JAI #111 : JUST ADD EASTER

With Easter fast approaching (but still with time enough to create some pretty Easter gifts and/or cards), we at Just Add Ink would like to share with you some project ideas.  Please make sure you check out the Design Team's fantastic creations, for this challenge set by Mae.  We hope to inspire you to make your own, and share them with us!

I own one Easter stamp, and one Easter sentiment stamp, from Stampin' Up!, but was determined to come up with something a little different to what I've already shared here.

I decided I wanted a slightly vintagey feel to my Easter card, drawing inspiration from the colours and patterns in Stampin' Up!'s gorgeous Beau Chateau Designer Series Papers.  It's hard to see in the photo, but I stamped the left-hand panel of DSP with the small floral spray from Established Elegance (in Pink Pirouette), and the bird eggs from Nature Walk (in Crumb Cake).

Here's the rather "girly" Easter card I made (well, isn't it normally girls and women who appreciate cards more??!):

Stamps: Give a Gift, Teeny Tiny Sentiments, Nature Walk, Established Elegance

Card: Crumb Cake, Pink Pirouette, Very Vanilla

DSP: Beau Chateau Designer Series Paper

Ink: Crumb Cake stampin' pad, Timber Brown Staz-On inkpad (not SU!), Pink Pirouette stampin' pad

Other: Victoria crochet trim, XL Oval punch, Scallop Edge border punch, Word Window and Modern Label punches, Designer Frame embossing folder, sponge dauber, Itty Bitty shapes punch, Basic Pearls, Watercolour Crayons and aquapainter, mini glue dots

The rest of the Design Team have some amazing Easter ideas, so make sure you check them out here!  We look forward to seeing what you come up with, too.

STAMPIN' UP!'S COTTAGE GARDEN - BLOG HOP

Today I'm taking part in a little blog hop (there are only 6 of us participating), just for fun.  Some fellow Stampin' Up! demonstrators and I are showcasing cards or other papercraft projects, based on this sketch from Becky Fleck at Page Maps:

You may have come to my blog after seeing the beautiful work of Nikki Sadler.  If not, no problem - just follow the link at the bottom of my blog post, to visit Di Dunk (the next stop on the 'tour'), and follow the links at the bottom of each person's blog post until you've visited all 5 of us.


My card evolved from my decision to use the Pink Pirouette and white piece of Designer Series Paper in Stampin' Up!'s Beau Chateau pack.  My trusty Color Coach suggested I team Pink Pirouette with Sahara Sand and Always Artichoke, so I gave it a try, and I LOVE the result!  I've used Always Artichoke sparingly (on the sentiment, and the brad flower centres), but I think it is a less harsh contrast to the soft pink, than black would be.  I've included on this card a sneak peek of some gorgeous ribbon that's coming out in the Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue next month.  I'm seriously in love with this stuff :)

Here's my card based on the sketch:

Stamps: Cottage Garden, Sincere Salutations

Card: Sahara Sand, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White

DSP: Beau Chatea Designer Series Paper

Ink: Sahara Sand, Pink Pirouette and Always Artichoke stampin' pads

Other: XL Oval punch, Lots of Tags sizzlits die, paper flowers, Basic Rhinestones, Finial Press embossing folder, sponge daubers, Top Note die,, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Always Artichoke brads (retired), Blushing Bride pleated satin ribbon (*new 1st April)

Now it's on to Di Dunk's blog, to see what she has created with this sketch.  Di makes really lovely cards, so make sure you visit - and we'd all love for you to leave comments, so we know you've been!

Here's a complete list of everyone participating in this little blog hop today:

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

Sue Madex
http://www.madexcreations.com

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

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

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

Amanda Hill
http://amandasscrapandcraft.blogspot.com.au/

JUST ADD INK #110 - SKETCH CHALLENGE

This week at Just Add Ink, Mae has come up with a GREAT challenge.  I say great, because it really took me out of my comfort zone - frustrating at first, but that's the whole idea of a 'challenge', isn't it?  I do favour colour challenges over sketches, but I'm trying to open my mind!

