New Catalog Countdown: Tip Top Taupe

My first thought when I saw this color was, "it's taupe." Believe it or not, it is quickly becoming one of my favorite colors. It pairs so well with everything. Once you're done checking out my favorite card that I've made this week, click on the countdown image header at the Tip Top of this post and see more Taupe-y inspiration from the SSINKspiration Design Team. 

My inspiration for this card came from a huge event held in our little town yesterday. It's a little bike race called the Dirty Kanza 200 (#DK200). The cyclists ride 200 miles of gravel through the Flint Hills of Kansas. If you think Kansas is flat; it's not all flat. In the past parts of the course have gone through farmer's fields, across cattle guards, and through creeks. We've gotten a little rain (the river is 7.5 feet above flood stage) lately here as well. 

While I know that I myself could never ride the 200 mile race; it is a huge inspiration to sit at the block party and cheer the riders across the finish line (some of them finish in 12-13 hours!). I have a great amount of respect for them. You can see the accomplishment and pride in their face when they are riding that last little stretch. 

Tip Top Taupe created the perfect bicycle to represent what 200 miles of Kansas gravel after the rains of May will make a bike look like! Plus, after 200 miles of Kansas sun; you need a shade tree to sit under. These riders definitely warm my heart every year. 

• Tip Top Taupe card base - 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" - scored at 4-1/4"
• Hello Honey layer - 4-1/4" square
• Tip Top Taupe layer - 4" square
• Very Vanilla layer - 3-3/4" square
• Sheltering Tree stamp set
• Tip Top Taupe ink
• Garden Green ink
• Tip Top Taupe Lace Trim

The DK pint glass was made by the ceramics teacher at our local university. She used stamps for the imprint on the clay, so I thought I'd show it off with my card today. 

New Catalog Countdown: Mint Macaron

I got really excited when I saw the Mint Macaron in the new catalog. I was so sad when Sage Shadow retired 5 years ago, and I thought this was a pretty close match. When I received it, I compared to my stash; and I was right, it's pretty close, but better. Mint Macaron is even more gorgeous than Sage Shadow was!

Part of my love for the Sage was that I used it as one of my wedding colors. Everything was decked out in Naturals Ivory, Chocolate Chip, and Sage Shadow. I decided to pull out some Chocolate Chip and Very Vanilla to pair with the Mint Macaron today and make a wedding card.

• Chocolate Chip card base 4-1/4" x 11" - scored at 5-1/2"
• Very Vanilla cardstock
• Mint Macaron cardstock
• Ovals Collection framelits
• Big News stamp set
• Chocolate chip ink
• 5/8" Vanilla Satin Ribbon
• 2-way glue pen
• Dazzling Diamonds glitter

I traced the "happily" with the 2-way glue pen and then sprinkled the Dazzling Diamonds glitter over the top for a little extra sparkle to the card. 

Now that you've checked out my minty goodness, stop by the SSINKspiration page to see what the other Design Team members have to share. You can get directly to the Mint Macaron page by clicking the countdown image header at the top of this post. 

New Catalog Countdown: Watermelon Wonder

I will admit it; when I first got my pack of 2015-2017 In Color card stock, I was a little underwhelmed with the Watermelon Wonder. However, the more I've worked with it, and found great colors to pair it with; it has quickly grown on me. In my opinion, Blushing Bride is an excellent pairing! When you're finished drooling over the Watermelon (let's face it, that's the best part of summer!) here, be sure to check out the rest of the SSINKspiration Design Team's creations. You can link directly to that page by clicking the countdown image header above. 

• Watermelon Wonder card base - 4-1/4" x 11" - scored at 5-1/2"
• Blushing Bride layer - 4" x 5-1/4"
• Best Thoughts stamp set
• Watermelon Wonder ink
• Blushing Bride ink
• Typeset Designer Series Paper
• Subtles Candy Dots (Blushing Bride)

Short On Time?

That's what Quick and Easy cards were designed for! To me, the quickest and easiest thing to do is pull out my Project Life cards and find one that can be used on a card.

• Mint Macaron card base (isn't that color yummy?) - 4-1/2" x 11" - scored at 5-1/2"
• Bohemian Designer Series Paper 4" x 5-1/4"
• happiness card from Moments Like These Project Life card kit
• Petal Potpourri stamp set
• Tangelo Twist ink
• Flower Medallion punch
• Basic Rhinestones

Check out more quick and easy card ideas today at Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration. Also please help settle the debate and home and let me know if you like today's card or yesterday's card better. Thanks! 

All the Single Layers

Sometimes single layer cards can be the most challenging. That's why the ladies at Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration have created some fabulous ones for you today; to help with the single layer struggle.

Speaking of struggles; I'm so sad that Crisp Cantaloupe is almost gone. I had to use it today before it retires.

