Still alive...

Hello :) well i wish i could say my long absences are due to travelling to far flung exotic places but no....tis just work ! The past month has been pretty hectic and i wont prattle on again explaining...honestly must take first prize for THE worst blogger at the mo. So to make up for it in a wee way i have not one but two cards to share today.


Both are Paperartsy stamps, the first is from a Nut and Meg plate...a sample i made for work on a Woodware round card blank, Making Memories papers, Bazzail strip and Papermania gems, and the second is the Noel 1 plate, Fancy pants papers, Habico ribbon and a button from my stash



So tomorrow is my day off, first one i've had for a while...got a special visitor coming so hoping to have a lovely day out somewhere and have a bit of retail therapy and perhaps a yummy tea ...cant wait !

Enjoy whats left of the week everyone and hope to be back again soon, thanks for all your lovely comments and for your patience, normal service will resume soon honestly xxx

Stamp with fun challenge # 30

Have to say i love this sketch from this weeks challenge at Stamp with fun, one i shall use again !



I used a Fairiesong image my lovely friend Laura sent me a while ago, papers are Bo Bunny...another treat from my good friend Elaine, thanks hun :)





I'm doing quite well so far this week...might just be another card tomorrow...have a little hoard of goodies put away at work, it's just too tempting, lol. xx

Just Magnolia Challenge # 28

At last i've had time to play along with a challenge, it's been a hectic couple of weeks here with little or no time at all to make anything due to work commitments...loving the job but it seriously intrudes on creative time :( So i'm looking forward to the next few days off, a chance to catch up with everyone and hopefully get back on track with my cards...


Here's my entry to this weeks challenge at Just Magnolia which is this lovely sketch set out by Martine.

For my card i chose this cute Magnolia Santa and put him together with gorgeous papers from the Jolly by Golly Mini deck from Cosmo Cricket available at The Craft Emporium, Papermania felt snowflake ribbon from last winters collection, sentiment is SU, Woodware Fluffy stuff and glitter and adhesive snowflakes from Craft for Christmas.

I always seem to miss an element in the sketch, the sentiment ended up at the top, lol...tis a minor detail i know :)



Have a great week everyone xx

Mojo Monday Sketch

Just popped on here in between watching the Martha Stewart show on QVC...good job i've not been paid yet otherwise i'd be going crazy shopping, lol. Anyway here's a card i made earlier for this weeks sketch at Mojo Monday



It's not exactly true to the sketch but inspired :)



The super cute stamp is a new release from CC designs available here at Diestodiefor as is the Martha Stewart punch...papers are OA Farm fresh...LOVE these! button and ribbon from stash....Ooooo and sentiment is SU..nearly forgot that.


Ok I'm off to watch the last 10 minutes of the show...enjoy the rest of your week everyone xx

Kraftin Kimmie Stamps Challenge 2# Buttons

Hello everyone, hope you're all having a good weekend ? Kimmie has kindly invited me to join the team as a Krafty Friend for this weeks challenge, thank you Kimmie :)The theme this week is BUTTONS ...again nice and easy, we all love to use buttons !



This is the last in the set of four girls from the collection which this time i coloured with copics. The papers are Cosmo Cricket, forgive for forgetting which one...i'm so tired..shall explain, as is the sentiment and the ribbon and button are from my stash.

I've had such a great day today, the craft shop I work for, Samuel Taylors, held a craft event in the village to celebrate their 60th anniversary...boy have we been busy....I've been running a little make and take session all day and have to say everyone i met was so nice ! Hello to Kirsty, it was really good to meet a fellow blogger and I got to meet my dear friend Elaine *waves* thank you so much hun for being so kind and thoughtful, again so nice to meet you.

So i'm now enjoying a good cuppa before i put my feet up for the night...sheesh i'm so tired...gotta do it all again tomorrow !

Kraftin Kimmie Stamps Challenge 1# Birthday

Well it wouldn't be right if i didn't give this weeks challenge at Kraftin Kimmies a go would it ...incase you've missed my last few posts, lol, i LOVE the new stamps here !

