Happy Halloween!

One final Halloween card, now that it's been received! Hope your Halloween is fill with treats!

The Sisterhood of Rude Stampers

Today at the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers, we're being more than snarky, we're being RUDE! Yes, our newest challenge is R is for Rude. You know we'll cover the entire spectrum, from somewhat rude to in your face RUDE. Mine tends more to the somewhat: 

Of course, depending on how sensitive to advancing age the recipient is, he or she might consider it very rude! It may look like I'm stuck on Halloween colours, but really, I just decided to take a break from all grey cats, all the time. Going through some backgrounds in my stash, I like how he popped against this embossed black panel. (Done with a friend's embossing folder oh so long ago.) Tim Holtz's snarky sentiment stickers are always a reliable source for a little rudeness. :D 

I'm adding this to the Wednesday Anything Goes challenge at Simon Says Stamp. 

Rudeness abounds on the Snarky blog, from my sisters and our newest Queen of Snark and guest designer, Jen! Get a little rudeness out of your system and join us! 

Supplies: Neenah white, Stampin' Up basic black & Hero Arts orange layering cardstock, Stampers Anonymous/Tim Holtz Crazy Cats stamp & die, MFT extreme black ink, Copic markers, (?) embossing folder, Tim Holtz Small Talk Snarky stickers

Inkspirational: Cheer

Happy Saturday! We have a new word prompt challenge for you at Inspirational today - CHEER! Lots of ways to interpret this word, but happy for another reason to make a Christmas card, here's mine: 

I also decided to stick with the singular, although I have lots of stamps and sentiments that would work with "cheers", too. ;) But a little penguin holding a Christmas Cheer sign - why not? He's coloured in Copics, with an ink-blended snowy sky behind him. I initially tried adding some dry embossing to the white panel, but preferred the clean look that didn't compete with the stitching on the frame. 

I'm adding this to the Wednesday Anything Goes challenge at Simon Says Stamp. 

Cheer as a noun, cheer as a verb - you'll see both uses by my Ink teammates! Lots of inspiration to get you started on your own cheer. 

Supplies: Neenah white cardstock, Pretty Pink Posh Holiday Signs stamps & die, Versafine onyx black, Stampin' Up real red & faded lilac & wilted violet distress ink, Wow clear gloss embossing powder, Copic markers, Studio Katia elegant scallop oval die, Gelli Roll white glaze pen, fun foam, foam tape, frosted lace Stickles

Seize the Birthday: Make a Sunset Scene

Time for a new challenge at Seize the Birthday: Make a Sunset Scene! I think I managed the sunset part, although my "scene" is rather minimalist. :D Luckily, we always welcome all birthday cards at Seize the Birthday... even mine. ;) 

I enjoy making little scenes on my cards, but the day I made this, I just wasn't feeling it. This die from Simon Says Stamp is a great one for using a gradient of colours in the background, so that's what I decided to go with. When I tried making my first sunset background with distress oxides... ugh. So I grabbed another panel, and just used the ink left on my brushes - so much better! I die cut the cattail triptych on linen cardstock for a little extra interest, then stamped the sentiment in dark orange. I may have managed a small smudge on the panel in the cardmaking process, so... embellishments! 

As always, beautiful sunset examples from my teammates and our current surprise party guest, Carol! Pop over to the StB blog and be inspired! 

Supplies: Neenah white & linen cardstock, Clearly Besotted Sweet Little Sentiments stamp, Catherine Pooler mandarin spice & fossilized amber, wild honey & faded jeans distress oxide ink, Simon Says Stamp cattail triptych die, Studio Katia clear bubbles

Addicted to Stamps and More: Christmas

It's time for a CHRISTMAS challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More! I'm happy for any excuse to get another Christmas card made; I haven't done as well stocking up on them this year as I usually do. Even though it's over now, I made this with the colours at the CAS Christmas Challenge in mind: 

As I do way too often, I had no real plan in mind when I started this card. I did decide to foil the large Merry Christmas sentiment in red. Then, because I was thinking of the red and grey of the CAS challenge, I looked through my patterned papers to see what I might have that would work. As soon as I saw this one, with the red heart camera in the corner, I knew I'd found what I wanted. The sentiment is backed with a second layer of white cardstock, and then a black one offset for a shadow. I added the secondary sentiment to balance the design. Quick and easy, although I know some would disqualify this from the CAS category for the patterned paper. 

