Making Cards. Blooms in Abundance/Heartfelt Creations Competition time.

Hello to all the lovely blogland folks.

Well as you all can see by the front cover tucked neatly over there  (can you see where I am pointing) no? over on the right hand side and below ( I look like a traffic controller) you can see the front cover to Making cards magazine promo for the August edition 2013.

It took all my will power not to  buy all the 4 copies WH Smith had to offer and in the end I still bought two, one to show and one to keep shiny and new.

When I was told by the lovely Joanne Garwell from Making Cards that My cards may be able to feature in Making Cards I was so extremely happy and have been excited to see it for a while now but never in a million dreams did I think I would get the front cover. Ecstatic isn't the word for it my friends, I am extremely happy.

 As most of you no I am hoping and working hard for a career in this industry as I am very passionate about it, so I'd like to encourage you to have a look at the cover or if you live near somewhere you can see a copy with the 2 page feature please do have a look then pop back here and leave me a comment and let me know what you think.
Of course you will also see lots of cards made by my friends and also there are several competitions and different offers in the publication along with gorgeous free quality papers in the middle to pull out.

 August 2013 Edition.

Right over on Heartfelt Creations at the moment is the stunning new collection called Burst of Splendor and believe me it is gorgeous, and a joy to play with. They have a new launch worth around $150 Dollars every month when the new collections are out and all you need to do is comment on the collection to be in the competition. 

 Here was my box which you can see if you scroll

through the DT items on the Heartfelt Blog.

The official chat on the blog from our lovely Emma Lou Beechy, the creative director goes like this:

"This collection includes a Classic Leaf die that is the perfect botanical addition for every project you create. The Open, Classic and Bold Leaf stamps create depth and variety to your crafty projects. Pick up the Dahlia Cluster, Dahlia Bouquet and Blooming Dahlia stamps to create a stunning floral masterpiece. These background, accent and corner stamps will add a delightful classic touch to every project you create.The Burst of Splendor paper pack is loaded with saturated greens and purples and sprinkled with colourful dahlias and clusters of wildflowers. White and orange dahlias pop out from purple border, bouquet adorned pages. Olive green eggshell patterns, ornate octagons, and wildflower-laden iron gates are splashed with saturated beige's and roasted browns. Brightly coloured tags and journaling blocks complement the climbing ivies and plum hues. This paper pack will make your project even more eye-catching.
Leave a comment on the Heartfelt Creations blog by July 16th and you will be eligible to win the entire release valued at $150.00."

So If you live in America and even if you do not, go and enter and the name drawn after July 16th will win the amazing collection That is extremely generous of them and they do it every month. WOW hey!

 Here is the box open so you can see the lacework more clearly.

And of course a close up of the Dahlia here on the box corner to show how I cut into the flower with a craft knife and pushed up the petal from behind to give it a more raised appearance, just like a flower growing in nature would, more natural I believe.

Ok guys I have more tomorrow 

encourage your friends to come by and join if possible and

please leave any comments below, I love to hear from you all.

Crafty  hugs

Kim 

xxxx

Time really does fly.. Doesnt it?

Hi everyone.

Wow time really does fly doesn't it.
I cant believe it is July already let alone, last week would have been my 25th wedding anniversary if we hadn't have lost our David 2 years ago in December coming. It's been a sad week for sure although I did get a flying visit from my lovely son ( have to say that, he checks my blog grammar lol ) no seriously  he is lovely and was good to have us all together all be it just the three now.

I digress. So without further ado I want to show you some of the things I have working on for my teams this week.

This was for Heartfelt Creations using their fabulous collection for June which was Gateway to the seasons and deliciously girlie in shades of pink etc.

 This is a close up to show you how I snipped into the gate to make it look a bit different, You can compare it to another card coming soon.

Here is The vintage floret die I used to make this rose and then glittered it using a spray varnish and tipping liberal amounts ( oodles and oodles to be precise) all over each flower.

Next I made a frame for Craftwork cards so I thought I would add this to today's post too.

This was made using Craftwork Cards gorgeous Tea Dance collection and I loved the little bows all die cut in the pad for ease of use. This was really fun to make using a doily or 2 and the brilliant Candi as always.
This month Craftwork has launched its amazing Time flies collection which I Have had my sticky mitts on so I will have some pieces up soon.

As always a close up so you can see the lovely paper, And the bow I mentioned , I mean how easy a bow from paper.

Lastly some news.. I had the honour of using Craftwork Cards Sweet pea collection from times past to create a project of cards which is to be published in Making Cards magazine for August. I am so very lucky to be now associated with them and feel honoured to have my work published , If you know me you will know this is another rung on a long ladder as I feel a career in the craft industry would be my ultimate goal. I hope if you in England you will get to see a copy it should be out very soon and it will be for August. Huge thank you to Joanne who liaises and books us for work as she has been extremely patient with her newbie and feel honoured to work with her. Yayyyy.

OK guys, more tomorrow.

Have a great Tuesday

Kim 
xxxx



                 

PaperArtsy Ala Fresco... Paint that is..

Hi everyone,

Wow, so I was chirping around on Twitter putting out some pics of my projects and keeping up to date with my posts etc., and I was reading all the lovely Leandra's tweets from PaperArtsy, and well let me tell you I am religious about this paint. I use it from the bottle with paint brushes and with cut and dry foam.  I use it to stamp, I water it down and spritz it, I just love love love it... Hmmm, I don't think how much I love it is coming across here lol! Then came Grunge Paste ... ta daaaa ting!!! Light bulb moment.

Anyway, one of the first projects I designed for Heartfelt Creations when I started on the team was a canvas board of course using my fav paints combined with Heartfelt's fabulous paper and die/stamp combo's, so I tweeted her and asked her what she thought and she really liked it ... gosh what a cool start to your Monday hey guys...

Here it is...

I took this board and coated it in white Gesso. Then I took a brick stencil and smoothed Grunge paste through it just in the lower right corner and I made sure I finished it uneven so the edge was broken and aged, even slipping slightly, silently into the still clear water a tiny piece at a time (ooo creative writing... gets this from my son hehe)

I applied layers of Fresco finish Acylic paints at a time, drying in between. Next, colouring the wall, keeping it to an aged old brick feel. Stamping leaves around the edge to frame my design came next and added the post and flowers all handmade. Adding liquid pearl in droplets to make the design dimensional (touchy feelly) to us helps it to really stand out.

I stamped 'beautiful day' and made it look like it was hanging from the post by raising it up on foam and wrapping the hanging bits around the post and colouring them with gold wax.
      
I loved this project and  this way of using paints, you can get a refection in the water and blend so nicely. The paints not only blend extremely well but they dry so quickly due to the chalky content, I wish I had every colour as it is a fabulous product as is all PaperArtsy and Leandra's.

So this is a special post to showcase this fabulousness and I will see you all soon, any new guys feel free to join up and stay; I would love to have you here, so Welcome!

I have another post I made and blogged some time back but as this is predominantly Fresco and crackle glaze I thought I would just include the pics.

Again, used the paints and air dry clay here through an embossing folder first before painting it (do not run air dry clay through any of your machines)

Thank you for stopping by my little blog, feel free to leave me some comments as I always love that and it keeps your feet firmly on the floor too.

Love as always with crafty hugs.

Kim 

xxxxx

                                                                                                                                                                                                          

More Cards to show.

Hi all, see I told you I won't neglect you this week.

I have a couple more items to show so hoping you managed to pop over to Craftwork cards yesterday to look up the gorgeous Tea Dance collection or to the blog to catch my post, yesterday I showed you the lovely frame home decor piece I created and today I can show you the card I made for the

 I made it using crisp clean White a blush card and lemon/cream ribbon plus soft gold for the swirls.

 Close up of the bow and sentiment hanging, also you can see the embossed frame too.

 Here you can see the blush mat I used underneath the layer I pierced .

And of course no card is complete with out the inside to match. ( sorry about the shadow, I blame the dodgy photographer) herr hummm me!!
Next I have another project from last weeks Heartfelt Creations blog post using the gorgeous Gateway to The seasons collection which is beyond stunning

 Here is is this is The Fall season precut stamp which I coloured with Martha Stewart Pencils and added some glaze here and there , and a little distress ink from Lord Tim for the sky and bottom Grass. You Can see the stunning Gate here open.

 A close up of the colouring, I love to work with all different mixed media and this was a first with the pencils.

And a more closed view to show off the Gate cut from the die Made by Spellbinders for Heartfelt Creations of course. I also used the Grand Circles die to cut the card blank to use for the easel card here.
Ok this is all I have for now I am thinking of doing some tutorial posts so If there is anything anyone would like to see even if it is something simple please leave me a comment and ask away.
I may have some news for you soon about a certain lady getting a few cards published very soon so watch this space hehehe.
well I will be back soon with more inspiration so come back soon.

Have a great day 

Crafty hugs

Kim 

xxxx

New posts for June.

Hi Everyone

Gosh it seems like a long time since I posted but I really must not neglect you any longer.
I have a few projects to share with you all and I hope you like them as much as I enjoyed making them.

I hope you have all been having a great few weeks and enjoying the few days (if your in the UK) of sunshine we actually started to enjoy last week, that was before the rain got jealous and inched its way back to us haha.

The first is a project I made for Heartfelt Creations who have a new post every Wednesday on their Blog with all our Creativity for that week and wow it is always a real treat to go through it so pop over and have a look if you can.

 I have used several of their products here all available from their shop of course.

Here is a close up of the flowers I made from their matching die/stamps range plus several mats using velum in colours for a change.

Next I would like to share a project I made for Memory maze in Australia who make the most amazing chippie's, so intricate too.

This is a canvas board I added grunge paste to through a Key mask , then painted and stamped my sentiment on a spellbinder Die cut and painted my chippies and added some lace and embellies, quite masculine but not overly all needs is a funky hanger of some sort to hang up I think.

Lastly it is my turn to post over on Craftwork cards blog tomorrow (17/06/13) so why not stop by and read the whole post ,I do have a sneaky peak of course though at one of the projects which is another home decor piece.

 This is quite a large frame I found on offer in a local store and thought it would make a fabulous piece for the new Tea Dance Collection Papers which are gawwwjussss.. ( said in true cockney accent)

So I hope you have enjoyed these projects and that you may pop over to see my post tomorrow on Craftwork Cards, memory maze on the 15th of each month and every wednesday on Heartfelt Creations where there is so much inspiration , videos from the lovely Emma Lou the creative director who is just so passionate about Craft just as I am.
 
Anyway have a great start to the week my lovely crafty friends and see you all soon.

Love 

Kim

xxxx

Delicate Aster's & Catch-up

Hi all.

It was a lovely day yesterday here in sunny old Blighty ha( only ducks would enjoy our weather ) mainly cos they could swim through the town. It has been a rough year without much of a spring and certainly not much of a summer so far but today was a nicer day with people walking around in some nice bright colours etc.

 On a serious note our weather is nothing to the weather our friends over the pond have been experiencing and I would like to express my gratitude to those helping the less fortunate out there and my heart goes out to all those who have suffered so immensely due to terrible conditions weather wise.
Take care you guys.

Last week on my crafty quest for Heartfelt Creations I decided to make a little box and then I made the card to go with it, Usually I am guessing you would make it the other way round but me being me always questioning the chicken or the egg haha... nope the box then the card... fitting together VOILA... o so perfectly...

The Result.

It was from Their gorgeous Delicate Asters Collection.

This is one of my personal favourites which I have made into my style by adding inks and embossing powders. By using chipboard , Paint and gold gilding. I have used triple layers of UTEE  dipped in gold embossing too , also added some over stamping to the writing  and used lots of the paper's from The Aster Collection which is stunning in shades of purple, I added distress inks in Milled lavender and Dusty concord along with several greens and some Sakura pens for depth too.

The easel Card.

A close up on this flower as it was made alternating layers of card inked and cut out with the Heartfelt dies and also velum inked and stamped, You can see the leaves with the UTEE and gold dipped edges.

Here is my box , please note all the wonderful colours kept clean and separate but still blending so elegantly through out.

Finishing touches.

The dies matching the stamps cut extremely cleanly and if you are unsure how to do this Heartfelt's Creative director Emma Lou Beechy shows you in a series of video's exactly how to do this technique.

 

I thought this would be a good time to re mention That I have Pinterest and Twitter too so if you would like to come follow me on there please click on the words and it will take you right to it.

Of course you guys know I am on Facebook but again come add me and keep up with all the Craftiness that way too.

So I hope you enjoyed my Heartfelt tribute this Saturday and I look forward to sharing more with you very soon.

Please leave me some feedback as its always gratefully received.

Love 

Kim 

xxxxx

Craftwork Sunday.

Hi Eveyone in blogland.

I realise its been a while since my last blog ... ooo am I  confessing my sins lol    oh well ha ha maybe here a while... well it has been an event full month as you may know I started a new job and now I am on my 5th week , had first pay day and am doing well.

I also had a small Operation on my silly ligament and had lots of steroid pumped into it so I am hoping that will make it feel a bit better for walking on it. Not as yet convinced as had several before.

I have had a shuffle about with my design teams and I am now no longer designing for  Die'sire with Crafter's companion  and will miss the girls immensely but will keep in touch with them of course. I am half way through my time with Memorymaze Australia now and have almost completed my first month with Heartfelt Creations US  plus  I will be with Craftwork cards like a limpet on the rocks under the sea haha.. for as long as they will have me. I am of course looking for more things to do if anyone has something coming up. I also hope to have some other news very soon  so for today I will how the cards I made for   Craftwork Cards this month

 The stunning new Tea Dance Collection.

 A view inside this Tent card to show how pretty is finishes a card to decorate the inside to match.

This is a good shot cos you can pick up the Micro beads used over the Paper from the Tea Dance pad.

I love this so much i think I may micro bead anything that stands still or cover it in UTEE from my melt pot both techniques I am currently rocking to death lol..

Next..

I used their gorgeous new frames with some of the Tea Dance paper here and lots of Candi crushed in the flower too.

And lastly ..

They have some special goody boxes and I was lucky enough to receive all three and this one had mannequins in it so here was my little pink vintage version, just look at the little shoes...

Lots of glitter sparkle lacquer on this... I made the little cotton reel

with 2 pieces of Candi and some seem binding in a role with the cord wrapped

around, cool hey...

Anyway tomorrow will have a new post and I will show what I have been doing for Heartfelt Creations so far..

What have you al been up to this Bank holiday weekend so far?

love always 

Kim 

xxxx

Sun Kissed fleur.

Hi lovely crafters.

Well haven't we been lucky with the sunshine this week here in England, gosh you could have been fooled into thinking we do actually get a summer lol....
well spring ... well warm day or two. hmmm 

Anyway did everyone had a fab bank holiday then ?

I am settling into a new job after leaving the one I was in for 12 years and I am doing fine. I certainly have a lot more crafty time and no longer working on my Saturdays which is aways going to be a good thing.
This week I shared with you my fabulous news regarding The Heartfelt Creations DT so today was the launch of their newest collection called Sun kissed Fleur and I was lucky enough to receive the entire pack last week so today I would like to link and share with you the first card I made for them.

This collection was so easy to work with and the flowers all cut out from one die , so you can make 10 flowers in one pass through the machine, plus you can stamp all 10 before you cut them out so the possibilities are endless.

Lots of distressing and just look at the papers. 

Emma Lou has put some really inspiring videos on to The Heartfelt blog and 

I would love to see some of your comments on it as you have up to the 14th of this month to add your comment before someone wins this entire new collection worth over $180. How generous hey...

So have a great Thursday tomorrow and it is nearly the weekend with our short week following the Bank holiday .. what do you plan on doing  with your weekend and who will be crafting?

 

love as always my crafty friends

 

Kim 

xxxxx

Heartfelt wishes and Vintage Bunting.

 

Heartfelt Creations News.....

Good Evening everyone, well should say goodnight but then that would be rude as I just got here haha, but the fact is its 20 mins to 2a.m and I just now thought to come on and share the news before sleeping...

Of course you all know I got to the Semi's for Heartfelt Creations in America and I would find out ( or you would) around the first of May....

Well I had a wonderful surprise last week from The very Gracious Emma Lou Beechy who is Heartfelt Creative directer congratulating me for becoming, along with lots of other gorgeous and talented ladies one of the newest designers and I am so so so so very pleased I cannot begin to tell you how lucky I feel right now.

Well after a huge hiccough with FED-EX leaving my DT package with a neighbour on Monday and not informing me at all (tut) I received it tonight and OMG ( I never thought I would say that ) but Oh My Goodness... I felt like the luckiest soul alive , how incredibly generous and amazing are the products, The paper is the most yummiest strokable stock ever.

The stamps are detailed and precut on foam and the dies Match and are just stunning. I cannot tell you how I have been laying here simply wanting to get started on my first project but... Tomorrow is work all day and then I have to play taxi to take my girl volunteering all evening and then work all day Friday which just leaves Friday night in readiness for Saturday's first post and I am so looking forward to it. I also received This months new releases which can be shown with every ones first items from Saturday so I will do some links and items then for you all.

I am also finishing off a little something I am making for the lovely girls at Stamps addicts in the hope of designing for them as I did some bits for them a while ago. So wish me luck.
I may have some Magazine news coming up too but can't share that just yet but I will as soon as.

I'd like to say welcome to all my new followers to the blog, welcome and crafty hugs. If there is anything anyone would like to see or any techniques wanting to learn come an let me know and I will put a tutorial on here for you...

I was thinking of dedicating a day a week to teach a particular item.. like Tutorial Tuesday or wanna see Wednesday or something... is that Corny...? what do you think? Sound good?

Right well I can appreciate that was a lot without any pics so I thought I would add my pics of The Vintage Bunting I made for Craftwork cards recently  which I absolutely loved doing for them, If your a fan of their gorgeousness you will be excited to see some website changes next week and some beautiful new goodies that I for one cannot wait to play with.

Hope you like. Leave me a comment and I will definitely answer and appreciate every single one.

And here's some close up's. It says CREATE ART

And then I decided on a little inspiration.

                                                                                                          

 

 OK lovelies I will apologise for the wonky pics but at least you get to see the Yummy Vintagey ness

hmmm. It was all made using a fabulous Vintage shabby chiq pad which contained the beautiful colours in the paper I used here with a various amount of techniques thrown in, Stamping, 2nd generation stamping, Kiss stamping, embossing , Non heated and heated. I used Lord Tim's distress throughout of course and lots of Yummy Craftwork cards stamps which are all on their website so why not pop in and have a look and also Congrats to all the lovely ladies who made it like me to the Wonderful Heartfelt Design team too. 

Lots of crafty hugs 

Kimmy 

xxxx