Christmas Ornaments

Afternoon Everyone, me again!
Another Bank Holiday Monday, unfortunately it's been just like any other Monday for me as I've been working, but I hope that those of you that aren't are enjoying it.
It's incredibly hot given what Bank Holiday weather is usually like, so I thought that as the next one will actually be at Christmas then I would bring the temperature down a bit by sharing a few more Christmas cards with you :O)

They are all made using a very old, but much loved Magenta stamp set.

The backgrounds have been created with a brayer and a Fruitcake Kaleidacolor ink pad. Once again, a very old technique.

In fact, to be perfectly honest I cant for the life of me remember when I actually created the panels. Probably during a demo many years ago, but as you know I'm on a mission to use up some of the millions of bits in my stash.

That's not easy when I teach a class each week, which inevitably creates more bits to use up. Still I'm not complaining. I love my hobby. It keeps me sane, and I hope that The Girls enjoy it. Given that they keep coming back I guess that must be a yes lol.

Some of the brayered panels were just stamped and embossed, while some were spritzed with water or even bleach.

This one had cling film placed over it after the water to create a fabulous frosted effect.

I have always loved the 'Wet Watercolour' look for painting. So easy to achieve, and every piece is different.

This final card uses a different colour inkpad for the background which has then been spritzed with bleach.

I really think that I should revisit this technique with The Girls. Sometimes we are so eager to try new things that we forget some of the old favourites.

I added glossy accents to some of the stamped images for a little added interest. It also intensifies the colour underneath.

I thought that it was about time that I entered a challenge so I would like to join everyone at Winter Wonderland - Christmas Ornaments.

Have a great evening.

Happy Crafting and hugs 

Kimx

Snowflakes Falling All Around

Evening Everyone,
I have just spent a lovely afternoon in Purley at one of Davina's Open Houses.
She runs the shop from her home and every Friday she has an all day Open House where you can play, chat, drink tea and coffee, and of course shop, all in good crafty company.
Today we spent the afternoon looking through the new Woodware and Stampendous catalogues (boy do I have a long wish list lol) and checking out all of the new goodies that have arrived since her visit to the Trade show.
Of course it would have been rude not to shop and so I have come home with several lovely new embossing folders and a few more ready made flowers, I just couldn't resist them :O)
One of them is actually a rather nice Christmas folder which put me in mind of the fact that I have been very slack in my Christmas card making efforts this year. I think that I will have to remedy this at the weekend, but in the mean time here is one that I made last year but didn't get around to sending, or blogging for that matter.

The main panel is an old Hero Arts stamp (not sure if it is still available) which I have stamped and embossed using black versafine and clear embossing powder, and then sponged with dye based ink.

I painted the dove with thin undiluted bleach, and then covered the entire thing with crystal embossing powder which when heated has given it that fine sparkle.

  Not sure how well it shows up in the photos though. 

The background to the card has been made using a Snowflake stamp by Stampendous, some white embossing powder and Distress inks.

The punched strip across the card has been made using a Martha Stewart Punch around the Page punch.
I also added a few extra punched snowflakes and some gems.
I would like to enter this into the following challenges
Craftyhazelnuts Christmas Challenges - Let it Snow Again
Winter Wonderland challenges - Snowflakes Falling All Around
I have to say that we have been having those flurries of snow that the weathermen predicted throughout the day, so I guess that this card is eminently suitable lol.
Have a great weekend.
Hugs Kimx

A Time for New Beginnings

Hi All
Are you back at work yet?
I have seen lots of Mum's today looking forward to next week. I know that you shouldn't wish away the weeks but the Christmas holiday always seems to be so much more stressful than the other school holidays. I'm sure that is due to all that sugar that there is lying around. The diet definitely needs to start real soon, but there are all of those lovely sweeties to finish off lol.
As well as Christmas cards I had several baby cards to make in December.

This card was made for a friends daughter on the birth of her first baby. Once again I reached for my Lili of the Valley pre-coloured images cut out using Nestabilities Labels 18.

The background papers are from my stash cut into squares. I added faux stitching to them using a fine black pen and then mounted them onto a square white card.

I added stamped greetings and several baby related items that were in a large bag of buttons I bought some years ago.
I would like to enter this into the following challenges where I think that a card for a new baby fits perfectly.
Lili's Little Fairies challenge - Something New
Winter Wonderland challenge - New beginnings
I think I have worked through my need for a granny nap, besides the Grandchildren are badgering me to use the computer so I think I might do a little crafting, oh the hardship :O)
Have a great evening.
hugs Kimx

Red and Green should be seen at Christmas

Evening Everyone,
Well what a difference a Bank Holiday Weekend makes lol.
I have managed to get some cards finished today but I have had to try and take photos in between the torrential downpours that we have been having here.
Trust the weather men to get it right when it's a Holiday weekend, bloody typical!!

One of the things that I try to do on a Saturday morning is to check out the challenges and so I was pleased to see that the new challenge over at Winter Wonderland is Red and Green.
This is actually another of the cards that I made for Woodware, but I think that it fits the challenge rather nicely.

