D is for....

Over at Butterfly Spot challenge Blog, the newest challenge is 'D is for Decoupage' which I haven't done in a very long time so I was keen to do decoupaged daffodils - one of my favourite flowers, but not being able to find my sheets I had to rethink what I was going to do so I have went with option 1) 3 of the chosen colours - Daffodil, Dusky Pink and Dairy Cream along with Die cut and Butterflies.

Tomorrow I am off to a 'Slow Stitch' 2 hour class so I am looking forward to that - I started a new project of embroidering a stamped butterfly on hessian which I want to turn into a mixed media piece.

 Amanda xx

Anything your heart desires

 Gecko Galz (Facebook) challenge - anything goes project - just had to use a heart somewhere on it. I wanted to make my oldest friend a Birthday card so used this as my inspiration - though I ended up forgetting where I put the card, so had to send her a shop bought one!! And yes I found it afterwards, but at least I now have a spare - and the Galz choose my card has the winner of that theme, so I now have a new digital sheet to play with.

 

Amanda xx

Feature Day @ Gecko Galz

So today is my day to feature my Design Team project for the month of July over at Gecko Galz. 

I turned an atc which I  had previously made for a Gecko Galz challenge, into a topper for a 6x6 card.

I teamed the Alice atc with some papers from The Craft Box, an Alice in Wonderland kit, they compliment each other perfectly, I don't want to give the card away!

I cut about one and a half inch of the front of the card stockas I wanted to put a paper on the inside of the card. Teh butterfly and Alice are on the edge of the front bit so you can tell its two layers. The butterfly was going to go on the flower but as the Alice embellishment is reaching up, I thought it would look cute as is if she might be trying to catch it.

I hope you'll join our Sea of Dreams challenge where the winner will receive a $25 shopping spree at the Gecko Galz shop. The only rule is that you must use at least one Gecko Galz product, which can be something you purchased from the shop or a freebie. 

If you sign up for the Gecko Galz newsletter, you'll be able to claim a free collage sheet each month and get first claim on the Super Monthly Deals! 

Why don't you pop over to the Gecko Galz blog to see all the fabulous designs by the very talented Design Team, don't forget to grab the free digi stamp on each post! 

We also have a Facebook Group where there are more monthly challenges for you to play in, each with a Design Sheet to win. 

 Amanda xx

Once Upon a Springtime

A new month means a new Customer Challenge at the Gecko Galz and the theme for the month of March is 'Once Upon a Springtime'.
So why not play along - join the challenge with the chance to win $25 at the Gecko Galz shop!

It really is spring - well, the flowers certainly seem to think so even if the weather is still wintery and blustery! My snowdrops are creating a good spread in the garden, I forgot that I'd had some from Uncle Johns garden before it was cleared. And as I type I have one daffodil which has opened - mine normally open way after everyone's has flowered and died off.

 Feeling unusually crafty, I made three samples for this challenge one 6x6 and two 5x7 -

6x6 

 image from Victorian Spring Digital Craft Kit and a backing paper.

Tonic Nuvo Vintage Drops ~ Dusty Rose

sentiment from Tim Holtz

gold frame Craft Box

pale yellow promarker

backing paper from Dreams of Spring Mini Paper Pack (printed as a full sheet and chopped in half)

Tattered Lace mini dies - 3 butterflies

sentiment ripped from a tag Craft Box

smudged ink

piece of orange tissue paper

I hope you'll join in 'Once Upon a Springtime' Challenge, where the Winner gets a $25 shopping spree to spend at the Gecko Galz shop. (The only rule is that you must use at least one Gecko Galz product... this can be one of the freebies, or, of course, you can buy at the Etsy shop).

If you sign up for the Gecko Galz monthly newsletter, you'll be kept up to date with new releases, Super Sunday weekly deals and be able to claim a free digital collage sheet.

If you pop over to the Gecko Galz blog, you will see all the fabulous designs by the Design Team - and maybe grab a freebie or two.

