Magical Crafts Challenge #16

Morning everyone - hope you are enjoying the Bank Holiday weekend and that the sun is shining wherever you are!

The new challenge is set over at Magical Crafts this morning and this time it is "Metal Madness".  We want to see your craft projects with metal of some description on them.  This could be brads, charms, foil, findings, pins or an altered tin like I have made.  Remember, we are a multi craft site; you don't just have to make cards!  The design team have come up with some fantastic creations for this challenge so don't forget to pay a visit to their blogs.

The sponsor for this challenge is Simon Says Stamp.  I'm looking forward to visiting your blogs.

Here's what I did ....

This is how my tin started life - I think it may have come from Ikea a few years ago but, as it had been abandoned in the back of my cupboard for yonks, I decided to make use of it so that I have somewhere to keep my growing collection of craft charms.

Then, I gave it a few coats of cream acrylic paint.  This was just to stop the pattern showing at the edges although I painted the whole lot.  By painting it all, the matt surface helped the papers to stick.

I cut some DCWV paper to fit the lid and stuck it using High Tack PVA glue.  I gently sanded the edges with a fine sandpaper to give a smooth finish around the edges.  (Take care not to sand the paint away at the edges).  Then I stuck some ribbon around the edge, using DS tape and stuck my Tilda image which I coloured with pro markers and cut out.

I stuck some striped paper around the outside of the tin and made a decorative border using my Martha Stewart border punch.  Tilda was used again to match the lid and I I used the High Tack PVA to do this again.  I hand drew a butterfly - and decorated around the tin with a few punched flowers and pearls.  I've glittered the Tilda images - although the sparkle doesn't really show up in the pictures.

Finally, I added a "Charms" label and a little butterfly charm to finish it off.   I used a little brad to attach the charms to my tin.

Warning!!! Take care when poking a hole through the tin - you ought to ask a responsible adult to do this for you .... I couldn't find one, so I had to do it myself!!!

I am going to enter this project into the following challenges:

Passion for pro markers - Anything goes

Creative Cottage - Flowers and Charms

Thanks for looking - can't wait to see what Magical Craft creation you come up with!

Amanda

New new LOTV stamp

Lately I'm really loving my Lili of the Valley stamps and this is my latest addition to my collection, which I had last week.  They have another 12 new stamps out next week (can't wait!) but there is also a chance to win a whole set of new stamps.  It will be at the bottom of this post when you've scrolled down.  These images are such cute and girly images - my favourites!

I made a fancy orange mat for the image using my Martha Stewart punches.  The image has been coloured with Pro Markers (another favourite of mine) and the gingham paper is by Kay and Co.  I've layered a few of the Prima flowers together and stitched a button for the centre of the flowers.  The little tag was from an old QVC scrapbooking kit.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

Allsorts Challenge blog - use a tag

Passion for Pro Markers - anything goes!

The Pixie Cottage - Add a tag

Sketch and Stash - newest stash is the stamp and neglected stamp is the tag and backing papers.

Here's the fab S&S sketch that I followed:

Thanks for popping by and visiting, it's much appreciated!

Amanda

LOTV fantastic candy - win 12 NEW stamps!

Wow, look what I've just found over at the Lili of the Valley challenge blog!!!!

A chance to win a set of 12 new LOTV stamps which aren't released until 1st June 2010.

If you'd like a chance of winning these just click here to see what you need to do, but you'll need to hurry.  The blog candy closes at midnight on Saturday 29th May 2010.

Good luck everyone but I hope I win!!!!!!!

Amanda

No challenges - just a strange request

If, like me, you make the odd card for other people, you will probably have had some strange card requests too.  The card I have made today is for a four year old little boy who likes Landrover cars - so that was what I was asked to make. 

Okay, so maybe its not that strange a request, but if its not girly and glittery I often suffer a sudden bout of Crafter's Block and the mojo flies out of the window!!!!

I was a bit stuck at first, but came across some Landrover colouring pages online which fit the bill perfectly.  I've used my favourite "masculine" paper from DCWV - don't know what I'll do when I run out of my spots and stripes!

I've coloured it with pro markers and printed the sentiment on my computer.  I'd love you to leave me a comment and let me know what the strangest card request is that you've made!

