Evening Everyone!
Just thought you might like to see a Youtube video of one of my Graphic 45 projects. It's a while since I made a video and have many more in the pipeline so please bear with me as I get to grips with my videoing skills!! This little gift bag and rosette was made using the Le Cirque paper line. Hope you enjoy it.
I was so lucky to make the 30 semi finalists in this year's Graphic 45 Design Team call but unfortunately I didn't make the final 15. All the finalists are worthy winners and I'm really looking forward to seeing their fab creations in the coming 12 months.
Best wishes and bye for now
Karen x
Saturday, 31 March 2012
Monday, 26 March 2012
House Mouse - Let's Have A Party challenge HMFMC116
Hi All!
I'm back today with a card I made for the latest House Mouse and Friends Monday challenge which this week is 'Let's Have a Party'. And no party is a party without cake! I love this decoupage image of the mices making a mudpie and mixing the ingredients. To focus on the image I layered it onto some pink spotty Hot off the Press papers onto a scalloped edged card and decorated the inside with a left over image and heart shaped matt to write my message.
Hope you like it! Why not pop over to the blog and join in.
Bye for now
Karen x
Saturday, 24 March 2012
Feathered Friends
Hi All!
I know the sunny days are making us think of summer to come but today I decided to enter the ABC Christmas challenge with a little Christmas card I made using images from the Jane Shasky CD 'From the Heart of the Garden'. The challenge was to create a card with 'Feathered Friends' upon so I chose these little birds and made a pocket card with a window created using my Spellbinders die allowing you to see some of the image before pulling it out to see the whole scene. Remember not to embellish the inner card too much or it won't slide comfortably in and out of the pocket.
Hope you like it and the christmassy colours!
Thanks for looking. Be back soon.
Best wishes
Karen x
Saturday, 17 March 2012
Cake Lover House Mouse Challenge HMFMC115
Hi All!
Sorry I've not posted for a while, I've been working on my entries for the final round of the Graphic 45 Design Team call but I'm back now with a little card for this week's House Mouse Challenge. The photo inspiration was of some lovely cupcakes with blue icing so I whipped out this House Mouse stamp and joined in.
I decided to go for a simple, non fussy look for this card using Papermania papers, colouring the image in Promakers and adding gems and a little sentiment. I have someone in mind for this card and hopefully it will be just perfect for them.
Why not pop over to the HM blog and join in the challenge and take a look at the DT projects for more fab inspiration!
Anyway, thanks for looking.
Best wishes
Karen x
Friday, 2 March 2012
Wowee! Graphic 45 Semi
Hi All!
Just a quick post to tell you how excited I am to have made the Top 30 in the Graphic 45 semi final Design Team call! There is such talent out there that I'm thrilled to make it this far. The next round closes on the 23rd so I'm off to come up with three new projects - wish me luck! And why not pop over to all the other finalists blogs and have a look at their fab work! Good luck to all!
Best wishes and thanks again to Graphic 45!
Karen x
Top 30 (in no particular order)
1. Karen Zueger - USA
2. Alberto Juárez Díaz - Spain
3. Nate Da Silva - France
4. Nancy Wethington - USA
5. Romy Veul - Netherlands
6. Susan Fraser - Canada
7. Arlene Cuevas - USA
8. Karen Foy - UK
9. Maiko Miwa - Japan
10. Theresa Kimbrell - USA
11. Nicole Eccles - USA
12. Shell Carman - Australia
13. Kristin Wilson - USA
14. Gloria Stengel - USA
15. Roberto Cesar dos Santos - Brazil
16. Melanie Forbes - Australia
17. Sharon Ngoo - Singapore
18. Laura Denison - USA
19. Susan Killam - USA
20. Clare Charvill - UK
21. Jane Tregenza - Australia
22. Denise Hahn - USA
23. Kelly Klapstein - Canada
24. DeeDee Catron - USA
25. Tara Orr - Canada
26. Torill Fossum Stamnes - Norway
27. Jim Hankins - USA
28. Jan Hennings - USA
29. Tracy Burtt - USA
30. Susan Lui - Singapore
Just a quick post to tell you how excited I am to have made the Top 30 in the Graphic 45 semi final Design Team call! There is such talent out there that I'm thrilled to make it this far. The next round closes on the 23rd so I'm off to come up with three new projects - wish me luck! And why not pop over to all the other finalists blogs and have a look at their fab work! Good luck to all!
