2015 in Review

On the last day of the year, it's somewhat traditional to do a bit of reflecting upon the year that's coming to a close.  The end of the year tends to not be the happiest time of the year for me, so I'll keep the personal reflections to a minimum and instead, share some of my favorite card creations from each month of 2015.  I've included a link to the blog post where the card was originally featured as well as a link to the company whose stamps I used on the creation. 

January:  You Make the Grade
Stamps and dies from Reverse Confetti

February:  Love You Nerd
Stamps from Paper Smooches

March:  My Head's in the Clouds Over You
Stamps from The Cat's Pajamas

April:  Dream Big
Stamps and dies from Lil' Inker Designs

May:  Hello Baby
Stamps and dies from SugarPea Designs

June:  I Love You to the Stars and Back
Stamps and dies from Mama Elephant

July: You Make My Heart Melt
Stamps and dies from My Favorite Things

August: Happy for You
Stamps from Winnie and Walter

September:  Just Flying by to Say Hi
Stamps from The Cat's Pajamas

October:  I Pick You
Stamps from My Favorite Things

November:  Home for the Holidays
Stamps and dies from SugarPea Designs

December:  Peace on Earth
Stamps from Lil' Inker Designs

Thanks so much for visiting Inking Aloud this year.  I really do appreciate your visits and your support.  Be sure to stop back tomorrow for a special new year post!

Bee Mine

Now that Christmas is over, it's time to switch gears in my cardmaking!  I used the current sketch at RetroSketches to make this fun love themed design using stamps from Paper Smooches.

The bee from the Bee Mine set is my focal image.  I colored him with Copic markers, then cut him out with the matching die.  It's hard to see in the photo, but I coated his eyes with Glossy Accents and the wings with a bit of glitter.  The image was adhered to a round panel using foam tape. 

I covered the left edge of a yellow card base with a strip of solid red cardstock, then added a contrasting gray dotted paper panel on top.  The image panel was set at the top left corner of the gray paper.  I accented it with a clear crystal flourish as a flight trail and a trio of tiny hearts, cut with the PS Tiny Hearts die.  The "bee mine" sentiment was stamped in the lower right corner of the patterned paper panel.

Materials Used:
Bee Mine stamp set, Bee Mine Icons and Tiny Hearts dies (Paper Smooches); Memento Tuxedo Black and Versafine Onyx Black inks (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers (Copic); Steel Grey, Electric Red, Lemon Drop, and Grout Gray cardstock (My Favorite Things); gray dotted patterned paper, clear crystal flourish (Michaels); circle dies (Spellbinders); Glossy Accents (Ranger); clear Stardust pen (Sakura); foam tape

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad

My mom and dad are celebrating their wedding anniversary today.  Before they left for their annual anniversary trip to wherever the Wisconsin Badgers are playing a bowl game, I gave them this sweet card to mark the occasion.

The layout is based on the current sketch at Match the Sketch.  I stamped the bunny duo from the WPlus9 Wishing You set and colored the image with Copic markers, then used the matching die to cut out the colored image.  The tails were dotted with a bit of white flock for texture. 

I made a night sky backdrop for the bunnies from a piece of dotted blue patterned paper.  The silver moon (made with a little creative paper punching with a circle punch) and sequin stars added a touch of sparkle to the design.  I matted the panel with more silver, then adhered it to a dark blue card base.  I stretched a strip of silver cardstock across the cardbase and topped it with a shorter blue banner strip.  The bunnies were adhered on top, using foam tape for dimension.  I stamped the set's "wishing you a happy anniversary" sentiment on the silver strip in black ink.

