Little boxes, little boxes

At our last class at Crafty Individuals before the summer break we made these gorgeous configeration boxes.

Boxes were from Tim. I've used his paper tape to cover the sides and edges which I've coloured with Faded Jeans, Distress ink. The background papers are from Webster's pages, Trendsetter.

Stamps are by Crafty Individuals and Creative Expressions.

As usual I didn't finish this is class but I made a concerted effort and I finally finished this during the summer holidays.

Step back in time

Here's a selection of vintage themed cards that I did in class a few weeks ago. I have used mainly Crafty Individuals stamps and their new printed tags. I've also used a LOTV stamp which I normally use with brighter colours and papers.

 This one is a Papermania stamp.

Thanks for popping by

Don't you just hate the thought...

of having to make mens cards!I know I do, but needs must and a few weeks ago I had to prepare a load of samples for a class I was teaching. If they're not into golf, football or fishing the you really have to think hard. Here's a few ideas I came up with including one for the fisherman.

 My trusty Crafty Individuals ship stamp along with an antinque map ,sorry don't know the manufacturer.

Love these clocks, the stamp is a Craft Stamper freebie and the embossing folder is one of Sir Tims. I've dragged Distress ink (Weathered wood) to colour the background . The embellishments are eyelets ....do you remember those? A bit out of fashion now but I've got tons of them.

  This one's a cutie which I don't usually do but this LOTV stamp is gorgeous. I've coloured the image with my Distress Inks.
Now after all that thinking I need.........................chocolate!

Seaside Box

 Last month at our Glue and Stick group we made a fab configuration box from scratch using chipboard. Gail really likes to work us hard but it was great fun. Once the box was constructed I covered it with paper and then gessoed it to give a neutral base. I used a pale blue paint for that bleached beach look.

I've used Webster's pages, yacht club to decorate along with some Crafty Individual stamps. I love the decorating, finding bits and bobs to fill up the little compartments. I'm not sure it's finished yet but I've got it hanging up in my craft room just in case I find any more interesting things.

More 52 cards challenge weeks 10-14

I've used my time off work this week to catch with the 52 card challenge that's going on over on UKScrappers..

 Week 10 Vintage, layers, decorative pin

 Week 11 Red, folding, journal spot(missed that bit out)

 Week 12 Brights, stickers, unisex ( no stickers on mine whoops)

 Week 13 Pink, die cuts, flowers

Week 14 Blue, stamping, circles.
What I like about this challenge is that you don't have to follow every prompt, which is just as well as I nearly always miss out one!
Now I have used my time wisely I need to crack on with that paperwork I was supposed to be working on. Thanks for popping by

Steampunk

A few weeks ago at  the Crafty Individuals workshop we got to play with the new steampunk stamps jean has brought out. These are great for those hard to do men's cards. I've used a grey/black/plum combination which goes really well with Tim's hardware. I can see that these stamps will become a firm favourite. 

A Victorian style Butterfly box

 Finally I can blog this butterfly box that I made for a friend's birthday.I got this shadow box from Crafty Individuals.

 The butterflies are Marianne stamps from Cuddly Buddly. They stamp beautifully

The outside of the box was painted with pearl paint from Tesco and then over painted with cheap glitter paint from Home Bargains. I've used a favourite Purple Onion stamp Harlequin to add the pattern which I got from 3djean . I'm afraid it's out of stock at the moment but I'm sure it will be in soon.
I really enjoyed making this. I think I might do another that is if I can get another box.

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside

Seaside themes seem to be all around at the moment, I don't suppose it's anything to do with it being Summer. Yes I know it's all grey, dull and wet but we are in England you know. Anyway here's a card I made at my last class at Crafty Individuals. Jean and Malcolm have brought out some delightful seaside stamps and papers which are guaranteed to cheer you up. You can almost smell the sea and taste the fish and chips.

I usually find "big" cards hard to do, all that space what can you fill them with, but it was easy with all the lovely images, frames, stamps,Tim Holtz film strip die etc.

Might even make another.

Nice to see you all, I've missed you dropping by.

Thinking inside the box

For the final two weeks in class I thought my students could do with a bit of a challenge, after all they had been with me for 30 weeks and I needed to go out with a bang! I spotted these delightful exploding boxes whilst browsing the net. Elaine seems to have made a whole new art form out from creating boxes.The first one is a theme close to my heart no ...not chocolate but something very near cupcakes(might try chocolate next time).

Then I did one for the men (or ladies) who like their cars/bikes

Finally a delicate butterfly box

To find out how to do these pop over to Elaines.

ps my students loved these and came up with lots of ideas Christmas, babies, weddings 21st etc

so I think i might be repeating this lesson next year.

Materials use, Stamps Little Claire-cars, Hero arts- cupcakes, Butterflies- Cavallini,

City scene- Rollagraph Flourish- Crafty Individuals
Papers- DCWV- Nana's nursery boy

acetate and assorted punches

Jigsaw Challenge

Over on UKStampers I took part in the altered jigsaw challenge. Sid kindly sent out two enormous jigsaw pieces for us to alter. I used papers and images from Crafty Individuals and the sentiment was a Hero Arts stamp. I made into a hangy thing by adding the wire and voila there we are. These challenges can be fun why not pop over and see if anything catches your eye.