Sue C is whispering very loudly!

It's Sue's theme this month and you all know that if Sue is creating then it's going to be something colourful and creative. Today is no exception as she shares her second DT make with us - it's a beauty!

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"For my second piece this month I've finally finished a canvas that I started at a PaperArtsy workshop earlier in the year. Loads of layers of Fresco Finish paints and of course stencilling !"

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Oh wow, stunning colours, fabulous composition and a terrific example of stencilling Sue - thank you!

We promised you a month of very different projects and that's exactly what we're doing but we want to see YOUR projects please and what stencilling means to you.

On Wednesday we're having a 'Magpie Day' and it's something really special so please pop back and join us!

Chris and the team xxx

Maddy, you've been framed!

Today we are delighted to spotlight one of our Top 3 blog badge winners from May - Maddy Herbison of Izzwizz Creations with this beautiful framed collage...

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"My name is Maddy Herbison and I live in a very rural area in Northern Ireland together with my hubby, a rescue cat, and hubby’s hens & bees. We are very lucky to live in such a beautiful country and I get a lot of inspiration from the nature all around us. I love to work with lots of dimension and colour and am really at home with vintage and steampunk themes. You might find me using some retro influences, even psychedelic colours at times, but it’ll never be clean and simple."

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"Thanks for inviting me to be a guest designer this month. I really enjoyed the theme and it gave me an excuse to get out the texture paste. There are plenty of bought stencils on the market, but I often make my own. The leaves in this piece use a stencil made from diecutting a piece of packaging plastic with the Tim Holtz Sizzix Bigz die “Garden Greens”. After diecutting the plastic, the back is sprayed with some repositionable adhesive, and this makes it easy to stick the stencil to your artwork while applying the paste, and removing it once you’re done. Steel rule dies are best for diecutting plastic, but you can use thinner dies to make temporary stencils from card, which is how the cat, birds on branches, and flowers were made. The bricks are from a bought stencil. Layers are great; just wait for each to dry before applying the next."

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What a brilliant example to those of us that have few or no stencils to use - we can make our own! This is stunning - thank you!

So, there's no excuse, Maddy has told you how you can make your own original stencils. We'd like to see them and what you can make using them!

On Monday Sue C will be back with her second make of the month so cya then!

Chris and the team xxx

Trace is enjoying her journey...

We're off and running and we're also delighted to have our talented Trace back with us this month. Trace is taking first turn at showing us her second DT make for the month...

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"Well for my second piece I have used a Tim Holtz layering stencil with alcohol inks to get a cool faux bleach effect and combined this with texture paste for the backing tag, again through a Tim Layering stencil. for all the details please see my blog .x"

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This is gorgeous Trace and a great technique of mixing the different media for your stencilling - thank you!

You can enter as many times as you like so why not try different techniques with different media for your entries? We're hoping to see some clever and creative uses for your stencils.

We have a guest post for you next, on the 5th, so do come back and see us then!

Chris and the team xxx

New month, new challenge!

It's the 1st of July which means we're half way through the year and nearer the end rather than the beginning - that means it's only downhill to Thanksgiving, Harvest Festival, Halloween, Bonfire Night (UK) then....... Christmas! Yay!!!!! So, do you think you know what I'm leading up to here.... you'd be wrong! Sorry, no Christmas theme for this month, it's Sue C's turn to choose the theme and she has chosen something you can all join in with.......

'STENCIL IT!'

Yep.... from Passe partout and parchment craft, from rustic painting to urban chic, from card making to altered art, from oil pastels to texture paste, there are hundreds of opportunities for you to get out your stencils (and masks if you're using it as a stencil) and different media to join in!

Our rules are simple but we do insist you abide by them if you want to be in with a chance of winning our fabulous £20 shop voucher donated by our sponsor Country View Crafts. Our winner is chosen at random (random.org) which means everyone has a chance of winning so whether you are a stalwart crafter or just starting out, YOU could be the lucky winner at the end of the month! As well as the voucher, we also award blog badges to the three entries that we think are the best and a special badge, the DT Member's Special Mention, to the entry we think has shown the greatest originality and creativity for our challenge theme. All of our winners are also invited to join us the following month as a guest designer.

So, are you ready? We hope you are because HERE WE GO!

First up is our May winner, Karen B...

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"My name is Karen Brierley, and I live in Queensland, Australia. I've been scrapbooking for over 8 years. In the past I have been very fortunate to design for several online Australian scrapbook stores, as well as a number of international challenge blogs. A few years ago I took a sudden and unexpected break from scrapping, and have only just started up again. As a result, I have a huge stash of products that have been untouched for almost 2 years, so you won't see much of the 'latest stuff' on my layouts. I make the most of what I have, and I'm happy with that.

