Long time no see - Quirky Picture this challenge.

Quirky Crafts challenges are back, and we need at least one more person on the team so we are having a DT call as well.

The first challenge of 2017 is set by me and is Called Quirky Picture This. I want you to use a photo either the actual photo on your project, or to be inspired by the colours, layout, elements of your favourite photo, and if you don't use the whole photo on your make you need to show us the photo you used.

I didn't know if I was going to be able to make something, it's been a long time and my mojo was gone, but I did it! I printed four photos of my dogs, well mostly of my new rescue dog Luna who has been here two months now since flying from Cyprus with just one of Sooty at the bottom. Life has never been the same, and I have had to buy new footwear and a shoe cupboard with doors to keep her from the shoes and boots! The top photo shows the first shoe of mine she destroyed!

The photo of her sitting is when she first arrived, sitting looking cute in her new crocheted jumper with pretty buttons to put it on - until she chewed them all off making holes in the process! Now it is sewn together and has to go over her head and has a few chunks missing!

Our sponsors for this challenge are Bugaboo and Crafty Ribbons, and all the cute digi dogs I used are part of the same set called Bugvalpup. I had to get some of the Instagram camera ribbon for this too, and more muddy paws ribbons. I also added buttons, twine and an odd sequin. I coloured the pups and hearts with Graph'it markers, and found that the canvas paper I used is very absorbent and it's impossible to blend, the ink just dries instantly.

The canvas is mounted on a frame which was part of a set destined for the charity shop, it seemed like a good idea to try using it. 

I finished the picture with muddy paws ribbon all round the outside.

Hop on over to Quirky and see what the rest of the team have made and maybe join in the fun!

Challenges Entered:

Crafty Gals Corner - add ribbon (Tues)

As you like it - favourite non card make - this because it is my gorgeous doggies! (ends Wed 8th)

Inspiration Destination - anything goes #123 (14th March)

Colour Crazy Challenge - anything goes (17th March)

Love to Create - 5 anything goes (18th March/2nd April)

Catch the Bug - anything but a card (March)

Love to scrap - LTSCB #95 - Anything Goes! (March)

Challenges won:

Crafty Ribbons, entered on Facebook.

Pumpkins are not just for Halloween!

I just bought a pumpkin the other day, got to decide what to cook it into now, but it has to be Slimming World friendly, in other words as healthy as possible.

Are we sprouting feathers over at Quirky Crafts? You bet we are! The challenge is as light as a Quirky feather, any project with birds and/or feathers of any kind will do.

We have three great sponsors, Sweet Pea Stamps, Bugaboo and Crafty Ribbons. The image I used this time is from Sweet Pea Stamps, it is by Sandra Caudwell and is called Pilgrim Crow. Sweet Pea are closing down on 25th November sadly so this could be your last chance to win some digis from them.

I coloured the digi with Promarkers and die cut it with Spellbinders dies, the grid die is by Tonic I think. The spotty ribbons are from Crafty Ribbons, and the greeting is stamped with a clear Craftwork Cards set. I added real feathers - I have a small box full and most of them were not suitable colours for this card. Finally some Tim Holtz paper string (twine) tied in a bow with a feather charm.

So hop on over to Quirky Crafts to see some fabulous examples and to play along, and maybe win prizes. 

My card has hopped into the following challenges:

Digi Chooseday - reds, orange or brown (Tues)

Papertake Weekly - anything goes (Tues)

Crafty Gals - #44 Autumn Hues (Wed)

Cute Card Thursday - food or drink (Thurs)

Left of Centre - things with wings (Fri)

Allsorts - ribbons and bows (Sat)

The Ribbon Girl - anything goes (Sun)

ABC - U for unlimited (15th Nov)

Cards Galore -use a stamped or digi image (Nov)

Die cut divas - warm and cozy (Nov)

Life's too short.....

I love the sentiment that comes with this Itty Bitty red rubber stamp from Unity. I've often been tempted to start a blog called the lonely sock club, in which I would photograph all the odd socks that end up on my dressing table waiting for a friend, some wait forever - where do those odd socks go?

Anyway I wanted to enter the Unity Challenge (and I have) and this fortnight there is a choice of layouts or/and colour combo - see below. I know I have used green too, but the other colours are from the combo, and I used the sketch. This is much brighter than my usual cards I think. The socks were coloured with Promarkers, Happy Birthday is cut with an IO die, the panels are cut with Spellbinders dies. Papers are by DCWV and were chosen to fit the colour combo and the twine is Tim Holtz paper string.

Inside decorated to match.

I have entered the following challenges:

TTCRD - anything goes Aug 4 - 10

Glitter and Sparkle - anything goes (Tues)

Papertake Weekly - anything goes (Tues)

Inspiration Destination - #45 anything goes (Wed)

Addicted to stamps - #156 anything goes (Wed)

Unity - Be Inspired Jul 9th - Aug 13th (winners 18th)

Creative Fingers - #89 anything goes (Fri)

Chocolate coffee and cards - #87 frame it (Fri)

Fantasy Stampers - lots of layers (Sat 15th Aug)

Our creative corner - Mexico moods (4th Sept)

Gone fishing - that's Quirky!

