Things aren't always what they seem...

The lovely view from my craft room

I thought I'd share with you what I did yesterday and no I didn't make anything to show you (sorry). I haven't settled into my craft room here at my new house and I can't put my finger on it but the room, even though I have a fabulous view from the window, does not inspire me. I have put up a lovely little blind with bird houses on it at the window and thought perhaps a bright pink feature walk might lift the room a bit. So I went to get some paint and walked past a little shop that I had walked past many times in the last six months thinking it was an art gallery and only sold paintings. I don't know what made me go inside but I did and my oh my it is only a craft shop. When I lived up in Bradford I was spoilt for craft and DIY shops but since moving to Lincolnshire and especially here in the country I have been at a loss and had to resort to online shopping, not the same as actually touching and browsing. Helen the owner was amazing and was doing some parchment work when I walked in, it was so nice to talk to someone who knew what I meant when I said stamp or punch and didn't think I was a crazy woman,  and I will be calling in quite often in the future now that I know it's there. So I suppose the moral of the story is not to be dismissive of trying something you wouldnt normally do, I mean I dont go wondering around art galleries because I make my own art but when I stepped inside it was very much my kind of shop. All I need to do now is paint my little craft room and make it more cozy then hopefully crafty magic will flow. Xx

Spring Colours Card

 

Today LC Designs have a new April stamp challenge, the theme is "spring colours" and this is the card I have made as part of the design team. It has been a funny week weather wise what with gloomy torrential rain one day and spring sunshine the next but that is April in England. It was nice to work with such a joyful image and I hope it inspires you to take part in the challenge. The prize for this challenge is a selection from the LC Designs Irresistable Images and if you want to see more from this impressive range please follow the link.

 

This is the prize for the lucky winner:

 

 

...GOOD LUCK...

 

What you will need:

LC Designs Wavy Doggies stamp set

Crealies Oval XXL double stitch dies

Creative \expressions Delicate Daisies Open Petals die

Creative Expressions Delicate Daisies Complete Petals die

Tonic boot punch small daisy

die cutting machine

Tonic boot punch small butterfly

ring binder hole punch

small hole punch

6" x 6" base card

Fancy Florals papercraft kit (from a craft magazine)

pink paper

white card to stamp onto

copy paper

colouring implements of your choice

black Versa Fine ink pad

Tim Holtz Distress Inks - Spun Sugar & Peacock Feathers

 

Cover the base card with the pink paper and cut to size.

Cut and layer the dotty paper from the Fancy Florals paper pack and stick onto the base card.

 

Using the Wavy Doggies stamp and the black Versa Fine ink pad stamp the image onto the white card (make sure that the image is at the centre of a square at least 6" x 6").

Select a Crealies oval die large enough to see the image through and cut out an aperture from the copy paper.

The copy paper has now become a mask so cut the paper down to a suitable size and secure the copy paper over the stamped image (remember to use low tack or linted masking tape as you do not want to tear the surface of the white card).

Colour the image in using colouring implements of your choice.

Remove the mask and cut the image to size (about 5 3/8" x 5 3/8").

Using the "To my best friend" sentiment and the black Versa Fine ink stamp the sentiment at the top right of the image topper.

Stick the image topper onto the base card.

 

Secure the same Crealies die as you have already used to make the mask and the next larger die onto some white card to make a frame and run through the die cutting machine.

Stick the frame onto the card topper to frame the image.

 

With the Creative Expressions Delicate Daisies Open Petals die and the Creative Expressions Delicate Daisies Complete Petals die cut 2 of each and colour using the Tim Holtz Spun Sugar Distress Ink.

Stick one open petal daisy over the full petal daisy and repeat with the two remaining die cuts.

Using the Tim Holtz Peacock Feathers Distress Ink colour a piece of white card and punch out two dots using the ring binder hole punch.

Stick the dots to the centre of the two daisies and stick the daisies onto the card.

With the Tonic daisy boot punch make 4 daisies from white card and colour in using the Tim Holtz Spun Sugar Distress Ink.

Make 4 small dots from the Peacock Feathers coloured card using the smaller hole punch.

Stick the dots to the centre of the small Daisies and then stick the Daisies onto the card.

Using the Tonic small Daisies boot punch make 2 small Daisies from white card.

Using the smaller hole punch make 2 dots from the pink paper previously used on the card.

Stick the pink dots to the centre of the white Daisies and stick the Daisies onto the card.

 

Using the Tonic small butterfly boot punch make a butterfly from the pink paper previously used on the card and stick the butterfly onto the card.