Keesh's Inspiration Challenge #20

Hi Guys,

Am finally on days off again. My roster is a bit atrocious at the moment, only rostered 2 days off instead of 3 for 2 weeks in a row (1st day is a sleep day, thus only giving 1 full day not at work). However I have found time to make 2 cards recently.

I had to have a go at Keesh's latest challenge. Especially since she pointed out that the inspiration pic challenges get less responses than the sketch or colour challenges. I really rather like them. I'm the sort of crafter who needs inspiration! Here is Keesh's inspiration image:

And here is my attempt:

As soon as I saw the photo I thought of using the 'emboss resist' technique & 'Upsy Daisy'. I clear embossed the 'Upsy Daisy' image onto 'Very Vanilla' CS. I then took my brayer & covered the whole image with 'Chocolate Chip' ink. When that is done, wipe over the image & the embossed image emerges. A great way to get a light coloured image on a dark background. I used my 'Sanded' BG stamp with 'Close to Cocoa' ink on 'CtC' CS. This is to emulate the creased look of the bottom of the doona cover (sometimes I think I am far too literal in these challenges). I added a layer of VV CS, and some 'Chocolate Chip' ribbon, tied through a small vanilla grommet. The greeting, also from the 'Upsy Daisy' stamp set is stamped in CC ink onto a label I made with the new 'Lots of Tags' die for the Big Shot. A simple card but I think it is in keeping with the inspiration.

Thanks for calling in.

Have a great day,

Fi xox

More Birthdays!

July - September is chock full of birthdays amongst my family & friends. I spent a lovely day yesterday making cards, mixed in with a bit of washing & cleaning. For the first one, I CASEd a card from p13 of the IB&C, changing the stamp set, papers and colours. I embossed images from the 'Upsy Daisy' stamp set with white embossing powder on 'Baja Breeze Patterns' DSP. I was quite happy with how it turned out. The pearls are from Kaisercraft, they have a great range of stick on half pearls & gems.

I CASEd the 2nd card from Teneale Williams, though her card is stunning. I do not know how she does such perfect bows. I changed the colours around, as my friend really likes blues. I used the 'Great Friend' stamp set & the co-ordinating 'Summer Love' rub-ons, also from the new mini. Don't know how I'll cope come November, when the mini is no more. I went looking for my clear buttons when I saw my box of 'Build-Brads' (B-a-B), so went with that instead. I stamped the little heart from 'Cheep Talk' for the image. I love B-a-B, such a great idea.

I made another card for a very good male friend who is turning 40 soon (I keep telling him how old he is, but he is really only 10.5 months older than me). I won't show it yet as my friend, & upline, is also very good friends with Ian & I don't want to spoil it. Will have to remember to show it in September. Still have to make another male card yet, as my group of mates are holding a 3-1 birthday night out next week. Better get shopping too!

Must go & get ready as am back at work tonight. Hoping for a 'not too crazy' shift.

Catch ya,

Fi xox

Recipe -

Card 1:

Stamps: Upsy Daisy

Paper: Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, Pink Pirouette, WW CS, Baja Breeze DSP

Ink: Versamark

Accessories: White embossing powder, Baja Breeze ribbon, Kaisercraft half-pearls

Card 2:

Stamps: Great Friend, Cheep Talk (small flower & heart stamps)

Paper: WW CS, Walk in the Park DSP

Ink: Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Cameo Coral

Accessories: Summer Love rub-ons, Build-a-Brad, 1.3cm punch, Baja Breeze ribbon, Scallop Edge punch, Blender Pen.

Revisiting an Inspirations Challenge Entry

Apologies to those who have already seen this card on Keesh's website. One of her recent challenges was an Inspiration Challenge, where Keesh puts a pic up on her blog and participants use it as the basis for creating. This was the image:

I really liked the print on the wall, the colours and images were so soft & pretty, plus it made me think of Venice (not quite sure why??). I decided to reach for Purely Pomegranate, a favourite of the retired in-colours from last year, & Pink Pirouette.

Warning - long-winded explanation follows!!

First I stamped 'Upsy Daisy' in Purely Pomegranate ink onto Whisper White card stock, & then, using my 'stamp-a-ma-jig', I re-stamped the image in Versamark ink & clear embossed it. I decided to break out my brayer. I rubbed it over my Pink Pirouette ink pad & then 'splodged' the brayer with my Regal Rose stamping spot before running it over my stamped image. I also sponged on some So Saffron ink, generally, and within a mask to create the sun. Finally I stamped the sentiment in black and matted it with black card stock. i made the base from Card stock & DSP and added ribbon & non-SU pearls. I was pretty happy with the outcome & think I should try brayer-ing again sometime. It was so much fun to make this card.

I've got a cold and am not up for much tonight. I'm off to read some more of Jodie Piccoult's "My Sister's Keeper". I'm sure I'm one of the last people to get around to it, but wanted to read it before seeing the movie. Working in Midwifery, the whole subject of genetic engineering is intriguing, and a little frightening.

Thanks for visiting,

Fi xox

Recipe:

Stamps: Upsy Daisy, Sincere Salutations

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black & Purely Pomegranate CS, Candy Lane DSP

Ink: Purely Pomegranate, Pink Pirouette, Regal Rose, So Saffron, Basic Black, Versamark

Accessories: Polysparkle embossing powder (non-SU), Ribbon (valet pack), pearls (non-SU), dimensionals

Farewell Masterchef

Well, what will I watch now? MC was great because I could record it & then watch it while I ate my dinner before work. Must admit it was sometimes a bit disheartening to watch all that amazing food being cooked while I was eating re-heated left-over casserole.

One night I ate a bowl of lovely potato & leek soup & found myself saying, a la Matt Preston, 'If this was served up to me in a restaurant, i would be very happy". Living alone & eating 'meals for one' does bring out the crazies. My good friends, Ian & Joy, invited me over for dinner & to watch the finals. Great fun night. Joy made a luscious Blueberry Yoghurt Crumble cake, of which I promptly stole the recipe. All my best recipes are flogged from my mates. She also made a nice japanese chicken dish, which had a "nice acidity to it" I told her. One of my work mates said she doesn't 'dish up' her meals anymore, she 'plates them up'. Maybe its a good thing that this show is finished...

Thought I'd share a card I made recently for a friend's birthday. It is CASED from this card by the talented Yvonne Campbell. Hated this stamp set when I first started to see it on Splitcoast Stampers but having seen it on so many lovely cards, i now really like it.

Thanks for visiting xox

The Recipe

Stamps: Upsy Daisy, Best Yet

Paper: Rose Red & Kiwi Kiss Card Stock (CS) and Bella Rose Designer Series Paper (DSP)

Ink: Rose Red & Kiwi Kiss markers, Rose Red ink

Accessories: Kiwi Kiss/Very Vanilla ribbon, 'Button Bouquet' buttons, Fine Supernova Glitter, 2-way glue pen