My Final Just Add Ink Design Team Project

Well, today I will be sharing my project for the final challenge I will be completing with Just Add Ink as a Design Team member. As I am no longer an Independent Stampin' Up demonstrator and I am finding my time is stretched, I am moving aside to concentrate on my craft in My Flutterfly and let someone else have a turn for the next round of Design Team members. I have enjoyed being a part of the JAI team so much. Being part of the DT has made me find the time to continue stamping when things got really busy when Grace was born. I have also met lots of wonderful stampers in the DT girls and I am sure I will keep in touch and join in the challenges when I can. Danielle and Amanda have some exciting DT news coming up soon!!

So, this week's challenge is Just Add Patterned Paper (DSP for the Stampin' Up people). I have made a framed collage/quote, which I will use to decorate my craft room as I slowly get it organised. That could take quite a while, given it's current state, lol. Anyway, here is my frame and, just in case you can't see it clearly, the quote reads: 'Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine and at last you create what you will', George Bernard Shaw.

Thanks for visiting my blog and let me know if you have any favourite quotes in your craft space to help you get things flowing.

Nicole

Clean and simple card - Just Add Ink colour challenge

Hello, I am just here for a quick share. The challenge over at Just Add Ink this week was a colour challenge. These colours are so bright and fresh and I thought they suited a clean and simple card really well. Here is the colour combination:

And here is my card. I think I will make up a few more of these using different colour combos. I played around for ages coming up with the design but I am happy with it now and it will be very fast to replicate!

Thanks for dropping in. Let me know what you think of my card. Any favourite techniques to use for clean and simple?

Nicole

A sketch challenge journal

Hi everyone.

Today I have a little 6x6 journal that I decorated for this week's challenge over at the Just Add Ink blog. I really like the sketch that Danielle and Amanda put together for this challenge. Straight away I thought of the die cut blooms from SU that I have had in my stash for a while, waiting to be put to use. Here is the JAI sketch for this week:

And here is my journal:

I am quite happy with the way it turned out. I love these colours together and I think this will be the perfect place to record all the funny things my daughter does. One thing I should have done was to trim the dies to sit against the edge of the ribbon, rather than place the ribbon on top as they can be seen through the ribbon. This is not so obvious in real life, but in the photo you can see the ridges clearly. I didn't want to pull it all apart as it probably would have ruined the DSP background. Oh well, I'll know for next time!! Would love to know what you think and see any journals you've done. By the way, does anyone seal their journals with mod podge or anything similar? Mine always seem to get a but tatty around the edges after a while so was thinking I might need to do this.

Hope you like it!! And if you haven't already, make sure you check out my facebook page 'My Flutterfly' for some cute kids onesies and tops I have recently posted.

Thanks for visiting and have a great weekend!

Nicole

Just Add Ink Colour Challeng

Friday, the 28th of May was my little girl Maddy's 2nd birthday. I really can't believe how fast 2 years has flown but they have definitely been very exciting, fun and interesting years. While she has her fair share of toddler moments, she really is a fantastic little girl, daughter and big sister to 13 week old Grace. We are very lucky to be her family.

Well, for this week's colour challenge I thought it would be nice to create something I could use as decoration for some birthday cupcakes I made for her. So I decided on some toppers. The colours for this week's challenge worked very well with this. Here is the pretty colour combo.

And here are my decorated cupcakes:

Cute, aren't they? Anyone have a little girl's party coming up? These are quick and simple to make, as they are not very detailed, and the theme and colour scheme can be easily changed to suit any party theme (I'm thinking trains, zoo animals, flowers etc)!

Thanks for visiting,

Nicole

My Flutterfly and a Just Add Ink sketch challenge

I'm a little late posting this as I have had a busy week and doing lots of sewing for my upcoming market stall. I have made lots of cute baby/children's items, which you can see on my facebook business page My Flutterfly. Follow the link for some pics of my blankets, mobiles, necklaces, canvases and collages.

This week's challenge at Just Add Ink is a sketch. It was a nice simple sketch which, for some reason, I struggled with. Sometimes I think the more simple a sketch is, the harder it is, while the more detailed sketches are easier. Well, this is take 3 of the challenge. I like theses colours together - Melon Mambo, Soft Suede and Vanilla. Also, the double embossing on the flower embellishment happened by accident when the versamark I stamped on the cardstock for the floral pattern had not dried properly before I stamped the floral outline and poured on the embossing powder. I like happy accidents like this!

Thanks for visiting my blog. I'd love to know what you think of my card and my My Flutterfly items. And, if you are recovering from Convention - I hope you had a wonderful time there!

Nicole

JAI Blog Hop - Emboss Resist

I have been lucky enough to part of the Design Team at Just Add Ink for the past few months. The work of the Design Team has been so inspirational each week. This week at Just Add Ink we are hosting our first ever Blog Hop! Before I get into my post, here are a few details about what's happening... There are 10 stops on our Blog Hop (Just Add Ink and each of our 9 Design Team members), but the hop is set up in a loop so it doesn't matter where you start. All you need to do to follow along is click the blog hop button at the end of each post and you'll be taken to the next stop! This week's Just Add Ink challenge incorporates ideas from the tutorials you will see along the way. So the challenge is for you to Just Add... A Technique From The Blog Hop. Easy! There are 9 fantastic techniques to choose from (with a tutorial to match); the hard part will be making the choice! Add your entry to the Just Add Ink blog as normal.

Thanks for joining in the Just Add Ink blog hop. I hope you are enjoying yourself so far. The technique I am showing today is Emboss Resist. This technique is so easy to do and you can achieve some fantastic results. It also gives you great mileage on your stamps, as you produce a totally different look to regular stamping and embossing. Here we go:

Materials you will need
*Plain cardstock or DSP
(I have used Whisper White)

*Stamps (I have used Always)

*Versamark pad

*Embossing powder (I have used clear)

*Your choice of ink pad colours

(I have used Real Red, Tangerine Tango and Chocolate Chip)

*Blender pens
*Heat tool

*Sponge daubers

*Tissue or soft cloth

Step 1

To do emboss resist you start as you would with regular heat embossing. Using your Versamark ink, stamp your image onto cardstock (if you have an embossing buddy you can give your cardstock a rub over before applying your Versamark).

Step 2

Pour embossing powder over your cardstock to cover your stamped image, then tap the excess powder off your card. For a neat result, ensure the powder covers only the stamped image. (*Note: My upline Alex gave me a wonderful tip for storing embossing powders in clear plastic containers. You can keep a plastic spoon inside your container for pouring the powder over the cardstock whilst you hold the cardstock over the container. The excess powder can then be tapped straight back into its container - no mess!!).

Step 3

Making sure your heat tool is hot, hold it in front of your cardstock, (approximately 10-15cm is good). Heat the embossing powder until you see it change from powdery to glossy all over the image. Be careful not to hold the heat tool there for too long or you will scorch your cardstock and your fingers!!
Step 4

Use a sponge dauber to apply ink over and around your embossed image. You can apply your ink by dabbing or swirling, depending on the effect you want. I have used swirling motions to blend the ink over the embossing. For my image I have added some Chocolate Chip highlights to some of the flowers using my blender pen. If you use clear embossing powder and a patterned paper, you will be able to see the pattern through the embossed image. To finish off your emboss resist neatly, use your tissue or cloth to polish the excess ink of the embossing. The result will be a bright, sharp emboss resist image.

Emboss resist images make beautiful focal points on your cards or as embellishments on scrapbook layouts. I'd love to see what you come up with when you try the emboss resist technique.
Here is the card and gift box I made with the emboss resist image from my tutorial, as well as some other examples:



































I hope you have enjoyed my tutorial and I'm looking forward to seeing your emboss resist projects. Next on the Just Add Ink blog hop you'll be visiting the very creative Tania Gould. Just click on the button below to head to Tania's blog.

Thanks again for participating in the Just Add Ink blog hop!

Nicole

Just Add Ink #16 - Colour challenge

Is it just me or are the weeks flying by! Grace is already 10 weeks old and in 3 weeks Maddy is turning 2!!! Where have those 2 years disappeared to? I am planning to have a little family party for her on the Sunday before her birthday as James is meant to be in hospital for her actual birthday (although it's looking like that may be pushed back a bit). We had a big party for her 1st birthday so this year I want to do something different, but fun. Any ideas?

I am back with another Just Add Ink challenge. This time it's a colour challenge.

These colours work beautifully together and, I think, are perfect for a Mother's Day Card. I have always loved Pocket Sillhouettes and recently bit the bullet and bought the set. I am not disappointed - I love it. My card will be sent to my Grandmother, who loves to garden, so I went with a garden theme. Here it is:

Happy Mother's Day to my lovely Mum and to all the mums out there. I hope you have a great day on Sunday.

