There is a new Kid on the Block

Hi All,
What ever possessed me to suggest that setting up a blog for Sylvie would be easy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well it was when I did it a couple of years ago for Julia at Simply Stamps, at least it was then, this time not so much.
I ended up phoning Lin the Twisted Witch who bravely sorted out two old technophobes and a new blogger is born lol. Of course she will now be forever known as Sylvia London, not King, unless someone can enlighten us as to how to change something once a blog has been set up.
Poor Lin, who has never even met Sylvie, just assumed that London was her surname as we were calling her blog Granny London. In fact it it what her Grandchildren in Yorkshire call her to differentiate between the other 3 Grannies. Never mind, it could be so much worse I'm sure.
Anyway, back to my post for today.
Not only was yesterday my eldest Granddaughters 14th birthday, it would also have been my parents 64th Wedding Anniversary.
Yes, Megan was born on their Golden Wedding Anniversary, and actually attended her first party at the tender age of 8 hours old!!!!!!!!!!

This is the card that I sent to my lovely Mum, just to let her know that we hadn't forgotten her special day, even though Dad is no longer with us.

The central panel has been made using a piece of scrap left over from one of my play sessions with my Creative Palette.
I added some background stamps and distress inks and cut it out using my circular Grand Nestie.

The central image has been stamped and embossed onto the panel using black versafine and clear embossing powder.
Amazingly I found some co-ordinating die cut shapes in my bits box to which I added some more stamping.
I actually have a whole box of die cut bits and pieces which are usually never the right thing, so it was pretty great to find that I could actually use something up for a change.
I would like to enter this into the 'Loving those Leftovers' challenge at Our Creative Corner where they are looking for projects using mainly leftovers.
I wish I could say that it had made a dent in my leftover box, but that would be very far from true.
Don't forget to stop by Granny London and say Hi to Sylvie. I have promised to stop by and try and sort out a followers button for her next week, unless Lin gets to her by e-mail first that is lol.
Hugs Kimx

Girlie Things at Woodware

Hi All,
I'm hoping that Blogger will behave and this scheduled post goes live when it is supposed to.
This is my 3rd week as Guest Designer, or Friend, as Dorothy so kindly called me, over at the Woodware blog.
This week we are looking at Girlie Things, and I must admit that I have cheated a little since I have used a card that I made for one of the Woodware catalogues.

The main panel has been stamped and embossed using Vintage Sepia ink and Jane Gill's lovely JGS302 Vive La Plume stamp.

The border has been punched from the GCD No Worries paper pad using the Butterfly Border Crafty Edger punch.

Girls love flowers, well I do anyway, and this one was made using 3 different sizes of Kiku punch and a gold brad. And of course what could be more girlie than some ribbon and pearls.
I would like to enter this in to the Words, Words, Words challenge at Our Creative Corner.
Hope you will join us this week with your lovely Girlie projects.
Happy Crafting
hugs Kimx

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge 91 Choose Three Different Techniques

Evening Everyone
It's the start of another challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers .
I had intended posting this so much earlier, but Grandchildren duties took over and I am as late with it as ever.
Our host is Sharon who has asked to see 3 different techniques on your card or project. 
Take your pick of 3 from the following list and be sure to state which 3 you've used:

• Embossing (wet or dry)
• Distressing
• Masking
• Making your own flowers
• Paper piecing/patchwork
• Shrink plastic

We are sponsored this time by Milk Coffee Digital Stamps with a prize of 5 digis from their store, and SirStampalot with a fabulous new Fran-tage Mica Fragments kit from Stampendous.

 For my card I chose to use a selection of stamps available from SirStampalot and some MASKING.

The central masked panel looks much more complicated than it actually is.
I learnt this particular technique from the lovely Barbara Gray, and I'm sure that it is on one of her DVD's except I'm not sure which one.

My second chosen technique is DRY EMBOSSING.
Of course heat embossing crept in there as well, always my favourite thing to do with my stamps.

My third technique is MAKE YOUR OWN FLOWERS.
I used a lovely Spellbinders set, Chrysanthemums I think.

The tiny leaves are the left overs from the punched border across the middle of the card.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges

Crafty Calenders - Blooms and Blossoms

Our Creative Corner - Anything Goes

My Sheri Crafts - Flower Power

I hope that you will feel inspired to join us HERE, but please don't forget to follow the rules or I'm afraid we will have to delete you, and we don't want to do that lol.

