Allsorts challenge Birthday!

Hello crafters, 
This fortnight, the Allsorts challenge celebrates its 16th Birthday! For that very special challenge we have an easy theme... Anything Goes and fantastic prize bundles of AALL & Create crafty goodness amongst others!

So of course I had to showcase one of my latest acquisition from ALL & Create... 

I used a sheet (A4) of the Ethereal Expeditions paper (#15) from AALL & Create with the die Building Silhouettes (#58) to create the card.
Steps: 
1. Place the die on the side you have chosen as the front of the card, bottom right on the long side. 

2. Die-cut 

3. Turn the card to the opposite side (the back) and place the die to the right of the sheet. 

    To get the same effect as I did, with the higher roofs at the back, place the die higher than for the previous cut. I placed mine 2.5cm (1") above.

4. This time you need to do a partial cut, and only die cut the top of the die, otherwise you going to have the back of the card cut off! In addition if you want to write on the inside, try to cut only what is visible from the front so that the rest of the card is without windows! 

After die cutting score the card in the middle and fold. The opened card in the sun gives lovely shadows:

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Hop over to the Allsorts challenge blog to see all the DT inspiration and upload your projects. There are four prizes from  AALL and Create pictured below for a lucky winner....

AND.... three prizes just for our US based entrants:

A $25 store voucher from Lawn Fawn

Three stamps from Colorado Craft Company

A $25 store voucher from Gina K Designs (Worldwide)

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   

Mr O'Neil

Hello crafters!
Today I am showing a second inspiration make for our Country View Challenge on the theme "Aged, weathered, distressed or timeworn " hosted by Brenda.

For this tag I chose Paper Artsy Infusions to create the aged/distressed look in the background.

The base of my tag is thin wood cut with the AALL & Create Die set Tag It Yourself #27 and gessoed. I then sprinkled Infusions in Rusty Car, Walnut and A Bit Jaded onto the sprayed tag.

I added some stencilling with white acrylic with the Tim Holtz Mini Stencil #43. 

Bits of washi tape (AALL & Create #107), clip die-cut (AALL & Create #30 Taggletastic) embossed with a mix of Wow Embossing powders, with a note attached (stamp by Andy Skinner), Cello Sticker Tape  (TH94386) and finally paper doll (the imaginary Mr O'Neil now cast as an industry magnate!).

 

The cogs are cut from masterboards created with acrylic paints in black, and Distress Oxides sprays in Salty Ocean, Fossilized Amber and Tea Dye. Then they were die-cut with the Sizzix Bigz L Cogs .

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To enter the challenge, hop on to our friendly group here and upload your project to the challenge album. ">There will be a fabulous prize from the Country View Craft shop, something from a latest release...

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield     I am entering the challenge Tag-Along (and ATCs) and 

                                                          Creative Artist.

Using up leftovers

Hello crafters,

As the new Tag Along and ATC challenge has made its debut this month, I have made an effort to create ATC's and this is the first one.

  

I have assembled the ATC from already stamped and die-cut images, die-cut waste and snippets...

The pot plants are from Crafters Companion (Sara Signature Country Lane Perennials in Pots)

The arch, Kraft corner and background vellum are waste from die-cuts and the butterfly had escaped from, I presume, a Tim Holtz field notes snippets pack.

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   

Of Layered Frames and Sticky Grid

Hello crafters!
Today I have a second inspiration make for our Country View Challenge held in the Facebook group. This month the theme is "Use a frame(s)" hosted by Sue . 

This time I created several frames with dies and a hero product often overlooked!

 

Have you got in your stash some of Tim Holtz's Layer Frames?  If it were not for my extensive dithering I would have... but since I missed out on these I finally decided to make my own....

In order to make the frames I needed some shape dies, 2 to a frame, and this, underrated product from Sizzix, the Sticky grid. If you are not familiar with this product it's a double sided sheet of paper printed with imperial measurements and sticky (removable) on both sides. 

As advised by our crafting god, Tim Holtz, I use it to hold in place my cardstock on my blending mat and also in my stamping platform. These I use and re-use many, many times... 

The sticky grid allowed me to place the dies in the precise position required and kept them there whilst cutting the several layers I needed to get the same thickness as the Layer Frames.

I then glued all the layers together and voila my own Layer Frames! 

I was so pleased with the result I carried on with different pair of dies, paper etc... and used them together on a file folder.

Supplies: 

- Graphic 45 paper "Place in Time" 6x6

- Stamperia "Coffee and Chocolate" 12x12

- Prima "Reflections" A4 pad

- Ideology Folio folders (TH94370)

- Ideology Ephemera Pack TH94396

- Tissue Tape (by Tim Holtz)

- Ideology Ephemera Field Notes Snippets (TH94049)

- Ideology Paper Dolls (TH93555)

- Idea-ology- Tiny Clips (TH94025 )

- Spellbinders, Docrafts and MFT dies

- antique bits and pieces from my stash

Here's all the pages of my make:

To enter the challenge, hop on to our friendly group here and upload your project to the challenge album. You could win the bundle pictured below of a Crafty by Toni stamp set and a pack of 49 And Market die-cut elements from the Country View Craft shop.

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   

Masculine card with stencils

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

In other news there is a new monthly challenge for tags and ATCs lovers Tag-Along (and ATCs), first challege starts 1st of May.

My stencil inspiration:

The background is a Gelli print I made with a DIY stencil by die-cutting numbers into a piece of card with the ALL & Create die set #33 Numberama (in black) and bits from the #39 Infinarty set. I also used the Ledger (TCW267) from The Crafters Workshop (in white) and Imagination Crafts (MA241) stencils.

I used Paper Artsy for the paints and with the stencils, Prima Heavy gesso (white) and DecoArt Media black gesso.

 

The focal image is AALL & Create Car from the #77 Climbing Wood die set, which I die-cut in pearlescent green (I was going for a metallic paint finish). I added some silverware with foil to the bumper and other accessories.

I cut the Gelli print and a mat with the set #33 Splodazzlers.

Finally I added a clip and a label, both die-cut with the #30 Taggletastic set, also ALL & Create. [Yes I'm a bit obsessed with their dies...] 

Hop on over to the Allsorts challenge blog to see all the DT inspiration and upload your projects. There is a prize from  From Lisa Horton Crafts, Pansy Corner layering stencils with coordinating die and embossing folder as well as a prize of two AALL and Create stencils.... for 2 lucky winners!

 

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the Addicted to Stamps & More and Creative Artist challenge

Bewitched

Hello crafters, 

Today I am kicking off the Country View Challenge on the theme of "Romance and Friendship" which I have chosen since Valentine's day is just around the corner!

If Romantic love is not your thing you can go with Friendship or any other kind of human love (children, family...)

The inspiration for this card is the Sizzix/Tim Holtz Vault set Wicked (666683), on the premise that witches do not always have to be sinister and the old series Bewitched came to mind.

It's not that I don't have any "Romantic" themed stamps or dies but I was itching to use the set, one of my latest purchases from Country View Crafts during the Advent Calendar event (every year my budget downfall...). 

For background I chose AALL & Create #15 Ethereal Expeditions paper. I say paper but at a whooping 350gsm it is very much heavy cardstock, great for card bases and boxes too!

I added some Distress inks to suggest a floor and a wall. 

To the broom, witch, cat and bottles from the Wicked set, I added heart confettis (Memory Box Heart Sprinkles 94112), and the word Love (660218 Sizzix/Tim Holtz Thinlits Die Set 7PK - Handwritten Love). 

The shelf is a freebie die from Creative Stamping magazine( Issue 105) and I have printed the cauldron and fussy cut it.

There you have it, witches aren't just for Halloween! 

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

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the  Simon Says Stamp Monday. 
                                                          Simon Says Stamp Wednesday, Addicted to Stamps  challenges 

My Valentine

Hello crafters,

I am kicking the month of February with not one but 2 romantic cards... 

First up a card for the Allsorts challenge, where the fortnightly theme chosen by Gail is Romance/Music. As usual you can also enter with the "Anything Goes" option.

I used the Lavinia stencil (Leaf Trails) with Distress inks, Memory Box dies (Cupid with swing, Pinpoint Heart Circle, Heart Sprinkles) and an envelope die (Docrafts) to contain my heart confettis from the Heart Sprinkles die.
The sentiment is made up of a Crafter's Companion word die and alphabet die (Sizzix Monde de Blonde).

I relished using some of my antique stash in this make, maybe a little too sweet for a man but I doubt it will make a big difference to him!

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Hop on to Allsorts for the chance to win stamps and stencils (random selection) from AALL and Create. You can enter up to 5 times and worthy entries will earn a place in the Top 7.  

 

  

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

                                                            Simon Says Stamp Wednesday and Addicted to Stamps  challenges

Black & White

Hello crafters, 

today a quick post and an unusual colour scheme for this card as I road test my new dies:

 

I first stamped the Crafty Individual "The Village Inn and Church" (CI-474) with black Versafine.

The other elements, including the mat, are die-cut: the trees and "fence" are from the AALL & Create #78 set (Roadway Vistas). Once die-cut, I applied black ink on top of the embossed areas to show off the details.

The base card and the black mat are die-cut with the AALL & Create  #77 die set (Climbing Woods). 

Note: I suspect the names of these 2 die sets have been mistakenly swapped but that is the way they show up in all craft websites.

It feels quite odd to create in stark black and white and I might try the same design with colours too!  

