Tripod

I have been searching for a tripod these last few weeks and wasn't having much luck, especially as I needed to find one cheaply.  Anyhoo I went to a car boot sale this morning and wouldn't you know it one guy had one! Bargain if I say so myself at £3! Woooooohooo! I am so pleased and it is in great condition too.  Was a little concerned that it wouldn't screw into my camera but it's perfect.  I am beyond happy with it and so now I'm hoping to get some more tutorial videos made of both card/craft stuff and the nail art.
Also just FYI, I am about half way through my acrylics course so fingers crossed I can get that done by the end of this coming week.
Hope you're well
Hugs
H xx
PS Gorgeous weather today, so lovely in fact that I had to spend the afternoon sitting out in it and soaking up the Vitamin D instead of working on the nails. Have to say I feel 10 times better for the sunshine. :)  How about you?

MIA

Sorry I have been away for a little while but I have been doing a Nail Art course.  It has been a study at home course but I wanted to get it done as soon as I can so I spent every night working on it this past week or so.  I've now finished it and sent my nails away so fingers crossed I'll get a good result.  I've posted some photos below of the finished nails but unfortunately the light hasn't been great so I'm sorry if the pics don't look to good! :(


Anyhoo once I've got my results I will be available to do nail art for you in your home in the Lytham St Annes and Blackpool areas.  Please use my contact details / email to get in touch for an appointment.  I am also studying for a Nail Acrylics course too so I may be missing from here again over the next few weeks.  However I'll try to get on when I can, especially as the days are getting longer!  At least I'm trying to do something art-y in the meantime. :) 


I was hoping to go to the NEC craft show this month but with the courses and various other factors I am brass-ic! Not much fun going to the show with no moolah so I will have to wait till the Aintree show I think in April.


Hope you're well.


Hugs
H xx

Easter Card

So I've finally put together the card with my Three Pane Easter image I coloured from the post below.  I also added some Magnolia butterflies to the bottom corner and the Happy Easter stamp is from Lili of the Valley.  I added some bling to the scallop circle punch and I'm contemplating adding some Stickles bling to the flowers - not sure yet, what do you think?

The flowers are from stash, the leaves are from the Martha Stewart branch punch, brads from stash and the polka dot yellow ribbon (just seen) I got at the NEC craft show, don't remember which company.  The flowery paper is from Sizzix Little Sizzles Country pad (I've had for years!) and the blue and yellow papers are from stash too.  I think the yellow is from Bazzill but don't quote me!  Also sorry about the light in the pics - yet again by the time I get around to taking the photo the decent daylight has gone! Ah well :(
I'm entering this into the following challenges:
Cute Card Thursday Winged Things - the flutterby's and the chick!
Sir Stampalot In the Garden - flower-y paper, flutterby's, the chick and bunny (not in my garden but I know they have them in others ;D )
I was also going to enter it in another challenge but am too late! Booo!
Anyhoo, I hope you like-y, leave me a comment.
Hugs
H x

Ramblings

No card today because I have been mega "busy" watching a ton of card making and tutorial videos on YouTube! I used to blog hop a lot a couple of years ago and for one reason or another ended up stopping.  One of the blogs I hopped to regularly was Amy Rysavy's - a designer for CC Designs.  Well I found her blog again and just sat enthralled through all her videos.  They are great and give me inspiration for doing more of my own.  However they are also lethal in that I watch them and start yearning for oodles of new stash!  I made a list of some of the things I wanted from her videos and before I know it, once I've totalled bits of it in the basket it's over $150! Sheesh.  So Amy as much as I love your videos you HAVE to stop enabling me :)
Anyway I want to do some more videos for my own YouTube channel - HKSDesignsUK but I need to get a tripod.  As I am pretty much skint right now it's going to have to wait unless anyone knows of a place I can get a decent tripod for under £40!?? If so please leave me a comment with the info.
I'm hoping to post the card I've been planning of my High Hopes image below.  I sat at work and coloured some more of the same image so I can perhaps make a few the same (or at least similar).  Fingers crossed that will go up tomorrow (daylight being good an' all).
Alrighty just a little rambling, hope you're well and looking forward to Spring! I certainly could do with some sunshine and longer days.  Serious vitamin D deficiency going on right now.
Hugs
H xx

Three Pane Easter

I've had this stamp for a while now but have never gotten round to using it! It's from High Hopes and I love that it is in the 3 sections.  You can use it horizontally like it's laid out, or cut it up and use it whatever way you like.  I've coloured the ani-pals with Copics: chick is Y02, Y06, Y11 and his beak is YR00 and YR02 with RV10 cheeks.  Sheep and bunny are both C1 and C3 with RV10 cheeks, nose and ears.  

I've yet to decide how I'm going to use this on a card but I wanted to just post the image in the meantime.  BTW sorry the image is kinda dark but the light has just been terrible here! Was the best I could get without the flash washing it out.
Let me know what you think by leaving a comment.


