The Inking Spot of Crain Creations

KCC: #442, Hey Sweet Thing!

I know this post is late, but better late than never, right?!?  I mean, right? That's a thing isn't it?!?  Last week was a VERY rough one!  But I digress... this week's Krafty Chicks Challenge is SWEETS!  I paired this up with the current Color Throwdown challenge (scroll down to see the palette).  Coffee is really my favorite sweet, so here ya go...

Thanks to an a-mazing enabler (Amy Tsuruta, lol), I've discovered Kat Scrappiness.  She has LOTS of great things, but her confetti/sequin packs are jaw-dropping fantastic!  Anyway, I finally got a chance to play and this was the result!  

I won this wonderful chat bubble die (the Cat's Pajama's), it was perfect for this card!!!  My sentiment is from a retired set called Sweet Thing (Reverse Confetti) and my coffee mug is the Just Brew It die (Reverse Confetti).

For the main panel I used the Diagonal Stitches Cover Plate  (Reverse Confetti) on white cs.  I ran it through once, then flipped the cs and ran it through again to get that plaid/diamond look.  Then I die cut my my coffee cup out and added some Rainbow Confetti Dots (Kat Scrappiness).  I added a couple of fluttery hearts from XOXO Hearts (Reverse Confetti).

Whelp, that's all I've got for ya, be sure to check out what the rest of the Chicks have been up to, 
Leanne, Lori, Nance & Amy 
And don't forget to link up your creation at the Hen House!

KCC: #451, Lotsa & Lotsa layers!

Happy Thursday!  It's time for another Krafty Chicks Challenge, and this week's challenge twist is "Lotsa Layers" which just so happens to be my specialty! lol  I recently ordered some fun goodies from Kat Scrappiness and I couldn't resist this set called BUT FIRST COFFEE (by Echo Park)

This is a great set with fantastic sentiments!  I paired it up with Julee's Mojo sketch.  I really wanted the "open part" of the cup to have this floral paper but piecing it seemed like it'd be a pain so I tried using some black EP.  Several months back I'd seen Amy Tsuruta post something fabulous she made and she used WOW! Embossing Powder and their Clear Embossing pad, so I ordered some (I was in dire need of a good embossing pad!).  Holy snickerdoodles, it is the bestest (by far) Clear embossing pad!!  I stamped that cup on the floral paper with clear embossing ink and then added some black WOW ep... it covered those flowers perfectly!!

After stamping and embossing I was able to just cut it out and pop it up with dimensionals.  I just LOVE the pink & green color combo!  The paper pad is from Faith Illustrated (I absolutely LOVE their stuff!!!!).

Just look at that sentiment!  Is it not perfect?!?  lol

Whelp, that's all I've got for ya, be sure to check out what the rest of the Chicks have been up to, 
Leanne, Lori, Nance & Amy 
And don't forget to link up your creation at the Hen House!

TCC: #108, Love is in the Air!

Hey yall!  Happy Wednesday!  It's time for another Card Concept challenge.  This week's challenge is warm and cozy and just LOVEly! wink wink. Scroll down for the inspiration graphic.

I went with the colors in the photo and used some new PATTERN HEARTS dies in place of the pillows.  The colors (ink & cs) are from Reverse Confetti and are SAND, SALSA & POLAR WHITE.

The "XO" and the "Love You More" stamps are from the Crushin' stamp set (retired from Reverse Confetti).  I also used the PATTERNED HEARTS stamp set on a few of the hearts.

Just look at all of those fabulous and LOVE-ly hearts all snuggling together.  I added just a few confetti pieces (Chocolate Sprinkles) here & there.  I recently ordered some fun goodies from Kat Scrappiness and these Chocolate Sprinkles were one of them... HOLY SNICKERDOODLES such super fun, fantastic pieces!  Just wait until you see the shaker I'm gonna make with them next! Be sure to pop on over to the Card Concept blog to see what the rest of the team has come up with, and don't forget to get yourself some inky time and then link up your own creation!

KCC: #450 Mad for Plaid!

Happy Thursday!  I don't know where this week has gone, I can't believe it's already Thursday... it IS Thursday, right?!?!??  Time for another Krafty Chicks challenge!  As always our challenge is ANYTHING GOES, and also as always (or at least MOSTLY always, lol) we have a "twist".  This week's hostess is Miss Lori and the "twist" is PLAID!  I LOVE plaid, like really really really really really really LOVE plaid!!!!!

I recently bought the SKETCHED STRIPES background stamp (Concord & 9th), I stamped it in ROSE ink, turned it 90 degrees and then stamped again with BELLINI ink.  I could have stamped it up to 4 times (with a gorgeous look!) but I was afraid of it looking too busy.  After stamping the "plaid" I used the POSTAGE STAMP die for the card front panel.

