Category Archives: Colour Inkspiration

COLOUR INKSPIRATION CHALLENGE #CI193 FEATURING BRANCHING OUT

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Oh, I loved colour challenge #CI196 – Shy Shamrock, Summer Splash, Gray Granite and Early Espresso. I knew I wanted to use a lot of white space with those intense In Colours and Branching Out provided just the image I needed.

  • Stamps: Branching Out, Layers of Beauty
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Shy Shamrock, Summer Splash, Gray Granite, Early Espresso
  • Accessories: Stamp Cut & Emboss Machine, Branching Out dies, White 1/4″ ribbon, Woven Textures DSP, Blending Brush, Stampin’ Blends, Stampin’ Write Marker, Stampin’ Dimensionals

Shy Shamrock and Summer Splash are next door neighbors, but I assure you they’re both here. I used Shamrock for the greenery, then added a gentle wash of Summer Splash behind it with the Blending Brush. The layer under the Woven Textures DSP is also Summer Splash. And the Stampin’ Write Marker splatters are Shy Shamrock. (I may have to stock up on markers just so I can make those fine splatters!)

The white ribbon was transformed to Gray Granite ribbon with the magic of Stampin’ Blends. That ribbon is now on the Last Chance list (sigh) so you might want to stock up while you can.

I enjoy the Colour INKspiration challenges so much, and the team is the nicest group of crafters you could ask for. Take a look at their page – maybe you’d like to give this challenge a try! Here’s the inspiration photo for CI#196

And as always, I’m grateful for your support at my Online Store.

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COLOUR INKSPIRATION #193: SPOOKY HALLOWEEN

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Colour challenges are a lot of fun, but I often end up scratching my head as I begin.My starting point is generally a stamp set, not a colour set, so it throws me off a bit. CI #193 isn’t a traditional set of Halloween colours, but after a few false starts, I got them to work.

  • Stamps: Spooky Halloween
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Cloud Cover, Balmy Blue, Highland Heather, Memento Black
  • Accessories: Stamp Cut & Emboss Machine, Spooky Halloween dies, Stylish Shapes dies, Perennial Lavender DSP, Kintsugi Inspirations DSP, Cloud Cover Faux Linen Ribbon, Purple Fine Shimmer Gems, Blending Brush, Stampin’ Blends, dauber, Wink of Stella, Stampin’ Dimensionals

There are a few adaptations on this card – I stamped on the Perennial Lavender DSP with Memento Black and Highland Heather for the background, and I stamped the sentiment on the Kintsugi Inspirations DSP. I also cut up the Cloud Cover Faux Linen Ribbon because I like the way it gets skinny and stringy.

It’s a small detail, but I cut off the cat’s paw and arranged it on top of the broom because the original looked unnatural. And there’s Stella on all of the Memento Black elements, because every Halloween card needs a little sparkle!

Here’s the INKpiration photo – how do you think I did? I had fun, and in my book, that’s the most important thing.

Have you tried a Colour Challenge? You can find all the details at the Colour INKspiration Facebook page.

(Note: Yes, I know in the USA we spell it color, but this is a South Pacific group and they spell it colour. For this post, so do I.)

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PERFECTLY PEARS FOR COLOUR INKSPIRATION 190

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Last week I slipped a Colour INKspiration challenge under the wire. The challenge is based in the South Pacific, and I’m usually pretty good with time zone math, but not this time. Maybe it had something to do with the colour palette: Basic Beige, Crumb Cake and Cajun Craze. Definitely not a Maui Stamper combo!

  • Stamps: Perfectly Pears
  • Color Palette: Very Vanilla, Basic Beige, Crumb Cake, Cajun Craze
  • Accessories: Stamp Cut & Emboss Machine, Perfectly Pears dies, Birch Wood 3D Embossing Folder, daubers, Linen Thread, Stampin’ Dimensionals

Honestly, I think this card would have been happier with more Very Vanilla and less Basic Beige and Crumb Cake. But I considered these colours a real challenge, and I was pleased with myself to have come up with a project that met the challenge.

