Monochrome Challenge at CCM

Evening Everyone,
We have a new challenge over at CCM today, and the theme this time is #195 Monochrome.
Jackie is our host, and we would like to see your monochromatic creations, these do not have to be black and white. Anything with hues of just one colour is fine. We will, of course, be okay with hair and skin colours as well, but your major colour scheme should only have one colour in it.

 

Now I must admit that whenever I think monochrome, I always think black and white which is a favourite combination of mine.

This card uses a lovely Art Impressions Rose Trellis stamp that I picked up at SirStampalot a little while ago. 

The background was created a square Stylus tool and a black and white Color Box ink pad. I'm not sure that either are even available any more but I love them.

I did a Black and White class at Davina's a few weeks ago, so I had quite a few cards already made up,

 as well as plenty of bits and pieces to finish off.

 

I hope that there are a few ideas here to inspire you, and of course there are plenty more from my fabulous Teamies, so why not check them out HERE.
Thanks for stopping by.
Happy Crafting and hugs
Kimx

What a busy May Day

Good Morning,
And what a beautiful one it is here in Whyteleafe.
No class today, although I have loads of commissions and DT work, so I thought that I would get all the computer stuff out of the way early so that I can get on and play, I mean work :O)
May 1st was a very busy day for cards in our house as it is also the birthday of Megan's young cousin Tyler and Gill an old friend of mine.

Tyler's card was made using a Lili of the Valley topper and some background papers from my stash.

Gill's card uses a peel-off and its waste as well as some background paper made using the stylus tool and inks.
Thankfully the rest of May is a little more spaced out on the card front.
I have been a very good girl though and they are all lined up in a box ready to send, with only a couple that need making from scratch. Knowing me though they will still be late getting to the post box.
Well it wouldn't be a Kim card if it was on time now would it lol.
Off to do some commenting now. I'm host over at Crafty Cardmakers and More this time so I need to keep on top of all of the entries so that I am ready with my winners.
Have a fabulous day, and enjoy the sunshine.
hugs Kimx

A Woodware Leaf

Evening Everyone,
I hope that you have had a nicely productive weekend. I certainly have.
I have spent my time tidying my desk, and finishing off a pile of cards that seem to have been staring at me for ages. They only needed the inserts but somehow that always seems so boring compared to actually making the card that it always gets left. Then you end up with a huge pile of them like now.
Of course now there is the really boring bit actually writing the wretched things, thank goodness Christmas only comes round once a year lol.

I thought that you might be getting a bit fed up with Christmas cards, so I chose one that I made for the Spring Woodware catalogue.
Of course if I don't start sharing a few more of my Christmas cards I won't get through them all, so I might just have to bore you with some of them tomorrow.

The background to this card was made using the Stylus tool which is a bit like a mini Magic stamp on a handle. It makes the most fabulous repetitive backgrounds, and is an old favourite of mine.
I have to be at work at 5am tomorrow, so I had better try and get to sleep, although at the moment I still feel wide awake. I knew I shouldn't have had that last cup of coffee!!
Thanks for stopping by, see you again tomorrow.
hugs Kimx

The beginning of a Beautiful Year

Hi All
Well I really seem to have excelled myself in the Christmas card department this weekend. I think maybe I'm making up for all those months when I didn't manage to make a single card.
Still no pictures I'm afraid. I can't wait to get my bag back tomorrow.
I hadn't realised just how much I used my camera and how much time it saves me just by taking the photos when I need them rather than having to scroll through months worth of pictures.

This card was once again made for the Woodware catalogue but the sentiment is perfect for a certain young lady whose birthday is today - my youngest daughter Becki who reaches the tender age of 30. Where did all those years go?
I hope that she had been having a wonderful day and that she has been thoroughly spoilt. I will be seeing her tomorrow when we will be exchanging cards and gifts, and sharing a meal at the pub.
I just hope that she won't have too much of a headache after all her celebrating today lol.

Back to the card. The background has been created using the Colorbox Stylus Tool and a Woodware stamp set designed by Jane Gill.

The stylus tool is a fabulous piece of kit which you can use to create your own backgrounds.
HERE is a link to a Youtube clip on how to use them.

