You're My Bestest Friend!

I know - two posts in one morning! How keen am I? lol!
But it's time for a new challenge on Totally Papercrafts Challenge Blog - and this week the challenge is to use a digital image! 'Digi-it'!  The sponsor for this challenge is



and the winner will receive 6 digi stamps! So have a look at the TPC blog and there are some great cards from the Design Team - along with my effort! I'm still new to digi stamps so be gentle with me! Seems strange not to have inky fingers.....

This is a great digi stamp from Sassy Cheryl and I just loved this cute pair! (Sassy Sally meets Bella). I've coloured them with promarkers and prisma pencils

The backing paper is from Teresa Collins 'Fabrications' and is just scrummy! I've added the Memory Box 'Arboscello Tree' die cut and some punched flowers with pearl centres. The sheer ribbon is from Joanna Sheen, and I've added one of my favourite sentiment stamps from a set I've had for ages from Hero Arts.

I hope you like my 'digi' effort and I do hope that you'll join us at Totally Papercrafts for this week's challenge! 

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:-

SassyCherylChallengeBlog - summer

Fab'n'Funky Challenges - cute & girly

The PaperShelter - punches & die cuts

BearlyMine - anything goes

CraftyCatz New Challenge!

Good morning and it's Friday - that means its time for a new challenge on CraftyCatz Weekly Challenge!

This week the challenge is - Metal - to use something metallic, could be brads, pins, charms, etc. - the choice is yours! And we are sponsored this week by BunnyZoesCrafts with the prize being



So have a rummage through all those embellishments you've got in your stash and get crafting!
My DT effort for this challenge is

I used one of my favourite LOTV images - Together Forever - and coloured it with promarkers and prisma pencils. Aren't they just the cutest! 

And then I indulged myself with the embellishments! The flowers, leaves and heart charm are from Wild Orchid Crafts. The backing paper is K&Co with a panel embossed on coredinations card with Cuttlebug Divine Swirls folder. A Marianne swirl die cut and a bit of sheer lilac ribbon later and I think it was time to call a halt to the embellishments! 

and a quick peek at the inside! 

Hope you like it! 

And I hope you'll join us at Crafty Catz this week! 

Back soon, Kim x 

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:-

Wild Orchid Crafts Challenge Blog - punches/die cuts

Crafty Creations - embellishments (flowers, charm, gems)

Tilda in the Red!

Good evening all! Well, after a very long day at work I'm sat at my laptop with a consolation slice of lemon cheesecake! Not very health conscious I know, but gosh it's good! I'm full of a stinky cold, sniffling & coughing - probably caught from some germ-ridden body on the London Tube lol! So the cheesecake is acting as medicine too - and as it's lemon surely it must count as one of my 'five-a-day'......?
Today's card is using a cute Tilda stamp called 'Ribbon Tilda' -

I've coloured her with promarkers and prisma pencils and just love that deep red! 

The backing papers are Nitwit 'Cottage Charm' which were a much welcomed freebie with a magazine. And I've added some of my favourite embellishments - ribbon & buttons! The seam binding is from Wild Orchid Crafts and the cotton ribbon has been in my stash so long that I'm afraid I've forgotten where it's from :(

I've matted & layered with coredinations card and thought the red & beige colours went quite well together. 

Well, enjoy the rest of your evening and I'll finish off my cheesecake and sniffle my way along (I keep trying to play the sympathy card at home but daughter's gone out and husband & son are more interested in keeping up with Spain v Portugal!).

Back soon, Kim x 

I'm entering this into the following challenges :-

ClearItOutChallenge - use 2 or more ribbons

TwistedTuesdayChallenges - red

Love to Create Challenge - anything goes

Party Time Tuesday - anything goes

Under my umbrella!

Good morning! I think there's a certain irony to today's card - featuring raindrops and an umbrella when for once it's actually quite a nice bright morning (complete with washing on the line!). Oh well - I can never seem to get the timings right!
Anyway, after seeing some of these digi images on some of my fellow bloggers creations I fell in love and crossed a line.... and made my first purchase of digi stamps! I know, I know, a bit behind the times but I do love the whole process of rubber stamping complete with getting inky, etc.! But these images were just so lovely that I couldn't resist.

This digi stamp is from SassyCheryl and is called Charlie's umbrella - and hasn't she got the cutest cheekiest face! And I'm just loving those freckles.....! And I just had to make her a redhead! 

I've coloured her with promarkers and prisma pencils. The backing papers are from K&Co with some matting & layering with coredinations card and ribbon from my endless stash!  The sentiment stamp is from LOTV and the flowers and leaves are from Wild Orchid Crafts. 

Another of SassyCheryl's images will be appearing later this week for a DT project - so do remember to pop back and have a look! (One that my daughter picked!)

Hope your day goes smoothly - without umbrellas and raindrops! 

Back soon, Kim x 

I'm entering this into the following challenges:-

Papertake Weekly - Bingo (ribbon, free, blooms)

Bunny Zoes Crafts - girls, girls, girls

Daisy Doodles - anything goes

Digi Makeover Challenge - anything goes

IncyWincyDesigns - anything goes

Sentimental Sundays - cute and girly

Back from the Big Smoke!

Good evening all and hope that the recent horrible wet weather (in the UK!) hasn't targeted you too badly! I'm pleased to say that I survived my three nights away with my daughter Lauren - although now exhausted and convinced that I'm probably a couple of inches shorter with all the walking! My daughter loved London though! We did the usual sightseeing things and then a day full of shopping which completely exhausted us both - Oxford St, Regent St and Carnaby St! HUGE shops and equally HUGE crowds! She decided after all that that she had really enjoyed St James's Park and the squirrels coming up to your hand to see what food you'd got! But it was lovely to have a few girly days away and husband & son managed well without us. Only thing is that I've paid the price getting home last night and spent most of the day today doing laundry, etc., and tidying up! I'm pretty sure that Tilly the Dog and Grumpy Poppy were pleased to see us though!
So just a quick post from me tonight (apart from the waffle above!) with another couple of cards that I made for the recent fund-raising at our local Cats Protection. They had a really good open day and raised approx £1000 which is great!

This card was made with the Furry Friends cd from Joanna Sheen.  And two cute kitties they are - shame they don't stay that way! The backing paper is from Nitwit and the flowers and swirl are Marianne dies. The sentiment stamp & ticket die are from Whimsy stamps and the ribbon and lace from stash. 

And this one is a different style of card altogether! The papers and tag are from my ever-faithful collection of K&Co supplies! The stamp is a lovely sentiment one from Clarity stamps. I've added a lace border under the centre panel, with Poppystamps meadow leaf die cuts and a mulberry paper flower from Wild Orchid with a metal brad centre. 

Well, I'm hoping to get some therapeutic colouring & card-making in over the next day or so - and it'll give my feet time to recuperate! I'll be back soon,

Kim x 

Pastels Challenge at CraftyCatz

Good morning! I'm hoping that this scheduling thingy on blogger works ok! If so, it should be Friday morning lol! And that means it's time for a new challenge on CraftyCatz Challenge Blogspot ! And this week it's a nice easy one - well, especially for me! - pastel colours!
We're being sponsored this week by The Stamping Boutique

and I've used one of their digi stamps - this gorgeous image of a cute little pig!

I've coloured him with promarkers and used coredinations card and papers from my stash. The lovely pink spotty ribbon is from Crafters Companion. I've used my lovely DooHickey fence die and added some punched flowers with gem centres. Add a few buttons from my stash and a printed out sentiment and some stitching round the edges - and there you go! 

Isn't he cute! I love piggies and must admit there is a startling resemblance between pigs and Tilly the Dog....! Perhaps thats a result of being spoilt and too many bonios! 

So get out all those lovely pastel papers & colours and head over to CraftyCatz! 

I'll be back on again over the weekend - while my feet are recovering from the London shopping expedition! 

Take care,

Kim x 

Pretty Birdboxes!

