Best of 2018

Another Amazing, Creative Year! Let's go back down memory lane with my top ten favorites of 2018.

Pick #10:

The card design isn't why I picked this one. My upline Connie designed this set with Stampin' Up! artists and it's meaning is very special. 

Pick #9

I loved this whole set, but what I really loved was combing a new product with the set to create this card. I felt like an artist!

Pick #8

This card hits my heartstrings in a whole different way than the others--brings me back to my love of tradition and old fashioned artifacts. The plaid with the metal and wood...so fabulous.

Pick #7: 

I love Designer Series Paper and was really happy with how punching out the circles made this card fun. Plus, Unicorn. Mic Drop

Pick # 6:

This is one of a set of cards. I loved playing withe brusho and experimenting. Plus, what  a cool card.

Pick #5:

Trees. Wood. Leaves. Cool new colors and a fun fold. Love.

Pick #4

I love the colors in this card plus the unique way to use the Designer Series Paper. It's always fun to try something new!

Pick #3:

 

This one just tickles my heart. I love that little bear and doing the watercoloring was so much fun. 

Pick #2:

 

For many personal reasons this set is my second favorite of the year--it was for someone special, it was to honor those who cared for him, and it got me stampin' again after a hiatus.

Pick # 1 

This is my absolute favorite. I took an idea and made it my own in a very cool way. I love these trees.

Happy 2019!

Sara

My Inky Friends Design Challenge #13: Happy Anniversary!

One year ago I started a challenge as part of my blogging group called My Inky Friends. Stampin' Up1 has celebrated their 30th Anniversary throughout 2018. Today, we are melding the two in this color challenge:

Here's my contribution:

I used products available January 3 as part of the Occasions Catalog and Sale-a-bration offerings. To create this card, I stamped the heart from the Meant to Be Cling Stamp Set in Night of Navy. I then colored the flowers with my Calypso Coral, Mossy Meadow, and Daffodil Delight Dark Stampin' Blends. I cut the bottom edge of the card front off with the edge framelit from the Be Mine Stitched Framelits. Next, I cut the hearts out of the front of my card. I then placed the outlines in the same hole to make it an inlay. I used my sponge and Tombow Glue to gently touch the back of the outlines with glue to hold them in place. I added a piece of Thick Whisper White as an inside panel of the card front and colored the hearts. 

Before placing the focal heart, I added the heart scalloped outline behind it. You can see it better in this close up. I also added a folded over and glue dotted strip of 1/4" Organdy Ribbon, which I got for FREE as a Sale-a-bration item. 

I hope you join us at the My Inky Friends Challenge this month. The colors compliment each other so well, that a card is easy to make using them!

Remember, Sale-a-bration starts January 3rd! Here's one way to purchase the Organdy Ribbon Pack:

Happy Stamping!

Sara

May Your Christmas Be Bright

 The Christmas Tree is my favorite holiday tradition. Growing up (and still now), my parents had the big, colorful bulbs on our tree surrounded by homemade ornaments. They are still my favorite. I was psyched when I saw the Christmas Lightbulb Builder Punch and coordinating stamp sets.

To create this card, I decided to go with the bright hues of the 2018-2020 In Colors. I stamped the string of lights on the Whisper White background first and colored them as randomly as I could with the 2018-2020 Stampin' Write Markers. Next, I stamped the sentiment in Lovely Lipstick and the sparkly circle in Call Me Clover. I added some Pineapple Punch stars for fun. I used my 2018-2020 In Color Designer Series Paper for the paper ribbon and the flag. My final touch was the Call Me Clover and Lovely Lipstick lightbulbs. I used my Chalk Marker to add an accent. The socket is the Galvanized Paper.

I hope you all have a very lovely Christmas!

Happy Stamping!

Sara

Lovely as a Tree Buffalo Check

One thing I love about Stampin' Up! is how on trend each catalog offering is, especially, when the trend I'm noticing is one I love. This card uses the Buffalo Check background stamp, which just makes me want to curl up in my own buffalo check fleece! 

I went with traditional black and red with this card--Real Red and Basic Black. I just inked up the background heavily with Stazon Jet Black and then layered that piece on a Real Red base. I added Basic Black Matte layer between the tree focal point and the base. I went with the very first stamp set I ever bought- Lovely as a Tree for this card.  I just love this spruce. I embossed with Whisper White Embossing Powder. The sentiment is from Itty Bitty Greetings. The black ribbon is the 1/2" Basic Black Satin ribbon.

All in all, I think it's a very masculine card--perfect for giving for winter birthdays. (or dads who love flannel). Plus, it was quick and easy! 

Happy Stamping!

Sara

My Inky Friends: Inking Up the Holidays Blog Hop

Welcome the the My Inky Friends "Inking Up the Holidays" blog hop for 2018. Each stop on this hop features our last minute projects to celebrate the season. Here at Lily's Ink Pad, I am featuring a bundle from the Holiday Catalog called Tags and Tidings. There are only three design team members available this month with all the commitments that December has for families. So, you may have come from Sharleen's blog  or from Cindy's blog. Either way, you can link to the other participants at each site!

With this stamp set, I made 11 tags and then added a box with a tag from the Christmas Tidings Punch Box. I had a great time playing around with my punches, the stamped tags, and the Festive Farmhouse burlap ribbon and baker's twine. The stamp is one big piece, so the Stamparatus, was a perfect way to make sure I got every corner covered.  All I had to do next was run the panel through my Big Shot one time to cut all the stamped images out! 

Here are the tags close up:

I loved the variety and how easy it was!

For my Stampin' Celebrations group, I made a punch cheat sheet so they could punch a bunch and then assemble:

I used a Whisper White backing on them to leave room to write names for the giftees. 

I also made a template for my box, which I made using my Envelope Punch Board:

The writing is tough to see, but basically, I used an 8x8 piece of cardstock, started scoring at 2" and 5", and then turned the cardstock 90 degrees. From there, I scored on the previous score line intersection with the edge. Turn again, repeat twice. 

The final steps on the box are to punch holes in each flap and cut flaps for folding inward for sides. Then, use a Z pattern to "sew" the box shut! I used the base idea from Sam Donald, a UK Demonstrator,  My box had to be bigger than hers, so I changed the dimensions. 

Pretty cool, huh? Well, there's more! Click on Previous to see Sharleen's creations or Next to see Cindy's! 

   

Here are the supplies I used:

Happy Stamping!

Sara