Materials Used:
Wishing You stamp set, Wishing You dies (WPlus9); Memento Tuxedo Black and Versafine Onyx Black inks (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers (Copic); Brilliant Blue cardstock (Stampin' Up!); silver paper (Target); Blue Tonal Dots patterned paper (Michaels); circle punch (EK Success); Fishtail Flag STAX dies (My Favorite Things); white flock (Stampendous); silver sequins; foam tape

I'd Be Lost Without You

In case you missed the news, SugarPea Designs has started a weekly sketch challenge!  New sketches will be posted on a weekly basis along with inspiration from a super talented team.  You'll have all month to play along, so the more sketches you try out, the more chances you have to win a prize.

Here's my take on the current sketch using the Going Places stamp set.  I colored the image using Copic markers.  It doesn't really show in the photo, but I dabbed the jeans with a scrap of towel soaked with some colorless blending solution for a textured look.  And, her goggles are coated with a bit of clear Stardust pen for a sparkly look.  I stamped the set's "I'd be lost without you" sentiment next to the image.

After curving the bottom edges of the image panel and matting it on dark brown cardstock, I adhered it to a kraft card base.  The top of the panel is covered by a strip of red striped patterned paper.  I edged the patterned paper with some narrow contrasting cardstock strips, then wrapped it with some twine before adhering it to the cardfront.  A small aqua heart, cut with a die from the SugarCuts-Heart Journal Card die set, completed the design.

Ready to play along?  The rules are very simple . . .

• Create a new card or project using the sketch provided.
• SugarPea Designs stamps are NOT required to play along or to win but would be appreciated 
• You may rotate/flip the sketch & replace shapes – so long as the original sketch layout is recognizable.
• Upload to your blog or other Online Gallery using Keyword: SPDSS34 so that we may check out your beautiful work.
• Add your name and link to your project in the InLinkz on the SPD blog.
• One randomly selected winner will receive a $25 Gift Certificate to the SugarPea Designs store. However, if the winning entry features a SugarPea Designs stamp we will increase the prize to $75!
• We will announce our Sweet Picks and our Main Winner at the end of each month.
• The more times you play along during the month, the better chance you have of winning!

Materials Used:
Going Places stamp set, SugarCuts-Heart Journal Card die (SugarPea Designs); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers (Copic); Aqua Mist and Kraft cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Chocolate Chip cardstock, scallop edge border punch (Stampin' Up!); Simple Pinstripe-Red designer paper (Luxe Designs); twine (Hemptique); corner rounder; foam tape

Wish Big on Your Special Day

It's been too long since I inked up one of the Clear and Simple Stamps rag doll sets, so when I saw the large panel on the super similar sketches at Freshly Made Sketches and Can You Case It, I flipped through my rag doll collection until I came to the set featuring sweet Emma.  She was a perfect fit for the layout!

I stamped Rag Doll Emma:  Banner on a matching die cut, then colored the image with Copic markers.  I tried a new to me hair color combination and I think I like how it turned out!   To add a bit of sparkle, I used silver cardstock to paper piece the centers of the pennant that is stretched between the rag doll's hands.  Once the teeny, tiny silver triangles were in place, I stamped the HB2U sentiment inside them.  I love that the sentiment comes curved to fit exactly inside the pennant!

I used foam tape to adhere the image to a white panel.  After matting it on pale pink cardstock, I adhered it to a pink dotted patterned paper panel (left over from my holiday cards!).  The set's "wish big on your special day" sentiment was stamped on a bright pink cardstock strip.  The sentiment was set across the bottom of the card, just beneath the rag doll's feet.  The panel was adhered to a pale pink card base to finish the super girly birthday design.

Materials Used:
Rag Doll Emma: Banner stamp/die set, I'm a Princess Pink, Paint the Town Pink, Sterling Silver, and A Blanc Check cardstock (Clear and Simple Stamps); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers (Copic); pink dotted patterned paper (Michaels); foam tape

 

I Think You're Spectacular

Here's my card for this week's My Favorite Things Wednesday Sketch Challenge.  I used the Geek Is Chic stamp set and coordinating Geek Is Chic Glasses dies to create this love themed design in a classic color scheme.

