Cardinal Bliss ...

Just loved this inspiration over at JUST add INK ... the minute I saw it a Bird Builder Punch Cardinal popped into my head flying over some Pine trees this time of year!

I also just loved this one over at Stampin' Royalty blog and wanted to play along with this one with visions of glittery paper coming to mind at the back and the above sketch incorporated into the circle on this one!

And well being that I am preparing for Christmas the traditional color inspiration over at Just Us Girls was still in my head ... 

And well here is my challenge inspired offering ... A Christmas Cardinal using the Bird Builder and the Lovely as a Tree Stamp set with some 'berries' from the Cupcake Builder and well BLING from our red and silver glitter paper and a sentiment from the Many Merry Messages to tie it all together!

Happy Stampin'
Margaret

Reduce, Reuse, Recylce ...

is the theme of this card and just goes to show that reusing and recycling can be gorgeous! 

After making the dazzling Snowflake ornament and card I was inspired to share them at my Stamp-a-Stack this month so with prepping even more for my workshop participants - I had all these wonderful 'tags' left over and needing to think up a creative use for  them ... and thought 'hmmm they kinda look like window panes - so what can I do with that'?  

Than stumbled across this weeks Stamping 411 Challenge and thought PERFECT ...

a layout idea to use up the tags ... so I inverted the sketch and lined up the tags in a grid to stamp a 'scenery image' on them and than create a window with a black back drop for the 'frame' ... what better scenery stamp than the Lovely as a Tree stamp set - one of my all time favorite staples!  

So whatchya think?

I think this would make an awesome Winter Birthday card for either gender or a Holiday wishes card? I just love the Quilted Cherry Cobble ribbon it is so striking in person against the brushed silver cardstock which was embossed with the Snowburst emboss folder! 

I added this card to my Stamp a Stack collection this month and left the top note inside blank so that we can choose its 'theme' when the occasion calls by adding an appropriate sentiment to the occasion!

Happy Stampin'

Margaret

Just Add Ink Color Q challenge

Combined the following three challenges to create my Masculine Fall cards for OWH this month ... just have to learn how to do my 'envelope tuck' and I can send out a bunch for the end of the month!

Click the photos to links to the awesome website challenges and to see other peoples inspirations from these sketches! 

And here are my offerings inspired by the above sketches ... I was inspired by the Just Add Ink photo to pull out my Lovely as a Tree Stamp set ... and the Color Q inkspiration of Black, Basic Grey, More Mustard (do not have Crushed Curry anymore as it is retired) and Tangerine Tango.

I am loving the new Peekaboo Frame die cause it is awesome for creating 'sentiments' on card bases ... for this card I used the Petite Pairs stamp set for the sentiment of I am here for you - no matter what! 

Note to self in future - sponge your sentiment inside before you glue it in otherwise the ink does not stick to the glue - however I like the 'marble look' it created  it looks better in real life!

 This is another offering using the same Inkspirations  but I changes up the layout a wee bit ... to be honest this was an accident card I tries to salvage ... as I accidentally cut one of my pieces wrong for the OWH sketch and wanted to savage of the brayer work I had done.

 I used the Jewellery Tag punch and the Tiny Tags to add a little hint of sentiment to the front ... and tied it all together with a Vintage brad and some black grosgrain ribbon!

Thanks for stopping by

Happy Stampin
Margaret

Keeping Warm by the Fire

Is this not the coolest card - I received it at the Regional Convention Swap ... I love the use of the 2 Step Bird as the 'fire' and the Word Window as the logs! The Lovely as a Tree stamped off in the background and sponging using a mask technique!

I think this is a nice gender neutral card the would be awesome for a person who loves the outdoors for a birthday or in the spring for Fathers Day!

Lovely as a 'Winter'Tree

Here is another offering from the recent Stamp for the Cure event - a non-traditional card fold that still fits within a normal envelope!

This card was created with the Lovely as a Tree using the Whisper White craft ink on Night of Navy and that glittered with Iridescent Ice. The lower portion of the card is with the Serene Snowflakes and versamark ink.

Lovely as a Tree

Another quick and simple card sample for the Holiday Season fast approaching! This one is Lovely as a Tree with the Heard from the Heart sentiment ... a colour combo of Always Artichoke and Bravo Burgundy.

Technique Tuesday classes - Embossing

Preparing for next weeks technique class - we are featuring heat embossing and heat embossing resist.

We will practicing the technique on our 6X6 card shown here ... using the Snow Swirled Tree Stamp.

Here is the first card design we will be making using the Delightful Decorations stamp set as well as the ornament from the Perfect Punches clear mount stamp set. The background paper is from our Jolly Holly Designer Series paper and participants can choose between the small polka dot paper or the larger polka dots! Added a little bling with our new Jewels Rhinestones :)

The second card shown here is showcasing the Lovely as a Tree stamp set embossed on Whisper White paper and then brayered over with Night of Navy Ink. The background layer is embossed using Iridescent Ice powder.

Technique Tuesday classes - Dryer Sheet

Only a crafty women can find a way to turn a dryer sheet into something FUN! I do not know the origin of this wonderful wicked women who actually made me excited to do laundry this weekend so I could accumulate a stash of bounce sheets - but kudos to her!

So here is our 6x6 technique card that we made to practices our technique with the dryer sheet and get our stamping muscles flexed before jumping into our cards!

Here is our first card that we made featuring Lovely as a Tree and Teeny Tiny wishes stamp set ... with a Night of Navy and Old Olive colour combo.

And our second card features the Snow Swirled Stamp set ... with a Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive colour combo.

I hope everyone had a great time at the class and learned something new to take home- I totally LOVE the energy of creating with a group of awesome ladies and am now all pumped up for more creating this week - so thanks ladies!