Christmas in different colours!

Hello all - how has your week been? I hope you have something good to look forward to this weekend. I'm busy getting things ready for a craft fair on Sunday - and then after that I'm hoping I can start to concentrate on getting my own Christmas cards ready!

As it's Friday it's time for a new challenge over at CraftyCatz and this week is everyone's favourite - 'Anything Goes' - hosted by our lovely "BlogLeader" Carol! And this week the team are also looking for a Guest DT member for 3 months from January - if you'd like to join the friendliest DT in Blogland, then just add 'GDT' after your name on your entry.

I've used a Wee Stamps image for my card - and some non-traditional Christmas colours lol!

I've coloured the image with copics and a little pencil, and added lots of glamour dust sparkle! 

The papers are from LOTV, as are the sentiment tags (I'm getting a bit predictable using these on my cards - note to self: try and use some other sentiments! lol!)

I've added some stitching, a spotty organza bow with berries from stash, and die cut holly leaves using a Joanna Sheen die.  The snowflakes were die cut with a Tattered Lace die.

Hope you like it. And I hope you'll join us over at CraftyCatz with your creation - and remember, "Anything Goes"! 

Back soon,

Kim x 

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

Creative Knockouts - all that glitters

Milk Coffee Challenge - lots of embellishments

Crafting by designs - fairies

Crafting for all seasons - tis the season

Digistamps 4 joy - Christmas

Clear it out - winter wishes + snowflake (stash items are ribbon & berries)

Christmas shopping....

Hello all and I hope that you've been having a good week? Thank you for all your good wishes and I'm definitely feeling a lot better (and a lot less grouchy!). A rather busy one here as I'm doing another craft fair on Sunday, so frantically busy crocheting the mini Christmas stockings as they were so popular last time, along with the crocheted baby blanket that was ordered! I'll share some pics soon. This is a fair in a nearby village and I'm hoping that the weather stays fine and there's a good turnout - even if I don't sell much, it's nice to chat to people and see other stalls.

But today is my last card as part of my November slot as a guest DT member at the C.R.A.F.T. challenge and I'd like to thank the DT there for having me as their guest! The theme for this week is 'Christmas Present' and there are prizes from Hope Jacare, Bugaboo, QKR and Scribbles designs. I've used a Bugaboo digi stamp for my card with the fabulous Stella looking as happy as ever!

I just love that attitude - I think I may look like this later as I'm heading out this evening to do some late night Christmas shopping - sigh!

I've coloured the image with copics and promarkers and added some sparkle

The backing papers are from LOTV (as are the sentiment tags - I think I'd be a bit lost without LOTV sentiment tags lol!). The die cut presents were using a Sizzlits die with some ribbon threaded through.

Hope you like it - even if you don't like Christmas shopping! 

Do pop over to C.R.A.F.T. and see the fab inspiration from the DT and then join in with your 'Christmas Presents' creations.

Back soon,

Kim x 

No crafting today (well, not with paper!)

Just a quick post from me today - and not a crafting one! I've been getting so fed up with myself not feeling too good (I'm not a very good nurse, but a specially rubbish patient!) that I've been growling a bit at everyone! One of my best friends rang me today and said "It's a lovely day, come for a walk with me and the dogs for an hour and we'll have a coffee" which was probably just what I needed. So I donned the fleece and boots and had a relaxing walk in our local park in the gorgeous autumn sunshine and we stopped for a yummy coffee in the little cafe there. And here's a pic of me (always a rare occasion!) with the beautiful Monty, my friend Sarah's fabulous Newfoundland - she was walking her 15 month old 'puppy' Merlin (who is nearly the same size and about 65kg!).

As you can see, he's a rather imposing size of dog - and attracts a good deal of attention from passers-by. In fact, when you're out with them it can all take on the feel of being a circus side-show, with a continual stream of people pointing and taking pics! I thought it was rather funny (although unplanned!) that we had a 'visitor attraction' sign just behind us lol! We had just had a group of about 6 people all stroking the dogs, asking questions, etc.! But it was so nice to have a dog with me to walk again and a dog-lead in my hand - I do miss Tilly the Dog so much! She used to love going out with Monty and could run straight underneath him lol!

So, feeling a bit more cheerful by the time I arrived home, I headed to the kitchen to do the other activity that relaxes me so much - baking! With some music on the radio to hum along to, I produced us some shortbread and cherry scones - which have been sampled by husband and son!

I hope you've managed to have a relaxing Sunday - although I really must get on with some card orders and crochet orders now!

Back soon,

Kim x 

A wintry theme

How's your week been? Hope you've had a good one, whatever you've been doing. Thank you for all your good wishes about the ear infection - and apologies for my moaning! I'm just taking the antibiotics as instructed and hoping that over the weekend it improves.