The design was built on a pale gray card base with a strip of darker gray dotted patterned paper centered on the cardfront.  I die cut the large cat's eyes eyeglasses frame from gray cardstock, then filled in the lenses with pieces of acetate for a glass-like look.  The glasses were adhered to the panel using foam tape.  I cut a pair of hearts from red cardstock using the Staggered Heart Border die and added those to the opposite side of the patterned paper strip.  The "I think you're spectacular" sentiment was stamped in black ink on a red fishtail flag strip, then adhered across the bottom of the patterned paper panel.

Materials Used:
Geek Is Chic stamp set, Grout Gray and Steel Grey cardstock, Die-namics Geek Is Chic Glasses, Staggered Heart Border, and Fishtail Flag STAX dies (My Favorite Things); Memento ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Real Red cardstock (Stampin' Up!); gray dotted patterned paper (Michaels); acetate; foam tape

Enjoy the Beauty of the Season

Unlike last year, I managed to get things together and make holiday cards to send out to family and friends.  From what I hear, they even arrived in mailboxes in time for the holiday! 

Here's the design I used, based on a recent Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge layout.  It met all of my holiday card making criteria--easy to mass produce (just cutting paper, stamping one sentiment, and die cutting one element), easy to write a message inside, and flat enough to mail easily.  The stamp and die are both from Lil' Inker Designs.  The silver ink and silver cardstock added just a bit of sparkle and shine to the monochromatic design.

Wishing all of you who are celebrating today a very happy holiday!  I hope you are able to spend the day enjoying time with your family and friends.

Materials Used:
Winter Greetings stamp set, Snowflake dies (Lil' Inker Designs); Delicata Silvery Shimmer ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Tutu Pink and Starmist cardstock (Bazzill); pink dotted patterned paper, silver cardstock (Michaels); foam tape

Season's Greetings

I'm just about ready to wrap up my holiday themed cardmaking for the year!  This one was designed with the current Lawnscaping challenge in mind.

I made a simple scene using Lawn Fawn's Winter in the Park set.  I've had this set for a while, but I've struggled with using it.  Picking up the matching dies helped a little bit, but I did have to play around for a while before coming up with this design.  I used some shimmery white cardstock and a piece of pale aqua grid patterned paper for the background.  The bench and streetlight were stamped with gray pigment ink, then cut with the matching dies.  I used more shimmery white cardstock for the snow that sits on top of the bench, then added the bench to the scene using foam tape.  I wanted the streetlight to have a glow-y look, so I colored the lights with a yellow marker, then colored a circle of vellum with the same yellow marker.  After adhering the colored circle to the background, I used foam tape to add the lights on top.  Seems to work . . .

For a pop of color, I wrapped the panel with a length of red seam binding and secured it by tying a bow.  The "season's greetings" sentiment was stamped beneath the ribbon in red pigment ink.  I adhered the finished panel to a coordinating pale aqua card base.

I'll be back tomorrow to share the holiday card I made to send out to family and friends . . .

Materials Used:
Winter in the Park stamp set, Winter in the Park dies (Lawn Fawn); Memento Luxe Gray Flannel and Love Letter inks (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); marker (Copic); Aqua Mist cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Shimmery White cardstock (Stampin' Up!); white vellum (The Paper Company); Recollections Aqua Screen designer paper (Michaels); red seam binding (Martha Stewart); circle punch (EK Success); silver sequins; foam tape

Best Wishes

Here's my card for this month's flower themed challenge at Paper Smooches.  With the bits of gold accents, I managed to incorporate last month's challenge theme into my card, too!

I used the beautiful flowers from the Paper Smooches Lovely Thoughts set as my focal image.  They were stamped on watercolor paper, then colored with Zig Clean Color markers and an aqua brush.  The colors came out more saturated than I would have liked--I definitely need more practice with these markers!  I used foam tape to adhere them to a bright pink strip across the top of a pale pink card base.   I added a pair of green leaves in among the flowers for a bit of contrast. 

