Alison's playing with vellum...

Hello there!

This month we've seen new products, new techniques and new things we haven't tried before and today Alison is showing how she has started working with a new material to her (and with great success!)...

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Alison

For my second creation this month, I'm still playing with a material new to me - vellum.  I've loved the look of the Wallflower Vellum collection since it appeared, and now I have some!  This tag needs at least two photos to do it justice, I'm afraid, as it's a very different creature according to whether the light is shining on it...

... or coming from behind it.

Come over to Words and Pictures to see the details of my ancient stone wall, and see one final illumination that is really dramatic!

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These are gorgeous Alison and so creative, thank you!

Today is our last post for the month but YOU still have until 11:55 pm on the 31st to enter your project into the challenge so please get a wriggle on, it could be you winning the fabulous £20 shop voucher!  >;o)

We will be back on Sunday with a brand new challenge for February and a very kewl theme chosen by Sue B!  We hope to see you then, have a wonderful weekend!

Chris and the team xxx

It's a late winners' post this month

Good evening friends!

Sincere apologies for the lateness of this post this month, totally my fault, I've been so busy I met myself coming back and totally forgot it, lol!  "Get on with it Chris!" I hear you shout.... 

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DECEMBER'S WINNER

random.org has chosen.......  #55, kanda of KandA Creative Moments

DECEMBER'S TOP 3

Astrid chose our topic for December and here is her Top 3 selection (numerical order)...

#10 - Toni of Studio Garage Band     

#30 - Pamellia of My Little Craft Things     

#52 - Carol of Crafty-Stamper      

DECEMBER'S DTMSM (DT Members' Special Mention)

Astrid's choice for the most original and creative make for her theme is...

#96 - Kerstin of Scrapbook Dreams      

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Congratulations one and all, emails are winging their way to you so please watch for them.

Alison will be here in the morning with our last project post for this month - please don't miss it!

Take care,

Chris and the team xxx

Sara Emily's making an art doll!

Hello and Good Morning!

Today's post is one from one of our previous Top 3 winners - Sara Emily from Sara's closet - and she's here with a special make and something different for her to share with you all...

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Hi! I’m Sara Emily aka sarascloset and I reside in Wilmington, NC, USA with my husband, 16 year old boy/girl twins,and my twin kitties. I started my crafting “career with a box of macaroni, some paper and home made paste as a child. As an elementary aged kid, I would draw and “furnish” rooms. In high school I signed up for every art class I could fit in my schedule. My art was put on hold while I finished college, started and finished a career in Physical Therapy and then raised my kids. When I finally returned about one and a half years ago, it was more to craft than art. So I’m kind of learning as I go, and it has been an amazing and rewarding experience for me.

When Chris over at Country View Challenges asked if I’d want to be a guest designer for Brenda’s challenge “Use Something New to You” I was thrilled and immediately had an art doll in mind! Full details can be found on my blog.This little bunny is nothing like what I had envisioned, but I was able to make it almost entirely from new products. Since I’ve never made an art doll, I guess that’s “new”, too! I hope this inspires YOU to try something you’ve never done or used before, and link up to this inspiring challenge. I can’t wait to see what you create!

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A fabulous make, a terrific idea and gorgeous colours - thank you Sara Emily!

So, if you've been looking for a new idea rather than using new products, how about an art doll, such a fab make!

Alison will be here on Thursday with her second, and our final, make for this challenge - don't miss it!

See you Thursday!

Chris and the team xxx

A stitch in time from Sue D!

Good morning!

It's Sunday and Sue D is here with a beautiful and colourful project to get you out of bed and inspired to craft today!

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Sue D

For my second piece this month I've used more new Dina stamps and a Tim Holtz stencil. I really enjoyed making this and I even did some hand sewing!

Hope you like it, and full details can be found on my blog here.

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Wow, this is gorgeous Sue, a fabulous splash of colour and great to see stitching and felt included here as part of the materials used, brilliant - thank you!

Whatever your preferred craft, we'd like to see what you're making that includes something new to you.  It may be a card, a tag, journal or scrapbook, it could be a piece of home decor, altered art, it might be something sewn, knitted or even some jewellery, there are so many crafts to choose from - all are welcome!

We will be back on Tuesday with another fabulous guest post, until then, have fun!

Chris and the team xxx

Butterflies with a difference from Sue B

Hello all!

There are some images that we see in abundance out there in blogland and butterflies are one of them.  Today, Sue B has taken them to a totally different level with this beautiful card...

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Sue B

Another Bg using the Bister Ink, I have added Texture and Patterned papers, to create this card. Step by step on my Blog.

