Arty Party NI

Whiff Of Joy

2010-06-01T12:28:00.004+01:00

Hi everyone, well here is my entry for this fortnights challenge over at WOJ where you had to use the colours, brown, yellow and 1 other, I decided to use blue.

While working on this card it reminded me of Autumn and how the colours change to make you feel warm and cosy.

I've used distress inks and copic pens on this card as well as Martha Stewart punches and some ribbon.

I hope you enjoy my card, and comments are much appreciated.

Come back tomorrow when I might have another card to share with you all.

Hugs and kisses, Karen

i'm back ........

2010-04-27T22:46:00.002+01:00

No I didn't fall of the planet, no I haven't given up crafting!!!

What have I been doing? well mainly working none stop and I haven't had time to craft. When I come home I'm that tired I just want to sit down and sleep.

So as May is only around the corner I am trying to get myself back into the swing of things and organise the business alot better.

So please bare with me, hopefully I will be back to normal (whatever that is?) soon.

Thanks

Karen

WOJ weekly challenge

2010-01-11T21:09:00.003Z

Hi everyone, well I hope you are all having a fantastic time in the snow!? No I didn't think it. It's quite depressing as its stayed for so long now.

Anyway, here is my first entry for the WOJ Challenge in 2010. This week it was a colour scheme where you had to use Aqua and Red.

Apologies for poor picture, there is no daylight worth talking about and the lights in here just wouldn't be the best.

I used my new Wee & Christmas tree stamp which I bought in the WOJ sales just before the New Year and coloured the tree in using H20's and Wee with my copics. I've been trying to invest in more copics but at the minute its hard to justify spending £6.99 on one pen, especially when I'm looking for at least 10.

I have used diamond glaze and then glittered some of the circles in the papers just to add a little frost onto the card. Can't get out of the "Christmas" theme yet, but I am working on it!!

This is a close up of Wee and his tree, I think I have the shadows very good in this image, must be getting better.

Ingredients:

Image: Whiff Of Joy, Wee & Christmas Tree

Colours: H20's lemongrass, kiwi & moss agate

Copics & distress inks

Papers: DCWV

Ribbon, glitter, adhesive stones all from stash.

Hope to see you soon, Karen xoxo

Merry Christmas

2009-12-25T00:41:00.002Z

Well, it has turned Christmas here and I wanted to come onto my blog and wish all you lovely people a MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Don't know what the weather is like where you are in the world, but her in Northern Ireland we are definitely having a White Christmas, which is lovely as it has been a few years since we had one.

Well off to bed now as the big man in the Red Suite should be arriving soon, and obviously I want to stay in his good list, so God Bless you all and hope you all have a lovely Christmas.

Karen xoxoxo

I'm Back

2009-12-18T00:42:00.002Z

Well, eventually got the computer fixed, but to be honest with you it sounds like a temporary repair only - I honestly think it's going to take wings and fly any minute.

Have managed to make some cards, but forgot to take pictures before I posted them (slap's herself on the wrist).

Now I hope that my fellow blogger friends who I have snail mail addresses for receive theirs okay in the post, I have noticed that this time of the year its a case of just shove it in the letter box and make a quick exit.

Anyway got to go to bed now, back to work tomorrow as I've been off all week as my wee man Joe has the chicken spots and for obvious reasons hasn't been at school. He's had a rough week my wee man with hospital appointments, dentist appointments and then the chicken pots (well that's what he's calling it) surely next week, Christmas week, everyone in the home will be well and fine, fingers crossed anyway.

See ya all soon

Karen xoxox

PS Has everyone received their Magnolia Winter Kit's yet? I haven't, phoned them and if I still don't have them by next week I have to ring them again. By the sounds of it they aren't very Wintery anyway - good job I wasn't holding of to make my Christmas cards with them :-(

Not enough time .....

2009-12-10T08:19:00.002Z

.... I have no time. Sorry for not being about as late, I do have a good reason, well 2 to be precise.

1st - My computer has died again and I'm using my Mum & Dad's computer to post this as they are out Christmas shopping. Please don't tell my Dad as it would take me forever and a day to understand what a blog is, never mind posting onto one.

2nd - This week is manic, I have a hospital appointment for Joe on Monday, GFS Bible studying on Tuesday, Charity golf competition on Wednesday, Mother's Union card making event on Wednesday night, working Thursday and partying on Friday night (well this will take at least 5 hours to get ready for, need a new gown, hair done etc etc)

So please forgive me for not being here, I am in spirit and thought.

When I get my computer back, I promise (fingers crossed) to post pictures of the cards that I've been making. Can't even get doing my favourite weekly challenges as I don't know what they are :-(

Karen

Penny Black Saturday Challenge

2009-11-25T23:58:00.003Z

Evening all, well it just goes to show you what I can get done when the OH is working night shift. 2 cards in 1 day, well that tells you everything.

Over at the Penny Black Friends Saturday challenge blog they have on offer some FANTASTIC candy, also a mysterious blog hop where you need to guess the name of the song. Now to enter the candy and the blog hop you must enter into their challenge which this week was Winter Wonderland.

Well this is my entry, the image was a lovely gift that I received from Jackie when I won some of her candy and as a "thank you" I sent her a card, but I don't know if she has received it yet.

I wanted to create a card with a different colour tone, so I picked purple and blue. On the background paper I used some stencils and used both perfect pearls and embossing powder to highlight the snowflakes.

Here is a close up of the image and isn't it just adorable. I coloured it in using my copics and inked the edges with some colour chalk.

Ingredients

Image: Penny Black

Papers: DCWV Winter Matstack

Nestabilities: Labels Two

Ribbon: Glitter Gloss

Bits & Bobs: Chalk eyes, perfect pearls & embossing powder

Well does it make you start to feel more in the Christmas spirit?? Why not pop over to Penny Black Saturday Challenge and enter the challenge yourself, if your not in you can't win.

Catch up with you soon, Karen xoxo

Just Magnolia challenge

2009-11-25T08:04:00.003Z

Morning all, this is my entry for this weeks challenge over at the Just Magnolia challenge blog. For this week you had to use "masking" and I masked this little Tilda in front of the fence.

Apologies for this picture, its still dark outside.

Now I don't know if its the bad weather, the late nights or so close to Christmas, but I wanted to make a card that was bright and would make anyone smile. Let's be honest I just want a HUG!! So that was the sentiment that I put on my card.

I only have 2 magnolia's in my collection, but I have ordered their Christmas kit and I can't wait until they arrive, hopefully this week sometime, but until they do I'm sorry for the repetitive images that I will be using.

Doesn't the bright colours brighten your morning? I know they work for me.

Ingredients:

Images: Tilda holding a flower

& fence from Imagination crafts

Colours: Copic sketch & Sakura glaze pens

Papers & embellishments: these were from a TSV of QVC a few years ago,

sorry can't remember the name :-(

Well I hope your morning has been brightened up by my card and that you all get a big HUG from me xoxoxo

Karen

Whiff Of Joy Challenge

2009-11-23T02:02:00.003Z

Morning all, yes I know it's late but I got started in this card and before I knew it the time was 02:03.

Well, since I made a complete mess with the sketch on my previous posting, I decided to print it out and do it all again.

This is following the sketch from the Whiff Of Joy team, and this is the card that I am going to enter into their challenge

Now I can remember when I was younger waking up in Christmas morning to check my stocking. And every year Santa had left my brothers and I, an orange, some money, a candy cane with our "smaller" presents. I was never dressed up as nicely as this young girl, I was still in my pj's and my older brother was the one that use to waken us all up. The average time was 4am and needless to say we were wrecked when we were going to church with all the family. I really loved going to church on Christmas morning singing all the carols and hearing what all our friends got from Santa. My haven't things changed!

Ingredients:

Image: Whiff of Joy Winter 09 kit

Colouring: copics & firebrick red distress ink

Papers: DCWV Christmas Multi Stack

Punch: Fiskars (sorry can't remember the name)

Other bits & bobs: flower from www.ribbonbox.co.uk, stickles star dust, peel offs and sentiment from stash.

Well I hope you are all tucked up in bed having sweet dreams, and hopefully if you pop over you might like to leave a comment.

Now I am for my bed to dream of Christmas' gone by, night all xoxo

Spoonfull Of Sugar Challenge

2009-11-22T20:56:00.002Z

Hiya, just a quick post as I'm busy correcting something (see earlier post). Well here is my entry for this weeks challenge over at Spoonfull Of Sugar, which was Baby's First Christmas.

Now many of you will recognise this little character from the Daisy & Dandelion collection which was a TSV on a shopping channel recently.

I coloured my little bunny babe using Tim Holtz distress inks, peeled paint, broken china, tattered rose, tea dye & antique linen.

Sorry about the quality of the picture, might have to ask Santa for a better camera, or should I wait to the January sales??

2 challenges in 1

2009-11-21T15:52:00.005Z

Hi all, sorry I haven't been about to much this week. I got some very sad news on Monday and it has just taken the wind out of my sail, but I'm trying to pull myself together - life goes on as they say.

To try and get me back into the swing of things what better way than joining in on this weeks challenge over at Whiff Of Joy but as I'm posting this I have realised that I haven't followed their sketch for this weeks challenge, oh well I will show it to you anyway.

She is a lovely image that I received in their Winter 2009 collection and it was so relaxing just sitting up in my room colouring her in. I used my faithful copics and over at Copic Creations their challenge was to use Gold. The colours that I have used for her dress are Y11, Y15 & Y21.

For the background I used some free papers and ribbon and then on top of the layering I used some Tim Holtz/Ranger gold perfect pearls to give a shimmer snowflake design.

Well I better go up into my room and do the challenge again for WOJ, this time following their sketch. Dooh !!

See you all soon, Karen xox

Just Magnolia Sketch

2009-11-15T21:24:00.004Z

Evening all, hope you are all keeping well and that the weather isn't to miserable wherever you are. Well as you know by now I bought some Magnolia's on Thursday while I was at the King's Hall and decided to enter this weeks challenge on the Just Magnolia blog, which was a fab sketch by Mina.

Now I must apologise for the quality of the photos, didn't get taking the pictures until really late and I don't want to install the software onto Kelsey's laptop to have to remove it again in a few days (I hope).

Now I'm sorry I don't know the proper name of this little Tilda, but I think she is really cute with her socks down around her ankles. I brought the image more to life by decoupaging the box and just the souls of her socks, I hope you can see this properly from the picture.

Well there we go a short but sweet posting tonight, I'm really tired and I won't be hard to rock tonight. Hope you all sleep well and we will catch up again really soon. Karen xoxo

Joe's birthday & other bits

2009-11-15T08:30:00.000Z

Well as promised last night, here is a picture of Joe's birthday card. I used my copics to colour in the bear and sakura glaze pens for the presents. It's amazing how the presents standout and Joe was really happy with the card, especially because it's his favourite colour.
Now at my recent visit to the craft show at the King's Hall on Thursday, I met a lovely lady called Mina at the Crafters & Co stall, well as Mina was taking a little break from demonstrating she offered me the paint brush and inks to take the reins as such, well I jumped at the chance and I really enjoyed myself (all of 5 minutes) but hey it was good crack.

This was the image that I was colouring in and when I got home I jumped onto the Just Magnolia challenge blog and went for their challenge for last week - distressing, well after the weekend that I am having distressing is not a problem to me. Never done the paper distressing before but I got tore in (get the joke?!) and had a blast. Now this card is off to a very nice lady who picked my name recently for some candy and she know who she is so a big THANK YOU.

This was also my first ever time of colouring in an image using distress inks and to be honest, it was very relaxing and a lot more "go with the flow" than using the copics. The colours are more subtle than the copics but I think for this card that was ideal.

Ingredients

Image: Magnolia (one from the table, sorry don't know the name)

Colours: Distress inks, Walnut Stain, Tattered rose, Tea Dye, Antique Linen, Broken China and Mild lavender

Papers: Core dinations, white wash collection & Crafts House Tutti Frutti

Ribbon: Wired ribbon from stash

Charm & chain from stash also.

Tomorrow's the day that I take the computer into see if it can get fixed. I really really really hope it can as I don't know where to start if it can't :-(

Karen

2 challenged in 1

2009-11-14T23:00:00.002Z

Oh boy, what a weekend, but I will tell you all later. Firstly I would like to show you a card that I made for this weeks challenge over at A Spoonfull Of Sugar which was to create a scene and Whiff of Joy where you had to use the colours orange, brown and cream.

Well this is what I came up with and I am really happy with the result. I just played around more this time and decided to break away from my normal and try not to use any papers other than the base card itself.

I stamped the imaged out on Gina K Luxury paper with Memento and coloured her in with copics. You can really see the difference with the blending when you use the proper materials.

Next I used my new embossing folder that I bought from Crafts Too called Leafy tree and used the ranger perfect pearls to highlight the tree.

Used chalks to create an autumnal background with the blue sky and the red sunset and finally some fiber paper in shades of green for the grass.

I really do like the way this card turned out and I hope you appreciate it also.

Ingredients

image: Whiff Of Joy (Autumn Kit)

colours: Copics, perfect pearls, blending chalks

embossing folder: Crafts-Too, leafy tree

papers: cream card, fiber paper

Well onto my unbelievable weekend. It was my son's birthday on Friday (Friday the 13th) and oh boy did it turn out to be a horrible day for me. Started off great, Joe really enjoyed his cards (see tomorrow's post) and presents before going to school. Trevor and I then went up the town to get the final bits and pieces for his birthday party which was today, sorry no pics as other kids in them and I want to respect their privacy. I bought a new memory stick for the computer and the new touch ipod for myself for Christmas. Well as you can see from my previous post the ipod works, went to turn on the computer and blaaaah it pooped itself. Not a dickey bird, nathing. Phoned the IT man and he says that my hard drive has died, not much change out of £200 to get it fixed but he will see what he can do. Leaving it with him on Monday as I really need the hard drive, all my accounts, cards, photos everything is saved on it and I didn't get a backup done before it died. I bet you are asking yourself how am I doing this post, well thankfully Kelsey has a laptop but I really need my accounts as its been a few months since I printed out a hard copy. So please learn by what I say, not as I do. DO A BACKUP NOW!!!!

Karen

Hope this works

2009-11-13T16:20:00.002Z

Well I'm trying to use my new iPod to see if this will work. Hopefully it does, all this technology and we don't use half of it I wonder why?

Sugarbowl Challenge

2009-11-11T22:31:00.004Z

Evening everyone, well the challenge this time over at Sugarbowl is the theme of "Thankfulness" and I decided to say a special Thank You to my friends who are close to my heart but not my home.

I definitely think I'm getting better with my copics, its amazing how much different they work when you are using the correct paper so that they can blend properly.

This little girl is from the new magna Christmas collection the Sugar Nellie have and I am slowly but surely gathering them all up. Mum and I are going up to the craft show in the Kings Hall tomorrow so I might get a chance to invest in some more sweet candy when I'm there.

Ingredients:

Image: Magna Christmas Girl

Papers: DCWV Christmas Multi pack

Inks: Copics & Antique Rose Distress Ink

Bits & Bobs: Ribbon, Nestabilities Scalloped Circle, Rub on

Anyway got to go, I've actually started to make my Christmas cards and I forgot all about a class I'm taking for The Mothers Union on the 10th December. Going to try and get them to make some waterfall Christmas cards, I will keep you posted on my progress :-)

Hugs and kisses as always

Karen

Whiff Of Joy Challenge

2009-11-05T18:12:00.003Z

Evening everyone, well here is my entry for this weeks challenge over at WOJ. You have to follow a sketch and this is my interpretation of that sketch.

I received my WOJ Winter Kit earlier this week, so obviously i had to use an image from it. I have used 2 from the kit, the sleigh and as my OH called her "The Snow Queen", which is a very appropriate name for this lady.

Once I had coloured in her overcoat, I wanted it to sparkle to I used some stickles on her coat and the feather in her hair.

Ingredients

Images: Whiff of Joy Winter Kit

Colours: Copics, stickles, sakura glaze pens & broken china distress ink

Papers: Heidi Grace Frost Boulevard collection

I hope you like my card, Karen xoxo

Today's the BIG day!!

2009-11-02T08:11:00.002Z

Well, today is the big day for me. No I'm not getting married, I'm starting my diet and oh boy do I need a diet. Don't know if it's because of the operation a few years ago, the tablets or just my lack of fitness but I have put on over 4 stone in weight and as my recent operation appears to be a success - the diet starts today.
1st thing I normally do in the morning is have a smoke and a tin of red bull - not today, 1 vitamin shake down and a bowl of cereal already, I haven't had a breakfast in years and I'm talking double figures here.
So the plan is to go out into the OH's gym when I get home from work for 15 mins on his bike that goes no where, come back in, shower and then craft - well a girl does need a reward for cycling into a brick wall doesn't she :-)
Will keep you posted on my progress, just a quick question, should I weigh myself every week and keep a record or not????

Karen xoxo

Christmas Shopping

2009-10-29T17:23:00.002Z

Hi everyone, sorry no cards today as today is the day that I start my Christmas shopping. I'm so tired leaving everything to the last minute, and with so many of the big stores having special offers on I've decided to hit the high street tonight.

I'm finding it harder and harder to buy the right things for the kids at Christmas time that this year I'm going to take Kelsey with me and she can pick what she wants. Granted there will be a few surprises under the Christmas tree for her, but isn't it disappointing and depressing too when all the presents are opened and someone is sitting there with a long face on them - or is that just her hormones??

Anyway, might manage to get something made tomorrow then again might not as the kids are off school for their Halloween break - do they learn anything at school??

Well, when are you doing your Christmas shopping or are you like my OH and leave it to Christmas Eve then get so stressed out that you just buy anything that your hand touches??

Righty oh, I'm away for now, see ya soon Karen xoxo

Sugarbowl Challenge

2009-10-28T08:06:00.003Z

The challenge this time over at The Sugarbowl is to use lace in your card and follow a sketch. I used one of the images that Steph every so kindly sent me that was on the Papertry ink paper and look at how clear the copics work on it, so I have now ordered some. Thanks Step xoxo

I did invest in some Sugar Nellie stamps when I was over at the SECC last week with Mum, will post the pictures later of all my purchases.

Products Used:

Image: Magna Kids from Sugar Nellie

Papers: DCWV Winter stock & Christmas stock

Inks: Distress Inks & Copics

Other Materials: Perfect Pearls, Glossy Accents, Nestabilities

I had great fund making the background for this image, unfortunately you can't see the perfect pearl snowflakes in red and blue, but they are there. I also did some resist embossing before I covered the card with the distress inks, you can just see the white snowflakes showing through.

Please leave a comment and then I can visit you.

Karen xoxo

Whiff Of Joy Challenge

2009-10-27T08:14:00.003Z

Morning everyone, sorry I haven't been about as day or two, the computer decided to go on strike and it's taken AOL ages to get it sorted for me. So as it's early in the morning, this is going to be a quick post as I have to get Joe ready for school and me get dressed for work.

This weeks challenge over at Whiff Of Joy was a fantastic sketch by Heather, and as I ordered Henry the Mouse a few weeks ago, I decided to let him out for this one :-)

Henry was coloured in using my faithful copics, the top of his cake was covered with glossy accents and then I sprinkled glitter over it.

The background and the frame for Henry were created using Tim Holtz distress inks, broken china, peeled paint and spiced marmalade. I am having a ball playing with these inks at the moment, I can't get over how many different backgrounds can be used using the same inks, its great fun.

This is the finished card in all its glory, I have to fly now but should be back later today with another posting. Hope you have a good Tuesday xoxo Karen

Our Daily Bread

2009-10-17T13:08:00.003+01:00

Good afternoon everyone in Blogger land. I hope the weather where you are at is better than here, nothing but fog, fog and yes more fog. Can't see you finger infront of you so nothing else to do as all housework was finished yesterday but craft, but alas my poor body has other things on its mind, I am now loaded with a bad head cold. I have went through 3 toilet rolls this morning alone so Mr Andrex Puppy, keep the supply coming :-)

So long for me getting the housework done early :-(

Anyway, inbetween sneezes I have managed to finish of this card which follows the sketch by Caryn over at Spoonfull of Sugar challenge and also the Whiff Of Joy challenge this week was to use a die cut.

Now isn't she the sweetest little girl, holding her bread and I wondered what saying would be appropriate for this image and the Lord's Prayer came to mind. Ok I'm loaded with the cold, the weather is poor to say the least but I have a loving family, a roof over my head and plenty of crafty friends, so this is my daily bread.

This is the finished card in all its glory. I distressed the edges of the paper and used faux stitching around the sides that are stuck onto the card. Used my nestabilities for the frame, and wrote the saying myself. The little girl is sitting on a mushroom as I love mushrooms, especially with my saturday night fry up!!

Images: WOJ Girl with bread & WOJ mushroom (both from their autumn kit)

Papers: K & Company

Colours: Copic sketch & Stabilito fine pens

Please leave a comment, good or bad, so I can go and visit your blog, its always nice to know that someone has looked :-)

Pig Out This Xmas

2009-10-15T15:13:00.004+01:00

Afternoon all, hope your having a very crafty Thursday!!

Well this is my entry for the challenge over at The Sugar Bowl. You have to follow a sketch by Tiet's and you must include Christmas somewhere in your card. Now at the moment my collection of Sugar Nellie stamps are limited (this hopefully will change after my SECC visit next Friday), so I had to use my imagination a bit here, but I think I covered all the requirements.

I used Porridge the Pig (fab name) for the card and a background stamp that I had from The Papermill. The paper used is Cosmic Cricket and the leather effect ribbon was originally green but I coloured it in using my copic pens, worked a treat and you can still see the effect.

Porridge is coloured in using my copics as is the fireplace. The hart is sakura black glaze and the stockings are glitter and flock. The pressies have been stamped out of the background paper and layered on. Punched out some snow flakes and glittered them up, the center of the flakes and the i's in the sentiment are pink gems.

Well I hope you like my card, it is exactly what I am going to do this Christmas "Pig Out" and enjoy myself, hope you all do the same xoxoxo

Karen

A Spoonfull Of Sugar & Friday Sketchers challenges

2009-10-11T12:48:00.002+01:00

Hi everyone and isn't the weather horrible!! So that means more time for me in my craft room yeah!!! This week the theme over at A Spoonfull Of Sugar is Halloween, and I must confess I do like this time of year, all the trick or treaters, fireworks, ghosts and ghouls etc. And over at Friday Sketchers blog they have a fantastic sketch for you to follow, so I decided to combine both challenges and this is the card that I came up with.

