Friday 29 January 2010

Dare U 2 Digi Stamp - challenge 30 - Hearts/Valentines


I can't beleive it is Friday already - what a quick week. Time again for a new Dare U 2 Digi stamp challenge and this time around we are looking for you to use your digi stamps to create something with hearts or for valentines day.


The sketch I have used is the fabulous one over at Sketch and Stash at the moment. I just love this sketch and definately will use this one again. I am also entering this card at Allsorts Challenge where they want you to use hearts and flowers. The image is by Whimsie doodles and they also have a boy version of this cute image available, papers are by papermania and the flowers were cut with retro flower punches in matching papers.


Have a great weekend and don't forget to check out the gorgeous cards from the rest of the Dare U 2 Digi Stamp DT Here

Karen x

Thursday 28 January 2010

Nutty Nutshells Challenge #8 - Sorry I am late with this one!!


We have another challenge up and running at Nutty Nutshells Wednesdaywhich started yesterday and as usual will run for 2 weeks, this time around we have a recipe challenge. The recipe is:use at least 3 layers, ribbon and glitter.

This week we are giving away the Digi Stamp Set Loved Up to one lucky winner!!! so get those cards in!! You will love this set!



I have used one of the stamps from the Summer set on my card this week and the papers are by Making Memories. The cute little butterfly and flower are from my stash as is the gingham ribbon. I have used some nestabilities to cut the circles, and lots of stickles on the wings of this little cutie.


I have used the sketch this week from Papertake Weekly and I am also entering this card into the challenge at Quixotic Challenges where they are looking for you to incorporate butterlies into your project.


Emjoy the rest of your week and I look forward to seeing your creations for this challenge.

Karen x

Wednesday 27 January 2010

Copics Colour Challenge - #49


Here are the colours for this week's challenge over at Copics Colour Challenge.


Now, we know this doesn't look like a massively exciting combo, but we thought that it should actually be a nice easy one for you as you have a skin tone, blush and hair colour just sat there, waiting to be called upon! Add whatever colours you like and you are good to go!

Please remember though that if you are missing some of the colours, we still want you to join in with us. Just have a rifle through your Copics and pull out something similar. As long as the overall effect is the same, you are more than welcome to play along.


I have challenged myself this week to try something a bit different and to use darker coloured papers. I have had this pad from K&Co for ages and just love the papers in it, but have really struggled to put a card together with them in the past and have played around with them many times. I hope you like what I have come up with - it is growing on me!! The image is from Sugar Nellie and the flowers are by prima. I have followed the square version of the sketch on offer this week from Mojo Monday.


Please check out the copic colour challenge blog Here to see what the rest of the DT have created this week and also to read all about the fab stamp that Janet from Pink Gem Designs is offering as our prize this week.

Karen x

Tuesday 26 January 2010

A Spoon Full of Sugar - Challenge 88 - Freestyle


Our new challenge over at A Spoon Full of Sugar has just started and this week our talented DT member Sandra challenged us to freestyle.. so basically create anything you like! This week we are sponsored by the Stamping Boutique and the owner Tracey is offering 5 of her fab digi images to our winner. You can read all about the challenge and perhaps get a bit of inspiration from the beautiful cards from the DT this week Here.


While blogging last week I can across a new source for digi images from Di's Digi Downloads and she has some amazing images this one that I have used here is called Shy Maisy and I think she is just adorable. The papers are all from the docrafts goody bag that I bought for my grandaughter Sophie when she came to visit a couple of weekends ago. These are not colours that I would normally use, but I thought that for this freestyle challenge I should really try something different. All the other embelishments are also from the same goody bag. The sketch that I have used is the current one at Friday Sketchers.

Karen x

Monday 25 January 2010

Stampin for the Weekend - Fiona's sketch


While blog hopping at the weekend I found another challenge called Stampin for the weekend and this week they have a sketch by Fiona which I just had to try out.


I have used this really cute CC Designs image again, but this time in slightly different colours. I just think that she goes so well with these Forever Friends Pink parfait papers. The flowers are by Prima and the sentiment is a die cut one from a pack that is from the same range as the papers - I don't normally go for this type of sentiment, but I think that these are just perfect with these papers. The buttons are also from the same range - so my colours!!


Well here we are, Monday again - where does the weekend go. Have a great week. I will be back tomorrow morning with my Spoon Full of Sugar card.

Karen x

Sunday 24 January 2010

Cupcake challenge with a sprinkling of Pixie Dust


Here is my card for this weeks < href="Here is my card for this weeks Pixie Dust challenge where they are looking for glitter and sparkle. I think this one would fit the bill as I have added glitter to all the hearts and also added some heart shaped jewels. The image is a free one that I got from the Pixie Dust Studio and she just is the cutest, they have lots of really cute images that are just ideal with my favourite pastel colours and lots of glitter, the papera are all by Forever Friends All Loved Up pack. I have followed the fab sketch over at Cupcake Challenge and have only just made the deadline on this one by the skin of my teeth.


