Meet The Gang

As promised here is a picture of the little perishers  'The Elves'  before they  all got parcelled off to the North Pole.

I have had an email from Santa to say they arrived safely and  are being put through their duties at the Elf Finishing Academy .

These two are already in their new homes as they got sent off first.

This is Bashful. So callled because I had a slight  mishap when  sewing his head on. When I sat him up he was facing the wrong way so he had to have minor surgery to correct the fault. He also has 'Googly ' eyes as he is in a home with adults only.

Here is  'Pushie' rather aptly named by his new owner as pushy indeed he was. Always first in the queue to choose his hair colour and leggings.

So I am now  safe in the knowledge that there are no Elves  left in the building. Boy does it feel good to know that this Christmas is going to be a nice quiet one.

No Elves are crossing this threshold.

Nope!

Nada!

Never!

The house has been on lock down for the past week. Even the Cat is confined  and The Doc is on litter tray duties. No one enters or leaves with out stating the pass code which I am changing every  5mins.

Oh Bliss!!

Roll on Christmas

Rudolph.

Christmas Card Club time again and it is Mary's turn to set the theme which is Mixed Media. I'm a bit short on time at the moment so I'm just showing the last of the little shaker ornaments I made. I figure they work for mixed media so here goes.

I used a variety of stamps to create my stag wreath. The stag is a freebie magazine one along with the little sprig of holly that I created the circle with but from different magazines. The shaker element is made using small red glass beads. I painted the holly and berries using distress inks.  Glitter glue on the front for the added sparkle.

I used the stags head again for this one. The snowflakes were a magazine freebie and I created the outer edge circle using a peg stamp by Heyda which I kept on turning this way and that as I stamped using a red distress ink pad. Small micro beads used for the shaker element and more glitter glue on the front.

Last one is a small snow scene. the house is a magazine freebie. Flying geese are by Card-io along with the silhouette tree.  I created the background using distress inks picked up on an acrylic block and painted with a small paint brush. The acetate I used for the front of the shaker element is printed with falling snow which I thought suited my little scene. Small micro beads used again  and more glitter glue but silver this time. 

Entering into the following challenge:
Scraps of Life by scrappy Mo # November Rudolph day.

The Potting Shed

I have eluded to The Potting Shed in previous posts as to being the place Miss Di and I abscond to when Parsnip isn't on patrol in Pixie's Play Ground. Well we got caught red handed the other day!
Here is the proof.

As soon as I saw this digi from Sparkle & Sprinkle called 'Wine Friends' I knew I just had to have it and send the ensuing card to Di.  This is the two of us to a T.  I have several other digi's of the ladies up to no good that I have threatened to colour and send to Di when appropriate!!.

Coloured with my promarkers and a silver gel pen. The background is created with my scor pal and green chalks to look like the said potting shed. 

The sentiment stamp is by Riley & Company called 'Funny Bones' The paper is again a magazine freebie from Paper Crafter June 2016 'Boutique chic'. Made up into an easel card.

That Parsnip is such a snitch!!! 

Lemon Sentiment.

There is a new challenge on the Butterfly blog.
#90 Butterflies + H is for Handwritten and/or the colour Lemon.  So a handwritten sentiment is the requirement this time. No sticker, no stamp, no die cut  just the words hand written by yourself.

Here is my  inspiration for you.

I decided to make a Dutch fold card. I have made these in the past but could I find the instructions I use? Nope. Never mind I knew a site that would have the instructions. I should have stopped right there and then. Do you ever start a card and then everything goes wrong but you keep on going because to start afresh isn't an option either with the supplies your using or timewise? Yes? So you will feel my pain!!

Looking at the instructions for cutting the two pieces of card required  had me thinking these measurements  are wrong surely( but you keep going because that's what they say.) Sure enough having cut the card they are wrong even after having gone back and checked I haven't made a mistake. Nada.
Ok time for a rain check and go look on You Tube. The first one I came across was by Dawn Griffith from Dawn's Stamping Thoughts (20th Oct  2016) for making a Dutch Fold Christmas Card. Now not only is it cut from one piece of card but the fold is turned sideways. I like this idea so off I go.
Out with a fresh piece of card and cut the card to the correct size. No problem. Then I did a silly thing and cut the wrong pieces off the card to discard. (I was trying to watch the video and do it at the same time. (should know better.) Not wasting more card so I turned the card upside down and refolded which then left me with a crease I didn't want,so my bright idea was to use the design paper to cover the crease. Worked fine but then I need to cover the back of the card to hide the crease as well and I only have the one sheet of the paper I'm using. A lot of cutting and pasting later and the card was finally done.

Here is the card folded up and as you can see a side ways version.

Here is my hand written sentiment. Done in Blood/Gold pen, sweat and tears.

Design papers, gold stickers, ribbon , lace  and gold edging from my stash. I do like the way that the card is cut  in one piece and now that I have cut a paper template showing me which bits not to cut off I will use again. Hope you will have the time to join in the new challenge.

More Chevrons

As promised here are some more ideas for using Chevrons on your cards and makes for the Butterfly challenge which is still running until next Tuesday.

#89 Butterflies + C is for Chevrons and/or the colour Purple.

For the first card I have used the shape Z Fold Card but made it a bit different by including a round window on the first 2 folds which then look through to the back fold. I made the card from purple card stock and the patterned paper is a freebie from Making Cards  magazine called 'Pastel Petals' March 2016.

Pink Ric rac braid from my stash, along with the Butterflies that were previously made up and in the odds box. The doilies were a present from a blogging friend that I layered up for a shabby chic look as they are only attached in the centre behind the butterfly. 

Sentiment  is a die cut by Xcut cut 3 times and layered up for extra depth.

Next card uses the shape Double Z Fold Card. Ive used cream coloured watercolour card for making the shape. The paper on the back of the card is a freebie from Paper Crafter Magazine and is by Hunkydory called 'Boutique Chic'  June 2016. Butterfly paper is from Crafters Companian Club Inspire free to download from their site. This is from the April 2016 collection. The strip of purple butterflies is a tonic border punch. I had used the fall out butterflies on a previous card and the strip was still out on my desk begging to be used. Large butterfly was salvaged from a Birthday card that had been sent to me. 

I know your thinking  so where are the chevrons, well if you look down on the card from above there they are!! A bit of  lateral thinking outside of the box.  

Now if you don't have any braid or chevron paper or dies I bet you do have paper, pencil, rubber and marker pen to make your own though!  I made this tag from the left over cream watercolour card and marking a 1/2" grid square up using a pencil. Then I simply used a ruler  to make the chevron lines using a purple marker pen. After making sure the chevrons were dry I rubbed out the pencil lines.
Tag shape is a SU punch. Butterfly and sentiment from my stash. Simples!!!

I expect your all waiting for an Elf Factory UpDate?  Well they are all made. 2 have already gone off to their new homes to cause Christmas Havoc  and the rest are here on my desk. I would say sat looking at me but I haven't embroidered their eyes on yet so they can't!!  Photo shoot will be imminent

Christmas Ornaments Shaker Style

The internet continues to be fickle here and now my ipad will only work upstairs on the 3G network.! I did go into the 3 shop and they popped my post code into their computer clattered away, stared intently at the screen for what seemed like several minutes, sighed and looked up and then pronounced yes the network was being upgraded in my area but they have finished it now. Anything to get me out of the shop and back to whatever he was doing before I interrupted.  I have a green light here with the internet at the moment so hopefully can get this posted.
I really thought the christmas card club theme was for this Sunday coming so I'm chasing my tail somewhat as these should have been made and posted  last sunday. Sorry girls. Blame it on the Internet as it really mucks my timings up as to what day it it.

Anyway I have been doing some more little water colour scenes +using small stamps for the detailing and have made them into Shaker style christmas ornaments. I have made six  but these are just the
first 3. It was Lorraine's turn to pick the theme and Shimmer and Shine was chosen so hope the glitter glue around the edges and on the scenery will count.

This one uses a Circadesign stamp called 'Forest 'purchased at the NEC on my recent trip.  I have painted the background using Distress ink pads daubed onto an acetate block and picked up with a paint brush onto water colour card stock. The trees were stamped over with versamark and heat set using black embossing powder so that they wouldn't bleed when painting them and the background around. Clear acetate used to cover the front and large micro beads for the shaker element. 

I have to say this one is my favourite as I love the way the pale pink and mauve sky turned out. I stamped using blue distress ink and then clear embossing powder over the top to heat set beofre colouring in the snowy background and sky. This little stamp is by Inkylicious called 'Winter Cabin'.
Iv'e used small blue beads crystal beads for the shaker element and little silver sticker for the stars.

Here I've used two different stamp sets. 'Santa Sleigh' from Inkylicious which comes both left and right facing in the same packet. The house and trees are from Hobby Art from their ' Winter Scene-its set'. (Iv'e not used all the elements yet.) Stamped with Memento ink and then heat set using clear embossing powder before painting in the background . The Sentiment came with the sleigh set. I have used small micro beads for the shaker element this time.

Q. Now can you guess what I used to make the ornaments with? Here is a piccy of them taken sideways.

A. Good old empty DS tape spool rings  (now you do keep all yours don't you!!!!) and covered inside and out with various Washi tapes. (I shall be keeping the tiny empty rings from these as well).

Now as I have used snippets  I'm off to the playground and decorate a few of the trees by the swings. Might just have to call into the potting shed on my way back too so long as Parsnip is not on patrol!!

Pixie's Crafty Workshop #307/308  Use up your snippets. (empty D.S. tape rings. )

Chevrons

Time again for another Butterfly Challenge. A nice easy one after the last brain teaser. 

#89 Butterflies + C is for Chevrons and /or the colour Purple.

Iv'e made simple card shapes this time as the internet is very iffy at the moment and I didn't want to miss getting these uploaded before it decided to fall over yet again. The weather is affecting the signals in our area. 

The first card uses a freebie chevron design paper from Making Cards Sep. 2015 called 'Stunning  Trees'. The patterned dp is also a freebie from a magazine but I have no name for it. Attached to backing card and then distressed around the edges. It is very cold here tonight and my double sided tape is being  decidedly one sided which paid dividends as just as I was about to glue the pansy cut out in place I noticed that the little butterflies (in the patterned paper  were flying upside down so I quickly wipped it off and re attached it the right way up. Phew!! The purple butterflies are out cuts from a Tonic Edge puncher. I have left the sentiment to attach later when I have decided what sort of card to make it into. I think it also needs a bit more adding to it not sure what though.

Second card I have attached the chevron freebie design paper( from Making Cards Sep 2015 called 'Fashion Girls') to a purple cardstock base. Other papers are also freebies in my stash and were snippets and again adhered to purple cardstock  The butterfly came from my butterfly box along with the feather which just happened to be in there(probably put it in the box cause it was getting up my nose on my desk  and I needed breathing space to move!) and also purple in colour.  Matching pearl from my stash.

Nice and simples. Hope you will come and play along. the challenge runs for two weeks and I will show you next week some more cards using intricate card shapes and other types of Chevrons. 

Internet is green so I'm good to go!!

Little Scenes.

I made these cards a couple of weeks ago and quite got into the swing of making the little scenes from using what few stamps that I had of the right size. Went to the NEC yesterday and have bought some  Card-io , Circa Design and Inkylicious stamps so will be making a few more up to swell my Christmas Card stash which has fallen a bit behind. I succumbed and also bought some of the distress Oxide Ink pads. (Well they were on offer so it would have been so rude not to have availed myself.!)

First card  uses Inkylicious 'Flight of Dreams' stamp set for the trees and Art Impressions stamp set for the fencing.  The sentiment is also by Inkylcious  'Winter Cabin 'set. I was following a Penny Black tutorial on You Tube but as I didn't have the correct stamps or even the right ink pads  had to improvise.   I used distress inks to stamp the tree and fence and then to paint in the mountains and the sky. White jelly roll pen for snow on the trees and along the top of the fence  and liquid pearls 'white Opal' for the falling snow.

Second card I just did my own thing using stamps from Hobby Art 'Winter Scene - its ' set which I first stamped in black ink then Versamark and then coated with clear embossing powder from SU. . I painted in the snow and the sky using distress re inkers on a clear block and picking the colours up with a paint brush. Sentiment is a magazine freebie. 

 Third card  again I did my own thing  using  stamps from the Hobby Art stamp set for the cluster of trees and the deer. Sentiment was from the same freebie magazine set. Again stamped in black then Versamark followed by clear embossing powder by SU.  I created the line of trees using a flat paint brush  and the rest of the background was painted using distress re inkers on a clear block.  The stars in the sky are from a black glossy sticker sheet.

Iv'e been a bit 'Under the Elf' but will be around your lovely blogs asap.

Hugs 

Zodiac tags.

It's the second week of the Butterfly challenge which is 

#88 Butterflies + Z is for Zodiac and/or the colour Buttermilk.

Not many entries so far. Perhaps you need some inspiration to get you going.  Here are my tags for you. You will be surprised at what you have lurking in your stash that can be turned around and given a new twist. All of the tags were created by covering ones that had come off of clothes which I always keep for remaking into Birthday/Christmas tags.I have used cream textured cardstock / buttermilk plain card and cream parchment paper. Everything has come from my stash.

So first up is AQUARIUS which is depicted by a Water pitcher. I found this really old silver and acetate  sticker sheet and after peeling away the vase image and placing onto my tag I created

a handle  from the out cut of the vase shape. The rows of butterflies were another sticker sheet which I coloured in with a marker pen to match the tag ribbon. 

Next up is GEMINI which is depicted by Twins so here I have used two identical butterfly shapes from a butterfly sheet by Studio Light '3D Vintage line'  I have decorated the centres and one  corner of the tag with gold gems which are also part of the word Gemini

Here we have VIRGO which is depicted by a Woman. I have used a digi image from  A Day For Daisies called 'Pearls in my hair.' I printed out onto cream parchment paper and then coloured just the birds and put some silver threads into her hair. The butterflies are punched ones from a punch by Tonic Studios. These were in my butterfly box but were a cream colour so i coloured to match the little birds and edged with a silver gel pen. 

Next is ARIES which is depicted by a Ram. 

Now I do claim poetic licence on this next tag as I could only find this digi in my stash by Mo Manning of  Mo's Digital Pencil called 'sheep'. If your looking for the Ram he is over the next hill grazing so you will just have to take my word for it!! Coloured with my promarkers. The little butterfly charm has  Created for You ( so read that as Ewe) inscribed on the back!. 

This one is PISCES which is depicted by fishes. This Koi Carp  was originally on a card I made for my Dad and has since been returned to  me from the Care home he was in so I have repurposed  here on this tag. The little butterflies are out cuts from a butterfly strip punch. I have coloured to match the fish that I had originally coloured using my promarkers. I have placed them to look like the air bubbles. 

This tag is SAGITTARIUS which is depicted by a bow and arrow and sometimes by a half human/half animal form.  This is Archy Sagittarius a stamp by Kadoodle stamps  designed by Sandra Dry. It is the only zodiac stamp I have in my stash and I have had it ever since I started crafting. I have nearly thrown it out several times but something always stops me and he gets put back in the draw. This is his first outing! Coloured with my promarkers and edged with a gold gel pen.  The  string of butterfly and heart stickers were just  perfect for the edging.

I was going to admit defeat with TAURUS which is depicted as a Bull. I knew that I  didn't have any stamps or digis that I could use but  then I had a light bulb moment. I do have a  Bull ornament so I quickly put him in my china display cabinet and took a snap and here he is  A Bull in a China Shop!

The butterfly strip was another sticker from my stash.

Hope you have had some seeing the tags I have made. You can always just use butterflies and the colour Buttermilk to enter the challenge and you will still qualify for the main prize.

I back to the Elf Factory. Those elves are causing no end of trouble. I can't wait to pack them all off to the North Pole and let Santa sort them out.