Butterfly garden

Here we are mid year already, so I'm making the most of not being particularly busy at work.  I'm chuffed I've found yet another awesome monthly challenge to enter The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge is another site that offers an awesome inspiration board and very minimal requirements to join in.  This month is their birthday so they have put all the themes from the last 12 months on their board. 

 

For those of you who know my work you will know I LOVE FLOWERS, so that is my theme of choice.  Here I've created a tag which I am also entering into the monthly Imagine if . .  challenge.  I am also entering this into the Lindy's Stamp Gang colour challenge using their colour chart



The tag I've created was firstly covered with drywall tape then I added lace, lots of Imagine if chippies then glass beads.  When all the glue was dry it got a coat of gesso, then a coat of black paint. 

 

Then believe it or not I sprayed the whole thing with LSG Sweet Violet Purple Teal where obviously the Teal has really won over the other colours, even though when moisture is applied the purple shines thru.  The little mini roses were coloured with LSG Ramblin' Rose Pink grunged a bit with TH Black Soot.  The velvet stem and leaves was grunged by spraying with LSG Opal Sea Oats. 

 

As usual I had fun making my own flowers, I adore these zipper flowers - this one has a rolled paper flower for the centre along with a bead.  Butterflies from the G45 Steampunk Debutante collection finish the page along with the sweet sentiment.

 

Thank you for visiting, I hope you like what you find here and hopefully I can inspire you in some way with my creations.  To find a tutorial for the zipper flower just follow the link provided in my Tutorials page.



Wedding Card

For todays project I've created a wedding card to join in on the Imagine if challenge this month which is calls for lace to be used.

A little bit brighter than your run-of-the-mill wedding cards, but hey WTH, the young ones appreciate these bright colours these days don't they.

I adore this BoBunny 'Starcrossed' paper, then loads of red lace, rosette flowers and stickles used on the chipboard.  I added these two black flowers and the gorgeous pearl and heart trim just to break all the red.

For someone who doesn't make cards I'm really outside my comfort zone here.
Thanks for visiting.

Tane Mahuta

Time for another challenge at Southern Girls Challenge and the theme this time is STARS.  I wanted to do something a little different so have let stencils and this awesome photo speak for themselves.

 

I've started with my ever favourite Kaisercraft paper, from 'Precious Moments' & 'Timeless Classics' collections.  I've added some modelling paste thru this gorgeous Imagine if . . star stencil, distressed, stitched, then added lace & burlap to the layers.

 

Handmade burlap bloom, crocheted & prima flowers keep the page uncomplicated while matching the colour scheme perfectly.

 

I LOVE the kiwiana chipboard available at Imagine if . . , infact they are the only company that I'm aware of that produces this type of product.  Here I've added some flocking to the koru pieces.

 

This felt kiwi is a perfect companion for the mighty Tane don't you think?  As he IS the star of the forest I hope I have done him proud.  'Tāne Mahuta (Lord of the Forest) is New Zealand’s largest known living kauri tree and without doubt its most famous, it is believed to be over 200 years old.

Thanks for joining us here at Southern Girls Challenge, I hope this has inspired you to try something a little different.

End of an Era

As stated in my previous post my 12 month term with Imagine if .  . has now come to an end, so after thinking long and hard just how best to show off some of my years work.  While looking through all I've created I just couldn't leave out too many things so  I've put together a few photo collages with some of what I've been up to. 

 

The range of chipboard, MDF & felt products that Imagine if has produced over the last 12 months simply incredible.  Every month Jo had yet another package of 'new releases' for us girls to 'play with' for her. 

 

 Some of these products i.e the hollow book & fairies (both picture 2) I REALLY hit the wall with and had to put them aside in the 'too hard basket' until Jo asked for them, then surprisingly they came together effortlessly and infact have ended up 2 of my most favourites.

 

I've had a real blast being on this team, the other girls have all been fantastic and SOOOO talented, I think we've 'fed' off each other (talentwise of course).

