Just Add Ink Swap Hop

We recently had a card swap at Just Add Ink... If you haven't come across it before, a swap is where all participants make multiple copies of one card design and send them off to the rest of the group. What you end up with is a copy of everyone's cards, but you've only had to design one! So we thought we'd share them with you all on a Swap (Blog) Hop!

Here are a few details about what's happening... There are 14 stops on our Swap Hop (Just Add Ink and each of our 13 Design Team members), but the hop is set up in a loop so it doesn't matter where you start. All you need to do to follow along is click the Swap Hop button at the end of each post and you'll be taken to the next stop! The great part of that is that you can do the Swap Hop whenever you want.

I decided to do a masculine themed swap - having so many males in the family it is something that I have to do often, so I'm comfortable with it.  I pulled out some of my new sets from the IB&C - Extreme Elements and Extreme Surfboard.

Here it is

I chose my colours based on the ocean, Sahara Sand, Not Quite Navy, Marina Mist, Wild Wasabi and Early Espresso - OK, well maybe EE is not an 'ocean' colour but it went well with the others.  I stamped all the background elements first and the stamped the surfer in VersaMark and embossed with White Embossing Powder.  The sentiment is from Upsy Daisy - sometimes to you have to go searching through your 'girly' sets to find the right 'manly' sentiment - the font is the key - no swirly fonts for the men in my family, lol!

This is quite an easy card, the main panel is attached to EE card with dimensionals and the sentiment is also attached using dimensionals.  Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy.

I hope you and the DT girls liked my swap - it got the 'thumbs up' from my other half, so that's always good *smile*

Next stop on the Hop is Kim's.  Enjoy!




 
 

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Extreme Elements, Extreme Surfboard, Upsy Daisy

Ink:  Early Espresso, Not Quite Navy, Marina Mist, Wild Wasabi, VersaMark

Cardstock:  Sahara Sand, Early Espresso

Accessories:  Heat Gun, Embossing Buddy, White Embossing Powder, Dimensionals

JAI #46 - Just Add Critters

This week at Just Add Ink it was a fun, fun, fun challenge - Just Add Critters.  I had so many ideas running through my head it was hard to settle on just one.  In the end I decided to use my 'must have immediately' Owl punch that I had yet to use!  This is what I came up with:

Aren't they so cute - even thought they are kind of fiddly little suckers to put together.  And if you are not careful, that punch bites - I've still got a few little  marks on my hand where it bit me, not once but twice.  Ouch.

You may also notice something new - the lovely square lattice folder from the Summer Mini, which is available now.  Their bellies have been punched from the Ski Slope DSP, which is now retired, the sentiment is from Christmas Classics set and the ribbon is also retired.  I have also spritzed the embossed layer with my Shimmer Paint Mist.  (and yes, it did make the Real Red ink feather just smidge :( )

Make sure you check out what the rest of the Design Team have come up with, they are all super cute!!!

I'm off now to make a birthday card for one of Harry's little friends who is having his party tomorrow - hopefully the rain will hold off till late afternoon as we are heading off to the park.

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Christmas Classics

Ink:  Real Red

Paper:  Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Whisper White, Ski Slope DSP (retired)

Accessories:  Owl Punch, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Tombo Mono Multi Glue, Big Shot, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Baja Breeze Ribbon (retired), Dimensionals, Frost White Shimmer Paint (as mist)

Sunsets

Last week we had some really nice sunsets so I thought I'd get the camera out and see what I could capture.  I've been practising with my big camera - I had a bit of an epiphany with it the other day but in saying that, I've probably broken every photography rule known to man.  Anyway, here are some of my favourites.

I actually missed the best bit of the sunset getting the camera and changing up the lens, lol!  This is the top of one of the trees in our front yard.

Here's one with the sun setting through the tree.

Now this you may just be able to make out the container ship - the view from our balcony, way out in the distance is of Port Phillip Bay, here is a close up crop (I hope) of the ship

Now, I know it looks teeny tiny in this photo but we are about 30km from the beach so I think my camera's doing a pretty good job.

