Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Sending Wishes

The colour combination at the Fab Friday Challenge really grabbed me this week.


They're very autumnal colours but here in Australia it's spring, so I didn't want to do an autumn card. I did think they might look good together brayered, so I sat down and had a go and sure enough, they blended together beautifully. Dramatic but evocative, in my opinion.

Once I'd done the brayering I then had to decide what to stamp over it! Lol. I went with a very simple design and layout for an almost-any-occasion type card. Here tis:


Materials used:

  • stamps - World of Dreams, Butterfly Basics
  • card - blackberry bliss, hello honey, whisper white
  • inks - blackberry bliss, hello honey, cajun craze, Versamark
  • other - crushed curry embossing powder, heat tool, embossing buddy, brayer, Dimensionals

There are plenty of birds around our place at this time of year and it's lovely to hear their singing and twittering - unless it's early in the morning of course! Then I'm not so happy!

I hope you're hearing plenty of birdsong at your place too. Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers
Kez

Monday, November 9, 2015

I'm Not Old, I'm Vintage

More Christmas fun today with some vintage-look tags. I wanted to use the Christmas Greetings thinlit dies in an antique style while still keeping a simple design that is not too busy, so here is what I came up with.


For this one I stamped the music notes on very vanilla using tip top taupe ink; all the edges are also sponged with taupe. The lace and ribbon were added next and then it was all adhered to a taupe tag. The poinsettia was cut in vanilla also, with pearls for the centre and real red accents. Vanilla thick bakers twine was used for the tie.


Here I've used some gorgeous holly papers (non SU) and added a piece of vellum over the top for my die cut to sit on. The holly leaves are actually the poinsettia die again (in always artichoke) and the berry is a 1/2" circle punch, shaped and curled with a dimensional underneath.




Vellum layer over paper again for this one, and I've used an extra layer of gold glitter card on the bauble.

Each tag has a plain co-ordinating colour on the reverse side for the To, From part to be written. I know a few of my ladies are going to adore these, so it will be lots of fun making them in class. Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers
Kez

Sunday, November 8, 2015

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like...

Christmas is certainly in the air at my place lately; I've been making Christmas cards, tags and boxes. My primary school teacher daughter put the idea in my head for a Santa box and once I'd made that, I couldn't resist making more!

Here they are:





Are they adorable or what?

Materials used:
Santa - curvy keepsake box die; Big Shot; card in real red, basic black, whisper white and gold glitter; gold ribbon; black rhinestones, retired petite curvy label punch; Good Greetings stamp set
Elf - curvy keepsake box die; Big Shot; card in garden green, basic black, and white glitter; red rhinestones, retired 5 point flower punch, retired petite curvy label punch
Rudolph - curvy keepsake box die; Big Shot; card in chocolate chip, whisper white, basic black and red glitter; bird punch (wing for ears); non SU tree branch die; Dimensionals


Very simple to put together but so cute and effective - what more could you possibly want?

Thanks for calling in.

Cheers
Kez 

Saturday, November 7, 2015

The Sponges Have It

I was in Sponging Heaven yesterday making some Christmas cards for my ladies to do in class. Rather than our usual stamp-a-stack making ten cards, these are one-off cards for those special folks  who deserve that extra time and attention - you know who I mean.

For the first two cards I borrowed from the creative genius of others but did give the cards a little tweak of my own. The third card is my own design.

Here's the first, CASEd from the genius that is Michelle Zindorf - surprisingly, not a brayered card!




I began with a piece of very vanilla and stamped the world stamp using early espresso ink. Then I stamped the swirl from Everything Eleanor using Versamark ink and embossed with a non SU embossing powder called Aged Ivory (it has little flecks of gold in it, just gorgeous). Next I sponged using crumb cake and then early espresso inks, rubbing the excess ink off the embossing with a tissue; that was then mounted on to a mat of crumb cake. Santa was stamped using Timber Brown StazOn ink onto watercolour paper and coloured, cut and adhered using snail, then everything attached to the cherry cobbler base using Dimensionals. Simple but effective! For the inside I stamped the world map with crumb cake ink and placed my card over it, pressing only in a few spots to get the partial image effect, then stamped the sentiment with cherry cobbler ink.