I have one final day off tomorrow, and no babysitting duties, so I hope to get a few more cards finished. 

You never know I might even manage a Christmas card or two. I confess I have been very lax so far this year, and I did so well up to this time last year.

Off to bed now, night night.

Hugs Kimx

Another card for Our Creative Corner

Evening Everyone
Thought that I had better share early tonight. Everything seems to be taking so much effort today with this cold, that I can see me being in bed before the Grandchildren lol.

Now as you know one of my favourite challenges is over at Our Creative Corner. This week they are looking for Woody with a Button.
Create a project or card using woodgrain. You may use a technique to simulate woodgrain or use designer paper, or an actual piece of wood! The woodgrain needs to be seen. You also have to use at least one button.

This is the card that I made to fit the challenge. 
The central panel was left over from a previous card ( see A Sketch challenge at Inkspirational for instructions).

I rounded the corners and then added it to my card following the sketch over at Sketch Saturday.

The blue panels on the card have been dry embossed using a Woodgrain Embossing Folder from Craft Concepts.

The woodgrain background paper is from my stash, as is the brown cardstock which by happy coincidence has a woodgrain effect on it which was enhanced with a liitle Walnut Stain Distress Ink.

The stamps are from the new Woodware catalogue, and will be available very soon or so I am reliably informed.
I punched some leaves from the leftover pieces using an assortment of punches.
The 'button' is a diecut one which I have coloured and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.
I would also like to enter this into the challenge at Allsorts where they are looking for a Masculine theme.
I think I will get to bed now, well maybe after a little dinner, although I'm not sure how bothered I am by that.
hugs Kimx

It's a White Wedding

Evening Everyone
Another very quick post this evening as once again time has got away from me.
I have spent the evening working on a card for the latest challenge over at Our Creative Corner, one of my favourite challenges.
This week they are looking for White with a Decorative Edge.
Create a card or project white on white with a decorative edge. Your card must be entirely white with the exception of the sentiment which can be the colour you like. Any embellishments you use have to be white as well and if you are using rhinestones they have to be silver.

Boy is that a difficult one, especially to get decent photos of the finished article.
I confess that I have added just a touch of Spun Sugar(baby pink) Distress Ink to the stamped image (A Magenta stamp) because I just couldn't get anything to stand out without it.
I decided that it would be perfect as a card for a Wedding, what do you think?

I hope that I have followed the rules, all the flowers are white and made using my DooHickey dies.
The Heart Embossing folder in the background has had white Metallic Rub On added to it, although that does not show up in the photos very well at all.
I also added white Organza Ribbon and assorted pearls.
I'm sure that someone will need a wedding card at some point this year.
Why not give the challenge a try, it certainly gets you thinking.
hugs Kimx

Shabby Chic for a Baby Girl

Evening Everyone
I hope that you have had a good day and that you are not too cold.
We don't appear to have any of the thick snow here that the weather men have been predicting.... as yet, I will just wait and see when I peep through the curtains tomorrow morning before I go to work. I suspect that I will be in need of my very unflattering thermal underwear lol.
Now as you know I just love the challenges over at Our Creative Corner, and so no week would be complete without making a card for it.
This week they are looking for Shabby Chic Style, in their words  'Shabby Chic' style is generally characterized by a time-worn look achieved by inking and distressing.  There are layers of softness that can be achieved by the use of ribbon, lace, and crochet trim.  You will need to include feminine embellishments, such as buttons, pearls, glitter, and any other sweet embellishment. 

I have had several Baby Congratulations cards to make this week so it seemed the perfect fit.
I have used a Lili of the Valley pre-coloured image cut out using Labels 22. I added some Antique Linen Distress Ink to the edges of the image while it was still inside the nestie along with a faux stitched border.

The background panel that it is mounted onto is a piece of brown cardstock which has been embossed using a folder designed by Crafts Too.
I distressed it a little and added plenty of Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink.

I used the lovely sketch over at CLP Challenges for my layout.

