Inchies Inchies Inchies!

It's time for another DT Challenge for Impression Obsession! This week, it's "Inchies Challenge Thursday." (I'm posting late Wednesday night because I have a full day tomorrow, and won't have much computer time). We hope you can come play with us. The other designers participating this week are Jeanne, Daniela, Dina, Laura, and Kathy. Don't forget! You could win a $25 gift certificate from Impression Obsession! See all the details right here.

We're all tickled pink to be using inchies from Inchie Arts this week. Now I really have to say, when this challenge was set, I was just a tad skeptical, just wondering what was so special about these little things that I couldn't recreate with ordinary chipboard pieces. Well, I just have to say, happily, that my skepticism has taken a beating! These little beauties are made from the highest quality matte board , and they're solid core material. They behave like a very high quality art paper - some compare it to a super thick hot press watercolor paper. They can be colored with both wet and dry mediums from color pencils, pastels, watercolor paints, Copic markers to stains and dyes without warping. And of course their thickness provides a perfect platform for embellishing! The squares are available in seven different colors and three different sizes. They're just SOOOO versatile! Product info can be found on theInchies web site and all kinds of tutorials and ideas for how to use the products can be found on their creative blog, All In An Inch. All that to say...I had FUN!! I used some of my very favourite sentiment stamps from Impression Obsession (Greetings Galore here, Thanks Sentiments here, as well as this set of Small Ornate Squares that fit perfectly on the 1" tiles, to create this set of black and white note cards. I stamped with Black Versafine Ink, then clear embossed to bring out the detail. I outlined each tile with Krylon 18Kt Gold Leafing Ink, then pop-dotted them for a little extra dimension. I'm entering this card set for the following challenges: Creative Cottage Challenge 23 (cards for boys), Gingersnap Creations (inchies), and Theme Thursday (create something using three things...card on bottom left).

I played a little more and made this double sided pendant, this time with a 2 inch piece...a "twinchie." For the metal-looking side here, I stamped this Cover-a-Card Flourishes stamp in several layers of Top Boss Copper Embossing Powder, then rubbed a little silver rub 'n' buff over the dried embossing. The dangly bead is from Michael's Arts and Crafts. I'm entering this one in the Sisterhood Challenge, which is "simply handmade."

Here's a close up. I used Silver Coloured Leaf Bails and E-6000 jewelry glue from Quietfire Design.

This is the flip side of the pendant. I used part of a page from the Crafty Individuals Travels in Italy paper pad, which I embossed with UTEE and outlined with Krylon Copper Leafing Ink.

Here's a close-up...funky 'eh? :-)

Thanks loads for stopping by. I'll stop by your place too, if I see a link. Hope you enjoy a FUN and creative day, doing whatever you like best!

Mixed paper crafting!

Today's challenge over at Created by Hand is to use sapphire, a September birthstone. I did a stitched and beaded card with a stamp from Quietfire Design.

I just finished this birthday card yesterday for a dear friend, and it meets the following challenges: Papertake Weekly (photo inspiration; I used the pinks); Paper Sundaes Challenge 35 (use a minimum of three different types of embellishments; Shabby Tea Room (inspired by nature or using the colour green); Timbroscrapmania and Fab and Funky (free themes) ; Penny's Challenge # 37 (birthdays); Totally Papercrafts ("go dotty," hope my tiny dotty beads qualify!); and the Etsy Inspired challenge (I used the photo of a lovely pink and green angel necklace from a shop called Handmade Whimsy).

Here's a card I did with one of the delightful Rubbernecker stamps. I stamped and paper-pieced the diva image. It meets the following challenges: Secret Crafters (sketch challenge) ; Stampin' for the Weekend Challenge # 46 (shabby or vintage) ; Pile it On Challenge # 35 (multiple layers) and the One Stop Challenge # 97 (fashion throughout the years).

Just for fun, I'm also entering these two in the One Stop fashion throughout the years challenge. This first one uses another Rubbernecker image stamp with Stamping Bella sentiments.

