Kaz's Me time creations

Win 20 Promarkers from Handy Hippo

2011-12-29T20:46:00.003Z

Ooh how could I resist an offer like that! And best of all you get to choose the colours you win too . . . . . woo hoo . . . . . count me in pleeeeeeze!

So the details. . . .

Well, to celebrate single Promarkers now being available to buy from Handy Hippo the kind folk there are giving us all a chance to win 20 single Promarkers of our choice.

So if you want to join in you need to hop over to Jules at Always with a Heart and simply follow her instructions.

Tempted? How could you not be, but just in case here's a little picture

I'm off to enter right now!

Snow cuddle . . .

2011-12-15T21:26:00.002Z

I'm still trying to pump out Christmas cards, only a few more days to catch the post eeeek!
This one features one of my favourite PB snowman in my favourite winter colours - blue & white. Again a C&S layout with the focus on the image.

Image Penny Black 'Snow Cuddle'
Coloured with Promarkers
A generous application of Stickles 'Star Dust' on the snowman. on the ground and all around the edge of the die cut image square. Not that it shows much in the pic but has lots of sparkle in real life.
Text done on PC

Challenges:~
I Love Promarkers - colour combo Blue & White
ABC Challenge - F is for frosty
ABC Christmas challenge - Yippy - it's almost Christmas!
Stampin for the weekend - Christmas

Thanks for visiting . . . . off to make some more!
Kaz xx

Look into my eyes . . .

2011-12-11T19:42:00.003Z

. . . Awww just look at that cute little kitty.
I do love this adorable image & used it to make a quickie Birthday card. Kept is very simple as I wanted the image to be the focus.

Hope your enjoying what's left of the weekend.
Kaz x

Left overs ........

2011-12-10T15:25:00.005Z

. . . . that's what the Cuttlebug team want us to use on our creations. Oh boy do I have a stock of them!
As I am way behind with my Christmas cards I am going all C&S this year and have made not one but 3 of these today, along with a couple of other designs :0)
Here's the red & gold version . . . .

and here's the red & green version . . . .

Apologies for the pics it's just too gloomy now to take a decent pic but you get the idea.

Quickutz bauble die
Cuttlebug D'vine Swirl embossing folder
Highlighted raised areas with Stickles glitter glue
Text done on PC
Gems & bow to finish.

Challenges:~
The Cuttlebug Spot - Left overs
ABC Challenge - Embossing
Colour Create - Red, white & green
ABC Christmas Challenge -Anything Christmas

Enjoy the weekend & thanks for taking the time to have a peek
Hugs
Kaz xx

Anything goes!

2011-12-09T21:55:00.003Z

Thank goodness for these "Anything Goes" challenges ........ just what's needed when Mojo is in short supply.

Here's another birthday card I made for my daughter from her Nana using the adorable Henry mouse.

Challenges:~

Cute card Thursday - Anything goes :0)

Thanks for peeking

Kaz xx

Retail therapy

2011-12-07T16:20:00.006Z

Oooooooh it has been a very long time since I last posted :0(

My Mojo is AWOL and life in seriously getting in the way of play time these days.
Roll on the Christmas holidays!

I am peeking through blogs in an effort to kick start my Mojo but in the mean time here's a card I had to make ......... for my daughter's birthday.

This image is just perfect for her as she does love a spot of retail therapy!
Challenges:~
Papertake - Anything goes with the option of something dangling. Well her shopping bags are dangling from her little hands aren't they?
Thanks for peeking if anyone is still out there looking after all this time ......... bet you thought I had left blog land!

I will try and do better.
Until the next time......
Hugs
Kaz xx

Beautiful butterfly....

2011-08-08T08:52:00.003+01:00

Good morning!

Oh boy did we have some rain over night, but the sun is shining now so all the plants are happy and so am I.

I had a play with a gorgeous butterfly digi last night and came up with this card. CAS yet it took ages to get the text boxes and image in a position I was happy with. I also wished I had had self adhesive gems to use too. So all in all a fiddly card but I am very happy with the result.......and I have my daughter's birthday card made well in advance for November! :0)

Have a great day & thanks for dropping by!

Kaz xx

A bit more fruitiness

2011-08-05T12:13:00.004+01:00

Rummaging through my stamp stash I came across a Penny Black clear set that I have had since Easter but have yet to introduce to ink....... my head is hung in shame!
These are such delightful images, how could I have left them sat on the shelf? Tut, tut.
Spotting a few blackberries on one of the images I just had to make another "fruity" card for this weeks Less is More challenge.

My photography skills seem to be particularly challenged this morning and try as I might I just can't seem to get a true colour to my pic so it's the best of a bad lot I'm afraid.

Image ~ Penny Black Make a Wish clear set
Text ~ Hero Arts Thinking of you message set
Coloured with distress inks Victorian Velvet; Peeled Paint; Wild Honey & Vintage Photo plus a couple of colours from my old school Reeves watercolour set.
Glossy accent on the berries & rose hips
Glamour dust on the dandelion heads (think I preferred it without but it's too late now)

Challenges:
Less is More - Feeling Fruity
Papertake - Anything goes
Critter Challenge - Summer fun
Cute Card Thursday - No design papers
Colour Create challenge - Pink, green & white

Well the sun has returned and it's nice & warm down here today so I'm off for a swim & a snorkel with my OH this afternoon.

Thanks for visiting!
Kaz xx

Strawberry jam...yum!

2011-07-30T20:06:00.004+01:00

Ooooh look at me two in one day must be on a roll!
Like many peep across blog land I switched on early this morning keen to find out what devilish task Mandi & Chrissie had come up with for this weeks Less is More challenge. I have struggled to join in recently but was determined to join in this week, and the girls have challenges us to "Feeling Fruity" Ooh er misses!
Eeeek.....not one bit of fruitiness could I find in my stash! But I did come across this fab PB image and decided to go with this idea....

Here's a peep at the inside, I wanted to link the sentiment to the front of the card.

Image ~ Penny Black
Text ~ front & inside done on PC
Coloured with Prismacolor pencils
Strawberries hand cut then embossed on the 'wrong' side with Swiss dot folder.
Strawberry leaves are a small daisy punch roughly cut in half.

Challenges:~
Less is More - Feeling fruity!
Stamping for the weekend - Paws for thought

Thanks for stopping by!
Kaz xx

Cupcake Hamster

2011-07-30T09:15:00.003+01:00

This super cute image is a digi stamp created by the very talented and generous Sliekje. If you like cute images and you haven't visited her blog before you are missing out! She has sooooo many lovely images, cupcake hamster is from back in May this year.

I was inspired by this weeks fab sketch by Uma from the Sunday Sketch & Stamp challenge and came up with this card...........

Digi image ~ By Sliekje
DP's ~ MY Mind's Eye
Text ~ Hampton Art mini alphabet set & Personal Impressions mixed sentiments.
Coloured with Prisma color pencils & Promarkers
Distressed with scissors & inks
Faux stitching with grey fine liner.

Challenges:~
Sunday Sketch & Stamp Challenge - sketch #65
The Stamp man - Show us some stitching

Have a great weekend whatever your up to!
Hugs
Kaz xx

Happy Anniversary!

2011-07-28T21:14:00.003+01:00

My card today was made for a special crafty friend who has recently celebrated her 1st wedding anniversary. Congratulations Samantha! As soon as I saw this delicious Magnolia paper in the Glitter Pot I just had to have some, it is so pretty and delicate! The 2 large die cut hearts are by Marianne Design Creatables & the heart border is a Martha Stewart punch. The text is a SU stamp.

Hugs

Kaz xx

Pocket card

2011-07-25T20:47:00.004+01:00

Yippee............schools out for summer!! And now I get way more play time :0)
It's not been all work though, I have made 5 cards recently but neglected to get a pic of 2 of them .......Doh! The others have now reached there intended destinations so I can start to post those ones. This one was a quick make for my niece and I know she won't see it here so I am safe to post it.

As I was sending an ITunes gift card this image seem so appropriate and I thought I would have a go at a simple pocket card. Had a chance to check out some challenges this afternoon and couldn't believe it when I saw this weeks Kenny K's challenge......yep......Pocket card! Spooky eh!
Image~ Download Diva from Kenny K of course....I love this image!
Coloured with Promarkers
Spotty card~ Doodle dots from Pink Petticoat
White card candy coloured with Promarkers to match.
Spotty ribbon ~ The Crafty Garden in Seaford

Thanks for stopping by my little spot in cyber space.
Kaz xx

Fun with ink

2011-07-16T19:44:00.005+01:00

Oh boy it was pouring with rain this morning so what better excuse to craft. I have just found out about a local craft shop in Seaford, The Crafty Garden, from an online crafting buddy Crafting For Pleasure and when Hubby suggested we pop over to investigate I didn't need to be asked twice.

What a lovely little shop filled with gorgeous crafting goodies! I took the opportunity to get some more Bazzill card and they had some lovely spotty organza ribbon which fell into my basket along side a couple of distress ink pads. Will definitely be visiting again.
It's the distress inks that I played with this afternoon. I stamped the image (Scribble Snowman) onto paper, cut it out and used it as a mask, then simply dabbed inked around the image. After removing the mask I coloured his scarf & hat with Promarkers and finished off with a dash of Stickles glitter. The text stamp is by Elzybells.

Thanks for visiting & enjoy the rest of the weekend.
Hugs
Kaz xx

P.S Have decided to pop the mask back on and give the whole card a gentle spray of Crafter's Companion Iridescent Spray & Sparkle as I think it is lacking something.

My gorgeous furbaby

2011-07-15T18:32:00.021+01:00

No cards from me today but a moment of self indulgence. A little while ago we lost our gorgeous furbaby Sammy. We buried him in our garden next to our first kitty, who we were lucky to have for 18 years. Poor Sammy was still a baby really, only 2 years old, so sad :0(
Anyhow I have been wanting to pick out some of my favorite pictures of Sammy and today I have. I am also going to change my avatar and use one of these pictures, just need to make my mind up as to which one.
Awwww he was just sooooooooo cute & adorable!!!

Have a great weekend!

Hugs

Kaz xx

P.S Appologies the pics are not staying where I put them......Tut tut!

Snippet clearance continues.....

2011-07-09T21:31:00.003+01:00

My white snippet draw has been further reduce by my need to make a set of thank you cards following my Mum's recent birthday party. These are wee little cards that fit into 11cm square envelopes, so a perfect size for snippets :0) I'm on a roll now Jules thanks for the inspiration! If you have an ever growing stash of snippets, and lets face it who hasn't, why not join in
Jules Sunday Snippet challenge and put those snippets to good use.
I started out by sorting out the required number of pieces of white card that I could cut a 9.5cm squares from. Then it was play time with my ink pads and blending tool. Once the backgrounds were done I stamped the text & images with black Versacolor pigment ink and heat embossed using clear embossing powder. These were then simply mounted onto 10cm snippets of dark blue card and then onto my base cards. And voila.....here's 3 of them.

Distress inks ~ Spiced Marmalade; Wild Honey; Tattered Rose; Stormy Sky; Faded Jeans &
Chipped Sapphire.
Images ~ Hero Art Asian Elements
Text ~ Penny Black Salutations

Hope you are all enjoying the weekend!
Hugs
Kaz xx

ABC Christmas challenge

2011-07-05T19:20:00.002+01:00

I'm just in time to join in with this weeks ABC Christmas challenge. Now I've not really made many Christmas cards as yet this year, but seeing as we are over half way through 2011 (eeeek!) I guess now is a good time to start if I want to avoid the usual last minute panic. The theme for the weeks challenge is M for Monochrome.
I am also continuing to support Jules' crafty snippets challenge in her bid to reduce stock piles of snippets.
TBH I'm not sure I'm making much progress Jules, as fast as I use up bits I seem to make more :0!

Image - Penny Black 'Majestic' heat embossed with detailed white powder onto a white snippet.
Distress inks - stormy sky; broken china; faded jeans & chipped sapphire.
DP - Pink Petticoat (a snippet of course) mounted onto another snippet of dark blue card.
Navy fine liner faux stitching
Little but of left over ribbon from snippet box.
So that makes 2 card snippets, 1 DP snippet and 1 ribbon bit less in the box :0)
Thanks for visiting!
Kaz xx

Less is More helps snippet reduction.....

2011-07-02T18:44:00.003+01:00

The Less is More challenge and Jules' snippets challenge compliment each other so well I am finding. Once again my card is inspired by these two challenges.
This week the lovely ladies over at the Less is More challenge are looking for Shades of Blue ......Hmmmmmmmm yummy! So out came my snippet box and the search began for blue bits.
I heat embossed the image in white onto a white snippet and then played with blue distress inks. I then inked the stamp with the darkest blue ink and stamped it again to try and create a shadow effect, which partly worked, just doesn't show up much behind the dandelion head. A generous spray with Crafter's Companion Spray & Sparkle Iridescent (Ooooh I LOVE this stuff!)
and a left over bit of ribbon to finish.
The DP is by Funky Hand (I think) mounted onto a dark blue piece of Bazzill card. Three blue card candies (please forgive me but I just had to do it) Text stamp is from the Penny Black Salutations set. And here's my card...

Distress inks used: Stormy Sky, Broken China, Faded Jeans & Chipped Sapphire.

Blue Card candy from sets: Winter Blues, Ocean Spray & Joy.
Image: Hero Arts 'Dandelion'

Hope you are having a great weekend!
Hugs
Kaz xx

Less is more......

2011-06-30T15:02:00.005+01:00

Life is still getting in the way of playtime right now so it's been a while since I posted anything. Less is more sums it up rather well really........less work is more playtime......now that's what I need!

It's a very simple card from me today and I am just in time for this weeks Less is More challenge.

And I was able to use up a few of those left over bits of card that gather in large quantities and join in with Jules quest to rid craft rooms of a snippet or two this week. So less snippets is more craft space :0)

Cut out letters from coloured card and inked around the edges, layered onto more card and added faux stitching, stamped the sentiment and that's about it. As I said very simple!

Hugs

Kaz xx

Lili of the Valley bunny.....

2011-06-12T20:47:00.004+01:00

I made this card last night but had trouble getting onto Blogger and gave up in the end & went off to watch some TV. But I am here now. I used the lovely sketch from Wild Orchid Craft challenge but missed the boat with posting on that one. But all is not lost as I am still in time for the Lili of the Valley challenge AND I have another of my June requirements made :0)

Errrr.......OK.......I think Mr Blogger is still being stroppy as I can't move my pic down to below the text as I would usually do and I'm getting big gaps?!?

DP's - My Mind's Eye

Coloured with Promarkers & pearlescent water colour paints

Stickles 'Star Dust'

White seam binding also coloured with Promarkers.

OK ....lets see if the post works..............

Hugs

Kaz xx

Summer fun....

2011-06-11T16:41:00.003+01:00

Hiya.......I hope you are enjoying the weekend! It's a bright & breeze one down here on the south coast but that's good for drying the washing so I'm a happy bunny with an empty laundry bin :0) The kids are off out with friends so I have been indulging in some craft time, which is good as I need 7 cards for birthdays and Fathers day over the next 2 weeks! Eeeeek.....had better get a move on. My card for today is for a little boy who will be 3 on Wednesday. I hope he likes it.

Image - Dustin Pike digi
DP - Papermania 'For Him' pad
Letters - Cuttlebug 'Olivia'
H.B day text is a clear one found in my box, not sure where its come from.
Coloured with Promarkers
Decoupaged the kite and added glossy accent to the lions nose.

Challenge:~
Digital Tuesday - In the garden/outdoors.
Jules' Sunday Snippets - To use up some of those card & paper snippets. Snippets are fab for die cut lettering! Two white snippets used to print the image out twice and bigger snippets of coloured card to layer up.

Off to make another card while I have the chance :0)
Thanks for visiting me!
Hugs
Kaz xx

Hanglar Girl

2011-06-09T20:07:00.003+01:00

Sorting through my box of stamped images I came across this fab Hanglar image and it is just perfect for this weeks Simon Says Stamp challenge. They want us to get all fruity and have the most delicious photo to get the creative juices flowing (made my tummy rumble too!)
Hmmmmm strawberries ......yum yum!!
So with the sketch from this weeks I Love Promarkers to hand I set to work.

The DP were a craft mag freebie & the lace ribbon from my stash.

Promarkers:
Hair & wooden box - Ivory; Sandstone; Terracotta & Cocoa.
Skin - Ivory; Blush & Dusky Pink.
Clothes & shoes - Pastel blue; Powder blue; Cornflower & China blue.
Rest of image - Poppy; Lime zest; Lime green; Pear green & Moss.

Chalked around image with pale blue chalk.
Glossy accent on the strawberry, Stickles 'Star Dust' on her collar and a wee dot of Liquid pearls on her shoe buckle to finish.

Challenges............
Simon Says Stamp ~ Let's get fruity!
I Love Promarkers ~ Sketch
Just Magnolia ~ Anything goes with option of adding lace

Thanks for visiting me :0)
Hugs
Kaz xx

Mouse Mouse ~ Make a wish

2011-06-07T15:31:00.007+01:00

Who knew shades of blue would be so difficult to photograph! Try as I might I just can't get this pic right so sorry but your gonna have to put up with the best I could manage :0(

IRL it is more greeny blue & the green on the DP is lime green.

and a close up.....

Ingredients:~

Image - House Mouse 'Make a wish'

DP - Doodlebug 'Ice cream parlor'

Bazzill card

Roses from Wild Orchid craft, the other pink flower was a gift from my lovely friend Helen

Gems from stash

Coloured with Promarkers

Paper piercing tool & white gel pen

Stickles 'Star dust'

Challenges:~

Sketch & Stash - Sketch 63 (Great sketch for using up some of those bits of card & paper)

House Mouse - Adorn with jewels

Dutch Dare - Photo inspiration (I've used pink & green ...... honest!)

Cute Card Thursday - Embellish it!

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs

Kaz xx

Inky fun.....

2011-06-04T23:00:00.006+01:00

I have been inspired by Jules to get stuck into my box........(err or should that be boxes!)........of DP & coloured card snippets and reduce the mountain. There is just one problem, as fast as I clear some, I seem to create a whole load more!

Now the thing is I make my own square base cards from A4 card so each & every time I make one I create yet another 'snippet' of white card. My snippet stash of white card is even bigger than the DP's & coloured card..........eeeek! So I decided to see what I could do with a slim long white card snippet. Gotta start on that pile sometime so out came the distress inks and I played.

Here's what developed........

Ingredients:~

Ranger distress inks - Stormy Sky; Chipped Sapphire; Tattered Rose; Victorian Velvet; Wild Honey & Spiced Marmalade.

Hero Art stamp 'Dandelion'

Stickles 'Star Dust'

Hobby House pearls 'Golden Trio'

Card & ribbon from bits 'n' pieces box aka snippets box.

Peel off text from stash (now there's another pile that needs reducing!)

Ooops I took the pic in too strong a sunlight so the colours look just a darker & bolder IRL.

Hugs

Kaz

Thinking of you.........

2011-06-03T17:44:00.004+01:00

Me again! Can you tell I'm on half term? LOL.....I am trying me best to make the most of it.

So, another card from me today. I would have posted it tomorrow but it was made with a couple of challenges in mind and the Less is More challenge ends today. So without further ado here's my card......

The oh so cute image is by Penny Black and is one of my many favorites. I have followed the sketch from this weeks Less is More challenge and picked the centre square to play with. I did have several attempts with some of the other square but just couldn't make it work.
The image is coloured with Promarkers and simply layered onto some bright card scraps from my ever growing collection. My favorite Stickles 'Star Dust' on the little mouses hat and that's about it.

Challenges:~
Less is More ~ Pick a square
PB Allsorts ~ Favorite stamp
Jules' snippets challenge ~ To use up those little leftover bits!

Thanks for taking the time to visit my little blog.
Have a fabby weekend!
Kaz x

Tatty Teddy's back......

2011-06-03T13:54:00.004+01:00

Hope you are all enjoying the lovely sunshine we currently have, I know I am. After half an hour reading my craft mag in the hammock this morning I felt the need to play.
I have used a layout from my mag and just gone with the flow for the rest. Obviously in a blue mood today. Raided my snippets box for papers & bazzill bits and paper pierced the gift boxes to match. Ted & the larger flower are coloured with Promarkers. The white flower has been sprayed with Crafters Companion Iridescent Spray & Sparkle. Text done on the PC. A generous dash of Stickles 'Star Dust' around the edge of the image and text to finish and voila!

Challenges:~
I love Promarkers ~ Sparkly bling. Colours used: Cool grey 1, 2, 3 & 4; Duck Egg on the flower & Pastel blue on the envelope.
Pollycraft ~ Teddy bears.
Jules' Sunday Snippets ~ Use up your snippets

Hope you all have a fab weekend!
Hugs
Kaz xx

Dad's the word......

2011-06-02T14:35:00.004+01:00

With Father's day on the horizon and my OH's birthday this month I could not resist a couple of the new Lili of the Valley boys stamps. Dad's the word and Armchair bear jumped in my basket immediately. A quick play late and here's what I made....
I've kept the layout plain & simple as Dad just doesn't do frills & bling!

