DT call

We are looking to add another permanent DT Member to our team, if you're interested please click HERE.

Normal challenge posts continue below.

Last in our spooky line up is..... JENNIE!

Our fabulously talented Jennie is ending our spooky challenge with a fantastic tag that she's conjured up. (Can we just remind everyone that Jennie had virtually nothing of a Halloween or spooky nature in her stash, we think she deserves a pat on the back for her creativity!! Well done Jennie!!) 

www.jennie-livethedream.blogspot.co.uk

"A Halloween Damsel! Her tattered dress is made from strips of muslin, scrim and lace all dyed a wonderful orange with Dylusions sprays (and yes I had matching hands!).  Her wings are gently crackled and I managed quite a bit of embossing here and there.  Again lots of fun with limited Halloween stash"

Well done Jennie, you've been so inspiring with your creation and this is such a brilliant idea!! Please visit Jennie on her own blog to see what she's been getting up to (and see her fab tutorials, of course).

This, sadly, is our last DT post for this month. You still have 3 days to get your entries finished and entered. Good luck everyone!!

We hope you all have a great, spooky and safe Halloween! xxx

Whoooo-hoo...... Here's Debbie's project, are you scared yet?

Closer and closer we get, are you getting scared yet? lol Today it's the turn of our third Top3 GDT to show what she can do and..... oh my.... get ready..... it's Debbie aka Daqa with a VERY scarey card!

www.daqadoodles.wordpress.com

"Peek-a-BOO! When I opened my mail I was surprised, I was a winner of the August challenge! That allready is an honour, and on top of that the invitation to be a guest designer! Wauw. I ofcourse said yes, even promising I'd skip sleep to finish my cards on time. I almost had to. What a difficult subject (for me). Spooky. I thought Halloween (although it's hardly celebrated in my country). I thought ghosts, chesspieces (yes I consider those optionally spooky, don't evil masterminds always play chess?), paintings with holes for eyes, being watched, evil creatures, spooky fairytales.

This is my 4th try at spooky. It all started (this fourth attempt) with the word BOO, and remembering I had glow-in-the-dark embossing powder, which just screamed to be used. (Well it more like insisted to be used for something spooky.) The background is self-made, the result of a previous attempt for a spooky card. I stamped the Steampunk letters in black and embossed it with glow-in-the dark embossing powder. The cat peeking through a hole is originally a cute cat image which I made a bit more feral - narrow eyes, fangs and claws. The frame stamp is a bit idyllic, which adds to the horror part of my card. I also was thinking about more horror, placing a happy, unaware victim in front of the cat, but decided I'd go for a bit more subtlety. I think many cat owners (or should I say, visitors of cat owners?) can imagine a (young) cat jumping you from out of nowhere.

The water droplets, raindrops and trickling water are stamped in Festive Berries (oh the irony) and Clarinet Stazon for a bloody effect. Remember the dead mice. The mangled rats, frogs and even small bunnies. I inked the edges of the card a bit and then it was time for more glow in the dark embossing: a tiny brush, my embossing ink and quite some patience resulted in an embossed cat's eye, and embossed and enlarged fangs and claws. Yep, remember your hand after playing with them? (Oh I should have added scratches!)

Before matting the card onto the black cardstock I restamped the frame stamp on the black card and embossed the image with black embossing powder. Finished! Now all that was left, was just to take good pictures to show the effect. Right... "just"...

A more detailed description (and a lot more pictures) about the creation of this card (including mistakes) and used materials can be found on my blog. (I'll try to use less parentheses there!)"

Wow! It might not have been your first attempt Debbie but look what you ended up with! Very creative and definitely one that says "Boo!" Thank you! Do CLICK HERE and visit Debbie's blog to see what else she's up to.

We sill have another project to come and, oh my, it's definitely worth waiting for.... in a few days.... lol.  xxx

Brenda's second project...

Time is flying by and the spooky day approaches -  we have just 10 days to go! To keep you motivated we have this stunning second project from our inspiring and talented Brenda...

www.bumblebeesandbutterflies.com
"For my second DT sample this month I have made a textured halloween card using the Tim Holtz cobweb texture fade and paper stash and inked the embossing folder to get the ink into the recesses. Hope you have a Happy Halloween and a fun time on the 31st October."

What a great card Brenda, an unusual colour palette but it so works! Thank you!

Do please CLICK HERE to visit Brenda on her own blog to see more of what she's up to!

Here's a reminder - WE'RE COUNTING DOWN, you have just 10 days left to get your entries finished and entered. Just because we're almost there please don't think we've given up - oh no, we keep going right to the very end, bringing you fabulous projects and ideas right up to the deadline. So, keep your eyes wide open for we have another two projects yet to come and they're stunners!

Have fun! xxx

Another from Chris...

We're a little over the halfway marker so today our talented Chris has joined us with another fabulous project...

"Yes, I'm definitely in love with the Steampunk Spells collection...

www.mycornerofheaven.com

Having created the Halloween cabinet as my first DT piece I decided on something a little less ambitious for the second. I had great fun making this card using lots of new, kewl things including Ice Resin and Decolourant."

This is lovely Chris, thank you! (We notice you still managed to get Tim's ravens in there with your G45! lol)  To see more details and pictures please CLICK HERE and visit her blog.

We hope that you're loving this diverse range of projects this month as much as we are.....? As a team, we're all very different - different likes and dislikes, different styles and different genres but above all we try to make you things that are creative, inspiring and, when we can, inventive too so please let us know what you think - we love feedback!

Our purpose is to inspire and encourage YOU so please keep your entries coming!

More in a few days. xxx

Here's Manu - our DTMSM winner!

We're half way through the month so what better than to introduce Manu, of Vintagesavonette, who won the DTMSM (Design Team Members' Special Mention) Merit award in August and this is her fabulously inventive GDT project for today...

 www.vintagesavonette.blogspot.de

www.vintagesavonette.blogspot.de

"I used Edgar Allan Poe's Poem "The Raven" as the inspiration for my altered book. I have carved two "Windows" into the book. The first portraying the raven. It can be closed by a dye-cut embossed cage which I added as a page. This is followed by a printed bat on transparency, cut out to shape and also added as a page which can be flipped either left or right. The second window is a little diorama with cut-out houses which are glued into the window in layers. The window can be opened from the back and I have put a little flickering artificial candle behind the scene which illuminates the houses from the background. Unfortunately, however, I was not able to show the great effect with my camera. So you have to take your imagination."

Wow, this is sooo beautiful Manu, thank you!! Do, please, CLICK HERE to pop over to Manu's blog to see what else she's up to.

Well? How are you doing out there? Have you finished, working on another? We want to see them please! There are some fabulous entries so far, thank you to all that have submitted a project already.

Don't forget, the winner receives a £20 shop voucher and all winning entries receive an appropriate blog badge and the chance to guest with us the following month!

Keep your eyes on our blog as there will be even more in a few days. xxx

Our talented Trace...

We're half way through the month already, can you believe that!!??  To give you more inspiration we're posting another project from our very talented Trace - what a corker !!

www.inkypinkycraft.blogspot.co.uk

"For my second make I used my much loved chemist, lots of bottles, some of the new colour Distress paints, texture paste and layering stencils to create this hanging piece . I loved stamping with picket fence to create spooky skulls that seem to appear and disappear into the background."

How stunning, loving the colour work! Thanks Trace!!  If you have time, please go and visit Trace on her own blog and see her inspirational work there.

We hope you're busy crafting away and getting ready to share at least one project with us so we can all see what you're up to....?

More in a few days. xxx

Another Top 3 project - from Linda...

Yes, today is the turn of the talented Linda Levoir, another of our Top 3 winners. Linda, of Sticky with Glitter, has donated this stunningly spooky card...(and who said spooky can't be beautiful too!!?? lol)...

www.stickywithglitter.blogspot.co.uk

"When Chris from County View Challenges emailed me to tell me that I was one of their top 3 for August it was a very happy surprise, so imagine how super excited I was when she told me that they'd like me to create a GDT piece for their October challenge!  Of course I said yes!  The theme given to me (which I had to keep all these weeks as a secret....no pressure lol) was to create 'Something Spooky' I knew right away which image I wanted to use. Withering Fairy by Saturated Canaray, it screamed Gothic Romantic at me....think Miss Haversham in Great Expectations, in her wedding dress surrounded by her rotting Wedding Breakfast, or Catherine from Wuthering Heights coming back to haunt her true love Heathcliff....or again Giselle, dying from unrequited love and coming back as a vengeful spirit.  The project started life as a card, but as I worked on it I decided  I wanted to make her into a wall hanging for Halloween.

I've used a lot of die cuts and elements and lots of products to achieve this effect, Tim Holtz's Rickety House and Branch Tree and Cheery Lyn's clock, Black Soot Distress Ink and Clear Crackle Paint, tulle and cheesecloth, antiqued seam binding,  well the list is extensive and I've included a full list on my blog.  I hope you enjoy it cos I had so much fun making it :) xx"

This definitely has 'the wow factor' Linda, thank you!!

If you like the more contemporary art style then this is a terrific example of how it can be used for a Halloween project - very creative. CLICK HERE to share some crafty love and visit Linda's blog to see more of what she does.

How creative are YOU? Can YOU step up for our challenge this month? We do hope so because we're dying to see what you all come up with. It's time to get your mojo in harness and create something to float your apples and pumpkins (sorry, poetic license, lol). 

Above everything, HAVE FUN!  More in a few days. xxx

More from Gabrielle...

Today's post is from our very talented Gabrielle who has made this fabulously grungy project...

www.gabrielle-price.blogspot.co.uk

"'Something Spooky' prompted me to create a second decor piece, this time using a Five Panel Frame. Like my first project this month, I used added many layers of Fresco Finish paint, including crackle glaze, and inks until it looked grungy and aged. The back piece was painted so it would be darker and give a greater contrast to the Grungepaper images from Tim Holtz. Each image was coloured with Antique Linen Distress Stain and edged with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. I am looking forward to decorating the house ready for the hoards of Trick or Treaters we have in our neighbourhood - though this year I'm planning to go quite ambitious on my pumpkin carving! Time will tell if I'm successful!!! I'm looking forward to seeing how you have interpreted our theme this month!"

We're loving this Gabrielle, fabulous, thank you!  CLICK HERE to see more of what Gabrielle is up to on her own blog.

So how are YOU doing? Have you entered already? Don't forget, there's no limit on the number of entries you submit BUT PLEASE do make sure that you follow the rules and don't disqualify yourself inadvertently.

More in a few days. xxx

September’s winners

Hoorah! It’s time to announce the winners of September’s ‘layers’ challenge!

Those of you that follow us regularly will know that we use random.org to choose our outright winner of the £20 shop voucher and this time the number generated is….

#224 is Fiona of Handmade by Fiona McCarthy Congratulations Fiona – Your £20 shop voucher will be emailed to you shortly! You also have the opportunity of being a guest DT with us next month if you’d like to.

Next we have the Top 3 award winners who win a blog badge and also have the opportunity to do a guest project next month. This month they’re chosen by Brenda. They are (in numerical order):

#72 – Barbarayaya of yaya scrap & more Congratulations Barbarayaya! An email with a badge will be in your in-tray shortly!
#233 – Terry of TERRY’S WORK IN PROGRESS Congratulation to you too Terry, you’ll also receive a  Top 3 badge shortly.
#284 – Gro Tjeltveit of grotjeltveit.blogspot.no Well done Gro – your Top 3 badge is on it’s way to you too.

Brenda’s special mention and winner of the DTMSM merit award badge for the most original and creative entry is:

#113 – Julie Ann Lee of magpieheaven Congrat’s Julie Ann!  Your blog badge is on it’s way together with an offer for guesting with us next month! Brenda said: ”I particularly liked this tag as it has many layers created through the laying down of numerous coloured paints as well as adding papers, card and embellishments. Julie Ann has used a beautiful range of blue/teal colours and I love the additional gilding to add shine as well as the overall design. This is a beautifully creative piece of art Julie Ann.”

