Ahoy, me Hearties, Avast ye

 (That would translate as "Hello, my friends! - stop and check this)

How could I resist............................ The Challenge over at Simon Says Stamp is "Shiver me timbers thar be a Pirate"

In 2008 the mother in laws annual fancy dress party was "Pirates of the Caribbean"  there were some stunning costumes one of which I just have to show you as he was a dead ringer for you know who................... see what you think?

Yep if it was the real thing I would be hanging on too!! and I love the outfits we bought :)

We had a brilliant time, there was even a galleon on the lawn which we all had to have a photo taken in

Stunning don't you think - there is the Matt's mum as Ausar................. and if you look close those are skulls and crossbones on my tights 

- this is such a cool paddling pool for the children .................

Sorry got carried away.  So on seeing the challenge, just had to do create a scrap book page for my continuing album, I have not done a page for some time.  My head was saying treasure map - so that is where I started.  I recently got from Hobby Craft some plain white good quality 12 x 12 paper in a pack.  I took a plain black Bo Bunny paper and used this as the base and tore the white card on all edges very roughly.  I then drew a treasure map and added a cross for the location of the treasure and the North symbol, dead basic.......... Then I had so much fun.  

I put on my little marigolds, they are actually blue and from the husbands work, but they are a lovely tight fit and protect my hands from staining.  I got out the antique linen and vintage photo Tim Holtz distress inks and my already heavily used sponges and was ready for the off.  I used a baby wipe to wet all over the paper, I rolled, tore and crumpled the paper until it was well scruffy.  I then used the antique linen and sponged and rubbed all over to give the base colour for the map.  Once I had done this I started on the vintage photo. I worked heavily on the edges till it looked as if I had actually burnt it at the party to stop people finding my treasure (my glass of wine and the large plate of dessert)  I continued until I was happy with the overall effect.  In fact happy was not the word, I was so impressed with the finished look that I did not want to spoil it by adding too much to the layout.  I then chose my main image and two smaller ones.  I left off the other two as it hid too much of the map.  I cut the main one out with my circle nestie, edged it in gold and printed off a computer image of a galleon wheel.  After cutting out the image of the wheel I had edged this in black copic to make it pop off the page a little more.  I used my copics to colour the letters from pink to a deep red and to colour the flower from a dark burgundy to black.  I spritzed the flower with gold.  The rings I found lying around and just looked good and the flag is another computer print.

The lace behind the flower is created using a technique that Ruth @ Altered Geisha's Crafty Musings had suggested in a comment recently, she had said to use fine jewelery wire to thread through and it worked an absolute treat (thank you Ruth)

The lace I decided to use  as on the posh pirate outfit that I bought it has lovely lace around the cuffs.  I tried to keep the colours to the black, gold and reds familiar with pirates.

Well I hope you like it , here you go

So here are the images for you

Whist this has been drying and whilst I was in the distressing mood, I have also been working on a little vintage number, will post this shortly.

Thank you all for your recent lovely comments, which always make me smile

Hugs and happy weekend crafting

Kate xx

Flower Soft Christmas Tree DT Card with Matching Sweet Box

Good morning to you all out there in blog land.  

Today sees the new challenge at Winter Wonderland and almost the end of the week (my week off) doesn't time fly when you are enjoying yourself.  

I really enjoyed visiting all those lovely creations for last weeks Christmas Flower theme, there were some amazing creations.  Can't wait to see what you all come up with for this weeks theme of 

A Festive Tree

We are sponsored this week by Teri's Delicious Doodles, wow what a treat she has some lovely images.

I chose to go with again something different, I chose to use my Happy Hopper stamp with those two cuties hanging the carrots on the tree.  I compliment the carrots with the Bo Bunny Orange papers and a black trim.  I also made another matching sweet box using another Happy Hopper stamp and this time managed not to eat any of the chocolates for the box.

So here is this weeks Christmas DT card for Winter Wonderland 

and here is the close up of the image showing the use of the flower soft, great effect but not seen too well on the photo.

You can just imagine the smell of the pine can't you.  Anyway here is the little matching box for those sweet chocolates.

