'Howdy'

Evening Everyone,
Nearly the end of another week!
Where do they disappear to so quickly?
We has a spot of Disney magic in our house this evening when I babysat the Grandchildren and we finally got to watch Pocahontas 2, or 'Mulan on the Boat' as Saskia calls it!!
Once I got them to bed I just had to finish my card for this weeks 'Howdy' challenge over at Our Creative Corner.
They have this lovely picture to inspire you, and then a few requirements.
Create a card or project with a country or western look. 
Use the photo to inspire you.
-Your project must have something plaid or gingham (checkered/tartan is acceptable too!), such as in a ribbon, or designer paper.
-Most of all, have fun!

Well I certainly did that, I had great fun creating this card to share with you.

The main images are all by Magnolia which are available from SirStampalot as is the lovely Hero Arts Background which I stamped and embossed onto a piece of Gingham paper from my stash.

The bench is 2171H Santa Bench. I cut off the holly and then sat 1482E Farmer Tilda on the bench.
I did some paper piecing with her outfit and then added a couple of tiny buttons. Tilda's Horse 1484F completes the picture. I coloured them using Distress inks.

The greeting is from Lili of the Valley, and I also added a couple of gems to the centre of the flowers.
Definitely a 'Me' card Dorothy as I added 3 buttons tied with twine lol.
Why not check out what the DT have made for the challenge, as always there are some fabulous creations.
Night night
Hugs Kimx

Christmas is just Around the Corner

Evening Everyone
Another Christmas card tonight and this time I used a sketch from Sunday Sketch and Stamp - Challenge 126 Sam's Sketch.
I do find it so much easier if I have a bit of a creative block to have a sketch to follow.
I am so pleased to see that my stash of finished Christmas cards is getting larger by the month. I really must update my tally.
You never know I might even get them written this side of the New Year, although that might be tempting fate lol.

Once again I have used a Lili of the Valley die cut, nestabilities and background papers from my stash.

The snowflakes are stamped and embossed using Frantage Shabby White Embossing Enamel.
I need a lie down now, my sciatica has been dreadful today, so much for a couple of days off to catch up lol.
hugs Kimx

All Wrapped up

 

Evening All
Have you had a good day?
We've had a bit of a laugh at work today giving the Area Manager some much needed till training. I think she secretly quite enjoyed it even if she looked totally petrified most of the time :O)
Another Christmas challenge card to share tonight.
I'm really in Christmas card mode at the moment, or at least I was over the weekend lol.
My card tonight has combined two challenges
Sketch Saturday week 227 and
Craftyhazelnuts Christmas Challenge - All Wrapped Up.

Once again I have used one of the lovely Lili of the Valley die cuts and some circular Nesties.
The background has been made from squares of background paper from my stash.

I added a Hobby Art sentiment and a Martha Stewart punched Snowflake.

Of course no Christmas card is complete without a bit of bling, and so I just had to add some glitter glue and Stardust pen.
Hugs Kimx

CCM challenge 76 - Indian Summer

Evening Everyone
Today sees the start of a new challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers.
Our host this time is Mynnette who has provided us with a colour button for inspiration.
She would like to see a created scene using any nature themed stamps. Digis are also welcome. Examples of nature themed stamps are leaves, grasses, wildflowers, etc.  Anything nature and Indian (late) Summer or Autumn! Plus use only oranges, yellows, and reds for colors although some black/brown and white/cream are allowed as well. 
We are sponsored this time by DI'S DIGI DOWNLOADS.
I'm pleased to say that my couple of days off have meant that I have finally managed to get caught up a little and make a card for this challenge.

Now I do like Nature themed stamps, as you may have noticed, so the difficulty that I had was narrowing down my choice of stamps.
I finally settled on this lovely set from Stampendous SSC1080 Scripty Stems.

The main panel has been made by sponging Brilliance ink pads Pearlescent Yellow, Orange, Poppy and Rocket Red Gold onto white card stock. I then inked up the floral stamp using only Pearlescent Poppy and Rocket Red Gold and stamped this several times onto the panel.

Once this was dry I stamped and embossed the same image using Versamark ink and Frantage Aged Scarlet Embossing Enamel.

Having trimmed the panel to size I embossed the left hand side of it using an Embossing folder and my cuttlebug.
I tied some ribbon around the base of the panel.

