Seeing Ink Spots: November 2018

Friday, November 30, 2018

#TGIF188

Join us for this "whatever you want" challenge at #TGIF188. It can be anything you want except a card. I thought I would share a gable box decorated all pretty ready to give to a friend.

A wrap of Share What You Love DSP made for a quick way to add color to the Silver Mini Gable Box. The colors in the paper became my palette for the bird, berries, flowers, and leaves.

Next step was to stamp an array of a bunch of images on Whisper White with waterproof black ink. Once the ink was dry I watercolored each piece with a quick swoosh of ink using an AquaPainter. The Petals and More Thinlits match the stamp set perfectly, so no fussy cutting here, just me and the Big Shot was what I needed to cut everything out.

A long style shoestring bow tied with Rich Razzleberry Velvet Ribbon and Basic Rhinestones make the box extra fancy. The only other product I used was the Stitched Shapes Framelits to cut the two circles.

Thursday, November 29, 2018

Fancy Friday Is So Much Fun

I'm in a happy way!! Why? My missing Buffalo Plaid background stamp is no longer MIA. It has been found and is once again on my stamp table. But that's not the end of my happy news...

I have joined the Fancy Friday Blog Hoppers! This is a team of stellar stampers who have all been on the Stampin' Up! Artisan Design Team. I have followed this hop from it's beginning and I'm honored to be stamping among this heap of talent.

The theme for this month is to make some Christmas cards and show what we are sending out this year. This year I am sending out a stack of cards in which none are the same. Since August I have been creating cards and tags all in preparation for the holidays. I have made them all with the latest and greatest supplies from the Holiday Catalog. I have bought postage stamps so now all I need is to sit down and enjoy an afternoon to write them up.

This card features the Buffalo Plaid Background Stamp which has been stamped with black ink on Blueberry Bushel. I wanted to mix up the colors and take a detour from anything red and green or my go to palette this year which is hues of pink and turquoise. The other fabulous stamp set used to pull this card together is Making Christmas Bright. To make things easy I used the Christmas Bulb Builder Punch to cut the "merry and bright" bulbs and even the tops of the lights.

I will admit I stamped the background twice. My first attempt got double stamped and all messed up, so I pulled out my Stamparatus to make a clean and blurry free plaid paper. I also have to share I really like Black and Blueberry Bushel together with some white and silver--it's not my go to color choice, but it's growing on me for sure.

Your next fancy stop is with my sweet friend Charlet Mallett. She is a superstar stamper for sure!

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

A Truck Load of Tags

Get ready cause here comes a longs post filled with lots and lots of pictures. I have made a truck load of Christmas tags using the Santa's Workshop Memories and More Card Pack. So, sit back and check them all out. Or, catch me Live on Facebook Tuesday, November 27th at 6:00 p.m. PST to get tips and inside details on how to create a fun and festive stack of tags.

Wow, that was a lot of tags!

Friday, November 23, 2018

#TGIF187 Sponge Worthy

Get ready for a technique challenge at #TGIF187. This one is "sponge worthy" and while it's a simple thought to ad a bit of sponging to a card, the possibilities for lots of looks is huge. Just add ink to a sponge or sponge brayer and away you can go.

Tips for making this "sponge worthy" card:

Cut a 3.75" x 5" piece of Whisper White Cardstock.
Use a sponge brayer to create an ombre of Lemon Lime and Melon Mambo ink.
Add texture with the Swirls and Curls TIEF.
Stamp greeting from Merry and Bright Stamp Set with Jet Black Stazon Ink on Whisper White then cut it out with the largest square from the Stitched Shapes Framelits.
Stamp light bulb image from Merry and Bright with Melon Mambo, Lemon Lime Twist, and Bermuda Bay Inks then punch out with Christmas Bulb Builder Punch.
Punch tops of bulbs from Silver Shimmer Paper.
Tie a shoestring bow with Silver and White Baker's Twine.

Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Merry and Bright for Hand Stamped Sentiments

For our latest inspiration challenge at Hand Stamped Sentiments I grabbed some new paper, Holiday Catalog stamps, this year's embellishments, and a favorite retired punch.

I used one and a third of the Boxwood Wreaths, which are found in the Annual Catalog, for the focal of my card. I added a super cute greeting stamped with Poppy Parade Ink and the light bulb images from the Merry and Bright Stamp Set.

Finishing details include a shoestring bow of White Tulle Polka Dot Ribbon and Santa's Workshop Enamel Shapes.

Sunday, November 18, 2018

Monday Montage

Welcome stamp friends from all over, near and far, where ever you may be I say to you "hello and thanks for stopping by our Monday Montage Blog Hop." I thought it would be fun to share a swap I made for the recent Onstage event held in Orlando Florida. I had the fanfreakintastic chance to trade cards with the members of the Artisan Design Team who were present at Onstage. And what a swap it was. Each card or gift was a delight to the eye and sweet to my heart.

I was in four organized swaps at Onstage and each was super, but this one had no rules--what a blast! With no restrictions I set out to just make something pretty and something totally me.

I started with the Joyous Noel DSP. I was going to include it on my card so I grabbed coordinating cardstock colors and accessories then I grabbed my favorite stamps and dies which are the Merry Christmas Thinlits and the Pretty Pines Thinlits. As I got to work I didn't end up using any of the stunning Joyous Noel paper. Then I had a thought and that was to use the Envelope Punch Board to create a wrap for each card.

