A Boozy Maid Service ..............................

I told you all I was heading for a bottle and although most of you probably thought I was going to drink it all, nope I went to create a fashion outfit for it and then Matt came to play with me too.

The idea behind this came from the challenge over at A Vintage Affair, and as I love the Paris Nights papers so much I was inspired to create a bottle dress and hat for a maid in Paris. This contained several layers all distressed with vintage photo by Tim Holtz, liquid pearls used to frame the nestie cut sentiment which is a MSE one and the flowers are from Wild Orchid.  The lace is from a local department store.

So warning this post is photo heavy and written as if you are at a Paris fashion show.

The bottles ensemble is created from gorgeous linen feel paper and edged with a beautiful MS doily punch, the trim is made from a divine lace in cream tones.  The maids bib is made from spotty material with more lace adorning the edges and this is also tied at the rear.  The apron is made from a lovely linear material and edged to perfection.

In keeping with the maid theme the bottle top is made from the same linen effect material with a lovely lace accompaniment and matching lemon ribbon

Please excuse the fingers, but it was so hard to photograph the top and I really wanted to show off the image.

Well think that will be me for the day, as I have some ironing to do :(

I am entering this creation into the following challenges

A Vintage Affair - Bottle Cover

Mojo Monday - with this sketch that just perfectly tipped upside down to create the apron - thanks ladies

Simon Says Stamp and Show - Layers 

Shabby Tea Room - Something old, the sentiment and Something new those delish Paris Nights papers

One Stop Craft - Main Sentiment

Crafty Emma's Store - Anything Goes

Sweet Stampin - Distressed Birthdays

Christmas Stampin All Year Long - Not a Xmas Card

Think that is about it for me for today, other than to say thank you to all those lovely visitors that have recently left me such nice comments, I really do appreciate them

Happy Crafting to you all

Kate 

xxxxxxx

Oh my Tilda is Distressed today .............................................

as was I a minute of two earlier, I had a crafty blitch which I quickly turned into a creative flair moment.

 well it was not my fault that the button would not colour with the copics because of the glue that had come through the button holes :(  quickly remedied with more glue and flower soft :) phew!!!!!!

So I was asked to create a very glittery, girly birthday card and this is what I came up with.  I like the sketch from Just Magnolia this week which the talented Dawny has created so this was my starting point.

I took my colour inspiration from Colour Create who have a challenge theme of pastels, lilac, yellow and mint.

So this is my creation

I made the side panels too big or was it the image that was too wide.  Well anyway you can only just see the lilac and purple background paper from the Capsule Collection.  Not sure where the lemon papers are from but I got them at the Hobby House a while back but when I was in there yesterday they still have them on the shelves.  I distressed all the edges with Tim Holtz vintage photo and added just a little bit of stickles glitter.  The lace is from Running With Scissors and it allows you to thread your chosen ribbon colour through it, I stopped half way to add my sentiment tag and then carried on again before distressing the edges of the lace.  I added flourishes of pearls also from the Hobby House and the flowers are from Hobby Craft.  Tilda is modeling the latest in Summer Fashion the paper pieced dress with matching socks and to set the whole thing off superbly are those flower soft filled copic coloured flower buttons.  The background paper is a lovely mint green.

Here is a close up of the flowers all glittered up

and a close up of the image coloured in the preferred media of copics but with the paper pieced dress and socks with a little distressing added too.

Matt is now home and his match was OK he is very cold and did not win but he had a good match.  

Well think I ought to go spend some time with him and relax and watch some TV too I think.

