Pawpads and Inkpads

Happiness is......

2012-02-14T23:50:00.001Z

Crafting organisation! Today I thought I would share a picture of my new found piece of happiness! Here is the new large Copic carry case, with all my pens in!
I saw on Copic Australia Facebook page, a picture for Valentines day that said "I love you more than Copic Markers, and that says a lot!" Love it!! Lol!
I started a little swatch book project based on the Copic Colour Wheel, with the matched greys for each section. I took ages to get it started, but once this beauty arrived, had to get them finished tonight!
I have printed the swatches with the Copic code and name, and then coloured the bottoms with chisel tip strokes to show colour & depth of colour.
Thanks for visiting! Kx

Time to Celebrate - Uniko Studio!

2012-02-11T07:49:00.001Z

Hello One and All! Hope you are all well!

Well, it is Saturday the 11th of February, so it is time to show you my projects for the launch of Uniko Studio stamps! These stamps are really lovely clear photo polymer - so you can see what you are doing! Got to say, I'm a bit of an organisation freak, and the fact that they come in DVD cases all snazzy with an index label made me so happy! :-)

Here is my first project!

The background paper is the lovely cog stamp from the set, repeated across white card with black ink. So simple, but quite striking!

Here is a photo of the detail:

I used the flower stamp, coloured with Copics and then went a bit layer mad! Love the way they look layered up like that though! The background stamp - a 'clocking in card' is so simple, yet can be used in so many ways.

Ok, so here is project two!

I've layered up the lovely fob watch stamp with lots of Prima papers, and pearly swirls to try and give the watch a vintagey look.

The watch has been coloured with Copic markers, layered up to give it dimension, with a healthy dollop of glossy accents to made it pop!

Hope you like what you see! Bev, the owner of Uniko Studio will be doing a make and take at The Paperlane today, and keep an eye on The Stamp Attic too! Uniko Studio's own website will be released today too - it's all go!

Have a lovely Saturday! Kxx

It's Your Day!

2012-02-09T20:57:00.000Z

Hello Everyone! Come on in and get comfy! Its so cold out there - I'm glad I'm inside!

Back today with a challenge entry. It has taken me ages to get up to colouring and challenge speed after Christmas! Must be the after effects of all that chocolate! I am entering the CLP Challenge this month - there is such a lovely sketch that I really wanted to have a play! This is the first time I have entered the challenge - and I don't know why!!

I made this card for my lovely friend Helen, who had her birthday this week. She is a fellow Magnolia lover! Just love this stamp from the current collection. The tiny tag die cut, and the main image sentiment is by Whimsy Stamps, the 'brackets' are Spellbinders. The papers are Authentique 'Gathering', and the flourishy stamps are Stempelglede. The lovely pearl swirl is Zva. I have used Copic markers to colour the image - I have tried to give it a washed out / distress look, a bit like using inks.

Thanks so much for popping by and looking. Will be back on the 11th Feb with my projects for the Uniko Studio reveal!

K :-)

Sooo Excited!!

2012-02-07T22:55:00.001Z

Well, exciting news! I am really pleased to tell you that there is a new stamp company in town! I am really proud to say I am on the Design Team - hope I can do these lovely stamps justice! The first of my makes made with these stamps will be posted on the 11th Feb.

Uniko Studio launches on Saturday, 11th Feb, with a make and take at The Paperlane in Northallerton. Hope you can make it!

Kx

The Wheel of Fortune....

2012-02-01T08:00:00.000Z

Hello everyone! Hope you are all well! Well here is my card for the first The Paperlane Challenge for the New Year! I can't believe how fast the time flies.

Well, for this challenge you have been asked to create a card that has been inspired by a book. I thought long and hard about this one! I eventually chose a very personal favourite "Wheel of Fortune", which is the autobiography of Edith Piaf. If you want to have a look at it, you can find it here.

I really wanted to try and evoke the colour and mood that Piaf was known for, and of course her home city, Paris. There are subtle hints of sparkle here and there - but not too much!

The Magnolia images (Shabby Eiffel Tower and Paris Tilda) were coloured with warm grey Copic markers only, and then had Antique Linen distress ink smooshed all over it to get the colours I needed. The papers are Graphic 45. The postmark stamps are Cavallini stamps.

There is a quote in the book which I love. It is:

"Better to live than to vegetate. I like that phrase. I adopted it a long time ago."
I should bear that in mind sometimes! Thanks for looking! Please leave a comment, I would love to come and visit!

Kxx

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T17:47:00.003Z

Hello one and all!

Hope you are all with those you love this festive season! Seeing as I have given these to friends and family, I thought I would share the little easel cards that I made this year - plenty of Copics were used in the making of this production!! The papers are a mix of Cosmo Cricket and Prima, and Dream Street. The stamps are the friendship jar collection from Papertrey Ink. I love these stamps and don't use them often enough!

Have a wonderful Christmas, and see you in 2012. Kx

The Paperlane Challenge - Unconventional Christmas Colours

2011-12-01T08:00:00.000Z

Hello All! A really quick post from me today! This is the card that I have made for the 6th The Paperlane Challenge. This one is all about 'Unconventional Christmas Colours', and I really enjoyed playing!

I chose the palette of light fawn and pink, with lots of white. This was inspired by the sentiment ribbon and the small smowflake that you can see! I have seen a lot of decorative snowflakes used around blogland, so I thought I'd give it a go! Gotta love B and Q - the snowflakes were on 3 for 2!! I got a bit waylayed when I should have been buying paint!! Lol!

The sentiment ribbon is from American Crafts. There is no design paper on this card, I used some Basic Grey Christmas stamps to make the paper to match the colours I needed. The cute Nellie Snellen image has been coloured with my trusty Copics!

Here is a close up of the image and details. I love me bit of sparkle!!

Thanks for looking! Kxx

30 Days!!!!

2011-11-25T00:15:00.001Z

Hello all! I'm back today with another 'Project Christmas' challenge for Wendy at The Stamp Attic!

This simple project is a quick and easy gift card holder. All of the decoration has been kept really simple to make sure I can reproduce it quickly! This is made from one sheet of Bazzill French Vanilla 12" x 12" card, so it is so simple to make! The inside card fits snugly inside, with a small pouch to keep the gift card safely tucked in.

The stamps are again the Hero Arts / Sizzix collaboration of stamps and dies. I stamped the images onto the French Vanilla cardstock, then used the dies to cut out the image. I used the fabulous Winter Limited Edition Colours to stamp the images. The trees are 'Iced Spruce' and the snowflakes are 'Festive Berries'. Both of these coordinated perfectly with the colours of the Prima 'North Country' papers. These pads have been popular! The border on the pouch has been edged with a Fiskars border punch, just to give it a bit of decoration.

Here is a close up of the detail. It wasn't until I saw this photo that I realised that the snowflake pattern on the papers closely matched the shape of the snowflake stamp. I love it when a plan comes together!! Lol! The lovely limited edition inks matched the colours of the papers really well too! The mount for the beautiful Cats Life Press sentiment circle has been mounted on a nestie.
Thanks for looking - will be back soon with another project! Kxx

41 days and counting.........

2011-11-14T19:39:00.001Z

Hello Everyone! back again with my second festive project for Wendy at The Stamp Attic using the new Hero Arts and Sizzix dies and stamps set! Sorry about the title of the post being such a stark reminder, but seeing it is only 41 days to go to the day, it is time to get organised, so hope this project helps!!

For today's project I have made an easily reproducible tag, that can be made in bulk. All my crafty friends will faint when they see this post - there is no designer paper! I wanted to keep the colours centred around the colours of the reindeer, with a bright blue background. I might have even crept slightly into CAS territory, which is really unknown for me!

The tag has been cut from Bazzill Kraft cardstock, using the Tim Holtz 'Movers and Shapers' tag die. The red strip has been cut from Bazzill Dotted Swiss card stock. All the edges have been given a bit of fuss using a Fiskars Threading Water edger punch. I had to add a liberal bit of Stickles in Star Dust, to give it a bit of festive sparkle!

The snowflake has been cut using the die from the Hero / Sizzix set, and so has the reindeer. He has been coloured using Copic Markers. The background panel has been coloured with a blending pair of blue Copics. The snowflakes on the panel are a stamp from the set, coloured with Copic colourless blender, and pressed into the blue panel. The blender 'pushes' the coloured ink, leaving a lovely snowflake pattern! I'm going to have to start photographing the colours that I use, because my memory is shocking!! The sparkle on the blue panel is from the Rock Candy crackle paint that I coated the panel with. The sentiment again is from the same set - talk about versatile!

Thanks so much for looking! See you soon! K :-)

Sticky Notes & Snowflakes for The Stamp Attic

2011-11-06T13:53:00.000Z

Hello! Hope you are all ok!

For my DT projects this season, Wendy has tasked me with creating projects other than cards - so here is my first project for The Stamp Attic using the gorgeous and so clever Sizzix & Hero Arts Christmas Stamps and Dies, and the delicious My Mind's Eye Lost & Found Christmas papers.

I have made a wrap around for a pack of sticky notes, just to make a small gift that I could give to a friend in the run up to Christmas. The front of the wrap has trees stamped and gilded using gilding flakes, and a sentiment from the really versatile CL343 Holiday Sayings. Who does not need help in the memory / list department in the run up to the festive season! I kept the inside simple, just keeping a space where I could pop a message.

The trees have been stamped with the trees and snowflakes from the Hero Arts / Sizzix set, and cut with the Framelits dies that are included. The snowflake is also a die from that set too! They were then gilded with gilding flakes to complement the colours of the delicious MME papers. I just love the way that the gilding flakes sparkle - they have shown up really well here.
Thanks for looking! Will be back soon with more projects! K :-)

Snowflakes and Sparkle!

2011-11-01T08:00:00.002Z

Hello All! A really quick post from me today, I'm running out of typing time, so my fingers need to work fast! Lol!

Here is my sample for the new challenge 'TPLC05 - Snowflakes and Sparkle'. I have been playing with a few new things on this - FlitterGlu & Silver gilding flakes for one! I love the detail it has given my text stamps! This is not a card, it is more a gift card / notelet card for Christmas. I have also used Washi Tape from East of India for the inside.

The image has been coloured with my trusty Copic markers, using DCWV Christmas Stack papers. The borders have been punched using an EK Success Punch, and Martha Stewart Snowflake punch. The image is of course a Magnolia image from last Christmas, and a Personal Impressions circular sentiment stamp.

Thanks for looking!

Warm Winter Wishes

2011-10-09T21:03:00.001+01:00

Back again! This is the second card that I have made this weekend just for pleasure, so I am going to enter this for a couple of challenges too! I picked up this Nellie Snellen image weeks ago from The Paperlane, and this is the first time that I have been able to ink her up. I just love this image, her outfit is very cute! I am going to enter this card in Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes with the option of something punched. I have punched the snowflake border and used the waste snowflakes as embellishments. I am also going to enter this card into the Secret Crafter Challenge - Anything Goes as long as it Sparkles!

The Nellie Snellen image has been coloured with Copic markers, and highlighted here and there with Hero Arts Prisma glitter. The papers are Authentique - Journey. These are not Christmas / winter papers per se, but I thought the colours were so perfect for this image. The image is mounted on a Nestie die, and the snowflake border is punched with a Martha Stewart punch from a few years ago, however, the small snowflakes that the punch makes as waste are such cute embellishments! They are near the seam binding bow, covered in star dust stickles! The lovely sentiment is a Whimsy Stamp letter seal, and there are dots of stickles, smooch pearl and Viva Decor pearl pen dotted liberally about!

Thanks for visiting! Kx

It's Your Day!

2011-10-09T20:31:00.000+01:00

Hello All! Thanks for coming to visit. I have been lucky enough to have some time this weekend to play, so I have been able to enter a couple of challenges with some cards that I have made just for fun, rather than for a purpose! I don't get enough time to do this to be honest, and it really annoys me! Lol! I'm going to have to try and do something about that. Avoid housework looks like the best option! I am going to enter this card into the Deep Ocean Challenge Blog - Happy Birthday. I am a little last minute in entering but hey ho! I am also going to enter this card into the Sentimental Sunday - Anything Goes Challenge

This card is made with the gorgeous MME Stella & Rose 'Hazel' 6x6 papers. I love this Magnolia Tilda. Think it is her little boots and balloon. She has been coloured with Copic Markers. The embellishments are seam binding ribbon, a single pearly button with linen thread and some rhinestones to underline the Papertrey Ink sentiment. I love the size of the sentiment, it really is bold! Her boots have a touch of glossy accents, and the sentiment plate has been embellished with Viva Decor Pearl Pen. The ovals were cut using Nestabilities, and the Frilly Square behind are by Go Kreate.

So there you have it! Thanks for visiting! Kx

Defying Gravity

2011-10-01T08:00:00.002+01:00

Hello Everyone! Hope all is well with you, and you are getting to see as much sun as we are at the moment. I can't help but think that Mother Nature might have a sneaky surprise tucked up her sleeve. Snow in October anyone?? Lol!

Today's post is for The Paperlane Challenge. Our challenge this month was 'Glitz and Sparkle'. This was a great challenge for me - I just love a bit of bling here and there!!

This card kind of appeared out of nowhere. I have been suffering a touch of busyitis with no mojo complications, and the idea for this card hit me as I drove to work! I love the song 'Defying Gravity' from Wicked, and as this played in my car, I remembered that I had picked up a fabulous Graphic 45 Wizard of Oz 8x8 paper pad from The Paperlane. So, Molly got a touch of the green!! I think she shows just the right amount of attitude to carry the sentiment off! She had to have sparkly ruby red wellies too - Dorothy isn't getting hold of them!

The die cuts are Spellbinders Iron Works Accents (border die) and Magnolia Doo Hickey Swirls. All of these elements have been touched up and coated with Black Diamond Stickles. Molly has been coloured with my trusty Copics!

Thanks so much for visiting! Please leave a comment, would love to visit you too :-) Kx

TPLC03 - Anything But A Card!

2011-09-01T08:00:00.008+01:00

Hello Everyone! Welcome to the third TPLC Challenge - Anything But A Card! Thanks for visiting if you have hopped over from The Paperlane Challenge blog, and welcome if you haven't!! Lol!

This challenge was set by DT Klare! I found this challenge a real challenge - I had so many birthday cards to make! Lol! Anyhow, I made a gift tag for a wine bottle, as I needed to say 'Thank You' to my next door neighbour!

I have coloured Molly with copics - this lovely image is from the Summer 2011 collection. The doily and the mat for the sentiment have been made using Nellie Snellen dies. The papers are the completely gorgeous My Minds Eye Stella & Rose - Hattie Collection. These papers are so wonderful - I think I am on my third 6x6 pad!! Lol! I just love the colours!

The detail around the doily has been made with the Hydrangea flower punch from Martha Stewart, with the centre made using the Viva Decor Cream pens. Hope you like it! Really simple to make - but just says 'Thanks' in a more personal way!

I have got to apologise - I have lost my bit of paper with all my Copic numbers on - if I find it, I'll update the post!

Hope you come and join in - look forward to visiting you!

Happy Anniversary Mum & Dad

2011-08-17T16:27:00.000+01:00

Hello All! Just wanted to share the card that I made for my parents for their ruby wedding anniversary. It is Paris themed, as they are going to there to celebrate!

The stamp is a Papertrey Ink Stamp, which has been coloured with Copic Markers (Petals : R59, R39, R29, R27 & R24. Flower centre : YR24, YR23, YR21 & YR20). I then rubbed the whole image with old paper distress ink to mute the colours and help blending with the paper. I used the R59 marker to colour my clear rhinestones, so it looked like there were a few rubies on there!

Punches are Martha Stewart,with nesties and glimmer mists to sparkle up the die cuts! The small lock and key embellishments are Prima vintage treasures. I just love these!

I was pleased with the way the vintage seam binding has turned out, as I died it with Copic ink (YR21), colourless blender and then sprayed it with Tattered Angels Creme Rouge glimmer mist. It dried so quickly I was able to use it almost immediately, which was a good thing! You can see the different colours in the picture above!

Thanks for coming to visit! Kxx

TPLC02 - Shades of Sunshine

2011-08-01T07:00:00.000+01:00

Hello Everyone! Back so soon! Here is my card for The Paperlane Challenge - TPLC02 Shades of Sunshine. I have got to confess to absolute panic when I got this brief! Lol! I just don't 'do' yellow - which my brain said was the colours I needed!

So, after raking through the DP that sits beside my desk, I found the delicious Echo Park Springtime papers that just work so well with, you guessed it.....Bazzill Kraft cardstock!! Lol! (If anyone wonders why they can't get hold of any of this is because I have got it all!! Love it!!!) Seriously though, Caz stocks this wonderful stuff at The Paperlane.

I have opted to not use a character stamp today, which is unusual for me! I have chosen the lovely flowers from the Summer Fun collection. They are really cute, and look lovely coloured. The layout is really simple as I wanted the colour to be the standout thing on the card, rather that the layout and embellishments.

Here is a close up of the detail of the stamps. The flowers have been stamped and coloured the twice so that they would stand out. The image has been coloured with Copic markers, and the frames are all Nesties! Like I asked in this post yesterday, would you like to see the Copics that have been used for each image? If you think it would be useful, please let me know in the comments....I'm not sure if there might be enough 'out there' if you know what I mean!

The lace effects down the side are both Martha Stewart border punches, which I picked up at The Paperlane. They are really delicate and break up space nicely, with small touches of Viva Decor Pearl Pen, and pearls hand coloured with Copics to match the DP. The sentiment is from Hero Arts, one of a 'go to' set that I have had for a while!

Hope you like what you see! Look forward to seeing all of your entries!

Back Soon! Kx

Sunday, Sunday...

2011-07-31T15:01:00.007+01:00

Hello one and all! Hope we are all ok! The sun has peeped out from behind the clouds today, and I managed to have a lovely walk in the woods before breakfast in the garden. Little things like that make me endlessly happy!

So, here is the card of the day. This is the card that I made for my MIL. It is her 60th birthday today, so lots of love was sent her way from chez nous!

The papers are the lovely Memory Box Minuet collection. I picked these lovelies up from The Stamp Attic last week. Just love the colours. I was stuck as to what image to use, until I spied the little parasols on the paper - Magnolia Asian Tilda it was! She has been coloured using Copic markers, mounted on a frame made using Nesties Labels 14. The gardenia flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts. The cardstock is Bazzill Kraft - I love that stuff! Everytime The Paperlane has a restock, i'm stocking up! Lol! The sentiment is a Hampton Arts sentiment.

Ooo! Whilst I remember - I have been toying with the idea of posting the colours that I use for colouring my images? Would that be useful? Or is there enough info out there? Lol! Let me know in the comments either way :-)

I am going to enter this in Allsorts 'Week 114 Free & Easy' Challenge.

Will be back tomorrow with the second The Paperlane Challenge, and my DT card. Thanks for looking! See you soon! Kx

Summer Day, Weekend Away!

2011-07-19T21:23:00.000+01:00

Hello Everyone! Firstly, I want to say 'Thank You' to all the lovely ladies at The Stamp Attic! It was great to share my love of Copic Markers with you all! Here is the sample for the session - Wendy has shared this on The Stamp Attic blog, but I thought I would share it here too!

There is lots of Copic use all over this card, from the image itself to the hand coloured ribbons and embellishments. The sentiment is a Hero Arts sentiment. The layout for this was kept really simple so that we could focus on the colouring.

I had a wonderful time at the shop, and with Wendy. I also managed to pop into Oxford - I thought we were never going to see anything - the rain was so heavy, and all the inside visitor attractions around the University were closed due to graduations, however, the sun eventually peeked through at lunchtime! The place was so lovely, will have to go back! Just to catch up on all the sights that we didn't see....and to visit The Stamp Attic again! Lol!

A Lovely Day at The Paperlane

2011-07-03T21:56:00.002+01:00

Hello lovely friends and followers! I have spent the day teaching today at The Paperlane, all about the sheer wonderfulness of Copic markers! I think I could talk for Britain about them, if I'm honest!! Wish I could choose it as a chosen subject on Mastermind - but I'd be useless at the general knowledge!! Lol!

Here is the sample that I made for the class. As the new Molly Bloom stamps arrived in store recently, I thought it would be nice to make a door hanger - so everyone knows your status! At the Beach, or At Home!

The Paperlane has just got in a great consignment of Bazzill Kraft cardstock - it is just a dream to work with. I love the colour, and it blends so well with any colours really. I love the look of Copics brushed over it too. Kraft and Copics work so well!

The papers are Echo Park Springtime on the Beach side, and My Mind's Eye Lost and Found papers. The letters are die cut from a Tim Holtz 'Extended Cut' alphabet, called Typeset. It has a really lovely look about it. The Martha Stewart Punch has a lovely lacy effect.

Hope you like what you see! Thanks so much for looking! Kx

TPLC 01 - Anything but Square!

2011-07-01T08:00:00.001+01:00

Hello lovely readers! Thanks for visiting - hopefully you will have hopped over here from the Paperlane Challenge! Our first ever challenge! This has been set by our DT team mate, Clare.

We were challenged to use Molly Blooms stamps, and create a project that was Anything but Square. I'm sure you will agree that the work of my fellow DT members is really stunning. If you haven't already, please have a look at their individual blogs too!

Here is my DT submission. I went a bit bonkers and made a kind of mini book. I just could not decide which stamps I wanted to use, so thought I would use as many as I could squeeze in! Lol!

I just love these Beach Huts. They are so pretty, and can suit any colouring- I added Glossy Accents just to accentuate the windows. I chose brights to match the delicious Echo Park 'Splash' papers. I love the bright, zingy combination of colours.

The pearls that I have used for embellishment are originally white, and I have coloured them using Copics to match the colours of the main images. I have done the same below with ribbon, like on the first picture - this is just what I love about Copics! You can use them for so many different things! Absolutely brilliant!

Hope you like what you see! Come and join in the challenge - we will be setting challenges on the first of the month!

Thanks for looking! Kx

Krafty Molly!

2011-06-26T22:56:00.000+01:00

Hello! Hope you are all well! The weather here has been absolutely brilliant - barbecues were most definitely the order of the day! I cannot believe that it is nearly the end of June already, and that July is almost here. Summer hols - here we come! I was able to take photographs of this project outside today, which really helped! I am really glad to have my crafting mojo back - I think it flew south when the weather turned bad, but now that the sunshine is back it seems to have reappeared!!

This project is a little different for me. I had seen the use of little jotters for stamping on a few blogs over the past few months. So, I love Kraft, and found some plain ruled Moleskine jotters in Waterstones that have Kraft covers. They are really lovely to stamp on, and you can colour with Copics on them. Bonus! The ink works slightly differently, but the look that you get is so pretty. This is as about as clean and simple as I get!

The sentiment is a Papertrey Ink sentiment, which is nice and plain. I just love this image from the new Summer Fun Molly Bloom Collection - her little outfit is so lovely - and the bunting is just too cute! Molly is stamped with Memento Rich Cocoa ink, and as I said before, coloured in with Copics.

Here is a close up of the detail. I am so pleased with the way that these look - think I might be whipping up a few of these for birthdays and little presents.

Thank You so much for looking! Please leave a comment - it really makes my day! Kx

Just for Mum

2011-06-12T19:44:00.002+01:00

Hello! Thought I would share a card I made for my Mum's birthday.

The image has been coloured with Distress Inks to blend in with the lovely My Mind's Eye papers. These are the Stella and Rose collection - Gertie I think! The image was from the Butterfly Dreams 2011 collection. I just love the her wings, and the way that she is sitting.

The doily has been cut from thick vellum, using the Cheery Lynn Doily Die, which is just so lovely. I'm so pleased that this has cut out so well - think I might be treating myself a little more often to these dies!

Here is a close up of the detail:

You can see a little bit of the twinkle from the stickles, and the detail of the butterfly, which is usually joined to the main image! The flowers are a mix of Wild Orchid Crafts and The Hobby House. The sentiment is by Polka Doodles.

See you soon!

Molly Blooms - You Brighten My Day!

2011-05-28T16:36:00.001+01:00

Hello Friends! Hope you are all well - it's a Bank Holiday weekend again, so even if the sun does not shine, I've got an extra day I can spend crafting! (That makes me so happy!!) How are you spending yours?

This is a sample for a class that I am running at The Paperlane next week. We are looking at using distress inks to colour in stamped images. Just love that technique. Can't wait to spend the day with lovely like minded people!

The seam binding has been altered with Distress Inks. The images used are of course, Molly Blooms. They are really lovely, and little ducky with his welly boots? Just too cute!! Made me smile colouring him in.
The papers are My Minds Eye Hattie. You have seen a lot of these recently - so sorry, but I just cannot get enough of the colour combination. Love it! A generous dose of MS punches and Nesties was in order, as was a Hero Arts sentiment which really complemented these lovely images.

Well, that is all from me at the minute. Hope to be back soon though, as I WANT to enter some challenges this weekend, if my great crafting plan goes to plan - and not to pot like it usually does! Lol! Off to do a bit of blog hopping and comment leaving!

Hope the sunshines for you this weekend! Kxx

Inspiration

2011-05-24T20:42:00.003+01:00

Hello Everyone! No cards today, just thought I would share a few pics that have got my creative ideas crackling!

I had the fortune to go to London last weekend, and managed to nip to Columbia Road market on Sunday morning. Thank you so much Wendy for the pointer towards this absolute treasure trove! As well as some fabulous shops (more on that later!)
Now, call me weird, but if I was given an arrangement of flowers, of different types, I would say 'Thank You' and think that they are a lovely bunch of flowers. But, if I am given a bunch of a single variety of flowers, all the same colour it really makes my heart sing. I don't know why. It just does. Thinks it just makes me appreciate the perfection of nature.
Right, enough of me waxing lyrical! I managed to grab a few snaps in the flower market. The whole site in Shoreditch is just fabulous, and I loved every minute - even though you had to get there early! I just loved the colours - particularly the variety in pink! And all single variety bunches!! Lol!

Beautiful, massive heads of hydrangeas. Loved these.....

Rows and rows of pink peonies, waiting for a buyer with large arms to carry the ample stems home.....

And finally, vintage looking roses. I just loved these. Wish I could have taken them all home with me. They were all so beautiful. Really made me feel happy and contented. Don't be surprised after looking at all of this that every creation out of me in the coming weeks is pink!!

The market was the length of a street that was bordered with lots of shops selling beautiful wares, some vintage, some shabby, some art, some edible! The Cake Hole was most definately my favourite - vintage from floor to ceiling, with the most wonderful cake and tea shop out the back! Over 10 different types of cake! All served on vintage bone china! My kinda place!!

Thanks for visiting! Kxx

Molly Blooms at The Stamp Attic

2011-05-16T22:18:00.000+01:00

Hello everyone!

Thought I would share a sample that has just arrived at The Stamp Attic, into the TLC of my lovely friend Wendy. Wendy has started to stock the lovely Molly Blooms Stamps, and I thought that they would look fabulous with the beautiful My Mind's Eye 'Hattie' collection. I love this mini stack! The colours are just gorgeous. This is a paperbag card - so plenty of scope to play with the lovely images. Warning! It is a bit of a photo marathon!

This is the front of the card. The wired heart is a steampunk charm, which I just love. It is nice and flat on the back, so it is so easy to adhere to the tag.

This is the inside of the card, on the left hand side. This is the bottom of the bag that has created the two panels. You can use this for slotting a tag in for a personal message. I chose to use this for an image of George, as I had a hard choice in choosing which ones to use! I've used some of Tim Holtz' tape and ribbon to embellish. The sentiment is by Cats Life Press. I love a round sentiment (you can probably guess!!). You will be able to see liberal doses of Fiskars border punches too!

I love playing with these stamps and being able to build layers of images. The pie is seperate from Chef Molly, so she could hold a birthday cake instead!

