Harbour canvas

Helloooo!  I am here again with my Craft Barn Blog DT hat on :D.  When I first looked at this Scene It stamp set I have to admit that my heart did drop a little!  But when I thought about it I realised that you could have a lot of fun :D  Coming from a seagull infested area I wasn't put off by the seagulls in the set and actually, dare I say it, thought they were quite cute hahaha!!!!

 I have used a 7x5 canvas to show off these stamps.  Of course my house is the one on the hill....so that I can see whats going on hahaha!  I hope that you have a good view from your windows, HUGS xxx

Hobby Art Harbour Scene It clear stamps

Canvas5x7cm

PaperArtsy Fresco paint - Guacamole

EcoGreenacrylic paints

Glossy Accents

Memento ink - black

Promarkers

Going Oriental

Hi, its been a very long time since I crafted anything Oriental.  When I saw the prompt for The Craft Barn blog I was determined to make a little book but it just never happened and it all ended up as a card - completely different with what was in my head hahahaha!!!!!

The pretty stamp set is by Kanban & has been cut out & stuck on after.  The background is a mix of Distress Inks.

Material

Kanban Clear Stamps: Harmony

Distress Inks

Memento ink

Copics

DecoArt Glitter paint - Ice Crystal

Embossing powder - black

Coloured card

 

Thank you for looking today, HUGS xxx

Poppies for Mum

Hello!  No sooner is Christmas over then its my Mums birthday :D  When she was growing up her family always saved the Christmas Pudding until her birthday and this is what we still do :D  Lucky Mum!  Always a treat to look forward to :D  Its Indigo Blu week over at ~The Craft Barn Blog~ and I couldn't resist these gorgeous poppies and used them to make her a card...  

The poppies are a good size, this card is 4x6inches.  The largest poppy has been stamped separately & layered over the other two.  I used Inktense pencils to colour them in and added lack Sakura Glaze on the stamens and fine red glitter to the petals.  Mum loves a bit of bling :d

Indigo Blu - Poppy Meadow

Inktense Watercolour Pencils

Sakura Glaze pen - black

Fine Glitter - red

Mirri card - silver

Red card

Lace, Ribbon

Love & Hugs xxx

Mini Arch Banner

Hi!  Its always interesting when you have a group of crafters who all work with the same item...in this case a gorgeous Arch stamp from Katzelkraft.  I do love this stamp and have made a little banner with it...

 

I coloured some white card with mustard seed distress ink before stamping the arch 5 times using different colour stazon inks. I did the same with the letters from the Cart-Us alphabet set except that I used Perfect Medium and embossed in gold. This was followed by lots of cutting out!!! I found some tassled braid in my stash and glued some to the bottom of the arches then glued the arches onto some white card so that the braid was sandwiched. Slits were cut in the tops of the arches and narrow ribbon threaded through for hanging.

Its hard to believe that this is my last calendar page already!!!!!  Seems like 5minutes since I started these.....well, not 5minutes but you all know what I mean hahaha!!!  This time I have used the arch to make a little door...

I just love this saying and I thought it appropriate as we look forward to a new year!  Don't you just love that little Tando key?????

 

From The Craft Barn I used:

Mini Arch stamp - Katzelkraft

Cart-Us alphabet stamps

Distress Inks

StazOn

Versamark

Ribbon

Gold Embossing Powder

Our special offer this week is 20% off all Katzelkraft stamps except the minis.

Just enter the code KTZ20 when you checkout.

 

Thank you for taking a looksee today my lovelies!  HUGS xxx

Gifts to make under £20

For November The Craft Barn DTare looking at different priced gifts that you can make.  The Craft Barn DT have all put their thinking caps on and come up with some wonderful ideas!  This week we start with gifts under £20.  Mine comes in well below that at around £12, if you include the stamp.  I have decorated a shopping bag or two :D

I have kept the decoration on this shopping bag flat & light because I still wanted to fold it up to put in my handbag or pocket but you could really go to town with this! I also made up a mini version for the little Miss who like to copy Mummy!

Firstly cut a piece of card to just smaller than the bag and insert inside...this is so that you have a flat surface and also to protect the other side. I used a lovely stamp by Impression Obsession (J2011) which can be used a border, although I didn't line it up too well, it still works :D. I used Momento ink to stamp and then lightly coloured with Promarkers. Don't go right to the edges as the ink will bleed a little. Then a little light touch with my favourite crackle stamp & some matching Brilliance ink. I finished it off by tying some ribbons around the handles.

For the little girls' bag cut a piece of calico 21x32cm, fold in half widthways and stitch up 2 sides to form a bag. Fold down the top opening 3cm and stitch along the fold. Then fold tuck in 1cm of the raw edge & stitch. This gives a firmer edge. For the handles but 2 pieces of calico 22x5cm, fold in half lengthwise and stitch using a 5mm hem. Turn and press so that the seam in down the middle of the strap, edge stitch. Tuck under 1cm on each end the straps and stitch to the bag as shown. Decorate to match the large bag.

I realised that I couldn't use this stamp for the calendar piece again so I just matched up the colours with some spray ink.  Those 'of a certain age' will remember soaps-on-ropes well hahahahaha!!!!

From The Craft Barn I used:

Shopping Bag - natural

Natural Calico

Impression Obsession stamp - J2011

Promarkers

Memento ink

Brilliance Ink

Ribbon

It's Gift week, so we have a gift for you :)

This week we have a prize draw feature across the blog, newsletter, Facebook and Twitter

Three vouchers are up for grabs: £25, £20 and £15.

It’s easy to enter, simply place an order on line with us. Everyone who places an order between 9th and 15th November will automatically be entered into the draw and at the close three lucky people will be drawn at random to win the vouchers

HUGS XXX

Crafty Individuals Masks!

Hellooo again!  Did you know that Crafty Individuals are selling their own masks & dies now???  Such interesting shapes which go perfectly with their gorgeous stamps!  Over at The Craft Barn Blog we are playing with these this week :D  I chose the Gilded Birdcage mask to have fun with.  We are also going with an Autumnal theme/colourway.  Firstly a card...

I used distress inks over the mask for the background then added some crackle stamp & grassy leaf border in Versafine sepia.  The bird is a Tando mini which was treated to the distress inks as were the leaves.

**********************

Here is my Calendar page to match...

This time I used the mask as a stencil and just drew around the shape with a fine black pen, adding white pen to some areas. Everytime I look at this page all I can see is St Pauls Cathedral...perhaps its time I went for a return visit to climb all those steps :D  I have to say that although this mask is very delicate in design its incredibly sturdy and withstood my scrubbing brush!

From The Craft Barn:

Crafty Individuals Bird cage Mask

Tando Creative Mini Birds

Impression Obsession stamp: Craquelure

Artemio Leaves

PaperArtsy Hot Picks 1005

Versafine Vintage Sepia

...and this weeks special offer is MUST HAVE if you love Crafty Individuals!

20% off selected Crafty Individuals stamps. 

From CI-017 to CI-250 included

use code CRAFTY20 at checkout

Thank you so much for popping by, HUGS xxx

Thank you Lynne!

Hellooo!  Its been an age since I had a mini book to decorate :D  This one is a new one from ~Tando Creative~ and measures 14.5x12cm with 4 inside pages.  I found inspiration from the very talented Lynne Perrella...who wouldn't as her stamp sets are amazing aren't they?

The background has been sprayed with pink, lemon & chocolate Dylusions then a large scroll embossed in old gold.  I used Transfer Artists paper to stamp on, coloured with copics, then ironed onto some cream cotton.  I was looking to create different textures.  I sewed the fabric to some coloured bookprint before glueing on.  The Tando Scroll has been sprayed like the background then lovely Decoart Glamour Dust painted on (if you haven't discovered this its a must have :D).  I added some beads for her necklace & headband.   I covered the pages inside with bookprint and left plain to add to later.

For a list of stockists for all things Tando please take a look ~here~.  Thank you for popping by today, HUGS xxx

'Love is like a butterfly....'

Hi, the focus this week over at the  ~TANDO CREATIVE BLOG~ is Journalling!!!!  There are so many journallers out their and we want them to know that some of our chipboard comes in a really thin weight...just for journalling...how good is that!  Here is my page...

I have placed the Tando Heart Flourish Mask at the top, a strip of masking tape near the bottom & then sprayed over with Dylusions.   I doodled round the mask area to help it stand out more then lightly coloured it.  The butterflies have been painted, stamped & doodled on.  Some lce stamping & more doodling finish it off.

Thank you for taking a looksee today xxx

Fantasy Birds!

Hi...I have been playing with Pebeo Prisme Fantasy :D  Its very unusual stuff in that it dries in a sort of pattern.  Now I would probably never have thought to try this if I wasn't on ~The Craft Barn~ design team, so thank you ladies :D I have to say that I found this paint lovely to use but it was ages before I thought of what to do with it  :D ...especially as I wanted to make a card or two!!!  Anyway...here they are...

The background were made by spraying with dylusions and my favourite Impression Obsession Craquelure stamp.  The image is Katzalkraft mini 33, which has been embossed in black.  I took the Tando circles mask and lightly drew some circles onto the background before filling in with the Prisma Fantasy (cinnamon & eggshell white).  I added glitter round the circles & a few beads to finish.  The edge was distressed before attaching to the base card.

