#inkspiredtreasures

IM39 – Dashing Deer

September 24, 2018 By Connie | Leave a Comment

I thought this was a very unusual inspiration piece and I struggled which way to go with it. I finally decided to use the colors, but ended up also using the stripes in a vertical rather than horizontal pattern.

I combined THREE different stamp sets…something that I normally do not do, but for this occasion it was just appropriate. The background trees are from Winter Woods…and I wanted the yellow look in the trees for fall. That dictated a “fall” greeting that I found in Falling For Leaves stamp set. I also had this deer from Dashing Deer already stamped and sitting on my desk that matched the color scheme. I wanted it to look less “Christmasy”, so I trimmed down the antlers a bit. So…that’s a look into how my mind works sometimes! lol!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 Gray Granite (my favorite gray!) cardstock, scored at 4-1/4 and folded.
The 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Shimmery White was stamped with the Winter Woods trees and Stazon Black Ink.
An AquaPainter and Crushed Curry Refill was swiped over the trees to give them a watercolor wash for fall.
A 1-1/2 x 5-1/4 piece of Gray Granite was torn across the top and used for the “ground”. Thankful from Falling for Leaves stamp set was stamped with Memento Black Ink.
The deer in Dashing Deer was stamped with Gray Granite and cut with the Detailed Deer Thinlits, the antlers were trimmed a little to make them shorter.
Basic Black twine was wrapped around the neck and tied in a bow. The deer was popped up on the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

i think this would make a great masculine card for fall birthdays…change out the greeting to a birthday one! OK…go check out what Mary did with the Inspiration Challenge this week over on Create with Connie and Mary!

Take a trip to the shore for peace and tranquility when using Stampin' Up!'s new WATERSIDE RETREAT SUITE of products! The RELAXING WATERSIDE BUNDLE showcases a getaway at the lake with lounge chairs, coffee and books, birds and special greetings! We've combined the RELAXING WATERSIDE BUNDLE and the WATERSIDE RETREAT 12x12 DESIGNER PAPER with its sun-drenched faded colors and unique cut-out images or background scenes. You'll get step-by-step tutorials for SIX projects...four cards and two fun favors for a special little gift this summer! See more details HERE!

Build your own custom paper floral arrangements using Stampin' Up!'s new FLOWERING MEADOW BUNDLE* of products! This FLOWERING MEADOW BUNDLE has a variety of flowers, stems, leaves and accents to mix and match and take the guesswork out of creating! We've combined the FLOWERING MEADOW BUNDLE and the gorgeous VELVET MEADOW 12x12 DESIGNER PAPER with its bold colors and soft flocking elements to enhance your cards and projects. You'll get step-by-step tutorials for SIX projects...four cards and two special-fold cards that will make your friends and customers feel extra special. See more details HERE!

Be inspired by a trip to the coast when using Stampin' Up!'s new SUNSET COAST BUNDLE*. This Bundle features sailboats, a lighthouse, seashells and rock formations to build the perfect oceanfront adventure. We've combined the SUNSET COAST BUNDLE and the SCENIC COAST 6x6 DESIGNER PAPER with dramatic sunset colors and iridescent shimmer for your cards and projects. You'll get step-by-step tutorials for SIX projects...four cards and two favor projects that are perfect for classes and stamp camps! See more details HERE!

CCMC528 Trick or Tweet

September 20, 2018 By Connie | Leave a Comment

I love the sketch challenge we have for you this week on Create with Connie and Mary! SO many different things you can do with it! Here’s what I came up with using the stamp set, Trick or Tweet, and a spooky tree from Farmhouse Framelits!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 Gorgeous Grape cardstock, scored at 4-1/4 and folded.
On top is a 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Basic Black
On the 3-3/4 x 5 layer of Gray Granite, the 2-1/2 x 3-1/2 Polka Dot pattern from Toil & Trouble Designer Paper was added to the bottom.
A 1-1/2 x 3-1/4 piece of Gorgeous Grape cardstock was added on top with a 1/8 length of Silver Glimmer Paper added across the top.
The moon is a Stitched Shape Circle cut from Crushed Curry and sponged with Pumpkin Pie Ink around the edges. It is popped up on the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The tree from Farmhouse Framelits was cut from Basic Black and added to the moon with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The bird from Trick or Tweet was stamped with Memento Black and colored with Mango Melody, Pumpkin Pie and Daffodil Delight Markers, then cut out and added with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
Trick or Tweet greeting was stamped with Memento Black in the lower right corner of the Gorgeous Grape piece.
One of the Spooky Bat punches was added to the top with a Stampin’ Dimensional.

Love how it turned out! Check out what the rest of the Challenge Team did this week over on Create with Connie and Mary! Lots of different ideas!

Control Freaks September 2018

September 19, 2018 By Connie | 1 Comment

Hi! Welcome to the monthly Tour de Freaks, brought to you by the Control Freak Swappers! This month our theme is HOLIDAY CATALOG! Wow…that theme is WIDE open! So happy because there are TONS of great products in there! You’ve probably just come from the awesome LeeAnn Greff’s blog..love her projects, don’t you? Just click on the link below to take you around the entire blog hop for some GREAT inspiration!

TRICK OR TWEET – It’s Halloween time!

Well, at least it is getting CLOSER to Halloween time! I love fall and Halloween decorating. The Halloween sets that Stampin’ Up! has in their Holiday Catalog are SO fun! I adore that Spooky Bats punch, too!

The Takeout Box is just the perfect size for a couple treats inside…I couldn’t resist making up a Bat from the box! Isn’t he CUTE!!!

Stampin’ Details:

The Takeout Box was cut from Basic Black cardstock with the Framelit and put together as normal.
The bat wings are Layering Oval Framelits cut from Basic Black cardstock, punched with the 1″ Circle Punch along one side, then score about 1/4″ from the ends and attached to the side of the box with Tear & Tape. They were sponged with White Craft Ink along the edges.
The bat ears are the heart from the Takeout Box Framelits turned upside down for the point and trimmed from Basic Black cardstock. They were sponged around the edges with White Craft Ink and adhere to the top edge of the box with Monoadhesive Glue.
The Eyes are 3/4″ punched from Whisper White, the lids are 3/4″ punched from Basic Black and cut in half and sponged with White Craft Ink. The pupils are 3/8″ Circles of Basic Black and the highlights are 1/8″ Circles of Whisper White. They were adhered together and added to the front of the box.
The mouth is a sliver of Gray Granite cardstock, hand cut, and the teeth are the points cut from Whisper White with the Star Framelit in the Takeout Box Framelits.
The box was tied closed with a Black Glitter Ribbon bow.

Continuing with the bat theme is the darling little elephant in the Trick or Tweet stamp set!

The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Basic Black cardstock, scored at 5-1/2 and folded to form the base card.
Two 1-7/8 x 2-1/2 Pumpkin Pie cardstock pieces and two 1-7/8 x 2-1/2 pieces of the star pattern in Toil & Trouble Designer Paper were added to the front in a grid pattern.
A 2-1/2 x 3-1/4 piece of Crushed Curry has two corners punched with the Corner Punch and is wrapped with Black Shimmer Ribbon. The greeting “Batty for You” from Trick or Tweet stamp set is stamped with Memento Black Ink.
The elephant is stamped with Memento Black Ink on Gray Granite and colored the mask and wings with Light Basic Black Stampin’ Blends. He is cut out by hand and popped up on the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
A couple bats were punched from Basic Black cardstock with the Spooky Bats Punch and added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
A couple of the large Black Faceted Jewels were added to the bottom panel
Here’s a closeup…

Hope you liked my bat themed Holiday Catalog items! OK…next up on the Control Freaks Blog Hop is another stamping friend, Kelly Acheson! I love her work, so I know you’ll enjoy her projects, too!

IM38 – Winter Woods

September 17, 2018 By Connie | 3 Comments

We have another wonderful inspiration piece for you to use! I think this glass piece is SO pretty…love those colors! Mary and I went in completely different directions on this one, so make sure you check hers out, too!

So, here is what I came up with using the new stamp set, Winter Woods. This stamp set wasn’t on my radar at first, but I do love this grove of trees! My Stamp Club did a fall card using it last month…here is more of a “winter” scene for a Christmas card.