After discarding the first two cards I came up with, I ran with a completely new idea, and am really pleased with the outcome.  So, thanks Mae, for challenging me!  Here's the sketch (sorry - couldn't get the outer border to show):

..... and my card:

Stamps: Morning Cup, Tagtastic, Friendly Words jumbo wheel

Card: Crumb Cake, Elegant Eggplant, Watercolour Paper

DSP: Beau Chateau Designer Series Paper, Perfect Plum Patterns Designer Series Paper

Ink: Jet Black Staz-On inkpad, Crumb Cake stampin' pad, Elegant Eggplant stampin' pad and marker, Perfect Plum stampin' pad and marker, Always Artichoke stampin' pad and marker

Other: XL Oval punch, 1" Square punch, Postage Stamp punch, Always Artichoke seam binding, Scallop Edge border punch, sponge daubers, aquapainter

You must head on over to Just Add Ink to check out the AMAZING samples made by the Design Team - you'll be inspired to play along, I promise you!

SC 0032/12 : STAMPIN' UP! PAISLEY PETALS

This week's challenge over at Sunny Challenges & Creations is to use Designer Series Paper, along with this sketch, to make a card or scrapbook page:

I have used the colours Baja Breeze, River Rock, Not Quite Navy and Whisper White - taken from Stampin' Up!'s Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper.

Stamps: Thoughts & Prayers, French Foliage

Card: Baja Breeze, River Rock, Whisper White

DSP: Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper

Ink: River Rock stampin' pad and marker, Baja Breeze stampin' pad and marker, Not Quite Navy stampin' pad

Other: Color Spritzer tool, Beautiful Wings embosslits die, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Not Quite Navy taffeta ribbon, Eyelet border punch, Basic Pearls, White baker's twine, button (retired), sponge daubers, mini glue dots, vellum

JAI #109: JUST ADD ...... BEACH

The challenge at Just Add Ink this week, is to create a  papercraft project with a  "beach" theme.   Bronwyn came up with this idea, before leaving the JAI Design Team.

This week's card is a departure for me, from using all Stampin' Up! products.  I don't have any SU! stamps that are "beachy", although I have used Stampin' Up! paper, card and colours.

Stamps: Happiest Birthday Wishes, CC Designs Mermaid Emma, shell border stamp from PSX

Card: Crumb Cake, Melon Mambo, Whisper White, X-Press It blending card

DSP: Tempting Turquoise Patternss Designer Series Paper

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Memento Tuxedo Black inkpad, Crumb Cake stampin' pad, Tempting Turquoise stampin' pad

Other: Nestabilities, Fancy Favor Bigz die, Brights button, Linen thread, White embossing powder, sponge dauber, Prismacolor pencils & Odourless Mineral spirits, Scallop Edge border punch, Dazzling Details, mini glue dots

It's a bit hard to see in the photo, but here's a close-up of the 'waves' I created, with a bit of sparkle.  I used my Scallop Edge border punch on a scrap piece of card, and used it as a stencil, sponging turquoise ink along the edge to create waves.  I then used Dazzling Details to make the waves a little glittery.

Make sure you check out the rest of the Design Teams' creations this week.  We hope you'll play along with us - we'd love to see your beach-themed card or scrapbook page!

retrosketches #2 : STAMPIN' UP!'S "AIN'T LOVE GRAND"

There is a VERY cool new sketch challenge site on the scene.  I know, I know - I do complain that I find sketch challenges very, well, challenging!  But you must check out retrosketches, started by the super-talented Arielle Gordon.  Great design team, great concept, and a whole lot of fun.  Might I say that I was also drawn in by the gorgeous "coffee-stained" grid paper and hand-drawn look of each sketch?  Love that!

Anyway, I missed the first week's deadline, but have managed to scrape in for the second challenge.  I don't "do" clean and simple very well, but have tried to achieve that look on my card.

Here's this week's sketch:

I've inked up my Ain't Love Grand stamp set for the first time.  Another first for me is leaving the stamped image un-coloured.  I really like the clean graphic look of a black line image, with just a splash of colour (in this case a paper-pieced megaphone).

Here's what I came  up with, thanks to Stampin' Up!'s Tickets & Tags Simply Scrappin' kit (great colours, don't you think?):

Stamps: Ain't Love Grand, Candle Crazy Builder Wheel

Card: Basic Gray, Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Poppy Parade

DSP: Tickets & Tags Simply Scrappin' kit, Poppy Parade Patterns Designer Series Paper

Ink: Basic Gray stampin' pad, Poppy Parade stampin' pad, Baja Breeze stampin' pad, Jet Black Staz-On inkpad

Other: Sponge daubers, Crumb Cake corduroy brad (retired), Basic Gray satin ribbon, Crumb Cake taffeta ribbon

SC 31/12: CHALKBOARD TECHNIQUE USING STAMPIN' UP!'S FRENCH FOLIAGE

Last week I sat down to make a card for Sunny Challenges & Creations, only to realise I'd missed the deadline ..... so, I was determined this week to be more organised!

