Just for You

Evening All,

Have you had a good Saturday? I had another lovely day with the Grandkids, and an unexpected sleepover. We had to get a new washing machine earlier this week. Who can be without one with two working parents and three small children?? Mum ended up on the phone for over an hour today trying to sort out why it sounded like it was going to take off, so I decided to stay an extra day to help out.

Here is a birthday card that I made last weekend on the Chalks class.

I love these beautiful solid floral stamps. I inked this one up using versamark ink and then applied the chalks.

I decided to add a stamped and embossed sentiment. 

Versamark is an incredibly sticky ink, so even though the floral image has first had chalks applied to it, some of the embossing powder sticks to give a patchy embossed finish.

I added a few gems to finish the whole thing off, along with some matching background matt and layers.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs Kimx

Art in Every Day Life

Evening All,

Well that's the end to my week of babysitting. The kids had a fabulous time at school and nursery again today, even if we did have a bit of a wobble this morning before they left.

They were all shattered this evening, so it was early bedtime for one and all.............including Mummy.

I did manage a little die cutting today while they were all out, and I still have some labels to sew on tomorrow, but that is as near to crafting as I have managed this week.

One of the classes that the Crafty Girls have requested is using inky sprays to create backgrounds.

This card was made quite some time ago, using white heat embossing and inks, so I think we might give this a try in that inky class.

I added some stitching and an 'arty' sentiment.

It will be nice not to have to set the alarm for tomorrow morning, but what's the betting it will be the one morning when the kids get up really early instead of having a lie in!!

On that note I think I had better turn in.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs Kimx

Another First

Evening All,

It's been another first today.........Jack's first day at Nursery.

He was ready to leave last night, after we got his backpack of spare clothes and his lunch box ready. So we were pleased to see that that same enthusiasm had extended into this morning.

They all woke up early enough this morning to wave Mummy off to work.

And then we had to have the obligatory first day at school photos.

Of course it was also Emma's first day back at school................. and in to Year 2!!!!

Chloe has been so looking forward to showing Jack the ropes at Nursery, they have been chattering about it all this week. She has been telling Jack what he will have to do and how she will be there to look after him.

Thankfully everything went swimmingly. In fact the little ones went into nursery with out so much as a look back or a goodbye to Daddy and myself. It was lovely, but sad at the same time. We both left quickly before they had the chance to change their minds and create a scene.

I know that may sound awful, but over 20 years of childminding taught me that it is usually the parents that have more of a problem dropping off the kids than the kids have leaving the parents. 

If you make a big fuss and hold on for hugs and kisses it always seems to create more of a drama, than if you just drop and run while they are occupied with hanging up their bags and coats.

It seemed to have paid off as we were greeted by thumbs up from the staff when we collected Jack and Chloe in the afternoon. They had settled in beautifully and Jack had been no problem at all.

Let's hope that tomorrow is as easy :O)

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs Kimx

Happy Birthday Bro

Evening All,

It's another milestone birthday today, my little brother is 60!!

This may not be the card that I sent him, but it is a birthday card nonetheless.

I made it last weekend after our class on chalks. This has to be one of my all time favourite Penny Black stamps, and it works beautifully with the ethereal feel of chalks.

I added some stamped sentiments from Pink Frog, along with a few assorted gems.

The blue cardstock has been dry embossed for a little extra interest.

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy September and birthday greetings to my Baby Bro.

Hugs Kimx

Happy Birthday Ammie...Where did 40 years go?

Evening All,

I can't believe how quickly the years are disappearing. Today would have been Adam's 40th birthday.

It seems like only yesterday that he arrived with his shock of dark hair. The weather was definitely warmer then than it has been just lately, in fact we were in the middle of a bit of a heatwave

Today was also the start of an exciting week for two members of our family who are heading off to new careers.

My eldest Granddaughter started her training as a prison officer, and Adam's younger sister became a TA (Teaching Assistant) in a brand new school.

Starting a new job, and making new friends is always a challenging and scary time, but I'm sure that they will both be amazing in their new chosen careers.

What a fabulous way to celebrate what would have been a landmark birthday. 

Happy Birthday Ammie.

Love you Always.

Kimx

Floral Thanks

Evening Everyone,

What on earth has happened to the summer? I can't believe how chilly it has felt today. Much more like October than August in my humble opinion lol.

While prepping for my Chalk class on Saturday, I came across several cards that I had already stamped with a large Thank You text stamp.

I obviously had something in mind when I stamped them, but I can't for the life of me remember what, so they seemed perfect as a backdrop for some chalked floral images.

I do love all the fabulous colours that you can achieve with chalks, and they work particularly well with this solid type of image. I added a bold die cut sentiment to stand out from the background.

As I told you I make a tag for the class, and this was what I created as my visual reminder of what to do with chalks.

I need an early night tonight as I start my week of babysitting and school runs tomorrow. I can see that I will probably need a week off to recover lol.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs Kimx

Bubble Bauble and Bow

Evening All,

I hope that you have had a fabulous Sunday.

Here are the last of the cards that I made using Jane's Bubble Bauble and Bow.

I have used Distress Oxide inks and all sorts of bits and pieces to fill in all the circles in the bauble.

I have made a point of creating a tag for each class, now we are back after lockdown. (I got rather behind with them before everything stopped for Covid) The tag has instructions on the particular technique we are using on one side and then a visual reminder on the other.

Thanks for stopping by.

Crafty hugs Kimx

 

Framed with A Different View

Evening All,

Why is technology so bloody complicated? I have been forced in to getting a new phone since the standard updates on my old one have eaten up ALL of the memory. It has taken the entire afternoon and evening, and help from my Sin-in-law to transfer everything from the old to the new. And people wonder why I hate change lol.

On a brighter note, we had a fabulous class today on Chalks. There were only a few of us, but we had a wonderful time, and everyone came away with plenty of homework, which I will now have to work on tomorrow.

In the absence of chalked cards to share, here are a few created a while ago using a fabulous frame stamp called a 'Different View' from Designer Boutique through Creative Expressions.

I create the panel on this card using dye based inks over white embossing and then die cut LOVE from the center of it. I added a layer of fun foam behind the sentiment and then placed it back in to negative space. The foam makes the sentiment stand out above the rest of the panel.

Similar panel only this time stamped and embossed in black. I die cut LOVE from the center of the panel

and turned it in to a second card.

The background is created using another Designer Boutique stamp called Meadow Life. I trimmed the background panel down,

and created another little card with the leftover piece.

This final card uses the same frame stamp and dye based inks, just in a totally different colour combo.

Thanks for stopping by.

Crafty Hugs 

Kimx

Chalking in Blues

Evening Everyone,

Thank goodness it's Friday, it's been a VERY long week with several ridiculously early starts, so I am really looking forward to class tomorrow where I can relax and have fun with friends.

Here are another couple of cards from my book that use Decorating Chalks. I do love using them on vellum. The only challenge with that is how to attach it to the card. Wrapping it around the card to hid the tape is one way, or covering up the tape with another card panel or gems is another alternative.

I fussy cut a few extra flowers to add to this card and then added some gems.

I can see that I will have to add a sentiment to this one to cover up where the gem is missing. I doubt that I will be able to match it after all these years, so hiding it is the next best thing.

Thanks for stopping by.

Have a great weekend.

Hugs Kimx

A Blast from the Past

Evening All,

We will be playing with Decorators Chalks on Saturday, so here are a few cards made using them.

I was definitely having an orange phase when I made this, which is not my usual colour at all.

I featured chalks in my stamping book, published in 2006 would you believe!!

I think it was actually the chapter that I was most pleased with, and I persuaded them to feature it on the front cover.

Amazingly I still have most of the cards that I made for the book, so I dug them out as inspiration for Saturdays class.

I don't remember where the colour combo came from, but I love all the samples that I did.

I used a combination of card and vellum for the samples. 

Having sorted through all of my wood mounted stamps recently they are now more easily accessible, so I will be able to take a lot of these ones with me to class.

I do love the solid images that Hero Arts and Penny Black favour. I am always drawn to them in any new release.

Another stupidly early start tomorrow, so I'm off to bed.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs Kimx

What do you give a 91 year old?

WARNING PICTURE HEAVY POST

Evening All,

I find that birthday prezzies are always a bit of a challenge, but what on earth do you give a 91 year old?

Several years ago I gave Mum a large box of handmade cards, along with a stash of peel-off sentiments in various colours. 

I have topped it up on several occasions.

So I decided that this year I would give her a new box (aka M&S Shortbread biscuit tin) only this time I would also add in enough postage stamps for each card since it has become so expensive to post them.

I was going to stick the appropriate postage on to each card,

but decided that as she may need to hand deliver some of them,

I would just put L (large) or ST (standard) in the top corner of the envelope so that she would know which stamp she needed if necessary.

I tried to cover most occasions for which she might need a card,

and of course the peel-offs will help her transform one without a sentiment on it already.

Mum writes a good letter,

so I even added in a few notelets.

I finally managed to deliver her gift in person this afternoon,

due to a lift from a good friend.

Of course I also included some thank you cards,

which I'm sure Mum will make good use of.

Typically I couldn't escape work even when I was visiting Mum. I got a phone call from Boss to ask me to get to work at 4am tomorrow morning, so I hope you will understand if I get to bed now.

Hugs Kimx

An Original Bubble Wreath

Evening All,

Regaining my crafty mojo has certainly had a detrimental effect on my gym time. It would appear that I can't seem to manage both!!

I really must try harder, but with a week of babysitting in the offing, both will have to take a backseat for a while. I'm sure that the kids and I will get in a few walks, and there will probably be a bit of crating, of the child friendly variety of course.

Mind you we do need to get more bats and pumpkins die cut for Halloween so that should keep us busy for a little while lol.

While sorting through a pile of cards, I came across this one that I made years ago for the lovely Janice and Andy at SirStampalot.

I used lots of glitter glues and glossy accents on the wreath which was stamped and embossed onto a piece of handmade background paper.

I added some watermarked swirls on the background card along with some spritz shimmer and faux stitching.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs Kimx