Conjurer of Dreams: Ice Queens

 

Hello

At the Conjurer of Dreams Challenge Blog we have a new monthly challenge, in addition to the main challenge. 

Kim gives away free images on each of the DT's blog posts, so we decided that we could make a challenge from using these free images.

This month, February,  you can use ANY FREE IMAGE from last month (that's where these Ice Queens are from) and also from this month.

Here is what I made with 3 of January's free images:

It is a set of ATC cards.

I made the backgrounds by smooshing, dipping and dabbing 2.5 x 3.5 inch cards in puddles of Faded Jeans Distress Ink. I then added some white heat embossing using stamped tiny hearts. The images were fussy cut, the edges inked and adhered to the card bases. 

Next I heat embossed all around the edges of the cards by swiping the edges through a Versafine ink pad and pushing the card edge into a little pile of white embossing powder - this gives a thicker, more enamelled appearance..

Finally I found some sentiments in one of my Tim Holtz Small Talk sticker books. As they are going on ATCs, I trimmed them down a little, then cut them into strips. Once adhered and dry, I went around the sentiments with a Uniball Eye fine pen.

Here's a final look:

That's all for now.

We hope you'll come and join our challenges:

February Free Image Challenge

February Anything Goes Challenge #5 

Facebook Group for more challenges and free images.

I'd like to enter these challenges:

Classic Design Challenge AG 12/02

Mix It Up Challenge #75 AG?Monochrome 15/02

The Four Seasons Feb Winter 25/02

Rock Paper Scissors #1 28/02

(Paper digitals and sentiments fussy cut)

Hearts Quest Fantasy Challenge #2 28/02

A Place to Start Feb AG 28/02

xoxo

Crafts Galore Encore: Rabbit with Sunflower

 

 Hello

Today sees that start of a new challenge at Crafts Galore Encore. 

The theme is always 'Anything Goes' and you can enter up to 3 different projects.  The challenge runs all month until mid day (GMT) 27th February.

This month's challenge is kindly sponsored by Polkadoodles.

Here is what I made:

The DT were given images to make sample projects from. I used Rabbit with Sunflower which is a pre-coloured image. I decided to add a little extra colour to it with Polychromo pencils. I fussy cut it and adhered it to a stencil stamped inky background., using oxide inks I die cut the sentiment and used the same green textured card as a mat.

***

That's all for now.

Many thanks to NIkky at Polkadoodles for her generous prize of 3 digis for our random winner.

Please pop over to Crafts Galore Encore to see the DT's wonderful designs and to enter our challenge. 

We'd love to see your creations.

Remember the challenge is always 'Anything Goes' and so you can create any type of project - it doesn't have to be a card and you can enter up to 3 times.

Thanks for stopping by today!

xoxo

                                                                

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

Polkadoodles Challenges #2 AG 06/02

Allsorts Challenge #816 AG  14/02

A Gem of a Challenge AG 20/02

Critter Crazy Challenges #95 AG 25/02

Crafty Animals #91 AG 26/02

A Perfect Time to Craft AG 26/02

Mirtillamente Challenge #40 AG 27/02

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

* Path of Positivity: Butterflies

  

Hello

Today is the smidway reminder for the October challenge at the Path of Positivity.

Our challenge is always Anything Goes with an optional theme. We have decided that our overall theme for 2024 will be THE POWER OF WORDS.

October's option is to design a project that is inspired by quotes about 

Growth and Change

***

Here is my project:

This is such a beautiful sentiment and one of my favourites as it reminds that change is good - generally, I'm not too fond of change as it causes me anxiety.

I have had a batch of these butterflies and caterpillars in a little wallet for a while and sadly can't remember where they are from. They were fussy cut, but looked a little dark, so I added some white Posca pen dots to the edges of their wings. I also added Glossy Accents to the body of the butterflies and to the caterpillar. I made the background using a stamp and Distress Oxide inks. The inks were spritzed with water, then stamped onto white card. The edges of the mandala stamped background were inked in Pistachio and Evergreen Bough. 

