Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Jacksonbelle Boosday

**************Be sure to check out this post for blog goodies opportunity!!!******************



Where does the time go? It is already Tuesday once again and time for a Jacksonbelle Embellishment challenge. After a month of some truly inspiring sketch challenges, today's challenge is to use anything from Jacksonbelle Embellishments. Boy, that's a hard one- teeheehee! Remember tonight at midnight is the deadline for submitting cards to Lynda to enter the Jacksonbelle Inka Sketch contest. If you would like to have another look at the details they are here and if you want to see all of the sketches they are here. If you play with the challenge this week be sure to either link them in a comment here OR if you upload to SCS use JBE022 in your key words. I want to be able to see all of your awesome cards! Also, for some great inspiration, be sure to check out the other DT members' blogs to see what they did with their Jacksonbelle goodies:

I am having so much fun with the Inka Halloween stamps that I just couldn't resist using them for this weeks challenge. From the moment I saw this spooky-cute little group of trick or treaters I knew they belonged in front of the Cuttlebug Haunted House embossing folder. I used a piece of C'ordinations CS for the embossing then sanded the embossed image to create a distressed spooky look. Next, I highlighted the windows and moon with Shimmerz. The little costumed cuties were stamped, colored with Copics, sparkled with Shimmerz then cut out. PP is Cosmo Cricket Haunted, ribbon May Arts, Spider web sticker Imaginisce, hardware corner WRMK. Be sure to check out the post below for a chance at some fun blog loot! Wishing you fun Times and inky fingers! Take care!

Monday, September 29, 2008

Blog Candy and Some Exciting News

Mmmmm! Everybody loves blog goodies and since I have some exciting news to share, I decided to make an easy (very easy) little scavenger hunt to share my fun. Here is what you, just scroll down the right hand column of my blog until you find something new and amusing. Let me know what you find in the comments for this post. I'll keep this glued to the top of my blog until next Friday morning where I will randomly draw a number. The comment that corresponds with that number will win a single stamp and a set of note cards of their choose from a "certain" company that has to do with my fun news! Easy peasy! Wishing you fun Times and inky fingers. Take care!

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Such a Deer




How dear is this little deer!!!!! This is probably my favorite of the 4 newly released sets from Artful Inkables! All images that I used can be found in the Deer Friend set except the tree stump which is from Critter Country. See how awesome these 2 sets coordinate. If you buy one you know your gonna "have" to have the other! Truly stamping fun!!!! Be sure to check out the other gals blogs using this darling set:

Pam Miller
Terri Todd
and owner/designer
Kristin Soboloski

I thought that Basic Gray Archaic would be perfect for this little nature scene. I originally purchased the 6 x 6 paper pad to make cards for my dinosaur crazed nephew Ryulee. His birthday is in January and I may end up buying another paper pad before it gets here! I love the prints for masculine and nature cards! I colored the image with Copic markers and "created" the ground cover with them, as well. This idea was cased from the fabulous Julie Ebersole on this card. I am totally blown away by this cool technique! For the "sky" I painted the background with Sky Blue Shimmerz and swirled around some Angel Wing Shimmerz. It does not show up as well in the photo as I hoped it would. Essentially it give the appearance of a nice, clear day! I was a bit challenged when I was coloring because my Colorless Blender and favorite Gray marker are out on loan (gasp) to someone interested in purchasing the markers. I thought I would not need them because I had completed the coloring of this little scene. Well.... apparently Rachel felt it needed something and added her own little touch or two! Can you say ruined- ahgggg! Be sure to check out the new discount label in the right hand column of my blog. Kristin has given each DT member a coupon code to share with our wonderful blog readers! These stamps really are too much fun to pass up! Stay tuned tomorrow for some super exciting news that will accompanied some yummy blog candy! Wishing you fun Times and inky fingers! Take care!

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Autumn's Flowers

Hello! Today I am excited because it is my turn to post a sample card from the awesome new release from Artful Inkable! Along with me, you can find awesome samples from Autumn's Flowers on these DT members blogs:
Jenn Muraoka
and
Pam Miller

If you love leaves, as I do, this is definitely a MUST HAVE set! The sentiment is absolutely wonderful "Autumn is a second spring, where every leaf is a flower!" Wow! I had the best time not only playing with this stamp set but experimenting with products that I have had on my shelves for a while collecting dust. When I am in a hurry to get things done, I tend to rely on my tried and true techniques, embellishment and style. This card is definitely outside my usually comfort zone but it was such fun and I like the end result. The image was stamped, heat embossed with Judikins Sparkle Chocolate EP, and then painted with 3 different colors of Shimmerz (Olive, Beeswax and Pumpkin.) Once that was finished I made a mask for the image and sponge Ranger Frayed Burlap Distressing Ink on the rest of the oval panel. I did the same thing for the little "helicopters" only I cut them out instead. The other neat thing is I used the Ranger Distress paints along the outer border of the card. Once it was dry and crackly, I painted it with brown Shimmerz! Using the Shimmerz is awesome within itself- they go on beautifully and dry super quick! My PP is Mellow by BG, ribbon is May Arts, and sparkle dots are Jesse James. Not my ordinary card but a lot of fun getting my fingers messy! I'd be so pleased if you would stop by tomorrow when I show a sample Deer Friend- probably my favorite on the new releases, well one of them at least, LOL! Also, don't forget the coupon code in the right hand column that Kristin was so awesome to share with my super readers! Wishing you fun TIMEs and inky fingers! Take care!

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Jacksonbelle Boosday


Today is the 4th and final sketch for the Jacksonbelle Embellishments Inkadinkado Contest. For all the specifics, check out the JBE Blog. Before I get to any details about today's sketch, I have some incredibly wonderful news. Lindsey's little boy, Austin, was able to be removed from the ventilator yesterday! He remains on a small dose of nasal oxygen but they feel that if things keep going as is, he will be out of PICU in a couple of days, then home from the hospital a few days after that! Truly the power of prayers is amazing!
So here is today's sketch. Be sure to take a look at the wonderful cards from the rest of the design team.

Remember to use JBE021 in the keywords if you upload to SCS AND be sure to e-mail ALL of your beautiful cards to Lynda Benden, lynda.benden@gmail.com, to assure entry into the contest!

Now for some more exciting news! Today is Release Day for Artful Inkables Stamps! Now, obviously I love AI stamps but with this release, Kristin ,the owner/designer, has completely ROCKED!!!! Can you say beautiful leaves, the most awesome butterfly EVAH, and the absolute cutie patootiest critters! Here is a look at the awesome images for these 4 sets:



The Design Team has divided up the peeks for these awesome new sets so today be sure to check out these blogs today:
Kristin
Julia- please check later this evening
Terri

And what rocks even better than new stamps? What about new stamps at a discount! Besides the everyday offer of free shipping for U.S and Canadian orders over 40.00, Kristin has given each DT member a discount code to share with the readers of our blogs. So I can actually share the love with you awesome folks! You will find this reminder in the column on your right for the remainder of my DT stint:

Be sure to check back tomorrow for some more samples from these terrific new sets! Wishing you fun TIMEs and inky fingers! Take care!

Monday, September 22, 2008

My Girls....

I've got sunshine on a cloudy day
When it's cold outside
I've got the month of May
Well, I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way
My girl(s), my girl(s), my girl(s)
Talkin bout my girl(s) my girl(s)!
Sorry for the corny minute but that keeps going through my head each time I look at this project! I had several pictures of my daughters that I thought the expressions on their faces were so cute but the rest of the the photo really lacked- A LOT! So I decided to take those sweet little faces and crop them out of the photo with punches to make this little altered mint tin by Bare Essentials. Inside I made a small accordion album (I plan on posting a tutorial for this later on in the week) which I decorated with cute, little A Muse images that were perfect for this size project! Since I love they way A Muse note cards and ribbons go with their images, I used those for the PP to decorate the mini album. I'm in the process of working on a slideshow (just when I thought I had it figured out, Picasa changes things on me) but if you would like to take a close up view on the individual pages please feel free to click on them! I'll be back tomorrow the final of 4 sketches for the Jacksonbelle Embellishment Inka contest, then Wednesday it will be time for the Artful Inkables challenge AND stay tuned Thursday and Friday for some AI Peeks!!! Kristin has totally blown me away with this new release! Wishing you fun TIME and inky fingers! Take care!


Thursday, September 18, 2008

Your such a Deer...

How completely cute is this little deer image by A Muse? Deer and fawn seem to becoming more popular with the paper crafting crowd and it pleases me much! I love any fun, whimsical little forest creature or fauna so there are right up my creative ally! Another thing that I {{{heart}}} about A Muse images are the darling, funny and yes, sometimes punny sentiments that are available to go with the whimsical images!

Okay, now for a confession. As anyone would know, I adore making cards! All types of cards. I have quite a supply of handmade cards on hand, as I am sure many of you do! This is NO big secret! Well, guess what? I am horrible at remembering exact birthday dates and am forever forgetting dear friends special days. Now granted, once I remember it, a card is on it's way but of course, late! I was at my lss, Once Upon a Scrapbook last weekend and I found this cute little 4" Chipboard Mini Book by Jenni Bowlin. It is as a popular label shape and the cute little pages inside look like little pieces of notebook paper. My stamping buddies are all getting together on the 4th of October so I plan to take this and give each one a sheet of the paper for their vital information- including birthday! The ring binders will open so that I can, then re arrangement them chronologically by date and hang my cute little book right above my work desk! I so hope this will help! Image, sentiment, PP, and ribbon all by A Muse. Brown brackets are chocolate chip CS punched with the SU round tab punch and Stampin' Dimensionals are used to pop the image and "deer."

A quick note, Lindsey Botkin of Jacksonbelle Embellishments, youngest son was taken to the hospital in respiratory distress. While there is some improvement today, he does remain sedated on the ventilator. It does look like everything is going to be alright but it certainly does not make things easier on this little fella and the rest of the Botkin family. If you would, please, join me and the rest of the DT in sending good thoughts and prayers their way.

Wishing you fun TIME and inky fingers! Take care!

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Another Jacksonbelle Boosday

Are you ready for the 3rd sketch for the Jacksonbelle Embellishments September Inkadinkado contest? You can find all the deets right HERE. So far the entries have been awesome and everyone is certainly making it a challenge to choose the prize winners! Remember that there is a prize going to a randomly selected participant that enters at least 1 card for each sketch, also, so there is all kinds of opportunities to get one of the wonderful prized that Lindsey is offering. This week if you upload your card to SCS, please be sure to use JBE020 in the key words. We want to be able to find your cards. Also, every entry must be e-mailed to Lynda Benden at
lynda.benden@gmail.com. Please be sure to check out the other design team members cards with this sketch for some terrific inspiration!
My card today is super simple, and pretty cute if I do say so myself. It doesn't have as many embellishments as many of my other cards but the focal image turned out to be a bit bigger than I had originally planned and I just ran out of room! All of my images are from the Inkadinkado set Ghouls & Goblins. I initially colored them with Copic markers then I added black flocking to the cat with a Sakura Quickie glue pen and painted Angel Wings Shimmerz on the bone and the TP. This photo was not necessarily the best one to took of my card but I LOVED the way the light bounced off the purple brad and gave the Shimmerz an eerie glow (would like to say I planned that but it was totally an accident)! The little spider web in the corner is actually and adhesive rub on from WRMK. It comes in a kit with sheets of flocking, glitter and foil. After you rub on the adhesive, simple place the sheet of flock/glitter/foil on top and rub it on too. A pretty neat product BUT the adhesive rub ons are extremely fragile and you must take extra precaution when pealing it away from the protective layer. My paper is Basic Black CS and some retired SU Halloween DSP. The sentiment is heat embossed with Ranger Sea Foam EP. Ribbon is May Arts and brads are The Paper Studio. Easy peasy but a purrfect card for one of my nephews! They love animals! Hope your TIME is filled with fun and inky fingers! Take care!

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Artful Inkable Wednesday- A Technique Challenge

The last 2 weeks have simply flown by and now it is time for another Artful Inkables Challenge. Before I get in to the details about the challenge, I would like to introduce you to the newest Ink Girl, Terri Todd! You will definitely want to pop over to her blog and look at her awesome creations! Welcome, Terri! I'm so excited to be designing with you!

Now, this weeks challenge is hostessed by no other the Queen Ink Girl herself, owner/designer Kristin Soboloski! Since she is calling the shots on today's challenge, she is offering up an awesome prize via random drawing for all that participate in the challenge!!!! Anyone who participates in the challenge this week will be eligible for ONE FREE AI STAMP SET OF
THEIR CHOICE!! How awesome is that! If you wish to participate, please post a link to your creation either at the Artful Inkables blog or in your SCS gallery. (Include ARTINK [all capitals] in the keywords when you upload on SCS so we can find your card.) Kristin will
then randomly draw the winner from the names of those who participated. Artful INKables Stamps are not required, but if you've got 'em, why not give 'em some lovin'? The most important rule is to have fun.

The title of today's challenge is "The Doodle MASKquerade Challenge." The specifics are at the AI blog but essentially you are to include masking and doodling on your card! My card seemed to take on a life of it's own. I had a plan but as I stamped away things took on a different turn and a fairytale developed! I decided to make a birthday card for a friend that loves purple and the colors in the new BG Eva was perfect for this. I teamed it up with Pale Plum and Kiwi Kiss CS. The Pale Plum was embossed using a Cuttlebug folder. The ribbon is MM and the flowers are Prima.

My first part of the challenge was to make the "cloud" background using a mask made by punching a post- it note with a scallop oval punch. I then used a jumbo dauber to daub around the mask using Bordering Blue Classic Ink on Whisper White paper. The smooth finish to the Whisper White paper makes it perfect for this technique. The next example of masking was used to make the cute little fairy sit on the mushrooms. I first stamped the fairy from Enchanted Fairies onto Solar White CS then stamped it again on a post-it note and cut that image out to make a mask. After covering the original stamped image with the mask, I stamped the mushrooms living right under the fairy's "hiney hoo (Rachel's word for her bottom) to sit unmarred. I them colored the image with my Copic markers and added some Angel Wings Shimmerz to her wings. The next part of the challenge was just that, challenging. This card was not the right style for a black pen sort of doodle. Instead I used a gold Zig paint pen to enhance certain areas on the image. I, also, added the gold pen to the embossed Pale Plum and the Kiwi Kiss photo corners that I cut with a Sizzix die. My photo does not pick up the gold "doodling" as much as I would like but the soft gold definitely gives this Enchanted Fairy a magical, whimsical appearance. Be sure to check out the rest of the DT members blogs to see what they have done with these fun techniques!
Wishing you TIME filled with fun and inky finger! Take care!

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Jacksonbelle Two-fer Tuesday

It's Tuesday, once again! And what makes this Tuesday so exciting? It is the release of Sketch 2 for the Jacksonbelle Embellishment Inkadinkado Sketch Contest! Of course, the DT always wants the readers of our blogs to join the Tuesday challenges but the contest this month makes it extra sweet- especially when Lindsey is offering up a grand prize of $50.00 Gift Certificate to Jacksonbelle Embellishments ,2nd Place $30.00 and 3rd place $15.00! Whahoo! The rest of the details can be found on this post HERE. If you decide to upload your card to SCS be sure to use JBE019 in you keywords- we want to share your beautiful cards with everyone! Also, an important note- a photo of ALL entries MUST be e-mailed to Lynda Benden at lynda.benden@gmail.com. The rest of the DT would love to share their versions of today's sketch. Feel free to check these out:My card today is very straight forward. This cute little Inka snowman was stamped with Memento Tuxedo black on to Solar White CS. I colored his accessories with Copic markers and highlighted him using Sky Blue Shimmerz. The little bells are cut with Quickutz Christmas Cookie Cutter dies from my lss, Once Upon a Scrapbook and then painted with Candlelight Shimmerz. The gold cording is SU, as well as, the retired Totally Thyme ribbon. Paper is Figgy by BG. Here is a better look at today's sketch. Lynda made a wonderful sketch that allows for MUCH creativity !
Last week was a bit rough due to back problems and a subsequent procedure to help. I'm glad to say that I am felling MUCH better. Thanks to everyone with their kind comments and e-mails! Over the weekend, I was able to get 3 of my 4 Inka sketch cards completed with last weeks sketch being one of them. If you did not get around to trying out last weeks fun sketch, it is not to late! You have until the end of the month to do all 4 sketches. You can enter with as few or as many cards as you like, with the sketches of your choice. There will be a special prize given for a random winner who has entered at least one of each sketch! You can find last weeks sketch at this post. I teamed up this cute little Inka Santa with the new BG Offbeat. I absolutely love the way this paper pad coordinates with the new In- Colors!!!!! Here I have paired it with Ridinghood Red for contrast and a Christmasy feel! The Santa was colored with Copic markers and Spica pens for added sparkle. The sentiment is a Karen Foster rub on and the ribbon is Bazzill. Brads are MM and snowflake with brad is Imaginisce. A fun, simple and quick card! Please be sure to stop by tomorrow to see what I have made for the Artful Inkables Every Other Wednesday Challenge. Our fearless leader, the ever talented Kristin, is the "hostess with the mostest" and hmmm, did I hear a rumor of PRIZES for 1 lucky participant???? Also, she has extended the free shipping for orders over 30.00 until September 15th! Believe me, with the beautiful selection of stamps at AI it is NO problem to have that in your cart in no time *wink*! Wishing you TIME filled with fun and inky fingers! Take care!

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

It's a Inkadinkado Contest at Jacksonbelle Embellishments

Hello!! It's time again for another Jacksonbelle Embellishments Card Contest!! Starting Tuesday, September 2nd, and every Tuesday in September, the Design Team and I will be posting a new Sketch! We'd LOVE for you to all join us! Wanna know what you can win!?
The grand prize winner will receive a $50.00 Gift Certificate to Lindsey’s store! 2nd Place, $30.00 and 3rd place $15.00! All winners will receive a goodie bag in addition to their gift certificate!! If you decide to play each week, creating a card based on all 4 sketches, your name will be entered into a random drawing and THAT person will also win a goodie bag!
SO, you are probably wondering what you have to do!? You have to use Inkadinkado Stamps (newer...from this Spring-until now) as well as our sketches that I will post here each Tuesday! You can enter as many times as you'd like! You are also free to post anywhere you'd like! We will post coordinating Keywords for the sketches if you are posting on Splitcoaststampers, this way we will all be able to see your card(s)! You MUST however email every card to Lynda (lynda.benden@gmail.com). She would really hate to miss any of your gorgeous cards and this will enable her to have all of them!


Following the last Tuesday challenge, (Sept. 29th), you will have until Wednesday, Sept. 30th at midnight (EST) to get your cards in to Lynda. After that, the Design Team and Lindsey will need a few days to decide on the winners! Be sure to check the Design Team’s blog each week for LOTS of inspiration using the weekly sketch!!! We hope you will have time to play with us and if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask!!!!

Due to medical problems, I am running a bit late with my card from this weeks sketch. Just wanted to stop by and share the sketch for all of my wonderful readers to be able to play along!
So here is JBE018:It''s ALWAYs A Stampin' Good Time! Take care!