Zoo Keeper Edwin

Evening Everyone,
Sorry I have been absent for a few days, I'm trying to get myself psyched up for going back to work on Monday! It's not working!!
The good thing is that I only have to make it through till Thursday afternoon and then I am off on my bi-annual holiday to SirStampalot, and boy am I looking forward to that.
It will of course give me the opportunity to add to my crafty stash, not that I need much of an excuse, but it is amazing how a bit of retail therapy can cheer a person up lol.

This card was made for a friends son, and uses a Magnolia stamp 'Edwin as Zoo Keeper' purchased on my last visit to Sirstampalot.

I coloured Edwin with Distress Ink and mounted him over an oval of card from my stash.

The background panel is 'Bargello' made from strips of paper, and I added a die cut cloud and punched stars border.

All of the other elements (die cut grass, leaves, and stamped sentiment) were also found in my bits box.
So much for trying to get back to earlier nights so that I can get up a little earlier.
At least I will get an extra hour of playtime, I mean sleep :O), as the clocks go back tonight.
Hugs Kimx

Happy Birthday Suze

Evening Everyone
I have been very lucky on my Creative Journey to have made the acquaintance of some of the 'Greats' in Crafting. People who inspire you with their amazing creativity.
One such lady is Suze Weinberg who I met on several occasions when working at the Craft Barn many years ago.
It is this lovely lady's birthday today and so I would like to wish her many happy returns with this card.

The central panel has been stamped and embossed onto a piece of card that has first been painted with coffee.

I added extra colour to the flower using Distress Inks. The swirls at the side have been painted using thin undiluted bleach.

The background panel has been created using stamping, embossing and sponging.
Unfortunately I don't have an address for Suze to send this by snail mail, so I hope that she will accept it via the  wonders of the Internet.
Happy Birthday lovely lady, here's to many more.
Hugs Kimx

Shadow Stamping with Hobby Art

Evening Everyone,
Have you had a good day? I have had a very enjoyable one finishing off the cards from my class yesterday.

As I told you my samples for the class consisted of a single sheet containing several card ideas, so I have spent the day finishing them off.

I added some faux stitching, tiny dots and a peel-off greeting to this panel.

This panel made using circular Penny Black shadow stamps is mounted onto some background paper from my stash. I also added some ribbon and pearls.

This panel has been coloured with Spectrum Noir pens and then mounted onto some background paper. The greeting has been added in a Woodware banner, and I also added some stitching and a few gems.

I added a greeting to this panel using the same colour inks and then layered it over some card from my stash. Some gems were the finishing touch to this card.

The background papers used here are also from my stash, and I added some Card Candi. faux stitching and tiny peel-off dots.

This panel was actually created in class as I showed the Ladies how to create the texture around the edge of the shadow stamp by gently tapping a second colour of ink all around the edge of the stamp.
I also ran this panel through my Cuttlebug using a swirly embossing folder, and then gently sponged it with ink and Gold Gilding Wax.

This card was made using one of the etched Shadow Stamps also available from Hobby Art.
I have always loved these stamps as they are so easy to use to create fabulous backgrounds.
I am pleased to say that they are still available from Hobby Art even though they don't currently feature on the website. All you need to do is contact Jenny and let her know what it is that you need and they will sort it out for you. Now that is what I call service lol.
Hugs Kimx

Warmest Winter Wishes

Evening Everyone
I hope that you have had a good day, I have had a fabulous one at Davina's where we have been playing with Hobby Art Shadow Stamps and dye based inks.
Unfortunately my elbow was not playing the game earlier this week so my samples consisted of a sheet of card with a few ideas on it. I haven't managed to get much done since I got home either, so I will try and finish a couple of them off tomorrow to share with you.
In the mean time here is another Hobby Art inspired card that I made for the TV last month.

The card has been made using a couple of foam mounted stamps that were launched on the show.

Sorry that the pictures are so dark, I suppose that navy blue card stock was not such a good colour choice when it comes to photographs.

The main panel was created using a piece of Gelli Plate background from my stash.

The navy card stock had been spritzed with pearlescent paint, and I used bleach to remove some of the colour from the rooftops.
Better get some sleep now.
Hugs Kimx

My First Step by Step Tutorial

Evening Everyone,
Welcome to the weekend ............again. Where on earth has another week gone to.
It is my turn to post on the Hobby Art Blog, and I'm only one day late this time so that is an acheivement in itself lol.

I thought that I would share one of the cards that I made for Jenny’s last TV appearance, and at the same time clear up the mystery of how to create the background on acetate. 
The picture that I took of the original card is not very good, (acetate is so hard to photograph) so here is another one that I made as a Birthday card.
I’m not a great one for step by step instructions, because to be perfectly honest, until I start to play I have no idea what I am going to end up with, so you will have to forgive me if my steps are not up to everyone elses standards. 
They also use different stamps.

These are most of the items that I used to create my acetate panel, although I did forget the Blending Solution, and it is hard to see the acetate in the middle of the picture.

Add a drop of each of your chosen colour of Alcohol to a piece of felt attached to a Blending Tool.

Tap the blending tool all over the acetate, turning it as you move across your panel to create a random background.

Every one will be different, even if you use the same combination of inks.

Add a few drops of the Blending Solution to the felt, without adding any more of the coloured inks, and create a second piece of background. 

This will give you a much paler piece of background to work with.

Next comes the fun part, but it will only work with Archival Ink. 

Stamp your chosen image on to the acetate on the same side as you put the inks. 

Leave it to dry very briefly, and then wipe the ink away using a dry cloth, or paper towel. 

Any colour of Archival ink will work, and I actually like the the slightly grey shadow that is left by using the black ink. 

Keep stamping and wiping away the ink over the entire panel until it is randomly covered. You can also use a fine detailed stamp such as a greeting with this technique.

At the end of the day just play, what have you got to lose except a little bit of time, and maybe some acetate. 

I managed to get this picture from the Hobby Art blog itself of the card from the TV.

The black images that appear on the panel above have been stamped on the uninked side of the acetate using Stazon Ink. I find that the image stamps out better on that side, but do remember that you will be turning the acetate over so if you have used a greeting stamp on your background panel it will then be in reverse. That is why I chose a very random text stamp as it can’t easily be read so works just as well in reverse.

I'm hoping to get some playtime this weekend as my parcel arrived today with all the new stamps for the next Hobby Art TV show at the end of the month. There are some real beauties so I can't wait. 

Have a great weekend. Hugs Kimx

Birthday Wishes Jane, sorry it's late

Evening Everyone.
October is a very Birthday heavy month for me. Well all the best people have October birthdays don't they lol.
I have to admit that I am very grateful for my stash of cards this month. I managed to finish one card today and am now in agony with my arm. Off to see the Doctor tomorrow as my certificate is due to run out, but I don't see me being signed back to work yet!

One of the cards that I need to post (yes I know some of them are a little late) is this one for the lovely Jane Gill who celebrated her birthday three days after mine.

Of course it seemed only right and proper to use one of her designs when making the card.

I stamped and embossed the grasses using Onyx Black Versafine ink and clear embossing powder, and then sponged around the edges with Pumice Stone Distress ink.

The pattern at the bottom of the card has been created using a Dreamweaver stencil, Versamark ink and clear embossing powder. The paper at the top is from my stash.
I have to walk past the Post Office on the way to the doctors tomorrow so I have no excuse for not posting them all.
In the mean time I think I had better rest my elbow before I get told off. They did say gentle exercise not sit and do nothing so I haven't been totally out of line!
Hugs Kimx

It's Only Words at Crafty Cardmakers and More

Hi Guys
Here I am, late again with my post for the latest challenge over at CCM&More.

Lin is our host this time and her challenge is 'It's Only Words'.  She would like to see something that has the sentiment as the MAIN focus or at least prominently displayed.

As you know I have been rather busy this weekend and completely forgot about the new challenge, so I was rather relieved to find this card in my box. Perfect for Lin's challenge I think you will agree.

The sentiment is by Woodware FRS112 Double Thanks and is quite large.

The background has been created using Alcohol inks on Acetate.

The leaves have been stamped onto the Alcohol ink using an Archival ink which has then been wiped off with  a cloth to leave the impression of the leaves.

This is the prize for the challenge, so why not pop across and get some more inspiration from the rest of the Team.
Happy Crafting.
Hugs Kimx

A Birthday Road trip..........

..........or should I say Rail trip!
I'm sorry that I have been absent again for a few days, but I have been visiting my daughter in Tipton.
This trip passed without incident, although I did have the four Grandchildren with me to make sure that I remained upright lol.

Friday was actually my birthday, and you can't say that I don't know how to live.
Here we are celebrating in style, eating Burger King on the train to Birmingham. Of course the kids thought it was brilliant.
Thank you all for the fantastic birthday cards and messages that I received.
I know that I haven't replied to lots of the Facebook messages yet but I haven't had a chance to catch up on things yet, but I promise that I will.
Hugs Kimx

Growing up fast

Evening Everyone,
Where does the time go to?
Saskia and Ciaran have decided that they want to be as grown up as their big Brother and Sister.

I think it might be a while before they grow into these don't you?

I wonder if they will still be as affectionate when they do finally get to Secondary School in a few years time. I do hope so.
Hugs Kimx

Gilding Wax from Woodware

Hi All
Wow, didn't it rain this morning! The manhole at the bottom of the road popped, which, given the flooding that we had at the beginning of the year is always a little bit of a concern. Fortunately it never came to anything.
On Saturday at Davina's, the ladies had requested to play with Embossing Folders and Gilding Wax.

I noticed that Woodware now sell a Gilding Wax in four different colours, so I thought that I would try it out.

It is very hard to see in the photographs but it works like a charm. I have used it on all of the surfaces on the card, including the ribbon.

The handmade flower has been made using some bits of background paper and a Woodware flower punch.

The blue panel has been dry embossed and then swiped all over with a Distress ink pad. I coated it with clear embossing powder and heated it before adding some Gold and Silver Gilding Wax with my finger.

I still find this the best method to apply any of the waxes, but I used a stencil brush to get some of it out of the pot (fingernails, no matter how long or short get in the way here) and then tapped this onto my craft sheet before using my finger to gently apply it to the card.

By removing most of the wax off the brush onto the craft sheet I was also able to use the stencil brush direct onto the card and its elements. This is something that I have not been successful with before.

It highlighted the die cut leaves beautifully. I can definitely see this appearing on my cards a lot more often.
Thank you Woodware for finding me another cool product for my crafty stash.
Hugs Kimx

Gone Fishing

Hi All
No Internet connection yesterday, so there went all my good intentions.
The start of the new school year also saw the birthday of the Twins Headmaster. They both wanted to give him a card, so here is the one that Ciaran chose.

Luckily I have quite a stash of cards for just such an occasion, although not too many are cards for men.

I wonder if this is how the Head likes to spend his weekends?

The fish panel has been coloured using Distress Inks.

I painted the fish in the green panel with thin neat bleach, and added some fishing line and a charm.

The back of the card has been embossed with leaves and then sponged with more Distress Ink.
There is a combination of Woodware and Hobby Art stamps here which just goes to show how lucky I am to work with two such fabulous companies.
Better try and  get some sleep, my arm is giving my jip tonight.

Hugs Kimx