Fab'n'Funky #197 - Snowflakes

Good Morning Crafters,

We are back with a brand new challenge for you at Fab'n'Funky Challenges today and I am your host but first, we had a fantastic response to last week's "A Touch of Frost" challenge.  Thank you to everyone who entered their wonderful creations.

Now, without further ado let me introduce my chosen challenge for this week:-

Snowflakes

I'm sure this doesn't need any explanation and we can't wait to see what you all create.

Our lovely sponsor this week is StampArt Design by Kathryne

Prize: 5 Digis and A GDT spot 

The DT are so lucky to be able to work with images from StampArt Design by Kathryne.  I chose to use a bonus sentiment that comes with the Alannah image.  You can find it here.

I started with a piece of Coredinations cardstock and ran this through an embossing folder (sorry, I don't know the brand).  I used the Crafter's Companion Sand It Accessory Pack to sand the snowflakes.  I matted this onto red Coredinations cardstock and then onto a handmade cardblank.  

My main image was printed on Super Smooth paper and then coloured with ProMarkers in Apple Green, Lemon, Sleigh Bell, Ruby and Cocoa.  I cut it out with Spellbinders Labels Thirty One.  

I added some MCS glitter to the edges of the die cuts with a Quickie Glue Pen.  The snowflakes are a combination of Spellbinders and Crafter's Companion.  They were actually cut out with wax paper.  I finished off with a Creative Expressions pearl.

I really hope you can join us for our Snowflake challenge.  This will actually be my last challenge at Fab'n'Funky.  I'm really sad to leave and wish all my teamies the very best.  

Happy crafting,

Rachel x

Fab'n'Funky Challenges #196 - A Touch of Frost

Good morning,

We are back at Fab'n'Funky Challenges with a brand new challenge.  firstly, we would thank everyone for joining in with our Cute Critters challenge last week.  What a great selection of entries.  

Now, onto this week and we have Allie as our talented host.  Allie has chosen a great wintry theme for you

A Touch of Frost

We would like to see your cards showing frosty scenes with lots of sparkle or how about the frosting on a cake? 

Our  sponsor this week is the wonderful
Stitchy Bear's Digi Outlet

The prize is $10 to spend on artists images feature here today

(Stitchy Stamps, Barbara Jensen, Reece's  Scrap Pieces)

I chose to use an image called Ice Princess which you can find here and this is my card.

I coloured my image with ProMarkers in Icicle, Frozen Lake, Capri Blue, Reef Blue and then glittered her hair with MCS glitter and a Quickie Glue Pen.  

I cut out my image with Spellbinders Labels A and mounted with foam pads.  I made the background using snowflake stamps from JustRite's Large Fancy Holiday Sentiments set.  These were embossed with white embossing powder.  The blue tiles were dry embossed with an Embossalicious folder and then cut with my Tonic guillotine.  I might add a sentiment but have left it blank for now.

I really hope you can join us to spread the frost at Fab'n'Funky this week.

Happy crafting, 
Rachel x

Fab'n'Funky Challenges #195 - Cute Critters

Hello Crafters,

Well after the excitement of our birthday celebrations at Fab'n'Funky Challenges, we would like to say THANK YOU to everyone who entered a card or project during the fortnight of Anything Goes.  We had a lot of fun checking out the entries.  The winners are all on the blog now so be our guest and take a peek!  

The show must go on as they say and we are back with another great challenge.  Ginny is our talented host and she has chosen a theme for all the animal lovers!

CUTE CRITTERS

We would like to see animals on your projects - the cuter the better!

Our sponsor this week is the fabulous:- 

Who are offering a fab prize of a $10 voucher to spend in 

The StampFairy shop

I've mixed it up a bit this week!  I haven't made a card but a hanger.  When I saw this super cute image called Monkeys Bananas 1 from StampFairy I just knew it would be perfect for my cousin's little boy.  My cousin would never be without her cuddly monkey when we were young so this totally fitted the bill for her son!

I started with my image and coloured him using ProMarkers in Summer Sun, Lemon, Primrose, Sand Dune, Cocoa, Cinnamon, March Hare and I dotted the Blender pen for texture.  I cut out my image using Spellbinders Labels One and also cut one of these in kraft card.  I used my guillotine to slice this in half and then punched two holes in each piece and four in my topper.  I threaded the baker's twine through the three sections and secured in place with Cosmic Shimmer glue.  The letters were cut out using Spellbinders Alphabet set and inked with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  The yellow card is Coredinations.  Finally, I added my stars which came from American Crafts.

Here is a close up of the cute little guy!

I really hope you can join us for our Cute Critters challenge this week at Fab'n'Funky Challenges.

Happy crafting,

Rachel x

Fab'n'Funky Challenges #194 - Birthday Challenge Reminder (Anything Goes)

Morning!

We are still celebrating turning 4 at Fab'n'Funky and the DT are back with more inspiration for our Anything Goes challenge.  If you haven't done so already, head on over to the Fab'n'Funky Challenges blog to see our brilliant sponsors and what the team have created for you this time.

The challenge this week continues to be about as easy as it can get!


Anything Goes

So play along! It may be you who will win one of the Prizes that we have on offer for you:

Our wonderful sponsors
and
Prizes

Hello! My name is Joanna Munster, owner/designer/illustrator of Inspired by Stamping. I started crafting 12 1/2 years ago when I started capturing my daughter’s special moments with scrapbooking. I quickly fell in love with all things crafty including cross stitch, crocheting, knitting, drawing, jewelry making but my love has always been towards the paper crafty industry. It is a place where I can lose myself in creating for hours. 

Three years ago, my hubby, myself and our three children moved from the United States to Australia. While waiting for my working visa, I started drawing and paper crafting full time with my blog. One of my dear friends suggested that I make a stamp set with one of my drawings and this is where Inspired by Stamping started.

We love every moment of working in this industry from the beautiful women and men that we meet daily, to the amazing and creative designs that we see when a friend uses an Inspired by Stamping set. 

You as our customer will ALWAYS be our top priority! If you have any questions or if something is not right, please let us know. We will get back to you ASAP! Our email is customerservice@inspiredbystamping.com

Prize is 3 digis of the winner's choice

Prize - 5 digis of the winners Choice
 - and a GDT spot at Fab'n'Funky Challenges

Prize is a class of the winner's choice

Prize is 3 digis of the winner's choice

Prize is 3 images of the winner's choice from the Lacy Sunshine Shop

For this reminder post I chose to use a Lili of the Valley image.  I have loads of their gorgeous stamps but I decided to try out one of the new Art Pads.  I chose a cute baby image from Art Pad 11 as my friend had a little boy on Tuesday.  Well, maybe not so little at 8lb 10oz!  Here is my card:  

I started with an 8" cardblank and embossed the front using Sue Wilson's Basket Weave folder.  I covered in Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Orange Marmalade.  My topper, DCWV patterned paper and Coredinations were layered onto kraft card with my Perfect Layers tools.  I inked around the edge of the main topper with the same Distress Ink and then used a micron pen to draw the faux stitching.   

My sentiment banner was cut using Spellbinders Tags and Banners and I inked with is the Orange Marmalade DI too.  I attached this and the topper with foam pads.  My finishing touch was the wooden heart which came from American Crafts.

I really hope you can join in and party by linking up to Fab'n'Funky this week.  You have until 8pm (UK time) on Tuesday 26 November.  You've got to be in it to win it!

Happy crafting,

Rachel x

Fab'n'Funky Challenges #194 - Birthday Celebrations Week 2 (Anything Goes)

Hi Everyone,

It's Wednesday again already!  Where are these weeks going?!  We are still celebrating our 4th Birthday over at Fab'n'Funky Challenges and we would love to see your creations this week.  Thank you to everyone who entered our challenge last week.  I think the Anything Goes is a popular choice with everyone!  The winners have been announced on the blog so head on over to see if you've been lucky.

The challenge this week is about as easy as it can get!