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How gorgeous is this?  A fabulous array of butterflies Sue with great colours and texturing, thank you!

Whatever your favourite images are just get them out and show us something new to you to enter our challenge this month.  Our randomly chosen winner will receive a £20 shop voucher from our generous sponsor, Country View Crafts.

Our other Sue, Sue D, will be here on Sunday to inspire you with her second make for this month.

Have a fun weekend!

Chris and the team xxx

Nikki's here today...

Hello out there!

Good morning all, today Nikki's joining us with her second project and she has more new things to share...

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Nikki

For my second project this month I have used more new layering stencils and also some new distress paints. I am slowly increasing my range of colours and love them! More details and photos can be found over on my blog, Addicted to Art.

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This is beautiul Nikki and demonstrates how using new colours and stencils can produce a totally different result and completely revamps our older and favourite dies - thank you!

So what did you get that's new?  If you've new items then we'd like to see what you're doing with them.  If you didn't get any new goodies then why not try a new technique or use a material that you haven't used before?  Whatever you have, whatever you're trying, why not have a go and show us the end result?

Sue B will be here on Friday with another fabulous make so we hope to see you then!

Chris and the team xxx

It's a guest with Gelatos today!

Good morning all!

This morning we welcome our DTMSM winner from November's challenge, Jackie of Creating without crayons who is sharing her project made for our theme and she is going all out with Gelatos...

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Hello, Jackie P Neal here! 

To begin, I am a mainly self-taught, mixed media artist,loving all sorts and types of mediums and products- texture and color exciting my muse!

I live in a rural town in upstate New York,called Wolcott,on a small "farmette" of 13 acres,as we like to call it.Unfortunately for me, but good for the pocketbook,we live about 50 miles from any art supply stores! Ugh!- thank you Internet shopping!! heehee Everyday life for me is spending time with my husband and Golden Retriever; either gardening, walking the woods, putting up vegetables,organizing in the pole barn or in my studio playing and making art.

My life is truly blessed and I'm really so glad to be able to share some of  it with others- find more at my blog~  www.creatingwithoutcrayons-jackiepneal.com

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WOW! was I ever thrilled to be asked to be a guest designer for Country View Challenges!!

On any given day, the inspiration that is shown on CVC is to say the least, Incredible- so when I was notified by Chris, I was over the moon excited!  Next came the mind racking- what shall I create? Well if you follow along I'll show and tell and hopefully will have inspired you to go try something new!!

My project this month was a piece created by using or doing something new to me. I had to think hard on this because I like to try everything once, sometimes twice-teehee so I wasn't sure of what I would do.  Recently I was watching a tutorial from a friend's blog, Susanne Rose where she was using Gelatos on ATC's. Light-bulb moment here - I remembered in the beginning of the year, I won a set of Gelatos from Retro Cafe' Art and had not yet used them!!  This is what I created, a mini piece of wall art, featuring my using Gelatos for the first time.

For my substrate I used a piece of cardstock that had nice edging on both sides. I used the blue Gelato around the outside edges,smoothed in with my fingers and just inside of the blue on the top I used gold which was feathered-in to the blue. My next thing was to use a piece of scrap paper and apply with gel medium some vintage text. On this I used the same technique, applying Gelatos blue and gold, with my favorite art tool, my fingers! This time I used more of the gold, filling up the center of the text. Next was to add a few sprays of Lindy's starbursts,which is seen better in close-up. After that I added some DecoArt crackle glaze to give that vintage look to the center piece.  This part was then adhered to the substrate and scrap art graphics by itKuPiLLi were added.

The tiny gold stars at the top are pieces of gold gilt-applied with gel medium.And then I added just a hint of liquid glitter to the edges.On the bottom I added a smaller piece made the same way and attached this with a series of 3 jump rings. And to this hanging piece, I added my quote.

Thank you so much for joining me and many thanks and big hugs to Chris and the others at CVC for asking me along!   Jackie P Neal 

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This is beautiful Jackie, what a success - thank you!

If you have been given some new crafty items then we'd like to see what you've done with them.  We don't mind whether you're an expert or a beginner, just tell us what it is that's new to you.  Our prize winner is chosen at random so everyone that enters has a fair chance of winning.  We also have four blog badge winners, our Top 3 and our DT Members' Special Mention and all winners are invited to join us as guests on our DT for the following month.

Nikki will be here on Wednesday so we hope you'll make that a date!  Have a fun day!

Chris and the team xxx

Jennie has a shadow box...

Yay, the weekend is here!

Hopefully you're lucky enough to have the weekend free from work so that you can get busy and craft!  (Can we also remind you that the January Sale is on at the Country View Crafts shop so you might want to go shopping too!)

Jennie is sharing her second DT make with us today - are you ready?  >:o)

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Jennie

I rather indulged myself during Susan's Advent Sale and bought a number of new dies. Here is my first make with the Brenda Walton Shadow Box Die - a little Vintage Hanging Box. It is quite small at 3.5" x 3" so embellishments had to be small as well but it was great fun. There are more details on my blog if you want to know more, but I am sure you will be seeing it again as I have lots of ideas for this lovely die!

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This is beautiful Jennie and what a super bargain you snapped up!  Thank you!

Whether you bought/received dies or stamps, chalks, inks or paints, paper, card or something entirely different, we'd like to see them!  Why not get busy and join us in this fab challenge where you can show us what your 'new thing' is?

We have another guest post on Monday so please don't forget to mark it in your diary!

Have a great weekend!

Chris and the team xxx

Brenda's sharing today!

Hello there! Brenda here to share another project with you for this current challenge 'use something new to you'. We may not have brand new things to use but it's ok to use something you've had a while and is 'new' to you to use or perhaps you've seen a new technique you want to try out, I've got both here.

I've really enjoyed playing and experimenting in my new Visual Diary using some of the older Wendy Vecchi stapms. I wonder what new things will be coming out from CHA in her range? Will have to keep my eyes open in the shop.

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Jennie will be here on Saturday to tempt you into joining in so do pop back and see us then!

Have fun!

Chris and the team xxx

Gabrielle got Lynne Perrella for Christmas!

Hi folks!

It's Tuesday (where did the weekend go?) and we're back today with our talented Gabrielle.  Gabrielle didn't actually get Lynne herself for Christmas, but some of her gorgeous stamps...

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Gabrielle

Ooh! I *might* have bought myself a Christmas present or two when I found these little shrines! I bought enough to keep me going for a while and this was my first attempt at using them - so that makes them 'new'!!! More details can be found on my blog... The wings are covered in old book paper and the lady is a Lynne Perrella for PaperArsty stamp. She fits very well doesn't she?! My lady's currently placed on top of my pile of acrylic blocks (guess who tidied up over Christmas!?!) but she needs a name - suggestions very welcome! Gabrielle x

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Very creative Gabrielle, you've certainly done Lynne proud, such a gorgeous make - thank you!

We'd like to see more of what YOU'VE been making with your new goodies but don't forget to let Gabrielle have your suggestions for a name.

Brenda will be here on Thursday strutting her stuff so we hope to see you then!

Chris and the team xxx

It's a guest post today with Donna G...

Good morning everyone, happy Sunday!

Today's post is a guest post from one of our November Top 3 blog badge winners - Donna from Inky and Quirky...

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Donna Gray

Hello everyone,my name is Donna Gray and I love everything mixed media! I have been told that my style is 'quirky' and I liked that so much that I changed my blog name to reflect it. I love to carve my own stamps and draw freehand and pretty much like to buy every different type of medium out there just to see what I prefer. You can find me here,please pop along and say hello ;)

I am so happy to be here today on this wonderful blog,its a real honour for me as the DT are such a talented bunch of lovely ladies and I have to confess here......I am a very regular user of the shop too! When I was told the theme is 'Use Something New To You' that made me think. Then I thought well I have just received some rather wonderful Luminarte Silks so I'll use them. For those of you that haven't used them before they are wonderful,so shimmery and colourful. You can use them neat or watered down depending on what effect you want. I decided that the other thing that would be new to me was making a little 3D art doll. I've long admired these but for some reason never got around to making one so now was the perfect excuse of course. It took 5 attempts to get the face just right....how does that happen....I suddenly discovered that I couldn't draw! 

You can see the beautiful depth of the Luminarte Silks here on the heart. You only need a little bit as they are so concentrated. The doll's face was coloured in using my beloved Faber Castell Polychromos,love these pencils,they have such rich tones and are so easy to use.

I have some more pictures and details on my blog for you and would love to see you there.

Thank you once again to the wonderful ladies at Countrview Challenges for their kind invitation and to all of you for looking. 

I hope you like it

Big Hugs

Donna xxx

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This is fabulous Donna and what a wonderful expression of our theme this month by combining new crafting goodies with a new and untried genre - beautiful, thank you!!

Are you inspired to join in with us yet?  We hope so!  You can enter as many times as you like (provided that each entry complies with our rules of course) and our winner is chosen at random to ensure that everyone has a chance of winning.  The winner will receive a £20 shop voucher from our generous sponsor, Country View Crafts, to spend in their online shop.

Gabrielle will be back with us on Tuesday so we hope to see you again then.

Chris and the team xxx

Doreen's having fun with Eclectica!

Hi everyone!

We have a beautiful card to share with you today in Doreen's own inimitable style...

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Doreen

Hello to you,I am back with my second sample and I have more new stamps from PaperArtsy 

Electica by Sara Naumann

Details can be found on my blog.

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This is GORGEOUS Doreen, a fabulous use of these stamps and some great texturing FX in there - thank you!

Please join us again on Sunday when we will be sharing a project created for you by one of our previous Top 3 winners.

Have fun!

Chris and the team xxx

Donna's airbrushing with a difference today....

Hello there!

Today we have a gorgeous, scenic project from Donna.  Very artistic and what a lucky lady...

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Some more play with the new eBrush....

......more details are on my blog.   Donna xx 

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This is fabulous Donna, I can see this technique giving a complete new life to so many stamps and stencils.... beautiful, thank you!

We are nothing if not diverse here at CVC Challenges!  We'd like to see what you're making and what new goodies you got for Christmas so please get crafting and show us!  Doreen will be here on Friday with another fab project so please don't miss it!

Bye for now,

Chris and the team xxx

Hanging around but feeling inspired...

Hi there!

Today is my turn for my second make for this theme.  Those of you that are regular followers will know that I have several crafting styles, I go with whatever takes me at the time.  This make is most definitely away from vintage and grunge and more in line with CAS, even if I have used Distressed spray and inks, lol...

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A mixture of Ranger products (including new Distress spay stains) together with Penny Black (a new script stamp), Heartfelt Creations, Tattered Lace (new embossing folder) and Tonic (new word dies), I am SOOOOO spoilt!  Details can be found on My corner of Heaven.  Chris xxx

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Through the month you will find all manner of projects posted here from CAS to grunge, contemporary to vintage and everything inbetween.  We encourage all crafters, no matter what you like making (including sewn and knitted items) and no matter what level of skill from beginners up.  Let's see what you're making please by linking your project using the widget below.

Donna will be here on Wednesday so we hope to see you then!

Chris and the team xxx

Brenda's starting off with a journal page...

Good morning and Happy Saturday!

If you're sitting there with streamers in your hair, surrounded by lipstick stained glasses and paper plates then we're sorry to tell you that you've slept through a couple of days and it's time to get up and.....

CRAFT!!!!

To start the individual projects we are aways led by the DTM who chose our theme so it's over to Brenda for her fabulous second make for the month...

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Brenda

I have chosen to use my Quote Journal as the new year begins and our thoughts turn to what we might wish for the coming twelve months ......... but as the lucky person I am I had new craft supplies to use, both purchases from Susan's amazing Advent surprises and some fabulous Christmas presents too.

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Gorgeous colours, fabulous textures and a terrific layout, what a great way to start the new year, thank you!  (Oh, and well done for making the best of Susan's Advent event..... such generous discounts for us all!)

Brenda's theme means that literally everyone and anyone can join in so we're hoping to see a great array of makes.  It's also going to be fun to share in what you've received or been up to that's new!  We'll be back on Monday with another project for you, see you then.

Have a fab weekend!

Chris and the team xxx

Happy 2015!

Good morning everyone...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We hope you've had a fun and festive Christmas and a good evening last night!  If you went a bit mad and have a hangover, we've included our cure for it at the end.  In the meantime, onward with our new challenge: Brenda has chosen our theme for this month and she has, rather cleverly, chosen a very fitting theme...

Yes, that's the only criteria set, you must use something new to you, it could be a new craft product (a new colour, a new type of product or a new brand) you've received at Christmas or it could be something you've had a while but haven't used yet OR it could even be a technique you haven't tried before.  Please state in your post WHAT the new item or technique is so that we can make sure you qualify should you win.

To get you started, here is our inaugural lineup from the talented Design Team starting with our November winner, Debby...

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Debby Kuster of My Scraptime Creations

Hello everyone.  My Name is Debby I’m 37 I’m Married ans we have 1 daughter and she is 14 years old I was happy to here from Chris I won the challenge the month November and she asked me If I want to be a guest designer for this months challenge. It’s an honor to do that. About 10 years ago I started my hobby with scrapbooking and after a while I bought my first Magnolia stamp and since that time making cards with stamps is an addiction. Scrapping and making things with my friends I love the most. What I also love to do is having a BLOG to place all my creations at. Love to see you there sometimes http://debbysscrapcards.blogspot.nl. Hope you love my creation for this months challenge

I’m very curious what you guy’s are going to create.

This is the creation I made.  I used new flowers, the clock stamp I used is new and I coloured with my new distress markers.

Brenda

Each new years eve we invite a few friends and neighours over to celebrate the start of the new year with us. I keep the Christmas decorations up for the party and try to add something new and this year I made a plaque to hang over the mirror. It's made of foil tape and embossing folders and reflected the light beautifully during the evening. My 'something new' are the Texture Trades embossing folders. Full details as to how I made it are over at Bumblebees and Butterflies.

Happy New Year to you all.

Chris

'Explore life' - such a great tag line isn't it and so fitting for the New Year?  My little album has been made using several new products.  You can find the steps and products detailed on my blog.  Happy New Year everyone!  Chris xxx

Donna

New Year and a new toy to play with :) Was lucky enough to get an eBrush recently to play with.......

 

...more details are on my blog

Donna xx

Doreen

Happy New Year

 I have some New JOFY stamps to use today along with a couple of new inks

 Full details of this can be found on my Blog

 Gabrielle

Happy New Year! For my first project the month I made a journal page using a new dip pen and ink as well as my new Big Shot (more of that embarrassing tale here!) The theme of "something new to you" means we can use new techniques as well as new crafting goodies and I had wanted to have a go with a dip pen for ages. I loved using it but I do need to master writing in a straight line! We can't all be perfect first time can we?! Gabrielle x

Jennie

 

 Not just new to me, but completely different - felt instead of paper!  I have been eyeing up the wonderful felts in my local shop and decided I just had to give them a go. I have used my Tim Holtz and Sissix dies to create three different brooches. Hop on over to my blog if you want to see more.

Nikki

 

I  took advantage of the Country View Crafts advent sale and stocked up on some new layering stencils which I have used on this special card for a friend of mine. You can see more details at Addicted to Art.

Sue B

 

I have made my Bg using Bister Ink (my new product) it is like embossing powder to look at, it has wonderful effects when water is added. More information on my Blog.

Sue D

As I've been on a spending ban for the last 5 years I've obviously not got anything new (mwah ha ha) but if I were to buy anything, it would be these Dina Wakley stamps and paints.

Full details can be found here at Sue The Iron.

Alison

This was my first chance to play with my newly acquired and very lovely Wallflower Vellum collection... my first time with vellum at all, come to that!  And if you give me something translucent, the chances are my thoughts will turn to candlelight.  So my first offering this month is two-thirds recycling (dessert pots) and one-third repurposing (a vase) to create some very sleek, modish, minimalist luminaries.  Hop over to Words and Pictures to see more details.

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A huge thanks to those of you who managed to visit and comment over the festive period, all greatly appreciated!  We hope you had a fun time but if you're suffering today, here's some help...

Our New Year hangover cure

Ingredients

Several sheets of card and/or paper

A tag, a card blank or an album/journal page

At least 3 ink pads, stains and paints

Assorted stamps

Clear embossing ink

Embossing powder(clear or coloured)

A couple of dies

Assorted embellishments

A paintbrush/blending tool or three

A little embossing powder

A shake or two of glitter

Some ribbon or baker's twine

A squirt of glue

A little double-sided tape where necessary

Assorted craft tools

1 craft mat

Method

1. Choose your ingredients randomly, don't think about them.
2. Stamp and emboss with your stamps to make a background.
3. Create your die cut shapes with your dies.
4. Colour (ink or paint) your stamped and/or die cut elements as desired.
5. Create a bow with your ribbon or twine.
6. Put it all together with an embellishment or two added.
7. Stand back and marvel at how your headache has disappeared!

No, this isn't part of the challenge, just a little fun to take your mind off of your headache, lol!

Thanks to Debby and the Design Team for our beautiful projects, let's see what you can make of the theme, literally!  >:o)

As ever, our winner will be chosen at random to make sure that every entry has a chance of winning.  The winner will receive a £20 shop voucher from our generous sponsor, Country View Crafts.  Brenda will be choosing our Top 3 and DTMSM (DT Member's Special Mention) badge winners and all will be invited to guest with us on our March challenge.

Please remember to read the rules, they are fairly standard but we find that there is usually at least 1 choice each month that has disqualified themselves because they haven't followed them - such a shame!  >:o(

So, all that remains to say is that we will be featuring a new project every other (odd) day for you so we hope to see you again soon.  (For those of you who are not aware of the CVC projects blog, we also post a detailed project there every other (even) day starting from the 2nd of each month.)

Good luck everyone!

Chris and the team xxx