Inkspiration's Sketch Challenge # 18

A Kind Word

I love the colour combo of Perfect Plum, Kiwi Kiss and Whisper White and have made a couple of cards recently using those gorgeous colours. This time around, I've added Pale Plum to the mix. For Keesh's challenge I wanted to ink up this girl stamp from a Kind Word as I hadn't used it yet!! Plus, I was dying to use some Flower Soft for the basket of flowers. With all this in mind, the sketch took on a very flowery theme!

Inkspirations Sketch Challenge # 18

I altered the sketch ever so slightly because I didn't want to cover up the border that I had made using the Trio Flower Punch and DSP.


Here's the 'deets' for A Kind Word -
Stamp Sets: A Kind Word, Vintage Labels, Boho Backgrounds
Cardstock: Whisper White, Pale Plum, Perfect Plum
Ink: Pale Plum, Perfect Plum and for the watercolouring I used Blush Blossom Crayon, Perfect Plum Marker, Kiwi Kiss, Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, So Saffron, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip Ink
Accessories: Watercolour Paper, Aqua Painter, Urban Garden DSP, Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon, Pretties Kit, Stampin' Dimensionals, Eyelet Border and Trio Flower Punches, Soft Subtle Buttons (retired), Linen Thread
Non-SU: Flower Soft (Fuschia)

If you view this beautiful card by Claire Daly, you'll know why I've had a fetish for this gorgeous colour combination. Thanks, Claire for the inspiration!

Have a great week. Mine will be busy as I'm back at work!
Bronwyn

Silhouette Stamps

Sunset in Cambodia - Inspired by Nature

Sunset in Cambodia - Inspired by Nature & Bird on a Branch

Sunset in Cambodia - Pocket Silhouettes

Sunrise at Swansea - Pocket Silhouettes

Sunrise at Swansea - Inspired by Nature

Sunrise at Swansea - Upsy Daisy

I just love the Stampin' Up! range of silhouette stamps that they have in the Idea Book and Catalogue. A few days back I posted a photo using this technique. Here are the rest of the cards I made.

I simply found some photos of sunrise/sunsets from our personal collection and stamped silhouette images over the top with Basic Black ink. It's a very effective technique that I found in a recent card making magazine.

I think they would make great Sympathy cards or for general use. I purposefully didn't put sentiments on most of them because I thought it spoiled the images.

My hubby took these magnificent photos.

Have an awesome day!! It's my last day of the holidays before I go back to teaching tomorrow. I've decided to start a class blog with my grade 5/6 so they can share their creativity with the world!

Smiles, Bron :0)

Freebies!!!

Free Stamp Sets - Organic Grace/Vintage Labels
using Perfect Plum, Kiwi Kiss and Confetti White

I have been wanting to do a post to advertise Sale-a-bration since it started on January 25th, but have been a little pre-occupied with being on the Design Team at Just Add Ink. I did, however, take part in a massive blog hop and made a few examples using the Happy Moments Stamp Set but have not got in contact with my customers!! Shame on me. You'll be hearing from me soon!

Sale-a-bration really is a great time to hold a workshop. Take the above example for instance, if you host a workshop during the SAB period (until the end of March), you could get all three stamp sets featured and a punch for FREE! This is just one example -

Hold a workshop and if sales reach over $600, you get a SAB stamp set of your choice for FREE (in this case - Vintage Labels).

You would also be eligible for a Level 1 or 2 Hostess Set (in this example, Organic Grace).

Then you'd have $70 to spend!!! How about the En Francais Background Stamp for $33.95 and one of the punches for $30.95? I have used the Wide Oval and Eyelet Border Punches.

Then there would be a little credit still left to put towards that gorgeous Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon or perhaps some cute buttons from the Button Bouquet range.

INDIVIDUAL ORDERS over $100 also qualify for a free Sale-a-bration stamp set.

Just in case you haven't clicked on the picture of the SAB catalogue in my side bar, I've got a picture of each of the GORGEOUS stamp sets that are on offer, below.

Happy Moments

Vintage Labels

Good Neighbours

Whimsical Words

I am happy to accept outside orders within Australia/NZ (using a secure credit card facility) or if you live in and around the Launceston area, why not book in for a workshop of your own? I will also travel down to the North West Coast on weekends, as I have family in Burnie, Ulverstone, Devonport and Latrobe. My contact details are listed on this blog.

