New ABC Christmas Challenge.....

Organised, ahead of yourself, always ready for Christmas...........no, me neither!
So the new ABC Christmas Challenge could get you set up ready for next Christmas & help to avoid that last minute panic!
They are also having a fun blog hop with yummy candy to win which is open until midnight on 29th Dec so why not join in the fun and visit them at http://abcchristmaschallenge.blogspot.com/

Nice one girls!

Season's greetings....

.... Now life is a bit calmer I just wanted to say that I hope you all had a great Christmas day and are enjoying the holidays where ever you are. Our snow is all gone now but we did have some fun while it lasted. Just chilling out now & playing. Back to work tomorrow :0( but only for 2 days then off again until the following Sunday......yippy!

So, just in case I don't get back before the New Year I will take this opportunity to wish you all ........

A happy, healthy and prosperous 2010!

Snow and more snow!

Well, the kids went to bed last night in a state of extreme excitement.....and they were not disappointed this morning. All schools in the city closed & not one bus running. What a way to end the school term! And seeing as I work in a school it's no work for Mum either (yippy!)
So here's a taster of how our morning has been.
Woke up to this sight.
Light enough to go out to play!
The view of the sea at the end of our road, looks really weird having snow in the foreground. We are not used to this on the South coast.

Time to get serious, nearly at the park.
Woo hoo......down comes my son.
Right......my turn.
OMG....how much fun is this!

Just had to take a peek at the beach before heading home to warm up.

Hot chocolate here we come.
Keep safe & warm where ever you are!

Kaz xx

Super fab candy....

Ooooh just love these gorgeous stamps Squirrel has on her mini advent celebration candy.
Well done on reaching (& surpassing) 10,000 hits!
Why not pop over to her blog and see for yourself.....
http://squirrel10.blogspot.com/2009/11/mini-candy-advent-celebration.html

My new Sugar Nellies arrived......

......Ok, it was a week or two ago but I have christened all of them now (was naughty & got 4 of them) .........well, there was a sale on! One you may have already seen in my last post....my attempt at a goth card.


This one is Miss Clause, couldn't resist her. Coloured her with water colour pencils and added Stickles glitter to all the 'fur trim' bits of her clothes. Greeting stamp by Inca.

This next one is Baubles, just LOVE this image....she's so cute!
Again coloured with water colour pencils & highlighted all the baubles with Glossy Accents.
I followed a sketch from http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/ challenge but am about a week too late taking the pic. Oh bring back those long, light days of summer!
But never mind its another Chrimble card completed.

This last one is for a challenge a lovely crafting friend set ~ to use the colours pink, blue & yellow in a spring or Easter card. Must say it made a refreshing change from Christmas cards and gave me a great excuse to use the last of my new Sugar Nellie stamps~ Reflective.

Dug out my Prismacolors & Zest it for the first time in ages to colour her. Have given up trying to use blending stumps and resorted to cotton buds :0

That's it for now, back to Chrimble cards if I want to get finished in time to post for this Christmas.
Thanks for stopping by.
Kaz xx

Three more.....

....the craft frenzy continues! Must be close to a personal record for cards in one week by now.

These 3 were all for my daughter's 13th birthday yesterday.

This first one is from her Nana who loves Henry almost as much as me. Wish I hadn't done the embossing now but it seemed like a good idea at the time.

Next was from her brother who chose this PB bear image

And finally from her Dad & me and my entry for this months

http://justmagnolia.blogspot.com challenge which is to use distressing on your card or project.

So I have used my scissors to distress the edges of the Bazzill card layers.

Thanks for visiting

Kaz xx

44 days to go.........eeek!

Seeing all those Christmas count down things on blogs I visit has spurred me into a crafting frenzy & I have two more cards done this week. Challenges are helping me no end.......Oh thank goodness for challenges!

My first card fits two challenges http://pennybfriendssaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ who's challenge this week is Song titles/lyrics.

My song is "When the red, red robin comes bob, bob, bobin' along"

And I instantly loved this sketch from the weeks

http://christmasblogchallenge.blogspot.com// ( will be using this one lots me thinks)

My second card fits the http://sketchsaturday.blogspot.com/ challenge which again uses a fab sketch

Its my daughter's birthday tomorrow so another busy crafting evening in store tonight.

Oh I am soooo last minute!

