Foxtrot!

Hello Blogging Friends and I hope today finds you well, and sending HUGS to those of you who might not be too good.
Thank you for all the lovely comments on my last card.

Not too bad a day here, but nothing like it was on Saturday, it's such a pity we can't manage to have a week of continuously good weather, at least up here in the Highlands it would seem we can't.
However, the weather in Reykjavik is a total washout over the next week, and today it's windchill factor is 3 degrees, but it's obviously waiting for me to be there before it warms up and stops raining.
I'm getting quite excited and have started to mark the days off on the calender, and my hubby is so relieved as he though with everything going on with health/work that I wouldn't be in a good place to enjoy this long awaited holiday.
I've been trawling  the Internet to find out if there are any knitting workshops going on whilst I'm there, and would you believe it, there's not, seems I'm just missing them, not to worry though there are plenty of wonderful yarn shops to visit. I'm also hoping we can go on a sail to see whales, and of course Alistair wants to go see a volcano, rather him than me.  There is a lot of activity volcano wise and the big one is expected to go off again soon the experts say, so I sometimes wonder if we are off our heads wanting to go there, but hey ho, can't live life on maybe.

So to my card of today;

Sorry, I think the photo is a bit fuzzy. This was one of the first stamps I bought when I began to make cards and I've never used it before now.
Kanban "Foxtrot" set of stamps, main image, background panel and sentiment.
Promarkers
Kanban Vintage Tapestry Papers
Black Magic Core'dinations card
Marianne Flowe die (yes I did it, I actually made these, so chuffed)
Ribbons from and large gem from The Ribbon Girl
Papermania Holograph Embossing Powder on sentiment and panel, (not turned out all that well)
Glamour Dust
All on a fancy shaped Hunkydory base card.

Hope you like it, it's a fairly big stamp for me, hence the larger card, which I'm not keen on but will have to use them up.
Take care everyone and see you soon,
Kate x

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:  http://thepapershelter.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/challenge-114-shape-it-up-or-easel-card.html

http://ilovepromarkers.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/challenge-170-use-dies-but-no-punches.html

Sabine Watching the Snow Fall!

Hello to you all, and has your sunshine disappeared  as mine has?  It has been a glorious morning and now in the last hour it's become overcast as if there is going to be a downpour.

Thank you to everyone who left lovely comments on my last post, especially, the encouraging comments about the stressful situation I find myself in at the moment, all helps me get things into perspective.

Another quiet day for me, Alistair away up yet another mountain, and I hope this time he has remembered his sun protection, last time he came home with such a red face, it looked really sore.  He is always so excited about going away that he forgets important things like sun cream.

I have yet another Christmas card, sorry about that, but this is using a lovely image which is one of my favourites;

Sarah Kay stamp, Sabine Watching the Snow Fall
Coloured with Derwent Pastel Pencils
Brown Memento Ink, for a softer effect
SB Decorative Labels 22
Adorable Scorable card from Hunkydory
First Edition Christmas Vintage Papers
LOTV Sentiment
Brown Seam Binding and large gem, The Ribbon Girl
MB Fabulous Phlox die
Gold gems and Sparkle

I do love the effect of pastel pencils but, I find them quite difficult to use, maybe there is a technique to using them.
Anyway, thats all from me today,
Thanks for visiting, Kate x

Cream and Black!

Good Afternoon, I hope everyone is well and having a good day.
Thanks to all you left comments on my previous card,  I do appreciate you visiting me to see what I've been doing.  I have been taking a tour through all of your blogs and enjoying all of your creations, what very talented crafty people you all are.
This will just be a short blog today, nothing very much happening just now and as I've been really tired I'm not doing all that much, just pottering around and seeing what needs done for our holiday.  I've not been sleeping too well, but I think I know why, I have a welfare meeting with managers on Friday, so there is much going through my mind just now, and I need to be clear in my own mind about what I'm going to be saying, so in the wee small hours my brain is just racing, so it's ages before I get back to sleep again.  Anyway, I'm sure it will be all right on the night, or day as they say.

My card today;

The camera doesn't seem to show up the cream, sorry about that. I've used;
5x5 cream blank card
Centura Pearl Cream Card, embossed with a SB folder
SB Marvellous Squares
Limited Edition Noir et Chic Papers
Marianne Flourish Die
WO Cream Roses
Cream Pearls from The Ribbon Girl.

I though it didn't need any glitter as the lovely dies said it all, so I left it off, neither did I feel it needed a bow.
Again a bit different for me, but as I'd bought these dies, I thought I should try and use them and I've seen some gorgeous cards from some of my blogging friends using SBs so this is what I've come up with.
Hope you like it.

Take care every one and hope to see you soon,
Kate x

Vases in Blue!

Good Evening to Everyone, I hope you have all enjoyed your Bank Holiday.

