Hammock Hibernation

aww isn't he cute!

Here is a card I made from an image sent to me by Clare, thanks Clare I love him!  Id never really seen this range before so when I got him and the one below, I was really pleased!  It's so good to swap as you get to see images that you wouldn't normally see or try.  I'd like to enter this card into the challenge over at Simon Says which is 'Dotty Dots'.

These three look quite a handful but still so sweet!  All of these bears are from the collection called Gruffies, bit of a misnomer in my opinion, surely Big Softies would be more apt!

Keryn x

Thinking of You!

And this little girl must have been thinking of her Mum or her Nannie when she dressed up like this!  I love those Edna Everage specs!  

Dont you just remember putting on your Mums shoes and clip clopping in the kitchen - had to be the kitchen as you could hear the clip clop better on the lino!  

The papers are from Funky Fairy and Ive used my PMs and a few gems and buttons from my stash.

Id like to enter this into this weeks challenge over at the Sassy Cheryl blog.  The theme is 'thinking of you'.


How daft am I?  Ive written the details down for the Allsorts Challenge, as I do most weeks, but it never crossed my mind, Thank You Fleur for the nudge!
Id also like to enter this for this weeks theme of 'Dressing Up'.

Back soon with some more, thanks for calling in!

Keryn x

Catch Up

Good morning, Ive been absent from blogging this week as I was lucky enough to have spent some time with my eldest girl.  It is with a very saddened heart that I tell you she has now left teaching.  It is the best thing for her but it is so unfair.  She was at the start of such a successful career, one that she seems to fit comfortably and also receiving high praise from her mentors and bosses.  Katherine, has been her guardian angel and I thank her from the bottom of my heart.

She feels her future lies in the pastoral side of children now so I wish her all of the very best as she starts all over again.  I know she will do well in whatever path her future takes her on.

Here is a beautiful little image that I found via Mina.  Thanks Mina!  It is 'Nap time' by A Day for Daisies.  It is a little A6 size card which I find very hard as there's hardly any space to do anything on!  I loved making the little spray of blooms though!

Coloured with my PM's, paper from Funky Fairy and sentiment by Daisy & Dandelion.

Keryn x

just hangin' around

Hello, Id like to share this little card that I made using a lovely little chap!  It's one of Sassy Cheryl's and it's called 'Hangin out to dry', it's another card made with some scraps and an image I coloured on my hols!

Can't think of any challenge to add him to so he's on his own!

Thanks for calling in.

Keryn x

Summertime Designs

Hello crafters!

A number of months ago I came across a really great blog.  It is a free digital scrapbooking blog run by a very generous lady called Summer Driggs.  Summer is one of those rare people who are as beautiful on the inside as they are on the outside, I have so much admiration for her as she certainly hasn't had the easiest of times.

If you click on the tag above you will go to her crafting blog (I say that because she also has a family blog), once here you will be astounded by the sheer ability of this lady to make such beautiful digi kits.

Even the names of these kits are beautiful: Limeade, Memories & Boy oh boy kits to name just a few.

Here is a card I made using a paper from the 'Apples & Almonds kit' however, my printer was running out of ink and it printed it in shades of green instead of the browns that it should have been!  I didnt want to waste it so Ive used it here on a card I am making for a friends birthday next month.  The image is perfect as he has an allotment and makes lots of lovely gifts with the surplus fruits of his labour!  Last christmas we were given 2 chutneys and 2 jams and they were all very very tasty!  This image is from Beccys Place, I came across her from the free digi site; she has some lovely slightly different images including hiking boots and a lovely christmas carousel horse.  Please pop over and have a browse!

Keryn x

Friday Sketchers Video Girl

Evening everyone!  Hope you've all had a lovely day and managed to fit in just what you wanted to!

No tortoises today, 'thank goodness' I hear from the stalls!

Here's card Ive made using Video Girl from Mo Manning (a link is on my sidebar) which I reckon is perfect for so many girls!

As Ive coloured her in PM's I think I will strike while the iron is hot and enter again into this weeks I love ProMarkers challenge which is 'buttons'!

I have used the great sketch over at Friday Sketchers.  This was a scrappy card as in I made it using scraps from my stash.  Think I could rival Clinton's if I used up all of my scraps in this way!

Keryn x

Oh I just had to say how Im loving Josie and John James at the moment!

Bugaboo 50% Sale

Evening everyone!  I saw this and just had to let you know

that there is now a 50% sale on at Bugaboo stamps.  

Ive shown a couple of the images that Ive got but it is

just a small sample of them.