My turn to set the challenge at Quirky Crafts and it is called Gone Fishing. You just have to include something fish or fishing related on your project, even a fish in a bowl.

Our sponsor is Crackerbox Palace and they provided all the images I have used and the sentiment, and to see more images and witty sentiments hop over to the Quirky blog now.

I coloured the image with ProMarkers and the sea is painted with diluted Brusho crystals, you only need a tiny bit to make a lot, I painted a sheet of watercolour paper to use it up and I still have some left!

I die cut the image and panels with Spellbinders dies and added some real twine to the fishing line, and some little fish charms (or are they beads?). The paper is by DCWV.

I hope you will come and play Gone Fishing with us over at Quirky Crafts, any project is acceptable and we allow a little backdating because nothing is more frustrating than seeing a challenge and knowing you posted the perfect card for it yesterday! 

This card swam into the following challenges:

Love to Scrap - #58 anything goes (Mon)

Passion for Promarkers - Jolly Holidays (Tues)

I love Promarkers - 3 or more layers (Wed)

Inspiration Destination - #44 anything goes (Wed)

Little Miss Muffet - hot Summer nights (Thurs)

Cute Card Thursday - citrus 

Pile it on - Sequins or beads (Sun/Wed 13th)

Glitter and Sparkle - anything goes (Sun)

Simply Papercrafts - anything goes (Aug 14th)

ABC - O is for open (Aug 15th)

Crafting by Design - anything goes (Aug)

Our Creative Corner - Mexico Moods (Sept 4)

Don't panic - last minute Christmas makes

Caro set the Quirky Crafts challenge which is Last Minute Christmas Makes! Any last minute make can be entered. I decided to make a Tri Shutter Card in honour of Diane who set this as a challenge ages ago, and Diane is leaving us to concentrate on her new business, so this will be her last challenge sadly.

I used Doodle Dragon Wolfie images, I thought these three made a good little story.

I took two photos so you can see the ribbons I used clearly in one and the images clearly in the second. I recently won Bev's Christmas bag from Crafty Ribbons Challenge blog (thanks Crafty Ribbons) as as they are also sponsoring us (along with The Stamping Boutique, so there are 3 prizes for the last challenge of the year), I thought it would be nice to use my new ribbons along with some from last year's Bev's bag.

I coloured all the images with Promarkers, I could have used the pre-coloured versions if only my printer was printing properly! In fact I could get a lot of cards done faster if it was. I added a couple of buttons, one with baker's twine threaded through it. When the card is closed you can see Christmas and Snow from the ribbons, and you see the full phases when you open the card, I tried to take one to show that but the card wouldn't stay shut on my little easel.

I hoped to have more cards to show you but I have been ill all week with a nasty virus that attacked my sinuses and made me feel terrible, I spent a lot of time in bed but I am much better now so I will be making some more, I really need them!

I am always in a last minute panic at Christmas, this year is worse that ever because all the cards I have made so far (which isn't many really) have gone to Made In Bradford on Avon, I have presents still to buy and loads to wrap, and the house to clean and shopping to do..........I need a Christmas fairy!

As for the Tri-Shutter card, I had to check the instructions, which were in inches. I first tried to use the Scor-buddy to score my A4 x 5 1/2 inch high cardstock, by scoring one end at 2" and 4" and then turning it round to score the other end, this didn't work as A4 card is a little short of 12".

So I tried it on the metric Scor-pal, and scored it at 50cm, 100cm, 200cm and 250cm and it worked fine. The back edge is a little short but this doesn't show at all, and I could use the sparkly red cardstock I wanted to.

Of course you can use 12"x12" cardstock and the inch measurements would work fine, you can get two 6" high cards from one piece, and use the metric Scor-pal or the buddy if you turn the card, or you can trim the card to 30cm and use the metric board.

I have entered the following challenges:
I love Promarkers - one for the boys weekly Wednesdays
Dustin Pike's Doodle Dragon Studio challenge - Don't get your tinsel in a twist (Sunday 30th)

Crackerbox Palace santa card

I am still playing with my blog candy stamps from Crackerbox Palace, this time I decided to make a square card, then I turned it into an easel card, it is perfect for this because the paper behind the cut houses is covered with the part that attaches it to the card blank. This time I die cut a moon with gold pearlescent paper, I also tried yellow vellum and the paper pattern showed through that. I stamped the sleigh with Brilliance black, I found I needed to stamp twice, once onto the patterened paper, then I had to align the stamp over the moon so that it looks like it was stamped once. This is because the paper caused a break in the stamped image, and even doing it this way I had to repair a tiny break with my Marvy Wet Looks black pen.

Inside I used the Papermania purple printed ribbon and some buttons from stash with baker's twine in the two that had holes.