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Thursday 31 May 2012

A card from Sylvie for the Jubilee

Evening Everyone,
Just a quick post tonight as it has got really late and I have only just finished my card for tomorrows challenge over at The Stampman.
This is a card that Sylvie made recently for the Red, White and Blue challenge over at Woodware.
Given that we are just about to celebrate the Jubilee this weekend I thought that it was about time that I shared it with you.
I think you will agree she has done a grand job.
My three younger Grandchildren had a celebration picnic at school today complete with hand made flags and crowns and everyone dressed in red, white and blue.
We spoke about the Jubilee at dinner and asked them all what it was we were celebrating and how long they thought the Queen had been on the throne.
Without a moments hesitation Ciaran told us that it was 60 years. We asked him how he knew and he said that his teacher had told him.
Not bad for a four year old. At least someone was listening at school I'm pleased to say.
Friday again tomorrow thank goodness, although I can't believe how quickly it has come round again.
Hugs Kimx

Wednesday 30 May 2012

A Fairy from Hobby Art

Evening Everyone.
We have had lots of thunder rumbling around us here in Surrey today, although it hasn't come to anything, and it is still very hot. Never satisfied are we lol.
My card tonight was made for Jenny at Hobby Art, for her last TV appearance on Monday.
 Unfortunately I didn't see it on the show, or maybe I just missed it amongst all the other wonderful samples.
I have used one of the lovely new fairy sets that Hobby Art have come up with this time. This one is from the set called Fairy Girls and is definitely the less grown up of the Fairy sets.
I have stamped and embossed her onto watercolour card and then painted her with my distress inks.
The background to the card has been made using one of the background stamps from the same set and some white embossing powder.
I added some fairy dust to the wings and some gems to the corners of the nestied panel.
What is a fairy without a bit of bling I ask myself?
Don't forget to join in the challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers this time as Hobby Art are one of our generous sponsors. Why not check it out HERE.
Must get to bed now. I have work tomorrow and then a road trip to drop some samples off to Barbara for this weekends show. And then I still have to make my card for the next challenge at The Stampman which goes live on Friday.
So much to do and so little time!!
Night night
hugs Kimx

Tuesday 29 May 2012

An Invitation to the Woodware challenge

Evening Everyone.
I'm cheating a little bit tonight.
As you know I like to support the Guys over at Woodware and enter their weekly challenge. This time they are looking for Invitations.
Well this week I am so busy that the only way it is possible for me to enter at all is to use something that was actually made for a magazine article a few years ago.
I had to make several different sets of items suitable for a Wedding. In this case I made an invitation.
The background panel was made using chalk ink pads and Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel, if memory serves, and a lovely dress peel-off.
I also made a Menu card using a similar panel and some peel-off letters.
And then a little bag for sugar almonds as a Thank You gift.
You will have to use your imagination for the almonds as I didn't have any lol.
It has been very muggy here this afternoon and has even threatened to rain.
I must admit to hoping that it might cool down slightly so that I can find some energy to get on, I do so struggle in this heat.
Better get to bed now.

Monday 28 May 2012

Distress It at Crafty Cardmakers

Evening Everyone
I hope that you have all made it safely through yet another Monday. I can't believe how quickly they come round, I'm definitely getting old I think lol.
Today we have a new challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers where our Hostess Feebsy would like you to distress something.  You can use inks, chalks, distressing tools - anything that creates a distressed/shabby chic look to your project.
We are sponsored this time by DIGI DOODLE SHOP with a $10 Gift Certificate for their Store, and also by HOBBY ART who have provided two fabulous stamp sets CS045D Decorative Backgrounds and Poppies. 
I decided that I would use the stamps that we have been given by Hobby Art as our prize to create my card for you.
I stamped and embossed the Poppies onto watercolour card using white embossing powder and then painted them with Distress inks.
The blue and red card stock is from my stash has been stamped using one of the images from the Decorative Background set.
This is such a useful set, I just love background stamps.
I stamped the images using versamark ink and then applied dry Pearlex powder to it using a large dry brush.
The text stamp is also part of the set, and has been stamped and embossed onto the green card stock.
I tore around the poppies and distressed all the other edges using my Tim Holtz distressing tool.
I also added some ribbon and gems.
Don't forget to check out what the other lovely Design Team have come up with. We do love it when you stop by.
I had better make a start on my commenting now if I am not going to get behind again.
hugs Kimx

