Another 'Just because' Card

Hello everyone and welcome to my blog.  A very warm welcome to my new followers as well.  So thrilled you decided to join me here.

I have another 'just because' card to share with you.  Mostly I make my cards for Birthdays, Anniversaries, etc. or for DT projects.  There is usually a specific reason for making them and usually a criteria as well.  Such as, is it for a male or female or, if it's for a DT project then I have to use specific items such as Megs Garden or 2Crafty Chipboard products.  This card, and the one in my previous post were made simply because I was in the mood.  I didn't have anyone or anything specific in mind  and just went with the flow.  Funnily enough, both of these cards have Megs Garden and 2Crafty Chipboard products on them.  I guess I just love working with their stuff.

Anyway, here is the second card which is similar and still, quite different from the previous one.

The background was sprayed and dabbed with 'Sugar Plum' and 'Afraid of the Dark' Glimmer Mist and I also splashed some black paint around as well.  Added some texture with  TCW's 'Art Is' stencil and my go to texture paste (Multi Purpose Filler).  

The large blooms are from Megs Garden.   Product name is 'Ashlee white'.

 I crinkled them up and then used the same Glimmer Mists mixed with a little water to colour them.  I then swiped the edges with some Gold Twinkling H2Os.  

The velvet leaf is one I've had in my stash for a while.  I had cut some small bits from it to use as leaves in other projects and kinda liked the shape I was left with so I used it here.  Sprinkled some Distress Glitter on it and added some beads as well.  

Placed a bit of gauze under the cluster and added a few strands of burlap.  The gauze was  slightly coloured with 'Afraid of the Dark' Glimmer Mist.  The chipboard is a small strip cut from 2Crafty's Barb Wire Border.

I simply dabbed it with a Pearl Paint Dabber.  It has a lovely shimmer to it.

Here you can see a close-up of the texture as well.

Used some Kaisercraft paper to decorate the inside ...

... and it is done!!

I've made up my mind to try a few challenges this year.  I'm even going to check out some Scrapbook Challenges as well because, even if I can't actually enter them, I can still use their criteria to make my cards.  I feel I need to expand my horizons and following a set Challenge just may take me out of my comfort zone!  That's what I'm hoping for anyway.  Wish me luck!!

Thank you so much for visiting and I would love it if you could let me know what you think of my little creation!  I hope you enjoy the rest of your day!
Take care and God Bless.

Moody Blues - Just Because!

Hello to all my lovely friends and followers, I hope you are having a wonderful day.

I want to thank each and every one of you for coming here and giving me your support and encouragement.  I really, really appreciate it.

I made a card that I would like to share with you.  This is not made for anyone specific but simply because I was in the mood to create and this is what I came up with.  I have been busy making mini albums and DT projects but haven't really made anything just because.  I haven't been in that place for a little while, you know, that crafty, gotta make something place.  My mojo went on a holiday I think.  Hopefully it is on its way back.  Will have to wait and see.
So, I grabbed some Megs Garden papers and a 2Crafty chippie and this is what I made.

I sprayed the papers with some watered down blue acrylic paint and then dabbed it with some paper towel.  Most of the colour is under the cluster but you can still see some of it here and there.  I also added some stamping with a Kaisercraft stamp and some texture with a stencil and Multi Purpose Filler which is my go to texture paste.

Whilst cleaning up the mess in my craft room, I found this little spray of beads and Magnolia Ink buds which I had made months ago and never used.  I just added the small aqua flowers and placed them on top of some large petals and a small piece of gauze.

Added some strands of burlap and some twine bows along with a few clusters of small beads which came in the 'Green Bundle' that is available from Megs Garden.

The chippie is from the Word Circles set from 2Crafty Chipboard.  They are the ideal size for placing on cards and you get 6 different greetings in the pack.  I love them.  I coloured this one with Wild Honey Distress Ink but, as it was a little darker than I wanted, I then brushed it with some watered down gesso to lighten it a bit.

Before glueing down my cluster, I added some extra colour with Gathered Twigs and Tea Dye DI by, again, just dabbing it on with a paper towel..

