Inkspirations sketch challenge #47

Makeesha has another great sketch challenge up on her brand new challenge blog!





I flipped the sketch and made a card for a friend who is taking her driving test next Sunday. It's a bit early, I know, but I'm confident she can do it! It was also a perfect opportunity to use my brand new Enjoy the Ride set from PTI. :) I tried colouring in a bit of shadow under the car to stop it "floating", but I didn't too well. I also grabbed the wrong marker at one point, which is why there is a darker grey blob on the left. Anyway, I really love this stamp set, it's so cute!! Thanks for stopping by!

Sketch challenge #41

Makeesha has designed another awesome sketch, and with Christmas coming soon I decided to try and make a Christmas card.





I wanted to add a touch of colour with copics, but the cheapie acrylic stamp didn't take memento ink well. And I completely forgot to emboss the base with the polka dot folder, even though I had everything out and ready to go. Oops. Anyway, thanks for taking a look! :)

Inkspirations sketch challenge #39

Hello all! It's been a while since I participated in an Inkspirations challenge, so here is the sketch for the latest challenge over at Makeesha's blog.



I sat down to make a card on Friday, and it really didn't work. It's boring, blah and bleargh. Not happy.



So I tried again using a technique I've been meaning to try, Versamark and chalk! I used a gorgeous set of chalks from Kaisercraft that have a pearlescent sheen to them. Love them!



If you've been visiting my blog you'll know I love bright colours, especially rainbows! I tired taking a photo of the shimmer, but you can barely see it on the stamped flowers. I would've loved more flowers stamped on the card, but I found it difficult to stamp on the CS using clear Versamark! Case in point, the off-centre circle in the middle of the orange/yellow flower. Still, I love the rainbow and I can't wait to try this technique again. Thanks for stopping by!

Crab & company

I thought I'd break out Crab & Company for Makeesha's latest sketch challenge, seeing as it hasn't been inked for a long time. I took a leaf out of Chantelle's book and flipped the sketch, and I really like the way it looks.





I love how happy and colourful the crab looks, but it was such a pain masking him (or her?) before rolling on the background with Versamark. I also like how colouring with Copics turns out of Kraft CS. Must try more if this in the future. Thanks for looking!

Missing mojo

Hi all! Apologies for the hiatus in posting, but my mojo went on holiday and neglected to give an ETA on when she's coming back. I did, however, try to forcefully bring her back by participating in the latest Inkspiration challenge but to no avail. Hopefully she returns soon, I miss her. :(





On a completely different note, I'm moving into a bigger room which means I get more space to better organize my craft stash. Yay! We've been cleaning the house out and getting rid of things we no longer need, it's amazing how much stuff you accumulate in 10 years! I'm really excited about changing rooms, but it's a lot of work getting things cleaned up and I also have to get blinds put in as well as a new door. Fingers crossed I manage to get it finished without breaking the budget. :)

Anyway, that's enough waffle from me, thanks for stopping by!

Sketch challenge #21

It's time for another awesome sketch challenge from Makeesha!




The PTI design team have been giving tips on making cards for guys and I thought it was high time I made some, seeing as there aren't very many that I've made! I used a pair of fancy scissors to cut the strip of rick rack and the two SU! star punches. Just for kicks, I flipped the sketch and made an identical card.


So now I have not one, but two masculine cards! Sweet. :)

Watercolours and faux batik

I tried the faux batik technique the other day, and I love the results! I used a Stamp It stamp and heat embossed the image on water colour paper before applying ink with my aqua painter. I then used an iron to heat the panel between sheets of kitchen towel , which melts and removes the embossing powder. Lots of fun!




I kept the card really simple, mainly because I was struggling to find colours to go behind the panel. In the end, I stuck with black because it makes the bright colours pop. :)

Apologies for the slightly blurry photo. I have to learn how to use my camera's macro settings for close range photography but unfortunately, I've been unable to locate the manual! Thanks for stopping by!

Inspiration challenge #19, take two!

It's another friend's birthday this weekend, so another card had to be made. I used the FTL82 sketch from the Clean & Simple blog along with Keesh's latest challenge. I love this sketch!





I used Ranger's distress inks for the background, and this is the first time I've used them so I found it difficult to apply smoothly. Still, they're quite easy to use and blend, which is awesome! I also tired the emboss resist technique for the first time, and I love the way it looks (even though I could've just used white powder). I didn't have matching ribbon, so I did without, but I did spritz a mix of water and Ranger's Perfect Pearls to give it a bit of shimmer. Sadly, the shimmer doesn't turn up in the photo. Thanks to Keesh for another great challenge!

Inspiration challenge #19

I had to make a birthday card for a friend, so I looked to Makeesha's latest challenge for inspiration.




I ran out of white thread half-way through, which explains the two unstitched buttons. The card was finished off at the last minute, so I didn't have time to hunt around for a substitute. It looks so unfinished, to me. Anyway, thanks for stopping by!

Inkspirations sketch challenge #19

It's been ages since I participated in Makeesha's inkspiration challenges, so what better time than now! There are 3 birthday's coming up and I thought it prudent to start now rather than leaving it 'til later. :D




I used a little Hero Arts stamp I picked up at a craft fair and coloured the little girl in using Copic markers. I didn't have any skin-tone markers and used a Blush Blossom marker instead, hence the slightly streaky look of her face. On a side note, I looooooooooove how easy it is to colour using Copics!! The background stamp is also from Hero Arts, called Kanji Poem and I've been wanting to ink it up for a while. The text means Happy Birthday in Japanese, and I printed it out using PSE (Photoshop Elements).

Thanks for stopping by!

Sketch challenge #17

It's Makeesha's final sketch challenge for the year and I can't believe 2009 is nearly over!

I kept the card quite simple and used PTI's Everyday Button Bits, Polka Dot Basics 2 and Birthday Basics stamp sets. I hope everyone has a merry christmas and a fantastic new year and many many thanks to Makeesha and the design team for all their inspiration throughout the year! Thanks for stopping by. :)

Sketch challenge #16

I was absolutely gobsmacked when I went to Keesh's site to have a look at the latest challenge, to find she'd picked my card as the winning entry for the inspiration challenge number #15!! I'm stunned, and thrilled to bits at the same time. :) Thanks Keesh!

And on to Keesh's latest sketch challenge.

I pulled out PTI's Everyday Button BIts set again, using heart shaped buttons as flowers.


I wasn't planning to add the strip of ribbon, but I wanted to hide the 'join' between the circle element and the saffron band. It's very similar to this card, down to the butterflies and the DSP. Thanks, Keesh, for another fabulous challenge!

All you need is love

I couldn't resist playing with PTI's Everyday Button Bits set again, this time using heart shaped buttons to make flowers. I used an older sketch from Keesh and made it into a card for a friend of mine who is getting married in 2 weeks.




Not your typical wedding card, but I love the little heart-shaped buttons. And here I was thinking I wouldn't be using this sentiment at all. Have I mentioned previously how much I love this set? :)

I made a card for a friend's 25th birthday and he had a cake in the shape of a pirate ship, so I thought it'd be fun to make him a pirate-themed card. I borrowed the SU! stamp set Ahoy Matey (retired) from a friend and it was fun using it, particularly the matching wheel.


I was colouring the little fellow in using my aquapainter and used a black SU! marker to simulate stubble on his face. In my impatience, I didn't think to let the cardstock dry and the ink bled into the paper, making him look like he had fungus growing on his face! It really bothers me (I'm soooooo obsessive compulsive sometimes), but I didn't have the time to make another one. Still, this set is so cute. :)

Anyway, I'm off to open all the windows in an attempt to cool the house down! The heat really saps all the energy out of you. Thanks for looking!

Starstruck

It' absolutely sweltering here in Adelaide, with the temperature hovering between 38-40 degrees (100-104 for those playing in Fahrenheit) for the last 8 or so days. Horrible! I'm really not looking forward to summer. Thankfully, the temperature should drop tomorrow to a lovely 28 degrees, which will be a very welcome change.

Anyway, on to Makeesha's latest challenge!


I paired this inspiration challenge with the Fall to Layout #65, and tied to showcase the cool silver foil pattered paper I picked up on sale a while ago.




Thanks for stopping by!

Cherries jubilee

I was itching to break out the Everyday Button Bits set again, and decided to make another card with Makeesha's latest sketch.




