Craft Stamper Blog Hop - Looking Back

Hey, Hey, Hey Blog Hoppers! Welcome to the Craft Stamper Blog Hop!

And the theme is 'Looking Back' and there are lots of giveaways and events going on from today and for the next week, so keep your eyes peeled!

Now, if you have made it here from the lovely Birgit Koopsen's blog then you are on the right path. If you have just popped in here and want to blog hop with us then start over at the Craft Stamper Blog.

So if you don't know me my name is Kim Dellow and I'm one of the newbies to the Craft Stamper team. I describe myself as an Artist - Crafter - Blogger and I love all things arty and crafty. I dabble in many styles and love to try lots of different things, I have commitment issues! Or perhaps I'm just indecisive, I'm just not sure! (Did you see what I did there?)

As I've mentioned the theme of the Craft Stamper blog hop is 'Looking Back' and we are all looking back at things we made or did in 2012. So for my project I thought I would look back over a couple of things that I worked a lot with last year and that is Watercolours, Collage book pages and Ink and dip pens. All things that I love experimenting with.

There is also a touch of wire work and some Gesso stamping, making a simple little tag but full of texture. If you are interested in finding out more about how I made this tag then come back on Monday 4th Feb and I will show you!

Ok so you need a letter from me and here it is: Y

Thanks for looking and hope to see you here on Monday. Have a fun hop and good luck in the giveaways.

Your next blog to hop is the lovely Trish Latimer's Blog

and if you get lost or want to start from the beginning then it is the Craft Stamper blog you need. Don't forget to checkout more Craft Stamper Events on their Facebook page and events page.

Catch you later

Kim

Have You Seen...

Hey lovely Artinators, I'm just popping by to give you a heads-up. In case you haven't spotted it yet Craft Stamper is having a Super Blog Hop with lots of yum Giveaways. Yeah thought you might like to know about it!

Starts on Friday, 1st February.

Get yourself linked-up so you don't miss it, you kind find information about the sponsors on the Craft Stamper blog and on the Craft Stamper Facebook page.

They also have an events page on Facebook and if you need an invite and you are linked to me on Facebook then give me a shout on Facebook and I will send you an invite :)

So blog hop starts on the Craft Stamper blog 10am 1st Feb!

See you there!

Kim

Balancing Life With A Bit Of News

Time for an update! So many plans, so many plans! I don't know why I thought I would have more time this year to sort out my blog? I have some plans, but they keep being pushed to the back burners to make way for commissions. YAY! It is great getting the chance to do what I love on a daily basis and I count myself so lucky, but now I have to learn how to balance everything.

When I was working as an employee there were well defined boundaries and I can't say that I was balancing life particularly well then either. Now, working for myself, the boundaries are far more fuzzy so it seems even more challenging getting the balance right. 

I naively thought that if all the time was your own then it would be easier to schedule what you needed and wanted to do. How wrong was I? But that is life isn't it? I'm learning as I go along and to be honest loving it!

To get the balance right today I started my day with a little bit of experimenting with inks, paints and stamping.

Whilst I wait for the paint to dry, so that I can do the next stage of the experiment, I thought I would quickly update my blog as it has been a bit quiet since Friday's Sparkly post.

I've got a couple of cards in the current copy of Simply Cards and Papercraft, issue 106, if any of you have a copy of it then checkout the Cardmaker's Challenge on page 62. As usual there are some lovely ideas and inspiration in the issue from a whole range of fabulous designers!

Oh and HUGE thanks to everyone who commented on my last Magazine Update post. You guys got me thinking, I love hearing about bloggy friends too and when I thought about it like that I felt better about posting my updates! I'm also going to try Lucy Edmondson's fabulous suggestion and will put direct links to current magazines with my work in my sidebar, thanks Lucy!

So whilst we are on the subject of Magazines, some of you have spotted already that I'm on the new Craft Stamper design team - No Way!? Yes Way! Would you Adam and Eve it?

Thanks so much for the congratulations, and for those of you who haven't linked up already check out the Craft Stamper Website, their Facebook Page, the Craft Stamper Blog and Twitter page.

Finally, a sneaky look at the new stamps that the Creative Expressions team will be working on for the next few weeks...

and you can check out the DT makes on their individual blogs or on the Creative Expressions Facebook page. Mmm, what shall I do with these? Mmm Cogs whirling!

Right, better go do the next step in the experiment.

Any tips on how to balance my life would be much appreciated!

Hope you have a well-balanced day!

Kim

Just A Bit Of A Sharing

Well look at that! It is Thursday all ready. I thought I would share a couple of things today, apologies for not having any finished items to show but how about some news and a work in progress?

I was having a bit of a play this week with my ZIG Art and Graphic Twin pens, as you guys know they are one of my favourite items in my colour medium tool box. The ZIG Art and Graphics have a brush tip and a bullet tip, in case you haven't seen them - you can check them out in detail on my review post from last year.

I wanted to see if I could draw something with the bullet point tip of the pen, I have to admit I do use the brush end more so this was a bit of a challenge to myself to see what I could come up with.

Usually when I use watercolours I do draw the image in pencil first so drawing it with the bullet tip of the ZIG Art and Graphic Twin pens was an interesting change and I would do it again, so I shall carry on experimenting with this technique and would love to know if any of you guys have tried it?

Extreme close up:

I love the textures you can get with Watercolour, so random and interesting.

Anyway, whilst I'm still on the subject of Kuretake just to let you know that I will be at West Worthing Hobbycraft this weekend for a demo in the new store. Hope to see you there Saturday 24th from 10am to 4pm!

Oh and just to let you know I'm going to be on telly! Yikes! I've got a show for Kuretake coming up on Create and Craft - 28th November 11am (Time is now 1pm not 11am). So set your recorders...I'm not nervous, not nervous - keep telling myself that and I might believe it! I hope you have been watching the lovely Dee Paramour and her shows?

Ok so final bit of catch-up news, some of you have spotted it already but I was one of those folks shortlisted / runner-up in the latest round of the Craft Stamper Stamper of Year competition! 

Totally pleased as punch! 

Thank you so much those of you who have been sending me congrats - you are lovely.

Ok, so I best get on and finish some stuff.

Hope you all have a lovely creative Thursday.

Kimx

EDIT: The Create and Craft show has been changed to 1pm 28th November instead of 11am

Sunday Round-Up

A happy creative Sunday to you all! Yep, it is Sunday, it really does scoot around quickly, but then that is what happens when you loose track of time playing crafting!

I thought I would drop by this Sunday to share a couple of blog hop finds, the first being for the blog of Britt Kvilhaug - Life, Paper, Scissors. She has many gorgeous papercraft and scrapping makes to check out, I particularly love her 'Un-Art Journal' covers using Thickers very cool!

Next, you guys into your colouring of images have you been seeing the fab work of colouring 'without' lines? There are some fabulous examples from Zoe on the Make It Crafty Blog.  Or check out this lovely from  Melanie over at Paper Blessings. They just look so great, got a very illustrator/ artist look to them. Love them.

I'm a bit scared of trying this, don't think my colouring is strong enough but I'm going to give it a whirl LOL! I'll let you know how I get on and I would love to see your 'without lines' colouring so leave me a link to your make in the comments and I'm come on over.

Whilst I'm here I just thought I would also let you know that I have an article in the current issue of Craft Stamper on page 78.

I know some of you have seen it already and thank you so much for the congratulations messages you have been sending to me! You are so very lovely!

Ok, so I'm off now, but I'll leave you with one last link and this time it is for you nail varnish nutters (like me at the mo!). Need something to do with all that glitter you have been collecting in your stash? One beauty DIY tip coming up!

Big crafty hugs to you all, looking forward to seeing your 'without lines' colouring, don't forget to link up!

