JAI 105 - Just add a colour combo

Hello there,

not much crafting going on at moment as I was busy last weekend surviving my Mr 4's birthday party - the most hair raising momment was when one of the rocketship cake's thrusters (=sparkler) actually burnt a hole in the tablecloth!!! Now I just need to survive Miss 7's party next weekend and then I can get back to some crafting again. Luckily I prepared for this weeks Just Add Ink challenge ahead of time - this week we have a colour combo for you. Here it is.

Something flowery was my starting point and I used surprisingly less Pool Party that I had originally planned but that was just the way it worked out - funny how some cards evolve on you!

So basically I just started by stamping a background pattern using the leafy foliage and then adding in flowers and finally filling some little spaces with the little Pool Party dots. Once the background was done I added a glittered strip across towards the bottom and then contructed my sentiment focal point. For this I layered a stamped and impressed die cut with a stamped decorative label. Added die cut foliage to either side, embellished those with rhinestones and added some threaded buttons to either side of the sentiment. I was pretty happy with it once it was all done but it did take some fiddling and an intermission of a day or two ;) to think about how to finish it off!

Thanks for visiting - hope you get the chance to play along with us at Just Add Ink this week!

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Four Frames, (Turning a new leaf, Flower Fusion 7, Simple Sunflower, Love Lives Here: Holiday - all PaperTrey Inc)

Cardstock: So Saffron, Wisteria Wonder, Whisper White

Ink: Certainly Celery, Wisteria Wonder, Pool Party, So Saffron, Concord Crush

Accessories: Turning a new leaf dies (PTI), Fillable frame #10 die (PTI), Linen/ Canvas impression plate (PTI), Decorative Label punch, Plum Pudding vintage buttons (PTI), Corner rounder punch, Sticky strip, Dazzling Diamonds, Jewels - rhinestones, Whtie ribbon (craft shop), Dimensionals, Double sided tape (X Press)

JAI 104 - Just add Back to School

Hello there,
well this week at Just Add Ink we have a fun time of year challenge - it's Just Add Back to School - so set your imagination running and see what creative ideas you can come up with that fit a back to school theme! Go check out the rest of the DT for some fabulous ideas too! Since my lovely Miss 7 began the process of learning to read last year (I was so proud of the progress she made!!) I thought I might make up some bright fun little lunchbox notes that can get tucked in with her vegemite sandwich - well the same lunchbox anyway ;) The idea doesn't originate with me I'm pretty sure I saw the idea during a PTI release. So here they are. First the notes all bar one wrapped up ready to be tucked ;)

And here's a shot of all the notes open

And you didn't think I was going to forget my Mr almost 4 did you?? Here's a little stack for him too, so when his big sister gets one he can too :)

First I picked out my colours - pink, yellow and purple for Miss (her favourite colours) and orange, brown and blue for my little Mr. Then die cut the note bases and embossed them, all but the little flap. Next I picked out the images I wanted to use for each munchkin. Stamped these and then coloured them. Added a sentiment - some were handwritten some were a combination of stamped and handwritten, some just stamped. Punched out the image/sentiment and mounted on top of decorative mat. Then mounted that on the centre panel of the die cut. The flaps all fold together. I just tied a ribbon around each one as I knew Miss 7 would love that extra touch.

To be honest my aim was to keep these fun, colourful and simple - cause there is not a great chance that Miss 7's will a) make it home or b) make it home not smeared with vegemite!!

Thanks for visiting,

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Tiny Treats Valentine and Tiny Treats Birthday (PaperTrey Inc)

Cardstock: Retired SU! (Summer Sun, Only Orange, Pixie Pink, Lavender Lace, Ballet Blue, Creamy Caramel, Gable Green, Going Grey), Real Red, Chocolate Chip, X Press Blending cardstock

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories: Lunchbox note die (PTI), Limitless layers 1.75" circles (PTI), 1 3/4" circle punch, Perfect Polka Dots and Petals a Plenty embossing folders, Large dot embossing folder (Quickkutz), Stars embossing folder (Cuttlebug), Copic markers (a whole bunch sorry I didn't write them all down), assorted 1/8" ribbon (local craft shop), Dimensionals

Inspired by

Hi,
well its the last day of school holidays and I'm home with my two munchkins. I've been feeling ick with an undefined icky germ since Thursday but was definitely cheered by the opportunity to see what the first day of PaperTrey anniversary festivies would bring. But seriously thought I was feeling too icky to play along (even told a dear friend that!). I was wrong!! As soon as I saw Dawn McVey's post I had the urge and the idea and even ickiness was not going to stand in my way!! And the result - well here it is.

I stayed pretty true to Dawn's layout and used her background to inspire my own version. I went with a kind of blue/green version - one of things I really admire about Dawn is how she mixes and matches colours - I would never have thought hot pink and red would look so good together but she makes it look awesome every time! I pulled out a few things that I hadn't used - Bloom Builder 3 and the starburst flower stamps (Botanical Silhouettes) and some I use alot Woodgrain and Linen/Canvas Impression plate and Double ended banner dies. Finishing touches include Chamomile inking about all the edges, subtle glitter on the flower and a button - of course! In the end I was really happy with how the card turned out - its a bit vintage but a bit modern, its simple but not too simple - and its going to go a special friend  and that makes me happy too :)

Thanks for visiting,
Kim

Recipe:
Stamps: (PTI) Botanical Silhouettes, Mat Stack one collection
Cardstock: (SU!) Confetti White, Crumb Cake, Island Indigo, (PTI) Aqua Mist
Ink: (PTI) Aqua Mist, Chamomile Tea dye, (SU!) Chocolate Chip
Accessories: (PTI) Mat Stack Four die, Turning a new leaf die, Double ended banner die, Bloom Builder Three die, Woodgrain Impression plate, Linen/Canvas impression plate, Chocolate Button, Chocolate Baker's Twine, Atiyou Spica glitter pen, SU! Dimensionals

JAI 103 - Just a colour combo

Hello there :)
this week at Just Add Ink we have a colour combo challenge, with a very Valentine/ love feel to it. Here's the combo.

And here is the card I made for my Mum and Dad to celebrate their 55th wedding anniversary.

I had this idea in mind for my parents card for a while, and while December is not exactly tulip time I couldn't go past colouring up a beautiful bunch of red tulips. My Dad usually buys Mum a large bunch of flowers - often red roses so I figured this fit right in with the anniversary vibe.

The flowers were hopefully going to be the stars of the card so I kept the rest of the background fairly simple - some spotty DSP, white embossed dots, seam binding where the two join and then simple stitched frame detailing. I stamped the jar direct onto the large diecut, and then added the flowers and coloured them in. I also stamped the flowers a second time and then coloured the flowers. This second image was trimmed out and then mounted on top of the base image on dimensionals. The frilly jar embellishment diecut hides where the mounted coloured layer transitions to colouring on the base layer. The card was finished off with a little framed sentiment and just a touch of bling to carry through the red and white theme.

I can't deny that the colouring took quite a while but it is a very enjoyable thing to do (even when you do it three times over!!). But I was very happy with how the card turned out and of course more importantly so were my Mum and Dad!! Hope you find the time to add some red and white this week too :)

Thanks for visiting,

Kim

PS: I know I know red and white - but really could you have coloured the leaves any colour but green!!! It just wouldn't have looked right ;)

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Friendship Jar, Friendship Jar Spring Fillers (PaperTrey Inc)

Cardstock: Whisper White, Real Red

Accessories: Perfect Polka Dot embossing folder, Mega Mat Stack 3 die (PaperTrey Inc), Jar Toppers and Jar Label dies (PTI), Scallop border punch, Beautiful Blooms DSP (PTI), Cherry Cobler seam binding, Copics (R20, R22, R24, R27, YG93, YG95, YG97, BG0000), sewing machine, Red rhinestones (Kaiser), Double sided tape, SNAIL adhesive, Dimensionals.

JAI 102 - Just Add Kathy Tanner

Hello there,
well this week at Just Add Ink we have a chance for you to be really inspired! The challenge this week is to case one of the team - Kathy Tanner. She is one talented lady so I have no doubt you will enjoy finding something wonderful to CASE! I loved the card I choose to case at first site. Here's Kathy's card.

And here is my spin on it

I was still working in pink mode when I made this one - so its all Melon Mambo and Pretty in Pink on a Confetti White base. I got to try a couple of new things here - which is always fun - I inked up my embossing folder with Pretty in Pink and then embossed and I used the tulip frame embossing folder for the first time!! It took a little bit of jiggling and fiddling to get the "squares" (they turned out as rectangles in the end) the right size. Then more jiggling and fiddling to get the "squares" arranged in an order I thought looked good. I sponged around all the edges and also added some PIP accents to various swirly and butterfly bits. The front was finished off with some scalloped Mambo ribbon and a sentiment medallion. Got to say I love this elegant design and it was a real delight to CASE Kathy. So I hope you get the chance to as well!

Thanks for visiting,

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Creative Elements, All a Flutter, Clearly for You, Watercolor Trio (R), Bliss (R)

Cardstock: Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink, Confetti White

Ink: Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink

Accessories: Framed Tulips embossing folder, Final Press embossing folder,Lots of Tags sizzlet, Large oval punch, Scallop Dots ribbon Melon Mambo, Silver brads, Brayer, Blender pen, Double sided tape (X Press), SNAIL adhesive, Dimensionals

JAI 101 - just add a sketch

Hello there,

welcome back for a new Just Add Ink challenge. This week we have sketch challenge for you and here it is - a nice square one.

 I just happened to be browsing the local craft store and saw some scrapbook frames that were just perfect for making some wall art for my kids rooms and they were square - perfect. Here is what I made for my Miss.

A close up of the gold shimmer

And a close up of one of my favourite bits - I tried stamping on the frame and wrapping it around

I really started from scratch with this, as the frame was a raw pine one and I've got to say it was quite fun! So first I painted it with hot pink acrylic paint (which not surprisingly we had in the house) then once that layer had dried I coated it a couple of times with white acrylic paint. Then once that dried (being summer it didn't take all that long for each layer to dry) I sanded the frame, trying to get a gentle distressed look and also aiming to get some of the pink to show through. Once that was all done I stamped the swirl onto the frame, wrapping it around the sides. Then I sprayed the frame with gold shimmer - liberally ;) After that was all dry then sprayed the frame with sealer, and as the final touch added some rhinestones. Now for the inside. I knew I wanted a big butterfly to be centre element of the sketch and I wanted a substantial one. So I die cut a chipboard one and also one in DSP, glued them together and then embossed. I then sponged the edges of the butterfly with Pretty in Pink and just a touch of Melon Mambo to accent the edges. Made some antenna out of jewelery wire and added some buttons and then more gold shimmer for the butterfly! Underneath the butterfly I have a scalloped square of text DSP (the only bit my daughter did not like but I was equally adamant that it would stay). That was layered over more patterned DSP, I sponged the edges of both layers with PIP and MM again. Ok last thing was to add a sentiment - my little Miss and I both agreed that "follow your dreams" was a good one. Now I just need to make one for my little boyo - I thinking a space theme for his I think.

Right I was up wayyyyy too late last night so I need get to bed - and I have certainly babbled on enough ;0 so many thanks for visiting!! and if you can give the sketch a try. Oh and don't forget the JAI scrapbooking challenge that runs till the last Friday of the month.

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Elements of Style, Fillable Frames #3

Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo, Very Vanilla

Ink: Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo

Accessories: Beautiful Butterflies Bigz die, Scallop square duo Bigz die, Elegant Bouquet embossing folder, Flirtaceous DSP, First Edition DSP, Designer Label, Modern Label punches, 1" circle punch, Jewels - rhinestones, Gold smooch spray, chipboard, Razeberry Fizz vintage buttons (PaperTrey Inc), jewelery wire, Acrylic paint, Tombow multi, daubers, Dimensionals, Double sided tape.

A bit of holiday button fun

Well hello there,
most unusually there is a change in the programming this week ;) Why? Well as I'm slowly catching up on my blog browsing (I was so busy before Christmas my Google Reader was up to 700 - yikes!) I came across an idea and a challenge, Brandi Wiggins-Cote's January Squareheaded Pinterest challenge. The challenge was to make a button bracelet - I figured this would be something fun to do with my Miss almost 7 especially since we are on school holidays at the momment. The chance to sit down and tip buttons all over the table came up yesterday and the end result was alot of fun, a delighted daughter and a button bracelet for me and two for her! Here's the pic's.

I used an elastic thread for her bracelets, not that durable but makes it easy for her to get the bracelets on and off. For mine I used some PTI dark chocolate twine and PTI buttons. The glass beads, there are two on my bracelet were ones I had in my stash acquired at a craft fair a few years ago. High time I used them - eh!! The bracelets are pretty simple but considering it took all of about 10 minutes (or less) to make each one I reckon thats OK!

Right normal blog programming will now resume ;)

Thanks for visiting,

Kim