Once I had created the background I stamped and embossed on to it in black to give a good contrast.
Hope you like it.
Hugs Kimx

Woodware Grass Stems

Evening Everyone,
I hope that you are managing OK in this heat. It was quite exciting to look out of the window and see rain this morning, but it lasted all of 30 seconds and didn't seem to do anything to cool the place down. Still we mustn't complain, I just wish it wasn't quite so hot.
I have finally managed to clear my desk and unpack my suitcase, but I still haven't managed to lift anything remotely resembling an ink pad or stamp, except to tidy up that is so I will share another of the cards that I made recently for the Woodware catalogue.

The stamp set that I have used has been designed by the lovely Jane Gill and compliments several of the sets that have been released in previous catalogues. It is called JGCL576 Grass Stems.

The background on the stamped panel has been made using the Stylus Tool and Large Black Moldable Tips.
I do love this set. I can't wait to see the catalogue when it comes out, everything always looks so different in print.
Night night
Hugs Kimx

More Imagination Decoupage

Evening Everyone
I hope you managed to catch Imagination on QVC earlier this evening. Unfortunately my cards didn't get much of an airing so I thought that I would post a couple of them here quickly before I get to bed.

 I think this one was given a very brief moment of air time. All the samples tonight have been made using the fantastic Crocus stamp set. This particular card also uses the Summer Blossom stencil and stencil paints.

I have used a combination of background papers to create this card which I would like to enter into the challenge over at Paper Sundaes where they are looking for Paper Piecing.

 I have stamped one of the little background stamps over the stencilled flowers.

This second card makes use of bleach, dark card and dye based inks.

 The handmade background paper is made using the Sylus tool and a Petal Point pigment ink pad.

This final card uses Inkidink inks, and embossing both heat and cuttlebugged. The swirly folder matched the stamps perfectly I thought.

Hope you like them.
Hugs Kimx

Handbags at Dawn at Woodware

Evening Everyone.
The week just wouldn't be the same if I didn't enter something in to the challenge over at Woodware.
The challenge this week as been 'Handbags at Dawn', and given that it will probably be nearly dawn by the time you read this it seems quite appropriate.

Given the lateness of the hour and the fact that the challenge has nearly ended I decided to look through my rather large stash of cards that I have already completed to see if there was anything that I would be able to use. 

The only piece of art work that I could find that had used a stamp sold by Woodware was actually a gift tag that I made some years ago as part of an article for either Cardmaking and Papercraft or Quick Cards Made Easy. As you know I don't really do tags so that is why it has never been sent.
I am pretty sure that the Hat, bag and shoe stamp is by Stampendous, but I am sure that someone will tell me if I have got it wrong lol.
I have remounted the coloured image and vellum background onto a piece of paper from the GCD paper pack Planes and Trains. The little retro flowers that have been added are peel-offs.
I had a lovely class today at Davina's. It was very full which was wonderful. In fact we actually had a couple of people that we weren't expecting. We managed to fit them in but we must remember to get people to confirm their booking in advance or we might have to have standing room only, not easy when you are crafting you will agree.

I was a very good girl and finished this card off this evening after I had put all my workshop equipment away. What a creep I can hear you all shouting. I just wanted to use up all the bits, and I do so love this stamp.

By the way I thought that you might like to see what I bought with my prize money for winning the December Sketch challenge.

I have had my eye on this stamp set for a while now. In fact I could have done with it last week when I had a 40th birthday card to make for a friend. I know it was designed for Wedding Anniversaries but it will work every bit as well for certain birthdays. Actually I have a 50th Birthday card to make next week so I can see it will get used straight away.
Thank You Woodware.
Hugs Kimx

Purple Poppies and Diamonds

Evening everyone,
I'm still not feeling great so am just going to share another of the cards that I am taking to class tomorrow at Davina's.

Once again it used the fabulous Framed Poppies, only this time I have cut it out using a Nestie.

Who says that you have to use the entire image. I think you will agree it looks every bit as good this way.

I used stamps from the Autumn Scene it  clear set, also by Hobby Art, to decorate the purple background card.
Off to bed now. I need my beauty sleep :)
Nite, nite.
Hugs Kimx

Woodware challenge but without the stamps!!!!

OK you know how things can disappear in to the black hole that is your craft table (well if it's anything like mine that is). You've used a stamp, a clear one no less, and then when the card is finished you can't find the stamp anywhere.
Well that is exactly what happened to me when I made my card for the last Woodware challenge. The lovely little mouse from my set disappeared into thin air. I checked everything, even the bins bit by bit yuk.
I had resigned myself to never being able to use the little mouse again sob sob.
Then I went to prep for my class on Saturday at Davina's (Stampcraft in Purley) and there sitting on the top of an ink pad was a little mouse yeahhhhh.

