Thursday, May 28, 2009

Brayer and watercolour workshops

Some of my regular ladies have requested workshops in brayering and watercolouring, so I'm offering them to anyone else out there in the greater Sydney area who may be interested. You can come to one that is scheduled in my spacious workshop, or if you have a small group of friends who would like to learn too, I can come to you (within reason!).

Brayer workshops: Tuesday 9th June 10.00 am or Saturday 13th June 2.00 pm

Watercolouring workshops: Tuesday 7th July 10.00 am or Saturday 11th July 2.00 pm

Let me know if you are interested and I'll be happy to arrange something to suit.

Cheers
Kez

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Marelle's May Challenge

Marelle posted a catalogue challenge to her team and everyone who reads her blog - check it out here. Basically, we CASE a card from the catalogue and then change colours, stamps, etc - in other words, use the IDEA BOOK and catalogue for IDEAS!!!!

So, here is the card I CASEd directly from page 141 of the catalogue:

Stamped images ©1990-2009 Stampin' Up! ®

And here are my "mark two" and "mark three" versions:

Created by Kez. Stamped images ©1990-2009 Stampin' Up! ®

Created by Kez. Stamped images ©1990-2009 Stampin' Up! ®

Supplies used (all SU):

  • stamps - A Rose Is A Rose, Short & Sweet, Best Yet
  • card and papers - Pink Pirouette textured card, Tangerine Tango textured card, Bella Rose DSP, Haiku DSP, So Saffron card, Whisper White
  • inks - Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss, Old Olive
  • ribbon - Riding Hood Red taffeta, Old Olive grosgrain
  • other - dimensionals, scallop edge punch, eyelet border punch, sponge daubers, wide oval punch

Check out Marelle's blog and see the other challenge entries. Thanks for dropping by!

Cheers

Kez

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Same card three ways

Yesterday I showed a card I had CASEd from Marelle and today I wanted to play and give it different looks. So here are three cards I have made this morning - in only one hour (three cards in an hour? gotta love that!) - using the same design and same stamp set.

Card one: pastel and pretty

Created by Kez. Stamped images ©1990-2009 Stampin' Up! ®

Card two: blokey bright

Created by Kez. Stamped images ©1990-2009 Stampin' Up! ®
Card three: country charm

Created by Kez. Stamped images ©1990-2009 Stampin' Up! ®

Supplies used (all SU):
  • cardstock - certainly celery, pumpkin pie, riding hood red, so saffron, bashful blue, pretty in pink, whisper white
  • papers - Tea Party DSP, Sweet Slumber Speciality DSP, Jersey Shore DSP (retired)
  • ribbon - certainly celery, pretty in pink, pumpkin pie, baja breeze
  • stamps - Party Hearty
  • other - dimensionals, large oval punch, 32 mm and 35 mm circle punches, small tag punch, 3/4" punch, sponge dauber, markers, so saffron brad
So, here's a challenge for you! Pick a card you have already made and CASE yourself to create a variety of cards using the same stamp set. It is SO MUCH FUN!!!!! and hey! fun is what card making is all about!

Cheers
Kez

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Here we go again

I had the most amazing time yesterday - a mother and daughter workshop with no less than 15 people present! It was an incredibly busy few hours for me, but such a buzz with so many happy stampers and being able to share the pleasure I get from card making and using the wonderful Stampin' Up! products. I had used dazzling diamonds on one of the cards but had forgotten about the effect of girls and sparkles! So my poor hostess had rather a glittery floor afterwards! Sorry Michelle, and thanks again for such a fun afternoon!

And now, back to earth with another round of family birthdays fast approaching, in fact three birthdays over three days in a row! So another batch of birthday cards to make so I can choose good ones for the intended recipients.

First off the rank I decided to case the following card made by my wonderful upline, Marelle.

Marelle has made some lovely cards with this set, Party Hearty, and she MADE me get it! When I looked through my stamps, I found hardly any that don't need colouring in (you all know how much I ADORE colouring in!) and thought I really should have something, and the variety of cards Marelle made sold me. If you haven't seen them on her blog, go check them out.

Her sample is a masculine card but I had my niece in mind, so changed the colours and tossed in some of the new designer papers called Pink Flamingo. Not my cup of tea at all, cos you know I am NOT a bold brights fan whatsoever, but I had got these for DD17. As luck would have it, they co-ordinate with real red and tempting turquoise, which are the only two bold brights inks I own! With the design done for me, it took only minutes to put the card together - you might wanna put some sunnies on though, cos boy! it's a bright one!

It got a big thumbs up from both of my girls and even DH likes it, although he totally destroyed all credibility by asking if it was for a boy! I had to point out that I don't usually make cards with flowers and pink for boys! SERIOUSLY!!!!! LOL!

More birthday cards coming over the next few days, so if you like what you see, call back again!

Cheers

Kez

PS Many thanks for all your kind comments re DD10's Magnolia card. She is totally chuffed at the lovely things you had to say.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

DD10's very first magnolia challenge

Here's another Magnolia card for the MDUC flutterby challenge, made by my gorgeous DD10 for her very first ever challenge entry. She made the entire card completely by herself, took the photo herself and loaded it on to the computer herself!

She used watercolour crayons with an aquapainter to colour and the butterflies are punched first in cardstock, then in vellum, and I am so proud of her effort. Please let her know if you like it!

Cheers

Basketful of Flutterbies

Another hectic week, but as netball was cancelled today, I had time to madly make a card for this week's challenge at Magnolia Down Under. The theme is "flutter by butterflies" and let's face it, who doesn't love butterflies? Here I've used Tilda with a basketful of flowers and just replaced the flowers with a host of pretty "flutterbies". The circle behind Tilda is also clear embossed with butterflies.


Ain't she "purty"?!!! A couple of my mates are freaked out by Tilda and friends having no mouth or nose, but I can't see the issue - she is just so adorable! I think we need a "toot your horn if you love Tilda" bumper sticker!!! LOL!

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheers
Kez

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Protect yourself!

Before you go any further, prop some cushions or pillows all around you ... you are gonna want a soft landing when you fall over with shock!!! Why? Because after a break of about 6 months (and that was for a workshop), I have created a scrapbook page!!!!!!!!! Oops! there you go! are you OK? did the pillows break your fall? Phew! just as well I warned you!

Two things have prompted me to dust the cobwebs off my scrapbooking skills: (a) it is National Scrapbooking Month (and I couldn't take the guilt!) and (b) the totally GOJUS designer papers SU have this year. OK, three things - (c) the May special on designer papers!

In spite of the price increase from last year, these papers are still excellent value for money - for $17 you get 12 sheets of double sided paper, which works out at around $1.42 per sheet. And this month's special works out to be $1.06 per sheet! You will easily pay $2 or $2.50 per sheet in your LSS and they DON'T have colour co-ordinated cardstock, ink, ribbon, brads, buttons, etc. (Have I mentioned how much I LOVE SU?!)

Now, all of this espousing the virtues of the new DSP is going to seem a little strange when you see my layout, because the larger papers I've used are now retired! But there are two current ones in there, and rest assured there will be more pages to follow! So, drumroll please, in honour of this highly auspicious occasion - ta da!

Supplies used:

  • cardstock - basic black (textured), sahara sand
  • papers - Spring Showers (retired), Sweet Slumber speciality, Windsor Knot
  • punch - word window
  • other - chipboard hearts from On Board Essentials, dimensionals, sponge daubers, black journalling pen, black heart brad (stash), white gel pen

Thanks for dropping by. With all those pillows around you, you might as well leave the housework and just keep blog hopping ... much more fun!

Cheers

Kez

Monday, May 18, 2009

Vampires on the loose

This week's challenge at Cinema Saturday is a gem! The girls and I all love the books and we've seen the movie a number of times - and yes, we have the 2-disc special edition DVD. The quote I have used I found on someone's blog and I love it, so it was the natural choice to be my inspiration. We had to use some red and black and some bling.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a good day.

Cheers
Kez

Heartstrings

Regular visitors may recall these mini backpacks I made for my girls when they went back to school at the beginning of the year. DD17 has kindly lent me hers to use as a sample for workshops, but DD-almost-11 has found a sweet and novel use for hers ....

As you know, my younger daughter has type 1 diabetes and in February began on an insulin pump. Something that has been a part of her everyday life is always having with her, her blood glucose testing kit and some fast acting carbohydrates in case of a hypo. She carries these around in a little backpack (in her favourite green!).

So, today I found sitting in the lounge, a favourite teddy of DD10s, together with her lovely new accessories ...

The mini backpack is now a copy of DD10s, and the little cardboard box is teddy's "insulin pump" complete with infusion set and cannula inserted in her tummy. Pulls at my heartstrings, I gotta tell ya.

Have a wonderful day everyone.
Kez

Friday, May 15, 2009

Inspiration comes to she who waits

Unusually for me - most unusually in fact - there's a stamp set I've had for quite a while and not inked up until today! I know! It's incredible! And I broke my own New Rubber Rule!!! But the set is sooooooo gorgeous and I was sadly lacking in inspiration for how to do it justice. Which one is it, you ask? Friends 24/7, another of Shelli's Signature Collection.

Then I was looking at this card on Marelle's blog and the way she used the damask stamp and 'here for you' stamp as a background, stamped at random and overlapped, finally gave me inspiration.

Created by Kez. Stamped images ©1990-2009 Stampin' Up! ®

I stamped on linen textured cardstock, which gives it almost a fabric look, and used plenty of sponging around the edges to give even more of an antique air. The font style of the sentiment fits in nicely with the look I was after, as do the colours of pale plum, perfect plum and basic grey. Finally, a card I am happy with for my first inking of this set! Hope you like it too!

Cheers
Kez

Everything's coming up roses

Alright, I give up! C'mon! It's not fair to have so many gorgeous samples on so many blogs and not expect me to cave and buy the set! I admit it, I am weak! You know I just HAD TO HAVE Fifth Avenue Floral - how could I resist any longer?!!!!!

So, in line with the NRR (that's New Rubber Rule), I had to play with it straight away! This first card is just a run of the mill watercolouring using watercolour crayons in pale plum and perfect plum. For the background I stamped the image repeatedly using Versamark ink.

Created by Kez. Stamped images ©1990-2009 Stampin' Up! ®

The next card uses a watercolouring technique I saw on Patti Bennett's blog and was originally created by Crystal French. They used shimmer cardstock which SU here doesn't carry, so I've substituted regular whisper white. Also, the instructions say use whisper white ink and clear embossing powder, but I found (trial and error) that white embossing powder gives a nicer finish. It is a lot of fun and you can get spectacular colours, so what are you waiting for? Go on, pop over and watch the video tutorial, then give it a try!

Created by Kez. Stamped images ©1990-2009 Stampin' Up! ®

And my third card uses inks on watercolour paper and this time I've stepped out of my square and used orange tones - pumpkin pie and tangerine tango.

Created by Kez. Stamped images ©1990-2009 Stampin' Up! ®

Hope your day is coming up roses too!

Cheers

Kez

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Pink for Lauren

Had a little time to spare this morning while my DDs made me breakfast for Mother's Day, so I whipped up a card. A friend asked me to make a card for her daughter's upcoming birthday and she chose this lovely Sarah Kay stamp. I've used the gorgeous Candy Lane papers with it, they are simply irresistable!


Watercolouring on whisper white with watercolour crayons and inks. If you'd like to see a neat colouring technique, pop on over to this entry on Teneale's blog. Thanks for dropping by!

Cheers

Kez

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Making me thirsty!

It's been a while since I've tried one of Kristina Werner's colour challenges, so I thought I'd give it a burl. I was lucky enough to find a stamp set I thought suited these colours:

Here's what I ended up with:

Created by Kez. Stamped images ©1990-2009 Stampin' Up! ®

That drink looks awfully good - wonder if there's anything more mustard coloured in my liquor cupboard?!!! LOL!

Have a wonderful Mother's Day tomorrow all you mums out there.

Cheers

Kez

Friday, May 8, 2009

A Simple Magnolia for Mum

This week's challenge at Magnolia Down Under is, naturally, a Mother's Day theme. I lost my mum to cancer a couple of years ago but I have made a card I know she would have loved as it uses her favourite colours.

Mum was a redhead and in practically all of my memories of her, she wore earthy tones - browns, oranges, greens and creams - with no fuss or frills, just plains or geometric designs. These gorgeous papers from SU are absolutely perfect, as is Magnolia's Tilda with fall flowers.

Created by Kez. Some stamped images ©1990-2009 Stampin' Up! ®

Miss you mum.

Kez

The Times They Are A Changing

The big news from Convention this year is that our "SU year" will be changing. Instead of a catalogue running from 1st April to 31st March, as from 2010 it will run from 1st September to 31st August. This will mean that SU can:
  • release new products closer to the time they are released in the United States;
  • keep all product offerings, including In Colors, accessories, and stamp sets, more closely linked to our offering in the US;
  • help demonstrators offer popular products in a more timely fashion.

So the new catalogue we have now will run right through until the end of August next year, and there will be THREE mini catalogues during that transition period to keep up with new sets and hostess offerings!

Sale-A-Bration times are also changed - this great promotion will run from 25th January through to 31st March.

Wowser! It will sure be nice not to have to wait so long for all the gojus things we see released in the US!

Cheers

Kez

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Busy as a bee

It seems like ages since I last posted but it's only been four days! I have been as busy as the proverbial bee, which is why I made up this card:


Created by Kez. Stamped images ©1990-2009 Stampin' Up! ®

Aren't they just the cutest darn bees you've ever seen?! Just couldn't resist their cuteness after seeing some gorgeous cards on overseas blogs (this one is inspired by a card by Tamara MCalla). Hopefully this set will make it to one of our mini catalogues in the not too distant future ....

