Kim's Stamping Spot

JAI 104 - Just add Back to School

2012-02-10T00:01:00.091+11:00

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

2012-02-06T17:00:00.000+11:00

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

2012-02-03T00:01:00.013+11:00

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

2012-01-27T00:01:00.076+11:00

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

2012-01-20T00:01:00.127+11:00

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

2012-01-16T22:15:00.000+11:00

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

JAI 100 Just add crowns blog hop

2012-01-13T00:02:00.094+11:00

Well hello there and happy 2012!

After a short intermission for Christmas and New Year I’m back with a bang ;) The Just Add Ink team have decided to start the year off by celebrating our 100^th challenge with a Blog Hop. The theme of the blog hop is to Just Add Crowns (think royalty related theme). You may have just come from Kathy Tanner’s blog, if not make sure you go and check out her very cute princess! You can start the blog hop here, with any of the DT members or at the JAI blog. Because this is a special occasion we are also offering prizes!! – one for commenting on all the DT blogs and one for the winner of the challenge.

When the theme was set for this blog hop one idea immediately popped into my mind, something special I had been saving up to try for my gorgeous girl and seeing as her birthday is coming up it was the perfect time. Now kings and queens (who of course wear crowns, have to keep their crowns somewhere safe don't they ;) - and of course that would be a castle!! I first saw a castle card on Liam Pulcher's blog here and followed her link back to Deneen's tutorial here. I printed Deneen's templates two to a page, so approximately half size. I wanted my finished card to be as close to a standard A5 size, so once I cut out the template pieces I just widen them to 4” for each panel that way I could cut all three panels from one 12x12 piece, and just score the folds.

The glittery 7 surprise

The front and back unfolded

Close ups

Since this is my special little girls birthday card I went with a colour combo that would appeal to her tastes – well the pink (Regal Rose) and yellow (Daffodil Delight) do - although she is bit iffy on the Expresso! So starting with a Regal Rose base, I covered the front and back inside panel with DSP (Sweet Stitches), I also prepared a layer of impressed Expresso for the back panel that the front door opens on to. I sandwiched a bit of decorative scalloped trim in between some of these layers. Finally I added one more panel of Expresso for the turret roof. This probably sounds confusing so please do look at the photos. Then I added lots and lots of bling, and garlands of little flowers, with more bling!! Some vines and more flowers finish off the front, and yes those woodgrain doors do open to a little extra glittery surprise! The final touch for the top is a flag to fly from the turret – with a crown (of course ;) and more bling. I kept the layers on the inside pretty flat, a panel to write our birthday message and a large decorative embossed Happy Birthday (yes I’m still loving my coloured embossing powders J). The card opens with a kind of zig zag motion. I can tell you my kids were both entranced and my Mr almost 4 is lobbying hard to get a castle card for his birthday too!

Now don’t forget to keep going through the blog hop and join in the challenge. Next stop is Mae Collins, just click on the blog hop button below to get to Mae’s blog. All the DT blog links are on the JAI blog if there are any hiccups too.

Thanks for visiting and enjoy this right royal occaision J
Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless other wise noted

Stamps: Perfectly Penned, Create a Cupcake,Tiny Tags
Cardstock: Regal Rose, Daffodil Delight, Early Expresso, Whisper White
Ink: Regal Rose, Daffodil Delight, Versamark
Accessories: Sweet Stitches DSP (R), Swirls scribbles sizzlet, Timeless Type alphabet sizzlet, Itty Bitty shapes punch pack, Woodgrain and Linen/Canvas Impression plates (PaperTrey Ink), Double ended banner dies (PTI), Mat Stack 1 and Mat Stack layerz dies (PTI), Corner rounder punch, Dotted Scallop ribbon border punch, Jewels – rhinestones, coloured rhinestones (Kaiser), Pretty in Pink brads, Butter embossing powder (Zing), Fine supernova glitter, Big Shot adhesive sheets, Double sided tape (X Press), SNAIL adhesive, Glue dots

JAI 99 - just add wrapping/ pretty packaging

2011-12-23T00:01:00.090+11:00

Hello,
well it's almost Christmas - yippee! The run up has been pretty crazy, but every...thing...is...done...now! even the presents wrapped - hurray. So it's time to sit back and relax (well as much as that is possible with four kids under 6 around - no not all mine!!), catch up on some blog browsing, read a book and perhaps have the odd glass of champagne too :) The challenge this week at Just Add Ink is perfectly suited to the Christmas season - it's just add wrapping/pretty packaging.

I wanted to make my SIL some lavender filled felt strawberries ( I made some of these earlier this year - see this post for the details of the making). The only thing I've improved was to add a little button to hide where the ribbon hanger is stitched on. I figured these juicy berries required some special packaging to showcase them. So I dug out my Petal Cone die and cut two acetate die cuts. I converted the cone die cuts to a box shape by trimming the bottom inch off each then scoring and folding the next inch under to form the bottom of the box. I used sticky strip to hold it all together and then added DSP (on the outside) and cardstock (on the inside) on two sides of the box to hide where the box was adhered together. I decorated all the flaps with scalloped cardstock and DSP, but reversed the orientation on the opposite flaps (hope that makes sense - just look at the pics to see what I mean). I shredded some white tissue paper to act as a bed for the strawberries, tucked them and then in the flaps folded up I punched holes and threaded through some taffeta ribbon, tying it in a bow to secure it all. Lastly I added a Christmas tag with some linen thread.

Hope you are all on the home stretch with the Christmas preparations - and then enjoy a Christmas filled with peace, love and joy!!

Thanks for visiting,

Kim

Box

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Holiday Lights (PaperTrey Inc)

Cardstock: Old Olive, Real Red

Ink: Real Red

Accessories: Petal Cone BigZL die, Bella Rose DSP (R), Beautiful Blooms DSP (PaperTrey Inc), 1/8" Old Olive taffeta ribbon, Linen Thread, 2" scalloped circle punch, 1 3/4" circle punch, Jewels - rhinestones, Sticky Strip, Scor Tape

Strawberries

Red and green wool felt, White embroidery thread, 1/8" Old Olive taffeta ribbon, shell button

Inkspirations 100 - Inspired By

2011-12-20T22:15:00.001+11:00

Hello there,
well an extra post in a week has been a rarity for me in the last six months or more, just to busy balancing family, work etc. But when I saw Makeesha Byl's post that the Inkspiration challenges were shutting up shop and were going out with one last challenge - well I just had to join in. The Inkspiration challenges were the first challenges that I participated in and I had the great delight of being a guest designer a couple of times. The design team have never failed to produce innovative and just plain gorgeous work! The challenge was to show your Christmas projects - what ever you've been making for the Christmas season - decorations or gifts. I decided use the card and gifts I made for my Miss 6 teacher. Here they are.

I started with the card - and went just a little vintage using the super cute little Christmas girl from Greeting Card kids, colouring her in with copics. I added some gold highlights to the Christmas tree and dazzling diamonds to her hat. I especially liked the slightly distressed feel I got by embossing the DSP panel on the bottom! I had been planning to using the same DSP on the pencil box which my Miss 6 described as "awesome". I loved it too!! This is one of the inspired by elements - I purchased the template from Ilina Crouse's blog (one of the Inkspirations DT) . I pretty much followed Ilina's instructions as is, just changed up some of the colours and retro fitted some extra tabs to hold the bottom on. So anyway back to the DSP - I was going to use the same but Miss 6 said she wanted numbers and so I dug out some other DSP, colours all still matched so it all still works. As you can see the top of the "pencil" flips open. I stuffed it full of chocolates and then perched the brooch I made on the little shelf at the top. The brooch is my other inspired by element - I was lucky enough to get a gorgeous brooch by Michelle Martin at the SU! convention this year. So I decided to make one of my own. In a nutshell I just stamped some swirls on some DSP, punched out a flower shape, then 4 more flowers of cardstock. Use Tombow to adhere all these layers together, leave to dry. Then give the top a coating of crystal effects, pressing the ribbon threaded button into this and leave it all the dry and set. The next day turn over and coat back with crystal effect pressing the broach pin into it and leave to dry.

Miss 6's teacher was delighted, and I'm slowly nibbling my way through the chocolates that couldn't fit into the box - bonus ;)

Thanks for visiting - and a big thanks to the Inkspiration team - I will miss the challenges and the wonderful inspiration you all provided!

Kim

Card

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Greeting Card Kids, Holiday Button Bits (PaperTrey Inc)

Cardstock: Real Red, Baja Breeze, Whisper White, X Press copic blending card

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Medium Jewelery Tag punch, Lacey and classic circles nestability (Spellbinder), Baja Breeze seam binding, Copic markers, Gold leaf pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Ski Slope DSP (R), Linen Thread, Dimensionals, Two way glue pen, Double sided tape, SNAIL adhesive.

Pencil Box

Recipe: All SU! unless other wise noted

Stamps: Tart and Tangy (R)

Cardstock: Real Red, Basic Black, Sahara Sand, Whisper White

Ink: Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive

Accessories: Celebrations DSP (R), Sticky strip, Double sided tape, Tombow multi

Brooch

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Barque Motifs

Cardstock: Riding Hood Red

Ink: Black Stazon

Accessories: Love Letter DSP (R), Black button, 1/8" Real Red taffeta, Boho Blossom punch, Tombow multi, Crystal effects, sponge, brooch pin (craft store)

JAI 98 - Just add sparkle

2011-12-16T00:01:00.057+11:00

Well hello there :)
How is everyone tracking with their Christmas preparations? I'm finally making headway with mine but still have a stack of cards to write and post out. This week at Just Add Ink we have a very appropriate challenge for the Christmas season - its Just Add Sparkle. I had a special Christmas card in mind for this challenge...here it is.

This one came together pretty quickly once I had the colour combo, I wanted something a little vintage and soft to go with the gorgeous angel die that I planned to use. So first up a Pear Pizzazz base, then a Perfect Plum mat, then the vanilla top mat. I stamped a frame of greenery around the panel, adding Plum and Blushing Bride berries. Then I die cut and stamped my angel, and added a hanger for her. Finishing touches include the sparkle (of course ;) rhinestones "berries" and glass glitter on the wings, and a sentiment - a very appropriate one in my case as the card has already made its way to my parents :)

As usual at the momment I dead knackered so that is from me!! Have a good week and check out the rest of the amazing DT offerings - they are stunning!

Thanks for visiting,

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Tree Trimmings, Love Lives Here: Holiday (PaperTrey Inc)

Cardstock: Pear Pizzazz, Perfect Plum, Very Vanilla

Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Perfect Plum, Blushing Bride, Early Expresso

Accessories: Love Lives Here" Holiday dies (PaperTrey Inc), Corner Rounder punch, Silver glass glitter, Jewels - rhinestones, Tombow multi, Dimensionals, Double sided tape

JAI 97 - Just add inspiration

2011-12-09T00:01:00.082+11:00

Hello there!

well this week at Just Add Ink we have a very bright inspirational photo for you brought to you by the lovely Jo Eades. Jo's suggested colours to go with the photo are Poppy Parade, Lucky Limeade, Pool Party and Melon Mambo...want to see ;)

And this is what I made of it.

I have got to admit I did struggle with this one, in fact this card was sooo close to being binned! But a bit of last minute readjusting and I came out with something I half like. The colours suggested tropical flowers to me, with a dash of aqua to cool it all down. So starting point - lots of flowers in Melon Mambo, the layers were made by stamping and then stamping again to get the lighter shade. The red flowers were one layer of Real Red and one of Poppy Parade. The layered flowers were arranged on an oval base, and dressed up with some Limeade greenery. I kept the background neutral, but added some texture using embossing. I really like the distressed effect you get by running DSP through an embossing folder - nice :) Finishing touches - lots of rhinestones and some Pool Party ribbon.

Hopefully that gives you the general idea - I promised myself I would get to bed ~~early~~ earlier today so I need to get my weary body to bed otherwise my brain will be mush tomorrow!

Thanks for visiting,

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Array of Sunshine, Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Cardstock: Melon Mambo, Pool Party, Whisper White

Ink: Melon Mambo, Lucky Limeade, Real Red, Poppy Parade

Accessories: Rasberry Fizz DSP (R), Linen and Canvas Impression Plate (PaperTrey Inc), Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Ticket corner punch, Modern Label punch, Word window punch, Classic oval and scalloped oval nestabilities (Spellbinder), Pool Party ruffled ribbon, Dimensionals, Double sided tape, Jewels - rhinestones.

JAI 96 - Just add Tania Gould

2011-12-02T00:01:00.103+11:00

Hello there,
how is everyone going at this busy time of year? I still have a heap of half completed projects I ~~want~~ need to get done by Christmas, although I am making progress. But our December calender is filling up with work Christmas lunches (yes lunches ;), Christmas shopping - yikes!!, school end of year concerts and fetes etc etc. It's all fun and crazy at the same time - I am seriously hanging out for some time to chill at Christmas!

OK enough blather!! We have a great challenge for you this week at Just Add Ink - we want you to just add one of the team - Tania Gould. The idea is to go and have a look at some of Tania's work and pick something to CASE or be inspired by. It won't be hard trust me! I was stopped in my tracks by a gorgeous mini book Tania made recently, check out her post here. And here is a pic so you can see where I started from.

Now this is where I went with it.

One of the pages open

The back.

My version is going to be a mini photo album of some highlights of 2011, and will be going to one of the family grandmother's as a Christmas present. I started by cutting two thick chipboard Top note die cuts, then another two inserts in a thinner chipboard. Then I cut eight Top note die cuts from First Edition DSP. Then it was time to get sticky - I used Tombow to glue all the DSP Top notes to the chipboard Top notes then left them to dry for a day or two. Then I went around all the edges with some distress type ink. Now I wanted to use a silhouette image like Tania did in the bottom LHS corner - so I pulled out Upsy Daisy and then got to try something I have been wanting to do for ages, ever since seeing this post by Amanda Reddicliffe , way back in May. Yes I played with different coloured embossing powders (so pleased that SU! has introduced some coloured ones!). It was a bit hit and miss as I could hardly see the versamark image on the DSP but I took my best guess and sprinkled the coloured powder about. I LOVE how it turned out. And then I got to do it again, so I could have another embossed Upsy Daisy image on the back :) and of course every single one is unqiue. Anyway I just added some die cut numbers to the front and punched the holes for the album rings. Now I just need to add the photos, some journalling and a few extra embellishments - I'm thinking some stamped brightly coloured flowers - to finish up this Christmas present!

Thanks for visiting and do go and check Tania out!

