Ink Spot Creations

Month of many Birthdays

Wow, August has definately been the month for birthdays.  There is a very special and dear friend of mine who celebrated her birthday last Sunday.  This lovely lady has been there for me through a lot of tough times, and I don't think she knows just how much I appreciate her friendship.  Happy Birthday Alisha, I hope you had a great day.  I wanted to make her a special card for her birthday.  Inspired by a technique that I learnt from Danielle Daws through a tutorial that you can purchase from the Helping Hudson site, I created a card that I was pretty darn proud of if I do say so myself lol.  I have always wanted to make an easel card but never got around to it.  So I combined that with Danielles beautiful, and easy to follow directions and came up with this:

 

 

 

The colour that I used were so bright and cheerful.  I used Orchid Opulence (so sad to see it's going), So Saffron, Old Olive and Very Vanilla.  The drinks were black embossed onto Watercolour Paper and coloured in using the blender pens and ink colours.

I would like to thank Danielle for now having me thoroughly hooked by this watercolouring technique.  I'd like to also thank her for her inspirational work that I just love looking at so much.

Thanks so much for looking x   

Colour Challenge

Here is a project I made for the color challenge found at the helping hudson site, using Pretty in Pink, Rose Red and Not Quite Navy.  This also falls under the technique challenge being the 'Rock n' Roll' technique.  Thanks for looking.

 

"Art with Heart Team" August Blog Hop - Men in our lives

Welcome to another Art With Heart Team Blog Hop!  Lead by the talented Claire Daly, with over 90 talented demonstrators across Australia, this team is home to many, many very clever people... if you want to be a part of this highly creative and supportive team just email me for more details.

 We have a great team forum and heaps of support from like minded demonstrators.  Our blog hop is a monthly event which happens on the first Saturday of every month.

You may have just come from the wonderfully creative Tina Gillespie's blog, but if you are starting here, don’t worry, you can make the complete journey just by following the links at the end of each post.

There are 9 stops along the way this time and we hope you will visit each one to see the wonderful creations we have to show you! If you leave a comment on each and every blog and then email Nikki Sadler, your name will be put into the hat to win some beautiful blog candy.

There is a deadline of 72 hours to leave your comments and only non SU demos are eligible to win - although we'd love all visitors to leave some comments please. The deadline for leaving comments is the 10th of August (6.00am).

So for our August tour, our theme is "Men in our lives".  With Father's day being just around the corner, it is time to start making something for those special men that we all love so dearly.  At the end of each post there will be a link to take you to the next stop on the tour.

It would be fantastic if you could leave a comment on each blog!

So grab a cuppa, and let's set off on what I know will be an inspirational journey!

With so many things going on these days, I found myself in a situation that has been happening quite often these days, being that I left my project to the last minute (and I mean VERY last minute).  I wanted to stick with something quite simple.  I love nice bright colours and this is a very versatile project.  I was happy with how this turned out and I hope my dad will be also.

 
  


 

 

This design of money holder was one I received at convention.  It blew me away so much that this is what I have been using to present cash gifts to many people.  Thanks Sharon for such a fantastic idea.  There is nothing to this card really.  Measure out your card stock, make a few punch pieces and then put it all together.  I think it's the colours that make it what it is.  It has a very cheerful look to it.  And what makes this a seriously fast project is that it has no stamping WHATSOEVER.  Now I generally don't adopt this rule, but time ran away as it always does lol. 

Oh and the fact that I donated what WAS to be my blog hop project to the "Helping Hudson" Fund-raiser as one of the tutorials.  Speaking of which, have you visited this great site yet.  You must go and check it out.  Not only are there many amazing tutorial bundles to purchase, there are also fantastic challenges.  Please take some time out and go and visit http://helpinghudson.blogspot.com/.

Now for the details of this months project.

CARD STOCK:  Brocade Blue, YoYo Yellow, Whisper White, Silver Metallic

ACCESSORIES:  Large Star Punch, Star Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Slit Punch, Timeless Type Junior Alphabet, Hodgepodge Brad, Sticky Strip, Snail Adhesive, Crystal effects 

After the letters were added to the front of the project, I applied crystal effects to the surface to give it a lacquered and 3 dimensional appearance.

 

Well, that's all from me.  I hope you have enjoyed this months project.  Thank you for looking.  Now you're off to enjoy the stunning creations of Nikki Sadler who is another Melbourne based demonstrator.

 

See you next time xx

"Art With Heart Team" Christmas in July Blog Hop

Welcome to another Art With Heart Team Blog Hop!  Lead by the talented Claire Daly, with over 90 talented demonstrators across Australia, this team is home to many, many very clever people... if you want to be a part of this highly creative and supportive team just email me for more details.

We have a great team forum and heaps of support from like minded demonstrators.  Our blog hop is a monthly event which happens on the first Saturday of every month.

You may have just come from the wonderfully creative Christine Blain's blog, but if you are starting here, don’t worry, you can make the complete journey just by following the links at the end of each post.

There are 12 stops along the way and we hope you will visit each one to see the wonderful creations we have to show you! If you leave a comment on each and every blog and then email Nikki Sadler, your name will be put into the hat to win some beautiful blog candy.

There is a deadline of 72 hours to leave your comments and only non SU demos are eligible to win - although we'd love all visitors to leave some comments please. The deadline for leaving comments is the 6th of July (6.00am).

So for our July tour, our theme is "Christmas in July".  Time to start thinking about those Christmas cards and other projects again.  At the end of each post there will be a link to take you to the next stop on the tour.

It would be fantastic if you could leave a comment on each blog!

So grab a cuppa, and let's set off on what I know will be an inspirational journey!

I have to admit that I had lost my mojo for the last month, and have struggled to come up with new ideas.  I thought that this time around I would keep things nice and simple.  I was really happy with the way these projects both worked out.  I have always been a fan of shaker cards, so thought I would actually try doing one myself.  I loved the effect that the red and green beads had moving around inside the card.  Another project I thought I would attempt is the simple yet very traditional Christmas cracker.  A Christmas is definitely not a Christmas in our family if we don't have a few of these to share with loved ones.

 

I really enjoyed making these projects as Christmas is my favourite holiday to spend with my family.  Giving to loved ones makes me so very happy, and I enjoyed making these to share with my friends.

 

There really isn't that much to making this Christmas cracker.  I had a template which I printed out onto card stock and then I carefully cut it out.  I then randomly stamped the small snowflake from Snow Swirled over the card stock.  Add a couple of bows to the ends, and then you are finished.  Before tightening the bows at both ends, make sure you fill each cracker up with some lollies.

INKS:  Whisper White Craft

CARD STOCK:  Kraft

STAMP SETS:  Snow Swirled

ACCESSORIES:  1/4" Real Read Grosgrain Ribbon, Sticky Strip, Paper Snips

This card was so much fun to make.  Glitter and Christmas just seem to go very well together.

For the medallion, i used a mixture of white embossing powder and Dazzling diamonds glitter.  I just mixed the two together until I was happy with the amount of glitter in the mix.  After using versamark to stamp the image, I spread over the embossing/glitter mixture and used the heat gun.  The result is rather stunning, and looks so much more effective in real life.

To make the shaker part of the card, I used 3D foam strip to lift up the card stock.  Acetate sheet was used as a window.

INKS:  Riding Hood Red, Versamark

CARD STOCK:  Old Olive, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White

STAMP SETS:  Medallion, Occasional Greetings

ACCESSORIES:  Acetate Sheet, 3D Foam Tape, White Embossing Powder, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Heat Gun, Fine Supernova Glitter (Olive), Red and Green Seed Beads, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Snail Adhesive 

Well, that's all from me.  I hope you have enjoyed my projects.  Thank you for looking.  Now you're off to enjoy the stunning creations of Nikki Sadler who is another Melbourne based demonstrator.

 

See you next time xx

"Art with Heart Team" May Blog Hop

Welcome to another Art With Heart Team Blog Hop!  Lead by the talented Claire Daly with over 90 talented demonstrators across Australia, this team is home to many, many very clever people... if you want to be a part of this highly creative and supportive team just email me for more details.

We have a great team forum, Business Building Club and heaps of support from like minded demonstrators.  Our blog hop is a monthly event which happens on the last day of every month.

You may have just come from Tanja Westwood's blog, but if you are starting here, don’t worry, you can make the complete journey just by following the links at the end of each post.

There are 14 stops along the way and we hope you will visit each one to see the wonderful creations we have to show you! If you leave a comment on each and every blog and then email Nikki Sadler, your name will be put into the hat to win some beautiful blog candy.

There is a deadline of 72 hours to leave your comments and only non SU demos are eligible to win - although we'd love all visitors to leave some comments please. The deadline for leaving comments is the 3rd of May (6.00am).

So for our May tour, our theme is Women in our Lives.  Just in time for Mother's Day.  At the end of each post there will be a link to take you to the next stop on the tour.

It would be fantastic if you could leave a comment on each blog!

So grab a cuppa, and let's set off on what I know will be an inspirational journey!

I wanted to do something a little different for this hop.  i knew I wanted to make something for my mum, who is a big inspiration in my life.  I decided to design a luminary.  Now what is a luminary I hear you ask (don't worry, many people have already asked).  The definition of a luminary is as follows

lu·mi·nar·y

n. pl. lu·mi·nar·ies

1. An object, such as a celestial body, that gives light.

2. A person who is an inspiration to others.

3. A person who has achieved eminence in a specific field.

So in short, I have created somewhat of a luminary that glows from within, and it is for a person that inspires me in so many ways, my Mum.  Now, she would like to think that she has achieved eminence in a specific field.  It's easier to just let her think that lol

Here is my luminary during the day.

And I have tried to capture the glow when it got a little darker (this proved to be a little more difficult than I thought)

I would have loved to have shown you a video of this.  The soft flickering of the light was very mesmerizing.  It just didn't show up very well.

INKS:  Versamark

CARD STOCK:  Basic Black, Vellum

STAMP SETS:  Medallion

ACCESSORIES:  White Embossing Powder, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Heat Gun, White Taffeta Ribbon, Butterfly Punch, Eyelet Border Punch, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Snail Adhesive, Sticky Strip

Well, that's all from me.  Thank you for looking.  Now you're off to enjoy the stunning creations of Sue Madex who is another Melbourne based demonstrator.

See you next time xx

"ESAD" May Blog Hop

It's time for another blog hop again!  I would like to welcome back my regular readers and say hello to new ones.

Good Morning everyone!

I hope you’re ready for another ESAD Blog Hop! Better go grab yourself a cuppa as you’ll be hopping for a while!

What is ESAD you say? ESAD stands for Extra Special Australian (and New Zealand) Demonstrators and it is an online group just for Australian and New Zealand demonstrators for Stampin’ Up! We so love what we do and not only do we love to share it with our customers, friends and wonderful blog visitors but we share our love for what we do with each other as Demonstrators. We run swaps, challenges, tutorials, product know how and cyberstamps and we are always there to help and support each other when its needed.

So if you are a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator located in Australia or New Zealand, then please feel free to click here to join our wonderful group.

We are again offering Blog Candy for our Blog Hop. What you need to do is complete the blog hop until you get back to me. Once you've visited and commented on every blog then you will need to email Sharlene at stampwithsharlene@hotmail.com who will then put your name into the draw for the blog candy.

Please note, Stampin' Up! Demonstrators are not eligible to win the Blog Candy.

You may have just come from Narelle Hodges blog, but if you are starting here, don’t worry, you can make the complete journey just by following the links at the end of each post.

There are 16 stops along the way and we hope you will visit each one to see the wonderful creations we have to show you!

The theme for this month's ESAD Blog Hop is Mother's Day.  A day to celebrate our beautiful Mother's and any other special women in our lives.