I am entering my card into the following challenges:~

Crafty Calender challenge ~ Teddy bears

Pollycraft challenge ~ Also teddy bears

Simon Says challenge ~ Father's day/Male

Thanks for visiting me!

Hugs

Kaz xx

Jungle bells.......

2011-05-30T16:50:00.003+01:00

Hiya,

It's been a while I know, work does get in the way of play and Mr Blogger has been rather badly behaved recently too which hasn't helped. Still I can now log on and seem to be able to leave comments so I am going to try and make the best of it during half term :0)

I've noticed a number of blogs with Christmas card counters on & the realisation that we are almost half way through the year (Eeeeeeek!) has stirred me into action. So with a fab sketch from this weeks Sketch Saturday team in hand, I set to work.
The Sketch Saturday Challenge is celebrating their 3rd birthday too with a fab blogoversary goody bag so why not pop over and wish them a HAPPY BIRTHDAY and join in the fun.
My seasonal inspiration came from the Bah Humbug crew who want to hear sleigh bells ringing this week. Here's a cute little PB hedgie ringing his bells. His two chums (I've only used part of the image) are going to be featured on another card as they just didn't fit in with the sketch.

Hope you are enjoying the bank holiday weekend!
Hugs
Kaz xx

Birthday bears....

2011-05-17T22:16:00.003+01:00

Hi........me again!

I realised earlier this afternoon that I had made a terrible over sight......

I had neglected to make a birthday card for one of the little people that come along and play at the toddler group I run......Oops!!

So I have been busy making and this is what I came up with. I am ashamed to admit these cute little PB bears have not seen an ink pad for some time. They are so versatile and great for personalised card.

The bears are coloured with watercolour pencils, something else I've not used for a while, and 3D onto the card using clear silicone. A touch of watercolour and Stickles glitter around each of the letters tiles and some MS punched "frills" to finish.

Hope she likes it!

Kaz xx

My candy winner is.................................

2011-05-17T20:02:00.003+01:00

Well, I have had a play with that random number generator thingy and have drawn a number but still have not figured out how to get it to show on my blog. Can get a blank one on my side bar.....but that's about it. Oh boy I am such a dinosaur when it comes to computers.

So I have resorted to taking a photo of the results with my camera.
Ha ha ha ....... where there's a will there's a way!
So with out further delay, the winner is.....................

Number 2............... hey CLAIRE that would be you!!! Well gone Claire and thank you to everyone for playing along.
Claire please email me and let me know your snail mail and I will pop your candy in the post asap.

Hugs
Kaz x

Double Birthday Celebration Candy

2011-05-16T22:00:00.002+01:00

Hopefully if I have done this right this post will stay at the top until my Birthday Candy has finished.

It's my birthday on the 12th of May and I have also realised that my little blog will be 2 years old on the 9th ........awwwwww.....so what better reason to have some Birthday Candy to celebrate! Now I know I'm a terrible blogger, it's all or nothing with me I'm afraid. During school holidays I get far more time to play in the craft room and so have a spate of postings then it's back to school and nothing for weeks! So I would like to say a very big THANK YOU to everyone who has taken the time to peek at my blog and for leaving your lovely words of encouragement, and an even bigger THANK YOU my very patient followers! All your comments are very much appreciated!

So to say thank you here's what's up for grabs........

6x6 Back to Basics design paper pack
Tatty Teddy 'Gift for You' stamp (had to get 2 of these as I wouldn't part with it other wise)
Card Candy pack
Two 1m lengths of white lace
3 lots of 15mm Mulberry paper roses
2 lots of Mulberry paper curly wild roses (ooooh these are gorgeous!)

So, what do you need to do to be in with a chance of winning.......
1) Spread the word by posting a pic of my candy and a link to this post on your blog
(on the sidebar is fine)
2) Leave your name and link to your blog with Mr Linky below

And that's about it really.
This candy will stay open until 6pm on Sunday 15th May and I will ask Mr Linky to pick the winner later that evening.

Good luck!
Kaz xx

Candy winner......

2011-05-15T22:42:00.002+01:00

Sorry to keep you in suspense, but as soon as I figure out how to make Mr Linky do a draw I will post the name of the winner. Failing that, I will put all the names in a bag and ask one of the kids to pick one out.
Thanks for playing along & good luck!
Kaz xx

Critter challenge meets Papertake Weekly

2011-05-14T19:14:00.003+01:00

Just a quick post as our takeaway will be delivered any time soon........yummy!

My lovely crafty friend Samantha sent me a fab Milton bear stamp for my birthday, THANK YOU so much hun! I just had to use him straight away. Now inspired my Jules I am on a mission to use up some of my scraps of paper & card, so out came the shoe box crammed full and I found this lovely double sided paper, just about big enough to use on my card.

Coloured the image with Promarker to match the DP's and raided my ribbon stash. Finished off with Stickles Lime Green around the edge of the image and Glossy Accents on the flowers

Challenges:~

Critter Challenge - Green & Yellow

Papertake Weekly - Punched or die cut. Martha Stewart punch & square nesties used.

Jule's crafty snippets challenge - well.....to use up some snippets of course!

Thanks for visiting me, enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Kaz xx

ABC Christmas Challenge....

2011-05-10T22:19:00.004+01:00

.......Just in time by the skin of my teeth for this fortnights ABC Christmas challenge I is for Indigo, Ice & Inspiration (photo inspiration) What gorgeous colours!

Not the greatest pic of my card I'm afraid, just couldn't seem the capture the colours and shimmer. In real life the blues look darker/stronger and the whites ....well whiter!

The background is coloured with distress ink Chipped Sapphire & a blending tool. The stamp was then sprayed with water and stamped onto the distress ink, then blotted with kitchen towel. This lifts off some of the colour leaving white areas. Then stamped over the image again this time inking up the stamp with the Chipped Sapphire to add a dark image roughly over the white areas. This whole piece was sprayed with Crafters Companion Spray & Shimmer and mounted onto Doodlebug sugar coated lily white card and dark blue Bazzill card. Two lengths of white organza ribbon to finish and there you have it. The stamp is by Creative Expressions.

Hugs

Kaz x

Tatty Teddy............again!

2011-05-06T23:04:00.003+01:00

Oooooh I am loving these Tatty Teddy's! Had a play with my other stamp tonight. They are so quick & easy to colour and I am pleased to report not a single sheet of 12x12 papers were harmed during the making of this card! Yep.......more scraps from my shoe box :0)
Challenges:~
Simon Says - Paper piercing or piercing (gift boxes are paper pierced & I pierced around the image for good measure too)
Papertake - Anything goes with an optional extra of something round.
Cute Card Thursday - Chocolate theme. Hmmmmmm yummy. Lots of brown & the card candy so reminded me of Minstrels!
Thanks for visiting
Kaz x

Garden Poems......

2011-05-05T22:24:00.003+01:00

........That's the name of the Penny Black stamp I have used on my offerings for today. I made this card a little while ago but have not been able to post until a special crafting friend had received it for her very special birthday. Happy 50th Pauline! :0)

Used a resist technique, with white embossing powders and then had fun with distress inks and Shimmer mist, that is until the nozzle blocked, but at least I had finished the card before the block occurred.

Challenges:~

Penny Black Saturday challenge - Milestones

Papertake Weekly challenge - Anything goes with an optional extra of something round.

Thanks for stopping by!

Kaz xx

Another outing for Tatty Teddy

2011-05-03T18:23:00.003+01:00

Just couldn't resist another play with this cute stamp! Again I have completed the outline of the balloons with a Promarker fine liner before colouring in the image.

The Sketch & Stash challenge this fortnight is a free choice of sketch from their sketch catalogue. This is my second entry and time I have used sketch #7

My choice of sketch has been influenced by Jules' Crafty Snippet challenge that I came across whilst admiring her blog. All inspired, down came my shoe box crammed full of all those left over bits of papers & card that are saved 'cos one day I might use them. Well thanks to Jules, that day has now arrived :o)
This is a challenge that I am going to continue as I do have rather a lot of snippets to use!
Ha ha ha ..... and I bet you do too.
Other challenges:~
One Stop Craft challenge - are looking stitches this week, mine are the faux kind.
Cute Card Thursday - want us to use a sketch and are being very kind and letting us pick ANY sketch we want. All you need to do is say where the sketch is from, and as I've mentioned, I've used a past sketch from the Sketch N Stash challenge (see above)
And here is my card...........

Thanks for visiting
Hugs
Kaz xx

Me to You new stamp

2011-04-30T19:22:00.007+01:00

I just had to get this adorable little Me to You bear when I spotted him on the shelf. LOL.....there's a few more I need from this range, but that's another story.

I was up with the lark this morning so while the rest of the house snoozed I played :0)

My inspiration came from a few challenges:~

Sketch & Stash challenge provided me with a fab choice of ANY of their previous sketches. I short listed 3 of my favorites and finally settled with this sketch from challenge #15.

Perfect for using up some of my scraps of paper & card.

Simon Says Stamp challenge ~ Anything goes this week, and they are having a blog hop to celebrate their 2nd anniversary so that's a must!

Wild Orchid Craft challenge ~ are looking for White + 2 colours with an added twist of roses.

Well as my postie delivered my order of yummy flowers this morning so that was perfect timing! My 2 colours are pink & green.

Image - Me to You 'Gift For You' I have added just a wee bit and completed the outline of the two outer balloons before colouring the image.

DP's are scraps from my box.

WOC 15mm Ivory open roses & 15mm 2-Tone pink roses with Carla Craft Fern punchies.

Coloured with Promarkers.

The pink panels have been sprayed with Crafter's Companion iridescent Spray & Sparkle.

Oh boy, I LOVE that stuff!

The balloons and the bears nose have had glossy accents added with a little glamour dust on the balloons.

Here's another pic to show the glitz & sparkle (I hope!)

The parcel & ribbon are paper pierced from the same DP's and his arm is decoupaged.

Off to watch some TV with the kids!

Thanks for stopping by.

Enjoy the long weekend!

Kaz xx

Another card by Steph

2011-04-25T11:28:00.002+01:00

Here is another of my daughter's cards that she made this week. She has used a cute little image that was from a freebie set of stamps by Adan Pescott that came with my craft mag.
Steph die cut her friends name using Cuttlebug 'Olivia' and also stamped some text with a PB stamp. Again coloured with Promarkers (I'm going to loose these if I'm not careful!) Paper is from PM Venetian Skies creative tones pad and card candy from my stash.

