City Break

David and I are on a City Break, hence lack of Crafty Makes to show you! Where are we on our City Break? Well London of course! So okay bit of another Stay-cation, but this time without the DIY :)

We did Sushi and Cul-cha (aka Culture) yesterday. Mmm Sushi, I could just eat that stuff forever. The Japan Centre does the best Sushi take-out in London in my opinion and their packaging is recyclable - bonus! :)

And for the Cul-cha we could not have picked two more different shows at the moment, the J.W. Waterhouse exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts and the Walking in the Mind exhibition at the Hayward Gallery Southbank.

They were both brilliant exhibitions but I think the Walking in the Mind had the edge for me 'coz I just adore installation art! I would just love to stick fake grass on a balcony and fill the space with Red shapes coloured with white polka dots.

Strangely David has refused to let me re-decorate the flat :(

Have a wonderful polka dot filled Saturday
Kim

Another Busy Day....

With probably nothing crafty to show you. Mmm, hope I have something to show you tomorrow or we might have to find some other way to entertain ourselves :) Anyone for a game of virtual cards?

I have a reminder though! You have a until the 31st July to enter the Shimmerz paints draw for a $25 gift token at the shop. All you have to do is place an order in the shop AND comment on the blog - Good Luck :)

Have a Shimmerz-y Day.
Kim

Busy Bee

Buzz, Buzz, Buzz.
Busy Bee, Busy Bee.

Have you seen this lovely little Gorjuss Bumble Bee from Sugar Nellies? So Sweet! I've used Gayle's lovely sketch from The Sugar Bowl Challenge this week, I've just made the deadline! Well I've been such a Busy Bee :)

The wonderful summery papers are DCWV from Quixotic Paperie aren't they glorious?


Her little wings are coloured with Prismacolor pencils and Shimmerz paints Angel Wings which you can now get from Quixotic Paperie - Wahoo! You know how I love Shimmerz! I am so glad that Elaine is stocking it!

Hope you are having a Busy Bee Day
Kim

Materials:
Stamp - Sugar Nellie Gorjuss Bumble Bee
Ink - VersaFine Onyx Black
Colouring - PrismaColor pencils; Sansodor; Shimmerz Paints Angel Wings
Papers - DCWV
Usual Suspects - Paper trimmer; Double-side tape
Other - Ribbon; Hinges; brads

Just A Quicky

To pass on a couple of pieces of fab news:

The Basic Grey Challenges Girls are back with their lovely inspiration for us once every two weeks and a fab new look on their blog. They are also giving away some lovely blog candy to go with their re-launch.

Glad you are back! We have missed you!



Also Holly is looking for new DT members for the next few months so pop on over to her blog to find out more.

Hope to be back later with something crafty to show :)
Kim

A Colourful Finish

My term as a My Cute Stamps Design Team Member is coming to an end this week and I thought I would finish with this cute little giraffe from the Circus Animals Stamp Kit.

It has been fabulous to be able to play with the lovely My Cute Stamps kits for the last three months - doesn't time fly? So thank you Holly for choosing me to be on the team, and thank you guys for taking the time to visit and put such lovely comments on these lovely stamps!

Have a lovely day
Kim

Materials:
Stamp - My Cute Stamps
Ink - Versafine onyx black
Colouring - Prismacolor; Sansodor
Paper - Basic grey
Usual Suspects - Paper trimmer; 3D-foam; Silicone glue
Other - Buttons; Ribbon; threads; Sewing machine; 3D-glue

A Walk On The Beach

Monday, Monday and I'm sitting here thinking about beaches, can you tell?

This little lady is from Charmed Cards and Crafts who are having a competition for a pack of 72 yummy Copic pens on Karen's blog Crafty Goings On. You have until the 4th August to get your entries in.


It is uncanny how she looks just like me in a bikini - er in my dreams :)

Have a Beachy Day
Kim

Materials:
Stamp - Charmed Cards and Crafts
Colouring - Koh-i-noor pencils; Sansodor
Papers - DCWV
Usual Suspects - 3D-foam
Other - Crochet flower; Brad; Computer; Printer; Sewing Machine

Didn't We Have A Lovely Time?

Ahhh blog hops, they are great fun and yesterday's Whiff of Joy blog hop and party was fab. Well done to those who won prizes over at the Papercraft Planet chat and if you visit Katharina's blog today you will find out who has won the blog hop prize.

Thank you all who left lovely comments and wasn't there such beautiful makes from the DT and GDT in the hop? Yummy Stamps, Yummy makes. Thank you Katharina for letting me take part in the Anniversary celebrations!

Not a card today but a bit of machine embroidery, this time some quilting work from my course a couple of weeks ago.

Have a lovely Sunday
Kim

Whiff Of Joy Blog Hop And Party

Hey Guys it is the Whiff Of Joy Blog Hop and Party!

