Daylily Beth!

Good Afternoon Everyone, I hope everyone is well and if your not, well sending out Hugs and good wishes to you.
A HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! to Wilma (Scottish Crafter), hope you are having a wonderful day Wilma.

Heavy rain off and on today and I got caught in it and was absolutely soaked, thankfully I had my brolly, but no jacket and holie shoes, so I squelched around M&S.

My new SB Rose Creation die arrived this morning, and I've been playing with it.  It's a wonderful die, but it will take quite a bit of practise before I'm anywhere near as good as Patricia (Summerhouse Crafts) who makes the most glorious rose creations.

I also tuned into C&C and watched a demo from Chloe's Stamps and was bowled over by this young woman's gorgeous cards. Some of you may have watched it, but what inspiration it's given me, her cards were all wonderfully sparkly and full of snowflakes, using WOW Embossing Powder. So I just had to have it.  Not from C&C though as the P&P is too expensive.

Thank you for all the kind comments on my last card, it takes a lot of time to get around the blogs so I do appreciate it.  I've been enjoying visiting all of you and it's great to have the time at the moment, might be a different story when back at work. It's so inspiring though as there is a wealth of talent out there.

My card for today is one made with a beautiful floral digi from,  http://janeysdigidesigns.blogspot.co.uk/

Daylily Beth Digi Stamp
Prismacolour Pencils
Xcut Leaf Die
Xcut Butterfly Punch
Adorable Scorable Swirls and plain card
Papermania Sparkly Vellum for butterflies
The Ribbon Girl for Dazzler, gems and Pearls
Ribbons and Lace from my box
Liquid Pearls

I know self praise is no praise at all, but I'm mightily pleased with my colouring here.  This was made with a challenge in mind, but I missed the dated and now I can't even remember which one it was.

I hope you like it.  Off to see to my dinner, my dear hubby dined out with a friend at lunch time, I wasn't invited, it was a boy thing, but they did themselves well it was an Indian meal.

Have a good evening all and see you soon,
Hugs Kate x

Sprinkle a Little Love!

Good Evening Blogging Friends, and hoping all is well with you.
Having a bit of trouble with my PC tonight, there must be gremlins in it, I've had to switch off and on a few times, but finally here.  I get so frustrated by these machines, but I suspect that this one is on it's way out, it is so slow sometimes and just freezes from time to time.

Thank you all for your lovely comments on yesterday's card, and if you are visiting please don't forget to leave a comment and then I can link back to you and see what your are doing.

Well my theory about Alistair wanting out to play today proved to be correct, off he went to Glen Affrick and had a great time abseiling down cliffs and plunging into water, madness!!  He's off now to his little music night at Dougie's so I've got the night to myself.

I had my physio appointment today, and the outcome is to do strengthening exercises, but my arm has been a bit sore after the manipulation by the physiotherapist.

So on to my card of today;

This little sweetie is from Sugar Nellie
Promarkers
Stamped on to a Sizzix Doily Die also the border is part of the set
DI Spun Sugar
Papermania Senitment
Mint coloured Core'dination Card
First Edition Summer Breeze Paper
MB Fabulous Phlox
The Ribbon Girl for Ribbon and Pearls
Glamour Dust

We have thunder rolling around now and I'm sure I saw a flash of lightening, really dark too, I wonder if that's our summer over, it was good though and at least I got some wear out of summer clothes, usually most of them go back into the loft not having been worn.

That's all for tonight my friends, I hope you like my little fairy,
Hugs Kate x

I would like to enter my card into;  http://www.sugarbowlblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/challenge-106-august-2013.html

Christmas Bells!

Hello All, hoping your Sunday is going well, ours is grey and raining, but cooler.

Alistair has a cold and has been coughing quite a bit so decided to stay in bed, he has been a bit hangy over the last week and clearly not himself, so much so that I commented that he probably shouldn't go canyoning tomorrow with the "boy" and get even more cold.  I needed to go out for a bit of shopping for bits and pieces I'd forgotten yesterday, and you'll never guess who I saw walking along the road when I was driving back, yes that's right, Alistair. He wasn't out that long, but I had to laugh because this was so that he could get out to play tomorrow, if he goes out for a wee while just now, I'll think he was fit for going out with the chums.  Aren't they something else.  Men I mean.  Did you know some company are making a flu remedy called "Man Flu", I saw it in the supermarket when buying paracetamols, I wonder what it has in it to make it different form any other remedy? I didn't buy it.

Thank you all so much for the lovely comments on yesterday's card, I had made it for The Ribbon Girl Challenge and when I went to link it up, found I was too late the submissions had closed, so I had to come back here quickly and delete the link.  I'm telling my brain is getting worse.  When I was leaving the supermarket I put the car into gear and let the brake off, and sat there wondering why the car wasn't moving, then realised I'd not switched the ignition on. Daft or what! Just as well I wasn't on a hill.

