Celebrating Cupcakes

I wanted to try something a little different with my Lana ladies class, so decided to make an Explosion Box, just a simple one - don't want to totally freak them out, LOL! (Hi gals!) I chose cupcakes as the theme cos, well let's face it, who doesn't love cupcakes? Plus I have a stamp set and a template for cupcakes, so hey, that was a no-brainer! And I likes them no brainers, LOL!

So here's the outside of the box, a simple 7 cm square. I used the adorable Tea Party papers (how perfect is that name, he he!) and the cupcake stamp from Party Hearty.

The sentiment on the top is from Sweet Little Sentiments, which if my memory serves me correctly (which it doesn't always these days, sigh!) is a hostess set.

Then you open up the box to find ....

... a 3D cupcake! This is made from a template by Hot Off The Press and I got it at my LSS. How cute is that?

Topped off with a flower from the Boho Blossoms punch and a brad to match, all completely fat free!

During the week I was honoured to receive the Swap Sisters Bonny Blog Award from Olga. Many thanks for the award Olga! You can check out the lovely work that Olga does here. The conditions of the award are:

1: Put the Swap Sisters Bonny Blog Award on your blog and/or within your post.
2: Share 5 things about yourself.
3: Pass the award onto 5 other Bonny Blogs.
4: Put links in your post of your 5 chosen Bonny Blog Winners.
5: Let them know they have been chosen to win the Swap Sisters Bonny Blog Award by leaving a comment on their blog.
6: PAY IT FORWARD and link the person from whom you received the Swap Sisters Bonny Blog Award.

So, here goes with 5 things about myself:

1. I was nearly born in a car, as my parents got a flat tyre on the way to the hospital to have me and my poor dad had his MIL in the back seat!
2. The only nuts I like are salted peanuts and cashews
3. I am very long sighted
4. I've been on TV twice
5. I love trivia, attend trivia nights once a month and have even run a trivia night fundraiser for juvenile diabetes

Now, to nominate 5 people for this award (in no particular order):

1. Liam Pucher (always amazing me with her talent for 3D creations)
2. Teneale Williams (who has influenced my own creative journey enormously and whose work I 99.9% adore)
3. Andrea Buckland (a lovely lady who creates simply beautiful things)
4. Robyn Irving (who, although she hasn't posted in WAY too long, is very creative and makes gorgeous projects)
5. Tui Nathan (fellow ex-pat Kiwi and talented crafter)

Do pop on over to their wonderful blogs and be inspired by these talented ladies.

Well, that's it from me! Hope you are having a terrific day; thanks for stopping by.

Cheers
Kez

Rewarding Myself

Today I had a heap of housework to get through, so afterwards I rewarded myself with some playtime! It's our team meeting on Monday and we always have a Show and Tell. This month we are meant to show goodies made from our Autumn mini pre-order, but being the newly-poor parent of a university student, I haven't got my pre-order yet! As luck would have it, though, I do have some of the new in colours, so I made some cards using the new colours with existing stamp sets rather than new stamps.

I can't claim credit for the card designs - my mojo having fled along with my bank account! - they are all cased, but unfortunately the relevant computer files are in Melbourne with DD17 and I can't name the creative ladies who originally thought them up. Apologies ladies, and thanks for the help when my brain wouldn't function for itself!

Here they are, hope you like them.

This one uses Rich Razzleberry along with Orchid Opulence (goodness! I've used a Bold Bright!) and So Saffron.

Here I've used Melon Mambo with Rich Razzleberry, Bermuda Bay and Crushed Curry. You could substitute Taken with Teal and Summer Sun or So Saffron. I love this card, it's so cheerful and bright, it does make me want to party!

Loving this combo; Soft Suede with Bashful Blue and Very Vanilla. I think this might get more airings as the months go by ...

Well, I'll just have to wait and see what they think at the team meeting! Hope you are having a great weekend; thanks for calling in.

Cheers

Kez

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

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.