My Make it Crafty Advent Calendar Lives Again!

Does anyone remember the Make it Crafty Advent Calendar I made a couple of years ago? It was one of my crazy ideas and we had a lot of fun with it. Well it turns out I kept it out of storage when we moved here (of all the obvious things to think of back in June!). When I mentioned it to the rest of the DT they said they'd love to see the doors open again this year - so that's what I'm going to do!

Each day through December I aim to pop into the Make it Crafty group on Facebook and post a photo, or do a quick video opening the day's door.

The calendar is A4 so the pictures behind the doors are pretty tiny. It was quite a challenge colouring some of them. I coloured the front using the images from the Cheeky Elves Collection - Crackered Elf, Snowelf & Elf Delivery System & the Snowing digi stamp.

I'm looking froward to doing this. Even though it was only 2 years ago I can't remember myself what's behind each door so it will be a surprise for me too!

Don't forget to join the Make it Crafty Facebook Group if you're not already a member.

Santa Tag with CC Designs

I was lucky enough to win the Santa stamp from CC Designs October Release & have finally had a chance to play with it!. I think he's a great Santa - cheeky & cheerful & full of character.

I had fun making this tag, but did have to think a bit laterally when I realised my hole punch & ribbons are all packed away in storage. Card, Copics, Wink of Stella & a stapler to the rescue!

He's just got such a lovely expression!

He's available as a rubber stamp here 

or as a digi stamp here.

Copics Used:

Skin - E000, E00, E21, E11, E04 with R20 Cheeks

Beard - W1, W2, W3

Santa Outfit - R25, R37, R39, R89, W7

T1, T3, T5

Boots & Belt - C7, C9, 100, Gold Pilot Gel Pen

Sack - E21, E23, E25, E27, E29, Blender

Present - G14, G17, G29, Sakura Tiara Gel pens & Sakura Stardust Pen

The Sentiment is a stamp that came with Making Cards Magazine.

I hope he's made you smile .... now to eat that Mince Pie :D

Reindeer Lucy with CC Designs

I've become a real fan of CC Designs & am over the moon that they've started doing their stamps in digi format. I've bought a few, but with a character name like her's I just had to colour Reindeer Lucy first!

I was corrupted by Make it Crafty's 'Glow' Challenge and just had to make those fairy lights glow and sparkle! I coloured them then added Wink of Stella & Glossy Accents to finish the effect.

I printed the sentiment then added several layers of clear Sakura Glaze pen to make it pop. The shine really catches the light in the photo - in real life it's more glossy black.

I can see myself using this digi lots.

Copics used:

Skin - E000, E00, E21, E11, E04 with R20 Cheeks

Hair - E23, E25, E27, E29, E49

Reindeer Suit - E08, E09, E19, E18

E51, E53, E55

Lights - G00, G02, G14, G17, G28

B00, B12, B16, B18, B39

R00, R02, R24, R27, R29, R89

Y00, Y02, Y11, Y15, Y17

Shadow - W2, W3, W5

A Cheeky Santa Bauble with Make it Crafty

I can't believe it's the middle of November already! Where has this year gone!? We're in a slightly odd position for Christmas as we're living with my parents for a few months while we're between houses. As a result we won't have our own Christmas Tree for the first time in years. However in true me style I've had a slightly crazy idea.... I'm thinking of using a blank patch of wall & building a 'tree' with half baubles attached with temporary adhesive. We'll see if it works out in reality, but here's my first bauble.

I do love Cheeky Santa! He makes me smile every time I see him so he had to be one of my first choices. It's a clean & simple creation. I may embellish the rim of the bauble, but I'm going to wait until I've finished a few more before making a decision for them all.

Here's his close up.

Products Used:

Digi Stamp - Cheeky Santa from Make it Crafty

Copics Used:

Skin - E000, E00, E21, E11, E04 with R20 Cheeks & Nose

Beard - C2, C3, C5

Hat & Coat - R24, R27, R29, R89, W7

Hat & Coat White - T1, T3, T5

Belt - T9, 100

Bell - Y11, Y15, Y35, YR28, YR27

Make it Crafty Store
Make it Crafty Inspiration Blog

I'm going to have lots of fun choosing images for the other baubles!

Make it Crafty Challenges are Back!!!!

I'm over the moon that the Make it Crafty Colouring Challenges are back! 

I always loved taking part in the Colouring Challenges & found while they often pushed me out of my comfort zone (and sometimes scared me to bits!) they made my colouring develop leaps & bounds.

We've had a bit of a break, but now due to popular demand the challenges are back. Don't let us down - please do join in. I know the Make it Crafty DT projects are out of this world (how amazing are those creations honestly!), but give it a go. The Challenge is 'Glow' so it could be something as simple as a candle flame. Refer to the main Challenge Post for all the information.

I chose to use Elf Delivery from Make it Crafty for my card. These cheeky elves make me laugh whenever I see them and what better source of 'Glow' than that dangerous lit fuse!

How much mischief?!!!

Here's their close up. I tried to create the glow of the fuse and then where the glow would fall on the objects around it and cast a golden highlight. Some of the surfaces were obvious, but some I really had to work out the light source. I added some Gold gel pen & Sakura Stardust pen to the main fuse. I enjoyed creating the scene - it's a simple horizon & then a night sky, but it really makes the image pop.

To finish the card I used the Sending Layered word and Joy from the Christmas Adapt-a-Word set. I coloured the top layer white using fine embossing powder & the base layer & small word the colour of the sky.

Products Used:

Elf Delivery System Digi Stamp
Sending Word Chipboard
Christmas Adapt-a-Word chipboard set

Copics Used:

Skin - E000, E00, E21, E11, E04 with R20 Cheeks

Clothes - G14, G17, G28, W7, R24, R27, R29, R89, W7

Rocket - R24, R27, R29, R89, W7, C1, C2, C3

Fuse & Glow - Y00, Y02, Y11, Gold Gel Pen, Sakura Stardust Gel Pen

Stake - E53, E55, E57

Rope - E23, E25, E27, E29

Sky - Bv23, BV25

Shadows & snow - C1, C2, C3, B000

I hope these cheeky chaps have made you smile. 

I really hope you come and join in the 'Glow' Challenge

A Quick Card using Make it Crafty Precoloured Digi & Chippies

As you all know I'm a colourer at heart so the thought of using a precoloured digi is a bit strange for me, but as a 'print and cut' teamed with chippies they're perfect for a quick and easy card - so I decided to have a play.

This is Christmas Angel. I used the coloured version & the SVG cutting file to quickly & accurately print & cut her out on my Silver Bullet Cutting Machine. If you want to see a short video on how I did it have a peek here.

I teamed Christmas Angel with three pieces of Make it Crafty Chipboard

- Delicate Ornate Rectangle Frame coloured with gold Krylon pen (I would have used embossing powder, but it turns out all of mine is packed away in storage),

- Wishes which I coloured with Copics & Wink of Stella & then finished with Glossy Accents

- Christmas from the Christmas Adapt-a-Word set which I coloured with my R27 Copic & Wink of Stella & finished with Glossy Accents.

I love the real pop of dimension and detail the chippies give you.

Here's a close up of Christmas Angel. 

I love colouring, but can see me using the precoloured digis too.

Products used:

Christmas Angel Precoloured Digi & SVG Cut File from Make it Crafty

Delicate Ornate Rectangle Chipboard Frame from Make it Crafty

Wishes Chipboard Layered Word from Make it Crafty

Christmas from the Christmas Adapt-a-Word set from Make it Crafty

Copics R27, G17

Wink of Stella

Glossy Accents

I hope you like the card & are tempted to use Make it Crafty's Precoloured Digis & Chippies yourself.

Elphaba with Broom from Make it Crafty

I decided to break away from my normal style and have a play with patterned papers. Now patterned papers normally bring me out in a slight sweat. I seem to collect them, but find it hard to use them - so I decided to be brave and go for it.

I'm totally in love with Elphaba. For some reason I didn't get her when she was first out, so I'm delighted that she's become available again through Make It Crafty. There's just something about her expression that I love. It made me think of her as a student witch who's finding it a little tricky to learn all her spells so I layered her up with papers from the Echo Park Paper & Glue digi paper pack.

I cut Elphaba with Broom out on my Silver Bullet cutting machine using the SVG cut files that Zoe from Make it Crafty has provided with the digi. If you want to see how I did this have a peek at the short video I made.

I typed my sentiment and embellished it with some Sakura Stardust pen & a few layers of Sakura Clear Glaze pen.

Here's a close up of Elphaba with Broom from Make it Crafty.

Digi Stamp -  Elphaba with Broom from Make It Crafty

Copics Used:

Skin - E000, E00, E21, E11, E04 with R20 Cheeks

Hair - C7, C9, 100

Top - YR12, YR14, YR16, YR18, E08, E29

Skirt - G82, G46, G28, W7

N2, N5, N7, N9, 100

Boots - C2, C3, C5

Broom - E23, E25, E27, E29, E49

Sakura Stardust pen, Sakura Glaze Clear pen

I hope you like her

As a sneak peek I had the most amazing package of Make it Crafty Chippies arrive through the post this week! I'm going to have such fun playing with these!

I'm looking forward to making the Mansion Chipboard House - I knew it was small - but hadn't realised just how dinky it is!

Mummified with Make it Crafty!

A few weeks ago the amazing Deborah designed a card & we DT members used it as an inspiration to 'CASE' it (create something inspired by it). I'm a bit late sharing mine, but better late than ever eh? So here's the card I created with Mummified.

I loved the Clean and Simple design of Deborah's card so stuck to that theme. I also CASE'd the placement of the image on the bottom left with a big cast shadow, the orange colour and the sentiment 'Boo'. 

Mummified does make me laugh. I spent ages reminding myself that he's holding a bandage not a loo roll ...... only to then be told it actually is a loo roll!!! I'll admit I laughed lots (and was laughed at too). He's one of those images that are quite easy to colour, but end up involving a surprising number of pens.

I didn't have appropriate chippies so printed the word & then used Black & Orange Sakura Glaze pens & Glossy Accents to make it pop.

Thanks for creating such a good inspiration card Deborah. It's been fun seeing how all the DT interpret it differently.

Products Used:

Digi Stamp - Mummified (currently on 25% off special offer)

Copics Used:

E42, E31 E44, E47

W2, W3, W5

T1, T3, T5, T7

Y19 (to colour card backing layer)

Sakura Glaze Pens - Black & Orange

Glossy Accents

PS. Have you seen Make it Crafty's amazing new Ebook - Basic Techniques when Shading Body Tone

It's yet another brilliant tutorial with ten exercises, over 140 step by step images all packed into 25 pages for easy printing and a 50 minute tutorial video. I've loved Zoe's other tutorial Ebooks and this one is no exception. I can't wait to give the techniques a try.

I'm a MIC Gal Again!

I have amazing news! My time as a MIC Gal was one of the best times of my crafting life & I'm over the moon to have a chance to be part of the team again! Thank you so much Zoe - to say I'm happy is an understatement.

I created this card with  Fairy Wishes. I cropped her in close & concentrated on making her wings transparent & shimmery using Copics & Wink of Stella. 

This was a speedy card that I made for a good friend & wanted to get in the post straight away so I took the photo late at night with my daylight lamp. Not my preferred lighting, but better than nothing. Here's a close up of Fairy Wishes. I love all the swirls and curls in her hair & how it's possible to make her wings look transparent.

I typed the sentiment using I Love Glitter Font. It's a saying I heard somewhere & thought was perfect for my friend. In this picture you can see I added shimmer to her wings with Wink of Stella.

Copics used:

Skin - E000, E00, E21, E11, E04 with R20 Cheeks

Hair - Y00, Y11, Y15, Y17, YR24, E39

Eyes - B02, B05, B16, B18

Top & Flowers- R81, R83, R85, R89, W7

Wings & Wrap Skirt - BG11, BG13, BG15, BG18

Leaves - G82, G46, G28

Wink of Stella

Font - I Love Glitter

Make it Crafty Digi Stamp - Fairy Wishes 

I really hope you like her. I'm really looking forward to sharing more Make it Crafty Creations with you.

Lucy x

A Final Post for KennyK Stamps

Well here we go - my final post before KennyK Stamps closes on the 30th June .... that's only 2 days away! Gulp!!! On the plus side it means you've still got a little bit of time to go shopping so I thought I'd share some of my favourite KennyK Stamps creations from other the years to help inspire you - and maybe remind you of a few that haven't yet made it into your basket.

Elena & Kenny it's been an honour being part of your DT over the last few years & laterly being able to help out in a bigger role as one of your DT Coordinators alongside Regan. You're the most amazing people and I wish you and your family huge success and happiness in the future. You won't be getting rid of me as a friend as I love you too much for that. 

So here we go - a few of my favourite KennyK Stamps creations from over the years along with links to the digis in the store & links to my original blog posts in case you want to see any extra pics.

'Lucy'

Well how could I not love this digi based on a photo of me as a child! Kenny & Elena & the DT Team gave me the most amazing surprise with this wonderful digi :D

Blog Post

Book of Spells

This image makes me smile whenever I see it & I was over the moon with how this card came out.

Blog Post

Santa Christmas Dance

I love the fun in this image! It just seems so carefree and full of enjoyment.

Blog Post

Elfie Selfie

Another Christmas favourite! How much fun is this image!!!

Blog Post

Downton Abbey Inspired scene

Featuring: Valet, Dowager, Socialite  Freida Flapper

I went a bit crazy with this and it just kept growing and growing on the Grand Staircase Digi from Make it Crafty. Nearly two years on this still hangs on my craft room wall. It's just been packed away ready to move house.

Blog Post

Col Macallan

He made the perfect birthday card for my husband.

Blog Post

Metal Drummer

Another great image for a birthday card.

Blog Post

Wedding Dance

This image makes me smile so much - I think it covers all the joy you'd want on your wedding day. I'm planning to use it for another wedding very soon.

Blog Post

Well those are just a few of my favourite KennyK Stamps creations from over the years. There are many more, but I can't share them all with you. 

Make sure you pop over to the KennyK Stamps store to pick up those digis you want. They're amazing prizes - digis are only $1 and Clear Stamps are a great price.

Don't leave it too late though as the store closes on the 30th June - that's the day after tomorrow.

You then have until the 30th July to download all your purchases. Make sure you back them up and have them saved super safe.

Signing off from KennyK & waving a sad, but cheery goodbye.

Love you all xxx

KennyK - A Farewell Party and a Mega Sale!

Well it's a sad, but happy time. After 6 years amazing years KennyK Stamps is closing it's doors at the end of the month. It's for happy reasons, but KennyK will be very very much missed. 

I've been a member of KennyK Stamps Design Team for over three years and it's been the most amazing time ever! Elena & Kenny are amazing & Regan is wonderful. The members of the DT - past, present & GDT have been the best to work with. Such talented and lovely people.

We're having quite a party over at Club KennyK to send us out with a bang. There is something going on each day so come across and join in.

Today is my turn to share and I wanted to show you this card I made using Naughty Nurse. My lovely friend Lou is going through treatment for Paget's Disease - a rare form of Breast Cancer. She's so incredibly inspiring with how she's tackling treatment and how open she's being. She's going such a long way to remove the fear about cancer treatment. I know she's made a difference to me and I'm sure she's made a difference to many other people. 

Naughty Nurse seemed just perfect for  a silly card about the Nivestim Injections that Lou has to give herself as part of her treatment.

She made her smile which is the main idea.

Make sure you pop over to Club KennyK to join in the farewell party and at KennyK Stamps there's an absolutely amazing close out sale so make sure to shop before the store closes on the 30th June.

  

Kraftin Kimmie Saturday Challenge - Summer

This is my last creation for my month as GDT at Kraftin Kimmie Stamps. I've had a wonderful month and have loved being part of such a great team. Thank you so much for having me. 

This week's Saturday Challenge has the theme 'Summer'. I know you'll laugh at my choice of image - Rainy Day Lulu - but I do live in the UK so rain is usually a part of our summer! I love this image so couldn't resist using her again.

I started off making a clean and simple card ...... then decided some sunshine would be nice

 ......... well you can't have sunshine without a bit of blue sky 

.......... but she wouldn't have her umbrella up in the sunshine ..... so better add some rain clouds 

Bang goes the clean and simple card - but I love how it turned out. That mix of weather is so true of a British Summer time.\

Here's her close up. Hopefully you can see the shimmer on the sun thanks to the Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pen and the glints of glitter in the falling rain and puddles courtesy of Stardust Stickles.

I hope she's made you smile. Have a happy day whatever the weather brings you.

Don't forget to join in the Saturday Challenge at Kraftin Kimmie Stamps

Copics used:

Skin - E000, E00, E21, E11, E04 with R20 Cheeks

Hair - E23, E25, E27, E18, E29, E49

R25, R27, R29, R59

Y11, Y15, Y17, YR24

G14, G17, G29

B16, B18, B99

W7

Dog - W2, W3, W5, W7

Bird - E53, E55, E57

Sun - Y00, Y02, Spectrum Noir Sparkler Pen - Clear

Sky - B000, B00, B21, B23, C1, C2, C3, C5

Rain - Stickels Stardust

New Stamps! Stacey Barrass from Crafters Companion

A new range of stamps are released by Crafters Companion today but new artist Stacey Barrass. 

I had a chance to play with them as a member of the Spectrum Noir TV DT.

I used the stamp sets:

Find Your Wings

Beautiful Bloom

In Full Bloom

Better Together

It was a new challenge for me as we were using Spectrum Noir Aqua Markers and Spectrum Noir AquaBlend Pencils. I've not used watercolours before so this was a chance to play and discover what I could do with them.

Here's what I've created. 

The first stamp I used is Find Your Wings.

 I stamped the image onto Crafters Companion Watercolour card with Stazon ink. I then coloured the image with my Spectrum Noir Aqua Markers and spritzed it with water in a spray bottle. 

I love the effect of the bird like a phoenix rising from the frame.

Spectrum Noir Aqua markers:

Yellow, Amber, Scarlet, Burgundy

I added a touch of Clear Spectrum Sparkle pen over the top.

For my second sample I used the Find Your Wings stamp set again but went for a much more muted colour scheme from the Spectrum Noir Aquableand Pencils - Essentails set.

I stamped the image into Crafters Companion Watercolour card with Stazon. 

I used a waterbrush to pick up the pigment from the core of the pencils and 'painted' it onto the image.

Spectrum Noir AquaBlend Pencils:

Fossil Grey, Dark Slate, Ebony, Squash

My third creation with Find Your Wings uses the AquaBlend Pencils from the Essentials set, but with a little more colour than the first pencil one.

I used the same technique as before - using a waterbrush to pick the pigment from the pencil core and 'painting' it onto the image. It's amazing how the same image can look so different with different colours chosen from the same set of 24 pencils.

Spectrum Noir AquaBlend Pencils:

Apricot, Coral

Nutmeg, Tobacco

Now onto the second stamp - Beautiful Bloom.

For this first sample I stamped the image onto Crafters Companion Watercolour Card with Stazon ink. I scribbled the Aqua marker onto a spare stamp block and then used a water brush to pick up the pigment and 'paint' it onto the image. I then used the fine tip of the Aqua marker to add the detailed cast shadow on the petals.

Spectrum Noir Aqua markers:

Blossom, Begonia

Moss, Leaf Green

Clear Spectrum Sparkle Pen

Now this card came about a bit by accident - I was trying to make a mat for the phoenix version of Find Your Wings but decided it didn't work ...... a little later I looked again at the base and realised it would be perfect with the Beautiful Bloom stamp over the top of it! A very lucky accident I think.

I created the background buy scribbling Aqua markers around the outside of the card and then spritzing with water. Once it was dry I stamped the flowers and sentiments over the top with Stazon ink. Simple, easy, but really effective!

Spectrum Noir Aqua markers:

Yellow, Amber, Scarlet, Burgundy

I tried a different technique for this card. I applied the Aqua markers directly to the Beautiful Bloom stamp & then spritzed the stamp with water before stamping it onto Crafters Companion Watercolour card

It gives a gentle finish which I think looks nice.

Spectrum Noir Aqua marker:

Heather, Orchid, Moss, Leaf Green

For my final card I went back to the AquaBlend Pencils Essentials set and made this clean and simple little card with the small bloom from Beautiful Bloom.

I used the same technique - lifting the pigment from the pencil core with a waterbrush and then painting them onto the image.

Spectrum Noir AquaBlend Pencils:

Apricot, Coral

Nutmeg, Tobacco

These stamps and Aqua markers and AquaBlend Pencils will be featured on the Hochanda One Day Special this evening 26th April at 8pm and tomorrow 27th April at 9am, 12, 4pm and 7pm, and will be available from the Crafters Companion Website.