Black and White with a 'POP'

Evening Everyone
I hope that you are all enjoying a wonderful sunny weekend.
Well, a week would not be complete without me making a card to enter into the challenge over at Woodware, and this is no exception. I confess that I did slip up last week, but I just didn't seem to find the time to wrestle with my shrink plastic lol.
This week the challenge was Black and White with a pop of Blue which is much more up my alley given that Black and White is one of my all time favourite colour combos.
In fact I did get a little carried away and actually made two cards.

This first card uses part of a lovely Magenta stamp that actually contains 3 different pots of flowers.
I cut the panel out and then sponged it with Weathered Wood and Black soot distress inks.

The pot and flowers are coloured using Lightening Black brilliance ink which has a very gold tinge to it.
The background was a piece made during a Shaving Foam  class a while ago.
The 'POP' has been added with crystals that I have coloured with a blue Promarker.

The second card is also made with a Magenta stamp this time stamped and embossed in white before sponging and colouring in the same way as the previous card.

This time I added tiny white, black and blue pearls for my 'POP'.
The vases in both cards have been covered with Glossy Accents.
I can't wait to see what challenge Dorothy has set for next week.
Anyway dinner calls and then I have a commission to finish for one of the Boys at work, no rest for the wicked.
Happy Crafting
hugs Kimx

A little bit of Bling for Our Creative Corner

Evening Everyone
I hope that you have had a good day.
I should really be tucked up in bed sound asleep as I have to be at work at 5am tomorrow, but once again I got carried away with my crafting!!
They have another fabulous challenge over at Our Creative Corner. I do love this blog.
There is always a twist to the challenge so they ask you for something just that little bit different. It makes you think outside the box and stretch your creativity.

This week they are asking for 'A bit of bling mixed with Nature'.
I hope that I have managed to fulfil the challenge criteria.
I think that the main floral image is from Penny Black which I have painted with inks and then added some crystals which I coloured with Promarkers.

The background paper was made using Starburst Stains and clingfilm.
Why not pop across to Vixykins blog where she has a great tutorial for a very similar technique.
I added a bit of stamping down one side and embossed it with my favourite Frantage Aged Silver embossing  Enamel.

I added a flower cut from some of the leftover background paper as well as a Diamante Ribbon Slider and a pearl brad for the flower center.
The sentiment is from Hobby Art.
I'm really pleased with the results, especially the colour.
I would like to enter it in to the following challenges
Bearly Mine - Sparkle and Shine
Papertake Weekly challenge - Anything Goes
Lexi's Creations - Sparkle and Shine
Must get to bed now or it will already be time to get up lol.
Hugs Kimx

It's my challenge at The Stamp Man

Hi All
Today is the start of a new challenge over at The Stamp Man and it is my first time as host. 
I have chosen Vellum as my theme, and I would like to see vellum on your projects in any shape or form.
Please let me know how you have used it though, you know how subtle vellum can be so I might need help to see it lol.
I love vellum. I find it especially useful when it comes to covering a bit of bad stamping to 'rescue' a card. 
In fact I thought that it might be fun to see if I can add vellum to as many of my cards as possible over the next fortnight.

This is the card that I made for the challenge. 
I actually got a little carried away and made two, but I think I will save one for a second post.
My all time favourite way of using vellum is with Decorating chalks.
The Stamp Man are doing some lovely multipacks of coloured vellum at the moment, and the pastel one works perfectly with chalks.

First I stamped the butterfly from the Artemio clear stamp set Floral Borders onto a piece of white card using a versamark ink pad. The best way to apply chalks, in my opinion, is with a cotton wool ball.

I blended blue and green from the Decorating Chalks Kit no 3 over the butterflies and then added a bit of glimmer with the Classic 'Glimmer' Chalks set.

I laid a piece of the vellum over the card and stamped the leaves from the Floral Borders set into the gaps before applying the chalks as before.

I also stamped Manuscript Background over the vellum using a Cotton White StazOn ink pad.

I know that there are all sorts of products on the market to attach vellum but my favourite is Miracle Adhesive Film from Woodware, it is fantastic.
I used it to attach the vellum to the white card, after I had first rolled the bottom right hand corner of the vellum panel. I also stamped the leaves onto the blue background card using versamark.
The border across the centre of the card also comes from the Floral Border set, and the greeting is from the Woodware Clear Magic set - All Through the Year

The butterfly was stamped onto vellum and coloured with the chalks before being cut out. I shaped it and attached it to the card using silicon and then added a little Glossy Accents to the body.
Of course no card of mine lately would be complete without some stitching and a little bling.
I had great fun making this card for the challenge, and I hope that you will feel inspired to join in HERE.
Don't forget to check out what the rest of the DT have made for you.
Have a great Easter weekend, not too much chocolate I hope lol.
Happy Crafting.
Hugs Kimx

A Christmas Animal

Afternoon All
We have had another nice day here in Peterboro, not that I have seen the outside world for the past few days. Not that I am complaining either, I am having far too much fun playing. This truly is my kind of holiday, non stop crafting, how much better than that can it get lol.
I have even managed to fit in making a couple of Christmas cards to enter into the challenge over at 52(Christmas) Card Throwdown where they have been asking for cards featuring Christmas Animals.

