JAI #111 - Just Add Easter

AKA Massive Fail.

This week the challenge at JAI was to Just Add Easter.  Simply enough task, wouldn't you think.  Not so much, as you will see.  I knew that I wanted to make some sort of 3D item to hold easter eggs.  This was probably a mistake, but since I don't really have any easter stamps, I figured I could at least put 3D item to good use.  I have a few tutorials pinned, as I am BAD at 3D stuff, so I figured I'd give this one a whirl.  This in itself was a bit of a mission - it took me AGES to work out why my edges weren't lining up perfectly like they were in the tutorial.  Then when I filled it with eggs I found it was just a teensy bit to small and I really, really disliked the image I stamped on the clear top.  So I retreated back to the craft room tonight to start over.  Unfortunately I went off on a bit of a tanget and this is what I ended up with.

 And here's a photo of just one

Now, all in all, I don't mind them, but they're not very 'Easter', are they?  I mean, if I took the eggs out and had stamped a different sentiment on the back of the tag, they could have been for anything.    I guess it's because I changed my mind mid stream.  Originally the boxes were going to be purple with gold embossing, to co-ordinate with the Cadbury eggs I had on hand (school fundraiser).  But I didn't have any gold ribbon and I forgot to pick some up today at lunch.  And, despite the metres and metres of ribbon I do have, nothing I had was going to do the trick.  So I picked a different ribbon, which lead to picking a DSP instead of embossing, which lead to this. 

I also made the boxes slightly bigger than the 4x4" listed in the tutorial to fit a few more eggs in.  The bottoms are 5x5, scored 1-1/2" from each end.  I kept the top the same dimensions as the tutorial because I had already cut the the acetate and they still worked :) 

You may notice that my eggs are not Cadbury purple and gold - problem with making the boxes bigger is that you fit more eggs in. Turns out I didn't have enough Cadbury eggs to go round so I had to substitute - just another bump in the road.

Anyhoo, I intend to give these to Harry to give to his teacher and the ladies at after school care.  Hopefully they will enjoy them.

Well, I'm off - I normally schedule these posts but this one is actually live and it's late.

Have a good one and thanks for visiting.  Oh, and be sure to check out what the rest of the DT came up with.  Unlike me, they can actually Just Add Easter.

Supplies Used:  (All Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted)
Stamps:  Take Three - Spring (PTI), Vintage Something (the current SAB set - I will update with its proper name)
Cardstock:  Naturals Ivory, SAB DSP (sorry, can't remember its name either), Clear binder covers (Officeworks)
Ink:  Pool Party Marker, Lucky Limeade Ink and Marker
Accessories:  1/16" RD Hole Punch, Take Three die (PTI), Bigshot, Pool Party ruffled ribbon, Lucky Limeade organza (SAB), Sticky Strip

JAI #109 - Just Add Beach

Howdy All

This week at Just Add Ink, the challenge is to add a Beach Theme, i.e. fish, shells, sand etc.  I really struggled with this one as in my masses of stamps it seems that I do not have any fish or shell stamps to speak of.  I was wracking my brain, thinking that I would have to go with a beachy colour theme when I remembered that I have this surfer stamp.  So here's what I made.

Originally, I was going to make this as per the sketch for Retro Sketches #2 as unless I make my cards to double duty, I never get around to entering any of the challenge blogs that I follow.  This is NOT the sketch, so I guess it's back to the drawing board for that, lol!

The main panel is SU! watercolour paper.  I've stamped the surfer using Versamark and embossed with black embossing powder.  I then dropped a couple of drops of Pool Party reinker onto my SAMJ imaging sheet, spritzed it with water and then used a Tim Holtz Distress Ink applicator to apply the ink to the centre of the image.  I used the same technique with Island Indigo around the edges.  I embossed a frame around the image for a bit of added interest.  The cardbase has silver Smooch sprayed quite heavily on it, it kind of makes it look like sand if you squint a bit :)  I originally wanted to use my Vanilla Smooch but it didn't really show up at all, so I went over it with the silver (and silver probably isn't it's proper name either but you get what I mean).  The sentiment is from PTI and stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black.

Then in my usual fashion of wanting to add something to an already finished card, I wondered what effect I would get if I spritzed the main panel with some water.  Unfortunately my aim isn't all that good and the whole card got wet, luckily it was only water but it did give it some nice 'spots'

Well, that's it from me, thanks for visiting and be sure to check out what the rest of the Design Team have come up with.  I look forward to seeing your creations.

Supplies Used:  All Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted
Stamps:  Extreme Surfer (retired), Grunge Me (PTI)
Ink:  Versamark, Pool Party reinker, Island Indigo reinker, Memento Tuxedo Black
Cardstock:  Crumb Cake, Watercolour paper
Accessories:  Embossing Buddy, Black embossing powder, heat gun, MS Scoring Board, SAMJ image sheet, Smooch spritz, Tim Holtz Distress Ink applicator tool, dimensionals

JAI #107 - Just Add Nikki Spencer

Howdy

This week at Just Add Ink we have a super fun challenge and that is to Just Add Nikki Spencer.  I had a lot of fun doing this, although chosing just one of Nikki's gorgeous cards was a little difficult.

This is my take on Nikki's super cute card

Now I have to tell you, when I was cutting my cardstock and punching my owl bits & pieces, I delusionally thought that I would be able to make four of these cards in the 1-1/2 hrs I had to spend in my studio.  Delusional, I tell you!!!!!!  It took me the whole 1-1/2 hrs just to put THIS ONE together.  I seriously need to be banned from using any type of liquid glue.  We just do not get along!  After a getting glue all over everything, and I mean everything, I decided to stick this owlie together with Dotto, so I could place the pieces (and move them) where I needed to!  I also decided to use my gel pen to finish off the eyes, managing to smudge one in the process (arrgh).  Anywhoo, after all the mess, I'm quite happy with the way it turned out, and I have all the bits & pieces ready to make another 3 cards.  Not quite sure how much time I will need to complete those though, LOL!

The Design Team have got some fabulous interpretations of Nikki's gorgeous cards. be sure to check them out and I look forward to seeing what you choose to CASE

Thanks for visiting and have a fantastic weekend.

Supplies Used:  All Stampin' Up! unless noted otherwise
Stamps:  Bitty Baby Blessings (PTI)
Ink:  Versamark
Cardstock:  Bashful Blue, Soft Suede, Whisper White, Bashful Blue DSP, Red Glitter Paper
Accessories:  Owl Builder punch, Dotted Scalloped Ribbon Border punch, White Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, White Gel Pen, 1-3/4" RD punch, Corner Rounder (retired), Big Shot, Limitless Layers 1-3/4 RD Die Collection (PTI)

JAI #105 - Just Add Ink Colour Challenge

Howdy, this week at Just Add Ink, we have a colour challenge.  Such pretty colours, look

and would you believe it, I actually have 2, that's right, 2 cards this week.  The reason for 2 is because I couldn't get my original idea to work, so I tried something else.  I then went back to the original, worked out what I didn't like about it and change it up and love how they have both turned out.

So, here's the first (and my favourite)

For this card, I have used the pennant from Party This Way, stamped in Basic Grey - well, they were originally stamped in the coordinating ink colour but I decided that they needed to be done in a darker colour, so I went over them all.  Thank goodness for the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig :)  I then punched them out with the Petite Pennant punch and used my teeny, tiny hole punch to pop holes in the top and threaded some linen thread though to string them up.  The sentiment is from a set called Love Birds by Annabelle Stamps.  I bought this set just for this sentiment but the rest of the set is pretty nice too, *wink*  The frame  I hand drew, originally with my Basic Grey marker but it looked too light against the sentiment, which is also in Basic Grey, so I traced over it with my black marker.  Nerve wracking I tell you since I did it after I had put the whole card together.

This is my second card, and my original idea for this colour combo

I thought these colours were perfect for a teenage girl, so I used my PTI Faux Ribbon set and stamped alternating bands of colour.  I used some of the Big Shot adhesive to adhere the glitter paper to some cardboard that came with one of my new dies, just to give the numbers a little bit of extra strength.  I think it turned out pretty cute.

Well, that's all from me.  Be sure to check out what the rest of the Design Team have come up with too.

Have a great weekend and thanks for visiting

Supplies Used:  All Stampin Up! unless otherwise noted:
Card 1:
Stamps:  Party This Way, Love Birds (Annabelle Stamps)
Ink:  Basic Grey, Basic Black marker
Cardstock:  Whisper White, Wisteria Wonder, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Pool Party Designer Series Papers
Accessories:  Petite Pennant punch, 2 mm Circle Punch

Card 2:
Stamps:  Faux Ribbon (PaperTrey Ink)
Ink:  Wisteria Wonder, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Pool Party
Cardstock:  Whisper White
Accessories:  Big Shot, Numbers die (sorry will have to look up the proper name), Big Shot Adhesive sheets, Glitter paper, scrap cardstock.

JAI 103 - Valentine's Day Colour Combo

Hi, long time, no posting.   I have been suffering from a severe case of no motivation/no inspiration.  In an effort to overcome this, I decided to join  up with the Clean & Simple Cardmaking Class held at Online Card Classes, hosted by Kristina Werner, Jennifer McGuire & Julie Ebersole, which as given me plenty of inspiration and  helped me spend some extra cash on some 'much needed supplies'.  You all know how that goes, right!

Anywhoo, this brings me to the point of this post and that is Just Add Ink Challenge 103 - Add a project using Red and White for Valentine's Day!

And here's what I made, inspiration for which I got from one of the sketches given on Day 1 of the class.  This is actually the 4th version of the card, the first 3 I didn't like and I 'found' this verison when I was pulling version 3 apart.

It uses a retired Stampin' Up! set - A Happy Heart, which I have stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black ink.    I stamped the I {heart} You again in Real Red ink, covered the heart with a bit of 2-way Glue and covered it with Red glitter, then punched it out using my 1/2" RD punch.  The heart is popped up on a dimensional, as is the whole front panel.
 
Well, that is all from me.  Got quite a few photos to edit from my son's first day of school yesterday.  Make sure you check out the rest of the DT's beautiful creations.
 
Thanks for visiting
 
Supplies Used (All Stampin' Up! unless noted otherwise)
Stamps:  A Happy Heart (retired)
Paper:  Whisper White
Ink:  Real Red, Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories:  2-way Glue Pen, Red Glitter from Fine Galaxy set, 1/2" RD punch, dimensionals

JAI #100 - Just Add Crowns

Well, hello there.  Just Add Ink is celebrating its 100th Challenge this week and as a part of our celebrations we are having a Blog Hop.  If you're following along the hop, you should have arrived here from Delys' blog.

As it is our 100th Challenge, we decided that the theme would be Just Add Crowns, as a salute to the Queen and the birthday messages that she sends out to those turning 100, LOL!  We are also offering a prize, to be drawn randomly, selected from all of those that comment on ALL of the Design Team's posts.

Anyway, this is what I came up with.  Surprisingly, I found that I had quite a few crown images, not so surprising was that fact that I'd never used any of them.  I also decided to finally put to use my Simply Adorned pendant I got during our pre-order (and which is now available to purchase in the Summer Mini)

(I found it hard to photograph, i.e. I had nothing to hang it on, so cheated a little and put it back in the box)

I've used the Clearly for You set, with the main background stamped in Soft Suede, but stamped off once.  The crown is stamped in full strength Soft Suede and then I ran my Quickie Glue Pen over the top and added some gold glitter from the Fine Galaxy glitter set.  The No. 5 is stamped in Peach Parfait.

This is what the back looks like

Same colour scheme as the front, the sentiment is from the Tiny Tags set.  I really like how it turned out and it was quite a bit of fun to make and it's super easy to change it up so you can coordinate it with any outfit (which, of course, we all know is super important)

The next stop on the hop is the very talented Jodene's blog, just click on the button below:
  

 Don't forget to leave a comment on each of the Design Team's posts to be in the running for the prize on offer. 

Supplies Used:  All Stampin' Up! unless noted otherwise
Stamps:  Clearly for You, Tiny Tags
Ink:  Soft Suede, Peach Parfait
Cardstock:  Very Vanilla
Accessories:  Fine Galaxy glitter, Simply Adorned Chain, Simply Adorned Pendant, Quickie Glue Pen (Sakura)

JAI #97 - Just Add Inspiration

Good Morning

This week at Just Add Ink the challenge is to use this photo I found in a Vogue, or maybe it was Harper's Bazzar I was flicking through whilst I was the hairdressers as inspiration for your creation.  (It will also explain the average photo as it was taken with my phone.)

Here it is

Of course, I fell in love with it, because, after all, it is an advert for Tiffany & Co, but I thought these little purses in such vibrant colours were just to die for.  Santa, if you're reading this, I would not be sad to see the pink one, or the blue one under our Christmas tree *wink*

I thought the colours in the photo looked very much along the lines of Poppy Parade, Pool Party, Melon Mambo and Lucky Limeade, so they are the colours, along with a bit of silver that I have chosen to work with. 

And this is what I came up with

I cannot tell you how many versions of this I went through to eventually end up using this 'test' piece.  I tried it using my treasured textured Whisper White, with the Melon Mambo stamped off once, with it at full strength,with the Poppy Parade being brushed on using a marker, with the Poppy Parade being rock'n'rolled, with it being stamped on watercolour paper, with it being spritzed with water on watercolour paper, with 3 spritzes not being enough and 4 being too many - OMG it just went on & on & on.  In the end, I chose this one that was on plain Whisper White, with the Melon Mambo being stamped off once and the Poppy Parade being rock'n'rolled on.  The sentiment is from the same set and was stamped in Encore Silver and embossed with Silver embossing powder.  This should have taken 15 - 20 mins max, instead of the nearly 1-1/2 hours it actually did.

I hope you enjoy this inspiration photo and look forward to seeing your creations.  Be sure to check out what the rest of the Design Team have come up with too.  As usual, lots of beautiful creations to inspire you.

Thanks for visiting and have a wonderful weekend

Supplies Used:  Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted
Stamps:  Botanical Silhouettes (PTI Anniversary set)
Ink:  Melon Mambo, Poppy Parade, Lucky Limeade, Encore Silver (retired by SU! but probably still available elsewhere)
Cardstock:  Whisper White,. Pool Party
Accessories:  Silver embossing powder, Heat Tool, dimensionals