Oh I'm so distressed !

Which is the challenge this week over at Simon Says. "lets get distressed". I love distressing and I just don't o it often enough LOL. Thats the 1st of 3 challenges ths card is for. The 2nd one is this fab sketch over at Friday Sketchers. And. the 3rd challenge is Stamp something where they would like to see butterflies, insects or bugs on our entries.
The main image is by Stampendous and the winged thing is by SU. I tried a technique called "cracked glass" which I saw over at my good blog friend Cathy's. She has a tutorial in her sidebar and had used it on a current card. I've never done it before, but it turned out ok I think. I'l definately do it again.
I chalked round the image then heat embossed it 3 times before putting it in the freezer yes I said freezer. This makes it easier to crack the image. Cathy reccomends you put 5 layers on, but I used ultra thick powder. I think it's personnal preference.
All the edges are distressed using the blade of my tape scissors, chalked and inked. I even chalked the lace to make it look aged and then threaded the ribbon thru it.
The card is Papermill, the paper is K and Co I think and I put a piece of cream card thru my CB Damask folder. The flower is hand punched, filed and inked. The pearls are from my stash.

Thanks for dropping by, feel free to laeve a comment and pop in anytime your in blogland.
T T F N Happy Crafting.
Love Karen xxx

Hoppy greetings ...

This is the sketch for the challenge this week over at Dare U 2 Digi Stamp. I hope my card has done it justice. What do you think ?

The image is Pink Petticoat coloured with my whisper pens, and the greeting is by Woodware. The card is Bazill and teh paper is Fancypants Papa from the Hero range. The flowers and ribbon are from my stash.

Ta for taking a look at my little piece og blogland and I hope you'l find time to pop in again soon. Feel free to leave a comment.

T T F N Love Karen xxx

Smart ...

2 challenges for this card. Cute card Thursday's challenge this week is "eye eye", which is to use eyelets on your work. Over at Just Magnolia it's this fab sketch by Tab an extremely tallented lady. Her blog is well worth a visit.

The image is smart Edwin coloured with pencils and Sansador and the sentiment is from one of those new Papermania rabbit sets. The paper is Dovecraft, the card is from the Papermill and Co'rdinations, the eyelets and ribbon are from my stash. the middle piece of card has been put thru my CB Swiss dots folder and then inked.
Thanks for dropping by on this rainy, rainy day. Please feel free to comment and I hope you'l call by again sometime.

T T F N Love Karen xxx

What a challenge ...

Yesterday afternoon I got a text from my friend asking for raffle prizes for the Judo BBQ. I had nothing suitable, so off I went into my little room and this is what I came up with.
A box of notelets. Not bad for about an hours work. What do you think ? They were won by DS's friends Mum who was chuffed to bits with them.
There are 10 in the the box, 10x10 cards and envelopes which I tied with ribbon and put red tissue in the box. The box was then tied with the same red ribbon.
The card is Papermill, the images are SU coloured with Sansador, the ribbon and sentiment are from my stash.

Am off to get a bit of kip as I haven't had much over the past couple of days. I'l be back later to do a bit of blog hopping.
T T F N Love Karen xxx

Finally a card ... for 3 challenges ...

Over at Stamp with fun the challenge is this fab sketch by guest designer Maria Bell. i wanted to use astamp I hadn't used in a while so the "Summer" theme challenge over at Stamp with Stampavie and more fitted the bill nicely. Then I spotted these 2 papers in my stash and renembered the challenge at Creative card crew is Polka dots. 3 challengs, 1 card !
The card is SU and DCWV, the paper is English paper Co and K and Co Brenda Walton not sure what range. All the edges have been distressed using a crafters sand file. The flowers, middles and tiny gem are all from my stash. I used Rafia instead of ribbon and the circle in the middle is fine sandpaper. My cutie was coloured with pencils and Sansador but the pic doesn't show her little pink cheeks from the sun. The sentiment is from a £1.49 set.

