Northwest Stamper

Tag: stylin stampin inkspiration

  • A Color Challenge with the Stylin Stampin Inkspiration Girls

    So I was talking yesterday on Facebook about challenges and how they can be pretty handy when you need a little something to jump-start some craftiness.  I’m still looking for feedback on favorite challenge sites and what types of challenges you find most fun to do, but in the meantime, I have one to share with you!

    image

    I’m a member of the Stylin’ Stampin’ Inkspiration design team and each month we host a color challenge.  I checked out the colors we were set to work with this time and thought this was a neat color combo that mixes up colors and color families for a great spring combo.

    Now, all that said, I loved the combo but stalled out initially with what I was going to do with it…. but I started with a flower stamp set, the new Naturals Chevron Ribbon, and the So Saffron core’dinations cardstock paper and began to go it.  Very quickly I ditched the flower stamps and soon this card emerged:

    Yay!  They totally work together!

    All the stamping is from the new Perfect Pennants stamp set and yes – those hearts are cut out by hand… but I SWEAR it goes fast! Smile 

    I kept adding a little detail here and a little detail there and I think it all added up to just the right about of interesting going on… do you think?

    Anyway, I think this sentiment is perfect for me to share right now because I’m getting all packed up and ready to head to Houston for the Leadership convention this week and one of the big things going on with me right now in my Stampin’ Business is figuring out how I can make my blogging and creative sharing more useful and meaningful to you.  So think of this as a little love note to you….wishing you all the best and hope I can help make it a little brighter and nicer along the way.

    Card Supplies Used

    • stamps – Perfect Pennants
    • ink – Bermuda Bay, So Saffron, Primrose Petals
    • paper – Whisper White, Subtles Core’dinations cardstock (So Saffron)
    • accessories –  essential piercing pack, paper piercing tool, Bermuda Bay 1/8” taffeta ribbon, Naturals Chevron ribbon, Stampin’ Dimensionalsimage

    Check out more great ideas using this color combo over on the Stylin’ Stampin’ Inkspiration blog today.

    spaced shop now sig bar

  • Fun and Funky Card–Can You Guess the Paper?

    So, earlier this week, I had planned to create a card for the Card Sketch challenge over at Stylin Stampin Inkspiration.  I had great intentions…. but then life happened and I didn’t get it finished until now. 

    But I wanted to send a card to a fabulous lady who just joined my Fun n’ Crafty Stampin’ Up! demo group (got to love that $25 starter kit promotion), so it was the perfect kick to get moving on this card.  Plus, I had such a fun time coming up with it, that I had to share!

    This is the sketch I was following:  October Card Sketch

    I originally thought I was going to do a Halloween card, and so I started pulling papers and patterns…. but then this came out:

    Turns out I was so drawn to the funky Black & White chevron pattern that I started designing the card around it!

    So, here is the fun part…. Can you guess the designer paper I used for this card?

    Would you believe me if I told you it was the latest Halloween paper from Stampin’ Up?  Hee Hee!  That is right, I totally designed this card around Halloween paper and it looks nothing like Halloween to me!  I love when I can do that with a themed or holiday paper pack. 

    But yes, the Chevron patterns and the Summer Starfruit pattern both come from this Halloween Pack:

    image

    Witches Brew designer paper

    The black and white paper is the pattern behind the “monster munchies” pattern.  The yellow pattern is the one on the right behind the patterned black paper. 

    The rest of the card came together with little bits here and there.  Like the doily that I cut off two ends so that it is squat and just peeks out from behind the sentiment.  Plus the happy sentiment in Bermuda Bay to mix things up a bit.

    Stampin’ Up! Card Supplies
    Stamps – Yippee Skippee
    Ink – Bermuda Bay
    Paper – Summer Starfruit, Bermuda Bay, Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Witches Brew designer paper
    Accessories – Tea Lace Doilies, Neutrals Candy Dots

    And if you are looking for more traditional Halloween ideas using this designer paper, stop back by the blog later this week because let me tell you – I’ve been having a BLAST with this pattern paper (I swear I didn’t know what to do with it when I first got it, but I’ve changed that tune this week!)

     

    spaced shop now sig bar

  • Where Do You Go for Inspiration for Your Cards?

    Today is my day for sharing some fun ideas and inspiration over on the Stylin’ Stampin’ Inkspiration blog.  And so I thought I would share one unusual place I have found for getting new mojo juices flowing…. my mailbox!  Crate & Barrel ads to be exact!

    So, I show two samples using two different ads on the design team blog but I thought I’d give you a sampling of one of the cards I created.  Here is the card –

    And here is the inspiration –

    Do you see any similarities? 

    I just loved the colors in this ad and as I started putting together my card, I kept pulling design elements that caught my eye and putting them into the card (like the rivets on the couch as an example). 

    I love the idea of using “found” inspiration like these ads; but I’ve gotten inspired and snapped cell phone pictures while shopping in Target and other stores.  It gives you a jumping off point without guiding you to make the exact same thing other people are making.

