upcycled frame

Hi guys,

I have just had my living room revamped we had a multi fuel burner fitted which cost a small fortune !! So pennies were tight so i decided to re vamp rather than replace with new. I had a picture in a black frame that no longer fitted in with the rooms new decor so i attacked it with some sandpaper and gesso. Then i used some acrylic paint and distressed it then stamped it and used my mica powders for a bit of shimmer. I want to do something similar to my tv unit when i get round to it so this was a bit of a trail run really.  Then i created the background using the same stamps and coloured inks. I also re used the original mount distressing it again with my inks. Then using my silhouette portrait i cut the saying i did have to split it up into two  as it was too large for my cutting mat but that wasn't too complicated. Once i had finished i did realise if i hung it on the wall i had planned to it would disappear into the wallpaper, so i popped it up on top of the china cabinet until i decided where to put it then i thought umm i like it there so that's where its going to stay hope you like it. It took a while to find the correct words for our family but these certainly fit us lol. Thanks for looking xxx

zentangle novice

Hi crafters

Thought I would try my hand at something new so I got myself a zentangle cd and managed to produce this. I bought the cd for my daughter to have a go at really as she loves this kind of art.  She came into the living room the other day and showed me the back of her hand she had been doodling on it with an eyeliner pencil and it looked like an amazing henna type tattoo. Didn't manage to get a photo before she washed it off but will have to get her to do it again so i can post a pic.  I really didn't think I would be able to do zentangle but I am pretty happy with my first attempts think I need to invest in some sukura micro pens though as mine are a bit scratchy. My art talent is non existent not an art exam to my name but even i managed it so cant be that hard and its as cheap to do as you make it really you don't need anything but some nice quality paper and a couple of pens simples xx

life in the old dogs yet x

hi crafters

I made this using a hunky-dory card kit the decoupage was meant to be for a double sided card but as us frugal crafters often do I stretched it a bit lol. I liked the idea of the couple dancing under a floral arch so used some fabric flowers to create the look. I love the golden oldies decoupage makes me chuckle don't think we do enough funny cards we need more giggles xx thanks for looking

40th card

hi crafters
I made this card for an order for a 40th birthday the customer wanted giraffes and in yellow and blue as the lady the card is for is a football fan and there colours are blue and yellow!  was a bit tricky to stop it looking to babyish but think it turned out okay.  Flowers and greeting are made on cameo after a little trouble with print and cut I got it working no idea how but that's the way it goes some days lol . Thanks for looking xx

Christmas scrapbook gift

Hi all

This is an album i made last christmas for a gift for my son and his girlfriend which is why there are no photos in it lol i used a kit and was very pleased with the results so much so i didn't really want to give away!

Mojo where are you!!!!

hi Have to admit this card drove me mad!!! I stamped and coloured the image before choosing my papers I know doh much easier to do it the other way round. This first mistake was then replaced by crafters block in the end I walked away from it and closed the door and when I came back the next day my mojo had returned phew. I have been missing from my blog recently as I have had some treatment for my arthritis glad to be back doing short crafty projects again now though. Unfortunately though the treatment doesn't seem to have worked so its back to the doctors I go tomorrow. Bye for now xx

hand crafted new baby door hanger

Hello guys

This is the door hanger i made for my nieces new baby one side is a stamped image i coloured with copic pens and the other side has charlies name on it. i used the same paper pad that used to make the gift bag with the addition of some gems and buttons. I made it double sided so that it can be turned over to show the word shhh when Charlie is sleeping and the rest of the family need to keep quiet (not sure how well that will work but it looks cute lol).  Hope you like it more baby goodies to see so why not follow my blog and i will follow yours in return. best wishes Karen xx

its a boy gift bag

Hi me again this blogging thing is becoming a habit.t Its lovely to see my page views growing please feel free to follow my blogs and I will follow yours back.
Now the details of this project, my last blog showed a birthday card i made for my niece who at the time was expecting her first baby well baby Charlie arrived weighing a whopping 8lbs 14 oz ouch! That's a big first baby isn't it but glad to report after a few worrying moments baby and mum are doing great.  I have made several baby home decor projects and of course a card and will be blogging them all over next few days but needed a matching gift bag to pop them all in.  I used a 8x8 paper pad and some card stock ribbon and a love heart charm from my stash. The letters also came in the pad and the bag itself started life as a plain old white paper bag hope you like it please follow my blog to see a wall plack, door hanger, teddy in a paint pot and card i have made to match. Bye for now xx

humphreys corner 8x8 card

hi again get me blogging again lol,

I made this card for my niece who was celebrating her birthday and expecting her first baby at the time.  I love to use black as a matt in pastel coloured cards as it really makes the design pop.  To make this card I used a crafters companion humprey cd rom and 8 x8 ins card blank a happy birthday stamp and some embelishments from my stash.  I used the matching backing papers to make the flowers using my cameo machine I love the machine I always had a cricut before but the quality of the cut is much better than the cricut. (I still have two cricuts as well though lol ) ah well better be off lots to do today as its back to work for me in the morning after two weeks hols boooo xx

stamped xmas card/staging my photos

hi again friends,

This is a card I made last year using a crafters companion Humphrey stamp and papers from the cd plus some spell binders dies. I used promarkers to colour this image in although I tend to use copics more often now I really enjoy using alchol markers and would love to give some others a try to if I had the pennies!  I enjoy stamping and colouring so much I now have a stash of them ready to be used on cards I often sit on the sofa watching tv and colouring away. We also have a caravan by the sea and when we go into the entertainment centre for a coffee I can often be seen with my clip board and bag of copics must admit I get a few funny looks but my daughters and I love it so who cares lol.
Looking back at this photo I can see that staging my photos better is what I should be doing my cards look so much better when photographed with a white background a bit of fru fru and good lighting but hey its a learning curbxx

crafty ambitions/tatty 21st card

Hi friends,

This is a card I made a few months ago for my nieces 21 st birthday using the do crafts tatty ted cd. Although I like using the graphics type cd roms I prefer to print of the elements separately and then build my card up rather than doing it digitally. I added jems and used paper I printed off in my cricut expression to make the letters numbers and flower embellishments. I decided on a easel style card I also used a white gel pen to fau stitch around the edges. I love these colours together and it seemed it started something new for my niece too as decided to start collecting the bears lol.
I have made a decision to really crack on with my crafting this year selling my creations more and applying for some design team work too. My ideal end to the year would be to open a shop selling my craft items and revamping old furniture and up cycling some cute stuff who knows watch this space......

home decor with the silhouette portrait

Hi all, I found these heart shaped mdf coat hooks in a cheap and cheerful shop. They were cream with black writing on originally that said love they were £1 each so I got them with a view to giving them a revamp.  My son got a flat a few weeks ago and is living with his girlfriend so I thought it may be a nice personal gift if I made one each with there names on and one for guests.  He wanted them in reds and blacks so I made the decoration with black vinyl and just painted the bases in red acrylic paint. the bird cage design was 69p from the silhouette store and the lettering was a font I already had on my pc.  The flourishes were one of the free designs I got when I purchased the machine. I have to say I love this machine it doesn't just beat the cricut its not even in the same league can't wait to have a go at some other stuff like t shirt vinyl and glass etching watch this space more playing to come!!!

silhouette portrait my first completed project

hi everyone

I finally took the plunge a bought myself the silhouette portrait and wow am I glad I did. What a fab little machine it cuts like a dream. I went for the smaller machine so I could get some little extra bits to go with it. This is the first full project I have made and I have to say it was fairly easy the hardest bit is choosing what to use. I bought the flower frame from the silhouette store in the reduced section so it cost 33p. I pulled it to pieces a bit so I could mat and layer it up and created a outline for another matt. Using a front on my computer I created the word nan and and outline for that too.  Each flower around the frame has a pearl in the middle for added interest. The background was also done on the portrait using the white silhouette pen and then I added a little gem to the centre of each. The insert was also made using this excellent little machine. Its so good I decided to sell my cricut and grand calibur as just don't think I will use them anymore. Hope you like the card and why not give the silhouette a try you wont be disappointed xx

paper clips???

Hi crafters
This is the card I made for my sons 21st birthday this week. The image is a house mouse stamp that I coloured using my copics I choose the image as my son is a fan of the gym unlike his mum lol. The papers are from a paper pad that I bought and loved but wondered when I would use it as it is mainly pinks however every few pages there are grey tones so I used these.  I was at the caravan and short of my room full of stuff I needed so needed to use my brain a little more than I am use to lol. I needed  red card but didn't have any so cut the card to the sizes I wanted then coloured the edges with my red copics and ta da red card!! I used my cricut to cut the circle and the squares, the 21 and the word Chris. On the grey background I then stamped  with the words party time randomly to add alittle interest as it was looking a bit plain. All that was left to do was put it all together once I had stick and glued it into place I thought it looked a little plain in the top right hand corner and it was drawing my eye to it instead of the main focal point. Umm what to add though jems wouldn't be appreciated and as most my crafty stash was back home I was stumped then I sore a paper clip in the bottom of my crafty tool box so I fiddled about with which way to put them on until I was happy. Problem solved a bit of stamping on the inside for the insert and it was finished. Thanks for looking don't forget to follow my blog crafty hugs Karen xxx

sunbathing bunny!!!!!

