Ingenious Inkling

Cardstock Christmas

For the next prompt at Jingle Belles, we're asking you to step away from the designer paper … yes, put it away … none allowed … not even a scrap … because the next prompt is to create a card using only CARDSTOCK.

You can tear it, ink it, stamp it, spray it, emboss it … but stick to only cardstock for your holiday card design.

When I thought of cardstock ideas, my memories took me back to the first innovative cardstock product I remembered - Core'dinations and the magic of embossing it. I made some card samples for them way way way back in the day, so I knew somewhere I still had quite a stash of their paper (and I actually remembered where I had it stashed ... a crafty miracle).

 

 

I chose the blue cardstock and embossed it with the Echo Park Mini Triangles embossing folder that reminded me of tiny Christmas Trees and then got out my nail file and sanded away to reveal the light blue Core'dinations core.  Next I sprayed the cardstock with shimmer spray and splattered with white acrylic ink to bring in a snowy effect. 

I die cut my STAMPlorations Merry Christmas Sentiment from the same blue cardstock, but the contrast didn't work ... I tried a lighter blue, which didn't seem to work either ... but when I combined the two to create a drop shadow ... Voila!. 

 

 

After gluing them together, I added some more shimmer spray.  My choice of the blue color palette and clean & simple design was inspired by the Less is More Shades of Blue Challenge.

 

But Always Bring Coffee

The Spring/Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop is drawing to a close, and I wanted to sneak in one more card.

 

 

Like Amy T mentioned in her post today, my Mojo felt absent this morning, so I chose to take my inspiration from the Echo Park Coffee Paper Pad.

 

I used the card at the Global Design Project to inspire my layout with all of my paper pieces.  I chose a paper for my background with coffee cups that reminded me of the circles in the Inspiration card.

 

I finished with some pink enamel dots.

Too Glam

When I saw the fabulous Pepin Vintage Fashion Stickers from The Ink Pad NYC that Lauren used on her Traveler's Notebook, I knew I had to have them to make some cards.

 

And when I saw the Less is More Challenge was all about Fashion, I knew they would be the perfect centerpiece.  The cool thing about these fabulous stickers was all it took was a single sentiment stamp for each to make a complete Fashion Set.

 

 

I used sentiments from Echo Park Salon Collection Stamps ... this one in the oh-so-perfect poppy ink.  I just love those gloves.

 

I love how this card is in the Pantone Colors of the Year ... and another great Echo Park Sentiment.

 

These last two are on some perfectly sized little Paper Source Notecards I had in my stash ... I just love the collar on this one.

 

And this final lovely Pepin Lady was perfect with this sentiment from Essentials by Ellen Pure Magic.

Co-Coa-Co Merry Christmas

Did you know today was National Cocoa Day?  I'm a huge Cocoa fan (with lots of extra Marshmallows) ... I start my day with it several days each week.

 

That also means there's a Guest Designer opportunity at The Coffee Loving Cardmakers, so I thought I would join the fun.

I found the perfect cup of Cocoa in the Echo Park I Love Winter Collection, so I built my card around that pretty mug (using papers from the Collection as well).  I inked around my mug with Blueberry Ink for a bit more contrast, and then matted it in Cocoa Cardstock before adding some Eyelet Outlet Snowflake Bling to the snowflake on the mug.   The final touch was a few snowflake stickers from the paper collection topped with tiny white pearls.

The Layout is from Crazy 4 Challenges where they're revisiting their sketches from 2020 (I chose the one from May 2020)

 

I cut out three snowflakes from the designer paper for the squares on the left and used the absolutely perfect sentiment from STAMPlorations Caffeinated Christmas (designed by my oh-so-talented friend Becca).  The swirly background paper reminded me of the steam coming from my Cocoa Mug.

 

And remember, STAMPlorations has a Never Ending Anything Goes Challenge where you can link-up for a chance at monthly prizes.

And how about a Creamy Hot Chocolate recipe to celebrate the day.

My Mug from Yesterday.

