MAWTT Challenge 73 - Sketch - Christmas card

Happy Thursday to you, I hope things are going well

Today over at MAWTT, the creative Heidi is hosting with a sketch and Christmas theme, so here's a chance to add another card to your collection. Honestly it won't be long before we have to start writing them all and posting them out.

The sponsor this week is Little Claire's and we were each given a stamped image to wotk with. This is a real cute one and with Heidi's sketch I have kept it fairly clean this time. I painted the image using DIs and a little silver alcohol ink. The DP and matching vellum paper were a freebie from a magazine last year - I honestly don't know which one. I have edged with DI and stardust stickles. The snowflakes were cut on photograph paper on the cricut and glamour dust added to the top layer & a green gem sticker added to the middle.

A simple card, but I really like the end product.

Challenges to have fun with -

2 Sisters - Christmas

Craft Your Days Away - Christmas Trees

Mark's Finest papers - Snowflakes

Secret Crafter - Sparkle and Shine

Sweet Stampin - Snowflakes

Elephantastic - Christmas theme

Cupcake Inspiratins - Christmasy

Fairytale - Anything Goes

The Crafty Pad - Christmas Sparkle

The Paper Players - Red, green and neutral
Pollycraft - Glittery Christmas

Enjoy the weekend coming up.

Luv {brenda} xox

Compendium of Curiosities week 21 - Perfect Distress

Wow, didn't think I was gonna make it this week (still a heavy workload at the moment) but here is my entry for the fabulous TH challenge at Studio L3. I have just been catching up on Linda's blog and she supports some amazing people - love it Linda, keep rocking us with your fab work and interesting news.

So this week turn to P.38 in the great book to find out how to do the technique this week, it is quite simple but so effective.

I also made this to fit the challenge at Simon Says Stamp and Show, which this week is to use your favourite TH stamp. Mine is the flourish stamp from the Shabby French collection and has been so well used. The paper is Basic Grey for another challenge and the moths (butterflies?) are from Scrolls Work. I have just received an order from them of some small stamps and I love them. Next June I am going to be GD for a month with them woohoo. The layout is Sketch Saturday although I have flipped it. There are some other challenges I had in mind which are listed below.

I thought I would also just show you a card Ella made for me yesterday - she's four and loves to make things - just like her Mum and her Granny.

I hope you are well and having a good day. It's raining here and I now must go and do some real work to keep up to date with paperwork I have to get emailed out. Have a great day.

luv {brenda} xox


Challenges to have fun with -
Basic Grey - Wings
Sketch Saturday - Sketch
The Crazy Challenge - Things with wings
Timeless Flourishes - Use glitter
ABC Challenge - H is for Holidays
Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes

MAWTT Challenge 72 - Nice and bright - New Home card

Well folks it's the talented Hazel who has set the theme at MAWTT this week and she would like to see something Nice and Bright which has a recipe to it - Summer colours lovely and bright and add some flowers and ribbon too to wash away the autumn blues.

I have been steering more towards the vintage and shabby in my designs and so I challenged myself to match that style with this challenge. I think it has worked, but of course it depends on how you look at it. I wanted to have a go at the sketch on the Basic Grey challenge blog and although I have changed it slightly to suit my image and use of the picket fence die, it still follows the basic shapes and layout. My backing paper is from a Basic Grey DP stack.

I have used red, yellow and green as the main colours which definitely gives the card a brightness, but then I've also toned down some areas by using vintage photo.

We were given some images to play with from the Stitchy Bear shop and I chose this one called 'Home Tweet Home' and created by Stitchy herself.

I printed out the image and decided to paint it. Firstly I used DIs but wanted a more vintagy look so I went over it with a mix of DIs, Pearlidoodles and paint dabbers. Just what I wanted, the colours look older and there is a pearly shine to it.

The butterfly and flower are from Dezinaworld and the bird in flight is by Ruby Robinson. The bird on the fence is a TH die. Can you see how the butterfly was created? I thinks it's fabulous - yes it's cogs and I just added some gem stickers to it.

