Inspiration Ink

Victorian Celebration

My mother-in-law's birthday is coming up.  She likes the vintage, Victorian look, so I made her this birthday card which also fits the MOJO Monday 165 sketch.  Enjoy!

Uses Artistic Etchings Clear-Mount Set and Fabulous Phrases Clear-Mount Set plus Clear-Mount Block C, Clear-Mount Block G, Riding Hood Red Card Stock, Basic Black Card Stock, Very Vanilla Card Stock, Love Letter Designer Series Paper, Riding Hood Red Classic Stampin' Pad, Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad, Frost White Shimmer Paint, Sponger Daubers, Basic Black 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Raven 1/2" Lace Trim, 1-3/4" Circle Extra-Large Punch, 2-3/8" Scallop Circle Extra-Large Punch, Glimmer Basics Brads, Paper-Piercing Tool, Mat Pack, Sticky Strip, Stampin' Dimensionals, and Mini Glue Dots.

November Christmas Card Camp Follow-Up

We had fun at my last Christmas Card Camp for 2010 last night.  Here are the cards everyone got to make if they wanted.  Enjoy!

Uses Grateful Greetings Set and Northern Hearts Hostess Level 1 Set plus Crumb Cake Card Stock, Bashful Blue Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Bashful Blue Classic Stampin' Pad, Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad, 2" x 1-3/8" Oval Extra-Large Punch, 1-3/4" x 7/8" Oval Large Punch, 1-3/8" x 5/8" Oval Small Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Large Punch, 1/2" Circle Small Punch, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, Crop-A-Dile, Cutter Kit, Stamping Sponges, and 2-Way Glue Pen.

Uses Heard from the Heart Set, Paisley Prints Set, and Paisley Party Stampin' Around Wheel plus Stampin' Around Handle, Garden Green Card Stock, Confetti Cream Card Stock, Very Vanilla Craft Stampin' Pad, VersaMark Pad, Heat Tool (to speed up drying of ink), Chantilly 1/2" Crochet Trim, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Standard Cutting Pads, Ovals Originals Die, and Sticky Strip.

Uses Punch Pals and Christmas Collage background stamp plus Garden Green Card Stock, Real Red Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad, Wild Wasabi Classic Stampin' Pad, Garden Green Stampin' Write Marker, Real Red Stampin' Write Marker, Stamping Sponges, 2-3/8" Scallop Circle Extra-Large Punch, 1-3/4" Circle Extra-Large Punch, 1-1/4" Square Large Punch, Mini Library Clips, and Stampin' Dimensionals.

Uses Jolly Jingles Stampin' Around Jumbo Wheel plus Stampin' Around Jumbo Handle, Pear Pizzazz Card Stock, Concord Crush Card Stock, Perfect Plum Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Concord Crush Classic Stampin' Pad, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, Ornament Extra-Large Punch, Pear Pizzazz 1/2" Stitched-Poly Ribbon, Mini Glue Dots, and Stampin' Dimensionals.

Uses Jolly Old Saint Nick Set plus Cherry Cobbler Card Stock, Basic Black Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Brushed Silver Card Stock, Jet Black StazOn Ink Pad, Cherry Cobbler Stampin' Write Marker, Blush Blossom Stampin' Write Marker, Blender Pens, Moonlight Smooch Pearlized Accent Ink, Word Window Large Punch, Modern Label Extra-Large Punch, 1/16" Circle Handheld Punch, and Silver Brads.

Uses Little Cardinals Builder Wheel and Little Christmas Builder Wheel plus Stampin' Around Jumbo Handle, Builder Wheel Spindle and Spacers, Cherry Cobbler Card Stock, Always Artichoke Card Stock, Early Espresso Card Stock, More Mustard Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin' Pad, Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad, Always Artichoke 1/2" Seam Binding, Two-Step Bird Extra-Large Punch, Basic Pearls Jewels, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Multipurpose Platform, Standard Texturz Impressions Pad, Standard Texturz Silicone Rubber, Texture Plates Kit #4 Texturz Plates, and Stampin' Dimensionals.

Uses Christmas Postcard a la carte stamp plus More Mustard Card Stock, Bravo Burgundy Card Stock, Waffle Paper Assortment 1, Bravo Burgundy Classic Stampin' Pad, VersaMarker, Gold Lame Smooch Pearlized Accent Ink, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Multipurpose Platform, Standard Cutting Pads, Petals-a-Plenty Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, and Stampin' Dimensionals.

