It's Mandala Monday

And what better way to celebrate the happiest day of the week than with some amazing new Mandala Cling Stamps from Impression Obsession, available at The Ink Pad and appearing today on TIP Blog.

A Very CASE-y Christmas

We've got an interesting twist this fortnight at Jingle Belles, we're saving you the trouble of inventing a brand new holiday card design, by asking you to CASE (Copy and Selectively Edit) a card of Stephanie's or mine; from any Jingle Belles post, at anytime between 2011 and now. So yeah... there's plenty to choose from, lol! I knew immediately that I wanted to make my own version of one of this YETI card by Stephanie, so "Yeti or Not" here it is:

yeti and sentiment stamps: taylored expressions, colored with tombow markers and prismacolor pencils; snowflake patterned paper and tree die: echo park; hills dies: mama elephant; white glitter paper: best creation; xmas light stickers: sticko; christmas sticker: tim holtz/idea-ology; ink: ranger archival; corner rounder: we r memory keepers; adhesives: elmers brand gluetape, 3m foam tape, scor-tape by sookwang

My biggest obstacle was that I literally had NONE of the products Stephanie used in her card. But luckily I found Taylored Expressions' adorable "Mythical Grumplings" set at Paper Anthology, which gave me cute Yeti and most of the sentiment. I used a slightly larger tree die; but had a very similar set of stitched hills, plenty of white glitter paper, and even a pale green snowflake patterned paper! Since my Yeti stamps were not holiday-themed, I added some holiday lights stickers, but I think they're a pretty good fit. Et voila! 

Be sure to hop over and see which card Stephanie chose to CASE and start scrolling around Jingle Belles to choose your inspiration card!

Layered Patchwork Stencils

I had a lot of fun playing with a pair of Tim Holtz Patchwork Stencils from Idea-Ology, and appropriately enough, I used a bunch of Tim's beautiful Distress Oxide Inks. Coincidentally, all of these supplies are available at The Ink Pad and all the details are on TIP Blog today!

We're Just Being Shellfish

Which I think you'll agree is a pretty good way to celebrate the newest addition to the Eyelet Outlet lineup: Crab and Lobster Brads!

I was in the mood to make Artist Trading Cards, so I started with two pieces of watercolor paper just a hair under 2.5 x 3.5". I used a spare piece of (non-glitter) washi to mask a straight horizon line and a torn piece of wide tape to make my tide line, then I added my blendy oxide ink sky and ocean. When my backgrounds were complete I added torn strips of Glitter Gold Tape to serve as sand. I made the sentiments "Don't Be Crabby" and "Have a Clawsome Day" by combining alphabet stickers and text typed on clear label strips.

Next I made a scene... or rather, two scenes! My first ATC has two Crab Brads on the beach and a flying Seagull Brad up in the sky. The second has a Sun and Cloud in the sky, with a Lobster Brad on the beach surrounded by a few Shell Brads.

I think you'll agree with me that any project featuring Eyelet Outlet Crab and Lobster Brads is bound to be a shore thing! :)

Traveler's Notebook Update

August is an especially colorful month in my Traveler's Notebook, especially the Monthly Free Diary section in which I record all of my assignments and projects. Thanks to some fairly awesome Everyday Explorers Co stamps from The Ink Pad. More info and the "after" photo with all the fun things filled in on The Ink Pad Blog today! 

StencilGirl: Garden Grunge Photo Journal

I'm super-excited to be the Guest Blogger today on the StencilGirl® Blog, StencilGirl® Talk. I made a super-fun photo journal for my mom's upcoming birthday, in a style I like to think of as "Garden Grunge". I used eight different stencils by six SG designers and may have set a record for most layers in one project and most photos in one blog post. I'd love for you to hop over and see the entire project at StencilGirl® Talk and while you're there, be sure to scroll around a bit because they've got AMAZING inspiration every day of the week! ♥

Cardstock Christmas

...continues at Jingle Belles so yes, we're still forbidding use of ALL patterned paper this fortnight. But you can use any variety of cardstock (glittery, metallic, shimmery, etc) and as many techniques as you'd like to add interest.

cardstock: core'dinations, gina k, my colors; shimmery white cardstock: martha stewart; glitter cardstock: american crafts; silver metallic cardstock: idea-ology; wood veneer: altenew; stamps: avery elle "snowflakes" set; white ink that's really opaque: hero arts unicorn ink; elderly tree and reindeer dies: sizzix; gems and pearls: eyelet outlet; adhesives: elmers brand gluetape, 3m foam tape, sookwang scor-tape 

I've played strictly by the rules, for once in my life, lol! I stamped a background of Avery Elle Snowflakes on dark blue cardstock and one of the sentiments from the same set, using Hero Arts' awesome Unicorn Ink and my MISTI so that I could get extra-good coverage. The rest is torn cardstock and ancient dies. Ok, technically the reindeer was cut from AlteNew's beautiful wood veneer, but it's not patterned paper!!! I finished off with some Eyelet Outlet Snowflake Bling and a few loose gems and pearls.

Be sure to head on over to Jingle Belles and check out Stephanie's beautiful card, then link up one of your own!

We've Been HEXED!

But in a good way! Using Nathalie Kalbach's awesome pattern-making stamps for Rubbermoon: Large Hex Set and Small Hex Set. The possibilities are nearly endless with this very cool modular style of stamping, but the card I made my first time out is on The Ink Pad Blog today.

Watch Out For Hidden Sugars...

...although if the sugars in question are adorable kawaii ice cream cones and they're disguised with a variety of Eyelet Outlet Brads, you might decide to make an exception, lol!

This is not the first or last time that I've paired Lawn Fawn character stamps with EO Brads. They're the perfect size and scale, plus... I love that the brads add texture to the stamping, but are still flat and mail-able. My card has five ice cream cones of various flavors; and the disguises, from left to right, are: Straw Hat Brads (on special for .99c); Sunglass Brads, Cherry, (on special for $1.29); Colorful Sunglass Brads; and finally, I could not resist a Mustache Brad (on special for $1.09). I used Cloud Tape to make the small window which holds the cones, and a slimline-sized background of Banana Tape.

There were so many additional brad choices in just the Hats and Glasses section of the EO Store that I'm fairly sure I'll be remaking versions of this card over and over!

That's More Like It!

After the enforced minimalism of our last challenge at Shopping Our Stash, this fortnight we invite you to "Pile It On" and add as many layers as you possibly can. In my case, this is less "challenging" but lots more fun! My creation is so loaded I had to make my cardbase out of watercolor paper... I think I've met the requirements, lol! 

patterned paper: blue fern studio; florals, leaves and awesome but discontinued distressing tool: prima; marrakech mix stencil: michelle ward for stencilgirl; mixed media die set #2: tim holtz/sizzix; embossing paste: dreamweaver; adhesives: elmers brand gluetape, 3m foam tape, gluedots, scor-tape, sewing machine

My patterned paper is the Bird Waltz collection from Blue Fern Studio, via Paper Anthology, and fairly recent. But don't worry there is plenty of ANCIENT stash, as well. I don't think any of the florals can be less than two or three years old and the biggest ones are muuuuuuuch older. In addition to my three strategically torn and distressed layers of paper, I've added even more texture by putting some white embossing paste through a well-loved stencil on the top layer and using one of my TH "Mixed Media" dies to cut through the bottom layer and reveal some of the cardfront.

Head on over to SOS to see what my amazing DT sisters have created to inspire you, then start making plans to link up your own maximalist masterpiece!

MTA Tape? Yes, Please!

We're seriously crushing on these fun and stylish Manhattan Transit Authority products. They're perfect for journals and scrapbooks, of course; but they also make outstanding cards! We currently have four styles of MTA Tape and four different MTA Sticker Sets at The Ink Pad and these cards I've made using them are on The Ink Pad Blog today!

Hexed!

