A week that will go down in history

I am still reeling from what happened in Paris. Its pretty hard to comprehend.  I can place myself like so many others in Paris.  Visiting the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Montmartre or the Notre Dame Cathedral.  Sitting in a cafe or walking down the Champs Elysees.  It just doesn't seem right that such terrorism can occur in this place I can visit in my mind.   Antoine Leiris a Frenchman who lost his wife at the Bataclan, made a very passionate, widely publicised post on Facebook.  His words "you shall not have my hatred" have really stuck in my mind.

Today we also learned that Jonah Lomu passed away.  He was a much loved New Zealander.  An ex All Black whose career was cut short due to kidney disease.  He was an inspiration and role model to many.  An ambassador to Unicef and Patron to Kidney Kids NZ. He used to live not too far away from here and I remember many a morning having to give way to Jonah as he had right of way over me to get on the Motorway.  Him in his big flash BMW and me in my little Mazda.

The world has changed this week.

Especially for you!!!

I hope you have popped over to Lili of the Valley and had a look at the new stamps that were released a few days back.  There are some very cute Little Critters and Little Folk stamps to be had.  All come with the added bonus of sentiments.  There are 16 to choose from.  I featured the little fishes a few posts back.  I am eagerly awaiting my order to arrive so expect to see some more very soon.

In the meantime here is a card I made using one of the Calendar Fairy stamps, this one is July.  The paper is a combination of Always and Forever and Butterfly Kisses.  She is coloured in pencil and I did an extra top wing and popped it up to add a little dimension.  I also popped the patterned paper up so it wasn't flat against the image.  The scalloped edge is a Frantic Stampers die that I am a little bit in love with.

Thanks for calling in today and hope to see you back soon.

Karen xo

Entered into the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Thinking of you.

Tucker the Snail

Cute name for a snail huh?  Tucker is a Stacey Yacula Stamp.  I have loved these stamps for such a long time now.  They are just all so cute and full of character.   I did a bit of masking here which I feel I am getting better at.  I haven't actually made a card in while without meeting a deadline or for something specific and I really enjoyed making this "just because".  That being said I have a good home for it.

Well it is starting to heat up over here.  This afternoon it's pretty hot, might be time to swap the long pants for skirts I think.    I like the nice weather just not the heat that goes along with it.  Still its time these legs saw some daylight....

Have a lovely day.

Karen xo

I am popping this into a couple of challenges.

Sugarpea Designs  SPD21 Anything Goes

Papertake Weekly Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Thanks

Caring Hearts Card Drive.

I haven't done this before but the Caring Hearts Drive is in its 6th year.  It is an annual campaign run by Vera Yates and Jennifer McGuire.  For more information click HERE.  Its a wonderful opportunity to give a little something back.  Now I could have sent my cards to an address in Australia but I decided it might bring someone an extra smile to receive a card from way down here so am sending them to Vera.  I made a bunch of these in a production line and really enjoyed it.  I hand wrote a message in each one (after I decided in the first one a stamped sentiment was just not personal enough) and hope they bring a little joy to an elderly recipient.  It has enticed me to make another set for a local rest home where my sisters mother in law spent her last days.  Its true kindness is contagious.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Have a great day.

Karen

xo

Stick together through thick or thin

Its time for a new challenge at Southern Girls.  If you guessed from the criptic title its all about ribbon, tape or twine.  That's what we'd like to see on your creations this time around.

We have a wonderful sponsor who creates the most gorgeous digi stamps Ching-Chou Kuik.  The image I used is called Garden Daisy Fairy.  I coloured her in pencil cutting an extra daisy to pop on the bottom.  The paper and sentiment is from Lili of the Valley.  I added a seam binding ribbon in white, mainly because all the other colours I tried just overpowered the card.  Finishing touch was some Pretty Pink Posh enchanted garden sequins.

Now pop on over to Southern Girls and take a look at what the other DT girlies have created to inspire you.

Thanks for stopping by.

  I look forward to seeing your entries in the new challenge, 

and just so you know I do look at and admire each and every one of them.

Karen

xo

Forest Friends

I made this card for a tic tac toe challenge that is coming up on Stamping Smile Designs.  Ka is looking for some people to kick start her new challenge blog.  Its going to be fun,  because Tic tac toe is always fun, right!!  

I chose the three vertical squares for my card, Forest Friends, Leaves and Twine.  The little deer is from Gerda Steiner Designs and the paper is Lili of the Valley.  I added a little bit of sparkle with sequins and glitter.  Finished it off with some twine and a little mushroom charm.

Hope you like my card Ka and good luck with your new venture.

Little Fishes....

It's all happening at Lili of the Valley, it's so exciting.  There is a new launch about to hit and it is just super duper cute.  If you like LOTV you are going to love these new stamps.  If you are in the UK they will be launched at the NEC in Birmingham  5th - 8th November otherwise online is scheduled for the 10th November.  I warn you start saving!!!

Here is a little sneak using "Little Fishes".  It's a shaker card using one of the sentiments that comes with the stamp in the background of the bubble.  I inked more bubbles in the background using a stencil and added some clear droplets.  Inside the shaker is a mixture of sequins some I glued to the background so they aren't all in the bottom of the shaker.   These are two of the "fishes" on the stamp which I coloured and very carefully fussy cut....a bit of a challenge but well worth the effort.  The paper in the background is from Bonnets & Bowties and Promises solids.

Mark your calendars and check out the rest of the Design Collective blogs for more sneaks.