Nutshells Challenge #16

We have a new challenge for you at Nutshells blog and this time around we are challenging you to use polka dots or stripes or both! I

We have another great prize up for grabs this challenge but this week though we have a little surprise for you. Our fab prize this week is a mystery gift, but if your way too impatient to wait here are a few clues...

I'm a brand new stamp set soon to be released at www.nutcrafters.com
You can stamp me to send congratulations to a special couple
You can get a sneak peak of me Sunday 23rd May over at our sister blog!

On my card today I have used a new Harriet Hurst stamp which is due to be released at Nutcrafters very soon. I have coloured this gorgeous image with copics and the papers that I have used are by My Minds Eye, flowers by Prima. The sketch that I have followed is the current one at Friday Sketchers and what a great little sketch this one is - will definately be using this one again. I am also going to enter this card at Papertake Weekly where the theme this week is "Say it With Flowers.


Remember you must use ANY line of stamps that the Nutcrafter's store carries to qualify for the prize!!! That makes it nice and easy for everyone to participate!! So go over to Nutcrafter's and see their selection of stamps from lots of different companies such as The Greeting Farm, Stampavie, Magnolia, Ladybug & Friends, High Hopes, Buddy Bear and Sarah Kay. You can also get their own Nutshells, Harriet Hurst and our Digi Images. You're sure to have something you can use to win yourself a great prize.

You can read all about how to enter this challenge and also have a look at the fab cards from the DT this week Here

Well have fun with the challenge and please pop back to see me on Sunday 23rd May when we will be having a Nutshells blog hop to launch a new set of stamps - I know that you will love them!

Karen x

Pixie Dust Studio Blog Hop Design Team reveal

I have some really exciting news to share with you that I have been having to keep secret until today. Kathy of Pixie Dust Studios contacted me last week to ask if I would join the DT Pixies and of course, I didn't even need any time to make a decision on this one!! Kathy designs the most delightful whimsical digi images and these are just right up my street.

Enough of my excitiement now and on to the blog hop which you can read all about here.

We are so happy that you joined us for the first ever Pixie Dust Studio blog hop Design Team reveal.
We have added 6 new Designers to our current 6 Pixie Girl Designers.
If you haven't done a blog hop it's a lot of fun. Start at the beginning of the hop which is at Pixie Dust Studio and then hop
along to the next DT's blog that is listed on each blog.

Here is my first card as a "Pixie" and the gorgeous image is the one that Kathy has created especially for this DT announcement and she is available Here. The papers are all by My Minds Eye, the swirls were cut with a Quickutz die and the flowers are by prima. Ths sketch that I have followed is the one at The Character Cafe this week.


Head on over to your next stop on the hop which is to

Lana

And in case you get lost along the way...here is the full list of hoppers!

Cabio
Heather
Jacquie
Jana
Karen (Me)
Lana
Lisa F
Lisa
Margie
Shelly
Stephanie
Tammy
Pixie Dust Studio BLOG

Thanks so much for joining us for this super exciting hop!

Karen x

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

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

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

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

Basic Grey Challenge - Sketch by Tara

It is ages since I have had time to enter a Basic Grey Challenge, but this week the fab sketch by Tara looked just like it was made for this Sugar Nellie image that I coloured in a couple of weeks ago. I have been pushing around papers with it for the past week or so, but just could not get anything that looked right. When I saw the sketch today I had a hunt in my old papers from last Christmas and found a Wassail pad - I so loved these last year and had completely forgotten that I still had some left. The flowers are by prima and the sentiment by making memories.


I had an order for christmas cards from one of my workmates on Friday, so this will be just perfect as one of them I think.

Karen x

Copics Colour Challenge #39

This week, we have another brilliant sponsor for you who is offering up an unmissable prize. This week, we are sponsored by none other than Stamping Bella! Emily, the Stampin' Bella herself, has offered up $20 of big fat Bella bucks to spend - what a great prize!! You can check it all out Here and also get some inspiration from the cards that the rest of the DT have made.


The colour combo this week is certainly a bold one but I think probably just perfect for those Christmas Cards.