• Very Vanilla card base - 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" - scored at 4-1/4"
• Work of Art stamp set
• Crisp Cantaloupe ink
• Best Thoughts stamp set (2015-2016 Hostess Exclusive set)
• Garden Green ink
• Baked Brown Sugar ink
• Basic Rhinestones

Proof that tastes are different, my husband liked this one better than the card I made for tomorrow. I like tomorrow's better. Stop back by to let me know which is your favorite, so we can settle this household dispute. 

Masculine Monday

Father's Day is right around the corner, so here's some masculine inspiration for you to get a head start.

This card mixes a little bit of the old (and only available for 7 more days) with some of the new (which will be available in 7 days).

• Daffodil Delight card base - 5-1/2" x 8-1/2"- scored at 4-1/4"
• Adventure Bound DSP stack (not available after June 2nd)
• Tree Builder punch
• Cucumber Crush cardstock
• Alphabet Rotary stamp
• Blackberry Bliss ink

Isn't that Tree Builder punch the greatest? I also punched the birds that are in the upper corners with it. We used to have two trees in our front yard that kind of grew towards each other, and that's where my tire swing hung from. Now that I'm looking at my card, I'm thinking I should have added the swing from the Sheltering Trees stamp set in between the "father's" and the "day" trees. 

Are you looking for more masculine card INKspiration? We've got some at SSINK!  

Flattery By Copying

It is said that imitation is the highest form of flattery. In our world we call that CASEing. (Copy And Share Everything). Our mission at Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration today is to CASE a fellow design team member. Today I chose Diana  E. from Stampin' Fun with Diana. She is extremely talented and I am drawn to almost every thing I've ever seen her create!

My card today features a whole lot of new goodies that will be available for purchase beginning June 2nd!

• Tip Top Taupe card base - 4-1/4" x 11" - scored at 5-1/2"
• Watermelon Wonder cardstock - 3" x 4"
• Boho Chic Textured Impressions Folder
• Delightful Dijon cardstock - 4" x 5-1/4"
• Gold 1/8" Ribbon
• Blackberry Bliss cardstock - 3-1/8" x 3-5/8"
• Bohemian Designer Series Paper - 3" x 3-1/2"
• Bohemian Designer Washi Tape
• Whisper White card stock
• 7/8" Scallop Circle Punch
• 2015-2017 In Color Blossom Accents
• Celebrate stamp from May 2015 Paper Pumpkin 
• Blackberry Bliss Ink

Isn't that a fun stamp that came with the May Paper Pumpkin subscription? Are you a Paper Pumpkin subscriber? If not, now is a great time to try it out! Use code SAVE50 to sign up today and save 50% off your first two months! That's two months chock-full of creativity for the price of one! 

Pinspiration

How many pins do you have pinned on Pinterest? For me, it's just over 2800. How many of those have I actually used? Maybe 2 dozen! There are so many great ideas to be found on there, who has the time to do them all?

I was inspired for today's card, by something I found on Pinterest. I'd like to think it was "unusual" pinspiration, as it wasn't an actual craft project. Here is the pin:

This was the card I was inspired to make:

Remember that Tip Top Taupe lace I used yesterday? The card base is that cardstock.

• Feel Goods stamp set
• Gorgeous Grunge stamp set
• Night of Navy ink
• Perfect Plum ink
• Cajun Craze ink
• Whisper White cardstock
• Perfect Plum cardstock
• Lost Lagoon cardstock
• Strawberry Slush cardstock
• Boho Blossoms punch (retiring)
• Regals Candy Dots - Night of Navy
• Neutrals Candy Dots - Whisper White

I'd love to see some of your pinspired creations! Share a link below. Need more PINspiration? Head on over to SSINK! 

Patriotic

When I think of Memorial Day, I obviously think of the red, white, and blue. However, I also think of the lake and hamburgers! What better reason than that to break out my Stampin' Up! hamburger box die!

Are you curious about that big lace trim bow? That's a new ribbon available on June 2nd, in a brand new In Color called Tip Top Taupe!

• Big Shot
• Hamburger Box die
• Regals Pattern Paper DSP Stack (retiring)
• A Round Array stamp set (retiring)
• 7/8" Scallop Circle punch
• Real Red Ink

Check out more patriotic ideas today at SSINKspiration! 

#SSINKLS21: Layout Sketch

Classes are finally done for the semester! Yay! Now I have time to craft. I was sad when I heard that Stampin' Up! would no longer support My Digital Studio after this month; so I knew I had to use it on one last sketch.

This picture of us was taken about a year ago at a friend's wedding. It's one of my favorite pictures of us together.

Please play along at SSINKspiration with this great sketch by clicking on the sketch image below.

The detailed list of items used in MDS:

Page 1 Supply ListBackground
     Designer Series Paper\Large Polka Dot\Kraft Large Polka Dot

Embellishments
    Crochet Trim Ribbon\Chantilly (re-colored) Color = CERTAINLY CELERY 181,198,130
    Crochet Trim Ribbon\Chantilly - bow (re-colored) Color = CERTAINLY CELERY 181,198,130
    Brads\Certainly Celery - brad
    Brads\Certainly Celery - brad
    Brads\Certainly Celery - brad
    Brads\Certainly Celery - brad
    Brads\Certainly Celery - brad
    Brads\Certainly Celery - brad
    Brads\Certainly Celery - brad
    Brads\Certainly Celery - brad

Punches
    Labels & Tags\Decorative Label Punch,  Filled with: Designer Series Paper\Large Polka Dot\Certainly Celery Large Polka Dot
    Labels & Tags\Decorative Label Punch, Fill Color = RICH RAZZLEBERRY 149,69,103
    Labels & Tags\Decorative Label Punch,  Filled with: Designer Series Paper\Large Polka Dot\Certainly Celery Large Polka Dot
    Labels & Tags\Decorative Label Punch, Fill Color = RICH RAZZLEBERRY 149,69,103
    Labels & Tags\Decorative Label Punch, Fill Color = RICH RAZZLEBERRY 149,69,103
    Labels & Tags\Decorative Label Punch,  Filled with: Designer Series Paper\Large Polka Dot\Certainly Celery Large Polka Dot
    Labels & Tags\Decorative Label Punch,  Filled with: Designer Series Paper\Large Polka Dot\Certainly Celery Large Polka Dot
    Labels & Tags\Get It Done - punch 2,  Filled with: Designer Series Paper\Small Polka Dot\Chocolate Chip Small Polka Dot
    Hearts\Small Heart Punch, Fill Color = RICH RAZZLEBERRY 149,69,103

(Retiring) Friday Favorite

Every Friday this month at Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration, you will find the designers favorite retiring item.

I hate to admit that this my first time (that I can remember) using my favorite item. But it's so cute and fit in well with my theme. It's the Alphabet Press Textured Impressions Embossing Folder and since it's retiring, and on sale, you can purchase it for only $3.98!

Next week is finals week, so I purchased and personalized the Oh Snap Bins from 31 for our student workers. The office staff is going to fill them with survival week goodies; and I made cards for each of them to sign. I made sure they color combination of the cards matches at least a portion of the bin I got for them.

Here's an up close of each of them with the card stock colors I used captioned underneath.

Wisteria Wonder base
Bermuda Bay layer

Bermuda Bay base
Night of Navy layer

Old Olive base
Calypso Coral layer

Rich Razzleberry base
Coastal Cabana layer

Melon Mambo base
Smoky Slate layer

Daffodil Delight base
Smoky Slate layer

Smoky Slate base
Night of Navy layer

Pop-up Peace

It's Technique Tuesday, and for a special treat; our technique of the day is pop up cards! Our very own Wendy Cranford made an excellent tutorial video; so make sure you link to the SSINK page with the banner at the bottom of this post to check it out!

I was sitting in class designing this card in my head while I should have been focusing on Instructional Design. I was thinking of using Flower Shop and the Painted Blooms paper. JUST KIDDING! I got home and my design totally changed.

I saw Peace, Love, & Cupcakes sitting on top of the stack of retiring stamp sets I had pulled out of my cabinet and was inspired. That moved me to the Flashback paper and the rest is history!

• Perfect Plum card stock - 12x12, cut and scored and cut and scored according to Wendy's tutorial
• Flashback DSP - base pieces 2-1/2" x 3-1/2", flap pieces 2-1/2" x 2-1/2"
• Petal Potpourri stamp set
• Lost Lagoon ink
• Flower Medallion punch
• Peace, Love, & Cupcakes stamp set
• Strawberry Slush, Crushed Curry, Perfect Plum ink
• Circles Collection framelits
• Sweetheart punch
• Very Vanilla cardstock
• Basic Rhinestones

Here is a shot of the card closed and ready to mail.

SSINKCC21: Color Challenge

Why hello there! Work and school have kept me beyond busy this last month; and left me with no free time for stamping. :( I'm back now! :)

This was a surprisingly easy to work with color combination. I had a workshop last weekend, so I used this combo to design my card around.

• Whisper White card base - 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" - scored at 4-1/4"
• Crisp Cantaloupe cardstock - 4" x 5-1/4" (retiring)
• Decorative Dots Embossing Folder
• Regals Designer Series Paper Stack - Island Indigo (retiring)
• Top Note Die (retiring)
• Circles Collection Framelits
• Starburst Sayings stamp set (retiring)
• Starburst Framelits (retiring)
• Petal Potpourri stamp set
• Flower Medallion punch
• 7/8" Scallop Circle punch
• Regals Candy Dots

This is the variation that we made at the workshop. We simply replaced the candy dots with Basic Rhinestones. Attendees were also able to choose which flower they wanted to use out of the Petal Potpourri set. 

We would LOVE to have you play along with us at SSINKspiration this week!