I also did a little "eclipsing" here.  The HELLO LOVELY die is a new one and it was perfect to build this card around!  I cut it out of the plaid panel as well as 3 layers of white cs, so there's 3 layers of white letters and then my plaid letters... it raises it just enough.

I added a smattering of hearts to the upper right corner.  The larger 2 are the new PATTERNED HEARTS dies, the fluttery hearts (which may be my fave heart dies in the history of EVER!) are from XOXO HEARTS die set.

I just love all of the layers & dimension on here!!!  

Whelp, that's all I've got for ya, be sure to check out what the rest of the Chicks have been up to, 
Leanne, Lori, Nance & Amy 
And don't forget to link up your creation at the Hen House!

 

KCC: #439, Gettin' Sketchy!

Hey yall!  Happy Thursday!  Time for another Krafty Chicks challenge and this week I'm the Hostess!  I've come up with a fun sketch for yall (scroll down to see the sketch, please).  For this week's card I grabbed the Happy Bee stamp set & coordinating dies (Reverse Confetti).

I really LOVE coordinating die sets!  They make things so much quicker!!!!  A couple of months ago I got the Vagabond die machine and I picked up the magnet plate... AWESOME with all of these dies!!!!!  I started with pairing up the HEX COVER PLATE (Reverse Confetti) with some patterned paper.  I ended up trimming the hex piece down a little so I could add some matting, etc.  

The sentiment is from the HAPPY BEE stamp set, I stamped it on a piece of pink cs and then added a few black & silver shimmer dots.

I colored up the honey pot from the stamp set and cut it out.  The "fabric topper" is just stamped on patterned paper and die cut.  I also colored up one of the clusters of flowers and popped it up on the top of the jar.  There are 2 different sized bee's in the set (and they both also have coord. dies!) and I colored up a couple of both, die cut them and popped them up too!  A little splash of twine and voila!  This baby is done!  I'll finish up the matching envelope tomorrow and add it to this post then.  I just adore these colors and I am so, so, so in LOVE with these set!!!!!  Here's that sketch, hope it inspires you to get stampy!

That's it for me, be sure to check out what the rest of the Chicks have been up to, 
Leanne, Lori, Nance & Amy 
And don't forget to link up your creation at the Hen House!

 

 

TCC: #107 Rainbow Cupcakes!

Happy Wednesday!  Welcome back to another The Card Concept challenge!  You can scroll down to the bottom of my post for this week's inspiration photo.  I took the "horizontal rainbow" & celebration theme and ran with it for my card this week.

I took a piece of white cardstock and then sponged on and blended some Distress Inks.  I used about 6 colors (ROYGBV).  I'm not sure who these dies are from, but they were a "stacked set" still all connected (there's actually one more bar, but I didn't use it).  I separated them and then spaced them the way I wanted them on another piece of white cs (same size) and ran it through my Vagabond.  I adhered this to the "rainbow piece" with pop-dots.

I grabbed some thick vellum and paired it up with the DASHED LINE TAG die and then stamped this sentiment from the TAKE FLIGHT stamp set.

I added a thin strip of black glitter washi to the bottom of the tag and also along the side of the card.  I really like this simple but colorful card!  Here's the inspiration photo for The Card Concept, please hop on over to the BLOG to check out what the rest of the team has created!  We hope you'll join us!

KCC: #438, TAG You're It!

Happy Thursday y'all!  It's time for another Krafty Chicks challenge.  This week's theme is TAGS!  I whipped up a couple with some new goodies I recently got from Reverse Confetti.

I started off making 1 tag, but as then I spied one of my fave dies sitting on my table and I had an instant idea for a 2nd tag!  

If you look closely you can see the stitching on the black tag, I LOVE this GRID STITCHED TAG die!  At a bit bigger than most tag dies, it's a great size giving you plenty of space to  add some pretties.  I used the HEART LOVE PRETTY PANEL die as my main piece.  The stripped heart is stamped in PIGGY BANK ink using the PATTERNED HEARTS stamp set & coordinating die.  The heart strip at the bottom is from XOXO HEARTS die set.

The GRID STITCHED TAG die comes with a "topper" die, I cut it with some PIGGY BANK cs, then stamped on top of it with some FLAMINGO ink and one of the PATTERNED HEARTS stamps.  Then I just topped it off with some ribbons & a button and added a few rhinestones here & there.