Nicole

Just Add Ink #15 - a sketch challenge

I love sketches!! Out of all the challenges I do for Just Add Ink I probably enjoy doing sketches the most. Maybe it's because with a layout there are literally endless possibilties and when you are given a sketch it narrows the possibilities down, but still gives you the challenge of making the sketch your own with the finer details. This week I decided to give my Melon Mambo cardstock, ink and ribbon some use - the first time I've had it out since it arrived a few weeks ago! I really don't know why I haven't used it before this. It's a great colour. I decided to pair it with Basic Grey (yes, I know it looks like Chocolate Chip in the photo) for this challenge. I think these colours look great together. I used my Good Friend stamps to make a bold focal point. I think Melon Mambo suits a bold image. Well, I hope you like my card for this week. Here is the JAI sketch:

And here is my version of the sketch:

A quick question for you - what is your favourite colour/s to combine with Melon Mambo?

Thanks for dropping in.

Nicole

My Flutterfly - A new crafty venture (and a giveaway!!)

I have recently set up a little online store on madeit.com (visit my store here) to sell decor and accessories for children. I have been busy for the last week or so making some cute little fabric mobiles for children's bedrooms or playrooms. I have set up a facebook page for My Flutterfly and would love it if you could join and help me get the word out. As a thankyou for joining I will be doing a giveaway of a birdhouse mobile in the colour of your choice from the 4 mobiles you can see below (sorry, Australian residents only). All you need to do is join my facebook page then leave a comment for me on this post. As soon as I have 70 people 'liking' My Flutterfly on facebook I will choose a random winner (please remember to leave your email address with your comment).

I will be doing a market with my friend Kate in June to sell our goodies. I have a few projects on the go, such as children's applique canvases, fabric bead necklaces, bunting and frameable pictures to match the birdhouses. If you are interested in purchasing any of these please email me at myflutterfly@hotmail.com for more information.

Well, I hope you like my mobiles. I will post more about my other projects as soon as I get some pictures taken.

Nicole

Just Add Vintage

This week at Just Add Ink the challenge is to add vintage. Well, even though I really like vintage style, I almost never use it when I am creating something. So I wanted to make a scrapbook page for the challenge and I had this beautiful sepia photo of Grace that I thought would look perfect for a vintage style layout. I am fairly happy with how it turned out apt from my journalling (or lack thereof, lol). I have thought if doing an online journalling course before (can't remember where I saw it advertised though) as I just don't know where to start. Does anyone have any tips for me?

Well, that is all for this week's challenge. Check out my new venture above - fabric mobiles for kids' rooms as part of my new online madeit.com store 'My Flutterfly'.

Thanks for looking!

Nicole

Happy Birthday!

I'm just here to quickly share a card I made yesterday. It's on it's way to a special 3 year old in Tasmania. Happy 3rd Birthday Olivia!! Hope you have a wonderful day.

Bye!

Nicole

Just Add Ink #13

Hi there! I am finally here to update my blog. I have had a few weeks of non-blogging - life is busy! I have been away to visit my Grandmother and take Grace to meet her for the first time, had my Mum, my sister and her kids come to visit and have also been to Sydney for a shopping trip to Ikea ith my mother's group friends. Yay, love Ikea!

In between all of that I managed to get my design team project done and I have to say I am quite happy with how it turned out. I have been playing around with my new toy - my Big Shot - and my dies, as well as a new paper punch. This week's challenge at Just Add Ink is a colour challenge. Barely Banana, Kiwi Kiss and Chocolate Chip. I wasn't sure how I was going to approach this one. I rarely use Barely Banana. But I just started playing and my card came together really well.

Well, I hope you like my card. Let me know what you think.As always, thanks for looking!

Nicole

Just Add Ink #10 - colour challenge

Wow, it's time for JAI's 10th challenge already. Where has that time gone. I couldn't wait to get started on this colour challenge because I really love this combo. A certain little someone (see here), had other plans though and I had to do my stamping in bits and pieces. That's the way it goes these days. At least it gives me time to come up with lots of ideas. Here is my card and a little gift box for this week. I am thinking of giving this to Mum for Mother's Day with some earrings in the box.

This is such a simple card to make - no fiddling with ribbon to make bows etc. The glitter was added using a line of sticky strip and the glitter poured straight over the top. I like usuing this technique when I'm not using ribbon on the project.