TTFN

Kaz xx

Well there goes another week! Oh boy they do seem to be passing fast. Have 3 cards to share this week.......not bad for me. Had two crafty friends with birthdays recently and a real toughy for me.......my daughter asked me to make a goth card for her friend......eeek! So needed some inspiration on that one!

Luckily (I think) a friend tipped me off to some discount on orders from Sugar Nellie and in a moment of weakness some fell into my basket and through the checkout before I knew it.......strange how that can happen.

Anyway, they have arrived and one of the stamps was a manga girl who was my only chance at a goth card. Lets face it cute bunnies, hedgies and florals just weren't gonna work!

I used the sketch from this weeks http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/ challenge and came up with this......

I do love the image and the sketch, but found the colours really depressing to work with and really tricky to photograph! I have used 3 shades of grey Bazzill and black. Managed to inject just a tiny bit of sparkle with black sparkly embossing powders for the text and a tiny splash of colour on her bow.
Just couldn't resist adding 3 fab silvery Dew Drops too.
Phew.....need some ribbons, flowers & glitter after that, which brings me to my other two cards.

Same image but way different colours. Used a fab sketch from ......ooops sorry I can't remember! But it's a good one. P.S My lovely friend Helen has let me know the sketch is from this weeks

http://www.christmasandbirthdaycards.blogspot.com challenge.......Thanks Helen!

And last but not least.....

A lovely Magnolia image with lace, ribbon, a charm and a flower, much more me.

Right I am off to play with my other new Sugar Nellies. Have a great weekend & thanks for peeking at my blog.

Kaz xx

Hi all,

Hope you are enjoying what's left of half term and the weekend. Had half term off :0)

but back to work tomorrow for me .....boo! :0(

Still, soon be Christmas! Eeeeeek....what am I saying!

And on that note......... I have given myself a kick up the .... and got on with a few cards.

Lots of lovely sketches & challenges about, but being slow coach me, I have missed most of the dead lines! Still, I enjoy the inspiration.

Just got this one done in time for a challenge. The http://housemouse-challenge.blogspot.com/

Their challenge this week is "Aperture." After some thought I decided to have a go at my first shaker card 1. cos it needs an aperture, & 2. cos I wanted to make a 'snowy' kind a card.

After a lot of changes to my original plan, a very sticky pair of scissors and snow & glitter all over the place! I finally managed to come up with this....

This card was inspired by sketch #26 over at the Papertake challenge......loved the simplicity.

Image by Pink Gem 'Winter Milly'

My next card used a sketch again, this time from the Just Magnolia challenge........only trouble is I was so focused on the layout I forgot all about a magnolia element.....oooops!

Image by Hero Art 'Winter Kitty'

My final card was made for my daughter's friend, the brief was she likes green & yellow , so here's what I came up with....

Thanks for visiting...

Kaz xx

Sketch Saturday challenge....

Decided as I have so many birthday cards to make at the moment I needed help & inspiration to keep me going. Soooooo I am looking to all those lovely challenges. Now I am rather partial to sketch challenges and really like this one over at http://sketchsaturday.blogspot.com/ so this was my inspiration for this card for a friend.......shhhhhhh hoping she doesn't see it on here before the postie pops it through her door!





Used an image a lovely friend send me ages ago....thank you Samantha.....te hee he ...I told you it was a long time ago, I bet you don't even remember! And I still have the gorgeous wallet you sent me too.
Water coloured the image and highlighted the roses with glossy accents.
Hope the recipient likes it!

Kaz xx

Its been a while.......

....but I have found the tine to join in with a few challenges this week :0)

And oh boy are these so many to choose from!


Two of my favourites are http://housemouse-challenge.blogspot.com/ 'cos I just LOVE all the gorgeous images, and http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/ly.blogspot.com/ , especially love their sketch challenges and this weeks sketch is no exception......just had to do it!
My card fits both challenges as I have used the fab sketch from the Papertake Challenge and included buttons which is for the Housemouse Challenge. Hope you like my card.



I have managed to make a few other cards for birthdays this month but in my haste to post I forgot to take pics :0( just managed one other pic of this card sent to a dear fluffy friend a while ago to thank her for some totally adorable images she sent me. Bless her!



Well that's it from me for now, thanks for popping by!
Have a great weekend
Kaz xx

Woo hoo......