This is the insert from the card. The image was masked and the herb boxes stamped so she has something to sit on. The flower is a Prima Melody bloom.

Last one! Phew! This just shows the lovely 'Hand Stamped' Molly Blooms sentiment, which is an absolute must! Again, it shows the really gorgeous papers!
Thanks for sticking with me all the way to the end of the post. Please leave a comment - truly makes my day.
Have a lovely day :-)
Kx

Happy Easter! Part Two!

2011-04-24T20:23:00.000+01:00

Ah! A bus-like blog post from me today! (None in ages, then 2 in quick succession!! Lol!) Here is a second card that I made this Easter. This has some Forever Friends images on - I don't normally go for these kinds of images, but there was something about those ears that were totally irresistible!!

There are touches of Pearl Pen around the layout, and the border punch used was an older Martha Stewart punch that I came across in my drawer. The sentiment is a Lili of the Valley stamp - I just love circle sentiments! The papers are again Echo Park - Springtime - I can't get enough of these. They are really lovely. The whole image has again been spritzed with Perfect Pearls, to give the whole card a subtle shimmer. Sadly the light does not show this up! The flowers are a mix of the Hobby House (Cherry Blossoms) and Magnolia (Vintage Tulips). Just love the pretty colours!

I would like to enter this card for a couple of challenges. These are:

My Time to Craft: Challenge - Easter Wishes - The card is 'Happy Easter'

Fussy and Fancy Friday: Challenge - Springtime - The card is Easter themed using 'Springtime' papers

Thanks so much for stopping by and looking! Please leave a comment - makes my day if you do! Kx

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T17:16:00.000+01:00

A whole day to officially indulge in chocolate. My kind of day! Hope you are all well. I've had a little bit of holiday, so have taken the chance to have a play!

I've made the card below using some absolutely gorgeous Echo Park papers , which are quite aptly called 'Springtime'. The colours on these are so beautiful. Tilda is new from the Butterfly Dreams collection this year. I really loved colouring her in. I have been playing a little with getting a more 'washed out' look to the colouring this week - hope you think so too!

I've used a lovely new 'Vintage Floral' Martha Stewart punch and Nellie Snellen Doily dies The sentiment is from a Lili of the Valley set. I just love the little daffodils - it has taken me ages to open this packet to use them, as I am frightened that I will run out! Lol!

There is some of my favourite seam binding on there too - I didn't want a distressed look, so this has been left without any scrunching! (Is that even a word??!) The whole card had a spritz of Perfect Pearls mist to give it a bit of a twinkle. I think you can just make it out on the flowers in this next photo. I just love the really subtle sparkle that the mist gives, without depositing any colour on the project. Really lovely.

I would like to enter this card for the following challenges :

The Shabby Tea Room Challenge Week #58 - Pastels (Project Colours) and Stripes (Background DP)

PaperPlay Challenges Challenge Week 16 - Eastertime (Happy Easter Card)

Thanks so much for visiting! I'm off to enjoy some Mini Eggs!

Kxx

Springtime Paperbag Book

2011-04-20T13:02:00.000+01:00

Hello All! Hope you are well - the sun is shining in North Yorkshire - so life is good!

I have been asked to run a few workshops for The Paperlane in Northallerton - this is a sample of what we will be doing! Can't wait to spend the day with lovely like minded people who are not afraid of being covered in glitter in public!! I LOVE making these - they take longer than the usual 6x6 card, but for someone special they are most definately worth it!

The front cover - with ties to close the book. The main image here is from the new Butterfly Dreams Collection by Magnolia Stamps. The detail die cut is a Tim Holtz 'Elegant Flourishes', decorated with Hydrangea flower blossoms, punched with a Martha Stewart punch.

The main image again is from the Butterfly Dreams Collection. The sentiments are all Hero Arts, with a Magnolia Doo Hickey tag.

Again, the image is from the Butterfly Dreams Collection. The sentiments are all Hero Arts. The detail punching has been done with a Cherry Blossom Martha Stewart 'Punch Around The Corner' set.

The back cover - decorated to show who sent it! Lots of glitter and Viva Decor Pearl Pens just add a few finishing touches.

All the images have been coloured using Copic Markers....i'm a bit excited - I've got a copy of Marianne Walker's 'Shadows and Shading' book winging its way to me - I have not been as excited about colouring in since my Aunty bought me an M&S bumper colouring book, Christmas 1981. She also bought me a pair of gold spandex socks, but they got accidentally chewed by the dog! Too much information - I know!

Enjoy the sunshine! Kx

The Paperlane - Good Bits!

2011-04-20T11:48:00.000+01:00

Hi All - Just a quick bit of news! The Paperlane in Northallerton, North Yorks have a new blog, and a page on facebook too that has details of all the lovely things that are going on! Please drop by and give them some blogging love! I'll be back later with details of a workshop that I am going to be doing at The Paperlane (OMG!!) ! Just a bit excited / nervous / panicky!! (All depends upon the amount of coffee drunk / closer it gets!!)LMAO!

The sun is shining - it's all good!! Kxx

It's the little things that matter most....

2011-03-28T17:49:00.003+01:00

Hello! Hope you are all well! Well, looking out of the window of my craft hovel, the sun is shining, and my little bit of the world looks lovely today. Shame I have had to be in a conference room all day - but it is making me yearn for my holidays! I had a lovely weekend - including visiting my not too far away joy emporium (The PaperLane) on Saturday to see Clare Rowlands (Molly Blooms) on her demo day. Clare is running a workshop there next week, so I'm going to go to play, along with three good friends, so a day of craft and chatter is in order! Can't blinking wait! Lol!

I have made this card for my lovely friend Wendy (The Stamp Attic), as she is stocking Molly Blooms too! This should be winging it's way to Oxfordshire shortly, after I have got my act together and get more samples sorted! Lol! I love this Hero Art sentiment - thought it would be nice for a thank you card, or a card just to say 'Hi!'. This uses the gorgeous Prima Botanical papers - I have some flowers that match this paper....just can't bring myself to use them though!!

Well, off to continue the creative journey...(so can't take myself seriously saying that!!) Actually, I'm off to do the washing up! Lol! See you soon!

Kxx

Guilt Post No 1!

2011-03-26T14:39:00.000Z

Hello All! This is a post that is totally inspired by guilt!! I cannot believe that it has been so long since I have posted on my blog! I'm glad that my blog is not an actual person, as I think I would be off it's Christmas card list by now! Lol! Still, the mojo has returned from it's round the world trip, complete with a suntan - so I am glad to say that normal service should be resumed!

This card I have made for the The PaperLane. This stamp is from a Panduro Tilda set called Seaside. This set is quite different for me - colouring her in was fun - she is on Panduro Seaside papers too. I love her bag with her thermos and towel! Really quite sweet. I have coloured her with Copics.

The frame was from the Panduro set, with a Hero Arts sentiment inside. The frame has been edged with a little bit of sparkly pen, just to make it pop! You can see the shimmer on her dress - the whole card was spritzed with a shimmer spray to make it sparkle - can't help myself adding lots of sparkle! The button is from the En Provence buttons at The PL - if you look below you can see the sparkle and colours that run through the button too.

The little flowers are punched with a Martha Stewart Hydrangea punch, with a small dot of Viva Decor cream pen for the centres.

Right! Off to make a cuppa and then play with the goodies I have picked up today! Thanks for looking!

Hello out there! It's been a while......

2011-02-04T20:47:00.005Z

I have no excuse....I was trying to come up with something that was witty....fingers cut off in a freak die cutting incident.....santa delivering me so much stash that it has taken me so long to break free (God, wish that had been true! Lol!); that kind of thing! But I can't. So, I will admit that the mojo went off on holiday, taking with it as a travelling companion my will to resist any form of chocolate. I was even tempted at one point by a minty Aero bar - and I can't stand minty chocolate (and fruity creamy ones too - if anyone is interested!!) Lol!

So, with a pair of larger jeans and a new pair of scissors (the will to craft shop remained ever present!!) I made this card for my friend's 40th birthday - I know it does not say 40th on it! But it was for that special day.

These are NitWit papers that I bought from The PaperLane, a pretty new Magnolia and a Whimsy Sentiment. I quite like the way it all looks together - especially with a spritz of pearl mist to make everything sparkle. The balloon was coloured with Copics (no change there then!!) and then painted with Tattered Angels Glam - it is so sparkly in real life! This was topped off with the Zva Creative crystal flourishes just to top off the sparkles!

I'm entering this card for the special monthly challenge at Just Magnolia as it is 'Anything Goes' with ribbons! Quite proud of myself - have managed to blog and enter a challenge on the same day! Wonders will never cease! Lol!

Thanks so much for visiting! Kx

Just Magnolia & Friday Sketchers

2010-12-05T19:10:00.001Z

Hello again! Well, here we go - the same papers (LOVE the colours), but with a lovely Magnolia image - but Edwin this time. He is just so sweet tangled up in the lights....got that challenge to come shortly in Chez Pawpads! Anyhow!

I loved the look of the challenge at Just Magnolia this week. I've had time to play this weekend due to the weather, so here we are! The papers are Bo Bunny - Winter Joy. I have used the sketch at Friday Sketchers too - as I have never used a triangle as a main point in the layout before, and thought I'd give it a go!!

The sentiment is Hero Arts. All of the sparkle on here has had been added using a Viva Decor Glitter Liner. Die cuts are Nellie Snellen frames, with the holly leaves punched using a Martha Stewart jumbo punch. The Poinsettia is a Magnolia DooHickey.

Edwin has been coloured with Copics, with the shine on the lights picked out with Glossy Accents.

Thanks so much for visiting! Kxx

Papertake Weekly - Sketch 51

2010-12-05T18:46:00.002Z

Hello! Well, as the festive season is creeping up on me, I thought it was time I got myself sorted and made a few cards for Christmas.

Here is one I made today, using the sketch from Papertake Weekly Challenge - Sketch 51. I really liked working with this sketch. The image is a Stampavie stamp, with a Paula Pascual sentiment. The gorgeous coloured papers are Bo Bunny Winter Joy - these came so close to being papers that I bought just to stroke as I love the colours in these papers so much!

Die cutting has been done with Nellie Snellen dies, and colouring using my trusty Copics! The oval behind the image has been airbrushed to blend in with the main image. The shimmer on the main image has been applied using Tattered Angels 'Glam' which is great to apply to an image like this. A liberal dose of Viva Glitter Liner, and in the words of Gordon Ramsay....Done!

I've been Certified!!

2010-11-24T20:58:00.003Z

Hello All! Long time no post...have been a bit mojoless over the past couple of weeks. I think it must be the thought of all the Christmas cards I still need to make!

Anyhow, my mojo got a kick up the backside at the weekend! Went to a lovely hotel in Berkshire (along with Bev, Caz & Sarah) to learn how to use Copic markers professionally, and emerge a.......

WOOOOOOHOOOOOOO! (Lol!)

Sorry! Have regained my composure!! Yes, I am now Copic certified, so I have been desperate to practice all the tips and techniques that I have learnt over the weekend. Unfortunately I can't take my pens into meetings with me, so I am colouring like crazy when I get home! The course was really informative - and it was the first certification course to run in the UK. It was run by Wendy Kadzidlo of (Stamps and Memories) and Karen Watson. It was lovely to meet new people there too (hello all!).

As I was really close, I was able to drop off some samples at The Stamp Attic. This card below is one of them. It is a Woodware image, and Crate Paper DP. I loved the colours - not at all traditional, but are clearly Christmassy!

The sentiments are one stamp that I have split stamped to frame the image. It is from one of the excellent Hero Arts Christmas sentiment sets (CL343 Holiday Sayings). The cardstock is a lovely neutral Bazzill, which matches the paper really nicely.

Thanks for visiting! Kxx

Seasons Greetings with Molly

2010-10-31T21:46:00.000Z

Hello :-) Been on a bit of a crafting hiatus - but, have got a few things to do, so my posts should be getting more frequent! Got plenty of new rubber and DT work to crack on with!

Well, went to a fabulous day out last weekend at The PaperLane in Northallerton - I was at a workshop with Clare Rowlands, designer of Molly Blooms (bit of an addiction forming....).

I made this sample for Caz and Sarah - I made it using the new Christmas Molly Blooms stamps, and some MASSIVE craftwork cards blanks! I wondered what I was going to do with all the space - there was definitely plenty to play with!

Don't you just love the little gingerbread men? I could have coloured them in all day! Here is a close up because I adore them! The papers are Dovecraft, and the lovely border punch is a new Martha Stewart punch that arrived in store - and screams rather loudly for liberal doses of prisma glitter! So, I had to oblige! The sentiment stamp is from Hero Arts.

Thanks to Clare for a great day, and thanks Caz & Sarah for letting us play with all the lovely products! Got me into a really festive mood - so bring on Christmas! Lol!

See you soon - thanks for looking! Kxx

Piles of Presents!

2010-10-06T22:07:00.000+01:00

Hello again! Here is the second card this week for the PaperLane - I loved using this stamp. It is part of the new Molly Blooms designs for Christmas. This is 'Pile of Presents'. It has been coloured with Copics, and teamed up with the lovely Dovecraft 'Let it Snow' papers. The ribbons were white - I have coloured them with Copics to match the image. There are liberal doses of Pearl and Gloss Pens by Viva for good measure!! The sentiment is a Craftwork Cards die cut, which has been mounted on the matching papers and cardstock.

The image has been highlighted with Prisma Glitter and Viva Gloss Pens. The papers are glittery too, so that they look really festive!

I loved playing with this image - can't wait for the 23rd October - I will be doing a workshop with Clare of Molly Blooms at the PaperLane. It will be great to be able to play and chat all day long.......and be able to shop downstairs too!!

Thanks for visiting!

Kxx

Time Flies - Been Having Fun!!

