Let's Go Fishing !!!!!! as it is raining again.................................

Good Afternoon to you all in the land of blog

I could smile and say yipeeeeee I am crafting, but no that was not the original plan for the day.  Matt and I were suppose to be re weeding the raised bed, cutting the grass and putting in some bedding plants, but the horrid rain put that to bed.

Yesterday Matt went fishing although I am sure he looked good in his light weight fishing suit, I do not think he looked as dapper as Rupert here on his fishing trip in his ace little boat.  

Rupert Goes Fishing 2 

can be located here in the Dragon's Lair, home of Stampin with the Dragon's fabulous Images, although don't forget that the Dragon's Lair has a wide variety of Digital Papers too.  The set I have used is called 

Blue Harmony 

and is a newish release

Here is Fishing Creation

The base layer and contrast colour is lemon yellow.  The image has been die cut with the smaller of the grand Oval Nesties and the image plate is layered onto the same sized scallop oval.  I have used an MS punch and some Papermania Mono Collection ribbon, along with some gorgeous pearls from the Hobby House.  The sentiments are both My Sentiment Exactly.  Flowers are a mixture of Hobby Craft, local department store and Wild Orchid. The little silver fish charm I am sorry cannot remember where he came from

I would like to say hello to my new followers and thank you to my wonderful visitors for their lovely comments

I am entering this little one into the following challenges

Scrappy Frogs - Birthdays

2 Sisters - Anything Goes

Allsorts - Things with wings

Crazy 4 Challenges - Vacation Spot

Ellephantastic - Birthday

Hugs and enjoy the rest of the day

Kate 

xx

Good afternoon to you all in the land of blog

Today I was thrilled to be able to share my new found knowledge of copics with my class ladies at Grimsby Crafts.  Lynn has placed my copic certificate in the class room on the wall, such a pretty certificate, was thrilled.  Today in class I taught one colour blending, two colour blending, three colour blending

along with how to select colours from the copic colour chart

Here is today's card

all of the items on the card are available in the store at Grimsby Crafts

here is a close up of the image

For those in the local area, who would like to learn how to use their copics, the next class will be on the 26th June at 1pm

The card for the class will be on show from this Thursday and Lynn will have a list of the colours used.

Techniques for the next class will be Facial Blending and Tip to Tip Blending along with

how to refill your copics

I would like to welcome my new followers and say a special hello to Debbie at Fairy Bluebell's Craft Adventure , and thank you to those lovely visitors for your oh so inspirational comments, I love them all.

I would like to enter this cutie into the following challenges

2 Sisters - Anything Goes

Crafty Calendar - Teddy Bears

CES - Embossing

Hugs and Enjoy the rest of your bank holiday

Kate

x

Clean And Simple with the Design Team for the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge

Good morning to you all in the land of blog

Today I get to put you out of your suspense!!!!!

What was it that Matt got me for my 12th Wedding Anniversary?

For those of you that said it would be craft related, you know me to well!! and Polly you were spot on the money and your mail did make me laugh :)

  

Yesterday I got to spend a full day with Wendy Kadzidlo from Stamps and Memories.  In a lovely hotel in Warrington.  I was up with the birds not only as I had to travel 2 hours to get there but also as I was sooooooooooo excited.  You see Matt paid for me to attend my

  Copic Certification Class.

I have waited so long for one of the classes to be within travelling distance and Wendy has been so kind in keeping me in mind when arranging her classes and finally I was able to book a day off and book for the class.

There will be a photo of the class to follow shortly, showing all the lovely ladies that I met whilst I was there, a lovely group and hope to keep in touch with them. Hiya ladies.................had a fabulous time:)

Now that the excitement of letting you all know is done I can move back on to the days normality

The next challenge is on at the 

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge

this week the theme has been set by the very talented Kelly

and she chose

CAS - Clean and Simple

As it is the last challenge of the month, it is your last chance to be in the draw for the sponsor gift and our monthly sponsor is 

The Stamping Boutique

Now a Clean and Simple creation for me is always a struggle and I have I know used recently this same technique on another creation.  However my philosophy in life, do not create Design Team pieces that are not useful somewhere.  All my creations usually are planned for a person, or occasion.  This one was for Hannah who recently lost her dad.  It is the first time I have actually needed to create a sympathy card and Hannah had admired the previous creation.

