JAI 247 Just add love blog hop

Well hello and welcome to the first Just Add Ink challenge for 2015. It's nice to be back :)

Once again we are starting off the year with a blog hop to showcase the design team's projects for the challenge. You may have arrived here from Louise Sharp's blog (wasn't her project delightful!) or you can begin the blog hop here. Just click on the blog hop button at the bottom of the post or the link in the text at the end to move on to the next DT blog (Jodene Tripp). (You'll be glad you did!)

So what are we kicking the year off with? This week the challenge, from Christine, is to Just Add Love with the added twist of using a tag sketch as part (or as) your project. Here are the details.

An important January project for me every year is a birthday card for my little Miss - I think you'll be able to work out what milestone birthday we are up to this year ;) The first version of this turned out like something you would make for your 80 year old granny - perfect for that but just SO not right for a 10 year old! The new version is scrappy and bright (but not shabby) and rather remarkably liked by Miss almost 10. Thank goodness for that!

One to show the shimmer and shine.

The inside

The rest of the Just Add Ink DT have a wonderful array of inspiration generating projects for you to see so please do continue on and visit the rest of the team. Your next stop on the blog hop is Jodene Tripp's blog. I know she has something just gorgeous for you to see! 

Hope you can join us for the challenge,

Thanks for visiting,

Kim

PS: Recipe below

Recipe: All SU! unless noted
Stamps: Dictionary, Kinda Eclectic, Teeny Tiny Sentiments (SU!), This Sweet Life, Sew Simple borders (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: Rose Red, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White, Vellum
Ink: Strawberry Slush, Rich Razzleberry, Blackberry Bliss, Mossy Meadow, Pistachio Pudding, Smokey Slate, Rose Red, Versamark
Accessories: Bitty Banners Framelits, Scallop Edge border, Small Butterfly and Elegant Butterfly punches  (SU!), This Sweet Life dies, Basic Bookmark die 2, By the Numbers die (PaperTrey Ink), Gold Foil, Champagne shimmer paper, Gold embossing powder, All Abloom DSP stack, 2013-15 In Color DSP stack, Epic Day washi tape, Tea lace paper doily, Strawberry Slush twine, Jewels - rhinestones, 2014-15 In color sequin assortment, Tombow multi, Double sided tape (X Press), Dimensionals

JAI 236 Just add inspiration

Hello there,
we came home from a week away to a lovely almost summer like day perfect for slipping back into home life (and for doing washing) and then it was life back to normal this week as the kids went back to school. Luckily enough I was able to get my project for this weeks Just Add Ink challenge done before we left - just as well cause I sure haven't had time to do any crafting since we got home! 

This week the challenge is to Just Add Inspiration. Nikki found the great pictures to get us inspired this week.

I had a new feather set to play with, which was going to be perfect - and play I did getting very inky :)

I wanted to create a graduated background so I started by pulling out my brayer (I did say get inky) and worked my way through a whole spectrum of blues. All that wide open blue space made me a bit unsettled so I ended up overstamping text in versamark. I brought more colour in with my feathers - the green and gold from the inspiration photo. Then added more gold - and even pulled out my sewing machine! 

I had quite a bit of fun putting this one together :) Do check out the rest of the JAI DT for some inspirational inspiration! Hope you join us.

Thanks for visiting,
Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Four Feathers, Dictionary, Happy Day (R)
Cardstock: Night of Navy, Soft Sky, Whisper White, Basic Black
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Island Indigo, Lost Lagoon, Pool Party, Soft Sky, Pear Pizzazz, Wild Wasabi, Versamark
Accessories: Four Feathers framelits, 2 1/2" circle punch, Gold Fancy Foil Designer Vellum, Tea Lace Paper Dollies, White and Gold embossing powder, Gold Baker's twine, Gold thread, Sewing machine

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

JAI 224 Just add Inspiration (Christmas in July)

Hello there,
ooh we had some icy starts this week so the inspiration picture I put together for this weeks Just Add Ink challenge is really very apt! This week using inspiration from the picture we want you to think Christmas in July. It's never too early to get started on those Christmas cards and projects!

Here's my Christmas creation.

I embossed the poinsettia onto vellum twice, trimming out the inner petals as a top layer. I used alcohol markers on the back side of the vellum to add the colour. On the vellum you push the ink around rather than blend it but filtered by the vellum any blotchy bits aren't really obvious. To make the colours brighter I backed each layer of the poinsettia with whisper white. To make the centre pop I used white gel pen. I have to say I'm delighted I got to add another Christmas card to my stash!

Hope you can join us this week! Do check out the rest of the Just Add Ink DT for some fabulous inspiration.

Thanks for visiting,
Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Joyful Christmas, More Merry Messages, Dictionary, Background Basics: Medallions (PaperTrey Ink)
Cardstock: Real Red, Strawberry Slush, Whisper White, Vellum
Ink: Real Red, Strawberry Slush, Basic Gray, Versamark 
Accessories: Cherry Cobler and White embossing powder, White Gel pen, Alcohol markers, 5/8" organza ribbon, Dimensionals, Double sided tape (X Press)

JAI 223 Just add a sketch

Hello there, 
well we made it through the school holidays - all bar the last weekend anyway. We fitted in a trip to Sydney, a movie and a nasty cold. Mr 6 is a real magnet for colds. But that's done and dusted in time for school to start again. And right now its time for the new Just Add Ink challenge. This week we want you to Just Add a Sketch. Tina has brought something a little different this week and it was fun to play with!

Here's my take on it.

We were lucky enough to receive the Blended Bloom stamp at the South Pacific convention in May. It only took me  - oh 5 weeks to ink it up and then after spending the time to colour it what do I do but chop it into pieces!!! LOL - well it was for a good purpose but I did take a deep breathe when I chopped it in half!

I coloured my bloom with alcohol markers. This does take a while but the saturated colour you get and the control you have of light and shadow is a lot of fun to play with. The bloom pieces were mounted up on dimensionals following the sketch and became the focal for my shaped card. I coloured a second flower centre and mounted that on top adding a little of Dazzling Diamonds for some sparkle (and it does beautifully!). The inside was finished off simply with some punched flowers given a little more dimension by running a marker around the edges.

Do check out the rest of the DT for some fun and fabulous ideas for the sketch. Hope you can join us.

Thanks for visiting,
Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Dictionary, Blended Bloom, Itty Bitty Banners
Cardstock: Real Red, Basic Grey, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Grey, Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Window Frame framelits, Bitty Banner framelits, Autumn Accent BigZ die, Classic Circle nestabilities (Spellbinder), Boho Blossom punch, Itty Bitty Shapes punch pack (R), Alcohol markers (Copic), Two way glue, Dazzling Diamonds, Jewels - rhinestones, Dimensionals

JAI 207 Just add a sketch

Hello and happy day to you all!
I've had a lovely week this week - I got to catch up with a crafty friend and spend hours chatting about stamping. DH was horrified I could spend four hours talking about stamping. My reply was that we had only just scratched the surface and could have easily spent another four hours talking about life, stamping and everything! 

I have also only just scratched the surface of using all the new stamping goodies I got in my last SU! box but you will see some of it for the card I made for this week's Just Add Ink challenge. This week we have a sketch for you. The first one I've ever made - eeekk!

And here is what I made of it.

I don't think I'm ever going to go off the idea of using dollies I love the lacy detail - so girly! Aside from the dollies I did a fair bit of heat embossing another fav technique of mine. Using the chevron border punch on the large tag was a last minute idea but I love the peek a boo effect you get with the DSP beneath.

Do check out the rest of the DT for some great inspiration for this sketch.
Thanks for visiting,
Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Dictionary, Positively Chevron, Happy Day, Perfect Pennants, Starburst Sayings
Cardstock: Real Red, Basic Black, Coastal Cabana, Whisper White
Ink: Versamark, Real Red, Coastal Cabana
Accessories: Chevron border punch, Starburst framelits, 1 1/4"and 1/8" circle punches, Fresh Prints DSP stack, Tea Lace paper doily, Corner rounder punch (R), White, Black and Pool Party embossing powder, Basic Black 3/4" chevron ribbon, Coastal Cabana ruffled stretch trim, Jewels - Rhinestones (Large and Basic), SNAIL adhesive, Double sided tape (X Press)

JAI 199 - Just add a sketch

Hello there,
did you all enjoy the Just Add Ink blog hop last week? There are so many new techniques and projects I want to try that the girls showcased last week - when I get the time that is! This week our new challenge is to Just Add a sketch. I'm sure you'll have fun with it.

And here is what I made of it.

The idea for this began with the idea of a crepe filter paper flower. All the layers evolved from there as I wanted something blingy to top it off and something beneath to frame it. I had fun playing with all the inky layers to create the background too.  And since I had the sewing machine out I added a some stitching detail as well :)

Thanks for visiting hope you can join us and do check the rest of the DT for some wonderful inspiration for the sketch.
Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Dictionary, Papillion Potpourri, Apothecary Art, Everything Eleanor, Happy Day
Cardstock: Blushing Bride, Smokey Slate, Whisper White
Ink: Blushing Bride, Calypso Coral, Smokey Slate, Basic Grey
Accessories: Honeycomb embossing folder, Delicate Dollies sizzlet, Tea Lace Paper Dollie, Creped Filter paper, Punches (Blossom, Fancy Flower, Pansy), Silver foil sheet, Vintage brads, Calypso Coral bakers twine, Jewels - rhinestone, Dimensional, Double sided tape (X Press)

JAI 191 Just add a sketch

Hello there,
it's Friday and that means it's time for a new Just Add Ink challenge and this week the challenge is to Just Add a Sketch. This is a great sketch and you can make some beautiful cards using it - just check out the rest of the JAI DT to see what I mean!

I went back to a bit of shabby vintage for this one and had a lot of fun layering up all the different die cut doilies. Mixing the layered doilies with the pink and red leafy accents just makes it feel real girly. And of course there had to be a butterfly to top it all off!

Do join us this week and see what you can make of this fun sketch!
Thanks for visiting,
Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Dictionary, Blooming with Kindness
Cardstock: Basic Black, Blushing Bride, Cherry Cobler, Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake
Ink: Basic Black, Crumb Cake
Accessories: Beautiful Butterfly BigZ die, Delicate Dollies sizzlet, Parisian Lace Doily die (PaperTrey Ink), Bird Builder punch, Elegant Butterfly punch, Fancy Fan embossing folder, Modern Medley DSP, Blushing Bride DSP (R), Cherry Cobler seam binding, Linen thread, Jewels - rhinestones, Dimensionals, Double sided tape (X Press)

JAI 186 Just add inspiration

Hello there,
well school holidays are nearly done and soon I'll be making lunch boxes again. But in some ways it will be nice to go back to the usual routine. You can bet by Christmas though I'll be looking forward to a break again - lol! Now the challenge we have for you this week at Just Add Ink could make you think of Christmas or may'be not - your choice, as this week it's an inspiration challenge. Here it is.

And as it turns out I didn't go down the Christmas path.

This was my first outing with the Flower Shop set and what I wanted to do was capture the colours and the wreathy feel of the inspiration picture but with a birthday spin. The texty Smokey Slate (one of my most used new colours!) was an addition added during construction and I really liked how it set off the colours. This one turned out may'be not quite how I'd planned but nevertheless I rather like it! The rest of the DT have some fabulous ideas for you so do go check them out!

Thanks for visiting,
Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Dictionary, Flower Shop, Yippee-Skippee!
Cardstock: Whisper White, Crushed Curry, Smokey Slate, Rose Red, Pumpkin Pie, Marina Mist, Calypso Coral, Perfect Plum, White Vellum
Ink: Smokey Slate, Crushed Curry, Rose Red, Pumpkin Pie, Marina Mist, Calypso Coral, Versamark
Accessories: Punches (Boho Blossom punch, 2 1/2" circle, 2 3/8" scallop circle, Pansy), White embossing powder, Tea Lace paper dollies, Crushed Curry and Pear Pizzazz 3/4" Chevron ribbon, Jewels - rhinestones, Dimensionals, Double sided tape (X Press)

JAI 183 Just add a sketch

Hello there,

well the week is almost over - sigh of relief here - its been another busy one. And the weekend offers the chance to sneak in a little stamping :) so it seems a good time to tell you about this weeks Just Add Ink challenge. This week we want you to Just Add a Sketch. Here it is.

I'm still on the fence with the whole hexagon thing so I went a bit, well you could call it interpretive with the sketch. But if you look closely you see all the elements in the right place. For example the two flower heads, the butterfly and the splotches represent the four hexagons in the sketch.

Soft, girly and bit vintage with touches of shimmer (the splotches and lace are all stamped in Encore Gold) is how this turned out which was just what I was hoping. Always nice when that happens! Do check out the rest of the JAI DT for some inspirational ideas on how to use this great sketch.

Thanks for visiting,
Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Field Flowers, Dictionary, Gorgeous Grunge, Creative Elements, Viola's Lace, Papillon Potpourri, Postage Collection,
Cardstock: Smokey Slate, Pear Pizzazz, Very Vanilla
Ink: Smokey Slate, Basic Grey, Pear Pizzazz, Pool Party, Island Indigo, Crumb Cake, Encore Gold
Accessories: First Edition DSP (R), Bitty Banner framelits, Honeycomb embossing folder, Corner rounder (R), Bitty Butterfly punch, Very Vintage Designer buttons, Island Indigo bakers twine, Dazzling Diamonds, Jewels - pearls, Two way glue pen, Dimensionals, sponge, Double sided tape (X Press)

JAI 179 Just add a sketch

Hello there,
I was supposed to be prepping for an upcoming class last week when the idea for my card this week just kind popped in to my head and the prep was cast aside! But this flew together like it was supposed to be together. It's another of these slightly scrappy shabby chic cards and I used the great sketch we have for you this week at Just Add Ink. You can work this in so many ways!

Its only taken me a year but I've discovered Raspberry Ripple and just love the combination with Crisp Cantaloupe and in this case with a dash of Summer Starfruit. I had fun with this card layering on ink and then different embellishy bits and finishing it all off with a sprinkle of bling! Mind you quite a few of the bits and bobs are still "new" and its always fun to break out new stuff and play :)

Do check out the rest of the DT for some fabulous ideas on how to play with this sketch. Thanks for visiting,
Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Dictionary, Layered Labels, Label Love, Hearts a Flutter
Cardstock: Raspberry Ripple, Crisp Cantaloupe, Very Vanilla
Ink: Crisp Cantaloupe, Raspberry Ripple
Accessories: Delicate Dollies sizzlet, Bitty Banners framelits, Hearts a Flutter framelit, Artisan Label punch, Itty Bitty Shapes punch, Vintage trinkets, In color Dahlias, Tea Lace Paper Dollies, Summer Starfruit stitched ribbon, Print Poetry DSP stack (R), Jewels - rhinestones, Essentials paper piercing pack, Piercing tool and mat, SNAIL adhesive, Dimensionals, double sided tape (X Press)