Wednesday 10 September 2014

Time for a change

So I decided make the leap from Blogger to Wordpress. 

It's time to take things up a notch and get serious.

So without further ado, I give you the new and improved (well here's hoping, I still have a lot to learn) Pretty Paper and Coffee

I hope to catch you all there tomorrow for Week 2 of Get Messy Art Journal, I'm looking forward to it. 

Have a great day.

Keshena xo

Thursday 4 September 2014

Get Messy Art Journal - Week One


Hooray, the day is finally here! My first Get Messy Art Journal Post and completed pages are here. I have to admit that in my eagerness to get stuck in I did them both on the Monday. I was like a kid who was so excited to start school that they slept in their uniform ;)

As I previously mentioned, I have long admired the talented ladies that take part in this challenge and I was super chuffed to be included amongst them. It really sparked a creative fire within me and I cannot wait to see where this journey goes. I hope it also inspires you guys to put pen to paper, paint to canvas...whatever medium you may choose. Just start and create, I promise you won't regret it!

So without further ado...here they are:


Page One was inspired by the first day of Spring, there is something about Spring and all of the feelings it evokes that just makes people happy. I wanted to welcome it with open arms and bid farewell to Winter (though truth be told it wasn't really all that cold where I live, ha).


Just in case you are having trouble reading the little poem I included, it goes:

Life is unpredictable, 
It changes with the seasons,
Even your coldest Winter,
Happens for the best of reasons,

And though it feels eternal,
Like all you'll ever do is freeze,
I promise Spring is coming,
And with it, brand new leaves.

~ E.H

I thought it was quite fitting, don't you?

A close up of 'Hello Spring'. To be honest, I feel like the sticker choice for these words were wrong as I think they are a little difficult to read...ah well, it can't always be perfect.


Page Two was to remind myself that even though I am amongst some truly talented and awe-inspiring ladies; comparison is the thief of joy. I aspire to be of that calibre but to also try and remember to just be me and be the best me that I can be. 


I love a bit of sparkle, I am like the bird that is attracted to shiny things! So you may not have been able to tell but the tissue paper had sparkles throughout, which I loved. 


I am no photographer but I really loved this angle, and it is for that reason alone that I decided to include it...because artistic licence and all that ;)


So I hope you enjoyed my first contribution to this wonderful challenge. Be sure to head over to the other ladies blogs and check them out. You will find a link below to Caylee's blog with a list of links to everyone else. 

Get Messy is an art journal challenge where a gang of crafty vixens are sharing art journal pages we have created to practise our skills and push past our creative limits with hopes to inspire. We share our pages without restraint every week, and once a month we create around a prompt. Go check out these crazy talented ladies who are creating pages who each have a unique perspective and style. We will be sharing our work around social media so follow the hashtag #getmessyartjournal.











Sunday 31 August 2014

A little bit of this, a little bit of that...

I mentioned in my last post I would be back soon to share what I have been up to of late.

So here is a random collection of pics that I hope you enjoy :)


Glorious washi


More washi, you can never get enough!


A little cupcake I made for a penpals birthday


How adorable are these little guys?! I got them from an Etsy shop called Miniature Sweet


I love sending a little quote to my penpals with every letter


Who doesn't love ice cream...watercolour by moi


My first ever Totoro


French themed drawings/stickers I made for a penpal that loves all things French


Ahoy'hoy...anchor bookmark I made for a penpal


Love a good quote and some typography to boot


Wise watercolour, be kind always


I am in love with these words

So there you have it, I hope the things I shared were of interest and I hope to keep on sharing things that you guys will enjoy. I am really looking forward to starting the #getmessyartjournal this week, so be sure to check back on Thursday for the reveal.

Keshena xo

Friday 29 August 2014

Let's do this!

Apologies for the delay, I took a bit of an extended break from blogging as I wasn't entirely sure if I intended to continue on with it.

However, a recent discovery has made me excited again. I am not sure if I had previously mentioned my love for Instagram and its talented community of creative peeps (I probably would have, so addicted...ha). Well I have been aware of a hashtag on there called #getmessyartjournal
Some of you may have heard of it yourselves, there are quite a few crazy good insta peeps that take part (a few of whom I already follow and how I came to know about it to begin with).

Well they put out a call (so to speak) for a few extra spots for people to join their creative adventure and I am super excited to announce that I will be one of them! I don't consider myself to be of their standard but I do love to get crafty and creative. I am learning all the time and trying new things and just enjoying indulging my creative side.

Here's a little blurb to explain it a bit better -

Get Messy is an art journal challenge where a gang of crafty vixens are sharing art journal pages we have created to practise our skills and push past our creative limits with hopes to inspire. We share our pages without restraint every week, and once a month we create around a prompt. Go check out these crazy talented ladies who are creating pages who each have a unique perspective and style. We will be sharing our work around social media so follow the hashtag #getmessyartjournal.



So from here on in every Thursday I will be posting my art journal pages right here for you all to see. I will also be posting on my Instagram (which is a personal account that includes every facet of my daily life so may or may not interest you but click on the link if you would like to follow along on there)

I am really looking forward to it and can't wait to get started, I hope you will come along on this crazy adventure with me. I promise to make an effort to make this blog something that will be of interest to you and potentially inspire you.

Till next time (which will be soon as I want to do a post to show you what I've been up to lately!)

Keshena xo

Monday 19 May 2014

What is RAK?

I being somewhat new to the whole penpal world was totally clueless at first what people were referring to when they spoke of RAKs.

So for those of you that don't know I will fill you in.

It stands for Random Acts of Kindness, which in the penpal world refers to when you send sweet little bits and pieces to your penpals that you think they might like etc.

Some can be small and others quite large, I guess it depends on your budget. It doesn't have to cost the Earth, putting thought in to it is always appreciated.

I have started writing a list of potential bits and bobs to send that I thought may be of interest to those looking to get started.

Here goes:


    • Washi tape - Whether it be full rolls or 'samples' of your own
    • Origami - Bows, Stars, Hearts...whatever your heart (& skill set) desires
    • Cute Paperclips
    • Baker's Twine or Ribbon
    • Buttons
    • Stickers
    • Sticky notes/memos
    • Writing Sets
    • Notebooks
    • Paper cut-outs
    • Pom-poms
    • Garlands
    • Pens
    • Bookmarks
    • Labels
    • Quotes
    • Postcards
    • Recipes
    • Tea or Chocolates (something that would last the distance)
    • Paper Doilies
    • Stamps
    • Mail Tag

Right, I think that there is enough there to get you started and get the creative juices flowing.

Another great way of finding inspiration is by looking at some of the most common hash tags on Instagram.

Such as - #showandmail #sendmoremail #snailmailrevolution #penpals #snailmailrevival

I hope this has been educational ;)

Happy snail mailing.

Keshena x

Thursday 8 May 2014

Pretty Things

Just a quick one to share some pictures of pretty stationery related things that have been happening. 

We went to an engagement party on the weekend, I am someone who takes a painful amount of time to choose a card. When I saw the one below, the stationery lover in me had to get it. 


How cute is this typewriter engagement card I got for the happy couple


This is what we got them (her), it is stunning and so useful for planning a wedding (Kikki-K)


All wrapped up, I hope they liked it


Happy Mother's Day to me - Kikki-K 365 Journal
I will kick things off Mother's Day...watch this space


Pretty writing paper, so cute


Daily Like Fabric Tape and Washi


My creative exchange parcel arrived, isn't it divine


So many awesome goodies inside, spoilt


Using said goodies to write and say thanks 


Sending off some happy mail


And a little inspiration
 

Receiving some happy mail of my own


How awesome is my penpal's job of papercutting my name, love it

Keshena xo

Friday 2 May 2014

Be still my stationery heart

So it will be Mother's Day here in Australia next week and my husband asked me what I would like...

There are several things I could ask for but instead I kept it simple and asked for a Kikki-K voucher.

For those not familiar with Kikki-K see link below

http://www.kikki-k.com

They have so many gorgeous things that I adore and want to make mine. I could go nuts in that store, a shopping spree in Kikki-k is the stuff that dreams are made of.


A little secret Santa gift I brought for a girlfriend last Christmas from Kikki-K


This was the above wrapped up, I love gift wrapping.

I am also rather fond of Typo, they have good sales from time to time and I am lucky enough to live near an outlet store of theirs.


My cute little diary I brought from Typo

Locally (the Gold Coast) I can't go past Six Things in Burleigh Heads. I love that place, not just stationery but all sorts of wondrous things. Lucky for those not based on the GC they have online store.


This isn't stationery but it is cute, I got it for my daughter's room from Six Things :)


Evidence (not recent in case my hubby sees this) 

I have seen a lot of people mention etsy shops online but I am yet to try any myself so I can't really comment. I am sure as my addiction grows I will no doubt purchase some goodies from these places and report back myself.

I am really only aiding you all in spending money on pretty things, which you may or may not be in a position to do. I wish I could spend lots of money on pretty things but I fear my husband would divorce me if I really went to town. I buy little bits and pieces here and there to appease my need, ha...it's a never ending thirst!

I just made some rather cute (and cheap) purchases on ebay which I will share once they arrive.

Also this is in no way sponsored or endorsed by anyone, just me wanting to share my love of things. I am an enabler ;) (happy shopping)

Take Care,

Keshena x