With Love, Love, Love at Craftycardmakers

Good Morning,
We started a new challenge over at CraftyCardmakers yesterday and with Valentines day just around the corner we are looking for Love, Love, Love.

I'm sorry, but I did say that I loved this stamp.

I really love how this solid style of Penny black stamp works so well with the Alcohol Lift Inkpad which as you can see I have playing with rather a lot just lately.

I have also been inspired by the work of Jennifer McGuire who has some fabulous clips on YouTube as well as a Blog with the most amazing samples on it. Please check it out.

The die cut sentiment is another favourite of mine, along with the embossing folder and some gilding wax.

This card is another Jennifer inspired one just a different colour way.

Until I tried this stamp out with the Alcohol lift ink pad I hadn't realized just how detailed it was.

I love this way of adding a sentiment without obliterating the beautiful imagery underneath.

I hope that you can join us with this new challenge, and I look forward to stopping by and saying hello.
Have a great day. Happy Crafting and Hugs
Kimx

Jane on TV this Saturday

Evening All
Well, I survived my 4am start. I don't think that I bit too many peoples heads off, although I did have to bite my tongue a couple of times lol.

I've been working on more samples for the lovely Jane Gill just recently.

These ones are for her appearance on Hochanda this coming Saturday.

This card was made using a piece of mop up background that I found amongst a pile on my desk.

 Similar card just slightly different mop up and a die cut frame.

This little flower is from the same stamp set. And more mop up, just for a change lol.

The background and sentiment is from another of the sets on the show. a very useful background stamp set full of tiny greetings.
Hope you can join Jane on Saturday. She is sure to come up with some fabulous demos.
I popped the samples in the post for her this afternoon. Let's hope they arrive on time. I always use next day delivery which did not work last time, we were both in a bit of a panic before their safe arrival just before Jane had to leave for her road trip.
Off to bed now. I must admit to a little bit of a granny nap this afternoon, but I still think that an early night would be a good thing. Besides my laptop has just reminded me that it is time to 'rest and recover' Oh the wonders of modern technology, being told what to do by a laptop :O)
Hugs Kimx

Sending Love

Afternoon All,
Well at least we haven't got snow anymore, although I'm not sure that I'm particularly impressed by the current alternative...…..pouring rain. We're never satisfied are we lol.

Today would have been my Dads 95th birthday.

I always send a card to Mum to let her know that we are thinking of him, and her of course.

We had a fabulous time playing with the Decorating Chalks in class on Saturday. So much so in fact that we have decided to visit Pearlex on another occasion.

I love the soft and subtle colouring that you get with the chalks.

This card uses my absolute favourite stamp at the moment from Penny Black,

and has been made for my Boss to give to his daughter for her birthday next week.

This card shows off the beauty of the Tim Holtz Stamping Platform to perfection.

I stamped the image using the platform and versamark ink and then added the chalks in the usual way using a cotton wool ball.

Place the card back into the platform and stamp again using the versamark inkpad.
Provided that your card is in the same place the image will stamp in exactly the same place. It is a fantastic piece of kit for rectifying those stamping mishaps when you have missed part of the image.
In this case I have coated this second inking with Crystal Embossing powder and heated it to give a wonderful sparkly finish but retaining the soft colouring of the chalks.

I try very hard to prepare a tag for the ladies to add to their ring.
They will point out that I have failed miserably over the last few months, so I am trying to make amends :O)

The idea for the tag ring came from a class that I did several years ago at Sirstampalot. One side is a little bit of inspiration to remind them of what they did, and the other is a basic instruction sheet on the particular technique that we have covered.
I thought that I would share a few more of the samples that I took to class. As you can see this technique is a particular favourite of mine.

I need an early night tonight as I have to be at work at stupid o'clock tomorrow. 4am to be precise!!!! Still the upside is that I finish at midday so I will have plenty of time to play, if I can keep my eyes open that is.

Have a great evening.

Happy Crafting and Hugs.

Kimx

Powdered Pearlex and Chalks for Christmas.

Hi All,
Given the inclement weather that we have had recently I thought that I would share a few more Christmas cards with you.
We are playing with Decorating Chalks and also dry powdered Pearlex in class tomorrow, snow drifts willing of course lol, so here are a few of the samples that I will be taking with me to inspire the ladies.

Pearlex works well on both dark and light coloured card stock, although I think that I actually prefer the effects on dark as it is much more striking.

Stamp with Versamark and then dust the image with a very small amount of Pearlex and a paintbrush. Less is very definitely more as they say.

These first couple of cards, using a very old snowflake image, use Pearlex powders.
I love both the mediums that we will be playing with, although I do particularly associate Pearlex with Christmas because of it's beautiful sparkle.

The panel on this one is created with the Decorating Chalks which is applied to the versamark stamped image using a cotton wool ball.

 

Pearlex powders can also be mixed into a paint with the addition of a little gum arabic and water.

These last few cards use this to paint the central panel on them.
I don't want to confuse everyone with this technique so we will have to play with Watercolour Pearlex on another occasion. That's another class to add to the list.

Several of the backgrounds to the cards have been created using Embossing folders and a hint of Gilding Wax.

It looks like the snow has melted here at least, although who knows what it is like just up the road.

Better get a wiggle on, my lift will be here soon.

Have a great crafty day, and stay warm.

Hugs Kimx