Friday, October 28, 2011

A new Leonardo Da Vinci exhibition

Hi all,

I am getting ready for the weekend away but thought I would share this with you before I go.

There will be a new Leonardo Da Vinci exhibition opening at the National Gallery on the 9th of November. It will run until the 5th of February so there is plenty of time for fans of him and his work to visit. You can find out more about this exhibition here. If you can't get to the National Gallery, don't worry as there is a new documentary about him that you might get a chance to watch on the 2nd of November for click here for details.

How exciting!

Hope you all have a great weekend.

Katie x

P.s. Don't forget to schedule you halloween e card for Monday! Below is a preview of our brand new one!

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Hebdon Bridge trip at half term

Hello,

You may or may not know, but its half term for most schools in England at the moment and so we thought we would take advantage of the kids having some free time and take a trip up to see my brother, who lives in the beautiful Hebdon Bridge in Yorkshire.

Hebdon Bridge is a lovely place to go for a weekend break as its set in the Yorkshire moors so is handy for lovely walks. Its a small, but very pretty town with some nice shops, pubs and restaurants set amongst the old architecture, the cobbled streets and the lovely canal, so it the perfect place to have a little break.

I found the towns website and I thought that some of you might like to look at it - Hebdon Bridge website. Its got lots of handy information on it on upcoming events, the history of Hebdon Bridge, where to eat, where to stay and other really useful tourist info. It also has a picture gallery where I found some pretty pictures to share:






Katie x

P.s. don't forget to schedule a Halloween ecard! Here is one from our collection:

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Our new halloween e card and happy Diwali!

Its here!

The brand new halloween ecard is now ready to send and up on the website. The ecard is of 3 witches who are concocting a wicked brew of bats, eyeballs and frogs. The twist at the end is fun and its accompanied by some really spooky music which will get you in the mood for the halloween celebrations!



Today is Diwali and we have a fantastic ecard that you can send to all of your loved ones to kick off the celebrations. Our Diwali ecard is a beautiful animation of a kaleidoscope pattern and is accompanied by vibrant music. Click here to view it.

Hope you have a great Diwali!

Katie x

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Lovely pumpkin soup and some pumpkin carving tips!

Hello!

As halloween is approaching, I have to admit that I am getting very excited! This might be because we are almost about to add the new Halloween ecard to the website.

Now that the kids are older, we don't do trick or treating or any of the other halloween parties that we used to. This does not stop me from carving a pumpkin or two though! I loved keeping this tradition going and each year I carve 2 or 3 to light up with candles on our doorstep, in our garden and sometimes in the house too. You can make them last up to 10 days if you soak the carved carcass in beach for 8 hours and keep spraying them with a mild bleach solution. One of the reasons I love to keep this tradition going is because I love making pumpkin soup with the carved flesh. I found this great recipe that you might like - take a look here.

Its really delicious. If you try it then please do let me know what you think and send me your top tips to share with other readers!

Katie x

P.s. this funny Halloween e card of dancing monsters is perfect to send to all of your loved ones.


Monday, October 24, 2011

How do you celebrate Halloween?

Hi all,

Halloween is almost here!

Our new Halloween e card is nearly ready and will be on the website very soon!

I find Halloween a magical time of year it has always been one of my favourites. When our children were young, I would indulge myself and we would always plan a big party for Molly and Joe. We'd spend all week planning and carving our pumpkins and then the whole day decorating the house ready for the party.

We planned games that we could play like apple bobbing and even made one up that became a favourite with the kids in which we tied string around the middle of ringed doughnuts and tie them to the tree outside. The aim of the game was to eat a whole one without using your hands and we all had great fun trying! Once all the games were over, we would all be off trick or treating around the neighbourhood.

Here are some old photographs I found of the parties:





What do you do for halloween?

Katie x

P.s. below is a video of one of our old Halloween ecards that is perfect for sending to any loved one at this special time of year.

Friday, October 21, 2011

only 9 weeks until Chrismas...

Picture 1

Hello,

Oh no. I was just planning the Christmas ecards schedule and did a quick count of how many weeks until Christmas.

9.

