Inkspirational #353 Designer Choice - Follow Yonder Star

 There's a new challenge up at Inkspirational - #353  Designer's Choice -  I'm the designer this time and here's my challenge.

 I was seeing Christmas stars!

I just LOVE these Three Magi dies from Spellbinders, so much detail on each one! Their outfits and faces use the same die for each Magi, but the beards, crowns and gifts are different. I wanted to give each one a different skin tone as well.  The set also includes 3 stars. I just used the largest one in the top right corner.  Since I had all the colored card stock out - I die cut enough to make 4 cards while I was at it! (Yes, it took me a while!)  

Did I say I LOVE these dies??!! 

Inside, I stamped "Let the star guide your heart this Christmas" (one of the four stamps that comes with the die set.

The DP is Ink Drop - Vivid from Craft Consortium (remember when these came out a few years ago and they were all the craze? or was that just me?! It's still available - google it!).  Some of the pieces have marbling in gold which I used here.  

The large star is from the Magi set - the small stars are from Honey Bee. Two of the Magi and the large star are up on foam dots.  I layered the DP over a piece of Metallic Gold paper.  My card is 5 1/2" x 5 1/2".

So please join us and create something for my challenge -  "Seeing Stars"!  You'll find lots of creative inspiration from the rest of the DT over at Inkspirational.

This challenge will end on Nov 7.

Also sending my card to:

NBUS

1st time using the Magi dies

Christmas Sparkles Challenge

Non Traditional Colors ends 10/31

Christmas Crafts All Year Round

Hard Candy Christmas

inspired by this line:

Maybe I'll count the stars until dawn

Alphabet Challenge Blog: N is for Night

ends 10/29

Cut it Up Challenge

Add Embellishments (I added gold stars) ends 10/27

Stamps:  Seasonal Vibes #2 - Sizzix.

Paper:  New Leaf, Limeade Ice, Pinefeather, Honey Nut, Enchanted Evening, Spring Rain, Blueberry Sky, Cocoa Bean, Scarlet Jewel, Autumn Rose, Lavender Moon, White - Papertrey Ink,  Pale Rose - Bazzill, Metallic Gold - Idea-ology, DP Ink Drops-Vivid - Craft Consortium.

Ink:  Nocturne - Versafine Clair.

Accessories:  The 3 Magi - Stamp and Die Set - Spellbinders, Star Confetti - Honey Bee, foam dots.

A Mug for Santa

 I just LOVE these little Santa mugs from Tim Holtz and watched a YouTube video by Tim on how to  fill them with 'whipped cream' and candy!   

I have a full size mug just like this from my childhood!  This one measures just 1.13"x 1.75"! 

TOO CUTE!!

I wanted to make a little gift using the filled mug, a Decorative Deer and Snow Ball Bubbles all adhered to a 3"x3" square of DP from Paper Stash Tidings from Tim Holtz/Idea-ology.  I layered the DP to a square of white card stock for sturdiness!  

Sorry my photos are dark, not cropped or watermarked!   - I had to buy a new computer as I couldn't download Windows 11 on the one I had - and my Adobe Photo Shop 6 was too old to load onto the new computer (UGH my worst nightmare!)  

All I use the Photoshop for is to crop my photo, lighten if needed, add my watermark and save for the Web for size.   

I've looked at several newer Adobe Photo Shops and they all do way too much stuff that I would never use and I can't see how to just do the simple things I want - also looked at YouTube videos of free Photo programs - again - too in-depth for me -  so for now I'm bungling through taking the photo in my light tent with my phone - and sticking my stamped 'watermark' near the project..... while I continue to search for something I can understand...

 

Better than not being able to post, I guess - YIKES!

This photo shows the deer standing behind the mug.  I adhered the deer and the Snow Ball Bubbles to the DP with Tombo Glue as it's thick and held them on while they dried.  I adhered the mug with a thick Glue Dot.

First, you push a 1" styrofoam ball into the mug (many available on Amazon) -the top curve will just stick out a bit above the mug. Cut the end of the Candy Cane to a length that doesn't stick out above the mug too much and stick it into the foam. Then you add Snowfall Grit Paste over the top of the foam ball (I used a spatula).  I also added Holiday Confetti from The Greetery (no longer available.)  I let it dry overnight before moving anything!

I had these 3"x 3" clear square boxes in my stash and they worked perfectly to house my little Santa Mug Vignette.   

I die cut the red circle and stamped it with a stamp from Festive Overlay by Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous. I adhered it with mini glue dots to the top of the box.

The scene fits perfectly inside the box and keeps it safe - I didn't adhere the card stock to the box - so it easily lifts out to sit on a shelf!

