Challenge #25 Christmas and use your treasure (must use a special item and tell us about it - see details below)

It is challenge time again, and it is getting so close to Christmas, so we want to see Christmas projects with a twist! The twist is you must use your treasure (and you must tell us what it is and why it is special to you)!

(If you would like to see who won the last challenge click HERE or scroll down to the next post.)

Your treasure could be a very special keepsake that you have had hidden away safe, like Konica's star, and you can put it onto a project that you will keep and display every Christmas, or your treasure could be a very special item in your stash that you kept for years and didn't want to use because you love it! You can make something for a very special person to receive, or something you will keep yourself. Your treasure could be that last bit of expensive paper, or ribbon, or something else that has nearly run out and you were keeping the last bit!

You must tell us what your treasured item is, and why it is so special, it is not enough to say this is special - why is it special to you?

This must also be a Christmas project, so think Christmas and treasure! (Here is a bit of Nat King Cole from Christmas Treasures Vol 2)

Our very generous sponsor is:

The Cutting Cafe

.

The prizes for our top three favourite entries are:

1st prize: three sets or images of your choice
2nd prize: two sets or images of your choice

3rd prize: one set or image of your choice

If you have bought from the Cutting Cafe you will know that a set of images contains lots of images and sentiments in different sizes in PDF format to make it easy just to print the size you require.
The files and images the team are using today are:
Christmas in a Square (Printables)
Christmas Sentiment Shapes (Cutting files and Printables)
Christmas Stocking Laundry  (Single printable)
Christmas Elisha Jean and friends (Printables)

We have some wonderful inspiration for you first some wonderful makes, using the images supplied by The Cutting Cafe, from our Guest Designers (all previous winners):

Chrissy

Chrissy used Christmas Sentiments, and Mikala Ann.

Chrissy said:

I've been keeping these  Snowflakes for a long time! I was eventually going to cut them up and  use just a few at a time lol..as they were on a roll...

but,  when I saw this Christmas Tree I decided I could use them down the edges...With two finishing at the top to look like a star!

I then thought they look soooo pretty! I decided to use them the rest down the edges of the paper!  Yikes! This Christmas card will have to go to someone special!

Nela

I used:

Christmas in a Square - The Cutting Cafe

Kraft cardstock dark and light

Dies: Spellbinder - Fleur de lis Squares

Britannia Dies - Medium Poinsettia

Embossing Enamel White

Pearls

and my special item is the charm that I've saved for a long time.

Princess

On the Christmas tree, I purchased the wire and beads in 2003, which was my first scrapbook convention (Simply Southern Scrapbook Convention) in Nashville, TN.  I saw several projects that I wanted to try including cursive writing.  Since I didn't get a chance to take the class or pursue the technique, they have been in my stash unused.  When I saw The Cutting Cafe Christmas Sentiment Shapes, the tree caught my eyes and I attached the beads to the wire to trim the tree and added the other embellishments to put it all together.

Now we have some gorgeous projects from our talented Design Team:

Cazzy

Sorry I was late, here is my project. The gel medium is still wet so I will replace this photo when it is properly dry (now replaced), it has glass balls in it so should be nice and shiny.

I am still altering, I took a photo frame that I bought in a charity shop, painted it with Fresco paints and added Christmas Sentiment Shapes which were inked with Distress inks, and Christmas Stocking Laundry as the focal picture in the frame. My special items are the Tattered Angels Glimmer Glass acetate overlays. I bought these a few years ago and was so in awe of them they stayed in the pack - until now! 

Doris

I have to say, this challenge has been one of my favorites. Search my trunk of memories was very special. Now I want to show my treasure. It's something I keep with special affection, because it was the first technique that I taught in my classes, it is also my favorite. I used my manual embossing, patinas paper, glitter and my class'a peel stickers.

To make these cards also used the SVG cut file Sentiments Christmas Shapes Outlines from our sponsor The Cutting Cafe.I embossed card with a snowflake embossing folder, then die cut a snowflake and covered it with glitter. I also added Class´s a Peel Stickers, a little charm, ribbon and some sparks.

For my second card, I used the same file from The Cutting Cafe, our great sponsor. In this case, I also used my double sided adhesive sheets. I worked them with glitter and Class'a Peel stickers  Also used the patinas to give light and shade to the poinsettias and some ribbon.

I hope you enjoy this challenge as much as I. Find the full instructions at my blog: dorismolina.blogspot.comFind the full instructions at my blog from Monday morning.

Konica

I wanted to share my photo frame in which I've put my mums favorite 'star embellishment' that is so very special to me..but its a bit old, she loved Christmas a lot...and its been a year that she passed away. I have also used the images from Cutting Cafe, CHRISTMAS RUBY J, CHRISTMAS IN A SQUARE, and CHRISTMAS STOCKING LAUNDRY.

Lyn

Will also be along later, new computer and visitors causing delay, Lyn apologises.

Gemma

I love Christmas, it's my favourite time of year and best spent with friends and family....what more could you want at this special time? I have many birthdays amongst my friends and family this time of year, and as soon as I saw the images from the Elisha Jane and Friends set, I knew it had to be based around friends and family. I used Dylusions ink sprays to make the background and Promarkers to colour the images. To edge the page, I used a pine needle rubber stamp, just to give the page some definition. My special treasured thing: I used a snow pen. I've had it for years and don't want to use it up, so don't use it very often. I haven't seen another one since I bought it. I used it around the girls hats and dresses

Monica

For this challenge I used the "Christmas in a square" set provided by our sponsor The Cutting Cafe.
As a 2013 purpose, I wanted to learn to work on vinyl. And I am very happy because I achieved it. I could even teach some friends.

In Costa Rica, you can´t find on the stores Oracal vinyl -for me the best of all- , you can find other brands, but not as good as Oracal. So to have Oracal vinyl, I must make an international purchase. For that reason, my Oracal vinyl is like a treasure.
So, in this project I used some of my beloved treasure: golden matte vinyl.


 Please add a link to your blog post (not your blog) or your online photo gallery, SCS etc. using the button below.

Have Fun - The Quirky Crafts Challenge Design Team.

Challenge #24: "Christmas like in the good old days." Altered items only.

Yey!!!!!! It´s my turn -Monica- to set the theme for the next challenge.

Christmas is just around the corner and really it feel like Christmas everywhere.

I love Christmas, but I looooooveeeee vintage. So, what about to go back in time:

So this new challenge is all about that: We want to see VINTAGE CHRISTMAS ALTERED PROJECTS. It could be a bottle, a thin, a notebook, a frame, etc, whatever you want, but you must meet the 3 requirements: vintage, Christmas and altered project. (Sorry no cards are allowed, if you enter a card you will not be making it to the top three).

Our sponsor for this challenge is STITCHY BEAR STAMPS, that provided us with their fabulous stamps.

We have some bad news, Helen has stepped down early from her 2 month Guest Designer spot due to finding it too much with family pressures, and so we will be recruiting a new GD soon.

And they are giving you the chance to win:

1st price: 3 images of choice from the whole of the store
2nd price: 3 images from of the DT´s chosen images.
3rd price: 2 images from the DT´s chosen images.

Stitchy Bear Digital stamps provided the following images to the team:

Stitchy Stamps
Magic of Christmas
Window Shopping

Coosty Creations
Poinsettia Digital Stamp and  a paper from the Paper Pack

Lil Diva
Winterville
Lil Angel

                              First, the makes of our fabulous Guest Designers:

Leeann

Leeann said: "This "Lil Angel" adorns a little box, perfect for filling with treats or other smaller gift items.  I lined the inside with a coordinating pattern.  The wooden heart was painted yellow then distressed with Tim Holtz paint before I added the pearls.  There are also Liquid Pearl dots in the background to further accent the heart and angel."

Mian

Mian has altered an unusual box, and used Winterville on the front with some vintage style embellishments.

                         And here's some fabulous makes from our Quirky Design Team!

