Nautical Journey

Over the past few months since we bought our boat I've been "collecting" stamps and dies with a nautical/ocean theme - partly because I want to make a range of cards and hopefully sell them to fellow boaties and partly because I want to make some items to decorate the boat. The 'artwork' left on board by the previous owners is ... well, let's just say it's not to my taste, lol.

Here's my first attempt. I saw this verse on a canvas in a store and if it hadn't been hideously expensive I would have bought it. As it is, I've printed it on to some watercolour paper then stamped my image and coloured it in. I know it's not framed perfectly proportion-wise, but until (and if) I can find a more suited frame, this is to give you an idea. It will eventually hang either in my cabin or in the saloon (lounge area).

Materials used:

• stamps - Sailboat (Whimsy Stamps)
• card - watercolour, basic black, coastal cabana
• inks - daffodil delight, calypso coral, coastal cabana, Bermuda bay, Pacific point, cajun craze, Sahara sand, whisper white, soft sky
• other - aqua painter, inks, clear Wink of Stella, markers, white gel pen, Stamparatus

There's a hint of sparkle in the spray on the port side and in the wash trailing behind which look magical when catching the light.

What do you think? Let me know in the comments! And thanks for dropping in.

Cheers

Kez

Much Comfier

Another distress oxide card for you today, this one much more my style of blending and therefore I'm more comfortably in my zone.

Materials used:

• stamps - You Matter (Simon Says Stamps)
• card - thick whisper white, basic black
• distress oxide inks - picked raspberry, mustard seed, abandoned coral, wilted violet, peacock feathers
• other - blending tools, water spritzer, You Matter dies (SSS), Big Shot, small butterfly punch (SU retired), clear epoxy shapes, clear Wink of Stella, white baker's twine

I'm going to need a number of 'missing you' and 'thinking of you' cards in the future as both our daughters are heading overseas for work or study, the younger one in a week and the elder next month. It's an exciting time but I will miss them terribly; thank goodness for Skype and the internet. When I was doing my big 'overseas experience' it was snail mail and reverse charge phone calls home to my parents - how times have changed!

Thanks for dropping by.

Cheers

Kez

Playing with my DOs

I was inspired this morning to play with my distress oxides and just for something completely different from my usual style, tried the 'splotchy' background look. This is waaaaaaay outside the box for me and I'm not entirely sure I'm happy with it, but there you go. You've got to start somewhere, right?

As I applied my inks I dried between layers with my heat tool, then I stamped parts of the sheet music stamp using a contrast colour, stencilled the lattice design with a darker ink, then stamped with Versamark and gold embossed small splatters. Once everything was finished I applied a light coat of distress glaze, which seals and intensifies the colours. It was a thoroughly enjoyable process and I know realistically I'm just feeling uncomfortable about it because it's so far beyond my wheelhouse. Ho hum. More practise, methinks. I'll be very interested to read your comments.

Materials used:

• stamps - Gorgeous Grunge, Sheet Music, Picture Perfect Birthday
• card - Bermuda bay, gold foil, shimmer white
• distress oxide inks - picked raspberry, peacock feathers, wilted violet, spiced marmalade, mermaid lagoon
• other - stitched rectangle framelits, Big Shot, mounting tape, Versmark ink and marker, gold embossing powder, heat tool, water spritzer, embossing buddy, distress micro glaze

If you're into this look please do let me know how I've done and I'd appreciate any hints you may have for my next attempt!

Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers

Kez

Foiled Again

I don't know if you've noticed the lovely lipstick and grapefruit grove foil card available as a Sale-a-bration freebie - it's easy to overlook until you see what it's capable of.

You see, the grapefruit grove foil has some holographic type quality that catches the light and seems to reflect a whole rainbow of colours back at you. I know, amazing huh? Here's a card I made with it, inspired by another card by Beth McCullough.

If you catch it in a different light, you get a different mix of colours - for example:

Isn't that gorgeous? 

Rather than stamp a sentiment, I cut two 'friend' dies - using the same colour as the background means it doesn't steal any limelight from the gorgeous shimmering foils and the double layer makes it stand out just that little bit more.

