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Sunday 30 May 2010

Sunshine Daisies

Good Morning All.
Well Girls what can I say about the weather, other than in typical Bank Holiday style it is totally rubbish.
With that in mind I thought I would share a little floral card to bring a little bit of sunshine 'Just for You'.



I'm afraid I did warn you how much I liked this Hobby Art set (Clear floral stamps) so here we are again only this time I have just used the one flower. I have coloured the flowers and then embossed them from the back using a large ball tool.



The inked panel at the top of the card has been created with Adirondack Colour wash inks.
I just love playing with any sort of ink, its amazing just how different the backgrounds can look. It can really be quite frustrating as no two ones turn out the same, but that is half the fun - in a perverse sort of way lol.
My cuttlebug came into play with the Swiss dots folder I've used on the green panel.
Hope you like this and it cheers up what looks like being another miserable day - weather wise at least :)
Have a good day, what ever you are doing, and thanks for stopping by.
Love Kimx

Saturday 29 May 2010

Red and White

Morning Girls.
I wonder what it's going to do today, weather wise? It's not looking too promising here but as I will be indoors working hard on samples I guess I shouldn't worry to much.
I hope the weather is good for everyone else though. My eldest Grandchildren have gone away for the weekend to the coast so it will be miserable for them if they have to stay indoors.
Anyhoo here are a couple more cards made with the Hobby Art floral clear stamp set. I do like to play when I am prepping for a class, and sometimes I just get carried away. These sets are just so versatile, there is soo much that you can do with them.
Thanks for the lovely comment Pauline, I hope you like these too.


I told you I don't like to waste anything so both cards were made from a panel I created by stamping and embossing the large flower in white onto a piece of cream card stock. I then used scrunched cling film to cover the images with Strawberry Daiquiri (red) Memory Mist ink. Once you have covered the whole of the panel rub over it with a piece of tissue to make the flowers 'pop'. I have then added a little Diet Cola ink (black) agin using the cling film.
The Memory Mists do have such yummy names, and the colours aren't bad either lol.
I have chopped the panel into squares and then mounted them onto red card. On this first card I have also added some extra flowers and leaves coloured with the inks.


This card has used a small section of the original panel. I have added a greeting to the card on a piece of acetate which I have attached with brads.
It's still not looking any sunnier here, in fact now the wind has got up as well. Well it is a Bank Holiday weekend so I suppose we should expect nothing less than rain lol.
Have a great day anyway what ever you are up to.
Happy Stamping.......if you get the chance.
Love and hugs
Kimx

Thursday 27 May 2010

It's Raining, it's pouring........

Hi Everyone,
With all the rain that we have had today I thought some nice spring flowers were in order.
It also gives me the chance to share some more cards that I have made with the Hobby Art floral clear stamp sets. You see I did tell you that I get a little carried away when I prep a class. Of course it always helps when you are using stamps that you really like.


I have created a border at the bottom of this card using the small solid daisy from the set stamped in versamark with the open daisy stamped in black over the top. The main floral panel has been created using chalk ink pads.



The background to the circular panel on this card has been created using scrunched cling film, and Memory Mist spray inks. Perhaps I will have to sort out a tutorial showing how to do this - when I can find the time. Anyone got a few extra hours they can add to my days for me lol.



Another floral panel this time created by stamping with the Memory Mists. I can feel another tutorial!! As you can see I have definitely got into my border punches, they crop up everywhere. They are such a great way to finish off a card, I don't know how we lived without them for so long.
Hope these have brightened up your day. There was a lovely red sky tonight so perhaps we will have a better day tomorrow. How does the saying go - Red sky at night, shepherds delight!!
I'm waffling on now so it must be time to get to bed.
Thanks for dropping by.
Nite, nite.
Love Kimx

Wednesday 26 May 2010

A Quick Hello

Hi All. Just got back from my class at Davina's so this really is just a very quick post.
This is another of the cards that I showed the ladies this evening. Everyone had a great time playing with the Memory Mists and Hobby Art Floral clear stamp sets. I did make a bit of a boo boo when I found that I had left the chalk ink pads at home but we coped.
I will share some more cards from the class tomorrow, I do get a bit carried away when I prep lol, but for now........
Nite, nite
Love Kimx

Tuesday 25 May 2010

A fun evening

Hi Guys.
Just a quick post before I get to bed.
Have just had a fun evening with several stamping pals at my Stampin Up party.
Stamping Caz did the party for me and we had great fun making a card that she had designed for us.
We had an extra participant for the evening, my Granddaughter Megan.
She loves anything crafty and having helped me set up the room for the girls, she asked her Mum and Dad if she could stay up and play with us. How can you refuse when she asked so nicely!!
She let all the ladies in and then listened intently while Caz did a demo of some of the products on sale. She even won the spot prize, so with the card that she had made as well a very happy little lady went to bed without argument.


