Baby Shower Favours...

So as I mentioned in my first post back... I'm expecting a baby! YAY!

We're into the home stretch now, everything is almost ready, the nursery furniture is in and assembled.  I have started the mountains of washing in preparation ( I better get used to it I suppose) The house is busting at the seems with nappies and all sorts of lotions and potions and I've finally started to get excited about our imminent arrival!

A couple of weeks ago my lovely work friend Abbie helped me organize my baby shower! I wasn't completely sure what to expect as I've never attended one before and this is my first child it was all a bit new.  We decided to go with a full on pink tea party theme - why not hey! The table was full of homemade sandwiches and cake, pink balloons and bunting strung up everywhere! It was such a lovely day - so many people turned up I was completely overwhelmed by it all.

The only thing I had to do was organize the party favours - which of course I didn't mind, any excuse to be crafty is fine with me! I did struggle at first to come up with an idea of what to do...I knew it had to be something I could mass produce, we were expecting around 30 people and therefore it had to be fairly cheap.  So this is what I came up with...

Using a combination of products from my favourite Papertrey Ink and Pink Petticoat I managed to create these cute sweet bags.  I printed some of my favourite patterns from Liz at Pink Petticoat in various shades of pink and created a fold over to seal the glassine bags - after obviously filling them with various PINK sweets! I stapled to secure the card and punched a couple of holes in the top which I then threaded with button twine before adding the tag.  I had to incorporate my beloved kraft card somewhere.  I die cut hearts from left over pink paper added a few gems and a sentiment - thank you seemed appropriate!  I couldn't resist finishing them off with these plastic pink dummies that I found from a online party shop - adding a bit of fun to proceedings!

And that was that - 30 bags later and fairly easy to mass produce.

What do you think? I was rather chuffed with the end result and I have to say my friends were too!

Thanks for reading

Kate
xx

**Happy New Year**

Hello

And a Happy New Year to all my readers - those that haven't neglected me like I have them!

I have no idea where November and December went - time just flew. In between making Christmas card orders for other people and then ones for myself I found I had no time to make a card just because.  After a nice, relaxing break from everything (crafting included) I am back in 2012 and ready to go.  I have already started filling up my Papertrey Ink basket and have been browsing Hero Arts new releases and getting lots of inspiration for the coming months.

I have told myself that one of my New Year's resolutions will be to blog at least twice a week! Obviously I can do more but I wanted to set myself with an achievable target!

So here we go...its Monday and it's my first blog of the week and of the new year!om

The Card:- My cousin's 21st Birthday
The Brief:- Something modern and bold.
Supplies:- Kraft card - papertrey ink, Purple and Peacock paper - Echo Park, Mauve Bakers twine - Ribbon Girl, Stick on Gems - Papermania.

I have a slight addiction to anything peacock related - I love the bright colours and the simplicity of this paper, it stood out so much that I couldn't resist buying it.  As you can see from the bottom picture I attached the die cut numbers (die by Papertrey Ink) using foam mounting pads to make them stand out more.

With using such a simple template I can use it again for other cards and occasions!

That's all from me today - need to prepare myself for back to work tomorrow, somehow I'm not sure I will be welcoming the 6 o'clock alarm in the morning.

Thank you very much for all your support and comments throughout the last few months, I hope that 2012 will be a creative one!

Thanks for reading. Take Care.

Kate

xxx

A wheelbarrow full of flowers...

Evening all...


Sorry for the lack of blogging this past week.  I've been off work ill, i've had some horrible bug which really has knocked me for six but I am back and feeling back to my normal self!!


So...before my leave of absence I was telling you all that I had lots of commissions coming in left right and centre.  Well I've finished them over the weekend - and now guess what? I've got four more! It just doesn't seem to stop and I love it!


So my number one fan ordered a birthday card for her Grandma and Grandad after seeing the ones I made for my other friend.  As it was for her, I knew I had to make them extra special - so I set to work.  Tonight I am going to show you the "Grandma" card.

I knew that if I wanted an extra pretty girly card I know I had to use my Pink Petticoat stash.  I used an image of a wheelbarrow stocked up with some beautiful flower pots which I coloured in using Promarkers.  I love the prettiness of the yellow its so fresh and bright without being too in your face.  I used kraft card and another Pink Petticoat release - daisy bouquet in daffodil.  I finished the card off with my homemade sentiment ribbon, some button twine and a couple of adhesive pearls!


I liked the outcome so much, I recreated it for my mums friends Birthday in pink!

For this card I used a sentiment tag which I stitch on when stitching the background. I really like these, I think I'm going to be using them more often.  I finished this with bakers twine and a beautiful bright pink button.


So what do you think?


I hope you're all ok! I've been keeping up to date with all the blogs - they've been cheering me up whilst recovering.


I'll be back tomorrow, with "Grandad's" card.


Take Care


Kate
xx

Man Love...