Now if Joanna Sheen or any of her friends should be reading this, please do not take offense at the fact that I have coloured in Messy Rabbit green, she is suppose to be a witch and in my eyes all witches are green. A friendly witch I may add is Miss Messy, but still a witch.

I coloured her in using my faithful copics and then put glossy accents over her hat and cloak. She is also a flying witch with her broomstick and I put her onto acetate to give the impression that she is flying past the moon, don't think you can see this to well on the photos. You may be wondering what that thing is in the top right hand corner, well that's Freddie a spider and although he may be very cute and small, he was a right pain to get his legs to go the way I wanted. Naughty spider!!!!

This is a little close up of Freddie, all he is is a bead from a pair of old earrings, some funky foam for his legs, 2 googly eyes and a little white mouth, but he has got to be one of the nicest spiders I have came across, he definitely will not be going up the hoover like all his other annoying little friends who stay rent free in my house!!!

Well I hope you liked my card, please do leave comments as I love to hear what other people think of my interpretation of the sketch and theme.

Come back soon, Karen xoxoxo

40th Wedding Anniversary Cards

2009-10-06T10:58:00.002+01:00

Well it was my parent's 40th Wedding anniversary a few weeks ago and I made these cards for them, I just forgot to upload them sooner sorry :-(

The first one I used a picture from their wedding album and made it into an acetate overlay card, stamped a frame using a foliage stamp that I have and placed some peel off gems onto the buds of the flowers, ruby ones of course.This is a close up of how my Mum and Dad looked 40 years ago, must say that my Mum hasn't changed that much but Dad has, he (how can I put this politely) has enjoyed my Mum's cooking over the past years and it does show. Yep that's polite ain't it??
Now this little card I really enjoyed making, it was from my children and although my Mum is now grey, my Dad doesn't have a beard but he would have a slightly receding hair line but not to the extreme as this stamp shows.
Just looking at these cards now you could say that they are before and after cards, but I wouldn't be so bold as to say that now would I ??!!!

Oh my

2009-10-05T05:38:00.002+01:00

its 5:39am on Monday morning and I haven't had a wink of sleep yet :-(
The pain in my right leg is so strong that even the painkillers that the doctor gave me aren't working. I thought I was on the mend, but obviously I'm not. Was hoping to go back to work this week but I think that idea has truly gone out the window.
Ah well, will just have to spend another week making some more cards and scrapbook pages, for every negative there is a positive.

Hope your all sleeping well, just think of me and my wonky leg :-)

Karen

Whiff Of Joy Winter Kit

2009-10-04T13:57:00.003+01:00

Morning everyone, well over at WOJ they are celebrating their 1st Birthday (happy birthday girls), and to celebrate this event they are having a blog hop. Start at Katharina's blog and follow the links to the other dt divas.

If that isn't enough, Katharina is also giving some lucky person the chance to win the complete new winter kit and although I have already ordered my kit, if I win I will give mine to my Mum, I know your reading this ha ha ha !!! Now to enter all you have to do is click the logo above, I hope this works. You have until the 22nd October to enter the kit giveaway.

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE

Spoonfull of Sugar & Stamp with Us challenges

2009-10-02T08:15:00.001+01:00

Spoonfull of Sugar's challenge this week is "Christmas". Guess what, I haven't even started my cards yet ..... yes I know I'm leaving it late, note to self, get a move on girl you don't want to be late again this year!!!!

Well to try and get me into the festive mood, I decided not to make a card but a candle as I love candles at Christmas time especially those Cinnamon ones you can get, anyway boy did I really enjoy myself. With all that glitter, ink, paints, etc. oh boy I got very messy and this was the end result ...........

I tried this technique one time before but it didn't turn out as brightly coloured as I had hoped. So this time around I used my copics, and boy do they stand out (picture not doing it justice here). The snowman stamp was one that I bought from The Papermill a few years ago, and I can't remember where I got the Christmas tree one from.

Anyway once they had been stamped onto Sainsbury's finest toilet roll, I then coloured them in, melted the coloured toilet roll into the candle, then the real fun and mess began. I wanted to create a shimmering background but as my twinkling H2O's wouldn't stick to the candle, I mixed it up with some diamond glaze and hey presto, a shimmering background. Glittered some snow onto the little man and ground, then I used glitter onto the trees to make 3d bobbles.

Hope that all makes sense, and yes it has got me into a more festive spirit, well for the mean time anyway. Catch up with you all soon, Karen oxoxo

A little close up of my bobble trees lol :-) Keep smiling xoxo

Found this great new site called Stamp With Us, there challenge this week is "anything but a card", so I decided to enter this candle. Well if your not in it you can't win it ....

Whiff Of Joy challenge

2009-10-01T20:30:00.000+01:00

Well, I did tell you that I had been busy today, and this is the second card that I created. I am so happy and proud of my colouring in of this little girl, I honestly think she is the best that I have ever done. What do you think?

Over at the Whiff Of Joy blog the challenge this week is to follow a sketch, and I messed about with it a little bit, not much mind you :-)

As its my young nieces birthday soon (well December, better late than never) I decided that I would make this into her birthday card. Also WOJ are celebrating their birthday, they will be 1 this week, so a BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY to everyone over at WOJ and please keep the challenges coming, I really do enjoy them xoxo

Image: Whiff Of Joy, little girl with cookies (yummy)

Papers: Heidi Grace, Cute Cakes Collection

Colours: Copics as per pic (I remembered this time LOL)

Ink Pads: Cats eye chalks & Versafine

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY WHIFF OF JOY XOXOXO

Sugarbowl Challenge

2009-10-01T19:30:00.005+01:00

Hiya everyone, well I have been very very busy today. Trevor took Joe to school at 9am he then proceeded to go to the golf club to have a round of golf ..... therefore I had lots of peace and quiet to catch up on some of my favourite challenges, sorry I've been MIA these past few weeks, but I do have a genuine reason.

Well anyway to try and sweeten my pain of these stitches I tried my hand at the Sugarbowl challenge which was to follow a fab sketch and the "please include" this time was paper piercing. A nice and easy challenge to get me started on my crafting day .......

Image used: Gorjuss Girls set 2

Papers: American Crafts, Tea Cup Selection

Colours: My ever faithful Copics (forgot to take pic :-( sorry!)

Just a nice simple card to get my started on my crafting day ahead of me!!!

Operation a success!!

2009-09-26T14:44:00.002+01:00

Hi everyone, just thought I would let you all know that the good news is that my operation appears to be successful, so I'm delighted with that.
Went into hospital on Wednesday, through the op on Thursday and got discharged a couple of hours ago.
Needless to say I am sore with the stitches and a bit dozy with the anaesthetic, hopefully it will wear of in a day or two.
Don't think I will get much crafting done in the next couple of days as I'm not suppose to lift anything heavier than a cup of water, but I am due to be off work for a few weeks, and won't be able to drive for at least 6 so I should have no excuses not to join in on some challenges.

Anyway, going back to bed now for some more rest, hope you are all keeping well,

Karen xoxo

Funky Hand Challenge

2009-09-21T08:39:00.004+01:00

Hi everyone, well this months challenge over at Get Funky is to design a card with the theme boys in mind, and this is my entry.

I used this cute little Penny Black image and once I had him all coloured in I glazed the water to give it a more shinny effect.This picture just shows the dimension of the card from a different angel, it also shows the layering and the double ribbons used.

Papers Used: Background Funky Fellas
Image: Penny Black (sorry don't know the name)
Brads: American Crafts
Flower: DCWV
Ribbons: from stash
Flock: Stampendouse, snow cone blue
Colours: Copic Sketch pens (see picture for details)

Well I hope you liked my entry and can't wait for next months.

Just a note:

I am suppose to be going into hospital on Wednesday to go through surgery on Thursday, well that's the plan but its already been cancelled twice in as few months so I haven't even packed my suitcase. Now I hope that I will be fit and well to travel over to bonnie Scotland for the SECC at the end of October with my Mum, it would be lovely if we could arrange to meet up somewhere and have a natter and a cup of tea. If you would be interested, please email me and that will give me something to do during my recovery :-) Lots of crafty hugs and kisses to you all xoxoxo

Summer is here!

2009-09-11T12:53:00.006+01:00

These are flowers that Joe and I planted back in May and the good weather of late has made them bloom. Aren't they gorgeous, sorry can't remember the name of them but the colours are beautiful, and by the looks of things something else is enjoying them to.

Look who else is enjoying the sunshine, our own fully haired Ben, you may remember the last time I took his picture he was bald and looked more like a designer cat, well doesn't he look as if he is enjoying himself. Him and Kath's Buddy might get on well, umm maybe not come to think about it lol.

just incase you forgot how bad he was LOL!!!!!!

Not the Day I had planned, but .....

2009-09-10T21:04:00.004+01:00

I did manage to make this card for this weeks challenge over at the Penny Black's Saturday challenge blog. This week their challenge was to make something using the theme "Your Hearts Desire", as as my 3rd wedding anniversary is this month, I decided to make this card for my beloved other half.

These are the copics that I used to colour in the cute little mice, and after such a long break it took me a couple of attempts to get the colouring right, but HOWEVER what my heart really desired was a big massive cupcake, hence the bottom background paper, do you think Trevor will catch onto this fact? I doubt it somehow.

And this was the little charm that I used just it says "made with love" and believe me I really did love making this card as it was great just to get a few hours peace and quiet to create something. Hope you like my card and hopefully I might get some more crafting done tomorrow, although I really should make a start on the ironing :-(

At Last !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-09-10T08:31:00.002+01:00

Can't believe how long it has been since I posted on this blog, my life has been non stop work work work, and not the crafting sort unfortunately. Been working an average of 10 hours per day for weeks now and my body and mind are just totally exhausted.
Now with the kids back at school, my accountancy work load starting to settle down, I might actually get some crafting done today, can you suffer from craft with drawl symptoms? Think I am so from 9:30 am to 13:30 pm today it will be craft time for me and nothing else, well might hand out a few lines of washing.
House is a total nightmare, I just don't care at the mo it can all wait until tomorrow as I'm sure the fairy's won't come and paint, decorate, dust, iron, hoover etc for me. Ah well that is life!

Fingers cross I will be back later on today with some cards that this mornings antics will produce, don't be expecting to much as I'm a little bit rusty as you may expect, then again miracles might happen .................

See ya soon, Karen

Bev's amazing candy

2009-08-14T10:37:00.002+01:00

Bev is celebration over 400,000 hits and over 1000 followers and is giving away this AMAZING candy. Just clip the link here and that will take you directly over to her giveaway. You have to be quick mind you it closes on the 17th August, GOOD LUCK!!

Sugarbowl Challenge

2009-08-11T23:52:00.002+01:00

Hi everyone, hope I'm not to late for this challenge over at Sugarbowl. This time its on doodling and I have doodle the text and the stitching around the card. Sorry for the delay, my laptop has a constant blue screen and I have to book my time in advance for the computer, what with the kids being of on holidays and so on ........................
Well here she is and isn't she pretty, sorry about the quality of the pictures, I am rushing it a bit here, but I decided on a birthday card for my youngest niece Erin who's birthday isn't until October but I received a very late wedding and I'm spending all my time on that at the mo.

