MDF Lantern

 We wanted to send some handmade and bought items to my son's friends family in the USA for taking him under their wings whilst he was studying there for 9 months.

Some weeks back I went to Colemans Warehouse in Rushden as Dawn Bibby was presenting.  I don't go there as often as I'd like but I arranged for my son to take me as I had to see Dawn Bibby as she got me into crafting many years ago and I even visited her shop in Lancashire when she had it for my 40th birthday treat and to my delight I got to meet Dawn as she was in the shop.

I thought this MDF Lantern Kit would be a good thing to make and send to the USA along with a battery operated tealight.  When I got it home there were no instructions in the packet so I posted a message on Dawn's Facebook page and within less than an hour a lady on there kindly provided me with the instructions (sorry I have forgotten your name but thank you so much).

I will have to say this wasn't the easiest MDF project I've made.  Personally I think it would help if there were ridges in the base for the sides to sit rather than them sit on top.  It was very hard to get the glue to dry with no ridge to help hold it in especially for someone with dexterity problems.

I eventually got it to set and then painted with my Imagination Crafts Dark Orchid Starlight Paint.   I then stippled on some Dutch Doobadoo Texture Paste to the sides and tops of the lantern to cover any areas where it wasn't 100% straight.  I then painted over with the Dark Orchid paint once it was dry.

I then used some Summertime Designs papers and printed off with a gold pattern one side and a dark purple/orchid colour on the other side, die-cut flowers out of it, glued, shaped and Stickles glitter glue added to the centres and left to dry.

I then decorated the lantern with the flowers, die-cut greenery by Sue Wilson and added a chain with jump rings.

Please excuse the blurriness but this is what it looked like with the tealight turned on.

I was pleased how it turned out.

I am entering this decorated lantern the following challenges:

More Mixed Media - Anything goes with the option of purple
Crafting with Friends - Anything goes

Allsorts - Flower power

Crafty Catz - Anything goes with the option of baby

Creative Fingers - Anything goes

Love to Create - Anything creative/mixed media goes

Glitter n Sparkle - Anything goes

Artistic Inspirations - Anything goes/make it funny

Crafting from the Heart - Anything goes

Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes

Ching-Chou Kuik's Digital Stamps Inspiration Post - Friday 23 June 2017

 Here is my weekly inspiration post for the Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps Monthly Challenge Blog. 

Before I do I'd like to remind you that our challenge this month is "BUTTERFLIES".

The topic for the Design Team this week was "ANYTHING GOES".

Here is my inspiration post with this theme.

 For my summertime inspired card with lots of flowers I have used the Ching-Chou Kuik image called "Time Flies".  I have coloured the image in with Spectrum Noir pens.

The backing papers I have used are from various Debbi Moore Inspiration Magazines.

I have finished the card off with a stamped sentiment, raffia ribbon, die-cut butterflies, pearls, die-cut feathers and some bought flowers.

I am entering this card into the following challenges: 

Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper June Challenge - Anything goes

Sunny Day - Tic-tac-toe (top horizontal row of sentiment, pearls and flowers)

Crafting with an Attitude - Anything goes

Artistic Inspirations - Anything goes/option to use dies or stencils
A Snowflake's Promise - Anything goes
A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything goes
Aud Sentiments - BINGO board - diagonal line of patterned paper, digi or stamped image and favourite colour (purple)
World Wide Open Design Team - Anything goes
Creatalicious - Anything goes with the option of die-cuts and/or punches
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything goes
The Ribbon Girl - June any image challenge
Ooh La La Creations - Summertime
Scrapbook Stamp Society - Anything goes
Crafting from the Heart - Anything goes
Digi Choosday - Anything goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes
Crafty Creations - Anything goes
Dare 2B Artzy - Summer
Simon Says - Use patterned paper
Crafting with Friends - Anything goes
Fussy and Fancy Friday - Punches and dies
QKR Stampede - Paper piecing or anything goes
Crafty Catz - Anything goes with the option of baby
Creative Fingers - Anything goes

Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps - New release

 Today sees the arrival of a new image in the Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps Etsy Store:

  The image is called "Lotus in June" and it is available as a special introductory price of $2.80 (instead of the original price of $4).  

Hurry as this offer ends on 26 June 2017.

Ching-Chou Kuik's Digital Stamps Inspiration Post - Friday 16 June 2017

 Here is my weekly inspiration post for the Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps Monthly Challenge Blog. 

Before I do I'd like to remind you that our challenge this month is "BUTTERFLIES".

The topic for the Design Team this week was "USE KRAFT CARD".

Here is my inspiration post with this theme.

