Your Support Is Requested..............................

Stamping Dragon is helping out with a Charity called Ear Trust. that supports the use of cochlear implants across Yorkshire and neighbouring areas, to enable babies, children and adults with profound hearing loss to begin to hear. It's a great cause and Janette created two beyond cute digital images of their mascott the Snail for donations. If you would like to help such a wonderful cause you can purchase them at http://dragonslairdesigns.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=248 . 100% of the proceeds will go to the charitiy.

Here are the images aren't they just adorable and for such a good cause too, why not pop over and add your support to this very worthwhile charity.  I did and cannot wait to ink one up and show my support.

 Stampin With the Dragon also have their new challenge starting today and the theme is

YOU GOT INK

If you fancy joining in why not pop over here

A reminder that if you would like to know how to have a chance at being the Spotlight Guest Designer for Stampin with the Dragon why not pop over to the forum to get more details, I am really enjoying my time with them and Beth and Janette are fabulous to work with.

Thank you for taking the time to consider this request and for visiting me this evening

Hugs Kate xx

Winter Wonderland DT Christmas Card - Give it the Vintage Look

Good morning to you all out there in the land of blog

Today is Friday and as always this rings in the beginning of the weekend but more importantly the commencement of the new challenge at Winter Wonderland and the beginning of another week off from work whoop whoop

For those of you following the saga of the we cannot see Mr Linky on our 64 bit new machines, well after a few more updates, Sue very kindly let me know she could see him, so I have been to check and yes I can now too

Although we cannot move on with out mentioning all those fabulous creations from such talented people that entered last weeks challenge, they were pretty awesome I can tell you and I enjoyed visiting each and everyone of you.

This week at Winter Wonderland the Challenge is being hosted by our very talented Janet or some of you may know her as Clarky J.  she has chosen this weeks challenge theme as

GIVE IT THE VINTAGE LOOK

We are sponsored by Teri

who is offering the random winner 3 fabulous digi images, how cool is that?

So if you fancy having a go pop over here 

I love going vintage but usually end up really messy, but that is what creating is all about isn't it?

Here is my DT card for this week.

The base colour card is hammered green and the papers used are my current favorites which lend themselves so well to vintage which are Papermania the Silent Night collection.  I have used Tim Holtz vintage photo and a make up sponge to stain all the edges.  The little tag's image is one from the internet printed off onto photo paper to give it a sheen. I aged a round doily too to sit the tag on top of.  The ribbon is another current favorite, I have a green version and this deep claret.  I added some pearls large and small in gold from the Hobby House and used my punches to create the flowers in the same papers. Yep my hands are nicely brown now.

Here is the close up of the tag image

He looks like he is having such fun doesn't he and the little greeting rhyme was just perfect.

I will be entering this card into the following challenges

A Spoonful of Sugar - whose theme is Winter Wonderland, well he looks like he is having a wonderful time in the snow :)
Crafty Emma's Store (CES) Challenge - with a theme of A Tag
Anything Goes - with a theme of Ribbon

ABC Challenge - with a theme of Flowers

Once again thank you so much for all my wonderful visitors and to those of you who leave such inspirational comments which then enables me to come visit you in return to see your fabulous work also.

Think that is about it oh other than to say have a great weekend and Happy Crafting

Hugs Kate xx

An Emergency Light Box

Good afternoon to you all

Oh my was yesterday horrid, not in the creative sense but in the sort out the brand new computer sense.  6 hours to reinstall everything again, in an attempt to find out why Mr Linky cannot be seen by a 64 bit Windows machine using Explorer 8 or Firefox.

This is not just my issue........................there are several of us who have upgraded our machines only to find out that we are then unable to see the Mr Linky on Challenges or Candy posts.  We are not having issues with the blue froggy he appears to be user friendly to us.

I sit opposite my hubby in my office and he has a 64 bit machine and explorer 8 and he can see it.............. so it is very frustrating................a plea if you have any ideas or have managed to solve your own issues, please would you be so kind as to pass on how you did this, thank you :)

Onto the crafting bit then :)  I have in between my GDT and DT crafting been working towards a few little creations.  This is one of them and I hope you like it, I am going to give it to a friend as a thank you as she spent an awful lot of time and is still searching for an answer to the above.