If you have dropped in on my blog from Hilde's wonderful blog then you are on the right track! If not then you need to start at Katharina's yummy Whiff Of Joy Blog.

There is some hidden candy along the hop and the party ends at Papercrafts Planet where you can chat with the wonderfully talented Elisabeth Bell and Alison Acton.

Here is my make with the very cute Kangaroo stamp from the New Party Animals stamp releases - what a cutey! What a happy little Kanga!

Thanks so much for joining in the blog hop, your next stop is the fab blog of Merkkari
Happy Hopping!

Love Kim

Materials:
Stamp - Whiff Of Joy
Ink - VersaFine Onyx Black
Colouring - Prismacolor; Koh-i-noor; derwent; Sansodor
Papers - Wild Saffron K&Co
Usual Suspects - Paper trimmer; Double-sided tape
Other - Embroidery thread; Button

Happy Saturday

Ooo I am so excited!

First of all I have a parcel waiting for me at the post office - that always makes me very excited :)

Second, have you seen the new facebook page that Elaine has set up to become a fan of Quixotic Paperie?

And last but not least it is the Whiff of Joy Blog Hop day! Starting over at Katharina's blog at:

7pm GMT
8pm GMT+1 (BST)
2pm EST
11am MST (Arizona)
11am PST

See you later Alligator
In a while Crocodile

All Those Old Tricks

Friday again, doesn't the week whip round so quickly? Have I managed to post a card everyday this week? Erm - No, not quite, Monday was Embroidery! Ok, maybe next week? How have your weeks been?

Anyway I digress! Look at this cutey - he is from the My Cute Stamps Circus Animals set and how adorable is he? I've coloured him with PrismaColor pencils and Koh-i-noor pencils (you know I like to mix and match!).

Happy Friday to you all
Kim

Materials:
Stamps - My Cute Stamps
Ink - VersaFine Onyx Black
Colouring - PrismaColor pencils; Koh-i-noor pencils; Sansodor
Papers - DCWV
Usual Suspects - Paper trimmer; Double-sided tape; Silicone glue
Other - Cuttlebug; Embossing folders; Brad; Distressing tools

Rainy Days

Still waiting for summer here in London. That is the problem with the UK, we don't tend to get those glorious Summers that many of our European brothers and sisters get - you lucky folk. Hey ho, August will be fantastic I'm sure!

But Rain is good for the garden right? So a card to match the weather! This lovely is Rainy Day Emma from Whimsy Kids over at Quixotic Paperie, I've coloured her with Promarkers and Copics (have you noticed that the price of Copics has gone up?). I love this fabulous gingham button and lovely crocheted lace. The papers are the My Mind's Eye Bloom and Grow paper stack.

Whilst I'm here have you seen that Elaine from Quixotic Paperie is sponsoring this week's Cute Card Thursday Challenge? There is £10 gift voucher up for grabs - Wahoo!

Have a lovely Sunny day
Kim

Materials:
Stamp - Whimsy Rainy Days Emma
Ink - VersaFine Onyz Black
Colouring - Promarkers; Copics
Papers - My Mind's Eye
Usual Suspects - Paper trimmer; Double sided tape
Other - X-Cut borders; White gel pen; Lace; Button

I Shiny Robot

Beep Beep to you this morning, got a Stampendous Robot for your today. When I first saw these stamps I knew I had to have them and I knew that I had to colour them with Shimmerz Paints. Perfect metal effect! Tee Hee. Beep Beep.



Have you seen that Stampendous has joined the Twittering world?

Have a great day.
Kim

Materials:
Stamp - Stampendous
Inks - VersaFine Onyx Black; Distress inks
Colouring - Watercolour pencils; Shimmerz Paints Angel Wings, Coal, Fire Engine Red, Sunflower
Papers - Cosmo Cricket
Usual Suspect - Paper Trimmer; Glue dots; Double sided tape
Other - Crop-a-dile; 3D-glue

Whiff Of Joy Blog Hop Update

Hey-Up everyone thought I would just give you a heads-up for the Whiff Of Joy Blog Hop on Saturday 25th July - I'm so excited! There will be prizes and the opportunity to chat to the Whiff Of Joy Illustrators Elizabeth Bell and Alison Acton who provide us with such wonderful designs.

Hope you have the time to join in the fun!

You can find full details in this downloadable flier.

The Blog Hop and Party starts on Katharina's blog on July 25th (7 pm GMT; 2 pm EST; 11 am MST)



Whilst we are at WOJ have you seen that Katharina is offering up some candy for the Elizabeth Bell Fall Stamp Kit?

Hello Doll

At last a card :) and today we have a cute Matryoshka doll from My Cute Stamps. I've made a little aperture card with Blossom Nestibilities and stuck the image on a panel on the inside of the card with 3D-Foam. The lettering uses the Sizzix Lindsey's Dairy set highlighted with white ink, white gel pen and orange ink.

Have a lovely Day

Kim

Materials:
Stamp - My Cute Stamps
Ink - VersaFine Onyx Black; VersaCraft White and orange
Colouring - Promarkers; Copics
Papers - BasicGrey
Usual Suspects - 3D-foam; double sided tape
Other - Nestibilities; Cuttlebug; Lindsey's Dairy Sizzix Alpha; White gel pen

It Is Release Day At Shimmerz Paints

Shimmerz CHA Summer release is here, just look at these wonderful colours and I love their names :) Perfect Summer sparkle seeing as the weather here in London is so not Summery at all!

And guess what?....Shimmerz Paints is running a competition all you have to do is put in an order for the new paints at the shop and then comment on the blog post linked here to be in with a chance to win $25 of your choice Shimmerz Products. Wahoo!

Caribbean Sunset

Island Salsa

Jilted Jade

Tickle Me Turquoise

Machine Embroidery

Not a card but some machine embroidery today. Creative Machine embroidery courses are like gold dust in the UK at the moment and last week I was very lucky to be at Hampton Court, no less, with some lovely people sharing a little introduction to the subject. The course was run by the Embroiderers' Guild and taught by the amazing Pam Watts.

We all had a wonderful time and I learnt so much it was fabulous. Here is my first make on the course. We had a very busy week I can tell you!

New Shimmerz Release

Oh my goodness look at these yummy colours! Shimmerz are releasing these lovely colours next week on the 21st July, aren't they just perfect summer colours?

By the way have you joined the Shimmerz facebook page yet? Great for having a quick Shimmery chat :)



Some of you might have noticed that I have not been about this week as much as usual! I've been on a free-motion machine embroidery course and I can tell you I loved it to bits. Will no doubt bore you with some of my makes later :)

Sugar Nellie Meets Grunge

The Sugar Bowl has a lovely sketch from Judy this week and here is my last minute take of the fabby sketch with the added bit of Shimmerz Spritz sparkle on the flower and the twill.

Hope you are all having great weeks, catch-ya laters! :)



Materials:
Stamp - Sugar Nellie; Studio G Alpha
Ink - VersaFine Onyx Black; Sepia
Colouring - Letraset Promarkers
Papers - BasicGrey
Usual Suspects - Paper trimmer; Silicone glue; 3D-foam
Other - Lace; Shimmerz Spritz Terracotta; Twill tape; Bead; Metal flower centre; staples; label hardware; brads; Tim Holtz Distress inks; White gel pen; EK Success border punch

By The Sea

Look, Look! A challenge card to start the week. I had planed to get a lot of challenge cards done over the weekend but of course time just vanished before me eyes. But I did manage to get this one done for the Whiff of Joy Challenge blog which has a fab sketch to follow.

I was dreaming of the seaside when I did this card you know, ice creams, that beach worn look and lots of Shimmerz sparkly water :) and she just looks so happy and relaxed she must be on holiday!



Materials:
Stamp - Whiff Of Joy
Ink - Versafine onyx black
Colouring - Promarkers; Copics
Paper - BasicGrey
Usual suspects - silicone glue; trimmer; double-sided tape
Other - Shimmerz paints - Under the sea and Celery; Acetate; Cuttlebug; Embossing folder; Buttons; Nail file; shaped scissors

And Here Is The News

Good Sunday Morning to you all, hope you are all having lovely weekends. As the title of the post suggests I thought I would do a quick news round up.

As a lot of you know the Summer CHA in the USA is fast approaching, and for those of you that don't know it is the world's largest retail craftshow where all the crafty manufacturers and retailers hangout.

Oh Boy do I wish I was going :)

It starts on the 28th July for the industry show and then opens it's doors to us ordinary bods on the 31st July and 1st August. So take your credit card and your truck 'coz this is where you will get all the new releases before the rest of the world.

If you have been doing some blog hopping around the manufacturers' blogs you will have seen that some of them are doing some pre-CHA sneak peaks and also a little bit of our favourite type of marketing - Freebies!

Here are just a couple to go check out:

Spellbinders are having a daily blog hop with prizes.

Fun bit of viral marketing with the Provocraft Rogue release (don't think there are any prizes just fun to see the effort they have put in to make their product stand out)

Cuttlebug Challenge Blog are having a Followers Drive with a huge $1000 prize for a lucky follower (Not officially part of Provocraft and I think the timing with CHA is just a coincidence but I've added it here anyway!)


Anyway keep your eyes pealed guys 'coz there will probably be more pre-CHA fun and peaks on the way.


Finally I just wanted to shamelessly toot my latest makes in Papercraft Essentials (PE44) Tee Hee. It is only a little article where I've taken an embroidery stitch and added it to cards for a 10 Minute masterclass, it was great fun to do! Hope you like :)