Craft Club Challenge- w/c 14th July 2014

Hi all, hope you had a great weekend....a bit soggy, I know....at least the sun is shinning today and the weather is set to get warmer as the week goes on!  Hot, hot, hot!

Here is this weeks Craft Club Challenge:

Feathers, Masks and Crowns

Here are the new grey rubber stamps going in to our craft equipment kit from now on and I will be using them on this weeks demo:

...and as you know, I am leaning toward the Christmas theme (but I know some of you are horrified of even thinking Christmas at the moment) and so here is my sample for this week:

(Click once on the Photo to enlarge)

as you can see I have used the mask for a Christmas theme....there are still a few extra snow flakes to go on ....but this is such a great set of stamps to use in any which way you want....more ideas will follow as the week goes on so keep an eye on here for more photos.  I have also dipped into our x 82 new wording/phrase stamps and used the "Believe in the Miracle of Christmas" stamp.

If you want to have a go at the Demo card you will need:

• your base greeting card
• plain white or cream and also contrasting card if you want to add additional layers.
• I have the peacock embossing folder here for you to use this week.
• You may also like to bring....pigment inks for embossing with powders or colouring  the card as I have done with the mask...embossing powders, chalks such as Pan Pastels, Mica powders, guilding foil flakes, metalic/pearl paints...glue pens and glitter, glitter glues such as stickles.
• for those who have the Utee embossing powders you may like to experiment with the masks and emboss into glazed mount board tiles so bring your Utee and Mount board.
• Gems and ribbons

This is a lovely set of stamps for going to town with the glitz and sparkles!  I have used a pine cone die which I borrowed from Jan on Friday and this will not be available  but there is plenty to choose from to make a corner decoration.

Here is another card just finished today ...Tuesday:

Have a great week.

Craft Club Challenge- 29th July 2013

Oooooh, it's that time of year again when "you know what" is just around the corner and we say every year "next year I will be more organised"....yes, Christmas!

For this week we will be using some great stamps and a new set of dies and creating some wonderful Christmas cards or any project you may wish to do.

Here are the stamps and dies coming out for this week:

...and here is my first offering...I love the red ribbon strip which is stamped card stock.

  and a few more using the X-cut label dies and stamps:

You will need to bring your basic equipment (remember your PVA glue and D/S Tape)  and card/christmas decorative papers....I will have inks etc here but you are welcome to bring your own order that you can experiment with them and get different ideas.

From this week we have 2 new items of equipment (above) going into our Craft Club stash....these 2 great long embossing folders. (which I have used on the above card)  They are great for scrapbooking too as they are so long and so easy to use on the cuttlebug. Also cut the border with scollaped scissors for a great effect.

Have a great week and hope to catch up with you soon.

Crafting for the Cottage - Kitchen, Christmas 2012

As you know I have a passion for crafts within the home and my home is no exception.  Every time there is a special event or seasonal celebration I craft endlessly (when time permits) to create a welcoming feel and add those home crafted accents which I adore.  The most rewarding aspect of home crafts is to recycle and create something beautiful with very little cost.  This year I chose the Kitchen at Autumn Cottage as my challenge and created some lovely accents in a frosty pearl white, pale blue, sage green and taupe colours.  The thrift/charity shops and summer boot sales were my source of great cheap materials and a selection of my craft tools where put to good use. The only things I purchased from new were the circular twiggy wreath and one vine of artificial Ivy. 

 (Click once to enlarge)

The following photos show in more detail the  pretty decorations.

 This is a great way to use a twiggy wreath....making it into a chandelier.  All the pieces are hung from mini wire hangers (handmade) which can be easily unclipped.  The snowflakes and hearts were made from mount board covered in  the top layer of a paper napkin and die cut.

 I love this chalk board....a bit of a crafty makeover using sticky dots, ribbons and die cut snowflakes...Lovely!

 Hmmn.. this old worn silver plated pedestal dish has a story to tell...my mum asked me if I could take it to the charity shop, but I am afraid I just couldn't let it go as I remember it from my childhood, I even polished it on many ocassions earning my pocket money!  The candle and star where gifts for my Birthday in October.

 This is my Memory Bottle....make a festive frame....hang it round the neck of a bottle of wine...add a photo of a loved one who is no longer with us and make sure you raise a toast on Christmas morning, that way they will still be part of your celebration. This one was for my nanny's photo!

My Best Buys were: The twiggy angel £4 (charity shop)...the green swag £1 (boot sale)...the blue glass vase  £2.50 (charity shop) ...all the white baubles £2 (charity shop)... pearl strands 50p (charity shop)...chalk board free (given by a friend) and the paper snowflake bunting attached to the blinds with mini pegs (hand crafted die cuts)

I loved the overall look and really enjoyed entertaining in the kitchen this christmas with the mulled wine simmering on the Aga and the scent of warm mince pies.  You really don't need to spend a fortune on decorating your home for christmas...recycle, up-cycle craft and create!

Watch out for the next celebration at Autumn Cottage - A Valentines conservatory!

3D Church Christmas Cards

I can't believe Christmas has been and gone and all that work for the special season...mustn't grumble, I am a big kid really and would keep decorations in the cottage all year long....in fact that's my aim for 2013, I am going to celebrate each seasonal event by decorating the cottage.  Valentines Day is my next project so watch out for the Valentines day room setting, lucky hubby eh!

Getting back to Christmas here are my 3D cards I made for my nephew, his girlfriend and some friends.  I adore these little makes ....so satisfying to make!

 The base for the Black and White church above was a gift wallet and contained a gift voucher.

Hope you like them as much as I do, I will make some beach huts for the summer using the same template.

Happy Crafting!