JAI #370 Sketch

Hello there,
did I mention it was cold last week? Well that didn't change this week, which meant it was time to stay and cozy up inside, when I wasn't at work! Maybe I was thinking wishfully of spring because I pulled out flowers for this week's new Just Add Ink challenge. This week Narelle wants us to Just Add a Sketch. Here it is.

I decided to rotate the sketch and pull out the Lovely Words dies to make a birthday card for a friend.

You know I like playing around with colour gradients, so that's where I started with my base. The tiny touch of red I used was a bit too bright, the solution? Overlay it with hexagon embossed vellum! The texture is truly amazing! Stitching is my favourite way to secure vellum down and I also love the additional texture it adds. It took a while, but I really like how my flower clusters came out and frame the friend word die. The final touch, some sparkle - Wink of Stella on 'friend' and a scatter of sequins - you gotta add sparkle!

I know the JAI team loved this sketch and they have some fabulous projects to show you so go check them out and then come join us!

Thanks for visiting,
Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Wood Words, Beautiful Bouquet
Cardstock: Blushing Bride, Early Expresso, Whisper White, Shimmery White, Vellum
Ink: Powder Pink, Pink Pirouette, Real Red, Pear Pizzazz, Versamark
Accessories: Bouquet Bunch framelits, Lovely Words thinlets, Layering Ovals framelits, Hexagons dynamic embossing folder, White embossing powder, Sponge brayer, Sewing machine, Blushing Bride baker's twine (R), Wink of Stella, Sequins - Iridescent and Metallic, Dimensionals, Fine tip glue pen, Tear and Tape

JAI #369 Inspiration

Hello there,
well it was back to school this week. We have a schedule again (that's good!) but it has been hectic moving back into that work/ school balance. Luckily, I was able to pull my project for this week's Just Add Ink project out of the bag so to speak. My nephew had a milestone birthday during the holidays and I made a special interactive card for him that was inspired by the Just Add Inspiration challenge suggested by Rochelle. Here's the pic.

I created one big balloon on the front of his card. I did say interactive didn't I, the push is a hint ;)

This was challenging to photograph but I'm hoping you can see the glow of light behind the numbers. I tried my hand at making a circuit with Chibi lights and found it pretty easy and a lot of fun!

The inside was finished off with a smaller balloon.

There are a couple things I learnt putting this together. Firstly, you need a double height of dimensionals otherwise your card front will push your circuit closed, without you even pushing it! Secondly, did you see that white tab of cardstock in the top photo? That was a nifty tip I read about leaving a gap in your SNAIL or double sided tape edging so you can slip that tab in between the battery and the copper tape that will close the circuit. While that is tab is in there you can put the card in an envelope, and mail it and it won't switch on until you remove the tab. Last tip, I was originally going to back my numbers with vellum but you could actually see the copper tape and LED lights through it. Using Whisper White instead proved to be the perfect solution, you could clearly the light but none of the mechanics.

The JAI DT have a wonderful array of inspirational projects for the challenge this week, do make sure you go check them all out. Hope you can join us!

Thanks for visiting,
Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Diagonal Stripe, Thoughtful Banners, Number of Years, Calendar Alphabet & Numbers (R)
Cardstock: Pacific Point, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White
Ink: Pacific Point, Bermuda Bay, Pool Party, Versamark, Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Accessories: Stitched Shapes framelits, Large Number framelits, Duet Banner punch, Balloon framelits (R), Dynamic Stitched Basic Edges (My Favourite Things), Chibi Lights, Clear embossing powder, Basic Black baker's twine, Sponge brayer, Dimensionals, Tear and tape

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JAI #368 Use birthday to make Christmas

Hello there, 
well this week has been a bit busier and also chillier (the kids enjoyed smashing the ice sheet that formed each night on our little fountain outside though)! The chill weather is actually a perfect segway to our new challenge at Just Add Ink this week. This week Kelly has asked us to Just add a twist - the twist? Well, to use a birthday set to create a Christmas card. So get out all your birthday sets and look at them in a different way - it takes a bit of creative thinking but it's such a fun way to see if you can get more use from your stamps!

Here's what I came up with. 

I spotted the string of lights in Confetti Celebration and couldn't get the idea out of my mind of using them as Christmas lights. But what to drape them on?? I settled on the sweet little elephant from A Little Wild. I kind of liked the idea that he could hold them up using his trunk. It took some fiddly masking (I had to stamped the lights first so they would be in front of the elephant) which meant I had to cut teeny tiny light masks. But rather remarkably I managed to get everything in the right place first go! Then I coloured up my elephant and lights before fancying the lights up with wink of stella and then a coat of fine tip glue pen to get a lovely glossy sheen. For the background I brayered up a night sky, adding some texture with a splatter of white gouache and the gleam of gold stars. There had to be stars with for my elephant to wish on!

I was delighted my minds concept worked out so well (big smile). We'd love you to join the challenge this week, before you do though, go and check out the projects from the rest of the design team!

Thanks for visiting,
Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: A Little Wild, Confetti Celebration, Moon Baby, Labeler Alphabet, Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Cardstock: Island Indigo, Whisper White, X Press it Blending

Ink: Night of Navy, Island Indigo, Bermuda Bay, Pool Party, Versamark, Tuxedo Black (Memento)

Accessories: Stitched Shapes framelits, Classic Label punch, Star punch (R), Copic markers, Gold glimmer paper, White and gold embossing powder, Sponge brayer, Fine Tip glue pen, White Gouache, Dimensionals, Tear and Tape

Colour INKspiration 13

Hello there,
welcome to the Colour INKspiration 13 blog hop. If you are hopping your way around the blog hop, you will have arrived from my lovely friend Nikki Spencer's blog. I'm sure you were wowed by her project! If you are starting the hop here but would like to go to the start at the  Colour INKspiration challenge page over on Facebook, just click the link to be redirected and ask to join the group, that way you can load your projects directly to the Facebook group and join in the fun every 2nd and 4th Wednesday. Our INKspiration for this round is filled with delicate floral tones.

Here's what I came up with this time.

I still had mermaids on my mind when I started thinking about these colours. So out she came again. This time I decided to keep the colours focused in the mid section of the card and even created a wave line at the top. With the mermaid looking out over the waves I thought "thinking of you" was the perfect sentiment! As a last minute addition I wrapped silver thread over my watercolored embossed panel to add more texture and sheen to the 'water'. The challenge runs till July 24th. Hope you can join us! Next up, on the blog hop is another friend, the very talented Kelly Kent. Enjoy!

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Magical Mermaid, Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Cardstock: Thick Whisper White, Basic Black, Blending cardstock (X Press)
Ink: Wild Wasabi, Lemon Lime Twist, Sweet Sugarplum, Fresh Fig, Tuxedo Black (Memento), Versamark
Accessories: Seasonal Layers thinlets, Water colour paper, Seaside embossing folder, Copic Markers, Silver glimmer paper, Sweet Sugarplum DSP, Silver metallic thread, White embossing powder, Wink of Stella, Iridescent sequins, 1/8" Silver taffeta ribbon, Fine Tip glue pen, Dimensionals, Tear and Tape

JAI #367 Colour

Hello there,
we are in the middle of our winter school holidays here, and the kids and I enjoyed a week off. We took it pretty easy, heading out for an excursion or some exercise in the fresh (very fresh!) air, and then snuggling in for afternoons at home. For once I actually got some stamping done! The proceeds of that stamping time will arrive here on the blog in future weeks. Right now I have something for you for this week's Just Add Ink challenge. This week Patrice has asked to Just Add a Colour Combo. I loved this one! Here are the colours.

When I looked at these colours they seemed to me to be perfectly suited to use with a new set I have been keen to ink up.

I couldn't resist the new mermaid set in the 2017-18 SU! annual catalogue. To create an appropriate watery background for her I started by inking up my biggest block with Smoky Slate, Lemon Lime Twist and Crumb Cake at the bottom. Then spritzed the block with water until I could see beads, then pressed my watercolour paper into the wet ink. I dried my panel and then using more ink and a sheet of acetate I smooched ink over the first layers to get more texture and depth. Dried the panel again and then sprinkled water over the panel to add some water splotches. My mermaid and seeweed I coloured up with copics and then fussy cut out. For the sentiment panel (and inside) I brayered a gradient of Smoky Slate, flicked Wink of Stella over it and then silver embossed my sentiment. I then finished it all off by adding a sprinkle of iridescent sequins.

I loved putting this card together, the inkiness of the background and the meditation of colouring. We'd love to see what you make with these colours. Don't forget to go check out the rest of the Just Add Ink DT, they have loads of beautiful inspiration for you.

Thanks for visiting,
Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Magical Mermaid
Cardstock: Lemon Lime Twist, Smoky Slate, Whisper White
Ink: Lemon Lime Twist, Smoky Slate, Crumb Cake
Accessories: Watercolor paper, Copic markers (E41, E43, E44, E87, C00, C01, C03, C05, YG0000, YG01, YG17, YG23, YG25 ), Iridescent sequins, Silver embossing powder, Sponge brayer, Linen twine, Silver metallic thread, Fine tip glue pen, Dimensionals, Tear and tape