InkspiredTreasures.com

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

I'm hoping my girlfriend doesn't see this card before it arrives in her mailbox.  I meant to send it off earlier than I actually did!  She loves witches and decorating for Halloween.  I was inspired by a card I saw from LeAnne Pugliese (I think!) to create this one using Wicked Cool Stamp Set and Pick Your Poison Designer Paper!

I liked the "play" of images to make it Halloween with a nod to hanging stockings for Christmas…just struck my fancy, I guess!  The base of the card is Pumpkin Pie and I layered on Basic Black cardstock and Pick Your Poison Designer Paper on top of that.  I "built" the fireplace with another pattern in Pick Your Poison…I was thrilled to see it had a "brick" pattern to it.  I made the mantle from Basic Black cardstock that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Impressions Folder.  I stamped the boots from Wicked Cool stamp set three times and cut out only the right one, then attached it to the fireplace with Pumpkin Pie Mini Brads.  I cut a Basic Black rectangle for the fireplace and rounded the corners, then added flames with the Two Step Bird Punch (wings) from Daffodil Delight and sponged with Pumpkin Pie.  There are Early Espresso logs cut to place the flames on. 

At the top, I stamped Even the Naughtly Deserve Something Nice from Tags til Christmas stamp set in Basic Black on Very Vanilla and punched with the Curly Label Punch, then highlighted a couple words with the Pumpkin Pie Marker.  It is popped up on top with Stampin' Dimensionals.  I also decorated the inside, but I'll leave that as a surprise for my friend just in case!

Have a wonderful Halloween!!!

CCMC166 – Warmest of Wishes

Wow, we have started the Preview Session of Create with Connie and Mary Holiday Edition 2011 where we are sharing FREE tutorials from all of our Design Team members over the next two weeks!  And…we are also announcing who our six Special Guest Designers will be!  Today we have another FABULOUS Guest Designer joining us!  But…again…you'll have to go to Create with Connie and Mary to see who it is!  We KNOW you will love her!

And, it is time for Create with Connie and Mary's Thursday Challenge!  We have a fun sketch for you to try…pretty easy, so no excuses for not getting your supplies out and playing along!  We love to see your work!  Make sure to check out the rest of the Challenge Team's creations, too, over on Create with Connie and Mary!

I actually liked this sketch so much that I made TWO cards…but I'm only showing one today.  You'll have to check back tomorrow to see the next one!  Hey…need to give you a reason to come back, right?  Anyway…here is today's card!

Anyone that knows me, knows that I LOVE Halloween sets!  I buy more every year!  I think it is the bright and fun colors that I enjoy!  Speaking of that…what do you think of my NEW BLOG LOOK?  I love my new fall color scheme…Michelle Laycock is a wonder!  Anyway…back to my card.  The Halloween Frights Paper is SO much fun, I love the bold colors of Cajun Craze, Lucky Limeade, Cherry Cobbler and Basic Gray!

I started by stamping the owl from Stampin' Up!'s Warmest of Wishes with Basic Black on Cajun Craze and then punched it out with the Owl Punch.  I added White eyeballs with black pupils peaking thru the mask.  I also used Pumpkin Pie for his beak.  I adhered it to Whisper White cardstock with Stampin' Dimensionals and stamped Happy Halloween from Stampin' Up!'s Delightful Dozen stamp set in Basic Black above it, then stamped it again on scrap Whisper White with Pumpkin Pie Ink and cut out the pumpkin to layer over the black one.  That is then layered on Cajun Craze.

The base of the card is Lucky Limeade and I layered on the Cajun Craze polka dot pattern from Halloween Frights DSP.  On top of that I added two more of the patterns from the same DSP, layered it on Lucky Limeade, and hid the seam with the Dotted Ribbon Punch and Cajun Craze.  You'll notice that I flipped the sketch…that was because the cute little spider is actually printed ON the DSP and I wanted to showcase him with a Black Brad for his body! 

Finally, I added a tab of Basic Black 1 1/4 Striped Ribbon to the right side as the sketch required.  Again, make sure to check out the rest of the Challenge Team's ideas over on Create with Connie and Mary!  Great variety!

Wicked Cool Owl hand sanitizer holder

Well, Erica Cerwin certainly started a rage when she created her little container to hold the Halloween Hand Sanitizers from Bath & Body Works!  When I saw her project, I immediately ran out and bought up a bunch of the little bottles.  They were almost sold out in all the stores around me, but I've heard they do have them back in stock.

Here is the front of the one I created with some punch art.  I've done this project with a Shoebox for our demonstrator meeting and my Stamp Clubs did it this month!  It was a hit at all!  I think everyone LOVES this Two Step Owl Punch!  

