Crafty Cardmakers Challenge - #231

Hello my dear visitors and welcome.  So pleased you came for a visit.

Well, another fortnight has flown past and it's time for a new Challenge at Crafty Cardmakers.
 Mary is our lovely host and the Theme is Easter.
As always, you may create whatever your heart desires as long as it fits the Easter Theme.

For this Challenge, I have chosen to create a slim tag.

 The paper I have used for my substrate is from a 6.5" x 6.5" pad by Kaisercraft.  The Collection is called Wandering Ivy.

I adhered the paper onto a piece of thin card for extra stability and then used a stencil to pop on some texture paste.

I then added a couple of diecuts for a bit more interest, followed by the lace and flowers

The graphic is a free printable from the net.  I cut it to size, edged it with gold border stickers and then tucked it in beside the flowers using dimensional tape.

To finish off, some prills and micro beads.

Simple, but I really love how this turned out.

Do pop on over to the CCM blog and see the wonderful creations by the rest of the Team.  I'm sure you will feel inspired to join in the Challenge.

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #231 - Easter.

A little early perhaps for an Easter message but, on second thought, there is never really a wrong time for this ..
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life .. John 3:16.

Thank you so much for stopping by and a special thank you to those who leave me a lovely comment to read.  I really appreciate it.

Take care and God Bless
oxox Marg

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge - #226

Hello everyone!  Thank you for stopping by my blog today, so nice to have you visit.
A very warm welcome to my new followers too.  Lovely to have you share my crafting journey.

It's time for a new Challenge at Crafty Cardmakers and this time Jackie is our lovely host and the Theme is 'Add Some Texture'.  

As always, anything you care to create is fine as long as it follows the Theme.

For my DT contribution to this Challenge, I have created an Art Journal page.

I added a few strips of Washi Tape to a sheet of 5" x 7" watercolour paper and then added some coloured texture paste through a stencil.

The background colour was added using Lindy's Stamp Gang Magicals in Danny Zuko's Denim and Tiffany Lou's Blue.  My fave colours at the moment!  I simply sprinkled them onto the paper and then sprayed with water.

The stamping came next.  I used Archival ink and a texture stamp by Prima.  I believe it's called 'Crackle'.

The focal cluster includes a piece of coloured gauze, some jute webbing, layered ephemera and a couple of wood hearts by Kaisercraft.  The quote was computer generated.

I lightly inked the edges and, as you can see, I also did a little doodling as well. 

So, I hope you have found some inspiration here and will play along.  There's lots more inspiration to be found on the CCM blog from the fabulous creations by my Teamies.  While you're there, you could also link up your entry!!

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #226 - Add Some Texture

Thank you so much for your visit and for any sweet comment you may care to leave.  I appreciate it immensely.

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

ATCs - A New Addiction

Hello sweet visitors and welcome to my blog.  So pleased you decided to drop by.

I'm sharing something new with you today.  Well, at least it's new for me.  I have been busy creating some ATCs and, I have had so much fun with it,  I think I have a new addiction!  

Like everyone else, I have seen these around for a long time but never really felt the need to try my hand until now.  I've been watching a few videos, which is not unusual in itself but, I've been watching videos about ATCs.  I think I can blame Anne Redfern for this.  LOL!!  She mentioned her love of ATCs a few times recently and it got my curiosity aroused.

So, I watched a few videos and thought I would give it a go, and these are the result.

  I must tell you that these are not my own design.  Quite a few of the videos I watched used these techniques and I simply followed them.
The inspiration for my version came mostly from Shira Manor so these look very much like hers.  Here is the link to her video.

 So, basically, I made a Masterboard, and then cut it up into ATC sized pieces.  I ended up with 6 ATCs and the scrap was used for the collage.
I didn't take any photos of the process because, if you're interested, you can see it all on Shira's video.

 The substrate is watercolour canvas paper.   The layers started with a few papers from Simple Stories 'Documented' paper pad.  These were torn into strips and adhered to the canvas paper.

The next step was to add masking tape and washi tape.  Unfortunately I couldn't find the masking tape.  It has disapeared into our domestic black hole I think, so I used plaster tape instead.

Next came some stenciling with two different stencils and texture paste.  Before the paste dried I applied white embossing powder and heat set it.
Unfortunately, embossing powder is not my friend.  I can never apply it cleanly.  It just seems to stick to everything.  Even when I have rubbed the area with a resist pad, it still sticks and it is really hard to get it off the places I didn't want it to go.  Hence you can see it scattered everywhere.  Still, I don't really mind the look of it here.

So, once the embossing was finished it was time to add the colour.

I used a mix of Lindy's Stamp gang Sprays and Magicals. 

 The colours used in the Sprays was Sea Grass Green and Cape Cod Coral and

 in the magicals I used Tears on my Pillow Tangerine and TiffanyLou's Blue.

Once all the colour was dry it was time to chop up my Masterboard and, as stated before I ended up with six ATCs but, so far, have only completed these three.

The scrap was cut into smaller pieces for the collage and, once I got the arrangements to my liking they were simply stapled together but, before glueing them to the bases, I added some twine underneath.  I added a metal button to each ATC and then went round all the edges with a Sharpie pen.

Found some quotes on the net, printed them, cut them out and also edged them with the Sharpie.

The final step was to glue the quotes to the base.

A final look at all three together.

This was so much fun!  I loved getting messy preparing the Masterboard.  Should say, I was not really impressed when it was done but, once I got it all cut up and once my ATCs were assembled, I am really loving these.  Also, putting that black edging all around made a big difference to the look.  I love them!!! And I'm definitely making more of these.

Thank you so much for stopping by.   I really appreciate your visit and hope I have inspired you to try making some ATCs for yourself, if you haven't already.  Check out all the amazing videos, I'm sure you'll find something you haven't tried before!!

Have yourself a wonderful day!
Take care, stay safe and God Bless.

In the Watercolour Garden - for Megs Garden

Hello everyone and welcome!!  Hope you are having a wonderful day!

I'm here to share two cards made with some stunning papers by Megs Garden.  The collection is called In the Watercolour Garden (hence my post Title) and it is absolutely gorgeous!!  The papers I have used here are from the A4 digital version but you can also purchase these papers in different sizes in both digital and printed format.
All of Meg's papers are fabulous to use as backgrounds but they also have some lovely images as well so, whatever you wish to create, from cards to layouts to mini books, there is a size and design to suit your needs.

I printed out two copies of the paper and cut one to size to be used as my base layer. 

I fussy cut the butterfly and two flowers from the second sheet and layered them over the original image.  I used some double sided foam tape to give it dimension.

The flower petals below were all from my stash and were all originally white.  Some of them were coloured with Lindy's Stamp Gang spray and others with watered down acrylic paint.  I then simply layered them to fill the chipboard frame and added some seed beads for the centers.

For my second card I printed a single sheet of my selected paper and added a bit of stenciling with texture paste in the top corner.

Some pretty lace from my stash was adhered down the center of the card.  I also added a piece of gauze and a couple of straws before attaching the flowers.

The blue flower is from my stash.  The smaller flowers are from the Garden.   All of them (except for the white one of course) were coloured with sprays.

The chippie is by Scrapmatts and I simply left it raw.  To create a bit more interest and texture, I added some prills and microbeads.

Instead of twine, I created the bow with some knitting cotton.  I find this best to use when I want a soft, floppy bow.

Meg's Garden products used
In the Watercolour Garden A4 digital papers
Cherry Blossoms
Small White Paper Flowers

Although the laces I used on these cards came from my stash, Meg has some beautiful laces in her shop.  Some are similar to the ones shown here but there are many more as well.

Thank you so much for dropping by and taking a look.
To see all the fabulous products Meg has in store HERE is the link.  Why not also take a look at the fabulous creations by the rest of the Team.  I am sure you will find some wonderful inspiration HERE.

Take care and God Bless.
oxox Marg

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #205 - Love & Romance

Hello everyone and welcome to my crafty space!  Hope you are having a wonderful day!!

The new Challenge has started over at Crafty Cardmakers! 
Marlene is the host for this Challenge  and the Theme is Valentine based, so it's all about Love and Romance!
As always, anything you care to create is fine as long as it follows the Theme!

So, once again, I have created a card.
This is not really a Valentine's card though.  Hubby and I have been married for 50 years (yeah!  I know!!  I can't believe it either!  LOL!!) but we have never celebrated  Valentine's Day.  Just never felt we wanted, or needed to, so, this card will simply be used to send a little love to a rellie or maybe a close friend on their birthday. 

The background was created with some texture paste through a mini 'Art Is' stencil by the Crafters' Workshop.

Once the texture paste was dry, I sprinkled on a little LSG Magicals powder in Rizzo's Rowdy Red and then sprayed over that with water.   I love the way it splatters everywhere and I love all the different colours you get with this technique. 

Topped it with my usual cluster of gauze, diecuts and flowers.

The sentiment was printed with a label maker and then mounted on a piece of chipboard.

Once it was all assembled, I swiped the cluster with a little gesso and added some stamping along the edge!

Unfortunately, the stamping was not very clear and I must have hiccupped while doing it!  LOL!  Still, I don't mind that it's a bit messy.  It is handmade after all, so not meant to be perfect!!

Do go on over to the Crafty Cardmakers Blog and check out the fabulous creations by my Team Mates.  You will be inpsired to join in, I'm sure!!  Looking forward to seeing what you create!!

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #205 - Love and Romance.

Thank you so much for stopping by.
Have yourselves a wonderful day!
Take care and God Bless.
Marg oxox