These are the copic pens and markers that I used to colour my little woman in with.

With regards to my own personal circumstances, the hospital have cancelled my operation yet again and I'm waiting patiently for the phone call, think it might have something to do with the swine flu, but thankfully it hasn't hit these waters just as bad as it has around the world.
Will try and get another challenge done soon, I've taken up golfing (a little nudge from the OH there) and I must admit I am enjoying getting out and about whacking a ball, not very far may I add but its more exercise than I've had in ages and its good to spend sometime with the OH and our son Joe, he beat me the other day also and he's only 5!!!!

Photo of me!!

2009-07-15T00:26:00.002+01:00

Hi all, well after many requests I have uploaded a photo of me onto my blog. Why has it taken me so long? Well mainly because I am the one behind the camera and nobody thinks about taking a "good" picture of me, when I'm being serious or anything :-) Well this one was taken yesterday and I didn't know it was happening so hence the screwed up face, might also have something to do with the fact that I had just walked 14 miles and my feet were killing me. Needless to say today I'm as stiff as a poker feel more like 85 than my actual age and to reassure me so called friends are telling me that I'm going to feel worse tomorrow, GREAT, just what I wanted to hear. Anyway, I did finish a card for this weeks WOJ challenge but the camera on my mobile decided to save it to the phone and not the memory card, why can't technology just work the way I want it to, can't it read my mind or what???

Hello Everyone

2009-07-05T00:07:00.006+01:00

Hi all, sorry I haven't been about the last month, my life has been turned upside down with builders, hospital appointments, work, family etc I just haven't had time nor the energy to make any cards and for that I am truly sorry :-(

I did manage to find some time this week to have a go at the challenge over at Whiff Of Joy and Copic Creations.

This week at WOJ there was a recipe to follow, 3 papers, 3 flowers and 1 ribbon. Now the image that I have used is from their new Summer Collection which I pre-ordered and received quite some weeks ago but never got much of an opportunity to use them.

The papers are from American Crafts and the ribbon was from stash that I had. The flowers believe it or not were part of a Christmas present I got and these were attached to the wrapping (recycling here, doing my bit for the environment).

As this is the time of year that my lillies are in full bloom, the stems of these flowers reminded me of them and they are double layered.

Now onto the challenge this fortnight over at Copic Creations, and here we had to colour in some hair in brunette. Now I am really loving my copics and as I progress with my card making, my colouring skills are improving also. I hope you can see this all with the card.

These were the pens I used, hope you can read them ok, although copics are slightly more expensive that other pens available in the market, I would recommend anyone to try just a couple of colours as you will be amazed by the endless possibilities that these pens can do.

Any how, I was due to go in another operation last week, but it has been delayed for a week or two, hope to get a few more challenges in by then, but who knows what tomorrow may hold.

Let's Celebrate

2009-05-24T22:31:00.003+01:00

Oh what a mad week its been, between Joe being sick and off school, my Dad being taken into hospital (nothing to serious thankfully) its just been one MANIC week. So I have tried to incorporate as many of my usual challenges into the one posting.
Firstly over at the Spoonfull Of Sugar challenge blog they are celebrating their first anniversary and the theme for your creation is celebration, hence the party theme and celebration stamped over the flowers.
Secondly a brilliant sketch from the Whiff Of Joy team and this was the layout that I used for this posting. A lovely clean, crisp sketch and I have adjusted it slightly for this card.
Lastly at the copic creations site they are concentrating this fortnight on hair colouring techniques and on this little beauty I tried to colour her hair in using a black/grey theme.

The papers that I used are from American Crafts celebration collection. The top layer that I have embossed using the D'vine swirls from cuttlebug remind me so much of the little sprinkles that you get for putting onto of buns of ice cream.

Image: Whiff Of Joy

Flower stamp papermania doodles

Copics: As above picture

Ribbon & Paper: American Crafts Celebration

Gems & sentiment from stash

Hope its not as long until my next posting xoxox

Stamp Challenges

2009-05-19T18:01:00.003+01:00

This is the first time that I have ever entered the challenge over at Stamp Challenges, and the specification this week was "clean and simple Thank Yous". Well as I am pushed for time due to work commitments, this suited me down to the ground. I made the background using a rubber stamp that I bought over a year ago and never used :-( Inked it up with colourbox and stamped onto K&Company Classic K Bailey paper, the background with the hint of pink is also from the same paper collection. Small ribbon tied in a bow at the front and a silver "Thank You" peel off on bottom corner. Clean, simple and quick just how I like them at the moment.

Whiff Of Joy

2009-05-19T17:45:00.002+01:00

Hi all, this weeks challenge over at Whiff Of Joy was Friendship, and I have been busting to get using this week sheep in a card now as few weeks. Coloured him in with my faithful copics, and mounted onto rainbow paper. The sheep stamp originally had him jumping over presents, but after some masking and tinkering I got him to jump over the grass mound. A wee bit of handwriting and a flower or 2 to finish of. I will definitely be using this stamp again as Kelsey's nickname is Shaun the Sheep, don't ask me why as I don't know. Hope your all keeping well and might get another posting done tonight. Karen xoxo

PB's Saturday Challenge

2009-05-12T22:08:00.004+01:00

Over at PB's saturday challenge this week was to use black, white and one other colour. I absolutely love these types of challenges, colour restrictions. This week I used the colour red, its so vibrant and stands out from the page and brings everything to life.

Sorry about the lack of focus with regards to the card, don't know what's going wrong. I stamped the center image out and then masked up with swirls stamp. Cut out using nestabilities and inked the edges to give a soft colour. Wanted to emphasise the ladybird and used some clear glaze over her to make her look raised. Matted and layered up the paper, a few gems and of course a flower to bring a bit more life.

Images: Hedgehog & ladybird from Bubbly

Swirls from Rubbernecker stamps

Colours: Copics as above

paper, adhesive gems, flowers etc all from stash

Why is it that I always post at night? Well I don't get doing any craft until my youngest son is it bed and that's around 8pm.

Oh and for something a bit different, our we kitten Ben disappeared for a few months and reappeared last week. As he is a long haired cat he was all tats and I couldn't get cutting them out. So on Friday he went to the vest to get a snip and cut, and this is how he now looks.

Now stop laughing, he is not a happy little boy and always as getting his fur shaved of he also got neutered, so needless to say I'm not in his good books. Now when we got him from the vets she told us to put a coat on him and use sunblock, Trevor being Trevor he wanted to know what factor of sunblock to use, I don't know who laughed the most.

Hope this cheered you up a bit, will let you know how the fur grows and if I'm forgive :-)

2 in 1

2009-05-11T22:38:00.004+01:00

Evening all, well as I'm extremely busy this week with work and the NW200 I am trying to combine as many challenges into 1 entry as possible.

This card covers the challenge this week on A Spoonfull Of Sugar where your card need to be touchy feely. The paper that the image is mounted onto is of a handmade texture and is glittered at certain points. The sentiment has been covered with flock to give it more feeling. Also the buttons at the corners have wool tied through them to give more texture.

Secondly over at the Whiff Of Joy challenge this week we had to follow a sketch. Now I have just adapted the sketch slightly to show of the papers better, but I really enjoyed working with this sketch and as I don't have a scallop border punch I just adapted the panels by using a pair of scallop scissors that I had.

Image: Whiff Of Joy

Colours: Copics as above

Papers: American Crafts Tea Party Collection

Handmade paper, sentiment, buttons and wool from stash

I do hope to get back later this week for my entry into PB's friend challenge this week, its a really good one. Hope your all enjoying the weather and if your in need of a laugh, please come back later as I have a picture that you won't believe :o)

Funky Hands DT Call

2009-05-09T20:33:00.005+01:00

Well these are my cards that I'm submitting for the DT call over at Funky Hand. My mate Kath has been a member for over a year and her cards and the rest of the DT members are a real inspiration to me and I would love to join their wee click, they sound a bit mad at times, but hey they are a brilliant bunch of gals.
If you would like to put your name into the hat, please follow the link here and it will take you directly over to the Funkys Hands DT call, wish me luck and good luck to you all xoxoxo

Friday Sketchers Blog

2009-05-07T21:20:00.002+01:00

Hi all, sorry I haven't been about much this week, work is really mad at the moment but hopefully it will calm down in the next day or two. I did however manage to finish off this card for my entry for this weeks challenge over at the Friday Sketchers Blog.

I have used a magnolia image that I bought from an auction site and coloured him in using copic sketch pens. Really trying to get the shading right and I am really happy with this little chap. Papers are from Funky Gaze CD and I highlighted the swirls on the paper using Sakura stardust pens. A Few paper flowers and a bit of ribbon from stash and the card is finished. This will be given to my son's classroom assistant at the end of the school year as she has been brilliant with Joe and helping him with his hearing difficulties. Hope to get back tomorrow with another card if I can stay awake long enough. Thanks for popping over, Karen xoxo

Penny Black Saturday Challenge

2009-05-05T00:03:00.004+01:00

This weeks challenge over at Penny Black Friends Saturday Challenge is to use 3 shapes excluding your card and backing paper.. any shape ~ square, rectangle, circle, hearts etc. Easy I hear you say, well not really when you actually sit down to make it.

This is my entry (apologies for poor picture quality). My 3 shapes are, squares, rectangles for the sentiments and circle for the center of the flower. Wasn't sure if the oval scallop would qualify as a shape.
I've had a glorious weekend and although its a bank holiday here, I had to work and I'm knackered now so I'm going to bed. Hope you all had a nice weekend, Karen xoxox

When You Wish Upon A Star

2009-05-01T01:23:00.006+01:00

Morning everyone, well here I am with yet another challenge entry, this time for Whiff Of Joy and the challenge this week was stars & stripes. Now as I was making this card I started singing the song "When You Wish Upon A Star" and that is where the inspiration for my card came from.

Do I wish I was younger? Certainly not as I think the youth of today have a much harder time that I did when I was 18. Now my 3 wishes if I had them would be:

To be a size 12 not the size I am at the minute

To have better health rather than taking tablets everynight for the next goodness only knows how many year.

To have more time crafting rather than my couple of hours at night when kids in bed and housework done.

What would your 3 wishes be?

Mr Blogger isn't behaving so can't put the information in on what I used on the card sorry:-(

Sugar Bowl Challenge

2009-04-30T21:58:00.003+01:00

Evening all, well here is my entry for this weeks extra challenge over at Sugar Bowl. The challenge is to make a card for men. Well we all know how difficult they are in normal life and making a card for them is even more so.
Let's take my OH for instance, one minute its fishing, next golfing then back to fishing and don't get me started on their fascination with anything new and shiny, boys and their toys hey!!

Well this card is for a man who although may be grey around the hair, he is still very young at heart and this was exactly what my brother-in-law is and as it was his birthday recently I made this for him.

Image: Magnolia

Papers: Heidi Grace

Flowers: Prima

Just came back from a walk up the road where the local hall had their drums out and of course me being me had a wee go with a fife tune with them. Can't believe that tomorrow is the 1st of May and only 7 weeks until the kids are of school, would somebody please tell me where that school year has gone to? Kelsey finished her 1st year in the academy and Joe finishing P1, flip I am getting OLD.

Spoonfull of Sugar Challenge

2009-04-30T00:17:00.002+01:00

Morning all, well I have had 1 of the best days crafting in a long time, don't know what it is but don't care as I'm really having some FUN!!!
This weeks challenge over at SSC is to use the colours blue & green, well luckily for me I had already coloured in this little Gorjuss girl in those colours earlier on this week.
This whole card, except for the base, has been created using new products that I purchased over the past couple of weeks and I think that's why I've had such fun with it. Now I have heard and read about people commenting on how brilliant Mr Tim Holtz is, so at the recent craft show I actually invested in one of his distress ink pads. Truth be told, I'm still learning on how best to use these inks, but I'm enjoying the mess, brings out the kid in me :-)

Well this is my finished entry, and I must admit I really do like it, its different from my norm so please let me know what you think.

Images: Gorjuss girls set 2

Flowers: Papermania doodles collection

Papers: Funky Daze CD (love it)

Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Ink Walnut Satin

Buttons & ric rac from stock

Copics: As per picture below

Now if any of you know of any good tutorials on how to get the best out of the distress inks, please leave a comment and I will go a wandering. Bye for now, going to M&S today with Mum as they have a sale on and I need some new "Summer" clothes for work. Catch up with you later hopefully, Karen xoxo

The Secret Crafter

2009-04-29T16:18:00.003+01:00

Well I didn't think I would be this quick, but here is my entry for this weeks Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge number 29. The challenge this week is to make a "shape" card. Now I made this card for Kelsey's birthday and decided to enter into this challenge. Not only is this a challenge entry but it is also a DT call so I'm putting my name in the hat and see what happens.

The image is a PB coloured in using water colour pencils, the papers are from DCWV and I used my cricut expression to cut out Kelsey's name. Her name and the wings have been painted with cosmic shimmer and give a lovely shimmer highlight when the light his them. Hope you like my card and wish me good luck for the DT call.

Daisy & Dandelion Challenge

2009-04-29T15:43:00.002+01:00

Hi all, well I managed to get this card finished for the Daisy & Dandelion challenge blog. We had to work of a sketch and I have adapted mine slightly to suit a birthday card for my brother in law. He loves his dogs so this cute image of Daisy was ideal for him. She was coloured in using the cool greys from copic and just her pads of her paws highlighted. Mounted onto a circle cut out and punched using a Fiskars circle punch. The purple card background I used my cuttlebug embossing board to give it a bit of dimension. Ribbon down the side and I split the text stamps so that it would fit along the bottom.

Here is the finished card, sorry my picture isn't to straight I think I must have had my sleeping specs on at the time.
Hope you enjoy my card and might get back later tonight with some more images of my new Gorjuss girls, Joe has fell in love with one of them.............. I wonder if you would be able to guess which one.

A Sad Day

2009-04-28T14:49:00.002+01:00

As I was driving to work this morning I heard on the news that a man had been shot dead in Templepatrick, little did I know that the man murdered was someone who I had worked with. It's a complete shock to me as to why someone would want to kill Geoff. He was a larger than life character and was very helpful and understanding with my personal circumstances when I worked with him. My thoughts and prayers go to his wife, 4 sons and the family circle.

Spoonfull Of Sugar Challenge

2009-04-27T17:18:00.004+01:00

Evening all, here is my entry for this weeks Spoonfull Of Sugar Challenge. It's based on a sketch and I really enjoyed playing with it.

Now if you don't recognise the image its because its one of the new images from the new Gorjuss Set Number 2 which I pre-ordered from Funkykits and arrived just in time for my birthday.

Image: Gorjuss Set No2

Papers: American Crafts

Embelishments: DCWV

Hope you enjoy!!!

PS: 4 seasons in 1 day?? Well yes on all 4 today here just take a look at the snow that was in my backgarden around 3 pm this afternoon, then followed by thunder and lightening!!!

Whiff Of Joy Challenge

2009-04-26T20:58:00.002+01:00

Hi all, apologies for taking so long to upload this card, I've been extremely busy this weekend and didn't actually get finished working until 3.30am this morning, so I'm a bit tired.

This is my weeks entrance to this weeks WOJ challenge and we had to follow a sketch which I found really interesting. I coloured this image in ages ago and unfortunately didn't take a picture of the copics that I used sorry :-(
The background is one that I created using some cosmic shimmer watercolours and mixed them up a bit. Papers used were from DCWV and the rest of the card stock was from my stash. Flowers and ribbon again from my collection. Hopefully fingers crossed I might get back tomorrow with another card for a challenge this week. Karen xoxo

Sugar Bowl Challenge

2009-04-21T23:51:00.005+01:00

Evening all, well here is my entry for this weeks Sugar Bowl challenge which was based on a fabulous sketch. I really enjoyed this sketch and I hope you can see this with my finished card.

Isn't she the cutest little Miss you've ever seen, now I was never a girlie girl, but my daughter when she was younger use to love going into my makeup bag and putting my most expensive mascara on, and she did a good job of it considering she was only 4. Think my shadowing is much better on this image :-)

Image: Dress Up Maggie

Coloured in: copics in above picture

Papers: American Crafts Tea Party

Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug Tiny Bubbles

Charm from Totally Beads

Hope you can see it in the picture is says "Made with Love", bought these at the craft show on Saturday from http://www.totallybeads.co.uk/ will definitely be buying some more.

Hope you enjoy my card, please leave a comment and I'll come and visit your blog xoxo

Friday Sketcher Challenge & Copic Creation

2009-04-20T20:58:00.006+01:00

Well good evening all, here is a more mature man that I have been working on today. Also I have followed the sketch for this weeks challenge over on the Friday sketchers blog and going to enter his "Blue" jeans into this weeks copics creation.

I have used this image a few times and have always went for the T-Bird style (and for those of you who don't know who the T-Birds are, think of John Travolta in Grease), but this time I wanted to use him as a more mature T-bird hence the grey hair, think I might actually use this style for Father's Day in June, oh Mum please don't tell me Dad.

I think I am getting better as the shading, it has taken me quite a few goes and I would say that I'm far from perfect at it, but to be honest with you I am having a ball trying to get it right. It's taking me back to my childhood when Santa use to bring my brothers and me some colouring books and new pencils and after we had our diner Mum would be the one sitting doing all the colouring in.

When I had cut out my image, I mounted him onto an oval shaped card, to give more definition to the oval I used some of the flocked circles and mounted them around the oval, just to make it look a bit more interesting.

Image: Magnolia

Colours: Copics in picture above

Papers: Heidi Grace Baby Boy collection

Flowers & Brads from stash

Well I hope you enjoyed my card, please leave a comment and I will pop over to your blog and return the favour, thanks for now, Karen xoxoxo

Katharina's WOJ Summer Candy

2009-04-20T10:24:00.001+01:00

To Celebrate the launch of the pre-orders for the new summer stamp kit
Katharina is generously giving away a wonderful blog candy to two lucky stampers..
(yes i did say two lucky stampers)
what have you got to do..??
hotfoot it over to
**Katharina’s blog**
and read over there what she wants you to do to be in with the chance to win one of these fantastic sets.
pre-orders for the Kit are open until May 4th. It includes 6 brand new, never before seen, main character stamps, 5 accessory stamps, designed by Elisabeth Bell and 4 text stamps, designed by Katharina (in English).

Whiff Of Joy Challenge

2009-04-19T23:43:00.003+01:00

Over at the WOJ challenge this week the challenge set was to use Black, White and only 1 other colour. My colour of choice was RED as its so vibrant against the black and white.

I'm sorry that the picture quality isn't the best, but I'm taking it under false light as I cannot believe where this week has gone. Here is a close up of the image that I used.

Apologies as I don't know the name of the image, it's not on the paperwork that came with the image :-( If you know, please let me know :-)

Anyway she was coloured in using my copics and using a white pilot pen, I highlighted the stitching and some of her hair and yes this is really how grey I am under all my colour, but alas no more because as its my birthday this Thursday I am going to accept my age and hair colour gracefully from now on, well that's my feeling as of now, could change in a few weeks when more greys and wrinkles start to appear.

Hope you all had a nice weekend, Mum, Kelsey and I went to the Stitch & Craft show in Belfast on Saturday and yes we did spend more than we had hoped. While at the show I found the 1st official outlet in Northern Ireland to supply the Whiff Of Joy images, you can now imagine how excited I am that at last someone here has realised how wonderful these stamps are. THANK YOU xoxoxo

Pennyblack Challenge - A Gift

2009-04-15T18:50:00.003+01:00

Hi everyone, over at the PBSC they challenge this week is to make a gift, and I have been trying to use the technique for a long time, so I made myself a candle. Well not really the candle just decorated it :-)

I downloaded all the instructions from a google search and to be honest with you it was easier than what I thought. The trickiest bit for me was cutting out the image from the tissue and not cutting to close to the image.
Once the image had melted into the candle, I stamped up some more flowers for a base around the main image. I thought the candle needed a bit of a bling bling factor, so I added small sequin flowers into the candle using pins (back to my old sowing days).

I'm really happy the way it turned out and even my OH commented on how good it looked. Apologies for picture quality its been very overcast here today and not much light :-(

Image: PB Bee Costume

Colours : Various copics (sorry deleted the picture)

Flowers: PB Fresh New Day

& flower sequins

Wings: Cosmic Shimmer, Golden Shine

Lorraine's 24 hour candy post!!!!!

2009-04-13T08:55:00.001+01:00

Hurry.... Hurry.... Hurry.....
You now have 24 hours to enter Lorraine's surprise candy giveaway...
No clue as to what it will be
Rules are simple

1. Leave a comment on her posting...

2. Put a link on your blog... mind to tell them it is a quickie

3. Make sure you enter before midnight tonight... (GMT)

Are you still reading?????

Click HERE to take you straight over!!!!

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE

Copic Sketch Markers for SALE

2009-04-11T18:21:00.002+01:00

Hi all, as you know my beloved OH bought me the 2 collection of sketch markers for my upcoming birthday.
Unfortunately some of these were doubles and I have listed the doubles for sale on ebay here!
So go on over and take a look, believe me you won't want to miss this bargin of the century.
Karen

I'm a GRAND PRIZE winner!!!

2009-04-10T23:26:00.008+01:00

Yesterday while I was doing some blog hoping, I came across this stroll for Rubbernecker Stamps. This was the first time in 10 years that the company has released new stamps, and guess what I WON the COMPLETE COLLECTION. Can't believe it, sitting here still in shock and the OH thinks I've done something silly to myself - stupid man what would he know LOL. So here are pictures of the complete collection and I can't wait to get using these but I don't know where to start ........................

Should I start with the wildflowers or the tea and coffee??? oh decisions decisions. Well I couldn't ask for a better start to the weekend, surely it can only get better, after all we did have hail here earlier.

Karen

Sweet & Sassy

2009-04-10T18:33:00.002+01:00

Well as some of you may know the Masters started last night on TV at 9pm and my OH has taken control of the Sky from that time, so kids were in their own rooms last night for 9 and I actually was given some piece to make a card.
I came across a challenge over at the Whiff Of Joy Challenge, and decided to use my Sweet & Sassy rubber stamp and follow the sketch.
The papers used were cut down to 7cm x 10cm, used a shape from my cricut to cut out the center panel. Now I would not be the best at sowing, so I decided to give this some fake stitching, think it turned out really well. Mounted my image up, used some chipboard flowers and petals, some leather effect ribbon and a wooden heart sentiment.
I am really proud of myself they way she turned out, and hopefully you will see from this last picture that I have been practicing really hard on my shadowing and skin colour tones.

Image: Sweet & Sassy by Elizabeth Bell

Colours: Copic sketch markers

(E00, E31, E33, E51, C1, W1, YG03, YG13,

V12, V15, RV21, B00, B01, Y13, YR02,

YR04, R20 & R29 sorry forgot to take pic)

Papers: K&Company Classic K Bailey

and bright rainbow as background

Cricut shape: Accent Essentials cartridge

Chipboard shapes from a kit I got of QVC

Leather Ribbon: bought from Dunelm

Wooden heart was given to me

Well what do you think? Going to send this image into the copic challenge as I definitely feel happier with this image than the one I submitted a few days ago.

Thanks for stopping by, Karen xoxox

2 challenges in 1

2009-04-09T18:40:00.003+01:00

Well here is what I've managed to make today, and I've actually completed 2 challenges into 1 card.
The first challenge was set from a sketch for Friday Sketchers Blog, now I know I haven't followed the sketch exactly, but I think my interpretation is good, fingers crossed.
The second challenge was for A Spoonfull Of Sugar, in which you had to create a card with an age on it.

I made this card by cutting out a 7cm square aperture from the centre, stuck on some acetate and created a shaker card using some stars, sequences and beads that I had. Next I glittered the number 3 and stuck it onto the backing paper of the shaker.
The image was coloured and cut out and stuck together with a fine piece of acetate to give the impression that the angel is flying. Coloured in the stars on the background and hey presto card finished .......... wish it was that quick to make :-0
Might get back tonight with some more cards, but I need to get the tea sorted first.

Images: Star Angel from Butterfly Kisses

Backing Paper: Tutti Frutti from Craft House

(this was in some candy that I won from Kath, thanks honey)

Colours used: various Copics & Sakura stardust

Inks: Versafine smokey grey

Everything else was from my stash.

Copic Challenge No 1

2009-04-07T16:09:00.002+01:00

Well as you know my OH bought me lots of copic sketch markers recently and to my surprise copic have now launched a new blog. As well as having challenges on this blog, they are also providing hints and tips on how to get the most out of your copics, well this has been a great help for me.

There first challenge was to show of your colour techniques for faces. Below are my entries and they are far from as to the high standard as the design team, a BIG THANK YOU to Suzanne who has some amazing videos on you tube, I've been glued for hours watching her.

I worked really hard on trying to get the lighting on her face right and to show the shading properly, can you guess what side the light is coming from? Well it's suppose to be from the right, if you guess correctly then I must have done something good :-)

These were the pens that I used and my inspiration of colour was from the background paper in the picture, I really like the way there are so many different colours available within the same family.

And this is the finished article, doesn't she look pretty, and yes it is raining outside at the moment, hasn't really stopped here as past few days, of work tomorrow and Thursday as the OH needs to work and kids are of for the summer holidays, so you never know might get some more challenges made.

Hope to see you soon, Karen

Image: Rachelle Anne Miller, Lily & Milo

Colour pens: copic sketch

Papers: DCWV Summer collection

Embossed plate: Cuttlebug D'vine Swirl (inked before embossing)

Ribbon: From stash

Gems: Papermania collection

Flowers: Prima

Chicks or Rabbits?

2009-04-06T15:12:00.003+01:00

Couldn't decide which animal represented Easter more? The chicks as they are nice and fluffy and produce the ever in demand eggs, or the Easter Bunny the person who delivers the eggs? Which came first I wonder!

Anyway as I couldn't decided I used both on this card, these images are from the PB Fresh New Day collection which my Mum bought at our recent SECC trip. Coloured in using my new copics and layered onto some DCWV spring paper.

I love the way that the chicks are looking at Mr Wabbit as if they are ganging up on him and his expression is like "Whatever!!" they are soooo cute.

This card is going to be sent to a very good friend of mine and I have based the colour of the wabbit on her little Mr, can you guess who it is?

The Good, the bad and the .......

2009-04-05T21:50:00.007+01:00

...... well this is going to be a long post so go get yourself a cup of tea, light up a smoke (if you want) and take a pew. Sorry it's been a while since my last post, its been absolutely chaos here and maybe this wee post might explain a few of the reasons.
Firstly The Good news, as you know Mother's day has just went past, Easter is next week and my birthday (35th oh cringe) is the week after. My darling OH asked me what I would like and as you know I bought some copic sketch markers recently and said "a couple more of these babies would be cool :-)" Needless to say he must have heard me wrong as he bought me a couple of SETS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! couldn't believe it, didn't correct him mind you, but look at these new babies, I've been playing oops sorry perfecting my artist skills (sounds better) with these cuties over the past weeks when I've had the time, yes my "normal" work is still as mad as ever, who said that I would only be busy at the beginning of the year?! They are the sketch markers and now I'm thinking to myself "should I invest in an airbrush system?" Don't know how that would go down with OH, maybe if I bought it and said nothing about it would he even notice?

Now the bad news, well it's not really bad just depressing to me as the dust is doing my head in, yes the builders are still here and these are a few pictures to let you know the progress. I have no roof on my house, there is a big massive hole in my landing where my new master bedroom door will be and I'm freezing.

This is my new en suite, doesn't look like much from the picture but I'm sure that when the roof goes on and it's all plastered, fitted and cleaned it's going to look the business.

This is the kids new play room, it was originally our garage but as we built a double garage to the other side of our house last year, it was a sin to waste the space, plus it should mean that the kids stay out of the living room with all their Wii's, DS consoles and Xbox (oops that's mine and yes I do have the drum kit and guitar to go with it, rock on me lol !!!)

Finally the Ugly, well it's the weather of course, all this work is being done and the heaven's have opened so not only do I have to chase around behind the builders with the hoover, but now it the mop and bucket as well, there is water coming in everywhere and I've been praying really hard for it to stop. Hopefully as it's been a really good weekend here we might have some sunshine
for the builders to get the roof on and finish up but hey look at these poor chappies working in the rain trying to put my master bedroom window in isn't that dedication for you or is it the fact that not only am I standing holding the camera but I've also got a massive cane that if they try to slack of that I won't be afraid to use it, well it did take them 5 months to find my house .........................

Oh don't tell me you thought I was talking about my builders being "the ugly" ................... oh how rude ;-)

Oh how I wish all this work was finished, everything is everywhere, it's really doing my head in, can find nothing, everything is getting threw into my craft/computer room and I'm expected to work in this, no chance.

Hope to get a challenge finished tonight and posted on here tomorrow well the OH is working nights this weekend, the youngest is in bed and Kelsey, well she's sitting watching some silly movie on TV laughing her head off, well it is the Easter holidays for them anyway.

Love always, Karen xoxoxo

The Pink Elephant Challenge

2009-03-22T10:58:00.008Z

Morning all, over at the Pink Elephant Challenge they are having a Spring theme just for the weekend so I've decided to enter with my little Bashful Bunny. They also want to invite you all to hop to each of the design team's blogs and see the Easter and Spring themed projects they have all made to share with you! They are also giving away some fabulous blog candy and you won't want to miss that! So here I go in my merry way to hop over to Robin's blog to see what her challenge is, hop to see you about xoxoxo Karen

Images: Bashful Bunny from Butterfly Kisses
Foliage from Hobby Art
Papers: DCWV Spring Collection
Embossed Background: Tiny Bubbles for Cuttlebug
Copics used: G07, BG10, R08, G24, BV04, R02, E37, Y11, E31 & RV19
(sorry forgot to take picture)
Tail: Ivory flower soft

Inky Impressions 1st DT Call

2009-03-13T00:07:00.003Z

Well here are my 2 entries for the 1st ever DT call for Inky Impressions. They want you to submit a posting showing your stamping and colouring techniques. The bunny card was the first ever card that I used my copic markers on and I love the way it turned out, so bright and colourful, the second card was coloured in using water colour pencils and cosmic shimmer on the letters, you may remember that I won the PB challenge with this card and I'm so proud of that.

Well fingers crossed that my entries are good enough to get me through to the second stage, should find out on St Patrick's Day 17th March, let's hope the sun is shinning that day!!!!!

Mothers Day Card

2009-03-11T22:08:00.005Z

Well as Mothers Day is only a matter of weeks away, I decided that I had better make a start now and not leave it to the last minute as per normal. I have used one of the images that Kath gave me and I coloured this litter chappie in with my new copics (um you may hear a lot about this FAB pens!)

To highlight the rose centers a bit more, I used a clear glaze and dabbed into the middle of the rose, it really works and brings the roses more to life, hope you can see this in the picture. Papers are from DCWV text stack that I have had for a few years now and just came across while tidying up. Ribbons from stash but the colours really match into the paper well.

Karen xoxox

Sugar Bowl Extra Challenge

2009-03-11T21:48:00.011Z

Hi everyone, well here is my entry into the March challenge over on Sugar Bowl Extra. The technique to use this month is cracked glass, basically emboss your image 3 times with clear embossing powder, freeze for about half an hour, remove from freeze then break to form the "cracks". As you can expect my daughter thought I had lost all sense when she seen me putting this image into the freezer, needless to say she enjoyed it when she broke it all for me.

As I don't have any distress ink pads, I used my colour box chalk and inked the edges before embossing, then after cracking the image used a cotton ball and gently rubbed some more chalk into the cracks to emphasis them slightly, this seemed to have the same aging effect that I was after.

Materials Used:

Image - Sweet & Sassy by Elisabeth Bell

Colours - Copic sketch markers

Ink - Colour box chalk yellow

Embossing Folder - D'vine Swirl by Cuttlebug

Papers - DCWV Text Stack

Ribbons - American Crafts

Flowers - Prima

Everything else from my ever growing stash!!!!

Bashful Bunny

2009-03-08T19:33:00.012Z

Hi everyone, well this is what I was doing last night when my OH was at his work. This cute little chap was one of my purchases from the SECC, he has such a "it wasn't me" look about it, can you guess why? Used my copic markers (again) to colour in the image, first time I have ever attempted the technique called masking and I think I've done alright. Sorry about having so many pictures, couldn't decide on which one shows of the card best, so I just included them all.

This is the inside of the card, and as you have probably guessed, he was keeping an egg all for himself, oh I wonder who in our home does that??? Sorry about the picture of the inside, there was no natural light, but I did try using one of my illegal 100W light bulbs (visit here to find out more about that!)

Images: Bashful Bunny from Butterfly Kisses

Foliage from Hobby Art

Papers: DCWV Spring Collection

Embossed Background: Tiny Bubbles for Cuttlebug

Copics used: G07, BG10, R08, G24, BV04, R02, E37, Y11, E31 & RV19

(sorry forgot to take picture)

Tail: Ivory flower soft

Think that's everything, now its time for bath and bed for the kids, hope you all had a brilliant weekend and that you are all fresh for a new week ahead. Karen xoxo

Penny Black Challenge

2009-03-08T09:37:00.001Z

Welcome back, I worked on this card last night and as its my youngest brothers birthday soon I thought this would be a good time to make his card.

The Penny Black challenge this week is 3 - 2 - 1, 3 brads, 2 ribbons and 1 flower.

There are 2 brads in the background paper and the 3rd is the center of the flower.

(not happy about this picture sorry)

For the 2 ribbons I used a brown ribbon as a base and then layered a baby blue ribbon into the center of the brown.

1 massive flower in the bottom left hand corner of the card, the brad used is actually covered in baby blue flock to give it a more touch feel feeling (does that make sense?)

Papers Used: Background Funky Fellas (thanks Kath),

chocolate brown and baby blue from stash

Image: Don't know again from Kath xoxo

Brads: American Crafts

Flower: DCWV

Ribbons: from stash

Flock: Stampendouse, snow cone blue

Colours: Copic Sketch pens (see picture for details)

Ok think that's everything, please let me know what you think of my 1st card using my copic pens. See you soon, Karen xoxoxo

A Fun Day .......

2009-03-07T21:53:00.006Z

.... at the SECC on Thursday. Mum and I made it safe and sound, although I was a bit concerned when they had to defrost the wings of the plane in the morning, didn't think we were going to get out. Anyway, once there boy did we fill out boots, bags, suitcases ........ and this is what we bought, well my share anyway as Mum has already taken hers before I got taking any pics.

Oh I know I spent far to much money, but I couldn't come home empty handed now could I ?!

A BIG THANK YOU to Kath for her massive blog candy that I won a few weeks ago, it had been divided equally among Mum, Kelsey and me, Kelsey told me when she found out when I won that the bag was hers, now when she goes over to stay at her Nannie's and Grandad's (my mum and dads) she takes her own crafting bag with all her goodies and come to think of it some of mine to........... ah well definitely need to set up with with her own blog. I would also like to thank my other Scottish matey Lorraine who was demonstrating at the Fiskars stall, not only was she demonstrating, she was keeping an eye on my suitcase and all my purchases and to her THANKS HONEY.

It was great to see alot other Fiskarettes, I must apologise as I can't remember all your names and last but not least to Anne it was brilliant to see you and your hubby again, didn't really get much chance for a good old natter, but honey keep the head high your looking great after all your treatment, fingers crossed this side of the water. If I have missed anyone out, please accept my apologises, leave a comment and I will visit your blog.

DRUM ROLL

Ok, only 1 other person in the whole world knew what I had bought and that was my hubby, couldn't believe it when I told him how much they had cost, but now that "they" are here he understands why......... I have been waiting for a long long long time to justify buying these and now I just said to myself "you have worked really hard these past 2 months, go on spoil yourself!" so that's just what I did and I have bought some Copic Sketch Pens (he he he) 20 to be precise. Now I have no excuse for not doing my colouring in properly, will still continue to do my water colouring, using Sakura and my cosmic shimmer, but hey any excuse to buy something new.

Well what do you think of my new addition to my crafting collection? I've already been playing with them and have actually finished my card for this weeks Penny Black challenge, you will just need to come back tomorrow to see what I've "created".

............. Stamptivity Designer

2009-03-07T11:48:00.006Z

Hi all, as promised a few posts ago, I had some very exciting news for you all, well I am now official part of the design team for Stamptivity Ltd. I am privileged and honoured to be part of this design team and I absolutely love their stamps, so clean sharp images and no hassle with storage as they are all unmounted (I hear my OH cheering at this point).

Anyway below are some of the samples that I made using their silhouette images, tried to do something out of the ordinary with the samples and I hope you like what I did.

Well what do you think?

Will be back later today hopefully with a few snaps of my goodies that I bought at the SECC and also a very very important package that arrived in the post yesterday, oh this is much better than Christmas, xoxoxo

Its 6:21am and its snowing ...

2009-03-05T06:21:00.003Z

here in Northern Ireland, just hope my flight to bonnie Glasgow isn't cancelled. Yes that's right today is the day that Mum and I fly over to the SECC to meet up with Kath and Lorraine and hopefully buy some nice goodies.
Can't believe that I have been awake from 5:10 and the alarm didn't need to go of for me to get up, must be the nerves.
Anyway, the snow has arrived here, my car is on trying to defrost and now I'm going over to get Mum, our flight is at 8:00am but need to be in airport for around 7 to pass through security.
Back again tonight hopefully around 9:05pm as long as there are no delays. Will post tomorrow with any pics that I might take, if your going up as far as I know we are meeting at the Fiskars stand at 11am to go for coffee/tea/nicotine, would be lovely to meet you there.
Karen xxx

Kath's Anniversary Blog Candy

2009-02-23T21:41:00.003Z

Hi everyone, my Scottish mate Kath is celebrating her 1st blogging anniversary. She is giving away some fantastic candy, please go here and give her all the best wishes that you can. Karen xx

Can u see the pigs flying??

2009-02-23T15:44:00.002Z

....... yes? well so do I as my builders have turned up, only been expecting them since October, not bad only 5 months LATE. Ah well, they are here now, making holes in my walls, lots of noise, dust and Joe is cracking up because the sound of the drill is annoying his ears, poor wee soul.
If you have forgotten, I'm getting a 4 bedroom with en suite, toy room and new utility room being built. Taking of the existing room, building the gable wall up and re-roofing, should hopefully take 6-8 weeks to finish (weather permitting) then I have the horrible job of picking colours, fabrics, furniture ............. oh nightmare!
Will keep you informed of how the builders are getting on........................................bring out the electric blankets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well did you find it?

2009-02-22T13:51:00.004Z

On my last posting I said that I had uploaded my nephews birthday card onto my slide show, did you manage to find it?

Well here it is, my son thought this card was for him, but when I explained that it was for his big cousin, he said "that looks like him". Don't know if that's a compliment or not?

Image: Penny Black coloured with watercolours

Background Paper: DCWV Spring collection

Chipboard, stickers all from stash

On his name the letters a,v and n had been covered in baby blue flock to give it a more texture feel, a little bit of doodling around the boarders, but I'm not so sure about this.

As you can see from the shadows on the card, just how sunny it was when I took this picture last week, sun is still shinning today, wonder if that means Spring is here?

Will be back later this week with some exciting news for you all, just need to get the pictures uploaded first.

Karen xx

Ps: Mum and I are travelling to the SECC on Thursday 5th March, just flying over for 1 day but we are taking our suitcases so we hope to get lots of bargains .................. if you will be there, it would be nice to meet up for a natter xx

Love is in the air!!

2009-02-14T15:34:00.003Z

Well Happy Valentines everyone, what did you all get? Me personally I got a lovely bunch of flowers and Thorntons Chocolates and a card that made me cry. This is what it said

For the Woman I Love,

I love the warmth of your body next to mind.

I love the way I feel when I hold you in my arms,

I love the way time stands still when we're together.

But mostly .... I love you for being you

Isn't that adorable, I cried (big softie me). Will have to get a picture of my flowers and chocolates later.
Unfortunately no romantic meal tonight as I have to work in the bar, only until 10pm they said ..... won't hold my breath to that one, so no cards tonight :-(
It's my nephews 13th birthday in a few weeks and as he's turning into a Teenager, I need to make him a special card. I have already taken a pic of it and put it into my slide, I wonder if anyone can find it?

Love to you all on this lovable day, Karen xx

Valentine with a twist

2009-02-13T12:11:00.005Z

Morning all, well as tomorrow is Valentines Day I decided that I better make the OH his card and as he knows he will always be my Valentine, I decided to make a twist in my card. I wanted him to know what he makes me feel rather than how much I love him as I tell him everyday that I love him to bits. As some of you may know, my 1st marriage wasn't the best, so with Trevor now I feel like I live with my best friend and that he makes the kids and I feel "SAFE", protected, loved, he is a very funny guy and I know that with all the troubles that we have been through, all the rows and fall outs that no matter what, he is always there and has been for over 18 years now ............ a long long time.

To make this card I used a Penny Black image from her unmounted Hugs collection (borrowed it from Mum), the way the mice are hugging each other under the flower made me think of safe, warm, secure and content. I then painted the flower with cosmic shimmer and layered the petals and 1 of the mice to give it more depth. Used Fiskars heart templates and cut out lots of smaller hearts using a punch to frame the image, sneaked in a wee red one just for Valentines. With some ribbon I had in my stash I stamped the word Love on it, used DCWV summer papers, chipboard the word Safe and glittered it up. Lastly a few double heart eyelets into the corners to show more love. I love the backing papers and I wanted to show the sayings as this is how Trevor makes me feel.

Well what do you think? Will have to keep you informed of what he gets me for Valentines ........ should be interesting!!!!!

Don't mean to panic you BUT ...........

2009-02-12T16:25:00.005Z

This was the start of a telephone conversation that I got on Saturday night while sitting, chilling out, wee drink and watching Casualty on TV (love that show).

Well, it was a friend of mine what wanted me to do some 18th Birthday Party invitations for her daughter "No problem, how many and when for?" said I ...... "80 by Wednesday please and can they be discrete but pink" you could image the thump as I hit the ground ... but me being me agreed as I hate letting anyone down.

So off into the dungeon, to start the invites, worked until 2am Saturday night, late Sunday and finished of after work on Monday, handed them out on Tuesday night, delighted with them and would be giving my details out to all her mates ............. longer time needed in future please.

Here they are,

I adore PB's unmounted stamps and will definitely be "investing" in more when Mum and I go to the SECC in March, they are so clear even after being used continuously for 85 times (always do a few extra). Inked the edges, mounted onto pink mix background and then onto Raspberry Pink card. There is glitter on the champagne cork, but can't see it to well with my picture, sorry.

Karen xx

Please VOTE!!!!!

2009-02-08T13:36:00.003Z

Hi everyone, as you know I entered the Fiskarettes Oriental Challenge this week. Well now I need your help to vote, please follow the link below and vote for my card. There is some fantastic goodies to be had, fingers crossed here xoxoxo

All you have to do is take a look at all the entries for January HERE ~ Then any time between 6-11 January email Caroline and Jayne with your choice of who you think should win to address - (fiskarettesuk@googlemail.com) and the one with the most votes will win!

I can't believe it

2009-02-07T10:31:00.002Z

Well just woke up to the glorious snow outside, popped over to see the winner on Penny black challenge blog and guess what - IT's ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Oh I am so over whelmed and actually gob smacked.
Thank you very much everyone at PB, I'm so happy that you picked my card.
Now I have to try and think of something for their new challenge this week which is ROMANCE, um what's that like again?

Penny Black challenge

2009-02-03T15:16:00.003Z

This is my entry for the PB Challenge this week which is "circles". As it's Kelsey's birthday in a few days time, I decided to make this card for her as she loves cats .... especially her Monty. I used the PB stamp Bee Costume and coloured in with watercolours. The wings have been painted using cosmic shimmer, then overlayed with sakura clear stardust. Used my cricut accent cartridge to cut out the "circle" images, and to add more definition around the image I embossed with circles. Inked up the edges a little, ribbon to show off the letters spelling her name and a simple messages to finish. I'm really happy with the way this turned out, even my OH commented on how good it looks and yes Kelsey did find it so I don't need to worry now about putting it into an envelope.