I tied each card wrapper with a Merry Merlot and Copper 5/8" Reversible Ribbon bow and then personalized each with a hand stamped tag. The names were stamped out using the Make a Difference Stamp Set and Tranquil Tide Ink and then I used Cajun Craze and Merry Merlot Stampin' Write Markers to ink up the "dear friend" image from the Best Type Stamp Set. Finishing off each tag is on of the Snowflake Trinkets and a bit of Garden Green Bakers Twine.

I based my swaps on Tranquil Tide cardstock with a top fold orientation. I then layered another panel of Tranquil Tide which is embossed with the Seasonal Wreath Dynamic TIEF. Before I ran the folder through the Big Shot I preinked the top side with Tranquil Tide and Mossy Meadow Inks. I am not quite sure why I haven't seen more online with this folder as it is spectacular.

The focal for my card is a layered bouquet of pine, berries, mistletoe, velvet pinecones, and some loose feathers. I finished off the bouquet with a copper foil greeting cut from the Merry Christmas Thinlits. The berry jewels are Basic Rhinestones colored with Rich Razzleberry and Cajun Craze Stampin' Blends. The "Christmas Wishes" is stamped with Tranquil Tide and Mossy Meadow.

I am happy to have had you visit here today. From here you're headed to Julie's blog, or if you're a bit spunky and you are traveling backwards you will be landing on Dani's blog. Enjoy!

To Dani

To Julie

Monday Montage Hoppers

Amy O'Neill - Amy's Paper Crafts (skipping this week)

Breelin Renwick - Craft-somnia Momma

Cathy Casey - Sugar Shack Designs

Dani Dziama - Dani's Thoughtful Corner

Elizabeth Price - Seeinginkspots

Julie Warnick - Creating on the Run

Kaitlyn Zumbach - Create with Kaitlyn (skipping this week)

Melissa Stout - The Stamp Doc (skipping this week)

Wendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations

Thursday, November 15, 2018

All is Bright Stampin' Up! Artisan Blog Hop

All is becoming merry and bright with three big holidays coming soon. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years 2018 are sure to be a hit with family and friends near and far. To ring in this joy filled season it seems so fitting for an Artisan Design Team Blog Hop that features the All is Bright Suite of products from the Holiday Catalog.

I thought it would be fun to make ornaments using the awesome products from the suite and then pack them in the Distressed Tin to give as a gift to my mom. Her birthday is this week and she enjoys new Christmas decor, especially when it's handmade. These fancy ornaments are created on a Mason jar lids. I used both the ring and the seal as a base for each ornament and then blinged them up with lots and lots of Stampin' Up! gorgeousness. I will go live on Facebook for a close up look and class to make these beauties. Watch for an announcement here, on my Seeinginkspots page, and on Instagram/ebeth9267.

First let's take a look at the packaging. The Red Distressed Card Tin is perfect to create a keepsake box in which to store the ornaments. I created a two layered belly band and a festive double-ribbon bow to wrap the box. In keeping with the aged feel of the tin I added the Merry Christmas text to pump up the retro vibe.

Tips for the packaging:

Cut (2) 2" x 12" pieces of All is Bright DSP and glue them together to form a 23" strip.
Cut (2) 2 1/4" x 12" pieces of Very Vanilla Cardstock and glue them to form a 23" strip.
Layer the DSP on top of the Very Vanilla, wrap around the tin to create a belly band, trim off excess, and glue the ends together.
Using the 3/8" Mixed Real Red Ribbon and the White Polka Dot Tulle Ribbon tie an eight loop bow and attach it to the top of the belly band.
Make a matching 2" wide tag using the Scalloped Tag Topper and Tab Punches.
Embellish tag with a Sparkle Paper deer, flourishes, and Red Rhinestones.
Tie tag to bow with an All is Bright Paper Clip and Linen Thread.
Cut "Merry" from Gold Foil and "Christmas" from Gold Glimmer Paper and adhere to tin with Multi-Purpose Liquid Glue.

These ornaments are a fun project for an afternoon of crafting. Just turn on some Christmas music, light a pine scented candle, and create for the holiday. With the exception of the Mason jar lids these keepsake ornaments are made with 100% Stampin' Up! products. If you are an avid stamper and crafter these are for you to try--I had a blast.

Tips for making the ornaments:

Trace the Mason jar seal two times on a piece of All is Bright DSP and cut them out. I used the wide mouth size. Adhere one cut circle to each side of the seal.
Adhere covered seal into the Mason jar ring. I used hot glue for a fast fix.
Use Mini Glue Dots to line the inside of the ornament with Gold Mini Sequin Trim. This step takes a patience, but it pays off and is a detail that finishes off the inner edge.
Use a palette knife to spread a layer of Shimmery White Embossing Paste on the rim of the lid. Let fully dry and repeat.
Use hot glue to adhere a Frosted Iridescent Wreath around the rim. It takes two to get almost all around the rim. I leave that little gap at the top and cover it with the bow.
Fill the inside of the ornament with decorative die cut shapes to your liking. I focused on the Merry Christmas Thinlits backed with a sparkling Dashing Deer.
Use stacked Mini Stampin' Dimensionals when adding your decorative elements to create depth and interest.

My wish is that you have been inspired to craft and create for the season. Make something pretty and spread the love of hand crafting. I will close this post with a big hug and by saying "Merry Christmas and happy creating."

Thanks for hopping through our Artisan Hop. You will next be visiting with Emma Goddard. She has a little something bright, cheery, and fun which is sure to make you smile.