Gorgeous You with Kim Kesti

Gosh I am so far behind on blogging and actually doing my classes. I'm sharing today the cards Kim Kesti from Spellbinders taught at a Virtual Card event with Pinkfresh Studios in August!!

I love these Create and Connects and if I'm honest the cards that have excited me the most are often the guest company. I do love PFS but too many flowers!!! But I am so happy they seem to be offering more than flowers in recent kits.

I have to be honest this event was happening around the time a lump was discovered in my breast at a routine mammogram, so as well as the shock, my main crafting time was to my future Design Team work for my challenge sites. I buckled down and created and blogged all my DT cards till the end of October; so no time really for classes. Mid-October now and 3 weeks post surgery and all is going well here apart from the markers found on my biopsies at surgery meaning I have to start anti-hormone treatment for up to 5 years. So we'll see how I handle that and planned radiotherapy but certainly life is not as we knew it!

OK enough of me back to the class. OMG we were so spoilt from Spellbinders, as well as the beautiful perfume bottle bottle die, we received the cutest ever flower does, gorgeous 3D embossing folder and a stamp set with matching sentiments for the bottle.

These are the 2 cards I created as taught by Kim. Both cards have a tad of ink blending and the embossed background has had pink ink (Sparkling Rose) blended up from the bottom. Other PFS inks used on the flowers were Storm and Key Lime and adding a tad of blending it certainly gives the die cuts more oomph. the wee pink sequins in the shaker card are Spellbinders and they are perfect as quite flat.

Cards up close; followed by Kim's examples.

Back soon with some more virtual adventures. Thanks for popping in.

✿Karen✿

Multi Colour Letterpress with Lea Lawson

Pinkfresh Studio recently held a virtual hot foil and letter press event. We received in our kit box 5  different sets plus a Blanket Stitched Bracket die, ephemera sentiment pack and gold pearls. This Virtual event was a lower price point than their normal bigger events and it was supposed to be a "smaller event" all over in one day. Even so we still got four 90-minute classes online plus we were also provided with instructions for 2 extra make 'n takes.

I actually only bought a second-hand Spellbinders Better Press system as Pinkfresh were going this route. I still don't get what the fuss is all about with this system, it doesn't make me happy, I guess it's not really for me. Also no offence to Lea as this was the only class I could attend live, if I'm honest I don't like this set it's really old fashioned IMO.

But we'll look at the positives first; you can use the big ink pads to do multi-colours on the press plate but it would be so much easier and probably more effective with small ink cubes. As always use a small blending brush to soften/blend where the colours meet. It was also my first time using press plates that had a stencil which you attached to the magnetic platform as many parts to the set. The other thing PFS have discovered is that the press plates hot foil beautifully (probably nicer than original-style plates) so I see it as a win that if you choose to buy the added extra plate for foiling you can also use it for letter press.

Below is the Splendid Florals press plates, wee matching cutting die, stencils if you wanted to colour up a foiled image, plus the stencil which you attach with removable tape to magnetic platform and then the plates go on top. I was happy doing it this way, for some the sandwich was too tight having the extra so you could remove one shim from under the magnetic platform or use the stencil printed on photocopy paper, they provided us with the PDF file so we could print if we needed too.

These are the 2 cards we made with Lea in class, the one on the left is the letter press and the one on the right has been foiled and coloured in with ink and a stencil. All the sentiments came from an ephemera pack which was provided.

I have managed to get some graduation of colours but it is hard with the bigger inkpads and if this was your jam I would buy a set of small ink cubes for the technique. It's pretty enough  but I just don't like this image.

Trying to show the impression, I made the mistake of using an A2 die to cut out my panel and it flattened the "press" into the paper. To do this technique you have to use a thick cotton paper or watercolour paper and it's rather expensive. I now own a huge pack as we needed 5x7" panels to do the class so have plenty to play with. I wasn't the only person that commented on this happening and it seems like one solution is to repress the dry plates again.

I prefer the card below I like the colour combo better for starter and its quite a sweet shaker card, we also received in our stash a border die  with the blanket stitching which is quite nice. I have just ink blended Cherry Blossom ink to colour the panel. I was a bit heavier than Lea's card but I like it as is.

You can see the foiling here best IMO but it is very pretty in real life.

Our sneak peek for class showing Lea's card which probably shows the foiling of best.

I have 3 more classes to go for this Virtual event but if I'm honest I really only like one press plate we received, I think the other 3 sets are old-fashioned. This is the first time I have done a virtual class where I have disliked so much of what I received. We got a ton of stuff so great value for money so I will just write of the sets I dislike as part of learning to use these 2 systems better.

Thanks for popping in.

✿Karen✿

Berries and Blossoms with Heather

Gosh it's been nearly 2 months since my Virtual Cardmaking with Pinkfresh Studios happened and I haven't shared all the cards I made at the event. It was quite interesting how quickly they released a lot of the products we received in our kits in their March release, and this stamp set was one of the items released.

Before the event I thought the cards we were creating looked OK but I really loved working with this set. It's actually a "large" red rubber stamp which you stamp/heat emboss and then use the corresponding stencils to colour up followed by the coordinating die cuts out all the different elements in one pass. Card one is gold embossed, card 2 has been stamped in a light grey ink (Rocky Slope).

The class was officially titled "Elegant Notecards" and they truly are elegant and taught by Heather Hoffman.

We've used the notched corner frame dies to make a frame with PFS's Rose Gold glitter cardstock for card 1 and to make an impression for card 2. Card one also has the coverplate die (Stitched Octagons) we received as an essential for the event as an added feature on the background with a few wee splatters of ink. Card 2 we just used a bit of left over ink on our brushes.

At the time this was the first card we got to make on "our Monday" and it was a great start to the day's crafting. 

✿Karen✿

Humming Good Time with Mindy

One of the things I really like about Pinkfresh Studios apart from their fab stamps, inks, stencils etc is that they are now inviting smaller Guest companies to their Create and Connect virtual cardmaking in a box events. Last year they invited The Stamp Market to their Holiday cards and I loved them. This year's first box the guest company was Pretty Pink Posh (PPP) a company I have always enjoyed their whimsical and cute stamps over many years so was really rapt with this pick especially as Mindy Eggen was teaching the class.

We received for this class a stamp set and matching dies containing Hummingbirds and Florals. We also received a fun Stacked Scallop stencil. All the coloured cardstock has been created by wiping our ink pads over white card, even the black strip was created this way. There seemed to be a real emphasis this event on doing this. It's really true we don't need all that coloured card and it would certainly free up some space in our craft rooms if we all stop buying it. 

I just love the colour palate for the first card and with this loose way of blending in the colours it really was very easy to colour up, die cut out and arrange the images in a "wreath".

The second card I can't believe how sharp and crisp the lines were and how effective it was just stenciling the background with the scalloped waves were. The images remind me of the transfers Hero Arts sell which are extremely crisp and black.

You can see Mindy with her banner and cards below at the time when we were swiping the edges of our card for card 2 with Cherry Blossom as we were following along I was thinking we should be using "Peony", she realised at the end she used a different colour than her sample but I think I like the softer pink more as the images pop more.

This was such a fun class and I really enjoyed it - this was Class 3 on the first day so it was a good one to finish on, as quite straight forward. Even for us in NZ in our schedule it was still Class 3 after dinner on the first day.

Pinkfresh Studios have by now announced publicly their collaboration partners for 2024 and WOW they're Spellbinders and Simon Says Stamp, you can check it all out HERE. 

✿Karen✿

Citrus Twist with Lea

Sharing today my second class from my Pinkfresh Studio Create and Connect and today's card showcases the lovely Citrus Twist stamp set, dies and stencils. Our teacher for this class was Lea Lawson who is the marketing director for PFS and she often shares creating cards with their products via YouTube and monthly classes in Zoom. 

These were quite simple cards to put together as the stamp set is one piece but we did a bit of surgery to create extra citrus fruit. The wee flowers and leaves die-cut out separately but were part of the stamp. Both cards used our essentials from our swag, the Stitched Octagons coverplate die, Notched Corner Frame dies, gems with gold dust and for card one a sentiment from the Extra Special Sentiments stamp set.

Pink grapefruit and lemons card:

The images were gold embossed before stenciling and die-cutting out. It's a really fresh colour combo. This was actually the first card I made at the event as Class One was live whilst I was sleeping and I think I maybe a bit heavy handed with my ink blending but it's still really pretty and lots of little details.

Oranges and lemons card:

I really like how we've used our Versamark (embossing) pads to add some random ink to the frame before pouring on the gold embossing powder. The embossing powder Lea used looked amazing like a burnt gold (she said it was an Iridescent gold powder, I thought she said from WOW but they don't make one but Hero Arts does and I own that so might try it out) - see her cards lower. We used up excess ink on our blending brushes to make a delicate background on the coverplate die panel, you also see the gold dust in the gems they provided as part of our swag, they're really pretty. The sentiment on this card came from the Citrus Twist stamp set.

Lea's cards sneaks (and again I think she's done a fab job teaching us our cards):

✿Karen✿

Not just cards

The sun is shining again so just a very quick blog post today, I thought I'd share the joy and camaraderie of crafting with friends. I was very fortunate to be able to share my weekend away at a friend's crafty space, as it turns out she also got some candid moments on her camera. So a big, big thank you to Denise and Jackie for making it such a fun weekend.

Start of the first day Jackie and me are concentrating hard at this stage.

Time for lunch (and a wee glass of bubbly).

Ready for Mindy's Class:

Chicken pie for dinner anyone (and salad and bread and wine). I made Annabel Langbein's easy smoked chicken and mustard pie which I have modified to make super easy. 

• In an essence mix in a bowl one diced (sliced or shredded smoked chicken breast ~300g), add a tub of sour cream (250g), 2 Tbsp wholegrain mustard, good handful of chopped parsley, zest and juice of a small lemon, salt and pepper. 
• In a flan/pie dish line with baking paper and add one sheet of thawed ready rolled flaky puff pastry ~11" x 11" - I use Heritage Bakers brand now Edmonds no longer available
• Add mix in middle, leaving gaps at side to wrap the "pie" up
• Add another square of pastry on top so the points this time point to middle of first square. With a pastry brush wipe all edges with milk and fold and squeeze them together. Make a few slits on top and bake at 200oC for approx. 25 minutes

End of a long day, 15 hours later and looks like I may have lost my marbles or I maybe laughing at myself for losing more embossing powder on the floor again.

Next day hard at it again for Heather's Class:

And what I returned home with - 4 of the 6 classes completed and some beautiful cards and great memories. So still 2 more classes to do and all the make n' takes plus playtime.

Pinkfresh Studio have already announced their next class dates for 2024. Click HERE to see more details. They also run Scrapbooking events too.

Thanks for popping in.

✿Karen✿

Fluttering Butterflies with Anett

Sharing today the first class from Pinkfresh Studio Create & Connect which I participated with 2 friends in Auckland over the weekend but worldwide there was a total of 1270, I know of at least one other kiwi who was registered but her hubby wasn't feeling well so she crafted at home. This class was using a wide washi tape with it's corresponding stamp set, dies and stencils. It was a collection of butterflies and leaves and appropriately named Fluttering Butterflies. The class was taught by Anett Gelenscer who interestingly leads PFS Scrapbook Creative team but OMG she is so talented and so kind and nice. I loved her cards she taught us both had fancy folds, so she can card make as well all right. 

We received our class kits and essential items and swag in a beautiful but sturdy cardboard box with a magnetic lid. It was just the right size to transport all the ink pads I needed for the event to my friend's Denise's place in Auckland so it will remain for a long time in my crafting supplies

Here is my cards from this class together in front of the box.

As well as the Fluttering Butterflies suite of products we also received in our kits Stitched Octagons coverplate die and a set of Notched Corner Frames dies, both of these products were used on both cards.

The first card we white embossed the stamped image and then blended from the tips in leaving the centres light/white. We then made a shadow box for the die-cut images to be mounted on the front of the card. Plus I still have left over images to use on another card. We swiped the inkpad around the edges of the card base to make a Eucalyptus green card front and then also used the ink left on our blending brushes to shadow under where the images were going to be mounted.

The second card was even easier as we just placed a length of the washi on some white card stock and then cut out the images with the corresponding die. Again I have more images I can use on another card. PFS washi is amazing, the images are gold foiled and are so luxuriant. If they release this set I am definitely buying more of this washi tape. I think one roll has approximately 32 "image panels" per roll. For this card we made an easy Easel Card. I think the die cut frame piece is just perfect for attaching the washi die cuts.

And the official class picture showing Anett's fabulous creations:

She obviously did an awesome job of teaching us as I'm pretty rapt that mine look pretty similar to hers and are FABULOUS even if I say so myself;) Even my partner commented when he saw the bundle of cards I returned home with that they all looked amazing. So stay tuned for next blog post to see more fab, fab cards.

Pinkfresh Create and Connect Virtual Cardmaking Feb 2024

Wow it's time for another fab and fabulous Virtual 2-day Cardmaking event with Pinkfresh Studio to start in less than 24 hours. I'm joining a few crafty friends in Auckland so hope to get 4 of the 6 classes completed. Pinkfresh Studio (PFS) have collaborated again; this time with Pretty Pink Posh (PPP).

This time the presenters are Lea and Heather from Pinkfresh Studios, Mindy Eggen representing PPP. They are also joined by some of the fab PFS design team Anett Gelencser, Yana Smakula and Jennifer McGuire, what a rock star line up.

I've had my beautiful box for quite awhile, so much so I lost all the goodies and homework a few weeks ago and went into a blind panic as I had put it away somewhere safe but luckily I found where I was keeping it safe - under my splat box. The joys of working and storing stuff in a tiny space!