The challenge is to create a birthday card, as simple as that :)




I've gone for a really girly, very pink look for Posy, using Doodlebug papers and some pretty gingham ribbon. Again i've coloured her with koh pencils...now i did toy with redoing the image, the shade around her isnt right but i'm so short of time this week with work that i've had to leave it as it is :(

Enjoy the rest of your week everyone xx

Yes I know another makeover

I know, I know, lol, yet another one ! Dont know what it was about the last one, it seemed cramped somehow, anyhoo much happier now honestly xx

ps...have given the 'Other Blog' a little revamp too !

Messy at last !

A peek at my latest attempt at something different for me ...here

Lillith

Hurray, hurray for these new stamps, they've definately kick started my mojo again, i just adore them ! This one is Lillith, what an expression, lol.


I used koh pencils to colour her, the papers are Cosmo Cricket Earth Love.


Cant wait to see Annies new designs, i'm certain they'll be just as fab as these !

Enjoy your weekend folks xx

Be Happy

Morning everyone, at last I have a card to share with you ! So sorry for my lack of posting (again) it's been a busy week what with starting the new job and all I've wanted to do at the end of the day is put my tired feet up and chill.....

When I saw a preview of the new line of stamps at Elaines shop designed by the artist Annie Rodrigue I just had to have them, they are a mixture of cute and quirky...totally me :) This is Charlotte...I just love those button eyes !!




I decided to colour her with Koh pencils for a more grungy look..boy I forgot how time consuming this is ! Papers are 7Gypsies, I stamped the heart and added the sentiment and button, ribbon is available at Elaines shop.



I think I can safely say I'll be back soon...have more rubber waiting to be inked up ;)

Have a lovely day folks xx

Another little peek

result of this afternoons me time here

I know, I know....

Where have I been ? Well I'm spending most of my time silently blog hopping looking for inspiration, there's not been much in the way of crafting at all for what feels like an age, not like I used to anyway...sure you've noticed with the lack of activity on here.

Lots going on in 'Real Life' which as you know can have a knock on effect on blogging etc...but I'm hoping to have everything settled in the next few weeks. The good news is I GOT THE JOB !! hallelujah :D It's only part time but it is a definate step forward for me...has been a tough year in lots of ways....added bonus it is work in a local craft shop :) me thinks I shall have to becareful not to spend my wages each month, lol.

Anyway here's a card I finished this morning using another fab Stampotique stamp and MME papers


I added crackle glaze to the image but it's so subtle I'm not sure you can tell ?



Hopefully wont be too long before I post again, take care, Katy x

A little peek

No card from me today but here's a little peek of what I've been up too :D You can see the full pic on my 'other' blog.

Happy Birthday Tracy !

Hi Everyone, just a quick post to share a card I made for Tracy over at Diestodiefor...Happy Birthday hun, hope you have a fabulous day !



I used my fave Alota stamp, Cosmo Cricket 'Earth Love' papers, CCSR sentiment and handmade flower.

I've now set up another blog here for all my arty style projects, thought It better to keep them separate from my cards...do pop by and take a peek xx

Feeling inspired !

Hellooooooooo :) Yep I'm still here ! As you know I've been having a hard time with my desire to be creative so I thought It was perhaps time I stretched myself and explore the limits of my artistic nature. Now It's a Loooooooong time since I've picked up a pencil and drawn anything and as for painting well past attempts have been a complete disaster !

I recently bought this beautiful book by Kelly Rae Roberts, just what i needed to give me the kick up the derriere, lol. It's jam packed with Ideas, beautiful to look at and inspirational to read.


So very nervously I'm sharing a peek of my first attempt at trying to create something in this style. I'm working on a flat canvas, about 6 x 10 inches, even though It's relatively small It's quite daunting for me. I decided to try oil pastels rather than attempting to paint with acrylics and use a brush, with the pastel crayons you can blend with your fingers and I thought I would find this a little easier to control.