If you haven't a blog/and or/ on Facebook, head over to the Gecko Galz Papercrafting Group where there are more monthly challenges, with the chance to win a digital collage sheet.

Amanda xx 

Age of Aquarius with Gecko Galz

A new month means a new Customer Challenge at the Gecko Galz and the theme for the month of February is 'Age of Aquarius'.
So why not play along - join the challenge with the chance to win $25 at the Gecko Galz shop!

You don't need to have seen Austin Powers to know too shout Groovy! Baby! when you see the groovy goodness of this months design sheet!

To be honest even though I love, love the designs, the use of colour scares me, especially the in your face vibrant colours of this sheet. So I compromised and used a filter on the image, giving a blast of colour but toning it down to my comfort level.

 5x7 card 

I die cut an image from the Whats your sign? Jewel it and stuck it over the rising sun of the main image, then choose a couple of big gems and sequins to embellish with.

My second sample is a compact journal - it reminds me of the powder & mirror compacts that were all the range up until the 80's. The only ones you see nowadays are ornamental or the original, now vintage, style from antiques/retro places....umm, I might have a couple knocking around.

Quite simple to make - cut 12 big circles in yellow, and the 12 signs & blue circles in the next size down. I used a little strips of matching yellow card as hinges, adhered to each page - hidden under the blue circles. I decorated the first page Aquarius with chameleon glitter so the colour of the image comes through, and popped a few big blue gems on - the rest I've left plain to do later.

Not sure what I'm going to use it for yet, the original plan was to use it as a birthdays/anniversary book but now I'm thinking a doodle pad or cheery Reminder through the year.

I hope you'll join in 'Age of Aquarius' Challenge, where the Winner gets a $25 shopping spree to spend at the Gecko Galz shop. (The only rule is that you must use at least one Gecko Galz product... this can be one of the freebies, or, of course, you can buy at the Etsy shop).
If you sign up for the Gecko Galz monthly newsletter, you'll be kept up to date with new releases, Super Sunday monthly deal and be able to claim a free digital collage sheet.
If you pop over to the Gecko Galz blog, you will see all the fabulous designs by the Design Team - and maybe grab a freebie or two.
If you haven't a blog/and or/ on Facebook, head over to the Gecko Galz Papercrafting Group where there are more monthly challenges, with the chance to win a digital collage sheet.

Amanda xx

In dreams with Gecko Galz

A new month means a new Customer Challenge at the Gecko Galz and the theme for the month of December is 'In Dreams'.
So why not play along - join the challenge with the chance to win $25 at the Gecko Galz shop!

Eek! Can't believe its nearly Christmas, soon be time to put our tree up. Last week we did our annual pilgrimage to Chatsworth House Christmas Market, where I actually bought one Christmas present!  And as usual we bought our green wreath for the yard gate. I had a plastic one which we used for years but it was slowly dropping to bits and finally it had to be thrown, so to be more environmentally friendly I decided to use a real wreath each year, and like last year we bought one for the garden birds to feast on, filled with different berries and the like, BUT on getting it home I was annoyed to find a little sticker on the underneath declaring it to be made in Holland! So much for shopping local, reducing pollution and air miles! I think next year I will  try and make mine own, we have a holly bush in the garden and a small wood I can forage in for bits and pieces.

 Anyway onto my make for this month, I have to say that the Dreamland design sheet is simply stunning. I decided to make four open cards, which I can add sentiments to when required.

Each image was resized and then a frame from the Been Framed Craft Kit was added around it, along with a depth shadow to make it look like it had been layered onto the card, instead of being digitally produced.
Printed all four straight onto card stock, after I'd finally figured out how to do it! Sometimes I worry myself.
Once printed all I needed to do was add some peel offs/Tonic Nuvo Drops/gems.

I hope you'll join in the 'In Dreams' Challenge, where the Winner gets a $25 shopping spree to spend at the Gecko Galz shop. (The only rule is that you must use at least one Gecko Galz product... this can be one of the freebies, or, of course, you can buy at the Etsy shop).
 If you sign up for the Gecko Galz monthly newsletter, you'll be kept up to date with new releases, Super Sunday weekly deals and be able to claim a free digital collage sheet.
If you pop over to the Gecko Galz blog, you will see all the fabulous designs by the Design Team - and maybe grab a freebie or two.
If you haven't a blog/and or/ on Facebook, head over to the Gecko Galz Papercrafting Group where there are more monthly challenges, with the chance to win a digital collage sheet.

Amanda xx

Feature Day @ Gecko Galz

Today is my day to feature my Design Team project for the month of September over at Gecko Galz.

Still buzzing from my altered canvas, I stayed nice and simple for this project!

I've used this design before, I must have printed off different sizes at the same time to fill the A4 card.

Gecko Galz - image from Blue Bird Of Happiness

oval dies 

stamp from Christina Griffiths box issue 2

Royal Blue pigment ink

gems

I hope you'll join our Autumn Steampunk challenge where the winner will receive a $25 shopping spree at the Gecko Galz shop. The only rule is that you must use at least one Gecko Galz product, which can be something you purchased from the shop or a freebie. 

If you sign up for the Gecko Galz newsletter, you'll be able to claim a free collage sheet each month and get first claim on the weekly Super Sunday Deals! 

Why don't you pop over to the Gecko Galz blog to see all the fabulous designs by the very talented Design Team, don't forget to grab the free digi stamp on each post! 

We also have a Facebook Group where there are more monthly challenges for you to play in, each with a Design Sheet to win. 

Amanda xx

Over at Card Exchange Photos on Facebook, link might not work as it is a secret group - just type the words into the search feature. We exchange cards every month with a partner, chose by our group mom Carole, this month as an added extra we did our annual 7 days of Summer swap, where we were allocated a partner and then we put together 7 crafting gifts, normally 6 at a £1 and then 1 for £4, its a good way to pass on some stash that you've had for ages or do a bag full of die cuts etc. Its good fun and you get bits n bobs you wouldn't have necessarily bought yourself, I always find these are the best gifts as I always end up using whatever it is, some totally random.

Anyhoo, as a thank you to Carole for arranging everything I thought I would do her a thank you card using  something she sent me this swap - the yellow decoupage flowers. (I think the trellis might have come from her in a previous swap also)

Love the bright colours which all came together to make a pretty card.

backing paper - 

Websters Pages - Best Friends Collection

die cut trellis in white card

The Works doily die in white card

random circle die in lime green paper

The Works doily die - Best Friends Collection

Tattered Lace 'Cherished Centres' die in lime green paper

decoupaged flowers

gold gems

Amanda xx

Shabby Chic Sea Side

A new month means a new Customer Challenge at the Gecko Galz and the theme for the month of AUGUST is 'Shabby Chic Seaside'.
So why not play along - join the challenge with the chance to win $25 at the Gecko Galz shop!

My first sample is a 6 x 6 card, using a backing paper from 'Seaside Splendour', a die cut frame which I had gifted to me in a swap, pale twine and 'Sandy toes, Salty kisses' die from The Range.

I backed the card blank with the paper. then used a pigment ink 'Natural' to dab over the die cut, once dry I then stuck that onto the card, little bit fiddly with all the small points in the design, but finally managed to do it without ripping any off. I dabbed over a piece of white card from my cut offs, then die cut the words out, placing them onto the card I realised it was too faint to be read properly, so I die cut another out of plain white and backed the words off set together. Lastly, I wrapped the twine around a few cards and tied the knot.

My second sample is a 5 x 7 card, using  an image from 'Splish Splash' and the sign from 'Seaside Splendour'.

I wonder what she is looking at!

I looked through my paper stash to find a red and a blue which worked with the image, also came across the striped paper from the same free kit so decided to use everything together. After backing the card, the image needed a lift, so looked through my box of off cuts for a paler blue card - stuck it on and then roughed up the edges slightly. Last but not least I stuck the sign on using foam pads.

