* AALL & Create: Book of Days

 Hello!

I am delighted to have been asked to stay a little longer as GDT with AALL & Create. Their stamps, stencils and washi tapes are top notch and such fun to mix and match between the very talented designers!

This week is mini book week and I have created a Book of Days for noting down those memorable dates that you don't want to miss. The main decoration is on the cover of the book as the pages inside are designed to be written upon. I also made some insert pages that can be threaded through elastic (like a travellers' journal) for those months where you have a lot to remember, or for if you want to make it into a diary or journal. 

Here are photos of the finished book. There are work in progress photos below with some explanations of how I made it.

These beautiful butterflies on their scripted circle backgrounds are classic stamps and will be used time and time again. The stamps are so beautiful, they do not need much else to make a project. 

I used 2 stamp sets for the focal point, #449 Through The Meadows and #458 Hibiscus.

I added an extra butterfly layer to give some dimension and some black thread too. A glass cabochon adds some more texture and dimension, along with the heat embossed glaze.

The back of the book has some layering of elements, but here they are adhered flat.

I really like how the book cover turned out. The cover is slightly larger than the inside pages, so to give it a bit of extra strength and durability, I used Bipasha's stunning new washi tape, #15 Twine, on the inside of the covers. This can be seen below:

There is a page a month to write down your important dates. Each page has some colour from stamping with stencil #96 Dandelion Fields. I added some borders and flowers (#44) in Versafine Clair ink and stamped the season (#455 Seasons).

If you have plenty to write there are some extra pages that can be inserted - I used elastic thread so that these can be slotted into place. Simple stencil stamping with #87 Totally Dotty and the doodle border from stamp set 44 finish off the inserts.

Work in Progress:

The covers started as gelli prints using PaperArtsy Fresco Acrylic paints and stencil #87 Totally Dotty.

I added some shading on the circles using Neocolour 11.

I stamped one of the beautiful butterfly stamps from #449 Through the Meadows and added a smaller stamp from # 458 Hibiscus at the base. I also used # 487 Reverse Semicircles to stamp along the edges of the gelli print.

Next I stamped #469 Scripted Semicircles and used Speckled Egg embossing glaze. I stamped my book title onto spare card using Versafine Misty Morning and I glazed that with Hickory Smoke. I stamped the butterfly image again and cut out some of the circles.

I have no WIP photos, but I coloured the butterflies with Inktense pencils and activated with a water brush. I added a second coloured butterfly on top of the first for dimension and added some black thread beneath it. 

The letters were fussy cut, leaving a thin white border, and were adhered onto the cover to spell the book title.

The white circles were glued in place and a glass dome was added to the top circle.

White paint was splattered over the page.

The inside pages were kept quite muted so that they can be written on. I smooshed ink onto the back of stencil #96 Dandelion Field and printed it onto card. I used various colours to represent the seasons throughout the year, as can be seen below:

I finished the inside pages by stamping the month (#455 Seasons) along with some flowers from #44 and the season. This stamping was done with Versafine Clair inks. I also used the doodle border lines from stamp set #44 to edge the pages and underline the month.

My insert pages are stamped with the #87 Totally Dotty stencil using oxide inks and the border stamp from set #44 was used. 

***

Thank you very much to Autour de Mwa and AALL & Create for this fabulous DT package. I am honoured to work with these newly released stamp sets for the next few months:

To see the stamps, stencils, dies and washi tapes used, please visit

AALL & Create Boutique. 

A list of stockists can be found here.

You'll find lots of inspiration on the 

AALL & Create Facebook Page, the AALL & Create Fanatics Facebook Page and on Instagram

That's all for now.

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

* A Perfect Time To Craft March AG 27/03

* Classic Design Challenge March AG 28/03

* TIOT Stencils 30/03 TOP 5

* Dare 2B Artzy March AG (#2) 31/03

Snarky Stampers #181 Layers 03/04 QUEEN

613 Avenue Create #3 AG 05/04 WINNER

* Crafty Creations #419 AG 05/04

* Gecko Galz: Walk with Nature 2

 Hello!