Decorated the inside with some scraps of paper from my stash ..

... and voila!!!  My work here is done!!  I was actually quite pleased with how easy this card went together.  Picked up all the right ingredients and just went with the flow!!  Wish that would happen every time!!  LOL!!

Thank you so much for visiting.  Why not take a look at all the fabulous creations  at the Megs Garden Blog HERE, and the 2Crafty Chipboard Blog HERE.  You will find some awesome inspiration there!

Take care and enjoy the rest of your day!!
God Bless.

2Crafty December Shares #3

Hi everyone, so pleased you could drop by at this busy time of the year.  

This is the last of my 2Crafty December shares and it is an AT Block.

2Crafty Chipboard used ATC Hearts & Stars Interlocking Grid Panel Funky Heart Swirls Summer Leaf Stems
The front with the Interlocking Grid Panel ...

... right side with 1 piece of the Summer Leaf Stems and 1 piece from the Funky Heart Swirls on the lid ...

... and the left side with another piece from the Summer Leaf Stems.

Both of the Summer Leaf Stems were coloured with Peeled Paint Distress Ink.  I also opened up the tips of the leaves by wetting them thoroughly and then gently separating the layers.  Once dry I coloured the inside with Pine Needles DI.  I  then sprinkled some clear glitter on the leaves for a bit of sparkle.  

Underneath the leafy stems you can see some Viva Crackle Paint that I spread through a stencil.  I was so thrilled at the way it turned out.  I think it looks fabulous.  You can see it better in the photo below.

Isn't it awesome??  After the crackle was dry I dabbed on some silver Distress Paint and, did I tell you I love the result??  This is definitely staying in my repertoire.   Gotta say it again, I love it!! 

The Interlocking Grid Panel was heat embossed in silver and then I very gently bent it to fit around one corner of the Block.  Once it was glued down I added some micro beads to the section on the front.

Tucked in amongst the flowers are the small stars from the ATC Hearts and Stars.  I attached them to some wire so they would stand up and also added some micro beads to the front of them.

 The main stem of the Funky Heart Swirl was lightly coated in gesso and then sprinkled with glitter.   The little hearts were coloured with nail polish and, while they were still wet, I added some micro beads ...  

... and so, as this is my last post for 2014 ...

I would like to wish you all a very, very Happy New Year.  May each new day be filled with happiness and love. Thank you so much for visiting and I hope you have found a little inspiration here.  Hope to see you back in the New Year.   and remember, to find a 2Crafty Chipboard stockist near you, simply send an e-mail to salesat2crafty@optusnet.com.au   Take care and God Bless.

 

2Crafty December Shares #2

Hello everyone and welcome to my blog.  Hope you are having a fantastic day and thank you so much for visiting at this busy time of the year.
Not long to New Year now!!!   Woo!! Hoo!!

The second of my 2Crafty December projects is a soft and feminine card.

2Crafty Chipboard used ATC Birdcage Card Word Circles - Sentiment

Both chipboard pieces were treated in the same manner.  Firstly coloured with VersaColor Umber and then coated with Glossy Accents.  One of the reasons I love working with this chipboard is, you don't have to go to great lengths to make it look fantastic.  You can either just leave it raw or use very simple techniques to add the colour you need.

These Card Word Circles are simply fabulous, they are the perfect size for any card and you get a selection of 6 different greetings in each pack.

The Birdcage comes in a pack of two and you get two little birds with it as well although I didn't use them here.  

That stunning bloom is available from Megs Garden as is the mesh ribbon underneath my embellies.  I also added some small beads to the cluster  along with some lengths of twine.

A view of the inside ... just waiting for the sentiment.

Hope you enjoyed this post and that I have inspired you a little.  Tomorrow I will be posting the last of my December Shares.  Hope to see you back here then.  In the meantime, why not go over and take a look at all the wonderful projects created by my Teamies HERE

and remember, to find a 2Crafty Chipboard stockist near you

simply send an e-mail to salesat2crafty@optusnet.com.au

Thank you so much for visiting and  enjoy the rest of your day.