If you've ever thought about joining Stampin' Up!, now is also the most advantageous time, with an extra stamp set of your choice from the current Idea Book and Catalogue or Summer Mini (up to the value of $79.95) for FREE, along with the Starter Kit, which you can personalise to suit your needs!



Stamp Club - dINKy chicks

I am also in the process of organising a 'Stamp Club' for customers and SU Demonstrators, with the idea of getting together to learn some new techniques and just hanging out and enjoying each other's love of stamping and papercraft. It will be on a Friday or Monday night (the last in the month) at my house, with 2 projects to do for the total cost of $7 (BARGAIN!!!), with no minimum to purchase SU products. Of course, orders will always be welcome, but not the focus.

If you are interested, please let me know what night you would prefer to come along. Your only requirement for joining the dINKy chicks, is to provide me with your contact details, so I can send you out the necessary info in advance. You can then attend the ones that interest you, however, an RSVP would be essential at least 2 days prior to the night. Hope that all makes sense!!

Looking forward to hearing from you,
Bronwyn :)

PS: If you want your own copy of the SAB catalogue, please contact me and I'll pop one in the post!

Just Add Ink - Challenge #3

Eastern Influences

This week's challenge at Just Add Ink is a SKETCH CHALLENGE based on the sketch below. I think sketch challenges are the easiest to do as you can use any colours and stamp sets etc. that your little heart desires and the layout is all worked out for you!

I was really eager to ink up my Eastern Influences stamp set and wanted to use Always Artichoke, Mellow Moss and Bravo Burgundy together. When I saw that big circle I knew I wanted to get the brayer out!!! The sky couldn't be any of those colours that I wanted to use, so I added Bordering Blue to the mix.

I think Eastern Influences is going to be one of my favourite sets - just love the birds and the blossoms.

Here's JAI's First Sketch Challenge

Here's the Project Details:
Stamp Set: Eastern Influences
Cardstock: Glossy, Plain and Textured Whisper White, Textured Always Artichoke
Ink: Basic Brown, Always Artichoke, Bravo Burgundy, Bordering Blue, Mellow Moss, Pale Plum
Accessories: Linen Thread, Watercolour Paper, Aqua Painter, 5/8" Bravo Burgundy Grosgrain Ribbon, 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" Circle Punches, Stampin' Dimensionals, Brayer

I hope you have time to play along with the sketch challenge this week. Most ladies, on blogs that I have browsed through, have said that they have more time to craft now that the kids are back at school, but the reverse is true for me. My holiday is almost at an end so it's back to work I go. I guess it will be good to get back into some sort of routine again and get a Stamp Club started, along with organising some SAB workshops! Being on the Design Team at Just Add Ink will ensure I add a post to my blog at least once a week!

Looking forward to viewing all the entries for Challenge # 3,
Bronwyn :0)

I'm no Zindorf

Sunrise at Swansea - Upsy Daisy

I was around at Tania's the other day, having a lovely time stamping and embossing, when on my way out the door, Tania mentioned that she forgot to ask me to demo the brayer!

I suddenly remembered a great technique that I saw in a Card Making Magazine recently. There were some examples of Stampscapes stamped over photos of sunsets. Brilliant idea!! I thought this technique would look great using the Stampin' Up! Silhouette range of stamps. So here I am with example number one out of six that I did this afternoon. I'll show you the rest in a later post.

I printed out lots of photos that my hubby had taken on a family holiday to Swansea (on the beautiful East Coast of Tasmania) and some sunset photos taken in Cambodia in 2008. I just printed them on Whisper White cardstock, stamped the silhouette in Basic Black and for this example, I added a sentiment from Pocket Silhouettes. Voila! So easy.

I certainly won't stop trying to master the brayer (I love Michelle Zindorf's work) and it's a great tool for emboss resist as well, but I certainly have a lot more practicing to do!

Here's my first attempt at using the brayer (which I did long before I started blogging). I tore strips of paper to mask the different layers of colours that I used. From memory, the colour range was More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Really Rust, Close to Cocoa and Chocolate Chip. I used the grass stamp from Inspired by Nature.

Brayered Sunset

Go on, give it a go! If you would like to order any of the silhouette range of stamps or any other SU product, please feel free to email me at - bronaddinktivedesigns@gmail.com

Until next time ....

Star Wars

Star Wars' Pop Up Card

Darth Vader

I have been wanting to do a pop-up card for ages and came across some great ideas from Stamp-n-Design. There's a great castle pop up that Lynn has done and a link to where she found all the FREE templates. You should check it out!

Well, this is pretty simple, no fancy ribbons or other accessories etc. as it was made for our son's 20th birthday. He's been keen on Star Wars since 'forever', so thought that this would be a bit of fun to make.

The only SU products are the cardstock (Riding Hood Red, Basic Gray and Whisper White), Basic Black Ink and Silver Jumbo Brads! Got the DSP from a craft shop and the sentiment is from the Spring Mini (09).

Ryan thought it was a hit!! That's the main thing.

May the force be with you!
Bronwyn

Just Add Hearts

Just Add Heart Candy

It's time for another challenge at Just Add Ink. Wow, was I blown away by the quality and number of entries in the Colour Challenge. What a difficult decision it was. It's just as well 10 of us vote! Congratulations to the Top Picks and Honourable Mentions.

I hope you spare some time this week to play along by Just Adding Hearts to your creation. Get that mojo flowing and have fun!

Here's the deets for - Just Add Heart Candy
Stamp Sets: Sprinkles, Stem Sayings
Cardstock: Riding Hood Red, Textured Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss (plain and textured), Textured So Saffron
Ink: Pink Pirouette, Basic Black
Accessories: White Vellum, Bella Rose DSP, Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon, Sweet Treat Cup, Eyelet Border, Scallop Edge, Heart to Heart and 1 3/4" Circle Punches, Paper Piercing Tool and Mat Pack, Stampin' Dimensionals, Crystal Iris Chunky Sprinkles, Heart Candy for decorating cakes.

Bron

Sale A Bration Blog Hop

Hi and welcome to the ESAD-SU, Sale A Bration Blog Hop. ESAD is an Aussie based group just for Extremely Special Aussie and New Zealand Stampin' Up! Demonstrators. I joined this group just before Christmas and am excited to be part of my very first Blog Hop!

I have made some examples from the Happy Moments Sale A Bration Stamp Set. It was a tough decision about which one I'd purchase for the pre-order as I LOVE all four of them! It was the little bird stamp that won me over but I'm looking forward to earning the remaining three during the SAB period.

Sample 1 - Gift Box

This little gift box was made from a template, taken from the SU Demonstrator Web Site Pattern Library (Box No. 21). It is featured in the SAB Catalogue (page 2), with the Vintage Labels Set, pictured below. I loved the whole layout, so this is a CASE of the original.

Project Recipe:
Stamp Sets: Happy Moments (SAB), Boho Backgrounds
Cardstock: Textured Sahara Sand, Baja Breeze
Ink: Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Basic Brown
Accessories: 1 1/4" Circle & Scallop Circle Punches, Watercolour Paper, Aqua Painter, Pretties Kit (flower & pearl), Urban Garden DSP, Valet Ribbon Originals, Linen Thread, Small Cellophane Bag, Kraft Taffeta Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals

Inspiration from the SAB Catalogue

Why don't you ask your Independent SU Demonstrator for the template so you can make your own little gift box? If you don't know a demonstrator, I'd be happy to email you a copy.

Sample 2 - Birthday Cake Note Card

This second example is also inspired from the SAB Catalogue. You'll see a little note card on page 6 made with the Good Neighbour's Stamp Set. Once again, the template is in the Pattern Library, available to SU Demonstrators. It is Card No. 2.

I used the Sparkly Frosting Mixture that was featured in January's SU Impression's Magazine and just added some Light Pink Chunky Sprinkles to give it some more sparkle and colour! The 'recipe' for this can be found here.

Project Recipe:
Stamp Set: Happy Moments
Cardstock: Textured Pink Pirouette, Whisper White
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Corner Rounder Punch, Valet Ribbon Originals, Linen Thread, So Saffron Stampin' Write Marker, Blender Pen, Stampin' Dimensionals, Frosting Mixture: Tombow Glue, White Embossing Powder, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Light Pink Chunky Sprinkles.

Inspiration from the little SAB Catalogue - page 6


and now some original examples ...

Sample 3 - String/Spinner Suspension Card (Open)

Project Recipe:
Stamp Sets: Happy Moments, For Everything
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Textured Not Quite Navy
Ink: Not Quite Navy
Accessories: Paper Piercing tool, mat and template, Kraft Taffeta Ribbon, Filigree Brads, Earth Element Brads, Linen Thread, Small Tag, Tag and Eyelet Border Punches, Bella Bleu DSP

(Closed)

Stamp the birdcage image twice, attach the Linen Thread in between and secure with Sticky Strip. Twirl the birdcage around a few times on the taut thread and lay it flat ready to pop in an envelope. When the recipient opens the card, watch the cage spin around! This is a cute little technique I discovered on Splitcoast Stampers.

Sample 4 - Happy Birthday

This card was made to look like a birthday present, so it would be suitable to pop a gift voucher inside!

Project Recipe:
Stamps: Happy Moments
Cardstock: Whisper White
Ink: Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Brown
Accessories: Sweet Always DSP, 1.6cm Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon, Antique Brass Jumbo Eyelet, Watercolour Paper, Aqua Painter, Stamping Sponge

Sample 5 - Scalloped Note Cards

These note cards are new in the Summer Mini Catalogue in three colours - Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouette and Baja Breeze. I made one in Riding Hood Red and Kiwi Kiss and used the CC and PP ones from the pack, so I could make the gift set to match the beautiful Bella Rose DSP.

Inside a Cellophane Gift Bag with Topper

Project Recipe:
Stamp Set: Happy Moments
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette (plain and textured), Kiwi Kiss
Ink: Same as cardstock
Accessories: Horizontal Slot, Scallop Border and Scallop Square Punches, Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon, Bella Rose DSP, Watercolour Paper, Aqua Painter, Large Cellophane Bag, Stampin' Dimensionals

Here's a close-up photo of each note card -

Why not join ESAD for some support, encouragement, tips and ideas on building your Stampin' Up! Business. It's a place for regular chats, swaps, on-line support and friendship. To get there, click on the button in my side bar under Yahoo Groups.

So, what do you think? I hope you enjoyed browsing as much as I did creating them. If you get to all the blogs and comment at each one, then your name will go into the draw to win some blog candy!

If you live in and around the Launceston area and you'd like to get one or more of these SAB sets for FREE, please don't hesitate to contact me for your very own workshop, or order. Outside orders are also welcome from anywhere within Australia. Click on the SAB catalogue in the side bar for more details.

My email: bronaddinktivedesigns@gmail.com

The next blog is with the lovely and talented Cathy Clark and you will 'hop' there by clicking on the picture below -

Thanks for taking the time to browse. Feel free to come back and visit again sometime!
Bronwyn :0)

Inkspirations Colour Challenge # 17

Happy Moments - Spinner Card (open)

Yay! Keesh is back with her first Inkspiration's COLOUR challenge for the year using the combo below. I wanted to make a String/Spinner Suspension Card as I've seen them on Splitcoast and thought the birdcage would be great to use for this technique. You can find the tutorial for it here. The idea is to 'wind' the taut linen thread a few times and when the recipient opens the card, the birdcage will spin around. Neat, hey?

I've actually done another card, using this technique, ready for the launch of Sale-a-bration tomorrow and the ESAD blog hop!

The flower is made with the Cameo Coral coloured DSP from all the circle punches. The circles have been scrunched, edges sponged with Chocolate Chip ink and then held together with a Build-a-brad, that has a centre made from So Saffron textured cardstock.

Here's the colour combo

The Finer Details:
Stamp Set: Happy Moments (SAB)
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Textured So Saffron
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Walk in the Park DSP (Spring Mini), Bella Rose DSP, Linen Thread, Button Latte, So Saffron Ribbon (Ribbon Bundle Promo), Build-a-brad, All the SU Circle Punches, Eyelet Border Punch, Stampin' Write Markers: Chocolate Chip, Cameo Coral, Stamping Sponge
Non SU: Embossing Folder (Floral Fantasy)
Just thought I'd mention that Sticky Dots are great to secure the buttons and Sticky Strip is a must to hold the Linen Thread nice and firm between the cardstock! Can't live without those two essential items in my stash!

... and closed.

Thanks for stopping by to browse. Have a great Australia Day on the 26th and don't forget to 'chuck a prawn on the Barby' - in our case, probably a good Aussie lamb chop!

Cheers, Bron XX

Just-Add-Ink's First Colour Challenge

Bronwyn Eastley

Celebrate Just-Add-Ink's First Challenge
... one cup cake at a time!

The Colour Combo

It is so ... ooo exciting to be a part of Just-Add-Ink's very FIRST challenge. I am thrilled to be part of a group of very passionate SU Demonstrators that make up the Design Team.

The colours, that match the beautiful blog header, at Just-Add-Ink, were so 'yummy' to play with and they included Chocolate Chip, so what's not to love about the combo?

The card that I designed for the occasion, uses the 'Big Bold Birthday' stamp set. This is a set that I hadn't used much until just recently when the Australian SU magazine, 'Impressions', explained how to make faux frosting. If you've viewed some of my earlier posts, you will see that I am really enjoying this new found technique. To celebrate the pre-launch of the Just-Add-Ink Site, I'll share the 'recipe' further on in this post ... so keep reading!

DSP Button

I made my own button using Chocolate Chip cardstock, Bella Rose DSP, a 3/4" Circle Punch and Crystal Effects. To make these custom designed buttons, please click here to view Danielle Daws' great tutorial. I popped a Rose Red Felt flower behind the button and threaded some Hemp Twine through the holes.

Bron's Cupcake

The little 'cherry' is actually a rose from the soon to be released Sale-a-bration set called 'Happy Moments'. I just coloured the rose, from the cute little flower stamp, with a Rose Red Marker, stamped it onto the matching cardstock, cut it out and finished it off with Crystal Effects to make it nice and shiny. (Come back on the 25th January to see some more detailed examples made from this gorgeous stamp set when SAB begins with gusto, namely in the form of one huge big Blog Hop!)

The patty pan was made by stamping the reverse side of the textured cardstock with the stamp from the Big Bold Birthday set, cutting the shape out, running it through the crimper and turning the textured side face up.

The frosting (from the same stamp set) was stamped with Rose Red onto the matching cardstock and cut out before the faux frosting was applied.

Here's how to make the Faux Frosting -
1. Cover the top of the cupcake with Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive, creating a swirly pattern as you apply a thick coating of the glue.
2. Mix equal parts of White Embossing Powder and Dazzling Diamonds Glitter. I started with a teaspoon of each. Shake the ingredients together (don't just stir them). I keep my frosting mixture in a little container.
3. Sprinkle mixture over the glue and shake off the excess into the Powder Pal (great invention).
4. Heat with a Heat Tool until the 'frosting' starts to bubble up.
5. Let the bubbles recede and repeat step 4.

It's that simple! An SU Demonstrator from Canada discovered the technique. Pretty cool don't you think?

6. I went one step further and added some more Tombow glue while the frosting was still sticky, sprinkled a bit more frosting mixture and then some Light Pink Chunky Sprinkles over the top.
7. I then repeated steps 4 & 5. Don't get too close with the Heat Tool or you'll burn your cupcake!!

All I can say is, I have more success with the paper variety than the real thing!

Happy 'cooking'!

Here's the finer details -

Project Recipe -
Stamp Sets: Big Bold Birthday, Polka Dot Background Stamp, Happy Moments (SAB), Sweet Little Sentiments (L1 Hostess)
Ink: So Saffron, Rose Red
Cardstock: Whisper White, Textured So Saffron, Taken with Teal, Chocolate Chip, and Rose Red (& plain RR)
Accessories: 1.6cm Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon, Bella Rose DSP, Hemp Twine, Eyelet Border Punch, 3/4" Circle Punch, Flower Fusion, Crimper, 'Frosting Mixture' with Light Pink Chunky Sprinkles, Stampin' Dimensionals


Why don't you join in the fun and enter our very first COLOUR CHALLENGE? I'd love to visit your blog and see what you can create!
Bronwyn