Tuesday, May 31, 2011

More Believers

Here are the other two Just Believe cards we're making in class this week.


A bright one, for this I've teamed daffodil delight with always artichoke and whisper white. My first attempt at a double bow! I kinda like it, even though you almost need shades on!


I adore this one, CASEd from Julie Davison. Soft suede, tangerine tango, old olive and very vanilla are the colours used. Simple yet elegant, although I'm thinking maybe the wider lace would look better. I've popped the sentiment panel up on dimensionals for some depth.

Such a versatile set and definitely one of the best in the catalogue, IMO.

Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers
Kez

Sunday, May 29, 2011

NSU - The Circus is in Town

In a couple of days I'll be catching up with a dear friend I haven't seen in a while who has recently landed a plum job with the Moscow Circus! She always credits me with her job success (she's a past student of mine), but it is really her courage and determination that got her through from a sad background to the confident, successful person she is now and I am so proud of her achievements. There are some lyrics from a song that always make me think of her -


I've been up and down and over and out
And I know one thing
Each time I find myself
Flat on my face
I pick myself up and get back in the race

Naturally I wanted to make her a circus themed card! Here tis:


The animal stamp, rub on and papers are Kaiser and I love the little bits of sparkle and shine in them. The sentiment from SU seemed perfect. On the inside I've carried over the Big Top theme:


Hope your day is filled with friendship. Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers
Kez

Saturday, May 28, 2011

NSU - Girlfriends in the Tub

The image for today's card really tickles me and makes me laugh every time I see it! I had great fun watercolouring it up and had a good chuckle when I added the rosy cheeks - well, I figured they would be pretty rosy after a glass or two of wine, LOL!

Here are Girlfriends In the Tub:


That sentiment cracks me up too, it is soooooo true of me and my girlfriends! I'd love to be in a hot tub right now with a glass of wine in hand ... bliss! Sigh!


Materials used:
  • stamps - Art Impressions
  • card & paper - SU, Papertrey Ink, unknown from stash
  • all inks - SU

Thanks for calling in.

Cheers
Kez

Monday, May 23, 2011

Just Believe

In this week's class we are using the stamp set Just Believe, which is one of my favourites from our current catalogue. Here's one of the cards we'll be making:


The edges of the perfect plum card have been sponged with white to soften the colour a little. The main panel was inspired by a card by Monika Davis.

As I've used three of the four colours in this week's Just Add Ink challenge, I thought I'd enter it for that. Not sure if I'm allowed to just drop one colour, but I'll soon find out!

Thanks for calling in.

Cheers
Kez

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Unconvention 3 - So Sweet Sew Suite

For my second project at our Unconvention today I really wanted to use the Sew Suite range for a 3D item. The papers that go with the stamp set are waaaaay too bright for my peace of mind (LOL!) - and you all know I am NOT into brights - so I wasn't keen on using them. Then I saw some projects that talented fellow demo Ruth Clarke had made and I was immediately inspired. Here's my adaptation of Ruth's great idea - the neutral tones give this sewing folder a vintage look:



On the inside I've used felt and elastic to hold my bits and pieces:


Just goes to show the versatility of this set - the different colours and "ambience" of the papers made me look at these stamps in a whole new light.

I hope you've enjoyed seeing my offerings today. I will be back in a day or two to show you the other projects we're making today, plus swaps from the other Unconvention attendees.

Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers
Kez

Unconvention 2 - Whooo Said Owls?

I think it was fairly inevitable that one of the projects I prepared for my friends to make at our Unconvention involves owls! However, I wanted something just a wee bit different so I scoured cyberspace and found the perfect project courtesy of the multi-talented Lynn Pratt.

Here are my owl cards with a difference:





Are they cute or what?

The "doll owl" that the little girl owl is holding is the actual owl punch, so that gives you an idea of the size of the cards. The good news is they fit in a standard size SU envelope, so you can mail these cuties!

You can buy the tutorial for these cards - and an owl box to put them in - over at Lynn's blog here if you are interested. Lynn has made a number of variations - baby, wedding, school, Christmas - so I'm sure you'll find something you like.

My second project will be up later today, so be sure to come back for a look-see!

Cheers
Kez

Unconvention 1 - Swaps

Some friends and I are getting together today for our own version of SU Convention, with projects and shoeboxes and yummy food - just like the real thing! Well, almost! :)

I will be posting throughout the day to show you the projects I have planned, but first up are the swaps I made.



I made a 4" square easel card using my FAVOURITE colour "Kerry Cobbler" teamed with  old olive and very vanilla - a colour combo I adore.

Materials used:
  • stamps - Greeting Card Kids, Because I Care (hostess), Four Frames
  • card - cherry cobbler, very vanilla, old olive, Jolly Holiday DSP
  • punches - scallop trim border punch, decorative label punch
  • other - satin ribbon (Birch), nestabilities die, embossing folder
I'll be back later with the first of the projects I created. See you then!

Cheers
Kez

Thursday, May 19, 2011

I Am Sailing, I Am Sailing ...

... insert gravelly Rod Stewart voice here, LOL!

I managed to get all my things for Unconvention prepared (don't forget to come back on Sunday to see them), so I've been having a play with the a la carte stamp, Sail Away. Such a great stamp for making bloke cards. I mentioned in an earlier post that I was "disappointed" (read jealous) that we didn't get the nautical papers they have in the US mini - so I had a little word with DH's rellies over in the States and they bought some for me. Of course they have extra appeal as they use Kerry Cobbler!

On the first one I've paper pieced the sails and added some jumbo eyelets and bakers twine:


My second card was inspired by a card by LeeAnn Greff - I really liked her helm idea. On this one I love the combination of the map, sentiment and sail boat - I know my DH would love to sail off around the world for adventures! (You can click on the photo for a closer look)


Did you notice the extra seagull in this one? Perfect way to cover up a splotch!

Thanks for calling in. Hope your day is the perfect adventure!

Cheers
Kez

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

I'm Being Secretive

I've had a few people comment to me that I haven't had much up on my blog in the last couple of weeks - well, there are two very good reasons for that! Firstly, I've been picking up a few extra hours here and there at work and also, the things I have been crafting are Top Secret!

On Sunday some friends and I are getting together for a play day we're calling Unconvention, as we didn't go to the SU Convention. I am making two projects plus some swaps, so what little crafting time I've had has been busy working on those and they are secrets until Sunday.

If you are able to come back here on Sunday you will be able to see what I've been hiding away - not without much difficulty, I must say! It's hard not to show you things as I love to share ideas. I will have three posts that day, beginning with my swaps and then my two projects, so if you're interested, pop on by. Those who know me can safely bet on two things: there will be owls and there will be kerry cobbler!

Until then, have a good week!

Cheers
Kez

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Greeting Card Sketch

Today's card is for the Just Add Ink challenge. I was inspired by the cold snap we are having - Thursday morning was apparently the coldest early May morning in 50 years - so a winter theme seemed very appropriate!

Here's my offering:


Materials used:
  • stamps - Greeting Card Kids, digital greeting (non SU)
  • card - ballet blue (retired), whisper white, Sahara sand, watercolour
  • other - polka dots embossing folder, winter scene embossing folder (non SU), snowflake die (non SU), dimensionals, aquapainter, KindyGlitz (non SU)
Hope it's a lot warmer where you are! Thanks for dropping in.

Cheers
Kez

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

The Lure of the Cocoa Bean

DD12 and I had a wonderful weekend away in Melbourne visiting DD19, who was directing a big fundraising show at her uni college. We had a fabulous night at the dinner and show, which had a 1920s murder mystery theme, and then I spent the best Mother's Day ever with my two darling girls. We dined and shopped and sampled some of the fun things Melbourne has to offer - and now DD12 wants to move down there too! Here's a photo of my two charmers outside Max Brenner, where we had stopped to have a hot chococlate/coffee as the weather was a touch cold and wet.


I couldn't resist adding this photo too, as it seems to sum things up quite succinctly ....


I hope all you mums out there had a wonderful Mother's Day too.

Back soon with some cards - thanks for stopping by.

Cheers
Kez

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Vintage Sympathy

A challenge card for you today; this week over at Just Add Ink they want us to Just Add a Flower. I bought a whole bunch of paper roses in a sale a few weeks back and hadn't gotten around to using any of them, so that suited me just fine!

I decided to make a card using muted tones and gave my brayer a little workout with some two-toned embossing. Some new rubber arrived in the mail yesterday and I was dying to try them out! Here's the result:


Materials used:
  • stamps - Our Daily Bread and Stampin' Up!
  • card - crumb cake, very vanilla, soft suede and Baja breeze (all SU)
  • other - Beautiful Wings embosslit die, vintage wallpaper embossing folder, brayer, dimensionals, Baja breeze seam binding (all SU); leaf punch (Carl), labels die (Nestabilities), paper flowers (Kaiser),

Thanks for dropping in.

Cheers
Kez

Monday, May 2, 2011

NSU - Best of Friends

NSU is Non Stampin' Up! so if you want to see only SU content, skip this post. I'll try to use NSU in each blog post title where the content is predominantly other brands.

Yesterday I spent a very pleasant afternoon watercolouring after inking up a new stamp for the first time. I just adore these two sweet girls in their pretty frocks and pinafores.


Materials used:
  • stamps - Penny Black
  • card/paper - Pacific Point and Whisper White (SU), watercolour paper (Canson), designer papers by The Girls Paperie
  • other - Martha Stewart doily lace punch, Rose Red seam binding ribbon (SU), Kaiser pearls
  • inks - all SU

While I was on a roll, I inked up a gorgeous LOTV stamp and broke out some new PTI goodies. Here's my second card:


Materials used:
  • stamps - Lily of the Valley, Verve
  • card/paper - aqua mist, berry sorbet and ocean tides from Papertrey Ink, watercolour paper from Canson, whisper white from SU
  • punches - large oval and scallop oval (SU), doily lace (Martha Stewart)
  • other - dimensionals (SU), pearls (Kaiser), PTI satin ribbon
  • inks - PTI, SU and Versamagic

Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers
Kez

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Sail Away

How nice to see the sun today! Yesterday we had a frustrating and very wet day at the netball opening so it is lovely to see some brightness and cheer this morning - a great welcome to yet another new month!

This morning I was inspired to use Sail Away again for a masculine birthday card and this time I've gone with the classic colours of red, white and navy - so perfect for a nautical theme.

A sweet friend lent me an old SU stamp of an antique map of the world (thanks Lynda!) so that has been stamped on my real red background piece and the sentiment white embossed. I clear embossed the boat on whisper white and tied it all together with some wonderful wide striped grosgrain - aren't these ribbons fantastic? - and a charm from my LSS.

Hope you like it!


In the States SU came out with some great nautical themed papers (in red, white and blue) and I'm disappointed we didn't get them here - HELLO! Island nation! ... Maybe they're still sore from when Aussies beat them in the Americas Cup ... LOL!

Thanks for calling in. Enjoy your Sunday!

Cheers
Kez