DD ##4: MONOCHROMATIC BLUES

This week's challenge at Dynamic Duos is a monochromatic one, and a little outside my comfort zone!

Blue is a colour that I don't often reach for, but I must say I really enjoyed this challenge.  I've used Very Vanilla as the complementary neutral, and toned down the 'blueness' with a touch of Crumb Cake.

I started off with a scalloped rectangle chipboard piece, from Stampin' Up!'s On Board Merry Medley assortment.  Chipboard is not something I've used much, so this was an extra challenge for me!  I covered the scalloped rectangle with glue, and adhered strips of Designer Series Paper, embossed cardstock, and a punched border or three.  Crumb Cake ink sponged around the edges helps to make this piece look finished.  I have used one of my favourite sentiments, that I think is suitable for a range of occasions.  A couple of pearls, and some gorgeous satin ribbon, finish the card.

Stamps: Very Vintage jumbo stampin' around wheel, Thoughts & Prayers

Card: Bashful Blue

DSP: Beau Chateau, Paisley Petals,  and Marina Mist Patterns Designer Series Papers

Ink: Bashful Blue, Crumb Cake and Marina Mist stampin' pads

Other: On Board Merry Medley chipboard, Lace Ribbon border punch, Scallop Edge border punch, Eyelet border punch, Square Lattice embossing folder, sponge dauber, Basic Pearls, Labels Collection Framelits die, Very Vanilla satin ribbon, mini glue dots, Tombow liquid glue

In a few short days, I'll be flying up to Canberra to attend Stampin' Up!'s annual Convention.  It is a highlight of my year!  The old blog will go quiet for a few days, but I'll be back to participating in challenges after next weekend.  I do have a bit of nervous energy, with the build-up of excitement leading up to Convention, so I may well get a few more cards made and blogged before I go!



SC 0032/12 : STAMPIN' UP! PAISLEY PETALS

This week's challenge over at Sunny Challenges & Creations is to use Designer Series Paper, along with this sketch, to make a card or scrapbook page:

I have used the colours Baja Breeze, River Rock, Not Quite Navy and Whisper White - taken from Stampin' Up!'s Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper.

Stamps: Thoughts & Prayers, French Foliage

Card: Baja Breeze, River Rock, Whisper White

DSP: Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper

Ink: River Rock stampin' pad and marker, Baja Breeze stampin' pad and marker, Not Quite Navy stampin' pad

Other: Color Spritzer tool, Beautiful Wings embosslits die, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Not Quite Navy taffeta ribbon, Eyelet border punch, Basic Pearls, White baker's twine, button (retired), sponge daubers, mini glue dots, vellum

INKSPIRATIONS COLOUR CHALLENGE #64

Here is the somewhat-challenging colour combo that Makeesha has come up with this week over at Inkspirations :

I love rustic, earthy, colours but despite my love for red, the addition of Poppy Parade to this mix really threw me!

Because the colours are strong, I decided to go with a clean and simple card.  Ethan, my creative and gorgeous 10-year-old, said "Mum, I like this, but it doesn't look like one of your cards"!!  It is a departure from my usual style; not much in the way of embellishment, other than the button I managed to find a spot for!

Stamps: Thoughts & Prayers

Card: Very Vanilla, More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Poppy Parade

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Poppy Parade stampin' pad

Other: Clear embossing powder, Neutrals button, Stamp-a-ma-jig, stampin' dimensionals

I did score a line just below the top of the coloured panels, to add a little interest.  Stamping the sentiment 'sideways' was a change for me, but I liked the idea of stamping it in Poppy Parade ink, to complement the coloured panel to the far right.

I think this card is masculine enough to give to a friend who will be going through a rather long healing process after a recent accident. 

Thanks for the inspiration, Keesh!

JUST ADD INK #62 - "JUST ADD STAMPS"

This afternoon when I saw the new challenge at Just Add Ink, I wasn't sure I'd be able to rise to it!  The challenge is to use only stamps, ink and cardstock to make a card.  I just LOVE ribbons, brads, punches, embellishments - all the 'bits' to pretty up a card, so this was HARD!!! 

On my way home from dropping Ethan (my big, grown-up 10-yr-old, who insisted I wasn't welcome) at a school BBQ tonight, I saw a woman wearing an outfit that I can only describe as Peach Parfait and Basic Black (we SU! demonstrators don't think in terms of 'orange' and 'black', you know).  It was instant inspiration!  I came home and made this card:

Stamps: Bella Toile, Elements of Style, Thoughts & Prayers

Card: Peach Parfait

Ink: Peach Parfait, Basic Black and Whisper White stampin' pads

Other: Stamp-a-ma-jig, stampin' dimensionals, stampin' sponge

Even though I wasn't allowed to add any embellishments, I just HAD to sponge around the edges.  I used a sponge, rather than my beloved sponge daubers, to achieve a deeper colour around the edges.  I've raised the central panel up on dimensionals, and am pretty happy with the result after all! 

THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS, CHRISTCHURCH

I am a little disorganised, but have every intention this week of bundling up a whole lot of cards to send off to Victim Support in Christchurch, New Zealand.  Please see this post at Just Add Ink to find out how you, too, can help, if you are a papercrafter. 

I am a New Zealander, and an Australian, and can hardly put into words how deeply affected I feel by last week's destructive earthquake in Christchurch.  As I am sure so many of you can relate to, I feel utterly helpless, but WANT to do something, anything, to show that I am thinking of all those living through the nightmare of the earthquake's aftermath. 

I made this card using a recent colour combination from an Inkspirations Challenge.  This is one of what I hope will be many cards that I'll be sending off to Christchurch.

Stamps: Thoughts & Prayers, All A Flutter, En Francais

Card:  Tangerine Tango, Whisper White, Early Espresso, Marina Mist

Ink: Tangerine Tango stampin' pad and marker, Early Espresso stampin' pad and marker, Jet Black Staz-on inkpad

Other: Tangerine Tango striped grosgrain ribbon (retired), Early Espresso 1/8" taffeta ribbon, Wide Oval punch, Beautiful Wings embosslits die, Stamp-a-ma-jig

JUST ADD INK #35

This week's challenge at Just Add Ink is to make a sympathy card.  I wasn't sure that I'd get a chance to take part this week, as I've had a couple of classes (silly me, arranged them with different themes, so had double the preparation!) this week.  However, I am really pleased that I have been able to have some "play time" in my craft room this afternoon.

I think soft greens are beautiful, especially with white, on sympathy cards.  I have teamed Pear Pizzazz with Whisper White, and added in some of the new yellow in Stampin' Up!'s range - the gorgeous Daffodil Delight.

Because the light was failing when I went to photograph this card, I'm not sure if you can see that the base card has been stamped with the floral image from "Elements of Style".  It's the same stamp I've used in the main panel, but I've used Pear Pizzazz ink, stamped it off once on scrap paper, then stamped the lighter impression on my card.  Anyway, enough words - here's the picture:

Stamps: Elements of Style, Thoughts & Prayers

Card: Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White

DSP: Pear Pizzazz Patterns Designer Series Paper (hostess pack)

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Pear Pizzazz stampin' pad and marker, Old Olive marker, Daffodil Delight stampin' pad and marker

Other: White embossing powder, Whisper White 5/8" satin ribbon, Stamp-a-ma-jig, blender pen, sponger daubers, mini glue dots

I will be back soon with another post, to show you a couple of cards we made in today's Christmas card class!

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!