Linda's featuring with stamped home decor!

'Morning all!

Our last post of the month is a cracker!  Many of you will either know or at least be familiar with our guest as she has had quite a career in the craft world...

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LINDA

Hi ….. my name’s Linda and I’m a stampaholic!!  And I’m absolutely thrilled to have been invited as a Guest Designer for the Country View Crafts Blog Challenge.

I’ve been in the world of craft for over 13 years now ….. doesn’t time fly when you’re having fun!  I’ve worked in a large craft shop, run workshops, been on various Design Teams, and done work for the TV and magazines. And  since moving to the Isle of Man in 2011 I have plenty of time to spend doing what I love!

My passion is rubber stamping, and playing with inks and paints.  I love anything from Clean and Simple right through to the shabby chic, grungy look (I’m a BIG Tim Holtz fan too!!)  I do hope you like my inspiration piece for the latest challenge.

I decided to make a little altered frame, a home decor piece seeing as we’ve just moved house. I’ve created a pretty summer meadow scene ........ using Distress Inks to give colour to the background, then spritzed with water to create a little more interest.  I stamped the meadow using an IndigoBlu stamp called Wild Flowers, and added some pretty butterflies into the picture.

The JOFY sentiment finishes it off perfectly I think.  We should all take time .... and enjoy the summer ..... it probably won’t last that long!!!

Thanks for looking

Happy stamping!

Linda

xx

Visit Linda's blog and see her project here.

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This is BEAUTIFUL Linda and what a fabulous piece of home decor - thank you!!

Well dear friends, that's our lot for May but you still have a couple of days to join in if you can.  We'll be back on Monday with a brand new challenge so have a great weekend and we hope to see you in June!

Chris and the CVC team xxx

A picture story book today...

Hi there,

I get the pleasure of posting my second project of the month today and I decided to make a picture story book.  Last year I bought some X Cut dies that are all based on various scenes and I've chosen one that reminds me of the streets of London at the time of the Great Fire.  I wonder what it conjures up for you...?

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CHRIS

It's made with a broad and eclectic range of products, both inside and out.

I love the dimensional feel of the 'scene'.

You'll find the full details in step x step pictures on my blog, here.

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We're getting close to the end of the month now so please think about getting your projects finished and linked - someone is going to win and it could be YOU!

We have one final post - it's a cracker and from a guest.  That's on Friday so we hope you'll pop back and see us for the 'grand finale'.

Have fun!

Chris and the CVC team xxx

Astrid's moonlight serenade...

Happy (UK Holiday) Monday everyone!

Astrid is with us this morning with a stunning project - what a beauty!......

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Astrid

I loved Donna's theme this month as it meant I could dust off some of my old "Scenic" stamps. I had great fun creating a card using some masking and stencilling techniques. More details can be found on my blog

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This is a wonderfully creative piece of art Astrid, thank you so much!

We have exactly a week left to this challenge theme Ladies and Gentlemen so please, if you haven't entered yet, dust off your crafting tools, get out your inks and paints and join us!!  >:o)

I'll be back on Wednesday with my second project for the month so I hope to see you all then.

Chris and the CVC team xxx

MAGPIE: It's a DT's postcard day today!

Hello there!

It's a Magpie Day today and some of the DT have got together and followed our theme to create some postcards for you.  Here's our line up...

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DOREEN

I have gone for a vibrant postcard scene from somewhere hot and sunny,you can find out how I made this over on my blog

SUE D

Hi, I've gone for some un-inked rubber for my postcard, and some new paints.

Details can be found here on my blog x

JENNIE

With hardly anything "scenic" in my (vast) stamp collection I have gone for a vintage sepia postcard  with a "wish you were here" feel! As usual there are a few more details on my blog.

ASTRID

One of my all time favourite stampers is the very talented Paula Whittaker who blogs at Just for One Day. This little scene was very much inspired by her wonderful work. If you want to see how I put it together, all you need to do is click here

ALISON

I didn't have time this month to be part of the main Simply Scenic inspiration, so I'm really happy that I was able to squeeze in a Magpie Day postcard.  I kept it simple with some stamping and some of my favourite Distress Ink colours.  Hop over to Words and Pictures if you'd like to see more.

