Inspiration Ink

Elegant Scallops Birthday

My mother's birthday is Wednesday.  This is the card I sent her the other day.  I think it turned out very elegant and pretty.  I hope she'll like it too.  It also fits the Pals Paper Arts Challenge 82 (PPA82) to use scallops.  Enjoy!

Uses Elizabeth a la carte stamp and Occasional Quotes Hostess Level 3 Clear-Mount Set plus Clear-Mount Block G, Baja Breeze Card Stock, Crumb Cake Card Stock, Soft Suede Card Stock, Elegant Soiree Designer Series Paper, Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad, Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad, Stamping Sponges, Modern Label Extra-Large Punch, 1-3/4" x 7/8" Oval Large Punch, Baja Breeze 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon, Basic Pearls Jewels, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Extended Cutting Pads, Tasteful Trim Bigz XL Die, Sticky Strip, and Stampin' Dimensionals.

It's hard to tell in the scan, but I did sponge the edges of the Crumb Cake card stock layer with the Crumb Cake Ink to distress them a little.

The Tasteful Trim Bigz XL Die is one of the carryover products from the Holiday Mini.  It's not pictured in any of the current catalogs, but is still available for purchase for $42.95, item #120893.

 

Operation Write Home Cards with 30 Hour Famine

My younger son is part of the Honors College at Stevenson University.  This year, their faculty advisor issued a $20 Challenge to the incoming Honors College students.  She gave them each $20 and challenged them to use that $20 to make as big a difference as they could in the world.  They could work individually or pool their money and other resources.

Sean got together with some of his friends to run a 30 Hour Famine powered by World Vision.  The Famine was held Feb. 25 and 26 at the college.  Participants fasted for 30 hours while performing other service projects.  They all collected donations which will be sent to World Vision to distribute in Honduras to fight hunger there.

One of the additional service projects they decided to offer was making cards to donate to the Operation Write Home project which sends homemade greeting cards to our troops so the soldiers can use the cards to write home to their families.  Sean asked if I would help them with this project and, of course, I said yes!  Here are the cards I designed for the participants to make.  Enjoy!

Uses Extreme Surfboard and Party Hearty Sets plus Marina Mist Card Stock, Bashful Blue Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Jet Black StazOn Ink Pad, Marina Mist Classic Stampin' Pad, Bashful Blue Classic Stampin' Pad, Stamping Sponges, Brayer, 3/16" Corner Small Punch, Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware, Paper-Piercing Tool, Mat Pack, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Multipurpose Platform, Standard Texturz Impressions Pad, Standard Texturz Silicone Rubber, and Texture Plates Kit #4 Texturz Plates.

Uses Three Little Words Set plus Pear Pizzazz Card Stock, So Saffron Card Stock, Garden Green Card Stock, More Mustard Card Stock, Very Vanilla Card Stock, Build-A-Bear Workshop Pawsitively Prints II Designer Series Paper, Garden Green Classic Stampin Pad, Pear Pizzazz Classic Stampin' Pad, Blender Pens, Crimper, Square Fire Rhinestone Brads, Paper-Piercing Tool, Mat Pack, and Stampin' Dimensionals.

Uses Heard from the Heart Set plus Real Red Card Stock, Basic Black Card Stock, Brights Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack, Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad, 1-3/4" Circle Extra-Large Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Large Punch, Real Red 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, and Mini Glue Dots.

If you'd like to learn more about the 30 Hour Famine, please click here.

If you'd like to learn more about Operation Write Home, please click here.

Cupcake Purses

This is the last of the punch art projects we made at my Club Classes this month.  It's a fun and easy card using the bottom of the cupcake punched out with the Build a Cupcake Punch to make purses.  I love this clever idea that several other Demonstrators have shared.  Enjoy!

Uses Birthday Bakery Hostess Level 1 Clear-Mount Set plus Clear-Mount Block C, Daffodil Delight Card Stock, Pacific Point Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Brights Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack, Pacific Point Stampin' Write Marker, Daffodil Delight Pompom Trim, Build a Cupcake Extra-Large Punch, 3/4" Circle Medium Punch, 1-3/4" x 7/8" Oval Large Punch, Basic Pearls Jewels, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Multipurpose Platform, Standard Cutting Pads, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, and Stampin' Dimensionals.

Here are the punch art instructions I created to show everyone how to make these fun purses.

Sledding Snowman

This card was made for me by my friend and fellow Demonstrator, Kristin Jones.  We made the same card in my Club Classes this month featuring punch art.  Enjoy!

Uses Sincere Salutations Set plus Marina Mist Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Real Red Card Stock, Basic Black Card Stock, Old Olive Card Stock, Pumpkin Pie Card Stock, Brights Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack, printer paper (for masking), Marina Mist Classic Stampin' Pad, Bashful Blue Classic Stampin' Pad, Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker, Stamping Sponges, 2-1/2" Circle Extra-Large Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Large Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Large Punch, 1-3/8" x 5/8" Oval Small Punch, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, Neutrals Brads, Paper-Piercing Tool, Mat Pack, Silver Elastic Cord (retired), Dazzling Diamonds Stampin' Glitter, 2-Way Glue Pen, and Stampin' Dimensionals.

Here are the punch art instructions I created to show everyone how to create this cute sledding snowman:

Good Luck Gnome

In my Club Classes this month, we made projects featuring punch art.  I got the idea for this adorable gnome from a really talented, creative Demonstrator named Jackie Topa.  Isn't he cute?!  Enjoy!

Uses So Happy for You Clear-Mount Sale-A-Bration Set plus Clear-Mount Block A, Clear-Mount Block G, Wild Wasabi Card Stock, Bashful Blue Card Stock, Garden Green Card Stock, Blushing Bride Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad, Wild Wasabi Classic Stampin' Pad, Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker, Blossom Petals Extra-Large Punch, Two-Step Owl Extra-Large Punch, Heart to Heart Extra-Large Punch, Decorative Label Extra-Large Punch, Basic Rhinestones Jewels, 2-Way Glue Pen, and Stampin' Dimensionals.

Here are the punch art directions I created to show how to assemble the gnome:

Here is the punch art instructions page I created to show how to assemble the 4-leaf clover:

Weekly Inspiration

All my posts this week are about punch art because that's what we did in my Club Classes this month.  While I was pre-punching some pieces for my Club Classes, I got the idea for the strip of punched card stock on this card.  Then, I saw the Just Add Ink #56 Sketch Challenge and this card was born.  It would be perfect for anyone who is a fan of the mouse or planning a special trip to one of the mouse's parks!  Enjoy!

Supplies

- Word Play, page 147, Clear - $28.95, Wood - $41.95

- Fabulous Phrases, page 149, Clear - $26.95, Wood - $37.95

- Real Red 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock, page 166, $6.95

- Basic Black 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock, page 169, $6.95

- Whisper White 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock, page 169, $8.50

- Real Red Stampin' Write Marker, page 166, $3.50

- Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker, page 169, $3.50

- Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, pages 200-201, $15.95

- Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, pages 200-201, $16.95

- 3/16" Corner Small Punch, pages 200-201, $6.95

- Curly Label Extra-Large Punch, pages 202-203, $16.95

- 3/4" Circle Medium Punch, pages 202-203, $10.95

- 1/2" Circle Small Punch, pages 202-203, $5.95

- Real Red 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, page 191, $5.95

- Basic Black 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, page 191, $5.95

- Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine (includes Multipurpose Platform and Standard Cutting Pads), page 204, $99.95

- Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, page 214, $7.95

- 2-Way Glue Pen, page 197, $3.50

- Mini Glue Dots, page 197, $4.95

- scissors

- adhesive

Directions

1)  Cut a piece of Basic Black Card Stock to 4 x 5 1/4".

2)  Corner round the top to corners using the 3/16" Corner Punch.

3)  Place the black card stock inside the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder so about 1-1/2" inches at the bottom hangs out of the folder.

4)  Build a sandwich of Multipurpose Platform with Tab 2 open, one Standard Cutting Pad, Embossing Folder with card stock inside, and the other Standard Cutting Pad.  Run through the Big Shot.

5)  Ink up the word "dream" (leave off the "s") from the Fabulous Phrases Set using the brush tip of the Basic Black Marker.

6)  Stamp the word on a scrap of Real Red Card Stock.

7)  Punch out the word with the Curly Label Punch.

8)  Cut a piece of Whisper White Card Stock to 2 x 3 1/8".

9)  Corner round the top two corners using the 3/16" Corner Punch.

10)  Ink up the "Wish Big" stamp from the Word Play Set using the Real Red Marker.  Do NOT ink up the star dotting the "i".

11)  Stamp the sentiment in the center of the white rectangle about 1-1/2" from the top.

12)  Punch a 3/4" circle and two 1/2" circles from a scrap of Basic Black Card Stock using those punches.

13)  Adhere the 3/4" circle just above the sentiment in the center of the white rectangle.

14)  Adhere the two 1/2" circles behind the 3/4" circle on top as ears.

15)  Adhere the Curly Label punch piece behind the right side of the white rectangle so the word can be seen.

16)  Adhere the white rectangle and label punch to the black rectangle on the left side about 1-3/4" up from the bottom.

17)  Tie a small piece of Real Red 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon into a simple overhand knot and trim ends. 

18)  Adhere the knot bow to the base of the 3/4" circle using a Mini Glue Dot.

19)  Cut a piece of Real Red Card Stock to 1 1/8" x 4".

20)  Use the 1/2" Circle Punch to punch 3 evenly spaced circles along the bottom of the strip about 1/8" up from the bottom.

21)  Use the circle punch from the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack to punch the ears on either side of the 3 circles.  Let the punch overlap the 3/4" circle just a bit.  It's easier if you slide the top of the card stock strip into the punch.

22)  Punch a 4" strip of Real Red Card Stock with the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch.

23)  Cut the scallop ribbon border strip in half down the entire length.

24)  Use the 2-Way Glue Pen to adhere one side of the scallop ribbon border strip to the card front so it overlaps the white rectangle along the base.

25)  Adhere the mouse punched strip just below the scallop ribbon border strip.

26)  Adhere a piece of Basic Black 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon to the card front to hide the seam between the two punched strips.

27)  Tie a small piece of ribbon to the black ribbon and trim ends.

28)  Cut a piece of Real Red Card Stock to 5 1/2 x 8 1/2".

29)  Adhere the card front to the card.

Tips

When using a corner punch, make sure the corner of the card stock slides into the v-shaped guide inside the punch for a perfect punch.

Real Red Ink smears easily when stamped on Whisper White and Very Vanilla Card Stock because it is a little slow to dry.  It's best to stamp images in Real Red and then set them aside for a few minutes to let them dry before doing anything else.

 

Sweet Pea Baby

At my Club Classes this month, we focused on punch art.  Here's a sweet baby card we made that was adapted from a scrapbook page shared by a fellow Demonstrator named Trena Bevier.  Enjoy!

Uses Baroque Motifs Set and Something to Celebrate Hostess Level 2 Clear-Mount Set plus Clear-Mount Block C, Certainly Celery Card Stock, Pink Pirouette Card Stock, Old Olive Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad, Certainly Celery Classic Stampin' Pad, Basic Gray Stampin' Write Marker, Pretty in Pink Stampin' Write Marker, White uni-ball Signo Gel Pen, Sponge Daubers, 2" x 1-3/8" Oval Extra-Large Punch, 3/4" Circle Medium Punch, 1/2" Circle Small Punch, Photo Corners Extra-Large Punch, Boho Blossoms Extra-Large Punch, Blossom Petals Extra-Large Punch, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Multipurpose Platform, Standard Cutting Pads, and Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.

Here's a punch art instruction page I created to show everyone how to assemble the pea pod baby:

Easter Tulip

We focused on using punch art in my Club Classes this month.  The idea of punch art is to take a punched shape or shapes and transform it into a completely different image.

One of the cards we made uses the Jewelry Tag Punch to make a picket fence and the Two-Step Owl Punch to make a tulip.  Enjoy!

  Uses All Holidays Set plus Perfect Plum Card Stock, Pear Pizzazz Card Stock, Garden Green Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Concord Crush Classic Stampin' Pad, Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad, Whisper White Craft Stampin' Pad, Sponge Daubers, Cutting Mat, Cutter Kit, Two-Step Owl Extra-Large Punch, Jewelry Tag Medium Punch, and 2-Way Glue Pen.

Here are the punch art directions I created to show everyone how to make these pieces.

Here's a picture showing how to insert the thin strip of card stock into the punch so that you only punch the top end to make the fence post.

This is actually a technique you can use with many punches to get a longer shape than would normally be punched.

Operation Write Home Cards with NRHH

My older son is very involved in the NRHH (National Residence Hall Honorary) society at his college.  This group likes to do a service project every so often.  Brett remembered the Operation Write Home project that I send cards to so they can then send the cards to our soldiers overseas so the soldiers can write home.  He asked me if I'd help the NRHH make cards to donate to Operation Write Home.  Of course I said I would help!  Here are the cards I designed for the society members to make.  Enjoy!

Uses Punch Bunch Sale-A-Bration Set plus More Mustard Card Stock, Night of Navy Card Stock, Cajun Craze Card Stock, Very Vanilla Card Stock, Cajun Craze Classic Stampin' Pad, More Mustard Classic Stampin' Pad, Two-Step Owl Extra-Large Punch, Scallop Square Extra-Large Punch, Two-Step Bird Extra-Large Punch, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Standard Cutting Pads, 3-1/2" Circle Originals Die, 2-Way Glue Pen, Stampin' Dimensionals, and googly eyes.

Uses Clearly for You Set and En Francais background stamp plus Crumb Cake Card Stock, Baja Breeze Card Stock, Soft Suede Card Stock, Very Vanilla Card Stock, Elegant Soiree Designer Series Paper, Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad, Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad, Baja Breeze Classic Stampin' Pad, Scallop Edge Border Punch, 3/16" Corner Small Punch, 2" x 1-3/8" Oval Extra-Large Punch, and Baja Breeze 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon.

Uses Extreme Guitar Set and Something to Celebrate Hostess Level 2 Clear-Mount Set plus Clear-Mount Block G, Basic Black Card Stock, Real Red Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad, Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad, Sponge Daubers, Star Extra-Large Punch, 5/16" Neutrals Jumbo Brads, Paper-Piercing Tool, Mat Pack, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Multipurpose Platform, Standard Cutting Pads, Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, and Stampin' Dimensionals.

If you'd like to learn more about Operation Write Home, please click here.

Flying Ace Birthday

Here's another masculine birthday card I made for a family member this month.  It also fits the Pals Paper Arts Sketch Challenge 81 (PPA81).  Enjoy!

Uses Plane & Simple Clear-Mount Set plus Clear-Mount Block C, Clear-Mount Block D, Clear-Mount Block G, Clear-Mount Block H, Crumb Cake Card Stock, Always Artichoke Card Stock, Bashful Blue Card Stock, Very Vanilla Card Stock, Newsprint Designer Series Paper, Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad, Always Artichoke Classic Stampin' Pad, Stamping Sponges, Gold Lame Smooch Pearlized Accent Ink, Vintage Trinkets, Always Artichoke and Crumb Cake 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon, 2-1/2" Circle Extra-Large Punch, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Standard Cutting Pads, 3" Circle Originals Die, and Mini Glue Dots.

After crumpling the Designer Series Paper, I smoothed it out and sponged on some Crumb Cake Ink to give it an aged look.  I added a little of the Gold Lame Smooch Pearlized Accent Ink to the compass to give it a slight golden glow.  I also painted a little of the Pearlized Accent Ink onto the safety pin from the Vintage Trinkets to make it a little more golden as well.