Just Add Ink #643 | Just Choose Two Challenge

 Hello stmping friends. Welcome, Welcome. Well its been a little minute since my last card but I'm here today for the new Just Add Ink Challenge - Just Add Ink #643 | Just Choose Two Challenge. Today for our Just Choose Two challenge (to choose two items to feature on your project) we are choosing between Blending, Embossing and White. Nice. Which two would you pick?

 I've chosen embossing and whiteand then even combined those two elements that I have chosen with White Embossing. I've gone for a very clean and simple (CAS) card with lots of layers. I do love me some layers.

With white being one of our Just Choose Two elements this week it was a given really that I would start the card with a white card base. I'm really loving using a white card base at the moment and then giving the card a little (or a lot) pop of colour.

It's a bit hard to see in the photo here but over the white base layers I added a layer of the spots pattern of the Vellum Basics Specialty DSP. It gives the card that little (albeit subtle) something extra. I love the look of the vellum when you see the card in real life.

I've used some of the floral images from the Stampin' Up! Happieness Abounds stamp set, stamped them with Whisper White Craft Ink and then embossed them with white embossing powder on Crumb Cake Cardstock. Normally I love these open images to colour but I think they look just as stiking stamped and embossed onto cardstock.

Under the Crumb Cake layers I've used the retired Purple Posy Scalloped Linen Ribbon. Of all the years that I've been a Stampin' Up! demonstrator I would have to say that the Scalloped Linen Ribbon in the 5 colours that was offered would have to be my all time favourite. Just gorgeous. Layer the ribbon and you really add that something special to any project. Pity you can't purchase it anymore.

I've then finished the card off with some Crumb Cake splatters, linen thread, Basic Pearls and a sentiment from the retired stamp set Itty-Bitty Greetings.

 There are lots of AMAZING creations from the rest of the Just Add Ink Design Team on the JAI Blog. Go and check out to see what 'two' elements they all used this week and then while you are there you can see how you can enter your project. Can't wait to see what 'two' you used. 

 Thanks so much for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

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TGIF Challenges | #TGIFC218 | With Sympathy

Hello stamping friends! Welcome, welcome! Today I'm sharing a project for the current TGIF Challenges | #TGIFC218 - With Sympathy theme. It is a theme that no one really likes to create for. We want to make cards for joyous occasions like birthdays and new babies and weddings. But really we should make the cards for the tough times too. 

It is important to have a few Sympathy cards in our stash so that we can send them when we need them. Sometimes it can be really hard to create them when we HAVE to.

Even though this is one of the cards that I had to create and get out in the post this week it really came together quite quickly.  I had some bits and pieces sitting on my desks from some projects where the ideas just didn't quite come together and had saved elements for another day.

I wanted this card to have a little bit of colour but still having a muted, not over the top look.  I started with the beautiful Perennial Essence DSP with the blue and purple tones and to soften the card added a layer of vellum.

Over the vellum is some Whisper White Flax Ribbon and Purple Posy Scalloped Linen Ribbon. With that is a piece of the Stitched Lace Die that I die cut again with the Stitched Rectangle and then layered with the Stitched Nested Labels die cut in Purple Posy cardstock.

The card is then finished off with a little bit of colour using the flowers from the Floral Essence stamp set. Two of the flowers I embossed with Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder on Vellum and then one, also embossed with Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder on Shimmery White cardstock.

 Just a little bit of Braided  Linen Thread and a Heat Embossed Sentiment to finish off the card and that's all that it really needs.

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Happy Stamping!

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Just Add Ink #384 | Just Add Inspiration

Hello, Hello. It's that time again for another Just Add Ink Card Challenge. We've got a gorgeous Inspiration picture for you. It's bright, fun and almost has that summer vibe. It's only 4 weeks till summer here in Melbourne and I for one can't wait!

I was inspired by the flowers in the picture, as well as those gorgeous colours of yellow and blue. I've pulled out an older stamp set, Rose Wonder, as it is perfect to use with the new Stampin' Blends Alcohol Markers that I really wanted to have a play around with too.

I stamped with the Tuxedo Black Memento ink the rose image on Whisper White Thick Cardstock and let that dry for a few minutes before colouring with the Stampin' Blends. When colouring with the blends I like to put a little bit of the dark colour down first and then blend and colour with the light marker. Others like to colour each section with the light marker and then add the darker colour. It all comes down to personal preference as to how you colour with them.

This originally was going to be a birthday card but I changed it up at the last minute for a friend who is going through a tough time at the moment and needed some happy snail mail to let them know I am thinking and praying for them.

Because I wanted to keep the rose image as the main focus of the card I kept the trim and embellishments to a minimum with just some Basic Black Baker's Twine and some gold sequins from the Metallics Sequin Assortment.

All finished off with the 'You're In My Thoughts and Prayers' sentiment embossed with White Stampin' Emboss Powder on a Basic Black banner.

Make sure you check out the rest of the Just Add Ink Design Team and what inspired them with the inspiration picture. Lots of fabulous creations from everyone!! While you are there check out how you can enter your creation! I'm so looking forward to seeing what inspires you!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

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#TGIFC 107 | Sympathy or Get Well

Hello and welcome to another TGIF Challenge. Isn't the year rolling by fast!!! It's the middle of May, we are about to celebrate Mother's Day this coming Sunday here in Australia, my eldest just celebrated his 14th birthday and we are nearly into the beginning of Winter. I know everyone says it every year but this year is going so quick!

This week at TGIF our theme is those cards that we all dislike making and sending because it usually means that someone close to us is going through a difficult time in their lives. Although we don't like to make Get Well or Sympathy cards it is really good to have some of these in our stash ready to send out quickly to our friends in their time of need.

My card today is quite 'pulled back' from my usually style but I find that these types of cards don't need all that 'fluff and stuff' just a simple, heartfelt message to convey your love and sympathies. I've used the Heartfelt Sympathy set, which I thought I didn't have but I do, and combined it with some new products coming out 1st June 2017.

The DSP is from the Delightful Daisy DSP. I did just have a plain piece of cardstock behind the embellishments but that looked too stark and it just needed something. Those spots on the DSP was just the 'something' that the card needed without being to over powering and in your face. How cool is that mottled look the DSP has? Almost like a watercolour wash without any of the mess.

I made a rectangle out of the square stitched shapes framelits and then using my Paper Trimmer cut out the inside of the rectangle. Love the frame that it left behind. The paper trimmer makes for cutting pieces out like this so easy because you can line up the trimmer blades exactly to where you want to cut and the trimmer arm is clear which makes it easy to see where you need to cut to. Love my SU trimmer. 

Did you see the piece of new In Colour Tranquil Tide ribbon??  It is gorgeous!! Love that it isn't too thick and it has a beautiful woven feel to it. Love it. Here's a picture that I put on Instagram this morning of all the new In Colour ribbons together!! I'm in love!!!  I'm such a sucker for beautiful ribbon and trims.

I don't normally embellish the inside of the cards but I really wanted to add this beautiful sentiment to my card.

'May you be comforted by the outpouring if love surrounding "

Isn't that beautiful? I know I would love that if I was going through some sort of hardship.

Again on the inside I've used the Delightful Daisy DSP and the Tranquil Tide ribbon with some Linen Thread, but you may have noticed another new product. The gorgeous Faceted Gems. These come in Gold, like I've used here and also in Silver. So pretty and I love the way the light bounces off all the different angles for a stunning sparkly effect.

I hope that I've given you a little bit on inspiration for this weeks theme. Why don't you play along with us this week? Click here for all the details and all the amazing inspiration from the TGIF gals.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

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Just Add Ink #306 - Rose Wonder Sympathy

Welcome to another Just Add Ink Challenge. This week the theme of the challenge is Sympathy cards. The ladies over at JAI have created a stunning aray of sympathy cards that are perfect to convey your sentiments if there is ever such a time when you need to send a Sympathy card.

When I was making this card I was reminded by a passage in the Bible from Ecclesiasties :1 - 8

'A Time for Everything'.
"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
 a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace..."
(New International Version)
If you would like to know some information about this passage, check it out here.

This passage tells us about the 'Circle of life' and while we love to celebrate with others when new life is born there is a proper time for everything, even  mourning when our loved ones pass away.

It is a good idea to have some Sympathy cards on hand ready to go. We may not always feel like making the Sympathy cards when we need them but if they are ready to go then its quick and easy to get them sent out.

I didn't want to make my card all black but I still wanted to convey sense of respect by not making it super bright. So I've gone with greys and a little pop of So Saffron.

Basic Gray

Smoky Slate

So Saffron

Whisper White

Click to see all Stampin' Up!'s products in that colour

I've embossed the rose image from the Rose Wonder stamp set with White Stampin' Emboss Powder and then coloured it in using an Aqua Painter and the Whisper White Craft Ink. You just pick up the ink from the lid of ink pad (after you give it a squeeze) with an aqua painter and 'paint' it on.  Make sure that your Aqua Painter isn't too wet and also make sure that when laying down the ink that you don't make the card stock too wet. The card stock will pill and ball up if you put down too much moisture.

I've hand stitched the Gold Metallic thread around the edge by first using my Paper Piercer and the Updated Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack to punch a border and then used the thread to stitch it through. I have used the Gold Metallic Thread in the sewing maching but hand stitching seems to work best with the Gold Metallic Thread. 

I didn't want to embellish the card too much so I've embossed a 'With Sympathy' sentiment, also from the Rose Wonder stamp set, in Black Stampin' Emboss Powder, finished off with a butterfly with a little touch of clear Wink of Stella.

I hope you have a fantastic weekend and that you will come along and play at Just Add Ink this week. For all the details on this weeks challenge and to see the projects from the Design Team, click here. Remember to mention Just Add Ink in your post.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

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 Recreate this card at home using the following Stampin' Up! products. Click on the images below to see product information and to shop from my online store.

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Bloom with Hope Sympathy

Whenever I make Sympathy cards I like them to have a little pop of colour but not too much so I used the Bloom with Hope stamp set which as a 'With Sympathy' sentiment, coloured the flower image with the Pumpkin Pie Blendabilities and teamed it up with some of the neutral colours.

 

I've also used some of the beautiful new In Colour 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon in Tangelo Twist.

Thanks for Looking

Products Used
Stamp Set - Bloom with Hope, Dictionary
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black, Crumb Cake, Pumpkin Pie Blendabilites
Card stock - Crumb Cake, Whisper White
Other - Big Shot Die Cutting Machine, Circle Collection Framelits, 3/8" Tangelo Twist Stitched Satin Ribbon, Linen Thread, Vintage Faceted Designer Buttons

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Mojo Monday #311 - Papillion Sympathy

I never really enjoy making Sympathy cards. I don't think you will find someone out there who does. It's does make it easier to have some on hand when you do need one though.

This card I used the sketch over at Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge #311. I'm using the Papillion Potpourri stamp set and the co-ordinating Bitty Butterfly and Elegant Butterfly Punches.

 

 

 

I wanted to use a bit of colour but not to make it to bright. I turned to my Colour Coach and the colours suggested were Wisteria Wonder, Soft Sky and Sahara Sand.

 

Have Fun and Happy Stampin'



Products Used
Stamp Set - Papillion Potpourri, Butterfly Collection Jumbo Wheel, Loving Thoughts
Card Stock- Wisteria Wonder, Soft Sky, Sahara Sand, Whisper White
Ink -Wisteria Wonder, Soft Sky, Sahara Sand
Other - Elegant Butterfly Punch, Bitty Butterfly Punch, Linen Thread, Scallop Edge Border Punch, 2-1/2" Circle Punch, Jumbo Handle, Stamping Sponges

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Apothecary Sympathy

Well it has been a while since my last post! I didn't think it had been that long!
Today I have made a sympathy card using the beautiful Apothecary Art Set.

This set lends its self so beautifully to colouring either using the Stampin' Write Markers, Watercolour Wonder Crayons or the Watercolour Pencils. I have used the Stampin' Write Markers here and a blender pen.

 

 



Products Used

Stamp Sets - Apothecary Art, Loving Thoughts

Cardstock - Basic Black, Always artichoke, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla

DSP - First Edition DSP

Ink - Jet Black Staz On, Versa Mark, Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Cherry Cobbler Stampin' Write Marker, Always Artichoke Stampin' Write Marker

Other- Big Shot Die Cutting Machine, Framelits - Labels Collection, Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon, Victoria Crochet Trim, Jewels Basic Pearls, Blender Pen, Stamping Sponges

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