HIGH HOPES CHALLENGE

Well....are you ready for another High Hopes Challenge? The weekend is just flying by, it's hard to believe it's Sunday already!!

This weeks challenge is brought to us by our lovely Diva Jeanette and she has designed a fabulous sketch for us. I just love it when half the work is done for me...lol!! Thanks, Jeanette, I will definitely be using this sketch again!

The beautiful image I have used on my card this week is "Lion and Lamb".




I embossed the image with black and painted it with Tombows. I used liquid applique on the lamb and heated it to puff it up. I used my neaties for the frame and Retro flower punch and MS hydrangea punch for the flowers. The DP are from Graphic 45. I added some copper stickles to the lion's mane and some frosted lace stickles to the lamb.

Be sure to stop by the High Hopes blog, the Diva's have some gorgeous creations to inspire you.

I hope you will have time to play along with us this week and be sure to use a High Hopes image on your card for your chance to win.

Thanks so much for stopping by.....
Have a wonderful day!!

KAREN x




*High Hopes stamps are
available at The Rubber Room
an on-line store.

Wags n Whiskers #4 & Motivet Sketch #48

Good morning everyone;
Friday has become a 2 post day for me. I hope I can keep you with me for the extra long post......









The Wags n' Whiskers Challenge this week is brought to us by the lovely Jeanette and she has chosen "Traditional Christmas Colours".

The beautiful image I am using on my card is "Sweet Danni and Bella".



I embossed the image with black and painted it with Tombows. I used liquid applique on Bella's hat and stocking and also added some stickles. The borders have been punched with my MS punch and the flowers are also a MS punch. The dp is from Graphic 45. I added a couple of tiny gems to Danni's shoes and some flat backed pearls to the flowers.

Be sure to stop by the Wags n' Whiskers blog to see the gorgeous creations the DT have to share with you. Don't forget to use a WnW image on your card for your chance to win a wonderful prize.














There is a fabulous Sketch Challenge each week at the Motivet Inspirational Blog.
The adorable image I am using for my card is "Angel Girl" from the Motivet traditional line.




I embossed the image with black and painted it with Tombows. I added some fine glass glitter to the circle frame that was cut out with my nesties. I used regular glitter on her wings. The flowers and fern were punched with my MS punches. The papers are from Basic Grey.

There are some gorgeous cards by the DT on the Motivet blog so be sure to pop by and check it out. Join in the challenge and you will have a chance to win some fabulous stamps.

I hope you will have a chance to play along with the challenges this week.

Thanks so much for stopping by....
Have a great weekend and I'll see you all again on Sunday.

KAREN x

Cookie Exchange

Wednesday already......Happy Hump Day!!
I guess time flies when we're having fun.

I had been wanting to make one of these "Box in a Bag" forever and never got around to it. Well my DD does a cookie exchange with the girls she works with every Christmas and I thought they be a great way to wrap the cookies this year. This year she needed to make 9 dozen cookies and the recipe she chose was "Chocolate Peanut Clusters" a recipe from Eagle Brand Milk. I would love to show you how they turned out but there are none left....oh yes....they were delicious...LOL!! I did manage to get the pic's before she left with them though. I always look forward to taste testing the cookies she brings home with her....a yummy start to the holiday season.



The adorable image and sentiment are from High Hopes, "Gingerbread man and Cookies and Cocoa".

I embossed the images with black and painted them with Tombows.The sentiment was stamped on the back of each tag with black ep too. I used liquid applique on the icing trim and heat set it. I cut the ovals with my nesties and the dots are added with my pigment ink pen. The paper is from the Paper Company. I used my MS doily lace punch for the bottom border.

I hope you like them.
Thanks so much for stopping by....

Have a great day...
KAREN x

HIGH HOPES CHALLENGE #54

Good morning
I hope you are all having a great weekend so far. We are still having wonderful weather here, I'm enjoying every minute of it!!