On a new note after being certified, I have some ace ideas for future CAS cards :)

The base contrast is pink and the delicate background is made using Prima stamps .  I used my black Stazone and Tattered Rose Tim Holtz distress ink, quite a simple creation but so soft. Now if you like the edge effect but may struggle to achieve it, I have an amazing around the page stamp called Dandelion Frame by Hero Arts that does it all for you.

Don't forget to pop and take a look at the rest of the design teams inspirational creations.

I would like to welcome my new followers and thank my lovely visitors who leave such inspirational comments, thank you

I am entering this creation into the following challenges

Stamp Something - Use a Sentiment
Inspire me Friday - Anything Goes
Digi Doodle - Anything Goes
Crafting For All Seasons - Anything Goes
Flutter By Wednesday's - Clean and Simple
The Paper Shelter - Anything Goes

Have a lovely weekend

Hugs

Kate

xx

Hey Dude.................................. with Stampin with the Dragon

Good morning to you all in the land of blog

Today sees the new challenge at

Stampin With the Dragon

we have a fabulous sponsor this week

Dude Time Doodles

who are offering 

The theme this week is

Easel Cards

So here is my design team inspirational piece

The base colour and contrast is a deep green, I have used Nellie Snellen round dies for the layers and sentiment surrounds the papers are Prima from a stack I purchased from the Hobby House.  The flowers are a little treat that Loriette from Our Vintage Affair, the leaves are a new purchase from Grimsby Crafts, cut and emboss, really effective X Cut I believe. 

Here is a close up of the image kindly provided by Dude Time Doodles

The sentiment on the image plate is MSE and the image has been coloured in copics

Here is the inner return with the gold pearl available from the Hobby House to hold the easel open.

Please don't forget to pop and see what other beautiful creations the other design team have created to inspire you.

I would like to say hello to all my new followers and thank you to my wonderful visitors that leave such inspiring comments, love them all thank you

I am unfortunately not going to be around later to link challenges up, so have not entered any, as I am away all day Friday , but I have such exciting reasons for being away.  Watch this space to find out why.......................oh so excited!!!!!

Hugs

Kate

xxx

One More Day To Go

Good morning to you all in the land of blog

Just popping by to let you know that tomorrow 

Winter Wonderland

is celebrating it's 2nd Birthday with a Massive Blog Hop

22 prizes in total from some amazing Sponsors and from each of our lovely DT ladies

Cannot wait to see you there

Hugs Kate xx

Goodies from the Dragon's Lair

Good afternoon to you all in the land of blog

Last night after receiving some really scrumptious papers from the Dragon's Lair home of Stampin Dragon Designs, to play with - I finally decided to have a go at a digital scrap layout. 

The papers I have used are 12 x 12 Southern Comfort, I also used the co ordinating Southern Comfort Elements

I chose to use the two separate kits however you can buy a scrap kit that contains them all.

So this being my first digital scrap page attempt please be gentle with me

A little basic but you just have to start somewhere now don't you.

I adore the elements and papers in this pack especially the book and the bow.

Please do pop in to the store and have a browse around, there are some fabulous digital papers in to meet your every need.  I have some new ones too, so keep watching and I will be playing with them shortly.

Thank you to all my wonderful visitors who take the time to leave such lovely and inspirational comments.

The Spotlight Challenge - Challenge Yourself to Something New C10

Digi Design House - Anything But A Card

Make it Monday - Always Anything Goes

Woodware - Anything Goes

The Emerald Fairies - Anything Goes

2 Sisters - Use a Digi

Oh well off to play some more

Hugs

Kate 

x

WOW!!!!!!! What an Anniversary

Good afternoon to you all in the land of blog

Welcome to my new followers and goodbye to the one that disappeared between my last post and this - maybe it was the card my dearest husband made that put you off, however I was thrilled with it personally, but the future 200 candy will still be on very soon.

As I write this post, I have yet again been refused access to my Beach Hut, as now my Mike and Hannah have stolen it to create Matt and I a Wedding Anniversary Card..........................love it when they want to create something from the heart, however I do panic when this happens........................... and wonder what they are up to with all that stash and equipment!!!!

Anyway in an attempt not to think about it too much, I thought I would show you the card that I have made for my lovely, talented, caring best friend and husband Matt for our Wedding Anniversary.  Sorry to those of you who thought my house mouse creation for the DT at the SCSC was the card I had made.... but no this is the one he got given this morning.

Again I have been playing with my photography package so here is the combination photo this time with a black feathering

This shows off the white frame I have recently created a lot clearer.

So here is the card at an angle

This is a White on White, Grand Oval (the largest one) card.  I have then used the next size grand oval to create on the inner a sentiment panel and on the outer an embossed hearts panel. I distressed the edges and added a fine white glitter.  

On top of this I added a Nellie Snellen large heart die (thank you Janet, inspirational moment from your recent card).  The inner heart again embossed with the little hearts and distressed with the fine white glitter and on top of this a Marianne Die filigree heart, totally glittered in the fine white glitter.

hope you can see the glitter on the heart and the edges of the embossed heart.

I would like to thank all my recent visitors for their lovely inspirational comments, love them all

I am going to enter this into the following challenges

Paper Sundaes - Pop it up (all the hearts in the centre)

I Did It Creations - Anything Goes

One Stitch At A Time - Bling it On

Kenny K's Krafty Girlz - WOW

Little Claire's Designs - Sparkle

Alphabet Challenge - C = Clean and Simple

Crafty Catz - Anything Goes

Fashionista Friday - CAS

Fun With Shapes and More - Die Cuts - Congratulations

Totally Papercrafts - Don't Be Square

Aud Sentiments - No Sentiment

Digi Doodle Shop's Best - Embossing

PaperPlay - Sparkle Galore

My Mum's Craft Shop - Anything But Square

Incy Wincy Designs - Clean and Simple

Think that is about it - still cannot get in my craft room so off to prepare the dinner

enjoy the rest of your day

Hugs

Kate

xx

STUNNING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good morning to you all in the land of blog

Wow Wow Wow, did the Bride look Stunning!!!!!!!! and it was a fabulous wedding, enjoyed every moment, I will never forget her Anniversary as it will always be one day before ours.

We are celebrating our 12th Wedding Anniversary today and this year Matt has treated me to something amazing, however I cannot tell you about it yet..........................you will have to wait until next Saturday to find out..............sorry, but you know how I love the suspense!!!!!

So what have I got for you today, well I just have to show you a couple of photographs from the Wedding as I have been working on the items for it for so long.........................bet your all sick of hearing about it!

Vanessa has for the past what seems like a year, been banned from visiting my blog, however now as the New Mr and Mrs Taylor, she has free reign.

If I forgot to mention Leigh the Groom is a Fireman

This is the face that says all my gifts were worth all the time taken on them, priceless :)

The I have to tell you that Matt my dear beloved husband on Thursday evening, stole my "Beach Hut" for the evening "shock" "horror"....................... he wanted to create a Wedding Anniversary Card for me..... how sweet and thoughtful and oh no!!!!! my stash.  Well at least the copics were with me as I was colouring up some images............. but I had no idea what he was doing with anything else.  Mike went up a couple of times, again not sure what he was doing.  Then Mike came down and told me that Matt had broken my glue syringe, whilst filling it and that he had wrecked my new anti stick scissors. You should have seen my face (picture comes to mind) eventually her returned downstairs all done.  Room checked and tidy - well OK as I left it.

Here is what he made, my Anniversary Card

This is an angle shot, so you can see the dome of shrink plastic - it was an of cut I was saving for something, he thought it was acetate, but it works perfectly to hold the little spray of lily's behind.