Thanks to a mention from my friend Nancy, I'm adding this to the {BYSH} Cardmakers Falling for the Holidays Hop! 

Lots of festive inspiration on the ATSM blog from my teammates! Be sure to visit for Christmas card spirit. I hope you'll join us! 

Supplies: Neenah white & Stampin' Up basic black cardstock, Studio Calico Magical patterned paper, Taylored Expressions Just Saying - Christmas stamp, Versafine onyx black ink, Wow clear gloss embossing powder, Picket Fence Merry Christmas foiling die, Go Press red foil, Winnie & Walter Katharine Cutaways pierced rectangle die

Have a FaBOOlous Day

I'm on the Scrap 'n Stamp blog today with a card for the Random Acts of Cardness challenge prompt, BOO! 

My background is made with distress oxide inks - on the back of a Scrap 'n Stamp postcard! The ghosts and banner sentiment are both from Lawn Fawn, and the B from a Concord & 9th alphabet set. I'm adding this to the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge, SPOOKY/Halloween, the Addicted to CAS challenge, Spooky, and the Two Old Bats challenge October Anything Halloween. More details of how I made this card are available on the Scrap 'n Stamp blog! 

 Hope your week is off to a faBOOlous start! 

Color Hues: Red and Kraft

Here we are, speeding into the second half of October, which means it's time for a new Color Hues challenge! Our awesome leader Nancy has chosen the colours: RED and KRAFT. Like Nancy, I find these hues a great pairing for Christmas, and immediately headed in that direction: 

Kraft is also a handy colour for stamping gingerbread! And of course this poor guy is one of my favourites. After stamping him, I used the point of a toothpick to add some leftover amputation crumbs. I stamped the sentiment in red, then deckle-die cut the panel. On the next panel - are those the world's tiniest gingies stamped on the kraft? Why yes! And then I cut the third panel from patterned paper. 

As my teammates demonstrate, these hues are for more than just Christmas! We also have our guest designer, Maja, so be sure to visit the Color Hues blog to see all the inspiration on view. I hope you'll join us! 

Supplies: Neenah white & desert storm cardstock, Echo Park Christmas This & That patterned paper, Ellen Hutson Tis the Season & Picket Fence A Christmas Walk stamps, MFT biscotti & Stampin' Up real red ink, Sizzix/Tim Holtz stacked deckle dies

The Sisterhood of Pink Stampers

Are you ready for a new Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers challenge? Traditionally in October, the sistahs acknowledge Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a Pink Halloween challenge, but just to be snarky, we're breaking with that and saying that P is for EVERYTHING PINK! Some people are big fans of pink, me... not so much. But here I am, rising to the challenge with a Christmas card! 

I was actually halfway through another card when this one popped into my head. I cut some snowflake masks with dies, arranged them on my card panel, and blended two shades of distress ink over them. Since the thought of snow can drive one to drink :D, I thought my sentiment worked. 

The main reason I chose a holiday theme for my card... Jingle Belles is NOT messing with tradition and their annual Pink Christmas challenge is on now. 

We have a retired sister returning as this week's Queen of Snark and guest designer... Jane! She and my teammates have swathed the Snarky blog in shades of pink - go take a look and then join us! 

Supplies: Neenah white & Memory Box Berry Red cardstock, Riley & Co Weather Outside is Frightful stamp, Versamark, Memento Rose Bud & spun sugar & picked raspberry distress ink, Wow clear gloss embossing powder, Sizzix/Tim Holtz mini paper snowflakes  & MFT blueprints 24 stitched rectangle dies

Inkspirational: For Boys or Men

Happy Saturday! It's time for a new Inkspirational challenge, and teammate Pia has chosen the theme For Boys or Men. This is a great opportunity to add a masculine card to your stash! My card is inspired by the always brilliant Julie Ebersole:

It was such fun to take the random shapes in this stamp set and turn them into this little nautical scene! For the sun, I added just a little orange ink to the edges of the yellow, and second-generation stamped the sail for a lighter colour and a little texture. Of course I had to heat emboss the sentiment. ;) 

I would love a view like this, especially as we head closer to winter, so I'm adding this to the current challenge at CASology. 