9 weeks!

How did this happen? It was only just summer!

Now I have to start planning gifts, where and who we will be celebrating with and what we'll be eating. Though there is one thing that I always look forward to - the Katies Cards christmas party! We're not a big team (as you know) so we often do a joint gathering with the other small businesses who share our little terraced building. There's only 3 people extra, but it means that our meagre little celebration of 3 turns into 6 (and this year it will be 7 with Racheal here).

Oh dear oh dear. Well, I guess I will start planning this weekend, though no matter when I start, its always a mad rush in the end!

Have you started your preparations yet?

Katie x

P.s. don't forget to enter the Katies Cards competition before the 11th of November - you could be in with the chance of having your idea made into a Christmas e card as well as a £15 ($20 Amazon voucher!). Please click here for more details!

Thursday, October 20, 2011

An great place to find new interests and save your favourite things

Hi all,

I began using Pinterest a few months ago and since, I have been finding lots of new and interesting websites and 'things' on a daily basis.

Pinterest is basically an online pin board. When you register for an account, you get a blank pin board which you can start adding things to. You can start this straight away by looking at what other people have put on their pin boards and if you like it you can add it to yours. You can also find people that you like and follow them so that you can see what they are adding on a regular basis. Another great thing you can do is download a 'pin it' button on to your web browsers tool bar which allows you to add anything you like from across the whole internet if you like it. All you have to do it press this button when you're on a website or page that you like.

I know it sounds a bit weird, but it really is a lovely way to spend 20 minutes a day and really simple use (unlike other of these new fangled websites!) and a great way to keep reminders of things that you like in one place in a quick and simple way.

If you are interested, you can also have a look at my pin boards as I have set up my own account and I have been pin-boarding my heart out! Just visit http://pinterest.com/katiescards/ and you will find all of the things I have pinned. If you join yourself, be sure to let me know and we can follow each other!

Katie x

p.s. don't forget to enter the Katies Cards competition before the 11th of November - you could be in with the chance of having your idea made into a Christmas e card as well as a £15 ($20 Amazon voucher!). Please click here for more details!

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Enter our competition - we haven't had many entries so you have a high chance of winning!

Hello!

We launched the 2nd Katies Cards competition last week and we haven't had many entries yet.

I think I might have scared you all off by not clarifiying that we are only after a simple Christmas ecard idea from you that we can develop - we don't want pictures etc - one short sentence will do!

Please enter the competition! This is your chance to get the Christmas e card you have always wanted, whether you want:
  • a card featuring kittens and Christmas stockings
  • a fun card with children decorating their Christmas tree
  • something with dogs helping Father Christmas
  • something funny
Tell us what your favourite things are about Christmas time (or any time of year) on our facebook page and this will be counted as an entry!

If you win, you will have your idea made into a card that you can send to your loved ones as well as a £15 ($20) Amazon voucher to treat yourself with!

Enter today - don't delay! And don't forget to ask me questions if you are unsure!

Click here to see step-by-step instructions.

Katie x

Friday, October 14, 2011

Beautiful photographs of nature

Hi all,

Recently, I have taken up joining all sorts of different social networking websites to share our work at Katies Cards get new inspiration and find new websites. I recently joined Tumblr where I found this fantastic website featuring nature photography - http://www.naturegalleries.net/.

The website holds some stunningly beautiful photographs my favourites of which are the ones of the animals and the birds (two fantastic examples are below). Take a look at the website, the pictures are fascinating!




Anyway, I hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

Katie x

P.s. don't forget to enter the Katies Cards competition. Post your Christmas ecard idea on our Facebook wall before the 11th of November. The winner of the competition will have their idea made into a real Christmas e card and win a £15 (or $20) Amazon voucher! For more detailed instructions on how to enter, please click here.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

The chance to make you're own Christmas ecard?

Then post your Christmas e card idea on our Facebook page before the 11th November to enter the Katies Cards competition and you could have it made into an ecard!

Do you love Christmas e cards? Are you a little bit frustrated that you can't find EXACTLY what you want? NOW IS YOUR CHANCE TO MAKE YOUR OWN E CARD! 

