Christams Poinsettias

Hi All,
Well it's Friday again, and I am happily sorting things out for my class at Davina's tomorrow.

We are going to be playing with bleach, which is quite a favourite of mine.

These cards have all been made using pieces that I painted last time I did this class, and as it is a repeat class I see no reason why I shouldn't take them along with me.

I stamped and embossed this lovely Poinsettia image onto various colours of card stock, and then painted it using thin neat bleach, the resulting panels made several Christmas cards to add to my stash, which is just as well since I have not been very good over the last couple of months.

This panel I also painted using Distress inks over the bleached areas.
Try out a little corner of your coloured cardstock first since the bleach won't effect all card.
So that's another 3 cards to add to my stash, getting there very slowly this year

Revisiting Bleach

Hi All
Remind me not to go visiting people (my Mum) without phoning first as this will save the feeling of panic when I let myself in (I have my own key in case of emergencies) and the place resembles the Marie Celeste. The lights are on, and the TV, for the cats!! but no sign of Mother.
Thankfully we didn't find her in a heap on the floor anywhere, and a phone call to my Sister-in-law, who lives just around the corner revealed that Mum had gone for a walk in the rain and drizzle. Not quite as batty as it sounds, she actually had a Doctors appointment, as I discovered when I caught up with her at the surgery.
So panic over, but that will teach me to make sure that I give her a ring before I visit. I had planned to, but time just got away from me, you know how it is.
In fact that is rather what has happened to me again this evening. I'm still trying to get sorted out after my few days away, and I can't finish that properly until Jane drops in my boxes next week.
She had other commitments up north, hence my trip home on the train, but will be bringing my shopping and my work boxes to me on Monday so until then I feel a bit in limbo. I did manage my basic tool kit and guillotines in my suit case, I couldn't be without them, but I can't seem to get back into the swing of things at the moment, isn't it stupid.

On Saturday at Davina's we will be revisiting Bleach as several of the ladies missed it the first time round.
Although the technique itself doesn't really vary, there are always new stamps to use, and so those that have played with it before have indicated that they are more than happy to play again lol.
My card tonight has a little bleach work down the left hand side, so I thought it appropriate to share as a reminder of what we will be doing in class.

It was actually made for one of the Woodware catalogues, and althoughthe card itself  is currently roaming the countryside with the lovely Jane (it's in my boxes in her car), I have the stamp, so I'm sure that people will be able to manage with a couple of photocopies and the rest of the bleach cards that I have in my card stash.
Only one more day till the weekend, although this feels like a very long week even though I have only been at the garage for a couple of days.
Time for bed now, I've had enough of tiding up.
Hugs Kimx

Skinny Vases

Hi All
Back to 'normal' at last after a fabulous, if tiring few days in Yorkshire for the Woodware Retailers Training Days.
We were thoroughly well fed and watered, in fact I have eaten far too well so diet and exercise had better start now!!

My card tonight is from my class on Monday where they all got to play with the fabulous new Mix'd Media inks. I made them try some embossed resist to create their own 'background paper' which surprised a few of them.

They also got to try the inks out on metal and the Burlap squares,

The stamp we used was Francoise Skinny Vase, and as you can see I had to make my samples in several different colourways.

One of the ladies, Scrappyjen, only does Scrapbooking so this was her take on my card, as a Scrapbook page. Unfortunately the light wasn't terribly good.

I travelled home from Skipton on the train with Francoise, and we have been talking new stamp designs already, so I think that I had better get on top of everything so I am ready for sample making.
But before that I need to catch up on some sleep, I never sleep very well when I am away, and you don't realise how tired you are until you sit down for a few moments lol.
Hugs Kimx

Home at Last

Hi All
I hope that you have all been having a wonderful week.
I'm afraid that I am only touching base tonight, no pictures, as I have just got back from the Woodware Retailers Training days and I am shattered. And I have to be back at work tomorrow.
Crafting never feels like work somehow, even though everyone worked really hard.
It was an amazing few days with fabulous, talented people, but now I need some sleep.
Of course it didn't help that I had booked a Stampin Up party for this evening, so an early night was out of the question
I'll do better tomorrow, I promise.
Night night.
Hugs Kimx

Winged Things at Crafty Cardmakers

Hi All
Today is the start of a new challenge over at CraftyCardmakers where we are looking for Winged Things.

 Here is the card that I have made using the lovely little bird by Stampendous.

I have had limited time and Internet access over the last few days so I am going to edit this post with more detail when I get back home on Tuesday.
So for now you will just have to forgive me.
hugs Kimx

Musical Bedrooms

Hi All
Have been having a fabulous time here in Yorkshire, but the real work starts today.
Hopefully by the time you read this we will be well and truly stuck into our first class, in fact we may even be having a well earned tea break.
We had to move accommodation last night as all the local Band B's were fully booked. So having transferred to Judith's home we walked into Grassington for a meal.
I really think I earned my dinner, especially as I was not exactly kitted out for a 3 mile round trip, all done in high heeled boots lol.

They will be playing with the new Surfacez Inks today which work on metal, fabric, acetate and a whole host of things.
This is the project that they will be working on. Not a very good picture I'm afraid but it was so difficult to photograph.

We have to change rooms again tonight, so it won't be quite such a long walk for dinner. Not that I'm complaining I just might need to invest in a box of plasters for my poor blistered feet.
Have a great day.
Hugs Kimx

A Gilded Tree

Hi All

Set up day here in Yorkshire so we will be busy lugging boxes and tables and all sorts. Hopefully I will have had a chance to shop at the warehouse. They let me loose with a trolley last year which was rather dangerous for the bank balance, but it just had to be done lol.

This card was made with a fabulous Stampendous stamp. It was one of those ‘I have to have’ purchases as soon as I saw it in the catalogue. I love trees and leaves they are so versatile.

I have used sticky embossing powder and Gildinglitz on the tree and then background papers from my stash.

Have a great day.

Hugs Kimx

Amendment to blog post - Slight change of plan as we can't get into the hall until tomorrow, so I have just been shopping for England and lugging those boxes around lol

Another Road Trip

Hi All
Off to Skipton today, so I hope that by the time you read this we will have stopped for our first coffee and are now well on our way to Yorkshire.

These are a couple of cards that I made after last years Retailers Workshops. We had a fabulous time playing with the Magic Stamp, which can be used to create amazing backgrounds.
This year it will be something different, but I won’t share till after the event.
Hugs Kimx

A Christmas Teddy

Hi All
I seem to have just about caught up with the tiredness that has overtaken me this week, which is just as well cause I get to do it all again tomorrow when Jane and I travel up to Skipton.
I have prepped the rest of my class packs, so I just have to pack my case and write a few scheduled posts for while I’m away, if the Internet will let me, this post has taken several hours to finish !!
I though that tonight I would remind you that you still have a couple of days left to enter our Snow and Ice challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers.

I made this card a little while ago using some background papers from my stash to create the Bargello panel at the back of the card.

I also used several different dies for the flowers and trees, and plenty of glitter glue for snow and ice.

The Teddy is a lovely Lili of the Valley topper, also from my stash, and the whole thing has been mounted onto a panel with snowflakes 'Punched Around the Page' courtesy of Martha Stewart.

The blues and browns matched the coloured image perfectly and made it a little different from the usual Christmas colours.
I would like to enter this into the following challenges, I haven't done that for ages lol.
Cute Card Thursday - Hip to be Square
Crafty Creations Challenges - Let's get Krafty
CraftyHazelnuts Christmas Challenge - Layer it Up
CraftyHazelnuts Christmas Challenge Extra - Anything Goes

Must get packing now.

Have a great weekend.

hugs Kimx

What a shame I missed it

Hi All
Isn't it typical, I finally manage to find a few moments to catch up on a few things (reading some blog posts for one) and I find that I have missed the lovely Sue from Imagination on the TV. I had it in my head that it was the 15th for some reason, I don't know why.
So I guess to make up for it here is a card that I made for her a little while ago.

 I used the Holly image from the Donkey Decoupage Stamp Set to create this wreath.

I added some red pearls and layered the holly onto a scalloped circle using silicon. The gold embossing in the background uses another of the elements from the stamp set.
I really must pay more attention so I don't miss her again.
Sorry Sue, lets hope you have it on tape for me to watch next time I see you :O)
Hugs Kimx

Just to say Hi

Evening All
Well I have managed to get through the day without any major disasters involving liquid, which is quite an achievement after the weekend!!
I am really not to be trusted with water having first flooded the bathroom (the power shower head twisted round as soon as it was switched on and covered the wall at the other end of the bathroom with water which caused me to have to paddle to the door) and then at breakfast I sat on the edge of the tablecloth and slopped coffee all over the table!!!
At least the rest of the weekend went better, and I managed to get home unscathed. I can’t believe how tired I am though, my Granny nap nearly carried on till bedtime lol.
So just a quick post tonight before I fall asleep again.

 This is another of the cards that I made for a Woodware catalogue.

Once again it uses stamps designed by the lovely Jane Gill and products available from Woodware.
Off to bed before I fall asleep again.
hugs Kimx

Lots of lovely Layers

Hi All
I hope that you all had a fantastic weekend.
It is the second day of the Woodware Retailers Training weekend so this is another scheduled post. I just hope that the Internet is playing the game!
If this year is anything like last we will once again be having a fabulous if some what tiring day putting all of the Retailers through their paces lol.
There are usually a few different faces from yesterday as some people can only manage one of the days, so there will be plenty more catching up to do with old friends.

My card today is another that I made for the last Woodware catalogue.
I toyed with posting this one for the Woodware Layers challenge last week, but in the end the leaves won out.

This uses another of Jane's fabulous stamps. I am such a lucky girl to have been able to work with them for the catalogues over last couple of years.

I stamped and embossed the Christmas background onto white, purple and green card and then used my nesties to cut pieces from the purple and green images and layer them over the white one.
That probably sounds as clear as mud but I promise you that it is really easy to do and hopefully very effective. What do you think?
Will be travelling home today after the classes have all finished since I am back to work tomorrow. Still never mind we get to do it all again next weekend in Grassington, and I get to shop at the warehouse.
Now where did I put that shopping list???
Have a great Monday.
Hugs Kimx

Let's play Down South with Woodware

Hi All
Today is the first day of the Woodware Retailers Training Weekend Down South.
It is a very intense day for the Retailers with 5 different workshops to attend and a look at some of the new products, but they are well fed and watered and I think everyone has a fabulous time. I know that I did last year.
We the tutors are equally well looked after, and it is great to catch up with friends old and new.
Hopefully by the time you read this we will be well stuck in to class after plenty of coffee and chat.

 This was the set up last year at a different Down South Venue.

And here is everyone hard at work.
It is lovely to see what everyone else is up to, and of course pick up numerous tips.
I really must get Lynell to give me a little more tuition with the stencils and paste, I seem to get in such a mess lol.
Hugs Kimx

Layers for the Woodware challenge

Hi All
Siobhan is safely back at the helm at the Woodware challenge blog today, but I thought that I would post a card for the latest challenge anyway.
This week the challenge has been set by Scrappy Jen who has asked for layers.

I have cheated ever so slightly as this was made for the latest catalogue but I am currently stressing out over whether or not I have packed everything I need for the first of the Woodware Retailers Training weekends.
I am very much a list Girly (that is where my daughters get it from lol) but I seem to have written lists to check my previous lists and I’m still panicking!!
Oh well, I guess I had better get on with this and then throw a few things in a suitcase for me otherwise that could be a little embarrassing, plenty of craft stuff but no wash stuff or clean clothes lol.

I love leaves so this was such a lovely set to work with.

My layers are made with ribbon, leaves and the wording panel.
Once again the lovely Jane Gill is my chauffeur and will be here to collect me in a couple of hours.
How appropriate then that my post should be made using one of the stamp sets that she designed. I am so looking forward to this weekend, but am also very nervous about it as well. I'm sure it will be fine once I get started.
Better get a couple of scheduled post done before I leave as well so I'm signing off for now.
Have a great weekend.
Happy Crafting
Hugs Kimx

A Holly Jolly Christmas

Evening All
I can’t believe how quickly this weekend has come round again!!
As you know I have been very busy just lately juggling various DT commitments, so my card tonight is the last of the cards that I made for ‘Hobby Art Jenny’ using one of her lovely new stamp sets.

 I have used the Holly Sprig alone to create this Christmas card,

The sentiment is from another of the fabulous Christmas stamp sets that Jenny was showcasing on the TV.

I used my Nesties and some background papers from my stash.
I really must get to bed now, I hadn't realized just how late it had got.
Have a good weekend.
Hugs Kimx

Warmest Winter Wishes lol

Evening Everyone
I hope that you have had a good day.
I am reliably informed, by at least 60 customers over the course of the day that the weather is going to change dramatically and we are in for cold and rain tomorrow.
At the moment it feels like the central heating has been switched on it's so hot, so I think I will wait and see.
I hope they are wrong, I've left my fleece at work lol.
I have just finished watching 'Hobby Art Jenny's' TV appearances that I taped today. Wasn't it nice to see her back on the box?

