SC # 50/12: REFLECTION TECHNIQUE WITH STAMPIN' UP!'S ORNATE BLOSSOM

We have got to the end of the week, and I realised that I'm fast running out of time to enter this week's challenge at Sunny Challenges & Creations.

I have never tried the Reflection Technique, so I really wanted to give it a go.  I had an idea to use the Ornate Blossom stamp as a water lily/lotus type flower (sorry for my floral ignorance!).   This is the first time this stamp has seen ink!!  I first inked up the stamp using my Pretty in Pink stampin' pad.  I added colour with markers, and stamped onto Whisper White card.  Using my aquapainter and stampin' pads, I added a bit more depth of colour to the flower.

 The end result of my reflection stamping is not quite what I had in mind, but I'll leave it as is, and chalk it up to experience!  I think because I chose a lighter colour ink (Pretty in Pink) to stamp on the acetate, the mirrored image was a bit patchier than I'd hoped.  Perhaps it was just my bad stamping.  Anyway, here's the card I came up with for the challenge, that closes in a few short hours!

Stamps: Ornate Blossom, Friends Never Fade, Trendy Trees

Card: Rose Red textured, Whisper White, Pool Party

DSP: Pool Party Patterns Designer Series Paper

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Jet Black Staz-On inkpad, Pretty in Pink stampin' pad, Regal Rose stampin' pad and marker, Rose Red stampin' pad and marker, So Saffron marker, Pool Party stampin' pad

Other: Aquapainter, Labels Collection framelits dies, Word Window punch, Basic Rhinestones, Pool Party ruffled ribbon, sponge dauber, Scallop edge punch, mini glue dots, acetate

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

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

EASTERN BLOOMS FRIENDSHIP CARD - JAI #56 and COLOUR Q #72

Phew - that's a bit of a long title for today's post, hey?  I have inked up a couple of my 'flowery' stamp sets that have been sitting unused for far too long.  I wanted to make a 'rustic' looking card for this week's Colour Q Challenge #72, using these scrumptious colours:

Plus, in an effort to improve my time-management skills, I made a card that fits Amanda's sketch challenge at Just Add Ink this week.  Here's the gorgeous sketch that I based my card on:

............. and, here's my card:

Stamps: En Francais, Wonderfully Worn, Eastern Blooms, Friends Never Fade

Card: Crumb Cake, Not Quite Navy, Whisper White, Baja Breeze

Ink: Crumb Cake, Baja Breeze, Tangerine Tango, Not Quite Navy and Cherry Cobbler stampin' pads, Versamark inkpad

Other: White embossing powder, sponge dauber, Scallop Edge punch, paper snips, stampin' dimensionals, Beautiful Wings embosslits die, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, kraft taffeta ribbon (retired), mini glue dot

IT'S A HAPPY FRIDAY, INDEED

Today I've cleared my schedule, and kept the entire day free to play with NEW STAMPS, papers and other goodies!!  When I arrived home from work yesterday, there were a few brown boxes just crying out to be opened.  Yippee - all the new Stampin' Up! products I ordered last week are now in my hot little hands.

It has taken me the best part of this morning to make just one card, because I've felt rather overwhelmed by the amount of choice I have.  I didn't know which products to play with first!

Before I show you the card I've come up with, I have a card to share with you, that I made the other day (before I had my new coloured cardstock and inks).  It's using "Friends Never Fade", one of the gorgeous new stamp sets, that I was able to pre-order before the official release of the new Stampin' Up! catalogue.

Stamps: Friends Never Fade, Tiny Tags, Oval All

Card: Crumb Cake, Pumpkin Pie, Confetti White,Very Vanilla, Certainly Celery

DSP: Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Paper

Ink: Certainly Celery stampin' pad and marker, Pumpkin Pie stampin' pad and marker, Sahara Sand stampin' pad

Other: 1/2" circle punch, Pewter Build-a-Brad, Fleurette II, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, 1 3/4 x 7/8" Oval punch large, Scallop Oval punch XL, sponger daubers, mini glue dots

Even though it doesn't show in the photo, I 'dirtied' the crocheted flower a little, with Sahara Sand ink, so it would blend in with the 'rustic' colouring of the card.  I really love the look of coloured ink on Crumb Cake card - must use that more often!

Now, onto this morning's creation.  I am in LOVE with the "in colour" Patterns pack of Designer Series Paper, so that was my starting point.  I chose to use Blushing Bride, a really sweet new pink, that will be in Stampin' Up!'s range for the next two years.  On my card, I've used HEAPS of new stuff.  There are two new colours of card and ink, some new paper, two new stamp sets, a new border punch, a tiny, adorable, Sizzlits embosslits die, and .... drum roll please ..... a new, self adhesive (hallelujah!) pearl!  Anyway, enough of my words - here's a picture!

Stamps: Funky Four, Perfect Punches

Card: Crumb Cake, Pear Pizzazz, Blushing Bride, Whisper White

DSP: Blushing Bride Patterns Designer Series Paper

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Blushing Bride stampin' pad and marker, Pear Pizzazz marker

Other: Whisper White 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Basic Pearl, 1" circle punch, Curly Label Punch, white embossing powder, Beautiful Wings Embosslits die, Scallop Edge border punch, Scallop Trim border punch, mat pack and paper piercer, sponge dauber, mini glue dots, Tombow mono multi glue

I'm loving the new border punch, and think it is so cute that the tiny flower from "Funky Four" co-ordinates with the pattern on this paper.  I am looking forward to having some new ribbons to go with all my new papers and inks ... it is very hard to exercise patience at the moment!

Right, back to my craft room, to see what else I can come up with.  I hope your Friday is as happy as mine is!

"JUST ADD INK" CHALLENGE #33

The girls over at Just Add Ink have posted a sketch challenge this week.  I LOVE taking part in the challenges, but I must say I have a really hard time with sketch challenges; I'm so much more of a "colour challenge" girl!  Here's the sketch, to base a papercraft challenge on:

.... and, here's my (rather loose) interpretation, of the sketch.  Couldn't resist using more of the gorgeous new Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Papers.  I can see I'm going to have to order me another pack of these papers very soon!

Stamps: Great Friend, Friends Never Fade

Card: Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Rose Red

Ink: Basic Black, Certainly Celery and Rose Red stampin' pads

Other: Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Paper, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, White jumbo brad 5/16", Certainly Celery 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, sponge dauber, Mat Pack and Paper Piercing Tool, white gel pen, paper snips

We've had a lovely family day so far (and still a few hours to go ...), to celebrate Father's Day.  This morning, after letting Andrew (and the teenager who doesn't 'do' mornings) have a bit of a sleep-in, we visited the fabulous Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne.  LOVE the deli and fresh food section .... what a great place to visit.  We've paid a visit to Andrew's Dad (mine's in Western Australia, as he usually is at this time of year, enjoying the warm weather on Father's Day), and are now home in time to be sheltered from the miserable weather that's just come over!  I hope that all the Dads in your lives are enjoying their special day, too.

JUST ADD INK #32

This week's challenge at Just Add Ink, is to "just add material" to a card or other papercraft project.  I don't have any fabric (much to my mother's dismay, I can't sew to save my life), so I have drawn a rather long bow (pardon the pun), and used one of the sweet little fabric flowers from Stampin' Up!'s Pretties Kit, that is about to retire.  I have also used the solitary Baja Breeze corduroy brad that I had left (LOVED those things, but it's time for me to use up my hoarded supplies!).

Here is the card I came up with, using the "oldies but goodies", plus some gorgeous new products that will be available from this coming Wednesday!!  Counting down the hours until 1st September, when the brand-spanking-new-AMAZING 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalogue goes 'live'!!

Stamps: Thoughts & Prayers, Friends Never Fade (*NEW*)

Card: So Saffron, Baja Breeze, Whisper White

Ink: Versamark inkpad, So Saffron, Baja Breeze and Basic Black stampin' pads

DSP: Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Paper (*NEW*)

Other: Scallop Edge punch, Fancy Flower XL punch (*NEW*), 5-petal Flower punch, Pretties Kit, Baja Breeze corduroy brad, sponge daubers, Stamp-a-ma-jig, dimensionals

I just LOVE how the 5-petal flower punch fits beautifully with the new Fancy Flower XL punch.  I can see this becoming a recurring theme on my cards!

Hope you're having a happy day.  I had a lovely mini-golf, and hot chocolate / cafe latte, date with my littlest man this morning, while his big brother was at cricket training - such a nice way to spend the morning!