I wound up with an extra... and in this case hextra... card, so I thought I'd post it and say Happy Saturday! ♥

patterned paper and most flowers: prima marketing; ancient chipboard hexies: pink paislee; butterfly stickers: studio calico; doily tape: october afternoon; script tape, brads and gems: eyelet outlet; grey cardstock: dcwv; white leaves: ken oliver crafts; adhesive: elmers brand gluetape, gluedots, scor-tape, sewing machine

Say What??!

No patterned paper? Not even a little bit?? Technically speaking, we've called this one "Cardstock Christmas" but the cardstock can be plain, textured, glittery, embossed, vellumy; you can stamp and color, you can make a beautiful ink-blendy background... Basically, we're just staying away from patterned paper. And yet somehow we're still supposed to make a fabulous holiday card at Jingle Belles? Is that even possible? Yep!

Winter Narwhal mini stamp set from Lawn Fawn colored with Tombow Dualbrush pens and shaded with Prismacolor pencils; Ink blended background: Spun Sugar and Picked Raspberry Distress Oxides; star frame made with Nestabilities dies; cardstock: Core'dinations; glossy white cardstock: The Paper Cut; ancient snowflake embossing folder: Darice; Snowflake Sequins and white pearls: Eyelet Outlet; snowy acetate: Hunkydory Crafts; vellum: Lawn Fawn; adhesives: Elmer's gluetape, Nuvo Deluxe adhesive, Scor-tape

In the spirit of full disclosure, this card is a pretty direct lift from this sample made for the sweet Winter Narwhal stamp from Lawn Fawn. The star, the pink oxide background, the vellum are all pretty much a CASE. But since I wanted to make a full-size A2 card, I cut a bunch of the star frames and layered them to make a shaker (filled with Eyelet Outlet Snowflake Sequins) and I embossed a pink cardstock background and added some EO pearls to the snowflakes. And that was it. I had fun making this, so I might make a few more, in other colors. For that matter, if I don't have a second un-patterned paper idea pretty quickily, you could be seeing those next week, lol!

Be sure to hop over to Jingle Belles to see Stephanie's beautiful card and link up your own!

Lemurian Garden Stencils

Did you know that The Ink Pad's longtime friend and teacher Linda Edkins Wyatt just released her first set of StencilGirl Stencils? They're called the Lemurian Garden Collection and comprise two 6x6" stencils (Tulip and Leaf) and three 4x4" minis called Pansy, Lily and Spiral. For a limited time, if you buy all five stencils from The Ink Pad, you'll get a beautiful Intention Card handmade by Linda herself! Meanwhile, I (Lauren) was super-excited to get my hands on these and have a bit of a play! More about that on TIP Blog today!

From Italy, Con Amore!

Ok, technically, I am in New Jersey and unlikely to leave the country any time soon. But I can still *imagine* a fabulous trip to Italy by using my Eyelet Outlet Colosseum and Pisa Brads to make some fun Italian-themed cards. Oh and to make it even better, these brads are on special for just .89 cents!

For my first card I've combined an illustration from an old book with this cool Ticket Washi, and added the Leaning Tower and Colosseum to the "I" and "O" in my sentiment, which is composed of vinyl alphabet stickers in a nice chunky font. I've matted the whole panel with beautiful antique-looking Map Tape.

My second card is a bit sillier, so I needed to make a custom sentiment on the computer. The Leaning Tower is saying, "I'll Never ROME" to the Colosseum, who replies, "You've got a PISA my heart"! In addition to the Italian Brads I've got a Compass and a background paper made by neatly lining up strips of funky yellow Text Tape on plain white cardstock.

Wherever your real or imaginary travels take you this summer, I'm pretty sure there's an Eyelet Outlet Brad and Washi Tape combination to help you celebrate!

Narwhal Sighting!

I fell in love with this FREE crocheted narwhal pattern from The Friendly Red Fox. I used leftover Red Heart "Hopscotch" yarn in a colorway called "Scooter" and sent it off to our grandnephew, Hudson, who just turned two in June. Oh how time flies... or in this case, I guess it swims, lol.

Rainbow Birthday

Rainbows and birthdays go pretty well together. And Hero Arts' Wish Big Peek-a-Boo Clear Set is a brilliant choice for combining a birthday and a rainbow into a super-festive card! All the details on The Ink Pad Blog today! ♥

A Few "Extra" Cards

Just a few pics that have been languishing on my computer's desktop so I figured I'd post and file them. By the way, to anyone who asks, "Why are you still blogging, when all the action is on social media now?" I reply, "A month from now, when you want to find one specific project quickly, would you like to scroll for all eternity through your feed, waiting for it to load each set of nine photos; or jump into Blogger's dashboard and use the search feature?" Plus I have the luxury of recording all the product I've used AND tagging the post so that I can easily make a group of say, collage projects, or cards that have brads, or ink blending, or stencils, or... well, you get the idea. Having said all of that, I tried Blogger's appalling new format last week (YIKES!) and if they don't fix their diabolically nested toolbar or allow the "Legacy" format to be used indefinitely, I may change my mind about the whole deal.

But for now, lookie, there are cards! :)

This is a "Clean Up Collage": basically when I take all of the random scraps on my worktable and instead of throwing them out or putting them away, I make a random collage. Usually I do this in my sketchbook, but since I had a focal point and everything, I made a card.

(ps: these leftovers are all from one project involving StencilGirl stencils, that I'm really excited about but can't reveal yet... hehehe... sorry to be cryptic, lol...)

Here's a baby card for a new family member who arrived earlier this year. I had intended to use it as an Eyelet Outlet project; then I realized that BOTH the sweet prams and the pink teddies had gone out of inventory... 

I was trying to draw hydrangeas on scraps of watercolor paper from a class kit I put together for Paper Anthology. These came out well enough that I decided to paint them with ColorBurst. I considered using this as my CAS card for SOS but then I realized it isn't very "stashy" is it...

♥♥♥

Parts is Parts

We're still making holiday cards that feature "leftovers" at Jingle Belles... like paper scraps, the "extra" background that didn't get used, the images colored in advance but not found a home for... and you're still invited to join the fun. Here's what I made this week:

ancient patterned paper scraps: prima, sei + best creation glitter paper and specialty shimmer cardstock from the paper cut + sheet music from my stash; poinsettia, flourish and joy dies: hero arts; heart and label shapes: nestabilities; xl pearl brad: eyelet outlet; ink for edges: colorbox; adhesives: elmers brand gluetape, 3m foam tape

This baby is 100% leftovers, but admittedly, by virtue of my Xmas storage system, I have somewhat stacked the deck. Several years ago, I liberated an unused hardware sorter, with fifteen 2.5 x 5.5" drawers, from Jeff's workshop. I was setting up for a cardmaking gathering with a bunch of non-papercrafters, so my idea was to make a sort of Card Buffet. I cleared out my scraps container and made lots of diecuts, pre-trimmed backing panels, and cardbases; then created a few sample cards to suggest ideas of how to combine the various ingredients. I figured this would be the most fun for "civilians" since there would be very little technique; they could just get right to the composition phase, and thus complete a bunch of cards in one evening. As it turned out, the gathering didn't take place; but the silver lining was that I had a brand new diecut storage system that I have kept because it's really helpful for making fast cards. I also kept the habit of taking my small scraps and diecutting or trimming them into panels, so that there are always lots of readymade bits that can become cards very quickly.

In this case, I grabbed a few poinsettia layers, a snowflake with swirls, a glittery "joy". a pre-inked heart, and a squarish label shape. All in pink, o'course. Et voila!

Whether you have LOTS of leftovers or just a few bits and bobs, this seems like a great time to grab them, make them into a card and link up with us at Jingle Belles. There's even a little prize this time. You know... if you like that sorta thing... ♥

Washi Wonderland!

There are so many great washi tapes, but one of our very favorite brands at The Ink Pad has got to be MT, who make high quality tape in just about any design you could possibly imagine. Tape is fantastic for accents and for actually attaching things, but have you ever used it to make your own custom patterned paper? It's easy and fun and I' up on The Ink Pad Blog today, talking more about that!