For this tag I used the TOPPED OFF TAG and the side stripped panel that comes with it.  The hearts are, again, from the PATTERNED HEARTS stamp set & coordinating die, this time inked in FLAMINGO & PIGGY BANK inks.  The sentiment is also from the Patterned Hearts stamp set.  The LOVE at the top of the clothes pin is from the HEART LOVE die above.

That's it for me, be sure to check out what the rest of the Chicks have been up to, 
Leanne, Lori, Nance & Amy 
And don't forget to link up your creation at the Hen House!

Some new Reverse Confetti goodies & a Mojo sketch!

I recently got my goodies from Reverse Confetti's January release and I couldn't wait to play!  Today I finally had a chance.  I also wanted to play with the current Mojo sketch one last time before it ended (today, lol).

I turned the sketch (scroll down to see the sketch) on it's side, that top rectangle was perfect for tall of those fab hearts!  The large hearts are from the Patterned Hearts stamp set and cut with the coordinating dies.  The skinny larger red hearts are also from those dies (using both dies together).

The sentiment is from In a Big Way stamp set (Reverse Confetti, now retired).

I am a sucker for heart dies!  You can NEVER have too many!  The smaller hearts are from XOXO Hearts dies, and the heart with the swoopy tail is from Heart to Heart dies.  Thanks for popping by!  Hope to see you again soon.  Have a wonderful week!

KCC #437, Just Beachy

Happy Thursday!  It's time for another Krafty Chicks challenge, and this week's twist theme is JUST BEACHY!  For my card this week I pulled out some SugarPea Designs goodies and paired them up with their current Mix It Up Challenge (scroll down for graphic).  The stamp set is called OTTERLY ADORABLE.

One of my goals this year is to reach out more and part of that means actually sending out some of these cards I make.  I've created a "station" where I'll keep cards I've made, envelopes, etc so that I have everything together in one place to mail something.  I'll share my "mailing station" soon (thanks Jennifer McGuire for the inspiration!).  I grabbed a white envelope and gave it a little "boost", I've stamped it with some of the bubble images from the stamp set along with a "hello you" from SCRIPTY SAYINGS (Lawn Fawn).

I'll package that envelope up with the card in my little card stash so it's ready to go!

I rather love the way this turned out.  I love the deep rich colors of the water.  To start, I scribbled some ink using my Zig Real Brush Markers on some watercolor paper.  Then I spritzed it with some water and let the ink run around a little, I dabbed off the excess and then dried it.  I loved the sketch from the Mix-It Up challenge, but I didn't have a die that'd work so I improvised.  I used the larger Postage stamp die from the set, then I used a pencil on the backside and drew some lines where I wanted those slits to be, then I just cut them out.  I took those cut outs and adhered them directly on my white card base, then I took the postage stamp piece and popped it up.  

I colored up a handful of Otters with Copics and then cut them out and popped them up on my water colored piece.

There are a couple of bubble stamps in the set (the ones I used on the envelope), I stamped those in a few places on the water colored piece and then filled in some of the bubbles with clear and teal Stickles.  I really love the way this turned out and I can't wait to get it in the mail to someone!!!  Thanks so much for popping by!

That's it for me, be sure to check out what the rest of the Chicks have been up to, 
Leanne, Lori, Nance & Amy 
And don't forget to link up your creation at the Hen House!

TCC :106, Come join the Pink Party!

We're back!  Hope you all enjoyed your holiday and New Years!  The team enjoyed a wee bit of time off and now we're ready to get back to it.  The first challenge this year is called PINK PARTY.  So many wonderful things to do with this inspiration photo (scroll down).

I used the new PERFECT BLEND stamp set (Gina K Designs).  I just LOVE this set!!!  In the inspiration photo I loved all of those shades of pink and the hint of black and gold in there, I used that as my focus here.  This last week's sketch from CAS(E) this Sketch was perfect!

Seriously, need I say more here?!? lol  A Rose Gold heart and a couple of Gold Sequins... just the right mix!

I colored up those coffee's with Copics then just popped them up on my scripty tag piece and added a black twine bow.   Be sure to swing by the Card Concept blog and check out the rest of the Team's inspiration, and don't forget to link up your own creation!  We LOVE seeing what you create! 

KCC: #436 Trees

Happy Friday-eve!!  Did ya notice our new "do"?  The 4 Crafty Chicks is now Krafty Chicks!!!  Incase you hadn't noticed I was like the "guest that wouldn't leave"! hahahahaha!  They asked  me to Guest for them last January and I guess I just never left! lol  Just kidding, they did ask me to stay on and it just seemed like the time to update our name, etc.    So this week Miss Leanne is our hostess and here theme twist is TREES!

For my card this week I used a fun coffee set called, THE PERFECT BLEND (SugarPea Designs).  This is my favorite kind of tree!!!! lol and it seems like there just isn't enough coffee in the world these past few weeks!  My layout was inspired by Julee's Mojo Sketch for this week (that woman is a sketch genius!!!)  Well here's a "hug in a mug" to get your New Year started!  Thanks for popping by!

That's it for me, be sure to check out what the rest of the Chicks have been up to, 
Leanne, Lori, Nance & Amy 
And don't forget to link up your creation at the Hen House!

4CC: #435, Sparkle & Shine

Happy Thursday yall!  It's time for another 4 Crafty Chicks challenge, the FINAL one for 2018 can you believe it?!?  Where has the year gone?  This week's challenge twist is SPARKLE & SHINE.  My loft is a huge, hot mess at the moment and for this card I literally grabbed things that were laying around!

Concord & 9th has this amazing sparkle paper pad.  The colors (neutral) are gorgeous, the glitter is vivid and bright and best of all, no glitter flaking all over the place!  I grabbed a sheet of gold and ran it through the die machine. 

Several weeks ago, someone posted a photo on the Coffee Loving Papercrafters FB page of a card using some Lawn Fawn Scripty Sayings... I was immediately in LOVE and went on a mission to snag a few!  I  grabbed the WINTER set and used one of them here.

Have you used or seen any of the Cover Panel dies from various companies?  I am so in LOVE with them!!!  How did we craft for so many years without them?!?!  The one I used here is from SugarPea Designs, a die set called CARD FRONT ELEMENT BUILDER.  Love, Love, Love!

That's it for me, be sure to check out what the rest of the Chicks have been up to, 
Leanne, Lori, Nance & Amy 
And don't forget to link up your creation at the Hen House!

4CC: #434, Would a Hug Help??

Happy Thursday yall!  It's ALMOST CHRISTMAS WEEKEND!!!!!!!!!!!  EEEEKKKKKKK!!!!!!  Are you ready?  I mostly am (for like the first time ever, lol).  It's time for another 4 Crafty Chicks challenge... and this week's twist is BEARS!  Yup cute, cuddle, fluffy and squishy bears!!  For my card this week I pulled out a really old set from one of my all time favorite design teams, There She Goes.  

This cutie is from the set called PANDAmonium.  There wasn't much to coloring up this Panda except for those flowers (good thing 'cause my brain cells are still out shopping I think, lol).

That's it for me, be sure to check out what the rest of the Chicks have been up to, 
Leanne, Lori, Nance & Amy 
And don't forget to link up your creation at the Hen House!

 

 

4CC: #433, Masculine sentiment

Happy Thursday!  Today's 4 Crafty Chicks challenge hostess is Nance and her "twist" is MASCULINE SENTIMENTS!  I kind of suck at guy cards, like seriously just can't do it.  Sometimes I get lucky and they are great, but most of the time I feel like they just aren't "right" (guys should really just learn to love bows and ribbons and rhinestones and all things blingy and pretty!!!).  That being said, here's my "guy card"

I  have a super great paper pad called Travel or something like that, and the papers were perfect!  Look at those airplanes!  It also gave me a color palette to work with, whew!!  lol

Reverse Confetti has this fantastic GRID STITCHED TAG die, this saved me!  I grabbed it and just built on and around it.  I added a "hello" word die to the top and wrapped some Washi around the bottom.  This card was super quick and is just super, super simple!

That's it for me, be sure to check out what the rest of the Chicks have been up to, 
Leanne, Lori, Nance & Amy 
And don't forget to link up your creation at the Hen House!

 

 

4CC: #432, Ribbons & Bows

Hey yall!  Happy Thursday.  It's time for another 4 Crafty Chicks challenge and this week our Hostess, Leanne is giving us a RIBBON/BOWS twist!  This is another Coffee stamp set I bought in anticipation of the Coffee Loving Cardmakers Fall/Winter blog hop, this one is called MUG LIFE by The Ink Road.  

I used some more of my Echo Park Coffee paper.  I die cut a tag using the coffee bean paper, the tag is the Dashed Line Tag (Reverse Confetti).  I colored up that cup o' yummy with Copics, then cut it out and popped it up on the tag.  That "coffee" die at the bottom is from the DRINK MORE COFFEE set (Reverse Confetti).  I just love how java-centric this card is, lol.

Ok, seriously... look at the sentiment banner on that cup!  How awesome is that?!??  The sentiment on the green banner is from the same set... I have a mug that says that, hahaha!

That's it for me, be sure to check out what the rest of the Chicks have been up to, 
Leanne, Lori, Nance & Amy 
And don't forget to link up your creation at the Hen House!