Lots of Layers

Hi Folks it's time for another challenge over at the Artististic Inspirations challenge blog, and this week the theme is 'Lots of Layers'.

I have used an image from our sponsor Sassy Studios called 'Elizabeth Bennet'. I coloured the image using my Polychromos pencils, and cut the image out using a Nestie shape. I coloured the edges with Distress Inks, and really like the lacy effect that this gives this die. I have added some torn script paper in keeping with the literary theme of my character, and some scrumptious PaperArtsy paper. I rummaged through my stash for some lace, a toning purple flower, a brad and a die cut leaf to finish the card. My last layer is some white card as the base layer.

Pride and Prejudice was always my favourite Jane Austen novel, but I enjoy watching the movie as well. Who doesn't like to see Elizabeth and Mr Darcy agonise their way though the fim to the ultimate happy ending? Mr Darcy in a damp shirt isn't too bad either ;)

Our sponsor this week is offering 4 digis of the winner's choice:

So please hop along to the challenge blog, and take a look at what my team mates have made, and have a go at making something for the challenge yourself. It can be any kind of project you like, a card, tag, box, altered item. etc.

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

Totally Papercrafts Flowers and Lace


Sisterhood of Crafters Anything Goes

Divas by Design Inspired by a Movie

Thanks for stopping by, xx

Practising with my PA Goodies

Hi Folks, I've had a day playing with my craft supplies today. It's a rare thing for me to craft without a deadline or an agenda in mind, and today was a day where I just dabbled for sheer enjoyment, it was so relaxing. I've been using my Paper Artsy supplies, some of which I purchased over the weekend at Alexandra Palace. I watched lots of demos by Lin and Leandra, and wanted to experiment before I forgot what I had picked up from their examples. I have a memory like a sieve these days!

I made a project using a piece of greyboard similar to one that Leandra made at the weekend. I loved the colours that she had chosen, sort of 'shabby French' using shades of turquoise with a white wash effect and crackle down one side. I've added some of Lin's Eclectica stamps and some metal elements to finish my project off. I've stamped the flowers onto black card, as Lin does, the effect is fabulous. She has some great samples on her blog, which you can reach on my sidebar.

I've mixed puff paint with the Grunge Paste as Leandra showed us at the weekend, the result is really great:

This would look lovely on a mirror frame or other home decor projects. The texture is really brilliant. I've then brushed lots of different colours of Treasure Gold over the raised areas.

I had some spare Grunge Paste/Puff Paint mixture left over, and just like Leandra at the show, I decided not to waste it, so I made a tag. I looked for something textural to drag through it, and found a pie slice in my utensil drawer. I'd better wash it thoroughly before I use it next time! I also stamped into a couple of areas, and then painted the whole tag. I brushed lots of Treasure Gold over the whole thing before giving it a good buff.

I added some lace, a flower and a word, not forgetting a little dragonfly coloured with TG as well.

These samples aren't rocket science, as they are along the lines of what Lin and Leandra make many times at the shows they attend. However, it's given me a chance to flex my muscles with the materials, and hopefully, I can go on to create some more bits and pieces now.

Thanks for stopping by, xx

Anything But a Card

Hi Folks, I hope that you are having a lovely sunny morning wherever you are. I'm just back from a weekend away at Alexandra Palace where I met up with some of my lovely crafting friends at the Big Stamp and Scrapbooking Show. It was a great weekend, catching up on lots of news, watching some fabulous demos and of course, stocking up on crafty stash. I always come away with lots of ideas, and enthusiasm for new projects. Hopefully, I'll have time to put them into practice!

I have a tag to show you today for the Artistic Inspirations challenge blog. This week, the theme is 'anything but a card', so we'd like to see your tags, boxes, altered items, etc. I have used an image from our sponsor Robyn's Fetish called 'Sunflower 1' as the basis for my project, and chosen a colour palette of greens and yellows.

I used a large tag, which I covered with Prima paper, adding a bit of Distress Ink for extra colour. I stamped a large Stamp Camp swirl around the edges, before distressing them and colouring them with more Distress Ink. I coloured some scrabble tiles with DIs and stuck those to the tag. My flower is from the Persian Motifs Spellbinders set, as it reminded me of a sunflower, and is again inked with DIs. The butterfly is from a good old Primark necklace.

Our sponsor this week is Robyn's Fetish:

Robyn is offering 5 digis of the winner's choice

I am entering my tag into the following challenges:

Challenges4Everybody Anything Goes

crazy4challenges wooden accent

charisma cardz Tags

Happy Campers Flower Power

Thanks for stopping by, xx

Two little birds

Hi Folks, I have an altered frame that I would like to show you today. I had this project in mind for something, it wasn't needed, but I decided to blog it anyway.

I started by colouring the image with Polychromos, and cutting it out to fit inside the frame. I painted the frame with Fresco Finish paint in Sky, letting it dry completely. I added a coat of crackle glaze, and again let this dry, before adding a coat of Honey Dew Fresco Finish. I made some paper roses using a piece of 12" x 12" Tim Holtz paper, and cut some green leaves to tuck behind the flowers. I added some pearls to the centre of each flower.

The image is from Meljens Designs and the style is very cute, but quirky. This month, the site has a 50% sale, so why not pop over and take a look. I know I'm going back for another browse at the designs!

Thanks for stopping by, xx

Indian Inspired box

Hi folks, I have another DT project posting over at the Design Team blog today. It is a stampbord box using stamps from the 'Indian Elephant' stamp set and the 'Indian Textiles' stamp set. I started my project by cutting pieces of white card to fit the side panels, and coloured these with Distress Inks. I then stamped each panel using Cobalt Archival Ink. I coloured the top stampbord panel with the same colours of Distress Inks, and then used  the large 'Leafy Brocade' Big and Bold stamp which was a perfect size for this panel.

I then cut an oval piece of mountboard, and covered this with three layers of UTEE. The last layer was made up of lots of different colours. I then stamped into the UTEE while it was still hot using one of the Indian stamps. Once I had taken the stamp away, I brushed some gold mica powder into the crevices to show up the detail.

These are some of my favourite colours, so it was a pleasure to work on this project. I'll be in sunny Portugal when this post appears on my blog. I hope the weather has improved back home for you all. Thanks for stopping by, xx

Crafting with Dragonflies Blog Candy

Hi Folks, remember I mentioned my new DT posting recently? Well there is some fabulous blog candy over on the Crafting with Dragonflies blog.

 
4 x Sets of Clear Stamps:
Kaisercraft: Blae & Ivy
Pink Paislee: Nantucket
Inkadinkadoo: Snakeskins
Inkadinkadoo: Road Trip
3 Paper pads:
6 x 6 Teresa Collings-World Traveller
12 X 12 Dog Days by Deja Views
12 x 12 Cat’s life by Deja Views
2 x Alpha/Num foam sticker sheets ( 1 black, 1 pink)
Selections of Paper doilies
DIY 10pk Scored and folded Card pack 15x15 cm
Selection of 3d Flowers incl. Crochet ones
2 small pkts of 3d Roses
small pack of embellies
1 x roll 50m/6mm double sided tape
Cuttlebug embossing folder : Swirls
6 white folded/3 hole paper bags, ready to make an album
24 large/long pearl headed stick pins
Selection of gold/silver 3d padded angel wings
24 large Apricot coloured paper flowers
3d Buttons/ embellies
Selection of Organza Ribbons
Small damask print craft tote bag with pockets (black/white and grey)

The blog candy will run for the whole month  from the 1st of April to the 30th, to be in the running to win this awesome prize, you need to become a member of the blog and help spread the word, by posting the top picture on your blog and link back to the main blog.
Crafting with Dragonflies Challenge blog 
To enter please go to the main blog click on the linky to leave your entry and please leave a comment ...
Thanks so much for joining us.

There is also have a second prize from Kitty lane.

Kitty Lane is an Australian Company making gorgeous rubber stamps.
These are great quality and easy to use stamps that have a crisp and clear print.
 
ONE MORE TIME:
Join the blog, click on Mr Linky to leave your entry and leave a comment. Post the main blog candy pic with a link back to Crafting with Dragonflies on your blog.
One entry only
Easy, both winners will be chosen by random org.







Thanks for stopping by, xx

An Indian Sunrise

Hi Folks, I have a card to show you today using the new Indian stamps from Chocolate Baroque

I stamped and embossed the building using white embossing powder, and then created the background using a mixture of Distress and Memento inks. I used Post it notes to create a mask first for one half of the background, and then the other. I used a tree stamp from the 'Landscape Edges' clear stamp set along the horizon, and then a flower stamp from the 'Floral Edges' clear stamp set in the foreground.

The elephants were coloured with water based markers and I then decoupaged them.

These new stamps are so much fun to work with, and are currently on special offer. I will be showing you several samples during the month, but you can also find some beautiful creations over at the Design Team Blog from my Team mates as well.

Thanks for stopping by, xx

An Easter Card and DT call

Hi Folks, I hope that you've all been having a great Easter break. The weather hasn't been that brilliant, but it's been great for us to have some family time, a rare treat, as our Daughter came home for a visit. It seems strange to see displays of de-icer and snow shovels at the Supermarkets when there should be primroses and Spring flowers at this time of year. I hope that for most of you the snow is disappearing now, and that the warmer weather will be on its way very soon.

I have a card to show you today that is my DT offering for this week's Artistic Inspirations challenge. The theme is Easter/Spring, and there is also a DT call. It is a great challenge blog to work on, lots of friendly people, including yours truly!

I have used an image from our sponsor this week called Easter Lilies and have decoupaged the image, colouring it with pencils. I have gone for a colour palette of soft pinks and greens as I felt that this fitted the Spring theme very well. I have used some Martha Stewart punches for the butterflies and the border, colouring the edges with Tattered Rose DI. The sentiment is from Chocolate Baroque.

So, please pop along to the challenge blog to see what my team mates have made, have a go at making something, and why not think about becoming a member of the Design Team?

Digi Darla is offering five digis of the winners choice.

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

Corrosive challenge blog Spring Fling

My Sheri Crafts Spring has sprung

creative Corner Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by, xx