Sunday 29 March 2015

Just Add Ink 256

I was going to tidy up my craft room and finish up for the weekend in order to get myself mentally prepared for the World Cup Cricket final later on today. Plus I had to get in the kitchen to cook for the friends we're sharing the watching with.

But I just couldn't end my week's crafting without making something for the great challenge at Just Add Ink.


I had a piece of card stamped with I Love Lace in Crumb Cake sitting on my desk, leftover from another project. It's such a pretty stamp, I decided to go with it and see what happened. It ended up with this (probably) wedding card. Since the sentiment is quite generic, I guess it's multi-functional.



Ingredients
Card: Pool Party, Whisper White, Early Espresso, Sahara Sand
Stamps: SU I Love Lace, SU Flowering Flourishes, Clearly Besotted Many Mini Messages
Ink: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Pool Party (to sponge the flower petals)
Punches and Dies: Circle framelit, Oval framelit, Large oval scallop punch, Scallop tag-topper punch, Leaf sizzlit, MFT Gerbera Daisy die, MFT stitched dot circle die
Other: Chevron zig-zag embossing folder, Pool Party seam binding ribbon, Something Borrowed embellishment, dimensionals (to lift tag and sentiment, one layer of the daisy), sponges (to ink distress edges of lace panel, tag and flower petals)

Pals Paper Arts 245

Today is the final of the World Cup Cricket, which is cause for great excitement and anticipation in our house. As it's also going to be a social occasion, watching with friends, it will send me to the kitchen. But I just had to find time to do something for the enticing sketch at Pals Paper Arts.




I used the chevron thinlit die that comes with the Circle Card thinlit set. It was quite tricky to cut it a second time and get it straight and get it evenly spaced. I was beginning to wish for a chevron border punch but it only took two tries in the end. Then I inlaid red cut from Christmas card scraps from a few years ago - no idea what it was. After popping the sentiment up on dimensionals, it still looked a bit lacking in zing. Casting my eye around my craft desk, I spied the star confetti punch. That's where I got the matching stars from. Good result but pesky things to attach!

In the end, a good card for a male teen, which was what I was after.

Ingredients
Card: Black, Whisper White, scraps of unknown red.
Stamp: Altenew Label Love
Ink: Black Stazon
Other: Chevron thinlit, Star Confetti border punch, dimensionals

Saturday 28 March 2015

Cas(e) this sketch 116

I absolutely fell in love with the sketch this week at Cas(e) this Sketch and immediately knew what I wanted to do with it.





This weekend (well, this Saturday) has seen The Great Glossy Accents Experiment. Having purchased some a few weeks ago, it has sat sulking on my shelf. But today, I got brave and tackled it.

Had a few issues around the best way to spread it evenly and how thick to apply it but managed to get a few good butterflies in various colours done. I'm loving the gloss it gives and the way it deepens and magnifies the colours! This butterfly was stamped in Elegant Eggplant, coloured Perfect Plum and a dash of Marina Mist and I highlighted the dots at the edge of the butterfly with silver gel pen. Soft Sky looked a better match than Marina Mist did as a card base colour.

Ingredients
Card: Soft Sky, Whisper White, scrap of Perfect Plum
Stamps: SU Papillon Potpourri, Clearly Besotted Fabulous Fuchsia (for the sentiment)
Inks: Elegant Eggplant, Perfect Plum, Marina Mist
Other: MFT Stitch Circle die, Circle framelit, Chevron Zigzag embossing folder, Glossy Accents, Kaisercraft soft blue pearls, silver gel pen, dimensionals to raise the white panel

Freshly Made Sketches 179


Once again, the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches is a fantastic one, with lots of scope to play. Playing with it has been a great way to spend an autumn Saturday morning, once the jobs were done.
I like to play with boundaries in cards and sometimes look to blur the boundary between one region of space and another. I've done this here by letting the background flourish cover both the background and the focal panel. I've then emphasised the focal panel by framing it, raising it on dimensionals and adding in the main decorative elements to it.





The thing I've never done before is to use glossy accents.  I applied it to the butterfly after stamping it in Elegant Eggplant and colouring it with Lost Lagoon and Elegant Eggplant. Glossy accents looks as though it will be a great substance to experiment with more, though I'm not sure what the best way to spread it over a largish area would be. Using the applicator nozzle and a toothpick worked but I suspect there is a better way! Anyway, I really like the way it gave some shine and deepened the colours in the butterfly.

Ingredients
Card: Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White, Lost Lagoon, Vellum
Stamps: SU Hardwood background stamp, SU Flowering Flourishes, SU Papillon Potpourri, Clearly Besotted Say it in Style.
Ink: Crumb Cake, Lost Lagoon, Elegant Eggplant, Black Stazon
Other: Elegant Butterfly punch, linen twine, brad base, Elegant Eggplant and Perfect Plum candy dots, dimensionals, Glossy Accents




Friday 27 March 2015

Paper Craft Crew 137

Well, it seems that playing along with Paper Craft Crew is becoming a habit! Yet again, another great sketch.