Hello all and hope that your week has started well - and continues to get better! I've got everybody back at home again but a busy week ahead! I'm going away with my daughter on Wednesday for a few girly days away to London - hotel, sight-seeing, and knowing my daughter, lots of shopping! She's already hyperventilating at the thought of 4 floors of TopShop! Ho hum. We're leaving the boys at home to look after Tilly and Poppy - or should that be the other way round and Tilly & Poppy will look after the boys.....?
Anyway, before I head off to the big smoke I thought I'd share this card with you

This is a Little Claire Design stamp called 'Birdhouse Garland' and is just lovely. I've coloured it with promarkers and a little distress ink to soften the edges

The backing papers are from the Teresa Collins 'Fabrications' pack that I bought - and have fallen in love with! 

I've added a lace edging with a little bit of threaded ribbon, and a Marianne die cut corner. 

The flower embellishments and butterfly charm are from Wild Orchid Crafts, and I've added some pearls to the pins I had in my stash. I sprayed one of the wild roses with Cosmic Shimmer spray to blend in - and love the shimmery effect it gives.

A quick glimpse of the inside

Hope you like it! 

I'll have another go at scheduling in a post for when I'm away - and remember me in your thoughts as my feet gradually wear away tramping up and down Oxford Street, Carnaby Street, etc..... Plenty of coffee and cake stops should ease the pain......

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:-

Wild Orchid Challenge Blog - anything goes

Addicted to Stamps - pins

Crafting When We Can - colour combination

Fashionable Stamping - nature

Lets Ink It Up - embellishments

Sweet Stampin - summer

ATCs & Cards With Attitude - anything goes

On Tiptoes - in a garden where it's not raining!

Hi and hope all are well and enjoying their weekend? My daughter has her last exam at the end of her first year at Uni today and then is moving back home. And moving all my craft stuff has (hopefully) made me have a bit of a sort out! Not sure that I'll be any tidier though! And I'm sure there's no such thing as a tidy crafter - is there....?
I'm also very pleased to share another bit of news - Totally Papercrafts have picked me & my little blog to be a part of their Design Team! I'm blown away! Two design team offers in a week - it's done my card-making ego a world of good!
Today's card has another of my favourite LOTV stamps on called 'On Tiptoes' and I think this little fairy is just so lovely! And she's in a garden where it's not raining! Not like mine which is starting to resemble the Somme and I've got a nasty suspicion that when it does dry up a bit and the sun comes out (ha!) that the weeds will have overtaken the flowers in the growing stakes!

I've coloured the stamp with promarkers in peach colours - fading them out with the blender pen.  I've used prisma pencils for a little extra definition and then added a little glitter - I always have an urge to give fairies an extra bit of glitter! 

The backing paper is from Teresa Collins 'Fabrications' and really like the peachy colours together with the teal blue colours. Unfortunately they look a bit faded in my photo - must get my photography skills sorted lol!  Not colours I'd usually put together but I'm liking the effect! 

I've added a Marianne die cut swirl, punched flowers with gems (coloured with promarkers!) and sheer ribbon with a MemoryBox buckle die cut. The bow is vintage seam binding, and the sentiment stamp is also LOTV. 

A quick glimpse of the inside of the card. I'm trying to make an effort to add inserts or decorated interiors to my cards so that at least they're ready for me to use (or occasionally sell!). 

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:-

CraftYourPassion - anything goes

CraftyAnnsChallengeBlog - Its a Girl Thing!

SimonSaysStampChallenge - colours

EmergencyCrafters - wings

StampinWithTheDragon - anything goes

FunWithShapes - Summer

LilisLittleFairiesThursdayChallenge - In the garden

And a very warm welcome to the new followers of my blog - it's really great to think that you're interested in seeing my adventures through Craftland! 

Back soon, Kim x 

First Design Team Project!

Hi and hope all are well in Blogland! Today's a first for me in a couple of ways - my first DT project and my first go at scheduling a post (so I'm just hoping it works and doesn't get lost over t'internet somewhere!).
While you're browsing in Blogland have a look by the CraftyCatz Challenge Blog for this week's challenge - embossing! We had a couple of images to play with from this week's sponsor of the prize, The Paper Shelter, and I chose this one. Not the sort of image I'd usually pick but it's great to do something out of the 'comfort zone' and I enjoyed doing it!

