Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer

Evening Everyone
I hope that you have a wonderful weekend.
I have been having a great time chained to my Craft table.
I have managed to get a couple of my DT items finished but there are still a couple more that I need to sort tomorrow on my last day off before things get back to normal on Tuesday.
I think a final lie in might be the order of the day, although I don't like to be too late getting up otherwise it seems like such a waste of a day.

One of the pieces that I managed to finish is this card that I started in class on Saturday.
It is made using a couple of lovely Hobby Art Christmas clear stamp sets.

The reindeer has been coloured with dye based inks and I used Frantage Embossing Enamel on the blue panel.
Hope you like it.
hugs Kimx

A card from Sylvie for the Woodware challenge

Evening Everyone
I have had another lovely day teaching at Davina's where we enjoyed playing with some of the new Christmas stamps from Woodware and Frantage powders.
We also indulged in lots more cake and coffee left over from the Macmillan Coffee Day on Friday which raised a fantastic £252.
It was also Sylvie's birthday so the cake was very appropriate.
Here is a card made by Sylvie for the Woodware challenge.

By co-incidence she has used one of the stamps that we played with today but she has used Distress inks and bleach.

She always does a stirling job for the challenges don't you think.
I think I might call it a night and start fresh tomorrow.
Night night
hugs Kimx

Faux Leather at Technique Tuesday

Evening Everyone
Have you had a good day?
I've had plenty of cake and coffee, and crafting of course lol.
I have been trying for the last few days to get a card made to enter into Mynnette's Technique Tuesday challenge for September, Faux Leather using Masking Tape.
Well today I finally managed to finish it.

The tag has been made using the technique as described by Mynnette HERE.

I added a flower made from petals stamped onto background paper using SSC084 Stampendous Petal Plus.

I added white dots to the flower centers with a Souffle pen.

The petals were rolled to give added dimension, and of course there is plenty of silicon in there as well.

The leaves are a Cheery Lynn die which I cut from the background paper from an 8 x 8 paper pack that I got from Woodware.
I did enjoy this challenge as always, and I noticed that I was amongst the winning showcased cards from the challenge last month.
Sorry I didn't acknowledge the fact Mynnette, I do appreciate being chosen, it has just been a manic couple of weeks.
Better get a couple of hours sleep now before I get back to playing. I don't want to be too tired for class tomorrow.
Night night.
Hugs Kimx

Some Christmas Sparkle

Evening everyone
Boy what a day this has been, I seem to be back working with children - or maybe it just feels like the Grandchildren would make a better job of it than the people I am currently working with!!!!!
Anyway enough moaning, it is the start of a few days off for me, and I intend to craft 24-7.
I am going to take a couple of short breaks, one to teach at Davina's on Saturday, and also to support her Macmillan Tea Party tomorrow.
I thought that I would take a long a couple of prizes and also some cake, M & S I'm afraid, no time to bake too much crafting to do lol.
I have several DT projects all due at a similar time so hopefully these few days will see me get on top of them.

This card was made to enter into the challenge over at Sparkles Christmas Challenge where they are looking for Sparkle and Bling.

Crystal Embossing powder over the main image gives plenty of sparkle as does the lovely Frantage Shabby White Embossing Enamel on the swirls.
Better get some sleep now so that I can get down to the business of serious crafting tomorrow, and of course some cake :O)
hugs Kimx

Be Inspired at Our Creative Corner

Evening Everyone
Sorry I didn't get around to posting this yesterday.
I had a couple of girlfriends round for coffee last night and the time kinda got away from us lol. It was so nice to catchup after the last few frantic weekends.
One of the blogs that I just had to check out on my return was of course the wonderful Our Creative Corner.
I love this blog, it's always a little bit different, and this time is no exception.

There is a picture this time to use for inspiration, and a couple of other points to follow.

         1. Use the photo as inspiration.

         2. Use 2 or more buttons.

         3. Use polka dots somewhere.

I followed the layout of the picture itself to create my background, using some of the lovely new papers that I bought from Woodware.

You see I must have known that I would need some nice soft colours, even if I actually had baby cards in mind when I bought them.

I'm afraid that with all of the rain that we have been having in the last few days I have found it difficult to get any decent photos, but I hope that you get the idea. 

The main image is from a Hobby Art clear stamp set Time for Tea which I have Paper Pieced to match the background.

The tiny floral buttons and pearls are from my stash, and I added some tiny black dots to the circular panel.
I also added white Souffle pen to the cakestand and the icing on the cake.

