Watercolour Grasses

Afternoon All

I'm gradually working my way through the photos of card samples that are on my laptop. Of course once I have finished with them there are loads more in boxes just waiting for their camera ready moment lol.

This card, the last of my Sam Poole samples makes use of a couple of techniques that I favour.

This grassy image was first stamped using a distress oxide ink pad on to a piece of wet watercolour card stock. The colour will bleed leaving a rather blurred image which is actually what you want.

This technique is best done using a stamping platform of some kind because you need to stamp back over the blurred image once it has dried, this time using a versafine ink pad and you need it to be in exactly the same place. I also like to heat emboss this second image which of course means that the cardstock must be completely dry.

I stamped and embossed part of the image on to a scrap of cardstock which I then die cut into a small tag. Having coloured it with more distress inks I layered it onto the main panel to form a spotlight.

I used the main grassy image on the kraft card base, this time stamped using versamark ink to create a watermark image. A bit of faux stitching finishes off all the various components.

That's me for today, I need to cross at least one thing off my to do list, and I'm nowhere near that at the moment.

Thanks for stopping by. 

Hugs Kimx

 

Find Joy in Your Journey

 Evening All,

Well that's another Monday gone and we are already a quarter of the way through the year. Now if we could just get back to some sort of normality. 

I am so looking forward to some crafty teaching........................I wonder if we could manage it outside under a gazebo??? At the very least I think I think the Girls could start to think about what they would like to do as the first class after lockdown.

All being well some of us are meeting up in Davina's garden tomorrow afternoon. To be honest I think we are all so looking forward to seeing one another that we will be there come hell or high water, as they say.

Perhaps I will suggest a suggestion box for class ideas and then we can draw the first suggestion and work our way through the rest of them over the coming weeks. When we are allowed to meet up inside that is.

This tag was made a while ago using some of Jane's stamps and Distress Oxide inks.

I think that the Crafties are definitely looking forward to our journey tomorrow.

Better get some new biscuits. I'm hoping that Davinas family will have finished off the ones we keep in a tin there. I suddenly realized that they have been there since last year so I think it is about time for a new supply. Of course there might also be some nice cake too. Definitely time to celebrate.

Stay safe and big hugs

Kimx

Sam Poole's Beautiful Things

Evening All,

Oh boy, February already, which means that we must have made it through January, hopefully unscathed.

Here are another couple of cards made using Sam Poole's fabulous stamps and dies.

This is really quite mixed media for me, not my usual style really. 

I never think of myself as a mixed media person although Dorothy at Woodware always used to remind me that I use card, inks, dies etc which are all mixed media products, so I must be without realizing it lol.

I used the Dappled ovals die to make a stencil, 

and then when I had finished with it on the backgrounds, I added more ink and tore it up to place behind the stamped main panel.

I used the Tattered Tags die to create the focal panel on this card,

and a couple more pieces of the Dappled Ovals stencil behind it.

I had such fun making these, and I have to say that it finally kick started my mojo which has been missing for quite a while.

Have a great evening.

Stay safe. Hugs

Kimx

Sam Poole Botanicals

 Afternoon All,

I hope that you are having a super Saturday. Maybe a little crafting is involved, or maybe you are just getting into the zone by watching some on the TV.

If you are looking for some crafty inspiration, you couldn't go far wrong with watching Sam Poole on Create and Craft this evening at 7.30pm.

Hers were some of the fabulous new products that I got to play with last weekend in preparation for todays shows.

They are a beautiful Botanical Collection of stamps including this butterfly collage.

There are also some dies that compliment the collection. One of them is a set of Tattered Tags which I also used on this card.

Of course no set of botanical stamps is complete without a butterfly, and there is a smaller one on the set with I used along with several more fussy cut from the collage design.

Don't forget to tune in and check out her lovely designs and inky inspiration.

Have a great afternoon. Stay safe and craft.

Hugs Kimx

Christmas Tags for Woodware

Morning Everyone
We are making Christmas tags for you at Woodware this week.

I made a pile of tags for my Christmas prezzies. How organised am I this year, thank you Dorothy.

I started my tags by creating a masterboard on a sheet of blue card stock. I also made one on a sheet of lighter blue card but I forgot to take a photo of that one.

I stamped and embossed the large snowflake first using thin household bleach and then Shabby Green Frantage powder. Create a stamp pad for the bleach out of a piece of cut and dry felt.

