Good Mail Day

As promised, here's my second Christmas in July card. It's also my second attempt at coloring my image with Distress Inks. I have to say, it is getting easier ... and speaking of images, isn't this festive holiday mailbox stamp wonderful? I just love the details, especially the little cardinal perched on top. You'll find it here in Serendipity Stamps online store.

Don't forget that now through July 19th you will get between 10% and 20 % off stamps in the Winter and Christmas category. If you purchase between $10 and $20 you will receive a 10% discount at checkout and if you purchase over $20, you'll save 20%. It's a great opportunity to pick up those holiday stamps!

I can't remember when I've looked forward to a weekend this much. It has been one crazy week at work. Is it a full moon or something? I'm really happy because I am also planning to take Monday off. My daughter and I are going shopping...for baby things! She is expecting my second grandbaby in February!! We are over the moon with excitement and just have to do a little shopping to celebrate.

Hope your weekend is wonderful too!






It's all about the details:
Card stock: Stampin' Up and Watercolor Paper
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey, Wassail
Stamps: Serendipity Stamps
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Distress Ink
Accessories: Dimensionals, Ribbon, Crystals, Stickles
Tools: Corner rounder, Computer (sentiment), Janome Sewing Machine

Helpful Chipmunks

Hi everyone! It's time for another card using the weekly sketch challenge at SCS.

Today's card features the "Helpful Chipmunks" stamp from Cornish Heritage Farms. I colored these cute little critters with Distress Inks. I have seen several stampers lately that use this method and have seen some incredible results. (Check out Yvonne's work ... simply amazing!) This was my first attempt and I decided that it is definitely going to take some major practicing to reach a level I'm happy with.

It's time to announce the winner of my Blogoversary Blog Candy. I let Random.org do the honors and it chose....

That means that Ida is the lucky winner!

Congratulations Ida! Email me your mailing address and I'll send the package on its way. I thoroughly enjoyed all of your responses and I think I gained 10 pounds just reading about all of the great ideas for celebrating with food. Thanks for leaving your comments.

I'll be back tomorrow with another Christmas in July card. See you then!






It's all about the details:
Card stock: Stampin' Up and Watercolor Paper
Patterned Paper: Stampin' Up, Cottage Wall and Merry Moments
Stamps: Cornish Heritage Farms
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Distress Ink
Accessories: Dimensionals, Ribbon, Crystals
Tools: Nestabilities, Janome Sewing Machine

Warmest Holiday Wishes

Are you ready for a touch of Christmas in July? The Serendipity Stamps Design Team was challenged to produce a little bit of holiday magic this month and since I love Christmas, I couldn't wait to get started. I knew that I wanted to do something slightly unconventional and when I saw this shell wreath stamp, I knew what it would be.

I began by selecting a color scheme that felt tropical and stamped the image in Vintage Photo Distress Ink. I colored the wreath with Copic Markers and then came the dilemma...to cut the wreath out or not. I wrestled with the answer for quite awhile. I mean, did you see all those bits of seaweed framing the wreath? It was a lot of cutting, but just a few minutes later I was done and I'm happy with the result!

I stamped a second image and colored and cut out the sea shells and added them to the wreath with Dimensionals. I used my Spica Markers too for just a little shimmer. I then added a few Kaisercraft pearls to accent the tropical feel. The sentiment is computer generated.

Now is a great time to head over to Serendipity Stamps! Mary is having a "Christmas in July" sale. It runs from July 15th through the 19th. Thanks so much for visiting today. Be sure to check out the rest of the "Christmas in July" creations by visiting the other DT members' sites:

• Anya
• Shannan
• Jennifer
• Lynda
• Yvonne
• Amy
• Sue
• Kelli

It's all about the details:
Card stock: Stampin' Up and Bazzill
Patterned Paper: None
Stamps: Serendipity Stamps, Shell Wreath Large
Ink: Distress Ink
Accessories: Dimensionals, Ribbon, Kaisercraft Pearls
Tools: Copic Markers, Spica Markers, Nestabilities, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder

Time to Celebrate! - Blog Candy

This post will remain on top until the 15th. Please scroll down to view newer posts.


Today is the 2nd anniversary of Just an Inkling and I want to share my excitement with you! In honor of this occasion, I have put together a little blog candy package for one lucky visitor. Will it be you?

What better way to celebrate than with cake and ice cream? I know in our family, all our celebrations seem to center around food. All you have to do for a chance to win is leave a comment on this message telling me how your family celebrates with food. It could be a special occasion, memory or even a special recipe. I'll choose one random winner on July 15th and post it here.

Good luck and please, only one entry per person and include a valid email address in your entry. For a complete list of items included, check out the description below.

I have assembled a fun assortment of goodies which include:

• MAMBI "Celebrate" 12 x 12 paper pad with die-cuts
• Prima Daisy Doodles in Candy Pink
• Package of American Crafts Elements Premium Ribbon in Uptown Pink
• K & Company Citronella Ice Cream Grand Adhesions
• Martha Stewart Crafts Glitter in Tourmaline
• Inkadinkado Clear Stamps, Birthday Fun set
• Martha Stewart Crafts Ice Cream Stickers
• Recollections pastel mini circle brads
• Martha Stewart Crafts Ice Cream Cone punch

Good luck, I can't wait to read your comments and don't forget to tell your friends!

Oh My, Cherry Pie!

Anyone for dessert? I created today's card for the weekly Card Sketch Challenge at SCS. The design gave me the perfect opportunity to use one of my new Lockhart Stamp Co. stamps called Pie in the Window. I paired it with these fun patterned papers from K & Company.

The image got the usual Copic Marker treatment and I finished the card with pearls and ribbon. I've decided I need to use red more often in my card making. I just love how bright and cheerful this one turned out.

Thanks for popping in.






It's all about the details:
Card stock: Stampin' Up
Patterned Paper: K & Company, Citronella
Stamps: Lockhart Stamp Co.
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Dimensionals, Ribbon, Kaisercraft Pearls
Tools: Copic Markers

Yeah, It's a Girl! - FS #126

It's time for another Featured Stamper challenge over at Splitcoast Stampers. The best thing about this challenge (besides casing great cards) is the opportunity to view galleries that I have not discovered on my own. There are so many amazing stampers out there! Here's Sandra's gallery and this is the card I chose to case..Isn't it great? Sandra is one talented lady.

I really wanted to stay true to Sandra's design, but I discovered early on that I still need more options for circle sizes. How is it possible that someone who owns two sets of circle Nestabilities and umpteen circle punches can not produce the size of circles they want? Of course if I would clean my craft area I just might find my circle cutter. Now there's a thought...





It's all about the details:
Card stock: Stampin' Up
Patterned Paper: Stampin' Up, Rock-a-bye Girl
Stamps: Stampin' Up, Baby Talk
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Dimensionals, Ribbon
Tools: Copic Markers, Nestabilities

Happy 4th!

Wishing everyone a very happy Independence Day! May yours be relaxing and fun-filled.





It's all about the details:
Card stock: Stampin' Up
Patterned Paper: Daisy D's
Stamps: Eat Cake Graphics
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Dimensionals, Cording, Brads, Tiny Twinkles, Glossy Accents, Stickles
Tools: Copic Markers, Nestabilities

New Home

This card is for one of my co-workers who just completed the purchase of their first home. I remember what an exciting time that was for me and wanted to make it special for her as well.

This has long been one of my favorite Papertrey Ink sets. It's called "Boards and Beams"and it has the perfect sentiments for any occasion involving a home. Plus the images are just the kind of house I love...I adore porches!

I colored the image with Copic Markers and popped the tree on dimensionals. The PP used is from My Mind's Eye Bloom & Grow collection.

Hope you are not sweltering where you are. Things have really cooled off here and we've even had rain the last couple of days.

All for now....





It's all about the details:
Card stock: Bazzill
Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye
Stamps: Papertrey Ink
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Dimensionals, Ribbon, Rhinestones
Tools: Copic Markers

Time began in a garden

Yeah, it's finally here. Our first official Serendipity Design Team Challenge. I feel so honored to be a part of this incredible group of ladies and to be able to share the challenges and stamps with you.

We're kicking off the monthly challenges with a "Garden Theme". I had such a difficult time deciding which stamp to showcase because the selection of floral stamps over at Serendipity Stamps is amazing!

I finally settled on this "Floral Frame" stamp for my project. I just love the variety of flowers on this frame. It made it so much fun to color with my Copics. My only real dilemma was deciding whether these were tiger lilies or stargazers. I opted for the stargazers...any reason to use hot pink!

I cut the image out and used it to frame a computer generated sentiment. I love this saying and it wasn't until after I decided to use it that I discovered that Serendipity also has this sentiment in a stamp. You'll find it here. The PP is from Basic Grey and the "to die for" ribbon is some that I purchased from Sharon Johnson over at No Time to Stamp? She has the most gorgeous ribbon for sale. Go check it out!

Be sure to visit the other Design Team member's websites to see their creations for the challenge. You'll find links to their sites in my sidebar.

Thanks for dropping by today. Don't forget that blog candy is only "lucky" 13 days away. You have to come back for that!!






It's all about the details:
Card stock: Stampin' Up
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey
Stamps: Serendipity Stamps
Ink: Distress Ink, Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Dimensionals, Ribbon
Tools: Copic Markers

My Shelter

Tonight, I thought I would share the card I made for my Dad for Father's Day. I pulled out one of my favorite Papertrey Ink's sets called Father Knows Best for both the main image and sentiment. I stamped parts of the tree in various shades of green and then punched them out with circle punches. I love the dimension it gives.

I picked up this sheet of EK Success patterned paper last weekend. It's called Lemon Drops and I was really drawn to its geometric design.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Father's Day weekend. I feel so blessed to have a father who loves me unconditionally, who leads by quiet example, and who shared his values and life experiences with me. I love you Dad!








It's all about the details:
Card stock: Stampin' Up
Patterned Paper: EK Success
Stamps: Papertrey Ink, Father Knows Best
Ink: Distress Ink
Accessories: Dimensionals, Kandicorp brass embellishments
Tools: Nestabilities, Circle Punches, Ticket Punch