Gelli Plate Dahlias

Evening Everyone,
Now I definitely know why I stay indoors on my days off.
I walked down to the garage to get some milk and found myself being asked all sorts questions and ended up sorting things out for several people. I wouldn't mind, BUT IT'S MY DAY OFF !!
Oh well, at least I managed to get a few more things sorted out at home.

This card was made using another of my holiday purchases. It is a fabulous stamp set by Stampendous CFS6053 Moray Dahlia.

The background is actually a piece of copy paper that I used to remove some of the acrylic paint when I was playing with the Gelli Plate. I rather liked what was there, and so not wanting to waste anything I added some stamping and Distress Inks.

I coloured the Dahlia image using Distress inks and then cut them out before layering them on to the card using silicon.

I added some Treasure Gold to the edges of the purple cardstock, and also the sentiment.
I tend to think of these as more of a summer flower, but perhaps Dorothy will  allow me a little latitude for the Woodware Challenge. They might not be Spring flowers, but they are flowers after all lol.
Hugs Kimx

Thinking of You with flowers

Evening Everyone,
No crafting today, just lots of tidying up and sorting out.
I also went and had a bit of a rant at a Flood meeting in the village this evening.
The road has finally been re-opened after 6 weeks. However none of the things that I asked about at last weeks meeting had been sorted, even though I was assured that they would be attended to. They obviously hadn't passed far enough up the food chain, so I ranted lol. Too late for some of the things now the road has been opened but at least I made my feelings known.

This is another of the cards that I made during my Blue/Brown phase at SirStampalot.
There is always something waiting to challenge me, this time it was the lovely floral panel stamp that you can see in the centre of this card.
I created a patchwork background with some scraps of card. See I really am trying hard to use up bits and pieces :O)

The individual stamped flowers and sentiment are from another of my 'challenge stamps'. They are all from Hero Arts, and I used Distress inks with them.

The paler flowers have been stamped using second generation inks, and the leaves are from a Memory Box die, all available from SirStampalot.
I forgot to put the washing machine on earlier, so I am waiting for it to finish before I can go to bed. (My bedding is all in it!!)
Never mind I can have a lie in tomorrow. I wonder if Janice and Andy will have gone back to their later starts now I am no longer there to give them a wake up call?
hugs Kimx

Heading Home, correction I've made it!!

Evening Everyone,
I can't believe I am about to end my little trip to Peterboro and head home, so I thought that I had better write my post now in case I don't get the chance later. It looks like being quite late before I will be safely tucked up in my own bed.
AMENDED - I missed an earlier connection at East Croydon so I finally got home at 11pm. Good job I started writing this earlier and that I'm still on holiday from work tomorrow lol.

This is another of the cards that I have made for the shop. I'm obviously going through a bit of a blue/brown phase again.

The background is another Gelli Plate print with some stamping over the top of it.

The brown floral image is a beautiful Memory box die that jumped into my basket as soon as I arrived at the shop, and the sentiment is from the Stampendous stamp set that I have been using just lately.
Sorry for the lack of links, I am just about going to manage to get this finished before midnight. So much for starting it early, I don't know where the time went to.
hugs Kimx

A Bunch of Blue Tulips

Evening Everyone,
I can't believe that tomorrow is the last day of my all too brief holiday at SirStampalot. I must admit that I have had to cut it short this time, but even so it only seems like yesterday when I was being collected from the station.
As usual I have had a wonderful time, and have managed to create quite a few cards for the shop so I hope that I have been of some use.

My share tonight is one such card. It has been made from a piece of background paper created with acrylic paints and the Gelli Plate.

I stamped and embossed Art Impressions Tulip Bunch onto the handmade background paper and then ran it through my Cuttlebug using an embossing folder, having first coloured the tulips with Copic Markers.

The leafy border at the side of the panel uses Sizzix Decorative Accent and Leaves die cut from Dotty Swiss Bazill card stock. I love being able to match things up with papers from the shop even if it does add to my STABLE (see blog post HERE).
The sentiment is from Stampendous Birthday Wish Assortment clear stamp set stamped and embossed using Distress inks and clear embossing powder.
The pre-printed background papers are all from the shop, and the stripy one has been dry embossed using Sizzix Starry Night Embossing Folder.

The corners of the card have been embellished using the Martha Stewart Photo Corner Punch and also a little stamping using Art Impressions Serpentine Background.
I had hoped that my suitcase would be a little lighter going home as I am leaving 4 boxes of cards with them to photograph for their gallery. However seeing the size of the box under my table full of crafty stash I think that that may be a vain hope lol.
Thanks for stopping by,
hugs Kimx

Rose Trellis and the Creative Palette

Evening Everyone,
Another weekend seems to have flown by.
I didn't get much playing done as I have spent a very enjoyable day with my best friend from Whyteleafe who moved to Gosberton at the end of last year.
It is the first time that I have been to her new place since she moved, and it is fabulous. So spacious compared to her little house in Surrey.
She cooked me a wonderful Sunday lunch and we were able to chat while she was preparing it, with me and her hubby at the table instead of perched in the doorway of the tiny kitchen because you couldn't get two people in there at the same time lol.

