Cafe Happiness for JAI #451

Happy Friday everyone and welcome! We are into April already and the year seems to be passing so quickly. This weekend marks the end of Daylight Savings and although I'm sure we will all enjoy the Sunday morning sleep in, it also is a sign that Winter is inevitably coming. It's also the start of school hols again here in Victoria... they too seem to be coming more quickly than ever 😀

But don't worry, we have just the challenge for you at Just Add Ink this week to keep you creative before those who are heading off to Auckland get going. Jo has suggested this very pretty Inspiration Photo challenge for us all to use. Take whatever jumps out at you from the image and we'd love to see what you create! Our lovely design team has made a beautiful and varied collection of projects to inspire you so I hope that you can take a moment to pop on over to have a peek.

I used to be so intimidated by Photo Challenges but now I think I'm more comfortable in going with what first jumps out at me about it. Sometimes it's more, sometimes less but that first thing seems to be the key for me. How do you approach them?? This time for me it was the blackboards and the Cafe/Restaurant sign - and of course I couldn't ignore the pretty colours and flowers!!

The blackboard frame uses the Wood Textures DSP - if I was to make this again, I'd layer this onto card stock for more dimension. The blackboard itself is cut with Stitched Squares (SSS) Framelits and some Craft ink is dabbed over to give the effect of an old and dusty board. 

The flowers are of course from Vibrant Vases - coloured with Blends and then fussy cut and filled with tiny pearls.😊The Coffee Cafe bundle provides the realistic coffee cup and lid.

Card Stock: Basic Black, Mint Macaron, Powder Pink, Whisper White

Designer Series Paper: Wood Textures Stack

Stamps: Coffee Cafe, Vibrant Vases

Inks: Versamark, Momento Tuxedo Black, White (Craft), Lovely Lipstick. 

Blends: Lovely Lipstick combo, Pink Pirouette (dark), Spruce combo

Accessories: Big Shot, Simple Stripes EF, Coffee Cup Framelits, White EP, Basic Pearls.

Thanks for stopping by today and I hope that you have a moment to pop on over to Just Add Ink  and see the inspiration all the design team has created for you and I look forward to seeing what you will create from this super pretty Inspiration Photo too!

Happy stamping until next time,

Jan

Life Happens...for JAI #374

Hello and happy Friday everyone and welcome! It's been a bit of a busy week and whilst we have been driving to appointments it has been lovely to notice that more and more blossoms are out.  And whilst our own fresias are still only showing greenery, the bulbs must be due to flower soon!

It's time for a new challenge at Just Add Ink  and this photo is suggested by me so I hope that you enjoy working with it :-) You can choose what inspires you from the photo - it might be the coffee/drinks or phone theme  or the colours and textures or idea of spending time with friends. The design team have all created beautiful projects to inspire you so I hope you can take a moment to pop on over and hopefully join us.

My card was made after a conversation with friends where we were talking of how "life happens"...and so when I saw this sentiment it simply had to be used! I then had a few "life" things happen myself which I may share a bit later but that was days after I made the card... Does that sort of thing ever happen to you?
I layered some of the Coffee Break DSP 's together which could seem a little masculine so I inserted a bit of feminine pink to change it up a little - "girlie" done easy :-)  As I wanted to add this colourful layer on dimensionals, some card stock added behind gives it strength to hold up the coffee cup and to go through the mail.

The lovely Copper Trim is teased out a little before adding to the background  - as I'm sure when "life happens" it can also get a little messy too :-) To make the cup was a process...There are three sizes of the die, and I first stamped and die cut one of the larger ones and then cut two of the smaller corrugated ones to place on top. A little fiddling to make sure they lined up and some added marker edging and it is complete!

I am loving the new Metallic Sequins - not only do they have multiple sizes and contain copper but also a pale pink!! How perfect is that :-)

Card stock: Berry Burst, Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso
Designer Series Paper: Coffee Break, Colour Theory Stack
Inks: Soft Sky, Early Espresso Marker
Stamps: Coffee Cafe
Accessories: Big shot, Coffee Cups Framelits, Copper Trim, Metallic Sequin Assortment, Wink of Stella

Thanks for stopping by today and I hope you have a moment to pop on over to Just Add Ink and see all the fabulous inspiration from our lovely design team and I look forward to seeing what you will create inspired by this photo too!

Happy stamping until next time<

Jan