A Big Flowery Thank you...

Hey Everybody...

Just a quick post from me today...I thought I share with you today some thank you cards that I actually made a month or so ago but haven't had chance to blog about yet...

They were extremely simple to make and great for making in bulk, which I tend to do for thank you cards, theres always something to be thankful for!

I made them using a selection of pink and orange tone paper from Pink Petticoat, Liz really is my go to for patterned paper, there is always something that is exactly what I need.  I die cut flowers from Papertrey Inks' notched flowers and beautiful blooms and layered them up.  The leaves were also die cut from a selection of patterned and plain cardstock using the "sending you" die.  The flowers I finished off with colour co ordinating buttons and button twine.  I decided to stitch round the base using hot pink - just for a change and stamped a sentiment using a typewriter font alphabet.  And voila...perfect and versatile thank yous!

I'm currently working on some baby projects.   Hopefully i'll be back with you all soon!

Take Care

Kate

Happy Mother's Day...

Hello everyone!

Just wanted to stop by today to share with you my creations I made for Mothers Day! This year Mothers Day is obviously slightly different for me! Although my little bundle hasn't arrived yet...she some how still managed to send me a card- what a clever little pickle she is!

So anyway enough of my dribble back to my cards. I had a bit of a spending spree at Pink Petticoat yesterday- for the first time in a while I had no real idea of what I wanted to create. Normally I have some sort of mental image- but I didn't so I ended up purchasing a few new bits and bobs and then have a play around! My first card I made using a Kraft card base and added to it lilac quatrefoil paper which I stitched. I also received my Papertrey Ink order this week which included the lovely stamp set from Maile Belles- Mini Blooms, I couldn't wait to use it. I finished it with the new "Simply Happyness" sentiments from Liz at Pink Petticoat, some adhesive gems and trusty button twine.

For my second card I used my favourite chevron paper in Pink. I made some really sweet felt flowers using Papertrey Inks fab felt- it's great quality and comes it so many colours it's easy to become addicted. I found the die from Tracy at Dies to die for - she does a great range of dies that are tricky to get hold of. I decorated them with some pretty gems and some hand cut leaves. Finally for the sentiment I copied and pasted into word to make it slightly bigger and printed on to Kraft card.

That's all from me today! Hope all you Mummies had a lovely day!

I'll be back soon.

Kate

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

Belated Valentines...

Ok so I'm a couple of days late but as far as I'm concerned its the weekend of love too!

So I'm a bit of a sucker for sending my friends little gifts in the post...handmade of course! I've been a bit off my game recently and missed the opportunity of doing anything for Christmas so I was extra determined to do Valentines day!

I filled jam jars with cherry lips and heart throbs- and decorated the jars with the lovely Waterfall Hearts from Pink Petticoat, die cut some extra sparkly hearts from some bargain paper I found at hobby craft and finished it with my favourite button twine!

Obviously you can't send a gift without a card!! I wanted a simple design that I could reproduce quickly! I die cut some more sparkly hearts- god I love how sparkly it is! And some smaller hearts from some pink scraps and stamped my sentiment on to a white base which I added too red and hot pink card base- voila!

All packaged and sent...it's always nice to send some love to your favourites!!

Products:
Dies: Papertrey Ink - Heart Prints, Tiny Tags
Card: Raspberry Fizz, Classic Kraft and  Pure Poppy Papertrey Ink, Waterfall Hearts in Crimson - Pink Petticoat, Glitter card from Hobby Craft, White 300gsm card stock
True Black ink - Papertrey Ink
Button Twine from The Ribbon Reel
Adhevsive gems - various
Heartthrobs and Cherry Lips from The Candy Shop

A chevron thank you...

Morning Everyone...

I hope you've all had a lovely weekend, despite it being so soggy!

Just wanted to say a quick thank you for your lovely comments.  I was a bit worried after being off for such a long while that no one would read but they do.

So this weekend has been quite a busy one! I've had a to do list for several weeks but I really haven't had the motivation or the time to get cracking with it but Sunday I started and managed to cross a couple of things off which i'll be sharing with you over the next few days.

As many of you know, I have always been somewhat challenged by the design of a man card.  It was Adams Birthday a couple of weeks ago and received some lovely presents from family and friends.  I was bought up always writing "thank you" letters.  Now a days I think its equally important - and also it's an excuse to make some cards. This time though they had to be slightly manly - easy to reproduce and had to appeal to Adam as they were from him.  After days of wracking my brain and doodling layouts I came up with this after seeing an entry on Papertrey Inks blog.  

