JUST ADD INK #66 - JUST ADD A FLOWER

With Mother's Day looming (at least in the southern hemisphere!), the girls at Just Add Ink have laid down a challenge this week to make Mums smile by adding a flower to a papercraft project.

Whoa - what a broad challenge!  I didn't quite know where to start, and was majorly tempted to make something with one of my fab-o flowers a la Joanne Leddy, but I instead opted to pare it back to basics, and go with a super-simple stamped image.

I'm not sure if the cards for the JAI challenge are meant to be specifically for Mother's Day ... hopefully this qualifies, because I think my little (rather Parisienne) girl is rather sweet.  This is one of my non-Stampin' Up! images that I coloured while we were away at our cabin over Easter.

Stamps: Bluebell (Sugar Nellie), Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Card: Basic Black, Blushing Bride, Beckett Expression Radiance Super-Smooth white card

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black ink pad

Other: Framed Tulips embossing folder, Basic Pearls, Decorative Label Punch, Prismacolor Pencils and Odourless Mineral Spirits

COLOR THROWDOWN #138

I'm having a little break from the normal "Stampin' Up! only" transmission, to share some of the results of my weekend away, armed with my Prismacolor pencils and some cute stamped line images.  I have always loved colouring .... as a child, I was never bored if I had a colouring book and pencils, and I still find it therapeutic and relaxing.

Here is this week's challenge at The Color Throwdown:

I have chosen to pair Night of Navy with Real Red .... I was inspired to use this kind-of-nautical colour combination, after colouring my little subject's top in red and white stripes.  Here is the simple, but I think pretty cute, card I came up with:

Stamps: Trendy Trees, Sugar Nellie Stamps "Day Dreamer"

Card: Night Of Navy textured, Real Red, Whisper White

DSP: Celebrations Designer Series Paper

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Night of Navy stampin' pad

Other: Square Lattice embossing folder, Pinking Hearts border punch, Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, Prismacolor Pencils and Odourless Mineral Spirits, paper snips, stampin' dimensionals

COLOUR Q CHALLENGE #81

I've been away for a couple of days over Easter; I trekked off to our cabin, armed with my beautiful Prismacolor pencils, and some stamped images to colour in.  I had a lovely time, colouring to my heart's content, when I wasn't busy reading a WHOLE book (bliss)!!  I have missed the deadline for this week's ColourQ Challenge, but thought I'd show you anyway the card I made using the following gorgeous colour combination:

Here is my card (photographed in the glary sunshine - hope you can still see it okay!):

Stamps: Hello, You and CC Designs Nora On A Swing

Card: Whisper White, Pink Pirouette textured

DSP: Old Olive and Pink Pirouette Patterns Designer Series Paper

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Pink Pirouette stampin' pad, Whisper White craft stampin' pad

Other: Prismacolor pencils, Odourless Mineral Spirits, Nestabilities, Modern Label punch, Old Olive 1/8" taffeta ribbon, sponge dauber

COLOR ROUNDUP #31

When I saw the colour combo Holly at Rubber Redneck came up with this week, I was determined to do something other than a boy card, which sprang to mind straight away.  Don't  you think these colours are perfect for a card for a male?  I do - but (foolishly) wanted to challenge myself further!

So, I decided I wanted to incorporate butterflies on my card.  I really made this one hard on myself, I think!  I toiled for ages to come up with something that my stubborn mind was happy with (since I wouldn't let myself make that male card that the colours were screaming out for).  We have just returned from a couple of days away, and I made a card .... of course by the time I'd made it, the light outside was fading, so here is the poor photograph of the end result!

Stamps: All A Flutter, Because I Care

Card: Crumb Cake

DSP: Pumpkin Pie, Night of Navy, Crumb Cake and Bashful Blue Patterns Designer Series Papers

Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Night of Navy and Crumb Cake stampin' pads

Other: Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Night of Navy 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Stamp-a-ma-jig, sponge dauber, mini glue dot, stampin' dimensionals

Here is the first card I made, that I decided was a reject, but that I don't mind so much ... I just think the whole orange thing is not working on it.

Stamps: En Francais, Medallion, Teeny Tiny Sentiments, Butterfly Prints

Card: Crumb Cake, Bashful Blue, Night of Navy, Pumpkin Pie

DSP: Sweet & Sour Designer Series Paper

Ink: Crumb Cake, Pumpkin Pie and Night of Navy stampin' pads, Versamark inkpad

Other: Clear embossing powder, Beautiful Wings embosslits, Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, Basic Rhinestones, paper snips, stampin' dimensionals, sponge dauber

BLOG HOP - STAMPIN' UP! AUTUMN-WINTER MINI CATALOGUE

Today I am taking part, with 6 friends who are also Stampin' Up! demonstrators in Australia, in a blog hop to showcase products from the gorgeous new Autumn-Winter Mini catalogue (that runs through until the end of July).  You can view the catalogue by clicking on the picture in my blog's sidebar .... or, if you don't already have a demonstrator, and would like a hard copy sent to you (Australia only),  please email me.

You may have come to my blog from the ever-sweet Nikki Sadler's blog, but if not don't fret!  You can take part in the 'hop' by following the link at the bottom of each blog post, and you can make your way around all 7 blogs that way.

I have chosen to focus on a couple of stamps that make it super-easy to make cards for the males in our lives.  I know a lot of people struggle when it comes to making cards for men, but I love making them (probably because in my corner of the world I am rather outnumbered by males!), so I hope to give you some ideas.  Stampin' Up! have increased their range of A La Carte (single) stamps .... each of the featured stamps in my post today costs less than $15.
The first two cards I'd like to share have as the focal point the new Motorcycle stamp, that costs only $13.95.  I love that it packs just as much punch, when stamped as a line image, as it does when it's coloured in.  First up is a card in autumnal tones; I drew inspiration from the colours in the luscious Autumn Spice Specialty Designer Series Papers (seriously beautiful).  I have created More Mustard ribbon by using a marker to colour Whisper White taffeta; cool, hey?!

Stamps: Motorcycle, Bring on the Cake

Card: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Old Olive, Naturals Ivory

DSP: Autumn Spice Specialty Designer Series Paper

Ink: Early Espresso stampin' pad and marker, Crumb Cake stampin' pad, More Mustard marker

Other: Circles #2 Bigz die, Tasteful Trim XL Bigz die, Whisper White taffeta ribbon, Color Spritzer tool, Word Window punch, paper snips, Sticky Strip, Circle Nestabilities

My next card uses the same Motorcycle stamp, and Bring on the Cake stamp set (fantastic birthday sentiments in that set - I just love it), also in the Autumn-Winter Mini.

Stamps: Motorcycle, Bring on the Cake

Card: Crumb Cake, Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler textured, Very Vanilla

DSP: Newsprint Designer Series Paper

Ink: Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler and Crumb Cake stampin' pads

Other: Neutrals and Regals brads, Linen Thread, Mat Pack and Paper Piercing tool, Stamp-a-ma-jig, stampin' dimensionals, paper snips, stamping sponge

Now for a couple of cards using the Sail Away stamp, that is $14.95, and the perfect size for a card front.  This, too, is another stamp that looks great 'just stamped' (no colouring in required).  In this first card, I have stamped the yacht directly onto a piece of Blueberry Crisp paper - don't you think it looks like the perfect, slightly stormy, sailing background?  I paper-pieced the sails, by stamping the image again onto a co-ordinating paper from the same pack, and cutting out just the sails, then sticking them over my original image.  I think this adds a bit of lightness and interest, so the panel doesn't look too gloomy!  The sentiment is stamped on a wide ric-rac die cut from the new Tasteful Trim Bigz XL die, to mimic waves.

Stamps: Sail Away, Bring on the Cake, Sanded

Card: Sahara Sand, Not Quite Navy, Pacific Point

DSP: Blueberry Crisp and Botanical Gazette Designer Series Papers

Ink: Not Quite Navy and Sahara Sand stampin' pads

Other: Tasteful Trim Bigz XL die, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Crop-a-dile, Jumbo Eyelets (pewter), kitchen string, sponge dauber, stampin' dimensionals

My last card also uses the Sail Away stamp.  I have used the colours from a striped sheet of paper in the Play Date pack - totally 'out of the box' for me, but I love how it turned out!

