Penny Black Illustrator Alex Smith

I am soooo loving the illustrations by Alex Smith- a new stamp illustrator for Penny Black.  He's being featured on the Penny Black blog today so I decided to share a card I created using one of his images, 4302K Mona Lisa.

I began by stamping 4302K Mona Lisa using VersaFine Onyx Black ink, embossing with clear powder, and coloring with Copic Markers.  I cut out only the oval portion of the stamp.  The background was inked with Sunflower Palette Ink and stamped with 40-202 Indian Wheel using the same color of ink.  The leaves were die cut using Spellbinders Foliage and inked with Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink.  The sentiment, 30-164 Edge to Edge, was stamped with VersaFine Onxy Black Ink.  The punched butterflies by Martha Stewart were punched from white cardstock and colored with Copic markers to match the dress and oval border of the main image.

Today on the Penny Black blog you'll find an interview with Alex Smith as well as a tag I created with another of his whimsical images.  Here's a little peek!

Click HERE for the full reveal.

Mixed Media Canvas

I'm sharing a mixed media canvas on the Ribbon's Unlimited blog today...

hope you can stop by!

Becky Fleck and Penny Black

This set of tags was created with this new set by Penny Black, 30-174 A Bunch, designed by Becky Fleck.

I began by stamping the images with VersaFine Onyx Black ink and embossing with clear powder.  The images were colored with colored with Copic markers.  I masked the vases and pots and applied Distress Ink to the tags.  The backgrounds (Penny Black) were stamped , applying Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink to the background stamp and removing some ink from the stamp using a baby wipe before stamping.

For a fun interview with Becky and for a peek at a card I created using another transparent set designed by Becky Fleck, be sure to pop over to the Penny Black blog today. HUGS!

Tags with Mimi

I'm sharing a couple of tags over the Ribbons Unlimited blog today using new Mimi images from Penny Black, 4329H First Aid Mimi and 4327H Scooter Mimi.

Click HERE for the full reveal.

See ya tomorrow!

New Penny Black *T for Transparent*

Have you been checking out the Penny Black blog this week? Don't forget to pop by- there are lots of chances to win some of the NEW stamps.  Today I have a card to share using a couple of new T for Transparent sets, 30-163 Love Chapter and 30-155 Blooming Garden:

Oh how I love that poppy!! :)

Thanks for stopping by! 

HUGS!

New Penny Black *Slapstick Cling*

All this week on the Penny Black blog, you will find introductions of the newest stamps from the Take Flight 2013 catalog.  In addition to introductions, Penny Black is also giving away LOTS of stamps!  I'm playing along with the introductions as well. :)  While Penny Black is introducing slapstick cling stamps today, here's a card I created with a new cling stamp, 40-208 Sweetness:

To begin, I inked my background stamp with Palette Inks (claret, Orangerie, and Sunflower) and lightly spritzed with water before stamping.  Once the stamped image was dry, I added additional shading with Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Art Grip Color Pencils and distressed the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink.  The sentiment, 30-160 Friendship, was stamped with VersaFine Onyx Black Ink and then lightly distressed with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink.  Finally, I die cut a butterfly with Spellbinders Butterflies Two die, cut it in half, and adhered behind the sentiment.  I added just a touch of shading to the flowers using Copic marker BG10.

Thanks again for your visits and support!

Don't forget to check out the Penny Black blog for even more giveaways today. :)
Oh, and I nearly forgot, but here's the winner of the Ribbons Unlimited ribbon giveaway--Dawn Turley. Thanks to all who left the sweetest comments and followed the Ribbons Unlimited blog! 

NEW Penny Black *wood-mounted*

All this week on the Penny Black blog, you will find introductions of the newest stamps from the Take Flight 2013 catalog.  In addition to introductions, Penny Black is also giving away LOTS of stamps!  I decided I wanted to play along with the introductions as well. :) While Penny Black is introducing wood mounted stamps today, here's a card I created with a new wood-mounted stamp, 4306L Kisses in the Sun.

I began by stamping 4306L Kisses in the sun with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink.  I colored the flower and the script background with Copic markers.  For a second time, I stamped 4306L Kisses in the Sun, colored the butterfly image, and cut it out.  The light blue sky background was inked with Distress Ink (Faded Jeans, Broken China, and Dusty Concord).  I added the butterfly using pop dots.  Finally, I stamped the sentiment, 30-162 Eloquence, using VersaFine Onyx Black Ink.

Thanks for visiting! 

Be sure to pop by the Penny Black blog for a chance to win some of the new stamps. 

Take Flight!

Just popping in for a quick post to let you know that the new Penny Black catalog is now available for viewing online. I have so many favs from this new release and can't wait to share some samples with you here this week.

More info and a link to the catalog HERE.

HUGS!

Lots of Clean and Simple Valentines

I decide to try my hand at some clean and simple (CAS) stamping and made a few Valentines...

featuring Penny Black 30-146 Loads of Love and Spellbinders Standard Circles Large

featuring Penny Black 40-186 Love Flourish and 40-190 Bed of Roses

This next card was 100% inspired by the super talented CAS stamper Maile Belles' card posted HERE. (3nd card of post)

featuring Penny Black 40-187 Love Birds stamped with Colorbox Chalk inks and punched butterflies by Martha Stewart and Fiskars

And I love these typewriters in bright colors!

featuring Penny Black 40-189 My Type stamped with Palette Hybrid Inks 

Thanks for visiting!

Oh, and if you're looking for some sneak peeks of the NEW Penny Black collection, be sure to check out their Facebook page. 

HUGS!

Bow Video Tutorial

I have a fun little video tutorial on the Ribbons Unlimited blog today, I hope you can pop buy and check it out!

Click HERE to view the video.

Thanks for stopping by!

More love in the air!

I just love this fashion girl, 4295K Sweet on You, by Penny Black.  She was colored with Copics and then cut out.  The backgrounds were inked with with Distress Ink (Fired Brick, Worn Lipstick, Dusty Concord, and Evergreen Bow).  And the fun die cut for the turquoise background is by Spellbinders- Square Swatches.

Oh, and BIG thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes, emails, and notes on Facebook. You sure know how to make a girl feel special. :)  

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend. I hear we might have a blizzard here tomorrow.  I hope we do! Nothing like a weekend of snowed-in stamping!

Fun Announcement and Giveaway

I'm so excited to announce that I am joining a new design team...

Ribbons Unlimited Inc. has been providing high quality decorative ribbon at wholesale prices to their customers for more than 20 years.  You can follow Ribbons Unlimited on Facebook, Twitter, and on their blog.  You can see their amazing selection of ribbon (in so many gorgeous COLORS) in their online store.

And in honor of this fun announcement, I've created a new mixed media piece with lots of Penny Black (40-139 A Flight of Thread, 40-137 Brick Wall, 30-117 Free Flight), Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft, and, of course, ribbon. :)  

Wanna peek?

Be sure to visit the Ribbons Unlimited blog for the full reveal!

And how about a GIVEAWAY?
To be eligible for a great prize package of beautiful ribbon from Ribbons Unlimited:
1) become a follower of the Ribbons Unlimited blog and
2) leave a comment on my introductory post HERE
I will choose a winner from the comments on the Ribbons Unlimited blog and announce the winner here at Inspired By next week.

Thanks for sharing in my excitement today, my friends!

Cute Couple

Don't these two owls, 40-188 Guess Hoo from Penny Black's newest release, make the cutest couple?

To create this card I began by inking the background with Distress Ink (Peeled Paint, Wild Honey, Worn Lipstick, and Evergreen Bough).  Next I stamped the branch and leaves (Penny Black) using VersaFine and Memento Ink.  The owls were stamped using ColorBox Chalk Ink (Pink Pastel and Deep Lagoon).  Once dry, I added additional shading with Faber-Castell Art GRIP Color Pencils.  The owls were then cut out and added to a swing cut from inked cardstock.

Hope your day is filled with LOVE. :)

Thanks for popping by!

Lovey-Dovey!

There's a couple of cards of mine over on the Penny Black blog today. 

Here's a peek:

Click HERE for the full reveal. 

Have a great weekend!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! I hope everyone's 2013 is off to a great start.  :)  Today I have a mixed media project to share with you using stamps from Penny Black's newest Valentine's release.

This was created on a small wooden block with lots of paint, Mod Podge, Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft supplies, book/text paper, and of course stamps.

I loved the thickness of the block, allowing me to paint and stamp the edges.

I have a great feeling about 2013. Love is definitely in the air! :)