Sparkle on your Birthday

Evening Everyone,
I'm sorry I've been MIA recently, but life has been rather hectic lately. I seem to be constantly chasing my tail, and any spare time I have managed to find has found me far from eager to work on the computer. I have a To Do List that never seems to get any shorter :O)

I started this post a fortnight ago for the challenge over at CCM, but as that has now finished and a new one starts tomorrow, lets see if I can finally manage to press send.

My card was actually made for the latest Woodware stamp release. The background is from my stash but is a piece of Faux Mother of Pearl. I just love that technique.

I stamped and embossed JGS507 - Bubble Bloom Annie onto the handmade background and then added plenty of gems, and pearls and assorted bling.

I also stamped and embossed the image onto the blue background card and added Cosmic Shimmer glues and Glossy Accents.

The sentiment is from the same set which just finishes it off nicely.
I really ought to go and visit my wonderful Teamies before they all think that I have dropped off the planet, and then it is high time that I did some commenting.
I'll put the kettle on first I think and then get to work.
Have a great evening, and thanks for stopping by.

Hugs Kimx

Hobby Art Big Tree

Evening All
It's been another gloriously sunny day here, even if it has been a little bit chilly.
Hobby Art Jenny has been on the box today with a fabulous show that was also broadcast in America.
Unfortunately Jenny was one of the people that I let down with my 'days in September' malfunction.

With that in mind I thought that I would share a card that I made using one of her beautiful foam mounted Tree stamps.

The background for the stamped tree was created with a Magic stamp. This was pressed into some fern leaves and then inked and stamped onto a piece of white card stock.

I drew a border around the panel with a black Micron pen and then coloured it with co-ordinating pens.

The background panel is a piece of Faux Mother of Pearl (see HERE for instructions) sponged with Distress Inks.

I stamped around the edges of this panel using the same tree stamp and dark brown ink. It makes a wonderful border and shows just how versatile stamps can be.
Have a good evening. I hope that Jenny has a safe and uneventful trip back from Peterboro tonight.
It's an early night for me I think.
One of the Girls at work brought in curry for us all today as it was her birthday.
It was extremely hot and spicy but very delicious. The trouble is that eating dinner so early in the day just made me want to curl up and go to sleep, so I think I was very virtuous going to the gym after work instead of going home for a granny nap lol.
Hugs Kimx

Is it a Birthday or a Christmas card?

Evening Everyone
I hope you have had a good day.
Why is it that I always start off with the intention of dropping in on my wonderful blogging buddies, and then I get carried away with my card making, and here we are with another late post and no commenting done!!
I would say that I will try and do better but I just know that I will fall at the first hurdle, the half finished card on my desk will draw me in and I will be lost to my craft room once again lol.

I'm not sure whether my card tonight should be classed as a card for a Winter Birthday, or a Christmas Card.
Perhaps with a well placed sentiment it could be used for either.
I found the central panel in my bits box when I was searching for inspiration for our current challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers. This is to choose 3 from a list of 6 techniques to use on your project.
As one of them is masking you see why this panel was among the possibilities for my card.

The image has been stamped and embossed onto a piece of background paper made using the Faux Mother of Pearl technique.
I added a masked moon to the background before I applied my dye based ink.

All the other papers are from my stash, and I used the sketch at CLP Challenges for my layout.

I think the pine branch at the bottom of the card is what gives it it's Christmassy feel.

I must confess to a bit of a double take when I opened the door this morning, but fortunately our 'Snow' is distinctly pink and floral (Cherry Blossom) unlike the poor souls in Devon and Cornwall who woke to the real thing according to the papers.
Better stop now. I will get around to all of your wonderful blogs, but as I still have to finish my class prep for Saturday, I doubt it will be tomorrow. You see I'm a lost cause already :O)
Night night.
Hugs Kimx

Another 'Painted' Christmas card

Evening Everyone,
I've been at it again, another Christmas card, and just as the radio operator has finally stopped playing Christmas songs lol.
We are back with some good old songs from the 60's to the present day, and some that I am hearing for the very first time. You can't help but sing along, rather quietly and under your breathe, and definitely not when serving a customer :O) It's just a shame that for once there is no presenter so I have no idea who is singing.
While we are on the subject of things from the past I have used a sketch from the archives at Sunday Sketch and Stamp where challenge 137 is Free Choice using a previous sketch.