Well it's time for the High Hopes Challenge and this weeks challenge is brought to us by our talented Guest Diva
Michelle N and she has chosen "Santas".

The adorable Santa I have chosen is "Woodland Santa" and the "Forest Background. I have been waiting for the perfect time to ink these images up...and here it is, Thanks Michelle....great challenge!!



I embossed the images with black and painted them with Tombows. I cut out Santa and used foam tape to layer him. I ran both images through my Spellbinder with the swiss dot CB folder to make the snow. I used my new Uni-ball pigment ink pen to add the snow on the dots and the doodles around the frame. (I just love this pen....it runs so smooth and adds the perfect amount of ink.) The fur on Santa's hat was done with liquid applique and heat set. The sentiment was stamped onto shrink film, cut and heated to shrink. The circle frame for the sentiment was made with my MM's tag maker. I added a piece of jute for the bow and Polar White flower soft for the snow on the background. This was a really fun card to make, I'm happy with the way it turned out.

Be sure to stop by the High Hopes Blog, the Diva's have some fabulous creations to inspire you.


I hope you will have time to play along
with us this week as one random player
will win this adorable "Snowlady Suprise" stamp.



Thanks so much for stopping by, have a fabulous day....

KAREN x



*all High Hopes Stamps are
available at The Rubber Room
and on-line store.

WAGS n'WHISKERS CHALLENGE #3

Happy Friday everyone;

This weeks challenge at Wags n' Whiskers is brought to us by our wonderful Nikki and she has chosen "Buttons Galore". Nikki would like us to use buttons on our cards and if you are anything like me....I do have buttons galore!!

The only rule is you must use a Wags n' Whiskers image on your card to qualify for the prize drawing.



This adorable image is "Ride em Ryan". Such a great image for a boys card.

I embossed the image with black and painted it with Tombows. The blanket was painted with icicle H2O's. I used my nesties to cut the circles and a CB embossing folder for the cs behind Ryan. I used thin jute for the rope and threaded it through the eyelets. The DP is from K & Company.

Be sure to stop by the Wags n' Whiskers blog, the Design Team has some amazing creations to share with you.

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend and Thanks so much for stopping by, I truly appreciate all your comments.

KAREN x

COLOUR CREATE CHALLENGE # 32

Good morning everyone;

It's time for the Colour Create Challenge. This challenge is brought to us by the lovely Mina and she has chosen "Red, Green and White" with the extra option of Christmas.



Here is a little inspiration to get you started.
We have a fabulous sponsor for this
challenge....Simon Says Stamp!!




I decide to go with a project this week after I was totally inspired by my very sweet friend and blogging buddy, Curt. I just loved the Luminaria that he made, so here is my take on it.



I embossed the images with black and I painted Popcorn with H2O's Icicle. The shading on him and all the other images were painted with Tombows. I painted and cut out the poinsettia twice more and layered them. I used the wax paper resist technique on the vellum and brayered over it with white Versa magic ink.



I used border stickers that I coloured red with my Identa pens and the sentiments are also stickers that were coloured black. The top of the Luminaria was punched with my MS border punch. I also added some stickles to the flower centers.

I hope you like it. It really was fun to make so if any of you would like to give it a go, here is the link to the instructions.

Now be sure to stop by the Colour Create Challenge blog as the Design Team have some gorgeous creations to share with you.

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a fabulous day...

KAREN x



all products used are from
"The Rubber Room" and online store.

High Hopes Challenge

Good morning everyone

This week has just flown by...Sunday already, time for the High Hopes Challenge.
The challenge this week is brought to you by...ME!! I have chosen to do a "RECIPE"
3 FLOWERS....2 BRADS.... and A SENTIMENT

The images I have used in my card are" Kissy Frog, Bucket of Sunflowers, Daisy and Country Stand".



I embossed the images with black and painted them with Tombows. I cut them all out and layered them with foam tape. The background has been embossed with a CB folder and I punched the corners with my EK Success punch. The sentiment was stamped and embossed onto acetate and attached with 2 brads. I have used 3 pots of flowers...so I guess that qualifies for my challenge...lol!! The DP is from Signature suite.