Please pop over and see June at Dezinaworld - she has the most amazing challenge at the moment and everyone - yes EVERYONE who enters will get a prize. Can't believe it? Click here.

Challenges to have fun with -

Basic Grey - Sketch

Alphabet challenge - B is for birds

Easy Craft projects - Red

Raise the Bar - Curves

Something completely different - Houses

Lexi's Creations - Anything Goes

Crazy Challenge - Things with Wings

Inktegrity - Ribbon / flowers

Have a great day. Luv {brenda} xox

My Blog has Attitude

I have been given this 'I got Attitude' award  by Margreet, and I feel flattered and deeply honoured to receive it. With it comes a $5 gift certificate from The Digi's with Attitude Store .

To be eligible for the Certificate you must state 3 things that makes you different from everyone else and you must nominate 5 other lovely blogs to receive it. Lastly, you must display the Blog Award Badge (above) in your sidebar and link it back to the Digi’s With Attitude! Challenge Blog.


So these are the 5 blogging friends who I spend alot of time chatting to and who give me alot of support - and they are my MAWTT team mates. Shell, Hazel, Lisa Jane, Heidi and Kelli.

The 3 things that make me different from anyone else???????
1. I am much older than the other four!!!!!!
2. I am slow at creating my cards and pieces of art.
3. I am easily distracted from what I am doing - so that's why I'm slow eh??

Enjoy girls.

Luv {brenda} xox

Surprise Firework Party

Having been out with the girls shopping all day yesterday it was lovely when the family came with boxes of fireworks and packets of sparklers last night and we had a surprise firework party for the little ones. They have not got used to fireworks yet and are still frightened by them, but they enjoyed seeing them in the garden and built much more confidence with the noise (although these weren't particularly noisy). They loved holding the sparklers too. Just couldn't resist posting these.

OSAAT challenge 38 - Christmas 2 Glitz and Glitter

Happy Sunday everyone

This week at OSAAT it is Christmas Week again and I have been given two of my friend Stitchy's images to play with and I have combined them into one card. This is another that has been completed digitally and then over-coloured with promarkers to give it some depth and shading. I have added some DI, stickles, spray and shine and glossy accents to finish it off as I really didn't feel it needed anything else.

The papers are from The Shabby Princess (you know my favourite sets of freebie's on line) and the sentiment is from Dewdrop (another freebie download).

The baubles look flat on the main photo, but here are two taken at an angle to show you the shine of the glossy accents and the glitz and glitter on the wings (spray and shine -  I actually brushed it on) and stickles on the hat. You might need to enlarge the pics if you want to see it more closely.

The Sponsors this week are http://disdigidownloads.blogspot.com/    and will give the winner 5 digis of their choice.  Di says -

"I have been drawing since a child and studied graphics at College many years ago, I now work as a Medical photographer part time but my love was always drawing. I started cardmaking about 4yrs ago when I bought my daughter a cardmaking kit which we did together, but I’m afraid I got the bug! My daughter preferred scrapbooking. I then started looking online at other blogs and this then became my passion to share my cards with like-minded people. I was a stamper and loved finding images, but some I could not find so I started to draw myself.

This then has become my second addiction and I have never looked back, I love thinking of new images, and its just fabulous to see others take them and make them into beautiful works of art. Long may it continue!"

There are some lovely designs and some freebies s well.

Please go over to the OSAAT challenge blog and take a look at the wonderful creations the DT have made.

Enjoy your Sunday - I have the busiest of busy 4 weeks coming up now, so you really won't see much of me for a month. I shall be popping in to see what my blogging buddies are up to but any comments will be the briefest. I apologise for that in advance but I will be back giving you all more time in December.

Take care for now.    luv {brenda} xox


Challenges to have fun with -
Crafty Cardmakers - Digital Plus 
StampArtic - Christmas and glitter 
Everybody Art - Untraditional Christmas
City Crafter - Digis
Charizma Cards - http://charismacardz.blogspot.com/
Lexi's Creations - Anything Goes

The Stampman Challenge 9 - Anthing Goes Christmas

Firstly, 'Hi' to several new Followers who have joined my journey in artistic exploration over the past few weeks, Janie, Dustydavi, Caz, Jill (The Stampman), Vix, Julie, Deb, Agnieszka and Kym. It's lovely to have so many new people share this blog with me and I look forward to coming and seeing what you create too. I can't believe I am nearly at 100 followers and have decided once I get there I will post some candy. That gives me some time to decide what to get.

Today is Friday and it's a new challenge at The Stampman. I will be joining in soon, but just wanted to let you know that the theme this fortnight is 'Anything Goes - Christmas' and is hosted by Vix. Do go over and take a look at the gorgeous samples provided by the DT and I am sure there will be something Christmassy you will be making over the next couple of weeks and can enter into this open Christmas theme.

You will also see that the theme coming coming up on the 17th November is one I will definitely have a go at - 'Anything by Tim, Christmas challenge', so I will have to get my thinking cap on and get something sorted in plenty of time.

I know quite a number of you make ATCs and The Stampman has an ATC Swap blog too which runs for a calendar month each time. The theme this month is 'Take a Letter' and can be interpreted in any way you want. If you fancy making 3 of the same theme then enter them into the challenge, there is a prize for one lucky winner, but at the end of the month they are all divided up and shared out to all those who entered. I haven't made an ATC for ages, but I certainly will once work is finished.

Enjoy bonfire parties and fireworks this weekend and stay safe.

Take care luv {brenda} xxx

MAWTT challenge 71 - Sketch

Good morning everyone.

It's another fabulous challenge over at MAWTT today and this week it's a fabby sketch from Kelli. I have really enjoyed using this one and decided to get away from cards and made a little bag for some sweeties or a present at Christmas.

I am really pleased the way this turned out. The image is from Crafty Individuals and the paper is a freebie download.

Firstly I made the brown paper bag and found some tutorials on YouTube, I then stamped over the paper, made the snowflake using a punch and a Maya Road diecut, which was painted with white acrylic paint and walnut DI added and then I liberally used glitter and stickles over them. When it had all dried I just added a gem sticker to the middle.

The flap has been covered with TH scrollwork border, edged with walnut stain and then painted with snowtex and glitter added to it whilst it was still wet in place which produced the mottled effect which I really like. You will see edging with walnut stain and stickles on the papers and image.

The sponsor this week is Clare (who used to be a design team member here) she is offering a selection of peel-offs as the prize this week. She says -
"Hi, I'm Clare. I am the owner of Thread-bare (www.thread-bare.piczo.com). It is a small craft business that likes the personal touch. The products I like to use are the products I sell. I am a stockist of Pepper & Friends, Daisy & Dandelion, Forever Friends, Design House Papercrafts, The Crafthouse Press Ltd & many more. I also stock Cross Stitch & Pinflair kits. I love making handmade cards & gifts too & I sell these in my Ebid & Folksy stores. I am currently constructing a brand new website at the moment & we hope to launch this in the new year."

Challenges to have fun with -
Order of the Opus Gluei - go forth and create a sweet project worthy of ooooh's and aaahhh's   My bag actually has chockies in it, but I didn't take a photo of that - does that link to the treat mentioned in the blog post?
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Shabby
Anything Goes - The letter B     Mine is B is for Bag
Everybody Art Challenege - Untraditional Christmas  Pink papers are untraditional aren't they?
Crafts and Me - A Christmas gift
Charisma Cardz - With love at Christmas
Paper Players - Anything Goes

It seems so dark now the nights are drawing in, but I guess that means more time to be inside and crafting - when I have finished my paperwork and reports etc that is.

Have a great day. Luv B xxxxx

Time Canvas

I have been wanting to make a canvas for ages and decided I would have a go at one for the CCC and Simon Says Stamp and Show challenges this week. So I have combined industrial grunge and shabby chic and I'm really pleased with the result.

