Friendship Challenge at Crafty Cardmakers

Evening Everyone,
Today we started a new challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers where our host Yvonne  has chosen the theme 'Friendship'.
She would like to see the word 'Friend' 'Friends' or 'Friendship' included somewhere on your card/project.
We are sponsored this time by SATURATED CANARY with 2 of their gorgeous digis and and SIR STAMPALOT with two fabulous prizes:-Hero Arts Fancy Friendship Stamp Sheet and 'Our Friendship' single stamp.
I'm  sorry that I am so late with my post for the challenge but I have been busy with class prep and tea making duties. 
I am actually staying with the lovely Janice and Andy (owners of SirStampalot) at the moment so I chose a Magnolia stamp Poppy Tilda, which is exclusive to them, for my card.

I coloured her, before I set off on my holiday, using my Distress Markers and then matched her to papers from the shop.
One of the best things about being here, apart from the company of course, is being able to find exactly what I need to finish a project.
Of course it is not so good for the bank balance, but it is my holiday after all, so I will just have to worry about it next month.

I managed to find background papers to match my colouring, as well as Co-ordinations card stock which I cut out using one of my Nesties.

The flowers are all cut out using a new Sizzix die that I bought.
I added the sentiment from a Hobby Art stamp set, as Yvonne requested.
I hope that you will find time to join us HERE.
Better get to bed now, another early start tomorrow and a class in the evening.
Thanks for stopping by.
hugs Kimx

Finally a card to share for Technique Time Tuesday

Evening Everyone,
And another very late one at that. Still I  finally have some pictures to share with you.
I try and check out the technique each month that Mynnette shares with everyone over at Technique Time Tuesday. This month it is the Brick Wall Technique.

I thought that I would give it a go using a piece of artwork from my bits box, and so I chose this water coloured image made using Distress Ink pads and a spritzing bottle.

Check out the tutorial at Technique Time Tuesday for good step by step instructions.
The little green flowers have been made using a couple of my new Marianne dies, purchased at SirStampalot of course.
The lovely 'Molly Blooms Clare' showed me how to make fluffy pink flower, and I introduced her to the die for the leaves, a very fair trade I think, although my tip made her spend more money lol.

I wasn't sure how well this would work with a sentiment already stamped on the original panel, but I am very pleased with the results.

More flowers. The dies come in two different sizes which makes them really good value.
I will have to edit this tomorrow with all the links, I am just too tired tonight.
Night night
Kimx

Playtime finally!

Evening Everyone,
How's your weekend going?
I have had another lovely day here at SirStampalot where Clare has been demoing her Molly Blooms stamps.
At 10am, when the demo started, she was worried that no one was going to come and see her, and by 11am the place was heaving. I really earned my dinner tonight running up and down the stairs to fetch items from the warehouse.
I now have my craft table set up in the shop so tomorrow I finally get to play!
I have so many ideas running around in my head at the moment, I just hope that I can sort them all out and turn them into actually items.
We had a lovely meal at Frankie and Benny's tonight so I am absolutely stuffed.
Definitely time for bed.
hugs Kimx

Tea Lady and Runner!!

Evening Everyone,
I hope that you have had a good day. I have had a lovely start to my holiday.
The weather has been better than expected, no snow so far, and the unit has been nice and warm. I was warned to bring my thermals and a granny blanket for when I get to sit and play, but so far so good, I haven't needed either. Of course that will probably mean 6 inches of snow tomorrow, me and my big mouth lol.
I have not had much chance to play yet as we had a class today with the lovely 'Molly Blooms' Clare Rowlands, so I have been runner (for stock) and tea lady. I know my place lol.
She will be demoing the new collection in the shop tomorrow, so I won't get my craft table set up till the evening.
Never mind it will give me plenty of time to check out all of the wonderful things in the shop, and decide on which stamps to use in my classes next Tuesday and Friday. Of course that will then mean that I will just have to play to get samples made. Oh dear what a hard life :O)
Hope to see some of you in the shop tomorrow, stop by for a look round and a cuppa.
Bye for now,
Hugs Kimx

The Countdown is over..........

.................my holiday starts now.
I can't believe how quickly November has turned into March and I am back in Peterboro for my bi-annual crafting fix at SirStampalot.
I already have a tab running on the till, and lots of wonderful new goodies to look at. The Penny Black delivery arrived this morning so I can see some more items finding their way into my shopping basket.
No time for card making today what with work and travel so I will have to share tomorrow.
Better get some sleep, it's going to be a very busy week.
Night night.
hugs Kimx

Have a Great Birthday Barbara

Evening All
Just a very quick post tonight as I am frantically packing for my trip to SirStampalot tomorrow after work.
I'm bound to forget something vital, so long as it isn't my guillotine I can cope lol.

 Today is lovely Barbara Gray's birthday, so this is the card that is winging it's way to her.

 Of course I had to use Clarity stamps, anything else would be just rude don't you think :O)

I have used versamark and decorating chalks and some tiny gems and ribbon.
I would like to enter it into the new challenge that Clarity have started HERE.
This month the theme is Anything Goes.
I hope that Barbara has had a fabulous day, and has been spoilt rotten, I don't suppose she has sat and done nothing though, that is definitely not her style lol.
Off to bed now, well, after a bit more list checking.
Road trip tomorrow, I can't wait.
hugs Kimx

Let's hope spring is just around the corner.

Evening Everyone,
What a change in weather we have had today. It started with several inches of snow on the ground when I left for work this morning, and ended with beautiful sunshine, no snow but a biting wind that chills you to the bone. Good old England, never a dull moment on the weather front.
I hope that it doesn't put in a return appearance before Thursday, it would be so nice to have a straight forward drive to Peterboro.
It seemed appropriate to post a Christmas card this evening, but I changed my mind at the last minute and decided to share a far more spring like card with you.

Let's hope a scene like this is just around the corner.
Hugs Kimx

Spring Flowers at Woodware

Evening Everyone,
Well that was a bit of a shock this morning when I left for work, (I don't listen to the weather or news) I did not expect to find snow. The last two Mondays have been glorious.
I haven't really felt like crafting this afternoon, too tired and too cold!!, but I did notice that the new challenge at Woodware was Spring Blooms.

Now I'm not sure that this actually counts, but it is the nearest to something bright and colourful that I could find amongst the cards that I haven't blogged yet.

I'm hoping that I will get a chance to make something tomorrow, although I've started the countdown to my trip to SirStampalot, so I may be too excited to get anything done other than make lists of what I need to take with me!!
As Janice put it in her e-mail, only 4 dinners, 3 breakfasts and 3 lunches to go till I arrive.
Well one less dinner now anyway lol.
Let's hope that it is spring flowers not inches of snow that greet me tomorrow, but I won't hold my breathe.
Night night.
Hugs Kimx

More Chalks for Dynamic Duo and Sketch Saturday

Evening Everyone,
I hope that all you Mums out there have been suitably spoilt with plenty of cups of tea or coffee and dinner cooked for you lol.
I have had a nice relaxing day but now I must get an early night. I have to be at work for 5am tomorrow since we have a stock take and I have to make sure that all of the invoices are booked in before they can start!!!

This is a card that I made after class yesterday using Versamark and Decorating Chalks.

The stamp is a lovely Hero Arts cling stamp and I have chosen my colours from Dynamic Duos where they want Sky Blue and Green Grass.

The sentiment is from a Hobby Art clear stamp set and I have stamped and embossed it in the centre of the chalked panel.

I added some gems and assembled the card following the challenge over at Sketch Saturday with some strips of punched card and spotty ribbon..

Better get to bed now or I will never get up in time, it is always so hard on a Monday without being an hour earlier than normal.
Hugs Kimx

A class in Chalks

Evening Everyone,
I hope that you have all had a good day.
I had another lovely class at Davina's  this afternoon, where we were playing with Versmark and Decorating Chalks.

Once again we made a technique tag to add to their book. This time it showcased the chalks as well as a recap on Faux Stitching and 'Shrivelled Ribbon'.
A good time was had by All, as they say.

It is always amazing to see how many different pieces of artwork can come out of working with the same stamps and boxes of chalk.

We also had a winner amongst our number. Sylvie won the Woodware challenge last month, and was able to spend her prize money this afternoon.
I'm not sure what she finally chose, but I know that she will have fun playing when she gets home.
I on the other hand will have to wait until tomorrow to play since I went straight from class to join my youngest daughter for an early Mother's Day meal.
I hope that all you lovely Mums have a fabulous day tomorrow and are suitable spoilt, or at the very least get to have some craft time while the rest of the family cook the dinner lol.
hugs Kimx

A Birthday Mini

Evening Everyone,
Well so much for some sunshine to cheer everyone up, it has been pouring with rain here, all day!!
At least the shop has looked beautifully spring like since it is filled with flowers for Mother's Day.
I have to admit that it has caught me out this year, I thought it was next weekend, but I have been a good girl and got my card in the post so maybe Mum will get it tomorrow. That would be a first, a card that is early lol.

One of the customers at work asked me to make a card for her Hubby who is heavily in to Mini cars.
I did struggle to find anything at the show last week, and then I remembered one of my LOTV toppers.

