Look what I ...

Over at Colour Create for challenge 33 with this card.

The challenge was a colour combo of Lilac, Aqua, Black and white. It was announced a couple of weeks ago but 'cos I've not been blogging I didn't read it until yesterday. What a lovely suprise !
Can't wait to get my mitts on these cuties. Aren't they just adorable.

Have a pop over to Colour Create and take a look at their new challenge which is Lemon, Lime with Spring or Summer flowers.

Thank you ladies.

HAPPY NEW YEAR !

Love Karen xxx

WOW ! PINK GEM BLOG CANDY !

WOW ! Would you like to win 6 of Janet's wonderful stamps of your choice ? YES, then all you have to do is nip over to PINK GEM's blog, leave a comment and link to your blog showing your post about the candy and leave a link to PINK GEM in your post. SIMPLES ! The post will stay at the top of PINK GEM's blog, please scroll down to see her wonderful creations.

The winner will be chosen at random on 18th January. WOOHOO !

Love Karen xxx

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS !

To ALL my blogland, crafty friends. I'd like to thank you for your wonderful cards and emails. I must apologise though as I've not sent any cards out this year or even made any.

I've had a trying year and the past few months and weeks have been not my best. I'm hoping that 2010 will be better.

I'l be replying to emails and cards over the next few days while I'm off. I'd like to thank my close friends from Dabblers and the close blogland friends I've made. THANK YOU !

Once again a VERY VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!

LOVE Karen xxxxx

A fond farewell ...

as this is my last challenge for Lisa over at SOPHISTICATS, my 3 month stint is up. I would like to say what a great time I've had with the DT sista's and the challenges that have been set.

This week it's boss cats turn and it's anything "Christmas", so get creating !

Now onto my card. I love this robin stamp, he's gorjus. I've stamped him in brown onto cream card and coloured him with pencils and Sansador. I've used sequins for the holly berries and added some glitter to the sentiment which is part of the stamp too.

Have a pop over to SOPHISTICATS and have a play, there's a wonderful prize on over. While your there please take the time to visit the other DT sista's blogs, they do fabulous work.

T T F N Love Karen xxx

Red n Green ...

Is the theme for the challenge this week over at Stampavie and more. The 1st of the 3 challenges I made this card for. The 2nd is this wonderful sketch over at Stamp with Fun and the 3rd is "Christmas" with Just Magnolia.

My Tilda is coloured with pencils and Sansador, the paper, the card, the ribbon and red dots are all bits n bobs from my stash. The sentiment is from a £1.49 set I got last year.

Ta for taking a look and feel free to leave a comment and pop back anytime. I love to have visitors.

Off to get tea before X Factor !

Love Karen xxx

Special Friend ...

My apologies for the pic, it's not great. 3 challenges for this card.

1. Colour Create - Lavender/purple, Aqua, Black and White.

2. Just Magnolia - A card for Someone Special.

3. Sketch Saturday - This fantastic sketch.

The card is SU and Papermill, the paper is from my travels a few months ago, the ribbon and pearls are from my stash and the flowers are hand punched. The lovely sentiment is by Stamps away.

Thank you for taking the time to pop in and look at my ickle bit of cyberspace. Please feel free to leave a comment and pop back anytime.

T T F N Love Karen xxx

Morning campers ...

and welcome to week 14 over at SOPHISTICATS. Our DT boss Lisa has done this weeks challenge and boy did it get me thinking. "Verses and flowers" with NO image !
I've made this simple 2 way fold card that ties at the front. It's made from SU pare and card from SU and the Papermill. The flowers are hand punched with middles from my stash..
Have a pop over to SOPHISTICATS and take a look at my DT sisters wonderful work. There's a DT slot in January up for grabs this week too.
Come on have a go, you know you want to !

See you later.
Love Karen xxx

Snowflakes and Sparkle ...

is the challenge set by my wonderful DT sister Jan for week 13 over at SOPHISTICATS. And who can resist a bit of sparkle ?!

I decide to break away from the norm for me and alter this little clipboard. It started life as a £1 bingo card clipboard and is now this lovely Christmas deco. The papers were free in a mag, the large snowflakes are chipboard from my stash and I made the parchment one at a class last year and never got round to using it. The centre piece of card has been put thru my CB using my Snowflake folder and then I've added lots of bling.

Please pop along to SOPHISTICATS and have a go at Jan's gorjus challenge and take a look at the other DT members fab work too.

Love Karen xxxx

With Love ....

For 2 challenges.the 1st is Just Magnolia where Martine has created this fab sketch for us to have a go at. The 2nd challenge is over at Secret Crafter and that's the "4 seasons". You can either do all 4 seasons or pick one as your theme. Mine's Winter.