I love this fabulous Jolly Holly stamp designed by my friend Jane Gill.
It is a joy to colour and I just love the fine lines, definitely my kind of image.

I have coloured the holly and bauble with Distress inks and added a little glossy accents.

The sentiment is also part of the set, even though it is called a Clear Magic Single.
Let's hope that tomorrow is a little nicer weather wise.
I don't want it too hot, but dry would be good so that the kids can at least get outside.
Night night.
hugs Kimx

A Christmas Sentiment

Evening Everyone,
I hope that the start to your week has been a good one.
I'm afraid that as usual Monday has completely wiped me out, even a 'granny nap' hasn't fixed it so I had better get this done quickly so that I can get to sleep.

This card has been made to enter into a couple of the lovely Christmas challenges that I have been following.

First up is Weekly Christmas Card Challenges who are looking for Embossed Resist.
I suppose that this is more accurately multiple resist, but maybe they will forgive me as there is embossing on it as well.

Secondly Winter Wonderland want a Sentiment as the Focal Point. I think that this definitely fits that challenge.
I have got quite a production line going at the moment as I have several corner bookmarks to make for the Grandchildren to give their teachers at the end of term. I shall definitely have to get a move on with them as they break up on Friday midday.
The Olympic torch is going through Godstone village that afternoon (it's the village next door) and so the schools are finishing early so that people can get to watch it.
I will be at work so I will just have to catch it in the local newspapers instead.
Saskia is all excited at the moment as it will be hers and Ciaran's birthday tomorrow.
We've been telling her that Tuesday is cancelled this week but she doesn't believe us.
The joys of being 5, only one more sleep to go lol.
Hugs Kimx

White on White for WinterWonderland

Evening Everyone
How has your weekend been? Soggy? Ours has. Not what you want when you have a house that resembles a Chinese laundry. We gave up trying to put it out on the line, so in an attempted to turn the tide (so to speak) I am back to posting a Christmas card.
I managed to get a couple of photos taken in between deluges :O)

The challenge this week at WinterWonderland is White on White, with colour being allowed only on your main image.

I love this snowman image, as you may have gathered, and it fitted in with another Christmas challenge where CraftyHazelnut is looking for Snowmen

I tried very hard to stick to the White on White' theme, but I confess to a little ink around the edges of the card. It looked horribly unfinished without it. Sorry Guys lol.
I also added some glitter glue although it really doesn't show up terribly well.
Back to the grind tomorrow.
Night night.
Hugs Kimx

A Monochrome Christmas

Evening Everyone,
I'm afraid that we are still no nearer any sunshine in my neck of the woods, in fact I'm quite surprised that we haven't all developed webbed feet and gills!!
Maybe I can scare the sun in to putting in an appearance by posting a couple of Christmas cards.

There are a couple of Christmas challenges that are looking for Monchromatic cards so I decided that that was a good place to start when making some more Christmas cards.

Once again I have managed to use up some more pieces from my Christmas bits box.
It is looking a little less full these days, but only because I had a bit of a sort out and gave my friend Sylvie a pile of bits that she might be able to make cards with.
Once she has made them into cards she sends them to a charity shop who have been selling them and donating all of the proceeds to the charity that her son supports. He recently finished a magnificent run along the canals that took him a week to complete. Sorry I can't remember the exact details and I don't want to give incorrect info so I will have to check it out tomorrow and let you know.

This next card uses very similar ingredient, a piece of Moonshadow background paper which has been stamped over, a Hero Arts snowman, and Hobby Art greeting.

Don't forget the dye based ink and bleach that I have used to paint the snowman.
I am entering these into the following challenges
Winterwonderland - Monochrome
Weekly Christmas Card challenges - Monochrome
52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Anything Goes.
Hugs Kimx

A Christmas Cutie

Evening Everyone
Another weekend in sight and no signs of anything resembling summer in my neck of the woods at least. It is amazing how many people sporting winter coats and jumpers that have come in to the garage today!!

So I suppose that it makes perfect sense to share another of the Christmas cards that I have made, far more weather appropriate lol.

This was made using one of the wonderful Lili of the Valley die cut images cut out with a nestie.
I kept it simple with a punched border using one of the Woodware Crafty Edger punches. I added a little bit of glitter to the snowflakes and glossy accents to the peel-off dots.
I would like to enter this into the following challenges
Winter Wonderland - Christmas Teddy
Crimbo Crackers - Anything Goes
Forever Friends - Anything Goes
Thanks for stopping by, let's hope that the weather is better tomorrow other wise I will be shouting above the sound of rain on the roof of Davina's conservatory lol.
hugs Kimx

Candy Canes at Winter Wonderland.

Evening Everyone
I have been on a bit of a road trip today which ended with me supping tea in the afternoon sunshine with the lovely Jane Gill, so my card tonight has definitely not been inspired by the weather.

