Inky Impressions Bookmarks

Hi everyone, it's Jenée here with a little Inky inspiration for you. The following project is really fun to do, and a wonderful way to use us some of those scraps in your scrapbag! I'm going to share with you two corner bookmarks that I've made using Lili's Stuffed Bunny. First, let me show you what I've done and then we'll get down to some of the particulars.

Since I am a firm believer in not reinventing the wheel (not to mention it would be a very long post), I am going to direct you HERE for wonderfully clear and easy instructions for the basic bookmark shape. The instructions by Beate at the link I've provided are clear, concise and VERY easy to follow.

I stamped Lili onto X-Press It brand card and colored her with my Copic markers. I actually colored the entire image (all the way to her little feet) and did a really nice job of it (if I say so myself), so I ended up making two photo copies of my colored image onto white card using my computer's copier. This allowed me to keep the original (for a card, perhaps?), but have the image for the bookmarks (thus the reason my two images look exactly the same on both bookmarks).

The designer papers, as well as the cardstock that I've used, have all come from the scrap bin. I've also used two different Spellbinder shapes to cut out the images. I wanted to mat my images once cut, but the next size die in each of the Spellbinder nestabilities that I used were too large, so I simply traced around the same die that I used to cut the image and hand cut the mats. I've used two different Martha Stewart punches to create the borders at the bottom of each bookmark.

You really can make these as simple or as fancy as you'd like. The shape and style of the bookmarks lend themselves to quite a lot of flexibility when it comes to decorating them, and of course, any of the little Inky Impression stamps would look adorable. I hope I've inspired you to have a go at making a few of these yourself -- and if you do, I'd love to see what you do, so please drop me an email with a picture or a link (ctoddhouse@comcast.net).

Happy crafting!

Summer Time Inky

Now this is more like it! Last week Inky Impressions challenged you to start making your Christmas cards -- a difficult task for this southern gal who is just beginning to enjoy the sunshine and summer temps. So, this week Inky is taking a 180 degree turn and asking you to use the SUMMER as your theme. HA! That's more my speed (grin).

I had a mental concept of what I wanted to do with this adorable image and summer themed card -- only my Muses decided different. This doesn't look a thing like my mental picture! The wonderful thing about the Inky Impressions stamps, though, is no matter what, you are going to get a cute, wonderful card. I used Beach Bound Lili. What is more summer than a trip to the beach?

I started with a white card and then layered yellow card on top. I then added a piece of DP from DCWV's summer 12 x 12" pad (it is several years old, so probably not still available). The strip down the side is also from that pad and is embossed swirls that reminded me of the sun. Unfortunately, most of it is covered by my image, but there is enough still showing to give the feel and concept I was after. I cut out my colored image using a Spellbinder die (S5-158, Timeless Rectangle). Although I had not planned on using ribbon, I simply have a hard time with baker's twine (my original plan). I don't know why I have a mental block about that element as I see so many other's use it quite artfully and tastefully. Anyway, the twine was nixed, so I had to substitute the ribbon instead. I finished the outside off with two small seashells and a pair of sun glasses by "Spare Parts."

Hope you will visit the Inky Impressions challenge blog and will join in this week's challenge.

Challenges:

Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything Goes

Songbird Challenge Blog - Ribbon

Tuesday Throwdown - Anything Goes

The Crafting Cafe - Summer's Here

Tuesday Morning with Animals

Hello everyone. I hope you joined us last week in our birthday celebration at Tuesday Morning Sketches. We gave away some fantastic prizes! If you didn't get to play along with us, then I hope you can join us this week. It is another judged challenge -- which means that in addition to our wonderful sketch, there is a twist. Can you guess what it is? First, let me show you the sketch.

Pretty neat, eh?  We're still having fun with some older sketches. We would like to see you use the sketch AND use an animal image. If you have followed me for a while, you already know that I don't consider animals to be my forte! I consider them more my Achilles heel, but I try to rise to the occasion when force to (grin).

