Karen's Kards

Happy Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

2011-12-24T15:44:00.002Z

Sorry I haven't been on here lately, there's a lot of family problems here which need to be sorted out. I would like to wish all my crafting friends, old and new, a very Happy Christmas. I hope you get all you wish for and more, and that you have a really good time.

Love to you all!

Karen xxx

woohoo I've won!

2011-09-06T23:55:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone!

I just wanted you all to know that I've won a lovely stamp from Crafty Sentiments Designs!

I'm not sure yet which of the lovely stamps I have won but as soon as I find out, I'll let you all know!

Have a good day/night everyone!

Stampin' For The Weekend No 13

2011-07-28T01:02:00.001+01:00

Stampin' For the Weekend Challenge No 13 have a theme which this week is "Paws for Thought" (Animals... Cats.... Dogs... Anything with 4 legs!!!), so I thought I'd use this cute digital image of a Giraffe. OK so a giraffe doesn't have paws but they DO have 4 legs! I love the colours of this card. When I stamped the giraffe, before colouring the giraffe itself, I used a make up sponge, and got sky blue promarker and daubed the end of the sponge with ink, then made a blue mottled background effect to replicate the sky with wispy clouds, and then I coloured in the giraffe and tree approriately.

Though I've added a few gems to the corners to take the plainness out of the paper, I have tried to keep this card simple as it is intended for a child.

Thank you for viewing my card!

Papertake Weekly Sketch & Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge

2011-07-28T00:47:00.000+01:00

Papertake Weekly Sketch # 58 are asking us to follow a sketch (copied below), I had to slightly move things from the design given, as the image I printed out was a bit too big for the card I had planned but I have stuck to the basic shapes asked for.

For the Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge # 92, I used either purple or lilac based colours along with the grey for the groom's suit, so this would fit in with the "No Pink or Blue Allowed".

I've made this a wedding card as I had originally planned to enter this into a "happy ever after" theme but due to other commitments today, sadly I was too late to enter it into this one.

Alphabet Challenge and Stampalot July Challenge

2011-07-18T18:37:00.000+01:00

Hi! The weather here the last few days has been terrible, I think the same can be said for the whole of the UK so I know I'm not alone. I just hope we see a bit more sunshine before the Summer turns eventually to Autumn.

Thanks for taking a look at my blog. I'm entering my card into 2 challenges today, the theme for the Alphabet Challenge Blog is "K for Kitty Cats" and the Stampalot Challenge for July is "Anything Goes".

I started by using my Hougie Board and scoring a brick pattern into some dark brown card, which is slightly smaller than the A5 card blank which I am using for this project.

I had some stamps which I printed out some time ago, sorry I forgot where they come from, I cut out the cat after colouring her in a Cool Grey Promarker, and the bowl and window. I stuck some paper behind the window to give the effect of either wallpaper or curtains behind the window, and I placed the cat as if she is sitting on the window ledge, and placed the bowl next to her.

There was a sentiment which came with the images, which said "Have a Purrfect Day!" so this was purrfect (lol sorry) for the theme of the K for Kitty Cats.

Crafty Sentiments Design Challenge

2011-07-14T14:38:00.001+01:00

The card I made today, I am entering into the

Crafty Sentiments Design Challenge

Their theme this week is "Use Stitching Challenge".

I intended making an easel card for this challenge originally, but then I was messing about and made a couple of card blanks and when I looked at this one, I had an idea.

I found some black card, and some silver thread, and remembering a pattern I used to do at school I started to sew a pattern on to it. Then I found a lovely image I've had for a while, and coloured it with Rose Pink, Mint Green and Red Promarkers.

The card I used was a cream pearlised card which I scored using my Hougie Board, then I used a nice striped but subtle paper to matt onto the card, and found a silk flower in my collection, then used a pink sparkly brad to fix it to the card.

I fixed some ribbon onto my card with double sided tape, and then I made a bow with the same ribbon and stuck it onto the card.

For the sentiment, I printed out the words Happy Birthday using the Quiggly Wiggly font, then cut it out.
I then cut another piece of white card, slightly bigger than the piece with Happy Birthday on, and coloured it with my Rose Pink Promarker. Then I matted and layered the Happy Birthday piece of card onto it, and then fixed it to the card with double sided foam pads.

I finished the card off by cutting out the image of the girl, and stuck it onto the black stitched diamond shape with foam pads. Then I finished it all off by adding gems to the corners for a little more sparkle.

I hope you like my card, thank you for looking.

Crafty Sentiment Designs Challenge

2011-07-11T14:31:00.000+01:00

Hi there, today I thought I’d enter a challenge over at Crafty Sentiment Designs and this week they are challenging us to 'Craft With A Child'.

I do have children, but they are a bit old now to want to craft with me, so I am going to enter this challenge based on me Crafting for a child, which is also allowed. A son of a friend of mine is turning 2 years old next week so I took this opportunity to make a simple card for him.

I saw a free stamp which was available last night from Sweet and Sassy Stamps, and the bear is called Rhubarb, he was so sweet, I just had to use it on this card.

Crafty Sentiments "Christmas in June" Challenge

2011-07-05T22:48:00.001+01:00

I'm entering this challenge even though all my Christmas crafting items were tucked away in a corner, I felt they needed dusting off, to give them a little "outing" and this challenge from Crafty Sentiments fitted the card I made perfectly, as their theme is Christmas In June.

The card had an oblong aperture in the front the card, and I stamped the Santa image onto the inside of the card, so it was visible through the aperture. I coloured the Santa Claus' suit, hat and mittens Berry Red, and gave him a caramel coloured belt and boots. I used pearl gems to simulate the snow. Then for the sentiment I used a stamp which I've had for ages, since the first Christmas I crafted, but not used yet. I matted that onto red card, and stuck 3 pearl hearts onto the side of the sentiment.

Thank you for viewing my blog, I hope you enjoy my card as much as I enjoyed making it!

Whiff of Joy Blog Candy

2011-07-03T13:06:00.001+01:00

Katharina is giving away a fabulous, summer blog candy, 5 Whiff of Joy summer stamps of your choice!!!

Hurry on over there, it ends on 9th July!

Good luck everyone.

Crafty Sentiments Challenge and Sunday Sketch and Stamp Challenge #59

2011-06-14T16:38:00.000+01:00

Sorry I've not been making that many cards recently but I've not been too well. I'm hoping to get back in the swing of things now.

I've entered my card into 2 challenges, listed below.

1) Crafty Sentiments Challenge - "Add Some Sparkle"

2) Sunday, Sketch & Stamp Challenge #59 - Follow the sketch (pictured below)

The digital stamp I've used is from teddybo.com and it's called "Bea's Tired & Needs a Cuddle", I love them, they're so cute!

First of all I placed some pink mirriboard on the card, then I found some coordinating patterned paper, to place on the card too.

I have an oval embossing folder with leaves in the bottom corner, and I used this around the digital stamp of Teddy Bea. For the sparkle, I used some flower/star shapes which have a holographic effect on them. I also used some pink stickles glitter on the ribbon and around one of the pieces of backing paper and also on part of the digital stamped image.

Overall, I'm quite pleased with the card and it only took me a short while to make too!

Thank you for looking!

Alphabet Challenge Blog

2011-01-28T15:54:00.000Z

I made this card for my daughter's boyfriend's 18th birthday, which is on Sunday, but I couldn't pass the opportunity by and not enter it into a challenge, so I'm entering it into the Alphabet Challenge Blog who's challenge this week is "M for Men"

I bought the football decoupage from Wilkinson's in town.

I got the "18" from a craft shop in town to go on the card, and matted and layered up a Congratulations sentiment and added some gold ribbon to it.

My card is pictured below.

I Love Promarkers Challenge, Truly Scrumptious Challenge and The ABC Challenge

2011-01-23T14:10:00.001Z

I have made a card to enter into 3 challenges today.

The card blank I used was a magenta colour but it looks slightly reddish on the picture but it really is pink. I'm saying this because one of the challenges I'm entering into is a colour challenge.

Here are the challenges I'm entering today:

1) I Love Promarkers No 49 - KISS Keep It Sweet & Simple

2) Truly Scrumptious No 49 - Colour Challenge Brown, Pink & Green

3) The ABC Challenge- M is for Magical. There was an optional extra of a sketch to follow but I didn't do this part as it was a bit fussy and it wouldn't have fitted in with the Promarkers challenge.

The promarker colours I used for this challenge were Cinnamon for the hair, Baby Pink for the tights, wings and belt, Rose Pink for the shading on wings, Ivory for the skin, Magenta for the tights, bow and belt and Lime Green for the dress.

I used a Magenta A4 card folded in half to make an A5 sized card.

I cut some green embossed hand made craft paper and placed this on the card. Then I used a digital image which I bought yesterday and coloured it in, cutting it out and adding it to front of the card with foam pads, to give it depth. Then, on the wings, I used Anita's 3D clear gloss finish, to give the wings a bit more definition. It's a shame it hasn't shown up on the photo, as it looks really effective. To finish, I added a pale pink ribbon on the left, I clipped the corners with a rounded corner punch and I used some alphabet clear stamp letters for the greeting. As the card colour was quite dark, you couldn't see the inked greeting too well so I went over it with a thin marker to make it stand out more.

