Inky Antics

CHA Sneak Peek #3: Millie Mousie

2012-01-28T06:00:00.000-06:00

Even though it's the middle of winter, we like to "think spring" this time of year with Inky stamps!

Tammy DeYoung created some delightful new sets that we're introducing at CHA tomorrow, including 11094SC Easter Millie Clear Set:

This idea was suggested by YOU, our customers, after seeing the Lilac Inkers' projects last fall. We're so pleased to be able to fulfill your request!

Jovi Kloess showed Millie with an Easter basket in her "egg-citing" card:

This versatile set can also be used for a lovely spring greeting:

We hope you'll squeak with happiness when you see the rest of our Easter and spring stamps. They'll be coming soon!

Friday Funnies: Auto-Corrected Texting

2012-01-27T06:00:00.012-06:00

For my Christmas present, Steve got me an iPhone. Yep, we've drunk the Kool-Aid...and most of the time it's pretty good!

One of the quirks that has taking some getting used to, however, is the auto-correct feature. I realize it can be turned off, but usually it's fairly helpful. Every once in a while, however, I've ended up creating some funny typos.

I've never saved any of my unusual messages, but I did find several hilarious exchanges that resulted from auto-correct accidents. (They're from this website, which also has tons of examples that are side-splittingly funny but definitely too risque for our PG-rated Inky blog.)

One of my all-time favorite movies is Silence of the Lambs, so I really liked this one:

Look what can happen when you write from unique locations:

It's interesting how some people have unusual debts:

While others have unusual activities:

Finding Jesus, however, isn't frequently one of them:

This mom's advice came out a bit wrong:

Seems like Dad had some harsh news to share, as well:

Texting can sometimes involve "fowl" language:

Here's another disaster with food:

Speaking of disasters, this sounded like a real nightshade emergency:

I've heard of tomatoes on salad, but never a phone on salad:

Hope you "oil" have a terrific day, Inky friends!

CHA Sneak Peek #2: Elegant Florals

2012-01-26T06:00:00.001-06:00

You may recall that Vicki Schreiner is the creator of the cute BaZooples stamps. For this release, we asked her to take a different route and draw some elegant floral designs that we hope you'll love!

Michelle Pearson used Vicki's new stamps to make a set of gorgeous cards with "whitework style" bases, including this one using 11099MC Spring Blooms Clear Set:

She really let her creativity bloom, as shown in this card featuring 11098MC Rose Oval Clear Set:

The Teacup Daisies from 11096MC Daisy Bouquets Clear Set makes a great "everyday" card:

Did you spot the border she created with the Honeycomb Paper Pad? When applied as a tone-on-tone piece, it makes a subtle yet pretty accent.

Flower stamps are so versatile, and we can think of many occasions where the Floral Spray in 11097MC Floral Faith Clear Set would be wonderfully suitable:

There are several more stamps in Vicki's Elegant Florals Collection, and we'll let you know as soon as they're available for ordering on our website. Which ones will you be adding to your list?

CHA Sneak Peek #1: Benton the Bear

2012-01-25T06:00:00.048-06:00

Yesterday I posted one of the new stamp sets from our Spring '12 Release onto the Inky website early, with this sample card:

Although it's not yet "officially" released, we wanted to make this available for ordering right away in case you wish to use it for Valentine's Day cards.

That little guy is Benton the Bear, and he's part of an adorable collection drawn by artist Darby New.

Here's a card shown one of the images and sayings from 11080MC Delivery Benton Clear Set:

I love this "sweet" card using 11082MC Bee Benton Clear Set:

By the way, did you notice the honeycomb border, which is based on Michelle Pearson's original idea? What a great way to utilize scraps from your Honeycomb Paper Pads!

This card was created with 11081MC Aviator Benton Clear Set:

You can see the layered pieces popped up with foam tape and Glossy Accents applied to the bear's sunglasses in this close-up photo:

These details help turn a "plane" card into something special. Ha ha!

This collection includes the images and sayings shown above, along with many more to become available on our main site in early February. Which Benton is YOUR favorite?

"Try It Different" Tuesday: Songbird

2012-01-24T06:00:00.014-06:00

On Sunday, I mentioned I'd have a little preview for you today. As you may know, the CHA trade show starts next week, so we'll be giving you sneak peeks of our new spring releases in the upcoming days. Get ready, ladies...we've got LOTS to show you, and it will all be available on the main Inky site at the start of February!

Remember how Karen Taylor used that Psalm on her butterfly tag? Here's the set it came from, 11070SC Songbird Clear Set:

It's part of the Divine Reflections collection, drawn by our friend Darby New. (You may have seen Darby demo at one of our convention booths. She's most often at the Art Gone Wild! booth and has worked with Michelle since "way back when.")

The images in this collection are heavily stippled, which lends itself nicely to the coloring technique used in this card:

I colored directly on the stamp with waterbased markers, lightly misted it with water, and stamped onto the cardstock. A little ribbon and matting completed this nice, simple card.

Of course, if you add a few more embellishments, you can really jazz things up, as Trudy Sjolander did in her beautiful project:

By inking the edges of her image panel, Trudy gave it a fantastic punch of color. Her bow is perfectly tied, which you can easily do with the Bow-Easy).

Also, I love how she tore the patterned paper to reveal the corrugated base underneath. It adds such movement and texture, don't you think? The difference really is in the details!

Sunday Stamping With Karen Taylor: Butterflies & More

2012-01-22T06:00:00.065-06:00

When we introduced Karen Taylor as our January Guest Designer earlier this month, she'd used 11014SC Brushed Calligraphy #3 Clear Set for her first project:

This week, she took a different route with the same butterfly images (1615B and 1524F in the wood mounted versions) and created an amazing tag:

As with Karen's other projects, there are so many wonderful details. Here's a closeup so you can see more of them:

The butterflies were stamped on kraft paper, heat embossed with powder, and watercolored. Then Karen layered the pieces for dimension and added pearls down the center.

I love how she also stamped over the paper flower petals using the butterfly sentiment from that set. She also inked the edges of every piece before adhering to the tag to give it a "pop" of color, as well as vintage appeal.

The rhinestone frame at the bottom is Want2Scrap's Nestaboard shape (based on Spellbinders' Fancy Tags Two) and coordinating Nestabling. And did you notice the saying? Yep, that's a new Inky stamp!

It's from one of the many sets we'll be launching at the CHA trade show next week. Curious to find out more? I'll have a "full" sneak peek for you this Tuesday...so please check back with us in just a couple of days!

Friday Funnies: Snowmen

2012-01-20T09:25:00.000-06:00

As I was driving home this morning from an appointment, I snapped this photo while I was sitting at a red light:

Did you see that? It's one degree below zero! Why, oh why, do I live in Minnesota? Every winter I ask myself the same question.

Of course, if you're Calvin and Hobbes, you have "snow many" reasons:

"No one else at the office talks about this kind of thing."

"Oh yeah? Define well-adjusted."

Dad: "Eggplant casserole tonight?"
Mom: "Why, yes!"

"You don't like my 'Snowman House of Horror,' do you?!"

"I don't think the schools assign enough homework."

"Mom and Dad don't value hard work and originality as much as they say they do."

"You have to admit it's slowed down traffic on our road."

"Calvin, I'm late for work!"

And I guess there are other folks who enjoy the winter weather while demonstrating their sense of humor:

Even deer like to join the fun:

Hope you have an "ice day," Inky friends!

More From The Necklace Lady

2012-01-19T09:17:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, Dawn left this comment on my post about the Necklace Lady From Mesquite:

Dawn's Craft Place said...
Isn't it amazing how many fun and interesting people you meet at convention and shows? I love that she demoed for you and it could be shared.
January 18, 2012 01:35 PM

Oh, that is so true. We're very fortunate to have such wonderful customers!

I also received an email from the Necklace Lady herself, whose name is really Debbie Haney...but now I can't stop calling her the Necklace Lady just because I like the sound of it!

She included a couple of photos, one of which shows additional necklace flowers she has created:

Besides necklaces and pins, you can also use these flowers to adorn your papercrafting projects:

The Necklace Lady made these as shower favors. She put a thank you tag on the back and filled them with Hershey's Kisses.

The bag is made from an envelope, and there are general instructions posted here. She attached the flower with a pinback, and the green ribbon was glued onto the bag for a leaf effect.

Of course, these little bags could also be decorated with Inky stamps. Can you imagine the possibilities?

Back From Mesquite

2012-01-18T12:25:00.001-06:00

I returned home on Monday evening from our first show of the year in Mesquite, Texas. What a great way to start off the 2012 convention season!

We got to visit with Tex (one of our wonderful Inky designers) and her charming husband, Ron (whom we were lucky enough to have as a "weekend employee" in the booth):

When this delightful lady stopped by my demo table, we couldn't stop admiring her necklace:

Here's a closer look, so you can see what I mean:

Isn't it fabulous? Not only did she make it herself, but she offered to show us how to do it, too!

(Unfortunately, I wrote her name on a slip of paper, and now I can't find it anywhere. Apparently I have the memory of a sand flea these days, as I'm embarrassed to admit that I cannot recall her name. If you're reading this post, Necklace Lady From Mesquite, would you please email me so I can give you proper credit?)

She graciously allowed me to take a video so that I could share it with our blog readers:

Although she used a ribbon to demonstrate the flower-making process, she said that 2" strips of cloth (about 18" long) would probably be easier to use since they're less slippery.

She adhered each flower to cloth backing and hot glued them together for her necklace:

I'll bet they'd make pretty pins, too. If you decide to give these flowers a try, we'd love to hear about it!

"Try It Different" Tuesday: Hearts Valentine

2012-01-17T09:37:00.000-06:00

If you read Sunday's post, you saw that our January Guest Designer, Karen Taylor, used 11020SC Hearts Valentine Clear Set for her project:

I've said this before, but one of my favorite thinga about stamping is how you can create projects that are very complicated or super simple...or anywhere in between, depending on your mood.

An example of the latter is this quick and easy card I made with one of the main images, 5907J Hearts Valentine in the wood mounted version:

I stamped and heat embossed the image with gold powder, and tipped the edges of the panel with a metallic gold marker. The hearts were lined with red marker on the inside, and I used a waterbrush to pull the color toward the center. Then I spread a thin layer of Stickles on top before layering the card pieces. Easy peasy!

Of course, you already saw Karen's gorgeous vintage-style Valentine a couple of days ago:

Well, she also created this amazing jacket pin using the same stamp set:

Karen made an almost leather-like surface by covering Want2Scrap Nestaboard with patterned paper, which she then sanded and inked along the edges.

The sentiment (5903F Lg. I Love You in wood mounted) was embossed with powder, and the surfaces of the pin and dangling hearts were covered with Clearsnap Glue Gloss and clear embossing powder, and then heat set to add both stability and shine:

In this close-up view, you can see an eyelet was inserted into each heart before they were attached to the base with mini pins, and the base was lined with Want2Scrap Bling:

Karen said she collects antique Valentines and cannot wait to wear her new pin. Hopefully she'll be sporting it at CHA because I'd love to see it in person. Thanks for stopping by today to check out our projects!

Sunday Stamping With Karen Taylor: Hearts Valentine

2012-01-15T06:00:00.000-06:00

After posting Karen's petal card last Sunday, we received an inquiry about how she created the flower embellishment using the image from 11013SC Brushed Calligraphy #2 Clear Set (which is 10124J Coneflower in the wood mounted version):

Karen stamped it on double-thick kraft paper and then used watercolors. She brushed a coat of Clearsnap Glue Gloss on top and sprinkled glitter over it. (Next time, she said she might try lightweight cardstock behind kraft paper so she can really bend and adjust the petals and leaves. We think Grungepaper might also work well for this purpose.)

We also asked Karen to tell us more about her creative process in general:

What have you learned as you’ve evolved as a designer? In other words, what advice or tips can you share with our readers for helping them improve?
Be free, be yourself, and do not be afraid to be different. There are no rules when it comes to art and you do not need a pattern...let it come from the heart.

What is one area that you are trying to improve in your own creative style, techniques, or process? [Finding] time to really create what I love...using unusual things, trying to find things outside the box that inspire me.

What’s your current favorite stamping technique?
I love using ink that can be used on plastic and making my own overlays.

What are your top 5-10 tools that you rely on most when you create (besides stamps, of course)?
Twisters, cosmetic sponges, popsicle sticks (yes, I save my Bomp Pop sticks so I have an endless supply), emery boards, and pinking shears!

Where do you find inspiration for your stamping projects?
Everywhere…fabric, ads, home decor items, and just life in general.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell our blog readers?
Have fun. Remember, rules are meant to be broken...think outside of the box. This is where the next great techniques come from, but most of all enjoy [the process]!

* * *

The stamps that Karen used for this week's project are from 11020SC Hearts Valentine Clear Set:

She created this gorgeous vintage-style Valentine card:

Earlier she mentioned stamping on plastic and making her own overlays. You can see them a little better in this close-up:

Karen stamped on a clear overhead projector sheet with permanent ink, and then she painted the back of it white with a Clearsnap reinker for the ColorBox Mix'd Media Inx by Donna Salazar. We love how it made the images really "pop." Let us know if you decide to try this fun technique!

Friday Funnies: Airplanes

2012-01-13T06:00:00.001-06:00

Yesterday I took my first flight of the year, as I traveled to Dallas for this weekend's SSAT show in Mesquite.

Most of the time, I go on Delta since they're based in Twin Cities where I live. It would be fun if their planes were painted like this one:

Apparently, South African Kulula Airlines has a good sense of humor:

Speaking of humor, these "possible alternative meanings" to the instructions given on Airline Safety Cards crack me up:

I've heard the flight attendant's safety lecture about a gajillion times over the course of my travels. Every once in a while, one of them will insert a few funny comments into their spiel. And sometimes the pilots even get comedic.

Here are a few examples of real announcements that have been reportedly heard:

"There may be 50 ways to leave your lover, but there are only 4 ways out of this airplane..."

From the pilot: "Folks, we have reached our cruising altitude now, so I am going to switch the seat belt sign off. Feel free to move about as you wish, but please stay inside the plane until we land. It's a bit cold outside, and if you walk on the wings it affects the flight pattern."

After landing: "Thank you for flying Delta Business Express. We hope you enjoyed giving us the business as much as we enjoyed taking you for a ride."

From a Southwest Airlines employee: "Welcome aboard Southwest Flight XXX to YYY. To operate your seatbelt, insert the metal tab into the buckle, and pull tight. It works just like every other seatbelt, and if you don't know how to operate one, you probably shouldn't be out in public unsupervised. In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, oxygen masks will descend from the ceiling. Stop screaming, grab the mask, and pull it over your face. If you have a small child traveling with you, secure your mask before assisting with theirs. If you are traveling with two small children, decide now which one you love more.

"Weather at our destination is 50 degrees with some broken clouds, but they'll try to have them fixed before we arrive. Thank you, and remember, nobody loves you, or your money, more than Southwest Airlines."

"As you exit the plane, please make sure to gather all of your belongings. Anything left behind will be distributed evenly among the flight attendants. Please do not leave children or spouses."

"Last one off the plane must clean it."

And from the pilot during his welcome message: "We are pleased to have some of the best flight attendants in the industry. Unfortunately, none of them are on this flight."