Thanks for looking.
Hugs
Heather
x

Ooopsies! & Lollipop Crafts #68

I started making this card to fit into two different challenges but as I finished I realised that for one reason or another I hadn't actually done it right.  I'd used the wrong brand of paper and so on! Ooopsie!  BUT then I found an Anything Goes challenge on Lollipop Crafts so I'm entering it for that! Yay, there is always a silver lining eh?  

I coloured Rappin' T Bear from High Hopes with Copics and added some dark blue Stickles to his belt and glove a la Michael Jackson! He is cut out and layered onto blue cs and then popped up with foam dots.  The stars are punched with an X Cut with some bling glue on stars over that.  The pattern paper is from PaperMania 8x8 paper pack For Him (a couple of years old now but great for male cards!).  The craft card is from a pack and the blue cs is from stash.  It's all on a 6x6 card blank.

A close up of the bling glove! :)

Hope you like-y,  Leave me a comment with your thoughts.


Hugs
Heather
x

Sunday Sketch 94, Stamptacular 152 & Sweet Stampin'

I'm entering this card into the Sunday Sketch & Stamp challenge #94 (follow Katherine's sketch), the Stamptacular Sunday challenge #152 "charm me" and the Sweet Stampin' challenge "3 in a row" (I used flowers, spots, charms) phew!
My image is from Lili of the Valley (called Love Grows) and is coloured with Copics.  I actually coloured this at the LOTV colouring day they held in Leeds a couple of months back and have been wondering when I'd used the image!! I used a Nestie to cut out the circle shape (Picoh Edge circle set which I guess also adds to the spots on the image!). The sentiment stamp is by The Greeting Farm punched out with a Woodware yellow circle punch.  The patterned paper is from Memory Box's Brioche 6x6 pad (also kinda spotty) and the red card punched with a Martha Stewart deep edge punch (I forget the name) is from stash.  The flowers are all from stash too as is the green ribbon.  The cream ribbon is from the Ribbon Girl and the stamen in the right hand flower too.  The charm I got at a craft show I think?!  I've added some Diamond Stickles to the three layer flower and the leaves are from another MS punch. I also used some twine from the Ribbon Girl to attach the charm.

A close up of the Stickle-d flower!

Thanks for looking - I hope you like-y.  Please leave me a comment.

Hugs

Heather

x

Sketch Saturday 195 part 2

I coloured this image at the same time as the one in the post below but as you can see just swapped the colours around and gave Anya a bit of a "Scene" hairdo!  All pink streaks and lots of bling! All the information is pretty much the same, papers are also BG Lemonade, the tag is brushed with Distress Ink Tattered Rose and the white ric rac ribbon is from Ribbon Girl (I think!). Again I'm entering this into the Sketch Saturday challenge no 195.

 A close up of the sparkles! 

Let me know what you think by leaving a comment!  Thanks for looking.
Hugs
Heather
x

Sketch Saturday 195

I'm entering this card into the Sketch Saturday challenge number 195.  I've coloured Travel Anya (from the Greeting Farm) in Copics and given her some glittery eye shadow, shoes and scarf with Eucalyptus Stickles.  She also has some Sakura Gelly Roll on her cheeks. The papers are all from the Basic Grey Lemonade 6x6 paper pad and the ribbon is from stash (cannot remember where I got it!).  The bon voyage sentiment is by KaiserCraft (a mini clear stamp set I got from Bunny Zoe's shop) and the tag is from stash brushed with Tea Dye Distress Ink and mounted on foam pads.  Anya is also on pads.  The little pearl hearts are from The Ribbon Girl (I think!!).

A better view of the sparkles!! Sorry both photos are pretty dark but it's not been the greatest weather here and the flash washes all the colour out! 

Thanks for looking, hope you like-y.  Please leave me a comment and also check out my YouTube channel - HKSDesignsUK.

Hugs

Heather

x

Craft Room Tour

I posted a YouTube video recently of my craft room.  Just a little tour of my space as it stands right now.  I just moved my stash into this room in early January as I'd previously been using it for storage.  But I managed to get my attic space boarded out so all my bumph went upstairs! Yay!  Which means more room for playing downstairs.

Anyhoo I hope you like the little tour - let me know what you think by leaving a comment or subscribing to my channel on YT.  


Thanks
Hugs
Heather

Sketch N Stash Challenge #78

Wowzers, it has been a looooong time since I last posted, hoping there are some of you still around to take a look see at this little card.  I was asked to make it for a 'friend' of my mom's whose birthday is next week.  I say 'friend' because this person hasn't been that great a friend to my mom so I honestly was quite reluctant to do it for her as I don't really like this person that much! 


But nevertheless I figured if it will help me get my mojo back then dig in.
It's for a man, hence the lack of embellishments, and I was stuck for a layout so went to the Sketch N Stash challenge blog for inspiration.  

So this is what I came up with following their layout.  The image is Party Cat by High Hopes, coloured with Copics: E33 (fur), RV42 (cheeks and inner ears), B12, 18, 24 (the parcel, 2 balloons) and YR16 (last balloon).  The papers are from an old Papermania stack called For Him matted onto some plain orange and blue card.  Card is 15x15cm. The little blue stars are from stash which I've had for ages and the round sentiment is from Lili of the Valley - Dreamy Days set punched with a scalloped circle from Woodware (blue size). Phew.


