JUST ADD INK #40

I can remember the excitement of Just Add Ink starting up .... and here they are, at their 40th challenge!  Thanks, girls, for the wonderful challenges you set every week; I love them.

This week is a colour challenge, to incorporate the following colours into a papercraft project:

I had need this week for a sympathy card, that I wanted to have a feminine touch.  It was a real challenge for me to incorporate the Pear Pizzazz, once I'd figured out my design, but I got it in there (in the sentiment)!  This is the card I came up with:

Stamps: Elements of Style, Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Card: Sahara Sand, Blushing Bride, Bashful Blue, Whisper White

Ink: Sahara Sand, Blushing Bride, Bashful Blue and Pear Pizzazz stampin' pads

DSP: Sahara Sand Patterns Designer Series Paper (from Neutrals stack)

Other: Eyelet Trim border punch, Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, sponge daubers, Basic Pearls, Blushing Bride poly-stitched ribbon, paper snips

"TECHNIQUE" BLOG HOP

Today I am taking part, with 4 fellow Stampin' Up! demonstrators, in a "Technique" blog hop (just a "mini blog hop this time!).  Each of us is showcasing a different technique to use in your stamping and/or scrapbooking, so hopefully you'll get some new ideas!

You may have come from the gorgeous Nikki Sadler's blog, but if not, don't worry!  You can start here, and do a 'loop' by clicking on the link at the end of each participant's post, until you've covered all 5 stops.

The technique I have chosen to focus on today is PAPER PIECING.  This technique is ideal for using with line image (rather than solid) stamps.  It's an alternative to colouring in an image, and is a cute way to highlight a portion of a stamped image, to co-ordinate with patterned papers used on your project.

It's very easy to do.  Simply stamp your desired image onto cardstock, and stamp it again on patterned paper.  (Alternatively, you could stamp it onto other coloured card - either plain, or that you've stamped with a design.)  Cut the paper image out, and stick it over the top of the base image; voila - instant colouring!


For my first card, I have stamped several of one of the "Fifth Avenue Floral" flowers on a Whisper White panel.  I've chosen to highlight just one of the flowers in red (I do love red, and polka dots - did you know?!), using "Play Date" Designer Series Paper.  This is a very simple design, but the paper piecing makes the flower really "pop", don't you agree?

Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral, Bella Toile, Upsy Daisy

Card: Whisper White, Real Red, Crumb Cake, Basic Black

DSP: Play Date Designer Series Paper

Ink: Crumb Cake stampin' pad, Jet Black Staz-On inkpad, Real Red and Basic Black markers

Other: Sponge dauber, Basic Black brads (from Neutrals assortment), Stamp-a-ma-jig, Mat Pack & paper-piercing tool (for placement of brads)

Next up is a Christmas card, using Jolly Holiday Designer Series Paper.  I stamped the Christmas tree (from the ever-versatile "Fun & Fast Notes" set) on Very Vanilla card.  I stamped it again on the Old Olive spotty paper, and cut around just the foliage before adhering it to my card.  I coloured the trunk, pot and star with markers.

Stamps: Fun & Fast Notes, Contempo Christmas, En Francais

Card: Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler

DSP: Jolly Holiday Designer Series Paper

Ink: Cherry Cobbler stampin' pad and marker, Jet Black Staz-On inkpad, Chocolate Chip marker, Daffodil Delight marker

Other: Wide Oval punch, Old Olive 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Scallop Edge punch, mini glue dot

Lastly, I'd like to share with you a birthday card I made with a young boy in mind.  Again I've used "Play Date" Designer Series Paper - this time, the striped "boyish" paper.  I love that each pack of Stampin' Up!'s Designer Series Paper contains such a variety of designs, that complement one another so well.  The nose of the rocket is paper-pieced with Real Red cardstock on which I had stamped a star.  Pretty cute little rocket, don't you think?

Stamps: Seeing Stars, Pun Fun, Party Hearty

Card: Chocolate Chip, Tempting Turquoise (textured), Real Red, Crumb Cake

DSP: Play Date Designer Series Paper

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Tempting Turquoise, Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, So Saffron and Real Red stampin' pads

Other: Top Note die, sponge daubers, Buttons #5 Sizzlits die, Scallop Circle punch, 3/4" circle punch, 5/16" silver brad, Crystal Effects

Next stop on today's blog hop is the blog of the super-creative Amy Buchanan.  This girl blows me away with her ideas!

