Blessed by Florals for JAI #453

Happy Good Friday and I hope that it's the start of a happy and peaceful Easter weekend for you and all your families and especially for those who are enjoying time away during the school holidays break. Sad news that Notre Dame won't be open for Easter services this year after a serious fire but thankfully it is not completely destroyed and can be rebuilt for another generation to enjoy it's amazing architecture and contribution to history.

Just in time for the long weekend is our new challenge at Just Add Ink! This Choose Two of the three options (Bunnies, flowers or Crosses) was my suggestion and I hope that you enjoy this Easter inspired challenge but don't feel limited to making Easter creations. The design team have created a gorgeous mix of cute and pretty to inspire you so I hope that can take a moment to pop on over and we'd love you to join us!!

For my card, I combined Crosses from the retired Blessed By God set with florals in the current Wonderful Romance suite to create a card for a friend. Originally I also wanted to use all retiring colours too but found the pinks went better with different greens for this card. 😊

The simple Cross is embossed in White on the Powder Pink layer and the sentiment is coloured using a Blender Pen to apply the inks to the stamp. It was the look of the leaves from the romance dies that saw me buy this set but funnily enough this is the first time I have used them tho it definitely won't be the last! They look even better in person than in photos and they cut and emboss beautifully!

These little flowers are stamped from the main flower spray of Wonderful Romance, coloured and fussy cut and filled with a Rhinestone.

Card stock: Berry Burst, Powder Pink, Mossy Meadow, Coastal Cabana, Whisper White, Gold Glimmer

Inks: Versamark, Berry Burst, Powder Pink, 

Stamps: Blessed By God (Retired), Wonderful Romance

Accessories: Big Shot, Layering Circles and Stiched Shapes Framelits, Wonderful Floral framelits, White EP, Blender Pens, White Flax Ribbon, Basic Rhinestones

Thanks for stopping by today and I hope that you can take a moment to pop on over to Just Add Ink and I look forward to see which Two elements you Choose to use for a fun and cute or floral creation!

Happy stamping until next time,

Jan

Happy Puppy for JAI #452

Happy Friday and welcome again. As sometimes happens, we have jumped from Summer straight to Winter here in Melbourne this week. Last weekend it was a warm 27 degrees and the last few days we've struggled to make half that temperature. However the trees are looking amazing in their rich red and gold glory so something is going in the right order 😊Hope all those in Auckland for the Stampin Up! On Stage event have a wonderful time.

It's time for a new challenge at Just Add Ink this week and Tina has created this fun and fabulous sketch for us all to use in our crafting this week. Our lovely design team have created such a wonderful array of cards to inspire you so I hope that you can take a moment to pop on over and take a peek and join us!

As soon as I saw this sketch I thought of paw prints for the side elements but when it came to put ink to paper that looked like another pet sympathy card....and so I used the bone and "Ruff ruff" images for a happier theme. What dog wouldn't be happy with bones seemingly coming his or her way!😀

To create the background, I first Clear embossed the Ruff Ruff image and then blended some Distress Inks to create the grass and sky scene. A good spray of water later and the background is looking soft and almost airbrushed. The Lab is coloured using Watercolor pencils and cut out with the co-ordinating punch. 

The base colour is Berry Burst, a retiring In- Colour that looks different in the photos due to light issues on cloudy days...

Card Stock: Berry Burst, Basic Black, Whisper White

Inks: Versamark, Water color Pencils

Stamps: Happy Tails 

Accessories: Big Shot, Stitched Rectangle Framelits, Dog Builder punch, Clear and Black Embossing Powders.

Non SU: Bristol Card Stock, Distress Inks: Salty Ocean, Mermaid Lagoon, Blueprint Sketch, Twisted Citron, Cracked Pistachio

Thanks for stopping by today and I hope that you can take a moment to pop on over to Just Add Ink  and see all the gorgeous inspiration from our talented design team and I look forward to see what you will create with this fun and fabulous sketch this week.

Happy stamping until next time,

Jan

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

First Steps Baby Shower for JAI #450

Hi everyone and welcome! Despite a couple of Cyclones hitting northern states it's stayed warm and dry here in Victoria and apart from the cool mornings there hasn't been much to suggest that Summer is over. This is the sort of weather we all wish would last forever I'm sure 😀

Talking of changing Seasons, it's time for a new challenge at Just Add Ink. This week Rochelle has suggested we Just Add...Babies as a fun and cute theme for us all to use in our projects. Our lovely design team have created an adorable array of cards to inspire you so I hope you can pop over to the blog and we'd love you to join us too!

Baby showers have changed over the years don't you think? A generation or so ago, people usually gave white, green or lemon coloured cards and gifts at Showers as the little one's gender was unknown. These days it's often the time the baby's gender is revealed and celebrated with family and friends. This card was made with that in mind - think Ultrasound scan pic 😀

The sweet hands are individual stamps from the First Steps set in the Occasions catty and here they are Clear embossed before the colours are brayered over the top.  A damp clean cloth removes any ink over the images so the shiny embossing shines through. Stitched framelits form the edges of the "scan pic". The set includes the cute sentiment and stars which are all white embossed.

The cute little heart is from the Dog Builder punch (yes, I did think of making a puppy card too 😆)

Card stock: Blueberry Bushel, Bermuda Bay, Real Red, Whisper White (thick)

Ink: Balmy Blue, Coastal Cabana, Bermuda Bay, Blueberry Bushel, Versamark

Stamps: First Steps

Accessories: Clear and White EP, Dog Builder Punch, Metallic Sequins Assortment

Non SU: Stiched Square Framelits (SSS)

Thanks for stopping by today! I hope you can take a moment to pop on over to Just Add Ink and see all the inspiration from the design team and I look forward to see what you will create for this cute and fun theme too!

