Craft Club Samples

The top two photos are of an ATC Double Pocket and the three below are for an A6 size card using the new release X-Cut Impress Double Die Bookmark sets.

Monotone Rainbow Colours

Sorry that the photo's so poor, the colouring is mainly cranberry/wine but the photo makes it look more pink. This weeks challenge from the Rainbow Lady is Monotone Rainbow Colours, and will run for a while. For the first of the challenges I've chosen Red, I'm going to do them in order, I will get completely confused otherwise. I covered my 5"x7" canvas with Adirondack Dabber in Cranberry, I then added a couple of torn sections of a cherry background paper to add a little texture, these where then lightly painted over with Cranberry Dauber to tone in with the piece. Grungeboard hinges and swirls in the swirl texture have been covered in Cranberry Dauber, wine ribbon and christmas red eyelets, have been used to embellish them. Several clusters of deep wine beads have been added using christmas red Stickles. The silk flowers, brads and buttons have been altered by adding varying amounts of Cranberry Dauber and a trio of small brads have been added to complete the look. Apologies again for the poor photo just imagine deep Burgundy velvet.

Leonie's ATC Challenge - A little bit of Glitter

The new release goody bags from DO craft arrived in the shop today, so I've been creating a whole range of cards and other bits and pieces and made this ATC with this weeks Challenge from Leonie in mind.

Arty Girlz Background Challenge

I've put this card together for this weeks Arty Girlz Challenge - Handmade Backgrounds

I've used Perfect Pearls in Interference Violet with one of Funky Fairy's Pinkie Pops clear stamp for both of the layers, for the base layer I stamped several swirls with Perfect Medium and dusted with Interference Violet, for the strip layer I covered it with Perfect Medium and dusted all over, inked the stamp with perfect medium and stamped the first of the four swirls, when the stamp was removed it lifted the perfect pearl, I cleaned the stamp completely and repeated the process again until the strip was covered.

The same technique was used for the message on the tag, which reads, to brighten up your birthday, which is again from the Pinkie Pops stamp set. The tag and topper are from the pointed tag die-cut stencil set by x-cut Impress

Split Coast Stampers

I found this double pocket card at SCS in the Try a New Technique so I had a quick go and it is so easy, a great way to give cash or vouchers in an attractive way.

For the book mark I've used chocolate and beige vivelle(self adhesive fluffy stuff) and the new release X-Cut Impress Teddy and Border die cut stencil.

My Funky Fairy Drawer

Here's one I whipped up last night. This weeks Funky Fairy's Challenge is 'Show us your drawers' These cute little drawers are so easy to do, they remind me of a super sized match box and would make an excellent way to give gifts or do a stash swap as well as storing all of your goodies. I made my box out of white card, dressed it with paper from Funky Fairy's Pinkie Pops range then I added a couple of eyelets and ribbon to finish it off.

Tutti Fruitti - My time to craft challenge

I kept this one girlie sweet and simple, for this weeks My Time To Craft Challenge. Four layers of decoupage on a pale pink pearl card, a small touch of backing paper and a couple of gems added for a bit of bling.

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Katharina's Sketch #2

For this weeks Papertakes Challenge I've used papers and clear stamps from Basic Grey's Archaic collection. The stamped image and matt are raised on foam pads to add a little dimension.

Some Like it Hot

This weeks challenge from Daring Card Makers is Hot and Spicy. We where also encouraged to add a little sauce as well, so this is my attempt.

Unfortunately the photo doesn't show the all over shimmer on the gold pearl base card, which lifts the feel of the card. The film poster was printed on to textured cream card I then matted it onto gold mirror and black card, added the black fibre trim. I tin snipped the backs off of the gem brads and attached them with silicone glue to black and gold mirror card mats and created the central flower motif. The gems are from a Papermania Oriental kit.

Funky Fairy Winner

Woohoo I won last weeks Funky Fairy Challenge - Stars and Strips. My pressie was a download from their fab shop. I went for the irresistible Pinkie Pops and treated myself to the wonderful matching stamp set.

Loads of ideas are now whirring around in my head, I'm sure some of the wonderful papers and toppers will find their way in to this weeks Funky Fairy's Challenge-Show us your draws.

Yesterday I managed to finish the third Paper Nations display board for the shop. Pets are next, I feel like I becoming completely decoupaged out.

In the Pink

I got a bit excited with this weeks Rainbow Lady's Challenge: Beads. I had a hundred and one ideas going on but I settled on these two clipboards.

Both clipboards are covered in Anna Griffin papers, the letters are Papermania Swirls and Flowers chipboard letters altered with Adirondack Dabbers. The first clipboard is A5 in size, the small tag is dabbered grungeboard with beads from an Artisan Jewellry Kit threaded onto embrodery threads. The Second clipboard is A4 with microbeads used to create the flower heads on the right hand side.

Holey Moley

This weeks ATC challenge by Leonie is Holey Moley. For me there can only ever be one hole, 'Polo, The mint with the hole'. Yet again showing how completely brainwashed by advertising I am. I've used clear glitter vinyl mounted on silver linen effect card and crop-a-diled a few holes for good measure. Thanks Leonie it gave me a perfect excuse to nip to the shop to buy a new packet, all in the name of crafting of course.

Second bite of the cherry

I was really inspired while I browsed through all of the Arty Girlz Challenge entries this week, so I've had another go at creating. I've had my crop-a-dile for a while but I've not really used it to its full potential, so this was a great reason to attack tin and I must admit, it was far easier to do than I expected.

This card is for the Papertake Weekly Challenge: All that glitters.

I've gone a little bit Impress mad on this one and used just glitter card, a couple of Papermania Dome Butterfly stickers and gems to complete the look.

Arty Girlz Ribbon Challenge

Well this is my first attempt at a Bind-it-all project. My in-laws are off on a cruise in a couple of weeks and I thought that it might be nice for them to take a 6" mini album instead of a paper envelope stuffed full of photos. I've made it with ten pages and will add journelling and photos once MIL has decided which ones she would like to take. For the third project in a row I've used Two Scoops paper and cardstock stickers by Basic Grey. I promise something different for the next one.

First card based on a sketch

This weeks Daring Cardmakers Challenge is Butterflies, so I've created this card using Basic Grey cardstock stickers and papers from the Two Scoops range. I've never used a sketch or map to create a card before so I've given it a bash after finding a great site called, Page Maps, I'm sure I must be teaching loads of you to suck eggs but I found it really inspiring and will try to use them in more of my projects in the future.

On a Basic Grey Roll

This card is for this weeks My Time to Craft Challenge: Framed. I've used cardstock stickers and coordinating papers from Basic Grey's Two Scoops range and I must admit I'm loving the quality, the frame has been mounted on foam squares to add a bit of depth.

A Productive Day

I've managed to finish off the second in the series of Paper Nation Decoupage Display Boards, Adults, and this week I've used Archaic papers and chipboard by Basic Grey to complete the Funky Fairys Stars and Strips Challenge.

This challenge has been an excellent reason to get on and use some of my Basic Grey stock. I've fallen into a really bad habit of obsessive stroking and creating excellent designs in my minds eye, but doing nothing about it. So thank you girls for giving me the push. You never know you might start to see some of my, minds eye, projects appearing quite soon.

One Down, don't ask how many more to go!

Well it seemed a good idea at the time. We are going to be running a buy one get one free promotion on Paper Nations backing papers. To help promote the offer and promote sales of the 3D decoupage sheets, I stupidly decided to create one of each design in the range and use them on display boards in the shop. Bit of a nightmare as Charlotte just loves playing with the finished cards and is getting a bit distressed that her 'friends' are going to be living in the shop.

I've kept the cards simple so as many of my customers feel they can achieve the same look and improve on them. (The space is for, School Girl, will complete her when the next delivery arrives from Crafthouse Press).

Funky Fairys Challenge - Male

Although not strictly just for the males in our lives, I've tried to stay away from using blue to take part in this challenge.

The bottle has been created from a WS Design Template used with deep green pearl card, the neck and bottle labels are again by WS Designs. I have stamped them on cream card and heat embossed in gold, I then trimmed and coloured with perfect pearls to create a subtle sheen on them, Crinkle effect gold paper was used to complete the look.

My Time To Craft Challenge #9

Well this is my first attempt at a card for My Time To Craft. I covered the front of the card blank with Anna Griffin scrapbook paper. The main motif is an X-Cut Impress Perforating Stencil stitched in silver thread, layered on white and silver mirror card and I've also added two strips of co-ordinating ribbon to add more texture.

Leonie's Fab Friday Challenge #5

Excellent Challenge this week from Leonie. I've gone for more of a magician's theme. The top hat and wand are made from black shrink plastic, as I ran a craft evening last week for a local Brownie pack and they all thought their shrink plastic butterfly keyrings where 'magic' when they went all small and curly. The playing cards are from a pack that came out of a christmas cracker and the letters have been die cut using the X-Cut Impress Italic font, on self adhesive clear glitter vinyl. I must improve my skills with the camera as I haven't really captured the glitter sparkle and the shimmer of the pearl card properly.

Leonie's ATC Challenge

Well this is the reason for starting my blog. I've been wanting to take part in a whole host of challenges but have just been watching from a far.

I find the field of marketing/branding really interesting and it intrigues me that shape and colour can hold such an impact on our subconscious. Over the last week my 'day' job has had me bar coding up loads of craft supplies for the shop, this means we can now keep accurate records on stock and sales.

The harsh reality of business vs creative visual impact, or is this just an ATC made from a tin label, who knows, who cares. I had a great time messing around with glue and paper.