I rummaged through my button box and found some that matched the papers perfectly.
Now go and check out the Challenge for yourself and see all the wonderful things that the DT have made.
I'll try and post again tomorrow, but I had better not make any rash promises lol.
Night night
Hugs Kimx

Woodware challenge no 69 - Resist Techniques

Evening Everyone
I made it through Monday, and without a nap!! It hasn't been easy as I forgot to take my anti inflammatory tablets with me, so I expect I shall suffer for it tonight but never mind.

I guess that you might have noticed that this has to be one of my favourite Woodware stamps at the moment.
I do love solid image stamps and this one is just so useful.
The new challenge that started today at Woodware is Resist Techniques, another of my favourite things.

I have done a little embossed resist and masking on this card and then stamped the image again using a blue Stazon inkpad.
I'm really pleased with how it has turned out - not bad for what was originally a rejected piece of work, sometimes you just have to keep on playing.

I so wish that my handwriting was like this, Jane is so clever. I have added a few tiny dots which is probably the nearest I get to Zentangle lol.
I've checked out a couple more challenges, so watch this space as they say.
Off to bed now, I'm really starting to flag and my pills haven't kicked in yet. Oh well plenty to catch up on on the Skybox.
See you tomorrow.
Hugs Kimx

Did you miss me??

Hi All
Well I'm back at last, did you miss me??
I would say I'm back to normal, but that would be very far from the truth.
I spent the last couple of weekends before this one going across the country to help out at the fabulous Woodware Retailers Days.
I have been royally looked after, fed and watered, and I even got to look round the warehouse - complete with shopping trolley - well what's a girl to do, it would be rude not to shop after all lol.
There was lots of setting up and packing away and being on your feet all day. All great fun to be involved in but as a consequence of which my sciatica has flared up BIG TIME.
I always find myself shattered after these trips even though I was driven door to door this time by the lovely Jane Gill, but as my back has prevented me from sleeping very well I have come home from work each day and had a lie down for a couple of hours. Blimey I sound like a right old fogey.
Anyway all crafting has gone completely out of the window, as has blogging for that matter. It's amazing how, as soon as I failed in my attempt to blog everyday this year, it became easier to leave posting in favour of sleep.
Still I hope now to get back into it as I have so much to catch up with.

I did check out a couple of the challenges this morning and although this is very late I felt that I had to enter the Woodware challenge, especially after I was so well looked after.

In case you hadn't guessed the challenge was Orange and Brown and I used coffee to spritz the card for the main image, as well as painting the flowers with it.

The spotty background paper was amongst my purchases, as was the Frantage Aged Bronze Embossing Enamel that I have used around the edge of the central panel.

The floral button in the centre of the spotty ribbon bow is one of the lovely new ones which also found it's way into my shopping trolley.
Well, I can see that things are definitely getting back to normal, here I am blogging when I should be sound asleep lol.
I do hope that normal service has now been resumed and that you have not been too disappointed by my long absense.
Thank you for stopping by, and to all my lovely followers both new and old.
hugs Kimx

Sorry I've been MIA....

Evening Everyone,
Well there goes my attempt to blog every day this year!!
I'm sorry that I have been MIA but you know me and technology.
I have been away from home for a few days with lots of wonderful Crafting Buddies at the Woodware Retailers workshops. They included Fran from Stampendous, Lynell from Dreamweaver, Jane Gill, Francoise Read, Dorothy and not forgetting Judith, the owner of Woodware.
Of course we have been incredibly busy so there hasn't really been any time to blog during the day, and then come the evening I just could not get logged on, so that as they say was the end of that.

On the last leg of our journey to Thame, where the workshops were being held, we met up with Dorothy from Woodwear at A Maze of Memories.
Now those of you that follow the Woodware challenges, and shame on you if you don't cause the DT come up with some fabulous ideas, will know that the Ladies from AMOM are always joining in, so it was lovely to finally get to meet some of them in the flesh.
The store is a veritable treasure trove of supplies, and of course I just had to make a few purchases.
Well it would be rude not to don't you think lol.

They also have this amazing classroom area which we were all extremely jealous of.
We were greeted with Tea and a slice of Gingerbread which was extremely welcome, and ended up having to sustain us until very late as we spent the next several hours after our visit, setting up the Hall at Thame for the workshops the following day.
After set up was finally complete we made a mad dash to The Six Bells pub right near the Hall,  but only just made it before the kitchens closed so you can tell how late we were.
I'm hoping that next weekend will be slightly less frantic since we are travelling up to Skipton on the Friday, and I know what I am doing this time, which is always a bonus.
I also get to see the Woodware Warehouse, so I will be a bit like a kid in a sweetie shop. I'm told they even have a shopping trolly. I wonder if they got that especially for me lol.
The Thame workshops were all a little nerve racking for me since I was there to learn the classes so that I can teach them in Grassington.
Not all of them you understand.
The lovely Stephanie who was there representing Clearsnap is unable to stay for the Grassington dates so I was thrilled to be asked if I would step in and take her place.
I feel much happier now I know what is expected of me, the fear of the unknown is always terrifying isn't it.
Anyway I need to get an early night tonight as I have a couple of days work at the garage before we set out for Skipton, and I have so much to catch up on.
I doubt that I will get the chance to check out any of the blogs, let alone enter the challenges, or leave any comments, but I'll be back, as Arnie would say, so for now its Goodnight from Me.
Hugs Kimx

Challenge at The Stampman

Hello All
I hope that you are having a great Friday, and that Blogger is playing the game and has published this for me without incident.
(Amended to read - It helps if you don't try and shedule a post in Draft, I'll learn one day lol)
I am going to have to rely on him quite a bit over the next couple of weeks as I will be away from my craft room and I'm not even sure if I will have access to my laptop at all!!
Today sees the start of another new challenge at The Stampman - Summer Sizzlers - Use hot colours!

I seem to be in real Resist mode at the moment and this card came to me as I was serving at work. It's amazing what you can jot on the back of a receipt in between customers lol.

I stamped and embossed Stampendous CRP147-R Butterfly Post onto glossy card stock using Onyx Black Versafine ink and clear embossing powder.

Next I masked the image and stamped Artemio Clear set - Hedgerow Plants across the entire piece of card using Versamark ink.

Remove the main mask, add a circular mask in the corner of the image and sponge the entire panel with Distress Ink Pads - Mustard Seed, Rusty Hinge, Spiced Marmalade and Barn Door.
Remove the circular mask, replace the main one and ink the Hedgerow Plants using the same distress inks with the addition of Crushed Olive.

When you have finished stamping the images, remove the mask and emboss using clear embossing powder.

Trim the panel to fit a large white card and add a strip of torn vellum stamped and embossed with Happy Birthday from Woodware Clear Magic JGCL560 Just to Say.
I added some brads and ink to the edge of the vellum along with the  butterfly which I had stamped and embossed onto white cardstock and coloured with the same inks.
I attached it with silicon to add a little dimension to the project.
I also added some Card Candi and a little Glossy Accents.
I hope that you like it and that you will feel inspired to enter our challenge HERE with a Summer Sizzler of your own.
Have a great weekend, lets hope that it remains sunny for a few more days.
Hugs Kimx

'Will you do me the Greatest Honour...........'

Evening Everyone
Are you having a good week? I am getting really excited because I am off to the Woodware Retail weekend  on Saturday with my friend Jane Gill.
Before I go I think I will be chained to my laptop trying to organise some posts just in case I can't blog.
It has become a major addiction and I have managed every day this year bar one, so it would be a shame to mess that up.
I don't usually make the same card more than once as those of you that know me will know, so the card(s)  that I am sharing tonight are a real labour of love.

My lovely new friend Vicky asked me to make cards for her Bridesmaids.
We got together over coffee to thrash out some ideas, and choose stamps, and then the rest was up to me!!

I had to make 5 cards for her 'Girls', each with their name on the outside and a request inside for them to be Bridesmaid, Maid of Honour or Chief Bridesmaid. What a lovely and very unique way to ask for their help on her special day!!

Vicky told me exactly what words she wanted on the front of each card and I printed them out from my computer - it's the nearest I get to 'doing digi's' lol.

The main image is 'My Mother's Dress' which was all the rage many years ago.
Cream, Gold and Sage are the colours that Vicky has chosen for her Big Day so were the perfect choice for the Bridesmaid cards.

I used 8"x8" cards and stamped and embossed the background using a lovely Hobby Art flower stamp, versamark and Frantage Aged Ivory Embossing Enamel.

The Sage green panel was dry embossed using a Butterfly embossing folder and then cut out using a Nestie.
I added a little Gold Metallic Rub-on and some Stardust pen.
Each card has a dotted border added along with tiny gold peel-off dots, some larger metallic dots and a name.

Each card had this on the inside (personalised according to the position they were asked to fill) and then Vicky was adding her own sheet of instructions.
I asked her today if they had all been delivered and she said that they had and that they had made each of the girls cry......in a good way I have to add.
Better try and get to bed now. Only two more sleeps till I'm off to Woodware, as my Grandchildren would say.
By the way I just wanted to say a HUGE thank you for all the truly wonderful comments that have been left for me recently.
I do try and pop by before I publish them to say a personally thank you but I knew that this was just not possible at the moment so I say it once again  THANK YOU ALL xx
hugs Kimx

I Dare You to Resist the challenge at Our Creative Corner

Evening All
Now as you know I am a great fan of the wonderful challenges run by the Girls at Our Creative Corner.
They are always that little bit different, and they have a twist in the challenge as well.
This week the challenge is I Dare You to Resist Resisting, and here are the FOUR requirements...

