ATC - Something to do while I wait.

I am in limbo at the moment. Not enough time to get really 'into' a project but just enough time to do a little tinkering. I work late shifts in the week and find that having to get ready for work at 6pm gets in the way of major crafting on those days!

Anyway, I was pleased to see that the Fun With ATCs listed their challenge #95 so I hurried over to see what the theme was. Great! Another challenge that is almost 'Anything Goes'. I say almost because it is colour themed so I can use any of my stamps, dies, techniques, ideas, and still fit in with the challenge.

Black/White/Red is the theme. Crisp, clear colours and easily dealt with in my opinion. As is tradition I took my folder, which contains a stamped image of every single one of my stamps, down from the shelf and began to thumb through the images. I have them in themes, and first is FLORAL. Didn't take me long to select the stamp I wanted to use. It didn't take me long to decide on the design either which is such a bonus.

And here it is......

A die cut butterfly, a word, some torn paper ribbon, a couple of gems and there she is!! Look, you can tell it is fresh, the glue around the big gem is still wet!

It is now my tea time, a quick intake of calories before heading off to work till 2am. Don't worry, it's what I do and I actually really love my job.

Go see all the other B/W/R ATCs HERE. I'm going to add mine, why not have a go and add yours there to?

Please leave a comment, I love getting them. 

Crafty Hugs Kim xx

My Own Little Sneaky Peek.

Well after all that activity recently you would have thought that I would take a break. How wrong you would be!! I am currently making a little something for myself. Thought I would just give you a little taster of the project.

Is that a bead book? Yep it is. How long did you think I would go without making one? Like I said, sneaky peek only at the moment. I will show you more very soon! 

Take care!

Kim xx

What a Day it has Been! - with Sheena Douglass

Well! What do you know? Our predictions were right. Those lovely 'A Little bit Magical' stamps flew out of the warehouse like an owl on a mission! I do hope you were lucky enough to secure yours? I am not sure that yours will be delivered by an owl, but trust me you were lucky to get yours this time. For those that missed out, I am sure Sheena will be busy right now getting new stock organised.

It is funny really that despite having seen most of the samples already during the planning stages of the launch, (and of course seeing my own in the flesh!) it is really exciting to see them on the TV. Each one of us Inkoids have created little TV stars thanks to Sheena and her brilliant drawing skills. All the samples looked stunning!

Needless to say I am once more inspired having seen wor Sheena demonstrating that floor polish technique. I have in my crafty stash a bottle of the one called KLEAR which has been there for quite some time. I came across it in a small shop while on holiday in Wales of all places, and snapped it up as I couldn't remember ever seeing it in my local mega-supermarket. Anyway, this is going to be on my list of things to play with work with tomorrow. I only experimented with it once just to check it was going to do what I wanted it to. It did but I then went off on a tangent and forgot all about it.

I doubt if there will be any lull in activities for me as I am totally addicted to my crafting! It is a sad day when I can't get a few moments of creativity in. 

On a slightly different note, it was my grandsons 1st birthday today, and GCSE results day too. What a busy and exciting day I have had. Lots of cuddles with the Grandson and a congratulatory hug was had with son on achieving his fantastic grades!!

Thanks for all your lovely comments both here, on my personal Facebook page, and on my crafty Facebook page KimzKrafts.

Also a big welcome to my new followers. Hope you enjoy the ride!

Crafting hugs Kim xxx

.....and finally - with Sheena Douglass

As of tomorrow you will all be able to buy your own 'A Little Bit Magical' stamps. You will probably need to get your order in quick because the feedback we have been getting has been fantastic. Remember the shows are on Create & Craft TV at 9am and 4pm TOMORROW. Don't miss out.

So here is my last sneaky peak. It is a big card featuring the lovely potion bottles and roses from the Honesty plate. You may remember I used the bottles on the candle I decorated.

I used Centura Pearl card for all of the elements. It has a beautiful sheen to it and accepts the H₂O paint perfectly. I first stamped the base card with the larger of the 2 roses using Tim Holtz Dusty Concord then distressed the edges with the same ink. (I didn't stamp all over the card because that would have been a waste as I knew I would be covering most of it up, so I created a frame of about 3cm.) I then stamped and coloured a heap of roses and leaves in various H₂O paints in purple/pink shades. I found it better to paint small 'blobs' slightly larger than the stamps onto the card first and then stamped over the coloured area with black ink once the paint spots were fully dry. I used a die cut frame to mount a Sheena sentiment onto which I had stamped and embossed in purple embossing powder. The bottles were coloured using a selection of the H₂O paints. I had great fun placing the roses and leaves. This decoupage lark has featured a lot in this set of samples. 

