Thank You! from Visible Image

It's my Thursday blog with Visible Image
For today I've used three sets of stamps, Ink Splats, Thank You and Congratulations.
I wanted to create an organic looking card suitable for anyone and also using some distress ink colours that I often overlook, Brushed Corduroy, Rusty Hinge and Scattered Straw.
So I stamped the various splats in all three colours, the flower head and stem is from the Congratulations set and the Thank You sentiment from the Thank You set.
I stamped the sentiment in black Versafine to make it stand out and finished with a punched Kraft card heard and a string bow then mounted on Kraft card.
I'm very pleased with how this worked and think it would look great in many different colourways.
Thank you for stopping by today, crafty hugs xKx

Lavinia Group Poppies and Spellbinders Ribbon Threader

This is the last of my March DT inspiration for Lavinia Stamps
The Group Poppies are stamped in first and second generation ink, all stamping is done with
Worn Lipstick distress ink.
The wording is inked up and stamped from the Zen Angelic Words.
I threaded embroidery silk of the same colour through the thread holes and blended some seam binding with distress ink which threads through too.
The scallop card edges gave been blended the same as the bottom edge of the threaders which have been mounted on foam pads.
A matching ribbon finishes this make.
Hope you like this, thank you for reading today xKx

Techniques for Visible Image Rose Stamps

Before it comes to my new post this week for Visible Image Stamps I have the rest of my Rose Stamp
tags to share with you.

ONE - So starting left I stamped the image in Black Archival and water coloured with a mix of pink Distress Inks that were left on my blending mat from a previous design.
I then used a stencil to pencil in the design over the top of my image and on the tag.
The wording and dots are added with black fine liner pen.
I saw similar ideas in a recent Craft Stamper magazine and put my own spin on it.

TWO- For the next tag I again stamped the rose in black archival and I made a mask for it using a post it note.
Once the image was masked off I blended a mix of distress inks, reds and pinks to give me the background.
I finished by spritzing with White Linen Dylusions spray.

THREE - For the third version I stamped and white embossed the roses, I then blended Spun Sugar distress ink on the background and water coloured the roses with Barn Door.

FOUR - For my final tag again I stamped the rose in black archival and used a mix of distress inks from my blending mat spritzed with water to give me the background.
I placed the tag with the stamped image onto the spritzed ink to colour the background which gives a random and interesting effect.
Using an oval stencil with various sized ovals I then penciled in the shapes over the top and finally I used Picket Fence Distress Stain randomly over the top.

That's the end of my tag "How To" I hope it provides you with some further ideas and inspiration.
Thank you for popping by today, hugs xKx

Tarmac Technique with Artistic Stamper Stamps and Candy Box Fob Clock

Booking now at The Artistic Stamper

Tando segment clock with Grunge Paste and some Visible Image Stamps

Results from yesterday's workshop using
Andy Skinner's Large Reversible Clock made by Tando Creative

It was a lovely workshop yesterday and I thank my ladies for once again achieving stunning results!
They are all so talented, what better way to spend a Sunday, crafting with lovely ladies.
Pictured below are my samples and then the results.
We did the segmented side in the workshop and I've shown one idea with the reverse side.
How we did it -
The grey board is quite porous so use a white gesso or white acrylic to prime the 12 segments and the centre circle then paint in your chosen colours.
***Tip, I use tester pots of emulsion paint from Wilkinsons, at just over £1 pot they go a long way
and are just as good as acrylics.
Great coverage and you can mix the colours too***
I use a lot of paint and this is the most economical for me by far.
You can dry the segments between stages with a heat tool if necessary.
Then the fun wood like texture part!
This was achieved using Grunge Paste, I love this stuff!
Main reason, you can dry it with a heat tool which, if you're impatient like me is a real bonus!
Using a palette knife apply the paste to one section at a time, you don't need much paste.
As this is a grungy wood look you don't have to be too fussy with the application, apply it fairly smoothly then use something like an old credit or store card to create the grain/stipple effect.
The paste dries pretty quickly anyway so work on one piece at a time.
Then re paint each section and when dry use a fine sandpaper to distress the surface and expose some of the Grunge Paste weathered wood effect.
More definition can be added by dry brushing white or chosen colour paint.
Then I used Walnut Stain distress ink with a sponge to distress the edges of my segments and a little
over some of the wood grain surface.
You may want to change the distress ink colour to suit your own colour choice or you can try
something like gilding wax or Treasure Gold for a different effect.
The centre circle has no texture added just paint, sanding and distress ink to distress it.
The clock numbers and card candi were also primed, painted and distressed before sticking into position.
Stick the finished centre circle in position on to the grey board clock base first then add the sections.
You need a good mount of strong adhesive for this, a really tacky glue or pin flair is good plus, peg the edges to seal and put something heavy like a plate or book on top to assist the adhesion.
The outside rim of the clock can be sponged with paint, distress ink or Treasure Gold to finish the distress look.
Finally attach the clock movement and hands which come with the clock kit.
Then you can think about the reverse side.
For my inspiration I've used stamps by Visible Image, Tall Grasses and Butterflies.
Here are the samples and the wonderful results, thank you for stopping by my blog today, I hope I've inspired you xKx

Visible Image Live Your Dreams with Crackled, Splats and Dots backgrounds

Morning bloggers and crafters,
This is my first post using my new Visible Image Design Team stamps, my theme bright Art Journal cards!
Here's the Visible Image stamps I've used to create the cards,
Live Your Dreams - Sentiments
Backgrounds - Crackled, Ink Splats, and Retro Dots
I used Distress Inks to stamp the backgrounds and black Versafine to stamp the sentiment.
Layered onto contrasting coloured card and then mounted onto a shaped card.
I hope you like these simple but striking designs, thanks for visiting my blog today.
I'll be back later to finish blogging the tags I made with the Visible Image Rose xXx

It's all about Spring

Well with the arrival of a few Spring like days I'm sharing my latest DT project for
Sweet Lilac Flowers
I thought this little MDF basket from Candy Box Crafts would be just perfect for creating an Easter basket.
I used some papers that I've had for a good while and were free in a paper craft magazine and painted the exposed wood areas with some yellow paint.
I covered the inside too.
The lace is from Sweet Lilac Flowers and I added some mini ric-rac.
Some raffia wrapped around the top of the handle mimics the basket appearance.
Once finished I padded the inside with tissue paper and added some bunches of Sweet Lilac Flowers, I'd selected the colours and made up my own bunches using florist tape to secure them.
Finally a mini doily with some mini egg treats in the other side.
I think this would make a delightful Easter gift, hope it inspires you to take part in the new challenge
at Sweet Lilac Flowers, the winner receives a gorgeous hamper of their flowers.
In this month's Papercraft Essentials magazine there's a free copy if the Sweet Lilac Flowers brochure  which is a really handy guide to see a variety of the lovely flowers they stock.
Have a great weekend, crafty hugs xKx

One Visible Image stamp five ways

Morning,
I'm excitedly awaiting my new DT stash from Visible Image which I can't wait to get creating with! So in the meantime I've had a play with their Rose Stamp which was free with the Feb edition of Craft Stamper.
I decided to make a few tags with this one stamp and I will blog each one in due course.
Today's tag uses Kraft card and I've white embossed the rose for the background then embossed a separate rose and water coloured with Picked Raspberry distress ink before cutting out.
I sprayed seam binding with Fresh Lime Dylusions spray to place under the layered rose which was then mounted on using foam pads.
Jute string and more sprayed seam binding finish the top of the tag.
I'll leave you with the picture if this tag and sneaky peek at the rest...xKx

Spiral of Spells Clock with Lavinia Stamps

This clock was super simple to make and yet so very effective.
The design is stamped on to a 12cm circle of card which covers the CD it's mounted on to.
I use an eyelet setter to create the centre hole for the clock mechanism to go through.
Picked Raspberry distress ink is blended onto the background, lightening the colour nearer the centre of the circle.
The hardest part is centralising the Spiral of Spells I usually have a practise on scrap paper first, but I have been doing these clocks a long time so it's not so much of a challenge for me now.
Once the clock base was prepared I used candi for the numerals, using a protractor to line them up.
These are mounted with foam pads and I added some Star Dust Stickles "Stars" on top and left to dry before assembling the clock.
Thank you for stopping by my blog today....xKx

I sell kits for making CD clocks which contain everything you need -
Quartz Mechanism Sweep Movement (non-ticking) with Ornate Black Hands, AA Battery, CD, Stand, Gift Box and Pre-Cut Card Circle Discs for stamping, cut from quality stamping card.
Contact me craftyk@hotmail.co.uk for details

Happy Sunny Monday and Visible Image!

Morning bloggers and crafters :-)
I've quite a bit of blogging to catch up on so I'd better get a wriggle on...
I'm loving this sunshine, I'm such a summer person...
Anyway I'm so excited to share the news with you all that I'm now a member of the incredible Visible Image Design Team, how awesome is that!!!
I can't wait to get started on my DT work for them and just hope I can rise to the challenge and keep you inspired and creating with their wonderful stamps.
I'll be introducing them at my next workshop on the 23rd March ladies ready for following workshops.
So I just want to say a huge Thank You to Helen and Mark for having me on the Team and a big Hello to all my new "Teamies" it's great to be here!
Please check out their website, blog and stamps, the recent Create and Craft shows were a sell out and I can guarantee you won't be disappointed!
Have a Happy Day, crafty hugs xKx

New challenge - Lavinia Stamps "Add something Pink"

We're all in the PINK over at Lavinia Stamps this month with the start of the new challenge.
The lucky winner will receive a £40 voucher to spend at the online shop, so why not be in with a chance and join us!
The DT have provided some fabulous inspirational samples so why not give it a go!
I chose 3 combinations of very different pinks for my designs the first using a paper mache mannequin that I've had in my stash for a while now and I've been itching to have a go at this as I haven't done one before.
After preparing by painting with gesso I the painted with a very pale pink paint from a tester pot of emulsion paint.
Next I stamped the Nigela Damascena using plum archival onto tissue paper, each flower cut out and glued in place with a decoupage/collage medium.
The project uses only this one stamp set, the stamps are all very versatile as I hope this demonstrates.
I then decorated and embellished the mannequin with plum and ivory ribbons, bows and ric-rac.
Ivory netting is drapped over the shoulders and then I completed the project with hat pins feathers and pink flowers.
I did enjoy doing this once I got started and was pleased with the result, hope you like it too.
I'll leave you with the images of my projects and I'll blog the other two in more detail in due course.
Have a great weekend, crafty hugs xKx