INKspirations!

 Hello! Tawnie Owl Paperie has a great challenge for the month of April using repeated circles.   My card is an A2 horizontal top folding card.  I dug through some of my printed tags and ephemera, and found a printed postcard to use as the background.  One great resources is the Graphics Fairy.  They have so many printables that you can use for your craft needs!  You can visit them  (HERE) I cut the circles from 3 different print tags  (a grid, collage print, and the center was a damask print) and adhered them to the center of the postcard base. The butterfly die cut is from Stampin up called - Butterfly Thinlit dies, and the card color is Misty Moonlight (SU).  I stacked 3- for extra dimension. For the sentiment, I used “Thinking of you” from A-muse stamps Sampler Set 2.  The sentiment was stamped on a left over post card scrap in Misti Moonlight ink (SU) For embellishments, I added Tim Holtz Idea-ology I REALLY like this sketch! (Thank...

Hello!  Today I created card for Atlantic Hearts for sketch #675.  If you’d like to join in on the fun, click the link  (HERE) I kept things pretty simple, but used bright colors and high contrast for my design.  This is an A2 side folding card.   I embossed a white piece of Hammermill #110 white cardstock with the Cuttlebug - Twill Stripe embossing folder.  I adhered to the card base and trimmed off the overhanging edges.  For the heart, I cut several 1/4 inch strips of bright colors and used a glue stick on a scrap to lay down the strips.   The heart is the negative piece from Honey Bee - Radiant Heart Dies.   For the sentiment, I used the Hugs word from Unity with Tim Holtz Glossy Black Cardstock. Thanks for stopping by! - Valerie Kaye

Hello! I finished up this fun card today inspired by the great challenges at AAA blogspot  and Inkspirational Blog Challenge.  I thought this would make a fun encouragement card, an Easter card, or even a funny Mother’s Day card.   To play along click the link here: AAA  (Challenge #311) Inkspirational Challenge (Challenge #364) The theme is “E” -  I pulled out an oldie but a goodie, and chose “E” for egg. Card Details:  My card is a side folding A2 sized card.   (Hammermill White 110#) I used The Hey Chick stamp set from Stampin Up Sale A Bration. I had to play a little with colors and positioning.  I initially colored mother hen, but decided it would take away from the egg, so I decided to just stamp in Onyx Black Versafine ink on white cardstock.  The egg I stamped once on white cardstock and also on a piece of dotted paper.  I added just a little extra color to the polka dots with a marker.   The tiny hen house was cut from kraf...

 Hello!  Paper Craft Crew has a fun challenge to help you get ready for Easter. Chalkenge #665 is Easter Treat To join along, click the link  (HERE) For the challenge I made a cute sour cream carrot container.  It is the perfect size for small treats.  To make this container, I started with a 4 x 6 piece of patterned paper. You can decide if you want a short or long carrot by which side you add the tape.  I wanted short, squatty carrots!  Here’s a video to see how these are put together from You Tube by Keenan Creations (Video) You will also need double sided tear tape, a boning folder, a clip and ribbon. The ribbon is completely optional, but adds a festive touch. I made 3, and these are pretty easy to put together.  I used mini clothespins from the Dollar Tree for easy opening.   For my second treat holder, I made this easy bunny bag.   I had a pattern several years ago for a reindeer bag that you could cut and sew.  I made a roug...

 Hello! Hi there!  I finished up this cute A1 sized card for Creative Inspirations Challenge #36.   To play along, click the link  (HERE) For my card, I used the bird from Spellbinders Spring Smiles set.   The birdhouse came from Simon Says Stamp called Bitty Birdhouse. Three of the houses were stacked together for dimension.   The sentiment from the same Spellbinders set was stamped in Versafine Onyx Black Ink using a stamp platform. Thanks for stopping by!  Valerie Kaye

 Hello!  Today’s card is inspired from Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Blog Challenge. To Play along, click the link  (HERE ) For my card, I used the stencil and dies from Simon Says Stamp called Artful Palette.  The stencil was used as a template for the peach honeycomb patterned paper from Cute as can Bee DSP-(SU).  The bunny. flowers and sentiment were stamped and colored. Then die cut, and arranged along the tiles.  (Spellbinders - Springtime Smiles set) Butterflies and iridescent gems were added for extra dimension and interest.  Thanks for stopping by! - Valerie Kaye

 Hello!  Spring is on its way!  I have seedlings beginning to sprout under the grow lights, and baby basil is adorable!  It’s definitely encouraging because we only have a few crocuses at the moment.  My card was inspired from Creative Knockouts Challenge #567. To play along, click the link  (HERE) For my card, I used the Artful Palette stencil from SSS.  I used the coordinating dies to cut and arrange the spring eggs and flowers ephemera that was a freebie. The stencil was used to align the die cuts into place.  The largest butterfly from the coordinating die set was added with a hello sentiment from Spellbinders called - Springtime Smiles was added in Early Espresso Ink (SU). Three iridescent gems were added to fill the empty space below the butterfly.   Thanks for stopping by! Valerie Kaye

 Hello! The challenge for Just Us Girls is - Use a Stencil To play along, click the link  (HERE) For my card, I used a stencil 3 different ways!  I have had a sheet of Easter egg emphrema and have been trying to figure out how to use it.  I started with using the Artful Palette Stencils from Simon Says Stamp.  Taping the stencil down, I could cut the dies from the floral Egg ephemera.   I used the stencil as a template, for perfect alignment.  I could easily lift the stencil off the Soft Seafoam card base (SU). The butterflies are from the SSS-Artful Palette coordinating die set.   I cut the three different butterflies and left them in the negative space, and then used Honey Bee Stamps - Damask stencil to create a pattern.  Wink of Stella was added for extra shimmer.  Iridescent gems were added on the body of the butterfly and a few flowers for visual interest.  Easy, as 1 - 2 - 3!  Thanks for stopping by! - Valerie Kaye

 Hi there!  Today’s card is inspired by the Retro Rubber Challenge #268.  To play along, click the link  (HERE) I was looking forward to shopping through my wood block stamps and decided on Bearing Gifts of Christmas Cheer from Stampin Up.   This card is an A2 top folded card. I turned the sketch vertically, to better accommodate my stamp and sentiment. For my card, I stamped onto a scrap of white card-stock with Versafine Onyx Black ink.  I colored with water soluble markers and fussy cut.  I used The red and blue patterned paper from Stampin Up’s One Horse Open Sleigh DSP, and cut with the Labels A Glow oblong shaped die.   The sentiment is from Elegant Pines stamp set (SU). I used the long label from the Labels A Glow die set, with Night of Navy Ink (SU). I glued the labels onto a card base measuring 3 3/4 x 5. I centered the bear in the middle and used the sentiment underneath as an anchor. Thanks for stopping by! - Valerie Kaye

 Hello!  Today’s sweet card is inspired from the current sketch at Freshly Made Sketches #729. If you’d like to play along, click the link  (HERE) My card is an A2 side folding card. For this design, I began by taking a piece of Soft Seafoam cardstock (SU) and cutting it into an oval shape with nesting dies.   I then centered the oval to frame the lilies of the valley and embossed (SSS-Lily of the Valley Arch) The petals were colored with various shades of green, and the blooms were painted with acrylic white paint.  Nestled on a leaf, is the lady bug from Stampin Up’s - Sweet Bugs stamp set.  I stamped with Versa fine Onyx Black ink and colored with markers. A small piece of foam was used to add extra dimension.  For the card mat, I used green plaid paper from Stampin Up’s Berry Delightful DSP, and trimmed with (Evening Evergreen-I believe (SU). A matching scrap was embossed with a Dynamic Lace embossing folder.   The sentiment from Spellbinders ...

 Hello!  I made an Easter card with more of a masculine feel to it.  This card was inspired from Lynn Dunn’s modified Z-fold cross tutorial.   One handy tool for this project is an easy to read engineering ruler.  Jennifer McGuire mentioned it as one of her essential tools, and I cannot live without it! There are both standard and Metric markings, and it’s easy to read. (Amazon Link) To see the first card, check it out  (Here) This card is for the Creative Crafting Uncles Chalkenge #75 To play along, Click the challenge link (Here) You can learn more about her technique and download the dimensions here: (Lynn Dunn Cross Z-Fold Video) I following the same technique, I switched up the elements for a different feel.   For this card, I used the Timber Embossing Folder from Stampin Up.  I used a piece of scrap kraft card stock and trimmed it to the dimensions.  Then I embossed to give the texture of wood.  To add more dimension, I sponged Ear...

Hello!  I saw a great technique today, that is a Z - fold card with a cross design. The card technique is from Lynn Dunn.  She has both a video and a very helpful download with all the measurements.  Thanks Lynn!  This is a great card for many occasions!  What I like about this design is that the cross is very prominent by the Z-Fold. You can find Lynn’s link:  (Here)   One of the most helpful tools for this project is a simple engineering ruler.  I watched a video from Jennifer McGuire a while back, and it’s a tool she uses often.   I ordered it, and it makes life so much easier.  This ruler is easy to read with all of the markings.  It has both metric and standard markings. (Amazon Link) I looked through my papers and made this card with Stampin Up’s Thoughtful Journey DSP.   The embossed cross pattern is from an Anna Griffin - Border embossing folder.  The pattern is called Blooming Damask.   The sentiment is from ...

 Hello!  Today’s card is inspired from Freshly Made Sketches - #728. To play along, click the link (HERE) I began with embossing a 4 x 5 1/4 panel of Pebbled Path Card stock with with A Sizzix Tim Holtz - Pine Branches EF.  I lightly sponged craft white ink from the pad onto the branches and set aside.  I cut  3-small gold bells and  2-large red bells, rotating them along the branches. I cut 2 - pearlescent white branches from Memory Box called Silverdale Branch die. The sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp called Snow Flake Edges Peace on Earth, and was stamped in craft white ink. The finished panel was attached to a side folding A2 - sized card base.  (Hammermill 110# white ) Thanks for stopping by! - Valerie Kaye

 Hello!  The Wednesday challenge for Simon Says Stamp, is  Clean and Simple Join in on the fun  (HERE) For my card, I chose the Sledding Dog digital stamp from  the All Dressed Up Stamp Store on Etsy. You can purchase the dog (HERE) I had a few of these doggies printed from a previous project.  I like to have several printed at one time, so I use Avery Templates and Labels to size images.  Find a size that you line, upload your image, and it will repeat the image on each label.  Print on lightweight card-stock, and each image is equally spaced on a page. 😬 I decided to make my dog look like a chocolate lab, so I started coloring with a layer of a waterbased Crumbcake Marker.  Then added a medium and dark brown pencil to shade. The sweater was colored the same way, with the center band accented with Wink of Stella.  The scarf was paper pieced with plaid paper, and accented with red rhinestones.  The snowflake from Concord and 9th’s ...

 Hello!  I often like using card sketches as a starting point for card making.   Yesterday I came across a sketch, and it helped me visualize this card.   The sketch came from SU Only Card Challenges.   This was the sketch that I used: My finished card is more of a custom size, just a little smaller than a 5 x 7 card. Supplies Used: Stamp: Unity - Heart Mode Activated Ink: Versafine Onyx Black  Markers: SU- Sahara Sand, Basic Grey, Prismacolor - Silver, Wink of Stella  Stencil: Unity Heart Embossing Folders: Sizzix Tim Holtz - Foundry, Stampin Up- Metal Plate Cutting Dies - Stampin Up - Gears and Textures  Paper- Basic Grey, Basic Black, Recollections-90# Dove White, Recollections Gold, And Holographic cardstock Tim Holtz - Shiny Black, and Rose Gold Thanks for stopping by! - Valerie Kaye  

 Hello!  Today’s card is inspired by this week’s sketch at Atlantic Hearts - Challenge #673.  To join in the fun, click the link (HERE) My card is a A2 - horizontal card.  I used the cute Santa from Unity - called “A Little Ho Ho Ho.”  The Santa was stamped with Versafine Onyx Black Ink. The santa was colored with prismacolor pencils and markers.  The Wink of Stella was added to the pom pom and trim.   Rhinestones were added as ornaments and a amal black half round bead was used as a button. The Santa was matted on a kraft square, and adhered to the Always Artichoke panel (SU) The patterned paper is from Unity called Scandinavian Holiday paper pack. The Ho Ho Ho was left from a previous project, and added along the border.  (Concord and 9th) A small banner was added to cover a little boo-boo 🙈. The mini stamp is from Unity called - Letters to Santa, stamped in Always Artichoke ink (SU). The finished panel was mounted to a kraft card base.  T...

 Hello!  Today’s card is inspired from this week’s sketch from CAS Colours and Sketches #581. To Play along, click the link  (HERE) My card is an A2 side folding card.   Following the sketch, I trimmed a panel and used a nesting circle to partially die cut the edge. I stamped the ornament from Stampin Up’s - Christmas Gleaming set with Versafine Onyx Black Ink.   I colored with water-based markers with bold, bright colors, and added a small rhinestone to the center and a small red bow to the top. The ornament was cut with the coordinating punch.  The sentiment from Stampin Up’s - Peace on Earth stamp, was stamped along the die cut panel using a stamp platform and Versa Fine Onyx Black ink. I liked the clean, bold font and it fit nicely along the bottom.   Thanks for stopping by! - Valerie Kaye

 Hello! Today’s card is for the following challenges: Penny Black - Four Legged Friends  (CHALLENGE LINK) Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Flowers (CHALLENGE LINK) For the challenge themes, I used flowers in the embossed background and the paper pieced dress.   I chose Penny Black’s - Thinking of You stamp.  I really like the simplicity of a girl hugging her dog for comfort!  I stamped the girl’s dress from a ditzy floral pattern from Unity’s Wallpaper and Warmth paper pack and fussy cut along the lines.  I also ran a dark brown marker along the edge for a more seamless look. Markers were used to color the dog, skin and hair. (Crumb Cake, Cajun Craze, Petal Pink-SU)   The finished piece was mounted on an embossed panel from Stampin Up called Painted Posies, and brushed with white pigment ink.  A small stitched heart was used to pop up the “Thinking of You Sentiment” Thanks for stopping by! - Valerie Kaye

Hello!  We are currently hunkered down today waiting for the winter storm to pass.  Midwest in the Spring can have some ferocious weather.   At any rate, I can sow seeds inside and color flowers until the weather decides to warm up.  Today’s theme from Addicted to Clean and Simple is “Garden” To play along, click the link ( HERE ) And- Crafty Calendar Challenge - March Theme:Spring Play along  (HERE) My garden has more flowers than vegetables. but it’s a labor of love.   Some of the favorites in my garden are canterbury bells, and hollyhocks that I started from seed.   For my card today I chose pretty daffodils from Angie Bloom Digital Designs.   To see more of her work, (CLICK HERE)   My card is a A2-Horizontal top folding card. I cut a piece of Fabarino Mixed Media Paper down to 8 1/2 x 11 inches and printed on my HP - Printer. To overcome the ink bleeding, I sprayed hairspray as a fixative.  You can use other products, but hairspray a...

Hello!  Today’s card is full of magic.  Well, maybe not magic, but there is plenty of pixie dust!  Saturdays are always a nice way to slow down.  I had a lot of fun putting this card together for - Freshly Made Sketches #727.  If you would like to play along, click the link here: (HERE) For my card, I used the Enchanted Dreams set from Unity stamps. I rotated my card with the arch going East to West in orientation because I didn’t want to lose the greenery when I cut with the die. Using a stamp platform I began coloring the ferns with a Tombow 228 marker.  Then I colored the mushrooms with (SU) Cajun Craze.  Fine details were added with the fine tip of an Early Espresso marker (SU).  The background was watercolored with So Saffron Ink, and Delightful Dijon (SU).  The paper used is Mixed Media paper. The fairy was stamped in Pretty Peacock ink, and the wings were watercolored with Pool Party Ink.  Wink of Stella was added to the wings and...

 Hello!  My card is for the current challenge at The Card Concept. To play along, click the link     (HERE) I loved these colors and especially the rain boots! These are so much cuter than the ones I trudge around the garden in.  My card is an A2 side folding card that is a clean and layered design.   I began by cutting the panel die from white card-stock, and attached the Coastal Cabana card-stock (SU) to the back.  The stamps are from Honey Bee’s Oh My Whiskers and Purrfect Sentiments set. All of the images were stamped in Versa Fine Onyx Black ink, colored and fussy cut.   The finished pieces were mounted inside the grids and embellished with a few gems. The butterflies were embellished with Wink of Stella.  A small banner was cut from a scrap of striped paper.  The sentiment was trimmed down and adhered to the center.  Thanks for stopping by! - Valerie Kaye

 Hello! Today’s card is inspired from the current sketch from Freshly Made Sketches #727. To play along, click the link  (HERE) When I looked at this card, I visualized a snow globe.  So, I grabbed Concord and 9th’s - Winter Wonderland stamp and die set. I stamped the “Let It Snow” background in Starry sky ink (SU), then cut with a small arch nesting die.   Assembling the car was next.   I used scraps in Stampin Up: Poppy Parade, Seaside Spray, Basic Black, Emerald Envy and Holographic Foil (Recollections). The wood trim was my favorite detail! I used kraft to cut the part, then embossed with a wood grain embossing folder.  A sponge added a little brown ink to bring the pattern out.  The assembled card and background were adhered together and attached to a white glimmer panel and layered on a Starry Sky mat.   To follow the sketch, candy canes were stamped in Poppy Parade ink, traced with a fine tipped Cherry Cobbler pen and fussy cut.  Thank...

 Hello!  I’m excited to be joining you this week as guest designer  for Seize the Birthday!   This week’s theme is “Green.” I originally was thinking of evergreens and trees, but then I grabbed this quirky little snail and fun bringing him to life! Isn’t he great?  💕 Card Details: The star of this card is the snail from Unity stamps called “Snailed It.”   I stamped onto Fabriano Mixed Media paper in Evening Evergreen Ink (SU),  and watercolored using a Gumball Green Marker on a glass media mat, with an aquapen.  For my panel, I used Unity’s Postage Stamp Die set, with a green polka dot sheet of paper from Unity’s Domestic Goddess Paper Pack.   I lined the two pieces together, and cut using the postage stamp die.   A strip of Evening Evergreen (SU) was positioned as a border, and trimmed one more time using the die.   I liked the bold script from Stampin’ Up’s On the Horizon Set, and stamped with Versafine Onyx Black ink.  The ...

 Hello!  Today’s card has a “Bit O’ Green” - for the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge To play along, click the link (HERE) For my card I began with a piece of Soft Seafoam cardstock (SU) and die cut an arch in the center. Then I embossed the cut panel with Simon Says Stamp - Lilly of the Valley arch embossing folder.  I used acrylic white paint to paint the flowers, and various shades of green markers to color the leaves.   The leaves were finished with Wink of Stella. Next, I Stamped Unity’s Held In His Hands stamp on mixed media paper with Early Espresso Ink (SU) The image was watercolored with markers and adhered to the back of the die cut panel.  The “Rejoice” sentiment from The Greetery  was die cut twice from Tim Holtz - Rose Gold card-stock and stacked for dimension.  Thanks for stopping by! - Valerie Kaye