Blog Candy

Toni has some lovely blog candy up for grabs to celebrate her first year of blogging. I only recently came across Toni's blog over Christmas/New Year but am always having a peek to look at her lovely creations and wish her all the best for her second year of blogging. If you want to have a look at Toni's blog and the blog candy she has up for grabs please click here.

Thanks for this kind offer Toni. I'd certainly like to be in with a chance of winning. I like the idea of the stamped images as well as I'd like to try out new stamps but with being on a limited budget I can't afford to buy all the ones I'd like and this would give me a chance of finding if these kinds of stamps would sell with my customers. At the moment is mainly decoupage cards but I am trying to convert them slowly slowly!!!

Blog Candy

Oh that naughty Glenda has done it again. On the Elusive Images Design Blog they are showing two new themeplates due to be shown on Ideal World on 10/2/09. They are LOVELY!!!! I WANT THEM BOTH!!! If you fancy a chance in winning one of these themeplates please go here and have a look. I'd be in heaven if I won either one of these as they are sooooooooooooo beautiful.

Card for Nephew

It is my nephew's birthday this month. I have used the U-mount stamp of the little camera boy. He has been stamped using black Versafine and coloured in with Lyra Watercolours and various Sakura pens. I have shadowed the edge around the image like what I saw in a show in early January with what I think was Sue Smith demonstrating the U-mount Ethel and Murray stamps (I'm sorry if I got the name wrong as I am useless with names these days) with a light blue. I am not sure whether I like it but my husband has said it's very effective. I have used two different papers from the Funky Hands Funky Daze CD which I got this week which is fab. It's all finished off with some fibres to match the card.

I hope he likes it.

Kreative Blogger Award

Thank you to Irene for this award. I have tried to see what the ward was all week but my anti-virus software has blocked the picture until today. It means a lot to get this award as each day is a struggle and to know that people despite their own busy lives have been to my blog and looked at my cards and make comments.

I now have to list 7 things I am addicted to. Well here goes:

1. My family especially my wonderful, supportive husband and two sons

2. My collection of Keel dogs and cat - I've got 25 dogs and one cat and now my husband is having to make a shelf for them all to sit on.

3. Thanks to watching some shows some years ago with Dawn Bibby on QVC I have now got into the wonderful world of crafting.

4. Making my cards for charity - I hope to raise by the end of December 2009 £1,000 for charity over the last four years - it doesn't sound much in some respects but when some weeks I can't even make a card due to my own ill-health it doesn't sound too bad. Thanks to the support of many bloggers I manage to get the support and encouragement to carry on with this challenge. I also would like to thank those bloggers that send me items to use for their card making that they have in their stash/won't use/stamped images they think I could use as I ALWAYS put everything I am sent to good use - I promise.

5. Various forums where I have found such good friends. Due to my ill health I only really go out to do my 15 hours work a week and the rest of the time I am at home. This makes me feel very isolated but my friends on various forums help me craft-wise and personally-wise so a big thank you to all of you.

6. Dark chocolate -yum, yum.

7. The sea - I so wish I lived by the sea but I don't so until then I have to get people to say hello to the sea for me and have to wait for the times when I get to see the sea wherever it is.

I am now supposed to pass this onto 7 people but I have searched through my list and everyone seems to have this award already. If you visit my blog and haven't got this award please feel free to add it to your blog.

Thanks again to Irene for this award and please accept my apologies for the lateness of this post.

Best wishes

Kym xxx

Your Blog Rocks Award

Thank you to Beryl (Bik's Home) for this award. It means a lot to me to get awards as I know people are taking time out of their busy lives to look at my blog and comment on my cards. I too try and give as much time as I can to visit other people's blogs as I too love seeing their creations and I also gain ideas/inspiration for my own cards.

So many people have received this lovely award lately so if you visit please feel free to add it to your blog.

Thanks again Beryl.

Kym xxx

Rainbow Lady's Challenge Blog - Challenge 46 - Rainbow Monotone Colours

Over at Rainbow Lady's Challenge Blog the topic of the week is RAINBOW COLOURS MONOTONE. This is number 6 in the series but as I haven't taken part in this one before I have much more of a choice. The colours I could pick are: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo or Violet BUT you may only use that colour (plus black if you are using stamps) or shades of the colour. No mixing allowed.

For my card I have used a backing paper from the Artylicious Damask Delights CD with a dark green and lighter green floral picture, a piece of green pearlised card, a piece of green card edges with a green ink pad and the image is from the Elusive Images Flora and Stamp Set stamped in green Versafine and edged in green Versafine. The card is finished off with some green ribbon, some green material leaves and of course a Happy Birthday sentiment coloured in green with Dufex pens.

Commisioned Card for Valentine's Day

I needed another Valentine's Day card for a customer's partner - that makes 4 in total for the same family which has been a bit of a struggle but I got there in the end. This time I decided to go for purple/lilac ie very girly and used Joanna Sheen's Victorian Romance CD. I have used the DoCrafts multi-shaper to the edge on a piece of paper and also for a sheet of backing paper printed off the CD. It is finished off with some gems, some hearts punched out of very think silver card and some lilac organza ribbon. Inside is an insert with a suitable verse - that's four different ones I've had to pick as well which was rather difficult!!!

Commisioned Card for Valentine's Day

Another customer wanted a Valentine's Day card. This time I used Joanna Sheen's Victorian Romance CD for the train image and backing paper. I used the Crafter's Companion Ultimate to create the edge and it is finished off with hearts made by a heart punch and some fibres. Inside there is a suitable verse and matching image imported into it.

Commisioned Card for Valentine's Day

I needed a card for the wife to also give to her newbie husband. This time I used an image and backing paper from Joanna Sheen's Victorian Romance CD and made the heart embellishment with some of the backing paper and some card used for matting and layering. Again there is an insert inside with a suitable verse and matching image.

Commisioned Card for Valentine's Day

A customer wanted a card for his wife for Valentine's Day. He married for the first time last year aged 69 so it had to be something special. I have used Joanna Sheen's Cottage Garden CD for the backing paper, Joanna Sheen's Fashion Boutique CD for the image and various embellishments from my stash. I have made an insert and imported the image inside as well as a suitable verse. I made a big boo-boo with the insert - I put to a Wonderful Husband inside instead of wife, so I had to reprint it so I wasn't happy!!

More snow again today

Today we've got a white blanket of snow outside. Cars have found it difficult to get up the hill outside our house. It then leads into another hill where cars found it virtually impossible to get through so many people were walking or turning their cars around. Thankfully there was no work for me today as I can't work consecutive days but I won't get much rest today as it is my husband's day off, my eldest son has had college cancelled (even though he did go in and spend a while in their library) and my youngest son's school has been cancelled. My husband and youngest son have cleared the pathways outside the back of our house and the front of our house. Our neighbour's daughter has just been round with some sweets for Steven as he cleared their driveway as well.

I have attached some photos my husband took of outside before he cleared up.

Hope everyone keeps safe, well and warm!!!

Birthday Card for a Friend

It is a friend's birthday in a few weeks so I have made her a card to go in the post. I have used My Craft Studio to import some Charmed Cards and Craft Digital Downloads of the Girls About Town. The main is background is printed with a backing paper from Joanna Sheen's Cottage Garden CD and it's brilliant. I like the way I printed it borderless and the image is on the back as well. The card is finished off with a mat done with the Docrafts Multi-shaper, a paper flower, material leaf and Happy Birthday peel-off.

Sketch and Stash Challenge #3 - Monday 2-2-09

It's time for another Sketch and Stash Challenge. If you want to have a look click here. I needed to make a card for my niece's birthday at the week-end and as I was using a brand new stamp it fitted the bill for this Challenge. I used my new U-mount Teddy Bear stamp and stamped the backing with the text stamp that came with it "With "Bear-y" Special Thoughts". I have coloured in the Teddy Bear with Lyra Watercolours. The card has come from my stash and the sentiment mount has been typed using My Craft Studio. It is finished off with some ribbon and three glittery gems.

We have snow!!!

Monday 2 February 2009 (above)

Sunday 1 February 2009 (above)

Sunday 1 February 2009 (above)

I took a few photos last night before going to bed and then another this morning. I'd expected a lot more but thankfully we don't seem to have had much more overnight.

Rainbow Lady's Challenge Blog - Challenge 45 - Windows

On Rainbow Lady's Challenge Blog this week the theme is windows. I knew I'd seen some nice window pictures on the Joanna Sheen's Pamela West CD. The only hard bit was to decide which of the lovely images to use. I went for the one with the window looking out to the sea as I so wish to live by the sea. Instead of using the topper sheet I used the sheet with various little toppers, ATC front/back and an ATC envelope - just for a change.

