Tuesday 28 June 2016

Balloon happy birthday

Today I'm sharing another balloon card made earlier this year that hasn't made my blog yet.
I found this great card by Cynthia van der Wilk on my Pinterest wanderings & wanted to try making one too. My version uses the (now retired) Cherry on Top paper stack & is a long one (approx 10 x 21cm to fit a DL business envelope).

To make it, I punched balloons with the balloon bouquet punch & adhered them to another piece of dsp & card, then cut out 'happy' using the Hello You thinlits dies. I added a 'birthday' sentiment from the Crazy About You stamp set that coordinates with the dies, curved the edges of 3 more balloons before attaching them with dimensionals & added a little bow & bling (Mini Treat bag dies) to finish it off. I think the bold colours really make this a happy card.

On the inside, I used the 'happy' piece cut out from the front (too fun to waste) & added more sentiment balloons & words from the super customisable Endless Birthday Wishes. This would even be a clean card front if you'd like.
This is a quick & easy card to do & would be great way to used dsp scraps since you only need small pieces for the balloons.

Hope you're inspired to get happy today with some balloons. Here's a collage of both pics for you to pin for later.
Thanks for visiting. I'll be back with more ideas next time. See the supply list below to see more info about what I used & links to order from my store.

Inky wishes, Di

Supplies
To see & order any items used in today's project, just click on the items below to see them in my Online Store. You can order from me if you live anywhere in Australia. I would love to be your Demonstrator if you don't already have one.  Please allow "Demonstrator contact" in your preferences so I can thank you properly when you place your order.
Note - Stamp sets & bundles noted below may be available in other mount options (eg wood, cling rubber or photopolymer). I have listed the option that I used, then alternative separate options at the bottom.. Please check the online store if your preference is different.





Friday 24 June 2016

JAI 317 colour challenge - Flourish

Love a colour challenge? Well you're in luck as our new challenge for you at Just Add Ink is this combination of flirty flamingo, rose red, crushed curry & pear pizzazz:
I thought this challenge would be a breeze but it was one of those times where the idea in my head didn't quite gel at first, then changed into this this very clean & simple, almost one layer card that's all about that gorgeous flourish.
To create the graduated colour on the flourish I created a watercolour wash on a piece of watercolour paper with my aquapainter & rose red, flirty flamingo & crushed curry ink. then die cut it out. Since the flourish was so pretty I kept the rest of the card super simple & resisted the urge to layer. A couple of card strips, some bling & sentiment from the new Birthday Banners stamp set (in my fave typeface too - win!) finished it off.

Love that flourish? It's one of the one of the dies amazingly fine & intricate Flourish set (& part of the coordinating Flourishing Phrases die & stamp bundle). Isn't it pretty? These are all the die shapes in the set. You can see the coordinating stamp set in the supply list at the bottom of this post.

 

When cards go wrong


It's a great feeling when an idea comes to life as planned or a happy accident turns into a fabulous card, but for one reason or other it doesn't always work out that way.  I do love a puzzle so generally it's fun for me to figure out what's 'not right' & change it into something I like more. Other times, I realise I need to say 'it's done' & move on to something else.

This week I made a card for the challenge & for many reasons it just doesn't work for me. I wasn't going to share it but decided I would because:
- it's good to realise things don't always work out as planned & that's ok,
- miss-steps often lead you to another idea that does work for you,
- someone else may still like it - in this case my darling girl likes the one I don't like more than the CAS one I like. Surprised me too :-)

So here's my ugly card so you can make your own decision.

I'm sure you see that's the watercolour wash panel used to cut the flourish. I mounted the panel on some vellum which I pierced & added a glittery flourish cut with dazzing diamonds glimmer paper (wish I hadn't added that) & a sentiment. I mounted the panels onto striped flirty flamingo paper with dimensionals & a thick white base.

So what doesn't work for me? How would you change it?
- The striped paper is too much & too bold. I'd tried plain card but it didn't really gel. I'd probably change this to plain white card. Less is more :)
- I think the glimmer paper flourish made the panel look quite flat & too glittery. I think just leaving the vellum showing behind the watercolour panel (with all the the little inside bits) would have looked cleaner & more intricate.
- The watercolour wash looks ok but is more splotchy than I'd wanted & maybe the crushed curry is too bright when combined with the paper... not really a fan of CC.
- the pear pizzazz strip doesn't really belong with the other colours but the colour challenge needed it.

I think I've made my peace with the card now & hope you've found my thoughts helpful for times when you can't figure out how or why something works or not.

Thanks for visiting today. Now head over to the Just Add Ink blog to see how the rest of the team have totally rocked the challenge colours. I'm sure you'll be inspired to try them too.

Until next time, sending you inky wishes,
Di


Supplies
To see & order any items used in today's project, just click on the items below to see them in my Online Store. You can order from me if you live anywhere in Australia. I would love to be your Demonstrator if you don't already have one.  Please allow "Demonstrator contact" in your preferences so I can thank you properly when you place your order.
Note - Stamp sets & bundles noted below may be available in other mount options (eg wood, cling rubber or photopolymer). I have listed the option that I used, then alternative separate options at the bottom.. Please check the online store if your preference is different.



Tuesday 21 June 2016

In review - Balloon Celebration birthdays 1

I realised I've totally missed sharing any cards I've made with the Balloon Celebration stamp set & coordinating Balloon Bouquet punch, so no doubt they're feeling a bit left out. This wasn't intentional - who doesn't love a balloon? They're fun & useful for so many occasions & people.

I made this soft, pastel card in shades of mint macaron & blushing bride back in January for a friend's birthday.
Balloon Celebration includes lots of stamp layer combinations to design your own balloons & strings. I used the solid balloon & scattered speckle stamps, plus the group of strings. You can't see it in the pic but there's a fair Wink of Stella on the dotty sections too. The scripty happy birthday is also from Balloon Celebration. See the supply list at the bottom of the post to see & order the stamp set & supplies I used.

I really loved this card shared on Pinterest by Stampin' Up! so I cased it & came up with this one:
This one is all about the ink colours & I love the combination. Some solid balloons were stamped off first for a ligher look, then with the scattered speckles or balloon outline stamp. I love the different shades created when the balloons overlap.

I have more balloon cards so look out for my next In Review post. Check out the supplies for both cards below & let me know if you have any questions. Thanks for visiting

Inky wishes, Di

Supplies
To see & order any items used in today's project, just click on the items below to see them in my Online Store. You can order from me if you live anywhere in Australia. I would love to be your Demonstrator if you don't already have one.  Please allow "Demonstrator contact" in your preferences so I can thank you properly when you place your order.
Note - Stamp sets & bundles noted below may be available in other mount options (eg wood, cling rubber or photopolymer). I have listed the option that I used, then alternative separate options at the bottom.. Please check the online store if your preference is different.


Recipe - Pastel bunch of balloons birthday



Balloon Celebration SU case