Sunday 27 May 2012

A little bit of Bling for a Christmas Card Challenge

Evening Everyone,
I hope that you have managed to find some shade today and haven't got too much sun.
Tonight offering is a bid to cool me down a little, not that I am wishing snow you understand, but I do struggle in the heat.
This was made a while ago for a Christmas challenge involving Gingham, but I never got around to posting it, so I thought that tonight was as good a time as any.
Once again it was made using bits from my Christmas box, but I think the Snowman is an old Stampendous stamp. I added some snow covered with glitter although that doesn't show up too well in the photo.
The background panel uses a Magnolia Christmas Text Background and  Sweet Snowflake.
Of course what is Christmas without a little bling so I thought that I would enter it in to the challenge over at Christmas Card Challenges where they are looking for just that.
Just to remind you that Jenny from Hobby Art will be on the box tomorrow - Create and Craft Sky channel 671 at 9am - 10am and then again at 3pm - 4pm.
I had better try and get some sleep now.
Lets hope thoughts of snowmen will cool me down, it's not working so far it has to be said lol.
Night, night
hugs Kimx

Saturday 26 May 2012

Tulips in the Sunshine

Evening Everyone.
I hope that you have all been enjoying the sunshine.
We had another lovely class at Davina's today using the lovely Field of Tulips.
The inspiration for the class was the card that I made back in April (Tulips in Blue - 1st April 2012).
When I made the original card I didn't give a thought as to whether or not it fitted into an envelope, but given how much the girls hate making envelopes, in particular Gill, I decided to help them adapt their cards if necessary.
It never ceases to amaze me how different peoples cards can look just with a change in colour.
I tried to take full advantage of the sunshine and take the pictures outside, but of course that means that you will have to put up with the shadows in the pictures, sorry. 
      Card made by Gill

   Card by Monica  

  Card made by Linda

  Card made by Sylvie

  Card made by Jenny
There is even a card made by Davina, who decided that she would make hers to enter into the challenge over at Woodware where this month they are looking for Red, White and Blue.
I think that you will agree they all did a fantastic job.
Hugs Kimx

Friday 25 May 2012

Twas the Night Before Christmas at Christmas Crafting

Evening Everyone,
Have you been enjoying the hot weather again today? It's a little too hot for me to be honest, but I won't complain, at least not out loud lol.
Hopefully we have fixed the problems with the Internet, disabled at their end for some reason!!!!!!
The challenge this month at Christmas Crafting is 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' so this is my offering using a little cutie from Great Impressions.
It actually started out as a tag that I made for Cardmaking and Papercraft some years ago to which I added some extras from my Christmas bits box.
I have a class at Davina's tomorrow so I had better get all my stuff together.
Night night.
hugs Kimx

Thursday 24 May 2012

B***** Internet

Evening Everyone
I hope that you have been enjoying another lovely day.
Those of you that are regular visitors to my little blog, and I do thank you for stopping by, will have noticed that I have been trying to post every day.
Well last night my run was broken by the b***** Internet.
I spent several hours opening and closing the computer to be constantly told that my connection wasn't available even thought the little icon in my toolbar told me that I had a strong signal.
Unfortunately because I blog so late at night no one was around to help me out.
My daughter has spent several hours on the phone today and so finally we are back in business.
I don't think that I will push my luck so I will leave it at this tonight.
Thank you all once again for stopping by and for leaving all of your lovely comments they are most appreciated.
Time for dinner and then some play time I think.
Hugs Kimx

Tuesday 22 May 2012

A Touch of the Blues at CraftyHazelnuts

Evening Everyone
Hasn't the weather today been glorious, at least it has here.
With that in mind you will probably think that I have lost the plot with my post tonight, but Christmas cards are about the only things that I am able to share at the moment.
This is one of several Christmas cards that I made recently using up some of the huge pile of bits and pieces in my Christmas box.
The challenge over at CraftyHazelnuts Christmas challenge is for A Touch of the Blues. Hopefully there is enough blue and turquoise here to fit the bill.
The weather was so nice today that I was even able to take the photographs outside which makes such a difference, let's hope it puts in another appearance again tomorrow.
hugs Kimx

Monday 21 May 2012

A Beautiful Baby Boy

Evening Everyone,
I hope that you have had a good Monday.
It must be a week for reunions for me. As I was serving at the garage today, I looked up to see a face from the past, my Cookery teacher from Secondary School.
I'm not sure if it is considered good or bad news that she remembered my name given that it is getting on for 40 years since she last  taught me.
It was nice to be told that I hadn't changed much, or at least I think it was lol.
This is one of the few creative things that I managed to achieve at the weekend. 
It is definitely not what I should have been working on, but my Daughter needed a card for a friend who has just had a baby boy.
I used one of my Lili of the Valley die cuts and sentiments from the 2 new greetings stamp sets that I purchased at Port Sunlight. I used my nesties to cut them all out.
The background paper is from SirStampalot as is the swirl stamp and Frantage Shabby White Embossing Enamel.


