Tuesday 25 September 2012

Dabberling with altered art, using Creativity Club downloads - Part two

 Hiya crafty friends,

Thank you for all your lovely comments on my blog post, part one of my Altered box. Well, here finally is part two. Sorry for the small delay. I've been having problems with my image host. It all seems to be sorted now...hopefully :)

Continue by covering the base of the box, in the same fashion as the lid.



 Apply the glue to the side of the box...

...and wrap as you would when wrapping a gift, but use the glue to adhere the creases

 Repeat on the other end of the box too

 Apply some more glue, this time to the inside of the box and fold the remainder of the patterned paper inside the box and adhere.

 Repeat on the other side. 
 Allow the glue to dry (I speeded it up  little by using my heat gun)

Taking some Shabby Shutter Distress Ink, I distressed the lid, particularly the edges.

 I also distressed the base of the box too. Again, I distressed the edges a bit more.


With the new Docrafts Artiste pens, I used 'Wet Leaf', which is like a dark olive green.

 And applied it to the edge of the box base to give a tarnished look, to add to the distressed look of the box.

I then adhered some trim to both the base...


...and the lid.

The box is now completely covered, so the next step for me is to embellish it. But shhhhhhh, I've not done it yet. So keep your eyes peeled for Part three, where I will share with you my final box :)

Thank you again for all the lovely comment on part one, they really are very much appreciated.


Friday 21 September 2012

Dabberling with altered art, using Creativity Club downloads - Part one

Hiya crafty friends,


Recently, I shared my exciting news with you that I had picked to join the Docrafts Creativity Club design team. Well, I have had a fabulous times going back through all the wonderful free downloads you have instant access to when you are a member, and there are sooooo many, I was spoilt for choice as what to use first. So if you have any spare craft pennies, and I know I'm a bit biased...lol, but I would recommend the club for the downloads alone. Not to mention all the other benefits you get :)

So I thought I'd set myself a little challenge and do something I'd not really done before. And as soon as I saw the 'Vintage' collection I knew...some sort of Altered Art. This is something that have haven't done much of before, and the question was...what do I alter???

Then I spotted a Ferreo Rocher box that has been sat on my desk since I don't know when, not doing anything, so was just the ticket :)


So you haven't got a HUGE post to read, I have decided to do this tutorial in two (or three parts). So keep your eyes peeled, where you will see the finished project in the last post (as I'm still working on it now...lol) :)

So, for starters, the lid of the box...


First was to decide which element from the set would work best on the lid, and I eventually picked this one, as it fits perfectly to the size of the lid. 


I cut around the element, leaving enough of a margin around it to wrap around the lid.


Taking some Mod Podge (or you could use PVA glue) (I always squeeze it on to a plastic bag or something, as this can be easily throw away after use, And the bonus is you don't have to wash it)


Apply the glue to the lid with a brush



Then adhere your paper to the top, making sure the element is where you would like it to be. 


And smooth down the sides, with the palm of your hand


Fold in the corner (almost like wrapping a present) and us a bit of the glue again the smooth down the creases. Don't worry about there being a gap. This will be being cover at a later stage.


Apply some glue to the paper that is over hanging, and fold over the edge and adhere to the inside


And here is how my lid looked up to now.



Next is the base of the box. So watch out for Part two, which I will post in the next couple of days
Thanks for popping over to my blog


Saturday 15 September 2012

C G Scrapbook Challenge

Hiya crafty friends,

The new C G Scrapbook Challenge went gone live today. The theme for this month is:

'Patchwork'

and is sponsored by 


You will find all the information on how to enter over at the


Where you will also see the fantastic projects by the other design team members.

I was really honoured to be asked, by our lovely Marleen, to join the Scrapbook design team. I have always wanted to do more scrapbooking and this has given me the prefect excuse to play more :)

I use craft artist to make my digital scrap pages, as I find it so easy to use and love all the kits you can use with it.

My page includes a picture of our cat Misty, lying in her favourite place in the garden.


I hope you can join in with our challenge, as I'd love to see your wonderful pages. And why not pop over to our Facebook page for a chat on all things crafty :)



Wednesday 12 September 2012

Please welcome our Guest blogger - Eileen Godwin


Hiya crafty friends,

Please welcome this months guest blogger. The very talented Eileen Godwin, who has made a wonderful project, using our theme for this month:

Vintage - Ribbons, lace and buttons

If you would like to enter, please visit our challenge blog. We look forward to seeing your projects.

So now over to you,  Eileen...


My name is Eileen and I was lucky enough to win the super Cards Galore Tag Challenge last month! Now I have been invited to be a Guest designer for this months challenge.
I’ve never been asked to do that before so I am very happy to accept and show you the vintage Tag I’ve made. All details are on my Blog http://eileenscraftyzone.blogspot.co.uk/

I’ve been asked to tell you a little bit about my self so no going to sleep now!

I retired in 2008 when I was 60, after a long career in Retail Pharmacy.

I was the Pharmacy Manager of a large store for Lloyds Pharmacy.

A rewarding but stressful job, dealing with a large staff, wonderful customers and a very demanding Head Office!
Crafting, especially making cards, became my main hobby in 2004 ... a truly brilliant ‘Stress Buster’.  I am married with three children, all with families of their own now.

My husband and I share our home with two small crossbreed dogs that are a total joy.
Sisters, Daisy and Holly. They are two years old and full of energy. They love to go on ‘adventures’ and that helps keep us fit!
I also love reading, bird / wildlife watching and I’m an ‘A’ class licence holder on Amateur Radio.
Finally, you still awake? I would love to win the lottery and build myself a Craft Room to beat all Craft Room’s because I need more space for my stash!
Thank you Cards Galore for inviting me here today. x
Happy crafting
Eileen xx

Tuesday 11 September 2012

My visit to a fabulous new vintage craft shop and workshops

Hiya crafty friends,

I have to tell you all about a fantastic place I visited yesterday (8th). It was at the Traders Outlet, at No. 16 The Downs, Altrincham, but yesterday was the opening of their new 'Vintage Arts and Crafts Centre', which is now open on the first floor. It's a fabulous place to look around, but I was so excited by this in particular!!!
Crafts workshops near where I live!!!! With Shernocky Crafts. You don't know how long I have looked for something like this near me, and now it's here..Woo! Hoo!


I was chatting with the owner, and she told me it first started out being just for vintage crafts workshops, but then it naturally fell in to being a vintage craft shop too. I am so excited to see what goodies she will have instore, as she isn't fully stocked yet...yay, even more goodies!!!!! And another excuse to visit :)


I grabbed a leaflet too, so thought I'd share it with you all


I will keep you all updated with my adventures, as I think I will be becoming a frequent visitor to here :)


Sunday 9 September 2012

Getting creative with downloads

Hiya crafty friends,

Well, I've been at it again. I saw this collection on Docrafts Creativity Clubs exclusive downloads, and totally fell in love with it. It's so delicate and I love the subtle colours.

I cut the backgrounds with Spellbinders Labels one, decoupaged the cute little birds and some of the flowers. I edged the panel, which I punched with one of my Martha Stewart punches, by pleating some gorgeous sage green ribbon that I pinched off my mum (thanks mum xxx) 

I think I will definitely be using this download again :)







Friday 7 September 2012

Image Transfer Tutorial, by Denyse

Hiya crafty friends,

Our September Challenge went live last Saturday, and we are very lucky to have the wonderful Scrapper Delights owner, Janice, design some gorgeous digi stamps exclusively for us, which are now on sale in her store

If you have not seen them, pop over to our challenge blog to take a peek, and while your there why not take part in the challenge too?


As always, our fantastic Design Team gave us some wonderful inspiration, and Denyse also shown us how she used here digi stamp a little differently. She has very kindly, made us a tutorial on how it was done.

So it is over to you Denyse...


Image Transfers

In this tutorial I am going to show you how to transfer a printed Digi image on to fabric.

Items required
Digital image printed in black by inkjet or laser printer
Material you wish to transfer the image on to (I use Cotton muslin or calico)
Claudine Hellmuth's studio multi-medium matte
Flat paintbrush
Non stick mat
A brayer or rolling pin
Water

Method

1.I like to prepare my material by painting it with a thin even coating of the multi medium and leaving it on a non stick mat to dry (do not leave on paper as it will stick!) this not a necessity though and you can go straight to step 2!




2.To begin cut or tear around your image as close to the printed area as you can without cutting into the design.


3.Place the image on your non stick mat printed side up and paste the medium over it evenly. You need good coverage but not enough to make the paper soggy.


4.Turn the image over and position on your material (coated side down on to the material)and roll over firmly with your brayer.


5.Leave the image to dry thoroughly.

6.Once dry, spray the image lightly with water (or flick with fingers) and then GENTLY rub over the image in a circular motion. The paper will begin to rub off. Be patient and gentle at this stage, don't be tempted to use a brush or any other tool. I like to take time over this stage, letting the image dry and then going back to it and wetting and rubbing it again.  Leave the image to dry, if you have left any paper you will be able to see that the image still looks "Cloudy", and slightly opaque.







  1. Continue with step 6 until you are happy with your image.

Remember if you choose printed words you will need to reverse them before printing as placing the image face down reverses it.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial, if you have any questions please pop over to my blog and i will be happy to help you!
Denyse x