Cute and Furry at Crafty Cardmakers

Evening Everyone
Today we are starting a new challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers.
Our host is Jackie, who has chosen the theme 'Cute and Furry'. She would like to see the main focal point of your creation be something that is cute and furry. It can be a digi stamp, stamp, photographic image, but must have fur and be cute.

I seem to be in Christmas mode at the moment so my little cute and furry creature is an old Penny Black image that I have had for ages. 
The background papers are from a Lili of the Valley 8 x 8 paper pad and I have stamped and embossed a large Woodware Christmas Background down the left hand side of the card.

I did some Grid Masking around the little mouse, a technique that I learnt from the wonderful Barbara Gray many years ago. The panels that the masking has created have been stamped with numerous snowflakes from my collection. I think most of the images are by Stampendous.

The large snowflake and snowflake border are Joy Craft dies which I have then  covered in Shabby White Frantage powder.

Of course it wouldn't be a Christmas card without a bit of bling so I added some Glitter Domes and a little bit of glitter glue.
We are sponsored this time by DI'S DIGISTAMPS and also THE STAMPMAN who stock all of the Stampendous and Woodware products. 
Don't forget to stop by and show some love to the rest of the team, and get out those cute and furry images.
Happy Crafting.
Hugs Kimx

No Paper, No Problem at Woodware

Hi All
This week the lovely ladies at Woodware have tried something a little different.
Their blog theme has been chosen by Jill Tuck from The Stampman and once a month they will be featuring one of their blogging retailers. Jill has chosen No Paper, No Problem.
Those of you that are regular visitors know that as well as all kinds of paper, there is nothing I like more than messing around with my stamps and inks to make my own backgrounds.

This card was made a while ago using a technique which my crafty friend Mynnette shared on her Technique Time Tuesday challenge blog.

Unfortunately my very early starts this week have really caught up with me today and so I will have to try and correct the links to the exact posts tomorrow when I might be able to stay awake lol.

The central panel was created using a Baby Wipe Reinker technique as explained by Mynnette and stamps from a Stampendous clear stamp set.
I also stamped and embossed the blue background with the same stamp, versamark and clear embossing powder.
I hope that you will feel inspired to join the girls at Woodware with their latest challenge, and also check out Technique Time Tuesday as they launched their new challenge today.
Hugs Kimx

Masculine Challenge at Crafty Cardmakers

Hi All
Happy Monday, and welcome to the latest challenge at Crafty Cardmakers where our host Rebecca has chosen 'Masculine Birthday' as her theme. 

She would like to see a masculine birthday card that includes some technology or a gadget. The technology or gadget could be a computer, games console, rocket or car for example.

We are sponsored this time by DI'S DIGI DOWNLOADS who are offering a $10 Gift Voucher,and THE STAMPMAN  who are offering the winner a £10 voucher for their online store.

I have chosen to use a lovely Lili of the Valley die cut for my card.
I must admit that it was one of the first stands that I headed for at the show on Saturday, and was probably where I spent the most money lol.

This could well be a picture of one of my Grandsons who like nothing better than playing on a games console. I added some Glossy Accents to the TV screen for added reality.

I have cut the image out using a Nestie and added it to the background papers using the sketch at Sunday Sketch and Stamp.
(Edited : That will teach me not to read the challenge instructions before I made the card. I love the sketch but I know that my card won't count as there is no stamping on it . Never mind I will try again sometime)

I have also added some gingham ribbon, Card Candi and brads that look like spanners.
The challenge at Here Come the Boys is 'No Stamps Allowed' which really is a challenge for me.
I'm hoping that this die cut will count as one of the DT used one on their card.

Once again I have added some faux stitching, I really must get to grips with my sewing machine for my cards.
I would also like to enter this into the challenge at Creative Corner Challenges where they are looking for Designer Papers, well there are definitely plenty of those lol.
Don't forget to stop by and see what the rest of the team have come up with, there are some fabulous cards there.
Have a great day and enjoy the sunshine. Well we have some here anyway.
Happy Crafting
Hugs Kimx

Red, White and Blue for a small person

Evening Everyone.
I hope that you have had a good day.
I have got a long weekend now due to an extra day off, but with so much DT work to do I can see several late nights in my future, starting with this one lol.

I have been trying to post this card all week.
The challenge over at Woodware this month is a very patriotic Red, White and Blue, and this week they are also looking for Children's cards so I guess that this one fits on both counts.

I must confess that although the greeting is a wonderfully useful Woodware stamp, the hedgehogs are Penny Black stickers, so I do hope that Dorothy will forgive my little faux paux.

I actually made the card with our latest challenge at Crafty Cardmakers in mind, but then changed my mind.
I stamped and embossed the greeting on white card stock and then painted it with dye based inks and plenty of water.

The background papers are from my stash, and I used one of the Crafty Edger cassettes along the bottom edge of the red card.
I added a few tiny black pearls and some glossy accents. Oh yes and a little bit of my trusty sparkle gel pen.
I hope you like it.
Back to the craft room. Tomorrows challenge at The Stampman is calling.
Sorry Boss, my card might be a little late :)
hugs Kimx

With Love from Clarity

Evening All
I hope that you have been having a great weekend.
I have spent part of it working on new samples for Barbara's next TV appearance on Saturday and Sunday the 5th and 6th of May.
I can't believe how far into the year we are already, it's quite scary really, the weeks just seem to be rushing by.
Of course I can't share the art work with you until the show has aired so you have to be content with a card that I made some weeks ago using one of her stamps.

I inked the stamp using my distress ink pads, and then stamped it again without re-inking it, having embossed the first image.
Yes you can emboss dye based inks, you just have to be a bit quicker applying the embossing powder than with a pigment ink.

I cut the trees out using a Nestie and added a hand stitched border with a fine black pen.
'With Love' is also a Clarity stamp. I added a few tiny dots along the tree trunk.

The background to the card has been made using the fabulous Moonshadow Inks from The Stampman.
You will find a tutorial on how to make this type of background paper over on Vixykins blog, so why not pop over and check it out. More inky fingers involved, but it's great fun.
Crumbs, is that the time, I had better go and have my shower now so I get a few extra minutes in bed tomorrow.
Night, night.
hugs Kimx

Vellum Lace

Evening Everyone,
Well I failed to add any vellum to my card yesterday, so I have made up for it today.

Once again this card uses the lovely Woodware clear stamp set Grasses which I have stamped and embossed using versamark and white powder. Distress inks have been sponged over the embossed images which make them 'POP'
I used a combination of Dried Marigold, Spiced Marmalade, Rusty Hinge and Ripe Persimmon.

I punched a narrow strip of yellow vellum from the pastel pack available HERE at The Stamp Man using a Martha Stewart border punch, and then creased it so that it would fit around an oval image cut with a nestie.

I also added punched strips of yellow and white vellum to the right hand side of the card.
The sentiment is from Hobby Art, and there is some stitching and card candy.
I would like to enter this into the challenge over at Just Keep on Creating.
This is a new challenge blog and they are encouraging you to 'Use it Up' in their Anything Goes challenge this month. Why not check it out, there are plenty of entries so far to inspire you.
Night night.
hugs Kimx

Woodware Sketch Challenge for April

Afternoon Everyone.
I trust that you are all having a good weekend, and that you have left enough room for dinner after all the chocolate.
I may not be the guest designer over at the Woodware challenge anymore but I still like to enter.
One thing about being guest was that I had to get my card done ready to post on the Sunday, so this is technically a week late :)
This week the challenge has been to work your magic with their new sketch.

I decided to use a lovely new clear stamp set JG5267 Grasses that I bought at Davina's.
I stamped and embossed it onto a narrow strip of white card using versamark ink and white embossing powder. Then I sponged Distress inks over the top using a combination of Scattered Straw, Mustard Seed and Wild Honey.

