Sunday Stamping With Sherry Cheever: More Daisy Bouquets

When I asked Sherry Cheever to share a few words of wisdom about stamping, here's what she said:

"I think I’ve learned to be true to myself/yourself. Do the type of stamping/papercrafting that makes you happy. If you struggle with a certain style (i.e., clean and simple), then that’s probably not your style. If you don’t like making messes and struggle with tearing a piece of paper, then distress/shabby is probably not for you.

"Do what makes you happy! I’ve found that when I’m at my creative best, I’m happy with what I’m doing."

We love that advice, and I think you can see how Sherry's happiness translates into her projects! For this week's card, she used 11096MC Daisy Bouquets Clear Set, drawn by artist Vicki Schreiner:

This is the same clear set from last week but this time featuring the Daisy Teacup image (2893J in the wood mounted version). Take a look at the lovely card that Sherry created with it:

I love the stitching and patterned paper that is repeated on the inside:

Spellbinders™:  E8-006 Classic Petal Edgeabilities, E8-003 Classic Triple Scallop Edgeabilities, S4-344 Tear Drop Circles, S4-114 Classic Circles LG, S4-116 Classic Circles SM, S4-138 Petite Ovals, S4-139 Petite Scalloped Ovals, Grand Calibur®

Inks:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Ranger Archival Jet Black; Ranger Antique Linen Distress Ink; Copic Markers

Papers:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; Green and Pale Yellow Core-dinations; Cosmo Cricket Mini Deck – Tea for Two

Other:  Ranger Craft Sheet, Mister, Stamp Pad Foam, Heat it™ Tool, Glossy Accents; Scrapbook Adhesives 3D Foam Squares; Waxed Linen Thread; Seam Binding; Sewing Machine; Scor-Buddy

Daisy Teacup was stamped on Neenah paper in Memento Tuxedo Black and colored with Copic Markers. Die cut/embossed with various circles and edges sponged with Antique Linen Distress Ink.  Each layer separated with foam squares.

Edge of background paper (green) was die cut/embossed with Edgeabilities, scored and folded over the front. The yellow layer was die cut/embossed with the same Edgeabilities, cut an inch longer, and layered beneath the green layer. Background paper was sponged with Antique Linen and stitched to green layer. 

Seam binding was dyed with a touch of Antique Linen.

* * *
Want the chance to win your own 11096MC Daisy Bouquets Clear Set? Please join me in bidding a fond farewell to Sherry as April's Inky Guest Designer. Leave a comment at the end of this post letting her know how much you've enjoyed her projects, and you'll be entered in a little BLOG CANDY giveaway.

On Wednesday, May 2nd, I'll randomly choose the winner for the same clear set that Sherry used above and post that person's name...so please check back to see if you've won!

Friday Funnies: Arbor Day

In celebration of Arbor Day, I've got a few silly jokes I "wood" like to share with you:

Q: Did you hear the one about Arbor Day?
A: It'll leaf you laughing!

Q: What kind of tree is often found in the kitchen?
A: A pantry!

Q: Why was the pine tree sent to its room?
A: Because it was being knotty!

Q: Did you hear the one about the oak tree?
A: It's a-corny one!

Q: What did the tree wear to the pool party?
A: Swimming trunks!

Q: What did the beaver say to the tree?
A: It's been nice gnawing you!

Q: Why did the leaf go to the doctor?
A: It was feeling green!

Q: What kind of tree can fit into your hand?
A: A palm tree!

Q: How do trees get on the internet?
A: They log in.

Hope you have a tree-mendous day, Inky friends!

"Try It Different" Tuesday: Flower Chick

Our 10818G Flower Chick stamp (drawn by artist Ronnie Walter) is a classic Inky favorite because it can be used for a variety of occasions:

This colorful card, designed by Lana Lepinski, was featured on our main Inky website a while back:

And I'd created this treat box for a blog project using our X2-2940 Square Box Template:

But, of course, there are so many other fun possibilities! "Chick out" these cute cards by Debbie Fisher:

The darker color palette is an interesting change of pace, don't you think? Here's another:

I love the contrasting orange and slate blue shades on this one: 

Joyclynn Reynolds made a sweet little notecard and added a sparkly rhinestone for the chick's flower:

The two sets of layered and scalloped circles on Karyn Campbell's card make for a unique layout:

Heather McNally arranged them a bit differently on hers, and she used patterned paper that mimics the scalloped shapes:

It's hard to "peck" a favorite...I hope you enjoyed them all!

"Clearly Fun" Congrats

Congratulations to Karen Adams and Janet, whose names were drawn randomly from our "Clearly Fun" Blog Hop entries. (Karen and Janet, please email me with your address.)

Karen Adams said...

very cute! LOVE IT!

Aprli 21, 2012 at 1:52 AM

 

Janet said...

I really like the oval on oval with the clear cardstock. I am definitely giving this techniques a try.

April 21, 2012 at 6:42 PM

 

Karen won 10976MC Flower Turtle Clear Set (drawn by artist Tammy DeYoung), which contains the stamp that Jovi used on her charming turtle gable box:

 

Karen also won a package of Clear Cardstock:

 

 

Janet won a package of Clear Cardstock, as well, along with 11098MC Rose Oval Clear Set (drawn by artist Vicki Schreiner). The set contains the stamp that Michelle used on her beautiful glittered cards:

 

If you want to pick up these items for yourself, you can find them here. Thanks very much to everyone who hopped with us!

Sunday Stamping With Sherry Cheever: Daisy Bouquets

Although Inky is known for our whimsical, cute stamps, we also offer more realistic, elegant-looking designs. An example of this is 11096MC Daisy Bouquets Clear Set, drawn by artist Vicki Schreiner:

For today's project, Sherry Cheever used the Pitcher Bouquet Oval image to create this beautiful card:

One of the tricks to good stamping is knowing how much to embellish. This reminds of me a movie reference that a friend recently mentioned: In "Sleepless in Seattle," Annie and Walter registered for 10 dinner plates. Why? Because 12 is too many and 8 is too few.

When it comes to cards, I'm not sure there's an exact number you can rely on every time...but I'm pretty sure that Sherry got it right with this one! I love the pretty coloring, dry-embossed base, multiple layers with carefully inked edges, and Sherry's trademark seam binding bow.

Of course, she didn't forget to decorate the inside, either:

Spellbinders™: S4-110 Classic Ovals LG, S4-112 Classic Ovals SM, S4-113 Classic Scalloped Ovals SM, S4-314 Lacey Ovals, LF-347 Grand Labels Twenty-Three, EL-002 Regal M-Bossabilities, Grand Calibur®

Inks: Ranger Distress Ink in Antique Linen, Barn Door and Worn Lipstick; Memento Tuxedo Black; Copic Markers; Ranger Archival Jet Black

Papers: Neenah Classic Crest Solar White and Black

Other: Ranger Mister, Craft Sheet, Glossy Accents, Stamp Pad Foam, Heat it™ Tool; Scrapbook Adhesives 3D Foam Squares; Sewing Machine; Scor-Buddy

Pitcher Bouquet Oval stamp (2872K in wood mounted version) was stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black and then colored with Copic Markers. The edges of all the paper were sponged with Antique Linen. Each layer was popped up with foam squares.

Background paper was embossed with Spellbinders new M-Bossabilities, Regal. The black border was die cut/embossed with Grand Labels Twenty-Three, scored at 1-1/2” inch and folded over the front.

Friday Funnies: Earth Day

As you know, Earth Day is this Sunday. Although it's not really a laughing matter, today's post takes a lighter look at this annual event.

Heard on BBC Radio 5 Live "Drive" programme:

"I have an obsession with wind farms."

"Really?"

"Yes, I'm a huge fan."

Did you hear that Tom Cruise is about to sign up to a new, high-tech, eco thriller?

It's called "Mission Compostable."

"Clearly Fun" Blog Hop

This month's blog hop theme is directly related to our April special offer on the main Inky website. Do you know what it is? The answer is pretty transparent, but I think you'll get the drift when you see all the projects made by our talented design team. They clearly had a lot of fun creating with this "mystery" item!

Oh, all right...I won't keep trying to pretend it's a secret. Yep, they used our Clear Cardstock, which happens to be FREE with any order of $40 or more during April. (This will be sent automatically with qualifying orders. If you wish to order additional quantities and/or purchase other items featured in this month's hop, click here.)

To see what our designers made, please visit each DT member's blog and leave comments along the way. The more you comment, the better your chances are to win. (Limit one comment per blog, please.)

The blog hop starts today and ends on Sunday, April 22nd midnight Central time. Two people’s names will be drawn at random to receive a surprise Inky prize pack! The winners’ names will be announced next Monday, so remember to stop back and see if you’ve won.

Ready to get started? Here's the order:

Jovi
Crystal
Michelle
Trudy
Debbie
Tex

After you're done, please return here to see my project and leave a final comment. Have fun hopping, Inky friends!

* * *

For this hop, I used Cube-10316 Critter Conversations (drawn by artist Tammy DeYoung, and available at the bottom of this page):

My project is from a class that I taught a couple of years ago, but I still think it's just as cute today:

It was easy to make with these instructions on Splitcoaststampers, and the Clear Cardstock worked beautifully for this project.

In fact, we started carrying it because I was looking for a heavy-duty acetate that would be sturdy enough to create boxes. Below are some ideas that were featured previously on the blog. You may have seen this Kitty Treat Box, for instance:

Not only does the Clear Cardstock work well for making boxes, but you can also use it to create unique see-through cards:

Want to shake things up a bit? Try it as a window in a shaker card:

 Or fill a handmade album with Clear Cardstock pages for a clear stamp set organizer:

Glad you hopped with us today, and I'll see you back on the blog again soon!

"Try It Different" Tuesday: Cupcake Chef

This little 10832J Cupcake Chef stamp is so cute:

Of course, what's not to love about a man holding baked goods? Kerry Donovan-Casey pointed that out in her blog once, and I couldn't agree more!

The same stamp also appears in 10957LC Baking Chefs Clear Set, with all images and sayings by artist Ronnie Walter:

When this collection first debuted, Jovi Kloess made the most adorable sample card:

If "pretty in pink" isn't your preference, check out this creation by Michelle Petermann done in bolder, brighter colors:

Adding a bit of glitter or Stickles to the cupcakes is fun because, as Michelle says, "they just look yummier that way!"

I like how Debbie from Southern Heart knotted ribbons on either side of the image panel:

And talk about bold and bright...Kerry D-C's birthday card is so lively and festive:

Hope you have a sweet day, Inky friends...and maybe enjoy a baked good or two!

Sunday Stamping With Sherry Cheever: Brushed Calligraphy

Sherry Cheever says she truly can’t remember when she learned to stamp. "I’ve always been crafty...it was entertainment when I was a kid...coloring books, paint-by-number, knitting, drawing."

She went to her first home party for stamping in 1997, but perhaps she was just born already knowing how to stamp. That wouldn't surprise us at all!

When I asked Sherry to describe her stamping style, she used the words "vintage, shabby, eclectic, just me...Instead of trying to copy what everyone else was doing (clean and simple), I stepped off the ledge and mixed the distressed, shabby look with my own style and sense of humor. That’s not to say that I can’t do clean and simple, but when my fingers are inky I’m much happier."

So how does Sherry like to get her fingers inky? Well, let's start with 11013SC Brushed Calligraphy #2 Clear Set:

Color the image stamp with waterbased markers, spritz with water, and pull the color with a paint brush to complete it. Throw in some additional inking and layering...and, voilà, here's the gorgeous result:

Spellbinders™: S4-114 Classic Circles LG, S4-116 Classic Circles SM, S4-344 Tear Drop Circles, S5-064 Moroccan Accents, Grand Calibur®

Inks: Ranger Distress Markers in Fired Brick, Bundled Sage, Walnut Stain, Victorian Velvet and Antique Linen; Distress Ink in Antique Linen; Ranger Archival Coffee

Paper: Watercolor; Sage and Light Rose Cardstock; Cosmo Cricket Mini Deck – Evangeline

Other: Ranger Mini Mister, Craft Sheet, Heat it™Tool, Glossy Accents, Cut n’ Dry Foam; Ink Spritzer; Foam Tape; Seam Binding; Sewing Machine

Coneflower stamp (10124J in wood mounted version) was inked with Bundled Sage, Walnut Stain and Fired Brick Distress Markers, misted with water and stamped on watercolor paper. The ink was pulled through with a wet paint brush to complete the image.

After image was dry, it was spritzed with Victorian Velvet and Antique Linen markers. Sentiment (10102J Live Dance Laugh in wood mounted) was stamped in Archival Coffee and edges were sponged with Antique Linen.

Friday the 13th Congrats

Congrats to Kimmy (in more ways than one, based on her comment!), whose name was drawn randomly from yesterday's "Friday Funnies" blog candy entries. (Kimmy, please email me with your address.)

Kimmy said...

I just feel right where I should be in my life. I'm pregnant with our first and feels God's blessings everyday :)

April 13, 2012 at 2:43 PM

Kimmy's prize is a combination of good luck charms...the Inky way! In many cultures, the elephant is a symbol of good fortune, and tigers are considered lucky in Chinese astrology.

For her prize, Kimmy has won 11086MC Balloon Buddies HoneyPOP Clear Set (drawn by artist Tammy DeYoung):

As we all know, at the end of every rainbow there is supposed to be a pot of gold. Although we can't send a pot of gold, we're including an HCP-RNB Rainbow Honeycomb Pad in Kimmy's package:

You can view these "lucky" products, along with other items in the HoneyPOP Collection, by visiting this page.

Glad you played along with us, and hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Friday Funnies: Friday the 13th

An excerpt reprinted from LiveScience:

The origin of the link between bad luck and Friday the 13th is murky. The whole thing might date to Biblical times (the 13th guest at the Last Supper betrayed Jesus). By the Middle Ages, both Friday and 13 were considered bearers of bad fortune.

In modern times, the superstition permeates society. Here are [some] of our favorite Friday-the-13th facts:

1. Fear of Friday the 13th — one of the most popular myths in science — is called paraskavedekatriaphobia as well as friggatriskaidekaphobia. Triskaidekaphobia is fear of the number 13.

2. Many hospitals have no room 13, while some tall buildings skip the 13th floor and some airline terminals omit Gate 13.

3. President Franklin D. Roosevelt would not travel on the 13th day of any month and would never host 13 guests at a meal. Napoleon and President Herbert Hoover were also triskaidekaphobic, with an abnormal fear of the number 13.

4. Mark Twain once was the 13th guest at a dinner party. A friend warned him not to go. "It was bad luck," Twain later told the friend. "They only had food for 12." Superstitious diners in Paris can hire a quatorzieme, or professional 14th guest.

* * *

And from USA TODAY:

Historically, the Friday the 13th bad luck tradition or superstition dates back to the fact that Christ was crucified on a Friday and 13 men were present at the Last Supper.

Traditional religious beliefs aside, more of us now probably consider Friday the 13th as having as much or more potential good luck as bad luck.

That's especially true of professional gamblers and amateurs.

Danny Sheridan, USA TODAY's longtime popular sports handicapper, says many sports bettors think they can cash in on good luck on Friday the 13th.

With amateur gamblers, "bingo" and other games of chance enjoy a similar popularity on this date.

I enjoy joking with family or friends about what they might do on this date that could turn out to be lucky or unlucky. For me, Friday the 13th is a little like April Fools' Day. If you don't take it seriously, it can be a lot of fun.

It reminds me too of the spoof of the first Friday the 13th in 1982 when Ann Moeller of Clio, Mich., gained national attention by calling it a "Blame Someone Else Day." Good or bad, the credit or blame is yours.

Whatever you call it, Friday the 13th, like every Friday, could and should start a fun weekend.

* * *

So should we test our luck for a fun start to the weekend? Leave a comment at the end of this post telling me about something that makes YOU feel like a lucky person, and you'll be entered in a BLOG CANDY giveaway for a surprise Inky clear stamp set.

This one is super fast, with only one lucky day to play...today. Tomorrow morning, I'll randomly choose the winner and post that person's name...so please check back to see if you've won. Happy Friday the 13th, and good luck to you!

Glitzy Butterfly Card

I love the ability of stamps to be completely transformed with just a few materials and some creative techniques. Take our 10121G Monarch Butterfly (drawn by artist Darby New), for instance:

Look what happened when Trudy Sjolander added her magical touches to it:

You can find the whole card, along with complete instructions, on the CardMaker Magazine blog. Thanks so much for the inspiration, True!

Spring Blooms Congrats

Congrats to Mrs. Swandog, whose name was drawn randomly from our "Sunday Stamping With Sherry Cheever" blog candy entries. (Mrs. Swandog, please email me with your address.)

Mrs. Swandog said...

I love Sherry's creations. These two card are awesome! I love Inky Antics too.

April 8, 2012 at 4:32 AM

Mrs. Swandog won 11099MC Spring Blooms Clear Set (drawn by artist Vicki Schreiner):

 

 

You can get this stamp set for yourself by visiting our website and clicking the Elegant Florals link on this page.

Thanks very much for playing, everyone. Please visit us again soon for more Inky fun!

"Try It Different" Tuesday: Birthday Turtle

The turtle stamps drawn by artist Tammy DeYoung have been some of our most popular designs, so I thought you might enjoy seeing a few cards made with 10917MC Birthday Turtle Clear Set:

The bright, cheery colors that Debbie Fisher chose really perk up this cute card:

I love how Tex Gerard paper-pieced the balloons and added Glossy Accents for a shiny appearance (click on the photo for a close-up view):

She changed the layout and turtle's accessories for a completely different look on this one:

And, just for fun, I decided to alter Tex's card with an Action Wobbles spring. When Tex first introduced us to this product, we knew it was a "keeper."

I'm so excited that we're now carrying them in our online store! Look how easy they are to use:

Shakin' A Leg

Last week, I stopped by my sister-in-law's house, and we made Easter cards with her daycare kids. People of all ages can enjoy stamping! We like to get 'em hooked when they're young and impressionable:

What's not to love when rubber meets ink:

And it wasn't just the girls who enjoyed themselves:

We used this card, made by Debbie Fisher, as our inspiration piece:

Look at her smile...gotta love that proud "I made this" moment:

The most fun part of their cards was using a new product called Action Wobbles, which is a self-adhesive collapsible spring that was inserted between the cut-out bunny image and the card base:

We used 11037MC Bunny #2 Clear Set (drawn by artist Janie Miller), also available as 0121E Sm. Hop To It and 0746J Sm. Shakin'  A Leg in the wood mounted versions.

Check out the Action Wobbles in...well, in action: