Delightful Doilies

Another new month brings another new challenge at Creative Craft Cottage.  For September the theme is 'Round like a Record'.  So any project with something round in or on it can be entered.  There is a lovely little prize for the lucky winner as well (oh, I wonder where they came from???)

Here are some examples of the doilies I have been making to use in my projects.  Whenever I am sitting idle or watching TV,  I have to do something to keep my hands busy.  Even though I make lots of these I never seem to have enough, as I use them in lots of ways, from using on my layouts, to giveaways and swaps. 

So for your chance to win some of these just join us in this challenge.  Remember if you don't have a blog you can still enter by emailing us your entry.  We look forward to seeing your lovely projects.

SID

Sid is my son Troy's dog, whom we inherited (along with his cat, oh and the boat) when Troy went to live in Australia.  Isn't he adorable.

 

 

I actually made this layout sometime ago now so can't remember exactly which papers I've used, although I do know they are Kaisercraft papers, which I've distressed, inked and punched.  I handmade all the flowers, used lace from my stash and dusty attic toadstools DA0565.  The toadstools were finished with texture paste, then painted red to make them 'pop'.

 

I am entering the lets craft and create challenge which is 'Animal Antics'.  Come and join me in this challenge, as its just a very new site with not many entrants as yet.

Jamie - The Hunter

This layout has involved a bit of experimentation.  I was blog hopping (as you do) and came across a challenge run by Vicky Alberto and she asked that we use at least two techniques we haven't used before.  After much deep thought this is what I've come up with:

 

I've started with G45 French Country papers, layered up on a bit of burlap, adding the Dusty Attic windmill DA0639 (for that rustic, male feel to the page).  To lift the darkness of the page I've matted the photo's with a rich gold cardstock, which allowed the sunflowers to come in with a bit more colour.

 

The two unused techniques I've used are the fussy cutting of the flowers, and I've played around with the embossing on the windmill, then stamped over the top of it also.  Two techniques I'll definitely use again.

 

I've loved the opportunity to join up with another great group at Swirlydoos where they sell monthly kits of gorgeous products, and run some awesome challenges.  Sadly I feel with the price of the postage the kits are not cost effective for me to join in on, boo hoo, so I'll just have to participate in on a limited number of their challenges. 

 

Thank you for looking, and please leave a comment.

Creative Dreams art journal

What perfect timing to become involved in another journal.  The Circle Journal I've been a part of with Artistic Creationz has just ended, so when I was invited to join in on this Art Journal run by Jules at Creative Dreams I jumped right in.  This journal is going to be soooo different as it is a more 'arty' project, i.e. painting, drawing etc.  Shock, horror, minor panic here ..... I am NO artist.
Our brief was to supply an A4 sized journal, and decorate as we desired.  We are to complete one journal (double page spread) per month.

 

 

Inside the front cover (on the 1st page) are all my personal details, for all my fellow artists to share, then a few pages over is my 1st real effort as an artist.  This page is the result of 2 ideas, the background was found on You Tube - (RachO113), and the flowers were on a card on the challenge site Lets Craft and Create 

 

 

Firstly the background was painted (blue & green) with watered down paints - very slap happy and streaky here, then I finger painted around the bottom edges with gold paint.  Stencils were used to add the dots and diamonds, then I randomly stamped around with a script stamp just to add a bit more interest.  I inked the outside of the pages with Walnut Stain distress ink.  The petals of the flowers were hand cut from dictionary paper, then inked before I glued into place.  I then drew around the edges of the petals, and created stems with a sharpie pen (black & white) and lastly glued on buttons.

 

I am really happy with my 1st real 'arty' effort and hope the rest of the journals will be as easy to complete. I think I shall be watching lots of  You Tube to get more inspiration somehow.  

Zany Zana

Here is yet another layout I've created which is quite different to what I usually do.  I am not 'comfortable' with empty spaces, so to leave so much open in the middle was very hard, hence I just had to splatter the paint around after it was all finished.

This is the Dusty Attic monthly layout sketch I followed.  This time I didn't want to take the sketch too literally so have loosened up a little more than usual.  Hopefully the string border gives the effect of having another layer of paper??

It is now strange using just plain cardstock as the background layer, but then I layered on corrugated card, lovely tape, with lots of luscious flowers and string. 
I have also used lots of Dusty Attic chippies, words DA0952, Flowerbuds DA0849, Dusty-in-Bloom Cornsilk DA0806, Alabaster paint DA0902 & Sunshine paint DA0905.

I hope you all like this and please go over to Dusty Attic and check out my competition, there are some awesome crafters playing over there.

Art Journal swap

I have created this Art Journal for a partnered swap with Tai over at artistic creationz.  This is another project I had not attempted.  The brief we were given was to create a blank journal from any materials we chose, but it had to include at least one signature of 20 pages, while considering adding pockets/flaps/tags etc, and be an A5 size.

Here I have used corrugated card for front & back covers, while for my 'signature' of 20 pages, which I've used pages from an art sketch pad, I have split into 3 sections, divided by 2 tabbed envelope pages with a flap/pockets & tags.

 

 

 

As I was finished in plenty of time, I've included this tag also.  I've used glimmer mist, paint sprays, stamps, TCW templates, texture paste, gesso, and handmade flower.

 

This has been an interesting challenge, which I really had to think a lot about and have learnt a lot as well.  I hope Tai likes this, and can make good use of it.  I am now waiting for hers to arrive here to me.    I've got lots of ideas of how to 'fill' my journal, perhaps that will be another post in the future.

Baby 'brag books'

Here is a couple of 'brag books' I've been asked to make for upcoming new arrivals.

 

 

These have a 4" square chipboard front & back cover, covered with fabric (for durability).  The pages are made from 3 lots of folded 8"square cardstock, then I've used G45 Once Upon A Springtime & Little Darlings paper to decorate these.  A little bit of ink around the edges then a ribbon ties it all together.   Very complicated looking, yet very simple to do.

Paris

August is time for a new challenge at Creative Craft Cottage where the theme this month is "Buttons and Bows".  Come over to see us, and join in on our monthly challenge.  We are just a new site run by New Zealand ladies and look forward to seeing all your beautiful crafty creations, where  ANY craft is welcome.  Here is my example, I hope it inspires you:

 

This is an 8"x8" canvas which I firstly covered in 'texture' (muslim, die cuts, ripped paper, stamped tissue), then gesso'd, painted, misted & stamped.  I made the 3 large flowers & finished the page with lace, ribbon, mini roses, pearls & creatures from G45 'Once Upon a Springtime'.

I hope you like my efforts, as much as Paris's nana does,  and hope to see you soon at Creative Craft Cottage

Challenges entered:
lets craft & create - say it with flowers