Hello again... (apologises for another automated post)


How is everyone? What has everyone been up too? I do try and follow a few blogs but its just such a wide world out there and so many to choose from so I apologise if I don't currently follow yours!  If you read mine and would like me to return the favour, just drop me a comment and I will be more than happy to follow you and check out your creations!


So... as I was saying yesterday I had fallen into the category of a "bad friend" for forgetting a birthday, and it was a man birthday none the less so I had to set to work racking my brains for a card design to send. As I have mentioned on numerous occasions cards for men are not my favourite things to make and nine times out of ten I am not happy with the outcome but I have to admit, this one I rather like.

It was made using a 6x6 card base with Papertrey's Enchanted Evening. I cut out two oval shapes using my nestabilities - one scalloped and one not and stamped in red "birthday wishes".  This stamp is a new release from Papertrey and I love it, so versatile and can create such a simple card. I finished the card of with a strip of my favourite kraft card, some lovely cream satin ribbon and I managed to find a matching blue gem- perfect!


So what do you think?


Hope you all have a great day, and i'll be back tomorrow to share something else with you :)


Take Care


Kate 
xx

Just a note...

Morning all...


(just to let you know this is an automated post - I rarely get time during the week to actually sit down and blog until the deepest darkest hours of the evening so I thought, it's Sunday, I have a few spare moments I'll schedule some now so my readers have something to read at a sensible hour!)


So how is everyone?


Yes - it is true, I have started my Christmas cards, there I've said it! To be honest it does feel really good. I am a very long way off finishing but at least I can say I've started.  Has anyone else?


Today I wanted to show you a card I made for "my number 1" I don't know if I ever told you her name - its Chloe!  Being busy recently I completely forgot it was her other halves birthday so I had to make something quick, get, wrap and post a present in one day.  As usual though I couldn't leave her out! So whilst I was traipsing looking for the perfect man gift (why are men just so difficult?) I picked up a few bits for her too! Of course I couldn't send her a gift without a card - and so todays post was born!!

Pretty, hey?  I made the card using the gorgeously smooth kraft card from Papertrey Ink and simply stitched onto it some lovely big flowery Pink Petticoat paper from the Wild Blossom Collection - I just can't get enough of Liz's papers at the moment.  To finish it off I added another strip of kraft card to which I stamped my sentiment (another from Papertrey Ink) and made this beautiful felt flower using felt from Paper and String and finished it off with a pale green button (from god knows where!) and some button twine - from the ever faithful Ribbon Girl. I hope she likes it!


Thats all from me today, please feel free to leave me some comments - I will be back (automated) tomorrow.


Take Care


Kate
xx

On your bike...

Afternoon Everyone.

 

What a dull and miserable day. What happened to Summer? I think I blinked and missed it - oh well.  At least this means were closer to nights infront of the fire and duvet days watching the rain pound on the windows and taking Flo for a walk in our wellies and splashing Adam with the puddles!

So Today I wanted to share with you a card I made for my cycle mad friend.  He literally has been everywhere.  He cycles everywhere, he's even cycled all across Europe for charity - so what else could I do but make him his card to wish him a "Happy Birthday".

The stamp is from a Hero Arts set.  I added a bit of depth to this card by embossing the bike.  Layered kraft card (of course) with black and white and finished the card of with a Pink Petticoat sentiment ribbon.

So thats it from me today.  I have so much going on at the minute, orders coming in left right and centre (which I am not complaining about) and Christmas Card requests already being given.  The website is taking great shape and should be up in a couple of weeks.

 

Thank you so much for stopping by.

Have a great day.

 

Kate

xx

 

A date to remember...

Evening all,

How has everyones day been?

Mine has been so manic.  Half past five could not come soon enough.  Im on a health kick this week and hopefully for many more weeks to come.  Im not drinking during the week - I know this sounds like an easy thing to do but sometimes when you come home from a long and stressful day it is nice to just relax and have a glass with dinner - but I'm being good, although tonight - the first night was a real test.

Anyway on a more positive note - yesterday I finished the save the dates that I had been asked to make my by Auntie to be.  I have to admit making one was pretty easy but making fifty was some challenge.  Cutting out all the individual bits and pieces takes a lot of time and patience but it was so worth it in the end.

So here is the finished article.

I haven't taken any close ups as I didn't want anyone to see them who shouldn't just yet.  I love the vibrant blue and look...my favourite kraft card.  The paperclip is holding a mini tag on the back so that you can clip the reminder to your calendar...pretty cool hey?

Well I have to say I am rather proud even if I do say so myself, I hope she likes them when she picks them up on Friday.  Now to get cracking on the main invites!

I'm looking forward to spending the next week or so making some things for the website, it is very nearly there and I cannot wait for you all to see it.

Thats all for now folks!

I shall be back tomorrow with another card.

Take Care

Kate
xx