Hello there,
home has been awash in germs for the last two weeks and all of them, and I mean ALL, decided to come and live up close and personal with me - urgh! I literally spent a solid week on the couch feeling miserable, so it's just as well I had to make my project for this week's Just Add Ink challenge a few weeks ahead to meet a family birthday deadline. This week Karren has suggested we Just Add Stencils. I went with a simple emboss resist technique to create a starry background. If you'd like to see a more complicated way to use a stencil to create a background, drop past my last Colour INKspiration post here.
Here's what I came up with for my uncle's birthday - a big milestone birthday!
Many years ago in his professional life he worked for the European Space Agency so I figured a big starry sky was a good way to go.
The how to:
To start I pulled out my stencil and dabbed Versamark on using a sponge dauber, carefully lifted it off and embossed the stars in gold. Then out comes the sponge brayers this is where the magic of creating a sky comes in, and is truly really simple. I used three tones of blue. First start with your lightest colour, concentrate that on the lower half of the card. Next using the mid tone work down from the top, creating a solid layer there and blending it, carefully over the lightest tone, you don't want to lose all that light blue! Now add the darkest shade, very carefully blend it over the mid blue, so you get a lovely gradient from really dark down to that bright gleam at the bottom. Once that's done, get a dry cloth and wipe over the panel to take any excess ink off the embossed stars.
To finish it off the night sky I splattered some fine flecks of white gouache over the panel and then layered up my focal panel. I added lots of gleams of gold, nothing fussy and a simple knotted ribbon.
The JAI design team have an inspirational array of ideas for using stencils so make sure to stop past all their blogs and then show us your project!
Thanks for visiting,
Kim
Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Number of Years
Cardstock: Island Indigo, Whisper White
Ink: Night of Navy, Island Indigo, Pool Party, Versamark
Accessories: Large Number Framelits, Stitched Shapes Framelits, Circles Collection (R), Hearts and Stars stencil (R), Gold foil, Gold glimmer, Gold and White embossing powder, Gold 3/8" edged metallic ribbon, Sponge brayer, White gouache, Dimensionals, Tear and tape
Well hello there,
our Easter break flew by in a haze of paint as we took the opportunity to paint Mr 9's room. We got the job done but I seriously needed a rest after! In the pursuit of relaxation I did find the time to tackle the new Just Add Ink challenge. This week we have a Just Choose Two challenge from Kelly. You have three options and we want you to Choose Two. Here they are.
Somehow the combination of circles and metallics appealed to me (although I couldn't resist adding flowers into the mix too).
Glimmery, shimmery shine - don't you love sparkle!! I think you know I do ;)
I went bold with this one and as I was splotching on splashes of colours I did have a moment of 'is this really going to work?' But I was delighted with the end result. I wanted to go with a sort of reverse contrast effect keeping my flowers white and gold and adding all the floral and landscape colours in behind them. I used lots of circles in the making of the card and for my stripey hillside. Metallics came into play in the flowers, glimmer mat and sentiment. This one was made and delivered within a couple of days. I'm happy to say the birthday girl liked it, lots :)
Do go check out the rest of the fabulous projects from the DT. Then show us your take on the challenge!
Thanks for visiting,
Kim
Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Flower Patch, Thoughtful Banners
Cardstock: Tempting Turquoise, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White
Ink: Wild Wasabi, Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry, Real Red, Tempting Tuquoise
Accessories: Circles Collection framelits (R), Flower Fair framelits, Classic Scalloped circles nestabilites (Spellbinder), Classic Label punch, Water colour paper, Gold Glimmer paper, Subtles DSP stack, Gold embossing powder, Sequins - metallics, Sewing machine, Dimensionals, Tear and Tape
Hello there,
I managed to squeeze in some inky time this week (to play with new goodies!!) which was great!!! (Those projects will be turning up on the blog in the next few weeks so keep an eye out). I was trying to get ahead on some projects - DT and for classes - before our winter school holidays start. Routines go out the window then and usually so does time for me stamp (although I have been known to cart along a craft bag with projects to complete if we are travelling). First off the rank was my project for this week's Just Add Ink challenge from Tina. To Just Add 'S'. How do we want you to add 'S' ? Well we mean add anything that begins with S, as a major part of your project. This can be a colour like Smokey Slate, an object like star, sunburst, snail, or a technique like shadow box, or a shaving cream background.
Here's what I came up with. How many 'S's can you find?
The inside
Well this is officially my first Christmas card for the year. Maybe it was the almost snowy weather we've had recently, or just the imminent approach of July! So I've gone all out and I think added at least six 'S' elements - star, silver (ribbon and embossing), sequins, shaker, snow globe, snowman. I reckon that's not bad. Are you curious how I made the base for my snow globe? Here's a pic to show you.
This challenge gives you lots of scope to have some fun so I hope you can join us. Don't forget to check out the rest of the DT's projects for some fun 'S' inspiration.
Thanks for visiting,
Kim
Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Hardwood, Number of Years, Festival of Trees (R)(eek I only just realised this was retired!, Jingle all the Way (R)
Cardstock: Old Olive, Early Espresso, Whisper White
Ink: Old Olive, Early Espresso, Versamark
Accessories: Large Number framelits, Circles framelits (R), Bitty Banner framelits (R), Softly Falling embossing folder, Merry Moments DSP (R), Star punch (R), Silver glimmer paper, Silver embossing powder, Silver Satin ribbon, Project Life journalling pen, Window sheet, Foam adhesive strips, Dimensionals, Tear and Tape, Tombow multi, Sequins (R)