 For my card I have used the Ching-Chou Kuik image called "Winter Watcher" (this is available in a set along with three other images).  I have printed the image off onto Crafter's Companion Desert Storm card and coloured in with Promarkers.

I used a Crafter's Companion wood effect embossing folder with some kraft card and then inked around the edge with Tim Holtz's Gathered Twigs distress ink.  I made a flower out of kraft card with a poppy die and stamp by Sheena Douglass.

I have finished the card off with a stamped sentiment, ric-rac ribbon and some pearls.

I am entering this card into the following challenges: 

Sunny Day - Tic-tac-toe (end vertical column of flowers, dies/punches and embossing)

Crafting with an Attitude - Anything goes

Creative Ladybirds - Anything goes
The Corrosive Challenge - Anything goes
The Crafty Addicts - Anything goes with the option of Summer colours
Crafty Creations - Anything goes
A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything goes
Create and Inspire - Anything goes with the option of tag you're it
Allsorts - Use at least 2 dies (Flower die and splat die)
Love 2 Create - Anything creative/mixed media goes
Artistic Inspirations - Anything goes/option to use dies or stencils
Crafting from the Heart - Anything goes
Digi Choosday - Anything goes
A Snowflake's Promise - Anything goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes
Passion for Promarkers - Add a sentiment
Inspiration Destination - Anything goes
Deep Ocean - Die-cuts, chipboards and/or punches
Creative Inspirations - Our furry/feathered friends
Simon Says - Emboss it
Creative Moments - Anything goes with the option of flag day
A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything goes
Aud Sentiments - BINGO board (diagonal line of ribbon, digi or stamped image and die-cuts)
World Wide Open Design Team - Anything goes
Creatalicious - Anything goes with the option of die-cuts and/or punches
Colour Crazy - Anything goes
Polkadoodles - Anything goes
Brown Sugar - Anything goes
QKR Stampede - Quilting/Stitching Real or Faux or anything goes
Crafty Catz - Anything goes with the option of spots and stripes
Jo's Scrap Shack - Anything goes with the optional twist of a sketch

Crafty Purple Frog Challenge - June 2017 - Make it Manly

  It is time for another challenge over at The Crafty Purple Frog Challenge Blog.

The topic this month is "MAKE IT MANLY".  

 For my card I have used a green card base from my stash.

I have used a sheet of decoupage from a Joanna Sheen Jody Bergsma 8x8 cardmaking pad of this gorgeous dragonfly image.

The backing papers I have used are from the Dovecraft Back to Basics Teal Goodie Bag (sorry this is out of stock at the moment) and I have also used a paper from the Sweet Dixie Inspiration 1 paper pad.  On the Sweet Dixie paper I have used my Crafter's Companion Just for Men Urban Graffiti stamp set and stamped various circles using my Tim Holtz Peacock Feathers distress ink using second generation stamping for a lighter effect.

I have finished the card off with a stamped sentiment which was a magazine freebie a few years back, two different ribbons from my stash, gems from the Teal Goodie Bag and three flowers from the Teal Goodie Bag with stamens added to the centre.

I am entering this card into the following challenges: 

Crafting by Designs - Anything goes

Creatalicious Challenge - Anything goes with the option of use your favourite colour

Creative Inspirations - Your favourite things (decoupage, stamping, ribbon and gems)

Creative Moments - Anything goes with the option of birthday

Inspiration Destination - Anything goes or the option of a shaker card
Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper June Challenge - Anything goes
Crafting with an Attitude - Anything goes
Aud Sentiments - Summer and sentiment

Crafty Girls Creations - Anything goes

A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything goes

Craft Rocket - For the men/boys
Love to Craft - Anything goes
Love to Scrap - Boyz Rule!
613 Avenue Create - Anything goes/optional twist of stamping with an embossing folder
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything goes
Incy Wincy - Anything goes
Crafting from the Heart - Anything goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes
Unicorn Challenge - For the guys
The Corrosive Challenge - Anything goes
The Crafty Addicts - Anything goes with the option of Summer colours
Crafty Creations - Anything goes
A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything goes
Fab n Funky - Marvellous men
Simon Says - Make it masculine
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
Cute Card Thursday - Boys/men
Creative Fingers - Anything goes
Crafting with Friends - Anything goes
Crafty Catz - Anything goes with the optional twist of dies and punches
Create and Inspire - Anything goes with the option of tag you're it

Ching-Chou Kuik's Digital Stamps Inspiration Post - Friday 9 June 2017

  Here is my weekly inspiration post for the Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps Monthly Challenge Blog. 

Before I do I'd like to remind you that our challenge this month is "BUTTERFLIES".

Here is my inspiration post with this theme.

 For my summery card I have used the Ching-Chou Kuik image called "Peony Kimono Maiden" and I have coloured her in with my Promarkers and chalked the background for a soft effect.  I have added my Coarse Medium Pan Pastel over the top.

The papers I have used are from First Edition.

I have finished the card off with some raffia ribbon, die-cut butterflies and Stickles glitter glue.

I am entering this card into the following challenges: 

Artistic Inspirations - Anything goes/flowers theme (optional)

Digi Choosday - Anything goes

Crafting by Designs - Anything goes

Creatalicious Challenge - Anything goes with the option of use your favourite colour

Creative Inspirations - Your favourite things (ribbon, die-cuts, lots of layers and sparkle)
Creative Moments - Anything goes with the option of birthday
Inspiration Destination - Anything goes or the option of a shaker card
A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper June Challenge - Anything goes
Sunny Day - Tic-tac-toe (middle horizontal row of ribbon, digi/stamp and dies/punches)
Aud Sentiments - Summer and sentiment
Noor! Design UK - Summer

Crafty Girls Creations - Anything goes

A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything goes

Creative Ladybirds - Anything goes
Delicious Doodles - All creatures great and small
Love to Craft - Anything goes
613 Avenue Create - Anything goes/optional twist of stamping with an embossing folder
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything goes
Come and Get It - Anything goes
Dare 2B Artzy - Summer
Incy Wincy - Anything goes
Let's Create - Girls, girls, girls
Scrapbook Stamp Society - Anything goes with the option of Father's Day
Whoopsi Daisy - Summer sun
Crafting from the Heart - Anything goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes
Crafty Sentiments - Anything goes
Passion for Promarkers - Birds, bugs and butterflies
Digi Choosday - Anything goes
Lemon Shortbread - Anything goes
The Corrosive Challenge - Anything goes
The Crafty Addicts - Anything goes with the option of Summer colours
Crafty Creations - Anything goes
A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything goes
Creative Fingers - Anything goes
Crafting with Friends - Anything goes
Colour Crazy - Anything goes
Polkadoodles - Anything goes
QKR Stampede - For the guys or anything goes
Crafty Catz - Anything goes with the optional twist of dies and punches

Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps - New release

 Today sees the arrival of a new image in the Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps Etsy Store:

 The image is called "After Midnight" and it is available as a special introductory price of $2.80 (instead of the original price of $4).  

Hurry as this offer ends on 11 June 2017.

Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps Facebook Group June Challenge - Create a background

Today is the start of the Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps Facebook Group Monthly Challenge.

The topic for the challenge this month is "Create a background".

I decided to do another journal page.  

I have used the Ching-Chou Kuik image called "Scent of Spring" and I have coloured the image in with my Promarkers and inked around the edge with Tim Holtz's Peeled Paint distress ink.

For the actual journal pages I started off with painting the pages with my gold Starlight pen for some sparkle and shine.  I used various Pan Pastels to add some colour.  I then used various stamps to add texture and dimension.  I then added some washi tape up the side and at the bottom.  I then die-cut lots of leaves and stuck them to the pages.  I used a freebie dragonfly stamp and inked using two different coloured ink pads, cut out and added Stickles glitter glue to them for some sparkle.  I have finally added some small flowers to finish off the pages.

I am entering these journal pages into the following challenges:

Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes

Crafty Catz - Anything goes with the optional twist of make your own flowers

Simply Papercrafts - Anything goes

Creative Fingers - Anything goes

Crafting with Friends - Anything goes

Colour Crazy - Anything goes
Polkadoodles - Anything goes

Love to Create - Anything creative/mixed media goes

Glitter n Sparkle - Anything goes

Artistic Inspirations - Anything goes/flowers theme (optional)

Crafting from the Heart - Anything goes

Digi Choosday - Anything goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes
Crafting by Designs - Anything goes
Dare 2B Artzy - Girly
Jo's Scrap Shack - Always anything goes
Creatalicious Challenge - Anything goes with the option of use your favourite colour
Creative Inspirations - Your favourite things (mixed media, using dies and colouring stamped and digital images)
Creative Moments - Anything goes with the option of birthday
Inspiration Destination - Anything goes or the option of a shaker card
Simon Says - Anything goes
Penny's Paper - Anything goes
Paper Shelter - Make it digital (digital image used)
A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything goes
Crafty Girls Creations - Anything goes
A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything goes
Creative Ladybirds - Anything goes
Love to Craft - Anything goes
Crafty Gals Corner - Anything goes