Just Add Ink #635 Inspiration

 

Hello there,

December never fails to go past at lightening speed and so I find myself at my last post for the year, and as you can expect it's a Christmas project. I used this week's Just Add Ink's Inspiration challenge, from Nikki, to guide this year's gift card holders for family. Here's the inspiration picture.

And here's how they turned out.

I started by pulling out every shade of green, purple, and red-purple and mixing and matching till I was happy with each separate combo. Step two was a whole lot of die cutting, and little dry embossing. Then to add a fun whimsical Christmas touch I coloured some little Christmas characters.

The Just Add Ink DT have lots of fabulous projects to show you so please go check them out and then show us yours.

With Christmas imminent we are running this challenge for two weeks until 4 January 2023.

This will be my last post for this year. I'll be back Jan 20, 2023 when the Just Add Ink team will kick off the new year with our annual blog hop.

Till then thanks for visiting, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Cottage Wreaths, Peaceful Deer, Tiny Treats: Christmas (PaperTrey Ink)

Dies: Stitched Shapes (R), Gift Card Envelope and Trims Thinlits dies (R), Country Wreaths, Give it a Whirl

Cardstock: Basic White, Blackberry Bliss, Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo, Gorgeous grape, Highland Heather, Mint Macaron, Pear Pizzazz, Granny Apple Green, Old Olive, Just Jade, Mossy Meadow, Soft Succulent, Shaded Spruce

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)

Accessories: Copic markers, Timber 3D embossing folder, Basic Rhinestones, Wink of Stella, Dimensionals, Tear and Tape, Big Shot die cutting machine (R).

Just Add Ink #633 Colour

 

Hello there,

another week closer to Christmas and another Christmas card coming your way - that's probably not a surprise. This week at Just Add Ink we have a colour challenge for you, suggested by me ;) Your can use it for a Christmas project as I have, or for whatever purpose that works for you. Here are the colours.

And this is what I came up with.

This was pretty much all about the watercolouring. I black heat embossed the large poinsettia twice, so that I could cut out the central ring of petals and mount them up on top of the base layer. I used several layers of colour to build up the colour and once dry added little silver pearls to the centre. A simple watercolored background splattered with white gouache, and sentiment finished off the front. For the inside I added one more watercolored poinsietta.

It's only getting busier at this time of year so something simple was definitely the way to go this week.

The JAI design team have lots of lovely projects to inspire you so please go check them out and then come back and join in the challenge.

Thanks for visiting,

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Joyful Christmas (R)

Dies: Stitched Rectangles

Cardstock: Basic White, Sweet Sorbet, Bermuda Bay, Basic Gray

Ink: Sweet Sorbet, Bermuda Bay, Basic Gray, Versamark

Accessories: Black, and White embossing powder, Heat Tool, Red and Green adhesive backed pearls, Watercolor paper, Aquapainter, White gouache, Dimensionals, Tear and Tape, Big Shot die cutting machine (R). 

Just Add Ink #631 Sketch

Hello there,

this week at Just Add Ink Tina has a sketch challenge for us. I was a bit stumped how to interpret the wavy elements at first but then I had one of those light bulb moments. Here's the sketch.

And this is how it turned out.

Embossing - both dry and heat - and fussy cutting were the main elements to this project. The fussy cutting was very fussy but well worth the effort in the end and I think the three rows of Christmas lights definitely captured the essence of the sketch.

The Just Add Ink DT have lots of fabulous projects showcasing how they used the sketch so please go check them out and then come back and join in the challenge.

Thanks for visiting,

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Holiday Lights (PaperTrey Ink)

Dies: Stitched Shapes (R)

Cardstock: Thick Basic White, Basic White, Basic Black 

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Melon Mambo, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green, Pacific point, Gorgeous Grape

Accessories: Evergreen Forest embossing folder (R), Starburst punch (R), Silver and Clear embossing powder, Heat tool, Paper snips, Dimensionals, Tear and Tape

 

Just Add Ink #627 Choose Two

Hello there,

I had a busy busy week so having a card come together easily for this challenge was super helpful. I think you'll find this week's Just Add Ink challenge, from Tina, is a fun one. This week we want you to Just Choose Two.

So choose two of the above options and feature them on your project. I went night and pulled out a classic SU! set that I love.

This came together really quickly. I picked my colours for the night sky, masked a moon to add some drama, balance and the perfect place to place the iconic santa and his sleigh image. Cut a town silhouette - just love when a die does all the work for you! Splattered everything with white gouache and wink of stella and heat embossed the sentiment. IRL the colours are more intense and I am really happy with the outcome.

Hope you enjoy the challenge, you can tell the rest of the DT did, just go check out the rest of their projects!

Thanks for visiting,

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Hearts Come Home (R)

Dies: Hometown Greetings (R)

Cardstock: Basic White, Basic Black

Ink: Versamark, Tuxedo Black (Memento), Starry Sky, Fresh Freesia, Polished Pink

Accessories: 1 3/8" circle punch (R), Blending brushes, Heat tool, White embossing powder, Wink of Stella, White gouache, Big Shot die cutting machine (R), Dimensionals, Tear and Tape.

 

Just Add Ink #625 Inspiration

 

Hello there,

the season definitely inspired my choice of inspiration picture for this week's new challenge at Just Add Ink. I couldn't go past this field of vibrant spring flowers especially as the garden is filled with spring blooms right now. Looking at the inspiration picture below, draw on the colours, patterns, or objects in the picture and use it as the main element of your project.

I count't resist creating my own field of flowers, this is how it turned out.

I started by pulling out a whole bunch of ink pads based on the colours I could see in the inspiration photo and then started stamping flowers and foliage. Once I thought I had enough I started die cutting them out and then working out the placement on the card front. Having the flowers flow down the card on a diagonal adds a strong structural element and balancing that with (subtly textured) white space means they have plenty of impact. The card was finished off simply with a sentiment and a tiny scatter of sparkly sequins.

The Just Add Ink DT have lots of fabulous projects to how you so please go check them out and then come back and join in the challenge.

Thanks for visiting,

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Sending Smiles

Dies: Sending dies

Cardstock: Thick Basic White, Basic White, Basic Black

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Shaded Spruce, Garden Green, Polished Pink, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, Poppy Parade, Fresh Freesia, Highland Heather, Gorgeous Grape

Accessories: Subtle embossing folder (R), For everything fancy sequins, Big shot die cutting machine (R), Dimensionals, Tear and Tape

Just Add Ink #623 Colour

 

Hello there,

time for a new Just Add Ink challenge, and this week Di has a colour challenge for us. It's bright, bold and perfect for Christmas so that's the theme I went with. Here are the colours.

I decided to pull out watercolour paper for this project, this is how it turned out.

This was fun to do and definitely not perfect as I had colour leak across boundaries in some of the fine detail areas, but I figure that is forgivable and adds to the arty homemade feel. To add Christmas sparkle I silver embossed the bauble, added a silver foil bow, silver sequins and splashes of Wink of Stella. If I had added a bauble to the inside there would have been no room for a Christmas message so I just added a little watercolored Christmas tree instead. I really loved how bright and intense the colours came out in this project!

The Just Add Ink team have plenty of colour filled projects to share with you so please go check them out and then join in the challenge.

Thanks for visiting,

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Bright Baubles (R)

Dies: Stitched Rectangle, Tree Lot dies, Christmas Banner dies, Pretty Pines dies (R), Delicate Baubles dies (R)

Cardstock: Thick Basic White, Basic White, Sweet Sorbet, Starry Sky, Parakeet Party, Watercolor, Silver foil

Ink: Versamark, Sweet Sorbet, Starry Sky, Parakeet Party

Accessories: Sequins (R), Silver embossing powder, Heat Tool, Wink of Stella, Dimensionals, Tear and Tape, Fine tip glue

Just Add Ink #621 Sketch

Hello there,

this week at Just Add Ink it's time for a sketch challenge from Lou. I tossed a few ideas around before settling on making a Christmas card. First, here's the sketch.

And this is my take on the sketch.

I had fun piecing my little caravan together from different colours, which is just as well as it was the most labour intensive part of the project. The background was created quickly using blending brushes, and the sky portion finished off with white paint speckles. The caravan clustered with the trees made me think of being out in the woods so I added a woodgrain embossed mat to continue that outdoor feel. Silver sequins and silver thread help add to the festive feel.

The Just Add Ink DT have lots of lovely projects to share with you so please go check them out and then come back and join in the challenge.

Thanks for visiting,

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Trees for Sale, Itty Bitty Christmas (R)

Dies: Stitched Rectangle, Tree Lot dies

Cardstock: Thick Basic White, Basic White, Basic Black, Pacific Point, Balmy Blue, Garden Green, Granny Apple Green, Pear Pizzazz, Basic Gray, Real Red, Silver Foil

Ink: Versamark, Pacific Point, Balmy Blue, Garden Green, Granny Apple Green, Pear Pizzazz, Shaded Spruce

Accessories: Timber 3D embossing folder, White baker's twine, Silver thread (R), Silver sequins (R), Blends (Daffodil Delight), Blending brushes, White embossing powder, Heat Tool, Dimensionals, Tear and Tape, Fine tip glue, Gouache

 

Just Add Ink #619 Masculine

 

Hello there,

this week at Just Add Ink Tristan is asking us to Just Add Masculine. This challenge just happens to be perfectly timed for upcoming Father's Day.

I went for a natural outdoors feel.

I added layers of muted colour in the background. Adding the vellum layer meant that attention wasn't distracted from the focal panel which again was in soft blue, green, brown natural shades. The key to adding complexity to masculine cards is often texture. I brought that in by adding an embossed woodgrain mat, stitching detail and a little linen thread.

The Just Add Ink DT have an inspirational array of masculine projects to show you, so please go check them out and then come back and share yours with us!

Thanks for visiting,

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: A Good Man (R), Oceanfront

Dies: Stitched Rectangle

Cardstock: Thick Basic White, Basic White, Night of Navy, Misty Moonlight, Balmy Blue, Bermuda May, Coastal Cabana, Mint Macaron, Pool Party, Vellum

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Versamark, Night of Navy, Misty Moonlight (R), Balmy Blue, Coastal Cabana, Just Jade (R), Crumb Cake, Soft Suede

Accessories: Timber 3D embossing folder, Linen thread, White embossing powder, Heat Tool, Dimensionals, Tear and Tape

Just Add Ink #617 Choose Two

 

Hello there,

this week at Just Add Ink, Di has a versatile Choose Two challenge for us. For me it was the perfect opportunity to make a couple of baby cards to celebrate some new arrivals among our family and friends. Just choose two of the three options below and feature them in your project.

Here's how my projects turned out - I chose dots and die cuts.

A Little Wild is still a favourite for me to pull out for baby cards. Being short on time and inspiration this week I cased the design of a card on p49 of the current SU! catalogue. It's always good to know that sometimes you don't need to reinvent the wheel. To give it my spin I  added in some more detail - layers, stitching and banner. My little characters sit on bed of foliage and flowers that was a mix of stamped and die cut elements. This project was a mix of colouring, stamping and a lot of die cutting. I loved how both cards turned out but confess it took me hours to get done.

The Just Add Ink DT have lots of fabulous projects to how you so please go check them out and then come back and join in the challenge.

Thanks for visiting,

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Cup of Tea, Happiness Abounds, A Little Wild (R), Banners for You (R), Round & Round (Papertrey Ink)

Dies: Stitched Rectangle, Teacup dies, Penned Flowers dies, Blossoming Happiness dies, Forever Flourishing dies, Stitched Shapes (R), Little Loves Framelits (R), Bunch of Banners framelits (R), Fishtail Flag Stax Layers (My Favourite Things)

Cardstock: Thick Basic White, Basic White, Magenta Madness (R), Misty Moonlight (R)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Magenta Madness (R), Misty Moonlight (R), Flirty Flamingo, Mango Melody, Bermuda Bay, Pool Party

Accessories: Sunshine and Rainbows DSP (R), Subtle embossing folder (R), Blends (Shaded Spruce, Granny Apple Green, Polished Pink, Misty Moonlight (R), Daffodil Delight, Mango Melody, Pumpkin Pie, Natural Tones - Deep, Medium Deep, Medium),  Wink of Stella, Dimensionals, Tear and Tape

Just Add Ink #615 Inspiration

 

Hello there,

things are frosty and cold here, so it was a good time to stay inside and craft using this week's new challenge at Just Add Ink. Just Add Inspiration from Nikki, here's the inspiration pic.

This is how my project turned out.

The different geometric elements of the inspiration picture really grabbed my attention, so I reflected that and the colour palette in my card. The pop of green was I think a super important element to add. While my sun rays look fully silver embossed, they were actually stamped in grey ink first and then over stamped with versa mark. I wanted the embossing to be a bit broken and scratched up, which you can't see here in the pic but you can in real life. Not quite sure if this will be a masculine birthday card or a sympathy card - I think it could work for either purpose.

The rest of the Just Add Ink DT have fabulous projects to share with you too, so please go check them out and then come back and join in the challenge.

Thanks for visiting,

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Rays of Light

Dies: Stitched Rectangles, Majestic Mountain dies, 

Cardstock: Thick Basic White, Basic White, Basic Black, Shaded Spruce, Crumb Cake

Ink: Smoky Slate, Versamark

Accessories: Heat tool, Silver embossing powder, Linen twine, Pinewood Planks 3D embossing folder (R), Big Shot die cutting machine (R), Dimensionals, Tear and Tape.