Springtime In Sahara

Hi!

Welcome once again to the new Colour Creations Blog Hop. I'm joining in even though I'm still in New Zealand, so hopefully nothing technical goes wrong!

This week we are featuring a neutral that I don't use very much. - Sahara Sand. I was so lacking for inspiration that I went googling and I found this card by Teneale Williams that I decided to CASE. There are lots of products on her card that are long retired, so I had to make do with similar current products.

As the current butterfly is wider than the old style one, I flipped the card to be landscape orientation. I kept the strips of DSP at each end of the card, as I quite liked that feature.

I promise that I used some Sahara Sand DSP from the Neutrals pack on my card, the photo is just showing it as more like Crumb Cake! I pulled out an old favourite stamp set, Timeless Textures to add some detail under the butterfly. There are actually two butterflies layered - another feature I loved from Teneale's card.

Similar inside stamping, and I also repeated the DSP under the panel trick for the strip along the bottom of the inside. I will have to remember that one!

Time once more to pop on over to Catherine's blog to see the rest of this week's Sahara Sand cards. You'll be glad you did.

Bye for now,

Tina

AWH Blog Hop: CASEing The Catalogue

Hi!

Welcome to June's Art With Heart Blog Hop!

This month, Ros has asked us to CASE a card from the new Annual Catalogue. Do you ever CASE? It's a great way to kick start your creativity when you feel like you've lost your mojo. I also sometimes CASE when I have a new stamp set and I'm a bit stumped on how to use it.

So what is a CASE? It can mean Copy And Share Everything, or Copy And Selectively Edit. Doesn't matter which you pick - it just means you've made a card that was directly inspired by another. Of course, you should always give credit to the original! I've chosen the card at the bottom left of the picture on page 157 to CASE today, and I've made two versions.

If you have your Annual Catalogue handy and have flicked to page 157, you can see that my first card is a pretty direct CASE of the card I chose. I've used all of the same stamp sets, inks and colours - there isn't a lot that I've changed.

In this picture, you can see my two changes - I've used staples instead of stitching (I was feeling a bit too lazy to get out my sewing machine!), and I've used a stamped Pear Pizzazz flag instead of Pear Pizzazz DSP. That was simply because I don't have any current Pear Pizzazz DSP. Otherwise, the card is as close of a CASE as I could make it.

I had to imagine what the inside would look like, as it's rare that the insides are shown in the Catalogue. I just went with similar stamping to the background on the front.

Next, I decided to CASE the same card, but to make it completely different. I started by selecting a different stamp set. I recently got Treehouse Adventure, so I pulled it out for a play. My first effort went in the bin, but I was much happier with the second!

Like the first card, I've used a Crumb Cake card base. I've kept the green background, but this time I've used some Call Me Clover DSP. As I was making a kid's card, I elected to go with bright colours. Once again, my main panel is matted in a dark brown, but this time I've used Early Espresso rather than Soft Suede. The tree and grass replaces the grungy stamping on the first card, but I've used different shades of the one colour (green/brown) on each card, stamping off at times both.

You can easily see on this card, I've flipped some of the elements. The treehouse replaces the sunflower, but now it's on the opposite side of the card. I had no intention to do so, but in stamping the grass I managed to get an ink smudge in a bad spot, so the house had to hide it. I've not used twine on this card, and the banner elements are different, but still in a similar position.

I couldn't resist adding the house in again on the inside!

So there you have it - two cards that CASE the one card, but both are very different!

That's it from me, now you're hopping back to the start, as I'm last on the list. Top of this list this month is the fabulous Catherine Proctor.

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

Catherine Proctor 
Kimberly Hern 

Monika O’Neill

Caroline Manwaring

Kathryn Mangelsdorf 

Kathryn Ruddick 

Kate Morgan 

Alisha Watson

Rachel Palmeri 

Andrea Roberts 

Ros Davidson

Rebecca Jacovou

Rachel Woollard

Tina Gillespie

Bye for now,

Tina

JAI #382: Just Add Colour

Hi!

I hope you've had a lovely week. We've had a few hot days here in Adelaide, and I've loved it! Bring on summer!

During the week, I also created a card for this week's Just Add Ink challenge. It's a colour combo this week, suggested by Patrice.

Isn't it lovely - the yummy neutrals with the pop of Fresh Fig.

There's lots of different bits and pieces on this card. Do you create like that, or do you stick to one stamp set? I do a bit of both. In this case I've stamped with the flourish from Timeless Textures, the flowers from Oh So Eclectic and the sentiment from Jar Of Love. Chuck in some vellum, Black Thread, silver sequins, some Pick A Pattern Washi tape and leaf dies from Eclectic Layers, and you have a card!

I coloured the flowers with my Fresh Fig ink pad and a Blender Pen. I wanted a heavy concentration of colour at the base of the flower, fading to a super pale shade near the tips of the petals.

I used a lot of the same elements on the inside, but I opted to leave out the black elements, as they dominated too much in the smaller space I was decorating.

This was such a fun colour combination. You can see what the rest of the team have created over at Just Add Ink. You can also link up your card there when you're ready.

Bye for now,

Tina

JAI #380: Just Add A Sketch

Hi!

Welcome back to another week of challenges!

This week at Just Add Ink Narelle has designed a fabulous sketch. It's a lovely, simple sketch, which means there's lots of room for interpretation. I've loved seeing the cards that the rest of the Design Team have created, and I'm sure you will too.

What do you think? Love it as much as I do?

I recently purchased some Harry Potter inspired stamp sets and have been waiting for an opportunity to play with them. As soon as I saw this sketch, I realised that the long, thin element could be a line of footprints, and the card grew from there.

Harry was coloured using my Copic markers, and then I stamped the rest of the card using my SU inks. As well as the Harry Potter stamp sets, I also used Timeless Textures to sort of replicate the look of the Marauder's Map. I was pleased with how it turned out.

Now, you may notice that I haven't shown a picture of the inside of the card - that's because it's not done yet. It's the first week of the school holidays here, and the kids are keeping me very busy. One of the Harry Potter stamp sets included a Hedwig stamp, so I intend to include her on the inside. For those not in the know, Hedwig is Harry's pet owl.

EDIT: Here's the inside!

You can join in with the fun this week over at the Just Add Ink blog. Head on over there to see what the rest of the Design team have created, and to link your card for the sketch challenge.

Bye for now,

Tina

AWH Blog Hop: Favourite Colour Combination

Hi!

It's time for the monthly Art With Heart Blog Hop. This month is a fun one, and I'm very keen to see what the rest of the team has created!

The Art with Heart Team ladies are selecting their favourite colour combinations to share with you tonight. Choosing the right colour scheme can be essential to your design and with Stampin’ Up!'s stunning collection, there are 50 colours to choose from. There’s sure to be some combinations that work really well together and you can take inspiration from.

Now sit back and enjoy some time out of your day to cruise through our blog hop and soak up some colour explosion eye candy!

If you're a bit like me, choosing a favourite colour combination is a bit like choosing a favourite child - it depends on the time of the day, the mood of the children, my mood.... I could go on! I've been on a bit of a vintage roll lately, and using a lot of Tranquil Tide. It's one of the colours that I thought was yucky when I first saw it, but I'm a total convert!

As you can see, this time around I've paired it with Fresh Fig, Crumb Cake and Very Vanilla to create my card.

You may notice that the pattern in my Fresh Florals DSP doesn't look white, as it should. I used a clever trick for 'ageing' it - I used my sponge brayer to roll over some Crumb Cake ink. It works a treat for subduing the white in the pattern.

The tulips were stamped in Fresh Fig onto some scrap Very Vanilla, fussy cut and then popped up on Dimensionals. I used my new Sheet Music stamp on the oval, and then went around the edge using one of the stamps in Timeless Textures. I also used the stamp to go around the edge of the sentiment panel.

I think the inside is one of my favourite parts of the card. I selectively inked the Sheet Music stamp, and then pressed parts of the cardstock onto the inked stamp while holding up the rest of the cardstock. I used my fingers to press the cardstock to the stamp so that I got a soft edge to the stamped image. I sponged a little Crumb Cake ink over the top, and then stamped the stamp from Timeless Textures along the edges.

Now it’s time to hop on over to our next participant, the very talented Kathryn Ruddick. 

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. Catherine Proctor
2. Sharon Davern
3. Tina Gillespie
<-- br="" me="">4. Kathryn Ruddick
5. Andrea Roberts
6. Rebecca Jacovou
7. Monika O’Neill
8. Caroline Manwaring
<-- br="" me="">9. Rachel Woollard
10. Kimberly Hern
11. Ros Davidson
12. Amie McIlroy
13. Kate Morgan

A Daisy Windmill

Hi!

After I returned from On Stage in Perth, I was showing my class ladies some photos I'd taken of the Inspiration Boards. They saw a card made by Kelly Kent to showcase the Daisy Punch, and straight away asked if they could make it in class.

I was keen to do it, especially as we'd been doing a bit of work with the Sponge Brayers, and this was a good way to show them how to do a panel with three colours. We used Daffodil Delight, Peekaboo Peach and Watermelon Wonder to create the stunning background.

I pre-cut all of the pieces for the windmill, so that everyone just had to glue down the bits. The windmill blades where made by punching the daisy twice and then trimming with two different circle framelits to crop them to the correct size. Kelly is so clever to think of this!

We finished the inside by carrying over the silhouette look. I was really struggling with what to do, when Rob suggested I do a fence. I wasn't sure what to use to get the look, but after a quick flick through the catalogue I decided the stamp from Timeless Textures would be fabulous for the wire fence. I think I should have flattened the ends of the Classic Label punch, as it looks a little to picket fence rather than farm fence. Next time!

