Big Shot of an Offer!

This Big offer is available for the month of August. Please contact me if you have any questions or would like to order it postage free direct to your door!

Feel Better Soon Dad!

Dad had an operation on his eyelid earlier this month and I made this little card to wish him well.  I heat embossed the Lovely as a Tree Stamp in Early Espresso and then sponged a variety of colours to create the moody sky and grass.  The get well stamp is from the Teeny Tiny Sentiments Stamp Set.  I think you'll agree that the embossed trees and watercolour style background gives a lovely depth to the overall effect! 

I Have A 21 Year Old Son!

When did that happen? Where did the time go? It doesn't feel like 5 minutes ago that we lived in Perham Down in Hampshire and were trying for a baby, doing hopeful pregnancy tests at the chemist with negative results. Again and again and again....  for four years in fact, although they lessened as we started to think we were never going to have children and were by then living in Berlin.

But we did get pregnant. And we ended up with two beautiful boys within 17 months of each other!

The first was Joshua and he came along 21 years ago today. My heart almost bursts with love and pride at the wonderful young man he is and the delightful baby and little boy he always was. He was even an ok teen generally speaking! Of course, he had his moments! Stomping on stairs is the main thing that comes to mind!

Of course, at 21 he no longer knows it all, but he is a pretty level headed young man and advises his mum and dad on things at times!  We actually get quite amazed at the wisdom he has imparted to us!

Anyway, Happy Birthday to my firstborn!

BLOOMIN' BUDS COLOUR CHALLENGE - (Jan 2014)

Each month my upline, Jenny Moors, runs a Colour Challenge on our team blog.  Anyone who joins Stampin' Up under any of Jenny's recruits becomes a part of this lovely friendly group and Jenny will add them onto the blog.

This month I actually managed to make a card, photograph it and upload it onto the blog!  Sometimes I do make a card to take part but just not get the chance to take a picture and upload it, so I'm really pleased I have managed it this month!

Anyway, I thought, what the heck, if I can upload it to one blog, I really ought to put it on my own blog too!!!

 

The Colour Challenge was for Daffodil Delight, Strawberry Slush and Always Artichoke.

So do you want to see it?  Oh, go on then!  But before I do, I'll let you know I used my new Thinlits Die, Hexagon Hive and also a new little stamp set called Springtime Hello.  I did the green dots by punching out three small circles with my 1/2" circle punch and putting them on the little flowers on the Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder and running it through my Big Shot.  The gold dots underneath are on the new Fancy Foil Designer Vellum, the card base was Crumb Cake.  The greeting was from the Label Love stamp set and punched out with the coordinating Artisan Label Punch.  All of these items can be ordered from me, or you could always come along to one of my crops and have a play with some of the Stampin Up goodies I take along for my ladies to try out!

To order you can either contact me by email (karencurd@hotmail.co.uk), Facebook Message, on my mobile (07772847353) or even order direct on my website www.karencurd.stampinup.net!

What did you say?  You want to at least see the card after reading all that spiel? Okay, okay, keep you hat on!!!

I will be back with a little post about the project I did for a family member once I have her permission to put a particular picture up.  I don't want to publish her online without her say so, as I'm sure you understand!

Back soon, but until then, stay safe and happy crafting!

Karen xx

2014 - A New Year, A New Start!

Well hello and Happy New Year!!!

Yes, yes, I know I didn't say Happy Christmas!  I have neglected you all for far too long.  I must say I truly did get a shock when I looked at my blog two weeks ago and saw that my last entry was back in September.  I even refreshed the blog as I thought it mustn't have loaded up properly!!

My craft room!

I don't have any genuine excuses for not blogging - I could say I have had a really busy time - but who hasn't?!!  I could say my first-born moved away to Lincolnshire and I'm pining but although he did, I'm not!  More about that in a bit!  I could say my second-born was attacked and badly injured and scared for life and I was a wreck, but although he was and I was for a time, I was truly more grateful that he didn't lose his eyesight and coped with it amazingly well!

I could say I was busy all the time crafting and running the home, and just didn't have time.  I kind of was but could have made time.  In all honesty, I just totally neglected you!!!  

So I guess I'll fill you in on a couple of bits I have mentioned above!

Joshua arriving at NTM!

