Farewell Topsey Turvey Celebrations

Hi!

I thought I'd sneak in an extra farewell card before the new catalogue goes live on Tuesday. This card was made for a children's card class I taught this month.

I really love the sunburst on the top of the card - it's so pretty.  Ada ended up taking my first sample to give to her BFF for her birthday so I had to make another sample for the second class.

There's another farewelling product on this card - the Print Poetry DSP. I will miss this bright and cheerful DSP.

Thankfully Sassy Salutations is hanging around.  I really love that set!

Stamps: Topsey Turvey Celebration, Sassy Salutations
Ink: Primrose Petals, Raspberry Ripple
DSP/Cardstock: Print Poetry DSP Stack, Primrose Petals, Raspberry Ripple, Summer Startfruit, Very Vanilla
Other: Big Shot, Perfect Pennants Bigz Die, 1 3/4"Circle Punch, Circle Cutter (non SU), Raspberry Ripple Stitched Satin Ribbon, Basic Jewels Rhinestones, Dimensionals

Bye for now,

Tina

JAI #171: Just Add A Sketch

Hi!

The weeks are sneaking past so quickly!  The Winter Solstice occurred last week, which means we are on the downhill run to Summer.  Yay!

But let's not wish the year away too quickly, first it's time for a new Just Add Ink Challenge.  This week Mae has designed a fab sketch to use.

I flipped the sketch sideways for my card as I wanted to use some more bits of the Artisan Embellishments Kit that I have been hoarding using.  Papercrafters never hoard, do they?!? lol

The tags from the Kit are just gorgeous!  I used the Crumb Cake side on this card and popped the whole tag up using dimensionals.

The Primrose Petals Seam Binding Ribbon is also from the Artisan Embellishment Kit, which is retiring at the end of the month.

After cutting the Print Poetry DSP for the front of the card there were a few strips left over, so I used one of them on the inside of the card, and the other on the envelope.  A great way to use up those scraps!

I also had a scrap of the Seam Binding left that I couldn't bring myself to throw out so it got used on the inside too.

Stamps: Make A Wish, Happiest Birthday Wishes (retired)
Ink: Raspberry Ripple
DSP/Cardstock: Print Poetry DSP Stack, Raspberry Ripple, Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake
Other: Artisan Embellishment Kit Tag and Seam Binding, Linen Thread, Corner Rounder Punch, Dimensionals

The Just Add Ink Design Team have used this sketch in a heap of different ways - how will you use it?

Bye for now,

Tina

Farewell Print Poetry Stack

Hi!

Another farewell - this time to one of my favourite new products from Stampin' Up!, the smaller sized paper stacks. Perfect for cardmakers, the stacks are an ideal size for covering the fronts of cards with a few strips left over to decorate the inside with.

This card was a larger size - 5 inches square.  I used four different patterns from the masculine papers in the stack to cut the squares for the front of the card. 

The inside sentiment is from the Make A Wish Stamp Set from the current Seasonal Catalogue.  I was so excited to discover that it has carried over to the upcoming Annual Catalogue as it is one I have been using a lot lately.

Can't wait to see the new DSP stacks in the next Occasions Catalogue - I'll be waiting a while though as it's not until September!!

Stamps: Sassy Salutations, Make A Wish
Ink: Midnight Muse
DSP/Cardstock: Print Poetry DSP Stack, Midnight Muse, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla
Other: Dimensionals

Bye for now,

Tina

Farewell First Edition

Hi!

For the rest of the month I'm going to be doing some farewell posts, saying goodbye to some of my favourite retiring products and stamps.  First off the ranks is the First Edition Specialty DSP.  I guess I was a little lucky with this DSP as it was current for two years rather than the typical one year.

I loved the versatility of the DSP as a background paper for both male and female cards.  This post should also include the Rose Red Seam Binding Ribbon, for sadly it too is being retired. Thankfully there will still be other colours of Seam Binding available.

The butterfly was stamped with Papillion Potpourri and then punched using the Elegant Butterfly punch.  I also used some Dazzling Details on the body of the butterfly for some subtle shimmer.

Some more butterflies to finish off the inside.

