Floral card

Hello crafters!

Today is my second post on the theme of "Mother's Day/Use flower(s)" for our Country View Challenge held in the Facebook group and hosted by Cassie.

I selected vellum for this card as I wanted to use coloured pencils. 

Why vellum, I hear you ask? Well, vellum has 2 advantages when it comes to coloured pencils: the first is that the paper has a texture that grabs the pencil, allowing more colour to be applied, the second, because it is semi opaque. a second layer of colour can be applied to the back for even stronger depth of colour.

First I stamped the flowers from the AALL & Create "In The Wild" stamp set (#529) in white pigment ink . Then I coloured on top with the pencils.

The image and its mat have been die-cut with the AALL & Create Splodazzlers set (#33).

Finishing touches are some of the little "bits" from the same die set and small brads I have coloured with nail varnish (in pink) and embossing powders (the black and the white brads).

To enter the challenge, hop on to our friendly group here and upload your project to the challenge album. You could win the fabulous prize pictured below, one of the just released Paper Artsy stamp set from the Country View Craft shop.

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield       I am entering the challenge We Love Stamping and Polkadoodles 

Autumnal shaped card

Hello crafters, 

Recently I have seen a lot of Hexagonal cards and as they do look impressive and different, I decided to have a go myself.

I followed the instructions from this video by a British crafters, it's not particularly difficult, as long as you can measure and cut your mats accurately (or you have dies to do the job!).

The papers I used are from Crafty Individuals (Weekend in Seville) and so is the "Counting Toadstool" stamp (CI-574) that I have fussy cut partially and coloured with pencils. 

I added some die-cut and punched leaves and voila...

I hope you like this one and do tell if you knew of this shape card and have made some yourselves.
Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the Simon Says Stamp Monday, Allsorts,
                                                      We Love Stamping, SnarkyStampers, Addicted to Stamps challenges

Bridge over Calm Water

Hello crafters, 

I indulged in scene making with Lavinia stamps... 

The stamps used are: 
- LAV72 Fantasea
- LAV866 Sacred Bridge Small
- LAV003 Bulrushes
- LAV478 Fairy Fir Tree
- LAV760 Oakleaf

For colouring I used Distress inks, coloured pencils, pastel pencils and gel pen.
Looking at it now, I'm thinking the perspective isn't brilliant and the morning light is a bit too subdued. Room for improvement... 

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the Addicted to Stamps, Allsorts and

                                                       Stamping Sensations challenges

Beach games

Hello crafters, 
Although the British weather yet again disappoints, my thoughts are definitely turned to sunny beaches... 

 

The stamps are all Crafty Individuals: "Sandy Toes & Salty Kisses" (CI-459) and "By the Sea" (CI-454).

I used Versacraft and Brilliance inks to stamp and coloured the image with pencils.

I think the card is crying out for additional details, maybe some stitching or inking all around and some more detailing of sea and sand with pencils but... I chickened out having already spoiled my first attempt!

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge 

                                                        We Love Stamping, Stamping Sensations and Allsorts challenges

National Gin Day

Hello crafters!
 I am back for a second dose of humour for the Country View Challenge held in the Facebook group where the theme is "Make Me Smile".

Are you preparing for the 8th of June world event? [1]

 Hmm... I am proposing a reschedule...  

[1] National Gin Day 2nd Saturday in June 

I used the stamp and matching die sets "Keep your Gin Up" by Visible image. 

The bottles at the back are stamped directly on the card front whilst the foreground 3 have been die-cut.  I stamped with dye inks in various colours and coloured the images with pencils. 
I created the sentiment on the computer.

So, no time to lose, create something funny and enter the challenge for the chance to win! You will find our May challenge here, in our friendly Facebook group. Our prize this month is 3 inkpads of the new release of Versafine Clair inks.

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the Allsorts and We Love Stamping challenges

Make Me Smile

It's the middle of the month but today is my first post for May's Country View Challenge held in the Facebook  group. The theme is "Make Me Smile" and I immediately thought of those Visible Image alcohol based stamp sets.

I first printed the sentiment on my base card to avoid spoiling a finished image... tip: always print a draft on cheap paper first!

I stamped bottle, glass and cork on white card and die-cut the images with the matching die set (99% Chance Of Wine). I coloured the bottle and cork with pencils.

 

I used the stencil Morocco by Daily ART to create a wallpaper impression and applied Distress inks for the table.

Finally I positioned the die-cuts on the based card.

I hope this card makes you smile and inspire you to enter our May challenge, if you do you could win 3 of the new colours of Versafine Clair inkpads, but you will need to join our friendly Facebook group here if you haven't already.

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield      I am entering the Allsorts and Stamping Sensations challenges

Purple Crocus

Hello again! 

I have another flower card today... I just had to use this AALL & Create stamp that I won at Stamping Sensations challenge last month.

The result sadly doesn't quite match my initial vision, but I am showing it here anyway

 keeping it real...

The stamp is from the Crocus set (#624) by AALL & Create, the heart die (cut in white and then black) is from the Studio light "So Spring" (SS78) die set, and I used a scalloped die to cut the black card (Julie Hickey Designs, JHD-CUT-1003).

Once stamped, I coloured the crocus with pencils and added a bit of white acrylic splatter to finish.

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the Allsorts, Stamping Sensations and

                                                     We Love Stamping challenges

Dapper Bunny

Hello crafters!

Today I have a second inspiration make for our Country View Challenge held in the Facebook  group. This month the theme is "Mad March Hare" which also includes rabbits and anything Easter!

This time my card doesn't even sport a sentiment on the front as, ahem, it got rather busy! Last year I made a few of these "Floating frame" cards and I just love how impressive they look. 

My focal image is the bunny from the AALL & Create Set "In the Wild" (#529), which I coloured with pencils.

The frame is made of several flowers and leaves die-cut with the Sizzix Thinlits  – Floral Layers die set (664359), which I coloured with Distress inks. I could have die cut into coloured cardstock but this gave me more control over the exact shades, as I don't have all colours of cardstock under the sun! Especially greens since I don't like them and yet there are often necessary for all the trees and leaves so I always run out!!!

And another look at the height:

So, no time to lose, create something for Easter and/or with a bunny in it, to win it! You will find our March challenge here, in our friendly Facebook group. Our prize this month is this lovely bundle....

Thanks for coming by, 

 Craftyfield   I am entering the SSS Wednesday Allsorts, Stamping Sensations,

                                                         Addicted to Stamps  challenges

Mad March Hare

Hello crafters!

Today I have a first inspiration make for our Country View Challenge held in the Facebook  group. This month, the theme is "Mad March Hare" which also includes rabbits and anything Easter!

My first card is a Birthday card but can be adapted easily for Easter.

I created a light background of sky and grass with Distress inks and torn paper masks.

I die-cut my sentiment (a combination of 2 Papertrey ink dies and a letter from the Tim Holtz/Sizzix Alphanumeric Script set - 662228) out of cardstock and out of foam, glueing them together for more dimension.

The focal point is of course rabbits, the funny Katzelkraft Mini 114, which I stamped on kraft colour cardstock and coloured with pencils.

Those who come here often know how much I dislike fussy cutting but... one has to suffer for one's craft! Yes, I did fussy cut those 5 plus another 2 I thought I might need!

I popped them up on foam pads and, voila, hopping rabbits or one caught on a camera's burst mode...

Anyhoo, I hope I have inspired you to enter our March challenge, if you do you could win a nice bundle (see below), but you will need to belong to our friendly Facebook group here.

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield     I am entering the SSS Monday, SSS Wednesday, Allsorts,

                                                         Stamping Sensations, and Addicted to Stamps challenges.

Spring is coming...

And not soon enough! Today I have a Spring inspired card with a floating frame, one of last year discovery for me and now a firm favourite of mine.

The bird is "Sweet Robin Redbreast" by Crafty Individuals (CI-456). I stamped it in grey ink, coloured it in pencils and fussy cut it.

The flowers and leaves are die-cut with Crafters Companion Country Lane Perfect Peony die set, the branch from the Sizzix Thinlits Die Set "Christmas Shadow Box" by Courtney Chilson (663611) and the Spring sentiment, Chocolate Baroque - "Breath of Spring", has been die-cut with a Papertrey ink die set (Memory Clips Die).

I gave a slight hint of sky in the background of my base card with Distress Inks. Then, it was a matter of positioning all the elements and sticking them down with foam pads. You might see the dimension better in this photo:

I will warn you now... another floating frame make will be coming here soon!!!

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the SSS Wednesday, Allsorts, We Love Stamping,

                                                      Stamping Sensations, SSS Monday

                                                      and the Lost Coast Designs challenges

Love Round

Is it that time already?! Yes, Valentine's day is coming up rather soon so I unearthed all things hearts to make a card for my man.  

The focal image is Crafty Individual "A Walk in the Park" stamp (CI-439) and the sentiment is from the set CI-402 "Just Be My Friend". 

I coloured the couple with pencils and added a background around them with Distress inks. 

I matted my image on glitter cardstock as it was the only red cardstock I happened to have! A bit too bright but it's Valentine and I needed red to balance the pink of the paper (a freebie from a magazine). 

Finally, a small die-cut of entwined hearts finishes the card. 

Is it TOO pink for a man? I do hope he likes it anyway! 

Thanks for coming by, 

 Craftyfield   I am entering the SSS Monday, SSS Wednesday, 

                                                        We Love Stamping and Lost Coast Designs challenges

Blue Monday

Today I have a 2nd inspiration post for our Country View Challenge,
where the theme is "Be Wordy"

Although Blue Monday was officially last Monday, I have a feeling the most miserable day will actually be tomorrow! So, I think, for those brave souls that attempted it, it's time to give up on dry January... and, as the card says...let the drinking be gin!!! 

I used the stamp and coordinating die set Keep Your Gin Up by Visible Image to stamp the glasses and ice cubes in shades of grey. The lemon slices were coloured with pencils as well as the bottle I had stamped in green ink. 

I stencilled the background with an older stencil, Sunburst by Andy Skinner (DecoArt). 

I hope you will join us in the Facebook group to enter our Country View Crafts challenge, anything with quotes, words or sentiment will be welcomed, as long as you use products or brands stocked at Country View Crafts. If you do you could win a bundle of words/sentiment stamps by Visible Image, Tracy Easson and 49 and Market PLUS a pack of chipboard words!

Cheers!

 Craftyfield   I am entering the SSS Wednesday, Stamping Sensations,   
                                                            Allsorts and the Lost Coast Designs challenges 

Wet January

For my 1st Country View Challenge inspiration post, where the theme this month is Be Wordy, I have an alcohol-based card for you... Dry January? Pfft... How are we supposed to get through the most miserable month whilst going on a diet and foregoing our tipples? No wonder we fail our resolutions as soon as we make them! 

I used the stamp and matching die set 99 % Chance Of Wine. All elements stamped and die-cut except the sentiment stamped directly on the base card. For the glasses I used Elements Premium Dye Ink Pad in Merlot, it seemed appropriate! I coloured the bottle with pencils. 

I created a background with Distress inks, using the mini stencil set 28 by Tim Holtz for the brick wall. 

I hope you will join us in the Facebook group to enter our challenge, anything with quotes, words or sentiment will be welcomed for our Country View Crafts challenge, as long as you use products or brands stocked at Country View Crafts. If you do you could win a bundle of words/sentiment stamps by Visible Image, Tracy Easson and 49 and Market PLUS a pack of chipboard words!  

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the Lost Coast challenge

Winter scene under the stars

Hello crafters another winter scene... this time I went for the more whimsical with the Lavinia Honeysuckle cottage (LAV687) fit for a fairy and the starry sky of a magical Christmas... 

I stamped and masked the cottage and created paper masks to colour sky and hills with Distress inks.  

In the sky I stamped and embossed the stars (LAV152 Stars Mini); on the sides of the card I stamped the fir tree (LAV478) with both green and brown inks (Versafine).  

I used colour pencils for the cottage and added some shimmering white ink (brilliance Moonlight White) with a sponge on top of the hills, roof and fir trees as if snow had settled there. But since this wasn't noticeable enough, especially in photos, I also used white gel pen on the trees and rocks. 

I considered adding a sentiment at the bottom and maybe will do later! 

Thanks for coming by, 

 Craftyfield   I am entering the Stamping Sensations (favourite colour is blue),
                                                        SSS Monday, and Lost Coast Designs challenges 

Secret Garden

Hello crafters! 

Today is a special day... I am featuring as GDT on the Creative Artist Challenge blog, where the theme is Anything Mixed Media goes!  I would usually have paints involved for a Mixed Media make but my muse decided otherwise... 
I was itching to use wood again and make a door hanger (see my previous one here) with a garden theme. 

For my base, I die-cut my wood panel (this is very thin food tray wood that I upcycle) and embossed it with the Sizzix/Tim Holtz 3-D Texture Fades Embossing Folder - Lumber (662718).

My background "garden" is a piece of sprayed cardstock in Distress Oxide Blue print, Tea dye and Cosmic Shimmer - Pearlescent Airless Mister in Hello Sunshine.  

All the garden elements have been stamped, die-cut and coloured with pencils and are all from the Crafters Companion Country Lane collection.

For finishing touches I added the embossed "garden" a stamp by Paper Artsy (ELB02) with Cosmic Shimmer in Aurora. It's a very thick EP with lots of small speckles that blew all over which gave that imperfect look (my heat gun is over enthusiastic shall we say!)