I absolutely LOVE Chevrons and ever since Pink Petticoat bought out this digital download my world has been a better place.  I picked 4 unisex colours, Pistachio, Turquoise, Buttermilk and Pebble.  I cut the strip of patterned paper just wide enough to fit the stamp on and mounted it onto the card base.  I stamped Papertrey Ink Think Big Favourites Number One - thanks so much to the bottom of the strip in black and voila!

Thanks so much for reading i'll be back soon to share what else I made this weekend :)

Kate

xxx

Birthday Wishes...

Evening.


How was everyones' Saturday been?


I went bridesmaid dress shopping today - it was so much fun and a beautiful bridesmaid dress has been purchased, its very exciting :)


So as promised, I'm back with another Birthday card I made for a recent order.

I love the simplicity of it, and of course my love of butterflies makes it a winner.  I used pink polka dot backing paper from Papertrey Ink and stamped two butterfly outlines and a sentiment using black ink.  I finished off the card with bakers twine and a few stick on gems!


I think this card is such great design as it can be made in pretty much any colour - good for matching to peoples individual preferences.


What do you think?


I hope you all have a lovely Saturday night, I shall hopefully be back soon (probably tomorrow) with some more creations.


Thank you for reading, take care.


Kate 
xx

Blue Butterflies...

Hello Everyone…

So why has my life been so hectic recently…well.

After nice leisurely sunny Sunday of baking, making and tidying, we decided that it was cool enough to take Flo down the lakes for a nice long walk and a bit of a paddle.  It’s such a nice place to go and have a long run about for her and a stroll and a natter for us.  Then all hell broke loose…she was attacked by another dog.  The next half an hour was a bit of a blur – there were two dogs and the owners were no where to be seen – after shooing them away and coaxing Flo out of the brambles we discovered that she had been quite badly bitten and was bleeding from her side.  After an emergency trip to the vets and some surgery and stitches, she’s just about on the mend.  But of course is sore and shaken and not a fan of other dogs at the minute.  So yes the last few days have been…well emotional and worrying but fingers crossed all is calming down.

So…back to the job in hand.  Today I wanted to share with you a card using one of my favourite elements- BUTTERFLIES.  I find butterflies just so versatile, as well as being pretty, feminine and delicate.

I’ve noticed recently that I’ve been using a lot of pinks and purples so I’ve been trying to increase my colour palette.  I die cut two sizes of nestabilities and two large butterflies from Papertrey Ink cardstock and a matching blue butterfly from Pink Petticoats Brocade release.  I finished this simple card with crystals and pearls, some button twine and a sentiment ribbon also from Pink Petticoat.

What do you think?

I am eagerly awaiting my new delivery from Papertrey – hopefully it’ll be here this week so I can have a play this weekend J

Anyway that’s all from me today – I shall be back tomorrow with part one of my recent commissions.

Take Care

Kate

Xx

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

For Mum...

Morning all...


How is everyone? (think this is scheduled for Thursday!)


Ok so i'm getting through my commission orders - I've nearly finished them all!  Only two left to make.


So today I thought I'd share another one with you!  This was an order received from my Auntie to be! Its for her mum who's favourite colour is purple, as you can see I used this information to make the card.

I made this card using Pink Petticoats new release "hydrangeas".  It is my new favourite! So pretty! I also used another Pink Petticoat release - the large western font! I also love this font! After the success with my felt flower on Tuesdays card, I made another one to compliment this cards colour scheme!! I finished it off with some lilac adhesive gems and Voila!


What do you think?


Right well I'm back off to the christmas cards - can't wait to show you the finished article!


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

 

Fancy Dress...

Evening...


What a busy day! I am completely and utterly in love with my new sewing machine.  It's so quick and so much quieter than my other one.  Also it works which is a big difference from my singer.  So i've been busy today, making a few cards.  I started making a birthday card for my friend and whilst rummaging through all my bits and bobs I found lots of things in the wrong places, stamps that needed cleaning and just general rubbish, so what was supposed a pure card making day turned into a bit of a tidy up as well.


Ok so my card for today, is a bit of a theme card.  It seems as my group of friends have gotten older, when we celebrate any occasion we always do it with fancy dress.  It always turns into such a giggle, everyone makes an effort and always look great.  I wanted to make a card to represent the theme of this Saturday's shinanagans, so heres what I made.  

