Mother's Day Card

Good evening everyone

 

First thing I must do on this weekend's first post, is to say how grateful I am to receive such wonderful comments, and thank you to each and every one of you.

Secondly I want to welcome Carmelina and Andria to my little corner of blog land, I hope I can keep you interested and smiling.

This week has been a busy one and an eventful one.  The next few weeks will also be busy so I may not get around to posting during the week, but will definitely look forward to my weekend and the crafting opportunities. Don't you just hate the end of the financial year :)

Amusing events this week, well I had my back box renewed :)  for those of you thinking that I might have had botox in my bum - not a chance besides it still has not made it's way South.  

To clarify my trustee work horse needed to have a bit of the exhaust replaced.  However, if I was a hell of a lot younger, I might have appreciated it, and there are so many boy racers out there that would have paid a small fortune to have a car sounding as deep and throaty, well actually growly as mine did. Michael my son, said it sounded like a Harley Davidson........impressive you may think, no NOT..... how embarrassing that every time I accelerated from a junction every one looked at me.  But all fixed now for a similar small fortune and I can now hear myself think.

So onto my days crafting which as always came after our beloved housework and food shopping.  

I was asked by a close friend of the family to create three mother's day cards. So I browsed the challenges for some inspiration and the one that really sounded interesting was a tent card.  The monthly special challenge on Just Magnolia.  Just had to have a go, obviously never done one before.  I also spotted a great image inspiration on The Play Date Cafe Challenge 19 - to use deep yellow, pale yellow and white.  Such refreshing colours. 

So I created this card for the following challenges

Just Magnolia Special Monthly Challenge - week 45 - A tent card - loved doing this, will be doing more.

The Play Date Cafe Challenge 19 - this lovely inspirational refreshing image, enjoyed working with these colours

 

Stamp Something Challenge - Stamp Something Girly  

Totally Papercrafts Challenge - Mother's Day 

Simon Says Stamp - Mother's Day/Girly 

So onto the card, sorry to have kept you waiting.  Here it is

 

Meeting the recipients requirements, of a larger card.  I selected a lovely Nancy Watt paper, sorry I am not sure of the name, I also used the velum paper with the same flowers on for the tent bit in the middle and the inside back was with the same papers as the front. I used my nesties to cut out the aperture and added a brad and little charm at the top.  I had chosen a sitting down magnolia that Polly very kindly allowed me to stamp, and sat her on the edge of the aperture just on top of the lovely yellow ribbon.  I chose a smaller nestie the same shape to produce a sentiment plinth.  I used a scroll clear stamp to add some back ground and stamped the MSE sentiment on top.  I used the Mustard Seed. Tim Holtz distress inks to edge the sentiment and used large sticky pads to raise it from the card.  I edged the aperture with pearls and the floral pretties were added to balance.  I felt she was something missing from behind her so added this delish feather.  Wow she looks ready for the movies :)

A close up of the image coloured in those fabulous copics.

 

I used liquid pearls to add the earings and hair elements.

I hope he likes this and more so, I hope it makes his mother feel extra special.

So one down and two more to go.

So hoping you have enjoyed the first day of your weekend and that tomorrow will be just as good if not better.  

Hugs

Kate xx

Pretty Pink Penny Black Xmas Card

Good evening all

 

Hope you have all had a great weekend.  I know I have.  I would like to welcome Julie to my little bit of blog land, Julie joined me through the night (I think, as I did have a lay in this morning) :)

I was blog hopping this morning and came across a new challenge, which will also assist me in keeping to my plan of at least one Xmas card a week.

So onto today's Xmas card, which made today feel a little warmer.  The more snowflakes I added, the warmer the wet rainy day seemed to be.

This card is based around a Penny Black sketch by the very talented Carole

So that meant that I needed to use either a sentiment of image from Penny Black.  I chose to use an image, one of my favorites "Little Snowy".  Of course the other reason to use the snowman image is that I do have rather a lot of My Sentiment Exactly snowman sentiments, for some reason!

Any way the new challenge I found is Christmas Stampin' All Year Long this challenged us to make a PINK Xmas card, I also tried to keep this to off white and pink to meet the Winter Wonderland Challenge of monochromatic.

So to the card, here it is.............

An easel card, with basic white card stock and Basic Grey "Eva" 6 x 6 papers and also DCWV "Rose Tinted Christmas" 6 x 6 multi stack.  The pearls, and snowflakes punches from the Hobby House.  Glitter off white card from stash and I used my copics along with the clear At-you glitter pen, to add some light sparkle to snowy's body.

A close up of the MSE words, love this one.

A close up of the image.

 

Oh look at those rosy cheeks :))

Well I am going to have a lovely relaxing bath, to wash away all the glitter and glue,  to prepare for Dancing on Ice, which is not to far away...... I do love Sunday nights television at the moment, don't know about you?

Take care of each other and hope next week is good to you all.

Hugs  Kate xx

Mother's Day Card

Good evening all

Hope you had a lovely day, just as I did.  The sun was at it's best this morning, however although it did disappear it stayed dry and clear for the day.  Matt and I popped out to catch up on some shopping and it was quite pleasant.(shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh should keep quiet!!!!)

On my return I had a quick cat nap, before doing some more washing and heading back up to the beach hut to complete the last Mother's Day Card.

The layout of the card is from La La Land Challenge 27 - sketch it

and I am also entering the card into

Stamp Something Challenge - Recipe Something (Requiring us to use designer paper, button(s) and ribbon)

Copic  Colour Challenge 53 - to use the colours YG03, Y17 and  C7

So here is the card made using K & Co classic papers (Hobby House) and my new magnolia stamp (Running with Scissors), she colours really well.  The sentiment is MSE, using two white buttons for the sketch requirement and stamp something requirement and adding the ribbon on the second layer with the little bow (Tilly's).  All edges were distressed with Tim Holtz, Tattered Rose.(Hobby House) Oh and used a new swirl from Running with scissors on the sentiment back ground (you get two in a set with bling and gorgeous, well worth the price) Details of shops are here.

The overall card

The image

Oh tomorrow is so far looking really relaxing :) only a Xmas card to clear.  So should get all the ironing done.  Decided this morning that the new glass TV cabinet needed a dust.  Wrong...... never start to dust just because one item may need it..........an hour later and several dusters, I had finished and I do so hate dusting.

Well popping off to watch a movie and may actually have a cup of peach tea......

chow for now

Hugs Kate xx

Mother's Day Combo Card

Oh good morning everyone 

 Well I was up with the birds this morning and said hello briefly to some glorious sun shine.  Oh doesn't the sun make your heart smile.... it is a change from the snow that keeps on visiting us.

So after speeding around the house like a complete an utter lunatic this morning, tidying here, there and every where.  Working my way around the house catching up on the household chores room, by room.  I crept back up the spiral staircase, to the Beach Hut, where I closed the door so as not to wake Matt and started on a Mother's Day card, this was after I had checked out the lovely challenge posts, my mind was in a great place for starting.

Using a fantastic sketch from Whiff of Joy Challenge 68 by the very talented Bev Rochester along with one of my new city girl stamps "Willow with Champagne" 

 

and the colour scheme from The Play Date Challenge 18 of Black, White and Teal my little creation

(with this great image inspiration)

met the challenges for

"It's for you Mum" Challenge 19 - Totally Gorjuss

Paper Play Challenge Week 8 - "for mother"

So here is the card

Papers and Martha Stewart Doily Punch (Hobby House) Pearls from (Running with Scissors), sentiment is MSE  (very large stash, through eBay, yes you can find lots of MSE sentiments on there, direct from MSE).  The ribbon and bows are from Tilly's.

A close up the floral embellishments

The flowers come from several places.... Hobby Craft, Trotters, Boys and the leaves from Running with scissors.  Links or details of shops can be found here.

A close up of the image which had been coloured with copics 

  Well off to pop some more washing in and decide what we will actually eat today (almost forgot that bit)

Happy Crafting to you all, and a very enjoyable weekend

Hugs Kate xx

Easter Card (no chucks, but feathers)

Good evening everyone,

and welcome to the weekend.   If you are like me and work all week then you will, more than likely, have been over the last few hours creating wonderful master pieces which I cannot wait to see whilst I surf blog land later (after posting this) 

Thank you all so much for your kind and witty comments on my last post, the chuck house card...... I have tried to restrain myself on this final Easter creation.  