Materials used:

  • stamps - Santa's List, Everything Eleanor, World Map, 
  • card - cherry cobbler, crumb cake, very vanilla, watercolour
  • inks - early espresso, crumb cake, cherry cobbler
  • other - heat tool, aged ivory (non SU) embossing powder, sponges, aqua painter, Dimensionals, markers


Next is a gorgeous sparkly card CASEd from Cynthia Millan (she has a video tutorial HERE) that is incredibly easy to make; the pine is stamped on very vanilla, sponged and covered entirely with iridescent ice embossing powder. I mounted mine on another piece of vanilla, then on to the mossy meadow card base. The pine and sponging are followed through to the inside.



Materials used:

  • stamps - Ornamental Pine
  • card - mossy meadow, very vanilla
  • inks - mossy meadow, early espresso, Versamark
  • other - irridescent ice embossing powder, heat tool, sponges, Dimensionals


And lastly my new favourite trees (I don't know about you, but I am sooooooo over Lovely as a Tree after all these years!). I stamped them with Versamark on to a piece of whisper white and embossed again using irdescent ice, then sponged using marina mist and night of navy inks. The die cut sentiment was cut from silver glitter card and a few rhinestones added to look like stars. The sentiment on the inside echoes that on the front.



Materials used:

  • stamps - Wonderland
  • card - night of navy, whisper white, silver glimmer
  • inks - marina mist, night of navy
  • other - Christmas Sayings dies, Big Shot, iridescent ice embossing powder, heat tool, sponges, rhinestones, Dimensionals

We're also making some Christmas tags, so I'll come back with those another time.

Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers
Kez

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Traditional? Bah Humbug!

It's been an absolute AGE since I took part in any challenges and this month on our SU team's FB page there's a colour challenge which really appealed to me. The colours are Blushing Bride, Watermelon Wonder and Gold, with a neutral as an option.

The first idea I had was a Christmas card but the colours are certainly non-traditional for that theme, aren't they? Doesn't matter; I went ahead and did it anyway and I have to say I LOVE IT!

Here's my card:


I stamped the trees on whisper white using black StazOn ink and some second-stage stamping (ie not re-inking first). Then I stamped the snowflakes using Versamark ink and clear embossed them. Next I brayered using blush blossom and watermelon wonder and once my ink was dry, rubbed over the snowflakes with a tissue to remove the excess ink and make them whiter. I added my touches of gold with some glitter card and gold embossing the sentiment on to black and the final touch was the rhinestone for a smidge more sparkle.

What do you think? Do you like non-traditional Christmas colours or do you usually like to stick with red and green?

Materials used:

  • stamps - Wonderland, Petite Pairs
  • card - watermelon wonder, whisper white, basic black, gold glitter
  • other - clear embossing powder, gold embossing powder, heat tool, brayer, banner punch, rhinestone, Dimensionals, embossing buddy

You do realise it's only 72 days until Christmas don't you? Haha! Did that freak you out? lol

Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers
Kez

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Holiday Sparkle

This month's Christmas stamp-a-stack cards are super-easy to make.

Firstly I've cased my own card and made another Christmas Cuties card using more traditional Xmas colours. We'll be doing some watercoloring on this one.


Materials used:

  • stamps - Christmas Cuties
  • card - real red, gumball green, whisper white, watercolour
  • other - aqua painter, markers, Softly Falling embossing folder, Big Shot, dimensionals 

And our second card uses the gorgeous new red foil card that's available in the holiday mini. Here I've paired it with a PTI stamp set and die with some star shaped sequins for added sparkle.


