Wednesday, March 25, 2015

General Excitement

It's an exciting day around here today as I have been published in a craft magazine!

I know? right? who'd have thunk?

I was contacted last month by an editor of a UK craft magazine called Paper Crafter about being included in an article choosing the Top 5 craft bloggers. Well, you could have blown me down with a feather (no mean task, I promise you)! I had a series of questions to answer about blogging and also to include a photo of me (yuck) and a sample of a card (and as it is Spring over in the UK, they asked for something with that theme). I was hectically busy at the time working on design team commitments, so I picked a card from a while ago and sent that off.


Here is the link to the introduction of the article: http://www.papercraftermagazine.co.uk/top-five-papercraft-bloggers

And here is the article itself.



Tip no 1 was mine!

Now I'd better get back to my housework while I can still fit my head in the door!!! (lol, just kidding - not likely to get much housework done today!).

Thanks for stopping by,

Cheers
Kez

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig

One of DD16's school besties is Irish and when I saw a St Patrick's Day card made by Mary Fish, I simply could not resist case-ing it to make for her - it was just tooooooooo cute not to!

So here's my take on Mary's card:


Materials used:
  • stamps - Teeny Tiny Sentiments
  • card - whisper white, garden green, basic black, gold (non SU), garden green patterned paper
  • other - Big Shot, moustache die, bow builder punch, 1 3/4" circle punch, word window punch, banner framelits, Dimensionals

I've always felt an affinity with Ireland, though I'm not sure why; my ancestral connection with the country is tenuous, to say the least. But I've seen a fair bit of Ireland and loved it - and, hey! they've got a whole county named after me (County Kerry), so that's gotta be a good thing!!!!! LOL

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig (Happy St Patrick's Day)! "Tanks" for stopping by!

Cheers
Kez

Sunday, March 15, 2015

NSU Place In Time

I've another gift box for you today, again using gorgeous Graphic 45 papers mixed with some SU stuff and things from my stash.

These papers are from the Place in Time collection and are the May page.





Materials used:
  • card - basic black (SU), Place in Time designer paper (Graphic 45)
  • other - rich razzleberry satin ribbon (SU), basic black taffeta ribbon (SU), butterfly thinlits (SU), Big Shot, tea lace paper doily (SU), paper bloom (Kaisercraft), rose leaf punch and embossing punch (Nellie Snellen), Dimensionals (SU), tag a bag gift box (SU), crop-o-dile

So striking! These papers are more dramatic than the Secret Garden ones I used on my last gift box (see here) but I love them both. I need to find a larger rose leaf punch though - mine's a bit out of proportion to the size of the flower and the butterfly, lol!

Thanks for calling in.

Cheers
Kez

Friday, March 13, 2015

Sunshine

With a grey, overcast day today following rain and thunderstorms the past couple of nights, I was in the mood for some sunshine. And hey, if you can't get it for real, you can get it on a card! Here's what I mean:


Materials used:
  • stamps - Pursuit of Happiness (retired)
  • inks - so saffron, black StazOn
  • card - crushed curry, basic black, whisper white
  • other - Dimensionals, MFT stencil, sponge, stamp-a-ma-jig

A very simple card but the yellow, white, black colour combination always looks good.

Hopefully the weather will co-operate and bring some sunshine tomorrow, as our local town is holding it's Foundation Day celebrations. No more rain please!

Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers
Kez

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Paper Crafters Sampler Sweet Silhouettes


This month the team over at Paper Crafters Sampler have put together a gorgeous bunch of projects featuring silhouette stamps from Stampin' Up!s extensive range.

It was my turn to create a 3D project rather than a card and I decided to stamp inspirational sayings along with the silhouette stamps on some vanilla scented candles, with a gift box to match.

Here's a sneak peek at my candle set and gift box:



I'll come back in a day or two with sneak peeks of the other projects. Meanwhile, if you would like to join in the fun for this month just click on the March widget in my sidebar (over there on the right) to be taken to the PCS website.

Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers
Kez

Edited to add: Here are some more sneak peeks for the March sampler





Sunday, March 8, 2015

Birthday Petals

I was in the mood for classics when I made today's card, as evidenced in my colour and pattern combinations. A little fussy cutting and some crystal effects make the flowers stand out nicely on this cheerful birthday card.


Materials used:
  • stamps - Label Love, Painted Petals, Circle of Friendship
  • card - real red, night of navy, whisper white, Birthday Bash DSP
  • inks - real red, night of navy, garden green
  • punches - 1" circle, artisan label
  • other - real red 1/8" taffeta ribbon, Dimensionals, rhinestones, Crystal Effects

How can you not love navy and red together? Classic!

Thanks for dropping by.

Cheers
Kez

Friday, March 6, 2015

NSU Secret Garden Gift Box

Still in Graphic 45 mode from yesterday, I made a sweet floral gift box using the Secret Garden range of products and a few bits and pieces I had on hand - years of hoarding pay off, lol!




Materials used:

  • card - wild wasabi (SU), lavender lace (SU retired)
  • papers - Secret Garden (Graphic 45)
  • box - Tag a Bag gift box (SU) 
  • paper flowers - purchased 
  • ribbon - melon berry satin (PTI)
  • tag - Secret Garden chipboard tags (Graphic 45)
  • other - paper doily, pistachio pudding thick bakers twine (SU), Dimensionals (SU), rose leaf punch and embossing punch (Nellie Snellen), Tied Together embossing folder (Couture Creations), Big Shot, Tombow glue, crisp cantaloupe re-inker (SU), spritz bottle

I just adore the colours and images in this range, so pretty and feminine. I'd be completely stoked if someone gave me a gift in a pretty box like this (hint, hint, family and friends!!!!!).

Thanks for calling in.

Cheers
Kez

Thursday, March 5, 2015

NSU French Country Thanks

Today I was having a play with some gorgeous Graphic 45 papers called French Country. Blacks, creams and rich earthy tones - sounds right up my alley, don't you think?!

I decided to try a book card as I haven't done one since stamp camp a couple of years ago. I got it mostly right, lol! I used card sizes from a tutorial by Diane Zechman here.

Here's my card:


 



There's plenty of layering as the stickers are made to come apart for just this purpose!

Materials used:
  • stamps - Lovely Little Labels (SU retired)
  • card - basic black, hello honey, very vanilla (all SU)
  • papers - Graphic 45 French Country 6"x 6" patterns & solids
  • other - Graphic 45 French Country cardstock stickers, neutrals candy dots (SU), Dimensionals, black StazOn ink, sanding block

It was nice to make a more complicated card for a change - makes you appreciate all the simple ones! Ha!

Thanks for calling in.

Cheers
Kez

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Celebrate

One of the cards we are making in class this week is a cheerful birthday greeting which is a case of a February PCS card by fellow design team member, Cindy Brumbaugh.


Materials used:

  • stamps - Celebrate Today
  • card - basic black, melon mambo, daffodil delight, whisper white
  • inks - daffodil delight, melon mambo, Versamark
  • other - balloon dies, Big Shot, melon mambo embossing powder, heat tool, white gel pen, finishing touches edgelits, large scallop edgelits, white bakers twine, Dimensionals, ruler

I love how the daffodil and melon really pop on the black background. Hope you like it!

Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers
Kez