Happy Everything for That's Crafty

Hi Everyone

Not long now...............

This is my last post for 2016 over at That's Crafty blog

You can pop over HERE for all the details

Amanda X

Happy Onesie Day!

Hi Everyone

Christmas card making wouldn't be complete without a little touch of Stampotique, so I had to play along with the current Christmas themed challenge over at Stampotique Designers Challenge blog.

Using 'Holly Wally' on this card. 

Background has been created using distress crayons over a piece of gesso covered card and then embossed using Tim Holtz December folder. To highlight the embossed area I use a dried up stazon ink pad. Holly Wally has been coloured using pencils and sentiment created using my old typewriter. 

Hope you are all having a lovely Sunday

Thanks for stopping by

Love

Amanda X

Last Push!

Hi Everyone

I'm on my last push now to finish the Christmas cards that I need to make and then back to crafty normality. I'm looking to banish the remnants left of my desk of anything festive and move on! Gosh that makes me sound really Bah Humbug, lol!!

Another clean and simple one from me.

The fabulous stag and Owl are from Carabelle studio and I've just Christmas'd them up using a santa hat stamp from Katzelkraft and hung stamped baulbles from his antlers. Background trees are a Tim Holtz stamp and a few star sequins and stamped sentiment from Dina Wakley. 

Have a fabulous day

Love 

Amanda X

PEACE at Christmas in a non traditional style

Hi Everyone

Today, as it has been my day off, I have shut myself away in my craftroom and tackled a few more Christmas Cards. This one is a little non traditional but I just wanted to use this little chap as he makes me smile.

I coloured some white card using liquitex paint markers in the colours of Peace. I then die cut Tim Holtz mini globe die to use as a Christmas bauble. The little chap is from Katzelkraft stamp set Les Jungles. I have replaced his headgear on the stamp with the Santa hat, also from Katzelkraft.

Star background is from Carabelle and coloured with distress inks. The Peace stamp is from my stash and again coloured with distress inks, the remainder of the sentiment is part of a Dina Wakely stamp as I masked off the word peace from it and replaced as you can see.

He does make me smile so hopefully he does for you.

Thanks for stopping by

Love

Amanda X

A bit of Christmas for That's Crafty

Hi Everyone

Somebody please tell me that it isn't Christmas in less than 2 weeks! For my post over at That's Crafty blog this week I would like to share with you some quick Christmas card making.

I hope you'll pop over for the details HERE.

Thanks for stopping by

Love

Amanda X

Flower Power for That's Crafty Challenges

Hi Everyone 

Today see's the start of a new challenge fortnight over at That's Crafty Challenge Blog and our theme for the next 2 weeks is

FLOWER POWER

I have chosen to use one of the recently released Prima Princesses stamps, this one is Claire. Stamped and then sprinkled with Paperartsy infusions and lightly spritzed with water. I then used the infusions as water colour paints to add a little more colour to add some details. To then add further details I have finished with a little coloured pencil. 

sentiment is stamped from Paperartsy Bloom set.

We would love it if you played along with us this fortnight and you could also, by doing so, win a £20 voucher to spend online at That's Crafty.

You will find all the details and some fabulous inspiration from my team mates HERE

Thanks for popping in

Love

Amanda X

Follow The Light for That's Crafty

Hi Everyone

Just want to let you know that I am over at That's Crafty Blog with the 2nd of my makes for the recent show on Hochanda.

This one features one of the new MDF hanging pieces.

I hope you'll pop over for all the details

Thanks and see you soon

Love

Amanda X

Splat for That's Crafty

Hi Everyone

For my regular Tuesday spot over at That's Crafty Blog I have one of the pieces I made for the launch of some new designs of acrylic stands that were launched on Hochanda last Thursday.

for all the details you just need to pop over HERE. 

Thanks for popping by

Love

Amanda X

All Grungy at That's Crafty Challenges

Hi Everyone

It's time for a new challenge fortnight at That's Crafty Challenge Blog and our theme for the next 2 weeks is

"All Grungy"

I missed joining in with the team for our last challenge due to work commitments and even though I am struggling at the moment to find much crafty time I had to find time to play along with this one as it's one of my favourite themes.