So farewell to First Edition SDSP (and Rose Red Seam Binding) but as I still have nearly a whole pack of it I'm sure you'll see bits of it here and there on my blog.

Stamps: Papillion Potpourri, Field Flowers, Creative Elements
Ink: Rose Red, Wisteria Wonder
DSP/Cardstock: First Edition SDSP, Rose Red, Very Vanilla
Other: Big Shot, Ovals Collection Framelits, Elegant Butterfly Punch, Rose Red Seam Binding Ribbon, Dazzling Details, Dimensionals

Bye for now,

Tina

JAI #170: Just Add Leaves

Hi!

Time for another Just Add Ink challenge!

This week Christine has challenged us to add leaves to our projects. I had a bit of a brain fart and panicked about not having any leaf stamps, quite forgetting about French Foliage and Lovely As A Tree sitting on my shelf! Ooops!  I ended up using the leaf punchies from my Bird Builder Punch on my card.

In the end I was quite pleased with my forgetfulness as I really like this card!  To get the perfect circle I punched a circle from Very Vanilla with my 2 1/2 Circle punch and then adhered the leaves around the edge.

It looked a little plain so I used my Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details to add some berryish looking highlights to the wreath.  I loved the final effect,

I had a few leaves left over so I used them on the inside of the card.

Stamps: Snow Swirled, Sassy Salutations
Ink: Cherry Cobbler
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive
Other: Bird Builder Punch, 2 1/2" Circle Punch, Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon, Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details

So what leaves do you have hiding in your stash that you could use on a project?  See you over at Just Add Ink.

Bye for now,

Tina

Butterfly Frame Art

Hi!

A year ago I made a sweet butterfly frame for my daughter when she turned 7. You can see that frame here. Well, a few weeks ago I was in another Op Shop and I found a nearly identical frame.  I couldn't believe my luck!  Ada's best friend, who had always admired Ada's frame, had a birthday coming up so I bought the frame to make one for her too.

As the new frame was pink and not purple like Ada's I switched the colours in the top row of butterflies, but other wise everything else is the same.

The birthday girl loved her frame, and now the two girls are excited to have matching art works in their bedrooms.

Stamps: Creative Elements
Ink: Peach Parfait (retired), Wild Wasabi, Marina Mist, Perfect Plum
Cardstock: Peach Parfait (retired), Wild Wasabi, Marina Mist, Perfect Plum, Whisper White Textured (retired)
Other: Big Shot, Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die, Timeless Type Alpha Dies (retired), Basic Jewels Rhinestones, Sponge Daubers, Dimensionals, Platinum Shimmer Paint, Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint, Glue Dots, Op Shop Frame

Bye for now,

Tina

Tidy Desk Treasures

Hi!

I finally got around to tidying my craft desk last week.  It's really one of those kinds of jobs  - you know, the ones you put off for ages and then when you do it, it's not nearly as bad (or take as long) as you expected it to be! While tidying I came across some leftover bits from other cards that were of the "don't throw it away because it might be useful" variety.  So I decided that I would make a card using one of the pieces.

In this case the leftover piece is the Primrose Petals Coredinations panel, which was leftover from this card.   Much too pretty to throw it away! It was already embossed and sanded so all I needed to do was to stamp the flowers, tie the twine and assemble the card.  Easy!

Usually when I use this stamp set I stamp the full flower on each of the stems.  This time I thought I'd give the other 'bit' a go too.  I don't even know what that bit is called!  I'm still not sure if I like it or if I prefer the full flower.  What do you think?

Stamps: Field Flowers
Ink: Primrose Petals, Old Olive
Cardstock: Primrose Petals Coredinations, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla
Other: Big Shot, Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder, Ovals Collection Framelits, Early Espresso Baker's Twine, Sanding Block, Stamp-a-ma-Jig

Bye for now,

Tina

JAI #169: Just Add Inspiration

Hi!

It's the end of a rather wet week in Adelaide, and therefore time for another Just Add Ink challenge.

This week Delys has challenged us to use this picture to inspire our projects.

Isn't it a great picture? The Design Team have come up with lots of different ways to interpret it.  After a few failed attempts at getting the colour gradient effect with a brayer I abandoned the idea and instead went with some simple colour blocking.

I tried to go with the layers of colour in the top half of the photo. I used Pool Party, Calypso Coral and Island Indigo. As you can see I framed the sentiment in the bold black.

It's probably a bit hard to see in the photo, but the whole colour blocked panel is raised up from the base card, where I stamped the sentiment. It's a great way to give a bit more emphasis to the sentiment.

Stamps: Feel Goods
Ink: Island Indigo
Cardstock: Pool Party, Calypso Coral, Island Indigo, Basic Black, Whisper White
Other: Big Shot, Window Frames Framelits, Dimensionals

How will this picture inspire you?  See you over at Just Add Ink!

Bye for now,

Tina

Vintage Tea For Two

Hi!

I was asked to make a card on commission for a female 30th Birthday.  The brief I has was girly. The first thing that popped into my head was this layout I'd done for a Just Add Ink Scrapbooking Challenge earlier in the year. It was a girly layout that I'd loved making and so I was keen to see how it would translate to a card.

I think it worked pretty well!  I knew the card was going to be hand delivered so I was able to use some bulkier embellishments that I didn't have to worry about getting squished in the mail.

I loved the little torn section with the button and lace on my layout, so of course I had to carry it over to the card.

I wanted the inside to be as pretty as the outside, but with plenty of space for writing a message.

Of course I had to dress up the envelope too. I had a tiny scrap of the lace trim that I tucked in between the two ovals on the front.

On the back of the envelope I just covered the flap with some coordinating DSP.

Stamps: Sweet Essentials
Ink: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso
DSP/Cardstock: Tea For Two DSP, Calypso Coral, Very Vanilla
Other: Big Shot, Ovals Collection Framelits, Timeless Type Alphabet Dies (retired), Paper Doilies, Corner Rounder Punch, Linen Thread, Victoria Crochet Trim, Vintage Faceted Buttons, Colour Spritzer, Sponge Dauber, Butterfly Trinket (non SU)

Bye for now,

Tina

Thinking Of You With Flowering Flourishes

Hi!

Last week I was asked to make a card for my daughter's teacher.  Her husband had been very unwell and she had been off work for a long time looking after him.  The mums just wanted to let her know that we were thinking of her.

I wanted the card to be pretty and elegant, but most of all the Thinking Of You sentiment to stand out. I really love the Raspberry Ripple and Basic Black combination, and the splash of Old Olive helps give the sentiment panel a lift.

I incorporated some bling into the stamped Flowering Flourish image by adhering some Basic Jewels Rhinestones.

I continued the same theme on the inside of the card with more stamping and more bling. From all accounts she loved the card.

Stamps: Flowering Flourishes, Thoughts And Prayers
Ink: Raspberry Ripple
DSP/Cardstock: First Edition Specialty DSP, Raspberry Ripple, Old Olive, Basic Black, Very Vanilla
Other: Big Shot, Paper Doily Sizzlit, Decorative Label Punch, Basic Jewels Rhinestones, Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon (retired)

Bye for now,

Tina

JAI #168: Just Add A Sketch

Hi!

Brrrr! It's been a cold end to the week here in Adelaide which is perfect stamping weather.  Luckily it's time for another Just Add Ink challenge.

This week Mae has designed a sketch to inspire our projects. The Design Team have interpreted the sketch in many different ways.

For my take on the sketch I decided to make a card for my eldest son Alex's 10th Birthday.  He's a big Star Wars fan so I decided to include something from the movies on the card.

For the punch art R2D2 I took my inspiration from two different sources. You can see them here and here.  I pretty much took the bits I liked or could easily recreate with my punches form each one and combined them to get my version.  I think it turned out well!

You can see in this close up that I dry embossed a zig zag feature across the bottom of the card.

I repeated the zig zag embossing on the inside too.  Sorry for the dark photos, the weather lately hasn't been good for photography.

You can see it a bit better in this photo.

Stamps: Sassy Salutations
Ink: Night Of Navy, Sahara Sand
Cardstock: Brushed Silver, Night Of Navy, Basic Black, Whisper White, Silver Glimmer Paper
Other: Big Shot, Timeless Type Alpha Dies (retired), Lots of Punches, Dimensionals, Simply Scored Borders Scoring Plate, Sponge Dauber

What will you do with the sketch? Make sure you link up at Just Add Ink so we can all see.