I was entering this into the Let's Get Shabby Challenge which is a photo inspiration challenge - I was choosing kitchen number 2 however I forgot to stick to the required recipe but never mind, I will see what else it might fit into.

 The little box was purchased at a local department store in a wood state.  I painted it with gesso and then painted onto of this with some Oyster Acrylic paint, it looks a little silver here but in the natural light it is a gorgeous pearlised creamy white with a hint of the mother of pearl.  I added the ribbon and created the bow, the ribbon was also from the same department store (see where I shop above)

 The clasp was a little lose so Matt addressed this for me with some really strong glue.

 The wording is computer generated and free hand cut out and the roses are cut out from some lovely paper that was in my stash.

 The candles from another cheap local shop and the inner was painted in gesso and then the pale pink.  The papers that edge the sides again from stash.

 The computer generated wording was a quote I found on a web site, but there was not name to go with it.

Decided to take an angle shot to see if I could show you more, not sure if it worked.

I am entering this into the following challenges

ABC Christmas - U = Under the Tree

One Stop Craft - Alter It

Thank you all of my recent visitors who left some amazing comments

OK I am now going to hit the ironing with the new iron (not sure if I told you but last week the ironing did not get done as the old iron thermostat had a blip and I put the iron straight through my work trousers) so I have two weeks worth of ironing to get on top off - will watch the recorded Strictly Come Dancing and X Factor first live show to keep me going

Hope the rest of your Sunday is more pleasant than mine is going to be

Hugs 

Kate xx

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Guest Designer for October

Oh yes!!!!!! that is my exciting news!!!!!!

I was thrilled to bits to win on the Secret Crafter a couple of challenges ago and to recieve some amazing Manga images from the Secret Crafter, I used one of the images for the last WW Challenge DT card and I was mega impressed but due to the SCSC challenge theme and the WW theme I could not enter the SCSC  last week which was a shame.

So was so excited to receive a mail the other day from Jane asking me if I would like to be their Guest Designer for October, I of course replied quickly and accepted. 

So I set about creating the first required piece and throughly enjoyed creating it too, I got really carried away with the thread cutter and roughed up all the edges, I even tore and curled and then got the sponge and Tim Holtz vintage photo ink pad out and stained my fingers really bad.  You see the reason I got so messy was the theme

The Theme this week at the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge is

DISTRESSING

This is what I created for my first Guest DT with Jane and the team.

 The base card is a pearlised coffee coloured paper and the top papers are all from the wonderful Papermania Silent Night collection.  I edged every layer with the thread cutter, until it looked most untidy, I then set about distressing with vintage photo all the edges.  I then added a little stickles to all the edges, all before I could actually put the whole thing together.

Here is a close up of the lush ribbon, I added a distressed looking gold snowflake (Hobby House) and a pearl to the centre of the bow knott (Hobby House)

 Here is a close up of the flowers, these were a dirty yellow colour and I made them a little more distressed too and then made them pretty with the stickles. (Wild Orchid) You can just see the music score that I used behind the torn and curled top right corner.

 Then there is the image, well I do use this quite a bit it is a Gillian Roberts clear stamp called Mistletoe and mice, the mistletoe has liquid applique on it for the berries, fluffed up with the heat gun. I coloured with my favorites those fabulous copics and used a gold glitter Atyou for her spots.

 Here is the inner return with the Whiff of Joy Sentiment, showing a close up of the gold pearls.

 Now I haven't tried this before I normally strenthen the back of the easel but decided to strengthen the front and make it tie in.

 

 If you love a bit of distressing then pop over and join in with this weeks challenge.

I am entering this card into the following challenges

Creative Card Crew - Bloomin Marvelous

Papertake Weekly Challenge - September 2010 Animal Magic

Bah Humbug - Cuties

Thank you to all of my visitors who pop by and especially to those that leave such lovely comments, I really love and appreciate them, and it allows me to pop over to see you too.

