JAI #353: Just Add Critters

Hi!


Gee wiz! I can't believe it's the end of March already! I actually nearly typed February just then instead of March - it's been such a busy start to the year that I'm completely losing track.

I did remember that it's Friday though, which means it's time for the new Just Add Ink challenge. This week Karren has challenged us to Just Add Critters. I can tell you that the Design Team had some fun with this one - there's some really cool critter cards on the main blog.

Other than butterflies and dragonflies, I really didn't have a lot of animal stamps, so it was a good excuse to splash out and finally purchase the Foxy Friends bundle. I had this idea for a card in my head all week, and when I sat down to make it, the result was exactly what I'd hoped for.

What do you think? I think it looks much better in real life - the Emerald Envy cardstock didn't photograph well, so it looks much more subdued that it actually is. I wanted bright, so I went with Tempting Turquoise, Emerald Envy, Daffodil Delight and Tangerine Tango.

I had to break up all of the bright colours with splashes of Whisper White. Without it I think the colours would fight each other a bit, rather than sitting nicely together. I hand cut the curved horizon from my Emerald Envy cardstock, adhered a piece of Whisper White behind it, and then hand trimmed the WW to match the EE.

I'm not sure what I'll use this card for yet - maybe a child's birthday card. For now I'll leave it blank. I can easily stamp an inside sentiment later on.

What critters do you have hiding in your stash? Why don't you bring them out to play? Link your card over at the Just Add Ink blog so we can see what you create.


Bye for now,


Tina

JAI #352: Just Add Colour

Hi!

Here we are again, with another new challenge for Just Add Ink. This week Nikki has given us this gorgeous colour combination to work with. I fell in love with it straight away.

You may have worked out that I'm a bit in love with the Sponge Brayers. I couldn't resist getting one out again for this card. Tempting Turquoise looks fabulous as an ombre background, don't you think?

I cut the largest Stitched Shapes Square Framelit from the base once I'd brayered it. I added a few layers underneath it to hide the cut. I love the colours together with a splash of Whisper White - they look so crisp!

I recently purchased the Foxy Friends bundle and finally got a chance to play with it on this baby card. I look forward to playing some more in the future - I think it's going to be great for baby/toddler cards.

I had lots of fun making my card for this week's Just Add Ink challenge. I hop you do too! You can link your card over at the blog.


Bye for now,


Tina

AWH Blog Hop: Easter

Hi!

Today I am participating in a blog hop along with the super talented ladies in the Art With Heart Team. We thought it would be fun to share some Easter projects, seeing as Easter is only about 3 weeks away!
Saleabration is a great time to join or place a $90 order to get extra free items – ask me how!
Blog Hops are full circles, so you can start hopping here and then at the end of each post is a link to the next one. There is also a list of participants at the end in case of any broken links. Now let’s get started!


I don't really send Easter cards, so after a lot of thinking about what I could do instead of a card, I decided to scrap a layout of an Easter from my childhood. I rummaged through my box of photos, and found this gem from around 30 years ago. My sisters and I are wearing blue and pink nighties, which tied in beautifully with the colours in the Falling In Love DSP.

I had to laugh, as my sisters and I each got a Humpty Dumpty egg. They are still around now, and my children regularly receive them at Easter. In fact, I went to a Chicks at the Flicks movie last night and received a sample one in my goodie bag!


I also laughed, as I had to date this photograph based on my haircut! I dragged out my old school photos, and based on those it had to be either 1986 or 1987.


I haven't journalled on this layout yet. I have typed up the text on a Project Life card, however what I thought looked blue actually turned out more of a green and didn't look right on the page. Sadly, my typewriter ribbon ran out, so I have to wait for my new one to arrive so that I can add the text.

I cut this 'sweet' from Cupcake Cutouts Framelits many months ago at my friend Kathryn's house. I cut it in Whisper White, which wasn't going to work on this layout. No problem - I just grabbed my trusty Sponge Brayer and my Sweet Sugarplum inkpad, and hey presto! A Sweet Sugarplum title! I love that the brayer has given it a textured look, very different from if I'd cut it with SS card stock.

Did you know that butterflies are a symbol of Easter? I certainly didn't until I Googled symbols of Easter while I was brainstorming for my project. The life cycle of the butterfly reflects the story of Jesus over the Easter period. You learn something every day!


That's it from me for now, but next on the list is Rachel Woollard. She's bound to inspire you with her creativity!

If you find a broken link or have come to this blog hop from a different entry point, you can view the participants below:

1. Judy May
2. Catherine Proctor
3. Ros Davidson
4. Rebecca Jacovou
5. Kathryn Mangelsdorf
6. Claire Daly
7. Kate Morgan
8. Monika O'Neill
9. Tina Gillespie
10. Rachel Woollard

JAI #351: Just Add L

Hi!


Gee, these Fridays are rolling around fast! Time for a new challenge!

This week at Just Add Ink it's one of our alphabet challenges, and this time was are asking you to Just Add L to your projects. It can be anything L related - the theme, the name of the stamp set, the name of the colour, etc. Just make sure you let us know in your post what your L elements are.

For my L card, I went with Leaves and Linen Thread.

I've been seeing an ink technique around a lot lately, and it was one I wanted to try. You basically drip a few reinkers onto a large clear block, push the colour around a bit with an Aqua Painter to spread it out, and then press your cardstock onto the block to pick up the ink. I love the effect, bit it took me a few goes to get one I was happy with! Trying to work out the best mix and ratio of colours was the hardest part.

I ended up with Crushed Curry, Old Olive and Cajun Craze - fabulous Autumnal colours. The leaf was cut from some retired Corrugated Cardstock that I still have in my stash.

What will your L elements be? Can't wait to see it over at Just Add Ink this week!

Bye for now,

Tina

JAI #350: Just Add A Sketch

Hi!


Yay for Friday! It's been a long week in my house! Are you going to be doing some crafting over the weekend? Why not join in the new Just Add Ink challenge?

 This week Chantell has designed a fantastic sketch for us to use. I really loved this one, as it's so simple. I couldn't wait to give it a go.

I straight away knew I was going to make a masculine card using the new Urban Underground SDSP from the Occasions Catalogue. I paired it with the Guy Greetings stamp set from the Annual Catalogue.

I made this card for one of my brothers-in-law, who is a mechanic. The vintage car stamp was a great choice for him.

LOL, I really love the sentiment, To A Classic. Perfect for men of a certain age!

Why don't you pop on over to the Just Add Ink blog to see what the rest of the Design Team have created? Don't forget to link up your card when you've made it - can't wait to see it.

Bye for now,

Tina

JAI #349: Just Add Inspiration

Hi!


I hope you're having a great week! Are you ready and raring to go with Just Add Ink's latest challenge? I know I am!

This week Patrice has found this very yummy looking picture to inspire our creativity. Yum! I love macarons, especially lemon ones.

The first thing I noticed in the picture was the rainbow of colour. My logical mind loves that it's arranged in nice neat rows and in colour order, so that's what I went with for my card.

A rainbow of colour is fabulous for a kid's card, so that's what I decided to make. This end result was my third attempt. In the first attempt, I started at the top and ran our of room for the birthday stamp. The second go round I stamped a few of the happy stamps too hard and ended up with halos. Third time lucky!

These are the colours I used to create my rainbow. I hope you can read the labels - they are my dodgy home made ones, as I still have old pads from before SU made labels to go on the ends.

I just had to include balloons in my card, not only are they great on kid's cards, but they are also in the Inspiration photo. I didn't notice them at first, as I was too busy drooling over the macarons!


I hope you can play along with us again this week at Just Add Ink. I'm really looking forward to seeing the rainbows of colour that this picture will inspire!


Bye for now,


Tina