I'm baaaaaaack

It's been along time since I've posted. Sorry about that. It didn't help that I had a pretty nasty computer crash in October either. Life is what happens when you're making other plans and that happened at our house.

It's been a busy time here with lots of changes, ups & downs and all the bits & pieces that make up life. Over the next few days I'll be posting what I've been up to for the last 6 months and hopefully even have a few new things to share with you.

October is a busy birthday month in our family and we have several friends that have had major life events in October as well. Here are a few of the cards that I made during October of 2012.

The above card was created for a couple of my nephews and one of my nieces. I saw the basic idea on Pinterest and knew I had to give it a shot. So very much loved making these. I giggled the whole time I was rolling up the $$$ to make the candles. The embossing folder is an oldie but a goodie - Happy Birthday by Cuttlebug. Papers are from my stash. The Happy Birthday Stamp is from Stampin' Up! set " Wacky Wishes".  Ribbon is from Stampin' Up! in Early Espresso.

Unfortunately I needed several sympathy cards in October. This one was created using Stampin' Up!'s Bigz Autumn Accents die cut - the maple leaf section. Cut in Pumpkin Pie card stock, embossed with Swirl embossing folder by Cuttlebug. The leaf is inked using Walnut Stain by Tim Holtz. The button is from my stash with a scrap of ribbon tied thru the holes. The background was created using  the stamp " Distressed Background by Stampabilities (one of my favorites), stamped in Walnut Stain by Tim Holtz. The brown label was paper from my stash punched with the Modern Label punch and the sentiment label was punched on a scrap of white using the Modern Window label. The sentiment is from the Teeny Tiny Phrases stamp set by Stampin' Up! All pieces were attached to the card base which is a medium brown from my stash.

This card was created using Crumb Cake card stock as the base with corners rounded using  We R Memory Keepers Crop-a-dile corner chomper tool. For my money it's the best corner rounders on the market. I used the 1/2" side. The images were stamped on white card stock that had been sponged using Pumpkin Pie ink and Crumb Cake ink, both by Stampin' Up! All corners on the sponged piece were rounded using the We R Memory Keepers Crop-a-dile corner chomper on the 1/2" side. The sentiment was stamped in Basic Black ink by Stampin' Up! The set used was by Clearly Inspired by Paper Inspirations. I'm not sure if it's still available as the copy write date on the set says 2006. I got mine at my local Hobby Lobby some years ago. The leaf image is from another set: Encouraging Words by Stampendous. This is one of my go to sets for Sympathy cards. I picked this one up some years ago at Hobby Lobby also. Ribbon is by Stampin' Up! in Early Espresso.

Stay tuned for more of my October cards tomorrow.

Take some time today to let out your creative side and get your pinky inky.

Graduation Gift Card holders

It's that time of year - graduations, baby showers, weddings and of course birthdays. We've got a little of everything going on here at the Inky Pinky household. We have 2 young cousins that are graduating high school. So I whipped these up to hold the gift cards we're sending.

To make a card that looks like mine, you’ll need the following supplies. Remember, if you need any of these supplies, just click on the name of the item and it will take you directly to my shop.

Supplies:

Owl Punch

Bird Punch

2 3/8 Scallop Circle Punch

Modern Label Punch

Word Window Punch

1" circle punch

Apothecary Accents Framelits

Layered Labels stamp set (* I used Clear Mount stamps and a Clear Mount Block)

Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set 

Basic Black card stock

Whisper White card stock

Brushed Gold card stock / Brushed Silver card stock

Basic Black stamp pad

Pacific Point card stock

Pacific Point stamp pad

Real Red card stock

Real Red stamp pad

Scrap of white computer paper.

Thread to match vest & cap

Black Brads

Paper Piercer

Big Shot

Dimensionals

Snail Adhesive

Tombow glue

Card:

Card base is Basic Black card stock cut at 4 1/2 x 6 1/2, scored at 2 /14.

Punch out owl using Basic Black card stock.

Punch out wings from the Bird Builder punch using Basic Black card stock.

Punch out vest in whichever color you choose.

Cut graduation cap 3/4 x 3/4

Build owl according to photo.

Adhere to scalloped circle and adhere to card.

Cap:

Using Paper Piercer, make hole in center of cap.

Take a small short strip of Basic Black card stock and "fringe" most of it leaving a tiny part that is not. This part needs to be large enough to hold glue.

Take a black brad, place it in the hole in the center, placing the "fringed" piece of black card stock so it sits just under the brad. This creates the tassel. 

Place a dimensional on the back of the cap and set on owl according to the photo.

Stamp Happy Graduation using from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set in black ink on Whisper White card stock.

Using the Modern Label Punch, punch a mat for the sentiment to match the vest & cap.

Adhere these to the card.

Inside of card:

Using Whisper White card stock and ink to match your owl's outfit, stamp "For You" from the Layered Labels stamp set.

Using the Apothecary Accents Framelit that matches the "For You" shape, lay this on the stamped image, being sure that it is centered and covers the stamped image. Run through the Big Shot.

Using the same framelit cut one more piece out of Whisper White for your signature.

Sign and adhere signature piece.

Creating the gift card pocket:

Cut a piece of Basic Black card stock 4 1/2 x 3.

Score at 1/4 along 3 sides.

Crease the score lines and remove the "square" that is created at the corners. 

Notch the corners of the "flaps" where the "square" has been removed. This allows for the piece to fold easier and lay flatter. 

Along the one long side that IS NOT SCORED, use the 1" circle punch centered along the edge, but only about 1/2 way in, punch a half circle for a space to reach in for the gift card.

With Tombo glue, glue down the "flaps" to the inside of the card being sure to keep the piece centered.

Adhere the "For You" shape.

Diploma:

Using a scrap strip of white computer paper, wrap around a small object like a tooth pick. Wrapping tightly. I like to put a tiny bit of adhesive at the beginning edge and then wrap so it doesn't flop around and a bit at the end so it stays shut. Then use a coordinating piece of thread to tie it. Adhere using a bit of Tombow glue.

This really took longer to write than it did to create! LOL Naturally this can be adapted to met your needs using different colors or dressing your owl to met the occasion. 

Take some time to make something today.

Pac Man visits Techniques on Tuesday

Vintage is all the rage right now. My kids have been digging out old & vintage video games to play recently. Pac Man certainly fits that bill - he's been around a   l o n g   time. Today's card will be in honor of vintage video games and all the hours of fun we've had losing them! LOL

I have two techniques to share with you today. One involves shortening a label punch and the other is lengthening a label punch.

Pac Man card ~ 

This card is geared toward males, but hey don't forget the girls in your life who enjoy "showing the boys how it's done!"

Supplies:

Create a Cupcake stamp set - clear mount

Basic Black ink

Basic Black card stock

Whisper White card stock 

So Saffron card stock *the photo online doesn't show the color well, it's really a love shade of yellow*

Real Red card stock

Pumpkin Pie card stock

Pacific Point card stock

Owl punch

Standard Hole sz. hole punch

Bond folder

1 3/8 Circle punch

Modern Label punch

Word Window punch

wiggly eyes (available) at craft stores

Paper Snips

Directions:

• Create a standard size card from Basic Black card stock.
• Using So Saffron, punch a circle with the 1 3/4 Circle punch.
• Using a pencil, trace the pointed end of the bone folder to create the mouth opening on Pac Man. 
• Cut out the triangle with Paper Snips.
• Punch the Owl Body only in Real Red and Pumpkin Pie card stock.
• Trim off the legs from the Owl body.
• Glue wiggle eyes on Owl Bodies.
• Using Whisper White, punch out 9 circles with standard hole punch.
• Using Pacific Point and the Word Window punch, punch out 4 standard Word Windows. 
• Adhere 2 Word Windows to create a corner piece and repeat for the second set.
• Stamp sentiment from Create a Cupcake set in Basic Black ink on Pacific Point card stock.
• Using the Modern Label punch, punch out sentiment.  Trim down the Modern Label - technique shown below.
• Cut a strip of Pacific Point the same width as the Word Window and the length of the card plus 1/4 of an inch (5 3/4 inches long in total). Round edges according to desired technique shown below.
• Adhere all pieces according to photo.

Technique to Create a Longer Punch Label

*there are two ways to create the long Word Window Punch Strip*

1- Feed the end of the 5 3/4 strip into the Word Window punch from the back so that only the part that you want rounded is inserted into the punch. Punch edge and repeat for the other side.

2- I find that the above method is a little too "fiddly" for me when I'm working on a fast card. Instead, I'd punch a Word Window from scratch of a different color to use as my guide and I'd trace the rounded end and cut by hand.

*How to shorten a punched piece ~ Modern Label

Stamp sentiment

Punch out with Modern Label punch

Cut "handle" and lightly adhere handle to edge of Modern Label.

  Adjust label to length desired withing punch opening.

Punch.

Gently remove handle and use shortened label on your creation

This is a fun card to create! These techniques open up a whole new way to use your punches. Give 'em a try. So grab your supplies and make some thing today.

Medallion Card

Happy Monday!

Hope you all enjoyed Mother's Day with people that make you happy. I was blessed enough to spend time with my daughter & her family. My Son-in-Law scored big points by taking both myself and my daughter out for mani/pedis. OMG that was wonderful! My wonderful hubby made his BBQ chicken for us (one word - OUTSTANDING!) and we all got to visit with my military son via Skype. If that wasn't enough, all the family here at home went out to see "The Avengers" - awesome. It was a special day that had  sweet tender moments I won't soon forget. I hope you had the same kind of day.

We're still focusing on stamps that are retiring. One stamp that makes a statement when used is the Medallion Stamp. I'll be showing a couple of different ways to use this one, so stay tuned.

Today's card:

Supplies:
Medallion Stamp
Create a Cupcake - clear mount stamp set
Top Note Die
Big Shot
Modern Label punch
Word Window punch
Calypso Coral ink
Calypso Coral card stock
Whisper White card stock
Basic Black card stock
Basic Pearls Jewels

• Cut Calypso Coral card stock along the 11" edge @ 5 1/2".
• Score @ 4 1/4.
• Stamp Medallion in Calypso Coral ink in random patter, being sure to stamp off the edge of the card base to add interest.
• Using Top Note die and Whisper White card stock, run through Big Shot to create white top layer. Do Not toss out leftover scrap.
• Take white Top Note sheet and stamp Medallion in Calypso Coral again, going off the edge of the paper.
• Use Basic Black card stock to create another Top Note piece.
• Cut the Basic Black Top Note down the center horizontally.
• Using adhesive, adhere the Basic Black Top Note piece to the back of the Whisper White Top Note piece, being sure to adjust edges according to the photo. *Note: you may need to do some extra trimming of the Basic Black Top Note at the horizontal points.*
• Adhere to card.
• Using scrap of Whisper White stamp Happy Birthday from the Create a Cupcake stamp set in Calypso Coral ink.
• Punch out sentiment with Word Window punch.
• Using the Modern Label punch, punch out 1 from  Basic Black card stock and  1 from Calypso Coral card stock.
• Split the Basic Black Modern Label horizontally, just as done above with the Basic Black Top Note piece.
• Adhere to the Calypso Coral piece.
• Adhere the sentiment on top.
• Adhere to card and place a pearl on the edge, according to the photo.

This style of card works for many occasions just be sure that the sentiment you choose will fit inside the Word Window punch or the Modern Label punch.

If this is a card that you think you would be able to use, leave me a comment below.

Take some time for yourself today -  grab your supplies and make something.

Upsy Daisy in Wisteria Wonder

I was sooooooooooo sad to learn that the Upsy Daisy set would retire at the end of this catalog, May 31st. I had just gotten the set when the retirement list was released. So I've decided to showcase stamps that will be retiring. If you're want to check to see if that stamp set on your "wish list" will still be around June 1st, click on the "Retired" icon on the right to visit the list and my store.

Here's today's card:

• The base is a standard 8 1/2 X 5 1/2 piece of Wisteria Wonder card stock, folded at 4 1/4.

• The Upsy Daisy image is stamped in Wisteria Wonder, with the edges colored in with Island Indigo using a marker for more control.

• The background of the Whisper White card stock is sponged with  both Wisteria Wonder  & Island Indigo.

• Sponge Wisteria Wonder first and sponge Island Indigo in just a few places as accent.

• Adhere to card base.

• Stamp the sentiment from the Upsy Daisy set on a scrap of Whisper White.

• Punch sentiment out with Modern Label Punch.

• Take a scrap of Wisteria Wonder paper and punch out a second label with the Modern Label Punch.

• Cut the Wisteria Wonder label down across the width of the label  from end to end (<------>).

• Adhere the Wisteria Wonder label to the Whisper White label so that the edges of the Wisteria Wonder label show a bit. 

• Using the Paper Piercer, poke a hole in each side of the Modern Label, through both layers and put a  Clear Rhinestone Brad in. 

• Attach to card.

• Using a scrap of Wisteria Wonder paper and the Beautiful Wings Butterfly Embosslit - run through Big Shot.

• Use one of the butterflies to accent the flowers, adhering with glue.

• Accent flowers and butterfly with Dazzling Details.

Have fun with your supplies today and make something!

Family Scrapbook Page Swap: Janice's Pages

Saturday Scrappin' 

I promised to show you the pages that my family created for our family scrapbook page swap that I discussed in this post: Family Scrapbook Page Swap Post. I was in CA last week making lots of memories and we swapped our pages.

Here are my pages.
 2010 was a BUSY year with my college graduation AND my daughter's wedding. Thank goodness they were 6 months apart! Here's my 2 page spread.

The two page spread. Just a bit of our year.

Pattern Paper by: BoBunny - Timepiece Tick Tock

Black paper: Basic Black

Once Upon a Time title: Cricut Storybook cartride

Punch: Ticket Corner Punch, 1 3/4 Scallop Circle Punch, Martha Stewart Punch Doily Lace Trim 

Close up of the left side. 

Right side

Then came 2011. Six months after my daughter got married, my son graduated college AND commissioned in the Air Force ... on the same day! That's my Dad giving my son his first salute. 

Loads of stuff happened in 2011, some good, some not so good. I feel it's important to remember both to help keep life in perspective. 

Pattern Paper by: Gliztitnow - Vintage Love by Traci Smith

Black paper: Basic Black Stampin' Up! 

White Paper: Whisper White Stampin' Up!

Title: Cricut 

Punches: Modern Label, Word Window

Left side

Right side

Come back next Saturday when I'll show you what my niece did!

Now go grab your supplies and have some fun!

Tool Time Tuesday

I wanted to share some of my all time favorite tools for paper crafting. Whether it's card making, scrapbooking, or other paper crafts ... you can't own too many punches! My all time favorites are from Stampin' Up! In fact part of the reason I became a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator is due to my love of the punches they sell. I've bought many punches over the years, from many different companies. Stampin' Up! punches are by far the best on the market - in my opinion.


My sister works in the accounting field and at times has a verrrrrrrrry stressful job. We were talking about great music to help reduce stress and I thought I'd burn her a couple of CDs for the office. Now being a paper crafter, I couldn't just give her CDs with boring covers now could I? So I pulled out some scrap paper and punched and stuck my way to happiness! See - punches used for something other than making a card!

The CD covers with punched labels.

Here they are all put together with the cases resting with my punches. 

The black punches are the old style and the brownish gray ones are the new very cool style that locks down flat for wonderful storage!

Here's another much more traditional use for punches, labeling for scrapbooking. 

(That's my son. Isn't he handsome?! And he's smart too!)

We'll explore the uses of punches a great deal in various blog posts because they are so versatile and one tool that every crafter needs to have.

Punches used here are:

Curly Label Punch

Decorative Label Punch

Large Oval Punch

Modern Label Punch

Scallop Oval Punch

Word Window Punch

Now go out there and punch some stuff. LOL