Materials used:
  • stamps - Papertrey Ink Holiday Additions
  • card - island indigo, real red, whisper white, red foil
  • other - sequins, craft glue, PTI die, Big Shot

Hopefully my ladies will like adding these to their collection.

Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers
Kez

Friday, September 18, 2015

Goodbye Forever

Yesterday was one of those very bittersweet days, both a celebration and a poignant moment. My younger daughter graduated from high school - thus ending 19 years of having children at school. Of course I'm pleased and proud for her, but also - as other mums will know and understand - it means that soon she will be off making her own way in the world and that means leaving home. I am most decidedly NOT looking forward to that day.

Anyway, her school did a big ceremony and as she has been attending a Senior High School for the past two years, there were 436 people graduating! Yikes! Mind you, having sat through two university graduation ceremonies for our elder daughter, we've gotten used to that a little and wisely took a cushion along for the duration.

Here's a photo of her after the ceremony with her cap and gown.


Thanks for calling in.

Cheers
Kez

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

New Christmas Goodies

Last month's cards for our Christmas stamp-a-stack (yes, I'm a little late taking photos and posting this!) featured goodies from the new Holiday mini catalogue.

The first card used the Sleigh Ride edgelits to create a winter's night scene; I paired them with some lovely paper from Kaiser.


Materials used:
  • stamps - Good Greetings
  • card - basic black, basic grey, smoky slate, Kaiser touch of gold collection, non SU white
  • other - gold embossing powder, heat tool, Sleigh Ride edgelits, Dimensionals, Big Shot

Our second card is a mash up of two I liked from Pinterest. I used brayering for the background of the focal panel but some of my ladies used sponging instead. 


Materials used:
  • stamps - Ornamental Pine, Wonderland
  • card - elegant eggplant, very vanilla, naturals ivory
  • inks - wisteria wonder, perfect plum, elegant eggplant
  • other - brayer, Dimensionals, softly falling embossing folder, Big Shot

Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers
Kez

Saturday, September 12, 2015

Better Late Than Never

I guess the title of this post could apply to the post itself as well as to one of my cards! Lol. In class this week we are finally trying out the bokeh technique that's been floating around for a while. The first time I tried it I didn't do very well, so I've finally taken the plunge and had another go, with more success, thank goodness.

Here's our bokeh card:


Materials used:
  • stamps - Perfect Pennants
  • card - tempting turquoise, basic black, gloss white, acetate
  • inks - tempting turquoise, melon mambo, crushed curry, whisper white, basic black
  • other - clear embossing powder, heat tool, sponges, circle punches and framelits, Dimensionals, Big Shot

Our second card is a cutie for a young lady aged anywhere between 10 and 30 I reckon. The gorgeous watermelon wonder is the base - just love this in colour! The sentiment on the inside reads "Always be your beautiful selfie.'


Materials used:
  • stamps - @SoSocial (SU), Uptown Girls Samantha and Sierra take a Selfie (Stamping Bella)
  • card - watermelon wonder, whisper white, basic black, cucumber crush, watermelon wonder patterned paper
  • other - pennant punch, rhinestones, smart phone die (Die-namics), Blendabilities, Copics, Dimensionals


And lastly a masculine card using the pizza guy. He's so cute everybody loves him!



Materials used:
  • stamps - Pizza My Heart (Sugar Pea Designs)
  • card - real red, whisper white, garden green, acetate
  • other - pennant punch, window framelits, Big Shot, Dimensionals, markers and Blendabilities

If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask! Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers
Kez

Sunday, August 23, 2015

A Simple Christmas Cutie

Was tidying my craft room and of course stopped to have a play with some new schtuff (isn't that what you tidy it for????) and couldn't resist a little bit of colouring (well, you know me and colouring!) with the Christmas Cuties stamp set from the Holiday mini catalogue.

I used a combination of Blendabilities and Copics to colour this little one out for a play in the snow. Not the best photo - taken on my phone on an overcast and rainy day.