Sunday 20 May 2012

Birds of a Feather Flock Together

Evening Everyone.
Well I have not been in the slightest bit creative today, which is a little worrying given all the deadlines that are looming large on the horizon, but I have had a fantastic day meeting a whole host of relatives that I knew nothing about.
So what, you might well ask, has this got to do with the card that I am posting tonight?
Well my maiden name is Finch and this is the nearest I could get to a bird inspired card from my photographic archive lol.
My mother was recently contacted by a relative on my Fathers side who has been researching his family history and he organised a get together of as many relations as he could round up.
It was an amazing day. People had brought along old photographs and it was incredible looking through them and seeing the resemblances to people in the room.
It was also wonderful to catch up with my Cousins who I haven't spoken to in years and to meet family members that I write inside of Christmas cards, but can now put faces to.
So this card that I made for Barbara's last TV show is for all 'The Finches' that I met today, and whom I hope to keep in touch with. You will have to use your imagination and pretend that they are not Magpies but feathered finches of some description.
Hugs
Kimx

Saturday 19 May 2012

Chalked leaves for Men

Evening Everyone.
I hope that you have had a good day. I had another lovely class at Davina's where I showed the Ladies how to use Decorating Chalks.
I do like Chalks although I haven't played with them for a while so it was lovely to revisit the technique.
I have been so busy recently that I didn't get the chance to make any new samples for the class, but I have plenty of ones that I have made before, including several of the originals from my book, so there were plenty of things for the Ladies to see.
These two cards were made using a lovely leaf stamp set from Stampendous and make good cards for Men, at least I think so anyway.
I also added stamped and chalked vellum panels to both cards. This is another thing that works brilliantly with the chalks.
I have used the Southwest Corner punch and gold thread on both cards as well as some small peel-off squares.
I really ought to get back to the Craft Room, but I think that I am better off getting an early night, well early for me anyway lol.
Night night.
hugs Kimx

Friday 18 May 2012

A Card for a Queen at The Stampman

Evening Everyone,
Today saw the start of a new challenge over at The Stampman where Sue is looking for a Card Fit for a Queen.
Well I finally managed to get my card finished this morning just in time for the main challenge to go live, but this is the first opportunity I have had to pop it on my blog.
The main image on the card is Stampendous CRW059 Cling Love Crest which I have stamped using a versamark ink pad and then Gold embossed.
I then cut it out using a Grand Nestie before adding Distress Inks Seedless Preserves and  Gathered Twigs.
I'm afraid that for some reason the close up photos make it look a completely different colour.
I painted the leaves and flowers with bleach before colouring with more Seedless Preserve and Bundled Sage ink.
Once I had finished colouring I spritzed the entire panel with a little water to give a mottled effect.
The main card has been randomly stamped and gold embossed using Stampendous CRP136 Cling Blossom Spray and then sponged with Seedless Preserve distress ink. I also painted the images and added a hand stitched border with a fine black pen.
'Queen' has been added using die cut letters which Jill the lovely Stamplady gave me. I have covered them in Frantage Shabby White Embossing Enamel. 
I stamped and embossed the Crown on to a scrap of card and added it using silicon after I had cut it out. I also added plenty of tiny pearls.
I added some Stardust pen to the ribbon and Clear Gelly Roll glaze to the L.
I am really pleased with how it all worked out.
I hope that you will join us with your projects HERE and that you will check out what the rest of the Design Team have come up with.
Thanks for stopping by. I hope you have a great weekend.
I am back to the Craft Room. My mind is buzzing with ideas but I am having trouble translating them into anything that even remotely resembles a card.
Perhaps I would be better having a break from it except that I will be teaching tomorrow afternoon at Davina's and then I have a family get together on Sunday so that is most of my weekend gone.
Oh well.
Hugs Kimx

