Soft Spotlight on Inchies

I was excited to see the Crafty Cardmakers Spotlight Challenge on Inchies, because I really needed an excuse to try this very groovy technique. Folks come up with the most gorgeous, incredible ideas for this simple concept, but I'm pretty happy with how mine turned out too. Thanks for the inspiration!
I only used 2 papers (kraft & white) and 4 inks (Peeled Paint, Antique Linen, soft brown, and watermark), plus clear-embossing. There's some emboss-resisting going on as well. For the inchies, I ink-distressed the white pieces with Antique Linen and then clear-embossed the stamp with watermark ink. I had planned on adding some ink afterwards, but the contrast came out so well that I kept it. The mats are inked in corresponding colors.

Inspiration:
Crafty Cardmakers Spotlight Challenge: Inchies

Supplies: Asian by Design & Asian Influences stamp sets by Inkadinkado, sentiment from Regal Greetings set by {ippity} Stamps, Recollections cardstock, Tim Holtz Distress Inks, Martha Stewart detailing scissors and chalk ink, Fiskars papercutter and deckle scissors, Stampendous clear embossing powder, Marvy heat tool, stash twine


Update 6/5/11: My goodness, this card won the Crafty Cardmakers Spotlight on Inchies Challenge!

ATU Trifecta Challenge

Between finding excuses to go out into the lovely shady yard this morning, I whipped up this little easel card for the Special Unity Birthday Challenge. The recipe is a Trifecta, in celebration of their 3rd birthday: Birthday or Anniversary theme, 3-inch Square, 3 types of Embellishments.

Because one of the rules is to use only Unity/{ippity} stamps and I only have one set (so far!), I decided to go "simple". The sentiment could be for many occasions...only it would be a perfect wedding/anniversary card.

I used Antique Linen Distress Ink to create the emboss-resist technique for the flourishes; I stamped and gold-embossed the sentiment after the ink dried. I strung a string of faux pearls (that was pretty...strung a string!) off some inty brads for the front border. I sewed some other pearl beads onto the inside piece, then finished it with a brocade ribbon.

Inspiration:
ATU Trifecta Challenge: Birthday OR Anniversary, 3-inch Square, 3 types of Embellishments

Supplies: Regal Greetings set by {ippity} Stamps, Recollections and Hammermill cardstocks, Simplicity decorative braid, ZipDry glues, Fiskars papercutter, MS detailing scissors, Versamark watermark ink, Stampendous embossing powders, Tim Holtz Distress Ink, loose & strung pearls from stash, mini brads from Gary M. Burlin & Co., needle & bead thread

A sketch so nice...yadda yadda twice

My lucky number is 3 so I love challenges that incorporate it, such as the Sketch over at All Things Unity. I designed one card using their stamps, but then found that the sketch popped into my head for the Terrifically Thrilling Thursday Challenge at Shelly's Images. So thank you ATU for the inspiration!

I went "simple" for both of these cards, and really enjoy how they came out; almost like what I imagined in my head!

Sketch: ATU #29
Theme: Use a Punch, Card Cupids New Challenge Sunday
Color: colourQ Challenge #82: Always Artichoke, Kiwi Kiss, Pear Pizzazz, Baja Breeze & White

Supplies: {ippity} rubber cling stamps, Heidi Grace Designs glitter paper, Recollections cardstock, Memento ink, Marvy brush markers & punch, ZipDry glue, Fiskars papercutter & punch, MS detailing scissors


Theme: Buttons, Brads & Bows, TTT Challenge Thursday at Shelly's Images
Color: Color Throwdown #139: Dusty Durango, Tangerine Tango, Chocolate Chip, Pear Pizzazz, Crushed Curry

Supplies: digi stamp by Shelly's Images, silicon sentiment stamp from stash, Heidi Grace Designs glitter paper, Recollections, Hammermill and Brazzil cardstocks, Offray ribbon, ColorBox chalk ink, ZipDry glue, Fiskars papercutter, MS detailing scissors, HP printer & ink, stash button & brad

Can I resist / 4 challenges

Thanks to the generous comments on my recent stamping/sponging endeavor, I'm feeling pretty jazzed and ready for a new challenge! Or, in this case, four challenges. What can I say, I wanted a lot of inspiration! And I sure got a wonderful bunch:

1. Speedy the Cat's Friends Challenge #50: Emboss Resist Technique
2. All Things Unity Challenge #28: Unity/{ippity} stamps + Buttons
3. Color Throwdown #136: Orange, Soft Sky, Kraft
4. Critter Sketch Challenge #59: Fancy Folds

I really enjoyed making my first Center Step card last week, and I thought the fold would look really good with the {ippity} stamps I won from CPS/Banu. Love these stamps.

I probably should've done the emboss/resist on white paper, but I really wanted the kraft-y paper to come through (I'm out of real kraft, so I used Core'dinations to match the other papers). I do adore this technique; you just stamp it with watermark ink and clear-emboss it. After you apply the ink (I use cheap-o makeup sponges), just wipe off the stamp with a papertowel. And it really really works! The actual stamping portion of this card only took about 10 minutes.

I stamped the flowers in blue & orange onto the "kraft" paper, clear-embossed them, cut them out and sewed them, along with little flower buttons, onto the orange paper. It was a freakin' miracle that I happened to have matching thread. Wow! I also pulled out my fancy corner punch and a border punch (for the inside details), which always make things look good. I made this card for a friend's daughter, who just had shoulder surgery; I don't know her personally, but she's about my age so I made something I'd like!

Center Step card tutorial: Creative Moments with Sandy

Supplies: Regal Greetings set by {ippity} Stamps, Core'dinations glimmer cardstock, Stampendous clear detail embossing powder, ColorBox inks, Versamark Watermark ink, Martha Stewart detailing scissors and border punch, Fiskars papercutter and corner punch, ZipDry glue, Marvy heat tool, thread by Coats & Clark, needle, emery board

Update 4/20/11: This card made the top three for All Things Unity Challenge #28. Thanks!

Vintage-y Birthday Card for a non-vintage friend

I usually prefer to make or combine embellishments instead of using kits, but I couldn't resist making a card with the ephemera that came with my Graphics 45 Fashionista paper pack.

I stamped & heat-embossed the red bits, using two stamps from the gorgeous {ippity} stamps I won from last week's Card Positioning Sketch Challenge!!! Thank you Banu, I love them. Seriously, check out this line of stamps...they are high-quality, unmounted rubber stamps, but they come with foam attached so that you can put them on your block and get stamping.

I even managed to squeeze Birthday Sundae's Anything Goes and Tellen's Place EmbalmingEmbossing challenges into this card. Hope she has as much on her big day as I did making this!

The cake isn't from the set, but it seemed just right. I know she likes chocolate cake, so I colored it with copics. I used E17, E 08, and E11...it came out so nicely that I actually got hungry! The 3 is a glittery rub-on from my stash.

Inspiration:
Tellen's Place Challenge: Embossing
Birthday Sundaes Challenge #3: Anything Goes Birthday

Supplies: flourish & wreath stamps from Regal Greetings set by {ippity} Stamps, cake stamp from Together Forever by Stampin' Up! (2007), sentiment stamp from Studio G, Graphics 45 Fashionista paper pack, Martha Stewart embossing powder, border & scalloped punches, and detailing scissors, Offray ribbon, ZipDry glue, Marvy heat tool, Copic markers