I have been playing in my small Dylusions journal, something I must do more of. I have created a grungy double spread piece.

My background started off on pages I had used to clean my brayer off on. I then drew the large heart and roughly painted it using red Dylusions paint but allowed some of the background to show through. I then brayered black Dylusions paint over the other parts of the page. 

It was then a case of adding distress crayons and blending until I liked the result. then there is stamping in ink and white heat embossing.

Wing stamps are Carabelle, grungy hearts in the heart are Impression Obsession. All text are Seth Apter Stamps.

Spatters and credit card paint markings finish it off.

If you'd love to see the teams grungy makes you can see them all Here.

We would love it if you joined us this fortnight and if you do you could be the lucky winner of a £20 voucher to spend at That's Crafty online store.

thanks for stopping by

Love

Amanda X

Madeline

Hi Everyone

I'm over at  That's Crafty Blog today, and this is what I've been up to for this weeks post

hope you'll pop over for all the details HERE

thanks for stopping by

Love

Amanda X

A bit of Stampotique mix & match

Hi Everyone

I just stole a couple of hours out of this afternoon to make a quick card to join in with the current challenge over at Stampotique Designer Challenge Blog, the current theme is to use a human stamp and put an animal head stamp on it. 

I have combined the body of 'Underwhere' with the head of 'Reindeer' and written my own quote to go with it which I have typed out. I have to admit Idid make myself chuckle. I have used 'Stringed Lights' in the background.

All has been coloured with coloured pencils.

Right I need to go and do what I should really be doing.

Thanks for popping in

Love

Amanda X

Trying to Love Distress Crayons

Hi Everyone

With the weather today being absolutely shocking here in the UK it was definitely a staying in day. I caught a little of Hochanda TV where there was a demo using distress crayons directly onto untreated MDF and I quite liked the result. I have had some distress crayons since they were first launched and I think it would be fair to say that I haven't bonded with them, we do tend to stick with our favourite mediums, well I do. Anyway I thought I would give it a go and created on a small MDF upright from That's Crafty.

I have to say that I loved the end result of the distress crayons. I just randomly scribbled 4 colours around the MDF and then with a slightly damp finger just blended the colour around the MDF until I was happy with the result. 

The advantages of using the distress crayons is that they leave a beautiful smooth surface (no brush marks) for stamping directly onto to.

I had also earlier started sorting through all my stamps, discovering some lost favourites which then detracted from me continuing to sort any more. I am trying to push myself to sort out ones that I no longer want and try and sell them, but I find that really hard so I was glad to be distracted. Please tell me its not just me that can't bare to part with any even though I don't use them or am I showing the beginnings of hoarding tendencies? 

My MDF make uses some old Sam Poole, Tim Holtz and Teesha Moore stamps along with some Crafters Companion ones that had never seen an ink pad. 

I also added some details with a chrome pen (new in at That's Crafty)  which doesn't really show up but I have edged the MDF and drawn around my heat embossed words with them. They really look like chrome as opposed to silver, you can see it better if you click on the photo's.

Here you can see both sides together.

I hope that you have all had a lovely Saturday, and if like me need to feel the love with distress crayons give this ago as I am on my way to changing my opinion and ordering some more of the new colours.

I would also like to enter this into this month Craft Stamper Challenge Blog where the theme is "Anything Goes" as long as it includes stamping

Thanks for stopping by

Love

Amanda X

Art Sisters

Hi Everyone

Today I had a lovely catch up on the phone with my bestest crafty cousin (as we call ourselves). I have met, online, some fabulous people through both blogland and crafty social media but my crafty cousin will be a friend for life, just sad that we live so many miles apart but we are at least in the same country and have met up, which I am sure we will do again, you know who you are.

I recently bought myself a black Dylusions art journal so I thought I would break it open and do a piece that celebrates that friendship. 

I have recently been inspired by the very talented Nika in Wonderland her art work is absolutely fantastic, whilst I am not in her league at all I have taken inspiration from her work. 