Well, that's it from me for tonight.  Have a good night/day

Melbourne Regionals Swap & M&T #1

Last weekend we had our Stampin' Up! Regional Event in Melbourne.  I managed to get a few swaps made up for the occasion.  This is what I made, based on something I saw in an upcoming US publication.

The Vanilla layer has been embossed using the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder and then spritzed with Frost White Shimmer Paint mist that I made up.  I've also used some of the Newsprint DSP, the sentiment is from Perfect Punches and has been embossed using Clear Embossing powder and punched out with the Scalloped Oval punch.  I tried a new technique - ruffled ribbon - which took a while to get the hang of, and used one of the tools from the Distressing Kit to 'dog ear' the top corner.

During Regionals, we get to hear all sort of great business tips and see some great project ideas.  We also get to do Make & Takes.  This year the M&T's were 'beefed' up a bit, which was really, really good but it also meant that I only got 1 out of the 4 finished :)   I decided to do this one first, because it used the Colour Spritzing Tool, which I don't have (yet).

Isn't it pretty?  I was really pleased with the way it turned out but the staff at the Convention Centre may have thought otherwise since I mangaged to get quite a bit of Soft Suede spritz all over their very nice white table cloths.  Ooops.  1 down, 3 to go!

Supplies Used:
Regional Swap
Stamps:  Perfect Punches
Ink:  Basic Black, Versamark
Cardstock:  Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Newsprint DSP
Accessories:  Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Big Shot, Scallop Oval punch, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Old Olive Satin ribbon, Distressing Kit, Frost White Shimmer Paint (as mist), Sticky Strip, Dimensionals


Make & Take #1
Stamps:  Every Moment
Ink:  Soft Suede, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Black StazOn, Soft Suede marker
Cardstock:  Soft Suede Textured, Naturals Ivory, Water Colour, Old Olive
Accessories:  Aquapainter, Scallop Edge punch, Old Olive 1/8" Taffeta ribbon, Daffodil Delight 3/8 Taffeta ribbon, Basic Pearl, Clip Assortment

JAI #44 - Colour Challenge

This weeks it's a colour challenge at Just Add Ink and these are the colours we working with

They are such earthy colours and totally remind me of the National Parks and forests that are so close to our house.  This is what I made

I've used a new set - Growing Green.  As soon as I saw the colours, I knew I wanted to use this set.  I've stamped the Maiden Hair Fern (at least that's what I think it is) in Wild Wasabi and clear embossed on watercolour paper.  Then I watercoloured the leaves using Wild Wasabi ink and my aquapainter.  To disguise my dodgy watercolouring, I've given the whole thing a spritz with Frost White Shimmer Paint Mist.  (If you enlarge the photo, you should be able to see the shimmer)

The sentiment, from Occasional Quotes (L3 Hostess) is also stamped on watercolour paper using Chocolate Chip ink.  I punched it out using my new Modern Label punch and added a couple more of those teeny tiny pearls on either side of the sentiment.  The DSP is River Rock from the Neutrals paper pack and the ribbon is retired.

To make the shimmer paint mist, I got a few little spray bottles from Hairhouse Warehouse, dropped in a bit of paint and then filled the bottle with Isocol Rubbing Alcohol.  My mist was quite a light mixture as I wanted a very subtle effect on my Regional swap.  I have now added a bit more paint to make it a little stronger.  Here's a photo to show you what it looks like.

Be sure to check out the rest of the Design Team's brilliant creations and I look forward to seeing you creations  using this colour combo!

Supplies Used:  All Stampin' Up!
Stamps:  Growing Green, Occasional Quotes
Ink:  Wild Wasabi , Versamark, Chocolate Chip
Cardstock:  Chocolate Chip, Watercolour Paper, River Rock DSP
Accessories:  Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Aquapainter, Corner Rounder (retired), Basic Pearls, Modern Label punch, Frost White Shimmer paint (as mist - shown above), Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon (retired), Dimensionals

JAI #43 - Just Add Christmas

Boy oh boy, am I cutting it fine with this one.  Silly thing is though, I had it made and photographed last week but just haven't gotten around to uploading.

