Inspiring Inkin' Challenge #6 - Christmas in July

Last weekend a group of our Stampin' Up team met at Elaine's house for a day of SU chatting, lots of eating and some make n' takes. Amanda, our team leader, joined us and I made her choose the next challenge on our challenge blog. She came up with Christmas in July, with an added twist of not using red or green. I tend to make 2 different kinds of Christmas cards, either traditional red and green with Santas on or blue and white with snowflakes, so I went with the latter.




I used the Bold Snowflakes wheel with Versamark mark in on Whisper White cardstock and clear embossed it. Using my sponge daubers I randomly dabbed Orchid Opulence and Bashful Blue ink all over to make the snowflakes pop! I added this to a Orchid Opulence mat and onto a Bashful Blue base. The tree is from Season of Joy and is white embossed onto Orchid Opulence cardstock, cut out, mounted onto Bashful Blue and cut out again.
The ribbon in the middle is actually 2 pieces - Whisper White 1/4" grograin and Bashful Blue 1" double stitched grograin (believe it or not this is the first time I've ever used this Bashful Blue ribbon!) The sentiment from Best Yet (Level 1 hostess set) fits perfectly into this piece of the silver hodgepodge hardware kit.

Recipe:

Stamps: Best Yet, Season of Joy, Bold Snowflakes jumbo wheel

Papers: Bashful Blue, Orchid Opulence, Whisper White

Inks: Bashful Blue, Orchid Opulence, Versamark

Accessories: Clear and white embossing powders, Silver hodgepodge hardware kit, Bashful Blue 1" double stitched gorsgrain ribbon, 1/4" Whisper White grograin ribbon

A Passion For Papertrey Challenge

This fortnight's challenge on A Passion for Papertrey is to use one of Lauren's templates. I just love these and have 5 of these now, including the Pack A Picnic and All Boxed Up which I used for end of year presents for my 3 TAs, partner teacher and the teacher who covers my french release (I have been teaching French all year to Y4-6 as PPA cover for the other teachers and have to be released all day for it).

This is the picnic basket and card set in the pink. I did each of the 5 sets in different colours, all using the same patterned paper sets from Papermania (I actually didn't realise I owned 5 of the packs until I started sorting out what papers to use).

These are all 5 picnic baskets. I added some tissue paper in matching colours inside too. I filled them with some smellies from The Sanctuary Spa and 3 mini bottles fitted in perfectly. Each basket took about 30 minutes to make as I don't print onto cardstock because my printer is knackered and splodges ink everywhere so I printed one template at work and use it to draw round on the cardstock I want.

And these are the card sets all together. I extended Lauren's templates so that our envelopes would fit and the cover measures 7 x 11. The inside envelopes measure 6 1/2" across.

This is the inside. Each set had 5 cards, 5 envelopes and a pen to which I added a piece of patterned paper on the inside barrel.


These were the cards - very simple sketches as I was making so many of them. All of them loved the presents and I have to say so did I.
Recipe:

Stamps: Sincere Salutations, Polka Dot Punches, Frames With A Flourish, baroque Border wheel

Papers: DP - Papermania, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Elegant Eggplant, Pale Plum, Pacific Point, Bashful Blue, Creamy Caramel, Close To Cocoa, Old Olive, Always Artichoke, Whisper White

Inks: Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Elegant Eggplant, Pale Plum, Pacific Point, Bashful Blue, Creamy Caramel, Close To Cocoa, Old Olive, Always Artichoke

Accessories: Brads in various colours, 5 Petal punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Elegant Eggplant, Always Artichoke, Bashful Blue 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, brown and pink grosgrain ribbon (Non SU)

Birthday presents

It was my birthday on Wednesday (don't ask how old coz I won't tell, but it wasn't a special one that's for sure!) and this is what my TAs and partner teacher at work bought me. Don't drool too much!



There are 10 different boxes of chocolates inside and I haven't opened it yet!


From my boyfriend I got more Thorntons chocolates, dvds and a lovely pink Bind It All with 2 packs of wires and 2 packs of covers, despite the fact that he said it was the most boring present he has ever bought me! But it was what I wanted, not sure why I wanted one, but I did! Now I just have to work out what I'm going to do with it!


We went to see the new Harry Potter film and I loved it. If you enjoy HP films and books you've got to go and see it.

Passion For Papertrey Challenge #9

I'm cutting it very fine this fortnight with my card for the Passion for Papertrey Challenge #9 - Button It! I very rarely use buttons on cards but I'm trying to get into them more and more, so this was an ideal opportunity. I was hoping that my PTI order would arrive in time for it as I've bought 2 bags of buttons, but alas no box was delivered yesterday.


I used my anniversary set for the cupcakes and added some cute lemon buttons instead of cherries. Red buttons just didn't look right with the bright colours I used, but I do like the lemon better.



Recipe:


Stamps: Everyday Classics (Anniversary set 2009) from PTI


Papers: Pink Passion, Orchid Opulence and Whisper White from SU


Inks: Pink Passion and Orchid Opulence from SU


Accessories: Lemon buttons from Papermania (I think - just in a box of buttons, but most came from PM).

Inspiring Inkin' Challenge #5 - Threesome

Can you believe we're on Challenge #5 already over on Inspiring Inkin' Challenges? This fortnight's challenge is called Threesome. The idea is that whatever you use must come in threes, so 3 stamps, 3 colours, 3 images, 3 pieces of ribbon etc etc.


Here's my card...I used 3 stamps - the sentiment and 2 flowers, 3 colours, 3 layers on each of the 3 flowers, 3 brads and 3 layers on top of the card base.



So why not join in our challenge and leave a link in the comments box for us to check out your card.





Recipe:
Stamps: Occasional Greetings, Petal Pizzazz


Papers: Whisper White, Elegant Eggplant, Rose Red and So Saffron


Inks: Elegant Eggplant, Rose Red and So Saffron


Accessories: Pretties Kit for the clear gem brads