Happy stamping until next time,

Jan

Sympathy and Romance for JAI #449

Happy Friday folks and welcome!! It's been another week that's seemed to have zipped by in our household. One highlight was returning to a local Primary School to give a short talk on working dogs in the community this time to the Grade 3's and giving Sally cuddles too of course. 😀The mornings are seeming to be getting darker so it can't be much longer before we lose our Daylight Savings...

This week it's Colour challenge time at Just Add Ink and Jo has given us this beautifully vibrant and fun combo to work with. These warm colours will help with keeping the Summery feeling around and our lovely design team have shown many different ways to use them so I hope you can pop on over as we'd love to have you join us.

Whilst these colours are bright and vibrant it's amazing how soft you can make them look with water colouring. I needed a couple of Sympathy cards this week and so I pulled out the Wonderful Romance set and my Aquapainter.  I prefer to keep Sympathy cards CAS but still pretty as they are after all, supposed to cheer the receiver.

I was about to use the Aquapainter to flick some Lovely Lipstick ink on the background when I noticed the little dotted stamp. 😀So lovely when there is a stamp to do what you are thinking of!

Card stock: Whisper White (thick and standard), Basic Black, Silver Foil

Inks: Versamark, Bermuda Bay, Gorgeous Grape, Lovely Lipstick

Stamps: Wonderful Romance, Well Said

Accessories: Big Shot, Well Written Framelits, Wonderful Floral Framelits, White EP, Metallic Sequin Assortment

Thanks for stopping by today and I hope that you can take a moment to pop on over to Just Add Ink and see the varied ways the team all used these colours and I look forward to seeing what you will create too!

Happy stamping until next time,

Jan

Saleabration Butterflies for JAI #447

Happy Friday folks and welcome! We've had a rather busy week - thankfully the temperature has cooled somewhat in the last few days which has made it much easier to get around, pup in tow. Today and next Friday we are giving a talk to classes at the local Primary school on Working Dogs in the community and how they (the kids) can help as they see us around. Sally, my Assistance Dog will love giving them all kisses at the end for sure 😜

It's time for a new challenge at Just Add Ink and this week the lovely Narelle has designed this fabulous clean and simple sketch for us all to use in our projects. As always, the teamies have created an amazing array of cards to inspire you so I hope you can take a moment to check them out and we'd love to have you join us.

This time I kept pretty close to the sketch using the banners to add texture and bling . The black and white DSP is from the Botanical Butterfly pack available for free during Saleabration. I fussy cut and coloured two with Blends and Wink of Stella and layered them for the main pop of colour. 

CAS with a touch of bling is my favourite style to make and so after a few weeks of creating bright cards, this one was a joy to make and came together very quickly. It's lovely to have a card turn out pretty much how you envisage it. 😊

The first banner is also a SAB item - the fabulous Lovely Lipstick Foil, has to be one of my favourite freebies of all time 😀followed by the White flax ribbon and Black Sequin Trim.

Card stock: Basic Black, Powder Pink, Lovely Lipstick Foil, (SAB), Gold Foil

Designer Series Paper: Botanical Butterfly DSP (SAB)

Inks: Versamark, Blends - Calypso Coral and Lovely Lipstick packs

Stamps: Well Said

Accessories: Well Written Framelits, Wonderful Floral Framelits , Wink of Stella, White EP, White Flax Ribbon, Black Sequin Trim

Thanks for stopping by today and I hope you can take a moment to pop on over to Just Add Ink and see all the amazing inspiration from our lovely design team and I look forward to seeing what you will create with this fabulous clean and simple sketch too. 

Happy stamping until next time,

Jan

Sweet Wishes for JAI #446

Happy Friday and welcome! It's the first day of Autumn here in Melbourne but you wouldn't know it with the next few days all forecast as 37 plus degrees... so happy Spring to those of you in the Northern Hemisphere and hopefully your icy, snowy days will soon pass and you will be able to enjoy some sunshine and greenery again soon 😊

It's time for a new challenge at Just Add Ink and this week Rachael has suggested this gorgeous Photo to spark our creative projects. From the layers of texture to the flowers, details and colours you can take whatever you like. Our lovely team has created a wonderful array of projects to inspire you so I hope you can pop over and take a peek. We'd love to have you join us too!!

Yes, I know the photo is of flowers and vases but it also has a lot of patterns and bright colours which is where my card comes from...
I've used papers from the How Sweet It Is suite and backed them with card stock - even the jar image is cut from the papers using the framelits. The collection of sweets in the jar is my flowers in a vase and the stitched yellow frame is inspired by the blue wall details.

Some of the single lollies are stamped and then die cut, the longer ones have no co-ordinating stamp but the framelits do emboss a cute pattern instead. 

The sentiment uses the layering alphabet bundle. I find it easier to first die cut these and then stamp the outline to help with fussy cutting the rest. A few sequins and this bright and bubbly card is ready for it's young recipient....

Card stock: Whisper White (thick), Pineapple Punch, Grapefruit Grove, Melon Mambo, Coastal Cobana, Granny Apple Green

Designer Series Paper: How Sweet It Is

Ink: Versamark

Stamps: Sweetest Thing, Layered Alphabet

Accessories: Big Shot, Stitched Rectangle Framelits, Layered Alphabet Edgelits, Well Written Framelits, Gingham Gala Sequins

Thanks for stopping by today and I hope you can take a moment to pop on over to Just Add Ink and see all the lovely inspiration from the team and I look forward to seeing what you create using this pretty photo as inspiration for your projects this week.

Happy stamping until next time,

Jan