I just love this image (me on a Friday night chilling out in front of the tv. that is if there will be any chocolates left). The tag is an MSE one.

Here are the two together a lovely matching set, showing the versatility of the nesties.

As you know us ladies at WW love to combo so here is what I am entering this week.

House Mouse and Friends - Challenge 71 "Sweet" (and as I have entered a House Mouse Challenge I can also enter Lol's Candy giveaway

and

The Creative Cottage Challenge Blog - "It takes two"
along with
Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge - Shaped Cards

This week Mr Blogger is publishing my post for me again, however as I am on my week off when I get up (having loads of lay ins), I will link to the challenges.

Thank you to all of you that visit me and leave lovely comments, I enjoy and appreciate every single one of them and have loved having time to catch up with you all - been doing lots of blog hopping this week.

Well hope you all have a great weekend and happy crafting

Kate xx

WOYWW

Good morning bloggers and today in the UK it is sunny, no clouds and very little wind, may not get time to do much crafting today, hope the weather is as kind to you where ever you are.

So last week a few after posting on WOYWW lovely people commented on my work space being too clean.  Yep it always is when I have finished as I dump all the rubbish into the stacker bin. (I save all the useful bits and place them in a draw for future finding.) So here is where I dump all the rubbish.

Yep that is two stacker boxes with a dustbin liner in it - filling up quick.  Notice the ribbons hanging down, so I thought I would show you the other side of the room too.  The ribbons hang here 

I should really sort them out again, as I am really an organised person.  Now to the right of the ribbon HOOKS......................

Yep see I am tidy.  My shelving.  Stamp heaven, I do try and keep these in some sort of order and below in the wage slip bags are all my MSE stamps (sorted into themes)................... and just to show you that I am prepared for work today.

The other side of the work top all clean and tidy, look at that lovely view again.  Well hope you are all enjoying visiting all these workspaces, I know I do.

Back later to post another creation.

Hugs Kate xx

Sweet Treats ................................

Good afternoon to all of you out there in blog land, and I have to say the weather is sunny but still has a nip in the air here in the UK.  It has been nice in my Beach Hut with the sun smiling on the garden, so has been pleasant creating today.

My very good friend popped around yesterday with her betrothed.  She has purchased some MS punches, she is getting her head around planning for her Wedding.  Butterflies are heavily on the theme so the punches are border butterflies - we will shortly be putting the ideas together and hopefully coming up with her chosen theme.  In the meantime she has left (how lovely thank you) those lovely punches with me to play. - Have resisted today, as wanted to start looking at some box designs and sad to say for the Wedding ideas, I got carried away on this little creation.  (Promise I have located the one asked for too)

This is a little box of chocs, little as I have now eaten the other chocs, oops......... so it is small and sweet and holds the remaining 6 chocs. tut tut tut but oh well I am on holiday :)

So anyway this is the box

The lace is from a local department store, went shopping there yesterday.  The detail is liquid pearls opal on the top and baby blue around the bottom.  Took ages to pleat the lace around the oval nestie.  Love the idea of piping the liquid pearls on it takes me back to when I use to decorate special occasion cakes.

Here is the top angle.

As this is a thank you present I have entered this into  

Cute Card Thursday - Anything but square 

and
Creative Card Crew - Thank you
and finally 

Papertake Weekly Challenge of Ice cream flavors, now this is going to sound so weird but found it on the world wide web - my ice cream flavors are "cool bright blue bubble gum flavor and white chocolate chunk luxury ice cream and as I type the ice cream van is singing down the street.

Anyway enough of all that and hello to Vanessa who joined me today in my little section of blog land and thank you to all of those lovely comments that always cheer us through our days

Ciao  for now

Kate xx

Taking a Nap.................

Oh I wish.  Yes the first day of my week off, and I did not get as much snooze time as I had hoped.  I finished off a couple of DT cards and then started creating this little number.  

First thing this morning had to make a dash to the local hoover repair shop to pick up some new wheels.  Nope they are not alloys, but could be classed as powder coated wheel trims lol :)  My very old and very trusty hoover has had a face lift or as my son would say it has been pimped........ and it is back to it's old self, which meant I could actually hoover the lounge carpet and pick up all those lovely hairs left by my lovely dog Star.  The carpet is back to blue again.

After the hoover shop I popped to the local department store, picked up some lovely lace and a few more flowers and then home to play.

In a moment or two (when I have posted this) I will be attacking the next pile of ironing.  It is going down slowly but to slowly for my liking.  

So this card has been created for a little girls birthday that is coming up very soon.  She is a very special little girl and I hope that this card is a very special card for her.  

I chose to use one of my Penny Black images this one is called Nap Time and I used some Basic Grey papers called the Porcelain stack which is a 6 x 6 pad. The Penny Black challenge has a sketch for us this week by the very talented Janneke

This card also meets the challenge for Bunny Zoe Crafts - Nice and Girly and Crafty Sentiments who want to see Pink, Black and White.

So here is the card

it is made with lots of distressed edges and glitter, for that very special look.  The flowers are from Hobby Craft as are the leaves.  I curled the leaf stems to peak through at the bottom of the larger flower. I added diamond stickles to the flower edges too.  The lace from the local department store and the ribbon from Grimsby Crafts.

Here is a close up of the copic coloured image

 I hope she will like it and that it makes her feel special.

I would like to welcome Emma and Susan to my little section of blog land and would like to say a big thank you to all those lovely people that visit me and make my day by leaving such inspiring comments, love every one of them.

Well off to hit the ironing, so hopefully will be posting tomorrow after my holiday time crafting

Hugs and Happy Crafting to you all

Kate xx

Fabulous Fishing For Fathers Day

Wow that was a lot of F's in one go.  Hi all and hope you have had a lovely day, I know I did.  

Football Fever now that has another two F's in it and thank heavens for the World Cup, as tonight England were playing and the DH was avidly rooted to the chair, as was I but I was rooted to my craft room chair, creating this card for his dad for father's day.  

Today he very kindly took me to Hobby Craft, as I needed to purchase some more supplies for another special order.  We had a great shop around, he bought some more spray paint for his model and then we treated our son Mike to another wooden model.  Me well I got lots of bits but was very good and did not spend too much.  Actually they did not have the flowers they use to have, so bought some and then came home to order the others on line. We then had coffee and lunch at Costa Coffee before heading back to by maggots for his fishing tomorrow.  So my weeks holiday is starting as it should in the craft room :)

So the card was based on a sketch kindly provided by Papertake Weekly Challenge and on the colours provided by the Play Date Cafe

Here is the sketch

and here is the Play Date Cafe's colour theme of Raspberry, Aqua, Kraft and White.

So quickly onto the Card today which just had to have the family favorite hobby of fishing on it.

I have used Daisy and Dandelion Masculine Fishing Stamp and the papers are from 365 Degrees, Pink Paisley.  It was the stripy paper that got me into this stack which contained the perfect colours.  The inner sentiment is MSE.

Here is a close up of the copic coloured image, have returned to my manga board for a change and love the blend ability it gives. I think you need a change now and again.

So I am also entering this card into the following challenges

Cards for men Challenge No. 12 - Father's Day (Love the look of their blog)

Totally Gorjus Challenge 34 - For the boys

Stamp Something - Happy Something - Happy Father's Day

Totally Paper Crafts Challenge 20 - Animal Magic

The Pixie Cottage - A Sketch or Father's Day or Both - Any guesses on what I chose?

Charisma Cardz Challenges - Spots and Stripes (I have gone heavily on the stripes and added spots to the image and pearls for extra spots)

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - Father's Day/Men's Cards

Just Cute Bears Challenge - Father's Day (might have missed this one, fingers crossed)

Would like to thank the DT at Charisma Cardz for letting the Random thingy pick me, feel so lucky as they had over 400 entries, and so excited it was a Lucky Ducky win with Simon Says Stamp (still browsing and spoilt for choice)

Thank you all for your wonderful comments without them blog land would not be as nice a place.