Cute Card Thursday - Challenge 45 - Valentine's - 29-1-09

On the Cute Card Thursday Challenge Blog this week the subject is Valentine's. As I was making a card for the Joanna Sheen Card Challenge for February I thought I'd make a similar one for this challenge. This time though Messy isn't on his own - he's got his partner. I again have used the Chris Warner Celebrations CD, taking the images into My Craft Studio to manipulate to the sizes I wanted for this card. The card is finished off with some punched hearts and some red fibres.

Joanna Sheen Card Challenge - February 2009

The theme for the Joanna Sheen Card Challenge for February 2009 is hearts. For this I used a Chris Warner Celebrations CD for the backing paper, border, envelope and text but took each item into My Craft Studio so that I could put the images on one page and re-size to what I wanted. Messy Rabbit didn't last long in hibernation after I made the New Home card for my brother-in-law and family earlier this month but what better is Messy and some hearts??

Friday Sketchers No 37 - 30-1-09

Over at Friday Sketchers they had a sketch which I thought I'd have a go at. I took part last week but didn't realise until today that I did the link wrong and my card wouldn't have counted so I am hoping I can do it right this week!!! This card is made with some of my lovely Joanna Sheen Decoupage.

I've been Tagged

I have been tagged by Sheena - thanks - and what you have to do is to go to the 6th folder where you have your pictures and go to the 6th picture and explain what it is about. Last Easter to help my son with speaking Spanish ready for his GCSE in the summer, he went to Spain for a week with my cousin's daughter and stayed with my uncle. This is a picture of my uncle's cave house.

I know that so many people over the last week have been tagged so if you would like a go let me know and I can add you to this post.

Birthday Card

As I printed off two A5 sheets of backing paper to make the Thank God It's Friday Challenge Blog card, I made a pact for the New Year that instead of just putting leftover stuff in a box or drawer that I would make a card up with the items left over. This card is very similar to the challenge card but I've used different card for matting and layering, brads and some vellum. The background prints were two identical prints from Artylicious Damask CD in yellow and green and carefully cut them down so I could match the images on both pieces of card. The yellow was then inked around the edges in yellow and the green with a green chalk ink pad. It was then mat and layered. I then stamped out a flower image from Graphicus Flora and Fauna set and just did some light watercolouring as I didn't want the colours too heavy to distract from the backing paper. It was all finished off with some organza ribbon.

Thank God It's Friday (TGIF) Challenge No 70 - Greens - 29-1-09

On the Thank God It's Friday Challenge Blog the subject is Greens. For this challenge I have used two identical prints from Artylicious Damask CD in yellow and green and carefully cut them down so I could match the images on both pieces of card. The yellow was then inked around the edges in yellow and the green with a green chalk ink pad. It was then mat and layered. I then stamped out a flower image from Graphicus Flora and Fauna set and just did some light watercolouring as I didn't want the colours too heavy to distract from the backing paper. It was all finished off with some organza ribbon.

Cupcake Crafting Challenge 24 - 3-2-1 - Monday 26-1-09

On the Cupcake Challenge Blog this week they had a recipe as their challenge for the week:

3 pieces of cardstock,

2 embellishments such as brads, buttons, or flowers

1 ribbon on your card or project

so I thought I'd have my first go at this challenge. I have used some gold and two different burgundy cardstocks and the main image is from some Joanna Sheen decoupage sheets I bought recently. I have cut the two flowers out with a punch and used a bit of waste peel-off in the centre and it is finished off with some gold ribbon.

Basic Grey Challenge No 19 - Recipe Challenge - 24-1-09

I have entered a Basic Grey Challenge for the first time this week. Please click here if you would like to see the challenge. The recipe is:

Ingredients

2 Patterned papers

1 Button

1 Ribbon and Bow

3 Brads.

Before entering I had to find some Basic Grey items and at the moment have only across some paper so I bought it. It's called Two Scoops. There's one thing I don't like about it ..................... it's too nice to use, the texture is superb and the colours/images are lovely but to take part in this challenge I had to "bite the bullet" and cut up some of the paper. I shall have to keep a look-out for more Basic Grey products now.

The card is made by cutting two sheets in half diagonally, cutting a small slither off the diagnonal piece. The edges were inked with red Stazon. On one of the papers there was a flower so I cut out the image at the bottom, made an embossed mat with My Craftroom Workstation, distressed it with a nail file and after adding three brads to the other three corners I popped the fourth corner in under the flower. I added some decoupage, a button with fibres running through it, a creamy/gold ribbon bow and a matching ribbon on the card from my stash to finish it all off.

