Ingenious Inkling

Boo-Ya

Today I broke out my Halloween Drawer.  I pretty much keep all other products integrated together, but Halloween is pretty much only for Halloween, so it gets it's own drawer. 

It's also the drawer filled with the most vintage products because I love what I have in there, so I seldom buy new Halloween other than stickers and embellishments.  Maybe I'll add a new one this year.

I had an idea to mail out a bunch of Halloween cards this year, so I figured I better get started.

The first one uses the sketch from The Paper Players and vintage (aka discontinued) Memory Box Blackbird Papers.

 

Sentiment is from Cosmo Cricket Haunted stamp set.

 

 

Next card uses the sketch from Sunday Stamps ... I just love that little ghostie.

 

 

Sentiment is from Joy Clair Creeping it Real.

 

 

I'm also joining Simon Says Stamp Oh So Cute Challenge.

And one more card featuring this week'w CAS(E) this Sketch!

 

Glittery bat & spider stickers with a sentiment from Joy Clair Creeping it Real.

Coffee

I tried one more Monoprint experiment, but the background stamp I tried didn't have enough solid space to pick-up enough ink to work ... but the stamped-off image worked perfectly.  Oh well, you never know until you try.

I used the reject monoprint to mat my sentiment for a masculine Coffee Card for the Spring / Summer Coffee Lovers Card Hop.

 

The current Joy Clair Card Challenge is to make am Easy Stamped Masculine Card.

 

Background is Joy Clair Coffee to Go and sentiment is from Joy Clair Coffee Quotes.

Stamped Style Stones Magnet

Since I was on a roll, I decided to do the 3rd and final challenge at the Joy Clair Blog for World Card Making Day.   The theme is Break the Rules and Open Your Window! ... Create something different that moves you from your comfort zone.

I went hunting through my craft stash for things I had purchased that I thought I would try, but never did.  I found some Color Box Style Stones from 2004, so I figured it was time to ink them up.  Here's a picture of Style Stones if you weren't creating in the 2000's.

 

I had a set called Bold Floral.  I started by inking with Emerald City StazOn ink and heat setting.  I tried stamping the sweater-patterned Coffee Mug from Joy Clair's Christmas Coffee in Blue Hawaii, but there wasn't enough contrast ... but it did combine beautifully.

 

So I inked the same Coffee Cup in Jet Black StazOn and stamped again.  When it was dry, I used super-glue to attach a magnet to the back.

 

I had trouble finding a way to photograph the finished project, so I stuck it on this metal Cocoa Tin.  It was fun getting out of my box this afternoon ... and using products that have been in my studio for way too long.

 

Later Witches

If you're reading this blog, it's likely that you already know it is World Card Making Day.  After going to the gym, grocery shopping and doing some laundry, I've settled into my studio to find some space to create ... as you can see from the photo below (taken for the Joy Clair Challenge) ... it's a bit of a mess in here.

 

I cleared out my space and pulled out a favorite Joy Clair Stamp Set to make my first card for their 2nd Card Challenge (to use only Joy Clair Stamps). 

I started with the SplitCoastStampers Inspiration Challenge, since that is where I truly fell in love with card making 12+ years ago.  My card took its initial inspiration from this rug at Rug at Lulu and Georgia.

 

I used some Halloween papers and this week's Sketch Saturday Challenge with Joy Clair Creeping it Real.

 

I seriously love those stamps ... I also used a Martha Stewart Spider Web Coaster and an Eyelet Outlet Witch Hat Brad.

 

I'm also linking-up at Just Us Girls where they're using designer paper.

 

I'm off to make more cards and enjoy a crafty day.

Cut-Align Product Focus

I was thrilled to be asked to join the Product Focus at SplitcoastStampers for the new My Sweet Petunia Cut-Align.  And to celebrate, My Sweet Petunia is offering 15% off the entire store (full disclosure, I design for My Sweet Petunia, so if you click through to buy using one of my links, I will receive a small commission).  The code is: SCSCUT19 - good through April 20th.

I will confess that in my many years of card-making, I have never effectively used a craft knife. I owned a few, but whenever I tried to use them, I could never cut straight. I always felt so out of control when I was cutting, that I was afraid I would slice my finger.  The Cut-Align has changed that for me.  I now confidently wield my craft knife to make precision 1/16" cuts.  

For my first project, I started with these Sentiment Strips from Simon Says Stamp.  I knew they would be the perfect test for my Cut-Align skills.

Using the Cut-Align makes it super-easy to cut these tiny sentiments.

 

 

And in just a few minutes, I was ready to create.

 

 

To create my card base, I stamped Joy Clair's Doodle Flower Background on a piece of patina designer paper.

 

 

I added some die cut branches from Simon Says Stamp Forget Me Not Flowers tucked under my sentiment, which I attached with a tiny strip of foam tape for dimension.

Next I thought, how could I create my own sheet of stamped sentiments to cut apart.  I had the Simon Says Stamp Tiny Words Faith in my stash, so I used some temporary adhesive to attach the entire stamps set (left on the acrylic) to my MISTI.  I inked it with Brown ink and stamped the entire set at once onto white cardstock.

 

Next I followed the same process with my Cut-Align and saved all of the sentiments in an envelope with the stamp set, so in the future I can just grab-and-go.

 

I decided to pair the stamps with some of the Gel Press Prints in my stash from Art Camp with Lauren.I used the more solid portions of the Gel Press Prints for the back of my Tim Holtz Thinlets Detailed Butterflies and Black cardstock for the front.  I'm linking up at the Blossoms, Butterflies & Bugs Allsorts Challenge.

 

 

I like how the first one turned out so much, that I made a second.  You can never have too many sympathy / encouragement cards in your stash.

Next I used my Cut-Align to cut perfectly even strips of paper.  When I first saw the Doodled Rainbow Sccops stamp from Ink Blot Shop, it reminded me of Mermaid Scales.  I inked it in several shades of blue-greens for an ombre effect.  I used my Cut-Align to evenly cut away the white borders.

I'm linking all three of these cards to the Simon Says Stamp Flickr Challenge Die-ing For Creativity.

 

Next I cut my image into even horizontal strips.

 

I attached the strips to a blue card base and added several Mermaids and a sentiment (punched out with a flower Petal Punch) all from Ellen Hutson's Essentials by Ellen Mermaid's Tail Set.

 

I finished with a sprinkling of oceany sequins.

Next I saw a quilting design that inspired my final card.  Using the Cut-Align reminds me of using a Rotary Cutter on Fabric, so it lends itself to creating lots of quilt-like patterns and designs.

I started with cutting equal-width strip of a variety of orange papers from my scrap stash.  I just lined-up the edge of my ruler with the edge of the paper and cut a 12" piece of designer paper like buttah.

 

 

Next I assembled my strips back into a solid striped background.  Then I cut the strips diagonally using my Cut-Align and the 45 degree angle line on my cutting mat (sorry, the colors on this picture went a bit wonky on me).

 

 

Then I attached my striped strips to my card base.

 

I finished with a sentiment and image from Grouchy Grumplings from Taylored Expressions.

 

And of course I used my Cut-Align for my sentiment.

 

 

Click on over to SplitcoastStampers and click on the keyword CutAlignPF to see all of the great Product Focus Creations.

Embossed Ugly Sweater

The theme for Tag #4 of the 12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist is Embossing.

 

 

I created an Emboss Resist Tag by stamping Joy Clair's Ugly Sweater Background Builder Stamps with my MISTI using White Ink on White Cardstock and embossing with detail embossing powder.

 

The I applied Peacock Feathers Distress Ink with my favorite blending brushes starting at the bottom each time to achieve an ombre effect.

I took my inspiration from the Joy Clair December/January Challenge photos by adding layered yellow flowers with a large pearl brad center and coordinating yellow ribbon ... creating my own feminine Winter Wonderland.