Supplies used:

  • stamps - Just Buzzin' By
  • paper & card - basic grey, riding hood red, so saffron and whisper white cardstock; sweet slumber speciality DSP
  • other - riding hood red and so saffron grosgrain ribbons, 32 mm circle punch, 35 mm circle punch, scallop circle punch, scallop edge punch, dazzling diamonds, crystal effects, dimensionals

Thanks for buzzin' by!

Cheers

Kez

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Magnolia Mojo

Well after FINALLY getting some P&Q I got a card made for two challenges. The theme at Magnolia Down Under this week is spot the dots and I also used the sketch from Mojo Monday.
This is Tilda holding fall flowers, so that inspired me to use all Earth Elements colours - ruby red, not quite navy, close to cocoa, chocolate chip, old olive, more mustard and pumpkin pie.

Thanks for dropping by!

Cheers

Kez

A Truth Universally Acknowledged

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a stamper in possession of new rubber must be in search of ... peace and quiet! (I hope Jane Austen won't turn in her grave at me changing those famous words, but they just popped into my head and wouldn't go away! )

And so it was with me today ... first there was netball, and today for some strange reason known only to the powers that be, DD10's team had to play two rounds - round three and round fifteen! (I'm sure that makes sense to somebody! ) So it was an early start for us this morning and absolutely no time for stamping! DD17 also had a game to play and one to umpire afterwards, then when we got home we had to arrange a gift for a birthday party DD10 is attending tomorrow. As luck would have it, the birthday girl likes craft, so a parcel of goodies from my stash was decided to be a good present choice! Hmmmm.... that meant the craft desk - in a shambles after a busy week - had to be made presentable before use! Once the desk was sorted and goodies chosen, DD10 then took charge of the desk and supplies to make a birthday card. So here I am, sitting at my computer and waiting for MY turn to make something! C'mon! new rubber is a-waitin'!!!!

Meanwhile, now that I've got Austen in my brain, I will make free to be sidetracked ... how do you fancy Austen? We are huge fans here, both books and movies, and I think Pride and Prejudice would be one of our most watched movies. We have the BBC series version with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle, as well as the more recent movie version with Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen. And I have to say, both men are G-O-J-U-S !!!!! If you have only ever seen the recent one at the movies and not on DVD, you HAVE to see the DVD version with the alternate US ending. It is soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo romantic! and MUCH MUCH MUCH better than the ending in the released version here. I won't spoil it for you, but if you are an Austen or P&P fan, you have GOT to see it. Please promise me you will!

Ah! DD10 has finished her card and the desk is now mine, all mine! mwah-ha-ha! OK rubber, I'm a-comin'!

Friday, May 1, 2009

Learning to Tango

How do you like this year's In Colours? Last year's took me quite a while to warm up to, especially Wild Wasabi and River Rock, but I eventually grew to love them all! With this year's batch, I fell in love instantly with four of the six - Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette, Baja Breeze and Kiwi Kiss. Pacific Point I think is my least favourite and I've hardly used it at all, and as for Tangerine Tango ... well, I think I'm warming up to it a little. I loved how it looked on this card, so yesterday I made the effort to use it a bit more and see what I could do with it to diminish the "in your face bright orange" kind of effect. So here's a couple of cards "doing the tango" as it were!

Created by Kez. Stamped images ©1990-2009 Stampin' Up! ®

This one was inspired by a pretty birthday card I received from my team-mate, the lovely Liam. I stamped off the background stamp first but it was still a bit bright, so I toned it down by running my antique linen Tim Holtz Distress Ink pad over it and I did the same over the flower image piece. Lots of sponging around all edges helps give it even more of an aged look. DD17 chose the sentiment (from Bloomin with Beauty) and she LOVES this card - I'm still on the fence, strangely. It seems a little unfinished to me, but then again, DD17 just does NOT understand OCCD (that's Obsessive Compulsive Crafting Disorder!!!!). Maybe it needs ... no! I must stop obsessing!

OK, on to my second tango - inking up new rubber for the first time. Dreams du Jour stamp set and the Bella's Bloom wheel, teamed with paper from Bella Bleu DSP. GOJUS if I do say so myself! Another hit with DD17, amazingly! I'm on a roll!!!

Created by Kez. Stamped images ©1990-2009 Stampin' Up! ®

The chipboard accent is by paperinklings and the adhesive pearls from Kaiser.

Have a great weekend everyone and why not try a little bit of tango!

Cheers
Kez