The "best wishes" sentiment from the Simply Said set was stamped on the bright pink panel in gold ink, then heat embossed in gold.  I scattered a few sequins around the flowers to bring one more sparkly gold element into the design.

Materials Used:
Lovely Thoughts and Simply Said stamp sets (Paper Smooches); Versafine Onyx Black and Delicata Golden Glitz inks (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Clean Color markers (Zig); Raspberry Fizz and Sweet Blush cardstock (Papertrey Ink); gold paper (Target); watercolor paper (Ranger); Gold embossing powder (American Crafts); gold sequins; foam tape

You Rock

It's been a while since I joined in on an AEI♥U challenge, but I couldn't resist this month's metallics themed challenge!  I went with a non-holiday themed design using two Avery Elle stamp sets--Fill in the Blank and Many Thanks.

I started out by stamping  the letters Y and U and the word "rock" in silver ink on a black pierced rectangle panel, then heat embossing the images for extra shine and pop.  The gem image from the Many Thanks set was stamped on silver cardstock and heat embossed, too.  After cutting out the gem, I used foam tape to place it between the Y and the U. 

For emphasis, I ran a narrow strip of silver cardstock, edged with an even narrower strip of gold cardstock, across the panel around the word "rock."  The finished panel was adhered to a shimmery silver card base.

Materials Used:
Fill in the Blank and Many Thanks stamp sets (Avery Elle); Delicata Silvery Shimmer ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Basic Black cardstock (Stampin' Up!); silver cardstock, Silver embossing powder (Michaels); gold paper (Target); Die-namics Blueprints die (My Favorite Things); foam tape

Birthday Wishes and Puppy Dog Kisses

Here's my card for this week's My Favorite Things Wednesday Sketch Challenge.  I used the cute Top Dog set to put together a birthday card.

I turned the sketch's large panel into a simple scene with a blue background panel, a strip of torn green cardstock grass along the bottom, and a golden yellow pinking edged circle sun at the top left corner.  I colored up one of the set's dogs using Copic markers, then carefully cut it out and set it on the scene using foam tape.  The "birthday wishes and puppy dog kisses" sentiment was stamped on three small narrow strips and arranged along the upper right side of the panel.  After matting the panel on yellow cardstock, I adhered it to a white card base.  The tiny red heart stickers were a last minute addition just before I took the photo--I think they were the perfect finishing touch!

Materials Used:
Top Dog stamp set, Factory Green cardstock (My Favorite Things); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers (Copic); Sea Glass cardstock (Avery Elle); Real Red cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Harvest Gold cardstock (Papertrey Ink); pinking circle dies (Spellbinders); heart stickers (Momenta); corner rounder; foam tape

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 300-Happy Vibes and a Sad Farewell

It's time for another Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge!  If you've seen the post and big announcement on the SSSC blog, you'll know why the stamps I used are especially appropriate for today's challenge.  If you haven't seen the post yet, be sure to hop over to see it here.

In honor of my SSSC blog buddies, I used Mama Elephant's Blogging Buddies stamps and coordinating dies for today's card.  I colored the computer monitor and keyboard with Copic markers, then cut them with the matching dies before adhering them to the round panel using foam tape. The card image was stamped with a teeny, tiny heart from the I Like You set, then added to the scene.

After matting the image panel on pale aqua cardstock, I adhered it to a white card base covered with strips of pink cardstock and a wide panel of chevron patterned paper.  I added a string of petite pink pearls as an accent.  The "happy vibes" sentiment was stamped at the bottom of the card in black ink. 

To play along, just create a card based on the sketch and link it up on the SSSC blog.  Be sure to stop by the blog to check out what the SSSC team has created using the sketch.  And, don't forget to check in later on this week to see one of our favorite cards made with the sketch.  Thanks so much to joining us each week for this fun challenge--and thanks to Karen and the fabulous team for making it one of my favorites!  It's been a pleasure to be part of the SSSC team!

