Hello...

 Having not blogged for years.  I wondered would this even work?  I used to love blogging and I have been taking a look over my old posts.  So many great cards!  I really was a card making machine.

So much has happened since I last blogged.  Most notabily I lost my dear sweet Milo on the 25th Feb 2023.  You must remember how much he was part of the family and I miss him terribly.

I am still a cardmaker, but I have been a needlefelter and now a crocheter.  Just not enough hours in the day.  I work at a garden centre, I look after the houseplants.  Its a great place to work.. and my kids Harvey and Caiden are 20 and 16 now!! GULP

I dont make as many cards, but if I do and also when I crochet I tend to pop them on instagram now.  Search for me on cazwhocrafts :)

Nice popping in to see you, until next time x

Its a new chapter...

https://cazwhocrafts.blogspot.com/

Paper Pros challenge Sept

Another month, another challenge and todays challenge was set by Sandy and her challenge was "kids or back to school".  I went with kids and this card would be great for kids or cute lovers alike.

I used Karen A's fantastic idea to use the Train Pivot panels as a general pop up stage, so using its panels as a place to pop some decorations.

By using the die set like this it gives you some great decorative placement opportunies. 

I decorated the panels with some cute foxes from Craft Consortium.

Colour with Distress Inls and used the "No line colouring ink pad" too.

I will tag the items I used below ;)

Train Pivot Panels

Over the Hedge Foxes

Over the Hedge Paper Pad

No Lines colouring Ink Pad

I am going to be demonstrating these ink pads and stamp 

sets at Crafts U Love on their birthday event.

Check our more info HERE

AND BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE OTHER PAPER PROS BLOGS TOO TO SEE WHO HAS PLAYED ALONG THIS MONTH.

Paper Pros July Challenge - 30 minute makes

Hi Friends

I am here today with the Paper Pros challenge for July and this time it was my turn to pick a theme and chose "30 minute makes".  Now I am not going to lie, this set some of the ladies in a spin, no way they said.  But lets face it, we can all make fandabbydosey cards with Karens die sets.  But can we strip it back a level and make relatively quick cards?  By ommitting some of the die cutting, and just using the Pivot hearts and decorating with stamps I managed to make a pop up card in a much shorter time, but still packs a WOW when you open it with the pop out hearts.  You should give it a try one day.

Here you can see the inside and the way I very simply decorated the hearts.  With the central piece flat I popped a piece of scrap card behind so I could edge the hearts without catching the back of the card.  I also left the scrap in place whilst I stamped the flowers onto the hearts.

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The front was simply stamped with white embossing on Kraft and coloured with pencils.

Here is a bit closer of inside.

Here I will list the items used  below :)

Karen Burniston Heart Pivot Panels

Julie Hickey, Frames Banners & Squares - front of card

Julie Hickey Heartfelt Wishes

Julie Hickey Spring Delights

Julie Hickey Daisy Garland

Here are the other ladies cards 

Frances

Fran Sabab

Karen Burniston 

Kelly Booth

Sandy Diller

I am so pleased to still be regularly playing along with these talented ladies.  Please do check their blogs regularly as they are all on the Karen Burniston Design Team and make the most amazing cards.

Paper Pro's Challenge - Inspired by Karen

Can you believe another month has passed and I am here with another Paper Pros challenge.

This month Frances chose  "Inspired by Karen Burniston."
Each month Karen shares at least one video showing us how to use a die set in a different way than what it was intended. Here’s your chance this month to create a card using one of those cards you have been meaning to create using her videos as inspiration. I love the idea of using the 3 tier cake as a base for any items as Karen has showed HERE>

   

  I always try to make my cards usable, by that I mean who do I next need a card for? Well that one was easy at it is Caidens 13th Birthday on 15th June. Yes my Baby Boy is a teenager soon, that is a scary thought. Scarier still... Harvey leaves school Friday!GULP Anyway, back to the card. I was not sure what to make Caiden, he isn't into much but gaming but I did buy this cute Chamelion Stamp by Pink Ink Designs from Crafts U Love.

  This is the front of the card and I went to town with my Distress Oxides to colour in the main image.

And here is the inside where I have used the lower layer of the cake as a platform to hold this cute little Chameleon complete with his party hat! and the all important numbers! At this age you never forget the numbers! I also used from Karen Burniston Ovals Crosshatch Happy Birthday Cake Pop Up www.craftsulove.co.uk/die-cutting/karen-burniston/pre-order-karen-burniston-cake-pop-up-die-set.html You'll have to check out my friends on Karens Fabulous Design Team to see who has decided to play this month. They are all very busy with the new release dies that us mere mortals will get to see 24th June - I cant wait!! Also I know Crafts U Love will be putting these on Pre Order as soon as they are allowed.

Paper Pros challenge - May

Its Paper pros challenge again and its Frances who has chosen the theme for this month.

Back to Basic Shapes - Many of Karen’s die sets contain the name of a basic shape in it .... Oval; Circle; Square & Rectangle etc. Use at least one die set that includes one of those shapes in it’s name for your card.

I am pleased that I managed to squeeze my entry in by designing my up and coming class to include Karen's die set Crosshatch Ovals.  There are still spaces on this class which runs this Saturday 18th at Crafts U Love.  I'd love to see you there.  BOOK HERE

I have used the Woven Basket for the main piece and the Winter Animals for the cute little hedgehog.  I am going to let the ladies choose their colours and whether they want an animal peeking out or not.

I love how this has come out and I used Karen's Tutorial on how to make a Double Wide version of this die set. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FoS4nVdv9Q

Check out what the other Paper Pro Team members made

You can see what the other "Paper Pros" created for this challenge on their blogs:

Frances

Fran Sabab

Karen Burniston 

Kelly Booth

Sandy Diller

March Paper Pros challenge - Spring

Another month flown by and this month we have a lovely "Spring" challenge.  And I had my first play with the Oval Frames Pop Up.  

This die set is a real show stopper.  Folds flat and wow look at the dimension inside!

its also remarkably easy to assemble!  Don't believe me, check out 

Karen's assembly video

HERE

I used the Garden Charms die set to decorate the 2 outer ovals.  I placed

the tulip inside the flower pot and added the watering can to the other side.

These charm sets work so well for decorating with themes and you simply chop

the ring part off if using as a decoration as opposed to a hanging charm.

Happy Spring is the wording and I used Picked Raspberry to colour my white cut out.

And I used the New Penny Black stamp set called Critter Celebrations.  These

adorable mice just HAD to come home with me yesterday!

Please check out my pals on the Paper Pros team - we are a bunch of friends

who "met" through our love for Karen Burniston Products.  This is a relaxed

monthly challenge so not everyone will take place every month and others like me skid in by the seat of my pants right on deadline!!

Frances

Fran Sabab

Karen Burniston 

Kelly Booth

Raquel Mason

Sandy Diller

Shelly Hickox

January Paper Pros Challenge - Love

Happy New Year!  Can you believe another year gone in a flash and its the Paper Pros challenge today.  This months theme was chosen by me and its "Love".

Today I took the chance to be ultra organised and make this anniversary card, not needed until April!

I chose the Karen Burniston Explosion card for my mechanism. I love how the

sides open up to create a fabulous setting for any types of decoration. You can go to town decorating the sides or like I have I chose I busy paper which brings dimension and colour and frames the pop up perfectly to create a little "Stage" for my cute animals.

Where items are in stock I have tagged Crafts U Love.

If they are out of stock it might be possible to do a special order for them. You will have to give Crafts U Love a ring to find out.

EXPLOSION CARD https://www.craftsulove.co.uk/karen-burniston-explosion-pop-up-die-set.html

WOODLAND ANIMALS _ FOX https://www.craftsulove.co.uk/furry-friends/karen-burniston-woodland-animals-die-set.html

WINTER ANIMALS _ HEDGEHOG https://www.craftsulove.co.uk/furry-friends/karen-burniston-woodland-animals-die-set-24985.html

Other items Used :

Echo Park - Heart Stencil https://www.craftsulove.co.uk/stencils/echo-park-6-x-6-stencil-falling-for-you.html

Julie Hickey Designs - Heartfelt Wishes https://www.craftsulove.co.uk/rubber-stamps/julie-hickey-designs-rubber-stamps/julie-hickey-designs-stamp-set-heartfelt-wishes-26104.html

You can see what the other "Paper Pros" created for this challenge on their blogs, as this is a relaxed challenge some might not have joined in this month but check out their blogs anyway as they are a talented bunch.

