JUST ADD INK #30

The wonderful girls over at Just Add Ink have combined their regular weekly challenge with a little helping hand for Hudson.  The Design Team have come up with the most incredible submissions this week - you MUST go check them out!  Gorgeous, delightful, and awe-inspiring - and I'm talking about the women themselves, not just their amazing projects.

The theme of this week's challenge is to "Just Add Wheels".  I am pretty darn proud of myself, because, having had limited opportunities to stamp 'just for fun' lately, I've been able to kill three birds with one stone (figuratively speaking, of course).  This month I'm running  a couple of classes with a 'wheels' theme, in aid of the "Helping Hudson" fundraiser.  One of the cards we made fits the bill perfectly for the JAI challenge.  The third bonus is that this card is intended for a very dear friend of mine, who is in the happy position of having just become a grandmother for the very first time.

I've incorporated a Stampin' Around wheel (Fast Flowers was used to create the gorgeous background on the main panel), two circles to hold and mat the image, and a pram which, of course, has wheels.  How cool is that for meeting the criteria?

Stamps: Fun & Fast Notes, Fast Flowers stampin' around wheel

Card: Confetti White, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink

Ink: Regal Rose stampin' pad, Pretty in Pink stampin' pad, standard ink cartridge and marker, white gel pen

Other: Mat pack and paper piercing tool, Pretty in Pink taffeta ribbon, Whisper White 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Word Window punch, sponge dauber, Circles #2 Sizzix die, dimensionals, Clear Rhinestone Brad (gem popped out), affixed with Crystal Effects

I'm hoping to fit in some more stamping time this weekend, so you never know, you might even see another post from me before the end of tomorrow!  Thanks for visiting my blog, and I hope you have a wonderful, relaxing weekend.

TWO CHALLENGES IN ONE

I'm having a quiet "at home" day today, feeling a bit sorry for myself because I'm not well.  However, I'm not one to lie on the couch, or watch tv - I get restless.  So, into my craft room I go ... determined to make amends for the god-awful card (thank you to those of you who left kind comments - you are very sweet!) I entered in this week's Just Add Ink challenge.  Just to re-cap, the challenge this week is to make a card for a male, using these colours:

I LOVE colour challenges, but I must admit this one's not much of a challenge for me - I'd happily use these colours on all of my cards!  (Oh, except for the odd break to make something in red.)

Soooo, I decided to combine the Just Add Ink challenge with a sketch challenge.  Those two words send shivers down my spine - I struggle with sketch challenges!  They're effective, though, 'cos they challenge me (I do realise this is the idea), and I often do come up with a concept and run with it.

I'm taking part in the sketch challenge over at the Helping Hudson blog.  We're aiming to raise a LOT of money for Hudson, so please visit the blog, and join in on the fun.  There are FANTASTIC prizes on offer for the winners of each challenge.  We have a colour challenge, a sketch challenge and a technique challenge running each week for 3 weeks - check them out here. You can take part in each challenge for a $2 donation; or, if you donate $10 you're able to take part in all 9 challenges over the 3 weeks.  Small change, that collectively will make a big difference to this little boy's life!  One of this week's challenges is to make a project using this sketch:

and ..... drumroll, please ....... this is what I came up with (just in time for my brother-in-law's birthday, as it so happens):

Stamps: Happy, Happy Birthday Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel; On Your Birthday

Card: Kraft, Baja Breeze textured, Chocolate Chip

Ink: Sahara Sand and Chocolate Chip stampin' pads

Other: Star Punch,Large Star Punch, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Top Note Die, Large Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, paper snips, Mat Pack and paper piercing tool, dimensionals, sponge daubers

I 'roughed up' the edges of the Scallop Oval, using my paper snips, to make it look a little less 'girly'.  I've used debossed Kraft stars, and embossed Chocolate Chip stars, for a bit of contrast.

I'm happy to report, I like this one! 

CHRISTMAS CARDS IN RICH RAZZLEBERRY & ALWAYS ARTICHOKE

Seeing as I shared some rather dark and dodgy photos on my last post, I thought I'd show you, from a daylight perspective, what a couple of cards I made on the weekend look like.

I really love Rich Razzleberry paired with Always Artichoke.  Throw some Very Vanilla into the mix, and you have perfect Christmas colours, don't you think?

Stamps: So Swirly Jumbo Wheel, Kaisercraft frame, Papertrey Ink sentiment

Card: Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla, Rich Razzleberry

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Always Artichoke and Rich Razzleberry stampin' pads

Other: Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot grosgrain ribbon (reversed), Clear Rhinestone Brads, paper snips, Sticky Strip

This next card, despite me failing to photograph it at its best angle, is my favourite of all the cards I made over the weekend.  How beautiful does this stripy paper look??

Stamps: Kaisercraft present, Papertrey Ink sentiment

Card: Very Vanilla

Ink: Rich Razzleberry and Always Artichoke stampin' pads

Other: Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot grosgrain ribbon (reversed), Cottage Wall Designer Series Paper,  adhesive gems (not SU!), Stamp-a-ma-jig, paper snips, dimensionals

I am hoping I don't get burnt out with this Christmas card production thing.  I've made 40 so far, which makes me feel terribly organised.  Mustn't stop yet, though - plenty more to get done in the coming months! 

I will be holding a Christmas card class every month until December, so if you're in Melbourne's outer east and would like to build up your stash, let me know!  I would love to have you join in one of my classes.

INKSPIRATIONS COLOUR CHALLENGE #30

I got a burst of late-night inspiration, to make a little card for Makeesha's Inkspirations challenge tonight.  I think I've panicked because, after 6 days off, I actually have to go to work tomorrow.  Amazing how getting off the computer for half an hour can be quite productive!


The 'challenge' (and I use that term loosely) was to use these yummy colours together:





I wanted my card to be smaller than a full-sized card, so I used one of my trusty Pendant Notes (*love*).  I simply cut a panel of Rich Razzleberry card to cover the die-cut design on the inside of the card, and covered the front of the card with my creation, which looks like this (photographed in less-than-ideal conditions at 11.00pm):




Stamps: Very Vintage jumbo wheel, All A Flutter, Short & Sweet

Card: Kraft Pendant Note, Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry

Ink: Rich Razzleberry and Old Olive stampin' pads, Sahara Sand stampin' pad & marker

Other: Watercolour paper, Aquapainter, Old Olive brads, Word Window Punch, Whisper White taffeta ribbon, sponge daubers, edge distressing tool, paper snips

 

BABY BOY CARDS

I have been asked by a friend to make two cards for newborn little Eli.  I've really enjoyed making them; I don't have cause to make many baby cards these days.



Here's my first (and favourite) card, that hubby, the wonder-judge, has deemed 'imbalanced' - hmm, that seems to be his favourite criticism of my cards!





Stamps: Nursery Letters jumbo wheel, Starring You, Short & Sweet

Card: Bashful Blue, Barely Banana, Whisper White

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Bashful Blue stampin' pad, Barely Banana stampin' pad

Other: Scallop Edge punch, Star punch and Large Star punch, Word Window punch, Lots of Tags sizzlits die (cut using Big Shot), sponge daubers, silver 5/16" brads, mat pack and paper piercing tool, dimensionals





I'm also pretty pleased with my other card (especially because it's personalised with an "E", and anything with an initial or monogram - are they one and the same?? - is right up my alley).  Because I made it tonight, I had to photograph it inside .... still, it's come up okay:





Stamps: Pun Fun, Teeny Tiny Sentiments, Defining Alphabet

Card: Whisper White, Barely Banana

DSP: Sweet Slumber Specialty Designer Series Paper

Ink: Jet Black Staz-on inkpad, Versamark inkpad, Baja Breeze stampin' pad, Barely Banana stampin' pad

Other: Valet Ribbon Originals, sponge daubers, 1" circle punch, 2mm circle punch, Word Window punch, Scallop Edge punch, Baja Breeze corduroy buttons (retired), paper piercing tool, edge distressing tool, dimensionals



Having said that I don't have much cause for baby cards these days, happily I have also to make a little girl baby one!  Congratulations to my friend Renee, and her husband Andrew (although I'm not sure that anyone calls him by his given name!), on the safe arrival of darling little Addison.  Too exciting!!

STAMPIN' UP! MOVERS & SHAPERS CARD

Intriguing title?  In the new Autumn-Winter Mini catalogue, Stampin' Up! is offering some exclusive Sizzix dies to use in the Big Shot.  As well as the fabulous smaller dies, there are some "Movers and Shapers" dies, which actually cut out an entire card, and at the same time cut and perforate a window design in the card.  I've used the Curly Label Movers and Shapers die, which co-ordinates perfectly with the Curly Label Punch - love that!

Here is my card (an 'overhead' shot):



The card, and the little Curly Label Window, were cut out in one step - way too cool!  Here's another view:




Stamps: Very Vintage wheel, Cute & Curly

Card: Kraft, Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry

Ink: Soft Suede and Rich Razzleberry stampin' pads, Whisper White craft stampin' pad

Other: Curly Label Movers & Shapers die (and Big Shot), Curly Label Punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Soft Suede Polka Dot grosgrain ribbon, Scallop Edge Punch, sponge daubers, Button Latte, Mat pack and paper piercing tool



I mentioned that the die co-ordinates perfectly with the Curly Label punch.  The small panel of kraft card that was left after cutting the window, fit perfectly as a mat behind the white punchie created with the Curly Label punch.  Just lovely, don't you think?

VINTAGE VOGUE.... just a little bit regal

I have a couple of cards to share with you today, totally inspired by my friend Nikki Sadler.  She sent me a gorgeous card, stamped in Elegant Eggplant and So Saffron, using Vintage Vogue (one of Stampin' Up!'s beautiful new stamp sets).  Take a look at this card Nikki made for her Mum, using the same colours, with accents of Old Olive.  How lovely is that?  The yellow and purple (as 'commoners' would know So Saffron and Elegant Eggplant) I think looks gloriously regal.  So, I've totally swiped Nikki's idea and made some cards of my own!

Please forgive the slightly blown-out colours in these photos; I was in a hurry to get the cards photographed and on my blog today, because I've been very remiss in my blogging, and have only a short time in which to do this!  It's overcast, and not ideal for taking photos.

Here's the first one, made for a lovely friend whose birthday is coming up:





Stamps: Vintage Vogue, Very Vintage (wheel), Oval All (retired)

Card: So Saffron, Elegant Eggplant, Very Vanilla

Ink: So Saffron stampin' pad and marker, Elegant Eggplant stampin' pad and marker

Other: Large Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, sponge daubers, dimensionals, Dress Up Ribbon Originals, Build-A-Brad, 1/2" circle punch



This next card was a happy mistake.  Well, not altogether a mistake, but I started off making a landscape-oriented card (so the 'friends' sentiment was on its side).  I didn't want to add ribbon, or have it too 'fussy', but it looked like it was missing something.  When I turned it to a portrait orientation, with the fold at the top, I thought it looked much better!  Simple, but that's what I was after.





Stamps: Vintage Vogue, Very Vintage (wheel)

Card: So Saffron, Elegant Eggplant, Very Vanilla

Ink: So Saffron stampin' pad and marker, Elegant Eggplant stampin' pad

Other: 5/16" Jumbo Brad (Very Vanilla), dimensionals, Crystal Effects, sponge daubers, Stamp-a-ma-jig



I really love these colours together, and hope you enjoy seeing what I've made.  Now, off to grab some lunch and spend the afternoon catching up on chores, so I can spend an evening catching up with girlfriends!