I decided to make my mum a stationary box this year.  I have seen a few of these floating around whilst surfing the net, and I think that they are an absolutely fantastic idea.  It is a beautiful box that folds open to reveal cards, love notes, tags and even a little notebook.  My mum loves blue, so my main colour used in this project was Baja Breeze.  I really enjoy using our new Big Shot.  I love the effect of the Manhattan Flower embossing folder.

This nifty little box opens up to reveal 6 cards, 6 love notes, 10 tags and a small notebook.

 
And here are the cards inside the stationary box.

 
INKS:  Baja Breeze

CARD STOCK:  Parisian Breeze DP, Whisper White, Sahara Sand, Baja Breeze

STAMP SETS:  Fifth Avenue Floral

ACCESSORIES:  Manhattan Embossing Folder, Linen Thread, Eyelet Border Punch, Rhinestone Brads (blue), Flower Fusion II (Baja Breeze), Sponge Daubers, Watercolour Paper, White Embossing Powder, Snail Adhesive

Speaking of those wonderful and special women in our lives, I would love to extend my gratitude to my beautiful friends who have given me a little help this week.  I had a bit of a tough week and was falling behind, and thanks to Christine Blain and Alisha Watson, I was able to get back on top of things again.  Thanks for the motivation ladies (and the extra sets of hands) I love you x

Well, that's all from me.  Thank you for looking.  Click here to visit Kylie Swain's blog to see the next creation.

"ESAD" April Blog Hop

It's time for another blog hop again!  I would like to welcome back my regular readers and say hello to new ones.

Good Morning everyone!

I hope you’re ready for the ESAD Blog Hop! Better go grab yourself a cuppa as you’ll be hopping for a while!

What is ESAD you say? ESAD stands for Extra Special Australian (and New Zealand) Demonstrators and it is an online group just for Australian and New Zealand demonstrators for Stampin’ Up! We so love what we do and not only do we love to share it with our customers, friends and wonderful blog visitors but we share our love for what we do with each other as Demonstrators. We run swaps, challenges, tutorials, product know how and cyberstamps and we are always there to help and support each other when its needed.

So if you are a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator located in Australia or New Zealand, then please feel free to click here to join our wonderful group.

We are again offering Blog Candy for our Blog Hop. What you need to do is complete the blog hop until you get back to me. Once you've visited and commented on every blog then you will need to email Sharlene at stampwithsharlene@hotmail.com who will then put your name into the draw for the blog candy.

Please note, Stampin' Up! Demonstrators are not eligible to win the Blog Candy.

You may have just come from Tina Hewett's blog, but if you are starting here, don’t worry, you can make the complete journey just by following the links at the end of each post.

There are 25 stops along the way and we hope you will visit each one to see the wonderful creations we have to show you!

So for the ESAD April Blog Hop it was decided that the theme was to use products from our next AMAZING Autumn/Winter mini catalogue, due to be released on the 1st of April.

I have always been rather partial to the Cottage Garden Stamp Set, so I decided to use this.  Autumn to me is the start of the weather turning a little colder.  And what better way to warm up than with a nice hot cup of tea and a good book.  So for this hop I have decided to make a Tea Bag Holder and a Bookmark.  Now I know Tea Bag holders have been done time and time again, but this was special to me as I designed it myself (something I have never done).  I'm sure there are heaps similar out there lol, but this time I didn't google for templates.

The direction I was heading in with these colours was for a warm and Autumn feel.  Here is the book mark.  I attached two bi-cone crystals to the ends of the thread.

And here is the tea bag holder.

INKS:  Rich Razzleberry, Creamy Caramel, Sage Shadow

CARD STOCK:  Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla

STAMP SETS:  Cottage Garden

ACCESSORIES:  Horizontal Slot Punch, Slit Punch, Snail Adhesive, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Embroidery Cotton, Bi-cone Crystals

Well, that's all from me.  Thank you for looking.  Click here to visit Leonie Schroder's blog to see the next creation.

Another Just Add Ink Sketch Challenge

I am just loving these challenges from the Just Add Ink Team.  I enter these challenges to push myself beyond my usual boundaries, and i am learning something new with each and every step that I take.  I am a reasonably new demonstrator, starting in August 2009, and I consider myself still a bit of a novice.  I am, however, gaining confidence with every challenge that I undertake.

This weeks challenge is a sketch.  I love these ones as they make me think about the placement of where things should go, and I personally find that to be one of the hardest parts of card making.

This is the first time that I have EVER made one of these mini pizza boxes, and I just think that they are SO adorable, and so very easy to make.  Thanks so much to Tina Gillespie for pointing me in the right direction.  Make sure you check out Tina's project on the Art with Heart Team Easter blog hop, it is beautiful.  Another first for me was the use of so many embellishments.  You might be looking at it thinking that there really isn't that many, but for me, believe me when i tell you that I generally only ever use one or maybe two pretty, shiny things in any of my projects.  I personally love how this has turned out and I hope that you do too.

 

INKS:  Pretty In Pink

CARD STOCK:  Pretty In Pink

STAMP SETS:  Season of Joy

ACCESSORIES:  2-Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Clear Acetate Sheet, Sticky Strip, Clear rhinestone Brads (Small), Flower Fusion, Pink Pearls

Thanks again to the Just Add Ink Team for a fantastic challenge. 

Keep on Stamping, Kris xx

"Art with Heart Team" March Blog Hop

Welcome to another Art With Heart Team Blog Hop!  Lead by the talented Claire Daly with over 80 talented demonstrators across Australia, this team is home to many, many very clever people... if you want to be a part of this highly creative and supportive team just email me for more details.

We have a great team forum, Business Building Club and heaps of support from like minded demonstrators.  Our blog hop is a monthly event which happens on the last day of every month.

You may have just come from Ros Davidson's blog, but if you are starting here, don’t worry, you can make the complete journey just by following the links at the end of each post.

There are 14 stops along the way and we hope you will visit each one to see the wonderful creations we have to show you! If you leave a comment on each and every blog and then email Nikki Sadler, your name will be put into the hat to win some beautiful blog candy.

There is a deadline of 72 hours to leave your comments and only non SU demos are eligible to win - although we'd love all visitors to leave some comments please. The deadline for leaving comments is the 3rd of March (6.00am).

So for our March tour we decided upon the theme Easter.  Mmmmm Chocolate.  At the end of each post there will be a link to take you to the next stop on the tour.

It would be fantastic if you could leave a comment on each blog!

So grab a cuppa, and let's set off on what I know will be an inspirational journey!

After I put my hand up for this hop I realised that I did not own even one Easter stamp.  Not one bunny nor one egg.  Not even a fluffy yellow chicken.  Then the panic set it.  But....after looking at the big picture and nutting it out a little, I finally figured out what I was going to do.  And here is the result.  I hope you enjoy my little Easter box with matching note card.

Even though I didn't have the stamps, I was able to portray Easter by using punch art.  There's just something really cute about a bunny's bum.

 

And here is the note card.

Here is a close up of the flowers that I stamped over my project.  To achieve this effect, I stamped the image and then went over the stamen of the flowers with my white gel pen.

And what is Easter without a little chocolate all covered in brightly coloured foil.

 

INKS:  Brocade Blue, Chocolate Chip

CARD STOCK:  Bashful Blue, Kraft, Whisper White

STAMP SETS:  Fifth Avenue Floral

ACCESSORIES:  ¹/₂" Circle Punch, 1" Circle Punch, 1¹/₄" Circle Punch, Wide Oval Punch, 2-Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, White Gel Pen, Clear Acetate Sheet, Snail Adhesive, Sticky Strip, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sponge Daubers

Well, that's all from me.  Thank you for looking.  Now you're off to enjoy the stunning creations of the lovely Sue Madex who is another Melbourne based demonstrator.

See you next time xx