Following a Sketch

Evening,
Well I just about made it through the day, although I can see a very early night looming lol.
It was my first day back after a weeks holiday. I took time off to help out with the little ones, definitely my sort of holiday....... not a beach in sight.
I do miss my crafty breaks at SirStampalot though, especially as I would have been up there around this time of year. Maybe I will pay them a visit in the New Year.

One of the classes that is always a winner with the Girls is 'Follow a Sketch'.
I'm sure that we all have a box of half finished projects, and sometimes no idea of what we can do with them. I find that when I am going through a creative slump one of the best places to start (as well as Pinterest of course) is with a sketch.

There are lots of sketch blogs out there, including Tuesday Morning Sketches, Freshly Made Sketches, Saturday Sketch and CAS Colours and Sketches, and they all hold a back catalogue of sketches so inspiration is never more than a click away.



These first two cards were made using pieces of 'Bleedin Art Tissue' background which I layered onto some scrap pieces of card using wet or spray glue.

When the sheet of background was completely dry I stamped and embossed my images onto it.
It is better to leave the card at least over night before attempting to stamp and emboss it in order that the embossing powder doesn't stick to the damp glue.
I painted the images with bleach and then a Versamark pen before adding clear or crystal embossing powder.

I always make sure that I take some toppers along to the 'Follow a Sketch' class, just in case.

They are always my go to when time is short and I need a card in a hurry. A topper, some background papers and a sketch and you have a really quick but effective card.

This final card was made in just those circumstances. All bits and pieces from my box pulled together into a card for my Boss's Anniversary later this week.

I had better go off and have a look at all the fabulous entries into my Animal Magic challenge at CCM before I get too tired. I hate having to choose a winner and so I don't want to get too far behind with viewing all of the fantastic entries.

Have a great evening.

Happy Crafting and hugs 

Kimx

Sketch 57 for WoodwareWitterings, Take Two

Hi Guys
I'm back again with another take on the Sketch over at WoodwareWitterings.

This time I used an old Magenta floral stamp.

I stamped and embossed it onto a piece of card and then painted the flowers with Masking Fluid.

Once the fluid is dry I used a brayer to cover the image with dye based ink.

Rub the masking fluid away with your finger to reveal a white image. By using the masking fluid the colours that you paint the image with remain true and uncontaminated by the background brayering.

Once again I used FRCL080 Mixed Greetings stamped and embossed on to kraft card and painted with brown dye based ink.
I hope that you have enjoyed all the different takes on the sketch from our DT.
See you next week with a whole new set of ideas to inspire you.
Hugs Kimx

Sketch 57 for Woodware Witterings

Morning Everyone,
We have a sketch for you at WoodwareWitterings this week.
Now you know I love sketches, but this one did have me scratching my head for a while, until I went to my bits box that is and then I got a little bit carried away as you can see.

The stamped panel was created using a leaf from one of my favourite Stampendous stamp sets CRS5068 PenPatterned Leaves.

I stamped and embossed the leaves onto some handmade background paper sponged with dye based inks.

I coloured some of the image with a purple and white Gelli Roll glaze pen.

The diamond pattern has been achieved by placing a stencil over the background panel. Remove the colour with a damp baby wipe and then burnish with a piece of Cut-n-Dry foam and some purple and Stardust glitter glue.

The sentiment is from a very old but much loved set FRCL080 Mixed Greetings and the main card has been stamped with versamark ink and clear embossing powder before being sponged with brown dye based ink.

As I said I got a bit carried away, so her is another card made with bits and pieces from my box. In fact there are enough cards for another post on Sunday lol.
The main leaf stamp in this one is CRR175 Leaf Background stamped, embossed and coloured with dye based inks.
I also used it on the main card, just stamped with black versafine ink.

Here is the sketch for you, why not give it a try it is great fun.
Have a wonderful day.
Happy crafting and hugs.
Kimx

A new Sketch at WoodwareWitterings

Morning Everyone,
Time to play with another sketch over at WoodwareWitterings.
One day I will think about how well my card will photograph before I make it. As you can see I didn't do a very good job of that here lol.

I love working with a sketch. It is an easy starting point for a card, making the hard part deciding on what technique or stamp set to use.

I recently revisited decorating chalks in a class and had such fun with them that I decided to use them again here.

In fact I had so much fun making my card that I created another masterboard using the same stamp set and colours of Decorating chalks which I then chopped up to add three more Christmas cards to my stash.

The poinsettias were stamped with Versamark ink and then a cotton wool ball was used to add the shades of red chalks.

I stamped the leaves and flower centers afterwards and added the colours with a clean cotton wool ball.

The final step to creating the masterboard is to add the stamped and embossed sentiment from the same stamp set before chopping it up into pieces.

I couldn't bare to throw any of it away, so I even managed a small card.
Some glossy accents on the flower centers and the central vellum circle on the first card.
I hope that you will have fun with our sketch, and check out what the rest of the DT came up with.
Happy Crafting and hugs,
Kimx

Sketch 54 at WoodwareWitterings

Morning Everyone,
We have a new sketch to inspire you over at WoodwareWitterings and today it is my turn to share.

I do love a sketch, it is a great place to start if you are having a bit of a creative block, and it is also a good way of using up some of the abundant bits and pieces from your stash.

The stamped and embossed panel is from that stash and is a very old Stampendous stamp Scenic Poppies.
I covered the poppes and the three trees with Liquid Masking Fluid which you have to leave to dry and then I sponged the entire panel with dye based inks.

Once you have finished colouring the background rub the masking fluid away with your finger to reveal nice white images ready to colour. I used Alchol pens for this and then added a little bit of shine with a versamark pen and clear embossing powder.

The green panel also involves masking, this time with a large post it note and a black pigment ink pad.

As usual I have made a second card, this time using part of an old Magenta stamp Flower Pot Trio and more of the masked background.

Here is the sketch, have a great time being inspired by it.
Happy Crafting and hugs
Kimx

A Woodware Sketch

Evening Everyone,
We have a new challenge over at Woodware this week, and I must start my post with a huge apology to Dorothy.
Firstly I am soooooooooo late with it again, and secondly I have used an old Magenta stamp that is no longer available through Woodware. So sorry Dorothy, did you think that I had forgotten?
With time at a premium right now I searched through my bits box for some thing to use as the focal point of my card.

What I found were some lovely bits of background card, all created using alcohol inks, glossy card stock, and said Magenta stamp.

I decided that as there were three bits of background, than I should finish off three more cards for my box.

I have added some stardust pen to this panel.

 The floral image on this panel has been painted with bleach to take out a little of the colour.

 A few tiny gems are the finishing touches on this card.
Once again I apologise for the lateness of the post and hope that you like my take on the current sketch.

See you again soon.
Hugs Kimx

A new Sketch for Woodware

Hi All
We have a new sketch for you to play with at Woodware this week, and it is my turn to post today.

I love working with a sketch and decided that I would use this opportunity to add another Christmas card to my stash. I doubt very much that they will have been written by now

The cute Reindeer is one of Jane's new Christmas stamps.

I did a bit of paper piecing for the head and scarf and then painted the nose red before adding some Gelli Roll Stardust pen and Glossy Accents

The greeting is from another of Jane's new stamps finished off with a bit of bling, and layered over a panel of red card which has been dry embossed using one of the Doobadoo stencils.
As usual a bit of gold gilding wax helps to enhance the pattern.

I can see that this is going to be a very useful sketch so I expect you will see me use it again.
Have a great day.
Hugs Kimx

A Sketch at Woodware

Morning All
Well here is my take on this weeks sketch over at Woodware, after my initial little senior moment.
For those of you not in the know I made a card for todays post using next months sketch!!!

As luck would have it I had created this little stamped panel the night before in an effort to use up a piece of background paper that I had made while cleaning up one of my small acrylic blocks.
I told you I'm very sad, and on a mission to use up all my left over bits and pieces. I had better live till I'm 106 to be in with a chance of ever fulfilling this lol.

I had used the block as a paint palette (I tapped the kaleidacolour inkpad onto it and then picked up the ink with a waterbrush), but there is always too much ink left to just wipe away.

So I spritzed it with water and stamped the block onto a piece of plain white card stock.

Do this several times to create a piece of background paper before stamping and embossing on to it using an Artemeo stamp set.

The background papers are from my Woodware stash and matched the panel perfectly.

I stamped and embossed on to them using a combination of dye based inks, versamark and clear embossing powder and gold metallic ink.
The sentiment is from one of Jane Gill's peel-offs, and the butterflies and border are from a sheet of Magenta

peel-offs from my stash.
I do love working from a sketch, which is just as well after my little glitch. At least I didn't have to think too hard which is probably just as well.
Have a great day.
Happy Crafting and hugs
Kimx

There is a new Sketch from Woodware this week.

OMG, I'm so confused. Where has September gone? I could have sworn that I had another week to go, which has meant that I have let people down, which is never something I plan to do.
We have had Becki and Emma come to stay rather unexpectedly, which is my excuse, as if I need one for being easily confused.

They have a lovely new sketch for you over at Woodware this week.
Unfortunately they are still experiencing problems on the blog which is very frustrating.

I love sketches, they are such a useful place to start when you are stuck for a card idea.

Now I hate to waste anything, as is the case with most crafters, so I have a stash of card scraps on my table ready to wipe up any excess ink from my craft sheet.

Spritz the ink with water or glimmer mist and wipe the card through it.......instant background paper.
So that is where I started for this card.

I stamped and embossed the leaves onto the panel using Vintage Sepia Versafine ink and clear embossing powder and then coloured them with matching dye based inks.

The background panel to the card has been created using another of my favourite Doobadoo stencils - I just love these.
I ran it through my Grand Calibur and then sponged the resulting embossed card with more dye based inks.
As there are some spaces in this particular design I stamped and embossed more of the leaves in to these gaps.

Of course no card would complete at the moment without a touch of Gilding Wax in both gold and bronze.
The ribbed card is from my stash and picks up the wax beautifully even if it is difficult to photograph.
I hope that you will join us this week, even if I am a little unsure as to where the posts are being placed. If all else fails contact Dorothy at Woodware and she will point you in the right direction. That's what I intend to do. Good old Dorothy, always there to aid and assist.
Hugs to All, and happy crafting.
Kimx