INTAAS - Anything But a Card

To start the New Year International Art and Soul have the challenge of 'Anything But a Card' which was the theme set by our Desing Team member Christine.

Who remembers making Tim Holtz's grunge board bracelets? This is a real blast from the past. I last made lots of these in 2008/9 for my friends' daughters and granddaughters. They weren't quite as grungy as this, they were much prettier. However I was quite chuffed that I remembered how to do them, once I found my grunge board. The first photo isn't very good - again taken with my camera which I think is on it's last legs. My son took the second one with his mobile and then emailed it to me so that I could save it on my laptop. The subject of his email read 'Wrinkly old arm'. He does love me I'm sure!

I've really made so many other objects during my crafting sessions over the years so have got into a rut of only cards recently. I've got a box in the garage with plaques, pictures and various other items but decided to take the plunge and attempt this.

The grunge board and fastener all by Tim Holtz. Promarkers, Distress Ink were used for the decoration with some Craft Box gems for the centre of the flowers. The flower stamp was a freebie from a magazine.

I hope you've enjoyed this step back in time. lol

I'm entering my bracelet into the following challenges:

I Love Promarkers - Anything Goes with Promarkers

Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes

Passion for Markers - Anything Goes with Markers

INTAAS Gift or card for male

This challenge is to make a gift or card for a man and the theme was set by DT member Jennie. Come and join us at International Art and Soul and check out the DT makes.

This time I decided to go for a gift instead of a card. I used to order lots of craft items from Craft Box and the goodies were always packed in these very strong boxes so I saved them all. Over the past few years I've given quite a few as gifts with lots of items inside suitable for the recipient. I have about ten of them left so I've decided to give them as gifts this year and then I'll have a little more space for other craft items. 

I asked my sons if they would like one - a resounding no from Tim but Peter said yes. He would like one to put in his garage to keep his modelling tools in. He is quite hooked on making Star War items and various model cars, motor bikes, etc. I did ask what he wanted me to put on the lid and I'd thought Craft Tools. He decided he would prefer Model Tools. I'd written both down on a piece of paper and after painting the wrap over lid with Imagination Craft's Starlight paint in turquoise I set about digging out the wooden letters to identify what was in the box. Of course I looked at the piece of paper and thought yes, he wants Craft Tools. It wasn't until I'd finished glueing them in place that I suddenly remembered that had been my suggestion, doh!! I had painted the Hobbycraft letters in yellow before fixing and then chose items to go alongside them. I used a paintbrush, a small pair of craft scissors, a scalpel blade (in it's packet so as not to cut anyone) and then to finish it off some Craft Box Snip Art round the sides of the box. It has a metallic clasp and is quite sturdy so it will make a handy place for his modelling tools!

I'm entering the box into the following challenges:

Crafts Galore - Anything Goes

Creative Crafting Uncles - Fathers Day/Masculine

Crafty Creations - Anything Goes

The Male Room - Wood

Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes

INTAAS - Inspired by a Book

Come and join us at International Art and Soul in our challenge theme of 'Inspired by a Book'.

I did wonder if the card was to be inspired by a book or whether it was me who had been inspired by a book. I chose to make a card that shows a book that always inspires me. lol I love poetry and have quite a few poetry books but I go back time and time again to this one. The list on the top right of the photo shows some of the poems that are in this book. The lower list shows poems that I have loved and recited for many years. Jennie Lee is a poem that my mother taught me when I was very young. I've never met anyone else who knows it, apart from my cousins who were taught it by their father, my mother's brother. It was written during the reign of Queen Victoria but we have no idea who wrote it and I've not been able to trace it in any book. If I have trouble getting to sleep at night instead of counting sheep I recite the poems in the lower list plus Vespers. By the time I'm on to the fifth or sixth poem I'm asleep. I'd better stop waffling and get on to the details of my card.

