Pages

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

The Paper Players #164

Goodness me, look how long it's been since I've been here! It's been over a month since I have even made a card, & two months since I posted anything, so I thought I would play along with The Paper Players this week to rectify that situation.  :)

I need a big batch of thank you cards, so this is the first of many:-


I have used some of my favourite tools - the Big Shot, embossing folders & dies, as well as some favourite cardstock colours - Crumb Cake, Coastal Cabana, White Shimmer & Silver Glitter to make this card. You can't really pick  it from the photo (night-time photography), but I inked my woodgrain embossing folder with Illuminate ink & then Craft White ink to soften the woodgrain texture & get a bit of a shimmery "white wash" look happening.

I've used all three of the Expressions Thinlits Dies to create the script sentiment & the "so much" comes from the Simply Sketched Hostess set.

Here is Sandy's awesome sketch:-


& you can find the challenge, as well as the fabulous array of DT samples here.

Card Components (All SU)
Crumb Cake, Coastal Cabana, White Shimmer & Silver Glitter cardstock,
Versamark, Illuminate & Craft White Ink, White embossing powder, Circle Framelit & Expressions Thinlit Dies, Woodgrain & Perfect Polka Dots embossing folders, Coastal Cabana Ruffled Trim & Rhinestones

Monday, July 22, 2013

Just Add Ink #174 - Chalk & Clay

Another fabulous challenge from the Just Add Ink Team this week had me keen to join along!  With gorgeous colours & new toys to play with, I created these little boxes:-


I used a chocolate mould to create the seahorse & cone shell from Simply Pressed Clay. They were coloured with an aquapainter & ink, then spritzed with shimmer spray.

Both the box lids & bases were stamped with images from the Going Grunge set & the sentiment panels came from the Chalk Talk set.



The best part (other than being able to give them to the two lovely ladies that I had lunch with today :) ), was that these sweet little boxes of Guylian chockies fitted perfectly inside. (I could say it was cleverly planned that way, but it was just a very happy coincidence!)

(oops, a fuzzy phone camera photo, but you get the idea!)  :)

You can play along in the Challenge & check out the wonderful inspiration from the JAI Team here:-


Project Components (all SU)
Baked Brown Sugar, Very Vanilla & Coastal Cabana cardstock, Baked Brown Sugar 
& Coastal Cabana inkpads, Chalk Talk stamp set & framelits, Going Grunge stamp set, 
Simply Pressed Clay, Pearls & dimensionals

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Just Add Ink #173 - Watercoloured Simply Sketched

This week the lovely ladies at JAI have a fantastic challenge of "Just Add Water".  Seeing as watercolouring is one of my all time, favourite techniques, I have created this card using my aquapainter & some gorgeous goodies from the new SU catty:-


The ruffled stretch trim is just divine ♥, so I decided I needed a double row! The cantaloupe cardstock has been spritzed with shimmer spray & the blooms have been washed with shimmer paint.  :)

The challenge is just about to end, but you can check out the fabulous DT samples & the gallery here.

Card Components (All SU except as noted)
Crisp Cantaloupe & Watercolour cardstock, Staz On & Crisp Cantaloupe Inkpads, Old Olive Marker, Blender Pen, Aquapainter, Simply Sketched Stamp Set, Crisp Cantaloupe Ruffled Stretch Trim, White Baker's Twine, Fancy Fan Embossing Folder, Frost White Shimmer Paint (retired), Corner Rounder Punch, Chalk Talk Framelit Dies, Vintage Faceted Button
Non SU - Rubbing Alcohol

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Minion Fun!!!! @ The Paper Players & Just Add Ink

Well, it has been a very long time between posts here, so I thought I would combine two of my favourite challenges this week to create a card for our DD (who loves all things animated).  She has just celebrated her birthday, as well as obtaining a mentoring position in her chosen field, so she has lots to celebrate!

I have used The Paper Players challenge for the outside of the card:-



& Just Add Ink's inspiration challenge for the inside (as well as those gorgeous colours):-



& here is a close up of those little minions :)


I used the the Pop N Cuts Base & Dress Form Dies to create the card & various punches, dies, fussy cutting & crystal effects to create the minions.  My favourite component is their hair - which I created using some bristles from an old paintbrush!

I was inspired to make these mini minions after seeing Helen's awesome big minion here.  :)

Thank you to the Design Teams at Just Add Ink & The Paper Players for the fantastic challenges!


