Just Add Ink 233 Just add a sketch

Hello there,
I'm breathing a sigh of relief and delight as another school term has just wrapped up. I'm looking forward to two weeks of no lunchboxes, some time with my munchkins and some time stamping! To begin "holiday" time we have a great challenge for you this week at Just Add Ink. This week we want you to Just Add a Sketch brought to us by Tina. 

The first thing I thought of when I saw the sketch was the big Amazing Birthday panel. It's perhaps a somewhat lateral approach to the sketch but by using colour blocking I was trying to represent the three elements Tina had on the banner.

As you can probably guess it's a masculine card - you'll be seeing a few more too in coming weeks - as September/October is the hot spot in my year for these. This one is for my DH. I just knew he would find the phrase "make your day ridiculously amazing" well a little ridiculous. So I found the perfect "your birthday" to layer right over the ridiculous - I think it worked out great! The final touch was adding a scatter of buttons, somehow that just looked right - and it adds just the right amount of metallic bling for a guy card ;)

Hope you can join us. Do check out the rest of the DT for lots of fabulous inspiration.
Thanks for visiting,
Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Amazing Birthday, Dictionary, Phrase Play #4 (PaperTrey Ink)
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Lost Lagoon, Pool Party, Whisper White
Ink: Lost Lagoon, Pool Party, Real Red, Early Expresso
Accessories: Large polka dot embossing folder, Banners framelits, Hexagon punch, Boxy Banners dies (PTI), Basic Metal buttons, Piercing mat and tool, Pinking shears, Cherry Cobler baker's twine, Doubled sided tape (X Press), Dimensionals

The Creative Blog Hop

Hello there,
it's not often you've seen an extra post from me this year as I have just been too busy doing the family work juggle. But a special crafting friend Nikki Spencer asked me to join in the Creative Blog Hop. 

So what it the Creative Blog Hop? It's a continuous blog hop every Monday where crafters answer questions about their crafting and creative processes. I'll answer the four questions and then at the end tag other crafters to continue on the blog hop the following Monday.

Nikki and I met as we are both on the Just Add Ink design team. Her creative talent always delights me and she is a truly warm and generous person. Despite living in different states we are lucky enough to catch up each year at the SU! South Pacific convention. So much fun!!! You can see Nikki's creative blog hop post here.

1. What am I working on now?
I'm usually juggling a whole bunch of different project for the JAI DT and my card classes. My last class was a special class on flowers and I have a christmas card class coming up next.

2. How does my work differ from others in my genre?
I'm not sure that it does! What it comes down to is that I love ink and paper. I think I can say for certain I don't have a distinctive style as such. I do like to chop and change and experiment. Even after nearly 8 years of crafting there are still so many new things to try. One thing I can say is that I do have a preference for layers and find CAS a really hard style to master!

3. Why do I create what I do?
Firstly I love the creative process. That spark of inspiration, of having that light bulb moment! Then seeing if you can take that idea and bring it to fruition! Secondly, I also love that I can share that passion and enjoyment of crafting with others. Show them you don't have to be anyone special - you just need to have a go and take it step by step! Last but not least I love being able to tailor gifts for family and friends, create those one of kind cards and projects that tell them that they are someone special!

4.How does my creative process work?
For my DT projects the starting point is defined by the challenge. Sometimes I have specific task in mind - I need to get that fathers day card made ASAP as a rather recent example - lol!! I also find it's really important to see what other crafters are doing. To get a feel for the trends, colours and textures that are inspiring others. I kind of visualise it as lots of snippets of ideas, colours and techniques going into my head and whirling around and when I'm mulling over a new project little bits will fly off and I'll think yes that exactly what I need to try!

Now I get to nominate other crafters to continue on the Creative Blog Hop next Monday, September 29th. I get to introduce you to two very talented and generous crafters who I both met through SU! and our shared delight in stamping. 

I asked Linda Higgins and was delighted when she accepted!  She is an inspirational SU! demo who reaches out to share that love of stamping through her blog. I always enjoy the chance to chat to Linda at convention - it's one of those great little moments that make convention special :) 

Linda Higgins

I'm Linda and I live on the NSW Central Coast (Australia) as a single mum with my two children who are 11 and 8. I have been a  Stampin'Up Demonstrator for a little over 8 years. I first was introduced to Papercrafts as a recovery strategy from Post Natal Depression after my daughter was born.  Creativity is an amazing form of therapy!  As a result I found new focus and friends and learned that artistic expression is so powerful to help you find yourself. I first became involved in Scrapbooking, which I adored, and then was invited to my first Stampin'Up workshop in 2006… I was instantly impressed with their product line, and saw the opportunity to earn some extra money for our family, doing something that I loved.  8 years later, I count myself as blessed to feed my little family with my paper crafting habit.  I run classes and workshops, both at home and in other's homes, and I have found so many wonderful friends and connections along the way.  I am indeed living my dream life, and am excited about our future. I hope you enjoy my creations too… which I share with the world via my blog, Youtube channel, Pinterest and Facebook page.  I love being part of the Papercraft community :-) and helping people discover their own creative journey. 

I also asked Di Barnes who has become a real special stamping friend. She is such a friendly, genuine, generous person! Di posts some fabulous projects on her blog with awesome instructions! I first met Di at my first SU! convention and have really enjoyed getting to know her over these past years.  

Di Barnes
Colour Me Happy

Hi there. I’m Di or colourmehappyDi if you see me online. My home is Sydney Australia, where I live with my darling husband, daughter, & two furry dogs.

I started scrapping in 2001 when my daughter was born, but my love-obsession with stamping & cardmaking really began in 2006 when Stampin’ Up! came to Australia & is still going strong. I’m fortunate to have my own room to create in, where there’s an ongoing battle with organisation & creative mess. Papercrafting has brought me so many blessings - the greatest being the wonderful friendships I’ve made through my Stampin’ Up! adventure.

Thanks to my lovely & talented friend Kim for tagging me in the Creative Blog Hop.

Thanks for visiting and don't forget to stop by Linda and Di's blogs next Monday!
Kim

Just Add Ink 232 Just add inspiration

Hello there,
my garden is slowly filling up with more colour every day as spring bulbs bloom and trees blossom. So the inspiration picture we have for the new challenge at Just Add Ink this week is very fitting. This week we want you to Just Add Inspiration.

The orange and pink was such a striking colour combo I knew I had to pull that out some how, and I tempered it with lots of white space.

So I started with a big bold flower set and rock and rolled some flowers to get the colour variation I was after. To add some subtle detail to the white background I embossed a texture into it. Then it was layer some flowers and foliage up into bunches and that's about it!

Hope you can join us for this inspiration challenge. For inspiration to get you started make sure to check out the rest of the JAI DT.

Thanks for visiting,
Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Perfect Pennants (SU!), Cutting Garden (PaperTrey Ink)
Cardstock: Melon Mambo, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink: Melon Mambo, Strawberry Slush, Pumpkin Pie, Pistachio Pudding, Garden Green, versamark
Accessories: Linen/ Canvas impression plate (PTI), Cutting Garden dies (PTI), Black embossing powder, 1/4" Melon Mambo cotton ribbon, Piercing mat and tool, Jewel- rhinestones, Dimensionals, Double sided tape (X press)

Just Add Ink 231

Hello there,
well despite Father's Day here in down under being last Sunday I have two more Father's Day cards for you this week - it's a two for one day today - lol! As it just happens the new Just Add Ink challenge this week is a Just Add a Colour Combo challenge and the colours were just what I needed for both cards. Here's the combo provided by Mae this week.

This first one was for my DH, you can probably guess it does something special (I always make either his Father's day card or birthday card - both in the same month (groan) interactive). It's a slider (or surprise pop up card). You can find a tutorial on the Splitcoast Stampers site here.

Starting to open up.

A little bit more.

Open all the way from the side.

And finally the inside.

And here's the one I made for my FIL. No interactive elements in this one but my FIL assured me he loved it.

I was wracking my brains trying to think of some way to finish off the bottom of the front panel when using the fringe scissor occurred to me - very pleased it did as I think it works great!

So there you go - two guy cards from the same colour combo - Fathers Day mission accomplished - on schedule - phewww!

Hope you join us for this great colour challenge. Do check out the rest of the DT for lots of fabulous colour inspiration.

Thanks for visiting,
Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless noted otherwise
Card 1:
Stamps: Positively Chevron, Teeny Tiny Sentiments, Alphabet (Rotary), Metro Type Alphabet, Back to Basics Alphabet, Peachy Keen (R), Vintage Labels (PaperTrey Ink)
Cardstock: Bermuda Bay, Basic Black, Crushed Curry, Whisper White
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Accessories: Starburst framelits, Hearts Collection framelit, Finishing Touch Edgelit, Regals Background DSP stack, Itty Bitty Accents punch pack, Owl Builder punch, Regals Candy dots, Bermuda Bay 1/8" taffeta ribbon, Dimensionals, Double sided tape (X press)

Card 2:
Stamps: Metro Type Alphabet, World's Greatest (R), Hello Sunshine (PaperTrey Ink)
Cardstock: Bermuda Bay, Basic Black, Crushed Curry, Whisper White, Vellum
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Black Stazon, Crushed Curry
Accessories: Starburst framelit, Fringe scissors, Mat Stack one layerz, Crushed Curry Baker's twine, Vellum tape (Scotch), Dimensionals, Double sided tape (X Press)

JAI 230 Just add Dad

Hello there,
you know how you know there is some occasion on the horizon and it feels like ages before it will arrive and then suddenly it's on your doorstep. Father's Day this year is just like that for me. So one week out I have three father's day cards to make - eeekkk! Luckily the new challenge at Just Add Ink this week is Just Add Dad. (Now if it isn't Father's Day in your part of the world you can join in the challenge by making a card for man - it can be for any other occasion - birthday thanks etc).

This one is for my Dad. I was casting around for ideas and I settled on the tree as a reference to family. Of course I couldn't resist adding a heart shaped apple - cause I do love my Dad and it's good to let him know that! The starting technique point was to use a die to emboss rather than cut - first time I've tried this and you do get a very cool effect. I heat embossed the tree trunk within the embossed lines and added on my leaves using the embossed leaves as a guide. I really like all the patterns (suitably masculine of course) and texture that I combined for this.

Hope you can join us for this challenge and make something special for a man in your life. Don't forget to check out the rest of the JAI DT for a fabulous collection of Dad/ male related inspiration.

Thanks for visiting,
Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Mighty Oak (PaperTrey Ink), Alphabet rotary, Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Cardstock: Early Expresso, Garden Green, Wild Wasabi, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White
Ink: Early Expresso, Garden Green, Wild Wasabi, Pear Pizzazz, Tuxedo Black (Memento), Versamark
Accessories: Mighty Oak die collection (PTI), Hexagon punch, Itty Bitty Accents punch, Naturals Designer button (R), Linen thread, 1 1/4" Burlap ribbon, Early Expresso embossing powder, Dimensionals, Double sided tape (X Press)