Heard on Southwest Airlines just after a very hard landing in Salt Lake City: "That was quite a bump and I know what y'all are thinking. I'm here to tell you it wasn't the airline's fault, it wasn't the pilot's fault, it wasn't the flight attendants' fault...it was the asphalt!"

Part of a Flight Attendant's arrival announcement: "We'd like to thank you folks for flying with us today. The next time you get the insane urge to go blasting through the skies in a pressurized metal tube, we hope you'll think of us here at US Airways."

Penguin Project

2012-01-12T09:35:00.000-06:00

Even though 11059LC Baking Penguins Clear Set contains holiday word stamps, I've always thought the images would work great for year-round projects:

Apparently, I'm not the only one who feels this way. Our friend Tina Covington created a magnetic recipe card holder for her "foodie friend" and used one of the penguins (2073H Rolling Pin Penguin in the wood mounted version) to decorate it:

Here's a closer look at this cute little guy, who is attached with pop dots:

And she even made a matching card:

You can read more about the details of these adorable projects on her blog.

Tina lives in Mabank, Texas and will be attending the StampScrapArtTour show in Mesquite this weekend. We're looking forward to seeing her again...and if you live nearby, we hope you can also join us!

More Brushed Calligraphy Congrats

2012-01-11T10:57:00.000-06:00

Congratulations to Tanya, whose name was drawn from our "Sunday Stamping With Karen Taylor" blog candy entries. (Tanya, please email me with your address.)

Tanya said...
This set is beautiful. Love the card, so artistic, I love all of the elements and embellishments here, gorgeous.
January 8, 2012 11:24 AM

Tanya won 11014SC Brushed Calligraphy #3 Clear Set, which includes the stamps that Karen used on her project earlier this week:

We appreciate everyone's participation and hope you'll visit us again soon!

"Try It Different" Tuesday: Flower Frog

2012-01-10T09:32:00.000-06:00

Here's a toad-ally cute Valentine card that was featured on our main website a while back:

Lana Lepinski used 10205H Flower Frog to create it, and we love how the bold colors give a bright, cheery feeling to this card (not to mention the adorable image by Tammy DeYoung).

If you change the background pieces, add a couple of buttons, and remove the ribbon, you get a different look:

Or, for a complete switch, try a card like this one by Peggy Peltier:

It contains not just one but two pull-out message panels:

You could stamp a two-part saying, one on each panel. Or put a regular saying on one panel, and write a personal message and sign your name on the second panel.

Peggy used foam tape to pop up the flower, which is a fun dimensional accent:

Hope your day is "hoppy," Inky friends!

Sunday Stamping With Karen Taylor: More Brushed Calligraphy

2012-01-08T06:00:00.001-06:00

We're so glad to hear you enjoyed Karen's first Guest Designer project! Thank you for your kind comments, Inky friends.

Today I thought you might enjoy learning more about the fascinating woman behind these vintage-style creations:

Where do you live?
In my studio…no, not really, but you can find me there often. I live in Southwest Missouri.

What can you tell us about your family?
We have two children, Jessie and Douglas. We were blessed with our first grandson almost two and a half years ago and have added five-year-old Landyn and sweet baby Chey to our list of grandchildren this year. But I am no frumpy grandma. ;-)

What is something people may not know about you?
I am a grandma, but I ride dirt bikes, a vintage style scooter around town, and my jet ski as fast as I can, jumping every wake I can find. (The back of my life jacket says, "YES, I am a GRANDMA!") I love to scuba (one of my lifelong dreams is to dive with great whites...I will be in a cage of course, but I'll have be diving with many sharks and swimming towards them, not away ), and I love zombies...vegetarian zombies, of course, as I am a vegetarian.

How and when did you learn to stamp?
As a child, I did a little of all kinds of crafting with my beloved grandma. We even carved our own stamps out of potatoes.

What’s your favorite beverage and/or snack (whether you’re stamping or not)?
BOMB POPS!! I would love to be their national spokes-paper crafter! I can eat 6, maybe 8 at a time...really. Now they only have 40 calories each!

Describe your stamping style in five words or less, and explain how this style came about or why you feel you stamp the way you do.
Artist out of the box! I just want to be free. No boundaries, just to create with the heart and, in doing that, I come up with different and fun ways to use stamps. Nothing is off limits!

* * *

Want to see an example of Karen's work as an "artist out of the box"? Here's the set that she started with, 11013SC Brushed Calligraphy #2 Clear Set:

Check out Karen's wonderful creation using these stamps:

Wow, I love all the fantastic details she incorporated (you can also click on the photo for a big closeup):

This card is commonly known as a petal card, but I don't think there's anything "common" about it! When you open up the flaps, an inspiring message is revealed:

The saying says, "Live among the flowers / Dance with the petals / Laugh in the sunshine." Here's another closeup:

There are so many beautiful elements to Karen's project, I'd be hard pressed to pick a favorite. Which one is yours? (You can name more than one technique or embellishment if you're having trouble deciding like me.)

Let us know, and you'll be entered in a little BLOG CANDY giveaway! On Wednesday, January 11th, I'll randomly choose the winner for the same clear set that Karen used and post that person's name...so please check back to see if you've won!

Friday Funnies: Dieting

2012-01-06T12:19:00.000-06:00

Every so often, either Steve or I will suggest that we go on a diet. It's usually a short-lived idea, although one of these days we're going to have to take it seriously. Since we've been together, we've each gained several pounds. In the past, I've been quite heavy and so this is something I really shouldn't ignore.

But, for today's post, I thought it would be fun to "make light" of our situation. Ha ha!

Maybe we need to work on our weighing technique:

Or change our rules to live by:

This is how our diets usually go:

BREAKFAST
* 1 grapefruit
* 1 slice whole-wheat toast
* 1 cup skim milk

LUNCH
* 1 small portion grilled chicken breast
* 1/2 cup steamed spinach
* 1 cup herbal tea
* 1 small cookie

AFTERNOON SNACK
* The rest of the cookies from the package
* 1 tub of ice cream with chocolate topping

DINNER
* 4 bottles of wine (red or white)
* 2 loaves garlic bread
* 1 family size sausage and mushroom pizza
* 3 Snickers bars

LATE NIGHT SNACK
* 1 whole cheesecake (eaten directly from the freezer)

Hmm, maybe we need to reconsider our plan of attack. Let me think about it while I nibble on some M&Ms...

Brushed Calligraphy Congrats

2012-01-04T09:07:00.001-06:00

Congratulations to Kimmy, whose name was drawn from our "Monday Stamping With Karen Taylor" blog candy entries. (Kimmy, please email me with your address.)

Kimmy said...
What a beautiful page. I love how you added so much detail and kept the vintage feel of the old picture. Just lovely!
January 2, 2012 2:27 PM

Kimmy won 11014SC Brushed Calligraphy #3 Clear Set, which includes the stamps that Karen used on her project earlier this week:

Thanks for playing, everyone! Please check back for more inspiration from Karen as we continue our Guest Designer series this Sunday.

"Try It Different" Tuesday: Sniffing Treats

2012-01-03T09:37:00.001-06:00

Whenever I see 0217H Sm. Sniffing Treats, it always brings a smile to my face:

A couple of years ago, I'd featured this adorable pup as a weekly card on the main Inky site:

I'd followed the same basic layout as this card by Lana Lepinski:

One difference is that I'd put my saying on the front instead of the inside. I like how Lana used 0670D Solid Heart Background to stamp over the stripes on her patterned paper.

The zigzag-stitched strip of stamped cardstock along the top is also a nice touch, along with the mini brads, knotted ribbon, and dry embossed swirly panel.

Want to change it up a bit? Try placing the main image at an angle, as shown here:

The sponged border adds definition, while the background images stamped in VersaMark provide subtle contrast and visual interest.

Finally, check out this version by Belva Brown, which includes the 3916F Be My Valentine saying:

Look what you'll find when you open the heart:

Yep, there's a second Valentine greeting (5904E Sm. Valentine's Day) inside that box of chocolates.

I've heard that life is like that, and you never know what you're going to get...but I'd definitely take this filling anytime!

Monday Stamping With Karen Taylor: Brushed Calligraphy

2012-01-02T06:00:00.001-06:00

At the last Summer CHA show, Karen Taylor stopped by our booth to give me a "hello and hug" from her friend and awesome Inky DT member Trudy Sjolander. Meeting Karen was a special treat all its own, as this very sweet lady also happens to be a talented designer in her own right.

That's one of the reasons why I'm so pleased to introduce Karen as the Inky Guest Designer for January:

As you'll see over the next few weeks, Karen has a wonderfully unique sense of style. Although she does make some cards, more often she creates altered art and 3D projects that show off her love of "all things vintage and old."

Want to see an example? One of the sets Karen used was 11014SC Brushed Calligraphy #3 Clear Set:

Here's the gorgeous project she created with these stamps:

Although you could call it a scrapbook layout, to me this reads more as a beautiful tribute to Karen's grandmother that is really a piece of art.

I know that a photograph can't do justice to something like this, but if you click on the above image you can see some of Karen's details.

For instance, at first glance you might spot the butterflies that are beautifully layered and embellished with pearl and rhinestone bling:

Speaking of layers, that's real sheet music...on the left, inked around the torn edges and on the right, passed through a paper crimper to add texture.

Did you notice the teal-colored vintage seam binding that was artfully arranged above the saying? Karen also used it as the stem that forms the base of her glittered paper flowers:

When I asked Karen to describe her stamping style in five words or less, she said "Artist out of the box!"

She elaborated by saying, "I just want to be free. NO boundaries, just to create with the heart...in doing that, I come up with different and fun ways to use stamps, [where] nothing is off limits!"

Karen encourages readers by reminding us: "Have fun. Remember, rules are meant to be broken...think outside of the box. This is where the next great techniques come from, but most of all, enjoy [the process]!

We definitely agree that Karen's approach yields "different and fun" results, and we hope you're inspired to experiment on your own!

Want the chance to experiment with 11014SC Brushed Calligraphy #3 Clear Set, too? Please leave a comment for Karen at the end of this post, which will enter you into our BLOG CANDY giveaway.

On Wednesday, January 4th, I'll randomly choose the winner and post that person's name...so please check back to see if you've won!

New Year's Greetings

2012-01-01T00:01:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year, Inky friends! I'll be back tomorrow to introduce January's Guest Designer. In the meantime, I hope you have a terrific start to 2012!

Friday Funnies: New Year's Resolutions

2011-12-30T06:00:00.000-06:00

Are you tired of making the same New Year’s resolutions that you never keep? Why not promise to do something you can actually accomplish? Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Cut down on exercise.

2. Eat more chocolate, Big Macs, and ice cream. Reduce intake of fresh fruit and vegetables.

3. Gain weight, at least 30 pounds or more. (Easier to do if you follow #1 and #2.)

4. Lose your keys and cell phone on a regular basis.

5. Think of a password other than "password."

6. Read fewer books and watch more TV.

7. Spend more time at work surfing the Internet.

8. Frequently share your experience and advice with others, such as "I told you so!" and “Do as I say, not as I do.”

9. Don’t waste any more time reliving the past; instead, spend it worrying about the future.

10. Stop bringing lunch from home, and eat out more often.

11. Let hair grow on legs and underarms.

12. Over water or under water plants. Make them turn a pathetic shade of yellow.

13. Max out all your credit cards.

14. Lie about your age. Subtract at least eight years.

15. Procrastinate more. Starting tomorrow.

Season's Tweetings

2011-12-28T09:36:00.000-06:00

I realize the holiday season is winding down, but Tina Covington sent me this "tweet" little card yesterday and I wanted to share it with you since there are still a few days left to receive a FREE 11058SC Snow Birdies Clear Set as a gift with purchase on your order in December. (You can find the details here.)

Here's what she made:

Besides being really cute, this card has a unique opening that I've never seen before:

Isn't that fun? Of course, this layout could be adapted to any occasion...but if you're looking to get a real jump start on your holiday cards for next year, this is the perfect opportunity!

Thanks to Tina for sharing her great idea, and we're glad you visited us today. :-)

"Try It Different" Tuesday: Juggling Snow

2011-12-27T06:00:00.000-06:00

We've had an unusually mild December here in Minnesota...but, even so, it's still the "freezin' season" and I'm sure Jack Frost will be catching up with us soon!

Once those temperatures drop, this card from Lana Lepinski will help us embrace the chilly weather while warming someone's heart:

Lana used 0597H Juggling Snow and 0545D Snow Doubt to create her adorable greeting. The stamped and sponged edges of the image panel frame the image nicely, while the snowballs dusted with ultrafine glitter add a touch of sparkly goodness.

These super cute projects by Heather Nichols show a couple other ways to use the main image, in a kraft-based card and a fun little notebook:

And here are two more options, again by Lana:

The project on the right contains 4" x 4 1/2" cardstock pages that are bound "matchbook style" into an oh-so-handy notepad:

The bottom 1/2" of each page was scored to fit into the 4 1/4" x 10 1/4" holder, which was scored at 4", 4 1/2", and 9 1/4":

The above photo shows how the pages were bound into the holder with snowflake brads, although you could certainly use a stapler, as well.

We're "snow" glad you stopped by to view these projects. Hope you have a great day!

Monday Stamping With Marie Oberg: Live Dance Laugh

2011-12-26T07:00:00.001-06:00

For this week's stamping session with Marie, we took a different direction from all of the holiday cards featured lately. I thought it would be nice to show a couple of all-occasion projects instead, so I asked her to use 11013SC Brushed Calligraphy #2 Clear Set.

I'm really smitten with this one, which I think is gorgeous:

Marie die cut a scalloped oval from the front of the card and adhered Clear Cardstock over the opening. She also added a few dimensional pearls for texture and visual interest.

For her overlay, she added a criss-cross diamond design using an embossing folder. (You could also use a Scor-it-All Board to achieve the same effect.) Then she die cut another scalloped oval in the same spot so that the openings lined up when she placed the overlay onto the card. That touch of purple marker around the edges really framed the sentiment inside the card (10102J Live Dance Laugh in the wood mounted version) nicely.

For another idea using the same stamp set, Marie made this pretty card:

On both cards, she colored directly on the flower stamp (10124J Coneflower in the wood mounted version) with waterbased markers and spritzed with a fine mister filled with water before stamping onto the cardstock. The purple cut-out flower in the first card was embellished with ultrafine glitter, and the pink ones in the second card were trimmed at the stem and arranged in the corners.

We wish to express our sincere thanks and appreciation to Marie for kicking off our Guest Designer series with a bang! I hope you've enjoyed reading more about this wonderful lady and seeing her fantastic projects.

In our next "Stamping With..." post, we'll be introducing a new designer for January, so keep your eyes peeled for more Inky fun!

Holiday Greetings

2011-12-25T06:00:00.010-06:00

To our dear Inky friends, we wish you a very Merry Christmas! I'll be back tomorrow with our postponed "Sunday Stamping With Marie Oberg" segment. Until then, I hope you have a wonderful day full of love and good cheer!

Card created by Lana Lepinski. :-)

Friday Funnies: Santa

2011-12-23T09:09:00.001-06:00

I can't believe Christmas is almost here. I'm not sure what happened to the month of December, which seemed to fly right by like Santa's reindeer! But now that I've got just a few (ha!) things left to do before the big day, I might have to pay a visit to the "star bucks" myself, LOL.

(BTW, I found the above cartoon in a high school newsletter, of all places.)

I'm not sure if you're a planner or more of a last-minute person like, but I'll keep today's post rather brief. Just thought I'd share a few tidbits of humor based around that iconic Christmas character with the red suit and white beard:

Yep, Santa visited our house yesterday! He made a special trip to see my sister-in-law's daycare kids, so I snapped a quick photo before he left.

That reminded me of the three stages of man:
1) He believes in Santa Claus.
2) He doesn't believe in Santa Claus.
3) He is Santa Claus.

And now for the riddles:

What nationality is Santa Claus?
North Polish.

How many reindeer does Santa have?
Eleven of them, named below:
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen,Rudoph (the one with the red nose), Olive ("Olive, the other reindeer"), and Al ("then Al the reindeer loved him").

What do elves learn in school?
The elf-abet.

What do you call people who are afraid of Santa Claus?
Claustrophobic.

What do you get if you cross Father Christmas with a detective?
Santa Clues.

Why does Santa have three gardens?
So he can ho-ho-ho.

If Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus had a child, what would s/he be called?
A subordinate claus.

"Try It Different" Tuesday: Naughty Elves

2011-12-20T09:38:00.000-06:00

The other night, a couple of "naughty elves" visited my stamping studio:

Steve and his nephew Tyler (who is eight years old "but will be almost nine soon!") decided to make Christmas cards using 0627K Naughty Elves:

Tyler quickly learned how easy it is to blend colored pencils with Gamsol, even for a beginner:

Once their images were colored, they sponged ink on the background:

Steve showed Tyler how to use the rotary trimmer:

He was also intrigued by the Scor-it-All Mini Board, which helped him make a perfect crease:

Instead of putting the Naughty Elves image on the front of his card, Tyler chose to place it inside. The little elves from Cube-0653 Lil' Holiday Helpers were carefully arranged on the outside:

Did you notice his sketch in the photo above? Tyler really gave this layout some serious thought!

Steve chose a more traditional card design, using the Bow-Easy to create an embellishment for his front:

Here are their results:

And the interior of Tyler's card, with 0256D Cool Yule thrown in for good measure:

I asked "the boys" to pose with their creations:

I didn't ask them to goof around for the camera, but you know how boys are:

Pictionary Congrats

2011-12-19T13:09:00.000-06:00

Congratulations to Debb, whose name was drawn from our Pictionary blog candy entries. I'd asked you to guess what Terri drew here:

Debb said...
Going home for Christmas

While that wasn't actually the correct answer, I liked Debb's response even better!

Your guesses were a lot of fun to read. Several of you thought Terri was depicting a honeymoon (I can totally see that!), while others wondered if it was a boxing match, dodgeball game, line dancing, or something else.

Only one person thought she was showing someone getting frisked, which is the action Terri was trying to portray. (Great job, Sue!)

Debb's prize pack will include 11058SC Snow Birdies Clear Set, which is also a gift with purchase in December:

Thanks for playing, everyone!

Sunday Stamping With Marie Oberg: Snowman Soup

2011-12-18T06:00:00.000-06:00

In preparation for Marie's Guest Designer spot, I asked her several questions as part of an online interview so you (and I) could get to know her even better:

What’s your favorite beverage and/or snack (whether you’re stamping or not)?
Besides wine, I enjoy salsa and chips with melted cheese and sour cream. Yum, yum, yum!

Describe your stamping style in five words or less, and explain how this style came about or why you feel you stamp the way you do.
My style is "outside the box." I tell my grandchildren that they should learn something new every day, so I try to apply that same same advice to my stamping hobby er, should I say addiction?). So whenever I sit down to create a card, I try to do something that is new and different for me. I try to work outside my "comfort zone. As they say on Star Trek, "Go where no man...er, stamper...has gone before."

What have you learned as you’ve evolved as a designer? In other words, what advice or tips can you share with our readers for helping them improve?
As I have spent more time with this hobby, it has given me the confidence to try many different techniques. Don't be afraid to try something new. It is only paper...stop saving it for something special, dig into your stash, and create. If you use some of these saved items, it will give you an excuse to go shopping and buy more!

(Jackie's Note: Oh, Marie, that last part cracks me up. What great advice! Seriously, though, we agree...it really is just paper.)

What is one area that you are trying to improve in your own creative style, techniques, or process?
I try to be less critical of my designs and be more adventuresome. Being OCD, I try to be less of a perfectionist. Don't sweat the small stuff...chances are no one will notice the possible flaws but you!

(Jackie's Note: Isn't that the truth! We're always the most critical of our own work, and I try to remember that and be easier on myself, too.)

What’s your current favorite stamping technique?
My current favorite stamping technique is exploring different color mediums to use on Kraft cardstock. So far, Prismacolor colored pencils work the best. You can get awesome results using white colored pencil on Kraft cardstock. After you apply the white, you can add any color you desire [on top].

What are your top 5-10 tools that you rely on most when you create (besides stamps, of course)?
I would be lost without my die cutting machine, embossing folders, white pigment ink pad, Sakura Stardust pen, Marvy gold Metallic pen, Prismacolor pencils, and Gamsol! Of course, a glass of Finger Lakes wine helps me to listen to my creative muse!

Name a few of your favorite Inky stamps (and what you like best about them, if you wish).
I can't narrow that list down to a few favorites; there are too many. The Inky Antics stamping universe is so varied that it is hard to pick favorites. Who can't relate to [the] My Friend Ronnie, Worldly Women, Girly Girls, or Well Seasoned [collections]? The Critters Friends, Furry Pals, and HoneyPop collections always bring a smile to the face of anyone who sees them.

What is the most recent stamping project you made, and how long did it take you to create it?
The "Snowman Soup" folder that I created was the most recent. It took me about 8 hours (with several revisions), before I was completely satisfied with the end result. Despite the number of hours spent, the creative process was very fulfilling. I was very pleased with the final project.

(Jackie's Note: I totally agree, it turned out fantastic! Inky friends, please see the bottom of this post for Marie's awesome project.)

Where do you find inspiration for your stamping projects?
Everywhere. I am constantly looking at everything around me. For instance, at a recent visit to a friend's home, I noticed the design around the picture on a picture frame that I thought would be great as a layout for a future card.

Jackie always has the greatest samples (and humorous jokes) that inspire me to try different things. Who would have known you could make a box out of clear cardstock or a photo album from clear envelopes? The organizational samples are invaluable...a card and coupon organizer, a password saver book, a date book, address book, memo pad, and the list goes on and on and on...how's that for inspiration.

I have made photo albums for my youngest grandchildren's birthdays every year since they were born, the daughters have received card organizers, address books, date books and password saver books.

(Jackie's Note: Aww, that much praise makes me blush. I definitely can't take credit for all of these ideas, but it makes me happy to be able to share them with our readers.)

Is there anything else you’d like to tell our blog readers?
Feel free to experiment...it's only paper...use it...you can always buy more!!! Who doesn't love shopping? Don't be afraid to try something new. Look around you, study the Design Team's samples. Try it...you might like it!

* * *

And with that last bit of awesome advice, I'm pleased to show you the project that Marie made for today's post. Although it's not quite as relaxing as a glass of wine, a mug of cocoa can be pretty enjoyable...so, the featured stamp set for this week's Sunday Stamping series is 10936MC Snowman Soup Clear Set:

Marie used a CD literature folder as the base of her creation. (She said they're available in bulk at Uline, or you can get them in smaller quantities here.) This is the front cover of her folder:

Not only is the base double-matted with red cardstock and then a stamped piece on top, but the die-cut circular area is a shaker window. Marie used a process similar to this when making the shaker window, except she altered the shape and added a scalloped circle overlay to frame her window.

The shaker window was filled with glitter and teeny star confetti. If you click on the above photo for a close-up view, you'll also see how she placed individual small snowflake confetti pieces around the scalloped border and then adhered a sparkly red rhinestone on top. The teardrop cut-out areas are each filled with glitter, too. Now that is some super fancy detail work, and it turned out gorgeous!

Open the folder, and you're treated to more goodies inside...literally:

The right side of the CD folder has a built-in pocket that's just the right size for holding the dry cocoa mix and candy cane...or "snowman soup with stirring stick," as we like to call it.

I like how Marie repeated elements from the front, such as the scalloped circles and stamped background pieces, along with more carefully positioned snowflakes.

Did she forget the back? No way! It's lovingly decorated to match the rest of the project:

Thanks again to Marie for another terrific project. Here's wishing YOU a warm and cozy week!

Friday Funnies: Pictionary

2011-12-16T06:00:00.007-06:00

Last Saturday, we went to the annual Wamhoff Christmas party at Auntie Terri and Uncle Gary's house. It's always a festive event, filled with eating too much food, catching up on news with the relatives, and singing carols (I know, isn't that so dang wholesome?!).

My favorite part of the evening was playing Pictionary in an epic battle of the boys vs. the girls! We had to persuade a reluctant Uncle Kurt to join us in the fun:

His sketch looked funny, but it got his idea across:

Cousin Matt's first drawing really had me stumped at first:

Can you figure it out? Yep, it's a tool chest!

Not all of the pictures were obvious, sometimes even to the players themselves. Uncle Gary had to consult his card to make sure he drew the right object:

It was a rattlesnake, which I missed. I didn't guess correctly on Matt's second drawing, either, but luckily the other women on my team "got the point" better than me:

Darts, anyone? Auntie Irene's drawing made more sense to me:

In fact, I guessed right both times:

That's right, bride and Florida. But I was a little confused by Auntie Terri's creation:

What's your guess? Not that I'm any better at drawing than guessing! In fact, I was lucky that Cousin Arlene is so good at the latter, considering what she had to work with:

Of course, it seemed obvious to me:

As you can see, I was thinking of 2031E Melty S'more the whole time I drew my marshmallow. Good thing for Inky that we work with real artists like Tammy, huh? Otherwise I'm afraid our stamp line would be pretty pathetic, LOL!

Here was another one of my fabulous creations:

Doesn't that look like a castle to you?

Want the chance to win a little BLOG CANDY? To enter our "surprise set" giveaway, please fill out the form below. On Monday, December 19th, I'll randomly choose the winner and post that person's name...so be sure to come back and see if you've won!

*Update on 12/19: Entries are now closed*

"Try It Different" Tuesday: Sporty Penguins

2011-12-13T10:00:00.000-06:00

This week's card on our main Inky site, created by Michelle Pearson, features 11004MC Sporty Penguins Clear Set:

These playful little guys would be a delightful addition to your holiday and winter cards. For a fun twist, you can use a non-traditional shape, like this one created by Marie Oberg:

Marie raised the light silver snowflake panel with foam tape, and she added Glossy Accents on the sides of the ice. She applied ultrafine glitter to the top of the ice and edges of the dark blue piece (which she'd stamped with snowflakes and embossed using sparkly white powder). Shiny rhinestones encircle the penguin and accent the edges of the word strips for a pretty finishing touch!

I think this card would also make a beautiful ornament, just by looping metallic cord at the top. You could leave it as is, or add a second card to the back and make it double-sided.

Marie used the same 0544G Sliding Penguin image on the inside of this card:

If you click on the photo to enlarge it, you may be able to spot the clear cardstock "ice." Marie die cut an oval from the lower portion of the card, adhered the clear cardstock over the opening, and then addded a torn paper panel (dry embossed in swirls, inked in powder blue, and glittered to resemble snow) on top.

Not only that, but she stamped the ice with tiny snowflakes using StazOn, sponged clouds for the card background, and decorated the landscape with torn paper pine trees.

My favorite part of this card is how she positioned 0548H Skating Penguin at the top of the ice so there was room to handwrite "Merry Christmas" inside and have it show through (in a swirly skating pattern, of course). How clever is that!

You can see how it looks from the inside, along with that other penguin I mentioned earlier:

Thanks to Michelle and Marie for sharing their "cool" ideas!

"Wrap It Up" Congrats

2011-12-12T12:03:00.000-06:00

Congratulations to Dawnll and Bridget, whose names were drawn from our "Wrap It Up" Blog Hop entries. (Dawn and Bridget, please email me with your address.)

Dawnll - Dawn's Craft Place said...
This is so beautiful! Love the use of Gold
December 8, 2011 10:45 AM

Bridget says:
I love the Clear Pillow Box. Makes the perfect gift package. TFS!
December 8, 2011 at 6:28 am

Dawn and Bridget's prize packs will both include 11058SC Snow Birdies Clear Set, which Tex used on her hop project:

If you'd like to order any of the clear sets, wood mounted stamps, or accessories to make your own wrapping paper and decorative packaging, you can find them here. Thanks to everyone who joined us for this hop. We appreciate your participation!

Sunday Stamping With Marie Oberg: Holiday Reindeer

2011-12-11T07:21:00.001-06:00

For this week's Sunday Stamping session, I asked Marie to use 10912LC Holiday Reindeer Clear Set:

And, boy, did her card ever turn out festive looking! The wood mounted versions that she stamped for this delightful project were 0082H Enlightened Reindeer and 0011D Bright Season:

All her little details, such as popping up parts with foam tape, lining the tree edges with ultrafine glitter, adding Glossy Accents to Rudolph's light bulbs and nose, and creating a paper-pieced tree and skirt, make this card really special.

As you can see, they're all on a base layered with a scalloped border and die-cut oval, which form a great background. Of course, the string of Christmas lights really "pop"...I just love this embellishment!

In true "Marie style," however, she didn't stop there...look what happens when you take the exact same elements and just add a few folds:

Wow, it's been converted into a sidestep card! The measurements are shown here:

On the 5 1/2" side of her card, Marie made a vertical cut from 2" to 7 1/2" at the 2 1/2" mark. Then she scored on the right side of that 2 1/2" mark at the 2", 4" 5 1/4", 6 1/2" and 7 1/2" points along the 8 1/2" side. Once she folded alternating "mountains" and "valleys" on the score marks, her dimensional base was ready for all the elements to be adhered to it.

To store and present her sidestep card, Marie also put together this great card holder (also in wood mounted 0041G Gifted Reindeer, 0016D Picture Perfect, and 0030F Reindeer Circle):

The die-cut metallic gold paper pulls together the images and saying nicely, drawing your eye around the front.

The back and side show you how the width of her card holder:

Thanks again to Marie for an awesome job. Hope you enjoyed today's post and have a terrific Sunday, Inky readers!

Honeycomb Borders & Blooms

2011-12-09T07:49:00.000-06:00

The name of Michelle Pearson's blog, Inspiration Blooms, is so appropriate. Not only would I say her creativity has bloomed (and I mean that literally...you'll see why below) but rather exploded in a burst of genius!

Okay, that sounds a little bit scary, LOL. Let me back up a bit. Michelle recently used 11054MC Penguin's Pal HoneyPOP Clear Set and a White Honeycomb Paper Pad to create a pop-out "surprise" for the interior of her card:

She wrote, "I love using the pads for their intended purpose....to add fun embellishments to the insides of your cards...however I hate throwing away my Honey Comb scraps!"

