* Path of Positivity: Forget-me-Nots

Hello!

Happy Monday!

Today is the start of a new Path of Positivity challenge.

This month the theme is Anything Goes with the optional twist of Beauty of Botanicals.

**The beauty of the botanical world is all around us.** 
This month create a project that depicts the allure and influence of botanicals. You can choose flowers, greenery or a combination of the two to show your love of nature's bounty.

Prizes this month include:

• 3 images from SheepSki Designs, our guest sponsor for this month, for a person chosen in a random draw based on all qualifying entrants. 
• ONE image (value of $5 or less) from Scribbles Designs, for the post or project that the team deems most inspiring of the bunch based on all qualifying entrants.
• One digital image from Creative Bug Digital SnapShots for each person chosen as a DT Delight.

Please remember in order to be eligible for the prizes your project must be positive, inspirational, motivational or encouraging in some way. 

I was lucky to receive an image from our guest sponsor, SheepSki Designs.  I chose the lovely Forget me Knots because they hold a special place in my heart. 

My grandparents lived in a bungalow and my grandad loved to potter in the small garden. They had Forget-me-Nots growing in the borders and grandad gave me a root for my garden. I am not the best at keeping plants growing, and so I love it each year when the pretty blue flowers burst into bloom and take me back to the days I spent with them. 
I later found out that the flowers are symbolic and represent immortal love for those who have passed before us. This way my brave little flowers took on extra special significance.

Here is the card I created:



I very rarely make one layer cards, and although technically this is not quite a one layer card, it is probably as close as I get.
I printed the beautiful Forget-me-Knots from our guest sponsor, SheepSki Designs on to white card, leaving enough space around the image to create my whole card. I coloured the flowers with Copic markers and added some white Posca pen flower centres. The background was inked from the edges with Antique Linen and then Vintage Photo, blending it as well as I could to fade out near the image. Water was sprinkled over the inks and blotted to give a bleached out, water droplet effect. I stamped the Seeds of Kindness verse from Inkylicious in Vintage Photo, then distressed the edges of the card. Here and there I added some tears and folded them back then re-inked. I found the lacy flower in my oddments box and placed a taupe flat backed jumbo pearl in its centre. Finally the piece was matted onto kraft card and popped on a white card base.

Many thanks to SheepSki Designs, this month's guest sponsor,

and to Scribbles Designs as the ongoing sponsor of the challenge


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 #78 Path of Positivity.

 

That's all for today! 

I'll be back with a Path of Positivity mid-month project in two weeks time.

Thanks for stopping by today!

xoxo

                                                                                                                                            

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

* Pammies Inky Pinkies #2009 AG 08/03
* As You Like It Favourite Flower & Why 11/03
* World Wide Open DT Challenge AG 12/03

* A Perfect Time to Craft #3 AG 27/03

* Classic Design Challenge #3 AG 28/03

Love To Craft #44 (2/5) AG 30/03 TOP PICK

* 613 Avenue Create #231 AG 30/03

* Colouring in Scrapland Spring 05/04

I'd really love some feedback :)      

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

xoxo

Vera Lane Studio: Dinos

Hello! 

Happy Monday!

Monday is my DT day at Vera Lane Studio. Janet has a fun new digi set release out today called Dinos. There are 3 different dino designs that are simply adorable.



I coloured my dinos with Copic markers and added some white highlights with a Posca pen. I gave the eyes some glossy accents. The background was made using a gelli plate. I brayered Iced Spruce Distress Oxide onto the plate then sprinkled diluted Brushos in Lemon and Magenta, mainly around the edges. I added some hills with torn copier paper and ink blending and splattered white paint all over the background. The dinos were popped on foam pads for some dimension and grounded with torn washi tape. The words are Tim Holtz Quote Chips.


Dinos

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

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

* World Wide Open DT Challenge AG 12/03
2 Crafty Critter Crazies #36 25/03
A Perfect Time to Craft #3 AG 27/03
Crafty Animals #36 AG 27/03
Classic Design Challenge #3 AG 28/03
Color it, Create it, Show it off March AG 29/03
A Bit More Time To Craft Extra March AG 30/03
Your Scrapbook Place March 30/03
Love to Scrap #131 AG 30/03

***

Artsystamper: Green, Green. It's Green They Say!

Hello! 

Happy Monday!

Today sees the start of a new challenge at the Artsystamper Challenge Blog. 
Each challenge runs for two weeks and starts on the first and third Monday of the month. 

The theme for this challenge is Green, Green. It's Green They Say! 

I hope that you can find time to join in the fun!

