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

I Just Can't Resist

Hello from down the rabbit hole! It's great in here - there's distress oxide inks and chocolate marshmallow Easter eggs! What more could a crafter wish for? Okay, you make a good point: wine would be good too. I'm sure the sun is over the yardarm somewhere in the world, right?

So...cards, yes.

I've always loved the white on white effect, especially when teamed with a pop of colour. Today's first card is such a one - take a lookie:

Materials used:

• stamps - none
• card - whisper white, lemon lime twist
• other - balloon punch, Celebrate You thinlits, Big Shot, mounting tape, distress oxide inks, sponging tool, two-way glue pen, snail adhesive

More balloons for my second card and I've used a stencil for this one, spritzing it with water then applying over my sponging for the oxidation process to give me my pattern.

In the next close up, you can see the recessed panel and the shine on the sentiment. It was stamped in craft ink and clear embossed.

Materials used:

• stamps - Picture Perfect Birthday
• card - Sahara sand, whisper white, basic black, Sahara sand patterned paper
• other - basic black craft ink, clear embossing powder, heat tool, double stitched rectangle dies (non SU), chevron stencil (non SU), black rhinestone (non SU), balloon punch, linen thread, Dimensionals, mounting tape, sponge dauber, distress oxide inks (non SU)

My last card is pretty straightforward sponging, but I love the colour combination.

Materials used:

• stamps - Colourful Seasons
• card - basic black, whisper white, silver foil
• other - distress oxide inks, blending tool, silver embossing powder, heat tool, Card Front Builder thinlits, Big Shot, Tree Branch Circle die (Memory Box)

 Time to get back to some chocolate...I mean...housework :-P

Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers
Kez

Mellow Yellow

The cards we're making in class this week all feature yellow - and why not? It's summer and, let's face it, daffodil delight and crushed curry are great colours.

Here's some daffodil paired with Pacific point. This was inspired by a Leonie Schroder creation, which I turned into an easel card.

Materials used:

• stamps - Bird Banter
• card - Pacific point, basic black, whisper white, watercolour, cucumber crush
• other - beautiful branches thinlits, Big Shot, aqua painter, Dimensionals, stitched rectangle die

A simple lever card makes an ideal showcase for the Picture Perfect Birthday set, here paired with retired papers.

Materials used:

• stamps - Picture Perfect Birthday
• card - basic black, whisper white, crushed curry, It's My Party dsp
• other - stitched square framelits, Big Shot, Dimensionals

For our last card we're using a lovely bundle from the second-release SAB catalogue which includes a stamp set and deep embossing folder. Knowing how much I love colouring, it will come as no surprise to you that I pre-ordered this one! I stamped the basket using basic grey ink, then over-stamped with Versamark and added clear embossing powder. Colouring was done with daffodil delight, pumpkin pie, old olive and crumb cake Stampin' Blends.

Materials used:

• stamps - Blossoming Basket, Tabs for Everything
• card - daffodil delight, smoky slate, whisper white
• other - basket weave embossing folder, Big Shot, Stampin' Blends, clear embossing powder, heat tool, jewellery tag punch (retired), linen thread, Dimensionals, paper piercer

Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers

Kez

Out of the Blue

Well hello! It's nice to see you! How have you been?

Yeah, it's me, back from the depths of 'no blog land', lol. I lost my blog mojo for a while there (almost a year, by the looks!) and had all sorts of issues with cameras etc - but you don't really want or need to hear all of that, you just came to look at some cards!

And I have plenty to show, as I've been carding up a storm to show my ladies some examples of what they can do with all the luscious new goodies in the Occasions and Sale-a-bration catalogues. There are some items that caught my attention as soon as I got a sneak peek at them, so it's been tons of fun making cards both simple and more complex. I won't show them to you all at once, but will add a few at a time to whet your appetite and (hopefully!) have you coming back for more.

First up, I've got to say that I really enjoy packs of multi-coloured birthday-themed papers. Last year it was the 'It's My Party' paper pack, this year the Occasions catty has the Picture Perfect Birthday/Party suite with papers, stamps and accessories. The photo-realistic papers make excellent backgrounds for easy card making, great for beginners or those wanting a lovely card without much effort. Here's some samples:

You can't get much simpler than this one. Soft sky and berry burst make a great colour combo, don't they? I'm loving berry burst more and more each time I use it. I cut a double 'celebrate' die and then added glossy accents for some real shine.

Materials used:

• stamps - none
• card - soft sky, berry burst, Picture Perfect Party dsp
• other - Celebrate You thinlits, Big Shot, fine-tip glue, Glossy Accents

The same die has been used on the next card, this time sparkled up and with the added cuteness of a panda, another freebie in the SAB catty.

Materials used:

• stamps - Party Pandas
• card - Bermuda bay, basic black, Picture Perfect Party dsp
• other - balloon punch, black baker's twine, clear Wink of Stella, fine-tip glue, Dimensionals, white gel pen

And my third sample has plenty of my second-favourite 2017-2019 in-colour, Lemon Lime Twist (which I almost always think of as lemon lime splice - for those of you not in Australia, this is the name of a fruity ice block).

Materials used:

• stamps - Picture Perfect Birthday
• card - lemon lime twist, basic black, whisper white, Picture Perfect Party dsp
• other - stitched square framelits, Big Shot, lots of labels framelits, Dimensionals, mini gift bows, black marker

Aren't those papers gorgeous? Birthday cards are the most requested type of card in my classes, so I'm always pleased to get new products that mix and match with existing stuff too - makes my craft dollars stretch further.

My photo-taking skills have deteriorised over the break, so excuse the photos - hopefully I'll get better soon. 

Thanks for calling in.

Cheers

Kez