JAI #107: JUST ADD .... NIKKI SPENCER!

This week's challenge at Just Add Ink is to case one of the gorgeous creations of the equally gorgeous Nikki Spencer, one of our Design Team members.

I decided to CASE this card, as I own, but haven't used, Stampin' Up!'s Build A Blossom stamp set and co-ordinating Blossom Petals Builder Punch.  I love the reds used by Nikki, but challenged myself to go with a blue colour scheme, as I rarely reach for blues.


Here's my version:

As you can see, I've used my standard top-fold A5 sized card (as opposed to Nikki's square).  I have difficulty tilting panels on my cards, so I placed the sentiment straight; perhaps I need to work on that neurosis!

Here's a closer look at the sparkly butterfly that is perched on the satin ribbon.  The stamped image was coloured in with markers, then spritzed with Champage Shimmer mist (shimmer paint mixed with rubbing alcohol).

Stamps: Build A Blossom, Kindness Matters, Field Flowers, Four Frames

Card: Marina Mist, Whisper White

DSP: Marina Mist Patterns Designer Series Paper

Ink: Bashful Blue stampin' pad and marker, Marina Mist stampin' pad and marker, Wild Wasabi and Basic Black stampin' pads

Other: Decorative Label punch, Blossom Petals Builder punch, Framed Tulips embossing folder, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Antique Brad, Champagne Shimmer paint, Basic Pearls, Crimper, sponge dauber, Bashful Blue satin ribbon, sticky strip, mini glue dots, paper snips

STAMPIN' UP!'S SUMMER SOLSTICE SYMPATHY CARD

One of my several unused stamp sets, is Summer Solstice.  It is a beautiful set, that of course I HAD to have ... and it has been sitting on my shelf unloved for a few months.

Last night I had a dream that involved black embossing on Crumb Cake (I know I'm not alone in dreaming about cards!).  I had a clear picture in my mind of a simple card that I wanted to make - paring it back to the basics, to let the stamps do the talking.  I haven't used any Designer Series Papers, or anything beyond simple embellishments on this one, and I'm really happy with the way it came together so easily.

Stamps: Summer Solstice

Card: Crumb Cake, Whisper White

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Whisper White craft stampin' pad

Other: Black embossing powder, White embossing powder, corner rounder punch, Whisper White satin ribbon, Basic Rhinestones, sponge dauber, mini glue dots

SC 0029/12: EXTREME ELEMENTS/GRUNGE ROCK - BLUE VERSION

This week's challenge at Sunny Challenges & Creations, is to use this colour combo on a papercraft project:

I had to make a birthday card for a special young man, and, rather than re-invent the wheel, thought I'd CASE myself - since I was rather pleased with this card I made in recent days.

Here's the version I've come up with, to fit in with the colour challenge:

Stamps: Extreme Elements, Grunge Rock

Card: Night of Navy, Bashful Blue, Very Vanilla

Ink: Night of Navy and Bashful Blue stampin' pads, Basic Gray stampin' pad and marker

Other: Blue Denim ribbon, Silver mini brads, Mat Pack and paper piercing tool, edge distressing tool, 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" circle punches, Color Spritzer tool, sponge daubers, Timeless Type Alphabet sizzlits die, Square Lattice embossing folder

STAMPIN' UP! EXTREME ELEMENTS & GRUNGE ROCK FOR A 5OTH

Stampin' Up!'s Extreme Elements stamp set has long been a favourite of mine, for male cards especially.  I've combined stamps from that set, with Grunge Rock (a new-to-me stamp set, that I am loving) - how great does the sentiment look?  This card is for my brother-in-law, who recently celebrated his half-century.

My trusty Color Coach suggested I combine Always Artichoke, Crumb Cake and (would you believe it?) Bashful Blue.  I must say I rather like how these colours work together.

Stamps: Extreme Elements, Grunge Rock, Texture jumbo Stampin' Around wheel

Card: Always Artichoke and Bashful Blue textured card, Crumb Cake

Ink: Crumb Cake, Bashful Blue and Always Artichoke stampin' pads

Other: Timeless Type alphabet dies, 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" circle punches, edge distressing tool, sponge daubers, Linen Thread, Artichoke denim ribbon

STAMPIN' UP! SALE-A-BRATION BLOG HOP

I have actually posted twice in two days (I know - I must be getting back into the groove finally!).  If you're here to see my Just Add Ink post for this week, please scroll down!  Thank you :)


Today I'm taking part in a little blog hop with friends - there are only 7 of us participating this time around.  Some fellow Australian Stampin' Up! demonstrators and I would like to share with you our creations made with Sale-A-Bration products.  These are products that can be earned for FREE, with every order of $100 worth of product (until 31st March).  The freebies on offer this year are the best we've ever had, and hopefully today you'll get lots of inspiration for using them on your own projects.