It's the first time I've entered into this challenge blog and I'm hoping I can get my act together enough to enter more regularly thru-out blogland!  Anyhoo best get off.


Hugs
Heather
x

Boy Card

I've finally made a boy card again; it's been ages since I last did and my supply had dwindled to nothing.  But now that I have a few new LOTV boy stamps in my stash I can get on my merry way with them.  This one is called Astronaut and he's coloured with Copics.  His top, flag and part of the rocket is R46, jeans and some rocket is B97, boots and rocket is B99 and B39 with some Sakura Gelly Roll Clear Star (also on his helmet and teddy's too!).  Hair is E31,33,35. Skin is E21with R11 rosy cheeks. Teddy is E51, rocket boxes E11, bunny E51 and grass YG95.

The papers are from Bo Bunny Blast Off 6x6 pad with navy checked ribbon from stash and the buttons from my recent craft show visit at Aintree.  The red scalloped Nestie cut paper is from a Sizzix old pad called Country and the round sentiment stamp is also from LOTV.  All mounted on a 15cm square card.  Pretty basic layout that I copied from an old card and tweaked a little.
I'm entering this in the Dad and Lads challenge at Papertake Weekly, the Sentimental Sundays challenge 59 (also a masculine card) and Stamp Something's Something Punched challenge (the sentiment, the image and layers were all die cut).  
Hope you like-y.  Please leave me a comment while I get on with more cards.  
Hugs
Heather

Travel Anya is Finally Packed!

Can you believe it but I am back with a second card in as many days?! Wowzers.  I finally got Anya packed and ready to fly!! :D  She's all set for a FAB trip to somewhere deliciously sunny and full of adventure.  
Anyhoo she is coloured with Copics - E33,35,37 for the hair, E02 for the skin (she already has a bit of a tan!) with R20 blush and Inkssentials white spots.  Her matching luggage is a super-easy-to-find-on-the-reclaim-belt RV23 with RV29 accents (that I drew in myself, I mean come on you can't have plain bags, can you?!).  Her shoes match the outfit in BG23 with some bling Stickles Diamond.  Eyeshadow by MAC (not really that's BG23 with Diamond Stickles too!).  The ground is C0 and the background is brushed on with Distress Ink Tattered Rose.  The sentiment is from a Kaisercraft mini clear stamp set called Bon Voyage stamped with Memento London Fog, cut using a Spellbinder Fancy Tag (S4-235).  Anya is also layered on a rectangle and scalloped rectangle Nestie with pink card from stash.  The paper is from Basic Grey Lemonade 6x6 pad.  Ribbon is from stash as is the silver ricrac that I have no idea where I got but I LOVE it!  Paper flowers are hand coloured with Copics (as before) and some StarDust Stickles too.  Phew!

Hope you like-y.  I'm entering this into the Papertake Weekly Challenge 56 as I've followed their sketch.  Also Truly Scrumptious 58 Summer Sparkle (summer colours and sparkly flowers etc).  A second entry for Cute Card Thursday's Embellish It 167.  Also Creative Card Crew's For A Diva (Anya most certainly is a diva, she obviously hasn't found anyone to carry her luggage for her yet!).

Thanks for lookings.

Hugs

Heather

x

Craft Space is Sorted!

Woohoo, I've finally made my Ikea Expedit unit and gotten my bits organised.  I bought some fab 12x12 storage boxes for my paper and they are in the unit.  I measured it before I went to the craft show at Aintree and each cube is bigger than 12 inches but the boxes don't fit perfectly to sit either horizontally or vertically, so as you can see in the pic they are "resting" slanted.

I also got a chrome shelf unit and have moved my jewellery stuff onto it.  I haven't used a lot of it in a while so I figured if I brought it out a bit more prominently I may just dig in there again.  I've put my Cuttlebug on the top of the Expedit and also my 6x6 pads have their own box now so I can find them easier.  The blue boxes on the top are scrap pieces of DP and some pre-stamped images.  I've taken to stamping an image about 3 times onto card so I have some spares ready to go.  

(Excuse the Zippy's, Mr Potato Head and Dwarves that are "protecting" my stash!!) :D  I've split out my buttons into colours (apart from my new purchases) and also the paper flowers too.  I've also had to get some bigger cups for my Copics and having seen this idea on someone's craft room tour on You Tube stole it for my own! I love how they hang off the unit.  I would maybe like them a bit closer to my desk (ie hanging on the shelf above the desk) but right now they are fine there.  

So this is the fairly messy work desk.  I tend to use the same Copics a lot for skin and hair so I've left them on the desk.  Also the ones I've been using for my Travel Anya card that is still not stuck together yet are out so I don't forget which they are when I post the card on here!  

I also wanted to post some pics of the stash I bought recently (mentioned in my Ugh post below).  I haven't shown the LOTV stamps as you can find those easily on their website.   The top pic is what I got from My Mum's Craft Shop - yummy papers, a die and some lovely flowers.

