JAI #127: COLOUR CHALLENGE

This week at Just Add Ink, Mae has challenged us to use Black & White PLUS ONE. 

Tangerine Tango is a colour that doesn't see much light of day at my place, so I challenged myself to use it for this challenge.  I came up with the idea for this project when I couldn't sleep one night this week, and it came out pretty much how I'd envisaged it.  Miriam Thomas shared on her blog how to make a box using four of Stampin' Up!'s Petite Pocket die cuts.  Perfect - I have barely used my Petite Pockets die (another of the many products I just HAD to have!).

I cut four Petite Pockets from Basic Black cardstock.  The next step was to emboss each one using Stampin' Up!'s Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, that had been inked with Versamark (I just rubbed the inkpad over the raised surface of the embossing folder before inserting the cardstock).  I then randomly sprinkled White and Tangerine Tango embossing powder over the dry-embossed card, and heat-embossed it.

Here's a close-up of how that turned out:

Here is the box, containing a flower arrangement made from embossed flowers (I was on a bit of an embossing kick with this one, wasn't I?):

I was really pleased to discover that the large flower from the Printed Petals stamp set fits perfectly inside the new Blossom punch.  I've hardly used that stamp set, but will now get some more mileage from it, because I do love a stamp that co-ordinates with a punch, y'know!  On Whisper White cardstock, I stamped five flowers in Versamark ink, and used Tangerine Tango embossing powder on three of them, and Black embossing powder on the other two.  The flower centres are also embossed (in the reverse colours); they're one of the smaller flowers from Printed Petals, that have been punched out using the 1" Circle punch.  I used Jet Black Staz-On ink to colour the skewers (messy, but I achieved the desired result).

Here are the 'ingredients' I used:

Stamps: Printed Petals

Card: Basic Black, Whisper White, Tangerine Tango

DSP: Basic Black and Tangerine Tango Patterns Designer Papers (tied around 'stems')

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Jet Black Staz-On inkpad

Other: White embossing powder, Tangerine Tango embossing powder, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Petite Pockets die, Basic Black satin ribbon, Tangerine Tango Scallop Dots ribbon, sticky strip, Blossom punch, 1" punch, Beautiful Wings embosslits

Make sure you visit the Just Add Ink website, to see the variety of projects that the Design Team have come up with - you'll love them!

JAI #121: JUST ADD ...PEARLS

Hello, friends!  After a week's absence, I'm back with a card (that I was despairing wouldn't get made ... gee, Stampin' Up! Convention saps a girl's energy!).  Convention was a blast.  I got to spend time with a number of special friends, including several of my fellow Just Add Ink Design Team members; we had so much fun together.

Patrice has set this week's challenge at Just Add Ink, to add pearls to your papercraft project.

I have used one of the stamps from Reason to Smile, which is a new stamp set available exclusively in June.  It's a two-step floral stamp set, which I can see I'll have a lot of fun with.  The 'solid' flower stamp has very fine surface detail that yields a really subtle result.  I stamped this in Blushing Bride ink on Whisper White card, before over-stamping the outline flower in Basic Gray.

Stamps:  Reason to Smile, Happiest Birthday Wishes

Card: Basic Gray, Blushing Bride, Whisper White textured and smooth

DSP: Twitterpated Designer Series Paper

Ink: Blushing Bride and Basic Gray stampin' pads, Versamark inkpad

Other: White embossing powder, Blushing Bride pleated satin ribbon and Stitched-Poly ribbon, Basic Pearls, 1 3/8" Circle punch, Scallop Circle punch, Basics Glimmer Brad, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Mini Glue dots, stampin' dimensionals, sponge daubers

Be sure to check out the rest of the Design Team's creations over at Just Add Ink - they are GORGEOUS!!

SC 042: STAMPIN' UP! KINDNESS MATTERS

With all the nervous energy I have to burn, in the lead-up to Stampin' Up! Convention in a few short sleeps, I've made another card today.  This one is for Sunny Challenges & Creations.

