Crafts Galore Encore September 2026

Welcome to a new challenge on the

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge Blog. 

Thank you to everyone who joined in with last month's challenge. The winners have been announced on the challenge blog. This is a month long challenge and you can enter up to three times. There is a full list of rules on the challenge blog.

Our theme every month is the popular

"Anything Goes"

and our sponsor this month is:

Wendylynn's Paper Whims

who are offering a prize of 2 collage sheets to our lucky winner.

I chose to use the Fancy Birds collage page which has a set of gorgeous birds wearing crowns, flowers or hats to make a set of notelets. There are 9 birds on the page but I only used 6 of them.

I started by creating the backgrounds with Brushos on watercolour paper and trimming them to fit the 6" (15 cm) scalloped card blanks. I added a white seam binding ribbon before fixing the backgrounds to the card bases.

I used a graphics program to print out the six birds I wanted to use individually so that I could die cut them using either a plain circle or a scalloped circle die. I then die cut a mat for each image using a scalloped circle die. 

I layered the bird images onto the scalloped mats and fixed them to the cards. I created some sentiments on the computer and printed them out - apart from the Christmas one.

I finished the notelets with some die cut leaves, or flourishes, and some coloured gems.

Now please visit the  Crafts Galore Encore challenge blog where you can see the wonderful projects and cards created by our talented team using Wendylynn's Paper Whims images.

Grab some inspiration while you're there and enter your "Anything Goes" creations in this month's challenge.

I have entered this set of notelets in the following challenges:

https://lovetoscrapchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2026/09/ltscb-181-anything-goes-ltscb-180.html

https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/08/classic-design-challenge-08-2026-augsep.html

https://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com/2026/07/a-perfect-time-to-craft-open-challenge_01035597380.html

Creative Artiste #120 October 2025

  Happy Friday....

....Welcome to a new challenge at

Creative Artiste

Creative Artiste is a monthly challenge blog for everyone who likes to mix their media. So, as long as you like to use various mediums on your creations, we'd love to see you enter the challenge.

A big Thank You to everyone who entered the challenge last month. Your projects were all wonderful and our winners have been announced on the blog.

Our theme is always
"Anything Mixed Media Goes"
We have opportunities to be a Guest Designer for all our winners.

The leaves are changing colour and spilling from the trees. I took inspiration from the rich, warm colours to create this little canvas. 

The canvas board measures 7"x 5" (18 x 13 cms). And I used one of my favourite techniques to create the Autumnal background.

1. I started by scribbling wax crayons on the canvas to give an ombre effect.

2. I then used my heat tool to melt the wax, rubbing it with a tissue to blend the colours together.

3. I used texture paste and a Tim Holtz stencil to add the flowers.

4. I created the leaf colours with Brushos and water.

I used the old Stamping Up set French Foliage to stamp the larger leaves and fussy cut them. The three smaller leaves in the front are die cut using an old Docrafts Dinky die.

I glued the arrangement of leaves onto the canvas with Prima 3D Matt Gel to give dimension and added  some rusty wire behind the leaves.

The sentiment is a Chocolate Baroque stamp on card I'd coloured with Brushos.

Now it's your turn to have fun and create your mixed media projects. You can enter our challenge as many times as you like. A full list of the rules is on the challenge blog. For more inspiration please visit the Creative Artiste Challenge Blog to see the fabulous mixed media projects created by our multi talented team.
Remember to have fun crafting and enter your "Anything Mixed Media Goes" creations in our 

October challenge. 

I have entered this project in the following challenges:

Creative Artiste #113 March 2024

 March has started nicely, the temperatures are improving, the sun has been shining and we have been making some nice plans for later in the year. Exciting times ahead ....

.... Meanwhile ....

....Welcome to a new challenge at

Creative Artiste

Creative Artiste is a monthly challenge blog for everyone who likes to mix their media. So, as long as you like to use various mediums on your creations, we'd love to see you enter the challenge.

A big Thank You to everyone who entered the challenge last month. Your projects were all fabulous and our winners have been announced on the blog.

Our theme is always
"Anything Mixed Media Goes"
We have opportunities to be a Guest Designer for all our winners.

I have finally finished a project I started a couple of years ago. Sometimes the creative process takes time.

I'd cut out and painted the porthole grey then set it aside. It took me a while to decide which creative direction to take. Once I saw these amazing 'Steampunk' fish last month I finally knew what I wanted to make. 

I've titled this project 

"A view from the shipwreck".

The porthole measures 12" (30 cm) across and is cut from thick greyboard. It's mounted onto a circular canvas board.

I had originally painted the porthole in black gesso. I had added a coat of grey acrylic and wiped some off with  a baby wipe before it dried to give a patchy look. Then I set it aside.

In the second phase I painted the porthole with DecoArt Quinacridone Gold Fluid Acrylic mixed with water. The bolts are from an old set by Tando Creative.

1. I gave the canvas a coat of heavy white gesso and used Brushos in Ultra Marine, Turquoise and Sea Green sprayed with water to colour it.

2. I got these fantastic fish from Creative Fabrica and printed them out in different sizes, then fussy cut them. I gave them a coat of Prima's 3D Matte Gel on the front and back to strengthen them. 

3. The die cut ferns are Sizzix Thinlets Holiday Greens set. I coloured them with Emerald and Leaf Brushos.

4. The cogs (gears) are MDF from Samantha K. I bought a huge bag and these are just a few. 

I used Cadence Createx Rust Effect Paint and Powder to add the rusty colour and texture.

I fixed the cogs to the porthole with Prima's 3D Matte Gel and finished them with some Cadence Antique Powder paint in turquoise. I also painted the bolts and some patches around the porthole edges.

I added the ferns to the canvas with the matt gel, only gluing at the bases.

I mounted some of the fish onto greyboard blocks to give them dimension and tucked them in amongst the ferns.

I finished by fixing the porthole to the canvas with the 3D Matt Gel and adding some glass cabochons as bubbles.

Now it's your turn to have fun and create your mixed media projects. You can enter our challenge as many times as you like. A full list of the rules is on the challenge blog. For more inspiration please visit the Creative Artiste Challenge Blog to see the fabulous mixed media projects created by our multi talented team.
Remember to have fun crafting and enter your "Anything Mixed Media Goes" creations in our 

March challenge. 

I have entered this project in the following challenges:

https://mixitupchallenge.blogspot.com/2025/03/miucb-76-anything-goes-optional-layers.html

https://lovetocraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2025/03/ltccb-85-anything-goes-ltccb-84-winner.html

https://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com/2025/03/a-perfect-time-to-craft-open-challenge.html

https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2025/02/classic-design-challenge-02-2025-febmar.html

Creative Artiste #98 October 2023

Grief affects everyone differently. I find myself just wanting to hide away since my wonderful brother was so cruelly, and suddenly, snatched from us. I have very little interest in all the things I previously enjoyed. However, I did manage to create something personal this past week ....

  ....Welcome to a new challenge at

Creative Artiste

Creative Artiste is a monthly challenge blog for everyone who likes to mix their media. So, as long as you like to use various mediums on your creations, we'd love to see you enter the challenge.

A big Thank You to everyone who entered the challenge last month. Your projects were all fabulous and our winners have been announced on the blog.

Our theme is always
"Anything Mixed Media Goes"
We have opportunities to be a Guest Designer for all our winners.

I have not been in the mood to do any crafting lately but I did want to sort out a photo frame to display a picture of my beloved brother. This is the result.

I wanted something in masculine colours but couldn't find anything in the shops I liked.

Then, my wonderful friend Pam sent me a beautiful glass butterfly in memory of my brother and that became my inspiration for this frame. Thank you Pam!

I started with a plain white wooden frame. The frame measures 6"x 8" (15 x 20cms). I deliberately crinkled strips of tissue paper and stuck it onto the frame with matt Mod Podge to create texture. Then I painted it all with DecoArt Dark Chocolate acrylic. Once dry, I gave it a coat of Weathered Wood and applied a top coat of grey acrylic to create the crackle.

I created the butterflies from clear resin. I used Prima's Mecha Moth and Artyco Crafts Steampunk Butterflies moulds. 

To colour the butterflies I added some sprinkles of Ultra Marine, Turquoise and White Brushos to the moulds before pouring the resin. When they were dry I coated the backs of the butterflies with a white Posca pen.

I shaped the wings before the resin had completely set to give more dimension around the frame. I attached the butterflies with Prima's Heavy Body Gel.

Now I have a lovely frame to display my treasured photo alongside the beautiful glass butterfly.

It's now your turn to have fun and create your mixed media projects. You can enter our challenge as many times as you like. A full list of the rules is on the challenge blog. For more inspiration please visit the Creative Artiste Challenge Blog to see the fabulous mixed media projects created by our multi talented team.
Remember to have fun crafting and enter your "Anything Mixed Media Goes" creations in our 

October challenge. 

I have entered this project in the following challenge:

https://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com/2023/10/a-perfect-time-to-craft-open-challenge.html

Creative Artiste #73 July 2021

Welcome to July. It should be summer, right? Warm, sunny weather? But not here. We have a week of rain and low temperatures to look forward to. So, before I dig out the coats, umbrellas and wellingtons .....

 ....Welcome to a new challenge at

Creative Artiste

Creative Artiste is a monthly challenge blog for everyone who likes to mix their media. So, as long as you like to use various mediums on your creations, we'd love to see you enter the challenge.

A big Thank You to everyone who entered the challenge last month. Your projects were all wonderful and our winners have been announced on the blog.

Our theme is always
"Anything Mixed Media Goes"
and we have opportunities to be a Guest Designer for our winners.

I have recycled a pet food box to create a little storage crate.

I started by creating the wood effect with Distress Oxides Vintage Photo and Frayed Burlap on watercolour card. I used a score board to create the grooves and a Tim Holtz mini stencil for the wood grain effect.

I then glued the pieces to the box base with Prima Heavy Body Gel. I defined the grooves with  black Posca pen and darkened the edges with Black Soot DI.

Next, I mixed up some texture paste using DecoArt Festive Green acrylic paint and pushed it through another of the mini stencils in TH Set 10. 

The flowers were created by colouring watercolour card with Distress Oxides Spiced Marmalade and Picked Raspberry and die cutting. I then stamped on the petals with an old Woodware text stamp, formed the flowers and crumpled them using some water.

I created the butterflies by colouring watercolour card with Brushos Aquamarine and Sea Foam. I then die-cut the butterflies, added the stamped text and heat embossed them with a stencilled pattern and Aged White Frantage.

Now it's your turn to have fun and create your mixed media projects. You can enter our challenge up to three times. A full list of the rules is on the challenge blog. For more inspiration please visit the Creative Artiste Challenge Blog to see the fabulous mixed media projects created by our multi talented team.
Remember to have fun crafting and enter your "Anything Mixed Media Goes" creations in our July challenge. 

I have entered this project in the following challenges:

https://mixedmedialovers.blogspot.com/2021/07/challenge-3-mixed-media-lovers.html x

https://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com/2021/07/a-perfect-time-to-craft-open-challenge.html x

https://mixitupchallenge.blogspot.com/2021/07/miucb-51-anything-goes-aperture.html

https://lovetocraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2021/07/ltccb-60-july-anything-goes.html

https://lovetoscrapchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2021/07/ltscb-147-anything-goes.html

http://countryviewchallenges.blogspot.com/2021/07/july-2021-use-stencil-or-two.html

Crafts Galore Encore August 2020

Still uncertain times for everyone but we are learning to balance staying safe and grabbing good times when we can.

The upside to spending more time at home is that there is more time to craft. But one thing I didn't want to have to waste my time on is the new Blogger dashboard. Why do they hide the buttons you need to use most? And why do I now have to click twice as many of them to do the simplest things? A steep learning curve I didn't need. 

But I managed it, so, ....

.... There is a new challenge at

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge Blog. 

Thank you to everyone who joined in with July's challenge. The winners have been announced on the challenge blog. This is a month long challenge and you can enter up to three times. There is a full list of rules on the challenge blog.

Our theme every month is the popular

"Anything Goes"

and our sponsor this month is:

Fabrika Fantasy
who are offering a prize of 3 digi stamps from their store.

I have made an 8"x 8" (20 x 20cm) card and will add a sentiment when I decide who it's for.

I started by outlining the card base with an orange Copic then I created a background with Turquoise and White Brushos.

We were given a choice of images from Fabrika Fantasy and I chose the Beautiful Seahorse image. I coloured it with Copics and cut it out with a circle die. I cut a second, slightly larger, circle which I edged in orange for a mat.

I used an orange Brusho on watercolour card and punched out some circles to represent bubbles around the image. Lastly, I splattered on some white with a Posca Pen.

Now please visit the  Crafts Galore Encore challenge blog where you can see the fabulous projects and cards created by our talented design team using Fabrika Fantasy images.

Grab some inspiration while you're there and enter your "Anything Goes" creations in the August challenge.
Stay safe everyone!

I have entered this card in the following challenges:

https://morgansartworld.blogspot.com/2020/08/morgans-artworld-challenge-8.html x

https://abitmoretimetocraftextra.blogspot.com/2020/08/abmttc-extra-challenge-august-anything.html

https://abitmoretimetocraft.blogspot.com/2020/08/a-bit-more-time-to-craft-challenge-120.html

https://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com/2020/08/a-perfect-time-to-craft-challenge-for.html

https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2020/08/classic-design-challenge-august-8.html x

https://lovetocraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2020/08/ltccb-49-august-anything-goes.html

Crafts Galore Encore November 2016

I hope you all survived the ghosties and ghouls of Halloween and enjoy the rest of your week. I shall be heading to the NEC later this week for a few fun days visiting the various craft shows and exhibitions. Maybe you're going too?
The first of the month means it's the start of a new challenge on the Crafts Galore Encore Challenge Blog. 

Thank you to everyone who joined in with October's challenge. The winners are on the challenge blog's 'winner's page'. This is a month long challenge and you can enter up to three times. A full list of rules are on the challenge blog.

Our theme this month is the popular
"Anything Goes"
and our sponsor is

The Fantasy Art of Nikki Burnette

The team were lucky enough to receive an image each from Nikki Burnette and I made a card with mine.

I created the blue background with Brushos on watercolour paper and fixed it onto an 8"x 8" ( 20cm x 20cm) card blank. I stuck down some string netting across the base before fixing the orange panel which was also created with Brushos.

The image I chose is Mermaid Stamp - Jayna and I coloured it with my Copics. I dusted around the image with a blue Pan Pastel and cut it out with an X-cut scalloped oval die.

I die-cut the anchor from white card using a Spellbinders die. I dabbed it with Pebeo Sand Texture Paste then painted it with dark brown acrylic paint. I added some DecoArt Media Quinacridone Gold and Yellow Iron Oxide, My intention was to give a rusted appearance to the anchor.

I used Sizzix Thinlets dies on card coloured with Brushos to create the plants and finished the card with some real shells.

Now please visit the  Crafts Galore Encore challenge blog to see the wonderful projects and cards created by the rest of the talented team and to enter your "Anything Goes" creations.
I've entered this project into the following challenges:
http://classicdesignteamchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/1st-november-2016-classic-design-team.html x
http://worldwideopendesignteamchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/15th-october-2016-world-wide-open.html DT Favourite
http://deepoceanchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/challenge-141-use-die-cuts-or-punches.html x
http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/176-explosion-of-colour.html Top Five
http://scrapbookstampsocietychallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/challenge-103-anything-goes-option.html x

Crafts Galore Encore November 2016

I hope you all survived the ghosties and ghouls of Halloween and enjoy the rest of your week. I shall be heading to the NEC later this week for a few fun days visiting the various craft shows and exhibitions. Maybe you're going too?
The first of the month means it's the start of a new challenge on the Crafts Galore Encore Challenge Blog. 

Thank you to everyone who joined in with October's challenge. The winners are on the challenge blog's 'winner's page'. This is a month long challenge and you can enter up to three times. A full list of rules are on the challenge blog.

Our theme this month is the popular
"Anything Goes"
and our sponsor is

The Fantasy Art of Nikki Burnette

The team were lucky enough to receive an image each from Nikki Burnette and I made a card with mine.

I created the blue background with Brushos on watercolour paper and fixed it onto an 8"x 8" ( 20cm x 20cm) card blank. I stuck down some string netting across the base before fixing the orange panel which was also created with Brushos.

The image I chose is Mermaid Stamp - Jayna and I coloured it with my Copics. I dusted around the image with a blue Pan Pastel and cut it out with an X-cut scalloped oval die.

I die-cut the anchor from white card using a Spellbinders die. I dabbed it with Pebeo Sand Texture Paste then painted it with dark brown acrylic paint. I added some DecoArt Media Quinacridone Gold and Yellow Iron Oxide, My intention was to give a rusted appearance to the anchor.

I used Sizzix Thinlets dies on card coloured with Brushos to create the plants and finished the card with some real shells.

Now please visit the  Crafts Galore Encore challenge blog to see the wonderful projects and cards created by the rest of the talented team and to enter your "Anything Goes" creations.
I've entered this project into the following challenges:
http://classicdesignteamchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/1st-november-2016-classic-design-team.html
http://worldwideopendesignteamchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/15th-october-2016-world-wide-open.html
http://deepoceanchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/challenge-141-use-die-cuts-or-punches.html
http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/176-explosion-of-colour.html
http://scrapbookstampsocietychallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/challenge-103-anything-goes-option.html