Main stencil is Stencil Girl - Finding your Tribe

Lots of acrylic paint and prima alchemy paints, Stampendous and Carabelle Studio stamps.

Hope you like it 

Love

Amanda X

Diva for That's Crafty

Hi everyone

As it's Tuesday I am over at That's Crafty Blog with a piece that you may have seen before.

This piece featured in the debut edition of 'Mixed Up' a new digital mixed media magazine. I featured  a picture of this piece on my blog to coincide with that launch. However for those of you that haven't read the magazine I have shared the details over on That's Crafty Blog as it is made using one of the That's Crafty acrylic stacks.

I hope you'll pop over HERE and check it out.

Thanks for stopping by

Love

Amanda X

Spread Your Wings for That's Crafty

Hi everyone

I have a card for you today over on That's Crafty Blog

I hope you'll pop over and check out all the details HERE

Love

Amanda X

Live Free for That's Crafty

Hi Everyone

Just to let you know that I am over at That's Crafty Blog playing with one of the newly released Carabelle stamps designed by Birgit Koopsen

 I hope you'll pop over for all the details HERE

Thanks for stopping by

Love

Amanda X

Friday 13th Part 2 at That's Crafty Challenge Blog

Hi Everyone

We have a new challenge starting today over at That's Crafty Challenge Blog and it's 

Friday 13th Part 2 (we did part 1 earlier in the year)

So anything scary which should also tie in with it being Halloween in a few days. 

Stamps used are:- 'Chilling' by Stampendous and 'Charlie the Zombie' by Prickley Pear.

Background has been created using distress inks, sentiment is a Tim Holtz Chitchat sticker.

For more inspiration you can check out what my team mates have created along with all the details of our new challenge HERE

Remember one randomly drawn entry will win a £20 voucher to spend online at That's Crafty.

Hopefully we will see you over there

Love

Amanda X

It's Nearly Halloween for That's Crafty Blog

Hi Everyone

I'd love it if you have the time, to pop over to That's Crafty Blog for all the details

Thanks for stopping by

Love

Amanda X

It's Halloween at Stampotique

Hi everyone

I sadly don't get much time at the moment to play along with the Stampotique Challenge but as the current challenge is Halloween I just had to find time to play along. 

For my piece I have made a 2 sided piece using one of That's Crafty's decorative MDF shaped uprights.

this side is "But I just love a man with good bone structure"

this side is "Beware the purple mist of the 31st"

To decorate the uprights there is plenty of decoart sand texture and texture paste, Tim Holtz die cuts and some halloween items I picked up from Asda. All was given the black gesso, decoart fluid dioxazine purple and gilding wax treatment. To make my purple mist I made a tube out of acetate and soaked some wide bandage in Prima Art sculpture medium. I left that over night to dry, I then removed from the acetate and it was nice and stiff and sprayed it with Ranger Adirondack purple spray then slid it over my upright.

Stamps used are Dwindled, Miguel has a gift, Ghostie, Lovely are the sound & Halloween cube 1 which have all been coloured using Prisma coloured pencils.

Thanks for stopping by

Love

Amanda X

Be Bold, Be Brave for That's Crafty Blog

Hi Everyone

I just wanted to share with you this weeks make for my regular Tuesday post over at  That's Crafty Blog

You will find all the details HERE

Thanks for stopping by

Love

Amanda X

Clean & Simple at That's Crafty Challenge Blog

Hi everyone

It's the start of a new challenge fortnight over at That's Crafty Challenge Blog and our theme for the coming fortnight is

"CLEAN & SIMPLE"

here's my piece of inspiration for our challenge

I have used Paperartsy Lynne Perrella 030 stamp set

Leonie Pujol sentiment

Washi tape 

punched butterflies.

As with Clean & Simple cards I have left lots of white space.

For even more fabulous inspiration from my team mates click HERE

One randomly chosen entry will win a £20 online voucher to spend in the That's Crafty Store.

All the details of this fortnights challenge can be found HERE

I hope we see you playing along with us

Thanks for stopping by

Love 

Amanda X

Alice Clock Stack for That's Crafty

Hi everyone

Today I'd like to share a piece I made for That's Crafty's show on Hochanda TV last friday. That's Crafty have just launched a range of acrylic stacked clocks in a variety of shapes.

This, as you can see, is the house shaped one.
For all the details on how I made it and how I layered up the acrylic layers (3 in total) you can find all the details on That's Crafty Blog HERE.
Thanks for stopping by
Love
Amanda X

Featured in MixedUp Magazine

Hi Everyone

I am delighted to share with you that I am featured in the debut edition of a fabulous new digital magazine "Mixed Up" This is the brain child of Katy Leitch who's name you might recognise as the previous editor of Craft Stamper magazine. Katy has gathered together some of the best mixed media artists for her first edition and I am flattered to be included.  You will find the Magazine details HERE and on Facebook HERE

Here's my page

My piece is part of a feature using That's Crafty Acrylic stacks that you can buy HERE

To buy or subscribe to MixedUp Magazine you will find all the details you need HERE

Thanks

Amanda X

caution for That's Crafty

Hi Everyone

Today, for my regular That's Crafty weekly post, I have a make that featured in last months Craft stamper magazine as part of a 'Hearts' feature that the That's Crafty design team all featured in. This was the piece I made.

For all the details just pop over HERE

thanks for visiting 

Love

Amanda X

All of a Sparkle at That's Crafty Challenge Blog

Hi Everyone

It's time for another new challenge fortnight over at That's Crafty challenge blog and our theme for the coming fortnight is 

"ALL OF A SPARKLE"

Here's a little bit of inspiration for it from me

I have used an assortment of glitters and gems to add sparkle and texture to the flowers which are a Carabelle studio stamp 'Pavots Rigolos', the character is from the set 'Zinouk des petites notes' My background is a piece I've used to clean off paint from my brayer onto. I have die cut the word bloom and added some glittery sparkle to each individual letter.

It's really difficult to capture the sparkle on a photo but hopefully this close up shows it a little better.
We would love it if you played along with us this fortnight and there is loads more sparkly inspiration from my team mates HERE
As always with our challenge, one randomly chosen entry will win a £20 online voucher to spend at That's Crafty.
So what are you waiting for? get your sparkle on!!!
thanks for stopping by and I'll see you soon
Love
Amanda X

Fragile for That's Crafty

Hi Everyone

I am over at That's Crafty today with a Seth Apter inspired wall hung panel.

For all the details on how I made it you just need to pop over to That's Crafty blog HERE

Thanks and I'll see you soon

Love

Amanda X

Karma for That's Crafty

Hi Everyone

Just to let you know that I am over at That's Crafty Team Blog

I hope you'll pop over for all the details. 

For the rest of the day I will be packing as I'm flying off to Spain and I can't wait!!

See you soon

Love

Amanda X

Christmas in September for That's Crafty Challenge Blog

Hi everyone

For our new challenge theme over at That's Crafty Challenges it's all gone a bit festive as our theme for the next two weeks is

CHRISTMAS IN SEPTEMBER

As you can see I have gone with a non traditional styled card and I have been playing with some of Seth Apter's fabulous products to create it. There is a lot of sparkle and foils on it but try as I might I just cant get the camera to pick it up.

The background was a piece that I had used to clean paint off my brayer, to it I then added some gilding flakes that I embedded onto the surface with gel medium.  I then ran it through Seths embossing folder - Grid Iron. Next I roughly applied some tacky glue over sections of it and rubbed on foils in bright pink and gold, sadly on the photo these don't show up to well. I randomly stamped some Christmas words.

With some of the left over card I die cut Seth's Robo Star die and painted over then all with spectrum noir crystal clear sparkle pen. I cut it all again in black card that I had flicked gold paint onto to add some outline definition once added to the background. I tied on, with black cotton, the smaller of the star so it swings from the larger star. I twisted some thin wire around the bottom and added some sequin stars. A Tim Holtz's Christmas chit chat sticker finishes it off.

