INKspirations!

 Hello!  It’s good to be back.  I’ve been pretty preoccupied with with gardening lately, and the seedlings are ready to graduate to the flowerbeds!   When it’s cold and grey in the tail end of winter, seeing little green shoots is always encouraging!  Today’s card was inspired from the colors from Color Dare Challenge #705. Getting back into the swing of things, my card is more fresh and clean in appearance.   I found a polka-dot scrap in my table and decided to use it as the background for my birds.  The bird dies are from Simon Says Stamp called - A Friend Like You.   The birds were cut and assembled.   Seaside spray, daffodil delight, and basic black were the cardstock colors used to build the birds.  I used the hexagon speech bubble from Concord and 9th/Kristina Werner - set called Just Talking.  I stamped the musical notes, and “Just a note of thanks” from Amuse stamps (Sampler Set 3) in Versafine Onyx Black Ink. Have a great w...

 Hello!  It was so nice to get back to the craft room today!  I’m knee deep in seedling season, and I have been re-potting and hardening off plants.   I am also strongly regretting all the basil I planted, but I’m going to try making a hanging basket with a tumbling tomato for the front porch, so I can use some of it up. For today’s card, I was inspired by these very soothing  colors from Color Dare - Challenge #702. To play along, click  HERE Inside: This is the color palette for the challenge: Supplies Used: Stamps- Unity - Emotions Unfolded. Olive Branch Ink- Stampin Up - Soft Succulent, Mint Macaroon, Rich Razzelberry  Prismacolor Pencils- 907,1021,978  Wink of Stella Cardstock- Stampin up - Soft Seafoam, Soft Succulent Embossing Folder- Stamping Up - Subtle Impressions Dies- Simon Says Stamp A2 Rectangle Dies, Artful Palette (Rectangle #5) Thanks for stopping by! - Valerie Kaye

 Hello!  Today I’m sharing a card inspired from Just Us Girls #818, using the spotlight technique.   To play along, click the link  (HERE)  For this card, I chose Unity’s Birthday Blooms stamp. I started with a white card-stock panel and stamped in Versa Fine Onyx Black Ink.  I then used a stencil from the Simon Says Stamp - Be Your Beautiful Self Kit, and shaded the center bloom with Daffodil Delight Ink.   I masked the center image, and spattered black acrylic ink. Next, the sentiment from the coordinating Be Your Beautiful Self, was positioned with a stamp platform and stamped with Versa Fine Black Ink. I cut the colored square out with the coordinating die and stacked 4-squares for added dimension.  I decided I wanted a black border. So I used the medium square die to trim to the desired size.  (Basic Black card-stock (SU)   The lower Bloom was colored with Daffodil Delight and So Saffron Markers.   The medium sized butterfly wa...

Hello!  Today’s card is inspired from Freshly Made Sketches #731. To play along, click the link here: (HERE) From the sketch, I was looking for something that could be a similar shape, but different pattern or color. I used an older leaf die gifted from my Mom.  Memory Box has similar styles if you look for an oak leaf cutting die. I Took 3 different patterns of the Silver and Gold Specialty Designer Series Paper, and rotated the top and bottom row so they would rotate in opposite directions.   The leaves were adhered on Basic Grey cardstock from (SU). I added the sentiment from Simon Says Stamp - Be Your Beautiful Self in Versa Mark Onyx Black Ink.   A left over strip of metallic cardstock was added to anchor the sentiment.   Gold liquid enamel dots were added for embellishment. The finished card is an A2 side folding card.  Thanks for stopping by! - Valerie Kaye

 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

 Hello!  Today’s card is inspired from CAS on Friday #329.  To join along, click  (HERE) For my card, I rotated the sketch 90 degrees to allow the circle and stripes to the top of the card.  For the strips, I used a scrap of white card stock to anchor and position into place.  I used Simon Says Stamp Strips 1 - cutting dies.   I cut one wider strip with white shimmer card stock (Recollections) and one thinner strip of holographic card stock (Recollections) and glued them together on the scrap cardstock.   I added the Line It Up - Christmas die from Paper Trey Ink on the other side.   The border was added to a card base measuring 3 3/4 x 5 inches.  A vellum circle with a holographic snowflake was cut from Nature’s Spotlight from Stampin Up.  A small snowflake was die cut from the same white shimmer cardstock stock, and an opal accent was added to the center. The panel was finished with a holographic border.   Thanks for stopping...

  Hello! Today’s card is inspired from a few challenges. For this card, I used Old Letter background stamp (SSS), and stamped with Delightful Dijon ink (SU) on light yellow card-stock.  I added a piece of  patterned paper from Tim Holtz Curated Palette paper along the edge and added a scrap  I cut the panel using Unity stamps - Postage Dies, then embossed with Subtle Texture Impressions - (SU) The tag was a piece of ephemera that was trimmed down.  I rounded the corners and brightened up the moth with orange and brown markers.  The white dots were added with a rock painting tool and white acrylic paint.  A twine loop was added to the top. Tim Holtz - Cello sticker tape, was added along the tag. (SSS) The “Make a Wish” sentiment from (SSS) - Be Your Beautiful Self was stamped in Early Espresso Ink (SU), and cut from a smaller postage die. Seize the Birthday - #321 (Challenge Link Here) Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Make Your Own Background Stamp u...

