Tie One On

A ribbon that is... because that's the new theme at Jingle Belles; we're making cards that incorporate ribbon, trimmings, lace or fibers! Here's what I made:

assorted ribbons: doodlebug, american crafts, michaels and a few that I saved off packages; this technique works best with ribbons that are lightweight and fairly thin, without being sheer or you'll see the scor-tape that's holding them on buffalo plaid patterned paper: my mind's eye (the perpendicular lines of the pattern help you affix the ribbons neatly!); glossy white cardstock: the paper cut; florals: michaels and eyelet outlet; ancient brad: we r memory keepers; faux wired holly leaves of unknown origin; adhesives: elmers brand gluetape, sookwang scor-tape in several widths

This is one of those ideas that's making me wonder HOW I didn't think of it earlier? Because I've made similar cards where I've done a lattice or plaid pattern with washi tape, but somehow it never occurred to me to use ribbon. I suppose partly because it's hard to attach in strips that lie completely flat? Unless, that is, you have 1/8" wide Sookwang Scor-Tape, so you can basically make your ribbon into stickers, one piece at at time. I probably didn't need to sew all the way around the edges either, because those ribbons were on there securely... but I did anyway and I like how it looks. A fabric poinsettia and a retired Eyelet Outlet paper flower are all the focal point you need when you have NINE different ribbons, am I right? ;)

Hop over to Jingle Belles to see Stephanie's beautiful ribbon-bedecked card and start planning what you'll link up with us this fortnight!

It's PEN-demonium!

What do you do when you get new pens? I like to test them out, to see what sort of line they make and how they show up on different backgrounds. I also make little samples for The Ink Pad, so customers can see the same things. The results of this set of  essperiments and all the names of all the sets of all the pens are on The Ink Pad Blog today!

For the Record

Eyelet Outlet Record Brads, that is! They're the newest release in the EO Store and bound to be a big hit if you ask me! Here are a couple of cards I made:

As often happens, I had two ideas. In this case one was pretty minimal and one was... ummmmm... not, lol. Let's start with the maximalist version: A long sentiment made of Dymo labels and foam stickers, with the O's swapped out in favor of the larger Record Brads, with a few extra large and small records* scattered about, and a band of Skinny Tape at the top and bottom.

And here's the minimalist take: shorter sentiment, but again the Record Brads stand in for the O's in "You Rock". In addition to scattering a few more records, I've added some Music Note Brads and some tiny red Star Sequins over a few stenciled stars.

When you can't decided between two ideas, why not MAKE BOTH! I promise, we have plenty of Eyelet Outlet Brads for you to experiment with!

*YES, I am old enough to know that the Big Records are LP's or albums and the small ones are 45's or singles. 

(& YES I had tons of both Back in the Day!)

IC-ADvice

If I may be so bold, here are one or two things I've figured out in course of doing eight previous ICAD years, that either no one told me before I started, OR... (perhaps more likely, lol) to which I didn't listen. Feel free to not listen, either! :)

DON'T...
...get too hung up on the numbers. Yes, the goal is to make one piece of Index Cart Art for each day of June and July. BUT... that's there to spur you on, not to talk you out of trying; or make you feel like a failure if you "only" do 30 cards. (Dude! You did THIRTY cards!) Finishing any particular number of cards at any given time is NOT the most important thing! The most important thing is to play, to have fun, and to explore new ideas. Whether you make 61, or 21, or just *1* index card, it's a WIN!

DO...
...take a little time at the beginning to create a bit of structure that works FOR YOU. In my case, I happen to love making little books and know from experience that having one will spur me on, because I see my progress as I add a new card each night. I also have a small "ICAD set up" that stays in our living room (where i work at night) so that when ICAD time arrives, I don't have to go and gather supplies... which would totally derail me at 10:30pm!  Thus there's my ICAD book, a bin containing index cards and a cup with my favorite pens RIGHT THERE so i can skip directly to the fun part!!! 

DON'T...
...worry about the "daily" part too much. In an ideal world, yes, we'd all have 20 peaceful and inspiring minutes every single day to make our index cards. If you know anyone who lives in an ideal world, please send me their address because I'd love to visit!!! Let's face it, some days it's just NOT gonna happen. Here are a few ways to cope: 1) realize that this fact is universal, and let yourself end a perfectly successful ICAD season with however many cards you complete; 2) time-shift the event and allow yourself the luxury of making fewer cards per week into August or September; or...

DO...
...take advantage of the times you feel inspired. Some nights, I finish my ICAD for the day in fifteen minutes and still have time and energy leftover. So yeah, I work ahead! Is that cheating? Ummmm... NO!!!!!! This is an optional event and a gift I'm giving to myself, I can structure it however I want. And so can you!

DON'T...
...feel like you have to "catch up"! Start wherever you are, and move forward at a pace that feels comfortable. If you miss a few days, no big deal. Maybe you'll make extra cards on extra-inspiring days, maybe you won't. Either way, it's cool. We all have enough chores and obligations, don't turn ICAD into one.  

DO...
...use the prompts on your own terms. It is NOT all or nothing. The prompts are optional and meant to give you a glimmer of an idea to get started. Some prompts won't speak to you at all... skip 'em! Some will give you multiple ideas... try them all! Some days you'll have brand new art supplies you can't wait to play with, or a technique you're dying to try... some days will be Mandala Monday! Give in to whatever cravings you have!

DON'T...
...succumb to "comparisonitis"! Please, please, if you only take one thing away from this over-long post, let it be the fact that we all have different strengths and weaknesses. We were all beginners once. We will all improve our skills with practice. We can all enjoy ICAD on our own terms! 

I hope you will have so much fun with ICAD2020 that on August 1st you're already dreaming about ICAD2021! ♥♥♥

The Same, But Different

Isn't it amazing what a difference a color palette makes? Case in point, the three cards below use the exact same combination of Tim Holtz products; the only variations are the choice of colors I blended to make each unique background panel. I used Stampers Anonymous "Field Notes" Cling Stamp Set, Idea-Ology "Remnant" Rubs and sentiments from the Idea-Ology Clippings Sticker Book. I was inspired to make a bunch of different backgrounds using the brand new Distress Oxide Ink color, Speckled Egg, and the results are on The Ink Pad Blog today! ♥

 

Bring on the Bling

We're still celebrating all things glittery, sparkly and gem-encrusted at Jingle Belles and you're still invited to join the fun! Here's what I made this week:

transparency from the late great hambly screen prints; ancient ki memories patterned paper; bling frame so old i have no idea who made it; slowers, snowflake brad and pink glitter tape: eyelet outlet; adhesives: elmers brand gluetape, 3m foam tape

I had an entirely different idea when I sat down, but then I found this ancient bling frame and I changed course so I could use it. My card base is a well-hoarded Hambly Transparency (thank you Stephanie for grabbing them up whenever you come across them!) the sparkly pink tape, flowers and Snowflake Brad are from Eyelet Outlet.

Head on over to Jingle Belles to see Stephanie's beautiful card and the sweet little (bling-centric!) prize that one lucky random cardmaker will win this fortnight.

Rainbow Tag

I never seem to get tired of using Michelle Ward's exclusive line of stencils and stamps for The Ink Pad. Somehow new combinations of images, formats and color palettes keep popping into my head, a bit like an artistic game of Clue, lol. For example, how about: NYC Tourist Stencil with the Skyline Stamp Set, in pastel rainbow shades, on a giant tag?! :) Hop over to The Ink Pad Blog to read all about it!