JAI #188 : JUST ADD GRUNGE

This week at Just Add Ink, our challenge (courtesy of Paula) is to "just add grunge" to your papercraft project.

This challenge was a great prompt for me to get an 18th birthday card made.  My eldest son and most of his friends turn 18 this year, and are going for their driver's licences.  This card is for one of Jack's friends. 

Stampin' Up!'s Gorgeous Grunge stamp set, and some distressing and sponging of the card edges, adds just the right amount of 'grunge' :

Stamps: Rev Up the Fun, World Map, Gorgeous Grunge, Four You, Memorable Moments

Card: Basic Gray, Island Indio, Smoky Slate, Whisper White

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Smoky Slate, Basic Gray and Island Indigo stampin' pads

Other: Silver stampin' emboss powder, Regals candy dots, Stamp-a-ma-jig, 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" circle punches, 1 1/2" circle punch (not SU!), Smoky Slate and Island Indigo Chevron ribbons, Stampin' Distress tool, glue dots

 

 

Make sure you check out the rest of the Just Add Ink Design Team samples - LOVE their takes on "grunge".  We hope you'll play along with us this week!

 

 



JAI #187: A SKETCH CHALLENGE

It's challenge time at Just Add Ink, and this week Kim has come up with a sketch for us to use in our card-making or scrapbooking.

Here's my take on the sketch:

Stamps: Dictionary, Flower Shop, A Dozen Thoughts

Card: Crumb Cake, Wisteria Wonder, Very Vanilla

DSP: Naturals Composition Designer Series Paper

Ink: Baked Brown Sugar and Wisteria Wonder stampin' pads

Other: Pansy Punch, Subtles Candy Dots, Wisteria Wonder chevron ribbon, Baked Brown Sugar ruffle trim, Basic Pearls, sponge daubers

 

 

The variety of cards made, using this sketch, by the Design Team is amazing - so make sure you pop on over to Just Add Ink to take a look.  Even better, we'd love you to link up your own creation on the Just Add Ink page!

 

 



MY "HAPPY PLACE"

A few years ago I shared on my blog that I was the proud "owner" of a brand new craft room, as a result of an extension of the back of our house.  I moved from a tiny room into a spacious one, that was designed just how I wanted it.

I thought I'd share on here a few more recent photos, so you can see where I spend much of my life!  I love this room so much .... I leave only when I have to.

Here's a view of my room, from the door.  It's a lovely, light-filled room with an outlook over our nice, green back yard (but I can't show you a close-up because of the dirty windows, and the garden in need of a prune, LOL).

Next is my stamp storage shelves.  I took these photos to share on a group Facebook page, without tidying up first - so, you get to see my room as it usually is.  I am a "wannabe" super-organized person, but in reality am a very messy crafter.  I like to think that we creative types have rather chaotic minds .... wish I could "still" mine sometimes!!

Here's my fabulous ribbon storage unit, built to spec by my dear friend's super-handy husband.  What a wonderful gift - I love it.  (The straggly ribbons are evidence of my failure to tidy up before photographing!  But hey, this is how it always looks.)

Here's my inkpad storage unit, which is one of my favourite ever ebay purchases.  It came in raw MDF, and I spray-painted it to match my other white furniture.  Markers, and a "selfie", of the two of us taken at SU! Convention, by my friend Jodene, sit on top. :)

.... and, finally, my collection of punches, dies, trimmers and Big Shot:

I hope you've enoyed this peek into my craft room, as much as I love seeing where everyone else creates. 

AN AUTUMNAL CARD FOR SEIZE THE BIRTHDAY

Last night was deemed "family movie night", so I sat down with my boys (two teens and husband) to watch "Olympus Has Fallen".  Wow.  Never have I had such a visceral reaction to a movie; I couldn't watch it beyond about the 15-minute mark. 

Once I'd settled my sobbing, I retreated to my craft room - and shut the door!  To take my mind off what was happening just on the other side of that door, I made a card for this week's "Seize the Birthday" challenge.  This challenge is to make any type of birthday card, but with the optional task of using "fall" colours.

I delved into my stash of retired Stampin' Up! Designer Series Papers, to find Autumn Spice DSP - just perfect for this challenge.  Here's what I made:

Stamps: Sassy Salutations

Card: Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, Naturals Ivory

DSP: Autumn Spice Designer Series Paper (retired)

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Soft Suede stampin' pad

Other: Early Espresso stampin' emboss powder, Honeycomb embossing folder, Hexagon punch, Brushed Bronze designer button, Natural Trim ribbon, Linen Thread, sponge dauber, glue dots

 

 



JAI # 186 : AN INSPIRATION PIC

I've had a bit of fun with the inspiration photo that is Just Add Ink's challenge this week.  Delys found this gorgeous pic of a floral wreath, to kick-start our creativity:

I started off with notions of making a bright, floral card - but that idea shifted to a butterfly wreath.  When it came to assembling a card, I just wasn't "feeling it", so allowed myself to think a bit outside the square.  I knew I wanted to create a wreath ... and I ended up making a "wreath" of suitcases.

This card is for my niece, who has been an intrepid traveller since a young age (well, she's still young!).  She's more likely to use a backpack than a suitcase, but hopefully she'll appreciate the fun sentiment behind this card:

Stamps: Label Something

Card: Basic Gray, Pool Party, Whisper White

DSP: I am Me Designer Series Paper

Ink: Real Red and Basic Gray stampin' pads

Other: Stylish Stripes embossing folder, Cloud embossing folder (retired), Artisan Label punch, Circles framelits, 1 3/4" Circle punch, paper snips

 

 

 

Make sure you check out the awesome samples from the rest of the Just Add Ink Design Team.  We'd love you to join in the fun, too, by using the inspiration photo to create a card or other papercraft project.

 

 



STAMPIN' UP!'S REV UP THE FUN

I had a card to make for a special young man's birthday this past week (well, I should've made it a couple of weeks ago but, thankfully, family are forgiving).  It was a great chance for me to ink up my new Rev Up the Fun stamp set.  Here's what I came up with, taking the colours from the Epic Day This & That Designer Series Papers:

Stamps: Rev Up the Fun, Memorable Moments, Off the Grid, Four You

Card: Basic Gray, Whisper White

DSP: Epic Day This & That Designer Series Paper

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

Other: 1/2" Circle punch, 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" Circle punches, 1 1/2" Circle punch (not SU!), Stamp-a-ma-jig, sponge daubers, Brights Candy Dots, Season of Style washi tape, Epic Day This & That washi tape

 

 

 



JAI #185: A STAMPIN' UP! CHRISTMAS CANDLE

Delys has come up with a gorgeous colour challenge for us, at Just Add Ink this week.  Take a look:

 

I've deviated a little from my usual "card" offering, and have a candle, decorated for Christmas, to share with you.

 

 

 

 

 

Stamps: Merry Little Christmas

Card: Sahara Sand Core'dinations, Coastal Cabana Core'dinations, Very Vanilla

DSP: Raspberry Ripple Patterns Designer Series Paper (retired)

Ink: Raspberry Ripple, Coastal Cabana and Sahara Sand stampin' pads

Other: Chalk Talk framelits, Stylish Stripes embossing folder, sanding block, Scallop Trim border punch, paper snips, sponge dauber, Raspberry Ripple stitched satin ribbon, Antique Brad, Basic Pearls, sticky strip, glue dots

 

 

This colour combination has been used beautifully, and so creatively, by the rest of the Design Team over at Just Add Ink .... make sure you check out the samples.  We hope you'll play along with us!