"JUST ADD INK" 10 - COLOUR CHALLENGE

This week the colour 'challenge' (and I use that term loosely, because, hey, take a LOOK at these yummy colours!) over at Just Add Ink  is to make a card/item using this colour combo:







I've kind of 'gone to town' on this one.  Might just be a tad overdone, LOL, but I LOVE the new wheel that is coming out in the Autumn/Winter Mini catalogue in just a few days.

I won't waffle on, because I am about to race out the door to have dinner at my in-laws' (yay to not having to cook ... ah, again!).  Here is my card:





Stamps: Very Vintage wheel (out 1st April), Inspired by Nature, Best Yet

Card: White Glossy Card, Kraft, Cameo Coral, Blush Blossom, Close to Cocoa

Ink: Close to Cocoa, Blush Blossom and Cameo Coral stampin' pads

Other: Sponge daubers, 1 3/8" circle punch, 1 1/2" circle punch (not Stampin' Up!), Scallop Circle Punch, edge distresser, Build-a-Brad, 1/2" circle punch, Valet Ribbon Originals, Kraft taffeta ribbon.

FRIENDS 24-7

Today I gave myself permission to not go in to work - what bliss! We have our own business, and I have been trying for a long time to 'retire'.  The first step is to actually not be there some days, and it is harder than it sounds to make that happen.  Happily, today I'm at home.

I have been having a play with my Friends 24-7 stamp set, which is one of my favourites in the current Stampin' Up! catalogue.  First I made a couple of cards (just to have on hand) using my 'fallback' colour combination of Kraft, Baja Breeze and Chocolate Chip.  I love that they're simple and pretty - here they are:


All paper,punches and accessories are Stampin' Up! - if you have any questions, drop me a line!

I was visiting Renee Van Stralen's blog the other day, and loved this card she made using the cute little bird from this stamp set.  I was inspired to make a Christmas card using Friends 24-7.  Mine is a lot simpler, but I like how it turned out:

 Stamps: So Swirly Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel, Friends 24-7, Season of Joy

Ink: Chocolate Chip and Riding Hood Red stampin' pads, Chocolate chip marker (bird's eye!)

Card: Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Riding Hood Red

Other: Riding Hood Red 1 1/4" striped grosgrain ribbon, large oval punch, scallop oval punch, dimensionals

FLOWERS AND STARS

Even after an absence of several days, that's about the most exciting post title I can come up with??!!!  I haven't had much crafting time this week; apparently I have been neglecting the family.  Soooo, after a self-imposed exile of a few days from my craft room, I snuck back in there and enjoyed a little 'me' time.  It took me a little while to decide what I felt like making.

I drew inspiration for my first card from the Stampin' Up Idea Book & Catalogue.  I love the colours in the Haiku Designer Series Paper, and my eye was drawn to some cards on page 76 of the catalogue.  The base of my card is So Saffron (LOVE this yellow), and I've used a panel of So Saffron Designer Series Paper.  The beautiful flowers, both small and large, are from the Eastern Blooms stamp set.  This is a really versatile set, that gives stunningly different results depending on colours used. I used my Boho Blossoms punch to make the tiny flowers from a piece of Old Olive paper, from the Haiku pack.  How cute are they?!  A bit of ribbon, piercing, and some pearl brads finish off the card.  I am really happy with the end result, considering I started off with a blank brain!



Stamps: Eastern Blooms, Upsy Daisy (sentiment)

Card: So Saffron, Old Olive, Tangerine Tango, Very Vanilla

DSP: So Saffron Prints, Haiku

Ink: Tangerine Tango, Old Olive, So Saffron

Other: Boho Blossoms punch, pearl brads (from Pretties Kit), Apricot Appeal 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, edge distresser, paper piercer, dimensionals, stamp-a-ma-jig, sponge dauber



This next card I thought would be good for a (female) friend of my teenage son, but when I excitedly showed Jack, he said "Ah, no Mum", and slowly shook his head!  Anyway, I like it!!!  I love the simplicity of it, and the co-ordination of the ink, paper and ribbon.  I used my Classic Stars jumbo wheel, and Baja Breeze stampin' pad, to make the background panel.  My friend Kerry made a card at one of our recent stamping nights, using the stars in this colour, and I just loved it, so I must credit her with the inspiration!  (The link to Kerry's blog is in my side bar.)  The raised star is just one I cut out from the 'patterned paper' I had created, with the edges sponged to give it some definition.  I mounted it on a piece of Urban Garden DSP, cut to form a border.  Here it is, folks - hope you like it as much as I do, or at least more than Jack does, LOL.



