House Mouse/Dreamweaver - with Stampendous and Woodware

Good Morning,

I am taking part in a bloghop  over the next two weeks we are going around the world with our friends at Stampendous.

For almost 3 years now Stampendous have had the license to distribute the stamps of House-Mouse Designs® there are now over 200 high quality  rubber stamps in the range, not only the mice, but also HappyHoppers and Gruffies. To celebrate this The House-Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge Blog is happy to be hosting a unique challenge for everyone for the next two weeks. The HMFMCB Design Team is teaming up with the Stampendous Design Team, The Stencil Specialists (distributors of Stampendous and Dreamweaver Stencils in Australia) plus us Woodware Craft Collection Blog Design Team (distributors of Stampendous and Dreamweaver Stencils in the UK) for a huge Blog Challenge.

To make it extra special we will be using not only the cuddly creatures but combining them with the wonderful Dreamweaver Stencils which are also part of the Stampendous stable. 

We have prizes so would love you to join in with us as we hop around the world for 2 whole weeks, REMEMBER the hosts are House-Mouse and Friends and they are a challenge blog so to play along please add you link on their blog we are really looking forward to seeing your creation there, full instructions and links are at the bottom of this post.

It is my turn to post over at Woodware today where we are joining in with a bloghop over at House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge.

The challenge this week is to use Dreamweaver Stencils in combination with House Mouse stamps.

I chose the adorable HMCR57 Thistle Nap as my main image, stamped and embossed using Vintage Sepia Versamark ink and clear embossing powder.

I coloured it in using dye based inks and added glitter glue to the thistle down and faux stitching to the edge of the circular die cut panel.

I chose LJ816 Spider Web as my Dreamweaver stencil which I dry embossed using my Cuttlebug and then coloured using dye based inks.

I also added a little glitter glue and some gilding wax.

As usual I got a little bit carried away and made a second card using the same stamp and LX7026 Chevron Background Stencil.

I hope that you will join us this week, and next for what I am sure will be an inspirational fortnight of cute cards.

KimX (you are here)

House-Mouse Monday Challenge Blog

The Stencil Specialists

Woodware

Stampendous

THEME:

We’re celebrating stencils, and using them with our House-Mouse Designs® images. We’re going to bring you tons of inspiration over the next two weeks, and we can’t wait to see what you enter into the challenge! You may use ANY House-Mouse Designs® images or characters on your project, and any stencils and stenciling techniques that you like. There is never any purchase necessary to enter. And, of course, as always on the HMFMCB, “anything goes” is always an entry option.  Link your entry to the linky tool by the end of Friday, April 8, 2016.

There are prizes!! Three entries, chosen at random, will win 1-HMD Stampendous Cling Rubber Stamp, 1 – Large Dreamweaver Stencils Background Stencil, and 1 – Jar of Embossing Paste.  This contest is open to everyone!!

Even though you will be entering to win by linking up a challenge piece, we sure hope that you’ll hop around to each designer’s blog and leave a sweet “eek” of delight at their inspiration! They’ve worked hard to create something you’ll love! Please give them some love right back! Here are the links to the Sponsor’s blogs and our designers playing today: (If a blog isn’t live when you visit, they might still be sleeping! Please, check back in a few hours!)

HOW TO ENTER:

1. Create something fun and a little bit wonderful. It’s not a talent show, winners are randomly selected. Use an HMD image plus a stencil on your work (or choose “anything goes”). It doesn’t have to be a card, it can be any kind of project. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY
2. Post your creation online. You can post it anywhere that will give it a unique URL (internet address). Most folks have a blog, but you can post on Flickr, or PhotoBucket, or even on your Google+ account. (ps…creating a blog is free! What are you waiting for?)
3. Get the URL for the specific post that contains your project – click on the title of your post, copy the URL from your browser’s title bar, click on the inLinkz picture on the HMFMCB post, paste your URL into the tool. Add your name and email address and voila, you’re entered!

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs Kimx

Masking Techniques at Woodware

Morning Everyone,
It is my turn to post over at Woodware this week where we are looking at Masking Techniques.

I have chosen a card that I made a while ago for one of the catalogues, but I think it shows off just what you can do with a bit of torn paper as a mask and some dye based ink.

 I have used the torn paper mask and pale blue ink to create some hills, or in this case snow drifts.

I also added a circle mask in the sky to create a moon/sun.

