kwernerdesign blog

Update your feed readers

2009-02-18T14:06:26Z

Hi all! I've relocated where my RSS and Atom feeds are published. That means if you're seeing this message (like in Google Reader, etc), you need to update your feed reader with the new address. You can do so by clicking here. Thanks!

A Year in Cards - February 2009

2009-02-16T14:20:58Z

So, my next class at TwoPeas is live! This month's class is on making thank you cards with paper flower embellishments. :)

Head on over to TwoPeas to see the class page (including the downloadable PDF with step-by-step instructions, supplies used, and more detailed photos of the cards). The video from the class is below...

Finally Friday - Sending Love + Envelope

2009-02-13T13:53:59Z

Good morning, everyone!

This week's card is one more push to create a Valentine's Day card... just one more day! Anyhow, in the video I cover how to make the card and also how to create a custom envelope lining out of patterned paper. I hope you enjoy and I'll catch up with you later this holiday weekend!

Be sure to check out the supplies used on the project page in the Designer Garden, and as usual, you can see the video in higher quality over at YouTube by clicking here (just click on "watch in high quality" below the video). :)

Color Inspiration #41

2009-02-12T04:43:20Z

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

This week's photo was taken while I was out shopping with Venessa not too long ago. We found this really cute boutique selling dresses for little girls and these dresses were right inside the window. So cute! :)

And perfect for a Valentine's Day card, too!

Anyhow, enjoy! Even though there is not a round-up anymore, the same rules for linking apply. :)

Join us: Make a card/scrapbook page/whatever in the colors above. Color Inspiration virgins, please read the Color Inspiration FAQ first.

Deadline: Saturday, February 14 at 7:00 pm MT.
This is the deadline you have to submit your link. After the deadline, I will make sure all the links are valid. You will know when the deadline has past because you will not able to submit a new link through the Mister Linky box.

Grab this week's swatch-only image.

Reader submissions for Color Inspiration #41:

1. Kay McNeill
2. Odette
3. Tara D- It\'s All Good
4. Tanya Blewitt - Tin Can Stamps
5. Scrappin Sue
6. Stephanie Buriel
7. Tova
8. Julie Davison
9. Dana Grothaus (danacott96)
10. Abi Bundy UK
11. Kadee
12. Erin R.
13. Wendy Elliot
14. Sarah from the UK
15. Shannon Ketchum
16. Bentov Anat
17. Kirsten Brown
18. Cathy Lewis
19. SaraStamper (UK)
20. Elizabeth Goliber
21. Becky B
22. Cristina Tronco
23. Brenda Weaver
24. Butternutsage
25. Adelia Davis
26. ~dawne
27. Amy, Ottawa, Canada
28. Hannah-Cherie
29. Winter Sims
30. Christina
31. Rieca
32. Helen
33. Jennie
34. Dana G
35. Brittany
36. Yapha
37. Kathryn Mangelsdorf (Australia)
38. Selene
39. Melissa K.
40. Cath Thompson -Canada
41. Stacey Schafer
42. Jennifer
43. Brittany(right one)

44. Kelly Slattery (NZ)
45. Jaded
46. Ilse Vargas
47. Paula Kay
48. Amy Fleming NZL
49. Leah Weir
50. Shannon Holbird- Australia right one
51. Becs Attwood
52. Anthonette
53. Ange Kelly
54. Karen Motz
55. Dori S.
56. Jennifer Kirk
57. Kathy V
58. Sheila (Spain)
59. Jackie
60. Heather (UK)
61. Claire Daly
62. Martina G.
63. Ms. Aaron B
64. Nanefy (Card 1) Scotland
65. Nanefy (Card 2) Scotland
66. melita
67. Jessica
68. Rakefet
69. Michelle N
70. Dawn Simpson
71. Daniela Hendea
72. Michelle Last UK
73. Jo-Ann Pullen (Canada)
74. Nellie M.
75. Jenny NZ
76. Betty aka ZacksNana
77. Leonie Hegarty
78. Debbie Pamment (Australia)
79. Trish Hughes
80. Amanda Reddicliffe (Australia)
81. KimB AUS
82. Morgaine (x2)
83. Tracey Old NZL
84. Mei Ann G. (Canada)
85. Claire, WA Australia
86. Claire from Taz

87. Jenae
88. Debbie M
89. Nikki Stalker
90. Carol Richard
91. Diane Bell-Robertson NZ
92. Madonna
93. Sylvia Nelson
94. E.T
95. Mª Engracia (Spain)
96. Anni
97. Totally Crafty Alison
98. Sue (Australia)
99. Ruby 2 Shoes
100. stampersuzz
101. Cannie Hunter
102. Nadia
103. Karen T
104. Beverly aka beestamper
105. Nancy Danyo
106. Cindy Major
107. Vera
108. Courtney McAulay
109. Rosemarie Diehl
110. Sarah A
111. Elizabeth Fortuna
112. Amber Korn
113. Helen Berry UK
114. Kirsten Brown
115. Donna MacDonald
116. Karen Sullivan
117. Sylvia Nelson 2nd card
118. Mamaluke
119. Courtney Baker
120. Krystal/skdeleeuw
121. Tiffany Heilman
122. Katherine Allen
123. Gina
124. Savitri
125. Rose D
126. Alberta
127. Kari V.
128. Anna Sutherland NZL
129. Susan Joyce

Links are disabled. Join us next week! :)
I reserve the right to delete links that are posted incorrectly.
Has your link been deleted? There's probably a reason why. Check the FAQ.

Three Birds + Four Cards

2009-02-10T04:39:06Z

Happy Monday, everyone! It's nearly Tuesday, or at least it feels that way... I stayed up way too late last night so I'm paying for it today. :) Just tired, but it's my own dang fault.

Can I just tell you it was so wonderful to just sit at my craft table tonight and just create some cards. I made all four in about 35 minutes. The time just flew right by.

I think a lot of you who commented on my novel-length post from last week hit the nail on the head. We have love-hate relationships with our blogs. Having a blog is a wonderful and creatively fulfilling thing. It allows us to share with others and we get to have some feedback on what we're creating. However, sometimes we bury ourselves too deep in the "I need to update my blog today" mentality.

I know this extremely well because I locked myself into weekly things and soon it became more about just getting things done than enjoying the journey of creating something. I also collected a huge stack of cards that I never sent out. I'd forgotten that part of the process, too. I used to love sending out cards. :)

So what have I done about it? About this loss of creative motivation?

First, I stepped back and decided when I could part with to make myself feel a bit more in control of what and when I created projects. You all read that part last week. Then, I made a list of all the people I wanted to send cards to. I listed out my wonderful, caring family and friends. Everyone I've always meant to send cards to, but never got around to.

And the difference between last week and tonight? About a million times more enjoyable to just sit at my craft table and play with paper. It was a delicious feeling to not have a camcorder dangling above my head. As much as I love creating videos, sometimes I feel like I can't make mistakes and just let the creativity come. I think that's mostly because I'm thinking about how the card is made and how I'll describe it.

Such a joy to sit back and create. No pressure. No demands. Just making some cards for my friends. :)

Question: For those of you who are bloggers, how to do you retain the balance between creating for creative fulfillment and creating for blogging sake? Let's discuss. How do you create balance in your life, papercrafting related or not?

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Butterfly Cards - Pool and Cream notecards & envelopes, Thoughtful Messages stamp set (Hero Arts), Amy Butler Lotus Tea Box Butterflies die-cut paper (K & Company), Charcoal chalk ink (Colorbox); corner rounder punch (Stampin' Up!).

Hello Dear Friend card - Three Birds stamp, A Little Note stamp set, and Cream notecards & envelopes (Hero Arts); blender pen (Dove); corner rounder punch, Tempting Turquoise and Kiwi Kiss inks (Stampin' Up!); Charcoal chalk ink (Colorbox).

Life is Brighter card - Sky's the Limit stamp set and Pool Notecards & Envelopes (Hero Arts); Threading Water edge punch (Fiskars); pale yellow paper from Daydream paper pack (Ki Memories); Basic Gray card stock and paper piercer (Stampin' Up!); Uni-ball white gel pen; Charcoal chalk ink (Colorbox); Coluzzle circle cutter.

Do you want an Amazon Kindle?

2009-02-10T02:53:36Z

Amazon announced the Kindle 2 this morning. I'm a bit of a tech-geek and want to get the new one even though there's not much difference between the Kindle 1 and this new version. But it sure looks pretty. :)

And ya'll remember how much I love my Kindle, right?

Anyway, I'm selling my old Kindle in order to fund the purchase of a new one. Contact me if you're interested.

You get:
Kindle
Adapter for charging
Cover (it's a bit worn--I cut my asking price so that you can buy a new cover if you want)
USB cord for connecting to your computer
Original packaging. :)

Price: $225 + shipping
Payment: I'm only accepting PayPal payments.
I am only selling to someone in the US, as the Kindle doesn't work outside the US.

SOLD to a new friend in Wisconsin! :)

MACM - Heart Paper Clip

2009-02-09T14:45:29Z

Good morning, everyone!

This week's Make a Card Monday actually doesn't include a card. ;) I'm in the middle of switching over to Wordpress from Movable Type and all my spare moments are being diminished by the reality of customizing a template I know nothing about. But it's coming along and I should be ready to launch the new site next Monday. So, watch for that.

Anyway, this video shows you how to create a heart-shaped paper clip just like How About Orange showed last week. I followed the visuals over there and it still look me a while to figure it out, so I thought a video would make it that much easier to teach you all how to create one. So enjoy!

I'll catch up with you all a bit later this week. :)

Finally Friday - Conversation Hearts

2009-02-06T14:13:51Z

Hi all! Just a quick post to update you all with my Finally Friday for this week. :) Be sure to head over to TwoPeas to see the supplies and such. And the YouTube video is here.

A change in direction...

2009-02-06T02:02:10Z

I've been thinking a lot recently. About my blog. About all of you (love you!), and about how much time I spend on all my blogging things instead of on creative projects and cards and such. I really miss it.

Over the last 6 months or so, I have had to slowly let things drop by the wayside (including proof reading my posts... typos anyone? I've had a plethora recently). I'm sure you've noticed that I no longer post any cards or pages that are not related to either MACM or TwoPeas (Finally Friday videos included in that). I miss just making something for the joy of it. I miss just sitting down at my craft table and creating something for the sake of creating it. And then being so excited about it that I just have to share it with all of you.

I guess what I'm saying is that I've slowly forgotten where all the fun is. And it makes me really sad.

I simply don't have the time because I'm editing film, or editing photos for the Color Inspiration Round-ups, or I'm just exhausted from staying up late to get everything done. And it's hard to sit at a computer all day at work and then come home and sit at a computer all night.

I'm sorry. I don't mean to complain. What I'm trying to get at is that there are going to be some changes around here... Just two, but I still felt like it needed an individual blog post.

First of all, I'm making changes to the Color Inspiration Challenge. Not huge changes, just one really. There will no longer be a round-up. I love seeing all of your creations, but having to edit all the photos has sucked out all of the fun of seeing what you've all created. I just want to look through them and enjoy them for what they are. I hope you all understand. And please don't leave comments saying you wish it would come back. Believe me, I wish it could, too. It's just not possible anymore.

The second change is that I'll be switching blogging software. I'm already in the process of switching over to Wordpress. Hopefully that will make it easier to comment and such. Over the past few weeks when I had some giveaways, I hated that some of you weren't able to comment. And hopefully moving to WP will solve that.

But there's a learning curve there that I have to deal with. I've used Movable Type for YEARS (we're talking 9 years), so I have to learn how Wordpress works in order to customize it for what I need.

I'm planning to completely switch to WP over President's Day weekend. If all goes well, you won't even notice a difference besides comments posting quicker and faster page load times.

Anyway, I hope you all understand. I think this is a good thing, and I hope you think so, too. :)

Color Inspiration #40

2009-02-05T05:09:10Z

Hi all!

Forgive me for posting the next challenge before I posted the round-up for #39. Isn't getting back from a traveling just awful? I can't seem to catch up! Anyway, I didn't want to keep you all waiting for the next Color Inspiration Challenge, so here is #40.

I saw these ribbons in a store while I was out shopping a few weeks ago. Aren't they pretty?Should be an interesting and citrus-y color combo.

Enjoy the colors and I'll catch up with you soon with the last color round-up. :)

Join us: Make a card/scrapbook page/whatever in the colors above. Color Inspiration virgins, please read the Color Inspiration FAQ first.

Deadline: Saturday, February 7 at 7:00 pm MT.
You will know when the deadline has past because you will not able to submit a new link through the Mister Linky box.

Grab this week's swatch-only image.

Reader submissions for Color Inspiration #40:

1. Stephanie Buriel
2. Andrea R.
3. Kay McNeill
4. CriA
5. Paula Kay
6. Angela Lemmons
7. Amy Fleming NZL
8. Tracey Old NZL
9. Patricia Weitzel
10. Travelingmama
11. SaraStamper (UK)
12. Kara
13. Regan
14. Amy Gwinn
15. Selene
16. Dawn
17. Carissa
18. Anne Jagger
19. Anne Jagger
20. Agustina Yornet (Argentina)
21. Leigh Ann Baird
22. Elizabeth Goliber
23. Amy, Ottawa, Canada
24. Mary
25. Karen Sullivan
26. Yaneri Rodriguez
27. Donna C.
28. Molly Stadin
29. Helen Berry
30. Denise Ibbett (NZ)
31. Polina (Russia)
32. Heather P.
33. Odette
34. Sarah Allan
35. Christine (Creative Journey)
36. Elizabeth Fortuna
37. Leah Weir
38. Shelley G in Iowa
39. Ilse Vargas
40. Katie Brooks
41. Shawntel
42. Ange Kelly
43. Heather M
44. Chrissy Lux

45. Jenyfur
46. Wendy Elliot
47. Clouds
48. Haviva Avni
49. Eve (age 5)
50. Yapha
51. Karla
52. Louisa Ting Chong (NZ)
53. Anne Beale Yancey
54. Selene (2nd post)
55. Arielle ~ SnappyStamper
56. Fiona Fab AUS
57. Nicole D
58. Jacquelyn Stamp Happy NZL
59. stampwithjules
60. Totally Crafty Alison
61. Tiffany Heilman
62. Robin
63. Kirsten Brown
64. Debbie Pamment
65. Jaded
66. Tanya Blewitt
67. brittany
68. Anne-Marie NZL
69. Savitri
70. Anna Sutherlnd NZL
71. Fiona (UK)
72. Dani
73. Rachael NZ
74. Morgaine (x2)
75. Michelle Habib NZL
76. Michelle Last UK
77. Tara Kieninger
78. Abi Bundy Uk
79. Ruth N
80. Susan Daly
81. Abi Bundy #2
82. Carolynne H (UK)
83. SaraStamper (UK) 2nd post
84. Deanna W
85. Ms. Aaron B
86. hayley gillie
87. Rieca
88. Sharlene M NZL

89. Mandy in IL
90. Debi Hadley
91. Lisa B NZL
92. Brenda Weaver
93. Gabby
94. Sue
95. Fiona Brown
96. Winter Sims
97. SmilynStef
98. Susan Joyce
99. Dawn McVey (dawnsing)
100. Claire from Taz
101. Jennie
102. Natasha from Australia
103. Alice Strong
104. Claire
105. LinaK
106. Hannah Ryan NZ
107. Esther Sim (SG)
108. Berit (norway)
109. Nola
110. Rosemarie Diehl
111. Helen Berry (2nd Card!)
112. Kathy V
113. Lisa Brown
114. ~dawne
115. Maryvel Friesen
116. Trish Y.
117. Cindy Malone
118. Kristine Macabare
119. MaryR
120. Sara Hayes
121. Kirsty Walley NZL
122. Kim Jackson
123. Ria Kaire (NZ)
124. Jolee
125. Sylvia Nelson
126. Iowa Jen
127. Anthonette
128. Katherine Allen
129. Julie Batta
130. Krista Driessen
131. Julie Davison
132. Kellie Winnell - Australia

Links are disabled. Join us next time! :)
I reserve the right to delete links that are posted incorrectly.
Has your link been deleted? There's probably a reason why. Check the FAQ.

MACM - Punched Hearts

2009-02-02T15:48:47Z

Okay.... super quick here. Heading out the door for work...

Here's the MACM video. Enjoy! :)

Supplies - Kraft card stock, Sweet Slumber patterned paper, Heart to Heart punch (Stampin' Up!); Threading Water edge punch (Fiskars).

New garden up at TwoPeas

2009-02-02T03:45:07Z

Hi all!

I'm back from California and it a super fun trip! Not only was CHA amazing and inspiring, but Disneyland was a blast, too. The lines were super short. We even rode on Pirates of the Caribbean, walked off, and then walked right back on! It was awesome!

We were thoroughly drenched on Splash Mountain. I have never gotten SO wet on that ride. I have a little video after we got off the ride that I'll post hopefully tomorrow night.

I was at CHA for work, so I don't have any photos from that (except for my Paris Hilton sighting!), but hopefully Jen will have some photos up soon that I can point you to. :)

Anyway, a new Designer Garden went up at TwoPeas today, so I wanted to share my two digital scrap pages with you. :) Here they are...

(BTW, Marisa... forgive me for using the photo of you. I just love it (and you!) so much).

NOTE: Yes, there was a typo earlier in the first page. That's the joy of digital scrapbooking--you can fix a typo! :)

>
(c) Two Peas in a Bucket

(c) Two Peas in a Bucket

Quick Update

2009-01-27T00:57:33Z

Hi everyone!

Just a quick update so you know I won't be updating very often this week. I'm in California for a few days for work, and then I'll finish out the week at Disneyland. :)

Sorry there wasn't a MACM video this morning. There won't be a Finally Friday this week, either, but I'll be back next week in full swing. :)

Hope you have a wonderful week! :)

Finally Friday Video - Glitter Heart

2009-01-23T13:48:45Z

Good morning, all!

This week's card was inspired by American Crafts Details Embellishments. I love their little accents and I wondered if there was a way to sort of make something similar. So that was the jumping off point. :)

As usual, you can see the video in higher quality over at YouTube.

NOTE: There will not be a Finally Friday next week. I'll be back with a new card and video on February 6. :)

kwernerdesign cards on Etsy!

2009-01-23T04:21:58Z

Have ya'll been introduced to Etsy? It's a store to sell handmade and handcrafted items. After working some kinks out, I'm going to start selling my cards on Etsy! :)

For now, it's a small and meager beginning with just some 3x3 Valentine's Day cards (sold in sets of 5--I have 10 sets for sale now), but the plan is to eventually sell the cards I make each week for my videos. So watch for that coming up soon. :)

So, hop on over to Etsy and check out my shop! (EDIT: Whoa! All 10 sets just sold. So, no for sale items on my shop page. But you can see the sold items here).

BTW, leave me a comment with your favorite Etsy shops. I want to check out what you guys are loving, too!