Thursday, 23 January 2025

Ink & Inspiration Blog Hop January 2025

Hello and welcome to my blog. Today I am delighted to be taking part in the Ink and Inspiration blog hop for January 2025.

This month we have a bright colour palette and/or a beautiful picture to inspire us.

I have chosen to use the Mixed Florals Bundle which is available as an Online Exclusive in the Stampin' Up® store. The flowers are not exactly the same as the one in the photo but I thought that the open line drawings would allow me to incorporate the colours from the challenge. They lend themselves to colouring flowers, don't they? Cherry Cobbler is a colour I seldom use, unless I am creating Christmas cards, but I saw an opportunity with this set!

I stamped the image onto Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper with Versamark ink and heat embossed the image using black powder. The shiny, raised lines provide a barrier which contains the colour, stopping the water spreading too far when you are watercolouring. It's a different look to the more relaxed and traditional watercolour finishes that you often see.

To colour the images I transferred some ink from my inkpad onto a block and picked it up with a Water Painter. The largest petals are coloured with Fresh Freesia and the small dainty ones are very watered down Berry Burst. The stems and leaves are Garden Green and the large flower centres are in Crushed Curry. At first I was disappointed that the Crushed Curry bled and blended with the petals, and I was going to start all over again. However after allowing it to dry, I decided that the colour mixing looked authentic and natural so I decided to stick with it.

Now for the Cherry Cobbler element! The bundle includes three adorable ladybird images. Cherry Cobbler is just right for their wings, so I've tucked in a couple peeping out from behind the flowers.

I've managed to use all the suggested colours by using Blackberry Bliss for the card base, die cut circle and sentiment. The paler colours really pop against the deep rich purple. Finally, the deconstructed Twisted Gold Thread and Purple Adhesive Backed sequins add a little shimmer and shine to the card.

I hope that you are inspired by my card today and that you will continue along the hop to see what the others have created too - click on the names below to enjoy their projects. We would love to hear from you and so if you have been inspired, please leave a comment.

Do you need any of the products used on today's cards? If you live in the UK please take a look in my online Stampin' Up! shop. You can follow the link or click on the pictures below of the products I have used today.

Stay safe and as always, happy crafting,

If you would like to order any supplies, and you live in the UK, I would love to be your demonstrator. Use the current hostess code (January 2025 code: FTGKPATS) to get some free product (it will follow in the post after the end of the month). If your order is over £150 do not use the code as you become the hostess and get the rewards. To place an order please visit my online shop HERE. The products I have used on today's project are linked from the images shown below.

All Star Video Class Bundles

The Video Class Bundles have 12 AMAZING video tutorials to inspire you each month. This month we are featuring the Marbled Elegance Suite Collection from the Stampin' Up! Online Exclusive offering.

Click HERE to purchase.

FREE with a purchase from my online store

Sale-A-Bration

Sale-A-Bration is the biggest sale of the Stampin' Up! year - it starts 7th January and ends 28th February.

Earn free products when you shop

With every £55/£110 you spend on Stampin' Up! products (before shipping and handling), you can choose a FREE product from the Sale-a-Bration brochure.

Gathering has Rewards

With any order of at least £275 (party of individual order) you get to choose an additional £27.50 worth of products from our catalogue for free!

Join Stampin'Up!

When you join Stampin' Up! as an independent demonstrator during Sale-A-Bration you can build your Starter Kit by choosing £130 of products for £99 (including shipping) PLUS you'll get to choose one of two FREE BONUS options to add to your Starter Kit.

Option 1: Your choice of TWO marker sets from our Stampin' Write Marker Assortments (Brights, Neutrals,Regals, Subtles), PLUS a beautiful stamp set exclusively designed to work with them.