I started by creating the box with Pumpkin Pie cardstock.  Then I stamped the bats from Wicked Cool diagonally across the front of Basic Gray layer…I also stamped them diagonally across the back of the Pumpkin Pie holder (not shown).  I punched the moon with the 2 1/2 Circle Punch from So Saffron and used a sponge dauber along the edges with Tangerine Tango Ink.  The Owl silhouette was punched from Basic Black, along with the branch from the Two Step Bird Punch.  I stamped Spooky on Pumpkin Pie cardstock with Basic Black ink and punched with the Large Oval Punch.  I have a Mini Library Clip "holding" it (I really adhered it so it wasn't lost.)

Inside I stamped the Spider Web several times and the greeting "have a WICKED halloween" in Basic Black.  I stamped the Witch hat and legs in Basic Black on scrap Whisper White, cut them out and used Pumpkin Pie and Daffodil Delight markers to color in the hat band and leggings.  I thought the witch's legs turned upside down into the box was funny!  lol!  The hat is adhered next to the greeting.  Inside is the hand sanitizer bottle…Bat Bite was my flavor…love that green color!

I had so much fun creating this…I plan to make several more for a craft fair I'm doing!

We are just starting Week 2 of Create with Connie and Mary!  This week we are featuring Day of Gratitude and French Foliage from the Holiday Mini.   For $39.95 you get over 48 FANTASTIC projects…that's about 83 cents per idea!  It's not too late to join!  There is a new project posted every day and there will be an average of two fabulous tutorials each and every week. NEW is a project sheet for every project not having a tutorial! Our sites stay up long after the session is done, so you will always have access to the site and the tutorials. For more information and to see our Preview Week projects please visit at Create with Connie and Mary!

Dark and Dreary

Well, Dark and Dreary kind of describes our morning here, looks like it may rain (and we need it!), but it is also the name of Stampin' Up!'s new Halloween set in the Holiday Mini!  Of course, I rarely see a Halloween set that I DON'T like…this one is no exception!  I love the raven and the Halloween sign in it.  So, when I saw TechnoStamper Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge #138 this morning, it looked like a perfect fit!  Then I saw Mary Brown's square card and copied that shape for mine!  I don't do a lot of square cards, mainly because they cost extra to mail and the larger ones don't fit in my card storage very well, but I do like them!

And here is my card:

I started with a base of Pumpkin Pie and layered on the polka dot designer paper from Wicked Fun.  I wrapped some Basic Black Satin Ribbon around and tied a knot.  I stamped the Happy Halloween sign on Very Vanilla with Basic Black Ink, then used my Crop-A-Dile to cut 1/2 circles along the edge for a postage stamp look.  I stamped it again on Pumpkin Pie, then punched out the 31 with my 1/2 circle punch and popped it up with a Stampin' Dimensional.  I stamped the Raven in Basic Black on Very Vanilla and cut it out.  The moon is the NEW 2 1/2 circle punched from So Saffron and sponged with Daffodil Delight ink.  I placed it in the background, then popped the Halloween sign up with Stampin' Dimensionals and added the Raven with a Stampin' Dimensional, too.  Finally, I added three of the new Black Jewels to the upper right corner for some BLING!  Fun!

It's time for an EARLY BIRD SPECIAL for the Create with Connie and Mary Holiday Edition!  It's an 8 week subscription featuring stamps and products from the new Stampin' Up! Holiday Mini.  Right now you save $5 of the regular $39.95 price.  There is a new project posted every day and an average of two fabulous tutorials a week.  NEW this year is a Project Sheet for every post!  Our site stays up long after the session is done, so you will always have access to the site and the tutorials. Preview week starts September 12th!  For more information, please visit at Create with Connie and Mary!

Card Published and Designer Paper Shares!

I received notice a couple weeks ago that I had a card published in Stampers Sampler Magazine for August/September 2009.  It is always exciting to actually receive the publication and see your card in print!

I used one of my favorite Halloween sets, Eat, Drink & Be Scary (#111764, $18.95) and combined it with Good Friends (#113740).  But my challenge was how to make that cute little bird scary enough for Halloween!  I know!  Turn him into a crow with Black Chunky Essentials Glitter for his body!  I used Heat & Stick Powder adhesive so the chunky glitter would really stay on! 

The hat was stamped with Black Craft and cut out.  I added a band of Pumpkin Pie cardstock.  And I stamped the Eat, Drink & Be Merry with Black Craft on Whisper White, and punched it with the Curly Label Punch.  I also punched two black Curly Label Punch pieces and placed them behind the white one for a layered look.