I also used some gingham, as requested in the challenge at Sweet Stampin.
The other background paper is by Magnolia with my favourite swirl stamped over it using the Brushed Corduroy ink.
Of course no 'Shabby Chic' card would be complete without a few pearls, a ribbon bow and punched border.
Off to bed now, see you tomorrow, lets hope without any of the white stuff :O)
hugs Kimx

Aqua and Pink + Flower for Our Creative Corner

Evening Everyone,
I'm starting the New Year as I mean to go on, or at least that's my hope anyway.
I've been trying to get a little more organised when checking out my favourite challenges, so I've been writing copious lists and printing pictures of sketches that I want to use. I'm sure that it can't last...........but at least for the moment let's give it a go.
This is the card that I made for the first challenge of 2013 over at Our Creative Corner where they are looking for Aqua and Pink plus Flowers.

The main panel on the card is a Penny Black stamp Floral Thread 40-135 which has been stamped and embossed using Versamark and White Embossing powder.

I have sponged it with Distress inks Victorian Velvet and Evergreen Bough, before trimming it and mounting it onto a piece of pink gingham paper.
The zig-zag stitching has also been stamped and embossed in white using a clear stamp that I have. Sorry not sure who makes it.

I have added several flowers which were coloured and fussy cut out of a second stamped image.
The sentiment is from a Woodware clear stamp set designed by Jane Gill, and has been cut out with one of my trusty Circular Nesties and mounted onto an Aqua coloured Scalloped Circle.

I added a piece of Medical Gauze under the circular panel before attaching the shaped flowers, stamen and pins using Silicon glue.
I got the idea for the gauze from the lovely Sara when she brought some of her fantastic samples into SirStampalot when I was staying there in November.

I rushed straight out and bought some, and then forgot all about it, as you do.
I had to laugh when the assistant asked if I wanted Sterile Gauze!!
I hadn't got the heart to tell her I wanted it to adorn a greetings card not a cut knee, I'm not sure that she would have understood.

I've been a very good girl so far this year and I have made myself write my blogpost and catch up on a bit of commenting and e-mails before I allow myself time to play.
The trouble is that I can see me being very late to bed now if I am going to get any playtime in at all.
Better press publish, I have a card to finish!!
hugs Kimx

Foil and Alcohol Inks for Our Creative Corner

Hi All
Well I did say that I would be back again today, but this is not the card that you were expecting :O)

Another of the challenges that I have been greatly missing is Our Creative Corner  where this week they have been thrilling us with samples of Foil and Alcohol inks.
The main panel on the card is a piece of thin metal foil which I embossed with a floral folder from Crafts Too, and then added Cranberry and Sail Boat Blue Alcohol inks with a little Pearl Mixative added.
Sorry about the shadow in the photograph, I really think I will have to get myself a lighting booth of some kind. Maybe Father Christmas will be good to me, I have been a Good Girl after all lol.

I layered this onto a piece of black glossy card using Silicon so that it would help fill out the embossed areas for posting.
This was then attached to a white card which has been stamped and embossed repeatedly with a lovely Magenta stamp I0386.

The same stamp has been used on the central panel which has also been coloured using Alcohol inks.
I painted the leaves with bleach and then heated them which made them turn a slightly green colour.
The flower has been decoupaged and then Glossy Accents have been added.
The fine metal swirls are the result of trimming the metal sheet on my trimmer, they just seemed too good to throw out, you know what us Crafters are like.
The bright coloured panel that the flower has been mounted onto is also Alchol inks but this time on Glossy Photographic paper. It started to crack when I heat embossed it, hence the floral panel mounted over it.
The final touch is some nice pearls as flower centres.
I think that I am just about in time to enter the challenge, at least I hope so, and then its back to my craft table, I'm on a roll at the moment.
Hugs
Kimx

Fall in the Circle

Evening Everyone,
I hope that you are well.
I must admit that I have been struggling with my Sciatica over the last few weeks.
I have it on authority (The Daily Mail) that I am in good company as Her Majesty is suffering at the moment as well.
Not sure that she will have had to stand at the till for hours but I sympathise with her none the less - it bloody hurts!!!!
I have finally had to give in and go to the GP today who has given me pills, which I don't usually take, and told me I need to take a week off work and see how I am after that!!!!
At the moment doing anything for more than a couple of hours is agony so I can see a restless few days.
Anyway that's enough of my winging on lets get down to business.

I'm definitely in cute mode at the moment aren't I lol.
The challenge this week at Our Creative Corner has been Fall in the Circle 

 - simply create a CIRCLE card/project (or card/project contains circle diecut) with fall theme - colours or objects.

 Once again I have used this lovely Tilda in the Leaves stamp coloured with Distress inks.

I used my Circular and Grand Nesties to create my card out of a piece of background paper that I had made. I stamped and embossed some leaves in gold on to the green card as well as stamping with bleach which made the card turn yellow.
The border punch is from EK Success and I have use the small punched out maple leaves to add to the card.

The leaves which border the circle are actually from the Magnolia Fall Wreath which I have cut into three sections.

The greeting is from Lili of the Valley.
I so enjoyed making this card  for the challenge over at Our Creative Corner.
Why not check it out there are some awesome samples from the Design Team.
I need to go and lie down for a bit now. I'm not used to taking pills and I'm feeling a bit woozy at the moment so this may not make any sense tomorrow when I read it back to myself :O)
Night night and sleep well.
hugs Kimx

Happy Birthday to Me :O)

Evening Everyone
I hope that you have all had a wonderful day.
I have. Today is my Birthday and although I have been at work I have had a lovely day.
I have received lots of cards, texts and messages on Facebook, so Thank You to Everyone for making me feel special.

I have been playing with the Bargello technique that Mynnette shared at Technique Tuesday, and not wishing to waste anything I came up with this card.

I couldn't resist stamping and embossing onto the Bargello panel, just to see if I could!!

I decided that the background to the card needed some stamping on it as well, and of course some sponged  Distress inks.
My day unfortunately wasn't all good as my present to myself is an emergency dental appointment tomorrow morning after I broke a tooth.
That will teach me to share a cookie with the Grandchildren lol.
I can see that it is going to turn out to be a very expensive indulgence.
Oh well better better get some sleep, I'm an Old Lady now you know :O)
hugs Kimx

PS I just noticed that I have won the Howdy challenge over at Our Creative Corner, how wonderful is that!
Happy Birthday Me xx

Let's be Royal at Our Creative Corner

Morning All
I hope that you are well and looking forward to a great weekend.
As those of you that are regular visitors to my little world will know I won the Recycle It challenge over at Our Creative Corner a few weeks ago.
My prize is to be guest designer this week where the challenge is Let's be Royal.
As usual there is a picture for you to be inspired by, and a few other requirements.
- Create a card or project with a royal look using a crown, castle or a princess.
- Use the photo to inspire you.
- Your project must have something yellow or gold embossed.
- Most of all have fun!
I searched through my stamps for something suitable to use, and once again I was inspired by a lovely Magnolia stamp available from SirStampalot Princess Welcome Tilda.

I coloured her using Distress inks Scattered Straw and Mustard Seed.

 I fussy cut Princess Tilda ready to add her to the finished card.

The very regal shield which I trimmed and mounted onto gold card stock is by Stampendous as is the floral stamp that I used in the background.

I ran the main background panel through my Grand Caliber using an embossing folder on the left hand side only.

Princess Tilda was shaped and then added using Silicon.

I also added some tiny pearls.
I hope you like my efforts and that you will pop across and check out all the other wonderful creations that the Team have come up with, there are some truly talented Ladies on the team so I feel very honoured to be allowed to join them this time.
Have a great day.
Happy Crafting
Hugs Kimx

'Howdy'

Evening Everyone,
Nearly the end of another week!
Where do they disappear to so quickly?
We has a spot of Disney magic in our house this evening when I babysat the Grandchildren and we finally got to watch Pocahontas 2, or 'Mulan on the Boat' as Saskia calls it!!
Once I got them to bed I just had to finish my card for this weeks 'Howdy' challenge over at Our Creative Corner.
They have this lovely picture to inspire you, and then a few requirements.
Create a card or project with a country or western look. 
Use the photo to inspire you.
-Your project must have something plaid or gingham (checkered/tartan is acceptable too!), such as in a ribbon, or designer paper.
-Most of all, have fun!

Well I certainly did that, I had great fun creating this card to share with you.

The main images are all by Magnolia which are available from SirStampalot as is the lovely Hero Arts Background which I stamped and embossed onto a piece of Gingham paper from my stash.

The bench is 2171H Santa Bench. I cut off the holly and then sat 1482E Farmer Tilda on the bench.
I did some paper piecing with her outfit and then added a couple of tiny buttons. Tilda's Horse 1484F completes the picture. I coloured them using Distress inks.

The greeting is from Lili of the Valley, and I also added a couple of gems to the centre of the flowers.
Definitely a 'Me' card Dorothy as I added 3 buttons tied with twine lol.
Why not check out what the DT have made for the challenge, as always there are some fabulous creations.
Night night
Hugs Kimx