The Ink Blot Spot

Masculine Birthday Card

I needed a masculine birthday card for my boss and, then a few weeks later, for my brother.  They don't know each other, so I figured, "Why re-invent the wheel??"  They each seemed to like this one.

It starts out with cardstocks in Very Vanilla, Always Artichoke and Chocolate Chip.  The striped background is from the Designer Series Paper, Holiday Harmony (retired).  The stamp sets are both soon-to-be-retired, Eat Cake and It's Your Birthday.  The cake was stamped using Stampin' Write Markers in Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, and Always Artichoke.  Then, the candles were stamped with StazOn Jet Black (so it wouldn't run when I used the 2-Way Glue Pen to adhere Dazzling Diamonds glitter).  The "HB" and "Happy Birthday" were stamped with Chocolate Chip Craft Ink and embossed with Iridescent Ice powder to make them sparkley.  (Face it, even men like a little sparkle!)  The card is finished off with Gingham Ribbon in Moss, a little Hodgepodge Hardware and Linen Thread to tie on the HB cut-out.

What do you think?  Sometimes it can be hard to come up with a masculine design.  This card would be so different with feminine colors -- imagine the same card in pastels!  Try this challenge:  take a favorite card design and make one feminine and another masculine; the only thing you change should be the colors.  Send me your results!  You could be a guest artist featured here, on The Ink Blot Spot!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Today, I thought I would share some valentines I made.  Hope none of my valentines are reading this today!

First one might be my favorite.  I CASEd this completely from Jan Tink!  This was made using the following stamp sets:  Voila, Loads of Love, Holidays & Wishes and French Script (retired).  The only ink pads used were Real Red Classic Ink and Stazon Jet Black.  I used the Aqua Painter and various Classic Pads to color the image.  Everything was sponged with Real Red.

The second valentine is 4 1/4" square card.  The main image is from the Hostess stamp set, Time Well Spent.  I stamped in Stazon, so that the watercoloring would not make the image bleed.  Aqua Painter with Pretty in Pink in the center and Real Red in the outline and flower.  Then used Tombo Multi Liquid Glue over the Real Red and sprinkled on Dazzling Diamonds.  The rhinestone brad is from the Pretties Kit.  Glued layers together.  Stamped "from the heart" from Holidays & Wishes set.  Added the round clip from Hodgepodge Hardware with 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon in Real Red.  This one is prettier in real life (IRL) because you get the full glitter effect!

The last one uses the Hostess set, A Little Bit of Happiness and the retired set, Tags So Much.  I pulled out some scraps of Designer Series Papers (DSP), some are retired, and stamped the hearts on them, then cut them out.  I haven't used my Photo Corners Punch very much, so this was fun to play with that.  Also used the two sizes of tag punches.  Lots of layers, lots of Stampin' Dimensionals (the photo has really flattened the image here).  This was a fussy card with all the cutting out, but fun.

Hope you are inspired to create some valentines yourself!  Now I'm off to make some chocolates for my valentines with the new toys I got at my friend's Dove Chocolate party!  Sweets for my sweets.  Have a LOVEly day!

Show and Tell time!

I attended my upline group's INKredible Winter Gathering on Saturday.  As always, it was a great day of learning, stamping, friendship and fun.  Whenever stampers get together, we usually swap hand-stamped cards or other creations.  And, let me tell you, I belong to THE most creative and talented group of stamp artists IN THE WORLD!!

First, I'll share my very humble swap cards I made.  The first is made using the stamp set "A Beautiful Thing."  The second, with the Hostess set "Spring Solitude" and the Solitude wheel.

 

I will have more "show & tell" soon.  Gotta run for now! 

Let the Frenzy inspire you

Here are some terrific samples using stamps from the Fall Frenzy promotion created by various artists from SCS.  Enjoy them and I hope they give you inspiration to purchase these fabulous sets at a 30% discount!

    

   

Here are some terrific samples using stamps from the Fall Frenzy promotion created by various artists from SCS.  Enjoy them and I hope they give you inspiration to purchase these fabulous sets at a 30% discount!

    

Graduations Galore!

We seem to have several relatives graduating this year!  I think I am finally finished making all the gifts and I thought you would enjoy seeing another idea for a gift card. 

This is the front cover:

These inside pages include pockets to hold gift cards and "sage words" to the graduate.  There are two documents that I usually include in graduation cards these days.  One is Dare Mighty Things by Theodore Roosevelt and the other is entitled 10 Ways to a Better Life (author unknown).  So, the other pocket pages hold these printouts, folded.

The card was made using Stampin' Up! Long Notes.  The pockets were made using the envelopes included with the Long Notes.  The stamp set used here was Tassel Time, which is on the retiring list.  So, if you've got to have it, contact me right away ( at least by June 30).  If you need more information on making these fun cards, let me know!