Flowers, Lace and Pearls

I've come across yet another challenge site called Charisma Cardz, which is a Thursday challenge blog. Their challenge for this week is flowers, lace and pearls. I loved this challenge straight away as I am loving using my Whiff of Joy stamps which are really girly and very versatile. So I used an image from the Summer kit (again) added some Sultry, Eva and Mortifica basic grey papers. I distressed the edges to give extra dimension. I then added flowers from papermania and scrunched up some lace to make another flower shape and held it all together with a green pearl brad also from papermania. The image has been watercoloured using brush pens. This challenge started today and will end next wednesday! Pop on over and give it a try. Kel x

Colour create meets Poetic Artistry

2 cards in 1 for today. I made this card using the sketch from Poetic Artistry and the colour combo from Colour Create. The sketch is so lovely, and along with the colour combo of Sky Blue, Tan and Ecru it feels very calming, and after the week I have had its just what i need. The blue and the brown on this card look alot darker in the photo that they do in real life for some reason.

For this card I used scalloped card from Papermania, Ribbon taken from an old top, flowers and pearls from stash, the image and the sentiment are from Whiff of joy summer kit. Thanks for looking Kel x

Allsorts

I came across a fun new challenge site, which only started this week, called Allsorts. It looks like it will be loads of fun and I am really excited at being able to join in. Their first ever challenge, in honour of the blog name Allsorts, is "Sweets". To be interpreted as you like. I made this card as a get well card for my neighbour who is really poorly in hospital at the mo. I used Laura Ashley papers and Whiff of Joy, summer kit stamps, the ribbon was from stash. The image was coloured in with watercolours. So why not hop on over to Allsorts, show some support and join in the fun. Thanks for looking. Kel x

Sketch Saturday

Hello! Here is a card I created for Sketch Saturday. As always, it is a beautiful sketch with plenty ways to use it. I turned the sketch onto its side then flipped the circle in the middle. For this one I used a Whiff of Joy stamp, by Elizabeth Bell. It is from their summer kit. A gorgeous stamp collection which is full of pretty images to get you going. I also used the strawberry stamps which come in the kit. I stamped the strawberry stamp onto the red card in versamark ink, which gives a lovely watermark effect, then put the image just outside the circle to add interest. I used a mix of basic grey papers from the Porcelain, offbeat and Ambrosia collections, and also a fiskars apron lace punch. Thanks for looking Kel x

Butterfly Crafts

The new challenge at Butterfly Crafts this week is to create a layout using your favourite colour. I've never been what I would call a 'pink person' or a girly girl, but for some reason, as I have got older I seem to be gravitating towards pink. So it had to be pink I used. I had these brill photos of my dd playing dress up in her witches outfit as she isnt a true girly girl (yet, she very rarely does anything princess). Part of the netting from the dress came off and so I used it to create an embellishment for this layout. For the title, I had a minor disaster with the black flock. It just seemed to stick to everywhere I didnt want it to instead of the chipboard lettering! I wanted to keep this LO simple, so i used some pink velvet ribbon, ribbon brads, bazzil big brads, some glittery DCWV all dress up paper, making memories rub ons and chipboard letters from the Papermill Shop. Thanks for looking kel x

The Next Level

Hi there, I hope you are all had a great weekend. I've been so busy this week getting ready for the boys birthday. My baby boy turned one this week, so I have been busy organising things for him. This week I can get back to crafting and getting involved with some more challenges. I have just come across a new challenge site which is due to start up on June 1st. It looks like it is going to be heaps of fun, with challenges and tutorials. Its called the next level so hop on over and take a look. Also check out the very generous blog candy they have on offer, pictures and links are on my sidebar. This is just a quick one tonight, as I just wanted to give a shout out for this exciting new challenge blog, so I look forward to seeing you at the next level Kel x

Gift Box

Hi, Happy Friday! The other day I promised a tutorial on how to make the gift box I made for my friend and so here I am. I actually got the instructions for this from the Complete Scrapbooking Handbook and it was shown by Michelle Powell. The box is based on an Origami box but you have a make a couple of cuts so technically its not origami, but it is a very sturdy little box and so quick and easy to make. Its taken me a while to sit down and actually follow the instruction for the this myself, as I first thought it was too complicated, but its really simple and I am in love. Sometimes you can fork out a small fortune for a gift box from the shops but this is something you will be making over again! So here we go.

