Inspiration challenge

Happy Friday everyone! - It's that time again and this week the Blogger's Challenge group was asked to create a card/project from something that "inspired" us. It could be a picture in a magazine, a pattern in a rug, something in nature, an article of clothing etc...

I must say that this week has been the most UN-inspired week I've had in a long time. I just was not at all motivated to stamp and when I did try to sit down and come up with a card idea my brain just could not think of a single creative thought. Yesterday though I got to thinking about what I could come up with for the challenge and I decided to base my card on an article of clothing that I recently purchased. It's a blouse that I bought to wear to my nephew's wedding reception last weekend. I love the colors and the pattern and the way it feels when I put it on, (very comfy) I think that my card captures the feel of the blouse but let me know what you think.

Card base: Basic black, then Blue Bayou edged with a white craft pad. Next a layer of Bashful Blue that I used the Textile Embossing folder (Cuttlebug) and distressed with Blue Bayou Ink.

I stamped the Medallion from the True Friend stamp set (I LOVE THAT SET) in Blue Bayou Ink on Bashful Blue card stock, cut it out & added some Nirvana glitter (Art Institute) to give it some sparkle and a black brad in the center. I punched out a Circle of Blue Bayou card stock using a Marvy Mega Circle punch and ran it through the Cuttlebug as well then distressed the edges and highlighted them with the white craft pad. I layered this to a Scalloped Punched (Giga) circle of Bashful Blue that I pierced with the Crafter's Tool kit & edged with Basic Gray ink. I added a strip of Blue Bayou which I stamped the leaf/flower pattern with White Craft ink, distressed the edges and then layered 2 strips of May Arts ribbon about and below the strip.

To finish off the card I added 3 half pearls (Pretties Kit) that I dyed with a Black Sharpie Marker. If you look closely at the photo of the blouse you might be able to see the shiny black buttons in the V neck portion of the blouse - I wanted to recreate that on my card so that's why I added the half pearls.

Overall I'm really pleased with how this card turned out even if it took me all week to be inspired by something. - Don't forget to check out the other Blogger's challenges. They are listed on my Sidebar under Blogger's Challenge group & be sure to leave a comment on their wonderful creations.

A True Friend

Today's card is made using the, True Friend stamp set from the upcoming Holiday Mini Collection from Stampin'Up! I so love this set and it's going to coordinate fantastically with the Wanted and the Bronc Buster sets that are in the Fall/Winter catalog. (At least in my opinion)

I couldn't wait to get this set & the best part is that I got it for FREE because I had points for the Consistency Counts program that SU had going last year. Now what could be better the FREE rubba! Another great feature is that all the sets in the Holiday Mini are "Die Cut" which means you don't have to cut them yourself. They just pop out of the rubber and you mount them and away you go. Fast & Easy.

For this card I went with some Autumn colors since we are rapidly approaching that season and the Earth Elements are my favorite color family. I started with a card base of Pumpkin Pie and then layered a piece of Whisper White that I had stamped the Linen BG stamp in Old Olive ink and distressed it directly to the paper with my ink pad. Then I stamped the leaf pattern from the True Friend stamp set in the Old Olive ink as well and layered a solid piece of old olive on top with a strip of Really Rust textured card stock and 3 Old Olive brads. I stamped the sentiment from the set in Garden Green ink.

For the focal piece of the card I punched out a scalloped circle (Giga punch) in Pumpkin Pie and edged the scallops with Pumpkin Pie ink and pierced holes in the scallops. I then punched out a (Mega) circle punch of Really Rust card stock that was also stamped with the Linen BG stamp in Really Rust ink and distressed the edges with the Cutter Kit. I stamped the medallion with Really Rust ink on Pumpkin Pie card stock & cut it out then added a Rhinestone brad to the center and mounted it with mounting tape onto the Rust circle and glued the piece down on my card.

It was hard to get a decent scan of this card. I need a way better camera but alas I don't have the $$ for a new one so this one will have to do. I can assure you though that in real life this card is really COOL looking. Can't wait to play with this set again and tonight my Apple Cider designer paper will be here so look for more fun cards this week done using this set. - Ida