Blue Poppy - and thinking of you

 Sunday - and my two weeks off work are drawing very rapidly to a close sadly. It's amazing how time off work seems to pass so much faster (like weekends - gone in a flash!). Thankfully, the weather hasn't been too bad, even if on the chilly side. Sunny days and blue skies have been so wonderful - and plenty of walks out with the Beastie Dog and lots of little gardening jobs done. We've even managed a few mugs of tea sat outside (albeit with a big jumper on!). 

I've got another card to share with you made with the Altenew 'Poppy Garden' stamp set. Just occasionally we need a 'Thinking of you' sort of card - and that is often easier to send (for many occasions) than sympathy cards or similar.

This one was coloured with copic pens in soft lavender shades and I was pleased with how it turned out.  The sentiment stamp is an old one from LOTV.

I decided that a few added pearls was all that it needed. 

Well, I'd better think about getting my stuff ready for tomorrow (sigh) - as I leave the house early (about 7.15am) there's not a lot of time (or mental alertness at that hour) to get things ready in the morning! 

Back soon,

Kim x 

Bright Red Poppies

 Well it's a beautiful sunny morning in our little corner of the world, but still on the chilly side! Roll on summer! I've been out for a quick check round the garden - accompanied by the Beastie Dog of course, who was trying to hoover up any stray bird food! I swear that one day she'll start to grow feathers.

I've been trying to sort personal admin a bit this morning - always a nightmare. I'm not sure why I've got endless patience with any craft or crochet project, but trying to deal with companies/organisations, endless passwords, etc., can drive me potty.  And the irony is that I work as an administrator - but personal and bank admin is a different beast completely! 

Anyway, I'm hoping for a little bit of therapeutic crafting time over the next day or so. 

I'm not sure how it happened (haha!) but the beautiful 'Poppy Garden' stamp set from Altenew sort of fell into my online shopping basket. Well, there's got to be some benefits from working, hasn't there?  I've been playing with watercolours and copics, trying different ways to colour these stunning flower stamps.

This one is coloured with copics and I think it works quite well. I'm not usually one for dramatic colours, but gorgeous red poppies are beautiful

And this was a work in progress with the watercolours, and softer pastel shades. I'm hoping to make this up into a card today

I'd better go and get some more jobs done before I escape to my craft room for a while. I can't believe that my Easter break from school is nearly over and we're back on Monday - how come holiday periods and weekends always speed by so much faster than work days?

Back soon,

Kim x

Girlfriends!

 I hope that you've had chance to enjoy a little crafty time over this Bank Holiday weekend. We've had beautiful blue skies today, but it was SO chilly out there! I had a couple of brief forays into the garden to top up the bird feeders, water things in the greenhouse and deadhead some daffodils - and then stayed in the warm to do a little bit of crafting (before the cooking started!).

I love this stamp from Art Impressions, one of the 'Girlfriends' range of images. This is one I've had for ages - beach babes. Don't they look like they're having a great time? One of my friends and I have said that when we can, we're going to have a very long overdue holiday together (without husbands!). 

One of the most handy things I treated myself too a couple of months ago was a stamping press (a Vaessen one) - and I'm just wondering why I waited so long! It's great to use with larger stamps (like this one), as it's sometimes difficult to get a good 'first image' but impossible to stamp over again - unless you use a stamping press! They're also great for positioning multiple stamps. As I say, I wish I'd bought one earlier! 

Anyway, I've coloured this stamp with copics and promarkers

I love that sentiment stamp from Whimsy too - says it all really! 

And I just thought I'd share a pic of our table for the Easter weekend - complete with an Easter bunny! haha! Even though we didn't have any of the offspring at home over Easter sadly (they all live away and current restrictions make things a bit difficult!), I still like to celebrate different seasons - even if it's just for husband, dog and me! 

Enjoy some crafting time and let's hope that some warmer spring-like weather comes along soon! 

Back soon, 

Kim x 

A Meadow Blanket for Spring!

 It's beautiful sunshine here again today - thank goodness - but definitely on the chilly side. But from inside looking out, it's fab - haha! 

I wanted to make a blanket for a special friend for a 'big' birthday, and decided to join in with the Meadow CAL from Attic24, starting in January this year. Yesterday, we were finally able to meet up (albeit outside for a joint walk & alfresco lunch with our dogs and partners) and swap long overdue Christmas pressies, and I could also gift her the finished blanket! 

Made with Stylecraft SSDK, it's crocheted in a type of 'twisted treble' stitch, that makes for a warm and snuggly blanket with a lovely soft drape

Unfortunately it's not the time of year for a photogenic 'meadow' shot, so I tried a 'garden' photo with the daffodils instead! 

I love the colour shades as they move through the blanket from the flowery/grasses colours, to the soft summer skies shades

But of course, as is always the case in this house, when I try to take any sort of 'arty' photo (in the garden or the house', a certain furry intruder likes to photobomb...

Anyway, please excuse the amount of photos, but I hope you like it! Thankfully, my friend Liz, was delighted with it (which is the main thing) and it will hopefully help to provide some nice 'snuggle down' moments with a mug of tea and a good book in the future! 

I hope you enjoy your Easter/Bank Holiday weekend, however you are spending it. After the first 'social' day in a long while yesterday (with the dog walk, etc.), it's just husband and I - and Beastie Dog - for a relaxing weekend! 

Back soon,

Kim x