Messy Rabbit New Home Card

My brother-in-law and his family are due to move house in the next few days so I thought an extra special card was in order. I decided Messy Rabbit would do the job but instead of one I decided to do Mummy and Daddy Messy Rabbit and then five little girl Messy Rabbits (as they have five girls). One of their girls has glasses so of course one of the Messy Rabbit girls has glasses on!!!

I have used one of the sheets from the blue background Messy Rabbit paper pad on the front of the card but I have also used one inside for our words to be written on. It looked a bit lost inside so a scarecrow and another Messy rabbit - maybe Auntie Kym - is sat on the tree stump.

On the front of the card I have used the pub as their house and just omitted the pub sign and then stamped some trees, the scarecrows and the fences and watercoloured them all with Lyra Watercolours. I am getting more practice with them and have managed some shading on the images.

Don't mention the fences - I found them a nightmare to cut out with my dodgy hands and eyes but perseverance paid off in the end and they add that something special to the card and I think totally worthwhile. The card was finished off with some sentiments and some ribbons and is ready and waiting to be given to my brother-in-law and family this week. I hope they like it!!! I dread to think how many hours has gone into this card.

Blog Candy

Joani is offering some BLOG CANDY as she's hit the 35,000. What an achievement to get that far - I've certainly got a long way to go before I reach that!!! Go and visit Joani's blog and see the blog candy/what you need to do to be in with a chance of receiving this. Thanks for this generous offer. Kym

Dottie's World Challenge - 4-1-09

I came across Dottie's World blog and then their website over Christmas. Due to my health I'm not always up to making cards but have to rest so instead of just watching TV I thought I'd spend an odd half hour here and there looking at blogs and came across Dottie's World via a link from a friends website and then Charmed Card and Crafts.

I love Dottie, she is so cute but also liked the Girls about Town so decided this week to have both. naughty but very nice. I then saw Dottie's Wold Challenge for this week which was to make a "Start the New Year with a Laugh" kind of card. If you take part in this challenge Louise is kindly offering Scruff in the Tub FOR FREE. He's sooooooo cute. All you have to do is use a Charmed download to make the card and off you go.

For me Dottie sitting in the hammock spoke to me (personally I've always wanted a hammock but I know my bad balance I'd fall out and hurt myself!!!). I then did the words "If it's a choice between sunbathing and housework - which would you choose?" on the computer. I have layered Dottie on some holographic card, some stripey paper, some checked paper, made a border use an X-cut embossing die and added a pink flower and brad. I have seen people use different brightly coloured papers together in totally different styles ie checks and stripes, dots and stripes but I'm not sure it works but I've given it a go. She's been sitting finished on the dining room table for a few days now until I could take a photo - so much so I nearly missed the deadline!!!

Card for a Friend at Work

It is someone's birthday at work on Monday. I only found out yesterday but thankfully I'd got some things all cut out for a card which I think will suit her. She was bought some stuff to make her own cards as presents for Christmas so I think I might be in for some competition!!! The photo isn't very good I'm afraid. I'm Ok with the camera some days, some days not - operator error!!!

This card was made using the Di Kaye Card Creations Art Deco CD as I have fallen in love with that CD. I have also used some of the card and embellishments from the Michelle Marsden recent CD she had on Create and Craft.

Joanna Sheen Card Swap - January 2009

The topic for the Joanna Sheen Card Swap for January 2009 was "A Traveller's Tale". I had a think but then something came to mind as I'd bought some Wild West Lovins stamps over Christmas and thought I'd use an image from Joanna Sheen's American Frontier to do some decoupage to go with the stamps and also to use for a backing paper and insert.

The recipient has been in touch and has said "Thank you and it is gorgeous. I love the way you've combined the image with those stamps - they are sooooo cute. "

I was a little nervous about this card swap topic as it covered a very very wide topic but am glad that I chose the Wild West theme as it gave me a change to use the American Frontier CD, my new stamps and to do some watercolouring that I have got hooked on at the moment.