You will need:

2 sheets of paper (any sized squared, I used 8x8)

A ruler

Bone folder

Craft knife

Ribbon and embellishments of your choice. You can use any sized paper or card as long as it is square. For this one I used 8 x 8, all dressed up paper from DCWV. So you start by folding the paper/card diagonally, then open it up and fold again to the opposite corners

Open the paper back up again and fold each corner into the centre of the paper so you have 4 triangles. When you have folded all of the corners inward, you then fold the edges so they meet in the middle, unfold and fold again the other way. This gives the folds needed to create the box shape. Next open up two opposite triangle flaps and you need to make cuts from the edge of the folded flap to the outside. You do this on both sides and at opposite ends, as in the picture. Next you just fold the box together, making sure that the triangle flaps just sit in the base. And there you have the lid for the box.

To make the base, you take the same sized paper to start but start by trimming off 5-7 mm from 2 adjacent edges. Follow the steps from the beginning and this will give you base. Then all you need to do is put the lid on, dress it up as you want to and add which ever gift it is you will be giving.

I hope you can understand the instructions, and I would love to see what you create.

Happy folding!

Kel x

Thinking inside the box

Time to try something a bit different! Over at Penny Black saturday challenge this week, the theme is to use the colour combo black, white and one other colour. I've already made some cards in this colour scheme so I thought I'd try something other than a card or layout. A friend of mine will be celebrating a big ..0 birthday next week and I have been racking my brains what to get for her. We are already going to see Take That play in Manchester, but I wanted something small to give her on the big day. So I made up this little gift box, in pink and Black "All dressed up" paper from DCWV, added a Penny Black "Bubbly" stamp and sentiment, a polka dot flower from Petaloo and dressed it all up with white organza ribbon. Then inside the box I have put a few pamper bits, a mini bath foam, mini body scrub, a mini bottle of Baileys, and to be added is a mud face pack and a few little chocolates from Thorntons. The box was super easy to create. Tutorial coming soon.... Kel x

3 in a day

Another busy crafting afternoon for me today. I put my little boy to bed, and then sat with my daughter and made some cards. My dd likes to help me choose colours and stamps, so today I decided to let her take control and choose what she wanted me to use. And I think I have produced a very creative little girl! She loves my Basic Grey paper stash and is dying to get her hands on it, but she is only 3 and I am not that brave! So onto my first challenge entry for Friday sketchers. This is my first entry with Friday sketchers and I think it could be the start of something beautiful! For this card I used Marrakech papers, which are just beautiful. The image is 'Shopaholic' by Elizabeth Bell at Sugar Nellie, and the flowers are from my stash. My dd wanted to add the gem brads and hot fix crystals, which I had forgotton I had, and I think they really finished the card.

This next card is a creation for Sketch Saturday. My dd said I should make a card for ds's birthday and so here it is. I used Marrakech paper for the background, spotty paper is DCWV 'Nanas kids' stack, ribbon and the buttons are from the Early Learning Centre, and the image is 'Hamish fixing a tractor' from Sugar Nellie.

And last but definately not least, over at Basic Grey this week is a gorgeous sketch by Anthea. DD wanted me to use the Shopaholic stamp again and this time with Porcelain Papers, which are just so girly and light. Again the fabric flowers are from my stash, as is the green gem brad and the lace is from a top I cut up and hadnt even worn.... a true shopaholic confession! LOL

Thanks once again for looking. I really appreciate any comment you may leave. Dont be shy. I love hearing from you!

Enjoy your weekend

Kel x

Lets get funky!