Please remember to tune in tomorrow to she Sheena demonstrating some fab techniques and of course these new stamps.

Happy crafting.

Kim xx

IT'S SHOW TIME - with Sheena Douglass

Looking through my photos of samples I made for this launch, I have become more and convinced that this new set of stamps from Sheena Douglass is going to become a firm favourite not just for me, but also for anyone who is lucky enough to get them. My fellow Inkoids are raving about them and the comments we have been getting from these 'sneaky peeks' backs up this claim. If you haven't seen any of my 'sneaky peeks' yet then don't worry, they are still here for you to see. Just go to my blog list for this month and click on any that have Sheena Douglass in the title. Simples.

Today I would like to share with you a simple project. By that I mean minimal stamping giving a stylish result. You could of course take it further, maybe more colours, a sentiment, ribbon, glitter, etc. The list is endless of the other things you could do, but sometimes it is about holding back and leaving something 'stripped down'.

Because some of my samples used decoupaged elements, I stumbled upon the idea of making this card when I was stamping roses to be cut out. Obviously this card has a much more controlled method of stamping to it, but that is where I got the idea from.

I measured the stamp at the widest point and created a grid using my scoring board. I then mounted the stamp carefully on a small block to make sure that I could line it up exactly each time I stamped. This was the hard part because one small 'jiggle' and the effect would have been spoiled.

Like I said, I could have taken it a LOT further but I liked the simplicity. While writing now I have some more ideas in my head about variations on this theme.

So, remember where to be on Thursday. The show times are 9am and 4pm, Thursday 22nd August 2013.  Create & Craft on any of these channels, SKY 671, FREEVIEW 36, FREESAT 813, VIRGIN 748, or even watch on your computer/laptop. If you can't watch LIVE then record the shows to get some ideas and watch some demos from Sheena. Can't guarantee stock levels though.

Bye for now my crafty friends.

Kim xx

Another Moment of Magic - with Sheena Douglass

As promised here is the next sample from the Sheena Douglass new stamp set due to be launched on Thursday 22nd August 2013 on Create and Craft TV. Now, given that their scheduling is showing shows on at every hour except for a few choice slots at 9am, 10am, 4pm and 6pm I would take a wild guess and say they are going to 'pop' Sheena in there somewhere. Of course I will let you know for sure when I find out.

Onto the sample. This one is from the Honesty set. It has as the main feature an expertly drawn image of those lovely seeds. How many of us actually know what the flower looks like? I expect most of us only know the seeds. Shame really as the flowers are lovely. 

Once I had embossed the image I coloured the seeds with  Hunter Grey H₂O just to make them stand out from the page a little more. I used an ivy leaf design embossing folder to add interest to the background paper and some self adhesive paper tape I had in my stash. I used a straight border punch to make some lace and edged the main image with it. Because my corners were a little 'unmatched' I covered them with some shrink plastic corners made using the briar rose stamp from the same stamp set. The smaller they are the more like hearts they look which is a nice bonus.

Do keep checking in to find out the show times and come back tomorrow for another preview.

Cheery hugs. Kim x 

ATC - A Break from the Housework

Yes, I know that I have been here far too many times already but I simply couldn't resist another challenge. This time I felt compelled to have a go at an ATC. Remember them? Anyway, the challenge comes from Fun with ATCs. It is a fortnightly challenge and this is mid-way so plenty of time to get your own one done.

This fortnight they have asked for challenges featuring Die Cuts. Now I don't own many cutting dies, but when I saw this one from Simon Says Stamp a few months ago I knew I had to have it. It has of course sat in my box of dies until today not having been used other than to test it out when it arrived. This is the way of impulse purchases for me. One click of the mouse and a whole host of 'stuff' comes through my letter box because I must have it and then spends a long time just waiting to be used.

So lucky die, today is your chance to shine.

I used a piece of hand coloured paper (I like ATCs 'cos you can use those 'too nice to throw away' pieces of paper) which I sent off thru' the cutter. I knew the die was too big but that was what I was going for. I then spent a few minutes running through my stamp library for a suitable stamp and found this one which was exactly the right size. I embossed it in white onto a piece of black card. I then embossed the same stamp onto the opposite corner in black. Using a Sheena Douglass stamp from the the set Ageing Beautifully, I then added some script around the edges. A bit of Tim Holtz distress ink around the edge to finish it all off.

And there we have it. What makes me giggle is that the blog took longer to write than the ATC did to make. 

Have a great week. Oh and don't forget to come back soon to see yet another sneak peak at the new Sheena Douglass stamps that are being launched this Thursday on Create and Craft TV.

If you visit me here please be kind enough to leave a comment.

Kim xx

'Moonlight and Honesty' - for Sheena Douglass

For those that are enjoying the sneaky peaks going round at the moment, I am going to add to the enjoyment by posting another project I did for the new Sheena Douglass stamp launch next week. Well, on Thursday to be exact on Create & Craft TV (go back to my earlier blog HERE to get more info about which channels you can watch on).

This is a project which features the lovely lady from the Honesty stamp plate as well as possibly my favourite stamp, the toadstools. Of course I am very fickle and so when you come back tomorrow for another sneaky peak I will probably tell you that my favourite stamp is a completely different one.

I had an oval of black card, waste (as if a crafter ever has waste) from a photo mount, which was just the right size for Lady Honesty. It 'needed' to be used. I stamped and embossed her with Honey Gold embossing powder and then coloured her with Golden Nugget H₂O. The moon was masked off before a wash of Bolivian Blue H₂O for the night sky was painted. I then used a white water colour pencil to create the moon and the stars. The ground was painted using Celedon H₂O. The toadstools were painted with Spiced Pumpkin H₂O and then dotted with the white water colour pencil.

The background card has the corners decorated with what I am calling the briar rose element from the Honesty plate. It was stamped and embossed with the Honey Gold embossing powder. I love the way the same product looks so different depending on the card stock. The stamp is perfect for corners but watch out for some other ideas about using in a different way. 

If I were to make this again I would almost certainly have the dress 'tail' over the edge of the oval. I think it would balance the piece better with the toadstools. I blame this on the fact that I wanted to use the oval. :-)

Well, I hope you like this project? Do come back again to more samples.

Kim xx

And Now For Something A Little Bit Different.

It has been a long time since I did a Lavinia challenge. So as I have a few moments spare today (day off work don't you know) I thought I would check out what the challenge was for this month. Well, well, well, it couldn't have been better. 'Anything Goes' - Challenge #6. Lavinia must have known I needed a simple theme. Thank you very much. 

Here is my entry. It uses some of my all time favourite silhouette stamps and a few little Lavinia bugs. I used spray inks for the background and black Versafine ink for the images. A few black gems, a frame, and a stripe and there we are. Done.

The play on words has just struck me, I made a L O N G card because it has been a L O N G time since I did a Lavinia challenge. (Little things and all that.........)

Go check out the other fantastic entries and Design Team examples HERE. 

Now to enjoy the rest of my day off. Heading to the craft room as soon as I press PUBLISH.

Kim xx

A Little Bit Magical - with Sheena Douglass

I am thrilled to be able to show you another one of the samples I made for the launch of the new Sheena Douglass stamps.  I got really carried away making card after card after card, (and some other little bits) but that is because the stamps Sheena has designed are so beautiful and easy to work with. Just what you would expect from such a talented designer.

So here is sample #2. Using elements from the sets I was given I have made a jumbo tag. It features a lovely bird, perhaps a sparrow, but I suppose it could be coloured in such a way as to make it any other small 'sparrow sized' bird.

Again I used Twinkling H₂Os to colour the elements. I used a printed page from an old book as the background, but all the other elements come from the amazing 'A Little bit Magical' plates. Are you getting an idea of just how many stamps there are yet? I really love the toadstools. I used them quite a lot as you will see if or should I say when you come back.

Remember to watch Create & Craft on any of these channels, SKY 671, FREEVIEW 36, FREESAT 813, VIRGIN 748, or even watch on your computer/laptop on Thursday 22nd August to see all the NEW stamps, more samples from the other DT members and of course Sheena herself, who will be demonstrating the stamps, Twinkling H₂0s and some fab-tas-tic techniques.

Thanks for visiting me here. Please leave a comment, it is nice to hear from you.

Kim x

New Sheena Douglass Stamps. Oh My Word they are Lovely.

Well dear readers, the time has come for me to let you in on the secret I have been working on these past few weeks.

Sheena Douglass has designed some NEW stamps and her Design Team (that includes me don't you know) have been busy trialling the stamps. We have all had such a fab-tastic time playing, ahem, I mean working with these little beauties. They are going to get their WORLD LAUNCH on 22nd August 2013 on Create & Craft TV.

Each DT member got 2 plates. Each one is A5, and I was given the ones called Honesty and Enchanted Doorway. You will have to keep popping back to see more in the days to come.

My samples include a pair of candles which have had the toadstool from the Enchanted Doorway plate and the bottles from the Honesty plate on. I really like these projects and I am hoping to do a 'How To' with pictures in a later blog.

Each has a little tag with a shrink plastic version of the stamp on it. I love this technique and often make candles like this as gifts for people.

The product that I have been using to colour the images are a new favourite product, namely Twinkling H₂Os. (Notice I found out how to do the scientific thingy with the 2) These paints are also going to be available on Create & Craft. Like I said before, I didn't have any, but now have 18 colours in all. There are over 200 colours but I don't think I will be getting the full set........just yet.

Well that will be it for now, I hope you are inspired by these stamps? I simply can't stop playing, ooops there I go again, WORKING with them.

Don't forget to leave me a comment if you visit me, I would love to hear from you.

Happy stamping.

Kim xx

Moo Challenge #42 BEARDS

How very strange. I have made Moos twice this week now. Last minute for #41, on time for #42.

This challenge is titled BEARDS. Another strange thing. I actually looked at all my stamps of people and found that I only have Father Christmas or The Three Wise Men. I did make a quick trip to my local craft shop but they are fresh out of beards. No surprise there then.

I decided on the Three Kings images, by Woodware. Not only did they lend themselves to my usual 3D style, but they also fitted PERFECTLY onto the Moo size.

I made one of each and have yet to decide which one I will offer up to the Moo Mania Challenge.

OK, during the edit I have decided that I like the blue king best, so will make him the feature entry.

Just so that you can see them all, and the dimension I have given each one, here is a collage of all three.

Right, that will be all for now. Go check out the other entries HERE and why not have a go yourself??

Have a great 'rest of the week'.

Remember I love to hear from you, so leave a comment to say you have visited. Thank You.

Kim xx

Close Call - Moo Mania #41 - SUN

Phew, just made it into the Moo-Mania challenge this time. The theme is SUN. I actually didn't have a clue what I was going to do until I was sorting out some scraps of paper that I had been experimenting on with H₂O paints.

I found a piece with sun like colours and off I went. Given the time constraint this week I didn't have time to do anything over fancy but I quite like what I came up with. I love the sheen that the H₂Os give. Rather appropriate for the sun theme .

Go see the other lovely Moos over at Moo Mania.

Oh, and for those that are missing me, next week will be the time for me to reveal all so to speak. You will need to get ready for a L-O-N-G blog with lots of pictures, ideas and techniques. Oh yes, and some NEW fabby stuff never seen before anywhere. 

Thanks for dropping by.

Kim x

And Again.......

So, onto the second of tonight's blog posts. This time for Twinchies Challenge Blog #4 Florals. Again I have made a dimensional Twinchie as if one layer of art isn't enough.

I will admit that until a few years ago floral stamps were not my thing. How times have changed eh? Must be the onset of maturity. Oh quick, run away from that thought..........

Anyhow, back to the Twinchie. I used another of my new 'loves' Twinkling H20s (must find the scientific keys/font to do that justice next time I need to type it.) They are so rich if you want them to be but can also be subtle and muted if you want them to be. Didn't have one single pot until late last week and now I have 18 pots. How did that happen?

And there my lovelies I need to leave it. I am busy on a secret mission and should really be spending time on that.

As usual, if you visit me here please be kind enough to leave a comment.

Good night, thank you, and Happy Crafting.

Kim xx

Yep, I am Still Here.

Been a bit quiet on here lately but do not let that fool you into thinking I have been idle. Far from it. I am currently working on a secret project which I cannot tell you any more about. You will need to come back soon to see what I have been up to.

I did find time to make a couple of Twinchies. You know I love making these. Small but very satisfying.

The first one is for Show us your Twinchies - #7 Holiday destinations. Go see the other lovely examples by following the link above.

It was only just the right size, the stamps are just a teeny weeny itty bitty larger than 1". If this disqualifies me then I don't mind. I had fun making them.

They have the layered look which I seem to be fond of at the moment. Not satisfied with just getting plenty of interest in the design, I have to go and make it dimensional as well.

As always, if you visit me here please be kind enough to leave a comment, I love reading them.

Off to write the next blog for another challenge

Kim xx