Altered Match boxes

I had such an amazing time yesterday when I met up with Clare.  She suggested a few weeks ago how about trying some altered match boxes as neither of us had done them before.  I did a little Pinterest searching but in the end I think we just went wherever our creativity took us at the moment which included getting out what must be almost every item of Clare's stash, including the sewing machine- sorry Clare!
I went for two small boxes (standard size for a box of matches you buy from the shops) while Clare opted for the larger size.
Box 1: For this I used a match box Clare had and went for the 'flap' type opening rather than 'draw'.

 Was attracted to these clown images and the sentiment ;-)

 Box 2: (probably my favourite out of the two) is a traditional 'match box' with draw made using a template.

If you have never done altered match boxes before I would DEFINITELY recommend them :-)

Birthday Buffy

Taking a break from Christmas cards (I need some birthday ones at the moment too) I made this card using this weeks Retro Sketches layout.  The card is very much inspired by one of the DT projects and I am very happy with the way it turned out- you know that feeling (that rarely happens) when it kind of clicks?)

The image is another cutie from DigiStamp Boutique.

Cute Robins

I can never get enough of cute robin images.  This one is from DigiStamp Boutique.  The card follows the current Sketch Saturday layout.

 

Festive Gift box

This is my second project inspired by Clare's recent GDT posts for PaperArtsy.  I think I have taken the colour scheme from the first project (grey and black) and used it on the third...  didn't want to do an exact copy!
Anyway, this gift box was super easy to make with Clare's PaperArtsy stamps.  I first stamped and heat embossed in clear the squares onto white card.  Next I randomly 'stamped' ink pads of different colours over the sheet.  I had hoped the white would show though more from the heat embossing but it doesn't unless you are close up.
The final bit before assembling was to stamp and heat emboss again- this time in silver.  Some of the embossing powder stuck to the ink that I used to colour the box even though I had dried it.   Never mind, I think it adds to the effect- lol!
I stuck the box together, added some blue embroidery threads to the top and attached some fimo buttons as a finishing touch.  All I need now is to buy the present to go in it ;-)

 

Artic Fun

The DigiStamp Boutique DT have all been playing a lot with the Artic Fun stamp set recently and so I had to buy it and give it a go.  This is the first card that I have made and I decided to go for a bit of an unusual colour combo.  Quite pleased with the way it turned out though :-)

The card follows this weeks Sweet Sketch Wednesday layout and I will enter it into this weeks I love Promarkers (snowflakes) challenge.

 

Nordic Christmas cards

These cards were inspired by Clare's recent GDT project on the PaperArtsy blog last week.  Of course I had to get my Clare Llyod stamps out this weekend and give it a go.
I started by painting red acrylic mixed with white gesso onto white card.  (I decided to make a batch and so went for a master board concept and then cut panels out for each card.)  Next came some stamping in slate and then I stencilled red acrylic on top.  I didn't have a proper stencil but used one I made in the summer for the 'Me Time Messages' project from an ice cream box lid ;-)
The next layer was stamping in black and then finally in silver.  (Actually at this point I thought it looked a bit too blank and so added the text as another layer of stamping in black.)
The decorated card was cut up and assembled on the red card blanks (I stamped round the edge of these and wiped black ink round the edge of the painted panels).  The hearts were stamped on red card and heat embossed.  The final touch was some faux stitching in white pen.

 For two of the cards I added the 'broken earrings' I mentioned on yesterday's post (waste not want not ;-)).

 

Earrings!

I saw this project on the PaperArtsy blog last week and was inspired to give it a go last weekend.  I find using shrink plastic difficult- it is one of those things that I see why other people do, get inspired and then when I try I realise why I rarely use it!  Saturday was another of those days :-(
I did try to make 2 pairs of earrings but the second pair broke: lesson one my stamps were too small, especially the place where I put the hole and ring in on the second pair.
Lesson two : use Staz on to stamp with and not anything else- I stamped with Memento ink first for this pair and it all came off with handling (trying to get the jump ring through the little hole I punched.
Lesson three: Glitter glue doesn't shrink up!  I was trying to add some sparkle like Wanda Hentges but don't have the same media.  Thought I would use glitter glue instead, but it bubbled up and stuck to the worktop (oops) when heated...  (obvious, but I didn't think it through!).
Anyway, as a first attempt these are the pair which survived:

Not perfect, but I think I will wear them in December, none-the-less.  I don't give up on these things though and so I do intend to have another go at making some more earrings at some point (having bought the fixings etc now, I may as well!)

Boo!

I have held out so far by sticking to my self pledge of not making a Halloween card this year but then I thought I do have someone I can send one to and so let myself make one ;-)  (OK excuse!).  This card uses a Pollycraft Swings and Slides image and follows the current RetroSketches layout.  I will enter it into the current Little Miss Muffet challenge (anything goes).

 

Monster Birthday

Taking a break from Christmas cards.  Think I have made too many for a while!  I am inspired by all the Halloween/monster projects and images which are around at the moment and wanted to use this little one from DigiStamp Boutique again.

The card follows the current Sketch Saturday layout.

Happy Bird-day to you

A fair few birthdays coming up and so making cards for them.  This is a cheeky image from DigiStamp Boutique which can be used time and again (love colouring the birds in outrageous colours ;-)).  Tried to go for a male look with this card.

The card follows the current Stamplorations sketch.