I had a great card making day yesterday and managed to 4 cards done (must be a record for me) but the light is really bad today and I am now heading on out for the day, so I guess I will just have to wait until tomorrow to get the photos taken.

Have a great day,

Karen x

Thursday 21 January 2010

Truly Scrumptious sketch and another Squiggle Stamps preview


I have managed to get a bit of spare time today to make a card with the lovely sketch at Truly Scrumptious this week and have used one of the soon to be released Lilliput stamps from Squiggle Stamps. This one is called Gifts Galore and here she is balancing that tower of presents with her cute little cat perched on top of them all. The papers are all by my minds eye, flowers by prima and the presents sentiment is by CC designs.


Thursday is my day at College on my Business course. We had a assessment this morning which I managed to finish earlier than I had thought so I have had a few hours off before heading back this afternoon to sit another assessment. Today is the end of a set of modules so we will move onto new topics next week. The next lot sound a lot more interesting that the ones we have done so far so that should be good.

Have a great day.

Karen x

Wednesday 20 January 2010

Copics Colour Challenge #48


Well it is Wednesday again and time for another set of yummy colours from Copics colour challenge . Please do not fret if you do not have some of these colours - just use the nearest shade that you have.


We have been sponsored this week by Instyle Stamps and here on my card I have used one of their fabulous digi images. The papers are by K&Co, a really old but favourite pad and the flowers are by prima, the sentiment is from a Studio G clear stamp set.


I hope you all have fun with these colours and can't wait to see your creations and please don't forget to have a look at what the DT and guest designers have created with these colours Here

Karen x

Tuesday 19 January 2010

A Spoon Full of Sugar - Challenge 87 - lots of layering


The challenge this week at A Spoon Full of Sugar has been chosen by our own Nikki and she has asked us to use lots of layering. Nikki is kindly also sponsoring the challenge this week and will give one lucky person a chance to have their own personalised stamp from Scrapmagasinet.


I have used a few of the elements from the fabulous new Nutshells Loved Up Digi set which is now available Nutcrafters. This set is just perfect for all those Valentine cards and there are also a couple of other images in the set that I have not used here - a boy with a heart, a mailbox and also a fab bench for these little characters to sit on. The papers that I have used are from one of the new Forever Friends ranges and again these are especially for Valentines Day.

Have lots of fun with your layering and I look forward to seeing what you create.

Monday 18 January 2010

Busy crafting weekend with Sophie


I am afaid that I don't have any of my cards to post today, but I thought you may like to see one of the cards that my grandaughter Sophie made over the weekend.

Sophie and her brothers came to stay for 2 nights this weekend and Sophie and I managed to get a couple of hours on Saturday afternoon to make a few cards. She had come with a bag of goodies that her grandma had bought for her at the new Hobbycrafts shop in Aberdeen and she said that she needed to make as Christmas Thank you cards. She also made this card for her grandma to thank her for all her goodies.


I will be back tomorrow with my Spoon Full of Sugar card.

Karen x

Friday 15 January 2010

Dare U 2 Digi Stamp - Challenge #29


It’s our first challenge of 2010 on Dare U 2 Digi Stamp today and we’re starting off with a theme of buttons. There’s some great inspiration from my design team friends and we hope you can join us.


I have used one of the new digi stamps from CC Designs and this is a fab one as it could be used for Valentines day but also you could use it for Birthdays, Thank You cards etc all year round. These really pretty papers are one of the new For Ever Friends ranges from Docrafts and are just my colours. The cute little spotty buttons are by Papermania, flowers by prima.

I have used the sketch from one of the challenges this week, but can't for the life of me remember which one is it. If anyone recognises it please drop me a comment so that I can credit the challenge that it came from.

I have our three grandchildren coming tonight and staying for the weekend, so that should be fun. Thankfully most of our snow has now gone so we should be able to get out and about.

Judy Laing is doing a demo day at Papercrafts in Elgin tomorrow, so hopefully I will manage to pop along at some time during the day. I just adore Judy's work and it will be great to see her actually demonstrating her beautiful colouring.

Have a great weekend.

Karen x

Wednesday 13 January 2010

Nutty Nutshells Wednesday - Challenge # 7


Hi there, this is my second post of the day as it is time for the next challenge at Nutty Nutshells Wednesday and this fortnight we have a colour challenge for you - to use pink and brown, you can of course add other colours, but we should be able to see that the main colour scheme is pink and brown.
Katie and Colette over at Nutcrafters have kindly put up a £10 gift voucher to use at the Nutcrafters online store - another great prize.


The image that I have used on my card is a special digi image that is a free giveaway with any order of £25 or more at Nutcrafters and you can read all about it Here. The papers that I have used are by SandyLion and flowers by Prima.



You don't need to use a Nutshells image to enter the challenge, but you do need to use at least 1 item that is sold on the Nutcrafters Online shop. I hope you manage to play along with us and I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

Karen x

Copics Colour Challenge #47


Well it's Wednesday again and time for another Copics Colour Challenge and here are the colours for this week.


