Imagination Florals

 Evening,

I hope that you have all made it through another Tuesday safe and sound.

Another card using my favourite Imagination stencil.

I used Sparkle Medium through the stencil to create the background and then sponged over it with Distress Inks.

I trimmed the panel and wrapped a couple of pieces of ribbon around it before adding a sentiment and some foliage.

Here is another very similar card using another Imagination Stencil, only this time I sponged the Distress ink through the stencil and left it at that.

Once again I added ribbon, a sentiment and some foliage covered in Frantage Embossing Powder.

I also added some dots of glossy accents to finish it off.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs Kimx

Quite a Hoard

 Evening,

One of the many wonderful advantages to being a member of the Creative Expressions Design Team, is all the fabulous new products that arrive each month for me to play with.

And one of the major disadvantages, is trying to find space for it all in an already jam packed craft room/bedroom.

I have been struggling creatively just recently and so I decided that I would try and get it back by sorting through a whole heap of magazines that I have acquired over the last 25 years!!

I'm a bit of a pack rat I know, so I have about 20 folders full of American and Australian magazines, the only ones available at the time, neatly lined up on the top of my Billy Units. There are probably another 20 safely stowed in a very large storage box under the bed.

I have been saving these magazines since I started stamping way back in the mid 1990s, so going through them has been a bit of a revelation.

It's amazing how simplistic some of the stuff is, and how cool we thought that it was at the time.

And of course just like fashion things keep coming around, so I have been reminded of so many ideas and techniques that have been 'new' on more than one occasion.

I'm not sure that my mojo has returned, but I have managed to clear a bit of space and reorganize a few bits, so it's a start I suppose.

Onwards and upwards. Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs Kimx

Going Batty

 Evening, well almost night time really lol.

I've just got home from my weekend of babysitting, and although I had a wonderful time, I'm really looking forward to a lie in.

Among other things we have been die cutting bats for Halloween. It has been lovely to do some crafty things with them.

Even Jack took his turn with the die cutting machine.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs Kimx

The Simple Joys of Childhood

 Evening,

Half past eight on a Saturday night and we are all in bed. Even my daughter has decided that we are definitely very old lol.

We had a busy day today while Mummy was at work. We had shopping to do in the village, but we managed to sneak in a visit to the park, even if it was a little bit wet.

The Girls enjoyed the zip wire and watching the birds and the airplanes while they were lying on the swing. There is an aerodrome fairly near and we have had lots of old planes go over including several with wing walkers which has fascinated the girls. 

Jack on the other hand, slept through the entire playtime.

We found lots of fun things to look at on our walk back from the village,

Nature really is marvelous and I am so pleased that the children are excited by all the things that they see.

Emma found a conker still in it shell which she took home to show Mummy and Daddy.

We had jobs to do when we got home. Chloe loves helping with the washing, 

and who knew that you could have so much fun with a sack of potatoes, it kept Jack entertained for ages.

Well I'm afraid this old girl must get her head down, especially if the children have their usual very early start to the day.

Night night, and thanks for stopping by. 

Hugs Kimx

A Rather Snuffly Sleepover

 Evening,

No time for pictures tonight I'm afraid, it's rather difficult to blog in the dark!!

I am currently at my daughter's for my babysitting weekend so that she can go to work. It's Emma's turn for a sleepover this time, but as she has a cold I have a rather snuffly little person asleep on her bed on the floor next to me.

We have all sorts of things planned for tomorrow including a little bit of shopping and playtime in the park before they help me cook the dinner...........well the best laid plans and all that lol.

See you tomorrow.

Hugs Kimx

Magical Mother Nature

 Evening,

I was sent a fabulous new range of stamps to play with in my last DT box from Creative Expressions. They have been selling a range of Paper Panda dies for a little while, but now there is a stamp range as well and they are absolutely stunning.

I think this stamp CERPP001 Mother Nature is one of my favourites. I used a page out of an old book for the background and then stamped and embossed the image onto it in dark brown ink.

I sponged all over the panel with the same Versafine Claire Pinecone ink and then trimmed it using a square from the Scalloped Layered Dies set.

I added a sentiment from a Designer Boutique stamp set placing it so that the card 

can be used as either a tent fold or side opening card.

You will be able to see Suz demoing these fabulous stamps on Create and Craft at the end of the month.

Thanks for stopping by

Hugs Kimx

A Small Act of Kindness

 Evening,

I think all this grotty weather and lockdown restrictions are starting to get to me. I am really struggling to get motivated to do anything at the moment, just going to work is struggle enough.

It's a good job that I have literally hundreds of cards that I can share with you.

I did have one nice thing happen today. 

A lady made a point of coming in and thanking me for making her day last week when we were having to serve through the night pay hatch while the main doors were being repaired.

She was having a bad day, and was faced with a long journey and no hot breakfast, so I made an exception and made her a coffee and a bacon bap served through the hatch.

Such a small thing, but it made her day so much better so she wanted to thank me for my kindness.

How nice of her, she definitely made my day. Just lately all we seem to get is abuse, as if the restrictions are all our fault, so it was so nice to be appreciated for a change.

So I found this card amongst my stash and thought that it fitted the thought for the day really well.

I do love black and white cards, and this stunning Jane Gill stamp works so well in it. 

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs Kimx

Christmas One Sheet Wonder/Masterboard

 Evening,

What a wet and miserable day it has been today. I don't think it has stopped all afternoon and evening.

Perfect crafting weather, although I haven't managed anything myself. 

This month at the Christmas Card and Papercraft Challenge on Facebook they are looking for your One Sheet Wonders, or Masterboard as they are also known. 

I do love a Masterboard it is a fun way to fill a sheet of card with stamps and inks and stencils, 

and then you can chop it up however you like to create a whole bunch of cards.

It always makes a good class which everyone seems to enjoy.

These cards were made a couple of years ago at Sirstampalot where I usually spend a fun filled week in November.

I gave everyone a piece of mixed media cardstock and red and green Distress Oxide inks.

We also used a lovely old Art Impressions Holly stamp 

and either white

or black embossing powder.

I still have an article from an old stamping magazine which gives a suggested plan for cutting up your One Sheet Wonder/Masterboard,

and then card ideas for mounting up your chopped up pieces.

Of course these are only suggestions,

and it is fun to see all the alternatives that people come up with.

I also had a host of Christmas sentiment stamps and dies,

and a lovely swirly background stamp.

I didn't like to waste even the tiniest of leftover pieces

so I even made a couple of small cards

which could always be used as tags.

Thanks for stopping by and wading your way through a very picture heavy post.

Hugs

Kimx

Floral Anniversary

 Evening,

Have you had a good day? I would have liked mine to have been a little more productive, but I guess we can't have it all.

I've been doing steps for one of the cards that I had to make last week. It's amazing how long it takes to do. I can't share that yet, so here is a card that I made a while ago using a lovely floral stencil.

I sponged the stencil with black ink and then blended over the top with red sparkle medium from Imagination. 

I did a couple of extra flowers that I fussy cut and added to the card along with some red ribbon and a sentiment.

Back to work tomorrow so crafty time will be very limited for a while.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs Kimx

Home Again

 Evening,

Home again after a hectic few days with the littlest Grandchildren.

It's always hard to leave, and I never seem to pick the right time to go to avoid a meltdown of some description, but I suppose that's the nature of the game when you are 5, 3 and 1 lol.

Just a quick post tonight, I need to catch up on some sleep, with out anyone having a sleepover!!

This card was made for Jane's last stamp release using JGS746 Word Fragments 2 set to create the background,

and then circular portions of JGS741 Autumn Flowers in the foreground.

And this card was made with more leftover pieces.

So glad I have the day off tomorrow. Now I must just remember to go and turn off all my alarms. I really don't want to see 3.30am, for one day at least.

Night night.

Hugs Kimx

Today has been a great day.

Evening Everyone,

I don't know about you, but I have had a lovely day celebrating my birthday with the littlest Grandchildren. 

I have been here for a couple of days, and by happy accident it coincided with my birthday so I have had a fabulous Roast Lamb dinner cooked for me followed by movie night with popcorn and ice cream. And then we get to do it all over again tomorrow as it will be my youngest daughter Beckis' birthday on Wednesday, and as I can't be there on the day we are going to celebrate tomorrow as well so that she too can be like the Queen and have two birthdays.

This is a card that I made using one of Jane Gill's latest stamp sets designed for Woodware.

The fabulous floral image has been stamped and embossed in white onto watercolour cardstock,

and then sponged with inks.

I added some spotty ribbon along with a couple of fussy cut dragonfly and a sentiment.

This one uses a very old technique known as Joseph's Coat. where an image is stamped and clear embossed onto an inky background. and then the entire panel is covered with a very generous layer of black ink. 

The clear embossing acts as a resist giving a beautiful coloured floral image. 

Thanks for stopping by, and for all the lovely birthday wishes.

Hugs Kimx