First Swallow of the Year

Very quick note, saw the first swallow this morning.

Kathy xx

Cherry Blossom & Cuckoo

Hi this is a short blog post today, we are having some super weather the alpacas are loving it, sunning themselves.

This morning I heard the cuckoo for the first time this year.

The white cherry tree is gloriously covered in masses of flowers, out in time for Cassius's birthday, 11th April. I have some lovely photos of him as a cria with the cherry blossom in the background.

Just look at that blue sky.

And a close up of the super scented blossom

The rape seed flowers are starting to show, the blackthorn is blossoming and the bluebells are just peeping out, bumble bees and butterflies are about. Such an exciting time of the year.

And finally, two young males, enjoying the day.

Brave on the left and Terracotta on the right.

Off to get my dinner. See you soon.

Kathy xx

Sunny January Day

Hi, today is such a lovely sunny day. Tuesday, muddy underfoot, we were alpaca toe nail trimming, today would have been so much better. The alpacas are happy though.

Here are some photos of our happy alpacas in the sunshine

First a group pose of mums and babies
I think that the babies were trying to hide, they are there, in the middle of the photo.

This is a photo of Rococo and her son, Sunset's Terracotta

Finally, today, a photo of my bottle fed baby alpaca, Kashmir. He was born on Indian Independance Day.

Please check out my new craft based blog, Kathy's Crafting Adventures, for more craft based blogging and card designs.

Kathy xx

Clarity Stamps December Challenge

Hi, hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas.

Here is my card design for the current Clarity Stamps Challenge - TREES (still in a Christmas mood)

I used a tree scape stamp, "Forest Ridge" and added in some extras with trees from "In the Bleak Mid Winter Carol" set and the Christmas remountables set for more trees and the santa sleigh.

The sentiment "Christmas Greetings" is one of the first Clarity stamps I purchased from a smallish craft fair locally, when to my good fortune, Barbara was demonstrating and I was captivated.


There was a lot of ink in the background to colour the sky, added with Clarity stencil brushes. a moon mask, and shadows on the snow. Mounted up on a dark blue mat.

My photograph is not showing the shadows too clearly, and the sky is looking a little washed out too, which is a shame.

Thank you for visiting and reading about my card design.

Kathy xx

Waltzingmouse December PJ Party

Hi, these are my cards for the December Waltingmouse PJ Party,

First is my card using older Christmas Stamp sets

I used Festive Foliage for the holly spray, Very Vintage Christmas set for the red frame, Seasons of Love for the sentiment, the heart stamp from Nordic Winter, Sewing Box Christmas for the bauble with the red stamp again from Nordic Winter. I added a bit of bling in the centre of the bauble.

My second card is for the sketch

I used the new sets of stamps, and this photograph as colour inspiration

Old Country Roses and Vintage Postcards, With Love came from Gift Card It.
The background has die cuts from Tattered Lace, aiming for the appearance of vintage lace.

I thought that a co-ordingated tag would be a great addition
Taking elements from my main card, I made a double faux stitched tag using the Old Country Roses stamp set.

I have just tried out an idea for the tree decorations, using three circles and scoring them before sticking together.

Stamped with Jolly Old Elf and a sprig of holly added.

This one is stamped with Around Chrismastime.

This photo is from a differnet angle to show how the circles join together, using different stamps on each side.

Thank you for visiting and reading about my cards.
If you are a Waltzingmouse Fanatic, check out the Challenge Blog we have an "Anything Goes" challenge, using Waltzingmouse Stamps. Plenty of time to create your card and enter.

Kathy xx

Last Ever Waltzingmouse Fanatics Challenge...

Hi, this is the last Waltzingmouse Fanatics Challenge. Sadly.

I have made a co-ordinated Christmas Card and Tag.

Using Jolly Old Elf for the stockings and 'Tis the Seasona and Folk Art Christmas for the Sentiments. With Pinstripe Background for the large faux stitched tag. Doubled up with the medium tag, using an idea on Claire's Waltzingmouse Blog, for a double tag.

Thank you for visiting and reading about my card.

Don't forget to add your Waltzingmouse Stamp design to the Waltzingmouse Fanatics Challenge Blog and be in with the chance of winning. Claire Brennan, designer and owner of Waltzingmouse Stamps, is offering a £20 prize voucher for the winner of this challenge.  The voucher is valid to March 2015 and is for use at the Waltzingmouse Stamps online store.  In order to be considered for the winner or top three you must use at least ONE Waltzingmouse stamp, sentiment or digi on your project.

Looking forward to seeing your designs.

Best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy Crafting New Year.

Kathy xx

Waltzingmouse Fanatics Challenge No 32 Sketch

Hi, our new challenge at Waltzingmouse Fanatics is a sketch.

I have had a great time with this sketch and created a notelet, a Thank You card and a Christmas Tag.

My Notelet, stamped with a repeat flower outline from French Country stamp set, my sentiment is taken from Funky Feathers. The flowers are coloured with Spectrum Noir pens. A really simple stamped card.

My Thank You card is stamped using the Folk Art Medallions set in a colour theme from pink through purple to green. Another quick and easy stamped project. Thank you cards are always handy to have a supply ready for when you need one unexpectedly.

My last design is a Christmas Tag using the lovely new set Flurries. There are several snowflake designs all are gorgeous. The sentiment is from Elf Made, another super new set from Waltzingmouse Stamps.
I added a snowflake die cut with some glitter sprinkled on  at the top of the tag.
Colours are plum and purple with a distress ink edging and bakers twine tie.

You have plenty of time to get your card designs entered on the Waltzingmouse Fanatics Challenge Blog.
Looking forward to seeing your submissions.

Thank you for visiting and reading about my card designs.

Kathy x