Sorry about the blurry picture, my hands were shaking taking the picture, and this was the only one I had which showed the colours best.

I hope you like my card. Thank you for taking the time to view my blog.

Truly Scrumptious Challenge No. 48

2011-01-14T11:54:00.001Z

When I made this card for the Truly Scrumptious Challenge Blog last night I was feeling less than well. I had planned so much for it and nothing went to plan. Not to mention spilling something onto the project half way through and having to disguise the mark with something or start it all over again.

Anyway, eventually I got it finished!

The challenge was to follow the sketch given, which I did. Rather than use a stamped image, I thought I'd use a decoupaged image as I felt it fitted in rather nicely. Hopefully this will be ok. I decided to rotate the image too, as it fitted in better with the picture I was using.

Though I didn't actually set out to include the optional extra of "Dreaming of Summer", looking at the woman's face on the picture, she looks like she's daydreaming so she very well could be!

I hope you enjoy my card, thank you for taking the time to view my blog!

4 Challenges, 1 Card!

2011-01-14T11:35:00.001Z

I made this card last night, hoping to incorporate it into 3 challenges at first, but then realising I could enter it into 4.

2 of the challenges are for Thank You cards, one offers a sketch and the other asks to make a card for a man or boy. Listed below are the challenges I have entered into and below that is the sketch and photo of my card.

1) Crafty Sentiments Challenge - "Thank You card"

2) A Spoonfull of Sugar Challenge number 134 - "Thank You card"

3) Corrosive Challenge Blog Challenge no. 98 - Follow a Sketch

4) Forever Friends Challenge Blog - Card for man or boy

Thank you for taking the time to look at my blog, I hope you have a good day!

Love Karen xx

Happy 2011!!!

2011-01-06T21:22:00.001Z

Happy New Year everyone! I'm sorry it's a bit late, but I've only thought to do this now. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year!

Here's to a fantastic crafting year ahead!

Love,

Karen xxxx

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge # 85

2010-09-15T12:36:00.000+01:00

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge # 85 calls, as usual, for a sketch to be followed. As my daughter's 16th birthday is coming up on Sunday, I thought I would incorporate her birthday card with their challenge.

My printer isn't printing out too good right now, so I'm sorry for the quality of the photos which I've put on the card. I hope my daughter will like it.

I've put an up to date picture of her on the inside of the card with a very sentimental sentiment lol.

I used a white pearlescent A4 piece of card, folded in half for the card blank. Then I used a magenta piece of card for the back ground of the card, and a purple piece of mulberry paper.

On the piece of card which I stuck the pictures of her, I edged this with a gold holographic border peeloff. I finished it off with a "Wonderful Daughter" peel off, as this summed her up completely. Of course, I had to add a 16 in there somewhere, so I put that on the top centre of the card.

I hope you like my card.

Crafty Sentiments # 34 & Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge # 100

2010-09-15T08:51:00.000+01:00

I was asked to make a card for a friend who is mad on pink and purple, but I was stuck for a design or what to put on it, then I saw a couple of challenges and decided to combine making a card with doing a couple of challenges at the same time.

The people over at Crafty Sentiments are asking us to "use a digi", well that was simple! The other challenge from Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge is that we follow their sketch design. Again, pretty simple!

I used a plain white square card blank which I bought from my local craft shop, then I added some lovely purple mulberry paper which I have had in my craft box for ages, waiting for the right moment to use it. Today was the day! Then I added some pink card to the left hand side, and out of the same card, I punched a butterfly to use as part of the design instead of a second smaller circle. I added a felt glittery piece of ribbon and 3 gems for embellishment and topped it all off with a digi stamp which I won 2 weeks ago on another challenge!

As the card is for quite a young person I kept the card very simple, and I tried to make it "touchy feely" as she has learning difficulties and she loves feeling different textures. I thought with the smoothness of the card, the suede feeling of the ribbon, and the fact its glittery would attract her, and of course the mulberry paper is very tactile too.

My card is pictured below, I hope you like it.

Creative Inspirations Challenge # 42 & Alphabet Challenge Blog

2010-09-08T16:43:00.000+01:00

I've entered this card which I've made, into 2 different challenges this week. The first challenge was to make a card for Creative Inspirations Challenge # 42 which isn't square or rectangular, and the other challenge was the Alphabet Challenge Blog , the theme for this week is "S for Scallops".

I found a design for making a cross shaped card, which you could use for Christmas or Easter, so I based my card on this. I cut it out of Lilac coloured card, and used 3 of my scalloped Nestability dies, cutting different coloured coordinated cards and layering them up to create a centre piece for the cross. I used some silver large and smaller gems to embellish the cross' centre, and then I placed gold border peel off's, which had a scalloped design to it, to border the card. I then stuck some straight border edging peel off's to decorate out from the centre of the design, then placed a pink gem at the end of each of these.

I have photographed my card, and this is pictured below. I hope you like it.

Friday Sketchers Blog Challenge # 118

2010-09-08T16:25:00.002+01:00

I had intended to enter this card into 2 challenges, then I realised that the image I used wasn't correct for the other challenge, so this is just being entered into the Friday Sketchers Blog and the challenge was to follow the sketch, which this week was pretty complicated as you can see below.

First of all I found some papers in my craft stash which matched each other, and then I laid out the papers and cut them and layered them into the pattern which was asked for.

I mounted all the designer papers onto a gold mirror card.

Rather than adding another piece of paper onto the design, I stamped the design onto the top piece of designer paper and coloured them in coordinating colours to match the colour.

I hope you like my card, which is pictured below.

Thank you for taking time to view the card I've made.

ABC Challenge, Promarker Challenge, Belli Challenge, Crafty Creations Challenge, Truly Scrumptious Challenge & Penny's Challenge

2010-09-03T12:36:00.000+01:00

Wow what a lot of challenges I've entered for today's cardmaking challenge. This is, by far, the most I've entered one card into for quite a while, so here goes, here's the challenges which I have entered my card into.

1) Penny's Challenges # 37 - Happy Birthday Challenge

2)Truly Scrumptious Challenge # 40 - Use sketch & added option of adding a knot to the design

3) The ABC Challenge - C is for Charms

4) Passion for Promarker Challenge Week 67 - Teddy Bear's Picnic

5) Belli Challenge # 99 - Old Stamps

6) Crafty Creations Challenge # 83 - White plus one other colour

I've used a white card blank, and added various brown papers and card from my craft stash to the front, to fit in with the sketch design.

I used a few different brown promarkers also, and with the white ribbon which is knotted, plus the white birthday banner and the white background on the stamp, this also fits in with the white plus one other colour challenge too. The stamp is a digital stamp which I've had for ages, so this fits in with the "old stamps" challenge. The charm I've used is a teddy bear charm, though you probably can't see that on the photo, but take my word for it, it is!

Anyone who knows me, knows I'm mad about Teddy Bears, so this card was a delight to make, I hope you like my card as much as I enjoyed making it.

Thanks for taking the time to view my card!

xxx

Flutterby Wednesday's Challenge # 120, Creative Inspirations Challenge and Simon Says Stamps Challenge

2010-09-03T12:17:00.000+01:00

I have made a card today to fit in with several challenges.

I used a pastel green card blank, and found some lovely pink card to use. I love this pink, it's so vibrant.

I've had an angel digital stamp for a while and as one of the challenges calls for angels, I decided to use this, plus the colours I needed to use fitted in with the stamp too. I used some antique lace which I've had in my storage box for ages, and this in fact was from my mum's sewing box from many years ago. I finished it off using some pearls for decoration along the bottom.

The challenges I have entered this card into are as follows:

1) Flutterby Wednesday's Challenge # 120 - Follow Sketch & use a butterfly, fairy or angel on it

2) Creative Inspirations Challenge - Pastel Green, Pink & Cream

3) Simon Says Stamps Challenge - Pearls & Lace

The sketch image is below along with the photo of the card I made.

Thanks for looking!

xxx

Crafts 4 Eternity Recipe Challenge # 48

2010-09-01T23:22:00.000+01:00

The card I made today was one I made by following the recipe and sketch given by Crafts 4 Eternity Recipe Challenge # 48.

The recipe is:

1) Use the sketch (pictured below).

2) Use your favourite colour.

3) Use your favourite image.

I used papers in my craft stash, and I used a heart border peel off to edge the card. I used one of my SWALK stamps, which I love so much right now. I backed this with silver mirror card and I used one of my favourite combinations of colours, which is pale blue, and pale pink.

I put all of this onto a Cream Pearlescent C5 Card.

I hope you enjoy my card as much as I enjoyed making it.

Thanks for taking the time to look!

Sunday Sketch & Stamp Challenge

2010-09-01T23:12:00.001+01:00

I made a card today to fit in with the Sunday Sketch and Stamp Challenge.

The sketch they gave is below, and I've photographed my card for you to see.

The stamp I used is one which I got as a free gift on a magazine last week, but he's soooooooo cute.

I cut 2 oval shaps with my nestability dies, the 2 larger sizes.

I also stamped Happy Birthday sentiment from the same set as the hedgehog stamp, and stuck this to the card with foam pads.

I used some decorative papers, which I've had for a while, and mounted this onto a square Lilac Card blank.