We have had mixed weather today and I have felt quite cold. such a pity after such a beautiful day on Saturday.

Thanks to everyone who has left comments on my little Gingerbread People card, I love reading them and appreciate each and everyone.

We took ourselves off to visit our friend who had a heart attack a couple of months ago and it was good to see him looking so well, he is still not back at work, and quite right as it was his workload which helped to bring the attack about, and where have we all heard that before.
Anyway it was a lovely drive out that way and we had a bit of lunch at the Royal Hotel in Tain.

I made a couple of cards last night which are a bit different for me, here is the first of them;

See what I mean, well for a start my card blank is cream and 5x5, a size I never use but I thought I should begin to use them up,  other ingredients;
Sizzix Vases and Flower Dies
SB Marvellous Squares Die
Emossalicious Flower Frenzy Folder
Papermania Embossing Folder on Vases
Paper, First Edition Summer Breeze
Gems and Pearls from The Ribbon Girl 

I am really pleased by how this has turned out. No room for a sentiment but that is fine as then I can use it for any occasion.

That's all from me tonight, see you soon
Kate x

 

Gingerbread Skating!

Hello Everyone, I hope you are all having a good Sunday and enjoying the holiday weekend.
We went for a nice drive and walk earlier today but had to be back for the football, oh well at least I get to choose tonight's viewing.

The weather is not so nice as yesterday, what a day of heat and sunshine, absolutely glorious and so welcome after all the miserable days we have had.

Thank you to everyone who has visited and commented on my previous card and a warm welcome to my latest follower, great to have you on board and I hope you will enjoy what I make.
I can hardly believe that I have 49 followers and that there are so many people interested in my makes, I hope I can keep you all interested.

I have a card today that I eventually finished yesterday when the heat drove me back inside, yes it was too hot for me to sit outside, so here it is;

The image is from Polka Doodles CD Picnix
Promarkers/Fleximarkers
Papers and sentiment from same CD
Black Magic Core'dinations
Spiced Marmalade DI
MB Precious Heart and Fabulous Phlox dies
Gold lace and ribbon from my stash
Card Candy and some Star Dust
This is a CD I've had for a while but never used, there are some lovely elements on it, but as  I don't have a proper programme for resizing images, even the smallest was a little big and had to go on to a 8x8 blank card, nevertheless it's not turned out  too badly.

That's all from me today folks, see you soon
Kate x

I would like to enter this into;   http://christmasatsweetstampinchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/challenge-6-winter-sports.html
Also;  http://christmascardsallyearround.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/may-challenge.html

Playing the Guitar!

Hello Everyone, have you all had a good day?  I hope you have and that you've managed to do whatever you had to do today.
In the words of the immortal George Formby "it's turned out nice again!" We have had not too bad a day, I've managed to get all the washing dry, always like to get it out, so although it looked a bit watery this morning I thought I would just take a chance.  Anyway enough of the weather.

Can hardly believe it's the weekend already, it come around so quickly, and after the frenetic buzz of last weekend, this one is going to be very quite.  My hubby had let me know that there are a couple of big footy matches on TV, but he's not too bothered about them, which is Alistair speak for "I really want to watch them".  So I guess I'll be entertaining myself.  Oh well, lots of crafting to be done.

I have a card today;

I love this little image, the concentration on the little boy's face is so lovely and even the  wee dog looks as if he is enjoying the sound of the guitar.
I've used;   LOTV Playing the Guitar,  coloured with pencils
                  LOTV Sentiment
                  Candles and Cake from Nitwits at LOTV
                  Kraft Card
                  Papermania Twine
                  Card Candy and a button from my stash
                  Glossy Accents and a little sparkle
I'm really pleased with the colours, sometimes I'm not too sure at the outset but I think this has worked.
I would like to enter this card into; http://liliofthevalleythursdaychallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/spots-and-stripes.html

That's me for tonight, but before I go I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to visit and comment on my last card, I do appreciate them all.
See you soon,
Kate x

Bringing home the Christmas Tree!

Good Afternoon Blogging Friends and what a horrible, nasty and cold day it is here, with squalls of rain.  I hope where ever you are it is better.  Alistair has just shouted me through to see the Scottish News where it is reporting on the weather in Corgaff, which is up and over the Gairngorms, and it has so much snow that the roads are closed.  We go over that way quite a bit as Alistair used to live there and we have a lot of friends there, in fact w,e will be over there in June at a friend's daughter's wedding and the ceremony is outside in the garden, and to think we were worried about rain.

I hope you are all well today.  Thank you all who visited me yesterday and left your lovely comments.

Well I spent ages trying to transfer my music,  something has transferred, but no sound., very strange.  I've decided life is too short to bother with this and will put it aside until sometime again.  I've looked at You Tube tutorials and asked at where I bought the tablet, bought the little memory disc thingy, but it's not worked.  I do wonder how I managed to get this blog up and running, must have been sheer fluke.

