Happy Birthday

Just a short post to share a Birthday card made for my sister.  Every time when I visit her, I would take countless photos of the beautiful roses and magnolias in her garden.  They are all so pretty.

When considering ideas for her card, I just couldn't resist colouring this gorgeous Magnolia, a stamp by Melanie Muenchinger, Stately Flowers 3.  I didn't have my camera, and somehow the photos with the iphone, doesn't look quite the same as the card in real life.

The Magnolia was coloured with Copic markers :
Flower centre - E30, E000
Petals - R00, RV10, RV52, RV55, Colourless Blender
Leaves - YG21, G40, G43, G46
Stem - E35, E30, G46, G40

Thanks for stopping by.

Have a great day!
Kary

Patterned papers - Crate Paper, My Mind's Eye, Neenah cardstock, Zva Creative pearls, Webster's Pages sparkler

Thinking of You

I love magnolias, they are such pretty flowers. I've never seen a real magnolia till I saw my sister had them in her garden.  She has the white and pink magnolias and I always look forward to see them bloom, as it's a sign that Spring is just around the corner.

I couldn't wait to get my hands on this stamp set with the magnolias - Stately Flowers 3 by Melanie Muenchinger. So happy it came in the mail this week.

It's a gorgeous set, isn't it?  And, here's my card:

The magnolia flower is coloured with Copic Markers - Flower Centre (R01, R02), Petals (R81, R83, R85, R89, Leaves (YG21, YG03, YG17), Branch (YG91, YG95), Outline (BG000).  The patterned papers are from Authentique Uncommon 6x6.

This card was made for the StampTV Garden Inspiration challenge this week.

Thanks for stopping by.

Have a lovely day!
Kary

StampTV Challenge

Hello Friends!  It's an auspicious day on the Chinese calendar today - it marks the beginning of Spring and the celebration of Chinese New Year (CNY).  Although my family does not keep to many Chinese traditions, we do celebrate CNY and it's a time of the year, where we do lots of baking, cooking, etc.

Today is also special day for me, because I'm hosting a Challenge for the first time at StampTV!  Pretty nervous about it, and yet so very excited!!  I hope you will visit StampTV and join the challenge.  Since, it is CNY, I thought it might be fun to have a challenge related to the celebration.

Check out the challenge & some background information here, and please join me for some fun, and you might win a Gina K stamp set!

Here's my card for the challenge :

I used Stamps from Theresa Momber's Dogwood and Butterfly stamp set (I LOVE this set!!), and papers from My Mind's Eye Love Me 6x6 pad.  The images were coloured with Copic Markers, and on the butterfly, I added some Glossy Accents for added interest.  Here's another look at the card:

For more info, please click on the link to StampTV where you'll find details of the challenge.  I really look forward to see you at StampTV and can't wait to see what you create.

Enjoy today, wherever you are.
Kary

Stately Flower 1

Do you have a favourite subject that you love to photograph?  Mine would be flowers!!  My happiest moment was when I visited Keukenhof, near Amsterdam.  I went a little mad, taking hundreds of photos of just flowers.  So, guess you could imagine my excitement, when I saw Melanie Muenchinger had a new stamp set called Stately Flowers 1!  It's the first in the series of all the state flowers in the US.

Lately the mailman has been taking his sweet time delivering my letters and orders.  I've been having one of those low mojo days but when this set arrived, I couldn't keep up with the ideas in my head.

First, a gift card holder - I selected the poppy image and stamped it on X-press It Blending card using Memento Rich Cocoa.  I've been meaning to tell you that for softer images, and especially for skin, I prefer to stamp with Memento Rich Cocoa - it gives a much softer tone outline compared to Tuxedo Black.  The poppy was coloured with R01, R02, R05, R08, the flower centre with YR12, YR07 and Atyou Spica Yellow and the stem & leaves with YG99, YG95, YG91

On the inside I added a sentiment that came along in the set, and you can see the pop up flap holding the sample gift card.  The patterned papers are from Crate Paper, Farmhouse 6x6 pad.

My second card is a CAS, with some die-cuts, fancy trim and a button.

I hope you'll check out Melanie's new set, and if you live in the US, there's a free download for you (at StampTV) to customise the names of the 50 states which coordinates with the stamp set.

Well, I'm looking forward to the coming set with the hibiscus (incidentally, it's the flower of Hawaii), because, that's the national flower of my country.

See you!

Two Cards to Share

Happy Saturday!  Today I have two of my recent favourite cards to share.  So very thankful that I have a hobby (cardmaking) that I love and get so much satisfaction from.

I promised to share a Non-traditional coloured Christmas card in my last post.  It was a response to the challenge at Stamp TV, you can read all about it here. 

I absolutely LOVE this new Stamp Set by Melanie Muenchinger (Thank you for creating a fab set, Melanie!).  It's called Holiday Basket (and you can see it by clicking on the link), don't you think the set is so Gorgeous?  I stamped the basket and poinsettia on white cardstock - they are separate images.  The Copic Markers used to colour the images are - Poinsettia (R32, R35, R39), Pinecone (E31, E34, E37), Pine (YG67), Basket (E31, E51, E55, E57).  Then I dyed a plain seam binding with Distress Stain Broken China and tied a bow as shown on the card.  The papers I used are from Pink Paislee Nantucket 6x6 pad.

If you have never joined the Stamp TV challenges, you ought to.  You could be a winner and you'll get to select a stamp set of your choice.  Just click here for the current challenges running and upload your card to Stamp TV site.

The next card, is one I made with the stamps I received from Hero Arts.  I won their challenge back in June, and you can see my watercolour card here.  The stamps arrived while I was away and I didn't have a chance to use them.  When I got home two weeks ago, I thought I should join the Hero Arts September challenge just to show how much I loved the stamps.

I stamped the large Envelope Pattern background stamp onto a white cardstock with Versamark and heat embossed it with Detailed white embossing powder. Then I sponged some Distress Inks on the card (Scattered Straw, Wild Honey, Victorian Velvet, Crushed Olive & Frayed Burlap).  Try to overlap the colours a little when sponging to get a really blended effect.  Before the ink dries, I brushed some Perfect Pearls onto the card and then spritzed some water to set it.  The flowers were coloured with Copic Markers : Round petal flower :YG00, YR02, YR12 & shadow W5 (flower), YG93, YG95, YG97(leaves), Three Petals flower : YR15, YR17 (flower), YG03, YG05, YG07(leaves).  I added an outline around the flowers with E93 and then cut out the images.  To add a little sparkle to the flowers, I used the Atyou Spica clear pen.

I could hardly believe my eyes, as I was reading this post and discovered my card was selected as one of the Fab Five a few days ago.  Thank you Hero Arts!!  If you have some Hero Arts stamps, you can still join the Round Two of the September contest, it's still ongoing till 29 Sep 2011.  You never know, you could be a winner!

Have wonderful weekend!!

Holiday Basket card

Stamp : Holiday Basket (love this set!!) & Blessed is the Season (sentiment)
Paper : Pink Paislee Nantucket 6x6
Other : Seam binding (coloured with Distress stain Broken China), White gel pen
Copics : Poinsettia (R32, R35, R39), Pinecone (E31, E34, E37), Pine (YG67), Basket (E31, E51, E55, E57)

Thank You card

Stamps : LP216 Three Quirky Flowers, S5507 Envelope Pattern, CL497 Find Joy (sentiment)
Inks : Memento Tuxedo Black, Distress Inks Scattered Straw, Wild Honey, Victorian Velvet, Crushed Olive & Frayed Burlap
Others : Detailed White Embossing powder, Perfect Pearls, Copic Markers, Atyou Spica Clear (for some glitter) 

Friends Forever

Hi Friends!  The weather is getting warmer here in Auckland, and it feels Spring is about to arrive.  It's always exciting when the seasons change.  Today I have another project using one of my favourite stamp sets, A Year of Borders by Melanie Muenchinger.

Despite the changing seasons of life, some things stay constant, like the love of dear friends.  I've always been blessed with great friends, and this card is dedicated to them.  You have indeed touched my life!

The cardbase was embossed with a woodgrain impression plate.  The stamped image was coloured with copic markers (YG11, YG13, YG17 (leaves) YR02, YR04, YR07, Colourless blender 0 (flowers)) and adhered to the card using pop dots.  The word "friends" was stamped onto the patterned paper.  For the blue strip, first I adhered the left piece on the card, then the longer strip was adhered with pop dots for some dimension.  The word "forever" was die cut from a woodgrain paper and adhered with Glossy Accents to the blue strip.  To add a little balance, I cut a small section of the floral image and attached it to the bottom of the card.  The patterned papers are from Echo Park & Jillibean Soup.

Have a blessed weekend!