As you can see, there is a sketch to follow, as well as a technique - the Baby Wipe technique.  I LOVE this technique, but haven't played with it for a while.

I have used Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red and Crumb Cake ink refills to create a palette on a baby wipe.  I inked up the gorgeous butterfly stamp from Kindness Matters, on the baby wipe, and stamped it repeatedly on Very Vanilla card, to create a background. 

Using my Color Spritzer Tool, I added some splatters of Blushing Bride and Crumb Cake ink to the stamped panel.  Here's my card (warning: I got a little carried away with baker's twine bows!):

Stamps: Kindness Matters, Trendy Trees

Card: Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla, Blushing Bride

Ink: Chocolate Chip and Riding Hood Red re-inkers, Crumb Cake re-inker and marker, Blushing Bride marker

Other: Labels Collection Framelits dies, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Cherry Cobbler and Early Espresso baker's twine, Color Spritzer tool, Basic Pearls, Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, Chocolate Chip satin ribbon, Riding Hood Red pleated satin ribbon, sponge dauber, stampin' dimensionals, Tombow liquid glue

Unfortunately I have to work tomorrow, so I can't guarantee another card will make it onto my blog before I go away.  Watch this space!



HAPPY HALF-CENTURY, MUM AND DAD!

I'd like to share with you today the card I made for my parents, who on the weekend celebrated 50 years of marriage.  What a milestone, hey? 

I have only recently bought Stampin' Up!'s Baroque Motifs stamp set (yes, I do think I'm one of the last demonstrators in the known universe to own it!) .... so I inked that up for this special occasion.  First I stamped, in Crumb Cake ink (stamped off, to give a subtle effect), an En Francais background on Very Vanilla Card.  The Baroque Motifs flourish was stamped over the script, and the whole panel run through the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, before being sponged around the edges.

I love how the Crumb Cake ink on the main sentiment panel co-ordinates so well with Stampin' Up!'s Brushed Gold cardstock.  I used my aquapainter, and Crumb Cake ink refill, to colour the flowers, and the outer frame of the Framelits die cut.

Here's a closer look at the background, which I finished off with some Champagne Mist shimmer spray:

Stamps: Apothecary Art, En Francais, Baroque Motifs, For My Family

Card: Naturals Ivory, Brushed Gold, Very Vanilla

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Crumb Cake and Cherry Cobbler stampin' pads, Crumb Cake ink refill

Other: Gold embossing powder, Labels Collection Framelits die, Basic Pearls, Cherry Cobbler seam binding, aquapainter, stamping sponge, stampin' dimensionals, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Champagne Mist shimmer paint (mixed with Isocol to make shimmer spray), Stamp-a-ma-jig, Timeless Type Junior Alphabet sizzlits dies

BLOG HOP : STAMPIN' UP!'S AUTUMN-WINTER MINI

Today I am taking part in a blog hop with eight friends, who are fellow Stampin' Up! demonstrators.  We want to give you some ideas for using the gorgeous products in our recently-released Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue from Stampin' Up!  There are so many great stamps, dies and accessories in this Mini; it's pretty exciting!  The Mini catalogue runs through until the end of July.

You may have come from Ros Davidson's blog, to start today's 'tour'.  If not, don't worry - you can just click on the next person's name at the bottom of each blog post you come to, and soon enough you'll have 'hopped' around all nine of our blogs.  Please make sure you leave us some comment love, so we know you've been!

I have a couple of cards to show you, using the new Love & Laughter stamp set.  I've paired it with Stampin' Up!'s luxurious Mocha Morning Specialty Designer Series Paper, to create two elegant (I hope you agree!) wedding cards.


I used a Basic Black card base for this first card.  Although it's not really obvious in the photo, the strip of black paper along the top of the card is the flocked paper from Mocha Morning.  The sweet little gold-embossed flowers are one of the stamps in the set, and I think add a lovely touch.  How gorgeous is the wedding dress of sentiments, embossed in black?