Last time there was a sale I got 10 which worked out as

$15 so only about £12 for 10 images!  What a bargain!

Hop here to get the code and read all about it!

What a messy layout this is, sorry!

Keryn x

Tiddly Inks #14

Hello!  I've got quite a little pile of coloured images that I did whilst on holiday so Im working my way through them.  It really does take such a lot of time out of card making!

I'd like to enter this card into the Tiddly Inks challenge which is the sketch.  I love this cute girl, she is just so sweet!

Hope you have a lovely Friday!

Keryn x

Environmentally friendly?

Hello!  Well, these tortoises are just like buses it seems.  You dont see one for years and then 2 come along in a matter of days!

Id like to enter this card into:

Pollycraft Monday Challenge happy birthday

Simon Says Challenge sketch

I love ProMarkers buttons

Crafty Creations Challenge happy or sweet

I rotated the sketch and I think that the card also fits into 'happy or sweet' canopy so hopefully it will be ok to enter into that challenge too!  Ive never had enough courage to enter a ProMarker challenge as I do know that Ive a long way to go but I just went for it!  It didnt hurt half as much as I thought it would!  If you've felt the same as me then take the plunge and join in too! lol!

I havent entered so many challenges with one card for a very long time, Ive checked them all and hopefully they will all be valid entries.

I think I am going to put my tortoise images to bed for the rest of the summer now, an early hibernation I reckon!

Keryn x

WOYWW 21.07

Hello, there's really nothing at all of any interest on my desk today, Im inbetween cards so Ive decided to show you what else is going on in my craft room!

Here is our 'little one' sound asleep on the bed (we've got a spare quilt cover on the bed to save the bed from white hairs!).  Usually she's snuggled up with her Mum Poppy but I think because it is so humid, she's going it alone!

Having already made a start and calling in on some friends joining in with the WOYWW I suddenly realised I could show my curtains that I made for our bedroom a few weeks ago.  Cant you just tell what a whizz I am with photography!!  Nice view of Southampton skies but rubbish at showing the curtains!

Its amazing how many shots I had to take to try to get one good view!  I gave up with trying to show both curtains, after all, they are both the same!  I made these with a lovely quite heavy fabric and used the Pinch Pleat tape for the first time (namely because I had forgotten what the name of the ordinary basic tape was!).  Im quite pleased with how they turned out especially as I had 3 lengths to make them so there's a seam in both; the matching was perfect so I am very relieved and they are lined also with black out linings (hubby works nights).

I hope youve enjoyed your trip today and if you'd like to join in then please pop over to Julia's blog, the link is on my sidebar!

Keryn x

Anne Bodil's digi

Hello, Ive made a little welcome card using a lovely image from a very talented lady called Anne Bodil.  I first came across her via the Free Digital Stamps blog whereby all artists that are offering free digi stamps are listed daily.  Pop over and have a look if, like me, you like your digi's!

Keryn x

Limes anyone?

Back again and with another male card, this time for my nephew but I cant remember how old he is!  For this I used lovely limey green papers from Funky Fairys; I love the months paper, its such a great idea!

The image is one from Bugaboo, Im not normally found using the Bugaboo animals images but there was something about this chap that just appealed!

Id like to enter this into the following challenge:

Cards for Men which is a recipe of 1 image, 2 papers and 3 embellies

Keryn x

70th Word Book

Hello!  I just wanted to share a word book that's kept me quiet for about 3 days!  Making the box alone took most of yesterday - I now have an assortment of lids in varying sizes!!  Grrr!

My eldest sister's fella is celebrating his special birthday next month so I wanted to make something a little different.  I didn't struggle too much with filling all of the sides but obviously, if it was for a girl you can always fill in with flowers etc!

Anyway, I used the great tool from Funky Hand on the Papercraft Factory dvd to make the word book - it is so easy it's a shame I dont make more use of it!

I detailed people who share his birthday; ranging from President Hoover to Antonio Banderas and then when I researched his actual birth date, I found that the  Battle of Britain campaign had detailed entries for activity that day.  I typed, reduced and distressed it then put it behind the old photo of the London lookout searching for enemy aircraft.  He will really like that aspect of it as he is mad keen on history!

He lives in Weymouth and follows the Weymouth Wildcats Speedway team and I managed to find a vintage programme which I placed over a current fixture list.

I really enjoyed making this and now Ive just got to make 2 cards for him from my daughters which will be a lot easier!

If anyone has any tips about how to get the right measurements when making boxes - I'd be mighty grateful!  I tried adding one extra notch (on the MS board) for the width and depth of the lid but it ended up way too big!

Keryn x

Claire's Doodles now in rubber!

Hello, I just had to show you these.  Claire has just announced that she has had some of her beautiful Doodles made up into rubber in a collaboration with Polkadoodles.  She is so excited so please do pop over to have a look at 

Claire's blog and spread some encouragement!

It's a lovely summers day here, I hope it is lovely where you are also!

I hope to be back later with some makes.

Keryn x

WOYWW 14.07

Hello Woywwers!  Better late than never I hope!  My desk is surprisingly clear and so - very boring so I thought Id span to my right to my ever faithful printer!  Where on earth would I be without that!  Its got my little box with my made cards ready for family birthdays and by the side is my MS scoreboard.  Behind that is a complete stash of allsorts of nothing!  Clearly it is nothing as I haven't used anything from there for absolutely ages!!

My trusty address book is to the left and the stack of small PP pads.

I did say that the desk was boring!  Just assembling bits for my next card ready to chose which sketch I fancy using!

If you fancy joining in with the general madness that is WOYWW then pop over to Julia's and come and play!

Before I go I'd just like to say Thank You very much to everyone who has offered/sent cards for Clare's hospice fundraising event on Saturday.  I know she says that every day more arrive in the post, so many thanks.

Keryn x

Flowers galore

Arent they beautiful?  these were 'sent' to me by the lovely 

Crafty Chris.  Thank you very much Chris for thinking of me and I would like to forward this floral award to 

Clare who is busy sorting through a pile of cards,

Pinky who is busy with lots of DT work,

Paula just because,

Claire as she's busy counting down the days til school holidays and to a special friend who is my Big Brother Buddy!  You know who you are!

and onto my next card, this is using an image by MelJen and as you know I am rather Poppy mad, I couldnt resist it.  Over at MelJen's Challenge blog it is 'Circles Galore', you only have until tonight to enter as there will be a new challenge tomorrow so be quick!

I would also like to enter this card into PaperTake Weekly.  
I have used Poppy Seed dotty paper by Jak Heath, lovely isnt it.
Sorry for the long post!
Keryn x 

Today's cards

Hello, in my rush on Sunday to join in with this challenge I omitted one vital element!  If you like this sketch and would like to play properly then pop along to Sunday Sketch & Stamp and STAMP an image then you too can join in!  This was a digi stamp and I didnt realise until Id finished it but never mind, Ive got another card ready for xmas!  Sadly I'll be watching from the sidelines for this weeks challenge!

The image, digi image that is, is from Cuddly Buddly and the 'snow' paper is from Funky Fairys, the other paper was scrap pieces.


ETA - ooh, Ive just heard a digi stamp does count so Im joining in!

~shrieks~

This is bright!  Here is my entry for Pollycraft Monday Challenge where they are asking for bold & bright!  This is a super image from Pollycraft and it's the first time that Ive ever made a monster!  Im quite pleased with how it turned out so it will go to my nephew for his birthday. 
I'd also like to enter this into Paula's new challenge Flash your Freebies.
Thanks Paula for letting me know!

Keryn x

Hello,

It's a lot cooler here today following some rain very early this morning and I'd like to wish everyone in Northern Ireland a very happy Monday as you have a Bank Holiday today!  I hope the rain stops and brings you all some sunshine!

Here are my 4 box sets that I'm sending to Clare.  I tried to make them all slightly different but quite neutral so that they could be used for any reason.

I used my MS scorer to make them all and it makes such perfect boxes, I love it!  It was quite addictive too as Im not used to being able to make boxes quite so easily!

Here is another of the wedding couple by Lily of the Valley.

I used different colours but as I wanted another easel card I found it quite hard trying to get a completely different feel to it.  Must try harder next time!

Keryn x

Beary many thanks

Here is a card Id like to enter into this week's challenge over at 

Just Cute Bears.  This week it's a lovely sketch by Helen, my image is from MelJen Designs and is one of the very many that I coloured up whilst on holiday.

Keryn x

I forgot

Good Morning!

Here is a card I made to send down to Clare for St.Wilfreds.  I found a couple of 'new to me' challenge sites so Im entering this into

The Sweet Stop where I used their fab sketch SSS64

Crazy4Challenges where this weeks challenge is red, white & black

I have to say that I really love that colour combo and so enjoyed making that card but then I got the most unexpected call ever.  My friend Clare, who doesn't live that far away - but far enough that we havent yet managed to meet up, rang me!  It was the highlight of my day, thanks Clare you really cheered me up!

