Mystery In the Blog Hop

This month for our Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration Blog Hop, we are using our Mystery Swap theme. Each participant sent three items (or four) to another participant, who then had to use all of those items in some way on their project.

My items came from Donna, and while I forgot to take a picture of what she sent me before I got started, here are the items from the online store images.

Before we get to the main event, you should have just left stop number 1 on the Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration Blog Hop - Jenn @ Happy 2 Scrap 4 Life. If so, you are in the right spot. If a link doesn't work or you get off track, you will find the full blog hop lineup below. Please leave us some blog love as you hop along. We always love to hear from our followers.

So what did I make with the four items that Donna sent me?

I colored the cute little dude with some Classic Ink Pads and my Blender Pen. You have to look really close to see it, but I strung the Silver Metallic Thread through the button in an X. Those Metallic Doilies are on the Weekly Deals this week! I'm definitely going to grab some while they are on sale! They make a great layering piece!

From my own stash, I used Mossy Meadow card stock for my base, the Winter Wonderland Vellum, some of that fabulous Corrugated Paper, and some Perfect Plum Candy Dots from the Regals collection. I also stamped a greeting from Happy Scenes in Mossy Meadow on Perfect Plum card stock. I cut that out with the Bitty Banners framelits. One final detail: that fabulous Curvy Corner Trio Punch!

After looking at this card, I've now got "Silver & Gold" from Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer running through my head! Now that I've got you singing it too, it's time to head over to see what Tobe received for her Mystery Supplies and what fabulousness she created with them!

Blog Hop Participant List:

1. Jenn at Happy 2 Scrap 4 Life
2. Darcy at Dj's Stampin Place
3. Tobe at The Craft Sea
4. Donna at Geek Squad Crafting
5. Carrie at Carrie Stamps
6. Jennifer at Jenny G Paper Crafts
7. Tonya at Stampin with Tonya
8. Kim at Stamping with Kim
9. Leanne at Literally My Joy
10. Diana at Stampin' Fun with Diana
11. Darla at Stampin with Darla & Sisters
12. Laura at Crafty Chicks Creating
13. Heidi at Stuck on Stampin'

Stamp Set Focus: Layered Letters Alphabet

Stampin' Up! offers many great alphabet sets, and today at Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration, the designers are featuring a few of them. My focus is on the Layered Letters Alphabet.

I'm on a mission to create a thank you card (or project) for as many posts this month as I can. That made it easy to decide what I was going to spell out with my alphabet stamp set. However, then I wondered what else I would do. The Crazy About You stamp set was delivered today, and as I was putting it together, the Just Sayin' jumped out at me.

My suggestion for you is this: if you are purchasing a set that has lots of phrases, and little ones at that, such as Crazy About You; invest in the wood-mount. You will get a crisper image when you stamp with it.

Also, I had heard to put the Stampin' Pierce Mat under your project when you're stamping with photopolymer stamps for a crisper image. Typically I don't have issues with my photopolymer, but this alphabet set (which only comes in photopolymer) was giving me fits. The pierce mat trick definitely works!

How else would you use your favorite alphabet stamp set?

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Creating A Background

Stampin' Up!'s Designer Series Paper is a great addition to almost any card because it's an easy element or background to really elevate that card. However, sometimes you may not have exactly what you're looking for in your DSP stash. Today at Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration, we are creating our own Designer Series Paper for Technique Tuesday.

Creating your own background is super easy. In my example, I used one stamp set, Garden In Bloom. I stamped each stamp in random patterns, covering my entire layer. This really allowed me to use my background as my focal point. What is your favorite Stampin' Up! stamp set to create backgrounds with?

Today, I fell in love with Mossy Meadow all over again.

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#SSINKCC27: Color Challenge

Is anyone else starting to have anxiety about Blackberry Bliss retiring next year? I really hope it shows up as a part of one of the color families in the near future! Our color challenge today features it, as well as Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive.

Here is my first card of gratitude for November. It features the Work of Art stamp set, as well as the Watercolor Thank You. On my practice run, I stamped the swooshes perfectly, but on the actual project, no dice. Therefore, I grabbed my Stamp-a-majig so that they would be lined up and placed exactly where I wanted them!

Check out how the other DT members were inspired by this color challenge at SSINKspiration. While you're there, we'd love to have you play along with us!

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