JUST ADD INK #113 : AN INSPIRATION PICTURE

This week at Just Add Ink, we have an inspiration picture, provided by Jodene, to use as a basis for our papercraft projects.  You may interpret the picture however you like - it might be the actual items in the photo that inspire you, or it may be the colour scheme.  Our Design Team have come up with a variety of ideas, so make sure you check them out at the Just Add Ink site!

I have drawn inspiration from the Stampin' Up! colours I see - Sahara Sand, Calypso Coral, a little Pool Party, and tiny touches of black.  Here's the picture, so you can see what I mean:

I started off with a piece of watercolour paper, onto which I white-embossed the gorgeous rose image from Stampin' Up!s Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set.  I then used sponges to add colour to the flowers (not taking great care to stay within the lines - that was quite liberating for me!), and Sahara Sand ink in the spaces that were left.  I spritzed the inked areas with water, hoping the colour would run a bit.  It didn't, so I opted to add some Champagne shimmer mist to finish it off!

Here's my card, followed by a close-up of the shimmer, and the dry-embossed sentiment tag:

Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral, Sincere Salutations

Card: Calypso Coral, Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Watercolour paper

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Sahara Sand and Calypso Coral stampin' pads, Basic Black marker

Other: Pool Party seam binding, Beautiful Wings embosslits, Manhattan Flower embossing folder, sponge dauber, stampin' sponges, Champagne shimmer paint (mixed with Isocol to make shimmer spray), Mat Pack and paper piercing tool, white embossing powder, Basic Pearls

JAI #112 : A COLOUR CHALLENGE

This week at Just Add Ink, Kim has come up with this gorgeous colour combo to inspire us:

BEAUTIFUL, don't you think?

I found a piece of Chocolate Chip card that I had embossed with my Manhattan Flowers embossing folder, and decided that would be my starting point.  I've added some pretty, feminine touches, to tone down the heaviness of the Chocolate Chip panel.

Here's my card:

....  and a closer shot of the sentiment label, and the shimmery flower:

Stamps: Four Frames, Clearly For You

Card: Crumb Cake, Pink Pirouette, Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip

Ink: Crumb Cake stampin' pad and marker, Pink Pirouette stampin' pad and marker, Chocolate Chip stampin' pad

Other: Manhattan Flowers embossing folder, Color Spritzer tool, Designer Label punch, sponge daubers, Beautiful Wings embosslits, Small Oval punch, Pink Pirouette taffeta ribbon, Crumb Cake seam binding, Basic Pearls, Fancy Flower punch, 5-Petal flower punch, Boho Blossoms punch, Frost White shimmer paint (mixed with Isocol to make shimmer spray)

Make sure you check out the rest of the Design Team's samples; there is plenty of amazing inspiration at the Just Add Ink site.

JUST ADD INK #26 ..... TAKE TWO

This week's challenge at Just Add Ink is to add embossing to a papercraft project.  I've already shared with you my card that has heat-embossing on it, so I thought I'd also share a little project that incorporates dry embossing.

I had some panels of card that I'd put through my Big Shot, using Stampin' Up!'s Manhattan Flowers embossing folder.  You know when you get new toys (especially die cutting and embossing ones), how you kind of go to town and over-use them, leaving you with piles of die-cut and embossed pieces?  Well, I got a bit tired of making cards with my Manhattan Flowers embossed pieces, before I'd actually used them all.  I cut a couple down, using the Top Note die in my Big shot, and made some cutie-pie smaller cards.  Take a look:

Here are the ingredients used on the cards:

Stamps: Short & Sweet

Card: Confetti White, Soft Suede

Ink: Soft Suede stampin' pad

Other: Soft Suede Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon, Scallop Circle Punch, page from old book, Vintage brad, Word Window Punch, Sponge Dauber Top Note Die, Manhattan Flowers embossing folder, paper snips

Stamps: Vintage Vogue, Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Card: Very Vanilla

Ink: Rich Razzleberry and Sahara Sand stampin' pads

Other: Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot Grosgrain ribbon (reversed), Word Window Punch, Build-A-Brad, 1/2" circle punch, Cottage Wall DSP, Sponge Dauber, Top Note Die, Manhattan Flowers Embossing folder

I can see myself making lots more of these - such fun, and they'd make a lovely little boxed set, don't you think?

BABY WIPES .... not just for babies!

Even though I'm way past the days of needing baby wipes for, well, the obvious, I always have some on hand in my craft room.  I must admit that I've been guilty of cleaning my stamps with them (not recommended .. the rubber turns white after a while), but now that I have my fab-o Stampin' Scrub, those days are over.  I still use them to wipe up stray glitter, and to attempt to clean my inky fingers, among other things!

I'd heard of the 'Baby Wipe technique' in stamping, but really didn't know what it was, until I came across Beate Johns' great video.  Check it out - it's great fun.  Now that I actually own some re-inkers, I was able to give this technique a try.

Here are my first two humble attempts at using this technique, that I'll be sure to play around with some more.

First up is a card that uses one of many panels I'd embossed with Stampin' Up!'s Manhattan Flowers embossing folder.  I went a little crazy when I first got it, and now have dozens of embossed panels that need to be made into cards - I'm sure plenty of you can relate to this affliction!  It's an inherent danger of having a new die-cutting and/or embossing machine -  anything that doesn't move, gets put through it!

The colours of my cards were determined by the re-inker colours used.  Firstly, I used Riding Hood Red, Tangerine Tango, and So Saffron.





Stamps: Flight of the Butterfly, Organic Outlines (sentiment)

Card: So Saffron, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White

Ink: Versamark inkpad, So Saffron stampin' pad, Ruby Red marker, Re-inkers: Riding Hood Red, Tangerine Tango, So Saffron

Other: Manhattan Flowers embossing folder, Butterfly Punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Ruby Red brads, Wide Oval Punch, Haiku Designer Series Paper, dimensionals



For my second card, I used re-inkers in Rich Razzleberry, Regal Rose and Pink Pirouette.  Not so keen on the finished card (I think it's a bit 'heavy' looking) .... plus, hubby likes it, so that in itself concerns me!  I'll show you anyway, since I spent a bit of time putting it together!




Stamps: Eastern Blooms, Best Yet

Card: Rich Razzleberry, Regal Rose, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White

Ink: Rich Razzleberry stampin' pad, Versamark inkpad, Re-inkers: Rich Razzleberry, Regal Rose, Pink Pirouette

Other: XL Two-step Bird Punch (leaves), Rich Razzleberry grosgrain ribbon, 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" Circle Punches, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, dimensionals

MANHATTAN FLOWER CARD in Vanilla and Blue

I've been having a play with the Manhattan Flower embossing folder in my Big Shot, and wanted to make another card like this one.  Such a simple style of card, but really pretty, don't you think?  I can say that humbly, because it wasn't my idea!

I dug out my Bella Bleu Designer Series Paper for this one.  LOVE this paper, but I don't use it very often; you know how you keep some things in a special spot because they're too pretty to use?  Well, it was time for this paper to get some love.  I have been trying to use more blue in my cards lately, because it's not one of my "go to" colours, but I always love how it looks in papercraft.

Firstly, I'll show you my card (and all the 'ingredients'), then I'll tell you some of the techniques I used.  Please be impressed that I photographed this during the daytime, so it's nice and clear, ha ha!




Stamps: All A Flutter, Sweet Little Sentiments, Fifth Avenue Floral

Card: Very Vanilla, Brocade Blue, Kraft

Ink: Brocade Blue and Night of Navy stampin' pads, Very Vanilla craft stampin' pad, Versamark inkpad

Other: Bella Bleu DSP, Sizzlits Buttons #5 die, Sizzlits Lots of Tags die, Manhattan Flower embossing folder, sponge daubers, Heat & Stick Powder, Dazzling Diamonds (glitter), Night of Navy 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Very Vanilla taffeta ribbon, dimensionals, mini glue dot, Stamp-a-ma-jig


I think this is the first time I have ever used my Night of Navy ink and ribbon, and I love it!  (Who knew?!)  To make the tag, I first stamped the rose from Fifth Avenue Floral on the pre-cut kraft tag; once in Very Vanilla ink, and again in Brocade Blue ink (both times stamped off first, just to give a faint impression).  I over-stamped the sentiment, using my trusty Stamp-a-ma-jig, in Night of Navy ink, and sponged the edges of the tag with Brocade Blue ink.

The butterfly was stamped in Night of Navy ink on a piece of kraft-coloured Bella Bleu DSP.  I then used the Stamp-a-ma-jig, to stamp the butterfly again, over the top, in Versamark ink.  Heat & Stick powder was sprinkled over the top, heated until sticky, and Dazzling Diamonds applied.  A quick burst of heat with my heat gun 'set' the glitter, so it stays put.  It's a day of 'firsts' today, as this was also the first time I've used Heat & Stick powder to apply Dazzling Diamonds - it's so easy!  Much neater than using liquid glue, too.  My pretty butterfly is raised up on dimensionals, to show it off a bit more!

The little button was cut out using the Buttons #5 Sizzlits die, using Very Vanilla card.  I sponged it Brocade Blue (only because I changed my mind - should've just used Brocade Blue cardstock, shouldn't I?!), then sponged the edges in Night of Navy ink.  A thin strip of kraft card was threaded through the button holes to finish off.

I really like this card, probably because it has flowers, a butterfly, ribbon and a button - some of my favourite things!  I hope it brings a smile to your face too.

MANHATTAN FLOWER Get Well Card

As promised, I'm back with the second card I made in my Get Well "series" (does two cards constitute a series??!).

My friend Leanne makes the most beautiful cards, but doesn't have a blog to showcase them.  So, I can unashamedly copy what she does, and post them on my blog, and pass them off as my own!  No, not really ... but I was very inspired by a card Leanne showed me recently.  She'd used a cut-out panel of embossed Manhattan Flowers on Whisper White, overlaid on some Kiwi Kiss Designer Series Paper.

I took that idea and ran with it, and this is what I came up with:




Stamps: Teeny Tiny Sentiments, Fifth Avenue Floral (stamped on the tag)

Card: Kiwi Kiss, Basic Gray, Whisper White

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Whisper White craft stampin' pad

Other: Bella Rose DSP, White embossing powder, Manhattan Flower embossing folder, Basic Gray taffeta ribbon, Dress Up Ribbon Originals, Sizzlits Lots of Tags die, mini glue dot, sponge dauber



Thanks to Leanne for the inspiration; I love your work, my friend!  I'm rather pleased with how this card turned out; you might see a whole lot more using this cut-out floral panel!

ART WITH HEART TEAM BLOG HOP - "WOMEN IN OUR LIVES"

It's time, once again, for the blog hop that is held by members of my Stampin' Up! team on the last day of every month.  With Mother's Day celebrated (in Australia and New Zealand, at least) on the second Sunday of May, we thought we'd give you plenty of ideas to mark the occasion.  Equally, if not for Mother's Day, we hope to inspire you with creations that can be given as a gift to any special woman in your life - be it for a birthday, thank you, get well, or just a 'thinking of you' occasion.

Before I show you the cards I've made, I'll explain a little about the blog hop itself.  The Art with Heart team is made up of over 90 Stampin' Up! demonstrators, Australia-wide, led by Claire Daly (based in Melbourne).  We have a fabulous group of women who openly share their talents and lives with one another; our online team forum is a great source of support, business advice, and friendship, and is a highlight for me of being part of this great team.  If you are interested in joining our Stampin' Up! 'family', please email me.

Fourteen of us are taking part in today's blog hop; please follow the links and visit the blog of each participant.  If you leave a comment on each one, then email Nikki Sadler by 6.00am on 3rd of May (to let her know you've commented on every blog), you'll go into the draw to win some wonderful blog candy.  Please note, that Stampin' Up! demonstrators don't qualify for the 'prize', but we'd still love to receive comments from you :)

You may have come from Gayatri Murali's blog, but if not, don't worry - you can start the blog hop at any point along the way.  I've provided below a list of the 13 other participants, so you can ensure you stop by to check out everyone's creations.  We have some very talented stampers and scrapbookers in our team, and I'm sure you'll love seeing the variety of projects on offer today.


Now, to my cards.  For this month's blog hop, I wanted to focus on the beautiful Textured Impressions embossing folders that are now offered by Stampin' Up!  My first card uses the Manhattan Flower folder.  I hope you like the effect I achieved, by embossing a kraft panel, and cutting around the flowers before overlaying the 'debossed side' on a Rich Razzleberry card that had been embossed with the same folder.  (That was a bit 'wordy', wasn't it?  Just take a look and you'll see what I mean!)




Stamps: Vintage Vogue, On Your Birthday, Fifth Avenue Floral

Card: Rich Razzleberry, Kraft, Very Vanilla

Ink: Sahara Sand and Rich Razzleberry stampin pads

Other: Manhattan Flower Textured Impressions embossing folder, Lots of Tags sizzlits die, 5/8" Jumbo Brad (Very Vanilla), Kraft and Very Vanilla taffeta ribbon, linen thread, sponge dauber, Clear Rhinestone brads (rhinestones 'popped out')



Using the same colour combination (just because I love it), I have made a Mother's Day card, featuring a panel embossed using the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder.  Here it is:




Stamps: Vintage Vogue, Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Card: Kraft, Rich Razzleberry, Very Vanilla

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Rich Razzleberry and Sahara Sand stampin' pads

Other: Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot grosgrain ribbon, Word Window Punch, Wide Oval Punch, Lots of Tags sizzlits die, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions embossing folder, sponge daubers, Build-a-Brads, 1/2" Circle Punch, Corner Rounder Punch


Thanks for visiting my blog today!  The next stop on your 'tour' is Di Dunk's blog - she's sure to have something lovely to show you, so please visit and leave her some comment love.


Here is a comprehensive list of the rest of today's blog hop participants:


Ros Davidson: http://rosdavidson.typepad.com/ros_davidson_live_life_an/2010/04/women-in-our-lives-blog-hop.html

Nikki Sadler: http://www.inkyart.com.au/inkyart/2010/04/art-with-heart-team-blog-hop-women-in-our-lives.html

Tanja Westwood: http://www.tanjawestwood.typepad.com/

Kristine Thompson: http://www.inkspotcreations.com/ink-spot-creations/2010/04/art-with-heart-team-may-blog-hop.html


Name: Sue Madex: http://www.madexcreations.com

Gayatri Murali: http://scrapawayg3.blogspot.com/2010/04/art-with-heart-team-april-blog-hop.html


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

Judy May: http://www.judymay.typepad.com/

Tina Gillespie: http://scissorspapercard.blogspot.com/

Kathryn Mangelsdorf: http://klm55.blogspot.com/

Alisha Watson: http://www.ratherbstampin.typepad.com/

Nicole Rouillon: www.simplymade.typepad.com

Kathryn Lowe: http://www.katlodesigns.com/


Have fun visiting all of the blogs, and don't forget to leave a comment on each one before emailing Nikki to enter the draw for blog candy.