JAI #72 - JUST ADD COLOURING IN

My love of stamping stemmed from my life-long love of  "colouring in", so I HAD to take part in Just Add Ink's challenge this week.

I love the look of a stamped image white-embossed on Crumb Cake card, then coloured using Stampin' Up! markers.  I hadn't done this for a while, so it was time to have a play with this technique.

At the card-making class I held on Saturday, we were talking of how much we love Bella Toile (which, sadly, is retiring from the US Stampin' Up! catalogue ..... an indicator that we, too, may lose it soon).  I decided to use that stamp for my card.  I first stamped Bella Toile in Rich Razzleberry ink on the card base, then I stamped it again on Crumb Cake card, using Versamark ink and white embossing powder.  I love how 'rich' the image looks:

Stamps: Bella Toile, Bring On The Cake

Card: Rich Razzleberry, Crumb Cake, Whisper White

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Rich Razzleberry stampin' pad and marker, Rose Red marker, Old Olive marker, Crumb Cake stampin' pad

Other: Whisper White 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Decorative Label punch, sponge daubers, White embossing powder, mini glue dots, stampin' dimensionals

Just a quick post today, as I'm off to Kathmandu (the shop, not the place!) in search of a super-warm lightweight jacket for our end-of-year holiday.  We're heading back to New York, and the jacket I have been using takes up about half my suitcase and weighs around 5kg.  (Not very practical, especially since I NEED suitcase space for my shopping over there!).  I'll be having lunch with my Mum, and enjoying a quiet spot in the middle of the day before all the manic running-around for my boys tonight ..... we leave home around 4.00pm for the first cricket lesson, and will get home around 9.00pm.  Makes me exhausted just thinking about what's ahead! 

I hope you're having a happy Monday, whatever you are doing.

JUST ADD INK #71 ..... JUST ADD BLACK & WHITE

Boy, I was challenged this week by Paula's choice to make the Just Add Ink challenge "black and white" only.  I'm not sure that I've ever made a black and white card, and throughout the whole process I was itching to add a dash of red!  However, I persisted, and managed to make a card, that I am quite happy with.

I found this colour (or are black and white technically 'tones'?) scheme rather formal, so to lighten it up a bit I added a few lightly crumpled flowers here and there.  Here's the end result:

Stamps: Elements of Style, Sincere Salutations

Card: Basic Black, Whisper White

Ink: Whisper White craft stampin' pad, Versamark inkpad, Basic Black stampin' pad

Other: Black embossing powder, Mat Pack and Paper Piercing Tool, Basic Rhinestones, Neutrals brad, Itty Bitty Shapes flower punch, Whisper White 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, mini glue dots, Stamp-a-ma-jig

STAMPIN' UP!'S "FRENCH FOLIAGE" IN PINK

I would like to share with you a card that is on its way to a friend, who lives too far away, who is in the fight of her life at the moment.  I wanted the card to be a bit soft and girly, but with an earthy feel as well; I like the symbolism of nature, and renewal, and hope.

I've used Stampin' Up!'s French Foliage stamp set (one of my absolute favourites from the current Autumn Winter mini catalogue), but with non-autumnal colours.  I really love how it turned out.  I had to photograph the card inside, because the weather is SO bleak in Melbourne.  It doesn't show clearly, but I used my crimper to add a bit of texture to the sentiment oval. (I've also straightened up that second pearl!)

Stamps: French Foliage, Because I Care (hostess set)

Card: Blushing Bride, Sahara Sand, Confetti White

DSP: Blushing Bride Patterns Designer Series Paper (hostess pack)

Ink: Blushing Bride and Sahara Sand stampin' pads

Other: Basic Pearls, Wide Oval punch, Lots of Tags sizzlits die, Eyelet border punch, sponge daubers, Crimper, paper snips

CQC #88 COLOURS MEET JAC-INKS #10 SKETCH

I was a bit excited when I saw this week's Jac-Inks challenge, as I've just bought Spellbinders Ribbon Banners; perfect!  Here's the sketch:

I simply couldn't pass by the Colour Q challenge, either; these scrumptious colours are just right up my alley:

The splotchy flowers immediately inspired me to use Friends Never Fade.  I inked the flower using a stampin' pad first, then coloured the flower centres with markers. 

