INKspirations!

 Hi there!  Thanks so much for stopping by.  I just received a surprise from my Sister in Law in the mail yesterday.   Wanna guess what it was? 🤩 (SHOP HERE) I was so excited, I had to play around with my new stamp set.   Today’s card was created from this week’s sketch from Atlantic Hearts, Sketch 702. To play along, click the link ( HERE ) For my card, I used an older piece of Concord and 9th Specialty Holiday Paper.   I trimmed the base to 4 x 5 1/4in. Next, I stamped the Snoopy and Woodstock image and colored with a combination of Tombow classic colors, and Stampin Up’s Coastal Cabana for the background, and Daffodil Delight for the birds. Wink of Stella was added to the snow and trim on Snoopy’s hat. The image was cut from Simon Says Stamp A2 Frames.  I cut  3 additional frame outlines in Poppy Parade cardstock (SU). A vellum scrap circle was added to the corner and the die cut sentiment was added from Concord and 9th’s Winter Wonderland Die...

 Hello!  I hope you are enjoying this beautiful weekend weather.   I had so much fun with the CAS sketch this week, I made two!  To join in on the fun, click the link:  (HERE) It’s amazing how changing layers and colors can give such a different look.  Card 1: For the first card, I knew I wanted to use the Love and Joy circle die from - Concord and 9th (retired).  The plaid circles were cut from Stampin Up’s Nature’s Spotlight - Die set.   The gold  from SSS - Etched Berry branch was layered underneath the Love and Joy circle.   Card 2: While the ideas were flowing, I grabbed some older bell dies and the Simon Says Stamp - Holiday Ornaments Set.  The bell pieces were left over, so I simply glued a black piece of cardstock to the back. A black circle was cut and the “Jingle all the way” sentiment was added in Craft White ink.   The stars were also left over cut outs from other bells!  The 3 - circles were framed and matted ...

Hello!  There is a new sketch up at Freshly Made Sketches today, and it was the perfect starting point for this card. To play along with Freshly Made Sketches #756, click the link  HERE For my card, I cut a piece of patterned paper from Unity’s - Love is all Around Us Paper Pack (SHOP HERE) and layered it over the card base cut from SU - Citrus Blooms  set. I Used the scalloped rectangle die from stampin up called - Scalloped Christmas Cheer Dies (SHOP HERE) I stamped Unity’s - Knit Wits  (SHOP HERE) in  SU’s - Smoky Slate Ink Along the side, a scrap piece of newsprint cardstock was used as the border.  The “X” and “O’s” were cut from SU - Basic Black Cardstock with Concord and 9th’s - A to Z Alphabet Die   ( SHOP HERE) I anchored the valentine themed ephemera sentiment - “Crazy for you” - testing along the “X.” Thanks for stopping by! - Valerie Kaye

 Hello!  Today’s card is inspired by Jane’s design at AAA Card Challenges. To join the fun, click the link  (HERE) Here is Jane’s design This card is also added to the Spring into Christmas Linky Party for - Build Your Holiday Card Stash  To play along, click the link  (HERE) I mixed things up a bit, and went in a holiday vibe.  I used a strip of plaid paper, and trimmed it down to 1 1/2 inches x 5 1/4 inches.  I used the stamp and coordinating die from Concord and 9th called Stocking and Stitch set. I stamped in Real Red Ink - (SU), and then used the dies to add felt details. 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! 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!  This card was created from Atlantic Hearts Sketch #672. To play along, click  (HERE) I determined I am paper trimming challenged, but I love the clean lines with the different patterns of paper.  😆  I love this design because this works well with paper packs.  You do not need a lot of tools to make this card.  If you are limited on supplies this card would also look great with a circle from a punch.  My panel is about 3 3/4 x 5 inches  Here are my strip measurements appx.: (in.) Top: ( 2 ) - 1 3/4 x 2 Center: (1) - 1 - 3/4 x 3 1/2  Bottom Left: (1) - 1 7/16 x 1 1/2 Bottom Right: (1) - 1 x 1/2 I used paper from Unity Stamps called Nature’s Noel.  I thought it was an especially pretty pack of papers.   I chose two dark prints and one light print to follow the sketch.  I stamped in Versamark and die cut Seasons Greetings from Concord and 9th  Season’s Greetings Bundle.  The Gold foil bow was left over, and...

