Beware Halloween

It's that spooky time of the year coming up and all the crafty ghosts and ghools are starting to come out to play. Let's take a look at how Trace is embracing the season.

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Trace

For my second numbers inspired make I used lots of number rub-ons in the background and then focused on 31, which let me go off and play with all my Halloween goodies! I used a number plaque as the focus for this number inspired piece...

For all the details please hop to my blog here . trace  x

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Thank you Trace for getting us into the Halloween mood and sharing this fabulous tag with a focus on the number 31.

Don't forget our September challenge, click in the side bar and you will be transported there straight away.

Have a great Sunday and new week ahead.

hugs Brenda and the CVC Team xxx

The sound of the sea

Has summer arrived back in your neck of the woods and I'm thinking UK as that's where we are based? I hope it's good for the Bank Holiday weekend. If it is you may well be inspired to go to the beach seeing Trace's next card.

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For my second summertime make this month I have again been inspired by the sea and the creatures hidden beneath, as to me the summer  reminds me of the gorgeous sea air and sounds of the waves. For all the details of how I created this please see my blog . xx trace x

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Oooh I'm definitely tempted Trace, I can hear the waves as they gently lap onto the shore and smell the sea breeze, such a great and evocative card. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Well it's the last weekend to get something made for the challenge, have you joined in yet? There's just a couple of days left, so see you over at the challenge blog soon.

hugs Brenda and the CVC Team

Brrrrr! It's August?

Good morning dear Friends!

Here in the UK we've had a really cold couple of weeks and we're feeling it too!  Despite that, we're looking forward to warmer weather and are still totally motivated and looking forward to August's challenge.  The theme for this month has been chosen by our lovely Alison (aka butterfly) and this is a topic that ALL of you can join in with!  It is...

We're hoping that, by now, you'll all be aware of our rules but if not, you can find them here.  Everyone has a chance of winning the £20 shop voucher, generously contributed by our sponsor, Country View Crafts, because we select our winner at random using random.org.  We encourage and welcome all to participate, from beginners to those that have been crafting for years, we also like to see ALL types of crafting from cake making to quilting, from knitting to pure art, from papecrafts to home decor - if you craft then you qualify - please join us!

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ALISON

It's no secret that I love meadow grasses and flowers, but it's only in recent years as my hayfever has died down that I've really been able to enjoy them to the full.  I love the idea of a dreamy summer's day spent drifting through meadows, brushing the tops of the grasses with my fingertips, and that's what inspired this card made for a friend's summer birthday.  Come and visit Words and Pictures to see more details.

BRENDA

It's August and hopefully we will get some lovely warm sunny days so we can sit out in the garden or go for some inspiring walks. It was thinking about the garden, the grass and flower borders that inspired my tag for this challenge. Lots of green with a splash of colour and some remnant rubs. I'm looking forward to seeing what inspires you for this summertime challenge.

CHRIS

This is a card, one with a dfference, and made using a Tattered Lace exploding box die.  I've used stamps and dies from Hearfelt Creations and Tim Holtz inks and dies to colour the embellishments as well as his stamps and dies for the butterflies.  You can find the step x step on my blog.  Chris xxx

DEBS

 Hello everyone, are you enjoying your Summer? as I write this the children are on their last day at school and parents are preparing for those long hot summer days at the beach or country walks. but if like me you are working everyday then we have to bring the summer indoors to our screens. For my project I wanted to capture some of those elements that you see in Summertime like the blue skys, rain, and bright gardens. lots of brayering and use of Acrylic Ink. Im really looking forward to seeing what your summertime project will look like. Take Care Debsx

DOREEN

Hello..... I hope I am bringing some sunshine your way with my first

make this month

Details of how this was made can be found here.

GABRIELLE

 

The joy of warmer weather means that summer is here and there’s something special about the UK in the summer! This month’s theme puts me in mind of bucket and spade summer holidays at the beach! Jo Firth-Young’s stamps are just perfectly evocative of these holidays and I have used them a lot this month! For my first project for the new Country View Crafts Challenge this month of Summertime I have made a tag. The beach hut opens up! As always, there's more on my blog including what's inside my beach hut! Gabrielle x

JENNIE

Over the last few weeks I have been making a vase of summer flowers and these are the latest. Blousy Cabbage Rose Blooms using the Tattered Florals Die.  I have fallen in love with Worn Lipstick Distress Ink all over again! If you would like to see more details and a tutorial on how to make them, then please visit  my blog.

NIKKI

For my first creation this month I took a canvas and just started playing with stamps, stencils and paint to create a floral, summary image. More details can be found today at Addicted to Art.

RACHEL

Hello there! Here's my first make for the wonderful challenge that is summer! I adore this theme - and have made firstly a canvas that is full of colour using lovely goodies from Paperartsy.

Please check out my blog here for full details of how i made this. Hugs rachel x

SUE (Sue the Iron)

For my first project this month I've taken us out to the country with lots of paint and Dylusions. Full details can be found here on my blog.

TRACE

For my first summertime make , I was inspired by thoughts of the sea, its waves and beautiful blues and whites.  For all the details of how I created these cards please see my blog xx trace x

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Once again we hope to inspire you with both the mix of genres as well as the differing styles we craft in.  Whatever your penchant, please do join us if you can, and use the 'Linkie' below to take part.

Have a wonderful August!

Chris and the CVC team!  xxx

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Trace is showing us what it's all about!

Hello friends!

Trace is with us this morning as, having chosen our theme, she is the first DT Member to share her second make with us.  Talk about setting the bar high - what a fab, fab make!!...

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TRACE

For my second make inspired by travel I created this mini travel album full of plenty of space to add details, pictures and souvenir's from your travels. I had lots of fun with my DecoArt goodies, Tim Holtz papers and dies . All the details can be found on my blog here . Trace x

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This is gorgeous Trace, beautifully crafted and such a sensational gift for those photographic memories and souvenirs - thank you!!

We're definitely off and running now!  It might be hot out and we know that the sun lounger, the garden and the barbeque are all very tempting but we're hoping that you'll grab some 'cool time' and get some crafting in too!  Join us, we'd like to see what you make of Trace's theme and your travel memories too of course!

We'll be back on Tuesday, see you then!

Chris and the CVC team xxx

July promises to be a sizzler!

Hello friends and welcome to another new challenge!

July is kicking off to a great start weather ise and we have a brilliant theme for you this month, chosen by our lovely Trace. Becaue it's the beginning of the holiday season, the kids are breaking up from school, the weather is promising to have us sizzling, what better topic could we have than...

If you're new to our blog then please read/follow our simple rules (they're pretty standard, but failing to observe them renders your entry invalid and it will be disqualified).  We will be publishing a new post every other day from today, DT Members and Guests, throughout the month and last month's winners as well as our special commenters' candy winner will be announced inbetween.

We're hoping that you'll have as much fun with this theme as we all have and to lead our team out we have a special guest,  previous winner Louise, sharing her interpretation...

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LOUISE of Crafting Mum Louise

I have been cardmaking for quite a few years now but it is funny thinking about it i have always collected pretty stationary when i was younger and i used to make my own letters and envelopes.  I am a mother to two beautiful boys and wife to my wonderful husband, he has to share a craft room with me so puts up with my stuff everywhere, but the boys love playing with mummy's crafty bits! I will have a go at most things, but my favourite is Stamping, die cutting and embossing. It was a work collugue who got me started on cards about 8 - 9 years now and i still love it. I also like Sewing, baking and collecting shells to make picture frames etc. Thanks you for letting me be Guest DT on your challenge, thanks Louise x

I have used a Lily of the Valley Digi image i got from a magazine Papercraft Inspirations some years back. And coloured it in using Promarkers. The backing papers also a freebie from Quick cards magazine a few years ago.  