This is my Ribbon Girl stuff.  The two bags of twine on the left and the lace on the left are separate from the other bits which are all part of the cream/white kit!  Loads of stuff...total bargain.  Have yet to tear into it as honestly I'm a bit scared to "ruin" the loveliness! Tsk will have to get over that.

Anyhoo so there you go.  Let me know what you think by leaving me a comment peeps.  
Hugs
Heather
x

A Card....Finally!

My stepdad asked me to make a card for his granddaughter's 5th birthday coming up next week.  So with an actual "commission" I have sorted out my craft-y stuff and made a blinkin' card!!  Will wonders never cease?
Anyway Chloe likes pink and I was asked to put her name and the number 5 on the card.  I was struggling once I'd Cuttlebugged the alpha's to figure out where I was going to put them on the card and a layout with the cutie pie Penny Black kitty.  I found some inspiration from this card on the Spoon Full of Sugar challenge blog.   Thanks Mary J!
Kitty is coloured with Copics - E33 for the fur, RV42 on his cheeks, RV21, 23, 29 for the gift, balloons and hat.  B00 for the sky and YG11 for the grass.  I've Stickled up the ribbon and the name with Star Dust and the 5, the tag and the pompom with Fruit Punch.  There is also some Glossy Accents on kitty's nose and the balloons.  
The DP is from Basic Grey Euphoria 6x6 pad and the pink card is from stash.  It's a standard 15x15cm card.  I didn't want to add too much fancy-ness or other bling bits as I was wondering if a 5 year old is going to appreciate it?!  Also it has to go through the post to Scotland so the less bulk in the envelope the better I think.  

Anyhoo I'm submitting it into the Cute Card Thursday challenge 167 - Embellish It.  Hope you like-y.
Hugs
Heather
x

Ugh

...it's been one of those weeks where I just seem to have got nothing done! I ordered some new "rubbah" to play with from Lili of the Valley, some papers and a Die-Namics die from My Mum's Craft Shop and the cream kit from The Ribbon Girl.  They were all ordered at the same time on Tuesday afternoon.  I had the MMCS stuff on Wednesday, Ribbon Girl Thursday and LOTV not until Friday!  Weird, especially as physically LOTV is the closest to me.  Anyway all my lovely stash is sat on the desk, the LOTV not even unwrapped yet, and I just haven't had a chance to do anything with it.
The main reason I suppose is that I've started selling Avon products and this week has been a delivery of orders.  So I've had to sort the 4 boxes worth of goodies into the individuals bags and get them all delivered and paid for.  I've also had to get out the new brochure too and I have a couple of new streets in my area so it's a bit of extra work.  Not that I'm complaining if I get some orders in.  I haven't done anything about cleaning the house for ages; honestly it seems every last minute lately has been doing something for somebody else or the dog.  Besides the Avon stuff I'm still doing my normal job which this week has been a full 7 day stretch.  I'm not off until Monday so as soon as the dog has been to the park I am sitting down to make some cards.  I've still to get my Ikea unit made too so the reorganising of the craft space is kind of half done.
Anyway fingers crossed I can get myself organised and back into some craftiness!  Hope you've got some loveliness made lately.
Hugs
H xx

Mom's Birthday Card & Challenge Entries

Hi there! Well this is my mom's birthday card.  It is her day tomorrow and I can safely post this on here tonight as she doesn't read the blog.

So the card deets are:  Image is Spring Kiki by CC Designs coloured with Copics.  Hair is E50, 51, 53 & 33.  Skin is E21 with R11 blush.  She also has some Sakura Gelly roll on the cheeks too.  Dress is R20 and E33.  Pearls are Gelly roll as are the ribbon swirls on the flowers.  Flowers and hair bow are RV21 and I've added some Fruit Punch Stickles (not in the photo) to give it a bit more bling (also on her hair bow and the large pink flower).  Shoes are E33.

Swirl is a Marianne Designs die LR0116, buttons from new stash, leaves are from my new MS branch punch.  Flowers are by Petaloo "Mulberry Street."  I added some pearlescent twine-looking ribbon from DMC.com which I got ages ago in my local haberdashery store (I think!).  Sentiment is LOTV Calendar and is brushed over with Distress Ink Tattered Rose (also the main image too).
Papers are an old Craftwork cards set that I hadn't used at all layered onto 15cm square white card.  I think it was called "Chocolate and Marshmallows"?!  I've stamped "have a wonderful day" inside in Versacolor Cocoa.  The stamp is from Kaiser's mini clear stamps which I got from Bunny Zoe's shop.

I'm entering this in DieCutDreams challenge 90 as I've followed their sketch.  Also 7 Kids College Fund challenge 21 which is to include circles on your card (the main image, the sentiment, the buttons!). And Truly Scrumptious #57 Anything Goes, Papertake Weekly Bloom & Grow & Bling It On #3 (to use something floral - Kiki is holding flowers and there is a flower on the card).

