Inspiration Ink

Love & Sympathy Ombre & Lace

Unfortunately, I have had to create a few sad occasion (sympathy, get well, thinking of you) cards recently.  Here's a sympathy card I created with the Love & Sympathy Set, an ombre effect, and some lacy touches.

  Uses Love & Sympathy Clear-Mount Set plus Clear-Mount Block C, Clear-Mount Block I, Wisteria Wonder Classic Stampin' Pad, Perfect Plum Classic Stampin' Pad, Elegant Eggplant Classic Stampin' Pad, Wisteria Wonder Card Stock, Elegant Eggplant Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Tea Lace Paper Doilies, Wisteria Wonder Baker's Twine, Vintage Faceted Designer Buttons, Delicate Details Lace Tape, Glue Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals, SNAIL Adhesive, Stamping Sponges, Stampin' Trimmer, Paper Snips, Craft Scissors, and Extra-Large Oval Punch.

The ombre effect was created by rubbing the three colors of purple ink onto a rectangle of white card stock using a Stamping Sponge.  I worked from the top down starting with the lighter purple, Wisteria Wonder, first and finishing with the darker purple, Elegant Eggplant.  I also rubbed a little ink onto the piece of Paper Doily and the strip of Lace Trip and wiped off the excess ink with a clean tissue before adhering them.  This softened the stark white color a little.

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Boating Blues Sympathy

Unfortunately, I needed to make another sympathy card.  Once again, though, the colors of the Color Me Beautiful Challenge seemed like the right place to start.  Here's the card I created.

  Uses Love & Sympathy Clear-Mount Set plus Clear-Mount Block B, Clear-Mount Block I, Brights Collection Stampin' Write Markers (Old Olive and Pacific Point), Old Olive Card Stock, Pacific Point Card Stock, Bashful Blue Card Stock, River Rock Card Stock, Sahara Sand Card Stock, SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin' Trimmer, Simply Scored Scoring Tool, 1-3/4" Circle Punch, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Multipurpose Platform, Standard Cutting Pads, Finishing Touches Edgelits, and Delicate Doilies Sizzlits L.

Here are the colors for this week's Color Me Beautiful Challenge and the inspiration picture:

You can check out the Color Me Beautiful Challenge and all the cards submitted for the contest this week by clicking here.

Comfort and Sympathy

This is one of the cards I scrambled to put together for my Club Classes this month after UPS lost my box of new items!  I think it turned out pretty nice.  Enjoy!

Uses Love & Sympathy Clear-Mount Set plus Clear-Mount Block B, Clear-Mount Block I, Cajun Craze Classic Stampin' Pad, 2012-2014 In Color Stampin' Write Markers (Summer Starfruit), Neutrals Collection Stampin' Write Markers (Soft Suede), Summer Starfruit Card Stock, Soft Suede Card Stock, Very Vanilla Card Stock, Comfort Cafe Designer Series Paper, Linen Thread, Naturals Designer Buttons, Glue Dots, SNAIL Adhesive, Color Spritzer Tool, Paper Snips, Craft Scissors, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Multipurpose Platform, Standard Cutting Pads, Houndstooth Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, and Oval Accent Bigz Clear Die.

Stenciled Sympathy

Here's another card we made at my recent Sample Making Day for my fellow Demonstrators.  It uses the Summer Smooches Decor Stencil that is ONLY available during April as part of the Summer Smooches Sneak Peek.  Enjoy!

Uses Love & Sympathy Clear-Mount Set plus Baja Breeze Card Stock, Basic Gray Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Baja Breeze Classic Stampin' Pad, Basic Gray Classic Stampin' Pad, Whisper White 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Sponge Daubers, Clear-Mount Block C, SNAIL Adhesive, Sticky Strip, Craft Scissors, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Multipurpose Platform, Standard Cutting Pads, Adorning Accents Edgelits Dies, Adorning Accents Textured Impressions Embossing Folders, and Summer Smooches Decor Stencil.

Indigo Sympathy

These are two easy sympathy cards I recently had to make and send out.  I used the Island Indigo as the main color on both cards.

Uses Love & Sympathy Clear-Mount Set plus Island Indigo Card Stock, Always Artichoke Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Always Artichoke Classic Stampin' Pad, 2011-2013 In Color Stampin' Write Markers (Pool Party and Island Indigo), Always Artichoke Stampin' Write Marker, Twitterpated Designer Series Paper, Basic Pearls Jewels, Clear-Mount Block B, Clear-Mount Block H, SNAIL Adhesive, and Scallop Edge Border Punch.

Uses Thoughts & Prayers Set plus Island Indigo Card Stock, Basic Black Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Island Indigo Classic Stampin' Pad, Baja Breeze Classic Stampin' Pad, More Mustard Classic Stampin' Pad, Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad, Glossy White Card Stock, Stamping Sponges, SNAIL Adhesive, Scallop Oval Punch, and Large Oval Punch.

Take It Tuesday

It's Tuesday and Take It Tuesday is back!

You can stop by anytime between 2 p.m and 7 p.m. on most any Tuesday.  You don't have to tell me in advance that you are coming, just pop by! 

This is a good time to pick up any orders you may have waiting for you, pay me for an order or upcoming event, register for an upcoming event, or place an order.  You can browse through samples I have on display and take pictures of the samples so you can use them for inspiration at home.

You can also bring any products you may have that you'd like a little extra instruction on how to use and I'll give you a quick lesson.  So, if you have a punch that is giving you trouble or aren't sure what sandwich to use with a Big Shot Die or want some tips on using Wheels, etc. bring them along and get a one-on-one lesson.

If you have cards to donate for Operation Write Home, bring those too!  Please just remember - absolutely no glitter!

I'll also have a couple of quick and easy card projects ready for you to stamp if you wish.  These projects will be different each week.  Cost will be $1 per project made.  You may make one of each of the two cards available if you wish.

Today we'll be making these two cards:

Uses Love & Sympathy Clear-Mount Set plus Always Artichoke Card Stock, River Rock Card Stock, Always Artichoke Classic Stampin' Pad, Whisper White Craft Stampin' Pad, Always Artichoke Stampin' Write Marker, Always Artichoke 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon, Sponge Daubers, Clear-Mount Block B, Clear-Mount Block D, SNAIL Adhesive, Sticky Strip, Cutter Kit, Craft Scissors, Decorative Label Punch, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Multipurpose Platform, Standard Cutting Pads, and Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.

Uses A Word For You Clear-Mount Set plus Pool Party Card Stock, Wild Wasabi Card Stock, Very Vanilla Card Stock, Soft Suede Card Stock, Wild Wasabi Classic Stampin' Pad, Spice Cake Designer Series Paper, Early Espresso/White Baker's Twine, Wild Wasabi 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Spice Cake Designer Buttons, Basic Pearls Jewels, Clear-Mount Block H, SNAIL Adhesive, Sticky Strip, 2-Way Glue Pen, Craft Scissors, Boho Blossoms Punch, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, Scallop Trim Corner Punch, Scallop Trim Border Punch, 3/16" Corner Punch, and 1/16" Circle Handheld Punch.

You don't have to be picking anything up or dropping anything off either.  Just pop by and stamp and visit!

November Club Contest Winners

Each month, I challenge the members of my Stampin' Clubs to create a project for a contest and submit it to me.  I assign a theme for them each month.  Everyone in the Clubs then votes on their favorite 2 entries and the top entries win their creators a $5 coupon to use on their next order.

For November, I told them "anything goes!"  They could create any kind of project they wanted!

Once again, we had lots of great cards submitted and voting was really tight.

The top choice though was this beautiful sympathy card by Shannon Aydukovic:

Uses Precious Butterflies Hostess Set and Love & Sympathy Set plus Lucky Limeade Card Stock, Early Espresso Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Lucky Limeade Classic Stampin' Pad, Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad, Whisper White Craft Stampin' Pad, Basic Rhinestones Jewels, SNAIL Adhesive, 2-Way Glue Pen, and Paper Snips.

The second place winner, a fun Christmas card, was submitted by Kathy Little:

Uses Sincere Salutations Set and Stitched Stockings Set plus Cherry Cobbler Card Stock, Crumb Cake Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin' Pad, Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad, Frostwood Lodge Designer Series Paper, Cherry Cobbler/White Baker's Twine, Cherry Cobbler 3/8" Quilted Satin Ribbon, Mini Jingle Bells, SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals, 2-Way Glue Pen, Mini Glue Dots, Craft Scissors, Snowflake Punch, and Stocking Builder Punch.

Shannon and Kathy will each receive a $5 Coupon from me to use on their next order.  Wonderful cards, ladies!  Congrats!

Take It Tuesday

It's Tuesday!  So, it's time for my next Take It Tuesday session. 

You can stop by anytime between 2 p.m and 7 p.m. on any Tuesday.  You don't have to tell me in advance that you are coming, just pop by!

This is a good time to pick up any orders you may have waiting for you, pay me for an order or upcoming event, register for an upcoming event, or place an order.  You can browse through samples I have on display and, since I have retired merchandise set out for sale, you can also shop for retired products!  Feel free to bring a camera to take pictures of samples on display so you can use them for inspiration at home.

You can also bring any products you may have that you'd like a little extra instruction on how to use and I'll give you a quick lesson.  So, if you have a punch that is giving you trouble or aren't sure what sandwich to use with a Big Shot Die or want some tips on using Wheels, etc. bring them along and get a one-on-one lesson.

If you have cards or cards to donate for Operation Write Home, bring those too!  Please just remember no glitter!

I'll also have a couple of quick and easy card projects ready for you to stamp if you wish.  These projects will be different each week.  Cost will be $1 per project made.  You may make one of each of the two cards available if you wish.

Today we'll be making these two cards:

Uses Four Frames Set, Sunflower background stamp, and Petite Pairs Clear-Mount Set plus So Saffron Card Stock, Very Vanilla Card Stock, So Saffron Classic Stampin' Pad, More Mustard Classic Stampin' Pad, More Mustard Stampin' Write Marker, Subtles Collection Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack, More Mustard 1/2" Scallop Dots Ribbon, Clear-Mount Block B, SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sticky Strip, and Decorative Label Punch.

Uses Love & Sympathy Clear-Mount Set plus Pear Pizzazz Card Stock, Perfect Plum Card Stock, Confetti White Card Stock, Pear Pizzazz Classic Stampin' Pad, Concord Crush Classic Stampin' Pad, Perfect Plum Classic Stampin' Pad, Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad, 2010-2012 In Color Stampin' Write Markers (Concord Crush), Garden Green Stampin' Write Marker, Perfect Plum 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Stamping Sponges, Clear-Mount Block B, Clear-Mount Block I, SNAIL Adhesive, Sticky Strip, Stampin' Mist Stamp Cleaner, Stampin' Scrub, Craft Scissors, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Standard Cutting Pads, 3-1/2" Circle Originals Die, and copy paper.

Every Tuesday between 2 and 7 p.m. the door is open!  You don't have to be picking anything up or dropping anything off either.  Just pop by and stamp and visit!