The challenge this week over at Winter Wonderland is Candy Canes, and they are looking for your Christmas Creations to feature a Candy Cane.
Now you might feel that you need a magnifying glass to see the one on my card, but it is there, honest.

Once again I have used bits from my Christmas box, well drawer actually :)
I demoed with this lovely Magenta stamp Stuffed Stocking some years ago for SirStampalot and so I seem to have loads of them in varying colour combos.
Hope you like it. Thanks for stopping by.
hugs Kimx

Frosty the Snowman

Evening Everyone
Just a very quick post tonight before I miss the challenges that this card was made for lol.

Firstly I would like to enter it into the challenge at Winter Wonderland where they are looking for a snowman as the main feature.

At Christmas Cards All Year Round  the challenge is A Favourite Christmas Carol or Song so I think Frosty the Snowman is quite appropriate.
Weekly Christmas Card Challenges suggest that you use an Old / Neglected stamp, so this definitely qualifies.

I'm sure that I had some others in mind, but I can't find where I wrote down my list of suggestions so this will have to do.
The stamped panel was made by sponging dye based ink over a stamped and embossed image and then painting the snowman with bleach. Finally I covered the entire thing with Crystal Embossing powder to give it a bit of bling.
The background paper is from my stash and has been run through an embossing folder before being given a distressed finish with an emery board.
Another Christmas card to cross off my list.
hugs Kimx

Christmas Stickers

Evening Everyone,
I hope you have had another lovely mild day, certainly not winter weather so I suppose my card tonight could be considered wholly inappropriate for the time of year lol.
The challenge this week over at  52(Christmas) Card Throwdown has been an Embellishment one and Jacqueline has asked for Stickers or Rub-ons.

The Snowmen on this card are Penny Black stickers and I have had them for years, so the challenge was great as it made me finally get around to doing something with them.

The background paper is from my stash and the Christmas trees have been covered in sticky embossing powder and glitter which I watched Louise demo last time I was in Peterboro. It is a lovely way to add plenty of sparkle.

I enjoyed playing with the stickers so much that I actually ended up making 3 cards with them.
This one also uses papers from my stash and some of the lovely Frantage Shabby White Embossing Enamel from Woodware  on the Scalloped Nestie that the Snowman is layered onto.

These stickers are great because they have clear edges and so can be attached to white card which makes them easier to cut out.

This last card also uses a Snowman sticker and a piece of background from my Christmas stash box.

The large Hero Arts background has been stamped and embossed in white and then dye based ink and glimmer mists have been used to create the coloured background.
Hope you like them.
I would also like to enter them into the challenge over at Winter Wonderland where they are looking for Glitter and Bling. (I was too late to enter this one but never mind.)
By the way my Christmas card tally for February was 10, not as good as January, but not bad.
Better get some sleep now.
hugs Kimx

Merriest Wishes

Evening Everyone,
I have spent a wonderful, afternoon with my Mum who came for an unexpected visit.
It has meant however that I really am panicking over some design work that has to be finished by tomorrow afternoon when I will be teaching. Never mind, I will get it finished Teamies, I promise. 

In the mean time this is a card that I actually finished last week.
Once again it uses pieces from my Christmas bits box, in this case a lovely Hobby Art Poinsettia panel coloured using dye based inks.

I have layered it over a piece of background paper made using the resist technique which I have then coated with clear embossing powder which gives it a shiny finish.

The green background paper is handmade using Starburst stains available from The Stamp Man.
I have added some ribbon, stitching using a fine black pen and a greeting.
The challenge over at Winter Wonderland is to make a Christmas Card, any colour, any style, so I guess that this fits the bill don't you think lol.
Off to bed now so I can get my card finished in the morning. No doubt I shall be dreaming about what to do, or will it be a nightmare!!
hugs Kimx

Live well, Laugh often, Love much

Well I managed to get it finished.

Those of you that stopped by earlier from WOYWW will know that just a little while ago this was a work very much in progress. Well now it is complete, including box :)
A friend asked me on Tuesday if I could make a card to congratulate his daughter on her Engagement. I hope that he feels that this will fit the bill.

I have used a lovely Lili of the Valley die cut some flowers and background papers all from my stash.

The leaves and swirls are Doohickeys that I bought from the fabulous Sir Stampalot. The Heart Border is from them as well.
The greeting is from a Printworks clear stamp set that I have had for a number of years.
I didn't have an Engagement stamp but I felt that this sentiment was just perfect.

I embossed the swirls with sticky embossing powder and then covered them with prisma glitter.
I am entering this in to several challenges

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Happy Highlights (Glitter on the swirls and glossy accents on the glasses)
Deep Ocean Challenge - Sparkling and or Glitter
Seems a Little Sketchy - I've used their Sketch
Allsorts Challenge  - Needles and Pins (Beaded hat pin in the flowers)
Winter Wonderland - Easel Card

I will be delivering it tomorrow, so I had better get it in it's box now that the silicon is dry.
Look at the time! Nite nite.
hugs Kimx