More Spring Flowers For Creative Expresssions

Hi Guys, hope you are having a fun week. I've got a quick show and tell for Creative Expressions this week. The DT are on a new kit and in this month's kit there are some of the flower stem flowers from the Creative Expressions Single Stamp range.

This single stem tulip comes from the Creative Expressions Tulip Spray Set of 2 stamps. The crochet ribbon is also part of the Creative Expressions catalogue too. 

As I said it is just a quick CE post this week but before I go you might want to know about the new Craft Clearance website from Creative Expressions lots of quality product at knock down prices so worth a check.

Have a fabulously crafty Wednesday.

Kim

Last Make For Clare Curd Crafts

Hey All, I have my last DT make for Clare Curd Crafts for you.

So you know the routine, if you want to see the whole thing it is over on the Clare Curd Crafts blog.

And this week I've used the Hero Arts Clear Stamps - Today set with the Cosmo Cricket Evangeline papers.

It has been fun sharing on the Clare Curd Crafts blog, Clare will be sharing more with you all in the future so don't forget to bookmark the blog.

I'll catch you all later.

Kim

Dotty Stamping For Creative Expressions

Time for another DT make and today it is the turn of Creative Expressions.

I've gone for another ATC to showcase another way to use their new A6 Background stamps.

So far I've used the stamps with embossing powders and some triple embossing and then the first week I coloured the image with pencils. This week I've used them with Ranger Archival ink pads and some masking techniques.

I've used the Ranger Archival Saffron ink pad and also the Ranger Archival Cornflower from the Wendy Vecchi range of ink pads. The stamp is the Creative Expressions Umount Swirl Background stamp.

Have a great Wednesday.

Kim

A Feminine ATC For Clare Curd Crafts

Hey all, I have my Clare Curd Crafts DT make for you today.

Nope don't worry it isn't Tuesday and you haven't somehow skipped the weekend! Don't you just hate it when that happens? No, I missed my slot on Tuesday due to the fact that I'm a dunderhead!

I had made two cards for Clare Curd Crafts the week before, congratulated myself on getting two weeks up on my DT work then sent them off to their recipients without actually photographing them - D'oh!

Told you I was distracted this week. *sigh* so I didn't have time to get something made until Friday and that is why I'm posting my make today instead of last Tuesday.

That was a long winded excuse wasn't it? Ok so on with the make this week and a feminine ATC.

As always you can see it in full if you pop on other to the Clare Curd Crafts Blog. I've used the IndigoBlu Ledger Background stamp and papers from the Cosmo Cricket Evangeline papers.

Note to self: Remember to photograph things!

Catch you later.

Kim

All Embossed Stars For Creative Expressions

Happy Wednesday All! I have a make for you today and I almost went for a heart-themed make again, you know, like last week's post. But I avoided temptation and went for a star instead.

It is a make for Creative Expressions and I've used the Creative Expressions Umount Feather A6 Background stamp to emboss the background and to press into the triple embossed star.

When I started this make I was thinking that I would do a black and white theme and then I spotted this gorgeous Cosmic Shimmer Blue Watercress Blaze embossing powder in my collection - it is yum and I am a sucker for teal colours. 

I wanted a little counterpoint colour and the Cosmic Shimmer Bright Gold Metallic embossing powder just seemed perfect.

Then a little bit of Ranger Archival Jet Black ink to act as an accent and there you go!

Have a super Arty Wednesday.

Kim

A Rainbow Of Love ATC For Creative Expressions

Wednesday has snuck up upon us again. Did you spot it coming? I certainly didn't, I mean it was only Tuesday a day or so ago...

Well as it is Wednesday I better share with you my Creative Expressions make for this week.

I've gone for a bit of colour with some pencils for this Rainbow of Love ATC. I've stamped out the Creative Expressions Umount Feather A6 Background stamp in a light ink for the background and the heart is made from the Creative Expressions Umount Swirl A6 Background Stamp.

Hope you are having a fun week and thanks for popping in.

Kim

Butterfly Sampler For Clare Curd Crafts

Time for a DT make and it is Tuesday (it is Tuesday right?!) so that means it is my make for Clare Curd Crafts. This week I've used mostly just papers again with a little bit of stamping to make this Butterfly Sampler ATC.  

It made me think of those illustrations in old books about nature so I added the little 'figure' sentiment. You can see the whole ATC if you pop on over to the Clare Curd Blog.

I've used limited supplies again, the paper and butterflies are from the Cosmo Cricket Evangeline paper stack, which is on special offer by the way. The stamp is the IndigoBlu Ledger Background stamp.

Thanks for popping in and have a creative day.

Kim

Paper Star ATC For Clare Curd Crafts

My post today is for Clare Curd Crafts and as I looked at the products I had from Clare, that weren't the two Christmas stamps I was using last month of course, I thought to myself 'Mmm, what can I make today?'

I wanted to make something that would not take too much time to do but that was full of texture. Well for me that often means it will involve some tearing! 

Ping! Lightbulb moment! 

In my head I suddenly see an ATC using the Cosmo Cricket Evangeline papers torn and collaged onto card, with a star focal point stamped with the IndigoBlu Ledger background stamp. To bring it altogether I decide to use some direct to paper inking.

Most of the make is there in my head so I start to tear and glue and make, and as I do, the addition of the stapled paper hinges, and a little doodle lettered sentiment to balance the design, pop into existence.

So a fun little ATC using a little paper and a smidge of stamping is over at the Clare Curd Crafts blog if you want to see it in full.

I still love making ATCs, I know that the trend has kind of passed but I like the challenge of designing in miniature and the opportunity to try out techniques and ideas on a small scale for use later in something else. Do you still go in for ATCs? When was the last one you made?

Clare has a 40% off sale over at her store by the way.

Thanks for popping by.

Kim

Add A Bit Of Colour For Creative Expressions

Today I thought I would go for a bit of colour with my ATC project for Creative Expressions.

This week I've used one of my favourite techniques with the Henna stamps and the Archival Ink Pads.

It is a really simple technique but I love it! I've dabbed different Archival ink pads onto the stamp. You can of course make your own ink pads if you like by adding ink to a piece of felt or foam but if you are short of time the direct dabbing method works just fine. If you are worried about contaminating your pads just rub them on a piece of spare paper once you are finished.

The photos might look a little different on my blog this week? I'm trying out a new lens for my camera, I've finally taken the plunge and broken away from my kit lens. I've now got a Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II for my baby and I love it! The new blog profile picture in the sidebar and on my Facebook page were also taken with it. So now I want... Oh dear... new expensive addiction alert! Better save me pennies!

Catch you all later

Kim

An Inky ATC For Friday

Hey Friday, how you doing? Time for an ATC I think and a make for Creative Expressions.

It uses one Tim Holtz Classics 4 Stamp Collection stamp set and five Ranger Archival ink pads - Jet black, Cornflower, Chrome Yellow, Viridian and Plum. Oh, and some linen textured card.

Catch you later artinators.

Kim

Going Glittery Again

Going all glittery again for Creative Expressions, you remember the doodle journal page from last week? Well this is the same glitter again, it is the Cosmic Shimmer Polished Silk Glitter. You can stamp on this glitter, emboss it in folders (once stuck on a surface of course) but I've actually used it with the Cosmic Shimmer Flake and Glitter Glue through a mask.

After stamping the flower from the Umount Floral Silhouette stamp set, I covered the right hand side with a semi circular piece of paper. Then I placed a That Special Touch Polka Dots mask over the top and dabbed the Cosmic Shimmer Flake and Glitter Glue with some Ranger Inkssentials Cut n' Dry foam onto the card.

The butterfly is also from the Umount Floral Silhouette stamp set, and I stamped it in coloured ink, memento actual.

Oh and don't use the glitter on a windy day with the window open - D'oh! We will be finding glitter every where now! No change there then!

Catch you later.

Kim

Love Shack Baby!

It's Friday afternoon as I write this with a cup of tea in hand, no biscuits though *sigh*. I've packaged and sent off a commission this morning and had planned to spend the rest of the morning and the afternoon writing it up, but I so don't know where the time has gone. I did manage to get my DT work for the week done though, so I am happy about that!

One of the pieces I've made today is this little ATC for Creative Expressions and I've called it 'Love Shack'. Oh Yeah Baby!

It uses part of one of the sentiments from Sam Poole's Art Houses stamp set as well as half of one of the house too. The background is all stamped with the keys from the set and then lightly covered with a Gesso wash before adding some colour.

So I shall just finish my tea and write up my other DT make for the week and perhaps make a start on the article write up too. That will tick the jobs off of my list today. Hope you are getting through your Friday list too!

Have a fun rest of your Friday.

Kim

Mapping Out Peace With Gesso

Hello fellow Artinators how are you doing this week? Long time no see. Yes, it has been a bit of a busy old week here and as usual those plans for blog content got somewhat pushed as deadlines loomed. 

But I do have a make I can share with you today. It is a DT make for Creative Expressions using the Heartfelt Ornamental Medallion PreCut Set.

I decided to free-form this ATC. Ok, so what do I mean by that? Well, I had no idea in my head of how I wanted this make to look when finished.

I just sat at my desk and grabbed a couple of nearby items which ended up being the old map page, kraft card, Gesso and some pens and I just let it happen.

I've been doing a lot of work recently where I've sat down before hand to sketch out and plan the projects, so a bit of free-forming was quite freeing and a nice change of pace.

If you have never tried free-forming (I don't know if that is what it is called - I just call it that!) you should give it a go. The trick is not to worry if it all goes horribly wrong, some projects will. You have to let go of making everything perfect and just go with what you feel like at that moment in time. 

If you are a regular art journaler you are probably used to this way of working. For me it still takes a bit of practise to just let go and free-form. I always want to have an idea in my head of what something will look like but I find sometimes that this can turn into one of my creative blocks. Free-forming can often help me when I feel I'm getting a bit stuck in a rut.

I would love to know if you have tried this way of working and how you get on with it!

Before I go Creative Expressions has launched a beautiful project book that you might want to checkout. There is a bit of a sneak look on the Creative Expressions blog.

Also a shout out: I've mentioned before how much I enjoy Julie Kirk's beautiful and interesting blog Notes On Paper. Well, if you haven't seen it already then checkout this post with thoughts about how we present ourselves through our blogs and Social media outlets. Really interesting and something I've been thinking about recently too strangely enough!

Right, I'm out of here, you have a good weekend you all.

Kimx

Key To My Joy ATC

I thought I would do an ATC today, I haven't done one for ages and I do enjoy making them! For this one I have used the lovely Unity Key To My Joy stamp kit available over at Make The Day Special. I've also used the wonderful Black and Red colour combo inspiration from Gingersnap Creations.

Hope you have a day through of joy.

Kim

Materials:

Stamp - Unity Key To My Joy

Ink - Archival Black; VersaFine Onyx black

Usual Suspects - Paper trimmer; Silicone glue; Scissors