Friday, September 28, 2012

JAI 137 Just add a sketch

Hello there,
we had some fabulous and fun kids cards for the challenge last week at Just Add Ink. I think you're going to like what we have in store for you this week too, a wonderfully classic sketch. I was in full on Father's Day card making mode when this sketch came up so - yep you guessed it ;) today it's a Father's day card. The best thing was that my Dad was actually visiting when it was Father's Day which was really nice! Here's the sketch.

And here is what I came up with.

I literally pulled my Apothecary Accent die out of its delivery box to make this - sooo fun to play with new stuff! But it was worth waiting for as it was just perfect for this card and for that matter so was the "world's greatest" stamp. Ok granted I'm biased, but my Dad is the greatest - see perfect :) It's hard to go past a bit of rustic texture for masculine cards and that's definitely how this one came out. Texture from the lattice embossing mat, the woodgrain DSP, faux stitching (that was inspired by receiving a gorgeous card from a lovely friend - thanks Christine!!), vintage brads and a couple of banners to frame the "Dad" sentiments. In real life the inside did not have that dodgy grey spodging at the bottom I had to photoshop out what I wrote to my Dad and that was the best I could get :( Technology and I are still on a learning curve!
 
The DT have some wonderful inspiration for you so please go check them out and then go have fun with the sketch :)
 
Thanks for visiting,
Kim
 
Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: World's Greatest, Teeny Tiny Sentiments, Calender Alphabet and Numbers (R), Father's Day stamp from local craft shop
Cardstock: Garden Green, Early Expresso, Very Vanilla
Ink: Early Expresso, Garden Green
Accessories: Apothecary Accents Framelits, DSP (R), Labels 4 nestability (Spellbinder), Double ended banner die (PaperTrey Ink), Square lattice embossing folder, Colour spritzer tool, Vintage brads, Mat pack and piercing tool, Dimensionals, SNAIL adhesive, Double sided tape (X Press)



Friday, September 21, 2012

JAI 136 Just add children's/kids cards

Hello there,
oh my we have a fun challenge for you at Just Add Ink this week. It's to add children's/ kids cards. My gorgeous little niece turned 2 a month ago and I knew I had to make something special for her to go with the lego zoo set I had bought.



I first saw a lion made with the Blossom punch at the AUS/ NZ SU! convention this year - I think it was Kim Gavarra's presentation. Seriously just the cutest. My lion is a amalgam of Kim's and a few others I found while web browsing. I wanted my lion to be warm goldy shades which is how I settled on So Saffron/ More Mustard. The colour coach suggested mixing that with Rose Red which gave me a "pinky" shade that wasn't too pink and works remarkably well with the golden shades. Assorted blues and some green were also tossed into the mix and rather amazingly it all looks good together! The recipe details all the punches I used (lots). Sponging, delicate embossing, stitching, and ribbon all add lots of texture and interest - just perfect for a 2 year old. I loved how this one turned out and am kind of pleased that it's staying in the family too :)
 
Thanks for visiting and hope you have some fun with this challenge too!
Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Party this Way (R), Fox and Friends (R), Happiest Birthday Wishes
Cardstock: Rose Red, So Saffron, More Mustard, Confetti White (R), Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Marina Mist
Ink:  Rose Red, So Saffron, More Mustard, Marina Mist
Accessories: Raspberry Tart DSP (R), Pear Pizzazz pleated satin ribbon (R), Punches (Large oval, Scallop oval, Modern label, Owl builder, Stocking (R), Blossom, 1 3/4", 1 3/8" 3/4" circles, Boho Blossoms, Bird builder), Linen/Canvas impression plate (PTI), Cloud 1 & 2 die (PTI),Buttoned Up 2 die (PTI), Sunshine dienamic (My Favorite Things), Crystal effects, sewing machine, embroidery thread, SNAIL adhesive, Double sided tape (X Press), Dimensionals

Friday, September 14, 2012

JAI 135 Just add a colour combo

 
Hello there,
well spring has sprung, there are trees blooming in the garden - well they were but the gale force winds we had that preceeded the current spring weather did blow most of the flowers away :(. However the challenge we have for you at Just Add Ink this week might bring that spring feeling back. The challenge this week is to add a colour combo and here is what we have for you.