I am entering this card into the following challenges

Stamp with Fun - Girl Card

Simon Says Stamp and Show - Tim Holtz inspired

Simon Says Stamp - Paper Piecing

Totally Tilda - Lilac and Lace

Crafty Sentiments - Summer Inspiration, well don't the flowers say Summer (can't wait till my parcel arrives from my win then I can hopefully use this for these challenges, was so pleased as when they change back to the normal rules, I would not have been able to enter, but now I should be able to - whoop, whoop)

One Stitch at a Time - Girlie

Sweet Stampin - Distressed Birthdays

Craftilicious - Purple and Green

Christmas Stampin All Year Long - Not a Xmas Card

think that is it for today, now to get a bottle of wine out, you will find out why soon promise

thank you for all your lovely comments and thank you for visiting me recently

Hope you all have a great Bank Holiday weekend, if you are in the UK

Kate xx

K.I.S. out of my comfort zone

Hi all

mmmmmmmmm yep it is raining on another Bank Holiday weekend.  The husband is at a fishing match and probably drenched.  Luckily I am on my crafting day, however, telling you that I am in my Beach Hut would not help as the rain is that heavy it is pounding on the flat roof and it makes you feel so cold.

As does this Christmas card, now this was soooooooooooo hard for me, and I am not sure if I am impressed with it to be honest.  I decided to enter the Keep It Simple Challenge, it is challenge one and I wanted to support the lovely talented ladies of the DT and give the first challenge lots of entrants.

Challenge One is to make a Christmas Card using the traditional colours

If you know me I do like to add a little of everything usually to my cards, so to avoid this was not easy, anyway enough of the waffle so to speak and here is what I ended up with.

I used my embossing board to make a frame out of embossed lines.  I then ran a glue pen over the centre of these lines and added the first Christmas primary colour of red in glitter.  I used holographic green foil card  to layer the embossed swiss dots image plate to to pick up the second primary Christmas colour.  Finally I added one of my all time favorite little snowmen from Penny Black coloured in with the same colors. 

Here is in in close up showing hopefully the copic coloured image with Atyou glitter pen accompaniment for the little extra sparkle.

Which you cannot really see, rubbish photography.  I then used some new rub ons for the sentiments, but will not be using again as the bloomin things would not come off the sheet, my arm was killing before they lifted (mental note - hide them, horrid things)

I am also entering this creation into the Paper Sundaes Challenge of Christmas in August

So that is me today, I am going to pop back to the Beach Hut and play some more, might be back might not.

Oh and hope you all enjoyed your weekly dose of X Factor last night, loved the Tesco lady what a fab voice.

Thank you for your recent lovely comments and thanks for dropping by

Happy Bank Holiday Crafting

Kate 

xxx

WOYWW and the Messy Scale!!!!!

Hello to all you WOYWW'ers this fine day

and if you are not sure what I am on about at all, then you definitely need to pop over to see Julia the creator of the WOYWW phenomena. It's an awesome location with some great views to see, better than some holidays abroad I promise you.

First of all before I show you what's going on this week in my Beach Hut 

From today, I would like to thank the ladies at Tuesday Throw Down for selecting me as the winner of 4 digi images from Robyn's Fetish, really appreciate it and cannot wait to chose my digi images.

and

From yesterday, I would like to thank the ladies at the Cupcake challenge for Mr Random choosing lucky me for my gift voucher of £10.00 worth of digital products, thank you xx 

So even though at work we are in the middle of an OFSTED inspection, I am so far this week, feeling great, and hope you all are too.

Last week, the messy scale was very busy and there were loads of takers for the empty positions on the messy scale table.  I had a great time visiting you back to see your messy work areas.  Of course it is only for fun, so when duplicate's for the scale came in I just added them to the list.  The full list is below for your further interest and so you can visit to see what you think.

However, think that the list should be refreshed for this week, as those that were high scored last week may be very tidy and low scored this week.  So I will if you like, be taking your scales again this week for viewing next week etc.