 

Now with the Design Team term at an end, Imagine if will be running challenges for everyone to show off their talents, with the chance of winning a 'Guest Designer' spot.  Good luck to you all.

 

So a big thank you to Jo Johnson and her family for all their hard work.  I hope the business goes from strength to strength for you.  They can be visited at the shop at 25a Canada St, Morrinsville or of course mail order direct from the site here.  

Farewell Imagine If

It is bittersweet writing this post as it is the last project I'll be sharing in my capacity as Design Team member for Imagine if . .  .  These last 12 months have gone sooooo fast, its really unbelievable its over already.  It's been a fantastic ride as I've been amongst some awesome talent, Jo really picked herself a great bunch of crafters, and I think . . . no, I know we have all really grown from this experience.  Who would have thought 12 months ago the type of creations we have all come up with . . . . wow.  And it's a bit sad too now its all over, but I'm going to try to carry on pushing myself - after I catch my breath of course. 

So here's my farewell layout, using all the new chipboard Jo has produced for us this month.  She sent us dolls, keys & locks & wings to play with.

 

I've used Kaisercraft paper from the 'Precious Moments' and 'Just Believe' collections, and have finally used my Martha Stewart 'Round the Page' punch - LOVE IT.  I've used a DSD stamp under the paper doily, then had lots of fun creating this gorgeous doll.  Sadly I can't take all the credit for her as I have used the idea I saw on Gabrielle Pollacco's awesome blog (and used her dolls head also - thanks Gabbi). 

 

Its such a fun idea and so easy to do.  I then added the sparkling wings, which were painted then finished with a layer of stickles.  The padlocks and keys were heat embossed silver then touched up with TH Vintage Photo ink.  The heart was painted then clear heat embossed.

 

I've used lots of I am Roses blooms, so will be entering this into their monthly challenge also.  Blooms used are Daisy, S10 blooms, small daisies & leaves.

 

I'll also be entering this in the Artfull Crafts colour challenge for this month.

 

Imagine if . .  products used are Angel wings

                                                    hearts

                                                    keys

                                                    locks

                                                    doll

Shabby Chic Box

I've had a lot of fun creating this latest box, which was to be a gift for a friend, but as you would have it I've fallen in love with it myself so . . . .  I'll probably have to keep it for myself.

Here I'm showcasing lots of new pieces from Imagine if . . , and as usual this has finished up TOTALLY different to what I had in my mind at the beginning.

Kaisercraft 'Precious Moments' paper was perfect for the shabby look I wanted, this was inked with TH 'Walnut Stain', before it was attached, then I added a bit of texture with a bit of modelling paste thru stencils.  Here is all the 'bits' before assembly.

 

The gorgeous arched window frame received a coat of "Grape" paint, then was dry brushed with gesso.  The wings were embossed, then along with the remaining chipboard received various coats of brown & pink paints, then I applied the solution to 'weather' the paint before painting white.  This all then was inked again with TH Walnut stain. 

I've used a mix of handmade and I am Roses flowers along with muslim, leaves & cones to decorate the corner.  An old brooch was touched up with gesso before being added to the top of the arch.

 

Enjoy these close ups

 

 

I am entering this in the I am Roses monthly challenge, with I am Roses products used  lillies, buds & sweet little S10 blooms.

 

Imagine if . .  products used are  Arched window frame

                                                     keys & locks

                                                     wings

                                                     Quote sheet - Dreams

                                                     open flower

 

Another summer 'Tail'

OMG the beginning of another new month, and luckily we are still very much in the grips of summer.  So why not show off some more awesome summer photos with the fun new chipboard pieces Imagine if . .  have for us. 

Recently I was lucky enough to spend the day fishing at the Hen & Chicks, islands outside the Whangarei harbour, and we had such a fantastic day.  The sea was crazy calm, the weather was awesome, the company was great and the fish were biting - need I say more.

 

Again I've used paper from the Kaisercraft 'Sandy Toes' collection, its just so right for these summer photos.  The brown checkered paper is from my stash.   

 

First step after I distressed the paper was to apply 'bubbles' on the page.  Sadly not easy to see on the big photo, but they can be seen clearer on these closeups.  I applied some gel medium thru the bubble stencil.

 

 

Don't you just LOVE these chipboard tails.  Here I've coated them with modelling paste then when nearly dry I've pressed on the scales and ribbed the tail.  When dry I painted them with silver paint, then when that was dry I used several different Lindy's Stamp Gang sprays in blues & greens.  Did I say how much I LOVE these??

 

Lots of other little 'bits and pieces' finish my summery page.

 

Imagine if products used  -  Tails

                                              'Sun Sea & Sand'

                                              Anchor

                                              Sea horses

                                              Quote Sheet - 'Seasons in Time'

                                              Bubble stencil

 

 

Wine Gift Box

For todays Imagine if . .  DT project Jo has given me a MDF Wine Box to construct and decorate.  All the DT ladies were given different MDF projects to complete, so take a trip via the links at the Imagine if . .  blog to check these all out.

 

 

 

 Here is the start of the puzzle, but very easy to put together.

 

 

All glued together and ready for decoration

 



 

After I attached some 'bunches of grapes' (flatback pearls) the exterior was primed with a good coat of gesso

 

Tissue paper prepped and ready to attach 

 

Then the real fun began, attaching all the bits of tissue, which was mod podged in the appropriate places. 

 

Next I created bottles to attach up the middle.  I made these out of light cardboard firstly, then attached, so to have clearly defined edges.  The whole inside has been lined with burlap.

Enjoy these closeups of the finished project.



 

 

 

Imagine if . . product used are:  MDF wine holder

                                                   Quote sheet - Seasons in Time

                                                   felt leaves - spring set

Summer fun

As soon as I saw this photo on Facebook I just knew I had to make a summery page using it, so thanks Sarah for sharing it with us.  This was also a great chance to use other summery supplies, both paper and Imagine if . .  goodies.

 

Gotta love the paper from the new Kaisercraft 'Sandy Toes' collection, which was distressed to the max, then I used some modelling paste thru a stencil before spritzing with 2 different blue coloured Lindys Stamp Gang sprays.  Corrugated card was distressed, as was this gorgeous photo.   I left the chipboard title raw as the colours match well.  Muslim & felt flowers soften this area. 

 

 

Flowers from BoBunny and Prima compliment this new 'wispy burlap flower' I've just learnt to make.  Take this link here to see the easy tutorial I followed.

 

Prima bling, buttons and this lovely Imagine if . .  quote finish the page nicely.

Thanks for visiting, I hope this leaves you with the warm fuzzies.

 

Imagine if products used:  circle stencil

                                           spring leaves

                                           Seasons in Time Quote sheet

                                           Adventure

 

 

I'm Back

Finally after 7 long gruelling months, my job has come to its seasonal end . . . so now I'm back.
I've been working in the busiest Avocado packhouse in New Zealand where we packed in excess of 1 million trays for export, which is a new record high.

 

 

Now once I catch up on all the jobs around the house I'll be free to get my teeth back into some serious crafting, with extra DT duties and lots of challenges and competitions out there to participate in.

Firstly I am glad to be back on the DT with the cool ladies at Southern Girls Challenge, where they have the coolest bunch of ladies and the most amazing collection of sponsors with awesome prizes for you all to win.  I can't wait to get started, my first project is due there on 12 March.

I'm still on  the DT for Imagine if . .  and am thoroughly enjoying using the evergrowing selection of chipboard, felt and MDF products.

So busy, busy times ahead.

Presently I'm getting into my vegetable garden, which despite very little TLC over the last few months, is producing extremely well - I can see lots of pickling, preserving and jam making coming up.