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