My third and last sample is a 6 x 6 digital page, again using 'Seaside Splendour', I started this not knowing where it was going, got half way through and didn't like it.... couple of days later went back into it, decided it was a bit of fun, played around and finished it off.

Everything is from 'Seaside Splendour' apart from the seagulls who came from Pixabay.

I hope you'll join in 'Shabby Chic Sea Side' Challenge, where the Winner gets a $25 shopping spree to spend at the Gecko Galz shop. (The only rule is that you must use at least one Gecko Galz product... this can be one of the freebies, or, of course, you can buy at the Etsy shop).

If you sign up for the Gecko Galz monthly newsletter, you'll be kept up to date with new releases, Super Sunday weekly deals and be able to claim a free digital collage sheet.

If you pop over to the Gecko Galz blog, you will see all the fabulous designs by the Design Team - and maybe grab a freebie or two.

If you haven't a blog/and or/ on Facebook, head over to the Gecko Galz Papercrafting Group where there are more monthly challenges, with the chance to win a digital collage sheet.

Amanda xx 

I @ Butterfly Challenge & July @ Love to Craft

Having played with 'H' (no, not the chap from Steps) over at Mrs A's Butterfly Challenge last week, I've continued playing with the new challenge (fortnightly) this Wednesday which is  'I'.

There are various ways to take part in the challenges, all is explained on the blog. This week I went with the specified card shape + butterfly.

I for Impossible Card (the flap stands up by magic itself) - full instructions on how to make each card shape are given, despite this looking complicated it was quite easy to do.

Its a bit awkward to photo so excuse the mantlepiece.

White A4 card

Grey card

Gecko Galz Papillion Paper Pack (try saying that after a few glasses)

iridescent flowers

white pearls

Sparkly Mod Podge

I used white card stock as my base, then sized the backing paper to the card shape, cut out and matted onto grey card - to give it a bit more stability. I re-printed the topper and fussy cute the butterflies out, decoupaged them on with little foam pads then painted over with Sparkly Mod Podge. Couldn't decide what to embellish with, but came across the little plastic iridescent flowers in my stash, then stuck a pearl on each centre.

entering in: Butterfly Challenge Letter I
                   Love to Craft July

Amanda xx

Quick & Easy @ Gecko Galz on FaceBook

One of the challenges for July is a 'Make a quick & easy project, that last minute go - to technique'

So I picked my butterfly dies as these are my favourites. I had the Papillion Paper Pack sheet already printed off, so I die cut the middle out and used the remaining outer edge to glue onto the card, the middle bit I used to make the butterflies, waste not want not!
I used two pieces of a kind of washi tape on the vertical (actually it was because one of the sides stuck down a tad crumpled, so I had to find a way to cover it!), and then embellished with 4 large blue gems.

Amanda xx

Hello...

… is it me you're looking for?

Sorry, couldn't resist, every time I see this stamp I channel Lionel Ritchie.

This is an A5 card, and it nearly ended up as a keeper as I love it, but I made it for a swap so its been posted.... hope the recipient likes it as much as I do! Might just have to do another one.

All papers came from 'Antique Pinks' 8x8 paper kit from The Works. They were all oddments so I just played with them till it came together. The oval die cut is light grey card from Wilko's, I stamped the hello in Hot Pink pigment ink by Dovecraft. Confession time, I actually ripped the oval when I was removing it out of its die so I popped the flowers on to cover the little rip up, you'd never know! The white flowers were coloured in with promarkers - Cool Grey 4 & Rose Pink, I also edged the papers with them.

Amanda xx

A 6x6 card blank stamped with a flower design in Stazon Vibrant Red, then using a Spellbinders die topper first in black then white, with love in black in, four little red gems to finish.

Amanda xx

I love how this turned out, all of my favourite things - purple, flowers, doily and Fae.

6x6 card blank, purple card, backing paper and Fairy topper from The Flower Fairies freebie pack withj some magazine, purple flowers embellished with two big pearls, fairy door charm from The Craft Box and four little gems.





Amanda xx