated)

 

 

I also played Tic Tac Toe with the Paper Craft Crew Challenge.  I went vertical down the left with stripes on my candles, the tag die cut and designer paper.

 

 

I finished with a seam binding bow on the top of my tag.

 

Oh Hoppy Day!

When I was searching for something in my studio this week, I found my stash of Easter embellishments, so I pulled them out.  I decided this morning was as good of a time as any to start some Easter Cards.

I built my card around this fun little felt Easter Bunny sticker and this week's Freshly Made Sketch.

 

 

I paired my Bunny with this fun Oopsy Daisy paper from Echo Park Celebrate Easter.  I paired it with a sentiment from Taylored Expressions Tag Team - Easter.

 

 

For the arrow element in the sketch I pulled out my hoarded SRM Sticker Zig Zag Stitches stickers.

Oh Christmas Stencil, Oh Christmas Stencil

We're creating with Stencils at Jingle Belles this week. 

I chose the never-before-used Simon Says Stamp Christmas Foliage Stencils for my card.

 

 

I added a wrap of coordinating ribbon and finished with stamped & die cut sentiments from the STAMPtember set by CZ Design Coolest Yulest.

 

 

I took my inspiration from lots of winter foliage and bows on the wreaths in the Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge.

 

Thursday Link Love

Another week of blogland shenanigans:

• Wild Rice Egg Bake
• Self-Care for Work Wellness
• Mardi Gras Moon Pie Bars
• some more compact Macramé Designs
• Irish Coffee Cake with Baileys 
• Nutty Irishman Brownie Bites 

Have a tremendous Thursday (sorry for the short list … weekend travel threw everything off). 

Sisters' Weekend

No cardmaking this weekend because I was off to a long weekend in Kansas City with my Sister.

Our annual sunglasses in the car photo.

 

 

We had fun exploring thrift stores, used book stores, and anywhere else that caught our eye.  And of course we had amazing food.

She remembered some amazing mussels we had on one of our prior trips at a modern French restaurant, the Westport Café. 

The memory did not disappoint (we made sure and spoon up ever bit of that amazing curry broth) ... they were absolutely delicious.  We also had raw oysters, escargot and fun little salmon-on-waffle bites.

 

The next morning she introduced me to McLain's Bakery where we shared salmon toast and wonderful pastries.

 

 

That night I made a mistake and failed to get reservations ... there was a volleyball tournament in town and they were filling-up everywhere we tried.  We finally found a table at Mesob Ethiopian Restaurant that we followed-up with the fabulous new Ice Cream Flights at Betty Rae's Ice Cream.

 

 

She got Betty's Adventure and I got Betty's Favorites, so we could try 12 different flavors ... and they were all amazing (don't worry, we couldn't come close to finishing it all).

I didn't make the same mistake Sunday night and got us a reservation at Grunauer Austrian-German Restaurant.

We shared a stuffed schnitzel with cheesy spaetzle and red cabbage and then topped it off with the scrumptious Apple Strudel with whapped cream.

 

 

 

There was also lots of game playing including Codenames Duo, Big Boggle, Scrabble and Rolling Across America.

 

 

I miss her already but am so very grateful for the time we got to spend together.

 

Stardust Meadow Stocking

I took a more literal approach for my inspired Jingle Belles card this week ... here's the inspiration photo from French Knot:

 

 

I used the brick and blue wall and took my inspiration from stocking #5 - Meadow Stocking.

 

 

I embossed a piece of Craft Consortium Essential Metal Texture paper with a Sizzix Brick Embossing Folder and then inked with Rust & Brown ink to bring out the texture.  I matted it on a blue that reminded me of the wall.

Next I hand-cut my stocking from Concord & 9th Stardust Cardstock, which I thought was the perfect hue.  I decorated it with an Eyelet Outlet Swirl Flourish and added some pink flowers.

 

 

I pulled out some Pink Pom Poms for the dangling decoration and added a loop of Stardust hues ribbon to hand it.  I finished with some Tim Holtz Christmas Sticker sentiments attached with foam tape.  I just love the unexpected color combination.

 

You can also Get Cracking on Christmas, another year-long Christmas Card prompt.

We hope you'll find inspiration too and join us.

Thursday Link Love

Another week of skipping through blogland:

• Chai Latte Cupcakes with Caramel Brulée Frosting
• love these creative Geometric Tile Designs (one shown)
• Fresh Strawberry Scones
• beautiful Gradient Color Palettes
• Easy Beef Bourguignon 
• Apple Cranberry Oatmeal Bake
• Polaroid a Day Project
• Nutter Butter Pie
• I adore this Tiny Home
• Sheet Pan Chicken Gyros
• Easy Oven S'mores Dip
• Upcycled chairs with Tea Towel Upholstery
• Kachumber Salad
• Chai Pistachio Biscotti

Have a tremendous Thursday!

Christmas Coffee with Heart

I got some new Catherine Pooler stamps & paper in the house this week, so I decided to use the Catherine Pooler Mug Shots Stamp set for my card for the Caffeinated Christmas Challenge. 

 

 

I stamped the Cat Mug in purple & added a heart.  I decided to pair it with new Catherine Pooler Under the Eiffel Tower Designer Paper.

Only one problem, somewhere along the way I forgot I was making a Christmas Card (I'm embarrassed to admit how many times I forgot some key element of a challenge while I'm in the midst of creating).

 

 

So, I did what any committed card-maker does, I went back and tried again.  This time I used the Holly Thermos from Catherine Pooler Warm & Cozy Stamp set in the same purple with the berries stamped in red.  My granddad always took a thermos of coffee in his lunch box every day to work, so that memory made me smile. 

 

 

I used the rest of my Under the Eiffel Tower Paper together with die cut hearts from Catherine Pooler Hearts & Tags Dies.  This time I got the occasion right with a sentiment from Catherine Pooler Jolly Trees.

 

 

The layout is this week's Sketch Saturday.

I'm also linking-up at the 12 Months of Christmas Link Up Challenge, which is also Christmas with a Heart.

 

You Deserve a HAND

This week's theme at Shopping our Stash is You Deserve a HAND - to feature a hand (or in my case Hands) and/or a Congratulations Card.

I stamped three hands from the Essentials by Ellen Handful framed by the Essentials by Ellen Instant Photo Frames.

I colored the nails, bracelet and cup of coffee and embossed the decoration on the top of the cup. 

I used the Sketch from the Make the Card Challenge for my layout with a sentiment from the same stamp set.

 

 

I finished with the make-a-wish Dandelion in the third hand.

With my Latte, I'm also joining the Simon Says Food and Drink Challenge.