Having created the hills I then replaced the mask and stamped JGS397 Berries and Branches 1 using black ink so that it looks like bare trees peeping through the snow drifts.

I also sprinkled the background with some drops of water to resemble snowflakes which I then dried with a piece of kitchen paper.
The finishing touches are a trio of silver nailheads and a glitter glue border.
I hope that you are enjoying our posts on masking and thanks for stopping by.
Hugs Kimx

Wearable Art at Woodware

Morning Everyone,
Sorry I haven't been around much in the last week, I have been rather busy enjoying my holiday, and then being thrown straight back in to all things normal like tidying up and babysitting Emma.
Definitely not complaining. I have had a great time doing all of it, but the computer has been of secondary importance as I am sure you will understand.
This week over at Woodware we have been sharing Wearable Art, and today it is my turn.

I decided to do something a little bit different, and decorate a vest for Emma.

I stamped FRS173 Cheeky Turtle on to a piece of white cotton material using Crafters Ink.
I coloured the turtle using brown and green fabric pens and then cut it out.

Typically I couldn't find any bondaweb in my stash (hidden away in a safe place no doubt) so I stitched the turtle to the vest with black cotton.
The 'Cutie Pie' is from another stamp set FRS607 Cutie Pie Vest and has been stamped and heat set using Crafters Ink.

I tried to get Emma to model the vest for me but she wouldn't stay still for very long so the picture isn't very good, in fact none of them are very clear this time, so I apologize for that.

Mum sent me this when she finally crashed out for the night.
Have a great day. It is my first day back at work so I'm sure that it will be very hard going. Still at least it will also be a very short week thank goodness.
Hugs Kimx

Inspired by the countryside at Woodware

Morning All
It's my turn to Be Inspired by Nature at Woodware this week.
Not a hard challenge, other than to narrow down which of Jane's fabulous nature stamps to use as my inspiration this time lol.

I picked this fabulous JGS333 Cow Parsley stamped and embossed onto a piece of background created using my Creative Palette,

some metallic acrylic paints

and some bubble wrap.

The background was actually a second generation print pulled from the Creative Palette,

so I thought that you might like to see the card that I made with the first print.

The sentiment is from another of Jane's sets JGS406 Woodland Bird.
I hope that you are enjoying our inspirations this week.
Thanks for stopping by, don't forget to see what the rest of the gang have been up to this week. HERE
Happy Crafting.
Hugs Kimx

Birthday Greetings for the Boys

Evening,
I'm just getting sorted for my class this evening, so this is just a quick post to share a couple of cards that I made this week.
Many years ago while working at the Craft Barn two of my lovely team mates Corinne and Caz where in hospital within days of one another giving birth to their baby boys.
Now, 13 years later, they are very grown up young men. Time gone by in the blink of an eye.

I did a bit of paper piecing to make the cards using this Julie Nutting stamp which found it's way in to my shopping basket this week.

The backgrounds are from my stash, created using THS014 Shatter stencil and plenty of ink.
The cards were of course fashionably late, but they should have received them by now.
Hope you had a great day boys.
Hugs Kimx

Happy Birthday Davina

Evening Everyone,
I have had another fabulous day of play here at SirStampalot.
I'm sure that the ladies that come to classes here are on a mission to fatten us all up cause they all seem to bring in wonderful homemade cakes and fancies. I'm sure that I will go home about a stone heavier.
I have been trying to be a good girl and walk the last couple of miles in to the unit. I also make sure that I run up and down the stairs with the tea for everyone, but I do spend the rest of the time sitting down so it is definitely back to the gym when I get home.

I didn't exactly start off the week calorie free either as Sylvie and I headed over to Davina's last Friday with a nice big chocolate cake to help her celebrate her birthday.

I took this card for her. The central panel was created  using a die which actually hadn't cut out properly.
I didn't want to waste it so I just sponged the panel with colour and highlighted it with gilding wax.

The flowers were from my stash.
Better get this posted as I can hear Janice and Andy getting ready to go home.
More play time tomorrow and a class in the evening.
Hugs Kimx

Go Green for CraftyCardmakers

Evening Everyone,

I hope that you have had a good start to your week. I am having a fabulous time crafting from dawn till dusk at SirStampalot.

Today we have a new challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers with Pam as our host for the 'Go Green' challenge in honour of St. Patrick's Day on 17th March. So let's see all your Green creations please. 

Now I am not sure that I know anyone who celebrates St Patrick's Day, so I went with the 'Go Green' colour option.

I chose the fabulous Poem Tree from Stampendous as the main image on my card, stamping it onto a piece of green Gelli Plate background from my stash.

The green patterned background on the main card was created using a stencil and dye based inks.

I added a green photo corner, sentiment and some peel-off waste.
I hope that you will join us for this challenge, and please don't forget to check out what the rest of the team have come up with to inspire you.
Bye for now.
Hugs Kimx

Happy Mothers Day

Hi All
I hope that you all enjoying your Sunday and that all of those wonderful Mothers out there are being spoilt rotten.
I am currently on my hols here at SirStampalot, so I am not able to spoil my lovely Mum. That will have to wait until I get home next weekend.

Here is the card that I made for her using a panel created with dye based inks, stencils and Sparkle medium.

I love this fabulous new stamp from Woodware, it is so easy to colour, and I can see that I am going to be using it rather a lot.

I used a stencil on the background to add a little extra colour, and also a little bit of sparkle.

The lettering has been added using some die cut letters.

The beauty of playing in the shop is that I get the chance to match papers with ease, so this brown Bo Bunny paper fit in perfectly with the stencil and die cut corners.
I wish I could say that I had left this for Mum to open today, but the reality is that it was still in the making, so I will pop it in the post tomorrow.
I did fess up before I left, and let's face it I am very rarely on time with my cards so it was hardly a surprise to her lol.
We are tucking in to Chinese later this evening, so I may not be at home, but I am still being spoilt.
So have a great evening whether you are spoiling, being spoilt, or just remembering a wonderful person now sadly no longer here.
Hugs Kimx

Sketch 51 at Woodware.

Morning All,
I'm bring up the rear at Woodware today, with my take on this weeks SKETCH.

I do love working with a sketch, it is such a great way to start especially if you have a little bit of creative block.

I used a panel of card sponged with dye based ink as the starting point for my three squares.

Before cutting it up I removed some of the ink using a diamond stencil and a baby wipe,

and then stamped and embossed my favourite JGS443 Large Fennel onto it in black.

After cutting a section of this panel into three squares I mounted them on to blue card which I edged with versamark and Bronze Frantage Embossing powder.

The kraft card in the background was also stamped using the large fennel and the same blue and brown dye based inks.

The sentiment is from another Woodware stamp set JGS300 Gone to Seed.

You know me, I had to finish off the rest of the panel, so I made a second card.

This time I left it whole before adding it to a blue stamped and embossed panel.

I am hoping that by the time you read this I will be well on my way to Peterborough for my little crafty holiday in the company of some wonderful friends at SirStampalot.
I spend the week sitting in the shop playing so if you are in the area why not pop in and say hello, I would love to see you.
Shop opening hours and a list of events can be found HERE
Have a wonderful weekend.
Hugs Kimx

World Book Day

Evening Everyone,
The twins were celebrating World Book Day at school today, so I thought that I would share a couple of photos of them with you.

Ciaran made a very convincing Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean. I did point out that I thought that it was a film not a book, but he said that was fine.
He of course is right as the films were based on Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson.

Saskia stumped me completely. She is Harry the Puppy from a book called 'What's that Noise' by Francesca Simon. Once she showed me the book I did vaguely remember it. How bad am I?
I can see that I will have to work on my book learning.

Love the bottle of Rum, such a good use for cold tea lol.
I thought that looked brilliant.
Just thought of another couple of things to add to my suitcase so I had better go and find them. At this rate I may not have any room for more that a few changes of underwear. Oh well I suppose I can always shop when I am up there, although I would rather confine my shopping to a craft shop.
Hugs Kimx

Just to let you know that I'm Thinking of You

Hi All,
I don't know about you, but I always think that a card is a lovely way to cheer someone up and let them know that you are thinking of them.
We have had a couple of regular customers who have been in need of a hug recently, so I made them each a card in the hopes of lifting their spirits.

I taught a class a while ago using acrylic blocks to create a watercolour background, so of course I finished off several cards.

I even managed to use up a few more pieces from my bits box including this lovely punched square, created using a Martha Stewart 'Punch around the Page'.

I haven't used one of these punches for ages. I really must, they are so pretty.

This is another of the cards that I finished using a Block Stamped Background.

The background on this card uses the same inked block, but a second generation stamping. I also added a sentiment to this one.

No block stamping here, but hopefully something to make the recipient smile and know that they are thought of.
Thanks for stopping by.
Hugs Kimx