'Anything Goes'

So play along! We have an amazing array of prizes to be won and it could be you!

Our wonderful sponsors
and
Prizes

Our brand new sponsor! 
Hello! My name is Joanna Munster, owner/designer/illustrator of Inspired by Stamping. I started crafting 12 1/2 years ago when I started capturing my daughter’s special moments with scrapbooking. I quickly fell in love with all things crafty including cross stitch, crocheting, knitting, drawing, jewelry making but my love has always been towards the paper crafty industry. It is a place where I can lose myself in creating for hours. 

Three years ago, my hubby, myself and our three children moved from the United States to Australia. While waiting for my working visa, I started drawing and paper crafting full time with my blog. One of my dear friends suggested that I make a stamp set with one of my drawings and this is where Inspired by Stamping started.

We love every moment of working in this industry from the beautiful women and men that we meet daily, to the amazing and creative designs that we see when a friend uses an Inspired by Stamping set. 

You as our customer will ALWAYS be our top priority! If you have any questions or if something is not right, please let us know. We will get back to you ASAP! Our email is customerservice@inspiredbystamping.com

Prize is 3 digis of the winners choice from
The Doodle Pantry shop

Prize is a voucher to spend in store at
Lili of the Valley

Prize - 5 digis of the winners Choice from
Stampart Design by Kathryne
 - and a GDT spot at Fab'n'Funky Challenges

Prize is a class of the winner's choice

My Creative Classroom is an online arts and crafts learning center. Our interactive and in-depth courses are instructor led and filled with wonderful projects and techniques to help you get the most out of your supplies. Our Fall Semester  offers over 100 classes to choose from. We also offer Library classes which feature retired classes at 40-50% off their original price!  New this fall we are offering deals on bundled classes. 

Register for any class beginning in the month of November and you'll be automatically enrolled in the FREE class, Tag It!  It's our way of saying Thank You for your continued support.

We are excited to be sponsoring Fab'n'Funky Challenges. You can view our entire class list on our website at My Creative Classroom. You can also view classes on our Facebook Page too! One lucky winner will receive a free seat to a Workshop class of their choice.....Good Luck!

Prize is 3 digis of the winners choice from the Inky impressions Shop

Prize is 3 images of the winners choice from 
the Lacy Sunshine Shop

I have chosen to use Christmas Candle from StampArt Design by Kathryne as it was so festive.

I started with my image and coloured it in with ProMarkers in Forest Green, Leaf Green, Ruby, Lipstick Red, Yellow, Sunshine, Mustard, Ivory and Cool Grey 3.  I used a Tonic Die to cut out the circle shape.  Using the super sticky red liner tape I went around the back of the die cut and then attached some seam binding in a pleated pattern.  To get the perfect colour match, I coloured this ribbon using the Ruby ProMaker.  The red glitter dots were added using Stickles glitter glue.  I had originally only planned to do three on each side but as you can see I didn't stop there!

My decorative paper came from a paper pad by Creata and I added a tiny layer to make it pop by colouring the edge of a piece of white card using the Leaf Green ProMarker.  The embossed background was made using one of the Christmas Embossalicious folders.  My card blank is 6" in size.

I really hope you'll be able to join our party and link up your creation this week.  We look forward to seeing you at Fab'n'Funky Challenges.

Happy crafting,

Rachel x

Fab'n'Funky Challenges #193 Reminder - It's Our Birthday (Anything Goes)

Hi All,

We are back at Fab'n'Funky Challenges with our mid-way reminder for our Anything Goes challenge to celebrate turning 4 years old.  What a fantastic response so far and thank you to everyone who has linked up and/or left us a comment.  We feel very blessed.

Now for a quick reminder of the brilliant sponsors this week

Prize - 5 digis of the winers Choice - and a GDT spot at Fab'n'Funky Challenges

The first South African online digital image store was launched in 2010 – Digistamps4Joy (or DS4J)http://www.digistamps4joy.co.za/eshop/ .  In February 2012, Margy Kieser took over ownership of DS4J, and there are now two South African artists who contribute to the more than 500 images available. Margy has taken the store to new heights and the store now stocks digis that are cute, whimsical, artistic, sometimes serious, and sometimes humorous. The store has PAYPAL and EFT (South African) facilities.  Digistamps4Joy offers a monthly freebie on the first Friday of every month, and holds regular bi-weekly card challenges on our blog (http://digistamps4joy-sa.blogspot.com )that draw entries from many international card makers. Feel free to join us in our challenges!
- the prize is 5 images of the winners choice from DS4J shop


Prize is 3 images of the winners choice from the Lacy Sunshine Shop

Inky Impressions 

prize is 3 digis of the winners choice

The fabulous Flonzcraft

prize - $20 voucher to spend in store - with free shipping!

I used a Digistamps for Joy (DS4J) image this time round called Welcome Home which I think is so pretty.

I made a kraft cardblank using Spellbinders Grand Labels One and then embossed some Tim Holtz Coredinations cardstock with the Spellbinders M-Bossabilities folder Twisted Hearts.  I sanded this back to reveal the core.  My ribbon is from The Ribbon Kings.  

I coloured my image with ProMarkers in Marsh Green, Apple Cider, Dusky Rose, Budding Rose, Pale Pink, Cinnamon, Satin and Walnut.  I used the Scalloped Labels One from Spellbinders to cut it out and then inked with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Bundled Sage.  I layered the image with kraft card and coredinations.  My die cut words are from the Tattered Lace Sentimentals range.  To finish I added three pearls to the top left corner.

Hope to see you at the Fab'n'Funky Anything Goes party!  

Happy crafting, 
Rachel x

Fab'n'Funky Challenges #193 - It's Our Birthday (Anything Goes)

Hi Everyone,

It's our Birthday and we are celebrating in style.  We hope you'll join us as we have fantastic challenges and wonderful sponsors who are offering a plethora of prizes!

We are delighted to be celebrating our 4th birthday with week one of our fabulous fortnight of challenges so join in the fun for the chance of winning one of the prizes from our fabulous sponsors.

The challenge this week is an easy one it's 

Anything Goes

So this should be really easy for you to complete a project / card and enter our Challenge.  Maybe you will win one of the prizes that we have on offer for you:

Prize - 5 digis of the winers Choice - and a GDT spot at Fab'n'Funky Challenges

The first South African online digital image store was launched in 2010 – Digistamps4Joy (or DS4J) .  In February 2012, Margy Kieser took over ownership of DS4J, and there are now two South African artists who contribute to the more than 500 images available. Margy has taken the store to new heights and the store now stocks digis that are cute, whimsical, artistic, sometimes serious, and sometimes humorous. The store has PAYPAL and EFT (South African) facilities.  Digistamps4Joy offers a monthly freebie on the first Friday of every month, and holds regular bi-weekly card challenges on our blog (http://digistamps4joy-sa.blogspot.com) that draw entries from many international card makers. Feel free to join us in our challenges!
Prize - 5 images of the winners choice from DS4J shop


Prize is 3 images of the winners choice from the Lacy Sunshine Shop

Inky Impressions 

Prize - 3 digis of the winners choice

The fabulous Flonzcraft

Prize - $20 voucher to spend in store - with free shipping!

So after all those goodies to be won, here is my card for inspiration and I really hope you like it.  I used a Flonzcraft stamp Perfect Peacock.

My image was stamped using Versamark onto white card and then heat embossed with gold detail embossing powder.  I cut out my image using Spellbinders A2 Filagree Delight, layering up the main oval for dimension.  The edges were inked using a Cyan ProMarker.  I also used the pen to colour my seam binding, drying it on the radiator!  My base card is made from Create and Craft cardstock which I really love and was also on sale.  I achieved the gatefold design using my Crafter's Companion Ultimate Pro.  Super easy as the score lines are already marked on the board.  

I cut a piece of white cardstock to 4" by 5" which is just a little bigger than the topper.  I used a JustRite sentiment stamp from their Grand Birthday Sentiments set.  This was embossed in the same gold powder.  I also edged this piece of card with the Cyan ProMarker to match the topper.

I really hope you can link up with us this week to celebrate our birthday and you have until 19 November to show us your talents.  We'll be back on Saturday with more inspiration from our wonderful sponsors.

Happy crafting,
Rachel x

Fab'n'Funky Challenges #191 - Halloween

Boo! 

Can you tell that we are celebrating Halloween over at Fab'n'Funky Challenges this week?!  Angelique is our very talented and kind host and you're going to be spooked by her chosen challenge...

Halloween

It couldn't be simpler!  Just make a Halloween themed project and link it up.  We also have a brilliant sponsor this week too - Bugaboo Stamps.  

They are offering 7 digis to the randomly chosen winner.  So make sure you're in it to win it!  I chose to use Magical Tidbits Bookshelf from Bugaboo and really love the versatility of this image.

I coloured my image with ProMarkers in Bright Orange, Soft Melba, Tropical Sunrise, Black, Forest Green, Apple Green, Green Shoot and all the Cool Greys.  To get the shape, I used Spellbinders Labels Twenty Five and then created a faux layer by drawing around the die and cutting out with scissors.  

My stripey paper is from Bo Bunny's Vicki B Collection.  The black card is from Creative Expressions and I embossed it using an Embossalicious folder.  To finish I added three green gems from Create and Craft which are a really light lime green but haven't shown up too well in the photo.

I really hope you'll come along to spook us this week at Fab'n'Funky Challenges.

Happy Crafting,
Rachel x

Fab'n'Funky Challenges #190 - Distress

Hi Crafters,

I hope you've been crafting away, enjoying using all your stash.  I've been in the kitchen instead of my crafty space - my friends and I started our annual Come Dine With Me last weekend and I was the first to host (things can only get better!).  I'm not known for my culinary skills but it seemed to go down a treat!

We have a super new challenge for you over at Fab'n'Funky Challenges with the winners and Top 3 from last week's Spots and Stripes challenge having been announced.  Take a peek at the blog to see if you were chosen.  

For this week, the wonderful Beccy is our host and she has chosen a great challenge that I'm sure you're going to love.

Distress

I don't think this one needs any explaining!  We also have two great sponsors this week - Flonzcraft and Lacy Sunshine.  Both have fab prizes on offer for the random winners.  Plus there will be a Top 3, as always.

I chose to use a Lacy Sunshine image, my first from this designer and I just fell in love with this Parisian image called Adele - Paris City Girl.

I coloured my image with ProMarkers in Marsh Green, Fresh Meadow, Walnut, Cinnamon, March Hare, Satin, Rose Pink, Pink Mittens, Blush and Dusky Pink.  To create the frame I cut out using Spellbinders Labels Twenty-Nine which I thought resembled an open book.  So that it stood out I inked through the die with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Bundled Sage.

My mat was created from a piece of Coredinations cardstock which is also what I used for the Eiffel Tower, sanding it back to reveal the core.  This die came from the Spellbinders French Frills set.  I already had the doily coloured using a ProMarker and it seemed to match so I just used it to save colouring another.  I found the satin ribbon in my stash and I think it might have come from Create and Craft.  My DP is from Wild Rose Studio's Letters from Paris set.  It's a gorgeous collection of papers with a pink and green colour scheme.  I distressed the layers with a pair of scissors because, of course, I couldn't find my Tim Holtz paper distresser when I needed it!  Finally I finished with three square gems in the top right corner.  I bought these from my local craft shop when they were reduced to £1.  Bargain!  

I hope you can join in our distressing this week at Fab'n'Funky Challenges.  

Happy crafting,
Rachel x

Cabbage Rose Butterfly Card

Hi Everyone,

I have another Spellbinders butterfly card for you today.  My very favourite type of card to make.  If you were eagle-eyed you might have spotted this card on the Tool Shed on Create and Craft TV a few weeks ago.  I had my email read out and my card shown whilst Sue Wilson was making a gorgeous creation.

I started with a piece of Creative Expressions Coconut White cardstock and scored on my Ultimate Pro to make the card blank.  I added a piece of mat gold card and then to make my "topper", I embossed a piece of Coredinations with the Spellbinders Cabbage Rose M-bossability folder and sanded back.  My vellum was cut using the Spellbinders Borderabilities Curved Borders 2.  I added a Spellbinders Fancy Tags Two die and finally finished off with a butterfly from Les Papillion die cut in the same mat gold card.

I hope you like my card.

Happy crafting,
Rachel x

Fab'n'Funky Challenges #189 - Spots and Stripes

Hi All,

We're back with another great challenge at Fab'n'Funky Challenges.  But first, if you were one of the lovely people who entered our last challenge head over to the Fab'n'Funky Challenges blog to see our random winner and Top 3.

I'm sure you're all wondering what we have in store for you this week.  Well, the super talented Pat has picked a fab theme for you all...

Spots and Stripes

Just make sure you use both spots and stripes and link up your creation for a chance to win.  We have two great sponsors this week - Inky Impressions and StampArt Design by Kathryne.  Two sponsors means two prizes!
The DT were lucky to be able to use images from both sponsors for this challenge and I chose to use a sentiment digi from StampArt Design by Kathryne.

This was a fairly simple card and it came together really quickly.  Great for all those Christmas cards I still have to make!  I started with a 5" kraft card blank and embossed with a Spellbinders M-bossability embossing folder.  The stripey paper is from Craft Artist but I'm not sure which digikit.  I cut my gold snowflake with Spellbinders 2011 Snowflake Pendant.  I simply cut my sentiment out with scissors and then ran a ProMarker around the edge.  I coloured the centre with ProMarkers too, in Ruby, Lipstick Red and Caramel.  

I hope you can join us to go dotty and stripey at Fab'n'funky Challenges this week.

Happy crafting,
Rachel x

A Beautiful Birthday

Hello All,

I have something a bit different for you today.  I have finally tried out my gilding flakes!  I must have bought my very first one pot about two years ago but have never had the guts to get them out and play.  Well, after seeing Sue Wilson on the Tool Shed this month, I just knew it was time to get gilding.  Oh what fun they are but boy do they go everywhere!  I think my gluing technique could be improved but it wasn't too shabby for a first attempt!  Anyway, I'm waffling and I'm sure you'd like to see the card in question so here goes!

I stared with a piece of black card and the Leafy Background Stamp from JustRite.  I inked up my stamp with the Cosmic Shimmer Flake and Glitter Glue and then quickly pressed it onto the card.  You have to be quick or the card will tear.  I know this from experience - it only happened the second time though!

Once the glue was in position I cleaned my stamp under the tap and then left to air dry.  This is an important step as you don't want the glue to dry on your stamp.  I added the Cosmic Shimmer gilding flakes in Sunrise Dawn and rubbed clean with my scoochy sponge from IndigoBlu.  For added texture I ran the piece of card through a Sizzix embossing folder which looks like a vintage sunrise.  Sorry, I don't know the name of the folder.

Nearly all of my cardstock is from Creative Expressions but the gold card is from Create and Craft's own brand.  I would love a large stock of this but I'm down to my last two sheets.  Sob!  I used my Ultimate Pro to make the card bland and then attached my topper with super sticky tape to the bottom part of the easel.  The ribbon was from my stash and matched so well I just had to use it.  

For the main sentiment I stamped using JustRite's Enjoy the Day Vintage Labels Four in Versamark and then heat embossing in gold.  I cut out with scissors, leaving a tiny border of plain cardstock.  My butterfly is from Spellbinders Les Papillion.  The gems came from Create and Craft.

I would like to enter this card in to the following challenge:
Justrite Challenge #107 - Easel Cards

I hope you are all having a great start to your week.  I have thoroughly enjoyed my playtime this evening and can't wait to start on my next project.  

Happy crafting,
Rachel x