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Thursday 21 December 2017

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.

Sunday 10 December 2017

International Art and Soul Lots of Sparkle





This challenge is all about 'Lots of Sparkle' so come along and join us at International Art and Soul.

I thought most of the Design Team would come up with Christmas cards so I decided to get on with my Birthday cards for next year - I have three in the middle of January so I'm making a start.
I won some digis from Rick St Dennis with one of my recent cards so I chose this 'Fabulous Feline' to colour. I used my Promarkers to colour her and I added a gem to her brooch on the collar. Some of my Spellbinder dies were tried before I opted for this shape. I edged with Distress Ink and set to one side. The card blank is a 7x7 by Craft UK and I added a mat of bright yellow Papermill card topped with a First Edition glitter paper from their Hideaway pad. I'd already decided that I would use some of my jewelled ribbon that I bought in America a few years ago. It's the first time I've used this green and it goes nicely with the glitter paper so I set it down the left side and the image was placed to the right. I haven't yet decided whether to add a sentiment. There's lots of sparkle on this card so I'm sure my niece will love it. 

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
City Crafter - Where did you get that hat?
Digi Choosday - Anything Goes
Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes
Show us your pussies - Anything Goes with a kitty
Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
Crafty Cardmakers - Animal Magic
2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes with a Critter
Animal Friends - Anything Goes with an animal



I would like to wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a very happy New Year. Happy Holidays.

Sunday 26 November 2017

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


Thursday 23 November 2017

MAWTT Christmas Animals



Come long and join us at Moving Along with the Times where the theme this week is 'Christmas Animals'.

My card blank was a freebie from a magazine a while ago, it's not quite kraft card because it has a sheen to it. I used Joanna Sheen's Signature dies of the shepherd with sheep and donkeys. After I'd cut them in white card I used my Promarkers to give the minimum of colour. After I'd placed them I used my John Lewis gold stones to add some texture and give them something to walk on! The sentiment and star were freebie stamps from a magazine and after stamping I mounted it on foam pads after edging it with Distress Ink. It was set at top left. Job done.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:
Crafting with Friends - Anything Goes
Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
Animal Friends - Christmas
Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
Dream Valley Challenges - Add Texture

Sunday 12 November 2017

IAAS Autumn Colours



The theme is Autumn Colours over at International Art and Soul so come along and join us.

I've used a 7x7 card blank by Craft UK and then used Brushos in various shades of orange, red, brown and yellow before spritzing with water to give little splurges of colour. When it was completely dry I used Imagination Crafts' Gilding Flakes in Red Gilt to give a few splashes of glitter. The main image is by Visible Image and was stamped in Memento ink before I tore round the edges. I used Distress Inks in orange and yellow round the torn edge and then raised it on pads to give depth. The sentiment was a freebie from a magazine and, again, it was stamped with Memento ink.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Crafty Catz - No patterned paper
Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes
Creative Sketchy Girls - Autumn
Allsorts - Colours of Autumn
Crafty Calendar - Autumn Colours
Inspiration Destination - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes
Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes


Sunday 29 October 2017

IAAS - Add a tag or charm



Hello again - I'm back after a very unsettling house move. The removal men were pleasant enough but their common sense was almost non-existent. After a great deal of help I'm eventually sorted and my craft room is once again in working order.

This theme over at International Art and Soul is 'Add a tag or charm' and as you can see I've added a wooden tag from Docrafts. I used a Sakura gelly roll pen to write 'Lest we forget' on the tag and then I had to think about the rest of the design, My mojo is not at its best but this is the first card I've made for months so I think it's making a comeback. I've had the poppy napkin for ages and used it once for a card a few years ago so I knew it would work for this one. I chose the section on the napkin that I needed and carefully cut round it before sticking to the white paper. I set the white paper against bright red card from Papermill as the mat, which I thought looked good against the Craft UK ivory card blank. Once the napkin had dried I set the tag in the top right corner and added a red ribbon to it. Three red Mei Flower gems were added to the top left and bottom right corners. Then I went to bed!

