Crafts Galore Encore December 2022

December seems to have come around very quickly this year and I feel that I'm already behind with all the preparations. The tree needs to be decorated, presents bought and wrapped and cards written and posted. And then there's the food shopping and preparation. At least there are the school and group Christmas concerts and parties to look forward to. I need to get a move on or I won't be ready in time.

Meanwhile .....

.... there is a new challenge starting today at

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:

Gekko Gals

who are generously offering $25 to spend in their Etsy store.

I have a set of Christmas cards I made for our little princess to give to her teachers and group leaders for Christmas.

The cards are all A6 size (14.5 x 10.5 cm).

All the cards feature papers from the Frozen Mini ATC sheet. I made half the set in portrait orientation and the others in landscape. They all feature more or less the same layout with a background layer and a matted band.

I matted the images from the Santa Clause Lane collage sheets onto white card.

The cards are all decorated with die-cut snowflakes, a printed sentiment and lots of glitter.

Now please visit the  Crafts Galore Encore challenge blog where you can see the wonderful projects and cards created by our talented team using Gekko Gals images and papers.

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

I have entered this card set in the following challenges:

https://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com/2022/12/a-perfect-time-to-craft-open-challenge.html x

http://countryviewchallenges.blogspot.com/2022/12/december-2022-christmas.html x

https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2022/12/classic-design-challenge-december-12.html x

http://geckogalzscrapbooking.blogspot.com/2022/12/december-challengechristmas-dreams.html WINNER

Creative Artiste #88 November 2022

Well the weathermen weren't wrong about the rain this week but they forgot to mention the 30 mile hour (50 kilometre) winds! We were very brave and had a fun outing to a local marina where we really struggled to walk straight. We rewarded ourselves with some crafty goodies, so, in the end, it was a good trip out.

But before we play with our new toys....

  ....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.

This month I have an upcycled biscuit tin to show. I've gone back to my comfort zone of circles, gears, blue and brown.

I white gessoed the top of the tin and then dabbed it with a coat of white acrylic. Once dry, I added a layer of DecoArt One Step Crackle. To colour the lid I used DecoArt Fluid Acrylics Prussian Blue, Cobalt Turquoise and Cobalt Teal in an ombre effect across the tin. I used those same colours for the wooden words.

I made the resin gear elements. Some are using a clear resin which gives a lovely translucent effect when painted. They were all painted with Dark Chocolate DecoArt acrylic and Fluid Acrylic Quinacridone Gold and arranged on the tin with Prima Heavy Body Gel.

I used texture paste through a cogs and gears stencil around the base of the tin. Once dry I painted the tin with Fluid Acrylics Quin Gold and Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide and also a few touches of Dark Chocolate acrylic. 

 

I finished the base with a coat of Mod Podge Gloss Finish. I tried to create a leather look as I want the tin to have an overall masculine finish so I can gift it to my brother for Christmas.

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 

November challenge. 

I have entered this project in the following challenges:

https://lovetocraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2022/11/ltccb-71-anything-goes-ltccb-70-winner.html x

https://mixitupchallenge.blogspot.com/2022/11/miucb-62-anything-goes-optional-open.html x

https://mixedmedialovers.blogspot.com/2022/11/letters-challenge-19-van-mixed-media.html winner

https://artydivaschallenge.blogspot.com/2022/10/october-challenge-and-september-winners.html x

Crafts Galore Encore November 2022

 It's half term here in Wales this week and, unfortunately, the weather is of the usually predictable rainy kind. We will need to pick our activities carefully to avoid getting too wet. Fortunately we have a few ideas that don't involve umbrellas and wellies.

But first.....

.... there is a new challenge starting today at

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"

We don't actually have a sponsor this month but we do have a prize of a

£15 Etsy Gift Card

for our lucky winner.

The team was free to use any product we like to make our projects this month.

I'm choosing to showcase two commissioned birthday cards that I have recently made featuring  

images from The Paper Shelter.

The images are instant downloads and all come with a black outline digi and a coloured digi, both in Jpeg and png format. Also included is a backing frame paper and the coloured image on the backing frame paper. 

The papers for both cards are from The Gift of Giving 12"x 12" (30 x 30 cm) paper pad by Craft Consortium.

On this first card I started by colouring the edges of an 8"x 8" (20cm x 20cm) card blank with a pink Copic pen. I then layered a cheerful bunting paper onto plain lilac card. Next I added a dropped panel of balloon paper.

This card features the super cute image called Happy Birthday. I used the png black outline digi and coloured it with my Copics in colours that the little girl recipient loves.

I finished the card with the age of the little girl and a printed sentiment. Both were matted onto card coloured with a pink Copic pen.

For the second card I inked the edges of an 8"x 8" (20cm x 20cm) card blank with Picked Raspberry Distress Ink. I matted the balloon panel paper onto card edged with the Distress Ink and added a paper doily.

This adorable image is Cupcake Birthday. I again used the black outline png digi and coloured it with my Copics. I matted it onto card edged with Distress Ink.

I finished the card with a printed sentiment banner and lots of pink gems.

Both cards were commissions that have now been received. 

Now please visit the  Crafts Galore Encore challenge blog where you can see all the wonderful projects and cards created by our talented team using their own choice of  images.

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

I have entered the 1st card in the following challenges:

https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2022/11/classic-design-challenge-november-11.html DT Fav

https://morgansartworld.blogspot.com/2022/11/morgans-artworld-challenge-11.html x

I have entered the 2nd card in the following challenges:

https://thepapershelter.blogspot.com/2022/11/challenge-532-something-yummy.html Winner

https://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com/2022/11/a-perfect-time-to-craft-open-challenge.html

https://worldwideopendesignteamchallenge.blogspot.com/2022/10/world-wide-open-design-team-challenge-10.html x

Creative Artiste #87 October 2022

  ....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.

I have upcycled an old chocolate box this month.

I started with a couple of coats of thick white gesso all over the top box piece as it was originally a dark green. I then used texture paste through a text stencil randomly over the top and sides of the top piece.

I painted the base sides with DecoArt Quinacridone Violet fluid acrylic and set it aside.

I used a frame, some flowers, a couple of butterflies and various sized beads that I'd made from resin to decorate the box lid. I stuck everything in place with more texture paste.

When it was all dry I used DecoArt fluid acrylics Primary Magenta and  Quinacridone Violet with lots of water to add colour to the elements and box lid.

Once everything was dry I then had some fun by sprinkling and heat embossing Aged Gold and Chunky Gold Frantage all over the top and sides.

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:

https://mixitupchallenge.blogspot.com/2022/09/miucb-61-anything-goes-optional.html x

https://lovetocraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2022/09/ltccb-70-anything-goes-ltccb-69-winner.html Top Pick

https://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com/2022/10/a-perfect-time-to-craft-open-challenge.html x

https://mixedmedialovers.blogspot.com/2022/10/challenge-18-mixed-media-lovers.html x

https://artydivaschallenge.blogspot.com/2022/09/september-challenge-and-august-winners.html x

Crafts Galore Encore October 2022

Chilly temperatures, nights drawing in and leaves falling from trees can mean only one thing - Christmas is coming! I normally don't start my Christmas cards until November, but, this year I've already made my first card of the season! Now that I've started, I may as well get some more done.

Meanwhile .....

.... there is a new challenge starting today at

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:

All Dressed Up

who are offering two of their fabulous digi stamps to our lucky winner.

I couldn't resist an image of this cute little dog to make a cheeky Christmas card.

I made an A5 card blank and coloured the edges with a Copic pen. The pretty papers are from The Paper Boutique - A Christmas Visitor 12"x 12" card making set. All the mats are Copic coloured plain white card.

The adorable dog image is called Christmas Pooch. It's actually just the one dog but I copied and flipped the image to create the two cute dogs sharing a kiss. I coloured the dogs with my Copics.

I cut out two of the flowers from the Christmas paper set and decorated them by heat embossing some Shabby Blue Frantage.

The sentiment is also from the Christmas papers. I finished the card with some gold 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 All Dressed Up images.

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

I have entered this card in the following challenges:

https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2022/10/classic-design-challenge-october-10.html x

https://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com/2022/10/a-perfect-time-to-craft-open-challenge.html DT Fav

https://morgansartworld.blogspot.com/2022/10/morgans-artworld-challenge-10.html x

https://worldwideopendesignteamchallenge.blogspot.com/2022/09/world-wide-open-design-team-challenge-09.html x

http://craftyanimals.blogspot.com/2022/10/challenge-66.html x

https://2craftycrittercrazies.blogspot.com/2022/10/challenge-67-anything-goes-with.html x