Best wishes and thanks again to Graphic 45!
Karen x
Top 30 (in no particular order)
1. Karen Zueger - USA
2. Alberto Juárez Díaz - Spain
3. Nate Da Silva - France
4. Nancy Wethington - USA
5. Romy Veul - Netherlands
6. Susan Fraser - Canada
7. Arlene Cuevas - USA
8. Karen Foy - UK
9. Maiko Miwa - Japan
10. Theresa Kimbrell - USA
11. Nicole Eccles - USA
12. Shell Carman - Australia
13. Kristin Wilson - USA
14. Gloria Stengel - USA
15. Roberto Cesar dos Santos - Brazil
16. Melanie Forbes - Australia
17. Sharon Ngoo - Singapore
18. Laura Denison - USA
19. Susan Killam - USA
20. Clare Charvill - UK
21. Jane Tregenza - Australia
22. Denise Hahn - USA
23. Kelly Klapstein - Canada
24. DeeDee Catron - USA
25. Tara Orr - Canada
26. Torill Fossum Stamnes - Norway
27. Jim Hankins - USA
28. Jan Hennings - USA
29. Tracy Burtt - USA
30. Susan Lui - Singapore
Saturday, 25 February 2012
Graphic 45 Design Team 2012 Audition
I have always loved crafting with a passion and although I've mainly used my blog to share my card making, this year I've set myself a New Year's resolution to share more of the other crafty things I get up to - Scrapbooking and Altered Art. I follow the new releases of Graphic 45 religiously and just can't help treating myself to their lovely goodies so I thought I'd share some of my projects and audition for the their 2012 Design Team. There is definitely some stiff competition out there but I hope what you see inspires you to step out of your comfort zone and try something new... and for anyone who lives in the UK where Graphic 45 products can sometimes be a little tricky to find - I hope you like what you see and request their papers and Staples at your local craft shop so that you can have a go too!
Communique Mini
First up is a mini album I made using the Communique line. Last year I was lucky enough to have my first book launch so these 'writerly' themed papers make the perfect choice for my pictures.
I finished off the back of the mini with the same type of collage style design as the front and added a layer of Matte medium to seal it.
Once Upon a Springtime Card
For this little card I decided to do something different and made a feature of one of the Once Upon a Springtime tags by adding it to three dominoes, filing and inking the edges before adding a gold edge and Glossy Accent domed top. I then created a frame effect with the papers to make this a pretty little card.
Shadow Box
I have always fancied having a go at creating a shadow box and when I picked up this house shaped one I thought it would be ideal to use with the Domestic Goddess line. Believe it or not I had only been able to buy three papers from this collection so my challenge was to decorate the house using only those. I think this just goes to show the versatility of these double sided papers and how well each pattern complements the others.This was a project for the 'frugal scrapper' ha! ha! and surprisingly I even have some elements left over from which I could create a couple of cards! Plus there is still plenty of room to add more household trinkets and charms as I find them.
Party Bag and Ornament
I love the vibrancy and busyness of the Le Cirque papers. Here I created a party bag decorated with flowers made from the scraps and an ornament made from cones of the papers and embellished with some of the fab imagery from the main sheet. As with the majority of Graphic 45 papers they work brilliantly with black or Kraft cardstock.
Cherish Layout
I am just about as passionate about researching my family history as I am about crafting and love the fact that with scrapbooking I can combine the two. This layout is of my 92 year gran when she was in her late teens. I think she looks really beautiful in this shot. The papers used are from a number of Graphic 45 collections and I'm always amazed at how well they all marry together.