1.) Resist Stamping (examples: Versamark, Embossing powder, gel, crayon)

2.)  Describe the technique you used somewhere on your post.

3.) Also, include Wings (Anything with wings or wings by themselves)

4.) This can be a card OR a project (all are welcome!)

This is the card that I made, which I hope will fulfil all requirements, but you can imagine my surprise when I went to add the links to my post to find that I won last week with my Recycled Gift.
I am honoured Guys, thank you soooo much. I will display my badge with pride.
Anyway to get back to my card for this latest challenge.

The main panel has been created by stamping Woodware Alphabet Background onto white cardstock using Denim Adirondack ink and then making sure that it is dry  before stamping and embossing Woodware JGS274 Ferns over the top using Versamark and clear embossing powder.

The next step is to sponge the entire thing with Denim, Lettuce and Meadow inks. This makes the white stamped image 'POP' through the ink and the Alphabet shows through as well.
I also spritzed the uninked stamp with water and stamped this onto the panel as well to give a ghosted image in the background.

I trimmed the panel and having tapped around the edge with the Denim ink pad I then coated it with clear embossing powder which gives a lovely embossed finish to the edges.

Just for You is from a Hobby Art clear stamp set.

I sponged and stamped the main card using the same inks and 'Ghost' stamping and added two die cut butterflies which I also sponged and heat embossed.

Of course no card of mine would be complete without a stitched border and some Card Candi.

Don't forget to pop over and see what the DT have come up with, there are some fabulous creations as always.

Better go now I have a pair of trousers to turn up for my Grandson before he can wear them to school tomorrow.

hugs Kimx

A spot of Retail Therapy

Evening Everyone
I hope that you have had a good day.
I have spent a lovely afternoon with my youngest daughter Becki and my Granddaughter Megan doing some well deserved retail therapy. Why is it though that shopping for clothes makes you feel so tired??
I think that it may have more than a little to do with the lovely dinner that we had at the pub when we had finished. I can see a starvation diet in my future or else all of those lovely new clothes will not fit me.
I am struggling to keep my eyes open here, so I'm afraid that this it it from me for tonight.
Join me again tomorrow and I will see if I can do a better job and share a card with you.
Night night
hugs Kimx

Winged Things at Crafty Cardmakers

Evening Everyone,
Sorry, as usual I'm a little late to the party, but they do say better late than never, so I hope that you will forgive me.
Today sees the launch of a new challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers where our Host Marie would like to see Winged Things. Let your imagination run wild, it could be a bird, an angel, an insect and you can use stamps, die cuts, digital images in fact anything as long as it has wings.

We are sponsored for this challenge by The Stampman (and Lady of course!) who are offering the winner a £10 voucher for their store.

We are also sponsored by Di's Digi Downloads with a $10 prize for her store.

This card was made using a lovely clear stamp set which is by Inkadinkadoo, I think. The greeting is by Woodware. 

The central panel has been made using Instant coffee, Pearlex and cling film

 I have added some stamped images and a bit of Frantage Embossing Enamel.

The background to the card is Kraft coloured card which I have stamped onto in the same manner using the same combination of stamps and inks.
I will actually be teaching this technique at Davina's on the evening of the 19th September.

I added some ribbon and some fussy cut Dragonflies which have been shaped and attached using Silicon.

Why not check out what the rest of the team have come up with. Please try and leave a comment, they are always much appreciated and I do try and return the visit.
Happy Crafting.
hugs Kimx

Nice Traditional Christmas Colours

Evening Everyone,
I hope that you have all had a wonderful weekend.
This is another very quick post, as once again time has over taken me, and I need to get to bed.

This card was made a little while ago but I think that it fits perfectly into the latest challenge over at Christmas Crafting where they are looking for Traditional Christmas Colours - so reds, greens and gold.

Once again I raided my 'bits box' to come up with this card.
I'm not doing too bad with my Christmas cards at the moment, and am certainly way ahead of where I was last year. Following all of these Christmas challenges has definitely paid off.
Better go now.
I have such a lot to catch up on tomorrow as I took time out today to go out to dinner with my Sister and her Hubby.
It was so nice to just sit and chat, and even nicer when my daughter treated us to the meal.
So thank you Becki and my compliments to Chef  Andy, the Roast Beef was melt in the mouth.
Night, night.
hugs Kimx