I'm linking my Santa Mug Vignette to:

Christmas Crafts All Year 'Round

Christmas Song - Hard Candy Christmas 

(my Santa mug has hard candy in it)

ends

NBUS

First time using the Santa Mug and Bubbles

Stamps:  Festive Overlay - Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous.

Paper:  White, Pure Poppy - Papertrey Ink, DP - Paper Stash Tidings - Tim Holtz/Idea-ology.

Ink:  Nocturne - Versafine Clair.

Other Supplies:  1" Styrofoam ball - Amazon, Santa Mug, Bubbles, Confections: Candy Canes, Decorative Deer - Tim Holtz/Idea-ology,  Christmas Confetti - The Greetery (no longer available), 3"x 3" clear box - Clear Bags.Com, Snowfall Grit Paste - Ranger, thick glue dot, Mini Glue Dots, Tombo Glue

Inkspirational Challenge #352 - Seasonal

 Today I'm sharing my DT card for the newest Inkspirational Challenge debuting today.

I chose Halloween as my Season.  

(also could be Fall since Oct 31 is in that season!)

You can see the glittery black gate better in the photo below.

I stamped a piece of grey card with a grid stamp and used it to ground The Count standing at the gate of the graveyard.

I'm on a mission to use more of the neglected supplies in my craft room -  I've only used this iron gate die once before - and this is the first time using The Count die despite my purchase of it several years ago!   The gravestone die and sentiment are from an older PTI set - that I have used but not for a few years!  Even the star paper is from a retired Halloween Print pad from PTI.

We'd love to see what you create for the theme: Seasonal!  

You'll find inspiration from the rest of the DT and Mr. Linky for this challenge over at Inkspirational.

I'm also sending my card to:

NBUS

1st time using The Count

Two Old Bats

ends 10/31

Craft Rocket

Halloween  ends 10/31

Die Cut Divas

Anything Goes  ends 10/31

Stamps: Haunted Head Stones - Papertrey Ink (retired), Distressed Grid Cover Stamp - Cornish Heritage Farms (retired).
Paper: Pure Poppy, Weathervane, White, True Black, Summer Sunrise, Dark Indigo - PTI, Glitter Black - Coredinations, Halloween Print - PTI (retired)
Ink: Old Paper - Ranger Distress (on moon), Nocturne - Versafine Clair.
Accessories: The Count Colorize Die, Gatekeeper Die - Sizzix, Haunted Head Stones Dies - PTI (retired), foam dots,

Live a Thankful Life

 I had a pad of Indian Summer DP on my desk from another project when I saw the latest Color Hues Challenge and knew it would be perfect for it!

As you can see, it has mostly the Rust part but also has touches of Yellow.  I was going to just stamp the sentiment and call it done (!)  but I also had the Buckeye Leaf die on my table (I've been bad about putting things away lately!) and thought I could add a little more yellow - so I smooshed Ranger Distress Mustard Seed ink on my craft mat, spritzed it with water and then smooshed the white die cut leaf into the ink.  I adhered it over the DP with foam dots and added 3 yellow acrylic dots.

The Color Hues Challenge

ends 10/14

Stamps:  Beautiful Berries: Autumn - PTI.

Ink:  Portobello - Versafine Clair, Mustard Seed - Ranger Distress

Paper:  White - PTI, DP Indian Summer Paper Pad - Basic Grey

Other Supplies:  Jumbo Curiosity: Buckeye Leaf - The Greetery, yellow acrylic dots - Altenew, foam dots, craft mat, water mister.

Card Chain Challenge - September 2025 Reveal

 Today all of the cards exchanged for the September Card Chain Challenge are revealed over at the blog.

This month I sent a card to Ellie in Illinois and I received a card from Greta in Oregon.

For my card this month - I used the suggested colors and the theme option Flamingo.

I have about 10 of Tim Holtz Colorize dies of wonderful animals.  Some of them I've used a lot and a few haven't been used yet - including this wonderful flamingo Gladys!

I embossed the teal background card using Monstera Frame Embossing Folder from Altenew and I die cut the Monstera leaf using a die set from The Greetery.  The sentiment is preprinted from a set by Waffle Flower.

I die cut an easel to attach to the back of the panel so it can stand up for display.

We hope you will join us for the October Card exchange - you'll find all the instructions and the sign up for October here.

The link closes on 10/6

Also linking my card to:

NBUS

first time using Gladys

Just Us Girls

ends 10/8

Critter Crazy Challenge

Anything Goes with Critters

ends10/23

Paper:  Tropical Teal, True Black, Pale Peony, White, Lemon Tart, dotted vellum - Papertrey Ink, metallic gold from stash.

Other Supplies:  Gladys Colorize Thinlit die - TH/Sizzix, Large Leaves Monstera Die - The Greetery, Monstera Frame Embossing Folder - Altenew, glue dots, foam dots, enamel dots - Altenew, printed sentiment - Waffle Flower.  Small Easel Die - Sizzix (retired).