This is what I came up with! A couple of embossed panels in coredinations card with Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' embossing folder, gorgeous stripy paper from First Edition 'Birdsong' pad, and Marianne die cut swirl and flowers. The sentiment stamp was a freebie with a magazine which I've stamped and added a little Stickles round the edge.

I've coloured the digi image with promarkers and prisma pencils and then added a little bit of glitz (i.e. Stickles!) - isn't she a cutie!

So dig out your embossing folders and head over to CraftyCatz - join us for this week's challenge! 

Back soon, Kim x 

Sunshine Kisses!

Good morning and I hope that your day is going well! I'm going to be carrying on with the cleaning & tidying up today - my husband is due back tomorrow from Abu Dhabi where he's been working this week (and it's been a whole lot warmer there than here lol!) and my lovely daughter is moving back home from Uni on Saturday. It'll be wonderful to have her home - the only drawback is I'll be losing my 'craft room' (i.e. her bedroom!) - so having to pack & move all my craft stuff! And it's only when you start to gather it all up to move it that you realise quite how much stuff you've got! Ho hum! But before I start again I wanted to share this card I made with an old favourite stamp of mine - Sarah Kay's 'First Kiss'

I love this stamp and, for once, was quite pleased with how the colouring turned out! I've coloured it with promarkers 

Aren't they just so cute?! It's mounted on coredinations card which has been lightly sanded back. The backing papers are from First Edition 'Birdsong' - just love those papers. The edges have all been distressed and I've added the Memory box 'Arboscello tree' and buckle die cuts.  I've punched flowers & added pearls and the ribbons are from Joanna Sheen. The sentiment is one of those Whimsy stamps that I love!

I've added a little Stickles to the buckle. And a glimpse of the inside of the card

Although we're always our own worst critics, I was actually quite pleased with how this card came together. Perhaps I'm getting a bit better with my cardmaking? Not sure about that lol! But hope you like it! 

Back soon, Kim x 

I'm entering this into the following challenges :-

PaperPretties - summertime

DivasByDesign - summer

ShoppingOurStash - double the ribbon

PapertakeWeekly - 3,2,1 (3 flowers, 2 ribbons, 1 image)

PassionforPromarkers - lots of layers

ThePaperShelter - anything goes

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside....!

Are you singing along? Just wanted to share a special Fathers' Day card with you today - extra special because it's for my not-so-little ones to give to their Dad (i.e. my hubby!) - so just hoping he doesn't see it on here before Sunday lol! I saw this stamp set which is a bit like a build-a-scene one from Lindsay Mason called 'Cliff Top Scene'. Just loved that lighthouse and it reminded me of Mevagissey in Cornwall, a fabulous place where we spent many a happy beach holiday when the children were smaller - and I'm sure it'll remind my husband of the same thing!

And I got the backing paper as a freebie with a craft magazine (the paper's an Emma Ball design) and thought they were just meant to be together! 

I've coloured the stamp quite simply with promarkers and used chalks for a sky & clouds effect, although I don't think it shows up too well on the photo. I must improve my photography skills! 

It's an 8"x8" card - quite a large one for me - but thought the backing paper was just so fab that I didn't want to lose the effect.

The sentiment is sizzix rub-ons on some of the backing paper, distressed with antique linen and mounted on sanded coredinations card.

I've added ribbon and seam binding (gently gathered) with a twine bow and a few gems from my stash.

Roll on summer! 

Back soon, Kim x

I'm entering this in the following challenges:-

OneStopCraftChallenge - Fathers Day

SecretCrafterSaturdayChallenge - Fathers Day

PanpastelUKChallenge - Fathers Day

CelebratetheOccasion - Fathers Day

CraftySentiments - Fathers Day

Teddy Pressie!