I know a lot of us find making masculine cards a bit of a challenge, but the Ink team is here to give you some great ideas! I hope you're inspired to join us. 

Stay Cool by Julie Ebersole, Summer of Stamping Clear Stamps

Other supplies: Neenah white & Memory Box sunny orange cardstock, Catherine Pooler tiara, orange twist, stone blue & juniper mist, Memento nautical blue & Brilliance pearlescent blue ink, Wow clear gloss embossing powder

Seeing Red at Scrap 'n Stamp

It's my turn to pick the prompt for Scrap 'n Stamp's Random Acts of Cardness challenge, and I decided to use my favourite colour, red! You can read all about my card on the blog, but here's a little peek: 

A Tiny Craft: Halloween ATCs

Here we are in the middle of October - time for a new A Tiny Craft challenge! Halloween is just over two weeks away, and a perfect choice for our new theme. 

I am very good at picking up various Halloween bits when I find something fun in a craft store or on sale online. Making a few Artist Trading Cards is an excellent way to use a few of them up! I used some ephemera from K & Company, some die cuts I already had, a sparkly bat background left over from another project, and added a few new items, such as the cobweb embossed panels. Here's a closer look at them: 

I'm entering these in the current Anything Halloween Goes challenge at Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge. 

Have some fun Halloween items in your stash? Why not make an Artist Trading Card or Coin and join us? 

Seize the Birthday: Use a Stencil

It's Thursday, and time for a new challenge at Seize the Birthday! Cathy has picked our latest topping: Use a Stencil. When stencils first became a new *thing*, I was better at collecting them than using them. But I have grown to love how versatile they are! For my card today, I went with plaid...

... and a cat. :D A friend remarked that I haven't been making a lot of cat cards lately, so I decided to rectify that. I started by masking off my card panel so I would get a narrow band of plaid across it, using a blending brush and distress ink. I chose one of my taller cat stamps and coloured him in grey. (Yes, a lot of my stamped cats are grey. Duncan approves. :D) 

As always, if the current topping doesn't inspire you, we love to see any birthday card in our gallery! My teammates and our new surprise party guest, Carol, have used stencils in a variety of ways, so be sure to head over to the StB blog and check them out. Hope you'll join us! 

Supplies: Neenah white & scrap red cardstock, MFT Cat-itude stamps and die, Versafine onyx black & barn door distress ink, Wow clear gloss embossing powder, Copic markers, ARTplorations Just Plaid stencil, MFT blueprints 24 stitched rectangle die, foam tape

Addicted to Stamps and More: Make Your Mark

It's time to Make Your Mark at Addicted to Stamps and More! This time around, I am making my mark with a little Copic colouring on a Christmas card: 

My new Christmas cat stamps came out to play again! How cute is this little sweatered guy on his giant ornament? I concentrated most of my limited blending skills on the ball, then added lots of sparkle and a gold hanger. To compliment his sweater, I embossed some textured green cardstock with a knit embossing folder. A little patterned paper and a sentiment finished everything off. 

My teammates have used various colouring media to make their marks on beautiful cards, so be sure to visit the ATSM blog! Make your mark and join us! 

Supplies: Neenah white & textured green American Crafts cardstock, Lawn Fawn (?) patterned paper, MFT Meowy Christmas stamps & die, Versafine onyx black ink, Wow clear gloss embossing powder, Copic markers, MFT stitched rounded rectangle & Sunny Studio slimline basics dies, Lawn Fawn liquid stardust, gold Smooch, foam tape

Gnome for the Holidays at Scrap 'n Stamp

Just in time for the Canadian Thanksgiving long weekend, it's the October Scrap 'n Stamp blog hop, and our theme is GNOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS! Gnomes have been popular for a while now, and the trend shows no sign of slowing any time soon. Scrap 'n Stamp has a fun variety of gnome stamps and dies to choose from, and I'm using Spellbinders' Holiday Gnomes for my card: 

Don't tell anyone, but I have to confess I'm not a huge fan of gnomes. I quite like the ones in this Holiday Gnomes set, though. Not too cute, and a Scandinavian flair. I picked the hairiest (although it's a close call) and coloured him with Copics. For the background, I blended some tumbled glass oxide ink with a little salty ocean for a wintry sky. I didn't worry about masking off the bottom and just faded out the blending. With Memento cottage ivy ink, I added the trees using another stamp in the set. The scene I created didn't really leave enough room for any of the sentiments included in Holiday Gnomes, so I grabbed a sentiment from Lawn Fawn's Thanks a Latte - even though it's a wintry scene, my gnome is very hygge, so I think it works. 

