Kerenbaker's Blog

Altenew Craft-A-Flower: Sunburst Azalea Release Blog Hop + Giveaway ($200 in total prizes)

Hello! How are you doing? Hope you’re having a lovely day. I’m having a great day as I’m really pleased to be joining in with the Altenew Blog Hop celebrating the latest in the Craft-A-Flower series; the Sunburst Azalea.

(all following links are affiliate ones, thankyou).

You may have joined me from Jenny Colacicco but if you want to go to the Altenew Card blog, you can start from the beginning there.

I went for an almost neon colour combo; something bright and fun!

Using white can be tricky- but a simple trick to give a difference between whites is to add in a Pearlised white. I also wanted to show an easy way to make a simple background using small circles and foam pads.

If you’re loving the Sunburst Azalea, you can get hold of it here plus if you love the Craft-A-Flower series you can also get a monthly subscription plan for the Craft-A-Flower die set. When signed up, you are guaranteed a spot in our monthly Craft-A-Flower releases and will receive a set each month – at a specially discounted price! ($35.99 →$29.99)

Giveaway Prizes

$200 in total prizes! To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $50 gift certificate to 2 lucky winners and a $20 gift certificate to 5 winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog and/or each designer’s blog post on the blog hop list below by 03/13/2022 for a chance to win. Altenew will draw 7 random winners from the comments left on each stop of this blog hop and announce the winners on the Altenew Winners Page on 03/15/2022.

I hope you’ve loved the first look at this new Sunburst Azalea set. Do hop around to have a greater chance at winning the giveaway and before I go, I want to direct you to the lovely Terri Koszler who is next on the hop. If you get lost, I’ve added the whole list below.

Thanks so much for visiting today – hope to see you soon

Keren x

March 7, 2022 at 2:00 pm 30 comments

Altenew Build-A-Flower: Giant Bellflower Release Blog Hop + Giveaway ($200 in total prizes)

Hello Altenew friends and my lovely blog readers. How are you?

With everything that’s going on, it’s nice to see something beautiful, so I hope this blog hop brings a smile if only for a small while x You may have come from Nenette Madero’s blog, so a big hello if you’re visiting me for the first time.

The blog hop begins at Altenew’s card blog with Emily, so please start there if you want to do the hop in order. (please note that all following links are affiliate ones, thankyou!)

This Giant Bellflower Build-A-Flower set is incredibly beautiful, and I wanted create a project in teal. Here’s what I ended up with.

The Giant Bellflower Build-A-Flower set comes as a stamp and die set and you can get it here. If you love the series, don’t want to miss any and fancy a subscription with 10% off, you can purchase that here.

Let your imagination soar with stunning florals and heartfelt greetings in this unique layering stamp and die set. The florals in this set feature an artistic take on giant bellflowers, showcasing beautiful open petals on a cluster of three flowers. Want to experiment with colour? We have added separate colouring layers for each individual flower so you can get creative with colours for your paper crafting projects.

I simply stamped with three matching ink colours for the flowers and two for the green. I outlined the whole image with the darkest teal ink to give it a softer look. Once I’d die-cut the flowers I arranged them onto a tent folded card (I cut two sets of flowers out and trimmed some of them apart)

Giveaway Prizes!

There is $200 in total prizes! To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $50 gift certificate to 2 lucky winners and a $20 gift certificate to 5 winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog and/or each designer’s blog post on the blog hop list below by 03/06/2022 for a chance to win. Altenew will draw 7 random winners from the comments left on each stop of this blog hop and announce the winners on the Altenew Winners Page on 03/09/2022.

You can see that I added a layer of Duralar Matt (a subsitute for vellum, but much better!!) over some of the Giant Bellflower Build-A-Flower set and then added a thin strip of the Altenew Glitter Card. I finished it off with some Gold gel pen dots and the wonderful sentiment! I just love this card! I do hope you’ve enjoyed looking a little closer at this beautiful set and now there’s even more to see.

The whole blog order is listed below in case you get lost along the way! It’s now time to visit the lovely Bridget Casey– I know she’ll have something wonderful for you to see! See you again soon,

Keren xx

March 1, 2022 at 2:00 pm 29 comments

Clearly Besotted March Release Day

Hey. How are you today? We’ve made it to Release Day! Yay! I’ve loved the sets this month- as I already mentioned, I’m a sucker for flowers and plants. Today I’m using ‘On The Shelf’ and ‘On The Shelf Stuff’, and created a tag perfect for a crafty friend.

I love how you can perfectly adapt the shelves and add all sorts of items tailored to the recipient. I just put stuff I love- paintbrushes, a plant (the plant was masked and I stamped the paintbrushes and scissors pot over the top ).

We need books to read too…and I simply don’t have as much time as I’d love to read the books that I have. I read so many last year and this year is a flop so far! Do you manage to make time for yourself to read?

You can see that I added a large eyelet ( one of the few older things I’ve always held onto; I knew I’d use them bit by bit- they’re from American Crafts if I remember rightly?!).

There’s still more to see from Clearly Besotted and then onto Michelle.

We also have Mona, Francine and Alberto creating with the wonderful new sets, so please visit them as well.

As usual, the release goes live at 8pm GMT. All sets are available tonight on the Clearly Besotted store and also from Simon Says Stamp , Art Creatiu, Cloud 9 Crafts and Card Nouveau too.

Don’t forget to enter into the giant giveaway over on the Facebook page for Clearly Besotted. It’s a fabulous opportunity to win the whole release!

Do let me know which have been your favourite sets.

Thanks for visiting me this month, I really appreciate all your visits and comments x

March 1, 2022 at 8:00 am 3 comments

Clearly Besotted March Teasers Day 4

Hi! Hope your weekend is going well! Today I’m going super simple (& tomorrow too). Sometimes we just need quick cards or tags, and I thought I’d do a cute tag suitable for anyone needing a hug!

I started out by stamping the whale from the new set ‘On The Shelf Plushies’ on a die cut circle ( this Circle tag set is a fun one from Reverse Confetti). Then, add a stamped mask to cover the whale and then stamp the rabbit over it. Remove the mask and colour it in.

Add some little pink dashes and the fun sentiment. Add the stamped panel onto a die-cut blue layer using foam pads. Add a backing white die-cut piece. I then added some seam binding ribbon that I’d wet and crushed then leave to dry.

Doesn’t the ribbon look so pretty all crumpled up! The whole tag won’t take long to make and is great for all sorts of recipients and occasions.

We have plenty more for you to see so please visit Clearly Besotted and then Michelle.

It’s been wonderful seeing what Mona, Francine and Alberto have been creating so please send them some love and visit them as well.

See you tomorrow for Release Day xx

February 28, 2022 at 8:00 am 3 comments

Clearly Besotted March Teasers Day 3

Hello again! Day 3 already and we’re looking at more Untouchable Scenes along with Untouchable Plushies…

Let’s umm talk about the serious cuteness of the dragon with his prickly plant present and try and avoid mentioning the stamping boo-boo where I tried to fill in my dodgy stamping and picked up the wrong pen….

Yup. I don’t use a stamping platform much but I was certainly wishing I had done in this instance! Nevermind- hoping the cute factor distracts for a while 😂

I love cacti and succulents and have the perfect recipient in mind!! They adore cactus plants! I am always amazed by how something so prickly can create such gorgeous flowers!

The two sets are a really good pair and with lots of possibilities so these are ones I’d really recommend!

We have lots more inspiration for you today- please see Clearly Besotted and then Michelle.

We’d love for you to go and see Alberto, Mona and Francine so please visit them as well.

See you tomorrow xx

February 27, 2022 at 8:00 am 3 comments

Clearly Besotted March Teasers Day 2

Hi again! Glad to have you back. Today I’m looking at a florist’s window…or at least that’s the vibe I’m going for in today’s card. I’m combining another two companion sets; ‘On The Shelf’ and ‘On The Shelf Stuff’…

I love those on-trend circle shelves- and am quite tempted to get one for home. I thought I’d combine 5 of them to create a pattern in of themselves. Stamping 4 of them on a base sheet of white cardstock and then colouring is simple. Adding the main shelf trimmed out with a craft knife shows the pattern of the other shelves beneath.

I love the plants dotted around- I just love houseplants and this is my kind of vibe. I could just imagine this as a florists cool window display.

This set would work for a new home card and for anyone who loves plants too.

Please do go and see Clearly Besotted and then onto Michelle.

We’d also love you to visit Francine, Mona and Alberto so please go and see what wonderful projects they’ve created.

See you tomorrow xx

February 26, 2022 at 8:00 am 4 comments

Clearly Besotted March Teasers Day 1

Hello! How are you all? Rolling into March? How did that happen, although I got pretty excited when I saw signs of spring in my garden the other week! I hope you’re ready for some inspiration from everyone. Today I’m looking at Untouchable Plushies and Untouchable Scenes. I thought I’d create the flowers into more clover like blooms.

I just ADORE the way that Clearly Besotted do flowers and Michelle and I both love it when a release contains flowers!

I stamped in grey ink so the flowers were less outlined then coloured with Copic Markers.

If you know me, you’ll know I dislike purple but I didn’t mind doing this card; colouring is so soothing. I’ve outlined the flowers in grey to help give some perspective and dimension.

I plonked the hedgehog on a pile of soil so he can see better and added a sentiment that I know I will use.

The two sets are designed to work together and the Scenes set has 3 lovely scenes to add your critters to.

We have plenty more for you to see..do go and see Clearly Besotted and then Michelle.

Guesting this month we’re delighted to welcome back Mona, Francine and Alberto so please send them some love and visit them as well.

See you tomorrow xx

February 25, 2022 at 8:00 am 5 comments

Altenew Dreamy Bouquet Fabric Release BlogHop + Giveaway

Hello lovely friends- it’s time for something new…and totally new; Altenew are now doing FABRIC!! A big welcome if you’ve arrived from the lovely Terri Koszler’s blog. If you want to start at the beginning- please visit the Altenew Card Blog and then you can hop around everyone’s wonderful blogs.

( All the following links are Affiliate ones– thankyou!)

Altenew do so many different types of products but fabric is a first for them. However- it’ll come as no surprise that their signature beautiful designs are in evidence in this special Fat Quarter pack. If you’re wondering what a Fat Quarter is, it’s simply a Yard cut into 4- so each ‘quarter’ measures around 18”x 22” and there are SO many things you can make with them. These are beautiful cotton fabrics- so there’s tonnes you can make with them.

Dreamy Bouquet Fabric Fat Quarter Collection

This collection is called Dreamy Bouquet and as I appreciate that not everyone sews ( or wants to sew) I’ve created a ‘no-sew’, ‘low-sew’ and ‘sew’ set of projects; hopefully catering for everyone. For those of you who simply want to stroke the fabric…of course you can do that too 😂.

The sew one first…

A really simple drawstring shape- but I’ve cut out small squares…

Sewed them back together again and then made a drawstring pouch.

I love how it shows all the different patterns off in one go! But maybe sewing isn’t really a passion of yours but you don’t mind doing a little? Here’s the second one incorporating a little hand sewing.

You can die cut fabric- particularly easily when you add an interfacing to it…which is simply an iron on ‘stiffener’. I use Vlieseline interfacings and it also means that the circles won’t fray after you’ve die cut them. Such a simple design and using the ‘Hello & Hugs’ die set too. I just added a few hand sewn running stitches around 2 circles to give it a little more texture. Before I show you the third project, I’ll tell you about the…

Giveaway!!

There is $300 in total prizes! To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $50 gift certificate to 2 lucky winners and a $25 gift certificate to 8 winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog and/or each designer’s blog post on the blog hop list below by 02/23/2022 for a chance to win.

Altenew will draw 10 random winners from the comments left on each stop of this blog hop and announce the winners on the Altenew Winners Page on 02/25/2022.

For my ‘no-sew’ project- it’s just using strips of the fabric, mounted onto card and used as a textural background.

Don’t worry about any stray threads..it really adds to the character of the card. Just trim out pieces of fabric similar widths, overlap them and adhere them to a piece of cardstock. You can use thin amounts of fabric glue, double sided tape or a piece of adhesive sheet. Then die cut a circle from white and blue card, layer them together and mount onto the fabric piece using foam pads.

I’ve used the Craft-A-Flower: Buttercup Layering Die set but in pink to tie the colours together- but the card was made pretty quickly.

I hope this has given you a taster of what you might do with this beautiful Dreamy Bouquet Fat Quarter Collection– but don’t hang around, I can’t see it hanging around in store for long!

Before I go, I’ve added the list of everyone taking part, but the next person on the hop is the wonderful Norine Borys.

I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing the fabric in different ways, and I know you’ll love trying it out too! Thanks for visiting me today,

Keren x

(The whole blog hop is here below in case you get lost!)

Keren Baker– you are here!

February 17, 2022 at 2:00 pm 25 comments

Clearly Besotted February Release Day!

We’ve made it to the Release Day – haven’t the sets this month been amazing! I’m not sure which ones are my favourites but I have loved the Easter themed ones. Today I’m using two sets- both of which we’ve seen already- but in particular, the ‘Whatever The Weather’ set has 4 scenes in it- and today I’m using the ‘windy’ one. I’ve combined it with one of the companion sets – ‘Whatever The Weather Friends’.

I love the whole blowy scene and added a kite to take the little guy soaring into the air. I am loving the alternative ‘air transport’ idea and only wish it was currently an option so I didn’t have to drive everywhere!! I added lots of little dots to give the impression of things moving around- and it also means you don’t have colour in the whole sky (win, win!!).

It’s easy to see that I’ve kept a lot of white space again, fitting in with my simpler theme this month. This is how I used to make cards and I have to say, I’m enjoying it a lot!

Please now go to Clearly Besotted’s blog, then Michelle. Please also visit our terrific guests ; Francine, Kitty and Adelle and Alberto (@loshakeralberto on Instagram) for the last time this month.

As usual, the release goes live at 8pm GMT. All sets are available tonight on the Clearly Besotted store and also from Simon Says Stamp , Art Creatiu, Cloud 9 Crafts and Card Nouveau too.

Don’t forget to enter into the giant giveaway over on the Facebook page for Clearly Besotted. It’s always a major prize winning the whole release!

We always love to know which sets have piqued your interest, so do let us know!

See you soon,

Keren x

February 1, 2022 at 8:00 am 3 comments

Clearly Besotted February Teasers Day 4

Hello blog friends! Hope the weekend was kind to you. It might have rolled around to Monday but there’s still plenty to smile about.

I know we’ve a few occasions to get past first but as the shops put out Easter eggs the day after Boxing Day, we’re hardly too early. Today I’m focussing on the set ‘Easter Plushies’. I had the idea of them peeping out from behind a wall. This was as close as I could get -simply.

It’s Easter time! If you came to my house we still have a version of an Easter Egg hunt, although it includes clues that they have to find, it sends them to another room ( if they correctly guess the clue) and they keep hunting until they find eggs at the end! These two are hiding from each other; not sure who is hunting whom!

These characters are a good size so if you’re just starting out colouring, there’s plenty to practice on. I’ve used Copic markers and it’s just a case of practicing- plus getting the best cardstock and pens you can afford. Cardstock does affect the final result and some are much easier to get a better blend with.

Well I hope these two manage to find each other without dropping their gifts for each other. I suspect Bunny bought the giant carrot with himself in mind- but perhaps it’s a chocolate one!!

We’re nearly at release day- but before tomorrow, I’d highly recommend going to visit the Clearly Besotted Blog and then the lovely Michelle Short. We’ve also got Francine Vuilleme , Kitty Day and Adelle Emery so please pop over to see them too!

I’m back tomorrow with a card that reminds me of Amsterdam!

Keren xx