We're Grillin' and Chillin'...

...with the fabulous brand new Eyelet Outlet BBQ Brads!

One of my favorite Brad Tricks is to make a smaller shape or frame for the brads to live in, which can also serve as the focal point for the card. In this case, I diecut three circles of different sizes and made a composite scene with Sun and Cloud Brads in one; the silver grill and blue apron from the BBQ Set... plus a Beach Umbrella; and one of the beer bottles and the mug from our Beer Brads. My background is diecut clouds and I've added some paper-punched grass to ground each circle and add to the vibe of outdoor fun.

I hope you'll be inspired to make a card or project featuring your favorite summer activity; I guarantee we have an Eyelet Outlet brad style that will work!

Yes, It's Really *ME*!

I mention it because when you see the card I'm posting today you might very well think you've come to the wrong blog. However this fortnight's challenge at Shopping Our Stash is called, "Keep it Simple, Sister" and we are looking for the dreaded (if you're me, lol) CAS -clean and simple- card. This is *NOT* my metier; and I am never telling anyone how long this card took to make. But here it is, and I'm pretty pleased with it:

narwhal stamp and die set: jen long/sizzix; narwhal colored with tombow dualbrush pens and shaded with prismacolor pencils; sentiment stamps: lawn fawn (have a narly) and paper smooches (birthday); stamping ink: ranger black archival; inky background: distress oxides blended with a sponge dauber; teal cardstock: gina k; enamel hearts: eyelet outlet; adhesives: elmers brand gluetape, 3m foam tape

I confess I did A LOT of cruising of Instagram and Pinterest in preparation; and while I didn't wind up finding something CAS to CASE, I did nab quite a few ideas that helped me compose something very pared down, that still looked "finished" to me. I knew I wanted to use the narwhal stamp and die set that Stephanie gave me a few years ago and I don't use nearly enough, so I stamped and colored (and colored... and colored; let's just say there might've been one or two "rejected" narwhals before I came up with a version I liked!) I wound up hand-cutting, because the die left a much larger border than I cared for in this context. I masked off a panel to be my ink-blended ocean; I managed somehow NOT to get a giant smudge on the white space; and finally I added a couple of enamel hearts and a teal cardstock mat. 

If you love making CAS cards, this is definitely the challenge for you! If you hate making CAS cards... maybe this is still the challenge for you? Because maybe part of the point of challenges is to stretch a bit and try something new? Either way, be sure to hop over to SOS and see the fab cards from my design team darlings! ♥

Creation Staycation Wrap-Up

It was a super-fun weekend playing along with Paper Anthology's Summer Creation Staycation, on the PA FaceBook Page; it's always fun to hang out with crafty friends, either in person or online! Here are some cards I made for a few of my favorite challenges:

for Elisabeth's Summer Fun Challenge

Here's a shocking true confession: I've been wanting Lawn Fawn's "Sweetest Flavor" mini stamp set for ages and since I happened to know there would be a Summer Fun Challenge I treated myself. I knew I wanted to add some accessory brads to the adorable kawaii cones and that the perfect place for them to gather would be under the palm tree from Taylored Expressions' Build-a-Scene: Tropical diecut set, which is not in the online store, but there are still a few at paper Anthology.

 (ps: it's possible I also treated myself to LF's uber-cute Little Dragon and Tiny Fairy Tale mini sets, too...)

for Shari's Slimline Card Challenge

I am obsessed with Vicki Boutin's "All the Good Things" line from American Crafts. I'ts not available on the PA website, but many of the papers can still be found in the store, including this watercolory masterpiece called "Soul Food" which I think is pretty perfect with the stamps from Dare 2B Artzy's "Say It With Words" floral set, that I've stamped over strategically smooshed ColorBurst.

for Linda's Masculine Themed Challenge

k, gotta say right out, there's NO current product here at all, though similar vintage ingredients can be found in my Deluxe World Traveler Collage Assortments, found at Paper Anthology! But the patterned papers are ancient scraps and the tapes came over with Mrs. Noah on the Ark. The best thing about funky collage cards, though, is that you can pretty much combine ANYTHING and make it work!