......I did it!
I challenged myself to find the time to join in with more fun challenges than I have ever managed before this week......and with these 2 cards that makes 5 challenges for me in one week!! Its a personal best....really must knuckle down to some in depth cleaning next week though :0(

So...my first card is for the Christmas challenge blog and their theme this week was "Vintage Christmas".
http://christmasblogchallenge.blogspot.com/
For me, the colours represent oldy world & vintage and for added measure I distressed the edged using my scissors & "Antique Linen" ink.
Now this card also fits in with this weeks Papertake Challenge ~ "Fake it"
http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/
I have used faux stitching on the design paper and my oldy & distressed look is fake.


MY second card is for the House Mouse Challenge. Theirs is a special challenge this week as they are celebrating their first year! Congratulations to all the fab design team on your anniversary. The theme this week is called 'A year in review' and we could choose our fav challenge for the past year. Soooooo.......I just love Chrimble cards so had to go for
challenge 45 ~ Seasons. My season is of course winter.


Thanks for popping by & have a great weekend!
Kaz xx

Found some time & inspiration.....

....and have actually managed to make 2 cards today!

Spotted the most gorgeous sketch on the Winter Wonderland Christmas challenge and just had to join in. The main challenge was to have a Snowman and the sketch was optional, but as I love both, I have done both. Apologies for the pic but its dark now and the challenge ends tonight (I think) so had to go with this pic. Thanks for a great challenge DT guys!

http://christmasblogchallenge.blogspot.com/

My second card made using a sketch from this weeks Papertake challenge, again a fab sketch to inspire.

http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/

Needed to make a birthday card for my sister so here it is....

Again not a great pic but too impatient to wait until morning.

I am going for a personal record this week and am hoping to join in with a few more challenges this week......fingers crossed I can find more me time.......it sure beats doing housework!

Thanks for stopping by

Kaz xx

Helen's blog candy.....

Ooops! I didn't give you a link to Helen's blog did I......silly me! Just want it all for myself...lol

Here it is....
http://helenscrafthaven.blogspot.com

Good luck!

Fabulous candy!!!

Not so sure I should mention this......but the lovely Helen is celebrating her first blog anniversary with a fabulous candy give away. Such a generous stash of gorgeous goodies!


Now if you fancy getting your hands on this little lot, here's what you need to do:



Link Helen's candy on your blog (if you have one) - sidebar is fine :0)
Add a link to your blog on Mr Linky
If you don't have a blog, but would still like to enter, you can contact Helen by email (click the birdie on her sidebar --->) with 'Blog Candy' as the subject, and she'll add you to Mr Linky
One entry per person please...She would like everyone to have a fair chance :0)
She will post worldwide, so this candy is open to everyone
She has disabled the comments on this post...as entry is by Mr Linky only - if you are having problems with Mr Linky, email her to let her know.

Right off to add my name....fingers crossed!

Cards for grandpa.....

Needed to make two cards today so had a peek at some challenges for inspiration.

This weeks Papertake challenges is to use this fab sketch by Dawny. I do love her sketches!
http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/




And here is my card using Dawny's sketch.



Was rather chuffed with myself as it also fits in with the Secret Crafter's Sat challenge for this week which is to use Fancy Corners.
http://thesecretcraftersaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com

Now cos this is for a male I couldn't get too carried away with my corners so I used Woodware punch which cuts out little notches........hope that's fancy enough!
Image ~ WOJ Henry A huge THANK YOU to my lovely friend Uma for sending Henry to me, I LOVE him to bits!
Text done on PC using font~ Freehand 591BT
Bazzil card
Paper Mania colossal papers ~ For Him
Woodware squared corner cutter punch
Stickles glitter glue ~ Diamond

My next one fits the PB Saturday Challenge for this week which is a colour combo challenge to use blue, tan & cream. A perfect colour combination for male cards!
http://pennybfriendssaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com




Image ~ Penny Black.....of course!
Text ~ Funstamps
Paper Mania colossal paper ~ For Him
Bazzil card
Glossy accents.....(on nose & candles)
Carla Craft corner punch
Craftwork Cards card candy.......A big THANK YOU to another fab crafty friend Helen for those!
...........stuck on with clear silicone adhesive.

Thought I would leave you with a pic I took today of my baby.....

Oh boy, just look at him now.......how he has grown! He is 5 months old already. He is going out into the garden on supervised play sessions and today he discovered......trees!
He just kept climbing up & down for ages.....lol....he slept for ages afterwards.

Thanks for visiting.....

Kaz xx

Fab candy .......

OMG some fabulous candy offered by Carole over at StarDust, Gems and Ribbon!

