Bella and Pecan

Well here is card two using those neglected Stacey Yacula stamps, although to be fair these are from the recent release.  These stamps just deserve to be used, they are so sweet.  Introducing Bella and Pecan.  Bella is the rabbit and Pecan is the squirrel.  Even the names Stacey gives her little creations are so sweet.  I used the same idea on all four of the cards I made.  (See previous post for card one and the other two will follow on later posts).

In the background I stamped Bunting flags and blooms with an inked sky.  This is a very easy background but I just love this look.  I can't remember when I first saw this technique but it was Debra James from one card at a time where I saw it.  Debra did a series of cards using the torso and legs of the Prima Dolls coloured against city landscapes stamped in black.  Debra is crazy talented but these cards in particular just always stuck in my mind.

The card panel is popped up with foam and placed on gingham, which I said in my previous post is perfect against these images.

See you soon with card three.

Karen

xo

A Kiwi Christmas!!

A Kiwi Christmas is a little different in many ways to your traditional Christmas.  To start with its summer.  Not a flake of snow to be seen anywhere .  We are in shorts and t-shirts and eating either a feast of cold dishes or having a barbecue.  We can even be found at the beach.  Its still all about family and friends and good food and the giving of gifts but just a little different.

When I received this die set, Pat the Penguin, in my Frantic Stamper DT package I knew it was perfect for a Kiwi Christmas card.   Penguins in swim suits at the beach .... perfect.

I started with rolling waves card panel and priced it to represent the sand and the sea.  I cut the bucket and beach ball from the Day at the Beach die set and place those in the background.  Pat was cut out twice, once to wear a bikini and the other shorts.  Cute right!!  Once they were in place I stamped and cut the sentiment using Retro Label Maker Christmas Sentiment Stamp set.

There you have it a perfect Kiwi Christmas card.

Frantic Stamper products used.

Pat the Penguin

Rolling Waves Card Panel

Day at The Beach

Retro Label Maker Christmas Sentiments

See you soon 

Karen

xo

Playing with Purple Onion!!

Playing with Purple Onion Designs that is 😉.  So I admit to having several Stacey Yacula stamps that have never seen ink.  I love her designs and in the past have aquired stamps because I simply had to have them but I don't always have the time to just stamp and colour because I can.  I recently found myself with just that kind of time.  Sooo I treated some of those poor neglected stamps to some ink and made not one but four cards.

Today I am sharing the first of those four.  This is Meadow and Oliver.  Meadow is the gorgeous deer and Oliver the cute little mouse.  I coloured and fussy cut them then made a background using the Garden Set and Daisy bloom with a stencilled sky.  I really like the coloured images against the stamped background in soft grey.

This panel is then popped up with foam and placed on some gingham which in my opinion in perfect with these cute images.

I remember now why these stamps were must haves .... and there's a collection about to hit Purple Onions ...yikes!!!

Come back in a few days and I'll share another.

See you soon

Karen

xo

Stripes at Southern Girls

Its all about stripes at Southern Girls this round.  Easy peasy who doesn't love stripes.  We have some great sponsors too.  For all the details head to the blog.

I unfortunately don't have any Newtons Nook Stamps ...sad right.... something I should remedy. I did go to purchase some from our local stockist and just about everything was out of stock, which is a great reflection on how popular their stamps are.  Anyway not all was lost as they very kindly offer some freebies on their blog.  Its one of these I used on my card,

After printing the digital stamp I coloured it in pencil.  Using a stencil and some soft pink ink I added a little detail around the image and up one side.  I used some sequins to add some dimension and sparkle.  It is popped up on foam before adding some subtle striped paper behind.

Come join us, we love seeing your creations.

Karen

xo

Yikes where's September!!!

Yikes indeed where is September.  Its over there with the rest of the year my friends.  Less than 100 days till Christmas.  Is is possible they got it wrong???