Materials Used:
Blogging Buddies and I Like You stamp sets, Blogging Buddies dies (Mama Elephant); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers (Copic); Sweet Blush cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Pixie ink, Sea Glass cardstock (Avery Elle); Memories Captured 6x6 paper pad (Fancy Pants Designs); circle dies (Spellbinders); foam tape

Love You Always

Here's my card for this month's Reverse Confetti Sketch for You to Try.  I took a break from holiday cards to make this love themed design.

I used the heart dies from the Tag Me die set to cut a pair of hearts from pink and red scraps.  the hearts were adhered to a gray cardstock panel using foam tape.  I stamped the "love you always" sentiment from the In a Big Way set beneath the hearts in shimmery silver ink.  It's so pretty IRL! 

After adhering half of a mini paper doily behind the top of the panel, I adhered it to a piece of arrow patterned paper with contrasting red and silver strips along the left side.  The sentiment panel was accented with a trio of silver sequins. I adhered the finished panel to a pale pink card base.

Materials Used:
In a Big Way stamp set, Confetti Cuts Tag Me dies (Reverse Confetti); Delicata Silvery Shimmer ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Real Red cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Pink Lemonade and Steel Grey cardstock (My Favorite Things); silver cardstock (Michaels); Cedar Lane 6x6 paper pad (Pink Paislee); white paper doily (Martha Stewart); foam tape

Miss You More than Just a Little

Here's my card for this week's Muse challenge.  Michele's inspiration card clearly has a Christmas theme, but when I first looked at it, I totally missed the card's Santa background element. So, my design is inspired by what I "noticed" first--a cloud-like top panel on a simple scene.

My scene is made from a blue cardstock panel topped with a swirl embossed vellum cloud.  A strip of green cardstock "grass" runs across the bottom of the panel.  I filled in the scene with one of the sweet animals from Mama Elephant's Up and Away set.  Instead of using the set's large balloon bouquet, I switched it out for a single balloon from the Pandamonium set, colored a contrasting vibrant red.  I made a tiny notch in the bunny's hand to thread the balloon's string through before attaching both pieces to the panel using foam tape.  The "miss you more than just a little" sentiment from the In My Heart stamp set was stamped along the bottom of the card in black ink.  The finished panel was adhered to a crisp white card base.

Materials Used:
Up and Away, Pandamonium, and In My Heart stamp sets, Up and Away, Pandamonium, and Landscape Trio dies (Mama Elephant); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers (Copic); Green Acres cardstock (Mama Elephant); Brocade Blue cardstock (Stampin' Up!); D'Vine Swirl embossing folder (Cuttlebug); black twine (Hemptique); white flock (Stampendous); foam tape

Whisking You a Sweet Birthday

I just love the sweet Whisky Business set from last month's release at SugarPea Designs!  That little baker girl is absolutely adorable and perfect for so many occasions.  Here, I'm featuring her in a birthday themed design.

I colored the baker image with Copic markers, then cut out the colored image with the matching SugarCuts-Whisky Business dies.  I found some fun patterned paper in an older October Afternoon paper pack with a celebratory theme and used that as a background for the image.  The patterned paper was adhered to a pale pink cardstock panel, then topped with half of a paper doily. The doily is a perfect accent for the baking themed design!  I covered the seam between the patterned paper and the doily with a strip of aqua paper, then wrapped the panel with a bit of twine. 

I added the image on top, using foam tape for dimension.  The "whisking you a sweet birthday" sentiment was stamped at the bottom of the patterned paper in black ink.  The finished panel was adhered to a cream card base.

