SSINK: Animals

Hey everyone!  Today over at SSInkspiration, we are sharing ideas that feature fun, critters.  

My card features the fox from Foxy Friends stamp set.

Here is my card:

My card starts with a Soft Sky card base.  I stamped the two smaller trees from the Foxy Friends stamp set in Garden Green.  I then masked them, and stamped three of the larger trees in Wild Wasabi.  I used my Chocolate Chip Marker to go over the green tree trunks.  My little fox was stamped in Cajun Craze onto Whisper White, and punched out using the Fox Builder Punch.  I stamped the front legs onto the body, and the face onto the head in Basic Black Archival Ink.   Mr. Fox is sitting on a stump that I stamped in Chocolate Chip onto Crumb Cake cardstock, and then fussy cut.  I stamped the greeting from Better Together below the stump in Garden Green.  

Thanks for checking out my little critter!  Be sure to head over to the Stylin' Stampin' Inkspiration blog to see what fun animals the other design team members are sharing.

Thanks for stopping by!

~Nichole

SSINK: Coffee Break

It's Monday y'all, and nothing is better equipped to get us through those Mondays than some coffee!  Today, at SSInkspiration we are all sharing projects made with the Coffee Break suite.  You can find this suite on pages ____ of the 2017 - 2018 Annual Catalog.

I just love everything about this suite!  There is a great stamp set and framelit dies bundle, some designer series paper, three different colors of ribbon, and even some corrugated embellishments.  Today, I'm sharing a card, and a gift card holder I made with this suite.

Here are my projects:

For my card I started with Crumb Cake card base.  I used the Ink, Spray, Smash technque on our Glossy Cardstsock.  When that was dry, I stamped the background with the beans from the Coffee Cafe set, and the coffee rings image from Timeless Textures.  I used the Lots of Labels framelits for the Garden Green layer.  Those mini cups were cut out of the Coffee Break paper, using the framelits.  My greeting is stamped in Early Espresso ink, onto Crumb Cake cardstock, and matted in Soft Sky.  I added some Soft Sky 3/8" Classic Weave Ribbon to finish my card.

The gift card holders was made using the Envelope Punch Board.  I used Garden Green cardstock for my base.  I accented with some of the Coffee Break paper, and a Pear Pizazz Everyday Label Punch.  On the label, I stamped the greeting in Early Espresso. For my cup, I stamped the smaller, woodgrain cup in Early Espresso, onto Crumb Cake Cardstock.  For the lid I stamped in Crumb Cake, onto Whisper White.  Both were cut out using the coordinating framelits.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

~Nichole

SSINK: Fall Frenzy

Hello everyone!  Today over at SSInkspiration we are sharing some fall frenzy ideas.  Fall is officially here, and it is my favorite season.  I love all the lovely colors, and the great excuse to wear my sweater, boots, and make some soup.

There are some great fall products in the Holiday Catalog.  My favorite is the new stamp set called Gourd Goodness.

Here is my card:

I started with a Soft Suede card base.  I stamped the leaf from the Gourd Goodness set in Soft Suede all over the base.  My next layer is Pumpkin Pie, embossed with the Layered Leaves folder.  I also have Crumb Cake, and Very Vanilla layers.  The pumpkins are two step stamps, and were stamped in Peekabo Peach and Pumpkin Pie.  Their stems are also two step stamps, stamped in Crumb Cake and Soft Suede.  My greeting was stamped in Soft Suede, onto Crumb Cake cardstock and punched out with our 1 1/4" circle punch.  I added a Jute Twine bow just to finish everything off.  I love the realistic look of these images.

Be sure to head over to the Stylin' Stampin' Inkspiration blog to see what kind of fall goodness the rest of the design team is sharing!

Thanks for stopping by!
~Nichole

International Blog Highlights - Sympathy

Hello everyone!  Welcome to the September International Highlights!  Each month, Kylie Bertucci hosts an international blog highlights contest on her blog.  Demonstrators from all around the world participate, and have their cards voted on.  The top 10 demonstrators participate in a blog hop together a few weeks later.  It is so much fun.  I haven't been able to play along for a few months, and am so happy to be back!