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Upsy Daisy

Cardstock: Textured Early Expresso

Ink: Versamark

Accessories: Timeless Type alphabet sizzlet, Top note die, First Edition DSP, Melon Mambo and Tempting Turquoise embossing powder, Leaf, Butter and Apricot embossing powder (Zing), Chai ink (PaperTrey Inc), Cropodile, album ringlets (Kaiser), Tombow multi, adhesive sheet

JAI 95 - Bah Humbug

2011-11-25T00:01:00.031+11:00

Bah Humbug? Well not exactly - lol! But we do have a Christmas challenge with a twist for you this week at Just Add Ink. Our challenge this week is to make a Christmas card but NO Christmas images allowed, NO traditional Christmas paper allowed! We want you to stamp a Christmas greeting and have some fun with some non traditional stamps. So get your thinking caps on ;) and see what fun ideas you can come up with. I made a couple of "Bah Humbug" card versions as swaps for the Canberra regionals so I just stepped one up a bit as my offering this week. Here it is.

Just realised that I didn't get around to doing the inside for this one - oops! I'm somewhat distracted at the momment juggling lots of ready by Christmas crafting projects - not to mention the usual everyday business of work and family life. I've enjoyed using some different Christmas colour combos and this is another one I wanted to try - Old Olive, Perfect Plum and Riding Hood Red. My starting point was the idea of a button tree, so I cut myself a rough template, dottoed that down onto my white mat and started stamping buttons :) I used a Christmas sentiment stamped twice to create the trunk of the tree. To dress it up I added a few real buttons, some rhinestones and some star shaped brads, a Old Olive taffeta bow, and lastly to top the tree a glittery star (Boho flower punch). A scalloped border, with piercing detail down the right finishes it all off.

Do check out the other design team members they will all have some wonderful inspiration for you, and then perhaps you can have some fun and see what you come up with!

Thanks for visiting,

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Button button, Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Cardstock: Old Olive, Perfect Plum, Whisper White

Ink: Old Olive, Perfect Plum, Riding Hood Red

Accessories: Scallop border punch, 1/2" circle punch, Boho Blossom punch, Old Olive 1/8" taffeta ribbon, Jewels- rhinestones, Mat pack and piercing tool, Green glitter cardstock (Spotlight), Star Brads (The Paper Mill), Dimensionals, Double sided tape, Dotto, Sticky Strip, Tombow multi

JAI 94 - just add a sketch

2011-11-18T00:01:00.077+11:00

Hello there :)

well you can tell we are heading into the home stretch heading to Christmas (well it kind of feels that way as things get busier and busier), ah and may'be the predominance of Christmas cards and projects might be a clue too (smile). I have already made lots of Christmas cards this year (mostly finished) - but I just can't seem to stop making them!! So this weeks Just Add Ink sketch challenge - well you can probably guess...is...a...Christmas...card. Here's the sketch.

I did turn this sketch around in my head for a few days, and then at the last minute changed my mind, as you do sometimes. To change things up I went with an alternate red/green combo - Rose Red and Garden Green.

This a real mix of old and new (old favourite scallop die and new stamps). First up I cut a scalloped circle base for the card, added a Garden Green mat, then on the top Whisper White mat I started by stamping a garland of greenery. Embellishing it with some little Rose Red berries and some little sparkly rhinestones. Hanging from the garland are three little Christmas ornaments mounted up on dimensionals. The front was finished off with a sentiment and few extra little embellishing touches - piercing detail on all the scallops and dazzling diamonds on the tiny little heart on the middle ornament. The inside was finished off simply to match.

Thanks for visiting, perhaps you'll get the chance to give the sketch a go and make... a... Christmas... card... (smile).

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Love Lives Here: Holiday (PaperTrey Inc) , Think Big Favorites #8 (PTI)

Cardstock: Rose Red, Garden Green, Whisper White

Ink: Rose Red, Garden Green

Accessories: Scallop Circle BigZ die, Classic Circle nestabilities (Spellbinder), small Star punch (R), 1/2" circle punch, Jewels: Rhinestones, Two way glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Dimensionals, Double sided tape (X Press)

JAI 93 - just add a colour combo

2011-11-11T00:01:00.118+11:00

Hello there :)

welcome back for another Just Add Ink challenge. This week we have a colour combo (and yep umm I did come up with this one!). Here are the colours.

The first thing that popped into my head was gelato icecream. So what flavours? Well Mambo would have to be watermelon, the celery - perhaps pistacio or lime - but I must admit - Pool Party had me stumped - not to many foods appears on your plate blue!! Any suggestions? But in the end I went with flowers as I had a new (free!! ) flower set - Fabulous Florets (prize patrol at Regionals yah :) - just calling my name to play with it. So here is the outcome.

I coudn't resist rock and rolling again - it adds such a great random shading effect. So first up I inked up my solid flower in Pool Party and then rock and rolled in Melon Mambo - alot of times. Then I trimmed out a whole bunch of different layers for each flower (alot of times - lol - its a good idea to do this watching tv! but the end effect is worth it). I also stamped and trimmed out one foliage spray for layering as well. The layers were piled up on dimensionals, and once they were finally placed I also went around each petal with a glitter pen which if you catch the light the right way really adds a lovely sparkle. The rest of the card is pretty straightforward using a recent Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge sketch (#133) as its starting point. So Mambo base, then Pool Party mat, then DSP (old and new), I zigzagged around all that to add some subtlish detail (subtle cause the thread was white and mostly disappears). The flowers are framed with a Blossom Spellbinder diecut and the sentiment was added on a flag ended banner - Melon Mambo embossed (more new stuff to play with :) A few hot pink pearls finished off the front and the inside was finished off to match.

I certainly enjoyed playing with some new stamping stuff and this gelato rainbow of colours. Thanks for visiting and I hope you get the chance to play along this week :) and don't forget to check out the rest of the design team!

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Fabulous Florets, Curly Cute

Cardstock: Melon Mambo, Pool Party, Whisper White

Ink: Melon Mambo, Pool Party, Certainly Celery, Versamark

Accessories: Flirtaceous DSP, Fall Flowers DSP (R), Melon Mambo scalloped dotty grosgrain, Melon Mambo embossing powder, Blossom and circle nestabilities (Spellbinder), Doubled ended banner die (PaperTrey Inc), Pink pearls (Kaiser), Spica glitter pen, sewing machine, Double sided tape (X Press), Dimensionals

JAI 92 - Just add a tag or a bookmark

2011-11-04T00:01:00.074+11:00

Hello there,

well we have something fun for you this week at Just Add Ink. This week we want you to Just Add a Tag or a Bookmark - there are so many possibilities open with this challenge and we will certainly enjoying seeing what you make of it! I am travelling back in time for my "just add a" - to September and Father's Day. This is what I came up with...

Super simple inside - just a little picnic basket as that was what we were planning for Father's Day.

I started with the idea that I wanted to recreate the family on a tag and have the tag as the feature panel on a card. So with my handy Stamp ma jig I stamped out all the family (including our puss - he thinks he is the first child!) and then coloured us all up to match my colour palette (Pacific Point and Real Red - bright boy colours). (The tag I just created by cutting cardstock to the size I needed to fit us all in). I added some texture by embossing the top mat of the main card, and finishing touches include a nice big strip of ribbon to underlay the main panel and then another bit to be tied off as the tag flag. Of course being a boy card I had to add some hardware - so out came the large eyelet ;) Oh and as the final touch a little heart balloon that DH and I are holding to just add that little touch of love to father day.

Thanks for visiting, oh and don't forget to visit the rest of the DT for some awesome tag/ book mark ideas!

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: All in the Family, Family Favourites, Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Cardstock: Pacific Point, Whisper White, X Press blending white cardstock

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)

Accessories: Square Lattice embossing folder, Modern Label punch, Word window punch, 3/4" circle punch, small heart punch, Antique Pewter eyelet (R), Real Red striped grosgrain ribbon (R), White gel pen, Copic markers (B02, B05, B06, RV14, R24, R27, R29, E000, E01, E13, E19, E33, E35, E39, E71, E74, E77), Black embroidery thread, Double sided tape, SNAIL adhesive, Glue dots, Dimensionals

JAI 91 - just add a colour combo

2011-10-28T00:01:00.094+11:00

Hello there :)

welcome back for another Just Add Ink challenge. This week we have a colour combo with a twist - you get to pick part of the combo. Here's the combo to work with.(Blushing Bride, Cherry Cobler, Neutral of choice)

Blushing Bride and Cherry Cobler said flowers to me and since it gave me the chance to ink up my new Field Flowers set - one that was on my must have list - well flowers it was with a gentle vintage feel. Here's what came out of a very late Saturday night session of crafting.

First up I used a Sweet Sunday Sketch (#136) as my starting point, I will also confess to being slightly liberal with the conditions of the colour challenge as strictly speaking I used two neutrals - Very Vanilla and Chocolate Chip - but it was only a tiny smiggin of Chocolate. But it just wouldn't have worked without them both. So very quickly I started by inking up the flower overlay stamp in Blushing Bride and then rock and rolling in Cherry. I did that a little different for each flower. Then using the more solid flower stamped over that in Blushing Bride. The centres were all stamped with the overlay in Cherry and solid centre in Blushing Bride. I then trimmed all the flowers out and mounted them up on dimensionals above the stems stamped on First Edition DSP. To continue the text theme I also stamped a text background in stamped off Cherry onto Blushing Bride as the top mat for the main card panel. I gentley distressed the edges of the all the mats, and also sponged some Blushing Bride and Cherry Cobler as well. The front was finished off with some satin ribbon, and lace, as well as some Pewter hodgepode from my stash. Oh and just before I went to photograph the card I added some clear glaze dots onto the centre of the flowers to give a bit of shine and texture. As usual I followed through the theme to the inside.

Its been a while since I had a go at something a bit vintagey - I had fun :) and it was worth the late night. I would really like to try using Field Flowers with bright bold colours and in a more modern style however and see how that turns out - I'll let you know ;)

So what will you make of this weeks colour challenge?

Thanks for visiting,

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted.

Stamps: Field Flowers, French Foliage, Watercolor Trio (R), Background Basics Textstyle (PaperTrey Inc)

Cardstock: Cherry Cobler, Blushing Bride, Very Vanilla

Ink: Cherry Cobler, Blushing Bride, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: First Edition DSP, Chantilly crochet trim, Sakura glaze pen, "Cherry" stain ribbon (local craft shop), Pewter Hodgepodge (R), Double sided tape (X Press), Dimensionals

JAI 90 - just add a sketch

2011-10-21T00:01:00.073+11:00

Ooh its so hard to capture the sparkle in the project I have for you today!! But oh my it is so pretty and funnily enough adds some texture too as its embossed sparkle. Ok more on that later. First up let me introduce you to this weeks Just Add Ink challenge. This week we have a sketch for you. Here it is.

It occured to me I could replace the oval with another shape - and the shape of my choice - a Christmas tree. I've been wanting to make this felt Christmas tree card for nearly a year now - yah!

So my starting point was to cut a Christmas tree from felt and then arrange and stitch on some little buttons to be "ornaments". The colour palette was based off the DSP I used for the scalloped element. A bit non traditional but I liked it. I didn't want to pull too much attention away from the tree so I kept the background neutral, instead running an old SU Christmas wheel over with versamark and then embossing with glittered embossing powder. So not only does it seriously sparkle but you catch glimpses of Christmas sentiments as well. I finished the card off by adding a tree trunk, and a little taffeta bow with little sentiment tags.

I'm really pleased I finally got the chance to make my felt Christmas tree card!! Perhaps you might use this weeks sketch to get some project you've been wanting to do - done!

Thanks for visiting,

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Sentiments, All About Christmas (R), Tree Trimming Trio (PaperTrey Inc)

Cardstock: Old Olive, Whisper White

Ink: Versamark, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Christmas Tree die and large scalloped border die (PaperTrey Inc), Simply Chartreuse felt (Papertrey Inc), Sweet Blush, Spring Rain and Pure Poppy vintage buttons (PaperTrey Inc), Christmas Carnival DSP (Kaiser), Medium Jewelery Tag punch, Old Olive 1/8" taffeta ribbon, Irridescent Ice embossing powder, Sticky Strip, Dimensional, Double sided tape (X Press)

JAI 89- just add inspiration

2011-10-14T00:01:00.101+11:00

Well hello there,

I've been enjoying a few days holiday in Sydney squeezing in some shopping for me :) and beach visits to the kids delight. But even better was the chance to meet up a with a really lovely stamping friend Di Barnes. Hi Di :) As it happens the card I made for todays challenge is the one I gave to Di for her birthday. So what is the Just Add Ink challenge this week? Well cast your eyes down at the photo below as the this weeks challenge is an inspiration photo.

What a gorgeous scene! There are so many things to inspire in this photo! I decided I wanted to reflect the colours and how the tree seems to spread both up and down. So here is the end result.

As you can see I had a lot of fun using some still new crafting goodies. Usually I shie away from lots of white but it just seemed to work for this project. So I started by impressing a pattern on my front white panel. Then I stamped the large leafy flourish twice after working out where I wanted my central frame to go. Then embossed my black frame, trimmed it out, and then stamped my butterfly and sentiment. The butterflies were all inked up using markers and I used a blender pen to just blur the colours together a little. Another butterfly was mounted on top, embellished with a rhinestone and a few more rhinestones scattered about. That top white panel was mounted on dimensionals above the base card.

I was quite pleased how this one turned out - definitely more CAS than usual for me.

Thanks for visiting and do try and check out the other DT members as it will really inspire you!

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Creative Elements, Vintage Labels (R)

Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black

Ink: Stazon Black, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Tangerine Tango, Real Red, Basic Black

Accessories: Designer Frames embossing folder, Corner rounder punch, Linen/Canvas impression plate (PaperTrey Inc), Jewels - rhinestones, Dimensionals, Double sided tape

JAI 88 - just add a die cut

2011-10-07T00:01:00.073+11:00

Hello there,

well today Just Add Ink has a challenge for you that is dear to my heart. It is just add a die cut. I LOVE to die cut and emboss and rarely produce something that doesn't involve one or the other, or even better both!! My die collection is needless to say rather extensive :) So really adding a die cut wasn't much of a challenge for me, rather it was working with pinks perhaps?? that I struggled with this time - in fact this card was my second go at the challenge as something just nagged at me (couldn't figure out what!) with my first effort. This one got the thumbs up from my Miss 6 - no surprise when its a combination of pink, butterflies and lots of shimmer and bling (smile). Ok here it is.

I started with a big die, the Scallop square card base, and finished by embellishing with tiny little die cut butterflies! So a Pretty in Pink base, layered with a Shimmer white mat, an embossed Pretty in Pink top layer. I made sure to only embossed the upper and lower areas as I wanted to leave a clear area to stamp and emboss the sentiment. The embossed areas were also misted with Frost White shimmer mist. Lastly the front was finished off with a row of bejeweled Shimmer White butterflies and a white taffeta bow. On the inside I added another row of butterflies but this time in pinks.