The following day I looked at it again and decided it needed more so I typed up the two verses. I printed them in grey so that they weren't too stark and then tore around the edges. I used a grey Promarker to edge them and set them in place.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:
Crafting with Friends - Anything Goes
Creative Fingers- Anything Goes
Cardz4Guyz - Remembrance. Sympathy, Thinking of You
Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Crafts Galore  Encore - Anything Goes


Thursday 26 October 2017

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
Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes
Love to Craft - Anything Goes

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



Friday 29 September 2017

I'll be back



I moved house at the beginning of August and I'm still trying to get some semblance of order. I'm not able to join in with any challenges at the minute, or fulfil my design team obligations, but I will be back.

My previous house was too big for me and took a lot of work in house and garden which was getting more difficult for me by the day. I decided to downsize and because of my eye problem my sons and I felt it would be better if I moved nearer to one of them. I moved from Newcastle upon Tyne, a big city, to a Northumberland village. I'm five minutes walk away from my younger son and daughter in law. It's very quiet and suits me and my dog fine. The walks are beautiful.

However, no-one warned me about how difficult it would be to fit so much 'stuff'' into this tiny house. My craft room is packed and if I ever get the chance to craft again I hope I can find things.

My son is coming up north at the end of October to help me get more organised. Two sons together will get things done quickly I hope. Once my main computer is up and running I'll be able to join you all.

Thanks to all my design team buddies for bearing with me.

Sunday 3 September 2017

IAAS Lace and/or Pearls




The theme is Lace and/or Pearls over at International Art and Soul, come along and join us, we'd love to see what you make.

My card blank is a 7x7 by Craft UK. The bright turquoise and pale blue card is by Papermill. I embossed the pale blue with an embossalicious folder by Crafter's Companion before matting it on to the bright card. I used a strip of bright lace from the local market and after wrapping it towards the bottom of the mat I added the mat to my card base. The digi image is by Linnie Pink and I coloured it with my Promarkers. I coloured the edges with Distress Ink and then added it to bright turquoise card. I raised the matted image and set it to the top left. Three small pearls were added to the top right of the image. The sentiment stamp is by Lili of the Valley and that was also edged with the Distress Ink and matted on to turquoise card.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

City Crafter - Monotone Colouring
Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Dream Valley - Use a Stamp or Digi
Ooh La La Creations - Lace
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Crafty Creations - Anything Goes

Thank you all for visiting.

Thursday 31 August 2017

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.

Sunday 20 August 2017

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:

Sunday 6 August 2017

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

Thursday 3 August 2017

MAWTT Things that Fly



The theme this time is 'Things that Fly' so come along to Moving Along with the Times and join us.

My card blank is an 8 x 8 scalloped by Craft UK. I embossed the white paper with an embossalicious folder by Crafter's Companion before matting on to Papermill's pale blue card. The eagle is a digi by Morgan Fitzsimon and I coloured it with my Promarkers. I used a Spellbinders circle die to cut it and then edged with Stormy Sky distress ink. I mounted it on pads which raised the image more or less centrally on the card. I'd bought a pad by Tim Holtz of Small Talk and chose the various quotes from that before placing them randomly around the eagle. The main quote was a long one so I set it on a navy blue strip of Papermill card along the top edge.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Morgan's ArtWorld - Anything Goes
QKR Stampede - Down on the Farm or Anything Goes
AuroraWings - Fur and Feathers
Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes

Thank you all for visiting and for leaving comments - they're much appreciated.

Hazel x



Sunday 23 July 2017

International Art and Soul - Dies





'Dies' is the theme over at International Art and Soul and I've used lots of them! 

My card blank is 7x7 by Craft UK. The first die was a Spellbinders large scalloped square and I used gold card for this one. On top of that was a dark blue square and then a smaller gold square, again by Spellbinders. The card used is by Papermill. The image is from a local history forum I'm on and after it was posted I asked if I could use it for my son's birthday card. It's a white badge on a black circle and this was matted on to the gold square. You might have gathered that I'm a Geordie and am very proud of the fact because I truly believe that you could not meet friendlier people in the whole of the UK. My son Peter was about to have his 50th birthday so I used Spellbinder dies again for the 50 cut in gold. This was set at the top left. He has been working and living in London for almost thirty years now but is still a Geordie at heart. (For anyone who doesn't know - a Geordie is someone who was born on the banks of the Tyne, strictly speaking Newcastle or Gateshead.)

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Where in the World
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes
Crafty Sentiments - Clean and Simple of Fussy and Fancy - I think mine's classed as fussy!
Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes

Thank you all for visiting and for leaving me your comments. They're much appreciated.

Hazel x


Sunday 9 July 2017

International Art and Soul - Elements of Nature





The theme this time at International Art and Soul is 'Elements of Nature' so please use your imagination and join us.

I used a card blank by Craft UK and then matted on to it a tan coloured sheet of handmade Indus paper by Paper State. The background paper of leaves is from a painting by my late husband, Eric. His painting hangs in my bedroom. When I printed it my printer was playing up and it didn't print properly, making blueish lines, but I actually liked it so decided to go with it in that form. I used my many Spellbinder dies to cut the leaves in many colours.  The sentiment is one of my favourites and after printing it I cut it out and edged with Distress Ink. I added the leaves around the sentiment and then added some gold stones to some of the gaps. I bought the stones in John Lewis about twelve or thirteen years ago because I thought they'd be good in my card making but I haven't used them that much. Large jars of gold, silver and red will keep me going for many years, lol

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:
QKR Stampede - Anything Goes
Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
Inspiration Destination - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Thursday 6 July 2017

MAWTT Wedding/Anniversary/Engagement



Wendy set the theme for the challenge over at Moving Along withe the Times and it's Wedding/Anniversary or Engagement. My card can be used for any one of those celebrations as you can see.

My card blank is a scalloped 8x8 by Craft UK.  I used the Tied Together embossing folder by Couture Creations as the background. It was matted on to Anita's silver card. My Spellbinder dies of a heart shaped lock and key were cut out in a patterned silver card before being set in the bottom right corner. Joanna Sheen's dies of flowers were cut out in white as I'd decided to keep the card white and silver.  I added these to the top right and bottom left corners. The sentiment was generated on the computer in Scriptina font before being cut and backed with silver card. Mei Flower 'diamonds' were added to the sentiment and then I set it in the top left and raised it on pads.

I'm adding my card to the following challenges:
Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
Creates and Makes - Anything Goes/option Create a Sentiment
Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes

Thanks for visiting.




Sunday 25 June 2017

International Art and Soul - Flowers





Come and join us at International Art and Soul and join in with our theme of 'Flowers'. 

My card is an 8x8 by Craft UK and I've used my new stencil on it. I bought the Folkart stencil at Hobbycraft a few weeks ago and this is the first opportunity I've had to use it. I stencilled the base pattern in Distress Inks in varying shades of green and then matted it on to Papermill red card. The elephants were done in Barn Door coloured Distress Ink on a separate piece of white card before being matted on to red card. I set it at an angle across the base mat. The same red card was used for the curved dies which I think were by Sue Wilson. I set one at the top of the elephants and the other at the bottom left so that I could add the flowers and swirly leaves to the right hand corner. The flowers were made for me a good few years ago by a blogging friend, Nataliya Simpson. The green swirly leaves were made with Spellbinder dies.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes
Crafty Animals - Anything Goes with animals
Petal Lu - Anything Goes with Red
Stampotique Designers - Stencil It


Thank you all for visiting and leaving me comments, they are all much appreciated.


Sunday 11 June 2017

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

Thursday 8 June 2017

MAWTT Embossing wet/dry



The challenge this time is Embossing - wet or dry. The theme was set by Sue B over at Moving Along with the Times. Do come and join us and see the super cards made by Team B.

I decided to use both wet and dry for my card. It's a 7x7 card blank by Craft UK. The paws embossing folder came into use for only the second time - I've had it for ages! I embossed right and left sides of the card blank, leaving the middle blank. The embossing folder is a long narrow one and I cannot for the life of me remember who made it. I stamped a Tim Holtz crazy dog and after colouring with my Promarkers I cut him out leaving a narrow white border round him. I set him in the bottom corner and then stamped his feeding bowl and bone in the blank space next to him, both coloured with my Promarkers. The sentiment is by Visible Image and I stamped and embossed with Sparkle N Sprinkle embossing powder in Blueberry. After heat embossing it I cut with a Spellbinder wonky square die and then cut the larger size in metallic blue card as the mat. I set this to the top of the blank panel and that's my card finished.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Crafting From the Heart - Anything Goes
Simon Says Monday - Masculine
Addicted to Stamps - Animals

Thanks for visiting, call again soon.