Stamps: Love & Laughter

Card: Basic Black, Brushed Gold, Very Vanilla

DSP: Mocha Morning Specialty Designer Series Paper

Ink: Versamark inkpad

Other: Black embossing powder, Gold embossing powder, Very Vanilla satin ribbon, Basic Black 1/8" taffeta ribbon, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Basic Pearls, 1" and 1 3/4" Circle punches, mini glue dots

On my second card, I've used two of the sentiments from Love & Laughter, along with a new Labels Collection Framelits die.  LOVE these dies - there are 6 dies, all the same shape, but in graduating sizes, in the set.

To make this card, I simply punched out, with various sized circle punches, some papers from the Mocha Morning pack.  I adhered them to a piece of Very Vanilla card, then put the card in my Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, and ran it through the Big Shot.  I sponged some Crumb Cake ink over the embossed areas.  I rather like the 'weathered' (let's call it 'vintage') look that resulted from the paper cracking a little, when embossed.  A seam binding bow, and some of Stampin' Up!'s beautiful gold brads (why haven't I used these before?!), finish the card.

Stamps: Love & Laughter

Card: Very Vanilla, Brushed Gold, Basic Black

DSP: Mocha Morning Designer Series Paper

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Crumb Cake stampin' pad

Other: Gold embossing powder, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Labels Collection Framelits die, Very Vanilla Seam Binding, Metallic Brads, Mat Pack & Paper Piercing tool,  1 1/4" circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, 1 3/4" circle punch, stampin' dimensionals, sponge dauber, mini glue dots, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder

The next stop on the blog hop is the home of Amanda Hill who lives in Western Australia, and makes gorgeous scrapbook pages.  Be sure to click on Amanda's name to see what she has come up with, using new products.

Here is a comprehensive list of all participants in today's blog hop:

Ros Davidson

http://www.rosdavidson.typepad.com

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

Amanda Hill
http://amandasscrapandcraft.blogspot.com.au

Tina Gillespie
http://scissorspapercard.blogspot.com

Nikki Sadler
http://www.inkyart.com.au

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

Alisha Watson
http://www.ratherbstamping.blogspot.com.au/

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

Sue Madex
http://www.madexcreations.com



21st BIRTHDAY CARD

Jack (my eldest) has gone to a friend's 21st birthday party tonight, looking rather sharp!  The dress code for the evening is "cocktail black with a touch of red".  I've used this theme for the birthday girl's card, coming up with a simple but elegant creation thanks to Stampin' Up!'s fabulous products!!  I have used no stamps or inks at all on this card, it was very quick to make, and I love the end result.

Card: Basic Black, Whisper White smooth & textured, Cherry Cobbler

Other: Timeless Type Junior Alphabet sizzlits die, Big Shot, Fancy Flower punch, 5 Petal Flower punch, Boho Blossoms punch, metallic brad, Basic Rhinestone, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Cherry Cobbler seam binding, Sticky Strip, Tombow Multi liquid glue

POCKET SILHOUETTES "THANK YOU" CARD

A friend, who I haven't seen enough of in recent years, attended one of my card-making classes this past weekend, and I'm pleased to say her love of stamping seems to have been re-ignited!  Theresa has ordered Pocket Silhouettes and Sincere Salutations, two stamp sets that I love, and get a lot of use out of.
With this in mind, I thought that I'd pop a card in the post to let her know I am really pleased she came to my class ..... hopefully we'll share many more stamping sessions in future!  Now that the card should have safely reached its destination, I can put it up here to show you.

Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes, Sincere Salutations

Card: Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede

DSP: Elegant Soiree Designer Series Paper

Ink: Crumb Cake, Soft Suede and Marina Mist stampin' pads

Other: Wide Oval punch, Eyelet Border punch, Lots of Tags sizzlits, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Beautiful Wings embosslits, sponge dauber, Very Vanilla taffeta ribbon, mini glue dots, Basic Pearls

EASTERN BLOOMS FRIENDSHIP CARD - JAI #56 and COLOUR Q #72

Phew - that's a bit of a long title for today's post, hey?  I have inked up a couple of my 'flowery' stamp sets that have been sitting unused for far too long.  I wanted to make a 'rustic' looking card for this week's Colour Q Challenge #72, using these scrumptious colours:

Plus, in an effort to improve my time-management skills, I made a card that fits Amanda's sketch challenge at Just Add Ink this week.  Here's the gorgeous sketch that I based my card on:

............. and, here's my card:

Stamps: En Francais, Wonderfully Worn, Eastern Blooms, Friends Never Fade

Card: Crumb Cake, Not Quite Navy, Whisper White, Baja Breeze

Ink: Crumb Cake, Baja Breeze, Tangerine Tango, Not Quite Navy and Cherry Cobbler stampin' pads, Versamark inkpad

Other: White embossing powder, sponge dauber, Scallop Edge punch, paper snips, stampin' dimensionals, Beautiful Wings embosslits die, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, kraft taffeta ribbon (retired), mini glue dot

CHRISTMAS BLOG HOP

Today I am taking part in a blog hop, with 10 friends, to show you some projects with a CHRISTMAS theme.  You may have come here from Ros Davidson's blog, but if not, don't worry - you can continue in a loop and visit all 11 blogs by clicking on the link at the end of each blog post.  I'm sure you'll get some great ideas, visiting everyone's blogs.

I'd like to share with you a few Christmas cards I've chosen to make in non-traditional colours.

This first card is my favourite, but I would love to hear which one appeals most to you; they're all quite different.  Please leave a comment, and let me know you've been to visit!

Stamps: Friends 24-7, Contempo Christmas, Delightful Decorations

Card: Poppy Parade, Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise (textured)

Ink: Poppy Parade and Tempting Turquoise stampin' pads, Jet Black Staz-on inkpad

Other: Poppy Parade poly-stitched ribbon, Ornament Punch, Basic Rhinestones, stampin' dimensionals, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Scallop Edge border punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig, mini glue dots

Next up is a less bright card; for this one, I've used another of Stampin' Up!'s "in colours", Peach Parfait, teamed with Basic Gray and Very Vanilla.

Stamps: Dasher, Snow Swirled

Card: Very Vanilla, Basic Gray

DSP: Peach Parfait Patterns Designer Series Paper (hostess pack)

Ink: Basic Gray and Peach Parfait stampin' pads

Other: Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Wide Oval Punch, Peach Parfait poly-stitched ribbon, sponge dauber, Eyelet Trim border punch, Basic Pearls

My last card uses green and purple, with cream, and I love it!  (Since I became a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, I don't think I've referred to colours as "green and purple, with cream"!!  That was a BIG step for me, to not use their SU! names, ha ha). 

Stamps: Tree Trimmings, Snow Swirled, En Francais

Card: Wild Wasabi (textured), Perfect Plum, Naturals Ivory

DSP: Wild Wasabi and Perfect Plum Patterns Designer Series Paper

Ink: Wild Wasabi, Perfect Plum and River Rock stampin' pads, Jet Black Staz-on inkpad

Other: Very Vanilla satin ribbon, Wide Oval Punch, sponge dauber, Eyelet Border punch, paper snips, mini glue dots

Next stop on today's blog hop is the blog of my friend Nikki Sadler.  We hope you'll visit all 11 blogs, and check out everyone's creations.  Here is a list of everyone participating in the blog hop; if you lose your way, just check back in here!

Ros Davidson

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


Christine Blain (that's me!)
http://christineblain.blogspot.com/


Nikki Sadler
http://www.inkyart.com.au/


Kristine Thompson
http://www.inkspotcreations.com/


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


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


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


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


Amy Buchanan
http://fashioninggreatimpressions.com/


Gardenia Pepworth
http://alittlelessuseless.wordpress.com/


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

I hope you have a great day; I will - we're off to a wedding, and my boys will both be in suits!  What fun.  Will share photos later!

JUST ADD INK #44

Second only to red, my favourite colours are earthy tones, so this week's colour challenge at Just Add Ink really tickled my fancy.

Last night I was a bit foggy-headed, in the aftermath of a migraine, but felt well enough to make a simple card.  I mention this because when I put my card scraps away, I was horrified to discover (and even more horrified that I hadn't noticed earlier) that I had used Early Espresso, instead of Chocolate Chip, cardstock on my card!!!  I am going to be unusually forgiving of myself, though, and have decided not to re-make the card; just pretend that the strip of card is a lighter brown than it really is, okay?!

It is a bit hard to tell in the photo I've taken, but the Christmas ornaments look a light gold colour.  I inked the stamp up first in River Rock ink, then used a sponge dauber to apply Frost White shimmer paint, before stamping the image onto white card.  I've taken a close-up shot so you can see some of the shimmer.

Here is the card in its entirety:

Stamps: Contempo Christmas, Delightful Decorations

Card: Whisper White, River Rock (textured), Early Espresso (let's just call it Chocolate Chip!), Wild Wasabi (textured)

Ink: River Rock and Wild Wasabi stampin' pads

Other: Ornament Punch, Wide Oval Punch, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Chocolate Chip 1/4" grosgrain ribbon (retired), mini glue dots



CARDS FROM YESTERDAY'S CLASS

Yesterday I got to spend an afternoon with some of my wonderful friends, who are also customers.  I ran a class, to share a whole lot of the new products I've bought from Stampin' Up!  We made 4 cards.


The first one is a little "love note" sized (3" x 3") card, using the beautiful "Elements of Style" stamp set and a couple of new "in colours".  The photo doesn't show it well, but we used Shimmery White cardstock - LOVE it!

Stamps: Elements of Style, Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Card: Shimmery White, Pear Pizzazz

Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Concord Crush

Other: Concord Crush 1/2" poly-stitched ribbon, Basic Rhinestones, sponge dauber, Word Window Punch, paper snips

The next card we made was using the new Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, which I think looks divine on the new Early Espresso cardstock - don't you?  This card also shows Poppy Parade, another of the new "in colours", and a new border punch (that I am also loving to bits!  Easily pleased, aren't I?!).

Stamps: For You Flower, Confetti

Card: Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Poppy Parade, Early Espresso

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Poppy Parade stampin' pad, Early Espresso marker, white gel pen

Other: Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Fancy Flower XL punch, Scallop Trim border punch, Mat pack and paper-piercing tool, stampin' dimensionals, Early Espresso taffeta ribbon, Poppy Parade 1/2" stitched-poly ribbon

Now, I couldn't possibly hold a "new products" class without letting the girls have a play with the new Two-Step XL Owl punch!  Here is the card we made (don't you love the 'feathers' on the owl's tummy?):

Stamps: Tiny Tags

Card: Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, Baja Breeze

DSP: Elegant Soiree Designer Series Paper

Ink: Baja Breeze and Soft Suede markers

Other: Circles #2 Originals die (in Big Shot), Elegant Lines embossing folder, Basic Pearls, Two-Step Owl XL punch, Two-Step Bird XL punch (for the branch), Tombow Multi glue

The last card I have to share with you is another using the cute "Funky Four" stamp set.  The colour inspiration for this card came from the new bright and cheery "Play Date" designer series paper.

Stamps: Funky Four, Confetti, Teeny Tny Sentiments

Card: Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise

DSP: Play Date designer series paper

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Chocolate chip stampin' pad and marker, Real Red, Tempting Turquoise and Old Olive markers

Other: Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, Beautiful Wings embosslits die (in Big Shot), Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Whisper White 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, sponge dauber, Tombow multi glue

What a nice way to spend an afternoon, don't you agree?!