My image is coloured with pencils and Sansador, with GD added to the wings and hat. The paper is SU and the card is Papermill and SU. All the flowers are hand punched and embossed. The gems and ribbon are from my stash. The sentiment is from some free stamps I got off a magazine.

Thank you for taking the time to take a look at my blog and I hope you'l call again soon. Visitors and comments are always welcome.

T T F N Love Karen xxx

SOPHISTICATS Week 11 ...

Well it's Monday again, how fast do those weekends go ? It's challenge time over at SOPHISTICATS and this week we have a wonderful guest designer Sem. Her work is gorjus so please take the time to go and visit her blog.

Sem gave us this wonderful sketch to work with and I fancied doing something girlie this week and here she is.

The image is SN, the paper and coloured card are SU and the ribbon , lace and gems are from my stash. Almost forgot the sentiment is PB.

Pop over to SOPHISTICATS and have a go, there's a gorjus prize on offer from one of our resident sponsors.

Thank you for popping in and I hope you'l call again soon. Visitors and comments are always welcome.

T T F N Love Karen xxx

Mo's DP2 and an award !

I love Mo's images so doing her challenge is such a pleasure. This week over at DP2 it's this fabulous sketch. My mischievious boy is coloured with pencils and sansador and cut out. I love the frog in his pocket ! This is made up from bits n bobs from my stash that have been hovering about for ages. Can you spot the bottle top ?

The card is papermill and Bazill, the paper is either Paperloft or crate paper not sure which. I put a bit of Cor'dinations thru my CB and then sanded it to form the greeting. I love texture on cards so the string was a must for me plus it's usually something little boys have in their pockets.

This is from my DT pal Cheryl over at Sophisticats and I'd like to thank her for thinking of me and passing this on. Please take the time to visit her blog as she's very talented.

I'd like to pass it on to ALL my followers as a THANK YOU for the inspiration that's out there in blogland.

Thank you for taking a look at my ickle piece of cyberspace and I hope you'l call again soon. Feel free to leave a comment as all visitors are welcome.

T T F N Love Karen xxx

Oh baby baby !

This is for the challenge over at Stamp with fun which is this fantstic sketch. The image is coloured with pencils and sansador with some bling added as all girlies like a bit of bling. The paper is Sandylion and the card is Papermill. All the flowers are hand punched and have had their edges inked. The sentiment is pc generated. All the gems are from mt stash.

Thank you for dropping by, please feel free to leave a comment and call in anytime. Visitors are always welcome.

T T F N Love Karen xxx

Ruff tuff Edwin ...

For 4 challenges. Think my mojo is back !

1. Papertake - This fab sketch.

2. Just Magnolia - Distressing.

3. Stamp Something - A recipe of 1 Ribbon, 2 papers and 3 Embellies.
4. Secret crafter - An easal card.

I've never made an easal card before so that's a 1st for me and I'm quite pleased with it. All the edges have been distressed with the blade of my scissors and then inked.

The papers are BG and the card is Papermill and SU. The ribbon and the brads are from my stash and the greetings are Anita's and Anna Griffin.

Thank you for taking the time to look at my tiny piece of blogland and please call again soon. Feel free to leave a comment.

T T F N Love Karen xxx

Angels ....

for a Baby's 1st Christmas. This is my DT card for this weeks challenge over at SOPHISTICATS. It's been set by DT sister Lyn and the theme is " Wings". That can be fairies, angels, insects or aeroplanes. Anything with wings.
It's a Mo manning pic printed onto magnetic paper that I got from Photopaper direct. It's fab stuff and I thought a Baby's 1st Christmas would make a lovely fridge magnet, hence the paper. It's stuck to the card with a foam pad that can easily be removed. Everything is bits n bobs from my stash that I had hovering about.

Please pop over to SOPHISTICATS and have a bash at the challenge and take a look at the fab prize on offer. While your there plaese take the time to visit the other DT's blogs.

T T F N Love Karen xxx

Rubbing noses ...

for 3 challenges. WOOHOO ! That's 2 cards in 2 days, I must be feeling better. Can't show you the other one yet.

1. Dare U 2 Digi - Is this wonderful sketch by Larissa.

2. Colour Create - A colour combo of " Blue, White and Silver ", with the added option of glitter and Winter.

3. Mo's DP2 Challenge - 3 different, glittery embellies. I used gems, glittery silver ribbon and GD mixed with white floc.

The image is a Mo Manning, my fav at the min, coloured with pencils and Sansador. All the card and embellies are from my stash, all bits n bobs. The sentiment is PB.

