Love Is Kindness

Hi!

One of the first stamps that caught my eye in the new Occasions Catalogue was the single stamp Love Is Kindness. I thought it was really pretty and would make a feature on a stamp without much else on the card. Having said that, the first card I made with it used quite a lot of new product!

Isn't it great?  I carried over the newspaper theme to the background, by using the Dictionary Background stamp.

I coloured the tulip image using some of the new Blendabilities - Pink Pirouette and Wild Wasabi.  I also used the Smoky Slate set to create some highlights on the newspaper.  I'm loving the new, softer colours in the Blendabilities.

As I made this card I thought that it would make a great Mother's Day card too.  I wanted to test out the theory, so I made a second card.

I used the retired For My Family stamp set for the sentiment on the second card.  What do you think? Is it better as a birthday card or a Mother's Day card?

Bye for now,

Tina

Kinda Eclectic In Neutrals

Hi!

Over the weekend I have been participating in a Cyber Crop with some of the Art With Heart team.  A Cyber Crop is basically a stamping session done over the internet.  I was asked to design a sketch and a sample card for a challenge during the Cyber Crop.

Here's the sketch I designed and the card to go with it.

I used the new In Colour Blackberry Bliss as the base for the card.  It's fast becoming one of my favourite colours!  I love it teamed with the Neutral colours I've used on the rest of the card.

I stamped the sunburst from Kinda Eclectic in Hello Honey that I stamped off once before stamping on the card.  The vellum circle over the top helps to soften the card too.

The other main colour I used was Crumb Cake.  I need to reink my pad, but I like the effect the drier pad gives on this card.

I made another card using this sketch during the Cyber Crop, so I'll be back later with that one and some of the other cards I made for the challenges over the weekend.

Bye for now,

Tina

My Convention Swap

Hi!

I thought I'd sow you the card I made as a swap at Convention.  I didn't end up making many of them as there were quite involved and heavy on the layers.  I was really pleased with how they turned out though.

I tried to stick to products that were carrying over into the next Annual Catalogue as I wanted to be able to use the card as a display card in the future.

I really loved the touch of drama that the black matts add to the card.

As usual I decorated the inside too - which is unusual in a swap, but I wanted to do it anyway.  A card doesn't feel finished anymore unless I decorate the inside too.

Stamps: World Map, Dictionary, Gorgeous Grunge, Memorable Moments, Sassy Salutations
Ink: Jet Black Stazon, Pacific Point, Garden Green, Sahara Sand
Cardstock: Basic Black, Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla, Watercolour Paper
Other: Big Shot, Circles Framelits, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Banner Punch, Cotton Ribbon, Aqua Painter, Silver Mini Brads, Sponge Daubers, Dimensionals

Bye for now,

Tina

A CASE of Myself

Hi!

Today's card was, as my blog post title says, a CASE of myself. You can see my original card here.

The central panel of this card was a left over from my original card.  It was too pretty to throw out, so I decided to build another card around it.

I went for a prettier look this time, rather than the more aged, vintage look on the original.

Bye for now,

Tina

JAI #189: Just Add Colour

Hi!

Time for a new Just Add Ink challenge!

This week Kim has given us a colour combination to work with.  I must admit when I first sat down to work with it I was a bit stumped, but by the time I finished my card I was totally in love with the combination.

 I decided to use mostly the neutrals on the card and use the colours to add highlights.

I think it turned out pretty well!  I knew I wasn't going to be posting this card so I wasn't worried about the bulk that the Vintage Faceted Button adds to the card.

The card was for a special friend so I wanted to do something extra special on the inside too.

You can see it more clearly in the picture below.  I used Crystal Effects to add little highlights to the stamped wreath.

I love that scrollwork in the stamp from Daydream Medallions.

I hope you can play along with us at Just Add Ink this week using Kim's fabulous colour combination.

Bye for now,

Tina

JAI #185: Just Add Colour

Hi!

Is it really Friday? What happened to Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday?  I think school holidays and sick kids swallowed up those days.  Oh well, better late than never!

This week Delys has given us a gorgeous Colour Combination to work with.  I really loved this combo - so very pretty and feminine.

I was commissioned to make a card for a bride to be on her hen's night.  The wedding theme is vintage, so the card needed to be vintage too. I thought the colours suited the look perfectly.

I didn't have any "Happy Hen's Night" type sentiments, so I decided to leave the front without a sentiment.  I really don't think it needs on anyway.

To 'age' the background DSP I stamped my Dictionary stamp over the top with Sahara Sand ink and then sponged it quite heavily around the edges.

 

You can see the difference between the starting point and the end result.  It's quite a difference, but quite simple to achieve.

 

I also used the Dictionary stamp on the flower panel.  To get the rough look I inked up the stamp, leaving it face up on my desk. I then laid the circle punchie on top and pressed lightly with my fingertips to get an uneven image. Love the effect!

 

I used the same technique to decorate the inside of the card.

Stamps: Dictionary, Simply Sketched, Well Scripted
Ink: Sahara Sand, Raspberry Ripple, Coastal Cabana
DSP/Cardstock: Eastern Elegance DSP, Raspberry Ripple, Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla
Other: Big Shot, Paper Doily Die, Circles Collection Framelits, 2 1/2" Circle Punch, Victoria Lace Trim, Pearls, Dimensionals, Sponge Dauber, Blender Pen

I hope you can play along this week with us at Just Add Ink. It's such a beautiful colour combination, it's sure to inspire.

Bye for now,

Tina

Gorgeous Grunge Frame Card

Hi!

Today's card was a 'reject' for a recent Just Add Ink challenge.  A few weeks ago we challenged you to add a frame to your creation.  This was the card I made first, but I decided the frame wasn't enough of a feature so I didn't submit it for the challenge.  I thought I'd show you anyway.

I was inspired to make my card after seeing this card by Andrea Walford.

You can see I was playing with the Polaroid style frame that I used on the card I submitted for the Just Add Ink challenge.  You can see my card here.

Stamps: Dictionary, Gorgeous Grunge, Sweet Essentials, Simply Stars, Express Yourself (Hostess)
Ink: Baked Brown Sugar, Crumb Cake
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Whisper White
Other: Big Shot, Squares Collection Framelits, Linen Thread, Sponge Daubers, Dimensionals

Bye for now,

Tina