Just Add Ink Challenge

While Jessica was making a card for Fathers Day, I thought I would try another challenge site at Just Add Ink. I met some of the girls on the team there at Convention in Brisbane this year and I am very inspired by what they do each week with the challenges. Here is this week's sketch . . .

I decided to get a head start on my Christmas cards with this challenge. I was checking out some blogs recently and a lot of people make one Christmas card every week throughout the year, so when they get to Christmas, they have a pile already done. I think I have left my run a little late, but better late than never. Here is my card . . .

Project Recipe
Stamps	Tag It, Gorgeous Grunge
Card stock & Papers	Whisper White, Smoky Slate, Island Indigo, Winter Frost DSP
Ink	Island Indigo
Accessories	White Embossing Powder
Tools	Heat Tool, Scissors

Hope you like what I have done

Happy Stampin'

Kayleen

I'm On A Roll

I decided while I was at it I would have a go at another Challenge Site. This one is called Dynamic Duos and the challenge this week was to make a card using Pool Party and Basic Black.
Here is the Challenge . . .

And here is my card . . .

Project Recipe
Stamps	Postage Collection (Hostess), Best Dad Ever (Retired)
Card stock & Papers	Basic Black, Pool Party
Ink	Basic Black
Accessories	Pool Party Brads
Tools	Postage Stamp Punch, 1-1/2" Square Punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig

I like the clean and simple look of this card and I just hope that my Dad doesn't look at my blog before Father's Day (not likely really). If you love the look of this stamp set, contact me to host a party and you could get it for free!

Happy Stampin'

Kayleen

First Challenge Post

I have decided to try one of the Challenge Sites that a few friends have talked about as a way of trying out some new styles of cards. The first one I have attempted is for a site called Mojo Monday #307 where they post a sketch of a card and you make up the card in your own colours, card-stock and DSP.
Here is the sketch . . .

And here is my card. . . .

Project Recipe
Stamps	Sketched Birthday
Card stock & Papers	Whisper White, Strawberry Slush, Island Indigo, Crumb Cake, Raspberry Ripple, Birds Of A Feather DSP (Retired)
Ink	Strawberry Slush
Accessories	Basic Rhinestones
Tools	1-3/4 Scallop Circle Punch, 2-3/8 Scallop Circle Punch

I really enjoyed creating this card and putting my own stamp on it, so to speak. Why don't you gave it a try too?

Happy Stampin'

Kayleen

Birthday Time

My Sister had her birthday last week and she collects Royal Doulton Lady Statues, so I wanted to make a card that was a little similar to her collection - this is what I came up with . . .

I used the ink pad and rubbed it on one side of the embossing folder before I ran it through the Big Shot which is how I got the pattern on the Very Vanilla Cardstock - easy but effective. A few bits of bling finished off the card.

Project Recipe
Stamps	Create a Cupcake
Card stock & Papers	Very Vanilla, Elegant Eggplant, Patterned DSP
Ink	Elegant Eggplant
Accessories	Basic Rhinestones, Dimensionals
Tools	Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder (retired), Dress Up Framelits, Big Shot, Modern Label Punch, Word Window Punch

The second card was for the daughter of a friend on her 7th Birthday. I have to confess that my daughter Jessica made the card for us to give her, so credit goes to her, but she said it was ok to post it here . . .

Project Recipe
Stamps	Sketched Birthday
Card stock & Papers	Whisper White, Strawberry Slush, Pool Party
Ink	Strawberry Slush
Accessories	Dimensionals, Pool Party Ribbon (Retired), Basic Rhinestones
Tools	1&3/4 Scallop Circle Punch, 2&3/8 Scallop Circle Punch

Hope these cards have given you some inspiration to make some of your own. Don't forget to contact me if you have any questions or would like to join in my classes for card-making

Happy Stampin'

Kayleen

Wildflower Meadow Playtime

A get-together with a group of friends who are also Stampin' Up Demonstrators gave me a chance to play with some of the new catalogue products that I haven't ordered (yet).  I was lucky enough to try some new colour combos with the Wildflower Meadow Stamp and Embossing Folder.

This first card uses one of my favourite new In Colours for 2013-2015, Strawberry Slush, and was very quick and easy to make. . .

Project Recipe
Stamps	Wildflower Meadow, Mixed Medley (hostess, retired)
Card stock & Papers	Whisper White, Strawberry Slush
Ink	Strawberry Slush
Accessories	Dimensionals
Tools	Fancy Flower Punch, 11/4 Scallop Circle Punch, 3/4 Circle Punch, Wildflower Meadow Embossing Folder, Big Shot

The second card uses another In Colour, Crisp Cantaloupe - don't you just want to eat these colours - I love the names, and also allowed me to have a play with the Simply Pressed Clay. I made the flower in white and then mixed re-inker with Crystal Effects and painted it on the top. The card was another quick and easy one, but the clay does take a day or so to dry. I find it easier to have lots of flowers and buttons made in advance and then I can just colour them as needed. You can also colour them with the ink pads or markers, so they are very versatile.

Project Recipe
Stamps	Wildflower Meadow
Card stock & Papers	Whisper White, Crisp Cantaloupe
Ink	Crisp Cantaloupe - Pad and Re-Inker
Accessories	Pearls, Simply Pressed Clay Flower, Whisper White Satin Ribbon
Tools	Glue Gun, Crystal Effects, Wildflower Meadows Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Scissors

The final card did take a little longer to make as I used the Markers to colour the stamp, however I think the effort was worth it. I have seen it coloured in various combinations and you get quite a different look depending on the colours you use.

Project Recipe
Stamps	Wildflower Meadow, Pretty Petites (Retired)
Card stock & Papers	Whisper White, Marina Mist
Ink	Marina Mist, Melon Mambo, Wild Wasabi and Blushing Bride Markers
Accessories	Basic Rhinestones, Dimensionals
Tools	Wildflower Meadows Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Petite Curly Label Punch

I hope you have enjoyed looking at these cards and please contact me if you would like to order any of the products featured in them, or to book into a class to make some of your own creations.

Thanks and Happy Stampin'

Kayleen

New Annual Catalogue

Today the new Annual Catalogue for Stampin' Up! goes live. There are some fantastic new products and five amazing New Colours that are being introduced: Baked Brown Sugar, Pistachio Pudding, Strawberry Slush, Crisp Cantaloupe and Coastal Cabana. As usual with all of Stampin' Up's products there are co-ordinating ink pads, card stock, ribbon and accessories. Please contact me if you would like to order any of these awesome products.

Team Meeting

When I joined Stampin' Up! I was excited not only because of the fantastic product they offer (and it all co-ordinates amazingly well) but also for the great people you get to meet and spend time with. Each month we have a team meeting at the home of our team leader Nikki and we get to play with new product, try out a new technique or work on some business building for those wanting to move ahead. This month we tried a technique called "shaving cream". This involved lots of messy shaving cream, re-inkers and a heap of paper towel. We played around and experimented using lots of different colour combinations and then had to take our finished cardstock home and create a card with it. Here are my finished cards. . . .

The first card is made using a new stamp set called "Hello, Lovely" from the 2013-2014 Annual Catalogue, which is released on July 2nd 2013. Please contact me if you would like a copy.

Project Details
Stamps	Hello, Lovely
Card stock & Papers	Whisper White, Crumb Cake
Ink	Crumb Cake, Bermuda Bay and Coastal Cabana Stamp Pads and Re-inkers
Accessories	Basic Rhinestones
Tools	Bitty Butterfly Punch, Elegant Butterfly Punch, Scissors

The second card is made using one of the stamp sets from the limited edition "Best of 25 Years" sets. Each month a new set is released showcasing some of the most popular stamps from the last 25 years. The set for June 2013 is "Best Of Flowers".

Project Details
Stamps	Best of Flowers, So Sorry
Card stock & Papers	Whisper White, Baked Brown Sugar, Coastal Cabana, Pistachio Pudding
Ink	Baked Brown Sugar, Pistachio Pudding and Coastal Cabana Stamp Pads and Re-inkers
Accessories	Dimensionals
Tools	Shaving Cream, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Scissors

Thanks for stopping by . . . . 

Kayleen