Finally, I dug deep into the stash to retrieve Flowersoft! Anyone remember how popular this was? I felt positively virtuous using it as, let's face it, my pot hasn't seen a lot of action and yet, at the time, I had to have it.

I hope you like this make and pop over to the Creative Artist Challenge blog to see all the DT makes and link up to the challenge.

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the SSS Wednesday, Addicted to Stamps and

                                                        Allsorts challenges

Gift of Lemons

Today I have a card from my Gin & Wine series with Visible image stamp set Keep Your Gin Up. 

 It hasn't got a sentiment so can be used on several (or no particular) occasions.  

I first stamped the glass with grey and blueish inks and masked it. Bottle and lemons were stamped with coloured dye inks and the words in Versafine black.

All colouring was done with pencils.

Cheers!
 Craftyfield       Challenges entered:  

                                                            We Love Stamping and Stamping  Sensations 

NOT going to the next round

Hello crafters, today I have another inspiration make for the Country View Challenge on the theme of 4 Legged Friend, hosted this month by Sue. 

Today's page is a send up of a very popular talent show. I'm not a great lover of that show as I feel over the years it's become less about the talent and more about the dramas but it's one of these silly ideas that popped up in my mind looking at the meerkats stamp set. Go figure! 

I battled with the Gelli plate for a suitable background. It had to be dark enough and not too busy, so after trying out stencils, and several mix of colours I got to this nondescript page. 

I used 2 meerkats stamps (one for the contestants and one for the judges) and coloured them with pencils.

I put the meerkats (Katzelkraft KTZ 216) in the spotlight by adding some yellow paint.

I created the banner on the computer.

The meerkats are not in stock anymore, but this would be so funny with other Katzelkraft sets with their bizarre "animals".

You have one week left so hop to it and create a 4 Legged Friend (domestic or wild) project and link up to the Country View Challenge. You can enter up to 5 times and there is a £20 voucher for the Country View Craft shop. to win.

*******
This is the last post on the Country View Challenges blog as we are taking a break in August and September whilst changes are made to the way the challenge is run. 

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield     I am entering the SSS Wednesday challenge and Allsorts

Tropical frame

Hello crafters, today I have another inspiration make for the Country View Challenge on the theme of 4 Legged Friend, hosted this month by Sue. 

I first stamped the sloth image (Creative Stamping magazine issue 57 from 2018) in Versafine Clair in Acorn and masked it. 

I used Distress inks and a brush to add a sky and greenery around the sloth. 

Then with many leaves and hibiscus die-cuts I created a frame around the sloth as if peeping through the jungle. The leaves and flowers are popped up on foam pads of different heights and the very fine ones are supported by the bigger die-cuts. 

Unlike my last card (here) this was time consuming, but a technique I do enjoy as something different, inspired by my Floating Frame card.

I have 1 more inspiration make for you next week, but don't delay and create a 4 Legged Friend (domestic or wild) project and link up to the Country View Challenge. You can enter up to 5 times and there is a £20 voucher for the Country View Craft shop. to win.

*******
Heads up: Country View Challenges we will be taking a break in August and September whilst changes are made to the way the challenge is run. 

Thanks for coming by,

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

                                                          Addicted to Stamps and Allsorts challenges

Badger and Fantasea

Welcome to July and my first post for the new Country View Challenge! 

The theme chosen by the lovely Sue is 4 Legged friend. 

I am starting with this badger, a Lavinia stamp: 

I stamped the Badger (LAV443) and the Fantasea (LAV721) and masked them before stamping the Fairy Fir Tree (LAV478).

I then used Distress inks with brushes and torn paper to create sky, hills, lake and grass. 

I used colour pencils for the Fantasea, badger and sun.

Finally, I added some Berry Leaves (LAV577) with green inks and some punched flowers. Full disclosure - the flowers are hiding a mishap with a mushroom stamp...

I will be back for more inspiration but, in the meantime, it's your turn to create a project featuring a 4 Legged animal (and not a bird as per my initial thoughts...) and link it up to the Country View Challenge for the chance to win a £20 voucher for the Country View Craft shop.

*******
Heads up: Country View Challenges we will be taking a break in August and September whilst changes are made to the way the challenge is run. 

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield     I am entering the SSS Wednesday challenge, 

                                                        Addicted to Stamps and Allsorts

A glass half full

Today I have a CAS card from my Gin and wine series made as a gift. 

This one uses the Stamp set Keep Your Gin Up and the wood grain stencil from the mini stencil set 10 by Tim Holtz.

I used masks to layer the stamping and stencil the background and coloured the bottle and lemons with pencils.

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the Lost Coast Designs and We Love Stamping
                                                       challenges