It's far from finished, I still have colour to add here on her face and her hair and
hopefully If I dont completely ruin it, lol, I'll show you the completed canvas soon :)

Have a lovely weekend xx

Today's offer at Diestodiefor

Hi Folks, just popping on to let you know that todays offer at Diestodiefor is 10% off your order with no minimum spend xx

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge

Morning everyone, here's my card for this weeks sketch challenge over at Stamptacular Sunday Challenge, a nice and easy sketch to follow which I found really helped my creative crisis, lol.

My lovely friend Elaine sent me this adorable little stamp to play with, thank you Elaine :) It's 'Phoebe' from the Ketto range at Stampinbella, so sweet !

Papers are Cosmo Cricket 'Earth Love' from The Craft Emporium..love this collection, such pretty colours :)
I used my fiskars border punch and a heart punch, the hearts I coloured a touch with copics though I'm not sure you can tell on the pic.


I added Glossy Accents and Stickles too.

Thank you for all your lovely messages of encouragement, hoping to catch up with you all once I've got the dreaded housework out of the way...have a lovely day xx

ps .....dont forget to check out todays offer here at Diestodiefor, every day running up to Tracy's birthday on Monday there will be some fab offers !

I'm still here :)

So sorry everyone for not blogging much the past few weeks, I'm still here but continuing to battle with my lack of creativity..It's a real pain in the ****. This card I've been faffing around with since last Thursday would you believe ! I know, It's not like it's full of detail or a complex LO..anyhoo I decided to just get it finished this morning so i can move on and hopefully get myself in a creative mood this aft.



I've used one of the cute new 'Dressy Miss Anya's' which I also decoupaged to try and make up for the boring LO...lol.

Papers are Magnolia Lazy Summer Days..both papers and stamp are available at Diestodiefor, have to say the Magnolia papers are divine, they have a lovely slight texture to them, beautiful quality.

Flowers are Prima Hydrangea, ribbon from stash, BG buttons, sentiment from Sassycrafts

Coincidentally Tracy at Diestodiefor has a week of offers to celebrate her up and coming birthday on Monday next week and the first one includes some of the Magnolia Lazy Summer Days papers ! This offer is only for today so be quick... Pop over here and take a peek ...

Thank you all for your good luck wishes for the interview i had last week, soon as i hear anything I'll let you know...really hoping i get the job !!

Right thats me for today, hopefully I'll have more to share tomorrow...fingers crossed xx

You can fly too

Morning everyone, just a quick post today...rushing to get ready for an interview i have today...fingers and toes crossed !

Here's an ATC i made whilst playing around yesterday, i really am enjoying this kind of thing at the mo but i know it's quite a step away from my usual style..might set up a separate blog for this in the near future.



Okay told you it was a quickie...gotta dash xx

Anyone for Anya Challenge

Thank you so much everyone for all your comments on my last post, for sharing your ideas ...so nice to know I'm not alone :) Feeling a little more up for doing something creative today :) ...at long last !

This card is for the latest challenge at Anyone for Anya...Buttons, Bows and brads.


Now i did experiment slightly with the image, one of the new releases from The Greetings Farm at Diestodiefor it was intended to go on a box i tried to make the other day which ended up in the bin. I stamped her onto Kraft card stock to see the result with Copics...quite a subtle finish but the card stock very absorbent so not something I'd do too much otherwise the ink wouldn't last two minutes !

All the papers are Cosmo Cricket Earth Love ...ribbon and button from stash.

Enjoy your day everyone x

I Give up !

Ok that's it....I give up ! I know we all jest about losing our mojo but mine really has deserted me :( I've been trying hard for over a week now...the last project is THE only creative thing i've done....two projects in the bin from todays efforts, what a waste of time and worst of all stash ! It's not like i dont have anything to play with, two DT deliveries and personal purchases...you'd think the cards would be flying out, but no... nada...not a damn thing and it's driving me bonkers and making me miserable..just like someones flipped the switched...gone :( I'm BORED ....anyone recommend a good book to read, lol x

Drama Queen

Morning everyone,well after a whole week of feeling totally mojoless i finally had a little creative play with this ATC 'Drama Queen'. I've loved Kate Cranes work over recent months in Craft Stamper and her projects in this months issue inspired me to make this..