Well done to everyone else that entered, I wish we could mention a lot more! Thank you all for taking part and supporting us and we wish you good luck for this month!

More tomorrow. xxx

Top 3 feature - Sue Carrington

We're off and running, yay!! From the feedback we're getting you're liking this challenge which is great!!

The first solo feature this month is one of our Top 3 winners from August. With this beautiful bag is the very talented Sue of Stamping Sue Style...

www.stampingsuestyle.blogspot.co.uk

"I was really pleased to be picked as a top 3 winner for the August challenge and even more excited to be asked to do a guest designer project ! I started by dabbing some Grunge Paste around the bottom edge and around the corners of a wooden bag. Then I painted it with Fresco Finish paints building up the layers but making sure I left the centre quite pale. I used the Reversed Chicken Wire stencil with more Fresco Finish paints. I added some Little Black Dress Fresco Finish paint to some water in a mister then sprayed it onto the bag and let the paint run down it. On one side of the bag I stencilled the number 31, then I stamped the main image onto some painted card and embossed it with clear embossing powder. I also stamped the lace onto some painted card and cut it out. I painted some paper flowers and added a bingo piece to the centre. The metal owl was painted with Little Black Dress Fresco Finish paint and then brushed with some Treasure Gold.

On the second side I started by stamping a pumpkin with Orange Blossom Archival ink and then I masked it off and stamped it twice more. I then painted the pumpkins with Distress Markers. I used the same stamp as on the first side for the frame but I masked off the centre image so that I could use it to frame the text. I then cut it out and glued some chain above it. I painted some Grunge Paper with Fresco Finish paint and then glued some crocheted lace to it and die cut the flowers. I did some stamping directly onto the bag using black Archival ink and Fresco Finish paint. I painted some filigree metal corners with Little Black Dress Fresco Finish and added them to the top corners. The little paper roses have been painted with Fresco Finish too and I used the wires from the flowers, spiralled them and painted them black. To finish I brushed some Treasure Gold all around the edges and over the textured areas and added some buttons."

What a fabulous bag Sue, brilliant, thank you!! Do please share your love and CLICK HERE to visit Sue's blog where you'll find more details about this beautiful project.

How are YOU getting on with YOUR project? We're looking forward to seeing your talents and what you come up with so please do join in with us and make this another bumper month!

Enjoy your SPOOKY crafting! xxx

It’s October and it’s…

Another month just flew by and, my word, what a fabulous lot of entries again for September’s challenge – THANK YOU ALL so much!!

We know that it might be obvious but so many of us celebrate Halloween that we just couldn’t let the month pass without using all of our beautiful, seasonal, stamps, papers and embellishments for a challenge. So, it’s October and it’s…

‘SOMETHING SPOOKY’

We hope that this challenge will get your mojos up and running and tempt those of you who don’t usually celebrate Halloween to do something different. For those of you who are fast becoming our regular companions, we hope that you’ll join in the spirit of Halloween with us and add your charm and creativity alongside us. Whether you like witches and hobgoblins, ghosts and ghouls, vampires and bats, zombies or absolutely anything else spooky, the world is your pumpkin! We’d like to see your cards, bags, boxes, canvasses, ATCs, altered art and anything else that you’ve crafted in a spooky style (as long as it’s not offensive)!!! As is always the case, our fantastic host, Country View Crafts, will be donating the winner a £20 shop voucher.

TIP: If you don’t have any Halloween media in your cupboard just take a look at our Jennie’s project – how inventive is she? Brilliantly done Jennie!

To get you thinking and, hopefully, to add some inspiration into the cauldron, we have some stunning makes from our DTMs (Design Team Members) to start us all off….

From Rocky – Guest DTM for October (August’s winner)

www.rockycraft.blogspot.co.uk

"I am delighted to have won the August challenge and so pleased to have the opportunity to be a guest DTM. The theme for October is appropriately 'Something Spooky' which set the little grey cells alight. I found this paper mache house in a charity shop a few months ago, perfect for this challenge.
I have distressed the outside with paints, inks and a woodgrain stamp, added moss bushes and Flowersoft wisteria. The roof tiles are Sizzix Rosette strips cut from orange card, distressed and then dotted with Flowersoft moss. The bats are also die cut before being stuck on an acetate collar around the chimney. The outside lamp is from Ranger, it takes two small batteries in a holder that is Velcro taped inside the roof, there is also a battery operated tea light inside so all lighting is safe. The pumpkin is scrunched up tissue with bits of a die cut bat used to make its features, there is also a sparkly cat and a twig broom on the front porch. Inside there are some die cut ghosts that are covered with glow in the dark glitter."

From Gabrielle – DTM

www.gabrielle-price.blogspot.co.uk

"I love the images associated with Halloween - they can be used in so many different ways to create projects from cards to home decor. I chose to do the latter! I took a paper covered frame and added many layers of Fresco Finish paint, including crackle glaze, and inks until it looked grungy and aged. I then took a piece of calico fabric and painted it roughly with Snowflake. I then added a skull with Black Soot and Vintage Photo Distress Inks through a stencil and added a little more to the frayed edges of the material. I stamped lots of images from Tim Holtz and PaperArtsy on Grungepaper and inked them with Antique Linen and Spiced Marmalade Distress Stains."

From Jennie – DTM

www.jennie-livethedream.blogspot.co.uk

"With absolutely no Halloween stash other than a tiny Happy Halloween ticket I had to be pretty inventive to make this "spooky" banner!  You will recognise some freebie Craft Stamper stamps and instead of bats I have butterflies!  But it was great fun to make."

From Trace – DTM

www.inkypinkycraft.blogspot.co.uk

"I have been playing with some of the new distress paints to create cool layered spooky backgrounds , with my card made using the fab pop n cuts die. the outside features one of the yummy new blueprints and lots of Halloween stamps from Tim Holtz. I used lots of stamping and ink through layering stencils to create the background.

Lots more stamping and inking to create the background a really layered background inside. I am really loving using lots of layered stamping and the new stencils to create interesting backgrounds. A few spooky skulls to finish off. x"

From Brenda – DTM

www.bumblebeesandbutterflies.com

"I used a canvas frame for my spooky make this month, but turned it over and used the back of it so that I had a shadow box type frame. I had great fun with tissue tape, distress paints, stamps, crackle paint and rusting powder it create the frame, background and all the added elements.

I cut some wood to add 'shelves' for all the apothecary bottles and to keep those strange concoctions well out of the way lol.  Check out the CVC shop for bottles, paints, dies and stamps used here and have fun making your own spooky projects this month.

From Chris – DTM

"I'd started to prepare this tea chest for Halloween last year but never got around to finishing it, now I have!

www.mycornerofheaven.com

It's hard to take a picture of glass without reflections and glare so, with the front open...

8 of the 9 sections have backs made from a Graphic 45 Steampunk Spells paper. (More detailed info on my own blog.)"

Wow! We hope that these beautiful projects inspire you to start making your own and, remember, if you don't have any Halloween type items in your stash have a look at Jennie's project. For everyone else that has been buying Tim Holtz's Halloween items and Graphic 45'sSteampunk Spells, etc, you have an abundance of choice with which to come up with something. The challenge is about YOUR interpretation ie what 'Something spooky' means to you. We want to see what bobs your apple, floats your ghost, or tickles your cobwebs <g>!! You have from NOW until 11.50pm on October 31st to enter. (PLEASE make sure you read the rules as we will NOT contact you if you disqualify yourself.)

The winner of the challenge (chosen at random by random.org) will receive a £20 shop voucher from our fabulous host, Country View Crafts, who are bang up to date with lots of the latest dies, stamps and media. There will also be Top 3 winners chosen as well as a DTM's merit award all of whom receive appropriate blog buttons and the opportunity of be a Guest DTM for the following month! Phew! Okay, are you ready? Let's GO, GO, GO !!!

Good luck everyone!!

Your Design Team xxx