I didn’t have my bits box with me so I have actually had to stamp something out!!
I had a rummage through the Training room here at SirStampalot and came across this lovely old Penny Black 3539F Snow Hut.
I have coloured him in using my distress inks and after cutting him out I added some white liquid applique and glitter.

The circular starry background was also in the drawer and is by Hero Arts (sorry no code) I have stamped and embossed it using one of the new Frantage Embossing Enamel powders Aged Aqua.
The background paper is by KaiserCraft and I have stamped some Tilda Snowflakes around the edge using Stormy Sky distress inks.

I also made one using the Frantage Aged Gold Embossing Enamel.
I added a bit of bling, a hand stitched border and a tiny Woodware Greeting.
I would also like to enter it into the challenge at ABC Christmas challenges where F is for Furry or Feathered friends. Do you think prickles will count?
Better get back to play, the clock is ticking on my playtime, I will be back to reality in a very short while.
I have a class here in a couple of hours so I had better get organised before they start to arrive.
Hugs
Kimx

A Bingo Card Challenge at The Stampman

Morning All
Today sees the start of a new challenge over at The Stampman.
The challenge is hosted by Lisa who has created a Bingo card.
Pick a line in any direction and make a card using those chosen items.

I went with Green, Circles and Ribbon.
I seem to be going through a very circular phase at the moment so this wasn’t a hard choice for me.

The four circular images are from a new Hero Arts stamp set AC005 Untitled Word Shadow.

I have inked them up using versacolor cubes Sage, Olive and Green Tea.
I love these shadow stamps, I am always drawn to them in any new catalogue.

The dark green background paper has been made using Peeled Paint and Pine Needles distress ink pads and then I have stamped over the top using my favourite Artemio Hedgerow Plants 10001147, although it does fade rather a lot once the ink is dry.

The background card is Coredinations Asparagus, and once again I have used the Hedgerow flowers to stamp onto the square white card.
Some stitching, ribbon from my stash and a few more circles with some faux card candy made from scraps of the coredinations paper.
I also added some tiny crystals to the flower centres.
I hope that you like my effort and feel inspired to join us HERE.
Don't forget to check out what the rest of the team have come up with, we always love you stopping by.
That's quite enough on the laptop now, I need to play.
Have a great day, Happy Crafting.
hugs
Kimx

Sunflowers for Ruth

Evening Everyone
One of the great things about being asked to make a card with a specific theme is that it gives you the excuse to look through all those stamps that you have stashed away.
It also enables you to use something no matter how old or possibly discontinued it might be.

This card was made using a couple of very old Penny Black stamps.
Having sat down to write this I've realised that I have carefully put the stamps away without getting the details. Sorry folks but I am not going to get all the stamps down off the shelf to find the info even if I do need the exercise lol.

I  stamped and embossed the Tall Sunflower panel onto watercolour card and coloured it using distress inks.
Cut closely round the image and then mount onto black glossy card stock, and white card.

The border punch is a Martha Stewart and the checkered paper is from my stash.
The blue card has been stamped and embossed using a second Sunflower stamp, I didn't realise that I owned so many lol. I then painted the flowers with cheap thin bleach.

The greeting  has been created using a couple of clear stamp sets and then cut out using a nestie.
The individual flowers have been cut out from a second stamping of the tall sunflower panel and of course the swirl is a DooHickey.

I also added some tiny yellow crystals.
Sorry for the lack of info on all of the stamps used but I need to get some sleep rather than trying to find them on line. They really are so old that I suspect they have long since been discontinued, but I am happy to be proved wrong.
This is the first of three cards that I have had to make recently, so watch this space as they say.
Off to bed now, nite, nite.
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

Look what I did with my Mini File Folders for the Woodware Challenge

Morning All
Well here, as promised, is my entry in to the Woodware Challenge.

I must confess that when these little file folders arrived in the post from Dorothy I did wonder what on earth I was going to do with them, but having shown my endeavours to the family we have come up with lots of other ideas for the little booklets that they make.

I sponged three of the largest folders with Antique Linen Distress ink and sprayed them with Glimmer Mist.
I then stamped around all of the edges with the dotted flower from the Woodware clear stamp set FRCL153 Flora.

Each page has then been stamped and embossed with one of the other stamps from the set using Sepia Versafine ink. I have coloured these images using ink from a Mountain Meadow Big and Juicy ink pad.

I have stamped and embossed greetings on to each page from several different Woodware stamp sets FRCL154 Salutations, FRCL080 Mixed Greetings and FRCL085 Oriental Style Alphabet.

Finally I have stuck the folders together to form a little booklet using DSST and then added a stitched border using a fine black Micron pen.

I also added some crystals to the image on the front as well as a few tiny peel-off dots on all of the pages.

I had hoped to add some small photos to it but time just got away from me
I thought that it would make a lovely gift for my Mum whose birthday is tomorrow.
It is a shame that they don't come in a slightly bigger size (there are 4 different sizes on each sheet but they all get smaller than this) but I can certainly see myself using them again.
My daughter suggested that if she had lots of journaling to do on a Scrapbook page a little booklet like this would be ideal to tuck into a pocket on the page. My Sin-in-law suggested that a booklet of little pictures and sayings to look at and give someone a lift if they were feeling down would be another idea. And they have already asked me to make one as a Christmas present full of little photos.
I hope that my idea will inspire you to give them a try.
Now I really must get on with some more design team work.
Don't forget to tune in to Create and Craft later today and again tomorrow to watch Jenny from Hobby Art.
I will try and post again this evening as I have so much to share with you. Have a good day.
Love and hugs
Kimx

Happy Birthday to a special young lady.

Good morning,
Today is a very special day in our house, it's my eldest Granddaughter Megan's 11th birthday. I think that I might have just made her day. She has just been wished a Happy Birthday on National TV by Barbara Grey and the rest of the studio - how cool is that!!

I dropped my cards over to Barbara on Friday afternoon for today's shows, Create and Craft channel 671 10am till 12 midday and 2pm till 3pm. (Sorry I know this is a bit late for the first show)

While I was there on my very fleeting visit I asked Barbara if she would do me a big favour and wish Megan a Happy Birthday if she got the chance. Given how nerve wracking live TV must be I was most impressed and very grateful that she remembered. You should have seen Megan's face it was an absolute picture. I think I might definitely be Number One Mam-ma, at least for today lol.

This is the card that I made for Megan. It uses one of the Sugar Nellie Manga Girls and the pose could have been made for her:) I've added lots of flowers, pearls and ribbon.

The sentiment is by Lili of the Valley and has had a couple of tiny crystals added to it. I added them to the Manga Girls dress too.

I made it in Red and Black so that it will go with her bedroom. It's not quite Betty Boo but it was the nearest that I could get.

As I said the attitude is very Megan, she is 11 going on about 25. Don't they get the teenage hormones earlier these days? I'd better get going we have a house full this afternoon as it is also Megan's 2nd cousin's 1st birthday today and we are having a BBQ at ours.

Hope you all have a great day and that I haven't just jinxed the weather.

Love and hugs to all

Kimx 

White Embossed Resist

Evening Everyone
These are a couple of cards made from some of the sample pieces that I created whilst demoing at the weekend, at Ally Pally.

They are all made with panels of white embossed resist. This card uses my favourite Hobby Art clear stamp set Anna's Collection - Just for You and a Melon Melody Kaleidacolour ink pad.

The card stock was purchased at the show from Limetree Crafts

This card uses the same stamps but a Big and Juicy ink pad this time.

 The background paper mount has been cut out using a Nestie and then the card has been embellished with some peel-off dots and crystals.

 This is again the same stamps and ink pad, and even background paper, but this time I have used a punch along the bottom of the panel and then mounted it over a piece of ribbon. Finishing touch - Card Candy.

And don't forget some crystals along the punched edge.
Look at the time, another late post. Where does the time go to??
Love and hugs
Kimx

To All the Mum's out there, especially Mine.

Evening
I hope all you wonderful Mothers out there have been suitably spoilt today. I have. I was treated to coffee in bed this morning and roast dinner this evening - how good is that.

This is the card that I made for my fabulous Mum. I know that she will have been well looked after this afternoon as she was visiting my Brother and his family.

I'm not going to be very helpful with stamp information this evening I'm afraid as the elements of this card were stamped out ages a go, it has just taken me a while to put them together - late as usual, no surprise there then, hey Mum!!!

I've done my favourite padded panel as the centre piece and then layered this over a piece of Glimmer misted background paper.

I've been collecting flowers where ever I see them at shows so it was nice to find that I had ones that matched the panels perfectly.
Some added ribbon, pearls, gems and stitching and voila, a card fit for a truly special person - my Mum.
I'm not particularly good with words so I'm going to pinch the ones from the card that my youngest daughter Becki gave me. Actually they made me cry!

When I was younger I never knew just what it took to be a Mum like you.....
But now I'm grown I've come to see what you gave up to care for me.
You put yourself to the back of the queue and all that I am I owe to you.
So thank you Mum for all you've done, you'll always be my number one!!

As Becki said inside the card, I hope the words say it all.
Happy Mother's Day.
Love and hugs to All
Kimx