Woodware USA challenge - Stamp that Background

Evening Everyone,
I didn't manage to get much done in the way of crafting last week what with the funeral on Tuesday, sample deliveries and teaching on Wednesday, my Mum paying an unexpected but none the less welcome visit on Thursday and a hair appointment on Friday.
Fortunately the weekend has proved to be far more productive and I have managed to get all my samples finished for Barbara as well as several Birthday cards.

Whilst I have a drawer full of cards, I have very few made for little people. This next week I have several Birthdays that require cards for small boys so I have had to start from scratch.
I am entering this card in to the challenge over at Woodware USA where they are asking you to use your stamps to create a background.

I have used a lovely set designed by Francoise Read called Groovy Cats FRCL124.
The background panel has been created using the fish bone stamped and embossed in black. I have then sponged the panel with distress ink and then bleached out the bones. 

I have also stamped and embossed the mice to form a border down the right hand side of the card.
I have used some background paper from my stash and my nestie to create the oval for the cat to sit on. The ball of wool contains a peel-off number.
I'm pleased with how it has turned out, I hope that you like it too.
Better go now, very late again.
Thanks for stopping by.
Love Kimx

A day of mixed emotions

Hello everyone
Today has been a day filled with truly mixed emotions.
How sad is it that we never seem to stay in touch with all those old Friends as we say we are going to, and that the only time we meet is at someones funeral. Today has been one of those kinds of days.

I know that I have posted this card before.
I made it last year to enter into a challenge but the poem holds special memories for me and so I sent the card to Valerie when I heard of the death of her husband.
Richard Collins was Headmaster at the local school which both my girls and now my Grandchildren attend. He was a fantastic Head, passionate about the school and wonderful with the children.
He was a gentle giant of a man who towered over me let alone the kids who never seemed scared of him.
I was involved with the school for nearly 20 years both as a parent and then ever present 'Tea Lady' on the PTA. I know my place, I may not drink tea, but I'm told I make a mean cuppa lol.
Richard was the Head during the whole of that time and I have some wonderful memories of his involvement with the school.
Today has been particularly difficult since the last time I went to the Crematorium at Worth it was for the funerals of both my son Adam and then my Dad. In fact the vicar today actually conducted one of the services. This is probably one of the first times that we have seen one another since then and we both struggled with our emotions when we hugged after the funeral.

The poem that I have used on the card is a particular favourite of mine and was actually read out at Adam's funeral. I feel that it is just perfect for a Sympathy card.
I have stamped and embossed the sentiment and then created a panel using a Penny Black tree stamp and the resist technique. I have added flowers and punched leaves as well as some background paper.

At the complete opposite end of the emotional scale my daughter Becki took her end of first year Nursing exams this morning and in her words 'I rock!!!' She does indeed. Not only did she pass it but she got an A into the bargain with 96%. How brilliant is that.
So congratulations Becki.
Rest in Peace Richard.
Love and hugs to All
Kimx

Woodware Challenge - Summer Fun

Evening Everyone
Thanks for stopping by. As you know Monday is the start of a new challenge over at Woodware. This week it is Summer Fun.
A friend has asked me to make a birthday card for his Grandsons first birthday on Saturday and so I decided that it was the perfect way to link to the challenge.

I am also entering the challenge over at Mojo Monday where I have used their sketch as my inspiration.

The main image on my easel card has been taken from FRCL127 Jungle Pals. This is such a fun set and great for kids cards. Definitely Summer Fun in my opinion lol. I have coloured it using ink from a Kaleidacolor Creole Spice ink pad, my all time favourite.

A Lili of the Valley Circular Sentiments did manage to sneak its way in there I'm afraid, along with assorted papers and ribbon from my stash. I don't appear to have any Woodware papers or ribbon so I can see that I will have to rectify that at some point.

I added some leaves using the lovely Woodware Monstera punch and some tiny flowers, also from my stash.

The abstract line is taken from another Woodware stamp set FRCL021 Jungle Retro, and Lets Celebrate from FRCL154 Salutations. All are available from SirStampalot.
The number 1 is a peel-off.
I will deliver it tomorrow which will give Kevin a bit of a shock as he only asked me about it today, I even made a box for it.
Don't forget to join in with the challenges.
Love and hugs
Kimx

Frosty the Snowman

Evening Everyone,
I've spent another day making cards for the TV. Everything I'm working on is geared towards Christmas at the moment so it seems logical to share a card that I made a while ago using the Frosty the Snowman stamp set from Hobby Art.