hi crafty friends
this is a card I made for my sons girlfriend Becky's 18th birthday this week. It was a bit of a joke card as she turned a little red from the sun just a few days before even though she covered herself in suncream (she will be using a childs factor 30 from now on lol).  My youngest said I should have coloured the Joanna sheen stamped image of the rabbit in bright red to match Becky! The image was coloured using my lovely copics and the shape I stamped on was a spellbinder. The pink roses I bought but the large rose in the patterned paper was made using the flower shoppe cricut cartridge which I love. I love this cartridge so much its making me keep a cricut machine just to cut the flowers. I am going to treat myself to a silhouette cameo over the next few weeks so will be selling my grand calibur and dies as well as my expression and the cartridges. I can then just keep my cricut personnel cutter and a couple of my fav cartridges. Happy crafting please don't forget to follow my blog xx

copic storage that doesnt break the bank or your back if you need to transport them

Hi crafters
I have been searching for the perfect storage for my copic markers and although this idea may not work for everyone it works great for my needs. I searched the web for a way to store my pens on my desk top and found many great ideas. I thought of buying the spectrum noir system and adapting dvd storage and the plastic tote boxes but as i wanted to transport my pens every weekend to my caravan the ideas on the web were impractical for me. Even the plastic large tote boxes apparently weigh a ton when full and the other options would mean me packing them into and back out of some other form of storage each week.  I still wanted to be able to see all my colours and be able to have them to hand so my husband after a shopping trip to a local supermarket came back with these for me. As you can see they are sandwich cool bags i wanted to keep the pens in some kind of order though so i decided to make a box to fit inside using some white card after a couple of prototypes a came up with this .  As you can see they hold loads over 80 in here i think and its still not full but i bought two just in case i was lucky enough to fill one as you can guarantee if i had gone back in six months to get another bag they would have sold out.  They cost the great price of 2.99 each in the sale what a bargain and you can customise them to suit you i have added a badge i got on my birthday card and a photo holder on the zip but you could really go crazy with jazzing them up if you wanted too. The last thing i have to do yet is add some little round stickers that i intend to write on and stick to the end of the ciao pens as unlike the sketch the colour isn't marked on the ends but i am so sad i know which are which by looking at them most of the time. Thanks for looking don't forget to follow my blog xxx
Happy Crafting love Karen

mdf stamped key holder (home decor2)

Hi again
As i have had a couple of days off i have managed to do quiet a bit of crafting and blogging this was my latest attempt at home decor. The age old problem of finding keys is no stranger to my house so when i sore this mdf key holder blank on an auction site for under a fiver i thought i would give it a go however i had no idea what to do with it so again it sat on my to do list for a bit.  Then inspiration hit ok well we played search for the keys again so i decided i should get going lol.  I painted a layer of white pebo acrylic paint then a layer of blue then another layer of white sanding slightly in between each layer to insure a smooth stamping surface.  I then stamped second generation with a small flock of birds randomly on the background. Then i stamped the compass and lighthouse in black and used a black and blue on the single bird stamp at the same time varying the colours each time i re inked. Then i painted the birds and the lighthouse scene using the distress inks and blotting the image after with some kitchen roll.  Then i finished off around the edges of the key holder using a distresses tool and using the ink colours from the main images. There was still something missing so i added the anchor at the bottom of the lighthouse scene and finished it off by adding some blue ribbon to hang it up with.  Ta dah no more lost keys well maybe for a few days anyway lol happy crafting xx

stamped mdf clock (handmade home decor)

Hi
This is a project that's been sitting on my to do list since i had my craft room re vamped but just hadn't got round to it.  I bought the movement and mdf clock shape from an auction site for under a fiver what a bargain! I painted the base with pebo antique white acrylic paint giving it a couple of coats and sanding in between for a nice smooth surface for stamping.  Marking the numbers out was a bit of a challenge as i wanted to be accurate a clock with the numbers in the wrong place is no good for anyone.  My husband did a bit of research on the net and found each number needs to be marked at 30 degrees but my knowledge of such things is shall we say urmm limited so he made a little diagram on an a4 piece of paper for me and with the help of my daughters protractor we were away.  I decided to use the bees in my sheena douglass paint fusion set for the other numerals.  After stamping the numbers (i used my letters stamps to make the roman numerals) i moved onto the background using a second generation technique for stamping the script onto the background. To get the round shape in the middle i used a bowl lol very high tech and went round it using a thin nibbed pen.  Then i needed to decide on the design for the centre so i drew round the dish again on a scarp of paper to decide how to set it out and where i would need to use masks.  When i was happy i went about re stamping it onto the clock. I must admit this made me a little nervous usually you would just go for it after all its normally only a bit of card you spoil if it goes wrong but after giving myself  a good talking to i realised i could just re paint over it and start again!  Once i had stamped the flowers which again were sheila douglass paint fusion stamps and the gears and pocket watch (free do crafts stamps from the front of there mag) i did a little  colouring using the distress inks i used to stamp them. Then to finish off i edged the clock with the same coloured distress inks. Hope you like it i had real trouble finding images of these stamped clocks completed so hope this one inspires someone else to give it a go if i can do it the most un arty person you will ever meet anyone can.  Happy crafting.

the last few pages of Jasmins card and the box i made to match sorry its took a while to post it but i have been away at my caravan with no internet connection lol xx

hi Guys

This is a multi page birthday card i made for my daughters 12th birthday using do crafts tatty ted cd rom.  I was getting bored of doing the same card shapes all the time so decided to do something a little different.  I used a few 6 ins card blanks and stuck them together using double sided tape. I used copics to edge the backing papers to add the illusion of another layer to the card without the added weight or having to get inky fingers by using my distress ink pads.

The second and third page i personalised the card further and incorporated the meaning of my daughters name onto the backing paper that i created in the do crafts digital design studio.  The letters that spell out her name also came from this cd as did the paper flowers on this page the only thing added was some jems.  Hope you like it so far please see my next blog for the rest of the project. xxxx

teenage boys uh? card

Hi
This is a card i made for my best friends oldest son using my pretty tuff cd rom form polka doodles  its a fab cd rom and very useful for teenage boys that are not huge sports fans.  Having said that i have also made cards from this cd as thank you cards for school teachers. All i used for this card was an 8 x8 in card blank and some black paper for matting and layering, some alphabet stamps and the rest was all printed from the cd rom.  I choose the  backing papers from the cd by picking out the colours from the boys clothes. The sentiment was also from the cd rom and i cut out the stars that i dotted around from the leftover bit of star paper and stuck them down with foam pads.

I then made a matching insert using the scrap of paper that was left over matted on black and did the same with a strip of star paper added the other image from the image sheet but stuck it onto the page flat this time. Then i went around the edge with a thin black pen.  Hope you like it and thanks for looking xxx

craft room redesign last two pics

Last two photos as promised hope you've enjoyed having a look what i have been up to.  Its not the poshest (if that's even a word) but its practical and warm and that's all you need really weather its a dinning room table you craft on or under the stairs in the cupboard (i did for quiet a few years). Or if your lucky your very own room all that matters is you can get inky fingers and enjoy yourself i would love to see pics of all your spaces so leave your blog address as a link on comments and i will be sure to have a little nosey xx love Karen

craft room redesign (the big reveal lol)

 

hi
Its all done and everything is finished and all back in place! Just sat in here now writing my blog and having a toasted sandwich yum yum.  The desk was from ikea about 6 years ago still going strong i love that shop.  All my embellishment's are stored in the really useful box wall mounted storage unit and the rail with the pen tubs extra was another ikea purchase. The best bit however by far is the fact that i have a lock on the door.  Even though i can still hear the rest of the family its somewhere i can get on with crafting and if anyone wants me they have to wait for me to answer door bliss. I live in a small terrace house and any little bit of on my own time i can get without 4 dogs 3 kids 1 husband is a bonus. So know the fun begins and i can get some serious crafting done..... well that's the theory if washing hoovering and looking after the house not to mention work (yuk) lets me.  Bye xx P.S two more photos on next blog i will post straight after this one  
Karen

HI ALL,  while the builder was busy i have been busy too i painted all the old kitchen cupboards minus the doors white to match the new colour scheme using a melamine paint.  These have made excellent shelving units to house my storage boxes and crafty stash.  I also bought a second hand little unit on wheels for £5 re painted it from a teak colour to black to match (the wheels on there own would have cost me more than that new!).  This will be used as a mobile unit probably for my grand calibur.  My husbands brain wave designed the ribbon holder and at a fraction of the cost of the specialised units you can buy.  The ribbon holders cost nothing the blocks of wood at each end were off cuts and the poles are fibreglass and given to me so happy days. A visit to the local kitchen fitters and i managed to get a length of black work top that has a couple of scratches that if you squint and stand on one leg you can just about see lol.  The worktop was a third of the price though god i sound like a right meany but every penny counts for us all at the min.  All that's left is to move it all back in again keep following for the last lot of photos now its finished thanks for looking.
Karen xx

craft room re design stage 2!!!!!!!!

stage 2

The builder has got the insulating done and has made a stud wall so that its now a separate corridor coming in from the back door which should help keep it warmer in there too (well when its got a door it will lol). This extension was first built as a bathroom but then changed by previous owner of house into a kitchen.  To say that it was a tight squeeze in there is an under statement when it was the kitchen but we managed with it like that for 8 years it wasn't until we moved out, rented the house out and then moved back into it again when we moved back to our home town through ill health that we wondered how we managed all those years!  So our friend the builder changed the 2nd living room/dinning room into a fab kitchen dinner for us.  Because its an old house and pretty dark i decided to go for white walls in the new craft room to reflect the light back into the room as we pretty much need lights on all day in that part of house.  My desk was black though and as i love the desk i didn't want to change it as its a solid bit of akea kit and has a glass top (ideal for when i am doing some messy crafting). So black and white with some bright storage boxes seemed the way forward.  A bit of extra white tiles were added and a couple of chipped black floor tiles replaced we were ready for stage 3.  Why not follow my blog to see the finished results thanks for looking

love Karen

craft room re design and storage solutions

Hi all
This is my craft room once we emptied it out of all my crafty stash ready for the builders to insulate and us to re giggle it.  It was a real squeeze but managed to fit most of it in the cuboard under the stairs.  We had a few storage ideas along the way as you will see in future blogs.  Thanks for looking why not follow my blog to see how it looks finished.

kittykazz crafts: Hi allThe craft room is in the last stages of co...

kittykazz crafts: Hi all

The craft room is in the last stages of co...: Hi all The craft room is in the last stages of completion just a bit of glossing to do and its finished. So in between coats of paint i ...

kittykazz crafts: Hi allThe craft room is in the last stages of co...

kittykazz crafts: Hi all

The craft room is in the last stages of co...: Hi all The craft room is in the last stages of completion just a bit of glossing to do and its finished. So in between coats of paint i ...

under construction!!!

Hi

                              (the before shot of my craft room)

 I am suffering from craft withdrawal symptoms lol the builders are in the process of insulating plastering and re vamping my craft room so all my bits and bobs are packed into boxes.  They have taken over the cupboard under the stairs and have swamped a large 6 seater dining room table oopsy. Isn't it amazing how much we "collect" all with the intention of "having a go at that" ummm I need to craft more and work less or just take early retirement I think to get through it all.  So you would think I have stopped but alas no my addiction continues if I can't craft after all I may as well shop.  Perhaps the retiring thing wont be an option for a while yet then.

Please feel free to leave me any suggestions for my craft obsession or just follow my blog and join in see you again when the plaster dust settles lol

Paint Fusion plant pot

Hi

This is a plant pot i decorated for my mums mothers day present last year. Its a plain old cheap as chips terracotta pot that i painted white with matt emulsion paint. I then added a crackle glaze i used a Tim holtz one as i am not very good at doing it the Sheena way lol.  I decided to use the crafters companion/ Sheena Douglass paint fusion rose stamp to match the pink miniature rose that i had bought to go inside it. It was stamped with a stazon grey ink second generation so it wasn't too dark.  If asked can you paint after i have stopped laughing I say err no which i really cant but with the stamps its like paint by numbers!   Bit of practise and someone to explain it  you soon get the hang of it this was my first attempt at paint fusion.  Its all about loading the brush in the correct way. Then i used the swirls from the set of stamps with perfect medium ink and gold embossing powders and melted them with a heat tool.  My mum loved it she was so proud of what i had done she was in ill health at the time and couldn't get outside so i brought a bit of the outdoors indoors for her.  Sadly my mum past away last year but its still on the sideboard so my dad can enjoy it.