30 September 2017

Eileen Hull Mini Blog Hop Giveaway - Winner!!!

Hi everyone and welcome! Back at the beginning of this month Anne Redfern, Tracy Evans and myself (otherwise known as the UK contingent of Eileen Hull's Inspiration Team) started a mini blog hop to give three lucky people the chance of winning one of the hugely popular Journal dies.

Eileen Hull is currently on the Paper Trail, driving the whole width of America and travelling up into Canada in her now famous Scotty, a 1976 Serra camper van! You can find out where Eileen will be visiting and teaching classes by visiting her website www.eileenhull.com or by following her adventures on Facebook at Eileen Hull Designs where she will be doing regular FB Live videos.


Following on from the hugely successful release of Eileen's 'Journal' XL Die and Katie Skilton's sell out Sizzix shows on Hochanda, here in the UK, Anne, Tracy and myself wanted to continue to celebrate the success of Eileen's 'Journal' XL Die around the World. Today we get to announce the winners of the mini blog hop and see which of the lucky entrants will have a new Journal die on it's way to them!


The lucky randomly drawn winner is #1 Rox Boyce!!! Please email me with your postal address at buttonscraft@btinternet.com to claim your die. Huge congratulations to Rox and a big thank you to everyone who entered.
Make sure you check Anne and Tracy's blogs to see who their lucky winners are...

I'll be back soon with more new projects (including a Journal or two!) Until then take care of yourselves and get creative. Jenny xxx

26 September 2017

Eileen Hull Designs 'Book Club' Sneak Peeks

Hi everyone and welcome! I'm back today with some of the brand new Sizzix die designs from the amazing Eileen Hull - they are not released until later this year but Eileen's Inspiration Team are sharing lots of 'serving suggestions' to whet your appetites; find them HERE on Eileen's website.

The new collection is called 'Book Club' and the emphasis is on making the most of your dies. Each die design can be used in a multitude of ways on its own, they all work with each other, and on top of that they coordinate perfectly with Eileen's previous dies (like the Journal and Passport dies).


This first project is made with the 'Sizzix ScoreBoards XL Die - Book & Pages, Trinket Box & Frame', an amazing die that allows you to create at least three different distinct projects. Make a deep edged book, complete with pages, make a thin or deep frame with no fuss, and for all those who love fancy gift boxes you can make the perfect little home for presents and treats.


Having seen so many people mention how they missed Eileen's Candy Drawer die having used it in the past to hold handcrafted jewellery, I decided to create a gift box for the earrings from last month. I added a wood effect with paint before construction, then trimmed with coordinating flowers and a butterfly using Eileen's 'Birds and Butterflies' Thinlits dies.


Inside the box I added one of the Book Pages, with indents at the top cut using Eileen's new 'Sizzix Movers & Shapers Magnetic Die - Book Binding'. Although designed to allow for the easy insertion of book binding rings, it proved perfect for slotting the earring hooks over.


Now we have the 'Sizzix ScoreBoards Large Die - Photo Box', a die which helps you create a 4"x 6" x 1/2" box. Ideal for storing photos, pictures etc maybe that you want to use on a scrapbook layout, it will also make a box that fits perfectly inside Eileen's Journal. You could even use a clever idea from the team and add ribbon handles to create a gift box! I took yet another approach for using this little box, die cutting an oval in one side to create and interchangeable frame. You can slip pictures (or in this case motivational sayings) inside safe and ready to be rotated for a new view every day!


I added a Sizzix 'Small Easel' to the back to enable it to stand upright and embossed the box with Eileen's 'Starlight' embossing folder before assembling. On the front I added two floral flourishes using Eileen's 'Stitchy Flowers' Thinlits dies on top of die cut 'Floral Arch'es, one of the new decorative Thinlits dies from the Book Club collection.


Finally we have the 'Sizzix ScoreBoards XL Die - Card Box, Planner Storage & Organizer', a die which creates a slanted box with multiple uses. I used mine for storing some of my favourite Thinlits dies from Eileen Hull but just imagine storing your planner, adding a Journal inside (or using it inside a Journal!) adding cards to create a coordinated set, or even hinging two of these together to create a long closing box - the possibilities are endless!


I gave this storage unit a wood effect look with paints before adding flowers using Eileen's 'Stitchy Flowers' Thinlits dies to the side. If you want to stack these together leaving the sides flat would be a good idea, but just imagine a rainbow of coloured Organizers sitting on your shelf! The little plaque at the side is part of the design so you can add smart looking labelling when they are all stacked up.

So that's just a few ideas for using some of the upcoming releases from Eileen Hull Designs. Remember, there's lots more to see from the rest of the Inspiration Team over on the website HERE.