This is the front of the card, he used a cream card stock and then found some Tim Holtz Moss green he punched a leaf out and then used this a mask to create some leaf stencil around the edge of the card.  He then cut the middle section out to make an aperture, he has then (don't ask how as I don't know) made a dome of the shrink plastic.  He then added flowers at the top and bottom and two larger ones that are out and under the shrink plastic.  The little gold leaves he called them, these are the outcuts from my recent creation using the lotus flower from spellbinders, he found them in the bin, said they were just the ticket.

This is the side view so you can see how the dome sits.  He hand wrote the words in the middle.

For his first attempt I was pretty amazed and believe not only the bride was stunning but my anniversary card.

To those of you celebrating your own Anniversary's this week, have a lovely time making more happy memories

I have just noticed that I have five more followers to go till my 200 - I feel another candy time coming on don't you ?

Hugs

Kate and Matt

xxx

Anniversary Wishes at the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge

Good morning to you all in the land of blog

Today sees the new challenge at the

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge

and today I was lucky to chose the theme of 

Anniversaries

Matt and I are celebrating our 12th Wedding Anniversary on Sunday, we have nothing planned and have treated each other to nothing..........................oh please don't feel sorry for me I am going somewhere really special and Matt will be getting treated when he goes to the Dragon Carp Tackle Tour...............I will be able to tell you next week what my very very very special treat was........................oh cannot wait to tell you all, but you must be patient just as I have had to be.

So here is what I created

Now as you might have noticed I have learnt with the help of one of Mike's mates, how to create some fabulous frames for my images and how to combine lots of images in one image, I am so enjoying cropping and playing with the photo's at the moment, I will try not to go OTT though honest.

So the image above shows the card, taken at an angle, straight on and the inner return.

Here they are separately

I have used one of my new purchases from Grimsby Crafts yep you have got it some more little Critters.  The sentiment is from MSE.  The papers are from The Papermania Capsule Mono collection and the ribbon, flowers and velvet edged ribbon tape is from my stash.  

Here is the front shot

That is me with my head hidden in the red rose, look how Matt is holding it for me, he is so special.

Here is the inner return

Oh adorable I just love them, they are all part of the same set.

I coloured them with my copics.

I would like to welcome my new followers and say thank you to those of my wonderful visitors that leave me such wonderful comments, love them thanks.....

I am going to enter this creation into the following challenges

CCEE Stampers - Flowers

Paper Pretties - Flowers

House Mouse - May Flowers

Anything Goes - Bingo!!!! (Ribbon, die cuts, flowers)

Craft Your Passion - Cutie Pattooties

Hugs and hope your day is as great as mine

Kate

xx

Oh Man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good evening to you all in the land of blog

I would like to introduce you to another fabulous image available from Grimsby Crafts, This is a Molly Bloom Rubber Stamp called "Fishing". Grimsby Crafts have a great range of the Molly Bloom stamps in, making it so hard to choose. All the items on today's card are also available at Grimsby Crafts.

Anyway here is what I created

This is another 8" Grand Card, using the smaller of the grand ovals with the scallop image plate.  The base layer is some fabulous kraft paper and then on top of this is some blue star paper and I cannot believe I am saying this but grass paper on top of this.  The sentiment is from my stash and that old I cannot remember who by.  The eyelets are a brassy colour and have been punched into a spellbinders label die.  I have added twine around the bottom and knotted it in the middle.

Here is a close up of the image

He has been coloured with copics and this was one of my first attempts at the sky and really enjoyed working on it and thought it looked OK for a first :)

I would like to welcome my new followers and thank all my wonderful visitors for the lovely comments left, love them all thank you..

I am going to enter this card into the following challenges

Stamping Vacation - Masculine Card with fishing

Craft and Me - Anything Goes optional Kraft

Dude Time Doodles - Gnarly Men

Die Cut Divas - Masculine Cuts

Papertake Weekly - Something floral or use a Molly Bloom image

Cards for Men - Someone Special

My Partner in Crafting - String/twine

Enjoy your weekend

Hugs

Kate

xxx

P is for ................................... at the Winter Wonderland

Good morning to you all in the land of blog

Before I let you know about this week's new challenge at Winter Wonderland, I need to start getting all excited and tell you about some exciting and rewarding news. Winter Wonderland will be 2 on 30 May which means that for the challenge on 27 May we will be having a blog hop. We have so many prizes available that week you will definitely want to play.

So today brings us the next challenge at

Winter Wonderland

and this week it is little old me hosting it

I chose the theme of

P is for ....................................

so any Christmas creations using P - P is for penguins, pearls, pink, purple, punches so lots of choice

we have two fabulous sponsors this week so pop over  and take a look at what you could win, and while your there check out the other DT stunning creations.

Here is my P is for

Pink and Purple

The base colour and contrast is Purple with Pink papers and a Pink ribbon and bow and a Punched holly edge, with some Puffy stuff liquid appliqué on his furry bits.  He has bling around the frame and the ribbon from the Hobby House and he is coloured in copics. Hope that is enough P's in one creation :)

I would like to say hello to my new followers and thank you to my wonderful visitors who leave such inspirational comments.

I am entering this into the following challenges

Creative Stamp Friends - favourite colours

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge - Pinkalicious

CES - Holidays

Easy Craft Projects - Pastel colours

Have a great weekend, I will I am heading to THE all important wedding, so excited cannot wait.  Off to take my camera and take lots of photo's for some future creations, hope she likes the creations I made for them.

Hugs

Kate 

xx

Stampin with the Dragon and Sentimental feelings

Good evening to you all in the land of blog

Today I get to show you a creation made with some lovely sentiments available at the Dragon's Lair these sentiments are currently available in the store at no charge yep FREE, so do hop over and take a look, there are some other lovely ones too.

Here is what I made

The base contrast is pink and the delicate background is made using Prima stamps from the Grimsby Crafts store.  I used my black Stazone and Tattered Rose Tim Holtz distress ink, quite a simple creation but so soft. I have put this topper onto my craft room door a sign to the men in the house..........................

I would like to remind you about the current sketch and recipe challenge at the 

Stampin with the Dragon

it has one more week to run, so hop on over to join in the fun

Hello to my new followers and thank you to my wonderful visitors who leave such inspirational comments, love them all :)

I would like to enter this creation into the following challenges

Creative Belli - Anything with an S "sentiments"

House of Gilli - Black and one other colour "Pink"

Incy Wincy Designs - Clean and Simple

Creative Inspirations Paint - Inspired by butterflies

Craft Your Days Away - White plus one

Hugs and enjoy your weekend

Kate

xx

HOT!!!!!! Dotty.......................................................

Good evening to you all in the land of blog

 I got to play yesterday with one of my new Kenny K images that I was thrilled to win, and yep I am sort of dotty over them all but decided to play with this one.  No only did I make a card it is another grand 21cm x 21cm creation, don't you just love the large cards, although when I had finished the sketch it sort of looked a little empty so I just had to fill it out a little, but the main elements of the sketch are still there.  I also made my own flowers and coloured my ribbon to match................well I needed a black ribbon and my pale pink one just did not cut the mustard, so those fabulous copics did me a real treat - hasn't it come up well, you just have to work this in one straight movement to avoid the over hits, which cause shading differentials.

So I started off this one with a clear idea of the challenges I wanted to enter. I started with the Sketch Saturday Sketch and new that I wanted to use the Crafty Catz colour theme of Pink, Black and White and the make it colourful dotty technique. Here is the sketch I followed.

Here is my creation.

The base layer and contrast is in black textured card, with those gorgeous Making Memories papers for the pink contrast with the white in the dots.  The image place is from my grand circles again and the punch is one of my new MS purchases.  The pearls from the Hobby House and the flowers hand made.

A close up of the image

I love using the dotty technique and loved colouring her with my copics.

