Country Flowers Birthday for JAI #716

 

Happy Friday and welcome! It's officially almost the last week of Winter here in Australia and down in Melbourne it has been particularly chilly. The coldest winter in 24 or 28 years! But we seem to be enjoying the early signs of Spring this week with warmer and longer days but still crisp overnight. It has been lovely to see the flowers start to bloom and some bird calls we haven't heard in a while. Hopefully you can spend some time in the garden in between your craft room as I'm sure you might like to join in this challenge!

This week at Just Add Ink we have this pretty Inspiration Photo for you from Kim.  You can take as much or as little as you choose from photo challenges and there is lots to love about this one. There are the beautiful colours, the textures and of course the beautiful image itself - the gorgeous steps and those cute little flower pots. 

So I hope that you can pop on over to the JAI blog and see all the cards from the design team and other entrants and we'd love you to join us!

For my card I just couldn't go past those gorgeous little flower pots of roses on all the steps. So I finally broke open the pretty Country Flowers bundle. Truth be told, when I saw this Challenge I knew that I wanted to use this set and for me, the start of every card is which stamp set so that was the hardest part decided. 

The flowers were coloured using a mixture of Blends and Copics and the flower pot too. Then the pretty and die cut leaves were added. 

The Country Lace DSP has beautiful patterns and these sheets are in similar tones to the Challenge photo and they fit in well here. I was a little tired by the time of stamping the sentiment and it is a touch lower than I wanted. But it was too late to move the DSP by then...one day I will learn to stop sooner and come back the next day. 

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope that you can pop on over to Just Add Ink and I look forward to seeing what you create for this pretty challenge.

Card stock: Basic White Thick and standard, Pool Party.

DSP: Country Lace

Inks: Tuxedo Momento Black, Blends and Copics

Stamps: Country Flowers, Friends for Life

Accessories: Die cutting Machine, Country Flowers dies, Basic Rhinestones

'Til next time,

Jan

 

Birthday Shopping for JAI #714

 

Happy Friday folks and welcome! Its incredible to believe that we are in the final month of Winter. It sure has been a cold one here in Melbourne this year! This coming weekend there promises to be some warmer temperatures in the outlook. But just in case it doesn't go to plan or you find yourself inside this weekend, it can always be warm in the craft room right?!

This week at Just Add Ink we have a bold and I dare say Fall (if you're in the Northern Hemisphere) inspired Colour Challenge for you from Kerry. The design team all created a variety of themed cards for you so I hope that you can take a moment and pop on over and join us!

My card uses another new stamp set from the relatively new Stampin Up catalog called Attention Shoppers. I had an idea that my first card would be a trolley full of plants....simulating a nursery store we have here in Australia...but it hasn't quite turned out that way but that card is on my list to make!

In the midst of putting this card together, it seemed to start to rain and so I dropped the trolley pieces and raced out to the washing line. I saved the washing but then spent the best part of the next hour searching for and giving up on and creating another set of trolley wheels. And then just as I gave up, I found the wheels stuck to my jumper sleeve so pulled off the ones seen above and replaced them!

Even the Happy Birthday sign is thrown into the trolley here! 😂

I hope that you have a fun weekend and perhaps if you go to the plant nursery you can fill your real trolley with plants a bit like I had intended to do this week! And if not, then you can come over to Just Add Ink and fill up a card trolley instead.                                                                                                                        It won't be long with Spring only 3 weeks away - woohoo!!

'Til next time,

Jan

JAI #712 Sorry, Pet Sympathy

 

Happy Friday and welcome!! It is the last Friday in July so August will soon be here, followed by Spring here in Melbourne and I can hardly wait for the sunshine and flowers and warmer weather. But at least the cold does mean we can potentially have more time in the craft room.

This week at Just Add Ink we have a Sketch for you suggested by Joanne. You can use the sketch as is or flip it around to suit your card's details. I hope that you can take a moment to pop on over to the team blog so that you can see all the inspiration from the design team and soon, those entering the challenge.

As you can see, I flipped the sketch to make room for my beach background blending.

Sadly, I needed a card for a friend for the loss of their older pet. She had loved walks along the beach. 

So it seemed fitting to make this sketch a beach scene and to add paws along the sand.

A sunny beach day and a happy puppy usually bring a smile for a dog owner and hopefully did here too.

The large sentiment is from a retired SU set called Sorry for Everything. The puppy image is from A Simon Says Stamp bundle called You are Pawesome.

Thanks for stopping by today! I hope that you can pop by the Just Add Ink Challenges blog and see all the other inspiration from the other members of our design team and I look forward to seeing what you create for this challenge.

'Til next time,

Jan

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Party Cake for JAI #710

 

Happy Friday everyone and welcome to the last Friday of the School Holidays. Just in time for the weekend where it might not be a bad idea to spend it inside, crafting going by the cold Winter that we are having here in Melbourne.

This week's Challenge at Just Add Ink is to Just Add Party Fun! Parties have so many elements to them - from cool drinks to fun hats to themes and dresses and everything food orientated. So there are lots of things that you could think of for this one I am sure! I suggested this one so I hope that you like it. Our design team have created a fabulous array of cards to inspire you so we hope that you might join in this week!

For my card I turned to cake because you can't have a party without a cake! And the Something For Everyone Ephemera Pack delivered. 
It has several traditional party theme type images but I couldn't go past the cake wagon and the yummy looking piece of cake and the bunting.

The Icing Sentiment is from the Saying Something Ephemera pack. Being a circle, it helped with the layout of this card, leading me using the Spotlight On Nature Dies. Then the Friends For Life Bundle had just arrived with my latest order....so that was used as well!

Btw, I think that Watermelon Wonder is my new favourite colour Do you have one??

I also added a  touch of ribbon and a sprinkling of sequins and this card was ready. No stamping or colouring at all needed!

Yes, it's very girly and a bit sparkly but I think it also has a bit of a party feel too!

Thank you for stopping by and I hope that you will join us at Just Add Ink and share your idea of Party Fun with us this week!

Card stock: Basic White, Watermelon Wonder, Silver Glimmer

Ink: none!

Stamps....none too!

Accessories: Something for Everyone Ephemera Pack, Saying Something Ephemera Pack, Spotlight On Nature Dies, Friends for Life Dies, Metallic Sequins Assortment, Ribbon from my stash

'Til next time,

Jan

Birthday Ink Layers for JAI #708

Here in Australia we are almost a third of the way through Winter and this weekend is forecast to be very wet and chilly. So if you are a crafter and looking for an excuse to stay home from the ski fields this weekend, having a fun challenge to take part in might just be what you you need!

This week at Just Add Ink we have a fun and interesting Choose Two Challenge for you out of Blending, Embossing or White suggested by Nikki. This is definitely one that got the thinking caps of the Design Team on and so I hope that you might like to pop on over to the challenge Blog and take a peek and join us!

For my Two Elements I chose Embossing and Blending....white? Well, yes, possibly white is noticeable too! I just couldn't help it...call it CAS card making LOL!

The beautiful Layers of Beauty stamp is inked in Versamark and then embossed with White EP. 
Next, the coordinating masks are used and ink is blended to colour the image which is finally die cut. 

The background is created using one of the Artistic Mix Masks and blending Berry Burst Ink to create an ombre background. This means the negative space creates crisp, white stripes which I love.

I can't quite let go of Artistically Inked. It has been a much loved bundle for all of the years it has been available and one of the reasons is this simple and cheerful, birthday sentiment. Here it is also embossed using White EP.

And finally, a sprinkling of sequins from the metallic sequins assortment where the white ones have a pink tint that perfectly suits Fresh Freesia and its tonal friends.

Thanks for taking the time to pop by and see my card and especially to those who leave a comment. It is always so appreciated! 

I hope that you have can head over to Just Add Ink and see the rest of the design team's inspiration for you and I look forward to seeing what you create for this challenge! 

Card stock: Basic White, Berry Burst

Inks: Versamark, Fresh Freesia, Berry Burst, Summer Splash, Shy Shamrock

Stamps: Layers of Beauty, Artistically Inked

Accessories: Die Cutting Machine, Artistic Mix Masks, Layers of Beauty Masks, Layers of Beauty Dies, White EP, Blending Brushes, Metallic Sequins Assortment

'Til next time,

Jan

 

Blue Spotlight for JAI #706

 

Welcome everyone to the middle Friday in June. The days are getting darker and colder and Winter is definitely here with a chilly and damp week had by most in Australia. But what better excuse to spend time crafting than to say warm and dry? 😀

We have a new challenge week at Just Add Ink and that is this Photo Inspiration Challenge from Kerry.
Inspiration Challenges give you the opportunity to take what appeals to you from the images. The design team have given you a pretty and varied display of cards to help you find your way. I hope you can pop on over and join us!

In my card I was inspired to layer the blue and white parts from the Photo Challenge. 
This is my first play with beautiful Spotlight On Nature bundle from the new Stampin Up Catalogue. And I found it so pretty to colour and the photo doesn't quite do it justice on a cold and wet Melbourne day. 

The Z Fold seemed a good way to allow these images to shine in a way that fulfilled the blue and white challenge details. 
As this set doesn't come with DSP, the leaf stamp was used to provide the blue and background stamping.

And aren't these circle die edges so pretty!! 
I am not usually a shabby chic girl....but I could be tempted to have a dabble with such pretty details.

Thank you for stopping by and I hope that you can take a moment to pop on over to Just Add Ink and I look forward to seeing what you create for this challenge. 

'Til next time,

Jan

Birthday Zinnias for JAI #704

 

Happy Friday everyone and welcome! We have had a couple of mild sunny days this week but the wind is blustering outside and the rain has arrived...it definitely feels like Winter is here already in Victoria.

This week at Just Add Ink we have a pretty colour challenge from Rochelle. The design team have all created cards using these colours in a variety of ways. And we'd like to welcome a new member to the team - Karen Rogers. So I hope that you can pop on over to the blog and help welcome Karen and be inspired to join us!

Do you have a type of challenge that you find harder than others? I do, and for me it is colour challenges. It doesn't matter how many I do - it must be hundreds over the years - I still find it a hard place to start.
With this challenge, I am grateful to another JAI teamie, the lovely Lou Kitzelman as she sent me some images from the Simply Zinnias stamp set recently which is available to purchase online.

 As it turned out, these blooms were perfect for this challenge! I used all four colours to colour up the flower heads and then I coloured some white ribbon with the Lemon Lolly blends to give a little bit of interest and a pop of colour behind the sentiment banner.

Thanks for stopping by today! I hope that you can head on over to Just Add Ink and see how everyone has used this colour combination and welcome Karen to the design team. I really look forward to seeing how you have used this colour combo as you inspire me each week with all you create too!

'Til next time,

Jan