This is another of the cards that I have made for my class tomorrow evening - I told you I loved this stamp set.


Once again I have used one of my nesties to mount the stamped panel onto, and I have used one of the floral images and a versamark pad to stamp across the card.
The faux card candy just finishes the whole thing off and has been made from some of the left over stamped image once the circular panel had been cut out.
Hope the ladies like them, guess I will find out tomorrow.
Nite Nite
Love Kimx

Monday 24 May 2010

Spring, or is it Summer Flowers?

Evening Girls.
I really am struggling with this heat at the moment, what an earth am I going to be like in August lol. I know that we shouldn't complain about it but you know us Brits never satisfied what ever the weather!!!
We have air-con at work and I have to say that it is the only thing that gets me through the day when the weather is hot - I could do with bringing it home with me. I also find it hard to be creative when it's like this, in fact I confess I came home and fell asleep how sad is that.


Here is another of the cards that I have made for my class on Wednesday evening. This time I have used the Hobby Art clear stamp set with the more solid floral images.
I just love this set, although I must say that I would love some of the images to be a little bigger - maybe I will have to work on Jenny and Chris he he.
The Memory Mist sprays that we are using in the class each come with their own co-ordinating mini chalk ink pad and it is these that I have used on this card.



Jenny very kindly loaned me enough stamp sets for the ladies to have one each to play with at Lavender Lane, so I am hoping that I can prevail on her good nature again.
Have a good evening.
Thanks for stopping by.
Love Kimx

Sunday 23 May 2010

What a hot day........

Evening everyone, thanks for dropping by.
Hasn't it been another scorching hot day. I really can't cope in the heat so I am so glad that I didn't have to go to the show at Biggin Hill since I hear it was unbearably hot there.
The Grandchildren have been having a fabulous time in the garden in their paddling pool. It's definitely up market from the type that their Mum used to play in, this one has a separate mini pool and slide!!!! Our garden is very small so this takes up most of the available space but the kids have been having a blast so who cares about mountaineering to get to the shed lol.


I have been such a good girl lately with my class prep, its got to go wrong soon by the law of averages. But until it does I am one class ahead of myself for Davina at least.
I will be there on Wednesday evening playing with the wonderful floral clear stamp sets from Hobby Art. This first card that I am sharing with you uses the more open design of flowers which are suitable for colouring in using what ever medium you choose.


For this class we are going to be playing with Memory Mists. I have used the ink from the spray bottle to colour the flowers in this particular card.
I have also used another of the EK Success punches that I added to my stash last time I taught at Davina's.
The greeting is also part of the set and is a great favourite of mine at the moment.
I will share some more of the cards for the class with you tomorrow, but for now I am calling it a night. This heat just makes me so tired.
Nite Nite
Love to All
Kimx

Saturday 22 May 2010

Back to Schoolhouse

Good Evening Everyone.
I hope that you have all had a wonderful day, hasn't the weather been beautiful!
I have spent a very enjoyable, if hot and tiring day in Chichester helping out at 'The Schoolhouse' an event organised by the fabulous Sarah and Anna owners of The Eternal Maker.
The Schoolhouse is an Annual event and is a day cram packed with crafting taster classes, food and great company.This event is held at their shop in Chichester, which is well worth the visit at any time, especially if you are into fabric and buttons. It is an absolute Treasure Trove of 'Stuff'.


The classes are held at various tables inside the shop. The table on the right are making Sock People and to the left an Envelope Album.


The dark haired lady in the centre of this photo is Corinne, my chauffeur for the day, teaching the ladies how to create fimo embellishments to decorate a jam jar. She added a pincushion to the lid to turn it into a practical and fun item. As you can see her table was sited amongst the numerous bolts of fabric which grace every available space.



Unfortunately we didn't travel down with Jane Gill, but she was there to share a stamping class using one of the stamp sets from her own range available from Woodware. She had also integrated fabric into the card.


