Santa Claus is coming to town....

Good morning all and I hope that your week has gone well? The usual busy sort here, and I've a feeling that I've got a busy weekend ahead with decorating starting! Hey ho.  I just keep repeating the mantra that 'It'll all be worth it'!
Anyway, as it's Friday it's time for a new challenge over at CraftyCatz and this week we're getting in the seasonal mood and our lovely Nick has challenged us with the theme 'Santa Claus is coming to town' - so we'd like to see your cards or crafty creations that feature that famous old gentleman in red (or whatever colour you fancy dressing him in!).

So a very traditional image on mine!  The topper is from Joanna Sheen's 'Enchanted Christmas' cd. The backing papers are from First Edition.  I've added some twine and a sleigh-shaped button that I had in my stash! The holly corner die is from Cheery Lynn with some red pearl 'berries'.

I hope you'll join us with your Santa creations at CraftyCatz, and do have a look at the wonderful variety of Santa images on all the DT's inspirational makes! 

Back soon,

Kim x 

So cute in pink & green!

Hello all and I hope that you had a good weekend - and that your Monday hasn't been too hard!  I had a busy weekend clearing up after we had a plasterer in last week - it's quite amazing how much cleaning up all the white plastery dust needs.  The path to the front door was lined with white footprints - looked like Santa's boot prints up to the step lol!  I'll just be glad when we get it all painted, hopefully in the next week or so - just as long as I can get my house into some sort of order before the chaos of Christmas hits!  I can't believe it's Christmas a month today, the last few months seem to have vanished in a flash.....

Anyway, just wanted to share (yet another!) Christmas card with you - this one using the gorgeous 'Holly' from Wee Stamps

Isn't she cute?  I've coloured her with a mix of copics and Graph-it pens, with some glossy accents and glamour dust for Christmassy sparkle!

The backing papers are from LOTV, with some added stitching, lace & ribbon from stash. I also found the cute little tree charm in my box.  The tag has a recipe stamp on it - also from LOTV. 

The sentiment stamp is from Whimsy. 

Hope you like it!

Back soon,

Kim  x

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

Glitter n Sparkle - show us some snow

Stamping Sensations - Christmas

Brown Sugar - anything goes

Simply Create Too - snow

Charisma Cardz - Christmas

In the Pink - stitching

Crafting for all seasons - stitching

Tags and Bags!

Hello all and I hope that you've had a good week?  Yippee - it's Friday!  But as we've had a plasterer in for the last few days doing our hall, stairs and landing, I can imagine that most of my weekend is going to be spent in the exciting activity of cleaning up and trying to put my house back together a bit before we start decorating it in another week or so.... What joy.....!

A very warm welcome to my two new followers - I'm delighted that you would like to follow my crafting exploits, but do be prepared for a fair amount of waffling too!

As it's Friday it's time for a new challenge over at CraftyCatz - and this week our lovely Jac has challenged us with 'Bags and Tags'!  But don't panic, the key part is the tag so we would love to see your tag creations.
I've used a sentiment from one of our sponsors this week 'DigiStamps 4 Joy' and made a gift bag from an envelope and, of course, added the tag!

There is a tutorial (which was on my blog not long ago)  for how I make these little gift bags from envelopes HERE 

I've added some DooHickey doiley flowers with pearly centres, with dew drops and buttons from stash. The sheer ribbon is from Joanna Sheen. The sentiment on the tag is from LOTV. 

Do have a look at the great creations from the DT for inspiration - they've made some fantastic things! And then join us at CraftyCatz with your tag creations.

Back soon,

Kim x 

Yet another Christmas card.....

Hello all and I hope that your week is going well?  Definitely on the chilly side in our little corner of north west UK - a good thick coating of ice over everything this morning!  Winter is obviously on it's way!

I'm starting to feel that maybe I should apologise - yet another Christmas card to share with you!  It's just that once I get into the Christmas card making mood it's probably better that I just carry on lol!  We have quite a few that we need for family, friends, etc., although I'll need to buy some as well - don't think I'll manage to make all the ones we need!

Anyway, this one was made using the sweet 'Star of Bethlehem' from Crissy's Digis at Whimsy

I've coloured the image with copics and promarkers with some chalks in the background.

I have to confess that I can't remember where the backing paper was from - apologies. I used a Spellbinders 'edgeabilities' and used the 'waste' on the other edge. The flowers are from WOC with some Cosmic Shimmer spray on the large rose and ribbon from stash. 

The snowflakes are from an 'All Occasions' die with some pearl drop centres. The star is using a Joanna Sheen die and the sentiment is also from Whimsy.

Hope you like it! 

Back soon,

Kim x 

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

CraftySentiments - Christmas

Wild Orchid challenge - snowflakes

CraftyBloggersNetwork - Christmas

Waiting for Christmas!

