I got a Bit Carried Away

Evening,

Sometimes I get sent something to play with in my Design Team box, that I find hard to put down. This happened recently with a beautiful 3D Embossing Folder from Creative Expressions.

I spent ages trying out a variety of techniques that I have picked up over the years. None of them were particularly complicated, but they highlighted the fabulous detail to be found on the embossing folder.

There are loads of samples, but it would take me a week if I tried to write about each one, so I will just leave you with a picture heavy post and a suggestion that you message me if there is anything that you would like me to explain.

Thanks for stopping by.

Love and Crafty Hugs

Kimx

Cards for Men

Afternoon,

What a lovely day it has been today, for the first time in weeks I actually managed to get washing out on the line..........without making it rain!!

I don't know about you, but there are some months when most of the cards I need to send are for men, and February seems to be one of those.

Now I know that a lot of men are gardeners and therefore like flowers, but I do think they want something a little less feminine than a lot of my floral cards turn out to be.

I went through my boxes of cards and found several that I think are more particularly suited to the men of our acquaintance.

A bit of mop up background, a die cut border and some leaves.

More mop up here along with some fussy cut leaves and coloured berries.

I used the same leaf that I die cut in black to create the stamped background. Dies have so many fabulous uses.

A beautiful stamped image and some fussy cutting.

Stamping with bleach and metallic embossing powders.

And this card made more years ago than I care to remember, but one that I have always loved.

Thanks for stopping by.

Love and Crafty Hugs

Kimx

Grid Cards

Evening,

I've managed to catch up with all my sample making for Creative Expressions this afternoon, and get the parcel in the post, so I have a tidy desk.........for 5 minutes at least lol.

Here are a few cards that I made last year using a simple masking technique to create the background panel.

I taught it many years ago as an introduction to Masking, a Part 1, so to speak.

I used post it notes and black ink to create the grid lines,

but it looks just as good in gold on black.

I have used an assortment of stamped and coloured images

as the focal point on the cards, 

along with some good old Penny Black Stickeroos (first two samples).

I can't believe how quickly the days come round. It's 'Stitch and Bitch' again tomorrow, my Wednesday morning stitching get together. I so look forward to it and am making headway on the cross stitched panels for everyones Christmas stockings.

Thanks for stopping by.

Love and Crafty Hugs

Kimx

A Rose With Love

Evening,

It's been another chilly day here, so let's share some summer love with cards made using a fantastic Altenew Gilded Rose Hot Foil Plate and layering stencil bundle.

I taught the Girls last year how to use foiling plates on their cards even if they don't own a foiling machine.

They create the most amazing embossed feature to a card.

This large rose is particularly stunning, 

and was a firm favourite with The Girls.

I took inspiration from a Jennifer McGuire Blog Post on using your Foil Plates for a Letterpress Technique.

In fact I became the proud owner of several foil plates, long before I bought the foiling machine, after I saw this clip.

The foil plate is available with a set of matching layering stencils which makes it nice and easy to colour, particularly if you haven't foiled it. This really is a statement piece on a card, and needs very little more than a die cut sentiment.

Thanks for stopping by

Love and Crafty Hugs

Kimx

A Box of Cards, Just for You, Just Because (Picture Heavy Post)

Evening, 

I don't know about all of you, but I have not been feeling particularly creative over the last few days.

I think Christmas prep probably got on top of me, and so today I decided to try and get back into the swing of things by finishing off a stack of cards. They only needed inserts and envelopes, but it is amazing how long it all takes. I keep promising myself that I will do it as I go, but the resolve never lasts, and so I inevitably end up with a pile of cards that need that finishing touch. Amongst the pile were a couple of boxes of cards that I made as Birthday prezzies.

I made a box and then filled it with cards to cover various occasions.

The lid was covered with a panel created from scraps left over from the cards inside.

I used various pieces of patterned paper from my stash and then added embossing using a leafy folder, along with die cut frames and bits and pieces.  

The top of the second box of cards.

I also created a matching Birthday card to go with each of the boxes for when they are gifted to someone.

All in all I have had a very successful day with 60 cards finished off to add to my card drawer. Lets hope that it gives creativity the well deserved kick that it requires.

Thanks for stopping by.

With Love and Crafty Hugs

Kimx