Tropical Birdhouse
You cannot fail to love the juicy colours of the Tropical Travelogue papers and when I was browsing in the discount shop in January I came across this wooden birdhouse decorated with snowmen, winter birds and a snowy scene. After a paint makeover I transformed it into the summer residence of tropical birds, fussy cutting from the papers and adding gems and glitter highlights.
Christmas Ornament
Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without handmade decorations and this is a simple one I created using the Christmas Emporium papers, folding a length to create a rosette, punching it with my Martha Stewart punch and adding an image and sentiment, die cut matt, punched flowers, gems and ribbon.
Christmas Past Picture
I'm addicted to fussy cutting - love it - and to be honest you need to be for the next project. Each of Graphic 45's collections has an amazing main image on one of the papers which always has lots going on and interest to draw your eye. By using six sheets of the Visions of Sugarplums paper from the Christmas Past collection I created my own decoupage frame and on each layer cutaway more and more of the image to make a deep frame picture. It is best to use silicone glue rather than foam pads to mount the layers but if you enjoy getting fiddly then this is the project for you and you can use any of the main images in this way depending on which is your favourite collection! I've tried to take photos that show the layers and once you've created something like this you can bring it out year after year.
Photo Box
This little photo box was from our local discount shop, painted white with a mirrored front and silver handbag embellishments. The lid lifts off to reveal plastic wallets for over thirty photos and you can choose which one to display in the front. I wanted to alter this for a relative who likes vintage colours but does not like too many silk/paper flower embellishments. After painting the box in antique gold, I covered each panel with distressed patterned papers mainly from the Le Romantique line. I created a frame around the apperture, added pearls, just one section of decoupaged flowers and a series of Glossy Accented butterflies. I left the lid simply papered so that it did not detract from the displayed photos.
Tag Trio
I love making tags and trying out different techniques on them. This trio was created on backgrounds embossed with my Cuttlebug folders and spritzed with Cosmic Shimmers and Glimmer Mists. I decorated them with papers from the ABC Primer, On the Broadwalk and Curtain Call collections. You can really go to town with gems, ribbons, charms, flowers and braid to embellish them.
Celebration Cards
Finally, here is a card I made as an anniversary card using the Le Romantique collection. Soft peach card embossed on my embossing board and studded with gems were ideal for celebrating these wedding milestones.
Thank you to Graphic 45 for giving us all this chance to audition for their Design Team, for the lovely collections we can buy to create with and to those who visit my blog - I hope you feel a little inspired!
Best wishes Karen x
Communique Mini
First up is a mini album I made using the Communique line. Last year I was lucky enough to have my first book launch so these 'writerly' themed papers make the perfect choice for my pictures.
I finished off the back of the mini with the same type of collage style design as the front and added a layer of Matte medium to seal it.
Once Upon a Springtime Card
For this little card I decided to do something different and made a feature of one of the Once Upon a Springtime tags by adding it to three dominoes, filing and inking the edges before adding a gold edge and Glossy Accent domed top. I then created a frame effect with the papers to make this a pretty little card.
Shadow Box
I have always fancied having a go at creating a shadow box and when I picked up this house shaped one I thought it would be ideal to use with the Domestic Goddess line. Believe it or not I had only been able to buy three papers from this collection so my challenge was to decorate the house using only those. I think this just goes to show the versatility of these double sided papers and how well each pattern complements the others.This was a project for the 'frugal scrapper' ha! ha! and surprisingly I even have some elements left over from which I could create a couple of cards! Plus there is still plenty of room to add more household trinkets and charms as I find them.
Party Bag and Ornament
I love the vibrancy and busyness of the Le Cirque papers. Here I created a party bag decorated with flowers made from the scraps and an ornament made from cones of the papers and embellished with some of the fab imagery from the main sheet. As with the majority of Graphic 45 papers they work brilliantly with black or Kraft cardstock.
Cherish Layout
I am just about as passionate about researching my family history as I am about crafting and love the fact that with scrapbooking I can combine the two. This layout is of my 92 year gran when she was in her late teens. I think she looks really beautiful in this shot. The papers used are from a number of Graphic 45 collections and I'm always amazed at how well they all marry together.
