Felt With The Heart for JAI #779

Welcome! To the second Friday in February,  and we have finally had a little rain here in Melbourne so it's been a lovely and cool day for dogs, horses and humans. 

It's a Sketch Challenge this week at Just Add Ink  It won't be a surprise to most people that I adore CAS designs. Yes! This very simple sketch is from me and so I hope that you enjoy using it. The design team have created a fabulous array of cards to inspire you. This challenge is open for the next 12 days and I look forward very much to seeing what you create!

It's a new year and Term for RDA (Riding for the Disabled Association) and so I created a card to thank all the amazing volunteers at RDA Viewbank for all they do. I am no longer able to ride but Harley, a mostly white (officially called a "grey") gelding that is depicted here is a special friend and there is a possibility I may still be able to visit to say hello and take some carrots and treats very soon. I can hardly wait!

Harley helped me regain confidence after the horse I was originally paired with, sadly passed away. We bonded closely and rather quickly. Even when I was moved on to ride other horses, Harley would watch me ride in the arena from his place in the barn. Keeping an eye on me...like some special dogs, some of the horses knew I was seriously ill and Harley was one. 

The image here, from Unity Stamps is called Felt With the Heart and reminds me of one day when I'd had a particularly painful time and Harley was tied to a fence, awaiting his next rider. I went to him and buried my face against his. The tears quietly flowed as we stood cheek to cheek for a few minutes. He stood with me, holding my face with his, he knew...then when he judged I was ready, he started to lick my shoulder and so I moved so he could reach my forearm - his favourite spot. So this card really is for Harley and all the other special horses in the world that give to us at least as much loyalty and love and take care of us as much as we do of them. 💖

Harley is coloured using many Copics  -  some greys to add definition and shading to his neck and face and some yellows and oranges for his mane. I am coloured using a few different Blends and Copics. The images were masked off before using a Distress Ink  for the blue surrounds. Of course there is some Wink of Stella applied and a touch of twine and sprinkle of sequins too.

In case you can't quite read the sentiment, it's a quote from Helen Keller - very RDA and disability in general appropriate - "The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart."

 

So, a very heartfelt card from me for this Valentines Day week!
I can't wait to see what you will make for this Just Add Ink Sketch challenge.

Card stock: Pretty Peacock, Grey Granite, Basic White

Ink: Momento tuxedo Black, Blends, Copics, Distress Inks

Stamps: Felt with the Heart (Unity Stamps)

Accessories: Die cutting machine, Stitched Rectangle Dies,  Grey Granite Bakers Twine, Metallic Sequins assortment (retired).

'Til next time,

Jan

 

Beachey Vibes for JAI #778

Happy Friday everyone and welcome to another new Challenge week at Just Add Ink! 

It's been a hot week here in Melbourne with temps in the 40's so this week's image of a beach seems so perfect!

This week's Just Add Ink Challenge is a Colour and Inspiration Challenge suggested by Nikki. You can choose to base your project on either the Image or use at least 3 of the colours or both. Our design team have all created some lovely projects to inspire you and we hope that you will join us.

For my card, I was inspired mainly by the image - the beach and sand and the starfish and shells. So I created a beachey background and then coloured some of the Notes &Totes dies to create a bag and bits and items to take or find at the beach. And as well as the image, I also managed to include 3 of the colours. 

To colour the tote itself, I used a retired stamp on the white card stock and added some Coastal cabana pieces cut with the trimmer. The bottle and sunglasses are coloured using Blends and the starfish and sentiment are coloured using Copics. 

The sentiment is from a long retired set called Sunshine Sayings that comes in handy often in Summer.

The 3D effect of the tote is quite special and I'm so glad that I had the chance to try out these products before buying them.

Thanks for popping by today and taking the time to leave a comment. It's always very much appreciated.

I hope that you will enjoy this challenge and especially for those experiencing snow, you can perhaps dream of warmer things. Whereas here was me wearing an ice filled vest the other day to keep cool! 

So I look forward to seeing all your projects at Just Add Ink this week.

"Til next time,

Jan

 

Just Add Ink #777 Blog Hop - Just Add Something Seasonal

 

Happy New Year and WELCOME to a new Just Add Ink Challenges year! As usual we are starting things off with a Blog Hop from the whole design team. 

So a special welcome if you have just arrived from the lovely Nikki Spencer and her very pretty card and perhaps you may like to grab a cuppa (or maybe you already have one) whilst you take a tour of all of our team's projects.

For the first challenge of 2026 we're asking you to "Just Add Something Seasonal."

What do we mean by Seasonal? Yes, it could be weather related - which is of course different in every hemisphere. But it also could be that it's almost Valentines Season - and here in Australia it's wedding season as well. Or you may have a personal Season to share. Hopefully our design team projects will inspire you to pop on over to the Just Add Ink blog and join with us in this first challenge of the year.

For my card, I have chosen Sunflowers. Yes, it is Summer in Australia and I really do love sunflowers and have many growing in my garden each Summer. I collect the seeds from the flowers each year so that I have plenty for the following one. There are giant ones along the backyard fences and some dwarf plants in pots too. So this was an easy choice for me!😊

The 3D Sunflower EF (an Online Exclusives product, still available) is something I have made a few cards with but this is my first attempt at colouring it realistically. You can use all sorts of methods. 

I was inspired by a technique by Claire Daly who first used a brayer to add ink to the debossed (background or downward) area of the EF before colouring the raised petals and leaves.

So I've added some Balmy Blue ink using a brayer to the flat areas of the debossed (downward ) side of the EF before using it with Basic White card stock. I was a bit light with this so went back over it adding some more of the ink using a sponge on the Basic White card.

For the focal images, I've used a combination of Stampin Blends and Copics and suddenly we have this bold, amazing image with big pops of colour!  I love the way it looks like the flowers have the hot Summer's sun shining on them (and haven't we had a few days like that here already!)
Finally, a sentiment from a retired Sunflower set was used and a touch of ribbon, twine and sprinkling of rhinestones and we have our first card of 2026!

Next you're off to see the fabulous Chantell Randall and her amazing project - Enjoy!

I hope that you feel inspired to join in the challenge with us and start the year creatively! If you get lost along the way you can pop by Just Add Ink to find a full list of our team taking part or see below.

Card stock: Basic White, Basic Black.

Inks: Balmy Blue, Versamark, Blends, Copics

Stamps: Celebrate Sunflowers (retired).

Accessories: Die Cutting Machine, Sunflower 3D EF, White EP, Old Olive Grosgrain ribbon, Linen Thread, Basic Rhinestones.

Here is the full  Blog Running List if you get lost along the way:

1. Lou Kitzelman

2. Kerry Parkinson

3. Tristan Dawes

4. Tina Gillespie

5. Narelle Farrugia

6. Nikki Spencer

7. Jan McQueen - You are here.

8. Chantell Randall

9. Joanne Stubbings

'Til next time,

Jan