Stamps: Sail Away, Seeing Stars, Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Card: Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive

DSP: Play Date Designer Series Paper

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Old Olive stampin' pad, Tempting Turquoise stampin' pad, So Saffron stampin' pad

Other: White embossing powder, Word Window Punch, Modern Label punch, Top Note die, Square Lattice embossing folder, Circles brad, Whisper White 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, paper snips, stampin' dimensionals

Next stop on our blog hop is the blog of my talented friend Judy May; I am sure she has something very beautiful to share today!!

If you lose your way, check back in here, as I've listed below all of the participants in today's blog hop.  Enjoy visiting all of our blogs, and please leave us some comments, so we know you've been to visit. 

HAPPY EASTER, everyone!!

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


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


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


Christine Blain (c'est  moi)
http://www.christineblain.blogspot.com/


Judy May
http://www.judymay.typepad.com/


Alisha Watson
http://www.ratherbstampin.typepad.com/


Kathryn Ruddick
http://www.katlodesigns.com/

THIRD POST FOR TODAY, AND 3 CHALLENGES IN ONE!

I have had such a nice first day, of the 5-day break we get for Easter / Anzac Day; as you can probably see, I've been playing in my craft room!  Here I am, with my THIRD blog post for the day (I assure you, this is an aberration - but, boy, it's nice to have the time to create).  I have made a card that fits three challenges, which also is a bit of an aberration; it's not easy for me to combine colour, sketch and theme challenges!

This is my first entry over at The Color Room, a site I've just discovered.  Here is the luscious colour palette for this week's challenge:

The site is frequented mainly by very talented scrapbookers, but cardmakers are also welcome to share our creations.  For those who want to use the above colours to make a card, here's this week's suggested sketch:

Thrown into the mix for my card, is the new challenge just announced today over at Just Add Ink.  The challenge is to "Just Add Mateship/Friendship", in recognition of ANZAC Day, which we celebrate on April 25th in Australia and New Zealand.  We owe our freedom and way of life to the courageous ANZACs, and those who have fought for our countries since.  I'm very proud to say that I am both a New Zealand and an Australian citizen.

Now that I've outlined all the criteria, I'll show you my card.  Although it doesn't show very clearly in the photo, I just wanted to point out that I stamped the Medallion stamp on the Taken With Teal panel - in Versamark ink, because I sold my Taken With Teal inkpad when that colour retired from Stampin' Up!'s range last September .... would've been good to have it for today's card!

Stamps: Medallion, Very Vintage stampin' around jumbo wheel, Oval All

Card: Confetti White, Taken With Teal, Early Espresso, More Mustard, Rich Razzleberry

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Early Espresso stampin' pad and marker, More Mustard stampin' pad and marker, Rich Razzleberry stampin' pad and marker

Other: Early Espresso 1/8" taffeta ribbon, Rich Razzleberry satin ribbon, Neutrals brad, Color Spritzer tool, Beautiful Wings embosslits, Itty Bitty shapes circle punch, 1 3/4" x 7/8" Oval punch, Scallop Oval punch, stampin' dimensionals, sponge daubers, Fancy Flower punch, 5-Petal flower punch, Boho Blossoms punch

"NATURE WALK" FROM STAMPIN' UP!

Earlier this month I ran a couple of card-making classes, to 'show off' the scrumptious new products in Stampin' Up!'s Autumn-Winter Mini catalogue.  We make four cards in every class, and I thought I'd share with you my favourite.

I was very taken with this card made by the supremely-talented Teneale Williams; my eye was drawn immediately to the Bravo Burgundy she used.  It's a colour I don't give much love to, but I was determined to design my own version using Bravo Burgundy as a starting point.  My trusty Stampin' Up! Color Coach suggested I team it with River Rock and Baja Breeze - I thought "what the??!!", but you know what?  The colour combination is FANTASTIC, and I am determined to use it again; love, love, love it.  Here's the card we made in my classes:

Stamps: Nature Walk, French Foliage, Friends 24-7

Card: Bravo Burgundy, Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla

Ink: Bravo Burgundy stampin' pad, Baja Breeze stampin' pad and marker, River Rock stampin' pad and marker

Other: Modern Label punch, blender pens, Basic Pearls, Stamping sponge, Stamp-a-ma-jig, sponge dauber, edge distressing tool

Since this is my second post for today, I want to just remind you that you NEED to come back over the weekend to check out the blog hop entries posted by a group of us Australian Stampin' Up! demonstrators!  We'll have more great ideas for you, for using products from the Autumn-Winter Mini catalogue.

STAMPIN' UP! "AUTUMN SPICE" THANKS

It's a rather bleak Autumn day in Melbourne, but I do love this time of year.  Right at the top of my "bucket list" is to see New England in the Fall .... one day!

I just adore Stampin' Up's new Autumn Spice Specialty Designer Series Paper.  It is heavy-weight, slightly textured paper, and has the most beautiful designs;  I love every sheet, which is a bit rare for an entire pack of paper.

The medallion-style flowers on some of the paper simply begged to be cut out, so I did just that and made a card with them, adding very little stamping.  I've added a little dimenson to a couple of the flower centres, by punching out another of the goreous patterns on the same sheet of paper, and affixing the circle punchies with brads in complementary colours.

Stamps: French Foliage, Afterthoughts

Card: More Mustard, Cherry Cobbler

DSP: Autumn Spice Specialty Designer Series Paper

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Early Espresso and More Mustard stampin' pads

Other: Modern Label punch, Early Espresso 1 1/4" striped grosgrain ribbon, Regals brads, 3/4" circle punch, stampin' dimensionals, sponge dauber, paper snips

Now, if you're looking to fill in a little time over the weekend, while you wait for the Easter Bunny to visit, there is a blog hop going on!  Some friends and I are showcasing products from Stampin' Up!'s Autumn-Winter Mini catalogue, with the 'hop' going live tomorrow morning.  Be sure to come back to check out what we've made!

HAPPY EASTER everyone, and to all my friends and blog readers in Australia and New Zealand, have a happy and safe extra-long weekend, with ANZAC Day observed in addition to Easter.

COLOR LAB CHALLENGE #37

I've gone a little bit "vintage-y" for this week's colour challenge over at the Color Lab.  Take a look at these gorgeous colours, to incorporate in a papercraft project:

Despite being a lover of green, I must admit to seldom using Always Artichoke.  I've been reminded of what a beautiful colour it is, though.  Here is what I came up with, using these colours:

Stamps: Elements of Style, Elegance Stampin' Around wheel

Card: Very Vanilla, Always Artichoke (smooth and textured), Regal Rose textured, Rose Red

DSP: Always Artichoke Patterns Designer Series Paper

Ink: Regal Rose, Rose Red and Always Artichoke stampin' pads

Other: Birds and Blooms sizzlits die, Crochet Trim, Basic Pearls, 1" circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, Eyelet border punch, sponge daubers, Fancy Flower punch, 5-Petal Flower punch, Boho Blossoms punch, mini glue dots, sticky strip

INKSPIRATIONS COLOUR CHALLENGE #66

I decided to use this week's Inkspirations colour combo, when I set out to make a 'good luck' card for some friends.  A family we know are about to embark on a 4-month adventure in England, so their young son can play cricket over the English summer.


Here's this week's colour challenge:

... and my card:

Stamps: Just Cricket, Seeing Stars, Rough Type alphabet

Card: Sahara Sand, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White

Ink: Sahara Sand stampin' pad and marker, Tempting Turquoise stampin' pad and marker, Regal Rose stampin' pad

Other: 3/4' circle punch, Mat Pack and Paper Piercing tool, Star brad, sponge dauber, Color Spritzer tool, Tombow multi glue

JAC-INKS CHALLENGE #6 : ELEGANT SOIREE

The current challenge running at Jac-Inks is a sketch challenge :

I decided it was high time I showed a bit more love to my Elegant Soiree Designer Series Papers, so I punched out 9 squares of co-ordinating papers, and came up with this little card, that I really love! 

Stamps: Occasional Greetings

Card: Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Soft Suede

DSP: Elegant Soiree Designer Series Paper

Ink: Crumb Cake and Soft Suede stampin' pads

Other: 1 3/8" x 5/8" Oval punch, 1 3/4" x 7/8" Oval punch, Heart to Heart punch, Beautiful Wings embosslits die, Sweet Buttons embosslits, Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder, Itty Bitty shapes flower punch, 1 1/4" Square punch, 1 3/8" Square punch, Basic Pearls, Fancy Flower punch, 5-Petal Flower punch, Boho Blossoms punch, sponge dauber

JUST ADD INK #64 - CHOCOLATE WRAPPER COLOUR CHALLENGE

This week's challenge over at Just Add Ink is to draw inspiration from the colours on the wrapper of our favourite chocolate bar.

Well ... one of my favourites is wrapped in a colour combination that is NOT easy to translate to a card!  I wanted to use only Stampin' Up! products, but there's no blue in our range that matches.  Whilst the colour isn't 100% true on-screen, it is a deep purplish-blue, but nowhere near Concord Crush.  I've dug into my stash of card, risen to the challenge, and come up with a little 10cm square card:

Here is my 'inspiration piece' (NB: not an empty wrapper - how restrained am I? LOL), alongside the card, so you can see how I've used the colours, some gold embossing, and a small leaf pattern:

Stamps: Bring on the Cake, Sweet Summer (Sale-a-bration set, NLA)

Card: Blue cardstock from stash, Early Espresso, Brushed Gold

Ink: Versamark inkpad

Other: Scallop Edge border punch, Gold embossing powder, Square Lattice embossing folder, Early Espresso 5/8" grosgrain ribbon

COLOR ROUNDUP CHALLENGE #29 - FLOWER FANCY

Here is the colour combination Holly at Rubber Redneck has come up with this week:

I've gone for a bit of a wildflower look, using one of the stamps I rarely use from my Flower Fancy set.  I've added foliage along the bottom of the main panel, using my newly-acquired Just Believe set.  The sentiment is also from Just Believe.  Here is the photo, taken on a very dreary Melbourne autumn day:

Stamps: Flower Fancy, Just Believe

Card: Rose Red, Whisper White, Wild Wasabi textured

DSP: Elegant Soiree, Sweet & Sour and So Saffron Patterns Designer Series Papers

Ink: Jet Black Staz-On inkpad, Wild Wasabi stampin' pad and marker, Baja Breeze marker, Rose Red stampin' pad and marker, So Saffron marker

Other: Neutrals brads, Mat Pack and Paper Piercing Tool, sponge dauber, stampin' dimensionals, Stamp-a-ma-jig, paper snips

PAPER PLAYERS COLOUR CHALLENGE #42 - CREATE A CUPCAKE

I'm back again, already, with another card!  Yippee; love getting time to play in my craft room!


Here's the colour challenge at The Paper Players:

I've used my new Create A Cupcake stamp set, and co-ordinating Build A Cupcake punch (too cute!), to make this card:

Stamps: Create A Cupcake

Card: Poppy Parade, So Saffron, Baja Breeze, Whisper White

Ink: Poppy Parade, So Saffron and Baja Breeze stampin' pads

Other: Whisper White taffeta ribbon, Build A Cupcake punch, Crystal Effects, 1 3/4' Circle punch,

2 3/8" Scallop Circle punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Scallop Edge punch, Word Window punch, paper snips

COLOR LAB CHALLENGE #36

Thanks to my friend Kris, I was prompted to check out this week's Color Lab Challenge.  I've been a bit remiss in keeping up with my usual favourites this past week, as I've had to work three days in a row (a bit taxing when I've got rather used to not working! LOL).  Now that it's school holidays, so the usual rushing around is reduced a little, I hope to get in some stamping time.


Here's the great colour combo for this week:

I decided Stampin' Up!'s French Foliage set would be perfect stamped in these colours.  It's a great set for creating a collage-style background, with minimal effort.  LOVE it!!!  I've gone for a very simple style of card, with a masculine feel.  I really had to stop myself from adding brads, or twine, or piercing .... but I'm really pleased with the end result.

Stamps: French Foliage, Occasional Greetings

Card: Early Espresso, Naturals Ivory

Ink: Early Espresso, Crumb Cake and Poppy Parade stampin' pads

Other: Stamp-a-ma-jig, sponge daubers, paper snips

"ALWAYS ELEGANT" FOR A SWEET FRIEND - CR84FN23

I recently bought Stampin' Up!'s Always Elegant stamp set, and decided the fine lines and delicate look of the stamps would be perfect for this week's CR84FN Colour Challenge #23.  Take a look at this gorgeous inspiration piece:

Here is the pretty, girly, card I made:

Stamps: Always Elegant; Hello, You

Card: Very Vanilla, Pink Pirouette textured

DSP: Pink Pirouette Patterns Designer Series Paper

Ink: Jet Black Staz-On inkpad, Pink Pirouette stampin' pad

Other: Basic Pearls, Very Vanilla satin ribbon, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder, Fancy Flower punch, 5-Petal Flower punch, Boho Blossoms punch, Frost White shimmer paint (mixed with Isocol to make a shimmer spray), mini glue dots, sticky strip

NATURE WALK MEETS BOTANICAL GAZETTE

I have a card to show you, made with Stampin' Up!'s new Nature Walk stamp set, and Botanical Gazette Designer Series Paper (hence the less-than-imaginative title of today's blog post).

I was inspired by Bonnie Klass's card, to use the blue bird sheet of paper from my pack (wasn't quite sure what to do with that), and to stamp a little bird inside the cage.  This may be an obvious idea, but I thought it was brilliant, and had completely forgotten I owned the aforementioned bird stamp!  (Oh dear, do you think this girl has a little too much SU! stuff??!!)

I have added Old Olive into the mix, because an all-blue card was a little hard for me to do.  I always feel 'safe' with green!  Here's my vintagey Nature Walk card:

Stamps: Nature Walk, En Francais, Friends 24-7, Silhouette Sentiments, Tiny Tags

Card: Crumb Cake, Night of Navy, Very Vanilla

DSP: Botanical Gazette Designer Series Paper

Ink: Night of Navy stampin' pad and marker, Old Olive and Crumb Cake stampin' pads

Other: Mat Pack and Paper Piercing tool, Curly Label punch, Medium Jewelry Tag punch, Basic Pearls, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Pinking Hearts border punch, sponge daubers, Night of Navy 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Victoria Crochet Trim, Vintage trinkets, Regals brad

FOX & FRIENDS BIRTHDAY FOR SUO CHALLENGE #16

The current challenge running at SUO Challenges, is to make a card or other papercraft project with animals on it.

It's well past time for me to bring out my rather neglected Fox & Friends stamp set; do animal images come any cuter?

I've made a little birthday 'set', of a card and a favour box, using Fox & Friends, and three of this year's In Colours - Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz, and Concord Crush.

Here are my creations together:

.... and individually ....

Stamps: Fox & Friends, Seeing Stars, Party This Way

Card: Concord Crush, Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz and Whisper White

DSP: Peach Parfait and Pear Pizzazz Patterns Designer Series Paper

Ink: Peach Parfait stampin' pad and marker, Pear Pizzazz and Concord Crush stampin' pads

Other: Pear Pizzazz stitched-poly ribbon, Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, Buttons #5 Sizzlits die, Square Lattice embossing folder, Fancy Favor Die, 1 3/4" x 7/8" Oval punch, Scallop Oval punch, Spiral punch, Circle Fire rhinestone brad, Stampin' dimensionals, Stamping sponges

INKSPIRATIONS COLOUR CHALLENGE #64

Here is the somewhat-challenging colour combo that Makeesha has come up with this week over at Inkspirations :

I love rustic, earthy, colours but despite my love for red, the addition of Poppy Parade to this mix really threw me!

Because the colours are strong, I decided to go with a clean and simple card.  Ethan, my creative and gorgeous 10-year-old, said "Mum, I like this, but it doesn't look like one of your cards"!!  It is a departure from my usual style; not much in the way of embellishment, other than the button I managed to find a spot for!

Stamps: Thoughts & Prayers

Card: Very Vanilla, More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Poppy Parade

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Poppy Parade stampin' pad

Other: Clear embossing powder, Neutrals button, Stamp-a-ma-jig, stampin' dimensionals

I did score a line just below the top of the coloured panels, to add a little interest.  Stamping the sentiment 'sideways' was a change for me, but I liked the idea of stamping it in Poppy Parade ink, to complement the coloured panel to the far right.

I think this card is masculine enough to give to a friend who will be going through a rather long healing process after a recent accident. 

Thanks for the inspiration, Keesh!

TWO CHALLENGES : JUST ADD INK #62, AND CR84FN #22

I'd been a bit scared off by this week's challenge at Just Add Ink, to "Just Add a Box or a Bag", as I am just not a 3D papercraft kind of girl!  Cards, I can do, but anything "off the page" is way outside my comfort zone. Here I was, thinking I had to come up with something spectacular, when I remembered that I have Stampin' Up!'s gorgeous Fancy Favor die!!  Woohoo - instant box/bag, ready to be embellished! 

The colour challenge at CR84FN this week is gorgeous; right down my alley.  Here's the inspiration piece:

So, with trusty die at hand, and yummy colours to work with, all the while keeping in mind that Mother's Day is not far away, this is what I came up with:

.... and the 'rear view' (I embellished the bag with a flower made using the brilliant Joanne Leddy's tutorial):

Stamps: Very Vintage Stampin' Around wheel, All A Flutter, Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Card: Crumb Cake, Wild Wasabi textured

DSP: Woodland Walk Designer Series Paper, Crumb Cake Patterns Designer Series Paper, Wild Wasabi Patterns DSP

Ink: Crumb Cake stampin' pad, Chocolate Chip stampin' pad, Wild Wasabi stampin' pad

Other: Word Window punch, Scallop Edge punch, sponge daubers, Chocolate Chip taffeta ribbon (retired), Crop-a-dile, stampin' dimensionals, paper snips

BABY GIRL CARD FOR COLOR ROUND UP #28

I had need for a baby card, for some very special grandparents, and have always loved this card by one of my stamping idols, Kirsty Brown (she's so clever, God love her!).  I thought a baby girl card would be perfect for this week's Color Round Up Challenge #28:

Here's my card, which I am super-happy with.  The images were coloured using Stampin' Up! markers and blender pens, on watercolour paper.  I paper-pieced the baby suit, then added a little Daffodil Delight ink in places.

Stamps: Baby Bundle

Card: Crumb Cake, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Blushing Bride, Watercolour Paper

DSP: Blushing Bride Designer Series Paper

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Jet Black Staz-On inkpad, Whisper White craft stampin' pad, Blushing Bride stampin' pad and marker, Crumb Cake marker, Daffodil Delight marker

Other: Blender Pens, Whisper White satin ribbonm Scallop Trim border punch, Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, stampin' dimensionals, mini glue dots, paper snips

JAC-INKS CHALLENGE #5

You all know how I love a colour challenge, right?  Well, I've discovered another challenge site - Jac-Inks Papercraft Challenges, where new challenges are posted fortnightly by talented fellow Stampin' Up! demonstrators here in Australia.

The colour challenge that is currently running at Jac-Inks is to use any combination of the current In Colours from Stampin' Up!  Here's the range of colours to choose from:

I decided to use Poppy Parade as my starting point, and consulted my trusty Color Coach, to see if I could decide on a 'different' colour combo than one I'd normally choose.  I've gone with the suggestion of Poppy Parade, Pear Pizzazz, and Baja Breeze (who would've thought to throw that colour in??!!). I was rather taken by this card I recently showed you, so have gone with the same watercolour technique, and same basic layout.  I have to say, I love these cards - think I need to make a 'series' of them!

Stamps: Inspired by Nature, En Francais, Sincere Salutations

Card: Poppy Parade, Baja Breeze, Watercolour Paper

Ink: Poppy Parade stampin' pad and marker, Pear Pizzazz stampin' pad and marker, Baja Breeze marker, Basic Black stampin' pad

Other: Scallop Edge punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Stampin' sponge, Basic Black brads, Mat Pack and paper piercer, water spritzer bottle, Color Spritzer tool