I have stamped and embossed Frosty 3 times and coloured him using Distress inks. The background has been stamped with gold brilliance and versamark using a couple of the other stamps from the set.

I have added punched snowflakes and some buttons. I love the greeting from the set, it says it all doesn't it.
Love and hugs
Kimx

A Little more Merry Christmas

Evening Everyone.
Auntie Bee is home tonight so my sleepover skills are not required. Aunties are so much more fun than a Mam-ma. It looks like Harry Potter will have to wait for another night lol,
This is a card that I made for Barbara for the last TV show.

This beautiful Holly and Ivy stamp comes in both large and small and worked so well with every technique I tried. Here I have stamped and embossed in white and then sponged distress ink over the entire panel before painting the leaves and berries.

I have also stamped around the edges of the panel with the same stamp and brown ink pad and then I have added some stitched lines and a greeting.
The checkered background card is from SirStampalot.
I have been working on more Christmas cards for the TV today but I can't share them yet, sorry.
Look at the time, its sooooo late again, must get to bed.
Love and hugs
Kimx

A sleepover and Harry Potter

Hello
It was my eldest Granddaughter Megan's last day at Primary School yesterday. She was a bit tearful and as her brother had gone to his best friend's for a sleepover, and the twins had each other, we had a sleepover of our very own. Am I the only one in the world not to have seen any of the Harry Potter films?  Well my education started last night. We had ice cream and cuddled up for a marathon. I'm afraid to say that we both fell asleep, nothing to do with the film more about the timing. But I have started, as they say, so now maybe we will finish number one later today.

This is one of the cards that I made for Barbara using her Small Calligraphy Tree. I have stamped and embossed it in gold and then cut it out using a Nestie.

I mounted it over panels of card that have had the edges distressed. Ribbon, peel-off dots and a stitched border finish things off nicely.
Need to get back to the cards now if I am going to get some time off tonight to finish the film.
Have a great day.
Love and hugs
Kimx

A touch of Pink

Evening Everyone,
I spent much of yesterday chained to the computer completing my updated training for work, so today my friend Suu took me to visit my Mum. She is house sitting at the moment and therefore much nearer for visiting.
Of course no week would be complete with out an entry into the Woodware Challenge. I actually had to start from scratch this time as there was nothing in my huge drawer of finished cards that was at all suitable.

I have taken my inspiration from Sketch and Stash where there is a two part challenge. Part 1 is the sketch which I have used to help me create the card.
The stamped image has been taken from a Woodware clear stamp set FRCL159 Flower Doodles. The greeting is from another Woodware set FRCL154 Salutations.

I coloured the flowers with pink ink and then went over them again with Pearlex. The beautiful sparkle doesn't show up which is a great shame.

I made the flowers using some of the background papers and Woodware circular punches.
I would also like to enter this into the challenge over at Crafts and Me where the theme is add a flower. I think I have managed to fulfill that criteria lol.

Part 2 of the challenge at Sketch and Stash is that you must use your newest or neglected stash on the card. All the items in the photo which have been used on the card could certainly be classed as neglected items. I looked through my paper box for anything pink and then narrowed it down to match the painted panel.

The pink shaped panel has been created using a Grand Nestie Creative Book Pages which is definitely one of the newest items from my stash having been added on my visit to SirStampalot a couple of weeks ago. I added plenty of pink gems, a few pearls and some punched leaves.
Of course it will mean a box Mrs Till. One day I really will have to show you just how quick and easy they are to make. But for now sleep beckons,
Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to join in the challenges.
Love and hugs
Kimx

Just a Quick post

Evening Everyone
Just a quick post tonight as I am absolutely shattered.

This card was made for Jenny at Hobby Art using one of the lovely new Butterfly Kisses stamp sets called Frosty that she launched on the TV. I have used only the elements from the set, white heat embossing and some sponged inks.

The greeting, also from the set, has been cut out using a nestie and then some ribbon, flowers, pins and a snowflake have been added.
I'm sorry for the very brief post but I have found today a struggle. I heard first thing this morning of the death of an old friend and it has quite knocked me for six.
Here's to happy memories.
Love and hugs to All
Kimx

Happy Birthday Part 2

Evening Everyone,
I'm back, as promised, with Saskia's birthday card. I had better be quick if this is going to get posted today!