I haven't done embossing with powder and my heat gun for some time.  This is one of the very first stamps I got and I felt it needed a little revival.  So I sort of started the wrong way around, or the opposite for me.  I used those good old nesties to cut out the oval and stamped my image, powdered it, heated it to emboss it and let it settle, whilst I then tried to think what to do next.  I found that lovely orangy yellow card and thought oh that looks easter like.  So drew around the same nestie to get that slightly larger oval.  I then went in search of some papers and found these lovely ones from Nancy Watt (daisy's, I think they call them).  

I started following the lovely sketch from Friday sketchers and then went wierd again.  I think I am having a feather fetish........................... yes three cards in a row now(oh help)!!.  This one I cut the ends off the feathers and then glued them around the back of the oval, before sticking the oval in place.  Adding this lovely flower (for give me, legs are shattered, toes aching and unable to run back up the spiral stairs to read the label of who makes these, but I am sure you all know)  I added some leaves from "Running with Scissors" that I bought today, whilst replacing my martha stewart branch punch.  You know the one that Matt broke yesterday........... (Tracey loved the appropriate comment :)  I then added some lovely little ribbons to cover the cute card thursday requirement and there you go.

So the challenges I am entering it into are

Cute Card Thursday Challenge 101 - Ribbons (as much or as little as you like) hope cute includes soft and cuddly feathers

Friday Sketchers - Sketch 91 (This was a lovely sketch to follow)

So here it is

A little bit of fluff feather heaven............................................. and not a chuck in sight :)

Anyway enough of all that, I would like to welcome Lorraine, Sue and Juanita to my little area of blog land and hope that my posts make them smile (well at least once a week)

So I now need to contemplate two mothers day cards......

off to think

Hugs Kate xx

60th Unusual Male Birthday Card

Hello and good evening to all of you out there in blog land.

Remember I said in my last post that Matt had asked me to create him a card for a colleague at work, well this is what I came up with.

The brief was chickens or a walking stick.  

My colleague and I located some little pink chickens, which I sort of had to paint as they were far to girly. 

I spent last night thinking as I fell to sleep and today at work with a couple of more crafties finalised my idea of creating a chicken house card.  

I used A3 white card to make a tri fold card in this shape, using valley folds from my crafters companion to ensure crisp folds, Matt gave me a hand.  I then used my Victorian cut line to make some wood latts and used Tim Holtz vintage photo to give the latts some depth.  I made a door and Matt used my copics on my little chucks.  I had placed a base coat down of jesso and then some Jo Sonya cream.  Matt used my branch punch (and broke it) to make the grass at the bottom using several green left over papers, which I stuck on.  Feathers are used for the chuck wings.  Sentiments are computer generated.

I will now have to go shopping for another Branch Punch :((((( :)))))))))))))))) 

Believe it or not this card folds down into a triangle, ready for it's envelope and that took some work I can tell you.

Hope he likes it...............................................................

Anyway lucky for me this card actually fits (I think) into the following challenges - well at least it will make everyone smile. 

Colour Create Challenge 39 - Red, Black and off white (cream to me)

Quixotic Cards Challenge 15 - One for the boys (I am sure he still feels he is a boy)

Totally Paper Crafts Challenge 4 - Lots of Spots (I used spotty brown paper for the latts)

Cards for Men Challenge 4 - Green (I figured that the green grass would fit here)

Well I am now in need of a rest, but would like to welcome my new follower Janet to my little area of weird blog land.

Thank you all for your recent comments, all gratefully received and very much appreciated

Hugs and chucks

Kate xx

Fabulous Week So Far, thrilled to bits

Hello all

What a fabulous week this is turning out to be.................................................

Thank you everyone who has recently commented on posts, I really do appreciate it :))

I am back at work and improving slowly, today I have been working with a colleague in Withernsea, which meant on the way back I had to pass Hobby Craft :) oh yes, retail therapy was definitely called for.  I had to go in as they do sell some amazingly different florals.  They again today had lots of new ones, did try not to spend toooooooo much (honest)....  can't wait to use them.  Also picked up some other bits for a card for one of Matt's work colleagues, so must get to work on that tonight.

Yesterday I found out that I had been awarded a top three (and joint winner) at La La Land Crafts Blog Challenge 26  this is my original post so looking forward to receiving my blinkie to proudly display on my blog and can't wait to receive the stamp.