This card is her second entry for the Simon Says Childrens challenge that ends on the 30th April.
She would love to see your comments & thank you for taking the time to visit.
Steph & Kaz (Mum)
xx

Steph's card

2011-04-24T19:25:00.003+01:00

This past week there has been an invasion in my craft room.........by my 14 year old daughter! She always use to love crafty stuff but hasn't make cards for some time, so it is lovely to see her enthusiasm rekindled, even if it does mean that she is raiding my stash!
Eeeeeek.....I'm gonna have to hide my Promarkers!
She has also been bitten by the challenge bug but as she doesn't have her own blog she has asked that I post on her behalf, so here's one of the cards she made.

Image ~ LOTV
Coloured with Promarkers
Paper ~ Papermania creative tones Raspberry Champagne
Card candy & ribbon from stash.
Challenges:~
I Love Promarkers - Anything goes
Cute Card Thursday - No text
Papertake - Spots & Stripes (A bit cheeky I know, but the paper has kinda vertical lines in the pattern and the card candy represents the spots)

Thanks for visiting
Kaz & Steph

Maurice

2011-04-24T18:24:00.002+01:00

Hope you have had a fab Easter Sunday and not eaten too much chocolate! I went on a long bike ride with my daughter this morning to burn some calories in advance. After that we both enjoyed a craft session together. Here's a card I made which I am entering in this weeks Pollycraft challenge.
I've used a Pollycraft image ~ Maurice + stocking
Coloured him with Promarkers, and distressed just about everything with my scissors and distress ink ~ Frayed Burlap. A touch of Stickles on his hat and some Glossy accent on his glasses and finished off with a couple of flowers and some ribbon.

Hugs
Kaz x

ABC Christmas Hot Spot......

2011-04-23T22:46:00.003+01:00

..... Well it's definitely been lovely & hot (for this time of year) down here on the South coast today and I am loving it :0)
Over at the ABC Christmas Challenge they are looking for a Hot Spot on our cards. After a fair bit of dithering & faffing on my behalf I eventually came up with this card.
Henry with his bauble jumped out at as the image to go with, eventually!
Coloured with pearlescent water colour paints and Promarkers.
Cut with nesties and simply layered onto Bazzill card and one of my favorite Basic Gray papers.
A few card candy and a bit of Stickles around the edge of the image & hot spot and that's about it.

Happy Easter!
Kaz xx

Home made flowers.....and a card!

2011-04-22T17:43:00.011+01:00

Last night whilst blog hopping I visited Julie's Inkspot, now if you have not seem this ladies blog you are really missing something special, Julie is one very talented crafter! Pop over and pay her a visit. Julie's latest post is a beautiful card and on it is a hand made rose.......a real beauty! Julie has left a link to find the instructions on how to make the roses, I couldn't resist, I just had to have a go.

Well, my first attempt was not so good, my flower kept 'undoing' and was rather loose. My 14 yr old daughter's was much better than mine!

Here's mine .....

and here's Steph's....

Hmmmmmmm her's is just sooooooooo much better!!!
My next two look a wee bit better but still not as good as Steph's :o(

.......and it did take a rather long time just to make two! However while I was waiting between layers, I played with what should have been the forth layer and added it behind some shop bought flowers. If coloured the right colour, they make great leaves or additional petals don't you think? And that's much quicker...LOL

OK after all that flower play I did make a card too. The Stamp Man challenge this week is to use resist techniques, another new thing for me to try. I stamped this lovely Penny Black flower and heat embossed in white. Then the messy fun began! First on went about 3 colours using fluid chalk pads. A bit of blending with distress inks came next and finally, just for good measure and a bit of sparkle, came a quick spray of purple & silver Cosmic Shimmer Mist. Cut the image out with Nesties Eyelet Squares and layer onto Bazzill card. a bit of ribbon & bow to finish and voila....

Thanks for dropping by!

Hugs

Kaz xx

Easter chicks & bunnies

2011-04-21T22:34:00.004+01:00

Oh boy, we are being spoiled with all this lovely sunny weather, and it's here to stay for Easter. Lets hope the weather people have got that right. I'm hoping to get the household up & out for an early morning bike ride along the sea front tomorrow with the promise of a bacon butty along the way.....hmmmmmmm nice!

My card today is a simple one that came about after a play with my new Nellie's multi frame corners die. I do love the shape of these.

Image ~ Penny Black 'Bunny Kiss'
Coloured with Promarkers ~ Ivory; Blush; Sandstone; Primrose; Soft Lime; Lemon; Ginger; Lime Zest; Lime Green & Pear Green.
Bazzill card
Nellie corner die

Challenges:~
I love Promarkers - Anything goes
Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Easter extravaganza

Thanks for visiting!
Hugs
Kaz x

For a child.....

2011-04-19T09:33:00.003+01:00

Hiya,

What a gorgeous day!!!
Hope you are enjoying sunshine where you are. Fingers crossed it stays this way for the rest of the Easter hols. Just a quick post, off to take my Mum shopping this morning & help her with some gardening.
My card today is my entry for the Simon Says challenge which is to make a card for a child.

Image is by Dustin Pike
Coloured with Promarkers
Letters & number die cut using Cuttlebug 'Olivia' set

Have a great day!!
Hugs
Kaz xx

Simon Says children's challenge

2011-04-17T22:11:00.006+01:00

Over at Simon Says, as well as usual challenge, there is a special children's challenge for children aged between 2 & 16. Their theme is a nice & easy one.......Anything goes! And they even get the chance to win a prize, $50 voucher to Simon Says Stamp Store! The challenge ends 5pm UK time on Sat 30th April so there is still time to play. My daughter does not have a blog so I am posting on her behalf (hope that's OK) It was lovely to have her join in with a crafting session :0) Here's her card she made for her friend......it's all her own work. Fab card Steph. OK so I may be just a wee bit bias. Hugs Kaz xx P.S sorry about this post, I can't seem to get it too behave. The text is coming out all over the place!

Party invites

2011-04-16T20:45:00.005+01:00

Hooray for time off work! I am planning a party for my Mum's 70th in June and this afternoon made a start on the party invitations. I've kept them clean & simple as I have a quite a few to make.

Here's a close up

Tools/Ingredients:~

Cuttlebug embossing folder Birds & Swirls

Carla Craft corner rounder punch

Martha Steward butterfly punch

Nesties Labels Ten

Embossing tool

Ranger blending tool

Distress ink - Tattered Rose

Ribbon & pearls from stash

Text on PC - AdineKirnberg-Script

Challenges:~

The Stampman - Embossing

Colour Create - Pink, Black & White

Thanks for popping in to visit, it is always very much appreciated!

Hugs

Kaz xx

House Mouse ~ This egg's for you....

2011-04-16T08:40:00.006+01:00

This is another of the 4 cards that I made crafting with friends earlier this week. Still can't believe I actually made 4 cards in such a short time!

Had lots of problems taking a decent pic of this one :0( the sunshine had gone and the gloom is playing havoc with the colours. My first attempt looked way too orange. I thought I had sorted that yesterday but having uploaded this on here it still doesn't look quite right.............sigh! But it's the best I can do so I'll just have to go with it.

Challenges:~

House Mouse challenge - Easter

Colour Throwdown ~

Stampin for the Weekend - Easter

Sunday Sketch & Stamp challenge - Sketch #51

Well that's it for me must get showered & dressed before the man comes to measure up for carpets...............don't want to scare the poor guy!

Hugs

Kaz xx

Milton Bear

2011-04-15T16:28:00.004+01:00

Earlier this week I had the long awaited for pleasure of meeting up with two lovely crafty friends, Samantha & Helen, for the first time in real life & we all had a little trip to the Glitter Pot :o)

It was so great to finally meet up with you girlies and I really do hope we can do it again.

Our spend was surprisingly modest, but after my initial run through the checkout this cute little Milton bear insisted I took him home with me!

Here's the results of our subsequent playtime....

The flower is perfect for decoupage!

Challenges:~

Catch the Bug - 4 or more layers

Papertake - Truly dimensional

I Love Promarkers - Sketch #61

Promarkers used:

Ivory; Blush; Coral; Sandstone; Cool Grey 1; Lime Zest; Lime Green & Pear Green.

Hope you like him & thanks for visiting me!

Hugs

Kaz xx

Mother's Day

2011-04-01T14:59:00.002+01:00

Oh my, yet another week has flown by with virtually no crafting or blogging for me :0( .......this really does need to change. I have to get more organised and make more play time! At least the Easter hols have nearly arrived :0) With Mother's day just around the corner I have managed a card for my Mum this week. I used the sketch from this weeks Less is More challenge and a fab one it is too. I have flipped the DL card on its side, hope this is allowed. The flower is made using a Sizzix die with several layers. Note to self...... shaping the petals before gluing the layers together will be much easier! Text was done on the PC, I would have preferred to have used a prettier font but as my Mum's sight is not so good these days it needs to be big & bold for her to read it. And here's a close up of the flower and the lovely sparkly ribbon.... Well that's it from me for now, thanks for taking a peek. Have a great weekend! Kaz xx

Less is more goes manly

2011-03-25T15:57:00.002Z

A masculine card........Eeeeeek!
That's the challenge over at the Less is More challenge this week. Now why is it brain freeze usually sets in the minute a male card is called for?
Still, I did need some extra motivation as I needed to make an anniversary card for my lovely hubbie and the CAS style of card does lend itself to male cards rather nicely I think so I set to work and here's my card....

I've used 2 shades of brown Bazzill card and gold embossing powers. The heart stamp is from a freebie set which came with my craft mag. Text done on PC.
I think he liked it.....perhaps a wee bit surprised as it is not my usual kind a card.
Thanks for stopping by!
Hugs
Kaz xx

Penny Black gets the CAS treatment

2011-03-15T16:48:00.004Z

Along with half the crafting world, I am loving cards with the clean & simple look, although have to admit it's a whole lot harder than it looks! So I thought I would have a practice and after much shuffling & dithering this card eventually emerged........and I have to say it took me forever!!! How the heck can it take me soooooo long when the card is soooo simple?!?
That said I'm quite chuffed with it and will be doing a few more in different colours.

I stamped both the sentiment and the image using a clear embossing stamp pad and heat embossed with detail white embossing powders. I then used a white gel pen to draw a wavy line under the tree and added Stickles Frosted Lace to make some sparkly 'snow'. All the dots in the tree have also been given the Stickles treatment in my favorite colour 'Star Dust' Sadly all the sparkles don't show up in my pic :0( but it is very sparkly in real life..........honest!

Challenges:
Simon Says - Anything goes.
One Stop Craft Challenge - Clean & simple

Thanks for taking the time to visit me!
Kaz xx

Bunny kiss!

2011-03-06T22:31:00.003Z

Hiya,
Hope you've enjoyed the weekend, if only they were longer.......sigh.
Try as I might I just can't get a decent pic of my card, the one I have gone with is the best of a bad lot..................I need sunshine!

UPDATE: now have some sunshine so am changing the pic over :0) colours look much better!

Challenges:~
Penny Black Allsorts - Welcome Spring.
Cute Card Thursday - Signs of Spring.
Papertake - Anything goes with optional extra something old. That would be my cutter bee tool and the flowers, both have been in my stash forever!
Stampin' for the Weekend - Springtime.

Image - PB Bunny Kiss
Sentiment - Papermania freebie with craft mag.
Bazzill card - Spring breeze; Petal soft; Chiffon.
Paper - From Papermania pad 'Summer Bloom'
Coloured with Promarkers.
Faux stitching - Cutter Bee tool (not used this in ages!) & white gel pen.
Flowers from stash.

There, brief & to the point as it's late and my bed is calling.
Thanks for stopping by.
Hugs
Kaz xx

PB Bunny

2011-02-26T13:21:00.004Z

I woke up real early this morning, wide awake, so no chance of dozing off again, so with a cuppa in hand I snuck off to play while the rest of the house slept........lovely & peaceful!

Now I was busy yesterday colouring in while the kids swam, but looking at my efforts this morning I was less than delighted! The light pool side was not good (minor issue) and the heat seemed to effect the Promarkers and make blending rather tricky :0( (much more of an issue!)
Hmmmmmmm......lesson learnt.....I'll stick to water colour pencils pool side in future.

So this morning I stamped & coloured again and played with ribbon & flowers & punches and the end result is this.........

Not a colour combo I would usually choose but I think I quite like it? The colour is a bit off in the pic too, IRL it's a wee bit softer, less pinky & the yellow looks just a tad washed out.

Challenges:~
ABC Challenge - Ovals
BasicGrey - Sketch. Papers used - Apple Blossoms & Two Scoops 6x6 pad

LOL.......I was also planning to enter the I Love Promarker challenge, I have even got a pic of all the colours I used ready! But I have just noticed that I have forgotten to add my faux stitching.
Doh........that's what happens when you get up too early! Oh well there is still time, I'll just have to play some more :0)
Hope you are enjoying the weekend!
Hugs
kaz xx

HM Winter's nap

2011-02-25T12:19:00.002Z

Gosh this half term has flown by, I can't believe it's Friday already! Kids want to go swimming this afternoon so I think I'll take along my Promarkers & some images to colour in while they wear themselves out (hopefully) I've managed to get my Mojo going in time to make the most of the holiday but it's back to school for us all on Monday :0(
My card today is a second entry for the House Mouse challenge. The DT team have set a really tough challenge this week ....... to use our favorite stamp. I can't choose just one!!!
Soooooo the only solution is more than one card :0) and this is another of my favorite HM images called Winter's Nap and here it is..........

Challenges:~
House Mouse - Favorite stamp (2nd entry)
Sketch & stash - Sketch # 55 have rotated the sketch 90* and flipped the sentiment to the
opposite side. The star brad has been in my brad jar forever!
Simon Says - Coffee & cream Hmmmmmmm lovely colour combo.

Eeeeeek I'm being hassled for lunch! Then it will be off swimming.
Thanks for visiting me.
Kaz xx

LOTV fairy & House Mouse

2011-02-23T17:18:00.006Z

Yippy......at last we have finished wall papering the hall way and painting the wood work.

Now I have more time to play for the rest of half term .........oh happy days!

I have two more cards to share today, one made last night & the other this afternoon.......my Mojo seems to have returned to me :0)

My first card is my entry for the following challenges:~

Lili of The Valley ~ My favorite colours ...... I love blues, especially turquoise.

Cute card Thursday ~ Shiny happy cards ...... hoping my shiny stickles glitter counts! The card candy is a wee bit lustrous too.

Sketch Saturday ~ Sketch #143

And my second card is my entry for challenges:

House Mouse challenge ~ Favorite HM stamp........OMG now that's a challenge...picking out a favourite! I love loads of them!!

Winter Wonderland ~ It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas :0 lol ...gonna get ahead this year. And as luck would have it my favorite HM is a Christmas image.

Dutch Dare ~ Sparkle/glitter/bling .... lots of stickles glitter in the snow, sparkly gold 'ribbon' and some tiny red gems.

Papertake ~ Sketch #53

The pics are a bit dull but then so is the weather here, misty and raining..............yuk!

Time to get some dinner on......

Kaz xx

Two cards.....Two challenges.

2011-02-22T22:46:00.006Z

At last, with half term upon us, I have some time to play and a bit more enthusiasm, both of which are helpful!
Last week I came across and joined in with the Less is More
second challenge, here's their idea.....
"We aim to promote the making of classic Clean and Simple cards, with different challenges each week to help stimulate your imagination...."
I intent to try really hard and join in with this challenge every week. This weeks theme is SPRING.
Here's my entry...

Image is an adorable House Mouse one ~This egg's for you HMF1011 coloured with Promarkers.
Text was done on PC following Chrissie's fab text tips, which can also be found on the Less is More blog. Fonts are Comic Sans MS and Candy Round BTN.
Embossed frame using a Cuttlebug folder and mounted onto Bazzil card.

No flowers....no gems....no ribbon....Oh boy it's really hard to resist adding bits!!

My second card is fairly similar but I think this embossing folder makes it look more busy and less Clean & Simple so I gave into the urge to add Glossy Accents to all the flowers :0) and this is my entry for the PB Allsorts challenge for February ~ Say it with flowers.

Thanks for stopping by!
Hugs
Kaz x

Less is more challenge week 2

2011-02-13T19:08:00.004Z

Long time no see! Hope you had a great Christmas and the New Year has got off to a good start........(Yep it's been that long) Just after Christmas my Mojo completely deserted me!
Try as I might I just couldn't muster any enthusiasm for crafting :o
Then yesterday I came across the Less is more challenge "dedicated to the making of clean & simple cards" well how could I resist, what better way to kick start my mojo. Mind you it wasn't as easy as I thought it would be! Not a lot on my card but it seemed to take me ages to decide what to do!!?
In the end I opted to use this lovely PB flower stamp, in keeping with this weeks theme of flowers or trees. Coloured with water colour pencils and with a dash of Stickles. The sentiment is from a clear Hero Arts set which I was lucky enough to win in the lovely Helen's blog candy :0) THANK YOU HELEN XXX All the lovely goodies has definitely helped my Mojo!
Embossed lines to create a 'frame' around the image and finished off with 3 tiny pearls.
And here's my card.....

Love this challenge and will be making every effort to join in weekly. Thanks for the inspiration!

Thanks for visiting!
Hugs
Kaz xx

ABC Christmas Challenge & blog hop

2011-01-01T18:58:00.005Z

Oooh I think I have just made it in time to join in with the ABC Christmas Challenge and blog hop :0) It's been fab hopping from blog to blog looking at all the great cards, oh boy they're are some amazing crafter's out there! Now the challenge was to make something using the theme from a previous challenge.

So my make fits the following themes........

D for Decoration ~10th Feb

I for Ice ~ 21st Apr

W for Winter wonderland ~ 17th Nov

........and here is what I've had fun making after being tutored by my 14 year old :0)

She made several to decorate the house for Christmas and I think they look fab!

My lovely friend Samantha has just reminded me that she has a Christmas candy challenge running until 5th Jan. To enter all you need to do is show her something you made for Christmas, but NOT a card! There's still time to join in so why not pop over and pay her a visit and take a peek at the fab crackers she made!

Happy New Year to you all!

Hugs

Kaz xx

My favourite five makes from 2010

2010-12-31T17:41:00.014Z

Well Debby is back with another invite for us to pick out our favourite five makes for
2010 and just look at the fab candy she is offering........ very nice!

Now seeing as Debby couldn't choose just five I am hoping she will forgive me for
doing the same! Here is my top fav makes for 2010....
Now this one I like as I just loved using the spotty digi papers from Pink Petticoat
and I have used my first love .......... Penny Black!

I think this one is my favourite......love the image, love raffia, love MS punches and have used one of my fav colour combos.

Having discovered Kenny K digi images I just had to have this one and LOVE colouring & using her. In fact I like this image so much she featured in my next two cards!

LOTV are another addiction.......their stamps are just sooooooooooooooo adorable!!! And they do have some gorgeous images which are so suitable for male cards (which is a megga bonus for me) This wee lad fishing is a must have! I loved the way the water worked out on this card, with a gentle shimmer, hopefully this shows in the close up.

And finally another LOTV image, I am counting these two as one 'cos it's the same image, same layout just a different colour......but I love them both!

Phew! Well there you have it. I hope you like my choices, I know I have really enjoyed peeking through all cards peeps have chosen for their top 5 ish!

A huge thank you to those who have taken the time to visit my little blog and leave words of encouragement & support, your comments are very much appreciated!
Sending you best wishes for a healthy & happy New Year & look forward to visiting you in 2011.
Big hugs
Kaz xx

P.S Sorry about this post I just can't get it to behave nicely!!!! :0(

Favourite five Christmas cards from 2010

2010-12-29T18:13:00.008Z

Debby over at A Scrapjourney has invited us to join her in posting our favourite five Christmas cards for 2010 and I have really enjoyed looking at every ones favourites so I thought I would join in with mine.

My first is using a fab Penny Black stamp, it was this huge range of cute stamps that got me hooked on card making! And I just love the Hellebore flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts!

My next card features a Tim Holtz embossing folder, I cut out & glittered the snowman, and a LOTV circle sentiment.......ooooooh these are just FAB!

Next comes this super cute little Santa (a RAK from a lovely friend) I don't know who he is by but I do need to find out 'cos I love him!

One of my favorite LOTV images, and there are a lot I adore, is next. Coloured with Promarkers and extra depth added with Prisma's, first time I have used this method and I was pleased with the results.

And my final card is again a LOTV image coupled with a beautiful Jak Heath design paper, oh boy she is one talented lady! I messed up colouring the penguins first time and ended up decoupaging over the top with some more that I coloured but ended up really liking it this way.

Hope you like my offering for Christmas 2010 & thanks for dropping over.

Have a great New Year!

Hugs

Kaz xx

Twas the night before Christmas........

2010-12-24T17:17:00.004Z

.........when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of suger-plums danced in their heads.
And Mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid that eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! On Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the pourch! To the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
the prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St Nichloas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
and he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes, how they twinkled! His dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
and the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
and the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
that shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, 'ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

I just wanted to wish all my visitors a very happy & peaceful Christmas

& all the best of health & happiness for 2011!