2010-10-04T21:49:00.000+01:00

Hello All! Including my lovely cyber stalker who emailed me to say I hadn't updated!! Lol! Hope this is ok! Well - apologies for the delay in posting! Have been out and about having fun! Bev and I have recently been on a couple of wanders - which happened to take in the Great Northern Papercrafts Extravaganza, Sir Stampalot and the hugely extended Stamp Attic - so wanted to make one of the rooms my own!! We had a great time - here is a pic of the lovely hotel gardens that were near our room on the SS and SA trip. If it hadn't have been threatening rain I would have quite happily sat and read for a while!

Which brings me to my second reason for not posting!! Have managed to do a Twlight Marathon, completing all four books in five days! That was totally Bev's fault - she gave me them to read and POW!! Bit addicted (TEAM JACOB!!)!! So my glitter and stamps were put away for a little while.

Finally! Here is the card. This has been created for The PaperLane. I love this Tilda - I have seen her done in really bright colours, and thought that it would be worth trying some lovely muted colours - almost monochrome. She has been coloured with Copics, and the papers are DCWV - La Creme Stack. The lovely flowery paper that is visible is flocked, so there is a lovely bit of texture. The pearl swirl has been done with my trusty Viva Decor Pearl Pens! The sentiment is Hero Arts.

She is safely in the hands of Caz and Sarah in the shop now - so thought I would post her here. Will be back soon with more!

Thanks so much for visiting! Have a great day!

Kxx

Cloud Number 9!

2010-09-09T21:10:00.000+01:00

Hello! Hope you are all ok! Just a really quick post to share some news ..... I've been asked to join the DT of my local joy emporium - The PaperLane! Woooooop! It'll keep me out of mischief!! Lol! So I'm really lucky to be on the teams for two fabulous shops!

Here is a card that I made for the PaperLane this week - it is one of my recent Magnolia favourites - Secretive Tilda. She is really pretty. The papers are KaiserCraft - Devonshire collection. They are 6x6, so perfectly sized for cards. The die cut is the lovely Tilda lace, which is so pretty - suited this image perfectly.

The flower has been made with the KaiserCraft papers, using the Peony Petal die - again from Magnolia. This has just made such a beautiful flower - just sprayed with water and scrunged! They look so pretty - just need such a long brad to take all the layers! She has been coloured with Copics, and there are touches of glitter all over! The corner punches are Martha Stewart.

Thanks for looking!

Thanks for your Hospitality - for The Stamp Attic

2010-09-04T18:51:00.000+01:00

Hello All!

Here is a third card which I made with my recent DT bundle from The Stamp Attic. This uses just Hero Arts stamps - the flower image is a background cling stamp that has been coloured with Distress Inks - I have watercoloured them again using the ink refills rather than the pads. There are delicate spots of the Viva Decor Glitter, and the Pearl Pen down the sides.

I have used a Woodware punch for the scallop edging around the sentiment, which is also a Hero Arts stamp - this time from their clear collection.

Papers: So Sophie Papers

Cardstock: Bazzill Cardstock
Stamps: Hero CL389 Mi Casa, CG123 Flower Wallpaper
Colouring: Distress Inks, Versafine Onyx Black
Cutting: Woodware Scallop Circle Punch
Embellishments: Viva Decor Pearl Pen – Cream, Viva Décor Glitter Liner

Well, only one more to go of the current bundle - will be posting later this weekend! Hope it is sunny where you are!

Friends Forever - for The Stamp Attic

2010-09-03T08:00:00.009+01:00

Hello Again! Here is the second card in the series that I have recently made from my DT package from The Stamp Attic. I have used the So Sophie Papers, Crescendoh Alice Stamps and Hero Arts sentiment. Again, the image has been coloured with Distress Ink refills, using watercolouring. The Distress Inks worked so well with these papers. I was so pleased with the way that these turned out!

Papers: So Sophie Papers

Cardstock: Bazzill Cardstock
Stamps: Cresendoh Alice in Wonderland, Hero Arts CL272 All Occasion Messages
Colouring: Distress Inks, Versafine Onyx Black
Embellishments: Bazzill Jewel templates, Viva Decor Holo Iridescent Glitter Liner, Organza Ribbon

Unfortunately, due to the poor photograph, you cannot see all the glitter detail. This was done with a Viva Decor Glitter Liner, making pencil markings using a Bazzill Jewel Template as a guideline. The card sparkles so much in real life! I'm so going to have to go and get a light tent!

I had fun with this really simple layout - I thought that the straight lines of pieces would complement the lovely roundness of Tweedledum and Tweedledee!

Thanks so much for looking!

Kxx

Poinsettias & Tilda

2010-09-02T08:00:00.003+01:00

Ah! Back to Christmas! This is a card from my latest splurge in the Craft Hovel! Silly Billy still has traces of glitter all over him...he has turned into a bit of a disco dog! Sparkles lovely first thing in the morning on his morning bounce!!

I picked up this Tilda last week from The PaperLane, my local 'money DOES buy happiness' shop! I love the poinsettia arrangement that she is holding, and it worked so well with some KaiserCraft Belle Papers, and some Marianne D Poinsettia dies. The sentiment is from a seasonal Hero Arts set from last year.

She has been coloured with Copics, but because the papers were lovely muted colours, when I finished colouring I swept Antique Linen distress ink all over her. This has given the colours a really rich quality to match the papers. The details on Tilda have been picked out with glossy accents, and pearl pen touches around the arrangement - not as much Pearl Pen as I normally use - but I'm sure there will be a card along soon that has more than enough on it! Lol!

Thanks so much for looking!

Kxx

Bring On The Cake!! (For the Stamp Attic)

2010-09-01T08:00:00.005+01:00

I promised that I would post something other than Christmas - here is a DT card I made for The Stamp Attic. Wendy kindly sent me some more So Sophie papers by My Minds Eye, and some of the latest stamps that had arrived in the shop - these are Alice in Wonderland stamps by Crescendoh. I combined them with sentiments from Hero Arts, which seemed to match really nicely!

These images are just lovely, and I have coloured the images with Distress Inks - I have watercoloured these on hot press watercolour paper, which meant that I can use the refill inks with a watercolour brush and fill the image. I love the really cute stamps at the sides - these were coloured, sparkled and given a liberal coating of glossy accents!
Not to mention a more than liberal coating of Viva Pearl Pen too - of course! The scallop on the side is made with a Hero Arts scallop border, and the detail picked out with the pearl pen too! I really love the muted tones of these papers. They match the distress ink colours so well.

Papers: So Sophie Papers
Cardstock: Bazzill Cardstock
Stamps: Cresendoh Alice in Wonderland, Hero Arts CL371 Essential Messages, Hero Arts CL288 Scallop Borders
Colouring: Distress Inks, Versafine Onyx Black
Embellishments: Organza Ribbon, Viva Decor Pearl Pen Cream, Bazzill Jewel Templates, Glossy Accents, Hero Prisma Glitter

Thanks so much for looking!

Kxx

Ho! Ho! Ho! (Sorry!)

2010-08-31T08:00:00.000+01:00

Hello again! Well, I've finished the Christmas fest at my house this weekend! Have managed to cover myself in glitter (Stickles bottle explosion - wasn't pretty. Silly Billy dog caught in the crossfire - has had strange looks from the local Labradors!!) Lol!

Well, here is a card I started to make for the PaperPlay challenge - but on the sketch there needs to be a definate slot to the left of the central shape - mine is there - my ribbon goes through it....just that I then decided to cover it up with flowers - so I don't think it meets the criteria. Anyhow, I really enjoyed my playtime!

The papers are by Bo Bunny - these were last years, but needless to say they have not been cut into until this year! I am terrible like that - is it that I don't buy it too soon, or I do things to early? Anyhow - looks nice with the cute Magnolia image again. I will be posting some cards made with images other than Magnolia later in the week! Honest!
She has been coloured with the Stampin Up! refills on hot press watercolour paper, and the stamp is a Hero Arts one from last year!
Mmmm. Thinking about it, perhaps I'm not behind with using what I have - perhaps I just prefer to work with 'vintage' items! Lol!
Thanks SO much for visiting!
Kxxx

Create for Fun Challenge - Week 45

2010-08-30T09:00:00.011+01:00

Hello! Back again, just proof that I am continuing with the Christmas theme!

Here is a card I have made for the 'Create for Fun' Challenge this week. There was a fabulous sketch, and it meant that I could reach for some papers that I hardly used last year, so my bank manager would really approve!! Lol!

Again I have reached for my trusted Magnolias - I will post some other stamps on here soon, I promise! The image has been coloured using Stampin Up! refills, using hot press watercolour paper, which is really smooth and lovely to work on. The papers are Dovecraft Christmas Stack (2009).

Yet again I have had a bit of a moment with the Viva Decor pens - this time both the light blue pearl and the glitter liner. I just can't get enough! Bit like me and chocolate really! Lol!

I got to use my lovely Marianne D Snowflakes and new EK Success Swirl Punch on this card. I just love the details on both of these. They are really lovely. I can't remember where I got the charm from, but I thought it would work well with the rest of the snowflakes. The sentiment is a die cut from Craftwork Cards.

Looking at the quality of the photo I have decided I either need to get a light tent. or move to the South of France. I think at present the light tent will be the better option! I'm afraid we are running out of lovely sunny days by the looks!

Well, on that positive note - thanks for looking!

Just Magnolia - Week 70 - Sketch by Dawny P

2010-08-29T19:01:00.001+01:00

Hello! Here we are on a Bank Holiday weekend - which is fabulous - have got lots of time to play! I have decided that I need to get started on Christmas, as I always leave it until later on - and end up in a massive rush at the last minute! So, I have got out my Magnolias from last Christmas - which I must confess I never inked up - until now, I've cranked up the Christmas Playlist on the iPod (Slade and Wizzard here I come!!) and so I am ready to get things done!

So, this is my entry for the Just Magnolia Challenge this week - it is a sketch by Dawny P, and I had really great fun with it. The layout really suited the image.

I have used the really lovely Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses papers - I really love the colours. The image is really lovely - I think her little pointy toes are cute! Lol!

As you can hopefully see - have gone a bit bonkers again with the Viva Decor Glitter Liner in Holo - Iridescent. This has given everything a really pretty sparkle.

So there you go! Hope you like it! I have coloured it using Stampin Up! refills, and the sentiment is by Papertrey Ink.

Thanks for looking! Kxx

What's new?.....for the Stamp Attic

2010-08-09T09:00:00.008+01:00

Here we are, at the end of the current DT pieces for the Stamp Attic.

This card was made using the 'Sew Artsy' Hero Arts set. I just love the soft muted colours here - the MME papers were great to match the coloured pencils. The stamp set has a quirky, vintage feel, which really matched these muted colours too. The set is full of lovely little images, that are great to make an assembled piece, rather than a single focus image.

The flourish pattern on the image background has been picked out with a bit of Stickles to give a lovely sparkle when it picks up the light. You can just see it in the picture.

I enjoyed putting this together - and guess what? Plenty of Viva Decor pearl pen splashed about too! I am wondering if there is a support group for people who are addicted to putting pearls on everything!!

INGREDIENTS
PAPERS: So Sophie Papers
CARDSTOCK: Bazzill Cardstock
STAMPS: Hero Arts CL446 Sew Artsy
CUTTING: Fiskars Apron Lace Punch
COLOURING: Grey Ink , Colouring Pencils
EMBELLIES: Ranger Stickles Stardust, Lilac Organza Ribbon, Viva Decor Pearl Pens - Chrome Silver, Cream, Bazzill Jewel Templates

Just Because....for the Stamp Attic

2010-08-08T09:00:00.005+01:00

Hello once more! Here is the third card from the recent DT bundle from The Stamp Attic! I have teamed them up with the Hero Arts stamps again - these ones are from the 'Mi Casa' pack, that is so versatile. I have teamed the images with the sayings from the 'Everyday Sayings' pack.

I have used the Viva Decor Pearl Pens again - everything is getting a liberal dose of these at the minute! You can see the delicious So Sophie papers - I adored the stripey one you can see here - didn't want to put it on the paper cutter - but I soon got over it! Lol!

All the edges were roughed up to give them a distressed edge. This just gave the card a more 'homely' feel to match the image.

INGREDIENTS
PAPERS: My Minds Eye So Sophie Papers
CARDSTOCK: Bazzill Cardstock
STAMPS: Hero CL389 Mi Casa, CL1342 Everyday Sayings
COLOURING: Versafine inks, Colouring Pencils
EMBELLIES: Bazzill Jewel Templates, Viva Decor Pearl Pens

Thanks so much for visiting!

Kxx

A Simple Hi....for the Stamp Attic

2010-08-07T09:00:00.007+01:00

Hello Again! Hope you are ok! I'm good - just wanted to share a card that I made with my latest DT bundle for the Stamp Attic!

Here is the second card, made with stamps from the new Hero Arts collection again. I love the ways in which these stamps can be coloured - I have chosen to use coloured pencils this time, but they have so much scope to be watercoloured, or using alcohol markers.

INGREDIENTS
PAPERS: So Sophie Papers
CARDSTOCK: Bazzill Cardstock

STAMPS: Hero CG182 Two Houses, CL456 Big Hugs
COLOURING: Smokey Grey Versafine, Colouring Pencils
DIE CUTTING: Fiskars Upper Crest Border Punch
EMBELLIES: Bazzill Jewel templates, Viva Decor Cream Pearl Pen, Organza Ribbon

Thanks for visiting!

Kxx

Thinking of You..for the Stamp Attic

2010-08-06T09:00:00.002+01:00

Hello Everyone!

Hope you are all ok! Been a really busy day today - and I just had to have a quick trip into town for a bit of sale shopping after work! When needs must and all that!

This 'Thinking of You' card is one of the latest Design Team work that I have completed for The Stamp Attic. Wendy sent me a great bundle, full of My Minds Eye Papers, and stamps from the delicious Spring release from Hero Arts.

The beautiful Hero Arts Cling stamp was ideal to colour, I added slight shimmer too to the edges using stickles, and then mounted it up to give it lovely dimension. I was really pleased with the way that it turned out.

The lovely swirls are made with the Viva Decor pearl pens - I am addicted to pearls on my cards, and this is just ideal - I can use the jewel templates and make the pearls the size that I want them! Brilliant!!

INGREDIENTS

PAPERS: So Sophie Papers
CARDSTOCK: Bazzill Cardstock
STAMPS: Hero CG194 Stencil Flower, CL40 Thinking of You messages
COLOURING: Colouring Pencils
EMBELLIES: Bazzill Jewel Template, Viva Decor Pearl Pen – Cream, Ranger Stickles Stardust, Ranger Gold Liquid Pearls

Thanks for looking!

Kxx

Just Magnolia - Week 66

2010-08-01T20:19:00.001+01:00

Hello again! As I spent most of today still floating around on Cloud 9, I had enough time to create a card for this weeks Just Magnolia Weekly Challenge, using a sketch by Bev. I really enjoyed this sketch. I coloured this image last week at my little crafty club using the Stampin Up! reinkers, but hadn't thought about matching it with any papers, until I made the card in my previous post - and thought that they matched too!

So, here is Baking Tilda! The flowers have been made from the MME papers too. I enjoyed making these, and they didn't take too long to dry after they had been spritzed and scrunged! (Is scrunged a word?? I'm not sure, but it sounds right!!)

INGREDIENTS

CARDSTOCK: Bazzill Basics Vanilla

PAPERS: My Minds Eye Penny Lane
STAMPS: Magnolia - Baking Tilda, Hero Arts - Whats Cookin?

DIE CUTTING: EK Success Flourish Punch, EK Success Retro Flower Punches, Nellie Snellen Circle Dies

COLOURING: Copic Markers, Stampin Up! Ink Refills, Stampin Up! Markers

EMBELLIES: Mark Richards Turquoise Nailheads, Pewter Brads

Right, off to chill with a cuppa and a good book! Have a great day :-)

Kxx

Card Patterns - Sketch 75

2010-08-01T19:57:00.001+01:00

Hello all again! I have had a really quiet weekend, with some time to play, luckily. So, here is my entry to the Card Patterns Weekly Challenge . My friend asked if I could make a 'Thank You' card for her, so here it is!

INGREDIENTS

CARDSTOCK: Craftwork Cards Pearlised Cardstock

PAPERS: My Minds Eye Penny Lane

STAMPS: Stamping Bella - Ketto, Stampin Up! Circle of Friendship

DIE CUTTING: EK Success Arch Punch, Stampin Up! Circle Punch

COLOUR: Copic Markers, Memento Tuxedo Black Ink, Copic Spica Pens in Clear & Blossom
EMBELLIES: Hobby House Pearl Brad, Viva Decor Pearl Pens in Cream & Chrome Silver, Grosgrain Ribbon in Pink.

Have a great day!

Kxx

Doing a little happy dance.......

2010-08-01T10:44:00.000+01:00

Hello!! Wooo Hoooo!! For the first time I've won a competition!! Lol! My local joy emporium, The PaperLane holds a regular card competition, and I won it yesterday with this card....

I'm still doing a little happy dance..........

Thanks Caz & Sarah - i'm totally flabbergasted! (I love that word!!)

Kxx

For Mum and Dad....

2010-07-31T13:00:00.002+01:00

Hello! Happy end of July :-)

Today is my Mum and Dad's anniversary, so I am sharing the card that I have sent to them today. Again, I have used a stamp from the Magnolia Wedding Collection. This is the 'Loving Bridal Couple' stamp. It is so pretty.

The papers are the delicious Cosmo Cricket 'Ever After' Collection, which came out last year, and I am using my collection pack very sparingly! You can see the pearls made with the Viva Decor Pens again - I used the Bazzill Jewel templates to keep them equally spaced, and more importantly straight!!!

INGREDIENTS

CARDSTOCK: Bazzill Basics cardstock, Stampin Up! Sahara Sand

PAPERS: Cosmo Cricket Ever After

STAMPS: Magnolia Loving Couple, Hero Arts CL272 All Occasion Messages

COLOURING: Prismacolor Pencils, Memento Tuxedo Black

DIE CUTTING: EK Success Heart Flourish Punch

EMBELLIES: American Crafts Silver Ribbon, VIVA Decor Pearl Pens, Swarovski Crystal Gems, Ranger Stardust Stickles

Ahoy There Matey!

2010-07-30T13:00:00.002+01:00

Hello! Thanks for visiting!

Here is my card for today! This card was a last minute dash! My local shop, The PaperLane in Northallerton has a regular late night opening on a Wednesday, and my friend and I went for a wander, and ended up having to do a little shopping in this fab glitter emporium!!

So, I had a bit of a mental block with what to do for the 'Life's a Beach' competition,which closes on the 31st of July, until I spoke to Caz (the proprietor), and struck upon Pirates!! So, here is my entry! I love the Pirates in the Fairytale collection, so cute, and can be used over and over again. The card is coloured again with Stampin Up! inks, with a fair bit of Copic Spica Pen in Gold! The papers are from the Once Upon a Time Collection, by DCWV.

INGREDIENTS
CARDSTOCK: Bazzill Basics Cardstock, 300GSM Cold Press Watercolour paper
PAPERS: DCWV Once Upon a Time Collection
STAMPS: Magnolia Captain Edwin with Sword & Row Boat, PTI Mixed Messages - All Boy
COLOURING: Stampin Up! Ink Refills, Copic Spica Gold Pen
DIE CUTTING: Spellbinders Fancy Tags, Stampin Up! Oval Punch, Cuttlebug Vintage Corners
EMBELLIES: Stampin Up! Linen Thread, Woodware Sparkly Brown Button, American Crafts Turquoise Brads

Thanks for Looking!

Kxx

Here we go again!

2010-07-27T20:51:00.005+01:00

A second post in less than a week! Must be some sort of a record! Lol! This card was made for my Mum's birthday. I loved the colours of the papers, which were My Minds Eye Ooh La La for her - the colours were so pretty.

I used my Stampin Up! refills to colour the image - like I have done with distress inks. I love the colours - they came out so brightly - really matched nicely with the papers. I masked Elf Tilda and stamped the watering can to make it look like she was perching on it.

I really can't get to grips with the light and taking decent pictures. I need to have a good look at this! The colours are a lot brighter than this in real life.

Hope you like it! must confess - do have a bit of an obsession with Magnolia at the moment!! I tried the "out of the box" technique so that the spout of the watering can extends further than the die cut frame. I'm quite pleased with the results! The Magnolia roses have been sparkled up with glamour dust and a touch of glimmer mist, and her wings have been stickled to within an inch of their lives! So, there is much more shimmer when you have it in your hands! Shame that it has not come out fully on the picture!

I am totally addicted to using Viva Decor Pearl Pens! If you look carefully you can see the tiny pearls decorating the swirl on the left of the picture. I love how you can manage the size of the droplet - they take a while to dry, but dry into perfect pearly domes! in fact, my dogs are quite worried that if they stand still for long enough they will get pearlised too!!

INGREDIENTS

CARDSTOCK: Stampin Up! Certainly Celery and Pixie Pink Cardstock
PAPERS: My Minds Eye Ooh La La Collection for Her, Cotman Watercolouring Pad (300 GSM)
STAMPS: Magnolia Elf Tilda, Magnolia Spring Watering Can
COLOURING: Stampin Up! Refill Inks, Versafine Onyx Black Ink Pad
DIE CUTTING: Martha Stewart Double Heart Edger Punch, Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels Four dies, Magnolia Leaf Die, Basics 3 - Slice
EMBELLIES: Robin's Nest Clear Dew Drops, Stampin Up! Pixie Pink & Certainly Celery Grosgrain Ribbon, Magnolia Flowers, MME Ooh La La ticket embellishment, turquoise heart pin, Ranger Stickles in Stardust, Glamour Dust

Where did a month go?

2010-07-25T21:25:00.002+01:00

Hello! I can't believe a month has gone so quickly! Where has the time gone? Anyway, I have a card to share that I made for my Cousin's wedding last week (more about that later!) So, just so I could do their card some justice, bought a shed load of the new Magnolia Wedding collection stamps! Lol!

I made the card, then I made a box too (now that was a challenge!!) and then totally forgot to photograph it properly!! Typical - so major apologies for the well shoddy image - which I used to send to my Mum to see if she liked it before I committed myself! - me little iphone gets a bit photographically challenged in the wee small hours!! I just love the couple here - so sweet.

INGREDIENTS
CARDSTOCK: Bazzill Bling (Sugar Daddy), Bazzill Vanilla
PAPERS:Basic Grey Capella
STAMPS:Magnolia Wedding Collection 2010
COLOURING: Prismacolor Pencils, Adirondack Dye Lemonade, Memento Black Ink, Copic Markers (to colour in the pins)
DIE CUTTING: Magnolia Swirls, Nellie Snellen Square Die, Fiskars Apron Lace Punch
EMBELLIES:Viva Decor Pearl Pen in Cream, Heart Pins, Lace, Vanilla Grosgrain Ribbon, Magnolia Flowers

So, anyway, the wedding was in a lovely ruined Castle, and after the ceremony, we had Pimms on the lawn! There was a river running past to the rear of the keep, and we had a man playing the bagpipe during the key bits of the day, which was sweet. Such a lovely time, and a really secluded and magical place.

Anyway, i'll leave you with a picture of the castle....

I had to say "Thanks"...

2010-06-19T21:00:00.005+01:00

Hello! Long time no post - has been a bit mad for a couple of weeks, but I'm back, armed with my Copics and a cuppa!

This card below was made twice - both to say a huge 'Thank You' to the Vets that spent so much time and energy on Silly Billy, making sure that he was fixed proper!

The image was one of the first stamps that I ever bought when I started playing with ink. I had spent about 6 months before fiddling about with paper, swearing that I was never going to rubber stamp! I bet my Bank Manager wishes I had will power! Still, the stamp will always be my 'go to' image for an Irish Setter - so he should be glad I'm getting my moneys worth! Lol!

Apologies for the photo - snapped on my mobile before I popped the card into the post, but it will give you an idea.

INGREDIENTS
CARDSTOCK: Stampin Up!
PAPERS: Stampin Up! Spiced Cider
CUTTING: Martha Stewart Border Punch, Nellie Snellen Multi Frame Die, Stampin Up! Scallop and Classic Oval Punches
STAMPS: The Cat's Meow Dog Stamp Set - PaperArtsy
EMBELLIES: Stampin Up! Chocolate Grosgrain, Hobby House Chocolate Pearls, Glossy Accents, Craftwork Cards Sentiments

A Passion for Papertrey Challenge Entry - Purple!

2010-05-28T07:44:00.002+01:00

I love purple! Lol! This card is my entry for the Passion for Papertrey challenge this week - to make a card using your favourite colour!

The thing is, purple really doesn't suit me, so I hardly ever wear the colour....perhaps its just that it is a regal colour and I have delusions of grandeur!

So here it is! Made with the Sweet Pea Year of Flowers set. Really, really pretty. I'm not normally a flowers kind of girl, but these are so lovely. Apologies for dodgy colouring of photo - no natural light, so it looks baaaaaddd! Took lots of inspiration from the fabulous DT for PTI.

They remind me of when I moved into my first ever home, and I wanted my little garden to be full of flowers. So I emptied a whole packet of sweet pea seeds into a 1m x 50cm patch. The results were completely bonkers, looked like a Sci Fi monster with good colour taste! LMAO!

Also decided that gardening was so NOT me! Lol! Right, best get myself to work! Have a great day! Kx

INGREDIENTS

CARD: Bazzill Bling
PAPERS: Kaiser Craft Lilac Avenue
DIE CUTTING: Nellie Snellen Multi Frame Circle, EK Success Dotty Scallop, Scallop Punches
STAMPS : Papertrey Ink Year Of Flowers : Sweet Pea
COLOURING : Copic Markers
EMBELLIES: Stampin Up! Whisper White Ribbon, Ranger Liquid Pearls - Lavender Lace, Ranger Stardust Stickles

A huge sigh of relief, and a card for a friend!

2010-05-25T13:57:00.003+01:00

Well, I have the joy of a day off today to take Silly Billy to the Veterinary Hospital! He has been given the all fixed thumbs up! That has brought so much happiness to our house! Since the 12th of February, a whole 13 weeks ago, our little boy has not been able to bounce, run or jump due to fractures to his radius and ulna (which had plates in, then screws changed, then plates out!!!) and he is a blinking Irish Setter, so he does not do no bouncing. He is bouncing!!

Anyway, just glad it is over - and we can get back to normal. Whatever normal is..... in fact, if you know what normal is, please let me know in your comments, as it is so long since I experienced it I don't know if I would recognise it again!!!

So, here is a big cheesy grin from Silly Billy!

So, the card I am posting today was sent to Wendy at The Stamp Attic for her birthday last Thursday. I got the Tim Holtz Elegant Flourishes Vintage Shabby Papers and new Distress colours from Wendy, so thought it was only appropriate really to use them for her card!

INGREDIENTS

CARDSTOCK: Bazzill Basics Vanilla

PAPERS: Tim Holtz Vintage Shabby Paper Stack

STAMPS: Magnolia Tulips, Papertrey Ink Anniversary Set - Round and Round

CUTTING: EK Success Border Punch, Elegant Flourishes Tim Holtz for Sizzix

COLOURING: Distress Inks (Spun Sugar, Pumice Stone, Crushed Olive, Shabby Shutters), Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Silver, Cosmic Shimmer Spray in Angel Mist
EMBELLIES: Prima E-Line White Flowers, sprayed with mists, Pastel Raspberry Perfect Pearls, Pins coloured with Copic Markers, Waxed cotton twine in pink, Hobby House dusty pink rhinestones, Woodware pink button.

Have a great day! K :-)

The Sugar Bowl - Challenge 34 - Tiets Sketch

2010-05-03T20:18:00.003+01:00

Here we go again! One third of the way through the crafting marathon! Having to stop now as I am in desperate need of chocolate - was trying to schedule the post for tomorrow (Tues) just so everyone gets chance to read what I've posted before adding another one, but that is now far too taxing for my brain without the help of a McVities Caramel Digestive!

