Kool Kitty Musings

Wildwood

Morning everyone!

I'm over on the Seven Hills Crafts blog today with an autumnal make featuring some recent releases from The Greetery.

I'm a real sucker for multi-step floral stamp sets. Just love them. But I especially love it when a set also features some nice foliage elements to fill in the space around the florals.

The Wildwood set from The Greetery has loads of these elements. You can keep things simple by picking out a few choice elements, or go the whole hog and use each element to create the focal point for your card.

Stamps: The Greetery - Wildwood
Dies: The Greetery - Aida Cloth, The Greetery - Wildwood, The Greetery - Wildwood Sentiments, The Greetery - Hoopla Oval

I picked some warm autumnal tones to contrast with the grey inks I wanted to use for the stems and foliage.

To frame the floral spray, I grabbed the large embroidery hoop from the Hoopla Ovals die set. I just love the woodgrain detail on the frame and embossing on the screw. These little details add a nice touch of realism.

Once all the floral elements were arranged and stuck down, I added one of the sentiments from the stamp set cut out with the separate sentiment die set.

I definitely needed some maximalist pop to make that frame and the Wildwood florals stand out.

So I reached for some jade cardstock, added texture by scoring lines outwards from the midline every 3/4 of an inch, blended some darker jade ink around the edges of the panel, and finally added some much-needed gold splatter with watercolour paint.

Until next time, happy crafting!

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The Greetery - Wildwood stamps Shop at: SHC (UK) | TG	The Greetery - Aida Cloth texture plate Shop at: SHC (UK) | TG	The Greetery - Wildwood dies Shop at: SHC (UK) | TG	The Greetery - Wildwood Sentiments dies Shop at: SHC (UK) | TG
The Greetery - Hoopla Oval dies Shop at: SHC (UK) | TG	The Stamp Market - Blush Pink ink pad Shop at: MISC	The Stamp Market - Coral Reef ink pad Shop at: MISC	The Stamp Market - Dijon ink pad Shop at: MISC
The Stamp Market - Gravel ink pad Shop at: MISC	The Stamp Market - Jade ink pad Shop at: MISC	The Stamp Market - Peach ink pad Shop at: MISC	The Stamp Market - Rusty ink pad Shop at: MISC
The Stamp Market - Slate ink pad Shop at: MISC	The Stamp Market - Umber ink pad Shop at: MISC	Versafine - Onyx Black ink pad Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC | SHC (UK)	Concord & 9th - Assorted cardstock pack Shop at: MISC | SBC | SHC (UK)
Neenah Classic Crest 110 lb smooth Solar White cardstock Shop at: AZ (UK) | MISC	Lawn Fawn - Gold metallic cardstock Shop at: SBC | SHC (UK)	Lawn Fawn - Silver metallic cardstock Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC (UK)	Kuretake Gansai Tambi 36-pan watercolour set Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC
Bearly Art - Precision Craft Glue Shop at: AZ (UK)	Lawn Fawn - Stamp shammy cleaner Shop at: SBC | SHC (UK)	MISTI stamping tool Shop at: SBC	Waffle Flower - 6.5 x 8.5 Grip Mat Shop at: SBC | SHC (UK)
Craft blending brushes Shop at: AZ (UK)	Tim Holtz - Distress Sprayer Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC	Tim Holtz - Stampers Anonymous Splat Box Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC	Waffle Flower - Mini Media Mat Shop at: SBC | SHC (UK)
Royal Langnickel - Zen watercolour round wash brush set Shop at: AZ (UK)	Sizzix - Big Shot machine Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC	Sizzix - Sidekick machine Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC	Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (maxi) Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC
Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (small) Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC

Hang a Stocking

Morning all!

I'm over on the Seven Hills Crafts blog today with a couple of festive makes, combining some brand-new supplies with some old favourites. :)

The latest Concord & 9th festive release hit the store last week, and once again there was plenty of temptation and a lot of scope to use new sets like the Stocking Stamp & Stitch set with some older items.

I must confess, that's one of my favourite things about making Christmas cards – pulling out favourite supplies from previous years and using them with my new additions.

For the backdrop to my card today, I figured the Concord & 9th Boughs & Holly stencils would be the perfect place to start.

This set of 6 stencils creates a wreath background and a greenery background.

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Stocking Stamp & Stitch
Dies: Concord & 9th - Stocking Stamp & Stitch, The Greetery - Sentiment Suite Basics, Hero Arts - Infinity Nesting Rectangles
Stencils: Concord & 9th - Boughs & Holly

Since I had my inks out, I decided to stencil the greenery background onto white cardstock, and the wreath background onto a rustic cream cardstock to make two cards in one go.

Once the backgrounds were done, I trimmed them down slightly so that the panels could be mounted on a solid cardstock background. I even got the Corner Chomper out for the cream background for extra flourish!

Then it was time to cut the stocking elements and do a little stitching.

The stitching is super easy and adds a lovely finishing detail with that texture. I've got a fair bit of felt in my stash, so I may also try some felt stitched stockings down the line.

I added a sprig of holly to the cuff detail and some Glossy Accents on the berries.

Finally, I needed to add a sentiment somewhere, so I grabbed the Joy stamp from the Stocking set and stamped it on one of the banners from The Greetery's Sentiment Suite Basics die set and nestled it behind the stocking.

I also stamped the heart from the Stocking set on the small tag from the Sentiment Suite Basics set and tied it with silver thread so that it would dangle from the stocking. It just adds that perfect finishing detail.

~~~~~

With the wreath stencil background, I mixed things up a little and went a little retro.

Stamps: The Greetery - Tagged Elegance
Dies: Hero Arts - Infinity Nesting Circle, Hero Arts - Infinity Nesting Rectangles, Simon Says Stamp - Eliza Snowflake, WPlus9 - Under the Mistletoe
Stencils: Concord & 9th - Boughs & Holly

I needed a sentiment that would fit inside the wreath, and I immediately thought of the Tagged Elegance set from The Greetery.

I cut a slightly larger circle of aqua cardstock to mount the sentiment on, but first I snipped all around the edge to create a fringed look.

I then grabbed some snowflakes and a bow that I'd cut for past Christmas projects but hadn't used yet and arranged them behind the sentiment.

I think this combo turned out rather well, and I do like the warmer tone of those same ink colours on cream cardstock.

Until next time, happy crafting!

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Concord & 9th - Stocking Stamp & Stitch stamps Shop at: MISC | SHC (UK)	The Greetery - Tagged Elegance stamps Shop at: SHC (UK) | TG	Concord & 9th - Stocking Stamp & Stitch dies Shop at: MISC | SHC (UK)	The Greetery - Sentiment Suite Basics dies Shop at: SHC (UK) | TG
Hero Arts - Infinity Nesting Circle dies Shop at: SBC | SHC (UK)	Hero Arts - Infinity Nesting Rectangles dies Shop at: SBC | SHC (UK)	Simon Says Stamp - Eliza Snowflake die Shop at: MISC	WPlus9 - Under the Mistletoe dies Shop at: MISC
Concord & 9th - Boughs & Holly stencils Shop at: EH | MISC | SBC | SHC (UK)	The Stamp Market - Jade ink pad Shop at: MISC	The Stamp Market - Julep ink pad Shop at: MISC	The Stamp Market - Raspberry ink pad Shop at: MISC
The Stamp Market - Rosy ink pad Shop at: MISC	The Stamp Market - Sea Glass ink pad Shop at: MISC	Versafine - Onyx Black ink pad Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC | SHC (UK)	Hero Arts - Azalea cardstock Shop at: SHC (UK)
Neenah Classic Crest 110 lb smooth Solar White cardstock Shop at: AZ (UK) | MISC	Simon Says Stamp - Fog cardstock Shop at: MISC	The Stamp Market - Jade cardstock Shop at: MISC	The Stamp Market - Rosy cardstock Shop at: MISC
Memory Box - Delicate Pastel glitter pad Shop at: MISC	Pinkfresh Studio - Glitter Drops: Champagne Shop at: EH | MISC	Marvy Jewel Picker Shop at: AZ (UK)	Bearly Art - Precision Craft Glue Shop at: AZ (UK)
Ranger - Glossy Accents Shop at: AZ (UK) | EH | SBC	Lawn Fawn - Stamp shammy cleaner Shop at: SBC | SHC (UK)	MISTI stamping tool Shop at: SBC	Craft blending brushes Shop at: AZ (UK)
Detail blending brushes Shop at: AZ (UK)	Sizzix - Big Shot machine Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC	Sizzix - Sidekick machine Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC	Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (maxi) Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC
Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (small) Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC

A real-life update

Hi everyone,

You may have seen that it's quite quiet for crafting projects on my blog and IG feed at the moment.

Little did I know a fortnight ago that there would be some unprecedented changes to my day-to-day life.

Two weeks ago, I woke up with a numb pinky finger on my left hand. No pain, just tingling and numbness.

The numbness later spread to my ring finger and down the left side of my hand.

By day 4 I managed to get a phone consult with the doctor, got myself a wrist split to wear at night and continued with the nerve flossing exercises.

Things changed last weekend when the left side of my hand became more painful, and the pain and discomfort got a lot worse over this past week.

I managed to get in to see a doctor and they've confirmed that I have Cubital Tunnel Syndrome, and I've been referred further.

In the meantime, I need to try to keep my arm straight whenever possible - not easy when your job involves 99% keyboard work and you're self-employed.

And what do you do to rest when resting used to mean filling the time with restful activities, such as reading a book (can still listen to audiobooks and podcasts), stitching (good job I finished that big project at the end of August and still need to photograph it once it's flattened out a bit), and lengthy cardmaking sessions. All knocked on the head, and just when the Christmas card season will be ramping up.

So, crafting will be sparse. I may not have a project every week, or I may just be making Christmas cards here and there when I can... but I will still need some sort of creative outlet.

We shall see.

But I've not disappeared off the face of the planet, just wish my trapped nerve and all the other stuff would sort itself out pronto.

Here's hoping it's not a long journey to recovery. x

With Sympathy and Love

Today I have a special card to share, which I made in late August.

Sympathy cards are never easy projects, but I think the personal touch goes a long way when sending sympathy and love to a friend.

The light wasn't great when I took these photos, but I used a mix of grey and purple tones:

Stamps: Pinkfresh Studio - Modern Layered Floral (r), Simon Says Stamp - Sketched Flowers, The Greetery - Just Mason Around
Dies: Pinkfresh Studio - Modern Layered Floral (r), The Greetery - Just Mason Around, Spellbinders - Postage Edge Rectangles

The Sugarplums ink set has some lovely muted purples in it. They look a bit warm-toned in the photos, but they are nice subtle purples that work well with grey tones. The Pinkfresh Modern layered Floral set is discontinued, but I think it pairs so well with the Just Mason Around set from The Greetery.

I created an ink wash on watercolour paper with Wisteria ink, added some splatters, then cut it with the matting die from the Spellbinders Postage Edge Rectangles set.

Once I'd worked out the placement of the jar and florals, I stamped the sentiment from the Sketched Flowers set then cut the large Postage Edge die from Alpca cardstock (it's like a heather-toned grey).

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Pinkfresh Studio - Modern Layered Floral stamps (r) Shop at: MISC | SBC	Simon Says Stamp - Sketched Flowers stamps Shop at: MISC	The Greetery - Just Mason Around stamps Shop at: SHC (UK) | TG	Pinkfresh Studio - Modern Layered Floral die (r) Shop at: MISC
The Greetery - Just Mason Around dies Shop at: SHC (UK) | TG	Spellbinders - Postage Edge Rectangles dies Shop at: AZ (UK) | MISC | SBC	Altenew - Amethyst dye ink Shop at: MISC	Altenew - Grape Agate dye ink Shop at: MISC
Altenew - Industrial Diamond dye ink Shop at: MISC	Altenew - Limestone dye ink Shop at: MISC	Altenew - Pale Mauve dye ink Shop at: MISC	Altenew - Plum dye ink Shop at: MISC
PTI - Winter Wisteria ink pad Shop at: MISC	Versafine - Onyx Black ink pad Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC | SHC (UK)	Altenew - Rock Collection ink cube set Shop at: MISC | SHC (UK)	Altenew - Sugarplums ink cube set Shop at: MISC | SHC (UK)
Bazzill Cardshoppe - Alpaca Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC	Jackdaw Express - AM440 - White Ivory Bristol Board 335gsm Shop at: AZ (UK)	Jackdaw Express - AM534 - Premium White Watercolour Card 300gsm Shop at: AZ (UK)	Lawn Fawn - Stamp shammy cleaner Shop at: SBC | SHC (UK)
MISTI stamping tool Shop at: SBC	Tim Holtz - Distress Sprayer Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC	Tim Holtz - Stampers Anonymous Splat Box Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC	Waffle Flower - Mini Media Mat Shop at: SBC | SHC (UK)
Royal Langnickel - Zen watercolour round wash brush set Shop at: AZ (UK)	Sizzix - Big Shot machine Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC	Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (maxi) Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC	Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (small) Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC

You're in my thoughts

Morning all!

I'm over on the Seven Hills Crafts blog today with a project featuring some items from the new Harvest Fest release from The Greetery.

The first thing I wanted to try as soon as I unpacked my order was the Round About Fall Foliage die, as I'd recently ordered all 3 sets of Distress watercolour pencils with my birthday money.

It seemed like the perfect time to give them a go.

Stamp: The Greetery - Wildwood
Dies: The Greetery - Wildwood Sentiments, The Greetery - Round About Fall Foliage, The Greetery - Shiplap Builder

I cut the Round About die twice from watercolour paper, then used various Distress Watercolor Pencils to lay down colour and went back in with more layers and then regular pencil for some extra detail.

The new Herringbone Parquet die may be currently out of stock, but I was still determined to create a woodgrain background for the frame, so I pulled out an older set from The Greetery: the Shiplap Builder dies.

This die cuts 6 planks in one pass. I cut them from watercolour paper and then blended them with a few shades of Distress Oxide before spritzing with water to get that aged look.

Once they were dry, I glued them on a piece of brown cardstock with the planks arranged like floor boards. The design I used features all 6 planks cut with that one pass. You'd probably be able to fill the whole card front with just 12 planks if arranged this way.

I used PTI rustic cream cardstock for the backdrop to my card, and splattered it with metallic copper paint. I also painted the frame in copper too.

Finally, I needed a sentiment that would fit inside the frame but wouldn't conceal the woodgrain background strip. This is when a close-cut sentiment comes in handy, and it grabbed the separate sentiment dies that coordinate with the Wildwood stamps and cut them all in one pass, so I could stamp them together and decide which one fit the space best.

I'm still tempted to add some subtle sequins or enamel dots, but we'll see...

Until next time, happy crafting!

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The Greetery - Wildwood stamps Shop at: SHC (UK) | TG	The Greetery - Wildwood Sentiments dies Shop at: SHC (UK) | TG	The Greetery - Round About Fall Foliage die Shop at: SHC (UK) | TG	The Greetery - Shiplap Builder dies Shop at: SHC (UK) | TG
Distress Oxide ink pad - Frayed Burlap Shop at: AZ (UK) | EH | SBC	Distress Oxide ink pad - Old Paper Shop at: AZ (UK) | EH | SBC	Distress Oxide ink pad - Vintage Photo Shop at: AZ (UK) | EH | SBC	Versafine - Onyx Black ink pad Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC | SHC (UK)
Neenah Classic Crest 110 lb smooth Solar White cardstock Shop at: AZ (UK) | MISC	Jackdaw Express - AM534 - Premium White Watercolour Card 300gsm Shop at: AZ (UK)	Kuretake Gansai Tambi 36-pan watercolour set Shop at: AZ (UK) | EH | SBC	Brutfuner 120 Colouring Pencils Set Shop at: AZ (UK)
Distress Watercolor Pencils - Set 1 Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC | SHC (UK)	Distress Watercolor Pencils - Set 2 Shop at: MISC | SBC | SHC (UK)	Distress Watercolor Pencils - Set 3 Shop at: AZ (UK) | MISC | SBC | SHC (UK)	Bearly Art - Precision Craft Glue Shop at: AZ (UK)
Lawn Fawn - Stamp shammy cleaner Shop at: SBC | SHC (UK)	MISTI stamping tool Shop at: SBC	Craft blending brushes Shop at: AZ (UK)	Ranger - Mini round ink blending tools Shop at: AZ (UK) | EH | SBC
Taylored Expressions - Blender Brushes Shop at: MISC	Tim Holtz - Distress Sprayer Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC	Tim Holtz - Stampers Anonymous Splat Box Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC	Waffle Flower - Mini Media Mat Shop at: SBC | SHC (UK)
Royal Langnickel - Zen watercolour round wash brush set Shop at: AZ (UK)	Sizzix - Big Shot machine Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC	Sizzix - Sidekick machine Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC	Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (maxi) Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC
Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (small) Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC