Crealies Patchwork Dies

Evening,

I spent a lovely morning at 'Stitch and Bitch' today, although it was b....y freezing. We meet in a church hall and have to put the heating on when we arrive, so I have learnt the hard way that I need to wear a jumper and my fur lined boots. Mum's house has under floor heating so Wednesday is the only day that my jumpers come out lol.

I still haven't managed to take photos of the cross stitch that I have been working on, so here are some cards made using the fabulous Creilies Patchwork Dies.

They are fabulous for creating a stacked patchwork background to a card,

or for a single layer watercolour stamped image.

I inked the stamp and then spritzed it with a little water which had pearl mica powder added to it.

This final card used a stamped, embossed and coloured image along with a mop up background.

I do love these dies, and they make such unusual backgrounds. The bit that took the longest was cutting all the pieces. But then I guess that is the same with regular patchwork done with material.

Thanks for stopping by.

Love and Crafty Hugs

Kimx

Grid Cards

Evening,

I've managed to catch up with all my sample making for Creative Expressions this afternoon, and get the parcel in the post, so I have a tidy desk.........for 5 minutes at least lol.

Here are a few cards that I made last year using a simple masking technique to create the background panel.

I taught it many years ago as an introduction to Masking, a Part 1, so to speak.

I used post it notes and black ink to create the grid lines,

but it looks just as good in gold on black.

I have used an assortment of stamped and coloured images

as the focal point on the cards, 

along with some good old Penny Black Stickeroos (first two samples).

I can't believe how quickly the days come round. It's 'Stitch and Bitch' again tomorrow, my Wednesday morning stitching get together. I so look forward to it and am making headway on the cross stitched panels for everyones Christmas stockings.

Thanks for stopping by.

Love and Crafty Hugs

Kimx

Happy New Year

Happy New Year Everyone,

As expected I failed to see midnight again this year. At least I'm keeping up with tradition lol.

One of the many jobs that I have been tasked with since moving in with Mum, is finding the necessary paperwork to apply for help. In so doing I have come across numerous cards that I have sent her over the years. So I thought that I would start 2023 with a look back at just a few of the ones that I found.

A bit of mixed media.

Very 3D.

Alcohol inks and Lift ink, definitely a favourite technique.

More Alcohol Lift ink here.

Mop up background with Distress inks and a fabulous Jane Gill floral stamp.

More florals and background papers.

I hope that you liked my walk through some past treasures.

Have a wonderful day, whatever you are doing. Here's to a brilliant 2023 for us All.

Love and Crafty Hugs

Kimx

The Countdown Has Begun

Evening,

The countdown to my crafty holiday began in earnest this week. I am finally getting to go to SirStampalot for what is my kind of holiday........................a week of playtime in a craft shop. How much more could you want?

I did think that it might be derailed at the start of last week when Chloe and Becki tested positive for Covid, again!! My holiday was due to start with a few days helping out with the 'Littlies'. Thankfully things have gone according to plan after they all tested negative, and I seem to have escaped it at my house as well where my Grandsons have both now gone down with it.

One of the classes that I taught when I was last at SirStampalot, nearly three years ago, was one called 'Bump and Smudge'. 

Distress oxides are perfect for this technique.

You stamp the image using the oxide ink and then smudge it with a blending tool to give a lovely soft blended background.

As you can see, I rather liked this lovely floral stamp.

I partnered it with various large dies and a Best Wishes stencil.

I added embossing powder to this panel which I didn't like.

So I added some grey ink until I liked the result.

I die cut the word LOVE from the center and used it on another card.

One of my first jobs when I arrive at SirStampalot on Monday will be to organize supplies for the classes that I will be teaching this time.

And of course there will a shopping basket to start as well lol.

For now, it's Movie Night, so we are all watching Mirror, Mirror with a bowl full of popcorn and sweeties.

Happy Weekend.

Hugs Kimx

Spring has Sprung

Evening,

What glorious weather we have had over the last few days. Spring has definitely sprung, although it has been rather chilly when you are in the shade. Isn't it amazing how much better we all feel when there is some sunshine about?

I have been on a couple of nice long walks in the sunshine, including one this morning with Chloe, my youngest Granddaughter. We have enjoyed the weather, and looking at the lovely spring flowers and blossom. She always likes to point out all the flowers and also count how many dogs we see on our travels.

No chance for any crafting today, so here is a pretty floral card made for Janice and Andy at Sirstampalot using lots of fabulous dies.

Not specifically spring flowers, but bright and cheerful none-the-less. 

We have made a start on sorting out the garden at Becki's, so the kids have enjoyed being able to get outside to play. Coats were definitely required, although it was a little bit of a challenge to get them to put them on. Children just don't seem to feel the cold like us oldies lol.

I have digging and planting duties tomorrow, and a movie night in the pipeline, so another busy day. Better get in some snuggle time with my 'Besties' it will be my reward for all the gardening.

Have a great weekend. Enjoy the sunshine if you can.

Hugs Kimx

Pretty in Pink

Evening,

We had some little unexpected, but very welcome visitors today, so my crafty endeavors didn't go quite to plan. I managed to get some bits finished, but nothing from yesterdays class, so once again here are a couple of cards that I made during a previous play session with my Altenew stamps and dies.

I used a layering stamp set and matching die for the main image.

I used a patterned die and embossing mat to create the background panel and then added a little pink ink with a blending brush which highlights the embossing created with the die.

The sentiments are stamped, die cut and stacked for added dimension.

I used the same layering stamp set for the main image on this second card.

This time I used a floral heart die and embossing mat to create the embossed background 

before adding the stamped and coloured die cut and sentiment panel.

Hopefully I will be able to catch up a little more tomorrow as I have a day off. Still the best laid plans and all that, perhaps I an tempting fate by planning too much lol.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs Kimx

Beautiful Bokeh

Evening All,

What a change in the weather again today, although it was nice to see some children going off to school. It will be so lovely to get back to a normal state of affairs, but lets press ahead slowly I have no desire to see things go backwards again.

The DT at Creative Expressions have been talking about the Bokeh technique that Gwen shared in her show on Create and Craft this week.

So I decided that I would share a couple of cards that I made using this same technique.

I create my background slightly differently to Gwen, in that I use white ink and a homemade stencil to create my circles rather than the gesso and blending tool that she used.

I do love this technique which is a great way to change a piece of handmade background.

Of course the background doesn't have to be bright, I rather like this slightly more subtle look.

Thanks for stopping by.

Stay safe and hugs

Kimx

Love is All we Need

Evening All,

I hope that you have all had a fabulous Valentines Day being spoilt by your loved ones.

So here are a couple of cards that I made using one of the designs from Designer Boutique.

Perfect for Valentines Day,

a wedding,

or an anniversary,

I'm hoping that our boiler plays the game tonight. It has been playing up over the last few days with more than one visit from our friendly heating engineer. It made the most dreadful racket all last night with no heat to show for it, so I am hoping that it will behave tonight since my lack of sleep is starting to catch up with me. And I really can't face a cold shower tomorrow.......it's too damn cold.

Thanks for stopping by.

Stay safe....and warm :O)

Hugs Kimx

Just for You Michele and all of 'The Crafties'

 Evening Everyone,

As I have said before it is always difficult deciding what card to share with you.

Sometimes I take inspiration from something that I see on Facebook or a challenge blog or tonight from a question that a crafty friend asked me today on Whatsapp.

Michele sent a picture of something that she found in her craft box and asked if anyone remembered how she made it since it was done in a class. I put her out of her misery, it was made using Alcohol inks and the Alcohol Lift ink pad, and she has promised to share what she makes with it when we next get together on Zoom.

Like her's, my image uses this fabulous Penny Black stamp which works so beautifully with the Alcohol Lift Ink Pad. It was very much a favourite stamp, and technique for that matter, from 2019 and got plenty of use HERE and HERE

I am no good with tutorials. I have way too much fun playing and forget to take pictures while I am working so I will direct you to my go to place for all things crafty Jennifer McGuire's Youtube  and BLOG.

The background on this card also uses alcohol inks just using a stencil this time.

'The Crafties' and I have definitely decided that this class will need to be repeated, once we are able to get back to classes. We are all missing them very much since most of the ladies live on their own so a class on a Saturday with plenty of likeminded company, crafty things to play with, coffee......oh and of course cake was possibly the highlight of their week.

My class suggestion list is getting longer by the minute, so let's hope we can get together soon. In the meantime we will just have to put up with show and tell over a zoom session lol.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs Kimx