A card from Sylvie for the Woodware Challenge

Evening Everyone
Still not feeling up to much so I thought that I would share a card made by my good friend Sylvie using the January Sketch over at Woodware.

Sylvie doesn't have a blog of her own so she passes her cards to me to photograph and e-mail to Dorothy, so you see there really is no excuse not to enter the challenge each month.

The new sketch challenge starts on Monday so why not check back then and see what you can come up with.
Hugs Kimx

Another card for Our Creative Corner

Evening Everyone
Thought that I had better share early tonight. Everything seems to be taking so much effort today with this cold, that I can see me being in bed before the Grandchildren lol.

Now as you know one of my favourite challenges is over at Our Creative Corner. This week they are looking for Woody with a Button.
Create a project or card using woodgrain. You may use a technique to simulate woodgrain or use designer paper, or an actual piece of wood! The woodgrain needs to be seen. You also have to use at least one button.

This is the card that I made to fit the challenge. 
The central panel was left over from a previous card ( see A Sketch challenge at Inkspirational for instructions).

I rounded the corners and then added it to my card following the sketch over at Sketch Saturday.

The blue panels on the card have been dry embossed using a Woodgrain Embossing Folder from Craft Concepts.

The woodgrain background paper is from my stash, as is the brown cardstock which by happy coincidence has a woodgrain effect on it which was enhanced with a liitle Walnut Stain Distress Ink.

The stamps are from the new Woodware catalogue, and will be available very soon or so I am reliably informed.
I punched some leaves from the leftover pieces using an assortment of punches.
The 'button' is a diecut one which I have coloured and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.
I would also like to enter this into the challenge at Allsorts where they are looking for a Masculine theme.
I think I will get to bed now, well maybe after a little dinner, although I'm not sure how bothered I am by that.
hugs Kimx

It's a Baby Girl

Evening Everyone
Another card tonight made with a couple of specific challenges in mind.
This time I took my inspiration from the photograph at
Totally Tilda Challenges

and the Sketch at Sunday Sketch and Stamp.
I would also like to enter it into the challenge over at ABC Challenges  where F is for Favourite Tilda Stamp.
The little cutie that I have used on my card certainly has to be one of my favourites, and is definitely the most well used of all my Tilda stamps.

I have stamped and embossed her onto watercolour card and then coloured her using Brushed Corduroy and Victorian Velvet Distress Ink.

The background paper is a double sided sheet from a Lost and Found 'Blush' 6 x 6 pad.
Once again I have used my favourite Martha Stewaert border punch along the bottom of the panel, and added some Faux stitching around the edge.

The heart has been cut from a piece of white card which was first dry embossed using a Cuttlebug folder.
After cutting the heart out using a Nestie, I sponged it with a combination of Brushed Corduroy and Victorian Velvet ink before adding Walnut Stain Distress Ink around the edge.

By allowing the ink to dry before adding the final coating of Walnut Stain around the edge I was able to heat emboss the edge using clear embossing powder.
The greeting is from Lili of the Valley cut out using a circle punch. I added some tiny dots around the edge.

I'm trying to be good with the envelopes, it is a great way of using up the little left over pieces.
Off to bed now, my cold has really kicked in and I am having trouble breathing, time for some medication I think.
hugs Kimx

Love is in the Air

Evening Everyone,
I hope that you have survived Monday unscathed.
I seem to be going down with a cold, can't breathe and sneezing like there is no tomorrow, but never mind.
My card tonight was made specifically to enter into a couple of the challenges that I checked out at the weekend.
I have started to get really organised, or sad, and I make myself a list on a Saturday of challenges that I fancy entering including printing out a picture of the sketch or the colour challenge, and listing when the challenge closes.
It may be sad but it does make it easier when it comes to posting them and I don't have to try and remember where I saw this particular item in Blogland, or if I am too late for the challenge which is always a bit annoying.

Now I am not usually a CAS type of a girly so this was definitely a stretch for me, but I knew exactly what I wanted to make as soon as I saw the lovely sketch over at CAS Colours and Sketches.

The central Heart has been die cut from a piece of white card using a Nestie. the card had been dry embossed using a Cuttlebug Heart Embossing Folder.
I sponged Antique Linen Distress Ink around the edge and then mounted it onto a Scalloped Heart cut from Gold card.

The background papers are from my stash, and I used a couple of DooHickey dies to cut the bottom flower and leaves. The top flower is a Martha Stewart punch and the sentiment is from an Impression Obsession stamp set WP16 Sentiments 1.

Once again I used some of the left over bits to embellish the envelope.
I would also like to enter this into the following challenges
Penny Black and More - Love is in the Air.
ABC Challenges - Valentine's Day
Hugs Kimx

A Sketch challenge at Inkspirational

Evening Everyone,
I hope that you have had a good weekend.
We seem finally to have seen the last of the snow, and the start of the torrential rain that the weathermen predicted.
It has been perfect weather for Crafting, as if I need an excuse.
I have been catching up on some challenges, now all I have to do is post them all in time lol.

My card tonight has been made to enter into the Sketch challenge at Inkspirational.

