I want to ride my Bicycle

Evening to you all. It's been a lovely day here in Harrogate and I had a lovely visit to a local shop this morning gathering art supplies for a journal I am going to attempt. Lots of Tim Holtz and also going to try some Dylusion sprays as well . Anyhow that's something different.
Todays card has a vintage theme and for a male. The image was a free image from Magic Moonlight Free Images blog.
There are some cards where you want to keep adding and some where you fell less is best. This one is from the latter.
I have used some spellbinder dies and my Tim Holtz film strip(which you can just see in the background). I have used a pen to add faux stitching around to add some interest.
I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Sketch saturday challenge 196 - Sketch
Cupcake craft challenge 181 - Boys & their toys
Allsorts challenge  143- Free and easy

Well hope you have all had some time for crafting today and thanks for stopping by and having a look
Please feel free to pop over to my other side and see something a bit different - Paper, Paint, Stamps and anything else

Bye for now
x Catherine 

Just For You

Happy Monday to you all. Well another week starting-nearly into March already! Hope you all had a good weekend and lots of crafting .
Todays card is a little different from what I have been doing of late. I love Vintage images and have had this one in my box for a while. It was printed from a vintage free images website.
The backing papers are from papermania from my stash box and die cuts added for embellishments. All the flowers I have made myself and quite getting the hang of this lately. You can use any colour you want and make them any size you want.

Well off to tidy my craftroom a bit after this weekend. If anyone is interested Paint, Paper, stamps and anything else has it's first post(hence the need for a bit of tidying in the craft room) .

Hope you all have a good week and lots of crafting time in there
Thanks for stopping by and hope you like the card
Bye for now
x Catherine

Paper, paint, stamps and Anything else

Good morning to all of you. I'm still here but this week have just felt like a bit of a rest and a break from the cards.
I've a busy day today as I have to travel to Newark. My daughter needs to go and train with her team before next weeks game.
I have set up another blog which is a bit different to this one. Paper, Paint, Stamps and Anything else will focus more on getting messy and include more mixed media ideas which I think is what has been wrong with me lately. I love papercrafting but sometimes need to let go a bit. I will however still be using this blog as normal and still be visiting you all regularly. i love seeing what you all get up to.
I hope you will come over and have a peek as I have a few things to post next week that are a bit different to what you have seen on here.
The link is here .
Well I hope what ever you are up to this weekend you have a good one and include lots of crafting.
Bye for now
x Catherine

Just a note to say

Good afternoon all. I wanted a bit of a change so have come up with this card today..I have used an old wooden stamp of mine which is a favourite. It is from Inkadinkado and called "Tin Can Mail". A lot of my wooden stamps are still more faves to me and wouldn't be without them.
I have coloured the stamped image  using different shades of greys from the promarkers. I then cut out the different layers and decoupaged it up.The butterflies have been stamped from a Creative Expressions stamp (Wings)set and also coloured both with the same greys and some pearls added to the antennas. The backing papers are from a Papermania Capsule set and chose three which would co-ordinate well with the theme and image.

Now onto the flowers. The black one on the ribbon has been made using fine black ribbon and done on the flower loom and a button added to the centre. I am really enjoying using this loom and it was a free gift in a magazine. Love free gifts when they are useful to me.
The other spray of flowers I made from ribbon. There is a White Lily and some black and white roses. I found these easy to do and just love the effect and texture they give. I hope you can see them well because they really are pretty. They have some die cut leaves to bring them out.
The sentiment tag is a spellbinders die and the sentiment is from a set of greeetings from Papermania.

Promarkers used: Cool grey 1,2,3,4,

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Passion for promarkers challenge 137 - Black and white
Allsorts challenge 142- Free and easy
Lollipop Crafts challenge # 68 - Anything goes
My Mum's craft Shop challenge 45 - Buttons and Ribbons
Simon Says stamp challenge - Use three different papers

Thanks so much for popping over here and having a look. I hope you like this as I really enjoyed making this one.
Bye for now
x Catherine

Flowers

Good morning all. A bit tired today - serves me right for staying up late, but who couldn't wait to see Sir Tim Holtz on QVC. Got my order and can't wait for it to arrive. This card uses a stamp from Sugar Nellie (Flowers). I have coloured the image with promarkers and slightly decoupaged her. A few pearls at the top to highlight the image.
The papers are from papermania. I have embellished the card with ribbon, flowers and a couple of gardening charms which I thought would fit nicely. The sentiment is from Little Claires. The flower in the centre of the ribbon I made by gathering up a strip of ribbon..I have used punches for the leaves and sentiment .
Promarkers used: blush, dusky pink, denim, cornflower, Antique pink, Cocktail pink, Sandstone, caramel, cocoa, olive green, marsh greeen, pear green, cool grey 1,2,3,

