Whirlpool of Imagination

Swirly Reindeer

I have been digging from the same Inkadinkado set for today's card that I used for yesterday's card. I really like this swirly image set (as if you couldn't tell) and it's been my "go to" set this week.

Another quick and easy holiday card here. The reindeer (Inkadinkado) is stamped with Memento rhubarb ink. The sentiment (Papertrey Ink) is stamped in Memento cocoa ink. The patterned paper is Bo bunny evergreen dot and I added a couple of crystals to the sentiment to jazz it up just a bit.

That snowstorm that dropped tons elsewhere was kind of a dud here. We got some but no where near what they predicted. A bit of a letdown really - it was the perfect time for a good snowstorm which would lead up to a white Christmas.

A quick post today - I have tons of hand made gift items that I need to work on, all needing to be done by Wed. morning (or sooner!) so I must get back to work. Have a great night!

Swirly Tree

I hear snow is heading our way - I guess it is actually snowing here but the air is too dry so the snow is not making it to the ground. I've always thought that was kind of a neat idea - that it cold be snowing in the atmosphere but not down on the ground. I'm actually looking forward to the white stuff - it's the weekend, we can stay in tomorrow and the afternoon would be perfect for the kids to go sledding so hurry up and snow already!!!!

I'm still working on Christmas cards although I really (really) need to work on teacher's gifts. The problem is I'm not too sure what to put int he teacher's gifts, hence the last minuteness of this whole thing. I'm hoping for that snow so I can stay home and create tomorrow.

 

Here's a quick one to add to my stash. The tree is from Inkadinkado and stamped with Memento ivy ink. The star is colored with a lemon (#5) spica pen and the tree is "decorated" with a gold spica pen and christmas red stickles. The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink and also stamped with ivy ink.

I must say that I am really impressed with the Memento ink. Stamps of all companies ink up really well with it - if you know me, you know I love buying inks (and ribbon and paper and stamps and.....) so I see some more of these in my future.

Here's hoping the snow makes it to the ground eventually and I hope you have a wonderful night!

Red and Green Snow

In light of the fact that we are predicted to have snow tonight (not as much as other parts of the country to my delight and the kids' chagrin), I have some simple and easy snowflake notecards today.

 

I wanted an excuse to use some of my new Memento inks so I decided to go crazy with snowflakes. These snowflakes (Inkadinkado) are stamped with Memento rhubarb and cottage ivy ink. This is a FLAT A2 sized notecard and I very often use these for notes to the teacher or other times when I need a quick note.

Here is a picture of the set I made up. As I look at these, I'm thinking I want to use them on the horizontal with the flakes to the left of my writing. It's funny how looking at a picture can change your whole mindset.

Today's post is a quickie by necessity. I am smack in the middle of making three picture calendars for grandparent gifts and I need to get it done by the 10th (Snapfish is having a 35% off sale if you are interested) so I need to get back to it. Have a great night!

How Fast To Make This Card?

Today I have one of the quickest cards I have ever made for you. I'm busy, busy trying to get my cyber deals. Let's just say I'm kind of stumped for gift ideas for the kids this holiday season so I'm checking everything out and trying to find good deals while I'm at it!

This new cuttlebug folder is awesome and just perfect for that pretty card.

 

The white layer was run through the cuttlebug and then I stamped the image (Inkadinkado) in palette prussian blue ink. Slap that layer on a card base and there you go.

Alrighty, I've navigated the American Girl site (running really slow today so be patient if you are trying to get their deals) and now I'm off to shop some more. Have a great night!

Twinkling Angel

Well, Meggie is the lone holdout against the germs in our house. Mo, myself and Conor are all pretty miserable. Let's hope we all kick this before next week. But on to more fun stuff. When I was creating all those Twinkling H2O backgrounds, the first set eventually became what is today's card. I had visions of doing a card in pink which led me to choose that color but from there I stalled. These blocks have been sitting on my craft table for a few weeks as I mulled over what to do next with them.

It's pretty simple but I wanted to focus on the angel block. The picture sort of captures the twinkle that is more evident in person. The stamp is from Inkadinkado and is stamped in palette noir over the background which was created on watercolor paper.

I was thinking blue to go with my pink and this swirly patterned paper kind of went with my angel idea. That's pretty much it with these.

We're here waiting for the big snowstorm to hit us. They tell us 7-14 inches is on its way. Schools have closed and the sky is looking pretty threatening. As for me, I'm in my pj's staying in and staying warm.

I hope you have a wonderful day wherever you are and stay warm if you are being hit (or have already been hit) by this storm.

Let's Twinkle Some More, Shall We?

Certain background tecniques are conducive to making a bunch and going back later to make the cards. When I was playing with my Twinkling H2O's on the pumpkin Thanksgiving card, I had so much fun painting that I decided to make some more. Today's cards are a result of that painting session.