Stamps : Gina K "A Year of Borders", PTI "Wonderful Words Additions"

Papers : Echo Park Paper Dots & Stripes Candy Shoppe & Summer Days, Jillibean Soup Apple Cheddar Soup

Ink : Versacolor Pinecone

Other : PTI Wonderful Words Die Collection, Zva Creative pearl

A Thousand Miracles

Somedays I think my life is so ordinary and boring.  I'm typically a person who loves exciting adventures and learning new things, and not very good at being still.  When I came across this sentiment "In every ordinary day there are a thousand miracles" it was a good time to pause and reflect.  So true, isn't it?  I wrote about my dad before, that his memory is fast deteriorating.  These days he takes a longer time to remember my name :-(.  I feel so afraid to face the day when he no longer remembers who I am.  Now that I'm away from home, I know he looks forward to my calls and it's amazing that he recognises my voice.  We chat about the little things, and about God and faith too.  Small miracles, right?

Today's tag is also a response to the challenge at Stampin' Sisters in Christ.  I don't often make tags, I'm not sure why.  Perhaps I find it hard to work with a smaller area.  I decided on a CAS tag with no other embellishments except stamp images and some colour.  I hope you like the result.

Thanks for visiting me, and I so appreciate your comments & support. {smiles}  I hope your day is filled with many wonderful miracles.

Stamps : GKD "A Year of Borders", PTI "Beautiful Blessings"

Paper : Hero Arts Layering paper Punch, BasicGrey Basics Manila

Copic Markers : E00, E02, E31, E35

Make A Splash

Once in a while, I make a card I really LOVE, which makes me smile.  This is one of them.. not the best design or with fancy techniques perhaps, but I love that it is a cheerful card and so very fun to create.  This card came about in the "wee" hours of the morning simply because I wanted to participate in a StampTV challenge - Make A Scene.

A little background story to the making of this card. My friend Carrie (a deep sea diver) recently commented that I had not made any cards with sea creatures which she so loves.  And so, I ordered this stamp set Make A Splash as a result, and yesterday the order arrived!  I love every sea creature in the set! Just so gorgeous - it's not often that I get so excited about a stamp set..lol!  This card was made with her in mind, because she has indeed made a "splash" in my life - it's not often we find a friend who is so dear and with whom you have a lot of "loves" in common.

I hope this card brighens your day and perhaps you will "Make A Splash" in someone's life today!

Stamp : Gina K Make A Splash

Paper : Gina K PLC Ocean Mist, White cardstocks

Ink : Memento & Copic markers

Other : Gina K brads, Spellbinders Labels 4, baker's twine

CPS Challenge

Today, I'm joining the Sketch Challenge at CPS.  It's my first time playing, and it's really nice because I get to combine with it with another challenge at StampTV.  Check them out if you like, and you can play along.

Here's the sketch:

 

 And my card:

For the card, I finally had a chance to ink up a stamp set I've had for sometime called Nesting.  The lovely nest image and sentiment are from that set.  For the sentiment piece, I used a background stamp from the Vintage Backgrounds set and then stamped the sentiment.

I hope you enjoy the softer colour combo.

Stamps : Gina K Nesting & Vintage Backgrounds

Ink : Memento Desert Sand & Versafine Vintage Sepia

Other : Spellbinders Rectangle dies, Jute twine, Pearls

Calligraphy Paper

Yesterday, while out shopping for some stationery, I came across Chinese Calligraphy paper.  I was really curious if it would work with stamping.  The paper is really thin and soft, it's a little textured on one side and smooth on the other. 

Here's my card:

The paper takes to stamping beautifully, and I love that the grains of the paper show through and the ink does not bleed.  It's always fun to find new mediums to stamp on.  I used all images from Gina K stamps, and the card was inspired by their new challenge, Let's Be Krafty.

What are you creating this weekend?  I'd love to hear what you do.
Have fun!

Stamps : GKD Springtime Silhouettes (butterfly), Garden Silhouettes (sentiment)

Paper : GKD PLC Kraft, Calligraphy paper

Ink : Versafine Toffee & Onyx Black

Other : White gel pen, and Sepia marker

Birthday Wishes For You

Wow! I'm so honoured to be given an award for my Gallery at StampTV!!  It's an Awesome feeling, and I'm truly Thankful and Appreciative for this. StampTV is a Fabulous place to hang out - with Fantastic videos from Gina each week, challenges and of course the wonderful community of crafters there. It's especially dear to me as it's a place where I can connect with friends who love cardmaking and stamping. (Update : You can check out my featured cards here)

I have a card to share today which is a response to a challenge at StampTV - DIY Patterned Paper.

My background paper is made with stamps from three sets: Springtime Silhouettes (fancy swirl), Branching Out (berries) and Spring Basket (leaf). I stamped them using Memento inks.  The focal image is from Framed Greetings coloured with copic markers (B00, R81-frame, R0000, R01, R02-flowers, YG01, YG03, YG05-leaves & stem, BG11, YG22, BG10-butterfly).  There's still time to play along in this challenge, and you might win a stamp set of your choice!

Thank you for stopping by.

p.s. I just added a new gadget for followers at the side. It's a new thing for me, so I'd be so thrilled if you like what I create & would like to follow my journey. Thank you ;)

Stamps : Gina K Springtime Silhouettes, Branching Out, Spring Basket

Paper : Gina K PLC Ocean Mist, Lilybee Design Picket Fence, Pink & white cardstock

Ink : Memento Angel Pink, Summer Sky, New Sprout, Tuxedo Black, Copics

Others : twine, button, Spellbinders Labels 16, MFT Die-namics Scallop Ribbon Border

Round Shaped Card

It's the end of another weekend.  The weather seems crazy today - it was a heavy downpour with thunderstorms.  I've not seen such display of "angry" lightning across the sky for a long time.  But it was good to stay in and do nothing and in darkness too, as the lightning caused the power to keep tripping. 

But, after the rain, it was much cooler, and I was so glad to turn on my computer and follow the StampTV blog hop.  The inspiration for the blog hop was based on this sketch :

 

I think it's a terrific sketch and I couldn't wait to try it out.  Here's my card:

The focal image is a piece of sticky back canvas.  On it, I stamped the vine using Stazon Metallic Gold, and then added the flower in red.  The butterflies were stamped on white cardstock and coloured with copic markers (BG11, B00, YG05, YG11), then cut out and adhered to the canvas with Glossy Accents. To secure the card, I tied the top with some twine and a button.

I wish you a blessed week!

Stamps : GKD Branching Out (background), A Year of Borders (butterflies), Gifts From the Sea (sentiment)

Paper : GKD cardstock Pumpkin Spice, October Afternoon - Modern Homemaker

Ink : Stazon Metallic Gold, Versafine Satin Red & Vintage Sepia, Memento Tuxedo Black

Other : White gel pen, Spellbinders Lacy Circles, WRMK Corner Chomper, PTI jute Twine, i-rock blings

Thanks So Much

Today's card is one I made last week for the Color Challenge at StampTV.  It has my favourite flowers from stamp set Buds & Vases by Melanie Muenchinger.  I LOVE that stamp set.

And a closer look :

Keeping this post just short & sweet, and hoping you like the card, and the gorgeous stamp set.

Have a Beautiful day!!
Smiles

Stamps : Gina K "Buds and Vases", " Fanciful Tags" (sentiment)

Paper : White & yellow cardstock, GKD PLC Bubblegum pink

Ink : Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers

Others : Twine, ribbon, lace

You Brighten My Day

I'm so glad to be home!  My flight arrived ahead of schedule, but getting home took quite sometime in the rush hour traffic. So glad to see my parents are well.  I think my dad knew I was coming home - my mum told me he had been talking in his sleep and calling out my name.  It was extra special that he recognised me immediately.  It's good to be back.

Today's card describes exactly how I feel, not just seeing my parents' happy faces, but also thinking of my friend, Marcie who sent me the stamp set which I've used for the card.  Thank you SO much for your thoughtfulness, Marcie.  I love the stamp set!

I used the sketch from Stamp TV's challenge STVSKSP21 to create the card.  It feels wonderful to sit at my desk and look out the window and be inspired.

I hope you are having a great day too.

{{Hugs}}

Stamps : GKD Smile

Papers : Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety 6x6 pad

Ink : Versafine Satin Red and Onyx Black

Others : i-rock, twine

Count Your Blessings

Today, I have a quick and easy card to share.  I had some leftover stamping pieces which I've already coloured, it was a waste not to use them somehow.  So, I cut them out and used almost all the pieces on this card:

The patterned paper is from Webster's Pages' 6x6 WonderFall pack.  It's already so pretty and I just added the butterflies and some lace & button  to finish up the card.  There was no need to add any sentiments as the words at the bottom of the paper say it all - "Count Your Blessings".

So true, isn't it - there's much to be thankful for in this life...

Stamp : GKD A Year of Borders

Paper : Webster's Pages 6x6 petite pad

Ink : Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic markers (BG10 & YG03)

Others : Sakura white gel pen, Copic Multi-liner 0.3, Button & Hero Arts lace trim

Thank You For Being My Friend

Hi again.  Last night I made a card using a sketch at StampTV. 

