JAI 617: Just Choose Two

 Hi!

Thanks for joining me for the new Just Add Ink challenge. This week we have a Choose Two challenge, suggested by Di.

So what are your choices? Gingham, Dots or Diecuts. Choose any two to go on your card. For me it was an easy choice, as I'd just purchased a new stamp set that featured dots.

I used the Concord & 9th Bitty Burst Turnabout stamp on my card, using four different shades of blue and green. I used Pacific Point, Night Of Navy, Granny Apple Green and Shaded Spruce. I can see myself using this stamp set a lot, and I can't wait to try out different colour combos.

To fulfil the second part of the Choose Two, I added a die cut from the Uniquely Creative Stitched Sun die. It filled the circle in the middle of the Bitty Burst beautifully.

I got a bit ambitious with the Bitty Burst stamp on the inside. I tried to do it with a rig, but it was very awkward on my Stamparatus. Next time I'll just wing it, I think!

That's all from me for tonight, but we'd love for you to play along with our challenge. Just head on over to the Just Add Ink blog, where you'll find lots more gorgeous inspiration from our Design Team. You'll also find the linky to add your photo to our challenge gallery. I can't wait to see which two you choose.

Bye for now,

Tina

CTC 378: Love, Thanks & Support

 Hi!

Hello, and thanks for finishing off your weekend with the CASEing The Catty Sunday Challenge Blog Hop. Isn't it a great way to end the week?

This week we have jumped back to the Annual Catalogue, and are asking you to CASE a card from the Love, Thanks & Support section, which runs from pages 56 to 77.

I started at the back of the section, and quickly found this beauty to CASE. I loved the soft colours of the flowers, and the DSP backing, all on a fresh, white card base. I don't own the stamp set, used, so I reached for my retired Bouquet Of Hope Paper Pumpkin stamp set, which has a lovely, big bouquet image.

I think that the style of the image is similar to that on the catalogue sample, don't you agree? I coloured it with my Blends from the Subtles colour family. I made the largest flowers Highland Heather, to coordinate with the paper from the retired Sweet Talk DSP.

I wanted the flowers to pop a little more from the background, so I layered them over a vellum heart. I cropped the vellum using the retired Stitched be Mine Dies. 

The sentiments on the card are from Grace's Garden, which is a (you guessed it) retired stamp set. I've used a lot of retired stuff on my card, which I didn't realise until I was writing this post! It definitely makes sense to use your stash when CASEing - you don't always have to have the exact products.

Now it's your turn! Which project from the Love, Thanks & Support section will you CASE? Once you've made your card, all you need to do is add a photo to our Facebook group before next Sunday's blog hop. I can't wait to see what you make!

It's time now to jump on over to the next blog in our hop, which is the lovely Sandra Collett. I wonder which card she's CASEd?

Bye for now,

Tina

April Creative Showcase: Mother's Day

 Hi!

Thanks for stopping by for this month's Creative Showcase. This month we are making Mother's Day cards, getting in nice and early, ready for the big day next month. I was struggling a bit for ideas, until I was fluffing around at my craft desk and came across some images from Grace's Garden that I'd stamped ages ago, but done nothing with in the meantime. Straight away I pictured a scene in my head, and I'm pretty thrilled with how it translated to paper.

There are a lot of layers on this card! I started by using my Sponge Brayer and Blending Brush to apply some Balmy Blue and Pacific Point ink to the top part of the background layer. I wanted this layer to look like it had a dirt path that lead through a forest. I used stamps from My Meadow to achieve this look, and then finished the layer by applying some Granny Apple Green ink to the bottom of the card. Most of it is hidden by the next layer, but I like to be thorough!

The second layer is the tall flowers (no idea what type of flowers they are meant to be!) that sit behind the fence and gate. This layer also includes the part of the path that you can see in front of the gate, and the grass to either side. The third layer is the gate, fence and cat. I left the fence white, apart from some slight touches of grey, added with My Light Grey Granite Blend. I also fussy cut it out, including the tiny pieces in between the slats - I wanted to be able to see the path and flowers through the fence. The final layer is the cluster of flowers to the right of the gate.

I couldn't find room for a sentiment on the front, so I had to put it on the inside! This one is from Dressed To Impress, and is flanked by some more flowers from Grace's Garden.

That's all from me for this month's Creative Showcase, but you can find the rest of the links for this month's blogs over on Rachel's blog. She does such a great job of keeping us all organised every month!

Bye for now,

Tina