Anyway, as it's Friday it's time for a new challenge over at Crafty Catz and this week our lovely Dianne has given us the challenge of a "Winter Theme" - although in the UK our wintry weather at the moment isn't too bad, not like the severe snowstorms in part of the US!  Our sponsor at Crafty Catz this week is Sami Stamps and I've used one of their digi stamps 'Snowflake Feathers' for my card

I've coloured the image with promarkers, but I really must get a better range of lilac and purple colours - does anyone recommend any copic or Graphit ones? 

The papers and sentiment tag stamps are from LOTV. I've used textured silver card which I think gives a slightly softer effect than mirri card.  The snowflakes were die cut with a Tattered Lace die, with gems from stash and some pearl droplets. 

Hope you like it.

Do have a look at the gorgeous wintry creations from my fellow DT members over at CraftyCatz and then join in our Winter challenge.

Back soon,

Kim x 

An inspiration!

Hello all and I hope that you're having a good week? The usual sort of busy one here, but feeling a bit grotty at the moment as seem to have a rotten ear infection - AGAIN! So yet more antibiotics (which I hate taking but nothing else will get rid of it!). Deaf in one ear and limited in the other - and being subjected to the usual jokes at home from husband and son (the usual ones along the lines of "Pardon?" every time I say anything, or moving lips pretending to talk! Not funny at the moment!). Sigh.  So fingers crossed that it clears soon - I don't like feeling so unwell!

Anyway, less of my moaning.  It's time for a new challenge over at C.R.A.F.T. challenge where I've been joining them as a Guest DT for November.  There are prizes on offer from Spyders Other Corner, Flonzcraft and Lacy Sunshine stamps and I've used a Lacy Sunshine stamp called Tabbi Boo

I've coloured the image with copics and promarkers. 

The background paper is from K&Co and I've used a Poppystamps leaf die. The sentiment is from LOTV. 

There is an inspiration picture challenge this week and I used the colours and patterns as my inspiration.

Do pop over to the C.R.A.F.T. challenge and have a look at the great inspiration from the DT - and then join in with your crafty makes! 

Back soon,

Kim x 

A craft fair!

Hello all and I hope that you enjoyed your weekend - and managed to find some relaxation time too! A busy weekend here (yet again!) as I did a craft fair with my friend yesterday in the wonderful surroundings of the Winter Gardens in Morecambe, a glorious old theatre that is currently undergoing restoration work. It was sadly closed for many years and deteriorated badly, but has had a dedicated team trying to raise funds to restore it. Although it is still a Work In Progress, it's a beautiful old traditional theatre inside, with stained glass windows, and so much atmosphere. I haven't been inside the building since I was about 10 years old (a long time ago lol!) so it was a treat to see how it is.

But it was quite busy, with lots of stalls selling all sorts of different crafts and creations. I had a good chat with lots of nice people, and sold quite a few of the little crocheted stockings amongst other things! A couple of other crochet things I took along with me for the stall were some crochet brooches

and garlands with little crocheted stars on!

And a few photos of the stall (and one of me and my friend Melanie - I'm the one on the right trying to avoid having a photo taken!)

And time now to get on with some orders for crocheted goodies and a baby blanket! At least it all keeps me busy and out of mischief lol. 

Thanks for looking, 

Kim x 

Christmas is coming...

Sorry - but it's starting to get unavoidable now. Once the Christmas ads have started to appear (loving Monty the penguin on the John Lewis one by the way!), and the glitter comes out in the craft room! And I just saw on one of those signs on Facebook that Christmas is 41 days away.....  It's getting nearer!

So, with the Christmas theme in mind, the new challenge over at CraftyCatz this week is (you've guessed it!) "Christmas is Coming" - hosted by our lovely Nina.  Our sponsor this week is Rick St Dennis and I've used a digi from them 'Winter Friends'

I've coloured the image with promarkers and added some glitter! 

The papers are from LOTV and I've used a Joanna Sheen signature die for the holly leaves. The berries and ribbon are from stash.

Do pop over to see the fabulous DT makes at Crafty Catz - and then join us with your festive creations.

Back soon,

Kim x

A new Christmas challenge

Hello all and it's time for a new challenge over at C.R.A.F.T. challenge where I'm a Guest DT member for November! This week the challenge is a nice easy seasonal one - Christmas! There are four sponsor prizes this week from Stitchy Bear, Sweet & Sassy, the Stamping chef and Yours & Mine Papercraft!

I've used a Sweet n Sassy image for my card

The papers are from Docrafts and LOTV, with lots of distress inks

I've coloured the image with copic, promarkers and pencil. The sentiment is from Chocolate Baroque.

So do pop over to C.R.A.F.T.http://www.trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/ and have a look at the fab inspiration from the DT and then join in with your Christmassy crafting!

Back soon,

Kim x 

A card or a gift? Or both?

Hello all and I hope that you've been having a good week? It's been a busy one here, friends visiting, getting stuff ready for a craft fair on Sunday, together with all the usual work and home stuff too! At least I haven't got time to be bored lol!  But I feel very guilty about my fellow bloggers - because I am failing miserably at the moment with visiting everyone's blogs, and I do miss seeing what everyone has been up to! So I will try to make an effort over the next few days to have a nosey round Blogland and get back up to date with crafty goodies.

Just a quick make to share with you today, as I thought I'd make a few of these for the craft fair. I think it's probably a cross between a card and a little gift really

I've used Docrafts christmas papers, with plenty of distress ink! The poinsettia is a Spellbinder die and a Tonic star punch along the edge. The lettering is using AllOccasions dies. 

There is a little tutorial for how to make these that I posted on my blog a while ago - link is HERE if you fancy trying one too! 

And to add to a busy week, we also had an extra visitor at teatime the other day - 

This little chap was (literally) on the front door step when I got home from work on Monday! So I brought him in, and after he'd had a warm in the cat basket and a meal of chicken cat food we took him to the hoggy rescue!  Apparently he's doing well, a little hoggy about 8 weeks old - so cute!

Anyway, I'll be back soon,

Kim x 

A red, red rose...

Hurray, it's Friday! Looking forward to this weekend, it's been a busy week! And a friend is coming tomorrow to stay with us overnight, so chance for a good catch-up!

And as it's Friday it's time for a new challenge over at CraftyCatz! Thank you for all the wonderful entries last week - you certainly love your 'Anything Goes' challenge lol! This week our lovely Naomi with the challenge of 'Ribbon and Lace' and we have a great prize from our sponsor Bugaboo stamps. I've used a Bugaboo digi stamp for my creation this week - and decided to make an easel calendar

I've coloured the image with copics and pencil. The papers are from LOTV (with some added stitching!), the roses from WOC and the ribbon and lace from stash

I decided to go all dramatic with deep red roses! Hope you like it.

Do go and see all the fantastic inspiration from the Crafty Catz DT and then join us with your creations.

Back soon,

Kim x 

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

Crafts 4 Eternity - ribbon and lace

Fairytale challenge - calendar

The Stamping Boutique - 3 embellishments (roses, lace, ribbon)

CRAFT Challenge!

Good morning! I hope that your week has been going well so far? And that you're keeping warm - it definitely went a bit chilly last night!

A few weeks ago I was thrilled that one of my cards won a challenge over at C.R.A.F.T. Challenge and then was picked as a 'Star Card of the Month'. And just to add to the thrill, I was delighted to be asked to join them as a Guest Design Team member for November!  (A big thank you to the talented Design Team there for inviting me!). So today is my first card for their November challenges, and the theme is "Winter" - definitely topical after last night's drop in temperature lol!

There are 4 prizes on offer for this challenge, from Pink Gem, Sassy Studio, Cutting Cafe and Digital Delights - so do join in with a chance of winning one of these great prizes.

I've used a Pink Gem design for my card - 'Chilly with Robins'

I've coloured the image with copics - and some added Glamour Dust (it seems compulsory really on 'frosty' designs lol!)

The backing papers and sentiment tags are from LOTV, and the ribbons, charm and snowflake are from stash.

Hope you like it.

So do pop over to the C.R.A.F.T. Challenge and have a look at the fantastic inspiration from the DT - and then join in with your wintery themed creations.

Back soon,

Kim x

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

Fab n Funky - 3 embellishments

Clear it out - winter (metal charm - stash item)

CraftySentiments - make it sparkle

A bit of Christmas Crochet!

Hello all and I hope that you are enjoying your weekend? It's been a quiet one for hubby and I - no offspring in the house! And for the first time in many, many years we had no kids or dogs to supervise on Halloween - so we disappeared and went out for a meal lol! Bliss!

Anyway, I mentioned a little while ago that I'd arranged to do a Christmas gift and craft fair soon and I'm sharing a stall with a friend of mine who makes wonderful goodies like upcycled bags (made from jeans, etc.) and adorable keepsake bears and bunnies (made from favourite baby-gros or outfits).  If you'd like to see her creations I've put a link to her facebook page on my fb page.

The fair organiser had said that there were about 60 stalls and about 6 were card sellers, so I decided to look at other bits and pieces. The fair is 2 weeks away, so I'm trying to make lots of little goodies that would be good as stocking fillers or little gifts - both crocheted ones, and papercraft ones. So I'll gradually share them and see what you think.

These are mini crocheted Christmas stockings, which I thought I'd fill with chocolate and sweeties

We thought we'd "market" the icy blue ones as "Frozen" ones lol! (From the mega-popular Disney film if you didn't know!)

I think they're quite cute. I was going to make a few to give as little extra gifts! 

I've also been making a few crocheted 'mug cosies'

- complete with mug of course!  What do you think?

Mind you, the easiest part of all this is the ideas and making, then I've got to come to the really difficult part - deciding how much to charge for them lol!  I'm rubbish at pricing things, even when I make cards to sell.  Any suggestions are welcome! I don't want to charge too much - but I can't 'give' them away either. Sigh.

Anyway, thank you for looking - and thank you for all the lovely supportive comments you always leave on my efforts. They really mean such a lot.

Back soon,

Kim x