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Sunday Sketch and Stamp challenge#94 - Katherine's sketch
 Sweet Stampin challenge - 3 in a row(Pearls, Punches, Charms)
Stamptacular Sunday challenge#152 - Charm Me!
Paper Sundaes challenge #108- Birthday

Hope you all have a good day and some crafting time in between. Thanks for stopping by and having a look
Bye for now
x Catherine

Hoping all Your Wishes

Good morning everyone. Well the kids are back at school so I may find some time to myself now for a bit. Have been suffering a bit last week with my sinuses but taking antibiotics now so they should help.
This card uses a Penny Black stamp from the set of "Tiny Wishes". I have used promarkers to colour the image.
The image has been stamped onto a spellbinders shape which I thought would look nice if I threaded some ribbon through the die cut areas.The backing paper was from my stash box and from Dovecraft.
The hearts were a bit of a "let's see what will happen if I do this" session. I have had some sticky backed sheets for a long time and some lace net curtain. The idea was to put the lace onto the sticky sheet and run it through the cuttlebug with a heart die. And the end result - Lacy hearts with some lovely texture.
I have embellished the card with some lace trim at the bottom. pearls, ribbon and charm. I also added some pearl hat pins.
The sentiment is from Polka Doodles and embellished with some punched out flowers and gems.
Promarkers used:
Blush, dusky pink, sandstone, caramel, cocoa, denim blue, cornflower, pastel yellow, vanilla, cool grey2,3,

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Sketch and stash challenge 81- Daniele's sketch
Penny Black Saturday Challenge 189- Lace and Pearls
I love Promarkers challenge # 104 - Nature
Crafty Ribbons challenge 13- Paws for thought
Paperplay challenge 7 - critters
Totally Papercrafts challenge 104 - Ribbons/Bows

Hope you all had a nice weekend and a good week ahead. Thanks for popping over and having a look.
Bye for now
x Catherine

If friends were flowers

Hi everyone and I have finally managed a post. Have been very busy this week with the school holidays. This card I have made using an image from Debbie Moore's garden Fairies. I have added some pearls to her hairband and some Tim Holtz distress rock candy to her wings.(hope you can see it because it really gives a lovely frosted and  glittery look to them).
The backing papers are from DCWV and papermania.The sentiment is from Polka Doodles CD Rom.
To embellish the card I have added some flowers and die cut leaves.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Sketch Saturday #195- sketch
Allsorts challenge 142- Anything goes
Cute Card Thursday challenge 204- flower power
The saturday Secret Crafter challenge 173- Bingo( Glitter, pearls, Leaves)

This week I travelled to Nottingham as my Daughters basketball team were nominated in the Sports award of the year ceremony. There were listed in the top three for Junior disabled Team award. They have worked very hard over the season and deserved their place there on the night. They didn't win the award but just being nominated was a great success for them. Well done to them all - GO- Jaguars - GO
We had a fab time and it was like being at Sports Personality of the year. There were some top names there presenting and collecting awards and we were able to see the Olympic torch from 1948 which had come from Loughborough University.

Well hope your all enjoying your weekend and I will be able to get back to some crafting tommorrow when the kids go back to school
Bye for now
x Catherine

Happy Birthday Sam

Evening all. Just to let you know I am still here. Being the school holidays it has been very hard to catch any crafting time especially with two special needs children to care for.

Today is my son's 17th birthday. They grow up so quick and only another year and he faces the big wide world so to speak. Although I think I became redundant along time ago!! Will post a pic of his card next week when I photograph it properly.

Will be back tommorrow with a card I managed to squeeze in today but needs to be photographed again. Not having a good time with my camera at the mo - may need a new one(or maybe a new me!!)Hope your all enjoying your weekend.

See you again soon

x Catherine

Angel whispers

I have had these tent fold shaped cards in my box for a while now and have never used them. Today I thought I would give one a go. I have chosen to use one of the Angel Whispers decoupage sheets for my main image. I have used some backing papers from Papermania.
A few weeks ago I got a flower loom and decided it was time to give it a go. I used some Twine yarn from my sewing stash and set of with the loom. I don't think for a first attempt it turned out too bad. I attached it to the front of the card on to some ribbon  and added a metal butterfly.
On the main part of the card I have added another butterfly and some buttons and gems. The sentiment is from little Claires.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Sketch Saturday challenge#194 - Sketch
Cupcake Craft challenge 179 - entwinned
Tuesday Throwdown challenge #85 - use twine on your project
Penny's Paper - Crafty challenge #73 - Anything Goes

Well thanks for stopping by and having a look. hope you like this card
Bye for now
Catherine

S.W.A.L.K.