Sunday 28 May 2017

IAAS - Stitching Real or Faux


Stitching - Real or Faux is the theme for the challenge over at International Art and Soul. My faux stitching is a bit messy but because it's close work my eyes weren't too good, sorry.

I used an 8x8 ivory coloured card blank by Craft UK and then added a mat of beige Papermill card. The Tonic lace layering die in large size was used for the next layer. I only fixed the centre panel so that the lacy edge stands proud. The flower stamp was a freebie from a magazine and I stamped it in Memento ink Rich Cocoa before cutting out with a Spellbinder die. I used the embossed edge to try and keep my faux stitching in place and for this I used my Promarker in brown (oops, placed back in tray before I noted the exact colour!) That was fixed slightly above centre and then I added two swirls in beige using my Tattered Lace die. The sentiment is by Lili of the Valley and that was stamped in brown and added to beige card too. Three gold pearls by Michael's stores (yay, I've had them years and just got round to using them) were added to the top right.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:
Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
The Crafty Addicts - Anything Goes/Use Die cuts
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes
Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes





Sunday 14 May 2017

International Art and Soul - Hot Colours



The new theme over at International Art and Soul is 'Hot Colours' so please come along and join us.

My card blank is by Craft UK and is 7x7 - my new favourite size.  I used my new Ally Pally buys to make this card. The first were the background stamps which are by IndigoBlue and I used my Distress Inks in hot colours to stamp before adding a strip of bright red ribbon - donated by my DIL, Wendy. The next was the word stamp by Visible Image which I stamped in Barn Door Distress Ink. After stamping the base sheet I mounted it on peach coloured card by Papermill. I then added the ribbon before mounting it on pads for depth. The word stamp was mounted on bright orange card, again by Papermill, and then added to the top of the design. I used a very old Create and Craft punch to punch out some bright yellow suns that I set on the ribbon. Red gems by Mei Flower were then added randomly to the design.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Colour Crazy Challenge - Anything Goes
Crafty Girls Creations - Anything Goes
Card Mania - Life is Colourful
Addicted to Stamps and More - Anything Goes
Crafty Creations - Anything Goes

Thank you all for visiting, please call again soon.

Thursday 11 May 2017

Moving Along with the Times - Butterflies



This weeks it's Team B's turn to entice you to join in with the Moving Along with the Times theme of 'Butterflies'.

My scalloped card blank is by Craft UK. I used a Bee Crafty butterfly stamp and a freebie butterfly stamp from Creative Stamping magazine to make the background. I stamped the butterflies in brown Memento ink. A friend sent me a pile of goodies a few years ago and in the pile was six sheets of glitter butterflies. I added some of these randomly in between the stamped images. After the background was complete I matted it on to orange card from Papermill. The corners were rounded with my Carl corner punch. Another of my favourite Visible Images sentiments came into play and was stamped in the brown ink before being matted on to more orange card. Raised on pads and set in amongst the butterflies and my card was complete.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:
Catch the Bug - Anything Goes
Crafty Girls Creations - Anything Goes
Crafting by Designs - Anything Goes
Love to Craft - Anything Goes


Sunday 30 April 2017

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

Sunday 16 April 2017

International Art and Soul - Wings



Come along and join us this time in our challenge at International Art and Soul - we have the theme of 'Wings'.

I've used a scalloped 8x8 card blank by Craft UK. My stamped image is a Dragonfly by Visible Image. I coloured it with Sakura Gelly Roll pens to give the glittery sheen to the wings. I then cut it out leaving a very thin white edge. That was put to one side whilst I used a Clarity stencil and some Distress Inks in various shades of green to make the background of reeds and bulrushes. When that was completed I matted it on to lime green card by Papermill. I matted it on to my card blank and then added the dragonfly The sentiment, again by Visible Image, was cut with a Spellbinder die, tinged with green Distress Ink and then raised to the right of the design. Five small green gems by Mei Flower were added to the top right and left corners.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:
My Time to Craft - No Designer Papers
Crafting with Friends - Anything Goes
Simply Papercraft - Anything Goes
Crafty Girls Creations - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Thanks for calling in.

Thursday 13 April 2017

MAWTT Birds and Feathers



This challenge was set for us by Jackie and she chose Birds and Feathers. My digi is a bird and has feathers so I think I've covered the theme. lol Come long and join us at Moving Along with the Times.

My large ivory card blank is by Craft UK and I embossed it with an A4 embossing folder of leaves, I'm not sure of the maker, sorry. I then used my new Tonic Venetian Lace layering dies to make the mat in white and yellow. I coloured the digi using my Promarkers but I'm sorry to say that I cannot remember who I have to thank for the digi. I raised the mat on pads to give a bit of dimension to the card and it looks quite effective.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:
Crafts and Me - Things with Wings
Crafty Awesomeness - Anything Goes (with coloured image)
Creative Craft Cottage - Dies and/or punches
Love to Craft - Anything Goes
Scribbles Designs - Birds of a Feather
Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
Crafty Friends - Animals or Birds
I Love Promarkers - Embossing

Thanks once again for visiting.

Sunday 2 April 2017

International Art and Soul - Distressing



This theme is 'distressing' so please come along and join us in our challenge at International Art and Soul. It's just for fun but there are some super badges available for your blog if you're chosen as one of our favourites.

My card blank is a 7x7 by Craft UK and for me it's the perfect size. I painted about an inch round each edge of the card, let it dry and then added Pentart Cracking Primer in a thin coat on top. After that had dried I added a thick layer of Pentart Cracking Paste on top of that and waited for the magic to happen. Yes, it began to crack, just what I wanted for the base of my design. I stamped an image (I bought it at Ally Pally a couple of years ago but I have no idea who made it) of trees in Memento brown ink and then tore roughly round the image, making it big enough to cover the centre of the cracking. I used Distress Ink round the torn edges and then roughed the edges with my scissors before adding to the base card.

When we first visited America, in 1984, we were staying in North Carolina and one day we were taken by friends to the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest to see the wonderful, fantastic, HUGE trees. We took photographs of them and then when we were home Eric added Joyce Kilmer's poem to the images, you can read it below:

Trees by Joyce Kilmer

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is pressed
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks to God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me.
But only God can make a tree. 



Happy memories and this is why I used the first two lines as the sentiment. I generated it on the computer before giving it the same distressed treatment as the image! 

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
Inspiration Destination - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Sunday 19 March 2017

International Art and Soul Embossing





Come along to International Art and Soul challenge blog and join us for our next challenge which is 'Embossing'. I hadn't done any heat embossing for a while so decided whatever my card was like there would be some heat embossing on it too.

My card is a large ivory blank by Joanna Sheen. The red, orange and maroon card is all by Papermill. I used a Crafter's Companion embossalicious folder to emboss the clocks on the red and orange card. I cut two different sized panels and joined them with a thin strip of maroon card before adding to a mat of maroon card. The sentiment is by Visible Image and I stamped that with a Versamark pad before adding red glitter embossing powder and heating it. I cut it with a Spellbinders die and matted it on to maroon card which I then cut to leave a small border round the edge, rounding the corners with a Carl punch. I added five small Mei Flower red gems to the bottom of the sentiment panel. The brass clock charm is by Craft Box and was my final addition.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:
Colour Crazy Challenge - Anything Goes
Crafting with Friends - Anything Goes
QKR Stampede - Anything Goes
Simply Papercraft - Anything Goes
Crafty Girls Creations - Anything Goes
StarStampz - Add Gems and/or pearls
Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes
Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes


Thank you for visiting.

Thursday 16 March 2017

MAWTT Flowers



Jenny has set the theme of  Flowers - handmade or die cut so this is my offering. Do come along and join us at Moving Along with the Times.

My 8x8 scalloped card blank is by Craft UK. The bright pink card was embossed with an embossalicious folder by Crafter's Companion. It embosses corners and a slight border edge. I matted it on to black card and that came from Papermill, as did the pink. The flower die was, I thought, one of Joanna Sheen's signature dies but it might not be, hmmm. The sentiment is from Bee Crafty and I stamped it and then cut with a Spellbinder die. I raised it on pads before setting the flowers around it. Three small pink pearls from Mei Flowers on each side are the only other embellishments.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:
Artistic Inspirations - Anything Goes
Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
Daisy Chain Challenge - Make it Feminine
Dragonfly Dreams - Girly with dies/punches
Crafty Girls Creations - Always Anything Goes
Inky Chicks - Flowers(stamped or embellishments)
Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes
Through the Craft Room Door  - Anything Goes


Thank you all for coming to visit and thank you all for your comments.

Sunday 5 March 2017

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.

Sunday 19 February 2017

International Art & Soul Recycling


The theme this time is 'Recycling' over at the International Art and Soul blog so come and join us. This time I decided to do a mixed media piece. I've called it 'Wings of Love'. The canvas, from Hobbycraft, and paints, Luminarte mists, were new but most of the other items were recycled. I'll try to tell you about them all. lol I used texture paste and stencils on the background first of all and then added a couple of small pieces of Snipart honeycomb on two corners. The flowers were removed from a card that I'd made a mess of earlier and I'd saved the flowers - too nice to destroy. There's a small key, obviously I'd lost the lock I suspect, some tiny safety pins, some little foam circles that I've had for years and I'm still not sure what they were meant to be. A buckle that I've had in my sewing box for ages and I removed the green material from it to use just the metal inner. A piece of net from a fruit bag in the centre background. There's a piece of string coiled up and some engineering pieces that my DIL gave me - I have no idea what they are but they were in the rubbish bin where she worked so she saved them for me. lol My family always has eyes for odd items for me. There's a press stud and a washer and the arrow in the corner is cut off a large plastic one that was holding a message n a bouquet of flowers I received. The birdcage was new because I'd run out of other things to add. The dragonfly and butterfly were from damaged cards.

Sorry, I won't bore you any more.

I'm entering my piece into the following challenges:
Artistic Inspirations Challenge - Anything Goes
Crafting from the Heart Challenge - Anything Goes
Make My Monday Challenge - Shimmer and Shine
Dragonfly Dreams - Hearts and Flowers
Mixed Media World - Anything Mixed Media Goes



Thursday 16 February 2017

MAWTT For a Man



This week over at Moving Along with the Times we have the theme of 'For a Man'. I'm not sure that mine is the usual type of card you would send to a man but it was sent to a friend's son who is as tall as a man but not quite in that category yet! It was from Lily and me because Cole loves my dog.

My 8x8 card blank is by Joanna Sheen. The backing paper is from Joanna Sheen's Paper Collection Volume 2. I used a Tim Holtz crazy dog stamp and then cut her out leaving a small white border. I only coloured her pink collar with a Promarker and then raised her on sticky pads so that she was paddling in the sea. I generated the sentiment on the computer, cut it with a Spellbinders scalloped die and backed it with a larger blue scalloped die. It's already been given to Cole and it was a great hit.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:
Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
Sir Stampalot Challenge - Animal Magic
Crafty Friends Challenge - Anything Goes
Sweet Stampin' Challenge - Masculine
ArtbyMiran Challenge - Anything Goes





Sunday 5 February 2017

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


Thursday 19 January 2017

MAWTT Swirls and/or Curls



After a long break due to my eye problems I hope I'm back for good. I'm bringing you my theme this week 'Swirls and/or Curls' for the challenge over at Moving Along with the Times. My design team friends have been helping me out with entry comments whilst I've been on my break so I'd like to say a huge thank you to Wendy and Jenny.

It's taken me a few days to get my card finished but at last it's done. My base card is by Joanna Sheen. I love this paper that came from a huge Costco pack that I bought quite a few years ago and I haven't had an opportunity to use this pattern. I decided her curls would make a show on my card along with a Snip Art wooden swirl that I bought online at Craftbox. I matted the paper on to dark red Papermill card (to match her dress). I placed the swirl to the left and then set some Wild Orchid Craft flowers at the base of the swirl along with some die cut leaves. I added a few red Mei Flower gems amongst the flowers and then added a gem to her ribbon in her hair and to the band on her wrist. She looks the kind of girl who would like gems. lol

I'm hoping you'll come along to join us in our challenge and to welcome me back.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:
Artbymiran Challenge 75: Anything Goes
Crafting with Friends Challenge 34: Anything Goes
Makingmemoriescrafting Challenge 1: Anything Goes
Morgan's ArtWorld Challenge 1: Anything Goes