Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #256 - Celebrations

Hello everyone and welcome to my blog.  A special welcome to my new followers.  Thank you for joining me on this creative journey.

The new Challenge has started at Crafty Cardmakers.  Kim is our lovely host and the Theme is Celebrations.  As always, you may create whatever you wish but you must follow the Theme.

My project is a card I created for a Grand Nephew who celebrated his 18th Birthday earlier this year.   He and his family live in Victoria (approx. 8ookm from us) and, unfortunately, we were not able to attend the celebrations, but we were certainly there in spirit.

The papers used for this card are, mostly, by Kaisercraft.  I think there might be a couple of bits by Prima as well.  Most of the pieces came from my scrap box.  It was great to finally find a use for 

them.

Added a couple of die cuts (Texture Subway and Texture Netting .. both by Kaisercraft) and a chipboard piece by Scrapmatts.

The Texture Netting die cut was attached with a couple of staples and I added plenty of prills into the mix as well.  There's also a bit of heat embossing added to the Texture Subway die.

The numbers are from a set made specifically for clocks but they were the perfect size for this card.

Would love it if you could pop over to the CCM Blog and take a peek at the fabulous creations by my Teamies.  I'm sure you will be inspired to join in with our Challenge.

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #256 - Celebrations

Thank you so much for stopping by and I hope you are all keeping safe and well.

Have a wonderful day.
Take care and God Bless.

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #255 - Anything But a Card

Hello everyone and welcome to my blog.  I hope you are all staying safe and well in these terrible times.

The new Challenge is live at Crafty Cardmakers.  Angela is our lovely host, and the Theme is Anything But a Card.  So, as always, you can create whatever you wish as long as it is NOT a card.

I haven't been terribly creative of late.  Have spent a good amount of time watching videos (crafty ones, of course) and rearranging a few things in my Craft Room but not much else really.  Although I have made a couple of ink station trays and have started making a few books but haven't put the finishing touches on any of them yet.  Actually, when I think about it, I have been quite creative .. LOL!  Just haven't finished anything that I could use for this Challenge.  
Consequently, I am sharing this Art Journal page which I created last year and haven't shared before.

I used watercolour cardstock and Lindy's Stamp Gang Magicals as well as Distress Inks for the background.

Next came the stamping with Archival Ink ..

.. and then the layers of paper strips ..

.. and ephemera.

The white, lacy like pieces were made using a cake icing mould and some flexible texture paste instead of icing.  Worked out alright I think, although you can't see much of them.

The clock is a free printable from the net and the cog is a die by Cheery Lynne.  I also tucked a few flower petals under the ends of the collage ..

.. and added some gauze and a piece of hessian ribbon, both of which had been coloured with the same Magicals used on the background.

Lastly, I added the quote, did a bit of doodling around the edges and .. Voila!! .. it was done!!

For some amazing inspiration, pop on over to the CCM Blog and take a peek at the fabulous creations by my Teamies.  They are a wonderfully talented bunch of ladies and, hopefully, you will be inspired to take part in this fortnight's Challenge.

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #255 - Anything But a Card.

Down here in South Aus, it looks like we are starting to get on top of this virus.  No new cases for the last three days which is wonderful.  Still, we can't become complacent yet, there is still a long way to go I think.  Hoping and praying that everyone will continue to abide by the lockdown rules and stay safe.

Thank you so much for your visit and for any comment you may care to leave for me to read.  I really do appreciate it.

Take care, stay safe and God Bless.
oxox Marg

A bit of Manly Grunge

Hello everyone!  

Hope you are all keeping well and happy in these difficult times.   It's not easy staying home and isolated.  Not being able to visit family and friends is truly awful but, it must be done if we're to get this horrific virus under control.  A huge heartfelt thanks to all the Health workers who are taking care of the sick regardless of the danger to their own health.
Take my hat off to you guys .. you are heroes!!

I've been doing a bit of crafting (of course .. not much else to do) while stuck at home and have managed to get quite a bit done!   Made cards, created books and now I have lots of thing to share so I will start off with these two masculine cards.

Once again I have used some older Kaisercraft papers.  Trying to use up the tons and tons I have in my stash.

I have used pieces of book paper on both cards as well as a torn piece of corrugated board.  On this first card I have added some gesso to the corrugated board .. adds an extra bit of texture.

I added a tag and my fave die cuts as part of the collage.  All of the gauges are free printables from the net.  I have mounted them on some heavy card and then heat embossed them a couple of times with clear embossing powder.

The second card is pretty much the same as the first.  It is a different shape and size and I did not gesso the corrugated board but, other than that, it is almost identical. 

Of course, I added my fave prills to both cards.

I will have more to share over the next few weeks.  Just hope this virus hits its peak and dissipates quickly.

Thank you so much for your visit and any comment you may care to leave for me to read.
Please, do take special care and stay safe and well.

Lots of love to you all.
God Bless.

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #253 - Spring

Hello dear visitors and welcome to my blog with a very special welcome to my new followers.  So happy you have joined me in my creative journey.  Thank you!

 It's time for our next Challenge at Crafty Cardmakers and, as you can see by the title of this post, the Theme is Spring!  I know that's a bit odd for those of us who live Down Under as we are in the midst of our Autumn but, this Challenge is based in the UK so it actually makes perfect sense!  LOL!

