A Reason to Celebrate

Hi All,
And a very Happy Monday it is to.
Although she is still signed off work at the moment, my youngest daughter has finally been given the all clear on the test results following her surgery before Christmas. Boy, has that been a long wait.
So we are going to celebrate. Not tonight cause even the trip to the doctors and a visit from the kids at the weekend has left her feeling knackered so we will make it later in the week instead.
I have done my own  bit of celebrating though with a little bit of retail therapy. Lili of the Valley launched 10 new stamps today.

Now if that isn't a reason to celebrate I don't know what is, and of course it would be rude not to order them now wouldn't it. And I never promised that I wouldn't buy anything in 2014 cause I know that would definitely be one promise that I couldn't keep.
I'm off to play now, I'm feeling all relieved and inspired.
Hugs to you All
Kimx

Woodware Teasels

Hi All
I hope that you have all had a good weekend, I can't believe how quickly it has flown by.
I have been a very good girl and finished off a few more bits from my class on Saturday, I am determined not to add too much to my bits box this year, in fact I want to try and use up the bits, but that may be a wee bit unrealistic as the box(es) are rather full lol.

As I said yesterday the Woodware JGS329 Teasels proved to be a rather popular stamp set and so here is another card that I made using them.

I created the panel in class when I showed the girls how the White Embossed Technique was achieved.

The background papers are from my stash as are the gems.
I can see that this is going to become a very well used stamp set, thank you Jane.
Thanks for stopping by.
hugs Kimx

An old card for Inspiration

Evening Everyone,
We have had a fabulous first class of the year at Davina's today. Caught up with friends old, and new to the classes, plus lots of laughs, and even some really yummy cake courtesy of Gilly.
One of the things that I always do before I consign the Christmas cards to the recycling (kids cutting and sticking box) or my box full of handmade cards that I save forever, is to go through them and sort out any for my inspiration box - Pinterest but of the tangible variety I guess lol.

My card tonight was inspired by one such card from my Inspiration box and the stamp set (new from Woodware) certainly proved to be a big hit with everyone, even though they are so new that all they could do was order them.

This is the card that I used for my inspiration. I will definitely be using the idea for some of my own Christmas cards this year.

I stamped and embossed the JGS329 Teasels Flower Heads using Versamark ink and white embossing powder and then added  Creole Spice Kaleidacolor ink to the center of the panel having first masked the top and bottom edges.
The greeting, another new Woodware stamp, has been stamped using Black Stazon ink since that is one of the only inks that will dry when stamped onto the embossed image.
No cooking tonight, we are having a curry as a treat, so I can see a late night crafting session in my future. Maybe I will get a couple of those Christmas cards made, you never know.
Hugs Kimx

Summer Weeds

Evening Everyone,
Another weekend, it will be Christmas again before we know it lol.
It is my first class of the New Year at Davina's tomorrow and we will be playing with White Embossed Resist and some of the wonderful new stamps from Woodware.

Whenever I am lucky enough to receive a parcel of new stamps for samples there are always certain ones that leap out and say play with me first lol.
This is one such stamp set JGS330 Summer Weeds Flower Heads.

I stamped and embossed the image a couple of times down the right hand side of a piece of white card stock. After adding some masking tape I sponged the panel with Kaleidacolor Dye Based inks.

I stamped the image again using the dye based ink after the masking tape had been removed.
The stamped greeting is also a new Woodware stamp JGS901 Birthday Textbox.
This is very CAS for me don't you think.
Have a great weekend, and happy crafting.
Hugs Kimx

Happy First Birthday

Hi There,
I have a 1st birthday card to share with you tonight.
I would like to say that I am managing to work my way through all of my lovely Lili of the Valley toppers, except that I noticed that they are having a sale on them over on their E-bay Outlet Store, so guess what, more are winging their way to me - addict or what lol.

I have die cut the image using a circular nestie and added some Faux stitching.

The background papers are from my stash as is the greeting, although they are mostly Lili of the Valley.

I added some stamped words using a Woodware background stamp to the green paper and a peel-off '1st'.
I am entering this into the challenge over at LOTV Ideas to Inspire where ANYTHING GOES.
Hugs Kimx

A Winter Robin

Hi All
We had a somewhat eventful day at work today with a 3 hour power cut. It has been quite amazing just how many drivers do not know what cones blocking an entrance mean, I'm surprised that there wasn't an accident.
Anyhoo, I seem to be on a bit of a roll at the moment. I've managed to cross yet another item of my extensive and ever growing 'To Do List'.

I was given this beautiful Robin stamp by 'Hobby Art Jenny' at the NEC in November, but this is the first opportunity that I have had to play with it.

The image on this first card was stamped and embossed onto watercolour card and then painted with Adirondack dye based inks.
I cut the image out using a Nestie and then added some Faux Stitching.

The background panel has been dry embossed using a Sizzix folder.
I just kept sponging it with Adirondack inks until I was happy with the colour. I also added some Treasure Gold guilding wax to the edges as well as the green background card.
White Organza ribbon, some die cut holly, glossy accents, and glitter glue to finish.

This second card was also stamped with Vintage Sepia Versafine ink onto watercolour card, but this time it was coloured using watercolour pencils and then die cut using the same Nestie.

I edged the coloured panel with some Faux Stitching and ink while the die was still in place to give an extra border.

The background papers are from my stash, and I added some die cut holly, gems and glossy accents.
Now perhaps I can get something else crossed off my list, but first I must get this ready to post to Jenny.
Better late than never I suppose, but then I know card samples are always useful to her.
Have a good evening, and thanks for stopping by for a visit.
hugs Kimx

Shall we Retire to the Seaside

Hi All
Time for another challenge me thinks :O)
The Girls at Woodware are working on the theme of Retirement this week, so here is my card for the challenge.

Francoise has designed several of these stamp sets all with bordered images.
This one is FRCL198 Sail Away and I think that it works brilliantly as a card for someones retirement. Perhaps they would consider retiring to the seaside in the shadow of a lighthouse.

I stamped and embossed the central panel and coloured it with Promarkers.
I'm actually really pleased with how it has turned out given that it is my first attempt at colouring an entire image with them.

The background to the card has been created with some paper piecing following the lines created by the sunshine in the central image.

The sentiment is actually from another of these stamp sets FRCL165 Winding Paths. This set works particularly well for a New Home card.
               
I hope that you will be suitably inspired to enter the Woodware challenge.
There will be a new post every day this week, so why not stop by and see what the rest of the gang have created.
Must get on now, my craft room is calling, but this is one more thing crossed off my list lol.
Happy Crafting
Hugs Kimx

A new challenge and a new name for Crafty Cardmakers

Hi All,
Well, it's the start of a New Year and the start of a new challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers. And we also have a new name - CRAFTY CARDMAKERS AND MORE to reflect the new challenges that we are going to be having to encourage you to make more than just cards.
Our hostess Feebsy would love to see your creations along the theme of 'Bear With Me', in other words anything with a teddy bear, or more realistic image of a bear as the MAIN focal point of your project. Any sort of bear will be fine, so polar bear, grizzly bear, teddy bear etc., just make sure it is the MAIN focal point.

For my card I chose a Lili of the Valley stamp Patchwork Bunch of Balloons and coloured it using Distress Inks. 

I cut the image out with my guillotine and used an inverted corner punch for a change. I then added some stitching with a fine Black Micron pen. 

The greeting is part of one of the new stamps from the Woodware Spring 2014 catalogue JGS901 Birthday Textbox.
I also added a few gems to the background.

The background papers are from my stash, and are also from Lili of the Valley.
The red dots just screamed out for a bit of glossy accents.
We have a new sponsor this time Flourish with a Bling who are offering a $15 gift voucher.
Don't forget to stop by and see what the rest of the team have been up to.
Happy Crafting and hugs to all. 
Kimx

A Clarity kind of day

Hi All,
Have you been watching Barbara on the box today?
I have all of her shows recorded for later perusal as I spent the day in Clarity sorting mode. Who knew just how many of Barbara's fabulous stamps I own. At least now I can see them all properly, but why does any form of tiding up take sooooo long?

While I am in sorting mode, I thought that I would have a look through the photos of cards that I have made for Barbara in the past. There still seem to be loads that I haven't blogged, so perhaps now would be a good time to share them with you, even if some of them were made rather a long time ago. Sometimes it is actually good to look backwards in order to be re-inspired.

I have to say that these have been amongst my favourite Clarity stamps, but then I always seem to gravitate towards solid images and leaves and flowers especially.
I'm sure that there are still lots of other cards to share but I will leave them for another occasion.
I can't believe that it has taken me all day to sort my Clarity stamps, but that is one more thing that I can tick off my To Do list.
Don't forget to drop in on Craftycardmakers  tomorrow for our first challenge of 2014.
Better get to sleep now, I was up rather late last night and I just know that it will catch up with me at work tomorrow.
Hugs Kimx

A New Challenge, and a Favourite Stamp

Evening Everyone,
Yes, here we are back with late blogging, now you can see why I don't bother to make New Years resolutions lol.
I did manage to do a little bit of blog hopping which is where I found a new challenge - Fantasy Stampers Challenge Blog, thanks Squirrel.
They are kicking off their first challenge with YOUR FAVOURITE STAMP.

Now like Squirrel I am hard pressed to narrow my selection down to several dozen, let alone one, but this is certainly a big favourite of mine from the Woodware Christmas selection of stamps.
As you can see I did use it rather a lot for my Christmas cards this year, and there are more already posted on the blog.

It is such a versatile stamp, as I hope you can see from the samples that I have shared with you tonight.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by, and for leaving all of your lovely comments, they are very much appreciated.
Hugs Kimx

Feel Better Soon

Hi All
I don't know about you, but 2013 ended for me with the need for several 'Hope you are feeling better soon' cards, so here is one that I made for my daughter after her surgery.

Amazingly all the individual elements to make the card were found lurking in my 'Bits Box', it's surprising what you can find when you start to look.

Of course I had to add a bit of stamping and embossing in the corners of the purple background paper using Penny Black 4347K Christmas Reds and Greens.

I even managed to find a handmade flower and some die cut leaves to match the stamped ones.
The circles have all been die cut using various Nesties.
I would like to enter this into the challenge at Craftyhands where Anything Goes.
Have a fabulous weekend.
hugs Kimx

Lists

Hi All
I made good on my own suggestion last night. I now have a nice box full of punched hexagons instead of odd scraps, all ready and waiting to be turned into more backgrounds.
So that is one job that I can cross off. I am determined to cross at least a couple of things off that ever growing 'To Do list'. Let's see......

• furniture moved - check
• paper sorted - check
• January DT cards made - check

It's just a shame that as fast as I cross one thing off the top of the list two more things get added to the bottom. Oh well, never mind, onward and upward as they say lol.

Over on the Woodware Blog today there is another sneak peek from the coming Spring 2014 catalogue.
I have used a couple of the same showcased stamps here on these cards.
The main floral image is Spring Spray Bouquet JGS331 which I have paper pieced and coloured using dye based inks.

The sentiment panel in the bottom corner is the fabulous Birthday Text  JGS901. I think I will have to work on Jane to add a few more of this type to her collection next time, they are going to be soooooo useful.
The floral strip across the centre is Washi Tape and I added some Faux Card Candi.
As you may have noticed I'm trying to post a little earlier in the day (still can't get to grips with scheduled posts) and so now I'm off to play. There is still a long list of crads that need to be made so I had better get on with it.
Have a good evening and Happy Crafting.
Hugs Kimx

New Beginnings

Evening Everyone,
OK now, own up, who made New Year's resolutions?
Are you going to get fitter, be a better blogger, keep on top of DT work?
I know I've said them all too, now let's see just how long they last.
I did manage to blog every day except one last year, so let's see if I can improve on that shall we. No pressure then!!

As we are at the start of a New Year, it seems appropriate that my first card of 2014 should be a new baby card.

 Once again I reached for a fabulous pre-printed Lili of the Valley image which I have die cut using a Nestie.

I matched my papers to the image and made a patchwork background using one of my hexagonal Die-Namics dies.

I just love this as a background to a card, and it is such a useful way of using up all of those small bits of paper that are just too good to throw away.

Of course I had to get some real stamping and embossing in there on the stripy pink paper.
I also added some ribbon and some die cut leaves.

I thought that I would try and enter a few challenges again this year, so here we go
A little bit Crafty - Celebrate (A new baby)
Heck of a challenge - New (A new baby)
Sweet Stamps - Something New

I hope that you are enjoying yourselves, I'm just about to start a bit of cardmaking, that really is my ideal way to spend an evening.
Happy Crafting, and a very Happy New Year.
Hugs Kimx