Thanks for looking!

Amanda

Baby boy

Today's card is a new baby card - I fancied a change from birthday cards and couldn't bear to think about Christmas just yet!

Here's what I've used:

Stamped image: free Bentley bear stamp set (cover gift from this month's Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine) coloured with Pro Markers

Papers and sentiment - from DCWV

Heart brad and ribbon - Papermania

Small brads - can't remember, sorry

Because it is a baby boy card I wanted the design to me fairly plain and simple but I have decoupaged the balloons to give the card a bit of dimension.

I am going to enter today's card into the following challenges:

Just cute Bears: 3 brads, 2 papers, 1 ribbon

Sketch and stash: their image below.  The newest part of my stash is the free stamp and the neglected part is the sentiment which I've had in a kit for a few years.

The Pixie Cottage: 3D decoupage

Charizma cards: 3D

Thanks for looking - not sure how much crafting I will get done today as the sun is already shining gloriously.  Must make the most of it while it's here!

Amanda

Purple and turquoise

Purple and turquoise is a new colour combo for me but I've tried it on this card and it seems to work okay.  With this card I actually chose the paper first and coloured my image in to match the card.  Yes, I know that's the easy/proper way but more often than not, I colour my image without a care as to what I'm going to match it to.  I am then running around like a woman possessed throwing paper here, there and everywhere to find a piece to match my image ..... "its the wrong shade of pink, the flowers are to big, its not white enough aarrggghhh". 

(Note to self - chose the paper first every time in order to reduce stress levels!)

So, onto the card ...... the image is from Lili of the Valley and is coloured with pro markers.  The paper was part of a scrapbooking kit that I had from QVC a few years ago (don't know who it's by - sorry).  The swirl and flowers are a Sizzix die and the other bits are all from my stash.

I've carried the outside them of the card to the inside, matching the paper and nestabilities shape and flowers.  I've also stamped the little girl's face just peeping out at the bottom.

I am going to enter the card into the following challenges:

Lili of the Valley - I used their sketch
Allsorts Challenge blog - birthdays
Crafty Cardmakers - inside out

Thanks for looking!

Amanda

What's on my work desk Wednesday?

Because I don't get much card making done on Mondays to Wednesdays I have decided that I will take part in the "What's on my work desk Wednesday" to give you a little sneak peek of some of my "in progress" projects and the rest of the clutter that adorns my work place - because there's always something there waiting to be finished.

Today is no exception and the photo above shows a teddy bear that I've started to make in a sparse mohair fabric.  I haven't used sparse mohair before and, at 7" tall, this one is bigger than I normally make.  The plan is to make it look like an old well-loved bear, but that may change (it usually does)!

Also, there's these cute little buttons on my table:

I bought them from Dunelm at the weekend. They were only about £1 and I thought the yellow duck button would look sweet being held by one of my mini bears. Also, if I cut the shanks off, they will make great baby card embellishments.

As I am not blessed with the luxury of a craft room, my work desk is also my dining table so I have a lovely bunch of flowers to keep my company.  They were from my other half as yesterday was my wedding anniversary - my favourites ... roses and tulips.

And I just had to show this off - my new laptop bag for my netbook, which arrived yesterday and has to stay on my table because it is too cute to hide away! 

An ebay bargain for £8!  I just love it!

Thanks for looking, will be back with some cards very soon!

Amanda

The new challenge has been set this morning over at Magical Crafts Fortnightly Challenge blog. It is "Black, White and one other colour" and here's my DT card for the challenge. There was no question about it - it had to be pink for me. I must admit, I find it harder when I am restricted with my colours - I love my pinks, oranges and purples - but hey, it is a challenge after all and that's the fun ... creating something different! The DT have come up with some brilliant crafty creations for this challenge so check them out here.


This challenge is being sponsored by Magical Crafts very own Shelley who is giving a prize of a £10 voucher to be spent in her online craft shop One Stop Card Crafts.

Here's what I've used:

Stamped image - by Anita's with colouring by pink Promarkers
Pink card - Anna Griffin, with circle stamps by Stampin'Up
Flowers and ribbon brad by Papermania
Grass punch by Woodware
Ribbon, jewel, card candy all from my stash.

So, do try and join in with our challenge, which runs for the next two weeks. I'm looking forward to visiting your blogs to see what you've created!

Thanks for looking!

Amanda

A Cuthbert card

I haven't made one of these cards for ages - I think its called a pop up card.  I've made it for 2 challenges this week:

Just Cute Bears - Multi fold

Creative Cottage - Fancy folds

The papers are from Anna Griffin, image is Cuthbert from Pollycraft and the ribbon is Anitas.  I've used my pro markers to colour it and the jewelled flower is something that's been in my stash for ages.

Now, I'm no good at creating pictures on a computer but I just realised that some people may want to have a go at making one of these and don't know how.  I should have take step by step pictures if I was organised - but I'm not.  So, here's a little sketch to show you what to do:

Take a square card and open it up - score a fold line on one side at the centre point (parralel to the centre fold line of the card).  Then score an X always going from the centre of the edge of the card to the centre of the opposite side.  Then score from the centre top to the point where the top of your X is on each side.  Then cut off the areas shaded in pink above.  Gently push the folds in to create the diamond shape to make your card.

By now you are probably totally confused - basically the blue lines are score lines and the pink areas is cut off.  It is easy when you know how - its just my instructions are rubbish!  I will try to be more organised next time, promise!!!

Thanks for looking!

Amanda

A card and an award!

First of all, apologies for not posting for a few days - sometimes life gets in the way of crafting!

Secondly, I was really pleased to have been voted in the top 3 at this week's Die Cut Dreams challenge and my badge is now proudly on display in my sidebar.  The challenge was "Tilda in Pink" and it was the very first Tilda card I had ever made so I was well pleased.

Today's card has been made for a couple of challenges.  It is Codi from Pollycraft.  I have been having problems with my printer not wanting to print my digis out in black onto white linen card (which is what I normally use).  If I print onto paper then they are perfectly black lines, but if I try to print onto linen card I am getting strange shades on brown and red - very wierd!  It has only just started to happen - any suggestions as to the problem would be gratefully received.

That is the reason why I've gone for an orange theme today - it goes better with the brown lines!  The paper I've used is DCWV and I've used my MS border punch.

I am going to enter it into the following challenges:

Pollycraft - sketch

Secret Crafter Saturday challenge - recipe: 3 embellishments (2 flowers, 1 button), 2 papers and 1 image.

The post is short and sweet today because I'm off to the hairdressers.  Am I the only female who dreads going to the hairdressers?

Thanks for looking and pop back soon!

Amanda

My first Tilda card

I had been resisting temptation to spend more money in the craft shop and talked myself into not buying a Tilda stamp that I coveted so much.  Then the challenge over at Die Cut Dreams this week was "Tilda in Pink".  That meant the decision was taken out of my hands - I just HAD TO go and buy the stamp so that I could take part in the challenge LOL!!!

So here she is, my very first Tilda stamped card.  I get the feeling that these stamps are a bit addictive and you can't stop at just one!  I don't really have many pale coloured pro markers so she is coloured in "my style" - I hope that I don't offend the Tilda fans too much!

The paper is from Anna Griffin, Tilda with Presents image coloured with pro markers, roses/lace/flowers from my stash and the Birthday Wish stamp is from Hot off the Press.  I've used cosmic shimmer Aqua Twinkles to add a bit of glitter.

TOP TIP - my pearls were white, so to match the card I coloured them with a pink pro marker which works fine as long as you don't over colour them.  You can also use your pro markers to colour white ribbon so that it matches the colours exactly.

I am going to enter this card into the following challenges:

Die cut dreams - Tilda in Pink

By the Cute and Girly - Celebrations

Crafty Card Makers - Distressing

Thanks for looking - visit again soon!

Amanda

Get Well Kitty

This morning's card was supposed to be for 2 challenges but, I forgot to load my picture up last night and missed the deadline for the Totally Papercrafts challenge (theirs was a sketch).  So, today's card is for the Allsorts challenge which this week is Animals.  The image I used is a free digi from Sliekjes blog - she has some lovely pictures on there which are all free for personal use.  I thought this cat was really cute.

As yesterday was the general election my little one got the day off school, as his school was being used as a polling station.  We took a bus ride to Birmingham and visited the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.  It is amazing what is almost on your doorstep if you actually take the chance to stop and look.  Birmingham is an amazing city of both old and new architecture and the museum is a wonderful building ......

Our favourite display was the Egyptian room, which housed several mummies (animals and humans) and sarcophaguses, which were finely decorated.  I was amazed at the intricacy of the jewelry and it made me realise what talented, crafty people they were.  I was also surprised by a 3,000 year old pair of flip flop sandals woven from rattan type material - in today's throw away society it was great to see how the craftsmanship has survived so well for such a huge length of time.  Well, we were feeling quite cultured and educated but when our stomachs decided it was lunch time, culture was thrown our of the window and we returned to the 21st century, heading swiftly to McDonalds!

And the photo above is of Birmingham catherdral, which "little one" took while we were waiting for the bus to go home.

Thanks for looking,

Amanda

Precious friendships

It is great having a whole week's annual leave from work - lots of "me time" to do just what I want to do.  This probably explains why I've been posting a bit more than usual this week.  Treated myself to a little visit to my local craft store this morning and bought my first Tilda stamp (I can feel a collection starting already, oh no!).

Today's card has been made for Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - this is my 2nd local craft shop.  How lucky am I to have TWO great craft stores within 5 minutes drive from home?  Not so good for the bank balance though!  Anyway, the challenge this week is FRIENDSHIP and this image was just right.  It is a precious moments free colouring page which I found on line and printed out at 30% normal size.  The Prima flowers and Grass leaf punch (by Woodware) are both from the Secret Crafter (who also have an online shop).  The paper has come from a Nana's nursery stack by DCWV.  I have added some card candy to the centre of the larger flowers and the small roses are from my stash.

The image has been coloured with my pro markers - I am also going to enter this card into the Passion for Promarkers challenge.  This week's challenge is GRATITUDE - because I feel that the image says it all!

Thanks for looking and pop back soon - off to test the new Tilda stamp now!

Amanda

Dinosaur circles

I love this image from Pollycraft - I'm happy with my colouring but I'm not sure about my card today.  I think that I may have liked it better if I'd used a second patterned paper rather than a plain background but I didn't want it to look too "over the top".

The image was a previous Pollycraft Friday Freebie - this week's is a lovely little cottage image.  Pop over to the Pollycraft blog to have a look.

I tried to mimic the patterned paper and the dinosaur by punching some smaller circles around the image.

It could just be that it is not a girly card covered with glitter and gems - which is the type I love to make.   Think I may be having glitter withdrawal symptoms again!

I am going to enter it into three challenges:

Totally Papercrafts - sketch (love the layout!)

Allsorts - Animals

Creative Cottage - Circles

Thanks for looking and I hope the next card will be a bit better!!!

Amanda

Magical Crafts fortnightly challenge DT card

Today sees a new challenge over at Magical Crafts fortnightly challenge - there's a fantastic sketch for today's challenge over at the blog. 

Here's my first DT card for the Magical Crafts fortnightly challenge blog:

Here is the fantastic sketch for you to follow:

I'm really looking forward to visiting the blogs of the challenge entries to see everyone's take on the sketch.  This challenge's sponsor is Simon Says Stamp and there is a fantastic prize of $10 for the winner to spend in the SSS store! 

Don't forget to check out the blogs of the other DT members - there's some brilliant samples this week!

This is a much bigger card than I normally make - it is a 10" square card blank. 

Here is what I've used:

Image - rubber stamp from Whiff of Joy, coloured with Promarkers

Patterned papers - Hot off the Press

Papers inked with Distress Ink (brushed corduroy)

Faux Suede flowers - by Flower Factory (from MSA crafts)

Swirls - cut from Sizzix/Bigz dies

Brads - Papermania

Buttons and pearls from stash

I am going to enter this card into the following challenges:

By the cute and girly: Celebration - she looks to me like she's proudly carrying in a tray of goodies to a party

Cutie Stampers: use lots of Flowers

Charisma Cardz: Make a girly card with flowers

Thanks for looking and I do hope you can join us for this challenge!

Amanda