Cute cats and dogs

In the March Frantic Stamper release are two die sets one that is a cute cat in a box and the other that is a cute dog in a basket.  Both die sets come with the cat and dog separately so they can sit in the box or the basket.  I decided to just use the cat and the dog and put them together on the same card.  In the background is the paw stencil, which is great to add pattern to plain card stock.  I did some fussy cutting with the ears mouths and noses but the eyes are separate little dies in these sets.

I think they are super cute and the sentiment very appropriate.  Thats it for March but do pop to the Frantic Stamper store to see the March Release and lots of other fantastic products.  Also check out the Frantic Stamper facebook page for lots of other inspiration from the amazing Design Team.

Thanks for dropping by today,

Karen

xo

This little piggy!!!

This little piggy is from the March Frantic Stamper release.  He comes completes with the little fence which I have ut twice and placed behind him.  I have also cut a grassy hill from the grass edger, an older Frantic Stamper die, to create a little background.  I then cut the little pig from pink cards rick and an extra head from a darker pink and legs from black so I could fussy cut them and adhere to give him some life.  I just love his little face and how his head is slightly turned.  Certainly a very cute little piggy.

Bye for now

Karen

xo

Silhouettes a plenty.

In the March Frantic Stamper release are 2 sets of silhouettes.  One is cats and the other dogs.  Each set contains several silhouettes of different breeds and poses.  The uses for these are endless.  For my cards I decided to cut the chosen silhouette in black and used the Spring Swag Builder from last months release to add colour.  Both card designs are similar and could easily become a little set.  For quick and easy cards with the bonus of using scraps these dies will be a great addition to your card making supplies.  I did use a scalloped rectangle to cut the background paper but they would work just as well with a straight cut.  This design would also be wonderful for small notecards.

Great aren't they?

Come back soon

Karen

xo

Its March already

Wow!! March already.  The months are flying past and with each month comes a Frantic Stamper release.  March is all about our animal companions.  We have cats, dogs, fish and birds and some others in between.  One of the dies is called feathered friends and has an opened bird cage and 2 birds.  I'm glad the cage is open as I really could never have a caged bird, I really think wings should be used to soar.  Anyway I took the parrot and die cut it three times in bright colours then fussy cut the beaks and eye feathers to make these three bright and cheeky looking fellows.

The card design is pretty simple but represents the birds sitting on a  branch in a tropical garden.  A bright and fun card.

Thanks for popping in today

Karen

xo

Thinking about Easter

Easter will be along soon and is celebrated by many in various ways.  For some it is a deeply religious event and for others it is simply a long weekend off work and school.  There are several Easter themed dies in the February Frantic Stamper release and the range from cute vintage animals to a more religious tone.  Something for everyone no matter what Easter represents for you.

Todays card is a cute little Easter lamb dressed in her shiny bells and bow.  I have added a lot of glitter but you will have to take my word for it as it doesn't really show in the photo. I have made  a vintage inspired card by adding a scalloped background and a ruffled edge, both older Frantic Stamper dies.  Final touch was some little pastel coloured blossoms.  The lambs features and hooves are coloured in pencil and I poked a pin through the back in places to pop out the wool for a little dimension.

See you soon

Karen

xo

Lilacs, Clean and simple.

Lilacs are not really clean and simple they are beautiful and bold.  There are several blooms both single stems and trios of blooms in the February release from Frantic Stamper.  This is the Lilac from on if the trios and I have paired it with the bucket from th bucket and pitcher set.  I die cut the bloom 3 times and have placed them in the bucket at varying heights by cutting the stems and using foam to pop them up.  I also used a pin to poke through from the back to make some of the little petals pop out to give it lots of dimension.

So its probably more a clean and layered card than clean and simple but its pretty none the less.

See you soon

Karen

xo

Anything Goes at Southern Girls

Its time for a new challenge at Southern Girls Challenge blog and its Anything Goes.  Always a favourite and always fun.  Whatever you may be working on fits the brief so pop on over and enter for the chance of a prize.

See you there 

Karen

xo

February Release Frantic Stamper... I think this means Im up to date.

Yes I do I think this means I am up to date.  I am posting February cards and it is February.  Sao the February release from Frantic Stamper is all about Spring and Easter.  Lots of florals from blooms to borders and medallions and cute easter dies with a vintage feel to them.

Todays card is a lovely floral and gingham combo featuring the Spring Swag builder and Floral edger.  These 2 die sets are really made for each other and go together so perfectly.  I can see these being used in lots of projects.  And of course I do have a thing for gingham.

Thanks for popping in.

Karen

xo

January release at Frantic Stamper.