Floral Stencil for Four

 I just love this Wild Bloom stencil from Papertrey Ink.  I got it out today and made 4 cards for different occasions, using different cover plate dies for the backgrounds.

 Anniversary

Heart Hole Rectangle Cover Plate - Amazon

 Get Well

Rainbow A2 Pierced Cover Plate - Honey Bee

 Birthday

This birthday card was totally inspired by this card by my talented blogging friend Marcia!

Postage Collage Die - Waffle Flower 

Nested Stitched Scallop Die - Amazon

 Sympathy

Waves Pierced A2 Cover Plate - Honey Bee

I'm sending the Anniversary card to:

Just Us Girls

ends 10/1

Sending the Birthday card to:

Seize the Birthday

ends 10/7

NBUS

First time using Heart Hole Rectangle Cover Plate and Nested Stitched Scallop Die

on Anniversary and Get Well cards. 

Paper:  White, Winter Wisteria - Papertrey Ink

Ink: Wisteria, Deep Iris, Olive, Moss, Teal Cave - Altenew

Other Supplies: Wild Blooms Stencil - Papertrey Ink, Heart Hole Rectangle Cover Plate - Amazon, Rainbow A2 Pierced Cover Plate - Honey Bee, Postage Collage Die - Waffle Flower , Nested Stitched Scallop Die - Amazon, blender brushes, A Little Message Sentiments - Better Press Plate and Die Set, You Are Everything Sentiments - Better Press Plate and Die Set - Spellbinders, foam dots.

Inkspirational #351 Mood Board

 There's a new challenge up at Inkspirational #351 - and it's a Moodboard!

Pretty obvious what things inspired me.

The red top mushrooms with their white dots, the snail  and butterfly!

The snail and sentiment stamps are from Mush Love and Snailed It stamp sets from Claire Brennan Design (retired)

I made a second card without the snail -  making it a little less whimsical? 

Or for someone who might think snails are slimy!   

 

I added the enamel heart from Altenew and the butterfly from This calls for Confetti on both cards.  I used Glossy White Nuvo Crystal drops on the mushroom caps.  I colored everything with Copics.

I actually made two more (before the two above) but messed them both up with a stencil background and with a hand drawn squiggle frame -  you never know what it will look like until you do it - and sometimes you really DON"T LIKE IT - so into the trash they went!   

 I used a newly purchased Mushroom Duo Press Plate and Die set

So please join us and show us your card design inspired by the Moodboard!

You'll find wonderful inspiration from the rest of the Design Team and Mr. Linky over at Inkspirational.

This challenge ends Oct 10th.

I'm also sending my card to:

NBUS

1st time using the Mushroom Press Plate.

Seize the Birthday

ends 10/7

Simply Clean and Simple

Birthday  ends 9/28

Stamps:  Mush Love, Snailed It - Claire Brennan Design (retired)

Ink:  Better Press Black - Spellbinders, Nocturne - Versafine Clair.

Paper:  Cotton Card Bisque - Better Press Spellbinders.

Accessories:  Better Press - Spellbinders, Copics E31, E37, C6, W2, YG95, R37, Gloss Simply White - Nuvo Crystal Drops, Acrylic Hearts - Altenew, Clay Butterfly Blush - This Calls for Confetti.

Bats, Pumpkins and Boo to You!

 I don't send many Halloween cards but I do like to have some on hand.  I have two boxes of Halloween stamps, dies and ephemera - some of it never used yet -  so there's that reason too!

So for this card I used three new Lavinia Stamps for the first time (pumpkins and bats), a baseboard frame from Tim Holtz that I've had a package of for a year and never used one of them, and Regions Beyond die set (candle and crow) that I've also had for over a year and never used!

  

I seem to buy things after season when they are on sale and then forget I have them?!?

I'm sending my card to:

Just Us Girls

Inspired by the pumpkins, window and candle.

ends 9/26

NBUS

first time using pumpkin and bat stamps, Baseboard window frames, Regions Beyond die cuts (candle and crow)

Inspired by Challenge

ends 9/24

Cardz 4 Guyz

Inspired by Fall  

Stamps: Playful Pumpkin, Ickle Pumpkins, Flittermice - Lavinia, A Great Big Owl (sentiment)- Waltzingmouse (retired).
Ink: Nocturne - Versafine Clair.
Paper: White, True Black - PTI, DP Enchanted - Authentique, Ghosts and Goblins - DCWV.
Other Supplies: Baseboard Window Frames - Tim Holtz/Idea-ology, Regions Beyond die set - Tim Holtz/Sizzix, Tiny Twinkles - Taylored Expressions, Orange Peel Stickles, Copics Y38, YG03, E37, E00, C1, foam dots.