Sites of the week

It’s FUN FRIDAY with Your Next Stamp! Each Friday some of the design team members will be sharing both their creations and a tip or two about a technique or their creative process.

First, let me start off with my card using the darling APPLE CUTIE…

Detail shots…

I used an older Mojo Monday sketch for this card…

I often get asked, “Where do you begin when creating?” Truth be told, there are lots {and LOTS} of places I start. I think that if I always started at the same place my work would get boring. Sometimes I start with an image, or an inspiration piece. Other times I have papers that I want to work or continue to work with. More often than not, I have a color scheme or sketch in my head. While I could go on and on about each of these, I am going to stick to one that I know pretty well…starting with a sketch.

I am always looking for a great sketch {also known as a layout}. I feel that it can really make or break a card {along with paper choice, but we’ll leave that for another day}. So, first find a sketch that you like and you feel that you can work with. An elaborate sketch can both trigger and hinder the creative mind, so be sure that you think that the sketch is “do-able.”
If you already have an image in mind, double check that the image will play nice with your main image panel. If not, you might just need to re-think either your sketch or image selection. For instance, a tall skinny image would not have worked well on the sketch above. I’m not saying that it couldn’t have been done, but I probably would not have liked the outcome.
The key to working with a sketch is the ability to make it your own. If a sketch shows a star as embellishment, don’t feel that is what you have to use. Think about what works for you and your card. Add ribbon, layers {note that I did not say ‘panels’} and other embellishments as you see fit, as long as it works with the parameters of the sketch.
You may have to make the sketch “work for you.” Making it work does not translate into making it look nothing like the original sketch {hopefully you know what I mean by this}. On my card, you can see that the 3 small round panels on the left side are slightly different from how they are shown on the sketch. I could have made them smaller on my card, but I did not like the way that it looked, so I altered it slightly to “make it work” for me.

Hopefully these tidbits about working with a sketch have helped. You can find sketches on lots of sites, like HERE on the first Saturday {and EVERY}of the month. Yep, shameless plug and I am ok with it

It’s a hop, again!
The start is on Laura’s blog where she has a bunch of info about the release, including something special she has up her sleeve for Friday.
And, you should have come here from Jen Carter’s blog.

Yesterday and today, the design team has been featuring the new 2 Cute Ink sets that are now available in the Lil’ Inker store. Thank you for all your sweet comments yesterday about my coloring on the kitty. Would you believe that I started out trying to make him {her?} look dirty white? Seriously, I did. I guess that fail turned into something better, though!

As for today, I get to show you my SWEET BEE card…

Detail shot…

As you can see, this is a super simple layout, so I put aside the pattern papers and went with white on white {papers}. I really wanted the larger image to pop and basically be {bee?} THE card.

Cute set, right?… {click for larger image}

Well, I won’t keep you any longer. But before you leave, be sure to leave a comment for a chance to win some Lil’ Inker goodies! Now, hop, hop, hop along to Alicia’s blog for some more 2 Cute Ink cuteness!!

Happy Wednesday stampy friends! All week the Lil’ Inker design team is hopping to show the new stamps and dies that just arrived in the store. If you didn’t start at Laura’s blog, or come from Jen Carter’s blog, take a U-turn and don’t miss a thing!

Along with the fun new Flags and Tags stamp and die set, Lil’ Inker has released two more 2 Cute Ink designs. I paired the Cutie Cat with a cut down version of the large flag for a sweet and simple card…

Detail of the fancy lil’ feline {colored with Toner and Cool Gray Copics}…

In addition to this 2 Cute Ink set, there is also a bee that will buzz his {her?} way right into your heart. I’ll be back tomorrow to show you what I did with that set. For now, keep on hop, hop, hopping along to Alicia’s blog for some more cuteness.

Wait, don’t go yet! A couple more things…

Don’t forget to leave comments this week as 1 lucky winner is going to receive this month’s 2 Cute Ink sets and someone will receive a $10 store credit.

AND…On Friday, there will be a few more super sweet Valentine Bonus Goodies in the Lil’ Inker store. I got mine in the mail Tuesday…oh my cuteness…that’s all I am allowed to say!

Ever have one of those crafty moments when you say, “Um, this isn’t how I thought this would turn out!”? Well, I had one of those yesterday while creating my card for this week’s TCP Tuesday, by Hipster Hostess Lori Tecler, challenge using these colors…

I don’t know if it was the cold medication or if I was having trouble putting together the colors, but I fidgeted with this card for a long while before I came up with this…

I like it, but it’s not what I had in head. I was envisioning something a little scrappier and papers that flowed a little better. Ah, ya win some and some you think could have been better {different?}…that’s how that phrase goes, right?

A couple detail shots…

I do love me some Sprinkle {image from the It Had to be Mew set from The Cat’s Pajamas} atop the Build-A-Bingo image…

I added some sequins under the rhinestones for a little added bling…

You can find all of the TCP Tuesday Color Challenge details, along with how to become the next Swanky Stamper on Alma’s blog. Happy stamping and good luck!

Happy Monday stamping friends!! I’m hoping that this week is far better than last week. Nic seems to be doing very well after the pneumonia bug that visited our home last week. Thanks for all the well wishes; they were very appreciated. Lack of sleep and a lil’ man hacking in my face all last week left me with a case of the sniffles. Hopefully Zicam really does what it says it does…Tony swears by it, so I am giving it a shot this time around.

As the title of the post suggests, this is a HOP for Lil’ Inker. If you didn’t start at the beginning on Laura’s blog, I am guessing that you didn’t come here from Jen Carter’s blog. If that’s the case, take a moment to rewind and be sure not to miss a thing. At the end of this post, I will send you on your way to find more great Lil’ Inker inspiration!

Fortunately, I did find a little bit of stamping time…a save for my sanity! This week Lil’ Inker is releasing some super cute stamps that the design team will be featuring on their blogs. Today, we are featuring the new Flags and Tags stamps and dies. I knew exactly what I wanted to do…giftie notecards…

Detail of the die cut label and sentiment flag…

I love the way the Authenique paper complements this set perfectly {in my opinion, at least!} I embellished the label and sentiment panels with a felt flower topped with a flower center from Prima {thanks, Susan!}. I can definitely see myself making some more of these as teacher and hostess gifties! As I have mentioned before, I am not one for mass production, but these were fun, easy and I think they make a great {classy} statement!

Full product detail…

Note the size of the center flag! It’s big for projects, yet can be cut down for card use which I will show later this week. Well, I won’t keep you here any longer. Keep on hop, hop, hopping along to Sarah’s blog where she is sure to WOW you!