So minimal stamping in this one, but lots and lots of shimmer, shine and bling - and some die cutting of course - lol!

Thanks for visiting, don't forget to go check out the other DT offerings they are just fabulous as usual!

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Curly Cute

Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White, Shimmer White (PaperTrey Inc)

Ink: Melon Mambo, Versamark

Accessories: Scallop Square BigZ die, Beautiful Wings embosslit, Final Press embossing folder, Clear embossing powder, White taffeta ribbon, Frost White shimmer paint, Isocol, Sticky strip, Jewels - rhinestones, Double sided tape

JAI 87 - just add a colour combo

2011-09-30T07:30:00.000+10:00

Hello there,

well I've been experimenting with a new card fold again this week (Ok actually several weeks ago - just as well considering the run of germs through the house recently). After having seen Patrice's (Patrice Easton) gorgeous telescoping circles card when Just Add Ink ran our fancy folds blog hop I was intrigued and it was at the top of my list to try so when the colour combo we have for the challenge this week came up well I decided to try colour and fold out together! Here's the colour combo.

(The colours are Pool Party, Calypso Coral, Crumb Cake and Whisper White) It might be hard to see what they are from the tiny colour swatch - need to talk to one of our JAI IT gurus about why thats happening! The lovely light colour scheme made me think of flowers and I couldn't resist pulling out my Eastern Blooms set, another advantage is that this set works well with markers which is all I have for the new in colours so far! So first up the unfolded card.

The fully unfolded version.

And now a close up of each layer.

I kept the design fairly simple, using the same elements on the first and third layers, but changing it up for the middle panel. Really it's all pretty straightforward inking and trimming out, and then all just finished off with paper pierced borders, and rhinestones. You can find a link to a tutorial for this type of card fold here.

Well I hope you find this colour combo as light and lucious (like a summer breeze) as I did :)

Thanks for visiting,

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Eastern Blooms (R), Well Scripted (R), It's Your Day, Iconic Images (PaperTrey Inc)

Cardstock: Pool Party, Calypso Coral, Whisper White, Crumb Cake

Ink: Pool Party, Calypso Coral, Crumb Cake

Accessories: Scalloped Circle BigZ die, Classic Circle nestabillites (Spellbinder), Swirls and Scribbles sizzlet, Punch Pack, Jewels - rhinestones, Crumb Cake taffeta ribbon (R), Silver brads, Mat pack and piercing tool, dimensionals, Double sided tape.

JAI 86 - just add a sketch

2011-09-23T00:01:00.031+10:00

Hi there,

well the house is still full of sickies here but luckily I made this card a few weeks ago as I just had to get some ink on my new Delicate Dollies set - one of the few items I preordered. Was I getting ink on it for a purpose - of course ;) It's for the sketch we have for you this week at Just Add Ink. Here's the sketch.

Sorry about the blurry sketch image but its either that or a tiny thumb nail :(

Ok first up a confession this is the first time I have used Concord Crush, but something about the arrival of Wisteria Wonder insisted that I pull it out. The thought occured to me that the Dollies could make nice flower heads, and if I flipped the sketch what was in my head could work, hopefully! I started by stamping text in Wisteria Wonder over the Crumb Cake base, then I rubbed some white ink over where I wanted my smaller flower (dollie) to go. Then I stamped the smallest Dollie in Concord Crush over the ink cloud. The larger Dollie I stamped in versamark on Crumb Cake and then white embossed, twice. I then sponged and rubbed Wisteria and Concord Crush ink over the white embossing. From the second flower I trimmed out the centre and mounted that on top of the first, adding a rhinestone to finish it. The big double scallopy border represents the vertical cross card element of the sketch, I also used it as a place to add the sentiment, and couldn't resist adding some (wobbly) zig zag stitching as a little balancing decorative element. The final touch was to add stitching to represent the stems of the flowers. (Ok I did do that before I dimensionaled on the sentiment strip). I really enjoyed my little experiment into playing with ink and layers on layers of ink and images. Something I will have to revisit.

Thanks for visiting :)

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Delicate Dollies, Background Basics: Text Style (PaperTrey Inc), Botanical Silhouettes (PTI)

Cardstock: Wisteria Wonder, Concord Crush, Whisper White, Crumb Cake

Ink: Wisteria Wonder, Concord Crush, Versamark, Fresh Snow (PaperTrey Inc)

Accessories: Medium scalloped border die (PaperTrey Inc), White embossing powder, Jewels - rhinestone, Sewing machine, Dimensionals, Double sided tape

JAI 85 - just add baby

2011-09-16T00:01:00.043+10:00

Hello there,

well as you may have guessed from the title of today's post this week at Just Add Ink its all about adding "baby". Now I actually gave you all a sneak peek of this card back in July, when JAI had our fancy fold blog hop. My card fold for the blog hop was a Trifold card and luckily enough I made two. Lucky cause things are real busy at home (sick cat, sick Mr 3, incipient sore throat - me :( and there's more but that will do so) at the momment anything that can save me time is just a life saver!! If you want to find my "tutorial" for the Trifold card click here to go back to my Fancy Fold blog post. So first up here is the card closed.

Card fully unfolded

Close up of the front

Close up of the inside

So very quickly I started with a Rose Red base, layered that with Regal Rose mats and then used Sweet Stitches DSP to top off all the panels. I also stamped the bear on the front on the DSP. Adding a couple of buttons and a felt flower to finish it all off. Other additional details include paper piercing lots of the borders another felt flower on the inside and some seam binding tied in a knot. It seemed a rather usual mix of colours and DSP for a baby card but I quite liked it how it turned out. Right I'm taking this sore throat off to bed now!

Thanks for visiting,
Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Well Scripted (R), Nursery Necessities (R), Baby Button Bits
Cardstock: Rose Red, Regal Rose, Very Vanilla
Ink: Rose Red, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Classic and scalloped oval nestabilities (Spellbinder), Sweet Stitches DSP, Mat pack and piercing tool, Harvest Gold felt and buttons (PaperTrey Inc), Vintage Cream felt (PTI), Hibiscus Burst button (PTI), Vanilla seam binding, Double sided tape, Tombow multi

JAI 84 - just add white and one other colour

2011-09-09T00:01:00.008+10:00

Hello there,
well today I have the first in a string of more CAS guy cards. I have a lot of family birthdays through Sept/Oct not to mention Father's Day last weekend, and that made this week's Just Add Ink challenge just perfect. This week we want you to add white and one other colour (your choice on which).

I was rather purist and literally used just one colour - Pacific Point. Here's the result.

I had to make a Father's day card for my FIL, and I used two things as a starting point, first he has a flying affinity and second a sweet tooth. So a balloon filled with something sweet (Malteasers - not rabbit poo - as suggested by my DH!! - that didn't stop him from finishing off the packet I might add) seemed perfect. The card is pretty straightforward - lattice embossing in the background, sponged clouds, as a background for the balloon. A pull door so you can get at the goodies without pulling the card apart.

Reportedly my FIL liked the card and enjoyed eating the Malteasers. I tried to fit 5 in the balloon but just couldn't find 5 small enough to do - so I had to settle with four. I will admit to eating some of the rejects as well - another benefit of making a sweet treat card - lol!

Thanks for visiting :)

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: A Little Treat, Something Sweet, Everyday Button Bits (PaperTrey Inc), Father's Day stamp (local craft shop)

Cardstock: Pacific Point, Whisper White

Ink: Pacific Point, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Sweet treat cups, 1 3/4" circle punch, Round Tab punch, Scallop circle punch, Lattice embossing folder, Double sided tape, Dimensionals

JAI 83 - just add a sketch

2011-09-02T00:01:00.003+10:00

Shhhhh,

this week's project is a secret....it's my DH's birthday card....but since I'm 99.999999% sure he does not look at my blog I figure it safe to share here. Just as well as its my DT offering for this week's Just Add Ink challenge - lol! DH likes to get cards that do something, and I was keen to try a Marquee card that one of my talented Just Add Ink team mates (Jodene Tripp) showcased for our fancy fold blog hop back at the beginning of July. You can find the tutorial for it by Jan Tink here.

The sketch we have for you this week was just perfect for what I had in mind. So idea inspired the sketch and sketch inspired the card! What sketch you ask - well here it is (possibly a bit blurry not sure why but you can still see the elements).

And here's DH's birthday card, closed, with belly band on.

Belly band off and starting to open

Fully open to reveal the hidden sentiment

I pulled out some DSP that I thought would work with my rocketship/stars theme, and that helped me settle on a Naturals Ivory, Basic Grey and Real Red colour combo, with little accents of Crumb Cake. I stamped the front of the card with assorted stars. Then used copics to colour up my rocketship. I really wanted to have the sentiment frame on the top layer cut back further than the 1 3/4" circle on the inside, so after having nearly everything done, I got out a framing die, took a deep breath, lined it up carefully - and yeh!! it turned out perfect - phewww! There were a few readjustments with this card, as I had to adapt as I went from the US dimensions to Aussie ones. The end result had the kids fascinated though so hopefully DH will enjoy it as well.

It's a great sketch so why don't you give it a go! Thanks for visiting.

Kim

Recipe:All SU! unless otherwise stated

Stamps: In the Stars (R), Party This Way, Boy Basics: Out of this world (PaperTrey Inc)

Cardstock: Naturals Ivory, Real Red

Ink: Real Red, Basic Grey, Crumb Cake

Accessories: Modern Label punch, Word Window punch, 1 3/4" circle punch, 1 3/4" Limitless layers dies (PaperTrey Inc), Urban Oasis DSP (R), Copics (C1, C3, C7, R24, R27, R29, YR04, Y08, Y17), Real Red 1 1/4" striped grosgrain ribbon, Star brad, Crystal Effects, Sticky strip, Dimensionals

JAI 82 - just add something you've had in your stash for ages and not used

2011-08-26T00:01:00.120+10:00

Hello there :)
we have a great challenge for you this week at Just Add Ink - it's time to dig through the back of your cupboard and bring something unused and unloved out into the light :) Yes this week the challenge is to use something from your stash thats been there a while and not used (now none of us do that do we!! cough cough). For me it was the ~~prod~~ excuse I needed to make a shadow box picture I had promised to make for my lovely Miss 6 nearly a year ago (when I made a picture for my Mr 2 as he was at the time. This is what I made for him). So what did I pull out from my stash - well first up the shadow box frame (shiny gold of course - very important according to Miss 6) now thats been there for nearly a year. But my real reclaimation item was some paper flowers. I had a pack in a bright pink - which turned out to be perfect match to Melon Mambo and a pack of undyed ones. How long have they been in the stash? - so long I can't remember !! So I tried my hand at colouring paper flowers for the first time - it was so easy! Hah how long did it take me to work that out!! Ok on to the end result. I will post a warning though - expect princesses and castles and flowers and glitter (smile).

And a close up of some of the details.

I wanted to use the layers in the shadow box as well as graduated colours to create a sense of depth. After looking at the distant hills as I drove to work for several mornings in a row it seemed to me that often things get lighter in the distance. So for my trees the foliage of my front tree is Old Olive, then Wild Wasabi and the furthest away is Certainly Celery. Likewise with my two grass borders, the front one is Garden Green and then next one in Old Olive and the hill behind is some Kiwi Kiss I dug out from my retired stash. I used copics to colour in the princess, pony and castle. The castle was my first go at colouring on Crumb Cake which worked OK, but you certainly can't blend on it like you can on X-Press cardstock. I paper pieced all the windows and turrets so I could get brighter colours on those. I just had to add some stitching and had the idea of using the stitching to accentuate the rays from the sun I was really pleased with how that turned out. Funnily enough I had intended to use the other side of the backing DSP (it has a cloud pattern on it) but on packing it up (otherwise known as chucking everything back in the frame one day I had the gingham side turned up and both Miss 6 and I looked at it and went - hmmm like that! So the gingham stayed. Finishing touches include bling of course!!! rhinestones and dazzling diamonds, flowers and flower path for the pony, and a sentiment.

I had fun making this and am really pleased I have managed to fulfill my promise to my beautiful Miss 6. When she smiles the whole world is filled with sunshine and this did bring a smile to her face (and mine).

Thanks for visiting and don't forget to check out the other fabulous DT offerings!

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Pony Party, Through the trees (PaperTrey Inc), Magical Castle (Hero Arts)
Cardstock: Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Daffodil Delight, Bashful Blue, Old Olive, Garden Green, Kiwi Kiss (R), X Press blending card
Ink: Certainly Celery, Wild Wasabi, Old Olive, Melon Mambo, Regal Rose, Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Lots of Tags sizzlet, 1 3/4" circle punch, Grass border punch (Martha Stewart), Copics, Punch Pack, Sweet Slumber DSP (R), Cloud dies (PaperTrey Inc), Paper flowers pink and plain (??), Jewels - rhinestones, Brayer, Dazzling Diamonds, Two way glue pen, Dimensionals

JAI 81 - just add a colour combo

2011-08-19T00:01:00.002+10:00

Apologies but about to fall off the couch here - sooo tired. I'm hoping to crawl into bed soon and fall asleep listening to the rain - that is always so soothing :) However hopefully the great challenge we have in store for you this week at Just Add Ink will keep you (and me) awake. This week its a colour challenge.

Ok I have to confess - in the year since we've had the 2010-2012 in colours I have never ever!! used Peach Parfait - so this challenge was definitely a challenge. But once I pulled out a bit of cardstock in each of the colours I realised what a sweet colour combo this was - actually quite feminine and soft - so that where my card came from. Here it is.

Got to use some fun dies for this one and an SU! stamp set that I don't think you can mess up with. That's got to be a winner. I kind of wanted a vintagey soft result so I used lots of little text in the background (Peach Parfait), over stamped with flowers (stamped off Cajun Craze) and sponged lots of edges. Then dressed up with a large focal piece - stamped (inked up image with markers) and trimmed out flowers, with a punch of Bashful Blue to brighten it all up, finished off with stitching, tiny highlights of glitter and some decorative bling. I did kind of cut loose with the sewing machine for this one but I love how it turned out - even the wonky bits - cause that's kind of what its about ;) I hope the rest is self explanatory but if you have any questions just ask.

Thanks for visiting and do check out what the rest of the DT have come up with this week. Ok off to bed now - I think I can still hear that rain....

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Watercolor Trio (SU!), Background Basics: Text Style (PaperTrey Inc)

Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Very Vanilla, Peach Parfait

Ink: Bashful Blue, Cajun Craze, Peach Parfait

Accessories: Edgers 3 die and Mat Stack 5 die (PaperTrey Inc), Washington Apple DSP (R), Filigree brads, Very Vanilla satin ribbon, Ice circle rhinestone brads, sewing machine, sponge dauber, Two way glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Dimensionals, Double sided tape.

JAI 80 - just add a sketch

2011-08-12T00:01:00.005+10:00

Hello there,

welcome back, again ;) this week for a new Just Add Ink challenge. This week we have a sketch for you, it puzzled me a bit at first, but I solved that by flipping it. If you're stumped I suggest going and checking out the rest of the DT samples - they are fabulous!! Here's the sketch.

And here is what I made of it.

I made this card with a special friend in mind and that dictated my colour selection somewhat but I must say the combo of Not Quite Navy, Very Vanilla and Rose Red appeals to me too!! Convention goers might recognise the main inspiration for this card - the coloured in flourish (from a new stamp set coming soon). A sample card was up on the boards with the flourish delicately coloured in and I loved it!! Basically I paired up the flourish with a large decoratively stamped die cut label mounted up on dimensionals. I coloured the flourish using ink pad lid and blender pen. The final elements were some linen threaded buttons for the sentiment label, and a sprinkling of little Rose Red flowers, edges daubed with shimmer paint then finished off with pearls. Oh and I added tiny dots of shimmer paint to the little circles in the flourish using a toothpick - hard to see this in the photos though :(

Thanks for visiting, have a good week and perhaps a play with the sketch!

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Creative Elements, Mat Stack One (PaperTrey Inc)

Cardstock: Not Quite Navy, Very Vanilla, Rose Red

Ink: Not Quite Navy, Rose Red

Accessories: Mat Stack One die (PaperTrey Inc), Itty Bitty punch shape pack, Platinum Shimmer Paint, Sponge Dauber, Blueberry Sky Vintage buttons (PaperTrey Inc), Distressing tool, Jewels - Pearls, Bella Blue DSP (R), Blender Pen, Double sided tape, Dimensionals, Glue dots, Linen Thread.

Inkspiration 81 - a baby girl owl birthday

2011-08-09T21:56:00.000+10:00

Oh my - its been a lonnnng time since I've had time to play along with an Inkspiration challenge - and I do miss that! But I've had this week's sketch on my mind and I had a birthday card to make for my gorgeous little niece who turns one soon. Now I have been trying to make this card off and on for a week but it just wasn't working!! But this afternoon inspiration struck - you see I am actually making her a felt owl teddy in gray and pink for her birthday and it occured to me why don't I make a card to match. Rather amazingly this card I think only took me one hour to put together (with an interval for a school pick up in between). So first up here's the sketch.

And here is what I made of it.

I have a decided fondness for scalloped circle easel cards and I thought it added that something extra to make this significant birthday special. So very briefly I started with a Basic Gray base, then added a Pretty in Pink mat, then a Pink Pirouette top mat. This was stamped with the Woodgrain in Pretty in Pink. I punched out my owl and stuck her together, added some sparkle to her bow and crystal effects to the little heart. She is perched on some greenery and a strip of Bashful Blue grosgrain. The final touches are a little blue cloud and some tiny blinged flowers. The sentiment inside acts as the stopper for the easel card. It will be a perfect match to her owl (well once I finish making her owl that is) and that makes me happy :)

Thanks for visiting,
Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Woodgrain, Well Scripted (R)
Cardstock: Basic Grey, Pretty in Pink, Pink Pirouette, Regal Rose, Bashful Blue
Ink: Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink
Accessories: Two step owl punch, Two step bird punch, Wide Oval punch, Lots of Tags sizzlet, Cloud die (PaperTrey Inc), Sweet Always DSP (R), Stitched Bashful Blue grosgrain ribbon (R), Itty Bitty punch shapes pack, Jewels - rhinestone, Spica glitter pen, Crystal effects, Double sided tape, Tombow multi, SNAIL adhesive, Dimensionals.

JAI 79 - just add distressing, ripping, tearing

2011-08-05T00:01:00.068+10:00

Hello there,

well I am seriously tuckered out tonight as I write this so I will try and keep it short and sweet this week - always a challenge for me ;). However we do have a very fun challenge for you this week at Just Add Ink - we want you to just add distressing, ripping, tearing.

The first thing I thought of was an awesome convention Wow presentation by one of my lovely convention roomies the talented Sharnee Torrents. She showed us how to make a torn paper frame. You can find a tutorial by Sharnee here. I matched up my frame with lots of grunge! Here's the result.

The inside

I started by stamping my top Mustard layer, and then taking a deep breath and scrunching it all up!!! Then I rubbed the ink pad over the creases to accentuate them. I adhered a partial Not Quite Navy panel under Mustard layer and then cut a hole in roughly the right place. Then I carefully tore the double layers of frame back to create the right sized frame for my guitar guy (stamped in Cajun Craze). All of that is matted onto a distressed Cajun Craze layer then the Not Quite Navy base. I finished it by adding very distressed sentiment. The inside was finished off to match.

Once I got over the heart attack inducing step of scrunching up stuff I had just carefully stamped I was really pleased with how this turned out. I will be trying do more distressing and torn paper frames in the future I think!! Thanks for visiting and if you can why don't you have a go.

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Extreme Elements, Extreme Guitar, A Little Birthday Cheer (R)

Cardstock: Not Quite Navy, Cajun Craze, More Mustard, Very Vanilla

Ink: Not Quite Navy, Cajun Craze, More Mustard

Accessories: Small star punch (R), Pewter Jumbo Eyelets, Pewter brad, Distressing tool, Double sided tape (X Press)

JAI 78 - Just add a colour combo

2011-07-29T00:01:00.085+10:00

Hello there,

despite being in the depths of winter, with a -5oC night expected I felt like we had a touch of spring around today - firstly the sun was shining (mostly) and even more springy was that I noticed the first daffodil bud in the garden - its probably still a couple of weeks off blooming but its a nice sign of times to come! (also coming with Spring is our new SU! catalogue - also something to look forward to eh!!). My card today has a touch of autumn/winter to it inspired by the lovely colour combo challenge we have for you at Just Add Ink this week. Here it is.

I thought these colours would be perfect for a card for my Dad, and with Father's Day coming up down here in AUS in September I decided to try and get organised early. I also had a brand new set that I was very keen on inking up (French Foliage) so here is the result.

The inside

I started by stamping a panel of Very Vanilla all over with leaves inked first in Certainly Celery then rock and rolled in Not Quite Navy, I also added the text image in Sahara Sand, and spoltches in stamped off Chocolate Chip. That was mounted on a Chocolate Chip base. Next I stamped a large branchy tree in Chocolate Chip on Vanilla and trimmed it out. I mounted that to the side of another Vanilla panel that I stamped with an assortment of sentiments to make up the message to my Dad. That Vanilla panel was mounted on top of a Choc Chip mat that had been embossed with the Square Lattice embossing folder. To finish off the front of the card I wrapped linen thread across the front, and added two little Not Quite Navy birds. The inside was stamped and matted to match the front.

Thanks for visiting, this is a really lovely colour combo so if you get the chance why don't you give it a go this week.

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: French Foliage, Vintage Labels(R), Teeny Tiny Sentiments (SU!), Through the Trees, Tiny Tags, Botanical Silhouettes (Papertrey Inc)

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip

Ink: Certainly Celery, Not Quite Navy, Sahara Sand, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Square Lattice embossing folder, Large Labels (Spellbinder), Linen Thread, Silver brad, Dimensionals, Double sided tape (X press)

JAI 77 - just add a sketch

2011-07-22T00:01:00.097+10:00

Hello all,

welcome to another Just Add Ink challenge. This week we have an interesting sketch for you. A good sketch I might add but it might take some thinking ;) Want to see? Ok here you go.

And here is what I did with it.

The inside

Hmm now that I compare my card to the sketch well it looks like I took a bit more lee way with it than I intended - thats what you get for working from memory instead of actually looking at the sketch! This might be my first official Christmas card for the blog this year - but then Christmas has been on my mind for the last couple of months as for the first time I am running Christmas card classes this year!! So I have been busy prepping designs for that and this card arose from that. One motivation being to create a green and purple Christmas card. So I translated the zig zag element going up the card into the Plum swirls from which I could hang my ornaments. I arranged my ornaments to represent the three staggered blocks of the sketch (well I thought I had - see what I mean about not looking at the sketch when I was putting it together). I actually knotted some silver cord and threaded it through a hole pierced in the top layer for each ornament, then mounted each ornament up on dimensionals. The Christmas sentiment represents the flower element coming up from the bottom of the sketch. My own personal addition was to add a extra section to the card at the bottom, using some Perfect Plum Pattern Stack DSP and Saffron grosgrain at the division. You can probably tell - but the card is quite a bit longer than the standard A5, 10.5 cm x 21 cm (4 1/8 x 8 1/4") in fact (to fit a business sized envelope). I haven't made a card this size for ages and I must admit it was nice to play around with that size for a change!

Well thanks for visiting :) If you can give the sketch a try and have some fun this week.

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Delightful Decorations, Contempo Christmas, Baroque Motifs

Cardstock: Wild Wasabi, Perfect Plum, Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White

Ink: Wild Wasabi, Perfect Plum

Accessories: Ornament punch, Modern label punch, Subtles Pattern DSP stack, So Saffron wide grosgrain ribbon (R), Silver cord (R), Purple rhinestones (Kaiser), Double sided tape (X Press), Dimensionals

JAI 76 - just add inspiration

2011-07-15T00:01:00.094+10:00

Hello there,
well this week at Just Add Ink we have an inspiration photo for you - they're always challenging but also a wonderful kick start to creativity and individual inspiration. Want to see? Here you go.

A couple of things really grabbed my attention about this photo, firstly the colours, that big expanse of blue, the bright pink of the flowers, and the green of the foliage and shutters. The end result - well here it is.

You might be wondering where that flower is from - well its a sneak peek from a new set coming up in our new catalogue, its designed to work with buttons, and it does! After seeing the inspiration pic I felt like I wanted to have flowers cascading down the right side and somehow a scalloped circle card seem to suit that idea. So I cut a scalloped circle Rose Red base, a white mat and then a Soft Sky top layer (this was just the right shade - lighter than Baja). I stamped and embossed the fab super sized sentiment, with Elegant Eggplant and versamark. Then stamped lots of flowers and whenever I could grab a momment cut lots of layers out. Once that was done I layered them all up with dimensionals, and of course added buttons! Final touch was to add some sprigs of greenery. The inside I finished off to match with more layered flowers.

Well thanks for visiting, hope you are inspired this week and play along with the challenge.

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Button Buddies, Think Big Favorites #1 (PaperTrey Inc)

Cardstock: Rose Red, Whisper White, Garden Green, Soft Sky (R)

Ink: Rose Red, Elegant Eggplant, Versamark

Accessories: Scallop Circle BigZ die, Classic circle nestabilities (Spellbinder), Little Leaves sizzlet, Royal Velvet buttons (PTI), Clear embossing powder, Dimensionals, Double sided tape (X Press)

JAI 75 - Just add a colour combo

2011-07-08T00:01:00.021+10:00

Hi there,

well first up thanks for all the lovely comments on the blog hop last week :) I hope you all enjoyed it and had the chance to play along. This week at Just Add Ink we have a rather nice colour combo for you. Here it is.
I finally got my hands on Extreme Elements not all that long ago and I was itching to ink it up - so I got a bit grungy with this one - and had fun I have to say (mind you its hard to go wrong with this set!). So one grungy birthday card coming up ;)

As my starting point I picked a sketch (Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #116 ). Once I knew my layout I started with a Cherry Cobler base, then added a Soft Suede mat. Now on the Vanilla layer the fun stuff starts - getting inky! So first up I used Sanded in Soft Suede, stamped off once. Then added a couple of stamped off Suede blots and more Suede again (dotty pattern). Next was the Cherry stars. I tried to create a sort of stream effect out of the guitar. A couple of other Cherry extreme accents and that was it for the stamping. To finsh off this layer I added some strips of DSP, then for that extra effect added some crazy stitching with my sewing machine to keep with the grungy theme. Got to admit I like how that all turned out! The main image was made by stamping the guitar guy, in Cherry on Vanilla, then trimming him out. I mounted him up on dimensionals, on more DSP, with spiral border detail. Lastly I added a sentiment flag, with a Cherry brad to accent it. As usual I carried the theme through to the inside - more wonky (bit too wonky in one place) stitching but I liked the outcome regardless.

This is a really nice colour combo and really versatile - you can see that from the DT samples (go look if you haven't!!) so feel like getting inky?? Have fun :)

Thanks for visiting,
Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Extreme Elements, Extreme Guitar, A Little Birthday Cheer (R)
Cardstock: Cherry Cobler, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Basic Black
Ink: Soft Suede, Cherry Cobler
Accessories: Love Letter DSP, Holly Jolly DSP, sewing machine, Cherry Cobler (Regal) brad, Spiral border punch, Dimensionals, Double sided tape (X Press)

Fancy fold blog hop - JAI 74

2011-07-01T00:01:00.014+10:00

Hello there - welcome to the Just Add Ink Fancy Fold Blog Hop.

You may have come from Bronwyn Eastley blog, wasn't her Funky fold just stunning!! If you are starting the blog hop here, thats fine too, it works as a circuit so you can start at any of the stops.

TRISHUTTER CARD

Today I'm going to show you a Trishutter card, a fold that's been on my list to try for quite a while so I was delighted with the excuse to make one (in fact I made two!!). This is the end result.
Closed

Open

So how do you make a trishutter card? Well a great starting point is the Splitcoaster's tutorial, click HERE. I have also added some basic instructions and metric measurements below.

Step 1.
Using a 30.5 cm (12 x 12') piece of cardstock, cut a 30.5 by 15.2 cm piece (12 x 6 inches)
Step 2.
Along horizontal length score at 5.1, 10.2, 20.3 and 25.4 cm (2, 4, 8, 10 inches)

Step 3.
Now turn your cardstock 90 degrees and 3.8 cm(1 1/2 inches) in from each outside edge carefully cut between the first and last score lines (see S1 and s4 on the picture below).

Step 4. Fold. Not sure there is any easy way to describe how you fold the cardstock - but a picture tells a thousand words so hopefully the picture below will explain everything.

Step 5.
Trishutter card closed - now it's time to embellish!

Now I did say I made two didn't I? Well here is a sneak peek of it, I'll leave the full reveal for another time.

Thanks for visiting, next stop on the blog hop is the very talented Paula Dobson blog where she has another awesome Fancy Fold for you to try.