A marques had been erected in the car park and this is where we served all the food and drink. There was homework to be completed and spot prizes throughout the day and everyone seemed to have a wonderful time.
I even got to participate on one of the classes which was great.
I did a 'Make and Take' for the ladies during their lunch break, and had hoped to complete a card to share with you tonight, but I had a wonderful surprise visitor when I got home in the shape of my Mum who I haven't seen in person for what seems like forever. We communicate regularly by e-mail, not bad for a couple of 'Oldies', but its not the same as the real thing so you will have to forgive my lack of card to share with you tonight.
My Daughter and Sin-in-Law have just taken her home so I am writing this while I listen out for the Grandchildren.
Must get to bed now. I'm so glad that I don't have to get up early for the Biggin Hill show tomorrow, but I do hope that you all have a great time if you go to it.
Will try and post something 'Crafty' tomorrow.
Sleep Well.
Love Kimx

Friday 21 May 2010

What a busy weekend !!!

Well Girls, here we go at the start of what was looking like being a very hectic weekend.
I had better get an early night since Cory needs to pick me up at 6.30am for our road trip to Chichester and the Eternal Maker.
What an ungodly hour for a weekend. I'm used to it during the week, but I do like a little bit of a lie in on a Saturday and Sunday.
Still never mind Schoolhouse is always worth the trip even if it is a long one. We are hoping to be travelling down with Jane Gill.


I am just helping out at this one, not teaching classes so that could be anything from making the tea and washing up to serving on the till - you didn't know I was so multi talented did you lol.
One of the jobs that I know I am doing is a small make and take during break time.
I thought I would show people how easy it is to use the Southwest corner punch (or the Kim's punch as the girls used to call it. I always managed to get it on to my cards somewhere when I first started teaching. )



I wrap thread around the edges of the panel that I have punched. I now have a second way of wrapping the thread since the lovely Gina at Sir stampalot taught me her version. These cards show both methods.
Obviously the ladies will only be wrapping the threads around a stamped ATC card, but I thought I would make a couple of samples to show them what they look like when mounted onto a finished card.



The stamp I have used here is by a company called Unity Stamps and is one that I picked up at the Eternal Maker the last time I was there. This was one of several beautiful floral stamps that made their way in to my shopping basket. Well I have to have stamps that the shops sell for just this sort of occasion don't I lol. At least that's my excuse anyway and a very good one it is to!!!!!
I have stamped and embossed the image onto an ATC card which I have then coloured using a kaleidacolour inkpad. The corners are then punched and thread is wrapped around and attached at the back of the panel using DSST.



Unfortunately I have found out this evening that they no longer need me to help out at the "Sincerely Yours Craft Exhibition" at Biggin Hill, so I do get that lie in on Sunday that I was looking forward to after all.
Better close now. Hope you all have a good weekend.
Love
Kimx

Thursday 20 May 2010

Sorry it's late.............

Hi
I was so tired yesterday after all my walking that I completely forgot to wish my friend Sharon a very Happy Birthday.


This is the card that is winging it's way to her as we speak.
You see I did tell you that I was rubbish at getting cards in the post on time - well snail mail anyway lol.


You once told me that you wanted to master chalks Shaz so here's one you might like.
The stamp is a Judikins one that I have had for a number of years.
I guess it is another take on a spotlight card as well.


The coloured part of the image has been acheived using a versamark ink pad and decorators chalks applied with a good old cotton wool ball.
The background has also been made using old fashioned sticks of chalk. I have scrapped dust from the sticks into a bowl of warm water and then I have laid a piece of card onto the surface of the water.
Carefully lift the card out and hey presto beautiful background.


As you know we crafters never like to waste anything do we. I am also always reminding people to be proud and sign your work. So I used the left over piece of the chalked image on the back of the card.
Hope you like it Shaz, sorry the blogging world gets to see it before you, unless you are stalking me of course lol.
Will try and catch up on Sunday although I am not sure if I will be there now.
If not we can catch up at my Stampin Up party on Tuesday evening.
Have a great evening.
Love to All
Kimx

Wednesday 19 May 2010

Turn Back Time............

Evening Everyone.
The last card from the Clarity TV show couldn't be more appropriate as I have spent the evening in London with an old school friend.
We were at Secondary school together and haven't spoken since then, which is over 30 years so there was lots of time to catch up on!!!!!
We had a wonderful trip down Memory Lane, and walked around London for several hours - my feet are killing me lol.
I had even found some old photos of all of us back in the 6th Form. Trying to put names to faces was a bit of a challenge, I wish I had been sensible and written on the back of them. Isn't it always one of those jobs that we never seem to get around to.
Anyway back to the cards. They are quite simple, but sometimes that works every bit as well as one that has the entire contents of my craft room stuck to it.


This first card has been randomly stamped and embossed using the watch. The images have then been painted with bleach.
In this particular instance it hasn't greatly changed the colour of the card, but experiment. A blast of heat will insensify the effect unless the card stock is the type that won't bleach in which case not even this will help.
The greetings panel has then been mounted on the card.


The second card again uses the watch and greetings panel, but this time I have stamped randomly onto beige cardstock. I have stamped the image several times before reinking leading to a nicely subtle effect.
I added a single watch to the edge of the greetings panel using ribbon to attach it.
I covered the watch with glossy accents, which have unfortunately dried to a rather cream finish - not what I had intended. Still never mind nothing wasted lol.
I have a rather hectic weekend coming up as you may have noticed from my Class shedule sidebar. Both events are always good fun and it never seems quite like work. The only trouble is that I don't get the chance of a lie in so I look forward to the weekend after when I might be able to catch up on some sleep.
Boy that sounds like I'm wishing the weeks away doesn't it. Before you know it it will be time for Christmas...............only joking!!!!!
Better go now, thanks for dropping in, don't forget to write a comment, it's always nice to here from you.
Nite nite
Love Kimx

Tuesday 18 May 2010

Eiffel Tower Tag..........

Afternoon Ladies.
I'm sitting here waitng to go to my Pilates class, so it seemed the ideal time to do a quick post.
I thought I would be clever and use the new updated editor setting that I had seen someone mention.
Well I am definately OLD EDITOR. I know it would probably get easier with use, but at this rate a posting will take me hours or even days so I've gone back to the old way. I never did like change anyway lol.
This is the last of the cards using the Paris Collage stamp from Clarity.
The set also contained three different sized tags and I have stamped them over various parts of the collage to create this card.
I have added some colour to the edges of the tags with a distress ink pad, and then mounted them onto a card covered with background paper. I have added a brad to each tag.
Told you it was a quick post, my lift is waiting, maybe I will try again later.
Love Kimx

Monday 17 May 2010

Paris in the Spotlight....

Hi All.
As you may have guessed , I really liked this collage stamp from Clarity.
It lends itself so well to Spotlight cards, only here I've moved away from the more usual punched shape as a spotlight.
The collage is made up of several images and I have used the lines that are drawn around them as the edges of the spotlight.
I have stamped the image onto blue card stock and also white which I have then coloured with a distress ink pad.
The images on the white card have then been cut out, embossed on the reverse with a large ball tool and then mounted over the blue image using silicone.
The watches and postage have been stamped once again on to scrap card in order to further spotlight these images.Better get some sleep now. Its amazing how tired I always feel on a Monday. I suppose it's cause I try and cram so much into those couple of days off that it has to catch up on me at some point.
Hope you have had a good day.
Thanks for stopping by.
Love Kimx

Sunday 16 May 2010

Another spolight on Paris

Evening Everyone.
Well I really do think we need another nice bright card after the weather we have had today.
I don't know about your neck of the woods, but here it has been pouring with rain, still I suppose the gardens do need it. In fact I'm actually not sure I remember when we last had any rain, so I suppose we really shouldn't complain.
Anyway here is another card using the Paris Collage stamp from Clarity.
I've stamped the image once onto background paper and once onto white card. The image on the yellow has been trimmed and mounted onto white which has been embellished using a border punch from EK Success.


I have used my nestabilities, or you could use circle punches, to remove three pieces of the main image. Tap around the edge of each one with a black cats eye ink pad and then attach to the main panel matching the images exactly.


I have added some hand drawn stitching to the darker blue panel and some card candy as a final embellishment.
I hope you have had a great weekend despite the weather.
Thanks for stopping by.
Love and hugs
Kimx

La tour Eifel

Hello Ladies, where has all the sunshine gone that I woke up to this morning? It is looking distinctly overcast here. Still all the more reason to stay indoors and craft, as if I need an excuse lol.
I still have so many cards to share with you that I made for Barbara's last TV show - I hope you are not getting fed up with them, cause I had a great time creating them.
Maybe this one will bring the sunshine back into the day and reminders of wonderful holidays in Paris. I've used my nesties to cut a section from the collage stamp and then used the whole stamp to give a watermarked background to the entire card.
Really liked the blue and orange, I matched the card to some lovely Stampin Up ribbon that I had.
As I have said before I'm really into dimension at the moment so have embossed the central panel and attached it with silicone.
The faux card candy is made with a small circle punch and then embossed on the back using a really large ball tool and a spongy mat. It's great cause it means I didn't waste all of the left over bits from the original stamped image - how sad am I!!!
The stamp set I was using also included a small tag so I've stamped it over Paris from the collage stamp.
Hope you approve.
Back to the crafting now, I've had my blogging fix!!
Happy Stamping
Love Kimx