Hugs
Kaz xx

Not a Christmas card...............for a change

2010-12-08T15:16:00.007Z

............... needed a gothish style birthday card quick last (birthday today!)

Eeeeek goth........Eeeeeek by today! After much head scratching and a few tantrums I located an image that lovely friend Uma had sent me some time ago. Phew! Thanks Uma! Although I love the Ching Chou Kuik images I am rather daunted by the thought of having to colour them.

But needs must, and last night I needed to, so here's the out come. I wanted the hair to be darker but chickened out at a 'grey' stage of colouring before I mucked things up completely.

Note to self .... need to practice colouring dark hair!

Thanks for stopping by!

Kaz xx

Cute Santa

2010-12-05T22:30:00.003Z

I have my lovely crafting friend Squirrel to thank for sending me this adorable image ages ago, I've been hanging onto it afraid to colour him in just in case it went horribly wrong as I don't have this stamp to be able to just start over (really must correct this over sight!
Any how in a moment of confidence I reached for the Promarkers and voila!

Challenges:~
I Love Promarkers ~ Christmas trees
Papertake ~ With one of Dawny P's gorgeous sketches
Cute Card Thursday ~ The blues

Ingredients:
Promarkers ~ Apple; Pastel Blue; Denim Blue; Cool Grey 1 & 2; Sandstone; Terracotta; Ivory & Blush and a touch of Prismacolor 739 Peacock Green on the tree.
Nesties ~ Labels Four
Stickles ~ Stardust
Card candy ~ Joy
Papers ~ Echo Park "Flurry" and Basic Grey Dasher "Snowflake"

Hope you've had a great weekend...............only 19 more sleeps................................. :0))
Hugs
Kaz xx

Snow kitty....

2010-12-03T22:31:00.003Z

Thought I'd just share a couple of pics taken in the garden today.

Our daft kitty actually seems to enjoy the snow!! He spent ages out in it, leaping & pouncing about.

Bless him his little paws were sooooooooo cold when he finally came in doors. Spent the rest of the day in true kitty style..............................sleeping!
That's it for me now, I'm off to my bed.
Nighty night.
Kaz xx

Tim Holtz snowman....

2010-12-03T12:47:00.003Z

Brrrrrrrrr hope you are keeping snug & safe in all this snow & ice. Went out yesterday for a little snow walk & took some pics but have gone into hibernation today........way too icy for me!Fingers crossed the sun will melt most of it & the rain will do the rest tomorrow.

Had a play with my Tim Holtz embossing folders last night and made this....

The papers look darker and bluer than they really are, they are much softer with a hint of green in real life. The sparkle does not show up either :0( The snowman and the circle sentiment have had a generous layer of Craft Companions spray & sparkle.

Challenges:~

ABC challenge - Ice & snow (plenty of that around!)

Cute Card Thursday - The blues

Dutch Dare - Christmas card, tag or ornament

Thanks for stopping by....

Warm hugs

Kaz xx

More LOTV circle sentiments.....

2010-11-27T13:40:00.006Z

Oh boy I LOVE these LOTV digies!!! And I am loving the fact that I can change the size to suit with the digi stamps. Played some more last night and made 2 more cards with enlarged circle sentiments cut out with nesties. My cards are 6"x6". Unfortunately its a dull, grey day here so the pics are not great, but at least we don't have any white stuff.............yet! There is lots of sparkle on my card but it doesn't really show in the pic :0(

As soon as I saw the current Lili of the Valley challenge I knew the sketch would be perfect so off to play I went and here is my first card....

Challenges:

Lili of the Valley (of course) ~ Challenge 75 Bev's sketch and a fab one it is too!

Wild Orchid ~ Challenge 10 - Blue Christmas

ABC Christmas challenge ~ X is for Xmas

Bah Humbug ~ Feeling the blues

Christmas Stamping all year long ~ Anything goes

Now there is even more sparkle on my second card and you can see some in the close up. I bought myself a can of Crafters Companion spray & sparkle a while back.

Oooooooooh this stuff is just gorgeous!!! I had intended to spray the embossed backing bit of card but got carried away and had attached the raffia lace and stuck it down onto my base card before I remembered. No worries.......I sprayed the whole lot :0)

Here's a close up so you can see the gorgeous iridescent sparkle.

and here is the rest of it......

Challenges:

Papertake (2nd entry) ~ Cut it out.......nesties and Sizzix Holly & Berries die #2

Christmas Club ~ Use a die ....... again nesties & sizzix die as above

Off to snuggle up with the kids & a movie.

Have a great weekend!

Hugs

Kaz xxx

LOTV circle sentiments

2010-11-25T19:59:00.004Z

Me again! :0)
What am I like.......another card which has missed a deadline, the Bah Humbugs challenge ended at noon today. But I do still have time to enter it for a couple of other challenges, so here goes:
Christmas Club challenge ~ Anything goes.
Totally Gorjuss challenge ~ Not so traditional Christmas colours and my gorgeous element......
well the fab LOTV circle sentiment of course!
Papertake challenge ~ Cut it out.....with nesties and my Leone Em new ash family punch.

Right off to play again. Just can't resist having a go at this weeks House Mouse & Friends challenge ........ Envelope Art! Pop over and take a peek at the brilliant DT examples, very inspirational.....just gotta try it!

TTFN

Kaz xx

Basic Grey Challenge ~ Wings

2010-11-25T16:50:00.003Z

Brrrrrrrrr bit on the chilly side isn't it! Anyone knee deep in the white stuff yet? Lets hope the wind changes direction and whisks it off else where! I am craving warm sunshine already.....

Nothing for it but to snuggle down indoors with a nice hot tea and a spot of crafting.

I made this card with 3 challenges in mind but missed the bus with 2 of them (how unlike me.....not!) Oh well never mind.

Challenge: BasicGrey challenge 33 ~ Wings. Just look at that fabby BasicGrey paper.......they are Marjolaine creme de menthe, double sided and sooooo delish! I am afraid the pic does not do the colours justice (another good reason to bring back that warm sunshine!)

Keep warm n snuggly

Kaz xx

Patience ~ by Mo Manning

2010-11-14T09:24:00.003Z

As soon as I saw this wonderful image by Mo Manning I knew I just had to get it! It is just perfect for my daughter and our poor kitty cat. I have had several of this image coloured in ready and waiting until her birthday last week. Here's what I made....

Unfortunately I almost dropped my distress ink pad right on top of the image and managed to get a couple of smudges on the cat but it was too late in the day to do much about it :0(

I have used this fortnights sketch from the Sketch and Stash challenge my stash element is the image that I have had for ages and the paper. I would also like to enter my card for this weeks LOTV challenge ~ Anything goes (for this week only you can use any stamp/digi image)

Hugs

Kaz xx

PB ~ Wishes for Kisses

2010-11-13T19:39:00.003Z

Hope you are enjoying the weekend ....... not many more of them now before the big day.....Yep I do mean CHRISTMAS!!!! Gulp!

The postie delivered some gorgeous flowers I had ordered from Wild Orchid Crafts, oh boy those Hellebore's are so beautiful!! I just had to play. After a few issues over how to fix them to my card, I eventually opted to cut off as much stem as I could and stick the flower down with a blob of silicon adhesive. My fingers are tightly crossed in the hope that all the stamens stay on the flower & it doesn't all fall apart.

Challenges:~
Papertake ~ Fab sketch by Dawny P
Penny Black at Allsorts (November) ~ It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Totally Gorjuss ~ Traditional Christmas colours
Christmas stamping all year long ~ Stripes
Wild Orchid Crafts ~ Classic Christmas
ABC Challenge ~ H is for Holiday (Chrimble holidays)
Cute Card Thursday ~ Anything goes

Thanks for visiting. off to watch X Factor with the kids.
TTFN
Kaz xx

Snow Cuddle.....

2010-11-06T19:25:00.003Z

....... that's the name of this super cute snowman image from Penny Black stamps. An oldie but a goodie from 2003. I seem to have been doing a fair bit of colouring lately, but not much card making, so I've decided its high time I addressed the balance. So as I have several versions of the lovely snowman coloured in, this is the image I have used first. Here's my card....

Hmmmmm now I've loaded it the pic is a bit dark/off but you get the idea.

Challenges I would like to enter :~

BasicGrey Challenge 32 ~ A lovely sketch by Heather. My papers are Dasher - Snowbank and

a co-ordinating page from my Two Scoops pad.

Penny Black Saturday challenge week 126 ~ Let it snow.

Only 49 days til the big day!!! Eeeeeek.....more chrimble cards needed!

Thanks for dropping by.

Kaz xx

White Christmas.....

2010-11-04T22:40:00.004Z

...... well the kids would like it!

Just a quick post as the OH is waiting for me so we can watch a movie together. So to business,
here is my card (sorry for the poor pic indoor light just doesn't work well)

The challenges:
Sketch Saturday ~ sketch #127
Christmas Club ~ Use a Christmas digi image - a fab freebie from Bugaboo Stamps
Critter challenge ~ Christmas
ABC Christmas challenge ~ W is for Winter Wonderland
ABC challenge ~ G is for Glitter

As I said short 'n' sweet.......must dash......thanks for stopping by.
Kaz xx

Boo!

2010-10-31T10:01:00.003Z

Happy halloween!

Kenny K ~ 2's challenge

2010-10-30T13:46:00.003+01:00

Me again.......the sun is shining, the washings out on the line, both the kids have gone off with friends & OH is off on a bike ride.........perfect play time!
So before it's too late to enter, here's my card for this weeks Kenny K's Krafty Girlz challenge.

This week the DT girlz are looking for 2's of things, so here are my 2's
2 x Basic Grey papers from my two scoops pad!
2 x layers of Bazzill card
2 x panels of design papers
2 of each colour card candy

Oh boy I just LOVE playing with this image! She is Download Diva

Thanks for visiting!
Kaz xx

Pastels & glitter

2010-10-30T08:52:00.004+01:00

Just a quick post this morning before the day gets into full swing. Needed inspiration for a birthday card and where better to look than craft challenges. This weeks Wild Orchid Challenge caught my eye, they are looking for pastel colours.......very nice! Combine this with the
ABC Challenge which is G for Glitter ......and voila!

Have a great weekend & Happy Halloween!
Kaz xx

Bah Humbug!

2010-10-27T11:32:00.003+01:00

LOL.............no I'm not fed up with all thing Christmas! It's the challenge I made my card for.

This week the DT girls over at the Bah Humbug challenge blog are looking for elegance. Now I am the first to admit it's not my usual style but I decided to give it a go. I have had this gorgeous Papermania stamp for some time but did get a bit of a surprise when it arrives as it is HUGE!!!! So big in fact that there is little room on my card for much else. So I decided to go for it with distressing inks, squeezed in a wee bit of layering and added few tiny pearls. Still not quite happy with it, but at least the stamp has now seen an ink pad!

Sorry about the poor pic it's soooooooo gloomy and miserable here :0(

Thanks for stopping by.

Kaz xx

One sketch, two cards part two....

2010-10-26T11:07:00.003+01:00

OK so I messed this up and the order of these two posts didn't work :o(
but never mind I am sure you get the idea.
Here's the Christmas version....

Hugs
Kaz xx

One sketch, two cards...

2010-10-26T10:22:00.006+01:00

Golly it's turned chilling over night! My poor feet had an awful shock when they hit the floor this morning getting out of my nice warm bed (laminate flooring brrrrrrr) So glad my 'craft room' aka the dinning room still has carpet :0) so what better place to go with my cuppa whilst the rest of the house snoozed. I made a card last night using the fab sketch from this weeks Cute Card Thursday challenge and decided to use the same sketch and the same image and make a Christmas version this morning. Here's how the Birthday version turned out....

Thanks for visiting!

Kaz xx

Stampin Up card

2010-10-16T17:33:00.004+01:00

We have had some lovely Autumn sunshine along with a good breeze here today............a perfect laundry day. So my poor machine has been putting in some serious overtime, but at least I can nearly see the bottom of the basket :0) not that that will last for long, but at least I tried. And while the machines been washing, I've been playing.
I've had a trio of SU stamps forever, and they have not seen an ink pad yet, so when I came across Valentines monthly challenge I thought why not have a go. This months challenge is 'Starstruck' and the only rule is that you must use a Stampin Up product somewhere on your project. My stars are on the backing paper and I have used one of my trio of stamps. I've used the sketch from this weeks Critter Sketch challenge as it was just the right shape for the image.
I wanted to use a star for the text tag but after attempting to draw on by hand I changed my mind and resorted to my Sizzix dies.
And here's my card....

Hope you all have a fab weekend!
Kaz xx

Sketch & Stash challenge...

2010-10-14T19:55:00.003+01:00

Another gorgeous day, and it's nearly the weekend........yippee! And get me, two posts in one week during term time. Now that doesn't happen very often. Mind you I have used an image that I coloured a while back so that saved me a bit of time ....... note to self - must colour images to stash more often!
Anyhoo... here's my card.

This is my entry for this fortnights Sketch & Stash challenge. My new(ish) stash is the larger flower punch and nesties and my neglected stash item is the PM Creative Tones paper! Hmmmmm....I appear to have this pad in several other colours too....shame on me.

Thanks for visiting!

Kaz xx

How cute are these guys......

2010-10-13T17:09:00.003+01:00

As soon as I saw this LOTV image I knew I just had to get it! It's just sooooooooooo cute.
I did find the penguins tricky to colour with my Promarkers though. As I built up the greys to get the darker areas it bled and looked really messy. Not had this before......has anyone else had this kind if problem? I thought maybe my card had got a bit damp, but all the other colours were ok ....... Maybe my dark grey is a bit 'juice' still as it's not been used much before.
Anyway, I made such a pigs ear of it that I coloured in another image and used Prisma Color pencils to do the penguins instead, cut them out and added them over the top of the bodged ones. Must admit I like the decoupaged look so it works for me. Did the sledge too.
Those delish papers are a freebie download from Jak Heath's fab blog, why not pop over and visit.
Well that's it for me for now, thanks for stopping by!
Kaz xx

Snowy...

2010-10-05T18:20:00.004+01:00

With only 81 day till Christmas! (where has this year gone to?) I figure its time I did a few more crimble cards. Thanks to all those wonderful Christmas challenge blogs I do have a nice pile already but still need, and want, to do more. I've even ordered my first pressie :o)
Oh boy, I've never been this organised before........ bit scary really!
Still, I dug down deep into the draw and out popped this gorgeous fella and so I set about playing. And here is the result.....

I would like to enter my card into the Christmas Club challenge who's challenge this week is to use 'glitter, ribbons & gems'. Now try as I might I could not find a ribbon that worked, soooooooo I made my own 'paper ribbon' with a snowflake punch and a thin strip of matching card........I hope this counts.

Thanks for stopping by.
Kaz xx

FF Bear....

2010-10-03T18:37:00.005+01:00

All this wet weather we've had this weekend has been a great excuse to stay in and get crafting :0) Just as well too as I have a mega load of birthdays to make for in October.

Inspired by my previous 2 cards I thought I'd have a go at a bit of paper piercing & decoupage with this FF bear. I stamped the image onto my base card and then 3 more times onto some fab wood grain paper I've had in my stash forever. Cut out the layers and lightly embossed the backs to give a bit of shape, stuck down with silicone adhesive and voila! The balloon was stamped onto a scrap of white card and coloured with Promarkers and just for good measure I covered it with glossy accents and a sprinkling of fine glitter. The embossed swirls & dots were done using a Fiskars shapeboss. Text on PC and a few card candy to finish.
Challenges:
Just Cute Bears ~ Swirls & bling.

Thanks for taking the time to visit me!
Kaz xx

Twice in one day?!!

2010-10-02T16:14:00.004+01:00

Yep......me again........LOL ......nothing for ages & now I can't keep away.

Just done another card using the Bentley Bear freebie decoupage kit, must say they are quick to do :0) Played with more raffia lace (I do like this stuff!) and my new nestie dies.

Quick, easy & simple!

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Kaz xx

Long time no see.....

2010-10-02T14:01:00.005+01:00

...... I'm such a lousy blogger! I need to retire. I do have a good excuse for not stopping by last weekend though, look where I've been...

Alexanda Palace in London for the Big Stamp & Scrapbook show!

My first time going to a big craft show and oh boy how much fun did I have!

Will definitely be going again next year :0)

I'd been saving my pennies since my birthday in May and have not had so much fun shopping in ages. Ironically I've been so busy since the show I've not had a chance to play with any of my goodies. Here's what I have to play with....

Now just before the show I also ordered some fab rolls of raffia lace from Hobbycraft which were there waiting for me when I arrived home. It is one of these that I have played with first. This was a nice quick & easy card to get me started using a freebie Bentley Bear decoupage kit that's been sat on a shelf for some time.

Challenges:

Pollycraft ~ No design papers

Wild Orchid ~ Ribbons & Bows

My lovely Hubbie is cooking dinner today so I can enjoy some play time, bless him!

Hope to be back very soon & thanks for visiting.

Kaz xx

Kenny K meets Papertake

2010-09-11T19:21:00.003+01:00

Me again.......Just a quick post 'cos the Kenny K's Krafty girlz challenge ends very, very soon and I want to enter my card. So the DT team are looking for 'Swirls & Pearls' in this weeks challenge. My swirls come in the form of the pattern on the paper and the embossing on the card and the pearls are really fab little ones from The Hobby house
I am also entering this in this weeks Papertake challenge as I have used their lovely sketch by Dawny P and here's my card.....

Off to link it to the challenges.....
TTFN
Kaz xx

Yay.....some play time

2010-09-11T13:03:00.004+01:00

Hiya!
Hope you are all enjoying the weekend.
I have finally managed a little play time, my first since going back to school.......Oh boy it's been a busy first week! I surprised myself by actually completing two cards, although I had already coloured both the images a while ago so that saved me a bit of time. I just couldn't resist this gorgeous LOTV new Christmas image.

Coloured with a mix of Promarkers and Prisma pencils and embellished with punched snowflakes & gems and some fab lacy ribbon which was a RAC from my crafty friend the lovely Pauline, thanks hun!

I am just in time to enter the Just Cute Bear challenge for this week and they want to see dots! So I have printed off some Pink Petticoat spotty papers in Teal to go with my LOTV bear image.
I've used the sketch from this fortnights Sunday Sketch & Stamp challenge and a fab one it is too. And finally my card also fits the Simon Says challenge of 'Holiday Fun' ~ Hop over and check out their super blog hop, the prize is a $100 shopping spree!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh I wish......fingers & toes tightly crossed.
Well that's it from me for now.
Thanks for visiting little ol' me.
Kaz xx

Sparkly Dandelion

2010-09-02T19:46:00.005+01:00

Well it's back to school...........and the sun is shining!
How typical is that, still it's nearly the weekend, fingers crossed the sun stays with us.
Been having a little play with a stamp I found in my basket when I reached the till at
The Glitter Pot..........funny 'cos I only went in for a couple of sheets of paper!
Anyhow, I love the delicate look of this Hero Art stamp "Dandelion" and ended up stamping about 10 images of it and then adding little dots of Stickles, each image with a different colour. "Waterfall" is my favorite and it teams up perfectly with my new Papermania paper "Ornamental Flourish". A bargain at 45p! Bought it in 3 colours, Aqua (as used on my card) Heather & Verde (aka purple & green)
Here's the results of my play time....

A close up to show the Stickles glitter ....

Challenges:
Sketch & Stash challenge have a fab sketch this fortnight.
Papertake want "Just the one" so I have used just the one colour and one image
Wild Orchid challenge are looking for sparkle ~ Stickles glitter & my ribbon is quite shimmery & sparkly too.
Off to play with the other colours...
Thanks for looking!
Kaz xx

What a day!!!!!!!!!!

2010-08-28T20:27:00.004+01:00

OMG......you would not believe the day I have had trying to sort out a gas leak at my poor Mum's house. Talk about banging your head against a brick wall. If I had asked the cat so sort it out he would have been more responsive that her insurance company......Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Its been off since yesterday morning and they haven't found an engineer who can come out before......................TUESDAY!!!!! And that's just to "look at the problem and submit a quote"

SIX days with no hot water and no gas cooker!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am soooooooooooo angry/upset/frustrated!!!

And to make matters worse I have now missed the challenge dead line for this weeks

Kenny K's Krafty Girlz Challenge by half an hour :0( (yes I know my Mum's gas leak is more important) but it just seems like nothing has gone right for me today..............sulk!

OK moan over........here's my card that I would have entered.....

Oooooh I have just remembered ....... I did combine it with another challenge, and I am not too late for this one :0)

The ABC Challenge! The DT guys are looking for BLUE in fact they want 80% blue! Now maths has never been my strong point but there is lots of blue on my card.