Keryn x

ETA: what I forgot to mention was that this is a super image from Bugaboo, there's a link on my sidebar!  Just a semi-senior moment!

Donkey Smiles

Hello!  Here is a beautiful little image by Meljen Designs but this one was designed with a difference.  If you pop over to A spoon full of Sugar you will understand that there is a card drive for Michelle Oatman, a well known crafter.  Sadly she had an accident on her donkey ranch which resulted in her loosing an eye.  So a card drive has been set up to help cheer her at this difficult time.

When I first started blogging my favourite Saturday morning jaunt would be over at Michelle's blog as that was the day the day of the week that she would share her donkey life with us all!  I loved following her tales of the donkeys and their pregnancies and babies!  She always posted the most gorgeous photos!  I didn't realise how much I liked donkeys until I found her blog!  

I'd like to enter this card into the challenge over at A spoon full of Sugar and Friday Sketchers as I have followed their fab sketch for this week.

I hope you have a lovely Saturday!

Keryn x

Lotv Wedding Couple

Good morning everyone!  I am enjoying the sunshine and I'm very grateful for electric fans!

I got this little stamp a number of weeks back and this is my first outing for it.  I've been asked to make a selection of wedding cards so this may be the first of several!

Ive used Funky Fairy Swirls papers, MS bs, X-Cut punches and QK sentiment.

I'd like to enter this card into:

Creative Card Crew - One to Die for - QK sentiment and hearts.

Hope you like it!

Keryn x

St Wilfs & WoywW

Hello!

Ive been looking forward to joining in this week as it signals that Im fully over the holiday and back in the swing of things again!

Todays desk is still rather messy, as you've come to expect and as usual I have several things on the go at once.  Ive just received my paperwork about getting my road tax free of charge but the rules are blinking ridiculous.  I ask you, how many disabled people do you know that a) can afford to run a car purely for their own sole use b) are always able to drive it alone and not go out with someone else (not many of us are happy leaving the house alone is what I mean).  As usual the rules seem impractical and they seem to be offering something with one hand and taking it back with the other!  This will take some time to sort I can tell!

Ive started to make a few sets of boxed cards for my friend Clare who is desperately trying to make some cards so a neighbours young son Cameron can have a fund raising event at his house for St Wilfred's Hospice in Eastbourne.  Clare has a special reason for helping this hospice as sadly it is where her dear Mum spent some time.  Clare is having a difficult time at the moment due to incredible pain from her RA and it is particularly affecting her right hand which means crafting is next to impossible.

If there is any chance of anyone sparing one card to please help me get some cards to her for this fund raising event, 

I would be ever so grateful.

If you can spare one card and would like to help out, please contact either Clare or me.  Thank You very much.

Ive made one set of 4x4 cards using the Hero Arts flower stamp and Ive get it quite neutral but the next set is going to be black, white and red, this time using a different bloom from the HA stamp set.

Please come and join in with the sharing of your desk with Julia over at Stamping Ground.  This is where all of the fun began!

See you soon

Keryn x

The tiniest girl in the World

Hello, did anyone else watch Channel 5's documentary about Charlotte the tiniest girl in the world?  It was such a heart warming story about a wee little girl who at the age of 2 weighs just 7.5lbs.  She has a genetic condition which results in her dwarfism and she is the size of a little teddy.

Watching that programme made me realise that I have absolutely nothing to be moaning and feel quite ashamed that I had a right old moan the other day.

Anyway, here is a card I made for DD1 from her fella.

This is the 1st box I have made using my Martha Stewart scoreboard (wow, it really is everything Id heard and more!  Many thanks to EC, I don't want to advertise that you did what you did incase you get inundated with requests!).

I used a sparkle white Bazzill sheet and the beautiful mule by Chris Dark.  I love that image as it is so versatile and covers a big age range.  Please do hop over to have a peep as Chris has just launched the most beautiful kingfisher too!

I had no choice but to make a box for it as the card ended up pretty deep!

I made my first 'Joy-fold' card and it was much easier than I had anticipated!  Just as well!

The huge bloom I made using tissue paper on my flower nestie, the first use for that also and I chose Funky Fairies papers to use throughout the project.

The finished bloom was spritzed with Cosmic Shimmer Mist in Peacock with a touch of Tattered Angels Iridescent Gold.

I stamped a swirl and small flowers on the inside of the card and cut a couple of flowers so he could write on it!

Thankfully they both liked it so I was relieved!

Thank you for visiting my small neck of the woods and I hope the sun shines wherever you are this weekend!

Keryn x