Ingenious Inkling

Believe in Yourself

This card is made using one of the *rejects* from yesterdays watercoloring experiment.  I started by stamping Hero Arts Vertical Arrows in Versamark and clear embossed before painting with Fireworks Sprays.  

Unfortunately, the stamp had too much embossing to get a true *watercolor* feel, but the end result was still pretty enough to save to use in a different design.  

I cut it into a 5" circle card design adding a 3-D butterfly sticker, Cosmo Cricket Sticker Sentiment & Studio Calico sentiment (stamped in Neon Green).  I just love those colors.

You're Always In My Heart

I like to send valentines to my friends and family, so tonight I made one for a friend across the miles using papers & a stamp from Studio Calico.

I was thrilled to see one of my favorite sketch makers (remember 2 Sketches 4 You) is back sketching again ... the talented Laura, aka The Paper Poppy.  I used her January layout for my design.

I finished by adding a little cork house to my map and added a bit of color to the heart using Distress Markers.

Fusion Fox

I decided to make a Fusion card for this week's Fusion Card Challenge ... I love the clean lines and colors in the photo ... and round sketch design.

I wanted a real pop of orange with accents of blue and green, so I started with this fun felt fox I picked-up on my recent shopping travels, and built the design around him.

I finished with a sentiment from Studio Calico stamped in Warm Green to coordinate with the border and the leaves in the photo.

Eclectic Thinking Of You

When I was searching through my paper stash this weekend, I found this lovely piece of Herringbone paper from the Everyday Eclectic collection by Allison Kreft.  The design immediately reminded me of Jennifer Maguire's card for this week's CASE Study Challenge.

I trimmed the Herringbone pattern into little arrows and created my card using a Hero Arts Essential Messages sentiment.

I finished the design with a few coordinating epoxy dots.

Go Your Own Way

I loved having my Dad visit for the long holiday weekend ... we fixed things (my craft knife & my door), cut down things (dead tree limbs & bushes), and installed things (light fixture, new ink storage unit, and mini-blinds).  We also made time for fun with a day visiting the family farm (Dad loves driving the tractors), the farmer's market, and a stop at Duffy's, which was filled with classic muscle cars (there's one peeking through behind us).

Tonight I had some fun with this week's Inspired by Challenge ... love this fun nautical button necklace.

I started by stamping some Anchors on golden yellow designer paper.  Next I added some golden brads and then stamped some gold sequins.  I added tiny pearls to the center of the sequins for a touch of white.

I used this week's CAS(E) this Sketch (love the challenge of doing CAS with those scattered elements) and finished with a Studio Calico sentiment and some navy cardstock.

Sea Island Birthday

My favorite thing about the SplitCoast Stampers Inspiration Challenge each week is when it inspires me to try something I never would have otherwise.  

When I saw the gorgeous white-on-navy of this Sea Island Tunic from Lily Pulitzer, I thought of all of the different die cuts from white paper that I could use on a navy background.  Then I started wondering if I could get a similar contrast using Memories Whipped Cream Mist and a stencil ... so I did what any adventurous crafter would do ... I tried ... and I loved the results.

I used Heidi Swapp's Lattice Stencil that I picked-up at Michael's last week.  I taped down the top & bottom with paper tape before spraying.  I used one of the over-sprayed edges trimmed from the navy paper for the border on my card adding a strip of white border-punched cardstock.  I tried navy ribbon, but ended-up with with red because I loved the pop of color.

The layout is from Sketchbook Saturday and the sentiment stamp and box are from Hero Arts/Studio Calico.  I finished with a Freckled Fawn Starburst Dew Drop Sticker for a bit of glittery sparkle.

I hope you find inspiration.

Wishing I Could Be There

There are so many great Project Life cards out right now ... and they are perfect for cardmaking too.  I used one (and a camera) from Studio Calico to make this card for the Banners & Flags Challenge at CAS-ual Fridays.

The Stamp & Banner are from Simon Says Stamp and the yellow puffy card is Amy Tangerine.

Kinda Awesome

I love when I have enough time & energy left at the end of the work day to play in my studio ... I also love this fun stamp set from Studio Calico's Lyra kit last month ... perfect for this week's Mojo Monday Sketch.

Circle Punches, vibrant inks, fun papers, and chipboard arrows ... love it.

Also joining Addicted to CAS where they're celebrating Circles this week.

Play in the Sunshine

I had a little fun with my Spectrum Noir markers and Studio Calico wood veneer embellishments this morning inspired by this week's CASE Study Challenge card.

I love how Maile colored just a part of her wooden feathers, so that's what I used to inspire me ... I also love the vibrant colors, which I was able to obtain with my Spectrum Noir markers.

I tried to capture the fun of summer and the outdoors.

Treasure This Day

I had the chance to play with lots of new goodies today in my studio.  The Challenge theme at the Hero Arts blog for May is to use stamps from their newest catalog, Stamp Your Story.  My card uses images from two sets ... My Words & Time.

The layout is this week's CAS{E} this Sketch.  I added some fun little K&Company embellishments I picked-up at the dollar store recently.  I'm also joining the Blog Named Hero for their Clean Up Your Act Challenge.