Ingenious Inkling

Abracadabra

Lauren is the Queen of Snark this week at the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers where the theme is P is for Penguins.

 

 

I inked-up my Taylored Expressions If Penguins Could Talk Stamp for the occasion.  

 

I decided to also make a card for the November #TEMakerChallenge where the November Challenge is to use two or more mediums (Gel Press Print for the Penguin's Background, Stamping, and coloring with alcohol ink markers); patterned paper; and the color brown (both covered by Tim Holtz brown designer paper).

 

I used a sentiment from Taylored Expressions Big Grumpy Birthday and Mini Strips - Harvest.

 

I'm also joining Anything Goes at Seize the Birthday.

Count Your Blessings

The current Impression Obsession Challenge is all about Giving Thanks.

 

 

I found the sentiment I wanted to use from Impression Obsession Holiday Words, and then decided to use the layout from the TGIF Challenges to create an Autumn Leaf Wreath with the Leaves Reverse die from Serendipity by Impression Obsession.

I die cut the leaves multiple times from multiple Gel Press Prints in my stash in a variety of Autumn hues.  I die cut my Oval and then started assembling my Fall Wreath.

 

 

 

I layered two more Gel Press Prints from #gellinktober and assembled my card.  When I got it put it together, it felt like it still needed a bit more, so I added a few falling leaves outside the wreath and some tiny bits of bronze bling.

 

 

I'm also still having fun with the Paper Anthology Anniversary Challenges - this one is for FALL into the Season.   Creatalicious Challenge is Anything Goes with optional Autumn/Thanksgiving.  And finally, Dies R Us are all about Happy Fall Y'all (with the Impression Obsession Leaves Reverse Die).

 

 

Despite how different 2020 has been, there are still so many Blessings to Count.

You da Best

Now that #gellinktober has passed, I want to turn all of my great inky gel press prints into cards. 

 

Today's card is made from the print I made by rolling-off the Alcohol Ink onto regular cardstock using some blending solution (a technique I definitely want to play more with).

 

I paired it with the layout from the CAS(e) this Sketch! Challenge using the CZ Design You da Best Die Cut from Simon Says Stamp together with a Simon Says Stamp Birthday Sentiment Strip.

 

 

I'm also joining the Just Us Girls Wildcard Challenge to use Word Dies.

 

Mixed Media Gellinktober

When I saw the current Mixed Media Challenge at The Funkie Junkie Boutique was Purple, Orange, Green! Eek! It's Halloween!, I thought it would be fun to try a gel press print for #gellinktober with three colors that didn't blend.  I applied the ink to the gel plate, but didn't do any brayering.  I used Distress Oxide Inks and got two pulls from the inked plate.

Unfortunately, I failed to read the entire challenge description until my card was done to realize they wanted Shabby Chic or Vintage designs, so I'm not quite sure my mixed media card qualifies as either, but I'm just proud of myself for stretching myself again with a Mixed Media design.  The stickers and ghost die cut are pretty old, so technically it could qualify as vintage.

 

 

I used the first pull for my card base and splattered it with black paint to tie the colors together. 

I used the second print for some of the other elements in my layout.  The Sketch is this week's Paper Craft Crew Sketch Challenge.

 

 

I embossed the lighter purple with an embossing folder that reminded me a bit of spider webs, and then went direct-to-paper with my ink pad to bring out the embossed texture.

I added stickers, gems and die cuts to decorate my Halloween design.

 

Joy on Dictionary Day

When I saw the Dictionary Day Challenge at Daring Cardmakers, I knew I needed to join the fun.

 

I started with my Joy Definition Stamp from Catslife Press stamped in brown on ivory cardstock & the joy page out of one of my dictionaries ... and my base is a gel press print made by my friend Mona.

 

 

I went to my collage drawer and combined stickers, birds, vintage gold sequins and trading stamps to finish my collage.

 

I took my color inspiration from the Pick of the Paperback books at The Library Challenge.

Color Block Christmas

The October Monthly Mix Challenge at Gina K. Designs is Color Blocking.  I started with one of my #gellinktober prints (I used the middle one, which was the brayer roll-off print).

 

 

I inked an Acrylic Block with Gina K. Designs Powder Blue Ink, spritzed it with water, and then created the color block design on my Gel Press Print.

 

 

I stamped the Gina K. Designs Winter Flower in a combination of Powder Blue and Wild Lilac on White Cardstock.  I painted the center of the flower with purple watercolor and then went over it with shimmery silver paint.  

I used the sentiment from the set inked with the same two colors (I stamped twice with Powder Blue and then went in with one stamping of Wild Lilac).

 

Gell(i)nktober Pretty Blossom

Today I tried Fireworks! Shimmery Ink Sprays on my Gel Press Plate for #gellinktober ... they didn't really do much other than pool on the surface (even after brayering ... so it ended-up being more of an ink smoosh experience into the watercolor paper.

 

I decided to die cut my paper using the Pretty Blossom Stem from Memory Box.  I die cut the Blossom a second time from white cardstock for a bit more contrast.

I was thrilled to win both the featured card & prize at the Memory Box Challenge for September, so I wanted to make sure I joined their Playing with Plaids Challenge for October.

 

I used this week's Mojo Monday Sketch together with two different plaid papers from my stash.

 

I finished with a circle sentiment from Memory Box Best Life Typewriter Sentiments.

 

Gell(i)nktober Let's Par-TEE

Today I tried one of Birgit's techniques using Distress Oxide Ink and Stencils.  The first print is made by putting the Carabelle Studios Circle of Stars stencil down on the inked plate and doing the first print.  Then there is a second print after picking-up the stencil.

 

 

I used my first print for a masculine birthday card inspired by the Sports theme at the Cupcake Inspiration Challenge.

 

 

I chose the golf ball to inspire my design with Golf papers from Authentique.

 

 

The Happy Birthday sentiment is a clear sticker mounted on white cardstock.

Gell(i)nktober Halloween Witch

Today's Gell(i)nktober #gellinktober is brought to you by the colors Orange & Yellow.  I thought it would be fun to try to make a background for one of the Halloween cards I need to make.  I did my background in Sauna and then stamped on the Gel Press Plate using another Carabelle Studios Texture Plate - Tissu -  and Orange Twist.

 

 

I added a tag, 3-D sticker and sentiment sticker together with some ribbon & twine for a quick design.

 

Love those fun colors and one-of-a-kind background.

Gellinktober Be Brave

For today's Gellinktober play with ink on the Gel Press, I again tried stamping on the Gel Press with a Carabelle Studio Ronds Texture plate.  I got better results with more contrast in the ink colors.  The right is picking up the stamp from the press ... the left is using the extra ink to stamp on a gel press print.

 

 

I used the left image to make a card with this week's Freshly Made Sketch with some stickers from my stash.

 

 

I finished with a scattering of enamel dots.