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 Pool Party cardstock, scored at 4-1/4 and folded.
On top is a 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Shaded Spruce cardstock, stamped along the bottom with the Merry Christmas greeting from Timeless Tidings stamp set.
On the 3-1/4 x 5-1/4 layer of Shimmery White cardstock, the bottom was masked off with a torn piece of paper, and a 2″ Circle punched from a post-it note was added to the front. Then Blushing Bride Ink was applied upwards from the top of the torn piece with a sponge dauber. Pool Party Ink was applied going downward from the top to meet the Blushing Bride Ink and then Night of Navy and Shaded Spruce Inks were added at the top for a dark wintery morning scene.
The circle mask was removed and the grove of trees in Winter Woods was stamped with Shaded Spruce, the ground with Crumb Cake Ink, then the Shimmery White piece added to the Shaded Spruce layer.
A length of 1/8″ Braided Linen Trim was wrapped around and tied in a knot with the ends frayed.
A trio of Basic Adhesive Backed Sequins were added on front.

It’s been a while since I’ve done sponged backgrounds, but they are SO much fun! OK…go check out what Mary did with the Inspiration Challenge this week over on Create with Connie and Mary!

CCMC Saturday Blog Hop – Favorite Holiday Greeting

September 15, 2018 By Connie | Leave a Comment

This month Create with Connie and Mary is featuring our new favorite products in the Holiday Catalog! This week it is time for our Favorite Holiday Greeting! I knew right away what I was going to use…Farmhouse Christmas…in fact, the greeting was one of the MAIN reasons that I purchased the stamp set, along with the entire SUITE of products! lol! I love this “marquee” style greeting!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 Cherry Cobbler cardstock, scored at 4-1/4 and folded.
On top is a 3-1/4 x 4-3/4 plaid piece of Festive Farmhouse Designer Paper.
Over that is a 2-1/4 x 4-1/4 piece of the sparkle design in Festive Farmhouse DSP.
A 1/2 x 4-1/4 strip of Champagne Metallic Paper was added on top of that for a little bling.
Across the front is 4-1/2 piece of 5/8″ Striped Burlap Trim.
The greeting from Farmhouse Christmas was stamped once with Cherry Cobbler Ink on Very Vanilla cardstock, then stamped again with Mossy Meadow on Very Vanilla.
Merry Christmas was cut with the Farmhouse Framelits Dies, then added with Stampin’ Dimensionals over the rest of the circle greeting punched with the 2″ Circle punch and added to a 2-1/4 circle of Cherry Cobbler.
The greeting was added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Don’t you LOVE that greeting? And that farmhouse look is SO popular in decorating right now. Love, love, LOVE it!!! OK…continue on with the Create with Connie and Mary Blog Hop to see what the rest of the Design team has done with their Favorite Holiday Greeting challenge this week! Next up is our Create with Connie and Mary website, then on to creative Mary Brown, or head backwards to see Melissa’s fabulous card!

CCMC527 Painted Harvest

September 13, 2018 By Connie | Leave a Comment

Sometimes you just need to use an “old” favorite stamp set…I loved Painted Harvest when it came out last year and used it a LOT…however, it hasn’t seen much love since last fall. Today’s color challenge over on Create with Connie and Mary inspired me to use it for this week’s card and combine it with some NEW items.

So here’s what I did with Painted Harvest, but I’ve combined it with the NEW Buffalo Check background and a Galvanized Clip with Braided Linen Trim! Gives it an entirely different look, doesn’t it?

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 So Saffron cardstock, scored at 4-1/4 and folded.
On top the 4 x 5-1/4 layer of So Saffron cardstock was stamped with the Buffalo Check background stamp and So Saffron Ink for a tone-on-tone look.
A 4-1/4 x 2-1/2 piece of Pacific Point cardstock was cut with a flag end.
A 2-3/4 x 3-1/2 piece of Whisper White was stamped with Poppy Parade (stamped off) and the background flower image, then full strength Poppy Parade Ink with the detail flower image on top. In the center, So Saffron Ink was stamped with the center image several times, then the little dots stamped over it.
The greeting from Painted Harvest was stamped with Pacific Point Ink under the flower, then the white panel added to the Pacific Point banner.
A new Galvanized Clip was tied with 1/8 Braided Linen Trim in a knot, then shredded and clipped onto the side of the Whisper White panel.
The banner was popped up with Stampin’ Dimensionals on front.

