Oh, Happy Day

They've been around on the "interweb" for a while and I've had them pending in my "Gunnado" file, and now I have finally dedicated a few hours to making one!

A card-in-a-box, that is.

I have seen so many great samples that I had a hard time deciding what theme to use for my first one. Eventually I figured that I couldn't go wrong with birthday as that is the thing my ladies ask for the most. If you're familiar with my work you will know that I don't go in for very busy things, so this was a real challenge for me - to get that fine balance between not having too many empty spaces and having far too much of a good thing!

Here tis:

Materials used:

• stamps - Just Sayin', Happy Hour, Starburst Sayings, Tag Talk, Circle of Friendship (retired)
• card - Pacific point, pumpkin pie, daffodil delight, whisper white, brights patterned papers, Polka Dots dsp
• other - pennant punch, starburst framelits, Big Shot, window sheets, dimensionals, label bracket punch, 1" circle punch, word bubbles framelits

And here's the back view where you would write your birthday message:

It's definitely a bit minimalist, isn't it? I'm thinking now I might need to add a few more bits ....

So, of course, having finally made one, I just had to make another with a different theme. I saw a gorgeous sample on Pinterest (which I think was made by Linda Gray) that I love and had the tools for, so I have used that as inspiration. The gorgeous new in colour Hello Honey was the perfect choice, as you'll see:

 

Materials used:

• stamps - Just Buzzin' By (retired)
• card - hello honey, basic black, whisper white, in colour patterned paper
• other - daisy die (retired), owl punch, 3/4" circle punch, 1/2" circle punch, window sheets, Big Shot, dimensionals, hexagon embossing folder, Blendabilities, pennant punch, sponge dauber
• non SU - Magnolia stamp, Carl daisy punches

On DD16's advice I have left the side panels as they are, as the card is so busy already - though I was tempted to put a honey pot on there.  I'm working on a nautical themed one now, as it's DH's birthday on Tuesday - so back soon with that one!

Thanks for calling in.

Cheers

Kez

Disconnected

With one semester of being both teacher and student behind me, I am sooooooooo pleased to be on a break and have the chance to get back into my craft room to actually create. Mind you, finding some stamping mojo is proving to be no small task!

I had a class with my lovely ladies at the weekend and wanted to show them some of the goodies in store in our new catalogue, as well as making a bit of packaging for a change from just all cards. We used the tag a bag gift boxes with clear covers - I love these, they are so simple to put together and incredibly versatile in how you can choose to decorate them. The ladies loved them too, although they seemed to think I tricked them with how simple they are to assemble and then gave them hard work decorating them! I just don't know what they were complaining about - colouring in and fussy cutting? What's the problem? LOL

Materials used:

• stamps - You're Lovely (SAB), En Francais
• card - whisper white, crisp cantaloupe, pistachio pudding, in colour patterned paper
• other - paper doily, scalloped tag topper punch, tag a bag gift boxes, crisp cantaloupe thick bakers twine, white ribbon, deco label die, Big Shot, dimensionals, clear embossing powder, heat tool, Versamark ink, sponge dauber, blender pen

One of the new stamp sets from our upcoming catalogue that I bought on pre-order is great for masculine cards, always a useful addition. Here's a fairly simple layout using current in colour baked brown sugar teamed with new in colour lost lagoon.

Materials used:

• stamps - Traveller, That's the Ticket
• card - baked brown sugar, very vanilla, lost lagoon
• other - sponge dauber, dimensionals, arrow embossing folder, Big Shot, baked brown sugar thick bakers twine 

Our last project is the thing I am most asked for - a birthday card. Here we are using a new stamp set called In This Together along with an old favourite Happy Hour and some watercolouring.

Materials used:

• stamps - In This Together, Happy Hour
• card - pool party, calypso coral, watercolour, dsp
• other - dimensionals, aqua painter, markers, sponge dauber

That's it for now - hopefully I'll be back soon with some more crafty goodness!

Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers

Kez

So Flipping Simple

Flip cards are our focus in class this month and I just LOVE how simple they are with the new card thinlits dies. They're not so easy to photograph though! lol, so please excuse my finger being in there to hold them closed!

Here's what I came up with for my lovely ladies:

 

This one is a 4 1/4" square card which has been embossed. Pink pirouette is teamed with strawberry slush and a hint of pistachio pudding.

Materials used:

• stamps - Stippled Blossoms, Petite Pairs
• card - pink pirouette, whisper white, pistachio pudding, strawberry slush
• other - labels framelits, label card thinlits, stamp-a-ma-jig, strawberry slush ruffled ribbon, Big Shot, fancy fan embossing folder

DD15 loves this next one, a perfect blend of in colours (excuse the pun!). An extra piece is added on to this one for a third flap.

Materials used:

• stamps - Perfect Blend
• card - coastal cabana, crisp cantaloupe, baked brown sugar, whisper white, In Colour patterned papers
• other - circle card thinlits, 2 1/2" circle punch, circle framelits, Big Shot, chevron punch, baked brown sugar marker, sponge dauber, chevron embossing folder, dimensionals

And lastly a bright and cheerful birthday greeting:

Materials used:

• stamps - Happy Hour (MDS), Happiest Birthday Wishes (retired hostess)
• card - daffodil delight, rich razzleberry, retired SAB papers, whisper white
• other - square punch, button, bakers twine, circle thinlits, Big Shot, 2 1/2" circle punch, circle framelit

I also had a play with making a card with a surprise inside and considering I've never done one of these before, I was very happy with how it turned out. This is a sample only - we're not making this one in class just yet!

Materials used:

• stamps - Happiest Birthday Wishes (retired hostess)
• card - basic black, whisper white, daffodil delight, Modern Medley dsp, other retired dsp
• other - daffodil delight seam binding, 2 1/2" circle punch, circle framelit, Big Shot, Hearts a Flutter dies, bakers twine

That's it for now! With Stamp Camp in only two weeks it will probably be a bit quiet around here until I can show you the camp projects. Do hope you'll keep popping in!

Cheers

Kez

Cheers!

A bright and breezy celebration card for you today as I've been having a play with some new colours. Take a lookie:

Materials used:

• stamps - Happy Hour, Fabulous Phrases
• card - whisper white, Bermuda bay, strawberry slush
• inks - baked brown sugar, Bermuda bay, strawberry slush, crushed curry, rich razzleberry
• other - apothecary accents die, jewellery tag punch, rhinestone, dimensionals, fancy fan embossing folder, Big Shot

The cards are strawberry slush (new in colour) and Bermuda bay (new colour) and the inks include crushed curry (new colour) and baked brown sugar (new in colour) as well as Bermuda and strawberry and "old" colour razzleberry. 

A bit of fussy cutting but don't they look good enough to drink for real? Yum! Which reminds me, I'm heading down to Melbourne at the end of next week to visit DD21 - so I'm pretty sure there'll be a similar drink of some kind on the horizon! LOL!

Hope the weather is being kind to you wherever you are and if you are in Aus, enjoy the long weekend.

Cheers

Kez

Edited to add: the larger die shape in Bermuda bay card is made by tracing around the outside of the apothecary accents die and cutting by hand. Thanks to Emillie for asking!