INKspirations!

 Hi There!  Thanks for stopping by.  My brother’s birthday will be here in a couple of weeks, and I decided to go with a nature scene.  It’s almost deer season, so I thought this stamp would be perfect.  It’s a highly detailed red rubber stamp from Unity called : Wild Haven.   (LINK) I started with cutting down a piece of multi media paper to   4 x 5 1/4.  I used SU’s - Evergreen Forest Embossing Folder and inked the raised side with Always Artichoke ink (SU). For the deer image, I used a second piece of multi media paper.  I mounted the stamp inside a stamp platform and inked sections with markers.   The image was cut with Stampin Up’s Countryside Corners Die.   I  brushed bottom edges directly with a Versamark ink pad, then heat set with Rose Gold Embossing powder.   The sentiment from Honey Bee stamps called - Great Man ( LINK)  was also heat set and die cut.  I cut two additional outline die-cut and glued the...

Greetings!  How about a grumpy cat to bring some joy to your holidays this year? 🤣.  This card was designed using this month’s sketch at Build Your Holiday Card Stash - #74 For my card, I used the Bagged and Bothered - stamp from Unity. (SHOP HERE) I stamped two images, and combined them with paper piecing, using Versafine - Onyx Black ink for the printed bag, and SU - Early Espresso Ink for the outline of the cat. The cat was stamped on multi-media paper, and I layered watercolors with watercolor pencils and fine tip markers. White acrylic paint was used for highlights using a small rounded ball stylus tool for rock painting.  (Perfect dots every time!) For the eyes, I used a SU - Pool Party Marker The Bag was distress with a sponge and Crumbcake Ink (SU), and embellished with embroidery floss for the handle and a small red velvet bow. (DEI - crafts for velvet paper) The sentiment is also from Unity - from a Christmas themed ephemera pack.   Other Accessories: SU -...

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

Greetings!  I have been wanting to watercolor with this stamp for a little while, and had my chance this morning.  This stamp is from Unity, called Lying in a Manger. I started with a piece of watercoloring paper and stamped the manger in Dusty Durango Ink (SU). I loosely brushed in Misty Moonlight ink with a 1 inch paintbrush.   I sponged Rococo Rose around the manger and then splattered clean water around the manger.   The excess drops were dabbed away to lift color to look like a night time sky. I used watercoloring pencils to color baby Jesus and used a fine tip marker to add a few sketchy lines to the hair, swaddling and manger. While the paper was damp, I embossed with Subtle Impressions Embossing Folder (SU). I used Unity’s - Everlasting Joy Die to cut the manger out.  I then used white cardstock to cut and stack  3 - “Joy’s.”   A gold foil star was added from Stampin Up’s Night in Bethlehem.  The sentiment on the inside reads “Blessings fo...

  Greetings!  Today’s card was created from a great card sketch from this week’s sketch at EMK creations.  It was the perfect starting point to create this bright and colorful halloween card. For my card, I used the theme of The Tic Tac Toe challenge #300 using bright green and orange for Halloween, a cute bat for a children’s card, and the strip containing Oct. 31 for the numbers. To play along, click the link  (HERE) I cut the striped DSP from SU - Golden Honey Specialty Paper.   The patterned paper with the eyes is from Unity - Spooky Days Paper Pack  (Shop Here) The cute bat is from Unity - Hide and Eek  (Shop Here) The bat was cut with a 2 - inch nested square die (SSS-nesting squares) and framed with a a square postage die from Always Artichoke cardstock (SU).  For embellishments, I added Wink of Stella to the ears and wings of the bat, a small bow made from baker’s twine and a few sticker bats. (Thanks Unity! - for the gift) Thanks for stop...

 Hello!  I was inspired today to make an interactive bookmark card today from The Dream Factory’s current challenge: Anything Book Related.   I used the Hide and Eek Ephemera pack from Unity stamps for the focus of the bookmark.   Shop Here  (LINK) I simply cut and color the white edges black.  Then I adhered to a piece of Basic Black card-stock (SU), roughly double the length of the Frankenstein.  Once scored, this will fold over the page of a book.  To add a little bling, I added Wink of Stella to Frankie’s jacket.  The rest of the card was kept pretty simple.  I used a slider die to cut the slit of the card.  Be careful to only glue layers around the perimeter so the bookmark will slide in.  Next, a small circle die was added towards the bottom to hold the bookmark in place.  Glue was added only to the bottom half.   Thanks for stopping by! - Valerie Kaye 

 Good Morning!  I finished up a fun card today inspired from the July sketch at Creative Sketchy Girls #117.   Here’s the sketch used: For My card, I used the Hide and Eek ephemera from Unity Stamps.   (SHOP HERE) There are coordinating stamps if you like to stamp and color, but I make just a few Halloween cards each year, so this is the perfect fix.  The matching stamp set is called Creepy Peekeys (SHOP HERE) For my card, I had only one sheet of 12 x 12 orange cardstock.  I trimmed it down to a top folding base measuring 4 1/4” x 5 1/2”. I cut out the mummy image and trimmed up a slim frame out of Badic Black cardstock from SU.  To make the frame fit, I sliced a section and overlapped the right angles.   The image was mounted on a piece of Always Artichoke scrap (SU). The frame was mounted onto the black and white striped DSP-paper from SU- called Golden Honey. The small center die is from Stampin Up’s - Unbounded Love die set.  I used a fre...

