Celebrate with Flowers

Evening,

I've had my thinking cap on today in preparation for the arrival of my SirStampalot parcel. So while I'm waiting here are another couple of cards that I made for them last year.

I do love my dies, in fact I probably buy more of them now than stamps. 

Quite a change from a few years ago. Apart from anything else they are so much cheaper now than then.

I used coloured paper for the die cut flowers and an embossing folder for the background.

Let's hope that these pretty little flowers make us think of warmer weather to come.

It may have been bright and sunny today, but it has also been bitter cold and windy.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hope you have a great evening. I'm off to bed I didn't manage much sleep last night for some reason so I need to catch up a little.

Hugs Kimx
 

Just a Note

Evening,

I've spent a very productive day clearing the decks of crafty projects in preparation for a parcel from the lovely Janice from SirStampalot. I'm helping her out with some samples so it was good to get a few things finished so that I could get the old brain cells working on what she is sending me.

Here are a couple of cards made a while ago for a class on stencils and pastes.

I used the brick wall stencil and some texture paste over the top of some stamped background paper.

The tulips are a layering stamp set from Altenew which also has a co-ordinating die.

Same idea and layout just a different stencil for this card.

Off to bed now, much later than it should be given my early start tomorrow, but it can't be helped.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs Kimx

A Groovi Get Together

Evening,

We have spent the most enjoyable day playing with Groovi. This is very definitely one of those classes where I take a backseat and become the pupil, learning much from one of our number who is passionate about this wonderful craft.

This is just one of Sylvie's amazing creations, my birthday card from last year.

I'm sure that she won't mind me sharing it with you.

I always try and create a tag of instructions for them to take home. A little prompt for them when they are playing, a visual reminder of how to do a particular technique. This is my very basic offering from today.

I know that there will always be somebody that comes to class for the social gathering rather than the technique, so I try and provide an alternative should they prefer it. 

In this case I took along some fabulous Clarity stamp and stencil sets. My second tag gave them tips for mounting vellum/parchment onto a card, so I used one of the stamps for my visual reminder on my tag.

We rounded off the day with a Chinese takeaway and a good natter. There is nothing nicer than an evening spent with friends. We must do it again.

Thank you for stopping by.

Hugs Kimx

Layering Stamps and Dies

Evening,

I'm so glad that it's Friday, and tomorrow we have a crafty get together. Our last class before Christmas saw us playing with Altenew Layering stamps and dies.

I do love the Altenew layering stamps, they make colouring images so easy especially if you are not very confident with it like me.

I used my stamping platform/Misti to create several similar floral images.

There are co-ordinating dies available which makes the cutting out so much easier. I'm all for anything that makes crafting quicker and easier, and there are lots of tips out there from people like Jennifer McGuire.

I layered my die cut leaves and flowers onto a piece of handmade background from my stash.

Even one flower is enough to create a simple yet elegant card.

More handmade background paper and a diecut wreath along with a stamped and embossed sentiment.

Better go and get packed up for class tomorrow. I always worry that I will forget something.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great weekend.

Hugs Kimx
 

We Must Never Forget

Evening,

I think we all have the occasional bad day, or week for that matter, but when you read the harrowing stories and conditions faced by the survivors of the Holocaust, it puts a whole different perspective on things.

There are several programs available this week, especially since today is International Holocaust Remembrance Day. I must admit to being glad that I can watch them on my own. The articles in the daily papers have nearly had me in tears, so I am sure that the programs will.

No matter what my week has been like, it isn't a patch on what they had to endure, so I should think myself very lucky and snap out of it.......................so much easier said than done of course. Classes and a takeaway in the evening with crafty friends on Saturday is sure to help. In fact here is a card made during one such crafty get together.

The oval panel in the background was created using Distress Oxide inks, black card stock and a hexagonal embossing folder.

The oxide inks work perfectly on the dark card stock. Ordinary distress inks would not show up.

The flowers and leaves are from a stamp and co-ordinating die set from Altenew. 

I stamped and gold embossed them on black card before die cutting them and adding them to the main  card using silicon glue for added dimension.

Thank you for stopping by.

Hugs Kimx

Boxes of Cards

Evening,

I've made use of a couple of the boxes of cards that I made recently, I have sent them out as birthday prezzies.

I created a box for them

using kraft card and a favourite Altenew 3D embossing folder.

I popped 6 cards and envelopes into each box.

The cards were made using pieces of background from my stash, and a couple of fabulous Imagination stamps.

I stamped and embossed the images on to the backgrounds and then painted the images with a combination of water, bleach and pearlescent watercolour paints depending on what the background image was created from.

I found plain cardstock to match each finished panel and embossed it using the Altenew 3D folder.

These stamps are so quick and easy to use, and I have lots of different ones so I can see me making lots more boxes of cards. It is a fun and easy way to use up some of that stash of hand made backgrounds that I seem to have accumulated.

Thank you for stopping by, and not being put off by the huge number of cards that I have shared tonight.

Hugs Kimx

On Your Wedding Day

Evening,

I had another rather special card to make just before Christmas.

A special card for Andy's brother David and husband on their Wedding Day.

I matched the colours as best as I could to the suits and ties that the boys were all wearing

and the cascading hearts mirrored the wedding invitation that had been sent out.

I added extra silver hearts 

and a few flowers, but I don't think it made it too girly.

It's a shame that the photos don't do it justice.

They were married on New Years Eve, and the children all had a fabulous time on the dance floor after the ceremony. They certainly have the moves.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great evening.

Hugs Kimx
 

Leafy Squares

Evening,

Oh dear, I got a bit carried away with sorting a few things out tonight, so here is a very quick post with a card using some handmade background paper and a lovely leafy die.

The orange background paper was created using inks and copy paper. I screwed the wet inked paper up and then flattened it out to dry. This leaves plenty of fabulous texture.

Once the paper is dry I gently rubbed a versamark ink pad across the dry paper and then added gold embossing powder for more added texture.

The die cut leafy images have been layered over another piece of matching inky background.

Off to bed now before it gets too much later. Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs Kimx

A Get Well Wish

Evening,

Another lovely, if hectic, weekend with the littlest Grandkids. No crafting I'm afraid, unless you count moving all mummy's crafting stuff downstairs for a little bit of room reorganization.

So here is another card that I made a while ago using some fabulous rub ons,

acrylic paints, gems

and an embossing folder.

The sentiment is from Creative Expressions. It is a die set with several small stamped greetings to compliment the layered die.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs Kimx