It's a 7x7 card by Craft UK. The red card is by Papermill and the teal foundation card is by Sue Wilson. After mounting the red on to the teal I cut out a die in the teal, I think the die may be a Sue Wilson die but I'm not 100% sure. The fancy border was added to the lower section of the mat. I photographed my book and then shrunk it down to a suitable size before fixing to a teal mat. I typed the list of poems and then cut them with two Spellbinder dies before setting at an angle to the right of the photo. I added Mei Flower turquoise pearls to each list. The final touch was an Inspire charm by Craft Box that was set to the top left, tied with a little string of turquoise beads, also by Craft Box.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Gem of a Challenge: Anything Goes

Crafty Creations - Anything Goes

Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Try  it on Tuesday - Words or Numbers

Dragonfly Dreams - Anything Goes

A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes

A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

Love to Craft - Anything Goes

INTAAS Under the Sea

Come along and join us at International Art and Soul with our challenge theme of 'Under the Sea' chosen by Chriss.

My card blank as usual nowadays is a 7x7 by Craft UK. I used an image from the internet of some of the beautiful creatures that live under the sea. After printing it off I matted it on to some bright blue paper that I've had for years and never used - I have no idea where I got it. At the bottom of the bright blue mat I added some netting, plastic, hemp and some cling film to show the types of items that are discarded carelessly by some of the population of our wonderful world. A little star fish charm by Craft Box is entangled in the net and plastic. I generated the sentiment 'Stay Safe' on the computer and after cutting it with a Spellbinder wonky die I added it to the netting.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Crafty Creations - Anything Goes

Crafty Sentiments -  Anything Goes

Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes

A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

Love to Craft - Anything Goes

International Art and Soul - Tags

Please come along and join us at International Art and Soul and show us what you can do with our theme of 'Tags'. 

I'm afraid my tag isn't cropped very well. I have a new laptop and I can no longer use the programme that I used to use for cropping, colour, etc. Ugh, it's driving me mad though I suppose I'll get used to it eventually.

My tag is from The Works. I painted the background with Hobbycraft bronze acrylic paint. When it was dry I added the small Craft Box frame to the top and then added the cameo to the centre of the frame. I used some Snip Art circles for the bottom part of the tag and I cut some smaller sections for the top. Two or three of the circles I filled with bronze seed beads. The cameo, seed beads and Snip Art are all from Craft Box.My last touch was to use some jute for the tie. Job done.

I'm entering my tag into the following challenges:

Crafting with an Attitude - Always Anything Goes

Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes

Creatalicious - Anything Goes with option of circles

Brown Sugar - Anything Goes

Creative Artiste - Anything Mixed Media

I'm having a problem with my eyes so I might not see you for a while. I'm taking a break from crafting until they settle down. Hope to see you soon.

Moving Along with the Times - Texture

Come over to MAWTT and join in with the theme that I set - Texture. I decided to move away from a card for this challenge and decorate an MDF heart from The Works.

I painted the background with Imagination Crafts metallic paint. When it was dry I used a Joanna Sheen stencil with embossing paste to create lots of texture across the bottom of the heart and before it was dry I added Glamour Dust to make it glitter. Using Craft Box flowers and a silver coloured metallic charm I surrounded the edge of the embossing. The sentiment is by Visible Image and after stamping I cut it with a Spellbinder die and edged it with Distress Ink. I used Glossy Accents to seal it and give it a shine and then topped it with a Craft Box lilac flower. I added a few leaves cut with a Joanna Sheen die.

I'm entering my heart into the following challenges:

Creative Artiste - Anything Mixed Media Goes

Crafting with an Attitude - Always Anything Goes

A Perfect Time to Craft - Always Anything Goes

Altered Eclectics - Anything Goes in mixed media

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

Thank you all for visiting, see you next time.

IAAS For Boy or Man

Come and join us at International Art and Soul to join in with the challenge theme 'For man or boy' which was set by Susie.

