InkspiredTreasures.com

Summer Smooches

First…THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to all of you who supported my Adhesive Sale this past week!  So many of you emailed that you love my blog and that is SO nice to hear!  I'm happy to have shared this huge discount with you on some of the staples of our business.  I appreciate you all SO much for your help in getting me closer to my goal of the  Fiji Incentive Trip this year!  I'm inching closer and closer as you can see from the themometer on my right sidebar.

I love the name of Stampin' Up!'s April Promotion…Summer Smooches.  Since Summer is my FAVORITE time of the year…yes, I love hot weather…it puts me in mind of all the fun activities to do in the summer.  The cute little set, Bright Blossoms, is just SO fun and fits my idea of summer.  AND…that Summer Smooches Designer Paper is so bright and cute and wonderful, I know it will be a favorite of mine.  Fabric Buttons, Fabric, a new PURSE die, ribbon, a Decor Elements Stencil…just look at all those yummy things!  Stampin' Up! is giving YOU, our customers, a chance to get the Summer Smooches products early in April, prior to it being released in the big catalog on June 1st!  So…take advantage and order yours today!  You can see a color flyer HERE!  And place your ONLINE ORDER at my website HERE!

This was my Control Freaks swap card I made last month.  Now I've seen all KINDS of really CUTE ideas that I love using the Bright Blossoms stamp set, but when I got this set there weren't many samples out there at all, so we all were creating without any ideas.  I was amazed to get the swaps back in the mail and they all were SO different, even using the same set of products and stamp set!

I structured my card to use mostly the Summer Smooches family of products.  I used a base of Daffodil Delight cardstock and layered on Baja Breeze cardstock.  Then I cut a 4×4 square of Summer Smooches Designer Paper (did you know that you can get 9 pieces out of a 12×12 sheet of DSP using that dimension?)  for the bottom of the card.  I used a piece of the new Daffodil Delight Seam Binding Ribbon across to hide the seam.  I stamped the Bright Blossoms image, inked up with markers, on Whisper White and cut with the Label Framelits.  It is popped up on the front of the card with Stampin' Dimensionals.  Then, I added a little Boho Blossoms flower punched from the Summer Smooches Designer Paper and a mini brad along side the Label.  Finally, I stamped "I'm Here For You" from Petite Pairs in Island Indigo ink next to the image.

Isn't it a FUN and cheerful card with those bright colors?  I think so!

Merry Winter

REAL quick post today…I wanted to share my Control Freaks Swap from the last swap we did featuring new sets in the Main Catalog!  This Merry Winter set really caught my eye!  I want to use it on my Christmas Cards this year!  Speaking of Control Freaks…the Tour de Freaks will be here in a couple days!  Come back on the 20th!

I love the Lucky Limeade and Poppy Parade colors together…a very BRIGHT Christmas color theme!

The base of my card is Early Espresso.  I layered on Lucky Limeade that I ran thru the Big Shot with the new Snow Burst Impressions Folder (in the Holiday Mini).  I added a strip of Letters to Santa Designer Paper (LOVE all those stripes in that package!), and then added a little sliver of Red Glimmer Paper along the side.  Oh, I used the Corner Rounder and rounded both corners on the right side.

I stamped the sled from Stampin' Up!'s Merry Winter stamp set in Early Espresso on Whisper White, placed the snowman from the same set on top, and then used the line of snow flakes in red across the "ground".  I colored the hat and scarves with Lucky Limeade and Poppy Parade Stampin'  Write Markers.  I layered the Whisper White on Poppy Parade…and rounded the right side corners again.

Finally, I stamped the Simple Snowflake single stamp in Poppy Parade and punched it with the Snowflake Punch, then added the word Merry Winter in Early Espresso on Poppy Parade and punched with the Small Oval punch.  Nice and colorful!

LOTS for me to do today…my girlfriend arrives this evening for the stamping retreat this weekend.  I need to finish cleaning, grocery shop (yuk!) and get some posts ready to go on here…you wouldn't want me to miss a week, would you?  Anyway…have a great day!

Out on a Limb 3

OK…as promised, here is another prototype of my Control Freak Swap for the Holiday Mini.  You can see version one HERE.  I did like this one…and it is closer to where I ended up.  In the end, the spider web and spiders bugged me on this card.  So, I opted not to go with it.  I did like the moon behind the cat!

For this card, I started with a base of Basic Gray cardstock.  I layered on Pumpkin Pie that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Spider Web Impressions Folder.  I added a piece of the stripe pattern from Pick Your Poison Designer Paper…can you see the glittery strip of Silver Glimmer paper down the center of the DSP?  I also added a small Scallop Border Punch piece of the Silver Glimmer Paper in the upper right corner for a little accent!

I stamped the trio of spiders from Out on a Limb stamp set in Basic Black on the spider web impression.  Then I stamped the limb and the cat from Out on a Limb on Whisper White.  I punched a circle in a scrap piece of paper, then used Daffodil Delight to ink up the moon in the background.  The Whisper White is layered onto Basic Black cardstock.

So…as I said, I'm getting closer to what my finished swap card would look like!  Stay tuned!

Did you check out my For Sale items HERE? 

Still a good selection of Christmas sets left!

 ***************************

STAY TUNED!!!  TOMORROW is the first day of our FREE preview session!  Each of the Design Team made up a FREE project with tutorial over the next couple weeks for you to see what we are all about!  Don't forget to check us out over on Create with Connie and Mary tomorrow…there IS Blog Candy, too!  A FREE subscription to Create Holiday Edition! 

Create with Connie and Mary  is getting ready for our SEVENTH Edition, the Holiday Edition 2011!  We've started Early Bird Pricing…save $5 off the normal $34.95 US!    At only $29.95, your subscription will get you 6 weeks of daily projects with FULL step-by-step tutorials, challenges, and a chance to win prizes.  That is less than $1 a day, and is a HUGE bargain!  Don't wait…sign up today! 

Out on a Limb

I'm going to play a little teasing game with you over the next couple posts.  I did this a couple years ago.  As most of you know, I am a member of the Control Freak Swappers.  Some BIG creative names in this group (should I name drop?  lol…)  Anyway…I always want to make my swaps EXTRA special…this one for the Holiday Mini swap.  I frequently do up 3-4 different swap card ideas before I hit on the one that will be my final swap card for them.

Here is my first prototype.  I did LOVE it…but didn't want to cut out 30 of those little witches to sit on top of her ledge!  AND…I didn't want to cut out 90 of the BOO letters from the Silver Glimmer Paper either (3 x 30).  I do love the Halloween Hang-ups Jumbo Wheel…very cool hanging down.

Anyway…the base of my card is Sahara Sand.  I layered on Basic Black.  On the top layer of Sahara Sand, I ran the Halloween Hang-ups Jumbo Wheel across the bottom in Basic Black.  I added a strip of Pumpkin Pie cardstock on top.  Then I cut a strip of the Pick Your Poison Designer Paper and scored it with the new Simply Scored Tool every 1/4".  I pleated it back and forth and then attached it to the front to hide the seam between the Sahara Sand and the Pumpkin Pie cardstocks.  I ran my Basic Black Ink Pad across the tops of the pleats for a little aging, too, and cut the end with my 1" Square Punch for a pennant shape.  I also added two Basic Black Mini Brads to the end.

On top of the Designer Paper, I stamped the witch in Basic Black on Whisper White, then cut her out.  I placed her on her perch with Stampin' Dimensionals.  I cut out BOO from Timeless Type Junior Alphabet dies with the Big Shot and the Silver Glimmer Paper and adhered across the top, too.

A very fun card, but just a little time consuming to make 30 for a swap.  So…stay tuned for Round 2!  Hope you come back to check it out!

WOW!  Our Designers have started sending in their projects and tutorials…all I can say is WOW!  You will be so amazed at the talent in this Edition!  Create with Connie and Mary  is getting ready for our SEVENTH Edition, the Holiday Edition 2011!  We've started Early Bird Pricing…save $5 off the normal $34.95 US!    At only $29.95, your subscription will get you 6 weeks of daily projects with FULL step-by-step tutorials, challenges, and a chance to win prizes.  That is less than $1 a day, and is a HUGE bargain!  Don't wait…sign up today! 

Tour de Freaks coming soon!

We're getting ready for this month's Tour de Freaks on July 20th!  Make sure to stop by and visit me and take the tour!  I'll be showing off the Control Freaks swaps I made for our Convention lunch get together!  Want to put the faces with the names/blogs on the tour?  Here is a photo of our awesome Control Freaks group at the Stampin' Up! Convention lunch this year!

Bottom Row:  List Mom Lisa Martz, Becky Roberts, LeeAnn Greff, Wendy Weixler, Dannie Graves, Joey Hartman

Top Row:  Patty Bennett, Liz Schulz, Mary Brown, Connie Babbert, Lorri Heiling, Kelly Powell, Dawn Olchefske, Jan Tinklenberg

Missing is Mary Polcin…she stopped by a little later to say hi!

I have tons more pictures of Convention…I loved the GROW theme they carried out in so many magical ways this year!  See the large flowers in the background?  Those were all over the convention space.  They had Decor Elements on the doors leading into Convention in those shapes…just a great theme!

May Tour de Freaks Blog Tour!

It's time for the WONDERFUL Tour de Freaks, brought to you by the Control Freak Swappers! Now…you've probably just come from Lisa Young's blog…weren't her projects fabulous?  Of course…all the Freaks do a WONDERFUL job with this blog hop!  Our theme this month is For He's a Jolly Good Fellow…masculine and Father's Day projects.  If you are arriving prior to May 20th, please note that not all links may be working yet.

This month I thought I'd feature The Open Seas stamp set for my projects.  I'm so happy that Stampin' Up! has a nice selection of masculine products in the Summer Mini!  Now…due to time constraints, I sort of combined these with items I am taking with me on the SU Alaska Cruise!  Woohoo!  The first card is one that I will hand over to Stampin' Up! to post on the boards on the ship.

I started with a base of Early Espresso cardstock and layered on Crumb Cake.  I stamped along the left side with the large globe in Early Espresso.  Then I placed a strip of Sticky Strip and ruffled the 1 1/4 Striped Ribbon that I cut down narrower and ragged the edges.  I stamped three of the anchors with Versamark and embossed them with a mixture of Gold and Silver Embossing Powders, then cut them out.  I placed them on a piece of Early Espresso cardstock that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Impressions Folder.  I punched a hole in the top of the anchors with the Crop A Dile, then pulled the Early Espresso Bakers Twine thru and adhered across the top.  To cover the ends, I punched the Modern Label from Brushed Gold Cardstock and stamped Happy Father's Day with Early Espresso ink on Very Vanilla and punched with the Word Window punch.  I layered it on top and added Silver mini brads at each end.  I was going for a award metal look with the hanging anchors!  The focal piece is layered on more Brushed Gold cardstock and placed on the front of the card with Stampin' Dimensionals.

For my second project, I again used The Open Seas, but I made this for a gift for my upline and another friend who also earned the Alaska Cruise Incentive Trip.  It has a masculine feel with that stamp set and Nautical Expedition Designer Paper and you could easily substitute the word "Alaska" with "Father"!  It's a Waterfall Mini Album that I made for them to place some pictures of the places we visit.  I hope I don't get in trouble that I "fudged" on the theme just a little bit!  lol!

I kept it pretty simple for a couple reasons.  One, I wanted something that could be duplicated for a class and two, you don't want the waterfall pages to get stuck on any embellishments.  The photos will make it even thicker than it is now and you still want it to work and close properly.

I only showed you a few of the photos because we have a limit on the number of photos we can post AND I'm VERY short on time before I leave!  I PROMISE that I will do a little tutorial with dimensions on how to put the Waterfall Album together.  It was pretty fun to make and not really hard once you figured out the mechanism!  I'll add photos of each of the pages, too!

Hope you enjoyed my projects…I'd LOVE to hear from you with a comment!  Next stop is the FABULOUS Mary Brown…I know you'll love her projects…I know I do!

Sharing creativity one stamped image at a time!

On the Grow again!

It's TIME!!!  A couple reasons to celebrate today!  One is the START of Preview Week for the Summer Edition of Create with Connie and Mary!  You are going to want to check out Mary's AWESOME Wonky Acrylic Mini Album…with a FREE tutorial…and win a chance for Blog Candy over there! 

 ******************

AND…it is ALSO the start of the Summer Mini Catalog!  I know I have customers who have been trying to order from it for the past couple weeks…now you CAN!!!  May is going to be a SHORT month for me because of the Alaska Cruise…so make sure to get with my EARLY this month with your orders!