Take care and God Bless.

oxox Marg

2Crafty December Shares #1

Hello everyone, and welcome.  So pleased that you made the time to visit at this busy time of the year. So, Christmas has come and gone and I hope you all had a fabulous day and didn't suffer too much with the holiday hangover.  Now we can look forward to the New Year and, probably, an even worse hangover!!  LOL!! It's my turn again to share some things I made using some fabulous pieces from 2Crafty. First up is a very masculine card made for my oldest son's Birthday last month.   2 Crafty Chipboard used Hessian Patch Panel World Globe & Ink Set As I am wont to do on my cards nowadays, I added some patches of Clear Rock Candy Crackle to the paper.  I love that textured look, especially on 'man' cards.  

I only used the quill and ink bottle from the World Globe & Ink Set.  The ink bottle was coloured with Black Soot Distress Ink and then covered in Glossy Accents.  For the quill, I coloured the feather with VersaMagic Cloud White and added some light shading with VersaMagic  Midnight Black.  The spine was then coloured with  Distress Ink and coated with Glossy Accents.

The Hessian Patch Panel was cut into three pieces and was left mainly raw.  It was just lightly sponged with gesso as I didn't want too much colour on it.  The pieces were then layered in between the papers.  I really love how it looks, it just added the perfect accent to my card.

Once everything was assembled I simply dry brushed some gesso around the card, just as a highlight and accent.

  This was the first of my 2Crafty Chipboard December projects.  I will be sharing 2 more over the next couple of days and I do hope you will have the time to come and look.      Thank you so much for visiting and leaving a little comment.  I would love to know what you think. and remember, to find a 2Crafty Chipboard stockist near you simply send an e-mail to salesat2crafty@optusnet.com.au   Take care and God Bless oxo Marg  

A Lovely, lovely Christmas Surprise!!

Hello lovely people and thank you for dropping by at this busy time of the year.

I did think my previous post was going to be my last before Christmas, but today I got a lovely surprise which I simply had to share.

I have been very blessed to have come to know a lot of very talented people out there in blog land and, quite a lot of them I have come to call my friend.  Some, I have even been lucky enough to meet personally but others I have never met and probably (unless I am extremely lucky) never will.  Well, this morning in the post I received the loveliest surprise from one of those friends who lives on the other side of the world and whom I, unfortunately, will most likely never meet.

I received a Christmas card from Astrid Maclean and I am over the moon.  Astrid and I, through a set of circumstances I won't go into here, did exchange cards last year but, as she is away from home over Christmas and as she is an extremely busy lady, I really didn't think it would happen this year so, to my extreme dismay, I didn't actually make one for her and then, this morning, I received this gorgeous card from her.   

I am always amazed at Astrid's art.  She has a wonderful eye for colour and composition and the techniques she uses to make her projects are brilliant.

I love the embossing and the way she blends the different colours so beautifully.

Love the heart with that little twine bow.  Such a lot of work went into this card, these photos really don't do it justice.  

Absolutely stunning work!!

Thank you, so much Astrid!!  It was such a lovely surprise to receive in the mail this morning.  Your card is divine and I will treasure this forever.
I have a box where I keep all my most special cards.  Some were made by my children when they were little and some were made by my grandchildren and also some from special friends (Astrid's card from last year is in this box), some of whom are no longer with us.  Every once in a while I get my box down and sit quietly to look at them all and remember when I received them.  After I finish displaying this card (which will probably be for a very long time) it will go into this box as well.
I am so sorry that I didn't reciprocate this year Astrid, but I will definitely correct that mistake for next year.  I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a really lovely holiday with lots and lots of hugs and kisses for you from your grandchildren.  Blessings to you all.

For anyone who doesn't know Astrid, her blog is Astrid's Artistic Efforts and you can find it HERE.  I urge you to go and take a look, her work is amazing!!

A very Merry Christmas to all my lovely followers and visitors too.
Thank you so much for dropping by and enjoy the rest of your day.

Take care and God Bless

oxox Marg