Today is mt DT feature day over on the Gecko Galz Blog. I have a few projects to share along the theme of Walk with Nature.

Firstly, I made two notecards. I used Tattered Duchess ATC Set for the background paper. I love this particular paper - it reminds me of worn wallpaper.

The beautiful bird and its nest above is from the new Pretty Birds collage set and the flowers below are from the Ethereal Flowers sheet. I teamed them with kraft card for a natural look and some hessian trim and cream flower lace.

***

Next is some watercoloring, using Inktense pencils, on a stamp from The Magic of Nature Stamp Set. The stamp reminds me of a lino print and features a pretty woodland scene with plants and creatures:

The paper I used for the background is from the Dapper Nouveau ATC Collection.

***

Lastly, I had another try at making digital collages. Here are the two that I was happy with. I still need to learn about applying shadows and 'brushes' ... there just never seems enough time to concentrate 

For this first one, which I'm calling 'Mr McGregor's Overgrown Garden', I used a background and png elements from the Storybook Garden Kit.

This is my 'Woodland Wonders' digital collage. 

Here I used the Pixie Spring Kit utilising both the collage sheet for the background and the icons.

***

I also made some ATcs and then used them as card toppers for my Customer Challenge Inspiration Post which you can see here.

That's all for now!
I hope you'll join our Walk with Nature 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 monthly $1 deals!

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 collage sheet prize. 
Do come and join us!

I'll be back on the 1st April with more Gecko Galz projects.

Here's all the info you need:

Gecko Galz blog

Current Gecko Galz Challenge : "Walk with Nature"

Gecko Galz Etsy Shop

Gecko Galz Facebook group

***

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

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

Nature Cards

* A Bit More Time To Craft Extra AG 28/03

* A Bit More Time to Craft #136 AG 29/03

* Your Scrapbook Place March AG 29/03

* Love to Scrap #143 AG 31/03

* Love to Craft #56 AG 31/03

* Crafty Creations #419 AG 05/04

Bunny Card

* Crafty Catz #543 AG/Magical 25/03

* INTASS #104 Bunny 27/03

* Creative Fingers #204 AG 02/04

I'd really love some feedback :)      

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

***

* Path of Positivity: Have I Toad You

 Hello!

Today is the midway point of the March Path of Positivity challenge.

The challenge lasts for the month of March.

This month the theme is Anything Goes with the optional twist of 

Music is Good for the Soul.

Prizes this month include:

• Store Voucher from Lunagirl Images, 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.

Our optional theme this month is Music is Good for the Soul.

So, this month we want you to create a project INSPIRED BY MUSIC (song title, lyrics, instrument, musical manuscript etc). Music is good for the soul. It is one of the ways to build bridges and bring people together. It influences us in different ways - think about how patriotic songs make you feel, then love songs, Christmas music, classical music, country music, pop music ....

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

Here is my project:

I really love this guitar playing frog called Carl Fretted from Scribbles Designs. I coloured him with markers and fussy cut him, placing him on a home made background. 

Heat embossed stamping ( #385 Scripted Squares from AALL & Create) provides a resist for Distress Oxides with a little stamping around the edges (#375 Reverse Squares from AALL & Create).  I added strips of card and a water coloured, waterlily flower for Carl's backdrop. My sentiment is a play on words with a song title. Changing the words to songs is something that we, as a family, often do and it makes us laugh. We sing songs out loud, but don't know all the words, and so we make them up - it's so funny! Peter Kay does a sketch about this here, but if you are easily offended then don't watch as some are rather rude!

Music and laughter are definitely good for the soul.

Many thanks to Lunagirl Images 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 #89 Path of Positivity.

 

That's all for today! 

