Wednesday 13 December 2017

8x8 Wedding Display Piece, Christmas, Easel Backed

Way, way back at some point during the early summer months of this year I was asked if I would make a display piece for a Christmas Wedding - using Royal Blue, Silver, Cream and White.
My only other part of the brief was that it had to look 'Christmassy' AND suit a wedding theme of ribbons and baubles.

So I made a start on this design months ago, shelved it away and came back to it recently to finish it off.

I've never met who it's intended for.

Hope she likes it!




My main challenge for this design was that I hate, loathe and detest the colour blue!
I've never liked the colour - even as a child.


Now I've just got to figure out how much to ask for it!




Stay warm, friends.
Spring will be back eventually!


Donna. x

Friday 8 December 2017

Frantage Christmas Tag, Distressed Star, Believe

I have had a truly wonderful time being a DT member of Tag, You're It!
But sadly the time has come to close down this challenge.

So here's my last tag for 'Tag You're It Friday'...




...  Inspired by this lovely, simple, distressed little number by Leigh Penner.





I've used two colours of Distress Embossing Powder on the sentiment - which has been embossed through my 'Crease' folder as I like to call it.

The silver Folk Star (Poppystamps) is made up of three glued layers of Mirri card which I've sanded down before daubing on clear Embossing Ink.  I then added Frantage 'Chunky White' and glitter elements - which were carefully heat set into place!  (Heat from underneath initially as it will all blow away otherwise)!!!

Added the whole thing to a bigger offset star (MFT Star STAX) that had been layered up a few times for durability, splattered on some Picket Fence Distress Paint and then added more Frantage...  which was slightly too much despite my best efforts!
  But never fear - I just grabbed my sanding block and toned it down a bit...  I was aiming for a 'distressed' look, after all!

Punched a hole straight through the Star, threaded through the bell...

Job done!



Not sure if it's clear in the photo but I did actually cut the Folk Star in half before adding the sentiment.  The 2-3mm gap in between makes all the difference to the shape of the Star as it surrounds the word 'Believe'. 




Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by today.
And if you've ever played along with us you get my heartfelt thanks, too...  

Of course, I love making tags far too much to just quit and stop making them!



So will you join us for our last challenge?

We would love to see you there...







Donna. x

Wednesday 29 November 2017

Craft Consortium, Winter Woodland, Decoupage + Squirrel Clock Face

Good morning, everyone!
It's another cold and frosty one here in the UK, and as anyone who knows me can tell you - I am no fan of the cold.

So I've turned things around for this project today using just one topper from Craft Consortium's Winter Woodland collection - just because it says Winter doesn't mean that's all you have to use it for!


But if you don't like squirrels you should look away 'round about...  now!




For those of you that do love them, however...
Isn't this just the sweetest topper ever?

And such a good size, too.




Such a cutie deserved pride of place on my project for today, so I placed it slap bang in the middle of this clock face.

And why not?





Take a look 'round the back...

See, it has an easel backing that folds flat - which means that this could easily be given instead of a card.
Just attach a label and write 'Happy Birthday' on it or something...




I don't get 'cards' like this...  
so maybe I should squirrel this one away (tee hee) and keep it for myself?

What do you think?





*

Craft Consortium supplies used:

Winter Woodland

Always & Forever

Santoro - Kori Kumi
Leaf Ribbon Set

Decoupage Paper
Seaspray
Metallic Copper


*


As always, I've attached my decoupage papers using spray adhesive.



Here's a closer look at the bottom layer... 



Can you see how I scrumpled up that clock face Decoupage paper to get that crackle effect?




I also smeared brown ink all over the front, left it for a minute or two and then wiped it all off.
Why?

Because the ink seeps into the creases and tones down the shine.
I'm a muted kind of shine girl by nature, you know!





Want to see some more inspiration?

Tune in to Create and Craft TV (11am UK time) today.
That's 29th November, 2017. 
I'm pretty sure I've even heard that there's a sale on! 
(If you are reading this at a later date - sorry, you've missed it)!



But maybe next time...




