Just a quick reminder.

Evening Everyone,
Just a very quick post tonight, I'm having way too much fun playing with bits and pieces from today's class.
I am determined that I am not going to consign more unfinished pieces to languish in a box after a class, I am going to finish them off before I move on to the next venture.
Yes I know, and the earth is flat lol. Still I can but hope to keep it up.

This is also a sneak peek, and a quick reminder that Barbara is back on the box tomorrow.
Create and Craft Sky channel 674 - 9am to 11am and then again at 5pm with a show featuring stamps from the USA launch.
I have my sky box set already, see you there.
Hugs Kimx

I've won my first challenge of 2015

Evening Everyone
Have you had a good day?
I feel like I've been counting down the hours at work today. So much to do at home, and I don't seem to have managed any of it.
Oh well never mind, at least all of my DT work got posted so I can relax slightly this weekend.
Or maybe not. I have a class to teach on Saturday, although that is always more like fun than work, and then I have a couple of commissions to finish (and start come to that lol.) but as I have been given only the vaguest of guidelines that shouldn't be too bad cause it means I can use anything I like.
I did have one lovely surprise today when I checked my e-mails, I have won my first challenge of 2015 over at Fashionable Stamping Challenges, so I'm off to do a spot of shopping.

This was my winning card and the blog post that went with it.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Hugs Kimx

Like something from another planet

Evening All
Well I must admit to being rather relieved when I didn't find 4 inches of snow when I opened the door this morning, although I am not convinced that I will be quite as lucky tomorrow morning.
I arrived at my Mum's at just the right time.
Just as we sat down for a well earned cup of coffee (just over 35 mins for the 3 mile walk to her house from the station) the sky was filled with huge hailstones which quickly turned to snow.
It is amazing how quickly it settled, and although there wasn't too much left by the time I got home they were gritting the paths by the station so unfortunately I'm sure that we are in for lots more.
I always stop off at the local shops on my way to Mum to pick up any last minute bits that she might need.
There is a lovely old fashioned Greengrocer there where I pick up some fabulous fresh fruit and veg. So much nicer than the supermarket.

I just couldn't resist buying this when I saw it on the shelf. Broccoli Romanesco, it looks like something from another planet don't you think.

The greengrocer assures me that it is a cross between a cauliflower and broccoli, and anything you can do with them, you can do with this.

I can't wait to see the reaction I get when I dish it up to the kids at the weekend lol.
I'm sure that I can find some recipes if I look hard enough.
Hugs Kimx

As seen on TV................ well almost

Evening All,
Did you manage to catch Hobby Art Jenny on the box today?

This one didn't quite make it to her in time for TV.
It was in bits on my table when Anna very kindly came to pick up my samples, so I will just have to share it with you here instead.

I love these cute little Woodland Creatures.

I thought that the little hedgehog should be laying in the leaves which are from another of the stamps sets that Jenny took on the telly.

I have painted the images with Distress inks and then fussy cut them all.

I found the die cut grass in my bits box,

along with the leaf embossed background paper which was all coloured using instant coffee.

The little owls were painted with coffee as well and then I added some glossy accents to their eyes.
There really were some amazing samples from the DT, and I can see me borrowing a few ideas from them.
Everyone elses work always seems so much better than your own doesn't it.
I spent  a lot of time looking at the screen thinking 'Why didn't I think of that', but I expect we all do that at one time or another don't we?
I do hope that we don't get all this horrid snow that they keep talking about tomorrow. It is my day to visit my Mum and I really don't fancy wading my way through several inches of snow on my walk from the station.
I've become rather paranoid about falling over since fracturing my elbow last year so I really do hate the thought of snow and ice.
Better get some sleep now.
Night, night.
Hugs Kimx

Spring Snowdrops

Evening Everyone
Did you enjoy watching Hobby Art Jenny on the box this evening?
Well in case you missed it she is back again at 8am tomorrow morning (Create and Craft Sky channel 764), and I think that there is even a repeat at 1am so there is absolutely no excuse lol.

This is one of the cards that I made for the show using the Spring Scenes set.

I masked a panel across a piece of white card and then stamped and embossed the snowdrops into it before sponging the panel with dye based inks.

The snowdrops have been painted with green and white Wink of Stella pens, I love these and I can see that I am going to have to add to my collection this year.

The sentiment and tiny butterfly are from another of the sets on the show Scene It Sentiments.
There were some truly stunning samples on the show from the rest of the DT including our newest member the lovely Sally Dodger.
Enjoy the shows.
Hugs Kimx

Combining Images or Masking at CCM&More

Hi All
There is a new challenge starting over at Crafty Cardmakers and More today.

Julie is hosting today and wants to see you combine (merge) two or more stamps in your creation. You might do this digitally or go down the traditional masking route. This is a challenge to merge two or more stamps together, please do not just stamp two times with different stamps, they need to be merged so that they appear as one stamp! We expect you to mask either with paper, masking fluid or digitally. Could you please TELL US what stamps you have combined (merged) and how.

I have used a couple of lovely old stamps on my card.

I think the leaf is by Hero arts and the sentiment is Stampendous, but I am quite prepared to be put right. (over to you Dorothy :O)) 

I stamped and embossed the Leaf Square and then masked it before stamping and masking the Birthday Sentiment Square around the first image.

To finish the panel off I masked the images again and then stamped around the edge with the leaf stamp.

The central panel has been coloured with Lightening Black Brilliance ink which looks grey/gold and green Gelly Roll Glaze pen.

The surrounding images have all been painted with Black Brilliance ink and then the leaves have been painted afterwards with a Clear wink of Stella pen.
I was trying to look for a couple of challenges to enter this in but my computer is not playing the game so I will just have to leave it for now.
Happy Crafting and hugs
Kimx

A Woodware Wedding

Evening Everyone,
Where did another weekend go to? I can't believe how quickly Sunday evening comes round.
I have been working hard all weekend on more DT work which I cannot share yet, so here instead is a card that I made with some of the leftovers from making cards for the last Woodware catalogue.

This card will probably stay in my box for a while as I don't know of anyone that is getting married, but I couldn't just throw the image away, it was far too nice.

I stamped and gold embossed the sentiment on to kraft coloured card and then painted the heart with Watercolour Pearlex.

I also added some faux stitching with a white pen and some matching background paper.
I found the piece of embossed background in my 'Bits Box' and added pearls to the flower centers.

The organza ribbon was 'shrivelled' with a heat gun and attached with silicon which was hidden with the heart shaped button.

This is actually the card that I made for Woodware, although I'm hoping that the picture in the catalogue is much better than my effort lol.
We have a new challenge starting tomorrow over at CCM&More so I will have to try and get my card posted on time for a change.
It is made and ready, I just need to get the post written, but that is definitely not going to happen tonight as I am far too tired.
See you tomorrow.
Hugs Kimx

Anyone for Tea and Coffee?

Evening Everyone,
Isn't it funny how crafting techniques are just like fashion, they keep coming back.
I have just watched Sue from Imagination Craft using coffee to age an image on her show this afternoon on Create and Craft.

Tea and Coffee was actually a class that I taught at Davina's a few weeks ago and as I got rather carried away with the left overs I have several more cards to share with you.

The background paper has been made by soaking card with diluted instant coffee and then sprinkling some more coffee granules into the wet card while it is drying. 

I stamped and embossed images from Plant a Meadow Petals and Dots one of the new Woodware stamp sets.

I edged the panel with Gold Gilding Wax, which is also from Woodware.

I stamped more of the images over the background as well as some Artemio script using Distress ink.

The main panel on this card has been made in a similar manner to the one above. I think that there is also some spritzed tea on them as well.

I also added some hedgerow plants from an old Artemio set stamped using Distress inks.

 I added Glitter Glue to some of the tiny dots.

The sentiment is from the same stamp set.
I do love this technique so I am sure that it pop up now and again here on the blog.
Happy Stamping and hugs
Kimx

Love from Hobby Art

Evening Everyone,
Well that is all my samples safely delivered for the latest Hobby Art TV appearance early next week, so I can cross another thing off my 'To Do List'.
Thank you for that Anna.
I'm sworn to secrecy until they air next week, so you will have to be content with a card from Jenny's last TV show before Christmas.
Wow that seems such a long time ago now lol.

This card uses the fern from the fabulous Falling Leaves stamp set and a small Shadow stamp, also from Hobby Art.

The Shadow stamp has been inked with two colours of dye based ink and then the fern has been stamped and embossed over the top of this image.
I cut the image out using a nestie and then added some sponged ink and faux stitching.
The background card has been dry embossed using a sunburst folder.
I've tidied up my desk for now, but as it's on to the next pile of DT stamps tomorrow it won't stay tidy for long I can assure you of that.
Have a great weekend.
Hugs Kimx

Blue Grass

Evening Everyone,
Another lovely evening spent with my Mum, and I feel very virtuous as I always walk the 3miles from the station to her house.
I've got it down to 40mins now which I don't think is too bad for an 'Old Girl'
Of course all of that exercise just means that I can feel a little less guilty when we sit down to consume a fabulous home cooked meal, and a treat of her choice for pudding. Well it would be rude not to join her in her treat wouldn't it lol.

Just a quick post tonight, all that exercise and food has made me tired.
This is a card that I made using a piece of Gelli Plate/Creative Palette background from my stash and one of my favourite Woodware stamps designed by Jane Gill.

Very plain and simple but I like it.
Sorry the pictures are a bit dark, I had to photograph it in a hurry so I didn't give my light box time to power up properly.
Hugs Kimx

Happy Anniversary

Evening Everyone
My very early start is catching up on me so I will make this quick.
This week the Girls on the Woodware Blog are celebrating Silver Wedding Anniversaries.

Now I realise that you will be looking at this and thinking that I have completely lost the plot, but I figured that as I don't have time this week to make a new card you could use your imagination and picture this made in silver lol.

It is made using one of the brand new stamps from the latest Woodware catalogue.
I painted the central image using Watercolour Pearlex

 The two little hearts are from another of the new stamps.

The black background card has been embossed using a folder and then Gilding Wax has been added to highlight the embossing.
My plan was to remake this using Silver, but as I said things have not quite gone to plan today, and tomorrow is my day to visit my Mum (weather permitting) so I won't get time for anything crafty then either.
Happy Crafting and hugs
Kimx

The Kindness of Customers

Evening Everyone,
I have had occasion to send several Thank You cards recently, all of them to customers at the garage.

People have been so nice. In fact when one remarked that I looked cold this morning and I told him that I had stupidly left my scarf at home, he drove to his house and returned with one for me to borrow.
Who said that chivalry was dead lol.

I also received a very late Christmas present from one family this week.
Late because they had all been ill over Christmas!!

I hope that they will all be as nice and understanding tomorrow when they find that the garage has been closed all night for a refit.
The new Cigarette gantry is being installed tonight which involves closing the store while it is fitted.
I was due to start work at 4am in order to get it refilled before we reopen, however they need someone senior to sign off the work and so as I live just around the corner they are going to give me a ring as soon as it is done and I will pop round and sign the paperwork.
The only trouble is they don't know what time that will be (could be any time from midnight onwards!!!!!) so I am going to sleep in my clothes just in case I get the call.
Better get SOME sleep I suppose.
Night night and hugs
Kimx

Poppies with Bling

Evening Everyone,
Happy Monday.
I have fulfilled my Grandmotherly duties - collected the Twins from school - so I have spent the evening making a card as requested by one of the Girls from work.

She asked me to make a card for a relative of hers. No restrictions just that she likes red.

I have used one of the pieces that I made when playing with my EBosser and some fabulous Clarity Stencils.
I can't remember exactly what I did, but I know that I was cleaning up the ink from them by running them through the EBosser before I cleaned them under the tap.

It is not quite as barmy as it sounds because it transferred the ink to the cardstock and at the same time embossed the image which gives a fabulous look. I put the two stencils through together so that the dots become part of the pattern.
I coloured the dotty ribbon with the same Distress inks (Fired Brick and Barn Door) and then added a fancy ribbon slider to it.

I added some Gold Gilding Wax to the panel and also the dark red card which I also dry embossed with dots. Also a few tiny black dots and some gold nailheads. The greeting is from Lili of the Valley.

I even did a bit of stenciling on the envelope. Well it did help to clean off the brush that I had used lol.
I hope that she likes it. I guess that I will find out tomorrow lol.
I would like to enter it into the following challenge
Eureka Stamps - The colour red.
I would have tried a few more but my laptop is acting up again.
Every time I decide that I really must catch up with commenting and blog viewing it decides to go on strike.  I really don't know what I do to upset it so :O(
Night night and hugs
Kimx