Thank God It's Friday (TGIF) Challenge No 69 - Books - 22-1-09

On the Thank God It's Friday Challenge Blog (TGIF), the challenge this week is for books. Click here to go and visit the challenge. I used Joanna Sheen's Heavenly Cards CD for the bible bookcase and backing paper, some other backing paper in my stash, a sentiment typed on the computer and a lovely ribbon bow I have had for a while.

Dottie's World Sunday Challenge - It's a Recipe - 25-1-09

On Dottie's World Sunday Challenge this week there is a recipe:

1 of the downloads (Charmed Cards and Craft)
1 ribbon
3 buttons
1 flower, but it has to be handmade (not a shop bought one, oh no!)

Please click here to go and have a look at the challenge. Here is my attempt at a card for the challenge. I have a number of family/friends that have birthdays very soon so Dottie has made an appearance yet again in a card - I seem to be on Dottie overload but she's soooooooooooooooooooo cute!!! Had to do some stamping on the card as well as I am addicted to that as well. Made a flower shape and cut it out and then used Cut and Dry Foam to make a shadowed edge - I think I need a bit more practice with this.

Blog Candy

Irina from Everything Paper Crafts has some wonderful Valentine's Day Blog Candy up for grabs. Please click here to see. Thanks for this kind offer Irina.

Blog Candy

Kim at Crafty Makes has some blog candy up for grabs. Click here to go and have a look. Thanks for this kind offer Kim.

Mojo Monday Week 71 Challenge - 26-1-09

On Mojo Monday Challenge Blog they have a sketch to follow. Please click here to see the challenge. For my card I have used some paw print card, two cat images from Joanna Sheen's Jayne Netley Mayhew CD, some ribbon and a peel-off sentiment. I hope to come back and do more of these challenges.

Crafts 4 Eternity Challenge - 25-1-09

I thought I'd have a go at this challenge and wrote it down last week. Today I went to stick all the bits together but thought I'd just have one last check I'd laid things out right - only to find the challenge was changed on Sunday - so with a little re-jigging I've now come up with this card. The backing paper is from the Di Kaye Card Creations Art Deco CD, the image from Joanna Sheen's Jayne Netley Mayhew CD and the card ribbons are from Michelle Marsden. It's all finished off with a happy birthday peel-off and a fabric flower (think I'm getting a little addicted to these - might have to buy some Floradoodles and then I know I'll want every single set of these!!!).

Friday Sketchers - 23/1/09

On Friday Sketchers they have a new challenge. Please look here if you fancy a go. This challenge is sponsored by Megahobby.

I wasn't sure about entering this as I've never been ever any good at tearing paper. This time though I have inked the edges with a chalk ink pad so the edges don't look as harsh and I think it looks a bit better. The image and the shadow backing paper is from the Di Kaye Card Creations Art Deco CD. The blue glitter paper, ribbon, buckle and silk flowers are from my stash.

Lorraine's Blog Candy

Lorraine is offering some lovely blog candy including stamps that I LOVE .............. Messy Rabbit!!! Thank you for this kind offer Lorraine. If you want to have a peek please click here.

Joanna Sheen Card Challenge - January 2009

For the Joanna Sheen Card Challenge for January 2009 you had to use a stamped background. I recently made a card for another challenge with a resist embossing background so decided I'd have another play with this as I enjoyed it.

I used some heart stamps I have and put four together on a block and kept stamping them with Versamark over the card. I only did about a third of the DL piece of card at a time as I was worried the Versamark might dry up plus I also found hard seeing where I'd stamped on the cream card so doing a third of stamping, covering with clear embossing powder and doing it three times over the card was best. After heating the embossing powder and then leaving to cool for a while I then used a decorators sponge (like a large car washing sponge) and shopped a bit off and used this to put on the VersaMagic Perfect Plumeria ink giving it a slightly light/dark texture. I then wiped off the excess with kitchen roll. I then cut the edges with my Craftroom Workstation and then stuck on the card, added a piece of ribbon, used a Paris background from the Di Kaye Card Creations Art Deco CD and also stamped/watercoloured a Messy Rabbit couple and it was finally finished off with a With Love sentiment, I love you sentiment and two little red hearts.

Your Blog is Fabulous Award

I have had a difficult week work-wise and health-wise and to get another award this week has really cheered me up. It has been a great surprise. Thank you Nicky for my award.