I hope you will have time to play along with us this week and be sure to drop by the High Hopes blog to see the Diva's fabulous creations.

Have a wonderful Sunday and Thanks so much for stopping by.....

KAREN x



*all High Hopes stamps can be
purchased at The Rubber Room
ad on-line store.

WAGS N' WHISKERS CHALLENGE #2

Happy Friday everyone

Well it's time for Wags n' Whiskers Challenge #2. This weeks challenge is brought to us by the lovely Tina and she has chosen "Sitching.....Faux or Real". I just love the look of stitching on cards but I must admit it really is a challenge for me, I just can't seem to get it straight...lol!!

The adorable image I have used on my card is "Zoe and Gemma's Snow Fun"
I had been wanting to try an easel card and I thought this was a perfect image for it.



I embossed the image with black and painted it with Tombows. I added Diamond Dust to the snow, snowflakes, ribbons and bow. The snowflakes and borders are done with my MS punches. I added liquid applique to the pom poms on their hats and heat set it.
The DP is by Moxxie.
I really like making these easel cards, I'm sure I will be doing a lot more of them.

Be sure to stop by the Wags n' Whiskers blog to see the beautiful creations the DT have made to inspire you. I hope you will have time to play along with us this week.

Have a fabulous weekend
Thanks so much for stopping by.....

KAREN x

Suzy Toronto..... Birthday Girl

Hello everyone;
I hope you are having a great week.
I have finally gotten around to making a card with my new Suzy Toronto stamps. I just love her images, as you can really colour them up and you know me, the more colour the better!!..lol!!

I made a couple of cards with my Bookatrix template and decided it was time to use it for a less serious and more of a fun card. It's great that it folds in half like a card, but you do have to make a box to put it in.



I embossed the image with black and painted it with Tombows. I stamped and embossed the candle and the hat twice, cut them out and layered them.
I also added some stickles. Not too much to it, other than the painting and making up the book, it went together quite quick.

I hope you like it.
Have a great day and Thanks so much for stopping by....

KAREN x



*all products are from
The Rubber Room and on-line store.

HIGH HOPES CHALLENGE # 52

Good morning everyone.
I hope you are having a great weekend so far. We are having some great weather here in SW Ontario and it is supposed to last for the rest of the week. Everyday without snow is just fine with me!!

Today's High Hopes Challenge is brought to us by the lovely Lacey and she has designed a fabulous sketch for us to follow.

The images I am using for my card are "Remembrance Tree" and Miltons' "Fall Harvest".



I embossed the images with black and painted them with Tombows.I masked Milton and stamped the tree over him. I added a few more grass tufts and stamped and embossed more apples, cut the apples out and glued them to the tree. I used my EK Success border punches and the flowers were also made with punches. The DP is from Scrapworks and Darcie's. I also added some flat backed black pearls.


I hope you will be able to play along with us this week and be sure to stop by the High Hopes Blog, the Diva's have created some awesome cards to inspire you!!

Have a wonderful day...
Thanks so much for stopping by....

KAREN x


*High Hopes stamps are
available at The Rubber Room
and on-line store.

WAGS N' WHISKERS....Challenge #1

What an exciting day....today is Wags n' Whiskers very first challenge. I am hosting this weeks challenge and I would like you to "Make em Sparkle".

You must use a Wags n' Whiskers image on your card to be eligible for your chance to win your choice of a fabulous Wags n Whiskers stamp!!

The gorgeous image I am using on my card is "Ansley's Surpise".



I embossed the image with black and painted it with Tombows. I added glue to her wings and the ferns and sprinkled them with winter white glitter. I used double sided tape on the borders and sprinkled the glitter there also. The labels were cut with my nesties and the brown piece was cut with my fancy scissors. I used my MS punch for the borders and my EK Success retro flower punches for the flowers. I also sprayed the flowers with old lace Glimmer Mist. The DP is from Basic Grey's Indian Summer collection.