  Uses Serene Snowflakes Set and Sincere Salutations Set plus Baja Breeze Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Baja Breeze Classic Stampin' Pad, Not Quite Navy Classic Stampin' Pad, VersaMark Pad, Sponge Daubers, Whisper White 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon, and Sticky Strip.

Vintage Wallpaper Thanks

This is a thank you note for a customer who recently brought my husband and me some home-baked treats.  They were delicious!  My customer loves pink and all things feminine!

Uses Fine Flourish background stamp and Thank You Kindly Set plus Blushing Bride Card Stock, Basic Black Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Regal Rose Classic Stampin' Pad, Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad, In Color Stampin' Write Markers (Blushing Bride), Dazzling Diamonds Stampin' Glitter, Neutrals Designer Buttons, Glimmer Basics Brads, Basic Rhinestones Jewels, Raven 1/2" Lace Trim, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Multipurpose Platform, Standard Cutting Pads, Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sticky Strip, Mini Glue Dots, and 2-Way Glue Pen.

Wreath with Glitter

I've been playing with glitter a lot lately as I design cards for my Club Classes this month.  We'll be focusing on glitter, but using all kinds of other sparkly, shiny embellishments too!  This is one of the cards I created while playing; we won't be making this one in Club Classes, but will be doing a similar card instead.

Uses A Cardinal Christmas Set and Northern Hearts Hostess Level 1 Set plus Wild Wasabi Card Stock, Real Red Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Woodland Walk Designer Series Paper, Sticky Pages, Wild Wasabi Classic Stampin' Pad, Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad, 2-3/8" Scallop Circle Extra-Large Punch, 1-3/4" Circle Extra-Large Punch, Real Red 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Chunky Essentials Stampin' Glitter, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Multipurpose Platform, Standard Cutting Pads, Extended Cutting Pads, Tasteful Trim Bigz XL Die, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots, and 2-Way Glue Pen.

November Take 3 Camp Follow-Up

We had fun on Tuesday night at my November Take 3 Camp.

Here are the cards everyone got to make.  Enjoy!

Uses Apple Blossoms Hostess Level 2 Clear-Mount Set plus Clear- Mount Block C, Cajun Craze Card Stock, Tangerine Tango Card Stock, Very Vanilla Card Stock, Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad, Tangerine Tango Stampin' Write Marker, Old Olive Stampin' Write Marker, Paper Daisies, Brights Designer Buttons, Linen Thread, Old Olive 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Decorative Label Extra-Large Punch, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Extended Cutting Pads, Flower Folds Bigz XL Die, Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots, and Sticky Strip.

Uses Sweet Centers Set and Word Play Clear-Mount Set plus Clear-Mount Block B, Poppy Parade Card Stock, Peach Parfait Card Stock, Daffodil Delight Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Sunny Garden Designer Series Paper, Daffodil Delight Stampin' Write Marker, In Color Stampin' Write Markers (Poppy Parade and Peach Parfait), Poppy Parade 1/2" Stitched-Poly Ribbon, Sticky Strip, and Stampin' Dimensionals.

Uses Many Merry Messages Set plus Bashful Blue Card Stock, Marina Mist Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Marina Mist Classic Stampin' Pad, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Marina Mist 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Neutrals Brads, Filigree Designer Brads, Clear Rhinestone Brads, Bitty Buttons, Basic Rhinestones Jewels, Basic Pearls Jewels, Glimmer Basics Brads, Paper-Piercing Tool, Mat Pack, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Decorative Strip Spacer Platform, Decorative Strip Cutting Pads, Northern Frost Decorative Strip Die, Mini Glue Dots, 2-Way Glue Pen, and Stampin' Dimensionals.

Weekly Inspiration

I decided to try a technique that I'd never done before, Soot Stamping!  I wanted some color on my background piece though, so I used the Spotted Background Technique on my glossy card stock first.  Enjoy!