 Hi there!  School is just around the corner, and that means that summer is drawing to an end.   Autumn is my absolute favorite time of year.  The crisp weather, comforting soups and hoodies!  It looks like this little field mouse is getting a head start.   It is from Unity stamps called Mice and Cozy .  There are three adorable mice and three sentiments with this set.   For my card, I took a white panel that was about 2 1/2” x  5 1/4” and embossed with Leaf Fall from Stampin Up.  The mouse was stamped in Early Espresso ink (SU) and colored with a combination of markers and prismacolor pencils.  The colored panel was attached to a patterned piece of paper from Unity’s Fall Tones - paper pack.   The leaves were cut from a coordinating sheet from the same pack with old leaf dies.  A Wink of Stella was added to the muzzle of the nose.  Thanks for stopping by! - Valerie Kaye

 Hi Friends!  I had a chance to sit down and create this afternoon, and it was such an enjoyable break! I gravitated towards the flower patterned paper pack  from Unity stamps called Fall Tones for the starting point.   The stamp is called Sniffs and Stems (Unity).  It’s currently a Spotlight steal priced at $8.99, so I couldn’t resist picking him up.  SHOP HERE The dog was stamped in Early Espresso Ink (SU) and colored with markers.   I added a couple of hearts using the wonky hearts from Unity, and Yana Smakula.  A small bow was added in blue bakers twine to the bouquet.   This card is for the following challenges: Love Those Pretty Papers (Aug) -  (LINK) Creative Fingers #327 (Anything Goes) -  (LINK) Pattie’s Creations #245 -  (LINK) Thanks for stopping by! - Valerie Kaye

 Hello! Diane and Darlene have a fun challenge on their blog using bows!  To join along in the fun, click the link  (HERE) For my card I used this card sketch from EMK Creations. You can find more great sketches and tips (HERE)   This card began from sorting through my ziploc bags of scraps!  I had a bag of yellow printed papers and liked how the flowers coordinated with the subtle dijon patterned paper.  This card sketch was great simply because it doesn’t require a ton of paper.   I used the bicycle image from Unity’s Kit of the Month - Wander and Wonder - September 2024.   I stamped in Crumb cake ink (SU), and used the fine tip from the coordinating marker to add shading on the tires and seat.   The sentiment was stamped from the same Unity kit of the month on the inside of the card.  It reads “may blessings bloom around you.” This sentiment can be used for encouragement or a birthday. The flowers were colored with a few markers and p...

Hello! Today’s card is all about sand and sun!  I was inspired from the mood board from this month’s Four Seasons Challenge: Summer. To join in on the fun, click the link  (HERE) For my card, I used a piece of watercolor paper and a large paint brush to add a light wash of color for the sky. I continued to drop in more shades of blues to mimic waves, and dropped a few splotches of plain water to remove a little color.   For the sand, I loosely added Crumbcake ink, and allowed the paper to partially dry.  I used a sponge to pounce a little texture to the sand, and a few flicks of the brush for pebbles. While the paper was damp, I embossed with (SU) Subtle Textures (EF). The beach chair was stamped in Misty Moonlight ink (SU), and watercolored with a fine tip round brush. For the card design, I used this sketch from My Favorite Things (Sketch #268) - found on Pinterest.  I trimmed up the background and used a square cutting die for less white space. The image was ...

Hello! I finally had a chance to color up this sweet pig!  This card is made using the sketch from Atlantic Hearts this week- Sketch 684. To play along, click the link  (HERE) For my card I used Strawberry Sorbet, Calypso Coral card-stock to crate the striped background (SU).  Poppy Parade was used for the mats for the heart and card base. The pig is from Unity stamps called - Just Pig-cause.  I stamped in Versafine Onyx black ink, then used a combination of watercolor and prismacolor pencils to shade. The heart dies are from Alex Syberia designs - called Endless Hearts.  I absolutely love this elongated shape!  The snout was embellished with Wink of Stella. Thanks for stopping by! - Valerie Kaye

 Hello!  Today’s card was is inspired from Sunday Stamps Challenge 386.  To join in on the fun, click the link  (HERE) For my card, I used the girl from Unity’s July 2022 - Kit of the Month called Fresh air and Sunshine.   I stamped the girl with Sepia - Archival ink from Ranger on multi media paper, and watercolored with shades of Mint Macaroon, Dusty Durango, Petal Pink and Blushing Bride from Stampin Up.  I used Simon Says Stamp - A2 rectangle dies to cut the panels.   Wall Paper and Warmth is floral patterned paper that was used as the layer beneath the girl.   A sheer ribbon was knotted 2-3 times with the ends tucked under to create the flowers in the hair.   Happy Birthday was stamped in Early Espresso ink (SU) - from In Your Words - stamp set (SU). Butterfly dies - Be Your Beautiful Self (SSS) Thanks for stopping by! - Valerie Kaye 

Hello!  Inside I have been loving all things vintage lately!  Today’s card is inspired from this week’s sketch from Atlantic Hearts this week. To play along, click the link  (HERE) This great design works so well with small images, and I grabbed a couple of my Itty Bitty stamps from Unity. I grabbed some ephemera thank you gifts, and paired it with Unity’s Life Touches - By Lisa Arana. I cut out the printed piece, and also cut a red banner as well.   Since there was labels in the background, I used a square postage cutting die to frame the flower image. The flower was stamped in Ranger - Archival Ink in Watering can. For the striped background, I found some lace print scrapbook paper, and turned it vertically.   I also made a second card, because I was having so much fun with this layout: Card #2 I used the same printed ephemera paired with Unity’s Itty Bitty stamp called Seeds Within. I stamped in Early Espresso Ink (SU). I partially die cut the flowers, so the...

 Hello!  I had a great tutorial that arrived in my inbox today from Julie  Baca - of Sunny Day Stamping. Her video shows a great gift card holder with a belly band. My card today uses the measurements from this tutorial,  HERE I love how this card format works with any occasion!  For my card, I decided to stock up on a Christmas theme, because these come on handy!  I used the stamped image for the belly band and stamped the sentiment on the inside panel.   Card Challenges: Classic Design Challenge #04 (Furry Friends) -  (LINK HERE) Merry Little Christmas Challenge #68 -  LINK HERE Supplies: I used Ho-Ho Holiday Check in from Unity Stamps, and Unity’s Scandinavian Holiday Paper. Cardstock: Stampin Up - True Thyme Ink: Versa Fine Onyx Black Acessories- Wink of Stella Dies- Simon Says Stamp Basic Shapes - nesting squares

 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! This cute card is inspired from this month’s Top Inky Inspiration Sketch #42 For my card, I used Unity’s squirrel Fruit and Fluff - June 2025, and Unity’s Slices of Summer - Watermelon Patterned Paper Pack. I trimmed 2 sheets of patterned paper  to 3 3/4 x 5 inches, and tore the top and bottom corners leaving the center with the white core exposed.  The two pieces were adhered together and added to a 4 x 5 1/4 mat in Strawberry Sorbet cardstock (SU). The squirrel was stamped in Versa fine Onyx Black ink, and watercolored with an aquapen and Dusty Durango, Strawberry Sorbet, Polished Pink, and Gumball Green ink pads (SU). I brightened up the dress a little more with a crayola pink marker.  Wink of Stella was added to the Watermelon for a little shimmer, and a small lime green and white bow was made from baker’s twine.  Thanks for stopping by! - Valerie Kaye

Hello!  The theme for the Krafty Chicks Challenge #817, is Masculine. To join in on the fun, click the link  (HERE) For my card, I used this card layout from Pinterest  as a starting point.  I chose Unity’s kit, that includes - The Wild Haven finely detailed stamp, Found In the Forest Patterned Paper, and Evergreen Stencil. I stamped the buck directly onto a piece of patterned paper, in Early Espresso Ink (SU). I used a clear piece of acetate measured to my dimensions and traced the edge with a pencil so I could see exactly where to cut.  This is a great way of seeing exactly where to cut and not waste your pretty papers! The fun part: Coloring!  This is such a beautiful image, that I really enjoyed coloring!  I used various shades of brown and black to add more depth to the buck’s fur.  Eggshell - was added for a few highlights. I also used Stampin’ Write fine tip markers in Early Espresso, and Mossy Meadow to color the evergreens, grass and wate...

 Hello!  I’m sharing a card today for the Spring Into Christmas Party , Hosted by Build Your Holiday Card Stash. To join in on the fun, click the link (HERE) For my card, I let the paper be the focus of the card design.  I chose Unity’s - Where Winters Lingers  paper pack.   I started by cutting the postage die cut from Always Artichoke Paper, and then trimming the poinsettias to fit inside. (Unity Postage Die Set) For the card base, I trimmed a coordinating piece of patterned paper to 4 x 5 1/4 inches.  I used scissors to roughen the edges and then added distressing with Early Espresso Ink along the edges. A scrap piece of metallic gold foil cardstock to the center, and then added the focal point on top. A small Joy sentiment from Honey Bee Stamps - Gallery Wall was stamped in Early Espresso Ink, and punched with a 1 inch circle punch from EK Success. 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...