We are using this lovely Poppy stamp from Hobby Art on Saturday, but I have made the card using the Woodware Challenge sketch in the hopes that they will be inspired to make something similar but using a Woodware stamp. I will have some of those with me as well :)

The red strip of paper has been made using the Stylus tool which is something that I will be teaching them on Saturday. I love it for making background papers.
I coloured the image with dye based inks on watercolour card.
I also added some metallic swirls and a punched border.
I have been trying to leave comments tonight but am having no luck at all. I don't know what is going on with blogger. I do wish they would stop playing around with it. What is it they say - If it ain't broke don't fix it lol.
Sorry guys I will try again tomorrow, but this is just to let you all know that I really do appreciate you taking the time to leave me messages.
I must get an early night. My lovely daughter seems to have passed me her cold and I am starting to feel all bunged up. Lemsip and bed me thinks.
Have to be well for Saturday it looks like we have a full house which is brilliant.
Hugs Kimx

Hobby Art Poppies

Evening Everyone
Today saw Hobby Art on the TV, and this time the program description didn't change so my sky box actually recorded it lol.
I'm so glad as I am still waiting for a reply to one of my ranting e-mail to Create and Craft last time Jenny was on the box!

I had a wonderful time playing with the new stamps, but I ran out of time to get them finished for the TV so this is one that I made that you won't have seen on the box.

I stamped and embossed the Bordered Poppies onto a piece of watercolour card and then painted the image with distress inks.

The background to the card is from my bits box and was made using dye based inks and a Stylus tool.
I think I deserve a break from Christmas cards tomorrow, I have finished off 54 inserts and envelopes today and so I think I might have just about enough cards made for this year.
I do still have a couple of special cards to make for other people so I'm not completely finished, and of course they still have to be written yet. You never know I may get them done on time this year, miracles do happen sometimes :)
Have a good weekend, and don't forget to watch Barbara on the box tomorrow and Sunday. (See side bar for details)
Hugs Kimx

Woodware Challenge times three

Evening Everyone
I hope that you have all had a good day.

Well I did tell you that I liked Black and White and that I had found lots of cards to enter into the Woodware Challenge.

I suppose technically these don't qualify since they do have the addition of pale pink and green, but as they were made using a Woodware appropriate stamp set JRCL308 - Flower Frames I thought that I would share them with you anyway.

The background has been made using another item available from Woodware - the stylus tool. Once I have heated it with a light bulb I have pressed it onto a small stamp which has created a negative image, This has then been used to create a mosaic pattern with brilliance ink pads.

This card uses the same stamp set and handmade background paper. The central image has also been painted using the brilliance ink pads.

This final card was actually inspired by one that I saw at Sir Stampalot. One of the DT members made it but I'm afraid that I can't remember which one of you it was. Sorry Girls lol

This is probably nearer the challenge but the original idea wasn't mine. Of course I have added a little bling to mine with some pink gems.
I think three entries is quite enough for this week so I will wait and see what the new challenge is on Monday. I hope that maybe my efforts will inspire some more people to join in the fun.
Nite nite
Love and hugs to All
Kimx

Happy Birthday Barbara

Hi Guys
Hope you are all having a good weekend. It's been pouring with rain here so its been a good excuse to stay in and craft. I've been finishing off a few Christmas cards using leftover bits and pieces before I knuckle down to the next lot of cards for the TV - eat your heart out Mrs Till lol.
It's Barbara's birthday today and loads of people sent cards into the studio for her.

I thought that I would make something a little different for the show with this picture frame. I'm not sure that it fit the bill though as it didn't get shown. In fact not many of my samples made the grade this time it would seem, but never mind.

The background has been made using the stylus tool which has been heated and then pressed into the wheat stamp from the show. This gives you a negative image which has then been stamped in a symmetrical pattern using pigment inks.
Once I have cut the frame using a nestie I have stamped and embossed the wheat across the bottom.
A fine drawn line and some flowers finish it off.
Of course no frame is complete without a picture so I added one of my son Adam, maybe that's what she didn't like. Anyway I'm having a little breather at the moment before I get on again.
Have a good afternoon.
Love Kimx