Playing and a snippet for another challenge

Hello everyone

I had a lovely day Sunday, attended a fishing show with Matt. Would have gotten all excited but the fly department was not there, so I was unable to pick up some lovely threads (which would have been great for the crafting - and would have made my attending so much more interesting) however the day ended great with a Mc Sunday (McDonalds) and a trip to Pennels Garden Centre just outside Newark. So did manage to get some Christmas shopping done.

Don't you just loath the dark nights, which makes it really difficult to photograph your creations to their best effect. I have been over the last few days working towards a challenge that I do not normally enter, but felt I should have a go. The challenge "Lets Get Shabby", the attempt well looking ok so far. I am going to do a Sue (Paperparadise) here is just a little tease and keep watching for the finished article. lol x


Also as you may have read, I have been reading enthusiatically my "Magnolia Ink" magazine. I attempted one of the lovely ideas in the mag. This is what I made. Must improve this one. Think some u tube watching is called for as I need to reduce the wrinkles. I am sure that I will get it right. However if you have any ideas, please let me know. It is an image on a candle incase the photo is not that clear.

Well off to move the furniture around to make way for the xmas tree (so happy new "Beach Hut" holds the crafting stuff, otherwise the tree would not go in its normal place. May try get some more of the other creation done as well.

Take care all

Kate x

A Favourite Glitter, Penny Black and Copic Xmas Card

Hi everyone

Well today was a much better day for me, feeling much better than yesterday despite the bitterly cold wind that was about today.

Could not wait to get home and start on another card. This is the original card idea from yesterday and it meets three challenges - finally.

Cuttlebug Challenge 59 - Glitter

Creative Card Crew Challenge 38 - Favorite Things

Penny Black Challenge - Winter Wonderland

I had already yesterday used the cuttlebug to cut out my new favorite snowflake frameability, which I left over night drying after covering it all over with ice stickles and wow does this bling it on. I used a basic white card stock and layered with some baby blue. I created a snowflake embossed square to layer on top of this. I used this lovely pale blue ribbon from the Hobby House, which has white snowflakes on it and little diamante's, to run a line at the top and bottom to frame the snowflake frame. The frame presents the penny black snowman image wonderfully, the sentiment (sorry not sure where it is from). I then had to add the obligatory flowers these are the ones I keep using my copics on. However, this time here they are in all there original glory and you can get these from the Hobby House - they come in a lovely tin which is shouting "Alter Me". In the centre of the flowers I have used some diamante brads from the Hobby House. Jill asked me to try colour them with copics and I did, Jill they look fab. The little bow made with my wooden bow maker and the snowflake embelishment from the Hobby House again. The inner with the little image on the reverse of the front as always.

Anyway here it is


The close up of the copic blendability for you addics (including me).



(Sue still reading, reading and then reading some more. What ideas it creates.)

Take care all and thanks for your lovely comments

Kate x

Whiff of Joy, tearing and copics

Hi everyone

Don't you just love Wednesday's, when all the new challenges come in. Deciding which one or selection you can work with. I started today's with three in mind, but dropped this down to two as the over glitter element of the cuttlebug challenge did not fit with the design of card I was creating.

So today's creation meets the following challenges

Whiff of Joy Challenge #57 making a Christmas Card

Quixotic Challenge #4: Tearing

So I started out wanting to use my new cuttlebug frameability to meet another challenge of "Favourite" and combining this with the glitter element. So started with a base white card and layered with cream glitter card. Patiently used my ice stickles to create my frame and placed aside. Then selected my Whiff of Joy Stamp and then searched my papers for a lovely deep red paper. This is one from a basic grey pad from the Hobby House. (Lovely papers, it is so hard to pull them from the pad). Well then decided to do my tearing and well that is when the design changed. (Polly will be so proud of me) I tore all around the edge of the paper - what a sin. I then used Tim Holtz distress ink to give it the distressed look after wetting and curling my paper. I found some remnant of some music sheet and gave this a good old distress. I inked up the stamp and cut this out freehand, distressing as I went. Stamped the sentiment and did the same. I created this lovely little distressed flower from a punch and distressed that too, adding the pearl brad coloured with copics to match the image.

Not my normal style but revisiting some useful techniques.

Here is a close up of the flower



The image to show the copic versatility (not my best today I am afraid, but not feeling to good, sorry)


Oh and my best excitement of today - my Magnolia Ink magazine arrived. So without much of a todo........................ I am off to read it.

cya soon and take care of each other

Kate x

Peachy Keen Baby Elephant Baby Girl Card and copics

Hi again,

Well, it was almost finished. This is the little creation I made for Kaci-Jai to welcome her into the world and to our friends growing family.

I started with a basic white card stock and layered with some pink and a lovely piece from a K & Co 12 x 12 pad. I used my corner punch at the top corners and added a little pink pearl. I then used the doily punch to create a girly frill at the bottom, adding some pink ribbon from the Hobby House. The sentiment is created from my fonts cd in word and printed out in a similar pink then layered on the pink and foam pads to raise it a little. I added another three little pearls to pick up the pearls in the corners. My new octagon nesties for the base of the image and this is then followed through into the inner of the card and that lovely little image on the rear of the front.


This is a close up of the nappy pin, this was lovingly created by hand from pink wire by my husband Matt, it is just so cute.



This is a close up of the floral arrangement at the bottom.



Again for you copic lovers the close up of the image.



I think this is so cute and I hope the couple like it. Well enjoy your week everyone and thank you for looking and for all your recent comments.

Take Care

Kate x

Magnolia meets copics thank you card

Hi everyone,

it did not take me long after finishing my last card for the order, to browse through the challenges and find some to enter.

I have had a pad of basic grey papers for a while now, not sure where I got them from, but felt I needed to break into the pad and start using some of the gorgeous papers. So after browsing decided to create this little beauty to fit just two challenges today.

Colour Create - Green, Red and White

Stamp Something - Thank you Something

Here is the card on a basic white card stock, with green card layered with the lovely rustic pinky, red paper and the blue swirls on top. Used the Martha Stewart Doily punch to make several layers of ruffles with the lace ruffle underneath in the white. I did this as the magnolia image used has a similar ruffle on the bottom of her dress. Thank you to Polly "Artfulwings" for allowing me to stamp some of her massive range of magnolia stamps. The sentiment is from "My Sentiments Exactly", the flowers from several sources and the blown heart in the flowers from an embelishment kit that I picked up about a year ago. It was a teddy bears belly button, but fits this better I think. The inner created in a similar style. With my usual small image on the rear of the front page.



Here is the close up of the flowers, loved doing these.



Here is the close up of the copic image.



Well must rush back to my little "Beach Hut" as just finishing a baby girl card (which unfortunately did not fit any, can you believe it, not one challenge. Never mind.

See you shortly

Take Care

Kate x

Xmas Magnolia meets copics and snowflakes

Hi everyone
hoping that this finds you well and relaxed as well as enjoying your weekend break.

I got all the housework out the way this morning bright and early and went off shopping, visited a few great friends on the way home before unpacking the food and getting back to the last (yes) last card of my order. Which also meets the

Magnolia Down Under Challenge 27

A Christmas Card

I did not get around to finishing it last night as my eyes were tired and I did not want to spoil it on the copic colouring - which was all I needed to do to bag up the card.

I really enjoyed making this one, it is not vibrant but still says christmas. It is for two children so felt the magnolia skaters was the perfect stamp.

Anyway here is the finished card. The papers were in a stack that I got from a small craft shop in Grimsby called M & B Crafts (I think) passed it on a Sunday and popped in for a browse. The lovely blue pearlescent card from the Hobby House. The good old nesties for the base of the image. Lots of punched and die cut snowflakes in glitter card, the pearlescent card and one in acetate and covered in polar white flower soft. Little diamonte's from the Hobby House. The sentiment from my new Justrite kit, with the children's names carefully placed either side of the main sentiment. Used a new snowflake die cut to sit the sentiment on and added a ribbon tag to finish. I like the way the snowflake showed just behind the sentiment. I die cut, embossed and stencilled on the larger die cut snowflakes to give it that little extra. (wow all these lovely techniques that keep popping out these days, I feel like I have been storing them up for months.) Oh nearly forgot the snowflake brad again from the Hobby House.

The inside little image which is becoming quite quickly a trade mark of mine. I love it when a card's inners are created, it makes them so much more special.

And for all you copic lovers the close up of the image.

Well, I am now off back up to my little "Beach Hut" to create a Baby Girl card for a lovely young couple who have just welcomed a lovely little bundle to their family. Congratulations to them both.

Hope you all enjoy your weekend.

Kate x

Whiff of Joy (Melinda Christmas Angel) and copics xmas card

Hi all

Half way through the week and I still feel quite relaxed, the rain did not this morning frizz my hair and although it tried, I did not get wet returning to my car. (Mental note should carry a brolly around with me, just in case)

Moving swiftly on so I don't bore you all, this is the last but one card for my order. I bought from the Hobby House a new stamp from the Whiff of Joy collection, Melinda Christmas Angel.

She is lovely, a little difficult to colour in some areas but with patience it came together well. One more to go and then back to my challenges.

Here is the card; used some hammered green card as the base layer and topped with some lovely burgundy 12 x 12 not sure which now. Also the Martha Stewart snowflake punch and ribbon punch on another piece of burgundy card, and one of my favourites at the moment the lovely embossed holly paper. (Should really make a note of where I get the papers from and who they are by). Threaded the ribbon through the ribbon punch holes and added a ribbon made on my little wooden ribbon maker. Added a flourish from one of my nestie sets some pearls and a little flower in some co ordinating paper. The bell is one I got from Hobby House, Boys do sell them also, but the ones in Boys are slightly smaller.


The close up of the new justrite stamp cut out with a 1 11/16 mcgill punch (Hobby House) thanks Jill, which I used my glossy accents on and a nestie scallop circle to frame (thanks Polly for the idea). I edged the sentiment in a little gold.




The closeup of the copic colouring showing the liquid applique and the glitter wings. Not sure if I like the wings again, may mask off next time I use the stamp.



Well I am off to play as my new frameability arrived from the States today, and it is shouting me from the Beach Hut upstairs................ it is saying "hurray up". Hope I can use it some how on my next order card.

Take care of each other and stay well. Thanks for looking and leaving your comments.

Kate x

A little bit of nature, holly, a robin and copics

Hi all hope this finds you well and content with life.

Over the weekend, I created this little number. It is another one for the order and the specification on this one was "Nature".

Here is the overall card with a quick close up of those gorgeous flowers, these flowers are from the Hobby House and were originally shades of blue (in a tin with some blue snowflakes) I used the copics to colour them. The lovely brads again from Jill at the Hobby House. The papers from a K & Co 12 x 12 book I ordered on line. I layered two sections onto the gold mirror card and used a traditional green/gold ribbon to cover the join. On the right hand side used my new octagonal nesties and the robin coloured with copics. I extended the image by stamping twice to extend the holly effect. The swirl punch again from the Hobby House and the sentiments are "crafty individuals". I matched the inside of the card to the papers on the outside.



The lovely embelishments.


The closeup of the copic work. It is sometimes really difficult to get delicate colouring with copics, I used two shades of red here, one being a more orangy tone and used my blending pen to create the faded look. I also used the blending pen to dot all over his brown bits to create a mottled effect.

Well I am going to run a lovely warm radox bath prior to starting the last but one card.

Take care all and thanks for looking.

Kate x

Acetate meets white snow, snowmen and glitter

hi all

hoping this finds you well and looking forward to your weekend.

I finally got my head around the card I needed the break from the other night. This is another of the cards for the order, this one was especially for three boys, the ages ranging from young to a little older.

This stamp came from my shopping spree at Doncaster Dome and the Stamp Magic Event. It caught my eye straight away, but after buying it was not sure how I was going to use it. However, with my recent addiction to acetate and white (I wonder why) this is what I came up with.


I started with a base card and cut out an aperture with my good old mega nesties. I then cut the base silver to size and took my time in lining up it's aperture. I then cut some white card carefully line this up and cut out the aperture. I embosed the white card with the cuttlebug swiss dots folder and then layered them all up in line (what a horrid little job that was).

Moving to the inside again it all had to line up to perfection - now you know why I needed the head break the other day. Again silver base white embossed top all with the apertures. The inner of the card (seen through the acetate) again silver base, white embossed top and the aperture and more lining up. Finally after stamping my logo on the back. I stamped my greeting on the inside which shows through to the front. The space behind the snowmen for the purchaser to write on.

Now your wondering why all the layers. The snowmen are double sided. The stamp was the front and the back of the snowmen, separate stamps. Would love to tell which stall sold me them but wow they are fab.

So now when you open up the card you see the snowmen's rears lol. Great fun for the boys. Not my usual style but very effective. I hope you can see from the photo's the effect.

The snowmen are puffed up with liquid applique with woodware puff in black (for coal) and pink (for the cheeks) and copic orange for the noses. I used stickles glitter glue to colour the paper hats making sure I coloured the rear to match. The snowflake is made from a cuttle bug die, glass particles and the charm is from Tickerty Boo on Wilton Road, Grimsby.

I also have just bagged ready those three for the family that follow my blog. Her mum is the purchaser. Will blog them once she has been given them so as not to spoil it for her. I used my new Justrite stamps on them, they are so cool.

Well finally off to sit down and have a small one, must prepare for the Christmas drinking parties.

Take care and thanks for looking

Kate x

An unusual xmas card and copics

Hi all
I am so sorry to have not blogged in over a week, but I have had a big xmas card order on. It is taking up all my time after work and even the housework is taking a hit. I hope that this finds you all well.

Going to take a minute to say "hello" to my sister Jo. She is in Zanzibar, Tanzania. I do not see her much.

Well anyway this is one of the cards I have been making. Several of them cannot be posted as the purchaser's daughter follows my blog and I would not want her to see her cards before her mum delivers them to her. At one point in time, I had six on the go at once. Three currently drying and one currently requires me to take my head away from it.

Polly popped around the other evening to pick up her parcel. You probably won't hear much from her as she will be enjoying herself playing........... "you go girl"

Well enough of all that here is one of the cards that I can post. Thank you to Jill (hobby house) for making my idea come to life.

This is the overall view

I used silver layered with black card, the image is placed onto double sided sticky sheet (not sure of its proper name). The image is then cut into tiny tiles and then placed onto the black card to create the window appearance. I decided that as this was looking out that I should be able to see the inside as well, so cut out a swag shape, used xmas green flowersoft and then decorated with the ribbon and wreath and lots of beads and gems, for the xmasy feel.

This is a close up of a lovely wreath. I coloured the original yellow ribbon with copics to get this little bow to match and coloured two little pearls with stickles glitter glue in gold and red.



Well must get moving lots more to do. But will leave you with this glorious picture that I took from the "Beach Hut" window, just after a massive storm. The storm was great too watch from my window but this was so pretty afterwards.



Well look after each other and thanks for taking the time to look at my creations.
Kate x

Magnolia meets Ribbons/Gems and Copics Xmas Card

Hi all

Today I went to Running with Scissors to pick up a magazine, saved for me by Tracey (thanks hun x) she did this so I could see the double page spread by Sue Abbot (Paperparadise).

Go take a look
as her creations are now proudly displayed on her blog, so if you did not get your copy, you can still see her amazing work.

Anyway yet again last night I was in need of creating another xmas card - so again used the challenges to give me a little purpose and something different. I decided to enter

Creative Card Crew Challenge 35 - Ribbons and Gems

I started by knowing that for a change I would like to try use some traditional xmas colours, so located from my ever growing stash some spotty wine coloured paper think this was from Jill at the Hobby House. I also found some embossed green holly paper, this might have been from Tracey at Running with Scissors, but I have so many now that I tend to forget where I got them from. I knew I wanted to put the ribbon through the ribbon punch and had already chosen a gorgeous ribbon to thread through. I used my new bow maker (purchased from Doncaster Dome) to make a lovely little bow. I added little red pearls to the holly berries and between the slots on the ribbon some lovely bronzy/goldy/yellowy gems (definately from Jill at the Hobby House). I used the good old nesties for my image base. Liquid applique for her fluffy ruffles.

Anyway here is the card

The inner - no middle black and white one (as the stamped image was one that Polly allowed me to borrow and I only stamped two, and do not wish to waste the other, as it is so nice)

A close up of the lovely ribbon/bow.

An as ever for you copic lovers the close up.

Well going to try out another new stamp....................

Hope you all have a good evening, and thank you for visiting my blog.
Take care

Kate x

Penny Black White meets Copics Xmas Card

Hiya

Well what an awful day, I am so use to the lovely drier weather, that the down pour really does not go down too well.

Any way Sam popped over for a chat earlier and it was lovely to catch up with her.

Last night I decided to get on with another xmas card (must be nearly there you would think - however I have a very large xmas card list :( )

So browsed the challenges again and decided to try

Penny Black Challenge 73 - White on White

It is lovely to be challenged to create something that is not what you would normally try. Although I have recently done a white card for another challenge, I tried to forget what I had done for that and create something different again.

This time I used again all white paper and distressed the edges. I used the clear glitter "atyou" pen to give it that xmas feel around the edges. Used the cuttlebug for the embossed sections, the snowflake and the image mount. Used ribbon to hide the embossing join and the Martha Stewart embossing snowflake punch for that extra xmas feel. The copics used again to colour the image and the brad in the middle of the snowflake. Icicles stickles covers the snowflake. The snowflake charm (from the hobby house) for that final touch along with the little blue pearls.

Here it is

Here is the inner(s) - mse sentiment.


















Just love using a smaller black and white image inside













Here is that lovely snowflake

Here is the MSE sentiment - just love it

And finally the obligatory close up of the copics - for those copic lovers.

Well must go and make food as my tummy is a rumbling, but one last note. All excited as ordered the magnolia xmas stamp kit, can't wait for it to arrive. Last order day today, here is the link kindly provided for me by Polly. http://www.dreamcottage.nu/Club/contents/en-us/d2.html

Well hope you enjoyed looking and thanks in advance for your lovely comments, it is amazing to see the locations of all that visit the site, spend hours blog hopping.

Take Care
Kate x

Magnolia meets nesties and copics xmas card

Hiya everyone

Hope your weekend was a relaxing as mine.

This is a card created to use a stamp that Polly allowed me to borrow some images of, gorgeous paper from the Hobby House and a new purchase that I needed to try (nesties).

Just Magnolia Challenge - is Monochrome or Monochromatic

I have used purple and silver (instead of white) as I think that monochrome is black and white but on looking at the DT inspiration, it fitted quite well.

The flowers coloured with copics as are the branches and the image.

Here it is


with a close up of those lovely flowers and embelishments




for you copic lovers the image




Thanks for looking and your lovely comments


Kate x