Anyway, as you've probably guessed from the title, the challenge at Just Add Ink this week is Just Add Christmas.  Time to break out my new Christmas set that I purchased just the week before the current promotion was announced - nice one SU!  grrrr.

If you look really close, you can see that I have clear embossed the Merry Christmas sentiment from Contempo Christmas on the Very Vanilla piece.  The magical hanging ornament has been stamped in Cherry Cobbler and punched out using the new Ornament Punch.  I have also embellished the ornament with a heap (14) of those teeny, tiny little pearls.  I really like the way it turned out and it would be easy to mass produce minus the embossing (cause that took ages) and the pearls (you would use a lot)

Well, that's it from me tonight.  I will be back soon to show you the swap I made for the Melbourne Regionals that I attended last weekend as well as the 1 out of 4 Make & Takes that I got finished there. 

Supplies Used:  All Stampin' Up!
Stamps:  Contempo Christmas
Ink:  Versamark, Cherry Cobbler
Cardstock:  Very Vanilla, Jolly Holiday DSP
Accessories:  Ornament Punch, Embossing Buddy (which I cannot find, NOT COOL), Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Old Olive Satin Ribbon, Basic Pearls, Dimensionals, Corner Rounder (retired)

JAI #42 - Sketch Challenge

This week at JAI it's a sketch challenge

This is what I came up with

I've been dying to use Friends Never Fade since it was available for pre-order.  I stupidly didn't order it then, so I had to wait a whole month, whilst being tempted by a never ending procession of beautiful creations. I have it now, so it's all good!  The co ordinating Greenhouse Gala DSP is so pretty too!  The stamped image has been embossed with Clear EP so it's nice & shiny.  The only thing I want to change is the Chocolate Chip matting.  I wanted to use the Scallop Trim Border punch - I was hoping I could be clever enough to make corners with it like you can with the plain scallop border punch.  Obviously I'm not that clever so I ordered the Scallop Trim Corner punch yesterday.  The ribbon is retired Chocolate Chip Satin that was available a couple of minis ago.

Short & Sweet from me today.  Be sure to check out all the other fantastic creations the DT girls have come up with.  Look forward to seeing your creations!

Supplies Used: (All Stampin' Up!)

Stamps:  Friends Never Fade

Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Versamark

Cardstock:  Pear Pizzaz, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Greenhouse Gala DSP

Accessories:  Clear EP, Heat Gun, Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon

JAI #40 - Colour Challenge

Oh gosh, I am so behind.  I started this post on Friday and I'm only just getting back to finish it now *eeek*

This was my DT submission for JAI #40, which is a colour Challenge - Sahara Sand, Bashful Blue, Pear Pizazz and Blushing Bride.  For some reason these colours screamed 'baby' to me, so that's what I made, a baby card.

I've stamped the Sahara Sand base with the Nursery Letters wheel using VersaMark and then clear embossed. I have actually unmounted this wheel and remounted onto EziMount foam as it is no secret that I am 'wheel challenged'.  Makes it SO much easier to get a good impression first time around. There is a small border of Pear Pizazz that I have punched using the Scallop Trim border and the striped DSP is from the Level 1 Hostess In Color DSP Patterns pack.  The scallop circle is retired chipboard that I have covered using Bashful Blue craft ink.  The cute little deer is from Forest Friends, which I have finally inked up after having for close to a year :)  It is also the first time I have used the White Organza ribbon which is just so soft and pretty.  The sentiment is from Tiny Tags, stamped in Pear Pizazz and punched out using the Jewelry Tag punch.

Well, that's it from me tonight - can't believe it's Wednesday already.  Hope the rest of your week is great - I'm looking forward to a 4 day weekend - yay for Melbourne Cup!

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Forest Friends, Tiny Tags, Nursery Letters (retired)

Ink:  VersaMark, Blushing Bride, Pear Pizazz

Cardstock:  Sahara Sand, Whisper White, Pear Pizazz

Accessories:  Bashful Blue craft ink, Whisper White organza ribbon, Linen Thread, Scallop Trim Border punch, Jewelry Tag punch, Clear embossing powder, Heat Gun, Chipboard Scallop Circle (retired)

Inkspirations Colour Challenge #44 - Butterflies

I have always wanted to participate in one Makeesha's challenges, but have never got around to it.  Harry had a birthday party to go to today which meant that I had a card to make and while going through my Google reader last night I came across the latest Inkspiration Colour Challenge and I thought what perfect colours for a little girl's birthday card.

This is what I made

And this is the interior

And a close up of the butterflies

So what do you think of my photos???  I have just finished Jessica Sprague's Photo Editing: Good to Great Workflow, class.  Who knew there were SO many steps in editing your photos.  Well, actually, only the 1st one has all the steps.  I accidently missed a few in the 2nd and whilst I remembered all the steps in the 3rd, I forgot to add my brand new watermark that I got from Karen Giron.  I have go back over the class again so I can take better notes and then I will need to rewrite my notes for it all sinks in.  I'm excited by the results I have gotten so far.

Anyway back to the card - it's pretty simple.  I used my ruler and Stampin' Write Journaler to make the frame and tried to stamp the sentiment in the middle of the gap I left.  I say tried cause this was the 4th one I made and I was SO over it by this time.  The 1stt time I used a different marker and it smudged, the next 2 times the sentiment didn't come out properly.  I was using StazOn and I think it was drying in the time I was taking to make sure the stupid thing was straight and centred. 

On the inside I stamped the Happy Birthday sentiment (forget its name, sorry) in Pretty In Pink and then went over it with a Clear Spica pen to give it a bit of sparkle.  The butterflies were die cut using the Beautiful Wings Sizzlet and attached to some repurposed acetate using sticky strip and SNAIL.  To make the acetate spring, I cut a 2-1/2" circle of acetate using the Circle Scissor Plus and then cut into it, gradually moving towards the centre, kind of like peeling a apple with a peeler, a technique a saw ages ago on Lauren Meader's blog.

Well, that's all from me tonight, a rather intersting movie has started called Zodiac, starring Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jnr and Jake Gyllenhaal and Anthony Edwards (Dr Green from ER :))  Looks good, anyone else seen this??? 

Supplies Used: Stampin' Up! unless otherwise indicated.
Stamps:  Birthday Wish (maybe, it's retired anyway), Birthday Basics (PaperTrey Ink)
Cardstock:  Pretty In Pink, Marina Mist, Daffodil Delight, Stamper's Select White (PaperTrey Ink)\
Ink:  Pretty In Pink, Black StazOn
Accessories:  Beautiful Wings Sizzlet, Big Shot, Basic Rhinestones, Sticky Strip, SNAIL, Acetate.

JAI #38 - Just Add Bling & Pink

This week, the challenge at Just Add Ink was to add Bling and Pink in an effort to raise awareness on Breast Cancer. The Cancer Council’s Pink Ribbon Day, which will be held on Monday October 25 this year, aims to help raise awareness about breast cancer, as well as raise funds towards research, education and patient support programs.  This year alone around 12,000 Australian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, which is still a huge number.

So for this blinged up challenge, this is what I came up with:

It's a little hard to tell in this photo, but I have mixed Silver Embossing Powder with some Dazzling Diamonds, so it's really quite sparkly in real life - photos taken at 11.00 pm do not have the 'right light' so the don't show the real sparkle.  My mixing ratio was quite scientific - I used a scrap of cardstock to scoop up some silver ep and some dazzling diamonds and mixed on a acetate sheet till I got a colour I liked.  This one has a bit too much silver for my liking - the first one I made was better, however I dropped it and bent the front corner.  I tried to save it but ended up completely trashing it, so I had to start again.  I've also done one with pink glitter but couldn't decide what colour the sentiment should be, so I'll post that when I get around to finishing it.