My card blank is by Craft UK and the cinnamon coloured foundation card is by Sue Wilson. The dark brown card is by Papermill. The stencil of cogs is by Andy Skinner of Deco Arts and I used three different Distress Inks to colour the cogs. I used Joanna Sheen's Signature die of a motorbike which I cut in pale blue before setting on a dark brown rectangle cut with a Spellbinders die. I generated the sentiment on the computer, printed it on pale blue paper and backed with more dark brown card. The metal cogs along the bottom are from Craft Box.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Craftaholics R Us - Blue
Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
Pause Dream Enjoy - Anything Goes
Simon Says Wednesday - For the Boys
Brown Sugar - Masculine or Father's Day
Crafting with Friends - Anything Goes
Simply Papercraft- Anything Goes

IAAS Use stuff you already own

The theme to challenge you this time at International Art and Soul is  a simple one - use stuff you already own.

My card blank is an 8x8 by Craft UK. The glitter backing paper is from a First Edition paper pad named Hideaway which I've had for years. The green card from Papermill was embossed with a Crafter's Companion embossalicious folder before being matted on to tan Papermill card. The Snipart birds and branch are both from Craft Box. The sentiments were freebie stamps from a magazine and then they were cut with Spellbinder dies. Three Mei Flower gems were added to the lower sentiment. I've had most of these items for years, apart from the Snipart which I've only had since November. My card is going to a friend who lived two doors away from me in my last house. I hope he likes it.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:
Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes
Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesdays - Anything Goes
Aud Sentiments - For a Friend
Crafting with Friends - Anything Goes

Thanks for visiting.

International Art and Soul - Texture

 

This challenge theme  'Texture' was set by me and if you come over to International Art and /Soul you can join us and see what all my team mates have made.

First of all I must apologise for the image. My camera broke before I had the chance to take a photo so I had to use my mobile phone camera - not ideal. It's not as clear as it could be. I did try scanning it but that wasn't good either. 

My card blank is a scalloped 8x8 by Craft UK. I had already decided on another design but when I'd almost finished the separate elements I didn't like the card as I started to build it. I scrapped the idea and started again!

I bought the organza strips from Hobbycraft a couple of years ago because I loved the colours. I'm a sucker for green.I almost tore my hair out trying to make them stay where I wanted them. I did eventually manage it by securing them with double sided tape. I'd had a phase of winning digi images just before Christmas and this one was from Rick St Dennis. I coloured her with Promarkers and cut with a classic Spellbinder oval die matting it on to lime green card by Papermill and cut with the Spellbinder scalloped die. I set her across the organza strips on raised pads. A brass charm by Craft Box was tucked slightly under the image to the right. Three green gems were set in top right corner. I generated the sentiment on the computer, matted it on to green card after cutting both with scalloped dies. I raised it on pads and set to the left of the image.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Crafty Creations - Anything Goes

Crafty Gals - Anything Goes

The Paper Shelter - Birthday Cards

Simon  Says Wednesday - Anything Goes

Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes

Die Cuttin Divas - Anything Goes

Digi  Choosday - Anything Goes

Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Tuesday Throwdown - Favourite Colour

MAWTT Anything but a card

This challenge is to make anything but a card so I recycled a box for a friend. Come along to Moving Along with the Times and see what everyone else has made. Teams A and B are both playing along so there's lots to enjoy.

I buy quite a lot of Craft Box boxes that are full of mixed media items each month. When I empty the boxes they are perfect for recycling as they are sturdy boxes with a magnetic clasp on the front flap. This one happens to be bright pink so I continued the colour theme with my additions to the lid. I prefer to leave the rest of the box plain. The flower paper is from a pad that I've had for ages and I think it was by Stephanie Weightman. I cut the section that I wanted and fitted it to the lid. The top edge was quite plain so I decided to use a Spellbinder die to make a fancy border. I used a pink pearlescent card and the border die was from the Parisian set I believe. The wooden letters were from The Range and I painted them in pale pink acrylic paint before setting them at an angle across the plain section of the paper. Some of my Craft Box goodies came into play again and I added a section of Snipart circles/bubbles under the name. Two cabochons picturing roses were added to the design and the last embellishment was a 'diamond' butterfly that I won in a Facebook competition a while ago. I really loved the box myself and if my name had been Karen I wouldn't have wanted to part with it!! lol