Thanks for dropping by, feel free to leave a comment and pop back anytime.
T T F N Love Karen xxx

WOW ! New Monthly challenge blog ...

starting on the 15th August over at Bizzy Becs-Creatalicious Challenges. To celebrate she's got this scrummy blog candy on offer. Go take a look and good luck.
All you need to do is become a follower, post on your blog and link it, post a comment over at Bec's with the link to your blog and then add the banner and link to your sidebar.

GOOD LUCK !

Love Karen x

Sorry ...

I've been a very bad blogger. It's not been a great week. Hubby has been put on 30 day notice and may get made redundant and I've been dealing with a similar situation at work. Fortunately my job is safe for the time being. But it's not a great time for anyone at the min.

Well onto a more cheery note. This is all I've managed to do this week. DS's teacher's gift. He had 2 teacher's so I got 2 academic diaries and covered them in LA papers and bazill card. I didn't make them too fancy as they tend to get damaged being taken in and out of your bag.

Went craft shopping yesterday with hubby and DS. Got some bargains, but still no flower punch. Am off into town this morning to get one. I just can't function without it. I had to buy some Bazill bities yesterday, un heard of for me.
Hubby and DS are off visiting Hubby's son over in L'boro today so I'l have plenty of time to have a play with my new stash.

I'm on holiday after Monday for over 2 weeks, so I'l be crafting in between entertaining DS. I think ther'l be plenty of walks to the castle over the next few weeks.

Am off to get sorted, hairdressers at 9am (hubby made the appointment). 9am I ask you !
T T F N Love Karen xxx

Morning Fellow Bloggers ...

just a quick hello and catch up before I pootle off to bed.
Well it's DS's last day in reception. It only seems like yesterday I was telling you all that he'd started school. Off we went this morning with presents and cards made ny yours truely of course. He had 2 teachers and 2 classroom assistants. I got his teachers academic diaries and altered them and the assistants got choccies.
Their having a little party today, which he's very excited about. Other than that I'm not sure what the day will hold.
I'm off part of next week and then don't go back to work until the 16th of August. How good is that.? Their short of teamleaders next week so I struck a deal and opened the right box.

Well I'm off as my eyes are going as I type.
T T F N Love Karen xxx

WOW I got an AWARD !

This is from Heather who is an extremely talented lady. Her blog and work are stunning, so I feel really honoured to have been given this by her. Heather's blog is well worth hopping over to as there is always something wonderful to look at. THANK YOU SO MUCH HEATHER.

I need to pass this onto 10 other bloggers, but I need to have a think about it. I'l be back tomorrow or sooner if I can to pass this gorjus award on.

I'm back and here's who I'd like to pass this award onto:

Enfys
Robin
Sonja
Tab
Paul
Cathy
Debby
Debbie F
Becky
Itsabrt

All these blogs are well worth a visit so please take the time to go and look.

T T F N Love Karen xxx

Flutter, flutter, flutterby ...

This is the sketch over at The Next Level challenge. The image has to be 3D'd as I've done with my flutterby.
The poem is printed onto vellum, cut into a circle and then put onto a patterned vellum base. The sentiment is stamped onto the ribbon using a Versa square ink in grape.
The image is Rhona Fararr, heat emboss and then watercoloured with a purple Sakura pen to make it sparkle.
The card is SU, the vellums, ribbon, flowers and gems are all from my stash.
The verse was off the internet. Thank goodness for the WWW.

Thanks for dropping by to take alook at my blog and work. Feel free to leave a comment and call back anytime.

Happy crafting Love Karen xxx

Sending Love ...

This sketch is the challenge over at Papertake weekly challenge. I've rotated the middle bit. I've been doing this card all week for various challenges and I've finally finished it today for Papertake.
The images are Magnolia and WOJ coloured with pencils and Sansador. The card is Bazill, the paper, vellum, ribbon and gems are all from my stash.

I hope you like my ickle piece of blogland. Please feel free to leave a comment and call in anytime.