I added the die cut sentiment in the centre of the mandala on foam tape and attached the butterflies, also on foam tape, leaving their wings free to flutter. All was matted onto teal card and popped on a 6 x 6 inch white card base

***

Here are this month's suggested quotes, but you can choose your own:

“You’re off to great places, today is your day. Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way.” — Dr. Seuss

“One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things." — Henry Miller 

“If we don’t change, we don’t grow. If we don’t grow, we aren’t really living.” — Gail Sheehy

“If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.” — Henry Ford

 

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” — Mahatma Gandhi

***

That's all for now.

We would love to see your creations! 

Just make sure that your entry is positive, inspirational, motivational or encouraging in some way!

 The link up is here: Challenge #124 Path of Positivity.

Many thanks to Scribbles Designs for sponsoring the challenge.

I'll be back with a another Path of Positivity project in a couple of weeks time. 

***

Thanks for stopping by today!

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

* PIP Challenges 2442AG 27/10

* A Perfect Time to Craft Oct AG 28/10

* Creative Fingers Challenge #287 AG 01/11

* Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #240 AG 02/11

* Classic Design Challenge Sep/Oct AG 12/11

 

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

xoxo

* Gecko Galz: Mushroom Maiden Window Wallet Book

 Hello

It's March and we have a new customer challenge over at the Gecko Galz blog.  

The theme this month is Magic.al Mushrooms.

As always, we also have the monthly card challeng.e, the monthly Christmas Image Challenge, the monthly Stamp Challenge, an ATC challenge, a Steampunk challenge and a Gothic Challenge on the blog, as well as 4 Facebook challenges. These can be accessed by the tabs at the top of the main blog page. We also have the new quarterly challenge.

We hope you can find some time to join in the fun.

The winner of the Customer challenge will get a $25 Gecko Galz Etsy Store voucher and the runner up a $12 voucher. There are plenty of free Gecko Galz images if you don't already own any. Each blog post has a free image to collect and, if you sign up for the monthly newsletter, there is the chance to claim a free collage set each month.  Also if you make any purchase of $2 or more you receive a free image.

***

Here is what I made as inspiration for the Customer Challenge. 

(At the bottom of this post there are step by step instructions of how I made this.)

It's a window wallet mini book. It has an acetate window on the front cover.

The cover is a tag and the pages are an accordion.

The wallet booklet closes with twine wrapped around and tied in a bow. I used metal charms to add a little weight.

Really the photos do not do it justice. The cover and pages have a beautiful patina and shimmer.

Below are the pages in close up.

As the wallet opens the full image on the last page is revealed.

I added some die cut mushrooms and leaves (Sizzix Tim Holtz die), cut from Distress Oxide coloured card, and a tiny sentiment.

Each page has one of the Mushroom Maidens and extra foliage, mushroom and sentiment.

Here's the back of the wallet book:

Step by Step

Here are photos of each stage in the making of the booklet. They correspond to the steps listed below (individual photos are at the end of the post so you can enlarge and see the product I used and how I threaded the tie mechanism. 

First: Cut a tag. 

Mine is 8 inches x 4 inches wide. Scored at 3.5 inches and 7 inches - this forms the wallet with the end one inch as a tuck spot to keep the accordion in place when the wallet is closed.

Then: Cut 2 strips of card and adhere together to form the accordion.

My strips are 9.75 x 3.50 inches, scored at 3.25 and 6.50 inches. (Each page is 3.25 x 3.5 inches and there are 5 pages once the strips are adhered)

1. I smooshed the card into Distress Oxides (Pumice Stone first, then Frayed Burlap which oxidises to give a lovely patina) spritzed with water and used the dip, dab, dry method repeatedly.

2. a. When dry, I stamped with a PaperArtsy foliage stamp in Versafine Acorn ink.

b. The edges of the card and the folds were heat embossed in gold (for extra durability). Gold paint spatters were added.