I used daubers on the leaves, the tiny flowers, the grid, and directly on the pear stamps. Daubers allow subtle shading on card stock, and when applied to a stamp they tend to soften the colour. I love the range of colour I can get with daubers on the pear.

Take a look over on the Colour INKspiration page. It’s a lovely group of crafters, and they almost always allow two weeks to create an entry. Give it a go!

And don’t wait to add Perfectly Pairs to your shopping cart. It’s currently available in the Online Store.

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COLOUR CHALLENGES: COLOUR INKSPIRATION #189

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My friends at Colour INKspirations know how to set up a proper challenge! This combination was a tough one, as Melon Mambo generally doesn’t get much my attention. But by toning it down using daubers, I came up with a project that met the challenge!

  • Stamps: Impressions Abloom, Elements of Text, Perfectly Pears, Inspiring Imperfections
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Darling Duckling, Melon Mambo, Cloud Cover, Secret Sea
  • Accessories: Stamp Cut & Emboss Machine, Impressions Abloom dies, Perennial Postage dies, Gallery Blooms dies, Exposed Brick 3D Embossing Folder, Kintsugi Inspirations DSP, Dauber, White Bakers Twine, Wink of Stella, Fine Tip Glue pen, Stampin’ Dimensionals

Here’s the inspiration photo. I knew right away I was going to have to be “INKspired” to work in that Melon Mambo! And while I adore Secret Sea, it’s a very bold color, so I used it sparingly as an accent.

Looking for elements for this card, I pulled out some treasures that are still available but have been sidelined in favor of newer releases. That 3D Exposed Brick EF is one of my absolute GO-TO elements. White Bakers twine is too, although it will never replace my beloved Linen Twine.

I used our Fine Tip Glue pen to add shine to the centers of those flowers. They have a little Cloud Cover daubed in the center to soften the white-white-white and tie in with the background DSP. My FTGP has lost its Fine Tip, so I unscrew the cap and use my trusty bamboo skewer to paint the glue over the circle. The skewer lets me control the amount I apply but doesn’t leave brush strokes or messy cleanup.

Cloud Cover ink has been a bit of a heartbreak, as it turns out the formula reacts with the foam in our ink pads, causing instability. The solution is to use one of our un-inked spots and Cloud Cover Ink Refill. It takes a bit longer to ink larger stamps, but I think it’s worth the effort!

There’s still a little time to join the challenge. It closes at 7pm Monday AEST (remember, for the US they are a day ahead). I’d love to see what you do with Melon Mambo!

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Discover Colour Inkspiration #188: Crafting with Vibrant Colors

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Oh, it has been a long time since I’ve done a challenge! We have enjoyed a LOT of travel in the first half of 2025. It’s been WONDERFUL, but it’s meant a lot of time away from crafting. It’s great to be home, to sit with all my crafty things and to be inspired!

This is ColourInkspiration #188. The challenge colours are Strawberry Slush, Timid Tiger, Coastal Cabana, and Gray Granite. This is a lively bunch of colours if I do say so myself!

  • Stamps: Pattern of Friendship
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Strawberry Slush, Timid Tiger, Coastal Cabana, Gray Granite
  • Accessories: Stamp Cut & Emboss Machine, Beautiful Motif dies, Daubers, retired flat dots, Stampin’ Dimensionals

Here’s the inspiration photo:

This image has lots going on but it’s filled with things I love: the sea, beautiful landscape, flowers, and lots of books! I wouldn’t mind spending a little time in that cove.

I confess: the splatters are from an ancient Stampin’ Up! tool. I *think* it was called the Color Spritzer, and it works by funneling a blast of air past the tip of a Stampin’ Write marker. I love how fine a splatter it creates – more a spritz, if in fact that was the name.

I’m not usually a super-bright color-combo crafter, so this was a bit of a stretch for me. I cut a variety of pieces with the Beautiful Motif dies and played with them until I liked them. I chopped quite a few of them into smaller pieces, allowing me to blend the colours more. And I used our daubers to add a little extra ink to the die cuts for dimension.

Pattern of Friendship is an Online Exclusive bundle. I bought it for the die – oh, just you wait, there are projects coming – but the stamps are all sentiments. I’ve decided I liked them better once they were in my hands. Does that ever happen to you, or is it just me?

Colour Inkspirations is a really fun challenge group. There’s plenty of time to create for each one, assuming you’re not galavanting around the globe. Plus it’s the nicest group of crafters you’ll find anywhere. Check them out, and give it a try!

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TEXTURED NOTES:COLOUR INKSPIRATION #181

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I am so overdue for a Colour INKspiration challenge! My life has been really full since the holidays, but when I saw this Colour combo I told myself I HAD to make time for it.

  • Stamps: Textured Notes
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Azure Afternoon, Pool Party, Coastal Cabana, Summer Splash
  • Accessories: Stamp Cut & Emboss Machine, Textured Notes dies, Stampin’ Write markers, Party Dots, Pack Your Bags Twine, Stampin’ Dimensionals

I’ve tried a lot of methods to get those tiny flecks. The one that works consistently for me is to use a Stampin’ Write marker and flick the brush tip against the cap. That gives me uniformly small, evenly dispersed flecks and that’s what I want.

The Textured Notes dies are an absolute must for your crafty stash!! They will be available on Wednesday March 5th as part of the new Online Exclusive release. Don’t miss it! You NEED these dies. Best way to find them is to long into the Online Store and click on What’s New.

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SPOTLIGHT ON NATURE: CI#172

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I haven’t joined the Colour Inkspirations challenges for ages, but this month I made a point of writing down the colours and creating with them. I wouldn’t have chosen the combination of Peach Pie, Garden Green and Pebble Path on my own, so it was a proper challenge.

(Please note that Colour Inkspirations is based in the South Pacific and uses an extra vowel, and I have done the same in today’s post.)

  • Stamps: Spotlight on Nature, Country Flowers
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Peach Pie, Garden Green, Pebble Path
  • Accessories: Stamp Cut and Emboss Machine, Spotlight on Nature dies, Changing Leaves dies, Birch Wood 3D Embossing Folder, Pebble Path Jute Trim, Stamp and Write markers, Blender Pen, 24-26 In Color Shimmer Gems, dauber, Stampin’ Dimensionals

I fussy cut the floral image since the dies in the Spotlight on Nature bundle are circular. I inked the stamp with Stampin’ Write markers and used a Blender Pen to add color to the stamped image. The Blender Pen allows a much softer touch than Stampin’ Blends, and I didn’t want to cover the detail on the stamped image.

I used a dauber to add a little extra Pebble Path to the new Birch Wood 3D embossing folder. It’s not perfect, it’s hand-made!

Have you played along with a challenge lately? I’d love to know which challenges you enjoy.

And if you need your own Spotlight on Nature bundle, shop the Online Store.

It’s finally LIVE! Check out the September – December mini catalog. As you know, new catalogs sometimes have supply and demand imbalances, so shop the Online Store soon.

Are you a scrapbooker? Stampin’ Up! has just released a scrapbooking companion to the September – December mini catalog. This is a digital-only resource – see it HERE.

Be sure to check out the Online Exclusives available ONLY in the Online Store! Many of my favorite bundles are there.

The September Paper Pumpkin Kit is Autumn Abundance. It includes everything you need for 9 cards and envelopes, and features copper foil details and a watercolored ephemera pack. Every Celebration, an exclusive set of dies coordinates with all 3 third quarter Paper Pumpkin offerings. Subscribe HERE by September 10th.

Paper Pumpkin subscriptions deliver ready-to-go projects to your doorstep every month, but you have ultimate control to skip or cancel 😱 if you decide it’s not for you. Stampin’ Up! also features an exclusive collection of kits that don’t require a subscription. Visit the Online Store to see what’s available.

The 24-25 Annual Catalog is filled with inspiration. New stamps, dies, tools, and gorgeous new In Colors are waiting for you!! Shop HERE.

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The World Needs More of You

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I guess you’re either a cat person or you’re not – and I am a cat person. When I saw Clever Cats in the mini catalog (available TODAY!) I put it at the top of my list. The set has a Halloween theme, but I had other plans:

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Clever Cats Cat-in-a-box
  • Stamps: Clever Cats, Free as a Bird
  • Color Palette: Basic Black, Basic White, Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake
  • Accessories: Stamparatus, Stampin’ Blends, Pattern Party DSP (Host), Stampin Dimensionals, shreddies
Maui Stamper Stampin Up Clever Cats Cat-in-a-box

This captures cats so well – in the box, no matter what. The shreddies were a bit of a wild inspiration as I looked at the image of the cat and the box, and as luck would have it, I had the right color on hand. Some things are meant to be.

The Stamparatus is an enormous help in getting a clear, even impression from this bold image. I used a number of colors, but Memento Black was clearly the winner in my mind. It took a 3 impressions for me to be satisfied with Memento Black, but only 2 with Stampin’ Up! Classic Ink. But regardless of the number, the Stamparatus creates a perfect image – and re-image – every time!

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Clever Cats Cat-in-a-box

I put a 1/4″ strip of DSP across the bottom of the panel on the inside of the card, and I added a sentiment from the now-retired Ridiculously Awesome stamp set. I created this card with the colours of Colour INKspiration #104 in mind.

The Mini Catalog is now live in the Online Store, and Clever Cats can be yours with a couple of clicks. We’re celebrating Sale-a-bration V.2 in August and September, so you’ll choose free gifts with your $50 or $100 purchase. Shop HERE.

Vibrant Vases: Colour INKspiration #60

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I am just under the wire for the Colour INKspiration #60 challenge! It often catches me because the deadlines are in Australian Eastern Standard Time Zone, and that means it’s a day ahead because of the International Dateline. I should know better – my daughter lives north of Sydney – but even when I do the math correctly I’m often under the wire. But here’s my contribution:

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Vibrant Vases CI#60

This is the inspiration image for CI#60. I’ll tell you, these colours are a bit of a challenge to put together! Terracotta Tile and Petal Pink are made for one another, but those other two, well, it was a stretch. This project sat on my craft desk for a few days in pieces.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Vibrant Vases CI#60

When I got the idea for the classic Blue-And-White for the vases, things started to come together. I used both Stampin’ Write markers and the Aqua Painter to get shading on the blooms, and used the Aqua Painter for the vases. I intended for it to have that slightly uneven, outside-the-lines look that old china pottery has.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Vibrant Vases CI#60

If you’ve never tried a Colour Inkspiration challenge, I highly recommend it! You’ll love the projects that have been submitted for CI#60.

And if you’d like to do a little shopping, click HERE.

Flourishing Phrases and Colour Inkspiration 58

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When I saw the colour palette for CI58 I thought OH YEAH. I love Crumb Cake with anything, and Blushing Bride and Metallic Gold seemed like the perfect match.

Tell my brain that!

I don’t know why I struggled, except for the sad reality that I’ve been away from my craft desk a lot recently and my mojo is rusty. (I think that would be a great title for a Country and Western song. Just sayin’).

Here’s what finally came together:

The gold Faceted Gem would have been better, but I didn’t have one in my stash (gasp). The dot on the i in friend is a metallic pearl because I lost both the white and the gold die cut dots. Like I said, I think my mojo is rusty. And I’ll quote from Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day : “Some days are like that. Even in Australia.”

(OH EM GEE. I just read the Wikipedia entry for this book and apparently Judith Viorst altered the text for Australia and New Zealand. In all of the other editions, Alexander wants to move to Australia because it just has to be better there. But in the Aussie and Kiwi versions he wants to move to Timbuktu. My sense of the world has been turned upside down. We have always said “Some days are like that. Even in Australia.” and I have always wondered if that didn’t have something to do with my eldest actually moving there! This is going to take some adjustment.)

Fortunately, there’s some news in the Stampin’ Up! world that will straighten out the globe and shine your mojo. For every $50 US you spend in July, you’ll get a $5 voucher towards any purchase in August. If you’re a US shopper, visit my Online Store to get started.