I thought these colours were just perfect for a boy card (and as you all probably know - I very rarely do boy cards) and I have used one of the images from the Lilliputs collection which are due to be launched at Squiggle Stamps very soon. This one is called Little Inventors and is just too cute. The papers are by Sandy Lion as is the Little Buddy sentiment. The Happy Birthday sentiment is by CC Designs.


We are sponsored this week by Whimsy Stamps and you can check out all about this and see what the rest of the DT have been up to Here

Karen x

Tuesday 12 January 2010

A Spoon Full of Sugar - Challenge 86 - Recipie


This week over at A Spoon Full of Sugar it was my turn to set the challenge and I have chosen a recipie for you - 3 Pieces of DP, 1 Piece of Ribbon, 3 flowers and 3 buttons. It was also my turn to pick a Guest DT member and the super-talented Simonne has created a gorgeous card for us this week - thanks Simonne. You can check out what the rest of the team have come up with and also this week's prize Here


I have had this Anya set for some time now, but what with Christmas I had never got round to inking this one up - I do so love these Anyas. The papers are by My Minds Eye and the flowers are by prima, buttons and pearls from Bunny Zoes Crafts.

Well it looks like our snow may finally start to thaw a bit today, although I think there may be more forcast for tomorrow.

The trains here are still not running properly and I have come into work on the bus today - it takes around 80 minutes compared to the 40 minutes on the train so I hope that all is sorted out on the railway soon.

Have a great week.

Karen x

Wednesday 6 January 2010

New Baby Card with this week's Copics Colour Challange colours


We have some fabulous colours this week for you to follow at Copics Colour challenge and we have a brilliant prize on offer from our sponsors - Simon Says Stamp this week of a $25 store voucher - what a fab prize at the start of the year!


I thought that these colours really were perfect for a baby card - I have a friend whose baby is due next week and I have a feeling that it will be a girl - she think's it is a boy, so I guess we will just have to wait a bit longer to see who is right.


The stamp is by Sugar Nellie and the papers are by Flair Designs from a pack that I bought ages ago. Ribbon and charms from my stash. The sketch that I have used is the fab one over at the Sugar Bowl at the moment - unfortunately I can't enter it there as I had forgotten when I used it for my DT card that you cannot combine challenges at the Sugar Bowl - never mind it is a brilliant sketch anyhow - thanks Lilian.

I am having a day at home today as the trains are not running properly here. I went to get an early train home at 2.30 yesterday only to get as far as Forres which is only 10 miles from where I live - the points were frozen there and by the time that Network Rail came out to see to them an hour and a half later the weather had got worse and the track was closed. I eventually got home just after 6pm - It is usually a 40 minute train journey!!. I got to the station this morning to find that the trains were already running around 45 minutes late and no guarantee that they would be running at all from Inverness in the afternoon - so I am now at home trying to pick up my work emails and do as much as I can.

I will also enter this card into the challenge over at Cupcake craft challenges where the challenge is to make a baby card.

Keep warm and I hope you are managing to get around if you really need to.

Karen x

Tuesday 5 January 2010

1st Challenge of the year at A Spoon Full of Sugar



For our first challenge of the year over at A Spoon Full of Sugar we are looking for you to make something with Hearts on it. Pixie Cottage are sponsoring the challenge this week and are offering the winner a lovely stamp.



I have used this lovely image from Squiggle Stamps this week. This stamp is from the first collection that they launched and is just brilliant for engagement, wedding and anniversary cards I think. This is an engagement card that someone has ordered from me. The papers are by Papermania and the swirls cut with a Quickutz die.

Well, we have had yet more snow fall overnight and I have managed to make it into Inverness on the train to work. Looks like there is quite a bit more due to fall today, so perhaps it would be wise for me to travel home early today - when is it all going to end. It looks so pretty, but just not practical for getting around and we also seem to be suffering from the lack of gritting that is also going on elsewhere.

Keep warm.

Karen x

Friday 1 January 2010

Happy New Year and better late than never Copics Colour Challenge Card



A Happy New Year to you all and I hope that everyone had a lovely Christmas. We certainly had a fab time over in Spain and it was really special having family over there with us this year. We have all now returned home safely. Stephanie and her boyfriend travelled home on Boxing Day. We took them to the airport at Alicante only to find that the flight had not yet even left Glasgow. They eventually took off at 11pm (should have left at 7pm) and arrived to loads on snow in Glasgow at around 1.30am. They then made almost to Perth before being stopped by the police as the road was blocked and then were stuck there for more than 5 hours - they eventually made it home to Aberdeen just short of 14 hours after leaving Glasgow!!

Luckily we had a better journey home on 30th December, but the snow didn't half come down here yesterday and I have not been out of the house since around 10am yesterday - does look like it is starting to thaw today though.


I am late with my DT card for Copics Colour Challenge this week - I should have had this posted on Wednesday, but only managed to get it finished late last night. Here are the colours for this week - really pretty colours to start the year off.


The image I have used is by CC Designs and the papers are all by Making Memories, sentiment stamp is by Inkadinkado.


We are sponsored by Silly Monkey crafts this week and there is a £10 gift voucher up for grabs for one lucky winner so this sure would be a great start to a New year to win.

Karen x