Though the sketch design shows different shaped circles on the right corner, I thought I'd change it by putting stars on it, but in the same pattern.

I hope you like my card.

I Love Promarkers # 28 & OCC Sketch Challenge OCCSC29

2010-08-19T15:09:00.000+01:00

I made this card this morning to fit in with 2 challenges.

The I Love Promarkers # 28 challenge blog has a theme this week, entitled "The Seaside", so I found a digital image from my images stored on my PC, and coloured them in using pale yellow, dark blue, poppy red, brown and ivory promarkers.

The OCC Sketch Challenge Blog gave a sketch to follow, which I have put below.

I stuck them onto a pale blue card, which I die cut using a nestability die. I used a blue ribbon and some paper from my craft stash to back it all off, and added a sentiment and a button for decoration.

I hope you're all having a good day xx

Crazy4challenges C3C50 Blog Challenge

2010-08-15T02:49:00.001+01:00

I just had to enter this challenge when I saw it. Anyone that knows me personally will know that I love Elvis Presley's music, and the man himself, so when I saw Crazy4challenges C3C50 Blog's challenge for this week, and I saw that the theme was "music somehow on your card", also saying that if you used an Elvis stamp I would get double points, I couldn't resist entering it!

I have had an Elvis stamp for ages, which I bought on Ebay from someone in America, and though I have used it to make cards for friends, I haven't had chance to enter it into any challenges, but now is the time for it to make it's challenge premiere!

The backing paper I used was Hollywood Greats, which also depicted an image of the man himself. I used some dark paper, cut from the Hollywood Greats pack, to back the white card which I stamped the Elvis image onto. Then I sprinkled some Clear Glossing powder onto the stamp, and heat embossed it with my heat gun.

I finished it off with a Black and Gold Happy Birthday peel off.

I hope you like my card.

A Thousand Sheets of Paper Blog Candy!

2010-08-07T13:03:00.000+01:00

Amy over at A Thousand Sheets of Paper is giving away some candy which can't be missed, she is giving away sooooo much!

To start with, she is offering 200 sheets of 6 x 6 paper to 5 lucky people! (1000 sheets in all)

Also she's giving this lot too!

Sweet November Coral Reefweaver, Chanter Heartsong, Coriander Fairy and Darby & Penelope
CC Designs Lil Emma Bug, Cherry Emma and Halloween Hansel
The Greeting Farm Miss Anya Dressy set, Fairy Chloe and Fairy Eva
Tickled Pink Lil Lolita Ivy and 60's Mod Ivy
Simply Betty Stamps Lola and Miller
Stamping Bella Maisy Ketto
Christy Croll Appley bowl Huggabug (since I couldn't include one of her fab Tiddly inks digis)
My Favorite Things Pure Innocence Fairy Girl
Sugar Nellie Gorjuss Girl "Just a girl"
Kraftin' Kimmie Drucilla and lots of little extras
Lili of the Valley Tiptoe fairy

The closing date for this blog candy is 3rd September.

Good luck everyone!

Picture of both the cards and the stamps on offer are pictured below!

Love,

Karen

xxx

Sugar Bowl Challenge Blog # 40, Sir Stampalot Blog August Challenge & Dutch Dare Card Challenge # 83

2010-08-06T12:25:00.000+01:00

I made this card this morning to fit in with 3 different challenges.

All card I bought from The Paper Mill and Hobby Craft, I used some gold peel offs and I used a Sugar Nellie Image on it as well to fit in with one of the challenges. I used a patterned circular template to cut out the aperture on the front of the card by hand, and instead of putting an insert into the card, I put used another piece of coordinating card, and I stamped the image onto that, so it shows through the aperture.

For the bling, I used a sparkly card but this doesn't show up very well on the photo, sorry about that, I also used a pearl brad on the centre of the flower, which I cut out for embellishment.

On the sketch which Sugar Bowl Challenge have given us to follow, it shows a pattern around the image, instead of using card and laying it into a pattern, I re created the pattern by using peel off's and laying them on the front of the card in the same pattern for a more subtle effect.

The Challenges I'm entering are as follows:-

1) Sugar Bowl Challenge Blog # 40 - Do It Yourself!

2) Sir Stampalot Blog August Challenge - Bring on the Bling

3) Dutch Dare Card Challenge # 83 - Anything Goes

I hope you enjoyed my card as much as I enjoyed making it.

JUST CUTE BEARS CHALLENGE # 28

2010-08-01T17:44:00.003+01:00

As anyone who knows me will know, I absolutely adore bears, so I had to have a go at the challenge this week which Just Cute Bears Challenge Blog have set for us.

The challenge is "anything but square ... AND include a tag".

They also don't mind if you include decoupage, and I've been dying to use this decoupaged bear which I bought a while ago.

First of all I cut a piece of white cardstock to 10" x 5" and I made a Spring Card out of it.

I had some delightful pink mirriboard with a lovely pattern on it which I cut down to use on the base. Then I had some silver card and I used that as a base on the diamond part of the card, embossed it a little, then stuck the bear decoupage over it. This has hidden some of the embossing I did, but never mind.

I attached a brad to a sentiment tag saying "birthday" and added that onto the card, then added a few silver gems for a finishing touch.
As the bear was metallic, from Dufex, the flash from the camera bleached out the bear's image a little bit, so I'm sorry about that. I tried to take a picture without flash, but it came out too dark.

Thank you for taking the time to view my card. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did making it.

Paper/Card advice needed please

2010-07-15T19:28:00.001+01:00

I need your help and advice please people.

As most of us do either stamping or digital stamping for our blog challenges, I would like to know which paper/card you print/stamp onto.

The reason I ask this is because the paper I have used up till now isn't available at the stationers anymore.

The paper I have used up till now is made by IQ Mondi smooth white paper, 160 gsm.

This was perfect for my stamping/printing/colouring needs.

They have another 160 gsm paper there, but it doesn't seem the same as what I was using, in fact it feels much more flimsy than the previous paper I used.

Could you give me an idea what paper/card you all use please? And where you get it from?

I would appreciate your replies and advice please.

Thank you.

Karen

xxxx

Inked Inspirations Blog's Birthday Candy

2010-07-08T19:58:00.003+01:00

Jodi over at Inked Inspirations Blog is celebrating her birthday today, and so she is offering some blog candy.She's not just giving ONE prize away, she is giving FIVE away!

Pictured below are all 5 of the candy's on offer, this can't be missed. It's such a wonderful offer!

This offer is open until the Midnight, 31st July 2010 (PST).

Crafty Sentiments Challenge Blog # 25

2010-07-08T00:29:00.001+01:00

I'm a keen follower of the Crafty Sentiments Challenge Blog # 25, and their challenge this week is to follow a sketch, which is pictured below.

I coloured the images in with Promarkers, and the backing paper is the Papermania Capsule Collection - Red Hot Paper Pack.

I picked a pack of 30 sheets up at my local Staples store.

I hope you like my card.

Pollycraft Challenge # 51, Forever Friends Challenge Blog, Passion for Promarkers # 59 & The ABC Challenge

2010-07-07T15:16:00.001+01:00

I wasn't feeling too well this morning, so all in all, I'm quite pleased with how this card has turned out.

I've followed a few challenges and fitted them into this card so here goes:

1 Pollycraft Challenge # 51 - follow sketch given (pictured below)

2) Forever Friends Challenge Blog - Stitching Challenge

3) Passion For Promarkers # 59 - Give us a Laugh"

4) The ABC Challenge - Y is for You and Me

I made this a large card, as I accidentally printed the image out a little bit larger than I meant to. I used quite a few promarkers to colour the image, baby pink, pastel yellow, peach, buttercup, baby blue, berry red, terracotta, pastel green, lilac, ice grey 2, yellow and satin for the skin.

I used some bronzed effect pearl gems to adorn the corner of the image and I drew in some stitching around the backing papers and the image itself.

The backing papers and card I bought from The Paper Mill.

To include it in the "Give us a Laugh" challenge, I typed out a sentiment saying "you don't have to be mad to live here, but it helps!"

I added some satin effect sticky ribbon at the bottom and either side of the ribbon I added a gold peel off.

I found some X peel offs, which are supposed to represent kisses I think but I thought they may also represent cross stitching so I placed a few of those on the ribbon.

I hope you like my card. Thank you for looking.

Friday Sketchers # 109 & Just Cute Bears Challenge # 24

2010-07-04T19:43:00.000+01:00

The 2 challenges I am entering this card into are:

1) Friday Sketchers # 109 - follow the sketch

2) Just Cute Bears Challenge # 24 - decoupage

This card I made using the Gingham Vase papers by Design House, I've not seen these used that much on people's blogs but I think they're lovely colours. The cardstock which I used is from The Paper Mill. The decoupage is one I got from Hobbycraft. I love doing decoupage so it was nice to be able to use one for a challenge.

The card and sketch I followed are pictured below. I hope you like my card. Thank you for taking the time to look.

Sugarbowl Challenge # 38, Pollycraft Monday Challenge # 50 & Alphabet Challenge Blog

2010-07-04T19:27:00.001+01:00

I made this card with a few different challenges in mind, and I must admit I'm really happy with how it's turned out.

The challenges I'm entering my card into are:

1) Sugar Bowl Challenge # 38 - follow sketch

2) Pollycraft Monday Challenge # 50 - Pinkalicious

3) Alphabet Challenge Blog - J is for Jewels

As I had an image which was "portrait", I turned the sketch 90 degrees clockwise. I used gems, papers and card which I bought from The Paper Mill and Hobbycraft.

The image I used was Sugarnellie Belle and I coloured her in mainly pinks, to fit in with the pinkalicious theme. I coloured her in with Baby Pink, Rose Pink, Magenta, Sunkissed Pink, Forest Green and Buttercup Promarkers (sorry for the green and buttercup colours but I didn't think pink would go too well for a flower stem or for hair)

The sketch and the card I made are pictured below.

Thank you for taking time to view my card.

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge # 57

2010-07-03T10:28:00.000+01:00

The Craft Challenge for this week, Number 57, is to follow the colours Purple and Green with Gems.

I got my new Hougie Board yesterday so I sat having a play with loads of embossing techniques on different spare pieces of card to see what came out with, like you do, and I found myself with the background to this card.

I used a cream pearlescent card, which I bought from my local Hobbycraft, then I cut down the card so it was exact inches and then scored the lines an inch apart. After that I got some green holographic mirri board and scored a grid pattern 2 cm apart then cut these out, and then used my corner punch to snip the corners off the squares, and stuck them in the squares between the embossed lines.

After that, I coloured in the lovely Miss Evie Patches image, which is from the wonderfully talented Squigglestamps, and I coloured it with Grass Green, Olive Green, Pale Green, Forest Green and Purple Promarkers, and cut it out, then stuck on purple gems in her hair and on her shoes, flower, buttons, and added a couple green square gems onto her pocket, then with 3d sticky dots I stuck it to the card.

I used a purple happy birthday banner and stuck 2 green gems onto that.

My card is pictured below, I hope you like it!

Thank you for taking time to view my blog.

Woohoo I've just won!

2010-06-28T12:19:00.001+01:00

WOOHOOO! WOWWWWWWWW!!! YIPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

I JUST FOUND OUT I'VE WON A CHALLENGE I ENTERED LAST WEEK AT FOREVER FRIENDS CHALLENGE BLOG! I'VE WON A £10 JOANNA SHEEN VOUCHER. I'M OVER THE MOON (CAN'T YOU TELL? LOL)

I thought I'd announce it to all you lovely people, so if you're feeling pretty low and haven't won anything for a while, don't give up, your next win could be just around the corner!

Secret Crafter Challenge # 89 & Truly Scrumptious Challenge # 35

2010-06-28T00:07:00.000+01:00

Secret Crafter Challenge # 89 has a theme to follow, and this week it's Strawberries & Cream, which also happens to be the theme for Truly Scrumptious Challenge # 35, but they ask that we follow a sketch of theirs too ( which is pictured below)
All the card stock which I used was from the Paper Mill and the digital image i got from the pc (sorry offhand I cannot remember which site I got it from). I added a few extra things to "pretty" it up a bit, and I ordered a "Birthday Girl" peel off. I also added a present embellishment and some dark red gems.
I kept to the strawberries and cream colours, in order to fit in with the challenges.

Just Cute Bears Challenge # 23 & Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge # 75

2010-06-27T23:53:00.000+01:00

I entered these challenges as I thought the image I had of a bear would fit into this particular sketch.
The challenges I've entered this card into are as follows:

1) Just Cute Bears Challenge # 23 - Open theme
2) Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge # 75 - Follow the sketch (picture below)

I didn't have any square cards and so I thought I'd take the chance and put this onto a rectangular card instead. I know I could of cut it down, but I liked the look of it on a longer card.
I used card from my cardstock and gems from my gem stash. The stamped image I coloured with promarkers and then I cut it out with a large circular punch (ok I know it gets rid of some of the lovely image but I got the main elements of the stamp in it). Due to me not having a slightly larger or smaller circular punch and not being very good at cutting out freehand ones, I wasnt able to make a border around the bear, and I realise it doesnt look very much like I've cut out the circular bear image but I have.
I have a new border punch, and so I used this to partially border the backing card, for a little more decoration.
I hope you like my card.

One Stop Craft Challenge # 86 & ABC Challenge

2010-06-27T19:02:00.001+01:00

I tried to make this a bit fancy, with doing the extra dimension on the card, by double embossing the card to give it an "art deco" look.

I found an image of a baby in a pram which I thought was cute and I coloured this Pink and Brown to fit in with the colour scheme which One Stop Craft Challenge # 86 called for. I also stamped onto the image 2 butterflies which I also coloured Pink and Brown, and I placed a pink dragon fly onto the creased effect part of the card, then added in 4 bronze (which I think look like a mix between pink and brown) pearl gems.

The ABC Challenge week 86, has got to X which this week they have asked for "X is for Xtra Dimension"

I hope you like the card I made. Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog.

C.R.A.F.T Challenge #56 & I Love Promarkers Challenge

2010-06-27T18:52:00.006+01:00

I loved doing this challenge as I loved the colours given by the C.R.A.F.T. Challenge # 56 which asks us to use the colour combination of black, lime and lilac.

I also incorporated it into the sketch for I Love Promarkers Challenge # 20.

I used lilac, lime and black cardstock, and I also cut out some flower shapes from the lilac card as well.

As I didn't have any lime green ribbon, I cut some paper out a similar width to the lilac ribbon which I used on the card, and coloured it with a Lime Green Promarker pen.

I hope you like my card as much as I enjoyed making it, thank you for looking at my card.

Crafts 4 Eternity Recipe Challenge # 39

2010-06-27T18:43:00.001+01:00

The Crafts4eternity Recipe Challenge blog this week have given a recipe as follows:

1) use the sketch

2) use a nursery rhyme theme

3) add a charm

I used mainly card stock which I've had for a while, as these blue colours went so well with the blue which I used on the image. The image was found on the PC, and depicts Incy Wincy Spider, thus following the Nursery Rhyme theme.

I added some gems from my craft box, and I cut a fleur de lys pattern out of silver card (though in the picture it does not look silver at all, I think it must of reflected back at something) and used it upside down to create the pattern at the top. The very top piece of card, I embossed with a cuttlebug embossing folder.

I found a metal charm depicting a birthday cake and the words happy birthday and I stuck this onto the top part of the card with a foam pad so it stood out a little from the card.

The stripy pattern at the bottom of the card was created using some sticky ribbon which I found in my ribbon stash.

I hope you like my card.

My photo of the card I made and the image given, are below.

I Love Promarkers Challenge & Friday Sketchers Challenge #107

2010-06-20T10:32:00.009+01:00

There were a couple of challenges which I wanted to enter with this image of a bear, though it's a simple picture, I think it's pretty cute, and I combined it with the pretty backing papers, which had part of the elements of the sketch on the papers already, I just had to use them.

The challenges I've entered my card, pictured below, into are as follows:

I Love Promarkers Challenge - Theme this week is "Bears" and
Friday Sketchers Blog Challenge # 107who have given a sketch to follow, which is pictured below. On the scalloped part of the image, I used the scalloped pattern on the backing papers, which I've just noticed I've placed the wrong way round to follow the pattern, oops, I hope that will be ok.

The promarkers which I used are Grass Green, Poppy Red pastel pink, black, vanilla and blue. Though the sketch did not ask for a sentiment, I felt it needed one, so I placed it underneath the image.

Thank you for taking time to visit my blog.

Delightful Challenges Blog & Bee Crafty Challenge

2010-06-20T10:12:00.004+01:00

I saw the sketch given to enter the Delightful Challenges Blog and loved it the design so much that I just had to make a card following it.
I'm delighted at the result, and pleased that it also fits into another challenge which I have wanted to enter for a few days now, which is the Bee Crafty challenge, who's theme this week is "Pink N Girly".
I stuck to the pattern of the sketch but I made a few small changes and hope this will be ok. I used heart shaped gems instead of round ones, and instead of a rectangular sentiment I used a tag one, but stuck a silver gem at the "fixing" end to disguise it a little.
My card is pictured below, thank you for taking time to view my blog.

Passion for Promarkers Week 56 Challenge

2010-06-18T16:58:00.000+01:00

I have made a Father's Day card for a friend and liked it so much that I've entered it for the Passion for Promarkers Challenge Week 56 - sketch and theme, which is "male themed card plus sketch".
I'm also going to enter it for the Cute & Girly Challenge. Their theme this month is "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue", so I have chosen the blue part and have applied it to the blue which is in the card.
Sorry for the wonkiness of the picture but my daughter took this photo for me, and I needed to get these posted as soon as possible so they would arrive on time for Father's Day.
I saw the "rosette" picture online and loved it as I knew it would be ideal for the recipient.
I hope you like my card.

Papertake Weekly Challenge #42

2010-06-18T16:42:00.003+01:00

I've made this card for my friend's daughter for her to give to her dad on Father's Day. I liked it so much I wanted to enter it into a challenge, and I saw the Papertake Weekly Challenge Sketch #42
I used some monochromatic colours as I thought they were more manly than the usual brighter colours. The image I used was a print out from the pc but it suited him perfectly as he has a car similar to this.
I hope you like the card, which is photographed below. Sorry for the slight wonkiness of the picture, but I had to take the pictures quick as I needed to get the cards posted, so they would be there in time for tomorrow, to be given on Father's day.

