INKYART

Making Merry Monday

A friend told me this weekend just past that there are 8 weeks until Christmas.  Is anyone else as shocked by that little gem of information as I am?  OMG - that's not long is it.

Without further ado, here's a card that I was going to teach in a Glitter class.  Yes I am going to say WAS because this class is doomed I think!  I've had to cancel it so many times for all sorts of reasons, so I am thinking it is a sign - this class isn't meant to happen :o(

Here's a close up of the sparkliness (yes a new word for the 2011 festive season). And how do we do that?  

Well you stamp your image first.  Then take your Versamark pad and stamp this over the image - straight onto the cardstock - not onto the stamp - you need to cover the cardstock completely.  (Tip: I tend to stamp several images on one piece of cardstock and then Versamark and glitterise (not sure that is a real word either) the whole lot at the same time).

Cover the whole piece of card with some Heat and Stick powder - use a heat gun to melt this.  When the powder is moulton, sprinkle over Dazzling Diamonds.  Tap off the excess and heat again.  (Tip:  just a little flash of the heat gun this time - we are just setting the Dazzling Diamonds not melting it).

Hey presto you have some lovely sparkly pieces to make into cards.

This card uses the Delightful Decorations set and matching Ornament punch. Using a matching stamp and punch means you can churn a few of these out in double quick time - just what we need with only 8 weeks left to go!  The swirl is from Baroque Motifs.

Happy Making Merry Monday.

Nikki

x

Christmas Card Classes

Do you want to join the 'eager to be organised for Christmas' stamping ladies who recently attended a Stamp- -Stack class?   Waving hi to you all - thanks for a lovely night.

Here is one of the cards we made .... the classes give you an opportunity to make several of each card ... and there are always two designs.

This one is using the Tree Trimmings and Baroque Motif sets, the new Cherry Cobbler and Early Espresso cardstocks and of course Dazzling Diamonds.

If you'd like to book into a forthcoming class let me know.  They are on the first Friday of every month so the next one will be  Friday 5 November - when this one becomes full I will post up another date for November as Christmas is looming.  So if you can't make that date but would love to come along call (0428 254 952) or email and I'll add your name to the waiting list.  If you want to see sneak peeks of what's coming just sign up to the monthly newsletter - there's a little sign up box on the left hand side.

Cost for the class is $20 - you will have an opportunity to make six cards, three of two designs, together with embellished envelopes.  

Come alone or bring a friend - it's fun.

JAI Challenge # 36

It's been a while since I have taken part in one of these.  The JAI girls have a lovely sketch for their challenge this week - check out the details here.

I've been making Artist Trading Cards for a monthly swap I participate in and I thought I'd create a card at the same time.

With Spring having well and truly sprung I have been taking photos of flowers and blossoms ... the colour inspiration for this card came from a bunch of flowers I bought for a friend last week - Canterbury Bells ... and old English flower.

 They are just so beautiful aren't they.  The colours I have used are the new Concord Crush and Pear Pizzazz.  The stamp set is Baroque Motifs and I've also used the new Whisper White taffeta ribbon with a Tiny Tag sentiment.

Back tomorrow with another Making Merry Monday.

Making Merry Monday # 22 and Summer Mini News

I can't believe it has been a whole week with no blogs - you must have thought that somebody had gagged me :o)  I reckon that Twilight card zapped me of my energy to be crafty!  So sorry - back now though!

It's almost December and the start of the silly season!  How is your card making going?  If you've been playing along since the start then you should be well on your way - have you started writing them yet?  

We, the Sadler Family, include a newsletter and some photos every year ... talk about making a big job into a huge job ... lol ... but from all the emails and letters we receive after Christmas I think the extra work is worth the effort ... the rewards are great!  I love to catch up with old friends and as we are well travelled (thanks to the Navy) we have friends scattered everywhere - it's great to catch up on their news - only the other day we received a card from one of our neighbours in Scotland with news of the families who we shared our lives with for six years - it was the highlight of last week - thank you Una.

So as today is the very last day for orders for the Spring Mini I thought I'd post my last card using Tree Trimmings.  I love this set ... and will be sad to see it disappear ... I think it is perfect for Christmas and at only $24.95, its not too expensive either.

Colour are Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive and Whisper White - the swirls are from Baroque Motifs.

And just because it's the last day of the Spring Mini, I've also included another card using the beautiful Ski Slope paper $16.95; if you love this paper you need to call me now to place your order - we have until about 9pm tonite to place orders.

This one uses the Square Scallop punch which is a freebie if you purchase some products from the Christmas Extravaganza before 14 December ... click here for details. 

Colours are Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip and Baja Breeze - I've just bought the Crop-o-Dial - wow - an eyelet set through some grosgrain ribbon and two layers of card - like slicing through butter ... why has it taken me so long to buy one of these gadgets?

And here's the inside:

Isn't that little snowman cute and the little tag on the front - both are part of the Punch Pals set that I purchased recently ... that's a set that Olivia wanted to buy ... she's been making some stockings for the family cards ... I'll show you those in a week or two.