Hope you likey!  Please leave me a comment.  I'm trying to get back into making cards more often than I have and any positive words of encouragement are MUCH appreciated :)
Hugs
H xx

Craft Show Visit & Haul

Ooooooh I LOVE crafty stash shopping!  It's like a chocolate high but you don't get the crash afterwards as you've got lots of goodies to play with for weeks or months on end.  :D  So I visited the Aintree show on Friday and got some great deals.  I always try to go around all the stalls first with my trusty notepad and pen writing down the prices of things I'm looking to get.  I usually have an idea of what I want through blog hopping and checking out some challenge blogs too.  While I'm mooching around the stores comparing prices I'm also checking out what else they have that catches my eye and how much that is too.  Sometimes it can be quite difficult getting around everywhere and then trying to get back to the best price places without getting either a bit lost or potentially missing out on some items.  If I see something I like though and there is only one left then I will tend to get it.
Anyhoo so this trip I got some buttons and ribbon, 12x12 paper storage boxes (that will hopefully fit into my new Ikea Expedit unit!), a bunch of punches (2 gorgeous EK Success ones, a Martha Stewart branch and some standard circle and scalloped circle punches), LOADS of Nesties that were on offer including a beauty Fleur De Lis rectangle.  Also got some Bazzill paper, coloured Stickles and some Stamp Barn stamps.  I was hoping that the Lili of the Valley team would be there but no such luck.  Guess I'll just have to buy some of their new male stamps online (oh darn!).
I'll post a pic of my stash later this weekend (EDIT - done, see below!) when fingers crossed there will be some better light.  It's a bit miserable looking today so there isn't a lot of light out.  It's ridiculous isn't it that it's the third week of May and I'm having to put on my scarf and hat again?!  Tsk.

Anyhoo I will hopefully also have a couple of cards to post over the next two days as it's my Mom's birthday this week and I've also started to have a play with my recently(ish) purchased Greeting Farm stamps and new paper stash.  Yay!!

(This is my work in progress Travel Anya!)
Hope you're well.
Hugs
H xx

Craft Show

I've bought myself a ticket for the craft show at Aintree this coming weekend.  I have a list of some stash I'd like to get but as this show doesn't always have all the big suppliers I may end up getting some online.  It's a nice show but it certainly isn't the NEC show with it's masses of goodies to grab!


I was asked to make some earrings this week for a lady who has been trying to match up with a ring she bought.  They were pretty simple what she asked for, so simple I forgot to take a photo! D'oh.  Ah well.  They were basically some brown glass beads of various sizes on a single drop.  Nothing too spectacular.


I've taken a trip to Ikea to get some more shelving units and jars for my stash.  I'm planning on organising my paper so that it is easier to find what I want.  Probably sort it by colour rather than theme I think but as I don't really have a huge amount it shouldn't be too difficult.  I've been trolling YouTube watching craft room tours for inspiration on my organising/storage and am flabbergasted at the amount of stash some people have.  There must be a good $50K's worth of goodies in those rooms.  It certainly makes me wonder how they can afford it in this recession (although maybe they've had a lot of it for a while now?!).  Still I get the impression that a lot of craft goodies are very much cheaper than in the UK, including the Ikea prices too.  $50 for a set of drawers that cost £80+ here!!  Piissshhhhh bloody ridiculous.
Anyhoo once I've got my space reorganised I shall post some pics or perhaps even a video (ooooh my first one... well we'll see how it goes first!).  I do have a video of my dog playing in the park which I shall post to YT soon and will link it up here too.
Alrighty, hope you're well.
Hugs
H x

Sheesh...

... I have been really terrible about uploading any photos, cards and what have you lately.  All my new stash has gone, as yet, untouched.  Although I did put cling foam on all the stamps that needed it.  I have 3 sentiments sets that need cutting up still but I think I'm going to wait to do that until I need them as I have to figure out a way to store them once they are cut up.  That's going to be a lot of rubber that needs re-housing.  
I finally have a day off tomorrow so I'm hoping that I'll be able to have a little play with some paper and "rubbah"; but it's supposed to be a gloriously sunny day tomorrow so if that is the case then you HAVE to forgive me for playing outside.  Beautiful sunny days are few and far between here so you have to take advantage of them while you can.  
Anyhoo no other news really.  Well nothing craft related at any rate.  Hope you're well.
Hugs
H xx

Oh Happy Day...

... I have some new stash to play with.  Yeeha!!  I had two packages arrive yesterday and one today so it is now all finally here from ordering on Sunday evening.  I'll post a photo later when I get home but I just wanted to say a quick Thank You to the fabby, speedy companies for sending my goodies so soon.  My Mum's Craft Shop sent me a couple of stamps and some paper pads.  Dies to Die For sent more stamps and paper and Bunny Zoe's Crafts sent still more stamps, a Bow Easy, buttons, pins and a paper pad.  Yeaaahhhh! I cannot wait to play with these tonight.  Or at the very least get them organised in some fashion.  I have some EZ foaming to do with my stash of Kraftin' Kimmie stamps.  In fact I'm not too sure whether I even have enough foam left to do all the stamps I bought?!  Eeek.  I may have to make a "quick" visit to a local craft store to get some.  Darn, that will be terrible and such a drag eh? ;)
Anyhoo in other news I am now selling Avon products.  If you are local to me (Blackpool area) and are interested in buying some from me then please send me a message and I can arrange to get you a brochure and hooked up with some fabby products.  There are some great offers on right now too, especially with summer coming up and the inevitable "OMG I need to get a bikini ready body!" thoughts.
Alrighty, hope you're all well.
Hugs
H xx

Mothers Day Card

It seems like ages since I made a card ... but in the scheme of things I suppose it isn't.  I found a new craft shop not too far away from me.  It's in Preston and so is a good 20 minutes drive but they seem to have a some lovely papers there and it's the only craft shop where I've seen actual Copic Sketch markers for sale.  Although they are a tad expensive there (£5.99 each!!).  Honestly I think apart from the papers all their stock was expensive and can be found cheaper online through various sites.  

