Funky Hand Design Team Challenge

Decided to enter the August sketch challenge over at Funky Hand. All you have to do is follow their sketch and use at least one Funky Hand paper or extra in your design.

I used my Funky Daze CD which makes fabulous word books and used the "End of the Week" scrap page to cover my card; one of the matching backing papers for the oval and fan on top; a sheet of the ribbons and then added a silk ribbon, some gems and a matching organza flower. As it says on the CD - funky designs!!! LOL

Black, White & Red Challenge

I have just entered the Black, White & Red Darkroom Door challenge over on the Darkroom Door blog. Darkroom Door is an Austrialian company and I found them a few months ago. They sell their stamps in wonderful metal tins with the stamped images on the front - a real neat way to store them.

As the challenge is black, white and red this is what I've done. Main image stamped in black on white card and clear embossed. The image was then cut out and layered onto black card to which I added a red moon and reflection, then matted onto red mirri, black mirri and white card. The Venice definition was done in the same way. I then added some red ribbon and red gems and it's finished.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed as they are giving away three stamp sets to the lucky winners.

Thanks for looking :o)

Wiper Card

I've just finished making my eldest nephew his birthday card which is known by the strange name of a "wiper card" presumably because the insert pops up when you pull each side of the card. It's a bit difficult to describe but I've taken another photo showing the workings inside - you can put two pop ups inside if you wish. I've used two Elusive Images Paris themeplates and for the greeting I used a Stampin Up set together with their oval and scalloped oval punches. I embossed both images and then watercoloured them, added a ribbon and the greeting. The card and paper is from my stash. The card folds perfectly flat for posting.

I'm back!!!

Gosh, am I relieved to be able to post again...... but do I feel silly or what!!!! Had all this trouble with my camera not working and then being lucky enough to get the same model on eBay which, when it arrived, also didn't work. Thought I was going to have to fork out for a new camera. Went into Jessops who reckoned it would be £100 to repair and also went into Maplin Electronics to see if they could help but they couldn't. I was just hanging on the phone waiting to speak to Sony when I was flicking through the manual and the following jumped out at me "do not use lithium batteries". Hmmm - well I have been using lithium batteries for the last 18 months as they last so long. Anyway, I swiftly put down the phone (although I think I would have been holding on for a month of Sundays......) and we found some Ni-MH batteries; put them in my original camera and hey presto it worked!! Then tried out the new camera and, guess what............. that one works as well. Definitely got a red face at the moment, but my only saving grace is that neither my husband, the experienced camera shop or the electronics shop twigged and I told them all I used lithiums. Anyone want a perfect, working order, Sony digital camera????? LOL

Back to business. At club night last week I did a stint with friendly plastic (although I am positive it should be called unfriendly.........). The girls seemed to like my samples and demonstration so thought I would share them with you - now that I can photograph them.

Thanks for stopping by. :o)

Lost without my camera!!!

Just in case you thought I'd dropped off the face of the earth............ I have been busy making samples for tonight's craft club night. I would love to post some photographs but my camera has broken and I am totally lost without it; didn't realise quite how much I used it. I took it into Jessops but they wanted £25 non-refundable for an estimate and the girl in the shop said she hadn't seen any repairs come back under £80-£100.............. hmmm!! Anyway, I saw a new camera in the shop so took a note of it's number and when I got home did a Google search on it. Could get it much cheaper from Hong Kong or France but was concerned about the import tax. Then by pure chance I saw the same camera as mine being auctioned on eBay. It had been bought from West Meryside police as part of their clearance of seized goods etc and the starting price was £1 although it didn't have a memory card in it. Well, I thought it was worth a go and I actually won it for £26 including p&p which is just about the same price as getting the repair estimate!!! Keeping my fingers crossed that when it arrives and I transfer over my memory card that everything works okay. It is definitely worth a try before I spend loads of money on a new one - so hopefully I will be able to post again before the week's out.

Thanks for visiting my blog.

Karen :o)

Venice birthday card

Also managed to fit in making a birthday card for my nephew, Keir.

Always find it difficult finding male orientated themes but had this lovely Venice set of stamps from Darkroom Door, an Australian company.


Over the top of the main image is a stamped and clear embossed postal mark and gondola on acetate which is domed over the top of the image and firmly stuck on the underside of the card.



Hope he likes it. Of course he never knows what he wants for his birthday and always appreciates a slip of paper with figures written on it.............

Done in - but done it!!!

Just managed to finish off all my work getting items ready for the craft shows on Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Definitely got sore fingers after making two fabric boxes and four leather bound notebooks. I did enjoy it but it was definitely a bit of a rush only having had 6 days notice - plus having to do all the normal mundane things like washing/ironing, housework and cooking........... know where I'd rather be!!! LOL

Butterfly Bliss

Possibly it's a case of at long last the sun's come out and it's not raining, but when I just popped out to the garden this is what I saw............. our Buddliea Bush was absolutely covered with butterflies of all sizes, colours and descriptions. To show them all I would have needed a dozen or more photos but decided this one would show you these beautiful insects.

I was taking a much needed break as I'm doing two "cream tea" events on Saturday and Sunday afternoon and have been rushing round madly trying to make some more fabric boxes and leather bound books. Seeing as I was only told about this on Sunday (6 days notice.........) I think I'm doing pretty well having made two fabric boxes and three (so far) leather books. Just keeping my fingers crossed that the weather will be kind to us!!!