Ingenious Inkling

Recycled Printing

Today's theme at the ABC's of Printing Challenge is R is for Recycled.  

I wadded-up some recycled packing paper and used it to create a pattern on my print.  Here is the first print using Yellow Oxide Paint and my plate inked with Red Oxide doing the same effect.

 

Here it is with both layers.

 

Then I did a few more prints to clean-up my plate.  The first one had too much yellow paint ... the second one was pure perfection (at least to me).

 

 

I used the clean-up print for my card base and the other two prints for my Hexagons (inking the yellow one on the edges for a bit more contracts) with this week's Freshly Made Sketches layout.

 

 

I also added a few vintage Studio Calico Hexagon stickers (which are still available at Frantic Stamper ... I may need to order some more) that just happened to be out on my studio table.  The branch is Simon Says Stamp Outline Clustered Leaves.

 

 

I finished with a Sticker sentiment.

I'm also linking-up at the Red, Orange, Yellow Color Challenge at Just Us Girls.

 

Neutral Layered Tag Holiday Gift Card Holder

For this week's card prompt at Jingle Belles is Neutral Noel where we're asking you to create holiday cards which embrace only the neutral color palette – white, cream, ivory, ecru, black, gray, charcoal, obsidian, brown, tan, kraft, camel, oatmeal, sienna (you get the picture). 

There's also burlap, jute, paper bags, cork, chalkboards, sandpaper or lace ... Use them all together or chose one hue and rock the monochromatic design … as long as it's NEUTRAL it's in.

My card was inspired by Ardyth's Layered Tag Card Tutorial that she recently shared on SplitcostStampers.  I used two Manila and one Kraft tag and tied them together using lots of non-holiday neutral items including three coordinated journaling cards, neutral hexagon tags and papers from Ciao Bella Blue Note Collection. 

 

I finished with three sizes of snowflake buttons, SRM Clear Stickers and Tim Holtz Holiday sentiment stickers.  

Here's the look when they are all aligned.  I knotted the ribbon loosely at the top, so the tags are easy to move around.

 

Here's the front card with a gift card in the pocket.  I used an old Spellbinders Die to trim the left edge of the journaling card & then attached it with thin foam tape on three sides to create a side-opening gift card pocket.

 

 

The middle card features a lovely vintage typewriter with a torn piece of paper leaving part of the kraft tag base visible.  I used Studio Calico Hexagon Stickers with music notes to tie into the musical themed background papers.

 

 

The back tag (that I left full-sized) features the darker journaling card.  I love how this design combines all of the neutral tones rather than being monochromatic.  

 

 

I hope you're inspired to use some of your non-holiday papers for lovely holiday designs.

Hexagon Happiness

Day 12 of Spring Card Camp is Geometric Patterns with Basic Shapes with Laura Bassen.  Geometric Patterns were my first love ... pretty much all the first stamps I bought could fit inside a square or a circle.  Geometric Patterns make me happy.  So needless to say, I have spent my morning in my happy place (not to mention I took a break in the middle to get a pedicure).

I decided to take Laura's technique and make it my own by using my own Gel Pressed and Sprayed papers rather than cardstock for my cards.

For the first one, I punched Hexagons from a Gel Press Printed Kraft Tag.  I don't plan my patterns.  I usually just start with one in the center of my cards stock and play around until I find a pattern I like with the number I have (in this case 8).  I used white textured cardstock for a bit more visual interest and added some white enamel dots and a sticker sentiment.

 

I'm also linking this one up at the Monochromatic Challenge at Seize the Birthday.

 

The next one was made with a piece of sprayed paper that was on my studio table.  I loved the variation in color.  I used several Shimmering Bliss Sprays, so there is a nice sparkle.

 

For this one I used clear Enamel Dots and another sticker sentiment on foam tape ... don't tell the others, but I think it might be my favorite.

 

 

The next set of Hexagons were punched from a 5" x 7" Gel Press Print.  I love that the direction of the paint is evident in the print, so I could rotate the Hexagons when I placed them to get even more movement in the designs ... oh the joy of a well-taken nap.

 

And the final one uses some very vintage Studio Calico Fabric Hexagon Stickers that have been in my stash forever.  I left them on the acrylic sheet and just randomly sprayed with Distress Oxide Sprays.  Since they came in two sizes, I was able to do some stacking like Laura did in her design (I seriously need Hexagons in multiple smaller sizes).

 

I had so much fun with these cards ... clearly geometric patterns are my happy place ... a huge thank you to Laura for taking me there today.

