A Little Bit of Metal for The Shabby Tea Room

A Little Bit of Metal

Photo Inspiration from The Shabby Tea Room

The latest challenge at The Shabby Tea Room is to add a little bit of metal and to use the gorgeous bracelet (pictured above) for inspiration.

I used the Silver Jumbo Brads and Antique Brass Jumbo Eyelet for the 'metal' and picked out the colours of Baja Breeze and Rich Razzleberry to match the bracelet.



Project Recipe:
Stamp Sets: Artisitic Etchings, Tiny Tags
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Soft Suede, Baja Breeze, Basic Black, Chocolate Chip Marker
Card Stock: Soft Suede, Rich Razzleberry, Baja Breeze, Naturals Ivory, Basic Black
Accessories: Newsprint DSP, Lots of Tags Die, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, White Gel Pen, Distressing Tool from the Cutter Kit, Stamping Sponges, Color Spritzer Tool, Silver Jumbo Brads, Antique Brass Eyelet, Crop-a-dile, Jewelry Tag Punch, Linen Thread, 1.6 cm Very Vanilla Grosgrain Ribbon, 6.4 mm Basic Black Grosgrain Ribbon, Dimensionals

PS: Thanks once again to the Shabby Tea Room for giving me an Honourable Mention for this week's challenge!!! (30th August 2010)


Thanks for stopping by,

Just Add Ink Challenge # 31 - Colour

There's a colour challenge at Just Add Ink this week and I couldn't resist playing with my new pre-order goodies.

The set I have used is called Artistic Etchings and will be available to purchase from the new Australian Idea Book and Catalogue from the 1st of September.

Vintage Top Note Box

I used the collage technique to stamp the top of the box using all the challenge colours (Sahara Sand for Kraft). I thought the Real Red was a bit bright for the Vintage look so stamped all the red images on scratch paper before stamping onto the card stock.

I added a Square Fire Rhinestone Brad to the front of the box to make it look like a little drawer handle.

Here's the Colour Combo for this Week's Challenge - # 31

Take a peek at what's inside. They're my favourite coffee bags. It's a pity that they're not French Expresso Style!




There's a 'Style Watch' in the new catty called Vintage Suite which highlights "aged, typographical art, weathered, antique paper designs". Sounds pretty 'dreamy' don't you think? There's certainly a lot to look forward to, with matching DSP and tools to distress etc.



This was my first attempt at making the Vintage Top Note Box. I originally wanted to combine Artistic Etchings with Sip by Sip to go with the coffee bags inside but wasn't happy with the result. It looked like it was better suited to storing match sticks because of the Red Head on the front!

So, then I decided to try out the little dividers inside the box. That was fun and it got me inspired to plan a tutorial. Unfortunately, it won't happen this week as I am knee deep in school report comments at the moment with very little time to stamp! 'Sigh! ..'


Here's the Project Recipe for Vintage Top Note Box:
Stamp Sets: Artistic Etchings, Tiny Tags
Cardstock: Kraft
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Sahara Sand
Accessories: Square Rhinestone Fire Brad, Antique Brass Jumbo Eyelet, Hemp Twine, Kraft Taffeta Ribbon, Crop-a-dile, Jewelry Tag Punch, Top Note Die and Big Shot Machine, Distressing Tool from Cutter Kit, Sticky Strip.

Did you notice anything different about my photos? I recently purchased an Optex Portable Photo Studio. Neat ay? Now I can take photos regardless of the weather and light conditions. Thank goodness for that!

I hope you have been inspired to play along with the colour combo and join in the challenge at Just Add Ink. Have a great weekend and if you're an Aussie, don't forget to vote!

Just Add Wheels

The Just Add Ink Team have combined with the Helping Hudson Fundraiser gals to bring you this week's challenge - JUST ADD WHEELS!!!

Here's my DT submission -

A Wheel Card

... with a stamped wheel image (skateboard)
and a Jumbo Wheel (Neighborhood)

The Four Pictures within the Wheel

Over at the Hudson Fundraising Site, a group of very dedicated ladies have put together a wonderful blog to help raise money for little Hudson who needs a Kid Walker! There's a competition posted every day and three challenges every week, plus a heap of amazing tutorial packs to buy. Why don't you check out this 'Wheely Great Cause'? The link is on my side bar and at the beginning of this post.


With my card for this week, I also went with the idea of a birthday card for a little boy!! I think Hudson will be turning three next birthday??

I cracked open my pack off Ballet Blue Cardstock and took the wrapping off the matching ink pad that I had bought months ago to combine with the bright, Real Red for a 'junior' look (but alas ... Ballet Blue is about to retire after I've just 'discovered' its appeal).



Here's the List of Bits 'n' Bobs that I used to make the Wheel Card -
Stamp Sets: All in the Family, Family Favourites, Family Accessories Too, Neighborhood Jumbo Wheel, Family Phrases
Cardstock: Ballet Blue, Real Red, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black, Ballet Blue, Real Red
Accessories: Real Red Stampin' Write Marker, White Gel Pen, Jumbo White Brad, Dimensionals, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Timeless Type Junior Alphabet Die, Real Red Polka Dot Ribbon (from Summer Mini Catalogue)

The FREE TEMPLATE for the Wheel Card is from Victorine Originals.

Happy Crafting and enjoy the weekend. I know I will because I'll finally get a chance to play with my new pre-order goodies!! Can't wait.


PS: I've just discovered this card was chosen for Nancy Riley's iPicks! I feel very honoured. I love checking out her 'selections' each week - so inspirational! (August 30th)

A Card for a Wheely Great Cause

This card was made for the Helping Hudson Colour Challenge Week 2 and I have also combined it with this week's sketch from Card Patterns (#76).

A Card for a Wheely Great Cause

The colour challenge had two of my favourites so I just had to make the time to play along.

This Week's Sketch at Card Patterns

The flower petals were made from Vellum and Urban Garden DSP using the scallop oval and large oval punches.

Project Recipe:
Stamp Sets: Tiny Tags, Fox & Friends
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip (plain and textured), So Saffron, Vellum, Whisper White
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Urban Garden DSP, Medium Jewellery Tag Punch, 3/4" Circle Punch, Slit Punch (for the larger scalloped border), Scallop and Large Oval Punches, White Gel Pen, Paper Piercing Tool, Dimensionals, Two-Way Glue Pen
Retired Stock: Parisian Breeze Specialty DSP, So Saffron Ribbon, Flower Brads, Baja Breeze Corduroy Button
Non-SU: Nestabilities Scallop Circle Die

Bags for Bali

A Haute Tote made from SU Holiday Treasures DSP

... and another made from some Faux Leather (non-SU) Paper

I don't know about you but I've still got a good sized stash of DSP floating around that I need to use up and these little Haute Totes are great for doing just that! I spent a lot of time last weekend making a few of these. The good news is that I've managed to lessen the pile of DSP to make room for some new stuff which arrived in the post today with my pre-order. I can't wait to get out into my craft room and play with the new goodies but alas .. tomorrow I'll be back at work! I'll have to be content to flip through the brand new catty for now.


Bags for Bali, you may ask?? Yes ... it's official, I'm off to Bali in about 5 weeks time - not for the sun, sand and surf but to spend some time hanging out with some very special kids in a few of the orphanages that our church supports. I'll get to do some craft activities with the children, check out where they go to school, learn to do some Batik and pick up some craft supplies. The guys will be busy sealing a driveway so the road in doesn't become a sludge heap in the wet season and installing a few water treatment units. We'll also be helping to supply some much needed computers for the students at school. Cool ay?

By the way, you can purchase the template for these Haute Totes from Creations by AR. The link is on my side bar.

Sampai jumpa,
(See you later)

Paper Roses Inspired by Tania

A Rose in Rich Razzleberry

The First Project at Stamp Class

A few weeks back, Tania made a card like this for her Just Add Ink Design Team Submission for a Sketch Challenge. Well ... I totally fell in love with every square centimetre of it, particularly the beautiful paper rose.

I was pretty excited to see that her contribution the other night at Stamp Class was a tutorial on how to make one of our own!! Can you hear my squeals of delight??

I love the layout and the colour combo and can't wait to try it out in other colours too!


Oh! and looky below at the gorgeous card I received in the mail from Tania last week. I think all the JAI girls got spoilt. Thanks, buddy ... I'll treasure it!

Gasp!

I'm going to miss Pale Plum!!

Post It Note Holder with Gel Pen

Vintage Bird Post It Note Holder

A Glimpse Inside

This is the little post-it note holder that we made at Stamp Class last Friday night. Thanks to Rochelle for hosting such a fun evening. This was the second project out of three that we made.

I'm hoping Rochelle will post details on her blog soon (hint, hint) so I can link you up to the directions on how to make this cute little gift.

PS: Here's the link. Happy crafting.

We made these using Old Olive Cardstock and the Vintage Vogue stamp set. I chose to decorate mine with the XL Two-Step Bird Punch using Whisper White and Rich Razzleberry with a bit of sponging. I love how it turned out. Thanks, Rochelle, for a fun, quick and easy project to do!



Well, I'm home on my day off today busily doing housework, writing an Individual Education Program for a child in my class and catching up on some posts.

You'll know when another post pops into view later on in the day, that I needed a break from the compilation of assessment reports and folding washing!! ... and besides, if my estimation is right, I should have a very important box waiting at the Post Office in the form of a pre-order of SU goodies so I had better get all the necessary 'joys' of life out of the way first to make time to play!

PS: I'm thrilled to see that this has made it into the Punch Art Inspiration of the Day (12th August 2010)

Thanks for taking the time to have a peek,

Men's Shirt Card

Men's Shirt Card

This is the card that I did for our last stamp class. Well there was not a lot of stamping involved in this one, only a sentiment for inside the card.

You can find the original tutorial on Amy Celona's Blog. She also has some other great ideas for Father's Day cards.

This was so easy that the children in my grade 5/6 class will get to make one for their dads!



Here's the Project Recipe:
Cardstock: Brocade Blue, Textured Very Vanilla
Accessories: Silver Brads, Double Stitched Chocolate Chip Ribbon, White Gel Pen, Dimensionals, Small Tag and 1 1/4" Square Punches


I have quite a few things lined up to post but the weather has been dull and overcast for the last two days which has made taking photographs a bit tricky.

Instead, I'll try and get a challenge done for this week's Helping Hudson Fundraising Site as last week I just couldn't find any spare time and missed out on the fun. Grrrr!

Thanks for stopping by,

Just Add Ink Challenge # 29 - Colour

Scalloped Envy

There's a colour challenge on at Just Add Ink and I decided to make a little scalloped pocket to hold a gift card inside! After all things masculine last week, I went with something very pretty and feminine for this round!

The template that I used is a Freebie from Creations by AR, called Scalloped Envy. You can download the pattern HERE.

My week has been super busy so I didn't get around to photographing it open with a gift card inside and besides, I didn't want to ruin that near perfect bow!! ;)



Here's the yummy colour combo that is on offer this week at Just Add Ink. I hope it gets your creative juices flowing.

Project Recipe for Scalloped Envy -
Stamp Sets: Bella's Bloom, Tiny Tags
Card Stock: Textured Rose Red and Very Vanilla
Stampin' Write Markers: Rose Red and Always Artichoke
Accessories: Manhattan Flower Embossing Folder, Kraft Taffeta Ribbon, Lots of Tags Die, Bella Bleu DSP, Paper Piercing Tool, Rich Regals Brad


Thanks for stopping by my blog. I'll be back soon with samples from our Stamp Class which is being held tonight. Have a lovely weekend.

Men's Vest Card

Men's Vest Card Closed ...

... and Open

I came across this very cool Men's Vest Card template and thought I'd try it out! I used the colour combo and masculine theme from the latest challenge at Just Add Ink.

I hope you like my second, 'Just for Fun' entry!

I got the template from HERE.

Amy has some great ideas for masculine cards on her blog. One small caution though, when I downloaded the template it didn't turn out very symmetrical so I had to re-do it so the vest matched up evenly at the front opening.

I did intend to make these at our Stamp Class this Friday but this sample proved to be a bit tricky, so I hope I can think of Plan B in time!!

Project Recipe:
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Parisian Breeze Specialty DSP, Baja Breeze Patterns DSP, Silver Brads, non-SU embossing folder, White Gel Pen

Quick and Easy Cards

Razzle Dazzle with Baja Breeze and Chocolate Chip

Inspired by Nature and Pocket Silhouettes using Baja Breeze and Close to Cocoa

I don't usually do quick and easy cards but decided to clear away my craft desk by using up some cardstock that had already been cut. I didn't even use a Stamp-a-ma-jig!

These cards use the FTL #100 again!! I enjoy using that sketch.

While checking out the new catty, I was happy to see that Razzle Dazzle will be making a comeback, so was eager to get the dust off that stamp and have a play!

Most cards I do never take less than an hour to make, so these ones are not really to my liking but I had fun anyway!

While I was in the mood yesterday to use up a few pre-cut bits and pieces I made a few Haute Tote Bags too but will post those when I purchase some more jewellery clips to attach the gift cards on the side.

Happy Crafting,