Friday, June 26, 2015

Just Add Ink #268 - Just Add a Sketch

Good morning beautiful blog friends ~

OMGoodness Friday's roll around ever so quickly....over at Just Add Ink today we have a new sketch challenge from Narelle.

It's been a really crazy busy time the past six weeks (you know...buying and selling houses, sending GK off on his big adventure to Borneo), and I've had minimal crafting time.  Today I have a fairly straight forward, simple, layered card to share.  


Using a base of Coastal Cabana and the Best Year Ever designer paper (another freebie from SAB this year), along with a little Sahara Sand and some (now retired) Crisp Cantaloupe I just layered up. Told you, pretty simple!

The design team have made some stunning cards to share with you this week, so head over to JAI and check them out.  I'm sure you'll be inspired by their creations.  Hope you can join the challenge fun with us.  Here's the sketch.


Well GK left bright and early yesterday morning.  I was a bit teary and sad to send him off, despite this being a fabulous opportunity and such a learning experience for him.  I'm already counting the days/weeks until he comes home with all his news, and hopefully a memory card full of photos!

We have an open home this Saturday and Sunday so a bit of a drag, but it should be reasonably painless.  I'm already tired of having to wipe down the shower and bathroom every time one of us uses it.  I've been smart though, and closed off the other two bathrooms - so no extra cleaning required lol.

Hope you have a fabbo weekend!  Back again soon.



Friday, June 19, 2015

Just Add Ink #267 - Just Add Typography

Happy Friday friends ~

This week Di has given us the new challenge over at Just Add Ink, to add Typography.  I have to admit I googled this one.

As you can see I've used a ton of different stamp sets on my card.  It was a total snap to put together, despite it looking like it took forever.  Thank you MISTI.  I just lined them all up and stamped once.


My base card is the very cool Irresistibly Yours Specialty designer paper we received during SAB earlier this year. It's white paper with a glossy white pattern that you can colour using a variety of techniques - which then reveals the pattern.  I used a sponge dauber and black ink to bring up the bold stripes.  I've used a Smoky Slate mat and my accent colour is the lovely new Watermelon Wonder In Colour.  Pretty cool for a guy, don't you think?

Head over to JAI and check out the great variety of design team inspiration cards this week - that should give you an idea of where to start if you'd like to join the challenge.  I'm looking forward to seeing many more Typography ideas from you all.

Well after fifteen months of planning and training, in just six days GK will be on his way to Borneo with World Challenge Organisation.  Everything is packed.  He's had all his needles and adventure awaits.  He'll be doing a week of jungle trekking and sleeping rough in hammocks.  He's also going to work on a community project in a small village for a week - digging trenches for water pipes. Nothing like good old fashioned hard work to put things in perspective. He'll have a week of R & R also, and visit some beaches and see the orangutangs and clouded leopards.  I'm sure he's going to come home a different kid.  I'm excited and nervous for him.  Can't wait to hear all about it when he returns.  Let's hope he's better with a camera than I am lol.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Have an awesome weekend!




Friday, June 12, 2015

Just Add Ink #266 - Just Add a Colour Combo

Hi crafty friends ~

There's a new challenge over at Just Add Ink, and Nikki has given us the lovely colour combo of
Pink Pirouette, Night of Navy and Gold to work with this week.  If you haven't already noticed, I'm super fond of beautiful flower images.  So sad that Stippled Blossoms has retired, however, I'll be keeping it forever.


I don't keep a lot in the way of gold in my craft stash.  I really didn't want to heat emboss my leaves, so I used an ink that would give a gold-ish tone.  Did it work?  The glittery gold enamel dots are from My Mind's Eye - Ashbury Heights.

The design team have created some absolutely beautiful cards using this colour combo, and  I really can't wait to see what everyone else comes up with.  Head over to JAI, check out the inspiration and link up.

News with us this week....we're gearing up to put the house on the market.  That means lots of sorting and packing and cleaning.  Sigh.  Lucky I'm not a hoarder (excluding craft items of course) and so it really isn't a huge job. Photos are being taken early next week then the 'open house' starts every weekend for a month.  Not looking forward to that - living in it and keeping it presentable with toddlers and a teenager (not to mention the dog and the bunny) in tow just does my head in.  Anyway it is what it is.  Wish me luck!

Gorgeous Kid had his last pre expedition check this week.  Everything is in order and two weeks yesterday he heads off to Borneo for what I expect will be a life changing experience.

Friday, June 5, 2015

Just Add Ink #265 - Just Add Inspiration

Hello crafty friends ~

Yay for another Friday!  I'm off to my second Osteopath appointment this week for a niggly back/shoulder issue I've been hoping would heal itself for the past three weeks.  Wish I hadn't left it so long :o(

Rochelle has give us an inspiration pic for the new Just Add Ink challenge.  I needed a pretty cool congratulatory card for a talented young man who made it to one of the Brumbies footy junior teams a few weeks back.  Hand picked he was.  Didn't even try out.  Clever!

I took inspiration from this card that my fellow design team friend, Di Barnes made a few months ago  - it's an iPhone card!  Di generously gives all the measurements in her post.


My base is Bermuda Bay c/s, with Crushed Curry, Basic Black and Whisper White as the accents. The sentiments come from various stamp sets.  Soooo if you have a look at the inspiration pic below, you'll see I used slightly different shaped 'balloons' on my card.

We'd love you to join the JAI challenge this week.  Choose whichever elements appeal to you and get crafty - could be colours, stripes, flags, balloons, circles...you're only limited by your imagination.


Well Gorgeous Kid is doing some fast growing up these days.  He's currently off for a few days at an Outdoor Education camp, middle of nowhere, freezing weather...but I bet he's having a blast caving and abseiling etc.  In a few short weeks he's heading off to Borneo, Malaysia with World Challenge Organisation for a month.  I'll talk more about that closer to the day.  I'm getting nervous!

Hope to see you join the challenge this week, have a fabulous weekend.


Wednesday, June 3, 2015

SUO Challenge #123 - Sweet Treats

Oh my goodness, don't fall off your chairs!  Can you believe I'm here for a mid week share?  AND I'm participating in a 'new to me' challenge - SUO - where have I been?  Their challenge this week is to make something sweet.  I do love a treat!

I wrapped some mini Kit Kat chocolates in the now retired Gold Soiree specialty designer series paper, created a little tray using some Calypso Coral c/s and packaged them up in a cello bag, tying off with a little of the matching free SAB ribbon.  My embellishment uses a few of the thinlits from the Mini Treat Bag thinlits - how versatile is that gorgeous little set?  I cannot believe I sat on the fence for as long as I did.  Best.  Purchase.  Ever!

I love having little treats like this on hand to give for no reason at all.  


If you'd like to play along with the Stampin' Up! Only challenge this week, go check out the awesome design team inspiration here,

Thanks for stopping by today.  I'll be back Friday for a brand new Just Add Ink challenge.  Enjoy the rest of your week :o)