BRAND NEW CHALLENGE BLOG: Recycle, Re-Purpose & Re-Invent!!

March 31st 2012

A BRAND New Recycle Challenge blog - Recycle, Re-Purpose & Re-Invent!! Do you love to "hoard" anything & everything???? If you said yes then this is the challenge blog for you!!

Our first challenge is an "Anything Goes" Challenge - so we want you to recycle anything you have been saving or have on hand and create with it!! Make sure you let us know what your "recycled" item is and how you have used it so we can all learn new things and get more ideas on how to recycle! And for an added bonus and the opportunity to win a great new "recycle" theme Sentiment just tell us what the "strangest" thing is that you have recycled or been keeping to recycle - we would love to know what things people have ideas for!

For my creation this month I have recycled a funky "arrow" shaped belt buckle from a box of buttons & goodies I was given as well as some black leather thong from a broken multi strand necklace. I've added beads to the leather and also the top of my "Charisma" face from CS Designs. Charisma has been coloured with Copic Markers and then adhered to the jewelry "mould" and covered with Diamond Glaze. I used a hot glue gun to adhere the jewelry piece to the buckle and also added a brooch pin to the back - pretty cool????

Our challenges will run for an entire month so you have plenty of time to enter! And you can use any images you like and any recycled item for this month!!

AND for this month we have a bonus challenge with the chance to WIN a Great CS Designs Sentiment. We need you to tell us what the strangest thing is that you have been "hanging on to" to recycle in a creation & how you are planning to use it. Just add this info to your blog post when you enter our challenge this month and you will be in the running for the prize!!

I would have to say I have held onto several strange items!

I have a few iPOD hard plastic packaging boxes which I have used to make a "Mummy's Sarcophagus" click here to view.

I also currently have a pair of shoe laces from a pair of shoes that my daughter wanted to add bright colourful showlaces to and I couldn't bear to throw them out so I may be able to use them to make a decorated carry gift bag & make the handles with them.

We cant wait to hear what you have and what you are going to do with it!!

Easter Reminder...

March 31st 2012

A quick reminder post for our Easter Challenge at Wicked Wednesday. For this midway reminder I have used a gorgeous little "bunny" image from a collage sheet from Lisa's Altered Art. I hope a cute little bunny like this brings you lots of Easter Eggs!!

I'm also joining the fun of Pink Saturday with my very "pink" collaged bunny so Happy Pink Saturday!

Copper, Ginger & Rust

March 29th 2012
The last Gingersnap Challenge before the "change" and I just couldn't resist making something a bit quirky for this one!! So here's my little button doll "Ginger":

She's a bit of a recycled gal too as the buttons are from an old box of buttons I was given and the "hanger" is actually a beaded bracelet I had bought for Halloween last year to get the "spiders" from it. The "face, hands, feet & guitar" are from a really cool collage cheet by Art Tea Life and I have laid her on a great grafitti background image from June at Dezinaworld - I thought the colours were perfect for this challenge!

May your heart be as light as a song.

May each day bring you bright,

happy hours that stay with you all the year long.

Irish Blessing

Easter is Coming!

March 29th 2012

As Easter is not far away we have an Easter Themed Challenge this week at Wicked Wednesday. Our sponsor this week is Michelle Perkett Studio and it is her gorgeous bunny image that I have used on my fabric ATC for this new challenge. I'm sure that everyone is making Easter goodies & creations so we would love you to join our ATC challenge this week - you have the chance to win a Michelle Perkett image just by joining in the fun!

i.FISH

March 28th 2012

DUDE TIME DOODLES NEW RELEASE

BLOG HOP!

A great Dude Time Doodles Blog Hop to celebrate their brand new release images!! I've chosen "Captain Whelan" and made this fishing themed card complete with netting and fishing line!! The background fish are also from Dude Time Doodles and were a perfect match for the captain!!

You should have come to me from Dawn and you will now be heading over to visit Kevin - Have fun!!

This is my last project as a Guest Designer! I've really enjoyed making these "male" themed cards - thanks to Dude Time Doodles for having me!

I'm also entering this card at the Cards for Men Challenge Blog - Great Outdoors Theme - Captain Whelan is just perfect for this challenge!!

A Touch of Green

March 27th 2012

I've made a Xmas Card for this week's Art With No Boundaries Challenge Inspiration - no harm in getting prepared early!! I used Priscilla Winter Playtime & a Xmas Sentiment - both from Chris at CS Designs.
For the background of this card I thought I would try out the "Herringbone" technique from a tutorial at Splitcoast Stampers - I think this pattern looks really effective and a great way to use bits & pieces of patterned papers. And as we are still going with our "Fashionista" challenge I have added a button & some braid from my sewing box plus a touch of green!!

Spring is Sprung!

March 27th 2012

Spring isn't coming here - just the opposite in fact - but I'm happy to make something bright, cheery & flowery!! This is my new tag for the Spring Challenge at The Octopode Factory Friday Blog. I've used a great image from Lily's Edgar Allan Poe Collage Sheet - isn't she great? I've added lots of little punched flowers with a bit glittery Stickles added to the centres for some sparkle!

Just Get Up & Dance!

March 26th 2012

This fortnight we have an "Anything Goes" challenge at The Cheerful Stamp Pad so there is no excuse for not entering!

I've made this CAS style card using some Digi Stamps I purchased quite some time ago & haven't used - sound familiar???!!! The images are from Digi Design House - I can't find the link so if anyone has it let me know so I can link up!!! I've used just 2 colours - pink & black - and I found the quote at the Quote Garden.

Which is the more interesting...

March 26th 2012

Leave everyone wondering which is the more interesting piece of work...you or your hat!

A great theme for this week at Take a Word - "It's All About The Hat"!! I decided to make a collage style tag using a gorgeous image from Lisa's Altered Art plus various textured paper & embellishments!

Spring! Green, Blue & Pink!

March 24th 2012
A new challenge for this fortnight at So Artful so get creating and show us what you can make!

I've made this collage style card with some great images from "iTkUliLLi" - I couldn't resist this great "pink" themed collage sheet!!

I'm also linking my "pink" creation to this week's Pink Saturday!!

Cry Baby!

March 24th 2012
A quick reminder post for our "Babies" Challenge at the Wicked Wednesday ATC Challenge Blog.

My little ATC uses an image from Freubels Freebies - isn't it great? Perfect for this challenge theme!!

We look forward to seeing your creation!

Gerri's Stash!!

March 22nd 2012
The following creations have been made using items from a little package from Gerri!! Gerri sent out packages of her stash to particpants and we had to make a creation using 4 or 5 items from the 'stash'. Gerri will be displaying all the particpants work on her blog! I can't wait to see what amazing creations everyone has made!!

I made two items - firstly this little tag - all the elements on this tag are from the package except the "READ" letters which I had.

And secondly I made this colourful hanging - I added the letters and the bird from my goodies but all the other items were in my package!!

I want to thank Gerri for posting out to me and having me be a part of this fun event!!! I am the other side of the planet and I do appreciate people being prepared to post to me!!! Thanks Gerri!!

Sweet Baby

March 21st 2012

As you can see our new challenge at the Wicked Wednesday ATC Challenge Blog is "Babies" and this week our sponsor is the Graphics Shoppe and you have the chance to win an image from them!! So make sure you link up your ATC's to our blog!

Cowboy Cop!

March 21st 2012

A new challenge at Dude Time Doodles so make sure you check out the blog for the photo inspiration!! I've made this card using "Super Trooper Trip", some embossed & patterned paper some "Sherriff Badges" also from DTD, a piece of string to make the lasso & a great cowboy boots charm!

Another fun challenge I've enjoyed as a Guest Designer - these male themed images are so much fun to create with!!

Fly...

March 20th 2012

At Art With No Boundaries we decided to extend our "Fashionista" Challenge until the end of the month as everyone was having a great time creating with items from their sewing box!! If you have already entered you can enter again BUT this time we are asking that you use some "green" on your creation as well as an item from your sewing box!!! We would love to see your "Fashionista" creations!!

I've made this cute little beaded art doll with some left over beads from a costume I made plus some shimmery ribbon to make a hanger for my creation! The image is from the 'Solitaire' range of CS Designs "Mysterious Butterfly" the little wings are from a Lisa's Altered Art collage sheet. The 'body' of my art doll is a beaded piece from a broken necklace (good recycling!!!!)

I would love to see how creative you can be for this challenge!!

Geisha Girl

March 19th 2012

A reminder post for the 'Windy & Rainy Day' challenge at The Cheerful Stamp Pad! For this card I have used a beautiful Geisha image (she has a 'parasol' ready for the rainy day) from a collage sheet by Gecko Galz along with some textured Japanese papers.

I only ask to be FREE...

March 17th 2012

I only ask to be free.

The butterflies are free.

Charles Dickens.

A reminder post for our "Flying Things" Challenge at Wicked Wednesday. For this ATC I have used a gorgeous "Pink Ribbon" Butterfly Baby from Lisa's Altered Art and the Charles Dickens quote.

As it's also Pink Saturday (and this week Green Saturday as well!!) I am linking up to Beverley's Blog so "Happy Pink Saturday" to everyone!



Royal"TEA"!!!

March 15th 2012

I'm just in time with my creation for The Octopode Factory Friday Challenge - theme of "Royalty" - LOL I couldn't resist adding my humour to this and making my creation Royal"TEA" using 'Teapot Alice"' and adding a 'crown' to her head and making a collage background of high tea delicacies & crockery using collage images from Freubels Freebies. hope you appreciate my sense of humour!!!

Make a Pig of Yourself!!

March 15th 2012

I couldn't resist buying some more Bombshell Digital Stamps to "play" with - I particularly like this little Cowgirl riding her little piggy as prior to moving to the city we were pig farmers so I have a bit of a soft spot for them and I used to collect pig ornaments!!

I've used the new Bombshell Stamps March Challenge Sketch turned to one side. I love these "So Sophie - Graceful" patterned papers and I've had a packet of the little pink pig eyelets for absolutely ages and this was the perfect opportunity to finally use one!! Image is coloured with Copics of course and I made up the wording and printed it onto the patterned paper.

Flying Home

March 14th 2012
Our new challenge at Wicked Wednesday ATC Challenge Blog is "Flying Things" and this week we have Digi Darla as the sponsor and the DT were lucky enough to choose their design and being a bit of  a cat lover I chose the Flying Kitty!!

You're Special...

March 13th 2012
Some more "Fashionista" Inspiration to encourage you to enter our current Art With No Boundaries Challenge!! Details at the blog.

This week's card uses a great new image from CS Designs "Lace Dress Form" plus a sentiment also from CS Designs and the layout for the card is from the current Sunday Sketch & Stamp Blog. As you can see all the elements are machine sewn on plus I've added a little black hook ' n 'eye to the corner of the sentiment to "comply" with our add seomthing from your sewing box theme!! I've also added little pearls to the dress which has been paper pieced using co-ordinating patterned papers from a Basic Grey 6 x 6 pad.

One of Those Days!!

March 12th 2012
A new challenge at The Cheerful Stamp Pad today with a theme of "A Rainy & Windy Day" and this week our sponsor is Saturated Canary - I was lucky enough to work with the image "One of Those Days" and LOL she really is having a bad day!!

I've made this card using co-ordinating patterned papers from a Basic Grey 6 x 6 pad and I've used the new sketch from the Sketch Saturday Blog to layout this card.

We would love to see what you can create for this new challenge!

Shades of Green

March 12th 2012

This week's theme at Take a Word is "green" and I've made this very green tag with an image from one of Lisa's Altered Art Collage Sheets, some green patterned and textured papers plus some rub ons & fibres.

Harlequin!

March 11th 2012
Our challenge this week at the So Artful Inspiration Challenge Blog - chosen by ME - is Harlequin and/or Black & White. For my card I have used a fantastic image by Chris at CS Designs - "Minuet".

I've used black & white plus a bit of gold and I thought Minuet had a bit of a Harlequin "feel" about her!

Hope you can join us this fortnight - I can't wait to see what everyone can come up with for this theme!!

Peek a Boo!

March 10th 2012

Another card made using one of the new Geisha Digital Stamps recently purchased from Bombshell Stamps. This one was made using a "masterboard" background sent to me in a swap which I had to make into a card and return to the lady who stamped the background - hope she likes it.

I cut the decorated card into squares and mounted them on card and placed the image and sentiment on top! Images has been coloured with Copic Markers and fussy cut. I love Asian style images, paper - anything! One of my favourite "themes" to create!

Alice said: "I'm tired of being only 3 inches high"

March 8th 2012

A fun challenge at The Octopode Factory Friday Challenge Blog - "Mushrooms"!!! I've made this fun gate fold card with a quote from Alice in Wonderland and great Alice & mushroom images from Lily's range of quirky designs!!

To make this card I used watercolour paints (some very cheap kids paints!!!) and painted both sides of the card all over then put both sides through the printer to print the mushrooms on the card. Then I "coloured" the mushrooms "messily" LOL with paints. I printed Alice on white paper, coloured her and fussy cut her out then stuck her to the inside of the card. I quite like the effect!!