Mad Hares and Rabbits for Country View Crafts Challenges

Hello there,

It’s a new month and that means my first DT project has landed. What a cool theme Rachel has picked for March - Mad March Hare or Rabbit.

I thought I’d make a bookmark as they’re always very handy for that extra little gift and are so very nice when they’ve been handmade, and as Mother’s Day is coming up soon, this would be lovely to give with a book to Mum. 

Also, Easter is coming soon too, so why not make some bunny bookmarks to give as a different Easter gift?

This is the prize for March

We’ve got a fabulous prize as always at Country View Crafts, to give away for entering the Challenge here on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/164920247712393

 

You'll need to join the group to be able to participate. The Challenges are open world wide as Country View Crafts do ship overseas too.

You’ve got until the end of the month to join in and can enter up to 5 times with different makes using products that are stocked by Country View Crafts. 

 

First, I assembled the products I was going to use.

So how did I do my inky backgrounds you ask?

To start, I cut a piece of heavy watercolour card stock 2 1/4 inch x 8 inch.

First I dabbed Squeezed Lemonade Distress ink pad onto my very stained and battered craft mat. Hey, it's OK, it still works. I squeezed water onto this and smooshed it around with my finger, then randomly dabbed my bookmark card into it.

 

I let it almost dry and thenI repeated this with the Salty Ocean Distress ink pad - this time I spritzed the actual card with water afterwards to blend the colours a bit, and dabbed the overly wet parts with a kitchen towel.

 

I repeated this process with Picked Raspberry Distress Ink Pad.

 

Once dry I sprayed some water into my hand and 'flicked' it onto the bookmark, let it stick for a few seconds, then dabbed off with the kitchen towel.

 

 

Now I was ready to decorate...

I stenciled white acrylic paint through the AALL and CREATE triangle stencil and then lightly pressed the black text randomly onto it.

Then I stamped the Lavinia Moon and Lupin stamps where I felt they should be.

I did contemplate stamping these onto separate cardstock too, colouring in, in more natural colours and then sticking on top but I quite liked how the background showed through so I left it like this.

I chose a sentiment from the Tim Holtz Ideaology Smalltalk sticker book and added this, and then went over it all with Tim Holtz Distress Micro Glaze to seal it. You may have a laminator and wish to laminate it instead.

Finally I punched a hole in the top middle and found some scraps of ribbon I had in my stash to add to it.

And that's all there is to it :-)

I hope you’ll give this a go - it’s an easy make and also nice to do with children who would enjoy making these too, I’m sure. 

 

Thanks for stopping by. Have a fabulous crafty day.

Carol x

For this project I used these products:

 

Lavinia Stamps: 

Lupin

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/lavinia---lupin-155947-p.asp

Moon

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/lavinia---clear-stamp---moon-121753-p.asp

Text script - Keeping Faith

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/lavinia---clear-stamps---keeping-faith-122009-p.asp

Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pads 

Squeezed Lemonade,  Salty Ocean, Picked Raspberry

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

Tim Holtz Distress Micro Glaze to seal

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/tim-holtz-distress---micro-glaze-1-oz-50976-p.asp 

Tim Holtz Ideaology Smalltalk sticker book 

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/th93193---tim-holtz-idea-ology-sticker-book---small-talk-171869-p.asp

AALL and Create Stencil

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/aall--create---stencils-1431-c.asp

Ribbon assortments can be found here

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/index.asp?function=search

If you ever find an item is out of stock, please request to be notified when it’s back in stock, as Susan is always updating the stock levels. 

'It's All About Love' CVC Project 2

Hello All,

Here’s my second DT project for the February theme “It’s All About Love” that I’m hosting for Country View Crafts Challenges on Facebook.

There’s still time to enter the challenge which ends on 29^th February – there’s a Tim Holtz Sizzix Vault Rosettes die set to be won by a randomly selected winner, so head on over to the FB challenge page for details on how to enter here (https://www.facebook.com/groups/164920247712393)

I had an ATC swap to do this month, which was also for the theme All About Love, so I thought I’d share with you the card and ATC that I made for it.

First, I cut the card blank and ATC (2.5” x 3.5”) to size. 

Then using a palette knife I went over the Distressed Brick Visible Image Stencil with Distress Crypt Grit Paste. This gives a wonderful textured brick/concrete like look, just perfect for use with this stencil.

Once dried, I smooshed onto Scorched Timber Reinker mixed with water and Lumberjack Plaid Distress Ink Pad, on my craft mat.

 

 I stamped the images in Nocturne Versafine Clair Ink, coloured with Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor Pencils and then fussy cut. 

 Finally I added them to the backgrounds with the sentiments that were stamped onto plain card and mounted onto Kraft Card backing.

I edged the card and ATC with the Distress Scorched Timber Ink Pad. It’s a great colour for aged edging.

 To finish I added Glossy Accents to accentuate the eyes, nose and hearts and here they are.

  I hope you like my little project and will be inspired to make one for yourself,

and join in the challenge too.

Happy Crafting
Carol x

 I used the following products for these which can be purchased from https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/

Here are the products I used:

Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Scorched Timber and Lumberjack Plaid

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/ranger---tim-holtz---distress-reinker--scorched-timber-171744-p.asp

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/ranger---tim-holtz---distress-ink-pad--scorched-timber-171734-p.asp

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/ranger---tim-holtz---distress-ink-pad--scorched-timber-171734-p.asp

Tim Holtz Distress Watercolour Pencils Set 4

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/ranger---tim-holtz---distress-watercolour-pencils---set-4-172117-p.asp

Ranger Distress Grit Paste Crypt

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/ranger---tim-holtz---distress---grit-paste---crypt-153384-p.asp

Visible Image Stamps and Stencils

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/visible-image---stamps-1357-c.asp

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/visible-image-stencil---distressed-brick-147656-p.asp

Glossy Accents

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/ranger-inkssentials-glossy-accents-59ml-2-fl-oz-4799-p.asp

Nocturne Versafine Clair Ink Pad

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

 

'It's All About Love' for Country View Crafts and Challenges

 

Happy February! 

 

Here I am with my first DT make for February and as it was my turn to choose the theme, my choice for this month’s challenge over on Country View Crafts and Challenges on Facebook is, ‘It’s All About Love’.

 

You can find the group page here https://www.facebook.com/groups/164920247712393 but will need to join if you’re not a member.

There is a fabulous prize of a Tim Holtz Sizzix Vault Rosettes die set to be won by a randomly selected winner, so you have until 29th February to get your entry in. You can enter up to five times.

So February is the month that some people celebrate Valentine’s Day, but it doesn’t have to be about Valentine’s Day. It can be about love for a family member, love interest, pet, friend, a place and so on. And as it's a Leap Year, you may wish to 'surprise' that someone special (winks).

I invite you to create makes depicting what/who love means to you. Your makes can be in any medium or style, it’s up to you. 

So, for my first project I have made a card using predominantly Tim Holtz products, which I’ve listed below. I chose to do an abstract background, as of late I've been inspired by the many abstract posts I've been seeing on Facebook.

 

I die cut the small heart on white card from the Tim Holtz Sizzix Lovestruck Colorize dies and then coloured it with Kitsch Flamingo Oxide. 

I then pressed the heart onto a versamark pad and covered it with Kitsch Flamingo Embossing Glaze and heated to melt. I repeated this again but this time, as I was melting it, I took a pinch of Picked Raspberry Embossing Glaze and sprinkled it into the melting glaze.

 

 Next I moved onto my master sheet. Using an A4 sheet of white card, I brayered and swiped different Tim Holtz Distress Paint over it. I used Kitsch Flamingo, Picked Raspberry, Shaded Lilac, Speckled Egg and Salvaged Patina. I then swiped over white acrylic in different areas and using a credit card and bottle top, I made various marks in Distress Paint Black Soot and the white acrylic. 

 

 

 

I mixed up Distress Texture Paste Matte with some gold acrylic paint and intermittently pasted this over the Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous stencil THS024 Chevron. 

 

Once dry, I took the credit card again and swiped more white acrylic over the background to ‘knock it back’ and with the Tim Holtz palette knife, I patted the white acrylic to give more texture. 

 

I cut a 4 x 4 inch square from the decorated master sheet. (You'll be able to get 4 from this A4 sheet with a little left over). 

I cut out my card base, to measure when folded just under 6x6 inches. 

I layered my decorated 4inch square onto a black backing, leaving a small edge around it to show and then mounted this onto my card base. 

Then I glued my glazed heart on and added a sentiment from Tim Holtz  Idea-ology Small Talk Sticker Book.

 

A little something extra for you....

 When I saw the fabulous prize that is on offer, I just to had to make a little extra something using the Rosette and  3D Heart on the Pillow Box Die, to match my card. I used the Tim Holtz Sizzix Vault Rosettes Thinlits and also the Tim Holtz Sizzix Vault Pillow Box and Bag Thinlits. I used the same decorated master sheet that I'd made for the card, and die cut the toppers in other papers/card and finished with a ribbon. I'll put some little chocolates in this to give to the special recipient ;-) xx

 

 

I hope you like this little project of mine. It may seem a little time consuming, but you can get get a least 4 cards from this unless you use part of it for the Pillow Box. I die cut and glazed 3 more hearts in other colours when I made the first one, so they’re all ready to go on the finished cards. 

 

 

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and I do hope I've inspired you to try this for yourself and maybe even enter the challenge. 

Happy Crafting.

Carol xx 

 

 

Products used:

Tim Holtz Distress Embossing Glaze

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/tim-holtz---distress-embossing-glaze-1313-c.asp

Tim Holtz Layering Stencil Chevron 

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/ths024-stampers-anonymous-tim-holtz-layering-stencil---chevron-30332-p.asp

Tim Holtz  Sizzix Love Struck Thinlits

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/665852---sizzix-thinlits-die-set-16pk---lovestruck-colorize-by-tim-holtz-147982-p.asp

 

Tim Holtz Sizzix Vault Rosettes Thinlits

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/666567---sizzix-thinlits-die-set-7pk--vault-rosettes-by-tim-holtz-172099-p.asp

 

Tim Holtz Sizzix Vault Pillow Box and Bag Thinlits

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/666568---sizzix-thinlits-die-set-5pk--vault-pillow-box--bag--by-tim-holtz-172095-p.asp

 

Tim Holtz Distress Paints

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/ranger-tim-holtz-distress-paints-436-c.asp

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Small Talk Sticker Book

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/th93193---tim-holtz-idea-ology-sticker-book---small-talk-171869-p.asp

Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Texture Paste Matte  

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/tim-holtz-distress-accessories-storage--and-mediums-855-c.asp

'Get Wordy' - DT make for Country View Crafts and Challenges

 Hello all,

We’re well into January and it’s my second DT make for the theme ‘Get Wordy’ for Country View Crafts and Challenges on Facebook which can be found here - https://www.facebook.com/groups/164920247712393 

 

There’s still time to enter January’s challenge to win a fabulous prize bundle from Country View Crafts of 'Wordy' goodies worth £25, for a randomly selected winner.

 

For my make, this time I’ve gone with a simple set of cards using words as the background. You don’t always have to have a sentiment or main word in your makes. Words can sit quietly on a white background to highlight the main focal point of a card. 

I used AALL and Create Janet Klein’s Dames Magnifique. I love their quirky faces and they only needed a simple background to support them. I used the words that are in the set for the background. 

 

I stamped and heat embossed the Dames in black, then coloured them with Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Watercolour Pencils. 

 

For the background I cut out 4 squares 2.5 x 2.5 inch, laid my words out in uniform lines on a stamping platform (you can use a block if you don’t have a platform) and stamped with a light grey Versafine Clair ink.  I mounted these onto black card, leaving a thin edge and then mounted it onto the 5x5 inch white card background.

  I fussy-cut the Dames and placed them onto the backgrounds and there you have it. A set of 4 cards that can be used for a lot of occasions or even notelets to write a letter. 

You can find the products I used here:

AALL and Create Janet Klein’s Dames Magnifique

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/aall--create---a6-stamp-set-681---dames-magnifiques-by-janet-klein-166610-p.asp

Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Watercolour Pencils

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/tim-holtz-distress-watercolor-pencils-1598-c.asp

Versafine Clair Ink

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

I do hope you're all managing to keep warm and doing lots of crafting, and don't forget you can enter the challenge until 31st January when it closes.

 

 

Happy New Year Everybody

It's January 2024 already and time for my first 2024 Design Team post for Country View Crafts and Challenges on Facebook which can be found here - https://www.facebook.com/groups/164920247712393

This month the theme is 'Get Wordy' and the prompt was to use text somewhere in your make.

There is a fabulous prize of 'Wordy' goodies worth £25 from Country View Crafts, for a randomly selected winner. You can enter the challenge until the 31st January, up to 5 times with different makes of the monthly theme, but the stipulation for entry is, that you must have purchased the item from, or it be a brand that they stock, at Country View Crafts - you can take a look at their website here: https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/

So, my first make is a page in my journal featuring one of Janet Klein's Storybook cuties. Janet is a Designer for AALL and Create and is well known for her cute and quirky characters.

I decided to use Peter Pan #636 for this make as he's just toooo cute!

In my Dina Wakley white square journal, I brushed on some plain water not quite to the edge.

I added Salty Ocean and Salvaged Painta Tim Holtz Distress inks to my craft mat and then with a wet brush, I brushed these into the water on the page.

Once dry, I drew a pen line with a Black Uniball around the edge of the painted area, not being too concerned that it wasn't exact to the edge.

I stamped the map image from Desinations Unknown #881 and the scribbly words from Visual Dreams #1070 in the background with Versafine Clair. Then I splattered with some watered down white acrylic paint.

On a separate piece of card, with a Memento ink pad, I stamped the main images of Peter Pan, the small scroll map and the words required, also the location marker. The images were then coloured with alcohol ink markers and fussy cut.

Using Twisted Citron Tim Holtz Distress Ink, I waterbrushed it onto the map areas on the page.

I edged the wording and small map with black archival ink. Then I laid out my compenents to form the picture and used some corrogated card as 'posts' for the sign and words.

Finally I added some glossy accents to his eyes and sword.

And here it is! I hope I've inspired you to try out a storybook theme and to also enter the Get Wordy challenge on their Facebook Page: Country View Crafts and Challenges.

Products used:

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/aall--create---a7-stamp-set-636---peter-pan-by-janet-klein-148216-p.asp

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/aall--create-1134-c.asp

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/ranger---tim-holtz---distress-ink-pad---salvaged-patina-134123-p.asp

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/ranger-tim-holtz-distress-ink-pad---twisted-citron-81957-p.asp

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/ranger-tim-holtz-distress-ink-pad---salty-ocean-16739-p.asp

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/dina-wakley-641-c.asp 

 https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/tsukineko-1275-c.asp

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

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/aall-and-create--border-acrylic-block-119656-p.asp

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/tonic-studios---tools---5-tim-holtz-haberdashery-snip-136339-p.asp

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/ranger-inkssentials-glossy-accents-59ml-2-fl-oz-4799-p.asp

 

 

Christmas Robin

Hello all...

Well, we're almost at the end of December and I hope you had a lovely festive season and managed to get some crafting done in between all the festivities and maybe use some lovely new craft products that you may have been gifted. 

I didn't manage too much crafting myself, as the dining table where I craft, has been cleared for Christmas until New Year. I didn't realise just how much I miss having that workspace to go to, to create, whenever I want.

Here's my second DT project for Country View Crafts for December, creating a little scene in my journal (which I want to start using more), although this also could be made as a Christmas card. 

I wanted to ‘embrace the white space’ which I rarely do, so this only has a pop of colour. 

I hope this will inspire you to try this out too if you usually fill your work with colour - I guess this could also be called a CAS (Clean And Simple). I think it's quite effective.

 

On their Facebook page, Country View Crafts have a December challenge - with the theme 'Christmas' - and the challenge ends on the 31st December 2023, so there's still time to enter to win a £25 gift voucher for the randomly selected winner of the challenge, to spend on the Country View Crafts Website here https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/.

You can enter up to 5 different Christmas themed projects.

Follow the link here to enter on their Facebook challenge page - Country View Crafts and Challenges: https://www.facebook.com/groups/164920247712393 

So, how did I make this page....

 

The products used in this make are:

 

 

In my journal using Distress Ink Pumice Stone, that I'd dabbed onto my craft mat and watered down, I lightly splattered it with a brush, trying to keep it mostly in the middle. I kept a sheet of paper on the journal page on the right as I didn't want it to get anything on it.

I then lightly hand pressed the word stamp from Visible Image Distressed Christmas in two areas overlapping the splatter.

 

I decided it needed a sentiment, so I used the one from Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Jolly Holiday CMS 474.

 

I stamped the Visible Image Christmas Robin with Archival Ink onto a good piece of cardstock.

And then painted with the Tim Holtz Distress Watercolour Pencils.

After fussy cutting out the images, I laid them onto where I wanted them on the page.

I cut the Robin's legs off during fussy cutting (purposely) and  stamped him onto the page before gluing on the fussy cut one. The watercolour journal has got an uneven surface so I had to draw in the legs as they didn't get a clear print.

 

 I cut out the cluster of the three berries and raised them with some 3D foam on top of the others, and then added a few dots of Glossy Accents to the Robin's eye, beak, leaves and berries. I also went over some of the black lines on the main images with a fineliner pen to make them a bit darker.

 

And here is the outcome....

I like the simplicity of this and think it'll make a great Christmas card for next year.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and I hope I've inspired you with a new Christmas card idea to get ahead for next year and also to join in the challenge ending this December to win the fabulous £25 voucher.

Here's wishing you a Happy, Healthy and Peaceful New Year.

 

Happy Crafting as always.

See you next year,

Carol xx

The products and brands used for this:

 

Dina Wakley Products

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/dina-wakley-641-c.asp

Tim Holtz Distress inks and watercolour pencils

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/tim-holtz-distress-watercolor-pencils-1598-c.asp

 

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/ranger---tim-holtz---distress-oxide-ink-pad---pumice-stone-96663-p.asp

Versafine ink pad

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

Archival ink pad

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/ranger-archival-ink-pad-jet-black---90mm-x-62mm-1609-p.asp

Visible Image

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/visible-image-1095-c.asp

Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/tim-holtz-stamps-by-stampers-anonymous-193-c.asp

Glossy accents

https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/ranger-inkssentials-glossy-accents-59ml-2-fl-oz-4799-p.asp

Quick and Easy Christmas Card

Hello, 

It's almost Christmas and time for my first December DT project for Country View Crafts to inspire you to make something Christmassy and enter their December Challenge on Facebook which can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.1625820124831250&type=3 

The prize this month is a fabulous £25 voucher to spend at the Country View Craft online store so you won't want to miss out on this.

I thought I'd make a quick and easy Christmas card for when you know you're running out of time to make anything too complex.

So without further ado, here's the instructions on how to make this.

First, I cut a piece of watercolour card to 4 x 4 inch to form the base.

I dabbed the Distress Inks onto my craft mat, spritzed with water and then dabbed it onto Speckled Egg all over first, then Salvaged Patina towards the top and then Prize Ribbon above that.

Then I stamped the large snowflake in one corner with Distress Ink Pumice Stone, and then in the opposite corner with Distress Ink Tumbled Glass.

I then stamped the sentiment Let it Snow from the same Visible Image set as the snowflake, in the bottom right hand corner.

With the stamping completed, I mounted it first onto black cardstock (leaving only a small edge), and then mounted this onto Kraft cardstock that is 11inch width x 5.5inch height and then folded, to form the card.

I added a small wooden snowflake to the centre of the top right stamped snowflake and then added a little blue gemstone to the centre, but if you haven't got a wooden snowflake, you can always cut from one from a die and use that. And here you have it! 

You can turn out multiples of these in no time, by using a stamping platform and rotating the watercolour paper to reflect the two snowflakes in the two corners.

 I hope this inspires you to get making some Christmas cards/tags when you think you really don't have much time. 

Wishing you a fabulous Crafting Christmastime.

Products used for this card are:

Visible Image Let it Snow stamps
https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/visible-image-clear-stamp-set---let-it-snow-152392-p.asp

Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Inks:
Salvaged Patina
https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/ranger---tim-holtz---distress-ink-pad---salvaged-patina-134123-p.asp

Speckled Egg
https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/ranger---tim-holtz---distress-ink-pad---speckled-egg-121192-p.asp

Prize Ribbon
https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/ranger---tim-holtz---july-2021-release---distress-ink-pad-prize-ribbon-136375-p.asp

Pumice Stone
https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/ranger---tim-holtz---distress-oxide-ink-pad---pumice-stone-96663-p.asp

Tumbled Glass
https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/ranger-tim-holtz-distress-ink-pad---tumbled-glass-3052-p.asp

Gemstone (cut out from design)
https://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/basic-grey-bling-it-designer-rhinestones-tree---sky-3742-p.asp

Wooden snowflake from my stash.