Leave it to Michelle to come up with an innovative and super cool solution! She explains more in the following photos (which you can click to enlarge, if you wish):

Notice how Michelle indicated the orienation of her cut pieces with arrows. In other words, the arrows run in the same direction as the glue lines on the Honeycomb Paper Pad.

When she wrote how the options are endless, she wasn't kidding! Here are even more nifty borders:

They look fantastic on your stamped projects! Take a peek at the decorated front of Michelle's card:

At first, I was wondering if I could achieve similar results on my own. But it really was pretty darn easy! As Michelle instructed earlier, after cutting out the honeycomb shape, I pulled apart the ends to stretch out the piece, and then rotated and flattened it to make the border:

In the video, I put red-lined tape on upper edge of the border because I planned to cover it with ribbon. Then I placed more red-lined tape on the opposite side to adhere it to the card I was making.

For this card, Michelle skipped the red-lined tape and sewed it onto the panel instead:

Oh, but wait, there's more...MUCH more, in fact:

That's right, honeycomb rosettes! I fell in love instantly when I saw them. And not just a few, but lots of different designs are possible:

What a gorgeous embelllishment for this card, which was stamped with 11053MC Ornament Birdy HoneyPOP Set:

You can even use the borders and rosettes together for an amazing combination:

Notice how she overlapped the pieces to make the icicle border. And just to top things off (again, literally), Michelle made a coordinating card with another honeycomb border:

Thanks so much to Michelle for sharing her wonderful technique and great photos!

Are you feeling inspired to make some borders and rosettes of your own? If so, please let us know how they turn out...we'd love to hear about your honeycomb-decorated creations!

"Wrap It Up" Blog Hop

2011-12-08T04:00:00.002-06:00

For gifts that look as special as the gifts themselves are, why not make your own wrapping paper or decorative packaging? Homemade gift wrap is unique and economical because you can personalize it to fit the recipient and make as much or little as you need. This month's hop will show you different ideas for creating pretty presents!

The blog hop starts today and ends on Sunday, December 11th at midnight Central time. Please visit each DT member's blog to view their project, and leave a comment for each designer. The more you comment, the better your chances are to win. (Limit one comment per blog, please).

On Monday the 12th, two people's names will be drawn at random to receive an Inky prize pack. We'll announce the winners here, so please check back and see if you're one of them!

Ready to see the gift packaging ideas? Here's our hop order:

Michelle
Tex
Keri
Debbie
Trudy
Jovi

After you're done, return here to leave a comment as your final entry. Thanks for playing with us!

* * *

For my project, I used the Bow-Easy #2. You may already be familiar with the original Bow-Easy, but did you know there's a larger size available, too? It's perfect for creating bigger bows, such as the 5" wide one I needed for my box.

Here's a brief video tutorial showing the Bow-Easy #2 in action:

I made another one using pink striped ribbon to coordinate with the wrapping paper:

My gift tag wasn't as beautifully detailed as Marie's lovely ones presented earlier this week, but that's a great thing about stamping...you can make your project as simple or complex as you wish, and either way is good!

The tag was made with 0680G Santa Gift Tag, and I repeatedly stamped 10165H Merry Christmas WordGround onto white butcher paper using lime green ink:

Steve was curious as to what was inside his present:

But no peeking for him...there are still 17 days left until Christmas!

"Try It Different" Tuesday: Reindeer Crunch, Part II (& Blog Hop Congrats)

2011-12-06T11:18:00.001-06:00

A couple of weeks ago, Trudy Sjolander created two adorable projects for a "Try It Different" Tuesday post using 10941SC Reindeer Crunch Clear Set:

Normally, I wouldn't repeat a stamp set so quickly for this series. But when Marie Oberg came up with such completely different creations, I thought it would be fun to share them with you before the holidays.

First, she made this week's card on our main Inky website:

This tag-on-a-card idea is so much fun! You can learn more about how Marie made it by clicking here.

Of course, you can make gift tags galore for packages, too:

Each of these tags is a mini work of art, so I decided to photograph them individually. You can click on any picture for a close-up view to see Marie's fantastic details. For example, used a metallic calligraphy-tipped pen on the outer edges of several tags, including this one:

If you look closely, you'll also notice the metallic gel pen accents on the reindeer's scarf (including tiny gold dots!) and birdie's hat. Here is a similar tag, but with dangling snowflake charm:

On the third tag, Marie used the same colored pencil blending technique with Gamsol as before, but she substituted kraft cardstock:

What a cool change, huh! That little birdie charm is a whimsical touch, and did you notice the tiny highlighting dots on the reindeer's eyes and nose?

Here's another tag with kraft cardstock, except now it's used as the base:

The highlighting dots in the eyes have been repeated, but Rudolph's nose and birdie's hat have been touched with red glitter. This time, the reindeer was "colored" with paper piecing (i.e., stamping the image on different types of cardstock and/or patterned paper, cutting our different sections and reassembing them onto the main image).

Tag number five illustrates the same technique but with different colors and a repeated holly embellishment in the lower right and on the bow:

On the last tag, the paper rosette was accented with ultrafine glitter for additional sparkle (besides the nose and hat again):

I love all of these tags and would find it extremely difficult to pick a favorite. Which one do YOU like best?

By the way, as long as we're on the subject of tags, I've got two related items to mention:

1. We're halfway through Tim Holtz's "12 Tags of Christmas," which we're featuring on the Stampers Anonymous website with updates every day and easy shopping links. On his blog, Tim shows a variety of amazing techniques that you can apply to your stamped projects. It doesn't matter whether your stamping style leans more toward "artsy" or "cute"...there are some neat tricks that everyone can use.

2. What to do with so many tags? Why, use them on your gifts, of course! Our next blog hop starts on Thursday, and we'll be showing you several ideas for wrapping those presents.

Finally, congratulations to Theresa, whose name was randomly drawn as the winning entry for the 11058SC Snow Birdies Clar Set:

Theresa said...
Marie is one of my favorite stampers. Her work is just so incredible. I totally love her candy cane box and card. The images are just fabulous.
December 4, 2011 5:03 PM

Theresa, please email me with your address so I can send out your stamp set.

Thanks to everyone who entered the drawing and visited us today. Hope you'll join us again on Thursday for our "Wrap It Up" Blog Hop!

Sunday Stamping With Marie Oberg: Introduction

2011-12-04T04:00:00.001-06:00

Today we're kicking off a new blog series, which I'm really excited about! Every month, we're featuring a different Inky Guest Designer, whose projects will be posted right here each Sunday.

For December, I am so pleased to share creations from our lovely friend Marie Oberg:

Marie lives in Rochester, New York, and you may recall that she hosts a stamping group called Lilac Inkers.

She is a wife, mother, and grandmother to 9 grandchildren. The grandchildren range in age from 3 years to 21 years old. There are 4 girls and 5 boys. Marie says her grandchildren keep her young and informed about the current trends:

I even have installed and played Angry Birds! If you don't know what Angry Birds is, go ask someone who is younger than 25!

Marie is an avid Nascar fan and claims that Tony Stewart is her favorite driver. Of course, she also love stamping:

In 2003, I was visiting a friend who was making cards, and she told me about a local store that sold stamps & stamping supplies and taught classes. I went to visit the store and was immediately "hooked." The rest is history, as they say!

You may remember seeing some of Marie's work here, here, and here. Well, last month Marie was busily working on many more projects to inspire you!

For example, I asked her to use 11058SC Snow Birdies Clear Set (which happens to be FREE this month as a gift-with-purchase special):

Check out the adorable treat box she made:

She used the "Sprinkled With Love" tutorial for this, but changed the width of the box by increasing the 1 3/4" sections to 2 1/2" each. She then placed red-lined tape on the 1" tabs before assembling the base.

Prior to assembly, the clear cardstock was stamped using a White StazOn Opaque Ink Pad and colored on the inside with Sharpie markers, which you can see by clicking on this close-up photo:

One of the many things I like about Marie's projects is her careful attention to detail. In addition to her beautiful coloring and blending with Gamsol, she added white flocking to the trim of birdy's hat and skates:

And take a look at this gorgeous card using the same clear stamp set:

She used a Quickie Glue Pen to apply ultrafine glitter to the die cut edges, scarf, boots, hat, and rose, which added such a pretty finishing touch.

Want the chance to win your own 11058SC Snow Birdies Clear Set? We're doing a quick BLOG CANDY giveaway! To enter, please give Marie some "love" in the comments section below.

On Tuesday, December 6th, I'll randomly choose the winner and post that person's name...so please check back to see if you've won!

Friday Funnies: 12 Days of Christmas

2011-12-02T06:23:00.000-06:00

As you may know, every year during the first 12 days of December, Tim Holtz creates a special tag for each day to celebrate the season. One of my tasks is to update the Stampers Anonymous website with links to the stamps and supplies he uses:

Of course, I couldn't help but start singing the popular tune in my head as I was typing away. There are several parodies of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" on the internet, but my favorite is the real thing sung by a little boy and his brother (well, sorta).

I don't know this kid personally, but he sure is cute. And if you happen to have the same attention span as his sibling (or are in a hurry when you watch this), you can skip to the 5:15 mark for the complete version:

And here's a funny collection of letters reminding us to choose our gifts wisely:

December 14, 2003

Dearest Dave,

I went to the door today, and the postman delivered a partridge in a pear tree. This was a delightful gift! I couldn't have been more surprised or pleased, darling!

With truly the deepest love,
Agnes

December 15, 2003

Dearest Dave,

Today the postman brought me yet another of your sweet gifts. The two turtle doves that arrived today are adorable, and I'm delighted by your thoughtful and generous ways.

With all of my love,
Your Agnes

December 16, 2003

Dearest Dave,

You've truly been too kind! I must protest; I don't deserve such generosity. The thought of getting three French hens amazes me. Yet, I am not surprised--what more should I expect from such a nice person?

Love,
Agnes

December 17, 2003

Dear Dave,

Four calling birds arrived in the mail today. They are very nice, but don't you think that enough is enough? You are being too romantic.

Affectionately,
Agnes

December 18, 2003

Dearest darling Dave,

It was a surprise to get five golden rings! I now have one for every finger. You truly are impossible, darling, yet oh how I love it! Quite frankly, all of those squarking birds from the previous days were starting to get on my nerves. However, you managed to come through with a beautiful and valuable gift!

All my love,
Agnes

December 19, 2003

Dear Dave,

When I opened my door, there were actually six geese a-laying on my front steps. So you're back to the birds again, huh? Those geese are dear, but where will I keep them? The neighbors are complaining, and I am unable to sleep with all the racket. Please stop, dear.

Cordially,
Agnes

December 20, 2003

Dave,

What is with you and those stupid birds? Seven swans a-swimming! What kind of sick joke is this?! There are bird droppings everywhere! They never shut up, and I don't get any sleep. I'm a nervous wreck! It's not funny, you weirdo, so stop with the birds.

Sincerely,
Agnes

December 21, 2003

O.K. wise guy,

The birds were bad enough. Now what do you expect me to do with eight maids a-milking? If that's not bad enough, they had to bring their cows! The front lawn was completely ruined by them, and I can't move in my own house! Just lay off with the deliveries, or you'll be sorry!

Agnes

December 22, 2003

Hey loser,

You must be some kind of sadist! Now there are nine pipers playing, and they certainly do play. They haven't stopped chasing those maids since they got here! The cows are getting upset, and they're stepping all over those screeching birds. The neighbors are signing a petition to evict me, and I'm going out of my mind!

You'll get yours!
Agnes

December 23, 2003

You rotten scum!!!

There are now ten ladies dancing! They're dancing twenty-four hours a day all around me, with the pipers upsetting the cows and the maids. The cows can't sleep, and they are going to the bathroom everywhere! The building commissioner has subpoenaed me to give cause as to why the house shouldn't be condemned! I can't even think of a reason. You creep! I'm sending the police out for you!

From one who means it!

December 24, 2003

Listen, you evil, sadistic maniac!

What's with the eleven lords-a-leaping?!? They are leaping across the rooms breaking everything and even injuring some of the maids! The place smells, is an absolute mad house, and is about to be condemned! At least the birds are quiet; they were trampled to death by the cows. I hope you are satisfied, you rotten, vicious, worthless piece of garbage!

Your sworn enemy,
Agnes

December 25, 2003

The Law Offices of
Badger, Rees, and Yorker
20 Knave Street
Chicago, Illinois

Dear Sir,

This is to acknowledge your latest gift of twelve fiddlers-fiddling, which you have seen fit to inflict on our client, Agnes McHolstein. The destruction of course was total. If you attempt to reach Ms. McHolstein at Happy Daze Sanatarium, the attendants have instructions to shoot you on site.

Please direct all correspondence to this office in the future. With this letter, please find attached a warrant for your arrest.

Cordially,
Badger, Rees, and Yorker

Bow-Easy #2

2011-12-01T14:05:00.001-06:00

You may already be familiar with the original Bow-Easy, but did you know there's a larger size available, too? It's called the Bow-Easy #2, and you can use it to make bows that are 4", 5", 6", and 8" wide.

Here's a brief video tutorial showing the Bow-Easy #2 in action:

And here's a wrapped gift embellished with another bow I made using pink striped ribbon:

The Bow-Easy #2 isn't designed to create pew bows, but it's terrific for bigger bows intended to be placed on gifts, trees, wreaths, and more. It works best with ribbons from 1/2" to 2" wide. Happy bow making, Inky readers!

Blog Candy Congrats

2011-12-01T08:29:00.000-06:00

Congratulations to Dee, whose name was randomly drawn as the winning entry for the 11057SC Marshmallow Friends Clear Set:

Dee in N.H. said...
Love the cards! How fun! The stamps are adorable!
November 30, 2011 5:41 PM

Dee, please email me with your address so I can send out your stamp set.

Thanks to everyone who played with us. For another chance to win, head over to our Facebook page before tomorrow. (While you're there, please "like" us, too!)

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree!

2011-11-30T07:19:00.000-06:00

Earlier this year, Starla Nelson created a fantastic card & apple basket set for an eclecticPaperie HoneyPOP blog hop:

When my friend Chelsea Comer saw that apple basket on display at our convention booth in Madison the other weekend, it inspired her to make a Christmas tree using Honeycomb Paper Pads:

Isn't it cute? But, wait, it gets better...Chelsea added a light bulb necklace (yep, she added jewelry, of all things!) and iridescent shredded "snow":

And here's the pièce de résistance, a sweet little birdy from 11053MC Ornament Birdy Clear Set to make this adorable scene complete:

For a unique twist on HoneyPOP cards, Clownmom put the 3-D shape on the outside of hers:

Thanks to these ladies for sharing their great ideas!

"Try It Different" Tuesday: Marshmallow Friends

2011-11-29T10:32:00.000-06:00

Pamela Mercer (one of our three Lilac Inkers friends mentioned today) created this week's card on our main Inky website. It features 11057SC Marshmallow Friends Clear Set:

This is a versatile set because the stamps work great for all winter holidays, and it makes a cute card on its own or when paired with a cocoa packet:

It's easy to create the pocket card: Score a 4 1/4" x 11" piece of cardstock at 5 1/2" and 10", and use a corner rounder punch on all four corners. Mountain fold the scored line next to the 1" flap side, and valley fold on the other scored line at the middle. Then adhere the long sides of the pocket with red-lined tape on the inside edges, and insert your cocoa packet.

This card by Luba Balycz shows the Snow Cocoa image on the front, which is also available as a wood mounted stamp (2022F):

The inside of the card is just as cute as the outside:

Did you spot the Melty S'more image in the lower right? It's from the same Marshmallow Friends Clear Set (or 2031E as a wood mounted stamp), and it makes an adorable card on its own, too:

Pamela created the card above, as well as this one:

Both have Glossy Accents on the chocolate. The marshmallow is adorned with ultrafine glitter on the first card and white flocking on the second. Such fun finishing touches!

Or turn this image into a S'more Kit by placing the ingredients into a decorated pillow box:

Looking for something more elegant? Check out this simple yet lovely card by Cathy Myhowych:

It's 2023D Warmest Christmas Wishes in the wood mounted version. Or, if you use the clear set, you can mix and match the phrases to send "holiday" or "winter" wishes.

Want the chance to win 11057SC Marshmallow Friends Clear Set? Let's do a quick BLOG CANDY giveaway! To enter, just leave your name in the comments section below.

On Thursday, December 1st, I'll randomly choose the winner and post that person's name...so please check back to see if you've won!

Cyber Monday Sale: 10% Off Everything!

2011-11-28T00:00:00.012-06:00

I'm excited to announce a special offer for TODAY ONLY:

We've never had a sale like this before! Save on our ENTIRE line of wood mounted stamps, clear sets, and accessories...everything you see on the main Inky site is included. Plus, if your post-discount total exceeds $30, you'll also get a FREE jar of Diamond Dust.

So if you've had your eye on some items (for yourself or someone else), now's the perfect time to get them. :-) Just click here for our Cyber Monday coupon code and instructions on how to redeem it. Happy shopping!

Friday Funnies: Black Friday

2011-11-25T08:30:00.000-06:00

I know you've probably got a lot to do today...it's Black Friday, after all! Here's a cartoon that pokes fun at the extreme lengths to which some folks will go in their quest to find the best sales:

Usually I find it's easier to do most of my holiday shopping online. Sometimes it's a little too easy:

Of course, it's good not to wait until the last minute. As long as you don't start too early, like this man:

It was just after Thanksgiving, and the judge was in a happy mood. He asked the defendant, "What are you charged with?"

The defendant replied, "Doing my Christmas shopping too early."

"That's no crime," said the judge. "Just how early were you doing this shopping?"

"Before the shop opened," answered the man.

It can be tough battling those crowds, though! That's why, most of all, it's important to keep your sense of humor while shopping. And always remember, Santa is our friend:

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T07:21:00.000-06:00

Here at Inky Antics, we've got a lot to be thankful for: our wonderful customers, amazing designers, and talented artists. That's a lot of adjectives, but it's true...without all of you, we wouldn't be here today. And for that, we're very appreciative!

Thanks also to Robin Barwacz, for sharing her adorable turkey card with this sentiment inside:

I hope your holiday is filled with food and fun, Inky friends!

"Try It Different" Tuesday: Reindeer Crunch

2011-11-22T08:34:00.000-06:00

Since our theme for this month's hop was handmade gifts, we thought it would be fun to follow up with "Try It Different" versions of 10941SC Reindeer Crunch Clear Set:

Here's the tag from the set, shown on the front of V1-1223 Rectangle Box Template:

The tag was colored was pencils and blended with Gamsol, and all the edges were inked with Ranger Archival Ink in Coffee. The box was spritzed with Perfect Pearls Mists, diluted just a little to match the background paper.

Speaking of the box, what's inside? Why, Reindeer Crunch, of course:

This stamp set contains a coordinating name label, image, background stamp, and gift tag...everything you need to help you create an adorable gourmet gift.

Well, except for the actual Reindeer Crunch snack. Trudy Sjolander, who made both of these "sweet" little presents, provided her secret recipe:

Reindeer Crunch Bugle Mix

1 (12.5 oz.) bag Bugles snacks
8 oz. lightly salted mixed nuts
9 cubes vanilla almond bark

In a very large bowl, mix together Bugles and nuts. Melt almond bark in a microwave safe dish until melted, checking and stirring frequently to prevent scorching. Pour over Bugles mixture and stir until entirely coated.

Line two cookie sheets with waxed paper. Spread Bugle mixture on a pan, and place in freezer until almond bark hardens. Once hardened, break into pieces and place in an airtight container.

Yum! This recipe is fast and simple, but you could also substitute a ready-made snack mix (perhaps with a few chocolate candies thrown in for good measure) if you prefer.

Thanks to True for sharing her great projects...and to for stopping by to visit with us today!

Homemade Gift Congrats

2011-11-21T08:59:00.000-06:00

Congratulations to Sue from Oregon and Lillian Child, whose names were drawn from our Homemade Holiday Gifts Blog Hop entries. (Sue and Lillian, please email me with your address.)

Sue from Oregon said...
Very Cute! Loving all these gift ideas!
November 20, 2011 11:15 AM

Lillian Child said...
These little tile coasters and mugs gifts would be PERFECT for my crafty friends this year. I've added this to my pinterest page as well ... really terrific idea!
November 17, 2011 2:34 PM

Since her comment from True's post matched our randomly selected number, Sue's prize pack will contain 10939SC Merry Mochaccino Clear Set (which is what Trudy used to make her coffee-themed gift) and another holiday Inky clear set:

Lillian's prize pack will also contain a surprise Inky clear set, along with 10936MC Snowman Soup Clear Set (which contains the stamps Jovi used to create her cocoa mug & coaster ensemble):

If you'd like to order these clear sets to make your own handcrafted gifts, you can find them here. Thanks to everyone who joined us for this hop and left such nice comments. We're so glad you participated!

Friday Funnies: Thanksgiving

2011-11-18T07:00:00.035-06:00

Since the big turkey day is coming up soon, here are a few humorous tidbits to get you into the holiday mood as you begin to prepare for next week.

Thanksgiving Humor from Famous Comedians

"I celebrated Thanksgiving in an old-fashioned way. I invited everyone in my neighborhood to my house, we had an enormous feast, and then I killed them and took their land."
-Jon Stewart

"My cooking is so bad my kids thought Thanksgiving was to commemorate Pearl Harbor."
-Phyllis Diller

"Thanksgiving is an emotional holiday. People travel thousands of miles to be with people they only see once a year. And then discover once a year is way too often."
-Johnny Carson

"Thanksgiving, man. Not a good day to be my pants."
-Kevin James

"Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence."
-Erma Bombeck

"Thanksgiving is a magical time of year when families across the country join together to raise America's obesity statistics. Personally, I love Thanksgiving traditions: watching football, making pumpkin pie, and saying the magic phrase that sends your aunt storming out of the dining room to sit in her car."
-Stephen Colbert

* * *

And some Thanksgiving riddles...

What happened when the turkey got into a fight?
He got the stuffing knocked out of him

What did the little turkey say to the big turkey?
Peck on someone your own size!

Can a turkey jump higher than the Empire State Building?
Yes. A building can't jump at al.

What sound does a turkey's phone make?
Wing! Wing!

* * *

If you're hosting Thanksgiving for the first (or eighteenth) time and have a question about how to prepare the bird, here's a link to the Butterball® Turkey Talk-Line.

The Turkey Talk-Line has been in operation for 29 years. Nowadays, it employs more than 50 home economists and nutritionists, who respond to more than 100,000 questions each November and December. We're not affiliated in any way, but I thought you might find this interesting. I sure did!

Homemade Holiday Gifts Blog Hop

2011-11-17T04:00:00.102-06:00

It seems the current economy has prompted many folks to be even more careful with how we spend our money. With the holidays right around the corner, we thought it would be fun to show how you can use Inky stamps to make handcrafted presents. Thoughtful and thrifty...what's not to love?

To view our design team's creations, visit each person'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, November 20th at midnight Central time. Two people's names will be drawn at random to receive an Inky prize pack. We'll announce the winners here next Monday, so remember to stop back and see if you're one of them!

Ready to see the homemade gifts? Here's our hop order:

Trudy
Michelle
Jovi
Keri
Tex
Debbie

After you're done, return here to leave a comment as your final entry. Thanks for playing with us!

* * *

For my project, I picked up a picture frame and some patterned paper:

I used a discount coupon on the frame, so my total expenses were $9.64 plus tax:

If you click on a closeup view of the receipts, you'll notice I also purchased dry erase markers. I'll bet you can figure out where I'm headed with that, right?

Yep, the glass surface of the picture frame can function as a dry erase board. Cool, huh? Simply place your patterned paper and other elements behind the glass, and you've got a decorative yet functional message center!

Or insert a calendar (such as the one I printed from here), add a couple of stamped images (like those in 10983LC Stovetop Cooking Chefs Clear Set, shown at the bottom of this page), and it becomes a handy meal planning board:

If you wish, you could substitute a blank calendar and just write in the numbers each month so the sheet inside doesn't have to be replaced.

I thought this would make a lovely gift all by itself...but if you really want to go "whole hog," then you could present it with some premade freezer meals. There are bunches of recipes available online, such as the ones here, here, here, here, and here. Hmm, now I hear the kitchen calling my name!

"Try It Different" Tuesday: Holiday BaZooples

2011-11-15T09:41:00.001-06:00

You may have noticed this week's card on our main website features one of the delightful characters from our Holiday BaZooples collection.

For the Summer CHA show, Michelle Pearson made several terrific sample cards using additional images and sayings from this series (originally posted here and here).

Last month, these stamps were featured in our store sample board program. With Michelle's permission, I relied heavily on her cards as inspiration to create the store versions and wanted to share some of them with you!

The first set features 2316J Ollie's Mail, 0814D Sending Wishes, and 0804C Happy Mail (also available in 11063MC Holiday BaZooples #3 Clear Set). Here is Michelle's card:

As you can see, I followed her layout closely:

Since we use Darcie's patterned papers for all of our samples, I changed the color scheme but otherwise held pretty true to Michelle's original. I omitted the circular pearl border and added ultrafine glitter to the snow, and I substituted slightly different snowflake punches.

For the next two sets, I needed to change the orientation and simplify the cards a bit. This is Michelle's adorable card showing 0706J Joyful Elsie with 0830F Bright With Delight (also in 11061MC Holiday BaZooples #1 Clear Set):

I loved her stitched borders and the pearl-studded border strip but kept mine much more basic:

Michelle's card with 0503H Gertrude's Gift and 0836F Fun Surprises (or 11062MC Holiday BaZooples #2 Clear Set) had a bright "pop" of cheery colors:

I changed the colors for mine and used the circle motif for my saying instead of a snowflake accent:

Since I love cards that "do something," Michelle's shaker card really floats my boat:

I also used 2109J Lester's Snowman and 0810E Snow Fun Friends (also from 11063MC Holiday BaZooples #3 Clear Set) but reduced the card size and simplified it for production purposes:

The shaker insert was created by lining the image panel with foam tape:

It was filled with Diamond Dust (which happens to be a "gift with purchase" free item this month), and covered with a top panel lined with acetate (shown below on the reverse side):

(For more detailed instructions on how to make this type of card, see the shaker chef project here. It's the same basic process but I altered the image and cutout shapes.)

Want to check out this collection in person? Here's the list of stores who received the Holiday BaZooples stamps and sample board. If you stop by one of these stores, please mention you found them via our blog. Happy shopping!

Double HoneyPOP Surprise

2011-11-14T08:42:00.000-06:00

Last week, Michelle Pearson created a fantastic HoneyPOP card using 11053MC Ornament Birdy HoneyPOP Clear Set:

If you're familiar with our HoneyPOP Collection, you already know there's a fun 3-D surprise when you open the card. With this stamp set, it's a Christmas tree:

But did you see what makes it a double surprise? Yup, Michelle used her Copic Airbrush to add both color and shading to her tree. Way cool, huh!

For more details about how she made this project, take a look at Michelle's post. (There are still a couple of days left for the Cropstop challenge she mentioned, too.)

Friday Funnies: Military Humor

2011-11-11T09:50:00.000-06:00

First, I wanted to express our gratitude to the honorable military veterans who have served our country. Today's post is not meant to make light of their sacrifices in any way.

But since it's Veterans Day, after all, we thought it would be fun to share the following advice and instructions taken from actual military sources:

"Aim towards the enemy."
-Instruction printed on U.S. rocket launcher

"When the pin is pulled, Mr. Grenade is not our friend."
-U.S. Marine Corps

"Cluster bombing from B-52s is very, very accurate. The bombs are guaranteed to always hit the ground."
-USAF Ammo Troop

"If the enemy is in range, so are you."
-Infantry Journal

"A slipping gear could let your m203 grenade launcher fire when you least expect it. That would make you quite unpopular in what's left of your unit."
-Army's magazine of prevention maintenance

"It is generally inadvisable to eject directly over the area you just bombed."
-U.S. Air Force manual

"Tracers work both ways."
-U.S. Army Ordnance

"Five-second fuses only last three seconds."
-Infantry Journal

"Don't draw fire; it irritates the people around you."
-Infantry Journal

"If you see a bomb technician running, try to keep up with him."
-USAF Ammo Troop

* * *

And here are a couple of jokes:

Telephone

Having just moved into his new office, a pompous, new colonel was sitting at his desk when an airman knocked on the door. Conscious of his new position, the colonel quickly picked up the phone, told the airman to enter, and then said into the phone, "Yes, General, I'll be seeing him this afternoon and I'll pass along your message. In the meantime, thank you for your good wishes, sir."

Feeling as though he had sufficiently impressed the young enlisted man, he asked, "What do you want?"

"Nothing important, sir," the airman replied, "I'm just here to hook up your telephone."

Naval Student

A young naval student was being rigorously tested orally by an old sea captain.

Captain: "What would you do if a sudden storm sprang up on starboard?"
Student: "Throw out an anchor, sir."
Captain: "What would you do if another storm sprang up aft?"
Student: "Throw out another anchor, sir."
Captain: "Suppose another horrendous storm sprang up forward. What would you do?
Student: "Throw out another anchor, sir.
Captain: "Hold on. Where are you getting all those anchors from?
Student: "From the same place you are getting your storms, sir."

* * *

Finally, not a joke but rather a resource: I found this list of restaurant meals and other specials for veterans. I haven't personally verified each item, but I've seen several versions of this page and assume they are legitimate. Happy Veterans Day!

Sweety Snowman Congrats

2011-11-10T08:32:00.000-06:00

Congratulations to Linsey R., whose name was randomly drawn as the winning entry. She correctly identified the other set from this collection as 10913LC Sweety Snowman #1 Clear Set:

Although it wasn't required to play, Linsey happened to leave these kind comments:

I love my Inky Antics stamps :) I just pulled out some wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas stamps I've had for a while and I think they are timeless. Always adorable and so much fun to play with! Thanks for sharing all the super cute cards with Sweety Snowman, very inspiring! Hugs and smiles

If you were also inspired by the projects in Tuesday's post, then I've got several more to share with you today! Let's start with one of my favorite characters in this series (which is the same as wood mounted 10660K Sweety's Candy Cane):

His gigantic candy cane is so much fun to embellish, such as with ultrafine glitter as shown above or a combination of glitter and Glossy Accents used here:

You can see it better in this closeup photo:

This clear set also contains a cookie-loving character (same as wood mounted 10646J Sweety's Sprinkles):

He looks different but just as cute "dressed up" in alternative colors:

And what goes best with cookies? Milk...or, even better, hot cocoa! A mini paper sack decorated with Sweety's Cocoa (10628H as wood mounted) could hold a packet or two as a gift:

You can see how it was assembled by looking at the side view:

Or check out this unique wrapping for a cocoa packet:

It's basically a pocket card with a pull-up treat:

Ingenious! If you'd like to make one yourself, you can find the directions on Splitcoaststampers here.

