A Blast from the Past - Retiform

Evening Everyone,

My good friend Gill Till has been doing a fabulous job just lately of reminding us of those much underused items that are languishing in our crafty stash, along with long forgotten techniques on her Way To Go Wednesday over on Facebook.

This week she has reminded me of an old technique that I taught her many years ago called Retiform.

It is a deceptively simple technique also known as the Grid technique owing to the lines/grids that are formed across the card.

It is actually a masking technique which is much easier to achieve than you might think at first glance.

It is also a great way to use lots of stamps on the one card.

I'm afraid that this card was rather hard to photograph as the masked panel has been heat embossed after all the sponging and stamping has been done.

I used large post it notes to mask off the various grids on the card which I then sponged with ink.

I'm having trouble describing exactly what to do, so I'm going to direct you to Google where there are loads of fabulous tutorials and Youtube clips.

I also used the Southwest corner punch and some threads on the Retiform panels.

I am one of those sad people that has kept a pictorial record of all the classes that I have taught over the years, 

and it goes right back to 2003!!! So you can see a few more of the cards that I have made using this masking technique.

When I first taught the Retiform technique I used it as a Part 3 in a series of masking classes.

Part 1 (Simple) was basic grid masking as on the top three, and bottom left hand cards. 

Part 2 (Medium) was Retiform masking over a complete stamped image, bottom middle card.

Part 3 (Hard) was Retiform masking to include a central panel and lots of stamps. Bottom right card.

I'm off to link this to Gill's Way to go Wednesday Facebook post, and remind her that I taught her this in April 2006!!!!!! Where did those years go to lol.

Thanks for stopping by. Stay safe and craft.

Hugs Kimx

A Masked Moon

Afternoon Everyone,

Monday again, and it's nearly time for my good friend Gill Till to post another challenge on The Christmas Card and Papercraft challenge Facebook page. So before this week is over here are a couple of cards using masking which she challenged us with last week.

Now I don't use it very often, so finding a card with it on was a bit of a challenge in itself, but one thing that is always useful is a nice moon in a scene.

I created my scene with plenty of fir trees, and added ground with a torn paper mask and sponged ink.

The moon is created in the same way by added a circle die cut from a post it note or masking sheet to the finished panel. I carefully sponged blue ink around the edge of the circle and once it is removed it looks like a full moon in the background.

This card was created in a similar way using a piece of background from my stash. I also added a fine line of sparkle pen to the outer edge of the moon for a little bit of bling.

I wonder what Gill will come up with this week to challenge us?

Thanks for stopping by.

Stay safe and Craft.

Hugs Kimx

A Spotlit 'Twofer'

 Evening,

I do love a good spotlight.

It is a great way to cover up a mistake if necessary, 

and it is also a great opportunity for a 'Twofer'.

One of the fabulous new products that I got to play with last year was the Alcohol Lift inkpad. 

I LOVE IT.

We had several classes involving it since it bore repeating. The background to this card was made using alcohol inks, yupo paper and a little foil.

I also used the alcohol lift ink pad to 'lift' the holly and mistletoe image and then re stamp it on to a piece of white cardstock.

I die cut the circles from the panel and layered it on to another stamped image,

hence the 'Twofer'.

I think my friend Gill will appreciate these as this is her Wednesday suggestion over Facebook at Christmas Cards and Papercraft Challenge.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs Kimx

Inspired by Hobby Art especially for Gill

Evening Everyone,
It's time for another card to support my lovely friend Gill over at the Christmas Cards and Papercraft Challenge on Facebook.

Today Gill posted a card using a stencil to create a large ink sponged aperture in to which she had stamped.

You can post anything you like but obviously it would be good if you could try out the technique that Gill used.

I rummage through my not inconsiderable stash of cards and found this one that I create in an 'Inspired by Hobby Art' class quite a while ago.

I crated an oval aperture with a stencil mask and then did plenty of sponging, stamping and embossing.

I'm afraid my instructions are nowhere near as good as those that Gill shared on Facebook lol.
Maybe you will find the time to try out this technique yourself.
Thanks Gill, it's nice to be reminded of some of the fun classes we shared.
Stay Safe.
Hugs Kimx

Just for You Gill

Afternoon Everyone,
Wow a post from me in the afternoon, it must mean I can't get to my craft room since I am currently helping out with the Grandbabies.
Emma started back at school this morning. All washed, dressed, breakfasted and out of the house by 8.15, quite a feat after all this time in lockdown. Even when she was at school before the summer holidays start time was 11.45 so it didn't matter if everyone had a lie in (what's that ha ha) or was still in their pj's mid morning.
I suspect that it will be a very early night for everyone lol.

An old friend of mine has been participating for some time in the Christmas Cards and Papercraft Challenge over on Facebook.
We met at Ally Pally, and she came to my classes for many years until she moved wayyyyy down south.
She has just taken on the role of Moderator for the 'Way To Go Wednesday' challenge, so I thought that I would join in, just to surprise her.

I made my card a couple of years ago for the Woodware catalogue using a beautiful floral image designed by the lovely Jane Gill.

I kept it very simple, just stamping and embossing in black onto a piece of kraft card.

I added a zentangled border along with a few extra bits to the flower centers.

The sentiments are from another of Jane's very useful sentiment sets.
I'm afraid that the pictures are not particularly good. For some reason they look very washed out, but I hope that Gill will appreciate them.
Have a great day. We are just off to do school pick. It's been a long time since I could say that.
Stay safe and hugs
Kimx

Ta-Da!!

Good Morning Everyone,
It's a glorious sunny day here, at the moment, even if it is rather chilly. It's amazing how that shiny yellow ball lifts your spirits.

So here is a nice bright card made using one of Jane Gills' new designs for Woodware.

The background is made using Pixie Powders, which we should have been playing with today in class.

I stamped and white embossed a sheet of watercolour cardstock and then added the pixie powders. They make amazing backgrounds which I love.

A little goes a very long way, so here is another card that I made from the same masterboard.

I even stamped and embossed the sentiment on a piece of the scrap.
By happy coincidence Hels Sheridon has been demoing with Colour Bursts on Create and Craft this morning. They are very similar products to play with, but the Pixie Powders contain mica which makes them sparkle.
So I think this should be my challenge for the week to my ladies, and anyone else that would like to join in. Play with Pixie Powders, Colour Bursts, Brushos, Nuvo Shimmer powders or anything similar that you may have in your stash.
Or if all else fails use your inks to create a nice bright card to brighten everyone up and then share it with me on Facebook.
Have a great weekend, stay safe and craft.
Hugs Kimx