GOOD NEIGHBOURS - REVISITED

I am lucky enough to be holding a Stamp day here in Wanganui in a little over a week, and have been madly designing, prepping and getting last minute bits and bobs done for the day.  Consequently, I have done very little designing of my own - not that I am complaining!  After all, I get to do what I love every day!!

My parents recently made a big life move and have relocated from a big city to a small country town.  Time to take stock, sit back and enjoy retirement.  Today, I took stock and made a card to welcome them to their new home.  Better late than never!  I have used a set called Good Neighbours.  It's an old, retired set, but one I couldn't part with and knew would come in handy one day!!

My parents house is white with a green roof and brown picket fence in front.  Do you think they will realise I have made the card to reflect their new home?

COASTAL COLOUR COMBO - JAI #174

Over at Just Add Ink this week, we have a fabulous colour combination for you to play with:
Coastal Cabana, Baked Brown Sugar and Very Vanilla.
  I have, yet again, attempted a CAS card.  No, this is not turning into a signature card style for me.  I normally struggle with these clean cards, so I am trying a few to see if I really can walk away from a card without adding a lot to it!!

I have used the Mosaic Madness stamp set, which lends itself to repeat stamping!  Such a pretty set.  I have teamed this with a set that you can purchase at a 25% discount right now - Sassy Salutations!  This is a favourite sentiment set of mine and just one of three on special during the month of July.  Select the "Shop" button when you visit my Online Store and grab this bargain for yourself!
  In the meantime be sure to pop over to Just Add Ink to see all the other gorgeous samples the Designers have made for your pleasure.  Better yet, join in too!

CAS - WETLANDS

I know I say this all the time, but I have a new favourite stamp set - Stampin' Up!'s Wetlands.  I love the sketched feel and serene images, and of course, the lovely cursive script.  I think that pretty much sums up the whole stamp set!

I have been dabbling with my favourite technique, sponging, but am not quite ready to show you those efforts yet!  What a tease, right?!!  I normally struggle with CAS (Clean and Simple) cards, but this set lends itself to these type of cards beautifully.  Let me share a couple with you.......

Both of these cards have been created using just Whisper White card.  They are both also single layer cards with no embellishments.  I have used a Circle Punch to create a template for the card above.  I laid the template on my card and sponged in Blushing Bride and Calypso Coral.  I stamped the reed image in Early Espresso over the sponged circle.  I used the same colours in markers for the sentiment.

This card used a different technique - spritzing a clear block with water.  I ran different blue and brown  markers over my clear block, then spritzed the block with a little water before stamping straight onto my Whisper White card base.  Once that was dry, I simply stamped my image and sentiment in Early Espresso.  This card is perfect for the Just Add Ink challenge this week - #173 Just Add Water.

CONTACT INDEX

While out shopping with my Mum the other day, she made a comment that she needed to get a new address book to put by her phone, as her old one was full and falling apart.  Of course, that got me thinking!!  I came home that day and sat down to design an Index Box for her contacts, instead of a book.

Being a prototype, I have used retired product, but I still love how it turned out.  I had some index cards at home, so I could measure off the size the box had to be.  I have also made it nearly 3" deep, so she can get LOTS of contacts in there!!

I like how it turned out so much, that I am going to make one to sit beside my phone too.  That means my husband won't have to hunt for my address book anymore!!

SU CATALOGUE AS INSPIRATION!

 The 2013/2014 Stampin' Up! catalogue has been released this week, and what better way to celebrate than to use the cover as the inspiration photo for the Just Add Ink #172 challenge!

I love this catalogue cover, it is vibrant, fun and somewhat quirky!


I took the vibrant colours from this cover as my inspiration.  I used all of the new 2013/2015 In Colours on this card front with a fun technique called "Jospeh's Coat".

I sponged Pistachio Pudding, Crisp Cantaloupe, Coastal Cabana and Strawberry Slush (don't they sound delicious?!!) onto Whisper White card.  I clear embossed and heat set the Swallowtail Butterfly before applying Baked Brown Sugar ink with my brayer over the top of the whole card.  The clear embossing resists the brayered ink and the gorgeous sponged colour shows through beautifully!

Join us at Just Add Ink this week and celebrate the new catalogue with the rest of the design team.  I can't wait to see what inspiration YOU draw from this cover.