Once again I used a lovely Lili of the Valley stamp 'Back to School Girl'. When I was making the card Ciaran saw me stamp out this image and told me that it was 'Saskia with her hair up'. I'm sure that she will look this cute on her first day.

Colouring was once again done using distress inks and this time I padded the image with silicone.

Most of the flowers were hand made using some of the lovely background papers that I got from Sir Stampalot. I started off with a pile of about 16 or 17 sheets of paper and card and narrowed it down to about 6. I never know what I'm going to use until I actually start making the card, so it's always best to be prepared don't you think.

Here are the terrors with their cards, I managed to get them to sit still for a few moments at least.

Daddy has also been a busy bee today. How about this for a birthday cake, a giant cheeseburger complete with fries. He even fooled me with the ketchup. It is actually icing but it is so realistic I really thought that he had put real ketchup on the chips.
The challenge over at Crafts and Me is Summertime. Maybe I can sneak this in, after all they will be starting school in the Summer :)
Thanks for stopping by.
Nite, nite
Kimx

Happy Birthday Saskia and Ciaran Part 1

Good Morning
Today is Saskia and Ciaran's birthday.
I can't believe that it is 4 years since they were born. I hope that the weather now doesn't mirror that week. We were flooded here in Whyteleafe. I had to walk to the school to collect their brother and sister knee deep in water.
It is even harder to believe that they will be starting school in September, they still seem too little.
As soon as I saw this stamp at the Lili of the Valley stand in Sandown last year I knew that I had to have it. He is called 'Back to School Boy' and is just perfect for Ciaran's card.

This wouldn't have been my usual choice of colours but as his new school uniform will be yellow and grey it just had to be done. I'm really pleased with how it has turned out.
I used the sketch over at CLP Challenge .

The image has been coloured using distress inks. The Happy Birthday greeting and the leaf punch are from Sir Stampalot as are some of the papers.

I bought the dinosaur punch at Sir Stampalot ages ago. When I showed the card to Ciaran's Mum she said that he has been talking about Dinosaurs all week, how spooky is that lol.
The house is very quiet at the moment as they are all out. I'm sure that all that will change when they get back and open all their presents and the visitors arrive. I think I'll make the most of the calm.
Stop by later for Part 2 Saskia's card.
Happy Crafting
Kimx

Masking, Bleach and a Rainbow

Evening Everyone
What bizarre weather we have had today. It certainly hasn't been autumnal as the weather men predicted, although we have had torrential rain as well as that oppressively sticky feel. We also looked out this evening to see the most amazing rainbow. No pot of gold I'm afraid, that's somewhere in Scotland I think along with all those Euro Millions lol.

It stretched across the entire skyline, not well photographed I know but it was the best my poor little camera could do.
Despite the weather we had a day of lovely classes at Lavender Lane. Bleach in the morning and Masking after lunch. The day was all about playing with the techniques so I didn't make any specific cards for the ladies to copy.
I had hoped to have finished one from each class to share with you when I got home but the time got away from me once I had tidied up so I'm afraid the photography is not up to much. David Bailey I'm not.
The first card is from the masking class and is actually based on an idea that I found on the Internet.

I always forget about leaving the Nestie in place after I have cut out the shape and then sponging colour over it to leave that lovely narrow white border.

I masked the flower before I started to sponge and stamp and then coloured the image using the same ink pad. Please note plenty of pearls and bling Mrs Till :)

The second card tonight is actually an original that I have taken from my book on Rubber Stamping.  Both the black and red card has been stamped with bleach and heat set before stamped and embossed images have been added.

I have added a string of small seed beads to compliment the red panel.

I even embellished the envelope, which I always try to do.
Hope you liked them, the ladies all seemed to.
Love and hugs
Kimx

A Wedding in Pakistan

Evening Everyone
One of the cards that I had to get made while at Sirstampalot was for a friend from work. He has been in Pakistan since the end of June where he went home to get married.

Typical man, he didn't say anything about the wedding until he was leaving for the airport, which meant that he didn't give me any chance to get a card made for him to take with him so this had to be sent. I do hope that it has made it before he comes home lol.

I have used a lovely Lili of the Valley stamp called Wedding Couple. I stamped it in Sepia ink and then coloured it using instant coffee and distress inks. I'm afraid that I can't give you any details of the other stamps that I have used since I took them from my 'bits box' and they were stamped out years ago.

The couple have been cut out and mounted onto a piece of background paper cut out using one of my nesties. Some of the flowers were hand made while the small roses were bought from the shop.

