Crazy Circles Gnome Card

Hi Lovelies!

This challenge is doing double duty for The Paper Girls Challenge 

and 

Arty Divas challenge.

The theme for TPG is circles and the image from sponsor Laurie Furnell was a cute gnome digi.

All I knew was that I wanted to stretch my Copic colouriing muscles again since I was feeling rusty and I felt the vibrancy would be perfect for a child.  Im not sure I like how pale the blue is on the gnome.  It bothers me a bit.  🤷 And let's not even discuss the beard! 🤦

What to do for the background, though?  If I used this project for TPG circles challenge I could pull out THIS bag of cats circles.  Recognize it?

It's from last year's Wonder Woman layout!  This one:

Since I printed the image out bigger than I expected, I went with a 5x7 card base.  The front ended up being 4.5 x 6.5 to allow for a contrasting mat.

I layered up some of the smaller circles and ran them through the sewing machine.  Using Permanent Glue Dots I adhered the back with all the thread to the stripey mat and I love using the same dots when using "fun foam".  I stick the adhesive side to the piece i'm popping up then it's easier to run Glue Dots all over the plain foam side.  They're far more reliable on foam than my dot roller I've discovered.

Lastly I die cut a fairly general sentiment which can be used for several occasions.

And I barely even made a dent in the baggie of circles!  I'm going to be reaching for them a lot, I think!

Hooray

Lastly I do encourage you to enter a paper project at one or both Arty Divas and The Paper Girls!

Love and crazy circles!

Arty Divas Challenge 23 DT Project

Hi Lovelies!

Today is Challenge 23 at Arty Divas.  This is a FORTNIGHTLY "anything goes" (any type of project and any theme) challenge with a design team who makes projects showcasing the sponsor who often offers PRIZES!

 

This week's sponsor is Lee Holland Art
Online Shop -  https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/leehollandart
Prize:

 

The image we were given to work with was a pre-coloured one, and usually these are not the easiest thing for me to work with, but the minute I saw that cute little dragon I knew I wanted a soft ethereal cloud background.  I used some cloud dies by Lawn Fawn which I cut using scrap cardstock so I could do a blended cloud background with Distress Oxide Ink

 

I used a different cloud die to cut three from vellum which I machine stitched down.  This meant relying on my trusty Glue Dots to make sure the card front stuck securely to the card base.  

I fussy cut the little dragon and the printed sentiment.  The dragon was mounted on foam for some dimension and some clear shiny sequins (stuck with Mini and Micro Glue Dots of course) finished it off.

 

This will make a great card for a little girl I think!

 

Dragon Wishes

 

That's all from me today!  It was nice to make one that was quick to put together for a change!

Love and quick cardmaking!

 

Boy Mamas Unite March

Hello Lovelies!

What's this?  Another BMU for the second month running?  I guess it really must be a sign of staying inside too long and going stir crazy, maybe?  To be honest, as a Spoonie life in lockdown isn't really any different for me. 

Aaaaanyway, when Sara asked me whether I wanted to do another BMU this month, I told her yes (natch) and she promptly gave me the inspiration piece below:



Oooh nice one, right? 
Great prompt for journaling!  And you know I love a good bit of journaling 

As the cylinders in my brain started up and I pondered my options, she informed me that Jody of SpiegelmomScraps had designed a cut file loosed based on last month's BMU since Sara had some issues getting it to cut properly on her machine. 


OK. That narrows down the options somewhat.  I'm glad cos I don't have to think as hard.  What's that?  It's going in the SMS newsletter AND we have to use sequins??

I'm joking!  Sara isn't bossy at all.  I 💖 her!  And it's lovely of her to offer to include my project in the newsletter!

All those elements combined in my head to come to a single conclusion - make a montage using all the photos from TCD's* season of summer soccer and turn it into a 2 page layout vaguely reminiscent of layout 2.3 from Shimelle's Start With a Sketch class.

Here's the link to the video, otherwise keep reading to see more pics.

Since I'm not a boyMOM, I didn't use that bit of the cutfile (watch the video to see exactly how I used it).  I couldn't really cut off the "mom" and change it to "Mama" because the font had the letters really closely welded together.  Besides I already did that.

The hashtag Jody included reminded me that on my social IG I would use #soccermum when I shared pics so I went with that as the title and just use the subtle "balls everywhere" bit.

I turned each ball into a shaker and it wasn't easy given how thin the outlines were.  I'm happy enough with it, though.

Here is my journaling which I talked a little bit about in the video.

Aaaand the embellishment clusters:

Lastly the full layout

#Soccermum

Well that's all from me for now.  I do hope you take the time to watch my video and also see Sara's Video.

Love, and Boy Mamas Unite!

*Acronyms and weird words <---  

 

Project 3 for Fall/Winter Coffee Lovers Hop

Hello Lovelies!

I'm pretty sure this is going to be my last project for the hop.  I know I said I'd try to keep going past the official linky closure, but I'm behind in all-the-things! 😫

I have partial projects from years past that I hoped to finish, but let's review at the next one?

This one is for the tea drinkers out there.  I used the teapot stamp and die from Stampin Up and a cup and saucer stamp and die from Altenew.  I heat embossed in black on the vellum with the intention of using rub-ons inspired by Sara Scraps in this YouTube video.  

I cut each shape in white cardstock and vellum (although the vellum cutting turned out a bit hit-and-miss).  I'm wondering whether the magnets in my magnetic platform are a bit dodgy now?  I know you have to be careful where you place the dies, but they seemed better when in was new. 🤷

I used Glue Dots to adhere the vellum in strategic places (my Kokuyo dot roller goes on as tiny pink hearts which will show for sure!!) then I layered up some standard card bases (one tent fold and one landscape) with 6x6 paper (and a doily) and stamp sentiments from the Vintage Teacup set by Altenew.  

I wanted to keep these fairly simple.  I prefer the red and pink one better.  Maybe it's the placement of the sentiment of the other one I'm not a fan of?  Can you see the Wink of Stella on the flowers printed on the paper?  A subtle detail, but I liked it a bit better after that.  Maybe I just need to keep adding MOAR?!

OK now to the giveaway part:

 

Giveaway CLOSED

📌 I have three items (and a bonus fourth prize) to give away (pictured below) and I'll pull three names for the first three prizes.
📌For the  fourth "bonus" prize: it will go to someone who has entered the main blog hop (please let me know your project numbers if you would like to be considered.  You can wait til the blog hop is over to do this since they change sometimes.)
📌 The first name drawn gets first choice, second name gets second choice and so on.  Bonus prize will be TallCraftyDude's favourite project!
📌 This Giveaway is NOT SPONSORED.  I purchased the prizes especially for this giveaway.  This year I picked stuff other than just stamp sets to mix it up a bit!  In the even the items I purchased are on back order, I'll purchase something similar in their place and update the list below. Thanks for understanding!

The prizes you get to pick from are:

This pair of embossing folders - "On the Go" by Tim Holtz and "Coffee Stains" by Creative Expressions

 

 

 

 

 

Framelits Die & Stamp Set By Crafty Chica for Sizzix called "Mi Cafecito Mi Amor"

 

Coffeesaurus Stamp Set By Gerda Steiner

Lastly, the bonus prize will be a pack containing a 6x6 "Coffee" paper pad by Echo Park and some coffee themed embellishments.  This prize will be awarded to TallCraftyDude's favourite project so PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT NUMBERS IN THE MAIN HOP YOUR PROJECTS ARE IF YOU WISH TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS PRIZE!  THANK YOU SO MUCH!

You will receive an entry (or entries) for each of the following.  You absolutely don't have to do everything - just how ever many you like.

If you have previously followed my socials then these are already counted for you!  (unfollowers will not be counted)
📌 The giveaway will remain open until 11:59PM AEDT on Sunday 10 November.  Please visit THIS SITE to calculate in your own timezone
📌 The winners will be drawn randomly on Tues 12 Nov so PLEASE CHECK BACK HERE
❗If the winner and I can't make contact by Tues 19 Nov, I will have to draw a new winner since I need to get these prizes out all together.
❗Please try to email me at alex@pinkcraftymama.com This really is the easiest way for me to get in touch with you since not all blogger profiles have an email attached and if you JUST leave comments, I have no other place to search for you.