♥♥♥

And thus another fun Paper Anthology Weekend Event draws to a close; 

many thanks to everyone who participated!

Gloss Spray + Gel Plate

I couldn't resist showing off one more card made from the things I learned in Dina Wakley's awesome "Focus on Gloss Sprays" class. This one was made using Gloss Sprays on my 6" Gel Plate, with Michelle Ward's beautiful NYC Skyline Stencils and Masks, exclusive to The Ink Pad; all the info's on TIP Blog today. ♥

Brads and Eyelets? I Might Have a Few...

Are you ready for another new challenge in our Summer Edition of Paper Anthology's Creation Staycation? Ok, here ya go:

It's no secret that I'm a huge Eyelet Outlet fan and Design Team member. And I really do LOVE using both round and decorative brads... there are so many fun styles to choose from! For this challenge, your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to create a project which features brads or eyelets of any size, shape and brand. They don't have to be the focal point of your design, just work a few in somewhere. 

Once again I stress that you don't have to make your brads or eyelets be the FEATURE of your design! But... it is possible to do so, and one of my favorite Brad Tricks is to scale down my focal point using inchies, little frames or, as in this case, faux polaroids! Mine is just over 2.25" and has a beachy background made with blended Oxides to hold Eyelet Outlet "Flamingo" and "Sun and Cloud" Brads; and yes I've slipped in a quartet of classic round eyelets for good measure. The soft woodgrain patterned paper from Echo Park's outstanding "Summer Fun" collection reminds me of the boardwalk in Wildwood, NJ; scene of many wonderful childhood memories! 

How can YOU play along? Visit the Paper Anthology FaceBook Page! ♥

ICAD Wrap-Up

How is it possible that ICAD2020 is over already? I'm pretty sure somebody is messing with the calendar and very likely has stolen part of July. Is there a CSI for Time Crime??! Meanwhile, here are my last few index cards, and the photo of my big sprawly book at the end. ♥

day 55: off prompt

on this day i took dina wakley's awesome "focus on gloss sprays" class via facebook live, so obviously i had to use something from the class and i chose this painted flower which i cut out and put against a random background i painted to use up one of my "puddles" of spray.

day 56: paisley

paisley doodle extravaganza with faber-castell pitt artist pens on a robin's egg blue index card.

day 57: mandala monday

i had cut this little sewing machine illustration out of a spanish language children's book a while ago, mostly because the soft green color reminded me of my own sewing machine, which once belonged to my mom mom. it seemed like a good centerpiece for a library card mandala.

day 58: billiards

various shades of green distress oxide applied through circle stencils, on a mint green index card. with pen doodles on top.

day 59: off-prompt

last week i assembled a bunch of handmade paper assortments for the ink pad and there were only the tiniest pieces of this super-sheer variety so... shhhhhhhhh... i "liberated" them because i thought they'd be pretty cool to layer in a collage. i stand by that hypothesis, actually!

day 60: bossa nova

technically i think these guys are doing something called the continental hustle; they're from the most amazing book i found at a sale some years ago called, "the official guide to disco dancing" which i chose entirely for these little line drawings which showed the steps to all the various dances. the background is a first draft of a stamped background for a paper anthology "class in a kit" i made called "big blooms"; it wasn't what i wanted at the time, but i still liked it, so it went into the collage fodder bin to become a fanciful dancing arena!

day 61: adventure

i will take literally ANY excuse to make a collage, especially a vintage travel collage. so i did!!!

and now the famous before and after pics of this year's ICAD book:

june 1st: skinny book

july 31st: not so skinny!!!

♥♥♥

Many thanks to Tammy Garcia, of Daisy Yellow Art, who created and has hostessed the awesome Index Card a Day Challenge for TEN (10!!!) years now, making everyone's June and July more creative and inspiring! Thanks also to everyone who played along or just followed along. And special thanks to those of you who have persevered on m'blog through 61 cards per year, times 9 years, for a total of 549 ICADs!!! ♥♥♥