Spring birds!

Good morning all and hope that you had a good weekend?  The sun is actually shining here, although it's still a bit on the cool side, but it's amazing how much better we feel with some bright sky. I actually managed to get out in the garden for a while yesterday and start tidying my greenhouse a bit and clearing up rubbish outside - and keeping a beady eye on the dog!  It's a wonder anything grows in my garden at all by the time Tilly the Dog has ambled across it with her big fat feet!  There are quite a few crocuses out and miniature daffodils and they do struggle sometimes when a 24kg pudding of a dog wanders over them. And on Saturday she was in the bad books for keep going out and rooting about under the bird table (as if she needs to eat sunflower seeds??) and then coming into the house and settling onto the sofa - complete with big muddy paws.  I came to the conclusion a while ago that a combination of kids and pets means that I can never have a tidy, pretty home & garden. Sigh. But then again, I suppose you have to think what your priorities are - and mine are definitely my family rather than having a show home! (But I can dream, lol!)

Anyway, less Monday morning waffle. I just thought I'd share this card with you that I made for my lovely brother-in-law (a keen birdwatcher!) for his birthday over the weekend

I came across the idea for this card design on the fabulous Tracy MacDonald's blog 'I wanna build a memory'. She makes the most fantastic cards and creations and has some tutorials for different card designs, etc.  So I thought I'd try this one with this gorgeous bird image from the JaneNetleyMayhew cd from Joanna Sheen and the patterned backing paper is also from the cd. 

I added some stitching and die cut leaves (Spellbinders 'Fall Foliage') with some twine, the edges punched with MS border punch and lots of coredinations card for layering up - and everything edged with distress inks. 

The sentiment inside is from Whimsy digi and the die cut leaves are Poppystamps 'meadow leaf'. 

And it was nice to try a different design of card - I'll be using this one again!  And I think the recipient will like it too - which is always the main objective! 

Back soon, 

Kim x 

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

JoannaSheenChallenge - layer it up

Here come the boys - no stamps

Challenges4Everybody - anything goes

Catch the bug - anything goes

DL.ART Challenge - birds

A Very Special Birthday!

Hello all and hope that your weekend is going well! Thankfully it's dry and quite bright here so that makes me feel like getting a few jobs done (unfortunately, despite my best efforts, there's still h****work and the dreaded laundry to do!) but before I get on with that I just wanted to share this with you.

I'd lost heart in stamping a bit about 18 months or so ago, then I made two wonderful discoveries that just kickstarted my crafting again, inspired a passion for stamping and ultimately led to me starting this blog nearly a year ago. Those discoveries were promarker pens and Lily of the Valley stamps!  I know, I know, I was a bit behind the times really (story of my life!) - but since then my collection of pens and LOTV stamps (and now scrummy papers!) has grown and grown! Oops!  So although it's nearly my blog's birthday - today Lili of the Valley are celebrating their own 9th Birthday!  And they had a challenge to make a birthday card for them.  Now I know I'm a bit late (again!) with this and the challenge closes later today, but I've been so busy. But I really couldn't let the chance to make them a birthday card pass by - and thank them for inspiring a love of stamping and colouring!

Now this is definitely a LOTV card! I've used the Patchwork Present stamp, coloured with promarkers and flexmarkers, and LOTV sentiment stamps. The backing papers are from the Nitwit pads at LOTV too! 

I've added some stitching and coredinations card for matting and layering. The rose is from WOC (sprayed with Cosmic Shimmer) and the die cuts are Marianne leaf and Doo Hickey doily flower (just love this new purchase - prepare to get fed up of seeing it as I've a feeling it's going to be appearing fairly often lol!).  The lace, bling and pearly pins are from stash.  And I've even decorated the inside to match! 

So do hope you like it - and do pop over to the LOTV website and help them celebrate their birthday! 

Back soon, 

Kim x 

I'm entering this into the LOTV Birthday Card Challenge

Whimsy New Releases!

Hello again and it's time for new releases from Whimsy Digital and there are some fabulous new designs from the talented digital artists at Whimsy!  

And it's also welcome to the March digital release blog hop!!!!

We have lots of new images to share with you today created by

Marika Collins Collection

Moon Cookie Gallery

Stamp Art Design

Lia Stampz

Crissy’s Digis

All Whimsy Stamps digital images are 300dpi for high print quality.You can re-size, flip, or rotate to fit your own project

  To find all of today's new releases please visit the Whimsy Stamps Store

Don't forget to leave comments along the way as there will be 2 mystery DT Members who will each be choosing a winner from the comments left on their hop posts!

These winners will each win a Whimsy digital image of their choice.

The Grand Prize winner of the hop will be chosen from the very last stop, which is

Kelly's Blog

 This winner will receive 5 digital stamps of their choice from the

 Whimsy Stamps Store

The hop will run for 1 week and end on Friday 8th March at 12 Noon EST, when the lucky winners will be announced right here.

Below is a complete list of the hop in case you get lost along the way

Charlene

Sarah

TammyO

Kim (me!)

Lisa

Debbie

Judith

Kelly

For my creation today I've used one of the gorgeous new designs from LiaStampz called Easter Eggs - and decided to make an Easter gift basket with it! 

I've coloured the image with promarkers and chalks. The sentiment is also from Whimsy Digital. The basket was made with coredinations card, spotty ribbon from Joanna Sheen and some Tonic punched flowers.

So do join in the Blog Hop - and check out the fabulous spring designs from Whimsy! 

