Sweet & Sassy

Well as some of you may know the Masters started last night on TV at 9pm and my OH has taken control of the Sky from that time, so kids were in their own rooms last night for 9 and I actually was given some piece to make a card.
I came across a challenge over at the Whiff Of Joy Challenge, and decided to use my Sweet & Sassy rubber stamp and follow the sketch.
The papers used were cut down to 7cm x 10cm, used a shape from my cricut to cut out the center panel. Now I would not be the best at sowing, so I decided to give this some fake stitching, think it turned out really well. Mounted my image up, used some chipboard flowers and petals, some leather effect ribbon and a wooden heart sentiment.
I am really proud of myself they way she turned out, and hopefully you will see from this last picture that I have been practicing really hard on my shadowing and skin colour tones.

Image: Sweet & Sassy by Elizabeth Bell

Colours: Copic sketch markers

(E00, E31, E33, E51, C1, W1, YG03, YG13,

V12, V15, RV21, B00, B01, Y13, YR02,

YR04, R20 & R29 sorry forgot to take pic)

Papers: K&Company Classic K Bailey

and bright rainbow as background

Cricut shape: Accent Essentials cartridge

Chipboard shapes from a kit I got of QVC

Leather Ribbon: bought from Dunelm

Wooden heart was given to me

Well what do you think? Going to send this image into the copic challenge as I definitely feel happier with this image than the one I submitted a few days ago.

Thanks for stopping by, Karen xoxox

2 challenges in 1

Well here is what I've managed to make today, and I've actually completed 2 challenges into 1 card.
The first challenge was set from a sketch for Friday Sketchers Blog, now I know I haven't followed the sketch exactly, but I think my interpretation is good, fingers crossed.
The second challenge was for A Spoonfull Of Sugar, in which you had to create a card with an age on it.

I made this card by cutting out a 7cm square aperture from the centre, stuck on some acetate and created a shaker card using some stars, sequences and beads that I had. Next I glittered the number 3 and stuck it onto the backing paper of the shaker.
The image was coloured and cut out and stuck together with a fine piece of acetate to give the impression that the angel is flying. Coloured in the stars on the background and hey presto card finished .......... wish it was that quick to make :-0
Might get back tonight with some more cards, but I need to get the tea sorted first.

Images: Star Angel from Butterfly Kisses

Backing Paper: Tutti Frutti from Craft House

(this was in some candy that I won from Kath, thanks honey)

Colours used: various Copics & Sakura stardust

Inks: Versafine smokey grey

Everything else was from my stash.

Copic Challenge No 1

Well as you know my OH bought me lots of copic sketch markers recently and to my surprise copic have now launched a new blog. As well as having challenges on this blog, they are also providing hints and tips on how to get the most out of your copics, well this has been a great help for me.

There first challenge was to show of your colour techniques for faces. Below are my entries and they are far from as to the high standard as the design team, a BIG THANK YOU to Suzanne who has some amazing videos on you tube, I've been glued for hours watching her.

I worked really hard on trying to get the lighting on her face right and to show the shading properly, can you guess what side the light is coming from? Well it's suppose to be from the right, if you guess correctly then I must have done something good :-)

These were the pens that I used and my inspiration of colour was from the background paper in the picture, I really like the way there are so many different colours available within the same family.

And this is the finished article, doesn't she look pretty, and yes it is raining outside at the moment, hasn't really stopped here as past few days, of work tomorrow and Thursday as the OH needs to work and kids are of for the summer holidays, so you never know might get some more challenges made.

Hope to see you soon, Karen

Image: Rachelle Anne Miller, Lily & Milo

Colour pens: copic sketch

Papers: DCWV Summer collection

Embossed plate: Cuttlebug D'vine Swirl (inked before embossing)

Ribbon: From stash

Gems: Papermania collection

Flowers: Prima

Chicks or Rabbits?

Couldn't decide which animal represented Easter more? The chicks as they are nice and fluffy and produce the ever in demand eggs, or the Easter Bunny the person who delivers the eggs? Which came first I wonder!

Anyway as I couldn't decided I used both on this card, these images are from the PB Fresh New Day collection which my Mum bought at our recent SECC trip. Coloured in using my new copics and layered onto some DCWV spring paper.

I love the way that the chicks are looking at Mr Wabbit as if they are ganging up on him and his expression is like "Whatever!!" they are soooo cute.

This card is going to be sent to a very good friend of mine and I have based the colour of the wabbit on her little Mr, can you guess who it is?

The Good, the bad and the .......

...... well this is going to be a long post so go get yourself a cup of tea, light up a smoke (if you want) and take a pew. Sorry it's been a while since my last post, its been absolutely chaos here and maybe this wee post might explain a few of the reasons.
Firstly The Good news, as you know Mother's day has just went past, Easter is next week and my birthday (35th oh cringe) is the week after. My darling OH asked me what I would like and as you know I bought some copic sketch markers recently and said "a couple more of these babies would be cool :-)" Needless to say he must have heard me wrong as he bought me a couple of SETS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! couldn't believe it, didn't correct him mind you, but look at these new babies, I've been playing oops sorry perfecting my artist skills (sounds better) with these cuties over the past weeks when I've had the time, yes my "normal" work is still as mad as ever, who said that I would only be busy at the beginning of the year?! They are the sketch markers and now I'm thinking to myself "should I invest in an airbrush system?" Don't know how that would go down with OH, maybe if I bought it and said nothing about it would he even notice?



Now the bad news, well it's not really bad just depressing to me as the dust is doing my head in, yes the builders are still here and these are a few pictures to let you know the progress. I have no roof on my house, there is a big massive hole in my landing where my new master bedroom door will be and I'm freezing.

This is my new en suite, doesn't look like much from the picture but I'm sure that when the roof goes on and it's all plastered, fitted and cleaned it's going to look the business.

This is the kids new play room, it was originally our garage but as we built a double garage to the other side of our house last year, it was a sin to waste the space, plus it should mean that the kids stay out of the living room with all their Wii's, DS consoles and Xbox (oops that's mine and yes I do have the drum kit and guitar to go with it, rock on me lol !!!)

Finally the Ugly, well it's the weather of course, all this work is being done and the heaven's have opened so not only do I have to chase around behind the builders with the hoover, but now it the mop and bucket as well, there is water coming in everywhere and I've been praying really hard for it to stop. Hopefully as it's been a really good weekend here we might have some sunshine
for the builders to get the roof on and finish up but hey look at these poor chappies working in the rain trying to put my master bedroom window in isn't that dedication for you or is it the fact that not only am I standing holding the camera but I've also got a massive cane that if they try to slack of that I won't be afraid to use it, well it did take them 5 months to find my house .........................

Oh don't tell me you thought I was talking about my builders being "the ugly" ................... oh how rude ;-)

Oh how I wish all this work was finished, everything is everywhere, it's really doing my head in, can find nothing, everything is getting threw into my craft/computer room and I'm expected to work in this, no chance.

Hope to get a challenge finished tonight and posted on here tomorrow well the OH is working nights this weekend, the youngest is in bed and Kelsey, well she's sitting watching some silly movie on TV laughing her head off, well it is the Easter holidays for them anyway.

Love always, Karen xoxoxo

The Pink Elephant Challenge

Morning all, over at the Pink Elephant Challenge they are having a Spring theme just for the weekend so I've decided to enter with my little Bashful Bunny. They also want to invite you all to hop to each of the design team's blogs and see the Easter and Spring themed projects they have all made to share with you! They are also giving away some fabulous blog candy and you won't want to miss that! So here I go in my merry way to hop over to Robin's blog to see what her challenge is, hop to see you about xoxoxo Karen

Images: Bashful Bunny from Butterfly Kisses
Foliage from Hobby Art
Papers: DCWV Spring Collection
Embossed Background: Tiny Bubbles for Cuttlebug
Copics used: G07, BG10, R08, G24, BV04, R02, E37, Y11, E31 & RV19
(sorry forgot to take picture)
Tail: Ivory flower soft

Inky Impressions 1st DT Call

Well here are my 2 entries for the 1st ever DT call for Inky Impressions. They want you to submit a posting showing your stamping and colouring techniques. The bunny card was the first ever card that I used my copic markers on and I love the way it turned out, so bright and colourful, the second card was coloured in using water colour pencils and cosmic shimmer on the letters, you may remember that I won the PB challenge with this card and I'm so proud of that.

Well fingers crossed that my entries are good enough to get me through to the second stage, should find out on St Patrick's Day 17th March, let's hope the sun is shinning that day!!!!!