Ingenious Inkling

Wonky Christmas Tree

I couldn't resist taking a literal interpretation of this week's Freshly Made Sketch and making a wonky Christmas Tree.

I cut four triangles from coordinating designer paper and started assembling from the bottom.  Instead of stripes I used brick paper that reminded of the brick paper my Grandma would wrap around a book case every year, so we could hang our stockings on the special fireplace.

 

Of course every wonky  Christamas Tree needs a Gingerbread Man trunk ... a Christmas sentiment sticker and an Eyelet Outlet Bling Star completed my design.

While my papers were out, I made a second wonky tree using red & white striped paper ... I love making these fun little trees.

 

 

Take One More Step

I love the Heart & Sole Stamp Set from Papertrey Ink for running cards.  This one is for someone who is getting ready to run her first marathon.

I stamped the show in three colors and used this week's Freshly Made Sketch.

Autumn Splender

It is my final time Guest Designing for Challenge Up Your Life.  

This week's theme is to Use Something from Nature.  

I went with oak leaves and acorns ... and a lovely Camus quote.  Autumn is my favorite season of the year.

My 10 Favorites of 2015

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 from this year in no particular order (you can go here to see my top 5 Holiday cards for 2015).

1. One theme that was popular in 2015 was donuts ... I love donuts ... and I love this fun donut-themed card.  It also incorporates another big design element of 2015 ... sequins.

2.  I just love this All Star High Top.  It's a lot of work to assemble, but the finished product is so fun ... and it's fun to personalize for the recipient too.

 

3. The challenges at the Ellen Hutson blog were a favorite this year ... I love this one inspired by one of the Pin-Sights Challenges.  Her Bokeh Dots were a favorite set this year too.

 

4. I always love the challenge of making specific cards for friends ... like this fun little piggy ... I was so happy with how he turned out.

 

5. I love how I was able to channel my inner *Lauren* for this design ... lots of stag heads this year, and I adore this one with lots of flowers.

 

6. I had a lot of fun with watercolors this year ... and with snarky stamps.  Love how these neutral tones come together.

7. I love these cool 3-D embossing folders, and I had a blast with Impression Obsessions hats, mustaches & ties ... this card still makes me smile.

 

8.  This was also the year of discovering Color Burst and having so much fun creating in New Jersey with Lauren. This card started with a crazy idea ... that actually worked (filling in the building outline with clear texty tape).  I love it.

 

9. I love this fun little bow tie punch (I must make more) with this fun sentiment ... such a happy card.

 

10. On an artist tour, I got to brayer on ink and stamp with leaves using a vintage printing press from The Calico Press ... truly one of the highlights of my year.

 

Leave a comment below with a link to your favorite card of 2015 (if you don't have a blog, you can link to a card you love that someone else made),and on New Year's Day I'll pick one lucky commenter to get a priority mail envelope filled with lightly used acrylic stamp sets (some have to go to make room for the new).

Mandala Madness

This week's theme at the Instagram Group #sisterswithheartinart is Mandalas.  Since I'm hanging out at Art Camp with Lauren (aka the Mandala Queen), I had to give one a try.

I started with watercolor paper and a large doily stencil ... and some awesome Color Burst Powders.

Today Lauren and I took a road trip to visit Elizabeth at Paper Anthology (If you live in the area, the talented Lauren also teaches classes there ... check them out).  I picked-up the AltENew Stamp Set Dodecagram, which is perfect for creating Mandalas.

I finished with a large decorate brad in the center, as well as lots of gems.  I backed it with a piece of vintage sheet music that I used to mop-up some of the extra watercolor paint.

This is another fun geometric pattern design for the Virginia's View Challenge.

Here's a peek at a few more of our Color Burst Creations playing with texty tape and texture paste.

Treat Yo Self

I can't believe it took me so long to finally use this fun die cut by Julie Ebersole ... because we all know that at least once a year you should *Treat Yo Self*.

I used this week's Case This Sketch and kept it simple with two sizes of silver sequins and a bit of silver glitter paper.

I've been planning trips this weekend ... looking forward to a spring vacation and sisters' weekend 2015 ... I love treating myself with the ones I love.

Masculine Birthday Inchies

Tonight I needed to restock my masculine birthday stash ... and when I saw the new sketch at Stamplorations, I knew exactly what I was going to do ... pull out the inchies.

I liked it so much, I quickly put together two cards using the same stamps ... and same scrap of designer paper for the middle of my card.

I love how the red pops against the gray.  For my second card I used a two-color palette ... I love how a slight change can produce a completely different look.

I'm also joining the Order of the Opus Glueii where they are celebrating Inchies.

SRM Sticker Party

Did you see that SRM Stickers has a new Challenge Blog?  The theme for the first challenge is {Celebrations}.  I also took my inspiration from the Cure For the Monday Blues #11 Photo.

I've been undergoing a serious studio purge (there's a local Rubber Stamp Rummage Sale next weekend) and I found these 3-D chipboard butterflies ... the happy colors reminded me of the bedroom photo.

I pulled out my SRM Sticker Drawer and added stickers from four different sets (Sentiment/Happy Birthday; Quick Cards Party; We've Got Your Sticker Happy; & We've Got Your Border Pastel (for the touches of yellow rick-rack).

I love my butterfly wearing a birthday party hat (sometimes I think I create just to amuse myself).

Wishing You a Happy Saturday (because you don't need a Birthday to celebrate and have a party)!

You Were Born an Original

One day I was wandering on Etsy (amazing how almost all of my wandering-shopping is done on-line these days) and stumbled upon some fantastic flair at A Flair For Buttons (here's their Facebook Page ... and fantastic scrapbooking on her blog ... you know how I enjoy enabling).  Imagine my surprise when I placed my order to find out these awesome buttons are made right in my back yard in Iowa City, Iowa.

My buttons have been sitting on my craft table for several week, so I could admire them ... I finally gave one a home on a card, together with a scrap of my handmade Paste Paper.

A few die cut feathers was all it took to finish the design ... here's a close-up of my flair.

Let the Good Times Roll

I'm sneaking in a card under the wire for the Anything Goes Challenge at Paper Smooches.  Since Paper Smooches is sponsoring the Color Challenge at the Cards Blog, I used those colors for my design.

The stamps are from Paper Smooches Perpetual Bliss.

I used the layout from this week's Freshly Made Sketch.