Ingenious Inkling

Gellinktober Poppy Stamps Pink

Today's #gellinktober is brought to you by the color pink.  I used more Catherine Pooler inks on my Gel Press today with one of Birgit's own Texture Plates - Flower Grid from Carabelle Studio.

 

 

I didn't get quite the same layering effect with trying to pick-up stamped texture from my Gel Press (on the left), but stamping with the Carabelle Studio Flower Grid Texture plate produced more contrast on my roll-off piece of cardstock.

The October Challenge theme at Poppy Stamps is Think Pink, so I used my Poppy Stamps Confetti Heart Collage Die and backed it with a scrap of silver glitter paper before attaching to a white card base.

 

I used my one-and-only Poppy Stamps Stamp set Tidings of Joy with some stamp surgery (since it's a Christmas set) for my sentiment.  I used some silver glitter stickers to embellish.  

While I had my stamp on my MISTI, I stamped the sentiment a second time and used it with my other Gel Press Background.

 

Thank You for Being My Friend

I like seeing if I can turn color challenges into ink-blending combinations.  For this card, I used the colors from the CAS Colours & Sketch Challenge.

 

I translated those colors into these Distress Oxide Ink colors - Speckled Egg, Stormy Sky & Peeled Paint.

 

I did my blend horizontal to work with the sketch, and since the colors reminded me of a landscape, I thought it was the perfect home for the adorable Peach and Paper from Picket Fence Studios.

 

 

I used a sentiment from the same set and finished with a sprinkling of sequins.

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

Autumnal Amber Blend

It's Sunday, so that means some Ink Blending Practice ... I decided to have my blend take its inspiration from the current Rainbow Card Color Challenge ... Autumnal Amber.

 

 

I chose four colors of Amber-toned Distress Oxide Ink ... but unfortunately all ink pads were pretty dry (and I couldn't find the re-inkers - that will be my next studio treasure hunt), so I didn't love the end result.

 

 

One way to save a not-so-great-blend is a cover plate die ... I used Birch Press Design Delfina Layer C, which I thought left plenty of the blend to show through ... much better result in my opinion.

 

I reached into my vintage paper flower bag and layered some amber blooms with a big bold brad center.

I finished with a sentiment from Birch Press Design You are Awesome.

 

 

I'm also linking-up at the Ink Blending Challenge at TGIF Challenges.

And the Allsorts Challenge is also celebrating Autumnal Colors.

Wine Alone

I loved this Alcohol-themed Challenge at The TIME OUT Challenge.

 

 

 

I used this week's My Favorite Things Wednesday Sketch Challenge for my Clean & Simple layout.  Instead of circles, I used the My Favorite Things Stitched Tag Corner STAX Rectangle Die-Namics.

 

 

 

I used the Wine Glass Brads from Eyelet Outlet paired with the absolute perfect sentiment from My Favorite Things Good Time to Wine.  I used the colors of the wine glasses in my card with dark maroon cardstock and shimmery silver cardstock for the band.

 

 

While I was on an alcohol-theme, I made a second card for the Less is More Challenge - One Layer Card with a theme of Cheers.

 

 

I stamped the Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Beer Blueprint Bottle together with the Essentialsby Ellen It's All Good sentiment.

 

 

Now to get these cards in the mail ... have you been mailing your cards?

Steampunk Heart Strong

This week's Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge is Steampunk, so I pulled out my Steampunk Stickers from {a vintage girl} & her daughter for some cards ... remember my code SMILYNSTEF gets you 15% off your order.

 

 

I just love the floral elements in these designs, so I used those colors for my card base.

 

I added a tiny epoxy heart and some enamel dots before finishing with a stamped sentiment from Simon Says Stamp You Got This.  This stamp set is at least 2 years old, so I'm also linking-up at the Anything Goes Challenge at Retro Rubber.

 

 

I used even more of these lovely Steampunk stickers on my second card with another perfect stamped sentiment from the same You Got This stamp set.