This is one of the cards that I made for her, and I'm pleased to say that I saw it on the first show.
It is always nice to see your work on the telly, especially when they say nice things about it.

I stamped the image using Walnut Stain Distress Ink and then 'pulled' the colour from the image using a waterbrush.
Yes Jenny, it was an easy card to make, just as you suggested lol.
I added a little Rock Candy Stickles as snow and mounted it onto background paper from my stash.
An early night for me I think, who knows what I will find, weatherwise, when I wake up.
Hugs Kimx

A Little Christmas Robin

Evening Everyone,
I hope that you are having a wonderful Wednesday.
You can tell that the schools have returned after the holidays as the road outside the garage was chockablock at school opening and afternoon pick up time.
It will definitely take a few days for things to get back to normal here I think. At the moment they are still in holiday mode so trying to get them to do their reading was a bit like pulling teeth lol.

 This card was made for the lovely Jenny at HobbyArt who will be on the TV tomorrow afternoon - Create and Craft, Sky channel 671 at 2pm and 7pm.

I have used Distress Inks and Frantage Embossing powder as well as background papers from my stash.

The little robin has been paper pieced and then I have added some Fluffy Stuff and Glitter to the hat.
Why not check out the show tomorrow and see what other new stamp sets Jenny is showcasing.
Hugs Kimx

What a lovely Friend

Evening
My wonderful ‘Crafty’ friend Gill has just sent me this to stand my coffee cup on.

I hope that I can live up to it. Thank you so much Gill, it was sweet of you.
Hugs Kimx

Christmas Snow and Ice at Crafty Cardmakers

Evening Everyone
Today we started a new fabulous challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers. 
Now I know this post is a little late but I shall blame my eldest Granddaughter. 
I love my Grandchildren to pieces but Megan is not top of my favourites list at the moment after she woke me up at 2 oclock this morning to dispose of a spider that had apparently followed her from her bedroom to the sofa. 
She was crashing about the living room at 11pm because she couldn’t get to sleep in her room after her Dad failed to catch the ‘gigantic’ spider that had appeared on her ceiling. Now it seems that it had followed her down the stairs and was tormenting her in the living room, hence my rude awakening. 
Typically it disappeared under the sofa as soon as I tried to get to it, and despite furniture removal it failed to make another appearance so she spent the night perched in the corner of the sofa with the lights and the TV on. I managed to get back to sleep eventually but it did mean that I fell asleep after work, hence the late blogpost lol.
Our latest challenge is hosted by Josephine, who has chosen the theme of 'Christmas Snow and Ice'. Your creation must be both Christmas related And have snow or ice on it in order to qualify for the Winner or Top 5 slots. 

I very nearly got caught out with this challenge as I forgot to turn the page in my diary, but as luck would have it this is the card I finished after Saturdays Frantage class, and it fit the bill perfectly.
The main stamped image Bertie the Snowman is from our wonderful sponsor HOBBY ART, and is actually one of the prizes.

I used Frantage Embossing powder on the brown cardstock and did a little bit of paper piecing. 

The sentiments are all from another Hobby Art stamp set called Winter Wishes.
In fact Jenny will be showcasing these stamps on the TV this week. Create and Craft Sky channel 671 on Thursday at 2pm and 7pm I think.

The background paper is from my stash and I added some tiny buttons, Puffy Stuff and Glitter Glue to the Snowman.
Don't forget to pop over and see what the rest of the gang have come up with. We love to hear from you so don't forget to leave a comment.
Happy Crafting. Let's hope the spider leaves us alone tonight lol.
Hugs Kimx

A Parcel of Christmas Wishes

Evening All
Have you had a good weekend with plenty of Crafting?
There has definitely been a far more Autumnal feel to things around here. It is amazing how quickly the nights are drawing in.
The kids will be back at school next week, so before we know it it will be half term and then Christmas lol.
With that in mind here are a couple of cards that I made with an Imagination Stamp set a little while ago.
I do like the Imagination Decoupage sets as they are always so versitile.
The cat at the window could be used for both a nice cosy Christmas card or a birthday card for a cat lover.

I used the parcels on their own for my cards, and made them Christmas cards as that was the theme of the TV show that they were made for, but they could just as easily have been made for a Birthday.

I coloured the stamped and embossed images with the Vintage Pearly Paint Pallet and then added them to the card using Silicon.

This card has been made in a similar manner, but is very CAS for me don't you think?
Better go and iron my uniform.
One day I will get it done earlier in the weekend, but I won't hold my breathe on that one.
Hugs Kimx