I did say we were up to date but of course it is now February and I'm showing you January dies.  But thats ok next post will have us back on track for sure.  January was a bit of a celebrations release incorporating the Southwest.  So Mardi Gra, St Patrick's, cowboys and cactus.

January is summer for us and even though we knew all about the horrendous fires that were burning in Australia and the human and animal suffering that was taking place it all became very real one afternoon when the skies above Auckland turned orange from the smoke and the day became night very early.  It was very very eerie and made us all realise how our Australian neighbours must be struggling.  Australia and New Zealand have a very healthy neighbourly rivalry when it comes to things like sports but when it comes to tragedy we are also there with open hearts and open arms ready to do what ever we can to help each other.

We saw groups of firefighters arrive on the ground from NZ and around the world.  Medical personnel and vets and vet nurses gave up holidays to help and crafters picked up their needles and dusted off their sewing machines to make nests and pouches and wraps for all the injured and rescued animals. It has been amazing and humbling to watch not only NZ but the rest of the world come together in unity.  There are some very important lessons to be learnt here.

Anyway cards for January... I chose these two celebrating Mardi Gra and St Patricks.  Two quite unique and different celebrations.

See you back again soon

Karen

xo

Almost up to date!!

Tes I am almost up to date with Frantic Stamper releases.  December brought us a Love and friendship release.  We aren't too far away from valentines day so some nice dies and stencils for valentines day along with some great friendship/shopping dies.  A really cool corset and a Paris flower shop window front were included.

So here s the corset.  Its a big die that uses the whole card front but its really snazzy with the lacing.  Could also be used for girls night, hens party cards/invitations.

This was one of the valentines Love sentiment dies, not just limited to valentines day.  The background is made using a new stencil with embellishment mousse, so it has dimension.

Also in this release were 2 set of mannequin forms and dresses.  I loved the style of this dress and chose some retro papers to cut them.  I thought they went perfectly with that sentiment...which made me laugh so I had to use it.

So that brings us up to date.

Next post January 2020.

Karen

xo

November at Frantic Stamper

Still catching up with Frantic Stamper brings us to November 2019 when yet another Christmas release hit the store.  This time Winter Wishes with lots of little snow man and penguins and a set of tiny tags.  The tiny tags are a set I have pulled out several times since November as they just add that little extra without being too much.  Lots of not specifically Christmas but winter themed dies including a new slender alphabet set,.  Alphabet sets are always very handy to have.

This card features the Folksy Gnomes, there is a male version as well as this female version.  So cute and so easy to cut and use to make a quick and easy card.  Love this set.

Second up is the Smitten with a Mitten set is comes with little extra dies to add to the front of the mitten including the snowflake I used in the background.  This card also uses one of the tiny tags from the set.  There is a circle a heart a star and quite a few other little tags.

The last card I am sharing from November features the very fun stacking penguins.  They are cleverly designed to stack and form anythjing  from this to a pyramid.  Love this idea and again really fun to use.

Countdown will continue with December soon.

Karen

xo

Still catching up with Frantic Stamper

Today I am catching you up on the October release from Frantic Stamper.  Another Christmas release but this time a Modern Christmas.  Some very cool dis in this release but the favourite had to be the Reindeer Features die set.  I had a card published in the UK magazine Die Cutting Essentials using this die set.  It's really so fun to use and create a very lovely card.

This next card uses a die that features a stylised version of Bethlehem town.  It is called O Little Town of Bethlehem and looks great in non traditional Christmas colours. Brilliant set to use scraps. The Rejoice die was also released in October.

November is next!!

Karen

xo

What's been happening at Frantic Stamper???

That is a very good question what has been happening at Frantic Stamper?  Well several releases to start with that I have neglected to share.  So over the next few weeks I will do a little catch up and share some favourites from each of the last 5 releases you have missed on my blog.  Yikes that is not good!!

So today I am sharing my top picks from September 2019.  September was a Folk Art Christmas release.  I know we have Christmas done and dusted for 2019 but honestly the way the months fly we should be making 2020 Christmas cards now!!  These 2 cards used Reindeer Face Maker die set....super cute!!  The second card featured the Folk Art Christmas Tree, I did a little fussy cutting but this is just as lovely in one colour.

Be back soon

Karen

xo

Blogging Haitus

You may or may not have noticed I had a big of a blogging Hiatus.  I didn't realise it had been quite as long as it has though.  Things have just been happening in life as they do but I'm trying to make an effort to start posting back here and on instagram.

Ill start my first post with some cards that I was really fortunate to have published some time back using Lili of the Valley images.  They were published in the UK Cardmaking magazine which is always a thrill.  A little series of bright and cheerful fairies which was the brief. I actually thought I had lost these pictures as I had a melt down with my memory card for my camera and it just stopped working so I was really pleased to come across these the other day.

See you back again soon 

Karen

xo