Steampunk Bee!

Oh get me! My first attempt at steampunk! Actually it's my first attempt at a couple of things, but on the whole I'm pretty OK with how they've come out :D

Last year my old teamie Crom aka Helen from Croms Cubby Hole made a fantastic 3D embellishment using her melt pot. I was so impressed by it that I thought maybe one day I'd have a play. Now I have to say part of the reason I didn't attempt it before was that it looked a bit intimidating. However, I'm pleased to report that Helen was right and it was indeed relatively straight forward. So much so that it's definitely something that I will be repeating! Infact look out for take two of the bee ;D

I altered an old beer mat by covering with torn papers, paint, modelling paste and glimmer spray and adhering a computer generated sentiment onto it.

The bee is of course Big Bee by Jo Capper-Sandon which has been stamped numerous times, decoupaged and then given a bath in UTEE before being adorned with various cogs and springs. I made the little key in his back from two Woodware brads.

My only disappointment with this project was the chain! I tried just about every fast method to get one to rust, but NONE of the fast methods worked for me (I think I'm lil Miss Impatient). So I'm currently trying a slower method that looks like it's working. In view of this, I resorted to using a brass chain that should tarnish fairly quickly!

 So what do you reckon?

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire x

I'd like to enter this project into the following challenges:
Make It Monday - Anything goes
Inspire Me Fridays - Anything goes
Craftymess - Anything goes
The Stampman - Butterflies, Birds & Bees
Craftroom Challenge - Alter It
LEJ Designs - Steampunk
Through The Craftroom Door - Anything goes
That Craft Place - Make your own background

Love Birds!!

Morning. It's time for another challenge over at Polka Doodles and this week we want to see "things with wings". Don't forget you don't need to use a Polka Doodles product, but we'd love it if you did!

This is a commissioned card for a lad that I work with. He wanted a card for his girlfriend to mark the six months that they'd been together. The stipulation was to include a photograph of them, the date they met, a bird, no flowers and no pink!!! So this it what I came up with.....

The papers are from the Sugarplum Daisy CD and the images are from the Candy Doodles Collectors Edition. I made a pocket for the tag which carries a photograph of the couple and I used the computer to generate the date they met text which has been printed onto the ribbon. The die cut hearts are some that the lovely Angie from Bumbles Bees Craft Den sent me ages ago. The sentiment on the die cut heart is also computer generated.

Well that's it from me today. I hope you all have a lovely weekend.

Thanks for stopping by.

Claire x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Look what I've had published in Pen & Paper Circle 4 - My Vintage Christmas Card!

Have you got your copy of the Pen & Paper Circle 4 yet? If so then you'll see that I've had this card published in there - does a little happy dance! If you missed ordering this issue then keep an eye on our Facebook page and the store as occasionally one or two issues become available (and when I say one or two I literally mean one or two). Issue 5 is now available to order, but you'll need to be quick as orders are only being taken until 7th October.

Thanks for stopping by today

Claire x

PS. Thanks to everyone who commented on my Faux Metal Box and left comments suggesting I try either coke cans or metal tape. I did try coke tins, but it didn't give me quite the finish I wanted and then I found the panel wasn't quite big enough to cover the box :( The tape would've been fine but again it wasn't quite wide enough for the box. Hence me using foil! I will be doing a tutorial on the kitchen foil technique for those of you who either emailed or asked via Facebook. x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Ho Ho Ho It's So Simple!

It's time for another giveaway over at Studio 12. I thought I'd show you another TV sample using the Gingerbread Twist CD. As you know the turn around time on these projects is always really tight, so whilst I'd love to be able to spend hours preparing gorgeous creations time just does not permit it which is why I always end up with a few C&S makes.

This one is relatively quick and easy, you just need a steady hand to apply the Glossy Accents and Sakura Glitter Pens to the letters. Sadly my photos don't show the effect this gives :(.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Inspire Me Fridays - Anything goes

Studio 12 & A Faux Metal Box

Morning. It's my turn to post over at Studio 12 today and I thought you all might like a little change from Christmas? So my inspiration piece today is this little box.

My inspiration for it is a gorgeous little tin plated box I bought back from India many moons ago and over time is has gradually fallen to pieces to the point where it is unrepairable. I've been looking for a replacement one, but was shocked as to how much they cost. I was going to make one using some of the Ten Second Studio sheets, but simply don't have the funds at the moment. I then tried tin cans, but didn't quite get the look I was after. So I had a flick through some magazines and quick google of the internet and found several projects that used tin foil. Now, I know technically it's not a "faux metal" that I've created as tin foil is obviously metal, but the term serves my purpose today and I'm sure you get where I'm coming from anyway? So my box.......

I got given a couple of these little papier mache boxes and they've sat in my stash for ages, so I thought that I'd use one. Now I have to say that these are not the best base for working on when placing panels! For starters they're not particularly square and as such it makes getting a good finish almost impossible! Anyway, as I started using it I thought I'd persevere and finish!

I chose to use the images from the Heavenly Garden section of the Studio 12 Picknix Collection 1 as they had nice clean lines which I thought would be easy to work with and suit the overall look of the box.

So what do you think? Passable as a metal box or not?

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire

I'd like to enter this box into the following challenges:
Simply Create - Anything goes
The Paper Shelter - Anything goes
Simon Says Stamp - Anything goes
Creative Craft Challenges - Anything goes
Through The Craft Room Door - Anything goes
Love To Create - Anything goes
Make It Monday - Anything goes

It's all about the squares!

Wow where did that fortnight go? I can't believe it's time for another challenge over at Stampotique, but it is, and this time we want to see squares - at least three of them! So as it's a nice easy one (most of your guys who mat and layer automatically have three or more squares anyway) I really do hope that you'll join us. Remember you don't need to use a Stampotique product to enter and you could be in with a chance of winning a lovely voucher to spend on new stash!

I'm afraid my card is really quick and easy one (I promise I have got more creative stuff in the pipeline to show you soon) which is for my friend's birthday which falls on Halloween.

The card is made from a regular card blank which has been matted with black paper and then white card. To create my third square which is inked, I simply made a mask from post it notes prior to inking with Distress Inks. The moon has been water bleached before over stamping with the fantastic image Owl Tree by Kira Nichols. To finish I added a rub on sentiment.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Bearly Mine - Add a sentiment
Love to create - Anything goes
Make It Monday - Anything goes

Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer....

That's it sing along!!!! As you may have guessed this weeks challenge over at Polka Doodles is "Inspired By A Song". Remember to enter you don't need to use a Polka Doodles product.

I'll be honest I almost didn't make this weeks challenge as I've been really busy with stuff going on at home and had completely forgotten it was challenge week. So this is a fairly quick and easy card!

I used the Here Come Christmas CD for the papers and image. Rudolph has been covered with flock, glittered and Glossy Accented. The wreath was created using a Sizzix Holly Die and the Snowflakes have been snipped from my new Memory Box Frostyville Border Die.

That's it from me today. I hope you all have a fab weekend.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges: