When your mojo has gone walk about, where do you find inspiration? I find various places spark my creativity – Pinterest, Instagram, books and generally the world around me. It may be a colour scheme I spotted on Pinterest, an inspiring floral arrangement on Instagram, styles and designs in a book or some beautifully designed packaging for a chocolate bar. Whatever the spark I’m quickly back at my desk creating.

Recently I bought the Print & Pattern Nature book. I mentioned the book previously in a post here where a colour combination jumped out at me for a watercoloured card I was inspired to make. Well today’s card was also inspired by the Print & Pattern Nature book in a much more literal way. I’ve linked all supplies at the end of this post. Compensated affiliate links used.

I was drawn to a gorgeous illustration by print and pattern designer Lizzie Mackay – outline images overlaying solid images in a colour scheme of pale aquas, bright greens, peaches and oranges on a white background with a little bird perched on top and encased by an aqua circle.

I knew I could use many of my supplies to create a similar look for a shaker card design. Lizzie’s designs translate beautifully to paper crafts. Indeed Lizzie has designed for PinkFresh Studio.

My take on Lizzie’s inspiration is very similar to the original design by Lizzie; a CASE if you will. A point of note is that it is important if you are inspired to create a design by an artist that you give due credit and provide appropriate links. All too often people claim ideas to be their own, I’ve seen even large clothing companies do it, and that’s not OK. I’ll get down off my soapbox now.

I started on a white card base and blended Lake Shores ink through flowers from the Hope Blooms stencil and Jellybean and Cloudy Sky inks through the leaves. I added a flower centre to the largest flower in Audrey Blue ink. I overlaid this layer with outline images from the Hope Blooms and Artsy Flower Parts stamp sets stamped in High Dive and Versafine Smokey Gray. I also stamped the little bird from the So Deer set in Smokey Gray. To finish the background I blended Jellybean and Apricot inks through the smallest of the Bokeh Lights stencil.

With the background now finished I cut a Nested Circle from Sea Glass card and backed it with acetate before adding a double layer of foam adhesive around the edge. I sprinkled on Robin’s Egg sequins on to the background panel and then carefully overlaid the shaker card front.

For the sentiment I die cut the You die several times from white card and added it to the card front. Then to complete the sentiment I stamped the ‘happy birthday to’ from the You Matter stamps set in clear embossing ink on card blended with Apricot ink and then white heat embossed.

Please check out Lizzie Mackay. You can find her website here and she is definitely worth a follow on Instagram and Pinterest too :D You can see some of Lizzie’s work as well as a huge range of other wonderful designers in the Print & Pattern Nature book. Also if you love Lizzie’s designs, as I do, then take a look at the PinkFresh Studio lines.

If you fancy another ‘inspired by’ card example today then check out this gorgeous creation by Laura Bassen inspired by Rifle Paper Co. I think my jaw hit the floor when I saw this beauty!

Where do you find inspiration when your mojo fails you? I have a couple more posts in this mini inspiration series to share with you soon so please stay tuned!

SUPPLIES

You can find links to the supplies I’ve used below; click on the picture or shop icon to get taken directly to the product. Where available I use compensated affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can read my affiliate and product disclosure here. I truly appreciate your support.

PIN ME

Summary of the project which gives all the views of the card in one photo :D I’d love if you pinned and called by on Pinterest :D