A New Ink on Life

Christmas Lodge Inspiration

Wow, I am back with another card! This time it is for Stampin' Royalty's inspiration challenge. I had taken a little break from my DT duties there these past few weeks and am so glad to be back stamping with the lovely ladies over there. We really would love to have you join us this week!

                  

My brain seem to "work" in pictures so inspiration photo challenges are always a favourite of mine. I was inspired by the colour scheme and those fabulous trees on the mantle. This card has a very sipmle layout but I added some of my favourite elements and techniques to "jazz" it up a bit! I used Crumb Cake for the base of the card then took a separate piece of Crumb Cake to use as a large layer. I first stamped it using the Musical Notes Standard Wheel and Crumb Cake Ink, then added the Tree from Christmas Lodge in Gumball Green Ink. The edges of this piece were inked with Whisper White Craft Ink to create a nice contrast. To give some glitter to the card I used a piece of Champagne Glimmer Paper that was punched with the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch.

Next I really wanted to create some added texture and depth and to do that I spritzed the heck out of it, lol! I used the Colour Spritzer Tool (of course), a Soft Suede Marker and the Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz to add some shimmer and shine-love that stuff! The sentiment is from Greeting of the Seasons and I added a Designer Ribbon Slide that with a knotted piece of Crumb Cake Taffeta Ribbon.

Have a great day!

Glittery Noel

Well I have had a lot happening on the home front - from a sick little one, school activities, after school activities, to having several appliances breaking down:( You know all those things that come along with life in general. My stamping time has been far and few between and to be perfectly honest I have been in a little bit of a stamping slump. Must be going around because I know a few of my awesome cyber buddies are suffering from "the slumps" too.

So rather then not posting anything at all I thought I would show you one of the Christmas cards that we made at a class I had several weeks ago. And I am hoping to get a little inky this weekend.

This card is all about the glitter. Unfortunately it is really hard to capture in a photo but the Illuminate Watermark Ink pad is just stunning. It gives such a nice shimmer. I started with a Primerose Petals card stock base then stamped the snowflakes from the Snow Swirled set on Midnight Muse card stock. Next I added a piece of Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon across the front.

The sentiment is from Greetings of the Season and was also inked up with the Illuminate ink then punched out with the 1 3/8 Circle Punch. I layered that on top of a die cut circle and then some yummy Silver Glimmer Paper that was die cut using one of the Labels Collection Framelits. To finish it all off I added a sweet little bow.

Have a great day!

 

Merry Merry-Happy You

It's that time again-time to get sketchy at Try Stampin' on Tuesday! Be sure to check out all of the Design Teams samples and we hope you will join us this week.

Have you ever started a card with an idea in you head then have it turn into something totally different? Well that is what happened with this card:) I started with the Hostess only stamp set Happy You (it is full of cute little line art images for different occasions), stamped it on Watercolour Paper and gave the wreath image some quick colour using Gumball Green and Cherry Cobbler Classic Inks and a Blender Pen. I then punched them out with the the 1 1/4" Square Punch so that the words were not with the image. Next using the 1 3/8 Square Punch I punched out some Gumball Green and mounted the 3 little images on them. Cute but now what was I going to do with them?!

I had a piece of Early Espresso Core'dination Card stock sitting on my desk that had already been embossed with the Woodgrain Impressions Folder. So I decided to punch out a trio of square to create a little window for each image to show through. It looked kind of plain, but then I had an "a ha" moment and decided to use one of the left over pieces of paper that had the sentiment on it. I also have had the Cherry Cobbler Scallopped Tulle Ribbon forever and had used it yet. I knew it would be perfect to tie the whole card together. I just cut it in half width wise so that it would not over power that card.

Have a great day!

Wonderfall Layout

Each month with my Scrapbook Club I plan a two page layout that focuses on a specific Designer Series Paper, Stamp set, and Tool. For November I used the Orchard Harvest DSP, Wonderfall Stamp Set and matching Autumn Accents Die, Core'dinations card stock and the Colour Spritzer Tool. Oh and we even did a little Heat Embossing. There was a lot packed into this CAS layout:)

I try to make sure  each month that I come up with layouts that are simple enough to easily recreate but try to include lots of fun elements. I also try to keep the theme relatively generic so that it works for everyone, no matter what stage of their life they may be in. Most of the products used on this page can be found in the awesome HOLIDAY CATALOGUE.

It's really hard to tell in the photos but we used the Colour Spritzer Tool and a Soft Suede Marker to add sprays of colour on the More Mustard 12x12 base.

We used VersaMark and Early Espresso Embossing Power to make the sentiment (from Pursuit of Happiness set) really pop from the Naturals Ivory Card stock. The leaves were die cut then stamped also using VersaMark to create a tone on tone effect.

 For two of the photos I wanted to create a faux polariod. I achieved this by making the Very Vanilla mat a little longer vertically, then stamped some words from the very versatile Fabulous Phrases set. The center photo was just matted with Very Vanilla then placed on top of a piece of Early Espresso Core'dinations Card stock that was embossed with the Woodgrain Impressions Folder, then sanded.

I then create a little banner using scrap of DSP and the Petite Pennant Punch (which is on SALE right now for 30% off! To view the full list of SALE items click HERE) some Linen Thread and two adorable button brads from the Vintage Trinkets.

Have a great day,

 

Affection Collection Friend - Clean and Simple

I think most of us by now and in the throws of holiday paper crafting or at least thinking about it:) I whinced today when I realized Christmas is just a little over a month away! Don't get me wrong I love Christmas and all that it truly represents what I don't love is the undo stress I put on myself to get ready for it,lol. That being said the Stampin' Up! Holiday Catalogue is full of amazing and inspiring projects for the Christmas season but there is also a set towards the back of the Catalogue that I think may get over looked, so today I thought I would share a few quick cards hilighting the Affection Collection Stamp set. Don't worry I will be back tomorrow with some Christmas card inspiration:)

Sometimes it's just nice to switch it up a little and create a square card. I started with a Whisper White base then layered on Basic Black and then another piece of Whisper White that I had scrored a squre into using the Simpy Scored Tool.

I then stamped the heart with wings image directly on the paper using Jet Black StazOn ink and then again on a scrap using Raspberry Ripple Ink and punched it out with the Small Heart Punch, then popped it up and added a Rhinestone Jewel. I also stamped the little banner image using the same colour on a scrap and cut it out.

Again this card was super quick and easy to create but I love the unexpected colour combo. I used Island Indigo, Rich Razzleberry, More Mustard and Crumb Cake. It was also fun to use the Essentials Paper Piercing Pack Template to create the hearts in the background. I actually pierced them then flipped the card stock over so that the "poked" holes were facing out (hope that makes sense:).

Then I just layered on punched hearts and a die cut shape from the Aporthecary Accents Framelits that was embossed with the one of the Adorning Accents Folders.

Have a great day!

Blooming with Kindness

I'm back today with another card, this time for Stampin' Royalty. We have a fantastic Fall colour palette and the Design Team have come up with some fabulous samples to get your creative ideas going.

Yesterday I received a SU! order that had a stamp set in it that I have been pining over since the release of the SU! Catalogue. So when they had the one day stamp sale I needed to order Blooming with Kindness:) Of course the next thing I needed to do was ink it up! I started with a Chocolate Chip card base and embossed it with the Woodgrain Impressions Folder. I then took a piece of Very Vanilla and stamped the large flower image using Pumpkin Pie several times; not reinking in between.

Next I die cut a strip of Pumpkin Pie card stock with the Finishing Touches Edgelit and attached it to the main image. Then I added a strip of So Saffron DSP from the Subtles Designer Series Paper Stack that had been stamped with a sentiment using Chocolate Chip Ink. Lastly I wrapped some yummy Gumball Green Stitched Satin Ribbon and tied it into a bow. I love how simple and easy this design is and it could easily be mass produced.

Have a great day!

T is for Thanks

It's Tuesday and that of course means time to get sketchy at Try Stampin' on Tuesday! This week's sketch lends itself to so many options, I do hope you will join us. And be sure to check out what the rest of the Design Team came up with.  The wonderful ladies at The Paper Players are also having a theme challenge to "Give Thanks", so I just knew I had to play along too.

I haven't used my Woodgrain Folder, Autumn Accents Die and the Wonderfall stamp set very much so I figured now would be a good time before there is snow instead of leaves on the ground:) The base of the card is Naturels Ivory, then I layered on a piece of Early Espresso Core'dinations card stock that had been embossed then sanded. The two strips of DSP are from the Ochard Harvest Designer Series paper pack.

The leaves were die cut from Riding Hood Red, Lucky Limeaide and More Mustard then stamped with the Wonderfall set using VersaMark. I wrapped some twine around the card front layer and tied on one of the gorgeous Brushed Bronze Buttons. Then I attached the leaves to a piece of Island Indigo that was die cut using the Delicate Doilies Sizzlet. For the sentiment I used the leter "T" from Letter It  and Island Indigo Ink (I stamped off once) then added the word "thanks" from Fabulous Phrases.

Have a great day!

 

Halloween Sweet Pressed Cookies!

Well today is halloween so I figured that I better show you a project to go with the holiday. I will admit though that I am not a huge halloween fan, now I know some of you are over the top with the decorations and costumes, which is totally fun but it has just never been my thing,lol! I however do have children who love dressing up and get quite excited for the day to arrive so I might as well use the opportunity to get a little crafty:)

My youngest is in kindergarten this year and she loves making things with me, which I totally enjoy but it has to be something that she is able to do with out a lot of stress on me. You see I am a little bit of a control freak and find the overwhelming need to make sure things are done a certain way so the key is easy projects!

I have always loved baking even as a child and I am sure a lot of us remember baking cookies with our mom or dad and how fun it was to mix the dough and watch them bake. So what could be even more fun then baking and stamping?! Stampin' Up! has these awesome Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps and we just used the sugar cookie receipe that comes with them but added a little orange food colouring to the dough. Then we rolled it into balls and Isabelle "stamped" the pumpkin face from the Holiday set.

Now of course yummy cookies have to have cute packing so we used the premade tags from the Ghoulish Googlies Designer Kit. All she had to do was stamp the images from Googly Ghouls and add the super cute Googlie eyes. We then put them into 4x6" Cello Bags and tied them closed with Lucky Limeaide Baker's Twine. And for an added little treat we also attached a fun bat or spider plastic ring. A very fun and stress free halloween project!

Have a great day, 

Snow Swirled Shimmer

It's Tuesday so that means time for another fun sketch at Try Stampin' on Tuesday! I know tomorrow is halloween but I couldn't help but to make a Christmas card:) Be sure to check out what the rest of the design team came up with and I hope you can join us this week!

I was working on some cards for an upcoming class that focuses on using products that shimmer and glitter and of course I fell in love with the new Illuminate Glimmer Watermark Ink Pad. So I couldn't resist using it again for this card along with the gorgeous Silver Glimmer Paper.

If you click on the above photo you should be able to see the shimmer from the ink a little better. I just wish there was a way to capture in a photo how pretty it is IRL.  I have been trying to restrain myself lately from buying new stamps set (can't say that it has been going well,lol!) so have been focusing on using Christmas sets that I already have rather then needing to get new ones. Snow Swirled is one of those classic, pretty and elegant sets . For my colour combo I chose Midnight Muse, Pool Party, Cherry Cobbler and Whisper White. I think they look so good with the silver paper.

Supplies used:

Stamps: Snow Swirled

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Midnight Muse, Illuminate Glimmer Watermark Ink Pad

Paper: Pool Party, Cherry Cobbler, Midnight Muse, Whisper White

Accessories: Pool Party Seam Binding, Big Shot, Snow Flurry Bigz Die, Bitty Banners Framelits, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, Linen Thread, Vintage Faceted Buttons, Rhinestone Jewels

Have a great day!

All That Glitters

*This post will stay at the top of my blog until Nov.6th. Please Scroll down to see the newest posts*