Is it a Birthday or a Christmas card?

Evening Everyone
I hope you have had a good day.
Why is it that I always start off with the intention of dropping in on my wonderful blogging buddies, and then I get carried away with my card making, and here we are with another late post and no commenting done!!
I would say that I will try and do better but I just know that I will fall at the first hurdle, the half finished card on my desk will draw me in and I will be lost to my craft room once again lol.

I'm not sure whether my card tonight should be classed as a card for a Winter Birthday, or a Christmas Card.
Perhaps with a well placed sentiment it could be used for either.
I found the central panel in my bits box when I was searching for inspiration for our current challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers. This is to choose 3 from a list of 6 techniques to use on your project.
As one of them is masking you see why this panel was among the possibilities for my card.

The image has been stamped and embossed onto a piece of background paper made using the Faux Mother of Pearl technique.
I added a masked moon to the background before I applied my dye based ink.

All the other papers are from my stash, and I used the sketch at CLP Challenges for my layout.

I think the pine branch at the bottom of the card is what gives it it's Christmassy feel.

I must confess to a bit of a double take when I opened the door this morning, but fortunately our 'Snow' is distinctly pink and floral (Cherry Blossom) unlike the poor souls in Devon and Cornwall who woke to the real thing according to the papers.
Better stop now. I will get around to all of your wonderful blogs, but as I still have to finish my class prep for Saturday, I doubt it will be tomorrow. You see I'm a lost cause already :O)
Night night.
Hugs Kimx

On Your Wedding Day

Evening Everyone,
Well I survived my first day back at work, and without a Granny Nap as well. I even managed to finish off a couple of things on my desk, this can't continue lol.
The house has been very quiet this evening as the family have gone to a Wedding reception.

I made this card for the happy couple, I hope that they like it.
The image is a Lili of the Valley die cut, one of my favourites for a Wedding card.
I have used a Martha Stewart punch around the page to create a border for the card and then matched it to a background paper from my stash.

 The flowers are made using Spellbinders dies and card stock.

I added a DooHickey die cut tag and heart as well as a Lili of the Valley sentiment.
Yes Gill I did have to make a box for it,but I hope that it is something that they will treasure.
I still have all my Wedding cards in a box, along with a telegram that arrived on the day, something for the History books given that they don't exist any more lol.
Oh boy look at the time, better get to bed.
hugs Kimx

It's a Basic (Grey) Matching Set

Evening Everyone.
What a miserable day it has been, definitely good crafting weather, no excuses to go outside in the wet.
I feel that I have had a very productive couple of days, which is just as well as my new parcel from Barbara has just arrived so I will have to get my thinking cap on.
I even managed to get several Christmas cards made, which I am very pleased about.
The challenge this week at The Friday Mashup has been 'It's a Matching Set'.
Amy, the host,  has devised a little tutorial showing how to create a set of cards out of 4 matching pieces of background paper.

The background on my card tonight has been made following this.
I selected my papers from 3 Basic Grey 6x6 paper pads - Archaic, Matifica (I think that is what it says I need a magnifying glass to read it really!) and Basic Kraft, since the challenge over at Basic Grey Challenges is Mix and Match

I picked one of my Lili of the Valley die cuts, Nesties and Kraft card stock to complete the card.

I added a punched border and one of my lovely new flowers which finally arrived from The Ribbon Girl.
The parcel was delivered on time, just to the wrong address!!! But I have to say that it was well worth the wait as the flowers are gorgeous.