Anyway the September Frantic Stamper release was all things Christmas.  Something for all tastes. Contemporary to Traditional and some with a Religious slant.  I have a selection of cards I made for this release below.

First card uses a great sentiment die Merry and Bright.  I love the different fonts used on the die and the fact that you can use the words separately.  I used Swiss Dot stencil with embellishment mousse in the background and another new die called String of Lights which has several different lights to add to the string in different shapes and sizes.

Next is the previously released Front door Fun die with the new Christmas Door Accessories set. So easy to create simply yet elegant cards with these dies.

Another fun set that has the versatility to be used outside of christmas, although they do look pretty cute in their Santa Hats.  This is Christmas Pets.  I used the happy from the Retro Label Maker Christmas Sentiments stamp set.  There are several Retro Label sets and they are excellent go to's for sentiments and mix and match great with all types of fonts.

This is another of the new sentiment Dies Deck the Halls.  Again a lovely mix of fonts.  In the background I have used the new stencil Diagonal Stripe with distress inks.  Stencils are a great way to make backgrounds and are a cost effective item to have on hand.  Frantic Stamper have quite a few in the collection now.

Last but not least in the release are three of these Framed dies.  They can be used to make ornaments if paired with the Round Ornament die released last year.  They are also great as a stand alone die.  The outer frame cane also be used separately.  I used the Three Wise Men, but there is also a Nativity Scene and a Shepherds die.  I simply distress inked my background and placed a black silhouette in front.  The Joy sentiment is from a previous Christmas release.  This was a quick and easy card to make.

Thats all for today be sure to head to the Frantic Stamper store for all of these and

many. many. more Frantic Stamper products as well as products from all of

your other favourite paper craft Companies.

Bye for now 

Karen

xo

Bun Intended!!!

I recently acquired these 2 gorgeous stamps from Ink Road Stamps.  Bun intended and Bun Intended #2.  They are so simple yet so stylish and really appealed to me ... a lot.  I don't purchase from overseas often as the exchange rate and postage often just make the price really silly and hard to justify.  That and I like to try and support local online companies. However that said sometimes you come across something that you make an exception for.  These stamps are those.

The first one I used Distress ink in the background and a sentiment stamp from Lili of the Valley.  I added a little strip of design paper down the side and a few sequins.  The stamp itself is the hero and I felt it needed to be left as such.  The image is coloured in pencil and I went for a blondish bun.

The next one which I have to admit being my favourite is again coloured in pencil.  This time I fussy cut her and used the sentiment from the stamp set.  The bun this time is a darker brown hair.  I used some design paper backed in brown to offset the sentiment.  The fussy cut butterfly is from Pion design paper.  They do these lovely papers with lots of strips with sentiments and edges as well as butterflies that can be fussy cut.  I then popped the lovely lady up on foam tape and placed her to one side.  

A little side note:  I had this all set up to photograph outside when out of nowhere came a spring shower and a gust of wind.  So she has a couple of rain drops on her and just as I clicked she flew off the table and landed upside down in the garden.  The sentiment is very apt!!! 

Hope you will come back again soon.

Karen

xo

Naughty or nice ... that's the question??

Naughty or nice ....that's the question indeed??  Probably should decline to answer that one 😊.  Anyway as mentioned a few days back here is the girl version of the Christmas Frame Digital stamp from Digital Stamp Boutique available at Lili of the Valley.   It is prudent to mention here that if you are a digital image fan of Lili of the Valley you should visit the website for information regarding the availability of digis.  There are some really great bundle deals but digis will not be available after the 30th September.  For more information visit the LOTV facebook page.  There's not so good news and great news.  But rather than me trying to explain it all the details are on the facebook page.

Anyway here is the card as promised.  Coloured in pencil and fussy cut.  She is then backed with green card stock and a green polka dot paper.  Cute how they are popping through the frames.

If you want this stamp and lots of others be quick and visit LOTV now.

Be back soon

Karen

xo