Home Again

Hello  to all my blogging friends on this lovely Spring day. It is great to be home again, even though we had a wonderful time with our families. We had a couple of nights at Cromwell, with our daughter ( her husband is an oil rig man, hence he was away ) on the way down South, then we took the two little people with us down to the farm.They always enjoy the time spent with their cousins on the farm and of course, doing all the farm activities. I'm sure their father's hair would have stood on end, many a time, if he'd seen what they got up to. Anyway they're safely back home and all's well!
I will put up three cards that I made for special orders before I went away. At the moment I am working on projects for Kaisercraft. Boy, you're all going to love these new collections! Their papers are just getting better and better - I love them all!! Of course, I haven't got a paper addiction - it's good you can't see into my workroom!!

This card was made for a young lady who is just turning 15 and apparently loves fashion. DCWV  Lemon Flower papers were used ( I love them ), the flowers were made with Tim Holtz Rosettes Dies ( it is so easy to use and I think the fowers are so effective), and Martha Stewart Border punch.

Another card for Sarah who enjoys playing the Saxaphone. I made this card using the Kaisercraft Velvet Ensemble collection - even the saxaphone was part of this paper. What would we do without Spellbinders dies for cutting out our shapes?

This last card was made for a special patchwork friend who is moving away from the area. And Mary, we are sorry you are leaving us! Kaisercraft Bonjour range was used, Tim Holtz birdcage die and Kaiser flowers.I glimmer misted both the birdcage and the bird after stamping it with a script stamp- the bird that is!
We have a very big weekend ahead of us this coming weekend as it is the Geraldine Arts and Plants Festival.Our little town really does come to life, there is so much going on! As well as all the other activities round the town the patchwork group have a big exhibition of all the quilts made this year - it is absolutely stunning to see them all. I have three that I have made so will show them later on the blog. I think one of the Christchurch families are coming down to stay so we will enjoy that - it's great for Darby and Joan to have some life around the place!!
Must stop waffling and get back to work,
God bless you all, thanks for checking this out, love your comments.
Betsy, XX

Our Big Trip and a card.

Hello all - I don't know if I am completely back to earth yet but am trying my best. A good sleep-in helped a bit this morning!! We did have a wonderful time in Melbourne, doing all the girly things ( well I tagged along ) Lowri and Liz did the girly things, I carried the bags!! Liz drove (with the help of the GPS), Lowri navigated, and I sat in the back seat and prayed!! All turned out well, not too many detours! Then it was down to Geelong where Kaisercraft put on a tremendous day for us all. The team are simply wonderful, gave us the red carpet treatment and it was so nice to meet them all. I for one, didn't realise just what a big concern Kaisercraft is, so was  favourably impressed after having had a tour of the factory and the outlet store. Thanks so much to all you special people.
I will include a few photos that I took, but I'm afraid I forgot I had a camera most of the time. Just too busy checking on everything!!

This was taken at breakfast so we all look a bit sleepy!

Liz and I out on the town.

Lowri, Al, Liz and Shirl, these girls are so lovely.

Outside Kaisercraft factory having lunch. It was a beatiful day as you can see. The two girls in the foreground are the designers / artists who design all the lovely collections, Claire and Jess. They even gave us an insight into how they work. Claire gets married today so we wish her well, hope her day goes of beautifully and we're looking forward to some photos.
Well, a great time was had by all but now must get back to normal living! I did come home with a good number of next year's collections to play with, so am looking forward to that. Must say you are all going to be impressed with the new ranges!

This is a card I have just made for a 60th wedding anniversary, for a friend. Spellbinders labels and No16 die was used, Kaiser flowers, and seam binding which has been coloured with glimmermist. Love this stuff also the seam binding. It bows so lovely using my bow-tie.
We are heading down South this week to see our south families so am really looking forward to that, even though the kids will be back at school. Don't know when I will be blogging again but 'til I do, may you all know God's blessing and I better say, may the All Blacks win. That's especially for Liz!!

Betsy.

We're Off to Oz

Hi ho, hi ho, hi ho it's off to Oz we go. We must admit we're pretty excited. It will be fun to catch up with the Australian girls again and of course visit the Melbourne scrap shops. Liz has them all sussed out and she has a GPS, so as long as it is reliable we should be fine. Here's hoping!!
Thanks everyone for your good wishes, that includes you Jocelyn.

I will put a couple of cards up just to show I haven't been altogether side-tracked. The orders seem to be still coming in. Must  say I do love doing cards for special orders and personalizing them.

This card was made with one of the new, new collections that are coming out from Kaisercraft. It is just to wet your appitite - the papers are just stunning! Martha Stewart punch, Spellbinders labels die, and Kaisercraft flowers were used. I glimmermisted the main flower after I put it together. It is another 51/4" square card which I have been making more of lately.

Again using the same papers - afraid I have to keep you in suspence!! By now, you will no doubt know I love the Tilda stamps. I use my copics to colour them. Isn't that Spellbinders No 16 die lovely? Have you all noticed the Artfull Crafts have all Sellbinders dies, both old and new, on special at the moment. You can't have too many of these wonderful dies!!