Materials Used:
Whisky Business stamp set, SugarCuts Whisky Business dies (SugarPea Designs); Memento Tuxedo Black and Versafine Onyx Black inks (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers (Copic); Blushing Bride cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Sea Glass cardstock (Avery Elle); Cakewalk 8x8 paper pad (October Afternoon); twine (Hemptique); white paper doily; foam tape

Color Throwdown 373-Peace on Earth

It's time for another Color Throwdown!  To make things super easy during this busy time of year, we're doing something a little different for our final challenge of the year.  All you need to do to play along is share one of your Christmas creations--any colors at all will do as long as your card has a holiday theme.  You can share a link to something you've already blogged, but please add only one entry per person.  And, we're extending the time you have to play along.  This challenge will run for two weeks, so your creations will need to be linked up by Monday, December 26 at 6:00 pm Eastern time. 

I made a clean and simple card based on the current sketch at CAS(e) this Sketch.  The focal point is a red stitched circle die cut with a wood veneer snowflake on top.  So that the pretty wooden flake would show through, I used a vellum strip for the sentiment I placed on top.  I  stamped the "peace on earth" sentiment from the Lil' Inker Designs set ink white pigment ink on the vellum, then heat embossed it for extra emphasis.  A little vellum-friendly adhesive placed on the flake keeps the vellum securely in place.

To play along, just create a paper crafted project using these colors as a starting point and add a direct link to your finished project using the linky tool found at the end of this week's CTD post. As always, if you don’t have exact color matches, something close works just fine. Just be sure that the challenge colors are the dominant ones in your project. And, if you upload your project to an online gallery, use the keyword CTD373. If you upload your projects on social media, go ahead and use the hashtag #ctd372 and #colorthrowdown. You can find us on Instagram (and on Facebook!) with the username colorthrowdown.

Before you get started, here’s some inspiration from the talented Color Throwdown team, our December guestie Torico, and guest star stamper Kandi Phillips.

** Barbara ** Broni ** Joan ** Jodi ** 

** Tammy ** Vickie ** Wanda **

** December guestie Torico **
** Guest Star Stamper Kandi Phillips **

Materials Used:

Instant Camera Christmas stamp set, Stitched Circle dies (Lil' Inker Designs); Memento Luxe Wedding Dress ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Cherry Cobbler cardstock (Stampin' Up!); white vellum (The Paper Company); Kraft cardstock (Papertrey Ink); wood veneer snowflake (Michaels)

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge-Cookies and Milk

It's time for a new Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge!

We hope you'll play along!  The LEAD of this challenge will be invited as a Guest Designer in a future challenge!  Please visit the Curtain Call Challenge blog for all the challenge info and deadline.

photo credit:  brit.co

I took my inspiration from the yummy gingerbread cookies in the photo.  I made my own gingerbread cookies with a stamp from the Paper Smooches Giddy Gumdrops stamp set and coordinating  Gumdrop Icons dies.  The gingerbread image was stamped in white pigment ink on brown cardstock, then heat embossed to get an icing-like look.  I added details with a Lady Bug irRESISTible Pico Embellisher. These are fabulous for adding tiny dimensional details like buttons!

I paired the image with the current sketch from RetroSketches. After arranging a bunch of different sized silver circles on a red gingham panel, I added the gingerbread man on top, using foam tape for dimension.  The "sending good cheer" sentiment was stamped in red ink on a white banner die cut.  A few silver sequins above and below the circles completed the design.

Make sure you visit each of the designers' blogs for more inspiration:

Milk and Cookies Designers
Guest Emily Lauritzen

Amy Kolling
Betty Wright
Kim Singdahlsen
Laurie Willison
Leigh Penner
Lisa Henke
Lori Tecler
Marisa Ritzen
Maureen Plut
Melody Rupple
Monika Davis
Sheri Gilson
Stacey Schafer
Tracey McNeely

Follow us:

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge Facebook Page

Curtain Call Pinterest Boards

Stop by the Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge: Milk and Cookies for the challenge details and to play along with us!

