My oh-so-crafty sister in law introduced me to what I think of as an insider tip. Perhaps it only seems that way because I'm so new to paper crafting, but this was a big help! She sent me a bunch of .pdf files from Papertrey Ink (PTI--one of my favorite new sites). These files were full of their "sketch recipes"--basically, card layout and color combo ideas. Hooray! For the inspiration-challenged (ahem, me) this is a game changer! So when the need for a card arose tonight I knew just where to start. I picked a sketch layout from their 8th Anniversary collection.
I decided to go with my own color scheme which, in hindsight, falls somewhere between autumn and Christmas but it's all good. I'm learning! I used my MISTI to stamp a partial sentiment from my Hero Arts Everyday Sayings set over and over in a variety of colors (Distress Ink Fired Brick, Antique Linen, Mowed Lawn, and Vintage Photo). Then I stamped the entire saying onto a banner, colored with Antique Linen ink, and added a stamped and die cut dove from Paper Smooches' Blessed Christmas set. I'm feeling inspired to make Christmas cards now!
You can go here to view and download recent Inspiration Cards for yourself. Happy (guided) Crafting!
Aqua is my new favorite color. It is so bright and cheerful and summery! Summer always makes me think of my sister, who lives in upstate New York but loves bright warm sunshine. She just finished some summer classes, and I'm so excited and proud of her for working hard! My inspiration came from this card by lisaadd on the Split Coast Stampers blog. I love the simplicity!
For mine, I die cut the 1 1/2" and 1 1/4" scalloped circle dies from my Sizzix Card/Circle Flip-Its in navy and aqua card stock, respectively. Then I white heat embossed the flower image from Paper Smooches' Needle Little Love set. I attached the flowers to May Arts 5/8" Turquoise Sheer Ribbon with a Ruffled Edge, which I thought played nicely with the scalloped circles and round petals of the flower! The ribbon wrapped around white card stock embossed using the Darice Dot folder, and was layered on aqua card stock and a navy card base. Love the brightness and the beach thoughts it inspires!
I was so excited about making this card! Aside from the special reason, I was able to incorporate one of my favorite ribbons! A dear mommy friend and her husband welcomed a baby girl to the world this weekend, so pink was a natural choice for color. I like several colors with pink, but since June makes me think of watermelon I decided to go with green. Mmmm...now I want watermelon!
I die cut the card and several scalloped circles from my Sizzix Card/Circle Flip-It set, then added sentiments from PTIs Bitty Baby Blessings and Inside & Out: Baby Stamp Sets. I finished it off with a strip of May Arts' 3/8 Grosgrain Ivory Striped ribbon in Celery. Love!!!
I've been meaning to do this for awhile, and tonight's the night! I loved the colors in this photo, as well as the underwater theme. It reminds me of the reefs in Finding Nemo and Finding Dory!
Since I don't have any underwater or reef-like stamps I decided to go with bright, colorful flowers. I stamped the flower accents from Choose Joy in Distress Ink colors Peacock Feathers, Picked Raspberry, and Wilted Violet. I die cut a Sizzix 2 1/8" scalloped circle from white cardstock and colored it with Peacock Feathers, then white heat embossed the sentiment (also from Choose Joy). Then I added it all to cardstock colored with Wilted Violet.
