Comparing products & A Girls Day Out.......

On the weekend l had a fun day out with a couple of girlfriends, our destination was a papercraft show held about 45mins from home, we left about 9.30am and l was thinking l would be back in a couple of hours or so!.......Wrong, we didn't get home until about 6pm and had multiple stops...:0)

The bulk of the day was spent at the Craft show where we sat in on many demo's and make'n'takes, the one that caught my interest was the Tim Holtz products and samples.
 l participated in the tag make'n'take and loved the techniques, that started me thinking, had l used anything that l didn't already have a similar Stampin-Up product at home....well the answer was not really!
I figured l should be able to use all my Stampin-up products in the same way........Today l put that theory to the test and made a few sets of tags, half using my SU  and the other half using the Tim Holtz inks that l had already and a Distress paint l purchased yesterday.

Those on the left are all SU and on the right the inks and crackle effects are Tim Holtz.

As you can see they are very similar, the only difference to the look seems to be the size of the cracks.....

 This last set has no crackle/paints...just similar ink colours applied with sponges, using clear E/P for emboss resist.

I am glad l didn't purchase spur of the minute, as l am more than happy with the tags on the left!

                                                                                                                                                                   

All images, ribbons and embossing products are Stampin-Up.

Have a great day!





A case of Paula & Mae....

Recently both Paula Dobson & Mae Colins used a technique that inspired me so much, l needed to give it a try too........"Inlaid Embossing"

This was so much fun to try, the flower is from the SU "baskets & Blooms " Die, so while l had it out, l decided to make a co-ordinating gift basket to use for a Thank-you gift.

This die makes such a cute little basket, although it doesn't appear to be that big, it is quite roomy and perfect to fill with chocolates/soy melts/ etc.

I was very happy with how this set turned out and will definitely be doing more, especially the "Inlaid Embossing" technique....Thanks girls for the inspiration!

All supplies are Stampin-Up, except the blue cardstock, that was from my stash of long ago.

Thanks for stopping by, have a great week!

Just Add Ink #73.....

Morning people, it's JAI challenge time again & this weeks "SKETCH" challenge is provided by the sweet & talented Mae Collins.

Last weekend we celebrated my MIL 80th Birthday, l decided to make her card and giftbox using this weeks challenge....Now as it turned out l didn't end up using them, as the gift l had bought her didn't actually fit in the box after all!
Hmmm...note to self, next time measure first & save the angst!

The base l used for the giftbox is a "Simply Sent Kit" box, that l had thought to keep at some point for this purpose, using my SU stamp "From the Garden" l stamped direct to cardboard and once on Crumbcake cardstock, l used my Copics for colouring, although l did find that both of these were extremly absorbent compared to whisper white cardstock or blending c/stock.
The image on Crumbcake was fussy cut and popped on top with dimentionals to add a bit of balance to the overall look.

As you can see by the pic's, there is a big difference in colour from the card to the giftbox & the only difference in product is the cardstock colour. Do l love them?....Not really, as much as l did enjoy the making, I'm not loving the end result, but as time was an issue, they are what they are!

The Just Add Ink DT have some fabulous inspiration for you, if you haven't come from there, pop on over & check them out, you wont be dissapointed!

All products are Stampin-Up, except the border punch & Copics.


Thanks for stopping by & enjoy your weekend!

A different type of craft..........

Ok, l am giggling to myself as l write this, as l have just jumped on to do a post about "Old School" handicrafts and checking my blog feeds l came across an almost identical post from my fellow Just add ink design team member "Patrice Easton".....as l don't know hardly anyone who crochets and thought that it was definitely a craft of the past, apparently not, as both my girls tell me it's the in thing again.........go figure!

As a child of about 9-10yrs (Oh so long ago) l was introduced to this exciting thing called crochet, by my primary school crossing lady "Mrs Rigby" and promptly hounded my mother for the appropriate tools, after many attempts and a lot of unpicking and so much patience from the teacher, l finally mastered IMO the art of colourful squares that held so much promise for a future in fashion....as you do at that age...:0)
Anyway, thinking l was so much cleverer than the other girls on the "Crochet Team" as we called ourselves, as l had finished mine first, this is something closely resembling  my first completed article........My pride and joy!

Now l ask you, is that not the height of fashion and do you believe l actually made more than one and wore them...:0)

As both of my girls are decorating nurseries, l thought l would make them a cot blanket each to suit, the first one is for my beautiful little Brady, who is now nearly 4mths old, boy time moves these days...

And this next one is for my baby, who is expecting her first child (grandchild #3) in mid Oct, very excited!

This actually looks very blue in the pic, but is the most gorgeous soft duckegg/green tone in real life!

Well, that's all for this post, I'm at present working on a very colourful version for my first grandson Archer and may blog it when it's done...or not!
I hope you have enjoyed reminiscing along with me and maybe even relating...:0)

Thanks for stopping by....

Just Add Ink # 72........A colouring Challenge!

This week JAI has challenged us to "Just Add Colouring" this challenge is from the very talented  Tania Gould.

Whether you prefer watercolour pencils-markers or copics it's up to you, so grab your preference and play along.....If you want some fantastic inspiration check out the awesome work the rest of the Design Team  came up with.

                                          Here's a couple of pics from close-up and  inside........

My colouring preference for this one was my  Ink pads with a Blender Pen in Rich Razzleberry & Old Olive on watercolour paper, Cardstocks are Basic Black & Old Olive with Rich Razzleberry DSP.
The border is the  Eyelet Border Punch.
These images are from the  set "Awash with Flowers",  the greeting is from Sincere Salutations.
Embelishments are Old olive Grosgrain, Rhinestone & Designer Brads & Basic Rhinestones.
I also used a Stamp-a-ma-Jig for correct double stamping of the front image and leaf placement.

All products are Stampin-Up!

Thanks for stopping by....I hope you get a chance to play along!

Friends never fade....

Just a super quick post, thought l would share a couple of cards using Stampin-Ups "Friends never fade" set,
I used the same colours on both cards, Crumbcake, Blushing bride & Whisper white.

Not sure which one l prefer, the top one has shading with Crumbcake and a more vintage weathered look and the second one l kept clean and crisp.
All products are Stampin-Up.....Thanks for popping by,
                                   

Black & White Elegance...JAI #71

It's "Just Add Ink" challenge time again and this weeks challenge was provided by the inspiring  Paula Dobson.

                          A very classy challenge..."Just Add Black & White"
                  So many possibilities for this combo, l finally decided to go with  simple & elegant...........

The textured panel was created by stamping with the "Elements of style" stamp set and l then ran it through my Bigshot with the square lattice Emb/folder.
These stunning flowers are the handy work of the very talented Joanne Leddy, l just cant stop adding them to my projects....love them!
Although it's hard to see, this one was spritzed with a Champagne Shimmer paint & isocol (rubbing alcohol) mix, in a Tim Holtz Mini Mister, l really must work on achieving better pics.

Head on over to "Just Add Ink" if you haven't yet seen the wonderful creations by the rest of the DT, you wont be disappointed!

All supplies are "Stampin-Up".

Thanks for stopping by, have a great weekend........

Color Throwdown challenge #144

Wow....2 posts in 1 day! haven't done this for a while.......I needed to make a Birthday card for my nieces 9th b'day, so l thought l would combine it with a challenge.
The Color Throwdown team have supplied me with the perfect colours for a very girly girl....

So heres my very Girly card..........

and heres a couple of closer pics, in the hope you can see the Frost white Shimmer paint from SU that l applied over the coloured image....

                                            It really is very pretty IRL, all sparkly and soft.
As with my previous card, l used Co-ordinating ink pads and blender pen on watercolour paper and then fussy cut the image and popped it up with dimentionals.
The border on the Base card was created using Stampin-Ups new Tulip embossing folder.

I'm sure she will think it's pretty cool and appreciate it too.........for the last few years she has been my little papercrafting pal or as she refers to herself  "My Art Friend", she has a collection of papercraft products that would rival most!

Well enjoy your evening and thanks for popping in again,

                              

PalsPaperArts Challenge #96

This weeks PPA challenge is a colour challenge, a combination that appealed, so l thought l would play along.....

These are not normally a combination l would reach for, but the DT had some great cards for inspiration and this is what l came up with, l can think of a couple of handsome little men l could give this too......

This little guy was an image from my local scrapbooking shop and l just had to have him...and his brother and sister.........very cute!
To colour him l used my SU Ink pads in co-ordinating colours, water colour paper and my blender pen.
The DSP is from the co-ordinating Regals paper stack, All products are stampin up, except the larger star punch and Jute.
I am more than happy now it's finished,...."Love" the colours!

Thanks for taking a peek,

                              

Just Add Ink #70

I cant believe it's Friday already and challenge time again at JAI, this week it's a sketch challenge provided by Bronwyn Eastley and a great fun sketch at that!

I had a lovely time creating my sample for this challenge, l have been wanting to make an easel card for ages and with this sketch, the timing was perfect to give it a go......

And here's a close up of the detail......

I hope you get some inspiration from this and if you want some more, head over to Just Add Ink and check out the amazing creations from the rest of the design team.

Thanks for popping in, enjoy your weekend......

Supplies:
Pink pirouette and Crumbcake c/stock.
Crumbcake-Early Espresso and Versamark inks.
White E/P, Vintage Brad.
Scallop circle and Circle # 1 Dies.
XL bird punch (leaves).
Nature Walk-Priceless-French Foliage and Bliss stamp sets.
Champagne shimmer paint.
Non SU-flowers and Bling.