A Day at the Beach

Earlier this week I mentioned that I had recently been staying with a group of crafting friends, away from all distractions, just as and our paper and glue.

I really wanted to use some of this time trying my hand at something different.  I was quite literally given a blank canvas and it was up to me how I decorated it.  I was thinking mixed media, something all white, lots of flowers, perhaps some distressing.  What I ended up with could not have been more different.

I think I was influenced by the stretch of coast not far from where we were staying and, of coarse, the stencil with the beach huts.  I started out by giving the canvas a coat of Gesso and then I went over it with white acrylic paint.  It was then that it went in another direction.  I know it is rather basic, but it was my first attempt, and I rather like it even if my husband thought a 5 year old had made it.

The theme of the current Challenge at Crafty Boots Challenges is 'Use a Sentiment'. The rest of the Design Team have been busy make some fabulous samples, why not take a look and whilst you’re there you can link up your own project.

Dionne

Butterfly with Coneflowers

It had been pretty cold and wet here this weekend with a dash of hailstones thrown in for good measure, so I thought a nice cheerful card was in order.

This fabulous image was a prize for one of the cards I entered in an Eureka Stamps Challenge, the image iss called Butterfly and Sunflowers.  That was many moons ago now but I still love this image.

I am no gardener but I think that, despite the name of the stamp, these are actually coneflowers not sunflowers.  Nonetheless I think is a beautiful image and a delight to colour.

After colouring it with Promarkers I layered it with some Stampin' Up papers, which were very kindly given to me by my dear friend Stephanie and the sentiment stamp actually belongs to her mum.  

Perhaps I should explain - I recently went on a craft retreat, we took our own craft stash with us and I did not go intending to make a birthday card but, when we got there, I realised that I has forgotten to pack a card for my cousin's birthday.  Everyone was very generous with their stash and my cousin got her card.  By the way, we had a fantastic week and I got a lot made, some of which I will be sharing with you later this week.

The theme of the current Challenge at Crafty Boots Challenges is 'Use a Sentiment'.  The rest of the Design Team have been busy make some fabulous samples, why not take a look.

Have a good week.

Dionne

So Blue Daisies

The current challenge at Crafty Boots Challenges is 'Use a Sentiment'.  I almost always pop a sentiment onto my cards so I do not think it is not difficult to make a qualifying card.

I decided to use up some of the scraps laying around my craft table.  It is amazing how they pile up and like most crafters I hate to throw anything away.

This daisy stamp is by Sheena Douglas, I used Promarkers to colour it, then I mounted it on silver mirri and purple card. I am not sure why I cut the image in three, I was looking for something a bit different.

I cut the leaves from some green glitter card and the fabric daisies are from Wild Orchid Crafts. I cannot say what the papers are but the sentiment is by Craftwork Cards.

Dionne

Use a Sentiment

Sorry, I am a little late with my posting today. You know what it is like, if it is not one thing then it is another and I am all behind today with my card for the new challenge at Crafty Boots Challenges.  The theme for the next two weeks is 'Use a Sentiment'.

I wanted to use my new butterfly die for this card, it is one of the Sizzix layered Bigz dies (the ones with the texture fades embossing folder), but I could not think of how I wanted to use it as I wanted to avoid any reference to steampunk this time.

I stepped outside my usual comfort zone for this card, The Sizzix die is quite large, which made me think of large tropical butterflies (and moths) and exotic blooms.  I covered my card with a sheet of green glitter card and added some very colourful Petaloo flowers, the ones with the big glittery centres - they remind my a fruit pastels.  I carefully placed the butterfly on top and added some clear flat backed gems to its thorax.  The all important sentiment is by Craftwork Cards.

The lovely ladies on the Crafty Boot Challenges Design Team have made some wonderful cards, please pop over and take a look.

Dionne

Happy Anniversay

Thanks to the current Crafty Boots Challenge, I am getting myself very organised and have made my next wedding anniversary card already.

The theme of the current Challenge is 'Hearts and Valentine's' and as I made a Valentine card for my hubby last week, so today I have taken advantage of the hearts part of the challenge.

I love the look of these Memory Box heart dies, which I backed with red glitter card.  The striped glitter paper is actually a wrapping paper that caught my eye.  The roses are from wild Orchid Crafts and the sentiment is by Kanban Crafts.

Don't forgot to take a look at the gorgeous projects created by my very talented Crafty Boots team mates.


Dionne

Bee Birthday

If you were here on Wednesday you will remember the clean and simple masculine card that I had not been at all sure about.  I have had another go at a card for a man.

I have gone for a bit of a steampunk look with this card.  I painted some card bronze using acrylic paint, once it was dry, I used a mask to add some textured glitter paste to give it that brick wall effect. I then cut the bee using my Sizzix layered Bigz dies (the ones with the texture fades embossing folder) and decorated it with some chunky glitter.  I added a few cog wheels and flat backed gems for good measure.


Dionne

Clean and Simple

It is well known that I struggle with masculine cards.  Most of the time my male friends and relatives end up with a card which looks like it should have been sent to a four year old boy or, more recently, with a large butterfly on it.

Today I thought I would have another go at a card for a more mature gentleman.  My original concept was to layer lots of white card, but I could see that was not working so I added the layers of red.

I cut the letters out four times and stuck them together to get very chunky and solid looking letters.  What looks a very quick and easy card actually took me hours and I am really not sure about it.

To be honest I am on the verge of going back to sending the men in my life pictures of toy soldiers and dragons.  What do you think?


Dionne

Be My Valentine

There's a hint of romance in the air.  A new challenge starts today at Crafty Boots Challenges, the theme of which is 'Hearts and Valentines'.  We would love to see you Valentine's Day projects, anniversary projects and wedding day projects.

Over the years I have made a lot of cards for St Valentine's Day and it is so hard to think of something different for my husband.

I cut a large heart shape out of a sheet of blue glitter card and covered it with pale blue buttons - a very sticky job.  I added a small arrangement of Wild Orchid Crafts roses in one 'corner'.  I then embossed some white card and layered it with navy blue card.  I also added a navy butterfly in one corner and decorated it with some blue flat backed gems.

The rest of the Crafty Boots Design Team have made some fabulous projects, please pop over and take a look.

Don't forget to enter your own romantic projects.

Good luck.

Dionne

Art Chain - Day 7 or Those Projects That Didn't Quite Make It

Since I started blogging I have posted almost 500 projects, selecting just 15 from these has been almost impossible.  Today I thought I would finish this rummage through the archives with those projects that only just missed out.

From Valentine's 2013 an altered matchbox I titled 'The Key to my Heart'.

I covered the box with paper and distressed it with Wild Honey and a little glitter. I added some silver net and a brad for a handle. The tiny rose buds are from Wild Orchid Crafts. 

I stamped this Stampin'Up Swallowtail Butterfly stamp twice and coloured both identically with my Promarkers. I then cut them out and glued them back to back. Once it was dry I carefully curved and raised the wings.  I made the card from a sheet of pearlised card and half a sheet of acetate. I cut the card and punched the edges with a Martha Stewart punch. I attached the butterfly by the body to the front of the card.

This Heritage cross stitch chart by John Clayton featuring Thread Bears called 'Scattered Poppies'.I have stitched it on 32 count even weave fabric.   I love this series of charts, they are so beautiful to make and the only backstitching is around the 'glass eyes' the rest is down to the brilliant design. 

 

I stamped these Personal Impressions dandelions stamps onto some dark brown pearlised card using Versamark, I then sprinkled it with Stamp n Bond and melted it with my heat gun. Next, I covered it with gilding flakes and took off the excess with a brush.  I mounted it on some gold mirri board and placed it onto some dark brown glitter card from Dovecraft. I added some sparkly organza ribbon and the dragonfly charm.

This Mo's Digital Pencil, the image is called 'Bunches'.  I coloured the image with Promarkers then mounted it on silver mirri and copper coloured glitter card. The backing paper is a frosted gold card.   I cut the butterflies from silver and red glitter card. The flowers and hat pins are from Wild Orchid Crafts.

For this silver anniversary card I used a sheet of Claritystamp double sided adhesive and stamped it with this old Stampendous bells and ribbons stamp.  Stamping the image on one side of the sheet of double sided adhesive and left it to dry. Once dry, I covered the image with a sheet of acetate. Turning the sheet over, I carefully cut out the image with my craft knife. I removed the ribbon and confetti sections from the backing sheet (taking care to leave the paper covering the bells and the background in place) and covered the exposed area with gold gilding flakes. Once this was done I was able to remove the rest of the backing paper and cover the remaining area with silver leaf.

The trouble with this type of exercise is that the more you look the more you want to include.  I started this post determined to only include 3 projects but as I flicked though all of my photos I saw more and more I wanted to include.  Some of the projects were included because I tried out a technique I had never done before.  Others because they are close to my heart.  

I hope you have enjoyed my little wander down memory lane.  If you think you might enjoy doing the same, today I nominate you to join the Art Chain.

Dionne