Moody Blues

Evening Everyone,
I managed to make it to another fabulous afternoon at Davina's.
It really is totally amazing how much stuff I manage to take with me to class.
I had enlisted the Grandchildren to help me carry things as we thought that Sylvie, who gives me a lift, wouldn't be able to get up the road because of the flooding, so I would have to bring everything to meet her!!
As it turns out the 'Men from the Council' managed to clear the drains and most of the flood water subsided so Sylvie was able to meet me at my front door.
I decided that I would split today's class it into 3 parts since there were so many different techniques to show them using Embossing Folders.
Of course another technique that I had forgotten about features on my card this evening.

The tree panel has been created using a Dreamweaver Brass Stencil (I know its not a folder, but it still embosses) which I had spritzed with Adirondack Colourwash sprays.

I ran it through my Cuttlebug which transferred the ink to the card stock and gave me the dry embossed look. It also cleaned most of the ink from the stencil which was a bit of a result.

I stamped and embossed the sentiment onto the tree panel and then matt and layered it onto a card which I had stamped with various leaves.
Some Card Candi finishes the whole thing off.
I think I can see a part 4 to the embossing classes so that we can play with brass stencils as well.
What do you think Girls, are you up for an extra afternoon of play time?
Happy Crafting and hugs Kimx

What a Wonderful World at Woodware

Hi All
I am feeling very honoured this month, as I have been asked to be a Guest Designer on the Woodware Team Challenge so that Siobhan can have a well deserved holiday.
This week Janet from Japonica in Exmouth has chosen the challenge theme from a song title What a Wonderful World.
Now what sort of world would it be without flowers, so that is what I chose to use on my card.

 I created the background paper using Adirondack Colorwash Spray Inks and cling film.

I stamped and embossed the beautiful Daisy image (Stampendous SSC1105 Daisy Stem Trio ) onto the dry paper and then painted the flowers with thin undiluted neat bleach.

 I trimmed the panel and then cut it into three pieces before mounting it onto gold and black glossy paper.

The panel on the right hand side of the picture has been created by stamping and embossing the oblong  decorative image using Versamark and clear Embossing powder.

This is such a useful stamp set and works really well with the bleach.
I hope that you will join us this week, there is still time to play along HERE, and don't forget to check out what the rest of the team have been up to.
Happy Crafting.
Hugs Kimx

A Purple Hedgerow

Evening Everyone
I hope that you are all tucked up in the warm enjoying some Craft Time. It is much too cold and snowy to go out, well that's my excuse anyway.

Unfortunately this week as well as having to make 'Baby' cards, I have had to make a couple of Sympathy cards, which has been hard given that this week was the 12th anniversary of my Son and Dad's passing.
Where does time go to so quickly?

This card was made using JGS272 Hedgerow from Woodware, stamped and embossed using Versamark and clear embossing powder on to white card which has wording stamped onto it in black.
The colour has been added using Adirondack Colourwash ink to create an Embossed Resist panel.  

Once the panel is dry I trimmed it to size and edged it with gold embossing powder before running it through my Cuttlebug using an Embossing folder.
I added a little Metallic Rub-on to help to highlight the embossing.

I added some shrivelled Organza Ribbon and a sentiment from Woodware FRCL154 Salutations.
The stamping down the left hand side of the card is my trusty Leaf Flourish F6042 from Hero Arts.
We seem to have escaped any further snow today, so let's hope that that remains the same for tomorrow.
Night night.
Hugs Kimx

I've gone Green for Father's Day

Evening Everyone,
I hope that you have had a good day, mine has been nothing if not eventful.
We spent the morning opening and closing the forecourt as we contended with computer problems that meant that we couldn't serve fuel.
The police seem to have been out in force, or at least they have been in our coffee shop, which was very useful when we had to call on them to chase and arrest a shoplifter!!!
I have also delivered my latest commission.
I have a friend who orders special cards from me.
I love working on them as it is so nice to be able to use anything from my craft room regardless of where it can be bought or if it even exists anymore.
The card that she ordered is for Father's Day and other than highlighting her Father's love of Animals, Nature and the colour green the card was left entirely up to me.

The main image is a very large stamp that I bought in an ex-demo sale at The Craft Barn about 15 years ago, in the days of Maggie Wright. In all the time that I have owned it I am ashamed to say that this is the first time that it has been used, how bad is that. But you see this is why I can never bare to part with any stamps........just in case lol.

I finally stamped and embossed it using black versafine and clear embossing powder, having tried several other colour combos without success.
I started off by leaving the image black and white but in the end I decided to add some colour to the foliage and skyline to match the background to the card.

Lorraine's only other request was that I add SOLO to the card which is the name of her father's manuscript about Life / Mankind and the Earth which he has spent many years writing.

The background to the card was created using Adirondack Colorwash inks and clingfilm.
Once it had dried, I stamped and embossed several different leaves around the edges, some of which were embossed using my favourite Aged Silver Frantage Embossing Enamel.

I edged the entire panel with the same powder and mounted it on to a large square card which had also had leaves stamped onto it using Lettuce and Pesto Adirondack inks.
I have to admit to being really pleased with the final result and I know that Lorraine liked it when she collected it from me today, I just hope that her Dad likes it to.

I would like to enter it in to the following challenges
Oldie but a Goodie - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes  optional extra for Father's Day
Sassy Cheryls - It's all about the Dad's and Gdad's
Cards for Men - Father's Day
Forever Friends - One for the Boys
Love to Create - Fathers Day or a Special Guy

Night, night
Hugs Kimx 

A couple of Thank You cards

Evening Everyone,
I don't know about you, but I have a drawer full of cards that I have made over the years.
Sometimes there is one there that is ready to go, although  most of the time I have to make something new because what is there is some how just not quite right lol.
These cards were made quite some time ago using a stamp that I got at a Stampin Up party.

Both of these cards use background paper made from Adirondack Colourwash inks.
As you may have guessed I do like playing around with inks and creating backgrounds.

The background on this first card has been made by spraying white card stock with a combination of Denim and Wild Plum ink sprays. This has then had cling film placed over it to create this stunning effect.
If the card stock is not quite wet enough when the clingfilm is applied, then the inks will not blend and it leaves a spotty effect, which can be seen in some places on this card.
I painted some of the images with thin undiluted bleach, another of my favourite ingredients to play with.

This second card has been made in the same manner as the first only I didn't use any cling film once I had sprayed the card.
Because the ink is water based, a wet paint brush will help to move it around without the need for any extra ink, so this is how I have painted the leaves.

I added a couple of extra images to both of the cards.
My daughter Becki gave these to the Nurses at the hospital where she completed her 2nd year placement recently.
I have my uses it would appear, even if it is only to provide handmade greetings cards lol.
Happy Crafting
hugs Kimx

Christmas Cards All Year Round

I don't seem to have managed very much on the craft front over the last couple of days. Still I suppose that makes up for all the activity on the crafty front over the weekend.
I spent yesterday catching up with some blog posts, e-mails and commenting on the new challenge at Crafty Cardmakers, it's amazing how quickly people have entered. I've just checked and I'm way behind again!!
I still have a couple of posts to do if I stand any chance of keeping you all up to date with the things that I've made and also entering the challenges that I have found, and made cards for before they close.

I told you I was determined to keep on top of all my Christmas cards, well over at Christmas Cards All Year Round, the challenge this month is 'Non Traditional Colours' with a bonus challenge of some embossing if possible. Not a problem, well the embossing at least lol.
In fact even the colour choice wasn't hard to follow. I have never been a strict follower of Traditional Christmas colours. Because I like to make my own backgrounds and love playing with inks I always seem to end up with masses of bits, especially after a demo or class. Not always your traditional Christmas colours but what the heck. What it's all about is fun, and who said Christmas has to be red and green anyway.

Being on my using up leftovers kick I made this card out of my Christmas Bits Box. It's amazing what you find. The only trouble is when you come to post sometimes you can't for the life of you remember how you made the particular background bit that you have used, or what Company the stamp comes from. Never mind you get the idea, and you can always adapt it to fit with what you have in your bits box lol.

On this particular occasion I do know that the tree stamp is by Magenta Sketch Christmas Tree and the greeting is from a Hobby Art clear stamp set Christmas Sentiments.
The paper that the Christmas tree has been stamped and embossed on to is made from Adirondack Colorwash inks and I remember using some bleach on it which is what caused the image to go yellow in places.
I added some Card Candy and swirls. The brown card is from my stash, and the black card from my Christmas bits box.
Definitely not traditional colours but I really like it. Why not have a go yourself.
Nite nite
Kimx

Happy Birthday Finches All xx

Evening Everyone
August and September are really busy months for my Brother when it comes to birthdays, so my Sister-in-law held a joint party for them all on Sunday.
I suspect that it was probably the only way that she could get my Brother to have a party to celebrate his 50th, if it was combined with my Mum, his 2 daughters, his son and his wife!!
My brothers birthday was all the more important to celebrate this year quite apart from it being the mile stone half century since he was diagnosed with throat cancer in February.
He opted for a complete laryngectomy and follow up radiotherapy, but fingers crossed is doing very well. He has had a scan now that his treatment is finished and although we need the radiologist to look at it, his consultant says it looks clear.

The card that I gave Ross was actually made quite some time ago, but has always been amongst my all time favourites.
The zebra was stamped and embossed onto a piece of background made using Adirondack colour wash inks. I painted the stripes with bleach which have turned them a beautiful orange colour. Not very zebra like perhaps but cool all the same :)

I trimmed the image and mounted it onto white before attaching it to a green card.
The greeting is by Paper Inspirations and the Zebra stamp is by Stamps Happen. I'm not sure if you can still get hold of either of them any more I'm afraid.
I added a large bead and some threads.
If you like this card you might like to check out the other one that I made using the same stamp. HERE.
I really must get back to some crafting now as I have some really tight deadlines.
Thanks for stopping by, please don't forget to leave a comment it's always so nice to hear what people think.
Love and hugs
Kimx

Woodware Challenge Week 6 AND Woodware USA !!

Evening Everyone
What a difference a day makes!
We Brits are never satisfied with the weather are we, we have to have something to have a moan about.
There we were yesterday complaining that it was so hot and sticky that we couldn't sleep and so today it decides that we will get thunder, lightening and torrential rain!!!! As usual it picked school pick up time, so as I was late leaving work again I got absolutely soaked just walking the short distance from work to my house.
I'm not sure that it is actually any cooler here, but at least I get out of watering my Sin-in-laws plants tonight so that's a result lol.

As busy as I am this week with cards for the TV, and Make and Takes for the Craft Show on Sunday I had to enter the challenge over at Woodware. This week the theme is Birthday Wishes.

This card is made using a piece of handmade background paper and a beautiful peel-off design from Magenta called Boxed Flowers.

The background paper is made using Adirondack Colorwash ink and cling film. When this is dry one of the peel-off designs has been placed on the background and then the flower and leaves have been painted with bleach. Of course no flower is complete without a gem.

The greeting, which I must admit is by Hobby Art, has also been stamped onto a piece of the background paper and then Crackle Glossy Accents has been added over it.
I decided that as this card fitted the colour theme on the Woodware USA Challenge I would enter it there as well. Nothing ventured, nothing gained lol.
I can see that I am going to have to leave the fan on again tonight, it is still really muggy and warm here.
Hope you get a descent nights sleep.
Love and hugs
Kimx

There are always flowers................and shaving foam!!

Evening Everyone
I had another lovely evening class over at Lavender Lane last night. We had a good time and got quite messy making backgrounds with inks and shaving foam. 

Some of the backgrounds were really quite busy and I felt that images might get a little lost on them so I tried out a bit of embossed resist with a twist.

The main panel is created using the inks and shaving foam and then I have stamped several solid floral images (Hero Arts and Hobby Art) over it using versamark ink and clear embossing powder.
Once these stamped flowers have been heated I have then covered the entire thing with a coating of black versafine ink. This is then coated with clear embossing powder, heated and voila!!

I felt that this sentiment from the Hobby Art Scene It Sentiments set couldn't have fitted more perfectly.
Hope you like it.
I've managed to find a very similar tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers, although we used inks in spray bottles rather than drops from a reinker, but at least it will give you the idea.
Maybe one day I will get around to sorting out a tutorial of my own, although I don't claim to have invented the technique itself.
I will try post some more cards tomorrow if I can get some pictures taken before it rains again :)
Love and hugs
Kimx