DORIS

First, I have to say I love the Vintage. For this time I made this altered frame, using the window-shopping image, from our fabulous sponsor STITCHY BEAR STAMPS. I used a frame from a dollar store, and also I made a pin using some flowers, bottoms, gems and tull. I also used a stamp phrase. Hope you enjoy this challenge.

GEMMA

 I just loved these lovely wintery digi images this week from Stitchy Bear Digi Stamps.

I had a wooden icon triptych in my stash, and wanted to create a vintage leathery look. I used a crackle paste with the paint and when dry used some Distress ink over the cracks

 I coloured in the beautiful digis with Inktense Pencils to give a contrast to the darker background.

 I stamped around the edges with an evergreen bough stamp in green, to again, add some interest and contrast in colour...

....I really enjoyed making this, I had great fun and got really messy!

LYN

Well I was waaaay out of my comfort zone, with altered art and vintage! But had a go anyway. It's an old diary 2004, never used, so I thought it would make a great Christmas Wish List/Note Book. I roughed up the vintage papers, to make them look even older (Free from a magazine a few weeks ago) I've inked up the edges with TM Distress Ink Vintage Photo and coloured the digital image  Magic of Christmas from our lovely Sponsors with Promakers. I've added glass charms and little ties of scrap ribbon. The large snowflake was recycyled from an old Christmas card. Link to font used is on my blog.

CAZZY

I covered one of my hot chocolate tins to hold a Christmas gift, and I used Winterville on the front adding colour with Promarkers, and sparkle with Mod Podge. 

The lid is covered with paper from the Poinsettia pack, and I used the poinsettia corners from the pack, a dab of Treasure Gold, and some gems, round the rim I added some ribbon (badly).

 The Window Shopping lady is about to step into the snow and head for the shops, or maybe the church!

On the back is the Li'l Angel saying her prayers. You can see the paper has a 3d appearance of poinsettias.

MONICA 

For my project I made an altered bottle. 

First I covered the bottle with small vintage paper pieces and modge podge (I want to thank my dear friend Kemly, who taught me that technique). 

Once the bottle was covered, I distressed it with vintage photo distress ink. 

To add some Christmas look, I made a big poinsettia flower with vintage distressed papers.

Finally I chose the "Winter Ville" digi, provided by our sponsor Stitchy Bear. 

This was my real challenge because it was the first time that I colored a scene stamp. 

I colored it with Spectrum Noir pens and after coloring I distressed it with vintage photo distress ink to keep the vintage look.

To see who won the last challenge scroll down to the next post. 

Have Fun - The Quirky Crafts Challenge Design Team.

Challenge #23 Baby It's Cold Outside - so let's make cocoa (or a hot drink)

It's my turn again, Cazzy, and it has to be Quirky with a twist! I want to see projects about the colder months of the year (if it is warm where you are, think snow, ice, Autumn or Winter) and they must include a hot drink or two!

I love the Tom Jones version, but this is more in keeping with the theme heehee! If you get a chance watch the Tom Jones Cerys Matthews one on You Tube.

To see who won the last challenge click HERE or scroll down to the next post.

This time we are lucky to be sponsored by Crafty Ribbons, and by Bugaboo who provided the team with the perfect images for this challenge, and you can win some fabulous ribbons or some great images if you are picked by the team to be in our top three!

Our first place winner will receive a voucher to spend with Crafty Ribbons to the value of £10

Our second place winner will win 7 digis of their choice from Bugaboo.

The third place winner will win 2 images of their choice from Bugaboo.

We are also very grateful to Gloria who is providing a special extra prize for USA entries, see below!

Here is some inspiration from our guest designers:

Billie

Billie has used Margaret November, and Margaret (Margaret Calendar Month - November) is holding a cup of cocoa, or it could be tea or coffee! Billie has added some pine branches and torn paper snow, because "Baby it's cold outside".

Gloria

Gloria used : Bugaboo image Christmas Mouse Cocoa, Paper – CTMH Sparkle & Shine

Image die cut – Spellbinders Classic Ovals Large and Beaded Ovals

Other die cuts – Cricut Artbooking and Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridges

Sentiment outside – CTMH Polar Bear Holiday – C1557

The inside is also decorated, please visit Gloria's blog to see the photo and more details.

Here is a special extra prize donated by Gloria for USA entrants only (due to postage costs), if you would like to be considered to win this prize please put USA after your name when linking your make. Gloria will chose the one she likes the best from your entries to win this set!

Glorisa said: the stamp set is called Scandinavian Wishes and has die cuts that coordinate with the Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge.

Val

 (many apologies for not putting these on right away).

Val used Girl Gingerbread Cocoa for her cute card, with some snowflakes on snowy paper. and for her gift of coffee sachets Val used Cocoa (which is a $1 image) on the tag.

and we have more inspiration from the team:

Helen

I've used Girl Gingerbread Cocoa, she's so cute! I thought I might make something a little different this time, when I spotted these little marshmallows I thought they'd be delicious on top of a hot cocoa, perfect for this time of year in Yorkshire, So I've made her into a little bag topper, coloured with my Promarkers and finished with a little ribbon and buttons. 

Cazzy 

I used the very cute Poppi Xmas Cocoa for my card, and the Circle Sentiment Warm Winter Wishes both from Bugaboo, and I added some of my favourite Let it Snow ribbon which is exclusive to Crafty Ribbons. More details on my blog.

Doris

Hi, a little late, but just a little. My health has been a little broken. For this challenge I made two beautiful projects. The first is a box for Mixing Powdered Chocolate with marshmallows. In this I use Cocoa image provided by our sponsor Bugaboo.

My second one, is a special envelope for an special friend, and for this, I used the TedXmas image provided by Bugaboo, our great sponsor.

But is not just a envelope, it is a beautiful card too.

I put in, two Mixing Powdered Chocolate envelopes, but you can also put in, Tea Bags or any other details you want to add.

And of course, I  placed a special message.

Gemma

For the challenge this week, I wanted to create something that you could give as a gift, and these lovely digis from Bugaboo gave me an idea.

I had a 'hidden box' book in my stash and painted it, inside and out. Once dry I distressed the edges and tried to make it look old and used.

I chose some of the bugaboo images and coloured them with 'Distress Markers'. 

Once everything had been coloured and cut out, I arranged the images and glued them in place. 

 Then I created my gift....I filled the inside of the box with tea bags, hot chocolate and coffee sachets, and herbal tea. 

Because the images were all holding hot drinks I thought it would make a good gift for a tea/coffee/chocolate drinker.... It certainly made me thirsty making it!

Lyn

I've used this super cute snowman from our sponsors called Snowman Cocoa and of course I've coloured him with Promarkers and 3D-ed him and his mug of hot chocolate. (Love hot chocolate with either a spoonful of Nutella or a flake (or both!) The snowy paper is mine own, the backing papers were freebies from a magazine called Ginger bread Lane. I've added gems, stars, beads on a wire and snowflakes plus a real red pompom to his Santa hat. Inside I've left it blank but have done a bit of embossing. The font is a freebie, link on my blog!

Monica

In Costa Rica we don´t know what real cold is about. December is our coldest month of the year and the lowest temperatures reach about 17 or 15 °C (that´s about 59 or 62 °F). But when we reach 15°C, we are almost freezing, because none here has heaters at home (I know most of you will laugh about ticos freezing at15°C). So we, tropical people, use to warm up ourselves with a good cup of hot coffee, or tea, or cocoa, and sometimes with a good soup. With that in mind, I made a cute 3d teapot (I love to work 3d) and I used this lovely "Christmas Mouse" digi from our sponsor Bugaboo.

Inside the box I added some good tea bags, to turn it into a lovely treat for someone special.

Now let's see what you can do! There will be some more great inpiration next week, and more images.

 Please add a link to your blog post (not your blog) or your online photo gallery, SCS etc. using the button below. Don't forget to put USA after your name if you are in the USA and wish to be considered for Gloria's prize.

Have Fun - The Quirky Crafts Challenge Design Team.