I made my card using the sketch over at Sketch Saturday, although once again I am too late to enter the challenge.

The sentiments in the background are from a Woodware stamp designed by Jane Gill, and have been stamped and embossed onto paper from a GCD 8x8 pad using Smokey Grey Versafine ink pad and clear embossing powder.

The black card stock on the left has been embossed and then sanded using a Tim Holtz Cogs and Wheels folder, and the silver card has been embossed using a folder that reminds me of a manhole cover.

I added a sentiment, part of a Hobby Art stamp, and some brads that look like the heads of screws, as well as glossy accents and faux stitching.
Let's hope the weather at the weekend is better, although I suspect that is a vain hope.
Have a great one anyway.
hugs Kimx

Wishing you a Speedy Recovery

Evening everyone,
I have had to make a couple of Get well cards recently.

This one is for the Dad of a close friend who had a nasty fall down the stairs and is still in hospital.
I raided my 'Bits Box' and found this lovely floral panel made with one of my favourite Penny Black stamps, distress inks and glimmer mists.
I made it quite some time ago, so I won't even try and remember what colours I used.

The sentiment is from an Imagination Thinking of You stamp set.

The purple background panel has been stamped with both inks and thin undiluted bleach using an Artemio stamp set. I then ran the entire thing through my Grand Caliber inside a new M-Bossabilities Folder 'Dainty Dots'.
I also added some gems to the main panel. Well, even a man can have a little bling to cheer him up don't you think.
Let's hope that there is a bit of sunshine tomorrow which I'm sure would help as well.
Thanks for stopping by, it really is appreciated.
Hugs Kimx

Happy Birthday to You

Evening everyone,
Have you had a good day? I can't believe we are half way through yet another week.
This is a card that I have made for the daughter of one of the Girls at work.

I have coloured the stamped and embossed flowers with Coffee.

I hope the young lady sees the funny side of this, since her Mum works in the Wild Bean Cafe making the coffee lol.

I added some Glossy Accents and punched leaves.
I would like to enter it into the challenge over at Cuttin and Stampin where they want to see 'Flowers'.
Forever Friends are also looking for Lots of Flowers.
Hugs Kimx

There is a new Challenge Blog at Lavinia Stamps

Evening Everyone,
Hasn't it been another lovely bright and sunny day.
At least it has been here in Surrey, no doubt that will mean rain tomorrow, I'm not sure that we Brits can cope with more than two sunny days in a row lol.
Why is it that work seems so much longer after a couple of days off. Of course it may also have had something to do with the fact that at 9 o'clock last night I suddenly remembered that my work uniform was still in the wash and I had to stay up till it was finished!!

One of the stands that I visited at the show on Saturday was Lavinia Stamps.
I have owned several of their stunning fantasy style stamps for a while, but as I don't teach classes using them they are neglected when it comes to playtime.

All that changed on Saturday when I discovered that they have started a new Challenge Blog  where this month the challenge is Anything Goes.

Of course I had added a couple more floral stamps to my stash, and so I decided that I needed to play with them and enter the challenge.

I have used my Distress Markers here which work so perfectly when painted directly onto the polymer stamps, no 'puddling' like you get with ordinary markers or dye based ink pads.
They also remain wet enough when stamped to enable you to emboss the image as I have done here.

I cut the central panel by hand and layered it over Nestie Floral Ovals. I added Peeled Paint Distress ink to the frame as well as some tiny gems. I also added some 'shrivelled ribbon', faux stitching and tiny dots.

I took my colours from the challenge over at Dynamic Duos where they are looking for Dark Green and Yellow.
I would also like to enter this into the challenge at Make My Monday where they are looking for projects Inspired by Nature.
They are also looking for Lots of Flowers at Forever Friends.
Oh dear, it has got very late again, better get to bed.
Thanks for stopping by.
Hugs Kimx

Masculine Challenge at Crafty Cardmakers

Hi All
Happy Monday, and welcome to the latest challenge at Crafty Cardmakers where our host Rebecca has chosen 'Masculine Birthday' as her theme. 

She would like to see a masculine birthday card that includes some technology or a gadget. The technology or gadget could be a computer, games console, rocket or car for example.

We are sponsored this time by DI'S DIGI DOWNLOADS who are offering a $10 Gift Voucher,and THE STAMPMAN  who are offering the winner a £10 voucher for their online store.

I have chosen to use a lovely Lili of the Valley die cut for my card.
I must admit that it was one of the first stands that I headed for at the show on Saturday, and was probably where I spent the most money lol.

This could well be a picture of one of my Grandsons who like nothing better than playing on a games console. I added some Glossy Accents to the TV screen for added reality.

I have cut the image out using a Nestie and added it to the background papers using the sketch at Sunday Sketch and Stamp.
(Edited : That will teach me not to read the challenge instructions before I made the card. I love the sketch but I know that my card won't count as there is no stamping on it . Never mind I will try again sometime)

I have also added some gingham ribbon, Card Candi and brads that look like spanners.
The challenge at Here Come the Boys is 'No Stamps Allowed' which really is a challenge for me.
I'm hoping that this die cut will count as one of the DT used one on their card.

Once again I have added some faux stitching, I really must get to grips with my sewing machine for my cards.
I would also like to enter this into the challenge at Creative Corner Challenges where they are looking for Designer Papers, well there are definitely plenty of those lol.
Don't forget to stop by and see what the rest of the team have come up with, there are some fabulous cards there.
Have a great day and enjoy the sunshine. Well we have some here anyway.
Happy Crafting
Hugs Kimx

Christmas Bargello

Evening Everyone,
Wow another weekend has flown by, where do the days disappear to?
I have managed to get a couple of things finished at least, and we have finally got around to watching a few episodes of Sinbad that we taped sometime last year. What an exciting life I lead lol.

This is one of that cards that I have made as part of my Christmas card tally for February.
I didn't get off to a very good start in January since I only managed to make two Christmas cards, thank goodness for the ones that I had left over from last year.

The central stamped image is from a Magenta cling stamp set available through stockists of Woodware products. I have stamped and embossed it and painted it using Distress inks.

The background is Paper Bargello and is made from scraps of background paper.
It is also one of the classes that I will be teaching when I am at Sirstampalot in a couple of weeks time.
I would like to enter this into the following challenges
ABC Christmas Challenge where D is for Designer Papers
Weekly Christmas Card Challenges where Anything Goes
hugs Kimx

Thank you Sue and Gill

Hi All
I hope that you have had a good day.
I have had a fabulous time at the Make It show at Farnborough. Thank you Sue and Gill for doing all the driving.

I really can't remember the last time that I was at a Craft Show as a Demonstrator, let alone as a punter.
It was so lovely to see everyone there, and quite amazing how many people came up and said Hello.
I'm sorry if I didn't remember all of your names, you meet so many people over the years, but it was so nice to see that you remembered me.
Of course I have come home with a rather large crafty stash, well it would have been rude not to shop don't you think?

I made this card a while ago using some handmade inky background and a silhouette stamp.
I have added several more silhouette style stamps to my stash from the lovely Lavinia and Hubby and was pleased to see that they have now started a Challenge Blog. Of course this means that I will now have a very good excuse for playing with some of my new purchases.

The background to this card was made with strips of paper from my stash which has now been expanded by several beautiful paper pads.
I have to say that one thing that never ceases to amaze me at the shows is the difference in price that can be found for the same item.
It can be so frustrating when you find the item that you have just bought at the stand round the corner several pounds cheaper.
I'll get off my soapbox now and get some sleep so that I can play with some of my new toys tomorrow.
Night night
hugs Kimx

Kraft for Addicted to Stamps

Evening Everyone
I hope that you have had a lovely day, I have.
I spent another lovely Friday afternoon at Davina's in Purley.
It will be her birthday on Sunday so Sylvie and I popped along with cards, flowers and flapjacks to help her celebrate, even if it is a few days early.
We actually spent far longer there than either of us had anticipated. That's what happens when you get amongst good company, but it has meant that I haven't managed to get any crafting done at all today.
Never mind, maybe I will manage some tomorrow when I get back from the show at Farnborough. I will be loaded down with crafty ideas I'm sure, if not crafty stash lol.

My card tonight has been made to enter into the challenge at Addicted to Stamps where they are looking for Kraft. As you can tell I have been having way too much fun with this lovely Poinsettia stamp set from Woodware.

I stamped and embossed the larger flowers onto a piece of Kraft card using Eggplant pigment ink and clear embossing powder. I then added some more images using second generation ink and Terracotta and Evergreen pigment ink. All the colours came from one of the Colourbox Q's.

The sentiment has been stamped using Gathered Twigs Distress ink, and then I have sponged the entire panel with more ink (Antique Linen, Gathered Twigs and Vintage Photo Distress inks) to give it a more distressed look.
I added some Faux stitching to the edge of the panel using a fine black pen, and then added Platinum Glitter Glue to the flower centres.
Need to get some sleep now as I have lots of walking to do tomorrow at the show. I can't wait. I honestly can't remember the last time I was at a show as a member of the public so it will be quite a new experience lol.
Have a great weekend.
Hugs Kimx