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 #183 - Opposites Attract

Hi Everyone,

We are back at Fab'n'Funky Challenges today with a brand new challenge but before you get crafting to join in, why not check out the winners from last week.  They are up on the blog right now.

Our challenge this week is hosted by the wonderful Alli and you can visit her blog here.  Alli has chosen a great colour challenge:-

Opposites Attract

We would like you to use two opposite colours from the following colour wheel:-

We also have two fabulous sponsors this week:- 

Stamp Art by Kathryne 

and 

Flonzcraft 

I chose to use an image from StampArt Design by Kathryne called Butterfly Border 1.  Along with the border image, you also receive an individual butterfly image which is what I used here.  

You can probably guess by the photo which colours I chose!  Yellow and purple just seemed to scream out at me "Pick me, pick me!"  How could I refuse?!

My card blank was made using two cuts of the Spellbinders Fanciful Lattice in Centura pearl glued together on the left to create the spine.  I printed the purple paper from a Creative Crafting World CD-ROM.  To make the butterfly the vibrant shade of yellow I used My Craft Studio software.  Once printed, I embossed the wings using a Cuttlebug swirl folder.  I added glitter to the centre with a Quickie Glue Pen and attached with foam pads.  My ribbon is really old so I have no idea where it came from but my pearls are from Creative Expressions.

I really hope you can make your opposites attract this week and join us at Fab'n'Funky Challenges.

Happy crafting,

Rachel x

Fab'n'Funky Challenges #176 - Animals

Hi All,

Apologies for the late post - brain wasn't engaged!  It's my brother's wedding on Saturday and I'm not sure where the time has gone.  It actually doesn't seem real yet and we've already had the rehearsal!  Fingers crossed everything goes smoothly.

Enough of my jibbering though!  We have a brand new challenge over at Fab'n'Funky Challenges and this week we are hosted by the wonderful Zoe.  The theme is a fab one too...

Animals

So as long as there is an animal on your project, feel free to link it up.  We also have two great sponsors - Flonzcraft and StampArt Design by Kathryne.  As always, that means two great prizes!

I chose to use a StampArt image this week called Ari and Toby which features the most adorable little dog.  I went with bright colours to fend off those raindrops.

Isn't she cute?!  I made this card using Serif's Craft Artist Professional 2.  As soon as I saw those wellies I knew they would make the perfect background and all the elements came from the Backyard Bumper digikit.  I left my image blank so that the recipient - my friend's 7 year old daughter - can colour it herself.  

I really hope you can join us this week with your animals!

Happy crafting,
Rachel x

Fab'n'Funky Challenges #165 - April Showers

Hi All,

We were delighted to see so many wonderful boxes last week.  The challenge winner and Top 3 have been posted so head over to Fab'n'Funky Challenges to see if it might be you.

We have another great challenge for you at Fab'n'Funky Challenges.  The brilliant Anne-Marie is our host and she has picked a great seasonal challenge...

April Showers

You can interpret this as you wish but please make sure that your project fits the theme.

We are spoiling you again this week with two sponsors - Flonzcraft and StampArt Design by Kathryne.  Just click on their name to be taken to their stores.

I have another Serif card for you this week.  I'm in the middle of making my brother's wedding invites so haven't been able to dedicate as much time to other crafting as I would have liked.  I hope you like what I have created though...

I thought the bright colours would cheer up the umbrella image.  I started by layering a white background behind the red patterned paper.  I added the strip of blue paper to match the umbrella which I had already colour picked to change it from pink.  Next I added the dotty paper and layered the same white material that I stated with for the background.  This has to be the most useful paper in the Serif range - plain white!  I used a punch to make a layer for my embellishment and then added the bunting, again changing the colour to match.  Once I added my shadows, I was done!

The inside looks like this...

I hope you can join us in the April Showers at Fab'n'Funky Challenges.

Happy crafting,
Rachel x

Fab'n'Funky Challenges #159 - Flower Power

Hi Fab'n'Funky fans!

I hope you are all having a great week.  We've had fantastic weather here the last couple of days so I hope this isn't the calm before the storm!  If you entered our challenge last week, check out the Fab'n'Funky Challenges blog as the winners have been posted. 

The lovely Wendy is our host this week and if you want some great inspiration head over to her blog here.  Wendy has picked a very girly theme this week and I loved it!

Flower Power

We would like you to use lots of flowers on your project - they can in any form.  We are really spoiling you this week too with two sponsors!  First up is...

Flonzcraft - a great stamp manufacturer from New Zealand

Our second sponsor is...

the lovely StampArt Design by Kathryne

This is my inspiration for our Flower Power challenge...