Still, at least my mojo hasn't gone south with the weather!! So, here is my card for the Sugar Bowl Challenge this week - this was a sketch by Tiets and had the added challenge of using punches. Went a bit overboard on that one, but heyho, turned out alright!

I really enjoyed getting to grips with this sketch - and the papers! A total opposite to my last post! Lol!

Have a lovely day! Kx

INGREDIENTS

CARD: Stampin Up! Kraft

PAPER: Crate Paper Brook Collection
STAMPING: Sugar Nellie Leanne Ellis Collection - Cup of Tea, Papertrey Ink Daily Designs & Daily Designs Sentiments
COLOURING: Copic Markers, Old Paper Distress Ink

CUTTING: Nellie Snellen Square Multi Frames, Woodware 2" Scallop Punch, Stampin Up! 1 3/4" Circle Punch, EK Success Scroll and Hearts, Double Scallp and Dotty Scallop Border Punches
EMBELLIES: Mark Richards Turquoise Nailheads

Do Something Different - Papertake Weekly Challenge

2010-05-03T14:02:00.001+01:00

Hello Again! Onwards and upwards with the card marathon! Lol! Here is my take on Papertake's 'Do Something Different'. I really struggle with 'clean and simple' - for me, the more embellies, DP, characters and glitter the better! So, I have tried to emulate my lovely friend Bev, who does Clean and Simple with style!

See - I still had to go a bit bonkers with the bling!!! Loved the way it turned out though, may try reining in my need for DP a little more often! Apologies for the piccy though - this was done with the SLR - looks like the colour quality is because I live Oooop Norf, and the weather here is terrible.

Do you think DH would accept the need to take better photos of my cards a valid excuse for moving to the South of France? Mmmm. Need to put a bit of thought into that one.....

INGREDIENTS

CARD: Bazzill Basics Sugar Pink Cardstock, Watercolour Paper (300gsm)

STAMPING: Papertrey Ink 'Friends till the End'

COLOURING: Distress Inks (Bundled Sage, Spun Sugar)

EMBELLIES: Rhinestones, Glamour Dust

Best Day Ever...Friday Sketchers Challenge Sketch #100

2010-05-03T09:49:00.002+01:00

Happy Bank Holiday! A whole day to play has to be the best day ever! So, I'm doing a few challenges just to get the creative juices flowing! There is no way I'm going out - the weather here is so bad! No point when you can have fun at home!

Here is my entry for the Friday Sketchers Challenge - made with a lovely sketch by Claudia. I've used a Magnolia image - 'Elf Tilda' which I picked up last week from lovely Janice at Sir Stampalot! She is so pretty, and just cried out for GLITTER!! I love the way she looks like she is floating across the card - one blink and she'll be off!

Here is a close up of her lovely shimmery wings - so pretty! The panel behind her was coloured with Pumice Stone Distress Ink - I love the delicate pinky hue which appears when mixed with water - and sprayed over with Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Mist. Can't beat a bit of twinkle! Looking at these pictures I've decided no more photos with my compact camera! Need to get the SLR out! Might be able to see the detailing better! Will be back soon - got a monster 9 birthdays and an anniversary in the next 12 days! Best get cracking! Kx

INGREDIENTS

PAPERS: Bo Bunny Paris Toile

CARD: Bazzill Basics Light Pink Cardstock

STAMPS: Hero Arts CL139 Birthday Messages, Magnolia Elf Tilda (Fairytale Collection)

CUTTING: EK Success Scroll & Hearts Edger Punch

COLOURING: Distress Inks (Tattered Rose, Vintage Photo, Antique Linen, Spun Sugar, Pumice Stone), Glimmer Mists (Creme de Chocolat, Creme de Rouge, Dazzling Diamonds)

EMBELLIES: Prima E-Line Flowers, Strampin Up! Clear Buttons, Ranger Stickles (Cinnamon, Stardust)

The Craft Hovel! Part Two!

2010-04-25T14:42:00.005+01:00

Well, went for a lovely day out with Bev yesterday, and Sir Stampalot happened to be on the way home! After chatting a lot to lovely Janice, and a bit of shopping (I kept going back for more!!) We got on to the topic of storage!

So, this is for Janice - an update on the Craft Hovel, otherwise known as Silly Billy's room, as he tends to leave his chews and toys all over the floor!

This is my desk - baskets in front of me with essential bling and flowers. The little chest of drawers holds spacers and pins. The carousels are by Making Memories, as is the Slice storage on the desk too.

The carousels fit all my Copics in - I have all the colours in a mix of original, sketch and ciao. I have room in the centre for essential tools - they also match the storage for the Slice Machine. The drawers below the compartments for the pens hold brads of similar colours to the pots, so I have things to hand.

I have really handy cubbies on the wall - they are IKEA Hensvik - I bought 4 of them, put them side by side and left the decorative bits on the top. This pic is one half of the wall . Lots of cubbies means that I can sort inks, flowers, buttons and embellies in colour, and have space at the top for my Stampin Up! stamps. The baskets below hold glimmer mists in the matching colours, so I can lay my hands on things easily!

Underneath the cubbies hang my nesties / dies on an IKEA kitchen rack - so again everything is to hand.

These were recently added to the room! My punch collection expanded recently, so these drawers hold punches by manufacturer, and my Bind it All kit too. These were from 'The Range'. An added bonus is that it gives me space to place my Cricut and Big Shot, and not have to move them to use them. Just realised you can see a bit of Silly Billy - this is where he likes to stay when I'm playing in my / our room!

The final pics (if you have not nodded off by now!!), are the other wall - these are the specialist units from Inkylicious/Craft Racks. They just mean I can see all my colours and types in one place! Bonus!! Seeing the picture also reminds me - I need to buy more ribbon! Lol!

Just below these racks are paper storage from the same retailer - 12 x 12 racks for paper, which are a total blessing! Seeing as I am a bit of an obsessive in the paper department!! I have a large wicker basket on top with 12 x 12 paper pads in. You can see my pics of my dogs and adopted dolphin!! Lol! My 'need to hand' tools are in the holder at the side, and the box below holds my stationery items - printer inks etc.

So there you go! I'm off now to catalogue my new stamps!! Have a nice day! K :-)

Silly Billy.......

2010-04-15T20:38:00.001+01:00

Just thought I'd share a picture of my naughty (but gorgeous!!) boy - now that he has reached 1 year old! I can't believe that he has made it, all the scrapes that he has been through!! In fact, it is amazing that I managed to take a photo, as he is always on the move. As you can see.....still cheeky !!

And here is a picture of when he arrived at 12 weeks old. I can't believe how much he has grown! I wouldn't mind, but he has 6 months to go! At least!! Eeeeekkk! No chance of anyone else sharing the settee then!

You could see on his face at that age that he was up for as much mischief as possible!! Lol! Still, he has been my constant companion in my Craft Hovel! I think he thinks it is his room for eating chews and sleeping, and that I am a guest who brings in too much stuff to mess his place up! Yup, I know my place!

Thanks for looking! K :-)

Springtime & Tilda

2010-04-14T19:12:00.000+01:00

Hello! Thought I would share this card that I have made this weekend - this is one of the new Tildas that I bought at the NEC a couple of weeks ago. Was in a foul mood when I started making this, as I should have been going to the Ally Pally this weekend - but the travel situation was a nightmare so decided not to go - hence the mood! Still, colouring in and a cuppa sorted me out!

I took the colour theme from the gorgeous papers - they are MME Bella Bella - French Flea Market. They are lovely and soft. I used a sketch from The Sugar Bowl that I was going to use for their challenge last week, and then forgot about, and used a different one from their gallery instead! Still, the results are pretty.

INGREDIENTS

CARDSTOCK: Vanilla Bazzill

PAPERS: My Minds Eye Bella Bella - French Flea Market

CUTTING: EK Success Small Scallop Border Punch, EK Success Swirl Punch, Spellbinders Nestabilities Classic Oval & Big Scallop Oval

STAMPS: Magnolia Tilda with Tulip

COLOURING: Prismacolor Pencils & OMS, Copic Spica Clear Glitter Pen

INKS: Memento Tuxedo Black

EMBELLIES: Prima Flowers, Hobby House Rhinestones, Pearls & Brad, Glamour Dust

Cutie Pie! - Papertake Weekly Challenge

2010-04-13T17:46:00.000+01:00

Hi! Have been off work on leave today - emergency trip to the vets with Silly Billy, but have been able to sneak a couple of hours of paper play!

So, thought I'd make my boss a card, as I really appreciate her letting me have the time at such short notice. Anyhow, whilst wandering about the tinterweb, I found Papertake Weekly - just as the challenge changed! So - here is my entry for this week's challenge, using last weeks sketch! Lol!

It's the first time that I've entered for this challenge! The image I think is such a cutie - so fingers crossed!

INGREDIENTS:

CARDSTOCK: Bazzill Basics French Vanilla
PAPERS: Bo Bunny Flutter Butter
STAMPS: Lili of the Valley - Rosie Posy, Papertrey Ink Daily Designs Sentiments
INKS: Memento Tuxedo Black
COLOURING: Copic Markers, Ranger Inkessentials White Pen
DIE CUTTING: Spellbinders Nestabilities - Labels Twelve, Martha Stewart Doily Lace Punch, Making Memories Slice Vintage Findings Flourish, Stampin Up! Scallop & Classic Ovals Punch
EMBELLIES: Ranger Stardust Stickles, Hobby House Pearls

Just like buses.......

2010-04-11T19:11:00.001+01:00

You wait for ages to get a post from me, and then two come in one day! Lol! See - too much time on my hands!!

Here is my entry for the Friday Sketchers and Just Magnolia Challenges for this week. I loved the sketch at Friday Sketchers, and the task to 'Punch it Out' at JM just suited me down to the ground!
The image is a new Magnolia, bought from the NEC a couple of weeks ago - I think she is so lovely with her wand - she definately needed a bit of sparkle. You can just make it out on her dress and wand.

INGREDIENTS:

CARDSTOCK: Stampin Up! Kraft and Not Quite Navy

PAPER: Stampin Up! Bella Bleu Designer Paper

STAMPS: Magnolia Magical Tilda

INK: Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin Up! Craft White

CUTTING: EK Success Mini Scallop Punch, Martha Stewart Frond Punch, Stampin Up! Window Punch

COLOURING: Copic Markers

EMBELLIES: Stickles in Stardust, Prima Flowers, Hobby House brad, Ranger Dimensional Pearls, Stampin Up! Grosgrain Ribbon in Very Vanilla

Sugar Bowl - Challenge 33 - Gayle's Sketch

2010-04-11T12:04:00.000+01:00

Got the whole weekend to myself, so thought I'd have a go at a few more challenges! The Sugar Bowl was my first point of call - and spotted the lovely sketch by Gayle - so how could I resist!

Here is my entry - full details below, and I got a flower in! Again a lovely Gorjuss Girl - 'Up, Up and Away'. I love colouring in these images. They are so pretty.

INGREDIENTS:

CARDSTOCK: Bazzill Bling Diva
PAPERS: Basic Grey Lemonade (6x6)
STAMPS: Sugar Nellie Gorjuss Girl - 'Up, Up and Away', Stampin Up! Short and Sweet Thank You
INKS: Memento Tuxedo Black
COLOURING: Copic Markers, Ranger Inkessentials White Pen
CUTTING: EK Success Small Scallop Border Punch, Stampin Up! Scallop Oval & Classic Oval, Leone - Em Ash Branch Punch
EMBELLIES: Prima Flowers, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist - Robin's Egg, Hobby House Pearl Brad, Adirondack Dimensionals Lettuce

Sugar Bowl Challenge 32 - Sketch By You!

2010-04-07T15:50:00.001+01:00

Back Again! You can tell I have time on my hands! Lol!

This time with my entry for the Sugar Bowl Challenge this week. This is the first time that I have entered this challenge blog, so here goes!

I used a sketch from the Sugar Bowl Gallery - the one that was originally for Challenge 23. I have used a really pretty image from the Gorjuss Girls, called 'A Little Birdie told Me'. She has been coloured with Copic Markers.

I really enjoyed the challenge of the sketch and the really crisp and clean colours of the papers! Well, that is the end of my playtime - back to work tomorrow - still, only two days to the weekend!!

INGREDIENTS:

PAPERS : KaiserCraft Spirograph, Bazzill Basics Card in Aqua / Turquoise tones

STAMPS: Sugar Nellie - Gorjuss Girl - A Little Bird Told Me

DIE CUTTING: SpellBinders Nestabilities - Blossom & Classic Circles

EMBELLIES: American Crafts Turquoise Ribbon, Hobby House Large Pearl Brads

Distress Ink & Magnolia Stamps

2010-04-06T21:00:00.039+01:00

Hello Again! I don't know, no post for 5 weeks, and then two in two days!! Lol! Hopeless!

Here is a card I made for my step-sister-in-law's birthday. Well, having splashed a couple (ahem!) of my pennies on Magnolias last week at the NEC, thought that one of them should be inked up! Just love her headscarf - so sweet! I couldn't carry it off though!!

I coloured the image with my new distress inks that Wendy at the Stamp Attic sent me, and gave the flowers a lovely bit of sparkle using Glimmer Mists. The papers are My Minds Eye Penny Lane (Tiny Dancer) - bought these ages ago, and have been trying not to cut into them - but I gave in!!

INGREDIENTS: PAPERS: My Minds Eye Penny Lane, STAMPS: Magnolia - Tilda with three flowers, DIE CUTTING: Spellbinders Nestabilities - Rectangles Big Scallops, Martha Stewart Frond Punch, Stampin Up Oval and Scalloped Oval Punch EMBELLIES: Hero Arts Flowers, American Crafts Brads, Gold Bead Caps, Hobby House Rhinestones COLOURING: Distress Inks & Waterbrush.

Basic Grey Wk 17 & Copic 58 Challenges

2010-04-05T21:20:00.000+01:00

Here is my entry for the Basic Grey Challenge & Copic Challenge Blogs! This is the first time I have combined blogs and used a sketch for a submission, so this has been a challenge! Both blogs took me to colours that I wouldn't normally reach for first - the colours R17, Y13 & YG21 - and then the really zingy patterns of the Basic Grey Sugar Rush Papers - which were still in their wrapper!!

INGREDIENTS: Papers - Basic Grey Sugar Rush, Stamps - Lili of the Valley "Me and My Cat", Die Cutting - Spellbinders Nestabilities, Crop-o-dile Corner Chomper (Deco & Stub), Stampin Up Oval and Scalloped Oval Punches, Leone-Em Ash Branch Punch, Embellies - Martha Stewart Pearls, Craftwork Cards Messages, Ranger Stickles in StarDust, Prima Flowers, Hobby House Brads, Colouring - Copic Markers

Only 5 Weeks Late!!

2010-03-31T21:52:00.001+01:00

Well, I have managed to get back to the blog! Thought I would share a couple of cards that I made for my Godmother's 60th birthday at the weekend. I've got a few days of holiday - so it might not be 5 weeks until I post again!!

I was really pleased with the way that these turned out, thought I might not have been able to put them together seeing as it has been so long since I have been able to play! I have been spending so long looking after Silly Billy and his broken leg! It is his first birthday today - but there is no Blue Peter doggy birthday cake here - just a new toy and chew!

What a difference a weekend makes ......

2010-02-15T20:26:00.006Z

Let me explain! It started straight from work on Friday, when my lovely friend Bev picked me up from work, and we headed down the M1! We were heading on a crafty expedition - minus crampons and glucose tablets - more sat navs and mint humbugs! Lol!

The first destination on Saturday morning was The Stamp Attic - and a trip to see my lovely friend Wendy! I took the opportunity to drop off some more samples to decorate her treasure trove - not enough of it came back in my carrier bags though - I was a bit distracted - more of that later, but Bev really made up for it! Here are the samples that I dropped off - these use the gorgeous 7Gypsies Victoria papers, and the new stamps from Hero Arts.

INGREDIENTS:

Papers : 7 Gypsies Victoria, Cardstock : Bazzill, Punches : Fiskars Apron Lace & Effervescence, Stamps : Hero Arts Antique Engravings CL383, Essential Messages CL371, Everday Sayings CL1342, Patterned Buttons CL406, Cling Write Your Own CG113, Hero Arts Cling Big Cup CG164, What’s Perking CL416, Ink : Versafine Onyx Black, Antique Linen, Shabby Shutters, Vintage Photo Distress Ink, Embellishments : Ric Rac, Pearls, Distress Crackle – Rock Candy, Stardust Stickles, Ribbon

This one is my favourite though - I just love the contrast of colours in these papers, and they really showed off the Antique Engravings Hero Arts stamps. Really pretty - and lovely to colour. The ric rac is fabulous - such a lovely texture.

INGREDIENTS:
Papers : 7 Gypsies Victoria, Cardstock : Bazzill, Punches : Fiskars Apron Lace, Stamps : Hero Arts Antique Engravings CL383, Essential Messages CL371, Ink : Versafine Onyx Black, Embellishments : Ric Rac, Pearls, Distress Crackle – Rock Candy, Stardust Stickles.

We had a lovely morning though - the time flew so fast! Took a few photos! (Sorry Wendy!) These are of the shop! Could spend a good few hours going wild in these aisles - shame it is 4 hours away from me! Still - it was totally worth the wait!

And here is a photo of two very lovely people!

So, off we went to Peterborough to visit Sir Stampalot - yet again, my mind wasn't really in it, but Bev did us both proud!

I didn't take any photos there - I was on the phone too much because.....

My gorgeous Silly Billy, all 11 months of him - went out for a walk with his Nanna & Grandad, got wrapped up in his flexi lead, and ended up with a broken radius & ulna. He is currently in a very lovely animal hospital in Northumberland, after having a couple of plates put in his leg. Our vets were fantastic on Saturday, and got him all stabilised, ready to be refered. Luckily they were able to see him really quickly. I can't wait until he is home, but he will need lots of TLC - and of course his squeaky duck!

Thanks Bev for all your support (and driving) on Saturday - and diverting me from tears several times during the afternoon by showing me even more stash! You are such a good friend, but crikey - you are terrible for my bank balance!!!

First Snow!

2010-01-07T17:31:00.004Z

Hi all, just thought i'd share a pic of Silly Billy - now 9 months old! He bounced outside to meet his first snow, and then hurtled around the garden like a Tasmanian Devil!

All I can say is, just how naughty does he look? Lol! You can't see this in the picture, but our other dog, was looking at him like he's an idiot! I'll let you draw your own conclusions!!

Needless to say, we have had so much more snow since this, and a couple of days of long trips to work and home have taken the shine off it a bit!!

And it's snowing again!! As I type!! Lol!

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T18:09:00.001Z

Happy New Year! Firstly - this post is not an outcome from my resolutions - I know I will always be an horrific blogger! Lol - but I will try harder!

Just thought I'd share a couple of cards that I have had chance to make today - using new bits! Now this is a resolution - to use more of the stuff that I have! I can hear my husband breathing a mahoosive sigh of relief - but he knows it won't last!!

This is the first - used a layout that I thought would look nice with the image and papers. The image is new, as is the machine that made the mats for the image - I have used my brand new MM Slice - which didn't disappoint at all!

INGREDIENTS:

CARD: Stampin Up! Kraft Cardstock

PAPERS: My Minds Eye Bloom and Grow

CUTTING: Making Memories Slice - Noteworthy Cartridge, Doily Lace Punch - Martha Stewart

STAMPS: Penny Black - 'A Gift for You', Papertrey Ink Vintage Picnic Sentiments

COLOURING: Copic Markers, Copic Spica Glitter Markers

EMBELLIES: Flora Doodles Flower, Dovecraft Brad, Anita's Gems - 3mm, Bazzill Jewel Template.

So, whilst all of that was on my desk - thought I'd make a second card for the day! This one uses the Papertrey Ink Vintage Picnic stamps as the focal point (again cut by the slice), again with the MME papers, punches, bling and Kraft cardstock! The ribbon is from my stash - can't remember where I got it from!

INGREDIENTS:
CARD: Stampin Up! Kraft Cardstock
PAPERS: My Minds Eye Bloom and Grow
CUTTING: Making Memories Slice - Noteworthy Cartridge, Doily Lace Punch - Martha Stewart, EK Success Retro Flower Punch
STAMPS: Papertrey Ink Vintage Picnic, Vintage Picnic Sentiments
COLOURING:Copic Spica Glitter Markers
EMBELLIES: Anita's Gems - 3mm, Ribbon - from Stash

Where had the time gone?

2009-12-20T17:02:00.000Z

Hello again! Just a quick post - can't put any Christmas cards up yet, as they have not been delivered! So, here is a card I made a colleague for his wife's birthday.

This was inspired by this post in which Marlene used a crackle background on her stamp - so I had a go with my new Tim Holtz Distress Rock Candy - which is fabulous! It went well over Copic Markers, and dried so quickly - even for me who has no patience at all! The flowers started white, coloured with the Copics I used on the main image, with a dusting of rock candy stickles - which you can't see that well, but it gave them a lovely twinkle!

Card : White Card Blank, Kraft - Stampin Up!

Papers: Kaiser Craft Waterberry

Stamps: Leanne Ellis Choose - Sugar Nellie

Colour : Copic Sketch Markers

Tools : Oval / Scallop Oval Punches - Stampin Up!, Eyelet Border Punch - Stampin Up!

Embellishments: Prima E-Line Flowers, Craftwork Cards Mini Sentiments, Spacer - Hobby House, Brad - American Crafts, Rhinestones - Kanban, White Satin Ribbon - Stampin Up!

Have a lovely evening! K:-)

Keep On Truckin!

2009-11-02T20:22:00.002Z

Hello! Thought I'd pop a card up in the blogosphere! Here is a card I made for my FiL for his birthday - it's not until next week, but I made him open it at the weekend! (Not so I could stick it on the blog I hope you understand - but because I won't see him next weekend. Honest.....!)

So, here it is! I love this stamp - its really cute (in a manly way!), and I have not used any of the accessory stamps on the main image, just on the sentiment. The papers are the beautiful 'Blue Awning' from K&Co. I purchased them ages ago (like last year!! - ahem!) from Wendy at the Stamp Attic (don't know if she has any left!), and the mix of agate and pea greens were perfect for a manly card.

Papers : Blue Awning, K&Co

Cardstock : Kraft Cardstock, Stampin Up!

Stamps : Loads of Love, Stampin Up!

Colouring : Copic Markers

Die Cutting : Woodware 3" Scallop Circle Punch

Embellies : Hero Art Stick on Pearls, coloured with Copic Markers

MME Colourful Christmas for The Stamp Attic

2009-10-30T22:26:00.002Z

Warning! Long post!

Hello Everyone! These cards are now in the tender loving care of Wendy, at The Stamp Attic , so I can show them here!

They were made with the really pretty My Minds Eye Colourful Christmas papers, and embellishments. They were a real joy to work with! It amazes me that Wendy still trusts me with her stock! Lol!
Some of the new Hero Arts Christmas stamps are mixed in too - they just seemed to match quirky cuteness of the papers perfectly. Hope you like them too.

Merry and Bright

Papers : My Minds Eye Colourful Christmas, Cardstock : Bazzill, Tools : Bazzill Jewel Template - Borders, Stamps : Inkadinkadoo Tag Wishes, Colouring : Markers, Sakura Clear Gelly Roll Stardust Pen - applied with Waterbrush, Embellishments : Stick on Gems, Adirondack Dimensional Pearls - Cranberry, Spotty Organza Ribbon

Just love the Prima pearls and flowers on this card - the flowers were so easy to dye with distress ink.

Merry Christmas To You

Papers : My Minds Eye Colourful Christmas, Cardstock : Bazzill, Punches : Leone-Em Ash Branch Punch, Stamps : Cats Life Press Merry Christmas Seal, Ink : Tim Holtz Broken China Distress Ink, Embellishments : MME Brads, MME Die Cut Chipboard, Prima Flowers (Died with Broken China Distress Ink), Prima Pearls, Ranger Stickles in Stardust, Ranger Inkessentials Pen in White

This one is my favourite - just because the chipboard snowman is so cute! The Prima flowers were lightly coated with stickles, and they were so sparkly - sorry you can't see more of that..! The pearl border was made using the new Bazzill Jewel Templates - so many wonderful shapes - no wobbly hands or pencil lines! Bonus!

Merry Christmas Snowman

Papers : My Minds Eye Colourful Christmas, Cardstock : Bazzill, Die Cutting : Spellbinder Nestabilities Circle and Scallop Circle, Tools : Fiskars Apron Lace Punch, Bazzill Jewel Template - Borders, Stamps : Hero Arts CL343 Holiday Sayings, Hero Arts CL357 Holiday Dolls, Ink : Tim Holtz Broken China Distress Ink, Embellishments : MME Brads, MME Die Cut Chipboard, Prima Flowers Stick On Pearls, Ranger Stickles in Stardust

I love the Cats Life Press stamps that are on this card - you can use them in so many ways.

Happy Holidays

Papers : My Minds Eye Colourful Christmas, Cardstock : Bazzill, Punches : Fiskars Apron Lace Punch, Stamps : Catslife Press Happy Holidays , Ink : Tim Holtz Broken China Distress Ink, Embellishments : MME Die Cut Chipboard, Prima Pearls

This is the last one! Promise!

Three Trees

Papers : My Minds Eye Colourful Christmas, Cardstock : Bazzill, Punches : Fiskars Apron Lace Punch, Stamps : Hero Arts CL357 Holiday Dolls, Colouring : Pencils, Embellishments : Prima Stick on Gems, Ranger Stickles in Stardust, MME Die Cut Embellishment, Spotty Organza Ribbon

Thanks for stopping by :-) Kx

Bit Chilly!

2009-10-20T22:43:00.000+01:00

I'm on a Christmas roll! Had coloured this gorgeous Penny Black image of a snowman a couple of weeks ago, just hadn't got him into his Christmas finery! So, I was determined to have sometime this evening to get him ready for the festive season.

He is coloured with Prismacolor pencils, using Sansodor. The colours worked really well with the beautiful MME Frost Signature Collection (2008) that I had left from last year. Have not got to breaking out the new papers yet - think that might be next year! Lol!

Here's the recipe:
Card: Not Quite Navy & Kraft Cardstock - Stampin Up!
Papers: Frost Signature Collection (2008) - MME
Stamping: Snowy - Penny Black, Sentiment - Signature Christmas - PTI
Colouring: Prismacolour Pencils & Sansodor, Inkessentials White Pen - Ranger, Distress Ink - Antique Linen - Ranger
Cutting: Oval & Scalloped Oval Punch - Stampin Up!, Snow Flurry Border Punch - Martha Stewart, Labels 8 Nestabilities - Spellbinders
Embellies: Kraft Taffeta Ribbon - Stampin Up!, Prisma Glitter - Hero Arts, Pearl Glimmer Mists - Tattered Angels

Just Magnolia Week 27 Challenge - Bright & Zingy!

2009-10-19T23:03:00.002+01:00

Here is my entry for the Just Magnolia Week 27 - Bright and Zingy. This is my first ever challenge entry - I've made them before, just never got them entered! Hopeless! Never mind, i've got one done now! Lol!

Here is the recipe. I really enjoyed making this - loved playing with these colours. The orange flowers were white, and have been sprayed with Glimmer Mists in Dreamsicle - a really pretty sparkly colour.

Card : Stampin Up! Night of Navy

Papers: My Minds Eye Magnolia Collection

Cutting: Fiskars Apron Lace Punch, EK Success Flourish Punch, Martha Stewart Frond Punch, Stampin Up! Word Window Punch

Stamping: Magnolia Tilda with Bike, Papertrey Ink Everyday Button Bits (Sentiment)

Embellies: Adirondack Denim Dimensional Pearls, Spacers, Prima & Craft Fairy Flowers, Adhesive Gems, Wired Gems, Ranger Inkessentials White Pen, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists - Dreamsicle

10 Weeks to Christmas!

2009-10-19T19:29:00.003+01:00

Crikey! Where is the time going! Thought I'd best make a start today - went for a lovely shopping session on Saturday with friends, spent the day putting all my new things away yesterday, and so I had to get my act together today, as I have had a day off from work - which was lovely.

So, here is the first of my Christmas offerings - no main image for me - just shapes and text. Wanted to keep things as clean as I could. The papers are MME, and the shape stamp and sentiment are both from last month's releases from Papertrey Ink.

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip - Stampin Up!

Papers: My Minds Eye Festive Signature Christmas Papers

Stamps: Signature Christmas, Vintage Labels (Papertrey Ink)

Cutting: EK Success Slim Edger Punch - Dotted Scallop, Martha Stewart Arctic Snowflake Punch

Embellies: American Crafts Small Clear Brads, Cotton Lace in Cream, Ranger Stickles in Platinum

World Cardmaking Day - ish!

2009-10-04T18:50:00.002+01:00

Happy World Cardmaking Day! For yesterday! Lol! Saturday conspired against me yesterday, in the form of housework (I know!), puppies, flu jabs and Strictly Come Dancing!

So, am making up for this today! Have been having a play with new things bought from Harrogate - which have only just made it out of the wrapper - and also doing my bit for the environment by using some papers that I have had for a while - but thought that the colours were just right today!

I love this Magnolia image - her boots and dungarees are just so cute, and they are all such fun to colour. She was coloured with Copics to try and match the vibrant colour of the paper.

Card: Stampin Up! Basic Grey, Craftwork Cards Back to Basics card blank

Paper: Bo Bunny 'Organic Marigold'

Stamps: Magnolia Tilda 'Loves Me, Loves Me Not', Sentiment - Papertrey Ink

Colouring: Copic Markers

Cutting: Nestabilites Labels Nine, Martha Stewart Frond Punch

Embellies: Stick on pearls, gold flower spacers, orange brads, yellow grosgrain ribbon.

Heartbroken....

2009-09-26T06:34:00.000+01:00

A very short post this morning. Dottie Doris, our wonderfully perfect old lady lost her three month battle with pneumonia last night, aged 11 1/2 years.

We are heartbroken.

A Bit fuzzy 'round the edges..

2009-09-23T19:00:00.004+01:00

Hello! I've managed to get my act together sort of, and have made this card for a friend who isn't very well at the mo. Just managed get it into the postbox. That seems to be the bit I have the most difficulty with!

I've used a stamp that I bought a while ago, and just hadn't inked up at all. Apologies for the photograph - got a bit of a headache, and what looks in focus for me, looks a bit fuzzy around the edges for everyone else! Thats my excuse - I'm sticking to it!

Card : Craftwork Cards Back to basics Cream cardstock, Stampin Up! Whisper White Cardstock

Papers : K&Co Wild Raspberry

Stamps : Buzzcraft Fairy Doodles Set 346

Cutting : Stampin Up! Oval and Scalloped Oval Punches, Spellbinders Nestabilites Labels 5

Colouring : Copic Markers, Copic Spica Glitter Clear Pen

Embellies : K&Co Layered Accents Butterflies, Stick on Pearls (blue coloured with Copic Markers), Craftwork Cards special mini messages, Prima & Craft Fairy flowers, Papermania brad, Gold flower spacer

Stash!!!!

2009-09-13T21:45:00.002+01:00

Went to Harrogate yesterday to the Great North Eastern Papercrafts Extravaganza (GNEPE) at the Harrogate showground yesterday - it was heaven! Mad, but shopping heaven! Did go a bit wild in the aisles!! Had to wait for this evening to put it all away......! Got a few punches, stamps, papers, nesties, etc.

Apologies for the horrific photo..... taken with my camera phone and my hand was shaking with excitement!!! Lol!

Stop Press.......!

2009-09-09T21:43:00.002+01:00

Silly Billy has just lost the last of his baby teeth ! My sofa is safe! Yay!!!!!

DT K & Co Pack from The Stamp Attic

2009-09-09T21:27:00.002+01:00

Mr Postman has delivered these, so now I can post them on the blog! These are what I spent my time playing with over the weekend! Wendy (The Stamp Attic) asked me to use a pack of paper and embellishments from K & Co, and I loved working with these - the colours are so zingy, and the embellishments worked really well on the cards.

Cardstock : Bazzill Bling - Light Blue

Papers : K & Co Kimberley Hodge Collection
Cutting : Fiskars Threading Water Border Punch

Stamps : Woodware Clear FRCL114 Ted Remembers

Colouring : Pencil Crayons

Embellies : Towering Alphabet Grand Adhesions and trim (Kimberley Hodge Pack), stick on white pearls

The following card is Wendy's favourite - the cupcakes are really quite cute!

Papers : Kimberley Hodge Pack
Cutting : Spellbinders Classic Oval Nestabilities, Fiskars Effervescence Border Punch
Stamps : Hero Arts CL1158 Cupcakes
Colouring : Adirondack Lemonade Dye Ink
Embellies : Stick on Hero Arts Fuschia Gems, Stick on Pearls, Kimberley Hodge Rub on Transfers, translucent glitter.

I love the colours on this card - they have gone together really well. It is so fresh and clean. The sentiment comes from the same pack, and so it looks really co-ordinated - unlike me most of the time!! Lol!

Card : Bazzill cardstock

Papers : Kimberley Hodge K & Co collection

Cutting : Spellbinders Nestabilities Blossom, Fiskars Apron Lace Border Punch

Stamps : Hero Arts Heart Winged Butterfly F5158

Embellies : Adirondack Dimensional Pearls - Denim, Kimberley Hodge rub-ons, Kimberley Hodge sentiment, translucent glitter

Finally, this is my favourite card out of the bunch! I was so pleased the way this card turned out - I had played with paper piecing before, and it never quite looked right - but this really came together. The prints on the paper really complemented the folksy style of the stamps, and the sentiment pulled it all together.

Card : Bazzill cardstock in turquoise

Paper : Kimberley Hodge K & Co Collection

Stamps : Hero Arts Clear CL289 Russian Dolls

Cutting : Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels One, Fiskars Effervescence Border Punch

Embellies : Inkessentials White Pen for detailing, stick on white pearls.

Time to play...

2009-09-06T20:00:00.007+01:00

Hello again! Have managed to get time to myself to play! Yay! My lovely DH looked after our 22 week old puppy all day, so that I could spend time in my little world of ink and paper. Here is Silly Billy - this picture was taken this morning. As you can see, he's becoming less of a puppy, and more of a little man!

So, what have spent all day doing? Well, I've been playing with a really zingy coloured kit that Wendy (The Stamp Attic) sent me! The samples are all done - but I can't share my favourites until they are in the hands of Wendy, so I've decided to share one today which I made from my last kit. On this one I went a bit mad with all the elements - Wendy had sent me K&Co's Cut & Paste papers, and they were so lovely to work with, as there were so many colours and styles to match with.

I will post pictures of my favourite samples from the most recent kit as soon as Mr Postman has delivered them! Apologies for the terrible photography - this was taken in the late hours of the evening! Card: Linen White Cardstock

Cardstock: K&Co Cut and Paste, Bazzill Bling

Cutting: Fiskars Threading Water Border Punch, Nestabilities Classic and Scalloped Ovals

Stamps: Woodware JGCL507 Ice Cream Parfait

Colouring: Watercolour Pencils

Embellies: Inkessentials Glossy Accents, Pastel Pink Liquid Pearls (Ranger), White Organza Ribbon.

First Challenge Card.......but not quite!!

2009-08-31T13:14:00.004+01:00

This is my first ever effort at a Just Magnolia challenge card, and I completed it well before time - but then I realised as it was a wedding card for this weekend, I couldn't really post it! Shame, but I love it all the same - hope the happy couple did too!Here are the details - took the layout from the Week 19 Rach's Sketch Challenge at Just Magnolia.

Card : Stampin Up! Basic Grey, Craftwork Cards Back to Basic Card Blanks

Papers : Cosmo Cricket Everafter Paper Collection

Cutting : Martha Stewart Doily Lace Punch

Stamps : Autumn Leaves - Ticketed by Katie Pertiet, Magnolia Three Hearts

Colouring : Prismacolor Pencils - 942 Yellow Ochre, 1070 French Gray 30% & 20%, 1021 Jade Green, 1083 Putty Beige

Embellies : Nunn Design Pin, Stampin Up! Linen Thread, Prima Flowers, Craft Fairy Flowers, Nunn Design Metal Flower and brad, hotfix cream pearls.

The Craft Hovel!!!

2009-08-22T12:46:00.007+01:00

Well, Bev has beaten me! I said that we should post pics of the places where we create, and said by 12pm today. It's now 12.47 GMT ! I do have an excuse - and a letter from me Mam explaining why I'm late! I have a broken washing machine! Lol! Honest!!

Right - on with the tour of the my little place. Firstly, here is the view as you come through the door. On the right hand side of the room is the main storage - you can see the inkpad racks and ribbon racks from Inkylicious. They have freed up so much room - I can buy more now! My desk is right under the window, for natural light - but I do live ooooop norf, so thats a bit of a challenge when it's raining! Lol! Under the ribbon rack are my Copic markers in boxes - need nice storage for those - but have not finished collecting yet! (Ssssh! Dont tell DH!) The pully out drawers on wheels hide quite a few collections including my glimmer mist obsession! On the left hand side of the room is my nesties, paper storage - again from Inkylicious.This has provided hours of fun sorting it into make and collections!

Here is a more detailed close up of all on my desk, including a lovely hangy shelf thing I got at TK Maxx for £4! Bonus!!

Finally, here is the rear of the little room - Card blanks are in the purple box under my wheely tote - a lifesaver when I trundle off to crafty club! I think you can see from the decoration / pics that I love Paris (in the springtime, winter, whenever!)
Here is a different view of the back of the room from the hallway - you can see my stamps in 12x12 boxes stacked in the corner - clear stamps are in the Parisian boxes on the shelf units, so the very rare sunlight can't get at them! Mounted single stamps like Magnolia / Sugar Nellie stamps are hiding behind the 'Create' letters on top of the shelves. The drawers hide tools and random inks that i've collected on my travels. There is also a tub for my small paper pads.

Well, after all that I'd best get ready for my washer being fixed! Hope you enjoyed the look ;-).

Goodbye Again...

2009-08-16T21:44:00.004+01:00

Hello! Well, after a bit of sorting, and washing, and dog walking, I finally got time to come upstairs to play! Today I had to make a card for a colleague who is leaving - again onto bigger and better things! I've also been making a couple of DT samples - but can't show them yet until they are in Wendy's hands :-)

So I reached for my trusty Gorjuss Girls, and some Black Market Paper Society Papers - these have been in my posession for a while now, but have never cut into them! **hangs head in shame**!! Full details are below.

Short and sweet post today - thanks for visiting!!

Card: Craftwork Cards Back to Basics card blank, Bazzill Bling Cardstock

Papers: Black Market Paper Society 'Letters from Paradise' papers - Guana Bay

Stamps: Sugar Nellie Gorjuss Girl - Bumble Bee

Colouring: Copic Markers, Copic Atyou Spica Glitter pens in black and clear

Cutting: Martha Stewart Valentine Lace Border Punch, Stampin Up! Scallop Oval, Classic Oval Punch

Embellies: Craftwork Cards sentiment, spacers, Prima flowers, Craft Fairy flowers, Dovecraft brads, Dressmakers' pins

First Ever PTI Card!

2009-08-09T16:35:00.006+01:00

Hello Again! Have been away sorting out my craft hovel - have bought some fantastic shelves from Inkylicious, who are based in Batley, West Yorks. Now I've got the not too small a task of putting sticky colour labels on all the pads! Will keep me quiet for a while! They also do ribbon and paper racks, both of which are really excellent!

My friend Bev recently ordered from Papertrey Ink, and for the first time I decided to join in and order some of their lovely stamps. Below is the first card that I have made with their stamps, and I am really pleased with the results! The inspiration for the card came from a Homes and Gardens magazine I was reading whilst in Starbucks! I wanted a kind of Toile de Jouy effect - don't know if it is quite that - but it'll do for me!

Full recipe is below. this card is a card of 'news' - first card made at my new desk, with new stamps, from a new company, using new colours and new techniques! I think I'll have to go and have a lay down!
Card : Stampin Up! Night of Navy, Whisper White, Craftwork Cards Back to Basics Card Blank

Colouring : Stampin Up! Night of Navy

Stamps : Papertrey Ink 'In Bloom'

Cutting : Martha Stewart Embossed Scallop Edger Punch

Embellies : Grosgrain Ribbon from stash, Small Light Sapphire Crystals

Here's one I made earlier!

2009-08-04T19:42:00.018+01:00

Happy Tuesday! Been a lovely day today - went for a coffee with Bev and she gave me my lovely birthday card . Thanks so much Bev - it is such a pretty card. One thing I forgot to tell Bev was how much I love tulips - they are my favourite flower - so it made my card extra lovely!

Well, it's time for a tidy up (I say that every time!)! Have come upstairs to my craft hovel - and been diverted by the blog! So, I thought I'd post a card that I made a little while ago. The colours were well out of my comfort zone - but I was really pleased with the results

This card was made with papers (My Minds Eye) which were outside of my colour comfort zone, but I thought they were fab! I bought the papers from Le Temple Du Scrap, a really great shop in Paris - if you ever get the chance you must really pay this shop a visit. Seriously though - save up first!! :-)

Card : Craftwork Cards Back to Basics Card Blank

Paper : My Minds Eye Penny Lane 'Hattie Marie' Double Sided Papers

Stamps : Sugar Nellie Gorjuss Girl - Set 2 - Untamed

Colouring : Copic Markers

Cutting : Nestabilities Blossom, EK Success Large Swirl Flourish Punch

Embellies : Stickles Glue in Crystal, Papermania Glitter Dots, Craftwork Cards Mini Messages, Stampin Up! Certainly Celery Grosgrain Ribbon