So...what do you have to do to get entries?
🍵Subscribe to my YouTube channel - 3 entries
https://www.youtube.com/user/PinkCraftyMamaAlex
🍵 Follow this blog - 3 entries (in the left sidebar)
🍵 Follow me on Facebook - 2 entries
🍵 Follow me on Instagram - 1 entry
🍵 Comment (once per day per person) on a post between now and the close of the giveaway - 1 entry per post

I don't yet know how many makes I'll have done between now and then, but it will be at least three.  The more love from you guys the better the chances of me getting crafty which gives you more chances to enter.  I may continue with extra "unofficial" projects after the Hop actually ends, so be sure to keep checking back here since you get an entry for commenting!

Click here for Project 1

So today...if you want to leave a comment, tell me if you're a tea drinker, do you like flavourned  blends or just "plain" tea? (or anything else if this doesn't grab you) and please don't hesitate to email me with any questions at alex@pinkcraftymama.com


* ⬅⬅⬅ Acronyms and strange terms in left sidebar! 

Love and copious cups of coffee!

TTCRD DT Project 13 July

Hi Lovelies!

Today is challenge day for Design Team B for the Through The Craft Room Door Challenge.  This is a WEEKLY "anything goes" (any type of project and any theme) challenge with 2 design teams who alternate weeks to make projects showcasing the sponsor who often offers PRIZES!

This week's sponsor is TTCRD with a Beach Theme.
Prize: $5 Amazon gift card

So...what's the fist thing that springs ti mind when you think beach?  Naturally my rather warped imagination jumps straight to two stamps sets ("Shark Bites" from Newton's Nook and "Killer Messages" by Hero Arts) and a set of dies ("Paper Layering Shark" from Hero Arts)...of sharks.

I did promise nothing gruesome so it wasn't as fun as it could be, but I made the best of it.  This was one of those times when what's in my head didn't translate to paper.  Again.

I wanted a beach scene with a fin, but when you open a partial flap, it shows what's REALLY under the water.  I didn't really have much in the way of beachy stuff, so I kept it simple with watercolouring using Distress Inks.  I figured I had to have some stickers with beachy stuff SOMEwhere and Amy Tangerine came through with some palm trees from the "American Crafts Designer Sticker Books',

After stamping, painting and cutting out the sharks, I looked at the silhouettes of the swimmers from the set of dies.  I thought about placing them in the same spot on the front and the inside of the card then use that great sentiment which makes me laugh every time.

Not being one who knows when to stop, I stamped waves on the front of the card and then some schools of fish (one of which is slightly messed up! 😳)

While I like the idea, I definitely don't quite love how it actually turned out.  I would have liked stiffer watercolour paper, but it needs to be hot pressed so I can stamp on it.

Friends til the Inevitable End

Front of card

 

Friends til the Inevitable End

Inside of Card

That's all for now and please head on over to TTCRD and enter a project in the challenge,  It doesn't have to be beach themed.

Love and snarky sharky sentiments

Card 2 for Fall/Winter Coffee Lovers Blog Hop

I meant to get this up yesterday...I really did! Soz! 😕 Giveaway NOW CLOSED
➡➡ Day 1 post for an extra entry is HERE ⬅⬅

This is all about the semi annual Coffee Lovers Blog Hop which is almost done, but I'm going to keep crafting (hopefully) til the close of the giveaway or just before.

For today's project I really wanted to use a background stamp I had by Picket Fence Studios and then try using the Brusho watercolour powder on top.

I have 4 Brusho colours gifted to me by my dear friend Joy! She knows me so well and chose perfectly!  I definitely need more practice since I hoped to have more white bits, but overall I'm happy enough.

Some of the colours are made up of multiple coloured powders which I found rather intriguing! 🤔
Look at this turquoise one! ➡➡➡

And this is how my Brusho-ing turned out:⤋⤋⤋


















So what to do with all this?  Well, it just so happened that a Mojo Monday sketch popped up in my Insta feed.  Say whaaaat?  I know what you're thinking - they stopped doing them, right?

Well Julee Tilman (of now sadly closed Verve Stamps) seems to have taken these over on her blog Poetic Artistry.  Woot woot! 🙌

A lot of Verve stamps are coffee and tea themed and I probably have most of them so they will appear here too!

