Craft Your Days Away new challenge and DT call

We've got a great new challenge today at Craft Your Days Away and we are also having our first ever DT call!  Mel has set the challenge for the next two weeks and it is:

Music and/or Dance

We are sponsored by SJ Little Musings for this challenge and the images that I've used are called Acceptable in the 80's - which have a great retro feel.  {Can anyone else remember recording your favourite songs onto a cassette tape from the radio chart show?  I used to have a little microphone that I patiently held by the radio - someone always walked into the room halfway and ruined my recording.  Looking back, the sound quality was awful anyway but I never cared!!!}. 

I made a door hanger for this challenge for my little one.  We had new doors recently and I won't let him stick his name plate to the new door - so now that his door is "named" again he's quite happy.  I used the pre-coloured images this time because they were just right for what I wanted, but they also comes as a line drawing.  The only thing that I did to the images was to dirty up the front of the shoe with a bit of distress ink.  How many little boys do you know who have pristine, white pumps?

Now, if you are interested being on the DT with us pop over to the challenge blog for all of the info, but basically you will need to enter this challenge and then post another picture with one of your favourite creations (this doesn't have to follow the challenge).  We are a friendly bunch of crafters and are looking forward to expanding our DT!

I am going to enter this into the following challenges:

Inspire me Fridays - anything goes

Ai Factory - anything goes

Thanks for looking

Amanda

Red, white and blue - Grace

After the Royal Wedding today how could I not make something in red, white and blue?  I was literally glued to the TV all morning watching the wedding, obviously waiting to see what Kate would be wearing and she didn't disappoint - I thought that she looked very elegant in a stunning dress.  I loved watching the parades and all of the horses.  It reminded me that I too had a landau horse drawn carriage for my wedding day (only had one horse though) - something I now have in common with the future queen!!! It is times like this that it makes you proud to be British. 

On today's card I have used Grace by Sugar Nellie.  I had been looking for this stamp for ages and then I saw on Jenny's blog (My Inky Hands - see side bar) that they were available as digis from Funky Kits.  The images are so lovely and very easy to colour as lots of the shading is already done.  I've coloured the image with pro markers and the papers are a free download from Summertime Designs.  I've coloured some Mulberry flowers with promarkers and added some little stamens in the centre.  The border punch is by Martha Stewart and the leaf punch is "Grass" by Woodware.  The 3 little brads are to cover up where my pro markers bled when I tried to colour the buttons.  I was ready to throw the almost finished image away and then I though the brads would make good buttons! 

I've kept the card fairly plain because of the reason I am sending it.  It is going to the lady whose taught me to make teddy bears; a small group of us meet at her home to sew teddy bears!  She creates the most amazing ball joint dolls and makes fantastic wigs and clothing and I thought that she would like "Grace".  However, she is going through a very tough time at the moment - you can read her blog here if you want to.

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

Hanna and friends - I used their sketch
Moving along with the times - Anything goes
Fab n Funky - Red, white and blue
Amber's Crafts - use a digi
The paper variety - polka dots
Sweet stamps - sympathy
Tuesday throw down - add brads
Crafty cardmakers - red, white and blue
Make it Monday - Anything goes

That's it for today - back tomorrow with another creation!

Amanda

Tilda with Christmas Presents

I've hardly done any crafting this past week - the weather over the Easter break has been absolutely amazing and so we have spent much of the weekend in the back garden.  We had a new fish pond last autumn and so we have had to do some finishing-off work and have planted around the pond too.  I'm really pleased with it; I just hope the heron doesn't visit us again!  Even Monty, my agorophobic cat, had a little walk onto the patio - he couldn't go on the grass though - he completely freaks out!

So, with the weather so warm, I had to cool things down a little by making a Christmas card.  I haven't used my Tilda's for quite a while too and I love this Christmas one.  (Might be time to buy a new Tilda stamp or two!)

Here's what I've used:

Tilda with Presents stamp by Magnolia, coloured with Pro Markers

Marianne doily die

My new Christmas Fancy papers by Dovecraft - half price sale bargain!

Cat's Life Press - circular sentiment stamp

Flowers, ribbon and jewels from stash

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

Sketch and Stash - free sketch challenge (I used sketch #11 and my new papers)

Party time Tuesdays - Anything goes

Wee Memories - Anything girly
Sparkles - Anything goes
Delicious doodles - Anything goes

Thanks for stopping by,

Amanda

Milk carton tutorial

Just in time for last minute Easter chocolate gifts - Here's the tutorial that I said I'd do on how to make the "milk carton" gift boxes like I made in my last post.  Like I said, they are so really easy to make and I couldn't believe that I hadn't had a try at making one sooner.

So, here's what you'll need:

• a ruler and pencil
• a scoreboard or scoring tool
• 1 sheet of A4 card (I used the hammered card from The Papermill Shop)
• some kind of adhesive - I prefer the red double sided tape as it is a dry adhesive and once it is stuck down, its not going anywhere!
• some scissors 

Turn your card to "landscape" and (on the wrong side/back of the card) measure on the long edges at 7cm, 14cm, 21cm and 28cm.  I have pencilled my lines in so that they can be seen in the photo but really you only need to make a little dot to mark each measurement.  Score these 4 vertical lines:

Next, down the short edges, mark the following measurements: 1.5cm, 7cm and 16cm.  Score these 3 horizontal lines, as shown below:

Next, across the top of the card, measure at 10.5cm and score a small vertical line just until you reach the horizontal line below (this is where the tucked-in bits are at the top of the carton):

Repeat this step at 24.5cm:

You can only just see in this picture that I have scored (with my ruler and score tool) where the two sides panels tuck in.  You don't have to do this but it does help the card to have a smoother finish at the fold lines.  So, score two lines down from the 10.5cm mark and 24.5cm mark to make triangles in each of the boxes below:

The squares on the bottom row will create the bottom flaps on the carton.  Cut up from the bottom of each score line, stopping at the point where they cross with the other line.  Trim the edge of each flap so that it folds in easier (as marked with orange pen below) and completely cut out the small rectangle on the bottom right hand side:

Trimming a little angle off each of the cut lines to create the bottom flaps:

Fold across your score lines now, horizontal and verticals.

Apply strong double-sided tape down the flap on the right hand side and stick to the other side, creating a 4 sided tube.

Now, fold in the flaps at the bottom of the carton and stick together with d-s tape.  Make sure that the carton retains its square shape - if you stick these off centre your carton will be out of shape and won't fold correctly:

Time to create the top of the carton now.  Push the small scored lines inwards (at 10.5cm and 24.5cm):

Fix the top of your milk carton together - the best way I've seen is to use these little bulldog clips.  You could also use brads or the d-s tape (but this would ruin the carton when it was opened).

Now comes the fun bit - decorate as desired! 

Hope you enjoyed my tutorial!

Thanks for looking,

Amanda



Milk carton Easter box

One question ..... why have I not made milk carton boxes before?  They are sooo easy, are made from just 1 sheet of A4 card and they look really great!

I've seen quite a few of these boxes while I've been wandering around Blogger and found some measurements on a video clip last night and had to start making it straight away.  I have a feeling that I will be making many more of these now so I will do a bit of a photo tutorial and add it to my blog as soon as I can.  I'm going to fill this box with mini Cadbury eggs and give it to my youngest's friend for Easter.

The image is a digi from Meljen Designs and I've coloured it with pro markers.  The papers are from Dovecraft and I've just used my nesties to cut out the circles. 

I am going to enter this box into the following challenges:
Bee Crafty - Easter & use a digi
Little Claire's Designs - Animals
Crazy 4 Challenge - make an Easter gift
Our Creative corner - Easter 3D project
Ooh La La - Happy Easter
Die Cut Dreams - Easter
Papertake weekly - truly dimensional

Thanks for stopping by,

Amanda

Craft Your Days Away #18

Time for a brand new challenge over at Craft your Days Away.  Challenge 18 has been picked by DT member Jackie and it is:

EASTER

Remember, it does not have to be a papercraft project - as long as it has been crafted by you, and fits in with the theme then that's okay. 

We are sponsored for this challenge by Meljen Designs who provided the DT with some digis to play with - they are just the cutest ever and just perfect for Easter cards.  I chose to use this sweet little bunny digi - the rest of the DT have used equally sweet digis - why not take a look on the challenge blog?  I've coloured the image with pro markers and have used some old, but much-loved Easter papers from DCWV.  I've used my new Nesties (Labels 2) that I bought on a recent trip to the Secret Crafter shop in Halesowen.  I've tried to keep the design clean and simple and didn't really want to "over do it" on this card.

I am going to enter this card into the following challenges (and I've found loads this time!):

Crafty Catz - furry friends
Daring cardmakers - Spring or Easter
Inspire me Fridays - Anything goes
Stampin for the Weekend - Easter
Delightful Challenges - Easter
Creative Belli - Eggs or Bunnies
I love pro markers - I used their sketch
Sisterhood of crafters - Easter
Penny's challenge - Easter
Hannah and Friends - Easter
Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Stitching

And, just before I go, I thought that I'd share this litte picture with you - of my very own Easter Bunny.  This is Benji (as in Beatrix Potter's Benjamin Bunny - not very original, I do realise!).  Benji is a Netherland Dwarf rabbit and he's a house rabbit.  He loves company and he is so tame because he is used to people.  He does go outside for a little play but we always have to watch him carefully because of cats or other things who would run off with him!!

Thanks for looking,

Amanda

Lili of the Valley Christmas

I think that I am going through a bit of a Lili of the Valley phase at the moment - but they are so lovely, aren't they?  This is not one of my new ones but it is probably my favourite Christmas one of theirs.  I don't really send many Easter cards so I made a Christmas one instead - although Spring time has definitely influenced the colour scheme!

I'm having a problem printing any of my digis at the moment - printer is playing up!  So, that's another reason why I've been looking through my stamps again.  I'll buy some new ink cartridges later today and keep my fingers crossed that it will fix the dodgy printing!

I have coloured the image with pro markers and added a bit of Glamour dust glitter.  The papers are from a pad that was a magazine freebie - Vintage roses by Craft Work Cards.  The flowers are from Prima, I've used a Woodware Grass punch and the roses and buttons are from my stash.  I decided to be brave and stamp the greeting directly onto the card - after I'd made it all up.  Yes, I know that was quite foolish/brave of me but, it worked and no smudges (phew!).

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

Lili of the Valley - peach and green
Make it Monday - Anything goes
Stamp n doodle - girly
Woodware USA - Anything goes
Christmas Inspirations - Christmas scene
Crafty Hazelnut Christmas - Going round in circles

Thanks for stopping by today!

Amanda

LOTV for C&S challenge

Here's my first try at the Clean and Simple challenge; this week they have a great sketch which was just perfect for a "man card".  I've used one of my new Lili of the Valley stamps again, which I've coloured using pro markers.

The papers are some neglected ones by DCWV which I had in a large kit from QVC and the sentiment stamp is from Whispers.  The "Dream" ticket is from Tim Holtz which I bought at the LOTV stand at the NEC a few weeks ago. 

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

Clean and Simple stamping - I used their sketch
Creative Cottage - white space
The paper shelter - anything goes
Some odd girl - clean and simple
Stamp, Scrap and Doodle Saturday - clean and simple
Craft your passion - anything goes
Papertake weekly - anything goes
Crazy 4 Challenges - Brown, green, vanilla

That's it for today - I'm off outside to enjoy the lovely Spring British sunshine, while we have some!

Thanks for visiting!

Amanda

Spring time get away card

Now that the weather in the UK is brightening up and the evenings are getting lighter, I'm starting to wonder why I haven't yet booked our usual spring time weekend away at the seaside.  Normally we go away for a weekend in April but I just haven't got around to it yet.  I also haven't sorted a summer holiday for this year (yet).  I'm usually the kind of person who is well planned and booked 12 months in advance.

Never mind, I'll have to get me seaside fix with these great beach hut stamps from Little Claire's.  The papers are by DCWV and the great spring colours went perfectly with my theme.

Here's what I've used:

Little Claire beach hut stamp, coloured with pro markers

Bunting stamp - magazine freebie

Sentiment stamp - HOTP

Papers, card and glitter card - DCWV

Marianne flower die with Card Candi

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

Little Claire - Spring celebrations (spring colours and weekends away!)

Sweet Stop Sketches - I used their sketch

Delightful Challenges - Sun, sea and sand

****************

I just wanted to share this picture with you of Muffin my old cat.  At almost 19 years old he's too frail to be "King of the Street" like he used to be.  He just has a little potter around the back garden and then comes back inside to have a sleep.   Earlier on today he was having a little snooze on the lawn and I forgot all about him being outside.  When I realised a couple of hours later my heart skipped a beat when I couldn't find him.  I thought he'd managed to jump the back fence and I was imagining all sorts of terrible fights that he might be getting into.  And then, panic over, I found him at the bottom of the garden basking in the sun, behind a rugby ball, behind the rhubarb.  Can you see him?  His tabby markings mean he's well camouflaged!

Thanks for dropping by,

Amanda

UPDATE: Dora, your comment asking which magazine the stamps were from ... they were from issue 1 of Simply Homemade and they are by Molly Blooms. 

New challenge blog DT call and launch candy at Divas by Design

There is a new challenge blog launching on 4th May 2011 called Divas by Design and they are having a DT call, so I thought that I'd have a try.  To be in with the chance I have to show 3 of my favourite pieces, so here goes:

This is my favourite Tilda stamp and I love the distressed look.  However, I like to keep the embellies fairly clean and simple - I can't seem to do OTT!  I also love the soft teal colour of this card as it is different to my normal preferred choices.

Next is my latest card - a Lili of the Valley stamped card.  Together with Tilda, LOTV are probably my favourite rubber stamp designs and my collection is growing ... and growing!



Lastly, I chose this card as one of my favourite digis.  I have a vast collection of digis but this one always stands out for me.  I also love the clean and simple style again, with a little sneak of glitter and a few swirls and flowers.

To celebrate the launch of the new challenge blog there is also some fab candy - see my sidebar for the link!

Thanks for looking,

Amanda

Craft Your Days Away #17

Here's the second of my new Lili of the Valley stamps that I bought from the NEC last week.  I have used it on today's DT card for our new challenge over at Craft Your Days Away.  The new challenge for the next fortnight is:

SPOTS AND STRIPES

For this challenge we welcome back our regular sponsor, Simon Says Stamp, who are offering a $10 voucher to one lucky winner. 

Remember, you can always have the chance of being a guest designer for a future challenge.  Just remember to add "GD" after your name with your entry.

Here's what I used:

Image and sentiment stamps by Lili of the Valley, coloured with pro markers

Paper - Back to Basics pad by Dovecraft

MS pansy punch from a punch around the page set
Roses, ribbons etc all from stash.
Sparkle - Glamour dust glitter

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

Fairy Knoll - Whatever!
Pals paper arts - Punches
Pixie dust studio - Fluttering wings
Paper romance - bling
Shelly's images - use a punch
Claudia & Company - Colour challenge
Craft your passion - include a bear
Creative card crew - for a child
Cooking it up with Katie - sparkle, shine and shimmer
Colour create - sweet pastel colours

Thanks for looking and don't forget to join us at Craft Your Days Away,

Amanda