Love Karen xxx

Anyone for a pint ...

or 3 ! This card is for a work colleague and for the challenge over at Secret Crafter, which is spots and stripes.
The coloured card and paper is SU, the ribbon is from my stash and the images and greeting are SU. The images are watercoloured using my Whisper pens. I added some white flock and glamour dust for the head on the beer.

Thanks for taking a look. Pleae feel free to leave a omment and pop back anytime.
T T F N Love Karen xxx

Something a bit different ...

for the Just Magnolia challenge this week, which is buttons. I love buttons, they're one of my favourite things.
All the paper is BG and the card is Bazill and Papermill. I put a piece of the grey thru my CB Paisley folder and the sanded it. All the edges have been distressed using my scissors and then I've inked them. The circles are puched, scrunched, sanded and inked.
The buttons, ribbons and pearls are all from my stash. Edwin is coloured using my pencils and my Sansador. I've added a bit of orange to his hair to give him a bit of a punk look. Do you think it suits him ?
Thanks for popping in to have a look at my tiny piece of blogland. Please feel free to leave a comment and pop back any time.

Happy crafting love Karen xxx

Oh to be 2 ...

I made this card a while ago for a challenge (can't remember which one). It was my friends little girls birthday the other day so I added the number 2, greeting and gems. It went down a treat, which is great.

Went to Dabblers at Ilkeston last night and had a lovely time. Didn't get much done but had a catch up with Tracey, Lesley, Debs, Pam and the other ladies. Really enjoyed it, thank you Tracey for taking me.

Off to take a pic and it's that nasty "H" word and then I can craft. WOOHOO !
T T F N love Karen xxx

Oooops Sorry ...

I haven't been about much this week so far. I'm not feeling too good again. I'm hoping that an appointment I've got in a couple of weeks will be able to shed some light onto why I feel so tired and poorly at the min.
Unfortunately my mojo has decided to throw a sickie so hardly any crafting this week. might catch up on friday at Dabblers. Lots of ideas just no motivation. Oh well maybe later.
Well I'm off to get some sleep as hubby won't be back to fetch DS from school so it'l be me. I quite enjoy the walk and usually we got to the park on a Wednesday after school , but I think that might be rained off today !

T T F N love Karen xxx

Monochrome delight ...

I love this stamp and I don't use it often enough. It was whispering to me as I was looking for something yesterday. Then I remembered that I needed to do Cupcake crafts challenge today which is black and white.
The image was stamped with black versa and then I added sparkle to the solid flowers. The edge is done with chalks, black and white. I put a piece of white card thru my CB using Swiss dots and then matted both onto black card.
The ribbon and gems are from my stash. The sentiment is PB and the main image is Stampendous.

Thanks for taking the time to visit me and my little piece of cyber space. I hope you like it here and will call again sometime.
Love Karen xxx

1 card, 5 challenges ...

yes it does say 5 !

1. Stamp with fun is this wonderful sketch. I've flipped it and then used the pegs as the 2 long bits.
2. Stamp something is a clour combo of Pink, yellow and green.I've incorporated these colours in all aspects of this card.
3. One stop craft challenge are asking us to use " furry things " so I chose this cheeky cat by PB.
4. The Next level's challenge is to use buttons and bows. 2 buttons, 2 bows.
5. Creative card crew would like to see ribbons on our creations. 2 pieces, 1 dark pink and 1 baby pink.

The paper is DC, the card is a mix of SU and bazill and all the embellies are from my stash.

Thank you for looking, please feel free to leave a comment and pop in anytime.
Love Karen xxx

" C " in July ...

is the challenge over at Stamptacular Sunday. My 3rd one of the year so far.
The image is SU and is emboss with clear powder onto SU card. All the card is SU and the paper and ribbons are from my stash. I 1st saw this card idea on Splitcoast stampers. I've made it a few times for various occassions, but never for "C ".

Thank you for looking and please feel free to leave a comment.
Back later with another project from today.
Love Karen xxx

Just a quick ...

pop in this morning to say HELLO !
It's a bit grim out there this morning, but am hopping it'l brighten up as the day goes on. Lots to do today. The dreaded "H" word, some gardening (might leave that to hubby and DS), aged parent to visit. Haven't seen my Dad for weeks and he only lives about 10 mins away and my step mum is younger that my Dad so isn't aged, my fortnightly call to my brother to see if he and his kiddly winks are ok. And oh yeah a LARGE amount of crafting.
Managed to pick up an order this week WOOHOO ! Need to get a few more details though for that. Have got an order for my friend, I want to make my other friend a birthday card for Monday and have got 2 gifts for DS's teachers to do, challenge cards, the ideas that are in my head onto paper.
And then this afternoon ... LOL !

Have a lovely day, happy crafting.
T T F N Love Karen xxx

PS. Drop some things off at my friend Lesley's (haven't forgotten) x

Thought I'd post in the ...

evening for a change. I don't want my good friend Lesley wondering where I am LOL.
Haven't done any crafting today as I've been asleep. Hubby was home in time to pick DS up from school so I took the opportunity to catch up with some ZZZZZ's.
We are getting a long break at work and tahts more tiring than working hard I think. Am taking some colouring in to do tonight, so taht I've got images ready for cards. The guys in the office will take the micky but that's nothing new.
Well am off to get meself ready for my public, if only it was that glamorous LOL.

T T F N happy crafting !
Love Karen xxx

This is the 2nd " C " card this year ...

made for 3 challenges.

Just Magnolia's challenge is to use charms on our cards. I only have these snowflakes so I had to make a Christmas card. This leads me to teh challenge over at Stamp something, where their challenge is "C " in July. And over at Paper blooms it's to make a shaped card. I didn't use any fancy template for this card, just a plain old icecream tub lid. It's amazing what you can find lying around. LOL.
The card is both Bazill and SU, the papers are Spiced apple by SU, the greeting is from my friend and is SU. The charm and ribbon are both from my stash.My lovely Edwin is coloured with pencils and Sansador.

Thank you for taking a look and I hope that you'l leave a comment and call back again some time.
T T F N love Karen xxx

1 card 4 challenges.

1. Is this great sketch by Gill over at Sketch Saturday.
2. Over at Digi Tuesday their challenge theme is "Summer".
3. Dare U 2 Digi stamp's challenge is to use dry or heat embossing. I used a floral folder in my CB and then inked the flowers, but most of it is hidden behind the image and the flowers.
4. To use 3 or more different embellies is the challenge at Pile it on. They also like us to combine their challenge with at least 1 other current challenge. Ribbons, gems, a button, flowers and brads all from my sash. Think I've done it with 3 other challenges.

The image is Lizzie, coloured with pencils and Sansador. The paper is DC and the card is SU. Everything else is from my stash. The sentiment is from one of my £1.49 sets.

Thank you for taking a look at my ickle bit of the WWW. Please feel to leave a comment .

T T F N Love Karen xxx

Black n white ...

flutterby. This card is for The Papertake weekly challenge, which is this sketch. I love this stamp and really don't use it often enough. It's by Hero arts and is from their card art range. I've used it with many colours and it always turns out great. Today I decided to use black and white, not a usual choice for me. I heat embossed it using black versa and clear powder. I used 2 of my CB folders, Swiss dots and a Floral one on Co' dination black card and then went over it with a file to bring the inner colour thru. The main card and white card is from the Papermill shop. Ribbons and gems are from my stash.
To add a bit of of depth I stamped and emboss another flutterby and added to the card. Not a great piccy
but I think you can get the idea.

Thanks for looking, any comments welcome. Happy crafting.
T T F N Love Karen xxx

A mans Card ...

for 4 challenges. I don't know about you but I find mens card very hard and I can't seem to make them fussy or fancy. So they always seem to look plain to me. Any way onto the challenges.

1. Fiday sketches is this wonderful sketch by Claudia rose.
2. The pink elephant is to use your favoutite colour combo which is Blue and green.
3. Daring cardmakers is the colour combo of blue and green.
4. Secret crafter is to use 3 ribbons. A spotty one, teal grossgrain and navy one.

