Ingenious Inkling

Happy Love Day

I spent part of today purging my studio and trying to decide which backgrounds to keep and which Reverse Confetti products to keep.  

This background was made on a day I spent playing with Dina Wakley Gloss Sprays.  It's sort of an unexpected color combination (Lime, Blackberry & Orchid I think), but I love it.

 

 

I paired it with bright green cardstock in the same hue and coordinating Glitter Paper.  After choosing a card with these Reverse Confetti dies and stamps as a favorite of 2022, and loving this card, I moved them from the donate pile to the keep bin.

It also reminded me that I need to intentionally just "play" with product groups more often like these gorgeous Gloss Sprays.

Top 10 Favorites of 2022

Each year I like to go back and revisit all the art I made and choose my ten favorites from the group (You can see my Five Favorite Holiday Cards of 2022 here) ... here are my favorites in no particular order. 

1. My first card revisits a long-ago technique - Faux Cloisonné - which uses magazine pages and embossing.  This card used a page from my vintage collection of National Geographics.   I love being able to make old techniques new again (my first recorded use of it was with a Lands End Catalog page in 2006).

 

 

2.  I was sad to see the end of Reverse Confetti in 2022, but happy for Jen for following her heart.  This Valentine features some of my favorite Reverse Confetti stamps (perfect for Galentine Cards) and Confetti Cuts together with a favorite Gel Press Print.

 

 

3. I love the colors from this card made for an AlteNew Inspiration Challenge ... the dies can be a bit futzy to assemble, but I do love the end effect ... I also love how my Gel Press print incorporates into this design too.

 

 

4.  I miss Paper Smooches too, so it was fun to pull out lots of stamps in my collection for this Father's Day Card for Shopping Our Stash ... it was fun including so many elements that remind me of the recipient.  I have loved designing for SOS this year.

 

 

5.  I loved participating in Birgit's month-long Gel Printing Challenge.  My favorite was this cool print I made by stamping onto the plate with a lemon ... the creative magic of gel printing is still one of my favorite creative outlets.

 

 

6.  I had so much fun Guest Designing for the Funkie Junkie Boutique.  It was such a fun challenge to see how many elements from their store I could incorporate into my cards.  I loved exercising my mixed media muscles.

 

7.   I was so grateful that Lauren and I were able to resume our annual trip to NYC and for a few days of art camp.  We declared 2022 Collage Camp, and I had so much fun going through Lauren's pre-cut collage elements and putting together some cards.  This collage card coordinates perfectly with my Frida Khalo Inspired Monster that Lauren crocheted me for my birthday (she is on my desk at the office, so she can make me smile every day).

 

 

8.  This card that was inspired by a card made by my friend SkyPaperScissors who is an ink-blending aficionado.  It reminds me how grateful I am for long-distance friendships that have sustained me in 2022.  It also reminds me that I really want to spend more time ink blending in 2023.

 

 

9.  I had fun taking a Mixed Media Washi Tape Class with Donna Downey.  Years ago, attending Donna's first Inspired Event was a real game changer for me ... it was the first time I spent significant money to invest in growing my artistry (and first time I traveled to an event by myself).  It was a game changer, and the first time I really used the word artist to describe myself, so it was fun to revisit art with her and be able to thank her for the inspiration.  I had fun combining washi tape with other media.

 

 

10.  My final card was a winner at one of my favorite Challenge Blogs - the sisterhood of Snarky Stampers.  I first used Taylored Expressions Sarcasti-Chick at the first Junkiefest event, where I eventually met the members of my crafty crew.  It was such a relief to find others who I really "clicked with" in this paper crafting community.  And this card just makes me smile.

 

 

I always start down memory lane wondering if I will find 10 pieces I love enough to feature ... and then as usual, have narrow down the possibilities to get to just 10 creations.  I love the experience of revisiting my year of artsy creations.

Thanks for going on this artsy journey with me.

 

Deck the Halls

Day 4 of the 12 Tags of Christmas is Deck the Halls with Vera Kuprick.

 

 

I started by stamping the Holly from Reverse Confetti Joys of the Season in Deck the Halls ink on coral cardstock and then die cutting using the Essentials by Ellen Holiday Tag Trio.  

 

 

I used Reverse Confetti Letter Cuts to cut out the song lyrics.  I finished with a green ribbon and a sentiment from Lawn Fawn Simply Winter Sentiments.