Of course, this stamp image works just as well on a card, simply by changing the background pieces:

Or you can switch the orientation, colors, and embellishments to create a different version:

Thanks so much to Lana Lepinski (who created projects 1, 3, 5, 6, and 7) and Debbie Fisher (who made cards 2, 4, and 8)...and to YOU, for stopping to visit with us and Sweety Snowman. Hope you have a very "sweet" day!

"Try It Different" Tuesday: Sweety Snowman

2011-11-08T09:28:00.012-06:00

I started stamping about 15 years ago, so I'm a big fan of wood mounted stamps because that's how it all began for me. But there's no denying the terrific value and versatility of clear sets...not to mention their space-saving advantages. That's why many of our newer images are available in both formats.

Our 10914LC Sweety Snowman #2 Clear Set is a perfect example:

It's featured in this week's card on the main Inky website, but look what happens when you use a different color palette, change the orientation of the card, and stamp an element from 10932MC Marvelous Match-Ups Clear Set in the background:

Our talented friend Lana Lepinski made the above card and also this project using the same image:

The tin holds packets of cocoa...yum! And since this clear set contains additional images (such as the same guy in our wood mounted 10645J Sweety's Garland), you can create cards like this:

And this (both above and below also by Lana):

Not to mention this (by Inky designer Debbie Fisher):

Last but not least, the third little buddy in the set (same as wood mounted 10641J Stocking Sweety) makes an adorable card:

And here it's shown differently in another card by Lana:

That's not all...there are more stamps in the Sweety Snowman collection, including another clear set. Can you locate it on our website?

Take a look around, and let's do a quick blog candy for the 10914LC Sweety Snowman #2 Clear Set. To enter, just fill out the form with your answer either today or tomorrow.

On Thursday, November 10th, I'll randomly choose the winner and post that person's name...so please check back to see if you've won!

*Entries are now closed*

Friday Funnies: Autumn

2011-11-04T08:26:00.001-05:00

Today, I've got a few one-liners to celebrate autumn and its bounty:

Autumn is a season for big decisions, like whether or not it’s too late to start spring cleaning.

I got tired of looking at all those leaves in my yard, so I got up off the couch and went into action. I closed the curtains.

The autumn leaves are a lot like raising kids. First they turn on you, and then they fly away. And next thing you know, you look out the window and they’re back!

This autumn, we can look forward to falling leaves and rising gas prices. We’ll be raking it up while the oil companies are raking it in.

I can hardly wait until all the leaves turn brown to match the grass.

Autumn is a great time of the year. Soon those ugly patches of dead grass in your lawn will be covered up...with ugly patches of dead leaves.

* * *

Hope these "leaf" you with a smile on your face. Happy Friday, Inky friends!

"Try It Different" Tuesday: Gobbles Turkey

2011-11-01T07:00:00.005-05:00

Okay, let's talk turkey here...I'm referring to our cute poultry-on-a-pumpkin friend in 10918MC Gobbles Turkey Clear Set:

Peggy Peltier used him to create this pretty multi-layered card:

I like how she stamped the leaves in fall colors as part of the background, combined with the stripey patterned paper. If you click on the photo, you can take a closer look at the "sewing stitch" border and scalloped panels...really great touches!

What can you do to get a completely different look? Well, not only did Becky O'Donnell use darker shades to color her Gobbles. She also popped him up with foam tape to make him sit above a glittered silk leaf:

Very festive, don't you think? By the way, if you have any fall cards using Inky stamps that you'd like to share, we'd love to see them. Please email me photos to me...you may be glad you did (wink, wink)!

Autumn Critter Congrats

2011-10-31T09:34:00.001-05:00

Congratulations to LaNell, whose name was drawn from our Autumn Critters Blog Hop entries. (LaNell, please email me with your address.)

Since her comment from Michelle's post matched our randomly selected number, LaNell's prize pack will contain 11064MC Autumn Dogs Clear Set (which is what Michelle used to make her gift bag):

LaNell will also receive 11065SC Scarecrow & Friends Clear Set, which was the other set used in our hop:

If you'd like to order these clear sets for yourself, you can find them here. Thanks to everyone who joined us for this hop. Happy Halloween!

Friday Funnies: Happy Halloween

2011-10-28T10:22:00.000-05:00

Remember that fun Halloween riddle book created by Polly? It was filled with Inky images and joke stamps. Well, here are a few non-stamp riddles I thought you might enjoy:

Why was the skeleton afraid to cross the road?
It had no guts.

How do witches keep their hair in place while flying?
With scare spray.

How do monsters tell their future?
They read their horrorscope.

What do you get when you cross a werewolf and a vampire?
A fur coat that fangs around your neck.

What do you get when you cross a vampire and a snowman?
Frostbite.

What is a vampire's favorite sport?
Casketball.

What is Dracula's favorite kind of coffee?
Decoffinated.

Why did the vampire subscribe to the Wall Street Journal?
He heard it had great circulation.

Why do mummies have trouble keeping friends?
They're too wrapped up in themselves.

What kind of car does a ghost drive?
A Boo-ick.

What ride do spirits like best at the amusement park?
The roller ghoster.

What do you use to mend a jack-o-lantern?
A pumpkin patch.

What do you get when you divide the circumference of a jack-o-lantern by its diameter?
Pumpkin pi.

What do you call a dead chicken that likes to scare people?
A poultrygeist.

Hope YOUR horrorscope calls for a fun weekend, Inky friends. And if you haven't yet seen our Autumn Critters Blog Hop, please check it out!

Autumn Critters Blog Hop

2011-10-26T04:00:00.104-05:00

We've released two new autumn clear sets that we think you'll really "fall" for...especially when you see the great projects our designers made with them!

To view their creations, 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, October 30th at midnight Central time. One person’s name will be drawn at random to receive both of the clear sets used in this hop. We'll announce the winner here next Monday, so remember to stop back and see if it's you!

Want to get hopping? Here's the order:

Tex
Debbie
Crystal
Michelle
Trudy

After you're done, return here to leave a final comment. Thanks for playing with us!

* * *

For this hop, I used the cornstalk pup and a saying from 11064MC Autumn Dogs Clear Set. I'd picked up a bag of Corn Nuts to coordinate with the harvest theme.

I emptied the bag's contents into a Clear Pillow Box. For the belly band, I scored a 2" x 8 1/2" strip of Darcie's patterned cardstock in PAC1348 Vino Vine at 4 1/16" and 8 1/8". Next I placed a piece of red-lined tape on the short tab and wrapped the band around the box.

The image was colored with pencils and blended with Gamsol, and then layered onto brown cardstock. I punched the stamped saying and layered it, as well:

To add some dimension, I stamped and colored the cornstalk again. Then I cut out some of the ears of corn and popped them up with foam tape:

This last step took a few extra minutes, but overall the project went together very quickly. I think it would be fun to put these at each person's place setting on the Thanksgiving table. Happy harvest, Inky readers!

"Try It Different" Tuesday: Thankful Hearts

2011-10-25T08:32:00.000-05:00

For this week's installment of the "Try It Different" series, Debbie Fisher used 10875G Thankful Hearts:

First she created a simple yet lovely card using the stamp image:

She chose a color scheme and coordinating background paper that showcases all the pretty hues of fall so nicely, and I think anyone would be pleasantly surprised to receive this in the mail.

But if you wanted to take it a few steps further, look what a little extra embellishing can do:

Debbie added a scalloped border underneath the knotted ribbon and inked the edges of the image panel. Her stitching and button accents made this card "come alive" even further, and I love the results!

Thanks to Debbie for her great projects. If you're interested in seeing more stamps shown different ways again soon, please join us again tomorrow for our Autumn Critters Blog Hop. Hope to see you then!

Friday Funnies: Mice

2011-10-21T06:00:00.000-05:00

Did you see yesterday's post on the terrific cards created by the Lilac Inkers? Thought I'd piggyback on the theme with a few mouse jokes:

What do mice do when they're at home?
Mousework.

What mouse was a Roman emperor?
Julius Cheeser.

Who was the leader of the Chinese mouse revolution?
Mouse Tse-tung.

What is a mouse’s favorite game?
Hide and squeak.

How do you save a drowning mouse ?
Use mouse to mouse resuscitation.

(And my personal favorite...)

What do angry rodents send each other at Christmas time?
Cross-mouse cards.

Hope you have a chance to set aside YOUR "mousework" and make time to stamp this weekend, Inky readers!

And if you're attending the Strongsville show, please stop by the Inky booth to say hello. (Let me know which joke was your favorite...really. I have a good ulterior motive for asking.)

Lilac Inkers' Creations

2011-10-20T08:54:00.000-05:00

Last month, Marie Oberg wrote to tell me that her stamping group was planning to make cards with 11000MC Thanksgiving Millie and 10999SC Thanksgiving Mervin Clear Sets at their next meeting:

I asked Marie if she'd be willing to take photos of the ladies and their finished projects, and she graciously agreed.

Here's the Lilac Inkers group, busily working on their creations:

And, oh, what a fantastic job they did! Aren't these cards just adorable:

Look at their awesome job of coloring (yep, with colored pencils and Gamsol!):

You can mix and match the various elements in these sets for endless versatility. So cool!

All the details they added really made the cards special. (You can click on any of these photos for a close-up view.) From buttons and bows to punched borders and hand drawn "stitching," their projects were beautifully embellished:

The leaves stamped in white pigment ink stood out nicely aginst the kraft cardstock (and some were done with VersaMark, as well):

The punched leaves added pizazz, and I love how they layered their cards with panels that were dry embossed, sponged, outlined in gold, and more:

Thanks so much to Marie and the rest of the Lilac Inkers for sharing their gorgeous cards with us. Hope you've gotten a few ideas to use in your own projects. Have a "micey nice" day, everyone!

"Try It Different" Tuesday: Birthday Dog

2011-10-18T09:49:00.000-05:00

For years, Inky artist Janie Miller has been making us smile with her wonderful critters, such as these guys in 10977MC Delightful Dogs #1 Clear Set:

For this week's "Try It Different" Tuesday segment, I asked Michelle Pearson to create two different projects using the dog in the lower left and related sayings (which are also available as 0783J Birthday Dog, 0821D Mini Birthday, and 0832E Just A Pup in the wood mounted versions).

Her first is a card that really "shines":

The sparkly background was created by stamping 0007C Dog Bone (or the same image from 10978MC Delightful Dogs #2 Clear Set) repeatedly on a piece of cardstock.

Then she ran it through a Xyron machine and sprinkled Art Institute Transparent Ultra Fine Glitter in Juicy Fruit. You could also use a Sticky Tape Sheet if you don't have a Xyron machine.

One of the most unique aspects of this card is Michelle's creative use of our Honeycomb Paper Pads:

She'd saved scraps from previous projects, which she spread out and sewed directly onto the card panel to make a honeycomb border. How ingenious is that!

(To view another example of a different honeycomb border, check out this week's card on our main website.)

Michelle also used the same stamps on an adorable goodie box made with V1-1223 Rectangle Box Template:

The directions to make the basic box are the same for the Square Box Template, which are shown here. Michelle cut a small slit in the box cover so she could wrap the baker's twine around it, just prior to step #8.

Two fun-size candy bars fit inside perfectly:

Yum! Chocolate and a cute treat box...two gifts in one!

Friday Funnies: More Dogs

2011-10-14T08:00:00.000-05:00

Have you heard about the new dog cross-breeds? According to my sources, these specialized "designer dogs" are now officially recognized by the AKC:

Collie + Lhasa Apso = Collapso, a dog that folds up for easy transport

Pointer + Setter = Poinsetter, a traditional Christmas pet

Kerry Blue Terrier + Skye Terrier = Blue Skye, a dog for visionaries

Great Pyrenees + Dachshund = Pyradachs, a puzzling breed

Pekingnese + Lhasa Apso = Peekasso, an abstract dog

Irish Water Spaniel + English Springer Spaniel = Irish Springer, a dog that's fresh and clean as a whistle

Labrador Retriever + Curly Coated Retriever = Lab Coat Retriever, the choice of research scientists

Newfoundland + Basset Hound = Newfound Asset Hound, a dog for financial advisors

Bloodhound + Labrador = Blabador, a dog that barks incessantly

Bloodhound + Borzoi = Bloody Bore, a dog that's not much fun

Dachshund + Yorkie = Dorkie, the perfect dog for geeks & nerds

Malamute + Pointer = Moot Point, owned by....oh, well, it doesn't matter anyway

Collie + Malamute = Commute, a dog that travels to work

Deerhound + Terrier = Derriere, a dog that's true to the end

* * *

Hope you have a terrier-ific weekend! If you're attending the Hampton show, please stop by the Inky booth to say hello. (Ask me for a cookie...I'm not kidding.)

Halloween Cookie Can

2011-10-13T08:00:00.160-05:00

I have no idea why, but I've been in a real cookie-baking mood lately. Steve has been taking most of them to work, which is a good thing or else I turn into the cookie monster. Not a pretty sight.

After testing my fourth recipe this week, I started thinking about creative containers to put them in. Of course, our Gifts In A Snap template stamps are perfect for small goodies.

For example, 10189X Tall Bag Template decorated with 10154F Kitty In Disguise and 0494J Charm School Background makes an adorable treat holder:

For larger batches, altered cans fit the bill nicely. I found this snack size Pringles can that caught my attention:

The small one holds about 10-12 cookies, or you could use the larger Pringles canister. What about bean dip? I spotted a can of almonds that was tempting, as well. As long as it has a reusable lid, it's fair game!

At first, I was concerned the sour cream and onion flavor would linger in the can. (My nearest Walgreens was out of the regular variety, and I didn't want to drive around town looking for them.) In the end, it didn't matter because it washed up clean and odor-free.

I cut a piece of Darcie's patterned cardstock to 4 1/2" x 9 3/4" and placed a strip of red-lined tape along one of the short edges:

Red-lined tape is so strong that just a single strip of the 1/4" wide tape held it onto the can after I rolled it around the outside.

To embellish the covered can, I layered narrow green ribbon onto wider orange ribbon using 1/8" red-lined tape. Then I adhered it around the top and bottom of the can with additional red-lined tape:

For the side of the can, I stamped the "Trick or Treat" saying from 10919MC Halloween Hijix Clear Set, punched it with a circle punch, and layered it with foam tape onto a scalloped circle I'd punched from green cardstock.