Update: Delighted that this card was picked for Featured Artisan at Paper Craft Crew.

Ingredients
Card: Blackberry Bliss, Hello Honey, Sahara Sand, Whisper White,Vellum, Moonlight DSP
Stamps: Dictionary Background stamp, Wetlands, Crazy for You, Kinda Eclectic
Ink: Blackberry Bliss, Hello Honey, Sahara Sand, Stazon black
Other: Blackberry Bliss ribbon and button, linen twine, chevron embossing folder, circle framelit, Elegant butterfly punch, crumb cake candy dot, black marker to edge cut pieces, dimensionals,


Tuesday 24 March 2015

Paper Players 237

I don't play at Paper Players as often as I'd like but I just had to make time for Leanne's fabulous sketch this week.

I've been feeling crook today, so decided to go for a bright get well card. In my head, this card was always going to use Tangelo Twist even though the bright oranges are not usually my first choice of colour. Hello Honey seemed a natural companion for Tangelo Twist and both are sponged onto the background of the leaves.



The embossing folder is one I bought cheap in a bargain bin at The Warehouse and it was just perfect for this card. What's really great about it is the size: it easily fits A5. It's a shame more embossing folders aren't just a couple of centimetres bigger each way.

Update: Delighted to have this card picked as A Cut Above at Paper Players.

Ingredients
Card: Black, Tangelo Twist, Hello Honey, Whisper  White
Stamps: Clearly Besotted Leafy Accents and Say it in Style.
Ink: Jet Black Stazon, Tangelo Twist and Hello Honey
Other: Spellbinders Dragon Delight die, Couture Jazmyne embossing folder, Chevron zigzag embossing folder, Banner punch, black marker for edge colouring the banners, black rhinestones, sponges

Monday 23 March 2015

Colour Me ... Subtle 63

I've had a card in my head for this challenge and have been trying to make it since Sunday afternoon. I thought I'd missed it.... but no ... turns out I had about twelve hours to spare.

I was aiming for a semi-weathered look. I had a bit of fun trying to get the background how I wanted it - which was NOT crisp, clean and all-over coverage. In the end, a baby-wipe to blur the edges a bit, then putting the stamp ink-side up and patting the card with my fingers got me what I wanted.




To further the weathered look, I've inked the edges of the white panel with Sahara Sand and a sponge, The So Saffron flower has been lightly inked in the same colour and the Sahara Sand leaves, quite heavily sponged. And how I love that linen twine - about to order my third packet. Pretty sure it's Sahara Sand coloured!

Update: Delighted to have this card chosen as a Colour Connoisseur at Colour Me

Ingredients
Card: Marina Mist, So Saffron, Whisper White, Sahara Sand
Stamps: Hardwood background stamp, A Dozen Thoughts
Ink: Marina Mist, Sahara Sand, So Saffron
Other: Pansy punch, Petite Petals punch, brad base, Marina Mist candy dot, linen twine, So Saffron button, square framelits, dimensionals, sponge


Sunday 22 March 2015

Timeout Challenge 27

I've never played at Timeout before but have looked at it, since I follow my fellow New Zealander, the very talented Shona Chambers. I like the idea of taking timeout, especially on such a beautiful autumn morning as this one is.

The challenge is CAS with an optional twist of black, white and a splash of one colour. I like this idea, so have had a go at the twist. The trees are not yet turning, but I've taken Calypso Coral as my colour and, as you see, the splash is quite literal!

At Just Us Girls, the challenge is Black, White and another colour, so I will enter there too. This is another challenge I've never entered but have discovered through either following other people's blogs or through commenting on other people's lovely work. It's one of the great things about the blog world - there's always more to see and do.






The top layer of the dragonfly was clear embossed to give it some zing and it catches the light beautifully.

Ingredients
Card: Whisper White, Calypso Coral, Black.
Stamps: Clearly Besotted Say it in Style, SU French Foliage, SU Gorgeous Grunge.
Ink: Black, Calypso Coral
Other: Spellbinders Dragon Delight, Black rhinestones.


Saturday 21 March 2015

Papercraft Crew 136

I've enjoyed playing at Papercraft Crew since I discovered it as the sketches have always been interesting and challenging as they've encouraged layering and using patterned papers. In fact, I tend to stay away from patterned paper in cards, although not in scrapbooking. My confidence wanes when it comes to mixing up patterns so the challenges have been good for me. I particularly enjoyed this week's sketch.





And a peek inside...



Ingredients
Card: Coastal Cabana, So Saffron, Whisper White and papers from Best Day Ever DSP
Stamps: SU Sassy Salutations and Clearly Besotted Good Times
Ink: Coastal Cabana, Early Espresso, Calypso Coral
Embellishments: Calypso Coral buttons, linen twine
Other: SU Decorative Dots embossing folder, Circle framelits, corner rounder, dimensionals, early espresso marker to colour cut edges.




Wednesday 18 March 2015

CAS Colours and Sketches 115

Sri Lanka are busy losing the quarter final to South Africa, so I've taken refuge in my room and seen that there is just enough time to make something for CAS Colours and Sketches. It's been a while since I've played here but I liked the sketch when it was first posted - just didn't think I'd have the time to make anything.

So, here's the lovely sketch:


And I've followed it pretty literally -



I'm liking the crisp, bold colours - Elegant Eggplant really is quite lovely - and also the textures play well together.

Update: So pleased that this card was a Top 3 Pick at CAS Colours and Sketches

Ingredients
Card: Whisper White, Elegant Eggplant, Mossy Meadow
Stamps: SU Lotus Blossom, SU I Love Lace, Clearly Besotted Fabulous Fuchsia (for the sentiment)
Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Perfect Plum, Mossy Meadow
Other: SU Pretty Print embossing folder, Provocraft Textile embossing folder, circle framelits, dimensionals, linen twine.

AAA 35 and Cas-ology 138

AAA card challenge is looking for a bare bones, very clean card this week, which seems to me to fit in well with Cas-ology, where minimal looks fantastic every week. Although I do like a clean and simple card, I still have to pare myself back for challenges like these, so I hope I've managed to stay simple enough this week.






I like the way the leaves circle around the bloom to echo the shape and how that is reflected in the curlicues of the sentiment. I'm also very happy with the starkness of the white and black contrasting with the bright splash of the blossom.

Ingredients
Card: Whisper White for the card. Scraps of Crushed Curry, Calyspo Coral and Black for the bloom.
Stamps: Clearly Besotted Leafy Accents and Say it in Style.
Ink: Black for the sentiment, Wild Wasabi for the leaves and Calypso Coral to sponge the edges of the petals
Other: SSS Stitched Rectangle die, MFT Gerbera Daisy die


Sunday 15 March 2015

Freshly Made Sketches 177

With the prospect of major bad weather approaching due to Cyclone Pam, pinching a bit more time in my craft room didn't seem such a guilt-inducing idea! So, time for one more card this weekend. I liked the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week so worked on something for that.


Sitting on my desk was the confetti star punch I've had since Christmas, so I put it to good use on this congratulations card.



Ingredients
Card: Basic Black, Whisper White, Vellum, Sullivans Gold Glitter paper.
Stamps: SU A Dozen Thoughts
Ink: Black Stazon
Other: SSS Stitched Rectangles die, Confetti Star punch, star Framelits, black rhinestone, dimensionals

HSS207 and In{k}spire Me 189

One of the things that continues to amaze me about the blog universe of card-making is just how many different challenges there are. Since I first started with cards towards the end of last year, I've discovered lots of new ones, often through the blogs of talented card makers that I've chosen to follow or by visiting blogs to leave a comment on a card I've admired.

That is how I recently discovered the two new challenges I'm entering today. I'm combining the colour challenge at Hand Stamped Sentiments with the sketch challenge at In{k}spire Me.


I adored this sketch and am very partial to the colours, so it was win-win for me plus it let me use my favourite butterfly and my beloved Kinda Eclectic leaves.




Update: Delighted to have this card chosen as the winner at In{k}spire Me.

All products are Stampin' Up, except for the sentiment. 

Ingredients
Card: Blackberry Bliss, Whisper White, Blushing Bride DSP.
Stamps:  SU Kinda Eclectic, Clearly Besotted Fabulous Fuchsia
Inks: Blushing Bride, Wild Wasabi, Blackberry Bliss
Other: Elegant Butterfly punch, Bitty Butterfly punch, Circle framelits, dimensionals, linen twine, brad base, Wild Wasabi candy dots, black marker to colour the cut edges of the butterflies.



Saturday 14 March 2015

Paper Craft Crew 135 with Connie and Mary 346

Seems I'm getting a taste for combining challenges after all. This week, I've combined a beautiful sketch from Paper Craft Crew with a lovely colour combo from Create with Connie and Mary.





The idea all started from the thought that the three dots in the sketch could be represented by the tall bird in the Aviary set, one of the first two SU stamp sets I bought in my first ever purchase - the other was By the Seashore.


Ingredients
Card: Basic Black (card base), Wild Wasabi, Wild Wasabi DSP, Sahara Sand
Stamps: Crazy About You, Aviary
Ink: Wild Wasabi, Black
Other: Scallop Topper punch, Decorative Dots embossing folder, dimensionals, Wild Wasabi stitched ribbon, linen twine, black marker to colour cut edges, corner rounder.