Anyway the papers I've used on this card are from that shop which is why I mentioned it.  The card is a standard 21cm x 10cm blank.  I've layered plain reddish pink card under the Basic Grey Sugar Rush Jawbreakers paper and edged it with the Martha Stewart lace doily punch.  The butterfly is layered with the same reddish pink card (which was a nightmare to get out of the die! Possibly too thick for it?) and a pearlised soft pink paper (again not too easy to get out of the die).  The die is from Marianne Creatables and I love it lots but am not enjoying getting the paper out of it.  Perhaps I need to use really thin paper for it and/or perhaps add some more shims to my Cuttlebug sandwich, but I had to run it through the CB a good 4 to 5 times to get it to cut clean through the paper.  Has anyone else had this problem?
The butterflies are popped up with foam pads and have sticky rhinestones for the tummy and antennae.  The sentiment is cut with a Nestability Labels die # 8  and edged with Distress Ink Tattered Rose, again popped up on foam pads and the button too.  The ribbons and button are from stash and the peel-offs too, which I've not used in AGES!!  Am going to have to work my way through them all and start to use them some more I think.  I've also used a "With Love" peel-off on the inside and a small punched out butterfly in the same soft pink paper.
Thanks for looking.  Let me know what you think.
Hugs
Heather
x

No Card

in this post but I do have a good reason.  My puppy has finally come out of the kennel and the last few days have been spent making sure she is settled in.  It was her birthday too on Saturday so we had an extra long walk that day as she doesn't have any puppy pals right now for a party.  Hoping to change that though by taking her to an agility class soon.  Just got to figure out where they are!
Anyhoo will hopefully have a new card to add in the next day or two as I try to get back into a routine...but with a new fur person hanging around. :D
Hugs
H x

Another Tilda

on this card.  Can't seem to work with anything else lately! Weird.  Anyhoo I'm entering this into Sketch Saturday no 145.

Card deets are:  Butterfly Tilda is coloured with Copics and given some sparkle (not sure if you can make it out?) with Sakura Gelly Roll pen.  I'm not entirely convinced of Tilda's fashion sense but I think it looks better than my original colouring (all pink in various shades, ugh...TOO much pink!).  The dress and shoes are RV29, top and socks are B02 over RV21, wings are B02 over RV21 / RV10 / RV23 and Sakura. Pantaloons/leggings are RV10.  Hair is E33,35,37.  Skin is E53 with R20 blush.  The fence is the same as the hair, grass and leaves are YG63,67.  The sky is brushed on with Distress Ink Broken China.


Fence is cut with circle Nestie and Tilda is cut out by hand.  I cut the LOTV Celebrate stamp by hand too and layered it on Making Memories Kids Collection Kate Green.  The pattern papers are from the Basic Grey Euphoria 6x6 pad.  Blue polka dot ribbon from stash, paper flowers from The Bitty Bag (by Prima not Bazzill as I've previously mentioned - d'oh!!!) except the green one which I coloured from white (Petaloo Color Me Crazy flower pack) with Copic YG11 and YG63.  Middle flower attached with green pearl brad and others have stuck on clear dewdrops by Crafty Notions.  All put on a 15x15cm card blank.


Alrighty well there you go, let me know what you think peeps.  Thanks for dropping by.
Hugs
H xx

Another Card So Soon...

something must be wrong with me!??  Well no I've decided I need to at least try to make a card a day.  Also it helps that the DVD-watching kick I've been on lately has been shifted into my craft space so I can multi-task.  Anyway here is the next creation.  I'm entering it into Cute Card Thursday no 154 - Signs of Spring, Wild Orchid no 18- Anything Goes, Die Cut Dreams no 84 - Spring Garden, Bling It On launch - Anything Goes, Sentimental Sundays no 44 - Anything Goes, Just Magnolia no 96 - Anything Goes, Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes and Totally Tilda no 17 - Fruity Tilda.

Card deets:  Tilda with Cherry Wellies (may not be the real name! LOL let me know what it is if you DO know, thanks) is coloured with Copics and cut out to sit on Tilda's watering can (also coloured with Copics).  The paper flowers (Bazill Bitty Bag) are layered and attached with pearl topped brads.  The tab is shaded with Weathered Wood distress ink and stamped with Elzybell's Everyday Greetings in Tuxedo Black (same as Tilda).  The papers are from Magnolia's "A little yummy for your tummy" line and called Blueberries and Blueberry Dot.  I also used some plain dark clue card edged with the Crown Martha Stewart punch.  Can image cut with large circle Nesties.  Card measures 5.5 inches each side.  I also added some Diamond Stickles to the flowers and Sakura Gelly Roll for some cheek sparkle.  Having seen the photo I'm going to go over Tilda's face again with the Copics as it doesn't look blended too well.  Will take another photo and add that if I can get it looking better. (NEW PIC ADDED!!)