Stamps: Friends Never Fade, Thanks for Caring, Friendly Words jumbo Stampin' Around wheel

Card: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler textured, Early Espresso, Soft Suede

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Soft Suede stampin' pad and marker, Cherry Cobbler stampin' pad and marker, Crumb Cake stampin' pad, Early Espresso stampin' pad and marker

Other: Circles #2 die, Square Lattice embossing folder, Itty Bitty Shapes flower punch, Basic Pearls, sponge daubers, Nestabilities circle die, Spellbinders Ribbon Banner die

THE COLOR ROOM CHALLENGE #61 - MALE BIRTHDAY CARD

Here's this week's card sketch over at The Color Room:

 .... and the colours to be used when making the card:

Combining the two, this is what I came up with using all Stampin' Up! supplies:

Stamps: Extreme Elements, French Foliage, Seeing Stars, On Your Birthday

Card: Basic Gray, Wild Wasabi, Confetti White, Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy

Ink: Basic Gray, Wild Wasabi, Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy and Whisper White craft stampin' pads

Other: Star punch, Small star punch (retired), 1 1/4" Square punch, Crimper, Crop-a-dile, Soho Designer hardware (retired), Modern Label punch, Tasteful Trim Bigz XL die, sponge daubers, paper snips, stampin' dimensionals

INKSPIRATIONS COLOUR CHALLENGE #72

Well, Makeesha from Inkspirations had me a bit stumped with THIS colour combo:

It was the Not Quite Navy in the mix that threw me, but I was determined to give it a try anyway.  I haven't used my Friends Never Fade stamp set for AGES, so that was my starting point.  I coloured directly onto the stamp with Peach Parfait and Pear Pizzazz markers, and repeated the image along the strip of Whisper White card, which was adhered to my card base.  My super-duper new Crimper has seen a bit more action, and of course my card wouldn't be complete without butterflies! 

Stamps: Friends Never Fade, Sincere Salutations

Card: Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White, Not Quite Navy

DSP: Peach Parfait Patterns Designer Series Paper (hostess pack)

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Pear Pizzazz stampin' pad and marker, Peach Parfait stampin' pad and marker

Other: Birds & Blooms sizzlits die, Neutrals brad, Pear Pizzazz ribbon, Eyelet Border punch, Beautiful Wings embosslits, Decorative Label punch, sponge daubers, stampin' dimensionals, mini glue dots, Crimper

COLOR LAB CHALLENGE #43

As soon as I saw this week's Color Lab challenge, I knew I wanted to use my new Eat Chocolate stamp set.  Ordinarily, I wouldn't think to put these colours together, but I love the addition of the blue to the other rich colours that I often reach for.

I made a gift set, of a little treat bag/box (I have decided it's a bag, but couldn't decided whether to use a little clip, or ribbon, to fasten it, so have left it open for now!), and a 10cm square card.  I think I had my head on a bit crooked when I stamped the card, but I love the little bag!  Take a look:

Don't those colours look great together?! 

Here are closer shots of the bag and card, and lists of the Stampin' Up! products used to create them:

Stamps: Eat Chocolate, Confetti, Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Card: Riding Hood Red textured, Whisper White

DSP: Early Espresso and Not Quite Navy Patterns Designer Series Papers

Ink: Riding Hood Red stampin' pad and marker, Early Espresso stampin' pad and marker, Not Quite Navy stampin' pad and marker

Other: Fancy Favor Bigz XL Die (and Big Shot), Scallop Edge punch, Decorative Label punch, Two-Step Owl punch (for the tiny heart), Early Espresso 1/8" taffeta ribbon, sponge daubers, sticky strip, mini glue dot, Stamp-a-ma-jig

Stamps: Eat Chocolate, Confetti

Card: Early Espresso, Not Quite Navy, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White

Ink: Early Espresso stampin' pad and marker, Riding Hood Red stampin' pad and marker, Not Quite Navy stampin' pad and marker

Other: 1 3/4" Circle punch, 2 3/8" Scallop circle punch, sponge daubers

I hope you manage to fit some stamping, and chocolate, into your day!

JAI #70 SKETCH MEETS CTD #144 COLOUR CHALLENGE

I have had my Stampin' Up! Scallop Circle die for ages (planned to make Christmas cards with it last year, but that didn't eventuate).  Until today, it had been unused.  In the spirit of showing some love to my neglected supplies, I have made a little card that was inspired by this week's sketch over at Just Add Ink. 

I'm not a circular card kind of girl, so I am very unsure about this one, but I'll share it anyway!    The colour scheme is this week's challenge at The Color Throwdown.

Given my time over, I wouldn't have sponged the edges of the white card with Melon Mambo, but it is what it is!

Stamps: Silhouette Sentiments, Love & Care (both hostess sets), Bella Toile

Card: Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White, Certainly Celery

Ink: Melon Mambo stampin' pad and marker, Certainly Celery stampin' pad and marker, Pumpkin Pie stampin' pad and marker

Other: Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder, Certainly Celery 1/8" taffeta ribbon, Large Oval punch, Scallop Oval punch, sponge daubers, Scallop Circle Die, Nestabilities, mini glue dots

CR84FN #30 COLOUR CHALLENGE

BEAUTIFUL colour challenge over at CR84FN this week, don't you think?

I have teamed some DCWV (Nana's Nursery) papers, with Stampin' Up! goodies, to make a baby card.  I don't actually know anyone who is about to have twins, but I designed this card with twins in mind!

Here is the result of my photographic endeavour on a very grey, cloudy, Melbourne afternoon:

Stamps: Fox & Friends, Baby Steps

Card: Crumb Cake, So Saffron textured, Whisper White smooth and textured

Paper: DCWV (Nana's Nursery, Baby Boy) paper stack

Ink: Baja Breeze, So Saffron and Crumb Cake stampin' pads

Other: Whisper White organza ribbon, 1 3/4" circle punch, Itty Bitty shapes punch, sponge dauber, paper snips, mini glue dots, Kraft corduroy button

STAMPIN' UP!'S "EAT CHOCOLATE" THANK YOU NOTE CARD

I have just inked up, for the first time, my new Eat Chocolate stamp set from Stampin' Up!  It is such a cute, fun, set, which I decided was perfect to use for a couple of customer "thank you" note cards this week.

I'm not alone, I'm sure, in my love of any stamps that co-ordinate with Stampin' Up!'s punches.  The new Decorative Label punch is designed to use with one of the stamps in Eat Chocolate.  I love the little chocolates, but am not so keen on the sentiment - so I customised it!

I used my Stampin' Write markers to colour in the chocolates and frame, which I stamped onto Whisper White card.  I just omitted the sentiment.  Once I'd stamped my image, I used my trusty Stamp-a-ma-jig to position the greeting I wanted inside the frame.  I'm now in LOVE with this stamp!  See how easy it is to make the most of stamps that might not at first be your favourites?

Here is the simple little card (which I think is rather cute):

Stamps: Eat Chocolate, Short & Sweet, In Stitches jumbo wheel (unmounted)

Card: Regal Rose, Whisper White

Ink: Regal Rose stampin' pad and marker, Chocolate Chip stampin' pad and marker, Rose Red marker, Early Espresso marker

Other: Decorative Label punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig

STAMPIN' UP!'S COLOR COACH - RIVER ROCK

Last weekend, when I showed you a few cards I'd made with colour combinations suggested by Stampin' Up!'s Color Coach, the gorgeous Sharnee Torrents suggested I take a look at a colour combo using River Rock:

Hmmmm ..... well, I took this as a challenge, and ran with it! 

 Firstly, I'd like to share this photo that I 'lifted' from Sharnee's blog; this is the two of us at Stampin' Up! Convention recently:

What a sweetheart Sharnee is; it was a joy to watch her present her Workshop Wow to HUNDREDS of people without the slightest quiver in her voice - such a natural.  I was so pleased we met in person at Convention, as we often share a bit of 'bloggy love' between us!  So, Sharnee, this card is in honour of you!

  I have used my rather neglected Stampin' Pastels (that's my mission this week - to use neglected products!), in River Rock and Tangerine Tango, to colour the focal image.  I think my 'cloudy' effect around the flowers just adds to the ambience, so don't be thinking I didn't do it on purpose! :)

Stamps: Just Believe, Teeny Tiny Sentiments, En Francais

Card: River Rock, Not Quite Navy, Tangerine Tango textured, Whisper White

DSP: Not Quite Navy Patterns Designer Series Paper

Ink: Versamark inkpad, River Rock and Not Quite Navy stampin' pads

Other: Stampin' Pastels, Beautiful Wings embosslits, Whisper White 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Whisper White Organza ribbon, sponge daubers, Word Window punch, mini glue dots, Tombow liquid glue