Pretty simple, the embossed panel raised up on dimensionals, as is the sentiment, which is embossed using plain silver embossing powder.

Thanks for visiting and don't forget to check out rest of the Design Team's very gorgeous creations.

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Baroque, Congrats (both retired)

Cardstock:  Whisper White

Ink:  Versamark

Accessories:  Silver Embossing Powder, Dazzling Diamonds, Heat Gun, Embossing Buddy, Dimensionals, Rhinestones.

Catch Up!

Again I'm a bit behind with the whole blogging thing.  My baby, who is not such a baby anymore turned 4 last month.  I have absolutely no idea where those 4 years have gone, but here is the invitation I made for his party

It's a matchbox style, this is the inside

I masked the 3 back balloons and popped the Wasabi one up on a dimensional.  Also masked all the strings.  Hmmm, glad I only made 12 of these, lol!  The colour combo is Brilliant Blue, Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie and Wild Wasabi and came from some old DSP (East Coast Prep maybe??).  The blue circles on the front were made with the Circle Scissor, I used the 1-3/4" RD punch for the Wasabi ones.

This is the co-ordinating card I made:

This inside is decorated the same as the invitation but I took the photo after we gave the card to him so it has all the mushy stuff we wrote.  It also explains the dirty fingerprint on the front :)

Today was his little bestie's party, this is the card I made for him:

Colour combo for this is Real Red, Bashful Blue, Pear Pizzaz and Whisper White, taken from the rub ons, whose name escapes me at the moment.  The letters are diecut using Timeless Type Jnr sizzlet alphabet and covered with crystal effects.  They kind of look like stickers IRL, unfortunately we were in a rush and this is the best photo I have.  I also used my crop-o-dile for the very first time, whoo hoo!  This card is a DL sized card, 10 cm x 21 cm (finished) so I could fit his name in.

Well, that's it from me today.  Thanks for visiting.

Supplies Used:

Invitation:
Stamps:  Party This Way, Introducing (retired)
Ink:  Brilliant Blue (retired), Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie, Wild Wasabi, Black StazOn
Cardstock: Brilliant Blue (retired), Wild Wasabi, Whisper White, DSP (East Coast Prep? - Retired)
Accessories:  Circle Scissor Plus, 1-3/4" Punch, Staples, Dimensionals

4th Birthday Card:
Stamps:  Party This Way
Ink:  Brilliant Blue, Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie, Wild Wasabi
Cardstock:  Brilliant Blue, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, DSP (East Coast Prep)
Accessories:  Bigshot, Timeless Type Jnr Alphabet Sizzlet, Crystal Effects

Tristan's Card
Stamps:  Party This Way, It's Your Birthday (retired)
Ink:  Real Red,Bashful Blue, Pear Pizazz, Going Grey (retired)
Cardstock:  Real Red, Bashful Blue, Pear Pizazz, Whisper White
Accessories:  Bigshot, Timeless Type Jnr Alphabet Sizzlet, Crystal Effects, Crop-O-Dile, Linen Thread, 2 way Glue, Eyelets (non-SU!)

Royal Melbourne Show 2010

Today, Jarrod & I took Harry to the Royal Melbourne show.  369 photos  later, these are some of my favourites from the Freestyle Motocross and Sampson the Monster Truck.  I also managed to snap a couple of the ponies - lucky the boys were bored by the ponies, otherwise I think I would have filled my memory card.

This first on is from the Fancy Dress.  This was the winner.  I'm not sure if you can see it properly here or not but the pony is dressed as Donkey from Shrek.  Shrek is leading, Princess Fiona is riding and Puss in Boots, Fairy Godmother and Prince Charming are also there.

Other place getters included a beautiful black pony that was dressed like a poodle, Humpty Dumpty, Scooby Doo, Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz.  All very cute, and such a lot of hard work put in to them all.