Just click on the blinkie below to take you there -

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Nursery Necessities, Curly Cute
Cardstock: Blue Brocade, Certainly Celery
Ink: Blue Brocade, Versamark
Accessories: Sarah DSP (long retired SU!), Small star punch, 1 3/4" circle punch, Mat pack and piercing tool, Certainly Celery taffeta ribbon, White embossing powder, Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinder), small ric rac border die (PaperTrey Inc), medium scalloped border die (PTI), Linen and Canvas impression plate (PTI), Flower die, felt and button (PaperTrey Inc), Dimensionals, Double sided tape (X Press)

JAI 73 just add a sketch

2011-06-24T00:01:00.003+10:00

Hello there :)

I'm going to keep it short and sweet this week as I am plain tuckered out - may'be its the cold (or perhaps getting up at 6 am to get the brekkies and lunches etc!!) but this week, at Just Add Ink, we do have something special for you. Firstly a sketch challenge (see the sketch below) and to thank all you wonderful folk who have followed Just Add Ink (we hit the 500 mark last week) and play along with our challenges - we have some blog candy up for grabs. To the winner of the challenge (yes from this week onwards we will announce a clear winner and two runners up) and also for a random player in this weeks challenge. Here's the sketch (and don't forget to check out the rest of the DT for some awesome inspiration!!).

And here is what I came up with - a bit out there for me colour and design wise.

Now I love my layers, so a one layer card is kind of scary - and to top that off I ended up going bold in the colour scheme. I picked out the Pretty in Pink, Rich Razzleberry and Early Expresso combo using the Color Coach, and it is a great colour combo. I started out thinking a white or Pretty in Pink base but it just ended up that it looked best with Razzleberry as the base. To distract myself from the scary one layer base I impressed the front with a diamond pattern. All the flowers were cut with a flower die and then stamped with a mix of Pretty in Pink and Rich Razzleberry. Then I layered them up in a cascade down the card, using dimensionals, then embellished them with buttons and rhinestones. To create the horizontal at the top of sketch I added a couple of leaves on one side and the sentiment on the other. The inside was finished off simply to match.

Well I hope you have a chance to join in our festivities this week by playing along with the sketch challenge. Thanks for visiting,

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Afterthoughts, Sending You (PaperTrey Inc)
Cardstock: Rich Razzleberry, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Rich Razzleberry, Early Expresso
Accessories: Spellbinder Blossom nestabilities, Diamonds Impression Plate (PTI), Bold and Subtles buttons, Jewels - rhinestone, Dimensionals, Double sided tape (X Press)

JAI 72 - just add some colouring

2011-06-17T00:01:00.003+10:00

Hi there,

well did you enjoy the black and white challenge last week - I can tell you there were some absolutely stunning entries!! This week at Just Add Ink it's all about colour again - or more specifically we want you to just add some colouring. Now you can use a wide variety of tools and media. For example blender pens, aquapainter, markers, chalks, copics etc. I have acquired a growing collection of copics, so I figure I had better put them to use and I must admit they are very fun to use (the hard part is keeping Mama's special texta's out of the hands of her beloved offspring!!). Now I am very much on my L-plates so please look kindly on my colouring efforts. I'm hoping to get some sort of hands on lesson soon! So here is the end result. The colours are a bit dull in this one unfortunately :(

And a super simple inside.

This is intended as another card to go in my girl's birthday party stash, so I started by looking through my DSP and pulled out an old favourite (now retired)- Candy Lane. I picked out one of the striped patterns and used that as a mat on my base (Regal Rose then Choc Chip), and also stamped my image on it so I could paper piece the girls dress. Aside from that little bit of paper piecing I bravely (or perhaps foolishly) coloured the rest of the image in using Copics (see Recipe below for marker details). After fiddling and adding layers of colour I trimmed the whole image out and mounted her on square of Pink Pirouette, with piercing detail, that in turn was mounted on a scalloped Choc Chip mat. Finishing touches included adding the sentiment using oval punches, and a knot of Choc Chip grosgrain, Oh and to the image itself, dazzling diamonds to all the cupcake sprinkles and crystal effects to the cherry, the little heart hair clip and shoes.

Well I had fun! Hope you get the chance to play along too. Thanks for visiting.

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Pure Innocence Hello Cupcake (My Favorite Things), Short and Sweet
Cardstock: Regal Rose, Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, X Press Copic blending card
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Accessories: Candy Lane DSP, Scalloped square nestability (Spellbinder), Extra large ovals (small and medium), Scallop border punch, Wide Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon, Red rhinestones (Kaiser), Copics - my best guess at what I used, wrote them down on a scrap and of course that has now disappeared!! Note to self do not write on scraps of paper!!! Ok skin E000, E01, Shoes and cupcake icing R81, R83, R85, Cupcake wrapper YR 04, YR16, YR18, Hair E74, E77, E79, Cherry and Heart hair clip R24, R29), mat pack and piercing tool, Two way glue and dazzling Diamonds, Crystal effects, Dimensionals, Double sided tape (X Press)

JAI 71 - Just add black and white

2011-06-10T07:01:00.000+10:00

Hello there,

well its time again for another Just Add Ink challenge - and this week we want you to just add black and white.

I made my card not long after returning from Convention in Melbourne and I definitely had a case of butterflies on the brain (largely due to the fabulous wow presentation by Kirsty Brown). So butterfly it was :)

Because of the black/white colour scheme I wanted to make sure that I added lots of texture in different ways. First up embossing. I clear embossed a swirl on the main Whisper White panel (only catch is that its darn hard to get a decent photo of it). This panel was mounted on dimensionals above the base. I also black embossed the flowering branch from Elements of Style. Then die cut a butterfly from it. Next I cut a smaller black and vellum (to tone down the black) butterflies to layer over my flower embossed one. I finished off the butterfly by adding some rhinestones and black hemp twine antennae. The butterfly was mounted on a textured scalloped black square, and all of that was mounted on dimensionals above the white embossed layer. Last touch was to wrap some black hemp twine under the butterfly panel and tie on a sentiment tag. The inside was finished with a swirl and some more butterflies.

Black and white does make for a striking combination so if you can why don't you have a go!

Thanks for visiting,
Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Elements of Style
Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Vellum
Ink: Versamark, Basic Black
Accessories: Beautiful Butterflies BigZ die, Beautiful Wings embosslit, Scallop Square duo BigZ die, 1" circle punch, Linen and Canvas Impression plate (PaperTrey Inc), Black hemp twine (R), Jewels - rhinestones, Dimensionals, Double sided tape

JAI 70 - Just add a sketch

2011-06-03T00:01:00.007+10:00

Hello there!

well another week has whizzed past here in chilly Canberra - I do love to snuggle up in my down quilt every night though - definitely one of the pleasures of winter :) Now this week we have a sketch challenge for you at Just Add Ink and ooooh its a nice one :) Here it is.

(Note: While the sketch is a circle you can frame it in a square - see some of the design team samples at Just Add Ink)
Now I must admit I am developing quite a fondness for circle easel cards so I couldn't resist making one for this. Now despite the need to build up a stash of girl's birthday cards I had an idea in my head and I just had to get it out. Want to see??

How cute is this little alien - I've been wanting to ink him up for ages - and todays he's a party alien! First up I actually cut all my Night of Navy base layer pieces with the Circle Scissors plus - I was quite surprised but very pleased when (with the assistance of alot of dotto) I was able to cut the double layer of cardstock. So with the base cut I added a mat of Real Red, then the image layer. This started out as Whisper White but with the assistance of my brayer I created a gradiated night sky. A bit of "crater" patterned embossed Sahara Sand cut to fit down the bottom and I had a planet for my alien to stand on. I coloured him in with copics, trimmed him out, then made him some balloons using a circle punch, scraps, white gel pen and silver cord. The final touches for the front included inking up the party sign with markers, and colouring a little rocketship, and adding some rhinestone stars. For the inside I used the Modern Label punch with the sentiment as the stopper for the easel card. The inside was a much for the outside just plainer - as I had to leave some room (lol) to write a birthday message! I have to admit I was delighted that this one turned out just the way I imagined it. My Mr three has already put dibs on this for his next birthday - mind you since he has to wait till Feb 2012 he may change his mind.

Thanks for visiting and if you can why don't you give this fab sketch a go!
Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Greetings Earthling, Party this Way, rocketship (non SU!)
Cardstock: Night of Navy, Real Red, Whisper White, Sahara Sand
Ink: Night of Navy, Real Red, Versamark
Accessories: Circle Scissors Plus, Classic circle nestabilities (Spellbinder), Copics (R08, 24,27,29, C001, 01,7, N2, Y13, 15, BG11), Brayer, Cuttlebug embossing folder, White embossing powder, Jewels - Rhinestones, Modern Label punch, 3/4" circle punch, Crystal effects, Silver cord (R), Dimensionals, Mini glue dot, Double sided tape (X Press)

JAI 69 - just add fussy cutting

2011-05-27T00:01:00.001+10:00

Hi there,

did you have a what the? momment when you read what this week's Just Add Ink challenge - lol. Yes - it's all about fussy cutting this week. Now you might ask what do we mean by that - well it's anything that involves detailed fancy scissor work. (I've heard the term is drawn from a sister craft namely quilting but don't quote me on that :) Now I figured some paper piecing fit right into this challenge and luckily I had the perfect (new) image to piece. Here's the result.

First up I started with the Sweet Sunday Sketch challenge 113, as that circle was perfect for framing my umbrella girl. So I stamped my DSP with the image twice so I could then "fussy" cut the DSP out. I then paper pieced it onto another stamped image, which I had also coloured using Copics (E000, E01, RV29, E33, E35, E37, N2 just the skin and umbrella bits). To finish off the image panel I added a little Bashful Blue raincloud - just sheer serendipity that it was perfect to perch above the raindrops - isn't it nice when that happens :). Oh and of course the sentiment. Other points to note are the Square Lattice embossed background and the pink pearl details. The inside was finished off very simply with some more DSP to match. End result a sweet little card to cheer someone up.

Thanks for visiting and if you can get those scissors out and show us what you can do!

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: My Umbrella (My Favorite Things)
Cardstock: Melon Mambo, Bashful Blue, Whisper White, X Press Blending card
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Basic Black
Accessories: Sweet Stitches DSP, Square Lattice embossing folder, Corner rounder punch, Classic Circle nestabilities (Spellbinder), Cloud die (PaperTrey Inc), Copic markers, Pink pearls (Kaiser), Double sided tape (X Press), SNAIL adhesive, Dimensionals

JAI 68 - just add a colour combo

2011-05-20T00:01:00.005+10:00

Hi there :)

well life is settling down into its familiar patterns after Convention. Convention was a total blast by the way - but I imagine you would have guessed that anyway - lol. I had the absolute pleasure of meeting in person alot of the Just Add Ink team (I can't even tell you how much fun that was!)
as well as some other special stamping friends, including Di Barnes,

Sharnee Torrents (Bron's in this pic too),

Linda Higgins, Kirsty Brown

and Sarah Jane Kale. Next years Convention will be on my home ground - Canberra! (only 376 days to go - but whose counting - smile)

Ok now on today's new Just Add Ink challenge - this week we have a lovely colour combo for you. Here's the colour pick.

I actually made this one a while ago as a special birthday card for one of the JAI team - she loves to add a bit of stitching to her work - so I knew I had to include some :) The combo conjured up thoughts of soft vintagey flowers to me - and I couldn't resist the chance to do colouring of the blossoms from Elements of Style.

As you can see this one has lots of layers - a Baja Breeze base, then Perfect Plum mat, then DSP, stitching around this layer, then the focal image. This starts with a Pear Pizzazz mat, then scalloped Perfect Plum layer, then a split layer of DSP and the coloured image (aquapainter with ink pad lids). To embellish that I've added a double bow of white taffeta and added two double layered tiny tags with the sentiment. The inside was decorated with another sprig of flowers to match. End result soft and sweet I think.

Thanks for visiting and if you can why don't you see what you can come up with this week and join in the challenge.

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Elements of Style, Tiny Tags
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Pear Pizzazz, Perfect Plum, Whisper White
Ink: Stazon On Black, Perfect Plum, Pear Pizzazz, Daffodil Delight
Accessories: Circle Scissors Plus, Circle Nestabilities- Classic and Scalloped(Spellbinder), Parisian Breeze DSP (R), Watercolour paper, Scallop border punch,Medium Jewelery Tag punch, White Taffeta ribbon, Sewing machine, Linen Thread, Dimensionals, Double sided tape

JAI 67 - just add a sketch

2011-05-06T00:01:00.001+10:00

Hello there,

I'm going to hop right into it this week and tell you about this week's challenge at Just Add Ink. This week we want you to add a sketch (see below) one thing we do want you to note is that this challenge will run for two weeks, as the vast majority of the team (me included - Hooray!!!) will be at the SU! Convention in Melbourne, and otherwise (and very happily) occupied for a while. So here is the sketch.

And this is what I did with it.

I was feeling a bit whimsical when I was putting this one together, and I thought Aviary would be a good set to use to suit my mood. So after flipping the sketch I got down to work. So I started with a Whisper White base, then added an Early Expresso mat and then some Pink Pirouette DSP. I cut two white panels, stamped a cage directly on one and the stand on the other. Then I added a couple of extra cages mounted up on dimensionals. Going with the flow of my whimsical mood I added some curly label edging, and rounded the corners of the base panels. Of course I had to add my birds (in Melon Mambo) one climbing up to say hello to the other. I also added a sentiment and had some fun stitching that down to the card as well as adding some extra decorative stitching. The last touches were some buttons. The inside was finished off with two cages and this time both birds are out ;) Initally unsure I ended up really liking this one!

Thanks for visiting and why don't you have a go at the sketch - it's a good one! Things will be quiet around for the next week or so - as I will be off galivanting in Melbourne :O. But I will be back!

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Aviary, On my Couch (PaperTrey Inc)
Cardstock: Whisper White, Early Expresso
Ink: Early Expresso, Melon Mambo
Accessories: Curly label punch, Modern Label punch, Raseberry Fizz buttons (PaperTrey Inc), Pink Pirouette DSP (R), Corner rounder punch, white embroidery thread, sewing machine, Dimensionals, Double sided tape (X Press it)

JAI 66 - just add a flower

2011-04-29T00:01:00.003+10:00

Well hello there,
I've been busy working on convention swaps, future JAI challenges and just enjoying some time at home over Easter! I hope everyone had a good Easter and enjoyed some chocolate - my two little ones are old enough now to really get the "we are allowed to eat lots of chocolate at Easter" for the first time and needless to say enjoying it! I did enjoy seeing their delight in the couple of Easter egg hunts they had - I think that's one of the joys of parenting - to experience the world through their joy and excitement.

Anyway on to this weeks Just Add Ink challenge - this week the challenge is to just add a flower (for Mother's day, May 8 here in Aus). In my case my Mum's birthday is actually about a week earlier so my flower was made for her birthday card. Here it is.

I must admit to being rather smitten with the Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla and Basic Black combo - its just so elegant and stylish! So I couldn't resist buying and using some of the Love Letter DSP. First I cut my flower layers using a BigZ L die from DSP. I sponged the edges of the petals and crumpled them up. Then layered them up with dimensionals, then misted with silver glimmer mist. A gorgeous antique brad finishes it off. I used more DSP for the bottom card front panel. At the top I embossed some Very Vanilla with the Finial Press embossing folder. More DSP was used for some leaves for the flowers I also added some black swirls. Finishing touches include a scallop trim dividing border and I dug out some pewter hodgepodge as a frame for the sentiment. Oh and I sponged around the edges of the front with some distressing ink - although its hard to see it in the photo. The inside was finished off simply to match. I'm pretty sure Mum will like it!

Thanks for visiting and why don't you add a flower this week!

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Cardstock: Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla, Basic Black
Ink: Riding Hood Red, Basic Black
Accessories:Love Letters DSP, Finial Press embossing folder, Antique brad, Fun Flowers BigZ L die, Two step bird punch, Pewter hodgepodge (R), Swirls and Scribbles sizzlet, Scallop Trim border punch, Silver Glimmer Mist, Chai ink (PaperTrey Inc),Double sided tape (X Press), Dimensionals

JAI 64 - just add using a chocolate bar to inspire you

2011-04-15T00:01:00.000+10:00

I love chocolate, I really. love. chocolate! Have I got your attention ;) Well if you do too then Just Add Ink has a special challenge for you this week. We want you to pick your favourite chocolate bar and pull the colour combo from the wrapper and use it to create your challenge entry. For me it was a toss up between Lindt balls (love the way they just melt in your mouth - ahhhh) or Cadbury's Old Jamaica Rum and Raisin (my mouth is watering just at the thought!!). I just wasn't in a blue/silver/white mood so I went with the dark delectable yumminess of the Rum and Raisin. Here's a pic of what the packaging for it looks like. And here is what I created. The main colours seemed to be a dark brown, a rich yellow and a strong purple. So I translated that into Early Expresso, More Mustard and Elegant Eggplant. Having got my hands on the new Eat Chocolate set - well I just had to use it (oh and I might add there are some elements of a sneak peek for one of my convention swaps in here too!). So I started with a Early Expresso base, then added a white mat, and an embossed Elegant Eggplant top layer. Over that I added a Top Note die cut which I stamped to create a text style background DSP in More Mustard. Next for the focal element I used markers to ink up the three little chocolates and their frame, then punched it out with the decorative label punch (gorgeous!!). I punched an extra Expresso die cut to frame the inked one. Finally the finishing touches - a rhinestone, some luscious satin Early Expresso ribbon and a More Mustard button! So there you have it a rich dark card reflecting a dark rich chocolate - yum!

Thanks for visiting and have some fun turning your favourite chocolate colour combo into a papercraft creation :) Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Eat Chocolate Cardstock: Early Expresso, Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White

Ink: Elegant Eggplant, More Mustard, Early Expresso

Accessories: Top Note die, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Decorative Label punch, Early Expresso satin ribbon, More Mustard button (R), Jewels - rhinestone, Dimensionals, Double sided tape (X Press), SNAIL adhesive

JAI 63 - just add inspiration

2011-04-08T20:55:00.000+10:00

Hi there, well this week our challenge for you at Just Add Ink is to add some inspiration using the - well shall I say bright picture Delys picked for us this week. Here's the pic. Has the picture finished bouncing off the back of you retina's yet? I did warn you it was bright but fun too and full of things to inspire. Not surprisingly I came up with something bright to match.

I decided to go with a scallop circle card - something fun and a little different to match the picture - so a Real Red base and then, a Daffodil Delight mat. I finally had my first chance to pull out Sweet Summer and do some watercolouring. So I stamped (and masked and trimmed out) a row of flowers and sat down for some relaxing colouring in fun. I had to add some of those stripes from the picture so I added a couple of scalloped borders below the flowers and then one of Old Olive leaving just a bit of the Daffodil mat at the bottom to add a sentiment, which I did at the very end. One consequence of that last minute - yes a sentiment can go there decision was that the block rolled just a bit and left a streak of Real Red on the olive scallop above - grrrrr - but I took a deep breath and said - a, it just shows its home made, it still looks good, mantra! To finish off the front I added a little bees to buzz above and bird peek about under the flowers and a Daffodil bow. The inside was finished off with another flower and bird to match.

Thanks for visiting, and if you have the time or can't get that photo out of your head (lol) why don't you have a go at the challenge this week. Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted Stamps: Sweet Summer, Teeny Tiny Sentiments Cardstock: Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive Ink: Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Bashful Blue, Stazon Black Accessories: Scallop circle die, Scallop border punch, Daffodil Delight narrow grosgrain ribbon, watercolour paper, Circle nestabilities (Spellbinder), Dimensionals, SNAIL adhesive, Double sided tape.

Inkspirations 64

2011-04-04T21:20:00.000+10:00

Hi there,

between a hefty household dose of germs and just being plain busy I haven't had the chance to play along with an Inkpsiration challenge for a few weeks - but an idea struck me after I saw the colour combo this week and so I decided to make the time! The colour combo is just perfect for the lovely Autumn weather we are having right now. Here it is. Aside from Autumn I thought the colours made me think lion - Rrrrrrrrr :) So I pulled out Fox and Friends and set about making a birthday for a little boy.

I settled on a Cajun Craze base, then a More Mustard layer, the next layer was split, embossed Whisper White at the top and Cajun DSP for the bottom with some Poppy Parade ribbon to cover the merge. For the main panel I stamped three lions, one in each colour as well as some spares that I then used to trim out manes and faces from so I could layer them over the base lions with dimensionals. I matted the lion panel and added some buttons to the top left corner, and used a round Happy Birthday sentiment on the bottom right. Then right at the end, once everything was stuck together I added the piercing frame around the main panel - sometimes you just know you need to add something!

I think the colours work well but my only reservation is that the birthday sentiment is too big and overpowers the lions a bit. Ah well I suspect little boys aren't quite as critical as me ;) The inside was finished off to match with another lion.

Thanks for visiting,

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Fox and Friends, Party Hearty, Think Happy Thoughts (R)

Cardstock: Cajun Craze, More Mustard, Whisper White

Ink: Cajun Craze, More Mustard, Poppy Parade

Accessories: Regals DSP pattern stack, Regals buttons, Pure Poppy button (PaperTrey Inc), Poppy Parade ribbon, 3/4", 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" circle punches, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Dimensionals, Double sided tape (X Press)

JAI62 - Just add a box or a bag

2011-04-01T00:01:00.001+11:00

Hi there, well welcome back for another Just Add Ink challenge. This week we have something fun for you - we want you to Just add a box or a bag! Making 3D items was something I was originally quite daunted by but I have discovered its actually not that hard - and so much fun!! Now I just happened to have a yummy Lindt bunny sitting in my cupboard at home (how did that happen????) so I decided to make a box for it. Clear of course. I started by looking at my bunny and working out how big the box needed to be (12 cm sq height/length and 6.5 cm depth). Then I decided to play it safe and work out my template on paper first, just as well as it took me a couple of goes to get all the details worked out, and how to fit the box pieces onto the acetate sheets. Having done that - it was actually quite a quick process to cut out the two acetate pieces, score them and stick it all together using a mix of Sticky strip and glue dots. To decorate the box I used a grass border punch to create some grass for the bunny of course, and this also served to hide the glue dots holding the flap closed. Next I cut a 12 by 12 cm sq of Whisper White and using a punched scalloped circle set about creating a blue cloudy sky to go behind the bunny. This also served to hide the sticky strip holding the sides together! Lastly I wrapped some Old Olive ribbon around the top, added a bow and a tag built out of various punched and die cut layers. The tag had to have a bunny on it of course! Now I know what is going to happen to the bunny (yummy yummy in my tummy) but who would I give the box too?? While I love my gorgeous little munchkins, when it comes to chocolate they have absolutely no interest in the packaging. So I bought another bunny (no not for me ;) and delivered box, bunny and little eggs to my Mum and Dad just to say - I love you! Thanks for visiting, you can tell from my extended babble this week that I'm geting over that nasty flu - yahoo :) Hope you get the chance to add a box or bag this week and join in the fun! Kim Recipe: All SU! unless noted otherwise Stamps: Tiny Treats Valentine (PaperTrey Inc) Cardstock: Whisper White, Old Olive Ink: Bashful Blue, Marina Mist Accessories: Acetate (book binding cover), Old Olive wide grosgrain ribbon, DSP (retired SU!), Sizzex Tag Scallop Combo #2 die, Blooms die cut, Copics, Scallop Circle punch, 1 3/4" circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, Linen thread, Martha Stewart border punch, Glue Dots, Sticky Strip, Dimensionals

JAI61 - just add stamps only

2011-03-25T12:01:00.001+11:00

Hi there,

this week at Just Add Ink we have an interesting challenge for you - its just add stamps - only stamps!! No DSP, no diecuts, no punches - just stamps, ink and cardstock. It's a kind of tricky yet conversely simple challenge at the same time.

So what did I do - well I broke out some new goodies that are a preview of something up and coming from the new Autumn/Winter mini (available from April)- and I made it nice and bright. Here it is.

I started by making my own DSP by selecting a bunch of colours (inspired by the Sew Suite DSP) and button stamps and stamping away. Then I stamped a sewing machine as the main focal element and stamped a tape measure background (Melon Mambo stamped off) Using clear mount stamps it was pretty easy to stamp this free hand. I free cut some extra buttons (remember no punches this week) to embellish the sewing machine focal point and then got a strip of Melon Mambo, ran it through the crimper, crumpled it up lots and then using some sticky strip created a ruffled "ribbon" border to run below the sewing machine. All that was left then was to add a sentiment. So bright, fun and a little quirky :) A good card to make/ finish while I was/am getting over my flu from last week!

I'll finish up today by letting you know that things are going to be quiet around here for a while, as I'm starting to gear up for making my convention swaps, so you'll probably only see my JAI DT posts once every week or two till mid May. Please hang in there as I will be back with more again after convention is over!

Thanks for visiting and why do you have a go this week at just adding stamps!

Kim

Recipe: All SU!
Stamps: Button Button, Sew Suite
Cardstock: Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight
Ink: Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango, Wild Wasabi, Tempting Turquoise, Regal Rose (SU!), Fresh Snow (PaperTrey Inc)
Accessories: Crimper, Dimensionals, Double sided tape (X Press), Sticky Strip

JAI60 - just add a colour combo

2011-03-18T00:01:00.001+11:00

Hello there,

this week at Just Add Ink we have a colour challenge for you - and its quite yummy! Here's the colour pic. Edited to add: My apologies I had the wrong colour swatch here orginally - the correct colours are Rich Razzleberry, Old Oilve, Crumb Cake and Whisper White.

I tried quite a distressed vintage style card first go round at this - which was fine but once I was done - it didn't well really appeal to me :(. So I decided to have another shot and this is what I came up with.

Thats it from me (sorry super brief I know) but I have been quite literally knocked off my feet with the flu this week, any questions leave me a comment or check out the recipe below.

Thanks for visiting - hope you have a chance to try your hand at this fab combo :)
Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Itty Bitty Bits, Woodgrain, So Happy for You
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Whisper White
Ink: Crumb Cake, Rich Razzleberry
Accessories: Cottage Wall DSP (R), Scalloped circle punch, Boho Blossoms punch, Corner rounder punch, 2" scalloped circle punch (EK Success), Scalloped circle nestabilities (Spellbinder), Clear Rhinestone brads, Sticky Strip, Green superfine glitter, Large scalloped border die and Woodgrain Impression plate (PaperTrey Inc), Dimensionals, Double sided tape (X Press)

JAI59 - just add a sketch

2011-03-11T00:01:00.001+11:00

Hi there,
welcome back for this week’s Just Add Ink challenge. This week we have a lovely sketch for you. Here it is.

It’s going to be another girls birthday card I really figure I need to build up my stash to prepare for whenever Miss 6 gets invited to a party since I don’t always have the option to whip one up in time. (My card making is more of a slow cooking process than an....omlette - nothing wrong with an omlette though) ;) So here is my slow cooked card.

For this one I decided to use Candy Lane DSP as my starting point. So I pulled it out and decided which patterns I wanted to use. Having sorted out my layers I stamped my image and coloured her in, was pretty chuffed with how that turned out. Then it was sticking it all together and adding the finishing touches - in this case some stitching, and dazzling diamonds. I really love how adding these touches kind of lifts everything :) I know pretty brief again, for me anyway, but I'm tirrreedd. Any questions just ask!

Thanks for visiting and if you have time this week why don't you have a go at the sketch too!

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless other wise noted
Stamps: Well Scripted, Agnes Ketto (Stampingbella)
Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White, White blending card (X Press)
Ink: Riding Hood Red, Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Accessories: Candy Lane DSP, Copic markers (R00, R20, R22, R24, R27, R29, E000, E13, E15, E19, E29, W0, Colourless blender), Scalloped Oval punch, Wide Oval punch, Pretty in Pink Taffeta ribbon, Two Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Dimensionals, Double sided tape (X Press), Martha Stewart border punch, sewing machine

Inkspirations 60 - Flower fairy fun

2011-03-08T21:33:00.007+11:00

Hi there,

well finding time to do any stamping recently is well challenging, and when I turned my hand to this weeks Inkspiration challenge - a colour challenge - well I found it surprisingly challenging ;). Now I'm not going to babble on to much tonight as its getting late. So first up here is Keesh's colour pick.

This weekend is shaping up to be busy again as we already have a another birthday party for Miss 6 to attend - just as well I made a girls birthday card then!

I used an old Sweet Sunday Sketch challenge sketch (99) as the layout as for the rest well a mix of DSP and some colouring in (SU! markers for this one)- and of course some bling. Any questions just leave me a comment (told you I was going to be brief tonight!). I feel just a little unsure about this one - I'm still eyeing it off trying to figure out if I should add anything else, or not - lol!

