Thank You in Black, White and Green

Evening,

I can't believe that today is the last day of November. How did that happen. The last few months seem to have flown by.

Here are a couple more cards made using one of Jane's floral stamps.

There doesn't have to be masses of fancy colouring to create a card, I just used a stamped and embossed image that I die cut into small squares for these two.

I used the same design in the background as well.

Thanks for stopping by.

Love and Crafty Hugs

Kimx

Three of a Kind

Evening,

I back home safe and sound, and laptop all charged up. 

I recently had to replace the charger when the laptop slipped off the sofa and landed on the charger while it was plugged in, so I think that I might order one that I can leave with the Grandchildren for when I go to stay. I have a couple of drawers in a cupboard where I keep a set of toiletries, underwear and pyjamas to save me having to bring them with me each time, so I think that it would make sense to add a charger into the mix lol.

As I've told you before, when making samples I often have no idea of what I'm going to make. Sometimes I try out an idea or technique in several colours before deciding on which card I will send to Creative Expressions.

I coloured the ribbon with ink to match the stamping, but it was a little messy when placed at the top of the card,

so I decided to remake the card.

Of course it ended up very slightly different to the first one. I also added a strip of the embossed card over the top of the ribbon on the first card to help hide the mess.

The stamped panel on all of the cards have been created using a Misti or Stamping Platform.

Ink the stamp with Distress Inks (or similar) and spritz with water before stamping on to watercolour card stock. The colours will bleed, particularly if you lightly spritz the card stock first.

Clean the stamp, dry the cardstock, and then restamp the image using Versafine Clair ink. By leaving the stamp on the Misti/Stamping Platform in between inking, the image looks as if it has been watercoloured with minimum effort.

Of course you can always add more colour to parts of the image with a paintbrush.

Thanks for stopping by.

Love and Crafty Hugs

Kimx

Jane's Florals

Evening,

One of the major benefits of being retired, is being able to stay with the Grandchildren for an extra day after the weekend, because you don't have to get back for work.

It was lovely taking them all to school this morning, and then picking them up at the end of the day. Chloe asked if we could go for our treat at Costa. So we had a hot chocolate before coming home to read books and do homework.

This is a card that I made with one of Jane's fabulous floral stamps.

I rarely know exactly what I am going to create when I start making samples,

so I often end up with extra bits and pieces to make another card.

I did quite a bit of fussy cutting

and die cut some panels,

and made one card for Creative Expressions, and another for my box.

They are very slightly different,

because I hate to make the same card twice.

I've managed to make my laptop battery last for my stay. I do hope that I have left the charger on my desk at home.

Back to looking after Mum tomorrow. I wonder if she has missed me?

Thanks for stopping by.

Love and Crafty Hugs

Kimx

It's Raining, It's Pouring.

Evening 

Just a very quick post tonight. I've managed to get away to see the Grandchildren for a couple of days and have foolishly left my laptop charger sitting on my desk!!! 

It's been raining steadily here since I arrived, and it was raining when I left home, but in all that I managed to walk to and from the stations without getting soaked by all the passing vehicles, so that was nothing short of a miracle.

This on the other hand is the state of Mum's back garden.........our very own lake. Anyone got a few spare fish lol.

Better leave it at that, before my battery dies.

Thanks for stopping by.

Love and Crafty Hugs

Kimx

Another Twofer, but Which Comes First?

Afternoon,

Here are another couple of cards made recently for the lovely Janice and Andy at SirStampalot.

Now, I do love a Twofer, but which card came first?

I guess in a way this one did, although it was actually made with leftovers. I die cut the frame from white cardstock and placed it on top of a piece of white card in order to colour it using brown distress inks and a blending brush.

While adding colour to the die cut, it ends up becoming a stencil. And by using a piece of white card to work on instead of my craft sheet, I ended up with a readymade background for my second card.

I trimmed around the stenciled panel and added it to a card front along with some diecut strips, floral embellishments and a sentiment.

So back the card that I was initially trying to create. I added the now coloured die cut to a card front on top of a piece of background paper.

The finishing touches were some pieces of ephemera, washi tape and a sentiment.

Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy your weekend. I managed to get my hair done, which always makes you feel so much better don't you think.

Love and Crafty Hugs

Kimx

Sunflowers

Evening,

I've just spent a lovely afternoon chatting with all the fabulous DT at Creative Expressions. It is so lovely to put faces and voices to the names that you see all the time. At least I got to see them. They on the other hand got a blank screen where my face should have been..................me and technology lol. Maybe I'll get to work it out before our next call in the New Year.

I thought that with them in mind I would share a couple of cards that I made using Woodware stamps available from Creative Expressions.

I do love Jane's floral designs.

I used a stencil to create the background on this one, running it through an embossing machine with a rubber mat to get the raised embossed finish.

I used the stencil again on this card but with darker colours along with some Distress Oxide Ink.

I painted this second image rather than using blending brushes and a second layer to the sunflower as I did on the first card.

I also added a thin die cut frame and a sentiment.

I'm looking forward to a new DT box arriving on my doorstep very soon. It's always such fun to open and come up with ideas of what to do with all the amazing things inside.

Thanks for stopping by

Love and Crafty Hugs

Kimx

Hello Sweet Fiend, Let's Celebrate

Afternoon,

Another trip out for me today. I've just spent a lovely couple of hours sitting in the local Wetherspoons.  Before you start to worry that I've turned to drink, I was nursing a very nice cup of coffee lol. It was the monthly get together of a Carers group that I belong to. A much-needed chance to chat with other people that know exactly what you are going through when caring for someone.

Here are a couple of cards made a while ago for the lovely Janice at SirStampalot.

I used the framed background die and an embossing mat to create the background to this card. I then used my ink blending brushes to add colour to the resulting piece of embossed card stock.

I die cut the frame from black cardstock and stuck it over the coloured and embossed panel using wet glue. I used some floral elements and sentiments to embellish the finished card. 

I used the frame die again for this second card. I used white cardstock and an embossing mat to create the background and then cleaned my brushes on the embossing to give a soft finish to the panel.

I added a fine black line around the embossing with a micron pen.

Once again, a couple of floral embellishments

along with a die cut sentiment and a little bit of bling.

No galivanting tomorrow, unless you count a trip to the local co-op for some milk lol. I certainly don't want to go anywhere at the moment, it's p...ing down!!

Thanks for stopping by.

Love and Crafty Hugs

Kimx

Let It Snow

Evening,

I've just spent a lovely day in London at the Ideal Home Christmas Show. It certainly wasn't very Christmassy this morning, when I walked the 3 miles to the station in the pouring rain!!! 

There were lots of fabulous Christmas decorations, Christmas smells and food stands, along with Christmas songs playing all day to get you in the mood.

I did buy a couple of bits, but regardless it was just nice to be with a good friend for a day out. A trip on a train, a coffee and a friend.......I'm very easily pleased lol.

So, as it was a Christmas show, I thought that I would share a Christmas card that I made recently.

The Girls and I played with background dies a couple of weeks ago.

They can be used in a variety of different ways, 

not just as the large background for which they were intended. I used a snowflake die to create the embossed background on this card,

as well as adding a section of it to a piece of handmade background before attaching a die cut frame and filling it with crystal embossing powder.

There was lots of fake snow around at the show, including a white carpet under foot. Today was the first day so it still looked white and magical as if snow had just fallen. In a couple of days, it will probably look all grey and slushy. Just like the real thing I suppose lol.

Thanks for stopping by.

Love and Crafty Hugs

Kimx

Fabulous Spotlights

Afternoon,

One of the cards that I shared with you yesterday, was a Spotlight card.

I do love a Spotlight, it is a great way to highlight part of an image on a card,

but it can also be a great way to hide a stamping mistake.

I added a couple of circular spotlights on this card cut from a piece of handmade background.

And of course, you know that I hate waste, so I used the piece of left-over background

to create a second card.

I added a different sentiment to this one.

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy crafting and Hugs

Kimx

Striped Watercolour Backgrounds

Evening,

I had a lovely trip out with the 'Sheep Ladies' today. Coffee at the local garden center which was decked out with the most amazing Christmas decorations.

I love watercolour backgrounds like the ones created for these three cards, using Distress Inks and an Embossing Folder.

I've used stamped and embossed images on the resulting panels,

along with some die cut sentiments and a little bit of bling.

Thanks for stopping by.

Love and Crafty Hugs

Kimx