Friday, November 30, 2012

JAI 146 Just add a colour combo

Hello there,
well I've been busy with prepping for my final class of the year this week but I did squeeze in the time to put together my offering for this weeks Just Add Ink challenge. We have a lovely soft colour combo for you this week, while I haven't used it for a Christmas card I reckon it would make a lovely vintage flavoured card. So here is the colour pick.


 I used the colours to finally (only took nearly 2 months!), play with a vintage flavoured set (Papaya Collage) that grabbed my attention when the SU! catalogue was released in September. I just love that ornate frame so it had to make an appearance ;)

I tried to add a fair bit of dimension to this one, which might make it a bit tricky to post, but I'll face that challenge when it comes ;) I wanted the frame raised up, so I stamped it twice, once on the base then on some scrap. The scrap one I embossed, and then trimmed out and mounted up on dimensionals above the original stamped one. The bird and a spray of Pool Party foliage are also up on dimensionals. A cluster of pink flowers finishes off the scene. I used a litte banner to add the sentiment up the top. To add a little extra texture I also used the spritzer tool on the base and added some border detail taken from the Framed Tulip embossing folder.

Don't forget to check out the inspiration from the rest of the DT. Hope you get the chance to join us.

Thanks for visiting,
Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Papaya Collage
Cardstock: Confetti White (R), Chocolate Chip
Ink: Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, Pool Party, Pretty in Pink
Accessories: Framed Tulips embossing folder, Subtles Pattern stack, Chocolate embossing powder (Zing), Itty Bitty shapes punch, 3/4" circle punch, spritzer tool, Jewels - pearls, Doubled sided tape (X Press), Dimensionals, Tombow

Friday, November 23, 2012

JAI 145 Just add a sketch

 
 
Hello there,
welcome back for a new Just Add Ink challenge. This week we have a great sketch for you to try your hand at. I know I'm madly working on projects with a due date of Christmas or before so perhaps you can use this for one of your projects! Don't forget to check out the rest of the DT too - they have some awesome ideas for the sketch to get you going :)
 
I wanted to create a light, bright and very girly birthday card for a dear friend from the JAI DT who has been having a rough time lately. I've often ooohhed and ahhed when another of the DT (Jodene) pulls out a lovely combo of green and pink so I thought I would give it a run.
 
 
This was a real mix of old and new. The DSP has to be some of the first I ever bought from SU! - its single sided!! But most of the rest I still class as brand new and I am in play mode. I stamped my medallions in versamark and embossed in white. Then using the matching framelits cut out the flower layers. To give the flower more dimensional I sponged over the edges with Regal Rose ink and carefully curled the petals a little. I also cut some leaves, trimmed from one of the larger floral framelit diecuts, and sponged their edges. I topped the flower with a vintage button threaded with twine. I finished off the twine ends with rhinestones, two stuck together with the end of the twine in between, putting to use a nifty idea Teresa Dabrowski presented at the last South Pacific convention. All the rest is straightforward stamping, stitching and a scatter of rhinestones.
 
Its always a bit of fun to put together something that is very girly girl :)
Thanks for visiting,
Kim
 
Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Everything Eleanor, Apothecary Art, Daydream Medallions
Cardstock:  Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Regal Rose, Whisper White
Ink: Regal Rose, Old Olive, Versamark
Accessories: Floral Frames Framelits, Finishing Touch Edgelits, Sarah DSP (R), Vintage faceted designer button, Pear Pizzazz pleated satin ribbon, White embossing powder, Lucky Limeade twine, Jewels - rhinestones, sewing machine, Double sided tape (X Press), SNAIL adhesive, sponge

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Stampin' Up! Heartfelt Event Sydney

Hello there,

well its taken me a while to get organised but I wanted to show you a couple of my highlights from the recent Stampin' Up! Heartfelt event that was in Sydney. I realised as I looked through my photos that they were all of the crafty stuff, which is obviously important - of course - lol! But sadly forgot to take any of the lovely friends I had the pleasure of spending the day with. Di Barnes, Sam Post and Kellie Jupe.  Spending the day immersed in crafty goodness with these special friends was really the icing on the cake. Thanks guys!

It's hard to know where to start, but since my day started with attending Sophie's (from SU!) presentation I'll start there. Sophie shared some inspiring decorative items including a fabulous flower wreath (my photo was blurry) but I do have one of her altered foam balls. I'll never look at foam shapes the same way again ;)
Don't the hints of sparkle look fabulous! I definitely picked up some new ideas from all the wow presenters. Now I just need the time - isn't that always the way ;)
 
I really enjoyed the booth presentations - the demos presenting did a fantastic job and showcased some great ideas. Here is one of my absolute favs from Teresa Dabrowski.
I had never even considered buying the Lattice Bigz die before and I think Teresa has single handedly convinced me I need this. This glimmer ornament took my breathe away!
Here's another favourite from the lovely Linda Higgins.
 
I loved all different elements of sparkle in this gorgeous Window Sheet card that Linda demoed.
 
