Floral Fantasies

Many things excite we crafters but there's not a lot that compares with a brand new catalogue full of shiny, gleaming new SCHTUFF! Yeah, baby.

So I've been having a play with lots of new schtuff and here are the cards we made in class yesterday - which, coincidentally, all feature flowers.

First up is new set Dandelion wishes and new colour Balmy Blue. This was cased from Monica Gale, who I think used the Bokeh stamp but as I haven't got that, I did the Bokeh the old fashioned way. I stamped the flower and sentiment with black craft ink and clear embossed (you could also stamp with Versamark and use black embossing powder, but I didn't have any at the time. I've fixed that now.) so I could sponge over the top. Post it notes were used to mask a portion of my white card, I sponged with balmy blue then with whisper white using my Bokeh template. Don't have a Bokeh template? Just punch a mixture of circle punches on a piece of firm acetate and voila!

Materials used:

• stamps - Dandelion Wishes
• card - smoky slate, balmy blue, whisper white
• other - post it notes, sponges, circle punches, clear embossing powder, heat tool, Stamparatus

Our second card is another 'get well soon' type, this time using new set Healing Hugs, which is one of the new DisINKtive type stamp sets. These are deeply etched at different levels into the rubber, creating depth without having to 2-step. This one was inspired by a creation by Lynn Hoyt.

Materials used:

• stamps - Healing Hugs
• card - grey granite, lovely lipstick, whisper white
• other - embossing paste, Pattern Party decorative masks, palette knife, Dimensionals

And lastly another case, this time from one of the Artisan Design Team members but I don't remember who! When I find their name, I'll come back and add it. They had used a different sentiment and also sponged an ombre effect in the background, but I chose to just use plain card. Varied Vases is the new stamp set (which I borrowed from my friend Robyn, along with the matching punch) and two returning colours are featured - coastal cabana and poppy parade, along with new colour grey granite. I'm rather liking this new colour, it's a great mix between grey and brown.

Materials used:

• stamps - Varied Vases
• card - grey granite, coastal cabana, basic black, whisper white, Delightfully Detailed laser-cut DSP
• other - embossing buddy, white embossing powder, heat tool, Stamparatus, Dimensionals, Big Shot, pinewood planks embossing folder, water spritzer, vase builder punch

All the fussy cutting on this one should keep my ladies busy - and quiet! LOL! 

Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers

Kez

Getting Inky

I just adore getting inky!

Sponging and brayering are my favourite methods of ending up with ink all over my fingers and hands, and the card I have for you today is a sponged one. In fact, it's an example of the Bokeh technique (pronounced just like bouquet, I read somewhere). I'm really proud of this card - I'm very, very happy with how it turned out and the colours draw my eyes every time I catch sight of it.

Materials used:

• stamps - Amazing You
• card - berry burst, basic black, shimmer white
• inks - berry burst, daffodil delight, pumpkin pie, whisper white, basic black, crushed curry
• other - Celebrate You thinlits, fine-tip glue, stamp-a-ma-jig, bokeh template, sponges

What do you think? Is that colour combination a hit for you too?

Although the stamp set contains 'amazing' in the same font as the die, I wanted the extra dimension the die gives, so that's why I've used it. You could just as easily simply stamp the word instead. This stamp set/die combo are both in the SAB catalogue.

Thanks for calling in.

Cheers

Kez

Pride and Prejudice

It is a truth universally acknowledged that stampers love playing with new product. Am I right? Yes, I am.

With my visitors gone (sad face), the silver lining was that my craft room was my own once again, and that meant PLAY TIME! The goodies I'd pre-ordered from the Occasions Catalogue were taunting me from the shelves so it was time to settle down and get serious with ink.

And you know how I love to get inky. Oh yeah. The new Dragonfly Dreams bundle gave me just the opportunity to get messily creative - so yes, I am happy to admit, my fingers are all shades of grubby right now! But. I. Don't. Care.

As usual, I found some inspiration from Pinterest, and also - unusually - from the Occasions catty itself. Here's my first effort, some Bokeh effect with gold and purples. So rich and glamorous! A whispery trail of dragonfly sparkle ties the two gold elements together and gives the card movement.

Materials used:

• stamps - Butterfly Basics, Dragonfly Dreams
• card - whisper white, blackberry bliss, gold foil
• inks - rich razzleberry, blackberry bliss, whisper white, Versamark
• other - gold embossing powder, heat tool, dragonfly thinlits, cirlce punches and dies, sponges, Wink of Stella, dimensionals, Big Shot, die brush

The card in the Occasions catty I based my next sample on used some of the lovely new papers, but there's not enough of it in a pack for me to use with classes, so I had to improvise and create my own. 

I began with a piece of very vanilla and stamped En Francais using crumb cake ink, then sponged it unevenly (yes, on purpose) with so saffron. Next some Bermuda bay sponging of a diamond stencil - not SU, unfortunately, as they don't have this shape (yet) - and the 'dots' of hello honey. The edges were given a deep sponge with crumb cake, then a light edging with early espresso for more depth. The dragonfly (stamped in early espresso) has hints of saffron and Bermuda on its wings, which also glitter with Wink of Stella. The sentiment is stamped on vellum. Et voila! 

Materials used:

• stamps - Dragonfly Dreams, En Francais (retired)
• card - Bermuda bay, very vanilla, vellum
• inks - crumb cake, so saffron, Bermuda bay, hello honey, early espresso, StazOn timber brown
• other - sponges, Tim Holtz stencil, dragonfly thinlits, Wink of Stella, dimensionals, spray adhesive, Big Shot

Sometimes, of course, simple is best, as you can see in my next card, inspired by a creation from a UK demo called Kim that I found on Pinterest. To get my sentiment dark enough but still use the matching ink, I used my MISTI and stamped it three times.

Materials used:

• stamps - Thoughtful Branches, Canvas (retired)
• card - Sahara sand, dazzling diamonds glimmer, Falling in Love DSP
• inks - Sahara sand
• other - dragonfly thinlits, layering ovals framelits, Big Shot, MISTI, sponge dauber, dimensionals, die brush

Okay, time to go back for some more playing. Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers

Kez

Better Late Than Never

I guess the title of this post could apply to the post itself as well as to one of my cards! Lol. In class this week we are finally trying out the bokeh technique that's been floating around for a while. The first time I tried it I didn't do very well, so I've finally taken the plunge and had another go, with more success, thank goodness.

Here's our bokeh card:

Materials used:

• stamps - Perfect Pennants
• card - tempting turquoise, basic black, gloss white, acetate
• inks - tempting turquoise, melon mambo, crushed curry, whisper white, basic black
• other - clear embossing powder, heat tool, sponges, circle punches and framelits, Dimensionals, Big Shot

Our second card is a cutie for a young lady aged anywhere between 10 and 30 I reckon. The gorgeous watermelon wonder is the base - just love this in colour! The sentiment on the inside reads "Always be your beautiful selfie.'

Materials used:

• stamps - @SoSocial (SU), Uptown Girls Samantha and Sierra take a Selfie (Stamping Bella)
• card - watermelon wonder, whisper white, basic black, cucumber crush, watermelon wonder patterned paper
• other - pennant punch, rhinestones, smart phone die (Die-namics), Blendabilities, Copics, Dimensionals

And lastly a masculine card using the pizza guy. He's so cute everybody loves him!

Materials used:

• stamps - Pizza My Heart (Sugar Pea Designs)
• card - real red, whisper white, garden green, acetate
• other - pennant punch, window framelits, Big Shot, Dimensionals, markers and Blendabilities

If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask! Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers

Kez