This week I have tried something a bit different and a change from my usual pastel colours and cute images. This image is by Leanne Ellis for Sugar Nellie and is not actually a Christmas stamp but I had seen it used on a Christmas Card and have given it a try and I am just delighted with the finished result. DP is by My Minds Eye, flowers by Prima and sentiment by Papermania.

I am sure that you will have fun with these colours and I look forward to visiting your blogs to see your creations.

Karen x

Inspirational Card Sketches - #30

It's Tuesday afternoon and time for another of Dawn's fab sketches at ICS. This certainly was a great one to follow and could be used with just about every image.
The challenge this week is sponsored by Paper Popsicles and the DT were all given a couple of these cute images to work with.

To read all about the prize on offer from Paper Popsicles and see what the DT have done with the images check out the ICS blog Here


As I mentioned earlier the image on this card is by Paper Popsicles, the DP is from the Flower Patch pad by Making Memories and the flowers are by prima.


Happy crafting and I look forward to seeing your creations using this week's sketch by Dawn.

Karen x

Dare U 2 Digi Stamp Challenge 14 - Embossing

At Dare U2 Digi Stamp this week we have a great challenge for you which is embossing. It can ve wet or dry embossing or both if you like and if you check out the blog you will see the fabulous ideas that the DT have come up with this week.

I have used one of the digi images that I got from Nikki's online store which you can find Here this cute little girl with her bunny is one of a set of 3 from Scrapmagasinet. I also had the excuse this week to bring out my cuttlebug embossing folders which I really do not use enough. For the first time I have used one of these folders on some DP as I usually only use them with cardstock and I am really impressed with the subtle results that I got from this. The DP is K&C Sparkly Sweet and the flowers are by prima. I have used this week's fab sketch at Our Creative Corner and this card also fits the challenge at ScrapMagasinet which is to use flowers on your card.

We had horrendous thunder and rain as I left the office last night to catch my usual train that takes 40 minutes and gets me home at 6pm. I was drenched by the time I reached the station, lightening had hit the signals and the trains were all stuck in the station. To cut a long story short, I eventually got home at 9.40pm. - not a happy bunny!!!

On a happier note, I am heading off to Glasgow tomorrow to see The Eagles in concert tomorrow night - can't wait.
Have a lovely weekend.
Karen x

Duda Daze Blog Hop - Believe

You should have arrived here from Sophie's Moonlight Inker blog and if not you can reach it Here.
As my little project with this fabulous new Duda Daze stamp I have made a card and a little notebook to match. I have used copics to colour the image and finished it off with some stickles on the wings and crowns. The DP is from a PaperMania pad which I think has to be my favourite pad at the moment. Flowers are by prima sugar coated brads by Doodlebug and the adhesive glitter dots by papermaina.

I have carried the same colour theme through to the inside of the card and stamped the image again, coloured in to match the one on the front and cut out both the girl and the cat seperately. Sorry, can't tell you who the Thinking of You stamp is by, it is a clear one that I picked up the US last year and unfortunately has no name on it.

This was a little 99p notebook that I picked up from Asda. I opened up the spiral and took both the covers off to cover them and then repunched the holes with the crop-o-dile. DP again is by Papermania and flowers to match the card.



The next person on the blog hop is Summer Loving Gal and you can check out her lovely creation Here
I am now off to work my way through the blog hop to see the beautiful things that all these creative people have show-cased and try to make up my mind which stamps I need first from this fabulous new collection from Sugar Nellie
Have a great weekend and thanks for taking the time to have a look at my blog.
Karen x

A Spoon Full of Sugar - Challenge 56 - Sketch by Michelle O

For our challenge this week at A Spoon Full of Sugar we have a fabulous sketch by our very own Michelle O for you to follow, check it out Here where you can also see what the rest of the DT created this week with this great sketch - thanks Michelle.
I have used one of my favourite stamps this week, from the cats collection at Pink Cat Studio. DP is from K&Co sparkly sweet and flowers are by prima.

I have carried the same papers through to the inside and used another of these great images. Sentiments are by Pink Cat Studios and Stampin Up.

Summer appears to have returned to Inverness today and it is a beautiful day. I have just had a window box of beautiful flowers delivered to outside the window where I sit at work and hey are just beautiful. My office overlooks the Castle at Inverness and the view from here is just lovely - almost makes it a pleasure to be here at work. I really must bring the camera in and take a picture of the view from where I sit.
Have a great week
Karen x

Copics Colour Challenge # 16

Hello and welcome to challenge 16 at Copics Colour Challenge.
Kay of Toodles & Binks is offering some great goodies from her online shop to one lucky, randomly selected winner. Up for grabs are two stamps (pictured below), some Zoomz and some Chiaro Flo embossing powder so be sure to play along for a chance to win.

We have a lovely colour combo for you to play with this week - R11, Y06 and E39. Please remember that you don't have to use these exact colours. If you don't have these specific ones, just use your nearest shade. As long as they are Copics, we don't mind!

I have used this cute little digi stamp from Sally Anne's Digi Stamp Boutique. DP is We R Memory keepers and I just love these 12inch papers as they have the four different patterns all on the same sheet plus the back has a different pattern - just fabulous for us cardmakers, flowers are by prima and sugar coated brads by doodlebug.

Pop on over to the blog Here to see what the rest of the DT have been up to and perhaps give you some inspiration.
Happy crafting.
Karen x

Dare U 2 Digi Stamp - challenge 9 sketch

This week we have a wonderful sketch for you designed by our own super talented DT member Donna over at Dare U 2 Digi Stamp we'ved all loved making our cards with your sketch Donna, thank you. Hope you can join us this week.

I have used these beautiful Making Memories papers this week along with another fabulous download from Sally-Ann at Digi-Stamp Boutique. Flowers are by prima and brads are Doodlebug sugar coated.

It is a gorgeous day here in Inverness today, and according to the weather forecast looks like we will be getting the best weather in the whole of the UK today and the even better news is that it is due to be like this all weekend. I have our 3 grandchildren coming to stay for the weekend, so it should be wonderful to get out and about with them and enjoy the good weather.
Hope the weather is good wherever you are and that you have a great weekend.

Inspirational Card Sketches No 17

This week at ICS the lovely Kendra from The Character Cafe is our lovely sponsor. She will provide 3 digital stamps to the winner. The winner will get to chose which 3 digi stamps they want out of their collection. And they do have amazing collection.

Here is this week's sketch from Dawn - yet another great one to follow.

I have used the image Precious Emmy fro The Character Cafe and I am sorry but I cannot remember who the DP is by. I bought these papers ages ago and unfortunately there is no name on them. Flowers by Prima and Adhesive Shimmer Dots are by papermania - I just love these and they come in about 4 different colours.

It would be great to see you join us this week over at ICS where I will be looking forward to seeing the lovely creations.
Have a great week.
Karen x

Dare U 2 Digi Stamp - Challenge 3 - Pink and Green

This week at Dare U 2 Digi Stamp we have a lovely colour combination challenge for you of pink and green and also a prize! Two digi stamp downloads are up for grabs for our randomly selected winner, one from Sketching Stamper and one from Sandra Dry Digital Designs.


I have used a couple of images from Grab-A-Dodle this week for my card along with these lovely papers from a 62 pad that I had forgotten that I had until I went rumaging through my papers to look for pink and greens! (Sorry can't remember who they are by and I am not at home at the moment so cannot look to see). Ribbon is Imaginsce and flowers are prima.

Inside of card

The Design Team have come up with some wonderful projects this week for your inspiration and very clever ideas for using digi stamps and you can check them all out Here
Have a great weekend.
Karen x

Dare U 2 Digi Stamp - Challenge 2

Our challenge for week 2 at Dare U 2 Digi Stamp is Bling which could be sparkle from glitter, glitter glue, gems, metal etc. Of course a digital image must feature on your project.

For my card this week I have used this cute download of three different images from Pollycraft. DP is Imaginsce Spring collection and flowers are prima. Sentiment on the front is from a 99p clear set and the inside one is from a CC designs sentiment set.

I am now off work for 4 days for the Easter Break - yippee. Ths sun is shining here today, so I am now off out to enjoy the sunshine and you never know perhaps my other half may even treat me to lunch!!

Karen x