Also check out the Karen Burniston pages very soon.  Apparently she has new designs in the pipeline that I am very excited to see.

I hope to run more Karen Burniston Classes at Crafts U Love this year, so hope to see you come along to one of those.

Frances 

Fran Sabab

Karen Aicken

Karen Burniston 

Kelly Booth

Raquel Mason

Shelly Hickox

December Paper Pros challenge - Winter/New Years

Sandy Diller chose the theme this month and it is Winter/New Years.

I chose to make my card a winter/Christmas card as I haven't started my Christmas cards yet.  Yep, Not one!!  I really need to get a move on with it but I have a couple more things to do before I start.

For todays card I used the Evergreen Pivots for the main part of my card, and I do apologise for the blurry card, I didn't realise it was blurry until after I turned all my electric off to the shed and its really very cold out there today so the blur will have to do until I pop out there again.  The front the card isn't blurry, thank goodness.

All these dies are available from Crafts U Love (stock permitting - they have a FABULOUS SALE on today on Karen Burniston dies)  alternatively you can purchase from Karen Burniston directly at www.karenburniston.com

I used wow gold embossing powder for the wording to make it stand out.  And how adorable does the reindeer look?

Inside I used the Evergreen Pivot with some lovely Echo Park Gingham.

https://www.craftsulove.co.uk/paper-card/card-paper-packs/echo-park-autumn-gingham-6-x-6-paper-pad-25494.html

The brown snowflake paper was one left over from last years stash.

Check out the other ladies who are part of the Paper Pros team.  These challenges 

are just for fun so sometimes we dip out from taking part if we are too busy.  But I would recommend visiting their blogs anyway as they are so inspirational.

Fran Sabab

Karen Aicken

Karen Burniston 

Kelly Booth

Raquel Mason

Shelly Hickox

Right, I am off to defrost my toes :)  Until next time.

November Paper Pro's challenge

Its November?  Already? Wow these months fly.

I am here with my November card and this month the theme is Holiday/Christmas

There are so many designs to choose from in the KB Riley collection, so first task was to choose what dies.

My keyboard is really playing up today, so I will keep this post short. As when I type it either ignores what I type or adds 10 extra characters!

I had fun creating background with distress Oxide ink pads.  Then I chose the

Christmas Tree Pop Stand die set.   Along with the Christmas Animals

Merry Christmas words and Crosshatch Ovals

You can get Karen Burniston dies from www.karenburnitston.com

or www.craftsulove.co.uk in the UK

I love this die set!  and it folds flat too.

Please check out the other Paper Pros for their inspirational cards.  Not all

are taking part today but their blogs worth a look anyway.

• #Karen Burniston
• Caz Counsell
• Donna Wright
• Fran Sabad
• Helen Cryer
• Karen Aicken
• Kelly Booth
• Raquel Mason
• Sandy Diller
• Shelly Hickox
• Summer Hills-Painter

Paper Pros challenge October - Holiday Cards

Hi Friends
Its an early Paper Pros this month as the date next week clashed with something else for most of the other ladies, I admit it caught me out as I have been flat out with cards for the launch of Julie Hickey Designs Christmas collection on Hochanda and then the Crafts U Love Birthday event.  Been making cards like a woman possessed!  Therefore today snuck up on me, and I have to admit to using one of my samples from the Birthday Event for today's post.  That is fine though as it fits the bill perfectly.

Today's card is in the Christmas theme and I used one of my favourites in the New Karen Burniston range IN STOCK AT CRAFTS U LOVE.  The Frame Pull Pop up.  Which has been decorated using the Woodware Mousy Christmas stamp. 

This fantastic die can be decorated with dies, toppers and stamps and this

is the image that I used on the top.  I took the design and cut it into several separate mice and used this one on the front.

The inside when you pull the "Pull tab" is perfect to nestle this

cute cuddling couple and a cute little message.

** sorry about the messy photo for this "open" one.

Check out what the other Paper Pros are up to on their blogs

Frances

Caz Counsell

Fran Sabab

Karen Aicken

Karen Burniston 

Kelly Booth

Raquel Mason

Shelly Hickox

The Karen Burniston dies can be purchased from

Crafts U Love in the UK who ship worldwide or alternatively from 

Karen Burniston.com in the USA.