I lined it with pink tissue paper and filled it with gifts for a supermarket worker who had been very kind to me over the past few years. I was due to move house and out of the area so would not be travelling to that supermarket any longer. I wanted to thank her for her kindness and she was thrilled and touched to receive it.

I'm entering my box into the following challenges:


I'd like to wish you all a very happy Christmas and all the best for a wonderful New Year.

IAAS Buttons and Bows

This theme is 'Buttons and Bows' over at International Art and Soul so please come across and join us.

I used a Craft UK 8x8 scalloped card blank. The Papermill pink card was embossed with a Crafter's Companion embossalicious folder and the corners were rounded with a Carl punch. I matted it on to Papermill yellow card that also had its corners rounded. The yellow ribbon was bought in America about four years ago and it's the first time I've used it. My family couldn't believe how many rolls of ribbon I bought there, animal print, jewelled, satin, dotted, striped, you name it I bought it. So far I've used one strip of jewelled and this strip of satin. After wrapping the ribbon round the lower edge of the mat I stamped the Visible Image quotes on three separate pieces of coloured card, cutting the corners as before and added them to the upper part of the card with a Craft Box gem at the top corner of each. I raided my button box and added a few buttons to some of the embossed buttons.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:
Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes + a sentiment
Creative Knockouts - Thankful Thoughts
Through the Purple Haze - Lace/Ribbon
Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

MAWTT Add a tag or charm

I'm pleased to say that I'm back after my house move. I'm also pleased to say that I'm eventually settled and it's beginning to feel like home,

This theme for this challenge was set by me and it's 'Add a tag or charm'. Come along and join us at Moving Along with the Times and check out what the rest of Team B have made.

I used a 7x7 Craft UK card blank. I stamped the tree image with a Bee Crafty stamp using a brown Memento ink pad. The image was matted on to dark green Papermill card leaving a very thin border. The First Edition green patterned paper was again matted on to dark green card leaving a thin border as before. The white mat was added to the base mat and an owl charm, from Craft Box, was tied in the top corner with baker's twine. I'd cut out three acorns from the patterned paper and these were added to the bottom corner. Silver stones from John Lewis were added along the base of the tree - just because I thought they looked nice. lol To finish off the card I cut two arrows in the patterned paper and set them to the right and top left of the image.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Brown sugar - Orange, brown and green

Crafting with Friends - Anything Goes

Simply Papercraft - Anything Goes

Penny Black - Close to Nature

Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

Love to Craft - Anything Goes

Thank you for visiting. I'm so glad to be back.

MAWTT Add a number

Judith has set the challenge this time at Moving Along with the Times and it's 'Add a Number'.

There are no children in the family so I don't have the opportunity of adding an age. I don't know anyone who has a special age birthday either, 82 or 37 isn't really the same as 80 or 40 is it? So I resorted to using the embossalicious clock folder - lots of numbers. lol

My card blank is a 7x7 by Craft UK. I embossed Crafter's Companion's black card and then sanded the clock faces to show through. It was matted on to Papermill's bright orange card. A Craft Box SnipArt lamp/clock was added to the bottom edge. Another Craft Box item - the little wooden frame - was used to hold the computer generated sentiment 'It's time for a birthday'.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Kitty Bee Designs - Birthday
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Anything Goes
Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes
Though the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

I'm still up to my ears in packing cases so crafting time is non-existent. My son and DIL arrive next week to stay with me for a few days and they'll help me to get a bit more done. I've been sorting boxes of books for the past two days and although I don't like to part with them I've got seven boxes waiting for the BHF to pick up tomorrow. I've still got four boxes to open but I'm so shattered I'm finished for the day.

