**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

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

Wishing on a star...

Good Afternoon/Evening

Sorry for the extremely late post.  I have been off today with the most awful headache- it was one of those that gets right behind your eyes and causes your vision to go blurry.  So I have spent most of today dosed up on nurofen and trying to sleep it off.  I think for now I can say (touching wood) that it is much better than it was.

So anyway I was hoping to get a good head start on my new stash yesterday afternoon but as things never run very smoothly with me it didn't quite go to plan.  As you might have already noticed I like to use a lot of stitching in my designs, I find it a nicer way for attaching things - paper, embellishments etc to cards.  So I started off quite happily cutting paper to size and using my new super duper card stock from Papertrey and getting everything ready so I could do a big batch of sewing all in one go and then disaster struck.  My sewing machine decided to play up.  It does this a lot which saddens me - I get all excited about things to make and then boom- all ideas are blown out of the water.  I was so frustrated yesterday I did try tinkling with it, but you know when you are so annoyed and I think I would have just made it worse.  So I left it, and my crafting and went off to sulk.  I think i'm going to start saving for a Janome Excel 5024, i've heard that they are more reliable.  

Unfortunately this was the only card I managed to make before the minor disaster.  It's another man card.  I know two in one month - still don't enjoy making them half as much as girly ones but I think I could maybe start getting the hang of them.  So for this one I used a tall white card base with some Echo Park plaid paper.  I used a new toy that I bought recently- a paper distresser for a slight bit of shabby chic! The star stamp is a new one from my Papertrey delivery and the sentiment is also one of theres.  I decided to emboss the star just to give it a bit of dimension and then finished it off with - yes you've guessed it bakers twine in cherry, lime and navy.

What do you think?

Also in other exiting news - I met up with my friend who is designing me a logo and web banners for my blog last night and lets just say we are definitely making progress! Hopefully we should have in the next week or so!

Thats all from me today - sorry there wasn't much to show you! Check back tomorrow and hopefully there will be something a little better to share with you all.

Have a great evening.

Kate

xx

Flower Power...

Hello!

How is everyone today?

Just a quick reminder to let everyone know that today is the last day to comment to be in with a chance of winning some handmade jewellery! Just leave a comment on any of my posts and you will automatically be entered into the draw!

So anyway enough with me plugging that – onwards and upwards!  Last night I had a very rare evening to myself, although I was taxi for the evening I did have a good few hours by myself to indulge in the things I like best.  August is always a busy month on my calendar but it’s the month I always seem to forget about. I am one of those people that love sending handmade cards but they always seem to be sent at least a week late! So last night I sat down needing a quick fix of a card to send for my friends birthday which is today (Happy Birthday Lorna) I wanted something simple and not too fussy but bright and colourful to represent her personality.  I was trawling through all my supplies, of which there are a lot and I came across the felt flowers I ordered from Kitties Closet.  The cogs in my mind started turning and vibrant images of how the finish card came to light. So I got to work straight away.

I stamped the stem and leaves using Flower Fusion #1 by Papertrey Ink (who else!) with fresh green in by Versacolour onto a black white A6 card.  I did consider having a border and stitching but decided I wanted a really simple clean design just for a change.  I then attached the felt flower using glue dots and the same with the button.  To finish it off I stamped a sentiment from the same Flower Fusion set using simple black ink.  One of my cards wouldn’t be complete without a touch of bakers twine – on this card I used yellow bakers twine with pale button twine. What do you think?

I was so pleased with the outcome I decided to make one more.  Whenever I go anywhere I always make sure I buy a little pressie for my number one fan! So after our resent visit to the coast I needed something to put in with her gift! I used the same stem and leaf stamp and just chose a different colour felt flower and button! I used another sentiment from the flower stamp set – I thought this one was very appropriate as I do indeed Miss Her!

That’s all from me today – I’m very eager to get home today as my Papertrey Ink parcel is being delivered! I will share with you all tomorrow.

Thank you for reading and hope you have a lovely day.

Kate

xx

Man Card..eek!

Happy Wednesday!

Hope everyone is well.  It is so lovely and sunny outside it’s enough to put anyone in a good mood.

I wanted to share with you something I hate making- man cards! What is it about the idea of steering away from pretty, flowery, girly cards that scares so many people? I know it petrifies me.  There are so many great colours and products out there to create the perfect “man card” it should be appealing.  I have struggled with so many Fathers Day cards, boyfriends’ birthday ideas I feel like giving up and just buying a stash of cards with pints of beer and sports cars on! But after receiving an order from Papertrey Ink last month I decided to give it one more chance.

Whenever I go on there website, I just want everything.   Unfortunately I have to refrain and control myself.  One set I did allow myself to purchase was Up, Up and Away.  I think this set is just so versatile, great for my man card attempt.  So the card I had to make was for my Boyfriends, Dad (yes it just gets more and more complicated, I want to impress) I didn’t want to make it too fussy, but on the other hand I didn’t want it to be too plain.  So this is what I came up with (no pun intended!!)

I decided on a plain card base, and then I used Spellbinders Nestabilities Scalloped Square on kraft card- can’t create a card without it, and a Classic Square on white card.  Now for the balloon its self I didn’t really want to use just one colour, so I experiemented!  I carefully applied Versafine Ink in royal blue and baby blue to the balloon its self and brown ink for the basket, they managed to blend quite well!  For the sentiment, I seem to have a habit of always using them in the same place – under the image. So seeing as I was trying new things I decided to try it with this too and stamped it on the side of the image- I think it looks rather good even if I do say so myself.  Of course no card of mine would be complete without ribbon of somekind – I used some from my new stash from The Ribbon Girl – I thought this type of bakers twine would be appropriate, can you see why?

One more thing for today, I said I would show you when it arrived!! My first and most definitely not last order from Paper and String!

I can’t wait to start making things, I have so many great ideas for that felt!

Hope you all have a great day and enjoy the sunshine!!

Kate

Xx

P.S. Don’t forget to comment on yesterdays entry for a chance to win some of the jewellery featured!!

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 new stash!

Hello

Hope everyone is well!! It’s FRIDAY my favourite day of the week!

I don’t have anything to show you that I’ve made today its more what I’m going to make.

In my post yesterday I expressed my love for shopping so I thought id share with you some of my recent purchases and internet finds.

I do like spending my spare time looking for inspiration, trawling websites and stumbling across weird and wonderful supplies.

I’m a complete sucker for paper.  I have so many piles of 12x12 paper sheets its silly but I can’t help buying more. I normally get most of my stash from one of my favourite crafting websites The Glitter Pot.  They seem to have everything you could ever want and there delivery time is very often next day which is perfect for those last minute orders. I don’t really have any plans for these as yet but I just couldn’t resist all the bright colours!!

As well as paper I seem to have an obsession with ribbon! I like to use it wherever possible; it can make any dull card look a million times better! I recently made an order with The Ribbon Girl- they are always getting new supplies to tempt me with.  Here are just a couple of pictures of some new ribbons I’ve recently bought- you can never have too many colours!!! When I started making cards I did wonder how I would store my ribbons- I would get fed up with sitting there for hours un tangling miles of the stuff.  In the end I have found that old fashioned dolly pegs and sewing pins to keep everything in place. It works wonders!

Now I know it is only July- nearly August but I already have my Christmas brain whirring away!  I have made a pact with myself this year that I am going hand make a lot of the presents I normally buy! Not just because I’m hoping to save some money but I always think that a handmade gift is that much more personal. So in the upcoming months I will be experimenting and showing you the results. Good or bad!

One of the ideas I’ve had is sweetie jars! Versatile and something a lot of people would love!  I was mooching around John Lewis on a recent lunch our and came across these.  The brain cogs went into over load with endless possibilities! Filling them with lots of yummy sweeties and decorating them with a handmade tag and ribbon! And with them being so cheap (£2.00 for the smaller one and £3.50 for the larger) I can see myself purchasing more of these to use for storage!

And last but no means least- look what I found!! During one of my afternoon browsing sessions of Folksy I came across a shop called Kitties Closet. WOW! I felt like a kid in a toy shop!! I couldn’t resist making an order!

After 6 months of making at least 10 new home cards- I thought id have a play around with this! I thought I would paint it and attach ribbon and give it a bit of Flutterby love and hopefully create the perfect new home gift! As soon as I have done this I will post you a picture.

I also found these-which I can’t wait to have a play with! A felt flower with a button will surely brighten up these ordinary hair clips! I’m sure I can find some one to give these too!

Just about to place an order with Paper and String so I will share when it arrives!

Well that’s it for today!

I can’t wait to go home and start making something with all these lovely goodies!

Check back tomorrow for something handmade!

Have a good day!

Kate xx