Stamps: Classic Stars jumbo wheel, On Your Birthday

Card: Whisper White, Basic Gray, Baja Breeze

DSP: Urban Garden

Ink: Basic Gray, Baja Breeze

Other: Silver brads (from SU's Vintage assortment), Baja Breeze 5/8" striped grosgrain ribbon, Basic Gray taffeta ribbon, baja breeze button (from Button Bouquet), dimensionals, mini glue dots.



Thanks for stopping by, friends.  I'll be back when I have had some more 'play' time in my craft room (this "working full-time" thing is just not right!!).

One "male" card, and one decidedly pink one!

The other day I posted a photo of the card I'd made for my brother, Mark.  Today I have another Trendy Trees card to show you; I made this for my other brother, Dean, whose birthday is in a few days.  Yay me - actually getting a card made and posted BEFORE the event!  So, my brothers' birthdays are only a week apart; but, hey, my sister's and my birthdays are only a DAY apart!  Mum and Dad must have wanted to cut down on birthday party costs by combining for our entire childhood; precision planning on their part, don't you think?

I am really pleased with this card.  Started off not knowing what I was going to make, but once I'd chosen the colour scheme (Basic Gray, Kiwi Kiss and Not Quite Navy) it all came together quite smoothly.  The Urban Garden paper, and the fantastic Trendy Trees and jumbo eyelets, made it easy - love all those elements (just in case you hadn't noticed!).  Loving these colours; they are great for guys' cards, don't you think?



Stamps: Trendy Trees, Occasional Greetings, Linen background (retired)

Card: Basic Gray, Kiwi Kiss, Not Quite Navy, Whisper White

DSP: Urban Garden

Ink: Basic Gray, Not Quite Navy, Kiwi Kiss, White craft

Other: Crop-A-Dile, pewter jumbo eyelets, Kiwi Kiss 5/8" striped grosgrain ribbon, stamp-a-ma-jig, edge distresser, sponge dauber, dimensionals



The photo on that card is a bit dark (I always leave it until night-time to remember to photograph my cards, but hey you can see it alright).  Nothing dark about this next one - a little over-the-top pink number. 

I got the Fast Flowers wheel with my starter kit, and wasn't sure how I wanted to use it, but realised it is designed to co-ordinate with Fun & Fast Notes (a great collection of cute images and sentiments).  I used the wheel to create the little pink panel on which the bird is mounted -  see how the cute little flowers complement the flower in the bird's mouth?  Sweet.  I paper-pieced the bird, by first stamping her (has to be a girl, with that colouring!) in Basic Gray on Whisper White card, then stamping again in Basic Gray on Bella Rose paper.  I stuck the cut-out paper version onto the card; love this easy technique that saves colouring in! I have used the same Designer Series Paper in the background.  Anyway, enough talking - here's the card:



Stamps: Fast Flowers wheel, Fun & Fast Notes, Pocket Silhouettes (sentiment), Cute & Curly, Weathered background

Card: Whisper White, Basic Gray, Pink Pirouette

DSP: Bella Rose

Ink: Pretty in Pink, Basic Gray, White craft, Certainly Celery

Other: Pink Pirouette 5/8" striped grosgrain ribbon, curly label punch, rectangle nestabilities, mini glue dots, flat-back pearls (from Pretties Kit), dimensionals, aquapainter



That's it for today, folks - hope you like them!  I had a lot of fun making them (especially the 'boy' one, I have to say, because sometimes male cards can be a bit tricky, can't they?  I get a bit tired of the fishing and tool themes.)  I am feeling a bit under the weather, with a cold (thanks darling son for sharing those germs around), but plan to have a couple of early nights so that I am in fine form for a big stamping night with my lovely friends on Friday night - can't wait!