    And if you want to see more, check out the SSInkspiration blog for one more Crate and Barrel ad and a totally different look for a card (think gold, black, and curry!)

     

    spaced shop now sig bar

  • Hand Carved Flowers with my First Undefined Stamp

    Today over on Stampin’ Stylin’ Inkspiration, we are playing with the Undefined hand carved stamp kit that Stampin’ Up! released during the 2013 convention.  It is always fun to see what other people create because I know… it sounds super hard or tedious.  But it’s easier than you think! 

    Check out what I created as my first stamp while at Convention:

     

    And with that I created this card:

    Yay!  I love it!

    I kept my card simple today by just using different 2012-2014 In-Colors and stamped solid image flowers on the white background paper.  That seemed a little bright so I covered it with Vellum to soften the look.  Then I added some rhinestones to the corners to cover where I used glue dots to hold down the vellum.

    Then for the sentiment, I grabbed my Four Frames stamp set and Petite Pairs sentiments and created the central image.  Add an accent of the same hand carved flower that I colored in with markers and POP!  some fun color and images that I can call MY OWN.  Smile

    If you are curious what comes in the Undefined kit, check out everything you get:

    You get:

    • Sample stencil images
    • 4 wood blocks
    • Enough raw rubber for all 4 blocks
    • Enough foam adhesive for all 4 blocks
    • 2 carving tools (skinny and wide)
    • Island Indigo marker
    • 3 postcards

    All for only $19.95!  Your own personal stamp set with tools to make more for $20.

    Anyway, I thought it was a ton of fun and can’t wait to make more.  And to help folks see how much fun it is, I’m holding a class where you can make your own personal stamp – a try before you buy idea – using my tools and your ideas.  Check it out in October if you’d like to join me.

    So, give it a try.  Or think about it, and for now, just try out the fun ideas I used on this card today.  Smile 

     

    spaced shop now sig bar

  • Quatrefancy Window Sheets for Scrapbooking

    Stylin Stampin Inkspiratin DT badgeOk, so I know I promised to share some projects with the Christmas Star single stamp today… but that was before I remembered that today was the Stylin’ Stampin’ Inkspiration’s scrapbook sketch for the month!  I love playing along with sketches and I don’t scrapbook nearly enough…. so design team duties came first today.  But, I do have my Christmas Star projects and post ready for you… it is just moved to Wednesday now.  I promise this time. Smile 

    But, I still have a fun project to share today!  The amazing Jennifer Campbell put together a great sketch this month and I love it because it was so easy to put together an interesting layout with it.  In fact, this page came together from looking at the sketch to done in less than an hour!!

    September Scrapbook Sketch Layout

    September 2013 SSI scrapbook sketch layout

     

    I have a stash of photos that I know I want to scrap that I got printed at Costco a couple months ago, and so I grabbed the pile and started flipping through until I found the perfect photos I wanted to scrap.

    It was so special to me this year at convention that I had a group of downline who were able to attend with me and share the awesome experience.  And it was so fun to have some friends to cheer with, lounge with, or just share ideas we saw or heard around the convention center.  I really am lucky to be able to call these gals my friends!

    Once I found the pictures and looked at the sketch, I knew I wanted to recreate the group bag tag for my main embellishment.  I used the Fun Flower die to create the same shape, added the Fancy Flower punch, and then a 1-1/4” circle punch out of designer paper.  Then, instead of our group name, I used the Banner Greetings hostess set to create my sentiment and as a throwback to the banner shape in the original sketch.

    My other fun variation was to use the Quatrefancy window sheet that comes with the Quatrefancy Specialty designer series paper.  This is one of those papers that often you look at and think,” how in the heck am I going to use this?”  Well, I loved the subtle pattern effect it gave and thought it would be a great accent to pull out the pattern from the Convention backpack we received this year.  Since the pattern was the same, it was a great way to tie together the photos, designer series paper (from the same pack) and the background paper.

    Using window sheet papers this way is great because it is EASY to figure out adhesive.  If nothing else, you have a HUGE piece of cardstock (from your photo mat) that will be covering up parts of the window sheet strip, and so you can happily put adhesive in that area.  And in this case, I decided to layer some Pear Pizzazz taffeta ribbon over the top, and so I could also run a strip of adhesive across the window sheet to glue it to the base cardstock and then just adhere the ribbon over the top of the window sheet to hide the glue.  Sneaky, huh?!

    So, there you go.  A fun, easy sketch and some ideas to get you started.  If you want to play along and try it out yourself, you can use the sketch above and then hop on over to the Stylin’ Stampin’ Inkspiration blog to add your finished photo to the Linky there.  Or just visit to see other great takes on the basic sketch.  Have fun!

    Card Supplies Used
    Stamps – Banner Greetings
    Ink – Midnight Muse
    Paper – Pool Party Core’dinations cardstock, Quatrefancy designer paper, Pear Pizzazz cs, Whisper White cs
    Accessories – Big Shot, Fun Flower die, Fancy Flower punch, 1-1/4” circle punch, Pear Pizzazz taffeta ribbon, Rhinestones

    spaced shop now sig bar

  • Stamping with an Embossing Folder for a Scrapbook Sketch

    Happy Monday!  Today over at the Stylin’ Stampin’ INKspiration blog, we are sharing a fun scrapbook sketch idea. 

    I didn’t create the sketch, but let me tell you how much I LOVE designing off of sketches.  It makes the scrapbooking process so much easier for me because I don’t have to think too hard about the set-up of the page (or card!) and instead can focus on things like which color do I want to use and what should I write in my journaling.

     

    Oh, and did I mention that my layouts are typically like my cards…. I start from a sketch or design, pull in key elements, and then totally change everything else up.  But hey!  It’s the inspiration that is important – and the fact that I’m actually getting my photos in an album!

    You may be wondering how I got that honeycomb look on my base paper for my scrapbook…. well, check this out… I used my embossing folder as a stamp!!!

    Seriously, its totally cool!  First I wiped my ink pad across the raised side of the embossing folder to ink it up.

    Then I just flipped over the embossing folder and pressed it down like I would a stamp!  I liked the distressed (didn’t get all the ink down on the paper) look, so I didn’t worry about evenly pressing and getting it all off on the base paper.

    Then for my accents, I created my own layered ribbon banners in the upper corner.  I took some of the Strawberry Slush Ruffle Trim and the Natural Trim ribbons and layered them.  Then snipped the ends at an angle.  Then to soften it even more, I use the Flower Shop bundle to get the simple flower to go on top.

    Finally, I needed a title and ended up actually cutting out my letters using the Typeset Alphabet Bigz dies in the same Wisteria Wonder as the background paper.  But that was a little too tone-on-tone and so I drew around the outside of the letters with my white gel pen to make them pop a bit more. 

    I would say that it worked!  And look at that face… isn’t Sweet a good title too?  Smile  Ok, I really didn’t know what to title these too pictures but I loved them so much that I had to scrap them somehow!

    So, I hope you got some inspiration!  Play along and create your own scrapbook page with this sketch and let me know what you think!

    spaced shop now sig bar

  • Quick & Easy Thank You Card for a new Design Team!

    Today is the kick off for a new blog that I’m excited to be a design team member for – Stylin’ Stampin’ Inkspiration!  It is a blog that will have daily posts to help give you new ideas and project challenges to inspire new ideas for you to try at home!  Most of the posts will have a particular theme and have many of the design team members showing you different takes on that theme.  Fun, right?

    So, the theme for today was Quick & Easy Cards and you know that is right up my alley!  I love clean and simple and with 2 small kids, quick is key.  So, here is my take on the idea:

    I will tell you this card was inspired by a card I saw from my friend, Katy Kirwan, and while the finished project doesn’t really look anything like what she created, I still like them both. Smile 

    To create my card, I created my own designer paper by using the Chevron background stamp from Stampin’ Up! and then layered on the punched out sentiment.  It still needed a little something, so I added some of the Pear Pizzazz Chevron ribbon (sshhh, don’t tell anyone I used two different greens on this card!) and while I was worried the fact that the stamped and the ribbon chevrons go in different directions, I still think it totally works!

    Card Supplies Used (all Stampin’ Up unless noted)

    Stamps – Designer Typeset Photopolymer Stamp Set, Chevron Background
    Ink – Pistachio Pudding, Baked Brown Sugar
    Paper – Whisper White, Baked Brown Sugar, Pistachio Pudding
    Accessories – Petite Curly Label Punch, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Pear Pizzazz Chevron Ribbon

    So, what do you think?  Quick? Easy?  But totally fun!  I’m actually using this for my Cute & Classic Card Class tonight, so hopefully they have fun with it too! 

    And if you are looking for more quick and easy ideas, hop on over to our Inkspiration blog and check out all the fab ideas for more great projects. 

    image

    Oh, and before I forget!

    It’s Here! The Stampin’ Trimmer Rotary Attachment is now Available!

    imageOk, I may be the only person on the planet who is excited about this, but I-CANNOT-WAIT to order my rotary trimmer attachment. 

    Why do I care so much?

    I have found that I really LOVE my Stampin’ Trimmer and the little blades that come with it work great.  But when you are cutting grittier material (like glimmer paper) or want to cut more than one sheet of cardstock at a time, the little blades just don’t do as good a job. 

    So I had been periodically missing my rotary cutting board (except not missing the fact that that Fiskars board could not cut a cardbase straight if I had to!).  But now I have the best of both worlds!  This replaces the clear arm and track for the little blades and the rotary attachment is available as of 8/9/2013!  So, I’ll be ordering mine today and will let you know how it goes. Smile 

     

    spaced shop now sig bar