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 September 2019

Only two more days to go until the schools start back here. We are all looking forward to that. It's been a busy summer with plenty of activities, day trips, family visitors, a short holiday and a little girl's 6th birthday! We are all ready for a return to routine, but, first ....

.... There's a new challenge at

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge Blog. 

Thank you to everyone who joined in with August'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 our lucky winner 3 digi images.

As postage costs for dimensional cards can be expensive I've been practicing keeping my cards simple. With a craft room full of embellishments, that does not come naturally, but, I have managed to make a 6"x 6" (15cm x 15cm) CAS card to show you today.

I started by using Spiced Marmalade Distress Oxide Ink with a sponge to colour the front of a card blank. I used Black Soot Distress Ink to shadow the edges.

I chose Fabrika Fantasy's cute Little Witch image to work with and coloured her with my Copics. I die cut the image, edged it with Shaded Lilac DI and glued it to the card.

The sentiment was computer generated, cut out and coloured with Spiced Marmalade DOX. I used foam pads to fix it to the topper. The card was finished with little purple pearls.

Now please visit the  Crafts Galore Encore challenge blog where you can see the fabulous projects and cards created by our talented team using Fabrika Fantasy images. Grab some inspiration while you're there and enter your "Anything Goes" creations in the September challenge.

I have entered this card in the following challenges:
https://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com/2019/09/a-perfect-time-to-craft-challenge-for.html DT Fav
http://abitmoretimetocraft.blogspot.com/2019/09/a-bit-more-time-to-craft-challenge-99.html x
http://yourscrapbookplace.blogspot.com/2019/09/ysbp-september-2019-challenge.html Top Three
https://lovetocraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2019/09/ltccb-38-september-anything-goes.html x
https://lovetoscrapchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2019/09/ltscb-125-anything-goes.html x

Crafts Galore Encore September 2018

A brief personal update before I get down to today's business: 

The court hearing that I attended at the beginning of August resulted in the excellent news that my husband and I have been awarded Special Guardianship of our five year old granddaughter. To be honest, this is not quite what we had planned for our retirement years but it is already bringing some much needed joy to our family. Our little blonde bombshell arrived just in time to celebrate her fifth birthday and nearly every minute now is spent settling her in to her new home and life with us. I do apologise that my crafting and commenting duties are still suffering but I'm sure you'll all agree as to where my priorities currently lie.

Now on to crafty business ....

Welcome to my September post for

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge Blog. 

Thank you to everyone who joined in with August'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 every month is the popular

"Anything Goes"

and our sponsor this month is:

Fabrika Fantasy
The lucky winner will get three digi images of their choice.

I had to make a birthday card for our very special little girl and I used this darling image to make an 8"x 8" (20cm x 20cm) scalloped card.

I inked the edges of the scalloped card base with Spun Sugar Distress Ink. Then I used Worn Lipstick Distress Oxide on watercolour card to create the background layer.

This adorable digi image from Fabrika Fantasy is called Cute Zebra 1 and comes in a pre-coloured version or black outline. The coloured version is so cute I decided to use that. I shrunk the image and made a border with five zebras on the computer.

The border, image and text were all printed onto a piece of white card. I also printed the Cute Zebra 1 digi twice more to cut out and decoupage. All the bubbles were dusted with glitter.

I used the Worn Lipstick DO to dye a length of seam binding to create the bow and a strip across the card before attaching the layers.

Now please visit the  Crafts Galore Encore challenge blog where you can see the wonderful projects and cards created by our talented team. Grab some inspiration while you're there and enter your "Anything Goes" creations in the September challenge.

I have entered this project in the following challenges:
http://alohafridaychallenges.blogspot.com/2018/08/126-anything-goes-woptional-twist.html Top Pick
http://abitmoretimetocraft.blogspot.com/2018/09/a-bit-more-time-to-craft-challenge-75.html x
http://createsandmakes.blogspot.com/2018/08/challenge-24.html
https://lovetocraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2018/09/ltccb-26-september-anything-goes.html
http://ribbongirls.blogspot.com/2018/09/september-anything-goes-challenge.html x

Crafts Galore Encore February 2018

Sorry folks but once again I've not been able to spend a lot of time in Blogland as I've been busy dodging life's curve balls. I apologise for not making as many visits to your fabulous blogs as I would have liked.

Today I'd like to welcome you to my February post for 

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge Blog. 

Thank you to everyone who joined in with January'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 every month is the popular

"Anything Goes"

Our sponsor this month is:

Fabrika Fantasy

I chose a delightful image from our sponsor to make this card for a little girl who turns 7 today.

The card is a 6"x 6" (15 x 15 cm) blank that I layered with two different cards in shades of pink. I added an amusing sentiment before printing the image as a large topper.

The image is Betta Fish Crowntail and comes with just one fish. I used a graphics program to duplicate, flip and resize one of the fish.  The image was then coloured using my Copics. I added glitter to the fins and finished the card with some pink gems.

Please visit the  Crafts Galore Encore challenge blog to see the wonderful projects and cards created by my talented team mates and to enter your
"Anything Goes" creations.

I have entered this project in the following challenges:
http://cardz4galz.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/challenge-64-think-pink.htmlx
http://abitmoretimetocraft.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/a-bit-more-time-to-craft-challenge-61.htmlx
http://craftingwithanattitude.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/challenge-36.htmlx
http://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/1st-february-2018-perfect-time-to-craft.htmlx
http://classicdesignteamchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/1st-february-classdic-design-team-open.htmlx

Crafts Galore Encore September 2017

September has arrived and children are back at school in Wales this week but I'm still waiting for Summer. Hopefully we will at least have a mild, dry Autumn.

Today I have a card to show you that I made

for our September challenge on the

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge Blog 

Thank you to everyone who joined in with August'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 every month is the popular

"Anything Goes"

Our sponsor this month is:

Fabrika Fantasy

I have made an 8"x 8" card.

I used a piece of card coloured with Distress Oxide Wilted Violet as a base and layered a paper from the G45 Rare Oddities collection. The sentiment was printed on the computer and layered on to off-cuts.

The design team was lucky enough to be able to choose an image from Fabrika Fantasy to work with and I picked this fabulous Wise Dragon. I've coloured it with Copics and layered it on to a piece of card coloured with Spiced Marmalade Distress Oxide.

I made some mini books out of card as embellishments.

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.

Crafts Galore Encore March 2017

Happy St David's Day from Wales. Wow! The first of March already, the year seems to be rolling on more quickly now. Probably because February was so short.
I had a wonderful weekend of classes with the fabulous Finnabair. She is an amazing teacher. I shall show you my projects starting next week.

But today's business is a new challenge on the  

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge Blog. 

Thank you to everyone who joined in with February'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

Fabrika Fantasy

I was lucky enough to be able to choose a fabulous image from our sponsor. I love unicorns and have decorated an art board from Bee Crafty.

I glued the two bits together and gave it all a coat of white gesso. I then used a star stencil and texture paste to create a bit of dimension.

I printed the beautiful Flying Pegasus image after adding a bit of shading in a graphics program. I then cut round the unicorn leaving a thin white border.

Before fixing the Pegasus in place I used a few of my Lindy's Stamp Gang sprays to colour the art board background in dreamy pastel shades.

I printed the words on the computer, cut them out and inked around the edges before fixing them and the Pegasus to the art board.

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.

Crafts Galore Encore January 2016

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you all had a lovely time over the festive season and my deepest sympathies go out to those affected by the awful weather in parts of the world recently.

 The first of January means it's time for a new challenge on the Crafts Galore Encore Challenge Blog. Thank you to everyone who supported us last year and joined in with our challenges. We hope to see you all again this year. Last month's winners are on the challenge blog '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 everyone's favourite
"Anything Goes"
and our fabulous sponsor is Fabrika Fantasy who have some of the most gorgeous digis on offer.

The team were allowed to choose an image each and I made a card to celebrate the new year with the digi I chose.

I printed a couple of wood effect papers and a stripey one I thought would look good as wallpaper. I cut one of the wood papers to resemble a mouse hole door and matted it onto black card to create the shadow. I added a gold gem for the handle.

The super cute image I chose is Happy Mouse. What better way to start a new year than with a huge smile? I coloured him in with my Copics and cut round him before fixing to the card on foam pads.

The balloons were cut with an X-cut punch and I used gold thread to tie them to Happy Mouse's tail and a champagne bottle which I created from an X-cut die set.

I finished the card with some purple pearls and a banner to wish all my friends and family a Happy 2016!
We have some talented new DT members joining us today so, please show your support and visit the  Crafts Galore Encore challenge blog to see the fabulous projects they and the rest of the team have created for your inspiration.

I've entered this card into the following challenges:
http://lilredwagon.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/little-red-wagon-challenge-322-happy.html x
http://inspirationdestinationchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/ag-no-66.html x
http://brownsugarchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/challenge-179-happy-new-year.html x
http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.ca/2015/12/fussy-and-fancy-challenge-154-happy.html x
http://stempelsonne.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/157-bis-140116.html Winner