Time for something bright and cheerful

It's been raining rather a lot the last few days and it's been quite dreary.    Thank goodness the sun has now managed to surface, must admit I missed it.

I was lucky enough to have a short play date this afternoon with the amazingly talented Ali.    Check out her blog here.  It's been ages since we have created together and although I struggled for inspiration just the act of actively putting aside time to say I was going to make something meant I managed to indeed do so.

I wanted to create a card for this weeks challenge over at Just Add Ink which was this sketch challenge.

I was fishing through my card stock for inspiration and decided that I wanted to use my brights collection to help balance the weather and bring some sunshine back.    By the time I had finished the card it was indeed sunny!

Hope you like the finished result.


TTFN..........   Julz

Recipe:  Card stock:  Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo
Ink:  Tangerine tango, Versamark
Stamps:  Scribble jumbo wheel, Occasional Quotes (level 3 hostess gift)
Ribbon:  Whisper White 5/8" grosgrain ribbon
Other:  Square Lattice & Perfect Polka Dots embossing folders, Top Note big shot die

A box for a friend

I am currently participating in an awesome pay it forward challenge that came to me via a facebook post.   Essentially it's designed to post on your profile and you promise to send a handmade gift to the first five people who comment, then they repost and spread the love.

So I have started to make my gifts and decided that I would link my first gift in with the Just Add Ink challenge this week which is to just add monochrome.

I designed these five wee cards using the in colour series and repeated the exact same design five times, teaming them with a box to hold them all, and envelopes hand made to match.  I wanted to try out the faux metal technique I have seen on a few blogs and so made the box in basic grey and then used silver embossing powder to make silvery metallic butterflies using the big shot and the butterfly embosslit.     The little sparkle was achieved using a bit of dazzling diamonds sprinkled on top of the embossing powder.  I really love the way they have turned out.     For the cards themselves I sponged whisper white cardstock and ran it through the big shot with the lattice embossing folder then embellished with butterflies and a sentiment from Teeny Tiny Sentiments in embossed white.   The large butterly was finished with the basic pearl jewels and the edges of the cards were punched with the eyelet border to create a pretty edge.

Box  and contents

Lid

Close up of metallic butterfly

All five cards fanned

This set will be winging it's way off to it's intended recipient soon, quite possibly along with some hand made truffles.

My challenge to my blog readers is a small twist on the original idea.  Handmake something special and gift to someone who doesn't even expect it.   Perhaps it's your local bank manager who goes out of their way to help, the elderly next door neighbour or just pop into your local hospice with some wee treats.   Spreading love isn't just for xmas, so spread some love of your own soon.   It may well be just what the recipient needs in their life just now.


Julz 

PS - which of the following individual card colours is your favourite??   I just can't choose!

Poppy parade

Peach parfait

Concord crush

Blushing bride

Pear Pizzazz

Materials used

Card stock:  Basic grey, blushing bride, concord crush, pear pizzazz, poppy parade, peach parfait, whisper white
Inks:  Blushing bride, concord crush, pear pizzazz, poppy parade, peach parfait
Other:   Whisper white grosgrain ribbon 5/8",  basic pear and basic rhinestones, butterfly embosslits, lots of tags sizzlits, eyelet border punch, lattice embossing folder, white and silver embossing powders

Im baaaaack

After a fantastic time away from Xmas to after New Years which we spent camping I came home minus my mojo.   Despite my best intentions to stamp while away and having lugged ALL my gear with me I just didn't get around to it.   I've been searching for said mojo ever since we returned home until today when I decided that rather than try and find it I would force myself to just start making and see what happened.

Using this weeks colour challenge over at Just Add Ink and with a fish around in my box of scraps I found a few bits and pieces that helped get me on my way.   Before Xmas I was making a fair few of these gift card holders and must have cut one out of Riding Hood Red.   It was sitting folded in my box so that's where I began.  I didn't have any elegant eggplant so used concord crush instead, needs must and all that.

Hope you all like the final result.

Gift card holder front

Gift card holder inside

Materials:
Card stock:  Riding Hood Red, Concord Crush, Pear Pizzaz & So Saffron
DSP:  So Saffron, Pear Pizzaz (hostess 6x6)
Inks: Riding Hood Read, Concord Crush, Pear Pizzaz, So Saffron, Versamark
Stamp set:  Cottage Garden
Other:  White embossing powder, Eyelet border punch, Square Lattice embossing folder, Linen thread




I was also very chuffed to receive an email from my awesome upline Paula the other day with a stylish blogger award.  Im supposed to tell you eight things about myself and pass it on but will leave that for my next post!!

Happy stamping

Julz