Thank you for popping in, feel free to leave a comment and pop in anytime. I love visitors.

T T F N Love Karen xxx

Just for a bit of fun ...

Can anyone guess what this is ?! All will be revealled tomorrow. Go on have a bit of fun and leave your comment below with your answer.

Back soon.

Love Karen xxx

Where has the ...

week gone ? Sorry for my abcence this week, it's been hectic. My 1st week back at work and it's been hell, early in and late home every day. Not good !
I'm also getting bad side effects from some tablets my Dr put me on, so thats not good either.
Hopefully at some point today I'l get in my craft room to get something done. I need to do my DT piece and I'd like to get at least 1 challenge done.

Hope all my blogging friends are ok and I'l be back later to do a bit of hopping and commenting.
T T F N Love Karen xxx

Eskimo kisses ...

Well it's week 9 over at SOPHISTICATS and my DT sister Cheryl's turn to set it. Cheryl's challenge is to use Ribbon and Buttons. I've used 2 pieces of ribbon, a piece of ric rac and 1 button on this red, black and gold Christmas card.

The image is a Mo Manning and is coloured using pencils and Sansador. I've put a piece of black card thru my CB using Snowflake folder and then inked it with gold. The sentiment is Hero Arts and I've done a tiny bit of doodling under it. All the flowers are hand punched and then inked with gold. The ribbons and embellies are from my stash.

Drop by SOPHISTICATS and have a go at this weeks challenge, the prize is a Guest DT spot on the 16th of November. Hope to see you there.

Love Karen xxx

As promised ...

The cards I made at Tracey's and my raffle prize. I just love those new bauble stamps from SU. And that paper is scrummy and can't wait to use these stamps.

Fab time Tracey thank you !

Love Karen xxx

Thought I'd share with you ...

The samples I made for my brothers wedding invitations etc. Am not going to show you which they chose until after there all done and they've been sent out.
The swirl, the small medallion and the heart are by SU, the paper is a Jak Heath freebie and the church is a tiny stamp I picked up along the way. All the wording is PC generated.

I hope there are no more blogger issues today. I've just taken Firefox off as last nights PC scan showed tracking cookies and thats why I got rid of it last time.

I'd like to thank my friend Tracey for a lovely couple of hours at her open house yesterday. Iwent late afternoon when OH got home from visiting his family and his oldest DS. By that time things were starting to wind down and there was plenty of room to look at all her beautiful creations. I made 2 cards (pics to follow) and won on the raffle which was nice.
It was nice to see Tracey and Jayne again and have a good chat. I've not really been anywhere for a while and it was good to catch up. Thank you girlies.

Well am off to get sorted for work and DS is back at school tomorrow so it's uniform ironing today. Off up to me craft room 1st though have got some pressing business to finish.

T T FN
Love Karen xxx

It's taken ...

ALL DAY to get on here ! NAUGHTY NAUGHTY BLOGGER !!I think their server must've been down. I've even re installed Firefox to see if that helped. After last time I said I'd never have it again. It infected my PC with monitoring cookies.

Back tomorrow.
Love Karen xxx

Finally something to show you all ....

I made this for my friends little girl who's 1 tomorrow. This is one of Mo's new images called "Patience" and it really reminded me of Carys - Aimee and their cats. It's not a great picture as I'm still working out how to resize my pics in Photoshop.

The paper is digital, the image is Mo's and coloured with Sansador and pencils. The greeting is pc generated and the flowers are hand punched.

Thanks for taking a look and I'l be back in a bit with a challenge entry.

T T F N Love Karen xxx

Am Back .....

from having no PC. My PC died and went to heaven so a genie got me this one. Sorry I've been awol. It's taken me all day to do the Windows updates and stuff.
Normal service will be resumed later today.

Did you miss me ?!

Love Karen xxx

Pink n Brown ...

Is the challenge that our new DT sister over at SOPHISTCATS as set. I have gone back to my youth and chosen Cerise pink all the rage in the Eighties. I see that it's making a bit of a comeback in the shops. I've teamed it with chocolate brown and inked the pieces I've embossed in my CB. I used Paisley and Swiss dots folders.

The card is papermill, the image is Miss Anya (supplied by my friend Debs) and the sentiment was a freebie off a magazine. I've added a bit of GD for some bling. the ribbon and brad type thingy's are from my stash.

Please come and have a bash at Avril's 1st challenge for SOPHISTICATS, there's a fab prize on offer.

Love Karen xxx

Cat Burglar

Just look at my crazy cat Gizzy. When she wants to come in from being outside, she climbs up the door and peers in and then clings on when we open the door.

CRAZY CRAZY KITTY !