Good morning all. My time has been very limited this week with the school holidays so crafting has been on a minimum.
Well , who's heart couldn't be melted by this little chappie !!. This image is from a Joanna Sheen CD ROM called Furry Friends. I bought this CD a while ago because I just love the images on it and makes me smile every time I look at them.
The backing papers are from my stash box(I think Dovecraft).I thought the letters would be a nice change for a sentiment. I have added some ribbon and a lace flower for texture.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
The Saturday Secret Crafter challenge#172- Red, Black and White with texture
Papertake Weekly challenge -Black and white and red all over 
Cards for Men challenge 4- a valentine for a male

Well I hope your all enjoying your week.

Thanks for popping over and hope you like the card.
Bye for now
Catherine

Birthday Wishes

Good evening everyone. Hope you all had a good weekend. I went to the crafts show at Manchester and had some goodies. You will see them appearing over the next few weeks. Family had fun next door in the Trafford Centre.
Anyway this is another card made using the Faye Whitaker CD ROM(I think you can guess I really like this one).
The papers are all from my stash box and all went so nicely with the beach theme of the image.
I have added some bunting and a little anchor charm to keep it all together.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Allsorts Challenge 141 - free and easy
CES challenge #72 - Lots of layers
The Crafty pad challenge #157-the letter "B"(Blue, beach, Bows, bunting, Birthday, Boat)
Paper Sundaes challenge #107 - Sundaes bar(Blue and Cream)

Thanks for popping over and having a look. Hope you like this card. Will be in my room tommorrow unpacking my goodies and crafting.

Bye for now
Catherine

You play on my Heart Strings

Good Morning to you all and hope your not having too much trouble with any fresh snow. This is something a bit different from me today. I had this idea from a copy of Craft Stamper magazine(unfortunately I can't find the mag now so unable to give you the issue) and changed it into a Valentine project instead. The front has been covered in a piece whicgh has been embossed with a Creative Expressions folder and using my cuttlebug. I have then used distress inks over the piece. The sentiment is from  a Creative Expressions stamp(love is in the Air)

This is the inside

. I have made a pocket on one side for a little message and added some hearts from the stamp set. The other side has a box attached(which I will fill with chocs!) and has been covered with a script stamp and a heart from my stash box. Everything has been stamped with gold embossing powder and coloured with Distress ink. The inside message

This has been made the same way but I have done some cross stitching and added it to the tag.
I needed to take a few photos of this to show the complete project.

I am going to enter this into the following challenges:
Cute Card thursday challenge 203 - Pink valentine
Paperplay challenge 6 - Love letters
Rainbow lady's challenge 191 - have a Heart
C.R.A.F.T challenge 141 - Valentines day
DYSU challenge #58 - Love
Fussy and fancy Friday challenge 56 - With all my heart

Thanks for taking the time to stop by and visit me. Welcome to my new followers and hope you'll like my crafting.
Hope you all have a good weekend. I am going to Manchester to the Craft show and need so much!!!
Bye for now
Catherine 

Valentine Card

Evening to you all. Today I had a little time and made this Valentine's card. I have used a stamp set which I have had for a while but not really ever done anything with. I bought it because I thought the main image would make some nice ATC's (will have to try this one day!!)
This stamp set is from Creative Expressions and is called "Love is in the Air". I stamped and heated embossed the main image and the hearts with some glitter embossing powder. I then coloured them using promarkers and it gives a kind of stained glass look to it.
The backing papers are from DCWV(a fave of mine)
I stamped the sentiment from the set in the middle.(there is another green gem but the light has caught it). I have added ribbon and flowers and some peel off letters attached to red card. This card is for my husband.
Promarkers used: pear green, forest green, lipstick red, poppy.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
I love Promarkers challenge #103 - Love is in the Air
Creative Inspirations challenge 149 - Lot's of Love
Simon Says Stamp challenge Love is in the Air
My Mums Craft Shop challenge - It must be love
Creative Stamp Friends challenge #44 - Valentine-
Lollipop Crafts challenge#66 - valentines card
OOh La La challenge#98 - Be my Valentine
Tuesday Throwdown challenge#84 - Be my valentine
Fab 'n' Funky challenge#107 - Love is in the Air
Crafting for all Seasons challenge #20 _ Love is in the Air
Crafty Ann's Challenge#58 _ Love is in the Air