Here are a couple of Sampson the Monster Truck

All of these are from the Freestyle Motocross

I like the middle rider - Look Mum,  no hands (or anything else for that matter, lol)

And I think this little poppet was competing in one of the Junior Rider Classes - this was the only shot I got of the ponies - the boys were bored

Well, that was our day at the show, Harry went of heaps of rides, the lines for showbags were so absolutely massive it was a complete joke, we're sunburt and tired but we had a  pretty good day considering it was super, super busy.

I'm off to watch my Top Chef which I recorded earlier, have a good night

JAI #36 - Sketch Challenge

This week it's a sketch challenge at Just Add Ink, and a really cute one at that!



This is what I came up with:

I've used a bit of new stuff and a bit of stuff that I've had for a while but not used - I know, it's a reoccuring theme, isn't it :).  New stuff is the Blushing Bride cardstock and Newsprint DSP.  Stuff that I've had for a while but not used before is the Very Vintage wheel and the All a Flutter stamp. 

I inked up the wheel using Versamark and wheeled onto the Blushing Bride base.  I stamped the butterflies using Black StazOn on Very Vanilla cardstock and then used my blender pen to add a little Blushing Bride ink to colour the wings.  The body was coloured using Soft Suede and I used dimenionals to add them to the card.  And that's it - easy peasy, lemon squeezy.  (Shhh, I may have also added a layer of Clear Spica glitter marker to the butterflies too to make them nice & sparkly)

Hope you all have a great weekend, it's the AFL Grand Final here in Melbourne - go Saints!

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  On Your Birthday, All A Flutter (al a carte), Very Vintage jumbo wheel,

Ink:  Versamark, Black StazOn, Blushing Bride, Soft Suede

Cardstock:  Blushing Bride, Newsprint DSP

Accessories:  Black Satin Ribbon, Scallop Border Punch, Corner Rounder

Digital Scrapbooking

I can't believe it.  I have completed, not one but two digital scrapbook pages today.  I have been a fan of Jessica Sprague for quite some time, but have been totally overwhelmed by the whole digital scrapbooking thing and have never got any further than looking admiringly at her blog. 

Fast forward to a couple of months ago, when I saw Amanda posting some super cool digital pages.  She told me she has taken a Jessica Sprague on-line class and encouraged me to have a go.  So I promptly purchased Jessica's class, Up & Running with Photoshop and today I sat down and worked through Lesson 1.  (I was home from work today as last night Harry was doing his best Linda Blair impersonation :))  What I'm going to show is actually a bonus page, I haven't got the 'right' photos to finish Lesson 1 properly.  Look at what I did

Honestly, I couldn't believe it was so easy.  I may actually get some of the hundreds of photos I have of this kid into some sort of album for others to see.  The fantastic photo was taken by Shaz Martello-Rowe, if she had a website, I'd link it because she has taken THE most fabulous photos of us.  If you're in Melbourne and need some family portraits done, let me know and I will forward you her details. 

OK, time for me to get into the 'studio' and finished off my JAI Design Team Swaps.  Thankfully that Early Espresso cardstock I was waiting on arrived in time.

Tomorrow is my DT day, hopefully you'll drop by to see my submission :)

Cheers

JAI #35 - Just Add Sympathy

This week at Just Add Ink the challenge was a sympathy card.  Sympathy card are never easy to make - this is what I came up with.

I have used a really old set that I rediscovered when sorting through my stamps the other week.  It's called Art of Life and it was a Hostess Set from the 06/07 catalogue.  It was a set that I just had to have, funny thing is, this is the first time I've used it.  I still love it though. 

The background image is inked up using Crumb Cake ink and stamped onto Naturals Ivory.  I didn't really like the way it looked so I scrunched it up, which made it look a bit more distressed.  I had trouble unscrunching it, so I ran it through my bigshot a couple of times, which flattened it out really well :)  The leaf image is stamped in Early Espresso (which is just divine), layered onto Crumb Cake and then onto an Early Espresso base.  The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Sentiments and punched out using the Word Window punch.  The ribbon is from PaperTrey Ink.

Thanks for stopping by.....

