Brrrrrrr ....

it's a bit chilly this morning, but they promise a nice day. DS is off on a trip today with school. They are going to a childrens farm a couple of junctions up the M1. He's very excited as he's got a new ruck sack with Power Rangers on it. Oh to be 5 again.

I would like to introduce you to my new nephew.

Marshall Wayne Preston

Born on Monday 30th March at 15.34pm

Weighing in at a healthy 7lb 5.5 oz.

Congratulations Wayne, Lou, Amy and Lilly on this gorjus addition to your family.

Isn't he gorjus ?!

Well I'm off to get DS ready and pack his rucky.

T T F N love Karen xxx

Am on a roll ...

with these challenges. 1 card 2 challenges.

1. Alphabet challenge blog A is for ... Agapanthus in this case stamped onto a piece of natural linen.

2. Stamp something sketch. I love texture on cards and when I saw this piece of linen i wanted to use it. So I stamped the Agapanthus onto it using a brown inkpad. I had a rummage and found the other 2 bits of material in my stash and matted them onto the card, before adding the main image. The ribbon is from my stash too.

Ta for looking.

Love Karen xxx

The bold and the ...

Magnolia V Stampavie card for this weeks challenge. they asked us to use red, black and white with the option of grey.

I put red piece if card thru my CB using the Happy Birthday folder. I then went over it with a charcoal ink pad. Edwin is coloured with pencils and sansador. I added a black and heart button instead of a sentiment as I don't think it needs anything else.

Ta for looking.

Love Karen xxx

Blog candy with a difference ...

OK this is a bit different from the nomal blog candy, and I got involved having seen the post on Cathy's blog .
The first 5 people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice! For you. (There is a possibility it will be a purchased item instead of homemade, or both).
This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2. What I create will be just for you.
3. It'll be done sometime in the next month or so (or sometime this year!).
4. You have no clue what it's going to be.
5. The catch? Oh, the catch is you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog (then come here and post)
6.the 1st person on your list should be the person who's list you are adding your name to ie, I will give candy to Cathy too,
SO ... who's up for this?

1. Cathy.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Good luck !

Love Karen xxx

Who wants candy ...

well there's some on offer over at pink gem designs.

The April release is now available at Pink Gem Designs! There are nine new stamps including four new baby designs, four new Mimi's & Dina Dragon (Denny's girlfriend)
To celebrate they are giving away four free stamps of your choice of any stamps from the Pink Gem Designs range to one lucky winner.
To enter all you have to do is leave a comment on the blog with a link to your blog.........post this picture on your blog and mention Pink Gem Designs new April releases with a link back to there blog.

Go take a look !!!

Love Karen xxx

Lilac and blue ...

is the theme over at colour create this week. The added options are ribbons and swirls. Also they have asked us not to combine the challenge with anything else if we want to be in with a chance to win some scrummy blog candy. To celebrate getting past 10,000 hits on this challenge and also because Tara has just celebrated her birthday. All you have to do is enter the challenge, not combine it with any others and leave a comment on the blog.

I used bazill and doodle bug card, Daisy D's papers and a verse I found on the net. The ribbons and gems are from from stash. The swirl is from a Papermania set.

Go look at the candy and thank you for looking here today.

Love Karen xxx

Its been a long ...

night and I'm shattered. So just a quick post before I go off to bed. Thankfully hubby is off today so he'l do the school run and chores. I'm hoping the sun will be out later. I love it.
Well I'm off cos my eyes are going while I'm writing. I'l be back later.

T T F N love Karen xxx

Do 1 get 1 free ...

that's what I've done. 2 challenges 1 card. the 1st is for friday sketchers.

Which was to follow this sketch. I always struggle with circles because I have to cut them by hand and they end up a bit un circle like. But I liked this sketch so I gave it a go.

The 2nd is penny black saturday challenge which is to think Spring. Whats more spring like than flowers, flutterbys, chicks and cute hedgehogs.

I love this PB image it's so cute and versatile.

