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

                                              

Sunflower 3D Birthday for Colour INKspiration #195

 

Happy Sunday everyone and welcome!
It's been quite a while since I've had the time to join in a challenge but this week's Colour INKspiration Combo is just my sort of style - a pop of colour amongst not too many others - and piqued my interest! 

Add to that the wonderful Sunflower 3D embossing folder just arrived into my craft space and I couldn't think of a better way to use it than to take a leap and enter this fun challenge that I've been watching from afar for what I think may be my first time!!

So without further ado, here is my first card...that's right! I got a bit carried away and managed to create two different looks!

I was inspired by the joyful, Sharon Armstrong whose You Tube posts always make me smile because she is so excited about what she does. She showed 10 or so ways of how to use this beautiful EF and this was one of them: 

The image is embossed onto Crushed Curry card stock and then wiped over with White Craft Ink. That is it. Simple and very effective!

I've added some leaf dies from both he Friends of Life and Memorable Blooms dies and a combination of shiny, silver ribbons, black twine and of course some bling - this time in the form of rhinestones.

The detail in the EF is absolutely incredible! And if you are a sunflower lover like me, then you will want to get your hands on this ASAP before it is sold out.

I did have another play....I was having so much fun!

For this version, I first swiped a Crushed Curry ink pad over the same colour card stock for a tone on tone look. Then....well it looked a bit flat still. So I added some Versamark ink over the top and some Clear EP and Boom! It looks a bit more Pumpkin Pie now than Curry but it is also super shiny....

I added the same details as with my first card as I already had these dies out on my craft desk. I originally was going to place what became a pile of ribbons and dies in a different place but I didn't want to obstruct the view of the three main sunflowers.

So which version do you prefer??
I think I prefer the subtle white version. The dramatic version does make me think of one of our hot, 40 degree summer days.  Maybe because we are still in early Spring here in Australia is why I am not quite so keen to look that far ahead yet!

But I am planning to get my first Sunflower seeds into the garden by October 1st this year. A mix of the big giant ones and some dwarves too. So I hope the Sunflower EF stays around too.

Thank you for stopping by today and I hope that you are enjoying the challenge too!

You can find the Colour Inkspiration Challenges and details on how to enter them on Facebook, here.

Card stock: Crushed Curry, Smoky Slate, Basic Black, Basic White

Stamps: Friends For Life (sentiment).

Inks: White Craft, Versamark

Accessories: Die Cutting Machine, Sunflower 3D EF, Friends for Life Dies, Memorable Blooms Dies, Silver Ribbons - x 2, Black Twine (Bakers Twine Essentials Pack), Basic Rhinestones, White EP. Clear EP.

'Til next time,

Jan