I did the same for this card but instead of circles I just let the paints flow before adding glitter & beads.

Available from The Craft Barn.....

Pebeo Prisme Fantasy

Katzelkraft mini33 - grue

Impression Obsession 'Craquelure'

(you could also use CI-116)

Tando circle mask

Dylusion Sprays

beads

glitter

 

 

our special offer this week

10% off PEBEO PAINTS!!!!

 

Thank you so much for coming over to see me...HUGS XXXXX

Artemio at The CraftBarn

Helloooo, its Artemio week over at the Craft Barn.  I really enjoyed doing this one...can you tell? hahaha

Using the smallest crown box I covered it inside & out with Moonlight Fresco Paint. I love this paint as there is no need to gesso first and it goes on in one coat! Randomly ink the craquelure stamp with the Pearlescant Purple and press lightly to the top & bottom of the box then edge the pieces with the same ink. Using the memento ink stamp the long text stamp from the set around the edges of the bottom section. Glue narrow lace around the lid (I coloured mine with the Pearlescant Purple).

Stamp the flower & 3 bees onto card with Memento and, picking up some Pearlescant Purple on a brush, paint them. Emboss with clear embossing powder before cutting them out.

Using the Fresco paint, colour 3 small chippie buttons, including a small heart. Tie ribbon through the heart and glue the 2 others together. Arrange a small bouquet with the flowers and push the stems through the holes in the glued buttons. Attach the heart and bouquet inside the box. Stamp the sentiment onto a scrap of painted card & scroll the ends then glue to the front with the stamped flower tucked behind it. Attach a bee to some wire & push through the lid, secure on the inside. Glue a second bee to the scroll and the third to a flower inside the box.

From The Craft Barn...

Artemio stamp set- Hortensia

Set of 3 crown shaped boxes

Tando Button Grab Bag

Impression Obsession Cover-a-card- craquelure

PaperArtsy Fresco paint - Moonlight

Brilliance ink - pearlescent purple

Memento ink - grape jelly

Flowers

 

Thank you for taking a look and do pop into the CraftBarn Blog as there is something new everyday!!!! HUGS xxx

Colourful hens!

Hi there!  Just a quick post to show you a card I made for my step-daughter.  She badly wants to get some hens but her hubby says no!!!  Some people are no fun are they hahahaha!  I adore hens and could watch them all day!  Anyway I made her a card covered in hens ...

The hen stamp is by Chocolate Baroque and has been coloured with copics then clear embossed.  One stamped background and a piece of string and voila!

ooooooo Over at ~The Craft Barn~ there is a massive sale going on...lots of bargains to be had for a week only!!!  PLUS....there is a new challenge starting tomorrow with a £20 voucher on offer :D  I know that some of my blogging buddies out there would be interested in this as its theme is 'Colouring Techniques' :D

Thank you for taking a look today, HUGS xxx

Big Fish, Little Fish

The challenge for August over at Tando Creative is 'Travel' .  It gave me a chance to play with some new stamps that I got recently....a new PaperArtsy Hotpick with the lovely ship and the enormous fish hahaha!  This card is for my Step-Dad who was a sea faring man...bet he never saw as big a fish as this eh :D

Of course the main draw to this set is the wording...being Cornish it was a must have!  I did google it but it doesn't exist anymore, though interestingly there are others around the country.  I masked the background and sprayed with dylusion ink.  The wording has been stamped & layered onto a cloud!  Well, why not...its a nice shape hahaha!

If you fancy havin a go at this challenge then pop over ~HERE~.  There are some lovely prizes to be won...such a shame I can't enter hahaha!!!!  Thank you for popping by, HUGS xxx

HOP-A-LONG with bookplates!

This is definitely a first for me!  A BLOGHOP  that is hahaha!  Its all about the ~BOOKPLATES~ , aren't they pretty?  Why don't you hop along the list and see all the different ways of using them?  There is to be a prize draw of all the comments that are left on all the blogs too!  Got to be worth following the trail!  Here is my take...

I sprayed mine with Dylusions along with the background.  The stamps are part of a set by Oxford Impressions.  Having a circus set is new for me....clowns give me the creeps!!!!  But there are plenty of other delicious & very useful stamps in the set and a good price too :D  The bookplate has been sprayed with dylusions in 3 different colours.  The chippie can take all that wet too!!!  Then glossy accents added on top.

You should have come from the ~TANDO CREATIVE BLOG~ to get to me but if you didn't know about the blog hop why not carry on? 

-The next to visit is the lovely Irits blog ~HERE!~  -

Enjoy your hopping :D and thank you for popping in, HUGS xxx

Yellow & Green

Hellooooo!  Thank you all so much for your lovely comments about my altered book below :-D

Today I am showing you a simple tag that was made for Tando Creatives ~Challenge for April~ , which I am in charge of this month.  Loads of lovely prizes on offer if you fancy a go :-D  I haven't made a tag in ages and really enjoyed doing this!!!