Have a Great crafting day

Hugs Kate xx

Stamping With The Dragon GDT Creation

Good evening - lovely people in blog land

Today I get to share some more creations that I made for my October Guest Designer position for Stamping with the Dragon with you, both of the items will be displayed on the following locations, if you would like to pop and have a look. I keep thanking Beth for the opportunity :)  as I am so enjoying using these lovely images and they are just perfect for copic colouring, and thank Janette for creating such wonderful digi's.

The Stampin with the Dragon Challenge Blog

The Store Forum

Crafter's Digital Art Centre (CDAC)

now if you would like to be considered for a Guest Designer Spot like me, pop over to  Just Opened Store Forum for details

I created a fishing hook tin and stole the garden twine to aid in its creation.

Here it is

 The papers are K & Co, the tin is primed with gesso and painted with linen acrylic paint.

   The image Rupert Goes Fishing Take 1, is the one I asked nicely if there was a possibility of and  a day later it was available here

This is the inside of the box, the little bars are thin dowel wrapped in garden twine.

I also made to go with it this  - a fishing card, could be for any occasion really.

 Base layer is a sort of in your face yellow and I have done a little distressing not to heavy and the papers I have had an age so cannot remember their brand sorry. The charm the little fish again sorry I buy so many of the charms I sort of forget now and again.  Pearls from the Hobby House

This is the image close up coloured with copics and a little white gel for the highlights.  I used a mask on this one and hid him whilst I went a little mad creating clouds from torn paper and then mixing severl distress inks on the ground under his feet.

I am sort of into the challenges but for once it is sad to say I did not find any that I could enter it into :(

Thank you to all my recent visitors and to those of you who kindly leave me a comment to allow me the opportunity of visiting you in return.

Teasing you again, but don't forget my exciting announcement tomorrow !!!!!!

Enjoy your weekend and Happy Crafting to you all

Hugs Kate xx

Winter Wonderland DT Card - Jesus Is the Reason for the Season

Good morning to you all out there in the land of blog

I am sure you can guess by now that it is nearly the weekend and that means it is another fabulous Winter Wonderland Challenge, but we cannot move on with out saying how stunning last weeks entries were, wow you are such a talented lot and I really enjoy popping to see each and everyone of you and leaving you a little love.

This week the very talented Danielle has set and is hosting the challenge and she has chosen the theme of

JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON

I would have struggled with this a little I think and luckily we are sponsored by

Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps And More is proud to sponsor this challenge.

Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps And More, a division of I Did It Creations, was created and is owned by Robyn Weinrib. Robyn offers a wonderful variety of digital stamps and digital papers,designed to meet the needs of all digital paper crafting addicts for every occasion.

Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps And More is happy to offer the winner of this challenge 5 digital stamps or digital paper sets of their choice.

Each of the DT were offered the option of using one of these lovely images and although I did not spot one that met our challenge Danielle did, so she helped me to get my direction.  So here is what I created for my DT piece this week.

 This has a base layer of green mirror card and the Dovecraft papers on top, I then created a mini card and placed this on top after putting the ribbon behind to make the closure (I would not want it flying open)  The snowflakes on top, now I don't know if you remember back a few posts when the very talented Sam from Sam's blog had sent me via snail mail a gorgeous creation with some 3D snowflakes on it, well thank you Sam loved them and decided to borrow the idea.  I think they work so well, they are nestie snowflakes and you sit two together one is folded in half and lifted for the effect.  They were obviously glittered heavily too.  I added three little punched out green snowflakes and placed a clear diamante in the centre of each.

This is the mini card opened up, so you can see the Nellie framed Robyn's Fetish image, coloured with copics.

 Here is a close up of the image

 As you know the WW Teamies and I love to combo our creations so here are the challenges I am entering this card into

Fab N Funky - who have a theme of use a digi

Anthing Goes - who have a theme of Christmas

Ooh La La - who have a theme of nothing floral (makes a change for me)

Die Cut Dreams Christmas - who have a theme of Glitter Ribbons and Gems

I would like to thank all my lovely visitors especially those that leave such inspirational comments as they pass.

Mr Blogger will be publishing this post for me whilst I am working, and I will at some point try to mobile blog the challenges and if I do not get chance, then I will do this when I get home.

Well all that I need to say then I suppose is Happy Crafting and enjoy your weekend

oh no, I nearly forgot ( tomorrow I will have some super exciting news to share with you all!!!!! :)   ) so till then.

Hugs 

Kate xx

 

Poor Old Messy Scale and Happy WOYWW

Good morning to you all

This is for those of you that often pop by to see what is on my workspace WOYWW and to view where you sat on the messy scale from the week before.  If you are not familiar with this please pop over to the creator of the amazing phenomina Julia at The Stamping Ground

Today I am sorry to say due to computer replacement and trying to get everything back to normal I do not have anything to show you, sorry.

Now the Messy Scale was something I started doing for fun and I loved seeing where you all thought you sat within this and loved coming to check out your blogs to compare them to others who had graded themselves.  I have met some lovely people through this and will try to continue to visit you you all.

However it is with such regret that this will be the last of the Messy Scale posts, full time work and family committments along with the need to actual do some crafting have dictated that I am unable to spend the whole of my Saturday morning blog hopping to compare you all, especially as the number of people entering the messy scale was getting more and more and I think I was actually running out of numbers on the scale.

I am thankful that so many of you enjoyed the fun as I know I did.

So here is the very last Messy Scale

1/10 little old me

 2/10 Elizabeth and Bleubeard

2/10 Wipso

 3/10 Li'l Pidge

4/10 Katie

5/10 Sunshine Girl

6/10 Butlersabroad

7/10 Helen

8/10 Anne

9/10 Kate

10/10 Sheila

I am sorry once again, but as always happens the crafting time gets taken over by the blogging time, and I think sometimes you have to make a choice.  I would like to be able to create more lovely items and comment on other peoples inspirational work and therefore cannot commit the time to the Messy Scale at this time.

I hope you all understand

Hugs Kate xx

A Gorgeous Blog Award from Miria

Hello to you all out there in the land of blog

The lovely and very talented Miria just left me a little comment to visit her as she had something for me on her blog and to my delight she has been really kind and chosen me as one of her fifteen friends - such a sweet award, thank you Miria

I need to pass this on to fifteen blog friends too, this is so difficult when there are so many, so I decided to go with the sites that inspire me -  so in no particular order

Sue from Scoopy's Stuff

Lols from Lorraine's Loft

Maddy at Madimaginations

Mandy at A Sprinkling of Glitter

Polly at Artfulwings

Kim at Cards By Kim

Ruth at Altered Geisha's Crafty Musings

Sue at Paper Paradise

Sam at Sam's Blog

Danielle at Paper Inspirations by Danielle

Marianne at Marianne's Craftroom

Lynsey from Lynsey's Place

Janet (AKA Clarky J) from Christmas Preparations and Clarky J's Play Space

Lindsey at Loopy Lindseys Crafty Corner

Beth at Inspired By Friends

Have a great day

Hugs Kate xx

Across the Miles Untraditional Xmas Card

Hi all

hope life is treating you well so far this week, the weather isn't too bad todate here in the UK, I am hoping it will improve slightly for the weekend as I love looking out the Beach Hut window onto the sunshine.

My sister does this every day as she lives in Zanzibar, Tansania so so far away and I miss her terribly but she is a free spirit and life their suits her so well.

There were a couple of challenges that really made me think of her so I decided to create this little number to send to her this Christmas (will have to post half way through November to make sure she gets it though)

Here it is anyway

Very untraditional well maybe the red hat is about all that says Xmas, the base paper a pearlised red on top of this are an array of Papermania Capsule Mono Collection papers all edged in the red.  The round nestie for the image plate and the scallop for its mount and some wierd coloured snowflakes to give it that sort of Xmas feel.  The image is from clip art and the hat is too, the sentiment is an MSE and the inner sentiment is that "I will have a blue blue Xmas without you" also an MSE one, so this card is going to go miles and miles and miles (hope it will arrive safely)

This is a close up of the image, cute huh!! just added a little colour with the copics

I used the sketch by Bev from Crafter's Companion and worked with their theme too of an untraditional Christmas

I am also entering this into

Stamptacular - layer it on

Paper Sundaes - something from Stash (the papermania papers)

Crafty Emma's Store - A hat

Totally Papercrafts - The Great Outdoors

Bah Humbug - Across the Miles

Just Inspirational - A Christmas Card

now remember I mentioned the ironing?, well I started and the thermostat blew and the heat in the iron rose and the iron plate burnt straight through my work trousers !!!! had to go on the way home from work to buy a new iron, will go on the way home from work tomorrow to get a new pair of work trousers :)  Ironing may be fun for a short time, well until the novelty of the new iron wears off......

I would like to thank all my lovely visitors and those that take the time to leave me such inspirational comments, so that I can come and visit you in return

So that is me for now enjoy the rest of your week

Hugs 

Kate 

xx

Stampin with the Dragon - Water Water Water Fisherman's Key Ring

Good morning to you all 

here in the UK it is a little bit wet to say the least, perfect for working in the house and in the craft room (mental note still must do the ironing though)

I would like to say hello to my newest followers and hope that I can continue to keep their interest :)

 

Today I am posting my creation that I would enter into the  Stampin with the Dragon Challenge where the theme is Water Water Water.  However, just a reminder if you did not see yesterday's post, I am currently the October Spotlight Guest Designer for them so wanted to show you what I would have entered.

Now today there is also a Special Event taking place here so you might want to pop over and taking a peek.

 Now as a Guest Designer you can see my other work in the following locations, if you are interested

The Store Forum

Crafter's Digital Art Centre (CDAC)

Now if you are not a member it is a free sign up, so you will need to sign up first.  This is a great place to get ideas and for those who use digital images places to enter challenges.  It's basically a great source of information.

 if you would like to be considered for a Guest Spotlight Designer position, pop over to the Just Opened Store Forum for details

I have used one of those lovely fishing images created at my request by Janette at Dragon's Lair Designs which can be obtained here

Here is my little keyring, which my hubby Matt can put his fishing shed key onto.

I apologise for the image, using a different software at the moment that I actually have never used before and it was really difficult to photograph it due to the size, not that this is an excuse you understand.

To make this little keyring, I printed out a large image of Rupert Goes Fishing Take 1 and then placed my shrink plastic over the top of the printout, I then carefully drew around the image.  I flipped the image over and coloured in the image with my copics.  I then used the hole punch to make the hole and put the keyring onto it.  I then used my heat tool to shrink him, once shrunk I carefully flattened him out with the end of a ruler, once cool he was good to go.  The hubby loves it :)

 

Well I am in the middle of some more creations that are drying in between layers - so I will be ironing in the middle slots

Would like to thank my recent visitors that have left such inspiring commments, I love them all thank you

thanks for looking

Hugs Kate xx

Stampin with the Dragon October Spotlight Guest Designer

Good morning to you all 

Yep thrilled to bits to be the Stampin with the Dragon October Spotlight Guest Designer, even more excited to see myself on not just one location but three, oh it makes you feel so special, if you know what I mean. Thanks Beth and Janette :)

So if your interested the three locations are:

The Stampin with the Dragon Challenge Blog where the current challenge is Water Water Water

Now on Sunday there is also a Special Event taking place here so you might want to pop over and taking a peek.

The Store Forum

Crafter's Digital Art Centre (CDAC)

Now if you are not a member it is a free sign up, so you will need to sign up first.  This is a great place to get ideas and for those who use digital images places to enter challenges.  It's basically a great source of information.

now if you would like to be considered for all this fabulous excitement pop over to the Just Opened Store Forum for details

This is the current card that is being shown at the above three locations and as I promised on all of the them, here is how the creation was put together.

The card is an easel style card, but instead of adding another identical square for the front a circle has been used.  The base layer is a pearlised bronze paper.  I drew the circle with a compass and cut one in the base card (white), one in the bronze paper and then using the chosen dp (sorry really old stack, so not sure of make).  I used my MS small heart border punch and punched long lengths on cream pearlised paper.  I then trimmed this off and carefully snipped what I call spades on the non punched side.  I then use some really really tacky glue and using the reverse of the dp circle, I start to glue the trim carefully around the circle (avoid creating creases and try to keep it flat)  I did the same on the inner return. I then sandwich the bronze circle and the now edged dp circle together and add it to the base white circle.  I covered the easel stand in the bronze paper before adding the newly created sandwich circle.  The image which can be found here at

 

was printed onto my copic colouring paper and then a nestie was used to cut it out.  I then drew around the same nestie using the bronze paper to create it's frame.  After colouring and highlighting I added the glitter swirls by placing the clear stamp into a glue pad and then added the glitter and giving it time to dry.  The flowers were added along with the large MS hearts. The ribbon added to aid the easel to remain open. 