The orange coloured background paper is from my stash and has also been stamped and embossed with the Frantage Embossing Enamel.
I also added some gold embossed vellum from my stash and some Card Candi and brads.
The sentiment is from a Hobby Art clear Sentiments set.
I had great fun with this challenge, I hope that you will too. Why not pop across HERE and check out what the rest of the team have come up with.
I look forward to seeing all of your lovely creations.
Happy Crafting.
hugs Kimx

Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer

Evening Everyone
I hope that you have a wonderful weekend.
I have been having a great time chained to my Craft table.
I have managed to get a couple of my DT items finished but there are still a couple more that I need to sort tomorrow on my last day off before things get back to normal on Tuesday.
I think a final lie in might be the order of the day, although I don't like to be too late getting up otherwise it seems like such a waste of a day.

One of the pieces that I managed to finish is this card that I started in class on Saturday.
It is made using a couple of lovely Hobby Art Christmas clear stamp sets.

The reindeer has been coloured with dye based inks and I used Frantage Embossing Enamel on the blue panel.
Hope you like it.
hugs Kimx

A card from Sylvie for the Woodware challenge

Evening Everyone
I have had another lovely day teaching at Davina's where we enjoyed playing with some of the new Christmas stamps from Woodware and Frantage powders.
We also indulged in lots more cake and coffee left over from the Macmillan Coffee Day on Friday which raised a fantastic £252.
It was also Sylvie's birthday so the cake was very appropriate.
Here is a card made by Sylvie for the Woodware challenge.

By co-incidence she has used one of the stamps that we played with today but she has used Distress inks and bleach.

She always does a stirling job for the challenges don't you think.
I think I might call it a night and start fresh tomorrow.
Night night
hugs Kimx

Faux Leather at Technique Tuesday

Evening Everyone
Have you had a good day?
I've had plenty of cake and coffee, and crafting of course lol.
I have been trying for the last few days to get a card made to enter into Mynnette's Technique Tuesday challenge for September, Faux Leather using Masking Tape.
Well today I finally managed to finish it.

The tag has been made using the technique as described by Mynnette HERE.

I added a flower made from petals stamped onto background paper using SSC084 Stampendous Petal Plus.

I added white dots to the flower centers with a Souffle pen.

The petals were rolled to give added dimension, and of course there is plenty of silicon in there as well.

The leaves are a Cheery Lynn die which I cut from the background paper from an 8 x 8 paper pack that I got from Woodware.
I did enjoy this challenge as always, and I noticed that I was amongst the winning showcased cards from the challenge last month.
Sorry I didn't acknowledge the fact Mynnette, I do appreciate being chosen, it has just been a manic couple of weeks.
Better get a couple of hours sleep now before I get back to playing. I don't want to be too tired for class tomorrow.
Night night.
Hugs Kimx

Some Christmas Sparkle

Evening everyone
Boy what a day this has been, I seem to be back working with children - or maybe it just feels like the Grandchildren would make a better job of it than the people I am currently working with!!!!!
Anyway enough moaning, it is the start of a few days off for me, and I intend to craft 24-7.
I am going to take a couple of short breaks, one to teach at Davina's on Saturday, and also to support her Macmillan Tea Party tomorrow.
I thought that I would take a long a couple of prizes and also some cake, M & S I'm afraid, no time to bake too much crafting to do lol.
I have several DT projects all due at a similar time so hopefully these few days will see me get on top of them.

This card was made to enter into the challenge over at Sparkles Christmas Challenge where they are looking for Sparkle and Bling.

Crystal Embossing powder over the main image gives plenty of sparkle as does the lovely Frantage Shabby White Embossing Enamel on the swirls.
Better get some sleep now so that I can get down to the business of serious crafting tomorrow, and of course some cake :O)
hugs Kimx

Be Inspired at Our Creative Corner

Evening Everyone
Sorry I didn't get around to posting this yesterday.
I had a couple of girlfriends round for coffee last night and the time kinda got away from us lol. It was so nice to catchup after the last few frantic weekends.
One of the blogs that I just had to check out on my return was of course the wonderful Our Creative Corner.
I love this blog, it's always a little bit different, and this time is no exception.

There is a picture this time to use for inspiration, and a couple of other points to follow.

         1. Use the photo as inspiration.

         2. Use 2 or more buttons.

         3. Use polka dots somewhere.

I followed the layout of the picture itself to create my background, using some of the lovely new papers that I bought from Woodware.

You see I must have known that I would need some nice soft colours, even if I actually had baby cards in mind when I bought them.

I'm afraid that with all of the rain that we have been having in the last few days I have found it difficult to get any decent photos, but I hope that you get the idea. 

The main image is from a Hobby Art clear stamp set Time for Tea which I have Paper Pieced to match the background.

The tiny floral buttons and pearls are from my stash, and I added some tiny black dots to the circular panel.
I also added white Souffle pen to the cakestand and the icing on the cake.

I rummaged through my button box and found some that matched the papers perfectly.
Now go and check out the Challenge for yourself and see all the wonderful things that the DT have made.
I'll try and post again tomorrow, but I had better not make any rash promises lol.
Night night
Hugs Kimx

Woodware challenge no 69 - Resist Techniques

Evening Everyone
I made it through Monday, and without a nap!! It hasn't been easy as I forgot to take my anti inflammatory tablets with me, so I expect I shall suffer for it tonight but never mind.

I guess that you might have noticed that this has to be one of my favourite Woodware stamps at the moment.
I do love solid image stamps and this one is just so useful.
The new challenge that started today at Woodware is Resist Techniques, another of my favourite things.

I have done a little embossed resist and masking on this card and then stamped the image again using a blue Stazon inkpad.
I'm really pleased with how it has turned out - not bad for what was originally a rejected piece of work, sometimes you just have to keep on playing.

I so wish that my handwriting was like this, Jane is so clever. I have added a few tiny dots which is probably the nearest I get to Zentangle lol.
I've checked out a couple more challenges, so watch this space as they say.
Off to bed now, I'm really starting to flag and my pills haven't kicked in yet. Oh well plenty to catch up on on the Skybox.
See you tomorrow.
Hugs Kimx

Did you miss me??

Hi All
Well I'm back at last, did you miss me??
I would say I'm back to normal, but that would be very far from the truth.
I spent the last couple of weekends before this one going across the country to help out at the fabulous Woodware Retailers Days.
I have been royally looked after, fed and watered, and I even got to look round the warehouse - complete with shopping trolley - well what's a girl to do, it would be rude not to shop after all lol.
There was lots of setting up and packing away and being on your feet all day. All great fun to be involved in but as a consequence of which my sciatica has flared up BIG TIME.
I always find myself shattered after these trips even though I was driven door to door this time by the lovely Jane Gill, but as my back has prevented me from sleeping very well I have come home from work each day and had a lie down for a couple of hours. Blimey I sound like a right old fogey.
Anyway all crafting has gone completely out of the window, as has blogging for that matter. It's amazing how, as soon as I failed in my attempt to blog everyday this year, it became easier to leave posting in favour of sleep.
Still I hope now to get back into it as I have so much to catch up with.

I did check out a couple of the challenges this morning and although this is very late I felt that I had to enter the Woodware challenge, especially after I was so well looked after.

In case you hadn't guessed the challenge was Orange and Brown and I used coffee to spritz the card for the main image, as well as painting the flowers with it.

The spotty background paper was amongst my purchases, as was the Frantage Aged Bronze Embossing Enamel that I have used around the edge of the central panel.

The floral button in the centre of the spotty ribbon bow is one of the lovely new ones which also found it's way into my shopping trolley.
Well, I can see that things are definitely getting back to normal, here I am blogging when I should be sound asleep lol.
I do hope that normal service has now been resumed and that you have not been too disappointed by my long absense.
Thank you for stopping by, and to all my lovely followers both new and old.
hugs Kimx

Sorry I've been MIA....

Evening Everyone,
Well there goes my attempt to blog every day this year!!
I'm sorry that I have been MIA but you know me and technology.
I have been away from home for a few days with lots of wonderful Crafting Buddies at the Woodware Retailers workshops. They included Fran from Stampendous, Lynell from Dreamweaver, Jane Gill, Francoise Read, Dorothy and not forgetting Judith, the owner of Woodware.
Of course we have been incredibly busy so there hasn't really been any time to blog during the day, and then come the evening I just could not get logged on, so that as they say was the end of that.

On the last leg of our journey to Thame, where the workshops were being held, we met up with Dorothy from Woodwear at A Maze of Memories.
Now those of you that follow the Woodware challenges, and shame on you if you don't cause the DT come up with some fabulous ideas, will know that the Ladies from AMOM are always joining in, so it was lovely to finally get to meet some of them in the flesh.
The store is a veritable treasure trove of supplies, and of course I just had to make a few purchases.
Well it would be rude not to don't you think lol.

They also have this amazing classroom area which we were all extremely jealous of.
We were greeted with Tea and a slice of Gingerbread which was extremely welcome, and ended up having to sustain us until very late as we spent the next several hours after our visit, setting up the Hall at Thame for the workshops the following day.
After set up was finally complete we made a mad dash to The Six Bells pub right near the Hall,  but only just made it before the kitchens closed so you can tell how late we were.
I'm hoping that next weekend will be slightly less frantic since we are travelling up to Skipton on the Friday, and I know what I am doing this time, which is always a bonus.
I also get to see the Woodware Warehouse, so I will be a bit like a kid in a sweetie shop. I'm told they even have a shopping trolly. I wonder if they got that especially for me lol.
The Thame workshops were all a little nerve racking for me since I was there to learn the classes so that I can teach them in Grassington.
Not all of them you understand.
The lovely Stephanie who was there representing Clearsnap is unable to stay for the Grassington dates so I was thrilled to be asked if I would step in and take her place.
I feel much happier now I know what is expected of me, the fear of the unknown is always terrifying isn't it.
Anyway I need to get an early night tonight as I have a couple of days work at the garage before we set out for Skipton, and I have so much to catch up on.
I doubt that I will get the chance to check out any of the blogs, let alone enter the challenges, or leave any comments, but I'll be back, as Arnie would say, so for now its Goodnight from Me.
Hugs Kimx

Challenge at The Stampman

Hello All
I hope that you are having a great Friday, and that Blogger is playing the game and has published this for me without incident.
(Amended to read - It helps if you don't try and shedule a post in Draft, I'll learn one day lol)
I am going to have to rely on him quite a bit over the next couple of weeks as I will be away from my craft room and I'm not even sure if I will have access to my laptop at all!!
Today sees the start of another new challenge at The Stampman - Summer Sizzlers - Use hot colours!

I seem to be in real Resist mode at the moment and this card came to me as I was serving at work. It's amazing what you can jot on the back of a receipt in between customers lol.

I stamped and embossed Stampendous CRP147-R Butterfly Post onto glossy card stock using Onyx Black Versafine ink and clear embossing powder.

Next I masked the image and stamped Artemio Clear set - Hedgerow Plants across the entire piece of card using Versamark ink.

Remove the main mask, add a circular mask in the corner of the image and sponge the entire panel with Distress Ink Pads - Mustard Seed, Rusty Hinge, Spiced Marmalade and Barn Door.
Remove the circular mask, replace the main one and ink the Hedgerow Plants using the same distress inks with the addition of Crushed Olive.

When you have finished stamping the images, remove the mask and emboss using clear embossing powder.

Trim the panel to fit a large white card and add a strip of torn vellum stamped and embossed with Happy Birthday from Woodware Clear Magic JGCL560 Just to Say.
I added some brads and ink to the edge of the vellum along with the  butterfly which I had stamped and embossed onto white cardstock and coloured with the same inks.
I attached it with silicon to add a little dimension to the project.
I also added some Card Candi and a little Glossy Accents.
I hope that you like it and that you will feel inspired to enter our challenge HERE with a Summer Sizzler of your own.
Have a great weekend, lets hope that it remains sunny for a few more days.
Hugs Kimx

'Will you do me the Greatest Honour...........'

Evening Everyone
Are you having a good week? I am getting really excited because I am off to the Woodware Retail weekend  on Saturday with my friend Jane Gill.
Before I go I think I will be chained to my laptop trying to organise some posts just in case I can't blog.
It has become a major addiction and I have managed every day this year bar one, so it would be a shame to mess that up.
I don't usually make the same card more than once as those of you that know me will know, so the card(s)  that I am sharing tonight are a real labour of love.

My lovely new friend Vicky asked me to make cards for her Bridesmaids.
We got together over coffee to thrash out some ideas, and choose stamps, and then the rest was up to me!!

I had to make 5 cards for her 'Girls', each with their name on the outside and a request inside for them to be Bridesmaid, Maid of Honour or Chief Bridesmaid. What a lovely and very unique way to ask for their help on her special day!!

Vicky told me exactly what words she wanted on the front of each card and I printed them out from my computer - it's the nearest I get to 'doing digi's' lol.

The main image is 'My Mother's Dress' which was all the rage many years ago.
Cream, Gold and Sage are the colours that Vicky has chosen for her Big Day so were the perfect choice for the Bridesmaid cards.

I used 8"x8" cards and stamped and embossed the background using a lovely Hobby Art flower stamp, versamark and Frantage Aged Ivory Embossing Enamel.

The Sage green panel was dry embossed using a Butterfly embossing folder and then cut out using a Nestie.
I added a little Gold Metallic Rub-on and some Stardust pen.
Each card has a dotted border added along with tiny gold peel-off dots, some larger metallic dots and a name.

Each card had this on the inside (personalised according to the position they were asked to fill) and then Vicky was adding her own sheet of instructions.
I asked her today if they had all been delivered and she said that they had and that they had made each of the girls cry......in a good way I have to add.
Better try and get to bed now. Only two more sleeps till I'm off to Woodware, as my Grandchildren would say.
By the way I just wanted to say a HUGE thank you for all the truly wonderful comments that have been left for me recently.
I do try and pop by before I publish them to say a personally thank you but I knew that this was just not possible at the moment so I say it once again  THANK YOU ALL xx
hugs Kimx