Dragon Girl

     Our third challenge at River Of Creativity is to make anything you like as long as there are 'no hearts or mushy stuff' on it. It doesn't have to be papercraft, it can be anything that you have made.

     

      The image panel on this picture is a digital paper from Vectoria Designs, I don't do much with digital images but this caught my imagination because I love dragons. The whole pack has my head buzzing with ideas for a journal, but for now it's just a picture to hang on the wall.

      After printing the image I took a piece of white card and some Distress inks and made a corresponding backing sheet. Spritzing with water when finished to achieve the speckled effect.

      I cut a dark blue mat layer to go between the image panel and the backing sheet, then cut another blue mat to go behind the backing sheet, it's amazing how much it changes the picture.

      To give the picture some dimension and interest I printed another page from the set and die cut it with one of Jamie Rodgers Canvas Collection dies. The sides were glued down but I used some foam tape in the middle to give it support.

      I was hoping to have it framed before now but I haven't found the right one yet, when I do I think it may have to be altered slightly to fit with the subject, I'll update this post when it's done.

      Please come and join us at River Of Creativity, we accept anything you have made as long as we can see our chosen theme in there somewhere.

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

The Fairy and The Unicorn - Anything Fantasy

The Crafter's Cafe - #269 Anything Goes

A Perfect Time To Craft - #7 Anything Goes

A Bit More Time To Craft - #142 Anything Goes

2 Crafty Critter Crazies - #52 Anything With A Critter

Crafty Calendar - July Anything Goes

Gem Of A Craft Challenge - #14 Anything Goes

Mothers Day With Vectoria Designs

 

   The Paper Funday has two sponsors this month, Vectoria Designs is one of them. This gorgeous paper set is called Spring Crocus, it has three pretty papers and three collage style top sheets.

     The backing paper I chose to use has tiny butterflies all over it, I have used my photo package to manipulate the colours to pick out shades of green as a nod to the optional theme in the challenge of Irish Luck/Green.

      I'm not very tech savvy but I do like to play around and alter my digi papers and images to suit my project, thankfully my photo package is very easy to use.

      I covered a 7x5 card blank with the paper, wrapping the paper over the spine onto the back to stop it lifting when folded. To continue with the green theme I coloured the edges of the paper with a little Peeled Paint Distress Ink.

      The topper was also altered to have a green hue and printed out as a smaller image, it has a little purple in the flowers and butterflies so I chose to mat this panel on purple card.

      I made a small slit in the envelope before sticking to the mat layer so I could tuck a tiny tag into the envelope. The matted image was then put on foam tape and stuck down at an angle on to the backing paper.

     The words are die cut gold mirri card, the die is for a stencil cut so to get the letters to stay in the die I put some masking tape across the back of the die. With the letters in the die I carefully added tiny spots of glue to the back of the letters, turned the die over and placed it on the backing paper. Gently peeling away the masking tape I used a pokey tool to pop the letters out of the die and stick them to the paper, it's a bit fiddly but it works well and all the letters are perfectly placed.

      Come and join us at The Paper Funday, we're an Anything Goes challenge with a twist, some great sponsors and lots of DT inspiration.

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

Digi Choosday - #9 Anything Goes

CD Sunday Plus - #55 Anything Goes CD or Digi

CraftyHazelnut's Patterned Paper - Anything Goes

Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes

MHK Designs - Thank You Mynn Blog Hop

     It's the first of the month which would usually mean it's time for a new challenge at MHK Designs, also time for a new set release. But sadly, Mynn, the very talented owner of MHK Designs and card genius, has made the very tough decision to close the blog (the Etsy shop will remain open for the time being at least, but nothing new will be added to it) to focus on what's important to her, her life as a teacher.
     The news came as a shock to myself and the other DT members, but it's a decision we totally support. As most of us had our cards ready for today we have decided to make it a blog hop to say thank you to Mynn for all she has done for us.
     The hop order is further down this post, but first I'd like to say my own Thank You to Mynn for sharing her talent with me and encouraging me to explore the world of digital images. There are some great videos on YouTube showing how to get even more from your images, something I would not have thought of when I joined the team back in 2015.

Judy

Rocky -You are here

Shawna

Jess

Julie

Dawn

Janie

Em

Asha  

Mynn  (not posting, but please leave her a comment)

MHK Designs - March Challenge

     Welcome to the new challenge at MHK Designs, this month we have the gorgeous Blessed Lily set to showcase.
    For this card I've used the lily image to build a centre motif and then add corner decoration over a green paper from Easter Flowers.  There are some great tutorials by our very own Mynn on You Tube, which show you how to manipulate the images and produce all manner of artwork.
    The greeting comes from another MHK Designs set, Eat Your Cake, printed and die cut and then layered on silver card. A simple card to make which is also nice and flat for standard postage.
     Come and join us at MHK Designs blog to see all the DT inspiration, play along with us for a chance to win some gorgeous digital images.

Blessed Lily

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

Digi Choosday - Anything Goes   (W)

Simply Papercraft - Anything Goes   (W)

MHK Designs - Sending Love To Dawn

     Hello friends! Today the MHK Designers are banding together to tell one of our own dear ladies, Dawn Bennett, that we are thinking of her during a difficult time in her life. Dawn recently lost her mother-in-law, and we wanted to let her know how much we care! We hope you take some time to leave Dawn some love, then hop with us to see the cards our team has created in her honor. 

Here is the hop order~ 

MHKDesigns Blog 

Mynn 

Asha 

Judy 

Rocky 

Shawna 

Jess 

Julie 

Em 

    In addition to the hop, we have a special *NEW* digital stamp set made in honor of Dawn's mother-in-law's life. It is called...

Sentimental Lily

MHK Designer Inspiration

  The digi papers are very good for making boxes, with so many to choose from it could be for any occasion. As it's fast approaching the festive season I have made a small gift box, a perfect size for gifting a few handmade treats.

      I printed the paper from Christmas Past on to thin card and then die cut the box, it measures 2.5 x 2.5 x 3 inches so it's a rather useful size.
     With just a little double sided tape the box is complete, it has a slot fastening star on top to go with the star paper. All that was needed to finish off was a tag which has a sentiment from Candy Canes and Crackers printed on it, a bit of red edging with ink to make it pop and a big foam pad behind it.
     I do hope you enjoy using MHK Designs images and papers for your projects, don't forget to join our challenge to show us what you've made.

Christmas Past

Candy Canes and Crackers

                             

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

Make My Monday - Anything But A Card   (F)

Incy Wincy Designs - NOT A Card   (F)

Crafting From The Heart - Anything Goes   (W)

The Holly And Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes   (F)

MHK Designs - Tick Tock

     This is the last of our new releases this month at MHK Designs, Tick Tock. The countdown to Christmas has begun in a couple of houses I know, and that's just the adults, so this card will be winging its way very soon.

     On this sentiment I have changed the 'o' for a clockface, then changed the colour to white before adding it over a paper from Christmas Past.
     A little white gel pen added to the trees to imply snowfall and a little dab of silver sparkle on the snowflakes adds interest without increasing the depth, making it completely flat for standard postage.
     The image panel is matted on silver mirri and then on to a white card blank that has the edges coloured blue.
     Inside there is a die cut tree shape with another sentiment from this set, the green was added before the die was removed so it has a small white border.

Tick Tock

Christmas Past

         








     
      You still have the chance to win this or all of the new releases from MHK Designs, just pop over to the MHK Designs blog to find out how. While you're there why not join our challenge, you DO NOT have to use an MHK Designs image to join us.

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

A Snowflakes Promise - Anything Goes   (M)
Digi Choosday - Anything Goes   (W)

MHK Designs - Heaven Heals

     This is the fourth new release set from MHK Designs to be issued this month, Heaven Heals. There is so much in this set, three beautiful frames that can be used on their own, or with the wonderfully gentle sentiments and a gorgeous angel.
     For this card I chose to use one of the frames to surround a colour changed sentiment, the frame is unchanged. The image is printed over a layer of paper from Country Farm changed to match the sentiment. After printing I have coloured the foliage in the frame and added tiny gems to the flowers to add a little sparkle.
     These images can be printed in a range of colours by using your photo package to alter them. There is a fab video by Mynn of MHK Designs here which will run you through the process, so if you (like I did) think that it's just click, print and colour in please watch Mynn's video's, digi's are SO much more useful than that.

Heaven Heals

Country Farm

     There is an opportunity for you to win this or maybe the whole release, details are over on the MHK Designs blog.  You can join in with our challenges too, you DO NOT need to use an MHK Designs image to play along.

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

Digi Choosday - Anything Goes   (W)
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes   (W)

ModSquad - Sympathy/Thinking Of You   (W)

MHK Designs - Growing Goodness

     This is from the third new release set by MHK Designs, Growing Goodness.  I chose to make a bookmark with one of the great sentiments in this set.
     Some of the words have had a colour change to make them a little different before beng put over a marbled paper from Country Farm. The sentiment strip is matted on to a dark blue die cut bookmark, with a small hole already cut at the end all I had to do was find a tassel  to loop through, slip it in to its plastic cover and a small gift was ready. I have taken the photo before putting it in the plastic sleeve so there's no reflection.

Growing Goodness

Country Farm

     

     You could win this or maybe even all of the new sets by joining us at MHK Designs blog and following the simple instructions.

MHK Designs - Celestial Elements

     Welcome to the first new release for October from MHK Designs, Celestial Elements. This set is great for making uplifting cards to send to friends and family.

     For this card I started with a background paper from Christmas Past because I wanted stars. I changed it to a dark blue so the white moon would stand out.
     The moon and sentiments were changed to white and layered over the stars, then printed.
     Before mounting on a silver layer I die cut a small star from the background so it would sine through.
     All that remained after that was to mount it on a white card blank. A nice flat, simple message of encouragement ready to send out.
     There will be four more new releases through this month and you have the opportunity to win these sets so please pop over to MHK Designs blog to find out how.

Celestial Elements

Christmas Past

                     

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

Digi Choosday - Anything Goes   (W)

Wonderful Wednesdays - Anything Goes   (W)

MHK Designs - Pet Puns

     Set number four from MHK Designs is a really useful set for animal lovers, this could help with making those masculine cards that sometimes prove to be a challenge.

     I chose to use the fishbowl from Pet Puns as I had someone in mind as soon as I saw this set. It's been printed on white card and coloured with alcohol markers, then die cut with a faux stitch die.
     To bring out the orange of the fish I printed some backing paper from French Country to use as a mat layer.
     Once the layers were all finished and added to the card blank I used some Glossy Accents to make the fish bowl look like glass, it took a while to dry and buckled slightly, but that has settled down now it's completely dry.
     Don't forget there is a chance to win this set or the whole release, you need to go to MHK Designs blog to find out how, while you're there why not make a card for our challenge too.

Pet Puns

French Country

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

2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything featuring a Critter   (M)

Digi Choosday - Anything Goes   (F)

Polkadoodles Crafting - Anything Goes   (W)

MHK Designs - Marvelous

     Our third new release at MHK Designs is a collection of marvelous sayings accompanied by a lovely flower, just the words alone make a great card.

     The colour of the saying has been changed in my photo package with a black background added before being printed on gloss photo paper.
     Using a small butterfly die I have cut random flutterings all over the gloss card and backed it with foam pads.
     The backing paper has been changed to turquoise and printed on thick paper. After sticking the background paper to a white card blank the gloss panel has been stuck on top, this allows the cut outs to show off the pattern underneath.
     A very simple card that's still thin enough for standard UK postage, ideal for a little note to cheer up a friend.
   

Marvelous

Damsel In Distress 

      Here is how to get this new set OR the entire release for FREE!  Here's what you'll need to do...  
             1.Comment on the MHKDesigns blog.
             2.Comment on each DT member's blog.
             3.Join our MHKDesigners and Friends Facebook group and comment there.

     Comments will be chosen randomly from all these places after the release is over, and the authors of those comments will be our winners!  So, the best way to win is to comment every day!  

MHK Designs - Monthly Inspiration

    Light of the World will be the next new set released by MHK Designs this month, so I thought I'd show you something you could make with it.

     Using the plain lamp from this set I made a circle of them with my photo package, printed them and then cut them out. They have been coloured with alcohol markers and stretched with a ball tool to resemble petals on a flower.
     Using a background from Damsel In Distress with foliage helps make this look even more flower like, along with layering two lamp circles on foam pads. The centre was die cut and coloured before removing the die to get a white, even border, this is also mounted on foam pads.
     The lamp butterfly is two large lamps and two small, all lamp bases are overlapped to get the body. With the addition of a flower stamen for antennae the butterfly, once coloured and trimmed, is complete, there are foam pads under its wings.
     The DT inspiration for this set will be on our blog on Thursday, please pop in and see all the different projects made with it. There will also be details on how you could win this set and more.
 

Light of the World

Damsel In Distress

                 

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

Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes

Little C's Creations - Yellow Flowers

MHK Designs - August Challenge

     The new challenge at MHK Designs has a floral inspiration to it and some rather bold colours too. After searching through my images I fell upon a backing paper that I thought was just perfect.
     Colouring papers are very popular in the UK, with many books available but once I started looking at the backing papers in black and white I saw lots of possibilities. Damsel In Distress is a great set for this purpose, with several designs that can be printed and coloured, making it even more useful.
     I printed my paper out on a lighter setting so I got a more grey image than black, then I set about colouring with watercolour pencils. Once all the colouring was done I went back over the design with a white gel pen to add some highlights. The centre of the blue flower has some silver dimensional paint added to lift it slightly.
     Mounting the image panel on dark red paper, then on blue card helped to pick out the challenge colours and tie the whole thing together. The layered panel was then put on a white card blank with a dark red edged die cut greeting mounted on foam pads.

Damsel In Distress

   
     The beauty of digital papers is you can print custom sizes and manipulate the colours to suit if you play around in your photo package. If you don't have a photo package try changing some of the settings on your printer, just remember to reset to standard when finished.  

MHK Designs have some great new releases coming out this month so please pop over to the blog to see what the DT have done with them, you also have the opportunity to win some of them, all details will be on the MHK Designs blog.

MHK Designs Monthly Inspration

     This month we are celebrating all things seasonal so I have chosen to make a special tag for a special gift. For this tag I have used two image sets, Season's Greetings and Deck The Halls, along with a paper set Christmas Past.
     To begin I covered a tag with a paper from Christmas Past and coloured the edges, then printed the stocking from Deck The Halls and Father Christmas from Season's Greetings. The stocking I die cut tag shaped, coloured and then used embossing powder to decorate the edge. Father Christmas was die cut on a circle and mounted behind a die cut frame.
    Father Christmas was stuck flush on to the large tag but the small tag was stuck on using foam pads, making sure the holes lined up. To finish I have added ribbons, twine and a gold bell.

Season's Greetings

Deck the Halls

   

Christmas Past

     Don't forget our challenge gives you the chance to win some MHK Designs sets and you don't even have to use our images to enter!

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

Merry Monday Christmas - Summer Link Up  (Aug 31)

Christmas at Sweet Stampin - Anything Christmas   (F)

Try It On Tuesday - Tags   (F)