Monday 22 May 2017

Special Reason for a special someone

Today I'm sharing some pretties from my Mother's Day - ladies only class in April. You know I've been loving the Special Reason stamps & coordinating Stylish Stems dies so they were top of the list to use for this class. As you know, these & pretty much all the other main elements (So Detailed dies & dotty dsp) are retiring & only available while stocks last) so you'll need to be quick if you like them.

This is the first one we made - a combination of flowers, dots, lace & soft colours. Pretty!


The flowers are coloured with a fab, new-to-me technique to create a watercolour look using solid stamped images, watercolour pencils & an aquapainter, that I saw Alisa Tilsner share.

It was one of those times that make me want to run straight to your desk to try it... so I did,  loved it & decided my class lovelies would too...and they did. I used a blender pen to blend the pencil & ink rather than an aquapainter. The blender pen made it so easy to achieve a great look with no risk of excess water.

The 3 main technique steps are:
1. Stamp the image in a light base colour - I used so saffron for the flower & pear pizzazz for the leaves.
2. Colour over part of the image with a heavy layer of watercolour pencil in a coordinating colour/s. Place the pencil where you want to have the most colour. I used calypso coral & old olive pencils.
3. Use a blender pen to blend the pencil over the image. This creates a soft watercolour look.

See Alisa's video sharing the whole technique here - thanks so much, Alisa


I  overlaid the coordinating Stylish Stems flower dies over the stamped images - adhering them only around the flower centre. I've flicked up the shape in this pic so you can see the coloured flower a bit better.


I must mention two more elements that I think makes me love this card:

- the two shaped nested frames in the Stylish Stems die set. They make a lovely combination & Special Reason stamp set includes an image that works with the dies too, as I've used it here. The dies are 40% off until sold out.

- The lacy panel using the So Detailed dies. This die is designed to fit a portrait card but I made this stretch to fit this one by cutting it in half & hiding the gap under the stitched circle shape. These dies are 30% off too.


Simple Special Reason



I was having so much fun trying different ink & pencil colour combinations that I made this card a bonus class project. I used the same method as the first card. For this one I stamped in pink pirouette ink, coloured with melon mambo watercolour pencil... & a good dash of  Wink of Stella, which you may see better in this pic.


I kept it very simple on the inside too.


I hope you've enjoyed seeing my cards & the fun watercolour pencil technique. Do try it yourself with any solid images you have & I think you'll love it too. Leave a comment to let me know if you do, or if you have any questions. Here are some final images for you to pin for later inspiration.


Until next time,
Inky wishes, Di

Supplies
To see & order any items used in today's project, just click on the items below to see them in my Online Store. You can order from me if you live anywhere in Australia. I would love to be your Demonstrator if you don't already have one.  Please allow "Demonstrator contact" in your preferences so I can thank you properly when you place your order.
Actual items I used are listed first. Alternative purchase options are listed at the bottom of the supply list.

Retiring items are available while stocks last until 31 May, 2017



Dotty Special Reason


Blender Pens
$17.00
Big Shot
$159.00

Simple Special Reason


Big Shot
$159.00

Friday 19 May 2017

JAI 360 sketch challenge - sunflower thanks


Friday means a new Just Add Ink challenge & this week Narelle has given us this fun sketch to use.

I do love a circle & of course any opportunity to use a banner, so I stuck pretty closely to the drawn elements to make this happy little card.


I used a combination of new & retiring items, that played very nicely together.

The new - Thank you sentiment from the Eastern Beauty stamp set, and the sunflower petals are from the fab-u-lous coordinating Eastern Medallions die set.
These are part of the Eastern Palace suite bundles available this month as a sweet taster of what's coming next month in the 2017-18 Annual Catalogue. See the bottom of this post for all you need to know.

The retiring - Leaves from the Stylish Stems die set (40% off), & grass die from the Basket Builder die set (50% off). I love combining elements of different sets like this, to create a different look. I've also used paper from the gorgeous Succulent Garden paper pack (40% off). Oh that gingham paper - I'd love it in every shade.

I've also used some current & carrying over supporting essentials - the banner triple punch, 1 inch circle punch, scallop circle dies from the huge Layering Circles die set, & Softly Falling embossing folder.


How to make a sunflower
Petals - Cut 2 of the the 8 sided Eastern Medallions die in crushed curry. Trim to separate & layer.
Centre - cut scallop circle using Layering Circles 1-7/8 inch die, in early espresso. Then emboss with Softly Falling embossing folder. Pop on dimensionals to adhere to petals
Leaves - Cut  2 x Stylish Stems solid leaf die in old olive & 2 x leaf skeleton die in pear pizzazz. Adhere leaves together at base. 



 Before I forget, here's the inside, with another sunflower using another Eastern Medallions die


This sketch is definitely a keeper as it can be used in so many ways. See how the JAI team used it, on the Just Add Ink blog, then try it yourself. Pin my card & the sketch for later inspiration too.

Thanks for visiting today. Read on for all you need to know about the special Eastern Palace bundles available this month only. I'll be using this for tomorrow's class too for those local lovelies coming.

Back soon with some more ideas for you to try.

Inky wishes, Di



More about Eastern Palace


During May only, you can get a sneak peek the Eastern Palace suite. There are 2 special bundles available in May only:

Starter bundle - ideal for new Stampers who don't own a Big Shot (yet). It includes all the card, ink & paper & lush stickers you need to make a ton of cards, including 3 new in-colour ink pads & a FREE pack of vanilla note cards & envelopes.

Premier Bundle - includes the whole suite of products & accessories, including the stamp & die bundle, paper, accessories, 3 new in-colour ink pads. Plus you'll get a FREE pack of our new A4 Thick Very Vanilla cardstock (hooray) & a free pack of very vanilla envelopes. That's $23.75 extra value.



Click here or on the flyer image to view & print full size
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B-vLPiDO8NjOVzBuNFc2UVc4OFU

See & order Eastern Palace Starter or Premier bundles
These bundles only available in May


Seeing this after May?
- check out the regular Eastern Beauty - Eastern Medallion bundles in my supply list below.

Want more - did you know?

You can include an Eastern Palace bundle, and any new Annual Catalogue pre-order items available only to Demonstrators this month in your starter kit, when you join Stampin' Up! this month.

You'll get to choose $235 of items for just $169, then get a great ongoing discount on everything on your wishlist.

Please e-mail me  if you'd like a flyer including all the pre-order items you can choose in your starter kit.



Exciting huh! And this is just the start of what's coming in June with the 2017-18 Annual Catalogue.


Please e-mail me to request a paper copy of the 2017-18 Annual Catalogue. I'd love to be your Demonstrator if you're in Australia and don't already have one looking after you.  If you do have a Demonstrator, please contact them for a copy.


Supplies - Sunflower thank you card
To see & order any items used in today's project, just click on the items below to see them in my Online Store. You can order from me if you live anywhere in Australia. I would love to be your Demonstrator if you don't already have one.  Please allow "Demonstrator contact" in your preferences so I can thank you properly when you place your order.
Actual items I used are listed first. Alternative purchase options are listed at the bottom of the supply list.


New items available from 1 June
Eastern Beauty stamp set + Eastern Medallions dies bundle (10% discount)
Eastern Beauty stamp set
Eastern Medallions dies

Retiring items available until 31 May, unless sold out before. Coordinating products to those used are listed at end of recipe.



Big Shot
$159.00