New PaperCuts release - You're a Star

Evening,

There are some fabulous new Paper Cuts Edger Dies released today by Creative Expressions, and I got to play with one of them. 

This one is called CEDPC1226 - Paper Cuts You're a Star Edger Die.

I die a bit of paper piecing after die cutting it from several different colours of card stock.

It was a bit fiddly, but well worth the effort.

The blue background was created using inks and Cosmic Shimmer Gilding Polish through a small star stencil.

I paper pieced the green leaves and red hears and then added some glossy accents.

I do hate waste, so I used one of the leftover die cuts as a stencil and then added the red and green snowflakes over this.

I covered them with versamark and crystal embossing powder to give them a little extra texture.

I also added a stack sentiment for a Christmas card.

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to check out the rest of the release HERE.

Love and Crafty Hugs

Kimx

Large Background Dies

Afternoon,

Larger Background Dies are so useful.

One pass through a die cutting machine and you have an instant card base

when placed over a piece of handmade background paper. I also added a die cut sentiment across the card.

The same background to this card only I covered the whole thing with Crystal Embossing Powder after I had splattered the inked panel with a little water.

It is amazing how long ink stays wet when it is blended onto a piece of cardstock,

and any embossing powder will give it a bit of a shine.

Thanks for stopping by.

Love and Crafty Hugs

Kimx

'Branching Out' with a new Stencil

Evening,

There are some fabulous new DL Stencils launched today by Creative Expressions. and I was lucky enough to get to play with one of them.

Stencils are very versatile items to have in your stash.

They can be used with inks as in the central panel.

I also used a rubber mat with the stencil to run it through an embossing machine.

This gives added dimension, although it is almost impossible to see in the photographs no matter how hard I tried.

The panel at the back left hand side of the card has also been run through the embossing machine with the rubber mat. I spritzed the stencil with water before cleaning the ink from it and then placed it carefully on to a piece of coconut white cardstock and running it through the embossing machine.

This adds the ink from the stencil as well as adding texture.

I also used the stencil to emboss a piece of blue cardstock which was also spritzed with mica spray.

I made some faux card candi and added them to the card along with a stacked sentiment. So several slightly different panels made with one stencil.

I hope that the weather isn't too cold where you are. The frost has never disappeared from the garden today, but at least so far there is none of the snow that they have been forecasting, long may that continue.

Thanks for stopping by.

Love and Crafty Hugs

Kimx

Countdown to Christmas - Day 23

Evening,

It never ceases to amaze me how different a stamp, stencil or embossing folder can look with just a change to the colours used.

The cards I am sharing tonight all use a fabulous 3D embossing folder.

I have used traditional reds and greens for the first two cards,

and then I opted for a more contemporary blue and purple theme.

And finally several colours of gilding wax.

Thanks for stopping by.

Love and Crafty Hugs

Kimx
 

Countdown to Christmas - Day 17

Evening,

I hope that you have had a wonderful Saturday. I have spent the day with crafty friends playing with paper, inks, stamps and dies. Always the perfect way to spend the day. And of course there was plenty of tea and coffee, biscuits and Christmas Stollen. I'm a happy bunny, although I'm not so sure about the waistline lol.

I've got a couple more cards to share tonight, using that Tim Holtz Poinsettia Embossing Folder again. 

I did say that it was a favourite of mine.

There will definitely be a few more cards before the end of the month I can assure you.

The technique used here was inspired by a card that I found on Pinterest.

  

It was a blog post from a lady called Juliana Michaels, and showed step by step details of how to achieve this fabulous vintage look,

using distress crayons, inks and embossing glaze.

I absolutely loved what she had done and so I faithfully recreated the technique and shared it with the Girls on one of our Saturday get togethers. Thank you Juliana for the inspiration.

And thank you all for stopping by.

With love and crafty hugs.

Kimx

Countdown to Christmas - Day 16

Evening,

Another day nearer Christmas, and a couple of birthdays to celebrate as well. My Grandson is 20 today and a good friend is ???? (she would kill me if I revealed it lol)

The couple of cards that I am sharing tonight are Christmas cards,

but could just as easily be made to celebrate a birthday.

Especially made in blue for a change to the usual Christmas red.

The background to this one was created using a stencil, pastes and distress inks.

The same stamps, only this time I used the co-ordinating dies to cut the image out instead of fussy cutting it.

I also went with a more traditional colour palette.

The background is a fabulous 3D Embossing folder and a piece of background card from my stash.

It is the last get together of the year for the Girls tomorrow so there will be plenty of coffee, chat and crafty playtime. And probably a few mince pies as well.

Thanks for stopping by.

Love and Crafty Hugs

Kimx 

Countdown to Christmas - Day 14

Evening,

I'm back home, safe and sound, after my extra few days of babysitting. The roads were actually much clearer than expected which was a very pleasant surprise. Let's hope all the snow disappears as quickly as it arrived. It's now gone past the picturesque stage to the grey and dirty looking one lol.

Here is a card made using a fabulous Poinsettia 3D embossing folder.

The folder also has a die inside of it to cut out the circular, non embossed portion of the design. 

I removed the die from inside the folder before embossing as I preferred this look.

The colour was applied using blending brushes and Distress Inks.

Thanks for stopping by.

Love and Crafty Hugs

Kimx 

Countdown to Christmas - Day 13

Evening,

Another snow filled day, although it was a little too icy to build a snowman........not for the want of trying you understand lol.

So it's back to some Christmas cards tonight.

Here are a couple made using a fabulous holly embossing folder

and some Distress inks.

Same embossing folder and ink colours,

only this time I used Oxide inks which give a much chalkier finish.

I'm off home tomorrow, weather and roads permitting, but it won't be long till I'm back. Chloe didn't want me to go, as usual, but went to bed much happier when I told her that the next time I come back to stay it would be Christmas.

Thanks for stopping by.

With Love and Crafty Hugs

Kimx

 

Another Twofer, but Which Comes First?

Afternoon,

Here are another couple of cards made recently for the lovely Janice and Andy at SirStampalot.

Now, I do love a Twofer, but which card came first?

I guess in a way this one did, although it was actually made with leftovers. I die cut the frame from white cardstock and placed it on top of a piece of white card in order to colour it using brown distress inks and a blending brush.

While adding colour to the die cut, it ends up becoming a stencil. And by using a piece of white card to work on instead of my craft sheet, I ended up with a readymade background for my second card.

I trimmed around the stenciled panel and added it to a card front along with some diecut strips, floral embellishments and a sentiment.

So back the card that I was initially trying to create. I added the now coloured die cut to a card front on top of a piece of background paper.

The finishing touches were some pieces of ephemera, washi tape and a sentiment.

Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy your weekend. I managed to get my hair done, which always makes you feel so much better don't you think.

Love and Crafty Hugs

Kimx