A Scrap 'n Stamp blog hop means there's a PRIZE on offer! One lucky commenter will win a $50 gift code to the store - for gnomes or whatever else you might want to add to your stash! The fun starts at the Scrap 'n Stamp blog, and here's the list of all the stops: 

Tara

Deborah

Jessica

Chala

Kia

Lindsey --> you are here

Susan

When you shop, remember to use my code, 10Lindsey, for 10% off your order. Happy hopping and Happy Thanksgiving! 

Supplies: Neenah white cardstock, Spellbinders Holiday Gnomes & Lawn Fawn Thanks a Latte stamps, MFT extreme black, Memento cottage ivy & tumbled glass & salty ocean distress oxide ink, MFT wonky stitched rectangle die, foam tape

Happy Little Stampers: Stencils

The October challenges have begun at Happy Little Stampers, and it's the turn of the Stencil Challenge! As long as there's a stencil involved, it's anything goes, and so I added a Christmas card to my stash: 
 

The birch trees are stencilled in embossing glaze. Once that was dry, I blended a mix of blue distress inks for the wintry sky, then spritzed with shimmer mist. I added a single die cut cardinal and an embossed sentiment on vellum. Other than the drying time, a quick and easy card to make! 

Any occasion, any style - if your card makes use of a stencil, add it to this month's gallery! For more inspiration, head over to the HLS blog, where my teammates have used stencils in beautiful ways. 

Supplies: Neenah white & Stampin' Up real red cardstock, vellum, Stampin' Up Holiday Collection stamp, Versamark & stormy sky & faded jeans distress ink, Ranger rich red embossing powder, Winnie & Walter Scenery: Into the Woods stencil, Picket Fence snowdrop white embossing glaze, Sunny Studio Rustic Winter & Winnie & Walter Katharine Cutaways pierced rectangle die, Tsukineko clear sparkle shimmer mist

ABC Christmas: U and V

It's the first Wednesday of October, which means it is time for a new ABC Christmas Challenge! A look at the letters is an easy reminder of how little of the year is left; we are up to U for Under the Tree and V for Vocabulary. No big surprise, there's a cat under my tree: 

This is a new stamp and die set from MFT, and while usually I can't seem to bring myself to use new stuff right away, this was too perfect for the theme to pass up. The tree, cat and ornament (hmm, how did it end up on the floor?) are all coloured with Copics, with a few gel pen highlights added here and there. The ornaments have glitter marker, the star some Glossy Accents, and the Santa hat some Stickles. I found some grey patterned "wallpaper" and embossed some textured grey cardstock for the floor. 

There are lots of ways to interpret our Vocabulary prompt - I decided to make a card with just words, no images: 

And I actually mass-produced, making four of them! Since I had cut a sheet of cardstock into four panels, it was easy with the MISTI to ink all of them the same way. As always, I couldn't make all four exactly the same, so two of them got a secondary sentiment and mat in red, and two in green. 

Here we are, closing in on the second week of October - now's as good a time as any to build up your holiday card stash! Lots of festive inspiration from my teammates on the ABC blog. Hope you will join us! 

Supplies: (meowy Christmas) Neenah white & Fabriano grey cardstock, Kaisercraft Black & White Timeless patterned paper, MFT Meowy Christmas stamps & dies, Versafine onyx black ink, Wow clear gloss embossing powder, Copic markers, Winnie & Walter Katharine Cutaways pierced frame die, PTI woodgrain impression plate, Glossy Accents, frosted lace Stickles, Spectrum Noir clear glitter shimmer marker, Gelly Roll white gel pen, foam tape; (Merry) Neenah white, PTI pure poppy & SU garden green cardstock, Winnie & Walter In a Word: Merry stamps, Catherine Pooler rouge & Colorbox frost white ink, Wow opaque white embossing powder, Winnie & Walter Katharine Cutaways pierced frame die, foam tape