Hello & welcome to this week's Just Add Ink Challenges Design Team share. This week is a colour challenge of pretty, soft pastels - Bubble Bath, Fresh Freesia and Highland Heather. It's a little bittersweet though, as it's also my last project with the ...
‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 

Click here to read this mailing online.

Your email updates, powered by FeedBlitz

 
Here is a sample subscription for you. Click here to start your FREE subscription


"colour me happy" - 5 new articles

  1. JAI 770 colour challenge - Layers of Beauty
  2. JAI 768 sketch challenge - Floral Impressions thank you
  3. JAI 766 Just Add a One Layer Card - Cheers and Sips colour blocking
  4. JAI764 Choose Two challenge - Wildflower birthday paper-thanks
  5. JAI 762 inspiration challenge - leafy warm wishes
  6. More Recent Articles

JAI 770 colour challenge - Layers of Beauty

Handmade card using Layers of Beauty stamps set and bundle. Made by Diane Barnes - Independent Demonstrator in Sydney Australia - colourmehappy -- card challenges - stampinupcards

Hello & welcome to this week's Just Add Ink Challenges Design Team share. This week is a colour challenge of pretty, soft pastels - Bubble Bath, Fresh Freesia and Highland Heather. It's a little bittersweet though, as it's also my last project with the team after just over ten years creating for JAI. Time flies!

I'm so grateful to have been part of this wonderful challenge team. Many thanks to all the JAI team admins who do a huge amount of work to bring the challenges to you, and to all past and present teamies for their friendship, encouragement, and fabulous creations. Thankfully I'll still be able to play along with challenges as I can.

But back to my card. I've used the Layers of Beauty stamp set to create a pretty, floral card for a friend who's going through a really tough time. Here's how it turned out.
 
Handmade card using Layers of Beauty stamps set and bundle. Made by Diane Barnes - Independent Demonstrator in Sydney Australia - colourmehappy -- card challenges - stampinupcards

I started by stamping the large floral image from Layers of Beauty in Highland Heather ink on white card to create some custom patterned paper. I love being able to use images in different ways. I coloured the background with light and dark Bubble Bath Stampin' Blends markers, then added touches of Fresh Freesia Stampin' Blends marker to the rose images.

I stamped another image and fussy cut the two largest roses, repeated the colour marker touches, then mounted them onto two die cut circles (Stylish Shapes and Spotlight on Nature die sets) stamped with a sentiment from Unbounded Love (discounted on Last Chance list). Ribbon and pearls finish off the look.

Inside I partially stamped an image onto some white card and mounted it onto the Highland Heather base.
 
Handmade card using Layers of Beauty stamps set and bundle. Made by Diane Barnes - Independent Demonstrator in Sydney Australia - colourmehappy -- card challenges - stampinupcards

This was a trickier colour combo to use and photograph than I thought it might be, but I think it works here. So that's how I used the pretty colours for the challenge. I hope it gives you some ideas to try and that you share them too. Head to the Just Add Ink blog to see lots more inspiration for these colours and do try the challenge yourself.
 
You'll find a full supply list for all available items here in my Stampin' Up! store.

Until next time, happy stamping.
Diane
 
There are so many ways to use the Layers of Beauty stamps, dies and stencils (all available separately or as a discounted bundle. See all my cards using Layers of Beauty here. 
 
2025-2026 ANNUAL CATALOGUE
6 May 2025 - 30 April 2026
Purchase $35 AUD or more (ex s&h) and 10% is credited as Stampin' Rewards.
Spend them in your next order or save them up.
Opt in now in my store to join the program - and choose me as your Preferred Demonstrator too if haven't already. Find out more about Stampin' Rewards here
Great deals up to 60% on retiring products - last update 1 August 2025
New items added every two months - Feb, Apr, June, Aug, Oct, & Dec
Only available until sold out

Stampin Up Last Chance List - Shop with Diane Barnes - Independent Demonstrator in Australia
__________

SHOP ONLINE EXCLUSIVES


Latest Online Exclusives Release - September
You'll find lots more products in our store than what's in our printed catalogues?
Shop online exclusives and releases in store now - available while supplies last.
New Releases - January, March, May, July, September, November
__________


Quick and easy all inclusive projects you'll love to make
New kits released every month.
Available while supplies last

   
 

JAI 768 sketch challenge - Floral Impressions thank you

quick and easy card using Stampin Up Floral Impressions paper and Impressions Abloom stamp and die bundle. Made by Diane Barnes - colourmehappy - quick and easy cards - stampin up cards - card challenges

Hello & welcome to this week's Just Add Ink Challenges Design Team shareThis week is a sketch challenge - always a fave for me. I'm in a pretty paper phase so I chose to use some prints from the new to me Floral Impressions pack to create a thank you card. Here's how it turned out.
 
quick and easy card using Stampin Up Floral Impressions paper and Impressions Abloom stamp and die bundle. Made by Diane Barnes - colourmehappy - quick and easy cards - stampin up cards - card challenges

I started by creating the horizontal panel elements from the sketch using some simple prints, matting white card behind the small floral and leaf print and popping it up on Dimensionals.

Then I fussy cut some sunflowers, leaves and other small blossoms, and created a cluster together with the banner (Stylish Shapes dies) and sentiment from Impressions Abloom stamp and die bundle stamped in Pecan Pie ink. This bundle is also part of the same Floral Impressions suite.

quick and easy card using Stampin Up Floral Impressions paper and Impressions Abloom stamp and die bundle. Made by Diane Barnes - colourmehappy - quick and easy cards - stampin up cards - card challenges

Some light and dark green gems complete the front.

quick and easy card using Stampin Up Floral Impressions paper and Impressions Abloom stamp and die bundle. Made by Diane Barnes - colourmehappy - quick and easy cards - stampin up cards - card challenges
 
 Some more paper strips inside reflect the front too.
 
quick and easy card using Stampin Up Floral Impressions paper and Impressions Abloom stamp and die bundle. Made by Diane Barnes - colourmehappy - quick and easy cards - stampin up cards - card challenges

Overall a quick and easy design you could make lots of, except for me being a very slow fussy cutter. Take a peek at all the other pretty papers in the Floral Impressions pack that you could use. A lovely mix of larger florals and small supporting prints on the back. 

quick and easy card using Stampin Up Floral Impressions paper and Impressions Abloom stamp and die bundle. Made by Diane Barnes - colourmehappy - quick and easy cards - stampin up cards - card challenges
Take a look at the whole coordinated Floral Impressions suite in my store.
quick and easy card using Stampin Up Floral Impressions paper and Impressions Abloom stamp and die bundle. Made by Diane Barnes - colourmehappy - quick and easy cards - stampin up cards - card challenges

So that's my take on the Just Add Ink sketch challenge. I hope it gives you some ideas to try and that you share them too. Head to the Just Add Ink blog to see lots more inspiration for the challenge and play along.
 
You'll find a full supply list for all available items you need here in my Stampin' Up! store.

Until next time, happy stamping.

Diane

PS: A new Mini Catalogue and Online Exclusives launched on 3 September. See everything new in my store.


 
2025-2026 ANNUAL CATALOGUE
6 May 2025 - 30 April 2026
Purchase $35 AUD or more (ex s&h) and 10% is credited as Stampin' Rewards.
Spend them in your next order or save them up.
Opt in now in my store to join the program - and choose me as your Preferred Demonstrator too if haven't already. Find out more about Stampin' Rewards here
Great deals up to 60% on retiring products - last update 1 August 2025
New items added every two months - Feb, Apr, June, Aug, Oct, & Dec
Only available until sold out

Stampin Up Last Chance List - Shop with Diane Barnes - Independent Demonstrator in Australia

Download full release product list pdf

Latest Online Exclusives Release - September 2025
You'll find lots more products in our store than what's in our printed catalogues?
Shop online exclusives and releases in store now - available while supplies last.
New Releases - January, March, May, July, September, November
__________


Quick and easy all inclusive projects you'll love to make
New kits released every month.
Available while supplies last

   
 

JAI 766 Just Add a One Layer Card - Cheers and Sips colour blocking

Graphic colour blocked one layer card using Stampin Up Cheers and Sips stamp set dies and bundle. Card by Diane Barnes - colourmehappy - stampinupcards - card by Diane Barnes Independent Demonstrator in Australia

Hello & welcome to this week's Just Add Ink Challenges Design Team share. This week's challenge is to create a one layer card with stamping or stencilling. How tricky could that be? Apparently tricky for this girl who loves to pop up elements on her cards. But I took up the challenge with my newest purchase, the Cheers and Sips stamp and die bundle, and tried a bit of an fun experiment with stamps and colour. Here's how my unexpected one layer card turned out.
 
 Graphic colour blocked one layer card using Stampin Up Cheers and Sips stamp set dies and bundle. Card by Diane Barnes - colourmehappy - stampinupcards - card by Diane Barnes Independent Demonstrator in Australia

My crazy idea was to create a graphic, colour blocked look using the two drinking glass images from the Cheers and Sips bundle. I just started to play and it gradually came together.

I started by stamping them across the card using Basic Gray ink so they overlapped, then coloured each section with Stampin' Blends markers (Real Red, Poppy Parade, Timid Tiger, Peach Pie, Lemon Lolly and Pool Party). Then I dotted parts of the image with a Light Basic Black Blends marker to add some fun details and embossed the tall rectangle glasses with the glass texture die in the bundle, added some sentiments from the Cheers and Sips set, then created a dotty streamer background at the top. Some gems add finishing touches.

Graphic colour blocked one layer card using Stampin Up Cheers and Sips stamp set dies and bundle. Card by Diane Barnes - colourmehappy - stampinupcards - card by Diane Barnes Independent Demonstrator in Australia
 
Inside are some more colour blocked glasses and a large birthday sentiment from With You in Mind

Graphic colour blocked one layer card using Stampin Up Cheers and Sips stamp set dies and bundle. Card by Diane Barnes - colourmehappy - stampinupcards - card by Diane Barnes Independent Demonstrator in Australia

You'll notice from here the only issue with making a one layer card using Blends is that the colour soaks through the card so you'll see that inside. That's why I'd normally add as a coloured layer to a base if it wasn't a one layer challenge.

So that's my creative take on our Just Add Ink one layer challenge. I hope it gives you some ideas to try and that you share them with me too. Head to the Just Add Ink blog to see lots more inspiration for the challenge and play along too.
 
You'll find a full supply list for all available items here in my Stampin' Up! store.
 
 

NEW 2025-2026 ANNUAL CATALOGUE
6 May 2025 - 30 April 2026
Purchase $35 AUD or more (ex s&h) and 10% is credited as Stampin' Rewards.
Spend them in your next order or save them up.
Opt in now in my store to join the program - and choose me as your Preferred Demonstrator too if haven't already. Find out more about Stampin' Rewards here
Great deals up to 60% on retiring products - last update 1 August 2025
New items added every two months - Feb, Apr, June, Aug, Oct, & Dec
Only available until sold out

Stampin Up Last Chance List - Shop with Diane Barnes - Independent Demonstrator in Australia
__________

SHOP ONLINE EXCLUSIVES


Latest Online Exclusives Release - coming on 1 September
You'll find lots more products in our store than what's in our printed catalogues?
Shop online exclusives and releases in store now - available while supplies last.
New Releases - January, March, May, July, September, November
__________


Quick and easy all inclusive projects you'll love to make
New kits released every month.
Available while supplies last

   
 

JAI764 Choose Two challenge - Wildflower birthday paper-thanks

Quick and easy card using Wildflower Birthday and Thoughtful Journey papers. Card by Diane Barnes - colourmehappy - Stampin Up demonstrator in Australia. stampin up card ideas - card challenges

Hello & welcome to this week's Just Add Ink Challenges Design Team share. This week is a Choose Two challenge with the options of including pearls, patterned paper, or pastels in a project. Easy choices for me - how can you resist using patterned paper, and pastels are some of my favourite shades. I chose to combine two different patterned papers - Wildflower Birthday and Thoughtful Journey to create a quick and easy card. Here's how it turned out.
 
 Quick and easy card using Wildflower Birthday and Thoughtful Journey papers. Card by Diane Barnes - colourmehappy - Stampin Up demonstrator in Australia. stampin up card ideas - card challenges

This card came together very quickly as the papers made it very easy. All the main elements are die cut pieces from the Wildflower Birthday paper pack. I started with the large bouquet with lovely foiling, then realised that two of the other individual flowers were the same shape, so I layered them on top for some depth. I placed the bouquet onto a striped and gold tag and stamped a label piece.

You know I love matchy matchy so I was going to use another print from Wildflower Birthday on the base, but then I thought of the Thoughtful Journey paper I used on my last challenge card. I liked how the blended ink paper looked behind the image so embossed it with the retired Subtle folder and adhered it to a white base. The base is not a standard size - it's 14cm wide. 

Quick and easy card using Wildflower Birthday and Thoughtful Journey papers. Card by Diane Barnes - colourmehappy - Stampin Up demonstrator in Australia. stampin up card ideas - card challenges

The thanks sentiment is from Simply Said, and is stamped in Night of Navy. The only stamping on the card. I finished off with some pretty glass centres for the flowers and Wink of Stella - very pretty IRL.

Inside I used an off-cut of the background paper and some more die cut shapes. 

Quick and easy card using Wildflower Birthday and Thoughtful Journey papers. Card by Diane Barnes - colourmehappy - Stampin Up demonstrator in Australia. stampin up card ideas - card challenges

So that's my quick, easy but very pretty Choose Two challenge project. I hope it gives you some ideas to try. Head to the Just Add Ink blog to see lots more inspiration for the challenge.
 
You'll find a full supply list for all available items here in my Stampin' Up! store.

Until next time, happy stamping.
Diane
 

NEW 2025-2026 ANNUAL CATALOGUE
6 May 2025 - 30 April 2026
Purchase $35 AUD or more (ex s&h) and 10% is credited as Stampin' Rewards.
Spend them in your next order or save them up.
Opt in now in my store to join the program - and choose me as your Preferred Demonstrator too if haven't already. Find out more about Stampin' Rewards here
Great deals up to 60% on retiring products - last update 1 August 2025
New items added every two months - Feb, Apr, June, Aug, Oct, & Dec
Only available until sold out

Stampin Up Last Chance List - Shop with Diane Barnes - Independent Demonstrator in Australia
__________

SHOP ONLINE EXCLUSIVES


Latest Online Exclusives Release - 1 July 2025
You'll find lots more products in our store than what's in our printed catalogues?
Shop online exclusives and releases in store now - available while supplies last.
New Releases - January, March, May, July, September, November
__________


Quick and easy all inclusive projects you'll love to make
New kits released every month.
Available while supplies last

   
 

JAI 762 inspiration challenge - leafy warm wishes

Hello & welcome to this week's Just Add Ink Challenges Design Team share. This week is a photo inspiration challenge, and the image has a cosy Autumn, Winter feel. I was drawn to the colours, cup of coffee, leaves, and blanket for my card. Here's how it turned out.

 
Details
  • I used softer shades of the colours in the challenge image. 
  • The blanket colours made me think of some of the Thoughtful Journey paper prints. I chose a watercolour wash print that included muted versions of them. I layered this behind the leafy die cut (now retired Citrus Blooms leafy dies). 
  • Some weathered timber paper as the base (Country Woods) nods to the timber in the image, and also the colours and texture of the leaves.
  • The coffee in the white cup caught my eye so I replicated that for my bold sentiment element. The circles are from Spotlight on Nature and Stylish Shapes. The best wishes sentiment from With You in Mind is stamped in Early Espresso.
  • The textured leaves are cut from the retired Changing Leaves die and hybrid embossing folder, and are ink blended to reflect the leaves nestled around the coffee cup. The ink colours are Pecan Pie, Cherry Cobbler, Calypso Coral.

So that's my challenge card. I hope you can see how I used the inspiration challenge image, and that my  card inspires you to get creating yourself.  

Head to the Just Add Ink blog to see all our challenge cards inspired by the challenge image, and add your own. Leave a comment if you have any questions about my card.

Thanks for visiting today. Until next time, happy stamping.
Diane



NEW 2025-2026 ANNUAL CATALOGUE
6 May 2025 - 30 April 2026
Purchase $35 AUD or more (ex s&h) and 10% is credited as Stampin' Rewards.
Spend them in your next order or save them up.
Opt in now in my store to join the program - and choose me as your Preferred Demonstrator too if haven't already. Find out more about Stampin' Rewards here
Great deals up to 60% on retiring products - last update 1 April 2025
New items added every two months - Feb, Apr, June, Aug, Oct, & Dec
Only available until sold out

Stampin Up Last Chance List - Shop with Diane Barnes - Independent Demonstrator in Australia

__________

SHOP ONLINE EXCLUSIVES


Latest Online Exclusives Release - 1 July 2025
You'll find lots more products in our store than what's in our printed catalogues?
Shop online exclusives and releases in store now - available while supplies last.
New Releases - January, March, May, July, September, November
__________


Quick and easy all inclusive projects you'll love to make
New kits released every month.
Available while supplies last

   
 

More Recent Articles

You Might Like