As always, thanks for visiting my blog.
Nicole

Materials
Ink - close to cocoa, blush blossom, versamark, Cardstock - close to cocoa textured cardstock, cameo coral, blush blossom, kraft, Stamps - I {heart} hearts, short and sweet , Accessories - sticky strip, glitter, clear embossing powder, dimensionals

Our new baby girl - Grace Amelia

Well, after my blogging holiday I am back to share our exciting news - we have a new baby girl. Grace Amelia was born on the 24th February, weighing 7lb 3oz or 3250g. She was 47cm long. Grace is a fairly calm baby, despite being loved to bits by her big sister Madeleine (almost 22months). Madeleine is so excited when she sees Grace and loves telling her name to anyone who will listen. I was hoping to be back into the blogging by now but it's been a busy month of getting to know Grace, which is the most important thing at the moment. Here are a few photos of our girls.

I'll be back in a few days with my Just Add Ink design team creation.

Nicole

Just Add Dimension - Challenge #5

Well, it's time for the next Just Add Ink challenge already. The challenges have produced so much inspiring work! This week the challenge is to add dimension. I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with - it really opens up a lot of possibilites. Here is my project for this challenge:

As soon as I found out about the dimension challenge I know what I wanted to do. I have been decorating my daughter's bedroom and needed an artwork for one of the walls. I have already made some canvases, which you can see here, and wanted something that will coordinate with them. So, I took a shadowbox frame and made background from one of the fabrics used in the canvases. I then used the SU butterfly punch to punch out 9 stamped cardstock and DSP butterflies. Decorating each butterfly was fun. Some have been topped with the small butterfly image from Flight of the Butterfly, others with some tiny pink rhinestones, and the rest with buttons tied with linen thread. The butterflies are mounted with dimensionals but because the background is fabric I needed to add a little glue to help them stick properly. Overall I am thrilled with the result and can't wait to hang it.

I'd love to know what you think of my butterfly wall art. Thanks for looking!
Nicole

Materials
Stamps - Flight of the Butterfly, Great Friend, Ink - Regal Rose, Baja Breeze, So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Cardstock - Regal Rose, Baja Breeze, Certainly Celery, Whisper White, Accessories - buttons, linen thread, dimensionals, butterfly punch, (non SU - shadowbox frame, fabric, pink rhinestones)

Just Add Ink - A Colour Challenge

I'm back again with my next Design Team project for Just Add Ink. The entries for the sketch challenge last week were absolutely amazing! I have to admit I initially found the sketch a bit of a challenge, but to see what people have done with it made me realise what a great sketch it was. I think it may have been the circle that threw me a bit. Maybe it's time to invest in the Circle Scissor Plus!

The challenge for this week is a colour challenge - More Mustard, Rose Red, Sage Shadow and Kraft. I really like the combo but had to think a bit to work out how I was going to use More Mustard, not my usual choice of colours. Then I remembered I had some cute More Mustard buttons in my stash and it became a bit easier!! Just enough MM without being overpowering. Here are the colours for this week:

My card this week has a simple layout. I wanted to let the embellishments (the buttons and rhinestone brad) stand out a bit against the stamping. I think if was making this card again I would add some embellishment to the butterfly. Some tiny More Mustard rhinestone brads, maybe. So, here is my little card for this week:

Make sure you go over to Just Add Ink and see what the rest of the Design Team have come up with. Also, I'm looking forward to seeing your creations this week. Thanks for visiting my blog!

Nicole
Materials: Ink - Whisper White, Sage Shadow, Stamps - Great Friend, Short and Sweet, Cardstock - Rose Red, Sage Shadow, More Mustard, Whisper White, Accessories - Kraft taffeta ribbon, orange rhinetsone brad, More Mustard buttons, Stampin' Dimensionals, Linen Thread, corner rounder punch

Just Add Ink #3 - Sketch Challenge

Just Add Ink has had another successful challenge this week with fabulous entries for Just Add Hearts. It's amazing to see how different people interpret the theme of the challenge.

This week's challenge is a sketch challeng. These are one of my favourite types of challenges because often the difficulty I get when trying to make a card is deciding on a layout. With a sketch, it's done for you and you can concentrate on the colours and finer details. I have to say, though, that this week's sketch was a challenge for me and I tried a number of different things before I was happy. Here is the sketch:

And here is my card for this week:




It's the first time my Razzle Dazzle rubber has seen ink, even though I've had it since before Christmas and it was the perfect image to do some emboss resist with. The background of the card was stamped with Versamark above the ribbon for a subtle look and Baja Breeze on the bottom to make the image stand out a little more. I have not used Baja Breeze, Real Red and Whisper white together before but I think I kind of like it!! I hope you do too.
Be sure to look at all the design team inspiration and the entries for this week's sketch challenge over at Just Add Ink.

