Inchies

Evening,

Just a quick post tonight. I'm back at work tomorrow after a couple of days spent catching up with a few crafty projects.

So here are a couple of cards made a long time ago using an Inkadinkadoo Inches stamp and some chalks.

I managed to find a couple of pieces of background paper in my stash that matched rather nicely and I also added some stamped and embossed bamboo on this one.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs Kimx

Inspired by Sue Wilson

Afternoon Everyone,
I told you that I liked leaves and Autumn colours, so here are a few more cards which will hopefully inspire you to join us in our Autumn Colours challenge at CCM.

I found this background technique a few years ago on Sue Wilson's Blog and thankfully bookmarked it on my computer.

I came across my samples a few weeks ago and thought that it would make a good class.

I used Distress Oxide inks to apply colour to my card, which I then covered with pale gold mica powder.

Next I stamped my chosen image with Versamark ink across the background, cleaning the stamp in between each inking.

The versamark lifts the mica off the background leaving a sticky image which you can cover with a darker colour of mica powder.

The final step is to stamp across the background using a dye based ink.

 As you can see I had a great time playing with the technique,

as did 'The Girls'.

It works every bit as well with butterflies, or even snowflakes.

Sue's original was done with a torn paper mask across the centre of the card.
I was less than impressed with my initial effort.........it's a good job card stock has two sides, but this snowflake one isn't too bad I suppose.
I think I'll stick to all over backgrounds though.
No crafting for me today as I have to go back to work again. Never mind everything will still be there to play with another day.
That's the alarm, so I had better get ready to go.
Happy crafting, and have a fabulous evening.
Hugs Kimx

A snowflake Masterboard

 Afternoon  Everyone,
Three posts in four days, not bad going for me. That's loads of butterflies, so it must be about time for some Christmas cards.

I have literally hundreds of them made and photographed, so I really do need to start sharing them with you since just lately I seem to be adding a few more to the pile each month.

One way of making several cards at one sitting is by preparing a Masterboard, a favourite technique of my lovely friend Angela aka Felix the Crafty Cat.

This basically involves sponging and stamping over an entire sheet of card, which you then cut up to create several individual cards. 

Any technique is a go, preprepared backgrounds, gelli plate, sponging, stamping, stencils, combined together to create wonderful one off masterpieces.

I have used an old Inkadinkadoo snowflake stamp set along with a Blue Breeze Kaleidacolor ink pad to create my Masterboard, along with some silver heat embossed snowflakes and stamped sentiments. 

You can cut the panel up in any way you see fit.

It also means that you can use all of the panel, 

including all of the little leftover bits.

Off to do a little more commenting before I get back to craft, I have a class to prep for.

Have a great crafty afternoon.

Hugs Kimx

A Mutual Admiration Society

Evening Everyone,
I hope that you have had a wonderful Saturday.
We had a fabulous family gathering today, four generations together under the same roof. Amazingly for some it was the first time they had ever met!!

Mum and Emma shared lunch.

Emma loves spending time with my Mum, it really is a mutual admiration society.

 I have a couple of birthday cards for you tonight.

 A card made using some background paper from my stash, which I have to admit doesn't seem to get any smaller lol.

I used an Inkadinkadoo leaf stamp set to create a great card for a man.

This card uses another piece of background and the same die set,

but this time I used a wonderful old Hero Arts stamp.
Maybe I can get some crafting done tomorrow, I have a pile od Hobby Art stamps that need to be played with, but I am fast running out of time.
Maybe I can get a bit of playtime tonight, or maybe I should just start fresh tomorrow.
Anyway, bye for now.
Hugs Kimx

Happy Birthday, just for you.

Evening Everyone
Long time no see. Now I know that it happens at the same time each year, but why is it that Christmas always has the habit of creeping up on you??
I may have been a very good girl and have made all of my cards throughout the year, (Thank God for the Christmas challenge blogs) but I am later than ever writing them.
I had intended getting them all written last weekend, but the birthday of a certain special young man put paid to that.
I can't believe that my Grandson Reece is now 10 years old.

This lovely pre-coloured image from Lili of the Valley reminds me of Reece eating milk and cookies with his younger brother Ciaran. Yes they can be cute sometimes lol.

I cut the image out using a circular Nestie. Sorry that the photography isn't up to much.

The tags in the background have been covered in background papers from my stash, and then run through the Cuttlebug using a Diamond Embossing Folder.

The spiders in the background have been stamped and embossed using an image from an Inkadinkadoo clear stamp set. Definitely a useful stamp for boys cards.

We all went out for a meal, a very nice carvery meal with heaps of vegetables, my kind of Sunday dinner.
In the absence of a birthday cake, an ice cream sundae will just have to do.

As you can see Saskia wasn't going to waste even the tiniest bit of her pudding.
I really must get some cards written tomorrow or else no-one will get them this side of the New Year.
Thanks for stopping by.
hugs Kimx

Winged Things at Crafty Cardmakers

Evening Everyone,
Sorry, as usual I'm a little late to the party, but they do say better late than never, so I hope that you will forgive me.
Today sees the launch of a new challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers where our Host Marie would like to see Winged Things. Let your imagination run wild, it could be a bird, an angel, an insect and you can use stamps, die cuts, digital images in fact anything as long as it has wings.

We are sponsored for this challenge by The Stampman (and Lady of course!) who are offering the winner a £10 voucher for their store.

We are also sponsored by Di's Digi Downloads with a $10 prize for her store.

This card was made using a lovely clear stamp set which is by Inkadinkadoo, I think. The greeting is by Woodware. 

The central panel has been made using Instant coffee, Pearlex and cling film

 I have added some stamped images and a bit of Frantage Embossing Enamel.

The background to the card is Kraft coloured card which I have stamped onto in the same manner using the same combination of stamps and inks.
I will actually be teaching this technique at Davina's on the evening of the 19th September.

I added some ribbon and some fussy cut Dragonflies which have been shaped and attached using Silicon.

Why not check out what the rest of the team have come up with. Please try and leave a comment, they are always much appreciated and I do try and return the visit.
Happy Crafting.
hugs Kimx

Guest Spot a Our Creative Corner - Office Supplies

Hi All
It has been a very busy week for me.
As you know I just love the challenges over at Our Creative Corner, so you can imagine how thrilled I was to be asked to be their Guest Designer this week.
Their challenges always make you dig deep into your creative recesses and this one was certainly no different.
The challenge this time round is to use Office Supplies (see picture inspiration) -  Staples, Post-it Notes, String, Sticky Tape! Use your imagination and come up with a fabulous creation with those common items. But here's the twist, I want to see the colour RED. Lots and lots of RED!
Well I wanted to get this right so after several e-mails back and forth to the team I made my card.
I made it for my Mum's birthday which was on Wednesday, she's quite used to getting them late lol.

I took pictures and started to write my post and then while I was at work I realised that I had forgotten one very important and major ingredient NO RED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So having checked with the team that the card itself was OK it was back to the drawing board for a remake.

So here is Take 2, with LOTS of Red.
The picture makes it look rather brown but I promise it is definitely red.

In fact these are the ink pads that I used along with the lovely Hero Arts Leaf Flourish stamp.

I used two strips of  Masking Tape on the main panel for the card and then sponged and stamped using a combination of inks and the Leaf Flourish and an Inkadinkadoo clear stamp set.

The main focus of the card is created using a couple of Manila Tags.

The strips across the bottom of this one are made from sponged and stamped Masking Tape and Staples.

I stuck the Tape strips to a scrap of paper to colour and stamp on them and then I covered them with clear embossing powder to seal before adding them to the bottom of the tag.

The second Tag was screwed up and then coloured with Perfect Pearls.
I can't remember where I saw this technique so I can't post a link to it.
If anyone knows please tell me so I can let everyone else know as it was a brilliant technique.
(Edited to add link to The Artful Maven Faux Leather Video Tutorial - Thanks Buttons xx)

The flowers were punched from strips of card which have been sponged and stamped onto. The paler flowers are made from strips of coloured Masking Tape.

I added Brads to the corners of the card and the flower centres, and there is also some Bakers Twine in there as well.
I hope that you will feel suitable inspired to enter this wonderful challenge.
I look forward to seeing what you come up with, and don't forget to pop over and check out what the TEAM have done. I can't wait to check it out myself.
Oh and Mum your card will be with you very soon, I hope you think it was worth the wait.
It very nearly did have a hint of red on it as I cut myself while making the flowers and leaves lol.
I have a metal plate that I place in my Cuttlebug to help cut intricate shapes like the leaves. As I was putting things away the plate slipped and I grabbed it right on the edge - OUCH.
I had to go calmly into the kitchen and get a rather large plaster without my Granddaughter Saskia seeing me as she is absolutely freaked out by blood. No chance of  her being a nurse anytime soon :O)
Off to get ready for my class at Davina's this morning. I always look forward to my classes there as we have a good laugh........ and throw in a bit of work as well.
Happy Crafting and have a great day.
hugs Kimx

21 and Counting!

Evening Everyone
Well I don't know how appropriate it will seem to be making Christmas cards in the beautiful Summer sunshine, but for the moment I'm going to make the most of being inspired by the bitterly cold weather and the Christmas blogs.

Both cards have been made using images from my Christmas bits box. In fact this one is so old I'm not even sure of the stamp company. I think it could be Stampendous, but I am perfectly prepared to be wrong.

The image has been stamped and embossed using cats eye pigment ink pads and crystal embossing powder, so it is very sparkly which doesn't show in the photograph.
I have gold embossed the green background card using a beautiful Christmas Swirl stamp by Inkadinkadoo.
The lace panel has been created from a DooHickey. I have added plenty of bling as I would like to enter it into the challenge over at 52(Christmas) Card Throwdown where they want to see Rhinestones.

The second card tonight uses a lovely Magenta stamp which I have stamped and embossed onto a piece of  brayered background. I have punched the edge of the brayered panel using a Martha Stewart punch and then layered it onto silver card.

I added some spotty ribbon, a greeting and some punched poinsettias and leaves. Of course this image lends itself beautifully to more bling so I would like to enter it into the same challenge at 52(Christmas) Card Throwdown.

I think the black poinsettias give the card quite a dramatic look, and not what I would consider to be a typically traditional colour combo. so I would like to enter it in to the challenge at Christmas Cards All Year Round where they have been asking for Non Traditional Colours all this month.
I have decided to add a tally to my side bar so that I can see how well I am doing with my Christmas cards each month. So to start off the New Year I made 21 in January.
Thank You to all the Christmas challenge blogs that I have found, you have certainly kept me on track
Lets see how well I get on next month.
Thanks for stopping by and for all the lovely comments I have received. I will try and get round to everyone but at the moment I'm rather busy making more Christmas cards lol.
Hugs Kimx