You'll never guess who I'm GDT for!!!

Well have you guessed - I bet not!!! LOL

Only STAMPOTIQUE!!! Yep you heard right Stampotique!!! Shocked huh?? But not as shocked as I was!

I really don't know how I've contained my excitement and nerves for this GDT as it's completely out of my normal zone, but I have had a blast and will definitely be incorporating their stamps in more of my makes! I'm still a little (OK well a lot) surprised that they invited me, so I hope that I can rely on your support over the next month cos I kinda feel a little teency bit intimidated by the uber talented designers they have over there! Pop onto to the designers blog to check out some of the work.

For my first project  I thought I'd make an acetate exploding box, but it didn't quite pan out as I'd planned and I'm not entirely sure that there's an easy answer. If anyone who reads this post has managed to make a box without the problems I've encountered, please do let me know where I went wrong!!!

As you can see from my photo the box only opens on two sides. I tried a full explosion, but the walls went wildly out of shape, so I thought the solution would be to give it more stability by making the explosion on two sides only. It kind of worked but still isn't 100% as I would like it!! However, this was a "happy accident" for me, as I actually think I prefer it to a full explosion as it gives me far more scope for scene building!!

The next problem was trialing the caught in crystal technique using floor polish which I personally don't think is as successful as using glue! The alcohol inks don't spread as effectively and the solution struggled to contain glitters, plus it was really, really messy. However, I did make a discovery from this experiment which I'll share on another day, so again, it's not all bad!!!

So in summary, an all acetate exploding box is going to be a no, no for future projects. As is using floor polish to create the caught in crystal panels! So with the wondrous thing that is hindsight, I'll use black card for the box base and the caught in crystal acetate panels will be created using glue!

Anyway, lets move onto the things that did go right! :D The scene in the middle was created using the image Smushasha by Daniel Torrente and Cloud Clay covered in modelling paste and spray inks for the rock. I stamped the acetate panels with the image Daisy Daisy by Jo Capper-Sandon, coloured them with Metallic Promarkers and then placed a tiny pearl in the centre of each one. The text is also by Jo Capper-Sandon and can be found here. I then used a tiny flower punch to create the flowers on the rock and glued them to some cake decorating wire that I twirled around my pokey tool.

Well I think that's about it from me today, if you've got this far I'm impressed!! :D So all that's left to say is "Thanks for stopping by today, I hope you've enjoyed your visit!" I'll be back on Friday with another project.

Claire xxx

I'd like to enter this project into the following challenges:
Just Keep On Creating - Anything goes
Papertake Weekly - Anything goes
Hooked On Crafts - All that glitters
Make It Monday - Anything goes
Smudgy Antics - Anything goes
Catch the bug - Anything goes
Crafty Mess - Fantasy
The Secret Crafter - Anything goes
Simon Says Stamp & Show - Texture

Sweet Pea Stampers Challenge - Glitz & Glamour

I can't believe that we are almost at the end of the month and that it's already time for another challenge over at Sweet Pea Stampers. This fortnight the theme is Glitz and Glamour and boy have the DT gone to town, you should stop by and checkout their fantastic creations! Talking of DT's we're going to have a DT call very soon, full details will be posted on the Sweet Pea Stampers Blog, so make sure you keep an eye out for it. Also, don't forget our fantastic followers candy which closes on 31/1. Oh and I almost forgot the challenge prize this time is for a grab bag of Sweet Pea stamps supplied by the lovely Lynnette over at Sweet Pea Stamps.

Anyway, onto my card - it's kinda bold and bright so grab your sunnies and be prepared!

I've used ching-chou kuiks Fly Butterfly for this card. The image has been stamped onto white card and coloured with Promarkers and given a mix of Stickles for a bit of glitz. I made the image background from a piece of "Caught in Crystal" that had gone slightly wrong (the paper peeled away from the acetate and left me with a pliable film). The backing paper is a piece of caught in crystal acetate (unfortunately you can't see all the inclusions and pearlescent shimmers). I've added some die cut photo corners to finish.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Oldie but a Goodie - Fairies, Mermaids, Dragons or any other mythical beings
Passion for Promarkers - Let it shine
Kaboodle Doodles - Bling It Up
The Crafty Pad - Girly
Gingerloft - Things that fly
Let's Ink It Up - Anything Goes
Crafty Emma's - Angels & Fairies
Wags 'n' Whiskers - Angels & Fairies

Delicious Doodles Challenge #7 It's All New To Me!!

Happy New Year folks!! A bit late I know, but I've been deprived of my craft space as apparently Christmas dinner and entertaining was more important than my crafting!!! As a result I have had nothing to show you. Anyway, today I do have something to show you cos it's challenge time over at Delicious Doodles! So what are we upto this week? Well it's a really nice and easy challenge - try something new. It can be a new technique or product, as long as it's new to you! So get out your new stash and come and play.

I've decided to try something totally new in everyway! I've made a necklace using the new image Wistful Fairy from Delicious Doodles  and my new memory frames and glass slides that my lovely friend bought me for Christmas. I've also tried a new technique (well new to me anyway) "Caught in Crystal", which I absolutely love! So expect to see this one in use again in the future. The only old thing about this project (well apart from the creator) is the black silk cord which I've had for ages. I have to apologise for the pictures - this project was a complete nightmare to photograph and to be honest really doesn't show the colours and sparkle off very well at all :(

The image was coloured with Promarkers and some sparkle was added with Sakura Gel Pens and Stickles. I created the background using the caught in crystal technique. The whole lot was then placed between two sheets of memory glass and into the frame. I added a length of black silk cord to finish.

Materials:
Image - Delicious Doodles
Acetate
Tissue Paper
Alcohol Inks
Crystal Glaze
Ranger Memory Frames
Ranger Memory Glass
Promarkers
Sakura Gel Pen
Stickles
Black Silk Cord

I'd like to enter this project into the following challenges:
Crafty Purple Frog - New
Creative Cottage - Something New
Bunny Zoe's - Sparkle & Shine
Woodware USA - Something New
Moving Along With The Times - Old/New
Sarah Hurley - New beginnings
Ladybug Crafts Ink - Anything goes