Altered Box

Just the other day I spotted a bunch of new self-inking stamps that I instantly wanted to get for my daughters class as a kind of RAK. These stamps are great for marking the children's work and have various graphics and sentiments. This then is going to be a present for the class.

To house the new stamps I altered a square box by covering it in a heavily textured paper then inking with orange Distress Ink. I decided to combine this project with today's challenge on Dottie's World, where Adele wanted to see lots of texture and ribbon and/or lace. The lace ribbons here are both from Prima. I used Teacher Dottie from the Dottie at Work collection for the centrepiece on the top of my box.

Other products used are Basic Grey Ambrosia Chipboard stickers . Prima Hydrangea. Hot off The Press Fabric Brads. Various buttons, mostly Basic Grey, Glossy Accents - all available in my shop Charmed Cards & Crafts.

TFL xx

Picture Challenge

My last two posts here have inspired the challenge today on Dottie's World. I set the challenge and my requirement is to use a picture (photograph) and at least one download.

I am so short of time at the moment so decided to combine this challenge with the card I was making for Louise Brigden's birthday on Tuesday. She is of course mum to all the Charmed downloads, hence this card is from both me and her little gang.

Sorry I am spoiling it for Tuesday Lou but hope you like it. Happy birthday chuck xxx

Picture Cards

I love adding the recipients picture to cards, I think nothing else personalises quite like it. It is my daughters birthday tomorrow and I cannot believe it but she is going to be 12!! We were looking through some photographs last week and I commented on a picture of her and how sweet and innocent she looked there, how I wished she would stay like that forever. Aimee looked at me and said "but you said I would be your little girl forever". Bless! I therefore decided that using the picture and wording for her birthday card would be perfect.

The wording reads "However big you grow... you will always be my little girl". The tree symbolises her growth and the hearts obviously my love.

All the layers of papers have been brushed with white acrylic paint.

Here is another picture card for an upcoming 40th birthday. I have also given you the sentiment circle in case you feel like being cruel, mwahahahaha..........

TFL

Karen x

Flowers and more Flowers

That is what Lou wanted for the Sunday challenge on Dotties World today - along with at least one of the Charmed downloads of course. I decided to veer away from the cards for this week and decorate a paper mache frame.

I painted the frame in a cream acrylic paint.

The picture is meant to refer to the magic of chilhood and "make-believe". The "Hi" and "Believe" are not menat to read together (as one of my girls seemed to think). Henry Hare is saying hi to the girls and the "Believe" refers to the fact that they believe in him. This is a land where cats are blue and walk about proudly bearing bejwelled crowns after all! Henry Hare are carrying flowers and flowers also grow at the base of the picture. Both Henry Hare and Puss are from the Animal Magic Collection available at Charmed Cards & Crafts, as are the love birds sitting on the frame.

The pictures of the girls are from different years but I thought they both suited the theme.

I used We R Memory Keppers paper for the frame. The wording in the large yellow flower reads "Let the magic within last forever.......Believe........" A large Dovecraft Funky brads adorn the centre.

I covered a few plain chipboard pieces in Blazing Orange Liquid Beadz.


The branch is a plain Basic Grey Infuse chipboard piece covered in Cracklepaint.

I also used K&Co Margo Self-adhesive pearls and some Glitter blossoms from the new Lotus range.



Other items used are K&Co Wild Saffron Felt Flowers and butterflies, plus Dovecraft and Basic Grey brads.

TFL

Karen xx

Awards

I have several awards somewhere that I need to put up, but truth be told I have no idea where I put them, I apologise to the lovely people who gave them to me. That is why one must do immediately and never put off until one has more time - because one never has "more time", and one should know that by now!



I like this award, it makes me feel as though I really am a creative blogger (humour me!), thank you very much Oma for giving it to me. x


Now I have to pass it forward and these are the rules:

The winner may put the logo on their blog. Put a link to the person who sent you the award. Nominate 5 blogs and put links to their blogs and leave a message for your nominees.

So, five people eh? That's tough!! There are so many great blogs out there. OK, my choices are:

Calvin - cos he makes me laugh with his creative mishaps

Maddy - my newest DT member and a true gem

Adele - Her cards always make me smile

Juliet - Lovely inspiring lady

Nicola - whose projects always amaze

Job done :o)

Gissa Kiss - Free Sentiment....

I don't know, I sit there for ages slaving away making a sentiment circle and then what do I do? I give it away! Ahh, I must love you lot!! :o) So my sentiment circle I made for the Sunday Challenge on Dottie's World yesterday is up for grabs, all you have to do is let me know you want it by dropping me a line. Click this link to the Charmed site and write your details in the online form (opens in a new window). Usual restrictions apply, the sentiment is for your own personal use only and must not be shared or used for commercial purposes.


I made this card for the Monday Mojo spot on Dottie's World (link in the right-hand bar), using my sentiment of course.

The card uses the fabulous Puddle Love image from the Love and Marriage collection.

Other products used here:

• Basic Grey Ambrosia Paper
• Black and White Bazzill
• Imaginisce Paper
• K&Co AB Lotus Tea Box Grand Adhesions
• K&Co AB Lotus Tea Box Fabric Tag
• Tim Holtz Metal Spinner
• Treading Water border punch
• Lots of Glossy Accents
• Ink
• My Gissa Kiss Sentiment :o)

I used the transparent coloured Puddle Love image against the sentiment and printed on white Bazzill. This shows that the sentiment circles can form an integral part of your design.

TTFN

Karen xx

Fur or Feathers

Nicola's Challenge today on Dottie's World is "Fur or Feathers". I didn't hesitate for a minute before asking my friend Ozzina Ostrich, from the Animal Magic Download collection to pose on my card - and she agreed! Isn't that great?


I gave her a back-drop of three coordinating Basic Grey Eva papers

(and I do believe she posed for Basic Grey too! Just look at the paper at the bottom!!). The papers are distressed and inked and decorated with some BG brads. This is a large card, A5 in size, and Ozzina stands 16cm tall - and that excludes the feather son her head. The feathers are pink Marabou, just perfect for this challenge.

I made the "Gizza Kiss" sentiment, it seemed to me that on this card Ozzina looked as though she was holding out her wings for an embrace, so this was fitting. I am giving this sentiment circle away tomorrow so pop back and get it.

TFL

Karen xx

Basic Grey Wassail

I have been busy busy busy making cards for the DT pages on Charmed. I always worry that they aren't as good as those from my design team but what the heck, I own the joint so in they go LOL

The Wassail papers and embellishments really do go far, I have loads left over so may make some more when I get time.

Karen Leahy also created LOADS of fabulous Wassail projects for Charmed, they are all on site now. Karen really is a wonderfully talented lady, not only that but she is a wonderful person inside too! Pop over to Charmed and see what she made for us :o)

TFL

Karen x

Wassail Projects

I have been busy working on Basic Grey Wassail Cards for the Charmed DT pages. Here is a little sneak peak.

Ellie The Elephant

I am slowly working my way through the new Animal Download collection and this time I'm showcasing Ellie Elephant, isn't she a pretty creature? And very clever too, just look how she can jump through hoops! This is my card for the Monday Mojo spot over on Dottie's World.

I am also giving away the word sentiment so if you want it then just drop me a line. Click this link to the Charmed site and write your details in the online form. Usual restrictions apply, personal use only etc etc.

TFL
Karen xxx