I put the saying on a strip of orange ribbon and placed a bow (which was simple to make with the Bow-Easy) above it:

Finally, I snapped the lid onto the can and used red-lined tape to adhere the ribbon strip to the lid. I added more tape on the lid for my image panel, as well:

You can see how I stamped and colored the kitty image twice, cutting out just the ghost part to pop up with foam tape:

The last cookie didn't quite fit into the can, so I "helped" by eating it:

Sometimes you have to make sacrifices for the job!

"Try It Different" Tuesday: Heart To Heart Girls

2011-10-11T08:00:00.002-05:00

I've never been a huge fan of dolls, but there's something about these sweet "raggy doll" girls that really warms my heart:

Since both the image and saying are included in this stamp, 4861K Heart To Heart Girls makes it easy to create simple yet great projects.

The intricately punched border sets off the stamp nicely in this pretty card by Sue Nelson:

Look what happens when you switch the color palette and tilt the image, as Lana Lepinski did here:

That totally changes things, huh? Or you can make it a vertically-oriented card instead:

As you can see, simple doesn't have to mean boring!

Halloween ATCs

2011-10-10T11:46:00.000-05:00

Many years ago, customers at retail conventions used to swap handstamped pins. (Does anybody remember this phenomenon?) You'd see ladies at shows wearing vests covered with them. I saved mine on a cork board above my desk so I could frequently gaze at these tiny treasures.

Nowadays, artist trading cards have become the trend. These collectible creations usually measure 2 1/2" x 3 1/2", so they fit nicely into baseball card protectors for those who like to store theirs in albums.

Our friend Becky O'Donnell has made oodles of them, and I thought I'd share a few of her Halloween ATCs since this "haunting holiday" is coming up soon:

I think it's cool how she dry-embossed Clear Cardstock to form a textured background for the cauldron frog (made with 10919MC Halloween Hijinx Clear Set) shown in the lower left.

And how creative is that candy corn ATC in the lower right? What a neat way to use 11042SC Monster Maker Clear Set in addition to making a Triangle Treat Box!

The ATC at the top of the above photo also utilizes that same clear stamp set. It's a miniature version of this larger teepee card that Becky made, shown on the left:

I found step-by-step instructions on this blog and a video tutorial showing how to make an even larger sized card here.

Becky used the other monster elements from the set and stamped them twice to make a two-eyed creature...genius! I love those self-adhesive rhinestone spots on his sides, too.

Thanks very much to Becky for sharing her projects with us. If you've made ATCs using Inky stamps, we'd love to see them. (Just email me with your JPG files.) You never know...YOU might be featured on our blog, too!

Friday Funnies: Dogs & Cats

2011-10-07T10:07:00.002-05:00

Last night I saw a TV commercial for Match.com. They said that one in five relationships start online & more of them start with their dating service. Do you believe their claims?

Well, it's certainly true for Steve and me. Even though we were living only eight miles from each other, I doubt our paths would have ever crossed without some kind of cyber-introduction. Isn't technology grand?

Anyway, it got me thinking about my profile back then:

My introduction had included a hilarious perspective from the viewpoint of a dog. In fact, it almost seemed written specifically about our own Bo:

Excerpt from a dog's diary:

DAY 180
8:00 am - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
9:30 am - OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!
9:40 am - OH BOY! A WALK! MY FAVORITE!
10:30 am - OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!
11:30 am - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
12:00 noon - OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE!
1:00 pm OH BOY! THE YARD! MY FAVORITE!
4:00 pm - OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE!
5:00 pm - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
5:30 pm - OH BOY! MOM! MY FAVORITE!

Cats, on the other hand, are an entirely different matter. For example, Oscar typically just hangs out and does his own thing:

Excerpt from a cat's diary:

DAY 752 - My captors continue to torment me with bizarre, dangling objects. The eat lavish meals in my presence while I am forced to subsist on dry cereal. The only thing that keeps me going is the hope of eventual escape, and the mild satisfaction I get from occasionally ruining a piece of furniture. Today I ate a houseplant; tomorrow I may eat another.

I am convinced the other captives are flunkies and maybe snitches. The dog is routinely released and seems more than happy to return. He is obviously a half-wit. The bird, on the other hand, has got to be an informant because he speaks with the humans regularly. I am certain he reports my every move. Due to his current placement in the metal room, his safety is assured. But I can wait; it is only a matter of time...

* * *

Hope YOU have a pawsitively great weekend, Inky friends!

Halloween Riddle Book

2011-10-06T10:06:00.000-05:00

Earlier this year, Polly from The Stamp Act in El Paso, Texas emailed photos of a Halloween book she made a while back using our stamps. I've been waiting until it was the right season to show you...and now that time has come!

Polly used several Inky images and Halloween riddles to decorate her project, and I think her results are just adorable. Here's 10713G Fritz Frankenstein, who's holding a spider yo-yo with googly eyes:

Here's the answer to the 10690D Ghoul Friend riddle:

I love how she stamped 10707F Gabby Ghost on vellum to make the image translucent and oh-so-ghostly:

Can you guess the answer to 10676D Ghost's Dessert? Yep, you got it:

Our little 10712F Winifred Witch isn't scary at all:

But she'll satisfy your appetite for FUN when paired with 10688D Sand Witch:

There's also 10711F Shelton Skeleton, who sounds a bit hungry:

But he's not eating a sandwitch...nope, it's 10689D Spare Ribs for him:

Polly "wrapped up" her project with 10710F Mortimer Mummy for this page, which is the same stamp that Debbie used for the October email newsletter project that I mentioned in Tuesday's post:

Cheesecloth makes a perfect embellishment for 10678D Mummy's Favorite:

Thanks so much to Polly for sharing her awesome project with us! Which riddle is YOUR favorite?

"Try It Different" Tuesday

2011-10-04T10:49:00.000-05:00

I've mentioned before how I love looking at different versions of similar things...whether it's various cards using the same stamps or a type of project decorated in different ways. So I thought I'd start posting each week on this topic and see how you like it!

For our first "Try It Different" Tuesday, I've selected a box pattern that has been decorated with various Inky stamps. This version was made by Peggy Peltier:

When you take off the coffin lid, you'll find some ghoulish goodies hidden inside:

Peggy used 10919MC Halloween Hijinx Clear Set to jazz up her box. Here's a closeup of the frog image on the "belly band" that slides off:

So where's the second version, you ask? Well, if you're already subscribed to our email newsletter list, you'll be receiving the October issue tomorrow that features it. Debbie Fisher made a wonderfully creepy coffin box, which was created exclusively for our subscribers. (Actually, her project is really cute...and you'll be able to download the PDF instructions from the link in the newsletter.)

If you haven't signed up yet, there's still time. Just enter your email address at the bottom of the main Inky website or on the right sidebar of this page. The next newsletter will be appearing in your inbox shortly!

HoneyPOP Congrats

2011-10-03T09:00:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to Nicki-twinklebug, whose name was drawn from our Fall HoneyPOP Blog Hop entries. (Nicki, please email me with your address.)

Since her comment from Jovi's post matched our randomly selected number, Nicki's prize pack will contain 11052MC Harvest Mouse HoneyPOP Clear Set and an Orange Honeycomb Paper Pad (which is what Jovi used to make her projects):

Nicki will also receive a Honeycomb Assortment Pack in Cool, so she can experiment with her own HoneyPOP ideas:

Thanks to everyone who joined us for this hop. We hope to see you back here again soon!

Friday Funny: Cookies

2011-09-30T08:00:00.001-05:00

On Wednesday evening, I had a sudden, overwhelming urge to bake cookies. I need cookies like a hole in the head, as my grandpa used to say. But I gave into the temptation anyway and whipped up a batch of Malted Milk Chocolate Chip Cookies:

I'd saved the recipe from The Pioneer Woman's website, which you can find here. Mmm, they turned out yummy...both crispy and chewy at the same time, with lots of butter and chocolate chips. Who can resist butter and chocolate chips, right?

If you decide to make these, you might want to consider cutting the recipe in half (unless you have a huge crowd to feed, that is). I'm not sure what kind of monster cookie scoop PW was using, but mine is teaspoon-sized and that batch of dough yielded way more than three dozen cookies.

Not that I'm complaining. These cookies are very thin, and everyone knows the calories leach out of thin cookies and remain on the plate. That's what I've heard, anyway. Plus, they're practically weight reducing if you drink diet water with them:

I'm joking, of course. But that photo cracked me up. The original caption says: "Half the fat and calories of regular water! (contains artificial water flavoring)" Hah!

Here's a funny cooking anecdote I found on ReadersDigest.com, submitted by Debbie Deerwester:

While I was making a huge batch of snickerdoodle cookies, I asked my ten-year-old to read the recipe and ingredients off the box to me, doubling them as he went along. He did as he was told. His first instruction: "Preheat the oven to 700 degrees."

I also like this cute story from jokes4all.net:

The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic elementary school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The nun made a note, and posted it on the apple tray: "Take only ONE. God is watching."

Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies. A child had written a note: "Take all you want. God is watching the apples."

And, finally, a bit of humor from a fortune cookie:

Hope your weekend is filled with sweet treats and good fortune, Inky friends!

Fall HoneyPOP Blog Hop

2011-09-28T04:00:00.001-05:00

This month's blog hop features our newest stamp sets and a couple of classic favorites from our HoneyPOP Collection! For a fun twist, I asked each of our designers to make two projects...because more is always better, right?

Actually, we wanted to show you the versatility of the HoneyPOP Clear Sets and Honeycomb Paper Pads. Not only can they be used together for the obvious purpose (to make Honeycomb cards, of course), but they work great as individual products in their own right.

For example, each of the HoneyPOP Clear Sets contains a pattern stamp that is meant to be stamped onto the Honeycomb Paper Pads. You can see the balloon half-shape in this set:

Notice how the set contains a "regular" balloon, as well. So, if you wish, you can make a standard greeting card or other stamped project in addition to a HoneyPOP card!

Likewise, you already know the Honeycomb Paper Pads can be used to create HoneyPOP cards. But there are also lots of other fun projects you can make with them, and you'll see some wonderful examples today!

Each Inky designer received a HoneyPOP Clear Set and coordinating Honeycomb Paper Pad(s), along with my request to use either the stamp set two different ways or the stamp set in a HoneyPOP card and a "surprise" project using the Honeycomb Paper Pad(s) again.

To see what they 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, October 2nd at midnight Central time. One person's name will be drawn at random to receive a fun Inky prize pack. We'll announce the results next Monday, so remember to stop back and see if you've won.

Ready to get started? Here's our hop order:

Crystal
Keri
Trudy
Jovi
Debbie

Once you're finished, please come back here to see my projects and leave a final comment. Happy HoneyPOP hopping!

* * *

For this blog hop, I used 11024MC Birthday Elephant HoneyPOP Set. This set is pictured above, and it's one of the top sellers from our original HoneyPOP release.

Darcie's patterned paper in PAC1456 Lollipop Blossoms is such a cheery design, which I thought complemented the elephant nicely:

And, yep, I made sure to include a bright honeycomb balloon on the inside:

I added more dimension by using foam tape to adhere the birthday saying and elephant image, along with a bit of ultrafine glitter and flocking on the hat:

For my second project, I used the same stamp set to make a sticky note holder:

I figured that since an elephant never forgets, I might be able to channel the power of this little guy to help me remember things. I tied a ~~string around my finger~~ ribbon around the pen for added measure. Perhaps I'm overthinking it, but at least the notes will come in handy. (You can find instructions for the holiday versions of this project here.)

Thanks for hopping with us. I hope you found some creative inspiration today!

Feel Better Card

2011-09-26T13:47:00.000-05:00

If you're a veteran Inky stamper, you've already met Keri Lee Sereika on the Inky blog:

Keri was on our original design team, which began in 2005. These days, she joins us from time to time as an "honorary" DT member, and we're sure glad for her participation as her schedule permits!

I ran across this card on Keri's blog, which caught my eye since my mother-in-law is having shoulder surgery this Friday:

It's a cute card that features 10386D Feel Better Bug with an element from 10932MC Marvelous Match-Ups Clear Set stamped in the background. The design is simple enough that I can put this together quickly and surprise my MIL with it (assuming she doesn't see it here first).

Keri colored the image using the Gamsol technique and die cut it with Nestabilities. Then she airbrushed the white cardstock before removing it from the die and layering the various elements onto the card. The double-looped bow was easy to make with the Bow-Easy...and, ta da, super sweet card!

Thanks to Keri for letting me snag this great idea. What will YOU be creating today?

Friday Funnies: Shopping

2011-09-23T09:35:00.000-05:00

I mentioned that last weekend, while we were at the Mall of America for ScrapFest, we squeezed in some shopping between classes and demos. I hadn't been there in several months, so I got a little excited:

It reminded me of our stamp, 0295F Fun Trying:

I have to say that Steve was a great sport as we dragged him from store to store. This diagram illustrates our very different shopping styles:

Perhaps he wasn't sticking with us to be nice, but instead because he was afraid:

We always hold hands. If I let go, she shops.

-Henny Youngman

At least he didn't feel the need to cause any serious mischief, like this lady's husband (click on image to enlarge):

Then the inevitable happened:

I'm joking, of course. That's 0337F Miss Him, which is one of our customers' favorite stamps in our convention booth.

Actually, shopping at the mall can really tire me out! I must not be preparing properly:

In fact, I'm more of an online shopper myself, like this couple:

Here are a few shopping jokes I ran across:

A lady was picking through the frozen turkeys at the grocery store, but couldn't find one big enough for her family.
She asked a stock boy, "Do these turkeys get any bigger?"
The stock boy replied, "No ma'am, they're dead."

* * *

Customer: May I try on that dress in the window, please?
Clerk: No, ma'am. You'll have to use the fitting room like everyone else.

* * *

A teenage girl was shopping at the mall and stopped at the perfume counter. She examined the different bottles: “My Sin,” “Desire,” and “Ecstasy”. She said to the salesperson, “I don't want to get emotionally involved...I just want to smell nice.”

* * *

In closing, I'll leave you with these humorous words from 10022E Retail Therapy:

Blog Candy Congrats

2011-09-21T07:43:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to Karen, whose name was randomly drawn as the winning entry:

Karen said...
Scrapfest and Mall of America?! What fun! Would love a chance to win. Looking forward to seeing you in Virginia next month!
September 20, 2011 2:47 PM

Karen, please email me with your address so I can send out your HoneyPOP Holiday Cards class kit.

Thanks to everyone who played and left such kind comments. Of course, you don't need a class kit to make these fun cards. It's always nice to learn new techniques in person, but we've also got some online resources for you: Yesterday I posted a video tutorial on how to use colored pencils with Gamsol, and there are instructions for creating the HoneyPOP cards on our main website.

Next week, we'll show you more examples of HoneyPOP projects...our Inky designers are already busily working away on some fun surprises!

Gamsol Video Tutorial

2011-09-20T14:37:00.002-05:00

For our HoneyPOP Holiday Cards Workshop last weekend, I created a video tutorial on how to blend colored pencils with Gamsol. Most of the sample cards you see on the main Inky website, in our convention booth, and on this blog use this technique, which we've been doing for several years now.

Today I made a revised version with narration and thought you might be interested in taking a look:

You can also download a PDF file of step-by-step written instructions by clicking here. Happy coloring and blending, Inky fans!

