Definitely gumboot weather here...

Gosh we've had over 100mm of rain in 2 days in Hamilton, today is a 4 seasons in one day kind-of-day; sun, showers, rain, hailstones and it would be really lovely to see flowers coming after April's showers but for those of us that live down under we are heading into winter and our gumboots. 

I wanted to play along with Allsorts latest challenge "April Showers bring May Flowers" and decided this sounded like it was time to dust off my Flowering Rain Boots set from SU! One of the cool things about this set is that everything has a co-ordinating die and even though it's photopolymer it is one of the new types of stamps that SU! create and they are distINKtive and when they stamp the ink is graduated. So it is very easy to create a realistic image with light and dark shades. It was easy to stamp and die cut it all out and then I used my scalpel to make slits at the top of the boot for the tulip stems to fit. But I still at this stage had no real idea  on how to make a card with my stamped and die-cut image image; so I took all the guess work out of how to KReate the card by combining with a fab sketch from Freshly Made Sketches and it all come together in less than 30 minutes!

Supply List (all Stampin' Up! unless indicated differently):

Stamps: Flowering Rain Boots

Ink: Sahara Sand, Granny Apple Green, Mango Melody, Balmy Blue
Paper: Whisper White (yes it really is), Mango Melody, Balmy Blue, Pleased as Punch DSP

Dies: Flowering Rain Boots, Slim Stripes - 1/2" used (PFS), A2 Layers (WF), A2 Additional Layers (WF)

Other: Medium foam squares (SP), Copic marker Y38

Challenges: Allsorts #727, FMS #585 

Well that was another example of how 2 challenges are better than one and do check out all the fab cards on display at both sites. Thanks for popping in.

EDITED 16/5/23: My card was noticed by Jacquie from the FMS DT and I'm a princess! How exciting is that!!!  "Jacquie’s Choice: The rainy stripes are a perfect background for Karen’s sweet tulip filled boots! Congratulations!"

✿ Karen ✿

Monochromatic Unicorn

Is this even possible?? I'll let you be the judge of that after seeing my wee one. I wanted to play along with Addicted to CAS's latest challenge which is "monochrome". I appreciate a Challenge which actually makes you think outside the box and if nothing else do check out the DT's work and the other entrants as there's some really cool cards/ideas for future cards on display.

I've used 5 blends of pale pink Copics to make my stripes (darkest  >> lightest):

• R01/00 
• R12/11
• R21/20
• R32/30
• R43/22

Supply List:

Stamps and Dies: A Little Sparkle (LF), My Rainbow (LF)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo black, Versafine Nocturne Clair, Pink Lemonade (C9)

Paper: Neenah Solar White #110, Xpress IT blending 

Other: Quickie glue pen (Sakura), Prisma glitter (LF), 1mm square foam (SP)
Challenges: Addicted to CAS #237

Well I think a monochromatic pink rainbow is still very pretty and I hope I have bought a little sparkle into your day. Thanks for visiting.
✿ Karen ✿

Floral Bliss

Good morning all, its still pouring down with rain in Hamilton and if I didn't need to go out to finish of Mother's Day present etc I'd think yah I can play all day in my craft room. My poor country, parts of it are under emergency management, we no longer are land of the long white cloud but land of the torrential weather bomb.

But back to the crafting I was trying to play along with the gorgeous inspiration board from the latest Just Add Ink challenge and also combine it with The Flower Challenge "soft pastels", theoretically a match made in heaven as JAI is soft and dreamy Also it's interesting that JAI's picture has inspired more lilac cards than pink ones, I saw pink as the predominant colour but thought I would do a SOFT wash of pink and lilac to cover all bases.

Well I now know no matter how much water you try and tone down Nuvo's Cherry Bomb shimmer powder it's never becoming a soft pink!  I really like the concept of what I was trying to do for the challenges and going to share my card but trying to tone down the Cherry Bomb made it a bit of a mess. it's still pretty and the good thing was I had fun making it.

Supply List:

Stamps: Floral Bliss (SSS), Stripe-tastic Edge (YNS), Inky Bouquet (PFS and it's matching die)

Ink: Versafine Clair Nocturne, Versamark, Dragonfruit (C9)

Paper: Distress Watercolor (RNG), Black, Neenah #110

Nuvo Shimmer Powders: Cherry Bomb and Lilac Waterfall

Other: Twilight Ombre glitter drops (PFS), white EP

So back to the challenge and hopefully a more pastel look, this time I thought I would watercolor in with a paint brush so I could control the intensity of the colour. So I got out my Gansai Tambi Pearl paints (pink, lemon yellow, may green, white gold)  and my Zig Pearlescent watercolours (black pearl) to play with. Well I've managed to mute it down but I like the brighter one best but am using this card for the challenges as much softer. 

Supply List:

Stamps: Floral Bliss (SSS),  Inky Bouquet (PFS and it's matching die)

Ink: Versafine Clair Nocturne, Versamark, 

Paper: Distress Watercolor (RNG), Black, Neenah #110

Other: Magic Potion Ombre glitter drops (PFS), white EP, Gansai Tambi Pearl paints, Zig Pearlescent watercolour paints, Master Layouts 1 die set (GKD)

Challenges: JAI #651 , TFC #80

I may have another go at the Flower Challenge, not that I am very good with pastels as it's a monthly challenge but unfortunately Just add Ink's closes today so I'll finish with both are "better than horrible" and I'd have no problem using them to give to somebody.

✿ Karen ✿