Docrafts Project July- August

I went to a cardmaking demonstration on Saturday given by a lady who is a regular at my Docrafts demos. There was a free raffle and I won some Docrafts goodies. I was thrilled as they were things I don't actually have, otherwise it would have been a bit like taking coals to Newcastle.
It did remind me though that I haven't posted my project for this loop, so here it is.

I always keep empty tubs, pots and boxes with a view to upcycling them and thought this old gravy tub would make a lovely present. I used the tartan adhesive fabric paper from Docrafts. There are some pretty Tilly ones available too. The adhesive fabric is wonderful for quickly transforming and upcycling items and far less messy than paint.

I covered the tub with the fabric and, using a craft knife, cut a window. In future I would cut the window before applying the fabric, then I could cut into the fabric and turn the edges inside the opening. I attached acetate to the inside of the window.

I decorated the tub with ribbon, twine, a tag and some Docrafts Big Blooms. The red top just needed a bow and some holly leaves.

I then bought a pack of cookies to fit inside. A quick and easy Christmas present for a few £s! It's a good job we like gravy as I plan to make more of these.

Lacy Sunshine Challenge #13

Today's blog is a mid-way reminder for the current challenge at the Lacy Sunshine Challenge Blog. As always, the challenge theme is "Anything Goes". All entries must have a hand coloured image, either stamped or a digi. There is a top prize of $30 to spend on digis in the Lacy Sunshine Store if you've used a Lacy Sunshine image. The "Top Three" will each get to choose 2 digis from the store. There is also a GDT post up for grabs each challenge.
There are new rules regarding the digi offered by Heather for each challenge. There is now a discounted digi available from the Lacy Sunshine shop which will entitle you to a future challenge image for free if you use it to enter this challenge. The instructions are on the challenge blog.

Heather decided that the Gnomes of Snarly Pines should all go on vacation. I was given Nana Nancy Hula Dancing to play with.

I matted and layered two hibiscus papers from Ooh La La Shoes in Bloom CD onto turquoise mirri card from Creata and attached some raffia around the panel before mounting it onto the card. I found a butterfly bead in my stash and tied it onto the raffia.

I coloured Nana Nancy with Promarkers and created a frame for her with mini stamps. I cut the frame out and mounted it on foam pads. I finished the card with a handmade flower. Nana Nancy will be available in the Lacy Sunshine Store from later today.

Head on over to the Lacy Sunshine Challenge blog to see the other fabulous creations from the Sunshine Girls for more inspiration.

Kraftyhands July Reminder

Sorry I haven't blogged for a while. I've not been too well but wanted to remind you all about the fabulous "Pretty in Pink" challenge on the Kraftyhands Challenge Blog. You don't have to use Kraftyhands products to enter but if you do, you could win a £20 voucher to spend in the Kraftyhands webshop. All entries qualify for the Top Three to win a badge for their blog. You have another 10 days to dig out your pretty pink stuff and make a crafty project.

We love horses in our house and have many like minded friends, so the Equestrian Events CD is just perfect for fabulous horsey cards.

The striped paper and the Horse and Script paper are from the CD and I layered them up with a doily and silver mirri. 

The beautiful image is the base layer from a Card Making Set and the sentiment is from the same page.

The dotty paper is from The Summer of 59 CD.

I finished off with a couple of Cheery Lynn flourishes and a coloured bow.

All in all, a quick and easy "Pretty in Pink" card. What pretty, pink creations can you make?
Don't forget to be a follower of the Kraftyhands Challenge blog to qualify for entry into the challenge. A full set of rules can be found via a link at the top of the Kraftyhands Challenge blog.

Coco - Santa's Hot Chocolate

Lexie's team kicked off Challenge # 12 on the Lacy Sunshine Challenge Blog last Sunday. As always, the challenge theme is "Anything Goes" and there is a free Lacy Sunshine original digi image for you to use. All entries must have a hand coloured image, either stamped or a digi. There is a top prize of $30 to spend in the Lacy Sunshine Shop if you've used a Lacy Sunshine image. The "Top Three" will each get to choose 2 digis from the store. There is also a GDT post up for grabs each challenge.

As a bit more inspiration for you I've made another card. I couldn't resist colouring in the free image that's on offer for this challenge. See the Lacy Sunshine Challenge Blog  for how to get yours.  The image is called Coco - Santa's Hot Chocolate. 

I decided to keep the colour palette simple. The backing paper is from Bearly Mine and is matted onto  card with a brown edge. The Crafts-Too art nouveau dies were given to me as part of a prize by the lovely Lindsay Jolly and were cut from Papermania textured card. The paper inside the frames is also from Bearly Mine and the leaf dies are from Marianne. The pearls, lace and ribbon are from my stash.

I love a big mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows and pink ones always look prettier. I coloured the image of Coco with Promarkers, cut round it and mounted it onto the card with foam pads.

I used a Crealies flower die and a Spellbinder's poinsettia die to make the flowers. I made the pearl sprays with thin silver wire and small beads.

After seeing the lovely entries into Challenge # 12  using this freebie, I think I'll be trying out a few more colourways with this image. Please now go and check on the Lacy Sunshine Challenge Blog for a full set of the rules and how to claim your free image. You will also be able to see the wonderful winter creations from the other members of Lexie's talented team.

More July Samples from Docrafts

Following on from my post on Friday showing some of my new Docraft's samples; I had a lovely demo on Saturday. I wasn't really expecting to be busy as the weather was scorching and there was tennis and rugby on the TV. So I was pleased to have a good, steady turnout nearly all day.
All the newly released collections were popular. Although a few non-crafty people commented that they thought July was too early for Christmas cards, the crafters were very enthusiastic.

Here are a couple of cards from each of the new ranges.

There are mini decoupage kits in the Christmas in the Country range and some fabulous alpine inspired papers.

There is also a 6"x 6" decoupage card kit. This range is perfect for male themed cards.

There are a few decoupage card kits in the Lucy Cromwell range as well, including a lovely 6"x 6" kit which I've used to make an 8"x 8" card.

There are also gorgeous papers with traditional designs, some of which can make lovely toppers when cut up.

You can even make Tilly Daydream Christmas cards. Here I've used a page from the Tilly Daydream mini notelet pad as a topper.

Just to prove that the new collections are not all about Christmas, for my final sample I have used another mini notelet page with some elements from the latest Capsule collection.

Don't forget to check out the new ranges at your local stockist. There are so many wonderful elements to play with whether you like endearing hand-drawn illustrations or you want to get started on your Christmas cards.

Lacy Sunshine Challenge #12

Today sees the start of a new challenge on the Lacy Sunshine Challenge Blog Thank you for all the wonderful entries into our last challenge. The voting has been done and the winner's and a new GDT are announced on the blog. Congratulations everyone.
It's the turn of Lexie's team to start things off this time. As always, the challenge theme is "Anything Goes" and there is a free Lacy Sunshine original digi image for you to use. All entries must have a hand coloured image, either stamped or a digi. There is a top prize of $30 to spend in the Lacy Sunshine Shop if you've used a Lacy Sunshine image. The "Top Three" will each get to choose 2 digis from the store. There is also a GDT post up for grabs each challenge.

Heather Valentin - the talent behind Lacy Sunshine - has been busy creating new digis for all your Christmas cards. I was given "Tinsel" to play with. She is a delight to colour and will be available to purchase in the Lacy Sunshine Shop later today.

I wanted to use this lovely Bearly Mine green and blue paper and matted it onto bright green textured Papermania card. I wrapped a length of sparkly silver ribbon around the layers before attaching to an 8"x 8" card blank. The holly, tree and snowflake dies are all from Marianne. I cut the holly and snowflakes from white card and coloured them with Promarkers. I added glitter as accents to the snowflakes.

I just had to chose blue and green as the matching colours for Tinsel and I used my trusty Promarkers on her - colours on request - I found a metallic silver pen to colour all the tinsel bits and then added glitter, which doesn't show too well in the photos unfortunately. After loosely cutting Tinsel out, I mounted her on foam pads. 

Lastly, I added some sparkly gems to the tree but left the rest of it for Tinsel to finish off.

Please now go and check on the Lacy Sunshine Challenge Blog for a full set of the rules and how to claim your free image. You will also be able to see the wonderful winter creations from the other members of Lexie's talented team.

Kraftyhands July Challenge

Well, we are now more than half way through the year and some people are already on the countdown to Christmas. I'm still happier with summer cards at the moment. As it's the first Saturday of July, it's the start of a new challenge on the  Kraftyhands Challenge Blog. Thank you for all the lovely entries into our last challenge. The lucky winners have been announced on the challenge blog.
This month we have a pretty theme for you - providing you like pink, that is. The theme is:

"Pretty in Pink"

If you use a Kraftyhands product on your entry you could win a £20 voucher to spend in the Kraftyhands webshop. 

The paper and topper are from the Vintage Chic Boutique CD from Kraftyhands. It's a two disc set full of wonderful toppers, papers, inserts, embellishments and projects. Please visit the Kraftyhands webshop to pick up your copy. It's incredible value at only £9.99.

I matted the posy paper onto pink Core'dination card and used a Creata die-cut behind the pretty topper. The pink ruffled ribbon is from my stash and I created the sentiment on the computer.

The topper includes the floral background shape. I printed it off twice and cut just the central image out, I mounted it up on foam pads over the original for a bit of dimension. 

I finished the card by adding large faux pearls in the corners and tucking an off cut from a Memory Box die behind the sentiment.

Please visit the  Kraftyhands Challenge Blog for a full set of rules - you have to be a follower to qualify for entry in the challenge - and to view the fabulous creations from the talented DT. You can also keep up to date with all the latest Kraftyhands news and see sneak peeks on the Kraftyhands Facebook page and the Kraftyhands Blog.

Docrafts Demo July

The new collections from Docrafts are in the shops now and there are lots of lovely elements to choose. There are two fabulous Christmas ranges, a new Capsule Collection and an adorable new character called Tilly Daydream. I've been busy all week making and prepping samples for my demonstration on Saturday at The Range in Carmarthen.

The Tilly Daydream range includes decoupage, papers, tags, stamps and fabric. Tilly loves to craft, cross-stitch and  play in the garden. The whole Tilly range is delightfully nostalgic.

Knowing that crafter's like to get ahead, Docrafts have released two new Christmas ranges. There is the beautiful, whimsical Lucy Cromwell collection which includes decoupage, papers, stamps and some gorgeous velvet ribbons. The images are traditional wreaths, presents, stockings and decorated Christmas trees.

The second Christmas set of papers, dies, stamps, cross-stitch and ribbons is called Christmas in the Country and is full of Fair Isle, Tweed and Tartan designs. It's perfect for male themed winter cards.

The new Spots and Stripes collection has wonderful festive colours, pale blues and soft grey. The Big Bloomers, ribbons, twine and mini buttons and bows are perfect to mix and match with the other new ranges.
Head down to your local Docrafts stockist to have a look for yourself at all the lovely new goodies. And if you're anywhere near The Range in Carmarthen on Saturday, please pop in to say Hello.

Emma's Crafty Challenge #18

Welcome to Emma's Crafty Challenge #18. Thank you to all those who took part in our Buttons and Bows challenge, your entries were fabulous. The lucky winner will be announced in a few days.
The theme for Challenge #18 is:

"Lace and Pearls"

and it's being sponsored by the lovely Tina Warwood who is generously offering a prize of a Frou Frou papercrafting and digikit CD-Rom and two stamp sets. A photo of the prize is below.
Most of us regularly use lace and pearls in our crafty projects and we look forward to seeing what you create with them.

Just to give you a couple of ideas, I've used two different types of "pearls" on my DT card.

I started by matting and layering a blue and a white Papermania textured card. I wrapped a length of lace around them before attaching to an 8"x 8" card blank. The sentiment was printed on the computer and mounted onto a Spellbinder die-cut. 

I used Cosmic Shimmer liquid pearls to create the swirly flourish. I plotted it out in pencil first.

I tied a bow with lace and made three stick pins with "pearls" and beads. The lace was originally white and I coloured it with an Arctic Blue Promarker.

This is the fabulous Frou Frou prize you could be winning. 

Please visit the Emma's Crafty Challenge Blog for a full set of rules and to see the wonderful inspirational projects from the DT.
I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Card and Scrap - use lace or tape
Creative Card Crew - no designer paper