Although i enjoy cardmaking and all things cute i adore art thats quirky and dark. I really enjoyed making this, although i'm not sure i'm happy with the background colour...but it's all experimentation and the process is quite theraputic. It's not pretty but then it's not meant to be :)

Have a great weekend folks x

New items at Diestodiefor

Morning everyone, just a quick post to let you know Tracy at Diestodiefor has lots of new arrivals at her store including the summer Magnolia lazy days stamps and papers plus a whole lot more, pop over here and take a peek x

New Look

Hello everyone, well i've changed my blog...wanted a 3 column blog for a while....it could change again as i'm not sure about this one ? I've added a link on the left to where i got this template from :)

Here's a card and gift bag i made for a RAK swap over on PCP..


Image is Manga from Funkykits plus used a Tim Holtz ledger stamp for the background
Papers are OA and Cosmo Cricket from The Craft Emporium
Ribbon and button from stash


The gift bag is really simple to make, you can find the tutorial over on Splitcoaststampers

Have a lovely day x

Broomstick Milly

Here's a card i made thats been sat on my craft table for a week because i couldn't decide whether to add a sentiment or where to put it ? Decisions, decisions, decisions...i'm hopeless at times, anyway i thought i'd share it regardless.


This is Milly on a broomstick by Pink Gem Designs available here


papers are MME available at The Craft Emporium


I found this sentiment banner on my blog hopping travels, cant remember where but it was free so if anyone would like it let me know and i'll happily email it to you.

Sketch and Stash challenge 17

Hi everyone, hope you're all enjoying the Bank Holiday weekend ? Here's my final Christmas card of the week, lol, this is for this weeks challenge at Sketch and Stash.



Another of Mo's brilliant illustrations...Toboggan


Once again i used October Afternoon 'Good Cheer' papers, the sentiment came from the co-ordinating sticker sheet.


Such a fun image ! x

'Tis the season

Oh yes another Christmas card...and another one almost finished ! Very unlike me all this early Christmas card malarkey but i have to say it's probably got something to do with fabulous digi downloads that are out there and the scrummy Christmas papers too...talking of which just come home to find my Cosmo Cricket order has arrived from The Craft Emporium, oh my, the Jolly By Golly collection is FAB, great service again Lyn, thank you :) I'm now officially on a stash ban by the way ;D !

So this sweet image is designed by Sharon, 'Keeping Warm' i just couldn't resist, how cute !

Papers and die cut elements are Good Cheer...October Afternoon from The Craft Emporium

Before i go just wanted to say thank you for the lovely feedback left this week, hope to catch up with you all over the weekend, have a good one x

New Cosmo Cricket papers !

Oooooooo I've been waiting impatiently for these to arrive but HURRAH they are now in stock at The Craft Emporium ! Earth Love, The Boyfriend and Jolly by Golly, the latter being my favourite :) More yummy loveliness ! Lyn also has the 6x6 mini decks but i think you'll have to quick if you have had your eye on these !

Jingle Bells

Ok Christmas cards are usually a bit of a drag for me...why I'm not sure ? BUT when i spotted this new illustration over at Mo's Digital Pencil i felt inspired ! I just love it....made me smile it did, think it's the rotund character with the dainty legs and love how Mo's captured them both in full song, lol.



Papers are October Afternoon 'Good Cheer'...yummy loveliness from The Craft Emporium...thank you Lyn :)
coloured with copics
Computer generated sentiment

Do pop over and have a look at Mo's work there's something for everyone and i'm sure you'll be blown away by her talent !

Hello everyone, hope you're all enjoying your weekend so far, here's another card made earlier this week using the same collection of Cosmo Cricket papers, they are double sided and it's sooooo hard to decide which side to go for because both are equally yummy ! Love Love Love them :)



The image is a Diane Duda design from Sugar Nellie, thank you Laura.
Sentiment is from a cut out sheet Cosmo Cricket.

Well did you all watch X Factor tonight...wasn't Daniel something else ?.... unbelieveable that someone with such talent has never had the chance of a break before now..fantastic !