I have been planning this card for a little while now, just sketching it out.  I like to sketch things down as soon as I get an idea, otherwise I forget them and they never seem to be as good the second time round.  I used crimson pinstripe digital download from Pink Petticoat, and it wouldn't have been one of my cards without kraft card.  I have fallen in love all over again, I ordered some kraft card from Papertrey ink which arrived in my recent parcel.  Its such a good quality cardstock, thick and smooth and makes stamping on it really easy.  I completely obsessed with this Crealies cutting die.  Its great for creating layered flowers which  can be used for all different types of cards.  I made this flower using off cut off of the pinstripe paper and some felt from my paper and string order, finished off with a stripy button and some button twine.  The sentiment I used on this card is from the Hero Arts set Essential Messages.


So can anyone guess what were dressing up as on Saturday? 


Have a good evening.


I will be back with some else new!


Kate
xx

My Wish List...

Afternoon Everyone,


How is everybody's Sunday so far?


I feel a little bit lost today.  I had decided that today was completely free for being creative. I was looking forward to sitting down and making lots of things for the new website as the launch won't  be long away.  But I sat down and nothing came to mind.  Nothing.  I think it might have something to do with the fact my sewing machine is completely broken, no amount of fiddling by me is going to fix the little blighter.  Although I know I can create without stitching I don't seem to have the energy! Hopefully after a few cups of tea and a slice of cake I shall be back on track.  


I was thinking what I could blog about today, and as I have nothing to show you at the moment I thought I would share my wish list with you.  My wish list is a list (obviously) of things I really want, but haven't got round to getting yet.  


So first item on my list is this...

A brand new, sparkly sewing machine (that actually works) I was struggling to decide which one to get, but after talking to Vicki about which one she uses I have set my eye on this model from Janome.  I hopefully should be getting it later this week! YAY! I don't think i've been this excited for a while - well not since my Papertrey Ink parcel arrived.

Second on my list is...

I currently have the original Spellbinders Wizard, but I have had my eye on this new improved "Grand Calibur" for a while.  It not only cuts the normal size dies but also bigger ones which are perfect for scrapbooking and making your own card bases.  I'm just waiting for it to drop slightly in price before I get my grubby little hands on it!

They are they biggest and most expensive things on my wish list although there are always little things on there too like these stamp sets from Hero Arts, Oceans of Joy and Say Hello .

As you know I am completely obsessed with any releases from Pink Petticoat.  I have been waiting with baited breath for the very talented Liz to release something new and she just has. I have to say it has definitely been worth the wait.  Look at these gorgeous papers - Cherries and Brocade they come in 52 colours and for only £1.99 for each set,  I am going to have to download these asap.

I am always trawling through The Ribbon Girls website looking for new pretty ribbon.  As I believe you can NEVER have too much ribbon.  I love this Gingham stretch ribbon at the moment, I going to put in an order this week - I can't put it off any longer!

I just love storage, I mentioned in an earlier post that i'd stumbled across a gorgeous website called Paper and String.  Sarah has an amazing website and I have fallen completely head over heels with these storage buckets.  They are all handmade using bright fabrics and felt and just look amazing.  When I finally get some more craft space I will definitely be ordering some of these.

As well as looking for things to buy I also like looking in ore at other peoples craft rooms and storage ideas. I came across a blog www.craftystorage.blogspot.com that I could just look at all day and be completely jealous of some peoples crafting areas.

I have several sets of Spellbinders Nestabilities and I am always trying to think of a better way to store them and then I came across this - WOW!

What a brilliant idea.  Not sure my dad would be happy with me sticking a massive magnet to the wall but I think it is such a great idea.  I'll have to save this for when I get my own craft room!!!

Ok so I'm sure I have bored you all enough for now, I am going to try and create something to show you all later.  So check back this evening to see what I accomplished.  Hope you all have a nice afternoon and if you're lucky enough to have sunshine - enjoy!

Kate 

xx

A "Summer" Clean

Morning!

Hope everyone had a lovely sunny weekend!

I definitely had a very productive weekend. After putting it off for so long I decided to clean out my wardrobe.  Well after 2 hours and three bin bags later – I had finally whittled down a keep, chuck and a maybe pile down to just a keep pile! I felt rather proud of myself.  What is it when you get the tidying bug, you just can’t stop!  I had been neglecting my craft “corner” for a while and had just been shoving things in a drawer when I’d finished crafting, not cleaning stamps after using them and creating a pile of paper scraps. So yesterday I felt enough was enough and sorted through everything.  I thought I’d share it with you this morning!

