Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Think INK Challenge #17


This week your challenge is brought to you by Michelle Bartnett and she wants you to

USE ANY BOOK OR CD/ALBUM COVER FOR INSPIRATION


For Inspiration, she came up with this card using the new set, Paisleys & Peacocks:


Based on this CAKE CD cover (which totally rocks BTW):



* You are not required to use AI stamps, but if you have them, we'd love to see you use them!
**IF YOU USE AI STAMPS, YOU GET 2 ENTRIES FOR YOUR CREATION! JUST ENTER YOUR NAME/LINK TWICE ON MR. LINKY!!!


* You have until Monday, April 12, 2010, midnight Pacific Standard Time to link your creation to this post. A winner will be chosen Tuesday, April 13, 2010 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 AIC17

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


Sunday, March 28, 2010

More Think INK Inspiration

Don't forget, you still have time to enter the current Think INK Challenge- making a birthday card or project!

Here's some inspiration from our DT using Birthday Best from AI....

From Marti Wills:




From Kim Nath:



Play along for your chance to win some AI stamps!

Friday, March 26, 2010

Blog Hop Winners!

Can you believe that this weekend is already here?! I know I can’t but I am thrilled to say that it’s time to announce our Blog Candy Winners for our NEW release! Our lucky commenters are:


Linda who will receive In My Garden and Epic Tales


AND


Denise who will receive Peacock Pagentry and Paisleys & Peacocks


I have already e-mailed both of our winners, you ladies are going to love these stamp sets! Thank you to everyone who hopped along with us for the new releases this month, be sure to keep stopping by, you never know what might happen next!

Design Team Featured Stamper!

I am thrilled to announce that we are kicking off our Featured Stamper feature on Fridays once more! Not only will we be featuring our fabulous new Design Team throughout this term, but we will also be show casing our wonderful customers too! If you want to be featured be sure to keep using those Artful INKables stamps and playing along in our challenge, posting your creations to your blogs, or add your work to the SCS gallery so that we can find you, you never know who will be selected next!

For today we our Featured Stamper is Alicia Ekermans! One of our newly named Design Team members, Alicia has already been a great addition to the, here is a bit about her!
Q ~ Married? Kids? Pets?
I have been married to my husband Paul (who is Dutch) for over 10 years. We 'met' on the internet in 1996 and he moved to the U.S. to marry me in 1999. We have one daughter, Presleigh, who will be 4 in April.

Q ~ Do you have a job outside of stamping? If so, what do you do?
I consider myself a Work At Home Mom. While my primary 'job' is taking care of Presleigh, I do contract design work for a local printing company as well.

Q ~ What got you into stamping?
Years ago (10+) my sister was big into stamping and making cards. When I visited her, I would always play with her stamps. Heat embossing AMAZED me. Later I got into scrapbooking, but returned to stamping and cardmaking pretty heavily in the last 4 years or so.

Q ~ What is your favorite embellishment and why?
Gems and pearls. Just about any card can accommodate one or two (or three...) of these pretty, little accents. And now that I can color them with my COPICs, I always have the 'right color' to add.

Q ~ What drew you towards Artful Inkables?
In one word - Joy. As in Joy Stagg. Smile emoticon She was one of my ShortCuts design team members and I remember her posting some fabulous creations using AI stamps. She was always so enthusiastic about the stamps and the company.

Q ~ Do you have a favorite stamp set from Artful Inkables?
Right now it has to be the 'In My Garden' set. I was so excited to receive it as one of my first AI DT sets. There are so many possibilities with the images and sentiments. The little girl holding the flowers reminds me of my daughter. While I am not a green-thumb at all, she does love to be outside helping her grandma in the flower beds.

Q ~ How would you describe your stamping style?
Definitely clean and simple. Definitely.

Q ~ What’s you favorite part of stamping?
Just getting to create something. Getting into my craft room, now that I don't work outside the home, is my 'time away'. I can relax, watch what I want to on TV, and create.

Q ~ What is your favorite non-card type project?
When I can get it together enough, I love to make scrapbook layouts of my daughter.

Q ~ Have you been published?
Not ever in print, but my work has been seen in 'SheetLoad of Cards' (a no-brainer since I owned it) and just recently a creation was accepted by Scrapbook News and Review.

Q ~ What is your favorite coloring medium? Why?
I recently took a COPIC class and am loving the chance to learn and play with them at the same time. I just love the bold look they give to colored images.

Q ~ Tell us about your blog.. (ie..is it all stamping, or a mix of other things?)
My blog, Call Me {Crafty} Al, is dedicated to all of my papercrafting creations.

Q ~ What is your favorite part of being on a design team?
Getting to use tons of awesome new images before the public even sees them. Kinda like being an 'insider'. Also, getting to know the other artists is wonderful.


Here is one of Alicia's wonderful creations, in fact this was her creation for the new release blog hop earlier this week! I just love the thought of this seed packet being a gift package, its so fun!It was a pleasure to get to know you better Alicia, I can't wait to see what you create next!

Be sure to come back on Friday's to see who will be our next Featured Stamper!

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Paper Flower Tutorial

Hi, It's Joy, and I'm your hostess for the AI tutorial this month! I love seeing these paper flowers on cards and projects lately, especially using text paper. Here's a quick and easy tutorial to show you how to make them:

Materials needed:

Nestabilities- I used both the Blossom and Circle Nesties
Die Cut Machine- I used my cuttlebug
Designer Paper- I used Text Paper from an old Book
Brads
Paper Piercer
Piercing Mat
Stamps as desired- I used the new set from AI, Epic Tales
Embellishments and other DP as desired



Embellish as desired, I adhered a button to the top
of my brad, and VIOLA!

The above card uses the Blossom Shaped Nesties


The above card uses the Circle Shaped Nesties

Hope you enjoyed today's tutorial! Thanks for stopping by!

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Something Different

It's Wednesday...my posting day...atleast it is supposed to be. As many of you know, I am busily getting ready for our first show, which is this Friday. And in doing so I have put together a few samples of some non-card items that I think will help sell various things, like our charms. So today I have something a bit different to share with you. It is a charm bracelet made with all 10 charms from the Vampire Romance themed charm set we sell.



Each Charm is hung from a loop of a bracelet blank I picked up at a craft store. I used a double jumpring for this to ensure they would not come loose and get lost. In between the charms I hung a small headpin strung with a few black/red/white beads to give the bracelet some color.

So if you are in the Salt Lake Valley this weekend, come by and see this bracelet in person. We will be at the Sandy Expo center Friday and Saturday, booth 211. My daughter is dying to have this bracelet after the show, maybe if she is a good helper! LOL

Monday, March 22, 2010

March Release Blog Hop

It's that time again, time for a New AI release! This month we have FIVE new sets to share with you! I kinda went a bit crazy with peacocks this month because we have not one, but two sets with a peacock theme. The first is a great combination of peacock images and paisley shapes called...you guessed it...Paisleys and Peacocks. After that set was designed, I hade to make a peacock backgroud to compliment it. This set is called Peacock Pagentry and can be used with the other set or alone since it also comes with 2 sentiments. In My Garden will get you in the mood for spring with its lovely garden theme and if you are in the mood for a game of chance or know someone who is...Game On will be a set to check out. And finally, incase you haven't gotten your fill of Twilight themes stamps, we have one more to share with you that centers around the last 2 books. It is called Epic Tales. We hope you find something to fit your needs and style in our new offerings and to help inspire you, we have some great samples to share as you (blog) Hop along with us.

My creation is a seed packet holder and card in one. The front features the little gardener with her birdy friends.


And inside you will find a simple seed packet made with a template and the 'garden seeds' stamp you will find in the set.



Garden Card by Kristin Soboloski
Stamps: In My Garden
Ink: Momento Black ink
Paper: Turquoise, green, orchid, white and yellow card stock and random decorative paper from SU!
Accessories: Varigated ribbon from May Arts (can be found in our store), Scallop and circle punches from SU!, Border punch by Martha Stewart, Copic Markers, tag die from Cuttlebug.

Now I want to make sure you all remember to comment on every one's blog, because two lucky commenters will win some AI stamps! One will win In My Garden and Epic Tales, and the other will win Peacock Pagentry and Paisleys & Peacocks. Please leave your comments by Thursday, March 25th, 12 midnight Eastern Standard Time. The winners will be chosen on Friday, March 26th.

Dont forget to welcome all the New INKgirls as you hop along the way!! Thank you for participating in today’s blog hop, now hop on over to Ann’s Blog and after her on to Joy's Blog to enjoy the rest of this wonderful release! (There may be a bit of confusion since we have a new team, so if you get lost, just hop back here to get on track.)

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Last Sneek Peek


Ready for your last sneek peek? What do you think it is? You'll find out tomorrow at the blog hop, don't miss it!

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Sneek Peek


This is a pretty big sneek peek, what oh what can it be?

Friday, March 19, 2010

I love sneek peeks!


Don't you love sneek peeks? The new release is fast approaching, are you ready? Here's a peek for you of one of the 4 NEW SETS, and we'll also be releasing a Mini set. What oh what can this be...

Stay tuned, you'll find out soon!

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Who's ready for peeks?


Who's ready for the new releases and sneek peeks? Well, here's your first peek.... what do you think it is? Stay tuned for the hop on the 22nd for the new releases!

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Think INK inspiration...

Our new INK girls are doing a fab fab job for us! Look at what some of them came up with for the current Think INK challenge of making a birthday card to help us celebrate AI's 2nd Birthday!


Alicia Ekermans
Using Birthday Best

Cheryl Walker

Using Creature Comforts

Dawn Knight
Using Birthday Best

You still have plenty of time to enter for your chance to win a grab bag of AI stamps! Get ready for some upcoming sneek peeks for the new release on the 22nd!

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

We Have A Winner!

It's that time again, a new Think INK Challenge has been posted and now all that is left to do is announce the winner of our 15th Challenge. Thank you to everyone who played along, your takes on the sketch were all fabulous! Random.org picked #9...

Congrats to Sandye Curry!

An e-mail will be sent to you shortly for your contact information! Be sure to play along with our new challenge, its sure to be a celebration!

Think INK Challenge #16


This week your challenge is brought to you by Joy, and it's to make a BIRTHDAY CARD OR PROJECT in celebration of AI's Birthday!

For Inspiration, Joy uses the AI set, Birthday Best....



* You are not required to use AI stamps, but if you have them, we'd love to see you use them!
**IF YOU USE AI STAMPS, YOU GET 2 ENTRIES FOR YOUR CREATION! JUST ENTER YOUR NAME/LINK TWICE ON MR. LINKY!!!


* You have until Monday, March 29, 2010, midnight Pacific Standard Time to link your creation to this post. A winner will be chosen Tuesday, March 30, 2010 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 AIC16

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



Monday, March 15, 2010

Let's Celebrate!

Artful INKables is 2 years old this week!
To celebrate our birthday, we are offering you a sweet deal on any order you place this week. Enter Code AIBDAY2 into the coupon field when you check out to get 15% off a $35 order. This coupon is only good until next Sunday so be quick like a bunny to take advantage of this SALE!

Also be sure to check back tomorrow for our next Think INK challenge and to see who won the last challenge. And mark your calendars for NEXT MONDAY because we will be having our NEW RELEASE BLOG HOP featuring all of our new, uber-talented INK girls and FOUR new stamps sets you will surely LOVE!

And finally, if you are located in the Salt Lake City area of Utah, be sure to come visit our booth at the SCRAPBOOK USA expo in Sandy on March 26th and 27th. Click HERE for directions and information.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Anybirdy Home Sketch...


Look at this fab card Michelle Bartnett did using Anybirdy Home and the current Think INK Challenge sketch! You still have a few days to enter and have a chance to win a grab bag of AI stamps!

Our release and Blog Hop will be on the 22nd of this month (not the 15th as previously scheduled), but guess who's having a birthday party this week? Stay tuned for details!

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Think INK Inspiration

The Design Team is really rocking this fabulous sketch, so we have some more wonderful inspiration to share with you for the current Think INK Challenge!

Holly McMillen made this classy creation with a bit of flair featuring Fanciful Flowers:
Crystal Irwin made a splash with our new Newborn Blessings stamp set:
Jackie Rakoski pulled out another new release, Any Birdie Home:
There is still one more week left, so be sure to join in on all the fun, be sure to play along for you chance at winning a Grab Bag of AI Stamps!

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Think INK Inspiration

The current Think INK Challenge is underway and the Design Team has been creating some amazing work for the current sketch! Here's a look at some of the wonderful designs!

Deborah Young created this flirty card using one of our newest release Sexy and Sweet:
Sherry Campbell also used Sexy and Sweet for this Spicy number:
Did you see all the great possibilities with this set, simply a must have!

There is still plenty of time to play along with us, so what are you waiting for, there is a bag of free stamps on the line! We can't wait to see what you create!

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Think Ink Winner

True Random Number Generator Min: 1 Max: 42 Result: 9

Our Think INK challenge winner from Challenge #14: Naughty or Nice card/project: Katie Tate

You have been emailed to collect your information. Thanks for playing in our challenge and we can't wait to see what you come up with using the stamps!

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Baby Greetings

WOW!
Where did the day go? I must have thought about posting this card 5 different times today and then got side-tracked. Dont you hate it when that happens? Well, I have 35 more minutes left in this day here in Utah so I suppose technically, I still posted on Wednesday, lol.

Anyway, here is a simple baby card I made to show ya'll how easy the Newborn Blessings set is to use.



I just stamped the baby and the gift basket, colored them with Copic Markers and did alot of layering. I used some gingham ribbon and a piece of our 1" wide satin Ribbon from May Arts to make the side treatment. And that was that. Just change the colors up for a girl...easy peasy. Hope you like it.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Say Hello....

...to the next Crop of Artful INKables INKgirls!!!!

It was not an easy decision to choose these talented ladies from so many wonderful entries, in fact I added 2 team members, which takes us to 12 designers total! So without further ado, please welcome the New Team:

Cheryl Walker
Patti Nelson
Kim Nath
Ann Vento
Marty Wills
Sammi Betbeder
Tanya Johnson
Dawn Knight
Alicia Ekermans

Also, Michelle Bartnett will be staying with us for another term since she has only been a designer here since November.

Joy Stagg will be remaining as my right hand gal and Senior DT member and will be joined this term by the equally talented Jackie Rakoski. All of these gals will officially start their term on the 15th of this month when we have our big release Blog Hop.

Unfortunately Holly will be stepping down and she will be a great loss to us!! Her talent, advice and friendship were (and are) invaluable to me. She and the rest of the current team will be sorely missed!

So be sure to say hello to the new gals and goodbye to the those leaving.

No matter how many times I choose a new dt I am astounded at all the talent I must sort through to find those I think will make the best team for AI. So thank you to all the wonderful ladies who applied, please know I enjoyed all your entries and I encourage you to try again next time we hold a call. I cant take all my favorites, but if you apply again maybe I can put you on the team next time.

Think INK Challenge #15


This week your challenge is brought to you by all of the AI girls...it's a SKETCH CHALLENGE! The sketch was made by our DT Member Holly!


For Inspiration, Joy used the set, Sexy and Sweet:



* You are not required to use AI stamps, but if you have them, we'd love to see you use them! **IF YOU USE AI STAMPS, YOU GET 2 ENTRIES FOR YOUR CREATION! JUST ENTER YOUR NAME/LINK TWICE ON MR. LINKY!!!

* You have until Monday, March 15, 2010, midnight Pacific Standard Time to link your creation to this post. A winner will be chosen Tuesday, March 16, 2010 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 AIC15

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