Yet more Easter

Yes, there is more Easter. Just when you thought it was safe to venture out again. I just adore this card. The sentiment is especially endearing. I used the cards that were included in a DCWV kit I purchased from HSN and simply cut the cards apart. The back side was in a solid complementary color. It was like double the value for me.


I took this opportunity to take advantage of the design by doing some doodling on the flowers and tear drop/paisley shapes. Of course I used my Sakura gel and metallic pens to bling out the patterns. I really need to pick up additional



packets of these pens. They are truly addictive.

I did not have to do much in the way of deciding where to add my accents. They screamed at me all on their own.

Although it does not clearly show on the card above, the bunnies are extremely reflective. I used the Sakura clear glaze pen and colored over the bunnies that I had stamped in StazOn black.
The heart and the swirls around the bunnies were enhanced with American Crafts glitter pens.

I love Easter and Spring. It is a new beginning and a rebirth. There is no better way to celebrate the risen Christ. This is a time when seemingly fragile plants force their way through hard, cold soil and brave the elements to let us know that change is on the way.

Our world becomes filled with brilliant color and a wide array of nature's beauty. This is what gives us more ideas for colors to use in our lives. I take the time to ponder how I can use these combinations to add life to my cards and scrapbook pages. Inking in the name of love. You can't go wrong.
Until then.

Still Easter

Yes, it is still Easter at my house. We actually have not put away the decorations. I am enjoying having them out since we have been innudated with rain for the past few weeks. I have to admit the dreariness was getting me down. When I looked up and spied one of these cards looking back at me my spirits were immediately lifted. I hope they have the same impact on you.

This one is fun and whimsical. On looking back on it, I should have stamped grass under the feet of the bunnies. They look like they are just floating. When I create more for mailing, I think I will do just that. A card can never have too much ink.



These photos show a close up of the girl and boy bunny. Aren't they precious? The entire set is from Studio G. Gotta love those dollar stamp sets. I used the Sakura gel glaze pens on these. I got carried away with apertures and glaze. That raised embossed effect you get is incredible.

This final picture is of the flowers in the center of the card that makes that aperture come alive. I used the Nestabilities scallop circles and since they are graduated, used one die for the paper and a smaller die for the card behind the aperture. The paper by the way is from Die Cuts With a View. I had a chance to pick up a kit that has some inspirational paper and embellishments to get you crafting.
I stamped the image using Black Staz On ink and used my Glitter markers and glaze gel pens on the flowers and the sentiment.

It was hard to reign myself in and not add more ink to the card. Mmmm. This one is inkalicious. And as always done with love.

Until then.

More Easter

Although Easter Sunday has come and gone, it is never to late to share ideas for the coming season if the Lord is willing and the creek don't rise. ( I heard that growing up.) Here are a couple of more cards for your enjoyment.

This is the card opened. I decided to use the aperture to place a phrase inside the card. The photo below shows what the card looks like when it is closed.

The base of the card started out white and I used several shades of yellow and green to achieve this look. I tried to keep it analogous and use black as a powerful accent. The He Is Risen is slanted on purpose. I wanted to give the illusion that the circle is rising towards the heavens. Again, I inked using the stencil brushes. I just love those.

This next card used those same Studio G stamps and the Sakura glaze pens. I actually used the Sakura pens on the Happy Easter and Ranger clear glaze on the egg to make it shine. Yummy.
So as not to be outdone I gave the words some sparkle and shimmer of their own using the Sakura glaze pens and some of the Fiskars glitter gel pens. And of course the eggs wanted in on the bling action. I feel that the gel pens really brought this card to life. The 3-D effect is outstanding.

It was a lot of fun experimenting with these cards. I had never done apertures before and once I started I could not stop. So guess what you will see on the next five cards or so? You are sooo smart. Apertures. As always I will find creative ways to Ink in the Name of Love.

Until then.

Spring Has Sprung

Hello everyone and a belated Happy Easter!!!!

I have been so busy creating that I have not taken the time to update my blog. I am popping in tonight to share a few Easter and Spring cards that I created. Please enjoy. The bunny in the center is actually a ceramic pen that I repurposed for this project. The words and eggs came from the Studio G $1 stamp sets.

Although you cannot see the detail here, all of the words were traced using Sakura glaze pens. They give a nice 3-D look and sheen. I also photographed the inside of the card to show some of the detail work there.

I

These photos show the inside of the cards. This is the close up of some glitter markers that I used from American Crafts.

The photo to the right is a close up of the cover behind the marching bunny. I used glitter markers here as well as inking the background in a soft pink using a stencil brush. Instead of pouncing, I swirled.

I truly apologize for being so tardy, but life gets busy every now and again. I had a fabulous time using the different markers, pens, and of course inks. There is no other way to do it. You simply cannot help but to Ink in the Name of Love.

Until then.

The Learning Lab #1--Quick Cards

Hello and Happy Spring!!!!!
On the QVC Yahoo scrappers board one of the members posted regarding 6x6 paper. She wanted to know how else could she use it for other than matting photos. I believe she enjoyed scrapping in 12x12. I have a few 6x6 albums but find that it is limiting for telling complete stories. I would rather devote those to a special event. Her question was exactly the challenge I needed.

In addition, I needed to create some quick cards. That idea evolved into a series of quick cards using 6x6 paper. Here are a few of the photos.

I also created a video demonstrating the project. Since the video exceeded the limit set by Blogger, I uploaded to Vimeo. I sped up the footage and when Vimeo converted the movie, some of the takes became unstable and blurred. I will work tomorrow to separate out the video into two smaller ones.

Until that happens here is the link to see this one.

http://www.vimeo.com/3806460

I hope you will join me again on this blog for more from the Learning Lab. In subsequent posts, I will focus on each of the cards and share some of the elements and techniques used to create them.

Keep Inking In the Name of Love.

Until then.

Happy St. Patrick's Day --The Shamrock

What would St. Patrick's day be without the lucky four leaf clover? I recall searching endlessly for these as a young girl.

My friends and I would toil for hours in fields of green seeking the elusive clover. During my lifetime, I have been able to find 4- four-leafed clovers. They had a home in the family Bible--not sure where they are now.

This card pays homage to the shamrock. I used more of the Studio G stamps on this one. The flowers are Prima and the ribbon from Michaels. I was supposed to have written March 17th inside the box or the words everyday. Still had not made up my mind before snapping this photo. Love the shamrock stamp.

Speaking of the Shamrock.

Information from http://www.history.com/

The shamrock, which was also called the "seamroy" by the Celts, was a sacred plant in ancient Ireland because it symbolized the rebirth of spring. By the seventeenth century, the shamrock had become a symbol of emerging Irish nationalism. As the English began to seize Irish land and make laws against the use of the Irish language and the practice of Catholicism, many Irish began to wear the shamrock as a symbol of their pride in their heritage and their displeasure with English rule.

Talk about using color to express your beliefs is in line with Inkallusions. Nothing positive happens unless it is done with love.

Always Ink in the Name of Love.

Until then.

The Brown Series Four

The last card in the series. Wow, I cannot believe that this is the final card. Don't fret there are more. I recently designed a set of quick cards. I am hoping to upload the video.

I had a Sizzix Memories embossing folder and wanted to use it in some way. I found it to be perfect for this card. I used the Fiskars decorative edge scissors to cut it out before adhering to brown card stock.

The words are from the Inkadinkado peg set. I stamped them on a variety of cardstock colors using the chocolate ink. I decided to use foam dots behind the hope only.

The scalloped circles are WRMK paper by the pound, and I used the Spellbinders die to cut them out. I embossed them using the Cuttlebug folders. Swiped over the raised portion with a sponge dabbed into the chocolate ink. Of course I simply love the Anna Griffin Chocolate pigment ink.

The card base cardstock is from Hot Off The Press.

I love the yummy caramel color of this paper. I reserved the remaining pieces for another card I made. Waste not, want not.

I hope that you have been inspired by this short series. The ink made all of the difference. You can not go wrong when you Ink in the Name of Love.

Until then.