Kimx

Sunday Round-Up

Sunday, Sunday and what are you up to this Sunday?

For all the Mothers in the UK (and anywhere else that has Mothering Sunday today!) 

HAPPY MOTHERS' DAY!

Have you seen the new issue of Craft Stamper yet? My Quixotic Paperie DT buddies Judy and Kim Costello both have lovely articles and look Judy's gorgeous card is on the cover! Well done girls! 

I have a little make in this month's issue too, it is only a little ATC in the Idea Gallery on page 52! Here is a little sneaky peek:

I used Unity and {Ippity} stamps available from Emily at Make The Day Special. The sparkle is added with some ZIG Wink Of Stella.

Have a lovely Sunday.

Kim

Sunday Round-Up

One of the things I LOVE about this Arty, Crafty Blogging journey is the wonderful and generous people I have met along the way.

For instance I have recently been sent some lovely Random Acts of Kindness (RAK), the first one from the fabulous Tatiana from Scrap Domna blogging in Russia. We recently swapped ATC's and look at the fabulous interactive ATC she sent me:

Love it! Notice that I've set the mood-meter on 'I'm going to eat chocolate' - well a girl can wish can't she?

Tatiana also sent me a wonderful Christmas card but because of our problems with the mail I didn't get it until January! Also in the RAK was a wonderful old Russian coin which is now one of my prized possessions! Thank you so much Tatiana!

My second RAK was a gorgeous thank you card from the wonderful Kevin over at McCrafty's Cards:

What a beauty! Kevin won my recent blog candy and used the stamp on this beautiful card! Thank you Kevin she is sitting on my windowsill at this very minute.

I'm feeling very lucky!

Another thing I LOVE about Arty, Crafty blogging is how we all get inspired and pass on inspiration on our journey. You might remember my mixed media tags for Make The Day Special recently:

I was tickled pink to be told that my tags inspired other people in some of their makes. The first up is my Make The Day Special DT buddy She who made the beautiful tag you can find on her blog Rubber Addict. The next make inspired by these tags is the wonderful Shrine you can find made by Lesley over at Harmony Road Studio.

Gorgeous work! Do pop to their blogs and share some love!

What a lovely and supportive Arty, Crafty community we are building! I'm always blown away by the amazing art that people do and I have learnt so much from everyone, it is lovely to be able to pass it all on as well.

Before I leave you to your Sundays I just have two more things to mention.

If you have your March Craft Stamper you might have spotted lots of makes using stamps from Make The Day Special, one of them from little old me!

It's another in the my line of handmade Art Journals, which I'm quite into at the moment, you can see another one on my One World One Heart post.

That brings me neatly to the last thing I was going to post about today and that is the One World One Heart (OWOH) event. 

So we were talking about the Arty, Crafty blogging community, well OWOH is just a fabulous event to meet new art and craft people.  

If you have some time and are looking for some new inspiration then pop on over to Lisa's blog for the participant list. You can just browse through the blogs or if you like there is still time to sign your blog up too.

 As added incentive each blog is giving away a 'door prize' and for my giveaway just pop on over to my OWOH post to sign up!

Enjoy the rest of your Creative Sunday.

Kimx

Some Exciting News!

Hey guys, how are you all doing today? I thought I would share with you a peek from a couple recent {Ippity} Inspiration makes for the Craft Stamper Stamping Contrasts article in the October 2010 issue.

Unfortunately they have accidentally credited my makes to the lovely Kim Costello! So I am a little gutted LOL! But hey ho!

Have a fun day!

Kim

Moving House

So have your eyes recovered after yesterday's explosion of colour? LOL!

Well I have a much more subtle offering for you today. This uses the fab cover stamp from the September issue of Craft Stamper which was designed by the competition winner Susan Wherry - Well done Susan I love your stamp.



I've stamped it out on BasicGrey paper and an old book page and used Shimmerz Paints Fire Engine Red on the door and chimney and Sunflower on the string.

Have a subtle but by no way subdued Friday
Kim

Materials:
Stamps - Craft Stamper
Ink - VersaFine Onyx Black
Papers - Basic Grey
Usual Suspects - Scissors; 3D-foam
Other - String; Shimmerz Paints Fire Engine Red and Sunflower

Lovely Pink Sugar

Back to pink for you today. Pink, black and warm greys just go so well together. For this one I've part coloured and part paper pieced the beautiful Leanne Ellis designed stamp from Sugar Nellie. Added a few glossy accents and framed her in a triple embossed frame. I don't know if you can see in the photo but her skirt is slightly curved to give dimension. I've got to find a better way to take pictures!

.

Materials:
Stamp - Sugar Nellie; Craft stamper
Ink - VersaFine Onyx Black; silver
Colouring - Letroset promarkers
Papers - Dovecraft
Usual suspects - double-sided tape; silicone glue; paper trimmer
Other - ribbons; embossing powder and heat gun; 3D-glue

Peace On Earth

The penultimate Christmas card from me this year (I hope) and I thought I would have a go at the challenge Katy has put up on the Craft Stamper Blog which is to use Glimmer Mist in a project. This follows on from a fab masterclass article in the January edition of the mag. So I used the cellophane (clingwrap, saran wrap whatever you might want to call it) technique as I've been meaning to try it for a while, what better excuse can one have?

I love this technique my only problem is being patient enough to let the paint dry :)


Materials:
Stamps - Elzybells Art Stamps
Inks - Glimmer mist; Brilliance Pearlescent
Usual Suspects - Paper trimmer; Double-sided tape
Other - Cellophane; Galaxy marker pens; silver wrapped elastic; silver ribbon; eyelets; crop-a-dile; 3D glue

Heavenly Peace

So still going on the Christmas cards. Hope you like today's offering. I love the little 'Joyeux Noel' postage stamps that are actually part of the larger 'Heavenly Peace' stamp and I've cut them out to embellish the card. Finishing it off once again with the cover stamp from January's Craft Stamper magazine and some curled wire.


Materials:
Stamp - Inkadinkado; Stamp Crafter magazine; Meredith Fenwick Designs; Studio G Alphabet
Papers - K&Co; Dovecraft Victorian Christmas
Inks - Versafine Sepia and Onyx black; Tim holtz Ditress inks
Usual suspects - Paper trimmer; Silicone glue; double-sided tape; scissors
Other - Brads; Wire; Glitter glue; Cuttlebug and nestibilities

First Of The Last Five

On the final card countdown, only four more Christmas cards to do (after this one). So a little triple embossing and the great cover stamp from Craft Stamper arrived just in time to finish this card :)

Question is will I finish the last four before we need to send them?


Materials:
Stamp - Inkadinkado; HOTP; Stamp Crafter Magazine
Papers - K&Co; Dovecraft Victorian Christmas
Inks - Versafine Sepia and Onyx black; Tim holtz Ditress inks
Usual suspects - Paper trimmer; Silicone glue; double-sided tape; scissors
Other - Brad; Ribbon; Seam Ripper; embossing powder; heat gun

Craft Stamper Blog

Craft Stamper has set up a new blog, I love thumbing through their new look mag, so am looking forward to following their blog too.

Welcome to the Blogosphere Craft Stamper.

They also have some blog candy on offer to mark their launch, so even more reason to go check them out.

Autumn Cards

I do love Autumn colours. I love all the seasons' colours when it comes down to it but it is particularly fun to work in Autumn colours isn't it? So here is an Autumn card for a friend who's birthday is in September and I've entered it for this weeks Stamp Something challenge.

What is your favourite season for colours?


Materials:
Stamp - Free from Craft Stamper Magazine; Stamp Always
Colouring - Letroset Promarkers
Other - Ribbon; orange bazzill cardstock, black cardstock