In September we took Joshua up to North Cotes in Lincolnshire and delivered him safely at New Tribes Mission UK HQ.  He is doing a one year Biblical Studies Course at present, although it is looking likely that he won't be back here in the next academic year or two either!!!  But we'll get through the intensity of this year first!  I haven't had any struggles with Joshua being up there as I have a total peace about what he is doing.  There can be nothing better than dedicating a year of your life to intensively studying the Word of God.  Add to that being surrounded by 61 other students of many nationalities and a staff of true believers who love the Lord and the students in their care, how could any Mum have difficulties with where

Time to leave him in his room!

their 20 year old is living?!!  We are so proud of the young man Joshua has become.  The role of Paul and I when we were blessed with Joshua as a newborn was to nurture him and bring him up to become a responsible and decent adult.  I feel we have don't a pretty good job!  He's a fine young man!

We had a bit of a shock with Son No 2 when he let us know that he had spent from midnight until 5am in A&E (yes, he too is independent! - so much so that he wasn't actually going to tell us until we saw him on the Sunday evening! - this happened Friday night!  I must say, if I'd seen the horrendous state of his face with no prior warning, I'm pretty sure I'd have passed out!)  So what happened?  He was at a Drum & Base Evening in Ipswich, on the dance floor, when a bottle flew through the air and smashed on his face.  He needed deep stitches, followed by 13 stitches from eyebrow down the side of his nose and then very very close to his eye.  The A&E Dr told him how lucky he was that he didn't lose his site.  If you add to that the threat he received from friends of the idiot who threw the bottle of what would happen if he gave a statement identifying the perpetrator to the police, what had happened would be equivalent to a paper cut.  (But it wasn't a personal attack!!!) The whole thing has been a thoroughly unpleasant experience.  Every time I look at him I see the scar and I feel upset.  Jacob simply says it gives him character! Hmm!

Children certainly keep you on your toes, no matter what their age!

My swap for Ipswich meeting

Ready for the ladies to arrive!

 Crafting has gone along nicely throughout 2013 and I spend my Saturdays between 3 or 4 different crops.  During 2013 it was three crops but this Saturday just gone I went to a crop on my spare Saturday, which makes it four!!  I run my own crop/card class on the second Saturday of the month and go to the others for my own pleasure! As I am a stay-at-home wife (title change now the boys are so grown up) it is nice to have company on these Saturdays and I do actually do a bit of crafting, between chatting of course!

Paul shearing the grass!

I was asked last week whether I was mainly a card maker or a scrapbooker.  It was a difficult question to answer as I truly love both!  I can say however that I have spent the majority of the latter part of 2013 doing cards, cards and more cards!  I have somewhat neglected my scrapbook album but did do a page from the kit at the Crop on Saturday and thoroughly enjoyed doing it!  I think the reason I don't do as many Scrapbook pages at home is because my desk is usually too messy to fit a piece of 12 x 12 on it!!!  Paul always thinks it is so funny that I end up working in a space about 8 x 8 whilst the rest of the desk is 

cluttered with tools, off cuts, stamps, and ink pads!  Perhaps I should attempt to work more orderly this year.  The fact that I am currently sitting at Paul's desk across the room (I have to get it cleared of my stuff before he gets home or I'll be in big trouble!!!) shows that I have a bit of tidying and organising to do on my own desk.  Oops!!!

This coming Wednesday I have my first midweek, daytime crop.  I was asked by a lovely lady if I could do something midweek and so decided to give it a go.  I don't have many going at the moment but we will see over the next couple of months whether it is something people want or not.  Only time will tell.  One thing about it, I intend to do a page or two to add to my own scrapbook whilst there!

24th Wedding Anniversary.  Lean On Me!!!!

I have added a few pictures below of last year.  We got two new chucks in October and the picture of the chicken on my back is showing one of the rather cheeky new girls getting a good view of her new surroundings.  Barney dog is very interested in what she is doing on my back!  Sadly we lost our lovely dog Pebbles in September so now start 2014 without our lovely Katie cat and Pebbles.  From 3 dogs, a cat and half a dozen chucks, we are now 2 dogs and 4 chucks.  It does make it easier for walking the dogs although we do miss Pebs.  From about 15 years old, it was Joshua's job to cut the grass.  We had a lovely little mower which did the job just fine.  Having gone off in September, Paul decided he would need to pick up the reigns where Josh left off....  and broke the mower on first use.  This  was seriously inconvenient as we simply don't have the money to replace it at the moment.  On a couple of occasions when it got too long, Paul got out the shears and whilst breaking his back and burning those muscles in his arms, commented on how he understands completely why older men were so strong with the much more manual labour they used to do! 

