All Pink and Purple Just for the Winter Wonderland Design Team

Good morning to you all in the land of blog

Today sees the next challenge over at the 

Winter Wonderland

and some very exciting news, so pop over to check out the excitement

The very talented Marianne is hosting the challenge this week and she has chosen the fabulous theme of

Pink and Purple

(that is the only colours allowed other than for hair and skin)

and just a perfect theme for this weeks sponsor  Pink Gems

This took me back to my girlie moments and a softer look to my image too. Here is my design team inspirational piece

The complimenting trim card is silver mirror card, the base papers from a very old stack of papers.  The ribbon new from the Hobby House The image is Gillian Roberts "Eskimo Kisses from Secret Crafter such a cutie and the sentiment is a digi from "Sentiments for You" - now if you like this sentiment make sure you remember to pop back for next week's challenge. I added some silver snowflakes punched out and to the centre of these a purple pearl from the Hobby House. Image edged and stamped with Tim Holtz, Tattered rose again from the Hobby House and the image coloured with copics and a clear glitter sakuro pen

I would like to thank the following challenges for my recent wins
Tuesday Throwdown
Claudia and Company
Rainbow Ladies
and
Crafty Ho's

Don't forget to pop and take a look at the other wonderful creations by my teamies at the WW.

I am entering this into the following challenges

Color Dare #93 - Regal Rose,Pacific Point and Pink Pirouette

Crafts and Me - Monochrome

Creative Belli - anything beginning with P (Pink)

Freshly Brewed - Love or Valentine's themed

Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp - Bingo (Ribbon, Glitter/Glimmer, Gems)

Oldie But Goodie - Bright and cheerful

Papertake Weekly - Ribbons and Pearls

Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Love is in the air

Lexi's Creations - Say it with love

Cupcake - Photo inspiration

Let's Ink It Up - no digi and anything goes

Copic Creations - copics and anything new (new gorgeous ribbon)

Craft Your Days Away - Anything Goes
Do You Stack Up? - Think Pink
StampInsanity Stamp - monochrome in your favourite colour

Welcome to my new followers and a quick thank you to all of those lovely visitors who make me smile with such inspirational, and humorous at times, comments.

Hugs and Happy Crafting

Kate xx

Good morning bloggers

A short while ago my dear blogger friend June chose me as one of her 8 stylish bloggers. What an honour June and thank you so much. If you have not been over to see June's blog please do so she has two both are equally as interesting and unique  unwrapping my heart and dezina world 

 Part of the deal with this award is to share 8 things about yourself. So here goes (it took me a while to create this list)

1/ I am very lucky to have as my husband, my best friend and my best critic.  He says that I doubt my abilities and should consider that I am actually good at what I do.

2/ I have had many hobbies in life but creativity has been their in most of them.  At a young age I use to crochet and knit.  I moved on to cake decoration and then back to knitting taking a turn into ball gown making and finally to where I am today with card making, scrap book layouts and altered art.

3/ I have another best friend my baby Star.  She is a St. Bernard crossed with a lurcher, with the fluff that comes off her I could knit a jumper :)

4/ I have my very own craft room, with a lovely view of where I live. It is upstairs and has a big window for lots of natural light.

5/ I have many acquaintances in life and some true friends, one is getting married this year (must pull my socks up and get on with my creative list for her) one has been there for some time, but it was lovely to find her again more recently, and another is a recent friendship that I am sure will build over the years to come - I could mention so many many more but I would put you to sleep, but I have not forgot you all.

6/ I have been in my current job role for almost 14 years now but just over 10 in this contract of employment, it is challenging but then I do thrive on a challenge, stressful yes but that is where the crafting comes in.

7/ My son say's that I have to mention my attention to detail, probably because I spot everything and anything.

8/ On a health note - I cannot moan about my life as I could say I am living on borrowed time, I am lucky to still be enjoying life and take the rough with the smooth.  

