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.

Inkspirational #335 Mood Board - Inspired Flowers

 Inkspirational Challenge #335 has just posted and it's a lovely Mood Board!

I was inspired by the aqua colors and the florals.

Still trying to follow my New Year's resolution to use things I've had for ages and never used,

I pulled out the Craft-A-Flower Lily die set from Altenew.  And boy, aren't these pretty blooms?!  I didn't think they would still have them, I bought them so long ago - but they do!   I added Silver Wink of Stella on the stamens but it doesn't show much on the photo.  The flower on the right is popped up on foam dots.

This challenge ends on Feb 28th so we hope you will join us before then and link up your card inspired by our Moodboard!   

You'll find more inspiration from the rest of the Design Team as well as Mr. Linky over at Inkspirational!

I'm also sending my card to:

NBUS

1st time using these Altenew Lily dies!

Love those Pretty Papers

did not use optional red ends 2/27

Cut It Up Challenge

Flowers make me smile ends 2/17

The Neglected Stuff Challenge

ends 2/28

Paper:  Robins Egg - Bazzill, Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shore, Tropical Teal, True Black - PTI, DP: Untamed Meadow - Unity two shades of textured green from my stash.

Other Supplies:  More Sentiments Hot Foil Plate and die set - Spellbinders, Silver Hot Foil, Glimmer Hot Foil System, foam dots, Silver Wink of Stella.

Inkspirational #332 - Pretty Quilts Jan 2025

 Welcome to the first challenge of 2025 at Inkspirational - this month the challenge is Designer Choice and I'm the designer to choose!  

My challenge is Pretty Quilts and here are some suggestions to help you start designing.

Show us something pretty using squares or strips of different patterned papers.  

 

Cut squares out of several different patterned papers and arrange them to make a larger 'quilt', check out YouTube quilt card tutorials.

 Here's a link : https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=quilt+card+tutorial

Use a blanket or beach towel stamp or die - color with several colors or stamp flowers etc on it?

 I have two samples to share with you today.

To create my 'quilted' birds - I took a piece of computer paper and adhered some 1/4" to 1/2" strips of scrap DP over it, just a random mix of patterns and colors.  You can see all thestrips in the bowl - I save them when I trim DP for other projects.  I laid the thinlit bird dies over the paper and ran them through my machine.

 (note - if you have a Bigz die you can adhere the DP strips onto a piece of card stock as Bigz Dies will cut through thicker paper)

Here is my 2nd sample of a Pretty Quilt.

I used the Coaster Die from The Greetery to cut the base out of white card.  Then I cut two pieces of patterned Soft Stone paper into 2 3/4" squares (one dotted, one stripes).  

I placed each square (one at a time) over the center square of the die and ran it through my machine so it would imprint the quilted dots.   

Then I put both squares together (one on top of the other) and cut them into approximately 1/4" to 1/2" wide strips.  

I laid the strips out, alternating stripes and dots and then adhered them over the coaster base.  The coffee mug is from Paper Cut Cafe Thinlit dies.

So I hope I have inspired you to think about creating some kind of a pretty quilt and to join us over at Inkspirational - you will find inspiration from the rest of the DT as well as Mr. Linky -  which closes on Jan 17th.

I'm also sending my Birds card to:

Cut it Up Challenge - Anything Goes using die cuts 

ends 1/6

I'm sending my Espresso card to:

Inspired by Challenge

Warmth, blue mug and tan coaster  ends 1/8

Where Your Birds Sing

Stamps:  Backyard Bird Friends Stamps - Ellen Hutson (retired)

Paper: White, Soft Stone, Grey - PTI, DP - Make it Merry -Honey Bee Stamps, scraps of mixed patterned paper.

Ink:  Nocturne - Versafine Clair.

Other Supplies:  Feathered Friends Thinlits Dies - Tim Holtz/Sizzix, 2" circle punch - SU, enamel dots - Altenew.

An Espresso of My Thanks

Stamps:  Coffee Set - Waltzingmouse (retired)

Paper:  White, Hawaiian Shores, Enchanted Evening, Blueberry Sky, Dark Chocolate - PTI, White and Grey Cordinations, DP - Bitty Big Patterned Paper Collection Soft Stone - PTI

Ink:  Portabello Versarine Clair.

Other Supplies:  Coaster Die - The Greetery, Paper Cut Cafe Thinlit dies - Tim Holtz/Sizzix, foam dots.

Inkspirational #322 - Moodboard - always be a mermaid

 This is my DT card for Inkspirational #322.  This week we have a lovely Mood Board to inspire us.

Source: https://butterflyreflectionsink.blogspot.com/2015/08/august-mood-board.html

I was inspired by the left panel with the layers of colors - and generally all of the colors!

I stenciled the background using Semicircles Med Century Modern stencil by Claire Brennan Designs.  The mermaid die is unbranded from Amazon  and the stamps are Inner Mermaid from Ellen Hutson (retired)  I added enamel dots, heart and star as well as three drops of Nuvo Gloss Simply White on the crown.

So please ponder the Mood Board and see what it inspires you to create.  We'd love to have you link up over at Inkspirational.  You'll also find lots of inspiration from the rest of the creative DT!

You have until 8/23 to link up!

I'm also linking my card to the following challenges:

NBUS

First time using the mermaid die and stamps

Time Out Challenges

It's Summertime Somewhere

Ends 8/14

Stencil Fun

Summertime  ends 8/31

Cut It Up Challenge

Thinking of You   ends 8/21

Stamps:  Inner Mermaid - Ellen Hutson (retired)

Ink:  Marigold, Chamomile, Misty Mint, Sea Glass - Altenew, Nocturne - Versafine Clair

Paper:  White - PTI, Watercolor Paper - Canson Cold Press.

Accessories:  Semi Circles Mid Century Modern Stencil - Claire Brennan Designs, Mermaid Die - Amazon, blender brushes, enamel dots, star and heart - Altenew, Nuvo Drops - Gloss Simply White, Copic E02.

Card Chain Challenge - May 2024 Reveal

 Today's the day all the cards exchanged in May over at the Card Chain Challenge are being revealed.  This month I sent a card to Mia in Greece and I received a lovely card from Jeanne in Minnesota!

This month I used the option of two of the themes: Men in Hats and Friendship and the sketch (sort of!)

Theme Options: Men in Hats / Cake / Friendship

Here's my card:

I purchased the elf/gnome die on Amazon, the sentiment is from Graduation Gnome from Unity, the DP is Forest by Stamperia.  I added black pearls for eyes and tuxedo hearts.

We hope you will join us for June - sign up to send and receive a card from someone anywhere in the world!   You'll find all the details on how to join in over at The Card Chain Challenge as well as seeing all the cards exchanged!   

You just sign up for one month at a time. You can join in whenever you like.  

You sign up on the Link - and you send to the person before you and the person signed up after you sends to you!

You have until June 6th to sign up for the June card exchange!

Linking my card to:

Krafty Chicks

ends 6/5

NBUS

First time using the gnome die and sentiment

Cut it Up

anything goes using dies  ends June 12

Stamps: sentiment from Graduation Gnome - Unity.

Ink:  Nocturne - Versafine Clair

Paper:  Cocoa Bean, True Black, Pine Feather, Soft Stone - Papertrey Ink, Hammered white - Amazon, Place Rose - Bazzill, DO Forest - Stamperia.

Accessories:  Elf/gnome die - Amazon, black pearls, Tuxedo Hearts - Honey Bee,  Copic W2.

Inkspirational #317 - Framed Birthday

 It's time for the newest biweekly Inkspirational Challenge - #317

And here is my framed sentiment Birthday Card I created for the challenge!

I stamped this lovely Happy Birthday Background stamp from Gummiapan onto the white die cut circle from Stitched Square and Circles from Penny Black.  I cut a  circle frame from the same die set out of metallic gold and layered it over the sentiment circle with foam dots.  Then I cut the purple frame using the Mid Century Frame die from Altenew and adhered that to the gold frame (it fit just perfectly!)

I splattered a panel of white hammered paper with a purple POSCA Pen.  When it was dry, I layered the white circle over the panel with foam dots.

A close up just to show how the metallic gold sparkles in the light!

We hope you will join us over at Inkspirational and show us how FRAME inspires you!  You will find Mr. Linky as well as lots of inspiration from the rest of the DT over at the blog!

You have until June 14th to link up!

I'm also linking my card to:

NBUS

First time using this Birthday Collage Stamp

Seize the Birthday

ends June 4

Just Us Girls

Casing Carol's card - inspired by white circle and purple color

ends June 4th

Krafty Chicks 

ends 6/5

Cut it Up

anything goes using dies  Ends 6/12

Stamps:  Happy Birthday Background - Gummiapan (Color Me Nordic US shop carrying it)

Ink:  Nocturne - Versafine Clair

Paper:  White, Amethist Allure - Papertrey Ink, Metalic Gold - Kraft Stack Tim Holtz/Idea-ology, hammered white - Amazon.

Accessories:  Mid Century Frame Die - Altenew, Stitched Square and Circles - Penny Black, foam dots, Purple POSCA pen.

Jan 2024 Card Chain Challenge Reveal - Bird on a Fence

 Today's the day for the January Card Chain Challenge Reveal -  when we see all the cards sent and received for the challenge in January.   I sent my card to Linda in Minnesota and I received a card from Joanne in Connecticut.

Each month we have the options of using a sketch, colors, themes and/or product/techniques.

I used two of  the theme options - birds and friendship

Here's the card I created for Linda.  The fence and bird are up on foam dots.

Instead of making a card that opens -  I decided to put a small die cut easel on the back of the panel.

You'll find all of the cards exchanged and see who sent to who - over at The Card Chain Challenge.

You can also sign up to send/receive a card for February here.  You have until Feb 6th to sign up!

I'm linking my card to:

Cut It Up Challenge

This Makes Me Happy - Birds

Paper: White Wood Grain Card - Memory Box, White, Enchanged Evening, True Black, Blueberry Sky - Papertrey Ink, DP Festival of Colors 6"x6" paperpad - Rubbernecker.
Ink: Cocoa Bean - Papertrey Ink
Accessories: Hello Friend Posh Script Die - Memory Box, Featherd Friends 6 Die, Picket Fence Die - Papertrey Ink, foam strips, small easel die - Sizzix.

Inkspirational Challenge #305 - Celebrate: Nativity

 Inkspirational Challenge #305 has just posted! 

and here is the DT card I made for the challenge.  I am celebrating the birth of Jesus with my card.

I bought this beautiful Nativity Triptych from Tutti Designs at least two seasons ago and this is the first time I pulled it out to use it. I love this beautiful scene!

I die cut the triptych out of metallic gold and then cut out a panel of black with it. I inserted the gold die cut into opening in the black panel.

I created my background using the Smooshing with Cling Wrap technique.

I recently did a post with The Group of Seven Cardmakers on this technique. Click here if you are interested in seeing my blog post on the technique.

So how do you interpret Celebrate?

We hope you will link up your card so we can see it over at Inkspirational!

You have until 12/29!

linking my card to:

NBUS

First time using the Nativity Triptych die.

The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge

Anything goes

ends 1/7/24

Jingle Bells

last minute Christmas Cards

ends 12/23

Cut it Up #293

Celebrate

Little Red Wagon

Christmas

Stamps: Simple Strips: Christmas - Taylored Expressions.
Ink: Nocturne- Versafine Clair, Ranger Distress Festive Berries, Rusty Hinge.
Paper: Bristol Smooth Mixed Media Paper, True Black - PTI, Metallic Gold - Parklane (JoAnn).
Accessories: Nativity Triptych Die - Tutti Designs, Cling (Saran) Wrap, water mister, craft mat, foam dots.