Brothers in Arms - Merly Impressions Challenge

Hi All. I've recently got back into crafting after a short break and am once again drawn to Kaisercraft papers.

Over on the Merly Impressions blog there is a great challenge this month called 'Get Stripped' - which is to use strips of paper in a creative way to make a layout.

I didn't have many of the advertising strips that are at the bottom of Kaisercraft's papers so I had to come up with an alternative. I'd recently bought the Turtledove paper pack at our local garden centre and in the front of the packet was an advertising sheet which showed all the papers inside, photographed in miniature. So I cut this into strips, restuck them together on a piece of scrap paper and then cut them into squares to create a stripy, patchwork layout.

As the Turtledove patterns were now in miniature, you couldn't necessarily see that they were Christmas themed but the colours were perfect for a vintage themed page. I used an image of my great uncles in the military uniform during the First World War and included a hidden piece of journalling on a pull out tag where the date is.

I hope you like this idea - its really thrifty and allows you to get the most out of your kits and packaging whilst still having the benefit of the lovely Kaisercraft colours and designs. Thanks for looking! Why not come up with your own recycling ideas and pop over to the Merly Impressions blog and join the challenge. Bye for now Karen x

Poinsettia Pals Saturday Sketch December 2012 #3

Evening Everyone! Recently, my friend and I went to our local garden centre for a coffee, to look at the new Christmas decoratios and, of course, to visit the onsite craft shop. During our visit we treated ourselves to some of the lovely Kaisercraft Turtledove collection. As a result I've been busy making cards and layouts and this layout is one I made to commemorate our trip and our friendship.

The sketch I've followed and would like to enter it into is Kaisercraft's Saturday Sketch December 2012 #3. Everything used is a Kaisercraft product - including the lovely flat back pearls - the only addition is the base paper which is an embossed pearlesant 12x12 coffee coloured piece of cardstock. I've also added twill ribbon and Card Candi , and mounted various pieces on foam tape to add dimension - it is such a dark and rainy evening here tonight so my photography is not great but I wanted to post this before the 'Christmas rush' begins! At the garden centre were rows and rows of poinsettias so I've tried to include a flowery feel not only in the Turtledove sticker but also in the border punched edge and also the die cut flower sprigs.(Martha Stewart punch and Memory Box Honey Blossom die.) This is a really beautiful collection with rich muted colours and fab Christmassy images. I'm hooked - so you may be seeing a few more of my creations using these papers in my forthcoming posts! Anyway, hope you like it! Bye for now Karen x

Happy Mouse

Hi All! Over at the Papertake Weekly Challenge this week - the task is to pick your favourite challenge of the last 12 months and make a new card. I chose 'Cute Cute Cute' and made this birthday card using a mouse image from Karen's Doodles and lovely Bo Bunny papers. I love a green and brown combo - and you can't go wrong with glitter, gems and Maya Road ribbon too! Hope you like it! Bye for now Karen x

I'm Back!

Hi All! I'm back after a long break away and busy period at work! I'm really looking forward to sharing some of my crafty makes with you again so have included two links below to two new videos I've added to Youtube. (I made the Christmas Rosette video a while back when Christmas seemed a long way off! LOL) Hope you like them! Bye for now Karen x

Choc Box

Hi All! Sorry I've not been around for a while but over the coming weeks I'm going to try and catch up again! Today I'd like to enter this gift box and decorated chocolates that I made using Craftwork Cards papers and Candi in the Moving Along with The Times challenge which is to create 'Anything but a card'. I made the hexagonal box myself after being inspired by the little triangular die cuts which were with this Warren Rabbit paper range. I then punched out circles, decorated them with paper and Candi and added them to the little mint chocs inside the box. Hope you like it! Best wishes and bye for now Karen x

Spring Bunny

Morning All! Well, I hope the weather with you is a little better this weekend - not exactly summer yet but a bit of Spring sunshine wouldn't go amiss! Over on the By the Cute and Girly blog the challenge for May is Spring is in the Air so I decided to join in using one of the Joanna Sheen woodland decoupage sheets as the basis for my card. I went for something a little different making a top fold card with a small pocket cut with a fancy edge using my Spellbinders label die. Into the pocket I fitted a large tag decorated with the Spring bunny image. Organza ribbon, silver mirri card and my favourite Martha Stewart lace doiley punch finished off the design. Why not pop over to the website and join in with your own interpretations of Spring or take a look at the fab inspiration provided by the Design Team! Anyway, have a good weekend. Thanks for looking Karen x

Sweet Tooth

Hi All! Just popping by with a quick post to show you one of the latest cards I've been making. Love this image of a little mouse with a mountainous Ice Cream Sundae by Tina Wenke. Great for using with your Promarkers and you can go to town with your glitters too. It fitted perfectly on a 5 x 7 scalloped card which I matted with Papermania papers and finished off with a little Craftwork Cards sentiment and some gems. This is a really simple layout as I wanted to try and focus on the image. Hope you like it - I'd like to to enter it into this week's Simon Says Stamp Challenge which is 'Sweet Tooth'. Best wishes and bye for now Karen x