Z for Zoo Animals

We have again reached the end of another round of the alphabet on the Alphabet Challenge Blog and this fortnight the challenge is Z for Zoo Animals.  I used a Penny Black Stickeroo for my DT card and some DCWV bp onto a purple card, in my attempts to use up old stash!  I coloured the flowers and card candi with Promarkers to match.  Bad light again when I took the photo - roll on Spring!

SNAP 2012

There is a challenge on the forum UK Scrappers for this year, called SNAP 2012 and a word prompt is given every week together with some technical advice.  I have decided to sort of take part and take it a little further by printing out my photos and making a book.  The first 3 prompts were the words Cold, Temptation and Red.  I may end up adding a few more bits to this page as I tend to fill in gaps!

CYDA Challenge #37 - Distressing

This time it was my turn to choose the theme on Craft Your Days Away, and I chose Distressing.  We have a new sponsor this time, Bugaboo Stamps and you can win 7 free digs if you take part this fortnight.

For my DT work I altered and distressed a beer mat, something I have done a lot of lately!  I really need to make them into a book as the pile is getting very high!  I distressed the edges with a Tim Holtz distressing tool and inked the edges of the mat plus the punched butterflies with Distress Ink, also the paper lace.

RRC Challenge #20 - Valentines or Red and Black + DT Call

There is a current DT call on Ruby's Rainbow Challenge so pop over if you would like to apply. The new challenge for the next 2 weeks is Valentines or Red and Black for those who might not like or need Valentines cards!  For my DT work I have altered a beer mat and used a Tim Holtz sticker from one of his books and cut swirls with one of his dies.

MTTC Challenge #171 - Your Favourite Embellishment

The new theme on My Time To Craft for the next fortnight is to use our Favourite Embellishment.  I found this a difficult thing to do for my DT work as I don't just have one favourite!  I used a Penny Black Stickeroo for my card, and decided to punch some flowers which I love to put on but there wasn't room for many!  So then I decided to add some swirls, which I also love - and then decided that they all needed some adhesive gems to finish them off, which again I love!  So for this challenge I am saying the gems are my favourite! 
I am also entering this for 
Charisma Cardz Challenge - Happy Birthday

Sparkles Monthly Challenge #28 - New Crafty Goodies

We have a new look for the new year over at Sparkles Monthly Challenges (previously Sparkles Forum Challenges) so pop on over and take a look at our new challenge for this month which is New Crafty Goodies.   This month we are sponsored by Crafty Emma's store with a fab prize of a £10 voucher.

For my DT work I made a little card using some lovely K & Co bps and a cute little owl stamp by Kars - both pressies I received for Christmas.  The recipient doesn't like pink and girly, so hopefully she liked this card!

Y for You Can Choose

Time for a new theme on the Alphabet Challenge Blog, and this time it is an open theme - You Can Choose.  For my DT work I made a little card using some scraps of paper from my desk and a lovely new Kars stamp I had for Christmas, coloured in with Copics and a piece of Martha Stewart punched edging.

CYDA Challenge # 36 - New Beginnings

To start off the New Year, the theme on Craft Your Days Away is New Beginnings, and this time we have a new sponsor,  The Stampfairy Shop, so pop on over and take part for a chance of winning.

For my DT work, I have made the January page of a calendar I am in the process of making inspired by one in the first issue of Scrap 365 magazine.  I'll blog the rest at the beginning of each month - I haven't made them all yet!!

RRC Challenge #19 - Something for a Baby or Child

The new theme on Ruby's Rainbow Challenges to start the New Year is Something for a Baby or Child, and for my DT work I altered another beer mat with some vintage baby images and items from my stash.

MTTC Challenge #170 - XOXO Hugs and Kisses and DT Call

Time for a new challenge on My Time To Craft, and we start the year with a DT call too, so if you are interested go over to the blog and have a look.  Our new theme is XOXO Hugs and Kisses, and for my DT work I have altered a beer mat again with K & Co bps, a Crafty Individuals image and bits and bobs from my stash.

SFCC Challenge #12 - Christmas Stockings

Happy New Year!!

Time for a new monthly theme on Sparkles Christmas Challenge and for January it is Christmas Stockings.  For my DT work I made some quickie Christmas cards using my cute little Penny Black snowman stamp, coloured with Copics and with various bps.  

There are 2 prizes up for grabs this month, a £10 Joanna Sheen voucher and 4 digs from Pink Gems Designs, so pop over and take part!

X for Xtra Special Occasion and DT Call

Time for a new challenge on the Alphabet Challenge Blog, and there is also a DT call currently running for some new team members.  The theme this fortnight is Xtra Special Occasion and I have made a Silver Wedding Anniversary card for my DT work.

Twas The Night Before Christmas ...