I decided that I would use the other background panels to make a couple more 'Kids Cards' for my stash.
We seem to be starting the round of birthday parties so I am sure that they will come in handy.
I didn't get the chance to finish them all off but I have most of the elements ready as you can see.
Back to the grind tomorrow, so I really ought to get some sleep.
I can see a Granny nap will be in order tomorrow. It's amazing how tired a couple of days off can make you lol.
hugs Kimx

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge 91 Choose Three Different Techniques

Evening Everyone
It's the start of another challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers .
I had intended posting this so much earlier, but Grandchildren duties took over and I am as late with it as ever.
Our host is Sharon who has asked to see 3 different techniques on your card or project. 
Take your pick of 3 from the following list and be sure to state which 3 you've used:

• Embossing (wet or dry)
• Distressing
• Masking
• Making your own flowers
• Paper piecing/patchwork
• Shrink plastic

We are sponsored this time by Milk Coffee Digital Stamps with a prize of 5 digis from their store, and SirStampalot with a fabulous new Fran-tage Mica Fragments kit from Stampendous.

 For my card I chose to use a selection of stamps available from SirStampalot and some MASKING.

The central masked panel looks much more complicated than it actually is.
I learnt this particular technique from the lovely Barbara Gray, and I'm sure that it is on one of her DVD's except I'm not sure which one.

My second chosen technique is DRY EMBOSSING.
Of course heat embossing crept in there as well, always my favourite thing to do with my stamps.

My third technique is MAKE YOUR OWN FLOWERS.
I used a lovely Spellbinders set, Chrysanthemums I think.

The tiny leaves are the left overs from the punched border across the middle of the card.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges

Crafty Calenders - Blooms and Blossoms

Our Creative Corner - Anything Goes

My Sheri Crafts - Flower Power

I hope that you will feel inspired to join us HERE, but please don't forget to follow the rules or I'm afraid we will have to delete you, and we don't want to do that lol.

I have one final day off tomorrow, and no babysitting duties, so I hope to get a few more cards finished. 

You never know I might even manage a Christmas card or two. I confess I have been very lax so far this year, and I did so well up to this time last year.

Off to bed now, night night.

Hugs Kimx

Finally a card for the Woodware Sketch

Evening Everyone,
I hope that you have had a lovely weekend, despite the weather.
I have managed to finish several cards, including a couple for Kids party emergencies lol.
I even managed to make a card for the Woodware Sketch Challenge.
I feel that I have been woefully neglecting these challenges over the last couple of weeks, a situation that I intend to rectify.

I have been trying to use up some of the previously made pieces from my 'bits box'.

The main panel has been made from a piece of copy paper that I had in the bottom of my 'Spray Booth'. It is mostly covered in Glimmer Mists, but there is probably some dye based Adirondack sprays in there as well.
You see crafters never waste anything.
I painted the sky with undiluted bleach and added some Paper Pieced leaves.

The sentiment is from a Woodware clear set designed by Jane Gill and I have stamped the gingham background with an Artemio swirl stamp.

The buttons are also from Woodware, and I have added some tiny white dots with a Gelly Roll glaze pen.
The sketch challenge runs for the whole of May so you still have plenty of time to join in, and don't forget to drop by tomorrow to see what the new weekly challenge is.
Hugs Kimx

Schools Out

Evening Everyone
Well today has definitely been crafting weather, it has been pouring with rain here.
I have been busy with some DT work for Monday so fortunately I had a 'Girly' card in my box for Saskia, my youngest Granddaughter, to take to a party today.
My Grandson Reece also has a party to go to tomorrow so I had time to make this for him to give to his friend Daniel.

The main image is one of my Lili of the Valley die cuts, and I made a piece of background paper following the tuitorial by the lovely  Crafty Lou over at Lili of the Valley.

The grass was cut from cardstock using a DooHickey die.

I added peel-off letters to the flags which were also cut using a DooHickey die.
I would like to enter this into the challenge over at Allsorts where they are looking for 'Any Sport'.
Also at TTT Challenges Schools out for Summer so they are looking for Kids themed projects.
I think I had better get a few more 'Kids' cards made as I can see that we are starting the round of birthday parties. In fact I think I might go and finish one right now, after all it is Sunday tomorrow and I can have a lie in.
Night, night.
Hugs Kimx

Embossed Resist Flowers

Evening Everyone
I hope that you have had a good day.
I have been on a shopping trip with my Mum and daughter, so crafting has taken a bit of a back seat. Never mind there is always tomorrow.

One of my all time favourite techniques is Embossing, so I had great fun creating the panel on this card which has been made using an Embossed Resist technique.

The main image is a penny Black stamp, and the colours have been provided by pigment ink Cats Eye pads.
The background papers are from my stash, and the sentiment is from Hobby Art.
Have a great weekend.
Happy Crafting

Forever Friends

Evening Everyone
Amongst the many projects that I have been working on just recently have been some samples for the lovely Janice and Andy at SirStampalot

This one was made using a Penny Black wood mounted stamp, Versamark ink and Decorating Chalks.

The main panel was cut out using a Nestie and the sentiment and dragonflies were added from a clear stamp set. The background papers are from my stash.
I'm hoping to catch up on a few more DT projects over the next couple of days.
Well it is wet and miserable here so that is a good excuse to stay indoors, if ever I needed one lol.
Happy Crafting
Kimx

It's all in the Sentiment at Clarity

Evening Everyone
Are you well?
This month Clarity have a new challenge 'It's all in the Sentiment'
I have been lucky enough to have been making samples for Barbara for a few years now, and there never seems to be enough time to share all of them with you. So I thought that I would remind you of a card that I made for her way back in 2010.

I hope that my photography has improved a little since then.

The challenge asks for the sentiment to be the focus.

I have used What is this Life and Grasses 2 along with some white heat embossing, inks and vellum.

Don't forget to join in with us as there is a fabulous prize, a £50 voucher to spend on Clarity stamps. Who couldn't manage to spend that lol.

I would also like to enter this into the challenge at Word Art Wednesday.

I'm off to bed now.

hugs Kimx

Happy 3rd Birthday

Evening Everyone
I hope you survived your first day back at work after the Bank Holiday. It was definitely a little quieter at work today.
As I told you May 1st is a very special day in our household. So much so that another birthday boy got missed. This is the card that I made for him.

A Lili of the Valley diecut, nesties and background papers from my stash.
The line of trees is a Memory Box die that I bought recently, and the sentiment is part of one of my favourite Hobby Art stamps.
Well so much for my early night. Must try harder lol.
hugs Kimx

Happy Anniversary with Outlines

Evening Everyone
I hope that you have had a good Bank Holiday.
It has been mentally busy at work today, queueing out the doors!! so I am absolutely shattered.
We did managed to have a lovely BBQ this evening, and sit outside in the garden to eat it, which is a first for this year.
I have a pile of cards ready to go in the post box tomorrow so I will share one of them.

A very simple card for me using some handmade background paper, an Outlines Rubber stamp and some Gelly Roll Glaze pens.

I cut the panel in half, so I managed to get two cards out of it.
Must get some sleep now. I feel positively stuffed after all of that food.
hugs Kimx

April Showers bring May Flowers

Evening Everyone,
Have you had a good weekend? Isn't it scary to see where this year is disappearing to.
I had all these grand plans to keep on top of everything, and that certainly hasn't happened.
One of the plans that has bitten the dust is to make sure that I have my DT work done in plenty of time. Unfortunately life takes over and with the best of intentions it just doesn't happen.

One such card was this one which was supposed to have been ready last weekend for the challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers.
Tracey has chosen the theme 'April Showers bring May Flowers', and would like to see something rain related  with at least two flowers.
I managed to find a lovely Gorguss Girls decoupage sheet, complete with background paper, among my stash. Who knew that I had that lol.

I cut the image out using a nestie to which I added some Faux Stitching.
The fence is a DooHickey die, and the umbrella is a new Clarity stamp which I also used on the background paper stamping it with Milled Lavender Distress Ink.