The winner will receive the stamp set of their choice from TheArtsystamperShop. The Top 3 will also receive an image of Beverly's choice!
Beverly Cole’s selections offer stamps and sentiments in each set as well as pre-coloured images for easy, last minute cards. Why not take a moment and check out what she has in store!

Here is what I made:



I used Beverly's Lucky Oxalis Digital Stamp Kit. The sentiment is also from the digi stamp set. I printed the background papers to the size I needed for the card. I used the png pre-coloured oxalis file and overlay it onto the plainer green paper along with the blossoms before printing. I printed a a second oxalis and blossom to fussy cut and decoupage onto the original. I distressed the edges of the papers and matted them onto black card. The topper is popped on foam tape for dimension. Three green pearls and an ivory bow were added as embellishments.

Lucky Oxalis Digital Stamp Kit
****half price until 17th March**** 
includes 10 papers, images and sentiments


That's all for today! 
I hope you will hop on over to Artsystamper Digitals Challenge Blog and enter! You will also see more inspiring designs from the Artsystamper Addicts Design Team ... so much fun.

I'll be back with another Artsystamper project in two weeks time.

Meanwhile, please check out:

 TheArtsystamperShop Etsy

Artsystamper Digitals Blog
BZCole Mixed Media (YouTube)
Artsystamper Digitals on Facebook 

Artsystamper Digitals Challenge Blog

Thank you for stopping by today!


I'd like to support the following challenges:

* Always Fun #152 Shades of Green 07/03
* Crafting Happiness #38 AG Green 08/03
* Jans Digi Stamps Challenges #9 AG 14/03
Creatalicious Challenges #182 Monochromatic 14/03
* Double Trouble #51 Go Green 14/03 Top 3

* Tuesday Throwdown #452 Good Luck 16/03
Classic Design Challenge #3 AG 28/03
A Bit More Time To Craft Extra March AG 30/03

Heart2Heart #51 Put Your Green On 30/03

Kat Scrappiness March Mostly Green 30/03

***

Crafts Galore Encore: Fairy Children

Hello!

Hands up if you're happy to see spring is on its way. I'm loving the buds on the trees and the little snowdrops and daffodils!

We are in March already and a new month brings another Anything Goes challenge at Crafts Galore Encore. 

The sponsor this month is the fabulous Morgan's Art World who are offering the winner 3 digital stamps. 

Morgan kindly gave the DT some digital stamps to work with and here is the card I made:

I coloured the image with Copic markers and popped it on foam tape onto some wood-look design paper. I inked the edges of the paper with Vintage Photo.

I made a variety of paper flowers and inked them to match the flowers in the image. I arranged the flowers with foliage and florists' moss to the side of the fairy image and matted it onto black card.

Many thanks to Morgan at Morgan's Art World for generously sponsoring and supporting this challenge. We hope you'll pop over to the shop to see the many lovely products on sale.

Also, please pop over to Crafts Galore Encore to see the DTs wonderful designs. 

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.

Thanks for stopping by today!

xoxo

                                                                                                                                            

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

* World Wide Open DT Challenge AG 12/03

* Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #127 AG 14/04 TOP 3

A Bit More Time To Craft #111 AG 14/03

* All Fun #3 (1/3) AG 15/03 TOP 3

Love 2 Create #3 AG 23/03

A Perfect Time to Craft #3 AG 27/03

Morgans Artworld #3 (1/3) AG 27/03

Corrosive Challenges #3 (1/4) AG 28/03

Classic Design Challenge #3 AG 28/03
Love To Craft #44 (1/4) AG 30/03

Mix It Up #35 AG (2/5) 30/03

I'd really love some feedback :)      

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

xoxo

Gecko Galz: Once Upon a Springtime

Hello!

A new month brings a new challenge at Gecko Galz.

This month the theme is Once Upon A Springtime.

I decided to go with wild flowers and a bunny for my project this month and made a collage on a small canvas.

I started by applying crackle paste through a stencil. When it was dry, watercolours were washed over the canvas



The bunny is from the Some Bunny collage set. There are some beautiful images on the single collage sheet. I enlarged the image I wanted, printed it and fussy cut around the edges. I added a little more colour to the bunny's earsand the leaves and flowers with coloured pencils. The wildflowers are from the Dreams of Spring mini paper pack. I fussy cut elements from just 2 of the papers (No 5 and 6) and added them to the canvas along with the beautiful Dream sentiment from paper 6.  Some flowers are glued directly onto the canvas, whilst others are popped up. I left the edges of some images loose in some cases and curled them to add to the texture and dimension. I applied natural fibres, using  Fabritac glue, to the bottom of the canvas as a bed for the flowers. 



I love the way this turned out. The sides of the canvas were textured as well.