Hi and hope your Sunday is going well? Just wanted to share a card I made yesterday and had a major breakthrough in the colour world! It's orange! Now orange is a colour that I just don't connect with lol! I never have any orange clothing, furnishings, etc., no orange flowers in the garden even (unless you count the sunflowers that come up where the birds have kindly planted seeds for me!). But, in a moment of madness, thought I'd try it on this image - and even more surprisingly, I really like it! Perhaps it's the grey skies we've been seeing lately that made me move towards bright zingy colours?

The image is LOTV called 'Patchwork Present' and I've coloured it with promarkers.  

The scrummy backing paper is from a pack I recently bought at CardCraft UK called Fabrications by Teresa Collins - and I just love them! There isn't a bad design among them!

I've used Coredinations card for matting and the flourish & corner - both Marianne dies - and ribbon from my stash.

The flowers are from Wild Orchid crafts & CardCraft UK and I've used gems & pearls from my stash and coloured them with promarkers (such a useful idea!).

And this is a quick glimpse of the inside of the card! 

Hope you like the bright colours! (and didn't need to don the shades lol!)

Back soon, Kim x 

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:-

PapertakeWeekly - anything goes

PartyTimeTuesday - added sparkle & bling

The Ribbon Girls - ribbon

Craft Your Days Away - Bingo-flowers/ribbon/gems

MyMumsCraftShop - Bingo - pearls/gems/ribbon

IlovePromarkers - for a little girl

Summer Wedding!

Good morning and hope all are well in Blogland out there! Well, I promised last night (when I blurted out the news I was excited about lol!) that I would have a wedding card for you today - and here it is!

I was asked by a friend to make a wedding card for a couple of her friends and this is what I came up with.

It's a 6" square card that was boxed (well, it had to be with those embellishments lol!). The stamp is from LOTV called 'Together Forever' - hence the sentiment stamp too! 

I've coloured the image with promarkers and prisma pencils

I love that deep red for the dress so picked that out as a 'key colour'!  The backing papers were from my stash (and apologies but can't remember where from!). The names were printed on the computer & mounted on mirri board and Spellbinder dies for the image & frame. 

The flowers and leaves are from Wild Orchid (small gardenia, wild roses, hip rosebuds), with an added linked heart charm also from WOC and a Marianne die flourish. The lace is also from the bottomless pit of my crafty stash! 

The inside was decorated to complement the front, with the centre panel using a Spellbinder label die & distress ink, with seam binding ribbon from WOC. The sentiment stamp inside is from Crafters Companion.

And thankfully my friend liked the card - so hope the happy couple do too! Although it's not been much of a 'Flaming June' with the weather and I feel so sorry for couples who spend so long (and so much money) on planning a wedding and then it rains on the big day! Ho hum! 

I'm off to do all the usual Saturday morning h****work jobs now!

Back soon, Kim x 

Great News!

So excited with some great news that I just had to share it - I've been chosen to be part of the Design Team for the Crafty Catz Challenge Blog!
It's lovely to think that other people have looked at my little creations and decided that I could be a part of a team - and a fantastic excuse for doing even more crafting lol!!
I'll probably be incredibly nervous too when it comes to sharing my cards as well - but really looking forward to the challenge!
Back tomorrow with a wedding card - well, they do say June is the month for brides lol!
Kim x

For Dad!

Hi and I hope that the sun is shining for you? It's definitely not here lol! It's been a busy few days - back to routine next week I hope when half term is over. I love having the school breaks but any routines (and spare time) seems to disappear!
Anyway, today's card is another prepared for forthcoming Fathers' Day - and I love this LOTV image

The colours look quite pale in my photo - but I'm sure they're a bit stronger in 'real life' lol! 

I've coloured the image with promarkers and distressed the edges. 

The backing papers are American Crafts and K&Co, with a little added twine and Marianne die of ivy leaves.  The 'Dad' wording is from Sizzix transfers and the sentiment stamp is a Whimsy one, with the Whimsy ticket die - just love that set! 

Thought that wording was quite nice for a special dad! 

I'm entering this in the following challenges :-

C.RA.F.T. Challenge - male card

DutchDare card challenge - For Dad

Lilis Little Fairies - one for the boys

PennysPaperCraftyChallenge - I love you dad

ThePoodlesParlour - Fathers' Day

I'm hoping to get some crafting time this weekend - got a birthday and wedding card to make! 

