Use your stash idea

Happy Sunday crafters! 

I have a weakness for beautiful papers and often grab a pad or a rice paper just because I like the look of it, not knowing how I will use it. Then it lays undisturbed in my stash because I cannot bear to cut into that beautiful paper! Sounds familiar?

The A4 Stamperia rice paper below (Blue Dream from the Colorful Life collection DFSA4746) is one of these that I didn't know what to do with, until I had the idea of using it on a mouse mat. 

My old mouse mat was deteriorating and the top layer was lifting up at the corners. 

I realised that if the top layer was plasticised, underneath was a white paper layer that could accept glue. And the size was a little shorter than A4 but I could still fit sky and sea from the rice paper!

To provide the necessary glide for the mouse and protect the top layer, the rice paper had to be treated in some way. Instead of gel medium, varnish or similar, I thought laminating would be the best idea. Of course since I needed to glue the image to the paper layer of the mat I couldn't laminate as normal, that is to say both sides. So I sandwiched my rice paper between one layer of laminating and a page of copy paper both slightly bigger than my rice paper.

Then it's a matter of cutting out the margins to take out the copy paper and applying a good amount of glue or gel medium to the mat and smoothing the laminated rice paper on top. For this project I used matt laminating pouches rather than glossy.

And here's the result:

I have been using my mat for a while now and enjoy looking at that view everyday as well as having something that is unique and made by my fair hands. Really pleased with the result so much so  I upgraded another mat in the same way!!!

Thanks for coming by,
 Craftyfield   

Winter coasters

Hello crafters, 
This fortnight, the Allsorts challenge optional theme, chosen by Helen is "Lets get sentimental". As usual, you can also enter with an "anything goes" theme.

Strictly speaking only one of my make has a focal sentiment, but, as I decided to make coasters and I always make these in pairs...

Both stamps are from Let's Make Cards issue 89, designed by Rare Earth.

I prepared the coasters with white gesso, then painted them with several layers of Paper Artsy Fresco in  Butter as I prefer a matt surface when I need to stamp on top. I added some dark brown paint around the edges.
For the cup I used Versafine Clair ink (Pinecone) but I switched to Archival for the other coaster as it did not dry quickly enough.

Both will need a few coat of varnish before using with hot drinks!

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Hop over to the Allsorts challenge blog to see all the DT inspiration and upload your projects. There is a prize pictured below from Sweet Poppy, an A5 stamp set and a sentiment stencil (plus an extra prize).

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield     I am entering the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday, 

                                                          Stamping Sensations, We Love Stamping and Polkadoodles

                                                          challenges

Pink Christmas

Hello crafters, 

This fortnight, I am hosting the Allsorts challenge and chose the optional theme as "Christmas". As usual, you can also enter with an "anything goes" theme.

Pink is unusual for Christmas cards, but, I was inspired by our Allsorts leader Brenda's gorgeous card and had to try it for myself!

The focal image is from a freebie set included in Simply Craft and Papercraft Issue 237 (Winter Woodland). I simply inked it with different shades of pink and left it at that for a CAS look.

But I did have to mat the image with several layers of die-cuts to fill some of the A6 card size (14.8cm x 10.5): the white and the blue shapes are from now defunct 🥹My Favorite Thing, Blueprints 13, the postal shape is from the AALL & Create  #87 Quirky Post die set.

Finally I stamped the sentiment with a very old magazine freebie set.

And voila... a vision of Christmas in pink! It will not be my go-to colour for the holidays but I think it will feature occasionally!

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And...I have a bonus make for you as I finally got around to make a Christmas décor piece!

I made this on the reverse of my Autumnal panel and you can read the details for the wooden base here.

  

The paper is a freebie from magazine, die-cut with AALL & Create #39 - Infinarty die set. The sentiment is from Tonic Studio and, as it happens, one of the prizes on offer at Allsorts this fortnight! 

The berries, acorn and leaves are made with the Stamperia Woodland Mushrooms mould and I added some pine die-cuts from a number of dies.

I gave all my embellishments some "snow" with white paint, flock and some sparkles (Stamperia).

A closer look :

I am entering this make (with Tasty Berries...)  in the Outlawz Saturday challenge

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Hop over to the Allsorts challenge blog to see all the DT inspiration and upload your projects. There are two prizes of stamps, stencils and dies pictured below for lucky winners, all Christmas themed!

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the pink card in the  Lost Coast Designs, Outlawz,

                                                         We Love Stamping, Outlawz Challenges Friday and

                                                          Addicted to Stamps & More challenges

Double tag

Hello crafters, 
This fortnight, the Allsorts challenge optional theme, chosen by Brenda is "Autumn colours". As usual, you can also enter with an "anything goes" theme.

I made a tag with a difference...

I started with a piece of AALL & Create paper, which I die-cut leaving the top of the die out of the sandwich.

I changed the colours by applying several layers of Distress Oxides using the smooshing technique.

 

The focal points are from the Penny Black Silhouettes stamp set (40-239), I stamped the portraits on white card and the frames onto black card, embossed in gold. I fussy cut both before assembling.

Some Field Snippets and a bit of Washi Tape (AALL & Create) finish the tag(s).

As the size is relatively small, I am thinking this would make a good bookmark, if there are any people left reading physical books...

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Hop over to the Allsorts challenge blog to see all the DT inspiration and upload your projects. There are prizes each of stamps from Stamp Addicts (pictured below) for a lucky winner!

And an additional prize for one US entrant of a $ 25 Simon Says Stamp voucher!!!

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the Stamping Sensations, We Love Stamping,

                                                         Outlawz Saturday, Tag-Along (and ATCs), and 

                                                         Outlawz Festive Friday challenges

Snarky Cats tags

Hello crafters, 
This fortnight, the Allsorts challenge optional theme, chosen by Lynne, is "Traditional Christmas colours". As usual, you can also enter with an "anything goes" theme.

I made a trio of tags:

The cats are from the Stampers Anonymous/Tim Holtz Snarky Cats set (CMS416). I stamped them with Versafine Sand Dune and coloured them with pencils before fussy cutting them.

I cut a base tag and a matching panel with the AALL & Create #27 - Tag It Yourself die set using the 2 smaller die shapes. The papers are freebies from magazines.

To detach the cats from the colourful background I layered them on a small piece of mulberry paper. 

I am entering this tag in the Tag along (and ATCs) challenge.

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Hop over to the Allsorts challenge blog to see all the DT inspiration and upload your projects. There are is a Tim Holtz Festive Foliage stamp set and store voucher for digital products from Buddly Crafts for a lucky winner pictured below!

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am also entering the tags in the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday 

                                                        and Outlawz Festive Friday challenges

Marcie's Halloween Potion

Hello crafters, 

Halloween is approaching fast... and I have something spooky (not TOO spooky!!) with the customary green, orange and purple colours. Yes Marcie is back witching...

Stamps used are all Lavinia and I used Distress Inks for the background.
I added bubbles with white gel pen and a few sprinkles of glitter to finish.

Stamps:
LAV916 Marcie
LAV478 Fairy Fir Tree
LAV760 Oak Leaf
LAV836 Small Pine Trees
LAV219 Tree Scene
LAV431Moon
LAV915Mini Rune
LAV564Mini Forest Mushroom
LAV857 Forest Moss

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the Stamping Sensations, We Love Stamping, 

                                                        Outlawz, Outlawz Tuesday Color, Outlawz Festive Friday

                                                        and Lost Coast Designs challenges

Zen Hedgehog

Hello crafters, 
This fortnight, the Allsorts challenge optional theme, chosen by Sarah is "Woodland Critters". As usual, you can also enter with an "anything goes" theme. I chose a Hedgehog with a difference for my make: 

The focal image is a stamp by Rubber Dance, Handsome Hedgehog (RSSS0024), coloured with pencils.

I die-cut the image with the AALL & Create Tag It Yourself #27 die set and, as it was a little short, I adjusted the height and added the small label shape from the set at the top when sticking to the mat, cut with the largest die.

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Hop over to the Allsorts challenge blog to see all the DT inspiration and upload your projects. There are two prizes from Lavinia Stamps, stencil and stampscapes  pictured below for lucky winners!

World Animal Day is October 4th which fits in so nicely with this fortnights theme. So to celebrate there will be some surprise random spot prizes during this challenge open to all entrants Worldwide. Winners of those will be announced on 10th October when this challenge closes.

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday, 

                                                  Outlawz Saturday,  Tag-Along (and ATCs),

                                                  and Outlawz Festive Friday challenges

Reconstructed wood

Hello crafters!
Today its the Autumn colours that have inspired me, very different from my last offering. And no stamping either... very unusual! 

My base is the result of a lengthier process than expected! I started with a base of a light wood panel which I embossed with the Tim Holtz Folder Lumber, after applying colour with Distress inks  and spraying with water. It's better to emboss whilst wet to avoid the fragile wood breaking.  

Next step is to emboss with a stylus and hand cut "planks". I laid my planks on a piece of Kraft cardstock using gel medium and let it dry under weighty books.

Finally for a more realistic look I added "nails" with a graphite pencil, and took bites of the top planks with a craft knife as this is obviously an old door/wall/gate/whatever...

My embellishments are from Tim Holtz, a Paper Doll, some Field Snippets and also some Vellum Ephemera from Arden Creative Studio . If you wondered what they are like, they are quite sturdy and only semi translucent.

I applied some blue colour to the butterfly with Distress Crayons and some red and yellow to the girls' dresses. 

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield       I am entering the Outlawz Saturday challenge 

Parrot tag

Hello crafters, 

A brightly coloured tag to keep me you in the summer spirit...

The paper background is Photoplay Tropical Garden. I stamped the parrot from the Feathered Friends Mini 24 Stamp set, building the layers in different colours of ink and die-cut it with the matching die.
I layered the parrot on top of tropical leaves and flowers (die set from The Works) and added dots with Wendy Vecchi/Ranger Enamel Accents.

I hope this brightened your day!

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the SSS Wednesday, Tag-Along (and ATCs), 

                                                         Stamping Sensations, Outlawz Saturday, 

                                                         and We Love Stamping challenges

Leafy Trees

Hello crafters, 
This fortnight, the Allsorts challenge optional theme, chosen by Val is "Trees/leaves/plants". As usual, you can also enter with an "anything goes" theme.

The focal image is one of the stamp from the Crafty Individual CI-429 'Trees Galore'. I do have a lot of tree stamps, especially from Crafty Individuals but not only. The most difficult was to choose!

I am using the AALL & Create #93 Woodsy Vibes die set and this is its first public outing. Obviously it will feature a lot in Autumn makes but today it's perfect for our Allsorts theme. I die-cut the frame first in brown and then in the green paper (Paper Artsy Chatsworth...) snipping the leaves only. 

When I bought the die I didn't realise the the die cuts both the outside AND the inside of the frame which means that you need to layer the frame onto a base card. I kept the negative (the "innie") and stuck it to the base card with the branches so it would all be the same colour.

The second die in the set cuts a slightly smaller mat and I used that to create the focal image.

I used a polymer plate and Distress inks to create sky and grass and then stamped my trees in several colours of inks using both inkpads (small ones) and brush pens.

Hop over to the Allsorts challenge blog to see all the DT inspiration and upload your projects. There are two prizes of 2 stamps sets pictured below for the lucky winners!

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the Polkadoodles and Creative Moments challenges

Blooming Branch Blues

Hello crafters,
A CAS card with beautiful blooms today:

All stamps and stencils from the Altenew Dynamic Blooming Branch.

A lot of white space for that clean look! Hope you will like this one.

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the Stamping Sensations, Addicted to stamps & more , 

                                                        Altenew Inspiration Challenge, We Love Stamping challenges

Autumn is coming

Hello crafters!
I am feeling inspired by the fast approaching Autumn season with the changing colours of the Autumn leaves... My starting point for this card was a fairly recent die-set that I bought especially for Autumn makes!

I first inked the background with Distress inks and pieces of card for the shape of the hills.

I stamped all the elements of the scene before die-cutting with the inside mat of the Woodsy Vibes die  set.
I die-cut the frame from brown cardstock and die-cut an additional piece for the leaves side of the frame from multicoloured cardstock I had prepared with Distress Oxides .

Then all that remains to do is to stick down everything on the card base, a sunny orange coloured  piece of card.

I have to say I have been using AALL & Create die sets, for nearly every card I make recently, and I think it's because these sets are big enough to serve as base and have unusual shapes.  

Supplies:

All stamps from Lavinia

- Scout LAV859

- Moon LAV431

- Tree scene LAV219 

- Forest Moss LAV857

- Forest Mushroom LAV564

- AALL & Create #93 Woodsy vibes die set

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield       I am entering the, Addicted to stamps, Polkadoodles, 

                                                           Simon Says Stamp Monday, Stamping Sensations,

                                                           Simon Says Stamp Wednesday, We Love Stamping and

                                                           Outlawz Festive Friday (Colours of the Season), 

                                                           Outlawz Tuesday Color and Outlawz Challenges 

Birthday Car

Hello crafters, 
This fortnight, the Allsorts challenge optional theme, chosen by Brenda is "Birthday". As usual, you can also enter with an "anything goes" theme.

The focal image is from the Old Crock set (BK-HA008) from Butterfly Kisses.

I coloured it with a mixture of coloured pencils and alcohol markers.

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Hop over to the Allsorts challenge blog to see all the DT inspiration and upload your projects. There are two prizes of 2 stamps sets pictured below for a lucky winner!

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge

Marcie on a night out

Hello crafters!
For you today I have another inspiration make for our Country View Challenge held in the Facebook group. This month the theme is "Silhouettes" hosted by Carol

My tag features Lavinia's Marcie (LAV 916) who is taking a sabbatical from witchcraft until October... 🤣 

All she needed to do was hang up her hat and broom! (I wiped off the ink from these areas before stamping).
My base is AALL & Create paper #9 Tarnished Wonders, inked with Distress and Distress Oxide Inks.
I also stamped Small Pine Trees (LAV 836), Mini Seed Head (LAV30) and Mini Fairy Lantern (LAV 588) which Marcie is now holding to light her way to a fancy soiree.

Lavinia's moon was too big for my tag so I just reserved a portion of a circle top left and added white with Distress Crayon in lieu of a stamped moon.

To create the glow around Marcie I used pastels and white gel pen add a few details to the tag.

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To enter the challenge, hop on to our friendly group here and upload your project to the challenge album. You could win the Tim Holtz inspired bundle pictured below from the Country View Craft shop.

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield       I am entering the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday, 

                                                             Tag-Along (and ATCs), Stamping Sensations, 

                                                             We Love Stamping, Outlawz Saturday, Outlawz and 

                                                             Addicted to Stamps  challenges 

Butterfly Box

Hello crafters, 

This fortnight, the Allsorts challenge optional theme, chosen by Ellie is "I spy B". As usual, you can also enter with an "anything goes" theme.

For my make I chose Butterfly and made this box:

The focal image is built up with AALL & Create #113 Washi Tape "Nostalgic Post" , and matted on Paper Artsy Chatsworth paper.

The box itself is made with the Shadow Frame Box die set by Tonic.

For finishing touch I added a butterfly die-cut with Sara Signature Country Lane Swirled Butterflies by Crafters' Companion, which doubles up as a lid pull.

 

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Hop over to the Allsorts challenge blog to see all the DT inspiration and upload your projects. There are two prizes of coordinated stamps and dies pictured below for a lucky winner!

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the  Simon Says Stamp Wednesday, Outlawz and

                                                         Outlawz Saturday challenges

Flower and Butterfly

Hello crafters, 

Another feminine card with this stamp from Crafty Individuals, sadly missed since the closure of their rubber stamp business.

Supplies: 

- CI-521 'Fragile Butterfly' (Crafty Individuals)

- Dye based brush markers (to stamp with)

- Coloured pencils (the blue of the butterfly)

- AALL & Create #91 Film Drip

- Cream and black cardstock

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the Addicted to Stamps, 

                                                         Stamping Sensations, We Love Stamping, challenges

Cup of roses birthday card

Hello crafters, 

a blast from the past today! I pulled out that lovely STAMPlorations floral stamp to make a birthday card.

I stamped the image with white pigment ink and coloured with pencils on Kraft paper to get a no-lines effect. 

Supplies:

- A Cup of Roses (STAMPLorations)

- AALL & Create #87 Quirky Post die set

- Sentiment die from the Everyday sentiments set (also STAMPLorations).

- coloured pencils

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday, and

                                                         We Love Stamping challenges

Santa is coming to town

Hello crafters!
Today I have a first inspiration make for our Country View Challenge held in the Facebook group. This month the theme is "Silhouettes " hosted by Carol . 

I am not normally one for making "Christmas in summer" but it seemed appropriate as I haven't had the chance to use the  Sizzix/Tim Holtz Vault Christmas Magic die set (666718) very much so far.

I used paper from my stash for the sky and ground.

The sentiment is an old stamp, also from my stash, and I added some iridescent stars with So Soft paint in White Pearl for some shine with the Tim Holtz Mini Layering Stencil 43 (THMST043)

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To enter the challenge, hop on to our friendly group here and upload your project to the challenge album. You could win the Tim Holtz inspired bundle pictured belowfrom the Country View Craft shop.

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield       I am entering the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge  

Mother Elephant

Hello crafters, 
This fortnight, the Allsorts challenge optional theme, chosen by Helen is "Animals". As usual, you can also enter with an "anything goes" theme.

The focal image is Imagination crafts Art Stamps inked with Kaleidacolor "Vineyard" inkpad.

The sentiment, stamped with the same inkpad is from the Rubber Dance set Retro Beach.

The background paper is from a Gorjuss pack, die-cut with the AALL & Create #78 Roadways Vistas. matted to black card, die-cut with the matching die in the same set.

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Hop on over to the Allsorts challenge blog to see all the DT inspiration and upload your projects. There are two prizes of Lavinia Stamps, stencil and Stampscapes pictured below for a lucky winner! (photos not to scale)

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday and

                                                      Polkadoodles challenges

All aboard

Hello crafters!

Today I have a first inspiration make for our Country View Challenge held in the Facebook group. This month the theme is "The Great Outdoors " hosted by Jane. 
For my second inspiration I pulled out my most recent Lavinia stamps Double Trouble (LAV963)

I started with a base of white card die-cut with AALL & Create #27 Die set "Tag It Yourself"

I did the stamping first as I needed to know where to leave out "the light", all with Versafine Black ink. As well as the mice, I used these other stamps used (all Lavinia):

- Bulrushes (LAV003)

- Fantasea (LAV721)

- Mini Fairy Lantern (LAV588)

- Forest Moss (LAV857)

I used Elements inks and Distress Inks to colour the background adding ripples in the water with a white crayon. The black mat is the matching die from the same "Tag It Yourself" set.

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To enter the challenge, hop on to our friendly group here and upload your project to the challenge album. You could win a a fabulous Paper Artsy floral stamp set designed by Alison Bomber.

Thanks for coming by,
 Craftyfield   I am entering the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday,

                                                       Tag-Along (and ATCs), We Love Stamping and 

                                                       Stamping Sensations challenges         

Layered Flowers

Hello crafters, 
This fortnight, the Allsorts challenge optional theme, chosen by Lynn, is "Pretty Flowers". As usual, you can also enter with an "anything goes" theme. My flower inspiration is a beautiful set by Altenew consisting of stencils and stamps:

The flowers and leaves are built up in layers with several shades of dye ink using the stencils of the Altenew Dynamic Duo Blooming Branch Stamp and Stencil set. The stamens are added with the stamps as is the sentiment.

 I die-cut the image and the matching mat with the AALL & Create #91 Die Set - Film Drip.

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Hop over to the Allsorts challenge blog to see all the DT inspiration and upload your projects. There are two prizes from AALL and Create an A4 and an A5 stamp set pictured below for a lucky winner!

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the Stamping Sensations, and 

                                                         We Love Stamping challenges