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Teeny Tiny Sentiments, Art of Life (retired)

Ink:  Crumb Cake, Early Espresso

Cardstock:  Naturals Ivory, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso

Accessories:  Word Window Punch, Dimensionals, Dark Chocolate Satin ribbon (PaperTrey Ink)

JAI #34 - Colour Challenge

It's a colour challenge at Just Add Ink this week. 

All colours that I love - by themselves.  Together - not so much.  For some reason, Certainly Celery took on an almost flurosecent tinge, making me check that I had actually used the correct colour. 

After spending hours and hours trying to decide on what to do for the card base this is what I finally decided upon

The main image is from Dreams du Jour, a set that I've had well over a year and never used until now.  I stamped it in Versamark and embossed with clear emobssing powder.  I coloured the flowers using a blender pen and pastels, a technique that I haven't used in ages.  Actually it's only the 2nd or 3rd time I've used my pastels since getting them in my starter kit, but I love how they have look on Crumb Cake (please can I just call it Kraft), so I think I'll have to keep that in mind for future use.

So that's it.  Have a great weekend, some of my new goodies have arrived so I'm looking forward to playing with them.  I'm also taking a Copic Colouring class on Saturday with Mandi which should be fun!  I look forward to seeing your creations (although I have been super slack over the last few weeks with my commenting, sorry about that)

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Dreams du Jour
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories:  Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Embossing Buddy, Blender Pen, Stampin' Pastels (why can't we call them chalks, pastels are like crayons), Scoring Blade, Dimensionals, Corner Rounder (retired but I'm not giving it up!)

JAI #32 - Just Add Fabric

This week's challenge at Just Add Ink was to use FABRIC.  As soon as I saw this challenge, I knew exactly what I was going to do, because I'd already given it a test run!

And this is what I made

It's a little coin purse that I have made using the Scallop Envelope Die.  And it is super easy to make.  I actually tried to make this a bit larger so I could add a zipper using this tutorial my friend Chris found.  Unfortunately, the smallest zip I could find was 5" and the opening is 4", so it was a no go this time.    Maybe with some more fiddling I can get the opening to 5" but I think it will throw the proportions out.

Here's a couple of other views:

From this view, it's a bit easier to see what I've done - cut 2 envlopes, one for the back, the other for the front of the purse.  The front envelope, I folded the scalloped edge to the inside and stitched close to the fold.  Then I cut the excess flap off, as close to the seam as possible.  Then it was just a matter of stitching them both together along the score lines, and then trimming as close to the seams as possible.

I actually used to do quite a bit of sewing and I'm embarrassed to admit that it took me quite some time to work out how to attach the press studs - it has been awhile *blush*.  The 'J' was cut using the Timeless Type Junior Alphabet sizzlet and attached using Crystal Effects.  (I have in the past tried to machine stitch the letters, the fact that I haven't here will tell you how that worked out, lol!)

 A word of warning:  Sizzlets are only recommended to be used with paper and cardstock.  However, they cut the blue felt with ease.  I have also tried them with the white that I used for the purse and they worked OK, but I had to trim them to get them out.  Other sizzlets I have didn't work at all with the white and some pink that I have in my stash.  Go figure!

Supplies Used:

From Stampin Up!:  Big Shot, Timeless Type Junior Alphabet, Scallop Envelope Die, Latte Button, Crystal Effects

Non SU!:  Sewing Machine, Cotton, Press Stud

JAI #31 - Colour Challenge

This week over at Just Add Ink it's a colour challenge

I really had no idea of what I was going to do for this challenge except that I knew what colours I had to use and that I wanted to use my new Vintage Wallpaper Embossing folder.  Before I sat down to make this card, I sorted through all my stamps, putting all my retiring ones aside and putting all those staying back in the cupboard.  Whilst I was doing that I came across my lovely Dasher, who has lived at my house for quite a while now but who has never been used.  With the time flying like it is, I thought I'd get a start on my Christmas cards and this is what I came up with.

Isn't he lovely?  I 've stamped him in Chocolate Chip and I've added some Diamond Stickles to his antlers and to the bottom on the sentiment.  I love how they have turned a goldy colour on the Kraft, or soon to be renamed Crumb Cake.  I've rubbed some Versamark over the embossed piece to highlight the embossing.  It came together pretty quickly and I think it will be pretty easy to mass produce.

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Dasher, Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Versamark

Cardstock:  Chocolate Chip, Kraft, Real Red

Accessories:  Real Red 5/8" Grosgrain, Vintage Wallpaper embossing Folder, Big Shot, dimensionals and Diamond Stickles (Ranger)

JAI #30 - Helphing Hudson - Just Add Wheels

This week the JAI team have joined in with the Helping Hudson Fundraiser team, and are doing a challenge in Hudson's honour - Just Add Wheels.  If you haven't read about Hudson, please visit the blog and check out his story and all the great challenges, prizes and tutorials available to purchase to help this cute little guy get his wheels.
This is my DT submission

The colour inspiration for this came from a pair of Harry's pjamas.  Light blub moment was using brads for the wheels, putting my previously unused Jumbo 5/16" brads to good use.  I used Crystal Effects on the windows to look make them look like glass and then another light bulb moment to have the sentiment look like it was coming from the smoke.  I made the template for the cloud using the large Oval Punch, 3/4" RD and 1/4" RD punches.  This card is for one of Harry's little friends who is celebrating his birthday on Saturday.

And yes, Choo Choo and Right On Track will be available for purchase again come September 1.

Whilst I like the end result, I wish I had have been as creative as the other DT girls, who have come up with the most awesome projects.  Be sure to check them out here.

Thanks for visiting and I look forward to checking out your creations.  Don't forget to Help Hudson too!

Have a good one!

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Choo Choo, Right on Track wheel, Party This Way

Ink:  Going Gray, Real Red, Pacific Point, Tempting Turquoise

Cardstock:  Real Red, Whisper White

Accessories:  Jumbo 5/16" Brads (Neutrals), Brads (Antique), Crystal Effects, Large Oval Punch, 3/4" RD Punch, 1/4" RD Punch, 2 mm Handheld Punch, Sponge, Dimensionals

JAI #28 - Just Add A Man Card

Well, here we are, almost at the end of another week!  This week's challenge at Just Add Ink is Just Add A Man Card along with a great colour combo thrown in for good measure!

The colour combo is

I must admit, I don't mind making masculine cards.  With as many males as there are in Jarrod's family, it's kind of been sink or swim, lol!  The most trouble I had with this challenge was reading & understanding it! 

Anywhoo, after realising that my original ideas had nothing to do with the challenge, I had to come up with something else.  Hoping to get some inspiration, I pulled out my catalogue and soon the floor was covered with DSP, chipboard and stamps, but I was coming up empty.  I prised myself up off the floor and as I sat down at my desk I noticed some offcuts left from cutting down some 12 x 12 Chocolate Chip for my adopted team's Deconvention.  Light bulb moment and this is what I ended up creating!

The stripes were created from the offcuts and adhered to the card using Mono Multi adhesive and my Quickie Glue Pen, which has a really, really fine tip - kind of like a pen.  The circles I made using my Circle Scissor Plus for the first time - yay me!  I used the Timeless Type Alphabet Junior sizzlets to die cut 'dad' out of Baja Breeze cardstock and covered them with a coating of Crystal Effects, so they're nice and shiny!  I used dimensionals to adhere the letters to the circles and to adhere the circles to the card.  Rounded the corners and I was done.  Father's Day cards for this year are done & dusted!

Thanks for visting and for all the lovely comments you have been leaving me!  I can't wait to see what you all come up with!

Supplies Used:  All Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted:

Stamps:  None!

Ink:  None!

Cardstock:  Kraft, Baha Breeze, Chocolate Chip

Accessories:  Circle Scissor Plus, Big Shot, Timeless Type Alphabet Junior, Crystal Effects, Corner Rounder, Dimensionals, Mono Multi Adhesive, Quickie Glue Pen - Sakura