This round of Scrapwhispers is almost over and we are so near to the big reveal of the whispered layouts that I am getting really excited! This week, there is another fab challenge to keep us occupied while we wait for the big reveal. This week, the challenge is to use the word "Funky" on a project. I chose to do a card this time and I've done this one with my ex-manager in mind. She doesnt really do flowers and flounce, but I know this one will make her smile. She needs it after alot of disgruntled holidaymakers test her over the summer months! So as I write, its on its way to Spain. Stamp is by Imaginise, papers are DCWV and scalloped card is by papermania. Thanks for looking! Kel x

Sketch Saturday

Here is a card I made for Sketch Saturday Challenge. I loved working with this sketch and I think I would use it over again. I put some Basic Grey 'Eva' paper as a background. I stamped the tree image by Imaginise(fairest of them all collection), and coloured the flowers in pink, distressed the edges and ran a pink ink pad along the edge. I then adhered it to a piece of pink scalloped card, ran a strip of scrap basic grey paper across and added some flowers and brads to finish it off. Thanks for looking Kel x

Super Powers?

If you could choose to have a Super Power, what would it be? Invisibility? Super Speed? Or maybe Morphing? Thats the question for this weeks "Book Of Me" challenge over at Its just too random. If I could choose one super power it would be Telekineses. I would love to be able to move inanimate objects. When I've seen magicians over the years doing things like it, I have been mesmerised. ALthough it was a very close toss up between this power and invisibility. Sometimes I wish I could be a fly on the wall but on the other hand, I might not like what I hear or see. So here is my mini layout for this weeks challenge. Go over and discover yourself! Kel x

Look at what I won!!

Saturday was National Scrapbooking Day and there were so many events going on all over the place. I had my parents visiting so I couldnt get involved as much as I would have liked, but in the morning I logged onto the Scrap Whispers site and saw there was a fun Blog Hop going on. The hop went to all of the amazing blogs of the Design team, where you were to collect a letter from each one to make up a password for the last page. On Georginas blog Its just too random, if you left a comment and a little note about your scrapbooking disaster you were put into a draw for Maya Road clear stamps and 2 Wispa chocolate bars! And I won!!! I couldnt believe it! My parcel arrived this morning and I am just so chuffed. A BIG THANKYOU to you Georgina! And so now I am off for a cup of coffee and a bar of Wispa!! I havent had one for years!! Enjoy the rest of your day Kel x

Papertake Weekly

There is a fab sketch over at Papertake Weekly this week. I stamped and coloured in the 'Carefree' image from Sugar Nellie, about a week ago and I couldnt think of how to put it onto a card. When I saw this sketch I knew I wanted to use this loely image, and as I put it together I wondered why it took me so long to use it. It goes beautifully with the Laura Ashley papers I have used. I also added a couple of brown paper flowers from papermania and threaded a tea rose through each one.

Thanks for looking. Kel x

Colour Create

Colour Create's challenge this week is to use Red, Brown and Cream. Not normally a colour choice I would go for but thats why its called a challenge, right!? And so here is the card I made using that colour scheme. I used 'Mimi in hat and coat' clear stamp from Pink Gem Designs (Who are looking for a new member of their design team by the way), coloured her in with watercolours. I used plain red CS, and some doodlebug flocked paper, red spotty ribbon from my stash and I made some lollipop flowers from scraps I had left over to mimic the rose on Mimi's hat. Thanks for looking! Kel x

Basic Grey challenge

Another FAB challenge over at the Basic Grey Challenge Blog. This week is to use a colour combo of Black, Grey and 1 other colour. I didn't really know what other colour to do until I made the card. The morning I made it I had got a parcel from Embellishmentsetc.com with the Basic Grey clear stamps value sets. So I really wanted to use the little birdy stamp, and stamped him out on various colours and thought that the image on the orange patterned paper looked best against the black and grey. For this card I used Ambrosia papers, Basic Grey bird stamp, and an apron lace punch (from Fiskars) for the orange strip, Studio G alpha stamps and a button that was from an old shirt. The Button is looking a bit blue in this photo but I promise you it is grey! Thanks for looking Kel x

National Scrapbooking Day!!

Happy National Scrapbooking Day!! All across the internet there are lots of online crops and events happening. If you head over to Scrapwhispers, there is so much fun going on and lots of challenges along the way!! Have a great day!! Kel x