I dream of one day having my own craft room.   I often do sit at my desk and day dream of colour schemes and storage ideas.  The idea of having shelves and shelves of jars, filled with every colour of ribbon and buttons, drawers of paper, boxes upon boxes of stamps and punches. Hmmm a girl can dream!

After hours of tidying I thought it was about time I made something.  It is coming up to my friends 1^st Wedding Anniversary – so I thought it was a perfect excuse to make something using my new Papertrey Ink Heart Print stamp set. I’ve been eyeing these up for a while and this was the perfect opportunity.  I’m always aiming to try new things on my cards so I decided this pretty heart would look extra special if it was embossed.  I stamped it using Versafine ink in orchid and then applied a layer of WOW clear embossing powder and then heated using my heat tool.  I really like the outcome – it gives it a 3D effect.

Layering up Pink Petticoat washed paper and craft card and finishing with bakers twine (I really can’t get enough of this stuff)

What do you think? 

Check back tomorrow – for a jewellery related post.

Have a great day.

Kate

xx

My Number 1 fan

Good Morning Everyone!

Its day three and I have to admit I’m rather enjoying this blog malarkey! The post I was planning to write for today is going to have to wait until tomorrow- I didn’t actually get round to taking pictures last night- sorry, but do check back because its exciting – well I think it is anyway!!

So after not having any photos for today, I was trying to rack my brain on what I could do. After turning to my best friend for help she suggested I blogged about a card I made her recently.

We have the kind of relationship can only be described as close.  I met her just over 2 years ago when she started working with me.  We didn’t hit it off straight away- in fact I don’t think I spoke to her for the first couple of months.  It was over a girly lunch that we got talking and automatically clicked and we’ve inseparable ever since.  We both love shopping and would spend pretty much every lunch our mooching round the shops and more often than not purchasing something.  About a year ago she moved away with her boyfriend to Sunderland and I don’t get to see her much but we email or text everyday.  We still shop at lunch time but separately- we are very good at spotting things the other would like and I’m always sending and receiving parcels containing the line “I saw this and thought of you!”

She knows how much I love crafting and being creative.  She is the one that praises everything I make, but will tell me honestly if something is no good.   It was after I got overly excited about buying a sewing machine I received a parcel.  She had been mooching about and found a Cath Kidston sewing book and had thought of me! I was over the moon! So of course I sat down and made her a card!!

Pink Petticoat had just released this image and thought it was perfect, and the sentiment was very fitting!!

So I stitched around the edge of the kraft card (I have an obsession with kraft card) to attach it and did some crazy stitching on the image just to experiment, shaded in the flowers with some promarkers and used a button and big gem to finish it off! A simple but fitting card.

She loved it. I wonder sometimes if she sends me things just so I send her a Thank you card!!

Anyway that’s all today- not a very craft related post, but I wanted to mention my number 1 fan!!

Hope you all have a lovely day!

Check back tomorrow for something exciting!!

Kate xx

A big THANK YOU!

Morning!

I would firstly like to say I am overwhelmed by the amount of views I received yesterday! And I had my first comment.  THANK YOU SO MUCH! I hope this is the start of many more views and comments!!

Ok so… Today I would like to share with you a couple of things to show you more what I am about.  As well as paper crafts I love making jewellery. I’m a bit like a magpie- I spot anything shiny from a mile off- typical girl hey!? I absolutely adore Swarovski Crystals (i get mine from jilly beads), not only because they come in so many different shapes colours but because they are so versatile.  I recently made this necklace.

My inspiration was looking out into my garden on a sunny Sunday morning and seeing all the freshly potted plants and hanging baskets in full bloom. All the rich clashing colours made me want to get creative- so I sat at the dining room table (which I am slowly taking over which boxes among boxes of buttons, paper and ribbon) and made this.  What do you think? It’s my jewellery description of Summer!

And last  but not least (yes I know two crafts in one day!) I wanted to just quickly share with you this card I recently made for a friends birthday- sorry about the photo, the light was not being my friend! I have started a craze of sewing on my cards- I sort of seeing it as a staple for all my designs- its just a great way of attaching papers and embellishments to the card base.

The image used in this card is one from the fabulous Pink Petticoat- my favourite website for digital downloads.  Liz’s designs are all so clean and simple but can be turned into the most beautiful cards.  If you haven’t already you should really check out her website. 

I coloured the image in using promarkers and finished off with a few sparkly gems from Wild Orchid Crafts and voila!

That’s it for today.  Another quick thank you for reading! I hope to be back soon with more of my creations!

Have a great day!

Kate

xx