I have yet another Christmas card today, I'm well ahead, but I found out the other day that the craft fair has been cancelled, the lady who was going to be responsible for organising it has had to pull out and no one has taken it over, such a pity, however I'm left with load of cards. Anyway not to worry, no doubt I will find a use for them.   Here is my card;

I've used:  LOTV stamp and Sentiment
                 Promarkers
                 SB Marvellous Squares
                 Core'dinations Card
                 Bella Papers
                 Flowers from WO and Hobby House
                 Foliage Sizzix Die
                 Pearls from Hobby House
                 Crafter's Companion Sparkle and Spray on the Topper
That's it, and I would like to enter this into:   http://ilovepromarkers.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/challenge-169-anything-goes.html

Have a good day  and see you soon
Kate x

Christmas Tree!

Good Afternoon Blogging Friends, I hope you are well today.

Thank you one and all for the great comments on my last card, and also for the tips about ink for embossing, it all helps.

This is just a short one today as I'm going to spend time trying to put music from my PC on to my tablet, and it's easier to do things like this when I'm not likely to be interrupted, Alistair's up another hill, I hope his weather is better up there than it is down here.  I've an idea what I need to do so here's hoping, what I should really do is borrow the 4yr.old from across the road, children are all whizzes on computers from an early age.

I have an other Christmas offering today and I've trying my hand at embossing again;

Sorry about the glare, the light was bouncing off the silver mirri, I've used;
LOTV Christmas Stamp Set,
Papermania  Tinsel Snowflakes Embossing Powder
Stamped on to black card and matted on to the reverse of Black Magic Core'dinations card
Black Magic card Embossed with Papermania Snowflake folder and then sanded to show the blue core
MB Frosty Border in Silver Mirri
Blue and crystal gems.

I'm quite pleased with the effect, what do you think?

Bye for now, and hope to tune in tomorrow,
Kate x

I would like to enter this card into;   http://christmasblogchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/oh-christmas-tree.html

Black and White!

Good Morning All, I hope everyone is well, and for those who are not too good, sending Hugs!!
I have to say that for the first time in ages, I felt better yesterday, so much so that when I went for a look around my local craft shop one of the girls asked how I was, and I surprised myself by answering "Good".  I've been so miserable and tired for so long I thought that there was no light at the end of the tunnel, so thank goodness I seem to be climbing back up again.  Perhaps, it's the buzz of the weekend that has helped?  I'm sure it has had something to do with it.  I am still of work but, working towards moving forward in terms of planning to meet my managers to discuss going back.  Unfortunately I do have to go back, but I have been thinking of moving on altogether to something else less stressful, but not this side of the year.

My Bus Pass arrived yesterday, a little early as I'm not 60 until June, but it was a nice surprise, imagine looking forward to getting older in order to get a bus pass, gosh the next one to aim for is the free TV licence at 75, there are some perks to getting older.......NOT.  Of course I'm being facetious, not that 60 is old, but  I do wish this country would take care of it's Senior Citizens and vulnerable folk better, it makes me so sad that especially older folk are in many cases not seen as valuable citizens,  gosh sorry I'm on my hobby horse again, rant over.

I would like to give a warm welcom to my latest follower and when I get the opportunity I will ve popping over to visit you.  Thank you to all who have visited and left lovely comments even although one was from a lady in the Netherlands, I think. and I couldn't read it, it was great that she visited and took time to comment.  I appreciated all of your comments.
So to today's card;

Something a little different from me, I've been trying to broaden my techniques, I've embossed the stamp.

I've used;  Crafty Individuals Stamp
                 TH Ranger Embossing  Ink
                 Papermania Clear Embossing Powder
                 Floral Frenzy Embossing folder
                 SB Decorative Labels 22
                 Black and White Core'dinations card
                 MB Fabulous Phlox
                 Marrianne Flourish Die
                 Papermania Capsule paper for flower
                 Black and White Gems

I'm still not too sure of the correct ink to use for embossing, this one seemed awfully sticky and has really marked my stamp.  Can anyone make a suggestion/
However, I't not too bad, and I'll have another go.

Enjoy your day whatever you are doing, and see you soon,
Kate x

Wedding Carriage!

Good Morning Blogging Friends,  doesn't Monday mornings come around quickly!  I hope everyone is well and looking forward to a new week ahead after a good weekend.

This was my concert weekend and it was fantastic,  I thought we couldn't beat the performance where we sang Handel's Messiah but, this one completely out did it. The theatre was filled to capacity,  around 900 or so people so the atmosphere was electric.
Our Canadian guests were so friendly and enjoyed every minute of their visit,  but were whacked by the end of the  night,  it was a whirlwind tour  as they had performed in Paisley Abby on the day they arrived,  the at the civic reception in Inverness,  rehearsed with us on Friday night and then rehearsal all day  Saturday with performance at night.  We also had the Inverness branch of the Scottish National Youth Choir and they were wonderful,  primary school youngsters who loved every minute of their experience of singing with  the big guys.They sang four songs on their own and I thought they were just great.
 Our audience were wonderful too, loved it and gave a standing ovation at the end.
The Canadian conductor was fantastic and brought out the best in us, he is so charismatic with a completely different style to our own beloved conductor,  Gordon.
So we now take a break for the summer which is very welcome after all our hard work. I was so tired yesterday,   I slept on and off for most of the day,  and I, m still singing in my head.
My lovely Alistair and is two friends who came along to the performance,  just loved it and when I got home I found the most beautiful bouquet from him with a little tag saying I was marvellous,  wasn't that just lovely of him, I was so touched.

I've been trying to catch up with your blogs,  but please forgive if I missed you and many thank yous for the lovely comments on my last card.
 The card I have to show today I made last week with my win from the LOTV Thursday Theme draw.  I chose this stamp as I had another wedding card to make.  Two weddings within a month of each other,  it's like corporation buses,  don't see any for ages, then two come together. ! So here it is;

 As I don't know much about the Bride, I decided to go with what I did know and that was that her Bridal colours are navy and white.  LOTV Carriage for Two stamp, papers Nitwits,Candle and Cake and sentiment. Xcut heart die, Flowers from WO and Pearls from The Ribbon Girl, ribbon from my box.  Promarkers for colour. Glamour Dust for a little sparkle.
I wanted to stamp the image on to a heart shape but, mine are not large enough and this is a problem I've come across before, I just don't seem to have the right size dies, or my stamps are too big, anyway I just have to trim a fancy edge to it, other than that I'm quite pleased with it.

I had better go and do some shopping, there is only so much we can forage for from the freezer.
Have a good day, thanks for visiting and see you soon,
Kate x

Japanese Scene

Hello Everyone, and how are your all tonight, good I hope.  We have has a bit better weather today, sunny spells with only a few rain drops in the middle of the afternoon, Alistair was in the Cairngorms  and he had sleet, but if you will go up mountains what can you expect.

Thank you all so much for visiting my blog and leaving such nice comments, I love reading them and they are very much appreciated.
I kind of didn't know what to be up to today, I seemed to be doing a bit of this and a bit of that and not really settling to do anything of any great consequence, do you ever get days like that? I did however finish off a card, here it is;

Well I don't know what you will think of this effort 'cos now that I see it here it's giving me great amusement as I can see all the mistakes.
It's my take on a card that Erika (Snappy Crafts) made at the demo last Saturday, I loved her card and really wanted to have a go at it, but, unfortunately, I didn't have the same SB frame or the TH Distressing inks and my sun is rather misshapen, the frame I think I've put on the wrong way up.  However, on the up side, the stamp is lovely, I like my colours and embellishments and Alistair though it was all marvellous and so good he is going to let me have a look at his Japanese flower book, do you know I'm such a lucky girl, bless him.

Anyway here is what I used, the stamp is part of a 5 piece set from Inkadinkado. Tumbled Glass, Stormy Sky, Squeezed lemonade, Shabby Shutters and Vintage Photo Distressed inks. Core'dinations card, Paper from First Edition, Summer Breeze.  SB Decorative Labels 22. MB cloud die. Flower and pearls from my box. A little Star Dust on the flowers.
I will need to practise using the inks, they are not really looking smooth anyway it was a first go.
Off now to get a bit of knitting done.
Have a good evening and see you soon
Kate x

A Great Pair of Shoes!

Good Evening Everyone, trusting you are well and have had a good day.  It has been cold for me today, rain and very dull one minute and sunny the next.  I saw on the news tonight that some areas had snow. Brrrrr.

Nothing of great interest here today, except had the car MOT'd and it passed much to Alistair's delight, he's always on tenterhooks in case there's work to be done, I guess that's the nature of cars,but this time our wee Micra is fine.

This is just a short post tonight with a card made for my friend's birthday;

A fairly simple card this time, as Linda love shoes, and what woman doesn't I hear you shout, I found this in amongst some Hunkydory card kit bought sometime last year.  I really haven't done all that much to it except to add ribbon and some sparkly flowers.  The Sentiment is from the fabulous Stamp-it Australia Swirls set, and I thought that it was very apt for Linda.  

Now I know my friend will love this, but I don't mainly I think because I much prefer to stamp and colour and somehow it gives me more scope for embellishments.  When I first began to make cards I bought card kits and Cd's as if they were going out of fashion and now I don't really like using them.  Just preference I suppose, gradually I've found my niche.

The reason I chose to make a card with shoes is that Linda was showing me her outfit for her son's wedding, which was stunning, but her shoes are to die for, extremely high with little platforms and the most gorgeous soft pearl oyster leather.  So envious, my feet stared to scream the minute they saw them, my feet won't do high, I'm a Hotter kind of gal and flat Hotters at that.

Before I sign off I would just like to say thank you for all the lovely comments on my last post, I appreciate each and every one of them.

See you soon, Kate x

Babies!

Good Evening to you All and I hope you are all well.  Well it's been another strange day weather wise today, it was if it couldn't make up it's mind what to do, and whilst waiting for "it" to make up said mind I failed to put my towels out and they are still in the machine.  I hate using the drier so I hope tomorrow will be better.

We had a good rehearsal last night and I had forgotten that we were having the children who will be singing with us on Saturday rehearsing last night too.  They were very. very good especially with the difficult pronunciations of the Latin/German words, we were all very impressed, it is shaping up to be a great concert, it will however be a long day as we have to be on stage ready to rehearse at 9.30 and that's us until the concert ends around 10 at night.  Everyone will be exhausted and running on adrenaline by the time the curtain rolls up.  Although I have been in the Choral Society for around 9yrs., I have never been involved with a production on such a massive scale and the orchestra and conductor have always been on the stage, this time there are in the Pit and we will have to follow direction on two large monitors, which will be very interesting.  It's always all right on the night though...........one hopes!

I have a card tonight for you, another baby card, and at the same time I thought I would show these lovely photos with some other kinds of babies;

 I was just charmed by these photos taken by Alistair whilst he was in Arran, such a lovely swan family, and the little cygnet on mum's back hitching a ride is so sweet.

I've used a LOTV image and Sentiment, Promarkers, pink Core'dinations and Forever Friends Kraft Notes paper. Fabulous Phlox from MB, ribbon, gems and Card Candy from my box and a little Glamour Dust.

That's all for tonight except to say thank you for all the lovely comments on my last card, I do appreciate the time you all take to visit me.
 Kate x

Jurassic Love!

Good Afternoon Everyone and I hope Monday finds you all well and for those who are not too good, sending Hugs that you will feel better soon.
Many thanks for all the lovely comments on my last card, especially regarding my colouring.  I'm delighted to hear that you think I'm good at this, it give me great encouragement, but I see glaring mistakes when I look at my images, and I do struggle with skin, hair and shadows.  I look at the varous tutorials which are a great help, but again it all depends on the instructor's own preference as to what and how they use their markers/paints and pencils.  I would love to go to a colourist's workshop, but have never found any, especially close to home.

Anyway, my card today had a wonderfully coloured image but, not by me, here it is;

When I saw this super image I thought it would be just right for a wedding card for an archeologist Bride and her Groom as the title is Jurassic Love.
It's from TPS and it comes either coloured or just lined for you to colour youself, as you can see I chose coloured, the background paper is part of the set, I've matted it on to Adorable Scorable card and embosed the base card with Embossalicious Floral Frenzie Folder. Computer generated named sentiment and stamped sentiment is from Inkadinkado. MB Heart dies, Flowers from WO and The Hobby House, ribbon and pearls from my box, a little Glamour Dust for added sparkle.

Well my spell check ain't working so please forgive if some of my spelling is wrong.

As none connected to the happy couple to be I felt confident in posting this ahead of the big day.

That's all from me today, Iv'e a few bits and pieces to do be for I go off to choral practise, this is our last one before our Canadian guests arrive.
Bye for now,  Kate x

I would like to enter this card into;  http://thepapershelter.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/challenge-111-love-is-in-air.html

Penguin Christmas!

Hello Everyone, I hope your weekend is going well for you, whatever you are doing.
The weather here hasn't been good, raining off and on and today I was back to feeling a bit cold.

Thank you all for leaving the lovely comments on my last card, very much appreciated.

We had a lovely meat at our friend's on Friday night, but you may remember I said it would play havoc with my blood sugars, well it did and I was quite unwell yesterday and so incredibly tired, and no wonder as my blood sugar count was in double figures, first thing in the morning it is usually between 5 and 6, it was 10.7. I was horrified especially as I small portions and didn't have any pudding and only one glass of wine.  The amount of hidden carbs in any one meal is quite astounding, anyway it's back to the old regime of being really careful.  I think I should managed my diet quite well in Iceland though, everything is too expensive!! so maybe not eating that much and then only fish.  Bet they don't do fish suppers though, Oh well can't have everything.

Enjoyed the craft demo today, Erika had lots of lovely samples to show us and wonderful cards using SB dies.  Learnt lots and and hoping I can use some of her techniques.  I am always amazed by the beautiful cards made with these dies that some of my Blogging Friends create, I find it difficult as I am really a stamper and colourer, but must try and give it a go.

Here is today's card;

LOTV stamp and Sentiment, coloured with Promarkers, matted on to green Core'dinations, papers are from Papermaina I think they are from Forever Friends last Christmas. Papermania Snowflakes Embossing Folder, MB corner die and SB little corner die from Frosty Forms,  red gems and Star Dust.