To win the chance of having your Christmas e card idea made into a real Christmas e card by the Katies Cards team, all you have to do is post your idea on the Katies Cards facebook page before the 11th of November!

The winning idea will be announced on the 14th of November, and the winner will have their card made by the Katies Cards team as well as receive a £15 (or $20) Amazon voucher!

Don't miss out!

How to enter:
  1. Think of your Christmas card idea
  2. Visit the Katies Cards Facebook page (here)
  3. Click on the 'like' button at the top of the page Picture 1
  4. Post your idea on the Katies Cards wall in the box that says 'Write something'
Picture 1And there you have it - you have entered the Katies Cards competition and all you have to do is wait until the 11th November when we will annouce the winner and the runners up!
Don't delay - send us your ideas now!
Katie x

The winning idea will be developed by Katies Cards and the e card produced may differ from the original idea submitted. The ecard will be entirely the property of Katies Cards. Katies Cards reserves the right to use or develop any of the ideas submitted in the competition at any point in the future.


Wednesday, October 12, 2011

A lovely chance encoutner

Hi all,

I love it when life throws something random your way and yesterday I had some very unexpected contact with someone new.

To cut a long story short, I was contacted by someone yesterday who wanted to let me know that there was a business on Facebook (The Supermums Craft Fair) using one of my e card images as a logo (the Supermum birthday e card).

I was quite shocked that someone was using it, but the most interesting part of this story is that when I looked into it, and contated Sarah (the lady who looks after the page) I found that she is doing something brilliant!

The Supermums Craft Fair is a place where craft makers can sell their goods on facebook in a 'virtual fair'. She makes her own crafts which you can have a look at here and as a craft maker, she has found it hard to make a living out of her produce and decided to set this page up to get other crafters together and help them to sell what they make!

I think this is a brilliant idea and is a great way of encouraging more people to be more proactive and more involved with crafts.

I am so happy to have met (online) this clever lady who has this brilliant and innovative idea and encourage all of you to have a look at her page as there are some beautiful handmade knick-knacks on there to buy and if you make crafts yourself, its also definitely worth a go selling them through the page also!
Supermum!

It was such an unexpected but very lovely encounter. I love it when things like this happen (though that is not permission to use any of my images without asking me first - this was a very special case!).

Katie x

P.s. don't forget to enter the Katies Cards competition. Post your Christmas ecard idea on our Facebook wall before the 11th of November. The winner of the competition will have their idea made into a real Christmas e card and win a £15 (or $20) Amazon voucher! For more detailed instructions on how to enter, please click here.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Another Katies Cards competition!

Its time for another Katies Cards competition!

Hi all,

We enjoyed the last competition soo much that we thought that it would be great to launch another one but this time we are asking you to send us ideas for a new Christmas e card! The person who sends us the best idea will win and we will make your idea into a e card and send you a £15 ($20) Amazon voucher!

How to enter the competition:

To enter this competition all you have to do is follow these simple instructions:
  1. Think of your Christmas card idea
  2. Visit the Katies Cards Facebook page (here)
  3. Click on the 'like' button at the top of the page Picture 1
  4. Post your idea on the Katies Cards wall in the box that says 'Write something'
Picture 1And there you have it - you have entered the Katies Cards competition and all you have to do is wait until the 11th November when we will annouce the winner and the runners up!
Don't delay - send us your ideas now!
Katie x

The winning idea will be developed by Katies Cards and the e card produced may differ from the original idea submitted. The ecard will be entirely the property of Katies Cards. Katies Cards reserves the right to use or develop any of the ideas submitted in the competition at any point in the future.


Monday, October 10, 2011

It thanksgiving in Canada today!

Hi all,

Canadians today are celebrating their thanksgiving and many will be getting ready to tuck into some traditional and delicious roasted turkey and pumpkin pie. I have always fancied trying pumpkin pie as it looks soooo delicious! I really like roasted pumpkin and pumpkin soup.

I came across this great article which you might like in the Guardian which compares pies made from different ingredients. You can read the full article here. Let me know if you have any tips!

mmmmmm pumpkin pie

Anyway, hope you're all having a great day!

Katie x

Katie Davies is an english artist who has been creating beautiful, fun and entertaining e cards for over 4 years. Choose from over 165 ecards for every age, taste and occasion such as birthday e cardsChristmas e cardsEaster e cards and many more.

Friday, October 7, 2011

Its the weekend!

Hi all,

Here in England we have had very bizarre weather for this time of year. The beginning of the week was scorching hot and the last couple of days have been freezing, and there was talk of snow in Scotland!

Whatever the weather, I am looking forward to the weekend, spending time with the kids, Nick and Plum and cooking a big roast on Sunday, though I don't think my yorkshire puddings will turn out as good as the ones in the picture!



What are you up to this weekend?

Katie x

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Steve Jobs loses his battle with cancer

Today we awake to the terribly sad news that creative genuis, innovator co-founder and chief executive of Apple has lost his battle with Pancreatic cancer at age 56.

This truly sad loss has been felt across the world and world-leaders as well as technology leaders have made heartfelt statements about his death.

You can read more about this story here.

Co-founder and former chief executive of Apple Steve Jobs has died

My well wishes go out to all of his friends and family at this sad time.

Katie x



Katie Davies is an english artist who has been creating beautiful, fun and entertaining e cards for over 4 years. Choose from over 165 ecards for every age, taste and occasion such as birthday e cardsChristmas e cards,Easter e cardswedding day e cardsnew baby e cards and many more.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

The beast of Busy park

Hello,

I live near the beautiful Bushy park and I am extremely lucky to be able to take Plum for a walk there every day and see the deer who live there. Its a really nice way to relax and get inspiration for new e cards.

You may or may not have seen my recentl blog post about the deer going into rutting season and roaring loudly at one another. Well, there has been quite a development...

In the last week or so, a few people have actually been attacked by the stags. It is very unusual behaviour. We have lived here for 14 years and never heard of such a thing happening and what is really odd about it is that the attacks seem to be completely unprovoked. The park does issue guidelines on conduct around the deer around rutting season, but it is basically be careful not to intimidate them. One man was attacked today from 200 yards away and had to be helped by passers-by.

There is speculation that it might be one stag who is attacking and locals have started to call him 'The Beast of Bushy Park'

The Beast of Bushy Park

You can read more about this story here.

Katie x



P.s. I have recently joined Facebook and would be delighted to become your friend. I am new to social media but will be using my Facebook profile to help keep you up-to-date with the Katies Cards news as well as posting interesting gift and lifestyle ideas and advice. Click here to visit my Facebook page and request friendship with me.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Tomorrow is World Teachers day

Hello!

Tomorrow is World Teachers day, a day that has been celebrated since 1994 by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and Education International and was originally set up to celebrate the teaching profession and promote international standards.


Teachers for gender equality is this years very important focus.
 Say thank you to your teacher tomorrow with a Katies Cards e card


I'm sure that you will agree that teachers can help to shape the lives of many young people, encouraging them to progress in subjects which they are good at and pointing out their strengths and weaknesses so that they can grow.Everyone remembers their favourite teacher, so why not send them a thank you e card to celebrate World Teachers day?

Katie x

Monday, October 3, 2011

Announcing the Katies Cards competition winner!

Hello!

In the middle of September, we launched the first Katies Cards competition.

Entrants to pick their favourite Christmas ecard from our collection and tell us why they liked it for the chance to win a £15 ($20) Amazon voucher!

The competition went really well and we received so many lovely comments on our cards! The favourite cards were Christmas Cottage and Christmas Candles.

And the winner of the competition is - Laura Orsini who wrote:
Of all the new Christmas card options, I LOVE the Christmas Candles card the most. The silhouettes to start are gorgeous - and the message at the end is priceless.
Congratulations Laura! A $20 Amazon voucher is on its way to you!

Also, runners up who will receive a free 1 year subscription to Katies Cards are:

Bob Grif

Faith Berry

Patricia Pears

I will announce the winner and runners-up on the Katies Cards Facebook page too.

Don't worry if you missed out, I will be announcing ANOTHER competition in the next few days!

Katie x