Pearlex Christmas Cards

Evening Everyone
Well it seems that Spring has definitely taken a back seat here in Surrey, in favour of the Monsoon.
I took numerous samples along to my Pearlex class yesterday including these Christmas cards made using some lovely Imagination Decoupage stamps.

The panel on each card has been made by stamping and embossing the image in either black or white and then painted using the 'Wet Watercolour Technique'.

The background card  on most of them has also been stamped with Versamark ink and brushed with dry powdered Pearlex.

Pearlex is always a favourite when I am making Christmas cards.
I have however failed miserably this year in my efforts to make some Christmas cards each month.  I think that I have only managed a total of five so far over three months, how rubbish is that?

I added some ribbon and a few pearls to this card.

And this one makes use of some background papers from my stash.
I wonder what the weather will bring tomorrow. No snow I hope although they do suggest that we could be in line for some over Easter!!
I would like to enter these in to the Anything Goes challenge over at Weekly Christmas Card Challenges.
Unfortunately I seem to have succumb to the cold bug that has been bouncing around everyone, both at home and at work. Just what I need. My bed is calling more than my craft table at the moment.
Bye for now.
Hugs Kimx

Playing with Imagination in Bloom.

Evening Everyone
Another fabulous day, even nicer than yesterday. I don't really do the sunshine, I'm a bit of a vampire really. That's how I maintain this pasty English Rose complexion lol.
Once again I have had a very productive weekend finishing off more bits and pieces from my box. This time I have been playing with some Imagination images.

As I have said on numerous occasions, I could no more tell you what the cards were going to turn out like that I could fly.
Unlike the lovely Barbara Gray I don't 'have a plan' going in, I just sit and play and see what happens. Sometimes I have an idea for a card but then it morphs into something else due to the colour and size of the papers in my box, or even a technique that happens to catch my eye on the TV or a blog. You never know what you are going to get with me I'm afraid so I am so glad that so many of you have stuck with me and my crafty ramblings.

This card was made using the Iris Decoupage stamp set from Imagination Craft. I stamped the iris onto cream coloured background paper and then fussy cut the flowers.

The main image was stamped and embossed onto a piece of background paper made using lemon juice and  distress inks.
The pink checked background paper is from my stash and I added some swirls in the corners using one of the other lovely stamps that is part of the set.

The fussy cut flowers are added using silicon to give dimension.
I also added a little extra colour with some paint from one of the Pearly Palettes.
The challenge over at Imagination this month is Imagination in Bloom so I would like to enter my card into it.
Better go now, thanks for stopping by.
hugs Kimx

Imagination Butterflies

Hi All
I have a card using one of the wonderful Decoupage Stamps from Imagination for you today.

I think that this is one of my favourite designs, although it is very hard to choose as there are so many nice ones.

I have stamped and embossed the image onto Watercolour card using black Versafine ink and clear embossing powder and then coloured it using Distress Inks.

The trimmed panel has been mounted over a red Fleur de Lie die cut and some Co-Ordination card stock.

I added some hand drawn 'wiggly lines', Glossy Accents and tiny gems. Simple but effective I think.
Off to play some more. Let's see what else I can come up with.
Thanks for stopping by, and for all your fabulous comments, they mean so much.
Hugs Kimx

A pearly Iris

Hi All
Well they call them decoupage stamps, so I thought that I would do just that with one of them.

I stamped and embossed the Iris onto watercolour card and then painted it with an Imagination Pearly Palette by making the card very wet and the 'dropping' colour randomly over the image.
This creates a lovely blended effect which I heat set because like all crafters I'm impatient and want to see the effect NOW!!

I stamped and embossed the image again onto a piece of cream background paper and then fussy cut the Iris before adding them to the watercolour panel using silicon.
I shaped each of the pieces first on a pergamano mat with a very large embossing tool.
The other thing that I really like about these stamps, as well as the designs of course, is that each set is accompanied by a greeting and a couple of background stamps so they really are such good value for money.

I have stamped and embossed the greeting in white onto the green background paper and then added  some swirls using a versamark pad.
The punched and layered border has been created using papers from my stash and a Martha Stewart punch.
Hugs Kimx

Non Traditional Christmas

Evening Everyone
I'm afraid this is another very quick post, my very early start just led to a granny nap which has just left me feeling even more tired. Let's hope that tomorrow is a more creative one.

 This is a card made using one of the lovely Decoupage stamps from Imagination.

The stamped and embossed panel has been coloured using a Pearly Paint Palette and then mounted onto some background papers from my stash, with a little added stamping and sponging.
I suppose the colours are a little more Birthday than Christmas, but who says that Christmas cards have to be traditional colours.
Hugs Kimx

An Imagination Daisy

Evening Evaryone
I have been trying very hard to look in my 'Bits Box' first whenever I have a card to make.
It doesn't always work as there are so many lovely new stamps to work with that the box always seems to get added to rather than used up.
My card today proved the exception, I used up several items including background papers from the scraps box. I even managed to use a lovely embossed piece that had been lurking at the bottom of the pile lol.

The daisy is from one of the fabulous Imagination Decoupage stamp sets.

I have cut the Daisy using a circular nestie and coloured it using one of the Pearly Paint Pallets.

The sentiment is from the same stamp set.
The background papers are from my stash and this one has been dry embossed with a diamond pattern and  then sanded before tiny gems have been added.
Even the shrivelled bow was from a 'Bits Box', so I think I did really well, don't you :O)
Hugs Kimx

What a shame I missed it

Hi All
Isn't it typical, I finally manage to find a few moments to catch up on a few things (reading some blog posts for one) and I find that I have missed the lovely Sue from Imagination on the TV. I had it in my head that it was the 15th for some reason, I don't know why.
So I guess to make up for it here is a card that I made for her a little while ago.

 I used the Holly image from the Donkey Decoupage Stamp Set to create this wreath.

I added some red pearls and layered the holly onto a scalloped circle using silicon. The gold embossing in the background uses another of the elements from the stamp set.
I really must pay more attention so I don't miss her again.
Sorry Sue, lets hope you have it on tape for me to watch next time I see you :O)
Hugs Kimx

A Parcel of Christmas Wishes

Evening All
Have you had a good weekend with plenty of Crafting?
There has definitely been a far more Autumnal feel to things around here. It is amazing how quickly the nights are drawing in.
The kids will be back at school next week, so before we know it it will be half term and then Christmas lol.
With that in mind here are a couple of cards that I made with an Imagination Stamp set a little while ago.
I do like the Imagination Decoupage sets as they are always so versitile.
The cat at the window could be used for both a nice cosy Christmas card or a birthday card for a cat lover.

I used the parcels on their own for my cards, and made them Christmas cards as that was the theme of the TV show that they were made for, but they could just as easily have been made for a Birthday.

I coloured the stamped and embossed images with the Vintage Pearly Paint Pallet and then added them to the card using Silicon.

This card has been made in a similar manner, but is very CAS for me don't you think?
Better go and iron my uniform.
One day I will get it done earlier in the weekend, but I won't hold my breathe on that one.
Hugs Kimx

The size of a small bird

Evening Everyone,
Are you glad that it's Friday?
I certainly am. We seem to have been really busy this week, so I seem to have spent all of my time on the till.
We did have a bit of a lull this morning, which was just as well because we had the most enormous moth fluttering around and if it had come near me I would have been off, customers or not.
Seriously this thing was the size of a small bird, I kid you not, and anyone that knows me knows that I do not like moths at all. I know it's irrational but they terrify me.
 Fortunately one of the boys came to my rescue and managed to get rid of it.

 My card tonight is another that I made using an Imagination Decoupage stamp,

 The small bird, holly leaves and greeting are all part of the set.

The frame has been created by cutting around the central image of the donkey.
I painted the images with Distress Inks, used background paper from my stash, and added some Faux Stitching.
Hugs Kimx

A Decoupage Daisy from Imagination

Eveing Everyone,
Are you havinng a good weekend? The weather here has been lovely and warm, not that I have ventured outside, I have been chained to my craft room once again.
Why is it that my 'Crafty To Do List' never seems to get any shorter? As fast as I cross one thing off the top of the list three more things appear at the bottom lol.
Oh well, I suppose it keeps me out of mischief and off the streets.
Today I have been working on some DT work for the lovely Sue at Imagination Craft, so it seems only right that my card tonight is one that I made a while ago using another of her fabulous Decoupgae stamps.

This card was made using Versamark, White Embossing Powder and Distress Inks.
The small daisy and the sentiment on the background panel are part of the stamp set.

The square panel is the main stamp in the set. I have padded it slightly with silicon and also added a little Pearly Paint to the flower center although it doesn't show up very well in the photograph.
Now I can cross Imagination DT work off my list tomorrow, and move on to Clarity. Maybe I will share a card I made for Barbara in my next post, we'll have to see how I get on.
Off to bed now.
Hugs Kimx

Sorry Lin, it's the C word again lol

Evening Everyone,
And before you all think that I am being very rude, the C word in question is Christmas.
I'm saying it very quietly so as not to upset my good friend Lin, and numerous other acquaintances who will be squirming in their seats at the slightest mention of that certain season so early in the year.
Unfortunately most of the DT work that I have had to do just recently has been for Christmas so it has been hard for me to avoid it :O)

I have been trying very hard to finish off some of the vast quantity of 'bits' that seem to be accunulating after DT work, demos and classes.
With this in mind here is a card that I made using a  fabulous Flower Decoupage Stamp from Imagination Craft.

I love these stamp sets as they are so nice to use and they have several co-ordination smaller images as part of the set. And best of all they are very reasonably priced.

I think this particular set has to be one of my favourites, but then i am a sucker for Poinsettias. Stamped ones anyway, I always manage to kill the real thing lol.

I have coloured this image using a 'Wet Watercolour Technique and the Imagination Vintage Pearly Palette.

Unfortunately the photography doesn't do justice to the wonderful pearlescent finish that the paint gives to the image.

I also used some of the Mica Powders on the green and purple card stock.

The finishing touches included some Faux Stitching, a flower and some foliage.
I have managed to stay awake most afternoons this week, but I think that Mondays early start if finally catching up with me, so I'm off to bed.
I will get around to visiting some of you, but I won't make any promises as to when. So much to do, and so little time to do it in.
Happy Crafting
Hugs Kimx

A Birthday card for Sue at Imagination

Evening Everyone
I really quite impressed myself last month, I was on time with sending most of my cards, that has got to be a first lol.

 This one was sent to the lovely Sue at Imagination Craft for her birthday.

Naturally I used one of her fabulous Decoupage stamps. This one is called Pansy.

I stamped and embossed the image using Versamark ink and white embossing powder and then added colour with Distress ink pads.

The background papers are from my stash and I added some extra pansies and leaf sprigs also coloured using Distress inks.
She e-mailed me to say that she had received it and that she had added it to her Facebook page.
Let's see if I can be as good in May. So far so good!!
hugs Kimx