Sweet Friends Rosie meets Sketch Saturday and a combo

Good morning to you all

 Matt has a lovely day fishing yesterday and caught 6 fish but did not win his match, however it was only the first match of the season, so many more to go (and many more luxury quality crafting days for little old me, hehehehehehe ;o )

I finally finished Grace's birthday card, the inspiration for this one came from my one and only La La Land stamp which I won a little while ago, but the post delayed its arrival.  I love how these come packaged and although I initially struggled to colour her in, I am sure that with practice this will get better.  I used a sketch from Sketch Saturday and the colour combo from the Play Date Cafe.  

These are the challenges that I am entering this lovely spring coloured card into - which reminds me my purple crocus' are now fully up, as are the purple hyacinths, the little turquoise blue (not sure of name) flowers are out and the tulip buds are showing, wow spring has actually arrived in our garden, even Star has been out enjoying the rays.

La La Land - Challenge 31 - Make your own flower.  Finally I can enter this challenge with a La La Land stamp whoop whoop!!!!!

Sketch Saturday Week 96 -  Loved this layout

 Colour Create Challenge 41 - Spring and a Choice of Pastels

Charisma Cardz 12- Spring has Sprung

The Play Date Cafe Challenge 22 -

Totally Gorguss - Hearts

So after all of that here it is

 Papers again from the Heather Mono Papermania pack and cerise base paper from stash.  Loved this purple ribbon and thought it was really girly for Grace and just had to add all those pearls for such a pretty little girl.  The flower is made from die cuts in the cuttle bug.  Polly of Artfulwings, passed these over some time ago and this is the first time I have used them. I used my Just-rite stamp kit for the sentiment.

This is the lovely "Sweet Friends Rosie" La La Land stamp, just perfect for such a little girl and coloured with copics and a little fine glitter Atyou for her dress for that under stated sparkle.

 Well my 2nd coat of gesso should be dry on my commission, and I want to go play with another new house mouse stamp.

Enjoy your crafting time and thank you for all your lovely much appreciated comments recently.

Hugs Kate xx

Winter Wonderland DT Xmas Card - Santa plays with a Sketch

Good Morning to you all

 Today sees the new challenge over at Winter Wonderland and this week it is a fabulous Sketch by the very talented Pascale.  Pascale would also like to see Santa, doesn't everyone around Xmas time.

Our sponsor this week is Christine the stamping sketcher

Christine is offering 3 of her digi images to the winner.

We had some amazing entries last week and I really enjoyed blog hopping to see all those entries, can't wait to see this weeks.

Don't forget that each week some one wins the lovely offering and the top 3 are chosen.  This week we are asking people to show their interest in the Designer in the Spotlight.

Here is the easel card I made for Pascale's sketch this week, my Santa came from Running with Scissors and my papers are Craft Creations Ltd from The Hobby House. (See the where I shop link)

 Here is a close up of the santa, isn't he fabulous

 Well yesterday I did manage to get a little bit of Grace's birthday card done, but I need to go finish it off.  I also have a very special commission for a work colleague, which I am doing little by little - I do not want to spoil it or over do it in anyway.

Going to try and schedule this post, never done that before so let us see how I manage it.

Have a lovely evening

Take Care

Hugs Kate xx

When you just got to Say Thank You

for saving your life............

 I am sorry to have not posted anything this week, not that you would have missed me as there are so many fabulous blogs out there to keep your interest, but apologise any way.

The first two days of this week were atrocious, and I never ever want to put myself in the same situation again.  I am still as I type recalling from the place I put myself.  I hope that those of you who travel, will read this and remember it, and never put yourself in the same risk category. Thinking back now I was so stupid.

I needed to visit Newcastle on Monday and on Tuesday Hartlepool.  I thought that if I left the house at 6.30am I would arrive at 9.30am work from 10am till 3pm and then travel home, arriving in at 6pm, enough time to eat, rest and get a good early night ready for the next day. I had the opportunity of sleeping over in a lovely hotel, I thought I knew better.

I admit on the last leg on the return journey on Monday I was a little tired but I got home ok.  Had tea, rested and went to bed early.  Got up as planned and left at the same time, and did the same thing.  I had driven to different locations in those areas during the day too.  I left half an hour behind but this would not have mattered either way.  I was already tired from the day before.  So coming home was a mountain to climb.  Driving long distance on your own in this state is very very bad, I had pulled over several times and had caffeine shots and coffees (probably overdosed)  I felt more tired when I was warm, so wound down the window.  The car music made it worse, so turned that off.  Needless to say I did not make it home on my own.  

I have a rather wonderful husband who when I called became my knight in shining armour.  He jumped into action and asked the neighbour to drive him to my location. Where I was locked in my car in the dark, shaking uncontrollably and feeling really really ill and extremely exhausted.  I was safe, the car was in one piece and my bed called me immediately.  I was very lucky.

I thank my son, who sat in the car with me on Wednesday to pop into work, to get some bits to allow me to work from home, and also for sitting with me whilst I drove on Thursday to Bridlington to invigilate an exam.  I love the way he made me get on the motorway again, thanks Mike xx ( I know it was sooooooooo boring for him but I could not have done this without him.

This card is for my neighbour Paul, who without his help I would not have got home.  Thank you Paul you and my dearest Matt are literally life savers.  I am rather emotional as I right this but feel I must to remind you all of dangers. Please be careful out there as you work, life is so very precious.

So here is the card, made with lots of love and attention, which I am entering into the following challenges

Fab 'n' Funky Challenge 16 - it is all in the technique.  The technique I have used is to use a glue stamp to add a border image to the main image and then add glitter to frame it so beautifully. 

The Pixie Cottage Challenge 12  - Circles - I think I got carried away, but nicely with it.

Cute Card Thursday Challenge - Dimensions - I have used the flowers to give a lovely height to the card, hope it fits in the envelope, normally when I do this, they don't.

The card is made using a cream base card stock from stash, I used the same card stock and the scalloped circle nestie, for more of the circles.  The green papers are from Papermania Capsule Collection this one is Verde Paper Pack by Tina Higgins. I got this and some other little bits on my trip to Teeside Park on Tuesday (Hobby Craft), before heading for a coffee to start the day. The flowers are from a local store and the large one from a previous shop at Hobby Craft in Hull. The pearls are from Running with scissor or The Hobby House (see where I shop link)

The close up of the copic coloured bear with his little note

 and the dimensional floral display

 I also created this Male birthday card and just needed to use this lovely house mouse image as so far (get this I had not inked him up)

Holographic silver foil base card, "Marshmallow Bounce" is the name of the House Mouse Stamp, this one from Tilly's (see where I shop link)  The papers are again Mono paper pack, Papermania by Tina Higgins.  Loving these papers, got several mono colour schemes.  Cannot wait to try the other two.

and a close up of the copic coloured image

 Well running along from the above warning, I was up early this morning to see the sun and my husband off to his fishing match,  I am still very very tired, so off for a lunch time nap.  Should be able to get another card done with another new stamp after that and really looking forward to inking her up.

Please take care of yourselves and thank you for your recent lovely comments, your all so wonderful.

Hugs  Kate xx

Male Whiff Of Joy Birthday Card meets Sketch Saturday and Paper Sundae

Good afternoon everyone

Hope your day has been as happy and relaxing as mine.  I have spent many an opportunity today sat out in the garden, always a bad thing for me as I start to make lists of all those little jobs that need doing, and actually I started to pull at the odd weed, whilst drinking a lovely plunged Italian coffee.  This year I really do need to spend some time out in the garden and I do not mean to sit on the hammock in the sun colouring my images.  Must really set myself a target for it each week, to push myself to get it sorted.

Anyway as planned yesterday, I have managed, despite the awful head, to complete my second male birthday card, you know it is really difficult to combine challenges when making a male orientated card.  I have done my best.

I was inspired by the Sketch Saturday - sketch and the image that sprang to mind for this card was a Whiff Of Joy (not used for a while), so I have created an easel card, to meet their challenge.  I also have done some paper piecing for his little jumper and so this also fits nicely into the Paper Sundaes Challenge.

Here is the sketch Saturday sketch 

Here is the card

I used a cream card base and these papers I think came from the Hobby House, but I am not sure of the brand I am afraid, was too quick to throw out the packaging.  I used the MS punch and some diamante's, and used my cuttlebug to deboss the image platform. I cut out the whiff of joy bench and decoupaged the bench, little boy and his paper pieced jumper. 

Here is the image coloured in copics.

Well off to have a lovely bath and then to sit and watch "Dancing on Ice" it is getting to those exciting bits now.

Hope you all have a good week, whatever you have planned.  Hope to catch up with you all on Wednesday as travelling around the UK Monday and Tuesday and I might be too tired to post or comment by the time I get home at night.

Thank you all for the lovely recent comments, I always appreciate them as we all do.

Hugs Kate x

DT Card for Winter Wonderland - An Aperture Card using Delicious Doodles

Good morning to you all

Hoping that your Saturday was creative and enjoyable and I am sorry for being a little late posting my DT card for Winter Wonderland, but I was out on the razzle last night :)and oh my head this morning.  I am obviously not as young as I think I am.

This is my first DT card for the Winter Wonderland Challenge - which requires an aperture and a Christmas Scene.  I chose to use one of the many lovely digi images by our Sponsor this week "Delicious Doodles"  

So here is the finished card

I cut into my lovely Fiskars paper again (oh how I hate doing that - it is so beautiful and such a shame to cut it).  I layered this paper onto some pale blue glitter card and placed this onto the base card.  I ran the whole lot through the cuttle bug with my nestie to create an even aperture.  I then cut inside and outside of the same nestie to create the aperture frame.  

This MSE sentiment (I think I have a fetish for snowmen as well as pearls and flowers) is one of my many snowman related sentiments and I used another one for the inner.  Again I used the nestie for the base of the sentiment.  I used my little snowflakes punches to create the snowing effect and added little pearls to the centre.  I also added some to highlight the sentiment.  The snow effect at the bottom of the digi image is liquid applique for the depth and the little snowman charm is hung carefully from the top of the aperture.  Fiskars paper, charm and pearls are from the Hobby House (see where I shop)

So a close up of the little snowman by "Delicious Doodles" coloured very carefully with copics.  Thank you Teri (Delicious Doodles) for the image and the advise on how to colour him with copics. You can see the charm better too here. Fab little snowman :0

Owning up the original digi has a little robin perched on his hat.  Slip of the hand and my little knife on cutting him out removed him, oops..... so I added a snowflake in its place.

Pop over to Winter Wonderland and see the other inspirational DT cards and join the other followers in getting ahead on your Xmas cards.  I tell you this year is going to be so relaxing for me, more time to drink and eat chocolates.

Well off to get on with that other male birthday card.

Hugs and shivers

Kate xx

Male Birthday Card joins Friday Sketchers

Good afternoon to you all

Yes it is my fault that it is raining in our neck of the woods, I should have kept quiet yesterday.  Did see a snippet of sun early this morning but it soon ran away.

I would like to welcome Maddy to my little area of blog land, however maybe you should go take a look at her amazing blog madimaginations, I am truly in awe of such talent.

Well catching up on my calendar of cards, here is a card for a really good friend of the family.  Although he hasn't had time lately to visit as often as he likes too.  This will show him that we understand and do not hold his lack of visits against him.  Sometimes, life gets a little busy but true friends will always be there for you, if you know what I mean.

So this card was inspired by the lovely sketch by Claudia at Friday Sketchers, unfortunately due to the selection of other challenges at the moment, it did not fit anything else that I was aware of :( but this leaves me many more to choose from tomorrow, when I have another card to do.  Or may be not as it is also a male birthday card.  Well we will see......... :)

So this is the sketch I worked from Challenge 94

and here is the card

I used paper from a stack I got some time ago, as they all compliment each other.  I used a plain blue base paper behind each section.  The image is one that Polly (Artfulwings) very kindly passed in my direction.  I have not inked him up before and was pleased with the impression it gave.  I used my trusty glue pad and inked up a small balloon stamp and then glittered this with some glitter from the Hobby House.  I was quite happy with the overall finished look.