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the Simon Says Stamp Monday, Stamping Sensations,                                                            and We Love Stamping challenges

Make most of the dies

Hello crafters, 

Today is my debut at the Allsorts challenge blog! 

I have entered their challenges many times over the years, made the Top 5 and won prizes on several occasions and now as the stars aligned I am joining the Design Team!

The theme this fortnight is Use Dies (or Anything Goes) chosen by Sarah.

My card is based on a fancy shape and I have used the instructions from Sam's blog. 

 

Supplies:
Baubles: stamps and dies set Studio Light Essentials (BASICSDC17)
Snowman: Sizzix/Tim Holtz Winter Wishes set (666717)
Centre Snowflake halves: Cards & Crafts for Christmas 2019 

Snowflake border: Die-cutting Essential Issue 58

Leaves and holly from Sizzix Christmas Shadow box set (663611)

Papers from magazine.

First the pop up card is prepared by scoring and cutting following the template. 

Then it's a matter of cutting the paper to fit each panel, of course you can choose to leave some blank to save some time or to keep it more "clean".

This is my first card with that shape and, as it is rather time consuming, not one I would do often but for Christmas, to stand out from the crowd it's perfect

Side and top views:

Hop on to Allsorts and upload your make for the chance to win 3 prizes of Oakwood dies and coordinating stamps. You can enter up to 5 times and worthy entries will earn a place in the Top 7.

Thanks for coming by,
 Craftyfield       I am entering the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Polkadoodles                                                                and Simon Says Stamp Monday challenges

Artic Conditions

Hello crafters!
Today I have a first inspiration make for our Country View Challenge held in the Facebook group. This month the theme is, of course, "Christmas"!

I created an Hexagon card (I followed the instructions from this video), which folds flat to 5"x7" for easy posting. 

I added acetate to all 3 front panels, partly to make them more sturdy and partly to allow me more decorative options. As I have been going through a "window" period, I thought the panels would be glass and of course with snow... I added some Tim Holtz/Ranger Grit paste Snowfall with the mini stencil set 43 by Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous (THMST043). I got the inspiration from Tim Holtz himself, although he favours the stencil THS021 for this purpose but I think mine works well too,

The papers are from the Stamperia Arctic Antarctic collection, the snowman, snowflake and ice skates are die-cut from different colour card with the Tim Holtz/Sizzix Winter Wishes set (666717). I used thick thread to lace the skates to complete the realistic effect. 

This Arctic Antarctic collection is not available anymore and here's my advice... any Stamperia collection you like and have a project in mind don't dither! As soon as I saw this one I knew I wanted it for an album, never mind that it took me years to get around to use it (real life did get in the way) but I am so glad to have this collection on hand.

The greeting is Die'sire Words Die - Merry Christmas.

The card seen in different angle and folded flat:

Making this type of card is simple but time consuming so you might want to reserve it for your special people or when you want your card to be noticed on the mantelpiece!

To enter the challenge, hop on to our friendly group here and upload your project to the challenge album. You could win a place on Zoe Hillman’s next workshop at the Country View Crafts shop in the new year!

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield       I am entering the Simon Says Stamp Monday, 

                                                            Simon Says Stamp Wednesday  challenges

Hummingbird

Hello crafters!

Today I have a first inspiration make for our Country View Challenge held in the Facebook  group. This month the theme is "Winging It" hosted by Fiona.

I chose this Lavinia Hummingbird for my Winged creature as it is a recent addition to my stash.

My background is alcohol inks on yupo paper.  I stamped the Hummingbird Small (LAV894) and the Open Dandelion  (LAV745) with Brilliance inks, letting them dry a full 24 Hours before colouring.

Since I didn't have small nib sizes of acrylic or Posca pens, I used water based markers to colour the bird. Those eventually dried, but, being a transparent medium, the background colours do show through.

I wanted the Dandelion in white and tried gel pen on the petals with mixed results: yes the gel ink dried and yes it added a bit of white but not enough to hide the background colours. [Add to shopping list: small nib acrylic pen...].

I then used my new favourite die (AALL & Create die set #32 Numberama) to cut both image and mat, before assembly on a white base card.

To enter the challenge, hop on to our friendly group here and upload your project to the challenge album. You could win all 5 of the newly released Layer It Up Washis by AALL & create from the Country View Craft shop.

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield     I am entering the Allsorts, Simon Says Stamp Wednesday, 

                                                         Stamping Sensations and We Love Stamping challenges 

Layer It Up Washi

Hello crafters, 

I have been playing with some new supplies (for me) and I am quite excited!

I am talking of the Layer It Up Washi tapes from AALL & Create. 

If you are not familiar with these read on...

They come in a 2.5cm wide, 10 meters long roll, with a pattern repeat every 40cm (approximately). A 40cm length can be cut in 10cm chunks and layered one below the other to reveal a complete image. Below is the image I put together on a piece of card with the Leaf Out My Book tape (#101).

The roll will allow you to make some 25 such images, but, of course, you can still use the tape as any other washi!

As to styles, AALL & Create has large variety of tapes including themed ones for Christmas with either cute cats, dogs, foxes, bunnies and bears! (Country View Crafts has them here). Imagine securing your wrapping papers with them!!

Anyhoo, I made this card with the image as the focal point, which I had decided to die-cut with AALL & Create #32 die set to give it a more organic shape than the square I had as in the above picture. I used a partial die-cutting technique as the die is longer than the image.

The background is a Graphic 45 paper (A place in time 6x6 paper pad)  and I cut a mat from Chatsworth, a very old paper pack by Paper Artsy (a collector item, I believe Chatsworth and Thorndon Hall were the only 2 ever made). 

A stamped sentiment completes the card (Sentimentally yours SYC007).

Hope you enjoyed the read and, as usual, thanks for coming by!  

 Craftyfield              I am entering the Allsorts challenge.

An Old Tale

Jumping from Autumn to winter...

A second post today with a non Halloween make for you!

 The paper I used is from an older collection by Stamperia, Winter Tales, magical and so beautiful with its icy blue colour scheme.

The panels have been die-cut with the Shadow Frame Box die set by Tonic.

To show you all sides of the box I had my glamorous assistant's help to create a video, alas, the lighting conditions were not perfect!

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the Simon Says Stamp Monday, Allsorts, 

                                                         and Polkadoodles challenges

Signs of Autumn

Hello crafters!

I am back for a second inspiration make for our Country View Challenge held in the Facebook  group, still on the theme of "Autumn Richness". This time I used the colours of Autumn for this whimsical scene.

I started by a Distress Oxide sprays background (Tea Dye, Picked Raspberry and Walnut Stain).

The stamps I used are all Lavinia, stamped with Versafine black:
- LAV 564 Mini Forest Mushroom

- LAV 630 Mini Seed Head

- LAV 745 Open Dandelion

- LAV 859 Scout Small

I gave a hint of a hill for the scout to stand on, and the plants to rise from, with some Distress ink. 

To mat my focal image, I made a decorative mat by cutting the same border die (Spellbinders Borderabilities Lattice Borders 2 S4-218) on all four sides of a piece of red cardstock. One way of making use of these old dies which never seem to see the light of day!

To enter the challenge, hop on to our friendly group here and upload your project to the challenge album. 

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield     I am entering the Stamping Sensations, Allsorts, 

                                                         We Love Stamping, and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenges

Autumn has arrived

Hello crafters!

Today I have a first inspiration make for our Country View Challenge held in the Facebook  group. This month the theme is "Autumn Richness" and to celebrate the new season, not that it's my favourite, I chose to make a decor item. 

The base has been recycled from a particularly big wooden packaging, the lightweight kind that comes with some ready made dishes. It was round but I cut it as an Octagon and flattened it (I have worked out that an ordinary steam iron works well for that). 

For the background to the "Autumn" I used the AALL & Create die set Infinarty (#39) and the Lavinia stencil Leaf Trails (ST017) with Distress inks.

I added my title, die-cut with the Sizzix Alpha set 662228 and stamped 2 leaves (stamp from my own collection).

The 3D elements are the fantastic mushrooms moulded with the Stamperia Silicone Mould Woodland Mushrooms (KACMA502) and the fallen leaves a mix of die-cuts and punched leaves from cardstock inked with Distress Oxide inks.   

For now, I have left the knots of the twine as you can see them whilst I mull over how I am going to transform the back into a Winter/Christmas decor piece, but, if possible, I will hide them with metallic leaf brads.

To give you an idea what it looks like in situ in the house: 

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

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield     I am entering the  Allsorts, Simon Says Stamp Wednesday

                                                        Stamping Sensations,   We Love Stamping, 

                                                        Simon Says Stamp Monday challenges 

Blast from the past

Hello crafters, 

An oldie but goodie today... both in supplies and technique!

I first smooshed bright inks all over my cardstock and applied black ink to an embossing folder (on the flat side) giving that contrast of bright against dark. The folder is an old Cuttlebug/Provocraft and if I remember correctly the one that convinced me I "needed" a die-cutting machine!

The quote is from the "Life is so much Better" stamp set designed by my crafty friend Brenda from Floral Fantasies. I then die-cut it with another oldie, possibly Nellie Snellen (anyone recognise it let me know, it's some 15 years old and I have lost all details!).

There you have it, an easy card but eye catching.     

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge, 

                                                         We Love Stamping, Stamping Sensations and Allsorts challenges