Halloween Hanger

Good morning :D

It's time for another challenge over at Polka Doodles and this week we want to see your Autumn creations, so think leaves and swirls with lots of brown, red and orange! This is my contribution this week, I hope you like it!

I printed out the images from the A Sundae of Seasons CD and coloured everything with Distress Inks. The background was created with more Distress Inks, flicked it with water and then spritzed with Glimmer Mist (which sadly doesn't show in my photo, so you'll have to try and imagine the subtle shimmer). The images were mounted onto the background using Pinflair Glue. To finish I added some Stardust Stickles to the pumpkin and curled some wire to create the hanger.

I do hope that you'll join us this week. Remember you don't need to use a Polka Doodles image to enter, just make sure that project fits the theme.

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend. I shall be clearing my loft in preparation for the builders!

Thanks for stopping by.

Claire x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Make It Monday - Anything goes

Look what I did!!!

See this is what I do to keep myself out of mischief at the weekends! Last weekend I was lucky enough to attend an Andy Skinner workshop with the seriously bonkers Siobhan Brignull (aka Essex Gal) and this is what we made.

I know it's not my usual thing, but I really do like it. The class was technique rich and I'm pleased to say that I'm no longer afraid of doing an image transfer onto wood and can finally create convincing rust!!! The only thing that didn't go to plan on this project was the cracking, which I suspect was more to do with me than the product ;D However, I have to say the lack of cracking has led to a "happy accident" - I added more of the cracking solution and did indeed get more ultra fine cracks, but if you look closely it also created a rather fantastic pitting effect!

Thanks for stopping by.

Claire x

I'd like to enter this project into the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp & Show - Rustification (sorry guys you must be sick of seeing these by now!)

Vintage Christmas Tag

It's my turn to post over at the Studio 12 blog today. This was a really quick and easy tag using up all of my left over scraps and a photograph/scan of my mixed media wall hanging. What do you think?

The colours on the photograph have been manipulated in my photo editing software. I've then sized the image to my required size before running it through my printer and cutting with a Sizzix Tag Die. The masking tape was left over from a snowflake card which you no doubt spotted on the launch show, but I have yet to show you, and the seam binding and embroidery thread were in my stash. Before I go I just want to show you a different view of the tag in particular the baubles, as I've used a Sakura Glitter pen for sparkle and a Sakura Glaze Pen for shine and dimension (have to say it is one of my most favourite gizmos at the moment!).

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire x

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

Shhh - There's Fairies In My Garden!!!

Yep it's true and I have the photographic evidence!!! :D

This weeks challenge over at Stampotique is to use your stamps in conjunction with a photograph. Now as many of you know I quite enjoy scrapping but don't find it the most natural thing in the world to do. So when I saw this challenge it was kind of a "gulp moment" and then a "ohhhhh what am I gonna do one." Then when cleaning the loo inspiration stuck...... I spotted a favourite photo of my two little cherubs that had been stuck in a frame and hung on the wall in there (lol, just thought that this is maybe TMI??). I really hope you'll join us  this time, remember you don't need to use a Stampotique image to enter!

I also had this picture from Dunelm Mill that I picked up for the princely sum of £0.49p (well I picked up a couple actually but we won't go there!!) which I needed to prove wasn't a "white elephant". So I thought instead of a scrap LO I'd try a photo canvas of sorts!

Now this photo was taken years ago before everyone had a digital camera and I only had a cheapy point & shoot one, so it hadn't been enhanced and worse still I couldn't find the negatives. So I almost knocked the idea I had on the head. Hubby suggested scanning the photo - epic fail - it was really grainy and no matter what I did it wouldn't go right! Then my lovely daughter suggested taking a photo of it! Of course genius, why didn't I think of it! So that's what I did. Now it's not perfect, but it's certainly passable and tbh as this piece is for me and it's more about the memory than artistic perfection, I thought I'd run with it. So this is what I came up with.....

I started of by applying a generous coat of Gesso to the picture. Once dried I blended Distress Inks to create a background. Now the DI's didn't behave exactly as I'd expected, as they dried they faded and kind of ran together to create different hues, but I still liked the effect so I left it. Next I stamped, coloured and cut out Giant Shroom, Mushroom Group and Stones & Grass Cube and glued them into position. The mushrooms have had Glossy Accents added to the red areas and the wings on my daughter's costume have had been liberally covered with Stickles. To finish I stamped the "there are fairies in my garden" sentiment onto tissue paper and glued it into position.

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
Craft Room Challenge - Alter It
Top Tip Tuesday - Things With Wings
Joanne Sheen - Down In The Garden
Craftymess Challenge - Anything Goes

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: