Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #221

Hello everybody and welcome to my crafty space!  Hope you are having a good day!!

It's time for a new Challenge at Crafty Cardmakers.
Angela  is our lovely host and the Theme is -
 EXPLOSION OF COLOUR!!
As always, whatever you wish to create is fine, as long as you use lots and lots of colour!!

For my DT contribution, I have created a simple tag.

I started with a piece of watercolour paper and used Distress Inks to add the colour.  The colours I used are Mustard Seed, Fired Brick, Forest Moss, Stormy Sky and Seedless Preserves.

Dried the inks a little with my heat gun and then daubed gesso through a Floral stencil by Kaisercraft, went around the edges of the flowers with a white gel pen and added a little stamping.

Once all of that was dry, I cut it to fit a 6.5" x 3.5" Craft Tag by Ranger and glued it down.
The flowers and leaves are by Little Birdie and I added some prills and micro beads in and around the cluster.

The die is Sevington Border by Memory Box.  This was a scrap left lying on my desk.  Thought it was time to put it to good use.

The sentiment was generated on my computer.  I have a page of little quotes and sayings which I typed out in Word and then printed off.  So handy when you need a quick little quote for something.

The ribbon for the bow was coloured with the same Distress Inks used for the background.

So, have I inspired you at all to join in with the Challenge?  Pop on over to the CCM blog and take a peek at the creations by my Teamies.  I'm sure you'll find plenty to inspire you there.

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #221 - Explosion of Colour

Thank you so much for stopping by.  It is so lovely to have you visit and thank you for any little comment you may care to leave.
Have yourselves a wonderful day!
Take care and God Bless.
oxox Marg

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge # 219 - Lace or Ribbon

Hello dear visitors and welcome to my blog.  So glad you stopped by.  

A warm welcome to my new followers too.  Very happy that you have decided to join me and I hope I can inspire you in some small way.

It's time for a new Challenge at Crafty Cardmakers and this time it's all about Lace or Ribbon!!  Well, this is a Challenge that is right up my alley!!  LOL!!   

Kim is our host for this Challenge and the Team have once again created some stunning inspiration for you.  

As always, you may create anything you wish, whether it be a card, a scrapbook page, some home decor or mixed media piece, whatever you like as long as it follows the Theme.

I guess you won't be too surprised that I have, once again, created a card.

 The papers used are from Kaisercraft's Pen & Ink paper pad and I distressed the edges with a distress tool and a little ink.

Added some tule between the layers ..

.. and lots of pretty lace as well.

The branches were cut with a die from Megs Garden called Greenery.

The gorgeous flowers and green leaves are by Little Birdie ..

.. and a lovely ribbon bow finishes the card off nicely, I think.

More of the same papers decorate the inside.

Done and dusted!!

I do hope you will pop over to the CCM blog and take a peek at the fabulous creations by my Teamies and that you will be inspired to join in with the Challenge.

For all the details and to link up your entry follow the link below ..
Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #219 - Lace or Ribbon

Thank you so much for stopping by and for the lovely comments left on my last post.  I truly appreciate them. 

Take care, stay safe and God Bless.
 oxox Marg

My Junk Journal Part #2 - Envelopes and Paper Clips

Hello my  dear friends!  

Welcome, and thank you for stopping by my blog today.

I am on a very specific creative journey at the moment.  I am in the process of  making some Junk Journals.  Yes, I do realise it's not terrible momentous but, for me, it has become quite a Journey!  I have been working on these for some months now.  'What??'  You say!! .. 'Why is it taking so long??'  Well, firstly, I only work on them once in a while and secondly, I keep changing my mind about things I've done previously.  Consequently it is becoming quite a saga!!  LOL!!  But, I must say, it is a saga I am thoroughly enjoying!!

If you missed Part 1 of this Journey, and you'd like to take a peek, HERE is the link.

In that first Post I mentioned that I would show a few of the envelopes I had made in more detail and might also share how I altered my paper clips and, as a few people showed interest, I am here to show you exactly that.  So, here goes!!

Firstly, the envelopes.
 

In my stash I found some paper that I had already diecut with a Tim Holtz MM die.

 It wasn't a very big piece and I don't actually remember what I had intended to use it for so, after thinking about it, I decided I would create the front of an envelope with it.

 So I cut a piece of card for the back and then created the pocket and the flap with the diecut paper.  Really love how it turned out.

 Used it to hold some journaling cards.

This second envelope was created for the other Journal I am doing.  For this book, I wanted a couple of larger envelopes, but I wanted them to be a stand alone feature.  I didn't want them attached to another page. 

 I used two of my tea stained papers and created a double ended envelope ..

.. and added it to my paper stack.  To add the ribbon closure, I simply cut a small slit in the centre and inserted two strips of torn fabric and also added a strip of washi tape to the fold for some extra strength.
Here's how it looks in the book ..

.. and here it is open and ready for some journaling cards or memorabillia.

Now, onto the paper clips.
Firstly, you need to cut some paper or cardstock to create the base to attach your clips to.  You will need two for each clip.  I decided to use paper because I found cardstock was a bit bulky but you can use whatever you like.  Also, it doesn't have to be circles.  They can be any shape you like.  I found it easier to simply punch out the circles for my clips.

 Then you simply slide one of the paper shapes onto your paper clips.  Make sure the shortest part of the clip sits on the wrong side of the paper and that you slide it over far enough so that the end of the clip sits close to the edge.  The long side of your clip needs to be left free so the assembly can slide over the edge of your page.

 On the side with the short end of the clip, add glue to the paper making sure you cover the clip as well and then attach the corresponding paper piece over the top, wrong sides of the paper together.  I used my hot glue gun but you can use any glue as long as it's fairly strong.
This becomes the base for your embellishments.

And, of course, this is the side that slides onto your page.

 That's it!!  That's all there is to it!! 
With this base you can build up any kind of small collage with which to decorate your page and it also becomes a tuck spot for tags, etc.
Here are a few of the ones I have made.

 This is the back.  I found you can really use any size paper clip and any size paper shape for small or larger embellies.  It really doesn't matter all that much.  Both will hold onto the page but, when I want to make larger, heavier ones, I do prefer to make the base a bit bigger.

Below, you can see that I used a smaller circle for one of my larger pieces.  It works alright but I would have been happier if I had used a bigger  base.
Because I added small bits of lace around the edge, it does looks a little untidy.  I could have covered it with some pretty paper but didn't bother because, once you slide it onto your page, you don't see it anyway.

Here is how they look once they are in a book.

 Here's a very simple one with some tags tucked in underneath.  I've also attached a small piece of ribbon through the end of the clip as well.  Just for a bit of extra shabby chic decoration!

It really is a very simple process and I hope I haven't made it confusing.  I really enjoy making these.  Easy peasy and a lot of fun!! Have made quite a few more of them too!  LOL!!

Thank you so much for visiting.  I hope I have given you some inspiration and that you will come back to see more  about my Junk Journal Journey!! 

Have yourselves a lovely day!!
Take care and God Bless.

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #215 - At Least 2 Dies/Punches or 1 of Each

Hello my dear friends and welcome to my blog.

Hope you are having a wonderful day!!

A new Challenge has begun at Crafty Cardmakers.  Jackie is our host and the Challenge is to use At least 2 Dies/Punches or 1 of each.  As always, you may create anything you like as long as it fits the Challenge.

For my DT contribution, I have created a masculine card.  I still have a few more of these to make so I'm really pleased I could make one to fit the Theme.

 The papers are by Kaisercraft from their Documented Collection.

 I used a border punch by EK Success to add a decorative edge the top layer of the papers ..

.. and I used a die by Cheery Lynn for the cogs and gears.

The gears were cut from cardstock and, to make them more sturdy and to give more dimension, I actually cut three sets and then glued the layers together.   I coloured them by swiping with a  VersaColor stamp pad in Lapis Lazuli and also in Bronze.

The clock was a freebie  from the net.  I simply printed it and cut it out and then layered it on some chipboard.

Layered it all together on top of some bits and pieces of ephemera I found in my stash.

 The greeting was computer generated.  I layered this on some chipboard as well and then doodled around the edges with a Sharpie pen.

The completed card measures 3.75" x 7.25".

Hopefully you feel inspired to join in!

I would love it if you would pop on over to take a look at the wonderful creations by my Teamies.  I'm sure that will definitely inspire you!   Simply follow the link and, perhaps you can add your take to the mix!  Would love to see what you create!

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #215 - At Least 2 Dies/Punches or 1 of Each

Thank you so much for stopping by and for all the lovely comments on my last post.  I really appreciate them all!

Have a wonderful day!
Take care and God Bless.
oxox Marg