JAI #130: JUST ADD ...... BLUE & BLING!

This week at Just Add Ink, Nikki has set a great challenge ... to use blue, and bling, on our card/scrapbook page.  The possibilities are endless!  You'll see how much of a variety the Design Team have come up with .... and we'd love you to join us. 

My first thought was to use a soft blue, like Bashful Blue, but I decided to make a card for a teal-loving friend who needed a bit of a lift, so I went with Island Indigo.

Here's my sample for this week's challenge:

Stamps: Delicate Doilies, Tagtastic

Card: Glossy White, Island Indigo

Ink: Island Indigo and Whisper White stampin' pads, Versamark inkpad

Other: Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer punch, XL Oval punch, Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch, Mat Pack and Paper Piercing tool, Designer Printed brad, Brights Glimmer brad, Circle Ice brad, Basic Rhinestones, sponge dauber, seam binding (not SU!)



I based this card on one of the very first cards I made using Delicate Doilies - you can see it here.  That card, in neutrals, stands out to me as one of my all-time favourite cards, and I've been meaning to try similar cards in different colours.  I'm really pleased with how this came out, and must try the design in some more colours!  Nothing quite like CASEing yourself, is there?!

 

JUST ADD INK #117 : A COLOUR CHALLENGE

Delys has set us a very challenging challenge at Just Add Ink this week!!    The idea is to make a card or scrapbook page using the following colours only:

I so wanted to stamp a sentiment in black, but as it turned out I had a lot of fun making a card in monochromatic tones!  Here's what I came up with:

Stamps: My Friend, Tagtastic

Card: So Saffron textured and smooth, Whisper White

Ink: So Saffron and Daffodil Delight stampin' pads, Versamark inkpad

Other: White embossing powder, sponge daubers, So Saffron 3/8" taffeta ribbon, Whisper White 1/8" taffeta ribbon, Itty Bitty shapes punch, Basic Pearls, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch, 1 3/4" circle punch, Perfect Pennants die, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, mini glue dots

Be sure to check out the rest of the Design Team's yellow creations!  We hope to inspire you to play along with us this week at Just Add Ink.

JUST ADD INK #110 - SKETCH CHALLENGE

This week at Just Add Ink, Mae has come up with a GREAT challenge.  I say great, because it really took me out of my comfort zone - frustrating at first, but that's the whole idea of a 'challenge', isn't it?  I do favour colour challenges over sketches, but I'm trying to open my mind!

After discarding the first two cards I came up with, I ran with a completely new idea, and am really pleased with the outcome.  So, thanks Mae, for challenging me!  Here's the sketch (sorry - couldn't get the outer border to show):

..... and my card:

Stamps: Morning Cup, Tagtastic, Friendly Words jumbo wheel

Card: Crumb Cake, Elegant Eggplant, Watercolour Paper

DSP: Beau Chateau Designer Series Paper, Perfect Plum Patterns Designer Series Paper

Ink: Jet Black Staz-On inkpad, Crumb Cake stampin' pad, Elegant Eggplant stampin' pad and marker, Perfect Plum stampin' pad and marker, Always Artichoke stampin' pad and marker

Other: XL Oval punch, 1" Square punch, Postage Stamp punch, Always Artichoke seam binding, Scallop Edge border punch, sponge daubers, aquapainter

You must head on over to Just Add Ink to check out the AMAZING samples made by the Design Team - you'll be inspired to play along, I promise you!

JUST ADD INK #88: JUST ADD A DIE CUT

This week's challenge at Just Add Ink is to use a die cut on our papercraft creation.  My personal challenge was to try to narrow down my choice, as I have a rather extensive collection of dies to use in my Big Shot!

I drew inspiration from a card I made a couple of weeks back, and created a couple of cute little items using my Two Tags die from Stampin' Up!  A special friend has just celebrated her birthday, and I wanted to make something for her, to co-ordinate with the card.

First I made a little gift pouch, to hold a few metres of the new colours of satin ribbon.  I first put the ribbon into one of Stampin' Up!'s small cellophane bags, and used a little Sticky Strip to secure the bag to the base of the pouch.  I think the end result is adorable (I hope the birthday girl does, too).  This pouch was created by cutting two of the larger tags from the Two Tags die, and sticking the bases together.  I then decorated it to co-ordinate with the card.


Here's the front view:

.... the back view:

.... and what it looks like from the side:

Stamps: Creative Elements, Tagtastic

Card: Wisteria Wonder, Basic Black

DSP: First Edition Designer Series Paper

Ink: Crumb Cake and Wisteria Wonder stampin' pads

Other: Finial Press embossing folder, Two Tags Bigz Die, 1/2" circle punch, Crop-a-dile, sponge daubers, XL Oval punch, Wisteria Wonder ruffled ribbon, Chantilly crochet trim, Beautiful Wings embosslits, Antique Brad

Next I made a little bookmark, using the other tag shape on the Two Tags die.  As you can see, I decorated this one in a similar fashion:

Stamps: Creative Elements

Card: Wisteria Wonder, Basic Black, Crumb Cake

DSP: First Edition Designer Series Paper

Ink: Crumb Cake and Wisteria Wonder stampin' pads

Other: 1/2" circle punch, Crop-a-Dile, sponge daubers, Timeless Type Alphabet sizzlits die, Basic Pearls, Wisteria Wonder ruffled ribbon, Chantilly crochet trim

To end this photo-heavy post, here's a round-up of "the birthday collection":

BLOG HOP - NEW STAMPIN' UP! PRODUCTS

I'm taking part today in a blog hop with friends, to share some papercraft projects we've created with products from the new Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalogue.  There are 9 of us in total; please visit all of our blogs, and leave a bit of comment love.  Hopefully you'll be inspired by all the different ideas we're sharing with you.  You may have come from Ros Davidson's blog, to start, but if not you can visit her after doing the rounds!  Just click on the link at the end of each blog post, to go on to the next person.

There are SO many new products that I've fallen in love with, in this catalogue.  I decided to focus my projects on two stamp sets, to show you how differently they can be used.  "Delicate Doilies" was a must-have set for me, as was "Tagtastic" - one of the new hostess sets.  This is a set that can be earnt by spending $300 or more, or holding a home workshop with sales of $300 or more.  (Believe me, it's not hard to spend over $300 with this catalogue!!)

My first card is in neutral tones, which I love to work with.   I've enjoyed playing with several new products, to make this card!  I made the shabby bow by wetting some Crumb Cake seam binding with Champagne Shimmer Mist (shimmer paint mixed with Isocol, in a spray bottle).  I scrunched the ribbon, and dried it with my heat gun, before creating the bow. 

Stamps: Delicate Doilies, Tagtastic

Card: Confetti White, Crumb Cake

Ink: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso and Soft Suede stampin' pads, Whisper White craft stampin' pad

Other: Crumb Cake seam binding, 2 1/2" Circle Punch, Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch, Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer punch, Champagne shimmer mist, Antique Brads, Glimmer Brads basics, sponge dauber, mini glue dots

The colour inspiration for my next card came from the Flirtatious Specialty Designer Series Papers in our new catalogue.  I've chosen to work with Pumpkin Pie and Melon Mambo ..... and my long-neglected Stampin' Pastels (chalks) have been shown some love.

I stamped the large doily randomly, on Whisper White card, using Whisper White craft ink.  This is a slow-drying, juicy, ink that is perfect for applying colour with Stampin' Pastels and sponge daubers.

Stamps: Delicate Doilies, Tagtastic

Card: Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White, Melon Mambo

Ink: Whisper White craft stampin' pad, Melon Mambo and Pumpkin Pie stampin' pads

Other: Stampin' Pastels, sponge daubers, Whisper White Organza ribbon, Fleurettes II, Ice Cream Parlor button, Circles #2 die, 1 3/4" circle punch, white thread, mini glue dots

For my third project, I decided I wanted to use the new Just Add Cake Designer Series Paper.  I chose the lined sheet (just like note paper), and used Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy and Pool Party inks to stamp doilies all over the paper.  I've ended up using only a couple of small 7.5cm squares of the stamped paper, to decorate a Fancy Favor box.  Here is the finished product, stuffed with tissue paper, just waiting for the addition of some jewellery, chocolate, or some such delicious gift:

Here is a closer view of the front of the box.  I adhered a stamped panel (without the sentiment, ribbon and rhinestones) to the back of the box, too.

