InkspiredTreasures.com

Stamping 411 – A Kind Word

Today's Stamping 411 Sketch challenge was really fun!  I was able to pull out a set that I earned free with hostess credits and finally ink it up!  Stampin' Up's A Kind Word is such a sweet set.  I love the little faces on it and that basketful of kittens is why I really got it!

I started with a base of Almost Amethyst and layered on the So Saffron background floral from Tea Party Designer Paper.  I used a strip of the small floral print from Pawsitively Prints and then made the Scallop Flower from the same print!  I added a pink Rhinestone brad in the center to hold it in place and popped it up with Stampin' Dimensionals.

She was stamped with Basic Black on Whisper White, then I paper pieced her pinafore dress with the Yellow Gingham check from Pawsitively Prints Designer Paper.  I watercolored her with Stampin' Write Markers and my AquaPainter.  Finally, I added some Almost Amethyst butterflies from the Beautiful Wings Embosslit die.

I think it turned out SO sweet!  Make sure to check out what the other Stamping 411 Design Operators have done this week!  I'm sure their designs will be fabulous using this sketch.  Make sure to play along this week and add your creation to Mr. Linky over on Stamping 411!

Stamping 411 – Garden from the Heart

It is time for another Stamping 411 Sketch Challenge!  The weeks are FLYING by aren't they?  You can tell it is a BUSY night/day for me with posts.  Stamping 411, Tour de Freaks and Create with Connie and Julie Challenge will all post at the same time!

I didn't quite know what I was going to do with this sketch…the small narrow bands were throwing me off.  But, I like what I came up with after it was done.  Had to change things a couple times, but I think it works.

I started with a base of Dusty Durango and layered on Crushed Curry.  I ran the Soft Suede thru the Big Shot with the Finial Press Impressions Folder.  I took Crushed Curry and Dusty Durango Ribbon and made the criss cross element on the left side, securing it with a Vanilla Jumbo Brad. 

I stamped the gloves and hand shovel with Soft Suede on Very Vanilla and punched with the 1 3/4 Circle Punch, then watercolored with AquaPainter and Stampin' Write Markers.  Finally I stamped Happy Mother Day from Teeny Tiny Wishes in Soft Suede on Crushed Curry and punched with the Modern Label punch.

Make sure to check out the rest of the Stamping 411 designer Operators!  I'm sure they will have some fun twists to this sketch, too!

Garden Whimsey – Stamping 411

It's Saturday and time for another Stamping 411 sketch challenge!  I always love to see what the other Operators create.  I'm amazed at how different our cards normally are, even using the same sketch!

I'm desperately wanting SPRING to get here and warm weather to get rid of the snow, so I thought I'd help it along by posting a spring card!  I always love seeing the tulips pop up thru the ground.

This set, Stampin' Up!'s Garden Whimsey, hasn't been used for a LONG time, so I thought I'd give it a little ink.  I also have a package of bright Kaleidoscope Designer Paper that I wanted to use.

I started by using my Stampin' Write markers to ink up the tulips in Pixie Pink and Melon Mambo, the stems in Certainly Celery and Garden Green.  They were stamped three times on Whisper White and layered onto Garden Green.  I used the dotted background paper in Kaleidoscope to tie the two greens together.  I used the Eyelet Border punch along the bottom of a strip of Whisper White, then wrapped the Melon Mambo Polka Dot Ribbon around the top portion of it and adhered to the back.  This all was placed on the Pixie Pink base card.  The butterflies were done using the Beautiful Wings Embosslit and Pixie Pink cardstock.  I used a sponge dauber to add the darker Melon Mambo color around the edges.  For their bodies, I used the little sticky rhinestones in the Eggcellent Egg Kit (I am LOVING those rhinestones!)  It really makes them sparkle!

I hope you take a minute to check out what the rest of the Design Operators on Stamping 411 did with this sketch!  Then make your card creation, upload it to your gallery or blog, and add it to Mr. Linky over on the Stamping 411 blog.

Have a great weekend!  I'm going to be sorting stuff to get ready to do my taxes next week.  Yuk!!!

Stamping 411 – Something Sweet

I've always wanted a stamp set with a gumball machine in it.  Stampin' Up! used to have one, but I missed out on getting it.  Stampin' Up!'s Something Sweet stamp set is just as cute as can be!  What is fun, too, is that you can use the Sweet Treat Cups in them, too!

Usually with sketches, my cards come together pretty quickly.  This one took a while.  I think because the focal panel was SO big.  I'm anxious to see what the other Stamping 411 Operators came up with this week!  And…what you all do with it playing along.  You can add your card to Mr. Linky on the Stamping 411 site!

I didn't want to use a red base for my gumball machine, so decided to make it Brocade Blue and Crushed Curry.  After I stamped it, I cut it out, then adhered it to some Welcome Neighbor Designer Paper.  I stamped "that was so sweet of you" directly on the Designer Paper in Basic Black.  The Designer Paper was adhered to a layer of Melon Mambo, and then the layer of Crushed Curry cardstock.  I wrapped the Melon Mambo Polka Dot Ribbon to the back of the Crushed Curry layer.  Then stamped Thanks so Much from Happy Thoughts in Basic Black and punched with the 1 1/4 circle punch.  It is layered on a punched 1 3/8 circle of Brocade Blue.  I added a Summer Sun Corduroy Button brad to the center and popped it up with Stampin' Dimensionals.  The gumballs I used Brocade Blue, Melon Mambo and Crushed Curry for the colors and punched them out with the 1/2 circle punch.

I love the bright colors and how it ended up, even though it took me longer than normal.  I hope you check out the rest of the Stamping 411 Operators to see what they have done this week! 

We are getting BLASTED with snow!  We've had at least six inches so far and expected anywhere from 8 to 12 inches.  I was out with the snowblower twice already and my hubby just did it again.  I'm glad we don't have anywhere to go this weekend!  We can stay in nice and warm!

Stamping 411 – Vintage Vogue again

It's time for another Stamping 411 Sketch Challenge!  This one came together pretty easy.  Mainly because my Stamp Club did a similar card last night using the same colors and stamp set, but I changed it around so I could make it fit the sketch!  Now it shows those in my Stamp Club who bought this set, another way to use it!

I started with a base of Dusty Durango cardstock.  The next layer of Soft Suede I ran thru the Big Shot with my FInial Press Impressions Folder, then I used a sponge dauber and added Soft Suede Classic Ink around the edges, and lightly ran it across the raised portions of the embossed cardstock to highlight them.  I wrapped some Dusty Durango Polka Dot Ribbon around to the back and secured to the base card. 

I inked the border image from Vintage Vogue by using my Dusty Duranto and Soft Suede Stampin' Write Markers and colored the images I wanted in each color.  I stamped at the bottom of the Whisper White cardstock.  The flowers were stamped on scrap Whisper White and cut out.  I used a 1/2 punched circle of Soft Suede for the center of the larger flower, then a Gold Fire Rhinestone Brad.  The two smaller flowrers have Gold Mini Brads.  I added some leaves randomly in the upper left corner, then placed the flowers with Dimensionals.  The Whisper White was mounted on Bashful Blue ( I know!  But the color works!)  I stamped "The more Candles the bigger the Wishes" from Whimsical Words,  in the Sale-A-Bration Mini, in Soft Suede ink in the upper right corner.  Finally, I added a small border of Dusty Durango punched with the Scallop Trim Border Punch (another Sale-A-Bration freebie) and pierced holes in each of the spaces between the scallops!

Make sure to check out what the rest of the Stamping 411 Operators have done this week!  I'm sure they will have fabulous ideas with this sketch!

Like-O-Meter – SSC 135

Today is Stamping 411's Sketch Challenge #135!  This one, although it looks very simple, gave me just a little trouble.  I think because of the stamp image I chose.  The position of the image had the white space in the lower right corner, instead of the upper left where I needed to put something because of the sketch.  I compromised by putting a little something in both locations!

I love Stampin' Up!'s whimsy sometimes.  LIke this single stamp, Like-O-Meter in the back of the Occasions Mini!  I especially like the "a lot but not like a stalker" words!  Too funny!  My friend, Cassy, gave out a CUTE swap card at Leadership using this set!

I started with a base card of Real Red cardstock.  I added a piece of Sending Love Designer Paper and layered it on Basic Black cardstock.  On the left side of the Basic Black, I used the Pinking Hearts punch along the edge.

I stamped the Like-O-Meter image in Basic Black on Whisper White, then colored in the themometer with the Real Red Stampin' Write marker up to …a lot but not like a stalker.  I added a very light coat of Crystal Effects over top of the red.  You need to be careful because the marker is water based and will run if you add too much.  When dry, I punched the Small Heart in the lower right corner, then layered it on Real Red, then Basic Black cardstocks.  Finally I added a Black Gingham Bow to the upper left corner.

Too fun!  I love it!  I think my hubby will get this for Valentine's Day…not too girly looking so he should like it!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Stamping 411 – Happy Moments

As you can see, I've done some MAJOR rennovations on my Blog!  Thanks to Michelle Laycock for the awesome new Blog Layout!  Leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

Time for this week's Stamping 411 sketch challenge!  On my card, I used two of the new Stampin' Up! Sale-A-Bration sets, Happy Moments and Vintage Labels.  I really like BOTH of these…well, truly, I like ALL the Sale-A-Bration selections this year!

For my card, I started with a base of Almost Amethyst and layered on the floral paper from Tea Party.  Then I cut a diagonal piece of the stripe pattern and placed that over the floral (that way I didn't have to worry about seams matching up!)

I stamped the birdcage in Basic Brown on Whisper White and layered it on Almost Amethyst.  I added a couple of the Little Leave Sizzlets diecuts in Certainly Celery.  The top of the birdcage has a gold mini brad.

I stamped the Vintage Label in Basic Brown and Happy Birthday in Certainly Celery, then punched it with the Curly Label punch.  It was placed over the 5/8 Certainly Celery Satin Ribbon…yummy!

This card came together pretty easy with the sketch.  I hope you check out the rest of the Operators on Stamping 411 this week and make up a card and play along!

Stamping 411 – Love Bandit

This is going to be REAL quick because I need to leave for the airport to go to Leadership in about 45 minutes (although I'm pre-setting this to post on Friday while I'm gone.)  Luckily, Selene did a pretty easy sketch this week, so I was able to make it up pretty quickly.  The most trouble I had was adding a greeting on here!  I love the words (You Stole My Heart) with the little raccoon, although I did get my word separate from the image of the raccoon.

I started with a base of So Saffron cardstock, then added the Designer Paper from Tall tales as a strip across the bottom half.  I cut a rectangle of another print in Tall Tales, then added the Brilliant Blue Scallop Trim Border (that punch is a Sale-A-Bration selection item…don't worry, it will also be in the new catalog when it comes out!)  Then I layered it on Old Olive cardstock.  I thought it needed something across the tree pattern, so I added a strip of Rose Red 1/4 Grosgrain Ribbon.  Finally, I stamped the Raccoon in Basic Black, colored the heart with Rose Red Stampin' Write Marker, then punched with the 1 1/4 circle punch.  It is layered on So Saffron 1 3/8 circle, then the Brilliant Blue Scallop Circle that I also pierced with the piercing tool in each scallop.  Finally added "You Stole My Heart" along the bottom.

Too cute!  Enjoy the weekend!

Stamping 411 – Vintage Vogue

Today's Stamping 411 sketch challenge had me stumped for a little while…didn't quite know how I'd get 4 elements along the left side.  But, I was happy with how my card turned out!

I love this new set, Vintage Vogue (available in the Occasions Mini coming January 5th!)  Even though it is called vintage, I think it is beautiful for clean and simple cards, too!  Very versatile!

I knew I wanted to use a shade of blue in my card, so I pulled out Brocade Blue cardstock, kind of vintage looking.  Then I used my Stampin' Up! Color Wheel to decide what colors went with it.  It showed me Pumpkin Pie and Old Olive.  OK…Pumpkin Pie flowers work with a base of green for the "greenery" background!  See how my mind works?  That is an easy tip for getting started when you are in a creative block…a sketch…a color…the color wheel…you are good to go!

The base of my card is Old Olive.  I used the Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel with Brocade Blue ink over the Brocade Blue cardstock…very subtle.  I used the new Pinking Hearts Border Punch along the left edge of a strip of Old Olive cardstock, and tore the right side off.  I added it to the Brocade Blue cardstock, then wrapped some White Striped Organdy Ribbon around to the back.  I stamped four of the flowers in Pumpkin Pie on scrap Whisper White cardstock, cut them out, then placed them on top of the striped ribbon.  I used my Piercing Tool to pierce a hole in the center of the flowers, then placed my four Chocolate Chip Jumbo Brads.  Each of the edges were distressed with my Cutter Tool and inked up with Brocade Blue or Old Olive ink.  Finally, I stamped the F/friends image in Brocade Blue on Whisper White, then punched with the 1 3/4 circle.  I used my Old Olive Stampin' Write marker to highlight the word friends and lightly distressed the edges.

I realy enjoyed making this card and would do a bunch for swap cards if I didnt have to cut so many flowers!  lol!

Have a wonderful day!

Stamping 411 – Patterned Pines again

It is time again for Stamping 411's sketch challenge!  Selene gave us another great sketch this week!  I hope you'll play along, even though it is a busy week for everyone trying to get ready for Christmas!

Yep…I love this set, Stampin' Up!'s Patterned Pines!  I'll be sad when I have to stop showing it with my samples, but I'll still keep it in my "must keep" pile! 

For my card, I also used some non-traditional Christmas colors!  The base is Apricot Appeal and I matched it up with Sage Shadow!  The Patterned Pines trees were embossed with White Embossing powder on Sage Shadow card stock.  I then used the snowflake stamp in Patterned Pines and stamped it randomly on Whisper White first with Sage Shadow Classic Ink, then Apricot Appeal Classic Ink, then I went back and filled in the blank areas with stamped off colors of Sage Shadow and Apricot Appeal!  I completely filled the Whisper White card stock, making my own "designer paper" in the colors I wanted.

I layered the "designer paper" piece onto Sage Shadow.  Then I stamped the snowflake again in Apricot Appeal on scrap Whisper White and punched it with the Scallop Circle punch.  I pierced each of the scallops for some added interest and placed a Fire Round Rhinestone in the center.  Finally I stamped Happy Holidays from Four the Holidays (in the Holiday mini!) in Basic Gray in the lower left corner.

Hope you enjoy my version of the Sketch from Stamping 411.  Make sure to check out what the other Operators have done this week!

Merry Christmas!

INKspired Treasures Blog