Newton's Nook:: Colorful Smiles

I am back with my last card for my Newton Nook's Guest Designer Spot for the month of October up on the Newton Nook's Blog!

Please stop over by the Newton Nook's Blog for the full reveal of this card featuring the beautiful Flower Garden Stamp Set and Garden Window Die Set. It was such a pleasure to guest design for Newton's Nook Designs and work with their amazing products!

Balloons in the Sky

How is your weekend? I spent a bit of time in my crafty area, and created this card for fun, using MFT's Sketch Challenge #304. I flipped the sketch upside down. I started by using Clarity Brushes with the Big Balloons Stencil, and distress ink in shades of red, yellow and green. I then used the stencil and traced the balloons with a fine black pen and added strings. After inking the panel edges with blue, I adhered the panel to a white card base that was edged with a black and white polka strip of washi tape. I added a sentiment from Adorable Elephants on a banner and backed it with another banner covered with black and white striped washi.

LID:: October 2016 Release:: Day 3

It's the last day of the Lil' Inker Designs October 2016 Release. Have you picked up the fabulous products showcased yet? Which is your favorite? We have one final day of blog hopping for you for some last minute inspiration. If you are following the hop, you should have arrived fromChrissy Larson's Blog! 

I showed this first card in progress on my instagram page and it was so much fun to read the responses. The Baubled Christmas Wreath Die is perfect for your Nuvo Drops! I started by die cutting the die with thick, silver cardstock and adhered it to a white cardstock base. I then added a layer of Nuvo Drops in some of the openings, let it dry and then added a second layer for additional dimension. I finished the card by mounting the panel onto a hot pink card base and stamped a sentiment from the previously released Winter Greeting Stamps. I loved the retro look of this font and thought it paired so nicely with the retro look of the The Baubled Christmas Wreath Die. (Just a note: if you are excited to try this, I would only add drops to the small and mid-size openings. The larger openings were a bit of a challenge to fill with Nuvo Drops due the the area that needed to be filled.)

My last card for this release showcases the new Filled Christmas Trees Stamps and Dual Stitched Christmas Tree Dies, as well as the Brushed Script Christmas Word Dies. Sigh. What a pretty set and such an easy card to make. I stamped the image onto watercolor paper, colored the bits loosely, and then stamped the sentiment from Filled Christmas Trees Stamps as well. I then die cut the tree with the larger tree of the Dual Stitched Christmas Tree Dies. I then embossed a yellow panel with the Cover Up Die: Stitched Woodgrain, ink distressed the edges and added some splatters and adhered this to a white cardbase. I then adhered the pretty tree and finally finished off the sentiment with the Brushed Script Christmas Word Dies. I added letters both the "wish" word and the "hope" word to complete the word "wishes".

Here's a look at the new release products showcased in my card today:

I'm going to send you over to the talented  Amy Kolling's Blog to finish the hop, however all the items are up on the shop already!

Don't forget to leave a unique comment along the each of the stops on the hop! Laura, the amazing owner, has decided to up the ante and graciously giveaway the ENTIRE release to one lucky commenter! (Details are in the image).

LID:: October 2016 Release:: Day 2

Welcome back to the second day of Lil' Inker Designs October 2016 Release Showcase! I hope you've enjoyed seeing all the new products in action as much as I have enjoyed working with them!

Once again, we have a fabulous hop for you featuring innovative stamps and dies! If you are following the hop, you should have arrived from the ever so talented

Heather Hoffman's Blog! 

My first card today features the beautiful 'Tis the Season Stamp Set. I stamped and heat embossed the image in white onto white paper, then colored it lightly and loosely with zigs. I then die cut the image with Stitched Mats: Circles as well as some bordering circles and layered them. I stamped and embossed the sentiment and the banner portion of the 'Tis the Season Stamp Set onto patterned paper and layered it over the circles. The focal point was mounted to a kraft card base that was background stamped, also with 'Tis the Season Stamp Set. I finished the card with a the beautiful Merry Christmas Word Die.

My next card is a wintery holiday scene...one like we might have in my town (without the houses so close together!)

For this card, I started by inking up a white panel with various shades of red and yellow distress inks, then stamped with white ink the beautiful snowflakes from Rustic Christmas. I splattered some white paint and coral distress ink over the panel. I then die cut the Merry Christmas Border Die from white cardstock, as well as various "hills" from the previously released Border Builders Die Set. I layered the snow hills onto the colored panel, glueing and tucking in the Merry Christmas, as it was easy to manipulate to match the curve (love this idea, and will be using it for the future!). I then stamped and colored lightly the house images from Rustic Christmas, and die cut them with the coordinating Rustic Christmas Dies. These were also tucked into the snow hills. After everything was attached, I die cut the panel with the largest rectangle from Stitched Mats: Rectangles and adhered it to a white card base.