So as always here are some close ups, the image coloured with copics and a gel white pen for the highlights, along with a clear glitter sakuro pen.

 The inner sentiment, just perfect, don't you think?

I hope you like it and some more of the creations will follow through out this month.  I am entering this card into the following challenges

Saturday Challenge - with the theme of easel cards - please see my last post for the amazing digi's I won two challenge back, fabulous images.

One Stop Craft - with a theme of Congratulations

Sweet Stampin - with a theme of Punch it Out

Stamp Something - with a theme of Something to Celebrate

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - with the theme of Floral

Crafty Sentiment - with a theme of border punches

Moving Along with the Times - with a theme of Fairies or Fantasy - I felt that Dragons are Fantasy hope you agree

ABC Challenge - with the E for Easel

Tuesday Throwdown - with a theme of punches

Creative Card Crew - with a theme of Bloomin Marvelous

wow that took some working out, so many fabulous challenges now :)

Thank you to everyone who has been visiting recently and to those of you who leave such inspiring and kind comments.  I would like to apologise for not getting back to you all and would like to say the new comp is so so quick this should now resolve the past issues, thank you to you all for your patience.

So have a great weekend and enjoy all your crafting moments

Hugs Kate xx

An Angel of a Card for Winter Wonderland DT

Good morning bloggers

It is Friday and don't they come around so quickly.  If you are not sure why Friday is so good, it is the beginning of the weekend and even better it is the commencement of the next challenge at

Winter Wonderland

Last week we had some amazing entries and it was great popping over to visit you all to read all your entry posts and look at all those lush holly berries, I think I managed to pop to see all of you

If I have not popped to snoop yet on your WOYWW it is because the desktop computer decided it had finally given up and a new one got ordered, this is as we speak working its way to mega setup mode and I will shortly be able to whizz through my comment catch ups.

I am also as I said on my last post mega excited as today also sees the commencement my Dragon's Lair Guest Designer spot. 

If you would like to pop to see some of the items I have created for them here are the links again

http://stampindragondesigns.freeforums.org/

The Dragon's Den

Crafter's Digital Art Center (CDAC)

So after all that excitement here is even more as the new challenge at Winter Wonderland is

A Masculine Christmas Card

and this week we are sponsored by a fabulous sponsor

Digi Doodles

This challenge was chosen and is hosted by our very talented Lynsey

Initially I got to a slow start on this one, but eventually just had to use one of my new digi stamps from my winnng's at the Secret Crafter, this image is Angel Boy and he seemed just perfect, such a shame I could not do a purple and silver card and join in with them this week, but I don't think boys do those colours much, do you?

So this is what I created

The base card and trim along with punched edge and scrolls is gold mirror card, and on top of this is the Dovecraft new papers I think (hope I remembered correctly)  The deckled edge rectangle nestie was just perfect for the image and the sentiment is an MSE.  The ribbon just finished it off nicely but now not sure where this one came from sorry.

Here is a close up of the image coloured with my usual copics and for those sparkly wings a clear sakuro glitter pen.

For a first time of colouring him it went OK and I love the wings.

Now you know how us ladies of the WW Design Team love to combo their creations, so here is what I am entering this card into this week

Sunday's With Chrissy - Sparkle and Shine with a digi

Crafts and Me - For a Teenager

Creative Inspirations - Xmas in September

The Lollipop Ladies - Candy Stripes

Tuesday Throwdown - punches

Totally Gorjuss - Xmas

Sew Many Cards - Digi Stamp and Christmas

and 

the sketch was by Sketch Saturday

I would like to say thank you to those of you who pop by and take the time leave me such lovely comments, I really do enjoy reading them and returning to visit you all.

So I think that all is left for me to say is have a great weekend and enjoy your crafting

Hugs Kate xx