It is amazing what you can find lurking in that box of Christmas bits. this time it is the lovely Magenta stockings which were stamped and embossed using black versafine and clear embossing powder, and then sponged with ink from the Kaleidacolor Berry Blaze ink pad.

The white patches have been created by painting the image with bleach and then the entire panel has been embossed using Crystal Embossing powder.
Once again I have used a panel of Faux Mother of Pearl background (instructions HERE). So I would like to enter the card into the challenge at Christmas Card Challenges where they are asking you to use paint. Pearl Acrylic paint is used to create the Mother of Pearl background.

I stamped and embossed the main card with some Stampendous Snowflakes and Frantage Shabby White Embossing Enamel and then sponged some more of the Berry Blaze ink around the edges.

The purple panel has also got Snowflakes stamped onto it using a Versamark ink pad.
The white corners are peel-offs.
Oh dear another late night, good job I can have a lie in tomorrow since I am not at work.
Hugs Kimx

Use Paint for a Christmas Card Challenge

Evening Everyone,
Well Christmas may be over for another year, but someone needs to tell the radio operator for our store, he keeps sneaking in the occasional Christmas classic.
Just as well I've been a good girl then and made my first Christmas card for 2013.
At Christmas Card challenges this week they are asking you to use paint.
Now it may not be immediately obvious to you, but I have used Pearl Acrylic Paint to create my favourite Mother of Pearl background.

 I love this technique, which I found HERE. I have used a Penny Black stamp Christmas View which I got when I was at SirStampalot in November.

I have used Distress Inks to colour the background and the main image. I did a little decoupage and added some Stardust Glitter Glue and some tiny gems.

The other background papers are all from my stash and include Bo Bunny, October Afternoon and Bazzil.
As you can see I even got carried away and decorated the envelope. I wonder how long that little extra will last lol.
The card started out using one of the sketches over at Sunday Sketch and Stamp but I got a little carried away so I will have to have another try, maybe tomorrow.
Thanks for stopping by.
Hugs Kimx

More Vellum for The Stamp Man

Evening All
Did you make it through Friday the 13th without too much hassle?
So far so good, but I'm not tempting fate given that there are still a couple of hours to go lol.
Friday also brings to a close the first week of my Vellum challenge over at The Stamp Man.

My card tonight uses blue vellum from the pastel pack available from The Stamp Man.
I have run a piece of it through the Cuttlebug using a Craft Concept embossing folder 'Budding Vine'

I have added metallic rub-on to the vellum and Gold Krylon pen around the edges.
The central stamped image is my favourite Hobby Art Bordered Poppy stamped onto a piece of Faux Mother of Pearl background.

The background paper is from my stash, and has been stamped and embossed using an Artemio Swirl stamp and Frantage Aged Aqua embossing enamel.
I hope that you are enjoying my challenge and that you will make a card to enter, there is still a week to go, so plenty of time.
Remember there is a £10 voucher to spend with The Stamp Man for the winner.
I think I'll play it safe and head off to bed now.
Have a great weekend.
hugs Kimx

Woodware Challenge - Colours of Spring

Good Morning Everyone,
I'm back again today with my latest card for the Woodware Challenge, where they are asking you for the 'Colours of Spring.
This should have gone live very early this morning, but the Internet crashed as I was writing it, and so now I have had to wait until everyone has resurfaced before I can get on any further.
I really must get a little more organised and then I could schedule it without panicking, still never mind, maybe one day lol.

This week they are asking for The Colours of Spring.
I have used FRS216 Field of Tulips.
It is a lovely big stamp which would work very well with paper piecing, but that's another card :)

I have stamped and embossed it onto a piece of Faux Mother of Pearl background and then coloured it with dye based inks.
I coloured the clouds, and also added some tiny dots with a white Gelly Roll Glaze pen.

Get Well Soon comes from another Woodware set FRCL198 Sail Away, but I think this card would work well for any occasion.

The background papers are all from the shelves at SirStampalot where I am staying for another week.
Of course there had to be some ribbon and Faux Card Candy.
I left the real thing at home so I improvised with a small circle punch and some of the background paper scraps.
I hope that this has inspired you and that you will join us this week with your take on The Colours of Spring.
Off to the shop now to get ready for my class.
Have a great Day.
Happy Stamping.
Kimx

My special news

Afternoon Everyone
I hope that you are all having a wonderful day.
It has been very mild in my neck of the woods with even a hint of sunshine - perhaps I ought not to say that too loud or it will go away lol.
It has definitely felt like Spring and with that in mind I will share my fabulous news.
I have been asked to join The Stamp Man design team where their challenge this time is The Colours of Spring / Easter.
I didn't have to think for very long before I gave Jill my answer, I feel honoured to have been asked to join such a fabulous team.

This is the card that I have made for the challenge using my favourite Artemio clear stamp set 10001147 Hedgerow Plants.
I made a piece of background paper using the Faux Mother of Pearl technique that I so love. This was made using Adirondack Metallic Pearl Acrylic Paint Dabber and Distress inks - Antique Linen, and Spun Sugar.

Once I had made the piece of background I stamped over it using one of the images from the Hedgerow Plants stamp set and the distress ink pads.
I sponged ink around the edges of the panel using a blending tool and then embossed it with clear embossing powder.

The circular panel has been cut out using a nestie and then dry embossed with a large ball tool before adding it to the card over some lace and ribbon from my stash.
The greeting is from a Woodware Clear Magic stamp set FRCL078 Female Relatives.
Of course it just screamed out for some pearls.
I hope that you like it and feel inspired to join in with the challenge, after all there is a £10 Stampman Voucher for the winner along with the Blinkies for the Runners Up. 
Don't forget to check out the challenge rules on the sidebar.
Happy Crafting for the weekend
hugs Kimx

What's your favourite technique?

Hi All
Have you had a good weekend. I hope you have had a chance to watch Jenny from Hobby Art on the box this afternoon.
If not don't forget she will be back at 7pm with more ideas and card samples.
This afternoon she spoke about the play date that we had a couple of weeks ago and the Faux Mother of Pearl technique that I taught them all.
I didn't come up with the idea, I found it over at Splitcoast Stampers, but at the moment it has to be one of my favourite techniques.
The background for the card I am sharing with you tonight was made using this technique, a step by step tutorial for which can be found HERE.

Once I had made the background, I stamped and embossed the images on to it before adding colour using Distress inks.

The panel has been mounted onto background paper and then ribbon and glossy accents have been added.

I am entering this into a couple of challenges

Christmas Cards All Year Round - Non Traditional Christmas Colours.

Weekly Christmas Card Challenges - Favourite Technique 

I am finally getting down to the DT work, but I thought I would have a little bit of a break and do a bit of Blogging.

By the way Gill, I got an Honourable Mention over at 52(Christmas) Card Throwdown with this card that I showed you in class. But as they say, You have to be in it to Win it!!

Happy Crafting.

Hugs Kimx

Oh What a Lovely Day!!

Evening Everyone,
I have had such a lovely day at our Creatathon.
Jenny at Hobby Art organised a day where several lovely crafty ladies could get together and swap ideas.
I was lucky enough to be amongst the invited gathering which included Jane Gill, Charry Wijers, Alexandra Kamann and Anna Flanders. Unfortunately Paula Pascual was ill and Helen Meighan had a last minute family crisis.
I don't know about a stamp and slim club, this was definitely a stamp and get fat get together.

The table positively growned at lunch time, and we had already had danish pastries with morning coffee. Charry had brought sweeties, Alex a poppy seed cake and Jenny's daughter had made us each a cup cake to bring home.
I made the coffee, I know my place lol.

Made by Charry and Alex.

It wasn't all eating I promise. I showed them all how to create the lovely Faux Mother of Pearl background in the morning and Alex gave us lots of tips and techniques with Copics in the afternoon. Still not my thing but I loved watching what everyone else did.

Made by Alex.

We didn't finish any cards, in fact I have brought Jane's pieces home to finish off for her.
She has been making cards for England, or at least the new Woodware catalogue, just lately and so I offered to mount her pieces of art work to give her a break.

Made by Jenny

Obviously we used Hobby Art stamps, and this one has to be one of my favourites at the moment.

Made by Alex

We have decided that we will try and get together on a regular basis hopefully every couple of months. So next time it will be someone Else's turn to share. I will try and finish off my sample pieces tomorrow if I get the chance.
I think first I had better find a few minutes to hop on the exercise bike and work off some of this food :)
Happy Crafting Everyone.
hugs
Kimx

Off to play at Hobby Art

Evening Everyone
Hope you have all had a good day, I can't believe that it is the weekend again already.
I am so looking forward to tomorrow as I am off to play with several lovely crafty ladies over at Hobby Art.

Jenny has organised a get together and 'teachathon'. Several of us are getting together and as well as catching up we have also agreed that we will each 'teach' the others something.
The idea is not to make finished cards but rather showcase a technique, so I decided that I would teach them how to create the fabulous Faux Mother of Pearl background.

I have used the technique here on this card that I made for Jenny's last TV show.
I found the technique over at Splitcoast Stampers, and have fallen in love with it. It makes the most stunning backgrounds suitable for any sort of stamped images.
Not sure who else will be there tomorrow, apart from Jenny and Anna (the designer of several Hobby Art stamp sets) but I am sure that we will all have a brilliant time.
Hugs for now
Kimx

Cupcake challenge 171 - DIY

Evening Everyone
The challenge this week over at Cupcake Craft is DIY, create your own backing papers.

This card is actually one that I made while I was staying at Sir Stampalot at the beginning of November. It is also an example of the background technique that I shared with Louise when she expressed concern over what she could do for her DT card as part of the challenge.
We all have our comfort zones when it comes to cardmaking, and mine is definitely playing around with backgrounds. I think Louise's would probably be colouring in with her copics she is just brilliant with them. Do check out her blog for some fantastic samples, I often head there for inspiration.

Back to my card.
The background is made using the wonderful Faux Mother of Pearl technique that I found over at Splitcoast Stampers.

I created the panel using Pearl acrylic paint and cling film, and then sponged distress ink over the top.
Once it is completely dry I stamped and embossed the greeting and holly sprig onto the panel. It is from a clear stamp set that I was playing with when I was at Sir Stampalot, but I'm afraid I can't remember who it is made by, sorry.

I coloured the holly and berries with distress ink from the limited edition Christmas set, and then added some tiny drops of glossy accents to the berries.
I did use a piece of ready made background paper as well, I hope that is OK :)
A Martha Stewart border, ribbon and pearls give the finishing touches.
Off to bed now it's got so late again.
Hugs Kimx

3rd or was it 4th Ultimate Stamping Demo day!!!!!

Morning All
Another early post before I go back to playing. Well it was early when I started it lol.
As you know I am currently on holiday playing at Sir Stampalot. My holiday actually started last Saturday with the 3rd Ultimate Stamping Demo day.

Well actually it was the 4th one. I missed last years since I was snowed in down in Surrey, so perhaps I can be forgiven for getting confused as technically it is only my 3rd one :)
As you can see someone else got a little confused on the day. Well we had gone to bed at 2.30am that morning and then got up again at 6am so she was a little bit tired bless her.

I spent the day playing with this beautiful Penny Black stamp Snowscape 4203K and the Faux Mother of Pearl technique. There is a tutorial on it HERE.
The greeting on this card comes from a Stampendous clear set Christmas Wishes SSC1068. Background paper is a Magnolia Mini paper Blue Foliage.

Same stamp and background technique. Background paper is Magnolia Snowy Wood. Greeting is part of a stamp from a Hero Arts clear set Very Merry Christmas. 

Same stamped panel using a combination of blue distress inks Stormy Sky, Broken China, Chipped Sapphire and a little Weathered Wood. Greeting as before, some Bazzil card, lace and a Martha Stewart Punch.

Much the same as before only a little bling on the punched border. Punch is Cherish a Martha Stewart Punch Around the Page.

Background paper is another Magnolia Mini Turquoise Plaid, and the snowflake has been stamped onto it.

Same main image only this time I used the Limited Edition Distress ink set Fall. The embossing folder is from a Tim Holtz double pack  Pocket Watches and Steampunk and the snow flakes are the left overs when using a Martha Stewart Punch Around the Page Aspen Snowflake.

Background paper is Crate Paper Pink Plum collection Cranberry, spritzed with glimmer mist.

I have made a conscious effort to actually make finished cards with the bits from the demo instead of adding them to the ever expanding 'To be finished box'.

I shall leave some of them for Janice for the shop but I have added quite a few more finished Christmas cards to my stash. Just need to make the envelopes and inserts. Eat your heart out Mrs Till !

I think that's quite enough on the computer now. I am getting withdrawal symptoms and I have a class tonight so I will have to stop for that. I can't believe that I only have one more day of my holiday left after today, how quickly time flies when you are having fun.

Have a good day.

Love and hugs

Kimx