Enough of me whingeing, thanks for visiting and for leaving comments.

IAAS Layer it Up

Come and join us at International Art and Soul for this challenge with the theme of Layer it Up.

My card blank is an ivory 8x8 by Joanna Sheen. I've been waiting to use my Tonic dies again because they're about the only ones that are actually available to use! lol I'm more or less ready to move house so a lot of my craft stash is packed. I used seven of the dies and layered them up. The purple and kingfisher coloured card is by Papermill. Once they were all layered the only addition was the flower cabouchon in the centre. This is from Craft Box and shows a pretty rose.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

International Art and Soul - Boxes and Bags

'Boxes and Bags' is the theme at International Art and Soul so come along and show us what you can do.

I've added another altered box I made for my friend. You might remember that I made another one earlier, on my blog, for her husband. That was a great success hence making this one for Anne. She loved it.

The empty box is a very sturdy one with magnetic fastener from Craft Box. This is a craft company based in the UK who supply these boxes filled with crafty embellishments. They're always beautifully packed and presented and once the craft items are stored in their usual spot you have a box ready for altering as a gift box.

I used  a sheet of Craft Box paper as the background, tearing the edge and using Distress Ink on the torn edges. A small Craft Box doily was placed at the top left behind the paper and one of the Snip Art circles was added to the same corner. I used Hobbycraft wooden letters for the name and painted them with Rowney's acrylic paint. A small wooden frame to the left had a mirror charm in the centre (Anne likes pretty things and make up). A beautiful Craft Box lace embellishment was set to the right and topped with a cameo charm. Some wooden flowers from Create and Craft were dotted around along with some pretty gems. A large 'diamond' butterfly was added to the top right. I really enjoyed making this box and I'm in the process of making another.

I'm not able to enter any challenges with my altered box as I have no internet until 16 August. This is a scheduled post but I hope you'll still leave me some comments to cheer me up when I get back online. I'm moving home so will be back shortly and hopefully my new craft room will be big enough. I have a large room at the minute and my new one will be much smaller. My sons said that they will make it work for me - I hope they're right. lol

International Art and Soul - For Men

This challenge is all about the men so join us at International Art and Soul and show us what you can come up with for our theme of 'For Men'.

I'm showing an altered Craftbox that I receive full of craft items on a regular basis. I emptied the craft items into my usual storage spots and started on decorating the box for my friend who lives a couple of doors away.

The box is really sturdy and has a magnetic fastener so I thought, when he emptied it of his birthday goodies, he could use it for bits and pieces of his hobbies. I used Craftbox papers as the base. They are of old seed packets and I tore the edges and then used Distress Inks on them. I then started to add items that I knew would have some meaning to him - the little Snipart garden gate and watering can, the wooden flowers, bird and sun from Create and Craft - he's a very keen gardener. I added a little Hobbycraft wooden frame and then centred in it a little guitar charm. He's also a keen guitarist. Cogs made me think of cars - not sure whether they are relevant to cars - but he likes driving so I reckoned they would tie in. A gnarled branch from Craftbox was placed almost mid centre and then I added Hobbycraft wooden letters making up his name. I'd used bronze acrylic paint on the letters and then added a little arrow pointing to the name. Final additions were a brown gem and brown checked button, both from Mei Flower. He now has the box which had inside a half bottle of whisky, snazzy jar of chutney, sweets, etc. and he loved it.

I'm entering my box into the following challenges:
A Inky Mess - Anything Goes Mixed Media
Altered Eclectics - Anything Goes Mixed Media
Connie Can Crop - It's a Guy Thing
Cards Galore Encore - Anything Goes
Craft Rocket - For the Men/Boys
Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
Shopping our Stash - Dude
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

International Art and Soul - Vintage

This challenge is all about 'Vintage' so come and join us at International Art and Soul. I used an 8x8 card blank by Craft UK. The image is from Joanna Sheen's CD of Victorian Romance. I matted the image on to grey/beige patterned card which I bought from Payper Box a few years ago. The base mat is dark brown card from Papermill with a layer of the grey/beige card on top. A strip of beige lace, from the local market, was placed about two thirds up and a grey doily, from Craft Box, was placed more or less centrally on the lace. The image was then raised on pads and offset against the doily. Three organza lace backed flowers from Craft Box were added to the bottom right.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:
Crafty Girls Creations - Anything Goes
Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
Eclectic Ellapu - Shabby Chic or Vintage

IAAS Fancy Borders

This challenge at International Art and Soul is Fancy Borders. I've used my favourite border of all time and it's one of Spellbinders dies.

I've made a very simple CAS card but I love it (even though I do say so myself lol)

The card blank is a small Craft UK 6x6 and I used a background paper from one of my boxes of Craft Box goodies. I thought they were beautiful muted shades of pink and yellow with a darker lacy border printed along the bottom edge. It looked almost like earth and so I decided to stamp the tree as the focal point.The tree is by Bee Crafty and I stamped it in Memento brown ink. I cut the border in yellow card from Papermill and fixed it to the top edge. The card was finished.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps and More - Anything Goes
Crafting by Designs - Anything Goes
Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
Double D Challenges - Think Spring
The Crafty Addicts - Anything Goes/CAS

Thank you for calling by and leaving me some comments, I appreciate them.

International Art and Soul

I'm so pleased to be working with a group of crafters that I worked with a few years ago on another design team. We've all come together again to be part of this new challenge blog 'International Art and Soul'.

The theme for our first challenge is 'Love is in the Air' so please come along and join us.

My card is an 8x8 by Joanna Sheen. The backing paper is by Tim Holtz and I matted it on to bright red card by Papermill. The steampunk Snipart heart (try saying that fast! lol) is distributed by Craft Box. I coloured the edge of the heart with a red Promarker and then used Crawford and Black's bronze acrylic paint on some of the cogs. The wooden letters I bought at Hobbycraft a few months ago and this is the first time I've used any of them. I painted them with the bronze paint too. Job done and I'm quite pleased with my almost steampunk card.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:
4 Crafty Chicks - Anniversary
Cardz4galz - Love is in the Air
Craftrocket Challenge - It's a Love Thing
Crafty Creations Challenge - Anything Goes
Through the Craft room Door - Anything Goes

MAWTT New Baby

This week the theme is New Baby and I decided to do a mixed media canvas as a change to my usual cards. I hope you like it. The theme was set by Beckie over at Moving Along with the Times so come along and join us.

I used a box canvas by Hobbycraft and then started to embellish. The main focal point was to the be the baby in the pram so I used my Lasting Impressions stencil with some Dreamweaver embossing paste. I added a piece of Snip Art to the bottom right corner as a starting point. I placed a strip of lace down the left side and this was from the local market. A wooden scroll was added to the bottom left, this and the Snip Art were both from Craft Box. A small piece of net was used to the right as a base for small baby items such as the bottle, hands and feet. A small wooden heart and a safety pin completed that piece. A small wooden frame, also from Craft Box, was added to the top right and inside I added the word Love which is a small wooden 'button' I've had for ages. Once I was in the button boxes I found some baby buttons which I thought I would add, along with a hugs and kisses button and another little curly scroll which went top left. The flowers were from Craft Box and I dotted them around before deciding the piece needed more texture so I dug out my Tim Holtz burlap stencil and embossed snatches of it in various spots. After adding another couple of safety pins I painted it all with white gesso from Daler Rowney and when that dried I picked out certain items to be blue, pink, yellow and green. After that was completely dry I coated it in Winsor and Newton clear gesso to seal it.

I'm entering this into the following challenges:
Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes