JUST ADD INK #90

This week's challenge at Just Add Ink is to create a card, or other papercraft project, based on this sketch:

I have HEAPS of birthday cards to make this month, and am behind on a few.  This sketch was a great starting point for a card for a special young person in our lives.

I knew I wanted to make the birthday girl a card in earthy colours, and using my trusty Owl Builder Punch.  In place of an oval panel, I've fussy-cut a frame from Stampin' Up!'s Beau Chateau paper, masked off the outer edges and stamped a Woodgrain background in the centre.  Colour was added with my Riding Hood Red and Soft Suede markers, before sponging around the edges in Soft Suede ink.  Both the owl's body, and the left-hand panel on the card, have been stamped using my Elegance Stampin' Around wheel.  Having felt like my creative juices had almost dried up lately, I'm really pleased with the way this card turned out.

Stamps: Elegance Stampin' Around Wheel, Woodgrain

Card: Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Riding Hood Red, Not Quite Navy and Very Vanilla

DSP: Beau Chateau Designer Series Paper

Ink: Crumb Cake stampin' pad, Soft Suede stampin' pad and marker, Riding Hood Red stampin' pad and marker

Other: Owl Builder Punch, paper snips, sponge daubers, Timeless Type Alphabet sizzlits die, XL Oval Punch, Square Lattice embossing folder, Bird Builder Punch, Tombow liquid glue, stampin' dimensionals

JUST ADD INK #89

This week at Just Add Ink, the girls have challenged us to use this photo as inspiration:

Now that I look closely at the photo, I can see that the backdrop is water.  However, what I first thought of when I saw this, was the Serengeti!  I pictured hot air balloons over African plains at sunset.

I came across some papers in my extensive stash of unloved non-Stampin' Up! products on the weekend, so decided to put a few pieces to use on my card for this week's challenge.

My eldest boy is about to learn to drive, and in anticipation of him successfully obtaining his Learner's Permit, I made a card (which I'm pretty sure is safe from his sight, 'cos checking Mum's blog is not on his radar).  I love the new For My Family stamp set, with numerous combinations of sentiments and fonts; I can see it fast becoming a go-to set for me.  I've inked up my new Up, Up & Away stamps for the first time.  What a fun set to play with!  Here's what I made:

Stamps: Up, Up & Away; For My Family

Card: Basic Black, Peach Parfait

DSP: Kaisercraft Rewind papers

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Basic Black, So Saffron and Peach Parfait stampin' pads

Other: Black embossing powder, Tangerine Tango embossing powder, Stamp-a-ma-jig, sponge daubers, Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch

JUST ADD INK #88: JUST ADD A DIE CUT

This week's challenge at Just Add Ink is to use a die cut on our papercraft creation.  My personal challenge was to try to narrow down my choice, as I have a rather extensive collection of dies to use in my Big Shot!

I drew inspiration from a card I made a couple of weeks back, and created a couple of cute little items using my Two Tags die from Stampin' Up!  A special friend has just celebrated her birthday, and I wanted to make something for her, to co-ordinate with the card.

First I made a little gift pouch, to hold a few metres of the new colours of satin ribbon.  I first put the ribbon into one of Stampin' Up!'s small cellophane bags, and used a little Sticky Strip to secure the bag to the base of the pouch.  I think the end result is adorable (I hope the birthday girl does, too).  This pouch was created by cutting two of the larger tags from the Two Tags die, and sticking the bases together.  I then decorated it to co-ordinate with the card.


Here's the front view:

.... the back view:

.... and what it looks like from the side:

Stamps: Creative Elements, Tagtastic

Card: Wisteria Wonder, Basic Black

DSP: First Edition Designer Series Paper

Ink: Crumb Cake and Wisteria Wonder stampin' pads

Other: Finial Press embossing folder, Two Tags Bigz Die, 1/2" circle punch, Crop-a-dile, sponge daubers, XL Oval punch, Wisteria Wonder ruffled ribbon, Chantilly crochet trim, Beautiful Wings embosslits, Antique Brad

Next I made a little bookmark, using the other tag shape on the Two Tags die.  As you can see, I decorated this one in a similar fashion:

Stamps: Creative Elements

Card: Wisteria Wonder, Basic Black, Crumb Cake

DSP: First Edition Designer Series Paper

Ink: Crumb Cake and Wisteria Wonder stampin' pads

Other: 1/2" circle punch, Crop-a-Dile, sponge daubers, Timeless Type Alphabet sizzlits die, Basic Pearls, Wisteria Wonder ruffled ribbon, Chantilly crochet trim

To end this photo-heavy post, here's a round-up of "the birthday collection":

STAMPIN' UP!'S CALYPSO CORAL MEETS BASIC GRAY

I am loving playing with the five new "In Colors" (available for 2 years) in Stampin' Up!'s range.  The co-ordinating ruffled ribbon, and Designer Printed brads, are just too cute.

I have paired Calypso Coral with Basic Gray (toned down by Very Vanilla) in the card I have to show you today.  I just love the sweet little flower that was a breeze to make with the new Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer punch - and doesn't the cute polka dot brad finish it perfectly?

Stamps: Oval All, Confetti

Card: Basic Gray, Very Vanilla, Calypso Coral

DSP: First Edition Designer Series Paper

Ink: Basic Gray stampin' pad and marker, Calypso Coral marker, Sahara Sand stampin' pad

Other: Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer punch, In Color Designer Printed Brad, Calypso Coral ruffled ribbon, Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder, sponge dauber, Large Oval punch, Scallop Oval punch, XL Oval punch, Designer Frames embossing folder, Basic Pearls, mini glue dots

STAMPIN' UP! "TICKETS & TAGS" SIMPLY SCRAPPIN' KIT - PART 2

I'm back, as promised, with another card made using paper from my new Tickets & Tags Simply Scrappin' Kit.  The grungy grid paper in this pack pairs perfectly with Well Worn Designer Series Paper, and is great for "guy" cards.

Check out the new Denim Ribbon that I've used on this card, along with the cute focal image that is from the super-versatile new Easy Events stamp set.  I paper-pieced the snail's shell, after stamping Extreme Elements on the grid paper.  Cute, don't you think?!

Stamps: Easy Events, Extreme Elements, Texture jumbo wheel

Card: Basic Gray, Crumb Cake, Confetti White

DSP: Well Worn

Ink: Basic Gray, Not Quite Navy and Crumb Cake stampin' pads

Other: Tickets & Tags Simply Scrappin' Kit, Regals Watercolour Crayons and aquapainter, Denim Ribbon, Linen Thread, Jumbo Brads 5/16" Neutrals, Scallop Squares Duo Bigz die, sponge daubers, paper snips, Word Window punch, Mat Pack and Paper Piercing tool, mini glue dot

STAMPIN' UP! TICKETS & TAGS SIMPLY SCRAPPIN' KIT

As a cardmaker, I usually skim past the section of the Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalogue that contains supplies intended for scrapbookers.  Well, I have to bring your attention to a GORGEOUS Simply Scrappin' kit that I bought, and just love.  Might just have to buy some of the others now!  Check out pages 132 and 133 of the new catalogue; you're in for a treat.  Stampin' Up!'s Simply Scrappin' kits contain exclusive Designer Series Papers that are not in the 'main' offerings, along with textured cardstock to co-ordinate, and 6 sheets of gorgeous self-adhesive die-cuts. 

I have had a play with the "Tickets & Tags" kit.   Firstly I made a Christmas card, because I was stoked to realise that the colours in the kit perfectly match those on a stamped image I had sitting on my desk.  The other night I tried the Stained Glass technique, by stamping ornaments from Merry & Type on some vellum, using Versamark ink.  I white-embossed the image, and used markers in three colours (Baja Breeze, Poppy Parade and Basic Gray) to colour on the reverse side.  LOVED the result, but wasn't sure what to do with that panel.  Well, whaddya know - the Simply Scrappin' kit came to my rescue.  Enough words; here's a photo:

Stamps: Merry & Type, For My Family

Card: Basic Gray, Whisper White, Baja Breeze

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Baja Breeze marker, Poppy Parade stampin' pad and marker, Basic Gray marker

Other: Vellum, Tickets & Tags Simply Scrappin' Kit, Silver Mini Brads, White embossing powder, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Whisper White satin ribbon, mini glue dots

I just love the glorious patterned paper and cardstock stickers that have Poppy Parade in them.  I used mostly die-cuts, and just a stamped sentiment, to create this next card:

Stamps: For My Family, Oval All

Card: Crumb Cake, Basic Gray, Confetti White

Ink: Poppy Parade stampin' pad, Basic Gray stampin' pad and marker, Baja Breeze stampin' pad and marker, Crumb Cake stampin' pad

Other: Tickets & Tags Simply Scrappin' Kit, Lots of Tags sizzlits die, Itty Bitty Shapes punch, Subtles Glimmer brad, Basic pearl, sponge daubers, Crumb Cake seam binding, Pinking Hearts border punch, mini glue dots

I've made one more card with this kit, but you'll have to come back tomorrow to see it (don't want to overload you now!).  You might like it if you're looking for inspiration for a card for a guy.