I love 'Twas The Night Before Christmas' so when I saw this stamp I had to buy it and make a Christmas canvas with it!  The background is painted with acrylics, and I already had a chipboard Santa and sleigh in my stash.  I painted the rooftops and trees and added glitter glue everywhere and I am very pleased with it!


I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

MTTC Challenge #169 - Winter Pals

Our last challenge for 2011 on My Time To Craft and the theme is Winter Pals.  For my DT card I used a Penny Black stamp I hadn't used before, I think I bought it a couple of years ago and forgot about it!  

Sparkles First Birthday!

A whole year has passed since Sparkles Forum Challenges started and we are celebrating our first birthday with a great challenge for you - Anything BUT A Christmas Card!  For this special challenge we have 3 prizes on offer so come on over and take part for a chance to win.

Crafty Emma's Store

Crafty Chaos Designs

Di's Digi Downloads

For my DT work, I have made a card that I was asked to make for a friend's Dad - it made a change from Christmas cards!  

Tim's 12 Tags of Christmas - Day 6

I've managed to get another made so I'm halfway there!   This is nothing like Tim's one - I don't have the embossing folder he used, so I decided to take inspiration from the bright colours he used instead!  I did use sticky back foil which was nice to work with, and my Christmas tree embossing folder.  Some of my paint dabbers have dried up but I watered them down a bit and this is the result!

Tim's Tag

Tim's 12 Tags of Christmas - Day 5

I really liked making this tag.  I used my Crafty Individuals Christmas greeting stamp and a Sizzix mistletoe die to make the wreath.  And I am really liking the lovely red of the Winter Distress Ink set too!  It's a proper red red!!

Tim's Tag

Matchbox Advent Calendar and Instructions

I've made another matchbox Advent Calendar, and have been asked in the past for instructions on how to make them - so here is a brief explanation with stage by stage photos which I hope will be of help!  

I will leave this post at the top for a bit so please scroll down past this for other posts.

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First take 24 matchboxes.  Empty out the matches and separate the drawers from the boxes.

Next choose the colour you want to use, and paint the drawers.  I used acrylic paints.   You only need to paint one end as the other end won't be seen, but do go round the corners and edges etc. as bits are visible when it is assembled.

Now paint the sides of the main part of the matchboxes as the edges of these will be seen when it is finished.

You will need 24 brads for drawer handles.  Carefully make a hole in the centre of the front end of the drawers - it is very easy to push too hard and bend the box.  

For the top and base, you will need 2 pieces of 4" x 4" thick card, or chipboard or similar.  Cover these with your chosen papers, making the edges neat underneath.  I also cover the underneath of the base to hide the folded edges.

Now you can start assembling.  Stick 3 boxes together 8 times, so you end up with 8 stacks of 3.  I use an ATG gun to stick mine, you can use double sided tape too.  It needs to be quite strong to hold everything together, so I don't recommend using something like a glue stick.

Cover one side of each stack with your chosen papers.  I leave a small margin round the edge so the paint shows making a border.

Now this is where it can get tricky!  Stick together 4 stacks, making sure the decorated sides are on the outside and the drawer openings are the painted ends.  If you haven't got this bit quite right you can paint the edges now.

Attach this first assembled piece to the base, and put the drawers in.  You should end up with alternating pieces of patterned paper.  Alternatively you can just use one pattern of paper if you think you might get confused!

Now do the same again, and stick the second completed stack to the first one, making sure all drawers and sides are in the right positions.   Finally add the lid to the top.  This is where again you can touch up bits with paint where the colour of your matchbox might be showing through.

Now all you have to do is decorate your calendar with your chosen embellishments, and add numbers to the drawers.

Here are 2 more I have made in previous years.  I hope these instructions are clear enough to help!

Tim's 12 Tags of Christmas - Day 4

Woohoo I am a third of the way through Tim's Tags!  The 12th one was today and I am way behind, but I will just toodle along slowly in my own time and get there eventually!  Dare I say that I'm not too keen on a few of them this year!!  I hope I don't get struck down for saying that!!  So I will have to think carefully about how I am going to interpret one or two of the ones to come!  
Anyways, here is Day 4 - which I enjoyed doing.  Crackle glaze is fun to use and the Distress Stain went over it very well, first time I have tried that technique.  I didn't use white dabber on my swirly stamp like Tim did, as I haven't got it all off from the last time I did that last year and the stamp hasn't been the same since!  So I used blue ink instead!  I did stamp a music stamp on the numbers to try and match Tim's but when I put the Glossy Accents on the ink ran but never mind!

Tim's Tag

CYDA Challenge #35 - Snowmen

The new theme on Craft Your Days Away is Snowmen.  We are sponsored by Simon Says Stamp so come on over to the blog and take part for a chance of winning a $10 spend in their online store.

For my DT work I stamped some more candles with my cute little Penny Black snowman stamp, I just love him!  These make great pressies and are quite quick to make.