I tried taking the pictures in a patch of sun to catch the sparkle. I think I succeeded a bit better this time than with the pumpkins.

This great stamp is from an Inkadinkado set that I picked up at Michael's. The following three cards are all the same design, just different color schemes. I decided I wanted to do colors that were not the traditional holiday colors. I always seem to get into the red and green rut for the holidays so I made myself try something new for this.

The stamped block is watercolor paper that is completely soaked and then painted with Twinkling H2O's. (I went overboard and along the way seemed to have bought almost every color of these things so now it feels good to put them to use.) The ornament is stamped with Palette Noir ink and then I used a silver border peel-off sticker as the cord. The peel-offs are hard to find in the US although I think Stampendous distributes some of them. If you Google them, you will find some sites in the US although I also buy from overseas sites for these. If you can get a good exchange rate, the prices are so much cheaper that even with the shipping, you get a better deal.

The image block is then layered with black and shiny silver cardstock. I used one of this year's new Cuttlebug releases for the embossed layer. The hardest part was trying to match my cardstock to the painted layers. It didn't have to be perfect but boy, some of those colors really clashed! I think I had the hardest time with the pink.

Once the painting was done, these cards were pretty straghtforward and easy to put together.

Now I'm working on our own family Christmas cards. I finally worked out a design yesterday.  I, of course, used paper that I didn't have enough of so I hurriedly placed an order yesterday which has already been shipped, wooohoo. Now I have to pick up a long Spellbinder spacer plate for the larger nestibility I'm using. Do you know how hard is has been to find one? All the sites that sell the nestibilities do not have this spacer plate. I may have a lead though - need to get that thing ordered today or these cards are never going to get sent out!

I'm off to create - have a great day!

Swirly Tree

Can you believe that October is almost over? I feel like like I blinked and the month is gone. The leaves continue to fall all around us so that is the theme for today's card.

  I really like this swirly tree image from Inkadinkado. Their line of clear stamps are fun, fun, fun. The card itself was pretty easy. Besides a bit of stamping, there is a lot of sponging. The ribbon is from Papertrey. If you haven't tried their ribbon, I would suggest you try some - its wonderful quality.

So I'm still trying to decide what to make for the kids' school treats. My brain is completely blank on this one. Oh, the possibilities for jokes if Mo read my blog........

I'm off to get the kids ready for school. It's a yucky rainy day here - hopefully its nicer where you are. Have a great day!

A Silhouette for a Challenge

How could I not do a Splitcoast challenge that told you to use silhouettes???? Is that not perfect for me of what? The Ways to Use it Challenge for this week - WT184 - was to use silhouettes.

  I recently got these Inkadinkado stamps from AC Moore. I was immediately drawn to the flourishy nature of the stamps along with the Halloween theme. I've had them a couple of weeks but today's challenge was the jump start I needed to use them.

Everything is stamped with palette noir ink and pretty simple beyond that. I used a Sakura jelly roll pen to add a bit of sparkle in the wake of the witch. I tried a lot of things to "dirty" up the picture, but in the end, my natural simple tendencies won out and I kept it clean.

I had a tough time creating today. I'm fighting a little infection and am not quite myself. I kept starting and stopping the whole creative process and finally was able to follow through. I'm looking forward to the weekend and a chance to rest a bit more - I think lack of sleep has chased away some creative mojo. If you have extra, please send some my way! Have a splendid evening!

Yes, another grad card!

I was stretched to the limit with male grad cards this year. I find making feminine cards so much easier so this was good for me.

The card layout comes from Splitcoast. I don't know who because I have so many notes and sketches that they all blend together. Thank you to the person who inspired me!

This card uses a hodgepodge of stamp companies. The "grad" letters are from Inkadinkado. The script background is from Hero Arts. The other background is from Stampin' Up. And the sentiment is from Spunky Stamps. Just a small testiment to the sheer number of stamp companies that I patronize!

It was hot, hot. hot here today, so unlike normal September temperatures for us. The poor kids wilt in school since there is no air conditioning. I'm off for the night - it's Curriculum Night at school - have to go see what the kids are doing this year! Have a great night.

Better Late than Never

I used to be so good about birthdays. I would have cards out on time. Then I had kids. Then my kids got older and I got busier. And so now I have the need for belated birthday cards since they don't get out on time anymore.

I got this really cute snail set (Inkadinkadoo stamps) and thought it was perfect. The snail and the sentiments are all from the same set. The polka dots are from Papertrey, as is the patterned paper.

The snail is colored with prismacolor markers. Since I was in a brown frame of mind, those are the colors I went with on the snail.

Busy day today - first day of school for the kids. They are still young enough for it to be an exciting event, especially for Conor since he is starting kindergarten. Everybody had a grand time and excited to go back tomorrow - that's a plus! I'm off to get them to bed early since this morning they had to be woken up much earlier than they've been sleeping all summer! Have a good night.