Secret Santa sssshhhh.....

Time for another new challenge at Creative Craft Cottage and wouldn't you know it the theme is Christmas (of course).  Here I am sharing a secret santa gift box I have sent thru to another kindred crafty spirit in Australia.  It is, of course, full of crafty goodies.

 

I started with a paper mache box which I gesso'd, then painted green.  I then covered the outsides with santa serviettes.  I've finished with ribbon, bows, doily, xmas trinkets, and a handmade burlap flower (did I say how much I LOVE these???).  They are sooo easy to make, have a look here for easy instructions.

 

Please share your wonderful xmas creations with us and be in with a chance to win a lovely little prize.  As always, if you don't have a blog, feel free to email your entry thru to us.

Xmas tags

Time for another challenge at Southern Girls Challenge, so this time we at Team Lou are showing you some lovely 'Texture' (lumps, bumps and all). 

 

 

Here I have created some xmas tags, taking bits of ideas from two friends creations - Sue & Fiona, and blending them together.  Firstly I've die cut my tags using Tim Holtz dies, then embossed them.  I love the look of the corrugated card with the lace & ribbons, and love using manila cardstock as well.

 

I've actually already sent two of these off with other goodies, and I suppose there's no reason why you couldn't even hang them on the tree if you really wanted to.  These were very easy and quite fun to make.

 

Please now share your lovely creations with us at Southern Girls Challenge for the chance to win some lovely prizes.  Remember if you don't have a blog we are quite happy to accept emailed entries.

Thank you for visiting, we look forward to seeing your entries.

2014 Calendar

Again this year I have joined in on the Calendar swap at Artistic Creationz where I was chosen to create pages for July & August. 

 

These only measure 4" x 4", and I had to make 6 sets.  I'll keep one, and swap with the other girls for the other months they are creating.  When I have them all I will punch holes in the top so they can be bound in a rolodex style.

 

For those of you in the Northern Hemisphere don't forget we are mid winter in July, and August has the stirrings of spring, hence my selection of papers used.

 

I will be entering this into the latest challenge at Lets Craft & Create with the theme of 'Glitter'.   ***WINNER***

Thank you for looking, please leave a comment.

Rottnest Island

I have been spoilt with lovely photos to be included in my layouts, so only by choosing my embellishments firstly did I decide which photos to use.  Todays layout is being entered in the monthly sketch layout at Dusty Attic where I worked to this sketch:

 

Recently when we visited Perth I came across a scrapbooking shop which has LOTS of Dusty Attic chipboard.  I was like a kid in a candy store and shopped till I dropped (so to say).  I was even thrilled to come across the title of this layout 'Rottnest Island' which is a small island just off the Freemantle/Perth coast, where we spent the day.

 

 

I love how all the colours work together, don't ask me where the orange came from but it works (I think).  Here I've used G45 and other random paper, several different trims, flowers from my stash, TH distress inks and of course lots of DA chippies, which include the title 'Rottnest Island' - DA0169, barbed wire from the Rustic Charm set - DA0665, and of course Dusty-in-Bloom - DA0802.

 

We had a great day out on the island, where we hired bicycles and peddled round the island.  Unfortunately we got caught in the rain when we were on the far side of the island at the lighthouse.  Luckily it was warm, and we did quickly dry out.  It was a long day as we had trained down to Freemantle early in the morning to catch the first ferry out, then upon our return again we trained back through to the north side of Perth.

 

Its great to find sketches which allow you use more than one photo, as its always awesome to show off holiday photos this way.  I hope you like my interpretation of the sketch.  Please leave a comment, your thoughts are always greatly appreciated. 



Art Journal 4

Another month is now well underway, so here I have completed my page in the latest journal in the Creative Dreams monthly Art Journal challenge.   Now being in the fourth month its great to see some of the other girls contributions as well.  This is Allies journal, and she was clever and created the book herself by including magazine pages, photocopy paper, odds and scraps of cardstock and manila folder....etc.  Its actually more of a junk journal or smash book, lots of options here to work with.

 

The theme of the journal is "What does home mean to you?", so I've gone along the lines more of scrapbooking than arty, and shown her what "home is ...." to me.  The two outside pages are actually magazine pages, which I gesso'd, leaving some of the words showing thru, then used templates (brick wall), paint, colouring pencils, distress inks & glimmermist, then lots of photos and even a favourite recipe.

 

Its always a pleasant surprise to see what secrets and expectations the next journal brings, a great learning curve.  I am really enjoying being part of this group.

Treats for Hospice

Didn't I say in my last post that I'm enjoying making these little gift boxes??? Well here is some more.  These were made as my contribution to a trading table to raise money for our local hospice.  Last weekend was the annual "House & Garden" ramble, with all proceeds going to Hospice, so when asked to help out on the trading table, how could I resist.

 

These are just little 3" square paper mache boxes which I painted on the inside and bottom, then covered with G45 papers.  To decorate I've used flowers, feathers, pearls, doily & string.  Inside the bottom is lined with muslim, then they have been filled with Roses chocolates. 

 

I asked $10 each for them, and believe it or not within an hour one lady came and actually bought the lot as she couldn't decide which one she liked the best.  

Woooo hoooo, didn't I do well.

Another Gift Box

I just can't help myself at the moment, as here is yet another gorgeous gift box.  This is my DT entry for the latest challenge at Creative Craft Cottage where the theme this time is 'Say it with Flowers'.

As the colours in this G45 paper are so rich I had to be very careful with my choice of flowers.  Here I have started with the burlap rose (which I've just learnt to make), then complimented it with more soft coloured flowers.  The buds I've used were actually blue, but everything can be painted can't it?  A small doily under everything was also painted to match.

 

 

I actually created the box primarily to send a journal back to its owner, then decided this person deserved a little bit more.  I've filled the box with all sorts of goodies I hope she can use, topped off with doilies and a few handmade xmas decorations.

 

 

 

I'm really pleased to have learnt to make these burlap roses, they are really very easy.  I followed instructions I found here on You Tube.  I actually received a few in a swap, and have always wanted to make them for myself.  I'll definitely be making more of these.

Thank you for visiting, and please join us with your entry at Creative Craft Cottage.  As always, if you don't have a blog, just email your entry thru.