Lots of Happy Birthdays

Evening Everyone,
Happy Independence Day to all of my American friends, I hope that it was a good one for you.
Tomorrow is a very birthday heavy day for me. Four cards to send, or hand deliver in the case of three of them lol.

This card is for Kovi, one of the Guys that I work with, and given how large our deliveries have been of late I'm sure that this is how he would prefer to spend his birthday.

 The background has been made using assorted strips of patterned paper.

 This second card is for the youngest daughter of one of the Girls that I work with.

The background has been made in the same way but I added some bling. All girls love a bit of bling don't they?
Looks like tomorrow might be a little calorie heavy as well given all the cake that is likely to be on offer, oh well, the diet will have to start on Saturday :O)
Hugs Kimx

More Baby Wipe Reinker Cards

Evening Everyone
I hope that you have had a good day.
I decided that my card tonight would be another featuring the Baby Wipe Reinker Technique as explained by Mynnette over at Technique Time Tuesday.
She comes up with some fabulous ideas, some new to me and some old favourites that I had forgotten about.
I try to play along although sometimes my card doesn't quite turn out as the technique says it should, as with my cards tonight, but I do like to play anyway.

The pale panel on this card was created following Mynnette's instructions and part of a Stampendous stamp set Daisy Stem Trio SSC1105.

I also used assorted dye based reinkers, although I'm afraid I can't remember which ones.

I stamped one of Jane Gill's fantastic solid image stamps JGS273 Wheat onto the panel and then used it as a type of spotlight to the main card.

The second card tonight has been made in a very similar manner, this time using JGS274 Ferns.

The main panels on both cards have been made using Distress inks, Glimmer Mist, Faux Stitching and some Card Candi.
Please check out Mynnette's instructions for the Baby Wipe Reinker Panel, you never know you might feel inspired to give it a go.
I will enter these cards into the challenge at Woodware.
At least that way Dorothy will get an explanation as to how I created the background on my card from yesterday as it was made in exactly the same way.
Off to bed now, night night.
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

Where shall we go on Holiday with Crafty Cardmakers

Evening Everyone

Hasn't the weather been beautiful again. At least today there has been a little bit of a breeze, and as I have been back at work there has been the air con so I have coped.

Today we started a new challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers where Josephine has chosen the theme 'Holiday'. 

She would like to see projects that depicts or is inspired by a holiday, maybe one that you have already taken or one that you would like to have, but have not gotten around to yet.

I found this one quite hard for me as I don't really 'Do Holidays', unless it's my 'Crafty Holiday' staying at SirStampalot.
As a child we had travelling holidays. 
My Dad loved driving, so over the years our holidays would be spent driving through just about every country in Europe, both large and small. 
We never stayed in one place for more than a couple of days. It usually worked out that we visited 14 countries in 14 days!!!!!!
Jenni, Jason and the Grandchildren like their camping and caravan holidays. And when I think of these I always think of the numerous lists that Jenni writes in the weeks leading up to the holiday. At least she rarely forgets anything.
So my card for this challenge evokes my memories of childhood holidays with Jenni writing her holiday lists. 

We are sponsored this time by SIR STAMPALOT with a fabulous Hero Arts embossing folder and stamp set which I was lucky enough to play with as well.

The background has been stamped and embossed using black Versafine and clear embossing powder and then coloured using Distress inks - Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans, Antique Linen, Vintage Photo and Brushed Corduroy.

I have used the same inks to paint Tilda Writing Dairy (Jenni writing holiday lists) which I fussy cut and mounted over an assortment of stamped images, also from SirStampalot.

The various stamped and embossed images of famous places have been cut out using circular and oval nesties.
I also added a couple of charms

and some tiny hand drawn dots.

The sentiment has been added using an old Stampendous set SSC219 Small Typewriter Alphabet.
I have to go to bed now as I am starting work at 5am again tomorrow.
Don't forget to stop by and show the rest of the DT some love, and maybe give the challenge a try.
Look forward to seeing you there.
Hugs Kimx

Claiming my Blog

Hi Guys
Just claiming my blog
Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Hugs Kimx

A Decoupage Daisy from Imagination

Eveing Everyone,
Are you havinng a good weekend? The weather here has been lovely and warm, not that I have ventured outside, I have been chained to my craft room once again.
Why is it that my 'Crafty To Do List' never seems to get any shorter? As fast as I cross one thing off the top of the list three more things appear at the bottom lol.
Oh well, I suppose it keeps me out of mischief and off the streets.
Today I have been working on some DT work for the lovely Sue at Imagination Craft, so it seems only right that my card tonight is one that I made a while ago using another of her fabulous Decoupgae stamps.

This card was made using Versamark, White Embossing Powder and Distress Inks.
The small daisy and the sentiment on the background panel are part of the stamp set.

The square panel is the main stamp in the set. I have padded it slightly with silicon and also added a little Pearly Paint to the flower center although it doesn't show up very well in the photograph.
Now I can cross Imagination DT work off my list tomorrow, and move on to Clarity. Maybe I will share a card I made for Barbara in my next post, we'll have to see how I get on.
Off to bed now.
Hugs Kimx

Just a quick Hello

Evening Everyone
Just a very quick post to share another of the cards that made their way into the pillar box this week.

 It was made using a very old Hero Arts stamp, more bleach and some inks.

Very simple, but I really like it. Probably as near as I have got to 'Clean and Simple' in a long time.
Have a good weekend.
Hugs Kimx

Happy Birthday with Bleach

Hi All,
I've been a busy bunny today, but not with crafty things I'm afraid. I've been visiting my Mum.
It did mean that I managed to hand deliver a birthday card so that it actually arrived on time as my brother-in-law was at the house and it is his birthday today.

I seem to be going through a bit of a bleaching phase at the moment. Here is the card that I made for Simon.

The leaves have been stamped and embossed onto blue card and then painted with bleach.
The sentiment is from Hobby Art, and yes, that is a peel-off border and some brads. I can just hear my friend Sharon's disapproval at them lol.
Hugs Kimx

Sorry Lin, it's the C word again lol

Evening Everyone,
And before you all think that I am being very rude, the C word in question is Christmas.
I'm saying it very quietly so as not to upset my good friend Lin, and numerous other acquaintances who will be squirming in their seats at the slightest mention of that certain season so early in the year.
Unfortunately most of the DT work that I have had to do just recently has been for Christmas so it has been hard for me to avoid it :O)

I have been trying very hard to finish off some of the vast quantity of 'bits' that seem to be accunulating after DT work, demos and classes.
With this in mind here is a card that I made using a  fabulous Flower Decoupage Stamp from Imagination Craft.

I love these stamp sets as they are so nice to use and they have several co-ordination smaller images as part of the set. And best of all they are very reasonably priced.

I think this particular set has to be one of my favourites, but then i am a sucker for Poinsettias. Stamped ones anyway, I always manage to kill the real thing lol.

I have coloured this image using a 'Wet Watercolour Technique and the Imagination Vintage Pearly Palette.

Unfortunately the photography doesn't do justice to the wonderful pearlescent finish that the paint gives to the image.

I also used some of the Mica Powders on the green and purple card stock.

The finishing touches included some Faux Stitching, a flower and some foliage.
I have managed to stay awake most afternoons this week, but I think that Mondays early start if finally catching up with me, so I'm off to bed.
I will get around to visiting some of you, but I won't make any promises as to when. So much to do, and so little time to do it in.
Happy Crafting
Hugs Kimx

She's been at it again

Evening Everyone
Just a really quick post tonight I'm afraid as the evening has got away from me once again.
My card tonight has been made by my good friend Sylvie for the Woodware Sketch Challenge using a lovely Lili of the Valley stamp JGS289 designed by Jane Gill.

Now I want to say that she has used chalks to colour the image and create the background, but the closer I look at it the more unsure I am about that because there seems to be so much texture to it, so I think I will just have to ask her.

I will also have to e-mail Dorothy as the link to the challenge seems to have closed already, or maybe it really is later that I think lol.
Better get some sleep and maybe it will all appear clearer tomorrow.
Night, night.
Hugs Kimx

Having a kick about

Evening everyone,
I managed to survive the day without a granny nap, so I am hoping that I will sleep better tonight. I think I managed about 3 hours last night, so I am knackered as you can imagine lol.
One of the cards in the pile that got written over the weekend was this one that my Grandson gave to his friend for his birthday.

I'm so glad that I made a couple of football cards for my box as they have come in very handy over the last couple of weeks.
They were made with Lili of the Valley die cuts and more patchwork background.

I was really pleased with how they turned out. I think I will have to make a couple more.

I can see some more birthdays coming up, and I don't always get much notice when anyone needs a card. 

I have a drawer full of assorted cards but never seem to have ones that are suitable for 'smaller people' :O)

Oh boy, look at the time, no wonder I'm nodding off as I'm writing this. I hope that just means that I am very tired and not that I am very boring lol.

Hugs and good night

Kimx

I'm having another Magenta moment

Evening everyone.
I told you the weather would go down hill after the longest day, well today has definitely been proof of that, sorry.
I decided that today I would try and finish a few things, 'just because', before I got on with the next round of DT things that I have to do.
So with that in mind I managed to get some of the bleach bits from class finished, as well as a pile of cards written and ready to send.

I seem to be going through a bit of a Magenta phase at the moment so here are just a couple of the Christmas cards that I have managed to finish today.

The image on each has been stamped and embossed onto Bazzil card stock  and then painted with undiluted thin bleach.

I have then painted the poinsettia with Barn Door Distress ink.
Some of the leaves have also been painted with Peeled Paint Distress ink and some have not.

I have kept these cards in traditional Christmas colours but there were others that I finished that were definitely not traditional at all. I will share those on another occasion.
I have to be at work at 5am tomorrow so I suppose that I really need to get some sleep even though I am still wide awake at the moment.
I can see I will be in need of a granny nap tomorrow afternoon lol.
Sweet Dreams
hugs Kimx

A day filled with Daisies

Evening, How's your weekend?
We had another fabulous class at Davina's (in Purley) this afternoon. More cake too since it was the first time Blanche had been there since her birthday.