I mostly scrap traditional layouts. My scrapping style is fairly eclectic, but most of my layouts are strong on colour, light on embellishments, with lots of machine stitching and/or doodled borders. I am intrigued by mixed media projects and have been slowly trying out techniques to gain confidence and push my boundaries. I devour tips, tricks and tutorials!

Thank you so much for welcoming me as a guest designer. I'd love you to visit my blog: beingkaren.blogspot.com"

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Karen of  BEING KAREN

"For this layout, I used a 6x6 Scrap FX stencil to apply texture paste to the base cardstock.  When it was dry, I painted over the top with Twinkling H2O's water colour - which was really fun!  Not only did I get an unexpected resist effect, but it also has a lovely shine."

Sue C of Stamping Sue style

"It's no secret, I love stencils ! There's so much you can do with them, they are my number one go to for all of my projects. For my first project I decided to alter the cover of a Finnabair journal. Lots of stencilling, embossing paste and also dabbling with Portfolio pastels."

Trace of inkypinkycraft

"Well for my first piece I have made an Artist trading Block with a little stencilled quote book inside. I have played with my Tim Holtz layering stencils using distress paint and lots of yummy distress inks to create this stencilled book and also stencilled box creating lots of stencilled layers. For all the details please see my blog."

Astrid of Astrid's Artistic Efforts

"I love using stencils for all sorts of projects. For this one I decided to make a card and envelope set with Dylusion Sprays, Inks and Grunge paste. I used mostly Tim Holtz layering Stencils. Please visit my blog for a full step by step."

Brenda of Bumblebees and Butterflies

"No project from me today, but a masterboard with a stenciling technique using Fresco Finish paints, Grunge Paste and Distress Stains. The process is very simple and great fun, you can make large pieces and then chop them up to use for other things. I have made several of these on greyboard ready to use for journal/notelet covers. I am showing the technique over on my blog."

Chris of My corner of Heaven

"Gesso, Treasure Gold and a stencil (a mask actually) form the basis of this star struck tag. You can find the step x step on my blog."

Donna of Donna's Little Crafty Corner

"I've used a couple of different stencils with distress inks along with a stamp from one of my favourite stamp sets. Full details on my blog.  Donna xx"

Doreen of Doreen's Dream

I have used Fresco Paints, stencils and JOFY stamps for this card, I do use stencils to make a lot of my backgrounds now,they are so useful.

You can get full details from my blog."

Gabrielle of crafty thoughts

"I love stencils, they are so versatile! For my first piece this month I have made a hanging using two stencils. I love watching my garden come to life as the warmer weather hits my corner of the UK and that was the inspiration for this hanging. The flower and leaves are Grunge Paste so the whole piece has some lovely texture. For a more detailed description and a few step by step photos, pop over and see my blog!  Gabrielle x"

Sue B of scrumplescrunch

"Here I have shown how, when you use just one stencil and two colours with the Gelli plate, there can be interesting results, if you don't have a Gelli plate no worries, hop across to my blog and I can give you some tips how to obtain a similar result."

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We hope you like our line up for this challenge. To add to your motivation and, hopefully, your inspiration, we will be posting a new make by one of our DTMs and guests every other day throughout July for you to come and look at!

We want to see what YOU can do so go get those stencils and show us how creatively you can use them - GOOD LUCK!

Chris and the team xxx

An InLinkz Link-up

Today is 'Magpie day' with Gabrielle!

Today we're introducing a MAGPIE DAY!  -  "What is that?" we hear you ask. 

From July we will be posting every other day with posts appearing on our sister/project blog on the other days. With all our DT Members and guest posts we will be bringing you as much variation (and inspiration, we hope) that you can take. Occasionally we will have a spare slot and on those days we will be holding a MAGPIE DAY - there will be an eclectic collection of things as it can be anything at all (hence the name 'magpie'), a step by step from a DTM, a special guest highlight, a collection of projects from the team, who knows, you'll have to wait and see! >;o)

Our lovely and talented DTM, Gabrielle of crafty thoughts, has volunteered to be our first Magpie today, so over to her....

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I am currently having lots of fun playing with paint and experimenting with different effects. Today I'm sharing a tag made with Fresco paints by PaperArtsy, Grunge Paste and a stencil. I covered a tag in thin layers of Yellow Submarine, Hey Pesto, London Bus and Beach Hut paints and, when dry, a layer of French Roast that I wiped off with a baby wipe - this leaves a cool aged look! I then measured a card from the Found Relatives pack and cut an aperture that's a little smaller!

Then I mixed paint into Grunge Paste and through a stencil to create the leaves. When this is dry you can do the same for the petals (using Claret paint) and the centre, masking off sections of the stencil to make sure you don't have extra, unwanted petals or leaves! I added a little more green paint directly to the leaves and stems so that they stand out and drew round the stencilled flowers and leaves with a charcoal pencil so that they become even more 3D!

I then masked off the stencil again and stamped a text stamp through the stencil so it appeared only on the petals. I added a Remnant Rub under the photo but left the top free so the lovely background could be seen. I hope you have a go at mixing paint into Grunge Paste - I'd love to see what you make!

Gabrielle

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This is gorgeous Gabrielle and great tips and techniques here, thank you!!

Okay folks, this is our last post, you have until 11.45pm on Monday to get your projects finished and linked to have a chance of winning our fab £20 shop voucher from our sponsor, Country View Crafts.

Enjoy the rest of the month and GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE!

Chris and the CVC team. xxx

Dagmar has tagged it today!

We love the fact that blogland opens up the world to us, we have entries from all around the globe but especially throughout Europe and the USA. Our post today gives us pleasure in introducing you to another previous winner of our DTMSM blog badge, given to entrants who we feel have submitted the most creative and original project. Dagmar was our winner in April and she has returned today from Germany for this guest spotlight...

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Dagmar of Schaerfchens Creative World

Hello, my name is Dagmar, I am married and live with my man and our three dogs in our large house with lots of space for creative ideas. I am since about 3 years infected with the stamp virus and am very excited this month as a guest designer to be there to be able to inspire you. I wish you lots of fun and creative ideas.

First I covered my tag with aluminium foil tape, I then embossed it with one of Tim Holtz’s embossing folders. Next I covered my tag in the German firm Rico Design patina effect paints, I used the colours Rust and Verdigris. After this had dried, I swiped some black acrylic paint over it.

 

The tool stamps are from the Dutch stamp company Stempelwinkel. Both the letters and the fragments are from Tim Holtz. The little cogs and washers were cut with one of my Silhouette cartridges.

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Such a beautiful tag Dagmar, rich in interest and awash with decorative elements - thank you! (Thank you also goes to Astrid for assisting with some translation.) We hope you'll visit Dagmar and show her your support.

We have one more post to go... Have we managed to convince you to take the plunge yet? We do hope so!

Join us on Saturday for our last salute to June and this fabulous challenge.

Thanks for dropping by today - have fun!

Chris and the team xxx

Doreen's got mail!

We have a gorgeous project for you today from Doreen, the last of our newest DTMs to join us this month. Doreen has a very different style for a lot of her makes - very elegant - and we love it...

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Doreen of Doreen's Dream

Hello to you all,  for my second project  this month I have done a little masking and inking up:

You can get full details on how I made this from my blog.

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Stunning Doreen - beautiful stamping, such an attractive and elegant card, thank you!

We love all genres of crafting here so whether you're a card maker, a scrapper, into tag art, mixed media, even knitting and sewing, whatever it is we'd like to see what you've made please.

If you think it's all over, you'd be wrong because we STILL have more posts to come. On Thursday we have another guest highlight so please pop back and take a peek!

Chris and the team xxx

Chris has been left hanging!

We're just about into our last week of this challenge but we still have MORE to show you...

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Chris of My corner of Heaven

Utilizing our packaging is a popular pastime and makes for a very inexpensive project. This cardboard hanging has been made using primarily Tim Holtz products but you can use anything you have. As usual, a step x step and list of products can be found on my blog.

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There are so many things we can re-cycle so if you're stuck for an idea why not take a look around and see what you can salvage and put to good use....? There's still plenty of time to enter as our challenge doesn't close until just before midnight on the last day of the month.

Please remember that ANYONE can win, we choose our lucky winner by random (random.org) so it could be YOU that wins the £20 shop voucher from our sponsor, Country View Crafts.

On Tuesday we'll have Doreen's second project so please drop by and share some blogland love with her!

Enjoy your Sunday,

Chris and the team xxx

Georgie's got game SET & MATCH!

We love it when our winners say "Yes" and accept out invitations to do a guest highlight with us and today we have a beautiful set of makes from our guest (or is that guestS? >;o)  )...

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Georgie C of Little Blue Craft Box

Hi there, I’m Georgie and live in the quiet county of Dorset with my husband, son and two dogs. Since the age of two I have been messing around with colour, be it paints, crayons and even shoe polish (much to my mum’s annoyance) :) and from there a love of all things ‘art' grew. I couldn’t believe it when I was awarded the DTMs Special Mention for April and asked to be a guest designer. It’s such a privilege.

With this month’s theme being 'Only Men Allowed’ my thoughts went straight to Fathers Day, so I created a tag in place of a card, and a pillow box to house the iTunes card that my husband would like from our one year old son… Yup, still trying to figure out how Isaac will buy this too! :) Pillow boxes are perfect for giving away little gifts like this and a great way to get creative.

For the tag - I swiped over with Distress Inks Antique Linen, Old Paper, Weathered Wood, Stormy Sky and edged with Black Soot. Stamped some cogs.Then I ran it through the big shot with the cogs embossing folder and gave them a layer of archival ink and some Treasure Gold. I added a few cogs using the Cheery Lynn die and applied Sapphire, and White Fire Treasure Gold to them. I chose the Tim Holtz sentiment ‘know in your heart you are loved’ - it’s for Father’s Day after all. Then actual cogs and winders for watch making to give it that something extra.

For the pillow box - I wanted something ‘art journal’ style, so the same Distress Inks were used along with some Tattered Angels and Gelatos on heavy weight cartridge paper. I chose the Tim Holtz sentiment because this is meant to be coming from my son :) and he is still little(ish), so it seemed appropriate.

Thank you Country View Crafts for letting me come and guest design for you.

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Beautiful texturing and layering in these Georgie and fabulous colours, such gorgeous makes - thank you!

So many ideas, so many options.... We'd like to see more of what you're up to please so don't be bashful just jump on in - CREATE & ENTER! >;o)

Our next post is Sunday when I'll be showing you my second project, I hope to see you there.

Have fun!

Chris and the team xxx

Brenda's all of a twitter for her man!

We're absolutely loving the projects we're seeing so thank you to all who have entered already - fab, fab work!

Our project today is from Brenda who has made something special for the man in her life...

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Brenda of Bumblebees and Butterflies

For my second piece for this challenge I have made something for the most significant man in my life. He loves birds and while on holiday in Hawaii a while ago he took lots of photos of different species that we don't find here at home. I have altered a photo frame which is rather like a shadow box so that I could add some 3D embellishments and one of the photos that he took.

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What a lovely thought Brenda and a gorgeous photo frame, the moss, nest and eggs are such a creative touch - thank you!

We hope you're liking the projects you're seeing so far and the creativity of our DTMs...? The next post we have for you is on Friday when we're featuring another guest. Do pop back and join us to see who and what will be here please.

Chris and the team xxx

Astrid has a special message...

Today we have a wonderfully distressed card from Astrid, with a special message straight from her heart...

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Astrid of Astrid's Artistic Efforts

A male friend needed some serious cheering up, he has the tendency to always see the negative side of life (and he reminds me a bit of the serious looking gentleman from the Tim Holtz Paris to London set). So, I made him a card with a little reminder that it is possible to discover that life is good! Here's hoping he won't take it the wrong way.... If you want more details on how I put this together, just click HERE.

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What a lovely thought, a fab message and a gorgeous project Astrid - Thank you!

Astrid has shown us that it's not all about Fathers' Day this month, we can make cards and projects to gift as random acts of kindness to any male. What a great thought, they're so often overlooked.

As we've reached the 16th we're half way through the challenge but never fear, the DTMs are here, lol! Yes, we have LOTS more to show you yet and our talented Brenda is here on Wednesday with another kewl make for you to feast your eyes on.

See you then!

Chris and the team xxx

Sue's playing with alcohol and foil!

Today we are delighted to feature another of our newest DTMs, Sue B. She is delighting us with alcohol, foil and texture...

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Sue B of Scrumplescrunch

I enjoy working with Alcohol Inks especially dripping the colours onto foil, and I think the effect is perfect for a Masculine card.  I embossed the foil with a texture fade and lightly sanded to highlight the design, then adding the metal elements to complete the effect.

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Gorgeous colours, a fabulous look and loving that depth of texture Sue - thank you! Do hop across to see more details on Sue's own blog.

Astrid will be here on Monday so please don't miss her next project, you certainly won't be disappointed!

Have a great weekend everyone,

Chris and the team xxx

Alison has men at work!

Many of you will already know Alison (aka Butterfly) and her inimitable style. She has a treat in store for you today with this beautiful project...

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Alison of Words and Pictures

For my second make this month, I had a ball playing with Tim Holtz's French Industrial papers, and my favourite corrugated cardboard.  If you'd like to see some more of the inside, and find out what mundane ingredient is at the heart of this mini-album, do come and visit me at Words and Pictures.

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What a fabulous album Alison and what a tease this second photo is, we want to see what's inside! Thank you!

Do hop over to Alison's blog and check out the detail and see what she has hidden in that album. We'll be back on Saturday with another post and a project from another of our newest DTMs, Sue B - hope to see you then.

Chris and the team xxx