Autumn on our house!

Autumn on the Acer!

Autumn brought with it a beautiful colour show in the garden.  Our Japanese Acer is always a delight as it changes to the beautiful reds and the Virginia Creeper on the house also gives a stunning display.  During the Summer and Autumn, the creeper is the bedroom of what seems like the entire sparrow population of Suffolk!  The birds all sweep up and settle on the branches behind the leaves at dusk each night.  It is a sight to behold and I felt rather sad as the leaves dropped off that their cozy bedrooms had disappeared when they need them most!  I wonder where they go to bed at the moment?

Hello to the new chucks!

I have every intention to keep up a more regular blog this year so I will see you soon.  I shall be sharing a project I did for a beautiful young lady in our family who gets married in the summer on my next entry.  Just a few days to wait before I add some pictures of that!

Bye for now

K xxx

MISSING IN ACTION!

Oh my, where has the time gone?!!  I have had a really busy couple of months and have totally neglected saying hello! So a big HELLO to you all!!!

My absence started around the time I had my Card Workshop at Wigglywoo's Craft Emporium and it was a very happy afternoon crafting with some lovely ladies.  They made some great cards and we ate some absolutely wonderful cakes and had plenty of tea and coffee! 

Tracy, Ann & Naomi concentrating hard!

Tree Scrapbooking and Margaret working away!

As you can see from the pictures, everyone seemed to have a lovely time and I am going to visit Sharon who owns Wigglywoo's Craft Emporium to organise some more dates for future Workshops in a couple of weeks time.  I am planning  on doing both a Card Workshop and a Scrapbook Workshop.  If you are interesting in attending either kind of class, please do get in touch.  Future Workshops will most likely run during the evenings as this allows ladies who work to attend!

Tree, one of the ladies who came along to this Card Class doesn't actually make cards.  However, she is a very accomplished Scrapbooker and  takes the card kits  and adapts them to make Scrapbook layouts.  The results are always absolutely outstanding!  Tree also comes along to my Card Class/Crop at Wherstead each month and does the same there.  She has totally inspired the ladies at the Crop and next month some of them intend to turn their card kits into scrapbook pages too!  It is wonderful to see how our individual creativeness can take the same items and make something so totally different and wonderful!  I come away so encouraged by these lovely ladies!

I will add dates for future Wigglywoo Workshops on here once they have been organised.  I plan on doing a Seaside theme for the first Scrapbook Workshop as I am sure with the great summer we have had, there will be plenty of beach photographs we would love to turn into pages for our albums!  I even spent some time yesterday afternoon on Shotley beach with my husband looking for some baby shells to be used with the layouts!  He has a harsh tongue sometimes however!  Whilst bending down with my back to my sea, he kept informing me it was an unhappy water as it was getting further and further away from my large bottom!  He can be sooo rude sometimes!!!  Anyway, I need to hang some washing on the line as it is back to the time of the year when good days are becoming less frequent!

I shall be back soon with more news of what I have been up to over these past couple of months!  It includes tents, lots of miles in the car, moving a son, crochet, card classes and crops, making lots of swaps and more!!! So do keep your eyes open!

Bye for now!

K xxxx

Card Class Crop Wherstead - July 2013

A collection of some of the stuff used in July's Card Class and Crop and cards that were made!

July's Card Class/Crop went down well and was thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended.  The cards we made are in the above photograph.  Two of the ladies who came don't make cards but still did the class.  They transferred the card kits into scrapbook pages and I must say, the results were outstanding! 

I was slightly dreading the heat of the day as we have had such extreme hot weather; I was concerned it would be totally draining and too sticky for a day in a hall.  Bottles of water were taken along with the usual tea, coffee, sweeties and cakes (can you believe I was up at 6am making rock cakes?!!! They just aren't the same the following day and needed to be fresh!)  However, the sun very kindly stayed behind some silvery clouds and kept the intensity of it's heat from baking us!  It was comfortable and not unbearable!

As August is such a busy month for my family I haven't been able to set a Saturday aside for a Class/Crop and I know I'm really going to miss it.  However I did run a Card Class at Wigglywoo's Craft Emporium on 7th August and some of my more local ladies came along to that.  I shall blog about that in a few days!

My next Wherstead Day is on Saturday 14th September from 10am until 5pm.  I do have a couple of spaces left but it is pretty full now.  If you would like to come along and join us, do give me a call whilst there are still some places left!  If you would like a Card Kit but cannot attend the day, they are available for £5 plus postage.  Please order by 9th September at the latest!

See you in a couple of days when I show you what we did at Wigglywoo's Class!

CARD CLASS AT WIGGLYWOO'S CRAFT EMPORIUM

There will be a Card Class at Wigglywoo's Craft Emporium next Wednesday 7th August at 12 - 2pm.  You will make 3 cards that you will be able to take and send to your friends and family.  The cost is £12 and booking must be done via Sharon at Wigglywoo's.  Contact: 

PLACES ARE LIMITED YOU MUST BOOK AND PAY IN ADVANCE!

Address:

Wigglywoo's Craft Emporium

Unit 7, Gower Street Industrial Centre
Ipswich

Suffolk 

IP2 8EX

Open: Wed to Sat - 10 am - 4 pm

Phone: 07966768895

Email: sjwigglywoo@gmail.com

Visit: 
 http://wigglywoocraftemporium.webs.com/menu

Please note that the cards featured in the picture are from a previous class and are not the ones you will make!
You will find it useful to bring a basic tool kit if you have one!

Wigglywoo's Craft Emporium

As seen from Wherstead Road just after you have gone past Whip Street on the way into town!

I highly recommend a visit to this craft shop where you can browse the wares made by local crafters, have a cuppa and a slice of homemade cake or even sign up for one the many craft workshops that Wigglywoo's host.  You may even be tempted to purchase a piece of the shabby chic furniture that is lovingly upcycled by Sharon in her own nearby workshop!

One of the most amazing things about this lovely little shop is that every time you visit, not only are there more new and exciting surprises to peruse on all the shelves, but that the shop layout is always changing! And thats because pretty much everything you look at is on sale!  Go take a look, I know you will love it there!  In the meantime check out the website where there are many more pictures showing some of the crafts on sale and a diary of upcoming events and workshops being held (including a Card Class which I have the privilege of running on behalf of Wigglywoo's)

Address:

Wigglywoo's Craft Emporium

Unit 7, Gower Street Industrial Centre
Ipswich

Suffolk 

IP2 8EX

Open: Wed to Sat - 10 am - 4 pm

Phone: 07966768895

Email: sjwigglywoo@gmail.com

To find Wigglywoo's by map click on the Location link at the bottom of this post.
 

Visit: http://wigglywoocraftemporium.webs.com/menu

Card Class Wherstead June 2013

Everyone in action, but for some it was all too much after a night shift!

I made paper flowers

A gallery of the action at my first Card Class Crop at Wherstead Village Hall.  We all had a fun, busy time and everyone was very happy with their makes.  As you can see, we all learned a new technique with the lattice edged card. It's not as difficult as it 

Janina, Liz, Lusia and Denise

looks once you have the template in place.  Also everyone made a set each from Stampin Up's Buttons & Blossoms Simply Pressed Clay Molds.  I think its fun to make your own embellishment.  You can make it whatever colour you need and it's a great way to save your pennies too!

Assisting Anne and Naomi!

Tracy actually making cards!!!

CARD CLASS AT WHERSTEAD

 You are invited to attend my

CARD CLASS & CROP

 being held at:

Wherstead Village Meting Rooms

IP9 2BJ

(old Eastern Electricity site, currently Co-Op offices

Left Off A137 100 metres from A12 junction (near Jimmy's Farm))

Saturday 22nd June 2013

10am – 5pm

£8.50 for Card Class

£5 just to Crop

At this Card Class you will make 3 cards and a 3d project and maybe learn a new crafting technique. the more advanced among you could just simply come along and enjoy making some cards and chatting over a cuppa and cake!!! kits come complete with an envelope so that you can send the cards to friends and family!!! guaranteed to be lots of laughs!!!

alternatively just come along with your stash and crop.

It is important to book as places are limited.

Please Contact Karen on: 07772847353

Front Page Detail

So, yesterday I spent some time playing with my This and That Bundle of goodies. I covered the front page of my journal and also did some bits to the first two pages inside.

Along with that, I covered a shopping list book which looks so lovely I have a feeling my shopping list might get really long just so that I can keep using it! Hee hee. Of course I would prefer to use it for my craft supply lists rather than food shopping, but having been blessed with my wonderful husband and two amazing sons who have hollow legs, it will be filled with eating supplies! But still a pleasure to use!

As I do more, I'll put up more photos!

See you soon

K x

Mr Brown - My Friend!

Sorry, no time to chat, it's playtime! :-*

Katie Crafting In The Garden!!

This afternoon my son's girlfriend spent a couple of hours in the garden making a birthday card for her Mum's 50th. I directed her a little here and there, but she did a sterling job despite being full of cold and feeling rather unwell. Well done Katie! Oh and thanks for the cups of tea Jacob!

THIS n THAT: It's More Than Smashing!

I am really excited to be able to show you This & That – Stampin’ Up! have their own equivalent of Smash! Including Stampin’ Up! Washi Tape!!! Can you believe it, Stampin' Up have brought out their own Washi Tape!

As always with Stampin' Up, the quality is outstanding! And as if that's not enough, there is also a fantastic offer! From today, 1 May until 31 May, Stampin’ Up are offering THE WHOLE KIT as a BUNDLE with 15% off the regular price as an introductory offer.

Item.                 Description.                                                                    Price

131268.             Epic Day This and That Journal.                               £9.95

130814.             Epic Day This and That Designer Series Paper.     £9.95

131463.             Remember This and That Rotary Stamp.                £5.50

131271.             Epic Day This and That Designer Stickers.             £4.50

131269.             Epic Day This and That Designer Washi Tape.      £4.50

133905.             Epic Day This and That Bundle.  Includes the five 

This and That products listed above. Only available in a bundle until May 31.  £29.24   15% Off Retail Value!

Epic Day This and That Bundle

Includes the five This and That products listed above. Only available in a bundle until May 31.  £29.24

15% Off Retail Value!

You can also view the online pdf document HERE

More products will be added to the range over the coming months!

To be one of the first to own your own This & That journal please contact me on karencurd@hotmail.co uk or text me on 07772 847353

If you are interested in attending a day of This N That'ing at the end of May please contact me for details.

 

Cupboard Trilogy Spring Flowers!

If we aren't going to get much sunshine we need to make it up ourselves, and this month's Challenge on the Cupboard Trilogy does just that with Spring Flowers.

So when we feel down in the dumps from the lack of that illusive yellow ball in the sky, we only need take a look at the DT examples in the Cupboard for a bit of cheer! Click here for some floral cheer!

Lets hope we'll be getting more of the real thing in time for the Bank Holidays this month!

See you soon

Karen x

Sneak Peak!!!

I am still thoroughly enjoying the Spring/Summer Catalogue as well as the 2012/2013 Annual Catalogue, what with it being so much bigger than the previous UK catalogues. Yet teasingly along comes a sneak peak from the 2013/2014 Annual Catalogue from Shellie! You will find Shellie's blog here.

These cards display new stamps, embossing folder and punch! A rather Moroccan feel if you ask me!

I'll add some more of my makes soon!

K x

Owl Fabrictastic!

I'm certainty no whizz with a sewing machine but really wanted to use some of my Twitterpated Fabric to make a birthday present for a very special little girl's 5th birthday. This is the result and I must say I'm very pleased with it as was 5 year old Scarlett! The three girls in the family, ie Scarlett and her big twin sisters, Annie and Martha, totally stole our hearts from their baby days and simply won't give them back! We don't see them as often as we would like to these days, but we love them to the moon and back and think of them often! Happy Birthday Scarlett x x

Color Refresh

Stampin' Up are Refreshing their colour charts for the start of the new annual catalogue on 1st July.  Some colours we will be saying farewell to, whilst it is hello to some new colours and welcome back to some previous In-Colours. 

Look below for the ins and outs of it all!

Angry Birds Punch Art!

I had a lot of fun with this one!  I have to admit I copied the design of each Angry Bird but I adapted it and this is what I came up with!  As the name suggests there is a lot of punching involved with punch art and this design was no exception.  I used a variety of Circle Punches; a Heart Punch used upside down for the yellow bird, which is unfortunately discontinued; the Owl Builder Punch which is where you get the little circles and the heart shaped noses and for the rest of the shapes I had to cut them out by hand.  The celebrate is part of the Outlined Occasions Stamp set which is also discontinued as it was part of 2012 SAB (I do have a spare one which I can sell if anyone is interested).

Punch Art is great fun and the only limit is your own imagination and creativity (and patience whilst dealing with tiny bits of sticky paper!)  Have a look at my post Twit Twoohoo; Owl Fun and see how versatile just one punch (Owl Builder Punch) can be.  Have fun!