The rules for this award are that you have to give this award to five people and link to their blogs. They in turn must pass on to 5 people and link back to the person they received the award from and you must also list 5 things you are addicted to.

My five blogs in no particular order are:

1. Cynthia – she sent me some stern PMs last year as I was a bit concerned about my cards. Her advice has made me carry on with my cardmaking and also to start a blog.
2. Ali – I love seeing Ali’s creations on Ideal World when she has done samples for Joanna Sheen and I also enjoy looking at her blog for ideas/inspiration.
3. Suzanne – Again I love seeing Suzanne’s creations on Ideal World on Joanna Sheen’s show but also enjoy her tutorials and looking at her blog as it is such wonderful work.
4. Dottie’s World – I have only recently come across Charmed Cards and Craft and the wonderful world of Dottie and George and love seeing the creations on here
5. Chrissie – she constantly takes the time to make comments on my blog and that is greatly appreciated. I enjoy looking at her creations especially as a member of the DT for the Sketch and Stash Challenge.

Five things I am addicted to again in no particular order:

1. The cards that I make solely to sell to raise funds for different charities
2. Spending some of my good time looking at the wonderful blogs for ideas/inspiration for my own cards
3. Spending time with my wonderful husband and two boys aged 16 and 12
4. Doing the best I can do at work bearing in mind for health restrictions
5. Trying to get good bargains for my cardmaking as 50% of everything that I make is given to charity.

Nicky, thanks again for the award. I shall keep smiling for days!!!

Kym

Challenge 44 - Peel-offs - Rainbow Lady's Challenge Blog

This week on Rainbow Lady's Challenge Blog, Hazel has got the honour of being the first Guest Designer of 2009 and she chose the topic of peel-offs for the challenge this week. Congratulations to you Hazel and thank you for the topic.

I use a lot of peel-offs for borders/corners but also others for embellishing inserts, envelopes, backs of cards etc. I'm sure our family must "eat them on their sandwiches" as I don't seem to use as many than that seem to disappear!!!

For my card I've used some Papermania Christmas paper, stamped a cottage stamp I got recently from Xelacrafts and coloured in with watercolours. I didn't do it too bright as I wanted the peel-offs to be the main part of the card. I have backed some of the peel-offs onto card and cut out but others I have stuck straight onto the card. The Happy Birthday sentiment I have coloured with my Dufex pens in green to match the other sentiments and the outline of the peel-offs. The card is all finished off with some green fibres.

Sympathy Card

One of my customers lives with a friend who has just sadly lost his Mum aged 82. I have made this card for my husband to give to him on Monday. I again have used Joanna Sheen's Heavenly Cards CD for the main image which I have decoupaged and also for the backing paper and insert. I have then just used some backing papers/card and some organza ribbon to finish the card off.

Cute Card Thursday - Challenge 44 - Create a Scene

I had thought about a Valentine's Card for my wonderful husband and had thought about something to do with Paris as he took me there for my 30th birthday.

For the Cute Card Thursday Challenge 44 it is a Create a Scene so my thoughts for my husband's Valentine's Day card fits the bill.

I used a piece of background paper I printed from the Di Kaye Card Creations Art Deco CD and edged it with the Docrafts Multi-shaper and popped it on the top of my card. I then created a scene using a background from the Di Kate Card Creations Art Deco CD of the Eiffel Tower, a Charmed Cards and Craft Digital Download of the boutique and cafe from the Girls About Town Download and the in love Messy Rabbit stamp. I vowed after making a complicated card a few weeks ago that Messy would have to retire for a while but I've got withdrawal symptoms already. The card was finished off with some stickers for the word Paris and Love and also some words printed off on the computer. I hope he will like it - I'm safe as he won't look at my blog so won't know about his card!!!!

Charity Stall - January 2009

My son was off college today so he went and set up the stall for charity that I have next week. I said that he needed to do a nice arrangement to try to sell the Valentine's Day cards. The stall sells between £2.50 and £17.50 for the week. I normally get really upset when it doesn't do well but I shall try not to let it affect me as much in 2009. Not sure how long it will last!!!!

Over Christmas/New Year I saw a story about a little girl who has CFS/ME like me and whilst she is bed-bound she has set up a system whereby people send cards or presents to very ill children. It's quite an amazing thing for someone so young to do so I shall support them by raising some funds for them and will send some of the children some cards as well. If you'd like to have a look at the website, click here.