Iused bazill for the main card and then matted some Red hot bed card on to it. The ribbon and lace are from my stash. The image is matted onto a scallop circle, which has been put onto a lighter lilac matt that I've CB'd with Swiss dots and chalked. The flutterby's and bee have been deco'd from a matching piece of vellum. the sentiment is from a Stampsaway set.

Thanks for looking.

Love Karen xxx

Well I haven't ...

slept so much in ages. Friday night 7 1/2 hours and last night 9 hours. Unheard off for me, usually I only sleep for 5 or 6 at the most. I guess I must've needed it. I think it's because I work FT nights I've become nocturnal. Even at the weekends LOL ! I usually craft while everyone else is fast a nan nites.
I have had to put a bolt on my craft room door as little fingers keep going and nicking my DS tape for his own creative projects. The other day it was a padded pop bottle coated in DS tape. Not only had he used a roll of sticky pad, he had used nearly a full roll of tape. My last roll I might add. Where was I you are asking. I can here you. Hanging the washing out. Those little fingers are fast.

I've done my blog hopping for now am off to to do a challenge or 2 or maybe 3. Who knows.

T T F N happy crafting.
Love Karen xxx

Card for an order ...

I made this for an order I got this week. It was quite short notice so I decided to use a computer image. The person who it was for is 16 and owns a tractor. I deco'd it and then added a personnel number plate and matted it onto SU and DCWV card.

They were really pleased with it, which is a relief.

Haven't managed to make 1 card today. My mojo seems to have gone on holiday.

Love Karen xxx

It's arrived ...

my candy from Cathy and it's scrummy. I shall be having a play later. Thank you so much Cathy. You should go take a look at her blog, it's gorjus.
Well I had an houseful last night, 4 little boys, 2 little girls and 6 adults. Boy was it noisy in here, but we had loads of fun. The boys played on the WII which was ok 'til they decided to start fighting. Boys will be boys. I think tonight might be a bit quieter. But who knows. I love having visitors but there's only my Dad that lives close by and I don't see that much of him. Everyone else is a car journey away.
off into town in a bit need some DS tape from the £1 shop and a few bits n bobs.
Off to have a look round and maybe get a card in before I set off on my travels.

T T F N Love Karen xxx

Wedding card ...

as promised here's the wedding card I made for an order. The stamp is by SU and called French Flair, the card is from my stash. i hope the recipriant likes it as she is a card maker too.

Love Karen xxx

WHOOOOOOOSH ...

and I was nearly blown away. The winds are really strong here, but the suns out so it makes it a great day for getting the washing out.
I'm half way thru a card order which is being picked up later today so I need to get that done. Pic to follow. I delivered the wedding stuff yesterday and she liked it. What a relief that was. Pics on later.
Well I'm off cos hubby's at home today so he's doing the school run this morning. I've the hairdressers this afternoon and some friends round tonight..

T T F N Love Karen xxx

WOW WOJ Candy ...

over at Kim's blog. Go take a look at the candy on offer. Its scrummy. Kim's blog is well worth a visit as she is very talented and her cards are stunning.

Love Karen xxx

Oh what a night ...

it just all went wrong and for no particular reason. Never mind, tonight's my last one until Sunday. I'm going to craft all day on Saturday if I can.
WOOHOO !
I have had to dash to Asda on my awy home to get a print cartridge. It ran out yesterday just as I was trying to print a card order I got at short notice. Ain't it always the way ! Will post pics later.
I survived Ds's inset day with only 3 hours sleep. Thank goodness I shall geta bit more today. I'm doing the morning school run and my friend is doing tea times. that extra half hour in bed makes a big difference.

I'm off to do a bit of blog hopping. T T F N happy crafting.
Love Karen xxx

Special Offer 3 for 1 ...

challenges that is. I made this card for the following challenges. Colour create which is to use the colours Turquoise, navy and lime and NO patterned paper. The Cupcake challenge is to use monsters and finally the Papertake weekly challenge which is to use this sketch.

I loved all these elements. The colours are very me as I love brights and the dino image is one of my favourites. I felt that this sketch fitted with not using patterned paper.