Saturday 15 May 2010

Spotlight with Bleach

Evening Everyone.
We had a lovely day at Lavender Lane today with two really full classes.
In the morning I showed them Spotlight cards, and these are the samples that I am sharing with you tonight.
Once again I used some of my favourite Hobby Art stamps, and a combination of punches and Nestabilities.
I decided that I wanted to keep the cards as simple as possible so as not to detract from the technique so I chose bleach as my medium to colour with.
I've kept the colour combinations very basic, although I'm afraid that the camera has not captured the colours terribly well, and I've used peel-off dots to embellish.
Not all card stock will bleach out, so experiment and you can get some great results. I've added some crystals to this final card and simple hole pricking.
Hope you like the effect.
I'm posting this while I get my weekly fix of Lie to Me, yes another American TV series, I really am addicted to them you know, although it is nice to see so many British actors cropping up in them.
Hope you have had a good day.
Love Kimx

Friday 14 May 2010

Floral Friday

Evening Everyone.
I can't believe that we are at the end of yet another week, where are they dissappearing to. That's a sign of getting old(er) isn't it lol.
I forgot about this little floral card when I said that I had finished posting samples using the Clarity Tailor's Dummy stamp set from the latest TV show.
I used the floral corner to create a frame for the hand made 'Shabby Chic Flower'.
I think you might even be able to see some of the crystal embossing powder that I used to emboss all of the petals before I assembled the flower.
I popped a crystal in each of the corners for a bit of added bling. Hope you approve Gilly!!!
Must close now cause I'm trying hard to keep my eyes open. How sad is that I think I might even beat the Grandchildren to bed. I didn't get my Granny nap this afternoon he he.
Hope you have a great weekend, it's supposed to be really nice isn't it, if the weather men are to be believed.
Thanks for stopping by.
Love Kimx

Thursday 13 May 2010

A more civilized hour............

Hello Ladies, thanks for stopping by.
Well this is a much more civilized hour to blog isn't it.
We had great fun last night with the cuttlebug and nesties, and even seemed to master using the silicone mat to emboss them. It's so much better than the black mat, in my humble opinion at least.
I also added to my stash of EK Success border punches.
Davina had a really good deal on them and I just couldn't resist. Pop in on one of her open house sessions and check them out if you are in the area, it's well worth the visit. (http://www.stampcraftcards.co.uk/ for details of opening hours)


I'm teaching again at the weekend, this time at Lavender Lane in Stonely Broadway.


The morning class is on Spotlight cards and so here is a sneak peek of a couple of them. You see I did tell you these were some of my favourite Hobby Art stamps lol.


The afternoon class uses the Hobby Art floral clear stamp sets that were designed by my good friend Anna.


Again just a sneak peek of what to expect if you are on the class. I will share more at the weekend.
I still have so many of Barbara's samples to share with you that I may well have to try and post more often in a day or you won't get to see them all.
I look forward to seeing a some of you at the weekend and hope that the cards I share are sufficient for the rest of you.
Have a lovely evening.
Love Kimx

Wednesday 12 May 2010

Happy Birthaday Caz

Hello Ladies not long back from teaching and just had to wish my friend Caz a very Happy Birthday, even if it is a bit late in the day.
Hope you had a great day Caz and maybe you got your card on time, that really would be a first for me lol.

These are samples of what the ladies made on the class tonight.

I think the first pink one is probably my favourite.
They have all been made using the nesties to shape the main card.

This card uses a favourite Hobby Art stamp for the main image. The greeting has been stamped on acetate and held in place with brads.

The rest of the cards use images from several different Woodware clear stamp sets. All of the cards have been coloured using ink from Kaleidacolor ink pads.
Sorry ladies my blogging skills are not up to much tonight, it's really late and the brain is obviously not in gear when it comes to itemizing which sets I have used.

Anyway I hope you like the cards even if the description isn't up to much.
Please feel free to e-mail me if you need any more detail, I'm sure I will be a bit more with it after some sleep lol
Nite nite
Love Kimx