Hi everyone,
well this week I'm back with a card to welcome a baby girl to the world. The starting point was to use Makeesha Byl's weekly challenge - this weeks it's a sketch, with a circle element - love those! And since I love to use DSP (patterned paper) I couldn't pass up the Just Add Ink challenge this week too. First up here's the sketch.
And here's the card
The challenge is hosted by one Keesh's DT this week, Cindy Major and Cindy added the extra element that you must use something you've been hoarding. Not hard in my case ;) I knew I wanted to put my button bellied teddy bear in the middle of the circle. Next I hunted for some DSP that would fit the pastelly brown/ pink theme I wanted to use. Having selected the DSP I then stamped my bear on and trimmed it out, then mounted him up on dimensionals above a contrasting DSP pattern. Then added a pink chocolate threaded button to his belly with Tombow. In retrospect I think the button is actually a bit too big. The bear is framed by a Close to Cocoa layer then a large Pink Pirouette scalloped circle. Down the bottom I added my most hoarded element a Build a Brad, had them for over a year and never cracked the tin. I used the Brad (backed by another hoarded element a Felt Fusion flower) to anchor the sentiment banner. To balance that all out I added a couple Felt Fusion Too flowers (letting all the stops out on hoarding now!) layered with a threaded button to the upper left of the scalloped circle. I couldn't go past using a new EK success punch I picked up this week to give a lovely border to the vertical sketch strip and it nicely echos the scalloped cirlce - I hope! I added two ribbons over the top of the Close to Cocoa strip. I tried something new for me, dyeing ribbon. I used a sponge dauber and my Pink Pirouette ink pad to dye some white taffeta - since I wanted to keep the pink/cocoa theme. Finally to finish off the front I stitched around the edge of the top layer using some pale pink thread. The inside is finished off simply to match the front. Overall I'm mostly happy with the end result - one other reservation, beside how big the bears belly button is (try saying that when you've had a couple of glasses of wine!!) is that the front is over cluttered. But you can't get it right 100% of the time and I do like it!
Thanks for visiting,
Kim
Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Short and Sweet, Baby Button Bits (PaperTrey Ink)
Cardstock: Close to Cocoa, Pink Pirouette
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Pink Pirouette
Accessories: Candy Lane DSP, Circle nestabilities, EK Success border punch, Felt Fusion Too, Build a Brad, Pretty in Pink narrow grosgrain ribbon, White Taffeta, 3/4" circle punch, Cropodile, Sweet Blush and Chocolate buttons (PaperTrey Inc), Sticky Strip, Tombow, Dimensionals, Double sided tape
Hi everyone,
my did Makeesha have a in your face colour combo for her Inkspiration challenge this week! My first thought was argh how do work with that. But the DT put together some fantastic examples and the combo was rapidly growing on me. Factor in some zen time for thinking while I put Mr 2 to bed and I had an idea to work with! Here is the colour combo.
And here is the outcome.
I started with some folded over Pumpkin Pie cardstock which I then cut with my Scallop Circle die. To get an instant card just make sure you don't completely cover the die - that way you get your fold. Next on some Whisper White I stamped the flowering branch from Eastern Blooms. I inked up the stamp using markers for this, colouring the branches Chocolate and then the flowers in mixed Eggplant and Pumpkin. I could then place my circle nestie over the image and cut. I did try one extra trick - to trim out the end of the branch with my scissors and carefully lay this over the die so when it cut the circle the end of the branch would remain extending out from the circle - it worked :). Oh and when I cut the white image layer I also laid my DSP over so that was cut at the same time. Finally I cut a mat of Eggplant, then one of Whisper White. To embellish the front I stamped three flowers and trimmed them out, adding contrasting brads to highlight the centre. Another little trick that I tried was to colour a white brad (with Copic marker V09) to get an Eggplant coloured one - I put on two layers of ink letting it dry in between. Nice! I mounted the flowers on dimensionals above the branch, added a Chocolate rub on for the sentiment and then layered on some narrow Eggplant grosgrain (using sticky strip) to cover the image/DSP transition. The final touch, after some deliberation, was to sponge Pumpkin Pie and then Elegant Eggplant around the edges of the Pumpkin scallop circle base, and just some Pumpkin on the white edge of the image panel. The inside was finished off very simply to match.
I quite liked the end result - its always nice to end feeling that way :) I think I can see more circle cards in the future.
Thanks for visiting,
Kim
Recipe: All SU!(unless otherwise noted)
Stamps: Eastern Blooms
Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Elegant Eggplant, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Scallop Circle Die, Haiku DSP, Chit Chat rub-ons, narrow Elegant Eggplant grosgrain ribbon, Circle nestabilities (Spellbinder), Earth Element brads, white brad colours with V09 Copic marker, sponge, Sticky Strip,Dimensionals, SNAIL adhesive, Double sided tape.
Hi all,
well our household has been a tale of woe for the last week, with a family sized, all member, cold. Seriously I reckon we have gone through two boxes of tissues between the four of us, and we still haven't reached the end! It's been that bad that I just had no energy to stamp or summon up inspiration!! Just as well I'm a week ahead on Keesh's challenge. I did manage to grab the camera this morning though after dropping Miss 5 off to school to photograph, an oldie but a goodie. The birthday card I made for my little boyo when he turned two earlier this year. The inspiration for the design came from a gorgeous card that Kirsty Brown posted here.
And of course an inside to match
I started with a base of Riding Hood Red, rounded all the corners, then stamped it with Polka Dot in RRH ink. For the image panel I started with a So Saffron layer, then layered that with some of the cloudy DSP from Sweet Slumber (love this!) on the top and Washington Apple on the bottom. The transition is covered by a sentiment banner (RHH and Baja Breeze) which steps down from the image panel to the base layer. I stamped some balloon strings onto the cloudy DSP and then stamped the giraffe from Wild About You in RHH, then trimmed him out. The giraffe is mounted on dimensionals over the strings, so he can hold them in his mouth - of course ;). Lots of buttons finish it off. Two as balloons, and two on the sentiment banner. Mr Two's birthday milestone is added as the final balloon, RRH stamped on So Saffron and then covered with crystal effects.
I was pretty happy with how it turned out - I figured it was probably the last time I could get away with using a cute animal for his birthday cards - they grow up so fast!! I'm pretty sure next year he would rather have a car or train etc - no cute and fuzzies!
Thanks for visiting,
Kim
Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise mentioned
Stamps: Wild About You, Polka Dot, Party Hearty, Everyday Button Bits (PaperTrey Inc)
Cardstock: Riding Hood Red, So Saffron, Baja Breeze, Whisper White
Ink: Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze
Accessories: Corner rounder punch, Sweet Slumber Specialty, Washington Apple DSP, Button Bouquet, Playground Buttons, Pure Poppy buttons (PTI), 3/4" circle punch, crystal effects, Dimensionals, SNAIL adhesive, Tombow, various embroidery threads
Hi there,
well I'm delighted to be back today posting my guest design team card for Makeesha Byl's weekly challenge (see link at bottom). If you play along with this weeks challenge you too have the chance to get selected as the next guest designer. So what is this weeks challenge - well it's a sketch.
Here's what I came up with....
And of course I finished off the inside to match - with a bit of a grotto for the unicorn to emerge from.
Well given I had made a boys birthday card for the last challenge I decided to go girly today. I actually bought Pony Party "for" my daughter, not me, well that was my excuse at the time ;) but hadn't inked it up yet. Somehow it was rather daunting to approach. But once again an idea struck me as I was putting Mr 2 to bed. Yes I know this is a reoccuring theme - but its dark and quiet and relaxing and somehow that really works as thinking time for me. So I knew I was going to try working with Pony Party and I wanted to go pink and chocolate, with flowers and glitter. First I started with a Regal Rose base and stamped the floral vine from Vintage Vogue all around the border. Next I picked out the DSP I wanted to use for the sketch panels, layered them up on Chocolate Chip, then got out my sewing machine then using "chocolate" thread stitched a border around them. Because the main DSP pattern had a very white background I couldn't use watercolour paper for the pony, so Stazon on Whisper White it was. I tried colouring the image in with both watercolour wonder crayons and ink from the ink pad lids and ended up going with the ink pad lid version. The pony was finished off a rim of pale Going Gray, trimmed to size and then stitched with pink thread about three sides. Once mounted on a Regal Rose and scalloped Chocolate matte I then added Dazzling Diamonds to horn, mane and hoof. The final touches for the front were the sentiment panel, using matching DSP and an embossed greeting and of course the gorgeous little chocolate flower buttons tied with pink thread bows. The inside was finished off to match.
