JAI #224 : CHRISTMAS IN JULY

It's a mere 5 months until Christmas, folks!  This week at Just Add Ink, we're celebrating "Christmas in July", with this gorgeous inspiration pic chosen by Kim:

 

 

It's the last challenge of the month so this week is our "Guest Designer"challenge. So, if you are interested, all you need do is play along with the challenge this week!

 (The details: For the last challenge of each month, we will be offering the "TOP PICK" for that week, the opportunity to join us as a "Guest Designer" for the last challenge the following month....If this sounds like something you would like to do, get creating and come join us at Just Add Ink.)

 

 

For the focal point of my card, I silver-embossed the gorgeous poinsettia, from Joyful Christmas, on vellum.  Using a sponge dauber, I added Strawberry Slush ink to the back of the stamped design, and let it dry.  (Okay, I hurried along the process with my heat gun - patience may be a virtue, but it's not one of my strong points when I have a design in mind!)  I repeated the process with a second flower, and cut out the top leaves/petals, then curled them a little with my bone folder and attached them to the complete poinsettia, with a glimmer brad. 

 

My card base is Shimmery White cardstock, and the sentiment is embossed with a mixture of silver Stampin' Emboss powder and Dazzling Diamonds glitter.  How lush is the new silver satin ribbon?!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stamps: Joyful Christmas, Sassy Salutations

Card: Shimmery White, Brushed Silver, Vellum cardstock

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Strawberry Slush stampin' pad, Silver Stampin' Dazzle marker

Other: Silver Stampin' Emboss Powder, Dazzling Diamonds, Silver satin ribbon, Silver 1/8" ribbon, Strawberry Slush thick baker's twine, Fancy Fan embossing folder, sponge dauber, glue dots, Basics glimmer brad (retired)

 

 

Make sure you check out the rest of the Design Team's samples - simply stunning.  We hope to inspire you to start your Christmas cards, if you haven't already.  We would love to see what you make!

 

 

 

 

 

 

RICH RAZZLEBERRY BLENDED BLOOM

I have, scattered all over my table, a variety of coloured Blended Bloom flowers.  This new stamp, coming out in our Stampin' Up! catalogue on 1st July, is a whole lot of fun to colour with Blendabilities (the new alcohol based markers).  I have lots coloured, ready to mount on cards!

When I was ready to make a card with the flower I'd coloured with Rich Razzleberry Blendabilities, I consulted my Color Coach for some ideas of other colours to use.  I've gone with muted tones of grey and black, and have to say I LOVE the end result - it looks so elegant.

Stamps: Blended Bloom (out 1st July), Kinda Eclectic (out 1st July), Sassy Salutations

Card: Basic Gray, Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry

DSP: Moonlight Designer Series Paper stack (out 1st July)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black inkpad, Versamark inkpad, Rich Razzleberry stampin' pad, Basic Gray stampin' pad, Rich Razzleberry Blendabilities (out 1st July)

Other: White Stampin' Emboss powder, Large Basic Rhinestone (coloured with Blendabilities), Antique Brads, Whisper White Organza ribbon, paper snips, sponge daubers

 

 

 



MM #103 : SNOWMAN CHRISTMAS

I am thrilled this week to be a Guest Designer at Merry Monday, my favourite Christmas Card Challenge site. 

Here's the brief for this week's challenge:

 

 

As a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, I like to use Stampin' Up! products almost exclusively on my cards.  However, I went into a mild panic with this challenge, because I don't own a snowman stamp from SU!  I realised I have a cute, uninked, snowman stamp in a Papertrey Ink stamp set, so all was not lost!

 

 

 

 

Stamps: Holiday Button Bits (PTI), Sassy Salutations

Card: Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, Crumb Cake

DSP: Season of Style Designer Series Paper

Ink: Jet Black Staz-On inkpad, Crumb Cake stampin' pad and marker, Whisper White craft stampin' pad, Pumpkin Pie marker

Other: Neutrals button, Paper-piercing tool and Stampin' Pierce Mat, Natural Chevron ribbon (reverse), Baked Brown Sugar stretch ruffle trim, Cherry Cobbler baker's twine, White baker's twine, Deco Labels framelits, stampin' sponge, glue dots, Multipurpose liquid glue, Stampin' Dimensionals

 

 

Many thanks to the Merry Monday DT for picking my card as a winner, and therefore giving me the opportunity to be a Guest Designer for this week's challenge - it has been great fun!

 

 

 

 

 

 

MM #83: STAMPIN' UP! ORNAMENT KEEPSAKES

I've made a card for this week's Merry Monday challenge ... and I REALLY had to think on this one, with so many elements to be included!  I have managed to miss the cut-off for the challenge, but will share it with you anway.

My natural tendency, when I'm challenged to use a few different elements, is to completely "overdo" the card and end up with something so busy that it gets thrown away.  I've gone in quite the opposite direction today, managing to keep it simple!

Last night I had a wonderful time playing with my Envelope Punch Board, from Stampin' Up!, making cute paper bows.  Here's a link to the fabulous tutorial that introduced me to this fun, addictive pastime:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwMv0zo9vJ8

My card evolved once I decided to use the cute stripey bow:

Stamps: Ornament Keepsakes, Sassy Salutations

Card: Cherry Cobbler, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White

DSP: Season of Style Designer Series Paper

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Chocolate Chip and Crumb Cake stampin' pads

Other: Cherry Cobbler stampin' emboss powder, Holiday Ornaments framelits, Small Heart punch, Owl Builder punch, Basic Rhinestones, Stylish Stripes embossing folder, Envelope Punch Board, sponge dauber, multipurpose liquid glue

 

 



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

 

 



STAMPIN' UP!'S GORGEOUS GRUNGE & SASSY SALUTATIONS

This past week, our wonderful family doctor went "above and beyond" and really helped us out, so I wanted to send him a card in appreciation.  I always make a point of telling him how much he's appreciated, but a handmade card never goes astray, does it?  I do think being a GP could be a rather thankless job, much of the time.

My go-to stamp set for masculine cards is (for the moment, at least!) Gorgeous Grunge.  I love the font of the sentiments in Sassy Salutations, and think these two stamp sets are a great mix.

My Stampin' Up! Color Coach suggested I team Tangerine Tango with Bermuda Bay and Smoky Slate.

Here's the result:

Stamps: Gorgeous Grunge, Sassy Salutations

Card: Bermuda Bay, Smoky Slate, Whisper White, Tangerine Tango

Ink: Bermuda Bay, Smoky Slate and Tangerine Tango stampin' pads

Other: Squares framelits, Essentials Paper-piercing pack, Smoky Slate chevron ribbon, Bermuda Bay 1/8" taffeta ribbon, Brights and Neutrals candy dots, sponge dauber

 

 

 



JAI #176: STAMPIN' UP!'S SIX SIDED SAMPLER MEETS GORGEOUS GRUNGE

This week's challenge at Just Add Ink is to make a masculine project.  The theme is "Just Add ... Blokes", but "blokes" isn't a word I use .... for any international visitors, "bloke" is a slang word for a "guy".  We are happy for you to make a card for a male of any age, so let's see your creations for a boy or a man.

I had a special teen birthday card to make, so broke open some of my new Stampin' Up! toys.  Lots of new "bits" on this card, and I'm thrilled with the way it turned out.

Stamps: Six-Sided Sampler, Gorgeous Grunge, Sassy Salutations

Card: Basic Gray, Bermuda Bay, Whisper White, Smoky Slate

DSP: Eastern Elegance Designer Series Paper

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Jet Black Staz-On inkpad, Smoky Slate and Bermuda Bay stampin' pads

Other: Hexagon punch, Black stampin' emboss powder, Pewter stampin' emboss powder, Neutrals Candy Dots, sponge dauber

 

 

Make sure you check out the rest of the Just Add Ink Design Team samples for this challenge - they are GREAT!