Craft Nouveau Samples 1

Tomorrow will see the launch of a brand new CD and paper range from Kraftyhands on Create & Craft. The shows are at 11am and 3pm. You will not want to miss them so set your recorders if you will be out.
I was given a copy of the CD, called Craft Nouveau, to make some samples with. The artwork is amazing, with beautiful Art Nouveau images and fabulous papers. There are also inserts and sentiments.

The first three pictures are of a tri-fold card I made using three bookmark shaped images. I used a backing paper in different colourways and the two brown line drawings are from one of the inserts. Everything, apart from the dies and ribbons, is from the CD.

I used the fourth bookmark image to make this card. The backing paper is also from the CD. I created a frame, and added ribbon and snowflakes.

This card uses one of the pyramage images. Once again, apart from the small blue flowers and the blue and cream base layers, everything is from the card kit on the Craft Nouveau CD.

I hope you will tune in tomorrow to Create & Craft at 11am and 3pm to watch the shows and order your goodies. If you can't wait until then, you can pre-order the CD through the Kraftyhands Webshop. 
I will be back later in the week with more of my samples.

Scribble & Scrap Challenge #2

Welcome to the second challenge at Scribble & Scrap Blog and Challenge. Thank you to all who took part in Challenge #1, we had so many fabulous entries and the winners have been announced on the Scribble & Scrap Blog.
The theme for the Scribble & Scrap challenges is always "Anything Goes" The winner will be chosen by Random.org and win a generous £15 voucher to spend in the Scribble & Scrap shop. The Top Three will be selected by a DT vote and will earn a lovely blinkie to proudly display on their blog. If you'd like to be considered for a Guest Design Team slot, then add GDT after your name on your entry. A full set of rules can be found on the Challenge blog.

I chose to make a traditional Steampunk male card to show off this fabulous digi image. The image I used is The Vintage Steampunk Bath Chair. These were the early forms of wheelchairs and named because they were invented by James Heath from Bath in England in the first half of the 18th century.  

I matted gold mirri onto an 8"x 8" card blank and layered a paper from Bearly Mine after 

wrapping with seam binding. I used a few of the clocks from the paper for the corner embellishment     and mounted them on foam pads.

I printed the Bath chair image after altering the colour to brown and roughed the edges with scissors. I used Distress Ink Antique Linen to shade the background before matting onto gold mirri. I attached it to the card with foam pads for dimension.

I tied seam binding into a knot and added a fob watch charm. I created the sentiment on the computer and finished the card with three card candi.
Now please visit the Scribble & Scrap Blog and Challenge to see what the other fabulously talented DT members have created for your inspiration. Also visit the Scribble & Scrap shop to see the many lovely images for sale. Once you've made your choice, you could be playing with your purchases within minutes as everything is in an instant download.
Please also ask to join the Scribble & Scrap Facebook group to make sure you don't miss out on any of the fun.
I would like to enter this card into these challenges:
http://sisteractcardchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/challenge-26.html Challenge #26 Anything Goes
http://craftyribbonschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/challenge-63.html Challenge #63 Monochrome
http://www.southerngirlschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/challenge-78-world-in-monochrome.html Challenge #78 The world in Monochrome
http://craftingbydesigns.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/anything-goes.html Anything Goes
http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/ Anything Goes

Docraft's September Projects

I created a couple of projects this time for my Docrafts demo last weekend. I absolutely love the First Noel papers and wanted to put them to good use. We all seem to be looking for ways to incorporate our crafting into our everyday lives and I thought both of these projects would be ideal, especially at Christmastime. 

I made a couple of Christmas crackers. If you'd like to see the tutorial for how to make the crackers, it's on the Scribble & Scrap blog. I didn't decorate these ones in quite the same way, but at least I used Christmas paper this time. I shall be making more of these in the run up to Christmas to use for decorations and wrapping small presents.

My second project was a very simple way to decorate a jar. I'm useless at working out measurements so I started by cutting two lengths of First Noel paper and pleating them. I joined the lengths together and wrapped them around the jar, trimming off the excess and gluing the pleated ends together. I then wrapped a length of ribbon around the center and glued into place. I added twine, tying the ends in bows, and then a greeting and a ribbon bow to finish the jar.

To decorate the lid, I glued more matching ribbon around the edge, added a circle of paper and a poinsettia I had decoupaged from a First Noel paper. For the purpose of the demo, I filled the jar with cotton wool, but for a lovely Christmas present the jar could be filled with a homemade preserve, chocolates or sweets.

I hope I've inspired you to give these projects a try. And to make sure you get your hands on the gorgeous First Noel papers.

Docrafts September Demo

Today I'm off to The Range in Carmarthen again to demonstrate the latest Docraft collections. This time round there are some of the most beautiful, traditional festive papers, cute Christmas characters and fabulous bold Capsule prints.

There are papers, toppers, card kits and stamps in the gorgeous Lucy Cromwell Little Red Robin range.

The super sweet Country Companions make a welcome return with papers, stamps and decoupage.

Firm favourite Forever Friends have lots of wonderful embellishments and a jam-packed A4 Ultimate Die-cut and Paper pack amongst other festive goodies.

The 12 Days of Christmas collection is full of folklore inspired images and papers based on the traditional Christmas carol.

The latest Capsule Collection is made up of metallics and deep, rich colours.

My favourite collection just has to be the First Noel range. It's full of pretty poinsettias and subtle vintage prints. With papers, stamps, rub ons and ribbons, it's just perfect for creating traditional Christmas cards and projects.

Check out your latest Docrafts stockist to pick up all your Christmas crafting supplies. You will be spoilt for choice. And if you're in the Carmarthen area today, pop in to The Range between 10 and 4 to say hello.
I'll be back next week with some projects I've made from these fabulously festive collections.

A Christmas-Style Cracker

Today I have a project I made for the Scribble and Scrap Blog to show you. I call it a Christmas-style cracker because I haven't used Christmas papers. Crackers are a fun way to wrap small presents or can be used instead of party bags or for wedding favours. To find the tutorial on how I made this cracker please visit the Scribble & Scrap Blog where you will also find the link for our current challenge where the theme is always Anything Goes.

I used papers and a topper from the Owl Card Kit 2, exclusively available from the Scribble & Scrap webshop, to make this cracker. It was quick and easy to do and a great way to use small toppers.

I kept this cracker quite simple for the purpose of the tutorial, but you can go to town with layers, ribbons and embellishments. I'll be making more of these and using holly leaf and snowflake die-cuts and lots of glitter. Then they really will be Christmas crackers.

Why don't you try making one, or more, of these and entering them in our current challenge?

And keep an eye on the Scribble & Scrap Blog as the DT will be adding more tutorials for you over the next few weeks.

Exciting New Challenge Blog

Today is the start of a brand new challenge blog called Scribble & Scrap Blog and Challenge. And I'm very proud to announce that I was asked to be on the DT.
If you haven't yet heard of the Scribble & Scrap shop, I suggest you you head over there to see the fabulous downloads of toppers, vintage photos, wonderful digis and more. Lovely things are being added every day, it's a very exciting time. The shop and challenge blog owner is Lexie, from Lexie's Cards, who is an absolute whizz with graphics so you can expect the best.

The Scribble & Scrap challenges will run fortnightly and the theme will always be "Anything Goes". Please be a follower of the blog, that way you won't miss out on anything. The top prize winner will be chosen by Random.org and gets a generous £15 voucher to spend in the fabulous Scribble & Scrap shop. The top three voted winners will each have a lovely blinkie to proudly display on their blog. If you'd like to be considered for a Guest Design Team slot, then add GDT after your name on your entry. A full set of rules can be found on the Challenge blog.

The lucky DT were given  three digis of their choice to work with for this opening challenge, but I'm greedy and used four.

I used the Vintage Blossom flower and whitened it in MCS to create a backing paper. I did the same with the Vintage Floral Border to create the panel. I matted both of these onto card coloured with a Promarker and wrapped around a length of lace before attaching to an 8"x 8" card blank. I cut out some extra Vintage Blossom flowers, glittered and shaped them and mounted them with foam pads. 

The image is called Vintage Beauty 1. I printed her out three times and after colouring her with Promarkers, I cut her out in decoupage layers and used foam pads to mount her up.

I did a similar thing with the Vintage Flower Corner. For the finishing touches I added some pearl sprays and a satin bow.

Now please visit the Scribble & Scrap Blog and Challenge to meet the other fabulously talented DT members and see their wonderful creations. You must also visit the Scribble & Scrap shop to see the many lovely items for sale. Once you've made your choice, you could be playing with your purchases within minutes as everything is in an instant download.
Please also ask to join the Scribble & Scrap Facebook group to make sure you don't miss out on any of the fun.
I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:
 http://www.lisasomerville.com/   - create your own background
 http://chocolatecoffeecards.blogspot.co.uk/  - challenge #48 anything goes
 http://digitallysweetchallenges.blogspot.ca/  - #53 anything goes
 http://asimplefive.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/inspire-me-fridays-120-anything-goes.html  - inspire me Fridays # 120 anything goes
http://sisteractcardchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/  - #24 anything goes

Kraftyhands September Challenge

As it's the first Saturday of  September, 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 the theme is a fabulous sketch which can be found at the bottom of this post. Please try to use a Kraftyhands product on your project as you could then be in with a chance of winning a £20 voucher to spend in the Kraftyhands webshop. Remember to be a follower of the Challenge blog.

I have used mostly the fantastic Man About Town CD to make my card.

The base layer is a textured blue Papermania card onto which I matted one of the gorgeous City Retreat papers and, on the lower half, a blue leaf stripe paper from Edwardian Rose Garden. The middle section is from one of the Gatefold Card Making sets, as are the buttons. The bow and paper ribbon are  an Eazy Bow.

The images have been cropped from some of the fabulous Bonus Distressed Papers and matted onto blue textured card. I love the combination of the browns and blue.

Here is the sketch you will need to follow.

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.

It's a Girl

Now I will come clean about why I've been absent from Blogland and hardly on Facebook for the last few weeks. Firstly, I had my young grandson  to look after and take on holiday. We managed a couple of lovely days in Bournemouth on the beach. But then, while we were staying in Reading with one of my daughters, I received a message late one night from my eldest daughter to say she had gone into labour. By the time I got her to the hospital there were only minutes before her baby girl was born. As if that wasn't dramatic enough, panic then set in when the baby struggled to breathe. I'll spare you all the dramatic details, but after 4 days in SCBU, the baby was well enough to go on the post-natal ward, and now is safely home. My gorgeous new granddaughter's name is Harlow Frances and apart from the bruises and needle holes, you'd never know about the fright she gave us all.

This is the card I had made in advance to give to my daughter. We already knew the baby was a girl.

It's an easel card but the the stand up topper is smaller than the base. I used a card blank for the base so that the card still opens and has a verse inside. I covered the front of the card base with pearlescent card and layered a patchwork paper from Bearly Mine. I used my Lace Doily Corner die from Whimsy Stamps around the edges which I coloured with Distress Inks Spun Sugar and Antique Linen and added pearls. The leaf flourish dies are from Cheery Lynn.

I needed the perfect topper for my card. I looked everywhere for just the right image but couldn't find what I wanted so I got out my pencil and drew this image. After some helpful advice from Lexie, I turned my drawing into a digi which I coloured with my Polychromos.

I printed the sentiments on the computer and coloured them with the Distress Inks. The ends are extra pieces from the lace die cuts. The roses are all from Wild Orchid Crafts.

I'm very pleased to say that both mum and baby are doing well and we are all looking forward to a lot less drama in the future. Thank you for your patience with me and I hope to get back to visiting your blogs shortly.

Lacy Sunshine Challenge # 16

Welcome to a new challenge on the Lacy Sunshine Challenge Blog. Thank you to all those who took part in our last challenge. The lucky winners have been announced on the challenge blog.
This is, regrettably, my last challenge post for Lacy Sunshine. Because of personal issues and time constraints I have resigned from the team.

The theme for Challenge #16 is  "Dies and Punches"

All entries must have a hand coloured image, either stamped or a digi. There is a top prize five digis of your choice from the Lacy Sunshine Store The "Top Three" will each get to choose one digi from the store. There is also a GDT post up for grabs each challenge. There is now a loyalty program for the challenge digi. A discounted digi is available from the Lacy Sunshine shop for each challenge which will entitle you to a future challenge image for free if you've used the discounted one to enter this challenge. All the instructions are on the challenge blog.
All the DT were given the choice of any Flowerpot Pretty for this challenge and I chose Petunia.

I used a raspberry coloured card for all the mats. The papers are from Bearly Mine. I used Marianne fence and flower dies and Cheery Lynn leaf flourish dies. They were all cut from white card and coloured with Promarkers. The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts.

I coloured the lovely Petunia with my Promarkers, choosing colours to match the papers. I cut round the image and mounted it on foam pads.

Now head on over to the Lacy Sunshine Challenge blog to see the Flowerpot Pretty digi images the other Sunshine Girls have used and the fabulous creations  they have made for your inspiration. 

Emma's Crafty Challenge #20

I would, firstly, like to apologise for my absence from Blogland. The past few weeks have been extremely busy for me and I have been without internet for parts of the time due to having to do a lot of travelling about. Hopefully, normal service will be resumed by next week. I will explain myself better in another post. Meanwhile ......

Sunday was the start of Emma's Crafty Challenge # 20. Thank you to all of those who entered our previous challenge, the lucky winners will be be announced in a few days time.
The theme for this challenge is

"Birds"

We are being sponsored by Mishelflo Creative Crafting who are generously offering

  a fantastic prize of £20 to spend on anything on her website. The prize includes free postage.

We would love to see your new crafty creations featuring birds of any kind. One of my favourite birds is the peacock. I just love the elegance and colours of this majestic bird.

I matted and layered black textured card and gold mirri. I wrapped around a length of glittered, wire edged ribbon before fixing onto an 8"x 8" card blank. The sentiment is a gold peel off on a Kanban die-cut shape.

I used a Sweet Poppy stencil, and pearlescent paste to create the peacock on textured black card. I dusted over with Mica powders to colour and matted onto gold mirri.

I made three stick pins and used another Kanban die cut to finish off. With the glitter, gold and micas I didn't think the card needed any more embellishing.

Don't forget to pay our fabulous sponsor a visit and have a good look around her webshop for your crafty needs.

I hope you'll pop by the Challenge blog to see the fabulous inspirational creations from the highly talented DT and to check out the rules.