Thanks so much for visiting, and don't forget to visit the rest of the design team.
Makeesha Byl Kirsty Brown Sarah Jane Kale
Teneale Williams Cindy Major
Renee Van Stralen Lee Pelosi June Guest Designer
Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Pony Party
Cardstock: Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Ink: Stazon Timber Brown (Non SU), Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, Rose Red, Going Gray, Versamark
Accessories: Scallop Edge punch, Scalloped Oval punch, Large Oval punch, Word Window punch, Sweet Always DSP, Button Latte, Dazzling Diamonds, Two Way Glue, Dimensionals, Double Sided Tape, Glue dots, Aqua Painter, sewing machine, pink embroidery thread.
Hi all,
welcome back for this weeks first installment. Yep don't forget to check back in Friday PM when I post my guest design team card for Makeesha Byl's next challenge. But right now lets get on to today. Keesh's challenge this week was a colour challenge here the coloiur palette:
With my Miss 5 at (pre) school this year her potential to attend birthday parties is expanding and so I am working on building up a stash of birthday cards - so I hopefully won't be rushing at the last minute trying to throw something together - or gasp ;) buying one! So expect lots of birthdays till the christmas card push begins anyway lol!
So birthday card + boy somehow came together to this end (the idea somehow popped into my head as I was cuddling Mr 2 pre bed)
And the inside finished off to match the front.
I started by cutting an A frame Kraft base, then matted that with Real Red and Whisper White, polka dot embossed but turned to the debossed side. Next I cut a square Kraft panel and four squares - two Red and two Basic Grey - to layer over it. Now comes the stamping ;) - using Versamark I stamped my Choo Choo engine on Real Red, Basic Grey and Kraft and then embossed with white. Using the 1 3/8" circle punch I punched out an engine from each, slightly changing the engine placement on each. For the final panel it was either put a number (but I don't have the Big Shot alphabet dies - (yet) or a birthday sentiment. The good thing about using the sentiment was that it means I can use it for a 4 or 5 or even 6 year old - keeps my options open! So I stamped and embossed the sentiment, then as the finishing touch for that I added a row of piercing above and below. All the circles were then adhered onto a square, mounted up on dimensionals. The square Kraft panel was then mounted up on dimensionals over a strip of Real Red polka dot ribbon (turned plain side up) - and thats it. Well except for finishing the inside.
I have to admit to being happy with how this turned out - clean, stylish, great for a boy with some texture from the (de)bossing and shine from the heat embossing. It's nice when an idea comes together :) !
Thanks so much for visiting :) Don't forget to pop back later this week.
Kim
Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Choo Choo (R), A Little Birthday Cheer
Cardstock: Kraft, Real Red, Whisper White, Basic Grey
Ink: Versamark, Basic Grey
Accessories: Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, 1 3/8" circle punch, white embossing powder, Real Red stitched polka dot grosgrain ribbon, Mat pack and piercing tool, Dimensionals, Double sided tape.
Hi all,
yep back again. Just a little late in getting my post convention post up!!
Wow well what an experience, I have got to say my first impression was of being overwhelmed - so many excited women talking and swapping. I recognised some and got to meet some special people - waving hi to Linda (you won't have realised but you got my first swap ever - and yours was my first swap!!) , Sarah Jane and Kirsty. It blew me away that a few people recognised me!!(Hi Natasha - thanks for saying hi :) Overwhelming as I said but really nice.
Before I go any further I want to say hello to some lovely ladies I got to meet and spend time with at Convention. First my sideline Krysta - it was really fun to share this experience with you.
Then some friends of a dear friend who gladly adopted Krysta and I - waving a big hi to Di, Leanne, Kelly, Cathy and Anamaria. Here's a picture of us with Shelli. Yep I'm in a picture with Shelli - it just spins me out saying that - its so surreal.
Finally I also want to send out a hello to Sharnee and Carli these two were real fun to share a table with for the make and take session - even sleep deprived (- I'm sure you've read the two time fire alarm story on lots of blogs).
Thanks to the above ladies (to me the most important thing about convention is the people - I loved all the creative ideas, general sessions, memento hall, the dinner and awards (the Fijian dance troupe was amazing!!) I had a wonderful first convention experience and am looking forward to going to Melbourne in 2011 to catch up with "old" friends and meet some of the other talented people I only glimpsed this time.
Now, finally, if you have managed to hang on through all of the above here are my swaps.Little Leaves
Vintage Vogue
Fox and Friends
Manhattan Rose
Sorry about the peg being in the pic's but it was the only way to get the swaps to stand up right as they are only card front ;)Thanks for visiting,
Kim
Recipes
Little Leaves
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Ink: Close to Cocoa
Cardstock: Whisper White, Close to Cocoa, Kiwi Kiss (textured)
Accessories: .Little Leaves die, Medium Jewellery Tag Punch, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Soft Suede Polka Dot grosgrain ribbon, Linen Thread
Fox and Friends
Stamps: Fox and Friends, Polka Dot, Short and Sweet
Ink: Tangerine Tango, Pacific Point
Cardstock: Whisper White, Tangerine Tango, Pacific Point
Accessories: Corner rounder, Tangerine Tango Striped grosgrain ribbon, Dimensionals
Vintage Vogue
Stamps: Vintage Vogue, Very Vintage
Ink: Basic Black, Sahara Sand, Versamark
Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Sahara Sand
Accessories: .Bella Bleu DSP, White Embossing Powder, Black Brad, Eyelet border punch, Sponge dauber, distressing tool (Cutter Kit), Dimensionals, Black Sewing Thread
Manhattan Rose
Stamps: Best Yet
Ink: Real Red
Cardstock: Whisper White, Real Red, Night of Navy
Accessories: .Washington Apple DSP, Manhattan Flower Embossing folder, Punches (Scalloped Oval, Large Oval, Corner rounder, 1/8” circle), Mat pack and piercing tool, Real Red wide grosgrain ribbon
Hi everyone,
well finally today marks the return of regular programming!! I had a wonderful time at convention met so many people (still have so many to meet) but more about that in another post. Hopefully I will also be able to post my swaps this week so I'll give you a run down then. The end result was I came home, happy and tired and have spent all week playing catch up (well I guess that's what happens when Mum goes off to play for the weekend!).
Anyway I was really delighted to get back into creating (since for the previous few weeks I had been flat out just putting together my swaps. Some friends are expecting a baby boy imminently so I wanted to make a baby card for them, and luckily for me Keesh's Inkspiration challenge this week was a lovely sketch that was just perfect for what I had in mind. Here's the sketch.
And here is my card.
A side view to show the embossing
And the inside
As the Dad to be's profession is as a horticulturist I wanted to use something that referenced that - I had just the perfect stamp in mind for it. I started by stamping my pea pod image in Old Olive on Whisper White twice, one I cut out with the circle scissor plus, then cut mats for it in Certainly Celery and Bashful Blue. The second pea pod I trimmed out, so I could mount it above the first, after I had added three blue buttons to be the "peas". The circle mats were adhered to a card base, that started first with Bashful Blue, then Certainly Celery and then retired Spring Break DSP. I stamped (Versamark and Old Olive) and embossed some lovely leafy sprigs on the DSP so they would pop out from beneath the circle mats. To finish off the card I added some Basful blue ribbon and the sentiment, white embossed on Certainly Celery. The final touch some blue buttons thread with Old Olive cardstock, which had the ends curled.
As usual I finished off the inside simply to match the front.
I was quite pleased with how it came out - so what do you think? Is it a good baby card?
Thanks for visiting I'll be back back again soon I hope!
Kim
Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Baby Button Bits (PaperTrey Inc), Turning a New Leaf (PTI), Studio Style (PTI)
Cardstock: Old Olive, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Whisper White
Ink: Old Olive, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Versamark
Accessories: Circle Scissors Plus, Word Window punch, Clear and White Embossing powder, Spring Break DSP (R), Spring Rain buttons (PTI), Bashful Blue stitched grosgrain ribbon, Tombow, Dimensionals, double sided tape.
