Art Journal page

Good evening! A very late post from me today. I came across a beautiful leather covered book the other day, whilst looking for something completely different. It was given to me by my lovely friend some years ago, I put it away and totally forgot I had it  (there's gratitude for you!). I thought it would make a perfect art journal, so I got out my inks, paints, stamps, pan pastels, stencils etc and made this! The image is one I won some time ago from the The East Wind, and as these images have lovely clean lines I thought I'd be brave and attempt to paint her with acrylics, totally outside my comfort zone!!!. As you can see I'm very much an amateur, but I did enjoy myself and can't wait to have time to do this again! Didn't enjoy clearing up the mess afterwards though...even messier than usual today!
Thanks for looking, have a lovely weekend.
Chris
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Challenges:
theeastwind #70
pdelinkyparty no cards
alteredeclectics
art-journal-journey
try it on tuesday get messy

Christmas time at Fab 'n' Funky

Here I am again..., second post for today...this time with my DT card for this week's challenge at 

Fab n Funky.  It's Team Funky's turn this week, and as it's the last Wednesday of the month, the theme is 'Christmas', it's our lovely Ginny's turn to host the challenge, and I'm sure she'd appreciate a visit from you too!

Our sponsor this week is Di's Digis

I recently bought a pack of kraft card blanks at a craft show...they were  quite big and really cheap, probably because the card  is a bit rough, but I'm using them anyway! They also have scalloped edges ...which I'm not over keen on...so I decided to remove the scallops leaving me with a nice size card...not too big! I made a very simple card, using scraps of DP, layered onto white embossed cardstock which was matted onto  larger scrap of DP. I added a large die cut snowflake and a punched reindeer...punched out several times and glued together for dimension. The 'joy' diecut (part of a larger Tim Holtz die) was treated the same way. I finished it with the previously cut off scalloped edge. Didn't take too long to make...so I made another...the same but different! So 2 more cards for the Christmas box! 

Thanks for visiting today, be sure to pop over and check out what the rest of Team Funky have made for you to enjoy...then it's up to you to create your own Christmas themed project for us to enjoy! Just think how glad you'll be later in the year not to be in panic mode!

Have a great day

Chris

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Challenges entered:

craftycardmakers-#182 add texture

ooh-la-la #222- die cuts

christmascardchallenges #6

allsorts #403

/craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge #321

hidinginmycraftroom #289 embossing

winter wonderland atg

do-allkreatives #2 winter

sparklesforumchristmaschallenge krafty Christmas

abcchristmas - creature + dimension (first card)

Relax and enjoy!

Good morning, hope the week is going well for you! I have some cards to share today, the first is my DT card for our new challenge at Creative Moments...optional theme this fortnight is 'keep it masculine', we're sponsored for this by Eureka Stamps and Scribbles Designs, so some fabulous digital stamps await the lucky winner.
I was able to choose an image from Eureka to make my card. I fell in love with this adorable Snoozing Puppy as soon as clapped eyes on him...just look at that blissful face, and he's so cuddly! I printed him onto white cardstock, coloured with copics then very carefully cut around his dangly bits...paws ears jowls etc to insert my die underneath. I then matted it onto a piece of scrap dp and added three little die cut buttons...quick, simple and flat to post!
Hope to see you play along this fortnight...just click here for more inspiration and to add your own lovely creation.
Thanks for looking, I'll be back in a little while!
Chris
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Challenges entered:
diecuttindivas #305animals
CASonsunday #102 critters
disdigidesigns include an animal
brownsugar #238 birthday
craftforthecraic 2 colours brown and white
thepapershelter. #282  card for a male
watercooler Wednesday#107 masculine

We want to see flowers!!!

Good morning, another week has flown past, spring will soon be here! It's felt quite springlike here already for the last couple of days...mild weather, some sunshine and the first bulbs are starting to flower...can't wait! This week's challenge at Sweet Stampin'is a lovely and easy one, we want to see flowers on your creations, they don't have to be stamped as long as you include some stamping somewhere on your card. I loved making this card, a CAS design for a change, using a very old and much loved wooden stamp, I stamped the flower directly onto the  card blank near to the top left hand corner, then masked the image and stamped twice more letting it go over the edge. I then stamped the flower onto the smaller piece of white card, carefully lining up the image so that the flowers matched. Matted the smaller square onto deep blue cardstock, then placed it over the first image. The colouring was very quick, using a wet brush and distress ink pads. The stamped sentiment was a freebie with a magazine.