Squigglestamps Design Team Call

2010-06-15T17:22:00.007+01:00

I have thought long and hard about being on a design team and with the encouragement from a friend and with a lot of thought on it, I have decided I would love to be on one, so I am going to enter the Design Team Call for Squigglestamps Blog

The card I would like to enter is below. Thank you for looking at my blog, and I hope you like the card I've made!

Sorry for the wonky image, I took the picture and it wasn't as straight as I'd like so I went to take another one, and the batteries in my camera died on me, so I've had to use this one. You can't see the corners which I've cut with my corner punches, but you can see the rest of the details.

Forever Friends Challenge Blog & Crafty Sentiments Challenge Blog Week 22

2010-06-15T10:34:00.003+01:00

Good morning everyone!
Well, I've managed to make a card to enter into 2 challenges (it was going to be 3 challenges, but I forgot to follow their recipe, oops)
The 2 challenges which I'm entering my card into are as follows:

Forever Friends Challenge Blog - Anything cute except forever friends
CraftySentiments Challenge Blog Week 22 - Pink, Black and White only

I used some petals and gems which I got from my local craft store.I used magenta, baby pink, rose pink and black Promarkers for colouring the image, which is a digital Image and I can't for the life of me think which website I got that from, sorry. The ribbon I bought from my local Hobbycraft. The backing paper I used is Shabby Princess Pink Diamond Paper which I downloaded ages ago.
It doesn't show it too well on the card but I cut an aperture out the front of the card, and the image is actually on the inside of the card, peeking through the aperture.
From the picture it looks like I've just placed a circular image on the front of the card, but I haven't.

The card I made is pictured below, I hope you like it.

just popping in to say hi

2010-05-21T09:50:00.000+01:00

Good morning everyone.

Have had a particularly bad time here, sorry I haven't posted anything.

I've been keeping a look out at all the blogs I follow though, and I am often astounded at the level of professionalism in cardmaking. It's so lovely to see the wonderful cards you all produce.

I hope to be back very soon blogging and showing you all my cards.

Take care, enjoy the lovely weather, and have fun!

Love, Karen xx

Happy Easter to you all!!!

2010-04-04T13:25:00.001+01:00

I'd like to take this opportunity to wish all my friends and followers a very Happy Easter.
Apologies for not having made any cards lately but I am having a tough time at home right now, and I need to get things sorted out here.
This doesn't mean you're all out of my thoughts though.
Best wishes to you all,
Love Karen xxx

Colour Create Challenge and Cupcake Craft Challenge

2010-02-17T13:06:00.001Z

Hi everyone!

I am turning into a nocturnal card maker. All the cards I've made lately seem to have been made in the late evening or very early morning.

My brain doesn't seem to want to switch off at night, and I find myself thinking about making cards, so then I get on with one to enter into a challenge.

It's quieter at that time of the night anyway, I don't have the kids interrupting me every 5 seconds at least lol (not that I mind, that's all part of being a parent)

OK, onto my card.

This card I would like to enter into the 2 different challenges as follows:-

1) Colour Create Challenge # 38 - Colour theme Red, white/off white, chocolate and pink

2) Cupcake Craft Challenge #78 - Theme "Keep It Simple"

I coloured the image in with Promarker Pens, colours used are Berry Red, Vanilla (which I used as the off white for the card challenge), baby pink, yellow for the rose otherwise you might not of seen it over the red coat, Cocoa and Chocolate. I also used a small amount of forest green, for the rose stem.

All card stock was bought from The Paper Mill, and the sentiment is from my craft stock.

I hope you like the card I've made, which is pictured below.

Sorry for the quality of the picture, I'm not quite sure what happened as they all came out the same.

I Love Promarkers, Cute Card Thursday, Dareu2digistamp & Alphabet Challenges

2010-02-16T00:49:00.000Z

I haven't been feeling too good the last few days as I've got a Sinus Infection, and this has thrown my balance out too so I hope I have included everything on this that I need to. I'll remember to add the photo of the card at least, as last week I entered a challenge and then had to be prompted by a friend that I had forgotten to put it on!(does help if you want to be in with a chance to win lol)

I entered this card into several challenges today.

The challenges I've entered this card into are:-

1) I Love Promarkers Challenge #1 - follow sketch given and use Pink & Brown.

2) Cute Card Thursday Challenge #99 - In the Name of Love.

3) dareu2digistampchallenge #31 - Use Your Punches and use a digital image

4) Alphabet Challenge - P is for Pink

I have altered the image given slightly, by making background of the card "unequal" pieces of card instead of the same, and I have rotated it, as I felt it looked more interesting that way. I hope you agree.

The card I have used was bought from The Paper Mill and the image is a digital image I've downloaded.

I embellished it with some pink and brown gems/pearls (though they look red in the photo they are definitely pink).

As the digital image was of Cupid, I felt this tied in with the "In the Name of Love" theme, and also I added a "With Love" sentiment.

I have used a corner punch to give the corner of the card I cut, a different pattern, rather than it being plain, and also this ties in with the "use your punches" theme.

As one of the challenges asked for pink and brown, and another challenge asked for pink, I have tied these in together as well.

I hope you enjoy my card.

Whats your favourite.....

2010-02-13T10:54:00.000Z

I'm curious here, I was wondering what your favourite craft item is.

It could even be a tool or something you've bought to make things easier.

No prize for answers but I was curious to know my crafting friends favourites. It might also give me a tip on things to buy in the future, if you rate them that highly.

Mine has to be my promarker pens and my decoupage spring action scissors!

Crafty Sentiments Challenge, Passion for Promarkers Challenge & Crafty Creations Challenge

2010-02-10T22:54:00.001Z

I saw the sketch given by Crafty Sentiments and, along with the colour scheme, I was so tempted to try it, and then I saw a few other challenges I could fit in too, I hope you like my card below.

Crafty Sentiments - Blue & White

Passion For Promarkers - Using colours Agean, Sky Blue & Cool Aqua

Crafty Creations #54- Theme "Friends"

All card stock I've used was bought from The Paper Mill, the image was a digital image downloaded from the internet and the sentiment was a "friends sentiment", "good friends are like quilts, they age with you but never lose their warmth" which I printed onto pale blue cardstock.

One Card - Six Challenges!

2010-02-10T22:32:00.000Z

Not having made a card for a few days, I thought I'd have a go at making one and including it in quite a few challenges.

I've had a few personal challenges of my own the last few days, so this is my first opportunity to make one.

The challenges I'm hoping to enter my card into are:-

1) Creative Card Crew #44 - Valentines

2) A Spoon Full of Sugar #90 - recipe of 1 each of patterned paper, embossing, button & ribbon

3) The Pink Elephant Challenge #53 - Mushy Gushy Valentine

4) Charisma Cardz Blogspot #5 - I Love You

5) Truly Scrumptious Challenge #25 - Sketch, with additional buttons & bows

6) Simon Says Stamps Challenge - Love

This is a wonderful sketch to follow, I really enjoyed making it.

I printed out some valentine papers which I downloaded some time ago, and embossed some plain red cardstock which I had bought from The Paper Mill some time ago.

A few days ago, I bought some thin ribbon from HobbyCraft which has just opened near me, and I used some double sided tape on the back to stick down onto the card.

Instead of the flower on the design, I used a bow, topped with a button, to tie in with one of the challenges.

To finish the card, I used a silver peel off for the sentiment.

The picture on the front of the card is an image of a cavalier king charles spaniel, which looks very much like my dog Sam.

As I love him loads, I wanted to express it in this valentines card.

Below is the sketch which I followed and the card which I've made.

Thank you for looking!

Love, Karen xx

One Stop Craft Challenge No. 66

2010-02-08T10:12:00.001Z

I had planned to make this card over the weekend but with one thing and another, including my health, it had to be put off till this morning.

The One Stop Craft challenge No. 66 this week is a colour challenge, they ask that we use apple green, chocolate and Clotted Cream. That colour combination sounded almost good enough to eat!

I was slightly disappointed as I had planned to use some lovely apple green card which I knew I had, but when I went to use it, something must've been spilt onto it at some time as it was all marked, so I had to use more chocolate and cream, than green.

Originally I had planned to incorporate it in with another challenge but in my half asleep state I forgot to add an essential item which was needed to complete the other challenge, so this card is being entered solely for the One Stop Craft Challenge.

I hope you enjoy viewing my card, I look forward to reading your comments.

Love and best wishes,

Karen xx

Floral Fantasies Blog Challenge to mark Sirstampalot's move to new premises & ABC Challenge

2010-02-07T11:41:00.002Z

I absolutely adore going to Sirstampalot so you can imagine how delighted I was to hear they were moving to a bigger premises, I haven't been there for a while, even though they are fairly close to where I live, because I found it quite hard to get round in my wheelchair, so you can imagine my delight when I found out there was a challenge by Floral Fantasies to mark Sirstampalot moving to their new premises. The theme is "Moving", now I was going to do the usual thing, ie a removal van etc, but then I needed to make a car card for a friend's brother and he wanted it with a racing theme, so I have decided this is the card I am going to enter into the challenge. Sirstampalot's blog is well worth visiting too, I would recommend it.
I also have entered this card into the ABC Challenge, their theme is "New", and everything I have used on the card is new, so this fits into their challenge too.

I printed out a car and chequered flag, all I did was cut out the car, colour it in Promarker's Berry Red, which I had only got yesterday morning and then use double sided tape to attach it to acetate, which I mounted into a card I had bought online.

As the boy was 13, I used a silver peel off and stuck it onto the car door, as a racing car would be.

I hope you like my card, please feel free to leave a comment if you wish.

Cupcake Craft Challenge #76, One Stop Craft Challenge #65 & Crafty Sentiments #3

2010-02-02T09:13:00.001Z

This is a very simple but, I think, effective card.

The 3 challenges I wish to enter this card for, are as follows:-

1) Cupcake Craft Challenge #76 - Four Legged & Furry

2) One Stop Craft Challenge #65 - "Make it personal"

3) Crafty Sentiments #3 - to follow the sketch (below)

The digital stamp image of the mouse is gorgeous isn't it? Rather than choosing what I thought would be the obvious, ie a dog or cat, for the four legged and furry, I thought I'd choose something different.

I personalised it by adding a "special son" text to it.

All the card I used was card stock from The Paper Mill, and the peel off text I used was from my stock which I bought ages ago online.

Thank you for looking at my card.

Promarker Challenge #36 & A Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge #88

2010-01-31T15:15:00.000Z

I am happy to show you my next card, which I intend to enter into 2 different challenges (to be honest it was going to be 3 but as I was entering it, I noticed I was too late for the other one which must've finished last night)

The 2 different challenges are as follows:-

1) Promarker Challenge #36 - Pastel Green & Blossom

2) A Spoonful of Sugar #88 - Theme "freestyle" (anything you like)

All the card I used was bought from The Paper Mill, the decorative corners are die cuts which I've cut out of mint green card (it was the nearest I had to pastel green).

I got some new digital images the other day and so I decided to print and colour one in with my promarker pens, Pastel green which I already had and Blossom which I had to buy so I could enter this (that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it lol)

My card is below, I hope you like it!

Forever Friends Challenge & Creative Inspirations Challenge

2010-01-26T21:33:00.000Z

Anyone that knows me, will know that I absolutely adore bears, specially Forever Friends bears, so their challenge is never a challenge for me. This week I have incorporated it with the sketch supplied by Creative Inspirations Challenge.

Forever Friends Challenge - Quick & Simple

Creative Inspirations Challenge - Sketch

All the card I have used is from The Paper Mill, the forever friends image has been stamped onto plain white card, and cut in a circular punch.

Behind the circular card is some nice shimmery gold card which came with the Forever Friends Kit which I am still using bits of, which I have found to be wonderful value for money.

I finished the card off with some Silver gems.

I hope you like the card I've made.

Crafty Sentiments Challenge #2, Stamp Scrap & Doodle, Papertake Weekly & Promarkers Challenge

2010-01-25T16:49:00.000Z

I am entering this card I have made into 4 Challenges, hopefully!

The challenges are as follows:-

1) Crafty Sentiments Sketch Challenge #2 - Sketch & added option "brads"

2) Stamp Scrap & Doodle - Spring

3) Papertake Weekly - Pink

4) Promarkers Challenge - Any Colours & Theme "Girls, Girls, Girls"

I followed the sketch which Crafty Sentiments set for us to follow, and I attached the flowers with brads, to complete the challenge. I also used pink card, and coloured the stamped image pink (obviously I had to use different colours as I didn't think it appropriate that she had pink hair as well). The butterflies on the card represented the spring, and of course the stamped image is of a girl, so I could complete the theme of the promarkers challenge.

I also used peeloffs on this card for decoration and borders, as I haven't used them for a while.

The card I made is pictured below I hope you like it.

Cute Card Thursday Challenge #96, Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge, C.R.A.F.T Challenge and Treehouse Thursday Challenge # 33

2010-01-25T16:14:00.000Z

OK here, goes, I've made a card today which I hope to incorporate into 4 different challenges, hopefully this will all work as I don't usually make a card to fit into as many challenges as this at once.

The challenges I am hoping to enter this card into are as follows:

1) Cute Card Thursday #96 - Fairy Fantastic

2) Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge - Love

3) C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - Red

4) Treehouse Thursday Challenge #33 - Get Well Wishes

I used my Nestability scalloped square die, and turned it so it was a diamond shape, then I die cut a "Love" die and placed 2 parts of these at the top of the card. Then I mounted onto foam pads a rectangular base for the "Get Well Soon" peel off which I used for the "text". As Love was also to be included, I placed some random peel off hearts around the card.

I wanted to keep the design of the card fairly simple, as there were so many challenges to include into this card, so I haven't entered it into any particular "sketch" challenge, I designed it myself.

The card I made is below, I hope you like the card.

Stampin' for the Weekend Challenge & Stamp Challenges Blogspot

2010-01-20T14:38:00.002Z

I have entered this card into 2 challenges

The challenges are as follows:-

1) Stampin' for the Weekend - Fiona's sketch to follow (pictured below)

2) Stamp Something Challenge - theme Blue and White

All the card and papers I bought from the Paper Mill shop near me, and also I bought the flowers from there too, which are from the Papermania range.

I hope you like my card.

Dutch Dare Card Challenge DDCC # 69 and One Stop Craft Challenge # 63

2010-01-20T14:26:00.000Z

I have entered this card into 2 different challenges, the first being Dutch Dare Card Challenge DDCC # 69 where they've asked us to follow a sketch (below) and the other one being One Stop Craft challenge # 63 where their theme is to use fancy edges or corners.

All the card I have used is from The Paper Mill. I fancied using a red white and blue colour coordination for some reason.

The pattern I used, was a fleur de lys borderability die.

The car stamp I've used simply because it fitted the small square which I had die cut out.

I Love Promarkers Challenge #7 and Stamptacular Sunday Challenge

2010-01-20T14:13:00.000Z

I have entered this card I've made into 2 challenges, the first being a challenge for I LOVE PROMAKERS, this was to follow a sketch, and the other one is for STAMPTACULAR SUNDAY which has the theme for "Friendship" and using the colours Black White and Silver.

The card blank I used was from The Works, kindly given to me by my friend Paula as a present, The decorative edge is a borderabilities fleur de lys die.

I coloured a stamp with black promarker pen, stamped onto white card which I got from the Paper Mill, and embellished it with a handbag, fan and some gems.

Finishing it off with silver peel off letters spelling out "dear friend"

I hope you like my card.

Carol's Sketch Fun # 18

2010-01-20T13:54:00.001Z

I don't have a lot of time today so my descriptions will be short but sweet I'm afraid.

The challenge from Carol's Sketch Fun was to follow a sketch, the sketch is below.

I bought some new papermania papers from a local craft shop and thought I'd go for a dramatic black and white look, so thought I'd put them to good use.

I hope you like the card I've made.

Friday Sketchers Blog & Cupcake Craft Challenge

2010-01-15T16:45:00.001Z

I made this card by following the sketch (above) from Friday Sketchers Blog #85

and I also incorporated it into the Cupcake Craft Challenge #73, which has a theme "Going Girly".

The papers I used were papermania papers, and all the card I used is from The Paper Mill.

I used a small circular punch, and punched a circle out of some white card, then I stuck a peeloff to it to decorate it a little.

I hope you like the card I made, thank you for looking!

Crazy For Challenges C4C19 Challenge

2010-01-10T22:13:00.000Z

THERE ARE 2 MESSAGES FOR TODAY PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO SEE FURTHER MESSAGES!

This card I've made is for the Crazy For Challenges C4C19 Challenge.

The card i have used are from The Paper Box and also some which my friend Paula gave me (thanks Paula!) which she got from The Works.

I thought I'd keep the colours pretty simple, but I made it as a birthday card to fit in with the Birthday challenge which Crazy for Challenges asked for.

I hope you enjoyed viewing my card. Thank you.

Promarker Challenge #33 and ABC Challenge

2010-01-10T22:01:00.000Z

Hi everyone! This is my first card of the year.

I'm entering this card into 2 different challenges.The first challenge is for the Passion for Promarkers Challenge #33.The theme is Love and they asked that I follow a sketch, which is pictured below, so I have done so.

I'm quite pleased how this turned out, though the heart I made out of gems didn't quite turn out to be too heart shaped, sorry for that.

I have used my new Fleur De Lys Borderability dies which I got just before Christmas, and haven't used them till now. I laid 2 strips of them back to back and made a fancy background for the picture I used.

All the card stock I used was from The Paper Box and also from my friend Paula who bought me some packs of cards from The Works as a get well present! Thank you Paula!

The other challenge I'm entering this card in is the ABC Challenge which theme this week is

"L is for Layering".

I, of course, have layered up the card in several places. Not only on the background card but also on the card which I placed image onto.

I hope you like my card, which is pictured below!

Happy 2010 xx

2010-01-04T18:00:00.001Z

Hi Everyone!

Happy New Year!

I hope you all had a good Christmas and New Year.

My Christmas was hectic, like most mums, but we had a nice time celebrating. Then we went away for a few days as part of our Christmas present to each other. However, while we were there, we caught some sort of virus and so, from New Year's Eve till now we have all been very ill with a sickness and tummy virus. I also managed to catch the flu on top of all that and have contracted a chest infection from that.

I wondered why my sickness was lasting longer than the children, till the doctor explained to me this morning that 2 of my medications react to me not having food inside me, this was, in itself, making me sick too ( you may have noticed, i don't do things by halves lol).

So now I am on complete rest, and am being advised to NOT take my medication till the sickness finishes (as one of these is pretty addictive, it's easier said than done so will have to work out what to do with that).

Due to all this, I can't make any cards yet.

Also when I do get back to crafting I need to rethink my craft room (which doubles up as a dining room at Christmas/New Year) so when I put everything back in there, I will need to work out where it all goes to make it easier for crafting in the coming year.

I'd like to take this opportunity of wishing you all a wonderful 2010 with many happy hours of crafting to come.

Lots of love,

Karen xxxx

Happy Christmas!

2009-12-24T10:49:00.001Z

Hi everyone, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous new year!

I hope you all have a wonderful time with your family and friends.

Lots of love from

Karen and children xxx

Karen's Doodles and Doodle Divas Blog Candy Offer

2009-12-17T23:18:00.001Z

It really would be worth your time to look at Karen's Doodles Doodle Diva's blog. If you haven't then you don't know what you are missing, these digital images are outstanding and so cheap too. Hop on over and have a look because not only will you want to purchase them all they have 11 of the first images created as blog candy but wait they are not digital they have been made into rubber.

This offer ends on 19th December 2009.

Forever Friends "Anything Goes Challenge

2009-12-14T11:25:00.000Z

I've entered this card into the Forever Friends Challenge with the theme of "Anything Goes!"

Though this is a card I made a while ago, I love this card and I hope the people over at Forever Friends Challenge Blog will love it too!

Friday Sketchers Challenge #82 and Stampin' for the Weekend Challenge #28

2009-12-14T10:55:00.000Z

I made this card on Saturday night but due to family commitments I haven't been able to add it to my blog till today. The challenges I would like to enter these for are as follows:

Friday Sketchers Challenge #82 - Sketch to follow

Stampin' for the Weekend Challenge # 28 - Blue and Brown

Apologies for the gem in the centre of one of the flowers being out of line, as it was laying drying it obviously moved. I tried unsticking it but it's well and truly stuck on the card and I don't want to ruin the card by trying to move it.

The sketch I've followed is below and the picture of the card I made for the challenge is below that.

Thank you for viewing my blog.

Crafts4Eternity Challenge, Our Creative Corner Challenge and Passion for Promarker Challenge

2009-11-27T20:22:00.000Z

I'm sorry I haven't posted anything on here for a while, I needed to get some other things done.

I've missed entering the challenges but with the onset of Christmas I've had to concentrate on getting presents and other things ready for the festive period.

I have made a card today though, and I am going to enter it into the 3 different challenges as follows:-

1) Crafts 4 Eternity Recipe Challenge #8 - Following a recipe to (a) use a sketch (b) add a flower or 2 (c) add a sprinkle of glitter

2) Our Creative Corner Colour Challenge - using colours close to cocoa/pumpkin pie/white/choc chip

3) Passion For Promarkers #27 - Theme of "Vintage"

I enjoyed making this card, and loved using glitter again, I've not used it for a while, though I'm not sure why. I used the glitter on the presents the girl in the image is holding, and on the flowers I punched out.

I felt the colours of the papers fitted in well with the "vintage" theme as,

quite often, those colours were used.

The cardstock I used was from The Paper Mill, and the backing papers were from Papermania Regency Signature range, I also punched the flowers out of this paper too.

I didn't have a pattern like on the image (the pointed piece of card at the bottom of the image), so I cut one out by hand as best as I could.

The glitter I used was Stickles Diamond. I find this one changes colour slightly depending on the background you apply it to. ie, it looks a different colour on the presents than it looks on the flowers, yet it's the same stickles that I've used.

I hope you enjoy my card as much as I had making it!

Wonderful Chance to Win A Gypsy Cricut!

2009-11-22T14:55:00.001Z

This is to all the Cricut lovers! Wow! What a wonderful chance to win a new Gypsy from Cricut! Pop over to The Gypsy Spot where they have new blog and they will explain how you can win one.

The Gypsy has been generously by Custom Crops. This giveaway ends on 1st December 2009.

Good luck everyone!

Friday Sketchers #79 Challenge

2009-11-21T09:52:00.000Z

I made this card for my special friend's son who is 15 on Monday. I just hope he doesn't see this blog before he gets the card!

The challenge I've entered this into is Friday Sketchers # 79 which asks that we make a card following the sketch they have given us this week. The sketch is below, along with the card I made.

Supplies:-

K & co Hopscotch Designer papers

White & blue cardstock - The Paper Mill

Ribbon - local craft shop

Ornate corner die - ebay

Setiment - Colemans Stationers

Car Decoupage - Colemans Stationers

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #44

2009-11-19T15:08:00.000Z

This was a quick Christmas card which I made with the sketch from Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #44.

I decided to rotate the sketch clockwise as my image fitted better that way.

The items I have made this card with were all card stock from The Paper Mill. I used a christmas stamp and coloured it in with promarkers, used a few gem stones and some christmas ribbon and voila! here's the card!

I hope you like the card, I enjoyed making this.

Forever Friends Challenge and Friday Sketchers Challenge

2009-11-19T11:13:00.000Z

Hi everyone!

I've had a go at combining 2 challenges into 1 card today.

The 2 challenges I have entered are as follows:-

Forever Friends Challenge - Theme is Glitter

Friday Sketchers Challenge # 78 - Sketch (below)

Anyone that knows me, knows I love bears, so I never have a problem with making a forever friends card. I wanted to include in the sketch from Friday Sketchers as I loved the design of the sketch but at the same time it looked simple yet classic, if you know what I mean.

I hope you like my card!

Supplies:-

Forever Friends backing papers - Colemans Stationers

White/Lilac cardstock - The Paper Mill

Glitter - Stickles Diamond (on petals of flowers and lilac card)

Silk flowers - Local craft shop

Silver Gemstones - Ebay

Crafty Sentiments First Blog Hop

2009-11-15T23:37:00.000Z

I needed something to wind down a bad day for me, and this has certainly cheered me up, as everything I've achieved so far today hasn't gone right, but I managed to do this and got through it fine!

I entered the Crafty Sentiments Blog Hop, their first one, and I hope, first of many!

All you have to do is to be a follower of their blog, which I am, and to leave a message on each of the DT's blogs along the way.

Then when you have followed to each of the 6 DT's blogs, you then go back to the original post, at Crafty Sentiments Blog Hop and let them know you have done it.

Simple!!

Now all you have to do is sit back and wait till the 18th November to see if you have won!

Good luck everyone!

Love Karen xx

One Stop Craft Challenge, Stamp Scrap & Doodles, Crazy for Challenges and Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge

2009-11-10T09:09:00.000Z

Good morning everyone.

I attempted making an easel card yesterday, which fits into several challenges.

I'm quite happy with the results. Instead of using a brad or button to hold the top part of the card up, I have stuck the sentiment with foam pads to the base, so it is slightly higher than the rest of the card, so this holds the back of the card up.

As this was only originally a "test" card (to see if I could do it) I used spare bits of card. I had some green, gold and red card which I had left over from last years' christmas cards and just added a Father Christmas stamp and sentiment.

The challenges this is being entered into is as follows:-

1) One Stop Craft Challenge #54 - "Cards for Kids"

2) Stamp Scrap and Doodle Saturdays - "Special Folds"

3) Crazy for Challenges Week 10 - Easel Card

4) Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge #57 - Easel Card

I've taken 2 pictures of my card so you can see it from the front and also from the side.

What terrible news I've just heard

2009-11-09T21:26:00.000Z

I've just heard some really terrible news.

A good friend of mine whose own daughter had cancer a few years ago, has been supporting a family whose little boy, aged 3, has an incurable tumour. I've been concerned for the family of course, and sent my wishes and love on to them whenever possible. He's been in agony with all this bless him. Well tonight, he lost his fight for life.

He lived far beyond expectations. There were so many times the doctors didn't think he would live past a certain time but he did.

I am sure his family will probably never even see this blog but I wanted this to be my tribute to a wonderful little boy, Callum Cullinan.

R.I.P. Callum xxx

I won my very first Challenge, yayyyyyy lol

2009-11-08T10:22:00.000Z

Wahooooooooooooooo Yay me! I just won my first challenge, over at Dutch Dare Card Challenges! I was starting to lose hope to be honest, but here I am now, with a stamp set on the way to me!

So to any of you that haven't won yet, or who haven't won anything for a while, persevere, because it really does happen!

I'm sure you will all see my new stamps incorporated into my cards once I receive them.

I'd like to take this opportunity to wish you all a good day.

I'm going to have a go later at making my first Easel Card, I've seen a few challenges that are asking for them so this is the perfect opportunity to find out how to do one and to enter it into a challenge at the same time.

Happy Crafting everyone! xx

Stamp Something Challenge Blog

2009-11-08T01:09:00.000Z

I entered the Recipe for Love Somethings Challenge over at Stamp Something Challenge Blog.

The recipe thie week is for

1 ribbon

2 papers

3 embellishments

I had some papers left over from making another card a few weeks ago, and I don't like wasting stuff like that so I used the "scraps"

I also had some peach adhesive ribbon, so I stuck that diagonally across the card.

I thought of things that a lady would love, ie presents, flowers and handbags, and so I used 3 embellishments of these to decorate the card.

I finished the card off with a Happy Birthday sentiment.

Crafty Calendar Challenge

2009-11-07T16:05:00.000Z

I made this card earlier today but I had to go rescue the dog as he ran away, I only got a few yards from the front door before I fell over and then had to come back in, the dog is back now so thats good, but I'm listing this card on here and then going to lay down.

The card I have made is being entered into the "Crafty Calendar Challenge for this month, and the topic is "Weather". The extra options are "Pearls".

The card is from my local craft shop and the pearls are from my craft stash which I've had for ages.

I hope you like the card.

Charisma Cardz Challenge #44 and ABC Challenge

2009-11-06T09:34:00.000Z

There are several posts for today. Please scroll down for further posts, thank you.

This card fits into 2 challenges, one of them for the sketch which has been provided for us by Charismacardz Challenge #44 and the other to fit the colour scheme which is "G for Green" from ABC Challenge

The colour promarker pens I have used to colour this image are: Ivory, Berry Red, Cinnamon, Henna, Forest Green, Olive Green, Grass Green, Pastel Green & Lime Green. I also took the opportunity to use my new die which I bought yesterday which gave me a wonderful scrolling decorative corner. I cut this out of Green Mirror Card.

3 challenges in 1 card!

2009-11-06T09:19:00.000Z

This card was very simple and could be made so easily for a quick card. I've made this and included it into 3 different challenges!

1) Creative Card Crew Challenge - Ribbons & Gems

2) A Spoonfull of Sugar Challenge - Sketch to follow

3) Promarker Challenge - Grass Green & Canary Yellow

I used all my spare craft items for this card. I recoloured a "With Love" sentiment to match in with the colours needed for the challenge, and I also coloured in the gem, bottom right, to make this green.

Cupcake Craft Challenge & Cute Card Thursday Challenge

2009-11-06T09:07:00.000Z

The card below was made originally for just one challenge but then I saw another challenge that it would fit into.

The 2 challenges are Cupcake Craft Challenge which asks us to follow a sketch, and Cute Card Thursday Challenge 85 which has the theme this week of "Primary Colours" of Red, Blue and Yellow.

Rather than a butterfly on the sketch, I used a flower, as the colours of the petals were the perfect colours for the card.

Forever Friends Challenge!

2009-11-05T20:23:00.000Z

Though I have had a bad week health wise I wanted to have a go at the Forever Friends Challenge, who have set us a sketch to follow this week.

I have a friend who has a birthday in 10 days time and I think this will suit her perfectly.

I had some forever friends backing papers, and I also had some mid pink card which I die cut out with my new "Happy Birthday" die which arrived today.

I added some pink dome gems and some pink and white ribbon.

I hope you like my card!

I Love Promarkers Challenge #4

2009-11-02T01:44:00.000Z

* There are 2 posts for today, so please scroll down thank you*

The site for the next card which I have made describes me to a tee, as it's called I love Promarkers Challenge #4

They gave a sketch to follow which is below. I used some christmas backing papers which I had in my craftbox, and used some classic red card to use as a layering. I also used this same card to use a circular punch on, on which I stuck a Happy Christmas Peeloff.

The image I used (not sure of the name, sorry) was stamped for me by my very good friend Kim (Thanks Kim!x) but it was coloured in by me, using Berry Red, grey, and Forest Green Promarkers.The holly is an image I found online and printed out.

I'm pleased how this card finished. I hope you enjoyed my card!

Stamp Something Challenge Blog, Stamptacular Sunday Challenge and Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge

2009-11-02T01:32:00.000Z

I incorporated 3 challenges while creating this card.

The 3 challenges I have entered this into is:-

Stamp Something Challenge Blog - "Cute and Fuzzy"

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge #31 - Theme "Friendship"

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #42 - To follow the sketch below

I'm pretty pleased how this card turned out. I used card stock from The Paper Mill and the pens I used to colour the images in were Promarker pens.

I hope you enjoy viewing my card as much as I had in making it.

ABC Challenge and Friday Sketchers Blog Challenge

2009-10-31T15:37:00.000Z

I have made a card today for Christmas and incorporated it into 2 challenges.

The 2 challenges I've entered it into is the ABC Challenge which has a theme "G is for Green" and also the "Friday Sketchers Blog" # 76, where they ask to follow a sketch, which I've copied below.

Supplies:-

Promarkers - Grass Green, Olive Green, Pastel Green, Forest Green, Line Green, Berry Red, Cinnamon, Ivory and Blush

Cardstock - The Paper Mill

Image supplied and stamped by my friend Kim but coloured by me

Tag - local craft shop

I'd like to share with you the card I've just made

2009-10-30T09:29:00.000Z

Good morning everyone.

I have been asked to make a card for a little girl who is 3 years old tomorrow. She is a huge Tigger fan and I was thinking of colouring in an image but then my very good friend Kim has the use sometimes of a Cricut machine at a crafting class she goes to and she cut this image out for me and posted it.

I wanted to keep the card itself plain but pretty, but I wanted to focus on the gorgeous Tigger.

For the little girls name I printed it out on card and then cut it out.

The "Happy Birthday" and "3" is actually a peel off which I don't tend to use that often nowadays but looked great once I had coloured them in with a black promarker. Also the stars are peel off's but I left these the original colour.

The background to Tigger was die cut on my Big Shot machine using the Scalloped Square Nestablilities.

The card stock was from The Paper Mill.

I'm really pleased with this card.

Thank you Kim for your help with the image. xx

And thank you for looking at my card!

Marianne's Craftroom Blog Candy

2009-10-28T22:15:00.000Z

Pop over to Marianne's blog and have a look at the blog candy she is offering till 12pm GMT on 31st October 2009.

Below is a picture of what you could win.

Good luck everyone!

Stamps & Smiles Sketch Challenge #37

2009-10-24T20:30:00.000+01:00

The sketch given to us by The Fresh Batch Stamps & Smiles Sketch Challenge is below. I've made the "pocket" on the front of the card a little smaller as I wanted to display the greeting which goes into the pocket as well.

I tried to keep the colour combination simple without any pattern as such as I wanted to show off the scalloped edges of the card to full effect.

Friday Sketchers and One Stop Craft Challenge

2009-10-24T20:22:00.000+01:00

The card I have made is going to combine 2 challenges.

I have followed the sketch given to us by Friday Sketchers #75, which I rotated round as I felt this fitted the image I chose better. Also One Stop Craft Challenge #52 has a theme of "Celebration's".

I'm pleased how this card turned out.

Colour Create Challenge #30

2009-10-24T20:14:00.000+01:00

The theme for the Colour Create Challenge - Challenge 30 - is "All White"

The only colour I put on the card was the image.

I used one of the Papermania Ornate Punches for the corners, cut as close to the corners as possible so it would appear as if the corner of the cards had been cut away.

I then used a scalloped square nesties to cut the diamond shape then used the 3rd smaller nestie to cut it again to make a "frame".

I then used a smaller square scalloped nestie again to use the inner square.

I hope you like my card, I'm quite proud of this one! Please see below for my card!
Please believe me this card is really white and not cream, I didn't use a flash when I took a picture so it came out darker than it should have.

My new look blog!

2009-10-24T14:53:00.000+01:00

Welcome to my new look blog! Thanks to my son Martyn who has just finished a 2 year Media Course at college. He's done quite a few "photoshop" jobs for people, and loves playing around with things like this, so the other night, I asked him to have a go at giving me a unique looking blog. All the background pics are cards of mine or items that I use for crafting!

Thank you Martyn! xxxx

Marianne's Craftroom First Blog Candy

2009-10-24T12:07:00.000+01:00

Marianne's Craftroom has their first blog candy on offer!This is on offer till 12pm on the 31st October 2009.

Look at all the wonderful things she's offering!

Craft Challenge # 22, Treehouse Stamps #20 and Dutch Dare Card #63 Challenges

2009-10-22T20:01:00.000+01:00

I have made a card tonight and have incorporated 3 Challenges into it. I made it A5 size (A4 card folded in half)

The challenges I have entered this card into are as follows:-

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #22 - Theme "Anniversary" - this needs to be entered by Wednesday 28th October at 8pm.

Treehouse Stamps Challenge # 20 - The theme of this challenge is Embossing, either heat, dry or faux. I chose dry embossing and embossed the lilac piece of card with a cuttlebug embosser.This challenge will be on for a week till the 29th October 2009.

Dutch Dare Card Challenge # 63 - This was to follow a Sketch by Cathy. This challenge will be on for 2 weeks from the 22nd October 2009.

The sketch is below that I had to follow, and below that is the card I made from it.

A Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge, Creative Card Crew Challenge and Passion for Promarkers Challenges

2009-10-21T18:46:00.000+01:00

I have combined 3 challenges in with this next card I have made.

I have entered the following challenges:

A Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge 74 - to follow the sketch provided

Creative Card Crew Challenge 33 - Babies and Children (I used a stamp with children on it)

Passion for Promarkers Week 22 - Colour Challenge Poppy Red and Forest Green (my daughter wanted to help me with this challenge, so she coloured the stamp in with these colours)