Ingenious Inkling

Scenic Route

I had some fun using Sketch Challenges to put together some cards with Echo Park's Scenic Route papers and chipboard.

 

The first one uses the sketch from the Sketch ~N~ Scrap Challenge.

 

 

I use three of the papers and two chipboard pieces.

 

 

The next card uses five chipboard stickers and the wonderful global map designer paper from the Echo Park Scenic Route collection with the Sketch from the Stick it Down Challenge.

 

 

I'm also joining the Anything Goes Challenge at Addicted to Stamping and More because for me, my favorite occasion/holiday is a trip with my Sister.

Spring Umbrellas

The inspiration for this card started with The Little Red Wagon Save Me from April Shower Challenge to use an Umbrella on your card.  I started with some lovely umbrella designer paper from Echo Park My Favorite Spring.

 

 

I took further inspiration from The Card Concept How Does Your Garden Grow Challenge for my Clean & Layered Design.  I was inspired by all of the rain that would have been needed to make all of those gorgeous blooms grow.   I also added a vintage fabric bird (with his own little bird house) that loves spring blooms and a lady bug (which I'm sure is loving his home in that flower bed).  Finally I chose the perfect floral spring sentiment from the same Echo Park collection.

 

 

The layout is this weeks Vertical Sketch from the Paper Craft Crew.

 

America

The theme at AAA cards is a design along the Edge featuring your Country.  Click through and take a look at all of the great cards from the Design Team.

 

 

I knew I had tucked away some new America papers & Stickers from Echo Park, so I pulled them out to design my card.

 

 

I used this week's Freshly Made Sketch for my layout.

 

 

One of my favorite Independence Day photos of me from my childhood that was published in the local newspaper ... swimming pools and watermelon.

 

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.

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.