I had a birthday card to make for my Miss 7's best friend and I thought these colours were perfect. I also had some fun trying out a new fold for me. A variation on the z fold.  Here it is.



The z unfolded
 
And just because I was so chuffed with the way this turned out a pic of the "back side"
 I'd seen a z fold like this in my wonders on Pinterest. But when I tried a Google search I just couldn't find one the same - so I ended up working it out myself. When it comes down to it - not that hard - just score one long piece of cardstock twice and fold - doh ;) I decided to stick with A4 length, which is shorter that 12". So to get three equal panels I ended up three panels that were just a little narrower than the typical card front. First I cut the panel to standard card height, then I lined up on my cutter with one end right on the cutting track the other end at about 2" in - that cut resulted in the diagonal top. To finish that off I just used my scallop border punch to add the decorative top.
 
I wanted to have one side "inside" white and the "backside" red but didn't want to add bulk by adding another layer so I experimented with brayering the backside red. It worked!! I wanted to add some flowers to that side so after the brayering was dry I wheeled a flower pattern over the top. Love the way this turned out! The trickest thing about the brayering was trying to avoid getting red ink all over me and then smearing it on the front side!
 
The inside stamping is all pretty straightforward - stamp flowers, add a princess castle (of course!), flying a little birthday flag and a punched grass border. Some rhinestones add just that little touch of bling that any 7 year old is going to love.
 
I really enjoyed creating this one and think the birthday girl will like it too. Thanks for visiting and do join us and give this colour combo a whirl!
 
Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Betsy's Blooms (SU!), Little Princess, Flower Fusion 3, 9, 11, Heart-2-Heart 6  (Papertrey Inc)
Cardstock: Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, Old Olive
Ink: Real Red, Pink Pirouette, Old Olive
Accessories: Punches (Modern Label, Word window, Scallop border), Grass border punch (Martha Stewart), Little Princess die (PaperTrey Inc), Brights DSP,  Piercing tool and mat, Jewels- rhinestones, Dimensionals, Sponge, Double sided tape (X Press)

Friday, September 7, 2012

JAI 134 Just add polka dots


Hello there,
well finally we had some spring weather this week :) I almost went out without my jacket - how radical - lol! My card today has a very springy feel too - and that was all due to this week's Just add Ink challenge - lots of possibilities in this one - its Just add Polka Dots.

I had a birthday card to make and I wanted to play with the idea of a jar and flowers and this is the result.


Knowing the birthday girl has a preference for red I went red with a liberal dose of white to balance it out. First I die cut and stamped my jar, then I worked out where I wanted the greenery to go, so I could stamped the stems so they are in the jar. I also stamped three fronds and then trimmed them out. My little sneaky tip was once I positioned the greenery overlays is that I drew in the thread lines of the jar using a fine multiliner so the stems appear to be in the jar. The decorated collar for the jar hides the ends of greenery overlays and the little sentiment labels hides with very ends of the stamped stems. (Below the collar you only see stamped stem.) The flowers were stamped onto red polka dot paper and trimmed out. I added a little shading detail by using a red copic marker.  That was all the fussy stuff. Everything else is pretty straightforward. A striped embossed panel at the top and some DSP at the bottom. The join is covered by some scalloped border trim, and ribbon. The inside was finished off to match. I had a play around inside with adding just a touch of striped embossing at the bottom, its quite easy with a folder like this to let it kind of fade out - a fun effect to play with.

There are so many ways to add polka dots and I must admit I had fun finding a few to use here. Hope you get the chance to join us! Thanks for visiting.

Kim 

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Fabulous Florets (SU!), Friendship Jar (PaperTrey Inc)
Cardstock: Whisper White, Real Red
Ink: Real Red, Basic Black, Old Olive
Accessories: Brights pattern stack, Edgelits Adorning Accents, Friendship Jar dies (PTI), Beautiful Blooms patterned paper, Mistletoe ribbon (R), Stripes embossing folder, 0.3mm Copic Multiliner, Dimensionals, Double sided tape (X Press)