At work this week we have been selling some beautiful Spring bouquets which are filled with yellow and purple flowers and so I decided to use the same colours on my card.
I added some stitching to the sponged panels and a stamped greeting from another Woodware clear stamp set JGCL508 Jane's Script which was stamped with a black StazOn ink pad.

I am also trying to continue my vellum theme as per my challenge over at The Stamp Man, so I have added a strip of punched vellum across the centre of the card.
The flowers are punched from vellum using assorted Woodware flower punches.
Oh crumbs I've just noticed the date.
I need to get a card made for my Sin-in-Laws birthday tomorrow. Back to the Craft Room. Good job I did my post early as I can see a late night in my future lol.
Happy Crafting.
hugs Kimx

Barbara is back on the Box

Evening Everyone,
So it is all my fault that it has been much colder today. Well I did post Christmas cards yesterday after all, so it must be lol.

Sunday sees the wonderful Barbara Grey back on the TV.
Create and Craft Sky channel 671 at 1am - 2am / 9am -11am and then again from 2pm - 3pm.
What a way to spend your Sunday, wall to wall crafting.
This card was actually made for her show back in January, but I never got around to sharing it with you.
One of the lovely things with making cards for both Barbara and Jenny at Hobby Art is that I am given completely free rein when it comes to using product to create my little pieces of art.
Although obviously I try to use products that are going to be part of their show I am never criticised for using what ever I have at hand, which makes it so much easier.

With this in mind this particular sample uses some background that I made using the wonderful Moon Shadow inks available from The Stamp Man. They are little pots of mica and walnut ink combined so that you can create the most amazing pearlescent backgrounds.
My good friend Vixykins has a tutorial on her blog for creating these fabulous backgrounds, so do go and check it out.

Of course there was plenty of stamping and embossing involved.
I used Perspective Trees 1 and 2 and Dippy Toe which you can check out HERE.
Dippy Toe has been stamped and embossed on to a piece of Bazzil card stock and then painted with thin undiluted bleach. In this instance it has turned the card a lovely pink colour.
I opted for Vintage Sepia versafine ink for most of the stamping to complement the brown in the Moon Shadow inks.
As you may have noticed I am trying to blog every day this year.
2 months down only 10 more to go, I'm not sure that I will make it, but I'm going to have a damn good try.
Have a great weekend and Happy Crafting.
hugs
Kimx

New challenge at Crafty Cardmakers - No Floral Embellishments

Afternoon Everyone,
Today sees the start of a brand new challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers.
Our host for this Challenge is Fiona who has asked for 'No Floral Embellishments'
You can use flower Backing Paper, flowers in your image or even a flower as an image, but NO floral embellishments, so no flowers, flower shaped buttons, or anything else resembling a flower that you have added to the finished card
Our Sponsors this time are One Stop Card Craftswho are offering a £10 voucher for their store and Digi Doodle Shop who are offering a $10 gift certificate for their store.

For my card I have used an old leaf stamp by Hero Arts. I stamped and embossed the image randomly onto a piece of white copy paper using versamark and white embossing powder.

Then I painted the paper with Starburst Stains available form The Stampman. While the paper is still very wet screw it up, and then gently open it back out again. Don't panic it is very therapeutic.
Vixykins has a tutorial on how to make backgrounds using the Scrunch Technique over on her blog. The only difference would be to stamp and emboss the paper before following her instructions.

Once the paper is dry,(you can heat set it if you are really impatient or even put it in the oven like Vix :), or maybe make a whole pile of papers one evening and then leave them to dry over night) trim a panel slightly smaller than the card that you are wanting it to fit.
I then tore the panel in half and 'stitched' it back together using metallic thread.
I actually found it easier to fix the panels onto the card with DSST and then stitch.

I added a layered panel with a stamped and embossed greeting which I'm afraid was from my stash so I can't remember who it is made by.
Not a flower in sight!!
I hope you have fun playing, that's what our challenge is all about.
Bye for now, Happy Crafting.
hugs
Kimx