Here's a look at the new release products showcased in my cards today:

It is my pleasure to send you along to the next fabulous designer on the hop,

Chrissy Larson!

BRI:: Let's Hang Out

**Please scroll down for my Lil' Inker Designs October Release: Day One post**

This is my first peek-a-boo card that I made (or at leas in my recent memory!) with the help of some fabulous projects. Additional pictures and a written process on how I made this card are up on The Butterfly Reflections Ink Blog. I also announced the winner of my birthday giveaway! If you are so inclined, please pop on by over there and leave a comment.

LID:: October 2016 Release:: Day 1

Today is the first of three days of the Lil' Inker Designs October 2016 Release Showcase...full of innovative, fun and beautiful holiday items!

Once again, we have a fabulous hop for you featuring new stamps and dies! If you are following the hop, you should have arrived from the ever so talented
Heather Hoffman's Blog! 

I'm starting off with a shaker card full of glitz and glam for the holiday season. I stamped repeatedly in silver ink onto a white card base a lovely sentiment from All the Christmas You'll Ever Need 2 Stamp Set- Candy Cane Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses. Could that saying be any sweeter? I filled a clear bag with a mix of red and irridescent sequins, some large glitter flakes and silver cardstock dots (leftover from the Bauble Wreath Die that made its way onto a card shown later this week) and a beautiful, delicate die cut sentiment from Brush Script Christmas Word Dies. I cut a simple window from my stamped panel and adhered the shaker pocket underneath. The panel was  adhered to a red card base with dimensional adhesive.

Continuing on with some total cuteness, my next project features the adorable Moody Santa Stamp Set and coordinating Moody Santa Die. I created a few tags from patterned and solid paper using the previously released Anytime Tags Die Set 2 and Dotted Tags Dies. I stamped and copic colored the cute santa (I chose the sad face, there are many to choose from!) and added some dimension to his beard and sparkle to his belt. He was adhered to the tag, a sentiment from Moody Santa Stamp Set was stamped underneath and then I finished the tag with some burlap string for a tie back.

Here's a look at the new release products showcased in my two projects today:

It is with pleasure that I get to send you to the talented Angel Riveras's Blog as the next stop along the hop. I hope you get a chance to visit the Lil' Inker Design Store now as all the NEW OCTOBER 2016 RELEASE products are already up at the store!

Don't forget to leave a unique comment along the each of the stops on the hop! Laura, the amazing owner, has decided to up the ante and graciously giveaway the ENTIRE release to one lucky commenter! (Details are in the image).

Newton's Nook: Cozy Plaids

Newton's Nook Designs is in the midst of their new release, so I got a chance to play in their Inky Paws Challenge #37: Cozy Plaids and feature more of their fun stamps.

I created a pattern with the frame image from Garden Starter Stamp Set in various shades of reds and oranges, then outlined the interior lines with a Copic Marker to add some dimension. I inked the edges of the panel and mounted it onto a vanilla cardstock base. I then stamped, colored and fussy cut the beautiful sunflower image from Flower Garden, die cut a banner from Garden Window Die Set and stamped a sentiment Garden Starter.

I hope you get a chance to play along!

BRI:: Birthday Hedgehugs **and a GIVEAWAY**

Sending Birthday Hedgehugs today...to me!
This cute little guy is sliding around a card today on the Butterfly Reflections Ink Blog.
I have a birthday giveaway to offer over there today, too!

Here's a quick recap of the giveaway on the Butterfly Reflections Ink Blog:

I have a $15 Butterfly Reflections Ink Gift Certificate available! There's just a few simple things to enter (deadline is 11:59 on October 23rd, 2016):

1. Like my facebook page (The Bald Dragonfly) and comment on this post over at The Butterfly Reflections Ink Blog. I've been working hard on keeping my facebook page updated with new releases, offerings, and posts!
and
2. Let me know in your comment over on The Butterfly Reflections Ink Blog if you've ever placed an order with Butterfly Reflections Ink-if you haven't, create a wish list! (It's fun! I think I have 20 items on mine!)

** Please note: this giveaway is NOT sponsored by Butterfly Reflections Ink, I am just so impressed with the selection that the store offers, as well as the superb customer service, and want to pass along the happiness. 

