Snowflake Deer

     This months Bugaboo Digi Stamp is Snowflake Silhouette Reindeer, made for Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra. There are some lovely cards created by the DT to give you inspiration and a great prize from Bugaboo Digi Stamps. We would like to see anything Christmas, not just cards, so pop over and have a look.
     The reindeer was printed on Stix2 Printable Acetate which has been folded over the top of the card and fixed with brads at the bottom. The front of the card has been covered with gold glitter paper before attaching the acetate.
     I felt with all the glitter and shine the greeting should be kept simple so I have die cut Seasons Greeting in black using a Britannia die. It is stuck to the glitter paper under the acetate. I must apologise for the quality of the photograph, I struggle with anything shiny or glittery.
    Please pop over and join us at Crafty hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra, we run all month so you have plenty of time to create something for Christmas.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Completely Christmas - Anything Goes

Crimbo Crackers - Anything Goes

Tea With Friends at HOC

      This month we have a fifth week at House Of Cards, which means a photo inspiration and any card style for one week only.
     I liked the colours in the photo and the idea of having afternoon tea with friends, so now I've finished my card I shall raise my cup to my DT friends at HOC......cheers girls!  Please pop over to their blogs to see what they've been inspired to make while you have a cuppa of your own.
     This started as a square white card blank, it was stamped in Distress Ink Faded Jeans with a hydrangea stamp from Papermania. There is a small layer of blue pearl paper between the stamped card and the piece of scrapbook paper that I found in my stash, I thought the colour was right and the wording fitted with what I wanted to say.
     The cups are a digital freebie from Vintage Digital Stamps printed out on photo paper. The front one is mounted on foam pads to stand out.

     The flowers are from stash, they came white so I've inked the edges with Faded Jeans and popped a small blue pearl in the centre of each one.
     You could send something like this to a friend that lives some distance from you and include an individually wrapped tea bag so they can make a cuppa and think of you.

      I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Stampin' For The Weekend - Spring Colours

That's Crafty - Inky Antics

Cute Card Thursday - Floral Delights

Great Impressions - Spring Celebrations

Mothers Day Flowers

     These are the flowers I have sent to my Mum for Mother's Day. Her favourite colour scheme is blue and white so choosing the paper was easy.
     These flowers are made using scrapbook paper, it's a little on the thick side and made my fingers sore with all the creases but I hope you'll agree it was worth it. Origami paper is usually good quality thin paper and very easy to fold, some scrapbook papers are thinner than others but I don't think I'd even try a double sided paper as they are usually quite thick. Having said that a double sided paper wouldn't need as much folding if you used a triangle instead of a square and the effect would be quite different too, must go away and try that one.....
     ......back again, it looks pretty good, must experiment further.
     The origami method is called Kusudama, it's very easy to do as each petal is made separately and then assembled into a flower. There are tutorials on YouTube if you would like to know how to make them.
     Once assembled I have stuck a button in the centre of each flower to cover the joins. I've been collecting buttons in local charity shops for this as new ones can be expensive, I'd forgotten just how much fun I used to have as a child going through Granny's button tin!
      I have stuck my flowers on to bamboo kebab skewers and cut them to varying lengths before putting them in a jam jar topped with foil (to keep the flowers in place) and tying a blue ribbon around the top to hold the foil and cover the screw thread where the lid used to go.
     At least these flowers won't die within a few days and if you use left over papers it need not cost a fortune either, though I did buy these papers just because I knew Mum would like them.

I would like to enter Mum's flowers in the following challenges:

Make My Monday - For Mum

Crafts 4 Eternity - Special Mums

Delicious Doodles Challenge - Mother's Day

Jellypark Challenges - Mother's Day

Left of Centre Creative Challenges - Ribbon and/or Flowers

Southern Girls Challenge - Floral Frenzy

Scrappers Delight - For A Special Lady

Ladybug Crafts Ink - For A Special Lady

Craft Your Passion - Mother's Day

Dream Valley Challenges - Mothering Sunday

Tag Steam

     It's time for another challenge over at The Male Room, this fortnight we are going Vintage.
     I began this tag with a sheet of silver mirri card, I think it was some recycled packaging from a box as it's rather thin. It has been embossed with a folder from Creative Expression. Then I painted a thin layer of black acrylic paint over it and wiped it off again to achieve the 'dirty' look.
     On top of this faux metal layer I have attached a small cog cut form greyboard,that has been distressed with Distress Embossing powder and ink to make it look rusty. It is fixed with a small screw top brad form Woodware.
     The steaming chimney is a stamp from an EcoGreen set and both the tag and steam engine are stamps from Creative Expressions. The ticket is raised on foam pads.

     On the back of the tag I have stuck a layer of cog paper, it helps make the whole tag stronger and as only top, bottom and one side are stuck down it also creates a little secret pocket within the tag, (my top tip for TTT). This is a perfect little hiding place for another tag which could hold a short massage.
     The hidden tag is stamped with another Creative Expressions stamp and distressed with Faded Jeans ink. It has a small length of baker twine threaded through the hole for easy removal from it's pocket.
     The back of the tag could also be stamped with a message as the cog paper is very pale. I prefer not to do this until I know what the tag will be used for.
     Please pop over to The Male Room and take a look at the DT inspiration, lot's of ideas to help you get started.

I would like to enter this tag in the following challenges:

Cardz 4 Guyz - Tag It

Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Top Tip Tuesday - Metal or Faux Metal

Anyone For Anya?- Masculine or Grungy (hopefully both)

Crystal Box

     We have a great challenge on Technique Time Tuesday this month called Caught In Crystal. It's really inspired the DT, so much so that we're coming up with lots of tips and variations which can be seen here.
     This little box began as a thin sheet of acetate, being thin made it easy to bend into the box after decorating, although the tissue has made it a little more rigid. I began with an A4 sheet and added my Crystal Laquer with a few drops of alcohol ink in blue and purple. Once the colouring was as I wanted it I lay a crumpled sheet of silver tissue paper over the top and dabbed it down gently.  Leave to dry thoroughly, be patient, I know it's hard but if it's not set you can make a terrible mess of it (I know from experience!) and then you'll have to do it all again, including the waiting!!
     Once completely dry, overnight is best...don't try using a heat gun, it will melt!, you can then mark out your box template. Draw this out on the tissue side in pencil, it's easier and it won't be seen when finished, and cut out. To fix the flaps together I have used the red double sided tape as it's very sticky and works so well on acetate. Being acetate gives it a beautiful sparkle and shine, smooth as glass.
     And as they say 'that's all there is to it'. You can make unique little gift boxes as no two will ever turn out the same. If you wish to hide the crumpled tissue side you could stick a smooth layer of tissue or thin paper over it before assembling the box. Please pop over to Technique Time Tuesday and have a look at the  video tutorial, then come and join us with your creation.

I would like to enter this gift box in the following challenges:

Anything But A Card - #33 Sparkle

Bastel-traum - Gifts/ Boxes

Full Steam Ahead

     Today sees the beginning of a new challenge at The Male Room. This time it's a colour challenge, green, blue and brown and as always it must be a masculine themed project.
     This stamp is by Penny Black, called Engineer. It was a must have for me as my Dad has driven steam engines of various sizes on preserved lines over the last thirty odd years. I was brought up on Brasso and coal dust, the smell of a steam engine brings back some very happy memories.
     I have stamped 'Dad' in Archival Black ink on some Anna Marie card and then coloured him with Graph It alcohol markers. I really wanted to have a red engine but I have to follow the colour challenge so this one is green, next time I can go red.
     I have fussy cut him to mount him on some green card that has been embossed with railway track, using a Tim Holtz mini folder from the Travel Signs Set.
     There is a ticket stamped in brown using a Creative Expressions stamp tucked behind him. The 'Full Steam Ahead' was printed on my computer, I then drew the lines around it to look another cloud of steam and then fussy cut that out as well. Both 'Dad' and the cloud are mounted on foam pads. The green card is layered on to kraft card and then on to a white 7x5 card blank. There is no greeting as yet, I prefer to add this when I decide what the card is to be used for.
     Please pop over to The Male Room and take a look at the DT work, there's a lot of inspiration over there, all very different.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Ladybug Crafts Ink - One For The Boys

Craft Your Passion - Birthday Bonanza

Kaboodle Doodles - Embossing

Caught In Crystal

      Caught in crystal is this month's challenge at Technique Time Tuesday. There is a very good tutorial on the challenge site which takes you through the whole process, it's easier than you think.....honest!
     I have made projects with this technique before but so far I had never stamped on the acetate, until now. My Stazon pad has dried out a bit and wasn't up to the job so I had to put my thinking cap on, what else could I use on acetate? Alcohol markers work but not what I wanted to do this time, then it hit me...Flitter Glu!
     Flitter Glu is made for use with gilding flakes but shiny flakes wouldn't look their best with a sparkly background, so thinking cap on again......foil! Stix2 have a great range of foils that stick to double sided tape really well, why not Flitter Glu.
     I have used a Crafty Individuals stamp to stamp my Flitter Glu onto some reclaimed acetate packaging, the hardest part was waiting those few minutes before laying the foil on top and rubbing gently to get it to take.

     I was really pleased that I actually remembered to keep the shiny side up with the foil, you may laugh but it has been known to put it upside down and wonder why it's not working. The added bonus of getting it right first time (yipee) was now I have a negative foil that I can use on another card, how's that for frugal crafting?!
     After getting that bit right I turned the acetate over and spread some Cyrstal Laquer on the back, then I dropped alcohol inks on for my colour, blue, green and brown with a little glitter sprinkled on top. I chose to use gold tissue this time so after giving it a good scrunch I opened it out a little and laid it over the back of the acetate, gently dabbing it down to make full contact with the glue. Don't press to hard, you don't want to loose the creases or squish out all the colour and glue.
     I left my creation to dry over night, if you try to cut it too soon it's messy and the tissue will tear. It is mounted on cream card to lighten it up because I used gold tissue rather than white. To fix the acetate to the cream card I have used brads, three tiny yellow studs and one butterfly. The butterfly was silver but he's been coloured with alcohol markers to tone with the project.
     The image panel is mounted on a white card blank coloured with Distress Ink, it's a bit bright but it helps lift the blue in the image panel. I have used the watermark technique on the blue card to tie in the flower theme of the panel.
     It's an interesting technique, I would suggest watching the tutorial  before you begin. There will also be a Hints and Tips post next week to help you along but if you have any questions then please leave a comment and I'll see if I can help. Please come and join us at Technique Time Tuesday with your creations, we'd love to see them.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes / Use Stash (everything is from stash 'n' trash)
That Craft Place - Anything Goes
Allsorts Challenge - Spring Is Coming
Great Impessions - Spring

Button It

      For House Of Cards this month we have a broad challenge, 'Add A Button'. This fortnight we are looking for Cute / Shabby styles with at least one button, preferably more.
     This tag is one I made on a 'make and take' at the craft trade show with a lovely lady called Clare Charvill who makes beautiful things with Graphic 45 papers. I like most of their papers but can't bring myself to cut them up because they're so nice. Clare showed us some ideas to use them making  lovely tags and albums without wasting anything so we got best value from them.
     The papers used here are from the Couture collection. They are double sided, I used stripes on the front and hats on the back. The Ooh La La panel is from a page of several different toppers as is the bauble shape at the top. The whole collection tones together perfectly so whichever papers you use they look good.

     At the show we had a stamped flower to colour and add to our tag but I have changed mine, I didn't like the colour very much. Once home I took the show flower off and made one from Core'dinations card, die cut, embossed and sanded with a big wooden button in the middle, coloured with a black Promarker.
     We added lots of buttons which made me think of the HOC challenge, together with a vintage shoe I thought this was just right. If you live in South Norfolk you might like to know that Sparkle and Flair in Harleston have a biscuit tin full (well not quite so full now!) of old buttons for sale and Aldridge Crafts in Attleborough have Graphic 45 paper pads on order, due any day soon.
     Please pop over to House Of Cards and take a look at the DT samples, then come and join us with your creation.

I would like to enter this tag in the following challenges:

Crafty Ribbons Challenge - Ribbons N Buttons

DRS Designs - Button Up

Fun With Shapes And More - Buttons
Eclectic Ellapu - Vintage

Spike The TagHog

      Say Hello to Spike the taghog. He's a very useful chap to have by your telephone as he'll hold on to any notes you tuck into his back.
     Spike began life as a very tired and worn out old paperback novel, he has been well read but sadly was no longer loved in his original form. Now he has a new lease of life and will soon have a new home too.
     The book was approximately 300 pages long which was plenty. You'll be amazed at how fat he gets as you fold all his pages in half, that's why I find a paperback is better for this project.
     If you search 'altered books'  you will get an amazing array of art, Spike is a real beginners item but he was fun to make. He has old buttons for his eyes and nose and a selection of medium size tags for his prickles.

     He could hold messages by your phone or on your desk, he could also be a very novel birthday book with twelve tags stamped with each month of the year for you to list all those important dates you need to make cards for.
     Spike will be joining his friends in my local charity shop later this week, he's a way of using something nobody wishes to buy and turning it into a desk top novelty to raise money for the hospice.

I would like to enter Spike in the following challenge:

Try It On Tuesday - Handmade, to include writing

Country View Challenges - Paper Chase, must be paper