Sorry for being M.I.A. but lots going on..

My gosh a week has past since I last posted, where has the week gone?

I have been working hard this week despite ongoing issues with my health (pain management is a bit of a problem at the moment) but I have done my best to over come the hurdles best way I know how.

Anyway this week I worked on my project('s) from Xanderous Crafty Stash (I will share the other one here 21st November )

I also had to step in an make a bag charm mini notebook as part of a swap on Scrimpys Community and Swap Group, I agreed to be an angel swap which meant if anyone couldnt fulfill their swap for any reason, I would step in and take their place so NO-ONE would be left without a swap.

I also designed some small gift card holders which I did film a video on and I think they are so cute, perfect for birthdays or christmas.

This week also brought me a huge heartache that after all the turmoil and tribulations that my talented and wonderful friend Amanda has put up with over the past 3 yrs since she launched Scrimpys Lace Closet she has decided to stop selling lace and products as a general sale, she is now only going to be selling kits and occasional items when she sees fit, it really saddens me that this lovely lady has had to do this but I 100% understand and support her decision, and am fortunate enough to have gotten to know her before she launched Scrimpys and I will be there for many many years to come, she is just a beautiful person inside and out and I am so blessed to have her in my life and to call her a friend x 

The upside to her closing her wee shop is that she is now going to focus on Stampin Up and make that her top priority (craft wise) which is so exciting, baring in mind that 12months ago this lady couldn't craft with paper at all barely, so it is lovely to watch her flourish and to grow in confidence in her new venture.

Sad part for me is ever video she shows a new product I immediately think "I need that" not good haha x

But anyway back to the matter in hand and let you see my project for Xanderous Crafty Stash,

I chose to decorate a Small Letter Rack kindly gifted to Naomi from Lou at Fernli Designs to offer the design team to show case all her beautiful metal embellishments.

I absolutely loved making this project it just was so rewarding and helped loads with giving me ideas on how to best decorate it x

So I started out building the letter rack using just PVA glue it is always best to build first with these projects as the paper and paints etc can obstruct the pieces fitting together nicely.

I then added dark paper from my stash on all the surfaces to give it a vintage styled look, I then took my old gold inka gold and buffed it on all the sides and edges to give it that almost gilded worn look of old furniture. next I pulled out my goodies from Naomi and started to work out where I wanted things to go.

I knew instantly that one of the drawer handles was being added to the drawer.

I then chose the rounded filigree metal bits to bend over the edge and give it a look of a divider and it worked perfectly and exactly how I envisioned. I had to use round nose pliers to make sure that the folds were tight enough and then stuck them on the project using E600 adhesive, my go to adhesive when working with metal bits as it assures that they are not just going to fall off.

I then took my charm that says never never give up, which is so me, even on my worst days where my mental health is dragging me down I make sure that I achieve something that day even if it is just an ATC to show my depression that I won that day not it, may sound silly to people who havent suffered depression but for me it is my way of making sure that each day I make the day count.

I added that on the side of the organizer by punching a hole using my crop a dile and threading through a bit of brown and white bakers twine to attach the charm I needed the bakers twine for a reason.

I then took a dowling rod and cut it to around 5.5" and coloured it using Walnut Stain distress ink

and used the bakers twine to keep the rod stationery at the side and not let it slip about too much as I then added my bakers twine bobbin on to that dowel to have it handy on my craft desk.

lastly I wanted to add feet to give the letter rack just a little bit more height and more substance I had perfect feet in my stash that naomi has got in stock, but when adding them initially I realized that they were going to stop my drawer opening, so back to the drawing board as I tried to work out how to overcome that problem and I found the solution, I simply cut out tiny triangles of card and popped them on the feet where the underside of the rack was going so that the card gave that tiny slither of extra height and let the drawer open freely result.

So I added them with my E600 and was delighted with the final look, I have took lots of pictures at different angles for you to see it in all its glory.

I absolutely loved this project and am so pleased how it turned out with the goodies from Xanderous and the rack from Fernli it is just wonderful.

I also made a little altered tub which I decorated and then used the small 4mm bronze flatbacks from Xanderous to decorate and give me a little bit more storage on my rack. it is shown better in the video

Guest Design Team Project for Xanderous Crafty Stash Video

Bits I used from the store

ND022 Bronze wood feet 19x11mm

ND056 Swirled filigree

ND058 Never give up tag

ND009 Bronze tone curvy drawer pull

4mm Bronze Flatbacks (will add link once added to store)

and lastly here are the small gift card holders I designed

Top one is female and bottom is male steered design.