I accidentally glued the cherries to a piece of Old Olive cardstock, instead of Ruby Red as I originally intended. I only realized my mistake when I stuck the entire thing onto the card. D'oh! I'm sorely tempted to yank it apart and re-do it with Ruby Red, but it'll probably ruin the white CS with the cherries on it.

Anyway, the card has a rather Christmas-y feel to it, which reminds me that I haven't yet started on my Christmas cards. Eek! I have to say that before I got into papercrafts in such a big way I wasn't one to post/give Christmas cards or even birthday cards, so now I'm trying to decide whether or not to give out Christmas cards and if I do, who to send them to. Well, best decide quickly as I'm fast running out of time!

I must say thank you to all the wonderful people who have given me comment love. I really appreciate hearing what you think, especially since I didn't really like the little button bird card I made. It makes me appreciate the little dude more. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Chicken licken

Makeesha has provided us with another great challenge, and it's a sketch!


I pulled out my fab Everyday Button Bits set from PTI and used the wee bird stamp, pairing it with Washington Apple DSP.


Am feeling rather 'blah' about this card. The brads in the corner are way too close but I had already pierced the holes, so I couldn't change their position. Still, the little bird is just too cute! And now I'm off to continue reading Pride & Prejudice & Zombies. TTFN!

Three-in-one

I missed out on doing Makeesha's sketch challenge last week, so I just had to do this week's which happens to be a colour challenge. I combined it with the latest Mojo Monday sketch and made a birthday card for a friend.





This card is a bit 'blah', to me. The colours of the stamped panel don't stand out or have any pizzazz. I used my clear at you Spica glitter pen to go over the sentiment, giving it a nice sparkle, but I did this after I took the photo and I'm much too lazy to take and edit another. :) I had to use Confetti White cardstock for the base as Whisper White is just too thin and flimsy. I think I might try this challenge again tomorrow, depending on whether or not I can find the time.

Thanks for stopping by!

Second time 'round

Hi again! I decided to try my hand at the latest Inkspiration sketch challenge for a second time, but this time with different colours.




The hummingbird from the previous card is a bit difficult to see in real life because the yellow is so light. The only other pigment inks I had were blues similar to Brilliant Blue and Tempting Turquoise, so I used the colour coach to pick complementary colours. I'm sure you can see the accident I had with the stamp where the ink didn't make it to the cardstock. I tried stamping the image a second time but it turned out even patchier and I didn't want to stamp the thing again.

I have to admit I was sceptical about using Garden Green, Brilliant Blue and More Mustard together, but it's turned out surprisingly well. My apologies for doubting you, colour coach! The dragonfly is from the same set as the hummingbird (Mindscapes from Inkadinkado) and I love this stamp!

Many many thanks to those lovely people who took the time to comment on my previous posts. I love hearing what you think about the things I make! And now I'm off to clear bits of glitter from my floor. There was a small cloud that came off when I was setting the heat & stick powder and now it's everywhere. TTFN!

Sketch challenge #13

I'm such a challenge junkie, and I especially love sketches. What I love the most is how challenges push me to create things I wouldn't normally come up with. Keesh has put up her latest sketch challenge and this is what it looks like.


I really wanted to use my Mindscapes acrylic set from Inkadinkado and teamed it up with SEI's Mimosa paper. I used heat and stick powder for the first time to add bling to the hummingbird, but in hindsight I should have clear embossed it. My stash of Kiwi Kiss CS is running very low, so I had to cheat slightly and sponge a piece of Whisper White cardstock with Kiwi Kiss ink to mat the main panel. Methinks it's time to put in another order!


I took another photo to try and capture the sparkle. Love that glitter!


Anyway, hope you're all having a great weekend, and thanks for taking a look! :)

Inspiration challenge #12

The colours in Makeesha's latest inspiration challenge are really bright and fresh. It just screams summer to me.


And this is the card I ended up making:


I used a Basic Grey acrylic set to stamp in Pacific Point, Tempting Turquoise and Summer Sun. Thankfully the DCWV textured paper matches the SU! colours quite well and this colour combo is really growing on me. You almost need sunglasses to view it, though. :)

It's been a slow weekend in terms of mojo, as I started several cards but didn't finish them because they weren't turning out how I envisaged them. Most frustrating! Anyway, hope you enjoyed the card, and thanks for stopping by!