Just Add Ink #246 - Just Add Giving & a Tutorial - photo heavy

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Happy Boxing day morning ~

So how was your Christmas day?  Mine was just perfect!  Most of the family are interstate this year so it was a nice quiet day with a visit from dear friends, chatting, relaxing and lots of yummy food. We were lucky not to have our usual extremely hot weather, instead it was a little overcast yet warm.

Brisbane was great! It was just lovely meeting BFF's little bundle of joy - he certainly is a cutie.  No bias here of course *scoff*.

This is our last Just Add Ink challenge for the year, and it's only fitting that Mae suggested we add Giving.  This current challenge will run for two weeks over the Festive Season while the design team take a break and enjoy family and friends at this special time of the year.  That means you have lots of extra time to get busy creating. Head over to JAI for some inspiration.  We'll be back in January with a brand new blog hop challenge.

I've made some money wallets - cash always looks better when it's dressed up a little don't you think?

Pink Pirouette and the pic below shows the inside.

Coastal Cabana (excuse the wonky ribbon - I was in a mad rush trying to photograph as we've had really dull weather lately)

One for a girl and one for a boy!

Here is a quick tutorial if you'd like to make a few of your own.  Be gentle this is a first for me ;)

If there is anything you need clarification on please leave a comment or shoot me an email and I'll get back to you asap.  See you for our next challenge in January if not before.

Just Add Ink #244 - Just Add a Sketch

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Happy Friday beautiful blog friends ~

I have a bit of an exciting weekend ahead - I'm off to Brisbane to visit my BFF and her brand new little man.  I'm so looking forward to spending a few days together, chatting, eating Sara Lee ice cream and just enjoying her company. I'm not entirely looking forward to the humidity, so thank goodness for aircon!

We have a brand new sketch from Tina over at Just Add Ink this week.  I've been on a Christmas card roll for a little while now and surprisingly it hasn't done my head in yet. Perhaps because I have a stash of new stamps & sentiments to use *wink*.

This little robin set from Clearly Besotted is just so cute and fun.  I've used a base of Early Espresso, then a Real Red mat and some Crumb Cake dsp.  I coloured the tummies with a blender pen.  That little musical note makes me think of the old '70's song Rockin' Robin by Bobby Day - do you remember that one? Tweedle-lee-dee-dee-dee, tweedle-lee-dee-dee ... it's totally stuck in my head now.

If you'd like to join our challenge this week here is the sketch.  Pop over to JAI and check out the design team inspiration to get a start.  I look forward to seeing your linked entry.

Hope most of you are organised for Christmas, shopping done and presents wrapped. After a bit of a late start this year I'm all sorted.  Thankfully!  There is nothing worse than dealing with busy car parks and too many people at the malls.

I know it's super early, however, in case I don't get back here before the big man in red visits I'd like to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very happy Christmas, may it be full of love and laughter, yummy food and total relaxation afterwards *smile*. Thanks so much for visiting my blog over the past 12 months, and I look forward to 'seeing' you again for a fabulous 2015!

Enjoy your weekend!

Just Add Ink #242 - Just Add Inspiration

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Happy Friday friends ~

Sooo looking forward to this afternoon when I head off to the Coast for some girl time with a dear friend.  We plan on doing very little in the way of cooking and chores this weekend, so lots of dining out, some local markets and whatever else we fancy doing (or not as the case may be).  I've got some busy weeks ahead so this will be nice down time beforehand.

It's new challenge time over at Just Add Ink and Trish chose an inspiration pic for us to use.  I went for something a little different and used a cute little monster image.  Check him out.

I stamped him twice - colouring the main image with copics and the second I heat embossed with white ep.  I fussy cut the flower and sponged on a little Daffodil Delight ink, not quite to the edges. This is a square card that I made for Gorgeous Kid - he loves smooches (lucky mum) so I thought it would be nice to pop in his school bag for him to find one day.

If you'd like to join the challenge fun head over to JAI and check out what the design team has created for you. Here is the inspiration pic.

Have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for stopping by today.

Just Add Ink #241 - Just Add a Sketch

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Another Friday rolls around ~

As Christmas gets closer life is getting busier.  All the end of school year activities are starting to fill my diary and I haven't even got to any of my Christmas shopping yet.  Yikes, I'm usually fairly well done and organised by now.  I have a couple of interstate visits coming up too - one down at the South Coast to help a dear friend celebrate a half milestone birthday and a week up in Brisbane to visit my beautiful BFF and her brand new baby boy.  Squeal!

We have a brand new challenge over at Just Add Ink this week, a lovely sketch from Tina. I inked up one of my Clearly Besotted stamp sets, and although I certainly didn't set out to use Christmas colours that's exactly what I've done (Real Red & Old Olive on Basic Black).  I actually made this card on Remembrance Day so I must have been in a poppy kind of mood.

Here is the sketch.  Pop over to JAI and check out the design team inspiration and hopefully you'll find some time to get crafty and join the challenge fun with us.

Until next week....enjoy your weekend!

Blended Bloom Birthday - sponged

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It's the weekend, woohoo ~

Thought I'd pop in quickly and share a few cards I made a couple of weeks back.  I actually sat down to make a card for an upcoming birthday and instead got distracted by Pinterest - please tell me I'm not the only person this happens to?  Anyway... I spotted this card and wanted to give my Blended Bloom stamp a whirl with sponges.  I had so much fun I made three!  They were super quick and easy.  The colour combinations are only limited by your imagination.

I heat embossed my bloom with White e/p and sponged my colours (from the inside out) before fussy cutting.  This allows you a bit more freedom with your sponge and/or dauber.

My first card uses Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight and Old Olive.

Next is Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, with a very light touch of Early Espresso in the centre.

Then I tried Soft Sky, Daffodil Delight, with a touch of Blackberry Bliss in the centre and Old Olive leaves.

I had only ever coloured this bloom with Blendabilities so it was really nice to do a little something different with it. Hope you like.

Just Add Ink #240 - Just Add Texture

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Happy Friday friends ~

Well didn't I have fun in the Hunter Valley last weekend.  Such a beautiful spot, so many lush wineries and little chocolate shops - yep I sampled many!  I even came across two handmade markets so stopped in for a browse and picked up a few little goodies.  Our accommodation was divine and they delivered 'country baskets' full of fresh baked yummies to our door each morning.  The weather was pretty warm, but there was a lovely large verandah with comfy cushions and chairs for us to enjoy.  It was such a tranquil spot.  The concert was A-MAZING as I knew it would be.  Love Jimmy!

I've got a cute little gift bag to show you today.  Chantell chose the new Just Add Ink challenge for this week and wants us to add Texture to our projects.  Fun huh?

I have to admit to quite a few failings with this one.  I'm not usually into mixed media - not that I don't appreciate and love what others do with it, I just don't venture that way myself.  SO.... I had a 'vision' and wanted to use my unopened Whipped Spackle.  Well do you think I could get it to do what I wanted?  Of course not.  So after quite a few disasters I binned it all and went in a completely different direction.  I figured a tag would be easier lol.  Don't you hate when what you have in your head doesn't work?  :(

Lots of texture on this one - washi tape, coaster board, doily, twine, two buttons glued together, glass beads, a wooden peg and that fabulous little flower made with Whipped Spackle (and a stencil of course).  That stuff sure is messy and really hard to see properly in a photo!

If you're up to the challenge why not pop over to JAI and check out the design team inspiration and then link your creation up.  I'd love a few more ideas and tips on adding texture *smile*.

Gorgeous Kid and I have our fortnightly mum and son date tomorrow.  We're off to see the new comedy movie Let's Be Cops.  His choice of course.  I hope you have a lovely weekend planned. Thanks for stopping by today.

Christmas Gift Packages - Festival of Trees - photo heavy

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Hello blog friends ~

Thought I'd pop a quick post up before I head off to the Hunter Valley.  We are spending the weekend up there and going to A Day on the Green.  Yay, child free, great weather, and no house chores.  Soooo looking forward to it.

Quite some weeks ago I made up a couple of gift packages using the fabulously versatile stamp set Festival of Trees.  I spotted a card on Pinterest by Tamara and tweaked it just a little. Cello boxes are such a great way to gift wrap and look terrific but they're super hard to photograph, particularly for an amateur like me!

The first box uses subtle colours - Pink Pirouette, Pool Party and Calypso Coral.  There are six cards in the package, two of each colour.

The second box uses neutral - Basic Black, Sahara Sand (Melon Mambo) and Crumb Cake (Island Indigo).  Apologies for the over exposure :(

 

That's it from me. Hope you all have an awesome weekend!