Well think that is about me for today, should be back tomorrow with another creation hopefully.  Hope your all enjoying your weekend

Happy Crafting to You all

Hugs Kate xx

Flowers For Christmas over at Winter Wonderland for my DT Card

Well it must be nearly the weekend, and this weekend sees the beginning of my week's holiday from work.  Whoop Whoop - that means relaxing, crafting, visiting friends and catching up on the bits and bobs in the house.

I really enjoyed visiting all of the entries in the Love Theme last challenge at Winter Wonderland there were some amazing entries.

This weeks theme is

 

Traditional Christmas Flowers

and we are sponsored by

So I started to create a card and whilst doing so found some gorgeous hidden in my stash poinsettia paper so ended up creating two. I chose this one for my DT card.

This one was created using the sketch for the Sketch and Stash Challenge 37

This was a lovely sketch to follow and I really enjoyed working with it.  I also had not entered a Polly Craft Challenge for a while so decided to go with one of their images and their theme of "Ribbon and Bling".  I used my new stamp again and stamped using my glue stamp and then glittered it up with some gorgeous glitter from the Hobby House the set is called "Wonderland" how appropriate.  The papers are Bo Bunny I believe and look at all those dots on the paper and on the image just perfect for the challenge at Stampavie and More this week which is "Dots".  I used my new Nellie die for the circle and that lovely velvet red ribbon to finish the look before adding the all important Poinsettia flowers with the matching turquoise green brads.  I added stickles glitter in gold for the bobbles.  I am also entering this card into the CupCake Craft Challenge - Dazzle Us and the Allsorts Challenge of "Strawberries and Cream" with that spotty red and white paper and the red flowers, using the colours to create the card and finally one of my favorite places to shop the Simon Says Stamp Challenge - A Recipe of 1 image, 2 papers and 3 embellishments, I have the flowers, brads and the ribbon. And last but not least Bah Humbug - Anything Goes

The second card which I did not use as my DT card but uses some lovely papers to show how you can also use poinsettias on your card and I also used my larger Justrite stamps on this one along with a recycled ribbon from last years Christmas.

This was a very quick creation with added glitter around the outside and the sentiment.

I would also like to welcome Jo to my little section of blog land, Good Luck Jo in your search to become a DT member.

Well as always Mr Blogger will very kindly post this for me whilst I am at work and I will link when I get home.

Thanks for all your recent lovely comments and hope you all have a great crafty relaxing weekend.

Hugs Kate xx

WOYWW

I keep seeing all these amazing work spaces and never actually thought about joining in at WOYWW, so as I was photographing my DT work for this week, decided to take a photo of my work space.

Quite tidy for me and the weather looks not too bad either.  On the right my copics, newly labelled so should be able to find them quicker.  The husband bought me a Dymo and he then sat and printed off all my colour codes for me (no more searching whoop whooop).  Some new stamps not yet used on one of my cutting matt's.  Not very interesting really....................................... well not as interesting as some I have seen.  But at least you can see where I create and the fab view I have.

I would also like to take the opportunity to say thank you to the DT ladies over at "Cooking it Up with Katie" for selecting my card for their favorite and allowing me to display with pride their badge.

Well must pop off as need to create my post for my DT and cut and crop my images.

Cya again on Friday

Kate xx

An Award Recieved - How Lovely

I received this lovely Blogger Award from Danielle my WW Teamie - Thank  you hun :)

 

There are several rules to follow:

1. Thank and link the person who gave you the award

2. Display the award on your blog
3. Tell 6 lies and one truth about yourself or vice versa
4. Nominate 7 others and leave a message letting them know.

So here are my 6 lies and 1 truth:
 
1.  I hate icecream 
2.  I cannot create cute cards
3.  I dislike fish
4.  I love ironing
5.  I don't like hipster trousers
6.  I hate my dog
7.  I cannot swim
 
 
Can you figure it out?

I would like to pass this onto
Polly, Sue, Lols, Ruth, Carmelina, Sue and Sam

Well off to make my next DT card, whilst viewing the poor weather
Hugs and Happy Crafting
Kate xx

Wedding Tussy Mussy ..................................