Must away and pack my bag.
With blessings to you all,
Betsy

Off to Australia

Good evening everyone. Well, I'm so excited as Liz, Lowri and I are heading over to Aus to the Kaisercraft Party - can you see me grinning! We are flying over on Friday next, to Melbourne, staying a few nights there then heading down to Geelong where Kaisercraft is having the big event. It will be lovely, to not only catch up with the girls I met at SENZ but to meet others, I have not as yet met. Shirl and Lisa it will be great to finally meet you both - looking forward to that.

Had better stop waffling and show you a couple of cards.
Here is a card I made for my lovely 13year old grand-daughter, Ella. Martha Stewart punch was used for the border, I cut the name out using my  Cuttlebug Alphabet, Harmony. Before cutting it out I adhered the card to Jac paper so that it had the adhesive already on which made it easier to attach to the card. The image was a 3D. Of course, it was cut out using my Grand Calibur with a Labels 1 die. The roses I made the Marianne rose die and the ribbon was tied using my bow- tie.

This next card is called a petal card. Spellbinders Lotus die was used, Kaisercraft paper flowers crunched up and glimmer misted and the small flowers are also Kaisercraft. I really do love that seam binding, so soft and vintagey. Using glimmer mist you can colour it almost any colour you want. I have versamarked the flourish then after stamping, have chalked over it. Lastly, sponged round all edges with sepia ink to give it an aged look.

Well, another day tomorrow, my patchwork day and we are going to a friend's home out past Pleasant Point. We always enjoy driving out to Denise's place and the view is absolutely stunning. I am just starting another wallhanging - not sure where I'll hang this one but it is always fun beginning a new project.

May God bless you all my blogging friends,
A rather excited Betsy.

Free standing cards

Hello to all my blogging friends. Another week has gone and I don't know where! As one gets older, time just seems to bolt away. Anyway we have a lot to be thankful for and enjoy each day as it is given to us.

When we were at Fairlie the other Saturday, we worked with these papers and made a man's card. The cards were lovely and as I had some paper left over thought I would use it up - hence the card. This would be a card that could be given to kids, very easy to make and rather effective. It actually folds down and could be put into a normal sized envelope for posting. Don't you love that Martha Stewart punch border? For Craft Creators on Friday we are making this card, a choice of either Christmas or normal.

Now here is the same card made in the gorgeous 25days to Christmas papers. Available of course at Artfull Crafts. The colours in this range are lovely - perhaps one of my favourite Christmas ones.

Well, that's all for now - must keep going on the Card Temptations Kit for next month. I am really enjoying working with this Bonjour collection from Kaisercraft. Actually this is one of the ranges I did for Kaisercraft which has a couple of cards displayed in the Workshop Magazine. Pick yours up at Artfull Crafts.

Timaru tomorrow - we do enjoy our time with Liz in the morning and of course, being with the other ladies is so much fun. It is such a social gathering and Artfull Crafts is a wonderful place to meet. All will agree!!

With very special blessings to you all - thanks for checking this out and also for your comments. I love hearing from you.

Betsy.

Love is in the air!!

Hello blogging friends. Do hope you all had a lovely weekend. We had a great day over at Fairlie, making cards of course, with a wonderful group of ladies. Thank you to Kaye for organizing the day, also to Liz for her tuition. It was a beaut day ladies.

Here is a card I made, for an order, for a friend. As the proposal was made in view of the Eiffel Tower, it had to be on the card. Now don't you reckon that's romantic!! It made me think back many years now, to the time I was proposed to - in a woolshed, skinning smelly opossums! I had no highfalutin ideas of what being married to a farmer was all about!! Anyway, I did say yes and have never regretted it.

Now back to the card. I will have to keep the papers, I have used a secret as yet, but I will say they are from Kaisercraft and absolutely lovely! Keep watching this space! It is a very simple card but I was really pleased with it. I have taken to making a lot of 5 1/4" cards lately which I think are a nice size. The main flower is again Kaiser's paper flowers, stacked up, crunched, then glimmermisted. The small roses are from Artful Crafts. They carry a great range of flowers and of course many other goodies!

My grand calibur was used to cut this card out. I can't praise it too highly! The papers are Basic Grey, Sweet Threads, and are beautiful colours. Kaiser flowers and sparklets add to the card, and the Cherry Lynn Flourish die for cutting out the flourish - it is so lovely and fine. Do hope Janis is happy with her card!

Well blessings to you all, catch you again soon,

Betsy.

Duplicating Artfull Crafts blog

Morning everyone. Hope you have all had a lovely weekend. We had a very rushed trip down to Dunedin, for a funeral, on Friday, and the rest of the weekend I have been rather busy fulfilling an interesting challenge. Oh! what these young things expect one to do, - they forget my age !!! Anyway I do enjoy these challenges and have almost completed it now.
I decided to duplicate what I put on Artfull Crafts blog as some of you will want to view it here. The first card is my interpretation of the sketch that Tanya Leigh designed. Originally it is for a layout but I adapted it to a card. Spring has Sprung is this month's challenge theme so I have also used that. It perhaps looks a little washed out, but I did photograph it very early in the morning. Am still working on perfecting my photography !!

The next card is one I made for a friend, for an order. I love my Grand Calibur, and I used it to cut out this easel card. I'm rather fond of cards with a bit of difference. What do you reckon ladies?

Well, I must go and continue the good work.
God's blessings to you all, and thank you to all the kind ladies who have commented or checked out my blog.
With love, Betsy.