And then I made some small roses using dies I had in my stash after being inspired by Amanda

and lastly I made this card mug inspired by our lovely Mel, who is also on Pootles Design Team for this month please pop over to Mels Blog and check out her recent projects they are so good.

So hopefully be back soon with some more new projects to share with you all until then Happy Crafting xxx

Love Always Karen

Super Busy Week

I have been so busy this week,

between viewing houses and creating projects for design team work

and on top of that doing commission work and my swap commitments for scrimpys, I literally have not had time to scratch my bum ;)

So phew this weekend Jayden is staying with his nana & papa, Aunty Lala (Laura) and Mirin

Laura took Jayden and Mirin to the scottish wrestling event in Paisley last night, Laura was a huge fan of the wrestling wwe so she has passed on her love to the kids over the years and Jayden absolutely loves it so she takes him with her when she goes now.

Some photos at their wrestling events over the years dont ask me who the wrestlers are as I dont have a clue haha x 

But so glad my sister enjoys stuff like that and can happily take Jayden with her to allow him these experiences.

Today Jordan is going to work with his dad, one of his clients is having a halloween party tonight and has a lot of guests coming and wants the garden and back garden spotless so with Ian's time so restricted he had to get extra help and he dragged Jordan in to it, so fingers crossed they both get home alive and dont kill one another.

I meanwhile have a project in production that I want to get finished today I also have 2 swaps for scrimpys I need to complete and get done incase anyone lets us down and cant commit to sending we dont want anyone left out so I am backup ;) have a lot done but still a few more to complete that I need to do today and tomorrow.

My Guest Design Team Kit from 

Xanderous Crafty Stash arrived and I have completed my main project

(but cant share it with you all until the 4th November)

Video is up scheduled on my youtube channel for that date and I have a canvas/wall hanging in production to decorate today also as part of that but hope to film some of the process for you all.

But heres a look at my kit and a link to Naomi's store Xanderous Crafty Stash

I have also been working on some of the swaps for Scrimpys

A mix of paper embellishments, fabric tags, altered pegs and 3x3 notecard set and box.

Phew lol x 

Anyway hope you all have a fab week and keep your eyes peeled for more projects.

Love and hugs always Karen x 

Happy Crafting xxx

Card Feast

Many of you know that come this time of year I start preparing for my santa letters,

so being prepared is a huge part of that as for 2/3 weeks I get stuck on the PC typing and editing letters to make sure they are perfect before printing.

So to be ahead in my other commitments is a priority and that includes my Youtube Video tutorials,

I do a monday Card making series that I absolutely love as it gives novice card makers the ability to watch step by step how to achieve completely do able cards from start to finish.

So the past few days I have been hammering through them to get ahead and for now I am scheduled up till the 7th November and ideally by the end of the week I want sorted until new year so I know that everything is dealt with.

So here is a sneak preview of some of the upcoming tutorials on my channel

Basic Die cut and Negative card super simple and elegant x

Such a fun card to make and would be an easy one for kids and childrens groups to make in larger groups.

This is the Wow factor of the top card the sentiment has been glittered and looks fab x

Exact same as above just different colour

Lastly my bonus Halloween tutorial :) So cute x 

Along with these I have also made a gorgeous little paper bow embellishment

These were made using a Dovecraft die

which I have the link below

This link above gives me a small percentage per sale, it doesnt cost you the buyer a penny more but gives me a small amount to help buy more items to show you all what they can do.

Watch out for so many more short but helpful tutorials.

I also this weekend had some creative time to myself and decorated a bicycle Kit I bought from Scrimpys Lace Closet

it was super cute before I started to decorate so didnt overdo it, I just added a small amount of decoration to shabby it up x 

I absolutely love the outcome and the actual amount of pins it holds is a massive plus for me :)

I do LOVE my stick pins x 

Anyway I am waiting on DT Packages to arrive from 

Xanderous Crafty Stash

Which I am SUPER excited about, it also is including an item from Fernli Designs,

which is known for its amazing quality and even better pricing.

Personal note Yesterday was a lost day my hip was totally out of action even laying in bed I was in pain which was not amusing, so I was on strong pain relief to help alleviate it, sadly it took the edge of the pain but not much more, I was reading my ebook, Patricia Cornwell Scarpetta Series (I love this series) I am rereading them and started book 8 yesterday Unnatural Exposure

So between reading I was watching youtube videos and started watching the series Cold Justice it is an american Lawyer and CSI (both female) helping with cold cases to try and bring forward charges.

it is really good so am on Season 2 Episode 3 of that (I know such a geek)

Anyhoo talked the hind legs of you probably but I hope you stop by my youtube channel the link is on the right handside and watch some of my tutorials x 

Sending huge crafty hugs Karen xx

Halloween Crafts

I apologise for my last blog if it upset anyone but sadly this is my reality sometimes.

