Out of My Comfort Zone! - An Altered Matchbox

Good morning

I hope you had a very good weekend.

I have great news to share with you today, it's time for another Crafty Boots Challenge!  Yes, another two weeks has passed by and a new challenge is launched today.  The theme for the next two weeks has been chosen by the Pink Haired Elf herself, Tracie.

Tracie has challenged us all to do something outside of our comfort zone. Do something different, for instance, if colouring is your thing, then make something with no colouring. If you are usually the clean and simple type, then make something fussy.

I decided to really step out of my comfort zone by altering something.  Inspired by my good friend Mrs Beez, I chose a matchbox.  In fact, with typical generosity, Lisette gave me a few of her matchboxes so I could play.  I do urge you to take a look at her blog, it is full of wonderful things.

I covered my blank matchbox with some white and purple polka dot paper by Papermania and I added a brad to act as a handle for the drawer.

I then pushed my boundaries even further and distressed the matchbox with Victorian Velvet, Dusty Concord and Tattered Rose TH Distress Inks.  I very rarely use distress inks and I was worried that I might use too much and ruin everything, but I think I stopped in time.  After that I added a little glitter - just a bit here and there.

Then it was a matter of decorating it with a few of my favourite things.  Cherry Blossoms from Wild Orchid Crafts, some distressed cheesecloth, a purple glittered star, some MS Bakers Twine and a little silver bell on some purple ribbon.

I am not the only one stepping outside her comfort zone, the rest of the Design Team have been pushing their personal boundaries, why not see for yourself at Crafty Boots Challenges.

Dionne

Another Daisy Chain

Hello

I have been playing with my ATC die again, I wanted to see what else I could do whilst keeping to the current Crafty Boots Challenges theme of 'Blue and White' and this is what I came up with.

Each one has blue glitter card, which came from C&C, the turquoise blue and navy blue daisies are from Wild Orchid Crafts and the lace from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  Everything else is from my stash.

 

I would love to see what you can do with the blue and white challenge.


Dionne

Here' my Heart ...... Again

Hi

Over at Crafty Boot Challenges the theme of the latest challenge is 'Blue and White'.  I thought I would get out my new Sizzix ATC die and have a little play.

I think this CAS design is one of my favourites, it is simple and quick and I think it looks stunning.

All I needed was white and blue glittered card, some flat backed gems and some glue.

Using my Big Shot I cut the white glitter card with my ATC die and the heart shapes from the blue glitter card using my Sissix Bigz die.

Dionne

'Blue and White' Challenge

Hi

Where is this year going?  It's February already and it is time for another Crafty Boots Challenge.  The theme of 'Blue and White' was chosen by the talented Zoe in honor of her favourite football (soccer) team, Bristol Rovers.

I have spent the last couple of years adding more and more dimension to my cards but, because of spiraling postage cost, I have been rethinking this recently and I have returning to basics for this card.

It has been a while since I coloured a Teddy Bo image and this one was so much fun to get to work on it with my blue Promarkers.  The image is called Eski Bo and Bea.

After I had coloured the image I added glitter to the fur trim and snowballs.  The paper is by Dovecraft and the mirri card and FBGs are from my stash.

The rest of the design team have been very busy making some amazing projects to inspire you, so please find the time to take a look and be inspired to join the challenge.


Dionne

Daisy Chain

Hi

As regular visitors to my blog will know, I very recently started to make Artist Trading Cards (ATCs) and I have become something of an enthusiast.

Over at Crafty Boots Challenges the current theme is 'New' and to take all the measuring out of making ATCs I have bought myself a new Sizzix Bigz ATC die and I have been having a little play with it.

I like to make a set of cards using the same basic materials and then, and this is the best bit, I get to raid my stash and make each one totally unique.

Each one has yellow glitter card, which came from C&C, the cream and yellow daisies are from Wild Orchid Crafts and the ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon.

Thank you for dropping by.


Dionne

I am entering this project into the following challenge:

Anything but a Card - # 11 Tie it Up
ATCs and Cards with Attitude - # 32 Ribbons/Lace
Forever Friends Fortnightly Challenge  - # 54 - Use Ribbon or Lace

Thank You

Good morning my dear blogland friends.

Each year I think how nice it would be to send proper thank you notes to all of my family and friends who have given me Christmas presents, but it is a busy time of year and what I actually send is an email, which I am sure you will agree, is not the same.

Today sees a new challenge at Crafty Boots Challenges, the theme was chosen by the lovely Helen and is entitled 'New'.  I was lucky enough to receive several crafty items for Christmas so I got them all out and chose this really pretty 'Thanks' stamp from Stampin' Up as my new item.

I made 12 cards so, hopefully, I shall have enough cards to send one to everyone who gave me a Christmas present.

 

The papers and card I used are fairly new, I got them from Stampin' Up just before Christmas.  I coloured the stamp with my Wink of Stella pens so they have a nice twinkle to them.  To finish the cards I added some Card Candi from Craftwork Cards.

So, a big thank you to all my friends, especially the ones who gave me crafty bits and I promise to get my cards in the post now.

This post also gives me the opportunity to thank each and every one of you for all of your support over the past year.  I really do appreciate your visits to my blog and all of the wonderful messages of encouragement you leave me.  Thank you.

The rest of the Design Team have been very busy making inspirational pieces to share with you so please find the time to pop across to Crafty Boots Challenges and take a peak and don't forget to enter your own design, it can be anything new - for instance a new stamp, technique, papers or style, new baby, new home.  Don't forget to us what your new thing is.


Dionne

Here's my Heart

Good morning

I hope you had a fantastic Christmas and New Year - and didn't it go by far too fast?

It is time for the first challenge of the year from Crafty Boots Challenges.  The challenge for the next two weeks, which has been set by the very talented Freya, is to make something using black and one bright colour.

I found it quite hard to restrict myself to just two colours (or as my old art teacher would have said one colour and a shade).  In the end I decided to make a set of 6 Artist Trading Cards (ATCs) using black and red glittered card and I took my inspiration from a thank you card my two year old nephew made for me last year.

I cut the heart shapes with a Sissix Bigz die,  The red glittery ribbon is from a recent order from the Really Reasonably Ribbon people and the Chrystal buttons are from Stampin' Up. 

The rest of the Crafty Boots Challenges Design Team have been very busy creating inspirational projects for you, please find the time to take a look

I look forward to seeing your entries.  Good luck.

Dionne