Card Components
(All SU except as noted)
Pop N Cuts Base Card Die, Dress Form Pop N Cuts Die,  Pennant Punch, 1.1/4" Circle Punch, Mini Oval Punch, Itty Bitty Punch, Owl Builder Punch, Scallop Border Punch, Word Window Punch, retired Triple Heart Punch, Crystal Effects, Letter It Stamps, Crisp Cantaloupe, Calypso Coral, Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry, Pacific Point & Coastal Cabana Inks, White Shimmer, Brushed Silver, Crumb Cake, Basic Black, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight & Pacific Point Cardstock, Dimensionals, Basic Black Marker, Quatrefancy Specialty DSP, Dimensionals, Rhinestones,
Non SU 1.1/8" Circle Punch & Paintbrush Bristles


Wednesday, May 22, 2013

The Paper Players Challenge #146 - Masculine CAS

This week at The Paper Players, the theme is Masculine Clean & Simple.

Well, I have taken that quite literally & made my card really "clean" by using bleach as the colouring medium, lol:-


I punched some 1/2", 3/4" & 1" cardstock circles & temporarily adhered them to the card panel.  I mixed up a 50:50 solution of bleach & water in a spray bottle & misted the panel.  I removed the circle masks, gave the panel a blast from the heat gun & this is the outcome.

A popped up banner sentiment & some white baker's twine made it a quick & simple creation.  (A tip re the twine - you can't see it in the photo, but I used my scoring tool to create four vertical lines to lay the baker's twine in.  This keeps it nice & straight!)

You can check out the fabulous projects from The Paper's Player Design Team, peruse the Gallery & play along here:-

(Click on the graphic)

Card Components
All SU except for the bleach solution.
Whisper White & Bravo Burgundy cardstock, Itty Bitty Banners stamp set & dies, 
1/2", 3/4" & 1" Circle Punches, White Baker's Twine

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Mother's Day Box - Sent With Love ♥


I made this project for my Mum for Mother's Day.  I just had to make a little box, tied up with string (aka Calypso Coral baker's twine), using the stamps & papers from the Sent with Love products from SU.  It is 3" x 3" x 3":-


It opens like this & holds a gift card holder & a mini photo album:-


Here is the mini album:-



& here is the gift card holder:-



The Paper Players are hosting a Mother's Day challenge this week so I have joined in the fun!  You can find the fabulous DT inspiration projects & challenge here (click on the graphic):-


Project Components
All Stampin' Up!


Oval Framelits Card


I love SU's range of framelits & have used the oval & Secret Garden ones to make this card for my Mum for Mother's Day:-


When you take off the vellum band, the card opens out like this:-


This week the awesome team at The Paper Players have a Mother's Day theme, so I am adding it to their gallery.  You can find the DT inspiration projects & challenge here (click on the graphic):-


Card Components
All Stampin' Up!



Thursday, April 18, 2013

In case you were wondering....

....I haven't totally disappeared, I have just been having a little break since Still Addinktive wound up recently.

I was inspired by the colours at The Paper Players this week, to create this card.  The only trouble is the challenge required Baja Breeze, not Pool Party, lol!

Here is the card anyway:-


I wanted a nice clean layout with minimum fuss.  I stacked 3 layers of cardstock to create the die-cut letters & then coated them with Crystal Effects to get the glossy finish.  I absolutely love this DSP which is from the Sent With Love ensemble.

Card Components
All Stampin' Up!
Crumb Cake, Island Indigo, Pool Party & Rich Razzleberry cardstock, Whisper White textured cardstock, Sent With Love DSP, Typeset Alphabet Bigz Die, Itty Bitty Buttons, Twine

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

still addINKtive - Spot That Stamp Set - Easter

This week at still addINKtive, we are celebrating Easter by incorporating any current Easter set in our projects.  You can link up any old or new project that features a current Easter set.

Unfortunately, I don't own any Easter sets, so I found an appropriate sentiment in Wacky Wishes & a sweet little bunny in Little Additions.  I teamed them up with some fun, bright colours & some strawberry (primrose petals) jellybeans to create these:-


I used my oval framelit dies (again, ♥ them!) to create the card:-


I had originally planned to dry emboss the turquoise panel to recreate the patterned surface of an easter egg, but I was concentrating so hard on layering the ribbon (a la the gorgeous Christine Blain), that I totally forgot to run it through the Big Shot before adhering it to the base card.  Oh well, lol!