Dreams of Spring                                          Some Bunny
                        mini paper pack (6 designs)                               single collage sheet                              
 

I hope you'll join our Once Upon A Springtime 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 and get first claim on the weekly $1 deals!

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

We also have a Private Facebook Group where there are 4 monthly challenges, each with a collage sheet prize. 
Do come and join us!

I'll be back on the 20th with more Gecko Galz projects.

Here's all the info you need:

Gecko Galz blog

Current Gecko Galz Challenge : "Once Upon A Springtime"

Gecko Galz Etsy Shop

Gecko Galz Facebook group

***

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

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

World Wide Open DT Challenge AG 12/03
A Bit More Tme To Craft #111 AG 14/03
Love 2 Create #3 AG 23/03
A Perfect Time to Craft #3 AG 27/03
Classic Design Challenge #3 AG 28/03
Moving Along With The Times #116 Anything. but a card 29/03
Love to Scrap #131 AG 30/03
Crafters Castle #27 AG 30/03
Mix It Up #35 AG (1/5) 30/03

I'd really love some feedback :)      

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

* Vera Lane Studio: Quirky Bird House

Hello! 

Happy Monday!

These Mondays come around very quickly, don't they?

Today is my DT day at Vera Lane Studio. Now, if you are a VLS fan you will know that Janet's cute characters are now available in stamp form. AALL & Create produce and sell the stamps and you can check out;s the stockists here.  

Last week they were showcased in a One Day Special on Hochanda. Leonie Pujol worked with AALL & Create's founder, Autour de Mwa, and she produced an adorable 3D bird house decoration, and this is the inspiration behind my project for  today. Thanks, Leonie!

I made a similar bird house to Leonie's, using all digital stamps - the great thing about digi stamps is that you can resize them to suit your needs and reverse them (as I did with the Tiny Fleur Fairy) to give you a back to back image.

I have had this wooden bird house in my stash for well over a year and wondered what to do with it. 

I gave it a coat of gesso and let it dry overnight. The next day I applied acrylic paints and then stencilled and stamped in darker shades of the same colours. I applied some Crackle Texture Paste through a stencil on the roof.

I stamped some foliage on the bird house walls, then added my VLS digi images. The images, apart from the Tiny Fleur Fairy, are all the little extras that Janet includes in the digi sets. The bird on the perch is held in place, away from the wall, using foam pads. The sentiment on the roof is from the Tall Town set.

There are lots of options for VLS projects like this one - have a look in your sets and use the elements to create a little scene. 

Here are the sets that my elements came from:

Tiny Fleur Fairy

Woodland Props (WellingtonBird)   Sprinkle and Sparkle (Bee)   Fairy Mushrooms   Sunny (Flowers on back wall)  Lovely Garden (small bird on perch)   May(cluster of flowers on front)   
Tall Town (sentiment)

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

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

* A Perfect Time to Craft #2 AG 27/02
* Mix It Up #34 AG with Stencilling 28/02
* Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #126 AG 29/02
* A Bit More Time to Craft #110 AG 29/02
* Dream Valley #219 Hand Coloured Images 29/02
* World Wide Open DT Challenge AG 12/03

***

* Watercoloured Florals

Hello!

It's another wet and windy Saturday, so I've stayed indoors and been trying out some new stamps by Rubber Dance. 

They are the Loose Florals Set 1. 

I stamped the floral images onto watercolour card and coloured them in my favourite colour with my Cotman watercolours. I fussy cut them, leaving a thin white border.

The background is on mixed media card - it was first given a coating of white gesso, then torn book pages were added. I applied some Crackle Texture Paste through a That's Crafty Bubble Leaves stencil and when it was dry began to add colour to the background. More white gesso was applied to knock back some of the colour and when that was dry, I stamped some Grungy Borders and some words from the Mix A Sentiment stamp set. I also added some Distress Oxide dots from the new Textured Birds set.

I arranged the flowers and leaves and loosely glued them to the background. I used my finger to add black acrylic paint around the edges of the background for a grungy look and finished with white paint splatters.

The sentiment is a sticker from Tim Holtz's Small Talk pack.

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

                                                                                                                                            

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

* Lavinia World Challenges #20 AG Real Stamps 24/02

Addicted to Stamps #377 Make Your Mark 25/02

Take It Make It Feb AG 26/02 WINNER

* Cassic Design Challenge  AG 27/02

* Love to Craft #43 AG 28/02

* Mix It Up #34 AG with Stencilling 28/02 TOP PICK

* Dream Valley #219 Hand Coloured Images (3/3) 29/02 TOP 3

* Tuesday Throwdown #451 Favourite Colour (pinks) 2/03 TOP 3

* My Time to Craft #426 Rubber Stamp 05/03

I'd really love some feedback :)      

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

xoxo