Peace on EARTH (Day)

This Sunday is Earth Day, one of our favorite holidays at Jingle Belles.  And to celebrate, we're creating cards with recycled elements.  I have a drawer where I save possible things to re-use on cards.  Here are a few of the pieces I pulled out.

I decided to use the Studio Calico grid-liked Journal Card packaging at the top left for my card base and take my inspiration from the current Fusion Card Challenge.  While the inspiration photo is a baby's room, that doesn't mean you have to make a baby card.

I loved the grey and white palette with the pop of red on the pillow in the crib and the pop of bright blue on the ceiling lampshade, so I incorporated those colors into my design (and was able to do it by using scraps of paper that were on my studio table ... another recycled element).  

I did my favorite swirl bling surgery to cut apart gem swirls and decorate my tree.  I finished with some more Eyelet Outlet bling on the top of my tree and a sticker sentiment (love how that grid design in my recycled packaging made it so easy to line up all of the horizontal elements).

Birthday Designs

I needed to restock my birthday card stash, so tonight I challenged myself to combine this week's Freshly Made Sketch ...

 

with the Two Patterned Paper Challenge at Seize the Birthday.

And for a twist, I wanted to use at least one Eyelet Outlet Brad.

The first one combined two papers from Carta Bella's The Great Outdoors together with layered Tim Holtz Alterations die cut sentiment.  The Jumping Bass Brad was the perfect accent.

 

The second card is vertical using two papers from Studio Calico's Here & There Collection together with an Eyelet Outlet Bicycle Brad ... Success!

More Holiday Leftovers

For me, the leftovers are almost better than the main holiday meal ... so that is why we're still celebrating Holiday Leftovers at Jingle Belles.

My work team all dressed as dominoes for Halloween, which meant I spent a few hours die cutting circles from white adhesive felt.  I had saved the bigger scraps of felt and they have been sitting on my studio table since October.  This prompt was the perfect push to use the adhesive felt to die cut a collection of snowflakes ... two of which are featured on this card.  

I also wanted to use-up some of my older holiday papers ... these are from the Wonderland Collection by Studio Calico.  I also used a stray button and a ribbon scrap for this week's Retro Card Sketch.  

I felt so inspired by the leftover theme that I made a second card from the *leftovers* of the first card.

I stamped the sentiment from Hero Arts Home Baked by Lia Griffith for my first card, but it got lost in all of the patterns.  It looks much better here with the more solid-like background.  I also used another leftover Memory Box tall taper candle die cut that was lurking in my stash.

I'm also joining the Weekly Christmas Card Challenge where the theme is Anything Goes.

Burlap Thank You

I needed a masculine thank you card, so I thought some DCWV Burlap paper would be perfect.  Background paper is Studio Calico Darling Dear.

I used Die Cuts from Paper Smooches Quote Tag Dies together with a sentiment stamp from Chit Chat.  I love how the denim ribbon looks with the texture of the burlap.

It's Anything Goes For the Paper Smooches Challenge, so I'm linking-up.  It's also a Die Cut Linky Party at Pause, Dream Enjoy.

Fusion Challenge - Chevron Straws

I love the happy feel of this week's Fusion Card Challenge.

I found some designer paper in my Studio Calico Collection that I used for the focal panel in the sketch.  

I tried several chevrons, but finall settled on a birthday party sock monkey and a few pieces of my hoarded flair ... happy birthday fun.

And if you'd like some further inspiration, click through and see what the Fusion Card Challenge Design Team has created:

• Betty J
• Dannielle Robeson
• Deepti
• Geri Freeman
• Jeanne Jachna
• Julia Aston
• Katie Brooks
• Kelly Griglione
• Kimberly Wiener 
• Lyndal Higgins
• Lynn Mangan
• Michelle Folland
• Michelle Lupton
• Sindu
• Stephanie Severin <---------- Me

Go On With Your BAD SELF

I'm having a little fun tonight with the Runway Challenge / CAS(E) this Sketch combo challenge.

For some reason, this stamp from Mama Elephant's Hustle was calling my name.  I combined it with glitterg paper from DCWV and a texty Studio Calico design.

And a sock monkey with big red lips and a crown seemed like the perfect finishing touch ... yep, it's been one of those weeks.

Hoppy Eggstravaganza

Tonight I'm joining my friend Amy T who is the Guest Designer at Cure for the Monday Blues with a little neon Easter fun.

I had to break out the Neon Pink Ink for a quick little Easter card.

Layout is this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch.