Inspiration Ink

Pearls Case

I got this fantastic storage idea from my upline, Jan Wakeland.  I used the same idea I'd used the other day to make "Emergency Chocolate Kits" for some of my customers to make a storage case for my Basic Pearls Jewels.  The Clear-Mount Stamp Cases hold them perfectly, they are easy to find, and won't get bent up or otherwise damaged.  I'll be making a case for my Basic Rhinestone Jewels soon too.  Enjoy!

Uses Very Vanilla Card Stock, Clear-Mount Stamp Cases, My Digital Studio Software, Paper Daisies Kit Digital Download, Elegant Soiree Designer Series Paper Digital Download, Crochet Trim Ribbon Pack Digital Download, Basic Pearls and Rhinestones Digital Download, Seam Binding II Ribbon Pack Digital Download, Top Note Shape Digital Download, Buttons Pack Subtles Add-On Pack Digital Download, computer, printer, and Basic Pearls Jewels.

Flowers for a Friend

I've been playing with some of my new toys from the awesome new Summer Mini the last few days.  Here's one of the cards I had fun creating.  Enjoy!

Uses On the Grow Clear-Mount Set and Tiny Tags Clear-Mount Set plus Clear-Mount Block A, Clear-Mount Block D, Wild Wasabi Card Stock, Certainly Celery Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Neutrals Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack, Wild Wasabi Classic Stampin' Pad, Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad, Blender Pens, Moonlight Smooch Pearlized Accent Ink, Log Cabin Smooch Spritz, Color Catcher, Mini Vintage Tags, Square Ice Rhinestone Brads, Paper-Piercing Tool, Mat Pack, and Photo Corners Extra-Large Punch.

Weekly Inspiration

My dad is celebrating his 70th birthday early next week.  I definitely learned my love of traveling and exploring from my parents, so I thought a card made with the new Travel Log Set in the Summer Mini would be quite appropriate.  Enjoy!

Supplies

- Travel Log, page 12 of Summer Mini, Clear - $21.95, Wood - $29.95

- Sincere Salutations, page 155, $23.95

- Regals Assortment 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock, page 168, $6.95

- Pumpkin Pie 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock, page 166, $6.95

- Very Vanilla 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock, page 169, $8.50

- Jolly Holiday Designer Series Paper, page 174, $9.95

- Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad, page 166, $5.95

- Night of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad, page 168, $5.95

- Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Write Marker, page 166, $3.50

- Old Olive Stampin' Write Marker, page 166, $3.50

- Cherry Cobbler Stampin' Write Marker, page 168, $3.50

- Night of Navy Stampin' Write Marker, page 168, $3.50

- Two-Step Owl Extra-Large Punch, pages 200-201, $16.95

- 1-1/4" Square Large Punch, pages 202-203, $15.95

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

- Stampin' Dimensionals, page 197, $3.95

- adhesive

- scissors

Directions

1)  Cut a piece of Very Vanilla Card Stock to 4 x 5 1/4".

2)  Ink up the adventure definition stamp from the Travel Log Set with Pumpkin Pie Ink.  Stamp off onto scratch paper.  Then, without re-inking, stamp randomly onto the vanilla rectangle.  Repeat until you've covered the entire rectangle remembering to re-ink and stamp off each time.

3)  Ink up the sentiment from the Sincere Salutations Set with Night of Navy Ink and stamp in lower right corner of vanilla rectangle.

4)  Cut a piece of Jolly Holiday Designer Series Paper with the vanilla dots on a Cherry Cobbler background to 2 x 5".

5)  Use the brush tip of the Pumpkin Pie Marker to lightly color in the dots on the designer paper.

6)  Adhere the colored designer paper rectangle to the left side of the stamped vanilla rectangle.

7)  Ink up the map image from the Travel Log Set using the Markers.  Huff onto the stamp when you are done inking everything up and then stamp onto a scrap of Very Vanilla Card Stock.

8)  Cut out the map image right along the edges.

9)  Cut a piece of Pumpkin Pie Card Stock to 2 1/4 x 2 1/2".

10)  Adhere the map image to the pumpkin mat.

11)  Adhere the matted map image to the right side of the vanilla rectangle so it overlaps the designer paper on the right side just a little.

12)  Cut a piece of Cherry Cobbler Card Stock to 5 1/2 x 8 1/2".  Score and fold in half to make a card.

13)  Adhere the vanilla rectangle to the card front.

14)  Ink up the travel log shield image from the Travel Log Set using Night of Navy Ink and stamp onto a scrap of Very Vanilla Card Stock.

15)  Cut out the shield.

16)  Ink up the months and days stamp from the Travel Log Set using Night of Navy Ink and stamp onto a scrap of Pumpkin Pie Card Stock.

17)  Cut out the months and days strip so it is about 3 1/2" long.

18)  Slide the unstamped end of the pumpkin strip into one corner of the 1-1/4" Square Punch.  Line the end up so one corner of the square is centered across the strip at an angle.  Punch.  You should have a notched end on your strip.

19)  Use the Two-Step Owl Punch to punch a scrap of card stock with the two medium sized circles in the punch.

20)  Lay the punched strip onto the months on the pumpkin strip so that one of the circles is around the month you want to highlight.  Use the fine tip of the Cherry Cobbler Marker to trace the circle and highlight the month.

21)  Lay the punched strip onto the days on the pumpkin strip so that one of the circles is around the day you want to highlight.  Use the fine tip of the Cherry Cobbler Marker to trace the circle and highlight the day.

22)  Adhere the pumpkin strip to the center of the shield so the notched end sticks off to the right.

23)  Use Stampin' Dimensionals to adhere the shield and strip to the card front so it overlaps the map image on the left side.

24)  Ink up the car image in the strip of four vehicle circles image from the Travel Log Set using the brush tip of the Cherry Cobbler Marker.  Stamp onto a scrap of Very Vanilla Card Stock.

25)  Use the Two-Step Owl Punch to punch out the car circle using one of the large circles on the punch.

26)  Use the 1/2" Circle Punch to punch a circle from a scrap of Night of Navy Card Stock.

27)  Adhere the car circle to the Night of Navy circle and then to the bottom of the shield.

Tips

You can often use "holiday" themed designer papers at other times of the year as well like I did with this card and a piece of Jolly Holiday Designer Series Paper.  Use it as is or change it up a little by adding some other colors with a Marker, Stamping Sponge, Sponge Dauber, or Brayer.

Use the side of the brush tip on the Markers when inking up a stamp.  This will help keep from mushing the brush tip out of shape.

After inking a stamp up with Markers, it's a good idea to "huff" on the stamp before stamping.  The moisture in your breath rewets the ink so you'll get a good image.

 

More One Layout and Color Scheme Ideas

Here are some more cards that are samples in another of my "Class in the Mail Kits" for my downline who sold a set amount one month.  I have so many ladies in my group earning these now that I can't give them all exactly the same Kits anymore!  These samples all feature a monochromatic color scheme.  Enjoy!

All of these cards use the following products - Old Olive Card Stock, Certainly Celery Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Play Date Designer Series Paper, Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad, Old Olive 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, 1-3/4" Scallop Circle Extra-Large Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Large Punch, and Stampin' Dimensionals.  The products that are different for each card are listed beside that card.

Uses Apple Blossoms Hostess Level 2 Clear-Mount Set plus Clear Mount Block B, Clear-Mount Block H, Certainly Celery Classic Stampin' Pad, Subtles Brads, Paper-Piercing Tool, and Mat Pack.

Uses Cheep Talk Set plus Certainly Celery Classic Stampin' Pad and 1-1/4" Circle Large Punch.

Uses Fifth Avenue Floral Set and Fabulous Phrases Clear-Mount Set plus Clear-Mount Block G, Certainly Celery Classic Stampin' Pad, and 1-1/4" Circle Large Punch.

Uses On the Grow Clear-Mount Set plus Clear-Mount Block C, Clear-Mount Block G, Certainly Celery Classic Stampin' Pad, Blender Pens, Illuminate Top Coat Smooch Pearlized Accent Ink, and 1-1/4" Circle Large Punch.

Uses So Cute Set and Fabulous Phrases Clear-Mount Set plus Clear-Mount Block G and 1-1/4" Circle Large Punch.

Uses Strength & Hope Clear-Mount Set plus Clear-Mount Block B, Clear-Mount Block D, and Certainly Celery Classic Stampin' Pad.

My Class in the Mail Kits are only for members of my downline who earn them.  I do not create these kits to sell to anyone else.  My Kits also contain consumable items only, no inks, no punches, no stamp sets, etc.  Just card stock, ribbon, buttons, brads, things of that nature.  I do not include stamped images because that is against Stampin' Up! policy.  I do provide my downline with several completed samples and a list of the supplies they will need to provide including suggested stamp sets.

Emergency Chocolate Kits

I made these Emergency Chocolate Kits as gifts for the Hostesses and first to get their orders to me in my Clubs during April.  Each case is filled with Ghiradelli chocolate squares in various flavors.  I got this great idea from my upline.  Enjoy!

Uses Very Vanilla Card Stock, Clear-Mount Stamp Cases, My Digital Studio Software, Eat Chocolate Stamp Brush Set Digital Download, Chocolate Chip Patterns Designer Series Paper Digital Download, Lap of Luxury Designer Series Paper Digital Download, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Punch Digital Download, Crochet Trim Ribbon Pack Digital Download, Antique Brads Pack Digital Download, Basic Pearls and Rhinestones Digital Download, computer, printer, and chocolates.

Weekly Inspiration

I haven't used the Baby Wipe Technique in ages, but thought the new Fabulous Florets Set in the Summer Mini would work perfectly with this technique.  I'm really pleased with the way the card came out.  I wish you could see the sparkle added to the background with the Smooch Spritz though.  Enjoy!

Supplies

- Fabulous Florets, pages 22-23 of Summer Mini, Clear - $17.95, Wood - $23.95

- Wild Wasabi 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock, page 167, $6.95

- Garden Green 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock, page 168, $6.95

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

- Pear Pizzazz Classic Ink Refill, page 165, $2.95

- Wild Wasabi Classic Ink Refill, page 167, $2.95

- Garden Green Classic Ink Refill, page 168, $2.95

- Gold Brads, page 187, $6.95

- Certainly Celery 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, page 191, $5.95

- Pear Pizzazz 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon, available as a write-in item, $6.95

- Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz, page 195, $4.95

- Color Catcher, page 195, $5.95

- Paper-Piercing Tool, page 198, $3.50

- Mat Pack, page 198, $9.95

- Scallop Trim Border Punch, pages 200-201, $15.95

- Stampin' Dimensionals, page 197, $3.95

- baby wipe

- non-porous holder for baby wipe (such as an empty Clear-Mount Stamp Case or plate)

- scissors

- adhesive

Directions

1)  Cut a piece of Whisper White Card Stock to 4 x 5 1/4".

2)  Place a folded baby wipe in your container. 

3)  Add drops of Garden Green Classic Ink randomly to the baby wipe.

4)  Add drops of Wild Wasabi Classic Ink to the baby wipe between the previous drops.

5)  Add drops of Pear Pizzazz Classic Ink to the baby wipe to fill in any empty spaces.

6)  Press the solid flower image directly onto the inked up baby wipe as if the baby wipe was an ink pad.

7)  Stamp onto the white rectangle.

8)  Repeat by reinking the stamp each time until the white rectangle is completely covered with the flower image.  Let the images overlap a little.  If your green colors are starting to blend together too much, clean the stamp before continuing.

9)  Place the stamped white rectangle in the Color Catcher and spritz it thoroughly with the Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz.

10)  Set the white rectangle aside to allow it to dry.

11)  Cut a piece of Whisper White Card Stock to 2 1/4 x 4 1/4".

12)  Ink up the stem and leaves image by pressing it to the inked up baby wipe.

13)  Stamp the stem and leaves image on the small white rectangle.

14)  Cut a piece of Garden Green Card Stock to 2 7/8 x 4 1/4".

15)  Use the Scallop Trim Border Punch on both long edges of the green rectangle.

16)  Adhere the stamped white rectangle to the punched green rectangle.

17)  Use the Paper-Piercing Tool and Mat Pack to poke a hole in the center of the large group of leaves.

18)  Insert a Gold Brad and secure on the back side.

19)  Cut a piece of Pear Pizzazz 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon about 4" long.  Twist the ribbon up and insert the ends through scallops on either side of the bottom of the main image panel.  Adhere the ends of the ribbon to the back.

20)  Tie a small piece of Certainly Celery 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon to the center of the Pear Pizzazz Ribbon and trim the ends.

21)  Cut a piece of Wild Wasabi Card Stock to 5 1/2 x 8 1/2".  Score and fold in half to make a card.

22)  Adhere the large stamped and spritzed white rectangle to the card front.

23)  Adhere the main image panel to the left side of the card front using Stampin' Dimensionals.

Tips

Baby wipes that don't have designs quilted into them work best.

I used an empty Clear-Mount Stamp Case (page 192, $4.95 for 4 cases) to hold my baby wipe.  When I'd finished this card, I just closed the case and the baby wipe will stay moist enough to use on other cards for a few days.

You will want to use a Color Catcher when using Smooch Spritz to protect your work area.

Mix the Smooch Spritz up well before spraying with it by rolling the vial back and forth across your work surface.

Use a firm, even push on the spray nozzle of the Smooch Spritz for best results.

Try to line your green rectangle up and start punching the sides at the same point so that the scallops will line up.

 

One Layout and Color Scheme Ideas

Here are some more cards that are samples in another of my "Class in the Mail Kits" for my downline who sold a set amount one month.  I have so many ladies in my group earning these now that I can't give them all exactly the same Kits anymore!  These samples all feature a fun layout using the 2-1/2" Circle Punch, Newsprint Designer Series Paper, and a Neutrals Brad.  In order to get the curve at the top of the main image, you cut a piece of card stock slightly skinnier than the punch.  Then, feed one end of the card stock into the top of the punch and pull it through the punching area and back out the bottom before punching.  Enjoy!

All of these cards use the following products - Baja Breeze Card Stock, Not Quite Navy Card Stock, Very Vanilla Card Stock, Newsprint Designer Series Paper, Baja Breeze Classic Stampin' Pad, Not Quite Navy Classic Stampin' Pad, Stamping Sponges, Neutrals Brads, Paper-Piercing Tool, Mat Pack, and 2-1/2" Circle Extra-Large Punch.  The products that are different for each card are listed beside that card.

Uses Extreme Guitar Set and Playful Pieces Hostess Level 3 Clear-Mount Set plus Clear-Mount Block A.

Uses Friends 24-7 Set plus Not Quite Navy Stampin' Write Marker.

Uses Goal Set.

Uses The Open Sea Clear-Mount Set plus Clear-Mount Block D, and Clear-Mount Block E.

Uses Sail Away Set and Sanded background stamp.

Uses Sense of Time Set.

My Class in the Mail Kits are only for members of my downline who earn them.  I do not create these kits to sell to anyone else.  My Kits also contain consumable items only, no inks, no punches, no stamp sets, etc.  Just card stock, ribbon, buttons, brads, things of that nature.  I do not include stamped images because that is against Stampin' Up! policy.  I do provide my downline with several samples and a list of the supplies they will need to provide including suggested stamp sets.