ScrapFest Weekend

2011-09-19T09:03:00.001-05:00

We had a great time at ScrapFest over the weekend! There were a ton of make & take projects, workshops, demos, and other fun activities for customers to enjoy at this massive event, including a photo opportunity with the World's Largest Scrapbook Page:

We offered five classes of the HoneyPOP Holiday Cards Workshop for Inky Antics:

Like most of the classes, they were held right on the first floor at the Mall of America:

Michelle and I posed for a "Steve sandwich" at the end of our last class:

Of course, it wasn't just classes and demos for us...we managed to squeeze in shopping and makeovers, too:

Unfortunately, Steve declined to get his makeup done. He's a good sport, but I guess that would have been taking things too far!

I have an extra Inky class kit from ScrapFest, which I'd like to give away as BLOG CANDY. To enter, just leave a comment either today or tomorrow. On Wednesday, September 21st, I'll randomly choose the winner and post that person's name...so please check back to see if you've won!

Micey Nice

2011-09-14T11:32:00.000-05:00

Recently Jovi ran across this sweet Inky card on Janice M.'s blog:

She used 0240F Flower Teacup Mousie (also available in 10952MC Teacup Mousies #1 Clear Set) for her main image. I love Janice's coloring and paper choices, which she turned into a beautiful finished project.

Earlier this year, Trudy posted a gorgeous card on her blog using the same stamp:

I've said this before, but I think it's so fun seeing how an image can look totally different from project to project. You can completely transform the same stamp just by using alternative coloring methods (and color schemes), papers, embellishments, and layout designs!

When this Teacup Mousie collection was first released, Debbie made this lovely card for our CHA booth:

I modified her layout for one of our store monthly sample boards:

Quite the range, wouldn't you say? That's one of the many great things about stamping!

Friday Funnies: Recipes

2011-09-09T12:00:00.056-05:00

Yesterday I posted a few really good recipes. Today I've got some really funny ones.

Do you remember Red Skelton?

Here's his Recipe for the Perfect Marriage:

1. Two times a week, we go to a nice restaurant, have a little beverage, good food, and companionship. She goes on Tuesdays, I go on Fridays.

2. We also sleep in separate beds. Hers is in California and mine is in Texas.

3. I take my wife everywhere...but she keeps finding her way back.

4. I asked my wife where she wanted to go for our anniversary. "Somewhere I haven't been in a long time!" she said. So I suggested the kitchen.

5. We always hold hands. If I let go, she shops.

6. She has an electric blender, electric toaster and electric bread maker. She said, "There are too many gadgets and no place to sit down!" So I bought her an electric chair.

7. My wife told me the car wasn't running well because there was water in the carburetor. I asked where the car was; she told me, "In the lake."

8. She got a mud pack and looked great for two days. Then the mud fell off.

9. She ran after the garbage truck, yelling, "Am I too late for the garbage?" The driver said, "No, jump in!"

10. Remember: Marriage is the number one cause of divorce.

11. I married Miss Right. I just didn't know her first name was Always.

12. I haven't spoken to my wife in 18 months. I don't like to interrupt her.

13. The last fight was my fault though. My wife asked, "What's on the TV?" I said, "Dust!"

* * *

A few weeks ago, we had cable TV installed in our home. (Yes, I know, we were in the dark ages.) I mostly wanted it for the Food Network and HGTV, since I'm a big fan of several programs on both channels.

I haven't actually watched Down Home with the Neelys yet, but they sound like BIG eaters if this recipe for Smashed Potatoes and Broccoli is any indication (click on the recipe for a larger version):

Some of the comments by the reviewers cracked me up:

“Man, I was so tired after peeling 3,069,954 lbs of potatoes, I didn’t even get to the rest of the recipe! I think I passed out.”
-CookingThespian

"It needed more milk, broccoli, cream, and butter. Besides that, it wasn't bad." -theking910

"Thanks to this recipe, I discovered that taking 3,069,954 potatoes and smashing them actually causes them to condense considerably down to about 8 potatoes. I love educational recipes!" -Don'tCallMeFerry

I doubt I would have discovered that recipe on my own, but I happened to run across a website called Food Network Humor. Some of the posts are rather crude, while others are downright hilarious.

For example, here's another dish showcased there:

Pictured above is Paula Deen's Cheesy Ham and Banana Casserole. Now, I have seen Paula on TV and usually most of her recipes sound pretty good. But this one is a glaring exception.

Jillian from FNH called it "a heavy contender for one of the worst recipes on the planet. It’s a nasty combination of ham, bananas, bacon, cheese, and potato chips sandwiched between soggy, eggy slices of white bread. And rumor has it that if you can actually swallow one bite down, you’ll instantly get Type II Diabetes."

The episode was called "Gone Bananas," and I'm afraid it's what temporarily happened to Paula.

In all fairness, my mom always claimed you have to try an outfit on before you can tell if it looks good or bad. She was talking about clothes, of course, but certainly the same can be said about food. So, um, if you decide to try it...will you let me know?

Shared Recipes

2011-09-08T12:32:00.001-05:00

Last week I received a wonderful package from our friend Becky O'Donnell. It was filled with recipe pages from a swap she organized in August, and she was kind enough to send me a complete set!

Becky's page featured one of our most popular stamps, 10293H Turtle's Balloon (also available in 10976MC Flower Turtle Clear Set):

What a great idea for homemade play dough! (You can click on all the recipes in this post to get a close-up view.) I like that it's made with all natural ingredients that most people probably already have in their pantry.

The next one caught my eye because it's perfect for this time of year. I've got a giant zucchini sitting on my kitchen counter, so I think I'll have to give this a try:

Cindy, the creator, added such nice touches to the design of her page. The transparent jewels and scalloped circles emphasize the "round" motif, and she cleverly used an embossing folder with texture that mimics bits of zucchini.

And because it's so pretty, I wanted to show you this card:

I don't know Kathy personally, but I've had these strawberries and they're delicious! Kathy did a great job of making her page look beautiful, and I can just tell she's a talented cook and stamper.

Thanks also to Sandy, Debbie, Sally, Edie, Lucille, Sue, and Michelle for sharing your fantastic recipes with me...and of course to Becky for making it all happen!

Last but not least, there was a recipe I just couldn't resist posting on the main website as this week's card. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do. :-)

P.S. What recipe do you love that someone recently shared with you?

A(n af)Fair to Remember

2011-09-05T15:26:00.001-05:00

Today is Labor Day, which is always the last day of the season for the Minnesota State Fair. Steve and I went earlier during the week, and we had a great time.

Of course, we had to start with a healthy breakfast:

Okay, maybe not so healthy...even though they're made with cucumbers! Well, cucumbers that have been pickled, stuffed with cream cheese, dredged in cracker crumbs, and deep fried in oil, that is:

Sort of a strange way to begin the day, but they were actually pretty tasty...even at ten o'clock in the morning.

I had to follow up with a pork-chop-on-a-stick chaser:

We also had a corn dog, one of the items on our "required eating" list:

And later we enjoyed a banana and chocolate filled crepe:

Then we got mini donuts for "dessert":

This is how we felt after chowing down all that food:

We spotted that pig while taking the sky ride across the fairgrounds. It looked so funny trotting along on its two human legs. Obviously, someone had good luck in the Midway games.

That's the great thing about the fair...there is always something new to look at. For example, we paused for a moment when we happened upon these folks:

Then we realized they were participating in the "Giant Sing Along":

How funny, huh? Yep, that's something you only see at the fair!

The golden retrievers and their owners from the Minnesota Purebred Dog Breeders Association showed a few tricks:

While the antique tractors on Machinery Hill just sat there looking pretty:

This state fair replica built with Tinker Toys was interesting:

And then it was time to watch a kitchen demonstration:

My favorite demonstations of all, however, are the sales pitches. This Vitamix lady did a good job:

But, as far as I'm concerned, the Swiss Peeler guy is the absolute best in "watch and buy" entertainment. We stand around and listen to him every year. I've already got two complete sets of his products:

Oh, and did I mention how fashionable the fairgoers were this year? Steve couldn't decide whether he liked this hat:

Or this hat:

Or perhaps this hat:

We made some new friends throughout the day, too:

I was a little scared by this character I met on the street:

Yeah, I'm joking. In fact, I got in on the "posing" action, too:

Not just once, but again:

And yet again:

(What do you call those photo boards, anyway? I think we're going to have to start a collection of pictures we take with them!)

Finally, we ended our evening by watching a live broadcast of the local news on KSTC-TV Channel 45:

It was fun to get a "behind the scenes" perspective before they went on air.

And that, Inky readers, was the culmination of another annual visit to the "Great Minnesota Get-Together." Happy Labor Day...I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Flower Count

2011-09-03T10:00:00.001-05:00

On Tuesday, I mentioned how Jan had punched flowers from cardstock last weekend:

For our drawing, I asked you to guess how many she'd made. This was the winning entry:

Sue D. said...
I am terrible at these guess how many games but i will guess 801.
August 31, 2011 8:41 AM

Turns out that Sue is pretty darn good at guessing after all! There were 827 flowers shown in that photo.

Sue's prize is one of the class packets from our upcoming "Holiday HoneyPOP Surprise Cards" workshop at ScrapFest:

Congratulations, Sue! Please email me with your address.

But if you're not Sue, you don't need the class packet to recreate the cards on your own. The basic HoneyPOP materials are available here on the main Inky website, along with photos of the cards. You can either use Darcie's patterned papers, as we did, or easily substitute other designs. Happy creating!

Friday Funnies

2011-09-02T12:09:00.001-05:00

While we were enjoying our rutabaga fries in Cumberland last weekend, I spotted this sign:

And as long as we're talking about chickens, have you ever wondered why the chicken really crossed the road? Here are a few possbilities:

Aristotle:
It is the nature of chickens to cross roads.

Roseanne Barr:
Urrrrrp. What chicken?

Bill the Cat:
Oops. Ack. Ppthpt.

Caesar:
To come, to see, to conquer.

Salvador Dali:
The fish.

Emily Dickinson:
Because it could not stop for death.

Bob Dylan:
How many roads must one chicken cross?

Sigmund Freud:
The chicken was obviously female and interpreted the pole on which the crosswalk sign was mounted as a phallic symbol of which she was envious.

Robert Frost:
To cross the road less traveled by.

Bill Gates:
I have just released the new Chicken Office 2000, which will not only cross roads, but will lay eggs, file your important documents, and balance your check book.

Grandpa:
In my day, we didn't ask why the chicken crossed the road. Someone told us that the chicken had crossed the road, and that was good enough for us.

Ernest Hemingway:
To die. In the rain.

Lee Iacocca:
It found a better car, which was on the other side of the road.

John Paul Jones:
It has not yet begun to cross!

Martin Luther King, Jr.:
I envision a world where all chickens will be free to cross roads without having their motives called into question.

Captain James T. Kirk:
To boldly go where no chicken has gone before.

Fox Mulder:
You saw it cross the road with your own eyes. How many more chickens have to cross the road before you believe it?

Richard M. Nixon:
The chicken did not cross the road. I repeat, the chicken did NOT cross the road.

Plato:
For the greater good.

Colonel Sanders:
I missed one?

Jerry Seinfeld:
Why does anyone cross a road? I mean, why doesn't anyone ever think to ask, What the heck was this chicken doing walking around all over the place, anyway?

The Sphinx:
You tell me.

Mae West:
I invited it to come up and see me sometime.

* * *

Happy Friday...from one chick to another!

Weekend In Wisconsin

2011-08-30T16:02:00.003-05:00

Last Friday, I drove to Cumberland, Wisconsin for our annual women's weekend:

We stay in the same vacation rental home each year, which is called Beaver Lake Landing. This is the beautiful view from the deck in back:

There were plenty of activities at the house. The spa treatments were out of this world:

Okay, I'm joking. Those were the girls' inflatable aliens, which we posed for a photo shoot during one of many moments of silliness.

As for the real activities? Well, Maddy made goof balls with Aunt Jean and shared them with everyone:

The women and older girls watched movies:

And the younger girls created their own bracelets:

Several people worked on scrapbooking projects. Ruthie took a break from making Inky store board samples to get some quilting done, too:

Jan spent quite a while cutting and scoring pieces for class packets that will be used in our HoneyPOP workshops at ScrapFest:

These classes are all sold out, so she had bunches of flowers to punch:

As for me, I was busy cutting up and stamping lots of honeycomb paper:

But I didn't spend the entire weekend indoors! Cumberland has a Rutabaga Festival every year, so we drove into town and paused to admire the combination hot-dog-stand-and-car-wash:

(I've been told that the Angry Wiener was once featured on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, which showcased its namesake hot dog adorned with pepper relish and hot sauce.)

Here's a car that was in the auto show, driving past the craft vendors in the background:

Of course, I had to test out the rutabagas being prepared by these folks:

They were transformed into french fries, which were surprisingly tasty:

And the weekend is never complete without a trip to Bargain Bill's in Rice Lake:

You'll always be surprised by the variety of items in their huge warehouse. For example, they've got tubing...both the plastic kind:

And the sock kind:

Need some chips? Try the poker type:

Or perhaps the potato type:

Jamie modeled this enormous 18" whisk for me:

(I was tempted to buy it, but I resisted...because I rarely cook for a thousand people at once!)

Connected to the main warehouse is a giant craft store:

Oooh, look what I spotted there:

Bargain Bill's will also be receiving the new holiday HoneyPOP products later this week. So if you live in the area, please stop by to see them in person.

And since you've made it this far reading my post, I've got some BLOG CANDY as a little reward! Take a look back at the picture with the punched-out flowers. How many flowers do you think are on the table next to Jan's hands? (You can click on the photo to see a larger version, if you'd like.) Leave a comment with your best guess. One entry per person, please.

We'll take entries through Friday, September 2nd. On Saturday, I'll post the name of the person who was closest to the actual number without going over. That winner will receive their very own Inky class packet, same as the ones that will be used at ScrapFest to make four holiday HoneyPOP cards. Good luck to you!

Blog Hop Winner

2011-08-29T13:41:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to stampscout, whose name was drawn from our Stamping Spaces Blog Hop entries. (Stampscout, please email me with your address.) To help organize her own creative area, her Inky prize pack will contain a Spool & Store Ribbon Spooler:

And to store her rolled-up ribbon, she'll also receive the Dispenser Kit:

Thanks to everyone who hopped with us and left comments. We're so glad you participated, and hopefully you enjoyed visiting our designers' studios.

Friday Funny Time

2011-08-26T10:17:00.001-05:00

After our peek earlier this week at the Inky designers' spaces, I spent the last couple of days working on sample cards for our store board progam. Now it looks like my office/studio has literally exploded! I'm not going to show you photos of the wreckage, but let's just say it reminds me of this:

Of course, I can still function in it...well, pretty much:

I suppose I'll have to clean again soon. But sometimes I wonder "what is the point?" like Maxine:

And there's always the concern about throwing something away that I'll eventually need:

Of course, I'm only half joking. It does feel so much nicer when things are organized and I can actually find my supplies.

If you haven't checked out our Stamping Spaces Blog Hop, then please take a look and leave comments along the way. We're taking entries through Sunday for a random winner of an Inky prize pack, and I'll see you again here on Monday. Until then, hope you have a clean and clutter-free weekend!