She has not one but TWO gorgeous lots. This one is my fave........love the stamp and those papers are totally fab!

Why not go take a peek......

http://stardustgemsandribbon.wordpress.com

Fingers crossed.......................

Thank you teacher's

My son has had a really lovely teacher this past year who had helped him gain confidence and progress through year 5. She really understood him & knew how to bring out the best in him. I wanted to give her a personal gift to show my appreciation for all her hard work & dedication. Quite frankly I don't know how teacher's cope with up to 30 children in a class.....
2 are quite enough for me!
Any way here is what I made for her. I used a 5x7 photo frame to make a post it note holder. I didn't really have design in my head when I started just picked an image and went with the flow. Am rather pleased with the way it turned out.



Here is the card I made to go with the gift.


My daughter's teacher is leaving to have a baby so my daughter really wanted to give her a baby related card & gift, so here is the card I made which we put with a cute Baby's first teddy.


Hope they like their cards & gifts & have a happy, peaceful summer holiday....they deserve it!!

Birthdays galore!

Birthday's & more birthday's this week.....not a challenge card in sight! And I have enjoyed myself crafting.
This first one is for a dear crafting friend I met online, I hope she likes it.
The image is one of my new House Mouse ones........(I just can't get enough of these at the moment! ) called Throwing Daisy Petals.


The next one is for another lovely crafting buddy I met online......wonderful thing this computing lark. Back to my first love.....Penny Black stamps for this one. The big 40 today!

And last but not least for my daughter's friend another fab PB image.

Happy birthday girlies!

House Mouse meets Papertake challenges

This HM image fitted so well with my latest addiction.............Robin's nest dew drops, so just had to have a play. Started this card last night to enter the Papertake challenge using a fab sketch by Dawny P, I love the clean uncluttered look of this sketch.
http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/

and when I peeked at this weeks House Mouse challenge it fits so well too, 2 challenges in 1!
http://housemouse-challenge.blogspot.com/
My season is winter with snow on the ground and bright berries on the trees & bushes.


House Mouse stamp 'Christmas singing duo' watercoloured & chalked around the edges.
Card: Bazzil, Coredinations & gold mirror.
Gorgeous DP's by Wassail (need to get more!)
Dew drops from Flame & Pointsetta sets.
Ribbon from stash.

Right back to work.......have wallpaper to hang.

A stitch in time..........

Well I have got it together a bit better this week and actually completed a card for a challenge before the dead line....yay! :0) Had great fun playing with my sewing machine and some new goodies recently purchased. Robin's Nest Dew Drops..........Hmmm I feel a new addiction coming on. Just love these little things. I have used some from the Winter Retreat set....fab colours! Anyway, this card is inspired by the Cute Card Thursday challenge #67 ~ A Stitch in Time.

http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/

The image is a Sarah Kay one gifted to me by my lovely friend Pauline......Thanks hun xxx

This is how it turned out....

A blitz of blue.....

.......What with Father's day, my OH's birthday & my son's friend's my crafting has been mostly male orientated recently and very blue.

This one is for my OH's birthday today, Happy Birthday hun! Had fun playing with string and rather like the results. It adds some dimension to an otherwise flat card. The dogs nose & the candles are highlighted with Glossy Accents (not that it shows in the pic!)

Father's day card made using an image from http://www.digistampboutique.co.uk/catalog/

they have some fab images to play with. Used Dawny's sketch #16 from the Papertake challenge.

Another card for OH from the kids. Also made for the Housemouse challenge #41 Red, White & Blue, but I didn't get round to posting it in time :0(

One for my son's friend. A freebie decoupage image from http://thelilacgardendecoupagesite.co.uk/childrendecoupage.html

Text done on PC, numeral die cut with Cuttlebug Olivia

Still blue but not for a male this time. Found some fab ribbons in the Pound shop and really liked the blue/green set. 5 different ribbons for......yep £1! Could kick myself as I went back for some more today and its all gone. Oh well......


Another blue one for yet another challenge I missed the boat on. What am I like! This one was for the Christmas blog challenge #4 ~ A blue Christmas. Tried using my new Cosmic Shimmers with a spray bottle on the oval before stamping the image.

Hmmmmm some practice needed!

Looked a right mess so sponged over it with some blue chalk ink to hide it.

Note to self.....must be more organised when doing challenges in future!

Thanks for popping by

Kaz xx