Jane's Festive Collection on Create and Craft

Afternoon,
I hope that you caught Jane's first show this afternoon on Create and Craft, and have set record for the next one at 6.45.

Once again I was lucky enough to get to make samples for her.

I stamped the stag using the Brushed Corduroy Distress Oxide ink pad and cut it out using the stitched oval die.

I used a waterbrush to 'pull' the colour from the stamped image to colour it in.

I added a little red and green Distress Oxide ink to the holly and berries.

The background is a piece of mop up which I embossed with a snowflake embossing folder.

Same stamp, different look.

This time I stamped and embossed the stag in dark brown Versafine Clair ink on to another piece of mop up background.

I painted the stag with the Distress Oxide ink pads which have a very chalky finish.

This time I didn't bother to colour the holly and berries.

I added the sentiment from the same set, this time on cream card stock for a bit of a 'pop'.
Better get the dinner made so that I can watch her last show in peace.
Have a great evening. Maybe you will be inspired to make some Christmas cards. It's never too early.
Stay safe and hugs
Kimx

Create Your Own Background for CCM

Evening Everyone,
We have a new challenge starting today over at CCM and it is the last one before our summer break.
Jackie is our host and she is looking for you to 'Create Your Own Backgrounds'

Now I have to say that this challenge is right up my street. I LOVE making them. This one uses an old multilayering resist technique.

I remember demonstrating this technique at my very first show in London.
I was on a stand for Crafts Beautiful magazine in which I had had an article published that particular month.

As it was the October edition I went for something with an autumnal feel. I do remember that they weren't keen on the black card base that I had chosen for the cards. They liked white, but the panels didn't look as good on it so I was a bit of a rebel and stood my ground.

I remember being incredibly nervous when the doors opened, but thoroughly enjoying the experience. There was such a buzz and loads of friendly people all eager to learn.

For my cards today I have used an Andy Skinner stamp and some Airless Mister sprays.

For my colour combo first stamp onto a piece of glossy card using a Versamark or Perfect Medium inkpad.

Next spray the card with Amber Lights Airless Mister. I usually use dye based ink pads for this technique, so I thought that I would give it a go with some ink sprays for a change.

They certainly make it easy to coat your card in colour. Once the ink has dried stamp again using your stamp and inkpad and then spray with colour.
Try and stamp into the spaces between the designs as well as overlapping parts of the image. This layer was a combination of Flirty Pink and Cherry Pop.

Continue with this layering process using a darker colour each time. Here I used a combination of Maya Blue, Blackberry Bliss and Night Reflection.

Provided that you continue to overlap your stamped images each different layer of colour will show through.

I trimmed my panel down and used one of the fabulous paper cut dies over it.

I cut the die in black and white to create a slight shadow.

On this panel I have stamped and embossed a final layer of images over the background using Versamark/Perfect Medium and clear embossing powder.

The sentiments are from a favourite Jane Gill stamp set.

On the first card I used the left over panel and die cut the Sue Wilson Love from the center of it. I then die cut it again from white funky foam which I placed in to the negative space in the panel and added the card layer over the top. This raises it above the main panel for added dimension.

A final touch was to cover it in Glossy Accents and add a stacked card frame in white.

I hope that you will find some time to join in with our latest challenge. I look forward to see all your crafty makes.

Have a great evening.

Happy Crafting and hugs

Kimx

Andy Skinner Stencilled Dove

Evening Everyone,
I had a lovely day today with a rather unexpected visit to see my Mum, so no crafting, but who cares, I got to put a smile on a lovely ladies face.

My card tonight uses the wonderful Andy Skinner Dove Stencil that formed part of my box of goodies from Creative Expressions this month.

The background is created with Airless Mister Sprays, and then I ran it through my embossing machine with the stencil and a baby wipe over the top of it. A technique that I picked up from the fabulous Jennifer McGuire.

The baby wipe removes some of the ink and then with the stencil still in place I added some of the Golden Sand Glitter Kiss which has become a firm favourite with me.
Off to bed now which is very early for me. I've had a phone call from my Boss asking me to start work at 4am tomorrow, so I had better try and get some sleep which may prove a little tricky.
Thanks for stopping by. Please don't forget Jamie's shows tomorrow on Create and Craft using Sue Wilson Festive dies.
Stay safe and hugs
Kimx

Glitter Kissed Snowflakes

Evening Everyone,
I hope that you have had a great day. We managed another fabulous socially distanced get together at Davina's, despite the rather dull and miserable start to the day.
I took along a couple of crafty bits for us to do, but we ended up talking for England instead which was just as fun.