 

Pink Christmas Penguins

My body decided to ignore the fact that it is Saturday and wake-up bright and early, so I joined the SplitcoastStampers Inspiration challenge to make a card inspired by something from Fair Indigo.  I chose these adorable organic Stuffed Animals to inspire my design.

 

I used Penguins inspired by Icy the Penguin and vibrant pink inspired by Jody the Owl.  I was lucky enough to be the Grand Prize Winner for World Card Making Day at Joy Clair, so I used one of my new stamps sets on the card - adorable Christmas Penguins.

I colored the ornaments and added some silver sparkle pen.  The background is inspired by the November Challenge at Joy Clair - Tis the Season to Eat, Drink & Be Merry - because I have no doubt my penguins would enjoy warming-up with a holiday beverage ... and the snowflakes in pink remind me of peppermints.  The sentiment is from Joy Clair Snow Fall.

 

World Card Making Day - Joy Clair

Joy Clair is offering a chance at a Grand Prize for participating in four of their World Card Making Day Challenges, so I had to give it a try (the first was my Studio Post Here).

I started with the Rainbow Colors Challenge.  I stamped my new Joy Clair Coffee To Go Background in Monarch Versafine Clair ink on white cardstock and clear embossed.

Next I painted with a rainbow of watercolors.  Sentiment is from Joy Clair Coffee Talk using this week's Freshly Made Sketch on a kraft card base.

 

Next Challenge was Make & Mail - to make a card and coordinating envelope to put in the mail.

I incorporated the Simon Says Stamp Tag It! Challenge and stamped on a kraft tag using Joy Clair Coffee Talk Stamps and Versafine Clair Inks.

I stamped my Envelope with the Joy Clair Coffee To Go Background Stamp.

My third challenge was to use the Ink Smooshing Technique ... I used two colors of Pink Distress Ink and instead of water, I used my Technique Junkies Iridescent Shimmering Bliss Spray for a gorgeous all-over shimmer.

I used Joy Clair Creeping it Real Stamps for a Pink Halloween with the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers ... because Later Witches.

I'm also linking-up at Simon Says Stamp for World Card Making Day.

I have had a fantastically creative World Card Making Day ... I did some shopping (with my Impression Obsession Winnings and their 20% off sale) and lots of creating ... so fun!

My Paper Crafting Mayhem Space

One of the World Card Making Day Challenges at Joy Clair is to share your crafting space.  I thought about cleaning my space-up, but decided to share today's reality instead.

Here's where I've been creating today.  My MISTI is always right at hand ... as is my Pink 3M Tape Gun.

 

My Gina K. Cleaning cloth on top of the scissor basket (I like my scissors) ... and stamps, dies and inks everywhere.

My paper trimmer on my other table is currently covered with birthday goodness ... gifts and cards that arrived in the mail ... including a handmade card from my Gran, the original paper crafter.

 

Also I got my first Danial Smith Water Color Split today from Lydia ... so pretty.

My auxiliary room (aka Guest Room that is a craft room when we have no guests) is in decent shape ... love my new rug.

 

Here are a few more pictures of my space, so you can get a sense of the larger space where I work (when my paper cutter was much cleaner).  The far table is where I have my MISTI (near my large computer screen, so I can see challenge photos while I create).  The door to the left is the Guest Room.

 

I have my Paper racks on the wall by the front door (the first table is what you see when you walk into our Condo).

 

Inspirational Arrows

Since I still had my Joy Clair Inspirational Arrow stamps on my studio table, I couldn't resist inking them up again for this week's CAS(E) this Sketch.

I chose colors from the Color Throwdown for my Palette (perfect excuse to use my new Pineapple Ink from Taylored Expressions).

I added a few cork arrow stickers have had in my stash forever to finish my design.

They are also celebrating National Simplicity Day at CCCE Stampers with one layer cards.