Back soon, 

Kim x 

Love is in the Air!

Hi, I'm back again! Hope that your Friday is starting well - and it's nearly the weekend which must be a good thing!
It's time for a new challenge over at Totally Papercrafts - and this week Team A have been given the theme of 'Love is in the Air' by our lovely Suzette!  Our sponsors for this challenge are the Ribbon Girl and Doodle Garden
      

For my card I've used one of the absolutely gorgeous new digi stamps from Polkadoodles 'Time for Tea' range - this one is called 'Heart Balloon'

I've used a MS round the page punch. The backing papers are from Nitwit at LOTV and the sentiment stamp is from LOTV too. The lace, pearls and pin are from stash. I've coloured the image with promarkers and added some Glossy Accents to the balloon

Isn't she sweet?! 

So do get into the romantic mood for this challenge and then join us at Totally Papercrafts - and don't forget to have a peek at the gorgeous inspiration from the DT! 

Back soon, 

Kim x 

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:-
Moving Along With the times - lovely ladies
CraftsandMe - dies and punches
DivasByDesign - anything goes
ILovePromarkers - lace and pearls

St David's Day!

Good Morning! And it's the 1st March - that means spring is getting nearer!  And it also means that today is St David's Day so I hope that all of you with some Welsh blood in you are wearing your daffodil with pride lol!  And as it's Friday it's also time for a new challenge over at CraftyCatz with our lovely Nina giving us the theme of - yes, you've guessed it! - St David's Day!

We're sponsored this week by Pink Gem Designs and J&C Creations
        

I've used a gorgeous digi stamp from Pink Gem Designs called 'Chloe with daffodils'

I've coloured the image with promarkers and kept to a spring-like colour scheme of lemon & lime! The backing papers are from Polkadoodles 'Cherryblossom Lane' cd. The edge strip was punched with MS punch and some sheer ribbon from Joanna Sheen. The charm and buttons are from stash. 

She's a little cutie isn't she? 

So do get into the theme of St David's Day (think 'daffodils', 'dragons', 'leeks', etc lol!) and join us this week!  And do have a look at the fabulous inspiration that the CraftyCatz DT have created! 

Back soon,

Kim x 

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

CraftyRibbons - anything goes with a ribbon

FabnFunky - pastel colours

RubysRainbow - in the garden

So many crafting wishes - so little time!

Good evening all and hope that your week is going well? Just a quick one from me this evening - I don't know where the time has gone this week. And I'm getting so cross - there are so many great crafting things I want to do (and some fab new releases from Polkadoodles and Whimsy!) that I want to play with my crafty goodies all day - but no chance! And I've had to work extra hours this week so that has seriously cut down on some crafting time. Sigh.

Anyway, just a quick card to share with you this evening with a digi stamp that I'm ashamed to say I can't even remember where it came from.... (perhaps somebody out there knows and would let me know!)

I've coloured the image with promarkers. The backing papers are from First Edition. 

I've added some Glossy Accents on the roses but sadly it doesn't show up on the photo!  The sheer ribbon is from Joanna Sheen. I've used a MS border punch on the edge and some WOC roses and leaves. The sentiment is from LOTV. 

So just a quick and simple one, but hope you like it! 

Kim x 

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:-
BearlyMine - anything goes
CraftySentiments - 3,2,1 (3 roses, 2 papers, 1 image)
Eureka Stamps - flower power

Anniversary Time

Good morning all and hope that your weekend went well - and that your Monday morning is not too stressful!  It's all quiet here at the moment - all at work, uni etc., and youngest back at school (much to his distress - 7am starts are not on his list of favourite things lol!).  But it's good to have the house to myself for a few hours so I can tidy up the weekend's leftovers and then hopefully get some crafting done.  We had a quiet but relaxing weekend with an enjoyable 'movie' night on Saturday when we slouched across sofas watching the James Bond 'Skyfall' on dvd!  A fantastic film - although Daniel Craig did nothing to help my hot flushes lol!  And so pleased to hear this morning that Adele won an Oscar for the theme tune! I'm hoping to go this week with a friend to see Les Mis at the cinema - we've been promising ourselves that we'll go so we'd better get a move on before it stops showing!

Anyway, less waffle!  This card today was one made for someone who's grandparents were celebrating their Diamond Wedding - 60 years! What a fantastic achievement!

Sorry if it seems a bit dark - I should have got some better lighting sorted!  I've used some gorgeous pearlised card from Crafters Companions that is an ivory colour with a hint of a gold tinge to it. I embossed a centre panel with Cuttlebug 'divine swirls' and matted with gold mirri card. The die cut panels are Spellbinders 'lattice motifs'. I printed the sentiment onto heavyweight card and then added some bling. 

The flowers are from WOC with some sheer ribbon and heart pin from stash. 

So quite a simple one really, but I quite liked the white-on-white - and the main thing is I was pleased to hear that the couple really liked it which is the main thing! 

Right I'm off to do some crafting - and I'm thrilled to report that there are some fabulous new releases at Polkadoodles and some gorgeous new stuff coming from Whimsy too! I feel like a kid in a sweetie shop and don't know what to attack with the promarkers first lol!  So much crafting to do and so little time!

Back soon,

Kim x 

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

Challenges4everybody - anything goes

DreamValleyChallenges - ribbon and bling

RobynsFetish - use ribbon

CraftyCalendarChallenge - love and marriage

CraftyAnns - love actually