Ingenious Inkling

Birthday Celebration

My card for this week's Unscripted Sketch features papers and stickers from Authentique's Celebrate Collection.

I adore this color combination & the fact that it can work for both masculine and feminine designs.

Beanie Hat Gift Card Holder

We're celebrating gift card holders at jingle belles ... the gift that keeps on giving.  I loved this tutorial at SCS for a Beanie Gift Card Holder.  It assembled quickly, but looks like you spent a lot of time putting it together.  I love the patterns of Basic Grey papers.

I didn't have the same punch she used for the pom pom, so i swapped out a flower punch folded in half and attached with a tiny brad.  I also omitted the bow, so it could be a masculine option & would be more mailable.  I went with a larger decorative brad instead.

So quick, easy and oh-so-cute ... perfect for a coffee gift card to warm-up the recipient.

Thursday Link Love

Another fun week of skipping through the blogosphere:

• What a fabulous suitcase wall ... so many design possibilities with those great shelves.
• A USA Map made from fabric scraps ... very fun.
• Summer Soups ... I really want to try the Spring Minestrone.
• Hot Buttered Fluffy Pretzels ... be still my heart.
• Love this fabulous Bird Cage Shaped card.
• I found Biscoff Spread on our vacation ... I may have to try making these Biscoff Pretzel Bites.
• Gorgeous Botanical Sketch Bag ... with a link to the New York Public Library Digital Gallery (I could get lost for days).
• I want to make some Green Moss Graffiti.
• Love the perspective of thise *looking down* photos ... so perfect for a shoe-lovin' gal ... speaking of shoes, I fell in love with a new brand while we were shopping in St. Louis ... Tsubo will be my summer kicks.
• Tutorial for an LP Album Side Table ... perfect for a music lover.
• I will be trying some skillet tortilla pizzas this week.
• Single serving Coffee Cake in a Mug ... what a fun little healthier treat.
• Clever ink storage made from foam core board ... another version here.
• Love these fantastic texty collages (shown).
• Wonderful little bendable fabric flags.

Happy Thursday!

Embrace Life

While I like embellishing a card as much as the next crafty soul, I really love when papers are beautiful enough to stand on their own.  When I saw the May sketch challenge at the My Mind's Eye Blog, I knew I wanted this lovely paper from their Lost & Found Blush Collection to be front-and-center on my design.

I added two more papers from the same collection for my broders with a bit of inky sponging.  I stamped a couple of banners from the MME Be Amazing Follow Your Heart set in maroon and finished with an encouraging chipboard sentiment ... embrace life.

It also works for this color challenge at the 365 Cards blog, as well as the Clean & Simple Challenge at Simon Says Stamp.

Floral Congratulations

My card for this week's Retro Sketch combines stamps from Rogue Redhead Designs with papers from Webster's Pages.

The polka dot background paper was stamped in grey with the Ledger from Relish Reading to repeat the soft texty look of the seed packet.  The Congratulations sentiment is from Bits & Pieces.

I embellished with grey linen twine and two colors of yellow pearls.

Sealed with a Kiss

As the wife of a postal carrier, I couldn't resist joining in the Postage Challenge at the Moxie Fab World blog.

Stamps are from Lawn Fawn's You've Got Mail.  Layout is the Sketchbook Saturday Challenge combined with traditional USPS colors.  I added a tiny red gem to the envelope ... sealed with a kiss.

 

Washi Bright Bite

For some reason my tummy is craving sweets today, but instead of eating cookies ... I decided to make a card inspired by cookies ... Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger Bright Bite cookies to be exact.

I loved the stacking of the cookies and those bright fun colors, so I decided to create my card by stacking some fun new My Mind's Eye Indie Chic Washi Tape I picked-up this week.

Sentiment is Hero Arts Anytime Messages and butterfly embellishment was punched from the pink washi tape adhered to cardstock with two tiny adhesive pearls.  Hopefully this card will brighten someone's day.

They're also celebrating Masking Tape Day at Jellypark Challenges (using Washi Tape).

Graduation Hat Card

It's that time of year again ... time for graduation cards.  Graduation is such a big deal in Iowa with huge parties, so each one requires a card.  I went with the same design I used last year since it was so popular (and so easy to mass produce with color variations for the different schools).

I used Stampin' Up's Go Graduate! digital stamps (so I could print out multiple copies at once).  The card instructions are on this video tutorial, I made a few changes to make it easier for me (using a digital sentiment inside too & not shredding the ribbon).

The top is perfect for tucking in a check or a little cash.  The University of Iowa school colors are also perfect for this week's Dynamic Duo Challenge.  I didn't use embossing, but I did add a bit of texture with a yellow glaze pen on the cowboy boots.

Marine Corps Birthday

I used this week's Unscripted Sketch to create a birthday card for my nephew Josh.  He enjoys participating in ROTC and plans to join the military after he graduates from high school, so I made him a Marine-themed design. 

Since there's a Piggyback Challenge at Unscripted Sketches this week to add ink to your design (could be stamping, pen, anything inky)  I inked up Hero Arts Distress Frame with Blue Iris ink and grunged-up the corners a bit. Paper is from Bo Bunny's Liberty Collection, dimensional stickers are from K&Company and sentiment is an EAD Designs Rub-on.

Alphabet Jumble Birthday

This week's SCS Inspiration Challenge comes from RedEnvelope,  The name RedEnvelope comes from a firmly held belief in Asian cultures that the color red is an auspicious symbol of happiness. Gifts are often presented in a simple red envelope - a timeless tradition that carries with it well wishes of prosperity, good fortune, appreciation and love.

My card is inspired by this Alphabet Jumble Wall Art.

I adhered a mix of all of my alphabet stickers to a grey background (apparently I only buy alphabets in neutral tones & white).

I added a birthday sentiment.  This *card* is so large, I just made it into a single page, so I can write my message on the back.

I hope you find inspiration.