I have a new card today which is going into a challenge blog that is still current and here it is;

I've given this a bit of a vintage look
Bell image from Just Inklined, digi stamp
Promarkers
Sizzix Die
SB Corner Die from Frosty Forms
Sentiment from my Christmas box
First Edition Christmas Village Papers
Core'Dinations and Bazzil Card
Red Seambinding from The Ribbon Girl
Gold Lace from my box
Gems from Hobby House
Stickles for sparkle
All onto Kraft Card
I enjoyed colouring in this image, not too may fiddly bits, hope you like it.
Off for a coffee before I tackle the dinner,  enjoy the remainder of your weekend, I've got my physio appointment tomorrow morning for the tennis elbow, hopefully it won't be too painful, I'll let you know.

Hugs Kate x

I would like to enter my card into;  http://christmasblogchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/ding-dong-merrily-on-high.html

Shades of Blue and White!

lGood Evening Blogging Friends and I hope you are enjoying your weekend, whatever you've been doing.

Rain and sun here today but very warm and sticky still, but thankfully cooler at night.
Nothing much doing for me today, pottered around and took myself off for a bit of lunch at the garden centre along the road from us, got a bit of shopping and back home then more pottering.

If it still good weather tomorrow I think we might go for a run in the car somewhere, the only thing is that we can never make up our minds so it is usually well into the day before we set off.  Do you think all this hot weather is making our brains fuddled? I know mine feels like it.

In between all my pottering I did make a card;

Base 6x6 white hammered card
Tonic Celtic Border Die
Embossalicious Regal Damask Folder
Blue Core'Dinations Card
Crafter's Companion White  Pearl Centura Card
Dazzler and Heart Charm and Pearls from The Ribbon Girl
Ribbon from my box

I feel I'm going to get a lot of use from the Tonic Die and it is so easy to cut.

Alistair is off to make a coffee, thought he would never ask, so that's me for another day, but before I go I just want to thank everyone who left a lovely comment on my last card, and please visit again.
Bye for now,
Hugs, Kate x

Game On!

Hello Everyone, how are you all today, well I hope.  Lot's of changeable weather today, so far thunder, lightening, sunshine, rain, cloud, but the heat is a little more comfortable.

Thank you for all the lovely comments on yesterdays card, I'm pleased you liked it.

This is just going to be a short post as I don't really have much in the way of news, it's been a slow day here, both of us are feeling really tired, in fact Alistair took himself off to lie down before lunch, he could hardly keep his eyes open, he slept through the thunder.  He hasn't been doing all that much this week, outdoor wise, saying he can't be bothered, so I hope he's not coming down with something, cos that's not like him.
Anyway whilst he was upstairs I finished off today's card;

I've not used this little guy for a while so, I thought I would give him an airing,
LOTV image and Sentiment
Promarkers
Papermaina Capsule Collection papers and Buttons
Core'Dination Card
Silver and Black Card Candy
Sakkura Black Gel Pen
Gems and twine from my box.

That's me for now, keep well everyone and see you soon.
Thanks for your visit
Hugs Kate x

I would like to enter my card into;
http://liliofthevalleythursdaychallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/monochrome.html

Flowers!

Good Afternoon Blogging Friends, hoping everyone is well, and sending Hugs to those of you who are not.

Thank you for all the lovely comments on yesterdays card, and especially for taking the time to visit me as everyone is busy and it can take a while to get round all the blogs that you follow.
I also want to thank Heather of Heather's Happenings for providing me with a website where I can by some of that lovely card from Creative Expressions.

Well finally we had thunder and rain, and how it rained, it was stoating off the ground, I had put a wee washing out early, but the rain came on so quickly and heavy that I didn't get out to get it, oh well rain water makes the fabrics soft.

We had a dreadfully sleepless night last night, the heat was incredible, and as we have a velux window in the ceiling I can't leave it open too far as all the creatures of the night come in, and I freak at moths and fluttery things, I have a fan that I use but it makes such a loud noise that eventually it has to go off. Lets hope tonight will be cooler.

I was thinking I didn't have any news to tell you but, I've just remembered that I won the Lilies Little Fairies Challenge today, and I'm so delighted because they are one of   my tow most favourite stamp ranges, in fact I've been spending money on some of their new Christmas ones launched today, so looking forward to them popping through the letterbox.

On to my card of today, and It's something a little different for me I've been giving the embossing a go again;

I wasted so much card trying to use the embossing powder on this image, there must be a knack to doing it, anyway, considering this I'm quite pleased with the end result, even although it's far from perfect.

Crafty Individuals Stamp
Cosmic Shimmer Malachite Fire, Embossing Powder which is a wonderful greeny colour
Core'Dinations Card, It's  a sort of petrol blue/green to match the embossing powder and embossed and die cut with;
Embossalicious Flower Frenzy Embossing Folder.
Tonic Gothic Border Die set, treated myself to this the other day and I think it is gorgeous
Sentiment cut from the same set and from Stamp it Australia
Dazzler from The Ribbon Girl
Gems and lacy ribbon from my box

I hope you like it.

Well, I've just heard on the news that it's the full moon which is the cause of poor sleep, apparently, scientific evidence to back it up and it all goes back to when we celebrated the moon's cycles in primative days.  So there you go, it's all the moon's fault.

Have a good evening, hopefully a good sleep and see you all soon
Hugs Kate xx

The Snowman!

Good Afternoon to you all, I hope everybody is well and not melted away with this sticky heat.  We were to have some more rain but so far nothing, we could do with getting the air cleared though.

I would like to welcome my new follower, Christine, I hope you will continue to like visiting me.
Thank you all for your very kind comments on Wynken, Blynken and Nod, it seems that it evoked a few memories for some of you.

Not a day for doing much here, I was forced to go into the town today to collect my prescription, I'd been putting it off as I had nothing else to get, but needs must and I'm always concerned that I run out of needles or insulin and my stock was getting low.  I was in and out as soon as I could.  It was so busy and hot.

I have a card for you, sorry, but it's a Christmas card;

 and an inside view

Sorry about the photography, I don't really have anywhere good to take photos  and I've been trying to work out the best way to do it without a decent background, and of course I forgot that you can see through acetate, silly me.

I've used;
The Snowman stamp from Crafter's Companion
Promarkers
Xcut shapes
acetate
Card and Sentiment from the Snowman set, (last years)
6x6 card blank
Cosmic Shimmer Glue on the acetate for snow,
Blue Gems
Star Dust.

My choir friend Fiona loves anything to do with the Snowman, so I think this will probably be her card for Christmas.  She keeps them all and displays them on a shelf, bless.

That's all from me for now, thank you for your visit,
Hugs Kate.

I would like to enter my card into the following blog challenges;
http://christmasatsweetstampinchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/snow-men-or-women.html

http://ilovepromarkers.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/178-christmas-in-july.html

http://craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge2.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/chnc-challenge-extra-for-july.html

Wynken, Blynken and Nod!

Good Evening Everyone, I hope you all have had a lovely day doing whatever you like doing.

Well we have had no rain yet although, it was forecast for around 1pm.  and was a bit overcast at times but there were sunny intervals.

Thank you all for your lovely comments on my last card, very much appreciated, and encouraged by them.

I've been crafting today and managed to make two cards so I'm really pleased with myself, it usually takes me ages to do just one.  I had planned to make another attempt to make flowers with the Marianne die I'd bought a wee while ago, but time over took me so I didn't get round to it, for another day though.

Here is one of my cards from today,

When I first say this stamp on the wonderful Mo's Digital Pencil site it took me right back to my very young childhood when I had the most treasured storybook and Wynken, Blynken and Nod was one of my favourite poems and my dad would read it to me at bedtime, so naturally I had to buy it.  Unfortunately, the photo hasn't made the word clear, so it says;
"Wynken, Blynken and Nod one night
Sailed off in a wooden shoe,-
Sailed on a river of crystal light into a sea of dew"

It's such a lovely poem, too long to put here, some of you might know it from your own childhood, it's a Dutch Lullaby. Sadly my story book is long gone so I had to Google to get all the words.

I've used;
Promarkers
SB Marvellous Squares
Xcut Tag and Star dies
Papermania For You sentiment
Forever Friends Christmas Papers (from last year)
Core'dinations
Glod Peel Off Borders
Gems from my box
Stickles for sparkle.

That's me for tonight, I'm off to have a coffee and a relax in front of the telly.

Thanks for visiting

Hugs Kate x

I would like to enter this card into;  http://mosdigitalchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/challenge-194-color-challenge-wmo-image.html

Sunflowers!

Good Afternoon Blogging Friends,

Another gorgeous day here and believe it or not I've not set a foot out the door.  I'm in one of those moods when I don't know what to do, so I'm doing all sorts of things at the same time.  I had it in my mind I would go into town, but at some point this morning discarded that idea, and I think that's what's put my brain into confusion.  Anyway must go out even if it's just to the postbox a few yards away.

Thank you all for the lovely comments on my last post and pleased you liked the photos.

At long last I've received my physio appointment for the tennis elbow, but still waiting for the occupational health appointment.  I am still signed off work in the hope that I would have the appointment quite soon, if I had to go back to work just now I would be back right into the situation which caused the stress in the first place.  I don't think my work will make any changes to unless they have medical backup, and even then I have my doubts.  So like Duchess Kate, I'm also a "lady in waiting", though not for such a joyous event.

My card today,

I've used one of LOTV latest images, Sunflowers
Prismacolour pencils
SB Floral Ovals & Petit Lables
Kirsty Wiseman Sentiment
Core'Dinations Card
Xcut Border Punch
Kanban Vintage Tapestry Paper
Ribbon Girl Seam Binding
Gems from my box
Gold Stickles
Glossy Accents

This was a lovely image to colour, and I'm rather pleased with how it's turned out. What do you all think?

That's me for new, must go and forage for some lunch, having to do it myself, Alistair out playing today canyoning with some pals.  He really is having a ball this year with all this wonderful weather, not always the case for an outdoors sort of guy. Which reminds me, did anyone whatch the end of the Tour De France, last night? wasn't it an exciting finish?  and the light show on the Arch de Triumph was fantastic, spellbinding, really.  I really enjoyed it all.

Thanks for your visit
Hugs Kate x

All Partied Out!

Good Afternoon Everyone, and I hope you are enjoying your sunny Sunday.
As you can imagine we are having a quiet day after the celebrations of last night.  We were only at the evening reception of our friend's Son's wedding but we really enjoyed the few hours there.  Nicola, the bride was just gorgeous, a stunning gown, and stunning shoes which she kept kicking off as her feet were killing her.  In fact, I'm sure as the night went on many pairs of shoes would have been abandoned as the heels of quite a few of them were incredibly large.  Beyond me how anybody can walk on them let alone dance, nevertheless, I still drooled over them.

Our friend's and Bridegroom's parents, Linda and Ian, looked wonderful and happy, everything had gone well, and for them it also meant having their family all together as their daughter Julie lives in Australia with her husband and two children, but came over for her brother's wedding.  Linda and Ian are just delighted to be able to spend time with their grandchildren.  Not having grandchildren myself I can only imagine what it must be like to have children and their little ones on the other side of the world.

Ian who is a Master Baker made the wedding cake, which was 3 layers of cupcakes with a square cake for the tradition of cutting the cake.

I have to say they were delicious., and here is the Master Baker himself with Linda;

Not the best picture, but hey ho, I don't have a photo of the Bride and Groom, mainly as they have all turned out pants, and the only one which is any good is of Nicola dancing with her little daughter and I wouldn't post that without permission, but here is  a photo of another happy couple;

Yes me and the lovely Alistair.

We then took ourselves off to Dougie's 6oth which was in full swing, and got there in time to see another wonderful cake;

Sadly, I didn't taste any of this one as I had already had wedding cake which pushed me well over my carbs limit, but it certainly looked good.  Dougie, is another of Alistair's hillwalking friends, hence the theme of the cake.

Towards the end of the night, the little band got together and played a few tunes,

They're singing "Ernie the Fastest Milkman in the West" at this point, their repertoire is eclectic. Don't know who the lady is though but she can certainly play the accordian, the other guy is another friend who joined in.

So, a great night was had by all, no doubt lots of aching heads this morning, not mine though, I drove us home, two slimline tonics the whole evening, I'm such a cheap date.

Now after all these photos here is the box I decorated for Nicola and Ian's wedding card, which I've shown before;

A much longer post than usual, and hope your not all bord with the photos.

Thanks to everyone who visited my last post and left lovely comments, please come again you are always welcome.

Bye for now
Hugs, Kate x

A little Kiss Under the Mistletoe!

Good Sunny Afternoon, I hope everyone is well and to those who are not, sending you Big Hugs.

The great weather is still with us up here in the Highlands of Scotland, started off cloudy but had burnt off by midday.  I can't remember when we last had such a gorgeous spell of sunny hot weather.  Great for our friend's son's wedding which we will be going to tonight.  Such a change from our last wedding where it just poured the whole day.

Thank you all ever so much for all the lovely comments you leave on my blog, love reading them and they are always very encouraging.

Just a short post today but I do have a card for you;

I've used;
LOTV 'Tis The Season, coloured image
Core'dinations Card
Papermania Christmas in the Country Paper ( isn't it gorgeous!) and bow
Sentiment is either LOTV or Little Claire
Hobby House Dazzler
Gems from my box
Silver peel off borders and dots
SB corner from Frosty Forms
Antique Silver Frantage(don't know why I bother with this)
Glossy Accents on boots and shoes
Sickles for some sparkle

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;
http://liliofthevalleythursdaychallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/christmas-in-july.html
http://christmasblogchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/a-boy-and-girl.html

Thank you for visiting me, I hope you like what you see.
Off now to have my shower and get glammed up, it takes a while.
Have a great weekend and see you soon.
Hugs Kate x

Raining Daisies!

Boy is it hot and sticky or what!!, Hello Everyone, are you feeling the heat as much as I am, melting is the only way to describe it.  I'm not complaining though, I can't remember when we had such a continuous good weather, and it's so good the children are having during the school holidays.

Thank you one and all for the lovely comments on my last card, I do appreciate each and every one.

This is just a short post today, not al lot of news, alistair has been away since early morning to go hillwalking with a friend, I don't know how he does it in this heat, and his toe is still bothering him, but not as much as when he had his last bout of gout.  I got him to agree not to go to the climbing wall whilst his toe is painful as he would be balancing on his toes. at least that's something.

I have a little card today make with the Little Claire July Club Stamp;

The second photo is not good as I could'nt crop it any better, so your seeing all the bits in the background.

LC Stamp Raining Daisies, stamps came along with the base card, papers, and blue card
Promarkers
Papermania Gems and Bow
Glamour Dust and Star Dust

As you can see it is a very simple easel card, I can't take credit for the design as it is one of the LC DT's which was on the news letter, but I've added my own twist to it.

I wish to enter this card into;  http://ilovepromarkers.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/challenge-177-anything-goes.html

I think I might go and have a cool shower, before dinner, although I'll be melting again soon, some idiot thought it would be a good idea to have Chilli Con Carne for the meal tonight, I wonder you that was!!

Bye for now
Hugs Kate x

Beautiful Evening Bags!

Hello Blogging Friends,  I do hope everyone is well and having fun in the sun. Early morning here was boiling and then the clouds arrived and it's been dull for most of the day, just the odd peek of sun at intervals, but temperature was certainly more comfortable.

Thank you all for your lovely comments, I know it takes time, but I do look forward to reading them and really appreciate your visit.

I've been having an IT day today.  I have finally managed to get myself a Watermark, from Digital Designs, which was very inexpensive, and worked out how to add it to the photos of my cards, using Picmonkey, which is a photo editing site which is free to use, I think it is really good and I am so pleased that Wendy (Confessions of a Papersniffer) put me on to it.  I have a very limited photo editing programme on my laptop, and Picmonkey does so much more.  So I feel quite clever.

This is just going to be a short post tonight, I've spent way too much time on the computer today, so here is my card, Warning!!! put sun specks on it's bright;

I've used one of the LOTV latest stamps and coloured with Prismacolour Pencils
SB Floral Ovals
Flowersoft Sentiment
Core'Dinations Card
Fizzy Moon Paper
Dovecraft Flowers and large butterfly from Princess Fairytale Range
Sizzix and Marianne Foliage dies
XCut Butterfly Punch
Hobby House pearls
Ribbon from my box
Glamour Dust and Star Dust

I think this is such a lovey stamp with these gorgeous evening bags, and I enjoyed colouring it. I used an 8x8 card and had to fill it, hence all the flowers, maybe I've overdone it a bit.
Anyway I wish to enter this card into;  http://joannasheenchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/citrus-colours_14.html   I is certainly very Citrus.

That's me for now, thanks for visiting I hope you like what you see.
Hugs Kate x

Loving Christmas Wishes, CCAYR, Mid-Month Reminder!

Good Evening to you all, I hope everyone is well and still enjoying the wonderful weather.  For those who are not feeling too well, sending you Hugs.

Thank you for all the lovely comments on my last card.

I met up with a friend for a wee spot of lunch at our Highland Hospice Cafe, Linda works near there and it is easier than coming into the town for her, and it's a lovely little cafe,with lovely food and very, very reasonably priced.  Linda's son is getting married on Saturday, so we are all hoping for a gorgeous sunny day. Alistair and I are going to the evening reception, and just like corporation buses, another invite comes along to our friend Dougie's 6oth party.  Somehow, we will manage both and pop into Dougie's at the backend of the night.

Anyway, today's card is for the mid-month reminder for CCAYR Challenge,  All About Santa;, which can be about, reindeer, elves, sleighs, anything to do with Santa.

Gosh it's not the best of photo's is it?

Image is from Joanna Sheen,  Giordano Decoupage sheet
Core'Dination Red and Brown Card
Papermania Paper and Sentiment
MB fabulous Phlox Die
Gold Lace from Hobbycrafts
Gems from Papermania
StarDust

There is loads of time left for you to play along with the Challenge, why not pop into the blog and see what it's all about here, http://christmascardsallyearround.blogspot.co.uk/

See you all soon

Hugs Kate x

Just a Simple Little Card!

Good Afternoon Blogging Friends, I hope you are having a lovely Sunday and still enjoying the fab weather.
It's been a bit dull here and looks as though it might rain.

I would like to welcome my latest follower, Dawn, to my blog, lovely to have you here and I hope you will like what I make.
 Thanks too for all the lovely comments you leave when you visit, I know it takes time and everyone is busy, but I do appreciate them all.

I had my trip down to Perth yesterday to meet up with Patricia and Hazel, and although it was just for a few hours we managed to pack in a lot of chat and a good few laughs.  We had a lovely lunch in a quiet corner of the eatery and blethered away without disturbing the other diners, and then it was time to get back for my bus back home.  It was another long journey, the bus went round all the little towns on the way to Perth, same route coming back, took  three hours, but it's been yonks since I'd done this journey by bus and really enjoyed it.  I had my kindle and knitting, so the time passed quickly.  I was tired when I got home though, two long bus journeys in one week I think is too much.

I've had a quiet day, just finishing off cards as they have to go out this week, I still had to put inserts in them and make up a box for a wedding card. I find it's the finishing touches that take the most time, but that's them done and dusted, ready for the post.

I also managed to make a quick card for a teenage lad, it's very simple as I have no idea what he is into, here it is;

On kraft card I used card, borders and sentiment all from Kanban's Vintage Travel Range and a couple of buttons from my box.

I'm always stuck for teenage boys, girls are so much easier to do, and I did think ofgoing on line to find something, but I really need to start using up what I have.  On an economy drive!!

I had peace and quiet to watch Sue Wilson on C&C this afternoon, I'd booked my TV slot and Alistair took himself off for a cycle.  Did anyone watch, I sure you did.  What wonderful cards, I can see why many of you make SB cards.  I loved her techniques with the Guilding Flakes and putting glue on her stamp, how brave is that!  gave me loads of inspiration even although I don't have many of the dies.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen, if there are any who visit me, I'm off to carve the lamb, get the roasties on and pour a little G&T.

Enjoy the remainder of your day and see you soon.
Hugs Kate x

Pals Just Lazin' Around!

Good Evening to you all, been glorious up here today, hope its been where you are too.  Sat in the garden early this morning having breakfast, but even then it was pretty hot.

Thank you everybody for all the lovely comments on Bella's card and too for all the good wishes for Alistair's toe.  Norma even sent a recipe for herbal juice that may help.  That's the wonderful thing about this blogging thing, I find that I receive so much, support, advice, good wishes, and so much more from all you lovely people, and I've only ever met two of you.  It's just amazing.

On Saturday I'm off to Perth to meet up with Patricia, Summerhouse crafts, and Hazel, Baskets of Joy. You may remember those who are regular followers that both of these ladies with their friend Elaine came up to Inverness and we all got along great and found we had plenty to chat about, so it's my turn to pay them a visit.  Elaine, however is on holiday, it would have been a difficult choice for her to make, stay and meet Kate or fly off to the USA, ha, ha!!  Anyway, I'm getting quite excited by it and really looking forward to catching up with all their news.

I met up for a coffee with Fiona, one of my choral buddies, that was a really pleasant way to spend a couple of hours, we had a good old moan, but an even better laugh.

Alistair and I went to Aberdeen yesterday, that meant 4 hours there on the bus and 4 back, it was an awfully long way for a lunch.  We were on the bus at 8am and not home until 8.45pm, what a long day, I don't think we would do that again.

My card today;

Penny black stamp
Prismacolour Pencils,   need more practise on colouring fur, but never mind
Core'dinations card
First Edition Desert Blooms paper
Xcut dies
LOTV sentiment
MB Fabulous Phlox Die
Hessian, Pearls and Ribbon from, The Ribbon Girl
Star Dust

That's me, see you soon
Hugs Kate x

Bella's Christmas!

Hello Everyone, boy isn't it a scorcher today, just too hot to be doing all that much, I hope you are all having such nice weather as we are here in Inverness.

Thank you so much for all your lovely comments, I know it takes you time and I do appreciate it.

My poor hubby is just off to the doctor just now as he feels as if his gout is starting up again.  It's been a few years since his last bout, so we were hoping that he wouldn't be plagued by it again. He was in agony the last time, so hopefully he can nip it in the bud before it becomes too painful.   We could never understand why someone with a healthy lifestyle should end up having gout, but it is a form of arthritis and he does have that.  When he was diagnosed, I went on the search for what would help and discovered that there is a lot of certain types of food that should be avoided, some of which Alistair eat, but never in great quantities. So hopefully the GP will give him something, though Alistair hates taking medication in any time.

I have a Christmas card today;

I've used a Hunkydory base card, and turned it into an easel shape.
It's a Bella stamp from Wild Rose Studio stamped onto an Xcut shape
Promarkers
Lilac Core'dinations card
Bella Christmas Paper
Sentiment, Papermania
Xcut Stars dies
Ribbon and gems from my box of tricks
Star Dust for Sparkle

It might be a little cooler now, so I think I will spend the next half hour or so  in the garden with a book and a coffee.  Enjoy the sunshine
Hugs Kate x

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;
http://christmasblogchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/easel-cards.html

http://christmasstampin.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/challenge-23-seeing-stars.html

http://christmasatsweetstampinchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/cute-cuddly-non-traditional-colours.html

The Great Out Doors and Mr. Bond? Or Not!

Hello Everyone and I hope you are all well and enjoying this wonderful weather.  it was incredibly hot here,  too  hot really for me, but it's lovely to have good weather at last.  Unfortunately, I spend most of the afternoon in front of the computer, looking up employment agencies and registering with them.  It doesn't seem to matter what kind of work you're going for applying is all on line, even Asda and Tesco.  I'm just at the beginning of this process as I thought that whilst I am still off work I could take the time to explore what is out there.  I know that I will have to leave my present work, probably sooner rather than later so I thought I'd crack on, have to say there doesn't look like much on offer.

Thanks to all of you who visited yesterday and left lovely comments about my little card.  Some of you were asking about the shape, well I cut the base card with the Xcut leaf die, using the largest, which isn't really all that large. I was delighted that it turned out so well.

My card today;

This was a card for my hubby who needed one very quickly made to send that was last week and it is still sitting waiting to be written by him, after me producing it extremely quickly.

Anyway, Little Claire, Outdoor Stamp Set, I've used it quite a few times,
Prismacolour Pencils
copied one of Alistair's maps
Sentiment from Kirsty Wiseman
Buttons and twine from my stash
Card Candy

I thought you might also enjoy these photos;

                                                   Easy does it          

            
                                                Ah, down at last !                                         

                                 Ta Da!, it's Mr. James Bond, err..No, it's Brook Bond                     

Alistair just slays me when I see him dressed like this.  This is what he was doing today, what do you think girls, is this a good look or what?, I think it's the or what.

Have a good evening
Hugs Kate x

Just to Say!

Hi All, Hope everyone has been having a wonderful day in the sun, but not of course overdoing it.
We went up to Dornoch which has a gorgeous beach and took a packed lunch with us, it was lovely, Alistair even went paddling.  It was lovely to see so many folk taking advantage of the good weather, and lots of little tots dipping toes in the water.  I don't to any dipping, I just sat and read.

Well, an amazing phenomenon happened in Scotland today, the country stood still, no news, no crime, nothing to report except, OUR ANDY WON WIMBLEDON.  That was the sum total of the new bulletin, but at least it was good news for a change.  What a win though, I felt quite emotional and I don't even like tennis.  However, we tuned in when we got back from our beach afternoon and I was rivited like the rest of the nation.  He did so well, it would have been awful if he had lost. What an amount of pressure he must have been under.  So, Scotland is good at at least one sport.

Thank you to everyone who left a comment on my previous card, I love reading them and appreciate the time you all take in visiting me.

My card today, is just a little wee card with the image I used to colour along to Dena's tutorial on colouring with Prismacolour pencils.  I didn't have the one she was using, so I made do with this little one from Little Claire;

I thought it would do for a little note when needed.

LC stamp from Bright Blue Sky set
Prismacolour Pencils
Xcut Leaf die
Papermania paper from Tulip paperpad
Xcut Butterfly Punch
Papermania Bow
Pearls and blue gems from my stash
Star Dust for a little sparkle

Thank you for looking and enjoy the rest of your very warm Sunday,
Hugs Kate x

Milly - Me and My Cat!

Hello Everyone and how are you all today, enjoying the warm sunny weather I hope?  It's been really warm here today, a bit windy, great for getting the washing done.

Really enjoyed the craft demo today, it was a Docraft Demonstrator, and she always has some lovely ideas and this time around as you all might know Docrafts have some lovely new products and I especially like the new Christmas range with their fabulous colours and designs. I treated myself to a Goody Bag as I felt everything was really usable.
Apart from this I've not done much.  I have been incredibly tired, almost no sleep last night and this morning I felt as if I had a massive hangover, really horrible.

Anyway, it's a short post today and here is my card;

LOTV Stamp
Prismacolour pencils
Adorable Scorable Card
First Edition papers
XCut border Punch
MB Sonora Rose die
All ribbons from my stash
Pearls from Hobby house
Liquid Pearls and Star Dust
My first ever go with Frantage, don't know what I think, looks good on others folks cards, not too sure about this.

I would like to enter my card into http://ideastoinspire.blogspot.co.uk/p/challenge.html "Pretty in Pink"

That's me for tonight, enjoy the rest of your evening and see you soon.
Hugs Kate x

A Cutie Patootie in a Puddle!

Good Evening All, what a lovely day here in Inverness, warm and sunny and it would make you think that at long last Summer is here.  Alistair was away from 5am hillwalking and has returned bright red, but saying what a marvellous day it had been.  He tells  me he has used the sun screen, but who knows.

I hope the sun has been shining for you wherever you are.

Thanks for all the lovely comments on yesterday's card and also my scarf. Now I had to laugh as quite a few of you thought I'd made a hat too, so I had a look at my post just to see what others were seeing and sure enough, it does look as if there is a beanie hat there too, but, no it is just a scarf, which is threaded through a sort of buttonhole.  I would do a hat if I had a pattern, but I don't know if I could stand all the ripping out again when I loose count of the stitches .

I spent a lovely afternoon with a friend who is also one of my colleagues from my work, in fact she is the only one of them who has kept in touch and supported me through my upset, I'm still not back yet, and not a peep from anyone else, it makes me wonder about the 14 years I've spend with these people.  Note to self "don't dwell on it".  Karen made a lovely lunch and we had a good old blether and a lot of laughs, and that's something I'm not doing too much of these days.

So here we are again at the start of the weekend, my how time flies, it's scary.  I am going to a craft demo tomorrow at Howdens, one of our local craft shops and really my favourite one, and will meet my friend Margaret there who is also a crafter, and of course I hope Wendy of Confessions of a Papersniffer who usually comes with her mum and a few other crafty folk. Not much else planned over the weekend, just take it as it comes.

So on to my card of today;

It's a simple little card made with a little already coloured image that I found in my Little Claire stamp box which was a freebie with one of my orders a while ago.
The card blank I had in my box and it was already embossed with the butterflies which I inked with Dusty Concord and Tumbled Glass DI.
LOTV Nitwits Promised Paper pad
XCut Butterfly punch
Papermania Gems and ribbon from my box.

I didn't bother with a sentiment at the moment., like I said very simply put together.
I think I'll be forgoing Corrie tonight as I hear the tennis is on, but it is Andy Murry, so I'll just pour a G&T and relax.  I don't understand the game, but Alistair is a good armchair umpire.
Have a lovely weekend Everyone,

Hugs Kate x

Hello Milly and a Scarf!

Hello Everyone, I hope your day has been good to you and that there was summery weather. Not too bad up here, warm wind, and felt a bit muggy, no rain yet though.

Thank you to all who left very kind comments on my last contribution to Blogland, I do appreciated you taking the time to visit, and thanks to some new callers who left comments.

I don't have anything exciting to impart today, I'm feeling quite tired as over the last few nights I didn't manage much in the way of sleep, so I'm definitely not firing on all cylinders.
I do however have a card;

 This little cutie is one of my favourite little girls from LOTV, I think her name is Milly and I've used;
Promarkers
Dove Craft doily
Brown card
can't remember what the papers are
Brown seam binding from The Ribbon Girl
Gold Gems from Papermania
MB Fabulous Phlox
Yellow ink around edges
Sentiment from Personal Impressions
Brown Card Candy

I thought I would show the little scarf I knitted to take on holiday with me, it's made from Noro yarn which is one of my favourites, it's Japanese and the colours and different textures are amazing.  This yarn is Tayo and it knits ups so quickly.  There is only four rows of pattern, really simple but the amount of times I had to correct mistakes was just ridiculous, just very little concentration, anyway, I finally got it finished and wore it proudly in the cool evenings in Iceland.

Alistair has offered to make dinner tonight, lucky me!!!, so I'm off to do a bit of colouring,
See you soon, Kate x

I would like to enter my card into http://ilovepromarkers.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/challenge-175-photo-inspiration.html   Yellow is my favourite colour and the gorgeous shades of the flower in the inspiration photo, inspired my choice of colours for this card.

Some Vikings and some Beach Huts!

Good Afternoon Blogging Friends and what a miserable one it is here, really dull, rainy and not warm, I'm glad I'm in for the remainder of the day.  Hope the weather is better where you are.

Thank you all for your very kind comments on my last card or I should say,  first card for the CCAYR challenge blog. All very encouraging.  I'm also pleased that you are enjoying my holiday snaps, cos really they can bore the pants of other folk,  in times gone past I've had to endure endless photos  of Friends holidays and was loosing the will to live.  I remember many years ago being shown photos which contained the person sitting in a various nightclubs somewhere in Spain and each photo she looks more drunk than the one before.  No other scenes, just nightclubs holding all sorts of drinks.   I wondered if she was in fact a vampire and couldn't come out whilst the sun was shining. What a waste of a holiday I thought, but I suppose to each his own.
Now talking of holiday snaps, I have the last of mine from Iceland and these were taken at the Viking Village which is about 20miles outside Reykjavik, where there was a Viking festival, with all sorts of fun and stalls going on.  I snapped these two characters as I thought they looked so good;

Now it's the rather splendid chap in the centre of the picture that so impressed me, the long hair was all his own too, the Vikings were just about to go into battle.

This guy I think must have been the Viking Chief as he didn't fight in the battle, he just stood and looked superior, it was all good fun.
So that's the last of the photos worth a look at, thank goodness I hear you shout!!

Here is my card for today;

I thought I would try and do something which reminded me that there was once upon a time Summer.

Michael Powell stamp
Prismascolour pencils.....I've a way to go yet, Keep practising Kate
LOTV Cake and Candles Papers
MB Clouds and Big Splash Border
Kirsty Wiseman Sentiment
Button, Cord,Gems from stash
Glamour Dust for sparkle

Bye for now and thanks for looking, and if you like please leave a comment.

Kate x

All About Santa CCAYR July Challenge!

Hello Everyone, and I hope this Monday has been good to you whatever you have been doing.
Our weather hasn't been too bad and a least the rain has held off and Ive got a full whirligig of washing out, hopefully dried by now.

Thanks to all who left comments on my last post, I'm slowly getting around all of yours, and from what I've seen so far there are some wonderful creations out there.

I can now share with you that I have have been asked onto the DT for Christmas Cards All Year Round, I could hardly believe it when Tracey contacted me and invited me to join.  I thought as it is a monthly blog and it is only to December, it was quite doable for me.  I really don't think I could manage the card load that some of girls do, so thinking that it would be good experience, I thought I  would give it a go.
Now I'm not all that sure if I'm setting this up correctly, but here is the link to CCAYR Challenge Blog;
http://christmascardsallyearround.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/july-challenge.html  and here is my card;

The title of the July Challenge is All About Santa, and should include anything that is associated with Santa-- reindeer, presents, elves, etc.  that should give you lots of scope, for however you interpret it.
There are lots of  inspirational cards made by the other DT on the challenge blog, so have a pop in, a look and come and join in the fun.

I've used for my card;
Giordano Decoupage image from Joanna Sheen
LOTV Frosty Christmas Papers
Kraft card blank
LC Sentiment
MB Frosty Border
Embellishment Attic Snow
Star Dust Stickles
Blue Gems from Papermania

I hope my card will offer you inspiration

Thanks for looking, Kate x