Love the “country” look to this card, don’t you? OK…check out what the rest of the Challenge Team did this week with the color challenge over on Create with Connie and Mary! A few of us used that new Buffalo Check stamp!

IM37 – Jar of Love

September 10, 2018 By Connie | 3 Comments

Hmmm, Mary usually picks the inspiration photos and the colors in this one has me puzzled a bit! I don’t think I’ve ever combined Night of Navy and Petal Pink together…plus it looks like it has a little Smoky Slate in there, too! Since my mind is wrapped up in fall, this card looks more “spring” to me! lol!

So, here is what I came up with…

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 Petal Pink cardstock, scored at 4-1/4 and folded.
On the 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Whisper White cardstock, a 1/2 x 5-1/4 strip of striped Subtles Designer Paper was added.
The jar from Jar of Love stamp set was stamped in Smoky Slate, the branches in Night of Navy and some extra stems for the flowers with Smoky Slate on the Whisper White panel.
Three of the flowers were stamped off (solid stamp) with Petal Pink, the full strength for the layered stamp image, and the center with Night of Navy Ink on Whisper White cardstock, then cut with the Jar of Love Framelits and added to the jar with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The bow was stamped with Petal Pink Ink on Petal Pink cardstock (why does it look darker???) and cut with the bow framelit in Jar of Love.
The greeting in Jar of Love was stamped with Night of Navy Ink on Petal Pink cardstock, then cut with the smallest Stitched Shapes Oval and added with Stampin’ DImensionals.
Three of the “tan” Basic Adhesive Backed Sequins were added to the branches.

OK…what do you think? It would be good for a wedding card! Go check out what Mary did with the Inspiration Challenge (LOVE her leaves!) this week over on Create with Connie and Mary!

CCMC Saturday Blog Hop – Favorite Holiday Designer Paper

September 8, 2018 By Connie | 1 Comment

This month Create with Connie and Mary is featuring our new favorite products in the Holiday Catalog! This week it is time for our Favorite Designer Paper! Again…a really hard choice…I mean REALLY hard! So many of the packs have designs that I love! I finally settled on Joyous Noel…mostly because it had the MOST number of designs that I liked in it! lol! How’s that for process of elimination? I also used my new Alpine Adventure stamp set with it…I’ve always wanted one of these old fashioned sleds to decorate next to my front door!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Crumb Cake cardstock, scored at 5-1/2 and folded.
On top is a 3-1/4 x 5-1/2 piece of Joyous Noel Designer Paper…love the copper details in the snowflakes to make it shine!
Over that is a 2-3/4 x 4-1/4 piece of Whisper White cardstock that was embossed with the Subtles Embossing Folder.
A 1 x 4-1/4 piece of coordinating Joyous Noel Designer Paper was added to the bottom of the Whisper White with a 1/8 x 4-1/4 strip of Copper Metallic Paper to hide the seam.
The sled from Alpine Sports Thinlit Dies was cut from Crumb Cake cardstock.
The wreath was stamped with Tranquil Tide Ink on scrap Whisper White cardstock and the berries with Merry Merlot Ink, then cut with the Alpine Sports Thinlits.
The bow (LOVE!) was cut from Merry Merlot cardstock and added to the wreath with a Mini Glue Dot, then the sled with Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The Let it Snow greeting from Alpine Adventure was stamped with Tranquil Tide Ink on Crumb Cake cardstock and cut with the scallop oval in the Alpine Sports Thinlits and added on front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The holly leaves were cut from Tranquil Tide cardstock with the Alpine Sports Thinlets and adhered under the oval.
A Red Rhinestone was added to the holly leaves for a little bling!

OK…continue on with the Create with Connie and Mary Blog Hop to see what the rest of the Design team has done with the Favorite Holiday Designer Paper challenge this week! Next up is our Create with Connie and Mary website, then on to creative Mary Brown, or head backwards to see Melissa’s fabulous card!