Monday, November 29, 2010

Ho Ho Ho

Hello all, yes I'm back from hot and rainy Melbourne and into the thick of Christmas things again! Today a group of friends and fellow demos are getting together for our own version of Regionals, as we were unable to attend SU's version. We are having some projects and doing swaps too, as we don't like to miss out on all the fun! LOL.

Here are the swaps I made for everyone:


Lovin' my owl punch again, LOL! Too cute!

Materials used:
  • stamps - Welcome Christmas, Tags til Christmas
  • card - crumb cake, soft suede, whisper white, basic black, real red
  • other - Christmas Cocoa DSP, dimensionals, pom pom (non SU), real red spotty ribbon (retired), basic black marker
I can't show you the project I prepared just yet, as I am making one as a Secret Santa gift for our team Xmas dinner on Friday night and I don't want to let the cat out of the bag!  I'll schedule it for Friday so you can see. It is simple and fun and a little bit different.

But before then I'll be back to show you what clever things the others came up with for our fun day today. Catch you later!

Cheers
Kez

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Big Shot, Big Fun!

Well, howdy! This comes to you via the magic of cyberspace and being able to schedule my posts in advance, 'cos as you know, I am down in Melbourne with DD18.

Today's offering are little gift boxes that took me all of 10 minutes to conjure up, if that! That's thanks to the wonderful gadgets we have at our disposal - ie dies and punches. Don't ya just love them? I know I do!

They were made using the Box #2 die and my Big Shot and there is only ONE piece of sticky strip holding it together! Yup, just one! The rest is cleverly folded and tucked away. For the first one, I ran a piece of DSP around it, added some ribbon, punched me up a cute little girlie owl complete with hair bow (awwwwww!!!) and a sentiment, and there ya go! All ready for me to tuck some small gift inside and present to the lucky recipient - and all in less than 10 minutes.



So then I decided I wanted to make me a man box! Well, OK, a more masculine looking gift! LOL. This is what I came up with:



This one took a little more time because of colouring the pheasant with markers, plus all the cutting out! But still, a quick gift to make for someone.

Gotta love that, donchya?

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you're having a great day.

Cheers
Kez

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Gimme A Break!

I've been making so many Christmas cards and projects that I just had to have a break from all that red, green and tinsel and make some "normal" cards! LOL! So here's a couple I came up with.

Firstly an old favourite gets an airing again, this time teamed up with some new loves.


 Materials used:
  • stamps - Just Believe, All A Flutter
  • card, paper - basic black, Newsprint DSP
  • ink - black StazOn, crumb cake
  • markers - pink pirouette, pretty in pink, crumb cake
  • punch - scallop trim border
  • other - Victoria crochet trim, pink pirouette brads, dimensionals
DD12 said it is 'gorgeous' and 'elegant', which is just what I was going for, so I'm happy!

Next I made a birthday card for my big bro over in EnZed. I cased this card from Andrea Walford and just added in a couple of touches of my own. Not sure if my brother is in to bright, cheerful cards, but DH loves it! (Gotta remember that for next year!)


inside the card:


Materials used:
  • stamps - Word Play, Party This Way
  • card, paper - pacific point, real red, whisper white, old olive, Celebrations DSP
  • ink - pacific point, basic black
  • other - dimensionals, pacific point brads, corner rounder punch
I'm off to Melbourne again for a few days to help DD18 pack up and move out of her uni lodgings, so I'll be back next week with more goodies! Have a great week and thanks for calling in.

Cheers
Kez

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Plethora of Christmas

Here's a bunch of Christmas cards I've made lately:


This one was cased from Teneale and others, and I used the snowflakes from Snow Swirled to make my wreath. I added dazzling diamonds, which you can't see in the photo.


Another card using Delightful Decorations and the Ornament Punch. Trying to add some vintage glam!


This one is my favourite, so simple and so evocative. The wreath was made using a flower from the Boho Blossoms punch and the Vintage brad makes the perfect door knob!


This one uses a set I was lucky enough to get from the US called Bells and Boughs. I've used the Petals APlenty embossing folder, which matches the poinsettia so well!


Another Bells and Boughs with Petals APlenty, this time using the technique where you mask the embossing to create a gap for stamping on. I painted the poinsettia with Champagne shimmer paint, which you can see in the following close up: 


Gorgeous effect!

Well, I think that may be the last of my Christmas cards this year apart from a few special ones for special people. Still plenty of Christmas boxes, bags and tags to make yet, though!

Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers
Kez

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Bella Toile

The other day I was in a flower and butterfly mood, so I got out the totally gorgeous Bella Toile background stamp and my new Beautiful Wings embosslits.


I stamped BT in Versamark and clear embossed it on the background Blushing Bride piece, then stamped it again using StazOn and watercolour paper. I've used inks and markers in blushing bride, pear pizzazz and concord crush (all current in colours), then cut my butterflies in concord crush. If you're not familiar with these embosslits, they cut and emboss all in one go - fantastic. Add a pearl feature and some of the lovely crochet trim coming in the Summer mini, and I was done!

Thanks for calling in. Have a great day.

Cheers
Kez

Monday, November 15, 2010

Jelly Beans and Life Savers

This card is something quite different from my usual, but there is a special reason for that. Today is World Diabetes Day and my younger daughter (DD12) has Type 1 Diabetes (previously known as Juvenile Diabetes or Insulin Dependent Diabetes).

Unlike the more common Type 2 diabetes, Type 1 is not lifestyle related and cannot be prevented. It is an autoimmune disease that is triggered by a virus and causes the body's immune system to attack cells in the pancreas where sugar from food is turned into energy.

DD12 has to check her blood sugar levels around 6 times a day and must inject herself with insulin every time she eats and at regular intervals throughout the day 24/7, 365 days a year. There are around 140,000 Australians living with Type 1 Diabetes, most of them children or young people.

If her blood sugar levels go low that is known as Hypoglycaemia and DD12 eats jelly beans to bring her sugar levels back up to a normal level quickly. That's the reason for the design of my card, a bunch of jelly beans arranged to spell the word CURE. And the reason for my header, because jelly beans can literally be a life saver to a type 1 diabetic.


As her favourite colour jelly bean is black, I've used the gorgeous striped grosgrain ribbon in black - plus I think it looks like a licorice strap, another good thing for a hypo! I used my Versamark pen to clear emboss the jelly beans to give them that sugar-coated candy look.


I'd like to also dedicate this card in spirit to all Type 1 diabetics out there, and especially Kim and Lynda.

Thanks for calling in today.

Cheers
Kez

Friday, November 12, 2010

The Owls Have It

For classes next week my ladies will be having a hoot and making some owl cards. They are very similar to ones I've done before, but I have simplified them a little so the beginners class won't have much trouble (I hope!).

Firstly, one that can be used for an engagement, wedding or anniversary:


Next a get well card - and the ladies DEMANDED my doctor and nurse owls!


The three wise owls are very popular too and whoooo could possibly resist them in a peek-a-boo card?


The leaves are from the Leaves #2 die and I've used my new woodgrain background stamp. Don't you love the paper on their tummies? So perfect for owls - it's from the Elegant Soiree set.

Have I persuaded you to get this punch yet? More owl ideas coming, so stay tuned! Thanks for calling in.

Cheers
Kez

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Checking It Twice

I was making a number of Christmas cards yesterday, so it should come as no surprise that I've got a Christmas themed owl card to show you!

This started off as something completely different in my head, but once I got the Santa suit on him, it just snowballed from there. I've used the adorable mini library clips again (DH loves these!) and although Santa's belt buckle is a little oversized, it looks good, don't you think? Gotta leave room for some expansion after all the milk and cookies!

The Christmas Cocoa designer papers (in the Welcome Christmas bundle with FREE ribbon) were just perfect to match and the sentiment comes from Four the Holidays, expanda-punched with the word window punch. (You know, where the sentiment is too long for the punch, so you slide it in the back of the punch. Leave me a comment if you are not familiar with this and would like a tutorial.)

So back to the card and here he is:


He he! Sooooooo cute! Now you might just want to click on the photo to get a closer look at the Naughty and Nice lists to see where your name is ........!!! LOL! I'm on the Nice list of course! :P

Thanks for stopping by today. Have a good one!

Cheers
Kez

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Bows, Anyone?

If you've been around my blog for a while (and if you haven't, why not eh?!! LOL!) then you may have read the saga of my Bow Tying Machine. Here are some links to earlier posts - here and here.

Well, my ladies love my little bow tying machine and we often use it in classes, so one of them got her handy hubby on the job and he made us all our very own personalised bow tying machine. Here's mine, all beautifully lacquered and engraved with my name on it. Much classier than my original!



I originally got my machine in NZ, but I have seen the same product on US blogs, so this is a craze that is sweeping the world! LOL! The good news is that you can order your very own! It will be lacquered like mine and have your name engraved on it too (keeps it safe from jealous friends!) - and all for the very reasonable price of $12.95 plus postage.

Interested? Want to be able to tie lovely bows of any size? Order from me using the link over in the right hand column before Christmas and I'll throw in some ribbon samples too!

Whatchya waiting for?

Cheers
Kez

Monday, November 8, 2010

Night Owl

Talking to DD18 the other day gave me an idea for another owl card - so I hope you're not sick of them by now?

Anyways, she was saying how she had been out partying until the wee small hours (exams are almost over), which of course made me reflect on how she is a real "night owl" -  now maybe you can see where this is heading!

So after some cogitating I came up with this glamorous night owl gal, off for a night on the town in her blingalicious outfit! I made the moon all glittery too, which reminds me of a disco ball and that fitted the theme perfectly!



I embossed the front with Elegant Lines and I've used blue and brown because those are DD18's fav colours and this one is definitely for her!

Hope you like it! I've got another owl idea brewing too, so will be back with that one soon.

Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers
Kez

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Sketch It Up

It's a lovely sketch challenge this week over at Just Add Ink so I thought I'd have a go. I've flipped it a little, but I think it's still pretty recognisable.


I made some Champagne shimmer mist and sprayed the flower - I love effect, it looks soooo pretty. It doesn't show up well in this small size, but click on the photo for a closer look!




The paper is from Sweet and Sour, the same papers I used for the cupcake box and card here, so as you can see this set contains some lovely glam papers as well as bright cutesy ones! The top two layers were distressed around the edges.

Materials used:

  • stamps - Word Play
  • card - rose red, sahara sand, very vanilla
  • paper - Sweet and Sour speciality
  • ribbon - sahara sand (retired)
  • crochet trim - chantilly (Summer mini)
  • other -  flower (non SU), shimmer mist, nestabilities die (non SU), basic black and rose red markers
This one will have to be hand delivered as the flower is way too deep to fit in an envelope without getting squashed! Hope you like it; thanks for dropping by.

Cheers
Kez

Friday, November 5, 2010

My New Baby

Yesterday I wandered into Dick Smith (or Duck Smuth, as we kiwis call him! LOL!) Powerhouse to have a look at mobile phones. I don't like the one I've got and with Xmas coming up and all, I thought it was a good time to see what is around.

Well, I didn't end up seeing any mobile phones I liked, but I did bring home one of these babies:


OMGosh, it is fantabulouso! I am having such fun playing and trying to equate things with the PC version I am so used to! But I can't wait to have time to get into some serious fun with photos, movies etc! Yay! Roll on the Christmas holidays!

DD12 of course insists that I really bought it for her - AS IF!!!!!

My summer mini pre-order goodies arrived today so I'll try to get some crafting done over the weekend ... might be a bit distracted though! You understand ....

Cheers
Kez

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Nurse's Orders

One of my customers had an operation last week and has a few weeks of recovery ahead of her, so I made her a get well card. She is a nurse and loves Cherry Cobbler too (ie she is a woman of refinement and impeccable taste!!!) so naturally my card had to incorporate both of those. This is what I came up with:


You just gotta love those little owls, they are so darn cute! My ladies all love them too, and this month's classes are all about the owls! More on that closer to the time ...

Materials used:
  • stamps - Word Play
  • card - cherry cobbler, whisper white, crumb cake, bordering blue, basic black
  • paper - cherry cobbler from regals collection DSP
  • punches - owl, horizontal slot, scallop trim border
  • other - dimensionals, basic black and cherry cobbler markers, hodgepodge hardware, kraft taffeta ribbon
Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers
Kez

Monday, November 1, 2010

Birthday Set

The lovely postie man brought one of those nice brown boxes this morning and my goodies included the Sweet & Sour speciality papers. Now, these are not my usual colours (as you will all know!) but for some reason, they do appeal to me. Anyway, their arrival was absolutely PERFECT timing because not half an hour later I discovered that today is the birthday of my dear friend and team-mate, Liam. I wanted to make her something, so I quickly sat down and made her a cupcake carrybox with matching card.

Here a pic:


I cased the card from SCS by mamamostamps, just tweaking it a little, and of course decorated my carrybox to match. The stamps for the card and the tag on the box are from the set Birthday Bakery, a level 1 hostess set and the cutest of the bunch, in my opinion. Michel's Patisserie provided the cupcake with pink icing to fill the box!



If you are an admirer of Liam's wonderful creativity, why not pop over to her blog here and wish her a happy birthday?

Thanks for stopping by. Now back to cutting cards for tonight's class!

Cheers
Kez