Materials used:

  • stamps - Christmas Cuties
  • card - Bermuda bay, coastal cabana, whisper white
  • Blendabilities - Bermuda bay, coastal cabana, daffodil delight, crumb cake
  • other - softly falling embossing folder, Big Shot, Dimensionals, stamp-a-ma-jig, Sahara sand marker

(S)He looks like (s)he's having so much fun! Hope you are too - thanks for calling in.

Cheers
Kez

Thursday, August 13, 2015

August Already?

This month's class cards are a mixed bunch.

With no other classes before Father's Day next month, we begin with a Mario card cased from Pinterest.


Materials used:
  • stamps - Teeny Tiny Sentiments
  • card - daffodil delight, basic black, real red, blush blossom, whisper white
  • punches - bird, 1/4" circle, 3/4" circle, 1" circle, corner rounder
  • other - two way glue stick, black button, cherry cobbler bakers twine, glue dots, Dimensionals, real red marker

For a technique we are making a shaker card, again inspired by a card on Pinterest.


Materials used:
  • stamps - Party Time (Verve)
  • card - white, melon mambo, whisper white, acetate
  • other - silver embossing powder, heat tool, silver ribbon, rhinestones, Dimensionals, mounting tape, party bits

Our last card is a watercolour number - I think my ladies would be disappointed if I didn't have at least some watercoloring! 


Materials used:
  • stamps - You've Got This
  • card - crumb cake, basic black, whisper white, watercolour
  • other - clear embossing powder, heat tool, crushed curry marker, aqua painter
  • inks - basic black craft ink, garden green, rose red, cherry cobbler, crumb cake

Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers
Kez

Saturday, August 1, 2015

Slightly Past Mid Year Resolution

People make new year's resolutions all the time and I was thinking to myself today - when I realised how long it had been since I'd done any posting here - that maybe I should make a mid year resolution. Then it occurred to me that today is the first of August and we are well past the middle of the year! So here's a slightly past mid year resolution - to try to update here more often and post photos of my cards and other creations. Please note the use of the word 'try' as I make no promises!

You see, my ladies tend to get just a teensy bit antsy (yes, I'm being rather conservative with the measurement of antsy-ness) if they don't get to see a sneak peek at the cards we will be making in class BEFORE the class. I don't understand the problem, myself - doesn't everyone love surprises, after all? No, it seems not. And seeing as how I have gotten decidedly slack (it's true, I cannot deny it) with posting my class cards up here over the last month or maybe ever-so-slightly more, I have been on the receiving end of QUITE a few pointed comments and emails! You know who you are.

So, here you are ladies - in the better-late-than-never category (yeah, we have class tomorrow!) - the very first of our Christmas cards for 2015. I know, you didn't realise it, did you, but it's time (past time, really, I had to postpone the class after a slight accident) for us to begin our Christmas Stamp-a-Stack classes, making 10 cards each month in preparation for the arrival of the jolly weight-challenged fellow.

We make five of each design, including inserts and envelopes. Sometimes they are completely SU products and sometimes not. For this month, we fall into the sometimes not category.


Materials used:

  • stamps - Friendship Jar & Friendship jar holiday additions - Papertrey Ink
  • card - Sahara sand, whisper white
  • other - markers in real red and Sahara sand, stylish stripes embossing folder, Big Shot, Dimensionals


The gold card on the die patterns looks much better in real life, trust me.

Materials used:
  • stamps - More Merry Messages
  • card - crumb cake, cherry cobbler, very vanilla, gold metallic
  • other - Dimensionals, Big Shot, gold cord, Elizabeth Craft dies Ornament Set 2

Phew! All this posting has left me exhausted! But I am looking forward to seeing my ladies tomorrow and making some cards, and soon - if I am any good at all at keeping resolutions (which I haven't been in the past, so for goodness' sake don't hold your breath) - I will be back to show you the goodies we made at Stamp Camp recently. 

If there's anyone out there still tuning in to this channel, thanks ever so much for stopping by!