You may have come to my little corner of the world from Nikki Sadler's blog.  If not, just start from here, and follow the links around all seven blogs.

My first card showcases the stamps from Elementary Elegance along with some of the yummy paper from the Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper pack.  I've chosen the colour scheme of Peach Parfait, Very Vanilla and Crumb Cake, from the paper.

Stamps: Elementary Elegance

Card: Peach Parfait, Very Vanilla, Vellum cardstock

DSP: Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper

Ink: Peach Parfait stampin' pad and marker, Crumb Cake stampin' pad, Basic Black stampin' pad

Other: Curly Label punch, Itty Bitty shapes punch, Everyday Enchantment brads, Basic Pearls, Color Spritzer tool, stampin' dimensionals, paper snips, Very Vanilla velvet ribbon, Scallop Edge border punch, sponge daubers, mini glue dots

Whilst I adore the vintagey stamp sets offered this year,  I thought I'd step outside that comfort zone a bit and show a simple way of using Outlined Occasions - also one of the free sets.  I think the sentiments from this set look great just stamped as outlines, but you can also colour in the words for a different look.  I've paired the stamped sentiment with Big Top Birthday papers, for a crisp, fun card.

Stamps: Outlined Occasions

Card: Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White, Real Red

DSP: Big Top Birthday Designer Series Paper

Ink: Real Red and Tempting Turquoise stampin' pads

Other: Scallop Edge border punch, Tempting Turquoise 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Brights brads, 1/2" Circle punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig, sponge dauber, mini glue dots

The next stop on today's blog hop is the blog of Tina Gillespie.  Please check out what everyone has made; we all have different styles, and I'm sure you will get some great ideas today.

Here's a complete list of everyone participating in today's blog hop.  Don't forget to leave a little comment love for everyone, so we know you've been!

Ros Davidson http://www.rosdavidson.typepad.com

Nikki Sadler http://www.inkyart.com.au

Christine Blain http://www.christineblain.blogspot.com

Tina Gillespie http://www.scissorspapercard.blogspot.com/

Di Dunk http://www.stampartbydi.typepad.com

Kathryn Ruddick http://www.katlodesigns.com

Sue Madex http://www.madexcreations.com

JAI #106: STAMPIN' UP! SPICE CAKE AND FUN FLOWERS

This week at Just Add Ink, we have a sketch challenge, with a great sketch 'cooked up' by Bron before she stepped down from the design team. 

I wanted to have a play with the beautiful Spice Cake Designer Series Paper, that is in Stampin' Up!'s Summer Mini catalogue.  These papers give me heart palpitations, they're that beautiful!   I have let the papers do most of the talking on my card, and have used accents in complementary colours.  Some sponging, faux stitching, and a shabby little seam binding bow add the finishing touches.

Stamps: Language of Friendship, Fresh Vintage

Card: Naturals Ivory, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Pear Pizzazz and Pool Party

DSP: Spice Cake Designer Series Paper

Ink: Soft Suede stampin' pad and marker, Early Espresso, More Mustard and Pool Party stampin' pads

Other: Fun Flowers Bigz die, Modern Label punch,  Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer punch, 1/2" circle punch, Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch,  sponge daubers, Pear Pizzazz seam binding, Regals brads, Mat Pack and paper piercing tool, edge distressing tool, mini glue dots, Stampin' Dimensionals

Make sure you check out the rest of the Design Team's creations this week; you are sure to be inspired.  We'd love you to play along, by linking your creation over at the Just Add Ink site!

JUST ADD INK #105

This week's challenge at Just Add Ink, brought to us by Kim, is to use these gorgeous colours together:

I have a personal challenge that I've laid down for myself - to USE some of my stamp sets that don't see a lot of ink.  I needed to make a card for my mother-in-law's upcoming birthday, and chose to use the beautiful My Friend stamp set.  I'm playing along at JAI 'just for fun' this week; I need to reclaim some of the mojo that seems to have deserted me since Christmas.

It's a little hard to see in my shady (in more than one sense of the word!) photo, but I stamped the card base with the circular snowburst image; I also stamped the same pattern on the right-hand side of the main panel, before spritzing with markers over the top.  The floral stamp was inked up with markers, and I used a blender pen to pick up more colour from inkpads, to add a bit of depth to the colours of the flowers.

Stamps: My Friend, For My Family

Card: Certainly Celery, Whisper White, Wisteria Wonder, So Saffron, Pool Party

Ink: Certainly Celery stampin' pad and marker, Wisteria Wonder stampin' pad and marker, So Saffron stampin' pad and marker, Jet Black Staz-On inkpad

Other: Lace Ribbon border punch, Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, Beautiful Wings embosslits, Basic Rhinestones, Color Spritzer tool, blender pen, sponge daubers, Wisteria Wonder ruffled ribbon, edge distressing tool, mini glue dots