Just Add Ink | #283

I'm playing along with Just Add Ink again as I needed a birthday card and I spotted their sketch to inspire me.

I started with some Tim Holtz Watercolour Paper and a Heidi Swapp stencil through which I applied some Texture Paste in a random fashion.  Once that had dried I used various pink and mauve shades of Distress Inks to watercolour around the dried paste.

I then took a piece of white cardstock and gold heat embossed a background stamp from Hero Arts and cut it to a banner shape.

Using the same Distress Inks I used on the background, I stamped and diecut images from Stampin' Up's Flower Patch set.  After applying the ink, I spritzed the stamps a couple of times with water to create a looser look to my stamping.  

I gold heat embossed a sentiment from the Flower Patch set and cut it into another banner shape.

A loose nest of gold thread and some gold sequins were the final finishing touches.

This was a fun card to make as it's not my usual clean and simple style, but I know the recipient will love it :-)

Just Add Ink | #271

I needed to whip up a birthday card today so I thought I'd play along with the current challenge over at Just Add Ink.  Here is the challenge sketch.....

I took some patterned papers from the Amy Tangerine Plus One 6x6 Paper Pad and combined them with the Three Amigos Stamp Set from Mama Elephant.  I started by stamping and masking the scrunched up paper balls and then stamping the critter, sentiment and pencil.  I coloured everything very simply with Copic markers.  

Here are some close-ups...

Some twine and Glossy Accents on the eyes and nose were the only finishing touches needed :-)

B is for Boat | Challenge Entry

I was in a bit of a creative slump this week so I thought I'd play along with some card challenges and see if I could try something different to kick-start my mojo.

I found this sketch at Just Add Ink.....

....and this colour combo and inspiration photo at The Color Throwdown.....

I knew I had some patterned papers from Stampin' Up that would suit the color challenge and I decided to also set myself a challenge to not do any stamping.  I failed in that I DID stamp inside the card, but I did manage to keep the front stamp-free!

I used some little wooden alpha stamps to stamp inside the card......

Thanks for stopping by!

Just Add Ink #201

Gosh it's been such a long time since I played along at Just Add Ink but I just haven't been able to fit it in. Well, it was back-to-school week this week and hubs took Master 3 away to Adelaide to see the grandparents, so I had time to create just for the sake of having a play :-)

My first port of call was to check out the challenge at JAI and I was excited to see this......

I pulled out the "Up, Up and Away" stamp set and set to work creating a background of hot-air balloons. I then created my sentiment panel using a stamp from "Sassy Salutations", some punched scraps and twine.

We have a few birthdays coming up, so this card will be on its way to someone soon :-)

Just Add Ink #175

I always love to play along at Just Add Ink but lately I just haven't been able to fit it in.  Today was wet cold and miserable, so during Master 2's nap I got cosy at my desk and played along with JAI's latest sketch challenge.

I grabbed the Chalk Talk set from Stampin' Up and stamped my image in black on white cardstock, then cut it out using the co-ordinating die.  I then stamped it again in Rich Razzleberry and cut out the banner with my micro-tip scissors and mounted it over the first image using foam squares.  I then tied a bow with Pear Pizzazz ribbon. The rest of the card is pretty to work out.   I stuck with my colour scheme of Pear Pizzazz, Rich Razzleberry, Black and White.  

I'm not very happy with how my colours are together and I'm not sure about the green and black panel behind the tag- it looks a bit hard and severe to me, but it was quick and simple and I'm sure I will use this card sketch again in the future.

Just Add Ink #169

It's been a while since I have, but this week I am playing along at Just Add Ink and they have a great inspiration photo to get the creativity flowing.

I just couldn't resist blending some distress inks to recreate this stunning sky at sunset.  I smooshed my colours onto my craft sheet, misted with water and then plonked a piece of watercolour paper right on top and moved it around just a little to blend.  I then went over some areas with the inks using my foam blending tool to intensify the colours and to define the edges of the piece.  The black silhouette inspired me as well and I used my Silhouette and this cut file from Two Peas in a Bucket.  My sentiment is from Hero Arts and it is embossed with Zing Embossing Powder from American Crafts in Grapefruit.  