As usual they made a tag to remind them of the technique. I can't believe that we are on Tag 10 already!!

 The tag contained examples of both painting with bleach (the daisies by Stampendous) and stamping with it (the wording by Artemio).

The background has been created by spritzing card with bleach in a Mini Mister bottle. I stamped all over it with the Hero Arts Leaf Flourish, Versamark ink and Clear Embossing Powder.

Once you have painted the image to bleach out the colour it is easy to add colour back in using your inks as I have done here with the daisies.
We didn't make any cards but everyone had a great time painting images with bleach for use at home. In fact I have several lovely Magenta panels to make into Christmas cards, so watch this space as they say.
We are a very friendly crowd, so if ever you are up for a fun filled Saturday afternoon why not check us out.
Details of July classes are in the side bar, so maybe I will see you next time.
Hugs Kimx

More bleach and a Disco

Hi All
I have been sitting in my Craft room playing, sorry, finishing my class prep :O) with the curtains open and I hadn't realised just how late it was.
I suppose it's all down hill from here given that today is the longest day of the year lol.
Tomorrow the girls and I will be playing with Bleach at Davina's, so I thought I would share one of the cards that I have made for the class.

I have used one of my all time favourite Hobby Art stamps designed from a sketch drawn by my friend Anna's Mum.
The background paper has been created by spritzing blue card stock with thin undiluted bleach.
Make sure you do this somewhere safe, like in the bottom of the bath or the shower. You never know someone might even think that you have actually been doing some cleaning instead of having fun :O)

The central image has been stamped and embossed onto black card stock and then painted with the bleach. This card didn't bleach terribly well so I added quite a lot to the petals and then heated it with a craft Heat Tool to intensify the effect.

The Grandchildren had a good time tonight as it was the school disco. Fortunately it is organised by age, but this does end up with a bit of a shuttle service going on throughout the evening.
Here are Saskia and Ciaran with their friend Kaitlin ready to go.
The little ones seemed to take forever to get ready, and there was much hairspray and gel as well as lippy involved. Oh to be 6 again when life is so simple.

The second shift involved Reece and Kaitlin's brother Ethan. A few years make all the difference, they wanted to stay outside and play football rather than get in the shower lol.
They all had a great time but came back bouncing off the walls after all of the sugar consumption. I'm glad I didn't have to get them to bed.
Speaking of which I had better make a move in that direction myself.
See you tomorrow.
Hugs Kimx

Magenta Garden Tile

Evening Everyone,
I hope that you have had a good day. Mine has been a lot less stressful than yesterday, but I can't help but be thankful that it is nearly the weekend.
I have been trying to prep for my class on Saturday, where we are playing with bleach. I do hope that the girls remember not to wear their best clothes. They should all be used to my messy classes by now, so I'm hoping that we will be OK.
There has been much playing and stamping this afternoon, but no actual card making so I thought that I would share a card that I made a while ago using bleach.

The stamp is once again a fabulous design from Magenta M.0469 Garden Tile, although unfortunately it looks as if it is no longer available.
One of the brilliant things with bleach is that it allows you to paint onto coloured card stock and still retain the true colour of the inks used.

I stamped and embossed the image onto Salmon Pink Bazzil card stock and then painted it with undiluted thin bleach.
You will have to experiment as not all card stock will bleach successfully.
Once the bleach has dried (you can speed and intensify the effect by heating using a craft heat tool) paint the image using any colouring medium. Here I have used dye based inks such as Distress or Kaliedacolour ink pads.

I tore the edges of the panel and mounted it onto black glossy, and green card stock.
I was really pleased with the subtle effect that this produced.
I will have to get a couple of cards finished tomorrow, plus the tag and instructions ready for Saturday afternoon. Oh dear what a hardship, that means that I will have to play some more lol.
hugs Kimx

Sorry You are Blue at Woodware

Hi All
So what happened to all the wet weather that the newspapers have been telling us is going to go on for the next ten years
Parts of today have to have been the hottest in a long while, or maybe it was just trying to deal with a brand new till system and customers who are in a hurry and don't care that you have only just started using it and don't yet know how everything works is what was making me sweat.
Computer simulation training is all very well but it doesn't allow for real Nectar cards that won't scan because the strip is dirty or worn and won't let you go back and start again once you have pushed a button. Whoever said change was good had better not get too close to me or they might get the raw edge of my tongue!!!!
Sorry......... rant over...............chill...........and so on to tonight's card.
This week the lovely Ladies over at Woodware are Sorry You are Blue. (How very appropriate lol)
Dorothy says that she is never sure what the girls are going to come up with when she sets the challenges so I hope that my card will be considered OK.
I'm feeling a bit 'carded out' at the moment after this last week so I went through my box and found this one that I made a while ago.

The stamp is by Magenta, (I do love their stamps) which I have stamped and embossed and then coloured using dye based inks.

 The greeting is from Lili of the Valley, but I hope that I will be forgiven for that.

I added some Woodware Ribbon across the card and some stamping with both inks and bleach to the blue background panel.
I think I had better get an early night, cause I can't see tomorrow being any less stressful than today. Let's hope that I'm wrong.
Hugs Kimx