The flowers are also Nestabilities dies and the sentiment is from Hobby Art.
I added a little Glossy Accents to the puddle and the rain drops.
I'm really pleased with how it turned out, I just wish I had got it made in time for the challenge.
There is still time to enter so why not pop over and check it out HERE.
I would also like to enter it into the challenge at Wags and Whiskers where they are looking for Girly Birthdays, and Forever Friends Monthly Challenge where Anything Goes.
The kids are looking forward to another day off tomorrow. I on the other hand will be at work as normal. It is bound to be busy as well, it always is on a Bank Holiday.
Have a good one.
Hugs Kimx

Classroom Toadstools

Evening All
Well what happened there?
I know that we are probably on notice for the imposition of a hosepipe ban, but did it really have to wait until the Bank Holiday weekend to rain!!!!!

I hope that given the weather you have enjoyed a nice 'crafty' day, and that you remembered to watch Barbara on the box.

This is one of the cards that I made for the latest show.
The Toadstools have been stamped and embossed onto white card stock and then paper pieced using background papers from my stash.

I added a little extra colour to the stalks using Distress Ink and Stardust pen.
Don't forget that the lovely Barbara will be back on the box again tomorrow.
Create and Craft channel 671 at 9am - 11am and then again at 2pm till 3pm.
I have my Sky box set and ready to go. See you tomorrow.
hugs Kimx

A little bit of bleach

Evening Everyone,
I've had a spot of unexpected babysitting this evening so my card making was put to one side in favour of Ice Age, it's a hard life being a Granny isn't it!

So in the absence of anything else, this is another of the cards that I sent in April.
The main card has been stamped using thin undiluted bleach.

The main image is a very old Hero Arts stamp which has been stamped and embossed onto brown card then painted with undiluted bleach and finally green Distress ink on the leaves.
I do love this technique, much more fun than using the bleach to clean the sink lol.
I really must get back to craft room tomorrow before I get to far behind with things. Of course I will have the lovely Barbara Gray for company on Create and Craft both tomorrow and Sunday so I am bound to be inspired.
hugs Kimx

A Birthday card for Sue at Imagination

Evening Everyone
I really quite impressed myself last month, I was on time with sending most of my cards, that has got to be a first lol.

 This one was sent to the lovely Sue at Imagination Craft for her birthday.

Naturally I used one of her fabulous Decoupage stamps. This one is called Pansy.

I stamped and embossed the image using Versamark ink and white embossing powder and then added colour with Distress ink pads.

The background papers are from my stash and I added some extra pansies and leaf sprigs also coloured using Distress inks.
She e-mailed me to say that she had received it and that she had added it to her Facebook page.
Let's see if I can be as good in May. So far so good!!
hugs Kimx

A very Special Day

Evening Everyone
Hasn't today been bright and sunny.
My Mum tells me that it was just as lovely 63 years ago when she and my Dad got married,
Even though my Dad passed away nearly 12 years ago I still like to let Mum know that I am thinking of her on her special day.

This is the card that I sent her. I made it using some bits created when I was playing with my Distress Markers and a Hero Arts stamp set.

Of course as I mentioned before this is also a very special day for a lovely young lady who was born on my parents Golden Wedding anniversary.

Here she is with her little sister.
I hope that both my Mum and Megan had a suitably special day.
Big hugs to both.
Kimx

Just Because........................

Evening Everyone,
Have you had a good day?
I'm struggling to keep my eyes open so I had better make this quick.

Remember I made a card for a little girl that comes into the garage? Well I have missed her little sister's birthday as it was in March.
I don't want them to think that I play favourites so I decided to make her a card 'Just Because.........'

The image is a Lili of the Valley die cut embellished with some tiny dots, Glossy Accents, Stardust Pen and Glitter Glue.
The sentiment is also from Lili of the Valley and is just perfect.

I see that they are starting a monthly challenge on their Ideas to Inspire blog tomorrow so I will have to check it out.
Hugs Kimx