Have a good night and rest of the week folks :)

Thanks for visiting,

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Party This Way, Maisy Ketto (Stampingbella)
Cardstock: Rose Red, Wild wasabi, Whisper White
Ink: So Saffron, Rose Red, Wild Wasabi, Chocolate Chip, Going Gray, Blush Blossom, Basic Black
Accessories: Rose Red DSP (R), Washington Apple DSP (R), Subtles Pattern stack, EK Success border punch, So Saffron grosgrain (R), Rhinestones (Kaiser), Two way glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Word Window punch, Blossom and classic Circle nestabilities (Spellbinder), Dimensionals, Double sided tape (X Press)

JAI 58 - just add Amanda or Danielle

2011-03-04T00:01:00.002+11:00

Hi there,

well we have a special challenge for you at Just Add Ink this week! As you would have read recently on JAI Amanda and Danielle who started JAI have stepped down so its only fitting that this week you Just add Amanda or Danielle. So go have a browse through their blogs and find something you like and create your CASE of their creation. I had a lot of fun making my "Amanda" and "Danielle" cards :) Read on to see what I came up with this week.

This card by Danielle caught my attention - it was just pure Danielle. I am also a great admirer of the wonderful watercolouring she does and she has defintiely inspired me to do more of that in 2011. Now here's my version. Same elements and layout.

Briefly I stamped my kitty in versamark on watercolour paper and then black embossed. Then watercoloured the image with Crumb Cake, Marina Mist and Cherry Cobler inks and aquapainter. I found that it took quite a while to build up the colour intensity that I wanted. Some cherry coloured satin ribbon and a large sentiment, a rhinestone brad, rounded bottom corners (wink) and I was all done!

Now here is the Amanda's card that caught my eye.

And now my CASE - again same layout and basic elements just with a bit of "Kim" twist.

I used a current fav colour combo for this - Perfect Plum, Rose Red, Pear Pizzazz/Old Olive - with a hint of black for accent. So Plum polka dots, then a large Rose Red rose, I used a fabulous tutorial by my talented DT team mate Tania Gould for this. Before shaping the petals I stamped them with fine text. Some swirly bits, a scalloped circle to frame the flower and swirls, a lovely satin bow and a sentiment - all done!! :) And of course I finished off the inside to match - I just had to use a much less dimensional flower!

I hope you find time this week to play along with this special challenge!

Thanks for visiting,
Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted

Danielle CASE
Stamps: Felix Cato (Stampingbella), Afterthoughts
Cardstock: Crumb Cake
Ink: Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobler, Marina Mist, Basic Black
Accessories: Watercolour paper, Labels One (Nestabilities), Satin ribbon (local craft shop), Jewels - rhinestone, SNAIL adhesive, Dimensionals, Aquapainter

Amanda CASE
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Sentiments, Background Basics Text Style (PaperTrey Inc), Background Basics Polka Dot (PTI) , Blooming Button Bits (PTI)
Cardstock: Whisper White, Rose Red, Pear Pizzazz
Ink: Perfect Plum, Rose Red, Basic Black
Accessories: Word Window punch, 1/2" circle punch, Classic and scalloped circle nestabilities (Spellbinder), Swirl and Scribble sizzlet (Sizzex), Old Olive satin ribbon

Inkspiration 59 - Printed Petal Flower

2011-02-28T22:30:00.001+11:00

Hi there,

now I just have to ask has anyone else had a morning start like this? It goes:
DH to me: Its Mum's birthday tomorrow (his Mum) you've made a card for her, haven't you?

Now I will say he was partly (mind you only partly) joking, and after about 18 years I should be aware of the fact that he is crap at preparing for birthdays and so should have his Mum's birthday written on the calender (I do now!). But it gave me a valid excuse to "slave" away stamping Sunday afternoon - ah its a hard life sometimes ;)

Of course ever looking of ways to multi task I used the Inkspiration sketch challenge this week for the card. You can see Keesh's sketch below.

This card is a real mix of old and new. Old DSP and a new stamp - I got Printed Petals at the 2010 convention and this is its first inking up. So here is the result.

I started with a completely different idea but saw this pink flower pattern and it reminded me of the large flower in Printed Petals so that's how this evolved. So I settled on a Regal Rose/ Early Expresso combo. So a square Regal Rose base, then an Expresso scalloped square mat (I was delighted when I realised that this was just the right size!!) then the DSP. I went for clean lines on the long vertical panel and also used the flower to break up the lines more. The flower was inked up in Regal Rose and Versamark then embossed with glittery clear embossing powder. For contrast I used Early Expresso for the stem and leaves. For the three horizontal bands I used satin Expresso ribbon for two and the sentiment for the last. The inside was finished off with another flower.
This one, despite having brown on it, got the big thumbs up by Miss 6 - but she decided it was OK for it to be posted if it was going to her Nana :)

Thanks for visiting,
Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Printed Petals, Party This Way, Petals Pizzazz
Ink: Regal Rose, Early Expresso, Versamark
Accessories: Sweet Always DSP (R), Scalloped Square BigZ die, Word Window punch, Itty Bitty Shapes punch pack, Early Expresso satin ribbon, Iridescent Ice embossing powder, Dimensionals, Double sided tape (X Press), Neutral button, Rhinestone (Kaiser), Brad - Flower

JAI 57 Just add a colour combo

2011-02-25T00:01:00.001+11:00

Hello there,
well I'm glad I left it to write up my post till today (Thursday night) because I have been feeling headachy and tired for the last couple of days and not at all cheery - but the headache cleared up late this afternoon hurray!! So feeling much more chirpy at the momment - just in time to welcome you to a new Just Add Ink challenge and this week we have a colour combo for you. Here it is.

I have got to be honest this one was seriously challenging! in fact I binned my first go at it. Overall the colours struck me as leaning more to the masculine side so that's what I went with.

Since I making a boys birthday card I kept it pretty clean and simple - a Cherry Cobler base, then a white mat stamped with the train engine in the three colours. I tried to generate a bit of interest by staggering the stamping in each row. To finish off a strip of River Rock stamped with the sentiment and one more train engine trimmed out and mounted and framed. Lastly a couple of brads in the wheels to finish up.

Thanks for visiting and if you have a chance have a go at the challenge too!

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Choo Choo, Occaisional Quotes
Cardstock: Cherry Cobler, Whisper White, River Rock
Ink: Cherry Cobler, Daffodil Delight, River Rock
Accessories: 1 3/4" circle punch, Distressing tool, retired brads, Dimensionals, Double sided tape (X Press)

MIM 3 - Time for some sunshine

2011-02-23T21:48:00.000+11:00

Hello there,

well the new Make it Monday challenge got me all fired up today and I just had to have a go especially after I thought I had a rather nifty idea for it ;) So what is the challenge - well to use a glitter strip (must be in a straight line). Want to know what my nifty idea is? - how about I show you :)

As you can see my glitter strip makes up the stem of my flower - it dawned (no that is not meant to be a pun BTW) on me that a straight glitter strip would be perfect for a flower stem and since I had a stash of coloured glitter - a green one!! I absolutely love the effect. It really does add some fun and sparkle to the card - and makes it feel bright and happy which is just what I wanted and hoped for! The card is pretty straight forward really so I won't go into the details check out my recipe below or leave a comment if you have a question.

Thanks for visiting,
Kim

Recipe:
Stamps: Blooming Button Bits, Studio Style, Backgound Basics Text Style (PaperTrey Inc)
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Whisper White (SU!)
Ink: Perfect Plum, Wild Wasabi, Rose Red (SU!), Fresh Snow (PTI)
Accessories: Dotty Biscotti Patterned Paper (PTI), large scalloped border die (PTI), Woodgrain impression plate (PTI), Plum Pudding buttons (PTI), Old Olive button (SU!), Corner rounder punch (SU!), 1/2" circle punch (SU!), Superfine glitter (SU!), Sticky Strip (SU!), Linen Tread (SU!), Glue, Dimensionals (SU!), SNAIL adhesive (SU!), Sponge (SU!), Double sided tape (X Press)

JAI 56 - Just add a sketch

2011-02-17T22:24:00.000+11:00

Hello there :)

well its time again for a new Just Add Ink challenge. This week we have a great sketch for you. Here it is.

This is actually the second card I made for my Dad, after he had an operation recently. I was aiming for something cheery but still blokey - hopefully this will hit the spot.

I started with a Choc Chip base, then layered on some retired Good Morning Sunshine DSP. Down the bottom I just used Whisper White and stamped the sentiment. Next I added a scalloped lattice embossed border across the card, with some satin Daffodil Delight ribbon layered over the top. Then it was time for the main panel. For this I started by stamping some Kiwi Kiss flower stems, and then matching flowers in Daffodil Delight, the bottom one is popped up on dimensionals. Each flower was embellished with a different button. I decided to add a bit of whimsical touch and so added a bee to fly across the top of the flowers - another button, some cardstock and vellum. Lastly I mounted that all on a Kiwi base and added a small lattice embossed scalloped strip down the side. The inside was finished off with some more flowers.

So this one will be on its way to my dear Dad soon and hopefully it will bring some sunshine with it!

Thanks for visiting (again) its been busy round here lately ;)

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Blooming Buttons Bits, Baby Button Bits (PaperTrey Inc)
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss, Vellum
Ink: Daffodil Delight, Kiwi Kiss (R), Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Lattice embossing folder, Scalloped border punch, Daffodil Delight, Early Expresso button, Kiwi Kiss corduroy brad (R), Daffodil Delight satin ribbon. small heart punch, 1/2" circle punch, Linen Thread, Dimensionals, Double sided tape, Tombow adhesive

Make it Monday 2 - Sympathy

2011-02-16T08:12:00.000+11:00

Hi there,

today was one of those rare days when I HAD to make a card, sadly it is one to send to my cousin whose mother just recently passed away. My auntie was a really special lady and will definitely be missed by the family!

I haven't made many sympathy cards (thankfully) but I knew I wanted to keep it simple and not too somber. The design was heavily influenced by Nichole Heady not any specific card but just the general style and design. I also incorporated the new Make Monday challenge see below for details.

So I started with a Chocolate base, layered that with a panel of Confetti White (SU!), which I then impressed with the Linen and Canvas plate, I also rounded all the corners. At the mid point I added some double sided tape and then added a strip of patterned paper that I had crumpled up and then "ruffled" into folds. Using brown thread I used my sewing machine to secure and accent the paper ruffle. For the focal point I used a Chocolate Mat stack 4 (impressed with Bookprint impression plate), layered that with a Mat Stack 1 (from Confetti white) stamped a frame, then added a stamped off leafy branch. Over the top of that I added a strip of vellum, and stamped the sentiment (yes I have finally got to the Make it Monday 2 challenge - added a vellum sentiment strip). I secured the vellum with a small strip of scor tape and then added buttons, threaded with linen thread to accent the central panel. the inside was finished off very simply to match.

Thanks for visiting,
Kim

Recipe:
Stamps: Mat Stack 1 collection, Turning a New Leaf, Through the Trees (PaperTrey Inc)
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Confetti White, Vellum (SU!)
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke, Early Expresso
Accessories: Mat Stack 1 and Mat Stack 4 dies (PTI), Linen and Canvas impression plate, Bookprint impression plate (PTI), Turning a New Leaf patterned paper (PTI), Ripe Avocado buttons (PTI), Corner rounder punch (SU!), Linen thread, Double sided tape (X press), SNAIL adhesive (SU!), Scor Tape, Tombow Multi, Dimensionals (SU!), sewing machine

Inkspiration 57 - Birthday Robot

2011-02-15T22:02:00.000+11:00

Hi all,

the Inkspiration challenge was a nice sketch this week - so when we finally wrapped up a weekend of family fun and outings (seriously in one weekend we saw a lot of snakes - one was even out in the bush! (big red bellied black snake), lots of gorgeously coloured birds (walk in aviary) lizards galour and a platypus - I kid you not a platypus out in the wild! (I think I was more excited than the kids) well the Tidbinbella Nature Reserve to be exact - oh and we saw turtles, emus and lots of kangaroos there as well. Ok so after all that I managed to seize the energy when we got to home to make a start on a card. Here's the sketch.

I'm still working on my birthday card stash so I worked from there - oh and I had a new stamp to play with.

You can't go past the Celecbration DSP for birthdays! So I pulled it out and picked out the patterns I wanted to use, that set the colour scheme - Pacific Point and Real Red. I layered the Pacific Point base with the red number pattern, then used another pattern for the large vertical strip. I stamped my robot in Versamark on watercolour paper, then embossed with black embossing powder. Then coloured him in using aquapainter and ink pad lids. A touch of Choc Chip for the cake and Daffodil Delight for the candle flames. I used oval nestabilities to cut the robot out and for the layer. For the two horizontal panels I stapled on some frayed Pacific Point grosgrain ribbon. I added a sentiment using a tag and white embossing the happy birthday, a little star and a couple of brads and all done! The inside was finished off very simply to match.

Hopefully it's not too fussy for a boy...I like it anyway :)

Thanks for visiting,

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise mentioned
Stamps: Party This Way, Cakey Watt (Stampingbella)
Cardstock: Pacific Point
Ink: Pacific Point, Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Daffodil Delight, Versamark, Going Gray
Accessories: Celebration DSP, Oval nestabilities (Spellbinder), Lots of Tags sizzlet, Pacific Point striped grosgrain ribbon (R), watercolour paper (craft shop), Black and White embossing powder, Real Red and Tempting Turquoise brads, Small star punch (R), Dimenionals, Double sides tape, SNAIL adhesive, staples

JAI 55 - just add love

2011-02-11T00:01:00.000+11:00

Hi there,

well welcome back for a new Just Add Ink challenge. This week we would like you to Just Add Love. Now this could mean a valentines card or a wedding card - you get the idea :) I decided to go with a broad valentines interpretation, I have kind of gathered from US blogs that giving cards to friends for valentines is (quite?) common so I have made a present for a dear friend - Sam. It is for a rather special occaision as she just added a new baby to her family. (You can see Sam's post here). Now a new baby is definitely an occaision (of love) to celebrate but I figure, especially since this is the third in the family, that Mum deserves something special too. I wanted a mix of something edible but also something to last - and then something to package it all in. So this is what I made.

For the something to package it all in - a woven basket. You can find the tutorial here on Splitcoasters. I pulled out a sheet of Bella Rose DSP as it just the right colours. Following the instructions I cut my sheet up into different width stripes and started weaving - it was a little fiddly but really not too bad. In the end I think I finished my basket a couple of rows shorter than the tutorial recommended. I secured in the ribbon handles with brads and covered the rim over with a striped of textured Riding Hood Red, with a Scallop Trim border for the outside. I also tied on a little strawberry tag so I can write a little message.

The something edible was some yummy chocolates that I know Sam likes :)

Now the something to keep are some felt strawberries filled with lavender which you can pop into a draw or hang off a clothes hanger. Now had some lovely wool felt at home in red and green, so I had a look on the web for strawberry templates and found this link to a Martha Stewart tutorial on making a felt/material strawberry pin cushion. So I pinned my template to the felt and cut it out. I made two different green tops, one was using the provided template, for the other I punched a 5 petal flower out of paper and used that as a guide (cut with a generous border) for a different shaped top (I actually liked it better). OK next I had to google knot stitch - then I used white embroidery thread to add little knots over the red strawberries. I used my sewing machine to stitch up the side of the strawberries gathered the tops together then firmly filled with dried lavender and stitch almost closed. Then I stitched on the green felt tops using slip stitch (google again). The last thing was to add a loop of ribbon so the strawberries can be hung off a clothes hanger. They did take some time to make but I have got to say I enjoyed doing it :)

Thanks for visiting and perhaps you can Just Add some Love this week too!

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Tart and Tangy
Cardstock: Riding Hood Red (plain and textured), Whisper White
Ink: Real Red, Old Olive
Accessories: Bella Rose DSP (R), Riding Hood Red striped grosgrain ribbon (R), Certainly Celery and Old Olive 1/8" taffeta ribbon, Pure Poppy and Simply Chartreuse felt (PaperTrey Inc), 5 Petal flower punch, 1 3/4" , 1 3/8" circle punch, Scallop circle punch, Silver cord (R), Tombow, Sticky Strip, dried Lavender

Make it Monday 1 - Thinking of You

2011-02-10T20:20:00.000+11:00

Hello there,

well this is turning out to be a bumper week on the blog! Yes I do have something else to show you - Mr almost 3 who was feeling very poorly with a cold (which he has now oh so kindly passed on to Mum) actually had a nap Tuesday - and I set straight to work to have a go at the very first PTI Make it Monday challenge. The first technique/ challenge was to use a sentiment collage on your card.

So I pulled all my PTI sets out of the cupboard and started thinking - and decided to go with a thinking about you card! Once I had Tiny Treats Valentine out and On My Couch I just couldn't go past putting that very cute little doggy on the couch.

OK I started with Chocolate base, then added a layer of Aqua Mist, my sentiment collage was added to the bottom of the Aqua panel all stamped in Chocolate except one key sentiment in red. For an accent I added a little red heart next to it and a couple more brown ones else where in the sentiment collage. For the upper half I used some white cardstock impressed with the Linen and Canvas impression plate. I added a scalloped strip of Happy Spots patterned paper over the join. For the focal point I used a Mat Stack 3 die cut, over that I added a couch die cut from Happy Spots paper. To give the couch some shading I used a copic (BG11). I stamped the little dog and coloured him in with copics (E35, 37,39 R29), cut him out and used dimensionals to sit him on the couch. The final accents were a cluster of buttons, all threaded with bakers twine, and some more bakers twine wound across the die cut. Oh and I added a little glaze to the two red hearts.

My DH is likely to do some travelling later this year - so I'm thinking this might be good card to write and tuck into his suitcase to open while he is away.

Thanks for visiting,

Kim

Recipe:
Stamps: On My Couch, Tiny Treats Valentine, Through the Trees, Blooming Button Bits (PaperTrey Inc), Curly Cute, So Happy for You (SU!)
Cardstock: Aqua Mist, Stamper Select White (PTI), Chocolate Chip, Whisper White (SU!)
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Real Red (SU!), Tuxedo Rich Cocoa
Accessories: Copic markers, Happy Spots patterned paper (PTI), Mat Stack 3 die (PTI), On My Couch die (PTI), Linen and Canvas Impression plate (PTI), Scallop border punch (SU!), Bakers twine chocolate (PTI), Dark Chocolate, Pure Poppy and Spring Rain buttons (PTI), Two step owl punch (SU!), Aqualip/Glaze pen - clear (Sakura), Dimensionals (SU!), Double sided tape (X Press)

Newsprint butterflies

2011-02-09T17:00:00.001+11:00

Hi there all,

well before my Mr almost 3's head numbing cold descended on me I did managed to get some stamping in. One of the things I wanted to do was participate in a new blog challenge, jac-inks Papercraft challenges, set up by some SU! demos, who I'm pretty sure live in my neck of the woods so to speak. The first challenge was to use any neutral plus one colour.

I needed to prepare a card, that illustrated some different ways to use the Big Shot, for a workshop so that is what I had in mind when I put this together. I also want to mention that the layout is largely CASED from a card by a very talented DT colleague of mine Bronwyn Eastley. Bron's was all neutral and I changed the focal element and added some extra ones.

I used Naturals Ivory (still a neutral just not on the list -so I hope that counts!) as the base, cut A frame, cut an extra piece for the top that was embossed with the Vintage Wallpaper folder. What you can't see in the picture is that I sprayed that embossed piece with Champagne Mist shimmer paint mist. It has a fabulous sparkle if you catch it in the right light! Ok at the bottom of the embossed piece I added a strip of Newsprint DSP, laid over some Red Riding Hood that had a scallop trim border. All that was left was to add some butterflies in a mix of Newsprint pattern and Riding Hood Red and of course a sentiment. I just added one more butterfly to finish off the inside.

Neutrals plus one colour is definitely a nice way to go - so thanks to the jac-inks team for a great challenge - I wish you well with your new venture - have fun!!

Thanks for visiting,

Kim

Recipe: All SU!
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Cardstock: Naturals Ivory, Riding Hood Red
Ink: Riding Hood Red
Accessories: Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Beautiful Butterflies BigZ die, Beautiful Wings embosslit, Champagne Mist shimmer paint, Jewels - pearls, Scallop Trim border punch, Sticky strip, Dimensionals, Double sided tape, SNAIL adhesive.

Inkspiration 56 - A rose for you

2011-02-08T21:50:00.000+11:00

Hi all,

this week I feel busy, like seriously up to my eyeballs busy! My Miss 6 is starting "big" school and I have had to sew all the name tags into her clothes (I'm not a natural born seamstress folks), I have made invitations to the kids birthday party (just simple but it takes time), Mr almost 3 has got a cold and needs lots of Mumma cuddles (OK no complaints from me about that - I love my cuddles). I still have to wrap all his presents (he will be Mr 3 on Saturday!) Oh and I'm preparing for my first workshop in a year!! Looking forward to it though :) AND now I have Mr almost 3's cold - sniff sniff drip :( Hmm doesn't sound like that much but trust me I'm finding it hard to find time to breathe!! (but that could just be my drippy nose - lol).

OK now onto the stamping (which I did manage to squeeze in and I'm so glad I did) as ooh I have got to tell you Makeesha set a gorgeous colour challenge this week!! A really nice combo to play with, here it is.

I have been meaning to try making a rose using the Fancy Flower punch for a while, and one of my fabulous Just Add Ink DT colleagues (Tania Gould) has posted a fab tutorial about it so I decided Cherry Cobler was just the right colour and went from there.

I've been feeling very vintagey lately so bear with me if I post alot along that theme. For this card I decided to make a scalloped circle easel card, so I cut one Baja Breeze circle for the top and a joined scallop circle card base also in Baja. Cut a Cherry Cobler mat and then a Whisper White one. I cut some Parisian Breeze DSP for the bottom half of the front, and stamped En Francais on the top half (Baja Breeze stamped off once.) Then I added a thin strip of Newsprint DSP rumpled along the join between the two. I also sponged Cherry Cobler around most of the layers.
I used Tania's tutorial to make a rose out of Cherry Cobler, I crumpled all the bits before rolling them into shape. I also sponged Cherry and a light coating of Black on the edges of the petals, once it was all put together I also gave the rose and the black swirls a light misting with Silver Glimmer Mist (a Secret Santa pressie from Tania - how appropriate is that ;)) Then added a pearl. I continued the vintagey, swirly feel through to the inside. Not sure who it's going to yet but I have two possible lovely ladies in mind - I might have to toss a coin!

I have to admit I really like how this one turned out - hope you like it too :)

Thanks for visiting,
Kim

Recipe: All SU!(unless otherwise noted)
Stamps: En Francais, Teeny Tiny Sentiments, Vintage Labels (R)
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Cherry Cobler, Whisper White Basic Black
Ink: Baja Breeze, Cherry Cobler, Basic Black
Accessories:Scallop circle BigZ die, Fancy Flower punch, Large Oval punch, Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Swirls and Scribbles sizzlet, Lots of Tags sizzlet, Newsprint DSP, Parisian Breeze DSP (R), Jewel - pearls, Crystal effects, Silver Glimmer Mist, Dimensionals, Double sided tape, SNAIL adhesive, sponge

Happy Birthday PTI

2011-02-06T08:13:00.003+11:00

Hi there,

PaperTrey Inc are just starting their fourth birthday celebrations, see Nichole Heady's post here, and they have a fabulous crafty hugemongeous prize for Day 1, all you need to do is repost your favourite PTI post of the last year. I had a quick browse this morning and decided to go with these little cuties I made last December. I was really delighted when these were selected as one of Passion for PaperTrey top three picks for their Christmas challenge :). So please read on about the little treat boxes for the kids. Here's the end result. First a close up of the girls boxes. And a close up of the boys boxes

The boxes are fusion of SU! and PTI. To start with I used the Favor it 2 box die to cut the boxes out (you need two per box) Baja Breeze for the boys and Real Red for the girls. (I decided to use some retired SU! DSP Ski Slope to decorate the boxes hence the colour scheme.) I labelled the boxes using first a Mat Stack 1 die cut (stamped with the matching Mat Stack stamp from Tiny Treats: Christmas) then different Limitless Layers 1 3/4" circles for the girls and boys. Lastly I added a stamped and coloured image from Tiny Treat: Christmas - Santa for the girls and seriously the cutest reindeer ever for the boys. I coloured the Santa and reindeer in using SU! markers. The last touch was just a few rhinestones to bling them up a bit - a very important detail according to my Miss 5 (she made sure the girls got three rhinestones on theirs!) I used a cello bag filled it with a few home made Christmas biscuits we'd made Saturday afternoon and some little chocolate Santa's. Then tied it closed with some dotty Real Red ribbon.

It was a labor of love - but fun I have got to say :) and the kids loved them which definitely makes it worth while!!

Thanks for visiting,
Kim

Recipe: SU! and PaperTrey Inc
Stamps: Tiny Treats: Christmas (PTI)
Cardstock: Real Red, Baja Breeze, Whisper White (all SU!)
Ink: Real Red, Baja Breeze, Basic Black, Close to Cocoa, YoYo Yellow, Brocade Blue
Accessories: SU! Ski Slope DSP (R), Real Red stitched dotty grosgrain ribbon, small cello bags, Sticky Strip, 1 3/4 " circle punch, Dimensionals, PTI Favor it Box 2 die, Mat Stack 1 die, Limitless Layers 1 3/4" circle dies

Just Add Ink 54 - Just add a colour combo

2011-02-03T22:25:00.001+11:00

Hi there,

yes it’s that time of the week, time for another Just Add Ink challenge :) This week we have a colour combo for you to turn your hand to. Want to know what it is??

The colours struck me as being kind of vintagey, and since my Elements of Style set had barely seen ink I decided this was the time to have a go.

I went with a Regal Rose base to try and keep things light, then layered that with Early Expresso and then DSP (text pattern – love this!). I inked up my large flowering branch stamp first with Versamark, then with Soft Suede, stamped it on watercolour paper and embossed with clear powder, then I watercoloured it using ink pad lids and aquapainter. If the oval edges look a bit rough it’s because they are. I decided I wanted the stamp to overflow the oval so I pressed the nestie cutting edge in to make a bit of an impression and then hand cut. That was framed with Early Expresso and then a scalloped Regal Rose oval. I added a bird up the top embellished with a rhinestone, and down below the oval three layers of scalloped text DSP in Regal Rose, Rose Red and Early Expresso. Lastly I added some Early Expresso satin ribbon and two tiny tags. The inside is finished off with another embossed and coloured flowering branch.

This one kind of evolved on me but I must admit I am quite happy with the end result and with a colour combo I would not have expected to ever try or like for that matter but I do! So can you see yourself turning your hand to this one – please do and then link your creation back to Just Add Ink.

Thanks for visiting,

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Elements of Style, Tiny Tags
Cardstock: Regal Rose, Early Expresso, Very Vanilla
Ink: Soft Suede, Regal Rose, Rose Red, Early Expresso, Versamark
Accessories: Neutral, Subtles, and Brights DSP pattern stacks, Medium Jewelery Tag punch,Scallop border punch, Oval (Classic and scalloped) Nestabilites (Spellbinder), Early Expresso satin ribbon, Linen thread, Jewels - rhinestones, Clear embossing powder, watercolour paper, aquapainter, Dimensionals, Double sided tape, SNAIL adhesive

Inkspirations 55 - eat cupcake!

2011-02-01T21:30:00.000+11:00

Hi there,

well we made it through Miss Sixes birthday, although she informs me her real birthday will be when she has a party!! Hmm I obviously still have some work to do and of course Mr almost 3 is old enough now to make it quite clear he wants a fuss and party and all things nice when its HIS birthday too! Ok enough chatter - onto today's card - for this weeks Inkspiration sketch challenge. Here's the sketch.

The DT did a fabulous job of showcasing wonderful ways to deal with this multi square design, in the end I went with repeating the same image. Here's what happened.

A square card (again but you see I've got a stash of envelopes just perfect for this size) 4 1/2 by 4 1/2 Melon Mambo base, layered with Early Expresso. Then I stamped my cupcake inchie 9 times on Whisper White and then punched them all out with the 1 1/4 inch sq punch. Mounted each square on dimensionals then added them to the Expresso layer. To act as the focal point I stamped my Party Hearty cupcake in Early Expresso on Whisper White. Then I cut a Melon Mambo top to match (using the stamp as a guide). I stamped a little vine image in Versamark on the Mambo top and white embossed it, then added a rhinestone to finish it. The cupcake top was mounted on dimensionals as was the cupcake. I used a decorative circle to frame the cupcake and some Melon Mambo ribbon to finish off the front. The inside was just simply finished off with a little inchie cupcake coloured in with markers.

I was thinking girls birthday card but since Miss Six tells me she doesn't like it because it has too much pink - say what!!!! - oh and there is no yellow (yellow is right at the top of her favourite colours right now) so given these glaring issues I've decided this is a big girls birthday card.

Thanks for visiting,

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Cute by the Inch, Party Hearty
Cardstock: Melon Mambo, Early Expresso, Whisper White
Ink: Early Expresso, Melon Mambo, Versamark
Accesories: White embossing powder, 1 3/4" limitless layer die (Papertrey Inc), 1 3/4" circle punch, Scallop circle punch, 1 3/8" , 1 1/4" circle punches, 1 1/4" square punch, Melon Mambo dotty grosgrain ribbon (R), Jewels - rhinestones, Dimensionals, SNAIL adhesive, Double sided tape (X Press)