Behind The Scenes Tips From Wonderful Wall Art Creative Stamping

Have you seen the wonderful Summer Collection stamps that come with the current issue of Creative Stamping yet? When I first saw these stamps I was immediately transported to summer holidays and bright colours.

I don't know if I am allowed to have favourites from the set but I really love the flamingo stamp (flamingos are SO hot right now!) and the bird of paradise. I mean the rest of the stamps are pretty gorgeous too but those popped out first for me.

My article was all mixed media wall art inspiration using the collection and you can see all the details and projects in Creative Stamping Issue 25. But I do have a picture that didn't make it into the magazine just for YOU.

It is a little peak into how I set about designing the Bird of Paradise project from the article and a couple of handy tips for your projects:

1. Mock It Up!
I often mock up my makes before glueing down to give me an idea about placement of the elements. I use the items themselves or, like in the case of the stamped bird, I stamp it on spare paper, roughly cut it out and use it to help decide where things need to go.

2.  Don't Freak Out!
Later in the process I stamped the bird of paradise on the canvas board then proceeded to cover it up with paint. It can be a bit scary to do this. But don't freak out about losing all the lovely stamp details. You will lose a bit of the detail but you will also add a bit of your own details that will make the final project unique to you.

Two general rules of thumb that can be applied to a lot of situations really, I use them a lot.  For pictures of the finished wall art and instructions on how to make them check Creative Stamping 25 and when you do come back and give me a shout as to which of the stamps from the Summer Collection are your favourites!


Kim

If you enjoyed this blog post then please subscribe to my newsletter to get monthly updates from my studio:

Feel free to share this blog post on social media. 

*Heart* you.

Simply Cards And Papercraft Masterclass Gelatine Printing

Hey guys,

Just popping in for a bit of a heads-up. You all know that I LOVE writing for magazines and it keeps me pretty busy, well I have already got some favourite articles coming out this year and here is a heads-up about one of them.

[Photo credit: Practical Publishing International Ltd]

It is a masterclass that I did for Simply Cards and Papercraft about monoprinting with gelatine plates, which as you know is a cheap, DIY alternative to Gelli plates.

Why is this one of my favourites so far this year? Well for a few reasons actually, I just love how the cards turned out (yeah it always surprises me, even though I'm the one making them - are you like that too or is that just me?!), the colours are lush and I love the way that the guys at Practical Publishing make them look gorgeous (I want ALL their photo props and equipment (and skill LOL!)).

But there is an even bigger reason why it is a favourite of mine and that is I get to share with you one of my favourite techniques for getting cheap, easy, fun and unique printed cards using inks.

Now if any of you have tried using inks on a gelatine plate it doesn't always work out that successfully but with this masterclass you can put those niggles behind you. So have fun and I can't wait to see what you do, please do come back to share with me any of your makes using this masterclass I would love to see them!

You will find the full masterclass in issue 134 of Simply Cards and Papercraft and there is a bonus card on their website, which, by the way, has lots of lovely extra makes from loads of other designers, so a good place to check out regularly #hint #hint.

Catch you later geliprintators!

Two Free Projects For The Weekend

Oh yeah it is Sharing Friday.

Yep, you know it is Friday so it must be *Sharing Time*! What will you be up to this weekend? Ok, let's ignore what I will be up to as it will be mostly cleaning *boo*. But what about you? Got any crafty or arty plans for the weekend?

You know I love looking at blogs for some inspiration, I know you do too and it suddenly hit me, myself and the other designers with Practical Publishing International Limited have loads of free projects over at the Papercraft Magazine website and even though I always share them on my Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter I haven't really shared them on my blog much! D'oh! 

Seems obviously really. Me slow on uptake!

Free Craft Inspiration

So if you are looking for some weekend crafting inspiration how about these two for starters? Both of them are mine but other designers are available!

For all you happy snappers (yep, I'm looking at you!) check out my bonus make with step by steps for Simply Cards and Papercraft issue 128 on the website.

[Photo credit: Practical Publishing International Ltd]

I want all those cameras in the background of that photo! In the magazine there is even more inspiration for making the most out of those gorgeous pics you take of random things when you are out and about. 

But are you ready for Christmas yet? Are YOU ready for CHRISTMAS? 

Argghhh! I mean it is only erm, so many days (someone count the days, I can't do it), I mean not many days at all, really, if you think about it. It's practically Winter already. Admittedly a warm Autumnal Winter, but blink and it will be Christmas Eve, so get yourself ready now with my Seasonal Table Décor ideas in Papercraft Essentials issue 112. 

How about this Cracker of an idea (get it? Cracker? Sheesh, lucky I don't earn my living by trying to engage an audience in a fun and interesting way on a blog or something isn't it? Mmm?! Oh dear, beans on toast again! What do you mean we can't afford the bread?).

[Photo Credit: Practical Publishing International Ltd]

The template for the cracker and the Winter Rose are on the Papercraft Magazine website free to download.

So what will you be doing this weekend? Do let me know and if you want to share the results with me do link-up or leave a comment. I'm having lots of fun with Instagram at the moment so come and say hi if you are on it!

You are ok, my rubbish jokes and I are going now, you can go about your business.

Kim

New Magazine Monday - Papercraft Essentials

Happy Monday guys. Did you have a good weekend? Are you ready for the week ahead? What arty / crafty things have you got on your to-do list this week? My to-do list is full of articles and blog things but my wish list for the week just has one thing on it - to exchange this week, oh that would be super nice!

Well at least I have my tea-break sorted this afternoon! The new issue of Papercraft Essentials is out (issue 108). Have you seen it yet?

It has been out for a couple of weeks, but I've only just got my issue so I'm looking forward to reading it later! Don't forget to check out the cute embossing folders cover gift.

What are you reading today?

Catch you later.

Kim

Magazine Monday

It is magazine time and some new mags have hit the shelves! Yay! That's tea breaks this week sorted then.

First up is the Creative Titles, there is a new issue of Creative Stamping (issue 17)...

And Creative Cardmaking (issue 68).

And would you believe it, I made the main cover girl on both! Ooooo! Big smiles from me, lovely way to start my week (thanks Laura!).

Also out in the shops is the new issue of Simply Cards and Papercraft (issue 124)

I'm really looking forward to getting a peak at this one as I've shared a peak into one of my SMASH books. Mmm I really should share some of my SMASH book pages here too.

How about you? Are you a SMASHer? If you do I would love to see it! I love looking at people's journals! Is that nosy of me?

Whilst I'm at the magazine shout outs you might want to also check out the Bumper issue 50 of Complete Cardmaking too!

Well, look, before I leave you to your reading list this week make sure that you add Julie Kirk's blog Notes On Paper to the list, she is revisiting her fab Push-Up Bra Approach to Blogging. If you are having a bit of the blogging lull, and let's face it we all do from time to time, then you NEED to read her blog.

Catch you later Readinators

Kim

New Mags Monday - Papercraft Essentials 107

Time for a quick shout-out with the Papercraft Essentials issue 107, which hit the shelves last week.

I've not seen the magazine yet, but there should be a bit of an interactive card making article from me (you can see it at the bottom of the cover) and a fun embossed jigsaw card too. But if you are a Lavina Stamps fan you are gonna want to get this one, the cover gift this month is a set of cute Lavina stamps! I love the mushrooms!

Give me a shout if you have seen the magazine already I would love to hear what you think.

Right, I better get on, I need to work on some articles, so I shall see you all later.

Thanks for popping in.

Kim

Bits And Bobs Friday - Demos, Magazines And A Question

I've been in an all-absorbed frenzy of making this week to meet some deadlines, so much so that I am starting to question my sanity a bit. I've been so work-focussed that on Wednesday I mistook my door bell for the telephone ringing. Erm? Eeek! Yeah, ok so might not be that big a deal, they both ring and everything so I could be excused, except I did it twice! So yesterday I was extra vigilant as I was expecting a delivery but then it never turned up - D'oh!

Please tell me that when you have your creative hat on that you do mad things too? I mean is it just me? Oh boy! I think there is no hope for me.

I might try and take some time off this bank holiday weekend - got a feeling that I might need it! 

Except I can't take Saturday off because I will be in Hobbycraft Woking demoing for Fiskars with the Fuse and I'm excited because I have a new die to try out (it doesn't take much to make me happy!).

I'll be there from 10am to 6pm so do come on by and say 'Hi' if you are in the area. Also there will be a 25% off ALL the Fuse products running whilst I'm in the store - Oooo! So might be worth checking it out and stocking up?

I've got some more demos coming up this month:

Hobbycraft Crawley - 10th May 2014

Hobbycraft Maidstone - 17th May 2014

Hobbycraft Croydon - 31st May 2014

Another thing causing a bit of a stir this week, this time in facebook, is the latest issue of Simply Cards and Papercraft (issue 123). Have you seen it yet?

Oh boy are you in for a treat, there is an Indigoblu stamp set as the cover gift this month which has made a lot of Indigoblu fans very happy!

My offering this month are some silhouette style cards using some of the Cottage Cutz dies available over at CraftsULove.

Thanks for all the wonderful tips and ideas in the comments for yesterday's Journaling post, it is great hearing about where everyone does their art journaling.

Ok, I have another question for you - do any of you use affiliation programs on your blog? I would love to hear your views on them, anything you have to share would be great whether it is positive or negative.

Thanks

Have a fun Friday.

Kim

New Mag Monday - Get Stamping, Papercraft Essentials, Creative cardmaking

New Mag Monday! That sounds quite catchy doesn't it?

There are some new magazines in the shops so I thought I would do my shout out for them. I haven't seen them yet so I've got something to look forward too! Tee Hee! That is my tea breaks sorted when I get my crafty hands on them.

First up is the new Papercraft Essentials Issue 106.

This month I got a chance to play with making backgrounds and I've also used some of the Creative Expressions Stamps for this one, lots of pretty flowers for Spring with the Umount Posy Floral 1 stamp set.

Then there is the new issue of Creative Cardmaking, Issue 66.

I can't wait to get a peek at this one as I made some off the page gifts for men and I'm excited to seeing how they look in the magazine!

The final shout out is tinged with much unhappiness. It is for Get Stamping issue 8 and from what I've heard it will be the last issue.

Such a shame! I'm gutted! I really loved this magazine and its fab cover stamps. For me it had such a great range of different projects, not just cards but scrapbooking, home decor, and journal keeping all in one place and lots of lovely design work from the designers, so it is really sad it won't continue. You can still find some back issues, and the new issue of course, over on the MoreMags website so go enjoy it whilst you can.

But on a happy note Those two main cards on the cover are mine. *Yay* between the *sad face* looks!

Hope you enjoy your reads this week.

Catch you later.

Kim

Some Reading For The Weekend - Simply Cards And Papercraft, Creative Stamping

Friday again and some treats for the weekend. It is magazine heads-up time!

Two reads for the weekend, issue 16 of Creative Stamping is out...

Would you adam and eve it, I made the main card on the cover *squeal* ! I do love it when that happens and I always seem to have to do a weird double-take to convince myself that it is actually one of my cards! What am I like? Anyway, you might want to check out the stamps with this issue, some lovely nature stamps with bees, birds, birdcage and eggs all firm faves with me anyway!

Also out is the newest issue of Simply Cards and Papercraft, issue 122.

This month I'm playing with coloured silhouette stamping using some lovely stamps from Joy! Crafts which you can find over at Crafts U Love. 

The cover gift this month is three lovely Spring-themed embossing folders and I actually got a chance to use these with the Core'dinations card cover gift that you can get with Papercraft Essentials 105 so check out that magazine as well for some more inspiration.

There you go, this week's reading list! I don't know about you but I'm looking forward to a cuppa, feet up and some magazines to flick through. Although I'm not sure I really deserve such a treat as this week seems to have vanished and I haven't accomplished much *sigh* .

Hope that your week has been more productive than mine and enjoy your weekend!

Catch you later craftinators.

Kim

Some Weekend Reading - Digital Crafting Essentials, Simply Cards & Papercraft, Creative Cardmaking and Papercraft Essentials

Ok, so I confess, I've dropped a bit behind with my magazine shout outs, so some of these mags have been out for a few weeks now so you might need to move fast if you haven't got them already and you want them.

The first shout out is for Simply Cards and Papercraft 121 which has been out since the beginning of March, I know, my bad!

I was super excited when I realised that the purple card on the front was actually mine LOL! I can be a bit slow sometimes and I thought 'that looks familiar!' Oh bless. I've been making patterns with the lovely Waltzingmouse stamps.

Then there is Digital Crafting Essentials vol 2

I've been making some digital papers and stamps again and you will find them on the free CDs with the magazine. Hope you like them.

Next up it is Creative Cardmaking 65

and some cute Easter makes using paper and die cuts to make cute bunnies and chicks.

Last but not least there is the new issue of Papercraft Essentials, issue 105, and this one came out only last week so I'm back up-to-date - phew!

You get some lovely Core'dinations card with this one so have fun with it!

Ok, so lots of weekend reading, yay for the weekend!

Have a fun Friday.

Kim

Art Journal Sharing Thursday

It's my favourite post of the week, time for a bit of Art Journal Sharing Thursday.

My Art Journal Share this week is all about another habit that I'm trying to turn into a regular thing and that is sketching. I've shared a couple of sketches here on my blog in the past, but I would say that I'm not a confident sketcher, I'm trying to change that with regular practice.

I'm trying to do a sketch a day in one of my handmade books and a managed in January but it has got a bit spotty in February, naughty girl! 

I must say that I really enjoy it, particularly if it turns out even the slightest bit decent!

If you happened to have had a copy of Issue 91 Papercraft Essentials from February/ March last year you might recognise the sketch above. I made two Easter-themed altered sardine tins for that issue and this was one of them. I sketched it in January this year for a bit of fun.

Finally this one is a sketch of a mini-stapler, just in case you weren't sure!

Are you a sketcher? Do you keep a sketch book as one of your art journals? I would love to see it so do leave a link if you have posted about it on your blog.

Thanks for popping by and sharing on Art Journal Sharing Thursday.

Kim

Some Weekend Reading - Creative Cardmaking, Papercraft Essentials And Get Stamping

Ok so it is a bumper read-a-thon this weekend! I'm looking forward to reading...

Creative Cardmaking 64

Which is very pretty in pink this month! I went to the circus with my makes for kids in this issue. They are very bright and all you need to make them is some coloured card and maybe a few dies or punches. Hope you like clowns - they are cute ones, not scary - honest guv!

Next there is Papercraft Essentials 104...

I was lucky enough to have a chance to play with the lovely embossing folder and stamp set gift on the cover this month, looking forward to hearing how you get on with them too. I also have some ideas for getting the most our of your dies in this month, dies are soooo popular right now. 

Then last but not least is Get Stamping 7

I know Shirley will be pleased :) The stamps are Asian-Themed this month and I made full cover girl *Beam*! It is always such a thrill to make the main project on the cover. So I was let loose with a Blue Willow Pattern theme, you know, as in the the blue and white ceramic kitchenware designs that were first made popular in the 18th Century. 

I do love a bit of ceramic, I mean don't get me started on bowls, I LOVE bowls! Oh dear, that is another obsessions out of the bag, I might as well call this blog 'Kim and her Weird Obsessions'!

Right, I better be off so that I can finish what I need to do today to leave room for all the reading.

Kim