Ingenious Inkling

Circle Leaves Sympathy

I needed a sympathy card, and somehow I let my stash get depleted.  It's the one card I least like to make when I need it, so I worked to restock my stash.

For some reason I tend to gravitate to greenery for sympathy cards, and for this one I used this week's Freshly Made Sketch together with the Simon Says Stamp Circle Leaves die cut from a scrap of Dylusions Purple Shimmer Painted Paper I had on my craft table (yes, sometimes I plan cards ... and sometimes I just use what is within reach and go with it).

 

 

I used stitched circle die to cut out the leafy circle, and then used the same circle die on a piece of mixed media paper to back it.   Here's what the purple looks like before I die cut it (I think it's time to make some more).

 

 

Next I used the stitched circle on a coordinating piece of chalk printed paper that I made here.

 

I finished with a navy stamped Taylored Expressions Simple Strips - Sympathy.

My Sweet **Embossable** You

The newest Jingle Belles prompt is all about Embossing ... we'll let you do texture embossing or heat embossing ... you pick.

I created my card using a slightly modified take on the faux patina technique from SplitcoastStampers with the Cuttlebug Lace Tree Embossing Folder.

 

 

I distressed & inked the edges and then finished with some Stampendous golden circle stickers and a Reverse Holiday sentiment strip from Simon Says Stamp.

 

 

And to sweeten the pot a bit, one lucky random cardmaker will receive Simon Says Stamp's Christmas Cookies Embossing Folder and a cool five piece Interchangeable Snowflake Frame embossing/diecutting set from Crafter's Companion, so come join the fun.

 

 

All My Love

The February Poppystamps Challenge is Me & You ... the perfect opportunity  to create another valentine.

 

 

I started by die cutting the Poppystamps Heart Confetti Collage from some lovely salmony pink glitter paper.  I backed it with a soft pink marker colored paper.

 

 

Next I used the Sketch from Try Stampin' (or Not) on Tuesday and used some handmade chalk paper for the background (you can see how I made it here).

 

 

I die cut the hearts collage a second time and added hearts inside the hearts finishing with a Doodlebug Sprinkle Heart.  I replaced the heart in the sketch with a sentiment from Memory Box Big and Little Valentines stamped on the other scrap of the marker colored paper.  

I'm also joining the Somebody to Love Challenge at little red wagon.

White Colored Pencil Resist Valentine

The January Monthly Mix Challenge at Gina K. Designs is to watch a video of Gina K. making a card using White Colored Pencil Resist technique and then make one of your own.   

When I first started stamping, I was utterly fascinated by techniques.  I had so much fun following tutorials and then creating the magic myself (I remember actually doing a few happy dances in the privacy of my studio).  Gina is the Queen of taking those possibly forgotten techniques and making them new & cool again (and I love her for that ... actually I love her for so many more things than that ... she's truly da' bomb).

 

 

I have the same butterflies that Gina used in her video, but I decided to mix-it-up and use the Love Sentiment from Gina K. Designs Sweet stamp set (because why not use a bit open space that makes it more critical that you get your coloring very solid) and turn the design into a Valentine.   I used BubbleGum Pink ink in the middle of my panel with Red Hot ink on the top and bottom before tearing and inking the edges with black ink.

 

 

I used foam tape to pop up my resist panel for a bit more dimension.  The stamped sentiment is from the same Gina K. Designs Sweet Set with a Heart from Gina K. Designs Lovely Words with ombré inking with the same red & pink inks.  The finishing touch was a few clusters of pink gems.

Since I gifted myself Gina K.'s Sweet Set for Christmas (she had some great sale bundles ... how could I resist), I'm linking-up at the Daring Cardmakers New Year - New Crafty Things Challenge.

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.

 

Stitched Maple Thank Yous

I had a request for a large batch of fall-themed Thank You cards, so I used this week's Freshly Made Sketch and my collection of prints to make them all the same, but different.

 

 

I used the Simon Says Stamp Stitched Rectangles Die Cut for the inner panel on a white cardstock card base ... for this first one using an Alcohol Ink and foiled panel.  Next I die cut the Simon Says Stamp Large Stitched Maple from a Gel Printed Panel.  I finished with a sentiment from the Simon Says Stamp Grateful and Thankful Sentiment Strips.

I'm linking this one up at the Simon Says Fun with Foil Challenge.

 

 

This background was made using bleeding tissue paper squares ... I've got to play with them some more.  The Maple Leaf is from a Gel Press print.

 

 

This background is an Alcohol Ink roll-off paper with a leaf die cut from kraft cardstock that was sprayed with a combination of Ranger Mica Stain Sprays.

 

I love all of the different combinations I was able to make ... I'm grateful for an extra day to spend in the studio.

Snowflake Shaker

The November Monthly Mix Challenge at Gina K. Designs is to make a shaker card.

 

 

I believe I could count the number of shaker cards I've made on one hand (and most of those have been in classes), but for Gina, I'll give it a try on my own.

Thankfully my newly acquired Gina K. Designs Snowflake Circle Cover Plate was the perfect shaker base.  I die cut it from Silver Glitter paper and then attached acetate to the back.

 

 

I used adhesive strips and filled the snowflake well with several colors of purple sequins before attaching it to purple cardstock.

 

I mounted my shakes to a fuchsia card base and finished with a sentiment from Gina K. Designs Sparkle & Shine.

Thanks Gina for my Shaker Success!

Shadow Stenciled Sympathy

The September Monthly Mix Challenge at Gina K. Designs is to create a card with an offset or shadowed stencil design.

 

 

I created my background using Gina K. Designs Water Droplet Stencil with White Pigment Ink and Dark Spruce Ink on kraft cardstock.

 

 

I used the three shades of Gina K. Designs Spruce Ink with the Layered Eucalyptus stamp & die cut with the Double Stitched Oval Die Cut.

The Layered Eucalyptus sentiment was stamped in the Medium Spruce ink to finish the card.

More May Gel Printing

We're still having fun with the #birgitkoopsengelprintingchallenge.

The Stamp Challenge made me smile ... but the challenge to me was which stamp to use.  I decided on a vintage Three Ferns stamp from Hero Arts with two colors of Distress Oxide Ink.

 

 

Next up was Packaging Materials.  I sorted through things I had kept in my stash for future packing, and found this sheet of differently shaped bubble wrap that I tried.

 

 

 

You can barely see it on the second print on the left, but I loved that effect too.

Next was buttons.  I tried inserting the buttons in a rolled-out piece hand-exercise clay thinking I could stamp with that, but the buttons refused to stay embedded (I got it sort of done in the red print).  After that I used the individual buttons to stamp into the pink paint covered plate (and basically got my hands completely covered with both colors).

 

 

I was able to wash all of the paint off my buttons, so they can be used again.

Next Up was Feathers.  I decided to use my favorite Feather Stamp from Tyggereye (Gina).

 

 

I liked how they stamped off with the Acrylic Paint better than the prints itself, which was a reminder that I could cover the plate in medium and use it like a giant stamp pad (love thinking about different ways to use products I already have).  Still one of my favorite stamps.

Next up is using a Brush.  I used Dina Wakley's Media brush to apply the paint by swiping horizontally on the plate.

 

 

Love how the paint blended and the brush strokes (particularly in the second print).  The vibrant colors make me smile.

Ink Blended Peony Bouquet

The May Challenge at Poppy Stamps is Floral Fantasy.

 

 

I pulled out my Poppy Stamps Peony Bouquet and decided to revisit an inking technique from this inky card from two years ago.  I used my MISTI to stamp the Peony image with fade-out grey ink and then grabbed a combination of yellow and peach dye inks and my masking tape and went to work.

 

After adding the ink, I re-stamped in Jet Black Amalgam Ink (which is why the MISTI is so important).  I used the Happy Birthday sentiment from the same set, and then trimmed down my panel to mount with foam tape on a white card base.

Before I revisited the instructions (that reminded me to stamp in fade-out ink), I had already stamped the image with Jet Black Amalgam Ink, so I made a second floral fantasy design.

 

 

I cut the Easter Egg off the Poppy Stamps Decorated Egg Stitched Frame and attached it over my stamped Peony Bouquet with foam tape.  I used the same sentiment and finished with some Pink Fresh Studio bright pink jewels.

 

 

I'm also linking this card up at the Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies Challenge & Springtime Challenge at Make My Monday.