Still Suffering

Hi All
I'm afraid that I have nothing creative to share with you again.
I have still got my headache, although I think that I have worked out why.
We are having a refit at work and they have installed new lights in the ceiling. They are designed to highlight the graphics on the walls, but when you look up at customers from my till it is like staring in to bright lights on an airport runway.
I made the contractor come on till this morning so that he could see just how bad it was. He says that they are going to move them tonight so I will see what happens tomorrow.
As an added strain we are also training staff for the imminent reopening of another site and so I always seem to be walking into chaos first thing in the morning, it's no wonder I'm not feeling up to much.
Let's hope tomorrow is better, I'm bored with this!!
hugs Kimx

A card from Sylvie

Evening Everyone,
Just a really quick post tonight as I have the most awful headache, and am finding it difficult to concentrate, let alone spell.
My good friend Sylvie has once again come up with a card for the Woodware Sketch challenge.

She has used one of my favourite stamps designed by Jane Gill.
Let's hope a good nights sleep clears my head, I don't fancy 8 hours on till tomorrow other wise.
Hugs Kimx

1, 2, 3 challenge at Crafty Cardmakers

Hi
Today sees the start of a new challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers where our Host Elaine has chosen the theme of '1,2,3'.- 1 image, 2 patterned papers and 3 embellishments. 
Please ensure your project has the required elements in the required quantities and that you tell us what your three embellishments are.
We are sponsored by THE PAPER SHELTER with a $20 gift certificate, and WOODWARE CRAFT COLLECTION, with a prize of £12.00 to spend at your favourite Woodware Stockist, either in store or on line.

 For my card I have chosen to use Huge Happy Birthday from our sponsors Woodware as my image. 

My two patterned papers are from our other sponsor The Paper Shelter and are from one of their 8 x 8 digi paper pads. My three embellishments are a black brad,

some dotty ribbon and a button, all available from Woodware. 
Don't forget to stop by and share the love with the rest of the team, and why not give it a go yourself.
Hugs Kimx

Can you Resist some Butterflies

Evening,
And there went another weekend!!!! I can't believe how quickly it comes round to a Monday again. At least I have nearly finished another of those peskie things on my 'To Do' list, although at the moment the living room more closely resembles a tip than a haven of relaxation lol.
I also managed to finish a card using the test piece from class on Saturday.
I always show the ladies step by step how to create the given technique, in this case Resist or Ghosting, and as I don't need a second tag I try and finish it off as a card.

I used a lovely floral set from Stampendous, and Distress Inks.

 I used the same image on the purple card stock, stamped in Versamark.

 The resist panel has been attached to blue card stock and then dry embossed using a folder and Cuttlebug.

I added some metallic Rub-on to the butterflies to highlight them, although I'm not sure that they show up terribly well in the photo.
Finishing touches are some ribbon and pearls.
Must stop now or I will never get up in the morning.
Hugs Kimx

Ghosting or Resist

Hi All
I hope that you are having a great weekend. I must admit that I am thoroughly enjoying the rain that is currently falling. I know you will all hate me for it, but it is late and you can't do anything much outside in the dark so I am making the most of the fact that it is slightly cooler.
As predicted we had a fabulous class today at Davina's, with a couple of new faces as well which was wonderful.
It was extremely hot so we had several fans going and a cloth rigged up over the conservatory doors to try and cut down on some of the direct sunshine.
This is the tag that I made to add to my Technique book.
I give them printed instructions on the technique we are covering to add to the back of the tag, but for you guys there is always a great tutorial over at Splitcoast Stampers.

I have more DT stuff to work on tomorrow so maybe now it is a little cooler I will get a better nights sleep.
Hugs Kimx

Can you Resist?

Evening Everyone,
I'm off to play, sorry teach, lol, at Davina's tomorrow afternoon. We always have such good fun that it feels more like playtime than work.
I will be showing them how to do single layer resist after one of the ladies asked what she could do with the glossy card stock that she had.

This is one of the cards that I made using the technique.
I have decided that we will split 'Resist' into separate classes (single layer, and multiple resist) so that they don't get too confused.
Besides there are so many lovely stamps to use that I'm sure that there will be more playing than card making.

I have used a couple of stamp sets available from Woodware to create the main panel, and the greeting is from Hobby Art.
I still have to make the tag for their book, but it has been so nice to finally get some crafting done, it seems like forever since I did anything except sort papers.
I think I will get some sleep now and start fresh in the morning.
Night, night
Hugs Kimx

Any One for Cake

Evening Everyone
I have had a lovely afternoon and evening with my Mum and youngest daughter Becki.
Neither Mum nor I drive so Becki offered to take Mum to do her shopping and then we popped in to the Pub where Becki works for a lovely carvery meal. I now feel suitably stuffed and ready for my bed.

This card was made using one of my Lili of the Valley die cuts and a sentiment also from Lili of the Valley. 

The background papers are from my stash and I added a matching flower and some foliage.
We didn't manage a slab of cake after our meal, but a nice bowl of ice cream went down a treat.
Hugs Kimx

Woodware Grass Stems

Evening Everyone,
I hope that you are managing OK in this heat. It was quite exciting to look out of the window and see rain this morning, but it lasted all of 30 seconds and didn't seem to do anything to cool the place down. Still we mustn't complain, I just wish it wasn't quite so hot.
I have finally managed to clear my desk and unpack my suitcase, but I still haven't managed to lift anything remotely resembling an ink pad or stamp, except to tidy up that is so I will share another of the cards that I made recently for the Woodware catalogue.

The stamp set that I have used has been designed by the lovely Jane Gill and compliments several of the sets that have been released in previous catalogues. It is called JGCL576 Grass Stems.

The background on the stamped panel has been made using the Stylus Tool and Large Black Moldable Tips.
I do love this set. I can't wait to see the catalogue when it comes out, everything always looks so different in print.
Night night
Hugs Kimx

What's on my table.............

Evening Everyone,
Well that is finally one job crossed off my 'To Do' list. Do not let me buy any more 12 x 12 background paper or card!!!
Seriously, I could start my own shop.
I don't know about 'Whats on My Workdesk Wednesday', what's on my table, sofas, chairs, kitchen side.......Who knew that you could accumulate so much stuff in the course of a Crafting lifetime.

As you can see it is now safely boxed up and ready to use, so at least it should be a little easier to find pink papers to make my Granddaughter's birthday card, although my next job is to tidy up my desk so that I might finally be able to get some play time in.
hugs Kimx

Congratulations, It's a Boy

Evening Everyone,
Another fantastically hot one, I hope that you have been able to keep in the shade.
My friend took me to visit my Mum and even driving in her little car with the top down it was still incredibly hot.
I'm certainly very glad that I wasn't the Duchess of Cambridge, although I'm sure that her room was nicely air conditioned lol.
So here is a card that I made before my trip to Peterboro (I'm still paper sorting!!!!) which by happy accident was made to Welcome the birth of a new Baby Boy.

 I have used one of my favourite Lili of the Valley die cuts and background papers from my stash.

I also added some lace, pearls and tiny heart shaped buttons.
I'm hoping that I should get my paper sorting finished tomorrow as I have gained some unexpected help.
My daughter needed a change of scenery from cleaning fire damage so she has come to stay for a couple of days and bless her heart she has offered to sort the papers for me while I am at work.
Well it would be rude to refuse the help don't you think :O)
Night night, and many congratulations to William and Kate.
hugs Kimx

Another Woodware catalogue card

Hi All
I hope that you have had a great weekend.
I'm feeling very pleased with myself. Not that I have done any crafting alas, but I am at least half way through a job that I have had on my 'To Do' list for forever.
I've been colour sorting my papers and card stock, sad I know!!
It is actually quite scary to see just how much I do possess, but at least I might be less inclined to buy more when it will be easier to find exactly the colour that I am looking for.
Because I haven't done anything on the crafty front I thought that I would share another of the cards that I made recently for the new Woodware catalogue, suitably the one I have chosen makes use of several background papers.

I have stamped and Gold embossed JGS308 Heart Garden onto watercolour card and painted it using Sparkling Pastelles Pearlex Watercolour palette.

I'm afraid that the pictures don't show off the beautiful sparkle to its full potential.

The sentiment is from another of the stamp sets that I was lucky enough to play with JGCL575 Delightful Verse.
The background papers are by Magenta and I added some ribbon and mosaic tiles.
Boy, look at the time, I had better get my stuff ready for work now.
Thanks for stopping by.
Hugs Kimx

The End of the Road

Evening Everyone
Well that is the end of my little jaunt to SirStampalot, and so much for my suitcase being lighter coming home than it was going up there!!
I arrived with a suitcase full of cards for Nick to photograph at a later date, and the intention of an empty suitcase on the return journey.
What can I say, they had a 40% discount on Wood Mounted stamps, and I'm a sucker for a bargain, so that plan went out the window pretty fast lol.
At least it was a little cooler today which meant that the journey home was quite pleasant, I still didn't need my cardigan even at 8.30 in the evening.

 This is a card that I popped in the post just before I left home.

I have used a Rollagraph on the background and a punched strip using a Martha Stewart punch.
Must get to bed now as I have rather a lot of tidying up to do tomorrow.
Hugs Kimx

Teacher Gifts

Evening Everyone,
I can't believe that my few days at SirStampalot are nearly at an end.
I have been working upstairs in their unit for much of my visit, and I have to say that it is like a sauna bath. How they cope on a daily basis I do not know.
I hope that I have managed to help them get a few things done, but for the moment I am going to keep it all  under wraps, so you will have to put up with something that I made before I left home.

One of the last projects that I managed to finish before the fire, and a trip to Peterboro intervened, were these Corner Bookmarks for the Grandkids to give to their teachers and classroom assistants.

They were all made following a tutorial over at Splitcoast Stampers and use up background papers from my stash as well as some of the very small Lili of the Valley die cuts that I seem to have so many of.

I matched my papers and ribbon to the images and then used my Nesties to matte and layer them.

With Saskia, Ciaran and Reece all in separate classes this year, and each of them having a classroom assistant or helper I hope that 8 will be enough.
More to the point I hope they remembered to give them out since I wasn't there to remind them.
I expect that I will probably find them in a little pile on the dining table when I get home tomorrow, but I am quite prepared to be proved wrong lol.
Another early start tomorrow so I had better get some sleep. I am always their alarm call when I come to stay, so they probably can't wait to get rid of me and get back to a bit of a lie in!!!
Hugs to All
Kimx

A Woodware Catalogue preview

Hi All,
Another scorching hot day here in Peterboro.
We are trying to persuade Janice and Andy (SirStampalot) to turn the Gents toilet into a wet room so that we can have a nice cooling shower. That will put an end to the sunshine and bring out the frost lol.
I have a little preview for you this evening of one of the fabulous new stamps from Woodware.

Once again I have been lucky enough to have been involved in making some of the samples for the new catalogue.
I feel very honoured.

This stamp is called The Vine JGS310 and although it is classed as a Clear Magic Single it is formed of 3 separate stamps.

I used some of my stash of papers also available from Woodware (I think this one may be a Magenta 12 x 12 paper) and did some paper piecing with the leaves.
I also added Card Candi, ribbon and gems and used the Inverted Corner Rounder and one of the Crafty Edger border punches.
This was one of my favourite card samples from this collection, and I can't wait to see the finished catalogue.
I still like a paper copy to flick though when I am making my wish list, which is getting longer by the minute.
Why not check out the website to see the latest images y6ourself and also to find out where your nearest stockist is.
I also thought that perhaps this would be considered suitable for the latest challenge at Woodware where they are looking for The Great Outdoors. Do vines count for this Dorothy?
Hugs Kimx

Better Late than Never.... and a very Happy Birthday to Two Special People

Hi All,
Well not quite the morning post that I had hoped but I made it at last.

Here is the card that I made for the latest challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers where our host Lin has chosen the theme of 'Birthday' to help celebrate the launch of the challenge 4 years ago.
Our sponsors this time are HOBBY ART and DI'S DIGISTAMPS.

With this in mind I have chosen to use a lovely new HOBBY ART design Sharon's Birthday Vase for my card. 

I stamped the vase onto Woodware watercolour card, which I am loving, and then coloured the image using Distress Inks.

I paper pieced the vase using some of the background papers and then cut the image out using one of my numerous Circular Nesties. Of course I had to add some faux stitching.

The background to the main card has been made using background papers from my stash and a Hexagon Die.
Yes it is a little time consuming distressing the edges, putting it all back together and then adding the stitching, but it is so worth the effort I think.

I wanted to add Birthday Greetings to the card but without hiding the background, so the obvious answer was Timber Brown Staz-on and some acetate.
I hid the silicon under the vase but added some brads to the corners of the acetate panel to make sure that it remained flat and in place.
Why not check out the challenge and see what the rest of the team have come up with to inspire you.
While we are on the subject of Birthdays today is a special day for two very special little people.
Saskia and Ciaran are 6.
I cannot believe where that time has gone to. It seems only yesterday that I was picking Megan and Reece up from school, in the pouring rain I might add!!!!, so that we could go and visit their brand new baby Brother and Sister.
I wonder if there will be a royal birth today? That would certainly make it easy to remember.
Have a great evening. I am sitting in the doorway at Sirstampalot catching a lovely evening breeze while the ladies are beavering away at Christmas Club.
Hugs to all, and especially Ciaran and Sas.
Kimx

I'm a really bad blogger

Hi All
I'm sorry, I'm a really bad DT blogger aren't I.

There you were expecting to see my card for the Crafty Cardmakers challenge, and all you have is a sneak peek.
Well I do have an excuse, another one I hear you all say!!
I'm in Peterboro, and it's hot, and I'm tired.
There I admit it, I'm rubbish in this heat.
I've come up to SirStampalot for a few days to work on some DT stuff and the journey has done me in.
How do people travel on the train and underground every day??
I couldn't do it for a day let alone a lifetime.
So I am going go and get some sleep, and I will try and get my post done tomorrow morning before it gets too hot, and anything else conspires to stop me.
Stick with me folks, I hope that you will consider it worth it.
hugs Kimx

Fire Update

Evening Everyone,
Now I know that some of you will have come my way via the new challenge at Crafty Cardmakers.
I know that I should be posting my card, but to be honest I am feeling too knackered to do it justice so I'm going to be late to the party and post tomorrow, Sorry.
On the home front, or my daughter's home front at least, the clean up has been on going all day with her partner on his hands and knees for most of it (Evidence on facebook) lol.
Becki has been feeling pretty rough which is probably to do with all of the crap that she inhaled, but at least they are both safe, and the cat has ventured out from under the kitchen cupboards so that is a step in the right direction.
Stay safe and big hugs to all
Kimx

The best laid plans..........

Hi All
Are you having a wonderful Sunday? I am seriously struggling with the heat, even though it is possibly a little cooler today than yesterday.
I can't manage outside, and I have even had to switch the lights off in my craft room to cool it down a little which has of course made crafting rather difficult.
I hope that I can get some inspiration going later today as I have two very special birthday cards for next week and at the moment I am getting no where fast.

STOP THE PRESS

I started writing this post this afternoon with every intention of getting back to my desk once it got cooler. However fate had other ideas for me, and I have spent the afternoon and evening helping my youngest daughter clean soot and smoke damage from her house due to a fire.
You would never credit how much damage could be done by an iron. All that is left of it is the plug and cable with a molten lump at the end. The ironing board is just a shell.
Fortunately the house is still standing, no one was hurt and the damage probably looks worse than it actually is, but when you get a phone call from a sobbing daughter you leap in a taxi (I don't drive) and ask questions later.
So I'm afraid tonight will be picture less,  as I am in need of something to eat and a shower lol.
And I can't face ironing my uniform for work tomorrow, I will just have to go in creased
Hugs to all, stay safe.
Kimx

A Sleepover and The Wanderer Returns

Evening Everyone.
Wow has it been hot today. I have been indoors cultivating my 'Pale English Rose' complexion, and crafting of course lol.
My Grandson has gone to a party,and sleepover, at his friend Ethan's house, so here is the card that he took for the Birthday Boy.

Ethan, like Reece, is into his football so I made him a card using a fabulous Football Edwin stamp that I bought from SirStampalot.

I coloured him with Distress Inks in the Chelsea Team colours as this is his favourite team.
The circle behind Edwin has been embossed using a folder and I also added plenty of grass die cut using a Doohickey.

The hexagonal background has been made using papers from my stash and I added some medical gauze which I thought looked a little like a football net.

I added Edwin using silicon for dimension.
We have all had a very late night as my eldest Granddaughter has just returned from her school trip to France and we were all eager to hear about her travels. Even the twins stayed up so that they could go and collect her.
Everyone is safely tucked up in bed now, so I think that it is my turn now.
Night, night.
Hugs Kimx

The size of a small bird

Evening Everyone,
Are you glad that it's Friday?
I certainly am. We seem to have been really busy this week, so I seem to have spent all of my time on the till.
We did have a bit of a lull this morning, which was just as well because we had the most enormous moth fluttering around and if it had come near me I would have been off, customers or not.
Seriously this thing was the size of a small bird, I kid you not, and anyone that knows me knows that I do not like moths at all. I know it's irrational but they terrify me.
 Fortunately one of the boys came to my rescue and managed to get rid of it.

 My card tonight is another that I made using an Imagination Decoupage stamp,

 The small bird, holly leaves and greeting are all part of the set.

The frame has been created by cutting around the central image of the donkey.
I painted the images with Distress Inks, used background paper from my stash, and added some Faux Stitching.
Hugs Kimx

Fun with Frantage

Hi All
I know that you will probably all shout at me, but today has been much more bearable  for me.
In fact someone left the bathroom window slightly open last night, and it was positively freezing in there this morning!!

I have been playing with Frantage powders this afternoon, in preparation for Saturdays class at Davina's in Purley.

I have used some Kraft coloured card to stamp and emboss the Woodware image JGS273 Wheat.

I added a little Vintage Photo Distress ink around the edges and also some stamped stitched lines from a Hobby Art Decorative Backgrounds set.
The finishing touches were made using dotty ribbon and a wooden button. I added several layers of Frantage powder to the button and then stamped into it while it was hot with the Wheat stamp.
I think I will play a little more tomorrow, maybe with some Christmas stamps. Well they have got to start Christmas cards sometime, and I have a lovely Hobby Art branch in mind that would work very well with this technique I think.
Better watch this space, as they say.
hugs Kimx

A Longing Gaze

Evening Everyone
Here's another card and a reminder to watch the lovely Sue from Imagination Craft on TV tomorrow evening at 10pm (QVC Sky channel 640)

This reminds me of the cats that we have owned who would all at one time or another sit on the window ledge and gaze longingly out of the window at the bird population.

I stamped and embossed the image and then coloured it with Distress Inks.
The window panes has been painted with a Versamark pen and clear embossing powder to resemble glass.

I added some white pencil to the window frame.
I'm not sure that any of our cats would have put up with a bow, well not for long anyway.
Don't forget to set your Sky box, I have.
Hugs Kimx