Hello to you all out there in the land of blog.  (Wow that makes it sounds like a wonderful place to be, and I agree yes it is!)

I would like to start this post by saying thank  you to all of those lovely comments on my last post and to let you know that it was loved by the person it was made for.

I would also like to welcome Lesley to my little section of blog land.

This little creation is for a Wedding that I will be attending in the near future.  I will fill it with real flowers to match the occasion on the day, and then present it to the bride for a keepsake.  I have for now, placed in some silk flowers. Although on another point, I received a small bouquet of flowers again at work on Friday, isn't nice to receive a thank you, to show how much you are appreciated. 

I created this to enter "Our Vintage Affair" - whose theme this month is to create a

Tussy Mussy

it is slightly larger than most would need to be, but this is because the image of the happy couple on the gorgeous 12 x 12 paper would have been misplaced from the centre location if I had shrunk this to an 8 x 8.  I really enjoyed getting all gluey again on this piece.

Don't forget that this challenge is over the month so you have plenty of time to play.  At the end the winner is chosen by us the blogging public" and you do not need to have entered a piece to vote either.  Go on take a look and have a go.

I am also entering this piece into

Paper Play Challenge - Flowers and Sparkle

Charisma Cardz  - Flowers

Stamptacular - Wedding or Anniversary

I have to say crafting today in my "Beach Hut" was extremely hot, I could not decide where to be so was up and down the spiral staircase like a yo yo.  Wow no need for the gym I can tell you :) and then whilst watching Britains Got Talent the storm rolled in.

Well off to play as it is still raining

Kate xx

In Memory of a Very Much Loved Mum

It is hard for me to start this post today in a way that would be fitting.  But what you are about to read comes from the bottom of my heart as does the piece created.

One of my work colleagues at very short notice, lost her mum not so long ago.  This was a very tragic time for her and I admire her courage and the way she handled herself over the period of loss and how she continues to do so even now.  My heart and thoughts are with her and her family.

This lovely lady had seen some of my other memory boxes, in particular the one that I have as my header on my blog and asked me quite quickly if I would create her a memory box for the cards and other items which she would like to store so that her family could remember her mum as time passed.  

I agreed and over a few chats, sometimes just chatting or other times when she was showing us at work the lovely floral tributes, a clear vision of what her mum loved in life became clear. She had from the beginning told me to post it and to enter it into any challenge, which initially I felt I did not want to.  I felt it was too early, but now feel that it would be nice for her to see it posted.  She told me this morning that she would become a blogger so she could see it (I hope I have done this post proud for you xx)  I remember when making it how emotional I would get and again now the same as I try to write why it was created. 

The flower colours are those she loved, along with the dophin and the butterflies.  Each and every element was created with her in mind.  The front sentiment is the poem located by her and read by her at her mum's funeral. 

When I started to put my ideas together even the DH did not see the vision.  I kept updating my colleague each time she came in.  It did not happen overnight and took a good five weeks to complete, as I had said to my colleague I wanted it to be just perfect and not rushed in anyway.  It became my labor of love and here you will see why. (I apologies for the number of photo's but wanted to create a lasting memory of all of the special elements it holds).  When I found this chipboard, book - I just new I wanted to create a special bible effect.

The spine contains the computer typed name, which was then traced onto tissue paper and then very carefully glued in place.  The beautiful linear trim, is the self sticky velvet ribbon from "Running With Scissors", it finished it to perfection.

Here is the inside of the bible

This was created from creating an artizan shape and cutting this out of a piece of carefully measured to fit 12 x 12 speciality paper.  I then used a MS punch to create the corners.  I punched out lots of little branches with leaves on them and the same of flowers in various shapes and sizes and lots of scrolls and butterflies too.  I glued them all together to make a lace effect over the gold acrylic base colour.  I added the pearls to the flower centres and the ends of the scrolls.  I added two small red roses to the centre of two flowers.  She loved red and bright pink roses. I added a row of liquid pearls down the butterflies body and curled the flowers for depth.

