Sunday, January 31, 2010

Ooh La La!


As soon as I saw the little bird in a cage from the SAB set Happy Moments, I thought of Paris. I don't know why! I don't remember having any particular avian encounters when I was in Paris that might have stuck in my subconscious (unlike a pigeon encounter in London!).

My brain didn't do anything with that thought until I was at Teneale's on Friday and saw a card she has made using that particular stamp. (Her card is GORGEOUS, of course, so keep an eye on her blog for it to appear this week!)

So after cogitating for a couple of days, I sat down tonight to create. My mind was thinking black, white and red, which I think of as atypical chic French colours - think berets and stripe shirts. And I liked my card - so much so, in fact - that I made two more! Here they are:

Created by Kez. Stamped images ©1990-2010 Stampin' Up! ®

Tres jolis, oui? Je l'aime!

Cheers

Kez

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Red Letter Day

What a day! No card to show, just some exciting news to share.

DD11 had her first day at high school (and is colour coding her timetable as we speak! LOL) and thankfully really enjoyed it. Here's a photo of my baby in her brand new uniform - and of course, one of the cats had to get in on the photo op!

Then during the day DD17 mercifully received an offer from a residential college for uni, so after a worrying few days, she is settled. In to the uni course she wanted (she's off to Melbourne) and now has somewhere to live, so that is a great load off our minds.
Celebrating tonight! LOL! Hope your day has been just as exciting, thanks for dropping by.
Cheers
Kez

Haitian Disaster Relief

THIS POST WILL STAY AT THE TOP UNTIL 28 JANUARY. SCROLL DOWN FOR REGULAR POSTS

On 12 January, 2010 a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti, leaving in its wake devastation so overwhelming that the Haitian people and their leaders can only look for help from the outside to cope.

As has happened with previous disasters, Stampin' Up! and SU demonstrators from all over the world look for a way to help those in need. From now until 28 February, 2010, you can partner with us to make a difference in the lives of those who continue to suffer from the effects of this devastating earthquake.

Stampin' Up! will set aside $2 from the sale of every I {Heart} Hearts stamp set and donate that money to the American Red Cross' Haiti Relief and Development Fund. The Red Cross is already well-established in Haiti, and this money will be used to provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need.

You can download the flier here. To encourage more sales of this set I will forgoe my usual 20% commission which will bring the price down to $34.36 (before shipping & handling charges). Call now to order your I {Heart} Hearts stamp set. Act today, and start making a difference!

Kez

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Happy Oztralia Day

A quick one today as there is so much to do! Happy Australia Day to everyone here "at home"! I haven't had time to make a card but I thought I'd re-post these cards made with the quintessential Ozzie set, Bloom Away.


Created by Kez. Stamped images ©1990-2010 Stampin' Up! ®

I have to admit, as a new Australian (I call myself a Kiwaussie!) that I don't like a great many Australian native flowers (too used to the types I grew up with in NZ), but I do love the pink gum and the waratah we have in our front yard.

Thanks for stopping by; hope you have a great day!

Cheers
Kez

Monday, January 25, 2010

SAB is FAB

Good morning! Welcome to another Monday - and almost the end of January already! Scary.

Today the SALE-A-BRATION promotion begins, that time of year when you can earn FREE stamps simply by buying the quality SU products you already love! What's a girl to do? Spend up big, of course! LOL! So I've made a couple of cards using my fav SAB set, Whimsical Words, for your viewing pleasure. What? Not more of that set you say! She's shown us tons already! Yes, dear readers, but you haven't seen anything like these ones before: for today Kez has followed the KISS rule. What's that? Well, I used to think of it as Keep It Simple, Stupid! But now I've decided that Keep It Simple, Stamper! is more appropriate! (that's my story and I'm sticking to it!!!)

Here they are, take a gander:


Created by Kez. Stamped images ©1990-2010 Stampin' Up! ®

Gorjamalicious! (loyal fans will note the use of Kez's fav colour on both cards!)

