Still no Internet

Hi All

Sorry still no Internet, will try again tomorrow!!

Hugs Kimx

Bl...y Internet!!

Hi All

No post this evening I'm afraid since our internet is acting up. Hopefully normal service will resume tomorrow.

Hugs Kimx

Butterfly Bubble Wreath

Evening Everyone,

Here's another wreath card made using one of Jane's new Festive Bubble Stamps.

I do love the fact that this stamp works every bit as well for a birthday card as it does for Christmas.

I stamped and embossed the leafy wreath on to a piece of mop up background

and then added some faux candi and gems.

I also added a fussy cut butterfly and stamped and die cut sentiment.

I used the rest of the piece of mop up for this card. Who said that you had to use the whole of the image?

I used bleach on the larger circles to remove the colour, , and then added glossy accents, gems and pearls along with another fussy cut butterfly.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs Kimx
 

Happy Birthday Emma

Evening All,

It is special little girls birthday today. Emma is 6! How did that happen?

I bought some new LOTV Simply Print images recently, which I showed Emma, and this is the one that she liked best.

I have to say that it does remind me of her a little, she could definitely rock this superb outfit.

The image prints out twice on the same page, so I used the second one for added dimension.

I used a variety of circular dies to cut, matt and layer the central image.

I matched the colour of the flowers along with the background papers to the image.

I used a leafy embossing folder on the background which I highlighted with silver gilding wax.

I added her name using some stickers

and a die cut 6, cut from glitter paper.

I added glossy accents and pearl drops to embellish the image. It was hand delivered to her yesterday as the family all met up at Thorpe Park for a fun day at the park. I don't think that even the weather can dampen the spirits of a 6 year old at a theme park.

It dinner and another early night for me since I have to be up at stupid o'clock again.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs Kimx
 

Fuzzy Polar Bear

Evening All,

Several years ago the main road on which our BP petrol station is situated, was flooded. It wasn't just a little flood, the road was closed for several weeks. In fact a local scaffolding firm even built us a bridge across the worst of it, so that people could still come to shop.

Of course with the road closed we weren't getting deliveries, so the shelves gradually emptied as things were either sold, or went out of date. The shelves looked very bare, and that is what it is starting to look like at the moment....................thankfully without the flooded road.

We are suffering from the severe nationwide shortage of delivery drivers, and as a consequence the stock for them to deliver to us. Thankfully my parcel of goodies from Creative Expressions didn't suffer the same fate, so here is another card made using one of Jane's new Festive Fuzzies. They have been winging their way to stockists over the last few days.

I love this cute Polar Bear, although some of my very creative team mates have turned him into a brown bear. And I think like that he would work very well for a birthday card.

I stamped and embossed him in white on to kraft card and then coloured him with white watercolour paint. I masked an area around him and added a skyline and some snow. 

I have to be up at really stupid o'clock tomorrow, so I think a very early night is in order.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs Kimx

Mop Up Background and Leaves

Evening All,

I hope that you have escaped all the flash flooding that seems to be happening all over the place at the moment. Emma was most concerned that I get home safely last night after the heavy rain and thunder that we had had during the day. Apparently there was flooding in London, although I didn't see any signs of it.

As you know I am on a mission to use up bits and pieces from my stash, so these Altenew stamped and die cut leaves were a happy find after my class on Distress Oxides a few weeks ago.

They match perfectly with this mop up background created with my Distress Oxide inks. I layered the panel onto a piece of embossed brown cardstock,

and then added a die cut sentiment, some assorted sequins and gems.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs Kimx

Old Fashioned Pleasures

Evening All,

I don't know about you, but there was nothing my Girls liked more than licking the bowl after we had made cakes. It seems that some traditions have been passed down I'm pleased to say, as Chloe and Emma thoroughly enjoyed their part in cooking Emma's birthday cake today.

Mum has been making the cake today, but it has been a bit of a challenge as she has been feeling ghastly since having had her first Covid jab on Saturday morning. 

Jack was less than helpful when we found him in the living room munching his way through one of the top layers of cake that had been cooling in the kitchen. We did wonder why he had gone very quiet when we were stripping the beds, our usual Sunday morning task when I go to stay.

Becki had worked out in her head what she wanted to do, following instructions from Emma, but it didn't quite turn out as she had imagined. At the end of the day it is for Emma, and she loved it so I think that is all that matters. I think it is fabulous too if that makes any difference lol.

I need to make a birthday card tomorrow if I am going to get it in the post in time..............I have an idea in my head, let's see if mine works out as expected or not.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs Kimx

The First Three Blackberries

Evening All,

It's turned out to be nicer than expected today.  After plenty of thunder and heavy rain over night, it turned into a beautifully sunny afternoon. We managed a lovely walk, in our wellies, but with no puddles to jump in. The kids were dead impressed when they found the first three ripe blackberries, enough for one each. They loved them, although I bet if I bought them a box from M&S they wouldn't eat them. They don't taste the same as freshly picked yourself.

I always remember fruit picking with the kids. It was the highlight of the summer. They must have eaten their weight in strawberries over the course of the season, but would turn their noses up at them if I bought them at the supermarket. Aren't kids weird.

I've promised them a walk to the park tomorrow, so I had better get some sleep, they definitely wear me out lol.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs Kimx

Bubble Christmas Tree

Evening All,

There is thunder rumbling around at the moment, and it is threatening to pour with rain, so I guess a couple more Christmas cards wouldn't be too out of place lol.

As you know I have been playing with Jane's latest Bubble stamps recently, so here are a couple of cards made several years ago with one of her older designs.

I used a dotty embossing folder with the stamped and embossed panel,

along with some glossy accents to highlight the snowflake bubbles.

This is the same stamp used with white embossing powder and a handmade background made using a Gelli Plate, inks and a piece of bubble wrap.

I used tiny silver gems at the center of each of the snowflakes.

Better get to bed before the littlies wake up again. It looks like the bad weather is set to continue for the duration of my stay, so we might have to get a little bit creative over getting them to expend some energy................or maybe just get the welly boots and raincoats out.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs Kimx

Mr Tomte

Evening All,

I'm looking forward to a weekend with the littlest Grandkids which always lifts my spirits, even if Jack is being a little challenging at the moment. He has certainly hit the 'Terrible Twos' with a vengeance.

Of course I won't be able to get any crafting done, but I guess that's like the "firebreaks" that we are getting with our deliveries at work - a day off from orders, to give the deliveries a chance to catch up a little. I'm rather hoping that the same strategy will work with my crafting. A couple of days off to allow my brain time to relax, so that I can catch up a little. A chance to recharge my creative batteries.

I start the day off with grand intentions for what I will get done. I even sort out in my head all that I plan to do when I get back from work, and then by the time it actually happens I'm too cream crackered to do anything about any of it lol.

Thankfully I was feeling a lot more creative in April when I was making the samples for Jane's new Christmas stamps that launch today.

They are called 'Festive Fuzzies' and this one is called Mr Tomte JGS786.

I coloured him using Cosmic Shimmer Watercolour inks in various colours and then fussy cut him out.

The background was made with the leftover ink and I stamped and embossed the sentiment from the stamp set down the right hand side and then added a faux stitched border.

I added some glossy accents to the tree and a few gems to the background.

I do wish that writing about Christmas cards would cool the weather down a little, but unfortunately that is only in my dreams.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs Kimx

What a lovely Surprise.

Evening All,

Some people are just so nice. 

We have an older gentleman who comes into work quite regularly for his petrol and some bits of shopping. I always pack it for him. It's only a little thing, but I know it brightens his day. As I have often told him when he thanks me 'it is only what I would hope someone would do for my Mum'

Today I had a lovely surprise when he handed me 'Just a little thank you for being so kind'.

We found out a while ago that his company make handbags for the Queen, and I am now the proud owner of a handmade leather credit card holder made by his firm. How cool is that?

I feel very special and I have picked a nice card from my stash to say thank you.

Stay safe and hugs 

Kimx

Bubble Wreath

Evening All,

Another scorcher today, although it has thankfully ended with a bit of rain. Not as much as I would have hoped with the thunder rumbling around, and certainly not enough to affect the temperature at all. I'm not sure that I will cope if the whole of the summer is this hot.

I hid indoors on Sunday and finished off cards from Saturdays classes on Jane's fabulous Festive Bubble stamps.

They are a marvelous way of using up all those odd gems and glitter glues that you have kicking about.

I also used the die that is available to cut faux candi from the same silver card stock that I used for the matt to the panel.

Although this stamp is part of the festive collection, I'm sure you will agree that it works for any occasion.