Finally just a quick reminder that there's still time to enter the Mini Blog Hop with Anne Redfern, Tracy Evans and myself to be in with a chance of winning one of three of the hugely popular Journal dies!!!
For now thanks for checking out these new releases with me today. Take care of yourselves and get creative! Jenny xxx

20 September 2017

To Everything There is a Season at Frilly and Funkie

Hi everyone and welcome! It's Kathy Clement's turn to host the latest challenge over on the Frilly and Funkie Challenge blog. She's called it 'To Everything There Is A Season' and here's her description for the challenge requirements; "Fall is one of the most beautiful seasons of the year. Brilliant leaves, fall flowers, crisp blue skies, and migrating geese fill the season with a sense of wonder and anticipation. You're invited to create a vintage or shabby chic project that captures the beauty of fall. You can make a card, a tag, share a journal entry or any kind of project you desire. Just be sure to create it in the shabby chic or vintage style and be sure to use fall (not Halloween) images and colors."

The team will choose their top four picks with the winner being invited to join us in a Guest DT spot at Frilly and Funkie and the next three will receive badges to display on their blogs. Everyone who enters and follows the rules will be entered into the draw to have the chance to win a $25 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique, so there are plenty of reasons for joining in the fun.

I haven't taken the traditional Autumn leaves approach to this challenge, instead preferring to include fading roses at the very end of the season and muted colours with a distinctly romantic theme - and yes, surprise surprise, it's a new journal!!! Here it is without the sari tie closure so you can see the journal title and cracked, aged 'plaster' elements in all their glory;


And here's the journal with that sari tie wrapped around to hide the secrets inside and keep them secure;
(click on each image for a closer look)


Up close you can see the fresco finish to the base of the cover and the look of weathering to the plaster. And then there's those faded roses, now losing their colour and showy beauty yet still with a delicacy to them. The little rusty orange flowers in between provide the perfect contrast and the bronze effect embellishments extend the design to each end of the cover.



On the spine of the journal, and continuing on with the whole romantic theme, there's a collection of bronze effect charms (including two containing off cuts of paper from the signatures inside). They add a touch of  'music' as they jangle together.



Inside the cover, this journal contains signatures created from the 'Love Clippings' A4 paper pad with pockets and tuck spots stitched in place to hold all those wonderful romantic memories. It's as though Prima created these paper pads with Travelers Notebook sized journals in mind, they work so well!

At this stage you are going to want to see inside and find out how I made this right? Aha! You're gonna have to wait until Saturday for my complete step by step tutorial over on the Frilly and Funkie challenge blog.
For everyone who's asked how I put my no-cut journal signatures together you'll get the complete lowdown.


So for now that's my DT project for the current Frilly and Funkie challenge 'To Everything There Is A Season'. Make sure you hop on over to see what my talented team mates have been inspired to create for this challenge, and remember to link your own shabby chic or vintage projects featuring rust to be in with a chance of winning one of the fabulous prizes that are up for grabs.

Don't forget, you'll get the full tutorial over on the Frilly and Funkie challenge blog this coming Saturday.
In the meantime take care of yourselves and get creative! Jenny xxx


Editor's Note; As promised at the end of the tutorial here's a video walk-through of the completed journal.

 



10 September 2017

EILEEN HULL MINI BLOG HOP - with GIVEAWAY

Hi everyone and welcome! Eileen Hull is currently on the Paper Trail, driving the whole width of America and travelling up into Canada in her now famous Scotty, a 1976 Serra camper van! You can find out where Eileen will be visiting and teaching classes by visiting her website www.eileenhull.com or by following her adventures on Facebook at Eileen Hull Designs where she will be doing regular FB Live videos.

Following on from the hugely successful release of Eileen's 'Journal' XL Die and Katie Skilton's sell out Sizzix shows on Hochanda, here in the UK, we want to continue to celebrate the success of Eileen's 'Journal' XL Die, both here in the UK and elsewhere around the World. Anne Redfern, Tracy Evans and I are doing a Blog Giveaway and each of us is offering one of Eileen's Journal die sets as a prize!
We are happy to post to winners anywhere in the world.


To be in with a chance of winning one of these THREE prizes you must:
1. Be a follower of one or (better still) all of our blogs
2. Comment and tell us whether or not you already have the Eileen Hull 'Journal' XL Die.
3. Be a member of Eileen Hull's Fan Club on Facebook. It is very simple to join and there is a lot of inspiration there as well as amazing prizes.

Don't forget to visit Anne Redfern and Tracy Evans blogs for second and third chances to win.


And don't forget, once you've got the journal bug you can order your digital copy of the Journal Treasury e-book with Eileen Hull and friends from Bella Crafts HERE. Available in one easily downloadable form accessible on any device, there are 85 projects (on 164 pages) from a huge number of designers who offer something to suit every taste and style. Not only do you get full page colour photos of each journal, for the vast majority you also get a comprehensive guide for how to go about creating them!

Would you love to have one of Eileen Hull's 'Journal' XL Dies? Then please do join in the fun! Prize winners will be announced on 30 September 2017, on each of our three blogs. Do please check back to see if you are a winner!

9 September 2017

ITAC 2017 Challenge 3 - Oceania

Hi everyone and welcome! I'm back with a new canvas for the ITAC 2017 Challenge, this time for Challenge 3 - Oceania. All the details and inspiration can be found HERE. From the list of requirements I took dots and dashes, monochromatic with colours of the earth, and natural materials (clay).


To get a inconsistently smooth surface to this canvas I covered it with a layer of texture paste before spreading uneven layers of paint (Leather Corset, Burning Bonfire, Apricot Blush, Medium Beige, Fair and Porcelain) across the top to recreate the look of sandstone rock. I then stamped over the entire background with the Circle Dot Background design using White Gesso and followed up with the Dinkie version of the same design this time using the Leather Corset paint again - whilst traditionally black is used with white to create a dramatic contrast, I opted for this very deep brown shade to echo the other earthy colours. After adding more texture paste through the Bubbles Stencil at the centre of the design, some leftover stamped flowers from my first canvas completed the intricate background. A busy background requires a simple focal point, and by stamping the Big Butterfly #2 into clay I was also able to add some much needed dimension. Once dry the butterfly was painted with Postbox Red paint and restamped with the Leather Corset version to bring out the detail of the design. With a little dilute White Gesso painted around its edges I finished the canvas with dashes of Leather Corset paint and added a sentiment from the Mindfulness #1 stamp set.



So that's my entry for the third challenge from ITAC 2017. Next stop Africa - bright colours may be a refreshing change!

I'll be back tomorrow evening with some exciting news. Until then grab your supplies and challenge yourself! Jenny xxx

6 September 2017

A Little Rusty for Frilly and Funkie

Hi everyone and welcome! For the past week it's been Autumn Clark's turn to host the latest challenge over on the Frilly and Funkie Challenge blog. She's called it 'A Little Rusty'; "With the end of summer nearing, some of us have gotten a little rusty with our creating due to holidays and lazy days. For this challenge let's break out a rusty color palette in preparation for fall. Whether you take the challenge literally and use rusted metal a faux rust technique, or just the color in your vintage or shabby chic project - the choice is up to you! We can't wait to see your creativity in full swing!"

The team will choose their top four picks with the winner being invited to join us in a Guest DT spot at Frilly and Funkie and the next three will receive badges to display on their blogs. Everyone who enters and follows the rules will be entered into the draw to have the chance to win a $25 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique, so there are plenty of reasons for joining in the fun.

I decided to create a background with paints, paste and inks intended to replicate a weather-worn rusty piece of metal. Then. rather than follow a somewhat predictable masculine route to finish the card, I chose a more feminine flourish with lots of altered die cuts and a touch of Linda's ribbon.
Here's the finished card;


Now it may look complicated but the rusty background was relatively simple to achieve; After covering a piece of card with coarse texture paste it was painted with layers of Dina Wakley Media paints, starting with Umber and then a more uneven layer of Cheddar mixed with Elephant. When dry the surface was sprayed with water before drips of Rust Alcohol Ink were allowed to run and pool across it. Finally I dribbled very dilute Ocean paint down the surface to emulate the look of verdigris.

With the background complete I used the Small Tattered Florals Thinlits die set to cut lots of blooms from card coloured with Tattered Rose Distress Spray Stain and coloured several of the branches from the same die set with the Umber paint. These were shaped, layered and wrapped with a little wire before large dots of Rose Gold Liquid Pearls were added to the flowers. The little bow actually came from one of the little glassine bag parcels that came in an order from The Funkie Junkie Boutique - I keep all of the little pieces of dyed seam binding for just such occasions! The doilies are actually the centres from the larger die design, coloured with Broken China Distress Oxide Ink and embossed with Fractured Ice Embossing Powder for that fabulous mottled look. A simple sentiment completed the card.

Here are a couple of close up photos to show the rusty texture, delicate florals and altered doilies in more detail;




That's it for my DT project for the current Frilly and Funkie challenge 'A Little Rusty'. Make sure you hop on over to see what my talented team mates have been inspired to create for this challenge, and remember to link your own shabby chic or vintage projects featuring rust to be in with a chance of winning one of the fabulous prizes that are up for grabs.

I have a lot more to share with you in the coming days so stay tuned for that. In the meantime take care of yourselves and get creative! Jenny xxx


4 September 2017

ITAC 2017 Challenge 2 - Asia

Hi everyone and welcome! I'm back with a canvas for the ITAC 2017 Challenge and this time it was all about taking on Challenge 2 - Asia. All the details and inspiration can be found HERE. From the list of requirements I took fabric, mandalas, cherry blossoms, powdered pigments and geometrics. 


I started this by covering the entire canvas with a layer of calico fabric to give a smooth paintable surface and the scraped layers of paint (Postbox Red, Burning Bonfire and Rouge) across it in a random fashion. The same colours were used to stamp mandalas (from the Christmas Wreath set) all over. Taking the waste from die cutting three of the largest of Seth Apter's Robo Squares from black card created a central panel on which to heat embossed the cherry blossoms (Wild Poppy and Marigold and Peony) with gold embossing powder. To make sure the colour for these intense yet delicate I used Porcelain and Rose Luscious Pigment Powders, diluted slightly and blended on the card whilst still wet. Black Gesso lines were added to either side of the panel (using the edge of a thin stamping block) and I heat embossed a phrase (Mindfulness #1) using Wendy Vecchi's new Carnation Red Embossing Powder as it matched perfectly. Finally I took a chopstick and turned it into a blessing stick with threads, wires, beads and Emerald Creek Pyrite Gemstones (you'll spot another of those gorgeous stones inside an Oriental coin from my stash too).


Here are a couple of close ups of the finished canvas;



So that's my entry for the second challenge from ITAC 2017. Next stop Oceania - thinking cap firmly on for that one!!!

I'll be back soon with that and on Wednesday it'll be time to unveil my latest Frilly and Funkie project.
Until then grab your supplies and challenge yourself! Jenny xxx

1 September 2017

Vintage Quilt Freshly Picked for The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge #40

Hi everyone and welcome! It's always an exciting honour to be asked to be a Guest Designer and I was especially thrilled to receive an invitation from Donna Bowman at The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge; the talented Design Team always come up with a huge range of gorgeous mixed media projects for each theme and a visit to see them is highly recommended!


September sees the launch of the latest challenge theme - Vintage - which opens up a world of possibilities for you to get creative. And the challenge is sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique this month so there will be a prize package for one lucky winner!


So here's my project for the challenge - a card which has a huge mix of media on it (amazing what you can pile onto a 6 inch square card!) Now usually when the word vintage is used my thoughts turn to shades of brown, but of course vintage items don't have to be. This time I wanted to recreate the look of vintage fabrics with a sense of texture and faded beauty, and Wendy Vecchi's products/designs were the perfect match.


Creating the 'vintage quilt' background to this card involved an initial layer of Crackle Texture Paste, over which I used the Gold Embossing Paste through the flower section of the Freshly Picked Stencil. I then scraped small amounts of Dusty Concord, Stormy Sky and Shaded Lilac Distress Paints over the surface before adding Texture Paste through the Vintage Quilt Stencil. A very dilute layer of White Gesso gave it all a chalky finish when dry, then a very dilute layer of Brushed Corduroy Distress Paint gave a more aged, yellowing look. Finally I lightly brushed the original purple/blue Distress Paints over the top to catch the raised areas. You'll see I mounted this background on some of the Metallic Kraft Card.


Keeping with the fabric theme I stamped the Freshly Picked image onto calico and painted it with more Distress Paints. As these paints seem to dry slower and there's the option to use dabber tops, try dabbing different parts of the image with different colours of paint before stamping. Then when the image is dry, colour with more Distress Paint in lighter shades that has been diluted slightly with water. Once dry I ironed the reverse of the calico to flatten it before layering with bits of Mulberry paper, sari silk and old handkerchief before stitching to the background. The little LOVE plaque came from using Paper Clay with the IOD Escucheons 1 mould before adding a Remnant Rub and drips of Butterscotch and Mushroom Alcohol Ink.

All mounted on a 6" square card blank, here are more close ups so you can see the vintage detail better;





So that's it for my Guest Designer project for The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge #40 - Vintage. Thank you so much to Donna for inviting me to be a part of this month's excitement. Make sure you hop on over to the main challenge page to see the fantastic projects from the Design Team and get all the details for entering your own vintage themed mixed media projects.

I'll be back very soon with more projects to share.
In the meantime have a great start to the weekend, enjoy your September, take care of yourselves and get creative! Jenny xxx


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