You can see Kelly's card at the end of this post. There are heaps of gorgeous cards using the Daisy bundle in her post, so it's well worth a look.

Bye for now,

Tina

JAI #363: Just Add An Anniversary

Hi!

Are you ready for a new Just Add Ink challenge? I am!

This week Chantell has challenged us to Just Add Anniversary. It could be the anniversary of anything you like, as long as it celebrates an Anniversary.

I recently hosted an ATC swap, and I had a stamped and cut butterfly left over, as well as a 'love' die cut from vellum. I decided to put them to good use for this challenge while they were still floating on the surface of my desk. If I left them too long, they may have been lost forever!

The butterfly was stamped using the solid stamp from Watercolour Wishes in Powder Pink ink. I then inked the flourish from Timeless Textures in Berry Burst ink and 'kissed' the two stamps together. I then repeated on the other wing before stamping the butterfly image on my cardstock. It's such a pretty look, isn't it?

Do you have an upcoming Anniversary to celebrate? I've only just celebrated mine, so this card will go into my stash until such time as I require an anniversary card. They are always handy to have on hand. Why don't you pop on over to the Just Add Ink blog so that you can join in the fun?

Bye for now,

Tina

Timeless Babywipe Technique

Hi!


Continuing in the theme of, 'Yay! It's carrying over!', is today's card featuring Timeless Textures. It's one of my favourite sets for adding a touch of grunge or vintage to a card.

This card was made as a class sample. We played with the babywipe technique, where you drip reinkers onto a folded wipe and then use the wipe as an inkpad. You can see that the flourish stamp has multiple colours. It's such a cool effect!

Can you see a tiny piece of DSP behind the vellum sentiment banner? It's from the colour family DSP stacks, and sadly these are retiring and not being replaced.

I really love this card - it's so soft and pretty!


Bye for now,


Tina

JAI #357: Just Add Colour

Hi!


A little sad today, as it's the last day of the school holidays. I really enjoy the downtime and the lazy days. Anyway, it's Friday, which means it's Just Add Ink day!

This week we have a colour challenge, suggested by Jan. I really love the combination of Sweet Sugarplum and Rich Razzleberry, so I was happy from the start! The addition of Sahara Sand and Island Indigo adds a fresh take to the combo.

I thought I'd give you a little sneak peek of a new stamp set that's from the upcoming Annual Catalogue. I was lucky enough to receive this set, Daisy Delight, at the On Stage event I attended in Perth recently.

It's so pretty! To get this flower, I stamped the outline three times on Very Vanilla cardstock in Rich Razzleberry and then watercoloured them in Sweet Sugarplum using a fairly dry Aqua Painter. Too much water makes the VV cardstock pill, and I certainly didn't want that! I then punched the flowers using the new Daisy punch and layered them so they were offset. It gives such a lovely, full flower, more like a Gerbera.

Can you see another sneak peek in the centre of the flower? The new Faceted Gems are gorgeous! They were certainly a must-have for me when I saw them at On Stage.

Did you notice the stamping under the daisy on the front of the card? I used my Timeless Textures stamp set, which is carrying over to the new catalogue. Yay!


Why don't you pop on over to the Just Add Ink blog to see what the rest of the team have created? I'm certain they will inspire you to stamp along with us this week.


Bye for now,


Tina

Vintage Delicate Details

Hi!


Have you earned yourself a Sale-A-Bration freebie yet? One of the first stamp sets I chose was Delicate Details. I love the different lacy patterns, and thought they'd look perfect on a vintage style card.

I made this card for a card class, and decided after I'd made it that I probably should have stamped the lace down both sides of the flower panel. It was all stuck down, so I couldn't pull it up to stamp it, nor did I have time to make it again. I still like it this way though!

I ended up with two spare kits, so I decided to have a play and actually make it with the second lace border.  What do you think? It's a definite improvement, I think.

I stamped it with a bit more splatter the third time. I probably went a little overboard on this one though!

Here's the inside of the card. I left it the same for all three versions. What do you think of the lace in Elegant Eggplant? I love it!


Bye for now,


Tina

Unexpectedly Grungy

Hi!


Today's card 2was one that was a bit of a surprise for me. Let me explain! My granny upline, Claire Daly, occasionally sets challenges in our team forum - I've probably mentioned this before. This time she gave us a pic of a bed with a geometric style doona and challenged us to use the colours. I loved the colours, but was also inspired by the geometric patterns in the doona. However, when I sat down to create, this is what I came up with.

I think grungy must be nearly the complete opposite in style to geometric! When the mojo's flowing, you just have to go along for the ride. The colours I used are Island Indigo, Pool Party, Blushing Bride and Crumb Cake. The retired Expressions "Thanks" was pushed into my Island Indigo inkpad to colour it, even though it looks nearly black in the pic.

After I'd assembled the card front it looked a little blank, so I ended up adhering a scattering of Gold Metallic Sequins.

So there you have it, my unexpectedly grungy challenge card!


Bye for now,


Tina