Well thats my 8 things. Now i have to pass on to 8 other stylish bloggers. It is so hard to choose just 8 so I am sorry if you are not in the list, I could add so many more as you are all so talented, so I apologise if I have not chosen you on this occasion. 

Polly Artfulwings

Sue (Scoopy's Stuff)

Sue (Paper Paridise)

Sam (Sam's Blog)

Mandy (A Sprinkling of Glitter)

Beth (Inspired By Friends)

Sam Sam's Blog

Bridget Curlybearcrafts

Well think that is me for this morning and I hope to catch up with you all this evening

A quick thank you to all my lovely visitors who take the time to say hello and make me smile in passing

Hugs Kate xx

Stampin With the Dragon Design Team Call Reminder

Good morning to you all in the land of blog

Just popping by to remind you all that there is a design team call going on a 

Stampin with the Dragon 

currently, so if your interested in working with some amazing images pop on over here and grab yourself this gorgeous freebie image called Rupert's Friend to work with for your design team piece

Here is what I have created with the freebie image

Papers are Webster's from the Hobby House as are the tiny pearls the flowers and base card from stash along with the little bows which have been coloured with copics to match the papers.  The sentiment is from MSE.  The image is coloured in copics with a white gel pen for highlights and a glitter sakuro pen for her little wings.  Tim Holtz Old paper for the image plated distressing with some swirls stamped on the second pass from the same colour.

The call will run until Midnight UK time on the 17th January - so you have just a couple of more days

I am entering this sweet little creation into the following challenges

Delicious Doodles - any three colours (plus skintone) Green, Mustard, Red

Fairy Tale - flowers

Stamp Man - distressing

Stamp Something - Anything Goes

Do You Stack UP - distress it

Paper Play - cutie patootie

2 Sisters - Flowers

Thank you to all my wonderful visitors and those that take the time to make me smile :)

Hugs Kate xx

With Love from the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge Design Team

Good morning to you all in the land of blog

Today brings the next challenge for the

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge

But before I move on I need to tell you about this

20% DISCOUNT ON ALL ORDERS

USE DISCOUNT CODE:  CHR-SDDF1-75962

ON CHECKOUT

(OFFER DOES NOT APPLY TO SALE ITEMS)

This week the theme has been chosen by our very talented Jane, and it is

With Love

I really enjoyed creating this design team inspirational piece

This is a hand cut out heart template, which has been used to make a heart shaped easel card.  The base card for the easel is white.  On top of this is a row of the MS heart punches working their way around the heart on the top and return.  On top of this is a purple plain card and on top of this some more of my old stash papers and again the stack is that old that the top and bottom has fallen off it so sorry.    I added the large MS hearts and a small ribbon and bow on the return with some flowers and the MSE sentiment pair, just fabulous for this image which is a Secret Crafter Manga Image it comes in the clear polymer as well as a digi image.  I have used the digi image.  I have used a Tim Holtz purple lavendar distress ink to edge the image and to over stamp some swirls on the image plate.  The image is coloured with copics and the colour purple is just for our Jane.  The little pearls are from the Hobby House.  I have used a white gel pen to highlight the image and a clear sakuro glitter pen to edge the designer paper, the image and the sentiment.  I hope you like it.

I will be entering this little number into the following challenges

Claudia & Co - Shaped Projects

Oldie But Goodie Challenge - Bright & Cheerful

Scrap Creations - Love is in the Air

Bunny Zoe Crafts - Love is in the Air

Karber Weekly - digi and pearls

Lexi's Creations - Say it with Love

Stamping Scrapping Central - flowers

Stamps R Us - Shaped Cards

Woodware USA - Hearts

Crafty Hos' - Monochromatic

One Stitch at a Time - Love and Valentines
Southern Girls - Totally Loved Up
AliFactory - Anything Goes
CCEE Stampers - let's go wild (odd shaped cards)
Cute Card Thursday - Monochrome
Delightful Challenges - easel card
Pals Paper Arts - Valentine
Paper crafting journey - use a digi
Phindy's Place - Valentine
Mark's Finest Papers - Use Hearts
2 Sisters - Use Flowers

Please don't forget to pop and take a look at my teamies creations too

Hello to all my new followers and a thank you to those of my visitors that take the time to make me smile with their lovely comments

Hugs 

Kate xx

Paws For Thought With the Design Team at Winter Wonderland

hello to you all in the land of blog

and firstly an apology to all of those that I normally liaise with and comment on, my computer is now repaired and I am back to normal, well on catch up, so thank you for your patience.

So on to the 

Winter Wonderland Challenge

Wow what a great start to the Winter Wonderland Challenges for 2011 (remember that until Mid February your entries can be non Christmas related if you wish them to be and we had a great response to the DT call too.

So today brings the 2nd Challenge of the year and I am hosting this week, I chose the theme of

Paws For Thought

(that is anything with a paw, bear, dog, cat, mouse etc)

We are sponsored by Stitchy Bear Stamps this week

Here is my design team inspirational piece

My chosen Paw is a mouse paw with this lovely Whiff of Joy Image.  I have used a red pearlised paper as the bottom contrast layer and used my embossing folders to create some white interest.  I used my nestie for the image plate and some ribbon from stash to pick up the glitter bows that I added to the image plate.  Coloured with copics and liquid appliqué for the fluffy bits on the hat.  A white gel pen to add highlights on the image. 

I am entering the creation into the following challenges

ABC Christmas - A = Anything for Xmas

Stampavie and More - Glitter 

Paper take weekly - winter scenes or icy colours

Tuesday Throwdown - background stamping

Colour Chef - Monochromatic (tone on tone)

Crafty Card Makers - use red and a die cut

Crazy Challenge - Animals

Incy Wincy - Go Dotty

Creative Inspirations Paint - Inspired by textures

Meljens Designs - Square or round

Paperplay - cutie patootie

I would like to welcome my new followers and thank those lovely visitors who leave me comments that make me smile :)

Please don't forget to pop over to the Winter Wonderland Challenge to see what my other teamies have created

Hugs Kate xx

Stampin With the Dragon Design Team Call

Good evening to you all in the land of blog

The Dragon is having a DT Call, we are looking for a few Design Team Members to replenish our team, after quite a few stepped down over christmas for various reasons, so if you would like to try out for the team please pop over here for what you need to do, there is another freebieimage for you to use, whoop whoop!!!!!!!

This is the freebie image to be used for the DT call

The call will run from today until Midnight UK time on the 17th January

Just a quick hello to my new followers and thank you to those lovely visitors who take the time to leave me such inspirational comments, I really appreciate them all.

Happy Crafting

Kate xx

Marianne's Holiday Candy

WOW just look at what my teamie on the WW Challenge has on her holiday candy,  The closing date is 1st February, so be quick and pop over to Marianne's Craftroom

Kate xx

For That Special Stud In Your Life - say the Design Team at Stampin With The Dragon

Good evening to you all in the land of blog

Today I am a little late in bringing to you my piece for the new challenge at

Stampin with the Dragon

The theme this fortnight is

For The Special Stud

we are sponsored by

Dude Time Doodles

If your looking for great images for the guys in your life then here is where you go.  Dude Time Doodles has offered the winner of this challenge a $5 gift certificate to the store.

So this is what I created with the image I chose from the available choices kindly provided by Dude Time Doodles for my design team inspiration

A cream base layer with some unknown papers on the top in several layers, the sentiment is computer generated.  The ribbon from stash.  I used Tim Holtz frayed burlap to distress all the edges and my little pirate is coloured in copics.  He was beautiful to color.

I am entering him in the following challenges

Some Odd Girl  - Digi

Crafty Catz - food or drink

Karber Monthly - Digi and Movies ( Pirates of the Caribbean)

Dont forget that there is a DT call going on here 

Welcome to my new followers and thank you for your patience and to those visitors who leave such lovely comment

Hugs Kate xx

Tons Of Texture with the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge Design Team

Good morning to you all in the land of blog

Today brings yet another great challenge at the

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge

but before I move on I would like to thank you all for your patience and apologise for any delays in posting due to currently not being on my normal computer.

I just have to say I was so excigted to receive a random win from a special push of the finger at Delicious Doodles, thank you ladies

the theme this week has been chosen by the very talented Helen

Tons of Texture

what a fabulous theme, I had so many ideas floating around in my head, that it took me quite some time to get started.  I then remember a lovely flurry of comments between Mandy at a Sprinkling of Glitter around some very lush or plush or even soft and furry if you like, papers by GCD Studio's and just had to go stroke them again to find one that was so full of texture (I was very careful not to rub all the fur off and although gutted to have to cut into them again, I finally managed it)

Here is my Design team piece for Tons of Texture

It is an easel card with the backing paper of cappuccino pearlised and on top of this the lovely GCD paper.  I then used my new nestie.  The secret crafter shop sells a whole range of spellbinders check them out here

The lace doily is a heart shape and then the nestie is folded backwards and forwards to create a raised platform, I believe that I first saw this on Amazing Grace's blog quite a while back now (thank you for the inspiration) on top of this is a rosette of lace which is sewn with some thin gold wire and then pulled tight (this was a tip from Ruth @ Altered Geisha's Crafty Musings - thank you Ruth)  

on that note I always think it is important that if someone or something has inspired you that you should be considerate and courteous and acknowledge those people and not to totally copy there work.  

Sorry went off on one, so on top of the lace rosette are three green branch punched leaves with a lush red rose from Hobby Craft in the centre.  I have used some lovely red diamanté gems from the Hobby House to compliment all the red.  The ribbon on the inner return from stash sorry cannot remember where I picked this one up from.  Little roses I believe from Tilly's (see where I shop link)  The inner sentiment again is from the Hobby House but sorry cannot remember the brand.

wow lots to read there - hope I did not kill you off.

I am entering this creation into the following challenges

Make It Crafty Colourful - warm or cool colours, I went with the warm 

Craft Your Days Away - Anything Goes

Allsorts Challenge Blog - Fancy Folds

Sweet Stampin - Try something new - the concertina folds

2 Sisters - Getting Girly

Delicious Doodles - Something new - the new nestie dies for the folding

Charisma - Birthdays

Rainbow Lady's - Something new

Stampin B - Something new

Little Red Wagon - use a doily

Once again I would like to say hello to all my new followers and to those of you who make me smile with your wonderful comments, thank you

Hugs and have a great weekend

Kate

xx

CDAC Monthly Challenge for January - Design Team Creation

Good evening to you all in the land of blog

Today I get to show you the previously mentioned other freebie image, you can get your hands on it by entering the CDAC Stampin with the Dragon Monthly Challenge for January

just a reminder of the beautiful image

and here is my design team creation

The base papers are sunshine yellow and the orange designer papers are from the Papermania Capsule range.  The edges of the image plate and the sentiment has been distressed slightly with Tim Holtz Mustard Seed.  The sentiment is from the Hobby House by Woodware I believe and the flowers are punched out and layed over another paper with a scallop frame.  The image has been coloured with copics and is lovely to colour.  I have used a clear glitter sakuro pen for her wings and a white gel pen for highlights.  The large yellow pearls are from the Hobby House as are the brads in the centre of the flowers.

I know it is bright but doesn't it cheer you up :)

I am entering this creation into the following challenges

Creative Cottage - Something New (the papers) and the digital image

Stampin Royalty - Birthday Project

Flourishes - Flowers

Karber Weekly - Digi and Flowers

Scrapmaster's Paradise - Colour (So Saffron, Whisper White, Very Vanilla

Woodware USA - Something New (digi and papers)

Paper Sundaes - Something New (digi and papers)

Mad 4 Markers - Anthing Goes

Mr Blogger will kindly publish this for me at the correct time, as I am going out for tea with some amazing crafting friends.  Both of these talented ladies are currently running classes for Lynn at Grimsby Crafts, so if you are in the Grimsby area, do pop in to see the great choice of classes available.  Also pop over to see there lovely creations Polly @ Artfulwings and Sue @ Paper Paradise - oh you are in for a treat

I will link up the challenges after I have enjoyed myself, cannot wait

Dont forget that there is a DT call going on here

I would like to welcome my new followers and thank those of you who visit and leave such lovely inspiring comments, they always make me smile :)

Hugs and have a great weekend

Kate 

xx

Winter Wonderland Design Team Go Dotty

Good morning to you all in the land of blog

 and 

Happy New Year to you all 

we had some amazing entries into our "Thank You" Challenge that ran for two weeks and a great response to our Design Team Call so far

So today brings the first challenge of 2011 which is hosted by our very talented Lynsey

we are sponsored this week by Pollycraft

Now remember that for the first few challenges you can continue to create Christmas related creations or you can follow the theme but create something non Christmas related.

I chose to continue to make Christmas creations as yet again I have set myself a New Year's Resolution

The theme this week at 

Winter Wonderland 

is

Let's Go Dotty

(lots of spots on your creations)

So here is my dotty design team inspirational piece

I hope you can just see the MME Dotty papers behind the image plate.  The MS punch has been used to create the delicate edges of this bottle wrap.  The rear (not photographed before given away) has been laced up using a smaller green ribbon than the one around the neck of the bottle.  The image is Forever Friends edged in Frayed Burlap and also stamped using a swirl clear stamp with the same distress ink pad.  The little cutie has been coloured with copics and a few peel off's added for the additional Christmas Sentiment

here is a close up of the image

isn't he adorable

I am entering this little number into the following challenges

ABC Christmas Challenge - A is for anything Christmas

Fab N Funky - Anything Goes

A Spoonful of Sugar - Christmas

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes

Hello and welcome to my new followers and thank you to all those lovely visitors who leave me such great comments which always make me smile

Hugs and Happy Crafting for 2011

Kate xx

Stampin With the Dragon Design Team Call

Good evening to you all in the land of blog

oh my am I pleased to be here chatting to you all, had my first day back at work after a good break, a killer I can tell you, so use to the lay ins and of course the crafting time.  So it is with regret that I do not have time to show you a newly completed creation today.  I also apologise for the short post.

However maybe something better than that is to let you know the following:-

The Dragon is having a DT Call, we are looking for a few Design Team Members to replenish our team, after quite a few stepped down over christmas for various reasons, so if you would like to try out for the team please pop over here for what you need to do, there is another freebie image for you to use, whoop whoop!!!!!!!

This is the freebie image to be used for the DT call

The call will run from today until Midnight UK time on the 17th January

This is the freebie image over on the January CDAC Stampin with the Dragon Monthly Challenge, see here for details

Just a quick hello to my new followers and thank you to those lovely visitors who take the time to leave me such inspirational comments, I really appreciate them all.

Happy Crafting

Kate xx

New Release from Stamping Dragon Designs - Penny's Discovery

Good morning to you all in the land of blog

Today is my last play day as I am back at work tomorrow :(  

Yesterday, Janette, at Stamping Dragon Designs, released this fabulous new digi stamp and I requested it as I usually have to wait two drying days from printing, but oh I could not wait for next weekend, so went really carefully after warming it for some time with my heat gun.

Isn't it gorgeous you can buy it here

Now if you like the one above - you might like this one too, 

This is the freebie image over on the January CDAC Stampin with the Dragon Monthly Challenge, see here for details

I will be showing my CDAC inspirational piece shortly using the freebie image, but while you wait here is what I created with Penny's Discovery

 The papers were from the Hobby House last year and for the life of me I cannot remember what they were called or who they were by, sorry. The little pearls are from the Hobby House also.

I decided to use the sketch from Sketch and Stash

I used some pearlised bronze papers to contrast and a little pearlised cream.  The doily MS punch and flowers from various places.  The ribbon from stash. The sentiment is an MSE.

I am entering this creation into the following challenges

Sketch and Stash - Sketch and new digi image

The Shabby Tea Room - 11 elements on the creation

Woodware USA - Something New - the digi image

Simon Says Stamp and Show - your newest stamp

Scrappy Frogs - Sentiment

Aly's Sunday Challenge - Anything Goes

Catered Crop - Recipe

Creative Inspirations Paint - Inspired by Circles

Paper Sundaes - Something New

Catch the Bug - Anything Goes

marks finest papers - Anything Goes

Sew Many Cards - New Things

I would also like to thank all those lovely visitors that leave such inspirational comments.

Hugs and Happy Crafting

Kate xx

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge Design Team Play With Buttons and Bows

Good morning to you all in the land of blog

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL

Today brings the very first challenge from the

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge 

for 2011

with the Theme chosen by the very talented Bridget, of

BUTTONS AND BOWS

although I cannot move on without mentioning all of those lovely entries into the farmyard challenge over the exciting Xmas period.

I am thrilled to bits to present my Design Team inspirational piece today, as I would like to say a BIG THANKYOU !!!!! to Wendy owner of the Secret Crafter shop, for ensuring that my lovely Birthday/Christmas Present from Matt and the Christmas present from Mike and Hannah arrived just in time for putting under the Xmas tree.  This present came direct from the Secret Crafter Shop and was ordered especially for little old me by Wendy.

So after the very first play with my new 

Grand Callibur and Spellbinders dies

here is my very first extra large creation.

I started my collection of large spellbinder dies with the large circle scallops and large circles.  So I created a very large backward easel card.  The two base cards are from the very very large scallop circles and then one of the scallops is folded directly in half and placed carefully over the other half of the other scallop circle.  On top of this are several more large die cut scallop circles and just circles using lemon paper and the Heather Capsule Collection Mono paper.  The smaller image plate circle and the inner heart embossed scallop circle are from the original nestie sets (this shows you the size of the card).  I used the small oval nesties for the sentiments.  The bows very nicely provided by the Papermania Range.  Buttons from the secret crafter and the yellow roses from Wild Orchid. Pearls from the Secret Crafter.

The image is just perfect for the sentiment on the inner return and I have used copics to colour the image and a clear sakuro glitter pen for Tilda's wings.

Here is  a close up of the inner return, the yellow roses are also sat on buttons. But two buttons sit in between the three bows.

I am entering this creation into the following challenges

Anything Goes -= "C" for Circles

Shabby Tea Room - Shabby Chic Baby

Totally Tilda - Tilda and an Easel

Stamps R Us - Anything Goes

Woodware USA - Anything Goes

Aly's Sunday Challenge - Anything Goes

Crafty Pad - Anything Goes

I did it Creations - Out with the Old and In with the New

One Stitch At A Time - Anything Goes

Paper Sundaes - cut it out

2 Sisters - Thinking Of You

Allsorts - Anything Goes

Craft Your Days Away - Punches or Die Cuts

Crafty Emma - Anything Goes

Totally Gorjuss - for someone special

Moving Along With The Times - Circles and Birthday

Delicious Doodles - Purple

I would like to welcome my new followers and thank all of my lovely visitors for the inspiring comments left.

A reminder of my supportive cause this Christmas and New Year - Cyber Bullying please help me to raise the awareness by showing the image and linking to the information, thank you in anticipation :)

Hugs and New Year Wishes

Kate xx