Jac-Inks Challenge 3

It's good to be back in the land of blog after not being able to do much on my computer over the last couple of weeks. My kids use it too, and between us all, we had filled up all the space so I couldn't upload photos etc. Sooooooo frustrating! My hubby spent lots of time transferring all the kids stuff to another computer we had for them to use. So now I am back in business. Yay!

This week we have an inspiration picture for the jac-inks challenge. Doesn't it look gorgeous? Oh to be lazing on a tropical island somewhere...

This is what it inspired me to create...

Stamps: Embrace Life (retired), Great Friend (for the sentiment)

Paper: Pacific Point, Whisper White, Watercolour paper

Ink: Stazon Black, Basic Black, Pacific Point, Tempting Turquoise, Handsome Hunter, Melon Mambo

Other: White Gel Pen, Aqua Painter

You can't really see from the photo, but the flower has been popped out using dimensionals. I stamped the image on watercolour paper using stazon ink, then applied some colour with a marker and used an aqua painter to spread the colour. Once dry, I applied some white to the stamens using a gel pen.

Jac-Inks Challenge 2 — a sketch

Here we are with the next Jac-Inks Challenge — a sketch, created by Ann.

I found this a huge challenge as I am not usually one for layering up circles and ovals, and I don't know if I've ever rounded the corners of a card!

Anyway, I found a "non-layering" way of achieving the layout. All the elements are there, some more subtle than others :)

I loved how the tree was shaped just right to be my circle, and then the sun... well it was the other one. Then there was the little banner at the bottom left... it was just perfect for a bit of ground.

Yay!!!!!! I was pretty pleased with being able to find something in my landscape theme to fulfill all the requirements of the layout.

Stamps: Pendant Park

Ink: So Safron, Pumpkin Pie, Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip

Paper: Whisper White, Riding Hood Red

Other: Sponges, 1" Circle Punch, a hand made oval for masking — because I don't own any cutting equipment for ovals that size!! (don't look too closely at the edges, my cutting wasn't perfect)

So using my handmade oval template and a punched out circle for a mask, I sponged over the area first with So Safron, then starting from the edges and working towards the circle, but not all the way, with Pumpkin Pie. Then around the very edges I sponged a little Riding Hood Red — more towards the bottom. When the mask is pulled away you get a lovely sunset! I stamped the tree over the top and then created another mask with a torn piece of paper for the ground, positioning it so that it was at the base of the tree. I sponged along the edge of the tear with Chocolate Chip and then again a little lower (I had to put the template back while sponging the ground inside the oval).

Whoa!! I think this just needs a demo. Maybe sometime I'll do a step by step demo with pics!!

Most of you probably know how to do this anyway, but for those that don't I hope that helps a bit :)

Thanks for visiting, and I can't wait to see your creations! Head on over to Jac-Inks to enter.

Clean & Simple Sketch 127

Floral stamps, leafy stamps. This is what came to mind when viewing the Clean & Simple Sketch for this week.

Also, with Valentine's Day being tomorrow I wanted to make a card for my Hubby — Hmmmmm, Valentine's Day... red, pink, love hearts, pretty...

Floral, leafy...

Not this time!

Today I wanted to challenge myself to do something different to what might be expected, both for the sketch and Valentine's.

Red is my Hubby's favourite colour, but every card I've made him, EVERY CARD, involves red. It's time I made him one without red — just for a change! So what will he be getting tomorrow??

This one...
Stamps: Wild About You

Paper: Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Summer Picnic DSP

Ink: Basic Black, Tangerine Tango

Other: Spiral Punch, Clip from the Clips Assortment

Not at all what anyone would expect to receive on Valentine's Day. But we have been married for 16 years and we are just two big kids who still love each other after all this time. So I think the card is suitable don't you think?

OLW 40 — Two for the Show

Here is my card for the One-layer Wednesday challenge 40 — hosted this week by Jennifer Styles. The challenge is to use two stamps (no sentiments) and no bling or ribbon etc. You can heat emboss or colour with markers if you want. It has taken me days to even think of something!! Stamps: Friends 24-7

Paper: Whisper White

Ink: Crumb Cake & Basic Black ink pads, Old Olive, Riding Hood Red & Cherry Cobbler markers

It took me a few attempts before I was happy with a layout using the two stamps I chose. In the end I felt it needed to have a frame so I masked the bottom right corner while stamping and then scored around it.

Less is More Challenge Blog

There is another new challenge blog in blogland! This one is called Less is More — a clean & simple challenge blog, created by Mandi and Chrissie. The first challenge is to use Black, White and Pink.

The first card uses ruled lines for the border and a small sentiment (which I think should be positioned a little more to the right don't you think?)

The second one uses a slightly larger sentiment (that I think is too heavy for the design) and I have hand drawn the border. Not sure if I prefer the hand drawn or ruled border.

Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes, Just Believe (for the sentiment in the second card)

Paper: Whisper White

Ink: Basic Black, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Rose Red (which is not really red, but a very deep pink!)

With both cards, I drew a border in pencil first. Then stamped the sentiment along the pencil line using a stamp-a-ma-jig to position it correctly. Finally I went over the pencil lines with a black marker (with a ruler for the first card and freehand for the second) stopping on each side of the sentiment.

OLW 39

This week's One-layer Wednesday challenge is an image stamp, a border stamp and some bling. I decided to do some masking so that the border looks like it's been stuck over the top of the brayered background — and of course the background needed some masking too!

Stamps: Just Believe, Vine and Blossom (wheel)

Paper: Shimmery White

Ink: Not Quite Navy, Bashful Blue

Accessories: Basic Rhinestones

The bling is not just the rhinestones. As you can see from the pic below, the paper has it's own bling which shows up really nicely when ink is applied over the top. It almost looks like a starry night! It's such pretty paper.

Jac-Inks Challenge Blog

Hi there again!

Just wanted to share that I have become a Design Team Member for the jac-inks challenge blog, set up by a very lovely and talented lady, Ann Craig. Yesterday the very first challenge was launched. Every two weeks a new challenge will be announced — colour, inspiration, sketch and technique challenges. This one is a colour challenge, neutrals + one other colour! This is what I came up with...

Stamps: Great Friend, En Français, Pocket Silhouettes

Paper: Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede

Ink: Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Pacific Point

Accessories: Basic Pearls

I layered up the colours by applying ink directly to paper with the ink pad, stamping the images in the different colours and sponging around the edges. You can see more detail in the picture below.

We'd love you to participate in the challenge, so head on over to the jac-inks Challenge #1, check out the other team designs, and find all the info about entering. This challenge there is some blog candy up for grabs too!

Clean & Simple Sketch 125 Again!

The other day I had more than one idea for the Clean & Simple sketch challenge. So here are two more cards...

They both use the gorgeous Blueberry Crisp DSP, one on white and one on vanilla with some ribbon. I prefer the white version — I think it is much cleaner!

Stamps: Heard from the Heart

Paper: Whisper White, Blueberry Crisp DSP

Ink: Pacific Point

Stamps: Heard from the Heart

Paper: Very Vanilla, Blueberry Crisp DSP

Ink: Not Quite Navy

Accessories: Very Vanilla 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon

When the DSP is cut up in sections on a card like that, it reminds me of this patchwork quilt my Mum made me when I was a little girl. Maybe that has something to do with why I like it so much!