Inspired Inks ~ Rubber Stamping & Papercrafting

LOVE this sample ...

Enjoy this beautiful sample!

Love it, too? Here's the link to my Online Store to get what you need while supplies last!

Happy Stamping!

A Kiss of Summer

What's new? The Summer Smooches Sneak Peek ... lots of bright, fun accessories ... and a stamp set to match! Here's a gorgeous sample of what you can do with these products:

 

Stay tuned for more samples ... and join me for my Summer Smooches class on April 26!

 

 

The Final Days ...

Yes, it's true ... the 2012 Sale-A-Bration season is about to come to an end. So don't miss out on your chance to enjoy all of the fun and free stuff! If you love this project, then place your Sale-A-Bration order today to get what you need to make it. Start shopping here. There are only a few days remaining ... come April 1st ... it's over ... no foolin'.

Join the Club!

It’s already March, and New Year’s eve (and maybe your resolutions) is quickly becoming a distant memory. But don’t despair! What better time to rededicate yourself to a new start than spring - the epitome of fresh starts! And what better way to get yourself back into stamping then by starting a club. Get your girl friends together once a month and make a commitment to enjoy some creativity.  If the mere prospect of a Girls’ Night Out isn’t enticing enough for you, here are some other benefits of being part of a stamping club:
1.    You get to see your friends on a regular basis.
2.    Get in your creative zone with regular inspiration delivered every month.
3.    “Me time” - It’s good for your personal health as well as family life.
4.    Easy ordering and easy delivery of new and exciting products.
5.    You get to make projects for a discount or even free!
6.    Get to see all the latest material and products on a regular basis.
7.    Personal service and attention (who doesn’t love that?!).
8.    And did I mention ... Hostess Benefits??!!
 
Want to know more? Contact me for all of the details. Don’t wait - let’s get your club started today!

A Stamping Love Story

This month, love is in the air! So reignite your passion for stamping and papercrafting while creating tokens of affection for those you love and care about. Stamps, ink, and paper are the perfect way to send the message that you are thinking of someone and just how special they are to you. Just add a few accessories and you’ll have a lovely gift in no time. Need some inspiration to get you started? Here are just a few ideas ...

• A card made with the new P.S. I Love You stamp set (#125460 wood/#125462 clear) and tucked into a briefcase or lunch bag is sure to bring a smile to the recipient’s face.

• Short on time but don’t want to scrimp on style? Try the Designer Cuts Cards & Envelopes Set (#125414). Just add a little Blushing Bride Smooch Spritz (#125580) or Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details, and you’ll have a dazzling card in no time at all.

• Crazy about hearts? Then you’ll love creating all sorts of projects with the Fashionable Hearts Embosslits die (#125596) and the brand new Hearts Collection Framelits dies (#125599). These are great for creating embellishments and frames for cards, scrapbook pages, and all kinds of packages.

• Create sweet-smelling sachets with the Twitterpated Designer Fabric (#125412). Embellish them with coordinating Twitterpated Designer Buttons (#125579) and some 3/8” Pleated Satin Ribbon (Blushing Bride #125570).

• Punches are a quick and easy way to add interest, dimension, and color to share your love on cards, tags, and scrapbook pages. We have three heart punches you are sure to adore. You can glue punched shapes directly onto your projects, sew, or layer a sheet of card stock that has been punched over a coordinating card stock for a reverse effect. One of my favorites is the Small Heart Punch (#117193).

So are you all revved up and ready to stamp? Then contact me right away and I’ll make sure that you have everything you need for creations everyone will love.

Don't want to brag ...

But I had a wonderful time at the Dundee Public Library's Scrap 'n' Brag program last night! Thank you to all who attended and thank you to the Friends of the Dundee Library for inviting me in to teach the program. I had a great time meeting everyone and seeing all of the brag books. I hope to see you all again REALLY soon.

Happy Stamping!!

Happy New Year!

It's a new year and a new beginning! I am SO EXCITED for what I have coming up this year, and I know you will be, too. If you want to be kept "in the know", then please be sure to sign up for the Inspired Inks Mailing List. To subscribe, please fill out the form just to the right, and as a THANK YOU, I will be sending you a free gift - a tutorial for making a set of cards, a box, and a perpetual birthday calendar. A great way to get organized in the new year!

So let's share a year full of inspiration and fun! I can't wait!!

Quick sneak peek: New this year, I will be starting a Virtual Club. It will start on February 1st, so stay tuned for more details.

How I Spent My Sweetest Day ...

I am definitely a lucky girl ... I have a super sweet sweetie who let me spend Sweetest Day stamping in the morning and stamping at night! :) At night, I had a wonderful opportunity to be a part of the Huntley Park District Daddy/Daughter Dance. It was a blast! I helped the girls make photo frames for their Daddy/Daugther pictures. Thank you to all who attended and made it a fabulous event! Unfortunately I left my camera at home ... otherwise I would post some pictures of all of the fun. I hope everyone had as much fun as I did!

7 Powerful Reasons NOT to Have a Job

I just had to share this article from Christine Kane. I hope that you enjoy it!

7 Powerful Reasons NOT to Have a Job

by Christine Kane 

One of the scariest things I ever did was quit my first (and only) "real" job so I could begin my own brand of creative work in the world.

I became - gasp! - self-employed.

I was warned of the risks. I was told I'd lose my benefits. I was told it's "hard out there" working for yourself.

It's funny that the assumption so many people base one of their biggest life choices on is that working for yourself is risky. Now - after 16 years of making a living on my own terms - I believe the exact opposite!

So, here are seven of my favorite reasons to NOT have a job. 


1. Having a job is way too risky.

When you have a job, someone can take away your income in two words: "You're fired." This is happening more and more as companies crumble in the face of global changes in commerce.

If you ask me, there's nothing secure about that.

When you create your own business, and a client or customer moves on â?" then guess what? You get to say, "Next!"

2. No Bonus Pay for Messing Up

When you mess up at your job, you get punished, maybe even a pay-cut. Then you have to run around "making nice" to the people who might lay you off or promote someone else who's younger and "hungry." (Hungry for what? More time at the office?)

When one of my clients faces challenges in her business, I cheer. She's getting paid to learn! Every mistake teaches her more about how to succeed.

Instead of getting an MBA - she's getting a TBF. (Trial by Fire!) TBF's can really yield a high ROI!

3. Your Ceiling isn't Adjustable.

Often, I show clients multiple places they can generate income in their business within the next few months. Their eyes light up as they realize that the possibilities are endless. They stop thinking in terms of "hours for dollars," and start thinking of passive income. (Hey, why not get paid while you sleep?)

In a job, you can't adjust your income based on the value you provide. Instead you have to ask for a raise. Not fun.

4. Pantyhose.

As I write this, I'm working.

I'm wearing a Tarheels baseball cap, a t-shirt, and jeans. I've got my feet propped up on the deck railing as birds sing at the feeder.

When I had a job, there was a dress code. And rules about what you could have on your desk. There was limited time for lunch, and no time for creativity. And don't even get me started on pantyhose!

5. Your money doesn't go as far.

Did you know that employee income is the most heavily taxed income in the U.S.? As an employee, almost half your salary will go to taxes. You get to spend what's left on living expenses.

One of my first self-employed discoveries was that my money went MUCH further - because I could invest in myself or get equipment and supplies with pre-tax income. Any good accountant will help you make your dollars expand in your own business.

6. Focusing on your Weaknesses.

Have you ever heard of a "360?"

That's when your co-workers and supervisors (and anyone else who wants to chip in) analyze your job performance. You learn all about your weaknesses - and you get a review outlining the ways you need to work on them. Often, people leave these "360" reviews in tears.

In the world of the solo-preneur, we don't mess with our weaknesses. The motto is Strengthen your Strengths. Hire your Weaknesses. In other words, as you become aware of your weaknesses, you don't waste your precious energy fixing them.

7. Negative Environment.
Many office environments don't encourage creative thinking or positive energy. Instead, there's lots of negativity among employees who feel powerless.

In your own business, you set the tone, and you choose who enters your environment. You become deeply personally responsible for every aspect of your life.

This is often more uncomfortable than sitting back and blaming "The Man," but it will absolutely free you.

 

Christine Kane is the Mentor to Women Who are Changing the World. She helps women uplevel their lives, their businesses and their success. Her weekly LiveCreative eZine goes out to over 20,000 subscribers. If you are ready to take your life and your world to the next level, you can sign up for a F.R.E.E. subscription at http://christinekane.com.
WANT TO SEE HUNDREDS MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS ONE?

See Christine's blog at ChristineKane.com/blog.

 

They say it's your birthday!

Here is cute cupcake card that I created - perfect for a birthday ... or someone who just loves chocolate cupcakes (like one of my Facebook friends). :)

 

Here are the supplies that I used to create it -

Stamps: Birthday Thanks (#111546)

Paper: Wild Wasabi (#108641), Chocolate Chip (#1020128), Whisper White (#100730)

Ink: Basic Black (#101179)

Accessories: Patterns Designer Series Paper in Brights (#117155), Crimper (#101618), 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon in Real Red (#119763), Stampin' Write markers in Brights (#119702), Crystal Effects (#101055), uni-ball White Gel pen (#105021)