Just Add Ink #532...Just Add a Sketch

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 Happy Friday ~

We have a brand new sketch challenge over at Just Add Ink today & I chose to colour these cute little hippos from MFT. I did a little blending in the background with Pretty Peacock, Peekaboo Peach & Mango Melody (very lightly). I splattered my clear Wink of Stella pen all over for some shimmer & added a few enamel dots in similar colours from my stash.

This card went on its way to Queensland for a sweet little boy's 4th birthday earlier this week.

I think you'll get lots of use out of this super versatile sketch so pop over to JAI & play along with us. Here is the banner for you.

Life has been pretty busy around these parts of late. Everything is gearing up for the busy Christmas season, so lots of end of year activities on at school, & I've been getting to as many gym classes a week as I can. The weather has warmed up beautifully & we're currently looking to buy a little weekender down the coast....

Thanks for stopping by today. 

Patrice x

Just Add Ink #530...Just Add Stamps, Ink & Paper

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Happy Friday ~

We have a new challenge starting over at Just Add Ink today. Rochelle has asked us to add Stamps, Ink & Paper - it was so hard not to use die cuts, & embellish...I do love some bling. In fact I ran into a little trouble with my first card (will attach at bottom) so had to make another at the last minute. I guess that's why it's called a challenge :)

I've fussy cut some of my favourite designer paper - Best Dressed & used a sentiment from the matching Dressed to Impress stamp set. Lighting not so great as we've had so much rain of late, which means cloud & dull skies.

I rarely take a pic of the inside of my cards, so here it is.

And here is my original card - I realised I couldn't use heat embossing so went with Craft white ink. Which was lovely & crisp initially, but a few days later had faded & become a little blotchy, as you can see. So I quickly whipped up a reverse colour version. I've since added versamark over top of the white ink (super easy to line up photopolymer stamps) & heat embossed so it wasn't a wasted card.

Pop over to JAI & be inspired by the design team offerings. We'd love you to join the challenge fun with us...here is the banner for you.

In other news 2020 strikes again. We have to say goodbye to our beloved bunny, Humphrey today. He has developed kidney disease & just the last few days is deteriorating. We don't want him to suffer, or have a poor quality of life. He's been with us for almost 7 years so we're very very sad. Here he is enjoying some leaves off one of the trees in our yard (he's a free range bun & uses the small doggie door to come & go as he pleases - he really has had the best life).

Here he is chilling in the lounge room with us watching tv. 

I took this pic today, of him lying upside down like a baby in my arms. He's the most placid, snuggly not so little guy. Always up for a cuddle. He's got a few grey hairs these days as he's quite old for a bun.

Well that was rather photo heavy, but I'm feeling all sentimental & just had to share him one last time. 

Patrice x

Just Add Ink #528...Just Choose Two

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Hello & happy Friday ~

We have a brand new challenge kicking off today over at Just Add Ink. This week Jan suggested we choose two of sequins, ribbon or metallic foil.

I made a start on my Christmas gift giving. Here are the gift card pockets I made using the long retired Mini Treat Bag Thinlits with the current Neutrals DSP.

The gorgeous little gnome is a die from Simon Says Stamp & comes in two sizes. This is the smaller of the two. There are so many variations you can put together to make him look totally awesome! On the reverse side I have stamped To: & From:

For the inside I created a card for writing a Christmas message & on the back of that I made a little pocket for the gift card to slip into. You could fold cash neatly into this too.

Here are all four together - Crumb Cake, Night of Navy, Mossy Meadow & Merry Merlot. My photo colours are a little off as I'd lost light when I took the pics.

We'd love you to join the challenge too so pop over to JAI & get some inspiration from the design team then link up. We really enjoy looking at your blogs.

Thanks for stopping by. If you'd like measurements or a bit more of a how to, then just get in touch & I'll happily help.

Enjoy your weekend.

Patrice x

Just Add Ink #526...Just Add Inspiration

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Hello there ~

Happy Friday! Just Add Ink is kicking off a brand new Inspiration challenge today - chosen for us by, Jo.

I was inspired by the beautiful blue & green in the image (see at bottom of post). After stamping the flowers from Tasteful Touches in Blueberry Bushel I spread the ink across the petals with an aqua painter. My leaves are from the Beautiful Friendship stamp set, in Garden Green & Granny Apple Green inks. I love how the colours really pop off the Whisper White card base. My sentiment has been heat embossed in gold.

I really struggled to get a good photograph this week as we've had overcast days & lots of rain. Good soaking rain for the garden so no complaints. What you can't see in my photo is all the pretty shimmer :(

Here is the image we're working with this week. Pop over to the JAI blog for all the details & join us for the challenge.