'Til next time - thanks for visiting, and I love reading your comments, my lovely friends :)

BOYS, BOYS, BOYS......

Sorry, ladies, but the photos in this post are probably not what you were imagining, from today's title!  I have a couple of birthday cards for men to show you.  Ha ha.  PLUS ......drumroll, please......I have a scrapbook page to post!!!  This is noteworthy, because I am a cardmaker, and have only dabbled verrrrry briefly with scrapbooking.

Work has been more than a little challenging this past week, and I have not even set foot in my craft room - other than to open the door, switch the light on to check that all is okay and is still there waiting for me, turn off the light and leave.  I have done this a few times.  Sad, isn't it?!  My little family and I have been away at our cabin for a couple of nights, to reconnect, and recharge our batteries.  We really needed that; it was lovely.  Now we are back home, and I have mountains of washing to contend with.  While the machine is churning away, I have managed to have a little play, and decided that it's high time I shared my male-oriented creations.

First up, here is a simple birthday card that I think would be particularly suitable for a man (no flowers or pink in sight).  I have used ribbon, but as a simple accent to complement the card's colour scheme.  A couple of jumbo pewter eyelets help to give the card a masculine feel.



Stamps: Seeing Spots, Upsy Daisy (sentiment)

Ink: Versamark, Old Olive, Jet Black Stazon, Whisper White craft ink

Card: Whisper White, Basic Black, Old Olive

Other: Crop-A-Dile, Pewter Jumbo Eyelets, White Embossing Powder, Certainly Celery 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Old Olive and Basic Black 1/4" grosgrain ribbon



My next card is one I have sent to my brother for his birthday.  I think it's safe to assume that he won't be looking at my blog.  I have used my much-loved Trendy Trees set, and my new favourite jumbo eyelets on this one.  All the other details follow th photo:



Stamps: Trendy Trees, On Your Birthday

DSP: Good Morning Sunshine

Card: Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Tangerine Tango

Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip, Tangerine Tango

Other: Crop-A-Dile, Pewter Jumbo Eyelets, Chocolate Chip 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, wide oval punch, edge distresser, sponge daubers, brads (non-SU)



Okay, so now I am going to be brave and share my scrapbook page.  I have had a photo of Jack (who is now in his second year at high school) that I have wanted to scrap, but hadn't got around to. It was taken on the night of his graduation from primary school - a very emotional time for me!  He felt very grown up, but I was grieving the loss of his truly innocent days, and the changes that were about to take place with his friendships.  (His closest friends were to go on to different high schools to the one Jack would be attending.) Everything on this page is Stampin' Up!, except for the lined paper I stole from my other son's school book. (It's okay, he had to remove a page, so I just used some of the unwanted paper - just wanted to add this disclaimer in case any teachers are reading!)  I set myself the challenge of using no designer papers - just cardstock, stamps and punches (and, boy, did I use a few of these!), with a couple of other embellishments.  Here is my handsome boy ....



Stamps: Classic Stars Jumbo Wheel, Best Yet, Season of Joy (just the letter "j")

Ink: Basic Black stampin' pad and marker, Real Red stampin' pad and marker

Card: Basic Black textured 12x12, Whisper White (textured and smooth), Not Quite Navy, Kraft, Real Red

Other: Round Tab Punch, Curly Label Punch, Word Window Punch, Spiral Punch, Crop-A-Dile, Pewter Jumbo Eyelets, black brads (from Vintage brad assortment), SNAIL adhesive



It's good to be able to post on my blog again, after what feels like a looooooong absence.  I am hoping to fit in some more 'play' time this coming week, as I have new stamps (YIPPEE!!) - will be back to share when I've made something.  Hope you all have a great week.  

Christine :)