Supplies

- Extreme Guitar, page 88, $8.95

- Fundamental Phrases, page 157, $37.95

- Playful Pieces Hostess Level 3 Set, page 15, available in Clear-Mount and Wood-Mount, free to qualifying Hostesses

- Certainly Celery 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock, page 167, $6.95

- Brights Assortments 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock, page 166, $6.95

- Glossy White 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock, page 170, $5.95

- Brights Assortments Classic Stampin' Spots, page 166, $19.95

- Subtles Assortments Classic Stampin' Spots, page 167, $19.95

- Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad, page 169, $5.95

- Glimmer Brights Brads, page 36 of Holiday Mini, $4.95

- Paper-Piercing Tool, page 198, $3.50

- Mat Pack, page 198, $9.95

- Stampin' Dimensionals, page 197, $3.95

- tissue or paper towel

- candle

- matches or lighter

- clear acrylic sealer (I used Plaid Acrylic Sealer Matte Spray)

- scissors

- adhesive

Directions

1)  Cut a piece of Glossy White Card Stock to 3 1/4 x 4 1/4".

2)  Randomly press Certainly Celery Classic Stampin' Spot all over the glossy card stock.  Leave some areas uninked.  Wipe the card stock with a clean tissue or paper towel so that it smears slightly.

3)  Randomly press Old Olive Classic Stampin' Spot onto the glossy card stock.  Overlap the areas already inked with Certainly Celery and leave some areas blank.  Wipe with tissue or paper towel to smear.

4)  Press Tempting Turquoise Classic Stampin' Spot onto glossy card stock, filling in empty spaces and overlapping the other colors a little.  Wipe with tissue or paper towel to smear.

5)  Light the candle and hold the inked up glossy side of the card stock right on top of the flame.  Move the card stock around.  Be very careful as the edges of the card stock in particular catch fire very easily!  You can also burn a hole in the center of the card stock if you hold the card stock too still.

6)  Coat the surface of the card stock with soot from the flame until you are happy with the coverage.  This can take a little while.

7)  Firmly press the clean Extreme Guitar stamp on the bottom left corner of the sooty card stock.  Remove the stamp.  It will have picked up most of the soot and left the image behind.

8)  Firmly press the star image from the Playful Pieces Set randomly onto the sooty card stock and lift off.

9)  In a well ventilated area, spray the card stock with the acrylic sealer to seal the remaining soot in place.

10)  Set the glossy card stock aside to let it dry thoroughly.

11)  Cut a piece of Certainly Celery Card Stock to 5 1/2 x 8 1/2".  Score and fold in half to make card.

12)  Make sure your star stamp from the Playful Pieces Set is clean.  Ink it up with Certainly Celery Ink and stamp randomly all over the front of the celery card.

13)  Cut one piece each of Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise, and Certainly Celery Card Stock to 3 x 4".

14)  Cut a piece of Tempting Turquoise Card Stock to 1 1/2 x 4".

15)  Stamp sentiment from Fundamental Phrases Set in Early Espresso Ink in center of turquoise strip.

16)  Tear the ends off the stamped turquoise strip so it is about 3" long.

17)  If your glossy card stock is dry, tear the edges as desired.

18)  Adhere the glossy card stock to the Certainly Celery 3 x 4" rectangle at a slight angle.

19)  Adhere the celery rectangle on top of the turquoise rectangle at an angle.

20)  Adhere the turquoise rectangle on top of the olive rectangle at an angle.

21)  Adhere the sentiment strip to the upper right corner at an angle.

22)  Use the Paper-Piercing Tool and Mat Pack pieces to poke holes in the upper left and lower right corners and along the bottom right side of the sentiment strip.

23)  Insert Glimmer Brights Brads and secure on the back side.

24)  Adhere the rectangles to the card front using Stampin' Dimensionals.

Tips

I am not responsible for any burns or fire damage from the Soot Stamping Technique.  Please be careful!

Try not to touch the sooty card stock with your fingers or you will pull the soot back off.

If you mess up the images while pulling the soot off, you can wipe the soot off the glossy card stock with a clean tissue or paper towel and then try again.  You will have to add the soot again by holding it over the candle again though.

Be sure to use the acrylic sealer in a well ventilated area that won't be damaged by excess spray.  I prefer to use acrylic sealer outside!

You may want to keep baby wipes or a damp paper towel handy to clean soot off your fingers as you work with this technique.

Clean your stamps as soon as you can after using them to remove the soot from the glossy card stock.  Our Stampin' Scrub (page 198, $16.95) and Stampin' Mist (page 198, $4.50) are the easiest, best way to clean and condition your stamps.

You can find a great tutorial on the Soot Stamping Technique by clicking here.  Click here for a tutorial on the Spotted Background Technique.

Grrreat Bear Sign

My brother-in-law works for the National Forest Service.  He just got a promotion to be the Wildlife Biologist for one of the national forests in Oregon.  So, my sister and her family will soon be moving out there.  I made this card, which fits the Mojo Monday 164 sketch, to send them.

