Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Stampers Anonymous Autumn/Winter Mini Blog Hop + Blog Candy

Hi everyone and a very warm welcome to the beautiful Blue Mountains in NSW. Tonight the Stampers Anonymous team plus special guest stamper are pleased to show you projects using products from Stampin' Up!'s new mini catalogue which goes live to you tomorrow, 1st April.

If you have just come from Sally Williams, you are in the right place, but if you are starting here don't worry; there will be a link at the end of this post to take you on to the next stop on the tour and you can continue around all 14 blogs until you end up back here. Just in case of cyber mishaps, there will be a list of the team and links to their blogs at the end of my post.

We are also offering two lucky people some BLOG CANDY; to be eligible to win you must
  1. leave some comment love on EVERY blog on the tour (please be sure to leave your FULL NAME so I can identify you clearly if you are one of the lucky winners!)
  2. email me, Kerry, to tell me that you have left 14 comments and would like to be in to win!
  3. Blog candy is available to Australian residents only
  4. Entry is open until midnight, 5th April 2010
  5. Other SU demos are welcome to enter

So, without further ado, on to some projects!

Although the new mini contains many gorgeous things that I just adore, tonight I want to give you a taste of what you can do with the Extra Large Two Step Bird punch. This is such a versatile design (as you'll soon see!) and the new style punch is great; easy to push and locks flat for storage. Fantastic job, SU!

The first project I made using this punch is a wedding card, as one of my regular customers mentioned she needs a few wedding cards this year. It's a very simple design as I want my beginners class to be able to make it easily and I've also used the Textured Impressions Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder:

To add a bit more of a challenge, I used one of my favourite techniques - brayering. The negative of the punched out part is used as a template for sponging in the reflection of the bird.After seeing some fantastic work by Ann Fitzgerald where she uses layering and turns the simple bird into a gorgeous chickadee, I decided to have a go at making some birds we regularly see here in the Blue Mountains, rainbow lorikeets. These brilliantly coloured birds are often in our back garden and I adore their colours and cheeky behaviour! Now, I know I haven't got the right shape beak and I've ignored the feet altogether, but I'm quite happy overall with my lorikeets and their birdhouse (made with Becky Roberts' milk carton design). Yes, I did make many layers for the roof with the scallop edge punch, and yes, it did take ages! But it's worth it, I think; hope you like it too:
OK, so far so good, but when is a bird not a bird?

Well, firstly, it can become a tulip:

This card uses the new designer papers called Cottage Wall and the colours are Rich Razzleberry, Orchid Opulence and Old Olive. The tulips were inspired by Julia Bettencourt and the vase can be made from the Holiday Windows Movers and Shapers. A "Teneale" bow and build-a-brad complete the ensemble.

Then the bird becomes a heliconia (also designed by Ann Fitzgerald). Did you know this is an Easter flower in Hawaii?

And lastly, this versatile bird can also become part of Chris the caterpillar:

Isn't it just the cutest? This is made from a number of punches and was designed by Gretchen Barron. Too adorable! My DD11 said "talk about puppy dog eyes: it's only a card and it could make me do anything it wanted!" LOL!

Well, that's all from me! I hope you have enjoyed seeing the versatility of the 2 step bird punch and that I've inspired you to think outside the box and come up with some stunning designs of your own.

Thanks for stopping by and please remember to leave a comment to brighten my day and be in to win some blog candy. Now it's time to see what gorgeous creations Fiona Harvey has in store for you (just click on her name).

Cheers!

Kez

List of blog hop participants (there's a link on each name to take you to their blog if you get lost):

Kerry Bunting (me)

Fiona Harvey

Teneale Williams

Liam Pucher

Marelle Taylor

Juliette Chapman

Sue Dean

Meighan Wheller

Chary Belfield

Nikki Stalker

Sharon Wilson

Kirrily Matthews

Robyn Irving

Sally Williams

All Systems Are Go

Less than 2 hours now until the BLOG HOP at 9.00 pm. I can't wait to see all the wonderful creations the team will have prepared for you, plus of course our special guest stamper Teneale. Don't forget we are offering BLOG CANDY to two lucky people who leave a comment on all 14 blogs, and you have until midnight on 5th April to do so, so that gives you tons of time over the holiday weekend to sit at your leisure and browse - give the kids a bunch of chocolate eggs and plop them in front of a Disney movie!!!

You can start here and I'll have links set up to take you on to the next person, plus a link for all the blogs just in case of hiccups in cyberspace!

Better get off the computer now - DD11 has an assignment to finish and she obviously has to be done by 9!

See ya later alligator!
Kez

Sunday, March 28, 2010

3 sleeps and counting

I have just finished the last of my projects for the Autumn/Winter Mini Blog Hop on Wednesday night - 9.00 pm - and I am getting excited! My post is typed and scheduled and I just have to take a few photos in the morning light tomorrow and it will all be ready.

Rather than show you lots of different things from the mini, this time around I am showing a variety of ways you can use just one product and I have had TONS of fun finding some examples for you. I hope you are going to love them as much as I've loved making them.

So I hope to see you back here on WEDNESDAY 31ST MARCH at 9.00 PM (Daylight Savings Time). We will be having Teneale Williams as guest stamper - and if you've ever visited her blog, you will know how utterly STUNNING her work is! Plus of course, is some BLOG CANDY to give away.

You see how excited I am; I'm using lots of capital letters!!!! LOL!

See you Wednesday!
Kez

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Sneak Peek

I have been creating up a storm this week in preparation for the Blog Hop but there are a couple of projects I'll save for other posts afterwards; don't want to overload you with too many goodies all in one go! So here are a couple of sneak peeks at projects I'll be showing you later in the week ...


Just to keep you going, you understand. Nothing to do with me not being able to contain my excitement and dying to show you new stuff!

Cheers

Kez

Thursday, March 25, 2010

6 Days to go ...

Oh boy, I am running out of days until the Stampers Anonymous Autumn/Winter Mini Blog Hop. No time to craft today as that horrible beast, HOUSEWORK, got in the way - gotta hate that! Don't know whatever happened to that little fairy that used to share the cooking and cleaning ... oh, I know! she moved to Melbourne! LOL!

But the ideas are buzzing around in my head non stop and I've got 4 projects finished already ... one or two more maybe? Is that too many? Would you object terribly to seeing that many gorjamalicious things all at once? Gosh, I wouldn't want to be held responsible for craft overload!

Hmmm, maybe that should be my plan ... show you so many wonderful things that you won't want to move on to other blogs and I'll keep you here and have you all to myself ... mwha-ha-ha! (evil laugh)

We shall see ........................

Cheers
Kez

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

7 Sleeps to Go ...

Well, I don't know about you, but I am getting pretty excited about the Stampers Anonymous (plus special guest) Autumn/Winter Mini Blop Hop!

It's only 7 sleeps to go and I am busily working on some totally GORJUS projects to show you and I know my team mates will be doing the same. We will be showcasing products from the new Autumn/Winter mini catalogue that goes live on April 1st (no fooling!!!) and which is chockablock full of wonderful and exciting goodies. (If you don't have a copy of the new mini yet and would like one, just drop me a line or phone and I'll get one to you post haste.)

At each stop on the blog tour you will be invited to leave some comment love and if you leave a comment on every blog, you will be eligible to win some BLOG CANDY! No one can ever have too much craft "stuff" so I'm sure you won't want to miss the opportunity to win!

Blog Hop is on

  • Wednesday 31st March
  • 9.00 pm ADST
  • there will be a link at the end of each blog to take you on to the next stop of the tour

Hope you can join us!

Cheers

Kez

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Mmmmm ... chocolatey goodness ...

Usually my Lana Ladies get to choose which projects they make in class but for today I insisted on it being Kerry's Surprise. And it's an unusual one because there are no cards involved whatsoever! None! Nada! Zero! Zip! I bet you're thinking, WHAT THE?

Well, ya see, I just had an inkling to make some Easter boxes and baskets. (Hey, it's a grand excuse for a close encounter of the chocolate kind!!!) So I've been having lots of fun over the last week or so deciding which ones we would make, which papers, which stamps, etc and keeping it a big secret, he he!

First up are these two baskets, both so easy to make and fun to decorate using that adorable little chick from A Good Egg. The tutorials for both can be found on Splitcoaststampers.

Then I wanted to have a go at a milk carton with a secret opening in the bottom for removing goodies of the chocolatey kind ... this was designed by Becky Roberts.

The chocolate bunny stamp from the Summer mini was just perfect for this. Here's a close up of the tag detail and the secret opening.

And last but by no means least is another bunny of a very different kind. You've probably seen a few of these around on other blogs because they are a lot of fun to make! My first go at a treat cup project unsupervised!

So, that's what my ladies are up to today. Hope you manage to get some fun crafting in your day today and thanks for stopping by!

Cheers
Kez

PS Note: no chocolate eggs or bunnies were harmed during the making of this blog post. Only afterwards.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Off With Her Head!

DD11 has a birthday party to attend at the weekend and she asked me to make a card. My brief was that the BG likes pink and purple and the theme for the party is Alice in Wonderland. Hmmmm ............. wasn't the cheshire cat purple and pink ? Not really 12 yo girl material I 'spose! Alice wore blue and white, so that didn't help and anyway I don't have any stamps that suit Alice ....
So, I was browsing my stamp collection (no, it didn't really take that long!) and the only thing to inspire me was butterflies. Every 12 yo girl likes butterflies, doesn't she? And in the book the caterpillar turns into a butterfly ... so although a tenuous connection at best, butterflies it is! And as I was given carte blanche for pink and purple, I used the two new colours.

Created by Kez. Stamped images copyright Stampin' Up!
Hope the birthday girl likes it.
Materials used:
  • stamps - butterfly prints, oval all
  • card - rich razzleberry, melon mambo, whisper white
  • inks - rich razzleberry, melon mambo
  • ribbon - melon mambo polka dot grosgrain
  • punch es - butterfly, large oval, scallop oval
  • other - dimensionals
  • non SU - adhesive pearls, embossing folder
I have been very busy on other projects too, but can't show you those just yet. Some are for my class next week which is a surprise for my ladies and some are for the Stampers Anonymous Autumn/Winter Mini Blog Hop (what a mouthful!!!!!) so all will be revealed in due course ...! I hope you will be able to join myself and my team mates for the Blog Hop on March 31st at 9.00 pm (see the blinkie top right of my blog) when we will have so many gorgeous and inspirational projects to show you that your head will spin (and that will make the Queen of Hearts very happy!)

Thanks for stopping by today.

Cheers
Kez

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Rewarding Myself

Today I had a heap of housework to get through, so afterwards I rewarded myself with some playtime! It's our team meeting on Monday and we always have a Show and Tell. This month we are meant to show goodies made from our Autumn mini pre-order, but being the newly-poor parent of a university student, I haven't got my pre-order yet! As luck would have it, though, I do have some of the new in colours, so I made some cards using the new colours with existing stamp sets rather than new stamps.

I can't claim credit for the card designs - my mojo having fled along with my bank account! - they are all cased, but unfortunately the relevant computer files are in Melbourne with DD17 and I can't name the creative ladies who originally thought them up. Apologies ladies, and thanks for the help when my brain wouldn't function for itself!
Here they are, hope you like them.

This one uses Rich Razzleberry along with Orchid Opulence (goodness! I've used a Bold Bright!) and So Saffron.


Here I've used Melon Mambo with Rich Razzleberry, Bermuda Bay and Crushed Curry. You could substitute Taken with Teal and Summer Sun or So Saffron. I love this card, it's so cheerful and bright, it does make me want to party!

Loving this combo; Soft Suede with Bashful Blue and Very Vanilla. I think this might get more airings as the months go by ...

Well, I'll just have to wait and see what they think at the team meeting! Hope you are having a great weekend; thanks for calling in.

Cheers
Kez

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Good Neighbour

My Lana Ladies are using the SAB set Good Neighbour in class this week. It is so cute and I love how you can create your own scenes with it! Lots of fun to play with, especially once you add some colour!

The first two cards we will be making I showed you earlier here, but this is the third one. I cased this from Lyn Put. Thanks Lyn for the gorgeous inspiration!

Stamped images copyright Stampin' Up! 1990-2010

Stinkin' cute! This one just might get sent off to DD17 in stormy Melbourne - hope the hail isn't too big for you today hon!

Materials used:

  • card, inks and markers - taken with teal, rose red, pumpkin pie, old olive, whisper white
  • papers - retired SU
  • punches - scallop circle, scallop edge
  • other - dimensionals, sewing machine and thread, 38 mm circle punch

Hope you like it. Thanks for dropping in today.

Cheers

Kez

Friday, March 5, 2010

Flutterby Tent Wonder

I was feeling adventurous last night and tried my hand at a tent card combined with a suspension card. It would have worked a treat if my brain hadn't scrambled and put the joining piece on upside-down, LOL!!! :) Oh well, it was Friday after all, and I've been sick, so I have an excuse! (hey, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!)

I used my fav colour, riding hood red, with pink pirouette and close to cocoa and the candy lane papers. The flutterbies were stamped on whisper white and again on vellum and a bit of bling to add some sparkle never goes astray!
The sentiment from my favourite SAB set, Whimsical Words, fitted perfectly and I just LURVE the houndstooth butterfly from Butterfly Prints - I am right into houndstooth at the mo - just bought some gorgeous ribbon and am busily designing a card to go with it!

Created by Kez. Stamped images copyright Stampin' Up! 1990-2010

Don't forget that the FREE SAB sets are only available until the end of this month (a frightening 25 days away!) so if you haven't already got some, what the heck are you waiting for?!!! LOL!

Hope your brain is in better working condition than mine and hey! thanks for stopping by!

Cheers
Kez

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Kind Words

As soon as I saw this GORJUS pearl embellishment at my LSS (that stands for Local Scrapbooking/Stamping Store Lynda!) I knew it would match perfectly with one of the new in colours, Soft Suede. It is so elegant so I tried to create a simple, classy card to show it off to its best advantage. I hope I've achieved that; you be the judge!

Here's a close up of the pearl embellishment:

Created by Kez. Stamped images copyright Stampin' Up! 1990-2010
Pearl embellishment by Prima, all other products SU.
Thanks for dropping in. Have yourselves a nice day!

Cheers
Kez

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Paper Roses

Boy, that header takes me back!

Do you mind a little digression? Let me take you down Memory Lane a few decades (and we won't count exactly how many decades, cos that's a little scary!) to the time when I was in my early teens. A computer took up a whole room, we used manual typewriters to type on and most families only needed one income and one car. David Cassidy and Donny Osmond were slugging it out for most popular teen singing idol for girls like me to drool over! I really liked Donny the best but I pretended to like David most (sorry Donny!) because my best friends liked him (oh, the power of peer pressure!). We had a kid a year ahead of me in high school who unfortunately looked just like Donny - not that Donny wasn't cute (cos he was, and still is in a way) - but it must have been incredibly frustrating to have girls chase him and point at him all the time! Poor guy.

Well, we watched good wholesome shows on TV like Disney, Little House on the Prairie and - of course - Donny and Marie. Little bit country and a little bit rock 'n roll! And Marie Osmond had a hit called Paper Roses. Yes folks, we finally made it back to what triggered off my mind wander in the first place, LOL!

Anywhooo, today I finally got around to trying out the paper flowers made using the scallop circle punch. I watched a video, just to make sure it really was as easy as everyone said (which it is) then had a go. I used three different shades of pink card - pink pirouette, pretty in pink and regal rose. Take a lookie:

Created by Kez. Stamped images copyright Stampin' Up! 1990-2010

Aaawwwwwwwww, pretty! Thanks for dropping in today; hope you didn't mind my little wander down the deep dark recesses of my memory ....

Cheers
Kez