 Hello!  Today’s card is inspired from the sketch from AAA - Challenges, #308.  To play along, click the link  (HERE) This is an A1 - sized card, measuring   (4 7/8 x 7 inches - score at 3 1/2), made from Recollections Craft cardstock. I stamped the Hero Arts Poppy stamp (CM503) in Versa Fine Onyx Black Ink, on Strathmore mixed media paper. Using an aqua pen, I dabbed the brush directly into the Poppy Parade Ink (SU).  The leaves were painted with Gumball Green ink (SU).   The flowers were die cut, and adhered to the front panel of the card.  The sentiment was heat embossed into a piece of Tim Holtz ideology black metallic cardstock.  I loved the pop of gloss from the cardstock.  The circle die is from (SSS) - Artful Palette set.   Have a great week! Valerie Kaye

 Hello! Today’s card is inspired inspired from the Wednesday Challenge at Simon Says Stamp.  “Anything But a Card” To play along, click the link  (HERE) My February Kit from Simon Says Stamps arrived this week so I had some great papers from Tim Holtz to work with.  I was in love with the vintage prints, and decided to make a bookmark with the ledger print paper from the set. I cut the paper measuring 2 x 6 inches.  I wanted to pick up some of the red ink from the paper, do I stamped the sentiment from Simon’s Says Stamp - “Be Your Beautiful Self” set in Real Red Ink (SU).   The sentiment was cut from the coordinating dies from SSS - Artful Palette.   I had a red heart from a previous project that was left over and used it as a focal point to attach the sentiment to.   The edges of the bookmark were distressed in Baja Breeze ink (SU).  Small spatters were stamped in shades of Crumbcake, and Smoky Slate ink (SU).   The book mark was finis...

Hello!   Today’s card is inspired from the current sketch at Atlantic Hearts #668.  To play along, click the link  (HERE) This is a side folding A2 sized card.   I used a combination of supplies to make this card.  I began with deciding on a color palette.   I chose the card base in craft, and the rounded corner mats - were (SU).  The patterned paper is from the February kit of the Month from Simon Says Stamp. I glued the matted squares into place, and using a stamp platform, stamped Unity’s flower Meadow of Memory in Always Artichoke Ink (SU). I stamped the butterfly from Unity’s “Grow-Transform-Evolve” in Early Espresso Ink.   I stamped a second butterfly on scrap craft cardstock and colored with markers, then distressed the edges with Early Espresso Ink (SU). The sentiment from Meadow of Memory was stamped on craft cardstock and die cut with the elongated rectangle from the Simon’s February Kit. Thanks for stopping by! - Valerie Kaye

 Hello!  Today I went down a rabbit hole, but I love the finished result.   This pretty little bird came from a paper pack from Simon Says Stamp called - Suzy’s Winter Birds, by artist Suzy Platamura.   This set features 12 black and white outlined images on Tim Holtz Watercolor paper.  If you’d like a set for yourself, you can order  (HERE) I was not sure how to begin this project.  Seeing a vivid black outline on white paper can be a little intimidating, so I began looking for a reference photo.   I worked with chalk pastels and prismacolor pencils.  Before starting, I clipped the small panel onto a clip board with a paper towel underneath to catch dust.  I also kept wet wipes, a polymer eraser, and a couple of paper towels handy.  The reference photo was a close up shot, and the background looked almost like an out of focus - bokeh effect.  I thought the brownish background helped the Tufted Titmouse stand out, so I began bl...

 Greetings! Today’s card is inspired from the Tic Tac Toe Challenge #285.  If you’d like to play along, please follow the link  HERE   I chose Texture, White as my free space, and Sparkle Card Details: This is “not quite” 5x7 card.  lol.  My embossing folder from Simon Says Stamp called “Pixie Snowflake.” just arrived, and I was so excited to try it out.   (Shop Here) I started with the embossing folder and a sheet of White pearlescent paper (Shop Here)  and then trimmed the edges to fit on the holographic cardstock.   (Shop Here)   This is such a beautiful design, it really doesn’t need much else, so I added a small star to the center and added the “Peace” die from Altenew  (Shop Here) .  Silver Liquid Pearls were added to embellish the snowflake. Thanks for stopping by! - Valerie Kaye

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! Today’s card is inspired from sketch #708 at Freshly Made sketches.   FMS #708 I used a combination of stamps and dies to assemble this card.  This is a top folding horizontal card, measuring 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches. On the card panel, I used Stampin Up Labels Aglow die set to  make the circular burst.  Then center circle was cut from scrap cardstock and adhered to the center.  The snow flake was cut from gold foil cardstock (Recollections) and glued into the die cut circle.  A small iridescent gem was added to the center of the snowflake. The sentiment from Simon Says Stamp and CZ Designs Clean Line Christmas was stamped, die cut into place.   Thanks for stopping by! - Valerie Kaye

 Good Morning! Today’s theme with Clean and Simple’s blog, is geometric shapes.   I began with cutting a card base from Accent 120# white cardstock.   I placed the border dot stamp from Amuse Stamps (Sampler Pack 2) onto a stamp positioner and stamped in (SU) Real Red ink.   The deer from Simon Says Stamps ( Dashing Deer Delivery ) was stamped onto white cardstock, cut with a nesting circle die and mounted on a freebie tag from Unity Stamps. Thanks for stopping by! - Valerie Kaye

 Good Morning! I'm making one last card before the family arrives today. 😜 The craft room had to be temporarily picked up to accommodate guests, so I will be missing in action for a few days.  Today's card is part of Try a Sketch on Tuesday's challenge.  ( TSOS #659 ) Today's challenge is based off of this layout to use as a starting point for your card.  I chose a Christmas theme instead of the Fall theme, but kept the design pretty close to the original.  I used Christmas designer paper from Stampin Up and, then die cut a few strips in the center.  I modified the center strip to be a little thinner to allow a little white space to show through.  The square is composed of two dies, the white frame is from Stampin up, and the Joyful word die is from Simon Says Stamps.  A small left over sprig from the Stampin Up Christmas Banners Stamp and Die set was tucked under the corner of the design.   Thanks for stopping by! Supplies Used: Design...