We are also being sponsored this week by My Creative Classroom, so a really nice prize in the offering. My Creative Classroom is an online arts and crafts learning center. Their interactive and in-depth courses are instructor led and filled with wonderful projects and techniques to help you get the most out of your supplies. Their Summer Semester is in full swing with over 40 Workshop classes to choose from. They also offer Library classes which feature retired classes at 40-50% off their original price

I have used this little bear with present from Magnolia stamps. It was part of a pre-Christmas release, but works wonderfully for my birthday card, too. I have stamped the image onto X-Press It brand card with Momento tuxedo black ink and colored it with (ah, need I say it?) my Copic markers. I then cut the image piece into a rectangular shape and matted it with blue card.

My card is white base with a blue matted piece of designer paper from My Mind's Eye Hootenanny 6 x 6" pad. I don't "do" baker's twine, or ric-rac, so I've replaced that element on my card with green dotty ribbon and a flat bow. I printed off my sentiment from my computer and then cut it with one of my Spellbinder label dies. By placing the bottom portion of my die over the words, I was able to cut the bracket tag. I've also matted it with the blue by tracing around the same die I used for cutting and and then hand-cutting it.

Hope you can join us this week. We'd love to see your animal card. Stop by the Tuesday Morning Sketches blog and have a look at what the other team members have created this week. Then, visit their blogs and leave a little love. Warm fuzzies are always appreciated -- ok, pun intended there as a reminder to use an animal on your card if you join our challenge this week (smile)!

IIC #116 - Christmas in July

Good morning everyone. I know what many of your are thinking -- a Christmas card already? In our part of the world, the weather has just turned warm (ok, HOT), and few of us are ready to begin thinking Christmas. We are thinking more in terms of beaches and swim wear, flip-flop shoes and shorts. None the less, the holiday will arrive all too soon and many of us will be scurrying around trying to get our cards ready for mailing, so we at Inky Impressions would like to give you a nudge to get started early.

For my card, I have used Nickie's Winter Wishes digital stamp which you can find HERE in the Inky store. I have colored Nickie with Copic markers on X-Press It brand card. My card base is white. All of my DP are by Echo Park from the Very Merry Christmas 6 x 6" pad. I matted the green piece, the stripy piece and the dotty piece with black card, and I matted my image with green. The snowflakes were punched using a Martha Stewart snowflake punch and then coated with Stickle's crystal glitter. I tied my gold ribbon by Offray into a double bow and added a pewter colored Christmas tree charm. Lastly, I cut out my round sentiment and colored around it with my red Copic marker.

Please visit our Inky Impressions challenge blog and have a look at what the other team members have made to inspire you. Then, we'd love to have you join us this week in our Christmas challenge -- hey, you know its coming, so you might as well get started (smile).

Challenges:

Divas by Design - Use Charm(s)

Fab and Funky Challenges - Christmas in July

Crafty Sentiments Design - Christmas in July

LEJ Designs Challenge - Christmas in July

Happy Birthday Tuesday Morning Sketches

This week is a bit special for Tuesday Morning Sketches. It is our birthday, and in order to celebrate, we are providing not one but four sketches (because its our 4th birthday) for you to use. Oh, you don't have to use all four of them. Nope, nope. Just pick one of them for your challenge entry. However, if you feel so inclined, you can use more than one (or all) and double, triple or quadruple your chances to win our prize. Yes, you read correctly. You may enter one card per sketch this week.

Do the sketches look familiar? They are all sketches from challenges during this past year. In addition to those wonderful oldies but goodies sketches, we are also offering a slew of prizes this week! (By the way, "slew" is a good old Southern word used to mean lots and lots - smile!) Don't believe me, well just hop on over to the Tuesday Morning Sketches blog and have a look for yourself. I bet you'll be chomping at the bit to get into your craft room to work on your challenge entry.

I used the sketch on the bottom right for my little card. I also used one of Jessi Fogan's  hand crochet mats (isn't it lovely??). Jessi has generously provided a set of those beauties as one of the prizes (6 ovals - 2 white, one each pink, chocolate, cream, and KRAFT; 6 small circles - 2 white, one each pink, chocolate, cream, and kraft).

My flower fairy image is an acrylic stamp by Elizabeth Bell through Belles 'n Whistles. I stamped it using Momento ink and colored it with Copic markers. I then used a Spellbinder die to cut the circle. I lightly inked around the circle with Tim Holtz spun sugar distress ink. I have told you before that I color my images and then pick out my paper. Ninty-nine percent of the time, this method works, but I was afraid I'd really goofed this time round. I had to search hard and long to find paper in my stash that contained both purple and pink colors. I tried going with one or the other, but just wasn't happy with the results -- nope, in my mind's eye, I needed something with both colors. Much to my relief, I finally found the paper I used for my background in what was left of a very old (think at least 9 years) pad by DCWV. The paper has a bit of glitter and shine in the design.  I cut the purple border using a Cheery Lynn border die (B159, Francesca, purchased through Dutch Paper Crafts). I added pink ribbon and a double bow. 

I do hope one of our sketches will appeal to you and that you will join us this week in our challenge. Take care and have a great day!

Challenges Entered:
Craft-Dee Bowz July - Anything with handmade bow
Paper Makeup Stamps - Digi Make Over anything goes
House of Gilli - Bright Colors
Markerpop Challenge - Anything Goes
Pinspirational Challenge - Photo Inspiration
Party Time Tuesday - Things with Wings
Papertake Weekly - Something Old (the background papers)

Happy 4th

I don't usually make 4th of July cards -- although we do like to celebrate the auspicious occasion with the usual cook-out and fireworks. However, this year I'm making somewhat of an exception and have created this red, white and blue card to celebrate an announcement. I was selected to join the design team for Inky Impressions Stamps. I am still pinching myself and keep wondering if maybe they didn't make a mistake. I look at all the wonderful designs and designers who are currently on the Inky team and keep wondering how I am ever going to measure up. However, the announcement was made today on the Inky Impressions Challenge blog, so I'm going to go with it and enjoy the journey (smile).

I have so adored these Inky Impressions stamps for some time. Their facial expressions are just the cutest ever. Most of the images are rubber, but they do have (and are continuing to add) digital images for those of you who prefer that format. 

The little cutie that I've used is called "Independence Day Lili." She also comes with two small words, USA and LOVE, which can be stamped directly onto her shirt or separately and paper pieced to her shirt -- or, like me, you can leave them off all together. Since I am using the card more as a celebration and announcement of my new position, I opted to leave the words off.

I did stamp Lili with Momento ink and colored her with my Copic markers. I also added yellow Stickles to her sparklers to make them, duh, sparkle (grin). My card base is white card layered with the star DP which has been matted with red. The two DPs came from my scrap bags. They evidently went together, but have no idea which brand or if from a specific pad. Although Lili is colored in patriotic colors and the DPs are also red, white, and blue, I felt the stars on the background and the words on the strip were encouraging words (for me) for my new assignment!

Anyway, although my first contribution will not appear until next week, I hope you will take a look at the Inky Impressions challenge blog. 

This week we are honoring 4th July, and the theme is 

Red, White & Blue

You don't have to base your creation on Independence Day, just use the three colours.  The winner will receive a $10 gift certificate to spend in our on-line Inky Impressions store.

Challenges:

Simon Says Challenges - Patriotic
Creative Belli Blog - Stars
Crafting by Design - Your Country's Colors
Divas by Design - Cute
Hambo Hoedown - Red, white, blue
Paper Pretties - Red, white, blue

Where Did Monday Go?

Good morning! Here it is Tuesday again, so time for another wonderful sketch and challenge at Tuesday Morning Sketches. This week is sponsored by Doodle Pantry.  Owner/Illustrator Laurie Wilson is such a super sweet lady.


Our sketch for the week is  I know it looks similar to last week's sketch, but it IS different, so no back linking to  last week's card. We want to see another wonder card with this new sketch.
As cute as our sponsor's images are, unfortunately I only have a few, and none of them are birthday themed. Since I needed a birthday card, I've used this sweet Sassy Cheryl image instead. After coloring my bowlegged cutie with my Copic markers, I used one of my Spellbinder circle dies to cut out the image. I used the Spellbinder scalloped die for the background.
The DPs for this card are from My Mind's Eye 6 x 6" pad called "Hootenanny." I've used a white card base, pink card for matting, the MME papers and white ribbon to build the background for my image. The vertical strip is from the same pad, and I punched both sides with a Fiskar border punch. 
I hope you will take the time to visit the Tuesday Morning Sketches blog and have a look at all the lovely cards my DT mates have created this week. Of course, we hope you will be inspired to join our challenge this week. We do so enjoy seeing all the beautiful cards that you all share with us.