Materials used:

• stamps - Star of Light
• card - night of navy, grapefruit grove foil
• other - detailed dragonfly thinlits, Big Shot, Well Written thinlits, copper embossing powder, heat tool, mini Dimensionals, double-stitched framelits

Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers

Kez

Blog Hop Colour Challenge

It's time for another challenge blog hop with my SU team-mates and this month we were given a colour combo to use.

These sweet colours are not only featured in ribbon in the SAB catalogue, but also in gingham designer series papers in the Occasions catalogue. They are bright and cute and funky and I've been really enjoying playing with them.

Firstly I used one of my favourite new sets from the Occasions catalogue, Butterfly Gala. I'm not usually much into butterflies but this one is so lovely - both the stamped images and the sentiments - I found it irresistible. We made this in my last class and my ladies loved it. The three colours from the challenge I've used are daffodil delight, balmy blue and lemon lime twist.

Materials used:

• stamps - Butterfly Gala
• card - daffodil delight, whisper white, lemon lime twist, basic black, Botanical Butterfly DSP
• inks - Momento tuxedo black, balmy blue, daffodil delight
• other - butterfly duet punch, gingham gala adhesive backed sequins, clear Wink of Stella, tropical thinlits dies, Big Shot, stitched rectangle framelits, Dimensionals

I needed a 'thank you' card so for this one I took some of the flower images from Tea Together, pairing them with laser-cut details. I spritzed my brayered grapefruit grove background with some white shimmer mist to give it a lovely sparkle. The colours used from the challenge are grapefruit grove, lemon lime twist and highland heather.

Materials used:

• stamps - Tea Together
• card - whisper white, Beautifully Detailed Laser-cut Speciality paper, grapefruit grove, basic grey
• inks - lemon lime twist, Memento tuxedo black, grapefruit grove
• other - Big Shot, Dimensionals, Well Written framelit dies, white shimmer mist, stitched rectangle framelits, blender pen, glue pen, precision plate, tea time framelits, Stampin' Blends (highland heather), brayer

Seeing purple and orange together always makes me think of a line from the movie Four Weddings and a Funeral, where Gareth comments on Scarlett's outfit -

LOL.

I used the same three colours on my last card - another we made in class - but in completely different proportions.

Materials used:

• stamps - Hello Cupcake
• card - lemon lime twist, basic black, whisper white, Gingham Gala DSP
• inks - lemon lime twist, grapefruit grove, highland heather, Memento tuxedo black
• other - organdie ribbon combo pack, mini glue dot, Dimensionals, clear Wink of Stella

That's all I have for you today. I'm third on the list of blogs, so you can go back to see what Kristy made or move forward to view Marelle's creations and keep going until you've completed the circle. 

Please leave some comment love and thanks for calling in!

Cheers

Kez

I'm In Distress

A friend pointed out recently - none too subtly, I might add - that it's been a while since I played with my distress oxides; all the more reprehensible since I have twelve new colours. So I remedied that situation today, trying out some colour combos from my Pinterest board.

Unfortunately this first card is one of those where a last minute smudge appeared from I know-not-where once everything else was finished. Very frustrating. My ink of choice smudged a bit too, so that's another lesson learned. However, I'm going to show it to you anyway because apart from those small faux pas, it's lovely imo. The butterflies are stamped on vellum and coloured with Stampin' Blends to match the shades beneath.

Materials used:

• stamps - Butterfly Gala
• card - very vanilla, vellum
• distress oxides - tattered rose, abandoned coral, seedless preserves
• SU inks - very vanilla, black StazOn
• other - butterfly duet punch, Stamparatus, bokeh template, sponge, clear Wink of Stella, double stitched framelits, Big Shot, blending tools, Stampin' Blends - flirty flamingo, calypso coral, rich razzleberry

My second card was inspired by an ATC box made by Anna-Karin. I have a real soft spot for this vintage/distressed look.  

Materials used:

• stamps - Leafy Vines (Hero Arts)
• card - very vanilla, cajun craze
• distress oxides - antique linen, tattered rose, Victorian velvet, barn door, fired brick
• other - Well Written framelits, Big Shot, glue pen, clear embossing powder, heat tool, blending tools, distressing tool, mounting tape

It was a lot of fun playing with my DOs, I must admit, so hopefully it won't be long before I do it again.

Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers

Kez

Being Green

Kermit may think it isn't easy being green but the little guy on my card today sure looks like he's having a fun time. Here's a bright birthday greeting using the Sale-a-bration set, So Hoppy Together.

The leaves were stamped in Versamark and clear embossed; the frog and balloon were coloured with Stampin' Blends. There are two layers of the greeting dies as I love the extra dimension having that second layer gives and I sponged halves with daffodil delight for another touch of yellow.

Materials used:

• stamps - So Hoppy Together, Tropical Chic, Bird Banter
• card - night of navy, whisper white
• other - clear embossing powder, heat tool, Well Written thinlits, Big Shot, Stampin' Blends in daffodil delight and granny apple green, googly eyes, Dimensionals, sponge, glue

So cute! Am loving these three colours together too. What are your favourites for pairing with frog green?

Cheers

Kez

In Which My Opening Sentence Could Surprise

The only thing wrong with getting brand new crafting goodies - if I may be so bold as to suggest there could possibly be anything wrong with getting new stuff - is that ... no, wait, I think I need to amend that sentence. The only thing wrong with getting a bunch of new crafting goodies (cause I guess it's not really an issue if you only get one or two) is deciding which ones to play with first.

And then, of course, is the 'first try phenomenon'. By that I mean that you're so keen to just ink those stamps up or cut that ribbon/designer series paper that your first creation is not always...well, an important work of art, let's say. Not that I hate the cards I'm about to show you - no, no - it's just that they didn't come out as well in real life as they did in my head. Such is life, I guess. Maybe I could list that as the second thing wrong with getting brand new crafting goodies? Yeah, I hear you; I'd better stop there before I think of more things wrong and commit crafting sacrilege!

Alright, take a look at some new stuff:

Materials used:

• stamps - Butterfly Gala
• card - highland heather, whisper white, Gingham Gala DSP
• other - Stampin' Blends, Big Shot, stitched seasons framelits, butterfly duet punch, glitter enamel dots, Dimensionals, edging dies (non SU)

This card uses products from the Gingham Gala suite - there's the stamp set, matching punch, gingham designer papers (in 5 colours), sequins and more. Plus, the upcoming Sale-a-bration catalogue also has matching butterfly designer paper AND ribbons to match the gingham papers. I'm not usually much into butterflies, but this suite was too lovely to resist.

Materials used:

• stamps - Climbing Roses
• card - petal pink, whisper white, smoky slate
• inks - petal pink, smoky slate, mint macaron, basic grey
• other - Stampin' Blends, scissors, Stamparatus, sponge daubers, distressing tool, Dimensionals

I do love me some distressing and sponging. A little bit of stamping-off softens background colours too.

And I also have a bunch of not SU goodies and couldn't possibly neglect them, so here's how my first card with those turned out:

Are these little guys cute or what? The shimmer mist sunbeams look gorgeous when they catch the light too. I've done a video on the making of this card, so if you're interested pop on over to YouTube HERE. And if you like it, give me a thumbs up and subscribe so you'll get notified each time I put up a new video.

Materials used:

• stamps - Gill Friends (My Favourite Things)
• card - soft sky, basic black, whisper white
• distress oxide inks - faded jeans, mermaid lagoon
• other - embossing buddy, white embossing powder, heat tool, Big Shot, Gill Friends dies, Stampin' Blends, Dimensionals, clear epoxy shapes, white shimmer mist, sun ray stencil (MFT), paper towels, blending tool

So that's what I've been playing with - more to come (but maybe not until after Christmas). Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers

Kez

Video! Video! Video!

Okay, this is only the second video I've ever made, so please be gentle with me, lol. It's funny how I can talk to myself quite frequently, but suddenly when you know it's being recorded it becomes a whole new ball game. I don't think I um and aah too much and just excuse the slight wobble at the very beginning.

Meanwhile, thanks to everyone who asked to see this - it's me showing you how I made my double display Dashing Deer Christmas card from this post. If you have any questions or there's something I don't make clear enough in the video, please email me (link over on the right somewhere) - BUT, having said that, no I do not know what all these measurements are in inches, but I know Google can tell you that info very easily.