This one uses all Stamping Bella sentiments and image...such FUN! We actually OWNED one of these vehicles once upon a time long long ago. Ours was vivid orange. Ummm, and I tore the roof off it trying to drive into a low-ceiling parkade. My husband was NOT amused, although we do chuckle at it now, many MANY years later.

Challenge # 22 over at Creative Cottage is celebrations!I've been getting a head start on Easter cards for the grandkidlets (mainly because I'm tired of doing Christmas cards!!) This rabbit stamp is from Jennie over at the Artistic Stamper. I filled him with Dreamweaver Embossing Paste.

This one will actually have a new chocolate bar inside by April (lol); included one here just for illustration. This is an old, old stamp, and the sentiment is computer generated.

Here's another treat-y Easter card. It has (of course) a bag of jelly beans inside. This House Mouse stampis a birthday stamp, but I changed it by adding three stamped Easter eggs (from All Night Media). Again, the sentiment is computer generated.

Here's the last Easter card!

So, that's my papercrafting fun for the past week or so. Thanks so MUCH for taking the time to stop by my blog! I'll come visit yours too, if you leave a link. I wish you a happy, creative week!

More vintage

Aaaahhh, I am SO enjoying this cooler weather.

"Vintage" is the theme for the current Creatilicious and Stampin' for the Weekend challenges. I've been playing with some new stamps from Artistic Impressions and Crafty Secrets...what a GREAT combination for vintage, and such FUN!

For this one, the little girl is from Artistic Impressions, stamped and paper pieced; all other stamps are Crafty Secrets. Wee Memories challenge 21 is to incorporate children or babies into your work.

This one uses an Artistic Impressions image (also stamped, coloured, and paper pieced) along with a Hero Arts sentiment.

Finally, here's a simple one for the Art Journey challenge on friendship. I love love LOVE this rose, and know I'll be using it often! The rose and the torn notebook spine are both from Art Journey in the Netherlands; the sentiment stamp is Hero Arts.

Thanks again for visiting today! I'll come by your blog too if I see your link!

Vintage goodies

Well, I haven't felt much like creating lately at all. The heat this summer feels like it's turned my brain and bones to mush (lol). It's just grand to feel a little cooler air this week, and that's sent me right back to my happy room! I'm catching up with some design team projects, and decided to look over several of my favourite challenge sites for inspiration.

There's a brand new challenge site around..Art Journey...and since I love love LOVE their stamps (from the Netherlands), I decided to play in their first challenge...friendship. The Creatilicious challenge and the Stampin' for the Weekend challenge are both vintage. The Secret Crafters challenge is to do clean and simple, which is what I tried with the first two cards here. The Art Cards challenge is to use direct to paper, which I did with Vintage Photo ink around the edges of this first card. Have you ever seen a stamp, and decided you just HAVE to have it? That's the way it was with this beautiful rose. I've kept these cards intentionally simple, because the rose is just so perfect. Just some stamping on kraft cardstock and a little chalking, and I'm happy! I stamped the roses with Vintage Photo ink and the sentiment (Hero Arts) with Versafine Black.

For this one, I computer generated the sentiment.

Since I had my Art Journey binder out, I decided to use another Art Journey stamp for the Creative Card Crew and Wednesday Stamper challenges...September and school. The City Crafter challenge is "one for the boys." The Creative Cottage challenge 22 is "celebrations," and back to school sure does qualify! (lol) One Powerful Hour's challenge is "hittin' the books." The Wee Memories challenge is to incorporate babies or young children into your creating, and Our Creative Corner's challenge is to incorporate letters or numbers. This sentiment is computer generated too. I'm sending this card off to my little grandsons, who are all attending school this year, after a long time home schooling. Just LOVE this stamp! The wing stamp is from Crafty Secrets.

This next card is my birthday card to my daughter, who'll

be travelling west later this week to defend her master's thesis while I happily do Grammie duty with her children. This young woman just ROCKS...yes, I'm biased. I always make very "girlie" cards for her, as she lives in a veritable nest of testosterone with her husband and four little boys.

I'm so happy you visited today. I'll come see you too if there's a link in the comments section. I wish you a creative week, doing whatever you like best!