Blog Candy

Michello has some lovely Valentine's Day blog candy up for offer. I so lovely Valentine's day - an excuse to be all mushy - and this blog candy is absolutely lovely so if you'd like to be in with a chance of winning please pop over to her blog.

OCC Challenge - 3-1-09

Here's my second go at a challenge. Not sure how long I can keep this up but I am determined to do some crafting for "me" this year and doing challenges is just that.

The green background paper is printed from the Artylicious Damask Delights CD, just plain cream card stock and the bottom frill is from some shiny red daisy paper I've had for some time. The image is from my new Lovins stamp set and coloured in with Lyra Watercolours. The little heart has been cut out of the same red paper used for the frill.

I hope this entry is OK and I have done things right. Please let me know if I haven't. I will try to enter more.

Kym

Sketch and Stash Challenge - 5-1-09

I vowed that in 2009 that I would continue to make all my cards for charity BUT I would also try to take part in some challenges as it is a good way to try new things out. Here's my first go at a challenge, other than a Forum challenge, so please be gentle with me.

The new item I have used on here is one of my new Lovins stamps of a little boy and little girl having a peck on the cheek. I have watercoloured the images with Lyra Watercolours which I think are FAB. The dahlia is made from a template from Split Coast Stampers. I used a Purple Hydrangea Versa Magic Dew Drop to colour alternate levels. It was quite hard for my hands and eyes to cut out but good therapy me thinks. To finish off the card is a piece of lilac butterfly glitter card, some purple card, some silver mirror board and a lilac brad.

I hope this entry is OK and I hope to do more in the future.

Kym

I'm over the moon!!!!

As you can see from my profile on the right hand side my life is ruled by Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)/ME. Life is hard but my time in hospital in January to March 2005 made me decide that the cardmaking that I only properly started in December 2005 I would do to solely raise funds for different charities. Come the beginning of December 2008 I had hoped to have raised £550 but what with the normal rush for Christmas I forgot until today to sort out cheques to go off to charities/total up my amounts.

I was amazed to see that I'd not only reached my projected £550 in three years but had gone past it and my total at the moment is £704.69. I am over the moon that despite my own health problems I have been able to help people less fortunate than me. I have donated to many different local and national charities including the BBC Children In Need Appeal, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Prostate Society, Cancer Research, Caddington Hedgehogs, Albery Dog Rescue, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children and the Poppy Appeal for the Royal British Legion, to name a few.

I could not have done this with out the support of my family/friends and also many people on various Forums. As crafters we tend to buy many things but sometimes don't get round to using them. This is when people contact me and ask me if I'd like it for my charity work. Needless to say I never say "no" and have put everything I've had to good use. I would just like to thank everybody that has supported me thus far and I know will continue to do so. It means a lot to know that you are all helping me to help others.

Thanks

Kym

Blog Candy

Emma is offering some blog candy as she's had her 3000 hit on her blog in 9 months. I came across Emma's blog over Christmas when I was a little bored and followed links on other people's blogs and have added her to my favourites so I can see her creations regularly.

Blog Candy

Simon is graciously offering a wonderful selection of blog candy up for grabs. All you have to do is visit his blog and then link to his shop and say which of the Simon Says Stamp Exclusive clear stamps you like best - be warned though - they are all very nice. I have only recently just got into stamping and have vowed 2009 will be my "Year of Stamping". Thank you Simon for such a kind offer.

Blog Candy

It is Jude's birthday on 12/1/09 and she has gracially given up some goodies as blog candy. All you have to do is link to her blog on your blog and let her know of your New Year's resolutions. I wish you a happy birthday Jude and I have put your blog in my favourites so I can see your creations.

Sketch and Stash Challenge Blog and Blog Candy

I make my cards solely to sell to raise funds for different charities but I have vowed that in 2009 I will take part in some challenges and do something for me as well. I have been pointed in the direction of the Sketch and Challenge Blog and hope to take part in some of their challenges very very soon.

In the meantime there is an offer of some blog candy - I have also vowed that 2009 is going to be my "Year of Stamping" - 2008 was going to be this but it didn't work out that way - so an offer of a gorgeous stamp is certainly a wonderful bonus.

Card for a Special Niece

It is my niece's birthday shortly so I had the task of deciding what CD to use to make a card. As she is quite young I decided to go for one of the lovely Westie pictures on Joanna Sheen's Pamela West CD. He is so cute and my niece loves animals and anything cuddly so I think he'll fit the bill.

Thank You card

My Reflexologist bought me a present for Christmas so I wanted to make a special card to say thank you. Normally as it's a thank you for another Keel dog to my collection I take a photo of the dog and make a card out of that but this time I decided to use the Di Kaye Card Creations Art Deco CD as that has some pictures of elegant ladies with dogs. I decided to use the image of the little black terrier - think it's a terrier but I'm not 100% certain. I used a backing paper, 3D decoupage, ribbon and insert and just added a With Thanks tag, two lots of ribbon (both nicely finished off with a tip that I picked up from Leann Chivers when she did some shows recently for Michelle Marsden and Redhotbed), some fabric flowers and a brad. I am pleased with it in the end as I need it for tomorrow. Thankfully I had everything bar the insert printed off and cut out so it's only taken me about 20 minutes to put together.

Happy New Year!!!

I'm sorry I didn't get to post this yesterday but it was very hectic here. We had family around for lunch so there was 6 of us in all and then for tea we had some more family around so there was 11 (there should have been 13 but my niece was poorly and her Mum had to stay at home with her). We had a lovely time and spent a good few hours playing on the Wii.

I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year and to thank all visitors to my blog. I appreciate all the comments that are made. I know it can be tiresome sometimes doing it but the comments certainly give me confidence to continue what I am doing. 2008 was going to be my "Year of Stamping" but I didn't really get into it until October/November time but now I think about making a card and then think what stamping I can do on it - I think I may have the stamping bug - what do you think?

In 2009 I have vowed that I will continue to do more stamping and will try out new things even if I have to get messy - as I don't do messy - apart from Messy Rabbits that is!!!! All my cards I make are sold solely to raise funds for different charities. I will continue to do this in 2009 but I will try not to get upset when they don't sell well as my husband is always telling me that even if I only raise a few pounds that is more than the charity would have got without me doing my cards. I would also like to take part in challenges but I might need some help along the way as I don't know how to take part.

Well, here's wishing you all a happy, healthy and certainly a very crafty 2009.

Best wishes

Kym

Sympathy card

I needed to make a sympathy card so I turned to Joanna Sheen's Heavenly Cards CD and found a nice image of some lilies. I decoupaged the image, did a bit of stamping, added a peel-off, added a beautiful insert that matched the image and the words were so good and finally some fibres and it is all ready to send off.

Two Art Deco Cards

This has been the first time since Christmas Day that I could have a little play. I'd previous cut out the pyromage, backing papers, ribbons etc so it was just a case of deciding how to put it together. The cards were made using the Di Kaye Card Creations Art Deco CD which I love using.

The Butterfly Award

I was given this lovely award recently by Irene but didn't have the time or the knowledge to work how to add it to my blog/pass it on. I've hopefully mastered it now. I am passing this award back to Irene who sent it to me plus:

1. Irene

2. Debbie

3. Chrissie

4. Jak

5. Wendy - Crafty Butterfly

6. Sheena

7. Carol

8. Suzanne

9. Cynthia

10. Enjay

I hope to get more experience of blogging and cardmaking in 2009 and look forward to seeing all your creations.

Preparations for Christmas Day

This is the first time in 8 years that I've been off on Christmas Eve so a lot of getting ready is down to me and one of my sons as my husband and other son are at work. I'm shattered now as I have to do a bit, then rest, do a bit again. I have attached some pictures of our table ready decorated for tomorrow along with the tree (we normally have a real tree but couldn't afford one this year so I was given this tree for attending bingo the other week but we think it's done us proud), a pile of presents wrapped up and ready to be opened and one of the Christmas cake I have decorated this morning. My husband made the cake but used a different tin and therefore I found it hard to stretch the icing out but have done the best I can do. I have put the cake band round that I cross-stitched about five years ago. It takes pride of place on the cake every year as it took soooooooooooo long to make!!!