The little beanie bags have toppers made from the Hearts a Flutter banner die, teamed with concentric & scallop circle punches.  I even added one to the inside of the card:-


We hope you can play along with us at still addINKtive this week.  You can find the challenge, as well as the beautiful inspiration pieces from the DT here.

Recently I received a Liebster Award from the lovely Suzanne Barnard (thanks Suzie).  



Now I would like to pass this on to my fellow SA Design Team members, to say thank you for all your wonderful inspiration, it's been great working alongside you these past three months:-


Card Components (all SU)
All Stampin' Up! except for a circle punch.  :)


Wednesday, March 20, 2013

still addINKtive Challenge #7 - Colour & Sketch with a fancy fold!

Hithere, sorry I am a bit late with my post this week!

Bron & Kathy have a fabulous sketch/colour combo that you can play along with at still addINKtive this week.  You can use the sketch OR the colours OR both together!

I have used both to create this card:-


Here are the challenge components (I squished my circle into an oval shape, lol):-


I have had this concept floating around in my head for a while, after playing around with some scrap paper to create the fold.  The crumb cake base is cut from a single piece of paper.  Here it is without the belly band:-


& here is what it looks like front on:-


I've included lots of piercing & sponging!  The secret garden stamps & dies made the flowers quick & easy.

We hope you can play along with the Team at still addINKtive this week.  You can find the challenge & their beautiful samples here.

Card Components
All Stampin' Up!  
Please leave me a comment if you would like any further details.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

STSS - Secret Garden

This week at still addINKtive we would love you to share any projects you have made (new or old) using Secret Garden or Hearts A Flutter.

I thought either of these sets would lend themselves nicely to the inlaid embossing technique - seeing as the matching dies take out all the work of the fussy cutting!  I have made a bright, floral number with Secret Garden:-


I even blinged up the envelope & a little purse to match:-


We hope you can join us this week.  You can find all the details as well some beautiful inspiration pieces from the rest of the Design Team here.

Project Components
Whisper White & Basic Black cardstock, Basic Black, Old Olive, Melon Mambo & Pumpkin Pie Inks, Secret Garden stamp set & dies, Sweet Essentials stamp set, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Lattice Embossing Folder, Petite Purse Die, Basic Jewels - Rhinestones, Silver Mini Brads, Glue Dot & Dimensional

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

still addINKtive Challenge #6 - Colour & Sketch

Back to a colour & sketch challenge at still addINKtive this week & here is my project (I think this sentiment is beautiful):-


& here are the sketch & colours:-


We hope you can join us at still addINKtive this week, by using the sketch OR the colours OR both together!  You will find the challenge & the fantastic inspiration pieces from the rest of the DT here.

Card Components (All SU)
Pool Party, Cherry Cobbler, Island Indigo & Natural White Cardstock, Pool Party, Cherry Cobbler & Island Indigo Inks, Clockworks & Love & Sympathy Stamp Sets, SAB Ribbon, Mini Brads, Needlepoint Border & Argyle Embossing Folders

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

still addINKtive - STSS - By The Tide



Well, another week has flown by, so it's time for Spot That Stamp Set at still addINKtive.  This week we are highlighting the sets By the Seashore & By the Tide.

I have used Jaydee's great sketch at the Paper Players to create this card:-


I have used the fish & lace coral from By the Tide.  I inked my stamp with Versamark & then Island Indigo ink, which enabled me to clear emboss the outline of the fish.  I watercoloured the image & then added a layer of wash using Frost White Shimmer paint.  He has a lovely shiny but imperfect finish, just like the real thing!  :)  He's been fussy cut & popped up on dimensionals.  The coral was clear embossed on the gold metallic background & then highlighted with some white sponging:-


The net panel was created by stamping the woodgrain background image twice (at right angles) onto vellum & then white embossing.  I sponged around the edges with white ink as well.

A simple bradded sentiment panel finishes off the card.

We hope you can join us at still addINKtive this week, by showcasing up to three projects you have made with either of these sets.  You can find the awesome creations that the SA Design Team came up with here.

