Glue - and other things that begin with G

It's the start of a new fortnightly challenge at Use Your Craft Stash, and the theme is anything beginning with G or H. As ever, you need only one thing beginning with G or H, and you need to use your stash!

I decided to have a go with my Gelli plate. I've had it ages and not really used it. In searching for inspiration to use it, I came across using hot glue to make your own masks. So, I dug out my glue guns - I have several - and had a go.

I found it easier with the larger gun, and used that for the circles and rectangles ones, and the little one was used for the more abstract one. It's really easy - just squeeze the glue in whatever pattern you want, onto a silicone mat, and that's it.

   

I used these paints, as I wanted Green and Grey (for the G's) and I also wanted another colour in there too.

  

I made a creamy/peachy Gerbera, using the XCut Glorious Gerbera die set.

  

The sentiment is by Papermania, stamped with Stazon Cloudy Sky, filled in with Hickory Smoke Distress Ink, and then covered with a silvery grey glitter glue.

So, my inspiration for this week has used Green and Grey, my Gelli Plate, my Glue Gun and Glitter Glue. Come and join us - we'd love to see you.

Happy crafting,

Cxxx

All about the A's

Afternoon. I am quite late with my Use Your Craft Stash Post this week. There are two reasons for this. One is that we have decided to try a two weekly theme rather than one, but the main reason is that I had an extreme crafty block with this one.

We have chosen the theme "A or B" which means you can use anything from your stash that starts with A and/or B, choose a card fold or mixed media technique that starts with A and/or B, choose a theme that starts with A and/or B..... the list goes on. All you need to do, is use your old craft stash. 

And in addition, we will draw a winner at random, and they will receive a little prize, as well as being the group's banner for the next fortnight.

So, my block was this. I have some Angelia Fibres and I thought they would be perfect for this challenge. But not matter how I tried, I just couldn't do anything that I was happy with. And I came to a complete and total halt. Normally, my things are ready by Sunday, to post on Monday - but this one didn't come together until Wednesday, when I finally decided to let go of the Angelina Fibres. I am really happy with what I have created - it's a list of A's with a few B's thrown in for good measure!

So, here is my A-Frame card with an rectangle aperture. I have used Aqua Tints, Alcohol Inks and Acetate, with Black card and a few little Butterflies! 

I cut a piece of A3 Centura Pearl card lengthwise, and scored in half. I cut the piece out the botttom to make is stand like an A-Frame. I'd never heard of this before, but I found it (and a whole lot of other card folds) on Beccy's Place Blog. I also cut another piece of Centura, with a rectangle aperture.

I wanted to create a background using Aqua Tints. I have had these (all of them) since they came out, and the gold really hasn't kept well. It is no longer liquid, but a thick paste, hence the kebab stick in it as opposed to a pipette.

I put the aquatints onto the card, and smooshed with a paper towel. The gold didn't really want to smoosh - and had to be smeared more than blended. Still, it turned out fine.

The acetate is Hunkydory - Dusk to Dawn Luxury Foiled Acetate. On the

back I added some Alcohol ink.

When I came to put the acetate on the Aqua Tint background, it was a bit too bright, so I put a piece of vellum with Butterflies in between. 

I considered adding some embellishments , but in the end I decided to leave it as it is.

So, we look forward to seeing your entries - and remember, you have all next week as well as the weekend to get them in.

Take care, and stay safe,

Cxxx

All at Sea

Morning!! New week - new challenge at Use Your Craft Stash. The time the theme is "All at Sea" and/or "Blue".  So anything related to the sea - mermaids, fish, boats, beaches, lighthouses, beach huts - or just anything blue. Pretty wide scope there!!

I've gone for both this week. I started with an old Kanban Topper sheet called Beach Huts and Boats. I know it's very old because there are some postmarks on the little tags that say 2007!! 

I decided to use the whole sheet and make a little boxed set of cards. I used some 5x5 Scalloped Card Blanks from my stash, then looked through my boxes for all my blue patterns and dumped it all on my desk before sorting through and making decisions.

I ended up using the pad of paper from Lidl called Summer - it's the green one poking out from underneath. This one's been in my stash for a few years - and it had the perfect sea themed, blue papers in there.

I used some 12x12 blue card for the first layer - the boats have it embossed with Leoie Pujol's Bubble Explosion and then inked with Faded Jeans Distress Ink.  I used an old Kanban card sheet called Beige Script (think it came with a birds set) and the paper from the pad that looked like waves. I also used the little tags with some baker's twine.

For the beach huts, I embossed the blue card with Sara Signature Contemporary Christmas Elegant Snowfall folder, and again inked with Faded Jeans. I used another old Kanban card sheet called Natural Felt, and chose the seashell paper for these. I also used the sentiments that came on the topper sheet. All four had the addition of some flat back pearls.

The box was made on my Crafter's Companion Big Score using A3 Centura Pearl Snow White card.  I decorated the top with the same card and paper - and used my Embossalicious Everyday Beach Hut Folder - again with Faded Jeans ink. I also used the last of the sentiments from the sheet.

When I do commissioned cards, I generally only do boxed cards of various sizes, and I always like to decorate the inside of the box too. So I used up scraps to line both the inside of the lid and the base in a similar way to the top.

We're looking forward to seeing what you come up with this week - so get digging in that stash!!

Take care and stay safe,
Cxxxx

Noah's Ark 2 by 2

Our family has been expanding in the past few years, and it means I am now getting to make some cards for the little ones. This one is for my great nephew who was two this  past week.

The topper is a Hunkydory Pick and Mix called Animals on the Ark - the whole two by two thing seemed appropriate for a 2nd birthday!! I teamed this with gold mirror card, orange Core'dinations card, Kanban Parcel Paper background card and some really old yellow Papermania stars paper.

The number is cut using Diamond Press Block Numbers, and the letters with Die'sire Kinetic alphabet.

I have to admit that this started out as a 6x6 card. But I stuck everything on the wrong way, so had to put it onto a 7x7 instead, and add the pearls. You wouldn't have known if I hadn't told you!!

Take care,

Cxxx