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Friday, May 27, 2011

Inkspirations Challenge #71 - Two for One!!

This week's challenge at Inkspirations is a cool sketch:-


Two very special little boys we know are celebrating their first birthday soon with a jungle themed party.  I rotated the sketch 90 degrees & came up with these cards:-




I used a mix of DSP in bright colours for the panelling (using multiple DSPs is a bit of a challenge for me, so I figure I had a win!)  I created the embossed, die cut #1 for each card, using a technique of Penny Duncan's, shared with me by my wonderful friend Lynne.

Here is a step by step on the #1.

First I die cut a #1 using my Robo (olive green on right in photo).

Then I cut 4 identical #1s that were approximately 3/16" (2mm) smaller than the original #1.  I glued these four #1s together, to form a "chipboard" stack (emerald green on left in photo).


I made a big shot sandwich, consisting of MPP (fully open), 2 tan embossing mats, my cardstock number, my "chipboard" stack & then 2 clear plates.


How scratchy is my top plate???


Holding my breath, I cranked the whole lot through the Big Shot, & ended up with a beautifully embossed edge on the #1.


I coloured up the animals using So Saffron Ink, another darker yellow marker & a Pumpkin Pie marker.  I matted & mounted the circles onto the small scalloped circle & popped them up on dimensionals.  When I went to do the sentiments, I knew I wanted to use tags, but wanted to use a longer sentiment than those in the Tiny Tags set.  I had a "Happy Dance Discovery", when I realised the Word Window Punch & the Jewellery Tag Punch are the same size.  I stamped & punched the sentiment using the Word Window & then used the Jewellery Tag Punch to make my tag ends.  Yippee!!!

Here's how:-






The options are endless, if you want, you can cut a 3/8' wide strip as long as you need & then punch the ends, see the bottom tag:-


For more inspiration on how to use this great sketch, go check out the rest of the team at Inkspirations.  Hope you are inspired to play along with us this week:-








The Challenge Site

Brandi
Carrie
Helen
Ilina
Lee-Anne
Marisa
 

Card Components: (All SU except as noted)
Cardstock:  Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Riding Hood Red, Pacific Point, So Saffron, Old Olive
DSP:  A mix of retired papers
Stamps:  Fox & Friends, Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Inks:  Riding Hood Red, Pacific Point, So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie marker, Choc Chip marker
Other:   Scallop Circle, 1.3/8" Circle, Jewellery Tag Punch, Word Window Punch, Old Olive Brad, Dimensionals
Non SU:  1.1/2" Circle Punch, Yellow Marker, Yellow Brad

Friday, May 20, 2011

Inkspirations Challenge #70 - Selective Vintage

This week's challenge at Inkspirations has lovely soft colours.  Check these out:-


I decided to go a bit "vintage" with these colours:-


Here are some close ups:-



I only needed to have a small section of the card front embossed, so I got a little "selective".  First I worked out how big an area I wanted to emboss (adding a slight margin which would be covered by the surrounding panels).  I then created a substitute for my top Big Shot clear embossing plate - this was a stack of cardstock cut to the required size (I used 8 layers glued together, but your embossing machine may need more or less).

Here is the stack - it is the same thickness as my clear plate:-


I placed my open card blank inside the embossing folder (the lumpy, bumpy side of the folder is at the bottom).  I lined the top edge of the pattern in the folder up with the fold line on my card.  I then taped the cardstock "plate" in place, where I wanted the pattern to emboss.

I fed it into the Big Shot in the following recipe (bottom to top):-

MP Platform open at Tab 1
Clear Plate
Embossing Folder (lumpy side at bottom) & Cardstock
Cardstock "Plate"

This is what it looked like:- 


Voila!  Embossing in a selected area only:-


The inside got a little vintage too & the envelope got a sprinkling of buttons:-


To stamp the buttons, I punched a dimensional out, using the Itty Punch Pack Circle & attached it to a round Itty Bitty Button which I then adhered to a clear mounting block.  I used this as my "stamp".

For more inspiration on how to use this awesome colour mix, go check out the rest of the team at Inkspirations.  Hope you can play along with us this week:-






The Challenge Site

Brandi
Carrie
Helen
Ilina
Lee-Anne
Marisa
 

Card Components: (All SU except as noted)
Cardstock:  Sahara Sand, Blushing Bride, Very Vanilla, Perfect Plum
DSP:  Hostess 6x6 InColor Pad
Stamps:  Sew Suite, Tiny Tags, Priceless, A Word for You, Very Vintage Wheel
Inks: Sahara Sand, Blushing Bride, Perfect Plum
Other:  Jewellery Tag Punch, Itty Punch Pack, 3/4" Circle Punch, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Finial Press Embossing Folder, Top Note Die, Basic Pearls, Dimensionals, Itty Bitty Buttons, Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, Crystal Effects, Mat Pack & Piercing Tool, Sponges
Non SU:  Clear Glaze Pen (mannequin stand), Dimensional Tape (under measuring tape)

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Inkspirations Challenge #69 - More Quilting & Polkadots

Hello, it's time for another Inkspirations Challenge (actually it was time yesterday, but naughty Blogger wouldn't play nicely, lol!)

This week Keesh has a fantastic sketch for you to try:-


It's a nice easy one this week, so we hope to see lots of people playing along.

I had a blast last week making my "quilted" card, so I thought I would grab out the sewing machine, punches & polkadot stamps again & make this little number, which is actually a fridge magnet frame:-


Here are some close-ups of the details:-



I used the background stamp "Dot Dot Dot" to stamp the squares, which were punched with a 1.1/4" square.  The hearts & button backgrounds were stamped with the reverse polkadot from the Playful Pieces Hostess Set.  I created & die-cut the scalloped mat & frame surround with my Robo.  The hearts, sentiment, buttons & frame have been raised with dimensional adhesives.  If you'd like any further details, please drop me an email.  :)

The rest of the Team have some wonderful pieces to inspire you, here are the links:-
Inkspirations Challenges Site Makeesha Brandi Carrie Cindy Helen Ilina Kirsty Lee-Anne Marisa Renée

Friday, May 6, 2011

Inkspirations Challenge #68 - A Baby Card

Hello stampers, this week Keesh has a lovely pastel palette for you to work with:-


As soon as I saw these colours, I thought they would be perfect for a baby card for someone very special who is expecting!  :)  (Check out how fantastic a very pregnant Keesh looks here.)

Keesh has been a huge inspiration to many crafters & one of her signature techniques is stitching on cards.  I have done a bit of straight stitching before, but this time I rustled up the courage & went for the zigzag stitching & here is the result:-


I used the SU background stamp "Dot, Dot, Dot", which I stamped in the three colours & then punched out 1.1/4" squares which I stitched to the blue panel to form a "quilt".  This has been layered onto a pink mat & then onto a white scalloped square card which I die-cut on my Robo.

I fussy cut one of the elephants from the "Baby Steps" stamp, lifted it onto dimensionals & added a little heart to it's butt, as well as layering his/her dotty ear on a dimensional as well.


A tiny tag has been added to the organza ribbon to finish the card.  Hope Baby Byl likes his/her card!  :)

Make sure you check out all the gorgeous creations from the rest of the Team & we would love to have you play along:-
Inkspirations Challenges Site Makeesha Brandi Carrie Cindy Helen Ilina Kirsty Lee-Anne Marisa Renée