Butterfly Birthday

I had some new goodies that I'd just bought and wanted to try them out on this card. I made this for my sister-in-law. I'm pretty pleased with the way it turned out.

Materials:
Cardstock: Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, So Saffron, Regal Rose
Ink: Tuxedo Black, Versamark, Regal Rose, markers - Regal Rose, Pink Pirouette, Melon Mambo, So Saffron, Daffodil Delight, More Mustard, Tempting Turquoise, Marina Mist and Bashful Blue
Stamps: Flutter by, Grand Greetings, Teeny tiny backdrops, all by Lawn Fawn
Accessories: Blue and pink rhinestones
Tools: Big shot machine, Adorning Accents edgelit die and embossing folder, dimensionals, Dazzling Diamonds glitter glue

A little boy's birthday

It's been a while since I posted a 'Kate Original' card. (Obviously meaning I didn't copy or case it from anyone, it's my own creation, just a product of my crazy thoughts.) Here's one for you today! I made this card for a friend's son who turned 3 today.

Here's how it's made:

Materials:
Cardstock: Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White.
Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Versamark, Tuxedo Black (Memento). Markers: Wild Wasabi, Soft Suede, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, Bashful Blue, Pink Pirouette, Basic Black.
Stamps: Monster Fun (Hero Arts. I borrowed this from a friend at our card making day - thanks Shauna!), Put on Your Party Hat (Fiskars), Admit One (Lawn Fawn).
Accessories: Maraschino and Cappucino baker's twine (The Twinery), Miss Nelly jewels (Kaisercraft).
Tools: Big shot machine, Top Note die, sponge, dimensionals, 2 way glue pen, glue tape, mini glue dots, sanding block.

Tips and Tricks:
1. The blue layer was stamped randonly with a Lawn Fawn star in Versamark. I sponged around the edges with Tempting Turquoise ink.
2. I trimmed up the white top note die cut to reveal the red one beneath. Then I sanded the edges of the white (I would have used my distressing tool had I brought it with me) and sponged around it with Tempting Turquoise ink.
3. The monsters and balloons were coloured in with Stampin' Up markers. After cutting out all the monsters and balloons, I used a black marker to colour the cut edges.
4. The balloons were adhered to each other one at a time so I got the right positioning on the card. Then I attached the twine to each balloon using glue tape. After that I attached the balloons to the card with dimensionals.
5. I tied up the balloon strings and stuck them in position with a mini glue dot.
6. The mini monster is on dimensionals too to make him stand out and look like he's holding the bunch of balloons.

Stuff Ups:
1. This is just a technicality but I don't like the streakiness of the markers. There's nothing I can do about that apart from buy Copics instead.
2. The cutting out the top note die cut could have been better (as always).

Pleasant Surprises:
1. The way the red and blue contrast. I like it.
2. The stamp set is so cute. I would have been lost without it!
3. Finally, a concept I had in my head was realised in the way I wanted it to be!!

Happy Easter

I have something different to show today - not a card! I decorated a tag. I've never used tags for anything so this was new to me. I'm only moderately happy with it. The concept was better in my head, the execution of it isn't great. Oh well, I tried!

Here's a closer view of the tag:

Materials:

Cardstock: Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Tangerine Tango, So Saffron, Pear Pizzazz (or Kiwi Kiss, not sure), Chocolate Chip and Pink Passion (I think it's retired).
Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Versamark, markers - Tempting Turquoise, Blushing Bride, Crumb Cake, Wild Wasabi, Melon Mambo, Elegant Eggplant, Tangerine Tango, So Saffron.
Stamps: Greetings Eight (Stampin' Up), Jessie's ABC's (Lawn Fawn).
Accessories: Chipboard glitter tag (don't know the brand - it's so old!), Orange organza ribbon (Kaiser Craft), antique gold embossing powder.
Tools: Heat tool, embossing static pillow, dimensionals, big shot machine, sponge, lattice embossing folder (Stampin' Up), paisley and swirly embossing folders (Sizzix), polka dot and bubble embossing folders (Cuttlebug), paper snips, oval punch, glue tape.

Tips and Tricks:
1. I heat embossed the Happy Easter sentiment and bunny first.
2. Then I sponged around the tag and let it dry.
3. I punched and embossed the coloured Easter eggs (yes, that's what they are meant to be!).
4. After positioning the Easter eggs with glue tape I trimmed off the excess and sponged around the edges.
5. The bunny was added on dimensionals. Dimensionals are also used to adhere the tag to the jar.

Stuff Ups:
1. The overall result - just not thrilled.
2. The 't' in Easter is upside down. *sigh*
3. Maybe the Easter eggs should have been smaller so they actually look like Easter eggs.

Pleasant Surprises:
1. The bunny is cute and I managed to cut it out nicely.
2. The sponging on the tag itself was nice (just the tag, not the eggs).
3. The heat embossing turned out nicely.

Long weekend = chance for card making

It's a long weekend here in Western Australia (Labour Day) so I have some time to catch up on my card making and even try to get ahead a little bit. I have three cards to make for March birthdays so I did them today. Here's the first, I made two of these:

I was inspired to make this based on this card by Mary Fish from Stampin' Pretty.

Materials:
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Not Quite Navy, Cajun Craze, Sixth Avenue - Broadway (American Crafts DSP).
Ink: Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Cajun Craze, Pear Pizzazz, Not Quite Navy.
Stamps: Best Dad Ever.
Tools:  Dimensionals, Eyelet border punch (Fiskars), Scoring board (Martha Stewart).

Tips and Tricks:
1. The ties were fussy cut and put up on dimensionals.
2. I did score the top third of the card like Mary's but the camera didn't pick it up.

Stuff Ups:
1. I kept messing up the score lines when trying to score the top third of the card. It took me 4 attempts to get it right - I kept slipping.
2. My cutting with the paper trimmer needed work today - it just doesn't seem to cut straight, always off on a slight angle. Maybe it's time for an upgrade.

Pleasant Surprises:
1. The colours in the paper and ties almost match perfectly.

Motorcycle

I was checking out The Daily Marker today and Kathy recommended visiting Lily Pad Cards. I hopped across and loved it so I decided to enter their colour challenge. This is the first challenge I've entered so I'm excited! Here's the challenge link: Lily Pad Cards - Color Palette Challenge.

I made this card today and will be mailing it tomorrow to my brother-in-law for his birthday. Happy birthday Bob!

It's probably the first time I haven't included a sentiment on the front of a card. I just couldn't see where it would fit. This card is a Kate original, I haven't cased anything.
I also learnt (from Lily Pad Cards) the value of photographing my cards against a light, plain background rather than my dark, wooden hutch.

Materials:
Cardstock: Night of Navy, Cajun Craze, So Saffron.
Ink: Night of Navy, Cajun Craze, So Saffron, Versamark.
Stamps: Motorcycle, 'To a Classic'.
Other: striped grosgrain ribbon in Night of Navy, dimensionals, clear embossing powder, embossing buddy, heat tool, sponge, sticky strip.
Non Stampin' Up: corner rounder punch by Fiskars.

Tips and Tricks:
1. I used the emboss resist technique for the motorbike layer. I sponged over the clear embossed image with Cajun Craze and Night of Navy ink.
2. I used a sponge to ink around the cardstock layers with Night of Navy ink.
3. I used the speedometer stamp from 'To a Classic' as the background stamp on both the base card and So Saffron ribbon layer. The speedometer images on the So Saffron cardstock are clear embossed.
4. I pulled some threads from the ribbon to make it bunch up and stuck the bunched ribbon down on a piece of sticky strip. I secured the ends underneath the cardstock.

Stuff Ups:
1. It took me ages to get the ribbon layer the way I wanted it. I tried folding the ribbon in half lengthways and gluing it flat. I didn't like it. I tried bunching up the folded ribbon and gluing it down. I didn't like that either. Finally I tried the pulled thread method with a new piece of ribbon and was happy with that.
2. I had to fight the urge to bling up this card with brads and rhinestones. I thought it would be too much and didn't want it to look over the top. I hope I made the right decision there.

A bright birthday

The best thing happened today. I dropped into my favourite stamping store (Stampit in East Vic Park) and they had a sale on Prima and Ki Creations - 50% off it all! I was like a kid in a candy shop and stocked up on all the Prima Flowers and Pebbles that I wanted. You can be sure to see a lot more of those in the future, starting today!

I made a card for my Mum's birthday but I wasn't completely happy with the way it turned out. I had to look to the internet for inspiration as I was suffering from brain burnout. I'll post the card I designed at a later date, but for now here is the card I was inspired to make:

No top note die or modern label punch, aren't you proud of me??
The colours are much bright in real life but that's what bad lighting and bad photography will do.
The card that inspired me to make this is from Ivanka's Card Studio.

Materials:
Cardstock: Basic Black, So Saffron, Melon Mambo, Crumb Cake and Shimmery White.
Ink: Stazon Black.
Stamps: Curly Cute.
Other: Big shot machine, Vintage wallpaper embossing folder, dimensionals, mini glue dots.
Non Stampin' Up: Flowers (Prima Flowers - Raspberry), Blue rhinestones (BoBunny Jewels - Barefoot & Bliss).

Tips and Tricks:
1. This card is pretty straight forward - simple layers and the shimmery white card is dry embossed with the vintage wallpaper embossing folder.
2. The flowers are adhered to the card with mini glue dots.
3. The sentiment is popped up on dimensionals.

Stuff Ups:
1. The sentiment took me ages today because I couldn't stamp it perfectly so I kept redoing it, then I'd get it right but cut it crooked and have to start over. Sooo frustrating!
2. I tried using basic black ink but it kept bleeding through the cardstock. Stazon gives a much crisper result, however, it does stain your stamp.
3. I need to buy new blades for my paper trimmer so the layers are a bit straggly around the edges.

A Tropical Wedding

The wedding in Bali was wonderful! Couldn't ask for a better setting or weather, everything went smoothly for the bride and groom. I wanted to make a tropical themed card for them. This design was cased and modified. Thanks and credit to Kathleen Hopperstad at My Happy Stampin' Place for the inspiration.

Materials:
Cardstock: So Saffron, Old Olive, Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Island Oasis DSP.
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Tempting Turquoise, Rose Red, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Versamark, Rose Red marker, Tempting Turquoise marker, Pumpkin Pie marker.
Stamps: Tropical Party, Teeny Tiny Sentiments.
Other: Pumpkin Pie Taffeta ribbon, dimensionals, Modern label punch, Pearl accents, dimensionals.
Non Stampin' Up: Clear embossing powder, Martha Stewart Circle cutter.

Tips and Tricks:
1. The grass skirting is cut with plain old scissors.
2. The coconut, palm frond, sentiment and flowers were stamped in Versamark then colour. After that they were heat embossed with clear embossing powder.
3. The circle were layered and sponged around with Pumpkin Pie ink as well as the sentiment.
4. Pearls adorn the flower centres and sentiment.
5. The markers were used to colour the coconut's umbrella and straw.

Stuff Ups:
1. Even though I searched my Teeny Tiny sentiments, I still managed to miss the stamp that says 'For the Newly Weds'. I am still kicking myself about that. It would have been sooo much better than just 'congratulations'.

Island Oasis Birthday

I made two of these cards for two friends who's birthdays are in April. Actually they are on the same day! The colour scheme and basic layout of the card was cased from Shaz's Card Table. I added my own style and elements to the card to make it kate-ified.

Below is the insert I will write on then stick into the card. That way if I mess up what I'm writing I haven't ruined the card. It also looks nicer and if your card base is dark, a lighter coloured insert will make reading your written message easier.



I used the flower stamp from the Tropical Party stamp set and added a tiny pearl to the centre of each flower. You could layer the insert on another colour, such as Rose Red, but I want to conserve my cardstock.

Materials:
Cardstock: Tempting Turquoise, So Saffron, Rose Red, Whisper White, Island Oasis DSP.
Inks: Pumpkin Pie ink spot.
Stamps: Tropical Party.
Other: Modern label punch, 6mm Pumpkin Pie Grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals, Lattice embossing folder, big shot machine.
Non Stampin Up!: White stick on pearls from Kaiser, Versamark Dazzle - Frost, 'happy birthday' sentiment from Penny Black's Critter Party stamp set, Prima Flowers High Gloss Pebbles - Birds and Butterflies.

Tips and Tricks
1. The lattice embossing folder doesn't fully fit the length of card required for this project. I managed to press the card once, then align the impressions at the end of the card with the unpressed card inside the folder. Then I put it a little way into the big shot machine. That way it doesn't flatten the already embossed card. That all sounds wordy but I don't know how else to explain it.
2. Never press hard when cutting an embossed piece of card in a paper trimmer. You can crush and damage the embossing. Just use very gentle pressure, enough to stop it slipping.

Stuff Ups:
1. I forgot to allow extra card (only a few millimetres) for the embossing to 'shrink'. I had to trim down my base card to make it all the same length.

2. I wasn't too careful when peeling the pebbles of the backing sheet and the image ripped away from one of the pebbles. Always be gentle! They are a bit pricey for what they are so you don't want to waste them.
3. I would have heat embossed the palm fronds on the background if I hadn't lost my clear embossing powder. So frustrating!!

Hmmm... a birthday card?

This card was made for a design challenge when the Stamping For Lara forums were active. I suppose the most obvious use for this card would be a little girl's birthday, after adding a sentiment of some kind, but I know I won't be giving it away. This one is a keeper!

Rating: Decent

Materials

Cardstock: Kiwi Kiss, Tempting Turquoise and Pink Flamingo DSP (retired).

Inks: So Saffron, More Mustard, Pink Pirouette, Tempting Turquoise, Kiwi Kiss, Regal Rose.

Other: Very Vanilla satin ribbon, Stick on pearls, big shot machine, dimensionals, aqua painter.

Non Stampin' Up: Watercolour paper from Jackson's Art Supplies, gold star brad also from Jackson's, Cuttlebug embossing folder: - Tiny Bubbles, Doodlebug Designs: Sugar Coating - Swimming Pool glitter, C.C. Designs: Sugar Plums - Mermaid Emma stamp, black Stazon Ink, mini easel also from Jackson's.

Tips and Tricks:

1. I stamped Mermaid Emma on watercolour paper with stazon and then used ink pads and an aqua painter to colour her.

2. I cut a slit in the fold of the card to thread the ribbon through.

3. The yellow flower paper layer is DSP from the Pink Flamingo series which is now retired. The red flowers on a card in a post from last year are from the same paper series.

4. There are pearls on her tiara and her waist. They match the very vanilla ribbon but the photo doesn't show that.

Stuff Ups:

I wasn't (and still aren't) good at aqua painting so some of the colours have run. I was impatient and didn't wait for some sections to dry properly. As a result some colour bleeding and mixing has occurred. I have since learned that stamping in Versamark and heat embossing in black can help prevent this from happening. It also looks cool.

Tropical Birthday

Here's a card I made for my nephew's girlfriend. I wish I could lay claim to the design but I can't. I cased this from Stampin Funn with Cheryl. I love it so much I barely changed a thing. I embossed the background palm fronds and I coloured in the straw and umbrella, that's it.

Rating: Delightful



Materials:

Cardstock: Whisper White, Island Oasis DSP and what I thought was So Saffron but it's not. It must be some old cardstock from my subtles collection.

Inks: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Rose Red, Tempting Turquoise marker, Pumpkin Pie marker, So Saffron marker, Versamark.

Stamps: Tropical Party.

Other: Sponge, scallop oval punch, oval punch, dimensionals, whisper white satin ribbon, clear embossing powder, heat tool.

Non SU: Wendy Irving Collections: Expressions Clear Cling Stamps -  'Occasions'.

Tips and Tricks:

1. I used markers for the flowers so I could use multiple colours at once.

2. I coloured in the straw and umbrella after stamping with chocolate chip ink.

3. The whisper white is sponged around the edges with old olive ink.

4. The orange polka dot paper is from the Island Oasis DSP pack.

Stuff Ups:

Surprisingly none! The only thing that bugs me is that the happy birthday isn't capitalised.