Stencils and Stamps

Evening All,

We tried to go for a walk this afternoon, despite the weather, but instead thrashed out the logistics of running classes after 17th May. How wonderful it will be to get to play in crafty company.

We are working on the class list at the moment, so in the meantime here are some cards that were made during one, pre-lockdown, using a fabulous stencil from Altenew.

Stencils are so fabulously versatile, they can be used in so many different ways, so here are just a few cards using a stencil, inks and a few stamps.

I attached the stencil to a piece of white card using my Wendy Vecchi Make Art Stay-tion, which I love, and then blended the inks through it.

I also stamped all over the image with the stencil still in place. To finish off I used co-ordinating papers, gems and a stamped sentiment.

Same stencil and inking technique just darker colours this time.

Once again finished off with some gems and a stamped sentiment.

This final card uses the same techniques but with a monochrome look.

We had such fun with these as I recall that we have added it into the new schedule so that we can all have a refresher course.

I'd better go and narrow down a few more class ideas and get the list out to the Crafties. I'm getting excited to see them already, but first I have a weekend with the littlest Grandchildren to look forward to.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs Kimx

Weekend Doodles with Altenew

Evening All,

I've got a couple of cards tonight using a fabulous Altenew stamp set called Weekend Doodles.

I have stamped and embossed the images in white for this card,

and then coloured them using an iridescent watercolour palette from Creative Expressions before fussy cutting them.

I love this die cut 'Happy' cut a couple of times from white card 

and then layered for added dimension.

I used this same stamp set to create the background panel on this second card.

I used a piece of mop up background and then added some more colour to the images with distress inks.

I also added some glitter glue and glossy accents to the flower centers.

This last card uses the same white embossed images along with a solid floral image stamped over the top for a resist with a twist technique that I saw on line somewhere.

It didn't quite work out but I rather like the effect anyway.

Another die cut sentiment to finish it all off.

Thanks for stopping by.

Stay safe and hugs

Kimx

Inspired by Altenew for a Lifetime of Love

 Afternoon All,

Boy am I glad to be home, it's been freezing at work, although thankfully no snow. I'm so glad when they get the forecast wrong lol.

I LOVE Altenew stamps, and so do the rest of the Crafty Girls, so we often based a class around just playing with my rather large stash of stamps and dies.

This card uses the beautiful Engagement Wishes stamp set. It contains two rather large floral images and two leaves along with a host of fabulous words.

I stamped and coloured one of the flowers and leaves for this card and then fussy cut them before adding them to a white card. The background was created using a stencil, some dye based ink and a blending brush.

I like to show the girls that there is more than one way to use a stamp, and that it doesn't matter if you don't feel like colouring in your image, it can look every bit as good in black and white.

This card uses both of the floral images and a leaf.

I also placed the images so that they hung off the edge of the card and then trimmed them to the shape of the card.

The sentiment was added on a strip of black card stock using clear ink and white embossing powder.

Off to start some more DT work, I have a very busy weekend in front of me.

Thanks for stopping by.

Stay safe and hugs

Kimx

Set Back Stamping

Evening Everyone,
I hope that you have had a good Saturday.
I know the weather wasn't particularly brilliant this morning but that didn't seem to stop people last week, so I can only assume that people were either in the pub or the hairdressers today as the park was practically deserted when we went for our walk lol.
People have shown great ingenuity though as last night we saw a young man having a haircut while sitting outside on one of the pieces of gym equipment in the park. Neither thing allowed on Friday, but you can't fault them for creative thinking.

One of the classes that we did in the last few weeks before lockdown spoilt everything, came from an idea that I found on Jennifer McGuire's blog.

She called it Set Back Stamping, and it is a great way to use some of those stamps that I own which have co-ordinating dies.

Where this wonderful lady gets all her ideas from is beyond me, but she is a great source of material for classes so I am very grateful to her.

As well as the 'set back' idea I used the same stamp and die set for this flatter card.

 I rather like the shadow that it created around one side of the poppies.

This lovely leafy Altenew stamp gave me a 'Twofer'.

Check our Jennifer's blog post for step by step instructions, she does it so much better that I ever could, besides which she also does videos which are always very useful to watch.

This is the card that I made with the left over stamped image.

This card used a strip of green card that I had in my stash, so I decided to use the whole strip on the one card,

raising the central portion instead of the outside pieces.

I kept the colouring very simple, just using a little thin undiluted bleach to colour the image on the green cardstock.
Thanks for stopping by. Have a great Sunday.
Stay safe and hugs
Kimx

Wedding Challenge at CCM

Afternoon Everyone,
We have another challenge starting today over at CCM...……..Wedding.
I have a good friend who makes the most exquisite Grovvi cards. She has just spent ages making 3 wedding cards for August this year, only to have them cancelled until next year due to Covid 19.
Not a problem you might think, except that they all have the date lovingly woven into the design!!
We have been trying to come up with ways to disguise this so that she doesn't have to start all over again, including adding the new date on a banner since they will forever be reminded of a very strange year in their marital history.
With all of this in mind I decided that the card that I need to make for a family wedding will be fairly simple, with the option to add a date later. Not because of the work involved, but so that I don't get caught out lol.

After much deliberation I decided on this beautiful Rose Spray from a Crafters Companion Decoupage Pad for my card.

I bought it with the co-ordinating die and once cut out I layered it over a Sue Wilson fancy background panel, die cut from pale gold card stock.

Each sheet in the pad contains several layers for the roses and leaves to allow for decoupage.

The background to the card was created using an Altenew background stamp and platinum embossing powder.

I felt that the sentiments, also from Altenew, were the perfect compliment to the card made for an older couple getting married later in the year, Covid 19 willing that is.

I also found this card that I made a while ago which would work well as a wedding card I think.
I hope that you will find the time to join in with our challenge this time. Please check out what my Teamies have been up to, there are some real beauties there.
Stay safe and well.
Happy Crafting and hugs
Kimx

Easter Challenge at CCM

Evening Everyone,
Sorry I'm a little late today, I've actually managed to get a couple of things finished off.
Amongst them, a rather large pile of Easter cards for the latest challenge over at CCM.

Now I have to say that I don't usually do Easter cards.

I've always been the mean Mamma who gives the Grandchildren books rather than chocolate,

but this is such a hugely different time that I thought I would break the habit of a lifetime and send out some Easter cards.

I have several rather cute Easter designs from LOTV, so of course this is where I headed.

The main part of the greeting on this card is from a new Altenew stamp set that I recently purchased.

I do like to add a little bit of decoupage to the images,

and some glossy accents of course.

The sentiment here is from Clarity Stamps.

I don't usually like to make the same card twice,

but on this occasion I made an exception.

And I even made a couple of sets of four.

The background papers are from 12x12 pieces from my stash.

I rather like the other sentiment on some of these cards, I feel that it is rather appropriate for the moment. I do hope that you will be able to find the time to join us for this new challenge. I know that we have plenty of time on our hands at the moment, but I'm afraid that my spring cleaning gene hasn't kicked in so far, and is unlikely to at this stage in the game.
Stay safe and hugs
Kimx