Copics used: E33/35/37 - hair and butterfly body, E53 - skin, B97 for her top and the "cherries" which are now blueberries!  R20 for the blush, RV23 for the edge of the butterfly and flower centres, YG63/ BG93/YG67 for the grass, leaves and her dress. C1/3/5 for the watering can, parts of her top and tights.

Anyhoo let me know what you think.  Thanks peeps
Hugs
H xx

Cute Card Thursday Challenge

This is my entry for the Cute Card Thursday challenge which I'm hoping gets in before the wire!!  Have certainly cut it close anyway.  It's to follow a sketch which hopefully you can see in my card.

The card deets are:  Tilda with Bike is coloured with Copics, stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black and cut with the large circle Nesties.  The green paper behind is Bazzill Bling and the two patterned papers are from Bo Bunny and its called Ella Dot.  Red ribbon and bling from stash, flowers are Bitty Bag by Bazzill, leaves cut with Leone Em punch and sentiment is from Elzybell's Everyday Greetings pack.  Card measures almost 15cm each side.

Let me know what you think by leaving a comment.

Thanks

Hugs

H x

Two, no make that Three Challenges!! Wowzers

So I've finally got my act together and have made a card.  Woohoo!  I'm entering it into three challenges - the Sketch Saturday Week 143, Sir Stampalot Monthly Challenge and also Totally Tilda How Does Your Garden Grow.  

So here are the deets of the card:  Tilda with Lilacs (I think) is coloured in Copic Ciao's and stamped with Memento.  She's been coloured for a while now so I'll have to double check the colours but I think it's YG67 for her top (coloured over twice), RV23 for the dress and socks, skin is probably E02, with some R02 for the blush, hair, basket and shoes are E33 and 35 and the leaves are G21.  There is some Diamond Stickles in there too for the floaty bits and flowers.


The butterfly punch is X-cut with some sticky rhinestones attached.  The buttons are from Basic Grey Two Scoops button pack (had for a while), silver shiny ribbon from old stash, the three layered flowers are from The Bitty Bag by Bazzill (again old stash - honestly most of my adornments will be labelled this way!!) which I layered myself.  They are attached with a pearl brad and the chain is from my jewellery kit.  The dragonfly charm is from a show stall (don't specifically remember who!) and the leaves are paper cut with Leone M punches (Ash Family and Evergreen).  I've also used a new Marianne diecut for the swirl.
The tab punch is Stampin' Up and the sentiment is from Elzybells Everyday Greetings Set used with Versacolour Bamboo ink pad.


Papers are from Making Memories Simply Fabulous Brooke and Kids Kate collection pads.   Card measures about 14.5cm each side.


I'm not too sure about the sentiment bit yet but I'm gonna sleep on it and decide in the morning whether to change it or not.  
Anyhoo let me know what you think.  Hope you likey
Hugs
H xxx

Life

certainly seems to have been getting in the way of me making any cards or new pieces of jewellery.  I've had my craft room all set up for a fair while now and although I often sit in it and make plans for this or that I just never get around to doing it. Tsk.  I think I'm going to have to challenge myself to make a card every day or at least every other day and really make an effort to get on with it.  I've been trying to find some new challenge blogs to get involved with too but oftentimes I see one I like and it only makes me want to buy more stamps or other stash so I can join in with the current challenge.  Ordinarily this would be fine but I'm a bit brassic right now with moving into a new place.  Boo!!


Anyhoo I'd best get on and stop all this procrastination.
Hugs
H x

New Copics!

I have about 12 new Copic Ciao's to play with.  Yay!!  Basically I'm trying to build up my collection of them and have about 50 now I guess.  That's still way short of the 334 colours there are (possibly more now as my colour chart is 2 years old!).  
I've also had a little play with some of my new stash.  I used two of my new stamps on one card (although as you'll see below the image has yet to be made into a card).  They are from The Stamp Barn (Canada based I believe but I got them at the craft show in Manchester from a company called J&C Creations) and the beautiful unicorn is called Morning Star.  The tree branch doesn't seem to have a name on the package but they are both from the Enchanted Hollow line.  Sounds cool huh?  I also got a group of toadstools from the same line and am going to "browse" on the website to see what others are available (cough cough).  
I've coloured the 'pretty pony' with Copics no's C1, B23, B32 and used lots of my Sakura Gelly Roll for some sparkle.  The moon is the same 2 B's and the tree branch is E33, E35, BG93 and G21.  I've also used a 'smidge' of Stickles star dust.  The background is Distress Ink Broken China brushed on with a big fat shaver brush.  Am loving Star (we're on first name terms ya' know) and the curly mane.  Let me know what you think.

Hugs
H x

New Stash

I've just got back from the Stitch and Creative Craft Show at Manchester Central and have some lovely new stash to play with.  I'll post some photos as soon as I can (EDIT - done, see below).  

 My lovely new stash!  

 Some lovely papers too, can't wait to use these.

I've just moved into a new place and have finally got my craft room all set up so I can't wait to get started with it all. I'll post some craft room pics soon too (EDIT - done, below).  

I've really missed not having all my craft stuff with me and it was fun unpacking it all again.  It's been a while since I made a card so it'll be interesting to see my first few attempts until I get back into the swing of it.  I'd like to do some challenge blog cards too so will have to figure out a few on different days.   Let's hope they aren't too terrible!  Heheh.
Anyhoo I hope you're all well.
Hugs
H x

Sorry

it's been so long since I posted anything on here.  It's been a busy time these last few weeks what with Christmas and New Year.  Also my mom hasn't been very well and I've been trying to find a new place to live.  However the place is found, moving day is not too long away now and mom is feeling much better.  As soon as I have moved into my new place I shall endeavour to unpack all my craft stuff lickety-split and get on with creating something wonderful (well fingers crossed).
I'm hoping to get back to making some cards again too and entering them into the blog challenges and what have you.  Maybe I'll see some more traffic to my site as well.  I'll also be adding the other things I've made (before having to pack up the jewellery bits again) to the website shop.
Anyhoo I hope you readers are well; short and sweet this I'm afraid.
Hugs
H xx

Two New Makes

... now listed in the shop.  First is a lime beaded bookmark

Lime Straight Bookmark

Lime Charm Bracelet

and the second a lime beaded elastic charm bracelet.  I'm in the process of making more of the charm bracelets in various colours - are there any you readers out there would like to see?  Let me know in the comments and I'll get on with some! Presuming I have that colour beads of course, heheh.
On another note, the whole of the UK has been blanketed with snow but where I live had missed out.  It doesn't tend to snow here much as the salty air means even if it does snow it rarely sticks on the ground.  Well today we've had a lovely little snowstorm; huge chunky flakes fell for about half an hour. There is now about an inch of snow on the ground.  Very cute but at least we can still get about if need be.
Anyhoo that's all for now, apart from I've signed up to Twitter! You can follow me @HKSDesigns
Hugs
Heather
x

Website Shop Updated!

I've uploaded the new items in the Bookmarks, Christmas Tree Decorations and Bracelets sections. There are a few more small pieces still to add to the CTD section. I'm also going to add a Matching Sets section soon as I have a few bracelets with matching earrings sets that I hope you'll like.
Fingers crossed today I'll be able to get my camera working again properly and I can finally take some photos of the other items. I'm also trying to get my head around Photoshop as although I've looked at it I haven't really had a play around with the software. I've now gotten a little handbook though of what to do and perhaps I'll get some time to actually figure it out. Ooooh the excitement of being able to create my own banners and bits n bobs ... hehee, can't wait.

Anyhoo hope the cold weather isn't causing too much chaos wherever you are.

Hugs

H xx

Updating

I've been spending the last couple of days updating my website with tweaks here and there, as well as the invisible stuff like SEO, tags and so on.  Quite the task when I'm not hugely tech-literate.  I know how to do some things in that department but then it starts to get full of techno-jargon and I'm like ???
I've also been setting up an Etsy shop (if you'd prefer to purchase in US$) and a Folksy shop too, to try and get my own online store more noticed.  Now I just need to add products to them both.
Another thing I've been trying to get my head around is all the social networking sites I seem to need to be listed under.  I've already got the Facebook thing sorted, but Twitter really isn't my thing.  You Tube I love but I'm not entirely sure what to post videos about.  I can't say I want to do tutorials as that will take potential buyers away (presumably they will just go and make stuff themselves??).  Perhaps the haul videos will be better as I love to shop for craft stuff and showing what I've bought with the "I'm thinking of making this into a ..." might be good.  What do you think?
Let me know your thoughts and ideas if you have them to help me get started in this area.
Hugs
H x

Some New Items

Take a look at the photos below of some new items I've been working on the last couple of days. I'm not too sure about putting them on the shop yet unless people request it via comments on here or an email. Let me know what you think.

Aurora Mini Star christmas decoration - I have 3 made so far and they can obviously come in other colours too. Comes with an attached wire to hang from the tree.
Crystalline Snowflake - again can come in other colours. Have one made right now with 2 to go in the same colour.
Bling snowflake - pink, clear and silver glass beads with creamy white pearls. Again as you'll see below they can come in various colours and have an attached wire for hanging. Measures approx 10cm diameter. I have some others that measure 15cm across that have still to be beaded.
Charcoal grey pearls, clear and silver glass beads and bugles.
Turquoise, clear and silver glass and metal beads.
Yellow/gold and clear glass beads and seed beads.
Wavy bookmark with blue glass star and 3 additional drops (mix of blue and clear glass and silver metal beads).
Straight bookmark with turquoise glass butterfly and 3 additional drops (turquoise, clear and white glass beads and silver metal beads).

Thanks for looking, I hope you like.

Hugs

H x