I hope you will have a chance to play along with us this week and be sure to stop by the Wags n' Whiskers blog as the DT have created the most beautiful cards to inspire you.

Have a wonderful day
Thanks so much for stopping by...

KAREN x

COLOUR CREATE CHALLENGE #31

Good morning everyone

It's time again for the Colour Create Challenge. It seems like these 2 weeks just flew by.



The colours this week are Blue, Silver and White and they were chosen by me!! The extra options are winter and glitter.
Here is a little inspiration to get you started.
The sponsor this week is Handy Hippo.

I always like to get a few Pergamano cards done for Christmas for those special people on my list and this is my first one so far.



For my card I used a couple of different patterns. That's the great thing about Pergamano...you can trace or draw anything you like, or just add bits and pieces of all different patterns.

I traced the patterns onto Parchment paper with a mapping pen and white Tinta ink. I embossed parts of the pattern with an embossing tool. I used my one needle tool to stipple some sections and the parts that are cut out I used a 2 needle tool and then cut them out with my fancy little Pergamano scissors. When everything was finished I secured a piece of blue vellum as a liner and used my 2 needle split tool around the edges of the card. I added some silver stickles too.
I hope you like it.

Be sure to stop by the Colour Create blog, my teamies have created the most gorgeous cards for you this week. You are going to love them!!
I hope you will get a chance to play along with us....

Have a fabulous day
Thanks so much for stopping by.....

KAREN x

Spread the love blog hop and cards....

Hello everyone,

There is a very special blog hop and card drive going on for a young girl named Jaimie Cates. A blog has been created especially for this hop and card drive... Stamp Something for Jaimie.
I have added a small part of the story for you all to read. To read the full story and start the hop please go to Katharina Frei's blog.

"On October 4th, 4 teenagers armed with knives broke into a home in a small town in New Hampshire. Alone and sleeping inside were a mother and her 11 year old daughter. These 4 boys broke into this home with the intent to rob and kill anyone inside. They stabbed the mom, Kimberly Cates, to death and left her daughter, Jaimie, for dead in their driveway. It was a completely random act, their home was chosen only due to its secluded surroundings."

This story just broke my heart, I can't image the healing that Jaimie faces. If you would like to make a card for Jaimie, I have added the address below.

Jaimie Cates
c/o Mont Vernon Fire Station
Main Street
Mont Vernon, NH 03057

This is the card I am sending Jaimie.





There are so many amazing sponsors that have donated prizes for you to win. The blog hop will end on Monday Nov.9th and the draws will take place then.

Thanks so much for stopping by, I hope we can all bring some cheer to this brave little girl...

KAREN x

HIGH HOPES CHALLENGE #51

Hello everyone
I hope you all had a great Halloween. All the little kids full of candy and the leftovers for all us big kids...lol!! We also get to turn our clocks back tonight, so we get an extra hour of sleep. The days are getting shorter and we all know what that means for us in SW Ontario...it won't be long before we see some snow.
Speaking of snow....it fits right in with our High Hopes Challenge this week. The lovely Amy Leggate has chosen "Snowflakes".

The adorable image I used on my card is "Birdies Friend Snowlady.



I embossed the image with black and painted it with Tombows. I stamped "Think Snow" onto the card with Perfect medium and embossed them with white ep. The frame was embossed with the CB snowflake folder and the border was punched with my MS punch. The little dangling snowflakes are made with the little snowflakes leftover from the punched border. The snow is a mixture of Diamond dust and Polar white flower soft. I also added some stickles to the snowflake border.

I hope you will have a chance to play along with us this week and be sure to stop by the HH's blog to see the fabulous cards the Diva's have created to inspire you.

Have a fabulous day and Thanks so much for stopping by...

KAREN x


*all High Hopes stamps are
available at The Rubber Room
on-line store.