I did managed to get a couple of bits done when I got back to the unit, including this card made from one of the smaller pieces of art work that I shared with you last night.

The main image, P2596 Art Impressions Rose Trellis was stamped and embossed onto a piece of background paper created using the Stampendous Creative Palette, Acrylic Paints and Distress Inks.

I coloured the roses using Copic Markers and then added some White Pen to the trellis.

The lovely white decorative border has been added using one of the stamps from CRS5063 Moray Dahlia a lovely new stamp set from Stampendous.
Finishing touches have been added with a bow made from seam binding, some nailheads, a button and tiny butterflies punched using the Martha Stewart 3 in 1 Classic Butterfly punch.
We did get a little bit of a lie in this morning as it is Sunday, but I shall be waking Janice and Andy up early again tomorrow, I have playing to catch up with lol.
Night night and hugs
Kimx

I've added to my STABLE

Evening Everyone,
I hope that you are enjoying your weekend.
I am having a fabulous time playing.
It is so nice to have plenty of space to spread out, although of course you still end up working in a 6 inch space just like all crafters lol.

I decided, when I was packing for my holiday, that one of the things that I needed to do was to finally play with my Gelli Plate. It has been neglected due to lack of space not lack of love.

Now of course what I should have done was re-watch one of Barbara's TV shows to remind myself of what to do, but as always I was just too impatient and started playing first and then realized that I couldn't actually remember how she made it look so easy!!!
I'm not totally disappointed I just think that I need a bit more playtime.

As is often the case things look so much better once you have chopped them down a bit and added some colouring. And then being in the shop makes it much easier to find papers to match your art work.
Which leads me very nicely in to the title of my blog post tonight.
No I haven't just bought a horse, I have just added a few more crafty items to my stash.
The ladies in the class at SirStampalot today were discussing how we all acquire far more things than we will ever be able to use, but still we continue to buy them, and I was reminded of something that I read in one of Barbara's BLOG posts.
As crafters most of us have a STABLE - STash Acquired Beyond Life Expectancy.
I thought that this was the perfect description, and it certainly made everyone laugh.
So for now I will get some sleep, but tomorrow I will no doubt add a few more items to my STABLE.
Well it would be rude not to shop now wouldn't it lol.
Hugs Kimx

Holiday starts here.

Evening Everyone,
My holiday starts here!!
I am writing my very short post tonight from Peterboro, sitting at Janice and Andy's watching Hawaii 5 O and eating MacDonald's. I know how to live lol.
Playtime tomorrow, so better get some sleep.
Bye for now, hugs
Kimx

Happy Birthday Barbara

Evening Everyone.
Just a very quick post tonight to wish the lovely Barbara Gray a Very Happy Birthday.
hugs Kimx

LOVE

Evening Everyone,
Have you had a good Wednesday?
Having had such a successful weekend, I seem to have hit a bit of a creative wall.
I think it is because I am so looking forward to going to stay at Janice and Andy's at the weekend that I can't get settled into starting anything new.
Anyway it's not like I don't have anything to share with you is it. My suitcase is already full of cards to take with me for them to add to their very extensive gallery.

This is one that won't be heading to Peterboro with me as it has already been sent to a dear friend and her husband for their Wedding Anniversary.

The central image is a Lili of the Valley topper and I also added a stamped and embossed Clarity heart.

I adore this 'love' die. Once again I have cut it in both red and gold to create a slight shadow.
The kraft card had also been stamped using versamark ink and my Hero Arts Leafy Swirl.
I keep thinking of extra bits and pieces that I need to take with me, no wonder it always feels like I have half my craft room with me lol.
Hugs Kimx

Enjoy your special day

Evening All
This is a card that I recently sent for a Wedding Anniversary.

The circular panel has been heat embossed using several layers of Frantage powder which I have then stamped into while it is still hot and molten.

Unfortunately the pictures don't show the effect at it's best, but I hope that you get the idea.

The background card has been created using the same stamps and embossing powders along with Distress Inks.
Another late night, I had better catch up on some sleep before I go to Peterboro as there are always long days with plenty of playtime when I am there. My idea of crafting heaven, and a great holiday lol.
hugs Kimx

Another Small Persons Birthday

Evening Everyone,
Having had a very productive weekend, today has been a creative washout.
We had a huge delivery at work today (all the chilled shelves were empty prior to its arrival) so I had to help put it all out. As a consequence I fell asleep on the bed when I got home. A little bit more than a granny nap, so nothing got done.
Still never mind, it's not as if I don't have anything that I can share with you lol.

This card was made for a little boy for his 1st birthday.

The central panel and sentiment are from Lili of the Valley and the background papers are from my stash.
Tomorrow should be a little easier, I'm on the till all day.
hugs Kimx

Playing with Imagination in Bloom.

Evening Everyone
Another fabulous day, even nicer than yesterday. I don't really do the sunshine, I'm a bit of a vampire really. That's how I maintain this pasty English Rose complexion lol.
Once again I have had a very productive weekend finishing off more bits and pieces from my box. This time I have been playing with some Imagination images.

As I have said on numerous occasions, I could no more tell you what the cards were going to turn out like that I could fly.
Unlike the lovely Barbara Gray I don't 'have a plan' going in, I just sit and play and see what happens. Sometimes I have an idea for a card but then it morphs into something else due to the colour and size of the papers in my box, or even a technique that happens to catch my eye on the TV or a blog. You never know what you are going to get with me I'm afraid so I am so glad that so many of you have stuck with me and my crafty ramblings.

This card was made using the Iris Decoupage stamp set from Imagination Craft. I stamped the iris onto cream coloured background paper and then fussy cut the flowers.

The main image was stamped and embossed onto a piece of background paper made using lemon juice and  distress inks.
The pink checked background paper is from my stash and I added some swirls in the corners using one of the other lovely stamps that is part of the set.

The fussy cut flowers are added using silicon to give dimension.
I also added a little extra colour with some paint from one of the Pearly Palettes.
The challenge over at Imagination this month is Imagination in Bloom so I would like to enter my card into it.
Better go now, thanks for stopping by.
hugs Kimx

Anyone fancy a game of football?

Evening Everyone.
Are you having a lovely weekend?
What a glorious day it has been here. It was so nice to see the children play outside for a change.

This card was made for a young man I know called Ben, maybe he has spent the day playing footie.

The image is a Lili of the Valley topper cut out with a circular nestie and layered over some strips of background paper from my stash.
The flags are actually from the new Hobby Art Baby stamp set, and the sentiment panel is by Woodware.
Lets hope that tomorrow is just as nice weather wise.
hugs Kimx

Happy Birthday to a special person.

Evening Everyone,
Thank God it's Friday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It has just been one of those days, still never mind at least there is the weekend, and a lie in to look forward to.

The lovely lady who usually takes my cards to the pillar box, was 85 this week. and so here is the card that I made for her.

The background has been created using bleach and a Stampendous Agapanthus stamp.

The central floral image is by Hobby Ar, and the sentiment is from my stash.
Hugs Kimx

A Wise Old Owl tells Me.....

Morning Everyone.
With a bit of luck you will be reading this with a nice cup of coffee and the TV tuned to Create and Craft to watch Hobby Art Jenny launch her latest stamp collection.

This card was made using a stamp set that you may have already seen, but it's very cute none the less.

I meant to add some Glossy Accents to his eyes, but in my haste to get all of the samples ready for collection I forgot. Never mind there is always next time.

I thought that this lovely Marianne die lent itself to being a perch for another owl, so I added some stamped leaves using another of the stamps from the set.
Jenny will be back on the TV this afternoon at 3pm, unless she has a sell out of course, so I will be able to watch that with my very own cup of coffee.
Have fun and enjoy.
hugs Kimx

A Clarity Challenge Two-Fer

Evening All
What a lovely day we have had here, chilly but bright. I even managed to go out without my winter coat which was a bonus.
I mentioned that I was going to try and check out a couple of challenges. Well I have managed to make a card for the latest challenge at Clarity where the theme is Flower Power, use flower stamps and a nice verse.

 I love this Poppy stamp, it has to be one of my favourite Clarity floral stamps

I created a border around the edge of the panel using the smaller solid  poppies that goes with the larger stamp.

Of course it just screamed paper piecing and so I picked some papers from my stash.
The beauty of stamping the image on different pieces of background paper is that with careful cutting out you can end up with enough bits for more than one card, a Two-Fer, two cards for the price of one.

So this is the second card that I made with the left overs.

The leafy background is created using a large embossing folder and Pumice Stone Distress Ink.

I gave the paper pieces a little dimension and attached them using silicon glue.
I confess that the sentiment on this second card isn't by Clarity, but as I have managed to use up a few more pieces from my 'Bits Box' I hope that I will be forgiven.
Why not check out the challenge yourself, and Barbara's daily blog is always good for a laugh and some fabulous inspiration.
Hugs Kimx

With Sympathy

Evening Everyone,

What a difference a little bit of sunshine makes.

No time for colouring today at work, in fact we even had a small queue on a couple of occasions. 

It is amazing how many people have come in today and asked when we finally reopened (we haven't closed at all during the flooding!!)

Sadly I have had several Sympathy cards to make over the last couple of weeks, including this one for my ex-husband whose Uncle passed away last week.
Yes Mum, I am being a grown up and sending a card :O)

I found the stamped and embossed panel for this card in my bits box and I added a sentiment from a Stampendous clear stamp set.
The background papers are all from my stash.

This second card also uses an image from my box to which I have added a stamped and embossed sentiment and some peel-off dots.

This panel has been created using pigment inks, a butterfly, some foliage and the Embossed Resist technique.
We are expecting a food delivery at work tomorrow, so hopefully that will mean that there will be plenty of things to do. I can live without doing any crafting at work so long as there are customers to serve. I would rather be busy as it makes the time pass by so much quicker.
Hugs Kimx