3. Holes were punched and heat embossed for the twine tie mechanism.

4. A rectangle was die cut in the front cover of the wallet and an acetate window made.

5. The accordion was adhered inside the wallet to form the base of the booklet.

Decorate as you wish - take care to make sure your image shows through the window.

click on these preparation images to enlarge

 

Here is the Gecko Galz collage set I used:

  Mushroom Maidens  

That's all for now!

I hope you'll join our Magical Mushrooms challenge where the winner will get a $25 shopping spree at the Gecko Galz shop.

The only rule is that you must use at least one Gecko Galz product (this can be one of the freebies or, of course, you can buy at the Etsy store!) Also if you sign up for the Gecko Galz newsletter, you'll be able to claim a free collage sheet each month.

Please pop over to the Gecko Galz blog to see the fabulous designs by the very talented DT.

We also have a friendly Facebook Group where there are 4 monthly challenges, each with a bespoke digital prize. 

Do come and join us!

I'll be back on the 10th March with more Gecko Galz projects.

Here's all the info you need:

Gecko Galz blog

Current Gecko Galz Challenge : "Magical Mushrooms"

Gecko Galz Etsy Shop

Gecko Galz Facebook group

***

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

I'd like to play along in the following challenges:

Crafty Catz #666  More than one Fold 07/03 TOP 3

My Time to Craft #528 Create own background 07/03 TOP 5

* Creative Fingers #272 AG 08/03

* PIP Challenges 2409 AG 10/03

* Creative Creases #77 AG with a fun fold 14/03 Winner

* A Perfect Time to Craft March AG 28/03

* The Outlawz Challenges Card Free AG 05/04 TOP PICK

* Mini Album Mania #4 15/04 Top Pick

Mix It Up Challenge Fancy Fold 14/05 TOP PICK

I'd really love some feedback :)      

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

***

Wasting Time

 

Hello

The theme at Lost Coast Portal to Creativity this month is For The Men.

Like many, I find masculine cards so difficult to create, however, it's a while since I entered a Lost Coast challenge, so I thought I would give it a go.

Here is the card I made:

I used the Monkey with Banjo stamp from Carmen's Veranda. I made a stencilled background with a layering stencil called 'Modern Weave' from Alex Syberia Designs and Oxide inks. I grounded the monkey on washi tape and added a Lawn Fawn 'Happy Birthday' sentiment and a 'Wasting Time' sentiment strip.

That's all for now.

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

* Stamping Sensations Animals, Birds, Creatures 28/02

Craft Rocket Challenges #111 Birthday 28/02

PIP Challenges #2408 AG 03/03

My Time to Craft Challenge #528 Create own background 06/03

* Vera Lane Studios: Celeste

 

 Hello

It's Monday and my Vera Lane Studio DT day. 

Today we have a new digi set in the Etsy store. It is Celeste - a beautiful girl and her puppy dog gazing up to the stars. She has a choice of three sentiments.  

Here is what I made:

I coloured the digi stamps with Copic markers and fussy cut them. The background was made with Distress Ink blending. I used a piece of torn paper to mask off the ground and coloured the sky, trying for a northern lights effect. White paint spatters replicate stars in the night sky. When dry, the sky was masked and the ground coloured with inks. I added some stamping in black to represent foliage silhouettes, then adhered the girl, grass and starts. The sentiment was cut into strips.

Celeste

That's all for now.

I hope you'll come along and play on Vera Lane. It's such a friendly, fun place to be!

  

Here's all the info you need:

Vera Lane Studio Blog

***Vera Lane Studio Facebook Group***

Vera Lane Studio You Tube Channel

Vera Lane Studio Etsy Shop

AALL & Create carry Janet's clear stamp sets, stencils and Washi Tape. 

A list of stockists can be found here.

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

* Allsorts Challenge #764 A/G 26/01 TOP 5

* A Perfect Time to Craft AG 27/01

* PIP Challenges #2403 AG 28/01

* Daisy Chain Challenge #81 No Design Paper 30/01 TOP 5

* Gem of a Challenge #2 AG 02/02

*613 Avenue Create Jan AG/New Beginnings 02/02 TOP ROCKER

* Classic Design Challenge #01-2024 AG 12/02

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo