Bags and Tags

It's inspiration week at Gingersnap Creations and it's all about Bags and Tags.
I wanted to create a flower market, vintage kind of feel for my bag, and I'm happy with how it's turned out. I've added some old broken jewelery again. Come over and join us and see what the other DT members have created.

Hibiscus Coast

Once again I'm sneeking a card in at the near close of a challenge. The idea for this card has been in my head for about a week, and today I finally got chance to put ink to paper :) I'm really happy with how this card has come out- it's not often that you get an idea and it actually works out completely as you imagined.
I've taken direct inspiration from the photo over at Jac Inks Papercraft Challenges. The photo certainly brings back happy memories from my own trip to Maui.
I've layered the flowers with dimensionals to give some depth to the view.

Details:
Inks: Pacific Point, Melon Mambo, Peach Parfait, So Saffron, Tempting Turquoise, Rich Razzleberry, Pear Pizzazz.
Stamps: Greenhouse Garden, Teeny Tiny Sentiments.
Other: Island Oasis DSP, Hemp Twine, Sponges, Scallop Oval.

Crowns and Hearts

I think I'm still a bit of a Valentine groove- I'm still enjoying the red and black classic colour combintion. I've made this card for a stamping friend as a happy boost:-)
I'm also entering it into The Gingersnap Crown challenge.
I've collaged various stamp images and smooched, I've then embossed a crown image and added a heart which I've stamped, cut out and shimmer paint and then Crystal effects. The heart looks real pretty in real life, I hope you can see that.

Amour

I think this is probably my fav stamp set at the moment- Artistic Etchings- so romantic for valentine's day. The theme at Just Add Ink this week is Just Add Love :)

I'm also enjoying collaging stamps together. It's hard to see in the photo but the rose is watercoloured then painted with shimmer paint. I've also smooched- I'm happy with how the cartons and the card have turned out.

Colour Combo: Real Red, Basic Black, Blushing Bride, Basic Grey.

Ventian Dreams

As some of you will know- I love creating themes for our Christmases in NZ. This year I picked Venice. Here are some photos of the christmas crackers I made. And some of the table decked out with the masks I decorated. We ate an Italian feast... and in classic Italian fashion took all afternoon and evening to eat it, finishing with tiramsu and grappa.
I've also added a little video my mom took of the table.

Vintage Scene

I've been wanting to do one of the challenges over at Gingersnap Creations for a while- and I finally got chance. This card is for their current colour challeng- which is Vintage Hues.
I've sponged and stamped the scene with Soft Suede and Chocolate Chip, with a hint if Baja Breeze. I wasn't sure how the sky would turn out with the brown tones, but actually I'm pleased with the result.
I've also added Victoria lace and Early Expresso satin ribbon and some smooch and of Dazzling Diamonds.

My First Christmas Cards

I realised I really had better get a move on making my Christmas cards for my family in the UK- parcel being posted monday. Anyway I just couldn't decide what to make then I remembered the really cool card I'd seen by Michelle Zindorf- and decided to have a go. I've copied 2 of her cards except I've sponged where she brayers and adding my own embellishments. Check out Michelle's other cards here I love how they look so snowy.

Stamp Sets:
Welcome Christmas
Winter Post
Delightful Decorations
Curly Cute
Lovely as a Tree

Night and Day

The current challenge over at Gothic arches is Night and Day. Here's my entry I'm not 100% happy with it- but hey you can't always get it right. I've used the Elements of Style Stamp Set and created the blossom by day and night, with the sun and moon created by sponging, and some sparkle from Shimmer paint and Dazzling Diamonds. I like how there's such a sharp contrast between the top and bottom of the arch.

Double Challenge

Well the Just Add Ink Team are really testing us this week with a double challenge- A colour Combination but it has to be a Man card.... Well I'd normally associate these colours as feminine- so it's all good to be encouraged to try them in a different way.
Here's my card I wanted to do a landscape with a vintage postcard tinted look- So I sponged and painted the scene with my aqua painters. I'm quite happy with how it's turned out. Not sure whether a man card should have ribbon- but hey I think it adds something.

Materials:
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip and Baja Breeze.
DSP: Bella Bleu.
Stamp Set: Asian Artistry.
Other: Watercolour Paper, Linen Twine, Baja Breeze Ribbon.
Inks: Baja Breeze and Chocolate Chip.


And don't forget to check out the blog for Helping Hudson

Antique Peonies

This weeks challenge at Just Add Ink is a colour combo that's pretty and bright. So I made my card with the Asian Artistry Stamp Set, this is still one of my favourites, and peonies are one of my favourite flowers! I wanted to produce a card that had an antique look to it, the Soft Suede is a perfect ink for this. I have stamped and masked the Peony stamp and using Aqua Painters coloured them in with soft suede ink and Rose Red Pastel. I've sponged a mountain and sky background again with Soft Suede but also the Elegant Eggplant. Finally I added some bling from a brad and some ribbon. I thought the colour on the combo was Whisper White, so added the ribbon in that colour only to discover as I finished that it was actually Very Vanilla... Nevermind I don't have any Very Vanila Ribbon anyway.