The link to Mojo Monday #504 and the sketch itself below.  Perfect for showcasing a background you don't want to cover up.

So where to from here?  Chop up my "background" into squares.  I got one 5.25x5.25 (the background stamp is about 5.5x5.5) and 3 4x4s.  I ended up with three of the smaller ones and used two of them.

I used super strong adhesive to mount the watercolour paper (which warps a fair bit and pulls up standard tape runners) to black cardstock for a frame, silver sparkly ribbon and was about to heat emboss a sentiment when I realized I had all my Perfect Pearls in the same box!

Similar result with less hassle.  I did have to re-touch some of it with a Versamark pen and add more powder, but I got fairly decent coverage I think.  It's hard to catch the shine in the light with a camera. 

I continued the sentiment inside...










...a white card base at 6x6 inches.

I loved the little branches on the sketch.  They add an organic element to the geometric shapes, but I was at a loss as to what to use.  Coffee paraphernalia just isn't shaped like that!!

 

I did revert to a couple of the millions of leaves I cut on the Silhouette when a Forgery on the Fourth for CKC got a bit out of hand!  😳 Coffee cups on top!  I tried to stamp the smaller cup lighter in the centre to mimic the etched effect of the bigger one.

Next!  I kept the two smaller cards simpler.  Silver washi instead of ribbon and no branchy bits.  I did put silver sequins as a bit of an afterthought, though!

I kinda forgot how many good coffee sentiments this Altenew set had.

I picked one and felt these cards would word with a Kelly Purkey stamp set I've had sitting on the shelf for so long.  Godzilla has been guarding it and it was a shame to remove the plasric in case they don't stay in the box like that.

 

 
Godzilla?  Huh?

Well, see we have this Godzilla who moves around doing random stuff and for the past two years has been sitting on my stamp shelf.  Kinda like elf on the shelf for peeps who don't do christmas, but weirder!

I asked him nicely and he grudgingly agreed.  See why that stamp set looks so awesome with him?  Just seems to suit!

Oh and one last thing...I forgot to give a shout out to my main man lady Devon from Pink Pueblo.  She's responsible for designing my logo, the artwork on several of my headers (more to follow) and my personalized stamp so go see her!  Tell her PinkCraftyMama sent you!

 

Giveaway NOW CLOSED

PLEASE READ ALL RULES CAREFULLY

📌 I have three items to give away (pictured below) and I'll pull three names.
📌 The first name gets first choice, second name gets second choice and so on.
📌 This Giveaway is NOT SPONSORED in any way,

The first item is a stamp and die set by Studio Light (a Dutch company) Really pretty and versatile images

This next guy will definitely be featured on a card in the coming days.  He's by Katzelktaft which is a French company with awesome images.  He's on red, unmounted rubber.

And we are all familar with Avery Elle, right?

You will receive an entry (or entries) for each of the following.  You absolutely don't have to do everything - just how ever many you like.

If you have previously followed my socials then these are already done for you!

📌 The giveaway will remain open until 11:59PM AEDT on Tue 11 Dec (a whole week)
📌 The winner will be drawn on Thurs 13 Dec so PLEASE CHECK BACK HERE!
❗If the winner and I can't make contact by Thursday 20 Dec, I will have to draw a new winner since I need to get these prizes out altogether.
❗Please try to email me at alex@pinkcraftymama.com This really is the easiest way for me to get in touch with you since not all blogger profiles have an email attached and if you JUST leave comments, I have no other place to search for you.

So...what do you have to do to get entries?
🍵 Follow this blog - 3 entries (in the left sidebar)
🍵 Follow me on Facebook - 2 entries
🍵 Follow me on Instagram - 1 entry
🍵 Comment (once per day per person) on a post between now and the close of the giveaway - 1 entry per post

Here's the link to Card 1 if you want to comment there

I don't yet know how many makes I'll have done between now and then, but it will be at least three.

So today...if you want to leave a comment, tell me about your most special or favourite mug (or anything else if this doesn't grab you) and please don't hesitate to  email me with any questions at alex@pinkcraftymama.com


Love and lots of lattes!