A Little Gesture of Appreciation

Hi All,
I love making cards, and have been making them for years. I have boxes of them stashed away ready for an appropriate occasion.
In my job at the BP petrol station I meet literally hundreds of people, many of whom become regulars, and indeed friends, and if in the course of a brief conversation I find out the date of a birth, birthday, or anniversary, it goes straight into my planner so that I can give them a card to celebrate. Not only do I love making them, I love giving them too.
A couple of days ago one of our regulars (who I had not seen for ages due to the Covid restrictions) came in with her husband wearing a big badge celebrating his 70th birthday.
He went straight into my planner even though I wasn't sure of his name......Lady Vicar's husband lol.
I took a card with me to work the following day, and by happy accident I saw his wife today and passed it to her with apologies for the absence of a name on the envelope.
Imagine my surprise when I receive a phone call from her this afternoon thanking me for making her husbands day. He was thrilled to get his card and insisted that she phone me to say thank you.
I don't do it to be thanked, I do it because I can, and I hope that it might in some small way brighten someone's day.
It is however always nice to know that your gesture, however small, has bought a smile to someone's face.

So here is a virtual card for everyone,

made using one of Jane's lovely new Build a Flower style stamp sets.

I stamped my fantasy flower onto black card stock, using a white inkpad, and then coloured over the top of the image with watercolour pencils and afterwards a damp paintbrush..

I trimmed around the right hand side of the panel and layered it over white cardstock using some foam to give it dimension.
I figure that the sentiment is rather perfect to send to you all, in a virtual way at least.
Stay safe and craft, and spread a little bit of joy with one of your creations.
Hugs Kimx

Mr G. Raff

Evening Everyone,
I've just finished watching Jane's Woodware shows that were on Create and Craft today.

 One of her lovely stamp sets is this one featuring Mr. G. Raff.

I stamped and embossed him onto a piece of watercolour cardstock and coloured him with Distress Oxide inks.

The background to the main card was created using white gesso through a stencil,

and then plenty of sponged inks.

I was inspired by a Gesso Resist tutorial shared by one of the lovely ladies that entered the CCM challenge last week. (Link HERE to the tutorials from Darlene Pavlick's blog)

The background to this card was made in a similar way, only this time the Gesso was brushed over the background card using a fairly large paintbrush.

Once again I sponged the background with Distress Oxides and then added a fussy cut and coloured giraffe.

I added another leafy branch in the corner of the card fussy cut from cream cardstock, and also a hand drawn border.

I hope you enjoyed Jane's shows, and thanks for stopping by again.

Stay safe and hugs 

Kimx

Quirky Christmas

Evening everyone,
Another boiling hot day here, so I only managed twice round the park before I had to call it a day. I'm a bit of a wimp when it comes to the heat, and I look even more like a boiled lobster today.

I thought that I would share a couple of Christmas cards to help me cool down, at least in my head anyway.

This one is made with a fabulously quirky Christmas Tree stamp set designed by Jane Gill.

I have done some good old fashioned heat embossing, using a combination of metallic powders.

I have used the same embossing folder on both cards, highlighted with a little gilding wax.

Only gold embossing powder on this one, and the sentiment from the stamp set Fun Christmas Tree.

I tapped a versamark ink pad around the base card, and covered it in gold embossing powder to tie things all together.

My final card uses another stamp released at the same time Framed Trees

I used mostly silver embossing powder on this one, but the card that I stamped on was textured which shows up through the embossing powder.
I can't believe how warm it still is, even at this time of night. Thank goodness for air conditioning at work lol.
Thanks for stopping by.
Hugs Kimx

Butterfly Challenge at CCM

Evening Everyone,
What a glorious day it has been today. I have a face the colour of a boiled lobster after my walk today. I always get part way round the park and realize that I have forgotten to put sun cream on!!

We are starting a new Butterfly Challenge today over at  CCM.

My card was made a while ago during an 'Inspired by Hobby Art' class.

I love all these beautiful butterflies

and flowers.

Lots of opportunity for a bit of 3D.

And a bit of poetic license on the colours.

A die cut sentiment to stand out from all the stamping.

My youngest Grandchildren have been looking after some caterpillars. It was a kit that their Mum bought for them and it has been fascinating to watch their progress.

By happy coincidence they have started to hatch, just in time for our challenge. They are Painted Lady butterflies.
I hope that you can find the time to join us for this latest challenge HERE.
Now I really must find that sunscreen ready for tomorrows walk.
Stay safe and hugs
Kimx

Stencils and Sparkle

Evening Everyone,
And a very happy Sunday to you. I hope that you are all OK.

Here are a couple of cards made using Tim Holtz stencils,

 Imagination Starlight Metallic paints,

 and Sparkle Medium.

This one uses Distress Inks through the stencil,

and then a little Sparkle Medium afterwards.

The die cut sentiment has been coated in Glossy Accents to make it stand out better.

 This final card is one that we have unfortunately had to send off all too often just lately.

It was made using the same ingredients as the first card,

just in far more muted colours.
Thank you for stopping by.
Stay Safe and Craft.
Hugs Kimx

A Red and Green Christmas

Evening,
Just a very quick post again tonight. I don't know where the time goes to.
I am trying to sort out the winners for my challenge at CCM, and I am rapidly running out of time, so here is a quick Christmas card that I made a while ago.

The lovely leafy image, which could be used at any time of year, has been stamped and embossed on to a piece of mop up background and then coloured in.
A bit of a checkered border and a sentiment and you have one very easy Christmas card.
Thanks for stopping by.
Stay Safe and Hugs
Kimx

Every Bit as Pretty in Pink

Evening Everyone,
I found another card that I made using the fabulous Agapanthus stamp set from Stampendous.

And I think that you will agree that it looks every bit as pretty in pinks.

I haven't used chalks in a while. I really must get them out again, I love the effect you get with them.
Have a great weekend, but stay safe.
Hugs Kimx

Lets Say Thank You

Evening Everyone,
I can't believe that it's Thursday again, and time to clap for the NHS and everyone else that is helping to keep the country going.
I have definitely noticed that there seem to be more people out and about, and the roads are busier
over the last few days.

Here are a series of Thank you cards that I made a while ago using one of my favourite Agapanthus stamps by Stampendous, versamark and Decorating Chalks.

Orange is not usually a colour that I reach for, but I love this set of cards.

The little gold gems are actually peel-off dots with glossy accents on them.

These were actually made in a class on Chalks where we made a box of cards to give as a gift.

This stamp is fabulous with this technique.

I created several large pieces,

 that I cut up to make smaller cards to fit in the box.

I can't remember who made the sentiment stamp, but I do like the font.

I made the box for the cards, but never actually got around to giving them to anyone. As it had got a bit battered I decided to repurpose the lid and turn it in to another card.
Thanks for stopping by.
Stay safe and craft.
Hugs Kimx