Cheers
Kez


Monday, June 15, 2015

Paper Crafters Sampler - Incorporating Circles

This month's theme for the PCS kit is Incorporating Circles.


Here are some sneak peeks at the variety of ideas the design team came up with for this one:





Still need inspiration to use circles in your projects? Pop over to the PCS blog site HERE for more sneak peeks and of course you can always sign up for the June sampler!

This was my last month on the design team for PCS so to check out their current samplers you'll need to bookmark the blog on your computer.

Thanks for dropping by.

Cheers
Kez

Friday, June 12, 2015

Water, Water, Everywhere!

This month's class cards involve plenty of water as well as watercolouring and sponging - two of my favourite crafting activities! Thankfully my ladies seem to enjoy them too - not that I give them much choice, lol!

Firstly we'll make this simple card using the gorgeous World Map stamp. I resisted buying this one for quite a while but now I don't know why I did, as I just love it. Great for masculine cards too.


Materials used:

  • stamps - World Map, Chalk Talk
  • card - crumb cake, early espresso, soft sky, watercolour
  • inks - crumb cake, soft sky, Timber Brown StazOn
  • other - aqua painter, Dimensionals, wide oval punch

Our second card is a case from Michelle Surette - just love these little birdies. 


Materials used:
  • stamps - Wetlands
  • card - chocolate chip, soft sky, so saffron, whisper white
  • inks - soft sky, so saffron, hello honey, Timber Brown StazOn
  • other - sponges and sponge daubers, stripes embossing folder, Big Shot, burlap ribbon, Dimensionals

And our last card, this one inspired by a Teneale Williams creation that I've changed up a little.



Materials used:
  • stamps - You've Got This
  • card - smoky slate, watercolour, very vanilla, basic grey, blackberry bliss
  • inks - wild wasabi, blackberry bliss, crushed curry, Versamark
  • other - white embossing powder, heat tool, pearls, aqua painter, greetings thinlits, Big Shot, Dimensionals, sponge dauber, Sahara sand marker

That should keep them all busy! Thanks for stopping by and don't forget - if you like what you see, leave some comment love!

Cheers
Kez

Friday, June 5, 2015

I Am 16 Going On 17 ....

Did you sing the title? If you're a fan of The Sound of Music you probably did! He he he.

Anyway, the reason for the title is that my baby turns 17 today. Where on earth all those years have disappeared to, I just don't know ... sigh! In just a few months she'll be graduating high school and then be off somewhere and I'll be left with an empty nest and ...... argh! (breathe, breathe!)

Alright, to avoid an existential crisis happening here, let's move on to the card! I wanted to combine a few elements; to wit, her love of the colour green, her preference for red and white polka dots, a teen's fascination with making parents spend tons of money on clothes, and ... hmm, no, that's it. So here is what I came up with at the almost-very-last-minute (which I define as the day before the birthday as opposed to the night before the birthday, which is definitely very-last-minute):


Cute, huh? Yup, it's so cute it's worthy of a comment don't you think?

Materials used:
  • stamps - Uptown Girls Posh has a Present (Stamping Bella)
  • card - cucumber crush, whisper white, real red, watercolour
  • other - sponge, aqua painter, Dimensionals, green satin ribbon (stash), dots and stripes decorative mask, rhinestones, markers

The dotty background is sponged using the decorative mask, a sponge and real red ink onto whisper white card. I love the soft look it has, it almost gives the impression of flocking (well, it does in real life but maybe not so much in the photo). And the sentiment on the inside is perfect for her because she definitely has her own individual fashion style:


So now that you've seen the card I can go back to my crisis. Oh! and don't forget to leave me some comment love!

Thanks for dropping by.

Cheers
Kez

Saturday, May 30, 2015

Cutie Pie Colours

You all know how much I love watercolouring so it will come as no surprise that that is exactly what I have been doing with the cards I have to show you today. Well, okay, it's not all strictly water colouring per se, since some of it was done with blender pens, but let's not nit pick!

The first card showcases some of SU's new in colours for 2015-2017; the card base is tip top taupe and some of the flowers are watermelon wonder (the others are crushed curry), while the leaves are cucumber crush. Stamps are from Papertrey Ink.


Materials used:
  • stamps - Friendship Jar, Friendship Jar Spring Fillers (PTI)
  • card - tip top taupe, whisper white
  • inks - black StazOn, watermelon wonder, crushed curry, cucumber crush, whisper white
  • other - blender pen, aqua painter, acetate, crushed curry 1/8" taffeta ribbon, Dimensionals, sticky strip, jar and lid die (PTI)

I stamped the image onto the taupe and gave it a watered down whisper white wash first before colouring using a blender pen on the leaves; then the image was stamped again on whisper white and the flowers coloured with a blender pen, cut out and stuck on top of the taupe layer. I didn't do the leaves on whisper white because I wanted the flowers to really pop and be the star attraction. The jar is stamped on acetate and attached over the top. It's nice to have another gorgeous neutral colour as well as crumb cake and how vibrant do those colours look against it? Yum, yum! 

Second up is a stamp that embodies adorableness called Nice To See You Petunia from Stamping Bella. Check it out:


Are they the cutest or what?!

Materials used:
  • stamps - Nice To See You Petunia (Stamping Bella)
  • card - watercolour, basic black, pool party, retired SU designer papers
  • inks - crisp cantaloupe, blushing bride, so saffron, soft sky, pool party, pumpkin pie, Sahara sand, wisteria wonder, garden green, strawberry slush, lost lagoon, 
  • other - ovals framelits, Big Shot, Lawn Fawn alphabet die, rhinestones, Dimensionals, aqua painter, markers

And last but not least is a sweet little number which could have been used for an engagement, wedding or anniversary card - but which I managed to get a dirty mark on right before photography! Clever me (not!) - but I thought after all that work I would show it to you anyway.


Materials:
  • stamps - Lily of the Valley
  • card - white, marina mist, watercolour, lost lagoon, designer paper from Kaisercraft XO Collection
  • inks - crumb cake, blush blossom, strawberry slush, hello honey, smoky slate, lost lagoon, night of navy, cucumber crush, soft suede, close to cocoa, Sahara sand
  • other - soft sky ribbon, Dimensionals

That's it for today! Hope you like 'em! Thanks for dropping by.

Cheers
Kez


Monday, May 11, 2015

Paper Crafters Sampler - Wooden It Be Lovely

It's time for another Paper Crafters Sampler issue and this month's theme is


Projects feature stamps and textures resembling wood. Here are a few sneak peeks:





To join in the fun and get these projects and more, as well as the template of the month, simply pop over to the PCS website HERE and enrol for May's issue.

Cheers
Kez

Thursday, April 30, 2015

NSU - For The Kids

While browsing in a scrapbook store recently I came across some totally adorable Doodlebug Designs kids papers and couldn't resist buying a few for some fun-filled birthday cards.

Here's the girls version - these papers are called Sweet Shoppe:


Materials used:
  • card - Bermuda bay, melon mambo, whisper white, smoky slate
  • papers - Doodlebug Designs Sweet Shoppe
  • other - Cottage Cutz tiered cupcake die, Big Shot, circle framelits, lacey circles die (Spellbinders), Dimensionals, computer and printer


And the boys version using Hip Hip Hooray papers:


Materials used:
  • stamps - Perfect Pennants
  • card - pumpkin pie, wild wasabi, crushed curry, whisper white
  • papers - Doodlebug Designs Hip Hip Hooray
  • other - balloon framelits, Big Shot, Nestabilities label two die (Spellbinders), Dimensionals, tangelo twist thick bakers twine

Aren't they adorable? Makes me almost wish my kids were little again. (OK, nah, not really!!! LOL)

Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers
Kez