I love the JAI challenges, so it was great to be able to join in this week- you should check them out if you are looking for a fun challenge or to kickstart your mojo :-)

JAI #166 Colour Combo Challenge

I'm back again with another card for the challenge at Just Add Ink.  

This is what I came up with straight after I had finished the previous card.  I think I like this one better :-)

All supplies are from Stampin' Up apart from the spotted border stamp (Mama Elephant),  the white embossing powder (American Crafts) and the pearls (Kaisercraft).

JAI #166 Colour Combo Challenge

It's a colour challenge this week at Just Add Ink and I  was excited to see this.....

I think this colour combination is fantastic and I was quickly able to whip up this.....

As I was making this card, an idea for another card with these colours came to me, so stay tuned for that post soon!

JAI #164 and CFC #100

Here's a card I created for two challenges this week.  The challenge at Just Add Ink is a sketch challenge and the challenge at Cas-ual Fridays is Tic-Tac-Toe.

I grabbed some supplies from Stampin' Up and created this card, following the JAI sketch and the Cas-ual Fridays Tic-Tac-Toe combination of Polka Dots, Square Card and Birthday.

I don't often combine challenges but this was fun and I will most likely try it again soon :-)

Just Add Ink #163

The challenge this week at Just Add Ink is to "Just Add a Fun Background".  I had only just purchased some     Hero Arts Neon Inks and this cut file for my Cameo from the Silhouette Online Store.  I knew exactly what I was going to create.

I took some solid circle stamps from Avery Elle Bright Days Set and randomly stamped them in the neon inks on white cardstock which I then matted on black.  My sentiment was cut from black cardstock using my Silhouette Cameo.

I then made another card but this time my background was created using the Trifecta Set from Mama Elephant.

And then I just couldn't resist having another go but with my sentiment cut from white cardstock.  The background was made from the same Avery Elle set as the first card.

I love using these neon inks and I think there are so many fun sentiments that can be used for a bright cheerful card.

Just Add Ink #162

The challenge this week at Just Add Ink is to use a technique you've never tried before.  I've had a go at most techniques but one that I have seen a lot lately but haven't yet tried is "Faux Letterpress".  

I took some white cardstock, an embossing folder and some distress ink.  I inked up the inside of the folder, popped in the card and ran it through my cuttlebug.  Easy peasy.  

I think for next time though, I will use a completely smooth cardstock- this was Bazzill (the smoother side) and the ink didn't take as well I had hoped it would.  I also think next time, I'll try a different ink to see if I can get a smoother result.  

I then took a floral stamp from Hero Arts, stamped and heat embossed a few times, watercoloured with distress inks, cut it out along with some extra layers for dimension and added some pearls.  The sentiment is from Stampin' Up and is stamped in Memento Black Tuxedo ink.  

And here's a close-up.....

Sorry about the photos- it's been overcast and due to some camera issues I had to take these with my phone's camera. 

So, will I try "Faux Letterpress" again?  For sure!

Just Add Ink #161

Just popping in quickly to share a card I made for the latest challenge at Just Add Ink.  

The challenge was to use these colours......

I used the "Fresh Vintage" stamp set from Stampin' Up to create my card.....

It was good to participate in a JAI challenge again- it's been way to long!

Just Add Ink #156 Colour Challenge

It's me again- just popping in again quickly because it's Colour Challenge time again at Just Add Ink and here's the colour palette they've given us to play with.......

Using this card by Erin Taylor for inspiration, I inked up some stamps from Mama Elephant's "On Target" set and came up with this.....

I added some Rock Candy Distress Stickles to the white heart in the centre but it caused the Raspberry Ripple ink to run a little bit.  Next time, I'll be sure to keep the Stickles well away from any ink ;-)

JAI #155 Sketch Challenge

The challenge sketch at Just Add Ink this week had me a bit frazzled.  For some reason no amount of flipping, rotating or staring would get the creative juices flowing with this one.  But that's why we love challenges isn't it?  I left it for a few days and then came back to it with a fresh pair of eyes, and eventually some ideas started coming- not easily, but they did eventually come.

Here's the sketch......

And here's what I came up with.....

I used the "Up, Up and Away" stamp set, some old DSP and ribbon all from Stampin' Up and some dies from MFT.  Despite being completely stuck when I first saw the sketch, I'm happy to have eventually completed a card for the challenge.