I have created the circular background panel for the card using another couple of Jane Gill's new stamp sets JGCL566 English Leaves and JGCL567 Leaf Selection.
I am hoping that the catalogue and stamps will be available very soon.

I stamped the Maple leaf from one of the the sets onto a piece of pearlescent background paper that I had made previously using Starburst Stains. I stamped and embossed using Versamark and clear embossing powder, and then stamped and embossed the image again, overlapping some of the previous images this time using Walnut Stain Distress ink and clear embossing powder.
Finally I stamped again using Walnut Stain Distress Ink without embossing.
Having wiped away any excess ink I stamped the Tree Names randomly over the leaf background using Timber Brown Stazon ink.

The circles were cut out using my Nesties and then mounted onto a piece of blue card that had been stamped with the same Tree Names and Timber Brown Stazon.
The greeting is from another Woodware stamp set called FRCL207 Ribbon Banners.

The gems were coloured using Promarkers and I have even been a very good girl and embellished the envelope.
Better get to bed now, enough play for today as it's back to work tomorrow.
hugs Kimx

A little bit of Upcycling

Evening Everyone
Are you having a good weekend, plenty of crafting I hope.
Those of you that know me will know that I very rarely add a greeting to the inside of a card until I am ready to send it so that it can be stamped to personalise it for the recipient.
Well on this occasion the same can be said for adding a sentiment to the front of the card.
I have unfortunately needed several 'Thinking of You' cards over the last couple of last weeks, but with little or no time to make something from scratch that I would feel completely happy with.
So instead I decided to 'Upcycle', is that the correct terminology for recycling these days :O)
I looked through my not inconsiderably large stash of cards and found several which I felt would be quite suitable with the right sentiment attached to the front.

This first card is made using one of the lovely Decoupage stamp from Imagination.

This card is another that I have already blogged and has been sent to a friend who used to live next door when I was a child.
In those days everyone was referred to as Auntie or Uncle, even friends and neighbours, it was seen as a term of endearment.
In fact to this day I still find it hard to call my real Aunt and Uncle by only their Christian names as it somehow feels disrespectful. How silly does that sound when you are in your 50's lol.
Hugs Kimx

Technique Tag No 2

Evening Everyone
Here we are at the beginning of another weekend. I can't believe we will be in February at the end of next week, soon be Christmas :O)
We will be creating our second Technique Tag at Davina's tomorrow, weather permitting of course!
The Ladies will be working with the fabulous Magenta stamp Retro Romance 37.257Q to create a card for a Valentine, Anniversary or Wedding.
The original idea for the class came from the card I posted a couple of weeks ago (Vintage Hearts and Love) and so the Tag focuses on stamping and embossing in Gold and then sponging and colouring using Distress Inks. There is also a recap on the Faux Stitching and how to 'shrivel' Organza Ribbon.

 Of course I had to have a play with some of the left over bits and came up with this card which they can also copy if they prefer.

I used the same stamp only this time I stamped and embossed in White before sponging. I also only used part of the image.

 The hearts have been coloured using Pearlex which has made them difficult to photograph.

An Embossing Folder, lace border punch, swirl, dotty ribbon and pearls, what more could you want for a romantic gesture.
Just one more year to go in my Photographic organisation from my blog posts so I think I will try and get that finished tonight so I can have some guilt free crafting tomorrow.
Hugs Kimx

A little more Bargello

Evening Everyone
I hope that you have had a good day without too much new snow.
We had quite a bit in the night, but fortunately the roads are fairly clear and it appears to be disappearing slowly. Let's hope there is no more tomorrow.
I have spent a very 'uncrafty' afternoon and evening. The nearest I have got to anything craft related is clearing my desk so that I can put the laptop down with out it squashing anything.
I have been catching up on some commenting and trying to organise some photos.
I have pictures of literally hundreds of cards and it is not always easy to remember whether I have blogged them or not, so I have been pasting them all into a folder so that it it easy for me to check without scrolling through a years worth of blogposts.
Boy how sad am I!!
Now I haven't quite finished yet so I am going to share another of the cards for the new Woodware catalogue as I know that I am safe with them, they were hush hush so no chance that I have shown you them yet lol.

This is another of Jane's wonderful designs.
I have done a little Bargello paperwork in the background, a technique that I was reminded of over at Technique Tuesday.

I used background papers available from Woodware, some tiny coloured gems and of course some matching Card Candy made with a small circle punch.
I might be able to get a little more done before I go to sleep, if I'm lucky.
hugs Kimx

Just a little thought from Woodware

Evening Everyone
What a shame I can't take my own advice and blog early in the afternoon, before playtime. That way I wouldn't be struggling to stay awake whilst writing the post lol.

This is another sneak peek of one of the cards that I made for the new Woodware catalogue.
I am hoping that my hard copy should drop onto the door mat any time soon.

This card was made using a combination of masking and sponging as well as a little dry embossing along the edges of the panel.
It is not often that I work directly onto the card but this is the result of one such occasion.
Hope you like it.
hugs Kimx

It's a White Wedding

Evening Everyone
Another very quick post this evening as once again time has got away from me.
I have spent the evening working on a card for the latest challenge over at Our Creative Corner, one of my favourite challenges.
This week they are looking for White with a Decorative Edge.
Create a card or project white on white with a decorative edge. Your card must be entirely white with the exception of the sentiment which can be the colour you like. Any embellishments you use have to be white as well and if you are using rhinestones they have to be silver.

Boy is that a difficult one, especially to get decent photos of the finished article.
I confess that I have added just a touch of Spun Sugar(baby pink) Distress Ink to the stamped image (A Magenta stamp) because I just couldn't get anything to stand out without it.
I decided that it would be perfect as a card for a Wedding, what do you think?

I hope that I have followed the rules, all the flowers are white and made using my DooHickey dies.
The Heart Embossing folder in the background has had white Metallic Rub On added to it, although that does not show up in the photos very well at all.
I also added white Organza Ribbon and assorted pearls.
I'm sure that someone will need a wedding card at some point this year.
Why not give the challenge a try, it certainly gets you thinking.
hugs Kimx

A Belated Birthday challenge at Crafty Cardmakers

Hello All
Here we are at the start of yet another week, I wish someone would slow things down please, this year is disappearing far too quickly.
Today we start a new challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers and it is my turn to be the host.
As I am always notoriously late with sending my cards it seems appropriate for me to choose a Belated Birthday challenge. Any image, Stamped or Digi, will do but your card MUST include a sentiment indicating that the card is for a belated Birthday, for example - Sorry I missed it, Have a very Happy Unbirthday, Better late than never, Your birthday came, your birthday went, here's the card I should have sent!!
Once again we are sponsored by  Milk, Coffee Digital Stamps with 5 images for the winner.
We also have a new sponsor joining us, the wonderful guys at Sir Stampalot  with a set of stamps and an Embossing Folder.

I made this card using a fabulous stamp set 11081MC Aviator Benton that I bought from SirStampalot.
I also used a Magnolia background Fence and Summer Background which I stamped, embossed and coloured using Distress inks.

The sentiments are all part of the stamp set and I have cut them out using a couple of Magnolia DooHickeys also available from SirStampalot.

Benton has been stamped and embossed on Watercolour card and then coloured using Brushed Corduroy Distress ink. I fussy cut him out and shaped him with my large ball tool and soft mat before adding him to the scene using silicon glue.

I made a mask and added some sponged clouds to the background and also the little dots using the tiny stamp from the set.

The blue background paper is from my stash and I added some tiny gems to the flower centres, and glossy accents to the ladybird.

The brown card has been embossed using a Sizzex Clock Folder and then sponged with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink. It is a little hidden under the gauze, my new favourite embellishment.
I look forward to seeing what you all come up with for my little challenge, but please remember to follow the rules, and make sure that you have a suitable sentiment on your card.
Don't forget to check out what the rest of our lovely team have come up with.
Hugs Kimx

Happy Birthday to one and All

Evening Everyone
I hope that you have had a good crafty weekend, tucked up in the warm away from the snow, if you are in England anyway.
I have been busy making sure that I am up to date with my cards for this week. Tomorrow in particular is very Birthday heavy for me with three to deliver, including one to my Sister.

This is one of the cards that I made.
The background panel has been made using a piece of background paper, Distress inks and a couple of stamps including the leaf which is Penny Black I think.

The panel was in my bits box, but I thought that it worked perfectly for this card for a man.
I added a die cut leaf which I have embossed with clear embossing powder.

The Birthday Greeting is from Hobby Art and has to be one of my favourite sentiment stamps at the moment.
I cut the panel in to three before mounting it on to the card.

The brown background paper has been embossed using a Craft Concepts folder called Christmas Vine.
I have even been a very good girl  and decorated the envelope.
I had better get to bed now.
Although some of the local schools are closed tomorrow, much to the delight of my Granddaughter, I will have no excuse not to get to work as I live about 2 minutes away.
Stay safe and warm
Hugs Kimx

A Purple Hedgerow

Evening Everyone
I hope that you are all tucked up in the warm enjoying some Craft Time. It is much too cold and snowy to go out, well that's my excuse anyway.

Unfortunately this week as well as having to make 'Baby' cards, I have had to make a couple of Sympathy cards, which has been hard given that this week was the 12th anniversary of my Son and Dad's passing.
Where does time go to so quickly?

This card was made using JGS272 Hedgerow from Woodware, stamped and embossed using Versamark and clear embossing powder on to white card which has wording stamped onto it in black.
The colour has been added using Adirondack Colourwash ink to create an Embossed Resist panel.  

Once the panel is dry I trimmed it to size and edged it with gold embossing powder before running it through my Cuttlebug using an Embossing folder.
I added a little Metallic Rub-on to help to highlight the embossing.

I added some shrivelled Organza Ribbon and a sentiment from Woodware FRCL154 Salutations.
The stamping down the left hand side of the card is my trusty Leaf Flourish F6042 from Hero Arts.
We seem to have escaped any further snow today, so let's hope that that remains the same for tomorrow.
Night night.
Hugs Kimx