The Inking Spot of Crain Creations

Tea for two...

I recently made some iced tea and took it into the office and one of the girls asked me how I made my tea because she really liked it.  Since I couldn't very well just scribble out the directions, I made her this...

I typed up my tea recipe/instructions and matted it a couple of times to match the jar.  I filled the jar with some tea bags (this way she would be all ready to go!).  The front of the jar is my favorite quote.

I had to type it up myself and since I don't know how to do all this fancy-shmancy wordart stuff, I added some Basic Gray rubons after some of the words!  You can't really tell in these pictures but I used Baby's Breathe Shimmerz Spritz on the matted quote.  I had to take these pics last night before I gave her the gift today, and the lighting wasn't great :(

Here is the lid, I Spritzed this too (love that Spritz stuff!)  The image is part of the Yummy set from Stampin' Up!, I only inked up half of the image.

Supplies:

Stamps: Yummy set from Stampin Up

Paper: Misc. dsp, Soft Suede, Whisper White and Brocade Blue by SU
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: Brocade Blue 5/8" ribbon, Soft Suede Polka Dot ribbon, Chocolate Chip felt flowers & brads all from SU!, rectangle Nesties, deckled rectangle and circle Nesties Barilla Spaghetti Sauce jar, Baby's Breathe Shimmerz Spritz

Bloggers' Challenge & a Friday Freebie from PMS!

As if Friday's aren't great enough, it is also Blogger's Challenge Day AND it's Friday Freebie Day over at PMS!  Every Friday, Paper Makeup Stamps does a Freebie Word Art digi, this is today's Freebie... 

So, what do you think?  Cute Word Art, huh?  I'll save this card and hide it in hubby's bag next time he has a business trip :)  Here is the sketch Lisa gave us for today's BC 

Supplies:

Stamps: Soulmates Digi image from PMS

Paper: Misc. dsp, Soft Suede, Whisper White and Brocade Blue by SU

Accessories: Brocade Blue 5/8" ribbon, Soft Suede Polka Dot ribbon, Chit Chat rubons & brads all from SU!, rectangle Nesties and Deckled Rectangle Nesties

Thanks for stopping by, hope you are having a wonderful Friday!!  Don't forget to go and get your Freebie digi im

Royal Blog Tour

Thanks for stopping by!  Are you having a great time and collecting tons of wonderful ideas?  Don't forget to subscribe to your favorite blogs or bookmark them along the tour.  I am showcasing the new set 'For All You Do'.  There are lots of pieces to this set, which make it lots of fun and VERY versatile!

  

I made a little goodie package for one of the girls in my office.  I used 7 of the stamps from this set.

Supplies (all supplies are Stampin Up!):

Stamps: For All You Do
Paper: Cottage Wall dsp, Rich Razzleberry textured cardstock, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Orchid Opulence and Whisper White cardstocks
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Orchid Opulence and Crushed Curry, Basic Black Craft

Accessories: Crushed Curry polka dot ribbon, black brads, Playground Designer Buttons, Ticket Punch, Hemp Twine, White ribbon, Clear EP

First, I have this card for her.  This is a standard size card, and I really wanted it to be bright and to show off those flowers so I kept the rest of the card pretty simple.

Next I made her a Tea Bag holder.  To make the sentiment stand out a little I used Black Craft ink and clear embossing powder.

On the inside, I gave myself a space to write her a little note.

Lastly, I made her a little 3x3 Notecard Tote and a few 3x3 cards (and included envelopes).

Well I hope this gives you some good ideas, and I hope I showcased enough of the stamps for you to get a good idea of the versatility of this set.  

Thanks again for stopping by and Happy Touring! 

Ahhh, that's better! SAV #9, A Bag by Lauren Maeder...

My Stampavie Design Team submissions stunk!!!!!  I was so sad and disapointed at how they turned out, but this is a little more like it!!!!

Today Stampavie posted a challenge to use this Bag template by Lauren Maeder, here.  I sat down, started coloring and just let the tension and stress drain right out me!!!  Let me just say something about this bag template... Lauren ROCKS!!!!  I have made some bags lately and the bottoms are always such a pain and NEVER very sturdy (I normally stick a piece of cardstock in the bottom of whatever bag/thing I've made to stiffen it some)... this bag has become my favorite (gift holder type thing) cause it was easy for one, but like I said it is sturdy and holds it's shape great!!  And I think this one is kinda cute!!!  I used several greens on my image to make some shadowing and to get the leaves to pop a bit.  I also colored the roses a lighter pink, and used a darker pink on the few that I cut out and popped up with Dimensionals.  I used a little bit of Shimmerz to accent each Rose.  The buttons in the middle of the flowers are from PTI (the yummiest buttons anywhere!!!!)  I normally stamp/create better under pressure, but this project was "just cause I wanted to color" and I really like the end package!  This could be a fun way to delver a gift card, put some kisses in the box with the gift card and Voila!  Thanks for stopping by, hope you are having a wonderful week!

Supplies:

Stamps: Roses for You by Stampavie

Paper: Basic Gray dsp, Whisper White and Basic Black cardstocks

Ink: Tuxedo Black by Memento, Copics

Accessories: Prima Flowers, Buttons by Papertrey Ink, Old Olive stripped ribbon by Stampin' Up!, Pink Shimmerz, Rectangle Nesties 

Last 2 swap cards

Here are my last 2 swap cards (remember the ones that got lost in the mail so I had to make another set?, yup still not over it, lol).  Thanks for popping in, I hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

Supplies (all supplies are Stampin Up)

Stamps: Garden Galore, Short & Sweet
Paper: Thoroughly Modern dsp, Rose Red, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White cardstocks

Ink: Rose Red, Crushed Curry, Bermuda Bay

Accessories: Rose Red Brads, Small & MEdium Oval punches, Chocolate Chip double stitched ribbon

When I first saw this years In Colors, I didn't really care much for the Rich Razzleberry...funny how it now seems to be turning up in so many of my creations, lol!  Lots of layers to this one, I love the look here.  What you cannot see is that behind the white ribbon is a splash of Olive ribbon too.

Supplies (all supplies are Stampin Up)

Stamps: For All You Do

Paper: Cottage Wall dsp, Old Olive, Orchid Opulence, Rich Razzleberry cardstocks

Ink: Old Olive, White Gel pen

Accessories: Whisper White and Old Olive 1/4" ribbon, ANtique Brads, Small oval punch, Scallop border punch, Ticket punch, 

Stampavie Design Team Call

Did you know that Stampavie has an opening on their Design Team?  Yup, it's true!  While I totally love Stampavie images, I am totally a chicken when it comes to trying out for a DT (which is one reason this is going up so late... takes some time to get up my nerve, lol).  Well this is my brain on a migraine,

funny how hard it is to be creative when your head feels like it's splitting open... needless to say this card (simple as it looks) took me awhile to complete.  I'd be happier if it had more WOW!, but I still like it.  I am going to send this to a friend who was layed off today... hopefully these darling sheep will brighten her day!  OK, so tell me these guys are not the cutest sheep you have ever seen!  If sheep really looked like this I'd start a farm, lol!  I am going to try to add another Stampavie card here before the deadline...fingers crossed!

To make my little "dudes" pop a little, I took a Spica Gold glitter pen and highlighted some of the swirls...what a difference it made!  I also used a Sakura Black gel pen on the hooves and noses...such a small detail makes a big difference!!

Supplies: 

Stamps: Cuddle Up sheep from Stampavie; Paper: Candy Lane dsp, Ridinghood Red, Basic Black and Whisper White cardstocks from SU!; Ink: Tuxedo Black by Memento, Copics; 

Accessories: Black Brads by Basic Gray, Border punch by EK Success, Label punch by SU, Sakura Glaze pen, Spica Glitter pen, White Satin ribbon

Woo hoo, I got to squeeze in another Stampavie card!  This image is called Cuddle Up... isn't she just too cute?!?  Thanks so much for stopping by!  Make sure you come back to see my Blogger's Challenge card... Christmas in July is the theme!

Supplies:

Stamps: Peek-a-Boo by Stampavie

Paper: Giggle Kids dsp by Making Memories, Rose Red and Whisper White cardstocks

Ink: Tuxedo Black by Momento, Copics

Accessories: Button by Basic Gray, Brads by Making Memories, Deckle Rectangle Nesties, Rectangle nesties, White Satin ribbon by Stampin Up!, Ticket  Punch by Stampin' Up!

Herb Expressions swap card

A super quick post cause I am beat and need to get to bed, will add the deets in the morning :)

This is another one of my swap cards.

 

PMS Monday Challenge... Pink & Brown

Yeah, my hubby and my boys are home!!  OMG, I missed the like crazy!  My boys grew so much in the last week, lol!  Ok, on to the girly stuff... For this week's PMS Challenge Dawn chose Brown and Pink in honor of her birthday (happy b-day again, Dawn!!).

Now you just can't use Chocolate Chip cardstock and not include some yummies in here (Kisses w/Almonds...yumm-o!).  I can't believe I've not made one of these Treat Boxes before...they are a little time consuming but easy peasy.  I love this sentiment from Paper Makeup Stamps (actually have you seen the word art over there?  It is all amazing!!!!!!).  I hope you can join us in the challenge, just pop on over to the PMS Blog and add your entry to Mr Linky (man that guy gets around, lol).

Supplies:

Stamps: Friends by Paper Makeup Stamps

Paper: Bella Rose dsp by Stampin' Up!, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White cardstocks

Accessories: Pink PIrouette stripped ribbon, Jumbo Brads, 5 petal flower punch, Button Bouquets (all from Stampin Up, and Labels Nesties

A Country Swap card

A couple of times a year I participate in this really great Stampin' Up! swap over on SCS.  The swap hostess has just done an amazing job of finding participants because every single card I get back is something I really like!!  Which is great, the down side is that I always stress hoping my cards are good enough.  WHenever I swap I always pour ALOT of time into each card, I want it to be a "WOW!", and this last set I sent in was no different!  In fact they must have been so amazing that the Post man decided to keep them for him/herself!  lol... they never made it :( so I am make a new set (11 per group, 4 groups).  

Well here is card number 1 (of course I didn't photo all of the cards before I sent them out and of course I did not keep one for myself..Murphey's Law!).  I was looking for some mojo to get me started and came across last Monday's Mojo Challenge, this sketch was great!  I loved it!  I really love this Country Morning Hostess set, I have a feeling it's gonna see lots of ink!!  Thanks for stopping by!  Come back tomorrow for the PMS Monday Challenge!

Supplies (all supplies are Stampin Up!):

Stamps: Country Morning and Curvy Verses

Paper: To the Nines dsp, Sage Shadowm Chocolate Chip and Whisper White cardstocks

Ink: Basic Black, Markers

Accessories: Brads, Chocolate Chip Tafetta ribbon

BC108, A Stitch in Time...

Only 3 more days until all of my boys get home!!  While I really can't wait for them to get home, I wish I had had more "me" time while they were gone.  I get a "vacation" and I seem to have spent it all working :(  I plan on relaxing and stamping and watching movies the rest of the weekend!!  Now, on to business (lol)...

Happy Friday!  It's Blogger's Challenge day!  Today's challenge was to use some kind of stitching.  Although I have wanted to, I have NEVER sewn on my cards.  I love the look, but have always been to chicken to use my sewing machine (which I am totally in love with) on my cards.  I know it's basic, but we're taking baby steps here, lol!  I am really liking these new In Colors from Stampin' Up!, and the new buttons  

PMS Monday Challenge... Button, Button who's got the button?

Happy Monday!  Where in the heck did the weekend go????  I got the house to myself all weekend and I have done nothing but work... what is wrong with me?!?!?  Well I "stole" a little stamp time to whip up this easy peasy card!  I CASEd one from Katie Cotton here (this was one of the Release Party Challenges) and added some yummy buttons!

Outlining some of the words with a yellow Copic sure made a differnce!  Make sure you hop on over to the PMS blog and add your Challenge entry to Mister Blinky!  Hope you had a wonderful weekend, and have a great week!  Thanks for stopping by, hope to see you again soon!  I have some Stampin' Up swap cards and Open House goodies to share with you this week!

Supplies:

Stamps: I Love You diby Shaela Odd for Paper Makeup Stamps

Ink: Copic

Paper: Glitter stack by DCWV, Bashful Blue, Summer Sun and Whisper White cardstocks

Accessories: Prima Flowers, misc buttons, nesties and EK border punch

BC107, CASE-ing Kerry!

This week's Bloggers Challenge was to CASE a fellow BCer, I chose Kerry Donovan Casey.  This gal comes up with the funnest stuff!!  If you've not visited her blog, I highly recommend it!  This was one of the toughest challenges yet, how on earth do you choose 1 out of so many talented ladies to case???  You can see Kerry's card here (it's the third card in the post), here is my version...

Supplies (all supplies are Stampin Up unless noted):

Stamps: Country Morning

Paper: Cottage Wall dsp, Orchid Opulence, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive and Whisper White cardstocks

Ink: Basic Black, markers

Accessories: Small oval punch, Black brads, White 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, White gel pen, circle Nestabilities (not by SU), Silver brads

Happy Blog Hop Day!!!!!!!!!

Happy Release Day!  Yippeee!  Join us tonight at 9pm EDT on the PMS Forum for the par-tay!  Lots of chatter, challenges and giveaways!  I have to say, this is my favorite release yet!  Make sure you start the hop at the PMS Blog so you can get all the deets on the Blog Hop giveaway!

Today we are sneak peeking the awesome wordart sentiments by Shaela Odd, does she rock or what??  I made this card for my hubby who is getting ready to leave on a long business trip (I hate when he's gone this long!).  Isn't this paper gorgeous?  Not sure where it's been hiding, but I love it.  Ok, so your magical letter from me is 'N', and now you can hop on over and visit my friend Shaela, don't forget to leave her some "love" and tell her how awesome her word art is (you're gonna LOVE her peek too!!!!). Happy Hoping, see ya tonight!!!!

Supplies:
Stamps: I Love You by Sheala Odd for Paper Makeup Stamps
Paper: dsp by 7 Gypsies, Soft Suede, Night of Navy and Very Vanilla cardstocks by Stampin' Up!

Ink: none (digi stamp)

Accessories: Gold Blingz, Prima flowers, misc. pearls, antique brads by SU!

PMS Sneak Peek day #4

Raindrops and Rainbows...

I {heart} this set!!!  Shaela has once again done an amazing job with the word art and her images and Katie, of course, rocked her images!!  What a fun set!  You can use this with so many other things too... definitely a must have!!  Tomorrow, visit the PMS Blog for the PMS Monday Challenge, and then we'll see you Tuesday for the Blog Hop & Release Party!

Supplies:

Stamps: Raindrops and Rainbows set from Paper Makeup Stamps

Paper: Dsp by Autumn Leaves, Aqua Mist cardstock from PTI, Tangerine Tango and Whisper White cardstock

Ink: none (digi stamp)

Accessories: Aqua Mist ribbon from PTI, decorated boot from Autumn Leaves, Square nesties

PMS Sneak Peek Day #3

Cannonball!!!!!!!!!

How cute is this???  Look at the guy in the pool's face, lol!!  Happy 4th!  I hope are enjoying a little R&R this weekend.  Here's today's Monster Sneak Peek, I just love this image!!!

Supplies:

Stamps: Cannonball! from Paper Makeup Stamps

Paper: Twitterpated by Imaginesce, REal Red, Crushed Curry and Whisper White cardstocks from Stampin' Up!

Ink: Copics

Accessories: Snap/eyelet thing-ys, Crushed Curry ribbon, circle nesties, Copic Airbrusher, Modern Label punch