Back later T T F N Love Karen xxx

Simon Say's ...

GET WELL SOON ! Thats the challenge this week over at Simon Says, Get well soon.

The card is Papermill and SU and the paper is SU along with the image and sentiment. The ribbon and brads are from my stash. The design of the card is off my friend Tracey, you pop and see her blog. She's a talent and an inspiration.

I didn't only make this for the challenge. I made it for a lovely, local old man who recently had a heart attack. His name is Jim and he delivers our free paper and walks miles and miles with his dog Polo. I was so suprised when I heard he was ill as he is always out in the fresh and is always active. GET WELL SOON JIM !

Thank you for looking at my little blog and please feel free to leave a comment and pop by anytime.

T T F N Love Karen xxx

BOO ! .....

for 5 Challenges, yes 5 !

1. Friday Sketches - This fab sketch by Carole.

2. Cupcake Challenges - Halloween.

3. Pile it On - Halloween.

4. Stamp with Fun - Halloween.

5. Stampavie and More - Halloween.

The card is a mix of SU and Papermill and all from my scrap box. The image is this weeks freebie from Dustin Pike and is coloured with pencils andSansador. The ribbon and gems are from my stash and the letters are hand cut.

Thanks for popping in and I hope you'l call again soon.

T T F N Love Karen xxx

Merry and Bright ...

For 4 challenges.

1. Just Magnolia - Bright n Zingy. Bright red and Lime green.

2. Simon Says - This wonderful sketch by Domi.

3. Stampavie and more - Christmas.

4. Stamp Something - Bling Something. Glamour Dust and a charm.

The card is SU and Papermill, the paper is DB from a couple of years ago and a download from ages ago.

I've coloured my image with pencils and sansador and cut round it. But I had a little accident whilst cutting. I cut their skates off because my hands aren't very steady at the moment. Ooooops Sorry Edwin ad Tilda ! mI added GD and Floc to their collars and cuffs for a bit of bling.

Thank you for taking the time to take a look at my tiny piece of cyber space and please drop in anytime.

T T F N Love Karen xxx

Birthday cards from ....

My crafty friends Tracey, Jayne, Pauline, Lisa, Tracey P, Jan, Jackie and Lyn. Thank you very much ladies they brightened my day no end.

I' still not right after my small op and have been back to the Doc's and he has signed me off work for a week and I have to go back next week. It's not just the op I've had lots of things haoppen over the past year and I think the op was the final straw and I hit a brick wall, not literally ! So am off with stress. The Doc was really good and he sat and listened to this complete stranger pouring her heart out to him and sobbing. I felt such a fool I can tell you. But I guess that's what they are there for sometimes.

I've lost my mojo a bit and have got a few orders to do. Don't you just hate it when that happens. Oh well onward and upward as they say.

Sorry to put this on my blog, but I consider you all my friends and I just needed to chat.

T T F N Love Karen xxx

SOPHISTICATS DT Wk 7 ...

Week 7 already wow how time flies when your having fun ! This week it's the bosses turn to do the challenge and Lisa came up with this fab sketch. The added twist is that the image in the middle must be 3d.

I've gone a bit dramatic this week with black, red and gold. This is my most favourite of stamps, it was one of the 1st I bought and I've used it so much that the make and name as almost warn off the side. It's Stampendous Poinsetta, gorjus.

I stamped and heat embossed it 3 times and then cut them out and mounted them with foam pads. I've added beads to the middle for a twinkly effect.

The card is SU and local art shop, the sentiment is Hero arts, the ribbon and gems are from my stash and I used my CB Snowlake folder, which I inked over in gold.

Please come and have a go over at SOPHISTICATS, there's the cutest stamp as a prize this week.

T T F N Love Karen xxx

Not so scary ....

card for Halloween and 6 challenges.

1. Stamp with Fun - This fab sketch by Tina.

2. Cute Card Thursday - Spooky.

3. Cupcake Crafts - Buttons and Stitching.

4. C.R.A.F.T. - A recipe of 1 ribbon, 2 buttons and 3 papers.

5. Onestop Craft Challenge - Halloween.

6. Papertake - Halloween.

The card is Bazill and SU, the paper is a download by Shabby Princess and is called Happy Go Lucky. The image is one of Mo's and coloured with pencils and Sansador. The ribbon, buttons and brad thingy's are from my stash. The flowers are hand punched.

I thought I'd go a bit different with the colours for a change from purple, orange and black. Hope on one minds.

Ta for popping in and taking a look. Please pop back anytime, visitors are always welcome. Feel free to leave a comment.

T T F N Love Karen xxx

A Tale of 3 challenges ...

1. Mo's dp2 challenge - To use one of Mo's images in colours that remind you of Autumn and only 2 embellies. I used Raffia and the brad top thingy's.

2. A Spoonful of Sugar - This great sketch by Caryn.

3. The Pink Elephant - Autumn.

The image is Mo's and is coloured using pencils and Sansador. Isn't he lovely ? The card is all Bazill and the paper is We R memory Keepers from absolutely yonks ago. The Raffia and brad tops are from my stash. The sentiment is SU.

Thanks for having a look at my tiny piece of blogland and I hope you'l drop by again soon. Feel free to leave a comment.

T T F N Love Karen xxx

Looking "Fly" ...

I believe is the word of the moment. In my day it was "smart". Oh how cable tv has changed our language.

It's school pic's today so we've had to have a red sweatshirt and our hair mohawked even though it's too long. You would not believe the product that's in his hair so he looks "cool". 6 in January and he wants to look "fly" and "cool", which to me are one and the same. I'm dreading what he'l want when he's a teenager !
Well he says he looks "well good" ! I just hope it manages to hold until the pics are taken.

Oh to be that age again when all you've got to think about is who's going to have the best hair in their pics.

Back later with a card or 2 hopefully.

T T F N Love Karen xxx

Brrrrr .....

It's turning cold ! 1 card 2 challenges and I feel shattered.

1. Just Magnolia - This fab sketch by Mina.

2. Roses on Paper - Choose a sketch from another challenge blog and use the colours Orange, Brown and Green.

The card is a mix of Bazill and SU, DP is Dovecraft and the image of course is Edwin being helpful and sweeping the Autumn leaves up. The ribbon is from my stash and the leaves are stamped and heat emboss with copper powder.

Thank you all for your good wishes and birthday cards, I'l put a pic on tomorrow.

Thanks for taking the time to look at my little bit of cyber space and please feel to leave a comment. Drop in anytime, I love visitors.

T T F N Love Karen xxx

Who'd of thought ...

25 mins in an operating theatre would make you feel so tired and like you'd done 10 rounds with Mike Tyson. I'm absolutely pooped ! Thought I'd feel better today but I think I feel worse. Maybe I'm just rubbish at being a patient LOL ! That's what hubby tells me anyway.

It's DS's assembly this morning so it's off to that and then to the Doc's to take my letter. Then I'l be ready for a nap again. Hopefully I'l manage a bit of crafting this afternoon. I've got a half finished multiple challenge card on my work bench that keeps calling me everytime I walk past the door of my craft room. LOL.

I've visited some blogs this morning and think I'm just about there with everyone. Although, for some reason I can't leave comments on some blogs, not sure why because I usually can. Hubby is going to check my updates later.

Well I'm off to get myself sorted and iron DS's uniform. BOYS !
T T F N Love Karen xxx

Well today's the day ...

go to hospital for a small op and then a few days rest. I've to be there for 07.45, which for those of you who know me, is a major feet. Hopefully I'l be back home for when DS comes back from school.
And yes today's my birthday and Wedding anniversary. What a pressie ehhh.
I was hoping to have a card to share with you but didn't get chance to finish it, in those famous words of Annie "tomorrow, tomorrow ".
Have a lovely day and I'l be round to visit you all in the next few days. Am off to check the SOPHISTICATS challenge and then it's time to get ready and get DS up and ready for school.

T T F N Love Karen xxx

Lil' late Lizzie strikes again ...

Where is my head ? Please don't all shout at once LOL !

Well we're on week 6 already over at SOPHISTICATS challenge blog and it's Jan's turn. And what a great sketch she gave us too. Thanks Jan.

I've just taken delivery of this fab SU stamp set called Baroque Motif that I ordered to make my brother's Wedding invites. As you can see I made a Christmas card Not much difference eehhhh !

The card is a mix of Papermill and SU, the ribbons are from my stash along with the embossing powder. The sentiment is Stampendous I think.

Please come and join us over at SOPHISTICATS, we've got a gorjus Halloween themed prize this week. While your there please take the time to look at my DT colleagues blogs, they do some stunning work.

Love Karen xxx

Cutest couple ...

for 3 challenges. Creative card crew - Celebration, this is and engagement card, Friday Sketches - The sketch on the left which I've rotated and Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Buttons n Bows.

The card is Papermill and SU, the paper is SU, the sentiment is by Clear Stamps and the image is PB. All the other embellies are from my stash.

Thank you for dropping by and call in anytime. Please feel free to leave a comment.

Am off to start another card and get my stuff ready to go back to work BOO HOO !

T T F N Happy crafting.

Love Karen xxx