Uses Under the Stars Set plus Garden Green Card Stock, Wild Wasabi Card Stock, Chocolate Chip Card Stock, Crumb Cake Card Stock, Confetti Cream Card Stock, Woodland Walk Designer Series Paper, Chocolate Chip Classic Stampin' Pad, Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad, Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad, Blender Pens, Cutter Kit, Natural Hemp Twine, Scallop Edge Border Punch, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Multipurpose Platform, Standard Texturz Impressions Pad, Standard Texturz Silicone Rubber, Texture Plates Kit #4 Texturz Plates, Sticky Strip, and Stampin' Dimensionals.

Playing with Snowflakes

Yesterday I was poking around looking for ideas using the Northern Flurry Embossing Folder in the Holiday Mini.  I wanted to create a thank you card for a customer who recently purchased this folder from me.  I found a cool card someone else had made that used the folder and one of our background stamps and what looked like an emboss resist technique of some kind.  She didn't really say how she'd made the card though, so I started experimenting.

First, I tried a little emboss resist with dry embossing by heat embossing the snowflakes, sponging on ink, and then running the card stock through the Big Shot with the folder.  I didn't feel like the dry embossed snowflakes done with the folder really showed up as much as I wanted them to though.

Uses Sincere Salutations Set and Serene Snowflakes Set plus Baja Breeze Card Stock, Not Quite Navy Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Not Quite Navy Classic Stampin' Pad, Baja Breeze Classic Stampin' Pad, VersaMark Pad, Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder, Powder Pals, Heat Tool, Sponge Daubers, Whisper White 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Multipurpose Platform, Standard Cutting Pads, Northern Flurry Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, and Sticky Strip.

Next, I tried ghosting and dry embossing by stamping the snowflakes with VersaMark and rubbing ink directly over the images before running the card stock through the Big Shot with the folder.  No heat embossing required, so much faster!  This was also more the look I'd been trying to achieve.

Uses Sincere Salutations Set and Serene Snowflakes Set plus Baja Breeze Card Stock, Not Quite Navy Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Not Quite Navy Classic Stampin' Pad, Baja Breeze Classic Stampin' Pad, VersaMark Pad, Sponge Daubers, Whisper White 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Multipurpose Platform, Standard Cutting Pads, Northern Flurry Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, and Sticky Strip.

What do you think?  Which look do you like best?

Sewn Flower

I actually did some sewing on a card!  Shocking, huh?  It was really simple sewing though, the kind even I can do - just sewing some fabric together to make it ruffle a bit and then adding a button.  Given how I am with a needle though, I am lucky that there isn't some extra cherry cobbler blood, um ink, on the card!

The card does shimmer a bit in real life since I smooched on some Vanilla Shimmer.  It just doesn't scan well!

This card is for another of my downline to congratulate her on her recent sales and fits the Just Add Ink sketch challenge 42.  Enjoy!

Uses Occasional Quotes Hostess Level 3 Clear-Mount Set plus Clear-Mount Block C, Cherry Cobbler Card Stock, Crumb Cake Card Stock, Very Vanilla Card Stock, Deck the Halls Designer Fabric, Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad, Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin' Pad, Cherry Cobbler Stampin' Write Marker, Stamping Sponges, Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz, Color Catcher, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, Deck the Halls Big Designer Buttons, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Multipurpose Platform, Standard Texturz Impressions Pad, Standard Texturz Silicone Rubber, Extended Cutting Pads, Pennant Bigz XL Die, Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plates, Sticky Pages, needle, and thread (and no blood!).

 

Wonderful Balloon Bouquet

Here's a card I made to congratulate one of my downline for her great sales recently.  It also fits the Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge #176 and Color Inspiration #143.  Enjoy!

Uses Crazy for Cupcakes Set, Wonderful Favorites Set, and Fundamental Phrases Set plus Pear Pizzazz Card Stock, Melon Mambo Card Stock, Tempting Turquoise Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Brights Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack, Basic Gray Classic Stampin' Pad, Melon Mambo Classic Stampin' Pad, Tempting Turquoise Classic Stampin' Pad, Curly Label Extra-Large Punch, 3/4" x 15/16" Oval Medium Punch, Pear Pizzazz 1/2" Stitched-Poly Ribbon, Sticky Strip, and Stampin' Dimensionals.