Something New!

Hi Folks, thought I would share with you one of the results of Saturday's 'play day'.  I've used the Tim Holtz Cabinet Card Die, and previously, I've used foam pads to attach the die cut front to a card - great from the front - but mine never looks too good from the side, so, I've had this idea in my mind for a few weeks, to fold the sides, much neater.  This is the first time I've tried this and I did 1/2" folds, but next time I will just do 1/4" as I felt it stood off too much on the finished card (a bit of d/s tape in the right space gave a nice shape though)

I have used tissue (from a pkt of hankies) for the front and placed the 2 printed sentiments at the top.  My images, a JustRite stamp (courtesy of my friend Diane), was coloured with Distress inks.  The other image and scissors are IndigoBlu.

The theme this week at Craft Room Challenge is Something New - well this was a new way of using the die, as well as the first time I have covered a whole card front with tissue and also first time to use the JustRite stamp, so lots of new things, so I think this fits.

I am also entering this at:
  Cuttlebug Mania - Anything Goes with a Die cut
  Make it Monday - Anything Goes
  Addicted to Stamps- Shabby/Vintage
  Rogue Redhead Challenge - ~Fashionista

Thanks for looking and have a great weekend whatever you're doing.

Avril xx

Fancy Edges at TioT

Hi, hope you  all had a great Bank Holiday Weekend and hopefully had some sunshine - we had a glorious day yesterday, which went some way to making up for a wet and miserable Saturday and a very dull Sunday, I managed to stay nice and dry crafting and it was lovely just to craft for me with no Wedding stationary in sight!
We had some  wonderful entries for the last challenge at Try it on Tuesdays, I'm sure we will have a hard time picking our Top 5.
This fortnights challenge is '3 Fancy Edges' these can be die cut, punched or event cut with scissors.
For my card I have used the lovely Graphic Secret Garden papers, and my Fancy edges are - SB Romantic Rectangle, the next layer was was cut with Deckle Edge scissors and then a Martha Stewart punched rectangle to frame my image.  The flowers, coloured with Promarkers to match, were cut from the Tattered Floral strip die.
I hope you will join us for this challenge, just let us know what your fancy edges are, and if you need any inspiration, then the rest of the DT have some gorgeous creations to show, so please pop over here to take a look.

That's it for now, and thanks for looking

Avril xx

Sew & Sew

Hi and welcome to our latest challenge at Fashionable Stamping - which is Sew&Sew, so anything sewing themed.  We are again sponsored by Leo of Flonzcraft who are offering one lucky random winner a $20 spend in their online store.
I have made a wall hanging and since last May, when I made a tag - one of the few I did for the 2012 Tags, I have been wanting to do something similar, but more girly, as I loved using the old pattern tissue paper, as it gives a great effect.  I have used the same stamps, with the addition of Crafty Individuals CI-328 stamps used on the top border. I used rolled ribbon roses that have been in my stash forever and some antique lace. The bookplate die cuts were an Ebay purchase, which I thought looked a bit 'limp' so I brushed it with Treasure Gold and framed the pattern no, torn from the sheet.  Of course, to make it more 'girly' she had to have a lace skirt and pearls!
I hope you will join us for this challenge and if you need any inspiration, or even if you don't - my fabulous teamies have some wonderful Catwalk creations to show, so please pop over here to take a look.

I am entering this at:
  Crafty Individuals - Open challenge
  Its All about the Vintage - Summer Flowers (Roses)
  Crafty Creations - Shabby/Chic
  Live & Love Crafts - Warm/Cool colours

Thats it for now, enjoy the rest of the Bank Holiday weekend.

Avril xx

Script tag

Hi - would you believe I'm actually showing something that's not a DT piece - I was looking for an old post and realised since April I have only shown 3 makes that weren't for DTs!  I had to rectify that and have some time to 'play' just for me, but couldn't think what to do - so, decided on a tag, love the fact that there's so much that can be added to such a small space.
Stamped the TH Papillion script with Walnut Stain DI, then distressed with Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade and Peeled Paint DIs, coloured the Tattered Doily with the Wild Honey & Sp.Marmalade.  My 'home made chit chat' stickers were cut from  aTim Holtz Stuff to Say. stamp.   Flowers were cut from the Tattered Floral strip die. Dyed ribbon and muslin. Matted onto brown cardstock - which hid the messy back!  Quite quick and easy - and it did the trick - got Mr Mojo back on track.

I'm entering this at:
  Aud Sentiments - Anything but a card with a sentiment
  Crafty Ribbons - Anything Goes with Ribbons
  Crafting for all Seasons - Tags
  Penny's Paper-Crafty - Dies & Punches

I'm 'home alone' this weekend as DH is going to future SIL's stag weekend - just to be the responsible adult - so he said! so think I might just manage some crafting time.  Have a great Bank Holiday weekend whatever you're doing.

Avril xx

N for New at Alphabet Challenge

Hello, and its another DT card I'm showing today, this time it's for Alphabet Challenge where our letter is 'N' and Caz has chosen - New - that can be stamp or decoupage.
My newest stamp, is the Stampendous Agapanthus Cluster, I have dithered over this stamp for a long time, and finally bought it a couple of weeks ago.  My tag was inked with Tumbled Glass, Wild Honey and Iced Spruce DIs and the Agapanthus and the dots (Inkylicious) were also stamped with the Iced Spruce.  The butterflies are an Inkylicious stamp, which were given a coat of Frosted Lace Stickles after colouring.
I used the same colours on the base, and then turned the cardstock, added some random script, again stamped in Iced Spruce.  Ribbon was also dyed.
I hope you will join us for this challenge and show us your 'newest'.  My very talented teamies have some wonderful new stash to show, so please pop over here and take a look.

I am entering this at:
  Vintage Stamping Challenge - Things with Wings
  Craft Room Challenge - Bingo - Blue/Rubber Stamping/Butterfly (My blue is Tumbled Glass DI)
  My Craft Creations - Ribbons & Bows
  Country View Crafts - Quotes & Sayings

That's it from me, apart from thanking you for all the lovely comments on my Room with a View post, it really does mean a lot, especially as that was my first attempt at something like that.
Have a great weekend, whatever you're doing.

Avril xx
  

Room with a View

Hi Folks,  its time for another challenge at Try it on Tuesdays and this time we would love you to 'create a scene!  It can be a landscape, seascape or whatever is your interpretation of a 'scene'.
I bought these Darkroom door stamps on Ebay a couple of months ago for about a third of their price and this is their first inking,  but they are only a bargain if you use them -I was just waiting for the right time.  I decided my scene would be the view from a holiday apartment window overlooking the Grand Canal in Venice!
This is the first time I have used Napkins for my background, this was torn, glued and then dry brushed with Paper Artsey Fresco Snowflake, to give a shabby peeling wallpaper effect. I then inked  IndigoBlu Crackle stamp with Frayed Burlap and random stamped.

My friend Diane recently bought the window and flower spray dies and was kind enough to let me use them. I used Distress stains to give an aged look to both. My 'piece' is set into an old wooden box top, (wish I had the whole box)  which was painted with Fresco and then stamped with the Crackle stamp.
It would be lovely if you could join us and if you need any inspiration, my very talented teamies have some very varied projects, so please pop over here to take a look

I am entering this at:
  Simon Says monday challenge - Make the cut( Die cuts and punches)
  Make it Monday - Anything Goes
  Anything but a Card - Summer Fun - (Holidays are fun)
  c2cu - Summer Days - Fun in the Sun
  Heck of a Challenge - Holidays

I have started a bit of a catch up in blogland - life is settling down after a hectic few weeks of more Wedding Stationary, don't actually know how many Invitations I have made - DD just kept asking for more, think its somewhere in the region of 80.  Same number of Order of Service and double that for Place cards - only Menu and Thank You cards left to do, its going to be a big wedding!  So, I think you can see why I have been such an absent blogger of late and I do appreciate all your visits and comments.

Have a good week whatever you are doing, I hopefully will manage some 'me' crafting.

Avril xx

Fashionably Clean & Simple!

Don't the weeks just fly by!...It's time for another challenge at Fashionable Stamping and this time its 'Clean & Simple'   Once again we have our wonderful sponsor, Flonzcraft who are offering one lucky random winner a $20 voucher to spend in their online store.

For my piece I have used  Acid Drops & Whatnots stamp that was 'free' with a magazine a few weeks ago, just love the quotes with these images.
My image was coloured with Karismacolour pencils and the background was shaded with chalks - very simple.
The rest of the design team have some wonderful and varied inspiration for you, so please pop over here to take a look.
Just a short post today, but I would like to say I really do appreciate you visiting and all your lovely comments, especially as I have been such an absent visitor myself.........but ... more about  that later.

I am entering this in:
  Addicted to CAS - Summer
  Totally Papercrafts - Summer fun
  Crafting by Design - Celebrate Women
  Sentimental Sundays - One Layer


Have a great Sunday, whatever you are doing.

Avril xx

Secret Garden

Hi Folks,

A very miserable day weather wise here in the N.E, so I gave myself a 'craft day' and managed to finish another card using the lovely  Secret Garden papers, this time I thought I would use my Cabinet dies and make it look like a Secret Garden.  A little bit of cutting, some hand made flowers and leaves and that's it! oh, and some Vintage Photo Distress ink -  Quick and easy!
I am entering this at:
  Dream Valley Challenges - Summer Days
  Ladybug Crafts - Say it with Flowers
  Cards Galore - Bingo (Flowers/Die cuts/Summer)
  c2cu - Summer Days - Fun in the Sun
  Make it Monday - Anything Goes

Just a quick post,
Thanks for looking,

Avril xx