As we say goodbye to the Spring Mini with the Scallop Oval punch, corduroy buttons and my all time favourite the Great Friend stamp set (such a beautiful butterfly) ... there is much excitement in the Stampin' Up! world because tomorrow marks the launch of the new Summer Mini ... it contains some very beautiful summery things, including some beautiful new papers and a fabulous punch ... I can't wait to show you.

To mark the launch of this new catalogue, starting at 6am on Tuesday 1 December, some of the ESAD Team will be hosting their very first Blog Hop showcasing items made using products from the Summer Mini Catalogue, so don't forget to come back tomorrow.  It doesn’t matter where you start as there will be a link to the next blog in the chain all the way along till you finally finish where you started.  And if you leave a comment on each and every blog in the chain you'll be entered into the draw to receive some Blog Candy - woo hoo!

So see you back here bright and early tomorrow and don't forget if you just have to have any of the items in the Spring Mini make sure you phone or email today :o)

Hope you have a very Merry Monday.

 

Circles for my lovely niece!

I was looking through my photos for another card to show you and found this one.  Inspired by something I found on net (but now can no longer find ... don't you hate it when that happens), I made this beautiful card for one of my nieces who celebrated her birthday last month (hello Chloe). 

I miss my nieces very much (they are the most beautiful girls and I love to hear them say 'auntie Nikki' ... my eldest niece Emma has such a beautiful way of saying it!) - they would be my perfect 'stampin partners in crime' if we lived in the same hemisphere ... perhaps my brother should be grateful that I live here so that I can't influence them too much!

So, the card .....

Made using supplies from the Simply Scrappin Petal Party kit the recipe is as follows:

Stamp Set: Always

Card Stock: Pixie Pink, Old Olive, Whisper White

Ink: Old Olive

Patterned Paper:  Petal Party

Other: Border from Petal Party set, Circle punches 1 3/8" and 1 1/4", Scallop punch, Kaiser Kraft sparkles and rub ons from my stash

I've loved using this scrapbooking set as the papers and card stock are so bright - don't usually use stickers and borders but I have found lots of ways to use this set.

This card is easily modified for a male version which I made for for my brother-in-law who also celebrates his birthday in June:

I used Baroque Motifs and some Old Olive card stock for this one; not sure where I got the blue card stock from but it just goes to show that the same design can be used for both male and female cards.

Hope these designs inspire you to have a go.

Happy stampin!

Love Nikki

x

First day in blogland!

It's a big day today .. my first post and my first Stampin Up! workshop!  I've spent the last month organising myself for the workshop with two make and takes and I am as ready as I will ever be.  

I've been thinking about this blog for so long now that I can't really believe that I am actually composing the first post.  I have so many ideas spinning around in my head that it feels great to finally be making a start.  Thank you to everyone who has encouraged me to take the plunge ... you'd had better keep popping by to read or else there will be trouble!

So welcome to the InkyArt blog, I hope that over the coming months this will grow into a great resource for inspiration and ideas that will motivate you to create something for yourself and your family.  

As this blog is primarily a resource for card making and scrapbooking ideas, I thought I'd start with the two make and takes from today's workshop - the first is using the brayer (Olivia asked me 'what is a brayer' ... 'it is a roller that you use to achieve uniform inking of larger stamps or special background effects' said I - she looked very impressed!) and the stamp set Pocket Silhouettes.

I really love how this card works - looks difficult but is a really easy effect to achieve. 

Brayer first the So Saffron ink to completely cover a glossy white card stock square.  Then punch a 1 1/4" circle from scrap paper and temporarily stick in position.  Then using the brayer again, this time with the Real Red ink, completely cover the card stock ... making sure that you have a clean cirle (almost a halo) around the circle piece of scrap paper.  Remove the scrap of paper and hey presto ... a setting sun!   

The pocket Silhouette flowers and grasses are perfect to add to the bottom of the brayered card .... and this ribbon bow using the double rectangle punch is a new favourite for me ... just so easy and effective.

The recipe for this card is as follows:

Stamp Set: Pocket Silhouettes

Card Stock: Old Olive, Glossy White, Chocolate Chip and So Saffron

Ink: So Saffron, Real Red and Chocolate Chip

Ribbon: 5/8" (1.6cm) Old Olive grosgrain ribbon

Other: Brayer, 1 3/8" Circle punch, Eyelet Border punch, Double Rectangle punch

My second card is using a technique called Reverse Masking.

I loved the look of this card when I saw it on the Stampin Up! Demonstrators website.  Again using another favourite stamp set Baroque Motifs (I bought it for the wonderful swirl which I'll showcase sometime for you, I've used this set heaps of times).  

So the recipe for this one is as follows:

Stamp Set: Baroque Motifs

Card Stock: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Real Red and Kraft

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Ribbon: Chocolate Chip Taffeta Ribbon

Other: 1 3/8" Circle punch (you could use the 1 1/4" if you wish), Scallop Edge punch

Well there you have it, I'll be back very soon with more to inspire and motivate you to create .... I'm joining in the Making Merry Monday's with Anita Meade with a great ambition to post a new Christmas card every Monday between now and Christmas .... so catch you Monday.

If you'd like more in depth instructions on either of these cards just email or leave a comment - if you'd like to book a workshop so that you can make these cards too, just let me know.

Nikki

x