I must be out of my tiny mind meeting up with a friend at the gym today. The trouble is that now she is retired she seems to have become busier than ever, and this was the only way and time that we could get together this week. They do say that retirees wonder how they ever found time to go to work, and she definitely fits that profile lol.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs Kimx

Steps for Bubble Greenery

Evening All

A few weeks ago I pointed out the folly of trying to die cut a panel to which you have already added glitter glue, gems and faux card candi stuck on the silicon glue.

I was determined that I wasn't going to chuck it in the bin just because the silicon felt a bit 'furry', so I mounted the panel onto a bronze card and then tried a little camouflage.

One of my go to glitter glues is Stardust, whose sparkle seems to go with anything,

so I gently blended some all around the wreath to disguise the silicon. I think it works ok. I also added a stamped, embossed and die cut sentiment from Lisa Horton.

The card that was making was for a Step by Step instruction sheet, so I had to start again after my minor disaster.

Since I have the steps written already, I thought that I might share them with you all.

Steps:

1. Create a stencil from a piece of card stock by die cutting the Bubble Craft die several times.

2. Stamp and emboss the Bubble Greenery wreath onto the top part of a 16 x11.5cm piece of Coconut white cardstock, using Onyx Black Versafine ink. Add a stamped and embossed sentiment from the Bubble Greenery stamp set.

3. Use the stencil you created to gently blend Tumbled Glass Distress Oxide around the edges of the stamped and embossed panel using a blending brush.

4. Tap a little Brushed Corduroy, Tumbled Glass and Peeled Paint Distress Oxide ink on to a craft sheet and use it to paint the wreath. Add plenty of water to the image with a paintbrush before adding the ink to give a very blended watercolour look.

5. Add water to the Brushed Corduroy Distress Oxide ink on the craft mat and splatter the panel with drops of ink from a paintbrush.

6. Tap around the edges of the panel with an Onyx Black Versafine inkpad and emboss with clear powder. Layer the panel on to a piece of cinnamon cardstock and trim to leave a narrow border.

7. Apply Brushed Corduroy, Tumbled Glass and Peeled Paint ink on to scraps of coconut white cardstock using a blending brush. Emboss each strip of colour using clear embossing powder and a craft heat tool.

8. Use the Bubble Craft die to cut candi from each of the strips of coloured and embossed card.

9. Choose your candi and shape the back of each one using a ball tool and shaping pad.

10. Add the shaped candi to the layered panel using mini mounting pads and a drop of glue to allow a little maneuverability.

11. Paint the smaller circles on the panel using inks and Gelli Roll Stardust pen.

12. Create a card base using a piece of Aqua cardstock and stencil around the edges using the home made stencil, Tumbled Glass ink and a blending brush.

13. Add your prepared panel to the card using mounting foam tape for added dimension.

14. To finish the card off add glossy accents and glitter glue to smaller circles.

Hope you have a good evening. Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs Kimx

Too Hot

Evening All,

Too hot for anything tonight, so I will have to post tomorrow I'm afraid.

Stay safe and hugs

Kimx 

A Leafy Just for You

Evening All,

Another fabulous, if rather hot day of classes. As you know I don't cope very well in the heat, so teaching in a conservatory is lovely and light, but extremely hot. Never mind I guess we shouldn't  complain, it will probably be raining again in a couple of days.

We were playing with Jane's new Festive Bubble collection of stamps, along with as many of her older designs that I could find in my stash. I haven't managed to finish much off so far, so I will share another card from the class on Distress Oxides a fortnight ago.

I love all the fabulous colours that you get when you start to play with these inks.

I stamped and embossed the leaves in copper onto a piece of mixed media cardstock and then blended the inks over it.

I coloured and fussy cut a few extra leaves and added them to the trimmed panel along with a stamped and die cut sentiment.

Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Hugs Kimx

Age is just a Number

Evening All,

No gym today. They are still working to reduced opening hours so I can't get there in time after work. It's probably just as well, cause it has been rather warm here this afternoon. 

Amongst the bits and pieces of distress oxide backgrounds that I took with me to class last time, were a couple of half finished cards.

All the pieces were there,

so I decided to finish them both off.

I had actually cut this panel in half,

but I decided that I liked it better 

as one larger panel with a die cut sentiment on it.

I think I have everything packed and ready for class tomorrow, so it must be time for bed.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs Kimx