Newton's Nook:: Flower Shaker

I am back with my third card for my Newton Nook's Guest Designer Spot for the month of October up on the Newton Nook's Blog!

Please stop over by the Newton Nook's Blog for the full reveal of this card featuring the beautiful Garden Starter Stamp Set and Garden Window Die Set.

Sending Hedgehugs

I have a confession to make, I must start getting better about sending out cards that I make. My bin is near capacity! Perhaps I can be proactive and start my goal for 2017 early...

I'm participating in both the MFT Sketch Challenge #302 and the MFT Color Challenge #55.

I started with a white cardbase and added some white birch trees from Birch Tree Die-Namics to the top two-thirds of the card for a tone-on-tone look. (I did the same look on this card here). I then added some patterned paper strips from the Trail Mix Paper Pad.

I stamped and die cut the cute hedgehogs from Happy Hedgehogs onto kraft paper, colored them with Prismacolor Pencils and then adhered them to the card. The little guy is popped up with dimensional adhesive. I finished the card with a stamped sentiment from Happy Hedgehogs and tied a bow with burlap string.

A Baby Dragon

A little baby dragon holding a bouquet of balloons...could there be anything cuter?? 

I'm playing along with the Cupcake Inspirations Challenge 139
and their lovely inspiration photograph.

Although I didn't make a baby card, I was inspired by the soft colors and I used a child-like image. I started by stamping in a light gray ink one of the dragons from MFT's Magical Dragons Set, colored him with Ziggies and detailed with Clear Wink of Stella, and die cut him out. Then I stamped, colored and die cut some balloons from MFT's Adorable Elephants and some vellum clouds from Lil' Inker Designs Border Builders Die Set. I inked up a soft blue sky, adhered the clouds in a layered fashion, tucked in my dragon, adhered the balloons and then drew in some balloon strings. I bordered all of this with a stitched frame from LID's Stitched Mats: Rounded Rectangles. I finished with a stamped, white, heat embossed sentiment from MFT's Birthday Bears.

BRI:: Sending Prayers

Are you like me and simply cannot pass up a stamp set that reminds you of your children, nieces or nephews or grandchildren, or your dog, cat or beloved fish? Yep, every single time...

I have these two cards featuring the same stamp sets, layouts and techniques up at The Butterfly Reflections Ink Blog, and a post explaining the process on making these. If you are so inclined, pop on by over there and leave a comment!

Newton's Nook:: Red Blooms

I have another card for my Newton Nook's Guest Designer Spot for the month of October up on the Newton Nook's Blog!

Please stop over by the Newton Nook's Blog for the full reveal of this card featuring the beautiful Garden Starter Stamp Set and watercoloring. 

I Let the Boys Pick the Challenges

I had a little window yesterday where I fit in a few cards for Winnie & Walter's World Card Making Day 2016. I enlisted the help of my boys to pick the challenges and I created from there! I would have liked to make a card for each challenge, but...my "window" was really small!

This first card is for the Pick n' Mix with Taheerah. After choosing this challenge, he also chose the colors of white and aqua, then die-cutting. the foiling trend and finally a masculine based card. I started by foiling one of the panels available from the digital freebies offered by Winnie & Walter: The Gossip Column: Geometric Generation Digital Elements, as well as a filled box of black tonor paper to die cut my sentiment, Thanks Word Die from Lil' Inkers Designs. After foiling, I die cut the sentiment from the foiled panel, as well as the sentiment from the solid foiled block, and two times from white cardstock. I adhered the geometric panel to the cardbase, then layered the sentiment and glued that to the base as well. I finished with gold sequins.

This next card is for the Background Building with Shay Challenge. I started with pink(!) cardstock and stamped a series of one of the blooms from The Big, The Bold and Extras with a darker pink ink. Then came the centers, and the dots. I splattered some white paint onto the finished panel and adhered this to a white card base. I then added a striped panel, and a solid inked strip to the card. I finished the card with stamped blooms and a banner.

This card was inspired by the Pinspiration with Heather H. Challenge. Once again, I used on of the panels from Winnie & Walter: The Gossip Column: Geometric Generation Digital Elements as a focal point, matting that with green cardstock. I created some flowers with yellow tissue paper, added some scallop ribbon and black pearls and finished the card with a banner and a stamped sentiment from The Big, The Bold and Extras.

And here's a craftie snapshot of my desk before starting the challenges! I picked up that little ghost-thingy at the Target Dollar Spot-it is really a candy holder I believe, but I keep my stamp shammy in there. It stays moist during my card-making process, and I now since it has a home, the wet shammy doesn't end up on my finished projects or work-in-progress panels.