Designer Boutique Launch

Evening,

There is another fabulous new launch over at Creative Expressions. This time it is a new set of stamps launched under the Designer Boutique range.

The set I got to play with is called Fairy Blooms, and as it contains several stamp designs in the one set I decided that it would work perfectly with the Retiform technique of masking.

This involved lots of masking and ink blending along with stamping.

It is a fabulous way of using lots of stamps on one cards. I also added a couple of fussy cut flowers and leaves.

The background to the card base was created using inks, and embossing folder and some Gilding Polish.

Thanks for stopping by.

Love and Crafty Hugs

Kimx
 

Masking and Memories

Evening,

Just finished packing away after todays Crafty get together. We were playing with the Retiform technique, which is a rather more complicated form of masking. It is really much easier than it actually looks, but takes rather a long time to complete one panel. It is also a very good way of using up several stamps on the one card.

This is a card that I blogged a couple of years ago, as I have plenty of panels but no finished cards from todays session.

As Retiform is a form of Masking, here is a far more simple masked card using one of Jane Gill's fabulous floral stamp sets.

I stamped the flowers and leaves using fussy cut images on pieces of masking sheet as the images are all separate on the stamp set.

I then created a frame out of the masking sheet

and lay it over the stamped images before adding dye based ink to the card.

When the mask is removed it leaves a white frame around a coloured square to which I added some faux stitching. I added the panel onto a base card with the same colours of ink around the edges, along with more faux stitching.

It is lovely getting together with all the Girls to craft.......and natter......and drink tea and coffee.

I took my folders with me so that we could work on a list of classes for this year, which of course led on to how long we had known one another. I have a notebook here which details things like that, so I was able to text back and tell Davina that I had first met her at a Woodware Retailers Day in June 2002!!!! 

Where on earth did that 20 years go to? I have promised to send her a picture of the first class that I taught for her as I am that very sad person that has photocopies of all the classes that I have ever taught, and magazine articles that I have done. Perhaps I really ought to get a life, although to be fair it is a great reference tool when my mojo deserts me. It is also quite fun to look back at how my style has changed over the years.

Thanks for stopping by.

Love and Crafty Hugs

Kimx

Observations of Nature

Evening All,

What is it with Fridays? It certainly seems to bring out the crazies, or is it just the people that I work with that get to me even more on a Friday. Anyway I'm home now and have managed to sort another shelf so that's good.

Here is a card that I made using some fabulous Sam Poole stamps launched in January.

This panel is created using an old masking technique called Retiform.

It looks very complicated, but is actually reasonably easy to achieve. It is also a great way of using lots of stamps on one card.

I've had enough tidying for one week, I need some playtime tomorrow. Perhaps I will make some Easter cards. Not my usual thing, but it has been a strange old year.

Thanks for stopping by.

Stay safe and have great weekend.

Hugs Kimx

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