Spray inks for the background and the Tando butterfly was stamped then decorated with fine glitter.  I sprayed the white lace to match & added the quote.  eeemples hahaha!

I am also entering this tag in a new challenge blog over at ~ARTFUL TIMES~ and I wish them well in the future.

Thank you for taking a looksee at my tag, HUGS xxx

Jingle all the way hehe!

This is my very last Christmas card...phew! :-D

I have used the very pretty Reindeer & Sleigh chipboard from ~Tando Creative~ and painted it gold.    Some of you will recognise the houses stamp from Crafty Individuals.  I stamped 2 out, watercoloured, applied GA here & there and then layerd them up. 

Don't forget the MONTHLY CHALLENGE over on our ~challenge blog~.  There are amazing prizes that you get to choose yourself...how good is that???
Thank you for taking a look today, see you soon,
Hugs, Karen xxx

A friend to be silly with?

Helloooo!  Novembers Challenge is still ongoing over at the  ~Tando Creative Challenge Blog~.  This months challenge can be anything using...

BLUE & BROWN

 Its a fantastic challenge as you don't have to use any Tando products and at the end of the month there is a draw where you can win Tando Products which you choose from a selection....how good is that????  We are showing you different entries from the DT each week and this week its my turn :-D

This 7x5" canvas has been painted up and then I have painted & stickled 3 of Tando's Karens Arch Frames.  I had so much fun using my Stampotique stamps for this hahaha! 

Do pop over to have a look at the challenge and the list of prizes you can choose from.....its well worth the effort!  Thank you for popping by, HUGS xxx

Getting back to it slowly!!!

Hi there!  I am just showing you a couple of cards I made recently.  Its been hard getting back into my 'normal' crafting again ...more a case of more in the bin than I am pleased with hahaha!!!  This first card was for my teenage step-grandaughter who is well into her art.  Lots of messy painty fingers helped to make the background and isn't it amazing how glitter gets everywhere hehe ?

The second card was for my very dear friend ~Kaz~ who admired this La Blanche stamp when I saw her last :-D

Thank you for taking the time to have a look today, big HUGS & take care xxx

I am back & Octobers pages!!!!!!!!

At last I can get myself back to normal after months of manic wedding activity :-D .  More of that later as first I want to show you my October pages for the ~365 CHALLENGE~ that the lovely Kate Crane inspires!  Now I am not really into Halloween but couldn't resist a wierdy or two hahahaha!  So I have used soft colours for this month just to confuse peeps!

Here are my September pages all done.  I tried to add more writing this time and you will see there are not so many wedding hearts either as I tried to rest up before the day (as if!)  Been pretty busy though with other things such as a christening , a hen night, graduation and making loads of chutneys & jams!!!!

Now on to my daughters wedding...you can skip this bit if you like :-D  I made......

200 day & evening invitations...

80 orders of service...

SIX fiddly made-to-measure bridesmaids dresses...

80 favour boxes...

a guest book which I forgot to photograph and a partridge in a pear tree!!!!  (not really hahaha)  But I enjoyed it really even though 2 of her engaged friends asked if I could do their stuff as well!!!!! 

Thank you for taking a looksee today, its soooo nice to be back!  HUGS XXX

Using fabric on a card!

oooops!!!!  I missed the boat for the entry to last weeks Just For Fun challnge to use fabric :-( I had in my head that the theme changed on fridays...never mind, I am still going to blog it!!!!  

I used muslin for the background & spritzed with glimmer mists.  The fabulous Masai warrior is from Clarity Stamps & I have layered him up with a new outfit & used a coctail stick for his spear, although it wasn't quite long enough!

Thank you for popping along to take a look today, have a fabulous weekend won't you?  HUGS xxx

August Calendar pages!

Helloooooo, I didn't expect to be back here so quickly but it is that time of the month...noooo not that time of the month but time to blog a new set of calendar pages for the 365 Challenge set up by the lovely Kate over at ~The Kathryn Wheel~.  As my life seems to consist of lots of sewing-for-the-wedding days at the moment it seemed apt to do a these pages accordingly.  I promise I will show you these dresses when the wedding is over.....in fact you will probably get fed up with seeing pics hahahaha!

If you are interested here are July's pages all filled in....

I was a bit poorly at the beginning of the month but there are definitely not enough sofa days for the rest of it :-(  But there was lots of fun at the end when the family got together again for another Fun Day at the local Donkey Sancturay this time.....amazing slide there to prove that you are never too old to play hahahahaha!!!!

Thank you for taking a look today, lots of Hugs