Here is the Paper Players sketch & you can find the challenge, including the Design Team projects here:-





Card Components (All SU)
Island Indigo, Gold Metallic, River Rock, Whisper White & Vellum Cardstock, By the Tide & Woodgrain Stamp Sets, (Sentiment = retired), Versamark, Craft White, Island Indigo & Marina Mist Inks, White Shimmer Paint, White Gel Pen, White & Clear Embossing Powders, Word Window Punch, Gold Brads

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

still addINKtive Challenge #5 - Colour & Sketch

This week at still addINKtive, Bron & Kathy have provided a cool sketch & colours to play with.  You can use either the sketch or the colours for your project, or you can combine both together.  I rotated the sketch 90 degrees & came up with this:-


Here are the challenge components:-


I chose to make a really clean interpretation of the sketch.  I was inspired by the lovely Christine Blain & her pretty card to use one of the flowers from the Secret Garden stamp set to create the feature panel.  I randomly stamped the same image in both Wisteria & Raspberry.  I then punched out a circle through both layers for the sentiment to show through.  A simple raspberry ribbon finishes it all off.

The rest of the still addINKtive Team have some wonderful creations to inspire you.  We hope you can join us this week.  :)

Card Components (SU)
Whisper White & Basic Gray Cardstock, Wisteria Wonder & Raspberry Ripple Inkpads,  Secret Garden Stamp Set, Sentiment (retired), 1.3/8" Circle Punch, Raspberry Ripple Ribbon
Non SU
1.1/2" Circle Punch, Circle Die

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

STILL ADDINKTIVE - STSS - Vintage Verses Mini Flowerpot

This week at still addINKtive it is Part II of Spot That Stamp Set highlighting the Sale-a-bration sets - Vintage Verses, Madison Avenue & Feeling Sentimental.  I have used Vintage Verses:-


You may have noticed that Kathy & Lisa have used the same sentiment, but mine looks a little different.  That's because I used the digital version of these stamps, so I was able to remove the border & resize the imagery to a size that suited both my card & ticket tag perfectly!  Gotta love that.  :)

I thought I would make a new version of my flowerpot card, filled with geraniums.  The blooms have been die & fussy cut, & then each layer has been separated by dimensionals.  There is a magnet on the back of the pot so you can remove it from the card & place it on a metal surface.



You can also pull a hidden sentiment section out of the pot:-


If you would like to try this design yourself, you can find the link to my tute in this post.

We hope you can join in the fun at still addINKtive this week & show off your SAB creations!


Card Components (All SU)
Calypso Coral & Sahara Sand cardstock, Festival of Prints DSP stack (retired), Versamark & Illuminate Glimmer Ink, Sahara Sand marker & Colour Spritzer Tool (flowerpot), White Embossing Powder, Secret Garden stamps & dies, Papillon Potpourri stamps, Petal Cone die (flowerpot), Square punch (banner ends), Ticket punch, Butterfly punch, Hole punch, Delicate Designs border embossing folder, MDS SAB disk - Vintage Verses/Patterned Occasions (heart), SAB Indigo ribbon, Pearls & lots of dimensionals  :)
Non SU
Magnets

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

still addINKtive Challenges #4 - Colours & Sketch

This week at still addINKtive we are back to our normal Colour & Sketch Challenge - you can use either the colours or the sketch as the basis for your project, or you can combine them both, which is what I have done:-


 Here is the sketch, as well as the gorgeous colour palette:-


Rather than cut a fancy mat to go under the rectangular panel, I decided to make a "stamped" mat of flowers.  The best part of this decision was that I used digital stamping, so I didn't have to mask up all 33 of those blooms!  

Using MDS content in Microsoft Publisher, I was able to resize the flowers from the Bloomin' Marvelous SAB stamp set, so that my bashful blue flowers were the largest, then slightly smaller crumb cake flowers &, finally, small espresso blooms.  To add a touch of interest to each flower, I used a versamark marker to add iridescent ice embossing powder to the centres.  You can almost catch a glimpse of it here (look at the flowers in the top left):-


I used the debossed side of the vanilla panel, as it was much softer & more in keeping with the delicate look I was after.  A double seam binding bow & a raised sentiment panel finish the card.  Plus, I printed a trio of flowers for both the envelope & the insert:-


We hope you can join in the fun at still addINKtive this week, & being the first challenge of the month, there will be a prize up for grabs!  :)

You can check out the challenge & the the amazing DT samples HERE or you can find all the links to the DT blogs HERE.

Card Components
Very Vanilla, Bashful Blue cardstock, Petite Pairs stamp set, MDS One Big SAB disk (digital stamp images), Large Oval & Scallop Oval punches, Fan embossing folder, Vanilla seam binding, Versamark ink, Iridescent Ice & Early Espresso embossing powder