This month, the theme is Sympathy.  I really don't like making Sympathy cards, it makes me sad.  But, I also feel like sympathy cards are the most important cards I send out.  I feel like it is so very important for people who are going through hard times to know that we are thinking about them, and that we care.

Here is my card:

My trifold, window card features three different stamp sets.  I used the girl from the Beautiful You stamp set, the greeting is from Flourishing Phrases, and then the details on my flower are from Bunch of Blossoms.  I had lot of fun using the watercolor pencils to color in the girl.  I made my own Dapper Denim color using the Pacific Point, Basic Gray, and Basic Black pencils.

I hope you like my card!  Please, go vote for me on the International Highlights page!  Thanks!

Thank you for stopping by!
~Nichole

Peace on Earth

Today, on the SSInkspiration blog we are sharing our favorite designer series paper from the Holiday Catalog.  I chose to share the fabulous Merry Music Specialty Designer Series Paper.  You can find this paper on page 13 of the Holiday Catalog.  There are 24 lightweight sheets in this pack, 4 each of 6 double sided designs.  The whole pack is Basic Black, and Whisper White.

Here is my card:

You can see the Merry Music DSP on the background of the card.  The greeting is from Carols of Christmas, stamped in Real Red, onto a Whisper White Stitched Shape circle.  I used two Old Olive Pretty Label punches to change the shape of my focal point, and add some 7/8' Striped Ribbon at the bottom.

Be sure to head over to the Stylin' Stampin' Inkspiration blog to see what the other design team members are sharing!

Thanks for stopping by!
~Nichole

Night in Bethlehem

Hello everybody!  I hope you had a great weekend.  

Today over at Stylin' Stampin' Inkspiration we are sharing our favorite stamp set from the Holiday Catalog.  I chose the Night in Bethlehem stamp set.  

I just love everything about this set.  It just gets better, there is a fabulous set of edgelit dies that coordinate with this set!  You can see both products on page 26 of the holiday catalog.

Here is my card:

On my Whisper White cardstock, I started by stamping the cityscape in Smoky Slate on the lower center of my paper.  Then without reinking, I stamped the cityscape twice more offsetting it each time.  I stamped my greeting, in Night of Navy below the cityscape, and added some stamped off stars across the top of my sky.  On a separate piece of paper I stamped the north star, and the Mary & Joesph image.  I cut them out with their coordinating framelits and attached them with dimensionals.  All of the stars have Clear Wink of Stella on them.

What is your favorite stamp set from the Holiday Catalog?

Thanks so much for stopping by!

~Nichole

SSINK - Paper Pumpkin Showcase

Hey everybody!  I hope you have had a great week!  I am so ready for the weekend!  Football is back, and I am excited!  

Today at Stylin' Stampin' Inkspiration, we are sharing Paper Pumpkin projects.  Did you know there are only two days left to take advantage of the amazing Paper Pumpkin sale going on right now?

You can sign up by clicking the image above!

Here is my card:

This card was made from the August Paper Pumpkin Kit, Giftable Greetings.  This kit came with everything you need to make 8 cards, and gift them to someone in an adorable box.  I happen to be short on some cards to mail out, so I plan to send all of mine out.

You can see the whole kit here:

Be sure to head on over to the Stylin' Stampin' Inkspiration blog to see what the other design team members are sharing - and be sure to sign up for Paper Pumpkin today, for half off!

Thanks for stopping by!

~Nichole

ICS Blog Hop - Watercolor Christmas

Hello everyone!  Welcome to the September edition of the Inspire, Create, & Share Blog Hop!  This month, we are Introducing the Holiday Catalog.  Have you seen it yet?  It is amazing.  You can see a PDF version of the catalog here: Holiday Catalog

For my project, I wanted to show off one of the beautiful cards you can make with the Watercolor Christmas Project Kit shown on page 34.  I have learned that our kits always look 100% better in real life, than they do in the catalog.  This kit is no exception.  This is a FAST and super easy way to complete 20 cards in a jiffy.  You make 5 each of four different designs.  I have chosen to show you my favorite.

Here is my card:

The card base comes with a pretty Pool Party watercolor wash on the background.  I attached my Real Red rectangle, and glued on some sequins.  The trees were already on the white piece, all I had to do was stamp my greeting in Basic Black and pop it up on the card with dimensionals.  Not only do you get to make 20 cards for $20 with this kit, but it also comes with envelopes, and gold foil liners!

Next up on the hop is my good friend Darla.  I know she has something super fun to share!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

~Nichole

Color Challenge - #SSINKCC48

Hello everyone!  It is time for another challenge over at Stylin' Stampin' Inkspiration.  Today we have a color challenge for you.

Here is my card

I used the beautiful Floral Statemnets stamp set.  I stamped the hello image in Basic Black onto Very Vanilla.  I then used my aquapainter, and some Flirty Flamingo ink to color in the flowers.  When I was done, I flicked the end of my aqua painter to make some splatters in the background.  I did more splatters in Basic Black, and Clear Wink of Stella.  I matted my very vanilla piece onto Basic Black cardstock, and wrapped some lace trim around the corners.  I then popped that up with dimensionals onto a Flirty Flamingo card base.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Please head over the Stylin' Stampin' Inkspiration blog to see what the other design team members have come up with, and to play along with the challenge yourself.

~Nichole

Anything But the Holiday Blog Hop

Hello everyone!  The 2017 Holiday Catalog went live a couple days ago.  Have you seen it yet?  You can see a PDF version of the catalog here.  Join us as we showcase 2017 Stampin’ UP! Holiday Catalog product on projects that have nothing to do with the Holidays.

No Halloween, No fall. No Thanksiving, No Christmas, No Hannuakah, etc.

ANYTHING BUT how we might expect to use them.

This blog hop is chalked full of talented.  Be sure to check out what the other participants are sharing, and leave them some love!

I decided I was going to use the new Seasonal Lantern stamp set.

Can you tell which stamps I used?

I used the inside and outside leaf stamps around my flowers to add some detail.  See my flowers in the corners?  I made them using the inside image of the gourd.  I stamped one, and masked it, and stamped the next, going around in a circle until I made the flower.  I used the inside berry stamp twice to make the Pool Party flower centers.  

I am so happy to be a part of this hop, that challenged me to use things in new ways.

Next up on the hop is 47. Sherry Roth, a demonstrator in Canada.  I can't wait to see what she has to share!

SSINK Case the DT - Pamela Wu

Hello everyone!  Welcome to September!  Fall is coming in just a few short weeks, are you ready? I'm ready for crisp fall days!

The first Friday of the month over at Stylin' Stampin' Inkspiration is always Case the Design Team Member.  This month we are CASE-ing the fabulous Pamela Wu .  Pamela has been a demonstrator since 2010, and has such a talent for paper crafting.  I am so happy, and honored to be a part of this design team with her.

I chose to CASE a card that she posted on May 24th of this year.  Here is her card:

I love how fast and easy this card is to make!  This is great to CASE when you need something beautiful, quickly.  When I was making my card, I decided to change just a couple things.  I used the same stamp set, and designer series paper pack.  But I changed the colors, and the greeting.

Here is my card:

I really love the Daisy Delight stamp set, but I haven't used it very much.  Pamela's project has inspired me to get it out and use it more.

Thanks so much for being a part of the team Pamela!

Be sure to head over to the Stlylin' Stampin' Inkspiration blog to see how the other design team members have CASE-d Pamela's projects.

Thanks for stopping by!

~Nichole

Product List

Daisy Delight Photopolymer Stamp Set [143669] $17.00	Tranquil Tide 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [144246] $8.00	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.00	Berry Burst 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [144243] $8.00
Delightful Daisy Designer Series Paper [144137] $11.00	Tranquil Tide Classic Stampin' Pad [144085] $6.50	Berry Burst Classic Stampin' Pad [144083] $6.50	Powder Pink Classic Stampin' Pad [144084] $6.50
Gold 1/8" Ribbon [134583] $5.00