Thursday, August 28, 2014

WOYWW #273: Warning--images not for the faint of heart...

Welcome to another “What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday” (WOYWW), the brilliant blog hop initiated by our lovely hostess, Julia at TheStamping Ground….and you can see all the deets there.


So, I had yesterday off, and as the furniture delivery guys were early, I got some craft time in…Joy!  I started with putting away some of the stash I've been acquiring lately (Now have 2 mini ink tins filled!) puttered around a-bit as for a change I didn't have a card emergency, then broke out my new Tim Holtz Christmas Blueprint stamps.  As I know I’m using them for cards for the craft show, I didn't do my usual design one first, then go into assembly line mode; I just plowed in.  So I have 3 sheets each of poinsettia’s and the pine cone. I started coloring with the DI markers, but they seemed too intense, so I instead swished a Distress Pad on the craft sheet, then picked up the color with a water brush.  I didn't use particularly great paper, so there is a bit of buckling, so the sheets were left to dry completely. I then went down to see if I could post the blog from home, and couldn't, so here it is now…

I hope everyone has a great rest of the week, and for those on my side of the Atlantic, a wonderful Labor Day weekend!

Monday, August 25, 2014

The Creative Blog Hop

Gelli Plate Print Ombre Collage
Good morning, and welcome to Kim’s Creations!  Let me start by saying how honored I was to be invited to participate in the Creative Blog Hop!  My invitee is Hettie, whom I first met on the “What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday” Blog hop from The Stamping Ground.  And she will be a hard act to follow! Go visit her Blog Hettiecraft, to see what I mean!  After hitting it off with emails and skype, we actually met last fall when we went to visit her home in Wales! And this fall, she’ll be traveling to Upstate New York to visit with us.  This shows the Artistic Blog Community at its best!  

So, what is “The Creative Blog Hop”?  It is a brainchild of a blogger some time ago.  A blogger is tagged along with two others who then answers some questions and introduces three other bloggers the following week and so on and so on. (Like the old Faberge Organics shampoo commercial w/Farrah Fawcett…if you’re old enough to remember)  There are no rules as to who you invite or what art the blogger you choose undertakes whether it be cooking. painting, cardmaking, scrapbooking, writing or anything else.  So, on to TCBH!

About me: 

I have always been creative…starting with candles, then running amok with candies, leatherworking (which stopped once I realized that making my own saddle wasn't going to get me a horse! But still one of the best money-making hobbies I've ever had), music (I was a flute major in college-still play in a community orchestra), and photography (with my own darkroom and everything!)  I’m also a role player/gamer, which is what brought me to my current and all-encompassing hobby…Rubber Stamping/Card making.   You see: at tournaments (yes, role playing tournaments..I've even won trophies!), I wanted to make name plates for my characters, and while on my honeymoon in Ireland, I found some Celtic knotwork stamps.  I thought they would be nice.  When we got home I went to show my friend in CT, and said I needed to go to Staples to get some ink. “Oh no, you can’t use that…” she said, and promptly dragged me to my first Stamp Store, Impressive Impressions.  They really knew how to run a store (too bad they retired and sold it; it’s now closed)  They had a big demo table..asked if I wanted to emboss…turned on the heat gun, and if you’re a stamper, you know the rest! LOL!

Burlap Panel
I have been making cards and altered art pieces now for almost 18 years.  While I started with the “Clean and Simple” style, along the way I was introduced to the Distressed Look and a Mr. Tim Holtz…My husband I’m sure still regrets that!  Oh, and the Gelli plate, serious addition! But since he gave that to me as a gift, only he is to blame! LOL!

My Blog, Kim’s Creations  was started in June of 2010 so I could join my first blog challenge, The Compendium of Curiosities Challenge at Studio L3.  Blogging has allowed me to meet so many wonderful people from around the world!  It is such a wonderful way for the creative community to inspire and support one-another.  While I used to be a regular poster, nowadays it seems I’m lucky if I get a challenge piece in. The “What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday” hop from The Stamping Ground sometimes is my only motivator to get in the craft room some weeks to snap a quick pic! Sad that I’m counting down to retirement already so I have more free time…14 years, 11 months and 3 weeks to go…

Now to the Questions:

Stamp Camp Dove
1.      What am I working on now?   At this time of year, I try to focus on one thing: Cards for the Craft Show and Christmas! After selling out my first two years, and then had to make all my own holiday cards in a rush, I now really work at having a lot ready to go.  This year the show is the first week in November…only 11 weekends away! /Gulp!

I’m also taking part of the “Compendium of Curiosities III” Challenge, hosted by Linda Ledbetter at Studio L3.  This is the 3rd volume of techniques written by Tim Holtz.  Every other week we get a new technique.  This week is learning to use the Sizzix Framelets dies. 



TH Stamps & Framelits.
2.      How does my work differ from others in my genre? As all my cards get mailed, I try to keep them flat and light.  Clean and Simple, and I like to think Elegant is how I would have described some of my earlier works—never would have used the word Cute!  And then comes along the Distress Inks, and the grunged up look of Tim Holtz.  Hooked immediately! Now I consider my work grungy and simple!  I have found that I am a far better hoarder of Tim’s embellishments than a user of the embellishments! LOL!





Spellbinders Folder
3.      Why do I create what I do? For Fun…plain and simple. A smuggled 2 hours in the craft room at night can relax me more than…hmmm, as much as….a day on a beach, some home-mixed Mojitos, riding the trails on the ATV’s…well, as I apparently can relax quite easily, let’s leave it at the fun of playing with colors and images! The subtitle of my blog “So Many Colors So Little Time” is so true! There are still more colors out there..I can just feel it…


Sizzix Flip-its card
4.      How does my creative process work?  This is a tricky one.  It has become apparent that I can’t just sit down and start making something with no particular person in mind. I know...weird right?  So when I start making cards for the craft shows, I have to think as if it was a gift for someone first.  Same with canvas’ and other items.   And once I have that person in mind, colors and images sort of coalesce in my head.  And what is truly bizarre, I think, is that I need that mental lay-out/plan before I can even start to put ink to paper.  Otherwise nothing seems to feel right. That’s not to say that my mental layout doesn’t get FUBAR’ed- if you excuse the language, or the final design ends up a long stretch from the original vision, but there is a higher success rate if I have a plan.  And for some reason, a plan does not mean those “sketch” designs.  I have rarely gotten inspiration from them.  Do You?

And for your next week’s TCBH hostesses:

Here is Claire.   We met just this year at the PIF Anniversary of the WOYWW blog hop.  Turns out she lives in “the City”…  New York City..a whole different world from my Upstate New York!  We’re hoping to meet later this fall in person.   She has does such colorful and fun work!  Her blog is Ham ‘n’Mule Designs.






I've been making cards for about 8 years. I started out with a really basic kit and now my craft room is an out of control beastie! I love making cards, because there is always a new technique or skill to learn that can enhance your work. I get bored easily and so switching around is key. In 2014 I have got better at stenciling, learnt how to heat emboss, watercolour and mist. There is definitely never a dull moment in my craft room! 

I am a born and bred Londoner - which is quite rare! I am married to Sam - he keeps me in check, supports my hobby and is genuinely my partner-in-crime. We have been married for 5 years this year and together for 10, so will be celebrating in style in October! Along with our furchildren - Archie and Boscat, we relocated to NYC in May 2013, we love it, but miss our family and friends. I have a real job as a Project Manager - which I am good at and I enjoy it, recently I changed to working for a software company, after a 20 year career in the advertising industry. I love to travel, read, eat, drink wine, watch rubbish tv and hang out with my friends. 



And here is Kay!  Another WOYWWer who I got to know this year on the PIF Anniversary Hop.  She always has great photos on her blog with what’s going on in her neck of the woods! And apparently we have a mutual love of horses which we translated to art! Her blog is: 505whimsygirl.

Hi, my name is Kay Hammock.  I was born and raised in California; a true valley girl from the San Joaquin Valley. I moved to New Mexico around the age of 18. I grew up in a family where my dad painted with oils and my mom would make the most heavenly pies you ever tasted. Like any girl, I loved horses.  So much so that I'd get bars of soap and carve them into horse heads!  I was always doodling and drawing, something that I now wish I kept up with.  There was always something fun and creative going on in our household. 

I started my blog August 8, 2011.  I had been blog hopping for a while before I decided to start one of my own.  I have made some wonderful friends through blogland, most of which I'll never meet.  We all have something in common; the creative spirit.  

As far as crafting, I'm all over the place.  Knitting is my favorite craft as it's like meditation for me.  I love to listen to the sound of the needles.  I've dabbled in beadwork, mixed media and all kinds of papercrafting.  A new passion I've discovered last year is photography.  It's amazing once you truly open your eyes to the world around you what you see.  

I'd like to thank Kim for nominating me for this amazing blog hop!  I've only just "met" her but I definitely feel a bond with her.  Another wonderful reason to blog!

And last but not least….Here is Candy!  I was introduced to her blog, Creativity is Contagious, as she is one of the uber talented “Curiosity Crew” designers from the Compendium Challenge.  She does some of the coolest dimensional pieces! Just check out this week’s challenge piece!  

Hi!  My name is Candy Colwell.  I live in Springfield, Missouri with my high school sweetheart and husband of almost 40 years. We have been blessed with two children and four beautiful grandchildren. 

Although I love all sorts of mixed media and paper projects, my heart usually leads me towards vintage and shabby chic styles. There is just something so sentiment, romantic and timeless about that genre. I dearly love getting together with my “crafting buddies” at least once a month where we solve all of the worlds’ problems while we have fun working on a project.

I am passionate about teaching both online through my tutorials on my blog and locally at Scrapbooks Forever in Branson, Missouri.  I have met so many amazing ladies and truly enjoy sharing my love and knowledge of products and techniques with them as “make art” (as my 7 year old grandson calls it) together. 

My “second home” is in my art studio.  There, I have created many pieces for Simon Says Says Monday Challenge Design Team, The Compendium of Curiosities Challenges, and numerous Guest Designer spots.  I am so honored to have been named to Tim Holtz’ Blogworthy Links twice and I am a proud graduate of Ranger U.  I am also a self professed Tim Holtz junkie! I love his style, his products and his willingness to freely share so many techniques and ideas. I hope that if you visit my blog, you will find some inspiration there!

Thank you so much to Kim who has invited me to be a part of this Blog Hop. I have met Kim through the Compendium of Curiosities Challenges.  She does beautiful work and I know that she is a Tim Holtz fan as well and we are both HUGE Big Bang Theory addicts!


Friday, August 22, 2014

CC3C # 9: Stamps and Framelits, Page. 63.

Welcome to another installment of the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge, Vol. 3, hosted by Linda at Studio L3.  This is the ninth challenge in where we work through the techniques of Tim Holtz from, you guessed it…his 3rd Volume of the Compendium of Curiosities!!  As in the past challenges, we can’t give details on the challenge, so don’t ask, but do go get your own copy of Tim’s fabulous book.Aside from a chance to win some swag from the Curiosity Crew, the InspirationEmporium  has offered an extremely generous $50 Gift Certificate for all the odd numbered Challenges! So grab a copy, and join in to play!!  All the deets are here, at Linda’s blog!

As if I need a reason!! When Linda announced the she was starting the challenge on the 3rd volume, I leafed through to see if I would need anything new.  And since I didn't have any of these stamp/die sets, I went about acquiring one  (the Birthday cupcake.) And of course I used it almost immediately.  So then I felt guilty that it wouldn't be “new” for when the challenge came up…I know…such a freak!
                      
As I also have some matching stamp/dies from Memory Box, I just have to say… Hallelujah!   I am NOT a neat cutter, fussy or otherwise…Aligning the Framelits is a piece of cake and the Magnetic platform makes using these a breeze! 

I used a background from our first challenge (yay me!)  then built from there.  Halfway though I thought it would make a better canvas than a card, as it seemed “heavy”, but I moved/removed some things, and I think it pulled together nicely-if still a bit busy for my normal card.  On the lattice framework  die, I first embossed the paper with the wood grain texture fade, using DI Walnut Ink on the “deep” side of the folder.  I thought it’d be more noticeable but the frame is finer than I envisioned in my head.

So, there it is: the Framelits make cutting and layering components such a breeze, leaving time to actually work on composition! That’s a definition of a great tool! I hope even more sets are on their way.

There is still a week to check these out and join in; Stop at Linda’s to get all the details. Have a great week everyone.

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

WOYWW #272

Welcome to another “What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday” (WOYWW), the brilliant blog hop initiated by our lovely hostess, Julia at TheStamping Ground….and you can see all the deets there.

So, this week I have the pieces-parts of my compendium challenge piece which is using TH’s stamps and framelit sets.  . I was hoping to have it done by today; I’m also hoping to win the lottery…C’est la vie.

It’s working toward being a little heavy on the left side, and I can’t see a good spot to put the saying…so stay tuned to see what finally happens.  I’ve actually been pretty good about cleaning up, so what you see is everything I’ve touched to work on this…the left over bits of the lattice framework die (Hettie calls it punch-poo! LOL!)  the dies and stamps from the set, the DI markers and ink pads, some of the floral leftovers from the tattered flower garland die (I really need to use this one more often!)  and my ever-present Arizona Green Tea…


 So that is mine…run along now to Julia’s, to portal off to other creative spaces around the world.  Have a great week everyone!

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

WOYWW #271

Welcome to another “What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday” (WOYWW), the brilliant blog hop initiated by our lovely hostess, Julia at TheStamping Ground….and you can see all the deets there.

I wasn’t going to jump on this week, as I haven’t been in my craft room since the weekend before last.  But then another wonderful Muse-enticement arrived just an hour ago…and I am working on this desk, so Viola!   Some more fun TH items to play with.   I honestly don’t know if I’ll ever use the mini-ink pads: but the storage tin is so darn cute! And I love that the mini round blenders fit in the bottom of each pad…so I drank the Kool Aid as it where…(And yes Hettie…I can hear you now “But you don’t use a  blending tool for each color now”…) what can I say…My Muse will NEVER leave home again!!


I’ll try to have some serious crafting to report on for next week.  So run along now to Julia’s, to portal off to other creative spaces..Have a great week everyone!

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Challenge #8 Faded Layers Pg. 58

Welcome to another installment of the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge, Vol. 3, hosted by Linda at Studio L3.  This is the Eighth challenge in where we work through the techniques of Tim Holtz from, you guessed it…his 3rd Volume of the Compendium of Curiosities!!  As in the past challenges, we can’t give details on the challenge, so don’t ask, but do go get your own copy of Tim’s fabulous book.  Also, The Funky Junkie Boutique has offered an extremely generous $50 Gift Certificate for all the even numbered weeks! So grab a copy, and join in to play!!  All the deets are here, atLinda’s blog!

First, we can all relax; my Muse has returned, a bit miffed, but no worse for wear.  My latest shipment of TH Christmas stamps and stencils has calmed her somewhat…and have you seen the Sweater Knit background stamps and layering stencils yet??? I’m surprised I haven’t attracted every Muse in the county!
                      
So after a good look-through and touch of all the new goodies; out come the Alcohol inks! I always forget how much fun they are! I have a birthday card in mind…so I grab my scrambled numbers stencil…and enthusiastically work the technique (remember—need your own book; no hints) and I got nuthin’.  Major seepage under the stencil…maybe too detailed?  I try again-paler colors on the background…then use the Harlequin layering stencil…and again…an incredibly subtle result.  I had to take a break there to start dinner, and then I’m thinking that this was also a class from the Creative Chemistry 2 online class..and those are downloaded on the IPad…Bingo! I catch up on that while steaks are grilling..see my mistake, and later went back up to less-enthusiastically work the technique, and while still subtle, you can see the faded numbers appear (well not so much in the photo).  The rest of the card ended up being colored with distress markers, as the AI’s where just not controllable, and the Blending Pen was smudging the Archival ink even after heat setting.  I do love those Framelit stamp sets! Never was much of a cutter, fussy or otherwise! Now, as soon as I replenish my blending solution, I’ll rework the harlequin one…’cause I see possibilities!

There is still a week to join in; Stop at Linda’s to get all the details. Have a great week everyone.




WOYWW #270


Welcome to another “What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday” (WOYWW), the brilliant blog hop initiated by our lovely hostess, Julia at TheStamping Ground….and you can see all the deets there.



FOUND: One Muse, missing for 3 weeks.  What drew this wayward Muse home?? This!! Goodies from Tim Holtz’s new Christmas Stamps and Stencils!! WooT!  Probably good we’re not going away for vacation this year!

So, the shipment gets Ohhhed and Ahhhhed over, and then put aside so I can plunge on with the next compendium challenge. (which will be the next posting)  And what you see above is the resulting detritus… the birthday card for my Best Friends’ son, some DI markers, inks, foam tape…you can sorta see one of the layering stencils and another background piece that was part of the challenge technique.  The alcohol inks had been put away almost immediately; as I’ve had one too many accidents with them-and had no more room.
 

So run along now to Julia’s, to portal off to other creative spaces..Have a great week everyone!