Here is the image coloured in those lovely copics

Well must go and sweep up in the Beach Hut as there is glitter everywhere.

Hope your all having fun crafting.

Hugs and Glitter

Kate xx

Guest Designer for Christmas Stampin' All Year Long

Hi all

Wasn't today a lovely day (shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh) don't want to spoil it for the weekend.  

Today my Guest Designer card is on show for the week's challenge over at Christmas Stampin' All Year Long. A small but expanding challenge, which if you are like me and making Xmas cards each week, you could combine them.

The Challenge (44) this week is called - Pottery Barn Inspiration

This week's challenge is to create a card from this picture.

There are 3 rules to the challenge:

1. use colors from the picture
2. leave plenty of white/ivory space
3. add a bird to your card

This was my interpretation of this

I picked up the yellow in the glitter card at the base and then included a lovely yellow flower, similar to that of the image.  I used the white space, stamping straight onto some base white card and then stamped my robin image three times cutting out two of the stamps to decoupage and add extra depth and more to the image. I stamped with a glue stamp and glittered the stamp for the background to enhance the image and added some paper to pick up the remaining colours.  I added the ribbon for the paper divide and the sentiment.  I added some swirls and little red pearls (like holly berries) to finish.
Here is the close up of the copic coloured image.

Lunch time today I popped to Running with Scissors (see where I shop) for a browse to see if I could find a little stamp for a challenge that I need to complete.  Tracey is a little angel, she got out the put away Christmas box for me and found me a stamp that is just perfect.  Thank you hun.
 

I arrived home to a parcel from the postie, whoop whoop it is my treat for coming joint third at La La Land a couple of weeks ago.  Thanks Jane "Sweet Friends Rosie" is just gorgeous and I cannot wait to ink her up for one of your challenges.
 

Well must pop off, want to play with my new treats.
 

Hope you all have a great weekend.
 

Hugs Kate xx

21st Male Birthday Card

Hi all

Well, we are half way through a lovely week.  I am really busy at work but just managing to keep on top of it all.  I am really enjoying coming home to take myself away from it all relaxing and crafting in my "beach hut".

I received such a warm welcome from the Winter Wonderland Challenge Teamies and I am looking forward to my first challenge post with them all.

I have needed to move all those challenges to my separate page to make room for some new stuff and to introduce you to the rest of the Winter Wonderland Santa's helpers.

I would like to say a warm welcome to my new followers on my little bit of blog land, 2 hidden and Marianne, AnneMariesinfield, Lynda and Mandy.

Anyway at the weekend I have been invited to a 21st Birthday Bash along with my DH Matt and my son and his girlfriend and I am looking forward to attending.  So I needed to create a card for him.  Looking for some inspiration through the challenges and came across a lovely sketch on Mojo Monday Challenge Blog.

So entering this card into 

The Pixie Cottage Challenge 11 - The colour green - I have used green on the image and love the Pixie Cottage Challenge

The Creative Card Crew Challenge 46 - Going Dotty - I have used my black and white dotty paper and lots of dotty pearls

Cards for Men Challenge 6 - Happy Birthday - A very special 21st Happy Birthday

The Cupcake Craft Challenge 82 - Going Green - again this is another of my favorite challenges and had to add green to my image to enable me to enter.

My inspiration from Mojo Monday Challenge 130 - a lovely sketch which I turned on it's side

Think that is about it.  So here is the card

Using some holographic silver foil card as the base layered with some Docrafts "Papermania" Capsule Collection, Mono Paper Pack by Tina Higgins and using a computer generated sentiment and a Sugar Nellie "To Catch a Big Fish" stamp (he is into his fishing as are the rest of the lads).  Papers and ribbon from Tilly's and pearls from Hobby House (see where I shop above).

Here is the image

Coloured with copics and on manga art board and don't those pearls large and small frame the nestie scallop so well.  I adore pearls.

Well I am going to have my tea - prepared by my son Pasta Bake mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, then I am going to have a lovely relaxing bath and catch up on my Australian Masterchef programmes, might have to find some chocolate too :)))

cya all again at the weekend

Hugs Kate xx

What a FAB Mother's Day - A DT Position

I think this is the best Mother's Day present by far, although the cooked breakfast from the son was nice, the excitement due to being invited to be on Winter Wonderland's Challenge Blog Design Team is still with me and giving me butterflies as I am so thrilled to be able to work with such a talented bunch of ladies.

Pop over and try your hand at this weeks challenge, A Victorian Christmas - with distressing optional, I have been entering the challenges every week and come Xmas I will not be in a flap.  You should try it, it will make your Xmas less stressful and you will enjoy it.

Thank you for all the lovely recent comments and welcome to my little section of blog land, 

Danielle, Artisanne and ClarkyJ (Janet).

Anyway off to deliver my good news to the mother's, take care and enjoy your crafting day.

Hugs and screams of excitement

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL MUMS

Kate xx

A Birthday Card and an Exciting Occasion

Hello everyone

The sun is out and it is a glorious day for crafting in my little "Beach Hut".  I wish I could say the same about yesterday's trip to the sea side town of Whitby.  My little trip was three hours of travel in the fog, rain and lightening.  I arrived safely after driving on some horrid roads with such steep hills that my poor stomach thought it was at Alton Towers on one of the rides.  I parked in the only car park I could find paid and then walked in the rain to my destination.  I was what you could say a "drip" :((

Anyway today after browsing the challenges out there in blog land I have made a card for my son's girlfriends sister.  My attention was drawn to the creams and greens across many of the challenges and especially to the Just Magnolia sketch.  So I got going and made this little number to meet the following challenges.

Just Magnolia Challenge - A sketch by the very talented Bev

  Stamp Something Challenge - Something cream and green

Fussy and Fancy Challenge - Green

Colour Create Challenge - Mint, chocolate and cream

Anyway here it is

The papers are from a luxury stack by DCWV, the lace from our local department store, flower from Running with Scissors and pearls from Hobby House.  The sentiment on the big heart (peel off) not sure where from and the inner sentiment on this easel card is an MSE.  Martha Stewart heart border punch and the large heart punch both from the Hobby House.

The close up of the image coloured with copics

Any way rushing to post this before I go for the revamp at the hairdressers, so must say hello and welcome to my new followers Lindsey, Radha and Pascale.

Finally the exciting occasion, I have been asked to be a Guest Designer over at the Christmas Stampin' All Year Long for Challenge 45, please pop over and have a look at the other work by the DT and by this weeks challenge Guest Designer Radha.

Well must rush in a buzz of excitement, more news to follow.  Wow what a FAB week I have had and what a great start to 2010.

Hugs and lots of excitement

Kate xx

oh will need to link later and proof read - out of time, Hair calling :))

Winter Wonderland Xmas Card

Good evening all

Finally I manage to get around to inking up my newest snowman.  He is fabulous and yes another magnolia, but I needed another snowman to be able to use all my MSE snowman sentiments.  So here is my entry to the Winter Wonderland Challenge - which this week was a very time consuming sketch but then it is a DT call as well.

So here is my interpretation of the sketch using some lovely Fiskars textured paper that I got from the Hobby House before Xmas.  I really really did not want to cut it up, but then it would go to waste if I did not.

So the base dark blue glitter card with the Fiskars lovely snowflake paper on top.  I then used my snowflake embossing folder to create the centre strip.  I backed this with the same base card.  I cut out the little squares in white card stock and again backed these with the same base card.  I used the nesties to cut out the circles and the scalloped circles and embossed the large one with swiss dots to look like falling snow.  The Sentiment is my new Whiff Of Joy collection.  I punched out some little snowflakes to place on the white squares and placed tiny pearls in the centres and then added the contrast dark ribbon with the little bow.

Here is the snowman image coloured with the copics.

I cut the large held snowflake out with the cuttlebug and used smaller punched snowflakes to build the layers adding the little pearl to finish.  I have also used the clear Atyou glitter pen to make him glisten.

The bobble on his hat and the fringe has been raised for depth with liquid applique. I love this effect.

Well tomorrow I am off for a drive to Whitby, so I hope the sun shines nicely for the drive and I look forward to an interesting day.

Well sorry it is short but I am going to watch Australia's Master Chef, I am behind on a few programmes and need to catch up as it is getting down to the nitty gritty bits.

Take care all and thank you for all your recent lovely comments, which always make the working week go so much faster.

Hugs Kate x

A Very Special Glass Birthday Card on a Plinth

Good evening everyone

I could not wait to come home and finish this creation, I have been thinking about it and what I could do to it all day.  

I wasn't really heading for any challenges however I believe that this fits the Creative Card Crew Challenge - Celebrations 

Anyway here it is

The backing paper in the metallic coffee is from the Hobby House, the paper where I have used the round the page Martha Stewart punch is DWRC I believe.  I have used butter cream stazone to add the swirls to the glass and created a frame with all those glorious pearls.  I added accents of little gold diamante on the swirls.  The image is one that Maz gave me some time ago and it fits just perfectly (thank you Maz)  The frame I made with the help of my hubby Matt.  The flowers in the main come from Hobby Craft and the leaves are from the branch punch. A small ribbon added at the top of the image from my stash.

Here is the reverse 

 

I used the good old nesties to create a base for my MSE sentiment and added more of those pearls to compliment the front.  The swirls have been glittered for that extra special touch.

Here is the lovely image and the florals

Doesn't it make you feel like spring has finally arrive and just look at the glitter in this lovely rub on image.

Oh well hope you like it as I think the person it is for will adore it, she has two Mancoon Cats.

So I am going to create last weeks Xmas card to meet a very special challenge and you never know I might manage to get this weeks one done at the same time.

Take care of each other out their in blog land

Bye for now

Hugs Kate xx

Final Mother's Day Card

Good afternoon

 

This is the final Mother's Day card for my order for the family friend.  I tried to make sure that each one was different and a different colour.  I had some lovely pink papers and appear to have a fetish for pink at the moment, so decided to go with the monochromatic again, which will fit nicely into Stampin' for the Weekend Challenge  

It has been lovely today, the sunshine really making me feel so much better.  The tablets have finally kicked in and the nose is currently not running. (hoping it stays that way)

So here is the card

 

The papers are Nancy Watt, the sentiment is MSE, the pearls from the Hobby House and the stamp is a Penny Black.  Martha Stewart doily punch used to make this one feel feminine.  Atyou clear glitter used on the bumble bees wings and edges of the white petals.  Flowers are from Hobby Craft.

and the close up of the copic coloured image

 

Well off to see if the chicken has defrosted, so I can put the caserole in and then hopefully whilst this is cooking I can get a very special birthday card started.

Hope your all enjoying some sunshine and crafting too

chow for now

Hugs Kate x

Mother's Day Card Number Two

Hello again

 

Here is my second mother's day card from my order, and I decided to use the amazing sketch by Claudia on Friday Sketchers as my inspiration, and wanted to use one of my new City Girl stamps from Whiff of Joy, this is the first time I have used her and I have waited so long to ink her up.  I also decided that the colour combo on the Whiff of Joy Challenge would steer my creativity.

So this card I am entering into the following challenges

Friday Sketchers 92 - and Claudia's sketch

ABC Challenge - P is for Paper Piecing

Whiff of Joy Challenge 69 - Coffee and Cream

The Cup Cake Craft Challenge 8 - Round and Round 

So on to the card, as my nose is running and will not stop, my eyes are streaming and I am struggling to read what I am writing.  I apologise now if it does not make sense.

So here it is

 

An easel card again, wanted these to be a little different for the recipient, the sketch has been adapted to meet the purchasers requirements.  The base paper is from the Hobby House a lovely coffee colour and the top paper, forgive me I am unable to remember.  Pearls from Spire Crafts, flowers from Running with Scissors, brown, cream bling swirl from the Hobby House and ribbon from a Xmas present box that I got, and then emptied and removed the ribbon from.  The slider is one from the Hobby House but coloured up with copics to meet the colour combo.

So onto the image and here she is with her matching luggage.  

So I am now going to put my head over a pot of steam to clear my nose, with the hope that I will be much, much better tomorrow as I still have one more Mother's Day card to go and a special birthday card/creation.

Good night everyone

Hugs and sniffles 

Kate xx