Unfortunately Blogger couldn't load the video here, claiming it's too large a file, so I'll have to direct you to my YouTube page so you can watch it there. Click HERE.

Thanks for dropping in.

Cheers

Kez

Christmas boxes

Each year when my class ladies and I have our annual Christmas Dinner at a local restaurant, I give them a craft challenge. It's been a tree decoration, item to wear, tags, etc in the past. This year they each had to make a small gift box a la 'Pootles', and I gave them a Christmas-scented candle to put in it. Here's a photo of the lovely decorated boxes they came up with:

Aren't they cute? Such a wonderful variety.

We had a lovely dinner together, as always, although it sadly brings another year of crafting together to an end. Our numbers have dwindled over the years, but we still get much pleasure, laughter and companionship from getting together to create and I am thankful to have the opportunity to share my crafting love with them.

Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers
Kez

Deer Oh Deer

SU's Dashing Deer and Joyous Noel speciality papers have been getting a real workout in my craft room lately as I've been busy with Christmas cards for various people.

Firstly I adapted the card I made recently for the Less is More challenge, simply adding two more layers. Here's how that turned out:

A little more involved is this double display card:

Here are some double gatefold cards which have a belly band to hold them shut. I had to make 10 of these, so there's a little variety.

And lastly a card a simple card that follows the sketch from the blog hop I took part in not so long ago. The wooden embellishment was stamped with Versamark and embossed with copper embossing powder to match the glints of copper on the papers.

Hopefully that's an end now to Christmas cards for this year. Having been designing and making them since July, I'm always well and truly over them by the time December comes around! I bet a few of you are nodding your heads and agreeing, am I right?

Materials used:

• stamps - Dashing Deer, Stylish Christmas
• card - grey granite, tranquil tide, whisper white, vellum, Joyous Noel DSP, copper foil
• other - Festive Farmhouse elements, copper embossing powder, heat tool, Dimensionals, stitched circle framelits, Big Shot, stitched hills dies, double display card and layers dies (ODBD), extended Big Shot platform (non SU), Detailed Deer thinlits, Seasonal Layers thinlits, tailored tag punch, Stamparatus, Simply Scored, hills stencil (non SU), marker, copper washi tape

Thanks for dropping by.


Cheers
Kez

Serene Snow

How often do you make a one layer card? If your answer is 'practically never', then I say 'join the club' because I am usually all about the layers. So I was kinda surprised when the challenge over at Less is More caught my eye the other night and set my creative mind whirring.

It didn't take long for an idea to come to mind so I thought about it for a while before I went to bed. Then I thought about it some more once I was in bed (yeah, it's real conducive to sleep *she says sarcastically*) and again the next day. Eventually I sat at my craft desk to see if the idea would come together and I think it did. I'm quite happy with my result, anyway, and for me to be happy with only ONE layer is pretty much unprecedented, so yeah...break out the Toblerone (or Cadburys or Lindt...) 

And that's my second winter-themed Christmas card in two posts - looks like the drought is well and truly broken, lol.

Materials used:

• stamps - Dashing Deer, Gorgeous Grunge, Stylish Christmas
• card - very vanilla thick 
• inks - soft suede, pool party, cherry cobbler, Versamark
• other - clear embossing powder, white embossing powder, heat tool, embossing buddy, Stamparatus, Drifts and Hills stencil (MFT), sponge, sponge dauber, marker

I began with stamping the deer using my Stamparatus and soft suede ink, then overstamped with Versamark and clear embossed (this was so sponged ink wouldn't change their colour later). Then I stamped the snowfall in Versamark and white embossed, having masked my ground area with the stencil. Next came the sponging in pool party ink for the sky, then moving my stencil and sponging more snow drifts. Excess ink was wiped off all the embossed pieces with a tissue. Shadows were added with a marker and my sentiment was stamped last in cherry cobbler.

Have you challenged yourself lately to try something completely different to your usual style? 

Thanks for calling in.

Cheers

Kez

Double Front Dashing Deer

While I've been studiously avoiding a winter theme on purpose for my Christmas cards this year (the festive season falls smack-dab in the hottest months here in Australia), a snowy card was hard to pass up when I saw the inspiration challenge for this week over at Just Add Ink.

So here's what I came up with, a double front style card (design idea gleaned from Lisa Curcio).

Front 1:

Front 2:

Inside:

Navy and white always look so elegant together, I love them, and here with soft suede they're perfect.

Materials used:

• stamps - Wonderland, Gorgeous Grunge, Dashing Deer
• card - night of navy, whisper white, soft suede
• inks - night of navy, soft suede, Versamark
• other - Detailed Deer thinlits, Big Shot, white embossing powder, embossing buddy, heat tool, Sahara sand marker, stitched rectangle dies (Poppystamps), stitched hills dies (Poppystamps), Stamparatus

I'm toying with the idea of doing a video on how I made this card, so if that's something you'd like to see please leave a comment to that effect and if there's enough interest I'll do it.

Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers

Kez

Edited to add: Thrilled to have been picked for the challenge! Video made and uploaded at THIS LINK.

Stampers Anonymous November Blog Hop

Welcome to the Stampers Anonymous Team Blog Hop!

It's been an age since our last blog hop but we hope you will enjoy visiting each site to see what we've created for you. For this inaugural hop we had a sketch as our inspiration:

My three offerings not only have the sketch in common, but also all use the Buffalo Check background stamp. I've been having such fun with this amazingly versatile stamp!

First up is a soft baby card with some three-step stamping.

Materials used:

• stamps - Buffalo Check, Baby Bear
• card - soft sea foam, granny apple green, whisper white
• inks - soft sea foam, granny apple green
• other - Stamparatus, markers, ruler

Isn't that bear adorable? Makes me wish I had grand-babies to spoil!

Next is a fun little card I know one of my daughters will love to have. I angled my background and moved the sentiment panel a little to preserve the balance of the card. The coffee cup is covered with a die cut piece of acetate to give the look of those clear plastic cups they use for iced coffees, and I made my whipped cream from shimmery white embossing paste. It has tons of texture and looks amazing in real life.

Materials used:

• stamps - Buffalo Check, Coffee Cafe
• card - basic black, whisper white, daffodil delight
• inks - daffodil delight, Memento tuxedo black, crushed curry
• other - Stamparatus, shimmery white embossing paste, spatula, Coffee Cups framelits, Big Shot, Dimensionals, markers, ruler

For my third card I deconstructed the background a little, tilting again for added interest. The dog and bird were coloured with a blender pen and inks, then fussy cut and raised on my sentiment panel.

Materials used:

• stamps - Bella and Friends, Itty Bitty Greetings, Buffalo Check
• card - lemon lime twist, gorgeous grape, whisper white
• inks - lemon lime twist, Memento tuxedo black, crumb cake, daffodil delight, poppy parade, gorgeous grape
• other - circle dies, Big Shot, Stamparatus, Dimensionals, clear Wink of Stella, scissors, blender pen, gorgeous grape marker, ruler

Well, that's it from me; now click on one of the links below to be taken back or forward and see what the other ladies in the team have created for you. 

Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers

Kez

Merry Pines

Our team challenge this month is a Christmas card featuring predominantly green and white, though we can add in other colours. As I've been deep in Buffalo Check mode this week, I thought I'd have a go at a homespun card for the challenge.

I added touches of poppy parade and crumb cake with markers to make my tartan background, white embossed one of the wooden Festive Farmhouse elements, and roughed up my crumb cake frame with some uneven sponging. Pine leaves and a bow made from thick white baker's twine coloured using Stampin' Blends finish the decor.

I think my crumb cake marker needs re-inking or replacing; you can barely see it in these photos.

Materials used:

• stamps - Buffalo Check
• card - shaded spruce, crumb cake, poppy parade, whisper white, vellum
• other - Pretty Pines thinlits, Big Shot, stitched rectangle framelit, white embossing powder, heat tool, mounting strips, mini glue dots, poppy parade Stampin' Blends, crumb cake marker, ruler, Tombow glue, thick white baker's twine, sponge dauber

I haven't used shaded spruce before, but it certainly is Christmassy, don't you think? Love how a touch of poppy parade brightens it up too. 

Thanks for popping in.

Cheers

Kez