Donna. x

Tuesday 28 November 2017

Craft Consortium, Winter Woodland, Decoupage + Twine Christmas Card

I just love the Tartan Decoupage Paper that Craft Consortium sells, so for today's project 
I combined it with the wonderfully illustrated Winter Woodland paper pad...
...  and some of the front cover... 
...  inside front cover...
...  lace, twine, ribbon, toppers, resin flowers and a leaf.  

And I've thrown in some stitched die detailing, fussy cutting and distressed edges all for good measure.

This girl likes to add texture to her layered work, you know!





Here's a small breakdown of the base layer before I added the tag, twine and resin embellishments...


*




Start of with the Decoupage paper cut to size and glue into place.

Then cut the smaller square of white patterned paper.  (Acorn and Blue Berry Sprig) to size...  but DO NOT glue it down yet!

Cut a piece of Deer paper to the same size as the Acorn and Blue Berry Sprig, then using that piece of paper cut out two partial Stitched Circles shapes - using dies from your stash.  
Then glue this piece to the Acorn piece.

Cut a further partial Circle from the front cover of the paper pad and glue that into place as shown.

Once dry...

Distress the edges and glue into place on the card front.






Then...

Add a smaller Stitched Circle as shown top right.

Nest, cut a thin rectangular strip from the inside of the front packaging to size, add lace to it and then glue it into place as shown.

Then add the fussy cut Green Trailing topper, followed by an even smaller die cut Circle bottom left.


*



The rest should be self explanatory, but please feel free to email me if you have any questions...



I always use spray adhesive when adding decoupage papers to my craft work - with the exception of the first base layer on this card.

Why was this layer treated differently?

Because I wanted that 'loose edge' look, so I chose to use wet glue far away from that outside edge - knowing full well that it would be covered by those smaller square layers.

(There's a method to my madness, you know)!





*

Craft Consortium supplies used:

Winter Woodland

Decoupage Papers:

*

Other

Stitched Circle Die
Spray Adhesive
Wet Glue


*


I do hope that my 'out of the box' thinking with the twine being used as an embellishment hasn't scared you off!




Enjoy your day...


Donna. x

Monday 27 November 2017

Craft Consortium, Winter Woodland, Squirrel Scene.

My project for todays Craft Consortium post was only going to look like this initially...





...  and it was going to be just a small, cute card - made using the 'oh so very gorgeous' papers from the Winter Woodland collection.



But then I got to thinking about those play scenes I used to have as a child that came with vinyl type removable sticker pieces...

...  And then I thought about how popular the 'Walking In A Winter Wonderland' theme is at this time of year...

...  And before I knew it...

... I'd made this!




Let me show you...














Obviously you can customise the wording and the toppers to suit...  or just keep it as the original idea of a small, cute card.  

Either way, it hopefully helps to give you a really good look at some of the pretty toppers that are included.  
(These are hidden away inside the double front cover of the paper pad).





*

Craft Consortium supples used:

Winter Woodland
Premium Paper Pad
Metal Vintage Acorn Charms

Always & Forever
Metallic Ribbons - Silver


*



Thanks so much for stopping by today.

Enjoy your week...




Donna. x

Sunday 26 November 2017

Snowflake Tag, Christmas, Criss Cross Background


After endeavouring to make so many pretty tags, I thought it only fitting to end Tracey's 25daysofchristmastags2017 event with a tag that I hope wouldn't offend any men in our lives.


So here it is...  a very simple tag indeed.




And the inspiration tag?




Hopefully you can see that I went with the colour inspiration on this one!









Huge, huge thanks to each and every one of you that has put up with my Christmas tag postings over the past few weeks...  especially if you have been kind enough to leave any comments whatsoever.

This is a hard time of year for me...
and this event always helps as it comes at just the right time...





Hugs to you...


Donna. x

Christmas Bauble Tag, Joyful, Minimal Colour Palette

I decided on a CAS, but not CAS tag for Day 25 of Tracey's 25daysofchristmastags2017 event.

Confused?

Let me show you...



As you can see, it's not CAS at all because there is simply too much going on,
but with all that white and so little colour...  that's how you create the illusion of CAS.
And I love this effect!



Today's inspiration?



The similarities are there, aren't they?










Just one more tag to go!!!


Donna. x

Corrugated Bird Tag, Christmas, Ornamental

 As soon as I saw the inspiration options for today I knew exactly which die of mine I was going to use.

So here it is...   My tag for Day 24 of Tracey's 25daysofchristmastags2017 event...





(I had absolutely no idea how it would turn out though)!




Here's the inspiration for today...




One kraft bird, with a green felt wing...  and a bell.

Ditto!
Only I swapped the smooth kraft for corrugated kraft stock, added texture paste and silver glitter spray varnish!









Thank you so much for stopping by...

Donna. x

Joy + Peace Tag, Christmas, Stitched Detail

I loved the stitched detailing and 'homey' feel of Melody's tag for Day 23 of Tracey's Christmas tag event...  so much so that I just had to give it a go somehow.


Here's my design...





...  and here's the cute inspiration tag that I based it on...






As you can see, I don't embrace pastel colours easily so I had to have a good long think before my version of this could come together!







Keep on Crafting!


Donna. x

Christmas Tree, Textured, Tag

My tag for Day 22 of Tracey's 25daysofchristmastags2017 was a fun one to make as I love messing around with different textures and seeing what happens...





However, it turned out to be a real beast to try and get a decent photo of!



Here's the inspiration tag for today...





As you can hopefully see, I went with the idea of a layered tree!







This is the last day of the event, but Tracey's allowed a few extra days to get all those tags posted!



Bye for now...







Donna. x

Saturday 25 November 2017

Large Tag, Merry Christmas, Twigs + Berries

I couldn't help but be inspired by the lady herself for Day 21 of the Christmas tag event...





I've tried to keep it CAS.
Here's the inspiration tag...








Thanks for stopping by today...



Donna. x

Mini House Tag, Christmas, Textured

I couldn't help but fall in love with the 3D house tags I saw as one of the inspiration posts for Day 20 of Tracey's Christmas tag event, but being as I don't own a teeny tiny 3D house I had to come up with a plan...




It's not as good as this...



...  but the best I could do!







Donna. x

Joy Notelet Tag, Christmas, Embossed

I had to stop and think for a while before putting my tag together for Day 19 of Tracey's 25daysofchristmastags2017 event, but once I'd broken down the inspiration tag into its component parts I was all set to go.

Here's my tag...




...  and here's the inspiration...




As you can see, I've opted for a CAS version - but the vellum, diagonal stripes, dots, tartan, holly, button, Christmas sentiment...  even the notelet style shaped tag are all there to be seen.



I'm pleased with how this one has turned out.







Thanks for stopping by...
...  and 'Happy Crafting' to you!




Donna. x

Wednesday 22 November 2017

Trailing Poinsettia, Christmas, Large Tag

My tag for Day 18 of Tracey's 25daysofchristmastags2017 is quite possibly the most 'unChristmassy' Christmas tag I have ever created...





...  but it does have holly and it does have berries!

And those are poinsettia flowers...  I just don't like to layer them up!!!




I guess that's what happens when you use pink instead of red, but I'm only following this absolutely gorgeous inspiration tag for my colour choices today...





And I'm not worried.
After all, people have birthday's close to Christmas...  don't they?










Enjoy the rest of your week...





Donna. x

Tuesday 21 November 2017

Flower Snowflake, Christmas, Tag

Red, black and white colour combinations scare the pants off me, but I was so enthralled by the idea of a flower as a snowflake that I just decided 'what the heck'...  and gave it a go anyway!

So here it is...  my tag for Day 17 of Tracey's Christmas Tag event...






Here's my inspiration for today...





Can you see the similarities?







Sending 'Crafty Hugs' your way...





Donna. x

Christmas, Tag, Bird House Scene

I've made a mini bird house scene for Day 16 of Tracey's 25daysofchristmastags2017!





My inspiration?   This trio of tags...







Thanks for stopping by...






Donna. x