I've had the image done for ages as I did it when I got my Castaway stamp last year. The card is Bazill and Papermill and the paper is a free download from Raspberry Road. Everything else id from my stash.

Thank you for looking and feel free to leave a comment and pop in anytime. T T F N .
Love Karen xxx

Watch the birdie ...

was made for 2 challenges. The pic isn't great for some reason Sorry !

1. The Next level, which is this sketch.
2. Stamp with stampavie where the challenge is put Birds on your work.

The papers are downloads from Raspberry road as featured on The Next level in Grab some stash. The card is SU. The image is Sarah Kay coloured with pencils and Sansador. The ribbons, flowers, and bits n bobs are all from my stash.

Thank you for taking the time to look at my blog and my cards. Any comment is much apreciated.

Back soon T T F N .
Love Karen xxx

What a day ...

I had yesterday. NO INTERNET ALL DAY ! How bad is that. I rang my provider only to be told that there was a fault in the area and taht it should be fixed by 4pm. So off I went to craft thinking "well at least It'l be on later". No such luck, by evening time stil no internet. So I got on the phone again, spoke to some one else "ther'e a fault in your area" came the reply. So that was the point I saw red. I explained that I had had no use all day and that they would still be happy to charge me for a service THEY couldn't supply and that wasn't good enough. She said that she would credit £5 to my account for my inconvenience at which point I told her that I would be ringing everyday until it was fixed.

You guessed it, yes IT'S BACK ON ! A bit of a give away seeing as I've posted.

I'l be back shortly to put a card on. T T F N .
Love Karen xxx

Cute couple ...

for a cute couple. I've made this card for 3 challenges and for my friends 1st wedding anniversary.
1. Penny black Saturday challenge is this fab sketch.
2. Colour create is a colour combo of Grass green, apple green, sunflower yellow, lemon and white. There is also the option to decorate the inside of your card and the envelope.

3. Cupcake crafts challenge is Summer.

I've incorporated all 3 challenges fairly well I think. The papers are off a CD I've got and the card is a mix of SU, Bazill and DB. The ribbon, flowers and brads are all from my stash.
The sentiment is by Stampsaway and of course the image is PB coloured using pencils and Sansador.
I added yellow, orange and black seed beads to the middle of the flower from my stash.

Hope you like it and please call again. Any comments gratefully recieved. T T F N .
Love Karen xxx

I just can't believe it ...

today is my 1st blogaversary. WOO HOO !!! I know that it's traditipn to offer candy at this point, but I'm so close to 5000 hits that I'm gonna wait until then to put my candy on.

I would like to thank all my followers and wonderful friends I've made during this year, for all their support.

THANK YOU ALL !

Love Karen xxx

Feeling blue ...

This is the card I've made for the Just Magnolia challenge this week. The challenge is to follow this brilliant sketch by Bev.
Everything on this car is from my stash. The card is by the Papermill, the paper I got for 25p a sheet and can't remember what make it is. I love it though. The image is coloured with pencils and sansador, the swirls are from a free set I got off a magazine and the sentiment is by Stamps away.
I've also decorated the inside as it's for my friend at work who's birthday it is today. What do you think ?

Thank you for popping in on such a beautiful day, please feel free to leave a comment and call in any time.

Happy crafting T T F N .
Love Karen xxx

WOW Blog candy ...

Over at creativ antics. It's to celebrate Ann's 1st blogaversary. Why not pop over and take a look, her blog is gorjus.

Love Karen xxx

1 card 2 challenges ...

1. Stamp with fun is a colour combo. Turquoise and brown, one of my favourites.
2. Cute card thursday which is wheels.
The sketch is inspired by the one over at Polka doodles but I missed the deadline for that and I used fabric ribbon and part of their challenge was to use paper ribbons.
The imahe is by little claires and is coloured with pencils and Sansador. The card is SU and bazill and the papers are by Daisy Bucket. The sentiment is by woodware (borrowed off my friend). The ribbon and button are from my stash.

Thank you for taking the time to look at my blog and my cards. Please feel free to comment and pop in any time.

Love Karen xxx