Thank You Card

My friend asked me to make a special card for a lady who has bought our school a whole new strip for our school netball team- very generous. My friend wanted the colours on the card to match the schools team colours- purple, yellow gold and black and have a New Zealand feel. Not so easy but this is what I came up with. This is my first attempt at sponging a scene and I'm pleased with how it's turned outand so was my friend. Paula my upline is sponging queen, and so I've learnt everything I know about sponging from her- thank you Paula, check out her blog for more sponging ideas. If you're interested in taking a class with me about sponging then email me.

Mother's Day Card

As promised here's the card I've made for my Mom. It matches the C/D case I blogged yesterday. Again Sahara Sand card stock is the base, with Cottage wall DSP. I've added interest with the scallop punch. I stamped the image from Asian Artistry and again "cracked Glass". I then added ribbon and "Happy Mother's Day" with a Rub On, onto a little sponged badge using a circle punch and the Scallop Circle punch.

Just Add Ink Challenge #15

This weeks challenge at Just Add Ink is a sketch, and you know I like Sketch Challenges!
So here's my entry this week. It's now tradition for me to make a CD of music for my mom at Mother's Day, and I always make them pretty cases. Here's this years case. I've used Sahara Sand Cardstock as my base. Cottage Wall DSP as the background. I've stamped an image from the Level 2 Hostess Set Asian Artistry, using the blender pens I've shaded with Rich Razzleberry and Old Olive, sponging with Rich Razzleberry and So Saffron. I've then clear embossed about 5 layers onto the image, to produce the "Cracked Glass" look. I've matted with Rich Razzleberry and old sheet music. Added flowers and ribbon and we're done. I think this image from the Asian Artistry is so pretty and lends it's self perfectly to the "Cracked Glass" look.
Check back tomorrow for my matching card.

Just Add Vintage- Again

I could Just Add Vintage all day everyday.....
Here's my second entry in this weeks Just Add Ink Challenge.
I'm right into making little books at the moment, and they hand themselves to the vintage theme very easily. I've covered the card cover of the book with Raspberry Tart DSP. Inside I've sponged the pages with Rich Razzleberry and Old Olive, and the stamped with a plethra of different stamps in Rich Razzleberry. I've also doodled some of the embleshments and added flowers.

Just Add Vintage - In Flanders Fields the Poppies Grow

This weeks Just Add Ink challenge- is Vintage Theme, right up my street!!
So here's my first entry. I've made a 6 X 6 scrapbook page of one of my ancestors who fought in WW1. I've used Always Artichoke cardstock as the base. I then photocoped a genuiine WW1 map of Ypres and surrounding area, and sponged and distressed using Old Olive and Close to Cocoa. I also wanted to capture the fact that small postcards were the way loved ones kept in touch. So I used the postcard stamp from the Winter Post Stamp Set. Finally I wanted a poppy, so I used the Butterfly punch, and watercoloured the poppy adding a button and ribbon centre. I'm happy how this page has turned out, I wanted a heavily distressed look but also not just a pretty page and I think I've achieved that

JAI 13 Colour Challenge

This week's Challenge is a colour challenge, which can be tricky if you don't have all the colours. So Paula( my friend and manager) to the rescue with a stash of Kiwi Kiss Cardstock and ribbon. I have clear embossed the flowers and text from an old book using stamps from the Vintage Vogue Stamp set. Available from me $48.95 (wood mounted) or $38.95 (clear mounted). I have layered and sponged.I'm happy with how the page has come together. Love to hear your thoughts.

JAI9 Challenge

It's Just Add Ink Challenge time, and this week it's a Sketch challenge. I've done a 6X 6 scrapbook page of my Maternal Grandma when she was a little girl.
The basis of my page is the Very Vintage Wheel- which is giving you a sneek peek at just one of the gorgeous items in the New Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue out on the 1st April. Join me at my workshop on the 1st April to see the Mini and a chance to see some of the new products up close and get to make something to take home. Email ME to book your place.

Teen Pressie and Card

Here's the card I've made for my best friend's daughter- she's turning 13!!! I wanted to make something that would appeal to a younger yet sophisticated young lady! I've used a lot of sponging in Elegant Eggplant and Pixie pink inks to give it a slightly tie dye look. I've used the Always Stamp set and the Sale- A- Bration Whimiscal Words Set.
Remember just 10 days left to get your Sale-A-Bration sets when you spend $120 with me, email me for more details.