But before I go I just thought I'd share another couple of cards made for the Cats Protection open day with the Joanna Sheen Furry Friends cd

Just love that cat's expression! Looks about as happy as our cat! I added sentiments done on the computer and Disney die cut & emboss clown hats with added gems!

And isn't this one a little cutie? So cuddleable! The backing papers are Nitwit ones with added button, ribbon, pearls & gems from stash and the sentiment from LOTV.

Hope you like them.

Back soon, Kim x 

Doggy Fathers' Day!

Hi, hope everyone (in UK) has enjoyed a lovely long bank holiday - shame the weather couldn't have been a bit kinder! Thankfully the sun shone yesterday when we had a little afternoon tea party (about 11 of us!) on our garden - so plenty of food and chatter - a nice way to spend an afternoon!
I've been busy today trying to sort second-hand books, etc., to take to our local Cats Protection who are having an open day next Sunday to raise much-needed funds. I love my books so it takes a ruthless spirit for me to part with them but my hubby was starting to complain about the ever-growing stacks! I've also been putting together some cards to take for them to sell (so hopefully someone will want to buy them lol!). I make far more than we can use so it's always nice if someone (especially cute furry someones!) can benefit from my hobby. I've also been making a few extra cards with one of my favourite cd's, Furry Friends, from Joanna Sheen with wonderful photography by Rachael Hale. So just thought I'd share a couple of quick Fathers' Day cards that I made with the cd

This one features such a cute sleep bassett hound! The backing card is from American Crafts with an embossed panel (Cuttlebug - Swiss Dots). I've mounted the image on gold mirri card and added a Marianne  die cut flourish with lovely copper pearlised card (but wish I could remember where I bought it because I've run out now!). I added a stamped 'Fathers' Day' sentiment from Crafters Companion (purchased on a recent hunting trip to CardCraft UK when I went for a FathersDay stamp - and as usual, came home with a lot of other bits too lol!). Also a LOTV sentiment - both have been die-cut and then inked with Faded Linen distress ink. The thread was from my stash.

And in keeping with the Jubilee/Best of British theme going on everywhere at the moment, this lovely British Bulldog has been mounted on some great freebie papers I got with a craft magazine. The spotty ribbon is from Joanna Sheen, the sentiment stamps the same as above, with a couple of little gems coloured with my promarkers! 

Anyway, apologies for the long & rambling post today! There'll be a few more of the Furry Friends creations appearing over the next week or so.

 After I finish doing the book sorting, etc., I'm hoping to get some more crafting time later. Hope you find some crafting time too - so therapeutic! 

Back soon, Kim x 

Good Friends

Hello and I hope you're enjoying your weekend whatever you're doing. Here in the UK we're enjoying a long bank holiday for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee - shame the weather doesn't seem to want to shine though! We've been watching the river pageant of 1000 vessels heading down the River Thames - but from the comfort of a sofa! It definitely looks a bit wild & windy on the riverbank lol!
Today's card features a lovely image from LOTV.  I did warn at the end of the last post that the next card was very girly - so here it is!

One of my favourite things is to go for coffee & cake with a friend - what could be nicer! And these two look as if they're really enjoying that too! 

I've coloured the stamp with promarkers & prisma pencils. 

The backing papers are from First Edition and Nitwit and the sweet paper with cake & teapots on was a freebie. 

The flowers (gardenia, wild rose, cherry blossom & hip rose buds), leaves and heart charm are from Wild Orchid Crafts and the organza ribbon and lace is from CardCraftUK.  The sentiment stamp is from Chocolate Baroque. 

Although I didn't take a photo (duh!) the inside is decorated to match the front! 

I hope that you enjoy the rest of your weekend. We're having a little afternoon tea party tomorrow (terribly British!) so just hoping that it's not raining then! 

Back soon, Kim x 

I'm entering this card into the following challenges :-

WildOrchidChallenge - Bingo

Lilis Little Fairies - Anything Goes

OohLaLaChallenges - Make it Girly

PapertakeWeeklyChallenge - sketch