Here's a list of all of us taking part today:

Judy May

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

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

Christine Blain
http://www.christineblain.blogspot.com/

Amy Buchanan
http://www.fashioninggreatimpressions.com/

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


Have fun checking out everyone's creations, and please leave us comments so we know you've been to 'visit'!

MY CRAFT ROOM

It's nearly 2 years since my 'dream' craft room was added on to our house, and I don't think I have ever shared photos on my blog.  I keep telling myself I'll photograph it when I have all the piles of 'stuff' put away .... but, that day never seems to come, so I've decided to show you my space "as is"!!  If I had a spare mattress to put in my craft room, I'd happily live in there!

This is the view of my room when you first enter:

When I first got my own room for crafting, I bought that cute little desk from Ikea (LOVE the trestle legs with shelves on them).  However, I soon discovered that if I wanted to stamp with more than one person, it wasn't quite going to do the job!  I've added the plastic moulded table (with the mismatched chairs - must rectify that someday, when I venture back to Ikea!) so that I can run classes here.  It works well with my regular groups. 

Here is my much-loved Expedit bookcase, from Ikea of course:

I store all my Stampin' Up! A4 cardstock in plastic tubs on top of some cupboards (at the end of the table).  Scraps are kept in a clear A5-sized pocket at the front of each hanging file.:

This is my new storage solution for Stampin' Up! ribbons.  Works at the moment, but not sure what I'll do once I have full rolls of the satin ribbon in every colour, LOL.

Here's how I store my stampin' pads and ink refills (bless ebay):

My Stampin' Up! stamps are all kept in a separate bookcase (clearly I didn't tidy this up before taking the photo!).  Other rubber stamps (that don't get shown much love these days) are kept in shallow drawers, sorted by category, in my built-in U-shaped unit.

One of my FAVOURITE features of my craft room is my punch storage; fabulous, cheap but sturdy, rails from Ikea.  Below my punches is my 'cutting station' - paper cutters and Big Shot, with my Scor-Pal in the corner.

I store my Nestabilities (that don't get much love these days ... but, as a diehard papercrafter, I do love buying and hoarding supplies!) inside one of the double doors to my floor-to-ceiling cupboard:

To complete today's "tour", I'll show you my desk, where I sometimes sit just for the pleasure of looking out into the garden!

This room brings me so much pleasure; I hope it has made you smile, too.

CURTAIN CALL #52 - second card

Well, y'know, once I get an idea in my head, I just don't do things by halves.  Now, it might've taken me 52 weeks to actually take part in a Curtain Call Colour Challenge, but now that I've dipped my toe in, I couldn't just leave it at one card!  The colour combination this week is just stunning.  I am excited, too, because after I complained of having sold off all my Taken With Teal cardstock and ink, I found a scrap of card.  So, that's what I have incorporated in my second card.

Here, again, is the delicious colour combo that Stacey has challenged us with:

...... and here is my second attempt.  I like this one a little better, on the white card base.  What do  you think?  This card uses a few non-Stampin' Up! items; just giving myself a little change today.

Stamps: Silhouette Sentiments, Hero Arts Silhouette Vase

Card: Whisper White, Tangerine Tango textured, Chocolate Chip, Taken With Teal (retired)

DSP: Newsprint Designer Series Paper, Haiku (retired) Designer Series Paper

Ink: Tangerine Tango and Chocolate Chip stampin' pads, Versamark inkpad

Other: Paper Daisies, 1/2 " circle punch, Build-A-Brad, Medium Jewelry Tag Punch, Chocolate Chip taffeta ribbon (retired), Nestabilities

CURTAIN CALL COLOUR CHALLENGE #52

I have decided to try, for the first time, a Curtain Call colour challenge.  I just LOVE colour challenges, and got to have a little bit of time in my craft room last night.  Take a look at the stunning colours to be incorporated in a papercraft project:

Stampin' Up! has never released the colour Bermuda Bay in Australia.  Next choice I think would be Taken With Teal - however, I was rather ruthless in selling off all my retiring inkpads and cardstock when our new catalogue came out recently!  So, poor third choice (which really doesn't do the trick, but I gave it a go anyway) was Tempting Turquoise.  Here is my card, photographed in full sunshine just because it's Spring and we LOVE seeing the sun!!  This is Melbourne after all - it snowed not too far away from us just 3 days ago!

Stamps: Bella Toile, Flower Fancy, Sincere Salutations

Card: Tangerine Tango, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise

Ink: Chocolate Chip stampin' pad and marker, Tangerine Tango stampin' pad, Tempting Turquoise marker

Other: Whisper White taffeta ribbon, retired Chocolate Chip ribbon, Scallop Trim border punch, Colour Spritzer tool, Basic Rhinestones, Beautiful Wings embosslits, Stamp-a-ma-jig, sponge dauber



Well, well, well .... another BLUE card!

Having made the sweeping statement that I don't often use blue in my creations, I must admit that I am totally smitten with Stampin' Up!'s Marina Mist (and Baja Breeze) .... guess I need to eat my words!

A few days ago I ran an embossing class, and we focussed on the new "Elements of Style" stamp set - because I love it, and, hey, as the teacher, I get to decide these things!  I particularly like the Marina Mist card we made, so thought I'd share it with you.  Simple, but sweet, I think (hope you like it too!).

Stamps: Elements of Style

Card: Marina Mist, Whisper White, Basic Black

Ink: Marina Mist stampin' pad, Versamark inkpad

Other: White embossing powder, Beautiful Wings embosslits, Basic Black taffeta ribbon, Mat Pack and paper-piercing tool, 1" circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, sponge dauber, Basic Pearls, Tombow multi liquid glue

This coming Saturday (23rd October), a few friends and I are having a "mini" blog hop, that is technique-based.  Even though there will be only 6 of us taking part, we are each showcasing a different technique to use in your paper crafting - hope you'll come back to visit, to get some ideas!

JUST ADD INK #39

October is a busy month, for raising awareness of issues that I have close personal experience with.  As well as being Breast Cancer Awareness month, this month is  Anxiety and Depression Awareness Month.


Over a million people in Australia alone live with depression. Over two million have an anxiety disorder. With the right treatment, most people recover.  I count myself amongst the lucky ones.

beyondblue Anxiety and Depression Awareness Month provides an opportunity for workplaces, community groups and individuals to take part in activities to raise awareness of anxiety and depression, and help reduce the associated stigma.  It's easy to help raise awareness. Sometimes the simplest acts have the greatest impact - just talking openly about anxiety and depression helps reduce the stigma.  You can find out more at beyondblue.org.au

This week's challenge over at Just Add Ink is "Just Add Blue ...".  I really LOVE colour challenges, but I have to say this one really was a challenge for me; I don't often use blue in my paper-crafting, and it is definitely not one of my "go to" colours.  Having said that, in my determination to add blue to the palette of colours I use in my card-making, I did recently buy Stampin' Up!'s new "Blueberry Crisp" Designer Series Paper.  I seriously love these papers!!  I like the 'denim-y' look of some of the papers (check out the little butterflies on my card). 
 
 

Do you like the wide 'flower' that the sentiment is matted on?  I was pretty pleased with myself, for making this!  It is made from three of the large flower, from the new Birds & Blooms Sizzlits die.  I placed the flowers behind the oval, and cut off the excess petals so the flowers sat nicely around the edge of the oval.  I used my fingernail to rough up the petals a little, and pinched them to curl upwards.  A few drops of Crystal Effects were added, to give the look of dew on the petals.

Here are the 'ingredients' for making this card:

Stamps: Sanded, Sincere Salutations

Card: Sahara Sand, Pacific Point, Very Vanilla

Ink: Sahara Sand, Not Quite Navy, Pacific Point stampin' pads

DSP: Blueberry Crisp Designer Series Paper

Other" Birds & Blooms sizzlits die, Wide Oval punch, Beautiful Wings embosslits, mat pack and paper piercing tool, Basic Pearls, sponge daubers, Very Vanilla 1/8" taffeta ribbon, Crystal Effects, Tombow multi-purpose liquid glue