The paler blue card has been stamped with bleach and then Silver Detail Embossing powder. The bleach obviously wasn't quite dry in places and so there is a slightly ghosted image where a little of the powder has stuck.

I also stamped and embossed the sentiment from an old favourite stamp set and then painted the tiles with bleach to take out some of the colour.

I cut the masterboard up into tag sized strips and then used the fabulous Tag Top Punch to shape the tops of the tags.

The beauty of this punch is that I was able to use up all of the left over pieces, no matter how narrow to create beautiful tags.

Two pieces of card were enough to create 16 tags, each one just very slightly different.

I added the names using Peel-off letters stuck to white card, and finished them off with some dotty white ribbon.
Quick and easy, and such fun to make.
Have a great day.

Hugs Kimx

A Trio of Tags made into Cards

Hi All
As promised I am back with the cards that I made with the tags from the Woodware Trio of Tags blog post.
(see HERE)
I'm just sorry that it has taken me so long.

I have made the cards in the same style, just using different background papers from my stash.
This first one has just had the script panel stamped and embossed onto the background paper and then some faux stitching and Card Candi have been added.

This card uses a different piece of background paper which has also been stamped using the holly sprig as well as the script stamps.

This final card uses another background paper from my stash, the script stamp and some red Card Candi.
That's another three cards to add to my Christmas pile.
I really must update my totals at the top of the page but other things keep getting in the way, like unexpected visits from my littlest Granddaughter who just has to be cuddled lol.
Hugs Kimx

Babies are such a nice way to start people.

Hi All
I had a wonderful weekend with my littlest Granddaughter, and her Mum and Dad of course, so I thought that it was about time I got around to sharing the card that I made for them to celebrate her birth at the end of July.
I can't believe where the weeks have flown to. Emma is now 7 weeks old!!!!!!

The background to my card has been made using one of my all time favourite bits of crafty equipment. The Magic Stamp available from Woodware is a fabulous remouldable block which has been heated and then pressed against Emma's hand and foot to create a custom stamp.
I have one of these for each of the Grandchildren, made when they were only a few days old. Megan's is now 15 years old, so they last a lifetime.

I have used it to stamp all over the background card using pink dye based ink. I then ran the panel through my E-bosser inside a dotty embossing folder.

The main image is from LOTV, and for once I actually coloured it in myself rather than using a topper.

I die cut some letters and the date and then added some other tiny sentiments.

'Babies are such a nice way to start people' is from a LOTV clear stamp set which I added to a die cut tag.
I also added some tiny metal embellishments and a button.
I was thrilled to see that this now takes pride of place on the mantelpiece inside a nice frame.
Emma isn't really a hatty sort of a baby, although we did play dress up while I was up there at the weekend, trying on some of her many outfits to see which ones would fit her. I will have to get Becki to send me a couple of pictures so that I can share them with you as there were one or two hats amongst them if I recall correctly.
Better get to bed now as it is back to work tomorrow.
Bye for now, and thanks for stopping by.
Hugs Kimx

I got a little carried away.....

Evening Everyone,
I told you that I got a little bit carried away with the lovely colour combo at Inkspirational Challenges, so here we are with more vibrant pink, green and black.
Once again I have used one of Jane Gill's solid floral images Ferns JGS274 stamped and embossed using Black Versafine  and clear Embossing powder.

The colours have been added by sponging Picked Raspberry and Mowed Lawn Distress Ink over the stamped image, and the ghosting is the result of stamping with a wet but clean stamp onto the background.

The sentiment is also from a Woodware Clear stamp set Mixed Greetings FRCL080.

I have used more of the lovely Magenta MEMOR-212 Spring Tapestry background paper with a little additional stamping on it.

This year we are going to try something a little different in class at Davina's.
How many times do you take a class and then when you get home you can't remember how you achieved the results on your card?
Well now, inspired by the Tag class that I did at SirStampalot last year, which was in turn inspired by a Tim Holtz class that they did at CHA, I will be creating an Information Tag to accompany every class. so over the year they should build up quite a library of techniques.
I have made my tag and written the instructions for everyone so all that's left is to pack bag for class, I'm bound to forget something.

As you can see I have also incorporated the Sketch from the latest challenge at Woodware. I'm hoping that it might inspire them to enter themselves.
I'm too late to enter this card into the Inkspirational Colour Challenge as the deadline has passed so I will just have to wait and see what they come up with for Week 2 which I believe is a Photo Inspired challenge.
I can't wait.
Hugs Kimx

Happy Birthday, just for you.

Evening Everyone
Long time no see. Now I know that it happens at the same time each year, but why is it that Christmas always has the habit of creeping up on you??
I may have been a very good girl and have made all of my cards throughout the year, (Thank God for the Christmas challenge blogs) but I am later than ever writing them.
I had intended getting them all written last weekend, but the birthday of a certain special young man put paid to that.
I can't believe that my Grandson Reece is now 10 years old.

This lovely pre-coloured image from Lili of the Valley reminds me of Reece eating milk and cookies with his younger brother Ciaran. Yes they can be cute sometimes lol.

I cut the image out using a circular Nestie. Sorry that the photography isn't up to much.

The tags in the background have been covered in background papers from my stash, and then run through the Cuttlebug using a Diamond Embossing Folder.

The spiders in the background have been stamped and embossed using an image from an Inkadinkadoo clear stamp set. Definitely a useful stamp for boys cards.

We all went out for a meal, a very nice carvery meal with heaps of vegetables, my kind of Sunday dinner.
In the absence of a birthday cake, an ice cream sundae will just have to do.

As you can see Saskia wasn't going to waste even the tiniest bit of her pudding.
I really must get some cards written tomorrow or else no-one will get them this side of the New Year.
Thanks for stopping by.
hugs Kimx

Guest Spot a Our Creative Corner - Office Supplies

Hi All
It has been a very busy week for me.
As you know I just love the challenges over at Our Creative Corner, so you can imagine how thrilled I was to be asked to be their Guest Designer this week.
Their challenges always make you dig deep into your creative recesses and this one was certainly no different.
The challenge this time round is to use Office Supplies (see picture inspiration) -  Staples, Post-it Notes, String, Sticky Tape! Use your imagination and come up with a fabulous creation with those common items. But here's the twist, I want to see the colour RED. Lots and lots of RED!
Well I wanted to get this right so after several e-mails back and forth to the team I made my card.
I made it for my Mum's birthday which was on Wednesday, she's quite used to getting them late lol.

I took pictures and started to write my post and then while I was at work I realised that I had forgotten one very important and major ingredient NO RED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So having checked with the team that the card itself was OK it was back to the drawing board for a remake.

So here is Take 2, with LOTS of Red.
The picture makes it look rather brown but I promise it is definitely red.

In fact these are the ink pads that I used along with the lovely Hero Arts Leaf Flourish stamp.

I used two strips of  Masking Tape on the main panel for the card and then sponged and stamped using a combination of inks and the Leaf Flourish and an Inkadinkadoo clear stamp set.

The main focus of the card is created using a couple of Manila Tags.

The strips across the bottom of this one are made from sponged and stamped Masking Tape and Staples.

I stuck the Tape strips to a scrap of paper to colour and stamp on them and then I covered them with clear embossing powder to seal before adding them to the bottom of the tag.

The second Tag was screwed up and then coloured with Perfect Pearls.
I can't remember where I saw this technique so I can't post a link to it.
If anyone knows please tell me so I can let everyone else know as it was a brilliant technique.
(Edited to add link to The Artful Maven Faux Leather Video Tutorial - Thanks Buttons xx)

The flowers were punched from strips of card which have been sponged and stamped onto. The paler flowers are made from strips of coloured Masking Tape.

I added Brads to the corners of the card and the flower centres, and there is also some Bakers Twine in there as well.
I hope that you will feel suitable inspired to enter this wonderful challenge.
I look forward to seeing what you come up with, and don't forget to pop over and check out what the TEAM have done. I can't wait to check it out myself.
Oh and Mum your card will be with you very soon, I hope you think it was worth the wait.
It very nearly did have a hint of red on it as I cut myself while making the flowers and leaves lol.
I have a metal plate that I place in my Cuttlebug to help cut intricate shapes like the leaves. As I was putting things away the plate slipped and I grabbed it right on the edge - OUCH.
I had to go calmly into the kitchen and get a rather large plaster without my Granddaughter Saskia seeing me as she is absolutely freaked out by blood. No chance of  her being a nurse anytime soon :O)
Off to get ready for my class at Davina's this morning. I always look forward to my classes there as we have a good laugh........ and throw in a bit of work as well.
Happy Crafting and have a great day.
hugs Kimx