#fettifarewell

I was so sad to see Jen announce that she was retiring from Reverse Confetti (but happy for her, since she's following her heart).  I have enjoyed Jen's products for years and even got to meet her at Creativation in 2018.  I wish her all the very best on the next leg of her journey.

 

 

I had fun going back to find my very first Reverse Confetti card from 2016.

 

 

And today I'm joining the #fettifarewell Instagram hop with a new card inspired by the Inspired by October Challenge.

I combined the Happy Confetti Cut with some stamp surgery Birthday on the Hooray Free with Purchase Set from Reverse Confetti.

 

 

I pulled the two shades of orange and the sage green from the inspiration photo and then used the Sketch for my card layout.  I added in some scraps of Gel Press print that were on my table and reminded me of that rug.  I skipping any embellishments to keep it a masculine mailable design.

 

 

The Best Thing to Hold Onto in Life

The August Stock Your Stash Challenge at Reverse Confetti is to make a Wedding Card.  It was perfectly timed, since a friend is getting married next weekend.

 

 

I decided to take my design inspiration from the Inspire.Create.Challenge.  I found some Alcohol Ink Designer paper that I paired with some texty paper from my stash.

 

 

I used the sentiment and flowers from Reverse Confetti Something Wonderful.   The finished card is a top fold 5" x 6" so I could add a wrap of yellow twine under the sentiment.  I finished with some coordinating crystal gems.

 

 

I'm also joining the Addicted to Stamps Challenge to use Stencils and/or Die Cuts.

 

 

 

And Retro Rubber Challenge is Anything Goes.  These stamps are from January 2018 and are still wedding favorites.

 

There's Gnome One Like You

The newest challenge at Shopping Our Stash is Gnomes.

 

 

I started with the fun little Gnome & House Stamps from Reverse Confetti Holiday Gnomes.  I paired them with scraps of paper from Reverse Confetti Winter Wonder (and a bit of blue Gel Press Print on a map index) using the Layout from Sketch Saturday.

 

 

The sentiment is from Reverse Confetti OMG for the Reverse Confetti June Stock Your Stash Challenge to create a Hello / Just Because Card. 

 

 

I added an enamel star to the top of my Gnomies hat and a few more enamel dots for accents.

 

 

Go Shop Your Stash for your Gnomes and come join the fun.

The Adventure Begins

Reverse Confetti's April Stock Your Stash is all about Moms, Dads & Grads.

 

 

I went with a Grads theme starting with the Reverse Confetti Triangle Cover Panel Cut in some local school colors.

Next I followed this video to create my own mortar board hat.  I didn't have cord in the colors, so I went with silver metallic cord & a silver brad.

 

I finished with two flag sentiments from Reverse Confetti Congratulations.

He Makes All Things New

The March Reverse Confetti Challenge is to make an Easter or Spring Card.

 

 

I used the plaid layering die cuts in spring hues together with the Reverse Confetti Easter Blessings sentiment stamped on the Reverse Confetti Stitched Hex Tag Die (with the sides trimmed to fit the sentiment).

 

 

I finished with some ribbon, twine & enamel dots.

You are Somebody

The February Stock Your Stash theme at Reverse Confetti is Encouragement & Congratulations.

 

 

I went with the Encouragement theme featuring a stamp from Reverse Confetti My Tribe.

 

 

I inked it with multiple inks to create an ombre effect and then die cut it with the Tag Die included in the Reverse Confetti Celebrate Tag Confetti Cut.

The background is two ink-smooshed panels using Dylusions Shimmer Paint and the Sketch from Try Stampin' (or Not) on Tuesday.

 

 

I finished with a scattering of gems and ribbon & twine through the hole in the tag.

 

 

Happy Heart Day

The January Stock Your Stash theme at Reverse Confetti is Love is in the Air.

 

 

It is the perfect opportunity to use my new Big Love Confetti Cut.  I die cut the base in black and then die cut the letters and heart in Red Glitter Paper.  I attached the glitter paper with foam tape for dimension.  I added a little pink glitter heart from my stash on top.

 

 

 

I found this red and pink Gel Press Print (pulled with sheer silver metallic paint) that I used for my card base.

 

 

I finished with a red ink stamped sentiment from Reverse Confetti Words of Love.