I prepared the canvas by giving it a coat of gesso and in it I added the most tniest spot of aged mahogany re-inker to give me some splashes of pink. When it was dry I used the TH clock mask and went over it with a mushroom dabber. When that had dried I went over it again with gesson and another tiny spot of aged mahogany. It was then ready to start making my collage.

As you can see my theme is time and I wanted to add as many elements as possible related to the theme. But I also wanted to add things that would make it shabby too.

The bookplate sets the scene. Stamped with a 7 Gypsies rotating stamper and TH flourish. Covered in glossy accents.

Grungeboard hinge given the industrial grunge technique - see P54 of TH book The Compendium of Curiosities. I made the clockface using TH stamp and it reflects the masked clockface (same design), I inked it up and added stickles to the edge. The large cog I stamped with a Paper Artsy stamp then added glossy accents - hence the distressed look. There is another cog edged with walnut stain and some washers from my husbands tool box and a fancy disc I found in my collection of bits.

This is a stamp again from TH -  think you should be able to see what it says. Cut with a Spellbinders Labels 4 die and inked with aged mahogany and walnut stain.

The metal butterflies are from necklaces picked up from car boot sales and I have used alcohol inks on them and glued them together for more of a 3D look. The texture is snowtex spread through a plastic tray from a chinese take-away. Good use of recycling eh? I added some glitter to it whilst it was still wet.

Another metal rose with some small flowers beside it and some added lace. The texture is just tissue paper glued onto the canvas.

Down the side is some textured card and edged with victorian velvet, aged mahogany and walnut stain, then some upholstery braid down it.  I added some dangling pieces - a key on some chain, a fragment tag with part of a clockface added, a clock charm and a bumble bee. I decided as it's my first canvas like this is needed both my signature pieces on it. (Bumblebee and butterfly).

I think I will make some more of these - in fact I can see me making some for presents too.

Challenges to have fun with -

Studio L3 - Industrial Grunge

Simon Says Stamp and Show - Shabby

Craft your passion - Anything Goes

Incy Wincy - Anything Goes

Paper Playtime - Clock, ticket or tag

A Spoonfull of Sugar - Relish to embellish

Aly's Sunday Challenge - Distress

2 sisters challenge - No DP

Saturday Challenge - Anything that flies

Stamp Something - Stamp and use some pink

Inky Impressions - To add flowers

Flutterby Wednesday - Anything Goes with a butterfly, fairy or angel

For Fun Challenges - Use metal

Pixie Cottage - Sketch and/or recycle

Paper Players - Anything Goes

Enjoy the rest of your week. Luv B xxx

Christmas Snowman

Last week I so enjoyed working with the sketch at Posh Designs it was so unusual and this week there is another lovely one that I just had to have a go at.

I have added a little bit extra to my card and I have used the sewing machine as well.

 I love snowflakes as much as I love butterflies, and I enjoyed making this one.

  





The image is a freebie from Just4fun crafts. Thankyou Jennifer he is lovely.

I have used Snowtex on the snowman to give him some texture and Ice Diamond on the icicles. Other sparkles include glitter, star dust stickles and sakura glitter pens. The DI used is walnut stain and the ticket is from Miss Cutiepie.

I am sure you can see how I have translated the sketch, I am really pleased with the outcome.

Enjoy your day and take care. Luv B xxx

Challenges to have fun with -

Posh Designs - Sketch  (Tues)

ABC Challenge - G is for glitter  (Wed)

Simon Says Stamp - Punches and diecuts   (Wed)

Stampavie - Christmas   (Wed)

Fussy and Fancy - Winter Wonderland   (Fri)

Bee Crafty - Christmas   (Sat)

Mark's Finest Papers - Holiday card   (Sat)

Ellephantastic - Blue   (Sat)

Crafty Pad - Stitching   (Sun)

Pollycraft - Chill Time   (Mon)

Crafty Cardmakers - Stitching  (Mon)