That's me for today, hope you enjoy the remainder of your weekend, don't they just go so quickly!!
Kate x

I would like to enter this card into;  http://christmasblogchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/pppppppppick-up-penguin.html

Baby Girl!

Hello to you All, I hope you are all well and have some great plans for the weekend. I can hardly believe that it's another weekend so around so quickly.

This morning started so sunny and warm, but it's all gone now and turned a bit cold with rain, what strange weather we have.  When I checked the forecast on my Tablet this morning, Reykjavik was warmer than Invermess by 5degrees.  Now you might wonder why I'm tracking the weather in Reykjavik well, that is were we are going  in June and I just want to know what sort of clothes to take with me.

Thank you all for the encouraging comments on my last card, love that you take the time to visit my blog.

I had a lovely lunch with my friend yesterday, and put the world to rights, well not the world, just my work.  It was good to talk over  with her some of my thinking about coping mechanisms for returning to work.

So it's all about food these days as Alistair and I are invited to friends for dinner tonight. This will be such a treat as Ian is a fantastic cook,  he is actually a Master Baker(try saying that with a few drinks in you) and produces marvellous meals and pudding.  Looking forward to the evening.  All this eating out though does blow my eating plan to help control my diabetes, and it takes a few days for all the carbs to leave my system, but I try to get back on track as quickly as possible.  Friends do try to make meals that don't have many carbs, but our Western eating culture doesn't allow for this, and that is why I have to be quite ruthless when eating at home.

We are having Erika (Snappycrafts), here in Inverness tomorrow demonstrating in Howden's, so there is another highlight for the weekend.  She is so talented and her creations are just wonderful with Spellbinder Dies.

My goodies arrived from Crafter's Companion today, this was from Winter Wonderland Challenge here's what I bought;

The sentiments with the stamp set are wonderful and I am already planning my cards, and I found it difficult to choose from all the lovely embossing folders, but finally settle on this floral one.  Looking forward to playing with them.
Now for today's card;

The stamps are from a set by Michele Marsden which I bought in the Hobbycraft sale for only £3 and there's 13 stamps, thought it was awfully good value, coloured with Pro/Flex Markers. Papers  from Forever Friends Kraft Notes, Adorable Scorable card, Xcut die, Xcut border punch, MB Fabulous Phlox.
The Ribbon Girl for Lace and The Hobby House for pearls, Glamour Dust for added sparkle.
I'm not too sure if I have overdone the stamped images, this is one of the reasons I don't do many 8x8 cards, too much space to fill.  I will look forward to your comments.

Wishing you all a great weekend, see you soon,
Kate x

The Lily Pond!

A Very Lovely Sunny Good Morning to You!!, Yes that's right, the sun is shinning, it's quite warm and I'm in a blouse.  It just lifts the spirits.  I hope where ever you are it is a lovely day.
It didn't rain as I thought it would yesterday and my lovely hubby got most of the chores he'd set himself done, except the windows, but he was really too tired to go back out after dinner do do them, there is always another day.  He's off to play in the hills today, and I hope he remembers to put his sun cream on.

Thank you all for the great comment on my last card, love getting them, and sometimes there are ones from new people and I always go and have a peek at their blogs, takes me on a wonderful new journey as I never know what I'll find.

One of my friends is coming to take me for lunch later today and I'm really looking forward to that, it's my choice but I don't know where to go, have to put my thinking cap on. It will be lovely catching up with her.

I have a card today that I made for one of my clients a few weeks ago, he wanted one for his mum's birthday, but didn't want flowers, she's not that type of mum, he said, but she has a dog, so here's what I came up with,

THe image, sentiment and background paper is from Joanna Sheen, Nostaligia collection CD. One Adorable Scorable and Swirls card, flowers and buttons are from the Riverbank Revels collection, MB Bow die and ribbon from my box.  A little Star Dust to finish off.
As I went off work, I have no idea if his mum liked it, but I hope so.

That's me for today, enjoy whatever you are doing and see you all soon,
Kate x

Fun in the Snow!

Good Afternoon to you all, and I hope today finds you well.

I've just been touring around your blogs and what wonderful projects I'm seeing, so many different styles and techniques, all just goes to show what talent there is out there.

Thank you all so much for your kind comments of yesterday, not only on my card but, regarding my health too.  I do appreciate them, and believe it or not it does help to know that others have experienced WRS too.

Again another quiet day for me, a bit of food shopping in the morning, I hate it, then home to a bit of house work.  Alistair has been painting the fence and it's a race to see what comes first, the rain or the completion of the painting.  Oh he had such plans today as  he said he was also going to mow the grass, wash the car and wash the windows. well he's still at the fence, and if the rain comes,  well that's the end of the chores.
Me thinks hes overestimated what he can do in any given day. Poor man, I work him hard!!

Anyway here is my card for the day;

Apologies for yet another Christmas card, but I need to keep ahead if I'm to get enough cards made for the craft fair. I know it's only May.
LOTV Mini Masterpieces and matted on to Adorable Scorable card, papers from Nitwits, Frosty Christmas, again from LOTV. as is sentiment. Snowflake and Christmas trees from punches, buttons from Papermania and some raffia twine and a couple of little gems in the centre of the snowflakes finishing with Icicles Stikles.

Off now to finish my tour around your blogs, hope to see you soon,
Kate  x

I would like to enter this card into;    http://ideastoinspire.blogspot.co.uk/p/challenge.html
The theme is Boy Oh Boy !

Dashing Through the Snow!

Hello Everyone, hoping you are having a good day and feeling rested and recharged after the long weekend.  For those of you who are perhaps not so good today, well, sending you HUGS!

I would like to welcome my latest followers, thank you for joining my blog and I do hope that I can continue to create cards that you will like.  A big thank you to everyone who has visited and left fab comments on my last card, and they have been great,  it is so encouraging to hear how much you all liked Dougie's card.
 Not much of interest to tell you today, it's been rather a serious one as I decided to go to CAB to see if they had any information regarding Disability Discrimination and Employment Law.  As I am off work just now with work related stress I thought it would be wise to find out what was what with a view to returning to work, when I feel stronger.  Thankfully, Alistair came along with me as he is better able to receive info at the moment than I am, my synapses are wired up wrongly just now.  I found this really quite stressful, as I had to give a bit of background and of course it just dredges up what I'm trying to not think about.  Anyhow, there was useful information.  Awful to think that was the highlight of my day.

Anyway here is my card for today;

I've used LOTV Mini Masterpieces for this one, matted on to Adorable Scorable card, Papers from LOTV, Nitwits, Kraft and first Edition Vintage Christmas. Flowers from WO, Ribbon from The Ribbon Girl, gems from my stash.  Computer generated sentiment, and Star Dust to finish.
I keep forgetting I have these lovely coloured in images, and I thought this one would fit the bill for the challenge at Winter Wonderland.

That is all from me today, see you soon
Kate X

I would like to enter this card into;   http://christmasblogchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/dashing-through-snow.html

A Little Mozart!

Good Afternoon Blogging Friends, Are you all enjoying the Bank Holiday?  Hoping you are having fine weather.
Thank you all for your lovely comments on my last card, love to read them and that you take the time to pop into see what I'm up to.

I'm having a quiet day at home, Alistair is away for a hill walk, now that he is retired he can get out and about when the weather is fine and takes every opportunity to do so,  leaves me some me time so I've been pottering about and manage a card. Here it is;

This is for our friend Dougie's Big 60th, and I wanted a musical theme as he is one of the merry band of minstrels of the Monday night group.
I've used; Just Inklined digi stamp, coloured with a mixture of Pro and Flex Markers. Kraft card embossed with a SB Musical embossing folder, Kanban paper and Adorable Scorable card., LOTV sentiment, cut with Xcut die. Marianne, Treble Clef die and Card Candy.
I would rather have used an 8x8 card, but couldn't find any, the 5x7 is not a shape I really like using, but I'm fairly pleased with how it's turned out, the main thing is that Dougie will like it and I'm sure he will.

Choral night later on, and the pressure is on now as our concert is on 18th of May, really only two practise sessions left, before the Canadian choir joins us the night before the concert.  I'm away now to have a little sing to myself and go over the Latin/German words which I can barely get my tongue round.

Enjoy the remainder of the day and hope to see you soon,
Kate x

Lighthouse!

Good Morning Everyone,  are you all enjoying the Bank Holiday?  I hope the weather is good where you are.  Sunny off and on here but it could still be showery.

Thanks to all you visited and left lovely comments on my last post.  I find them all so encouraging and I get so thrilled that you all want to come and visit.

Well the menfolk were rained off and came back early, that's a first, they don't usually abandon their trip but Alistair said that enough was enough.  It was so wet that water came up through the ground and flooded a part of the tepee.  So when I got home yesterday I found a trail of equipment from the garden to right up the stairs.  But they seemed to enjoy the time they had.  This is the problem when you love doing outdoor pursuit's weather dictates.  Anyway, it was lovely to have him back.

I took myself off to Howden's in the afternoon where there was a Docrafts demo with Geraldine Carruthers, who's is fab with all her designs and techniques, and enjoyed not only the demo but the banter with the other crafters attending the demo, then had a cuppa with them afterwards.

I concentrated on my knitting yesterday so no new card made, but found one I haven't yet posted;

This is a favourite Kanban stamp that I know quite a few of you have and it's one of the first card I made, hence the silver mirri which I don't really use now.  The Paper is Papermania, forget the name, grey card and coloured with Promarkers.  The sentiment you have also seen before, it's from a set by Creative Expressions.