The box inside the brown box was beautiful and so full the magnetic closure was struggling to keep it all closed.

Opening the box up, the instruction booklet and every class bagged up plus "our essentials/extras in another zip bag".

Spreading out:

Sneak peeks of some of the cards:

Well this event with PFS (whilst I still have room to fit in a bit more into my shelves) is one virtual card making class and kit I wouldn't miss as it's great value and always stunning cards and stamps and coverplate dies and etc etc.....

Hope you all have a fab krafty weekend too and I'll catch up next week with some fab, fabulous cards to share.

#pfcreateandconnect
✿Karen✿

Having another go at Watercolouring

I'm really happy to report all Christmas cards have been posted away and it's not even December, so back to finishing off earlier classes I have signed up for.

Today I am finishing of the watercoloring with Manushree, this was supposed to be wet on dry techniques. I started-off like her but I didn't like the look of drawn fine lines with darker paint as my second layer if I'm honest, so ended up in the end doing a bit of colour removing with water and pushing the paint back towards the centre or where ever I wanted the shadow to be. I'm really happy how this turned out, I think I also prefer the colour palate of big flowers one colour and smaller flowers another colour, it looks more cohesive to me. Again this class was more about teaching us techniques with watercolour than making a card. My first go you can see HERE.

I have to say the watercolour paper they supplied takes a lot of water, I love it apart from it's cream. I still can't get over that the image is just stamped with Metropolis a dye ink.

Supply List:

Stamps: Nothing but the Best (PFS), Basic Banners: Celebrate (PFS) (plus matching dies for both stamp sets)

Ink: Metropolis (PFS), Seaside (PFS)

Paper: Watercolor (PFS - being released in 2024), Neenah Natural White #110

Other: Watercolor Artist Paints (ALT), Starry Skies Ombre glitter drops (PFS), Floral Backdrop (PFS), Blanket Stitched Rectangles (PFS), stamping foam

I can see the end is in sight for my February Create and Connect with Pinkfresh Studios with only one class to go - the mash up with Jennifer McGuire. Thanks for popping in and I hope you have a fab day.
✿Karen✿

Having a go at Watercolouring

Still trying to finish of my classes I signed up for at the beginning of the year for so I can start 2024 with a semi-clean slate. Not sure if I'm winning but slowly getting there.

One of the classes from Pinkfresh's February 2023 Create and Connect virtual class was Watercolor Flowers with Manushree Mishra, if you Google Manushree she's does amazing watercolour images so I was really looking forward to having a go.

Of course when the supply list came she was using liquid pH Martin (which is not available in NZ) with the suggestion to use Daniel Smith watercolor paints. The latter is available here but horrifically expensive. Either option would have cost me more than the price of my class so decided I was going to stick to what I owned which is a Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolour palette (18 colours) plus I have received over the years some Daniel Smith dot palettes but then I saw my local craft store had a reasonably priced half pan watercolor paint set from Altenew (Artist's Watercolor) so I thought that would give me a bigger range to play with. As you can see there are heaps of colours (24 to be exact) in the tin and they are really intense and creamy, with quite a good range of colours plus black and white.

But in the end I still used the dark pink (no. 34) from my Gansai Tambi set as it was closer to what Manushree was teaching but the other colours/paints came from the Altenew set. The first card she was teaching was wet on wet techniques and she almost did a different way  on each petal.

I wasn't that happy with my shadowing, I probably had too much water on my paint brush but I did enjoy painting alongside her. Today, I went back in with my ZIG Real Color brush markers in close shades and add a bit more shadowing and it actually looks quite good!!

I don't like the colour of watercolour paper if I'm honest which is why I use Ranger's as it is white but I think this is the paper that Pinkfresh Studio maybe releasing next year, it's quite cream but it was lovely to watercolour on, so I may have to change my mind. The image has just been stamped with a mid-grey dye ink; Metropolis and there's no bleeding at all. So to hide the cream and plainness of the cream watercolour panel I splattered with some red-gold paint (maybe too much) and the same dark pink watercolour from the Gansi Tambi sets. We were supposed to add a foiled sentiment but I didn't like that there background card was WHITE so I stamped Happy Birthday from the set with my Versafine Nocturne ink and clear embossed it on C9's Lemongrass card stock as I felt that was similar to the leaf colour. The Ombre glitter drops are Butterscotch, one thing about taking 9 months to do the class I have the whole range of  Ombre glitter drops now (Champagne was supplied in our kits originally).

This is a very simple card, the corners have been rounded using the largest Rounded and Braided die which was also in our kit and last but not least the stamp set is called Nothing But The Best and is part of Pinkfresh's recent release so it is available to purchase now.