I used a mix of SU, Bazzill and DCWV card for the matts. The image is coloured with pencils and sansador. I love doing that. And the embellies were from my stash.

Thank you for looking

Love Karen xxx

Morning !

Just a quickie as I want to go to bed before DS gets up or I won't get any sleep cos he's on an inset day from school.
I'l be back later with smoe picci's and some challenges done.

T T F N
Love Karen xxx

Morning !!!

Well as you have probably read I won Cathy's blog candy. Am sooooo excited.
Am delivering the wedding card and gift bag tomorrow so I'l take some picci's and let you know what she thinks. It's been a difficult one as they are for her to give a card maker. Scary !
Hopefully I'l get a couple of challengers done this afternoon and before I go to work.
Off for my porridge and to have a look on ebay.

T T F N happy crafting
Love Karen xxx

I won, I won, I won ...

the candy on Cathy's blog. I can't believe it I never usually win anything. Thank you so much Cathy's hubby for picking my number out. Wow I can't wait to have a play with all these scrummy items.

Go take a look at her blog, it's gorjus and she is very talented.

Thanks again Cathy. I've left a comment with email addy.

Love Karen xxx

Morning peeps in blog land ...

I knew the sun wouldn't last. Yes you guessed it, it's raining. What a disappointment.
I've nipped on while I wait for my porridge to go ping. Uuuhhh there it goes, hold on while I fetch it. I have to have me porridge or I can't function.
have nearly finished the wedding order I was asked to do. So pics of that later hopefully.
Off to eat me breakkie while its hot and do a bit of blog hopping.

T T F N
Love Karen xxx

Sunny Sunny Sunny !!!

WOOHOO ! I love the sun. Well I've been up since just after 4am as I went to bed before 9pm last night. I was shattered and went straight to sleep. I woke up in the early hours to find hubby not there. He was down on the sofa as he's still suffering with his abcess. I do feel for him, the pain must be terrible. But he won't go to the doc's or dentist.
I've been a busy bee this morning. My washing was out before 7am and I've been blog hopping and found a couple of lovely new blogs to follow. And I've just been speaking to my MIL over at Natures Workshop and she's won card of the week for this stunning card 365 go take a look. So to celebrate I would like to send her this award for having a lovely blog and because it's Mother's Day.
Have a great day. i'm off to finish a card order off. T T F N .

Love Karen xxx

My niece became a ...

teenager on Friday and she has a passion for cake so I made her this card at a SU party. The pic is a bit dark and doesn't really do the card any justice.

Just thought I'd share it with my fellow bloggers.

T T F N

Love Karen xxx

2 Challenges in 1 ...

with this card for my nieces 2nd birthday. The quilt effect is for Roses on paper challenge this week. The Daring cardmakers challenge was to create a female celebration card, so I chose my niece.

Everything is from my stash and the image is a SN, isn't she cute. She's coloured with pencils and sansador. The flower is hand punched and chalked with a bit of bling cos all girlies like a bit of bling.

Hope you like it and thank you for looking.

Love Karen xxx

Scrummy blog candy ....

from http://bevscrafts.blogspot.com/2009/03/its-candy-time-for-whiff-of-joy.html to celebrate the release of the new WOJ Guardian Angel range.

All you have to do is post a link to the candy on your blog and then a comment with a link on Bev's blog. GO take a look. SCRUMMY !!!

Love Karen xxx

GOOOOOOOOD Morning Bloggers ...

WOOHOO ! It's the weekend, thank goodness.
Hubby is looking a bit better today, which is good. I've got to nip to the next suberb to get a bottle of Sansador or ther'l be no cards this weekend. My colleague liked his card, so that was good. And I hear that the SUN is going to make a guest appearance today. Although its chilly out there at the min. This weekend marks the beginning of Spring, oh happy days.

Well I'm off to do a bit of blog hopping.
T T F N happy crafting.
Love Karen xxx

PEEP PEEP !!! ...