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TRACE

For my fist make I had lots of fun making two mdf panels using lots of distress goodies, ephemera and distress products to create this pair of travel inspired pieces . As always the details can be found on my blog here . Trace x

ASTRID

I decided to take a different approach to the theme for this project. Sometimes our travels may involve more of an inner journey rather than an outer one and we are on the way to destinations as yet un-known. That's what I wanted to express with this little hanger. Details and a step by step can be found HERE.

BRENDA

All these people have been on their travels and I have created a travel memory card for each of them. Each piece of ephemera has a meaning for their visit, I love the idea and am going to personally adopt it for when I go off on my travels too.

CHRIS

I decided to combine all the elements I considered that the theme might be aboutconveyed to me into one project and this was the result - a canvas!  You can find details of the products and my step x step on my blog.  Chris xxx

DOREEN

Hello to you all, for my first make this month I have made a card

with a stamped scene, details can be found on my blog.

GABRIELLE

I love travelling. I love the journey itself, the anticipation of of what we'll find along the way and of course what we experience when we get there! Not too long ago we, as a family, took a trip to Brighton for the day - it should have taken 4 hours in total but took 9 and it was one of our best trips ever! This tag, using Tim Holtz stamps reminds me of the exciting trips abroad we've taken! As always, there's more on my blog. Gabrielle x

NIKKI

My tag today was quite a quick one made from a couple of tags used to mop up paint off my craft sheet. There are more details over at Addicted to Art today.

SUE B

A mini Travel Tag.

Mixed media, collage and crackle.

SUE D

I love to travel, some of my favourite times have been our family holidays. For my first piece this month I've made a London themed piece. Hope you like it.
Full details can be found here on my blog.

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There we have it dear friends, a great line up, even if we say so ourselves, and we're looking forward to a fabulous month - we're counting upon you to join in!

The winner (drawn at random) will receive a £20 shop voucher from our generous sponsor, Country View Crafts, and we'll also be awarding 4 blog badges for those projects we think have interpreted our theme the best.  All winners will be invited to join us as guests for a future challenge.

Whatever the weather, wherever you may be, HAVE FUN!!

Chris and the CVC team xxx

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It's vintage shabby from Trace...

Hey there!

Trace is wih us this morning to share her second DT creation and she displays her own inimitable style with this gorgeous make...

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For my second piece I have stayed true to my love of the neutrals, using another one of my own vintage photos, buttons, vintage music paper and some handmade flowers to complete the piece. All the details can be found on my blog here. Trace x

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How beautiful this is Trace - thank you!

We're counting down the days now folks so please start finishing and preparing to set your links for the month end.  We still have more to come and on Saturday we'll be back with our Magpie Day and something for you to win!  Until then, have fun!

Chris and the CVC team xxx

Summer is here and what a June challenge!

Welcome, friends!

Yes, We're officially into 'Summer' and, whilst we know many of you will be spending less time in the craft room and more time out in the garden, our lovely Astrid has chosen a theme for this month to entice you to join in - it is...

We're hoping that you will ALL join in.  If this is not a genre that you're used to crafting, perhaps you've NEVER attempted it, please do!  Our outright winner of the £20 shop voucher, generously sponsored by Country View Crafts, is chosen at random.  Our four blog badge awards are chosen by the DT and we often recognise those crafters who have stepped outside of their normal boundaries of comfortability to try something new and join in wth us.  All we ask is that you follow our simple rules so that you don't inadvertently disqualify yourself.  The challenge remains open until 11.45 pm/23.45 hours on the last day of the month.  Winners are announced usually around the 10th of the following month.

Our DT have excelled themselves again this month and provided a crafter's feast for the eyes.  They are led out by TWO previous winners, who have created makes especialy for you - thank you to both Becky and Paula, your projects are stunning!!...

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BECKY of Crawsome Creations

Hi, I'm Becky from 'Crawsome Creations'. I've always been 'arty' and always felt that is where my future lay but I took the safe option and am now in a secure adult type job which has zero opportunities for artistic flair or imagination!  Hence all my crafty longings are now fitted into the tiny amount of free time I have between a full time job, a husband, a young son and a very lively cocker spaniel.

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I have to admit that shabby chic does not come naturally to me! I'm much more of a brights and grunge person but I was determined to give it a go. I decided to take an altered art approach and made over an empty pickle jar. I primed the jar with a couple of coats of white gesso before using texture paste through a harlequin stencil. Once dried I sponged over Tim Holtz distress paints in bundled safe and tumbled glass. The next step was adding a decoupage rose and peacock image in a dusty attic frame.  The remainder of the project involved trying to 'artistically' arrange ribbon, pearls, paper flowers, dusty attic butterfly and beads to create a the finished piece. I'm pleasantly surprised at how it turned out considering half way through the project I felt completely lost! Thank you so much to CVC for giving me this opportunity, it's great to be here :)

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PAULA of Just For One Day

Morning All – My name is Paula and you’ll have to excuse me as I’m rubbish at writing about myself…..so, what’s there to say – I started card making in 2004 and have been playing/creating ever since. I’ve had work published in UK and US based magazines. I mainly love to make clean and simple pieces using minimal materials but now and again I’ll dip my toe in to the mixed media side of things.

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When I was told the topic was ‘Shabby Chic’ – I have to admit I was scared stiff because what is Shabby Chic! Anyhow, I had a look round and just went with my gut instincts. I’ve used a Wendy Vecchi Arts Parts Arched Frame as my base and covered it in a thin layer of white gesso. I then used DecoArt Modelling Paste through a Tim Holtz Stencil. Once the modelling past was dry, I took sandpaper to the frame to give it a work look, followed by some brown ink and stamping a splatter effect stamp around the edges too. I made the roses using the Tim Holtz Sizzix pine cone die and the centre panel is patterned paper and a stamped image of a woman. For more info just hop over to my blog http://justforoneday11.blogspot.co.uk

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ASTRID

June Often being the month of wedding I decided to make a card that could be used as a wedding card. Layers and home made flowers often define Shabby Chic for me, so that's what I did. More details can be found on my blog

BRENDA

I have thoroughly enjoyed making a shabby card for Astrid's fabulous challenge theme, it seems years since I last made one. One thing I do when I have a design I like is make two or three of them so I can add them to my card box as I never seem to have enough choice these days.

CHRIS

Just recently I've started to challenge myself to use products I have that are rarely used.  For my Shabby chic make I decided to use two colours that don't often see the light of day - yellow and orange.  I also made use of this rarely used stamp too.  You can find the step x step pic's and products used over on my blog if you'd like to see them.   Chris xxx

DONNA

I'm never really sure exactly what Shabby Chic is but hopefully my first make where I've combined a distressed embossed background with some vintage images and some floral elements, all in soft muted colours fits the bill.....

...details are on my blog, please stop by and say hi :)

Donna xx

DOREEN

Hello , I have got to say I am totally out of my comfort zone with this months challenge, I could never figure out how two words Shabby and Chic could be remotely related to each other but there you go... I have come up with what I consider Shabby Chic. I hope you like it

More details from my blog.

GABRIELLE

Shabby Chic! Well, I haven't tackled this theme in a long time! That's the lovely thing about challenges, they often ask you to think outside your current comfort zone!  I hadn't use this birdcage die for a long time and so made a simple plaque. As always, there's more on my blog here!   Gabrielle x

JENNIE

Shabby Chic is just about my all time favourite style so I put together this card using all the elements which for me are "shabby chic".  It was a great design for using up some much loved Maja Design papers and scraps. Please do visit me on my blog if you want to see some more close ups.

NIKKI

For my first 'Shabby Chic' post of the month I have made some cute little wall hangings using fresco paints and the cracked glass technique. There are more details over at Addicted to Art today.

SUE B - scrumplescrunch

The theme Shabby Chic is one of my favourites, this is my go to genre whenever I have a creativity block. Do not let the word Shabby fool you, even though the look is at times unstructured the effect can look timeless. More details on how this card was made up is on my Blog.

TRACE

For my second piece this month I decided to alter a mirror with all my favourite shabby chic elements - lace, hand made flowers, fancy metal, buttons and pearl pins. Most have had a coating of gesso and were then sprayed with Victorian Velvet and Vintage Photo Distress Ink Sprays.  Please do visit my blog if you want to see more.

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Wow, great work everyone - fabulous projects, a great variety in style, lots of inspiration!

We hope you like our line up, we also hope that it motivates you to have a go and join in.  As usual, we will be posting a new project by either a DTM or a guest every alternate day for the rest of the month.  Having seen them all, we can tell you that you're in for a huge treat!

Good luck everyone!

Chris and the CVC team xxx

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Trace is looking through a window...

Greetings all!

Today we have yet another spin on this month's theme, very creatively put together by our talented Trace!...

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For my second piece I created a window type scene using an old mirror and the inside of a small canvas, plenty more distress goodies and idea-ology and this fab Brett Weldele stamp, for Tim Holtz. All the details can be found on my blog here. Trace x

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We think this is very clever - there are soooo many ways to express something 'scenic' - great work Trace, thank you!

Do you have a clever idea that fits in wth the 'Simply scenic' theme?  Whatever ideas you come up with, we'd like to see them!  We're 3 weeks in to the challenge and now facing the downhill run.  That said, you still have ooodles of time to get something made and entered.

On Saturday we have something different so please come back and see us then and we'll share what we're up to.

Have a great weekend!

Chris and the CVC team xxx

Welcome to May's challenge...

Happy May 1st everyone and welcome to this month's challenge!

Donna has chosen our theme for this month and what a great theme it is...

Whether you're a stamper, into your dies, perhaps you're making Christmas cards already, there are so very many ways we can create 'scenic' projects.

Here are examples from our talented DT to give you something to think about...

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DONNA

So my turn to pick the theme this month and for my first make for the Simply Scenic challenge I've gone for a scene bursting with lots of warm bright colours...

...there are step by step pics on my blog :)

Donna xx

GABRIELLE

Donna set me a real challenge this month and so I've had to have a good think to what constitutes a scene! I chose to use a photo from a photographic session for my simple journal page (simple and a scene... think I just about fitted the brief!) More details, as always, are on my blog. Gabrielle x

JENNIE

I decided to use a favourite photograph of the Eiffel Tower for my art journal page and just about everything in my stash with a Paris theme! Please hop on over to my blog if you would like to see some more details.

NIKKI

 

The theme this month inspired to me to create a couple of scrapbook pages using photographs from my visit to South Africa earlier in the year. Be great to see you over at Addicted to Art if you would like to see some more details.

SUE B - SCRUMPLESCRUNCH

I have to admit that I struggled with Donnas Challenge this month, I constructed this collage/mixed media picture over a period of weeks, it was a case of stopping and coming back to it, adding media until I was happy with the look.

I have a step by step on my Blog.

SUE D

What a scary challenge this month from Donna, but a challenge wouldn't be a challenge if it wasn't challenging right?

Here's my beach scene, and details can be found here on my blog x

TRACE

For my first project this month, having struggled a little with the theme I went for a collaged 

scene using all my favourite Tim Holtz goodies and a new house die . Some tissue tape, Decoart crackle paste and plenty of idea-ology helps to complete my scene. All the details can be found on my blog here. Trace x

ASTRID

A scenic card using some simple masking techniques and having fun with Distress Inks. For a step by step and more details, do come over to my blog.

CHRIS

I used some lateral thinking for this challenge.  My wall hanging depicts a scene from bygone days or perhaps it could a scene from a play....?  Step x step pictures can be found here, on my blog.  Chris xxx

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Thank you team, so many different takes on the theme and all beautifully done!

We hope these have inspired you to join in....?  Our lucky (random) wnner will receive a £20 shop voucher from our generous sponsor, Country View Crafts and 4 others will be chosen by Donna to receive blog badges.

Please remember to familiarise yourself with our simple rules before you link so that you don't disqualify yourself.

Have a great holiday weekend, we'll be back with the first of our individual project posts on Sunday, hope to see you again then!

Good luck!

Chris and the team xxx

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