 

 

Salon Fun

This afternoon I had fun making cards with The Salon Collection by Echo Park.

The first one uses this week's CAS(e) this Sketch! Layout.

 

 

I love the little pops of pink on the single layer design.

 

 

Then I used this week's Global Design Project Layout.

 

 

Next, it was this week's CAS Colours & Sketches Layouts.

 

 

I love that Bobby Pin Stamp.

 

 

And then this week's Freshly Made Sketch.

 

Love the color combination of this collection.

 

And one more to round out the group.

 

Witch Way to the Candy?

In my continuing quest to make and mail at least 60 Halloween cards and use up my vintage Halloween stash, this week's Saturday Sketch Challenge was perfect.  Since it was a 5th Saturday, they asked you to choose from any sketch from 2016. 

The over-achiever that I am, I chose four sketches, which were all perfect to feature the many Halloween journaling cards I want to use up.

 

The first on uses sketch 430.  I swapped the horizontal rectangle for a vertical tag & added an extra sticker sentiment to the bottom of this cute little tag from the Pebbles Spooky Collection.  The papers are all from the same Pebbles Spooky Collection 12" paper pad.  All I had to do to finish was add a few enamel dots ... super cute & mailable.

 

Next up is this adorable witch searching for candy (I'm pretty much always searching for candy).

 

This features sketch 440 ... all I had to add to finish was a cute little foam pumpkin sticker.

 

The next one features another tag from the same Pebbles Paper Collection ... I just love that skeleton paper.

 

I stamped a sentiment from vintage Cosmo Cricket Stamps (love the shadow on the letters) and added a little skeleton head sticker from my stash.  This card featured sketch 402.

 

And I finished with another food reference ... because for me, Halloween is really about the Candy.

 

I used candy background paper and another fun little googly eyed skeleton head to finish.  This one used sketch 409.

 

 

The fun part about papercrafting with a single collection and great sketches is that the cards come together super-quick.  I was able to finish all of these in under an hour, which means my stash is growing quickly (which is what I need).

Fearless, Independent and Original

Since Sunday was the final game of the Premier League, I had to make a Soccer-themed card.  It's been so fun to watch our team (Liverpool) do so well this year ... and even more fun that we have live sports back to watch.

 

I used this week's Sunday Stamps Sketch together with Doodlebug Soccer-themed papers from my stash and sticker sentiments.

 

 

I'm also linking-up at The Male Room Challenge where the theme is Sport.

 

Easter Chicks

Apparently each year I buy new Easter paper products, but then don't make very many Easter Cards.  Today I tried to gather all my supplies together, so hopefully I can use them ... and get those cards mailed.

This card features papers from Echo Park Celebrate Easter Collection (love double-sided designs) and the layout from Feeling Sketchy.

 

I used some 3-D chick stickers and a stamped sentiment from Memory Box Springtime Typewriter Sentiments.

 

 

I also took some inspiration from the adorable little critters at The Card Concept.

 

Pumpkin Inspired Wedding

For some reason, when I saw the current Fusion Card Challenge I thought WEDDING (could be because all of my Halloween Cards are already done & in the mail).

 

Black and white make an elegant wedding card.  I started with the wedding cake sticker and built my card around it.

 

I used some Echo Park Wedding Bliss paper, some texty Prima Flowers and a vintage wood block A Muse Sentiment.  I attached my texty paper to my 6 1/2" black card base intending to cut off the black edges, but ended-up liking how they framed the design.

Getting Sketchy With It

We're Getting Sketchy at Jingle Belles this week with this fun layout.

 

I combined papers from the Echo Park I Love Christmas Collection (punched with a 2 1/2" circle punch).  I inked the circle to cover any of the white core of the paper and tie the patterns together.

I finished with a Santa Sticker and a Rub-On Sentiment ... and lots of layers.

I'm also joining the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge which is all about Occasions ... and you know Christmas is one of your favorite occasions.

I can't wait to see what you create with my sketch.