Oh, I should let you know that Alex loved the card!

Bye for now,

Tina

Farewell I Dig You

Hi!

It was a bit of a sad day when I spied I Dig You on the Retiring List.  It's my go to stamp set for cards for little boys.  Thankfully I've seen the upcoming catalogue and there's plenty to replace it, so I wasn't too sad for long.

I made this card as a sample for my Stamping Ladies to make last month.  I had to confess to them that I'd made it with a purpose in mind, as Hudson had been invited to his friend's birthday party and I needed a card for that.  They didn't mind too much I hope!

The card also used some retiring colours - Not Quite Navy and Riding Hood Red. I will miss those colours, but probably not for too long as there are some gorgeous new colours being released with the new catalogue.

The packing paper that comes with Stampin' Up! orders is so handy when you realise that you don't have any wrapping paper.  I'm not really a wrapping paper person as I think it is really wasteful, but using the packing paper is upcycling, so I'm OK with that. Of course it has to be stamped to match the card.

Stamps: I Dig You
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Riding Hood Red, Gumball Green
Cardstock: Not Quite Navy, Riding Hood Red, Gumball Green, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White
Other: Paper Piercer, Piercing Mat, Essentials Paper Piercing Pack

Bye for now,

Tina

Pink Baby Card

Hi!

I made this card intending it to be my Design Team submission for a recent Just Add Ink challenge.  I ended up not liking it very much though.  Hold on, let me clarify.  I like the card, I just didn't think it was good enough for a JAI challenge.

 The card was a commission for a couple that had just had a baby girl. I thought the pink and the glitter were perfect for the occasion.

You can see that I popped up each of the hearts and the sentiment, just for a bit of dimension.

Some more hearts just to finish off the inside.  The stamp is from A Word For You, which is retiring at the end of the month.  If it's a set you'd like you had better get in quick!

Stamps: Sweet Essentials, A Word For You
Ink: Pretty In Pink, Versamark
Cardstock: Pretty In Pink, Very Vanilla, Silver Glimmer Paper
Other: Square Punches, Heart Punch, Silver Embossing Powder, Dimensionals, Heat Gun

Bye for now,

Tina

JAI Scrap #18: Just Add Milestones.

Hi!

I have been busy scrapping again, just in time for the new Just Add Ink Scrapping Challenge.

This month Ruthy has challenged us to scrap a milestone.  A milestone can be defined as an important event in your life.  I have chosen my Grandma turning 100 as the milestone I scrapped.  She's pretty amazing - these pictures were taken over a year ago and she is now 101!

I chose to scrap a double page as I had too many photos for just one page.  The three square photos were taken at her party.  Sadly she was unable to attend her own party as she was unwell.  The photos on the right side of the layout are the following day when we were able to talk to her through the window of the nursing home.  We all sang Happy Birthday and blew her kisses.

This photo was taken a week later.  We were able to travel back to see her when she was well and able to have visitors.  She's such a remarkable woman and someone I really admire.

 You can see that in the top corner I stamped the large flourish from Flowering Flourishes using the Illuminate Inkpad.  I stamped the same image in each of the corners for a subtle little lift.

This is one of my favourite bits of the layout. At her party I was asked to make a speech with only about 10 minutes notice.  My sisters helped me come up with some points to make and I scribbled them on a scrap of paper.  The scroll is that scrap of paper.

Stamps: Flowering Flourishes
Ink: Illuminate, Lucky Limeade, So Saffron, Pretty In Pink
DSP/Cardstock: Tea For Two DSP, So Saffron, Early Espresso, Lucky Limeade
Other: Big Shot, Typeset Alpha Dies, Tasteful Trims Die, Little Leaves Sizzlit, Petals A Plenty Embossing Folder, Soda Pop Tops, Paper Doilies, Early Espresso Baker's Twine, Crystal Effects, Vanilla Flower Trim

I hope you can find time to play along with us this month at Just Add Ink.

Bye for now,

Tina