Stamps: Delicate Doilies, Tagtastic, Delightful Decorations

Card: Not Quite Navy, Whisper White

DSP: Just Add Cake Designer Series Paper

Ink: Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, Pool Party and Basic Gray stampin' pads

Other: Curly Label punch, sponge daubers, Basic Rhinestones, Whisper White taffeta ribbon, Fancy Favor die, Big Shot, mini glue dots

I could go on and on, because the possibilities with these stamp sets really are endless, but I will stop now!  I hope I've inspired you to play with these stamp sets.  I had a lot of fun making these projects.

The next stop on the blog hop is Alisha Watson's blog.  Alisha's creativity is sure to inspire you - it always inspires me!  Thanks for your visit today.

 

Here's a full list of all the participants in today's blog hop. 

Ros Davidson
http://www.rosdavidson.typepad.com

Christine Blain  (that's me!)
www.christineblain.blogspot.com

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

Di Dunk
www.stampartbydi.typepad.com

Nikki Sadler
www.inkyart.com.au

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

Kathryn Ruddick
http://www.katlodesigns.com

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

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

JUST ADD INK #86

This week's Just Add Ink challenge is to use this sketch as a basis for your papercraft project:

I've just bought Stampin' Up!'s Fun Flowers die, and decided it fit the bill nicely, for the largish corner embellishment.  Here's my card for this week's challenge:

Stamps: Tagtastic, Creative Elements

Card: Crumb Cake, Basic Black, Wisteria Wonder, Very Vanilla

DSP: First Edition Specialty Designer Series Paper, Wisteria Wonder Patterns Designer Series Paper

Ink: Crumb Cake and Wisteria Wonder stampin' pads

Other: Beautiful Wings embosslits die, Fun Flowers Bigz die, Wisteria Wonder ruffled ribbon, Basic Pearls, Neutrals button, sponge dauber, stampin' dimensionals, Antique Brad, mini glue dots, Finial Press embossing folder, XL Oval punch

STAMPIN' UP!'S PRECIOUS BUTTERFLIES

In my opinion, a girl cannot have too many butterfly stamps.  For this reason, I just had to have Stampin' Up!'s new "Precious Butterflies" stamp set (it's a 'hostess' set that you can earn with a $300 order, or workshop)!

Here's the first card I made with this set, using the new coloured embossing powders in Melon Mambo and Wild Wasabi.  The frame for my sentiment is from another fabulous hostess set, Tagtastic.

Stamps: Precious Butterflies, Tagtastic, Texture jumbo wheel

Card: Crumb Cake, Whisper White

DSP: Wild Wasabi Patterns Designer Series Paper

Ink: Crumb Cake, Wild Wasabi and Basic Black stampin' pads, Versamark inkpad

Other: Melon Mambo and Wild Wasabi embossing powders, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Top Note die, Curly Label punch, 3/4" circle punch, sponge daubers, Basic Rhinestone

I then went for a completely different look, to incorporate a doily from the Flirtatious Designer Series Paper pack.  I chose Melon Mambo and Pumpkin Pie as my feature colours.  It's hard to see in the photo, but just above the black panel, I've stamped the circle of butterflies in Versamark ink (perhaps I should've used Melon Mambo.  Ah well, I think the card's plenty bright enough as it is!).

Stamps: Precious Butterflies, Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Card: Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White, Basic Black

DSP: Flirtatious Specialty Designer Series Paper

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Basic Black stampin' pad, Melon Mambo stampin' pad and marker, Pumpkin Pie stampin' pad

Other: Beautiful Wings embosslits die, Ribbon Lace border punch, Basic Rhinestones, 1 3/4" circle punch, Circles #2 die, 3/4" circle punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig, sponge dauber

I really like the first card.  The second, not so much.  Still, I'm having fun playing with my new goodies, and I will have plenty more to share with you in coming days and weeks!