Just Add Ink #238 - Just Add a Sketch

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Happy Friday friends ~

A new challenge over at Just Add Ink rolls around again.  This week Kim has given us a sketch - I love it so much I've used a variation of it for several cards now.  None of which I've blogged :(

A dear friend up in Queensland needed a card for her mum who was visiting to celebrate a milestone birthday.  This is what I made for her.

I flipped and kind of mirrored the sketch for my card - a bit of creative license lol.  I used the Wisteria Wonder Blendabilities and had some fun colouring one of the flowers from the Secret Garden stamp set.  It seems to be my go to set these days despite owning too many flower sets.

Pop over to JAI and check out the design team inspiration.  Here is the sketch if you'd like to play along with us. Remember you too, can use your own creative license :)

A very happy Halloween to those of my friends and followers who celebrate it.  We don't officially celebrate here in Australia, however, it is becoming a little more popular each year.  I do make sure to have a little bowl of chocolate treats at the door just in case :)

Enjoy your weekend!

Just Add Ink #236 - Just Add Inspiration

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I'm loving that it's Friday again ~

The first week back at school is done and dusted - gosh time passes quickly at this time of the year. Before I know it Christmas will be here - right along with the rush and madness that goes with it!

There's a brand new challenge over at Just Add Ink today, and we have a lovely inspiration pic for you this week, suggested by Nikki.

The design team have all come up with such different, and absolutely gorgeous projects this week. Be sure to check them all out here.

I went for the obvious as I hadn't yet had a play with this lovely Perfect Peacock image. What fun!  I used a combination of Blendabilities and Copics, as I don't yet have the Night of Navy Blendies. Stamped on Whisper White card stock and mounted on Night of Navy and Coastal Cabana there really wasn't much more to it as the Peacock takes centre stage.  I have added some sparkle with Wink of Stella to the tail feathers, however, it's not really showing in the photo :(

Do join the challenge fun this week and link your own fabulous creation up!

Enjoy your weekend.

Just Add Ink #235 - Just Add a Colour Combo

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Good Friday morning ~

Well we're at the end of the school holidays here in Canberra and we've had perfect Spring weather.  I think Gorgeous Kid is quietly looking forward to going back next week - but before that happens we have mum and son day today.  Let the fun begin!

Over at Just Add Ink this week we have a colour combo from Kim - Blackberry Bliss, Strawberry Slush, Pink Pirouette and Soft Sky.  It gave me the opportunity to give my new Flower Patch stamps a whirl.  I really need to find time to play with them more ... sooo many fabulous possibilities.

I layered each of the three colours on my flower and spritzed with Shimmer Mist for lots of sparkle. The sentiment is from AnnaBelle Stamps.

Pop over to JAI, check out the design team inspiration and then get busy making your own creation.  We love to stop by your blogs and see all the different 'takes' on the same challenge. So many awesome paper crafters out there.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Hope it's sunny where you are, and be sure to enjoy your weekend!

Just Add Ink #234 - Just Add Baby

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Happy Friday ~

There is something special happening with one of our beautiful Just Add Ink design team members. Can you guess who and what?  Trish (aka BFF) suggested our challenge this week to Just Add Baby.

And since the new arrival is a surprise I made a card for each.

I used Strawberry Slush and Marina Mist cardstocks as my base because I wanted something a little brighter and funkier than pastels, given the parents are pretty funky themselves *wink*.  The stamp set and dies are MFT.  I sooooo can't wait to meet this new little person and plan on visiting Brisbane mid November to help the new mum (and dad) out because by then I'm guessing they'll be pretty tired.

We'd love you to join the challenge fun and help celebrate new babies so please do pop over to JAI and check out the design team inspiration.  You have the extra incentive of this Saturday 4 October being World Card Making Day - what an awesome way to spend a day!

Have a lovely weekend, and I can't wait to see your creations.

The Creative Blog Hop & Freshly Made Sketches

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Good Monday morning lovely blog friends ~

Today I'm taking part in 'The Creative Blog Hop', a hop that happens every Monday where crafters from all over the world share a little about themselves and their creative processes.  A fabulous way to get to know each other, and make new friends!

I was tagged by my lovely friend Nikki over at My Sandbox.  Nikki and I are on the Just Add Ink design team together and while we don't live in the same State we do get to catch up online a lot, and in person each year at Inspire, Create, Share (Convention).  Love her!  She is such a positive, kind person and is always smiling!  Beautiful inside and out for absolute sure.  She is also a fabulously talented paper crafter.

As part of the 'blog hop' there are four questions for me to answer...I'll keep them short and sweet!

1.  What am I working on now?  With twin toddlers in the house my crafting time is fairly limited (I tell myself it won't be forever) so I tend to only manage my design team commitments these days. Right now I'm trying to get ahead on a few projects, so you'll just have to come back and visit each Friday to check them out *wink*.  If you read my last Friday post you'll know I had a special skype crafting day with my BFF.  We chose to use the Freshly Made Sketch - FMS154. Here's what I came up with.

All is Calm designer paper, Pear Pizzazz & Whisper White cardstocks

2.  How does my work differ from others in my genre?  This is a hard one to answer...when thinking of my response I considered some of my favourite paper crafters...and realised their work is so consistent and definitive that I can pick it anywhere!  That is definitely not me.  I truly don't think I have any particular style.  I would say that my 'usual' style is Clean and Simple, with lots of white space.  However, every now and then I come up with random 'busier' creations.

3.  Why do I create what I do?  I get such pleasure in being able to take cardstock, inks and a few stamps and create something 'wow'.  I absolutely love to give handmade and it makes me feel so great to make others happy.  A lot of what I create doesn't make it to my blog, usually because I'm time poor and not too flash in the photography department lol.  Here are a few 'magnetic fridge pegs' I altered and packaged for a friend to use as gifts recently.

Covered in Sweet Sadie Washi Tape & smothered in Crystal Effects - pic not so great, sorry

Packaged in Glassine Bags 

4.  How does my creative process work?  I find inspiration in many ways.  Using SU products is a huge step in the right direction because everything coordinates and it takes the hard work out of it. I'm a matchy matchy girl too so that's even better!  Most often I am working to the specific requirements of design team projects, however, I love browsing other blogs and Pinterest for great ideas and of course when there is new product to play with it's even more fun!  I always start with a clean desk and clear away before beginning my next project.  Everything in my craft room is tidy and organised - control freak much?  Yep definitely.  Probably the most disappointing thing I find is when I have an idea in my head and I just can't make it work on paper - fortunately that doesn't happen often.  What works best for me is to mull my 'card' or 'idea' around in my head overnight. When it comes time to sit and play it usually comes together nicely.  I find colour combos the most difficult.  Odd really isn't it? I'm still trying to work out why that is!

Here is a card I made a little while ago.  I coloured the Secret Garden flowers with Cherry Cobbler blendabilities and added a little Wink of Stella to the petals.  The sentiment is from Verve.

So there you go...I hope that's given you a little insight to me.  As part of participating in 'The Creative Blog Hop' I get to tag some of my favourite paper crafters.  Unfortunately due to being super busy and lacking precious time the lovely ladies I tagged couldn't make the deadline of next Monday 29 September to participate and share their own Creative Journeys.  I want to share their names here anyway because they are each very talented and fabulous friends, all of whom I have met since starting my paper crafting journey 8 years ago.  Please do go check them out!

Trish - Spring Blossom Journey (also known as BFF)
Melissa - Bee Divine Designs
Delys - Little Scraps of Paper
Deb Fearns 
Mae Collins

Just Add Ink #232 - Just Add Inspiration

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Happy wonderful Friday ~

Why so wonderful?  Well my beautiful BFF is now on maternity leave and we're getting online to craft together today!  We haven't done it in so long and I'm really looking forward to it.

It's also time for a brand new challenge at Just Add Ink.  This week Kim has given us a gorgeous inspiration pic to use.  Perfect timing for Spring since we've just started the new season here in Australia and New Zealand.  Here it is.

Here's what I put together a few weeks ago.

I played around with various inks for ages, trying to get the right pink/apricot colour as shown in the pic.  I ended up using Blushing Bride, Pumpkin Pie with a touch of retired Regal Rose (both stamped off) and Strawberry Slush.  You'll see I went with the blue leaves too - it's kind of nice to use something other than green on foliage.  I used Night of Navy and Marina Mist.

The stamp set is Beautiful Brushstrokes from PTI, along with the matching dies.

Head over to JAI to check out the design team inspiration.  I'm really looking forward to seeing all your gorgeous interpretations of this sketch, and particularly the ink colours you choose.  

I've got a special blog post going live next Monday 22 September, so be sure to stop back and check it out.  Have a fabulous weekend.