Well, now it gives me much pleasure in announcing my 10,000 hits Blog Candy Winner, who is:

(drum roll please) Cheryl

Congrats Cheryl; please drop me an email so I can get your snail mail details to send you your goodies! And many thanks to all you lovely people who left comments, they make my day!

That's all for now. Don't forget to go forth and spend up so you get your free SAB sets, and keep in mind my special offer on I (Heart) Hearts for the Haitian relief fund.

Cheers

Kez

Sunday, January 24, 2010

10,000 Visitors Blog Candy

Wow, I noticed today my visitor counter is getting close to 10,000. I never would have dreamed that was possible! I can't thank you enough for your support and especially those who are thoughtful enough to leave a comment and words of encouragement, it really means a great deal and I am so grateful to you all. Thanks to all my "regulars" and followers, you give me the confidence to keep creating and sharing, which I truly love to do.

So, as a thank you and in true blogging style, I am offering some Blog Candy! Everyone who leaves a comment between now and midnight Sunday (24th) will go in the draw and here is what some lucky person will win:
  • Stampin' Pastels
  • in colour cardstock (pack of 36)
  • ribbon assortment
  • assortment of brads and hardware hodgepodge

Thanks again for your support. Have a great day.

Cheers

Kez

Just Add Ink Colour Challenge #1

Happy Sunday! Well, there's an exciting week ahead in our household - DD17 and I fly interstate for her Academic Advice Day at the University of Melbourne (wow!) and then back home to see DD11 off on her first day at high school! There's going to be some very excited and nervous females around!!! LOL!

Meanwhile, I was dying to join Just Add Ink in their very first challenge (see my last post for more info), which is the colours you see above. After cogitating for a while on which stamp set to use, I decided on Live Like You Mean It, a hostess set. Here's my card:

Created by Kez. Stamped images ©1990-2010 Stampin' Up! ®

The word Life is clear embossed to enhance the teal bling on the flower centres and bow. I am pretty happy with my first solo attempt at a "Teneale bow"! Love this colour combo too, so fresh and summery. Why don't you pop over to Just Add Ink and have a go at their very first challenge too?
Cheers
Kez

Friday, January 22, 2010

New Kid in Town

Hey all! There's a new Stampin' Up! challenge blog in town, set up and administered by Aussie and Kiwi SU demos, and they are offering a great prize for their launch. Why not pop on over and check it out? The site is http://just-add-ink.blogspot.com/ and I know they'd love to have you visit and take part in their challenges. The first challenge is a colour one, always tons of fun! I'll be back over the weekend with an entry - hopefully!

Cheers
Kez

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Lovin' that Combo

Hi all, thanks for calling in today. Hope your week is going well. It's rather a nail-biting one here at the moment - we've been waiting for Uni offers to come out! DD17 has received two, and luckily one of them is from her first choice. Now we have to wait and see if her first choice college accommodation makes an offer too. Nerve-wracking!

Meanwhile, my last post showed one of the cards we're making in class tomorrow; here are the other two. Firstly a card using Friends 24/7, a really gorgeous set, with Really Rust, Bashful Blue and Brocade Blue and I've tried the cracked glass technique.

Created by Kez. Stamped images ©1990-2010 Stampin' Up! ®

The next card uses a colour combo I haven't tried before, but I love, so I'm thinking it will crop up again before too long! It's Certainly Celery, Regal Rose and Whisper White. I don't often add a touch of sparkle but the dazzling diamonds top this card off nicely, IMHO!

Created by Kez. Stamped images ©1990-2010 Stampin' Up! ®

Isn't Upsy Daisy an amazing set? So versatile. Gotta love that about SU! Hey and don't forget something else to love about SU - Sale-a-bration! Starts on Monday and you'll love the sets available this year. Just contact your usual demo ...

Cheers
Kez

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Follow Your Heart

It's not long now until Sale-a-Bration begins and I just LOVE the set Whimsical Words - which you can probably tell, because I've used it a fair bit! The writing style appeals just as much as the phrases available, and I know this is going to be a set I simply cannot part with once the promotion is over. There are more sets in this style in the US mini, so here's hoping we get some in April ...

Anywhoooo, this is a card I made for a class next week. It's not intended to be a Valentine's card but I guess it could be used as one. I've put ribbon behind three punched hearts and have used one of my all time favourite colour combos. Here tis:

Created by Kez. Stamped images ©1990-2010 Stampin' Up! ®

Materials used (all SU):
  • stamps - Whimsical Words (SAB)
  • card - pink pirouette, chocolate chip, whisper white
  • paper - riding hood red patterns DSP, Bella Rose DSP
  • ribbon - pink pirouette really wide (Summer mini), choc chip grosgrain, riding hood red wide stripe (Spring mini), riding hood red taffeta
  • other - 3 heart punch, scallop border punch, dimensionals, riding hood red ink, choc chip marker

Thanks for calling in to visit! Have a great day.

Cheers

Kez

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Hatches, Matches and Dispatches

Hey ho all! We got back from Queensland late Tuesday night - well, actually, in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Do you remember a childhood story about a small train who used to say "I think I can, I think I can" to get up a hill? Well, that was us! Our XPT train had engine trouble and we couldn't make it up the hill! We ended up having to get towed up by extra engines and, long story short, were 3 hours late arriving back in Sydney! Then it was over an hour's drive home, so it was the wee small hours when we got home - after a 5 am start! Yes, we were tired little bunnies yesterday. But we had a lovely time visiting my brother, niece and nephew and also caught up with my aunt and cousin, so it was a great few days.

Now, of course, it's back to work with a vengeance with classes to organise, so today I have some cards to share. These are the cards we are making at my Simply Sweet class this month and I've dubbed it "Hatches, Matches and Dispatches".

Firstly, a card suitable to welcome a new baby, use for a christening or even baby's first birthday. (Excuse the photos, I'm out of practice and the light is poor!)

  • stamps used - Nursery Letters jumbo wheel, Wild About You, Best Yet, Nursery Necessities
  • colours used - Barely Banana, Whisper White, Certainly Celery

This next one can be used for a wedding or anniversary.

  • stamps used - Together Forever
  • colours used - Basic Grey, Very Vanilla, Purely Pomegranate

And lastly a sympathy card.

  • stamps used - Thoughts & Prayers, Baroque Motifs
  • colours used - Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla, Sahara Sand

If you are interested in the Simply Sweet class, email or phone me for details. Enjoy your day!

Cheers

Kez

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Takin' a Break

The girls and I are off to Brissie for a few days to visit my younger brother, so I won't be card making for a while. Will hopefully card up a storm when I get back, though, so look forward to sharing again then! Hope you all have a lovely weekend and get some time to create.

Cheers
Kez

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

New Blog

Hi all! I have decided to set up a second blog where I will share all my NON Stampin' Up! creations and this blog will be exclusively SU. The new blog site is www.kezzacards.blogspot.com and I would love it if you would come visit some time!

Cheers
Kez

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Hope your day is Just Peachy

Good morning campers! Today's card is for this month's Creatalicious Challenge, which is:

Something old
Something new
Something torn
Something blue

My something torn and something blue are obvious; my something old is the retired SU designer papers and my something new is my Peachy Tilda stamp. Here's my entry:

Created by Kez

When I was deciding what to do with this card, I thought "well, if I've gotta tear something then I might as well go the whole hog and distress as well", so that's what I did! The peach background paper is distressed using my sanding block and I also used the sanding block on the torn piece, as well as sponging and curling. The brown flowers are aged a little by being sponged with white and I punched the leaves from DSP which already has a worn look to it, then added some sponging and veins. Here's the inside of the card:

It was lovely to use these Afternoon Tea papers again; they were my favourite from last year. Thanks for stopping by!

Cheers
Kez