Hello all and I hope you've had a good weekend? The usual sort of weekend here, comings and goings, laundry (yuck!), cooking and general housekeeping! Tilly the Dog was feeling a bit unwell yesterday, obviously had tummy aches and kept pacing around the house - she must have walked miles by teatime lol!  But thankfully she had a good night's sleep and seems back to her normal cheeky self today. Considering the fact that she acts like a vacuum cleaner sometimes and has a very nasty habit of picking up and eating all sorts of nasty bits and pieces, it's not surprising that she gets the occasional tummy ache!  I sometimes wonder why I faff about buying all this holistic, high quality food if she's just going to hoover up rubbish!

Anyway, on the theme of animals I thought I'd share this card with you today

Apologies for the poor lighting on this one - now that the days are very short I must get myself organised and get photos done in the morning! 

The sweet image is from LOTV and I've coloured it with copics and promarkers, with a little added glamour dust! 

The papers are from LOTV, with some kraft card and coredinations card that's sanded back a little. The gingham ribbon is from Joanna Sheen and the gold baubles and stocking charm are from stash.  I've added some red dewdrops too, with some pompom trim and hessian ribbon. 

Hope you like it! 

Before I go I thought I'd share a quick pic of our Grumpy Poppy with you - she's "chillin' out" on the sofa next to me as I write this and my daughter's just taken this pic of her! 

My pets are so badly treated and live such a deprived life..... NOT! Lol!  

Have a good week! 

Back soon,

Kim x 

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

CraftyHazelnutsChristmas - indoors

LittleClaires - Christmas

A&T Emerald Fairies - ribbon and bling

Designed to Colour - Christmas

Sparkles Monthly Challenge - animals

Don't be square!

Hello all and I hope that you've had a good week? We've had a pretty good one, albeit a busy one!  But looking forward to a quiet evening as all offspring are out and sleeping over at friends so it means that hubby and I can have a relaxing evening to ourselves (although not forgetting an attention seeking dog and an equally demanding cat).

I must apologise to my DT team mates at CraftyCatz for being so late in sharing my creation for the fabulous new challenge starting today!  I usually schedule a post in - but my poor addled brain forgot last night!  Oops!  Anyway, our lovely Christine has challenged us to create anything - but not a square!  I've made a very long thin DL shape card

I've used a lovely sentiment from Whimsy for the main focus, the paper is from First Edition. I've added some red ribbon from stash - as is the sweet wooden rocking horse (can't remember where I got that from!), with a large fabric covered brad from K&Co. I've added a couple of die cut poinsettias using Marianne dies.

So quite a simple one from me, but I love the sentiment!

So do pop over to CraftyCatz and see the fabulous DT inspiration - they have made some fantastic creations this week! 

Back soon 

Kim x 

Clean and simple?

Hello all and a quick one from me - it seems to have been a busy couple of days (yet again!).  Tilly the Dog is pleased to report that it appears that the fireworks have finished - at last!  And busy as usual at work for me too!  I can't believe the change from my old job a few months ago when I was working on my own 99% of the time, in a very quiet office, to now being with a great team of people and this afternoon it seemed as though there was an attempt going on at one of the world records with how many teachers and staff can you fit into an office at one time lol!  But great fun, and at least it means the days pass very quickly!

Anyway, this card was made for a colleague who wanted the specific wording and a fairly clean and simple card, so I made this and she seemed very pleased with it so I hope it fitted the bill!  But, my goodness, I do find it quite a challenge to do CAS and have to really restrain myself from adding any extras!

It was a 4" square card (as requested). The gorgeous flower stamp is from Chocolate Baroque with the sentiment printed from the computer. I've coloured the image with copics

The blue card is pearly coredinations. 

Hope you like it. 

Back soon,

Kim x 

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

CraftySentiments - blues

CraftyBoots - remembrance

I'm dreaming of a pink Christmas....?

Hello all and I hope that you're having a good weekend?  A really frosty start to the day here - but with glorious sunshine, so I'm not complaining!  I must admit to getting a bit fed up with the fireworks now - more on Friday night and then again last night. Tilly the Dog is so not impressed and paces all round the house, panting and looking bewildered (mind you, she looks quite confused a lot of the time really!). And to top it all we had a very loud thunderstorm in the early hours of Saturday so I had to come and sit downstairs with a book to keep her company until it passed (she was shaking like a leaf, bless).  Anyway, she's a happy furry pudding again this morning and waiting patiently in the kitchen with her dad while he makes his toast (which they always share!).

Another Christmas card from me today to share with you. I usually tend to use the more traditional Christmas colours on cards, but thought I'd go for a girly pink on this one!

I've used one of my favourite Christmas stamps from LOTV and I've coloured the image with copics and added (lots!) of glamour dust! 

The backing papers are from First Edition and LOTV.  I've added some lace and a snowflake charm from stash, and the sentiment is from LOTV.  Even the flowers from WOC didn't escape the glamour dust treatment!

I also added the 'lovely fence' die cut from DooHickey.

Hope you like the girly pink! 

Enjoy your Sunday - whatever you have planned.

Back soon,

Kim x 

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

2 Sisters challenge - Christmas sparkle

CraftyCalendar - all things Christmas

Sweet Stampin - Christmas is coming

Brown Sugar - anything goes

Totally Papercrafts - use glitter

CRAFT - Christmas

Crafty Little Fairies - Christmas

Lili of the Valley challenge - pink & white

Photo Inspiration!

Hello all and a scheduled post from me (so hoping that Mr Blogger plays nicely!) - and time for a new challenge over at CraftyCatz!  Our lovely Linda has given us a photo for inspiration - so we'd love to see how it inspires you!

Our sponsor for this week is the fabulous Saturated Canary - with 2 digis for the winner!  I've used 'Springtime' for my card today (so NOT a Christmas card lol!)

I've coloured the image with copics and promarkers

The backing paper is from First Edition and then I've added lots of flowers die cut with Spellbinders 'blossoms' with buttons from stash!  The sentiment stamp and die is from Whimsy.  So lots of bright colours from me - hope you like it!  

So do pop over to see the fantastic inspiration from the Design Team and then join us at CraftyCatz with your creation! 

Back soon,

Kim x 

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

Crafting By Designs - anything goes

Divas By Design - use a digi

Inky Impressions - dies/punches

C is for Challenge - lots of buttons

Holly Wishes for Christmas!

Hello all and I hope that your week has started well?  It's Bonfire Night here in the UK - so currently trying to distract a wimp of a dog with toys and treats so she doesn't stress too much about all the noises from the fireworks!  Hey ho.

But in between all the whizzes and bangs, I thought I'd share another Christmas card with you

I've used the fabulous Winter Fairy Talva from that oh so talented pencil of Mo Manning! I've coloured the image with copics and added lots of glamour dust! 

The backing papers are from LOTV, as is the sentiment. The holly leaves are using Joanna Sheen's signature dies. The silver bell and berries are from stash and the sheer red ribbon is from Joanna Sheen. 

Hope you like it! 

Back soon, 

Kim x 

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

Mo's Digital Challenge - fantasy

Papertake Weekly - anything goes

Card Mania - anything goes

Craft Dee Bowz - anything goes with a handmade bow

CraftyBloggersNetwork - Christmas

Created with Love - Christmas reds and greens

Food for Thought!

Hello all and I hope that your weekend has been going well. Thank you for all your lovely comments on my cards recently - they mean so much!  Have you had your fireworks yet? There was a big display about a mile or so away from us last night and Tilly the Dog coped pretty well with all the noises. She's not keen, but doesn't completely panic - and we usually have lots of toys, etc., at the ready to distract her attention. Grumpy Poppy just sat on the sofa with us - and ignored it all! Mind you, the weather probably helped dull the noise a bit as it was so windy and rainy!  I felt sorry for all those who were out watching fireworks, but secretly relieved on behalf of all the animals who really don't enjoy the fireworks!

Anyway, it's time for a new challenge over at Joanna Sheen and this one is 'Food for Thought' so we want to see lovely food on your creations! And remember, to be in with a chance of winning the £15 voucher for Joanna Sheen, you will need to use a Joanna Sheen product on your crafty creation.

Quite a simple one from me this time!  I've used one of the gorgeous decoupage sheets with those cute House Mouse designs on - and they're obviously enjoying their baking!  I've added an embossed panel, roses from WOC, a Poppystamps 'meadow leaf' die cut and a Memory Box 'precious heart' die cut. The lace and buttons are from stash. 

So do join us at Joanna Sheen with your food-inspired creations! 

Back soon,

Kim x 

Hanging the Christmas Stockings

Hello all and I hope that you've all had a good week - and have something nice ahead for the weekend! A busy week here and I have said to the family that the next time I have the bright idea that somewhere in the house needs decorating that they should lock me in a cupboard until I've come to my senses. Mind you, I think they probably sometimes feel like locking me in a cupboard anyway....  Needless to say, the whole decorating business has rapidly lost it's excitement, it feels like the house is completely upside down (well, it mostly is!) and I just want things back to normal. Sigh.  My fab team-mates over at CraftyCatz have given me a 'day release' pass from today's challenge - but it's a fantastic one, 'Paper Piecing', so do pop over to the CraftyCatz challenge blog and see the gorgeous creations from the DT! Eventually I'll get chance to get back to my craft table!

Anyway, thankfully I had already got a Christmas card made to share with you! This is using a fabulous LOTV stamp 'Hanging the Stockings'.  Now, every year in this house there is usually a bit of muttering and grumbling because Tilly the Dog has a larger stocking than everyone else.  Tilly can't see what the problem is...!

I've coloured the image with copics and promarkers

The sentiment and backing papers are from LOTV, with some coredinations card. The lovely glittery burlap is from a local store selling Christmas decorations! I've added a Spellbinders 'poinsettia' with pearls. 

Hope you like it! 

Back soon,

Kim x 

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

CardCraftersCircle - cute cards

Creative Corner- can't touch this (add texture)

SisterActCardChallenge - anything goes

Crafting with Dragonflies - make your own flower embellishment

Inky Impressions - traditional Christmas

SimonSaysStamp - anything goes

WhimsyInspiration - anything goes