Friday, 1 August 2025

August DT Project 1 For Country View Crafts and Challenges - Silhouettes

Happy August!
 
I hope you're all keeping well and survived the heatwave we recently had. Some of my herbs didn't seem to like it much - I'm not sure if I overwatered them or not enough. :-D
 
It’s my turn to host this month's theme for Country View Crafts and Challenges on Facebook and I’ve chosen Silhouettes. 
The challenge is open worldwide and you can join the group here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/164920247712393


You must use products from brands that Country View Crafts stocks. You can enter 5 times each month with different projects and one winner will be selected randomly. And you won't want to miss out on the prize this month! It's the Sizzix 662386 Witchcraft by Tim Holtz die set AND a set of the new Distress Oxide Mini Ink Pads 4 Piece Set #6. What a prize this is!!

 

So to be clear - according to Google... 

'A silhouette is a solid, usually dark shape, representing the outline of a subject against a lighter background.'
It's a visual representation where the interior of the subject is filled with a single color, typically black, emphasizing the form rather than detailed features. Silhouettes are often used to create a striking contrast and can evoke a sense of mystery or simplicity'.
In Mixed Media, I've also seen this done as a light silhouette against a darker or coloured background - Dina Wakley quite often does this and it has a lovely effect.

But here are some guidelines too...
Basically, so long as the image is a solid block, then it's a silhouette.
I also feel it must be something that you can recognise. If you just plonked a circle or a rectangle on as the focal point on your page - it kind of doesn't say what your picture is about - but yes, this could be just abstract I guess.
But if you put a bow on top of the rectangle, instantly that's recognisable as a gift. 
Or if you added a string line from the top of the page to the circle, that gives the impression of a hanging bauble.
 
You can also use numerous items to create your silhouette - stamps, dies and stencil masks are all very easy to use. Then you can concentrate on what you're going to do for your background. The background really becomes what you would work on rather the focal point. Choose what you are going to use for your main image and then work around that.

Anyway, without further ado, here's my first make for the month.
 
I picked out which stamp set that I was going to create with and I chose the Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Theories CMS329. 
 
 
I wanted to show how easy it is to make a couple of cards quickly and still be really effective looking. Of course, you can make multiple cards at the same time like this.

Using Distress Inks, I created my 2 inky backgrounds on Tim Holtz Mixed Media Card. I used Distress Inks Tea Dye, Frayed Burlap, Speckled Egg and Fossilized Amber (Oxide) in that order, drying in between each smooshing.   

Then I randomly stencilled over these with Distress Ink Fossilized Amber using the spotted stencil from Tim Holtz Layering Stencils that came with a clear stamp set but you can also use the one from the Mini Set #48 as it's got the same type of spots.

I also stamped the sentiment I was going to use, with Archival Frayed Burlap, second generation prints.


Once dry, using a stamping platform, in Black VersaFine Clair, I stamped my chosen image and then heat embossed this with clear embossing powder. 

I also left one as a plain black stamped image. Both were then added to black cardstock and a border cut around them.

I dug out my very cheap sewing machine and sewed around the edges because I hardly ever use it and thought it'd be good for this project, but of course you don't have to sew the edges. You could just draw a scribbly line around it.

I added a brad in each corner and lightly hammered these with the Tim Holtz Idea-ology Tiny Texture Hammer.

Finally I mounted them onto kraft cardstock and here's the finished cards. I cut one a little smaller to make the image bigger in the frame, so you have two sizes for comparison.

Thanks for stopping by to look at my blog. I hope you'll maybe try this out for yourself and enter into the challenge at Country View Crafts and Challenges on Facebook - it really is a fabulous prize to win. See you there.

Have a great day,
hugs
Carol x

Products used:
(If something is out of stock you can always contact Susan to see if she can get it in for you)
 
Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Theories

Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Inks
 
Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Oxide
 
Tim Holtz Layering Stencils - Mini Set 48
 
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Tiny Texture Hammer

If you would like to purchase the die set and ink pads without entering you can find them here:
 
Distress Mini Oxide Ink Pads - 4 Pack

Sizzix Witchcraft 662386

 
 
 




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Tuesday, 15 July 2025

July DT Project 2 For Country View Crafts and Challenges - The Great Outdoors

Hello,

It’s time for my second DT make for July for Country View Crafts and Challenges, with the theme ‘The Great Outdoors’ and we’re  certainly making the most of the outdoors at the moment with the heatwave we’re having. 

 

The challenge is open worldwide and you can join the group here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/164920247712393


You must use products from brands that Country View Crafts stocks. You can enter 5 times each month with different projects and one winner will be selected randomly. There's a fabulous PaperArtsy Summer Poppies stamp set designed by Alison Bomber to be won for the lucky winner.

 

I love squirrels and decided to use the Visible Image Nuts About Squirrels stamp for my project this time. 

First I prepped my background with a blend of Cosmic Shimmers by laying clean water randomly down first on my journal page. Lightly tapped the powder from the nozzles over this and then blended in with the water with a paintbrush and left this to dry. 

I smooshed some Distress Inks over the Visible Image Mesh It Up stencil and then spritzed with water. 
I made a print with this on some paper, then did a secondary print on my journal page.



I stamped the squirrel and some acorns onto white card with Nocturne Versafine Clair ink and cut these out. I also stamped some maple leaves from Erikas Maple set and fussy cut these out too. 
 

I stamped the city outline from Visible Image The Right Direction set with Versafine Clair Morning Mist as I wanted to give a nod to  how some squirrels co-exist with city life. 
Using the words ‘Evolve’ and ‘Resilience’ from Visible Image The Right Direction stamp set, I part inked in Rustic Wilderness and Stormy Sky Distress Inks and then spritzed a little with water before placing on my background.
Then I lightly splattered the background with a watered down Pumice Stone Distress Ink (smooshed onto a stamping block) and also splattered the cut outs. 
 

I cut out a Polaroid frame from a template I got from the internet which I printed out.
 
 
For the squirrel and some of the maple leaves and acorns, I watercoloured these using Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor pencils. 
I left the rest of my stamped images black and white. 

Then it was a matter of compiling my picture, placing the Polaroid frame and then tucking in the cutouts around it. 

And here is my second project for The Great Outdoors.


Thanks taking the time to visit my blog. I hope you’ll be inspired to try out some of my techniques and join in the Challenge - it's always awesome to see what people make for the theme.

Have a great day
Hugs
Carol 



Products used:
(If something is out of stock you can always contact Susan to see if she can get it in for you)

Visible Image Nuts About Squirrels

Visible Image Erikas Maple

Visible Image The Right Direction

Visible Image Dragonfly Reflection

Visible Image Mesh It Up Stencil

Cosmic Shimmer

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/cosmic-shimmer---pixie-burst---green-jasper-149259-p.asp

Versafine Clair
https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/versafine---clair-ink-pad---nocturne-116915-p.asp

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/versafine---clair-ink-pad---morning-mist-116918-p.asp 

Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor Pencils
https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/tim-holtz-distress-watercolor-pencils-1598-c.asp

Tim Holtz Distress Inks 
https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/tim-holtz-distress-ink--re-inkers-103-c.asp


 

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Thursday, 3 July 2025

July DT Project 1 For Country View Crafts and Challenges - The Great Outdoors

Hello there,
Phew! Hasn’t it been hot! 
Well, time to get into the craft room and out of the sun, as it’s time for my first DT make for July for Country View Crafts and Challenges, with the theme ‘The Great Outdoors’ as chosen by our lovely Jane.

 

The challenge is open worldwide and you can join the group here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/164920247712393


You must use products from brands that Country View Crafts stocks. You can enter 5 times each month with different projects and one winner will be selected randomly. There's always an amazing prize to be won.

 
So, for my first project I thought I’d make a tag book with birds as my main feature. 
 
First I chose my tags that would be the basis of the book. I used Dina Wakley 3” square tags but you could easily use Tim Holtz size 8 tags and cut them in half. 


I used Tim Holtz Idea-ology Aviary Collage Paper to cover both sides of each tag. (I chose the design part I wanted and cut the paper to wrap around both sides, so it was all in one long piece). 
 
Unfortunately my paper wasn’t printed properly, so the images are somewhat blurry. I hadn’t noticed this when I first bought it, so make sure to check your collage paper is crisply printed when buying. (This wasn’t purchased from Country View Crafts I hasten to add. I bought it absolutely ages ago and can’t remember where from :-D ) 
I was careful to keep the tags the same way round when covering them - with the hole to the left, as that’s my chosen way to have the spine. I used Ranger Collage Medium to glue the collage paper on and also for gluing down all the ephemera. 

 
After that it was the fun part. Choosing the ephemera from multiple packs of Tim’s Idea-ology - Number Strips, Field Notes Snippets, Halloween 2024 (the Raven), cello sticker book, chit chat, postmarked and I used 3 Tiny Clips too to add interest. 
I also added some random letters from Idea-ology Mini Marquee Letters that I’ve got. 

Once I’d completed decorating the ‘pages’ I chose a word from the Idea-ology Chit Chat book and added to each page. 

 
Then I secured the book by threading a piece of sari ribbon through the holes and tying a reef knot. And here’s my little tag book. 
 
 


I hope you’ll have a go - there’s no end to what you could decorate the pages with. Such Fun! 

And don’t forget to join in the challenge over on Facebook. There’s always a fabulous prize to be won. 
 
Thank you for checking out my blog. 
Hugs
Carol x 

Products used:

Tim Holtz Collage Paper Aviary

Tim Holtz Mixed Media Tags #8
 

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Tiny Clips

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Ephemera Number Strips 

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Sticker Book Postmarked

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Cello Sticker Tape

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Ephemera Field Notes Snippets

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Ephemera Halloween 2024

Tim Holtz Ranger Collage Medium



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Tuesday, 17 June 2025

June DT Project 2 For Country View Crafts and Challenges - Travel

Hello there,

Well, 'sunny' June has finally graced our shores and I’m saying hello again with my second DT project for Country View Crafts for this month, with the theme: Travel.

 

The challenge is open worldwide and you can join the group here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/164920247712393


You must use products from brands that Country View Crafts stocks. 

You can enter 5 times each month with different projects and one winner will be selected randomly. There's an amazing prize of 49 and Market Wanderlust Explorer package to be won.

 

So, I’m thinking outside the proverbial box for this one and thought this stamp set 'Ahead Of Our Time' by Visible Image would be perfect for this month’s theme -Travel - but I was thinking ‘Time Travel’ as my make. 

I wanted to make it look like a comic strip, so I measured out 2 strips of fine cartridge paper - 3.5in x 7in to fit my chosen journal. 

I stamped my images over these two pieces in Versacolor Nocturne Ink, laying them out in a landscape design and making sure that the main images sat within a 3.5in x 3.5in area within the 7in strip, as these will be cut in half. 
I used my Misti stamping platform for this and each time I placed my stamp, I used a piece of acetate to protect the stamped paper and to ‘audition’ where I wanted to position the stamp in the design. I masked off the door as I wanted this to be a solid image and not have the ‘time clock’ image showing through. I used the Hobbygros Pressing Tool to get a good crisp image. 
 
 
 

When I was happy with my design, I dabbed on clear water onto the background with a brush, and then by dipping a brush into the bottles, I added Distress Ink Spray Stain to the water. 
I used Candied Apple, Squeezed Lemonade, Rustic Wilderness, Broken China and Villainous Potion. 
I was inspired to do these colours by looking at the Visible Image stamp set cover which I thought was perfect for ‘time travel’. 
I went a bit too 'wet' I think, as some of the stamped images 'bled' a little - around some edges. I didn't have a juicy enough Archival Ink Pad which I would have preferred to use, and think would have been better with the wet technique.


The paper buckled a little because of the water on it, so I put them under something heavy to flatten them out. I’m lucky enough to have an old book press as I also do bookbinding, so it’s great for flattening those buckled papers. 
 
 
Next, I painted in the ‘door’ with Walnut Stain and Ground Espresso Spray Stains and and the words ‘past’ and ‘future’ with the coordinating colour Distress Spray Stains that I used for the background, using a fine brush dipped in. I didn’t add any water this time as I wanted them full strength and I dried between each application. Once again I pressed them in my book press to flatten. 

I went around the word edges, door knob and the ‘eye’ on the man with a gold gel pen. 

Then, I cut each strip in half and glued them into my journal. I went around the edges with a black pen. 
 
Finally, on my computer I made and printed out the captions for my ‘comic strip’ and added these to the pictures. 

And here it is. I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing my process and will be inspired to join in our challenge at Country View Crafts and Challenges. 
 
 

 
Thanks so much for visiting my blog. 
Big hugs
Carol x 


Products used:
(If anything is out of stock, you can always contact Susan at Country View Crafts to see if she can order it in for you).

Visible Image Ahead of Time

Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Spray Stains

Hobbygros Pressing Tool 



 


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Thursday, 5 June 2025

June DT Project 1 For Country View Crafts and Challenges - Travel

Hello there,

Here we are in June already and I’m saying hello with my first DT project for Country View Crafts for this month chosen by Zoe with the theme: Travel.

 

The challenge is open worldwide and you can join the group here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/164920247712393


You must use products from brands that Country View Crafts stocks. 

You can enter 5 times each month with different projects and one winner will be selected randomly. 

There's an amazing prize of 49 and Market Wanderlust Explorer package to be won.


What better to make than a travel notebook for the theme this month. They’re always great to have to take away on holiday so how about making one to take on your next trip away or to give to a friend. 

The ones I’ve made are small enough to put in your bag and won’t take up too much room. They’re literally to jot down odd notes in - not as a diary or journal as they’re not very big but you can insert extra pages if you wanted it to be bigger. 

To start, I painted Distress Prize Ribbon and Distress Lumberjack Plaid over two pieces of thick white card stock that would fit the Vault Airmail embossing folder. I also painted the underside of these in their respective colours as this will be the inside cover. 
 

I painted the blue over the embossing folder and placed my prepared red card in this and ran it though my Sizzix machine. This gave a top colour to the raised parts of the embossed card. I repeated with red paint on the folder and embossed the blue cover. 
 
 
Once dry, I brayered over some Distress Paint Silver Pewter to further highlight the raised parts. 
 
 
I left these to dry out and then folded each one in half and trimmed round the edges. 

Taking 2 pieces of white A4 100gsm photocopy paper, I folded each in half, cut this, and then folded in half again and cut, to have 4 quarters from the A4 sheet, which I folded in half and slotted into each other. I then trimmed these to fit the book covers. Overall dimensions are approx 7.5cm x 11cm.

I added Lumberjack Plaid Distress Ink to the splat stamp from Stampers Anonymous Ravens CMS310 and spritzed lightly,  did a print on spare paper and then did a second generation stamp onto the pages. I repeated with Prize Ribbon Distress Ink for the other notebook set. I also did some ghost prints without spritzing with water. 
 

Once dry, I folded these in half and inserted into my notebook covers. 

I measured 3 holes onto a folded paper template that was approx 11cm - the height of the notebook, one in the middle and two spaced either side of this. 
I placed this firmly in the centre of the pages that I’d inserted into the notebook covers.  
With the book folded together with just enough opening to get my awl in, placing the spine on some thick greyboard, I used my awl to make the holes through the template right through the pages and cover. 
 

Using embroidery thread, book thread or anything that is a good sturdy thread, I sewed a pamphlet stitch through these to secure the pages together. 

Here’s my diagram for the pamphlet stitch.
 
 
I stamped some words from Stampers Anonymous Curiosity Shop CMS482 on the inside pages and also the words ‘Just a Note’ onto a piece of white card, cut this out, layered onto black card, and then cut this out. I then glued this to the front cover of each notebook. 

Finally, with the loose threads on the outside spine, I tied a metal charm that I had in my stash, of a boat and a plane to each notebook. 

And there’s my completed notebooks for my next excursion. 
 
 
I hope you’ll be inspired to have a go at making them. You can decorate them as much or as little as you like. 
And don’t forget to enter the challenge on Country View Crafts and Challenges Facebook page for that amazing prize of 49 and Market Wanderlust Explorer package.

Thanks for stopping by. 
Have a great day
Hugs
Carol x 


Products used:  
(If anything is out of stock, you can always contact Susan at Country View Crafts to see if she can order it in for you).

Tim Holtz Distress Paints 

Sizzix Tim Holtz Embossing Folder Vault Airmail
https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/666869-sizzix-multi-level-textured-impressions-embossing-folder---vault-airmail-by-tim-holtz-178415-p.asp

Stampers Anonymous CMS310 Ravens

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August DT Project 1 For Country View Crafts and Challenges - Silhouettes

Happy August!   I hope you're all keeping well and survived the heatwave we recently had. Some of my herbs didn't seem to like it mu...