More Inspiration....

Here's some more inspiration for the Think INK Tuesday Black, Red, and White challenge, you still have a few more days to get your card in! This fab creation is by our DT member Jen Pahoulis using the new set, Fun & Friendly.

Design Team Featured Stamper ~ Sherry Campbell

Next up in our fabulous InkGirl lineup is Sherry Campbell! When I found out that Sherry has an 18 yr old son, I was like "what???" She barely looks 18, herself!

Sherry has a whimsical style. I encourage you to check out her blog (Stamping when I'm Not Working) ~ as she has some fabulous projects to share.

Here is one of my favorites!



Let's see what Sherry says about herself :)

Q ~ Married? Kids? Pets?

I am currently single (divorced) but I have a great boyfriend who is the love of my life. My son is 18 and just graduated from high school and is attending Advanced Technical Institute for an Associates in degree in Automotive Technology. I am also “Mom” to a beautiful St. Bernard mix named Dixie who I got from a couple in the Wal-Mart parking lot when she was a puppy. She is 8 years old and has seen me through my divorce and I wouldn’t trade her for all the money in the world. Dixie has her own cat named Cookie who keeps her company while I am at work.

Q ~ Do you have a job outside of stamping? If so, what do you do?

I am a dispatcher for a regional trucking company that specializes in hauling gasoline and fuel to local stations. It can be extremely stressful and the days are long so stamping is my escape.

Q ~ What got you into stamping?

About 3 ½ years ago a friend of mine invited me to a Stampin’ Up workshop. I agreed to go because she was my friend and she came to all of my parties but I thought it was the silliest thing I ever heard of. LOL. I even went as far as to tell her that if I needed cards, that was what Hallmark was for so don’t expect me to order anything. I had no idea that I was about to find what would become my passion (and obsession). I have been completely hooked ever since and I don’t see it ending in the near future. I think if I had to choose between food or stamping supplies – I would finally lose some weight!

Q ~ What is your favorite embellishment and why?

Ribbon, Ribbon and more Ribbon! I love brads and buttons are a new favorite but Ribbon will always be # 1 in my heart. You can find ribbon in different colors and designs and you can get good bargains depending on where you shop. If I shop at Wal-Mart I can buy ribbon when I buy groceries which makes grocery shopping more tolerable.

Q ~ What drew you towards Artful Inkables?

I am really impressed with the line-art images. I have recently become obsessed with Prisma Colored pencils and I see a lot of coloring potential with these images. There is also a variety of images from whimsical and cute to more modern and trendy.

Q ~ What is your favorite non-card type project?

Well cards are my favorite by far but I am trying to step out of my box more and try new things. I do like to alter items such as clipboards and frames.

Q ~ Have you been published?

Not yet, however I have just recently started submitting projects and hope to submit more in the future. I think I was intimidated by the talent in most publications, but if you don’t try and put yourself out there you won’t grow in your craft.

Q ~ What is your favorite coloring medium? Why?

I used to color everything with either my Stampin’ Up markers or ink pads with an aqua painter. Recently I purchased the 120 ct. set of Prisma Color pencils and I have been practicing blending them with Gamsol and baby oil. I find it very relaxing to color images after a long day at work. It’s like when you were a kid and had coloring books and crayons.

Q ~ Tell us about your blog.. (ie..is it all stamping, or a mix of other things?)

I first started my blog because my best friend started one and said I had to start one too. LOL. At the time I was working even more insane hours than I work now so I “themed” it on stamping when I wasn’t working. I do write about working and stamping but it is mostly stamping. I put a lot of my personality on my blog and I like to occasionally post pictures that are non-stamping related. It’s just basically about me, my stamping and my life in general.

Q ~ What is your favorite part of being on a design team?

I am very excited to be challenged in new ways and growing as a stamper and artist with this team. There’s a lot of negativity in my job and sometimes in my life and I have found many positive forces on this team and others I have guest designed for. I think Kristin has picked a talented and wonderful group and I am looking forward to everything planned for us and the company as a whole.

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Thanks, Sherry, for sharing a little of you with us! We look forward to seeing more of your awesome work in the months to come!

~~ Holly~~

Are you Thinking INK?

Let's share some more inspiration for the Think INK Tuesday Black, Red, and White challenge, you have a little less than a week to still get entered! This fab post it note holder is by our DT member Sherry Campbell using the new set, South of the Border

Go, create, WIN!

Let's Think INK!

Let's give you some more inspiration for the Think INK Tuesday Black, Red, and White challenge because who doesn't want to win a grab bag of stamps?! This fantastic creation is by our DT member Emily Niehaus using the new set, Steampunk Sarah.

Create, Create, Create!!

Cutting Outside the Lines with Nesties Tutorial by Joy

This month, our tutorial is brought to you by Joy Stagg, Sr. DT member, and she's going to be showing you how to cut outside the lines with Nesties. Here's how:


Materials needed:

Nesties
Pencil
Scissors
Cardstock
Cuttlebug (or similar die cut machine)
Ink
Stamp- I used AI's Critter Country

1. Stamp Image onto cardstock

2. Place your nestie on top of your image and mark a small line on the inside of the die… above and below the section you want to leave hanging out


3. Then remove the nestie and with your scissors, cut from the edge of your paper up to the line you drew. Then cut around the section you are letting hang out


4. Next, place the nestie back into position, with the cutting edge down. When you slide the nestie into place, lift the section you are letting hang out so that it lays above the die. This will keep it from being cut off when it is put through the die cut machine.


5. Run it through your Cuttlebug (or similar die cut machine)

6. Color, embellish, layer, and VIOLA!


*If using straight edges and you don't have nesties...you can always use a pencil and ruler to achieve the same effects.

Hope you enjoyed the tutorial and are able to use this technique with a lot of your AI stamps!

Blog Hop Winner...

Thank you to everyone who hopped along with us! The winner is #68 - Kristin said...

Sherry your card is soooooo adorable and fun hun! :) The coloring is fabulous! Thanks for a chance to win hun! {hugs}

True Random Number Generator Min: 1 Max: 69 Result: 68

CONGRATS! Please contact Kristin at artfullyinking@comcast.net and give her your address and information!

Don't forget, you still have a chance to win some AI Stamps by participating in the Think INK Tuesday challenge!

Think INK Tuesday

Who doesn't love an opportunity to win FABULOUS and FREE products?? You will have the opportunity to win some AI products EVERY OTHER TUESDAY!!! Every other Tuesday, one of our DT members will be issuing you a challenge and provide you with some inspiration to get you started!

Ready for your first challenge?

Our challenge this week, is brought to you by Joy Stagg, she wants you to make a card or project using: RED, BLACK, and WHITE.

To get you started off, here's some inspiration, a set of note-cards using the newly released set, Fun & Friendly.


* You are not required to use AI stamps, but if you have them, we'd love to see you use them!

* You have until Monday, August 31, 2009, midnight Pacific Standard Time to link your creation to this post. A winner will be chosen Tuesday, September 1, 2009 to win a GRAB BAG of AI STAMPS!

* When posting your link, please post the link directly to your creation- so if it's on your blog, please link it directly to the specific post with your creation.

* If uploading to SCS or PCP, please add the keyword AIC01

Can't wait to see what you come up with! Tell your friends!

Hey, Hot Stuff

Here is a quickie for ya'll. Everyone loved the Chihuahua in the martini glass so much yesterday but my hot little snake didnt get his time in the lime light. So I made a card for him to show off a bit.



Stamps: South of the Border
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black
Paper: Very old SU striped paper, Real Red, Only Orange and White SU CS
Accessories: Copic Markers, Dimensionals, oval cutter

It's Hop Time Again!

So...how did you all like those great sneak peeks that Joy teased us with?

Are you ready for some full size views of the 3 new sets releasing today??

Well you're in luck because today is our New Release Blog Hop! All 3 of our new release sets are available to purchase today in the STORE and detailed views of what is in each set can be seen on the site HOME PAGE. This is our first Hop with all of the NEW INKgirls so, hold onto your hats and be prepared to be wowed!

If you are new to our blog hops or you just need a reminder, this is how it works... after you enjoy the card I have to share here, you will be directed to the next Ink Girl's blog on our list...follow them all the way to the end and the last DT member will have a little surprise for you in the form of some super blog candy, along with directions on how to enter. Sounds like fun, huh? Well let's get hoppin'~

My card uses the new set called Steampunk Sarah. For those who aren't familiar with steampunk here is a little definition for you: Steampunk is a sub-genre of fantasy & speculative fiction, set in an era or world where steam power is still widely used. It may denote fictional technological inventions like those found in the works of H. G. Wells & Jules Verne, or real technological developments like the computer, occurring at an earlier date. Other examples of steampunk follow an alternate history-style look at "the path not taken" when it comes to technology. It also celebrates the mechanics of something rather than hiding it under a sleek exterior. What does that mean for us stampers? Well this set will help us create a vintage/anacronistic type project that will work for young and old, male and female alike because of it's universal appeal. Plus it is so much fun to color! See the recipe below for the details of this card and then jump on over to Lisa Kind's blog to see what set she will be sharing with you.

Stamps: Artful INKables Steampunk Sarah

Paper: Really Rust, Blush Blossom, Sahara Sand Always Artichoke and Whisper White card stock from SU! Generic cracked DP and some old DP from SU that I cant remember the name of, lol.

Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black and Rich Cocoa

Accessories: Copic Markers, a gold brad, stipple brush and a white Gelly Roll pen.

Design Team Featured Stamper ~ Lisa Kind

The new Ink Girls are ready to start dazzling you with their talent! We thought it would be a great idea to introduce them one by one in a Q & A format, so you can read in their own words just what their passion is all about.

Today we introduce.....drum roll please.... LISA KIND!

A little back story on Lisa...

Lisa and I were neighbors when I lived in Western New York. We met up a couple times and I can tell you first hand that she is a warm wonderful person :). I already miss having tea/coffee with Lisa, but I am going to love sharing her great talent with you all here on the team!

So, I asked Lisa a few questions....

Q ~ Married? Kids? Pets?

A~
I have been married to Kevin for 17 years. He's a great guy who loves to travel and thankfully takes me with him! We were not blessed with children, but we have the next best thing...a Springer Spaniel named Lizzie. She is the sweetest dog with a great personality. She is a fetchaholic and is constantly stealing our little neighbors baseballs! We really enjoy our little Lizzie!

Q ~ Do you have a job outside of stamping? If so, what do you do?

A~
I am a fifth grade teacher in a public school. I have been teaching for 11 years and was an accountant before that in a bank. I had always wanted to teach, but jobs were pretty much nonexistent when I went to college, so I changed to accounting. When I had the opportunity, I went back to school for teaching and have loved every minute of it! I also have a Master's degree in Reading.

Q ~ What got you into stamping?

A~
Like a lot of people, I went to a Stampin' Up party and my girlfriend and I were hooked. She went on to become a demonstrator, but never really took it anywhere. She quit stamping and I continued on and off for a while. When I found SCS, I was REALLY hooked and the rest is history!

Q ~ What is your favorite embellishment and why?

A~
I love SPARKLE! I just love when I hold the card in the light and see the shimmer! I think it makes a card special!

Q ~ What drew you towards Artful Inkables?

A~
I saw a DT call in January and was curious. I looked at Kristin's stamps and thought they were fabulous! I didnt' get on the team then, but I'm thrilled to have been asked to be on it now!

Q ~ What is your favorite non-card type project?

A~
I love making boxes/containers of any kind. There are so many out there and they've always caught my attention. I think it makes a gift so special when it's presented in a handmade container.

Q ~ Have you been published?

A~
I have not. I have been wanting to submit, but I don't know if my work is worthy and it always seems like such a confusing process that I just shy away from it! I will get up the nerve someday and give it a try though.

Q ~ What is your favorite coloring medium? Why?

A~
I LOVE my copic markers. Before them, I stayed away from images that had to be colored. I never did well with watercoloring or colored pencils, so when I tried my hand with copic markers, it was love at first sight! I'm copic certified and I'm always learning new ways to use them. It's definitely an ongoing learning process.

Q ~ Tell us about your blog.. (ie..is it all stamping, or a mix of other things?)

A~
My blog, Kind Creations, is just stamping. I do throw in some family posts, but 99% of it is stamping. I love having the blog...it's like my personal journal of my stamping journey. I like to look back at projects I created previously and either laugh, shake my head, or say "I forgot about that one"!

Q ~ What is your favorite part of being on a design team?

A~
I really like getting to know the people on the team. It's so fun to make new "cyber-friends". I also like the behind-the-scenes things that go on to help promote the stamps. And, of course, it's always nice to have fabulous new stamps given to you to play with! Free stamps for doing something you love...can't beat that!

Thank you, Lisa, for sharing with us! We look forward to seeing your fabulous creations. You can find more of Lisa on her blog.

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Joy has posted yet another sneaky peek here earlier...scroll down to see it! And don't forget, the August release blog hop starts right here tomorrow!! Come back for more! :)

Thanks for stopping by!

~~ Holly

Sneek Peeks Day 4

Who's ready for this fun release tomorrow???
You will LOVE ALL 3 sets being release tomorrow!
Make sure to come back and HOP with us!

Sneek Peeks Day 3

So what do you think of the peeks so far? Stay tuned for more!

Sneek Peeks Day 2

How about another sneek peek? What could this be? You'll find out for sure on the 15th!

Sneek Peeks....

Want some sneek peeks for the new releases on the 15th? Stay tuned!