Wheels is the theme over on http://bellichallenge.blogspot.com/2009/03/belli-challenge-59-wheels.html and here's my card. I made this for the challenge and a colleagues birthday.
I used SU card, paper, ribbon, brads and stamps for this card.

Thank you for looking and I hope you like what I've done.
Love Karen xxx

It's a better morning ...

and hopefully I'l get some crafting done today. Still not done my colleagues card. naughty aren't I ? Have got a few ideas running round my head at the min.
Hubby has gone off to work looking really poorly with this abcess. He's got to drive all the way to Brighton and back today. Bless him, he's a trooper.
Well thats me for now. Back with some pics later.

T T F N love Karen xxx

Oooohhh I don't like this ...

fog ! Thank goodness it's not my turn to drive this week. I hate driving in fog. It's thick and damp. Where oh where has the sunshine gone ?
Have still got my colleagues card to make for tomorrow, so thats todays project. I have an idea, but not sure it'l work. I guess I just need to get on and try it.
Hubby has woke up this morning with a big abcess in his mouth. AGAIN. It's an ongoing problem for him.
I'm off to do my morning blog rounds and then get ready for the school run.
T T F N happy crafting.
Love Karen xxx

A "gem" of a card ...

for the http://aspoonfullofsugarchallenge.blogspot.com/2009/03/challenge-43-little-gem.html. All you have to do is use gems on your entry.

The image is by Art Impressions. It's one of my favourite stamps. I've watercoloured it using Whisper pens. The paper is by K&Co from the Hannah range. The verse is a mix of 2 different sentiments which I printed onto vellum, which as we all know can be tricky to stick so I added the gems. I'm going to give this card to a very special lady.

Thank you for looking.

Love Karen xxx

Who fancies a Kick about ...

is the card I made for 2 challenges.1. http://cupcakecraftchallenges.blogspot.com/2009/03/challenge-31-brown-1.html which had to be Brown with either pink, green or blue. As you can see I chose green.

2. http://fridaysketchersblog.blogspot.com/2009/03/friday-sketchers-43-sponsored-by.html which was this sketch

I used bazzill for the main card and then added a piece of stripey paper from my stash. The image is Cuddly Buddly I think and is coloured with pencils and sansador. The back matt has been put thru my CB and tehn chalked over to highlite it.

Thank you for looking.

Love Karen

Wishing all our ...

Irish friends a very Happy St Patricks Day. Top of the mornin' to yah !
Just got in from work and what a slow night that was. Although I am grateful to have my job.
Still havent decided which challenges to do next. I need to make a birthday card for a colleague so I might try and incorperate that in.
I'l be back later with some pics. Fingers and toes crossed.

Happy crafting T T F N
Love Karen xxx

Good Morning ...

from a sunny Derby. It's lovely out there, really spring like.
Not much going on here apart from me deciding which challenge (s) to do next.
OH is off today, so he's gone to a local DIY store to get some cement for the decking. Might be finished for the summer. Well a girl can dream. LOL.
Thats me for now just going for a bit of blog hopping while my porridge does.
T T F N , happy crafting.
Love Karen xxx

2 for the price of 1 ...

challenges that is.

1. http://colourcreatechallenge.blogspot.com/2009/03/hi-folks-its-sunday-again-already.html which is to create something with red and green. Plus the option of wings. So I thought I'd use this Magnolia image and add a couple of butterflies for the wings bit.

2. http://stampchallenges.blogspot.com/2009/03/something-green-challenge.html is to use green.

The papers are all by Kelly Panaccinni for Sandylion, the ribbon, metal flutterby and chipboard flowers are from my stash. The gorjus image is coloured with pencils and Sansador.

Thank you for looking.

Love Karen xxx

WOW Fantasic candy at ...

http://sassydesignsbysusie.blogspot.com/2009/03/i-have-candy.html.

I found this whilst blog hopping just now. All you have to do is to add the 1st pic of the cand and add a comment with a link to your blog. For a second entry to the draw you need to become a follower of Susies blog and a leave a comment to say you,ve done it. What could be simpler. Go take a look.

Love Karen xxx

Boy Oh Boy is it ...

GREAT to be back !!! After getting my pc de bugged and back to normal the modem didn't seem to be working. I rang our service provider and it seems that between my firewalls and the providers anti nasti stuff, the modem got jammed and no signal was getting thru. Anice young man in a far off land fixed it for me. THANK YOU to him !

Now then where do I start. I've had a look at my fav blogs and ladies you've done some stunning cards. Well done to you all.
Now I need to get back on track with challenges and an order I picked up last week. It's for a wedding card for a CARDMAKER. How scary is that ?!

Well I'm going to do a bit of blog hoping and then crack on with some crafting I think.
T T F N
Love Karen xxx

WOW WOW WOW Blog Candy ...

over at http://ellieskeeperscreations.blogspot.com/2009/03/youve-got-to-be-in-it-to-win-it.html.
Cathy is offering some fab candy to celebrate being a year old and having over 22,000 hits.
Go take a look.

Love Karen xxx

A cautionary tale

Firstly I must apologise for my absence. A week ago I was looking for verses on the internet and went on a website only to get HACKED. Yes some one hacked into my pc. The site must of been the doorway into my pc. What a polava. We had to transfer all my stuff to SD card and OH tried to find where the hacker was hiding. Eventually he found it, but for some reason my pc is still poorly. I'm waiting for our friend to come and sort it out. Hopefully I'l be back within a couple of days. I'm writing this on my Dad's pc.
Oh how I miss my daily chats with all my blog land friends.

Thank you all for visiting while I've been away and I promise I'l be back as soon as I'm up and running again.

Love Karen xxx

PS. There are some gorjus cards on my blog role. Well done to you all, there beautiful.

WOW ! Gorjus Candy at...

http://pinkgem-janet.blogspot.com/2009/03/bloggerversary-candy.html to celebrate a year since Pink Gem Designs started and that the blog has nearly had 50,000 hits. Currently it's running at about 48,000. Janet should get to 50,00 in about 12 days. When her counter gets to the mogic number thats when the draw will be done. The lucky winner will be able to choose 4 PGD stamps. WOW what a fab prize !

Thank you Janet for sharing your celebrations with us.

Love Karen xxx

It's here ...

the Sun, it's here. I love it when the sun's out and I can get my washing on the line to dry. What about you ?
I haven't decided which challenge to do next. Think I'm nearly there just not sure. I love these challenges they really make you think. I've used images, papers and colours that I never would've put togther before. So thank you to all the challenge blogs that I've entered cards on to.
Off to do a bit of blog hopping.

T T F N happy crafting.
Love Karen xxx

We're all going ...

around Europe in my camper. Well for this card anyway which I've made for 2 challenges.

http://thesecretcraftersaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/2009/02/challenge-21.html who's theme this week is transport. And.

http://aspoonfullofsugarchallenge.blogspot.com/2009/03/challenge-41-torn-edges.html who wanted us to tear our edges.

So I got my trusty Little Clare's camper out again. I water coloured him today with Whisper pens and cut him out. The map paper is by HOTP Paper Pizzaz Green Map and the plain piece is from my stash. I tore the edges, screwed them up and then inked over them to give an aged look. The sign post is made from a coffee stirrer and a wooden tile from my stash. I stamped the greeting with a sentiment from a Stamps away set.

Thank you for looking and I hope you like my cards.

T T F N love Karen xxx

3 down, 2 to go ...

nights at work. Well half nights as I've been finishing early. This means I can get some sleep before DS gets up, which means more time to play in my craft room WOOHOO !
Off to blog hop and decide which challenge I'm going to do next.

T T F N happy crafting.
Love Karen xxx

All Dressed up ...

and nowhere to go. This is my card for the http://colourcreatechallenge.blogspot.com/2009/02/challenge-five-blue-and-brown.html challenge of blue and brown, with the optional extras lace and pearls.

The backing paper is by Daisy Bucket, the image is Sugar Nellie, the flowers, lace and card are all from my stash. I put the cream matt thru my CB using Swiss dots and then inked over it with a turquoise ink pad. Lady Mo as I like to call her , is coloured with pencils and Sansador. I added tiny beads for her pearl necklace and a pearl bead to her hat. She is one of my favourite Sugar Nellies.

Thank you for looking.

Love Karen xxx

Where's it gone, I've lost it ...

the sun. It's gone, can't find it anywhere ! And it's sooooo cold too. I think we've been spoiled over the past few days with the mild weather and the lovely sunshine. Oh well back to the woolie jumpers and coats.
Have got an idea whizzing round my head for a card. So I want to get that onto paper later.
It's OH's friends birthday at the weekend and I need to think of an idea for his card. Uuurrrmmm will have to work on that one.
Off to do a bit of blog hopping before getting reasy for the school run.
T T F N happy crafting.
Love Karen xxx

Meeeoooow ...

said this little kitty for the http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/2009/02/challenge-49-animal-magic.html challenge which had to include an animal on your card. I've been dying to use this stamp since my friend gave it to me. It's an Anita's early one I think. Not sure what the drawer stamp is. The backing paper is MME Front Porch, which I love. The main card is Bazill and the scallop is SU. The flower is hand punched and chalked. I deco'd kitty's paws so he looks like he's hanging over the draw. Did a bit of doodling too. Am getting too adventurous for my own good. LOL.

Hope you like him. T T F N .

Love Karen xxx

I was hoping ...

to post some more pics this afternoon but the batteries have run out in my camera. Isn't that the way it goes ?!
OH has been in the garden this morning trying to get the decking up but he's misplaced a bag of cement. How, you might ask yourself ? I have NO idea. It's not as if it's a tiny thing to loose. Never mind, I might get my decking for the summer. I just hope that it doesn't take aslong as the bathroom (nearly 6 years). Yes that does say 6 years.
Keeping my fingers crossed !

Pics when batteries have recharged.
T T F N happy crafting.
Love Karen xxx

Beautiful Ballerina ...

for 2 challenges and for a birthday party DS is going to next Sunday.

1.http://abc-challenge.blogspot.com/2009/02/c-is-for.html C is for Childs card on the ABC Challenge. Which fits quite nicely as DS's friend will be 5. And ...

2.http://aspoonfullofsugarchallenge.blogspot.com/2009/02/challenge-40-shape-shifters.html Shape shifters. This was to create a shaped card for any occassion. All little girls like handbags and this little girl goes dancing. So this is her dance bag.

I cut the template out on pink card and covered the front with Sandy Lion Pink Daisies paper. The image is WhipperSnapper Small Ballerina, which I coloured with pencils and Sansador and a pink Sakura sparkley pen. The flowers are hand punched and coloured with versa ink pad. I added a bit of bling because all girlies like a bit of sparkle. the ribbon and lace are from my stash. The sentiment is from a Stamps away set.

Thank you for looking.

Love Karen xxx

Acrobat ...

my new PB stamp bought for me by my brother. So, I thought that it was only right that the 1st card made with it was for him and his lady also called Karen. I've made it as a Thank you to them both for all their help and support over the last few months. I used the sketch off http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/2009/02/dawnys-sketch-9.html

so that I could enter their challenge.
I used a patterned paper from my stash, a CB Script embossed piece of card and a WS design sentiment stamp.
Hope they like it. My brother doesn't visit my blog (I don't think), so I know I'm safe to show the card.

Love Karen xxx

They're stamped and ready to ...

go. My new PB stamp is now on card and waiting to be coloured. Exciting ! LOL. It's like Christmas when I was a child.
Went to my friend Jaynes SU party yesterday afternoon and made 2 lovely cards and a sweetie pocket. I can't put one of the cards on for a couple of weeks as I want to give it to someone for their birthday. Will post the other 2 in a bit. Had a great afternoon thank you.
Have got lots of family and friends cards to do this week, so busy, busy.

I'm off to blog hop before I colour my PB's .Happy crafting.
Love Karen xxx