Spring colours and Wildflowers

Evening,

What a gloriously sunny start to the day. It was a bit chilly with evidence of a frost, but beautiful sunshine.

So here are a few cards featuring nice spring coloured backgrounds and wild flowers.

The background to this first one is created using a stencil and Brushos.

The background to this one is made using the Brushos left on the stencil after creating the previous background.

Die cut wildflowers are a great way to use up Handmade Backgrounds without hiding too much.

The background to this card is made using one of my absolute favourite Embossing Folders for this watercolour technique.

Ink one side of the embossing folder with Distress inks and then spritz with water before placing a piece of watercolour card inside. Instead of running it through an embossing machine use pressure from your fingers to transfer the ink to the card, without adding texture.

I told you this was a favorite Embossing Folder. Another background created like the last, in fact you can often get a second impression, just by adding more water.

I've stamped and embossed onto this background, silhouette stamps work just as well as die cuts.

Thanks for stopping by

Love and Crafty Hugs

Kimx

Floral Panel Dies

Evening,

And it's turned into another chilly one here.

I do love dies, and Creative Expressions have released some real stunners over the last few months.

These dies are from a Floral Panel release by the wonderful Sue Wilson.

They are such delicate panel dies

which I have used over some handmade background papers. This one is from the Cosmos set CED2051.

They come as sets of two dies in a pack, 

with this one from a set called CED2056 - Buttercup.

Now as crafters, who doesn't like a 'Twofer', and these are perfect for that.

I have layered this beautifully delicate sentiment die.

This is the leftovers from the previous card

which I added to an embossed panel. The perfect easy 'Twofer'.

Thanks for stopping by.

With Love and Crafty Hugs

Kimx

Painting With Embossing Folders

Evening,

Embossing Folders have so many more uses than just basic dry embossing. 

One way is to use them to make fabulous watercolour backgrounds.

I inked the folder with Distress Oxide Inks, spritzed it with water and then placed the cardstock carefully inside.

Instead of running it through an embossing machine which adds texture I pressed it firmly with my hands which transfers the ink to the cardstock but still leaves it flat.

You can usually get more than one impression from a single inking of the folder, just by adding more water.

These make great inked backgrounds for cards, and look so different in alternative colours.

I used them here to create a couple of Spotlight cards.

Thanks for stopping by.

Love and Crafty Hugs

Kimx

A Box of Cards, Just for You, Just Because (Picture Heavy Post)

Evening, 

I don't know about all of you, but I have not been feeling particularly creative over the last few days.

I think Christmas prep probably got on top of me, and so today I decided to try and get back into the swing of things by finishing off a stack of cards. They only needed inserts and envelopes, but it is amazing how long it all takes. I keep promising myself that I will do it as I go, but the resolve never lasts, and so I inevitably end up with a pile of cards that need that finishing touch. Amongst the pile were a couple of boxes of cards that I made as Birthday prezzies.

I made a box and then filled it with cards to cover various occasions.

The lid was covered with a panel created from scraps left over from the cards inside.

I used various pieces of patterned paper from my stash and then added embossing using a leafy folder, along with die cut frames and bits and pieces.  

The top of the second box of cards.

I also created a matching Birthday card to go with each of the boxes for when they are gifted to someone.

All in all I have had a very successful day with 60 cards finished off to add to my card drawer. Lets hope that it gives creativity the well deserved kick that it requires.

Thanks for stopping by.

With Love and Crafty Hugs

Kimx

Countdown to Christmas - Day 21

Evening,

I can see a bit of a pattern here. Most of my Christmas cards this month seem to have been made using Embossing Folders, and this particular technique is so easy and yet so effective.

Whether it is kraft, or coloured card stock that is used this simple technique is the same. Emboss the card and then gently wipe a white ink pad across either the embossed or debossed side for a fabulous ghostly image.

Thanks for stopping by.

Love and Crafty Hugs

Kimx