Today is officially the last day of school holidays for the twins. Hard to believe they're about to start their fourth & final term of Year 3. Little Miss has just finished reading James & the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl so tonight we're going to watch the original film as a family.

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you & yours are healthy & well.

Patrice x

Just Add Ink #524...Just Add a Colour Combo

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Hello & happy Friday ~

We are kicking off a brand new challenge over at Just Add Ink. This week we have a colour combination from Jo - Rococo Rose, Merry Merlot & Mint Macaron. Full disclosure - Rococo Rose is probably my least favourite SU colour of all time.

I started with the Merry Merlot card - so rich in colour - & then decided I needed to try it out in the Rococo Rose. Not bad. I was completely inspired by one of Heike's lovely clean cards using the versatile Forever Fern stamp set. 

Perhaps Rococo Rose is one of your favourite colours? Why don't you pop over to JAI to check out the design team inspiration & join the challenge fun with us this week?

Today I'm off to see a movie with a friend - I'm not sure I've even been to a picture theatre at all this year. I'm looking forward to catching up with a group of girlfriends for lunch tomorrow & who knows what Sunday will bring... School holidays begin this afternoon so I'm looking forward to a more relaxed fortnight ahead.

I hope you are keeping well. Thanks for stopping by today.

Patrice x

Just Add Ink #522....Just Add a Sketch

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Hello & welcome to my share for this week's Just Add Ink sketch.

Funny story as to how this card came to be. There has been a lot of talk in our house about my husband's Covid beard these past six months of working from home. I don't particularly love it but he has put a lot of effort (& new products) into learning how to care for it - which I tease him about endlessly. I had the gnome stamps sitting on my craft desk one day & he commented that they were super cute. The joke between us was that he looks a bit like these little gnomies nowadays.

Soooooo a gnome card it had to be. His beard is quite grey, with only a smattering of dark hair in it. I tried to replicate it in my colouring....didn't quite achieve the same look with copics but he'll think it's funny when he receives this card for his birthday next month.

The twins think the centre gnome looks just like dad!

I've backed my Whisper White c/s panel with Granny Apple Green dsp & raised it on foam, leaving the matching c/s on the base layer. The sentiment is heat embossed & also raised.

If you'd like to join the challenge fun this week, here is the sketch for you. Pop over to JAI & have a look at the design team inspiration.

Here is hubby in all his bearded glory - good comparison do you think? Hehehehe.

Thanks for visiting. Hope you are all well, happy & healthy.

Patrice x

Just Add Ink #518...Just Add 'T'

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Happy Friday ~

I'm sharing my latest make for the new Just Add Ink challenge this week. Tina has asked us to 'Just Add T' to our projects so I've made a tri fold card. I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to use up some of the designer paper I like to hoard collect.

I don't have the SU! Free as a Bird stamps so there was lots of fussy cutting involved in the embellishing phase - & plenty of Bird Ballad paper used! Bonus!

The card folds nicely to fit a standard (Australian) size C6 envelope.

Here it is opened out with plenty of space to write my message. I used the new SU! Family Party stamps for my numbers - GK's godmother is turning 50 soon! I could have embellished or stamped more, but I'm a less is more kind of gal 😝

I found a fabulous, easy to understand & follow tutorial by Sharni Haines here if you'd like to give one of these 'wow' cards a go yourself.

We'd love you to join our challenge so pop over to JAI & check out all the details & some design team inspiration. Here is the banner for you.

Thanks for stopping by today, & I hope you & yours are keeping safe.

Patrice x

Just Add Ink #516...Just Add Inspiration

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Happy Friday ~

Welcome to the new challenge Just Add Ink challenge, a really pretty inspiration pic from Jackie.

I went with the celebratory theme as I need lots of birthday cards during August...& honestly I just can't wrap my head around Christmas in July with all this year has thrown us. I chose the red, pink, aqua & white colours from the pic, & added some shimmer embossing paste & silver thread for texture.

If you'd like to join us head over to JAI & you'll find some gorgeous inspiration from the rest of the design team. Lots of variety this week, which is what it's all about. Here is our challenge pic.

Our not so little Humphrey bun has become unwell so we're off to see our wonderful vet today. Let's hope we can fix him up & be back to bunny cuddles in no time. We love him so much. Here is is relaxed on the ottoman watching tv with us :)

Thanks for stopping by, & I hope all is well in your part of the world.

Patrice x

Just Add Ink #514....Just Add a Colour Combo

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Hello hello ~

I'm here to share my latest card for the Just Add Ink challenge. We have a colour combo this week - Pretty Peacock, Pool Party & Smoky Slate - chosen by Kelly.

I cracked open my new So Much Love stamp set. I've popped my bloom up with dimensionals,  layered on vellum, designer paper from the Neutrals 6x6 pack & Whisper White cardstock. The gems are from the Noble Peacock Rhinestones in last year's annual catalogue.

If you'd like to join the challenge fun this week, here is the banner for you, & head over to JAI for some inspiration from the design team. We'd love to have you play along.

Well no sooner did we send the kids back to school after home schooling during the Covid isolation period & it's holiday time again. It has been nice to have a few play dates & cousin time this time around though, & we're grateful to all be healthy happy.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Patrice x

Just Add Ink #512....Just Add a Sketch

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Happy Friday ~

We have a new sketch challenge from, Tina, kicking off today over at Just Add Ink.

My card didn't end up at all as I intended. I cracked open my new In Good Taste designer paper, thinking specifically of making something masculine. While considering what elements I was going to add to the centre I happened across a gorgeous card made by my friend, Nikki. She had used a lovely non traditional colour combo with the Forever Fern stamps. Given the stamps were still sitting on my desk brand new out of the packaging I decided to have a little play.....I thought the foliage was so pretty I just had to use them straight away. And voila, I have a pretty feminine birthday card to add to the stash.

Colours used are Grey Granate, Blushing Bride & Early Espresso with a touch of the new Brass Glimmer paper.

Here is the sketch. We'd love you to play along with us. Pop over to the JAI blog & see what it's all about. Lots of inspiration from the design team to get you started too.

Thanks for stopping by, have a wonderful weekend.

Patrice x

Just Add Ink #508...Just Add 'F'

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Hello & happy Friday ~

We have a lovely new challenge over at Just Add Ink today....Tina is asking us to add an F to our crafty projects. Think floral, fragrance, foliage, french, favourite.....lots of ideas.

I was super keen to use the Dressed to Impress stamp set for this challenge, however, I was very late to loving that one & ordering it (despite being quite the shoe queen myself) & it didn't arrive in time for me to use that cute little fragrance bottle sooooo I went with my standard floral :)

I've used the Bloom & Grow set, layered on black foil & I even used a sentiment beginning with F - trifecta! There is some lovely shimmer on this card, however, the photo didn't actually capture it well. Now that the cooler weather is here it's difficult to work around the bright sunshine of a winter's day, & the dark that descends far too early in the afternoons.

Head over to JAI to check out the design team inspiration & hopefully you'll join us for this fun challenge.

It's another long weekend for us, second in a row. Hubby is off camping & 4WD'g with our youngest, & I'm staying home where it's warm & comfortable. I think I'm going to spend a lot of time lazing around with my book, playing in my craft room, eating snacks instead of preparing full meals....ah bliss I'm so looking forward to a quiet weekend on my own.

Enjoy your weekend however you are spending it.

Patrice x

Just Add Ink #506....Just Add Inspiration

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Hello & happy Friday ~

Welcome to a brand new challenge week at Just Add Ink. Nikki has given us an inspiration pic to use for our creative projects this week.

Now I'm not going to lie, I started & stopped several projects for this one. It kind of did my head in a bit....I guess that's what happens when you have spare time.....I definitely think I create better under pressure with a very short deadline. I had the embossing paste out, little jar images, lots of different foliage & florals....but I wasn't happy with any of it. Put all that aside, grabbed this image (from Avery Elle) & my copics & had this card whipped up in no time.

I chose to let the colours inspire me here. I've used a Blackberry Bliss base, with a layer of vellum & Whisper White run through my Subtle embossing folder. The floral image is heat embossed in gold, & I've used the little navy Happiness Blooms enamel dots to embellish.

If you'd like to see what the rest of the design team has put together for this challenge, head over to JAI for some inspiration & join the creative fun this week. Here is the pic for you.

With isolation restrictions being eased worldwide I hope that you are all well, & enjoying a little more freedom. My family is still staying close to home for now. We're off for our flu shots (finally) this afternoon!

Thanks for stopping by :)

Patrice x

Just Add Ink #504...Just Add a Colour Combo

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Happy Friday friends ~

I'm a bit late with my post today...juggling home schooling is quite a distraction. I'm sure I'm not the only one struggling to remember which day of the week it is either :)

We have a brand new colour challenge over at Just Add Ink today. Tina is asking us to use Rococco Rose, Smoky Slate & Basic Grey. What gorgeous colours. As I was creating my card I realised I have not used Rococco Rose before. How can that be?

I still love the retired SAB Happy Birthday To You stamp set. That cake is divine! So out it came for a little watercolour wash. I stamped two images, colouring & die cutting the flowers of the second, & popping them up on the cake base.

I've used vellum to soften the Smoky Slate dsp I've used on my Basic Grey card base.

We'd love to see what you come up with using these colours so pop over to the blog & check out the design team inspiration, along with the challenge rules. Here is the graphic.

Hope you're all keeping well during these very trying times. 

Patrice x

Just Add Ink #502...Just Add a Sketch

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Happy Friday ~

Over at Just Add Ink this week, we have a fun new sketch from, Tina. I think sketches are one of my favourite challenges....half the work is already done for us :)

I pulled out my Petal Pallette stamps & watercoloured with Blueberry Bushel & Smokey Slate. My accents & embellishments are silver - not sure if you can see properly in the photo as it has been bright & sunny here so quite difficult to capture without shadows - & the sentiment is heat embossed.

If you'd like to join the challenge fun pop over to JAI for some inspiration from the design team. Here is the sketch for you to use.

Another week of isolating & social distancing behind us. The ACT goes back to school next week so I'll be back to home schooling the twins. That proved interesting at the end of last term....fingers crossed for what's ahead. Meantime during the holidays my two have had more ipad time than usual, & we've been getting out for our daily walk. Fortunately the weather in Canberra has been really good, mostly sunny & mild so I've pottered in the garden a lot. Anything to keep busy & out of the fridge & pantry....a fair bit of baking has also been happening in our house. Not good for my waistline at all.

Hope you are keeping well. Thanks for stopping by today, & I hope to see your project over in the gallery.

Patrice x

Just Add Ink #500...Just Add a Die Cut Word - Blog Hop

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Happy Easter long weekend ~

Welcome to Just Add Ink's 500th challenge! We've been offering challenges weekly for 10+ years now & I joined the design team just 6 months in at challenge #26. I've had a couple of breaks over the years....because, well....life! I can't stay away for too long though because these gals are more family than friends to me.

Anyway the whole team decided it would be fun to mark the occasion with a blog hop. Yay! Hops are always fun. This week we're adding a Die Cut Word suggested by Jan.

I pulled out some long forgotten stamps - The Sweet Life by PTI - & wanted a bold colour on my all white base - Sweet Sugarplum, Rich Razzleberry & Blackberry Bliss. I used gold foil for my sentiment (the remaining part of the sentiment 'YOU' is on the inside of the card). During these weeks/months of isolation I'm trying to send more cards...so my friends know I'm always thinking of them even if we can't catch up in person.

Here is the banner. It would be so good if we fill that gallery to the brim this week to mark Just Add Ink's special milestone. So head over to the blog & check out the details, create your own project &B link it up.

Next along the way is Kim with a fabulously happy card to share. Thanks for stopping by, have a lovely Easter, hope the bunny is good to you, & most of all take care & be safe.

Patrice x

Just Add Ink #498....Just Add E

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Happy Friday ~

How is everyone doing in isolation these days? I have to say that as much as I love my children, my goodness they are keeping me on my toes....the noise level is driving me around the bend. And it's only early days yet.....

It's new challenge time over at Just Add Ink today & Tina has asked us to 'Just Add E' to our projects this week. Very timely with Easter around the corner. A lovely friend of mine asked if I could make three Easter cards for her niece & nephews since she won't be able to visit them this year :(  I'm sure they're going to love receiving happy mail!

I kept the cards very CAS. Using a base of Whisper White c/s, my copics for colouring & a couple of retired Stampin' Up! sets I had some fun. You can't see the Champagne Shimmer Mist that I sprayed in my photos which is a shame (I took my pics when it was getting a bit late in the day & losing light).

If you find yourself with more time on your hands than usual head over to JAI & join the challenge fun. We'd love to have you!

Take care, be kind to yourselves & try to take pleasure in the little things. For me that will be extra crafting time, & hopefully finishing some of the many projects I've started over the years. Knitting, chrocheting, colouring, reading, organising....

Patrice x

Just Add Ink #496...Just Add Inspiration

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Happy Fri-yay friends ~

It's new challenge day over at Just Add Ink & Lou has given us a beachy scene to be inspired by this week. I'll add the image at bottom for you.

Going through all my stamp sets & designer papers I was quite miffed not to have any water or beach images in my substantial stash. Hmmmmm so I decided to go with the colours of the Inspiration pic & 'sort of' re-create the scene. I found this dsp in the Floral Romance pack of papers, tore it up (eeeek I find that so hard to do) & added it to my Crumb Cake base layers. And of course the flowers are from the Tropical Chic set - love it - I used Crushed Curry & Peekaboo Peach inks!

I really need to work on my photography skills....but once again was rushed to get it done before losing light. That's only going to get worse going into winter......I really need to up my game.

Head over to JAI to check out all the details & join in the challenge fun. Here is the Inspiration pic for you:

Keeping it short & sweet as we had a death in the family yesterday & I'm quite distracted. Thanks for stopping by.

Patrice x