Materials Used:
Giddy Gumdrops stamp set, Gumdrop Icons dies (Paper Smooches); Memento Lady Bug and Memento Luxe Wedding Dress inks, irRESISTible Lady Bug Pico Embellisher (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Real Red and Creamy Caramel cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Pure Poppy patterned paper (Papertrey Ink); silver paper (Target); Recollections Snow embossing powder (Michaels); circle punches (EK Success); Die-namics Fishtail Flag Stax dies (My Favorite Things); silver sequins; foam tape

Mojo Monday 428-Bring on the Merry

Happy Monday!  It's time for a new Mojo Monday sketch.  This week's sketch features a fun tag element.

I stamped a sentiment from Reverse Confetti's Bring on the Merry stamp set on a white tag die cut.  the letters in the word "merry" were colored in with Copic marker.  I was going for a gradient effect--not sure if it really shows, though.  To bring in a bit of sparkle, I stamped a silver border stamp just beneath the text.  I topped the tag with some silver jingle bells tied up with a bit of red baker's twine.

The tag was adhered to a red card base covered with three patterned paper panels--a gray polka dot panel, a shimmery red panel, and a bold black panel.  I accented the tag with a die cut glittery silver snowflake.

Head on over to the Mojo Monday blog for more inspiration from the design team and to add your own take on this week's sketch!  You can also find all of the Mojo Makers at their blogs here:

• Julee Tilman (Owner)
• Carole Burrage
• Justin Krieger
• Marisa Ritzen
• Mary Fish
• Sarah Bigelow
• Teresa Kline
• Wanda Cullen

Materials Used:
Bring on the Merry and Fancy Word Coordinates stamp sets, Confetti Cuts Tag Me and Let It Snow dies (Reverse Confetti); Memento Tuxedo Black and Delicata Silvery Shimmer inks (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers (Copic); Basic Black and Real Red cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Recollections gray dot patterned paper and silver glitter cardstock, Creatology silver bells (Michaels); red shimmer papers (Target); silver baker's twine (Maya Road); foam tape

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 299-Love You a Latke

 

It's time for another Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge!  This week's sketch calls for a square card.  I couldn't let Hanukkah pass without sharing a card made with Lawn Fawn's fun Love You a Latke stamp set, so I inked it up for the sketch.

Here, I made the frying pan and latkes my focal image.  I stamped the pan and latkes on white cardstock and colored them with Copic markers, then cut out the images using the matching dies.  The finished images were adhered to a white circle, using foam tape on both pieces for dimension.  I stamped the set's "I love you a latke" sentiment above the images in navy ink.

I used three different sized fishtail flag dies to cut banner pieces from navy, blue, and silver papers.  I arranged the papers on a square blue cardstock panel over a strip of silver paper.  The image panel was adhered on top.  The finished panel was layered on to a navy blue card base.

To play along, just create a card based on the sketch and link it up on the SSSC blog.  Be sure to stop by the blog to check out what the SSSC team has created using the sketch.  And, don't forget to check in later on this week to see one of our favorite cards made with the sketch!

Materials Used:
Love You a Latke stamp set, Love You a Latke dies (Lawn Fawn); Memento Tuxedo Black and Nautical Blue inks (Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Brocade Blue and Night of Navy cardstock (Stampin' Up!); silver paper (Target); circle die (Spellbinders); Die-namics Fishtail Flag STAX and Fishtail Flag Layers STAX dies (My Favorite Things); foam tape

Season's Greetings

Here's my card for this week's My Favorite Things Wednesday Sketch Challenge.  I went with a wintery design featuring the beautiful Hand Lettered Holiday stamp set.

I made a shimmery white die cut snowflake my focal image.  To set the flake off, I adhered it to a fancy inverted scalloped circle cut with one of the Peek-a-Boo Circle Window dies, then used foam tape to adhere the layered die cuts to a silver pierced circle die cut.  The circle was adhered to a navy panel over a simple shimmery white cardstock strip.  For even more sparkle, I added a clear crystal to the snowflake's center.

