Merry Monday 68

Hello there,
bright and funky sprang to mind when I saw the sketch for this weeks Merry Monday challenge, not sure why, may'be just as a counter balance to mid winter chill and an over supply of opportunistic germs that have been visiting our house. Here's the sketch.

And here is what I came up with.

I tinkered pulled apart bits of this a couple of times over the last few days to finally end up with something I was reasonably happy with. I quite like the colours, particularly the green embossing over the pink, but it was just getting the balance between DSP patterns and "white" space right that took a while. I also used this card to play around with one of SU! new in colours, Strawberry Slush, a lovely bright pink :) I wanted to finish off with some sparkle - so threaded all the buttons with silver cord and added a silver star to top the tree.

Thanks for visiting,
Kim


Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Everything Eleanor, More Merry Messages, Tree Trimming Trio (PaperTrey Ink)
Cardstock: Strawberry Slush, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White
Ink: Strawberry Slush, Versamark
Accessories: Christmas Tree die  (PTI), Wild Wasabi embossing powder, Merry Mini punch, Fishtail Flag stax and Fishtail Flags Layers stax (My Favorite Things), Hibiscus Burst vintage buttons (PTI), SNAIL adhesive, Christmas Carnival DSP (Kaiser), Silver glimmer paper, Silver cord (R), Dimensionals, Tombow, Double sided tape (X Press)

JAI 171 Just add a sketch

Hello there,
well despite the germs that have been besieging our house here in the depths of winter I have been scrounging time to work on crafty projects as getting inky always brings some sunshine with it. So with no more ado the challenge this week at Just Add Ink is to Just Add a sketch. Another great one from Mae!

Here's what I came up with.

I got very layered, ornate and a tad whimsical with this one. I pulled out lots of DSP and mixed it with a gorgeous ornate frame that acts as a stage for a rather celebratory birdy. To make the sentiment stand out a bit more I embossed it on some vellum and used that as a panel inside the frame. I must admit I had fun piling on all the elements for this one. I'm not a CAS girl at heart ;)

Thanks for visiting and do check out the rest of the DT for more fabulous sketch inspiration.
Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Papaya Collage, Afterthoughts
Cardstock: Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Vellum
Ink: Riding Hood Red, Basic Black, Versamark
Accessories: Newsprint DSP (R), Love Letter DSP (R), Large Scallop edgelit, Cherry Cobler embossing powder, Cherry Cobler seam binding, Jewels - pearls, Dimensionals, Double sided tape (X Press)

JAI 170 Just add leaves

Hello there,
we have a challenge this week at Just Add Ink that makes me think of a very specific time of year - autumn. This week we want you to Just Add Leaves. They certainly don't have to just be autumn leaves! Check out the rest of the DT for some fabulous leafy inspiration. This is what I came up with as a birthday card for my FIL.

My FIL at 70 yo is still a hang glider enthusiast so I usually try to add some airy aspects to his cards. I started by sponging in a subtle cloudy background and adding some tiny hot air balloons, then had lots of fun inking up a bunch of leaves in gorgeous subdued autumn tones. Then I strung the leaves up as a banner, and added a little accent to the sentiment by piercing around it.

I loved the way the leaves turned out, I just feel like I see/feel them flapping in the autumn breeze :)

Thanks for visiting,

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: French Foliage, Perfectly Penned, Collage Curios
Cardstock: Cajun Craze, Marina Mist, Naturals White, Crumb Cake
Ink: Cajun Craze, Marina Mist, Riding Hood Red, Crumb Cake
Accessories: Bitty Banner framelits, Essentials piercing pack, Vintage brad (R), Early Expresso bakers twine, Double sided tape (X Press), Dimensionals

Merry Monday 67

Hello there,

well I didn't get the chance to play along with Merry Monday last week and that was because I was busy prepping up a guest designer card for the new Merry Monday challenge 67 that starts today! This week Lesley has another great sketch to work with. Here it is.

And this is what I came up with.

I couldn't resist colouring up this cute little reindeer and framing him in a wintery snow globe. I resisted my usual temptation to go with a blue colour scheme and went red/ brown this time as I felt it suited my reindeer. A touch of glitter and embossing add a subtle shine to the reindeer and a little faux stitching finished off the card.

Well I enjoyed my chance to play along with the Merry Monday challenge this week and hope you will too!

Thanks for visiting,
Kim 

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Winter Snow Globe, Fillable Frames #9,Tremendous Treats Christmas (PaperTrey Ink)
Cardstock: Real Red, Early Expresso,Very Vanilla
Ink: Early Expresso, Crumb Cake, Real Red, Versamark, Vintage Cream (PTI)
Accessories: Candlelight Christmas DSP (R), Copics markers, Sending You die (PTI), Early Expresso embossing powder, Mat pack and piercing tool,  Stitched dotty Real Red grosgrain ribbon, 1/8" Early Expresso taffeta ribbon, Atyou spica clear glitter pen, Double sided tape (X Press), Dimensionals

JAI 169 Just add inspiration

Hello there,
well we have a fun challenge for you this week at Just Add Ink -  a gorgeous Just Add Inspiration photo. Funnily enough what it reminds me of is the sunrises I'm seeing out the kitchen window (well some days anyway), as I get the kids lunch boxes and breakfasts prepared in the early hours of the morning. My reward after all that's done is a big cup of fragrant Earl Grey tea - yummmm and a daily pinterest catch up :) Here's the inspiration photo.

And here's what I came up with. A birthday card for a friend who lives far across the ocean. May'be even the one in the photo!

It was the graduation of colour and the black that really struck me about the image. Having decided I would use a white base that meant black foliage. To bring the colour in I die cut layered delicate flowers that followed the colour transition in the inspiration image.  Then blinged them up with some shimmer spray and rhinestone brads. Embossing the sentiment in black on the Pure Poppy cardstock brings in a bit of that black against colour effect from the picture and a scattering of coloured rhinestones finished it all off. 

Where will the picture take you? Hope you can join us this week at Just Add Ink and find out :)

Thanks for visiting,
Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Turning a New Leaf, Fillable Frames #1 and #11 (PaperTrey Ink)
Cardstock: Poppy Parade, Calypso Coral, Tempting Turquoise, Elegant Eggplant, Basic Black
Ink: Basic Black, Poppy Parade, Versamark
Accessories: Bloom Builder # 3 die, Fillable Frame # 11 die, Linen and Canvas impression plate (PTI), Black embossing powder, Frost White shimmer paint, Clear rhinestone brads (R), coloured rhinestones (Kaiser), Dimensionals, Double sided tape (X press)

Merry Monday 60 Polka Dot Presents

Hello there,
just squeaking in once again with this week's Merry Monday challenge. Here's the sketch. Which I flipped.

I pulled out an old SU! set (one of my first ever Christmas sets) for this and decided to do a bit of therapeutic paper piecing.

I wanted little fun pops of colour against the Crumb Cake background and honestly I don't think you can go wrong with polka dot paper! A few embossed snowflakes, paper piercing, button and twine finish it all off. Most unusually no bling!! Somehow it seems bright and fun enough with out it.

Thanks for visiting,
Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: More Merry Messages, Sleigh Full of Toys (R)
Cardstock: Real Red, Whisper White, Crumb Cake
Ink: Real Red, Basic Black, Versamark, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Marina Mist, Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry
Accessories: Polka Dot Parade DSP, Neutrals DSP stack, Dotted scalloped border punch, White embossing powder, Crumb Cake button, Cherry Cobler bakers twine, Mat and piercing tool, , White gel pen, Aquapainter, Dimensionals, Double sided tape (X Press), Tombow multi

JAI 168 Just Add a Sketch

Hello there,
well Mae has another great sketch for us this week at Just Add Ink. 

I took one small liberty and flipped the sketch so that star element was on the left hand side instead. I put it to good use to make my Mum's and MIL mother's day cards. First up my Mum's.  It was in the course of making this that I realised I actually really rather like Calypso Coral!

And this is the version for my MIL, same DSP as above just the flip side.

I love how they both turned out and so did my Mum and MIL :)

Do go and check out the rest of the DT for some fabulous ideas for ways to use this sketch. Hope you can join us! Thanks for visiting,

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Calypso version
Stamps: Field Flowers
Cardstock: Calypso Coral, Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla, Early Expresso coreindation
Ink: Calypso Coral, Riding Hood Red, Early Expresso, Sahara Sand
Accessories: honeycomb embossing folder, Classic Oval nestabilities (Spellbinder), Bitty Banner framelit, Antique brads, Calypso Coral ruffled ribbon, Early Expresso baker's twine, Double sided tape, Dimensionals

Pretty in Pink version
Stamps: Field Flowers
Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Very Vanilla, Early Expresso, Early Expresso coreindation
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Crumb Cake, Early Expresso, Sahara Sand
Accessories: Honeycomb embossing folder, Classic Oval nestabilities (Spellbinder), Bitty Banner framelit, Naturals designer button, Crumb Cake seam binding, Light pink twine (Twinery), Double sided tape (X press), Dimensionals

Merry Monday 64 - Blue Christmas Tree DSP

Hello there,
well once again I'm just scraping in with this weeks Merry Monday challenge! Another great sketch.

 And with no more ado - here is what I came up with.

I played around with ink and DSP - always a lot of fun :) The brayered background was inspired by meeting up a lovely friend Paula Dobson at SU!s South Pacific Convention last week. She did a awesome presentation on the bouncing brayer technique. I didn't try and bounce it here but I love how you can get a transition of colour by brayering! I also pulled out all my small Christmas tree dies and blue DSP patterns and mixed and matched till I got the effect I wanted. To finish it off I added sparkle  - of course - sparkly snowflakes and trees are a must ;)

Thanks for visiting,
Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Winter Snow Globe, Background Basics: Herringbone (PaperTrey Ink)
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Not Quite Navy, Vellum
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Marina Mist, Bashful Blue, Vintage Cream (PTI)
Accessories: Winter Snow Globe die, Love Lives Here: Holiday die, Double ended banner die (PTI), Scentsational Season die, Bella Bleu DSP (R), Beau Chateau DSP (R), Christmas Cocoa DSP (R), 1 1/4" circle punch, Silver brads, Iridescent Ice embossing powder, brayer, Stickles, Dimensionals, Double sided tape (X Press)