I also followed the sketch through into the inside

I would like to welcome my new followers and thank my wonderful visitors for their lovely inspirational comments

I am entering this creation into the following challenges

Sketch Saturday - Sketch
Crafty Catz - colour combo pink, black and white
Kenny K - Die Cuts and Punches
Make it colourful - Dotty background
Mad for Markers - Colouring Embellishments
Crafters Companion - Girls Birthday
Creatalicious Challenges - Flourishes
The Corrosive Challenge - Birthdays
Sparkles Forum - Recipe
Designed to Delight - Handmade flowers
The Paper Shelter - Black and white plus one (pink)
Lexi's Creations - Spots or Stripes (spotty)
Stamps R Us - Going Digital
Lawnscaping - Polka Dots

Enjoy your evening, I am off to do my ironing 

Kate

xxx

Forever Friends Birthday Wishes

Good afternoon to you all

After yesterday's very interesting turn, today I am pleased to say is much quieter as Matt has taken himself and his car to a fishing match.  You see yesterday we set off for the weekly shop, with the intention of some new shoes and a new handbag for moi.  However after only two stops, it was decided to take the very noisy car (sounded like a piece of metal was moving under the car) to our local exhaust repair place.  Only to find out that not only was it one section, but two..........and the part was not in and needed ordering :(.  So Matt as you see has taken his noisy vehicle to fishing with him, hoping that the poorly sections don't actually fall of.  For those of you know where I am, Matt has driven to Skegness area for his match.......so if you are on a day out and spot him, just wave :)

So moving on, I would like to share with you a card, made for Mike's fiancée Hannah.  "Bear" in mind that she adores purple and you will sure get the idea.  So I just had to go with a shopping theme along with a monochromatic purple.

So here is what I created for her.

This is a twisted easel card, with lots and lots of circles, scallop edges and hearts.  The cute forever friends image is just perfect for her. The base colour is some purple card stock textured from Grimsby Crafts, (P.S. their web site will be open soon)  The papers are from the Papermania Capsule Mono Collection as is the ribbon.  The pearls on this one are from the Hobby House and both sentiments are MSE. Flowers from Wild Orchid.

I would like to say hello to my new followers and a great big thank you to all those wonderful visitors that leave such inspirational comments, life would not be the same in blog land with out you all.

I would like to mention a new monthly challenge - pop over here to take a peek.

I am going to enter this creation into the following challenges

Paper Sundaes - Birthdays

Moving Along With the Times - " B's Two Bows

Really Reasonable Ribbons - Anything Goes

The Corrosive Challenge - Birthdays

One Stitch at A Time - Anything Goes

Allsorts Challenge - Teddy and if possible picnic (do you think the shoes class as a picnic??

Crafty Calendar - Teddies

The Crafty Purple Frog - Monochromatic

Forever Friends - A Recipe 3 design papers, 3 embellishments, 3 colours. (Purple white and green leaf)

well must pop and feed the pup and also put our food in as the fisherman will return shortly

hope you had a great weekend

Hugs

Kate

xx

A Sketch from Jane at the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge

Good morning to you all in the land of blog

I hope you have all managed to sort out the hiccups caused by Mr Blogger and that you are all back on track. 

Today sees the next challenge at the 

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge

The theme this week was set by our very special organiser the very talented Jane

she chose a Sketch, and here it is

It was a great sketch to work with, so here is what I created for my design team inspirational piece.

The background paper and contrast is a deep green card stock and the papers are Wild Rose.  The image is a Sugar Nellie called "To Catch A Big Fish", the flowers are a mixture from Wild Orchid, Hobby House and a local department store.  The pearls are from my stash.  The frame is an oval Nellie Snellen die. 

Here is a close up of the lovely image

Isn't he an adorable little fisher person.

He has been coloured in copics

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges

Crafty Creations - Anything Goes

Divas by Design - Anything Goes

My Mumps Craft Shop - Dies

Penny's Paper Crafting - Anything Goes

Crafty Ann's - Birthday

Sew Many Cards - Anything Goes

Stamp Something - Anything Goes

Delightful - Flowers

Well the sun is out and it might be a lovely day if the wind drops a little, so going to do my housework, shopping and then sit in the sun

Enjoy your weekend

Hugs

Kate

xx