 

That butterfly is just so cool.

Breathe Leaves

Do you have a favorite kind of tree?  For me it will always be the hard maple tree. We had a very large one in our big backyard growing-up and I have so many wonderful memories of that tree ... climbing, swinging, hiding. 

It probably doesn't hurt that I grew-up in a town who's big event was The Maple Leaf Festival.  I just love all the variety of colors as the temperatures grew cooler ... the tree on the corner that always turned red early ... the later oranges and yellow ... just seeing those colors makes me happy.

 

 

So for the Autumn Colors Challenge at Impression Obsession I stamped those beautiful layering Maple Leaves from Dina Kowal's lovely Maple Set.

 

 

For my sentiment, I used this week's CAS(E) this Sketch! and stamped Breathe from Kalani Allred's Kind Words on pearlescent vellum and attached it over my falling leaves.

 

Mushroom Miss You

I got this new Buzzworthy Collection Stamp Set from Fun Stampers Journey in the mail today & had to ink it up .... it was perfect for this week's Freshly Made Sketch.  I just love the blockprint style.

 

 

I used Turquoise & Navy for the new Color Hues Challenge and Die Cut my sentiment with Hexagon Stacklets Dies.

 

 

I finished with a sprinkling of Navy Gems from Eyelet Outlet.

 

Love You More

I tried another Distress Oxide ink-blending combination using the colors from Hand Stamped Sentiments (which I translated to Speckled Egg, Dried Marigold & Brushed Corduroy).

 

 

I used the layout from the TGIF Challenges and the Simon Say Stamp Frame It Challenge to complete my design.  I cut my blended panel in half and flipped one side before trimming it into 2 pieces.

 

 

I added a frame from My Favorite Things Single Stitch Line Tag - Corner Rectangle Frames together with My Favorite Things Die-Namics Fab Foliage.  Sentiment is from My Favorite Things Essential Sentiments.  I finished with some white sparkling enamel dots.

 

 

With my Fab Foliage, I'm also joining the Little Red Wagon Challenge where the theme is Nature, Flora or Fauna.

You Are Not a Mess

I have friends who are spectacular ink blenders (have you seen the blends from SkyPaperScissors??) ... me, not so much.  I need lots more practice and a lighter hand.  Today I tried it with the Domed Ink Blenders from Scrapbook.com and that seemed to help me get softer edges.  

 

I wanted to do an ink-blend for the current Butterfly Reflections Ink Mood Board Challenge ... I used Tattered Rose, Crackling Campfire & Chipped Sapphire Distress Oxide ink.

 

 

After blending I did several spritzes of water.  To bring in the gold from the Mood Board, I die cut PinkFresh Studio Floral Square Dies from Gold Cardstock.  I chose two that reminded me of images in the mood board (I love that blue bloom).

 

 

The sentiment is from PinkFresh Studio My Favorite Things to Say ... and then I finished with a scattering of tiny gold gems.

Modern Mosaic

I have been so inspired by the recent creations of Joan Bardee (aka @DearPaperlicious).  Today I decided to make my own versions of this lovely design by Joan.  When she told me she punched the circles from designer paper, I knew I had the perfect Stampin' Up Designer paper from several years to give it a try.

 

I started by punching lots of circles from a 12" piece of scrapbook paper that has oranges, pinks, purples and gold metallic abstract.  I attached the punched circles to a rectangle of white cardstock with small foam squares.  I used a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" card base for the first few designs.

 

 

I used a simple graphic sentiment from Essentials by Ellen It's All Good.

The next one I posititioned my panel more to the center, so I could stamp a sentiment from Essentials by Ellen That Thing You Did on top and bottom.

 

 

For my final design, I used a larger 5" x 6 1/4" card base and angled my circles like Joan did on her card.

 

 

I stamped the sentiment from Essentials by Ellen Pure Magic.

 

 

Making these cards was such a meditative process ... and I am thrilled with the end result.  Thanks so much Joan for the inspiration.