Tropical Birdhouse
You cannot fail to love the juicy colours of the Tropical Travelogue papers and when I was browsing in the discount shop in January I came across this wooden birdhouse decorated with snowmen, winter birds and a snowy scene. After a paint makeover I transformed it into the summer residence of tropical birds, fussy cutting from the papers and adding gems and glitter highlights.
Christmas Ornament
Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without handmade decorations and this is a simple one I created using the Christmas Emporium papers, folding a length to create a rosette, punching it with my Martha Stewart punch and adding an image and sentiment, die cut matt, punched flowers, gems and ribbon.
Christmas Past Picture
I'm addicted to fussy cutting - love it - and to be honest you need to be for the next project. Each of Graphic 45's collections has an amazing main image on one of the papers which always has lots going on and interest to draw your eye. By using six sheets of the Visions of Sugarplums paper from the Christmas Past collection I created my own decoupage frame and on each layer cutaway more and more of the image to make a deep frame picture. It is best to use silicone glue rather than foam pads to mount the layers but if you enjoy getting fiddly then this is the project for you and you can use any of the main images in this way depending on which is your favourite collection! I've tried to take photos that show the layers and once you've created something like this you can bring it out year after year.
Photo Box
This little photo box was from our local discount shop, painted white with a mirrored front and silver handbag embellishments. The lid lifts off to reveal plastic wallets for over thirty photos and you can choose which one to display in the front. I wanted to alter this for a relative who likes vintage colours but does not like too many silk/paper flower embellishments. After painting the box in antique gold, I covered each panel with distressed patterned papers mainly from the Le Romantique line. I created a frame around the apperture, added pearls, just one section of decoupaged flowers and a series of Glossy Accented butterflies. I left the lid simply papered so that it did not detract from the displayed photos.
Tag Trio
I love making tags and trying out different techniques on them. This trio was created on backgrounds embossed with my Cuttlebug folders and spritzed with Cosmic Shimmers and Glimmer Mists. I decorated them with papers from the ABC Primer, On the Broadwalk and Curtain Call collections. You can really go to town with gems, ribbons, charms, flowers and braid to embellish them.
Celebration Cards
Finally, here is a card I made as an anniversary card using the Le Romantique collection. Soft peach card embossed on my embossing board and studded with gems were ideal for celebrating these wedding milestones.
Thank you to Graphic 45 for giving us all this chance to audition for their Design Team, for the lovely collections we can buy to create with and to those who visit my blog - I hope you feel a little inspired!
Best wishes Karen x
Wednesday, 22 February 2012
Guest Designer A Trip Down Memory Lane Part 3
Hi Everyone!
Back again with the final post of images from my Guest Designer spot at A Trip Down Memory Lane. Sorry about the delay - there doesn't seem to have been a spare moment these last four days!
Anyway, first up is a layout featuring my Great Grandmother's sister and her family who emigrated to America in the early 1900s. This design paper was perfect for their story as they moved from Pennsylvania by train to California where they settled. The added sparkle of the glitter papers created beautiful highlights and made them lovely to work with.
The second layout is of my Nana. This colour tinted photo was taken of her in her early Twenties. I used Kraft cardstock as my base and wrote my journalling as a border in white pen down both sides of the layout.
Thanks for looking and I'll be back soon with more creations that I've been working on.
Best wishes
Karen x
Back again with the final post of images from my Guest Designer spot at A Trip Down Memory Lane. Sorry about the delay - there doesn't seem to have been a spare moment these last four days!
Anyway, first up is a layout featuring my Great Grandmother's sister and her family who emigrated to America in the early 1900s. This design paper was perfect for their story as they moved from Pennsylvania by train to California where they settled. The added sparkle of the glitter papers created beautiful highlights and made them lovely to work with.
The second layout is of my Nana. This colour tinted photo was taken of her in her early Twenties. I used Kraft cardstock as my base and wrote my journalling as a border in white pen down both sides of the layout.
Thanks for looking and I'll be back soon with more creations that I've been working on.
Best wishes
Karen x
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