Design Team make for "Love To Craft Challenge Blog" #38 September 2019

This is my September make for the "Love To Craft Challenge Blog" which has an "Anything Goes" theme.  If you have a moment to spare, please do pop over and take a look at the other fab makes by my fellow Design Team colleagues.

I had an off cut of a gelli plate background in a pale blue colour.  I decided to use this as the base of this card.

I used a Stampin' Up stamp from their "Dragonfly Dreams" set. stamped in two shades of Versafine Clair ink (Warm Breeze and Verdant).  I stamped another dragonfly on a post-it note and cut around the edge to create a mask.

I positioned the mask over the top of the dragonfly image (on the gelli plate background), then inked up a Crafty Individuals background stamp with a dragonfly design (CI-409).  I used Versafine "Smokey Grey" coloured ink.  I then removed the mask.

I decided the background colour needed more depth so using the "Warm Breeze" and "Verdant" Versafine Clair ink again, I added colour, eventually using a Distress Oxide  Ink in "Black Soot" shade to ink the very edges of the card.

I added high lights of both silver glitter and white to various area of the card using Signo Pens.

I adhered the image to the central area of a square card then stamped the "Thinking Of You" sentiment, which is part of a Hobby Arts Ltd set called "Greetings For Friends".  I stamped in a Versafine Clair shade of ink called "Twilight".

Design Team Make for "Love To Craft Challenge Blog" #37 August 2019

The first of the month is here, which means another chance to enter the "Love To Craft Challenge Blog", challenge #37 for August 2019 is "anything goes".  If you have a minute, please do pop over to the blog and look at some of the fab makes made by my fellow Design Team colleagues.

For my card, I created a background using Colorbox Inks and Brusho paint on a gelliplate.  This created a beautiful textured look to the background is a beautfiul warm orange.

I stamped the Lavinia Stamps figure called "Sky" in Versafine Clair "Fantasia" shade of ink, which is a dark purple colour.  

I masked the sun/moon off and gave it a dark edge using Versafine "Smokey Grey" shade of ink and llightened the middle slightly by using Antique Linen Distress Oxide.

I stamped the branches using a Lavinia Stamps "Mini Branch" from their pound stamp section also in Versafine Clair "Fantasia" shade of ink.  I stamped both sentiments in the same ink.  (I don't know who makes the sentiment as I purchased it as a job lot of stamps).

I used a torn piece of paper to create the landscape effect.  Then stamped the stars in the background using another Lavinia Stamps stamp called "Stars" which is also in their pound section.  Finally, I used a gold Sakura Gelly Roll pen to add colour and shimmer to the outline of the fairy and filled the wings with the same colour

Design Team Make for "Love To Craft Challenge Blog" #36 July 2019

Can you believe we're now in July?  I have no idea where this year has gone to.

As it's the first of the month, it is time for a new "Anything Goes" challenge on the "Love To Craft Challenge Blog".  This is the card I have made as a member of the Design Team.  If you have a spare moment, please do pop over and take a look at the fab makes by my fellow colleagues.

Here's a photo of the main items I used to make this card.

I started this card by tearing a page out of an old book and sticking a panel to the middle of the card blank.

I made a water wash with a Distress Oxide Ink in a pale green shade called "Cracked Pistachio" and then brushed it across the text section.

Using a stamp from a Stampers Anonymous set, I stamped the cirles horizontally across the middle of the card using Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" shade of ink.

Using the same ink, I also stamped some vertical lines using a Stampin' Up stamp set called "Gorgeous Grunge".

Using diluted white Gesso, using a brush, I painted around the edges of the torn page and out to the edges of the card.  I deliberately went over the edges of the torn paper so that the Gesso helped to stick any stray raised pieces that had not stuck previously.

Once this was dry, I used a foam blending tool to add a subtle shade of pale pink to the background using a Distress Oxide in the shade of "Spun Sugar".  I then stamped more of the circles to create an image from edge to edge of the card.

I also stamped some hexagon images using Versafine Clair "Charming Pink" ink.

On a plain piece of card, I stamped two butterfly (Stampers Anonymous "Perspective" stamp set) images, again using the Versafine Clair "Charming Pink" ink.  I cut one out and stuck it onto the card.  With the second one, I only cut the upper wings out.  I used a small blob of "Silicon Glue" to adhere these.  This gave the upper wings a more 3D look.

Finally, I added the "Celebrate" sentiment using a stamp from a Stampin' Up set called "Endless Birthday Wishes".  I added some sticky backed pearls to add a little more interest.

Design Team Make - "Love To Craft Challenge Blog" #34 (May 2019)

The first of the month means there is another new challenge on the "Love To Craft Challenge Blog" which always offers  an "Anything Goes (ATG)" challenge.  If you have a spare moment, please do pop over to the challenge blog and check out the fabulous makes by my fellow design team colleagues and maybe enter the challenge yourself.

I started by preparing a background of Distress Inks on a Gelli Plate using the following colours:  Wilted Violet, Blueprint Sketch, Mermaid Lagoon and Peacock Feathers.  My friend had given me an intricate paper cut overlay, (a bit like net but in paper), so I stuck that down over the pretty background colours.

Using another section of the same Gelli Print and black cardstock, I die cut flowers and leaves using the Stampin' Up "Botanical Builder Framelits".  I layered the flowers and foliage and then stuck into position.

I then stamped the sentiment, which was in a Stampin' Up set called "For Everything", stamped in Versafine Clair "Nocturne".  I then die cut it into an oval shape and stuck it to the card using foam pads.  Finally, I added touches of silver glitter to the flowers and to the sentiment.

Design Team Make - Love To Craft Challenge Blog #32 (March 2019)

I've made this Design Team card for the March 2019 "Love To Craft Challenge Blog".  If you have a minute, please do pop over and take a look at the lovely creations by my fellow Design Team members.

The base of this card is made of Brusho and Distress Oxide Inks.  I stamped the images using various shades of Versafine Clair inks.  I used these Lavinia Stamps on this card:  Sebastian the Seahorse, Sea Bubbles, Shoal of Fish, Fern Heads and Sea Creatures.  I finished the card by adding area of white, using a Signo Pen, around the eyes and the bubbles.

Design Team Make for "Love To Craft Challenge Blog" #31 using Lavinia Stamps

In the rabbit burrow

This little project has been in my mind for the past couple of days.  I was thinking about how I could replicate looking into a rabbit burrow.

I started off by stamping the Lavinia Stamps "Midnight Meandering" rabbits and the "Creeping Vine" in Versafine "Black Onyx" ink.  I coloured the ground the rabbits stand on with a Promarker pen and added touches of white to the tails and eyes of the rabbits using a white Signo Pen.

I then selected four nesting round dies and cut circles in three pieces of cardstock and finally the largest circle in a piece of Shenandoah "Natural Wonders" paper.  On this piece of patterned paper, I stamped a hedgehog from the Lavinia Stamps "Walace Family".  I then inked the edges and the lower section of the page with black ink.

Starting with the smallest aperture, I layered the cardstock with foam pads between each layer to add dimension. I did this in the hope it would provide depth.  Finishing with the patterned paper on the top.

I die cut some foliage in black card (I have had the dies for some time and didn't retain the packaging, so I have no idea where they came from).  I stuck the die cuts to either side of the aperture and then added a little shadow with a pen below the die cuts and the hedgehog.

I finally added a few Nuvo Sequins  in "Prickly Pear and "Olive Green" colours to add a little sparkle to the lighter top of the picture.  I then mounted the picture into a box frame.

Design Team Make - Love To Craft Challenge Blog (30)

How time has flown, here I am on the 1st January with my Design Team project for "Love To Craft Challenge Blog".  The challenge blog has an "anything goes" theme every month, so if you have a minute, do pop over and take a look at the fab makes by my fellow Design Team colleagues and maybe enter the challenge yourself?

For my project, I started by making the background with Distress Oxides, using about five different shades.  Using a script stamp, I randomly stamped across the page.

I die cut a circle of vellum the size of the decorative snowflake border and stamped the "Hello", using a Stampin' Up stamp, stamped in StazOn ink.  I stuck the vellum to the background using two dots.

I then stamped the dots and honeycomb using Stamper's Anonymous stamps - I don't recall what they are called as I have had them for some time.

I then added glitter to the decorative snowflake border, available from Craft Box and then stuck it into position over the top of the layer of stamped vellum.

Finally, I covered some chipboard numbers in black and positioned onto the ring and punched snowflakes.  I coated the snowflakes in glitter and then stuck them diagonally across the card.

Design Team Make for Love To Craft Challenge Blog #29 (1st December 2018)

This is my Design Team make for the last challenge of 2018 for the "Love To Craft Challenge Blog" #29.  Please do pop over and have a look at all the other fab makes by my fellow Design Team members.

This month I decided to play with Shrink Plastic.  I've had a pack in my stash for longer than I care to remember, so it was definitely time to put it to use.

For all of the images on this tree, I have used a selection of Lavinia Stamps, stamped in StazOn ink.

The Shrink Plastic that I had was totally smooth and clear.  I wanted to give the ink a key, so I lightly sanded the surface with a foot file (it's like a large emery board for dry skin - it's ok, it's not been near my trotters).

I stamped the image, then die cut into ovals or circles.  I then punched a hole in the top and placed on a non-stick baking sheet and put in the oven at 130 for about three minutes.  When you take them out they have shrunken quite a lot.  You can see from the example in the photograph below:

I used fishing line to suspend the discs from the mini tree.

More Exciting Design Team News

This week I have received more exciting news.  I have been accepted onto another Design Team.  

I am now a member of the "Love To Craft Challenge Blog" which is a monthly blog.

Please pop over and have a look at the blog and maybe take part yourself.

Sam x