I started with a Hunkydory card blank in a tag shape and then embossed the front using one of the Crafter's Companion Embossalicious embossing folders.  Using Cut'N'Dry foam, I inked the edge of the card blank with Soothing Sunset Big and Juicy inkpad.  I stamped my lovely Flonzcraft Smiling Fairy with Butterfly stamp in the same inkpad and then cut out with Spellbinders Labels Eleven.  Once cut, I inked the edges of the die cut too.  My flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts and I attached with Pinflair glue gel.  I stamped my sentiment in Soothing Sunset again and then cut out using Spellbinders Framed Tags One. 

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
QKR Stampede Challenge #26 - Anything Goes
Created With Love Challenges #29 - Things That Fly

I hope you can join us for our Flower Power challenge this week. 

Happy crafting,
Rachel x

Fab'n'Funky Challenges #155 - Your Favourite Colour Combo

Hello Crafters,

I can't believe it's Wednesday again already!  But Wednesday means a brand new challenge at Fab'n'Funky Challenges.  So if you haven't already, check out our winners post for the last challenge as it's on the blog right now.

So, I know you're all wondering what we would like you to create this week.  Our host is the wonderful Ginny and she has chosen a great theme...

Your Favourite Colour Combo

Yip, it's that simple.  Just chose your favourite colour combo and get crafting!  We also have the brilliant Flonzcraft as our sponsor.  They are a stamp manufacturing compnay from New Zealand.  Be sure to check out their stamps here.

I had a little dilemma chosing my colour combo but this is what I first thought of when I saw the challenge theme so I knew it had to be the one - pink, black and silver.

I recently treated myself to a set of the Spellbinders Grand Scalloped Squares which I bought from America because it was cheaper then buying from the UK!  Anyway, I used these to make my card blank and then scored the back panel to allow the card to stand.

My background actually came from waste!  I spritzed all over the circles masks from That Special Touch to make a background for another card and then used the leftover ink that was still on the mask to make a second background and this what I've used here.  I really liked the way it turned out - not quite perfect but still enough to show the shimmer of the Mister Huey spray.  I used my Tim Holtz Picked Raspberry Distress Ink on my Slodge mat to add colour to the spritzy background once it had dried.  I wanted a graduated look so really went for it at the bottom of the card, fading nearer the top.

Using Spellbinders Grand Decorative Circles I cut a base shape from black card and then added a doily which I had covered with silver metallic ink.  I stamped my Flonzcraft Crystal Frame stamp in black on white card and then used my DI to colour match the background.  I added a silver-mirri butterfly from the Spellbinders Jewel Flourishes set.  Finally I finished off with some gems for the corners.  I'm still in gem-mania mode!

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp and Show - What Are You Known For (pink and butterflies)
Top Tip Tuesday #94 - Lavishly Luscious Layers
Creative Card Crew #28 - Girly 
Created With Love Challenges #25 - Anything Goes 

I hope you can join us for our great colour combo challenge this week.

Happy crafting,
Rachel x

Fab'n'Funky Challenges #149 - Midway Reminder

Hi Everyone,

Apologies for the late post - my brain is obviously thinking so much about Christmas that I thought I had already posted this today!  I have managed to get my Christmas tree up though.  I didn't have any decorations up last year at all as I was in the middle of getting a new kitchen fitted so I'm getting the most of them this year.

We are still celebrating our 3rd Birthday at Fab'n'Funky Challenges and this is your midway reminder to get those entries in.  Have you seen our prizes?  Wowee!

Who are offering a £10 voucher to spend in store



Who are offering a $10 voucher to spend in  their fabulous selection in store

Who are offering   a $20 voucher to spend in their store - with free shipping

Who are offering a choice of 5 digis from the cute digis they have in their store

and not forgetting our great new sponsor
Cult Pens

who are offering a super prize of £50 to spend in their shop


 Cult Pens are also  offering a discount of 10% in their store
to all you Fab'n'Funky fans - just use the code

 FNF2012 

It's valid right up until the end of December

I'm sure you'll agree those are some fantastic prizes and our theme is...

3 of something or the number 3

And now onto my inspiration for this midway reminder

I started with a 6" scalloped card blank.  My papers are from the Life's A Beach digikit in Serif''s Craft Artist Professional 2.  My image is from Digi Darla Designs and is called Ashley with Rose.  Isn't she sweet?  I used ProMarkers to colour my image in True Blue, Sky Blue, Indigo Blue, Mustard, Canary, Lemon, Soft Lime, Walnut, Cinnamon, Caramel, Dusky Pink and Blush.  I cut the image with Spellbinders Labels Twenty.  My gems are from Create and Craft and came free with a storage carousel.

Really hope you can join us for the final few days of our birthday celebrations.

Happy crafting,

Rachel x

Fab'n'Funky Challenge #142 - Vintage

Hello Everyone,

I hope you've all had a good week.  I've been busy crafting when I should be packing as I'm away on Sunday for a few days to Glasgow.  Yay!

We had a great response to our "No Patterned Papers" challenge last week over at Fab'n'Funky Challenges.  I'm always inspired by all the ideas you use to showcase your lovely images. 

Well, I had better tell you all about our next exciting challenge.  The wonderful Shirley is our host this week and she has a fab challenge for us all...

Vintage

I know there are many vintage fans out there so now is your time to show off!  We have the fantastic Flonzcraft as our sponsors.  They are a rubber stamp company based in New Zealand.  Their catalogue of images is varied and ever expanding so check out their site here.  The challenge winner will receive a $20 voucher to the Flonzcraft store with free shipping too.  There is also 12% discount for anyone entering the challenge.  Sounds good to me!

Now, onto my card and the DT had wonderful Flonzcraft stamps to use for this challenge.  I chose to use the Perfect Peacock and was really impressed with the great quality image. 

I made a 7" card blank using white cardstock as I didn't have any to hand.  The papers are all printed from the Summer Peacock digikit in Serif's Craft Artist Professional 2.  I used the Tim Holtz paper distresser to rough up the edges of my pieces.  I also went over the gold mirri layer with an emery board.  I tried using a fine sandpaper but it just took the gold off completely. 

To show off the wonderful peacock I used gold detail embossing powder.  I used baby powder to dust over my card and stop the static first and then stamped in Versamark ink.  I love this ink!  Once I had covered in the embossing powder and poured the excess back into the pot, I heated from underneath with a directional heat tool.

I was really happy with how this turned out.  I may have even done a little happy dance a la Sue Wilson!

My sentiment is from Lili of the Valley and I also used the gold embossing powder to tie in with the image.  I cut the sentiment out with a 1.5" circle punch.  The feather was part of a large embellishment collection from My Craft Studio when they were still at Create and Craft.  I finished off with some aqua gems also from Create and Craft.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenge:-

Sketch Saturday #228 - Donna's DT Week with Little Claire's

Hope you're already planning your vintage creation for our challenge.  Have fun creating.

Happy crafting,
Rachel x

Fab'n'Funky Challenge #132 - Anything But A Card

Hi All,

I think these weeks are flying by even faster than normal just now.  Have you checked out the winner of our last challenge yet?  If not, head over to the Fab'n'Funky Challenges blog.  We also have badges for the winner and Top 3 so make sure you pick one up if it's you. 

And without further ado, we have another new challenge for you at Fab'n'Funky.  I'm your host for this week and I've chosen the following theme...

Anything But A Card

You can make any project you like but just make sure there are NO cards.  We also have a really exciting new sponsor - Flonzcraft, who are stamp manufacturers from New Zealand. 

They have an amazing offer for everyone who enters our challenge this week.  Be sure to click on our challenge blog to find out more.  The challenge winner, picked at random, will also receive a $20 voucher to spend and their order will qualify for FREE shipping!  Wooo!

I made a scrapbook layout using Vintage Girl Fashion - Fifties 03 and I absolutely love this stamp.  We were such a lucky DT to receive some stamps to play with ourselves.  This one had to jump into my basket as soon as I saw it.

My papers are from the Indigo Bleu range by Pink Paislee and I bought them from Create and Craft when they had their International Craft Event.  I have been putting off using them because they are so beautiful and every one is different.  

I used Spellbinders Labels One Scalloped to frame my stamp and Labels Four for my journalling.  I've not cracked the journalling yet but I'm trying to improve.  I don't know when the photo was taken but it shows my Granny and Grandad on the right and my Granny's sister and brother-in-law on the left.  I'll have to ask my Granny if she remembers getting this picture taken.

I cut several different sized strips and then ran the light grey strip through a paper crimper for texture.  The bunting was made using an American Crafts mask.  I drew around the shape and then cut it out by hand.  The "Sisters" lettering was cut using my Cricut Expression 2 and the Paper Lace 2 cartridge. 

And here is a close up of that gorgeous stamp.

I left it uncoloured as I thought it looked more like the old images of the Fifites.  I have a great idea for my next project using it though!

Have fun creating your projects and I can't wait to visit you all and see what you've done.

Do make sure you check out the other DT members' blogs.  Their projects are amazing, as always, and I want to thank them all for sharing their creativity and being such a lovely team.

Happy crafting,

Rachel x