MHK Designs - And Many More

     Welcome to the first of this months new releases at MHK Designs, this one is called And Many More.

     The base card is die cut to look like a cupcake, I don't know the make of the die as I bought it pre-loved. On the lower part I have cut out a corrugated layer to look like the case and covered the top part with double sided sticky sheet and trimmed to fit before sprinkling it with micro beads.
     The image and greeting were printed out on white card and die cut, but before removing the die I used some Distress ink to colour them. The image has a gold mirri mat layer before be mounted on foam pads on the front of the card, the greeting has been stuck flat to the inside of the card.
     We will have four more new releases to show you through this month, if you fancy the chance to win them then please pop over to the challenge blog and to find out how. You can find this set and many more in our Etsy shop along with lots of inspiration.

And Many More

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

Ooh La La Creations - Layer It Up

Digi Choosday - Anything Goes

Fancy Feathers at The House Of Cards

     A new challenge at the House Of Cards this month has a great challenge prompt inspired by feathers.

     Using a Sizzix feather die I cut a 'stamp' from funky foam, to get it to release from the die easily I used Stix2 Die Release Sheet, all parts came out of the die intact so I have a thin mask to use aswell.
     I have coloured a piece of white card with Distress Ink Oxides in Broken China and Walnut Stain, then using the improvised stamp spritzed with water I have stamped and blotted the feather across the card. This was followed by a little bit of spritz and flick to get the speckles. To darken the edges I have used Walnut Stain basic Distress ink, this helps draw the eye to the centre of the card.
     The turquoise feather in the centre is die cut from double sided sticky sheet, stuck onto the card and covered with transfer foil. The image panel is mounted on a thin turquoise layer before going on a Kraft card blank. The greeting is from MHK Designs, printed on white card, die cut and coloured with Distress ink Old Paper, the mat layer is coloured with the same marker as the other mat layer, then using foam pads it's stuck over the corner of the card.
     This challenge runs for a month so please come and join us with your cards, we'd love to see what inspiration you get from the picture below.

April challenge - House Of Cards

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

Creative Knockouts - Anything Goes
Double D - Things that fly
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

MHK Designs April Challenge

     A new challenge starts today at MHK Designs and I have used a new set due for release later this month as it fits the challenge prompt perfectly, this set is called Birdcage Silhouettes.

     I started by printing the birdcages onto an A6 piece of watercolour card, then I cut a mask using thin card and heart shaped dies.
     Once the mask was in place I sprinkled red Brusho over the hearts and spritzed with water, taking care not to get it too wet so it didn't run under the mask.
   
 

     Once the red hearts were dry I covered them with the die cut shapes from the mask to protect them when colouring the background. This was made using blue Distress ink and a mask of different sized circles to create a Bokeh effect, building up layers of colour with various sized circles until I was happy with it.
     Adding in the chains for the birdcages to hang on was done at the end so the ink wouldn't get smudged. Then the image panel was mounted on a black background layer, I have kept it as a flat panel so I can put it on the wall above my desk but it would make a nice card too.
   
 
     We have lots of new stamp sets to show you this month so please pop over to MHK Designs blog to see them as they appear, come and join our challenge and you may win some of them. You can see all of the great designs we have in our Etsy shop, including some gorgeous backing papers.

Birdcage Silhouettes

 

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

Digital Delights - Anything Goes
Digi Choosday Crafting - Anything Goes

Swimming Along With Altered Eclectics

     I was challenged to produce a mixed media  project that wasn't grungy, so this is what I came up with. It's also the project I wish to feature for Altered Eclectics, a challenge for mixed media and recycled artwork.

     I started with an 8 inch square canvas and added texture using some  stencils to create weeds and stones.
     The weeds on the left are sections of lace cut and stuck on, there are also some small embellishments made with hot glue in a silicone mold added before painting.
     Once all that was dry, which wasn't long, I set about painting over it all with a light blue acrylic paint. Once the paint was dry I started to use some mica sprays to add shades of blue and purple, while this was still wet I sprinkled it with rock salt and left it to dry. The salt pools the colour and creates a great mottled effect but has to dry naturally, speeding it up with a heat gun doesn't get the same effect, the salt can be gently rubbed off once dry.

    The next step was to paint the weeds a greenish colour, along with painting the crab, seahorse and shells. I went over the weeds with a pearl green paint and dabbed a little on here and there.
     There are some rice paper words added at the top and to make the bottom look a little more like a seabed I have dded sand poured over a thick coat of PVA glue.  
     I chose to leave the shells in their natural state so after moving them around to get them where I wanted I fixed them with hot glue.

     I wanted to add some jelly fish so I made them on my craft mat with hot glue and then dusted them with pearl mica powder.
     To add a splash of bright colour I used an MDF fish and covered him with foil using a 2in1 glue pen. I have added some glossy accents to his eye.
     Altered Eclectics challenge runs all month so you have lots of time to come and join us with your projects, we would like to see anything but cards and ATC's.

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

Colour Crazy Craft - Anything Goes

Creative Fingers - Anything Goes

Sparkly Flowers

     This card was made a little while ago, it's been sitting waiting for the right recipient and that lovely lady has got it now so it's safe to share with CraftyHazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge.

     The card is huge, 8 inches square, not a size I would normally use but as it's not been posted it's not a problem and it does give a nice big area to decorate.
     The patterned paper panels are from a Woodware paper pack, with co-ordinating strips and banners. Mat layers are cut from black card with added faux stitching using a white pen.
     The flowers are stamped, embossed and coloured with gel Glaze pens, sprinkled with clear glitter when wet, then cut out when dry, the leaves are just coloured.

     With the addition of ribbon, Candi and buttons the front is complete, which leaves the inside to decorate. Just stamping a greeting inside seemed rather sparse when compared to the front so I have die cut a large flower from white card, coloured the edges with Distress ink, added a greeting and stuck the flower flush to the card. There is still plenty of room to write a message and now the inside looks a little more appealing.
     CrafytHazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge runs all month and the only requirement is the use of patterned paper so come along and join us with your creations.

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

That's Crafty - Foliage and Flowers
Crafty Gals Corner - Anything Goes

A Kiss of Colour at The Male Room

     The new challenge at The Male Room is black and white with a splash of colour, it doesn't have to be a card but it should be for a man or boy.

     The main stamp I've used here is by Visible Image called 'Bite Me', when I bought mine it was just the mouth and a word stamp, but now it comes in a set called Dare To Be Different with some other small stamps.
      I used Versamark ink and some red embossing powder , the inner part of the mouth was coloured black with an alcohol marker, the words are a Woodware stamp just stamped in black ink.
     The image panel has a narrow red mat layer before being stuck on a black embossed layer. The whole card is just over 5 inches square and quite flat for ease of posting.
     You will find lots of inspiration over on The Male Room's challenge blog to get you started so please come and join us, you have two weeks before the challenge closes.

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

International Art and Soul - Embossing

Artistic Inspiration - Anything Goes

Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Cards In Envy - Black and White  (sorry if my splash of colour is too much)

Spring Has Sprung

     Spring has sprung, the daffodils are up and the birds are busy building their nests so a bright and cheerful spring card seemed the right thing to make, two boxes of flowers exploding will be great for a Mothers Day card.

      I have used lemon gingham card but due to the folds of this card part of the white side will also be visible, so it has been coloured and stamped to co-ordinate with the gingham.
     The two sided are stuck and slotted together and the card bars stuck inside to hold the acetate strips.
     Each box has three card bars and six acetate strips to hold butterflies and flowers, these are attached with red line double sided tape.

      The flower heads were stamped on yellow card, cut out, then decorated with gold foil using the Stix2 glue pen and transfer foils. The secret of this method is patience, just wait for the glue to turn completely clear and the foils will stick.
     Each flower is attached with strong tape, you can vary the height of the flowers by trimming the strips accordingly, I would suggest they all start the same full height and you trim as you go along, this allows for a choice in arrangement of your flowers.

     The butterflies are stamped on a piece of scrap card that was underneath some tags when using the fabric spray paints, nothing goes to waste that way. These paints are designed for fabric but work very well on canvas and card too.
     These have also been given foil highlights, cut out and attached to the acetate strips, there are several different sizes in the stamp set.
     The whole card will fold flat for posting but will need a tall DL envelope so the acetate doesn't get creased.




Materials list - available from your  local craft shop

Stix2 Anything - Lemon Gingham / Intensive Yellow Card 
                        Project Acetate
                        Ultra Clear Tape 6mm
                        Glue Pen 2in1
                        Shiny Transfer foil
                        Fabric Spray Paints

Other Items      FRS639  Tatty Butterflies stamp
                       JGS491 Fancy Flowers
                       Distress Inks Squeezed Lemonade / Mustard Seed
                       Versafine Onyx Black

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

heARTful Stamping - Spring & a Stamp

Ooh La La Creations - Spring Is In The Air

Crafting From The Heart - Anything Goes