JAI #52 - Sketch Challenge

This week at Just Add Ink it's Sketch Challenge Time.  And yowzers, I found it super tough.

Usually I have some idea of how I want things to work out, but with this sketch I was totally stumped.  In the end, I picked up  my colour coach for some inspiration.  The combo of Pure Poppy, Not Quite Navy and Sahara Sand  had caught my eye before, however it's a bit masculine and I thought this sketch was a bit feminine.  So that was the challenge I set myself, to see if I could make a masculine card from a feminine sketch as I had no other ideas!
Here's what I made:

I used my Top Note die to cut the wavy line, I used the Square Lattice embossing folder (from the Summer Mini) on the Not Quite Navy layer and I clear embossed the sentiment and the dots.  A couple of slivers of Sahara Sand cardstock and I was done.  The Not Quite Navy layer is popped up on dimensionals to give it a bit of lift.

So what do you think?? Does it work????  I hope so.

Be sure to check out what the other Design Team have come up with!  Thanks for visiting :)

Supplies Used:  All Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Stamps:  Apple Blossoms, Birthday Basics (PaperTrey Ink)

Cardstock:  Pure Poppy, Not Quite Navy, Sahara Sand and Sahara Sand DSP (from the Neutrals stack)

Ink:  Versamark

Accessories:  Heat Gun, Clear Embosssing Powder, Embossing Buddy, SAMJ, Big Shot, Top Note Die, Square Lattice Embossing folder, Dimensionals, Corner Rounder (retired), Tombo Mono Multi, Quickie Glue Pen (Sakura)

JAI # 51 - Just Add Monochrome

OMG, where is my head at this week????  Can't believe I nearly forgot to post this.

Anyway, this week the challenge at Just Add Ink is Just Add Monochrome.   This is what I made

I must admit, I have made this card before, but I've never gotten around to sharing here.  So when my original idea didn't work out the way it did in my head, I resorted to what I knew would work!

I have stamped the swirl from Baroque Motifs 3 times with Versamark and then embossed with some embossing powder that I have had in my stash for ever.  I don't have a lot of it left so I am quite stingy when I use it as it looks so pretty on Very Vanilla.  The sentiment is from an old SAB set from a couple of years ago.  And yes, it is on crooked. *aaargh* - didn't notice until it was way, way too late.

Normally I make this as single layer card but this time I thought I'd  mix it up a bit and make an additional layer.  The card base is 5" SQ and the layer is a 1/4" smaller (I think).  Both the layer and the senitment are popped up on dimensionals.

Be sure to check out what the rest of the design team have done, all gorgeous as usual.

Well, that's it from me for tonight.  Thanks for visiting :)

Supplies Used:  All Stampin' Up! except where noted
Stamps:  Baroque Motifs, Congrats
Ink:  Versamark
Cardstock:  Very Vanilla
Accessories:  Heat Gun, Embossing Buddy, Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, Dimensionals, Pearl White Embossing Powder (Inky Pinky)

JAI #50 - Colour Combo

This week at JAI it's a colour challenge

When faced with a colour challenge, I like to gather all my colours together to see what they look like together.  These were kind of floral colours to me, so I started pulling out stamp sets I thought would look good, when I came across Cheep Talk.  Bingo, just what I was looking for and this is what I made

I took a bit of inspiration from Felicity's Christmas card with the ribbon treatment, and I was pleased to use another stamp set for the first time :).  It's a bit hard to tell but the little bird is popped up on a dimensional as is the sentiment.

Well, that's it from me today.  Finally, it appears we are getting some warm weather, typical when I have to return to work on Monday :(  Hope you have a wonderful day and weekend.

Supplies Used:  All Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted
Stamps:  Cheep Talk, Hello Again
Ink:  So Saffron, Pear Pizzazz, Riding Hood Red
Cardstock:  Elegant Eggplant, Very Vanilla, So Saffron
Accessories:  Riding Hood Red Striped Ribbon (retired), Linen Thread, Bigshot, Cloud Die and purple button (Papertrey Ink)

Aussie Cards for Sale

Today, when I was going through my Google Reader I came across a post on Karen's blog about Aussie Cards for Sale, which is an Australian website specialising in Handmade Cards.  They are looking for new designers to sell their cards on their website, and since I make way more cards than I sell (or send out *blush*), I thought I throw my hat into the ring, in the hope I may get chosen.

We have to showcase at least 4 on our blog for consideration, so I'm adding just a few of my favourites

Thanks for the heads up Karen, hopefully we'll both get selected :)

Quick Thank Yous

Well, that ended up being a longer than expected break.  Hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Year.

Unfortunately the New Year didn't start as I would have liked and I've made up a few thank you cards for those who helped me out on Sunday morning.

These first two will be for the lovely nurse at Mitcham  Private (whose name I didn't get) and for the radiographer who copped a call at 9.00 am on a Sunday asking her to come in. 

Same design, both use papers from on old Basic Grey 6x6" pad (Sultry maybe).  Sentiment is from SU!, stamped in Cherry Cobbler Craft ink and embossed with Clear EP and punched out using the 1-3/4" punch.  This has been added to Papertrey Ink's Mat Stack 2, cut from Cherry Cobbler cardstock and embellished with a couple of Kaiser Pearls.

This last one is for my Doctor.  I'm pretty sure I woke him up when I rang his message service at 7.00 am.  I'm very thankful he was able to see me as early as he did.

Again, same design as before, paper from a different Basic Grey 6x6" pad (Mellow maybe?).  The sentiment has been stamped in Papertrey's Orange Burst pigment ink as I couldn't get a good impression with  my SU! Pumpkin Pie craft cube - it seems to be a bit dry.  It looked a bit 'clean' so I 'dirtied' it up to match the paper using SU!'s distressing kit - Tea Stain and Charcoal inks.  The mat was cut from Kiwi Kiss cardstock using Papertrey's Limitless Layers and has been distressing with the Tea Stain ink.  It's a little different but I like how it's turned out.

Thanks for visiting.  I'll be back later in the week with my JAI DT submission.

Supplies - SU! unless specified otherwise

Card 1 & 2
Stamps:  Elegant Thank You
Cardstock:  Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, DSP - Basic Grey
Ink:  Cherry Cobbler Craft
Accessories:  1-3/4" RD Punch, Big Shot, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Mat Stack 2 die - Papertrey Ink, Pearls - Kaiser

Card 3
Stamps: Elegant Thank You
Cardstock: Not Quite Navy, Kiwi Kiss (retired), Very Vanilla, DSP - Basic Grey
Ink: Orange Burst - Papertrey Ink
Accessories: 1-3/4" RD Punch, Big Shot, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Distressing Kit - Tea Stain & Charcoal ink, Limitless Layers - Papertrey Ink

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)