A shaped tag......

....for this weeks TagAlong challenge where the theme is 'Hearts'.

The tag started out life as a bit of recycled cereal box......well waste not want not! Glued two pieces together to give some extra thickness and then coloured with Distress paints, and added some background stamping and embossing. The flowers are stamped, coloured, cut out and glued on using 3d glue gel to keep the dimension. Then I just added some ribbon to finish. Think this just might find its way onto a gift bag in the next few weeks!

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to check out the weekly TagAlong challenges.
Donna xx

A circlet of Snowdrops.....

.......form the basis of this weeks make for Creative Expressions.  Using the Snowdrop stamp from the Winter Flowers plate I stamped a circlet of snowdrops by stamping one image, masking it off, rotating the paper slightly and stamping another one......

Once I'd completed the circle I painted them with Distress Paints...Pine Needles and Shabby Shutters.....

Then I trimmed it up to form a square topper, rounded the corners shaded the edges with Shabby Shutters and matted it onto a slightly larger piece of dark green card and then onto a white card base, rounding the corners of each as I went. To add a sentiment to the centre I cut a scalloped circle using a Spellbinders die out of the dark green card and then a slightly smaller one out of white onto which I stamped 'Happy Birthday'.  To finish I added a bow made of some white organza which I had in my box, topped it with a dazzler and then highlighted the edges of the snowdrops with a little Stickles glitter for a bit of frosty, wintery sparkle.

Thanks for stopping by.....

Donna xx

Time for another postcard challenge.....

....on Sunday Postcard Art and this week the theme is 'Gibson Girls'. With a little bit of stamping and a little bit of die cutting here's mine for this week .......

Thanks for stopping by
Donna xx

Bling time!

Right the theme for this weeks Tag Along challenge has been picked by Carol and is 'Ring A Ding Ding lots of Bling'.  Biggest problem with that is how do you photograph bling?????? Getting into Christmas making mode now so dug out some Bauble dies (Spellbinders) and my Festive Foliage die.

The background was created with ink sprays and some mica so the shimmer starts there, then I used some Flake and Glitter glue with a background stamp and then applied some gilding flakes, then added some more background stamping which was embossed. After I'd cut the baubles used some more Flake and Glitter glue and stamped a grid effect onto them which was then glittered with ultra fine glitter then for added sparkle very lightly edged one side with red Stickles.  The holly was also edged with Stickles and the berries were glittered as well.............lots of sparkle in real life and very bright colours!!

Donna xx

My first festive make of the season......

....is for the Country View Crafts challenge.  I was lucky enough to have been picked to be part of their design team the other week and this is my first piece for them.

The challenge is on the theme of 'Letters' ........I've used a big Sizzix die to cut the word Noel out of some textured grungepaper.  I cut it twice and glued the pieces together because I wanted it to be strong enough to stand. Then I used Iced Spruce and Evergreen Bough Distress Paint to colour it.

Once the paint was dry I used some  Cosmic Shimmer Enchanted Gold gilding wax to highlight the texture. I then repeated the whole process on a rectangular piece of grungepaper, which I wanted to act as a base.

Using the Spellbinders Poinsettia die I cut some flowers, coloured them with H2O's, and stamped with an alphabet stamp......I used a Kaisercraft clear stamp but any script or lettering stamp would do, it just adds a little bit of interest. Then they were glued together. Gave the same treatment just with different colours to some leaves, cut using the same die.

Then I simply assembled everything together along with a little tinsel trim that I had in my box, just to add some festive sparkle......and as you have to have a little glitter at Christmas I also added a little Stickles glitter glue to the edges of the letters just for a bit more twinkle! Lol!

Thanks for visiting, hope to see you again :)

Donna xx

Blog Hop fun......

Hello and welcome to my blog and the next step of the Creative Expressions Blog Hop. Hope you're enjoying the journey. There are all sorts of prizes to be had along the way so make sure you leave messages on the blogs as you visit to be in with the chance of being randomly picked as a winner.                               