I am glad to say it has pasted for now, I am still low but not feeling as vulnerable as I was last weekend.

So what have I been doing?

I went on Saturday Evening to collect Jayden from my mums with Ian and sat for 10 mins, then we went to visit Ians Sister Heather she was babysitting Baby Freddie doing her nana duties so got a wee hold of him he is just the most precious little thing ever, just gorgeous.

I then came home and done a wee bit of crafting and started on my halloween boxes as I got a commission order for 30 (then a further order for 10)

So have been beavering away in a production styled method, cut all my mat layers of patterned paper, scored and cut all my boxes, glued all the boxes, then added the papers.

I then done all the decorations for them colouring and glittering them all and then done all the wee sentiments. they are all still flat just need to glue the bases just before they are picked up so I saves some room in my wee craftroom otherwise I would drown in boxes lol.

but they are very cute.

This is the font I used for a lot of the cute images in the last photo

http://www.dafont.com/mtf-sweet-halloween-dings.font

I have also been working on embellishments for my loaded envelope but... because it will eventually be sent to someone I can't share the pieces with you and perhaps spoil the surprise.

So need to keep it under wraps.

I also got my latest Stampin Up Haul but with the exception of the wink of Stella pen I havent had time to play with them yet but watch this space x 

Also wanted to announce that I am a Guest Designer for November for Xanderous Crafty Stash

fab little facebook store with lots of little embellishments for your projects cannot wait to share their goodies with you all.

Anyway until next time happy crafting xxx

4am Reality Check - Depression

This is my life some nights,

Most nights I can go to bed at a decent time and sleep until about now usually 4/5am I wake up and come in my craftroom and watch some videos on youtube or watch some programmes on Sky Go.

But some nights I can be just so anxious that closing my eyes actually scares me, so I read a book or play games on my phone, or just lie and stare at the ceiling.

But nights like tonight happen sometimes too where I literally cannot lie down, my brain is literally pounding with so much activity and just thoughts I dont want to have.

Having depression isnt always about wanting to die, it is just about trying to live with minimal pain.

some nights thats just not possible, and at 4am when you have a hubby/partner who works damn hard around the clock to provide for us and a 17yr old with enough worries of his own (who I also believe suffers from mental health problems despite his reluctance to actually be assessed properly) and a carefree and bubbly little man who tries his hardest each and every day to just be the cutie he is, who do you turn to???? No one you sit and cry, go to the bathroom and turn on the taps so that no-one can hear you sobbing (I hate crying infront of anyone) well tonight is one of the latter nights.

I just feel so bloody useless, and I know there are folk out there much worse than me, I know that and I feel for them I really do and this isnt about sympathy or a pity party (cause really I dont cope well with that I will just say aw it was a bad night I am fine now I have slept) I just want people to realise how hard it is living with depression and anxiety it is literally an absolute head feck (sorry for my language but the only way to describe it) 

I have been so active today with producing stuff yet the minute the head went on the pillow the brain starts....

"oh you need to go to Paisley tomorrow"

"You are visiting your parents tomorrow"

"you are visiting Ians sister and the baby tomorrow, my nieces little baby freddie"

"Ian will get annoyed if I back out"

" he made the arrangements to suit me"

"could I be ill tomorrow? a migraine? upset tummy?"

"he cant be annoyed if I am sick"

"why is going to Paisley so bad?"

"dont you want to see your great nephew?"

"what a crap daughter, sister, aunt, sister in law, mother, partner, friend you really are"

"would it really matter if you werent here?"

"Their life would be much easier" 

But then I know

my kids need me, no matter how bad things get, Jayden especially needs his mum, and cannot be without me especially for the fact Ian isnt the best for emotional stuff like hugs and kisses and little kids still need that, even boys.

I honestly wish that somewhere somehow someone would come up with a cure for depression and anxiety and try work out why it happens, I had such a different like back before the kids were born,

and no I dont regret my kids I 100% adore my boys but the kids births triggered PND which I then pushed aside and refused to admit so it went untreated for so long and festered into what it is today.

Anyway I am going to go and take an extra tablet to try and knock me out and at least stop the brain for a little bit and allow my body to rest, which is massively important as having sleepless nights causes my pain levels to escalate through the day which then pulls my mood lower when I am sore.

So please if you know someone with mental health be AWARE

dont tip toe around them you cant heal them but being empathetic and supportive is a huge difference.

And yes I know all too well that depression plays tricks on your thoughts and makes you think people think the worst of you, but usually it is not true it is just the illness.

Big hugs x Karen x