Inspired by...finger puppet?

This has to be one of the cutest finger puppets that I have every seen. And it produced a card that I love!

All Supplies Stampin' Up!: Big Deal Alphabet and Pure and Simple Upper Alphabet stamp sets; Chocolate Chip, Going Gray, Tempting Turquoise and whisper card stock; Chocolate Chip, Going Gray, and Tempting Turquoise classic ink pads; 1" circle, small oval, large oval and Photo Corner punches; Signo Gel Pen.

As soon as I saw that puppet I thought that it was cute and owls are a really popular trend right now. I also realized that it looked a little like the Big Deal Alphabet on the background. I just knew that I wanted to use paper to copy this as close as I could and I really liked the results.

Inspired by...Curtains

I found these curtains here. I liked the tones in the curtains and so decided to let them be my inspiration.
I went with the color and the stripes to make a masculine thank you card.

All Supplies Stampin' Up!: So Much stamp set; Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa and very vanilla card stock; Chocolate Chip classic ink pads.

Inspired by...a blouse

This blouse from Macy's was the inspiration, The colors are really great.

The card didn't turn out as well as I would like but I do like that I used the 1/2" Circle punch and made "buttons" out of whisper white card stock.
All Supplies Stampin' Up!: Best Blossoms (retired) stamp set; Basic Black, Wild Wasabi and whisper card stock; Wild Wasabi classic ink pad; Whisper White craft ink; 1/2" circle punch.

Inspired by...Bedding

I found this bedding here. I liked the colors and the pillows all stacked up on the top of the bed.
So here is what I was inspired to make.

All Supplies Stampin' Up!: Dream Come True (retired) stamp set; Canvas and Polka Dot Background Stamps; Soft Sky, River Rock and whisper card stock; Soft Sky and River Rock classic ink pads; white taffeta ribbon.

I wasn't 100% on how this turned out but I did learn a couple of things. Since we don't have markers in the InColors and I wanted to have stripes that were in Soft Sky and River Rock I had to come up with something. I used the sponge daubers and ink refills to make really juicy sponge daubers and then I used those to transfer the ink to the stamp.

What doesn't show well in the photo but looks much better in real life is that I stamped "Merci" in Soft Sky on the ribbon and it turned out really well but I guess is too light to show well in the photo.

Off to France....

I will be gone for a little while. My husband and I are taking a trip to Paris!! (I know, I am jealous of myself.) We leave for France on Wednesday but I will be busy getting ready to leave etc...

I have learned how to schedule posts so I have gotten some posts together to upload every couple of days while I am gone. We will be back on the 23rd and I hope not to be too jet lagged.

My next several post are all inspired by pictures I found on websites that I like to visit. Have fun while I am gone and I look forward to reading your comments when I get back.

Arte y Pico Award

Vickie from Stamping Ever After has nominated me for this award, Thanks Vickie!!
Here are the rules for the award: You pick five blogs that you consider deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also contribute to the blogging community, no matter what language. List the names of the people you chose to receive the award on your blog and link to their blogs. Then go comment on one of their posts to notify them that you have given them this award and link to the post on your blog. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name of the person who gave them the award and link to their blog. The Award-winner and the one who has given the award have to show the link to the Arte y Pico blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.

Choosing just five blogs to pass on this award is going to be tough since there are so many great blogs I visit and there are several people who have gotten this award in the last few days. Stop by and visit these great blogs:

Jill - Ink Genious

Debbie - Debbi's Design

Jana - Stamp on This

Marilyn - Stamp with Marilyn

Kathleen - Stamp Journey

Inspiration really is everywhere

I found some cute tissue paper at Target for a birthday party my husband and I went to last week. As I took a look at the paper I realized that it would make a really cute card. So I took the color inspiration and the circle motif from the tissue paper and came up with this card. I think that it would be a really fun party invite. I really liked how it turned out and I used all Bold Bright colors and for a girl who usually goes for more earthy or subtle tones that is different for me. Where do you find inspiration for your cards?
All Supplies Stampin' Up!: Calendar Cues, Little Pieces, and So Much stamp sets; Gable Green, Tempting Turquoise, YoYo Yellow and whisper card stock; Gable Green, Tempting Turquoise, and YoYo Yellow classic ink pads; 3/4", 1", 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" circle punches; bold brights brads.

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Working on my new stuff...

I just have to add a comment about my last post. I had a couple of people comment and couple of people e-mail me about the "paper" in that card. I have to confess: that must have been the one thing that I did right when stamping that card because the "paper" is something that I stamped. I used the All Around Argyle stamp set that is now retired. This was also the card that really taught me how to use my stamp-a-ma-jig (if you don't have one it is a must have stamping tool).

I have been working on some items with my new stuff and I am learning about the supplies that I haven't worked with before. I wanted to try some of the fun chunky glitter. I love the little stamp in the Bursting with Joy stamp set that has a heart with swirls underneath it. I decided to use that idea and make it bigger. I like the chunky glitter, it is easier to clean up than the really fine glitter.
All Supplies Stampin' Up!: Bursting with Joy set; basic black card stock; ; 3/8" White taffeta; Chunky Essentials glitter; On Board Accents

I really like the effect that I got on the bird for this card. I covered the whole stamp in Soft Sky ink and then I took the sponge daubers and inked the Close to Coco around the edge of the bird.
All Supplies Stampin' Up!: Always stamp set; Soft Sky, Close to Coco and whisper card stock; Soft Sky and Close to Coco classic ink pad; 3/8" Chocolate Chip taffeta; Photo corner punch.

What was I thinking?

One thing that I love about blogging is that I take pictures of all of my projects. I didn't do that before I started this. I looked back to see the few projects that I had scanned or taken pictures of before and it just made me think of how much my crafting has changed. I made this card a few years ago and I remember thinking of it at the time was great and I look at it now and think - well, that is interesting...why did I do that?
I do love that I have this card because it is a snapshot of where I have been and I love having this blog because it is a growing scrapbook of where I am going.
So, how about you? Anyone look back and wonder what was I thinking?

Always

My new stamps are cut and mounted and I just had to make something. I decided that it was the perfect chance to leave my husband a card for no reason at all. I had been wanting this set for a while now and I finally got it! I hope that you like it and I am going to have to go back to playing with my new stuff - I am sure that I will have more to post next week with the new sets.

All Supplies Stampin' Up!: Always stamp set; Soft Sky, Chocolate Chip and whisper card stock; Soft Sky and Chocolate Chip classic ink pad; 5/8" Chocolate Chip grosgrain; Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware.

It's Here!

I guess all that I needed to do was post that I couldn't stand the wait. About 15 minutes after I posted the box arrived and my new goodies were here. A few new stamps sets -
and some fun accessories -

I am off to play with the new stuff. I just don't always know where to begin.....

Waiting is the worst

I have a package of SU! goodies that should be delivered today but they still are not here. UPS is usually her by 11:00 and still no goodies.... anyone else hate waiting? I will have to wait, I wanted to post today after my new stuff arrives so I hope that it is soon so I can make something fun to share with you all.

Need an Envelope?

When you make a card that is not a standard size sometimes you have to make your own envelope. When you use the double sided designer series paper you get really cute envelopes that have that extra surprise when you open them up.
All Supplies Stampin' Up!: Carte Postale stamp set; Bashful Blue and whisper card stock; Old Olive classic ink pad; Old Olive Poly-Twill Ribbon; Summer Picnic DSP; Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware.

There is a simple formula to make an envelope - so if you are ready to use a little math...

To determine the size of paper you need for the envelope:
Take the height of the card times 2 1/2 and that will give you the height of the envelope paper. Take the width of the card and add 1 1/4" that gives you the width of the envelope paper.
For example a 3" x 4" card would need a pieces of paper cut to 7 1/2" (3" x 2 1/2=7 1/2") by 5 1/4" (4" + 1 1/4"=5 1/4")

To determine where to score the envelope:
Score 1/2" in along both long sides of the paper you have cut for the envelope.
Subtract 1 1/4" from the height, this is the first score line across the width of the paper. (using the 3" x 4" card example that would mean that you would subtract 1 1/4
from 3 and you would have a score mark at 1 3/4")
The second score line across the width of the paper is the height of the card plus the width to the first score line plus 1/4". ( for the 3" x 4" card that would mean 3"+1 3/4"+ 1/4" and you would put your second score at 5")

Once all of your score marks are done you can cut our the four corner rectangles and then I like to round the corners because I think that it makes the envelope look more finished. Here is a picture of what the "unfinished envelope would look like and the measurements for our 3" x 4" card example as well as placement of the sticky strip. This isn't pretty but it is what I store in my idea book so that I can remember the "formula" when I need to make an envelope.

Births and Birthdays

I was having a little technical difficulty yesterday - maybe it was operator error, not really sure. I seem to be having better luck today but I have two cards ready for you since I didn't get one posted yesterday.

The first one is my attempt at a more masculine card. I know it has ribbon but I have a hard time leaving the frills off so this was the least frilly I could make a birthday card.
All Supplies Stampin' Up!: Eat Cake stamp set; Kraft, Basic Black Ruby Red and whisper card stock; Basic Black, Ruby Red, and Sahara Sand Stampin' Write Markers; black gingham ribbon.

I also struggle sometimes having a baby card be too "girl" so I tried to make this one not so "girl". I just love the wild wasabi, it is my favorite green. I find that I reach for it quite a bit and I realized that I hadn't posted many projects using it.
All Supplies Stampin' Up!: Nursery Necessities stamp set; Wild Wasabi, So Saffron and whisper card stock; Wild Wasabi and So Saffron classic ink pads ;Beachfront ribbon originals; Wild Wasabi double stitched ribbon; scallop punch; 1 3/8" and 1 1/4" Circle punch.