The three different kinds of Designer Paper are retired from a couple years ago (still one of my favorite Halloween papers, but easy enough to replace it with other DSP).  The base of the card is Pumpkin Pie.  I had a blast making this card…hope you enjoy it!  If you’d like to order the sets or materials used to make this card, use my SHOP NOW online ordering system or email me!

Wow…did you know that there are just TWO more days (August 20) until the Tour de Freaks?  Be prepared to have your socks knocked off this month with awesome cards and projects featuring the In Colors!  Blog Tour brought to you by your Control Freak swappers! 

I’m also offering a Designer Series Paper Share for a limited time.

INKspired Treasures

Season of Friendship Halloween

I had to sneak in one last Halloween card!  I sent these out to a few people this year.  Hopefully they have received them by now and I won’t ruin the surprise. 

This design was heavily inspired by Kimberly Van Diepen.  I loved how she did a white fence in front of the Season of Friendship tree.  I added the crow in the limb and the Happy Halloween at the top with a couple black brads.  I also used Dazzling Diamonds mixed with Black Embossing Powder to make the tree and cat sparkle!  The base card is Whisper White, with a layer of Basic Black and then Kraft.  Both the Basic Black and Kraft I used my distressing tool to rough up the edges.  I also used a sponge dauber with Black ink around the edges of the Kraft and the punched oval for Happy Halloween.  The cat is actually from Batty for You.  I stamped and embossed her on Kraft, then cut her out.  She is popped up on dimensionals.  Oh…in the background I used the stars from Classic Backgrounds in Versamark.

So…those of you who purchased my Season of Friendship Kit, here is one more idea for you to use that set!

Eat, Drink and Be Scary!

I LOVE this new set, Eat, Drink & Be Scary!  It is NOW available in the Holiday mini!  That witches hat is JUST TOO CUTE!!!  I had to have it.  Plus I love that I can use my punches with some of the other stamps in this set! 

If you want this set, CLICK HERE to go to my Online Ordering…then click in the upper right corner a Shop Now button…and use #111764 for $18.95!  Order now and get it in time to make a few special Halloween cards!

For the details…this was another challenge with my friends Lisa and Mary last weekend.  We used Lauren Meador’s darling layout.  I cut a Basic Black circle with my Coluzzle, then cut one with Tangerine Tango the same size and cut it in half and applied over the Basic Black one.  Then I cut a sliver of Whisper White and placed it over the seam…trimmed off the sides to match the circle.  I stamped the Witches Hat with Black Craft Ink and embossed with Clear EP, then cut it out and popped it with dimensionals on the circle.  I cut a sliver of Tangerine Tango for the hat band, too.  I stamped the Halloween definition in the upper right and bottom left corners (using my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig made it SO easy!)  Then I cut a rectangle of Whisper White, stamped the Spider in Basic Black and used my Tag Corner Punch on the top ends.  I punched a 1/16 circle and used the Silver Elastic Cord (it is BACK in the holiday mini also!).  It is secured to the circle with a dimensional.  I tied the Tangerine Tango 5/8 Striped Ribbon around the base card of Basic Black.

I loved how this card came out!  (yeah, yeah…I say that about a lot of my cards, don’t I?)  The simple things make me happy!

Stamps:  Eat, Drink & Be Scary
C/S:  Basic Black, Whisper White, Tangerine Tango
Inks:  Basic Black Craft, Basic Black Classic
Other:  Tag Corner punch, 5/8 Stripe Tangerine Tango ribbon, 1/16 punch, Silver elastic cord, dimensionals, Circle Coluzzle

Batty for You

I’ve had these glass bottles in my "stash’ for a year or so, I think I bought them at Michaels.  I pulled one out and decided to decorate it for Halloween.  I also had a bunch of different colored Bath Oil Beads I picked up after Christmas last year for 25 cents a package (about 12 in each package).  Good deal!  The jar holds about 2 packages. 

I stamped the Frankenstein from Batty for You with his greeting Smell my Feet…appropriate…in Green Galore on Whisper White, then punched it out with the 1 1/4 circle punch, layered on the 1 3/8 circle and a Black Scallop Circle.  I printed out the words Monster Mash Beads on Whisper White and punched it, too.  Tied a black gingham grosgrain ribbon around the neck, sandwiching the tails of the ribbon between two layers of the black scallop circle.  Fun and easy Halloween project!

I’ve been on a roll working on my craft fair projects.  Yeah!  I’ll make sure to take pictures when I’m done to show you.  A couple CUTE things I worked on today…inspiration just hit!  I had no plans on making what I did.