New PaperCuts release - You're a Star

Evening,

There are some fabulous new Paper Cuts Edger Dies released today by Creative Expressions, and I got to play with one of them. 

This one is called CEDPC1226 - Paper Cuts You're a Star Edger Die.

I die a bit of paper piecing after die cutting it from several different colours of card stock.

It was a bit fiddly, but well worth the effort.

The blue background was created using inks and Cosmic Shimmer Gilding Polish through a small star stencil.

I paper pieced the green leaves and red hears and then added some glossy accents.

I do hate waste, so I used one of the leftover die cuts as a stencil and then added the red and green snowflakes over this.

I covered them with versamark and crystal embossing powder to give them a little extra texture.

I also added a stack sentiment for a Christmas card.

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to check out the rest of the release HERE.

Love and Crafty Hugs

Kimx

Happy Boxing Day

Evening,

I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas.

I joined a carers group shortly after starting to look after Mum. We meet up once a month for a well earned break, coffee and a chat. There are always useful tips to be learned from one another, and a hug to be given, or received, if you are having a hard time.

As this was the last meeting before Christmas we were given homework......to do something completely selfish. Something just for yourself over the festive period. 

I stayed with my daughter, Sin-in-law and the youngest grandchildren. We had a fabulous Christmas morning with all the usual traditions, and then they went to Becki's fathers for Christmas Dinner. 

This gave me the perfect opportunity to do my homework, so I put on It's a Wonderful Life, a favourite Christmas film, painted my nails and then spent the rest of the evening watching what I wanted on the box and doing my cross stitch. All in all the perfect way to spend the day., and tick the homework box lol.

There comes a point with the Grandchildren, where much as I hate it, I resort to giving them money for Christmas, and this year was no exception. 

Despite it being what they have asked for, it always feels like you have put very little thought into your gift, so I created these wallets to put the money into. It at least showed that I had made an effort.

They were created using a Sizzix die, some Christmas papers and a handmade poinsettia. 

They were greeted with gaps of delight and WOW from the littlies at least so it was a job well done.

Thanks for stopping by.

Love and crafty hugs

Kimx

Happy Christmas

Happy Christmas to Everyone.

I hope that you have all had a wonderful day.

With much love and Crafty Hugs

Kimx

Countdown to Christmas - Day 24 Christmas Eve

Evening,

The kids have given in, at last, in their attempt to wait up to see Father Christmas. They have left him a mince pie and milk and a carrot for the reindeer, along with their pillowcases. Now if they can just stay asleep for long enough lol.

Just the last few Christmas cards to share with you. Quite a mixed bag really.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope Santa brings all that you wish for.

With love and Crafty hugs

Kimx

Countdown to Christmas - Day 23

Evening,

It never ceases to amaze me how different a stamp, stencil or embossing folder can look with just a change to the colours used.

The cards I am sharing tonight all use a fabulous 3D embossing folder.

I have used traditional reds and greens for the first two cards,

and then I opted for a more contemporary blue and purple theme.

And finally several colours of gilding wax.

Thanks for stopping by.

Love and Crafty Hugs

Kimx
 

Countdown to Christmas - Day 22

Evening,

As my Granddaughter Chloe would say, 'Only three more sleeps' till Father Christmas comes to visit. And only one more for me till I join them for my Christmas stay. 

I managed to get some decorations up today so the place is looking a little more festive.  Not up to Mum's usual standards I know, but at least it is something. Just a bit of cooking to do for her tomorrow before I leave and things will be all sorted.

A couple of Christmas cards tonight using a stencil, gold paste and some handmade background paper.

The background paper was made using Cosmic Shimmer Airless Misters and clingfilm.

The paste was added through the stencil once the background had dried. I also used the stencil with some ink for the images on the base card.

Another small card made using the left over piece from the previous card.

I fussy cut the greeting so that it didn't cover up too much of that fabulous background.

Thanks for stopping by.

Love and Crafty Hugs

Kimx

Countdown to Christmas - Day 21

Evening,

I can see a bit of a pattern here. Most of my Christmas cards this month seem to have been made using Embossing Folders, and this particular technique is so easy and yet so effective.

Whether it is kraft, or coloured card stock that is used this simple technique is the same. Emboss the card and then gently wipe a white ink pad across either the embossed or debossed side for a fabulous ghostly image.

Thanks for stopping by.

Love and Crafty Hugs

Kimx

Countdown to Christmas - Day 20

Evening,

How are all your Christmas preparations going? I'm pleased to say that for once I seem to be relatively on top of things, although we haven't managed to get any Christmas decorations up yet.

With only four more days to go to the big day, here are another couple of cards featuring Embossing folders and metallic card stock.

I do love this technique, although it is very hard to get any decent photos because of the shine on the metallic card.

I used Cosmic Shimmer gilding polishes for both the vintage background,

and also the painting on the embossed images.

I told you that poinsettia was a favourite of mine, and the holly branch is a pretty good one as well.

Thanks for stopping by.

Love and Crafty Hugs

Kimx 

Countdown to Christmas - Day 19

Evening All

We had an unexpected visit from the littlest Grandchildren today, which was lovely.

The first thing they wanted to do was crafting, so I gave them the pile of Christmas crafty goodies that 'Auntie Weena' had given me on Saturday. Its amazing what fun you can have with some die cut snowmen, paper and glue.

Mummy needed to do some shopping so I went too, which saved me a walk into Horley. The snow has gone, thankfully, but has been replaced with pouring rain, so I am very glad not to have had to make that trip.

Here are a couple of cards made using one of Jane's Christmas Bubble stamps.

I mirrored all the bubbles and wreath with a circular card here

and plenty of glitter and glossy accents. There are even a few die cut circles.

This second card uses the same stamp set and white embossing,

but this time straight on to white cardstock.

Traditional red for the poinsettia on this one, and then glossy accents to highlight the circles. Unfortunately it doesn't show up very well in the photos.

Must get the last of the prezzies finished tomorrow. The Grandkids rather sidetracked me, in the nicest possible way, but if I am ever going to get things finished, I really must do it tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by.

Love and Crafty hugs

Kimx

Countdown to Christmas - Day 18

Evening,

I'm hoping that now I am retired I will be able to catch up with some of those things on my huge To Do List.

 As you know I try and make a few Christmas cards each month. It paid off this time, especially as I hadn't sent many over the past couple of years so I had a rather large stash of them. These are now all used.

I'm a bit OCD with my cards I'm afraid. They don't get used until they have been blogged, and then they go in to a box to be finished off. You know, the boring bits that we all hate......inserts and envelopes and stamped greetings. Well it's the bit I hate anyway. Because of this I always end up with a huge box of cards that need finishing, and this year is no different. Having used up all my stash of christmas cards, when Mum needed  a couple more, I decided that I would have to put into practice one of the resolutions for my retirement.

I think that I will be well ahead of myself for next year once these are all done, and it will be great to cross something of my list. I just really must keep on top of it now instead of letting it all pile up.

Famous last words lol.  I do think that 135 card inserts finished is a bit of a result, and worthy of a break. I will add stamping them to my To Do List given that I do have another 11 months to finish them off. I will also have to finish all of the cards that I have blogged this month, so that total will go up, but to be honest I'm a bit done with this so I will give myself a break and go to work on something else.

I have a few December birthday cards to pop in the post as well as a couple of prezzies to finish so I can't sit back and do nothing quite yet.

Thanks for stopping by

Love and Crafty Hugs

Kimx