And then today I found out that I had been awarded a top three at ABC Christmas Challenge (five were picked as all the entries were so good) and again here is my original post and again so looking forward to receiving my blinkie to proudly display on my blog.

Well with all this excitement inside me I don't think I will be very effective in my concentration for this card I need to do, but we will see.

Hope your all having a great week to

Happy Crafting

Hugs Kate xx

Sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Excited

Hello everyone

what an exciting day.

Yesterday I finally decided to change my blog and go clean and simple.  Still have a few amendments to make using some of the new available widgets (Sue you know how I love those widgets).  Here is the new blog header...... as above.

Today seemed the perfect day to do this as the image used for my new blog, is part of a photo for my Wedding Memory Box that I entered into the

Let's Get Shabby Challenge Eight 

and today I found out like many others that I had got an Honorable mention for it, thrilled to bits.  So decided to change the blog over today, so I can use the image.

my original post is here, along with the commented on amusing story that went with it, I hope you enjoy.

Anyway hello to Lou my newest follower and welcome to my little area of blog land.

and I am off in a puff of excitement to make the final changes to my blog layout, new year new me sort of thing going on.

cya all soon and thanks for all of your wonderful comments

chow

Kate xx

Winter Wonderland

hi all

don't you just love

 

Winter Wonderland Challenges, 

that help us to keep on top of our Xmas card requirements.  This lovely sketch by the talented Pascale was an intriguing one to get my head around as could not quite find something I liked to cover the corner requirements....eventually I settled for some cut feathers which I think just do the job in an unusual way.

So here is the sketch

and the card

I rotated the sketch to allow me to use this image, which I coloured with copics, and then added liquid applique.  I sprinkled silver glitter over the liquid applique for a different depth look to the image.  

Well with that done and the now starting to thaw, I am off to put something in the oven for dinner.  I may later start on a Mothers Day Gift/Card..... will see how I get on..

Hope you are all enjoying your day

Hugs

Kate xx

Easter Card Combo

Well what a snowy morning to you all

This is what I woke up to, and crafted watching this morning......

and it is still coming down steady, I suppose in one respect the road looks like it use to and the mud has gone.  However if it does not clear it could be quite treacherous for those needing to drive in it.  Hope it is a day thing again.

Anyway I cleared the ironing and set to, thought I would clear the last Easter card that I need, so chose to use my House Mouse stamp again, my friendly little critters, just love them.

So entering this card into a combination of challenges all that I felt complimented each other quite well.

ABC Challenge - O is for One paper, this allowed us to use double sided - so I did.

La La Challenge Week 26 - Red - I keep entering this one so I might win one of their stamps one day :))

House Mouse Monday Challenge - A multi - fold card, I love easel cards at the moment and adore these little critters.

So here is the card made from K & Co Classic 12 x 12 papers from their stack(both sides used), it contains a few pearls from the Hobby House and some ribbon and a bow from Tilly's.

The sentiments and inner verse bit are from computer generated and the verse from the internet.

So with that one clear I must now clear this weeks Xmas card and with all that snow outside I am sure that the creation will not feel out of place with snowflakes on it.  

Hope you are all warm and toasty and if you have to go out please wrap up warm and go careful

Take care

Hugs with snowflakes

Kate xx

Penny Black Raining Daisy's Thank you card

Good evening everyone

I managed to hoover up all that glitter, it just seems so much doesn't it, and it gets every where and I mean every where, worse than sand.

After my hoovering I went shopping with Matt and Mike (yes it does not happen very often but Mike came shopping with us), and why I am sure you are wondering and the answer well, Matt two years ago was asked that same old question..................... What do you want for Xmas?  He had replied a model kit.  Well the model kit has sat for those two years at the side of him in the computer room.  Now I think it kept him company, not sure really.  But today and again not sure why today.  It was decided to go to the Hobby Shop in Town and to get the paint for this model to enable him to actually start on it.  Wow......exciting eh!! So dutifully the pair of them attended shopping with me..................the basket as you can imagine, received lots of new and interesting probably non needed items and the bill was a little heftier for it...... but I did get a hand in the placing the items on the conveyor and in the packing.  Mike even placed the items in the back of the car (so weird)

So off they trotted with me and my shopping in toe to the craft shop and picked up colours from the list (all of them nearly) and this was to total £30 ish.  So to resolve the cost and left overs they then between them decided that if they bought another model - then the paint would not be wasted..... so sure enough did they find one.  Whilst chatting to the lovely man behind the counter, Mike spotted a remote control small helicopter, which the man demonstrated............................ and that joined the model and paint on the bill.  My idea of traveling home via another local craft shop disappeared along with another wack of money :(               Another hobby for them - this must be a winter hobby, as the fishing is a summer one ;o 

So by the time I got home the only bits I had purchased for my crafts was some coloured paper and some acrylic paint (I was browsing heavily whilst the lads were shopping I can tell you, but nothing grabbed my attention, more is the pity).

Anyway enough of that I went up to the Beach Hut to create this little number for a few challenges and the little remote control helicopter was flying up the spiral stair case and into my quiet space, followed by Mike who was guiding it and Matt who just comes for a peek now and again. oh well......

So the challenges I am entering are

Copic Colour Challenge - to use colours C3, R11 and G21 

Cute Card Thursday Challenge 100 - Metal Mania

Stamp Something Challenge - A touch of Spring

Penny Black Challenge - A colour Combo Pink, Green and Yellow

So here is the card

The green paper is from K & Co from the Hopscotch paper pad, the pink paper is Blueberry Hill by Papermania Signature pad.  The large yellow flower is from Hobby Craft, the leaves from Tilly's, the butterfly metal charm from Hobby House, the pearls from Running with Scissors, the flower charm and other flowers from our local department store and the stamp image around the edge of the main image is from a free magazine set (papermania)

A close up of the lovely floral embellishments

The close up of the metal embellishments

The close up of the fabulous copics

Well I am now off to relax on the settee, as Mike made a fry up for tea and I am absolutely stuffed. Tomorrow must try to concentrate on getting the ironing caught up and another Xmas card, although mothers day is coming up also.  Oh well we will see what I get done :)

Take care and thanks for looking.  Would also like to thank those who have left lovely comments on my site, which when you feel not so good always cheer you up

Hugs and twinkles

Kate xx

Whiff of Joy City Girls meets Special Friend Card and Copics

Hello everyone

sorry I have not posted for a few days, however I have not been all that well and even though the idea of spending three days in the Beach Hut sounded so relaxing, unfortunately I spent it laid on the couch not even wanting to move my head. So if you are hoping that my post today will be filled with humor to make you all smile, I am sorry you may have to wait a few more days for that.

I would like to welcome a couple of new followers Sonia and Kate T, to my little area of blog land.  Hello ladies :))

After visiting the doctors yesterday, actually got up today and managed not to wobble or feel sick, so headed to sit in the Beach Hut, with a lovely cup of coffee, looking out the window to some glorious sunshine (doesn't the sun make us all feel so much better)

I could not resist the temptation of using one of my new City Girl, Whiff of Joy Stamps, so created this lovely card for a Special Friend, who is always there for me and who is such a giving person.  I have entered this card into the following challenges

Whiff of Joy Challenge 67 - Pearls and Swirls

and a new challenge site for me, which Lorraine had mentioned on her blog (thanks hun) this site I feel is really me, as I seem to be unable to resist putting lots of embellishments on my cards.

Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge Four - Dazzle Us 

Any way here is the card, using Nancy Watts papers called swirls and birds (I think) and some funky bright pink card stock, the sentiment is the one I got from Spire Crafts in Louth.

This is a close up of her dress, which is cut from the base paper and then copic coloured over the top to add the depth.

Well must go and catch up with some hoovering as spilt a little tub of glitter whilst working on this card "I feel like Tinker Bell" leaving a trail of fairy dust where every I go. 

Hope your all having a lovely day and that the craft bug is with you.

Hugs and Fairy Dust

Kate xx

Caardvarks - Get Published

Good Evening everyone

I have, for several days now, been planning one fantastic card, you know the mother of all cards (well of mine anyway - lol).  

I had forgotten time and well it did not happen as I did not want to rush the idea that I had in my head, several versions of something totally different have been put aside.  So had to think of an alternative. 

Here is the alternative that I am entering into the 

Caardvarks Challenge

who challenged us all to create our very best;

wedding card
 

and

The winning entry will be published in CARDS Magazine's July 2010 issue.

Oh this was so exciting - just had to have a go.  It would be a dream come true to be published.

So here with not to much of a do is the final creation.

 

Not sure what the papers are called but got them at the Hobby House, along with the pearls and the Martha Stewart Heart Edge Punch and the large Heart Punch.  The little white roses are from my local craft shop Running with Scissors.

Hopefully I will be able to use the other idea for something just as good.

Well must go clean up now as the Beach Hut is a little messy.

Take care all of you and thank you so very much for all your recent comments, I really do love reading them and coming to visit you all

Hugs Kate xx

Friday sketchers meets Magnolia Down Under and Winter Wonderland Xmas Card

Am back, 

managed to put the roast in so have two and a half hours to do something...................also put the vegetables in the steamer and the winter roasted vegetables ready for their blast in the oven. mmmmmmmmmmmm cannot wait.

This is the last Xmas card for today as may go off and do some altered art now, until "Dancing on Ice" comes on later.

I am entering this overly bright little number into three challenges

Friday Sketchers Challenge 89 - an intriguing little sketch but I enjoyed working with it

Winter Wonderland 

An unusual colour combo of Satsuma, Gold and Chocolate, which after a little thought I felt came together quite well.

Magnolia Down Under Challenge 33           A recipe of Buttons, Flowers and Bows

Thank you Polly for giving me this well loved stamp, it will receive further abuse from me..... :))

Anyway enough of my warbling, here is the card, the papers are from MME and the snowflake punch is a Martha Stewart one from the Hobby House, along with the buttons.  The little roses are from Spire Crafts (my little spend from yesterday) and the ribbon I believe was from the Range.

   Well hope you all enjoy the rest of your day and thank you for your recent kind comments.

Hugs Kate xx

Henry Mouse Xmas Card - Challenge Combo

Hiya back again

Oh I am sooooooooooooooooo, relaxing and enjoying myself today..................................

This is the card I was in the middle of, I am entering this into the following challenges

Sketch Saturday Week 90 - another fab sketch

Stamp Something Cute - I enjoy the "something challenges"

ABC Christmas Challenge - "D" is for Decorations (one of the challenge sites helping to keep me on track for Xmas)

Here it is I am not sure what the papers are but they had decorations on them, so had to use them, then the only stamp I have with a decoration on it was this lovely Henry Mouse Whiff of Joy and isn't he just the "cutest" thing.

It was another easel card, wasn't sure on the colour combo but it was a definite change for me.  This is another of my MSE stamps, almost forgotten again, thank heavens for the cataloging is all I can say.  The flower is the last of my blue set from the Hobby House, but currently there is no more in stock, so may have to go surfing..................

Also really should try to get around to preparing the Sunday roast, that three bird roast will not cook if I do not get a move on.  

Will quickly go finish the last card which I believe Sam, makes me back on track with the Xmas cards.

back soon

Hugs Kate xx

Whiff of Joy Xmas Card

Good Morning

Just in case you missed it................. the sun was out and the day really started bright and welcoming.  If you are just getting up, it is now raining again :(

This is one of the promised Xmas cards that I finished late last night and definitely too late for me to take photo's of and post.  The reason for the delay was we had an unexpected guest, whom it is always nice to see.  

So without further delay and much less of my waffling here is the card that I am entering into

The Whiff Of Joy Challenge 66 - A sketch by the talented Jane

It is an easel card, using Craft Creations Christmas papers from the Hobby House (these come in a lovely selection of colours - I had to buy one of each and then went back for more), the crushed glass is also from the Hobby House along with the liquid applique used on her fluffly ruffles and makes a wonderful xmassy feel on the cuttlebug nestie punched snowflakes.  Sentiment - yes you guessed it, I found whilst cataloging my MSE stamps. 

Did I mention that I finally managed to put aside any duplicates from my MSE purchases........must do something with these though.  I do so hate waste.

This is a close up of the lovely whiff of joy image coloured in those amazing copics.

So I am in the middle of another challenge (Xmas Card) to clear the catch up, housework is complete and they are all still in bed...............off back to play...................

cya soon and have a great Valentine Sunday

Hugs and Hearts Kate xx