Of course it had to be an Easel card, and yes I did have to make a box for it but it was worth the effort. I hope that it has arrived by now and that the Bride and Groom liked it.
I wonder if they found any little stowaways in their luggage.
After I had unpacked when I got home we found Saskia playing in my suitcase. She was sitting inside it quite happily chatting away to herself.

 Of course once the camera came out so did the posing.

Oh dear look at the time again, one day I'll get my blogging done at a reasonable hour. Must go.
Love and hugs to all.
Kimx

A brayered background

Evening
Wow, isn't the first day back after a holiday hard. I always seem to have to play catch up on all those things that apparently only I can do lol.
One of the main reasons for my few days away was to spend last Saturday teaching a lovely group of ladies who call themselves the Camstampers. They meet once a month in Offord D'Arcy and I was invited to join them by Ellen who I first met at Sirstampalot some time ago.
They provided me with numerous cups of coffee and a lovely lunch and I in turn taught them three separate techniques.

One of the things that they had specifically asked that I cover was brayering. Barbara Grey I am not. As you can see I have not yet perfected the 'flick' and therefore get lines in my backgrounds.

The main brayered panel has been created using a big and juicy ink pad and screwed up copy paper. I have then stamped and embossed Hobby Art Just for You and Hero Arts Leaf Cluster across the panel in black.

By cutting the panel into three before mounting it onto co-ordinating background papers I have helped to disguise the lines, I hope :)
As Julie Hickey always taught me ' It's never a mistake, it's always an opportunity!'
I have also used a Martha Stewart border punch and a Magnolia DooHickey to embellish the panels.
Well I was pleased with it, and the ladies seemed to enjoy themselves so that really is all that counts.
Off to bed now. Nite nite
Love and hugs
Kimx

Woodware Challenge week 8 - Anything but a card

Evening Everyone,
Well that's the end of my couple of days away from work, back to the grind tomorrow.
I have been beavering away with various projects today including getting Saskia's birthday card ready for Sunday. One down, only Ciaran's to do now, but that will have to wait for a couple of days as I am teaching on Wednesday and then again on Saturday so I had better get some class prep done. In fact I have so enjoyed my break that I completely forgot to remind you about Jenny being on the box three times today, sorry. I will try and share some of my samples from her shows over the next couple of days.

The challenge this week over at Woodware is Anything but a Card. I made these picture frames quite some time ago, but they fit the theme perfectly I think.

The main part of the frame has been made using an old Magenta stamp 26.003.R Decorative Frame which I must admit I couldn't find on the Woodware web site. The flower on this one is from Stampin Up.

Both frames have been painted using US Artquest Micacolor Palettes. I love to paint with these, although unfortunately the photos don't do justice to the lustre that they bring to the image.

The flowers on the second frame are made by Hero Arts. Sorry Dorothy, but at least I made the effort to enter lol.
Oh dear another late night. That's always the trouble with having a little bit of a lie in, you don't feel tired till late. I just hope it doesn't catch up on me too soon.
Thanks for stopping by, and do please leave a comment, I so love to read them all. And of course don't forget to enter the challenge.
Nite, nite.
Love Kimx

Janice set me a challenge

Hi
I suppose I really ought to say Good Morning given the time lol.
I've had a very productive day. I have made sure that all the birthday cards are sorted for this month. Well nearly all. I still have two very special cards to make for the twins but I will make a start on them tomorrow.
Whenever I go to SirStampalot there is always a challenge set for me. This time was no different. There were several Hero Arts stamps for me to choose from and  'Do something with!'

The first stamp I used was Hero Arts CG287 Flower Corsage. It is a cling stamp, and having chosen it for my first challenge I made these two cards.
In this first one I have stamped and embossed it onto Bazzil card stock and then painted the image with bleach.

I used some papers in the background, my new punch and some more Bo Bunny spotted ribbon.

This second card uses the same stamp, only this time I have stamped and embossed it onto some background paper that I made using a soggy teabag. I have then painted the image with instant coffee!!

I have layered the image over some more lovely background papers that I picked up from the shop and cut out with a new Nestie. I have added a separate flower, along with some more spotty ribbon and punched leaves.
I hope that you like them both. They seemed to do the trick as we nearly sold out. I left the brown card for the shop so maybe they are sold out completely by now.
Good heavens it's nearly 1 o'clock I must get some sleep.
Nite nite
Love and hugs
Kimx