Busy Cardmaking - A special anniversary and a new arrival!

Alongside all the crocheting, learning felting, gardening and other activities, there has still been some cardmaking going on!  A little while ago, I made a cute baby card using one of the delightful digi stamps from LOTV 

I've coloured the image with copics. The sentiment stamp is also from LOTV. I've used a card shape die (which I think is from Tattered Lace!), together with some of my remaining stash of LOTV papers.

Baby cards are always really sweet to make.

And last week, it was the Silver Wedding Anniversary of two of our good friends & very special people - and I was asked by Mrs T if I would make a card for her husband! She sent me a couple of photos from their wedding and so I made a large card (A4 size), with a sort of 'scrapbook page' layout, adding various sentiments and flowers (to reflect the bouquet). 

The cute sentiment ticket stamps and dies are from Whimsy and a couple of LOTV stamps added in.  The dies for the leaves and photo 'frames' are from Hunkydory, as is the card background.

I think they liked it! 

Anyway, I'm heading back to the craft room soon to try a bit more felting.... I'm determined to get the hang of it! 

Back soon,

Kim x 

 

A crafty weekend?

Hello all, and I hope that you've had a good week - and that your weekend has started well?  Here in the UK it's our May Bank Holiday weekend, with our extra day's holiday on Monday.  In my mind, this was earmarked as 'Operation Garden' weekend, and in line with that theme - it has rained nearly all day..... Sigh.  And to add insult to injury, it's also on the chilly side so the heating is back on.  Double Sigh....  But my hubby has reassured me that, whatever the weather, we will get on with some outside jobs tomorrow and Monday (so unless the weather cheers up considerably tomorrow, there will be the delightful vision of me in the garden in the rain - think "drowned rat").  The forecast for Monday is a bit brighter, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

However, due to the garden plans getting rained off today, I spent some time playing with my stamps and alcohol pens - and I'll share the results with you soon!  I also found a card that I hadn't shared with you yet

I used a gorgeous stamp from LOTV, coloured with copics and promarkers

The papers and sentiment are also from LOTV, and the sentiment ticket and die are from Whimsy.  I used quite a simple layout (it was a card for a man so I held back a bit on the flowers and bling lol!).

I also managed to finish my crochet kindle cover - what do you think?

I made up a pattern for this (like the mobile phone case in my earlier post HERE) in an amigurumi style, i.e. a continuous spiral, so no seams.  I love my kindle - even though I thought I could never part with my beloved books!  And I was quite pleased with how the cover turned out so I've made one for me and one for my new ETSY shop!  I'm just hoping someone else sees it on there, likes it - and buys it lol! 

I hope that you enjoy the rest of your weekend, whatever you have planned - and I'm hoping I can get on with a bit of gardening!  (I'd better get the wellies and waterproofs out!).

Back soon,

Kim x 

Yet more Christmas cards!

Good morning! Just a quick post from me today before I head off to work.  I suppose it's the same for most of us, particularly at this time of year, but there seems to be an endless list of things to do and not enough hours in the day to fit them all in!  So this was a quick card I put together, a digi 'sentiment', no colouring - but I was quite pleased with how it turned out so I can see a few more of these being made to finish off the number of 'handmade' cards I need for Christmas (although I confess that I also buy some - unless I started making them in January I don't think I'd manage to make enough!)

I've used a Whimsy digi 'Christmas Sentiment', edged with a little distress ink. The holly paper is from First Edition, with some layered coredinations card punched with a Tonic border punch. I've added a Marianne ivy die cut edged with ink, some gingham ribbon and roses from Wild Orchid. 

and the inside decorated to match. 

Hope you like it!

Well, it's "Hey ho, hey ho, it's off to work I go"!

Back soon, Kim x 

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

Challenges 4 everybody - anything goes

RobynsFetish - Christmas cards

Whimsy Digis - Release Day 2

I know, it's me again! I'll have to go and lie down in a dark room after doing 3 postings in one day! But this is an exciting one for me - my first DT posting for Whimsy Digital Stamps!  And today is day 2 of the new releases

 Hello and welcome to Day 2 of our November Digital Stamp Release Showcase! 

On Thursday (1st November) Whimsy Stamps released this month's new digital designs from

Moon Cookie Gallery

Stamp Art Designs by Kathryn

Dana's Digi's

Lia Stampz

Crissy’s Digis

From then until 4th November the Whimsy Digital DT and Special Guests are showcasing these fabulous new goodies with a daily mini blog hop and I am part of today’s hop! Each mini blog hop has a new release prize hidden somewhere along the way and you have 24hrs to enter each prize draw. To be entered into today's mini blog hop prize draw, be sure to leave a comment on ALL of the DT's posts listed below by 12.00PM EST tomorrow. All winners will be announced on the Whimsy blog on 5th November

 To take a peek at today's fabulous new release creations, please click on the links below...

Remember that the entire new release is available to buy right now from the Whimsy Stamps store along with all your Whimsy favourites. Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to pop back to the Whimsy blog tomorrow for more new release creations! 

Day 2

Tammy Ortiz 

Jackie Randolph 

Charlene Brown 

Kelly Mannix 

Michelle Oatman

Tammy Davison 

Kim Taylor (me!)

Jackie Smith 

Tracie 

Christine Garner 

Jan Ltc 

Suzi Mckenzie

Nicole Gent 

Carly Wilson

I've used a Crissy's Digi 'Nativity' for my card today - such a gorgeous image! I've coloured it with promarkers and pencils. The papers are from Dovecraft, with added twine and ribbon from stash. The sentiment on the tag is from the fantastic collection from Raindrop Echo at Whimsy - there are some lovely Christmas sentiment ones. And the added bells really do tinkle lol! 

I'll be back tomorrow with another of the new releases! 

Kim x 

Some exciting news....

Hello to all in Blogland and Sunday seems to have come around again pretty quickly! I'm starting the decorating process today :(   - but needs must and my lounge is in dire need of decorating! I don't mind the decorating bit, it's all the upheaval, mess, clearing out that I dread. Sigh.
But anyway, before I start all that, I just wanted to share some news with you.  I was thrilled (bit of an understatement!) to be asked to join the Digital Design Team at Whimsy!  Of course I had to think long and hard about it (for about 2 seconds) and then said I would love to! I know that it's a big undertaking as Whimsy do a monthly release of new digi stamps, etc., and a challenge blog 'WhimsyInspires', but I just couldn't resist the chance to work with the fabulous artwork that they produce! There's now a big DT with designers from all over the globe and lots of exciting new releases in the pipeline. It's a much bigger (and more complex!) set up than I'm used to, and I'm still a relatively new blogger so I hope they'll be gentle with me! But I hope you'll enjoy seeing some of the fantastic Whimsy digis appearing in my little corner of Blogland!

So I've made a Christmas hanger to share with you today using a Whimsy digi - a sentiment from RaindropEcho 'Christmas Sentiments'

I've coloured the stamp with promarkers and pencils

The backing papers are from First Edition, with some distress inks and stitching on the edges. The sentiment is matted onto a Spellbinders 'floral oval'.  The roses are from Wild Orchid and the small green flowers from Joanna Sheen, as is the sheer green ribbon. The ivy is from a Marianne die. 

and the adorable little wooden rocking horse is from a challenge blog prize I was lucky enough to win from CraftyEmblies! Isn't it gorgeous! 

Thanks for letting me share my exciting news with you! And a big welcome to my new followers - although I hope all the waffling that goes on on this blog doesn't frighten you off too much! 

Back soon, 

Kim x 

I'm entering this Christmas Hanger in the following challenges:-

Allsorts - in stitches

Brown Sugar - anything goes

Chocolate, Coffee & Cards - stitching

CraftyAnn's - Christmas

Fussy & Fancy - anything goes

QKR Stampede - sentiment as focal point

StampinfortheWeekend - anything goes

Autumn Showers

Good morning all and hope that your week has been going well? I can't believe it's Thursday already, I seem to have been busy and rushing round all week so far - but not quite sure what I've achieved...! I seem to have been doing a lot of ferrying about (Kim's Cabs!) and catering (Kim's Cafe open 24/7) and clearing up ready for decorating (Kim'sCleaningServices!) - all in between going to work of the paid variety! Talk about multi-tasking! So sorry if I've been behind on the commenting but will try to get around to everyone over the next day or so. And a big hello to my new followers - it's lovely of you to join me!

Anyway, on to today's card!

When I saw this little girl, all ready for the rain, in Mo's Digis I couldn't resist. I just thought she looked so sweet. That's the right attitude towards the wet weather - just get your raincoat and wellies on and go and jump in a few puddles! 

I've coloured her with promarkers and spectrum noir pens, and the cloudy sky was done with chalks. 

The backing papers are from First Edition 'Summer Breeze'. I've added some flowers made with a Marianne die, with pearl centres and a border made with Tonic border punch. The sentiments are from my invaluable (and very well used!) Whimsy ticket stamps with ticket die. 

Hope you like it! 

Back tomorrow with some new challenges from CraftyCatz and Totally Papercrafts

Kim x 

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

Divas By Design - orange

InkyImpressions - fall or halloween

A&T Emerald Fairies Challenge - anything goes

Jacksons Digital Expressions - brown/teal/orange

CraftyBloggersNetwork - anything goes

DigiMakeoverChallenge - weather

Good Friends

Back again with the new challenge at Totally Papercrafts! A good challenge this week chosen by our Cathy - make your own flowers!  So I've made a card with my favourite girly pastel colours

I've used a Sarah Kay stamp 'A Lollipop for Susan', coloured with promarkers and pencils

The backing papers are the NitWit ones from LOTV, with some added stitching. I've added some lace from stash and spotty ribbon from CraftersCompanion. The buckle, swirl and flowers were made with Marianne dies, with some added buttons from stash. The sentiment is a Whimsy one with matching ticket die! And the little flower charm is also from my stash. 

Sorry it's a bit heavy on the photos! 

So do pop over to Totally Papercrafts and join in this week. There are 2 sponsors this week - so that means 2 prizes! 

and 

Back soon, Kim x 

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

MyMumsCraftShop - tickets

Oldie but Goodie Challenge - inspired by a song (Sweets for my sweet - TheSearchers) (old item - stamp)

IncyWincyDesigns - anything goes

TammysScrapinCorner - friendship

Victorine Originals - lots of layers

Let's go fly a kite

Yes, it's me again! Because it's Friday it's also time for a new challenge over at Totally Papercrafts. We had some great entries last week and congratulations to the winner!
Our lovely Susan has chosen the challenge for this week - For a child.  So a nice easy challenge for everyone! We're sponsored this week by Meljen's Designs and the winner will receive 4 digis of their choice!
So, then the hard part! I had to decide what stamp I would use for a child. After much faffing I decided on this one!

Isn't he just the cutest? I love this little boy from Mo's Digital Pencil, he's so adorable! 

I've coloured him with promarkers, copics and pencils.

The yellow backing paper is from K&Co and the patterned green paper is from a FunkyHand cd, 'Wishes & Kisses'.  I hand-cut the bunting (note to self: must get a die to do this!) and it's 'strung' on twine. The sentiment stamp is from Whimsy, with the ticket die to match. I've distressed all the edges and then stitched for extra definition! So a fairly simple card but I was quite pleased with the overall effect. I just hope a child would like it too lol! 

So do pop over to Totally Papercrafts and have a look at the fantastic creations from the Design Team! 

Back soon,

Kim x 

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

Inky Impressions - for a child

Whimsy Inspiration - anything goes

Craft Room Challenge - childhood memories

Through the craft room door - anything goes

Stamp and Create - anything goes

Favourite Stamp

I'm back again - although I promise that this is a much shorter post!  As it's Friday that means time for a new challenge at Totally Papercrafts - and this week our lovely Cathy (KraftyKoolKat) has chosen the theme 'Favourite Stamp'.  We're sponsored this week by

so do pop over and join us this week!

Now, at first glance I thought "Oh, that's an easy one!" - but then when I sat down and looked at my stamps I felt quite tearful! How can I pick a favourite one? There are so many that I wanted to use!
So eventually I decided that I would use one of my earlier stamps that I do still love - and still stamps perfectly every time! -

This is Sarah Kay stamp 'First Kiss' - and they are just so cute! 

I've coloured them with promarkers and pencils

The backing papers are from K&Co and a magazine freebie!  I've used my Tonic border punch and some lovely ribbon from my stash that I've had so long that I've forgotten where it came from!  The flowers are using a Marianne die, with a swirl. And then I've added a Whimsy sentiment stamp with ticket die. 

So quite a simple card from me - but I plead guilty to getting a bit rushed with ferrying limping offspring about yesterday (see earlier post!) but I was quite pleased with the image! 

Hope you like it too!  So do have a look through your favourite stamps and join us this week at Totally Papercrafts!

Back soon, Kim x 

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

Paper Pretties - punches

Paper Shelter - punches

Papertake Weekly - things that make you go awww!

Use it Tuesday - anything goes (use hoarded supplies, K&Co paper & ribbon)