The "season's greetings" sentiment was stamped just beneath the white strip in shimmery silver ink. I considered heat embossing the sentiment, but decided I liked the more subtle look of the inked sentiment.  The finished panel was adhered to an easy to write on white card base.

Materials Used:
Hand Lettered Holiday stamp set, Die-namics Pierced Circle STAX, Snowflake Trio, and Peek-a-Boo Circle Window dies (My Favorite Things); Delicata Silvery Shimmer ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Night of Navy and Shimmery White cardstock (Stampin' Up!); silver paper (Target); clear crystal (Michaels); corner rounder; foam tape

Winter/Holiday Coffee Lovers Blog Hop

I'm sharing a warm and toasty creation today for the Holiday Coffee Lovers Bloghop.  This edition of the hop features a winter theme with a focus on coffee and tea in recognition of the upcoming National Cocoa Day (December 13) and International Tea Day (December 15). 

I took advantage of the recent Small Business Saturday specials at Concord and 9th and added a few of their sets to my collection, including the Let's Chat set.  It's perfect for the hop!  I stamped the birds eye view mug image on white cardstock, colored the mug with Copic markers, then added cocoa and marshmallows using pigment inks.  The mug was cut out and adhered to a matching aqua saucer using foam tape.  I stamped the set's spoon image on white cardstock and colored with cool gray markers, then cut it out and added it to the saucer with more foam tape to round out the scene.

The mug and saucer were adhered to coordinating aqua grid patterned paper.  I stamped the "warm hugs" sentiment in brown pigment ink on a small banner piece, then wrapped the piece with some twine.  After adhering it to the top of the patterned paper panel, I accented it with a small wood veneer heart.  The finished panel was adhered to an aqua card base.  This will be perfect for sending off with a gift card tucked inside!

Materials Used:
Let's Chat stamp set (Concord and 9th); Memento Tuxedo Black and Memento Luxe Rich Cocoa inks (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers (Copic); Aqua Mist cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Recollections Aqua Screen designer paper (Michaels); Mix and Match Banners die (My Favorite Things); wood veneer heart (Studio Calico); twine (Hemptique); foam tape

Advent Calendar Extravaganza Hop with SugarPea Designs

Advent Calendar Extravaganza is -the- festive event of the season! This ‘hop with a twist’ was dreamed up by Taheerah Atchia and features surprise destinations each day! Joining in the fun with Taheerah are over 60 special guests - each serving up some fantastic Christmas inspiration! Just like an Advent Calendar, you’ll never know where you’re going to be visiting next until you ‘open the door’!

Here's my project for today's hop.  I used the adorable Merry Makers stamp set and coordinating SugarCuts Merry Makers dies from SugarPea Designs for my card.  The elf was colored with Copic markers, then cut with the matching die.  I coated the light bulbs with some Glossy Accents to give them a glass-like look.

The image was adhered to the green cardstock panel using foam tape for dimension.  I stamped the "May your Christmas be merry and bright" sentiment on a silver banner strip, then slid the it underneath the raised elf image.  The image and sentiment were accented with a trio of sparkly silver enamel dots.

It’s not a party without a prize - and with prizes every day there are several chances to win! Today’s prize is supplied by SugarPea Designs so you’ll definitely want to get your hands on it!  Visit the SugarPea Designs blog to see what our talented lineup of designers created to get you into the festive season and be sure to visit Taheerah's Advent Calendar Extravaganza Hop page for a chance to win a prize from us!

Don't forget to join in the fun every day at taheerah-atchia.com to see what special surprises wait behind the door!

Materials Used:
Merry Makers stamp set, SugarCuts Merry Makers dies (SugarPea Designs); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers (Copic); Green Galore and Real Red cardstock (Stampin' Up!); silver paper (Target); Handmade Tiny Tablet (Lily Bee Design); white flock (Stampendous); Glossy Accents (Ranger); silver glitter enamel dots (Eyelet Outlet); foam tape