If you want to feast your eyes on some beautiful floral creations just hop over here and check out the inspiration from my lovely teamies. Then it's your turn to inspire us with your own fabulous florals!
Thanks for visiting, have a happy weekend!
Chris
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Challenges:
brownsugar #238 birthday
aperfecttimetocraft.
happylittlestampers. CAS blue
kreativeinkauf #48 monochrome
open-mindedcraftingfun #14
sweetstampers add a sentiment
tinker dream #50. birthday, white + 1 colour
addictedtostamps #229 CAS
simonsaysstamp-wednesday florals

Colours of Mardi Gras

I made this card with the current challenge at Aurora Wings  in mind, which is to use the colours of Mardi Gras...purple, green and gold.I had a lovely time colouring the gorgeous image, Diamonds. I used copics and added a touch of glitter here and there.  I'm happy with how the image came out, not so keen on the card design. 

Thanks for looking

Chris

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Challenges entered:

aurorawings #43

inspirationdestination #122

lemonshortbread #35

ttcrd.-atg

unicorn #18 

...are you for real?...

Happy Sunday!  A 'just because' card to share today...weather's been grim, cold wet and miserable...at least the snow didn't amount to anything...so I've been reading (a lot) and playing with my new stamps! I coloured up this cutie yesterday, just can't resist a dragon! I used copics to colour and followed a sketch from Sweet Sketch Wednesday. The paper was free with a magazine, I added a stamped sentiment and few punched and die cut stars. The stars are glittery but it doesn't show in the photo!

Thanks for visiting, enjoy what's left of the weekend.

Chris

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Challenges entered:

sweetsketchwednesday #105

craftyfriends #51

disdigidesigns include an animal

simonsaysstamp cute

Three or more patterned papers...Southern Girls Challenge #153

Hello, I'm a bit late today...thought I'd better give in and do a bit of housework, much against my inclinations! Still, it's done now and I can sit here in a rosy virtuous glow even though I know it's doomed to get messy again very quickly! Hubby will be returning from his walk with a large muddy Great Dane and my two eldest granddaughters will be in later for tea...fascinates me how kids create a mess without trying!!! :)
Anyways, this is my card for our new challenge over at Southern Girls which is '3 or more patterned papers' yes  '3 or more patterned papers' not '3 or more layers' which I'd convinced myself it was...made my card...went to add it to challenge blog and realised I'd made a boo boo! So back to the drawing board! At least this gorgeous image, Annabelle, was fun to colour so I was quite happy to colour her up again. My papers are from a pad which was a bargain buy at a local £1 shop...not sure of the make but the papers are gorgeous!
I do hope you can spare the time to visit over at Southern Girls, there's some gorgeous cards made by my teamies for you to enjoy, and of course we'd really love it if you choose to play along. We have a fantastic sponsor this time...Crafts And Me ...so someone is going to win some beautiful digis!
Before I go I'll share the first card...the one without 3 patterned papers....

Thanks for looking
Chris
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Challenges entered:
craftycreations #334
inspirationdestination #121
lemonshortbread #34
craftingfromtheheart #145
classicdesignteamchallenge #11
craftsandme Feb Challenge
Crafty Awesomeness Feb Challenge
craftyfriends #50 girly

Please...

Phew, here it is...my 3rd and final card today! This one is for the new challenge at Sweet Stampin' Christmas...again the theme is ' Anything Goes' as long as it's Christmas related. I bought this gorgeous Mo Manning digi before last Christmas and didn't get a chance to use it, so I was delighted to take the opportunity to colour it up! Who could resist that hopeful little face!

Thanks so much for visiting today, scroll down if you wish to look at my other makes. I'm hoping that you'll have time to pop over to the main challenge blogs and check out what my lovely teamies have been up to, not just for this challenge but for the others too! Looking forward to seeing what you make of these three lovely challenges!

Chris
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Challenges entered:
christmaswiththecuties #2  song(let It Snow)
CHNC  #319
inglebellesrock snowflake
Bronte And Bella #272

...wild about you...

