Ingenious Inkling

Falling Leaves

Growing-up, we had a huge Maple Tree in our back yard with a tire swing.  I would spend hours looking at all of the different color variations when the leaves starting turning in the fall. 

Our City was the home of the annual Maple Leaf Festival every October, so needless to say, I had the chance to examine lots of Maple Leaves throughout my life.  They are my favorite leaf in the fall, because they turn the entire range of colors depending on the tree and the weather conditions (I once wrote a paper for my college technical writing class on how leaves change color).

The current challenge theme at Impression Obsession is Falling Leaves.

 

As I searched through my stamped, I found this gorgeous Never-Been-Inked Layering Maple Leaf Set by Dina Kowal ... for my card is used the solid and the two bottom layers in Pineapple, Orange Blossom & Vermillion inks.

I started with my paper bag light kraft paper on my table and used my MISTI to layer the leaves.

 

I wanted to use some of my new goodies from my recent Impression Obsession win, so I die cut the Plaid Tag from a Sunflower designer paper and coordinating gold cardstock.

 

Next I stamped three sentiments from my new There For You Set (isn't that a great set of sentiments) using the same three colors of inks from my leaf layering and attached them using foam tape for dimension.

 

This card will be going across the miles to my new Chemo Angel Patient ... I'm so grateful to be able to make cards that hopefully brighten a day and provide encouragement during a challenging time.

 

I'm also joining the Autumn Challenge at Fusion Card Challenge with a loose variation of the sketch and all of those falling leaves.

Nature is also the theme at the Dies R Us Challenge.

Happiness Today & Always

The current Stock Your Stash Challenge at Reverse Confetti is all about Weddings ... but no obvious wedding cards in my stamp stash, so I had to get creative.

 

 

I pulled out several stamp sets and decided to combine the floral spray from Something Wonderful with one of the stamps from Circle Wishes.  I also used some pink designer paper from Reverse Confetti's Pattern Play Collection.

 

I stamped the flowers multiple times using my MISTI in London Fog ink on a piece of pink cardstock that was flecked with grey.  The sketch is from the current Fusion Card Challenge where the theme was family (perfect for a wedding card design).

 

I finished with lots of tiny bling to add some elegance to the design.

Groovy Christmas

Click on over to the Technique Junkies Blog to see what I made for the current Fusion Card Challenge.

Text Me

The next prompt at Jingle Belles is to create a card featuring text ... You could use letter stickers, book pages, dictionary pages, texty patterned paper or just create a card where the sentiment is the star of the show ... just make sure you get TEXTY.

I decided to use some of my massive designer paper stash and went on a treasure hunt for text ... I found it in Shimelle's American Crafts Christmas Magic collection.

 

I took my sketch and design inspiration from the current Fusion Card Challenge ... instead of a hedgehog, I've got an adorable little Penguin from Essentials by Ellen's Arctic Pals paired with his own tiny little snowman friend from EBE Ugly Sweater Accessories.  The background is Essentials by Ellen Alpine Snowfall Die cut on light blue paper positioned over a white circle.  The sentiment is from Arctic Pals as well.

 

We hope you'll get texty and come join our Jingle Belles fun.

Turnabouts Turn Two

Concord & 9th is celebrating the 2nd birthday of their Turnabout Stamps, so I wanted to join the celebration.

 

I used my MISTI and the Concord & 9th Sprinkles Turnabout Stamp inspired by the colors, design & sketch from Fusion Butterfly Wreath Card Challenge.

 

I'm also joining the party at Seize the Birthday.

 

Easter Showers

While my Easter Stickers were still on my studio table, I decided to join the current Cheery Eggs Fusion Card Challenge.

 Love those happy Easter colors.

 

Sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp Tiny Words Faith.

Makes Everybody Feel Like a Somebody

I'm joining the Stock Your Stash Challenge at Reverse Confetti with an Encouragement card.

 

I'm also joining the On the Wings of Inspiration - Bunches of Butterflies Challenge at TGIF Challenges.

 

Sentiment is from Reverse Confetti My Tribe.  Sketch & design inspiration with my Kaleidoscope (Rainbow) of Butterflies is from the Fusion Card Challenge.

 

Life is better because of people who exemplify this sentiment ... so grateful I have some in my life.

Booze & Berries

These week's theme at Jingle Belles is ALL THAT GLITTERS ...is gold ... or sometimes silver. with the outside possibility of copper, bronze or rose gold! on the other hand, sometimes all that glitters is GLITTER! which is my very roundabout way of telling you that at JINGLE BELLES we're all about metallics and/or glitter!

I went with primarily glittery metals on my card this week with glittery paper and glittery snow on my jar-shaped gift tag, which is tied with a golden cord. 

 

Sentiment is from My Favorite Things Sassy Pants Holiday and sketch is from Fusion Card Challenge (the theme is tea and bouquets ... I'm going with booze and berries instead).

I'm also linking-up at the Holiday Challenge at Addicted to Stamps & More.

Party Without Cake

On my list of things to accomplish during this long holiday weekend is restocking my everyday card stash.  I have quite a few random cards, but am sorely lacking in cards for specific occasions.

Tonight I cut up a 12" piece of Simple Stories Let's Party Journaling cards to start putting together some masculine birthday cards ... I always snap-up these types of designs when I see them for just such an occasion.

 

I started with the current Fusion Card Challenge.  The Red Pillow reminded me of the Red Texty Journaling card ... and I incorporated the Sketch as well.

I also incorporated black and white background based on the pattern on the chair seat.  I couldn't position the circles on top of the text, so I slipped them behind my rectangle sentiment.

I finished with a wrap of the three primary colors of twine.  I'm also joining the Masculine Anything Goes Challenge at The Water Cooler Wednesday Challenge.

Next I used the layout from Paper Craft Crew Challenge with another journaling card.

I swapped the leaves for Party Hats and finished with a sticker sentiment.

 

Two down ... about 10 more to go.

Beauty in Ordinary Things

The design team at the CASology Challenge this week was super-creative in interpreting this week's Cue Card.

I had lots of ideas (the first one I had to trash because I couldn't find the stamp set I was looking for ... don't you hate when that happens.  I'm sure I will find it next week when I'm looking for something completely different).  Finally I went with a Glass Coffee Pot ... the epitome of The Office (and my Office).

I paired it with the final line from the TV Show The Office ... which is so true.  And sometimes the most beautiful things is that first taste of morning caffeine. 

Both Stamps are from The Ink Road Scranton, PA.

I also took my inspiration from the glass of wine at the Fusion Card Challenge (and used the Fusion Sketch too for my CAS Design).