Here is last weeks messy scale 1 = Tidy and 10 = bomb site

1/10      no one felt they were tidy last week (which is good for us crafters)

2/10      again no one felt they were even a tiny bit messy

3/10      I felt I sat here last week

4/10      Sue from ScoopyStuff fitted right in here

5/10      Our very own Julia from The Stamping Ground, placed herself middle for diddle

and was joined by

5/10     Joanne at Mytobyjug

6/10     Tina B from Tinascraftyplace rated herself in this position

as did

6/10      Morti from Coupdemain

at 

7/10      is Alison30 from Alicardmaking

along with

7/10      Darcy from Art-And-Sole

Now there is a big interest for the next spot with three challengers

8/10      Andrea from Where Can I Buy Time

8/10      Mustavacoffee (hope this is a pet name) from MustAvCoffee-Craftymusings

8/10      Anne from  LiverpoolLou

9/10      Helen from Stampingbyh is almost one of our messiest crafters she says.

and the messiest from last week

10/10   Kate from Noseycritters

Now you would think that the list would stop there wouldn't you, well no actually, as Donna from Doings of Doone explained proudly that she is off the scale.  So a suggestion would be we might all want to pop over to check out her messy work place :)

Cannot wait to see how the list changes this week!! So where do you think you sit?

This week I think I am a 2/10 on the messy scale :) I am proud to be a tidy crafter, striving to make a mess, as I can always improve the mess

So here are my photo's for you this week

This is the memory box I am in the process of creating, I do a little now and again, so as to not rush and spoil it's creation, the paper at the side is my paint pot, I know I could get the proper one out to use, but well then I would have to wash it and this way I just throw the paper away and it is scrap paper too, so recyling :)

This is a straight on photo from a slight angle (hey if you think I am killing myself standing on my hydraulic spinning bar stool, think again)

and finally

This is the wall directly behind my chair.  Oh I do really need more shelving 

(darl if your reading this could we take a trip to B & Q for some more wood, I will do the painting honest xxxxx) oh what a selection and more overflowing in the MSE pocket boxes too now 

(mental note to good conscience, stop buying stamps!!!!! bad conscience, "oh but there are so many nice ones out there and you would not want them to think you don't like them") :) ......................

Thank you to every one of you who visits and leaves me such wonderful comments they make every day special and I cannot wait to come visit all of you WOYWW snoopers, have a great blog hopping snooping day all of you

Now as always I will rely on the very clever Mr. Blogger to publish this post, he is so clever don't you think?  I will link via the mobile at some point tomorrow, I promise.

Take Care all

Hugs 

Kate xx

A Starry Eyed Nostalgic Footballer ...................................................

Good afternoon all

Well the ironing won, after a quick trip to the shops this morning for a few foodie bits, I knuckled down to clear the ironing pile.  Whilst my son cut the grass and his fiance and I caught up on the recorded X Factor.  Our evening out last night was a surprise 40th birthday party and we really enjoyed it.  He had a fabulous Fire Engine cake (his is in the fire brigade - so it was super special)  Thank heavens for today's technology within the TV at least we did not miss the start of the X Factor.

So at around 3.15pm today I headed up to the Beach Hut to play with the other of the Papermania Nostalgia stamps, well he was shouting to me.  I did also manage another coat of paint on the memory box :).  

So here is today's creation

I followed a sketch  from Sketch and Stash

The background card is holographic, which gives the card a real shine.  The papers from stash and not sure where I got them from but I am sure most people will recognise them.  They have lovely stars on them and just perfect for boys or male cards in general.  I used some ribbon to create the bar across the middle and used brads to create a loop with the lose end hidden behind the image plate.  Quite a simple card for me I know, but well men are not that fussy are they and then again I think this image says it all, don't you?

So a couple of close ups the image coloured in the preferred media of copics.

and the ribbon held in a loop by the brad, brads from Hobby House (see where I shop above), the sentiment is another MSE one.

Well after the curry last night, today we are heading for a cottage pie, so I really must head in that direction.  But before I do here are the challenges I am entering this little number into.

Secret Crafter, Saturday Challenge - Blue and Cream

Totally Gorjuss - Star

Totally Papercrafts - Summer Fun (boys just love to play football in the park during the Summer Holidays)

Just Inspirational - Hobbies (think playing football is a hobby, hope so anyway)

Short and sweet today and all that I need to say now is thank you to you all for your lovely comments, recently my husband is concerned that when I sit at the computer I am constantly smiling to myself.  (A bit weird, but it is as I read the comments)

Have a lovely evening all of you

Kate xx

A little bit of Birthday Sunshine

Good afternoon to you all

Well when I got up this morning it was hot hot hot but now it is raining again :(

But that did not dull my crafting spirits as I received some really nice comments this morning and today.  

Now I have to mention who from or it will just kill your curiosity :)

Mandy my ex super talented DT bud, who created a simply stunning card using some amazing papers (which can we add, she said I coaxed her into using and that cutting them was a bit of a trauma, but all is well now, even if the bald bits where she had stroked the flock off had to be hidden behind Tilda) go check out the beautiful creation here  (oh and not on Magnolia taken on board too :)  as I do love them)

and

Sue who was having a technical hitch with her receiving her digital images and I am so pleased she has now received them.  Sue had asked me to select three for her and although I follow her blog all the time and love her work, it is still difficult to choose for someone else.  Sue I am pleased you like the ones you received.  

Thanks also to Susan from Robyn's Fetish for ensuring that Sue got her much deserved winning gift (all's well that ends well) :))

I would also like to take an opportunity to say welcome to my two new followers Lia and KML Design.

So you ask yourselves what have I got for you today...............................  well before going to Tilly's for a shop the other day the OH and I popped into Grimsby Crafts where Matt spotted some gorgeous rubber stamp images.  I got two one a girl and one a boy, oh wait till you see the stamp (that is stunning on it's own, I mean without even inking it up - a real old world feel to it) But unable to resist inking, I decided to add another girl birthday card to my collection of just in case I need.  I had noticed so many PINK themed challenges.  (sorry Sam, although as your not quite yourself these days you might actually like this.  For those of you who do not know Sam, pop and have a look at her great work.  Sam does not usually like PINK.........)

Here are the stamps

By Papermania called Nostalgia, so fabulous.

So today I started by using a sketch by  Fussy and Fancy

 I loved the idea of this sketch by Fussy and Fancy

So here is what I created using the sketch.  Of course I got carried away again with all the embellies, but oh if a card is worth doing it is worth adding a bit of everything in your stash - don't you think??

Another easel card I am afraid.  These are again Papermania papers from the Rose Garden Stack a really lovely vintage feel to them.  Sentiment was one I got from winnings at Simon says Stamp it is a really great set.  Pearls from too many shops to mention.  Love the Khanban one's but not many places locally sell them like they use to. Flowers from Wild Orchid, Hobby Craft and A local Department store.  The edging is from a MS punch.  Pins from Hobby House (for all my shopping locations see the page link to "Where I shop above") oh think there is a Nellie die cut there with the front sentiment too.

Here are some close ups

The image has been coloured with the preferred media of copic for their amazing blending ability.  The grass colour is so many greens you would not believe, and all little dots nothing more.

 I am entering this creation into the following challenges also

Anya Ink - A Girl or A Boy (now I am so pleased that the rules have been changed to allow us to use our favorite images and as you all know we have so many of them)

Stampin' for the Weekend - Anything Goes

PaperPlay - Pink to make the boys wink

Mad 4 Markers - PINK

The Shabby Tea Room - Pink/Cream/Florals - Photo Inspiration

think that it is, so I think I will now go and start the tea................ can feel a curry coming on, although we are popping out later if Matt is not tooooooooooo tired.  Might be back tomorrow, might not depends if I decide to continue with my altered creation which is on order, of if I decide to play with the little boy stamp - wonder which will win ? probably the pile of ironing that I have just washed. Shame you cannot set the ironing to run, like you do the washing machine :(

Well hope your having a lovely day and if you are off out this evening have a lovely time, if like me you are an X factor roadie, don't forget to watch or record this evening

Bye for now my crafting friends.

Kate xx

Walking In A DT Winter Wonderland and some..............................................

Hi all, 

 it is Friday, just a little reminder not too little 

as at the end of today it is the end of the week, 

which would be my first week back at work, 

and what a hectic week it has been.

Apologies to the lovely people who left me comments on the WOYWW, I am still working through the huge list of email comments to return all your visits, but I will be there don't run away will you.  Loved all the grading you did on the messy scale, did make me smile........................

I also spent sometime this week visiting those lovely interpretations of the Tag Theme that my lovely colleague set last week at Winter Wonderland.  I think I got to you all and really enjoyed coming to see your creations and leaving your comments.  You are all so very very talented.

 Which means then that today is the next challenge over at

Winter Wonderland

this weeks theme has been set by our very talented Marianne

and we are sponsored by my favorite shopping location

So the theme 

"Walking In a Winter Wonderland"

I was not sure what I was going to do for this challenge,  I suggested to Marianne that I could use my Edwin and Tilda skating and hide or chop of their legs or alternatively I could use this little mouse pulling his Xmas Tree.  Marianne said the Christmas tree one, so I did.  She also said to add lots of snow, mmmmmmmmmm think I got carried away Marianne.

So where to start as this is going to be a long post (sorry again Marianne)  may be you should all pop and get a coffee.  Which I think I will do now before I continue writing this post :)  I will be right back.

OK here we go

 This is the card I created, I used the sketch from Truly Scrumptious and added one of the extra elements the bows.

Here is the sketch I followed, as you will see it is rectangular so I altered it to suit my square card. 

I also wanted to meet  Tuesday Throwdown of more than one fold

and the front of the card

 The image is from Great Expressions, I think.  The papers are from Dovecraft an 8 x 8 stack called "Let it Snow" one of my new stacks from Tilly's.  The sentiment is a justrite creation.  Using a snowflake for the centre image and the wording each letter lovingly added to state "Walking In A Winter Wonderland"  I used glitter to edge all the green base papers and the sentiment.  I added glitter to the image with a glue pen for snow and the floor.  I added glitter to the flowers and cut leaves -  stickles Ice and added liquid applique to the image for the snow and added some more to the bells. I added a ribbon to the rear of the card, and also to the front to enable the whole tri fold card to be wrapped up nicely.  Finishing off with a little snowflake charm and some dark blue little pearls.  Another favorite I think. 

So several photo's to follow of the inner pages showing another image not sure of where this came from but think it was a magazine freebie and the sentiments are in the main MSE with one Papermania for the central page.  

A close up of the bells and flowers

A close up of the charm

A close up of the image coloured with the preferred media of copics and of course lots and lots and lots of glitter.

and finally the close up of the justrite sentiment

Almost there hope your coffee has not gone cold.

As always my teamies and I love to combo, so here are the challenges I am entering this card into

Creative Cottage - Xmas

ABC Challenge - B is for Blue

Fab 'N' Funky - Flowers

Cupcake - A recipe of 2 ribbons, 2 designer papers and two flowers

Totally Gorjuss - Aqua

Moving Along with the Times - Glitter (fabulous glitter)

Charisma Cardz - Die Cuts (hoping my little die cut leaves are enough)

PDCC - photo inspiration 

Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes

C.R.A.F.T. - Photo Inspiration - I picked up the aqua, pale green, little blue sweetie and the cream one, with the yellow one on the inner image.

Bah Humbug - Winter Wonderland

As always Mr Blogger will very kindly post this for me whilst I am at work, and when I get a minute on the mobile blogger device I will link all the challenges. Thanks Mr. Blogger we just love you......

So there is only one thing for me to say

and that Happy Crafting

Hugs Kate xx

A Pesty little mess for WOYWW

Good morning to all of you WOYWW snoopers out there in blog land.

Thank you to all of you who visited last week, I really enjoyed visiting you back from your comments and as I was on holiday last week, I actually got around some more too - really enjoyed the blog hopping.  

I hope you are not squeamish as this post you may not like one of the images. Well it's not that bad (honest)

I start today's post by saying hello to my two new followers Carolynne and Heidi, hi ladies :) I hope you like little critters!!

I also would like to thank the ladies at Just Inspirational Challenge for choosing me as a winner of Challenge 6 for my son and his fiance's engagement card.  Cannot wait to play with my winning gift.

So onto the post, for those of you who have joined the new craze of snooping around the crafting sites in blog land.  We can thank our Julia for this, what a brilliant idea it is.  If you want to join in and have a snoop pop over to The Stamping Ground for this weeks WOYWW.  This is some mess I made creating the Beary Nice Anniversary card on the earlier post.  There you can see those lovely GCD Studio Paris Nights paper stack and the trusty finger lift tap and the pliers, used to trim the flower heads of their stems.  Not very interesting really.

This is a close up of the top of my cupboard in the Beach Hut, the one with no doors on it.  I collect all old cartons, and jars etc for future altered pieces.  I really enjoyed eating the Cadbury chocolate Easter egg that came in that delish purple carton.

mmmmmmmm now this is a tub of spilt pegs.  I use the pegs to hold papers together when creating.  However you are now wondering why they are spilt on the work top.  Well............................

This is the pesky little critter that caused it.  We appear to have a wasp nest under the eaves and although I cannot find a hole anywhere in my Beach Hut they keep getting in.  So whilst trying to swat it, I knocked the peg tub off it's perch and the pegs went all over.  Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.  I know they will evacuate the nest soon and will be gone and then I will fill in their access/egress hole :)

Now last week I was asked if there was an official list for the messiest crafter.  

so  for those of you who graded yourselves (1 being tidy - 10 being utter mess)

1/10 - no current takers

2/10 - no current takers

3/10 myself (all though last week one said I should be a 2/10 and another 4/10 so believe that leaves me at a 3/10 

4/10 - no current takers

5/10 - no current takers

6/10 Tina B

7/10 - no current takers

8/10 - no current takers

9/10 - no current takers

10/10 Kate  (I think Kate's blog name is perfect for WOYWW)

If you would like to rate yourself please leave the comment of where you feel you fit and I will add you for next week, all in the name of fun of course, can't wait for your reactions and thanks for the suggestion (you know who you are and hope this is what you meant)  

Julia I hope you don't mind this and if you would prefer to add this to your post please let me know and I will give this scale to you the originator of the fabulous WOYWW.

Today I am also posting a card I made Monday evening and finished Tuesday morning.  

The papers are GCD Studios, called Joyful Peace.  It is a 12 x 12 48 page double sided paper stack, with a lovely vintage feel and again a lovely linen feel and look.  I got these from Denise at Tilly's again when I went shopping the other day.  The image is one of my favorites Edwin and Tilda skating from the Magnolia range (don't think I needed to tell you that)

I followed the sketch from Friday Sketchers and really enjoyed using this 

here is a close up the image partially coloured by copics the preferred media, paper pieced and decoupaged - this was a challenge and a half.

There are two layers on the hat but one everywhere else. 

I am also entering this card into the following challenges

Creative Card Crew - Sparkle and Shine, I have used one of my newer holly stamps and a glue stamp pad to add the glue areas for the fab green glitter to stick too, I also used the burgundy stickles to add the berries to the white areas of the stamp which are meant to be the holly berries.  Felt that this picked up the foil red berries on the base paper.

Cards for Men - Decoupage  I think that this could be a male side of the family card.

The Pink Elephant - Ribbon and Sparkles

Magnolia Down Under - Edwin and Tilda together (I could not resist entering this one)

Allsorts Challenge - Paper Piecing

Christmas Stampin All Year Long - Designer Papers  how could I resist entering this challenge when my teamie Marianne is a Guest Designer this challenge

PDCC - Brown / Green / Beige

Stampaive and More - Christmas In Summer

think that this is it for today

other than to say as I am back at work, so Mr Blogger will very kindly post this for me, I will link the challenges as and when I get time via mobile blogging and if I do not get time, when I get home.

Once again I thank you for taking the time to visit me and ask that you do please leave me a comment so I know you have been and can return the visit.  Look forward to visiting you all

Happy WOYWW day to you all

Kate xx