Circles Everywhere with the Bokeh Technique.

Hi All,
Well that's it on the Bank Holiday front for a couple of months. Did you have a good one?
I spent it finishing off Christmas card samples for the next Woodware release from Creative Expressions. I would say that that is me finished with Christmas for a while, but as we are playing with Watercolour Pearlex in class on Saturday I doubt that is the case. Pearlex always screams Christmas cards to me with all of that lovely sparkle.

One of the only advantages to a 2 hour train journey to visit the littlest grandchildren, apart from my weekly Costa Coffee of course, is the time that I get to trawl through YouTube looking for new things for the Girls to do in class on a Saturday.

I am a great admirer of Jennifer McGuire. She is currently my go to place for crafty inspiration. Not only does she give brilliant step by step instructions, but most importantly she also makes everything up into finished cards so there is always bucket loads of inspiration.

Last Saturday we played with the Bokeh Technique.

I did find it on Youtube, even if it wasn't on Jennifer's feed.

Everyone had a fabulous time, and all came up with some amazing colour combos.

I love teaching, and I can honestly say that I am always learning from everyone that comes along to a class.

It always amazes me how many different backgrounds people can come up with even when we are all working with the same colour palette.

I showed the Girls how to create an inked background for the 'Bokeh Bubbles' to be added to.

One way to create the background is by sponging colour onto cardstock,

while another way of creating a colourful background to work on is by using inks and plenty of water.

I'm not sure which I like the best, but I do know that I will definitely be using this technique again and again.

I have been trying very hard to keep up with the instructional tag book that I started with the Girls a couple of years ago.

It started after a techniques class that I did at SirStampalot a few years ago. I try to write an instruction tag for each class to which they can attach a piece of art work. That way when they want to be reminded of how they did a particular technique they have an instant reminder and written instructions.

In fact, on that note, I had better get my instructions ready for Saturdays class on Painting with Pearlex. Or maybe I had better get to bed and write instructions tomorrow.

Night, night.

Hugs Kimx

Embossing Folder Stamping Part 3....ish

Evening Everyone,
Have you had a good day?
I managed to get my flamingo birthday card finished, so it's back to Christmas samples for me this weekend.

I do need a bit of a break first, so here are the last of the samples that I finished off after a recent class using Embossing Folders for Watercolour Stamping.

As you will see I did get rather carried away, but I managed to use up every last piece, and make a few special cards for some little people into the bargain.

I used both sides of a flag embossing folder which made a great base for these first three cards.

I used up every bit of the background, along with a couple of precoloured LOTV images from my stash.

It is often possible to pull two pieces of background from the one inking of the embossing folder,

as the two numbered backgrounds show.

I had a part used sheet of Penny Black Stickeroos on my desk which I managed to use up on the next few cards. Only this one has an Embossing Folder stamped background,

while these use background papers from my stash,

along with a stamped and silver embossed sentiment panel

and another piece of Stickeroo.

Finally I also showed 'The Girls' in class how to create a letter pressed look with an Embossing Folder.

And that is what I have used on the next couple of cards.

A bit of extra colour sponged on to this one.

And a couple of fussy cut, Letter Pressed flowers as an embellishment on this final card.
I get a couple of days away from my crafty endeavours now as I am off to do a bit of babysitting after work tomorrow.
I try and help out with the littlest Grandchildren on a Friday, which also involves a sleepover.
As the Girls from class will be attending Stamparama in Worthing on Saturday I am extending my stay so that Mummy and Daddy can take Emma to the cinema.
I'm not sure who is the most excited about seeing Aladdin on the big screen. Mummy who had a thing for Will Smith, or Emma who is definitely looking forward to the popcorn that I have promised to buy her.
Better get my bag packed, I don't want to forget anything.
Happy Crafting and Hugs
Kimx

Christmas has come Early

Afternoon Everyone,
Well it would appear that Christmas has come rather early to my house.
I have been working hard on the latest delivery of stamps from Creative Expressions. They are Jane's new designs, and is usually the case at this time of year, they are all Christmas!!
Of course they are all terribly hush hush at the moment, so I will remain in the zone by sharing a couple of Christmas cards that I made a while ago.

There is nothing quite like a few snowflakes to get you thinking about Christmas......well the cold at least.

It's always difficult to think Christmas when it is lovely and sunny outside so maybe these will help to get me into the right head space.

They are very simple designs using a snowflake embossing folder, some gilding wax and Christmas sentiments.

I have used both the embossed and debossed sides of the design which give you two very different finished result.

This final card makes use of stamping and heat embossing.
I'm over halfway through the Christmas samples, so I don't think I'm doing too badly. Just as well really as I need to make a little detour for a flamingo based card for my Granddaughter to give to her best friend. I just wish that I had been given a little more notice (needed by Saturday....found out today) but that's parr for the course in my world.
Better get a wiggle on then.
Happy crafting and hugs
Kimx

Birthdays at CCM

Afternoon All
We have a new challenge starting today over at CCM. Josephine is our host for Birthdays.

 I often get asked to make a special birthday card for someone, and this is one such card. It was made for a friend to give to his Mum for her birthday.

She is fond of steam trains, but he also wanted something that would outshine his brothers and sisters! Nothing like a bit of sibling rivalry lol.

An easel card is always a really good way to make plenty of impact, and of course it stands up perfectly.

The image of a steam train is a delightful digi image from LOTV.

I added her name and age (as requested)

 and then some fussy cut flowers stamped and embossed onto background paper.

I also added a few die cut leaves and some sparkly gems.
I'm told that it fitted the bill perfectly, which is always nice to hear.
I hope that you can find time to join in with our challenge. I'm sure that we can all find a nice birthday card amongst our stash.
Have a great evening.
Happy Crafting and hugs
Kimx

Woodware Stamps on the Telly

Evening Everyone,
Just a quick heads up that the lovely Julia Watts will be on the telly on Saturday with some of the latest stamps designed by Jane Gill.

As you know I am a very lucky girl, and I get to play with all of Jane's designs

when I make the samples for the Creative Expressions catalogue.

I have been trying very hard to use up all the bits and pieces from these play sessions immediately so that they don't just languish unfinished in the 'Bits Box'

The resulting cards are always handy when the stamp sets are subsequently taken on to the telly by Jane or Julia.

It does mean that I am a little ahead in the game, especially when time is short.

I loaned these cards to Jane at Ally Pally, although it is now Julia who will be using them on Saturday.

I hope that you enjoy the shows ( Create and Craft TV Saturday 18th May at 12pm / 5pm)

I certainly had fun playing with the stamp sets.

Happy Crafting and hugs

Kimx

Embossing Folder Stamping - Part 2

Afternoon Everyone,

I hope that you have had a good day. We have had some more glorious sunshine here this afternoon.

We do have a lovely crafty time in class on a Saturday.

A friend of one of the Girls that attends refers to it as 'dirty finger day' as this is often the state of them when they go home. 

This is another rather picture heavy post with more of the cards that I made after the class on Embossing Folder Stamping, a nice inky class.

As you can see, I am a great fan of the hexagonal embossing folder, 

 I have several of them.

 Whilst most of them use the more solid side of the embossing folder, this one uses the other side.

And this one actually uses a stencil, but one of the same floral stamps. 

And this last one is all about the leftovers lol.

I think he would have been most disappointed at the state of her hands this week as they remained in pristine condition due to the lack of inks to play with. Instead we had a 'Let's finish off some Groovi' afternoon. Very relaxing, and very clean.

I really must get to bed now, it was a very early start, and a trip to the gym so I'm feeling a bit cream crackered!!

Hugs 

Kimx