Papers used: K&Co Berry Sweet Collection

Image: Penny Black Bee Costume

Pencils, Inks, Pens: All from stash

Die cutting: Jasmine, Plantin & Accent Essentials

Something Oriental

2009-01-31T17:40:00.008Z

Over in the Fiskarettes blog, they are giving away some fantastic new products that aren't available in the UK yet. The challenge is to design an "oriental" card to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Well I have never designed anything oriental before, so I decided that this should be my first challenge for the year.

I used peel offs and painted using cosmic shimmer to paint the images so they had a rich shine on the dresses, cut image out, removed the image and hey presto it worked (a little tip, remove some of the stickiness of the peel off first by pressing into your clothes, this makes the peel off easier to remove when finished and doesn't lift the paper in the process!)

Next, cut out some Chinese dragon panels using Fiskars deckle paper edgers, love these as you don't necessarily have to go in a straight line :-) and matted onto gold mirror board.

Layered all onto a Chinese dragon background and mounted onto red card from my stock.

The writing along the 2 dragon panels say celebrate, health, happiness and wealth. Red in China represents wealth, so I hope this card brings me wealth in the form of the Fiskars goodies.

Please go over to the site here, and vote for my card. Or if you would like to take part yourself, you can enter up to the 4th February.

Will be back later tonight (I hope) with a before and after picture of my diary, got bored last night and this is what I got up to .......................

Karen

Eventually .....

2009-01-27T23:16:00.008Z

I have managed to download my camera software and log onto my blog ..... still don't know what's wrong there. Anyway here is the card that I made for a lady who works in one of the business that I work with, it was her 31st birthday and her OH was taking her to Lanzorate for her birthday (well seen they have no kids).

I absolutely ADORE Penny Black images and as I have promised not to buy anything until my "new" craft room is built I have invested in some images that I purchased from an auction site - but if anybody out there would like to send Kelsey and me some we would be very grateful.

Anyway back to the card, used my Whispers pens to colour this cutie in, some glitter on the bumble bee wings and on the center of the flowers. I'm really happy with the way it turned out as I wanted to achieve subtle, calming colours.Oh to be 31 again .................................

Hope to be back again real soon, Please Mr Blogger, let me in, Karen

SORRY :-(

2009-01-21T00:10:00.002Z

Hi everyone, sorry I haven't been about as last couple of months, between kids being sick, operations, work load I just haven't had time to come on here and I am truly sorry :-(

I had been planning on starting the new year with a new objective, to post on my blog at least every other day, but my computer had other ideas and unfortunately it was laid to rest in the local dump last week so everything had to be built again from scratch.

My mum and dad ever so kindly gave me their old computer but Mr Blogger doesn't seem to like it so much but if you are reading this my every so generous parents, THANK YOU xoxo

Ok, now back to the crafting, I eventually have managed to scrape a few hours together to make 1 card (around of applause please) but unfortunately I can't upload it as I can't find the software for my camera ....... grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, what's a girl to do? Emailed the company and asked them to forward a "link" to the software, hopefully it should appear within the next couple of days.

Just a few mentions if I may, WAY TO GO KATH, card designer of the year 2008, what a major award for such a talented person, next time we meet up I will have to get your autograph now that your famous. Couldn't have happened to a nicer lady and didn't I always tell you that your cards were brill. And now to my other Scottish amigo who has had a rougher ride than I over the past months, Lorraine, I'm so happy that you are on the mend and that your back into your crafty ways again. I knew you were a fighter and hopefully you have no more worries, maybe now you will put on some weight and not make me so JUMBO looking :-)

Anyway, got to get back to other peoples accounts, why do so many people leave it to the last minute to try and get an accountant to audit their books? It's not going to change anything but makes my life a lot harder ......... but hey it pays the bills so I shouldn't really complain.

Hope to speak to you all soon, and as this is my 100th post, will do a candy giveaway in the next couple of days, if the camera software arrives.

Love to you all, keep crafting and don't let this "credit crunch" depress any of us to much xoxoxo

Karen

A Little Bit Different

2008-10-27T23:46:00.002Z

Was up the town this weekend and I noticed that Christmas trees are coming in all colours and shapes now, red, pink, black, square, circle etc.

So to try and incorporate the more "traditional" tree with modern day brighter ones I made this card. The tree is a cut from a larger stamp from Stamps Happen Inc, the orange glitter card from my stock, the diamond paper is from DCWV. Added a few holly brads from Fiskars and some spare ribbons.

Coloured the tree in using cosmic shimmer and sakura pens, a few gems on the stars and a sticker from goodness only knows where ..... finding a lot of things that I didn't realise I had (shush don't tell the OH).

What do you think? Definitely bright ain't it?!

Quick Christmas cards

2008-10-26T18:14:00.003Z

Well as promised, here are a few of the cards that I made last night for our church Christmas Fair. They were quick and easy as the members of our GFS will be making some also and these are girls aged 3 and older.

I really like the Christmas tree one, used some glitter rubbed onto double sided tape, a few off cuts from DCWV paper and 3d foam pads with glitter, lastly a little piece of ribbon to tie onto the base of the tree with a little diamante - dead simple but effective.

The pink & black one has a candy cane heart on the bottom right hand corner, this was a "happy" accident, so I 3d the canes and hey presto, a heart appeared and with some glitter doesn't it shine!

Took a picture of my bargain of the week, the candle, burning time 100hrs price £4.99 - couldn't believe it and its cinnamon, my favourite Christmas scent.

Well hope to be back later tonight with a few more pics for you.

Karen

I've been busy making Christmas .......

2008-10-25T13:28:00.002+01:00

.... cards, decorations, table settings, you name it, I've been doing it this past week. We hold a Christmas Fair every other year to raise funds for the up keep of our church and this year the GFS have decided to enter a craft stall - no problem said me. Little did I realise just how much work I had let myself in for as the fair is on the 22nd November and not only do I have a wee operation next week that will put me of my feet for about a week, but this morning I have just received a letter telling me that Joe's operation will be on the 8th November. Isn't the timing of these appointments just brilliant.

So I have been up to past 2am the past two nights trying to finish off orders and get started on some crafts to sell on the stall. I will post some pictures of the finished products once they have dried, hopefully later on today.

Keep smiling only 60 days to Christmas - but hey who's counting? LOL

It's been a fairly ......

2008-10-12T00:01:00.001+01:00

scrap booking day to be honest with you. Trying to get through the 100's of pictures that I have taken over the summer, tell me this do you think that when you start blogging and scrap booking that you take pictures of everything and anything? Or is it just me?
Hope to get the pages finished tonight/tomorrow and then I will post them of for you to comment on. C u soon, Karen xoxoxo

2 sketches 4 you challenge

2008-10-10T00:56:00.005+01:00

This is my entry for Kazan's challenge over on 2 sketches 4 you. As its my niece's birthday in December and with the Christmas card orders starting to stack up, I decided that this sketch was a great way to sort out Caitlin's birthday card. I used K & Company paper as the background and some Heidi Grace for the panel.
I absolutely love these butterflies and I know Caitlin will love the bright colours that I have used in this card. Hope you are all keeping well, and that this glorious wet weather isn't making you craft more than usual, any excuse ;-)

Magnolia challenge

2008-10-09T22:49:00.004+01:00

This is the first challenge that I have entered in a long time and I decided to try the Magnolia challenge this week which is to use metal in your creation along with one of their images. As I don't have any shinny metals I decided to use brads - well they are made from metal :-) I love this image of the little girl holding a bird in her hand and as its coming close to Christmas (11weeks but who's counting) I decided that the little bird be a robin. I have used my cosmic shimmer paints and some water colour pencils to colour her in and the back ground it 4 large hearts punched out of green pattern paper. I'm quite happy with the way this card turned out, just hope the girls over in magnolia land like it. Will try and get another challenge finished tonight. Karen

Meet the new family member

2008-10-01T23:54:00.004+01:00

This is Ben, Ben the Bin as I like to call him as he eats none stop and oh boy does he ever love posing for the camera. Ben came to us as a stray 5 weeks ago and he is only about 4 months old. He has settled into the Monaghan clan very well and him and Monty get on like a proper brother and sister. He has the cutest we face with his wee goatee moustache and the softest fur I have ever felt. Just thought I would share a picture or two of him with you all. Just finished the samples of my Orange Order cards, they are going to the Lodge meeting this Monday night and I have sent samples to other Lodges so hopefully I will get a good order for them, had over 100 last year and this year I'm a bit late, but we live in hope. Have a big day this Saturday, I am doing a workshop in our new town hall for children, its based on the theme of T-shirt designs so I'm up to my arms at the minute with t-shirts, paints, stencils etc you get the picture. Will let you know how it goes ..... fingers crossed. Karen

I'm all alone .......

2008-09-29T23:19:00.007+01:00

on my 2nd wedding anniversary ;-( as my hubby is in hospital having his tonsils removed. So what's a girl to do but craft, ye ha. Managed to get a few scrapbook pages finished, but I'm trying to stay awake for QVC's craft day which starts in 40 mins as I've been advised that their TSV is exceptional quality, thanks Kath. Well it's really hard to believe but Trevor and I have been married 2 years, I can remember the day like it was yesterday, and boy did we have a brilliant day. Here are a couple of pics for you, my hair is no longer dark, and I got it all cut of last Tuesday, its hard to get use to short hair again after so many years. Hope you are all keeping well and that this cold weather is not bothering you to much. See ya soon, Karen xoxo

A wee quickie

2008-09-25T11:52:00.002+01:00

My neighbour ran across last night asking me to make a wedding card "no problem, when for?" her reply was "10 minutes!" Oh my word me standing in my pj's slumming myself watching The Bill so this was my Just Married card made in 10 minutes. I used my new Jasmine cartridge for the cricut to cut out the words in holographic paper and the shadow in red. Used a large punch for the heart and some DCWV paper and ribbon. The lower stripped paper is glittered but you can't see it very well in the photograph. Ah well I like the way it turned out and my neighbour was delighted with it, just hope the happy couple were impressed. Of work today, so my plan is to have a filled soda, yummy, as breakfast, turn on the radio and get my downstairs dusted and hovered before I lift Joe from school at 2pm. He has football practice today after school and with my hubby being a massive Tottenham fan guess what kit Joe got, no not spurs (didn't like the colours) he went for Liverpool ......... nothing to do with the team or anything, he like the colour and their crest on the shirts, oh if life was so simple wouldn't it be great!!!!

Summer 2008

2008-09-24T17:19:00.003+01:00

Well of the summer that we did have, I managed to take a few pictures and put into this scrapbook page. The papers are from DCWV it was a TSV on QVC 3 storage system and mum and I opted to go for the 3 seasons package. These papers are from the summer collection and we are impatiently waiting for their christmas collection.

7 years and look at the difference

2008-09-21T22:37:00.005+01:00

Well although its been quite a while since I posted on here, I have been busy and here are some of the things that I have been up to. Clearing out my garage and computer room as the builders start the extension in a couple of weeks (fingers crossed) and I came across some old photos of Kelsey in her P1 class. So out came the 12 x 12 and her and I made a scrapbook page, its not finished yet as we are going to put all the names of the other kids in the photo, just can't remember them all ..... old age me thinks. The last picture is Kelsey on her 1st day at Ballymena Academy, how proud I am of her and yes I did cry when I see my wee girl all grown up ready to embrace what life holds for her.