Judy is our lovely host for this Challenge and, as always, you may create whatever you wish, it does not have to be a card.

For my project, I created a tag although it could, quite easily, be turned into a card.

The papers used are a mix of Kaisercraft and 49 and Market and the flowers are from my stash.  I have had these blooms for years so it was really nice to be able to use some of them.

 The top paper layer was lightly sprayed with watered down Liquitex Ink for an extra touch of colour. 

A doily was folded over the edge and I added a piece of gauze under the cluster for some added texture.

The wildflower dies are by Tim Holtz (love them!) and the flair is by Kaisercraft.

Would love to see you join in with our Challenge.  For lots of fabulous inspiration, pop on over to the CCM blog and check out the amazing projects by the rest of the Team.  Look forward to seeing what you come up with.

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #253 - Spring

Thank you so much for stopping by during this difficult time.  All around the world, people are hurting, so let's all do the right thing and follow the rules laid down by our Health Authorities and Governments.    We need to keep the spread of this dreadful virus at a minimum so we can all get back to our normal way of life.   

Praying for each and everyone to stay safe and well.  God be with you all.

Take care and God Bless.

oxox Marg

Wildflower Cards

Hello everyone and welcome to my blog.

  Hope you are all having a wonderful day!

I have shared quite a few masculine cards lately so, thought it was time to share a couple of feminine ones.  These cards were made a few months ago and were really quick and easy to put together. 

They were made using Tim Holtz's Wildflower die cuts and some older papers by Kaisercraft.

The primary flower was cut from designer paper and the rest were cut from cardstock.  I added a piece of book paper under the flowers on the first card and inked the edges of the die cuts.

The secondary flower was lightly coloured with Distress Ink, and I added a few prills amongst the greenery and to the center of the main bloom.

The word chippy is by Scrapmatts.

On the second card, I simply layered the papers the other way around.  The top, lighter coloured paper, is the waste from cutting the primary flower for the first card.   I simply set this die cut flower inside it and used a different secondary bloom.

No prills this time except in the center of the secondary flower which was also coloured with Distress Ink.

It usually takes me a few days to make my cards because I procrastinate so much over what to put on them but these two came together in one afternoon.  So easy and simple, I shocked myself!  LOL!!

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit and for any comment you may care to leave for me.  I really do appreciate it.

Have a fabulous day and stay safe!
Take care and God Bless.

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #252 - Green

Hello dear visitors and welcome to my blog.
A special welcome to my new followers.  Thank you so much for joining me.

Another Challenge is starting at Crafty Cardmakers.  Chanya is our host and, in celebration of St. Patrick's Day, the Theme is Green!  As always, you may create whatever you wish and, although your project does not have to be for St. Patrick's Day, it must follow the green Theme.

For my project, I have created a Notebook Holder or Folder .. not sure what to call it.

 I found the basic design for this Folder on a You Tube Channel called Burlap and Daily Bread run by a lady named Kristi.  She has a set of three videos that she calls a Folder Journal Kit.  On these videos she shows the kits and explains how to create the Folder.  I simply took the basic Folder design and adapted it to suit my needs.   I will share the link to the videos at the end of my post.

The papers I used are from the Memory Lane 12 x 12 paper pad by Kaisercraft.  I had some scraps left over from another booklet (here) and simply layered them to cover the front and back of this folder.  Saved me cutting up whole sheets and being left with more scraps.  Trying to be more frugal with my papers so there is less waste.

  I inked all the edges with Ground Espresso Distress Ink and, to embellish the front, I added a piece of gauze and a die cut flourish by Altenew.  The flower is by Little Birdie and the quote tag is from the same Kaisercraft paper collection.

This notebook will be used to record any info I may need for different crafting projects.  It will come in handy when I'm away from home crafting with friends.
On the inside front cover there is a pocket in which I have placed a few useful items.

A small note pad to record the things I need to get and take with me.

I simply cut a few pages to size and stapled them together.

A pocket folder to hold die cuts, chippies and other small and delicate items.

For our next craft session, I have included a sheet of paper which has a template of this particular Notebook holder.  I will need that as my friend also wishes to make one of these Folders.
If anyone is interested, please feel free to use this.  Solid lines are cut lines and broken lines are fold lines.  I might actually do a step by step on this booklet but, if you watch the video, you will see how easily it's constructed.

 On the inside back cover is another pocket.

Popped a few tags and bits of ephemera in this pocket.

To hold the notebook I simply tied a piece of clear elastic around the folder.  This way it is super easy to replace the notebook once it's full.

 Here is the cover with the notebook removed.

The back cover was left plain (makes it easier for writing as there is no bulk at the back) and I used seam binding for the closure.

A very simple little booklet but, I think it will be very useful and, it's a little prettier than just a plain old note pad.

Do pop on over to the CCM blog and check out the fabulous creations by the rest of the Team.  Would love to have you join in.

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #252 - Green

Thank you so much for stopping by.  I hope you enjoyed seeing my project and I hope you will also pop over and take a look at Kristi's Channel.  Here is the link to the first video for this particular booklet but she also has a lot of other videos and projects to enjoy.

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