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

Thanks for stopping by today!

xoxo

                                                                                                                                            

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

* Always Fun #202 Spring 20/03

* Pammies Inky Pinkies #2111 AG 21/03

*Angies Digital Stamps #50 AG/Green 26/03 TOP 3

* A Bit More Time To Craft #136 AG 30/03

* Creatalicious Challenges #207 AG/Green 30/03

* World Wide Open DT AG 12/04

* Crafty Gals Corner #217 Make it Green 13/04

I'd really love some feedback :)      

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

xoxo

* Vera Lane Studio: Aviary

 

Hello

Please let me welcome my latest followers - I am always delighted when people are kind enough to want to see my posts, so welcome Scrapping4fun and KIDU. 

It is my Vera Lane Studio DT day and we have a new release! It is a set called Aviary which includes a cute little girl, a bird cage and three birdies along with a sentiment. 

Here is what I made with the new set:

I used Copic markers to colour the girl and the birds. The background started with a distress oxide ink gelli print which was then stamped in tone on tone colours using Scripted Squares from AALL & Create. I added some black stamping around the edges to make a border using Reverse Squares and Background Ingredients. 

The wire bird cage was cut out from white card and ink was applied with a sponge to blend in with the background. Some white splatters were added to the background, then the girl and cage were grounded with some fabulous new AALL & Create washi tape, called Wishy Washi, designed by Janet and released this week.

The sentiment was cut into strips, adhered and outlined with a black fine liner pen. 

Aviary

 ***

How do you fancy owning your very own Vera Lane Studio personalised digi stamp? 

Janet will drawn one for you.

For more details, see here.

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. 

A list of stockists can be found here.

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

* Crafty Catz #542 AG 18/03

* Creative Moments #210 AG 19/03

* Pammies Inky Pinkies #2111 AG 21/03

* Crafting Happiness #88 AG 21/03

* A Gem of a Challenge #6 AG 25/03

* A Perfect Time To Craft March AG 27/03

* Classic Design Challenge March AG 28/03

* Get Creative #99 AG 31/03

* AALL & Create: Bear Hugs

 

Hello

I'm back with another AALL & Create project, using #414 Bear Hugs as my focal point.

We've all been feeling the need for a hug lately. How adorable is this little cutie, designed by Janet Klein, with her teddy bear hug!  She is perfect for a 'missing you', 'thinking of you', 'love you,' 'get well soon' or a 'sorry we disagreed' project, and she would be perfect in one of Janet's little rooms.

I applied Distress Oxides directly to the card from the ink pad, spritzed with water and let it dry. Then I lightly dabbed white paint through the #117 Petals and Pods stencil. I used one of the sentiments from Bear Hits and one of the stamps from Visual Ingredients to add some background stamping, along with white paint splatters. Darker stamping and some wash tape form the border.

The Bear Hugs stamp set comes with the girl sat on the chair and the lamp stand as well as two sentiments. The stamp elements in Janet's designs are great fun to mix and match to make new scenes.

The images were coloured with Copic markers.

Washi tape #3 was used to ground my little girl and lamp.

Stamps:

#404 Visual Ingredients          #414 Bear Hugs

   

Stencil: #117 Petals and Pods\

Washi Tape #3 Ponder

To see the stamps, stencils, dies and washi tapes used, please visit

AALL & Create Boutique. 

A list of stockists can be found here.

You'll find lots of inspiration on the 

AALL & Create Facebook Page, the AALL & Create Fanatics Facebook Page and on Instagram

That's all for now.

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

* Crafty Catz #542 AG 18/03

* Creative Moments #210 AG 19/03

* Allsorts Challenge #615 Stamped Image 19/03

* A Gem of a Challenge #6 AG 25/03

* Lets Craft and Create #169 AG 31/03

* Paper Funday #27 AG 04/04

613 Avenue Create #3 AG 04/04

* Crafty Gals Corner #217 Make it Green 13/04