 Hello!  Today’s card is inspired from the current colors at the Color Dare Challenge #693.   To play along, click the link  (HERE) This is a side folding A2 - sized card.  I began stamping Unity’s - Unusual Day Poppy in Early Espresso in on Mixed Media Paper (Fabriano - Michael’s) With an aquapen I mixed shades of Real Red, Cherry Cobbler, Raspberry Ripple on the petals (SU) - The leaves were painted with Pretty Peacock (SU). Using the Time Worn Type - EF from Stampin Up, I linked Smoky Slate ink across the raised areas, then ran it through to press the ink into the panel.  I used a rectangular frame and cut the panel.  The center was popped up with cardboard packaging, then trimmed a 1/4 inch smaller to create another border.  The finished frame was added to a black panel then added to the Dove - card base (Michael’s). Hello from Concord and 9th’s Lined with Love set was cut using Shiny Black Card stock from Tim Holtz.   Thanks for stopping...

Hello!  Today I was working on some package tags for gift bags, and I decided to try out the St. Nick Bundle from Concord and 9th.  Shop here:  Die/Stencil Set ,  Sentiment Stamp This is such a great size, that I can easily make either a gift tag or a card with a nice, large focal point. I just love this jolly guy!  He certainly brightens up any gift or card you’re giving.   To make this tag: I first cut a sturdy piece of 120# cardstock.   I coated the surface with anti-static powder, then heavily pressed the Versamark Ink through the stencils.   I heat set with Recollections Red embossing powder, and Ranger Snowflake Tinsel.  I used a marker to color in the ears, face and nose, and the eyes were accented with black half round beads.   The sentiment “Ho, Ho, Ho” was stamped in Versafine Onyx Black Ink, and added off center of the beard.   The tag was attached with a standard size hole punch.   I was able to easily feed one...

Good Morning!  My son reminded me we have 10 days until Christmas! 🤪 I need more time.  lol.   With the anticipation, I still try to carve out an hour down in the craft room to relax and play with paper.  This card design is inspired from the archives of 52 Christmas Card Throwdown.  I chose May 2025 colors Red and Green (52CCT2025-18), and used the sketch from July 2021 (52CCT25-21) For the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, the “SPARKLE” is the red glitter embossing powder, and the “SHINE” is the red and gold foil. 52 Christmas Card Throwdown To make this card, I used the Kristina Werner and Concord and 9th collaboration stamp and die set Called “Merry Trees.” The letters did not fit vertically, so I rotated the sketch to make a top folding horizontal card.  The letters were built up using two white die cuts and 1 plaid to add more dimension. The negative was used as a guide for letter placement.  I centered it over the red strip, and glued into ...

 Hello! I just finished up a card for a fun challenge at AAA Cards blogspot ( AAA Cards Callenge #305 ) The theme for this challenge is to make a Clean and Simple card using white on white.   What is challenging, is making a card that is white without being overly busy.  I wanted texture and needed a focal point, so I started looking through some of my dies to see what might work.  The photo doesn’t show the glitter very well, so here is a quick video to get a better look: I decided on an older stamp set from Stampin Up called Smitten Mitten.   I also used a My Favorite Things die - called Square Peek a Boo Window Die.   I liked how a single mitten was framed inside.   Card Base: To make this card, I cut my card panel into a side folding card measuring 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches.  I cut a piece of white pearlescent paper (Recollections- Michael’s).   Using washi tape, I laid the pearlescent paper on top of the card panel, and added a couple pi...

 Hello!  Today’s card is inspired from the current challenge at Addicted to Clean and Simple Blogspot.  You can find the challenge link here:  Addicted to CAS #297 I started with the small tree dies from the Concord and 9th Tiny Trees Turnabout set.  These are such a great size, that I reach for these often!  (Shop Here) Using a piece of washi tape I positioned the center and the right tree to cut the 4 x 5 1/4 panel.  I then positioned the left tree and passed it through the Big shot one more time.   A small piece from Stampin Up’s 6 x 6 Silver and Gold Specialty Design Paper was adhered to the back.   The tree bases were cut from silver metallic cardstock, and the stars were cut from gold metallic card stock, both Recollections Brand from Michael’s.  A few ornaments were added with gold liquid pearls.   The script sentiment was positioned on a stamp platform and stamped in Versa fine Onyx Black Ink.  The sentiment comes from ...