Hope you like it.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Kaz xx

TGF Drummer

2010-08-27T08:21:00.003+01:00

Hiya!
Looked out the window and guess what.........yep, more rain!!!!!!!!! Even the cat is sulking.
I have a paper round to help with too :0( oh why did I say yes! Can't back out now, I did promise.......ho hum. Best get it over with asap then I can cheer myself up with some crafting. Kids have their own plans for this afternoon so that will be my chance to sneak off and play :0)

Some weeks ago I came across this fab digi image from The Greeting Farm I just HAD to have it as it is PERFECT for my drumming mad son. This is his birthday card I made using the image, he was really chuffed with it "so awesome!" he said.

Here's a close up to show the shimmer of the drums which I painted with H2o's

CHALLENGES:~ Well just the one, I have used the fab sketch from this fortnights
Sketch & Stash challenge It's clean & simple......perfect for a male card! And my newest stash is The Greeting Farm digi image.

:0( Time to get wet in the rain............Best get it over with.

Thanks for stopping by!
Kaz xx

Lovely in lilac.....

2010-08-25T11:14:00.002+01:00

Good morning!!
Yet another sunny summer's day........not! What is it with this weather? We have had no where near enough beach days this summer :0( and it's back to school real soon.
Still, if rain stops out door play there's always crafting and online shopping to do..... :0)
Talking of online shopping, the postie delivered my e-bay bargin yesterday. Two brand new unopened sets of Nesties labels for £15.75!!! Woo hoo... how chuffed was I when I won.
Here's what I made....

Challenges:~
LOTV challenge blog has a fab sketch for this fortnights challenge. Will be using this one again I am sure.
Wild Orchid Challenge team are looking for lots of Sparkles this fortnight, so my punched flowers & leaves have a generous coating of Stickles 'Diamond'

Off to grab some more play time!
Hugs
Kaz xx

Sketch Saturday meets Critter sketch challenge.....

2010-08-19T22:27:00.003+01:00

Needed a card for my FIL asap so set to work last night. Now I am really not keen on doing male cards, and I don't have that many suitable images to choose from either. So I needed a challenge, or two, to get me going. This weeks Critter sketch challenge was 'made to measure'
" This weeks challenge is to create a boy card or scrapbook page. (I figure my FIL's an old boy, so hopefully this will count) The twist is it MUST contain glitter somewhere on your creation." Oooooh.......glitter on a boy card....eeek! OK, so there's my theme.....now for a sketch layout to follow courtesy of the Sketch Saturday challenge team and here's my card

Now you may be wondering where the glitter is, well it is there its just hard to see (honest!) here's a close up, I've used some very fine glitter to add some highlights to the water ripples.

Thanks for visiting
Kaz xx

HM Roasting marshmallow

2010-08-18T15:19:00.008+01:00

Used my new HM stamp for the first time last night, have been put off using it as Oh boy is it a whopper of a stamp! I was surprised when it arrived, but then looking at things online can be deceptive...lol. So when I saw the sketch for this weeks Papertake challenge I thought I would give it go. I do love HM stamps as they print so beautifully and the details are fab!

Challenges:~
Papertake challenge ~ a sketch
Cute card Thursday challenge ~ Trees or leaves.
OK I know there's not a lot, but there is just a wee bit of Christmas tree in the image.

Image: HM Roasting Marshmallow
Text: Hero Arts
Paper: Dovecraft Christmas Blues
Colouring medium: Promarkers
Pearls: The Hobby House

I'm hoping this posts OK.....I'm not sure if its because of something I've done, but normally when I upload a pic I can actually see it, but this time all I can see is a ton of garbled text??? Would appreciate it if anyone can tell me how to get back to how it was. OK fingers crossed here goes & thanks for peeking........

P.S Just had a look at it and the link bits don't work either........Help! What have I done wrong???

P.P.S Thanks for the top tips......problem sorted and much neater links now Helen, THANKS!

Bold 'n' Bright.....

2010-08-17T14:09:00.003+01:00

Whilst catching up on a spot of blog hopping this week I came across this site
http://www.kennykdownloads.com/
and oh boy am I hooked!!! I bought 2 images immediately and am eagerly awaiting the release of their new ROCK SQUAD series due out on August 29th. They do challenges too!
I have used 'Download Diva' to make a birthday card for my daughter's 14th birthday 'cos its just soooooooooo right for her, and I would like to enter my card into their challenge for this week which is 'Bold & Bright' http://kennykkraftygirlzchallenges.blogspot.com/
I've used the fab sketch from http://sundaysketchandstamp.blogspot.com/ and it also is 'one for the girls' which is this fortnights http://wildorchidchallenge.blogspot.com/ challenge.

Off to play with some more images!
Thanks for visiting
Kaz xx

ABC Christmas challenge

2010-08-14T22:38:00.008+01:00

Well I needed a kick on the butt to get me going again and this weeks ABC Christmas Challenge http://abcchristmaschallenge.blogspot.com/ is just the kick I needed. It's a sketch challenge with an optional twist to make more than one card using the sketch............perfect! And what a great sketch it is too, I love it, I've have made 3 cards with it (so far.....)

This first one is my least favourite, the ribbon didn't go on as neatly as I had hoped :0( but I do love this cute PB kitty image.

I've had this FF Bear sitting on my shelf for ages and not used him

(shame on me) He's really great to colour with Promarkers and I've also had my first play with Flower soft on this one.

Ohhh now I adore this Mo Manning image, super cute!

Again coloured with Promarkers and has flower soft added to the 'fury bits'

I've been trying to join in with Christmas card challenges this year and they are brilliant, I don't think I have ever had so many Christmas cards completed by August before!

Hope you like my efforts & thanks for stopping by.

Have a great weekend!

Kaz xx

I'm such a bad blogger!!!

2010-08-11T19:16:00.005+01:00

It's been so long since I've posted on my blog I got a bit of a shock when I logged on and saw the date of my last post.............where has the time gone?!
The last few weeks of school were manic, and the first 2 weeks of the hols have continued in the same way, but finally life is slowing down to a more sedate & enjoyable pace. I am really looking forward to getting some crafting time under my belt now. I have managed a couple of cards during my absence so I'll post these to get me started again.
The first is a card I made for a group of friends to send another very special friend to wish her all the very best on her wedding day! I also made the Bride & Groom a personal card from me, but forgot to take a pic before I posted it........Doh!

My next card I made for a friend's Birthday and I would like to enter it into a couple of challenges:~

http://www.cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/ ~ Their challenge this weeks is "Whateva!" .....a nice easy one to get me back into some challenges!

http://dutchdare-car/dchallenges.blogsp ot.c om/ ~ :0) their challenge is also "Anything goes"

I used the lovely sketch from this weeks LOTV challenge, but am too slow to enter that one :0(

So here's my challenge card....

And my last card....

Hopefully your still awake! Thanks for visiting. I'm off to catch up on some of your wonderful blogs for some much needed inspiration.

Hugs

Kaz xx

1 card 4 challenges.....

2010-07-03T13:22:00.008+01:00

What a great start to the weekend, blue skies & sunshine! Hope it's good where you are too.

Been doing a spot of gentle gardening this morning but it's too hot for working in now so I've come indoors to do a little crafting :0)
But first here's a card I finished last night...

Not the best of pics, the colours are a bit washed out. Couldn't even get a decent pic outdoors!

Challenges:

http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/ly.blogspot.com/

This weeks challenges is Stitches - mine are faux

http://abc-challenge.blogspot.com/ The ABC team want eXtra dimension this week. I hope mine counts....I have cut out the image and embossed around the edges to add some curve then used clear silicone adhesive to stick her on. Have also used 3 layers on one of the flowers, which is unusual for me 'cos I normally can't get them looking right so tend to stick to 1 or 2 layers.

http://basicgreychallenges.blogspot.com/ Basic Grey has a photo for inspiration in this fortnights challenge.......Hmmmm and what a tasty looking pic it is too.....yum!

Now doesn't that look lovely and cool and tempting in the hot weather!

I have taken the colours green, yellow & pink to use in my card and the dew drops represent the little red currants berries

And finally another inspiration pic my card fits in with...

http://dutchdare-cardchallenges.blogspot.com/ Same colours and the flowers.

Have the urge to make another card using a butterflies theme in pink's & blue's now!

Off to make a card for a 11yr old boy who's birthday do is.....tomorrow!

Oh I'm so organised.........not!

Enjoy the weekend & thanks for stopping by

Hugs

Kaz xx

My very own Hanglar!

2010-07-02T23:10:00.004+01:00

Ooooh I was just soooooooo thrilled to get my hands on this fab Hanglar stamp, and she's just a delight to colour. Couldn't resist adding a little smile on her face. Me thinks me is gonna really enjoy colouring lots of this little lady in different colour themes.....maybe warm yellows next

Hope you like my card & thanks for visiting me!

Have a great weekend

Kaz xx

Happy birthday Dad!

2010-06-29T15:46:00.003+01:00

Hi, hope you all enjoyed the fab weather we had over the weekend. I had my first swim in the sea for 2010 and can't wait for the school summer hols to enjoy many more of the beach days.....fingers crossed. Really must shed a few pounds (or perhaps that should be stones) before then though!!!

It was hubbies birthday Sunday and I was so pleased to find this image http://www.digistampboutique.co.uk/catalog/jims-resting-place-pi-306.html

from the Digi stamp boutique, I just had to have it!

If you've read my post on the 16th re-hammocks you'll understand why. This is the card I made using it for him from one of the kids....

I have followed the sketch from this fortnights Sketch & Stash challenge and used my new digi image and dug out a Cuttlebug alphabet set 'Olivia' that hasn't seen daylight for a while. The papers are fairly new for me and are digi papers from http://www.pinkpetticoat.co.uk/

Coloured with Promarkers, embellies from stash.

Thanks for dropping by!

kaz xx

Cute Card Thursday challenge ....

2010-06-23T21:01:00.003+01:00

....is a sketch by Claudia.

Earlier this week my 10 year old son decided he wanted to make his Dad a birthday card for this Sunday. He didn't want any of my images, so set about drawing his own. So I cut him a suitable card making size piece of card and.......can you believe this.....I left him alone with my Promarkers!!! Gulp! (I must be loosing the plot!)

I needn't have worried though (Phew!) he was very gentle and careful with my babies.

He oh so carefully went over his pencil sketch with a Promarker fineliner and then set about colouring in.

:0) Kept him quiet for ages :0)

Having finished his colouring he decided enough was enough and Mum could turn it into a card. So here is the finished product.

I used the sketch from this weeks http://www.cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/ and kept is as clean and simple as I could as James is picture is quite a busy master piece.

I'm sure his Dad is going to love his card and James is very pleased with it too and my Promarker are just fine......so all's well that ends well!

Only trouble is James doesn't like his felt pens now and now wants Promarkers!!! Eeeeek!

Off to hide mine quick.

Kaz xx