I would like to say a big hello to all of my new followers and a big thank you to all of you who follow me as I have now reached 100. I am a bit shocked as a year ago I wondered if anybody would really be interested in my little space on the web or in anything I made. I am so grateful that all of you have followed me and I hope you are liking the things I make. Thank you for all your lovely comments you leave I will have to have a look for a giveaway to mark the occassion, so keep posted next week sometime.
Thanks for stopping and having a look and hope you like my card for today.
Bye for now
Catherine

Wish

Good Afternoon to you all. Another flurry of snow has just passed up here but it hasn't come to much.
I have made another card using the Faye Whitaker CD Rom(Joanna Sheen) from the Country and Garden set.
I love this image and it's reminding me that spring will be here soon and hopefully start to warm up a bit.
The backing papers are from papermania and  are quite florally for me, but I thought they went quite well with the image.
I didn't feel there needed to be too much extra with the papers and went for a floral spray for dimension. Really pleased with it in the end. The sentiment is from a Polka Doodles CD Rom .

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Cupcake Craft challenge 178 - Pink and Red
Sketch saturday challenge - sketch
Allsorts challenge #140 - Free and easy
Papertake Weekly challenge - Anything Goes
Challenge up your life challenge #62 - monochrome

This card won a cupcake cutie spot over at Cupcake crafts challenge

This card also won a Top 5 spot over at Allsorts challenge

Thanks for stopping by and having a look .I will get out my promarkers and stamps again later.
Bye for now
Catherine

Just For You

Well the snow was fun - for the time it lasted. We had a bit up here in North Yorkshire. It did look so pretty when it had settled but now all turning to slush!
Todays card is a little bit of something different for me. Anyone knowing me will know that I'm not really into this sort of image however this CD Rom by Debbie Moore(Twilight) does contain some stunning images. I bought this one to see what else I could do with the images and maybe put my slant on them in making a card.
This image really caught my eye and so I set to. The papers are all from my stash box and I very much wanted to keep everything themed together colour -wise. There are some die cut flourishes and I have added a piece of red lace for some texture.
I have also added some red gem hearts and used some Cosmic Shimmer pearl drops around the frame to bring it out a bit. I also added some silver gems to her dress front. I do think there could be quite a bit you could do with these and will need to explore further.

I am going to enter this card into the following challenges:
Rainbow Lady's challenge 190- Wear Red Day
CES challenge #71- a sketch or give me wings

It would be nice to know what you think of this card and thanks for taking the time to visit and look.
And finally before I go:

Coco enjoying the snow!

Bye for now
Catherine 

Love is in the Air

This is my second card for today and I am loving this CD rom by Joanna Sheen with All our Yesterdays images from Faye Whittaker. Don't you just love the innocence in this little chap ?. The colours in the images are just stunning and so vintage style.
I have used backing papers from my stash box and added some red lace down the side.
I found this sentiment in my box and thought it was just perfect for this card. There are a couple of heart gems in the corner as if he is Love Struck!!
I have added a spray of roses with a lovely ribbon to embellish the card. There is a little silver charm added to the bottom of the ribbon.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Joanna Sheen Challenge - Love is in the Air
Tuesday Throwdown challenge#83 - use hearts
The ABC Challenge - I for IN PAIRS( gem hearts and die cut leaves)
Truly Scrumptious challenge 73 - love & hearts
Penny's Paper-Crafty challenge #72 - Love is in the Air
Charisma Cardz challenge #4 - Vintage

This card won a top 3 at Tuesday Throwdown challenge

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you like this card
Bye for now
Catherine

Magical Person

Hello to everyone today. Gosh it's cold!!! Hope your all keeping warm. Hopefully Spring will be here soon.
Todays card uses one of the decoupage images from the Flower Fairies CD Rom by Crafter's Companion. This is the Bluebell fairy and at the bottom of my garden there is a small patch which grows bluebells every year.(maybe she lives there too!!). I love the colours in this image and there are so many layers in the decoupage it really has some depth to it.
I have also used a background sheet printed from the CD rom to keep it all together and two pearlised printed border strips.
I haven't added to many embellishments to this because there is already a lot going on with the decoupage that I felt there would perhaps just be too much. I have added some chipboard florishes which I have embossed with some black glitter sparkle embossing powder and added some gold brads. Let me know if you think it was better to stop than overload!!

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Crafty Creations challenge #155 - Home Sweet Home(my garden)
Creative card Crew challenge #3 - fantasy
Ruby's rainbow challenge - Flowers with a bit of sparkle
DYSU challenge #57 - Anything Goes

I do hope you like this card and thanks so much for stopping by. Thankyou for all your lovely comments you have been leaving me and I really appreciate them all.
Bye for now
Catherine