Happy 16th Birthday

Tomorrow is my younger daughter's 16th birthday.  Being a very typical teen she is grumpy, argumentative and completely selfish.  However, she is also loving, caring and I love her to bits and wouldn't change a single bit of our 16years together.

Happy birthday hun

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Used:

Gooseneck stamp from Stampotique

Dylusions from Ranger

Distress Ink

Tim Holtz stickers, Word Band and ribbon

Perfect Pearls from a Ranger

Picket Fence paint from Tim Holtz

Christmas Gift Tag

Many weeks ago I made a tag with one of my favourite gals and as I loved it so much I made another one for my daughters christmas pressie.

I used Prom Queen this time and gave her a hat too.  So much fun.  Isn't she beautiful.

Pauline

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Quick Crimbo Card

Hi all.  Wow have you all been busy?  I have been rushing about crazy past two days as I have had health problems so I haven't been able to get creative.

However, 5 minutes ago I realised I hadn't made a card for my no. 1 daughter and her squeeze hohoho.  So I did this, I think it will pass!

I will be back in the New Year with some wee projects, I am excited about being a Guest Designer for a whole month so busy, busy.

Hope you all have a great Christmas and watch out for those demon sprouts. 

Pauline

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Bah Humbug

Hello everyone.  Today I am ssssoooo excited as I am to be a Guest Designer for Country View Crafts December challenge with this project being featured on their blog: Country View Challenges

This is the very first time I have ever been asked to present my work as a designer and I am a little bit scared and very excited both at the same time.  I hope you feel it is good enough, I have loved making this project so please enjoy.

Bah humbug

"Santa Has The Right Idea... Visit People Once A Year" lol.   

This is a top hat, which I bought specially to alter for this project.  I started by stamping a Stampotique stamp Blah Blah Blah onto some Graphic 45 6x6 paper from the French Country collection.  I then cut them into 1/2 strips then made a paper chain, the kind we used to make at primary school when we were kids.  My very own Scrooge is Gooseneck from Stampotique who was stamped onto grungeboard from Tim Holtz.  I then made her a party skirt from Graphic 45 6x6 pad from the Steampunk Spells collection.  These were layered together and the blue black embroidery thread was threaded through and tied in a bow at the front.

The flowers are I Am Roses and the snowballs are wooden beads, which I painted white with gesso.  I then used glitter ModPodge and some white glitter.  I got my hands all covered in glue and glitter; crafting nirvana haha.

The wee guy in front is Smile also from Stampotique and I stamped him onto grungeboard too.  He is my special Tiny Tim, but with a Santa hat, Stickles heart and clearly not very poorly lol, too much turkey!

I then raided my stash and found these holly chipboard leaves from last year and some red jingle bells. Using a darning needle I untied the knots on the bells threads then threaded them through the hat before tying a knot again to secure.  The Merry Christmas was a freebie sticker, which came with supplies I bought last year and I then added some Stickles onto it in Christmas Red.

The snow flake is also another freebie sticker.  The wee book I made using Graphic 45 paper from last Christmas's collection Nutcracker Sweet adding some red glitter string and secured onto a bauble, which is one of three adhered to the top hat.

On this side I used some more Tim Holtz grungeboard, this time hinges, which I have secured together and onto the top hat using some screw brads, which I blackened using a PITT big brush pen.  I hope this looks like a lamppost as this what what I was aiming for.  

I then made a sign using more Graphic 45 paper and some of the alphabet stickers from their recent collection Steampunk Spells.  These I added to black card stock then adhered onto the sign.  I find it difficult to throw anything away and have scraps galore so I racked out some used wire, which I had snipped off some flowers and had kept just in case haha, and then tied the sign to the grungeboard.  I coloured the grungeboard using my black PITT big brush pen.

To finish it all off I used my sticky, glittery fingers and paint brush smearing all over the top hat, which I think has come out absolutely perfect, evidence there is no mistakes in crafting, just knowing what to keep and what to throw away!  

The words on the top hat I wrote using a white pen and creating a fold at the bottom I pinned them using basic sewing pins to enable them to stand upright.  

As I said this project has been so much fun and it will adorn my Christmas dining tablet as my centrepiece.  

Why don't you hop over to see many more wonderful and inspirational projects.

Cards For Men

This weekend I have been busy card making, for men.  Lots of fun using card stock from my stash and Ideology hardware from a Tim Holtz.

It's a great feeling using up things you have had for ages and using them in my own individual way, having fun.

Hope your weekend has been lots of fun.

Pauline

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Splash, Splash, Splat!

Hi all.  What a busy, busy week.  Lots of highlights but also some not so happy times so to kick start the weekend I got to playing with my pretty new stamps.  Who know how much I love Stampotique?  Alright silly question......

These wee cheeky chaps are so cute.

This weeks challenge over on the Stampotique blog is "A splat of paint".  Alas I had no green paint so I  but I wanted to join in the fun anyhow so I found some glass enamel paint and added some splotches. I tried to make them run a bit like rain but they just look like drips hahahaha.

Items used: Stampotique - 'Line Up'

                   Dylusions - Around The Edge

                   A music stamp from my stash

                   Tim Holtz - Splatter stencil

                   Distress Ink - Evergreen Bough, Tea Dye, Black Soot

                   Faber Castell PITT pen in black, size Fine

                   White Stigno pen

                   Americans enamel paint

Have fun this weekend.  Take care of you.

Pauline x

Shadow Box

Hi all.  Today whilst trying to shake a headache I was determined to keep busy.  So, when the postie delivered my wee guy's school photos I knew exactly what I needed to do.

How cute is he, love him ssssooooo much, cheeky monster lol

I have used a Ribba frame from Ikea, Graphic 45 paper ABC Primer and some paper flowers.  

First I made a photo mat then added layers behind finishing with black card stock to achieve the look of pages from a book.  I made both sides separately and had a 1/2 inch fold on the inner sides to then adhere these to the page.  

I did some fussy cutting and added foam dots to add layers.  All the paper was edged with Black Soot Distress Ink from Tim Holtz.  

Great fun and will likely now be a Christmas present for gran.

Pauline

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One Layer Only

This week's Stampotique challenge is all about just one layer, so no bling, no ribbon of tape, wow what a challenge.  Here is my effort.....

I used a Prima tag, stencils, ink and stamps.  First, I stamped this wee guy onto a piece of paper, cut him out then using semi permanent tape adhered him to the tag.

I have used a Tim Holtz stencil - Honeycomb and a variety of Distress Inks in orange and green over the top then peeled him off again.  

I then used Dylusions stamps for the flowers and used Barn Door for the larger flower and leaf he is standing on.  

Using a makeup sponge and Distress Ink in Everfreen Bough and Barn Door I stampers backgrounds for the writing and embellished this with a white Stilgo pen.  

Why not head over to the Stampotique Designers Challenge page and check out more yummy goodness.

Someone Special Cards

Today I have been making some cards and kind of leaving my comfort zone a bit.  I have gone traditional this time and admittedly feels very strange.  Simple but I really struggled for inspiration, so bit of a cheat as I scoured Pinterest lol.

I used an A6 card base, some DCWV card stock and then some hammered textured card to stamp onto.

First I embossed some words partially across the page using Versamark and clear embossing powder.  I then used my Stampin Up's 'Simply Soft' range and using Rangers Archival Ink in Fern Green then using the template for the flowers I stamped on top.  I used my Distress Inks in Scattered Straw on the 1st card and Aged Mahogany then Seedless Preserves for the 2nd card.  I then added ink around the edge is the same Distress Ink then stamped and cut around the sentiment, adding foam at the back to add dimension. 

The card was all layered onto the white card base.

Simple and I think quite lovely.

Hope your weekend is going well.

Pauline

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Fabulous Folds Challenge

You will all know how much I adore stamps from Stampotique.  I have been a busy bee lately and haven't entered anything into their challenges for what seems like ages.

The current challenge is to make something with more than one fold, so here is my creation......

Who remembers playing with these as a child......? 

Pick a letter......

.... and look inside.  Haha this was such fun and after a fashion it does work, all the card makes it less flexible but there is definately more than one fold lol.

Head over to the Stampotique blog and check out all the fabulous and amazing crafts:

http://stampotiquedesignerschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/sdc-october-challenge-links.html

Hope you all have a safe Guy Fawkes Night folks xxx

Pauline

Card: DCWV cardstock

Ink: Distress Ink in Seedless Preserve and Ranger Archival Ink from Wendy Vecchi collection.

I have also entered this wee creation in the Country View Craft challenge blog, which this month is 'Letters'. Please click on the link to see some more fantastic entries:

http://countryviewchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/challenge-9-november.html

ABC Primer Photograph Album

This is an album I have made using the amazing ABC Primer collection from Graphic 45.  I used chalkboard paint on the front cover to mimic the old type blackboards and slates.  I have a video of this on YouTube, just click on this link:  http://youtu.be/iGRWjfRFXos

This is an 8 x 8 album.

 

For the front cover I used chipboard pieces, cut outs, I Am Roses flowers, Bakers twine and layered them all around what is meant to replicate an old blackboard.   

  

The back cover is one of the pages from the 12x12 pad.

  

The spine I left the black card showing and added cut outs and a chipboard piece on the bottom.  I then took a working globe charm on a long chain and added more charms to it.  The theme was 'Knowledge'. Some ribbons have then been added in complimentary colours.  A piece of chalk held on with a coiled piece of red jewellery wire is also attached to enable you to write any message on the front cover (you need to provide your own duster though x).

 

The inside front cover has again been layered with chipboard pieces and cut outs with the number pieces being raised on pop dots to enable a journaling card or picture to be placed behind.

Page 1 allows for a photo mat to slide behind the main picture and is held down with a Basic Grey magnet, the picture flips up enabling more opportunities for photos underneath.

Pages 2 & 3 I have created more layering, places to put favourite momentos behind the 'ABC' cut outs and created small booklets for each page with photo mats inside.  Many of these I have also used a photo corner punch for ease.  The pages also have additional photo mats in the shape of a notepad inside the body of each page, you can see one sticking out here.

Pages 4 & 5 are great fun.  The picture of the child measuring another child is a small booklet with additional photo mats inside and is held on the page using a a Basic Grey magnet. It also flips out when you disengage the magnet, which you can see in the photo below.   In my albums I love creating lots of wee hidyholes to keep the magic going enabling people to keep exploring in the hope of finding more and more.......

Here is a picture taken prior to binding the pages and shows how the inside booklets fold out offering opportunities for journaling and additional photos out with the main photo on the body of the page.

Pages 6 & 7 have more flip out pockets, again held using magnets.  Here lots of layers were achieved using cut outs, chipboard pieces and pop dots to create interest taking the eye around the pages.

Inside the flip is a bellyband with a small booklet, either for journaling or small photos.

This bellyband technique has been used on both pages for rhythm and continuity.

I try to have every layout different, not just because it keeps me entertained, and sometimes at a loss how to create something unique and unusual, but also to maintain the excitement and interest for the person looking through the album.  Can you just image all the amazement and smiles discovering all the pockets?

A bellyband and pocket with borders have been added to create interest and again the same use of the alphabet, albeit in different fonts, help pull the two page theme together.

Within the next pages are more places for treasures, layering and places for tags, photo mats and of course larger photos.  On page 11 I have created more booklet type places, which once removed offer large spaces for photos.

The final page and back cover.  I created another bellyband and adhered different cut outs from the collection layering also to add dimension and interest.  The girl with her arms raised is similar to how I constructed it previously in that it is held in place using a magnet and can be easily lifted off the page.  On the back cover behind the 'pondering child' is a pocket for wee keepsakes.

I hope you enjoyed this and have found some inspiration to complete some crafts yourself.  I am entering this in a blog challenge over at Country View Crafts where Novembers theme is 'Letters', I hope this qualifies?  Without our ABC's where would we be?  Click the link below and it will take you straight over to their page where you can see lots of other  inspirational crafts.  http://countryviewchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/challenge-9-november.html

Before I go here are some other ways to use this collection.  Post it holders I made, great gift for teacher, which we did and I also have one on my office desk, which everyone always comments upon.

Pauline

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Getting Ready For Christmas

Hi all.  I have been keeping really busy lately making cards and tags for a few Christmas craft fairs I have at the end of this month.

Here is what I have been up to.

These are just some of the goodies I have been making.  You can see now why I haven't been blogging for a while.  

All my crafts are for sale on my Folksy page: Pollycraft.  

Hope your all busy crafting and having fun.

Pauline