Fab'n'Funky Challenges #145 - Die Cuts/Punches

Hello Crafty Friends,

I hope you are all well and that my American friends are safe in the midst of Hurricane Sandy.  The weather can be so ferocious.

I think we have a few animal lovers in our following!  We loved your entries last week.  Check out the Fab'n'Funky Challenges blog to see our lucky winners and Top 3.

Now on to our current challenge and we have the super talented Pat K as our host.  She has chosen a theme that I think has to be a favourite of many...

Die Cuts/Punches

Our sponsors this week are the ever versatile Joanna Sheen and the brilliant StampArt Design by Kathryne.  Check out their sites by clicking the links and you'll be in crafty heaven!

So I have a wedding card for you today.  The wedding was back in September so I've also included a photo of the happy couple on their big day.

I started off with an A4 piece of card and scored to make a gatefold card.  I inserted a heart die into the middle so that I could cut the heart from the front.  I added my image but I can't remember for the life of me where it came from.  I used some glitter on the bride's flowers to make them stand out.  The die cuts are Spellbinders Moroccan Accents.  I used the insert of the Spellbinders Fancy Tags Three for the sentiment which has been glittered with MCS ultra fine glitter.  I also added this glitter around the edge of the hear aperature. 

Here are the happy couple - Katie-Ann and Ewan.  They had gorgeous weather and we were all thrilled for them.  It was a truly lovely day.

Now it's over to you - show us your die cuts or punched shapes for our challenge to be in with a chance of winning one of our great prizes.

Image:  StampArt Design by Kathryne

Don't forget that we have our Birthday Extravaganza coming up in a few weeks time.  There will be loads of prizes up for grabs over the fortnight of celebrations.  Hope you can join us.

Happy crafting,
Rachel x

Fab'n'Funky Challenges #144 - Animals

Hello Everyone,

I hope you are all well.  I'm still recovering from a terrible bout of flu but on the mend now.  I have a craft fair coming up next weekend and it's my first one so I need to be fitting fit for that. 

If you are curious about our challenge winners from last week, check out the Fab'n'Funky Challenges blog.  There were so many wonderful entries and great colour combos.

This week we have the lovely Sue as our host and you really should check out her amazing card for this week.  It's so cute!  Now then, Sue had chosen a fab challenge...

Animals

So dig out those animal-themed stamps and papers and get crafting!  Our brilliant sponsors this week are Crimson Cloud and DigiDarla Designs.  What a treat!  Two sponsors mean two prizes! 

The Design Team also had fab images from DigiDarla Designs to use for our challenge this week.  I chose this cute little dog with an envelope.

Apologies for the terrible colouring job in this little puppy.  I've been really poorly with the flu and hadn't made anything in advance.  I am slightly embarrassed at how bad this has turned out! 

I started with a 6" square scalloped card and then mat and layered brown cardstock and paw print paper.  I coloured the doily with my Putty ProMarker and attached with a tape runner.  The image was also coloured with ProMarkers in Putty, Satin, Caramel, Pale Pink and Dusky Rose.

My flowers are from a set by 3Birds.  I used a embossing folder to add the textured pattern.  I cut the sentiment and image using Labels Twenty  from Spellbinders.

I hope you'll be able to join us this week in celebrating all things animal.

Happy crafting,
Rachel x

Fab'n'Funky Challenges #143 - Orange, Black and Choice

Hi All,

Hope you've all had a productive week.  I'll still be in Glasgow when you are reading this!  The wonders of technology!  Fingers crossed it goes to plan.

If you entered our Vintage challenge last week over at Fab'n'Funky Challenges then head over to the blog to see our lucky winners. 

This week our challenge is hosted by the lovely Jackie and she has picked a great colour based challenge...

Orange, Black and a colour of your choice

Our sponsor this week is Pink Cat Studio and the DT were lucky enough to be able to use their images for the challenge.  Check out their great designs here.

My colour of choice is green and I think this suits my little halloween guy really well.

I designed this entire card in Craft Artist Professional 2.  I started with the Spooktacular digikit and used an old Sketch Saturday layout. 

I found the cobweb embellishment and then made it into a punch.  I punched out one cobweb from the bright green material and then with the Stamp Mode on, I positioned the next two in a row.  I added the ribbon next but recoloured the orange one as it wasn't bright enough. 

The backing for my image is simply made from materials.  I also used a piece of material to highlight the text.  I used the Troutkings BTN font.  The pumpkins were individual embellishments which I resized and flipped to make a group of three. 

I used the Cutout Studio for the first time on my image and it was a piece of cake!  I applied the shadow feature on all the elements but this hasn't shown up too well.

Once I had the card printed out I used my ProMarkers to cololur the image.  I used the following colours - Forest Green, Grass, Bright Orange, Black, Cool Grey 4, Almond, Cinnamon, Lemon and the blender pen.

It's really easy to make an insert in CAP and I made a quick one for this card.

I just copied elements from the main image and added them to the insert.  Simples!

Can't wait to see all the wonderful combinations that you enter. 

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

Spellbinding Fun!

Hi Crafty People,

I'm having a rather lazy Saturday.  It started off great with a workout and then some crafting but I've really done nothing this pm!  I thought I would show you what I've been working on this weekend though.  I sent in an email to Leonie on Create and Craft this morning but I think I was just out of time.  :(  There's always next time though.

The world exclusive Spellbinders Pick of the Day that was on C&C a couple of weeks ago was just to die for!  Geddit?!  The dies are called D-Lites as they are smaller but more intricate in style.  I can't chose my favourite yet but this one is definitely in my top 5!

I used the smallest of the Spellbinders Grand Dahlia dies to make my card blank and then stamped around with Tim Holtz Dusty Concord Distress Ink, using a Debbi Moore flourish stamp.  The centrepiece is made from the D-Lites and this is Medallion Four.  The base is silver-mirri paper and then topped with an inked purple layer.  I cut the sentiment stamp from the Ribbon Banners set and then inked thought with DC DI again.  The butterfly is also a Spellbinders die and came from the Butterflies Two set, which was inked within an inch of it's life too!  I added a diamante to the centre of the butterfly for extra bling. 

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Totally PaperCrafts #137 - Let's See Those Shapes
Make It Monday #109 - Anything Goes
By The Cute and Girly - Birthdays

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you are having a great World Card Making Day 2012.

Happy crafting,
Rachel x

Fab'n'Funky Challenges # 141 - No Pattered Papers

Hi All,

What an overwhelming response to our last challenge.  Who knew there were so many things that start with F?!  We loved pouring over your creations and what wonderful ideas.  Check out the Fab'n'Funky Challenges blog to see our winner and Top 3.  Don't forget to pick up those badges too.

Now, lets get going with the next challenge and we have a super theme this week picked by the wonderful Ginny...

No Patterned Papers

You can use whatever you like but just make sure that no patterned papers sneak in there! We also have a brilliant sponsor this week in the form of Stamp Fairy - just click on their name and check out their super designs. 

I've had a notion to make an acetate card for a while and this just seemed like the perfect opportunity to try it out. 

I hope you an see this properly.  I used snowfall acetate from Hunkydory, then I cut two of the Spellbinders Grand Ovals in silver mirri-paper, one from the front and one for the back to cover my 3D foam tape.  The topper on the front is also from Hunkydory and was part of their Cute at Christmas collection.  I used Three Kings ribbon at the top and secured with super sticky tape to create a faux bow.  I added the snowflake topper with some Cosmic Shimmer glue.  This little topper also came from the Hunkydory kit. 

I hope you have as much fun making your creations this week as I have with mine.  Looking forward to seeing your designs.

Happy crafting,
Rachel x

Fab'n'Funky Challenges #140 - Starts with F

Hi Crafty People,

Hope this post finds you well and crafted!  We had a phenomenal response to our Things with Wings challenge last week at Fab'n'Funky Challenges.  Check out the blog to see if you were one of our lucky winners.  Amazing entries.

Now, onto the challenge in hand and it's Emma's turn to host this week.  She has chosen one of my favourite challenges ever...

Starts with F

There are so many possibilities - friends, fashion, fairies, flowers, flutes or even finger food!  We also have two fantastic sponsors - Di's Digi Downloads and StampArt Design by Kathryne.  Click on their names to check out their wonderful designs.

So, my F was French-inspired and flowers and I used my new Eiffel Tower die from Marianne Craftables.

As you can see I also used my favourite crafty item - Spellbinders!  However, to start I opened up Fab Glam Fifites on My Craft Studio and found this rose embellishment.  I resized the image and then tiled it to make a backing paper, placing a gold/cream background behind to match.  I used the colour picker to make the matching blue base background.  I cut these layers with Spellbinders Grand Rectangles. 

The corners came from Spellbinders Venetian Motifs and I used Create and Craft glitter card which I wasn't sure would work through the dies but the results were really good.  The centre layer is from Spellbinders Labels Twenty-Eight and I also ran this through the Venetian M-Bossabilities folder for extra texture.  I used Spellbinders Fancy Framed Tags One for the sentiment and that was stamped with JustRite stamps - Bon Voyage. 

I hope I've inspired you to get creative and show us your makes that start with F.  Have fun!

Happy crafting,

Rachel

Fab'n'Funky Challenges #139 - Things with Wings

Hi All,

I hope you've had a great week.  I've had a good week so far but boy is it flying!  I'm going to a wedding on Saturday and really hope the weather improves.  It is still raining like it is going out of fashion!

We have a fab new challenge for you over at Fab'n'Funky Challenges and our wonderful host Wendy has picked a fantastic theme...

Things with Wings

You can use butterflies, dragons, bees, angels or anything else with a set of wings!  We have the fab Doodle Pantry as our sponsor this week and the DT was lucky enough to have some digi images to use. 

This is my owl inspired card.

I started by printing four copies of my image and then cut different parts from each one to decoupage.  I layered up with foam pads.  The base shapes are from the Spellbinders Grand Labels Eleven.  The shimmery white paper is from Debbi Moore.  I used a circle punch to make an aperature for the moon and then added My Craft Studio glitter with my Quickie Glue Pen.  I also added a few rays from the moon around my little owl. 

I attached the layers with double sided sticky tape as the owl has a lot of dimension.  I used a large corner punch to round the corners of my card blank. 

So get those wings a flapping!  Can't wait to see what you all make this week.

Happy crafting,
Rachel x

Fab'n'Funky Challenge #138 - Harvest Festival

Hi Everyone,

I hope you are all enjoying a great week and that the weather is still holding out for you.  It has been sunny and chucking it down in equal measures here this week. 

So, on to our next challenge at Fab'n'Funky Challenges and it's a seasonal one that has been chosen by our host for this week, Vicky.  Check out her amazing blog.  Our theme this week is...

Harvest Festival

We also have the brilliant Digi Doodle Shop as our sponsor and the challenge winner will receive a $10 voucher to spend in their online shop.

Now then, brace yourselves!  I've tried my hand at polymer clay this week.  I saw a demo in an old edition of Cardmaking and Papercraft and knew that this lovely image would be perfect with it.

I started by rolling lots of long thin strips of the brown polymer clay and then twisting them together to make the basket pieces.  I laid them over the magazine template, placing a piece of rolled up tin foil underneath to make the basket slightly raised.  Once the basket was baked in the oven, I made the strawberries and then popped them into the oven.  I used Pinflair glue gel to attach the strawberries and basket.

The lovely image of the Strawberry Fairy from Digi Doodle Shop was coloured with ProMarkers in Vanilla, Gold, Blush, Almond, Pear Green, Lipstick Red and Ruby.  The full image has lovely leafy strawberries but it was just too much with the basket so I cut her out with scissors.  To glitter her wings I had another copy of the image already printed and I cut out the wings with a craft knife and then sprayed Crafter's Companion Irredecsent glitter through the aperature.  I was a bit heavy-handed though!  I attached the image with foam pads after shaping.

The green layer under the basket is from Spellbinders Grand Decorative Circles One.  It is the perfect fit for a 6" card blank.  The papers came free with my Quick Cards Made Easy mag a few months ago.  I did add a sentiment but thought it was too much so removed it again but you never know, it might make it back on again!

I hope you have fun with your harvest projects this week.  Looking forward to checking them all out. 

Happy crafting,
Rachel x

Fab'n'Funky Challenge #137 - Colours of Autumn

Hi Everyone,

Hope this post finds you all well.  I learned a valuable crafty lesson on Sunday night - paper is dangerous!  I bent down to pick up a piece of mirri-paper and snap went my back!  I couldn't straighten up and had to get help from my Mam!  Be careful out there!

Anyway, we have a brilliant new challenge over at Fab'n'Funky and our host this week is the great Pat.  Her chosen theme is very apt for this time of year...

The Colours of Autumn

We also have a fantastic sponsor - My Creative Classroom, who are giving our lucky winner the chance to take part in a hair colouring masterclass.  How amazing is that?!

So, onto my card and I've gone quite simple this week but I kinda liked how it turned out.

I think my photo skills are getting worse though!  This shows the gold mirri-card off and then I layered with brown pearlescent cardstock.  The red spider's web mesh is from Kanban and I have 5 rolls of this in different colours so you might be seeing quite a bit of it for a while!

My stamped image is also Kanban, from their Steampunk stamp set.  I used a Hobbycraft gold inkpad and it really suits these stamps.  I used Spellbinders Grand Ovals to but my image and then distressed with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Fired Brick to highlight the embossing.  Here is the close-up...

This shows the colour of the die cut paper which is a lot more orange-y in real life.  Hope you have fun with your colours of autumn.

Happy crafting,
Rachel x