Baby, baby, baby.

With my "baby" having a nap and Miss 5 watching last week's Junior Masterchef online I got over an hour this morning to test out some of the new Kaszazz stamps.

First up, a simple card using the Jumpsuits stamp:

I stamped the jumpsuits with Ancient Page inks, then used Lyra Watercolours to colour them in.  A bit of Glossy Accents on the collars and cuffs gives a little bit of definition to them.  I used an 8x8 piece of white card folded in half to give me a DL (business) sized card, and used some distress inks and blending tool to give the background some colour (blue for sky, green for grass).  I then used a piece of kitchen string as my clothesline, and these cute mini clothes pegs I found a few weeks ago (I knew they would come in handy) and stuck it on with Glossy Accents.  The sentiment is from the new colour rubons - which is actually a chocolate brown colour.  Very easy and quick to make.  Total time - Approx. 20 minutes.

Next, the same concept but slightly different:

Again these jumpsuits are stamped with Ancient Page, coloured with watercolours and highlighted with Glossy Accents.  This time I stamped the front of the A5 cardstock with the new Flourish Background stamp using Victorian Velvet distress ink.  I then stuck on the pegs using Glossy Accents and finished with the new sentiment stamp (I love that it is nice and big), using the same ink as I had stamped the jumpsuits with.  Total time - approx 20 mins.

Next, I wanted to do a really simple card using only a couple of supplies - just to show that it doesn't need to be costly or difficult to make your own cards:

This card uses a total of 5 materials.  I used a piece of Ivory cardstock and the new Adorable Border stamp to stamp 3 times across the top using Antique Linen distress ink.  I then used the same ink and the Welcome Little One stamp on the bottom.  Lastly I grabbed some coloured pencils and chose 3 animals to colour (I did debate about leaving it uncoloured but felt it was too plain.  You could colour as few or as many as you feel suits).  Total time - approx 10 minutes.

Lastly, I wanted to try out something I had in my head since ordering the stamps:

I quickly noticed in the new product catalogue that there are in fact 3 different sizes of each of the animals!  The smallest is in the Adorable Border stamp (as seen above), the next is found on the exclusive Rollagraph wheel, and the largest is found in the Adorable Un-cut Set (as seen above) - so my idea was to use these to create versions of families.  You could do 2 big and 1 little, 2 big, one middle and one little (if there is an older sibling) or any other combinations as it fits!  I used half a sheet of A5 cardstock (to make a gift card rather than a greeting card) and first stamped the sentiment (which I mucked up on a previous attempt of the same card - but we won't go there...) which is also found in the Adorable Un-Cut Set - and is a miniature version of the sentiment used on the 2 cards above.  I then stamped the large giraffe, then the little one (by carefully only inking the giraffe, and with the assistance of a stamp-a-ma-jig) - all with Ancient Page Sienna ink.  I then got out my distress inks (ok, who am I kidding, they never get put away) and used an aquabrush to colour in the spots on the giraffes using Scattered Straw, added some grass using Shabby Shutters and finally blended on some sky using Broken China.  Total time - approx 10 minutes.

You may also notice in the backgrounds of my pictures are the new papers available from Kaszazz.  Each photo is a different page and shows both sides (one side is at the bottom and the other behind) - with the exception of the second last one - I just love that side the best!

As always, if you would like to get your hands on these awesome Kaszazz products just send me an email at rachel.witthaus@gmail.com.

Chaos in the Haus

Firstly, I'm sorry for the neglect of my blogging.  I really didn't think I was a particularly 'scheduled' person, but with school holidays at the moment, miss 5 having a sleepover at her grandparents', running around doing the once-in-a-blue-moon errands that normally get pushed aside, having both girls home all day long (accompanied by numerous screams and crying episodes), our TTD (see last post) and completing a monthly 8-card challenge, I haven't got as much time to craft as I would have liked.  I've come to appreciate routine!
When I received my new product order I just wanted to jump right in and get creative with those gorgeous new stamps, but I had other commitments and I rather responsibly (very not like me) have put them aside... until today!  My house is a complete disaster zone (with 2 kids home all day), the kids are driving me mental and will at some point likely need to be taken out to run amok but I will make time to make at least one card, and if all goes well, maybe even a layout!  Ok, so maybe completing a layout is dreaming...

The Wrap Up

... from the Kaszazz Team Training Day, which was held across the country this weekend.

1. The long awaited Die Cut Machine was released - the Bellish! Ezy-Press.  The Ezy-Press is a manual die cut machine that will fit an A4 page through it.  It uses dies to cut and plates to emboss, and comes with all the pads you need to use both the Ezy-Press dies/plates as well as some of the other brands such as Sizzix Sizzlits and Cuttlebug dies.
The Embossing and Cutting plates/dies are sold separately and both the machine and the accessories are exclusive to Kaszazz.
Here is a YouTube video to give you a bit of a demo:



2. The SB Foundations Range of Papers. This release is the best one I've seen yet - it has been well thought out, and the designs are gorgeous.  The papers lend themselves to vintage elegance with the Emily Rose and Lilly May papers, while the Cyan Jade and the Jordan Belle make great baby themed projects.  I really love the muted colours - very timeless!

3. Coloured Rub-ons.  I have never been a fan of rub-ons, I've always had issues with them sticking to the backing sheet or not transferring properly... until about a month ago when I tried the standard Kaszazz rub-ons (fully expecting the same as my previous experiences) and was amazed.  The regular rub-ons are really good quality and transfer so easily - I'm converted!  Now, Kaszazz have released 4 designs in COLOUR - and they are awesome!  The designs are identical to some of the stamps so everything is coordinated (love it!!).

4. The Stamps.  Need I say more... I love stamps, and these are just the best!  The first 7 pages (yes, 7 pages of stamps) are baby themed - with images and sentiments that are brilliant - including messages/verses you can stamp inside the card.  The next 5 pages are themed more towards girls - friends, little girls, etc.  Then the next 6 pages are the pre-released Christmas stamps.  I am so happy that Kaszazz now has a baby range!

5. The Accessories.  All of the new ribbons are now featured in the Sep10 New Product Flier, along with a "Pewter" Embellishment kit (which looks silver to me), baby charms, new shaped sticky bling (brackets, borders, hearts and stars), the White Share and Tell album (adding to the Black and Brown), 2 exclusive Rollagraph wheels that match exactly to the stamps, a paper piercer (finally!) and some new scissors to cut the rubber stamp sets.

If you would like to see the full flier, click HERE.

I will be putting in my order tomorrow, so if you would like me to add anything just email me at: rachel.witthaus@gmail.com
I am also holding a FREE Make and Take at my place on Friday 1st October - 7pm.  Email me if you'd like to come along and sample some of the new products in person - I guarantee you will be impressed!

Bit of Bling

I normally just colour this stamp with my watercolours, but this time I thought I'd try and bling it up a bit.  I stamped the main image, coloured the bear with watercolours and cut it out.  I then stamped it a second time on a sheet of double sided sticker paper (JAC).  Because it is a large image, I only inked the flower part the second time.  I cut out the middle and petals separately, and stuck them both on the card with the top backing still on.  I peeled off the petal backing and sprinkled over the purple glitter (Grape Fizz) and used a dry paintbrush to dab the glitter onto the double sided paper, then brush away any excess - this helps stop the excess glitter falling off everywhere, and also from cross-contaminating the other colours.  After all excess was removed I then peeled off the centre and repeated with the gold glitter (Honey Glow).

The card is finished with some ribbon, a few of rhinestones, the sentiment and a ruled border around the edge.

New Product Release - September 2010

The countdown is on!  The Kaszazz new product release is happening on Monday 20th September - only 5 sleeps to go. Here is a sneak peek of what the theme of the release will be:

If you would like to be added to my email list which I send out when there are new offers, new releases and specials, just email me and let me know (you can opt out at any time).

Email: rachel.witthaus@gmail.com

For those on my email list, I hope to have a newsletter ready to send out on the 20th with all the new products!

Dressed to Impress

There are some elegant dressmaking mannequin stamps going around at the moment, and I've seen a few people have cut it out and embellished it as a dress.  There wasn't one card/project in particular, but I've seen numerous so I thought I would have a go at drawing/making my own.  I got the outline semi balanced (it's not perfect) and cut out a template because I can see myself re-creating this in the future.  Once I traced and cut out the mannequin shape using white cardstock, I then set to wrapping some lace trim around it to make the dress.  It's all held in place with some double sided tape in the back, and after wrapping and tying a ribbon around the middle I used some foam squares to adhere it to the front of the card.  Some layered scalloped card at the bottom, and some dots for the background at the top, and this would make a great Bridal Shower, Engagement or Wedding card.

I've actually had this heart ribbon slider sitting in my stash for longer than I care to admit, and it made a nice accompaniment to the 5 mini pearls as a necklace and the 4 mini pearls as an embellishment on the bottom of the dress.

Thoughtful

I really like "Thinking of You" cards because they can be used for numerous occasions - as a pick-me-up, for a friend, when someone is mourning, if someone is sick... etc.
I fell in love with all of the "old book" creations that use either old children's books, sheet music, etc.  I went op-shopping (which is a little out of my comfort zone, but with some encouragement I think I could take to it like a duck to water), and found an old children's dictionary (without pictures) for $2 - perfect!  I brought it home and popped it on a shelf with some of my stash.  And there it has sat for months.  I've seen so many creations and thought "oh, I could do that with a dictionary page", but never got around to it.  It seemed like I was doing the unthinkable by ripping a page out of it... but I finally got up the courage, opened it to a random place and tore out a page.

I used some distress ink on the edges to give it a bit more of a weathered look, because in all honesty, the book is only as old as I am ;) and it is still in really good condition.  I then stamped the Cherry Blossoms stamp onto the torn page and coloured it with chalks.  I used the rest of the page to punch out the scallop circles for the flower and I used Smooch Spritz on it to give the flower a gold shine.  The kraft coloured base gives it a warm, old-fashioned feel to it.  I used a strip of scrap patterned paper down the side to ground it.
My inspiration for this card came from Card Patterns Sketch 80, in particular the card by Tracy Schultz.  I just love that the word sentiment is at the top of the page - it totally fits with a card.

Thinking of You with Cherry Blossoms

Well, it is now officially spring here in Australia, although you wouldn't have known it the first few days.  We had some horrible weather over the weekend with winds so strong it woke me up in the middle of the night.  I don't think I have ever heard the wind so bad before - it was literally howling against the front of the house.  Lots of places around Melbourne got damage from falling trees, etc, but we were unharmed and no power outage so that was a bonus.  North of the state copped a pelting of rain, with some flooding to some parts where creeks and rivers have burst their banks.  Lets hope that the real Spring weather comes shortly.
One of the icons of Spring - especially in Japan - is the Cherry Blossom.  This stamp is still one of my favourites.  It is just pretty.  This time I have paired it up with one of the supplies that is so often under-rated - chalks.  I have to admit that I didn't own chalks before I became a Kaszazz Consultant, and probably wouldn't have bought them except they come in the starter kit... but they are so handy!  I know I don't use them nearly enough, but they are so quick and easy to use, not particularly messy, and add a nice subtle colour to images.

Materials: Ivory cardstock, Pink Bazzill, Chocolate Ancient Page ink, Pebbles Inc Chalks (Basic Brights), Large Cherry Blossoms and Mini Messages Stamps,  Kiwi Smooch, Pearls (Kaisercraft) and ribbon (non-kaszazz).

Happy Crafting.

Scraplift with Flutterbys

Grrr.  After having a cold for the last week and was almost fully recovered, I was laid low yesterday with fever/chills and a nose that would not stop dripping/sneezing.  I'm feeling a bit better today but I'm still not 100% :(  Who would have thought you could get 2 illnesses at the same time?
Never mind, it was a good excuse to ignore the housework this morning and scraplift a layout I saw on the Ranger blog from the talented Jennifer McGuire.  As soon as I saw it I just wanted to break open the inks and get stamping.

Here is my scraplift of the layout:

I used 2 stamps - both from Kaszazz (Fancy Flourish and Butterfly Medium) and 15 different inks (Colorbox Fluid Chalk: Pink Pastel, Tangerine, Yellow Cadmium, Olive Pastel, Deep Green, Prussian Blue, Warm Violet, Lavender, Blackbird.  Vivid!: Garnet, Red Hot.  Ancient Page: Cardinal, Stone Grey.  T.H Distress:   Faded Jeans.  Colorbox Pigment: Frost White).  I did actually stamp out the butterfly in about 35 different colours, but just chose the ones I thought went together the best.  The base is a 12x12 Black cardstock page with the middle cut out (which I used to mat the photo), and a piece of Oatmeal 12x12 cardstock trimmed to 11x11.  The writing was all done freehand with a Black Signo gel pen and my set of felt-tip pens (I thought these were great value at approx $20 for 25 pens in a roll-up wallet).
Thanks for checking out my blog :)