Thursday 17 May 2012

Red, White and Blue for a small person

Evening Everyone.
I hope that you have had a good day.
I have got a long weekend now due to an extra day off, but with so much DT work to do I can see several late nights in my future, starting with this one lol.
I have been trying to post this card all week.
The challenge over at Woodware this month is a very patriotic Red, White and Blue, and this week they are also looking for Children's cards so I guess that this one fits on both counts.
I must confess that although the greeting is a wonderfully useful Woodware stamp, the hedgehogs are Penny Black stickers, so I do hope that Dorothy will forgive my little faux paux.
I actually made the card with our latest challenge at Crafty Cardmakers in mind, but then changed my mind.
I stamped and embossed the greeting on white card stock and then painted it with dye based inks and plenty of water.

The background papers are from my stash, and I used one of the Crafty Edger cassettes along the bottom edge of the red card.
I added a few tiny black pearls and some glossy accents. Oh yes and a little bit of my trusty sparkle gel pen.
I hope you like it.
Back to the craft room. Tomorrows challenge at The Stampman is calling.
Sorry Boss, my card might be a little late :)
hugs Kimx

Wednesday 16 May 2012

Frosty the Snowman

Evening Everyone
Just a very quick post tonight before I miss the challenges that this card was made for lol.
Firstly I would like to enter it into the challenge at Winter Wonderland where they are looking for a snowman as the main feature.
At Christmas Cards All Year Round  the challenge is A Favourite Christmas Carol or Song so I think Frosty the Snowman is quite appropriate.
Weekly Christmas Card Challenges suggest that you use an Old / Neglected stamp, so this definitely qualifies.
I'm sure that I had some others in mind, but I can't find where I wrote down my list of suggestions so this will have to do.
The stamped panel was made by sponging dye based ink over a stamped and embossed image and then painting the snowman with bleach. Finally I covered the entire thing with Crystal Embossing powder to give it a bit of bling.
The background paper is from my stash and has been run through an embossing folder before being given a distressed finish with an emery board.
Another Christmas card to cross off my list.
hugs Kimx

Tuesday 15 May 2012

I'm a Top Winner at Technique Tuesday

Evening Everyone
I had a lovely surprise today when I found out that I am a Top Winner at Technique Tuesday, the monthly technique challenge blog run by the wonderfully talented Mynnette.
I loved trying out the Punched Window Technique that was the challenge for April.
In fact I have found that it has worked well with several of the stamp sets that I have had to make samples with just recently, so you can expect to see lots more of it.
This is actually one that I made using one of the Decoupage stamp sets from Imagination Craft that I was playing with at Port Sunlight.
I stupidly forgot to take photos of the cards that I left with Sue and Harvey so I had to get them to e-mail me some pictures. No close ups I'm afraid.
Thanks for making my day Mynnette.
hugs Kimx

Monday 14 May 2012

Challenge 68 at Crafty Cardmakers - Birthday Balloon Bonanza


Afternoon Everyone, 

Today sees the start of a new challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers where our hostess is the lovely Mynnette.
It was her birthday yesterday so she 'would like to see some projects with balloon images!!! Any type of balloon will do - hot air balloon, helium balloon, balloon animal.  And anything birthday will do, but there must be a balloon on it.'
So here is what I made.
I have used one of my new stash of Lili of the Valley stamps which I bought at Port Sunlight.
This one is appropriately entitled Patchwork Bunch of Balloons.
I stamped and embossed the image onto watercolour card and then coloured it using my distress inks.
The base for the card has been made using a Grand Nestie Scalloped circle which I folded in half. I also added some blue patterned cardstock and some stamped swirls.
The coloured image has been cut out using an Oval Grand Nestie and mounted over an oval cut from some background card from my stash.
Before attaching the Bear to the card I added a border punched using a DooHickey.
The greeting is also from a newly acquired clear stamps set by Lili of the Valley called Mixed Circular Sentiments 
I added some leaves cut using a Cheery Lynn die. 
The stamped and embossed panel has been dry embossed from the rear and attached using silicon to give a padded effect.
We are kindly sponsored for this challenge by The Stampman (and Lady of course!) who are offering the winner a £10 voucher for their store, you can spend this online, in the shop or if you're lucky enough to see them at a show!


 We are also sponsored by
Don' forget to check out what my other lovely Teamies have made, and I will endeavour to get around to everyone this time. 
I was a very bad blogger last challenge, so I aim to be better this time :)
Have a good evening.
Hugs Kimx