I hope you all have a lovely Sunday, we are off up to the Observatory, apparently there is something happening there today, then a spot of lunch, and if I can get some 8x8 kraft card I'll get cracking with my next card, which is for our friend's 60th.
Hope to see you soon,  Kate x

Tango!

Good Afternoon Everyone from a dark and dreary Inverness, honestly the weather here is abysmal, I do hope where ever you are it is much better.

Thank you everyone for all the lovely comments on my last card, I know it takes time and I do appreciate you visiting me.

I had to pop out to the shops today but it was as quick as I could make it, the rain has just been pouring most of the day.  I wanted to speak to the techie person  where I bought my tablet, I've been trying to transfer music from my PC on to it, without much success I might add.  I got a young lad who tried to be helpful, but hadn't quite realised he was dealing with someone who wasn't keeping up and he just whizzed through it, but I'm none the wiser.  It's terminology which beats me. I'll eventually manage it though, maybe I should pop over the road and ask the 4yr old to do it, she probably could too.

Do you ever start to make a card and know in your head what you want to achieve, but can't quite transfer from brain to fingers, that was me today and I began to wish I'd not started it, anyhow I eventually finished it, and it's not as bad as I first though,

This is a lovely Paper Shelter digi image coloured with Promarkers, Background paper is also from the same set. Embossed with SB Music folder onto blue card and layered it on to black card,  Papermania sentiment, MB Fabulous Phlox with a button, Marienne Music die, The Ribbon Girl for American Seam binding and musical charm, red gems and Glamour Dust to finish.

I decided to cut out the little dancer, don't know why really, not sure if it works, nevertheless I would like to enter the card into; http://thepapershelter.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/challenge-110-music-maestro.html
also;  http://ilovepromarkers.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/challenge-166-put-button-on-it.html
http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/challenge-88-anything-goes.html

 Hope everyone has a lovely Bank Holiday Weekend
Kate x

Just A Wee Snooze!

Good Afternoon Blogging Friends,

I hope you are well and that the weather where you are is better than here, it's rained all day and is still really cold.  I don't envy Alistair and his friends being under canvas the next few nights.

I hope you are all well, and would like to thank you for all the lovely comments on my last post.  I do read them all and if there is someone new commenting I always pop in to see what they are doing, and I'm always delighted by what I see.


This is just a quick post today, so with out further ado here is today's card;

This is part of Little Claire's Club Stamp Happy Days and it's a great one for the men in our lives.  I've only used two stamps, but it comes along with, a birdhouse and lawn mower and of course the sentiment.
Coloured with a mixture of Spectrum Noir and Promarkers. The kraft card and pretty paper was also included with the stamp, the embossed card made with a Papermania embossing folder and the card from my bit box, Card Candy to finish off.

That's me for today, have a good evening
Kate x

Vintage Beauty!

Good Afternoon Everyone, I hope today is a good one for you and that you are managing to get a little crafting done, or, maybe you are relaxing in another way, whatever I hope you are enjoying it.

Thank you everyone for all the lovely comments on my last card, and I've enjoyed looking around at what you all have been doing, some wonderful, creative projects from you.
I am however having a bit of bother getting on to or either commenting on some blogs, no idea why, but then I never understand when things go wrong with these things.  Anyway, Kym from Kym's crafty cards is one of them, so if you visit me and read this Kym, I just wanted to say how lovely your cards have been over the last couple of days and that I will keep trying to visit.

Rain and sun today, not warm, I could have done with having my gloves on when out this morning. The weather forecast for the next few days doesn't bode well for outdoors pursuits, but it isn't deterring Alistair and his friends going off for their annual canoe and tepee trip. I can count on the one hand the times the weather has been good for them and they have been doing this for 10years. They'll all have a great time nevertheless, it's wonderful how around the campfire with the musical instruments and a bottle of whiskey can make things OK, and it's a bottle each I might add.  Apparently it's the entrance fee for the trip.  Just as well we wives don't know what goes on.

So, that's me abandoned for a few days, wonder what I'll do!! Actually, although I love him dearly it is nice to have that bit of space to myself and do my own thing, not having to eat at a certain time, having control of the remote control, you know the kind of thing.  I'll look forward to his return with all the embellished stories of the trip.

So, to my card of today;

I've used a beautiful image from Nicecrane, I was lucky to have been sent a few of these from the lovely lady behind Nicecrane Designs.
I've matted and layered on to first embossed card them Kanban Vintage Tapestry papers, then Hunkydory Adorable Scorable card. Flowers from WO, Butterflies from my box, Pearls from Melissa Frances, finishing with Glamour Dust.
That's all from me today, hope to be back with you tomorrow,
Kate x