Hopefully this close up shows the foils and sparkle a little, and it is only a little, better.

Now we would love to see your Christmas in September makes and if you choose to play along with us you could be the lucky winner of a £20 voucher to spend online at That's Crafty.

You will find some fabulous Christmas inspiration from my team mates and all the details HERE

See you all soon

Love

Amanda X

That's Crafty Launches Own Brand Stamp Range

Hi everyone

Well we have an exciting week ahead on That's Crafty Blog as that's Crafty have launched a brand new range of own brand stamps today, and as if that wasn't exciting enough they have all been drawn and designed by my team mate and very special crafty friend Donna Gray. How cool is that?

All week the That's Crafty design team will be showcasing what they have made using a selection of these stamps. 

I have made a couple of cards where I have combined some of Donna's new stamps with some stamps from my stash.

for all the details please pop over HERE 

Thanks for stopping by

Love

Amanda X

You're How Old? for That's Crafty

Hi Everyone

Just a quick post to let you know I'm over at That's Crafty Blog and I've been playing with those "Crazy Dogs" by Tim Holtz.

For all the details I hope you'll pop over Here

thanks for stopping by

Love

Amanda X

All Square at That's Crafty Challenges

Hi Everyone

It's time for the start of another challenge fortnight over at That's Crafty Challenge Blog and our theme for this coming fortnight is

"All Square"

Here's my little piece of inspiration for you

I have used the following Paperartsy stamps:- Kim Dellow EKD03 & EKD02, Emma Godfrey EE017 and I have stamped them into small squares that I masked off and coloured with coloured pencils, I have then added all my squares using stitched lines. I stamped the birds onto some gelli print scraps, cut out, and added the the card. All has been created for an 8" x 8" square card blank.

For even more inspiration the team have made some fabulous samples and well worth checking out HERE

We would love to see you join in this fortnight and share with us your square themed, square shaped projects. Remember one randomly chosen winner will receive a £20 voucher to spend at That's Crafty online store. 

You will find all the details HERE

Thanks for visiting

Love

Amanda X

Gelli Plate Play for That's Crafty

Hi Everyone

I hope you all had a lovely Bank Holiday weekend. I just want to share with you my weekly project I have over on That's Crafty Blog

You will find out how I created it Here so I would love it if you popped over.

Have a fabulous Tuesday

Love

Amanda X

Keyhole Album for That's Crafty

Hi Everyone

That's Crafty recently launched, on Hochanda TV, a new range of MDF/acrylic albums. I'd just like to share with you the album I altered for that TV launch.

As a little sneak peek here is the front of my album, to see all the acrylic pages inside I'd love it if you popped over to the That's Crafty team blog HERE
Thanks for stopping by
Love
Amanda X

Polka Dots over at Stampotique Challenge

Hi Everyone

Well rain stopped play today! it's been absolutely shocking, weather wise, here in the North West it just hasn't stopped raining. So after frightening the floors with the hoover that was enough of that housework malarky I decided to have some crafty play time.

 It has been absolutely ages since I have played along with the Stampotique Designers Challenge, my beloved Stampotique wooden friends have been gathering dust, work, life and other crafty commitments have prevented me having much spare time, that is until today!!! I also wanted to make a card for my sisters birthday tomorrow so this was the perfect excuse.

The theme over at Stampotique Designers Challenge is 'Polka Dots'. Mine come in the form of stenciled dots and a touch of dotty washi tape. Background has been created by using Leanie Pujol die 'in a spin' cut from the background card and then cutting it again on a background scrap that I had stamped the "Bla Bla Bla" stamp all over. I then glued the white cut back into the card and using the waste from the coloured card pieced it all back in. I have used 'Relaxin' and coloured her with pencils, cut out and applied the card with 3D foam. 

Sentiment is from Dylusions. Matted onto black card and then onto a card blank.

It's been really good to ink Stampotique stamps up lets hope next time isn't as long.

Thanks for stopping by

Love

Amanda X

'Get Cracking' at That's Crafty Challenges

Hi Everyone

Today see's the start of a new challenge fortnight over at That's Crafty Challenge Blog and our theme for the next 2 weeks is

'GET CRACKING'

The 'Get Cracking' part of my make is I have used decoart crackle medium through a stencil onto That's Crafty greyboard and then coloured with brusho crystals misted with water (when the crackle medium was dry) I then die cut the seahorse using Tim Holtz 'Sand & Sea die'. As you can see I have gone for a very clean and simple look so that the seahorse is clearly the star of the piece. To create the background for the seahorse I have used Sizzix framelits - Snap Happy and also Leonie Pujol - Bark Texture die which makes great seaweed when cut using a scrap of Dylusion sprayed background I had.

Finally I added the Tim Holtz 'Crazy Talk' stamp set.

For more inspiration why not check out the fabulous makes from the team HERE

So why not come and join us and share your 'Get Cracking' make with us. As always one randomly chosen entry will receive a £20 voucher to spend online, trust me you'll be stuck for choice.

I hope to see you over there playing along with us this fortnight

Thanks for stopping by

Love

Amanda X

Experimenting on Acrylic for That's Crafty

Hi Everyone

For my regular Tuesday post over at That's Crafty Team blog today I have been playing with an acrylic ATC.

For all the details on how I created this ATC and the techniques I have been experimenting with I'd love it if you'd pop over HERE

Have a fabulous day

Love

Amanda X

sketched faces for That's Crafty

Hi Everyone

Just to let you know I'm over at That's Crafty Team blog. Following on from last Tuesday when I used Dina Wakleys new Boxed Faces stamps I have again used another of her stamp sets, this time uses the Sketched Faces set.

I got a bit carried away and made 4 cards and have included a tutorial on how I created my backgrounds. I'd love it if you'd pop over for all the details HERE

I am also entering them into Augusts challenge over at Craft Stampers Take It Make It where the theme is "Stencils and Masks"

I hope you like them 

Love

Amanda X

It's All Zesty & Zingy at That's Crafty Challenge Blog

Hi Everyone

Today is the start of a new challenge fortnight over at That's Crafty challenge blog and our theme for the next 2 weeks is to make any type of crafty project using

"Zesty Zingy Colours"

My little piece of inspiration for our challenge uses the new stamp set EKD03 designed by Kim Dellow for Paperartsy.

For my zesty zingy colours I have combined orange, limes and yellows.

I first stamped one of the images onto my card and masked it off with Pebeo gum. The background colour is a stencil that I have sprinkled Lindys Stamp Gang pigment powders onto and then spritzed with water, I then laid the stencil onto the card capturing any seepage with kitchen roll, I think this is one of my favourite effects, at the moment anyway.

I then stamped the 3 flowers first onto a gelli print and again on white card as I needed to paper pierce over the flower heads. The centre of the heads have been cut out from a 3rd stamping and added on using foam mount for some dimension. 

Before adding them to the card I added a torn piece of gelli printed card and stamped the 3 flower image again and then layered on my separate flowers. the little lion sitting on one of the flowers was stamped, coloured and cut out. All colouring is with Prismacolour pencils. 

Sentiment is one of the kids quotes from Inkadinkado.

For more fabulous inspiration there is a variety of fabulous makes from the rest of the DT HERE.

As with every challenge one randomly chosen entry into our challenge will win a fabulous £20 voucher to spend at That's Crafty online Store (and there are loads of new goodies just arrived)

So if you are in the mood for getting zingy you can link up your entry HERE

Thanks for stopping by

Love

Amanda X

Dina's Boxed Faces for That's Crafty

Hi Everyone

How much new crafty stash is being released at the moment? You will find all the new stash that has arrived at That's Crafty HERE

 One of the recently released ranges is a new collection of stamps from Dina Wakley, of whom I am a huge fan. 

So for my regular Tuesday spot over at That's Crafty Blog I am sharing a card I made using Dina's Boxed Faces set (well one of the faces there are 3 on the set).

You can pop over HERE for all the details

Hope you like it 

Love

Amanda X