Now…my card!  I know!  You probably think the only set I purchased from the Summer Mini is the On the Grow stamp set!  Really….I did buy LOTS more!  I did make this card several weeks ago for my Control Freak Swaps.  When I saw this set, the jar of flowers REALLY reminds my of my hydrangeas that bloom all summer.  Yes…ALL summer!  We have neighbors and cars stopping all the time when we are outside asking what we do to make our hydrangeas so blue.  And by "we", I mean my hubby!  lol!  He feeds them all the time!

I started with the base of Marina Mist cardstock.  I layered on Very Vanilla cardstock that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Vintage Wallpaper Impressinos Folder.  I added the 1 1/4 Marina Mist Striped Ribbon (I do have SHARES for this ribbon going on!) AND added some of the Cherry Cobbler with White Bakers Twine tied in a bow.

I used the Scallop Duo Die to cut the larger scallop square from Poppy Parade cardstock.  I love the pop of color it gives to this card.  I stamped on Very Vanilla with Black Stazon Ink, then used Marina Mist, Old Olive and Poppy Parade Stampin' Write Markers with the AquaPainter to watercolor the jar of flowers.  Oh…I used a little Sahara Sand for the ground.  I stamped Thinking of You with Black Stazon.  That greeting stamp is in the set, too.  I love it when Stampin' Up! includes greetings we can use for every day!

I was really happy with this card.  I hope my fellow Control Freak Swappers liked it, too!

Now, don't forget to pop over and see what we are doing on Create with Connie and Mary today!  It will be an exciting TWO weeks as each of the designers show off one project with FREE tutorials for you!

Sharing creativity one stamped image at a time!

Sweet Summer

When I saw the Sale-A-Bration brochure, I knew this set, Stampin' Up!'s Sweet Summer, was the FIRST set I would order!  One…you can never have too many flower sets…and two…I loved the clean whimsical look of them!  I made over 50 of this card, some for my Control Freaks Sale-A-Bration swap and I took a few of them to Leadership with me!

I started with a base of Rich Razzleberry and layered on Pear Pizzazz that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots folder.  I added the stripe paper from Springtime Vintage Designer Paper in the Occasions Mini.  I wrapped some 1/4 Rich Razzleberry Grosgrain Ribbon around, tied a knot and secured it in the back. 

I stamped a Whisper White panel randomly with the leafy swirl image from Sweet Summer in both Rich Razzleberry and Pear Pizzazz to make my own "designer paper".  The focal flower, I stamped the stem in Pear Pizzazz and the top flower in Rich Razzleberry, added a Rhinestone Jewel to the center.  It is punched with the 1 3/4 circle punch and layered on the 2 3/8 Scallop Circle.  Finally, I stamped "Thanks" from Fabulous Phrases in Rich Razzleberry on the striped Designer Paper.

I liked how it turned out!

Over on Create with Connie and Mary, we are just beginning Week 2 of our subscription!  This week we are featuring the Sale-A-Bration brochure products!  It's not too late to join!  We still have four weeks left of the subscription AND you will be able to access all the past projects we've done.  We also leave the site up indefinitely for you to use the ideas in the future!  With a price of $29.95 for over 30 projects, that is less than $1 per project!  We know you won't be disappionted!  Join today at Create with Connie and Mary!

Bells and Boughs

I love the old fashioned look of this set!  Poinsettias and holly are just favorites of mine during the Christmas season.  I always hate putting them away, although I'm always ready for less "clutter" when I finally do put away all the decorations.

This is my Control Freaks Swap card for the Holiday Mini!  

I started by using Always Artichoke for the base.  I layered on Cherry Cobbler cardstock that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots Impressions Folder.  I cut a piece of Deck the Halls Designer Paper (my FAVORITE design in that package!) and angled the bottom edge.  I adhered it to Very Vanilla, then ran it thru the Big Shot with the Top Note die.  I used the Scallop Edge punch on a piece of Early Espresso cardstock and adhered that to the bottom of the Designer Paper.  I stamped A Merry Christmas from Stampin' Up!'s Bells & Boughs stamp set in Cherry Cobbler.  I added a strip of Sticky Strip, then the WONDERFUL Champagne Glass Glitter!  Wow…I seriously LOVE this stuff!  So easy to work with, doesn't make a mess, but adds a lot of sparkle to your project!

Finally, I stamped the bells from Bells & Boughs on Watercolor Paper with Black Stazon and used my AquaPainter along with Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake Stampin' Write Markers to watercolor it.  Then it was cut out and popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals (30 of them in total!!!)  I was happy with how they turned out!

New Designer Paper and Ribbon Shares going on now!  Find more information HERE!

August Tour de Freaks is here!

Wow…this really snuck up on me this month!  I can't believe it is the 20th and time for the monthly Tour de Freaks, brought to you by the Control Freak Swappers!  You've probably just come from the talented, FABULOUS Patty Bennett's blog! 

Our theme this month was Sneak Peeks from the new Holiday Mini Catalog!  I know my customers are already commenting on how much they LOVE this mini…I do, too, as my pocketbook will attest to….ouch!  lol!  I just had to have it ALL!  I especially love a lot of the accessories in this mini…it is FULL of them.  You'll notice a lot of them on my projects this month!

To begin, I have a Suspension Bat card!  I had SO much fun making this one!  It kind of evolved!  I started with a base 5 1/4 x 5 1/4 card of Tangerine Tango.  I added a 5 1/4 x 5 1/4 piece of Nite Owl Designer Paper (from the new mini) on the front.  I used my Circle Scissors Plus to cut a 4" circle from the front thru both layers at the same time (if I were doing it again, I'd make it a little smaller…say 3 1/2).  I ran the back half of the Tangerine Tango card stock thru the Big Shot with the Spider Web Impressions Folder…cool!  Then I rubbed some White Craft Ink over the raised embossing with a sponge dauber.  This base card was layered onto a 5 3/8 x 5 3/8 piece of Basic Black card stock for extra support. 

Between the Tangerine Tango front and the Nite Owl Designer Paper, I added two strings of Linen Thread and pulled them tight between the layers, then adhered the layers together.  I sandwiched two layers of the Bat Punch together with the Linen Thread in between…this makes it look like they are flying!  I sponged White Craft around the edges of the bats and added a Rhinestone jewel to their heads.  I wrapped some of the new 1/2 Raven Lace Trim into a bow in the upper left corner…love that stuff, too!

I stamped the spider from Stampin' Up!'s Dark & Dreary on Whisper White, colored it with the Basic Gray Marker and cut it out.  I added two 1/2 backed pearls for the body…one smaller than the other. and placed it on the Spider Web with a Stampin' Dimensional.  I used the new Decorative Label Punch with Basic Black Card stock, sponged around the edges with White Craft Ink.  I cut EEK out of Tangerine Tango "glitter paper" with the Timeless Type Alphabet die and adhered to the front of the Label.  Then I placed the label on the front of the card.  (Note:  to make glitter paper, apply Versamark to the card stock direct to paper, pour on Iridescent Ice EP, shake off excess, then heat set…makes glitter paper in every color that Stampin' Up! carries!)  I LOVE my blinged out Suspension Bat card!

My second project was just as fun!  It's a Bat Cone Candy Holder.  It makes me LAUGH!  I traced a bat pattern onto Basic Black card stock, cut it out, then ran it thru the Big Shot with the Texture Plates Kit #4.  I had to run it thru a couple times to get the entire bat textured.  I used the sponge dauber and White Craft Ink to go around the edges.  I added Real Red Glimmer Brads for the eyes and drew the fangs with my White Gel Pen.  I pulled it into a cone shape and secured in the back with Sticky Strip.  I added a hanger with 1/2" Raven Lace Trim by piercing holes in the sides of the cone and tying knots inside the cone.

For the treat, I filled a small Cello Bag with Halloween colored M&Ms and tied it closed with a piece of the Raven Lace Trim.  I added a tag made with the Dark & Dreary stamp, inked in Basic Black and stamped on Whisper White, then punched with the Decorative Label Punch.  I added the 31 by stamping again on Real Red, then punching with the 1/2 circle punch and placing it on top with a Stampin' Dimensional.  I also used a sponge dauber with Basic Black ink and sponged all the edges.

EDIT:  As promised, here is the Bat Cone Candy Favor template to download!

DOWNLOAD BAT CONE

Next on the Blog Tour is the wonderful Mary Brown!  I KNOW her projects will be awesome as usual!  Make sure to stop by and see all 11 stops on the Tour this month!  Thanks for stopping by!