Here I am again ...this is my second DT card for today, this one is for our new Challenge at Fab N Funky, this week hosted by our lovely Wends. The theme she has chosen is 'Wild about you' either Valentines or feature a wild animal, so something for everyone! We're sponsored this week by the fabulous Paper Shelter and the DT were given some lovely images to choose from. I chose to use this cute couple, 'Can't take my eyes off you',  gazing adoringly into each other's eyes...the image comes with a coloured version and backing papers as well as the line drawing...but I wanted a different look so decided to colour using shades of grey (a lot less than 50 ;)) I added some die cuts, a bow and bead trim and a little heart brad. The colours haven't photographed too well, the white is much brighter IRL.

I'll be back again with my 3rd and final (promise) post today!

xx

Challenges entered:
craftingbydesigns love and romance
craftygalscorner  shades of red
thesisterhoodofcrafters red
craftycardmakers love
getcreative red + 1 other colour
LTSCB #94 Who loves you baby
useyourstuff #250 Love is in the air
dragonflyjourneys. Love is in the air

All you need is love..

Good morning, here I am with my first card for today...still on a 'love' theme! This is my DT card for our new challenge at Creative Moments, the optional theme for this fortnight is 'Love is in the air', sponsored by Doctor Digi. The image I chose is Audrey and Aubery...such a handsome couple! Coloured with copics, glossy accents to their specs I decided they needed a retro patterned background in bright colours...found the perfect DP in a very old book of patterned papers. Just added some die cuts to make the sentiment.

I'll be back in a little while with card No.2!

x

Challenges entered:
fairytale #61 Humour
cardsinenvy Valentine
simonsaysstamp -mondaychallenge young at heart
dare2bartzy All you need is love

so sweet

Good evening, I've had a bit of time to play today and I've been trying out some new stamps that I've shamelessly treated myself to recently! I'm not even going to pretend that I'm trying not to buy new stuff...'cos I'm not! Anyway, here's one of them...Tallulah in her tutu...how could I possibly resist! This challenge over at Allsorts, chosen by my lovely blog buddy Kath, is paper piecing -one of my favourite techniques. It would be rude not to play along so I've paper pieced Tallulah, her balloon and the top layer of her tutu, the frilly bit is coloured with copics. I used a light grey copic to add a bit of shading to her beautiful body, just love all those wrinkly bits!, and a white gel pen to add the dots to her skirt plus a touch of glossy accents to that magnificent balloon. Very simple L/O using (virtuously) a scrap of  very old DP. The flower is cut from the DP (under the image!) and I added a button and the sentiment.
Hope everyone's had a lovely weekend and is ready to face the week ahead.
Thanks for visiting.
Chris
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Challenges:
Allsorts -paper piecing
lilpatchofcraftyfriends #51
Stamping Sensations  animal magic
crazy4challenges c4c371- animals
Stampavie #279 animals
fairytale #161 humour

always on my mind

Hi, I'm back with card number 2... this one's my  DT make for Sweet Stampin' the theme for this week is 'Valentines/ Love'. Now I don't really 'do' Valentines, I  always thought that it should be a secret who the card/gift was from but that doesn't seem to be the case now! Anyway I made this card using a totally cute Stamping Bella chick which I hope fits the bill! A simple, matted design ...the papers are LOTV (love the yellow with the chicken feet!) the sentiment came with the stamp.
We'd love (!!) to have you play along with us this week...just please remember to stamp something, somewhere on your creation. Just click here to hop over to Sweet Stampin' Challenge blog and add your link!
Thanks for calling by today, have a lovely weekend.
Chris
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Challenges:
alohafriday  #87 (new stamp)
qkrstampede #229 Valentines
artimpressions lots of love
craftrocket #32  It's a love thing
tuesdaythrowdown #328 love notes

There's a lot of love around right now...

Good morning! Two DT cards today...both with a 'love' theme! This one is for our new challenge starting today at Crafty Calendar....the theme ..'love is in the air'... sponsored by Pink Gem.
                                                      
The DT were allowed to choose an image each...thanks! I chose Love Mice, aren't they adorable?
I used copics to colour with a white gel pen for the dots on her dress. The design is simple with a few fishtail banners a couple of die cuts and a flower. The 'love' diecut was cut several times and layered up for dimension.
My teamies have made some super cards this month using these sweet Pink Gem images, just click here to take a peek then it's up to you to get creating and join the fun!
I'll be back in a while with my second card!
Chris
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Challenges entered:
crafting-with-friends #36
simplycreatetoo #124 love
cardz4galz #40  Love is in the air
craftaholicsrus Feb Challenge
cutecardthursday #463
modsquad - hearts and flowers
craftycardmakers #181