Spectrum Noir January Challenge: Anything Goes!

Hi all!

Here's my entry for the Spectrum Noir January Challenge: Anything Goes!

It is an altered mirror made using Spectrum Noir Aqua Tints.  It was hard to photograph because of glare on the mirror, but I hope you get a reasonable idea from the photos!

I used an IKEA mirror which I used Pebeo White Gesso (from Crafters Companion) all over.  I then used a paint fusion flat brush to apply  light, medium and dark blue from the Spectrum Noir Aqua Tints (from Crafters Companion here) graduating from top to bottom.  The blues were from the followig sets: Perfectly Primary and Landscape. I then sprayed with a mister and dropped rock salt all over.  I left this for a few hours to air dry.

I then used kitchen roll to rub all the salt off leaving the lovely mottled pattern.  I applied Pebeo Silver Gilding Wax (from Crafters Companion) on the sides of the mirror frame and the sides right next to the mirror with cut & dry foam.

I made flowers and leaves out of Fimo using Blossom Flower Molds.  When baked I added some pigment powders made into paint to highlight the details.  I glued these on with a glue gun.

I hope you like it!

Crafter's Companion Challenge November: Christmas / Winter

Hi all!

Here is my challenge entry for the Crafter's Companion Challenge November: Christmas / Winter.

I made a gift box for a Christmas present for my parents using numerous Crafter's Companion products.  The box measures 13" x 13" x 1 1/2".  Details of all products used are below the pictures.  I did the best I could but mirror card is hard to photograph!  I can't tell you what's inside in case my Mum reads this post!!!

I made the box using the Big Score A3 Scoring Board which is a fabulous product!  I used the new 16" x 16" Centura Pearl with it but unfortunately I cannot find this on their website at the moment.  I made the box lid and base using the 1 1/2" score lines and glued the flaps with Collall Tacky Glue.

I used the stunning Crafter's Companion Vintage A4 Embossing Snowflakes Folder (this looks like it's out of stock as I can't find it on the website) to emboss a sheet of matt silver card from my stash. I matted and layered this with Hunkydory Mirror Board - Silver and more Centura.  I used 3D foam under the base mirror card and under the Centura on the top layer.

I cut the largest  Spellbinders Shapeabilities Dimensional Snowflakes from Crafters Companion Fresh White - Luxury Double Sided Centura Pearl A4 Card.  I used this as the die is a cut, fold and tuck die so I wanted the same look on the folded pieces so I needed double sided.  After folding the relevant sections I then sprayed the whole snowflake with Crafters Companion Spray and Sparkle Pearl Diamond Glitter Varnish to give extra sparkle.  Using the tacky glue again I added some flat back pearls of differing sizes to the snowflake.  I adhered this to the mirror card in the middle with some more 3D foam.

I measured 1cm in from the edges of the lid and put a pencil dot on each 1cm all the way around.  I put tacky glue on the dots (no more than ten at a time so it wouldn't dry before I got to it) and then added a flat back pearl to each dot. I worked the whole way round - this only took 15 minutes and I think is well worth spending the time to do it.

I hope you like my box, I hope my parents do to at Christmas!

Thanks for stopping by!

Crafter's Companion October Challenge: Buttons or Bows

Crafter's Companion October Challenge: Buttons or Bows...I went for bows!

I made a bow for the box that I made with my new Big Score.  

This houses a poppy brooch made with cold porcelain paste from Craft-e-liza,

I used box base and box lid to make a simple box.  I made a poppy topper using the poppy digi stamp (which I resized) from Leann's Spectrum Noir Video Colouring Guide.  I coloured it with various Spectrum Noir pencils and blended with the blending solution.  I matted and layered using a spellbinders labels die and attached to the box with 3D foam.  I then edged the box with a red satin ribbon.

I made the brooch with the cold porcelain paste - this is my first go at using this medium.  I am pleased with how it has turned out as it's easier than it looks.  It's a lovely brooch for remembrance - I will be wearing it instead of a paper one this year, but of course, I'll still be putting some money in the collection tin.

Thanks for looking, I hope you like what I have made.

Spectrum Noir October Challenge: Use an embellishment

Here's my entry for the October Spectrum Noir Challenge.  

I have used a ribbon to embellish my design.  Everything needs embellishing but I think sometimes less is more, all I felt it needed was a ribbon.

I stamped a Sheena Douglass stamp: Floral Fantasy A5 Stamp Set - Violets onto the Crafter's Companion kraft card with Versamark.  I heat embossed it with white embossing powder.  I used three purple tones and three green tones and my Spectrum Noir Pencils to colour the image.  I blended them by using the white over the,  top of each area as I coloured it.  I think I used 45,46 and 48 (greens from the nature set)  and 78, 80 and 82 (purples from the primaries set).

I used my perfect ayers tool to mat and layer on white card and Deep Purple Centura Pearl A4.  I used kraft card as the card base too which was an A4 sheet that I scored on my Ultimate Pro.  I added a purple satin ribbon as my embellishment as that was all I felt it needed.

Thanks for stopping by!

Clarity October Challenge: Seasons

Hi all!

Here's my contribution to the October Clarity Challenge.  I have chosen Autumn leaves as my inspiration for this candle.

I used a was a white IKEA pillar candle that cost about £1 and a glass IKEA candle dish which was about 30p.  

The Clarity stamp that I used was the small detailed one from Repositionable Leaf Set 1.  I stamped it in Versamark onto vellum which I had randomly coloured with a blending tool and distress inks: Barn Door, Wild Honey, Crushed Olive and Forest Green.  I then embossed with gold embossing powder.  I cut them all out and sprayed the reverse with Stick and Spray from Crafter's Companion.  I then attached them all to the candle facing different directions like they are falling from the tree.

I used alcohol inks in autumnal colours and gold to colour the glass dish.  I had some crushed glass pieces from IKEA but they were silver and did not coordinate.  I put some in a tin and shook them up with a few drops of caramel alcohol ink.  I then placed them around the edge of the candle and dish to coordinate.

I hope you like what I have made.  

Please feel free to leave me a comment.   

Thanks for looking!

So pleased!

Really pleased that I got 'Card of the Month' at Crafter's Companion's challenge for August!  I will be back in the next few days with more of what I have been up to recently.  I've got pics I just need to write up the posts!
Thanks for stopping by, see you soon!

September Crafter's Companion Challenge: Autumn

Here is my entry into the September Crafter's Companion Challenge: Autumn.

I used these Crafter's Companion products:

Sheena Douglass A Little Bit Sketchy Stamp Set - Autumn Leaves

Collall 3D Glue Gel

Pebeo Studio Acrylic 40 x 20ml Tubes

Luminarte Radiant Rain Pourables in oranges, browns and greens 

(no link as not on Crafter's Companion website at the moment)

Sheena's paint fusion brushes 

(no link as not on Crafter's Companion website at the moment)

The wreath was one I picked up from Ebay.  I wrapped some brown check gingham ribbon (from my stash) around the wreath and secured it on the back.  I then made a paper ribbon from some mustard coloured handmade paper ribbon (also from my stash).  I used the 3D glue gel to secure it at the top of the wreath. 

I made some backgrounds by sponging different colours of the pourables onto some mustard and green cardstock.  I dried this with my heatgun and then used Versamark to stamp and emboss the Sheena stamps with Cosmic Shimmer copper detail embossing powder.  I then spent some time cutting these out carefully.  I arranged the leaves and glued them onto the wreath to give them dimension with the 3D glue gel.  

I made the acorns out of Martha Stewart paper clay and a Martha Stewart acorn mould the day before and left them to dry.  I painted these with Pebeo acrylic paints and the paint fusion brushes - I love these brushes.

I hope that you like my wreath, I enjoyed making it!

Any comments will be well received - I appreciate you taking the time to read my blog.

Many thanks and happy crafting!