Good Morning! Thanks for stopping by.  I just finished up a card for the new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches  (#711) I had two ideas, and the Christmas spirit took over.  lol.   I began making this card knowing that I wanted to use an older wreath embossing folder from Stampin Up, called: (Seasonal Wreath #146833.) Using a nested circle die, I found a size that was close to the wreath.  Then, I positioned the circle inside the embossing folder to get the embossed circle.   The embossed circle was off set and glued onto a white rectangular mat.  The banner, from Concord and 9th’s - Joyful Season Cutting Dies (Shop Here) .  The banner was cut from Evening Evergreen cardstock (SU), and glued across the wreath.  Poinsettias and holly leaves were die cut from Joyful season and the larger flower and leaf came from Concord and 9th’s - Festive Blooms Die set  (Shop Here .)  The flowers and leaves were cut from Red and Gold foil cardsto...

 Hello!  Tonight’s card is inspired from the new sketch at CAS.  You can play along here:  CAS #572 Using this sketch, I was thinking of using some sort of tag and a Christmas tree.  I went through a photo box of tags that came from Unity stamps as thank you gifts, and found a vintage tags with newsprint and a gold tree.  I have a notion to pick up a few more.   (Shop Here) Since the tag had most of the decoration on it, I stamped the sentiment across the center of the tag using a stamp platform in Versa fine Onyx black ink.   To complete the sketch, a small wooden snowflake also from Unity Stamps was adhered with hypo cement.   Supplies: Accent 120# white cardstock  Tags: Unity Vintage Holiday Tags  Sentiment: CC & 9th/Kristina Werner Holiday Assortment  (Shop Here) Thanks for stopping by! - Valerie Kaye

 Hello!  Today’s card is inspired by the current sketch challenge at Paper Players.  Join in on the fun here:  PP761 This is such a great sketch because you can do so much with just a couple of scraps of paper!  I opted on a more simplistic design, keeping the card mat white with a pierced border.   The stamps came from the Concord and 9th-Kristina Werner Collaboration called Holiday Assortment  (Shop Here) I started with a top folding card, measuring 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches.  I used a nesting rectangular frame die to cut the mat from 120# white cardstock, Two scraps were trimmed, and dove tailed using a Stampin up Punch, and glued into place.   The snowflake was stamped in (SU) Real Red ink and die cut with a circle nesting die.   The assembled card mat was positioned on a stamp platform to stamp the “verry merry” sentiment.   To finish the card, an iridescent rhinestone gem was added to the center of the snowflake. Thanks for stoppin...

 Are you beginning to feel the pressure?  I certainly did.  I sat down this weekend to see what cards I made over the summer, and I realize I need more!  So, the challenge this week from 52-Christmas Card Throwdown-40 is to create a card in 30 minutes or less.  You can find the challenge and full details here:  ( 52-CCT ) I wanted to make something that was impactful, but simple to assemble more.   I chose the Concord and 9th/Kristina Werner Holiday Assortment Bundle (Shop Here)   There are so many great elements in this set with both bold and script sentiments. Using a stamp platform, I lined the card into the corner and inked 2 to 3 times, for a solid impression.   I took the card out, and had the holly, berries, and “wishing you sentiment” on separate stamp blocks, ready to ink. Card Details: Horizontal, top-folding card 5 1/4 in. x 4 1/4 in Cardstock- Accent 120# white cardstock  Ink-Versa fine Onyx Black, Stampin Up Evening Evergree...

 Hi there!  Today’s card is inspired by the theme of Poinsettias at  52 Christmas Card Throwdown .   This is the first time I was able to play with Concord and 9th Festive Blooms Bundle.  This set features a beautiful pierced poinsettia and berry design with coordinating flower and greenery dies.   I chose a light and medium shade of pink cardstock (SSS-Cotton candy, SU-Strawberry Slush, and Perfect Pomegranate ) to build the poinsettia and berries.  SU-Lost Lagoon and a darker shade of green were used for the greenery.   The Sentiment from the Greetery’s Flourished Phrases was stamped in SU-Evening Evergreen and mounted onto the pearlescent white card base.  (Michael’s Recollections) Thanks for stopping by!  Valerie Kaye