This week's challenge is, as usual, a double-edged one - to use the sketch below, and to use the chalkboard technique.

I am guilty of not playing with my Stampin' Pastels very often, so this was a great challenge for me.  My interpretation of the Chalkboard Technique, is to stamp an image on dark coloured cardstock, with white craft ink, then to lay down colour on the image using chalks. 

I have made a masculine card (no great surprise, for those of you who know me!), using Stampin' Up!'s French Foliage stamp set.  I stamped several leaves on a piece of Early Espresso cardstock, using Whisper White craft ink (it's slow-drying pigment ink).  I then used my Stampin' Pastels in various colours - Pumpkin Pie, Tangerine Tango, Soft Suede, Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler, More Mustard, and Early Espresso - to colour the leaves.  When I'd finished, I rubbed the panel with a tissue to remove chalk dust.  It leaves a great result, and I had such fun making this - must use this technique more!

Stamps: French Foliage, Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Card: Early Espresso, More Mustard, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede

DSP: Soft Suede Patterns Designer Series Paper

Ink: Whisper White, Early Espresso, Soft Suede stampin' pads

Other: Stampin' Pastels, Square Lattice embossing folder, sponge daubers, Linen Thread, Word Window punch, Basics Glimmer Brad, Nestabilities, edge distressing tool

STAMPIN' UP!'S "GIVE A GIFT" FOR PP#86

I have been playing with my Give a Gift stamp set (sooooo cute - all 7 images co-ordinate with Stampin' Up! punches, which I love).  I had an idea in mind that worked perfectly to enter in this week's colour challenge at The Paper Players:

I've made a little Easter box, with a ribbon handle (does that make it a bag??!).  The ribbon is gorgeous, but was a little difficult to photograph.

To attach the handle, I simply punched a small hole in each side of the box, and knotted the ribbon on the inside.  I added a little grosgrain bow to the outside to 'pretty it up'.  Here's a side view:

Stamps: Give a Gift, Teeny Tiny Sentiments, Confetti

Card: Crumb Cake, Pool Party, Whisper White

DSP: Pool Party Patterns Designer Series Paper

Ink: Crumb Cake stampin' pad and marker, Jet Black Staz-On inkpad, Wisteria Wonder marker, Pear Pizzazz marker, Pool Party marker

Other: In Color glimmer brad, Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, Fancy Favor die, sponge dauber, XL Oval punch, Wisteria Wonder ruffled ribbon, Whisper White 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, mini glue dots, stampin' dimensionals, sticky strip

STAMPIN' UP!'S FLOWER BURSTS FOR OUR CREATIVE CORNER

This week I am playing along, for the first time, in a challenge over at Our Creative Corner.  The challenge is to:

  Play along with us in a game of papercrafting tic-tac-toe. Choose "three in a row" on the Tic-Tac-Toe board and make sure you work those elements into your papercraft project.

I've chosen the vertical column of Flowers, Yellow and Glitter.  It's a little hard to see in my photo, but in addition to using Stampin' Up!'s silver Glimmer Paper, I've used Dazzling Details to affix silver pearls to the flower centres.

Do you think it's "brad overkill" on this card??  I love using brads, but think I might've got a bit carried away!

Stamps: Field Flowers, Nature Walk, Elements of Style

Card: Basic Black, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Silver Glimmer Paper

DSP: Flirtatious Specialty and Daffodil Delight Patterns Designer Series Papers

Ink: Daffodil Delight, Old Olive and Basic Black stampin' pads

Other: Flower Burst embosslit die, Whisper White organza ribbon, Beautiful Wings embosslits, Neutrals brads, sponge dauber, corner rounder punch, 3/4" and 1" circle punches, stampin' dimensionals, mini glue dots

JAI #108 : COLOUR CHALLENGE

Nikki has come up with this week's challenge at Just Add Ink,  to use these gorgeous colours together on a papercraft project:

I've run with the idea of Pool Party being a great bird's egg colour, and come up with this:

Stamps: Nature Walk, French Foliage, Established Elegance, Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Card: Early Espresso, Pool Party, Whisper White

Ink: Pool Party stampin' pad and marker, Island Indigo stampin' pad and marker, Early Espresso stampin' pad and marker

Other: Color Spritzer tool, Edge distressing tool, Island Indigo ruffled ribbon, Square Lattice embossing folder, Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, aquapainter, stampin' dimensionals, mini glue dots, sponge dauber

Make sure you check out the rest of the Design Team's samples over at Just Add Ink.  We hope to inspire you, to play along with us this week!

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