This was another cut to fit 12 x 12 paper to start with.  I stamped an MSE blank dolphin onto the central area.  I also stamped an MSE worded dolphin onto acetate.  I cut out the blank dolphin to leave an aperture that the acetate dolphin would show through.  So that the gold was seen through both the acetate and the aperture.  I then added the lace to fit snuggly all the way around the edge to protect the contents.

I will try at this point explain how I created the overall look.  After trying several different media for the crackle look, whilst laying down the base gesso I finally found the look I was after.  It is a spray can of cream crackle paint normally used on furniture.  I had fully coated the whole box in the acrylic gold and this showed through at just the right amount.  I then glazed it all to protect it over the years.  The sentiment is made from some light cream linen textured card.  The sentiment computer generated and printed onto the card.  The sentiment was torn out and then wet using baby wipes to allow me to curl and distress the edges. It was left to dry before I used Tim Holtz distress inks to age it till I felt it looked just right.  I glued this onto the box front. When it was dry I spent a good couple of week, placing all the flowers bought from several places on the box front around the sentiment.  (Hobby Craft, Local Department Store, Hobby House, Tilly's, Grimsby Crafts and a local cheap shop)  Once I was happy with the floral arrangement I started to carefully glue them all into place.  Once dry I added the green twirly stems, and the lovely gem stems that Polly gave to me (thanks Polly they look awesome)

This is the beautiful poem, it just says it all..................................

The edges I used a very large house paint brush on to get the effect of gilt edged pages.

I am entering this into one challenge, the only challenge that I feel would understand the amount of work that has gone into this piece.  It is one of my favorite challenges with very talented ladies for the DT and great followers too.  Each and every piece that is entered into this challenge are always so beautiful and so detailed.

The Challenge "Lets Get Shabby" - the theme this month is Paint, Chipboard and Lace. 

My thoughts are with all of you out there in blog land who should take every opportunity that life gives you as it is so very precious especially in the crafting world. Enjoy your weekend crafting :)

Kate xx

Love Love Love - All you need is Looooooooovvvvvvvvvvee!!!!!!!!! Christmas DT Card

Wow sorry got carried away singing the Beetles song there, however it is Friday nearly the weekend and more importantly it is another challenge over at Winter Wonderland 

with a theme of 

LOVE AT CHRISTMAS

We are sponsored this challenge by Whimsy Stamps

So I just had to create my DH's Xmas Card

I decided to reduce my challenge combo this week, as I really wanted to incorporate those love colours.  So went with black and white and red which meets the challenge at Allsorts this week and the Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge of red and black.

So here is the card, which although has a couple image on it did not really feel that Christmassy, so I got sort of carried away with the glitter again and got covered as usual.

The papers are Papermania Capsule mono papers again (do love these)  The top and bottom border is self sticky velvet from Running with Scissors.  The ribbon velvet for that lush feeling from Hobby House.  I used the good old nesties and my new red Xmas glitter from the Hobby House.  The sentiments are from my first winning spend at Simon Says Stamp and are Whiff of Joy. Black Pearls small and large from Running with Scissors.

Well just a quick catch up have been so busy this week.

Thank you so much for those that voted for my handbag to allow me to be third in the "Our Vintage Affair" 2nd Challenge.  The third challenge is now on and it is to create a Tussy Mussy, pop over to "Our Vintage Affair" and take a look at the great inspiration from the DT.

I would like to thank the DT over at The Creative Cottage for choosing me as a favorite this week Challenge 12 and also thank you to the ladies at the Pixie Cottage for choosing one of my creations for a top 3 for Challenge 19.

And a huge thank you to all of you who have visited recently and left me such heart warming and sincere comments, I love comments  they really cheer me up after a hard day.

I would like to say hello and welcome to Annette and Maria my new followers and hope that I can keep you inspired and amused.

Well as always this card will post whilst I am at work, with the very kind help of Mr Blogger, I will as always link it when I get in.  Missed a couple last week as was in too late to add them Inlinkz had closed :(  never mind.

Anyway Chow for now

Kate xx