I think I must have been rather sleepy, because I think the card didn't turn out much like the sketch plus I managed to stamp the butterfly upside down too.  I was not quite happy, but then I thought that's life... nothing will ever be perfect but it's how we embrace imperfection that makes life meaningful.

So, here's my totally imperfect card:

Thank you, for visiting me, and for being my friend.  I appreciate it.

Stamps : GKD A Year of Borders (butterflies), Lawn Fawn Hello Friend
Papers : Cosmo Cricket, PTI kraft & white cardstock
Ink : Memento Tuxedo Black, Cantaloupe & Copic Markers YG03, BG10 & BG000
Others : Memento Markers Rich Cocoa & Rhubarb Stalk, Twine, Bling

Words of Life

Earlier this week, I had a wonderful time at lunch with two talented "crafty" friends.  We had so much fun chatting about everything and truly just enjoying each other's company.  I really treasure moments as such. 

I also had a lovely suprise when Christine gave me a beautiful book entitled "Words of Life" which had been given to her on her birthday some years ago.  She knows how much I love quotes and I was so delighted and honoured that she entrusted the book to me for keeps.  There are 1100 inspirational quotes organised by topics.  Here are some of my favourite ones on "Friendship":

Those are our best friends in whose presence we are able to be our best selves.

- Charles H Brent   

Today a man discovered gold and fame;

Another flew the stormy seas;

Another saw an unnamed world aflame;

One found the germ of a disease.

But what high fates my paths attend:

For I - today I found a friend.

- Helen Baker Parker

A friend is one to whom one may pour out all the contents of one's heart, chaff and grain together, knowing that the gentlest of hands will take and sift it, keep what is worth keeping, and with a breath of kindness, blow the rest away.

- unknown

So, here's my card inspired by the quotes:

Have a beautiful day!! Thank you for visiting me and I really treasure all your comments.

Stamps : GKD Fine Furnishings Additions

Papers : Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety, MM Ledger paper, Hero Arts Latte cardstock

Ink : Memento Tuxedo Black

Others : Spellbinders Labels 8, Labels 9, Double ended tags, paper flowers, Zva Creative crystal brad, jute twine, Sakura white gel pen 

Praying for You

I was thinking about the floods in Queensland as I was making this card.  I've spent some time living in Brisbane before and I love the place.  It's sad that the flooding has caused so much damage and I hope the weather will improve very soon.  There's much to pray for.

This card (4 x 4.25") was a response to a challenge at StampTV using the emboss resist technique.  Instead of creating a focal image with the technique, I decided to create a background.

1. Using the stamp set Vintage Backgrounds, ink the text stamp and stamp on white cardstock using Distress Ink Rusty Hinge.  Leave it to dry or heat set it.
2. Stamp the Polka Dots background onto the cardstock with Versamark.  Pour clear embossing powder and heat emboss it.
3. Sponge Distress Inks Shabby Shutters and Tumbled Glass over the cardstock and you'll have a lovely background paper.
4. Use a border punch on the bottom of the paper as shown.
5. To finish up the card, add a teal satin ribbon and adhere the sentiment and floral image as shown.  Add some white dash lines around the card.

Thanks for stopping by.







Stamps : GKD Vintage Backgrounds, GKD You Are Not Alone, GKD Fanciful Tags
Papers : White cardstock, PTI Spanish Moss & GKD Cranberry Tart
Inks : Versamark, Versafine Vintage Sepia, Distress Inks Rusty Hinge, Shabby Shutters & Tumbled Glass
Others : Teal Satin ribbon, MS Border Punch, Spellbinders Scalloped Circles

Happy Monday!!

After a long break from cardmaking, it's great to find time to piece this card together.  I love this stamp set from Melanie Muenchinger - Mugs & Kisses.  It's very fun to play with and paper piecing is great with it.

Here's my card:

It's quite a simple card using several new supplies - the black paper lace trim (a lovely gift from Christine), patterned papers from October Afternoon Modern Homemaker plus the Spellbinders Double-ended Tag die which I've been wanting for a long while.

I hope the New Year is going great and here's wishing you a wonderful & creative week!  I'll be back tomorrow with pictures of my recent trip.

Stamps : GKD Mugs & Kisses
Papers : October Afternoon Modern Homemaker, Hero Arts Latte cardbase
Copics : R39 & R0000 (for the little heart), R01 (tea label), E55 & E13 (tea), E30 (saucer)
Inks : Memento Tuxedo Black, Distress Ink Spun Sugar
Others : Spellbinders Labels 16 & Double-end Tags, PTI Baker's Twine, Black paper lace, White gel pen, Pearls