My piece was created using the Ornate Frame Set from the Couture Creations 3 in 1 collection, had lots of messy fun making it!!                                                                                                                                     

Start by stamping the main image onto a piece of Milk card, mask off the frame and re-stamp script to completely fill background. Colour the background using tea dye, brushed corduroy and wild honey distress ink. Using the edge of a pair of scissors lightly distress the edges. Run this through the embossing folder that comes with the set. Then 'ink' up the stamp with Cosmic Shimmer Flake and Glitter glue, try to get the glue only on the frame portion of the stamp, stamp it over the top of the black image you have already stamped but slightly off set the image. Once stamped immediately clean your stamp, don't worry about the glue drying on your piece it'll stay tacky for a long while but you do want to clean off your stamp. Then take some Summer Meadow Gilding Flakes apply over the sticky image, pat down and then using a piece of Rub it Scrub it rub off the excess flake and return to pot. Mount your piece onto a slightly larger piece of Dark Coffee card and then again onto another piece of Milk card.

Take another piece of the dark coffee card and about an inch and a half bigger than your mounted piece, using a mask and some texture paste create some texture by scraping paste over the top of the mask with a palette knife. Don't worry about being too precise, you're aiming for a distressed, grungy look. The mask I used was a Moroccan Mask by That Special Touch. Now if you want a smooth look leave it to dry naturally but I dried mine with a heat gun letting the paste bubble and pit under the heat. Once dried and cool lightly rub over the surface with Enchanted Gold Gilding Wax. Mount your previously made piece onto this background.

Now to finish off roughly cut 3 circles of milk card, then cut each circle into a spiral.  Roll up to form a rose and glue with Cosmic Shimmer glue. Cut three leaf shapes also out of the milk card. I cut them all by hand but you could always use dies if you would like. Colour your flowers and leaves with Cosmic Shimmer sprays, I've used Mallow Blush and Golden Fish.  Whilst wet slightly rough up the edges to distress a little, once dry very lightly shade the edges with some black soot distress ink. Glue the finished flowers and leaves into position at the base of the frame. Stamp out some of the butterflies and colour with the distress inks previously used to colour the background of the frame, cut them out using the dies in the set and glue into position onto frame. The final touch is to add some 'pearls' using Cosmic Shimmer Pearl glue in Golden Pearl.

Well hope you enjoyed your visit, don't forget to leave a message to be in with a chance of a prize.

Here's the complete list for the blog hop (complete with prizes on offer) so you can see where to 'hop off' to next! Lol!

Hope to see you again
Donna xx

CREATIVE EXPRESSIONS (Home Link in case you get lost!)
http://blog.creative-expressions.uk.com/2013/11/creative-expressions-blog-hop-let-fun.html

KIM ROBERTSON
http://inkykimcraft.blogspot.com/2013/11/creative-expressions-couture-creations.html
Zentangled Flower Pre Cut Stamp
GlitterCosmic Shimmer Dries Clear Glue
Cosmic Shimmer Silver Shine Details Embossing Powder 

PAM SMITH
http://smiffyscards.blogspot.com/2013/11/blog-hop.html
Zentangled Owl Pre Cut Stamp
Glitter
Cosmic Shimmer Dries Clear Glue
Cosmic Shimmer Silver Shine Details Embossing Powder

NEIL BURLEY
http://perfectly4med.co.uk/2013/11/19/cc-ce-bloghop/
Zentangled Saying Pre Cut Stamp
Glitter
Cosmic Shimmer Dries Clear Glue
Cosmic Shimmer Silver Shine Details Embossing Powder

DONNA RATCLIFF
http://donnaslittlecraftycorner.blogspot.com/2013/11/blog-hop-fun.html
Precious Purse Pre Cut Stamp
Glitter
Cosmic Shimmer Dries Clear Glue
Cosmic Shimmer Silver Shine Details Embossing Powder

TRACY HEATON
http://ahintofmagnolia.blogspot.com/2013/11/oh-hoppy-day.html
I Do Pre Cut Stamp
Glitter
Cosmic Shimmer Dries Clear Glue
Cosmic Shimmer Silver Shine Details Embossing Powder

KERRY HICKTON
http://kezzyscraftyjourney.blogspot.com/2013/11/creative-expressions-blog-hop.html
Bouquet Frame Pre Cut Stamp
Glitter
Cosmic Shimmer Dries Clear Glue
Cosmic Shimmer Silver Shine Details Embossing Powder

KIM DELLOW
http://www.kimdellow.co.uk/2013/11/creative-expressions-couture-creations.html
Your Carriage Awaits Pre Cut Stamp
Glitter
Cosmic Shimmer Dries Clear Glue
Cosmic Shimmer Silver Shine Details Embossing Powder

TRACE METCALFE
http://inkypinkycraft.blogspot.com/2013/11/creative-expressions-couture-blog-hop.html
From This Day Forward Pre Cut Stamp
Glitter
Cosmic Shimmer Dries Clear Glue
Cosmic Shimmer Silver Shine Details Embossing Powder 

CATHI O'NEILL
http://celticknotted.blogspot.com/2013/11/joy-in-life.html
To Have & To Hold Pre Cut Stamp
Glitter
Cosmic Shimmer Dries Clear Glue
Cosmic Shimmer Silver Shine Details Embossing Powder

TRACY EVANS
http://craftaddicts-tracyevans.blogspot.com/2013/11/creative-expressions-couture-blog-hop.html
1 x Doilies CO723401
Wedding Bells Pre Cut Stamp
Glitter
Cosmic Shimmer Dries Clear Glue
Cosmic Shimmer Silver Shine Details Embossing Powder

Winter Wishes Card......

.......it's time for this weeks Creative Expressions make. I've stamped one of the Christmas Roses from the Winter Flower set onto a piece of white card and then die cut it using a scalloped circle die by Spellbinders. I've coloured the image with Aged Mahogany, Peeled Paint and Pine Needles distress ink by splodging (technical tern there!) the ink onto a craft mat and picking up the colour using a damp paintbrush. I've also used the Aged Mahogany to shade the edges.

Next cut two Medallion 5's from the Die D-lites range by Spellbinders out of some plain white card. On a rectangular piece of burgundy card stamp the other Christmas Rose from the set using Perfect Medium and emboss with Cosmic Shimmer Clear Embossing Powder. Then mount onto a slightly larger piece of white card and then again onto a bigger piece of the same burgundy card.  Stamp and emboss the Warm Winter Wishes sentiment in Cosmic Shimmer White Embossing powder.  Add some pearls around the edges using Cosmic Shimmer Pearl PVA glue. To finish glue the two medallions and your coloured topper into place.

Thanks for visiting
Donna xx

Renaissance......

.......is the theme this week on Sunday Postcard Art.  I went on a bit of a rummage and unearthed an old stamp I haven't used in ages.....

Wanted to add some richness to it so stamped a grid pattern using a Kaisercraft stamp 'inked' with Cosmic Shimmer Flake and Glitter glue and then added some gold gilding flakes.  Would just like to give you all a tip for when you are using gilding flakes......................DO NOT SNEEZE!!!! My table was lovely and gold for a few minutes! Lol!

Anyway once I'd cleared up the straying flakes I made a small tag to add to postcard featuring my Renaissance lady..........

Donna xx

Fruit 'n' Flowers......

.......is the theme picked by Anne this week on Tag Along. Was wondering what to use when I suddenly remembered a stamp I had years ago when I first started stamping so I went rummaging through a box of stamps which in my mind I've labelled "I'll never use that".....well guess what I have .......the ants and watermelon is an old wood mounted Anita's stamp.  Thought the quote worked quite well with it as well. Anyway hope you like it, just a bit of fun :-) !!!

Donna xx

Want to know a secret????????

......you do??

Well Sheena's got some new stamps out, they'll be launched on Friday on Create and Craft at 2pm.  As you can see from the sample below they're all about the seaside.......

 There will also be some lovely paints featured on the shows as well, Silks from Luminarte, truly gorgeous and if you love a little shimmer then you will love these.

Donna xx

A quick idea for a gift.....

.....at this time of year it can get expensive when it comes to buying gifts.....Christmas, winter birthdays etc so why not create some quick and cheap gifts and save yourself a few pennies.

I bought a set of four white candles from a supermarket, £2.50 for four, and turned one of them into a quick and pretty little gift.....

If you've never decorated a candle before here's a quick 'how to' ......

First stamp your images onto some white tissue, I've used some recycled tissue from a package I had delivered, the stamp is from the Winter Flowers plate by Creative Expressions........

Then colour your image, I've used Cosmic Shimmer watercolours for this one but in the past have used ordinary watercolours, coloured pencils, distress ink and promarkers........

Once your images are coloured, carefully cut them out.  Then take a piece of Baking Parchment or Waxed Paper, carefully position your cut out image onto the candle and wrap the baking parchment tightly round the candle. Take your heat tool and lightly play it over the candle until the surface has melted just enough for the tissue to become embedded onto candle. You will see the image appearing darker through the baking parchment as it becomes embedded.....

Peel off the baking parchment and repeat the process if you have other images you wish to put on and then you're done.....

If you're going to give a gift you need a gift tag, so using the same stamp I've stamped and coloured the flower onto a small tag,  and added some Distress Ink as a background colour.
Then pop the candle into a cellophane bag and tie with ribbon and there you have it a quick personal gift that hasn't taken long and hasn't cost the earth!

Donna xx

Vintage Sewing......

.....is the theme that Carol has chosen for us this week on Sunday Postcard Art.  I've used Sam Poole's Vintage Sewing plate from Creative Expressions and the little wooden embellishments I picked up at Hobbycraft and added a bit of inky shading to.....

Donna xx

Time to Remember......

....is the theme I have picked for this weeks TagAlong challenge which I'm hosting.  I thought it was open to all sorts of interpretation but as this week end is Remembrance Sunday that is the route I have taken.  So I've kept it simple with some stamped Poppies (Sheena Douglass) and a few die cut crosses.

Do pop over to TagAlong and join in the fun.

Donna xx

A little floral plaque.....

....for my piece this week for Creative Expressions.

Start with a blank MDF plaque and paint with a mixture of Antique Linen, Pine Needles and Evergreen Bough Distress Paint.  Once dry add a little stamping with Alpha Writing and a branch from the Trees plate. Then take a piece of white tissue and stamp out the Crocus from the Winter Flowers plate, then paint the flowers with  Marine Sea and Emerald Gold Cosmic Shimmer Watercolour Paint. Cut out and apply to plaque with Glue 'n' Seal. Ink up the branch previously used with some embossing ink, stamp, then sprinkle on Copper embossing powder and heat to emboss. Finish off the edges with a little Enchanted Gold Creative Expressions Gilding Wax.  Stamp the sentiment "Find Beauty in Ordinary Things" from the Steampunk Flowers set onto a piece of white card, colour with card with Peacock Feathers Distress Ink. Edge with a little Black Soot Distress Ink and then add a little of the copper embossing powder. Glue finished sentiment to plaque.

Thanks for looking :)
Donna xx

Maps....

....is this weeks theme on Sunday Postcard Art. I bought the Huck Finn stamp plate by Artistic Outpost the other week so thought this would be a great opportunity to put it to use.  Used some bits of torn up map in the background and then collaged the stamped images on top.

Also entering this into the Artistic Outpost November challenge, where the theme is anything goes.

Donna xx