A Wonderful Day to Remember

Evening Everyone,
I hope that you have had a fabulous Sunday.
Today would have been my Son Adam's 33rd birthday, so as you can imagine I have tried to keep myself busy.

This hasn't been hard given the mountain of washing that there was for my daughter to do after the family holiday.
In an effort to help her out, and try to find the living room floor lol, I have spent a good part of today ironing.
I figured that if I ironed it as it came off the line it might speed the tidying process along quite nicely.
It also brought back fond memories of early morning hours spent ironing when Adam was small.
I looked for a card to share with you tonight, and I thought that the sentiment on this one was rather appropriate. 'May your Birthday be a special celebration, and a wonderful day to remember.'

The central panel has been created using one of Jane Gill's fabulous designs for Woodware and Distress inks.

The panel across the middle of the card has been made using a piece of embossed card highlighted with more Distress ink.

I also highlighted the embossing with some tiny assorted gems.
I think that I am ironed out now so it's off to bed for me. Maybe I can get in some crafting after work tomorrow, I think I have done my bit in the domestic goddess department don't you.
Happy Birthday Ammi, love you always xx
Hugs Kimx

What a Wonderful Wedding Day

Hi All,
Sorry for my long absence, but the family have been away, so as well as enjoying the calm, I have taken the opportunity to do a little bit of sorting out in my craft/bedroom.
It is a kind of annual thing which I strangely look forward to (it can only be tackled when the family are away and I can leave everywhere covered with STUFF which I don't need to worry about for several days.)
Every year is the same though as I am suddenly filled with an overwhelming sense of 'WHY EVER DID I START THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have so many projects that need finishing, and who knew the treasures that were lurking at every turn. Stamps that I didn't even remember I had - how naughty is that!!
I have been quite ruthless, although perhaps still not as brutal as I should be, and there is a rather large box of things for my family and friends to sort through.
I had to make sure that the decks were cleared this week as they are all due home this evening, and I also had a very special card to make for yesterday.
My little sister Gail finally got married to Alistair, her Prince Charming. It has only taken them 19 years to tie the knot !!

I decided on a circular card, my go to shape for something that little bit special.

The image is a Lili of the Valley topper which I cut out and layered using more circular nesties. I also added some faux stitching, glitter and glossy accents.

I opted for cream card as well as some real lace and tiny pearls

The sentiment is also from Lili of the Valley and I have added some die cut leaves and flowers.

Of course to make it really special it had to have a box which I also decorated.

The Registry office ceremony was lovely, and my sister looked amazing.

Unfortunately I didn't manage to get a very good picture of the happy couple together so you will have to be content with this one of Gail and Mum who looked equally radiant.

Gail had suggested that everyone dressed 'to be comfortable' so her groom took her at her word. The first thing I noticed about Alistair were his shoes. Very laid back!!
STOP PRESS - The family have arrived home now so I got things tidied up just in time lol.
hugs Kimx

I've touched a little piece of History

Evening Everyone
Today is my wonderful Mum's 84th birthday, and during my visit we got to talking once again about the Centenary celebrations surrounding the 1st World War and what MY grandparents did during it.
My Dad's Father (Pop as we called him) was a Farrier in the Army. He was among the many whose job it was to look after the horses.
'Did you see the article in the Daily Mail?' Mum asked.

'They were offering you the chance to purchase a copy of the Princess Mary Gift Tin sent to the troops at Christmas in 1914.
Well, I have an original!!!!'
And with that she produced a little piece of History before my very eyes.

Now of course Pop's tin has seen better days, and sadly no longer contains any of the treasures that were sent to him all those years ago.

 We had a little bit of trouble reading the inscriptions,

since Mum has very sensibly resisted the urge to clean it.

But there was a little glimpse of its former glory when the tin was opened.
As a child I spent hours listening to the stories told by my Grandparents.
Stories of my Great Aunt's time as a cook in service., of the garage that they owned and all the fascinating people that they met.
They seemed so interesting. Now I'm lucky if I can get the Grandchildren to look up from their tablets long enough to even acknowledge my presence lol. How times change.
Hugs Kimx

Bare Trees in the Forest.

Hi All,
Two nights in a row, that can't be bad.
Here are pictures of the cards that I made using backgrounds from yesterdays class at Davina's where we played with both the Creative Palette and Gelli Plate along with Kaleidacolour Inkpads.

This is a first generation background pulled from one of the plates and it uses the Blue Breeze inkpad and a combination of stamps (CRS5069 Delicate Snow Set) and bubble wrap.

This card was made with the second print pulled from the plate, and is much paler. I also 'cleaned' the bubble wrap by stamping it over the background to transfer any excess ink.
The main stamped image is FRS313 Bare Tree.

This card uses a second generation piece of background with more stamped snowflakes from the Stampendous set as well as bubble wrap stamping.

The trees on this card, and the one above, are from FRS278 Forest which have been embossed with white powder onto a piece of background.

Now you know as Crafter we hate to waste anything so when I was cleaning the plates I spritzed them with water and then lay a piece of plain card down on them to collect any leftover ink before I cleaned them properly.
This card again uses the  FRS313 Bare Tree along with a sentiment added on acetate and some die cut snowflakes.

And of course no class would be complete without a tag. I can't believe that this is actually no 25!!!!
I would like to enter this into the challenge at Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge Extra.
Better get to bed now as it is back to work tomorrow, Mondays seem to come round so quickly don't they?
Hugs Kimx

Midsummer Butterflies

Evening Everyone,
I'm back, did you miss me? More electrical issues I'm afraid, hopefully now all resolved!!

I have been having a fabulous time lately playing with my Creative Palette and Gelli Plate.

I was inspired to try them out using Dye based inkpads after watching Jane Gill on the TV recently.

The background panel to this card has been created using Distress inks, brayer, butterfly stamps and bubble wrap.

I was really pleased with the effect, which of course meant several more pieces of background added to the pile lol.

I pulled a second, much paler print, and to be honest I'm not sure which one I liked the best. What do you think?

I decided to use the same stamp for the central panel on both cards, but went for a bit of a 'Spotlight' effect.

I even found a handmade flower in my 'bits box' which matched perfectly.

I told you I got a little bit carried away, so here is another card made with the same colour combo.

This one uses another fabulous Butterfly stamp designed by Stampendous.
The Girls over at Woodware have been working with the theme of Midsummer's Day as chosen by Teresa of Philpotts so I think that I will send the images over to Dorothy as I think they fit the challenge quite nicely.
It will also give her the chance to see what I did with the lovely clean palettes that I ordered from her at the beginning of the week :O)
We had a fabulous class today at Davina's creating this type of background but we played with Christmas in mind. The Girls liked these cards though so we are going to run it as a class in September or October.
As always I picked up some fabulous ideas from the Girls on the class so I am off to add to my stash by having a little bit of a play before I forget all the wonderful colour combos that they came up with.
I would like to enter these into the following challenges
Crafting at the Weekend - Anything Goes
Sisters of Craft - August Anything Goes
You never know I might even be back tomorrow, if I can tear myself away from playing that is.
Hugs Kimx