The Colours of Autumn

Evening All
Have you had a good Monday?
I must have used up all of my creative energy yesterday as the best I could manage today was a granny nap.
Still I did manage to take a few photos, before the batteries ran out on my camera, seems everything around here is running out of steam lol.

This card was made using some treasures from my 'Bits Box'.

The central panel has been stamped using a Penny Black stamp and Distress inks and then cut out and mounted using circular nesties.

The background is a piece of paper coloured with Moonshadow inks and then embossed with two different Embossing Folders.
The sentiment is by Lili of the Valley and I added some ribbon and Card Candi.
I'm entering this into a couple of challenges
Penny Black and More - Anything Goes
Sweet Stampin - Autumn
Challenges and Candies - The colours of Autumn
Have a good evening.
hugs Kimx

Father's Day at Crafty Cardmakers

Evening Everyone

 Today we have a new challenge starting over at Crafty Cardmakers. Our host is Feebsy, who has chosen the theme of  'Father's Day'
As it's Father's Day here in the UK on 16th of June Feebsy would  like to see anything you've created for or have been inspired to make by an important male figure in your life. 
It could be anything from a card, a scrapbook page, a knitted scarf or a piece of altered art. It does not have to be specifically for Father's Day ( I don't want you spoiling a surprise for anyone) but let us know the inspiration behind your work. 

Whenever I think of my Dad, now sadly no longer with us, I always think of the garden and wild birds.
I can close my eyes now and see him sitting at the table under the window watching the wondrous array of wild birds that graced the bird table and assorted shrubs and bushes.
And there were certainly lots of them from common sparrows and blue tits to much rarer goldcrests and tiny wrens.
He could name them all.
Unfortunately in later years he was no longer able to work on the garden, and when he could it was the vegetable patch that was always his baby and flowers my Mum's province.
I remember one year when we were very young, my sister saved a baby thrush from the cat.
Surprisingly it survived and we spent that Spring digging the vegetable patch from one side to the other (and it was a very large stretch) in search of worms to feed Gus (the thrush).
That stretch of garden was never dug so well, before or since, and miraculously we were able to raise Gus until he was old enough for us to take to the local Bird Sanctuary.
So you can see why I chose this lovely stamp from Stampendous for my card.

The sentiment stamp on the right hand side is also available through WOODWARE CRAFT COLLECTION who are one of our wonderful sponsors with a £12 voucher to be spent at one of their Retailers. 

Our other sponsor this time is THE PAPER SHELTER with a $20 Gift certificate. 
Now I am not good with digi images but they do have some fabulous Digital Paper Pads so I bought a couple of them and used some of the designs from one set on my card. 

The feathers and buttons are also from Woodware.

I would like to enter this in to the following challenges

Brown Sugar Challenge - Masculine Birthday

Sweet Stampin Challenge - Fathers Day

ABC Challenges - Masculine Cards

I hope that you pop along and join us this time. 

Don't forget that the Girls from Woodware will be playing along with us every day this week so stop by and show them some love as well as the rest of the CCM  team.

Happy Crafting.

hugs Kimx

Do fish drink coffee?

Evening Everyone,
I hope that you have all had a lovely Sunday, mine has been very productive.
I have managed to catch up with quite a few, not all, of my blog visits and commenting.
Sorry Guys if I haven't made it to you yet, I will try, honest.
All of my lovely followers will know that I am trying very hard to be a good girl and finish things off after a class or demo instead of adding more bits to my stash.
With this in mind I have been having a great time with all of the coffee bits and pieces from the class on Saturday.

My card tonight has been made for the Woodware challenge, which this week has been cards for Men. Now I know it is rather late, but I had such fun making it that I hope that Dorothy will forgive me lol.

The background to the card has been made using white cardstock that has been spritzed with water and then sprinkled with coffee granules. As they dissolve they leave lovely dark 'puddles' of coffee. Once it has dried I sponged it with blue Distress Inks.

I also stamped the background with Woodware FRS227 Curly Stitched Background and Sepia Versafine ink. The 3 underwater panels have all been stamped and embossed onto water colour card stock, which has been spritzed with coffee, using black Versafine ink, clear embossing powder and Woodware FRCL195 Sea-Life.

The colouring to these panels has all been done using more of the dissolved instant coffee and undiluted thin bleach.
I have also added some medical gauze and doodled lines.
I would like to enter this in to a couple of other challenges.

Sweet Stampin Challenge  - Oodles of Doodles (Hand drawn lines around the edge of the card)
Totally Gorguss  - Water (I hope that underwater creatures will count lol)
Creative Creations Challenges - For a Child (A fun card for a Child I hope )
Our Creative Corner - Anything Goes

I was thrilled to see that my last Kids card won the challenge over at Allsorts 'Any Sport' challenge, so I must remember to drop Brenda a line to claim my prize.
Hugs Kimx

Another New Arrival

Evening Everyone
I hope that you have been having good weekend despite the rain.
I have finally managed to catch up with a bit of crafting, and the steady stream of birth congrats cards that I have had to make shows no signs of slowing down. Maybe that has something to do with the lousy weather as well lol.

This week Lili's Little Fairies are looking for 'Clean and Simple'.
Now I'm really not sure that I am totally happy with this card. I like the clean layout but I think it looks a bit washed out.

 It is an image that I coloured in as my first try with Distress Markers, so that can be my excuse :O)

The greetings and background paper are also from Lili of the Valley.
I cut out the sentiments with a punch and then added a tiny button.
Sweet Stampin  are looking for 'Pastels' so I will enter this into their challenge as well.
Let's hope that my creative flow continues tomorrow as I still have lots of things to cross off of my list.
Night night.
Hugs Kimx

A Touch of Romance

Evening Everyone,
Wow, another late post, so much for getting my blogging done before I play!
I seem to be going through a 'Brown and Cute' phase at the moment.
One of the Guys at work asked me to make him a Valentines card for his Fiance, and so this was one of the ones I made for him to choose from.

Nothing screams Romance to me at the moment like the cute images from Lili of the Valley. And of course a few pearls and a swirl.

 As they arrive already coloured in all I have to do is match them to papers from my stash.

In this case I used some of the new papers that I bought from Lili of the Valley. They are from the Nitwit Collection and of course they are designed to match the coloured images perfectly, as if I need any more papers lol.

The flowers are made using DooHickey dies and I used my Nesties and a Punch Around the Page punch from Martha Stewart.
I would like to enter this into the following challenges.
Lili's Little Fairies challenge - A Touch of Romance
Sweet Stampin Challenge - Pearls and Swirls
Addicted to Stamps - Pearls and Swirls
Cute Card Thursday - Love Struck
Off to bed now, late again :O)
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

It's a very small world

Afternoon All
Have you had a good day?
We've been rushed off our feet today,quite typical for a Bank Holiday.
I've had my 'granny nap' so now I need to get back to the business of crafting lol.

This is a card that I made to give to Vicky a lovely lady that comes into the garage. She has ordered a couple of cards from me in the past, and as she has just got engaged it seemed the ideal opportunity to make something for her. You know me I don't need much of an excuse to make a new card.

If in doubt reach for the Lili of the Valley toppers I say!!
I've cut the image out using a circular nestie with the ear peeking Outside the Frame which is what they are looking for over at Sweet Stampin Challenge. 
I really must practise this a little more so I can be braver with how much I leave  outside the frame.

The sentiments are from Lili of the Valley and Hobby Art and I added some grass using my new Memorybox die.

I was busy at the weekend designing a card for Vicky to give to her Bridesmaids or Maids of Honour. Imagine my surprise when she arrived to talk through what she wanted and my daughter announced that they used to go to school together - it really is a very small world.
My craft room is calling, so I think its time to get myself a coffee and get stuck in.
Like I said I don't need much of an excuse to make a new card.
Happy Crafting
hugs Kimx

Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much xx

Hi Everyone
Another Early post for me.
I have unexpected babysitting duties to perform this evening (one of the perks of being a live in Granny ) so I need to get this done.
Saskia has already requested Mulan on the Boat!!! What she actually means is Pocahontas 2 which is what we said we would watch next time I babysat. It's amazing what they remember and how they describe it lol.

Saturday 11th August was the day my niece Vicky got married to Stuart. By coincidence it was also the day I met my kids Dad some 30 odd years ago.

This is the card that I sent the happy couple to celebrate their day.

The flowers, leaves and swirl are all made using Magnolia DooHickeys.

The background paper is Magnolia and I have stamped and embossed my favourite Hero Arts Leafy Swirls using Frantage Aged Ivory Embossing Enamel.
Of course no Wedding card would be complete without plenty of bling and some ribbon and lace.

This greeting is by Printworks and I cut it out with a Nestie.
I also used the Frantage powder on the background card and added Antique Linen Distress Ink.

This greeting is from Lili of the Valley.
I would like to enter this into the following challenges
Papertake Weekly Challenge - Pins and Needles. Only one pin I know bur perhaps they will forgive me :O)
Sweet Stampin Challenge - Weddings and Anniversaries
I had better get some dinner now before the picture show starts, and maybe pop some corn.
See you later.
hugs Kimx

What a Lucky Girl am I

Evening Everyone
I hope that you have been having a wonderful day.
I have been itching to share some fantastic and exciting news with you and now the time has come where I can.
The sneak peeks that you have been having recently on my blog of the fabulous new stamps from Woodware are because I was asked to make some of the samples for the new catalogue.
How lucky am I!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was a mammoth task, and more than a little daunting when this huge parcel arrived, but I rose to the challenge, and I have to say that I have had soooo much fun.

So with out further a do I will share one of the samples. This one actually appears on the front cover, although their photography is far better than mine.

I did have a bit of a panic at one stage that my samples are so very different from the sort of thing that Jane and Francoise make, but I suppose that's just the point isn't it, to show just how versatile their wonderful images can be.

The background to this card was made using Coffee and a Pearlex Vintage Watercolour Pallet. I also used it to colour in the main image which was stamped and embossed using Sepia Versafine ink and clear embossing powder.

I did a bit of my usual decoupage with the Partridge and added some glossy accents.
I am so looking forward to getting hold of my hard copy of the catalogue. I'm old fashioned and I much prefer paper catalogues where I can sit drool over all the must have new stamps. I find them so much more user friendly than on line, but maybe that's just me lol.
I would like to enter this into the following challenges
Sweet Stampin Challenge - Christmas in July
Addicted to Stamps - Christmas in July
Sentimental Sunday - Paint / Inks
2 Sisters Challenge - Christmas in July
Sugar Creek Hollow - Vintage Christmas in July
Off to bed now, perhaps to dream of all the new cards that I can share with you now.
Night, night
Hugs Kimx

Pretty in Pink

Evening Everyone
How's your Monday been? Have you been busy?
I've been putting the finishing touches to another couple of commissions, the first of which I'm sharing tonight.

As you may have guessed it is about to wing its way across a continent to Pakistan. It had better go in the post quickly, the last one that was sent arrived but was very late!!
I have used another Lili of the Valley die cut which I have cut out using a circular nestie.

I have put the card together using the lovely sketch over at Sketch Saturday.

At Sweet Stampin challenges they are looking for Scallops, so that is what I have used to mount my image on to.
The chipboard numeral was free on a magazine and I have covered it with Frantage Embossing Enamel which I have stamped into using the same swirl stamp used on the vellum panel.

The flowers have been cut from background paper, and I have added Bakers twine and Card Candi.
I hope that I have correctly followed the colour challenge at CR84FN.

I'm really pleased with how this has turned out, so I hope that Haider likes it. He is sending it to his niece to celebrate her first birthday.
Late to bed again, I really must get the hang of scheduled posts, it might mean I could get a little more sleep. Still don't hold your breathe, you know what I'm like with computers lol.
hugs Kimx

Bringing back Memories

Morning Everyone,
I hope that you are currently enjoying your Sunday morning with a cup of coffee in bed and Create and Craft on the TV. Barbara is on as we speak!!
I noticed that the challenge this week over at Sweet Stampin is 4 Legged Friends.

Now I know that a lot of people will say that hedgehogs don't fall into that category, but to me they always bring back memories of my childhood when we found a family of them living in a pile of leaves in our garden.

They would come to the backdoor every night to feed from the saucer of bread and milk that Mum put out for them.
This card has been made using one of the numerous Penny Black Hedgehog stamps that I own.
They are sooooo cute aren't they.

I cut the image out using a circular nestie and added some snowflakes around the edge.
The greeting and holly are from a Woodware clear stamp set. Because you can see through the stamp it is easy to manipulate it so that it can be stamped around the edges of a circle.
I added some glossy accents to the berries and stocking.
As you may have noticed I got a little carried away with making Christmas cards last month and added 27 to my stash.
I'm definitely not on course to repeat that this month but at least it means that I am well ahead of myself.
I'm off to make the most of my day off now.
I am going to Port Sunlight next weekend for the Happy Stampers show so I am currently playing with all the lovely new stamps that Sue and Harvey from Imagination Craft have sent me to demo with.
Have a great day. Happy Stamping.
hugs Kimx