I couldn't show them the actual samples for Jane's shows on Tuesday, as they arrived safely in the post this morning, but I was able to show them some pictures.

Not quite the same I know, but they have all agreed that they want to play with Christmas as soon as we can get together again.

This card uses one of Jane's Lino Cut designs and a bit of triple embossing.

The snow flake is a die designed by Sue Wilson that will also be on the show.

Having die cut some for the background of the first card I had one left over...…...you know the rest lol.

The die set also contains a couple of smaller snowflakes which I stacked in the middle of the large one.

The background to this card has been created using one of the smaller designs from another of the stamp sets. I used it with versamark inkpad and then added tiny dots of white gelli roll glaze pen.
I added a little bit of sparkle to both cards with Golden Sand Glitter Kiss. Well you have to have some sparkle at Christmas don't you.
Better get to bed. I hadn't realized how late it was, it stays light for such a long time, although I suppose we are slowly heading away from that now that we have passed 21st June.
Stay safe, and thanks for stopping by.
Hugs Kimx

Using up the leftovers

Evening Everyone,

So much for all my Friday plans. Too hot to work, too wet to walk and total disruption of my craft room for a boiler man who never turned up grrrrrr.

Oh well, tomorrow is another day, as they say.

I had plans to finish off a couple of leftover pieces still sitting on my desk, but as that didn't happen, here is one that I finished a little while ago.

I used up a piece of mop up background that had been hanging around for a while.

I can't say that it is one of my favourite creations, but I do like that piece of background paper.
Have a great weekend whatever you are up to.
Stay safe.
Hugs Kimx

Enjoy the Little Things in Life

Evening Everyone,
Today I have a new found respect for NHS workers. In fact anyone who has to wear a mask.
I had to attend an appointment at the hospital today where I was provided with a mask at reception. After less than 30 seconds I wanted to rip the damn thing off as it made me feel incredibly claustrophobic and my glasses steam up. How they cope for an entire shift is beyond me.

I could have done with some nice cold water to paddle in this afternoon. It has been far too hot to walk as usual, so I waited till this evening when there was a nice cool breeze and went for a walk around the park with my friend Sue. The only down side was the ridiculous amount of rubbish that we found. People have to carry it in to the park so why on earth can't they carry it out again when they have finished. We have decided that we must be a couple of old fogies cause that is what we were taught to do as children.

This card was created for the launch of some Designer Boutique stamps last month.

I used an Iridescent Watercolour Palette from Creative Expressions to colour the gold stamped and embossed image.

I do love this fabulous pearlescent finish which works particularly well on dark card.
Let's hope that it is a little bit cooler tomorrow, although at least I will have the benefit of 8 hours aircon at work. It might be time for another late evening wander.
Thanks for stopping by.
Stay safe and hugs
Kimx

Painted Poinsettia

Evening All,
Wow what a scorcher. I'm afraid that I abandoned all plans of walking this afternoon, and instead immersed myself in making some more Christmas samples for Jane, in a bid to make myself feel cooler. Didn't work, but I had fun lol.

Here is a Christmas card made with one of last years stamps designed by Jane Gill.

I do like this technique of stamping a solid image in white ink and then colouring over the top with pencils.

I went with very traditional Christmas colours here, although maybe not the black so much.
I do hope that it cools down a little tomorrow, although my phone is telling me that it is going to be even hotter.
Stay safe.
Hugs Kimx

Andy Skinner in Pink

Evening Everyone,
Wow what a scorcher, and still we went for our walk. We must be a couple of crazy old ladies walking in this heat, but it was nice to get out, and there was a nice breeze at times so all is well. I do look a bit like a lobster though. So much for sunscreen.

Andy Skinner had a show on Create and Craft today using his latest releases from Creative Expressions.

I was lucky enough to get a few of his stamps and stencils to play with. You might even have got to see the samples on the telly if I had sent them to the right address lol.

I played around with a bit of multiple resist for the background to this card,

 and then used some of the leftover pieces to die cut some flowers.

I added a little of the Opal Blaze Touch Tips to the edges and centers of the flowers, although I think I need a little more practice.

The leaves were die cut from a piece of card that I had coloured with Snow and Ice Lustre Polish.
Having watched the show, I can say that this is definitely not a typical Andy Skinner colour scheme.
Thanks for stopping by.
Stay safe and hugs
Kimx