Happy VE Day

Evening Everyone,
What a glorious day it has been for all the fabulous socially distanced street parties to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of VE Day.
I've been trying to find something suitable to post today, so here is a card that I made a while ago using a lovely poppy image. Lest We Forget.

The background was created during a class on Alcohol inks, Alcohol Lift inkpad and Yupo.

I was showing The Girls how you could reuse the Yupo numerous times to create a background from which to 'lift' an image.

After everyone had used the same piece of yupo and ink colours I was left with a rather dark piece which I had also used to show them how to add foils to.

I decided to cut into the card using a Tim Holtz corner die and then added the stamped, embossed and coloured poppy image. Fortunately it has a co-ordinating die which made cutting it out so much easier.

I also added a die cut sentiment with shadowed background.

I also found another poppy card, this time using a stamp designed by Francoise for Woodware.

I love working with Alcohol inks, but trying to photograph glossy cardstock is a right pain. I have a small light box, but I can never seem to get the angles right so that the strip light in the top of the box doesn't show up.
Enjoy your parties and raised glasses over the garden fence, but please stay safe and follow the rules.
Have a great weekend.
Happy Crafting and Hugs
Kimx

Sticky Embossing with Foil and Mica

Evening Everyone,
The Girls have chosen to play with Sticky Embossing Powder, Foils and Mica Powders in class on Saturday.
I haven't played with this technique in a long time so it will be nice to revisit an old favourite.

 These are a few cards that I found in my stash that I will be taking with me on Saturday

You can see the foil quite nicely in this picture.

It is lovely to mix the Mica powders with the foil because the powder fills in any gaps and takes away the rather sticky feel to the foiled panels.

I don't think there is any foiling on this card, but it was the same stamp so I thought that I would share it.

You can even use your stencils and a Versamark ink pad to create your image. This stencil was designed by my good friend Anna.

As you can see it works really well on Kraft card, so I must remember to add some of that to my class prep box.
Must go now. I need to set up my Sky box for Hobby Art Jenny's TV appearances tomorrow on Hochanda Sky channel 663 at 10am, 3pm and 6pm.
Hope you enjoy the shows, there are some fabulous stamp sets on them as usual.
Night, night.
Hugs Kimx

More Sticky Embossing

Evening Everyone.

We had another lovely class at Davina's this afternoon, and such different weather to last week.
Torrential rain this time instead of several inches of snow. Rain is so much more my thing than snow lol.

This week we were once again playing with USArtquest products only this time it was Pearlex dry powders, combined with sticky embossing powder and foils.

As I explained to the ladies today, I prefer to focus the class on playing with a technique, rather than actually finishing a card, and they agreed that this gave them all far more opportunity to try the products out.
I have been trying very hard to turn the bits made whilst demoing the techniques into finished cards instead of just adding them to yet another box and so this is what I made when I got home.

The black panel has been created using Stampendous SSC1111 Agapanthus Thankyou and an Artemio Script stamp.
Amazingly the panel at the back of this uses the same colours of Pearlex, but has had distress ink sponged over it.

This second card has been made using the same Agapanthus stamp set only this time I have stamped and embossed it using Versamark ink and white embossing powder.

The images have had Distress ink sponged over them and then I have used some sticky embossing powder, Pearlex powder and foil around the edges of the smaller panel.

I have also stamped the Artemio script stamp over all of the images using Distress ink.
Do make sure that you wipe over the finished panels to remove any excess ink which won't dry where it has been stamped over the embossed images.
Off to bed now, I might see if I can manage a lie in tomorrow, if the Grandchildren allow that is lol.
Hugs Kimx

Happy Birthday Jenni, I can share at WOYWW now!!

Evening Everyone

Well here it is, Wednesday again, and I am ashamed to admit that this is what my work space looked like when I left for work this morning.
A couple of Girlfriends popped round to play yesterday evening and when they went home I just couldn't face tidying up properly, so I just cleared the dining room table in order that the Grandchildren could have breakfast today, and then dumped everything onto my desk.
But as it is Wednesday at least now I can share the project that I was working on last week when I linked to WOYWW, cause today is my daughter Jenni's birthday.
Happy Birthday Hun I hope that you have had a fabulous day.
She has decided on Chinese for dinner - Birthday Person always gets to choose what we have for dinner - so this card is even more appropriate lol.

The black Bamboo panels were created using Sticky Embossing powder, foil and Pearlex, a technique that I will be teaching at Davina's on Saturday afternoon.
I was playing with this for the Koi Carp card but the colours weren't right so it ended up here.

This little cutie is Japanese Tilda.
I have coloured her using distress inks and then paper pieced her Kimono from Japanese paper.
The burgundy card has been dry embossed using a butterfly folder and the panels behind Tilda has been cut out using a Nestie.

 The circular greeting is from Lili of the Valley, and the Heart Swirl Branch is a DooHickey.
I managed to find the Happy Birthday on a Woodware clear stamp set FRCL070 Oriental Ladies.
I hope you feel that it was worth the wait to see the finished article.
By happy accident I have made this in my daughter's favourite colours.

Oh and by the way this is what my desk looks like now, ready for a burst of activity tomorrow, I hope.
What a difference a clean up makes lol.
I am sneezing like mad, with a barking cough, but I have so much to do, as always.
Lets hope that the tablets that I have just taken mean that I will be able to breathe properly in a minute or two and then I can maybe get some sleep.
Not looking hopeful so far :(
hugs Kimx

Koi Carp for Dadda

Hi All, it's me again.
I said I would try and get back to share the card that was being made when I took the photo of my desk for WOYWW.
Well I have realised that I can't, at least not yet.
I'm never usually terribly organised when it comes to cards, very last minute as you may have gathered, and always late in the post.
Well on this occasion I am well ahead of myself since it is the card for my daughter Jenni's birthday next Wednesday. Are you not impressed?
So instead I am going to share the card that actually started off the organised chaos that is my Wednesday Worktop, and I have to say that I am really, really pleased with the results.

 The card was ordered by a friend from work for her Dad (Dadda). She wanted Koi Carp, Dadda, and anything Oriental, other than that it was up to me.

I knew straight away that I wanted to use this lovely old Stampendous Koi stamp, but other than that I had no idea what to do, so I figured the first thing was have a look through my rather large collection of Oriental stamps.
It seems you can never have enough Bamboo or Oriental script stamps, I have loads of them, most of them still in pristine condition  lol.
I'm afraid that I stupidly put them all away before I started to do this post so I can't give you details. I do know that most of them are probably no longer available but I'm sure that you will have something similar that you could use should you wish to recreate the effects.

The Koi have been stamped and embossed onto watercolour card stock and then painted with dye based inks.
The red background has been made by stamping and embossing the Oriental Script onto white card stock and then sponging Distress Inks over the top. I added some small Bamboo images into the gaps stamped with the same inks.
The large Bamboo on the main black card has been stamped and embossed using Versamark and Sticky Embossing powder. This has then had gold foil and Pearlex added to it.

I went on line to find out how to tie the Mizuhiki cord and to check that the symbol I have used on the punched circle said 'Love'.

I even decorated the envelope. I think that this has to be my all time favourite card so far.
My friend was absolutely thrilled when I gave it to her this morning.
I would like to enter this into the following challenges

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Anything Goes with an optional Heart or Love theme
Cards for Men - Seeing Red
Allsorts Challenge - Free and Easy February
Crafts and Me - Use a New Image. Pick any one of the stamps I have used. I may have had them for a long time but they were all Virgin stamps!!
The Stamp Man - Embellish It
.
I have had terrible trouble trying to get this post finished, so I am going to give commenting a miss for now.
I don't know what is going on with the Internet tonight but it seems to be really acting up for me.
So I'm off to bed, Goodnight for now
hugs Kimx

More Mardi Gras Masks

Evening Everyone,
Well where did that weekend go!!!
I can't believe that I am writing another late post before I get to bed, I really must get a bit more organised, but then it wouldn't be me would it lol.

I hope that you all managed to catch Barbara on the TV today, cuddled under a blanket with a steaming hot mug of cocoa if the weather was anything like it was here.
The Grandchildren thought that the snow was brilliant and went out sledging. Me, I stayed in the warm with a cuppa. I shall have to face it tomorrow so I gave the outside a miss again today.

This is another of the cards that I made for Barbara using the other Mardi Gras Mask from her TV show. 

It has been stamped and embossed and then painted with Pearlex paint. The background has been made using Spray Webbing and foil.

I'm afraid the pictures are not the best but maybe you will be able to see it better once Barbara adds it to the Gallery over on the Clarity website.

Off to bed now, lets hope it doesn't snow again in the night.

hugs Kimx

Sir Stampalot Ultimate Demo Day

Hi Guys
I do hope that you are all having a wonderful time over at Sir Stampalot 3rd Ultimate Stamping Demo Day.
I am sooooooo sorry not to be there.
Although it seems to have stopped snowing at the moment it is very icy under foot and so I am now into my fourth day confined to barracks - I'm starting to get a little stir crazy but I'm also terrified of falling over so I think it will be another day inside for me.

I always take a pile of cards with me when I go to Janice and Andy's for Nick to photograph and so the first card that I am sharing today is one of those.
I have tried to be good over the last couple of weeks and use up some of the bits and pieces that are left over from previous classes and so this was made after a sticky embossing class.

The long swirl panel uses a Penny Black stamp and the main holly leaf is an old Hero Arts stamp.
My favourite Magnolia swirl stamp also found its way on to this as well.
I spent yesterday making samples for Jenny from Hobby Art and she is on her way to me as we speak. Anna, who also makes samples for her, and actually designed the stamp sets that are to appearing on Monday, lives just a little way from me. We are awaiting a phone call from Jenny to say that she has made it to the garage so that we can meet her there with our samples.
This is a favourite pick up point at the moment as most of the side roads are up hills, in fact my Granddaughter has just had to meet her Grandad there so that he can take her to do some Christmas shopping. She is such a fussy Miss when it comes to clothes that it is easier to take her to choose her own prezzies - it saves on all the returns lol.
I will get back to my craft table now and see if I can make a new sample to share with you later.
Have a great day.
Love and hugs
Kimx

More Sticky Embossing - but not Christmas!!

Good Evening everyone.
You would think that after last weeks efforts at making Christmas cards I would be on a roll but I'm afraid that I have obviously had Christmas overload, so it was so nice to have a class yesterday that was totally unrelated to anything Christmas.
The technique that I have used involves Sticky Embossing powder, mica powders and foil and is actually described in step by step detail in my book 'A Passion for Papercraft - Rubber Stamping' by Search Press.
Quick plug over with , so now on to the cards.
All the cards I am showing here used floral stamps but the technique can be used with any image, although solid images definitely have the edge, in my opinion at least.It would work every bit as well with leaves and trees which would of course make fab Men's cards.
The pink and green card uses Hobby Art FL1445 Purple Toad flax and my favourite Hobby Art Birthday Greeting GR1455. A greeting cut from this stamped image can hide a multitude of sins, and stamped mistakes, as in this card!!

All the rest of the cards use Stampendous Agapanthus Cluster P107. My stamp is so well used that the code has worn off so I have just had to look it up on line.
Thanks Sir Stampalot your site always makes it easy to find an item.
The other stamps used are by Hobby Art - Diamond Background DC1921D and Checkered Background DC1928D. With Love GR1830B is also by Hobby Art and is just one of several stamps they make with that style of greeting.

I am so lucky to have such a wonderful stamp company right on my doorstep, and feel very honoured that they are prepared to take on board my requests for designs. I can't draw but I know what I like and it makes teaching so much easier when you have such fab designs to work with, especially if you have had a hand in designing them.
Sticky Embossing is actually a very easy product to work despite looking complicated. There is only one thing to remember DON'T OVERHEAT THE POWDER.


All the panels use a combination of images stamped and embossed using the sticky embossing powder, and images flat stamped with versamark. The embossed images must be done first and the mica powder and foil applied, before the flat stamped images are added. Do not try and stamp and emboss over the top of a previously embossed image as the two will blur into one another when the second lot of powder is heated.

If you want to add a further greeting either use Stazon or stamp and emboss the greeting onto a separate piece of cardstock. Sometimes you can get away with it, as I have on the With Love card but only where the image you are stamping over is not too solid.
The final two cards in this collection are created from a multiply stamped image which has then been cut into strips and mounted over beautifully co-ordinating background paper. As I have always said 'Don't forget the envelope'.
It is always so much nicer to receive a decorated envelope than a plain one. Decoration need be no more complicated than a small, leftover strip of background paper, as in this example.
I hope you like the cards. I'm posting this while I sit with all the family and catch up with the last four weeks of Merlin. The Grandchildren love it and it has become a little weekend ritual, but not one we manage every week - hence the telethon.
I am travelling up to stay with Janice and Andy at Sir Stampalot tomorrow after work. I am really excited. I always enjoy my stay there and go up several days early as holiday. Much more fun than sitting on a beach. I get to play in the shop for several days and hopefully make some new samples for them. There is always a challenge awaiting me - some stamps or a new product that Janice hasn't had the time to work with herself, so I am looking forward to seeing what she has got for me this time. I shall take my laptop with me, as always, so I will keep posted with what I make.
Hope you've had a great weekend.
Love Kimx

Anything but Christmas!

Have just got back from the Eternal Maker in Chichester. I travelled there with my good friend Corinne Amos. It was actually Corinne who taught me how to stamp all those years ago when Maggie Wright owned the Craft Barn, so it is really her fault that I am a 'Stamping Addict'
We had a superb day, sorted out dates and classes for next year - how scary does that sound - and then were treated to dinner by the lovely owners Sarah and Teresa. Thanks girls for yet another fabulous day. Looking forward to next year.
The class was billed as 'Anything but Christmas!' so we played with sticky embossing powder, pearlex and of course not a Christmas stamp in sight.
I hadn't had the chance to prep any cards for the class - not nearly as bad as it sounds since I tend to teach playing with the technique, rather than copying a specific card.
I managed to get several cards made while I was there which is always much more fun to do in store as it enables you to look around and match up background papers and ribbons and other wonderful things which are then totally current.
The panel on this card uses the Stampendous Agapanthus. Stamp and emboss using versamark and 'sticky embossing powder'. (Several makes available - Stamp and Bond or Heat and Stick) This changes very quickly when heated so do be careful not to over heat or the foil will not stick to the image. Once heated apply purple, gold and blue pearlex powders. A little gold and silver foil has been added, but does not show up well in this photo.
I have torn down the left hand side of the panel and used a corner punch on the right hand corners. Edge with pine cone coloured inkpad.
The main purple card has had panels of background paper added before the stamped image is attached. The finished card has been embellished with buttons, ric-rac ribbon, peel-off dots and a stamped greeting.
I hope you like this taster session. I will post the rest of the cards tomorrow but as it is nearly midnight I think I ought to get some sleep.
Sweet Dreams
Love Kimx