Now last but not least a fabulous banner created by my lovely friend Di Barnes. Di helped out at the Big Shot table in Product Playground and had some items up to show what you can do with the Big Shot. She did a fantastic job, as did all the other ladies working in the product playground. Need I say that the Snow Flurry die is also on my wish list now ;)
 
Well I hope you enjoyed that pitstop tour of my Heartfelt event highlights. I really enjoyed the day. It was fun, flexible, inspiring and I won't hesitate to go again next year :)
 
Thanks for visiting,
Kim

Friday, November 16, 2012

JAI 144 Just add music


Hello there,
goodness I can't tell you how good it feels to sit down and write this post. We spent four days of this last week without phone and internet  - and while at times that was somewhat liberating it also felt like a decent into the dark ages! But I'm back in time to let you know about this week's Just Add Ink challenge. This week we want you to Just Add Music. Lots of scope and fun to be had with this one!

Now at this time of year I'm finding my thoughts turning more and more to Christmas, and an integral part of my memories of Christmas, particularly as a child, are of the music - the Christmas carols to be exact. So I just had to design a Christmas card that included music.



Heavens knows why but after years, and I do mean years, of avoiding Always Artichoke I was seized by the desire to use it, and its muted tones seemed to suit the vintagey feel I thought music would add. So that was what determined the colour choice. To generate that vintage feel I sponged all the edges and roughed the base mat up a bit. I added texture by embossing the tag that was used to mat the ornament, rubbing some white craft ink over it to bring out the pattern. Then finished off the card with a few focal layers and some little snippets of seam binding and lace.  The inside was finished off to match. So, pretty simple but fun to make - and you will definitely get inky :) Do go check out the rest of the DT for some fabulous ideas on how you can add music this week!

Thanks for visiting,
Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Ornament Keepsakes, More Merry Messages, Music Notes
Cardstock: Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake
Ink: Always Artichoke, Crumb Cake, Bashful Blue, Whisper White craft
Accessories: Two Tag BigZ, Lacy Brocade embossing folder, Holiday Ornaments Framelits, 1" circle punch, Double ended banner die (Papertrey Ink),  Jewels - pearls, Sponge, Double sided tape (X Press), Dimensionals



Friday, November 9, 2012

JAI 143 Just add a colour combo


Hello there,
well its the end of another busy week, which is good, as that means I'm on my way to the Stampin Up! regional Heartfelt event in Sydney - yippee! But before I head off for my little mini weekend away I wanted to let you know about this weeks Just Add Ink challenge. This week we have a colour challenge for you. Here are the colours.

The first thing these colours said to me was man card, although you most certainly can make a gorgeous girl card with them. Just check out the rest of the DT to see some awesome examples!




I started by picking out some of the bolder balloon patterns and stamping my balloons. Then I worked out where they were going to go and punched out my clouds (using circle punches - a nifty idea I picked up from Pinterest) from the overlay so you can see the embossed clouds below. Having cut a Marina panel originally as the overlay I changed my mind as I decided it was a bit bland and instead used Marina Mist ink and my brayer to create a graduation of colour. I finally worked out how to using my brayer and get that gradual change of colour with no streaks - delighted about that and with the end result. Given its a guy card I kept the embellishments simple - just a tiny bit of scalloped trim and linen thread to accent the sentiment (a last minute assembly addition!). This one goes into storage for my FIL birthday next year - wish I could say I was that prepared for some of my closer deadlines!!

Thanks for visiting,
Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Up, Up and Away
Cardstock: Sahara Sand, Early Expresso, Whisper White, Marina Mist
Ink: Marina Mist, Early Expresso, Tangerine Tango
Accessories: Punches (1 1/4", 1" and 3/4" circles; dotted scallop ribbon border), Square Lattice embossing folder, Linen thread, Brayer, Dimensionals, Double sided tape (X Press)

Friday, November 2, 2012

JAI 142 Just add a sketch

 Hello there :)
anyone notice the weather getting warmer (or colder - depending on where you are of course)? Our garden was looking a bit like a lush jungle before DH spent the weekend doing some taming. I must admit I didn't help I was too busy doing some scrapbooking - yippee! But I did admire the result! Now did you have fun with that lovely colour combo last week? Well this week at Just Add Ink we have a sketch for you. Here it is.
 I needed to make a rather overdue baby card and as it happened I also hadn't inked up a new stamp which was just perfect for the job.


Hmm do you think it might be for a girl ;) 
I decided to go the classic soft pink and brown path and of course you can't go wrong with polka dots! As the background was busy I went simple with my ark image and embossed it. I added little embellishing bits and pieces - like the glossed and glittered heart and baby tag and that was it. This one is winging its way to the UK.

You'll be sure to find some awesome sketch inspiration checking out the rest of the Just Add Ink DT so don't forget to drop past their blogs! Thanks for visiting.
Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Two by Two, Tiny Tags (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Ink: Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip, Versamark
Accessories: Chocolate embossing powder (Zing), Happy Spots patterned paper (PTI), Pink Pirouette 1 1/4" grosgrain ribbon (R), Early Expresso twine, Cupcake builder, Owl builder, Small Heart, Scalloped border (punches), Double ended banner die (PTI), Pinking shears, SNAIL adhesive, Dimensionals, Double sided tape