Thanks for looking and please let me know what you think of these colours together - fun and fresh or over the top?
Nicole

Materials
Stamps - Razzle Dazzle
Ink - Baja Breeze, Real Red, Versamark
Cardstock - Baja Breeze, Real Red, Whisper White
Accessories - Real Red Spotted Grosgrain Ribbon, Baja Breeze button, linen thread, clear embossing powder, Scallop Circle Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

Just Add.....Hearts

I am back with my creation for the 2nd Just Add Ink challenge. Last week's launch was a huge success, with 51 entries into the challenge and so many amazing creations. I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with for this week's Just Add Hearts challenge.

I have been working on a bit of scrapbooking in an attempt to stick with my January goal of getting a few of my photos scrapped. My poor daughter's album is so far behind, it's something I really wanted to concentrate of before the new baby arrives (but I've spent barely any time doing it). So, you'll probably be seeing a bit more scrapbooking here in the coming weeks!

The photo I used show Maddy at her first birthday party having a cuddle with Nanny (my Mum). Now, if you asked Maddy what she is doing she would say 'cuggle', which is her word for cuddle. Cute!! I took the pink and browns from her outift and used those as the colours for my page. Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouhette, Rose Red and Kraft is my colour scheme. Here is my 8"x8"layout:

The top two hearts on the photo layer were created using classic ink, Versamark and clear embossing powder. The bottom heart was stamped with a dotted heart image onto Chocolate Chip patterned paper. I'm not sure how clear it is but the vertical strip is stamped with hearts using Versamark on Chocolate Chip cardstock, layered with the patterned paper and a Rose Red scalloped strip. I love my new Kraft satin ribbon, so had to add a bow using this.

Thanks for visiting and make sure you check out the work at Just Add Ink.

Nicole

Materials: Stamps - I {Heart} Hearts, Ink - Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouhette, Versamark, Cardstock - Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouhette, Rose Red, Kraft, Accessories - Chocolate Chip patterned paper, Kraft satin ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, Snail, Square Scallop Punch, Scallop Border Punch

Just Add Ink Challenge Number 1

Just Add Ink has gone live and I was lucky enough to be awake after midnight last night to get a glimpse of Danielle and Amanda's fabulous work (pregnancy-induced insomnia!). The design team's work is amazing and it's great to see people involved in the challenges already.

The first challenge is a colour combo. These colours look so great together.And here is my creation. Can you tell butterflies are my thing at the moment? Hehe.

If you haven't already had the chance to go to the blog you should definitely go and have a look - lots of great ideas and a great launch prize up for grabs for those participating in the challenge.

I am about to start working on some scrapbook layouts so will be back to share those as soon as they are done.

Thanks for visiting,

Nicole

New Challenge Website - Just Add Ink

I am so excited to have been chosen as one of the design team members for a new Australian Stampin' Up challenge website called Just Add Ink. There are some fantastically talented demonstrators on the design team - I am slightly nervous about being among them but excited all the same.

I will be back tomorrow to share my first submission - a colour combo challenge - but you can see it first after midnight tonight over at Just Add Ink.

Bye!
Nicole

A baby gift

A friend from my antenatal mother's group recently had her second baby. She had a little boy and called him Thomas. I wanted to make a stamped gift for Thomas that could go in his nursery. I came up with this frame decorated with a stamped picture using my train stamps and Wild About You. I stuck with typical pale colours and Thomas' mum said it should go perfectly in his yellow nursery. I really wanted to cut out the animals and mount them wih dimensionals in a shadow box frame but could not find a suitable frame anywhere. I bought some at Kmart a few years ago and have seen them in Spotlight in the past. Target had them in brown but I really wanted white. Grrr. In the end I had to settle for a plain white frame. Luckily the picture still looks cute in it. I have decided I will make one of these frames for Maddy's room using butterflies. I will post a pic of that when it is done. Does anyone know where I can buy white shadowbox frames (or at least some with a little depth between the back and the glass) that don't cost the earth?

Thanks for looking!

Nicole

Birthday butterflies

I am back with some stamping, as promised. I have made a cute card for a friend whose birthday is on Monday. She is coming over today so Maddy can play with her little boy so I wanted to have her present ready a bit early.

I made her card using kraft, chocolate chip, pink pirouhette, regal rose and sahara sand. A nice colour combo, I think. I have also used my new butterfly punch which is so cute. I got her an Ecoya candle (sweet pea and jasmine - smells fantastic) and put a little butterfly and ribbon embellishment on top to match the card. If you're like me, you always buy for people what you would like to have but would never splurge on for yourself

And here is a pic which shows the butterfly sitting on top of the candle jar.

I hope Kate enjoys her present. Thanks for visiting!

Nicole