CHRIS

My choice is inspired by my recent Tim Holtz aquisitions, put together in an ode to purple, lol!  You can find my step x step here.

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We hope you like our little interlude, normal service resumes on Monday, lol!!

Have a great weekend everyone, make it a crafty one!  >:o)

Chris and the CVC team xxx

DT CALL

Hi everyone!

We're very sad that we're losing one of our talented DT Members from our team shortly and that leaves us with an opening. Are YOU interested?  If so, we're looking for someone with the following credentials:

• An experienced crafter with a good knowledge of the current craft market, genres, techniques and products:
• Has been blogging their own craft projects regularly for at least 6 months (preferably, though not essentially, using Blogger):
• Can contribute at least 2 projects per month:
• Has the time to contribute to commenting on our linked entries:
• Can commit to being part of the DT for a mnimum of 12 months.

If this is you, please contact us using the email widget on the sidebar (right) and we'll get back to you in a day or two.

CLOSING DATE:   Friday May 22nd 2015

Chris and the CVC team xxx

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NORMAL BLOG POSTS RESUME BELOW

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Trace is looking through a window...

Greetings all!

Today we have yet another spin on this month's theme, very creatively put together by our talented Trace!...

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For my second piece I created a window type scene using an old mirror and the inside of a small canvas, plenty more distress goodies and idea-ology and this fab Brett Weldele stamp, for Tim Holtz. All the details can be found on my blog here. Trace x

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We think this is very clever - there are soooo many ways to express something 'scenic' - great work Trace, thank you!

Do you have a clever idea that fits in wth the 'Simply scenic' theme?  Whatever ideas you come up with, we'd like to see them!  We're 3 weeks in to the challenge and now facing the downhill run.  That said, you still have ooodles of time to get something made and entered.

On Saturday we have something different so please come back and see us then and we'll share what we're up to.

Have a great weekend!

Chris and the CVC team xxx

Ingrid Kristina is wowing us with colour today!

Hi there!

We're delighted to be joined by Ingrid Kristina this morning as our talented guest and a previous DTMSM blog badge winner.  There is no doubt in our mind that you'll love her project...

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Ingrid Kristina V = a cardmaker, an amateur yet enthusiastic arstist and an explorer of all artistic :) If you visit my blog you will find anything from cards, journaling, fun tutorials, results of my experiments and wild ideas, but mainly mixed media projects. I love creating abstract art and mixed media is my most go to when I create. There is nothing more satisfying that creating various textures and patterns and adding colour with a dash of grunge. I tend to create rather organic patterns and love using anything naturally aged. Fabric and other materials are so much fun too! If you share my passion I would like to invite you to join my blog Ingrid's Crafts Corner. I also run a  mixed media challenge blog Mixed Media World where my dear talented friends and I share our creations organise fun challenges for you to join. If you prefer cardmaking then simply purchase an issue of the wonderful UK nationwide magazine Simply Cards and Papercraft where I share my projects as a Designer. 

A big thank you to Christ and her wonderful team for inviting me to share my project here with you today! It is always a pleasure and an honour. 

Have a wonderful day! 

Ingrid xxx

 

I spent so much time brainstorming and creating and chucking in the bin when I decided to stop brainstorming and trying so hard and embraced the simple play with colours. 

 

I got my beloved Brusho crystals out and started adding colours to my wet watercolour paper, sprinkled some coarse salt over some areas to create the blotchy effect and let it dry. I cut it to size and added the wording with the label embellishment to front, painted a couple of grey boards in black gesso, glued on top and punched holes adding some eyelets. 

I intend to add the rings when I can finally find them and put together as covers with some watercolour paper. This will now be my watercolour journal.  I look forward to filling it with pages of watercolour paintings.

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How fabulous is this!!??  Such richness in the colours and yet another brilliant spin on the 'Simply scenic' theme.  Very creative and absolutely gorgeous Ingrid Kristina, thank you!

How are you doing with your entry?  Have you decided on your project yet, started it?  We'd like to see more of how you're interpreting this theme.  One entrant will be the lucky winner of the £20 shop voucher from our generous sponsor Country View Crafts but we also have 4 blog badges to give away.  All winners will be invited to join us as guests for a future challenge too!

Trace will be here on Thursday so we hope you'll join us again then!

Have a great day!  >:o)

Chris and the CVC team xxx

Sue D is a friend of Alice...

Good morning friends!

Now, you know how much we love to bring you diversity.... styles, genres, techniques...  This morning our clever Sue D has created a gorgeous scene in quite a different way...

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Happy Sunday everyone, here's my second piece for the Simply Scenic challenge.

My Stampotique stamps are playing happy families, and more details can be found here on my blog x

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Wow Sue, bright and colourful and certainly VERY creative, we love where you went with this - thank you!!

So many ways to express our theme this month.  Why not cast convention aside, do some lateral thinking and come up with your own take on 'Simply sceneic' and join in?

On Tuesday we'll be featuring another guest and we KNOW you're going to LOVE what she has come up with!  Make a date in your diary, we'll see you then!

Chris and the CVC team xxx

Sue B's tantalising sunset...

Greetings all!

Now, you've seen Nikki's photo's of sunsets but what about this?  Our talented Sue B has painted hers!  GorrrrrrrGeous!...

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Sue B - scrumplescrunch

Painted in Acrylics, trying to capture a moment. I have been lucky enough to witness a few wonderful sunsets.

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Wow Sue, a fabulous scene, terrific colour palette and what a stunning result, you must be sooo proud of this - we are, for you!  Thank you!

If you have no stamps or dies to make up a scene then why not try what Sue has done and paint one yourself?

We're half way through the month and we're hoping to see more of what you're all doing.  Remember that the winner of the £20 Country View Crafts shop voucher is drawn at random to give EVERYONE  a chance of winning.

We'll be back again on Sunday with Sue D's second project - don't miss it!

Have a great weekend,

Chris and the CVC team xxx

Samantha's gone all out with texture!

Hello there!

We're delighted to be publishing another Guest post this morning, from a previous Top 3 winner.  Many of you will recognise Sam by both name and creativity - she is here to share her take on our theme and it's beautiful!...

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Hi, my name is Samantha Wade.

I live in the West Midlands with my husband Peter and two ragdoll cats (the girls) 

I have always been interested in crafts and addicted to paper crafting and all things creative.

You will find me in my craft room in my spare time or the garden which is my other passion.

Please come and visit my blog, http://craftroomdelights.blogspot.co.uk

The leaves on the tree have been created with glitter, micro beads, stickles.

The background scene has been made using brusho, 

The colours are, leaf green,moss green, orange, yellow and prussian blue,

They have been sprinkled in the right areas, onto canvas card from an acrylic pad, then sprayed with water.Then leave to dry.

Stamp pheasant,(free with a magazine), glitter his body then cover in glossy accents.

Cut a frame using Square Grand Spellbinders from pearl card, to fit the 7x7 card.

Tattered Lace die cut tree, coloured with distress ink,

 The leaves have been sprinkled with different grades of green glitter and micro beads,

 Then heated with clear embossing powder to keep them in place, then any gaps filled in with green stickles.

3d tree on to the card.

Hope you like my Guest Designer card, so pleased to have been asked to take part this month.

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Beautiful colour palette, fabulous textures and a simply gorgeous make - thank you Samantha!

Our creative Sue B will be here on Friday with her second DT make for this challenge - don't miss it!!

Have fun!

Chris and the CVC team xxx

Nikki wishes she was there... again...

Good morning friends!

It's Monday morning but we're not going to let that spoil the day's mood are we? lol

For those of you who have never met Nikki, we wish we could bottle her verve and enthusiasm because it's just what we all need first thing on a Monday morning.  For those of you that have, you'll know exactly what we mean, lol!

Nikki is sharing another snapshot, literally, from one of her adventures earlier this year...

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For my second Simply Scenic project this month I have created another scrapbook page. The sunset was taken on a beach in the Cape. After a beautiful day the evening was incredibly windy and quite cold with crashing waves - stunning! More details over at Addicted to Art today.

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You said it Nikki, stunning, and a beautifully creative SB page too - gorgeous!

If you've been sitting there thinking you can't join in this month because you don't have any suitable stamps or dies then think again - you too can use a photo' and create yourself a SB page or, if you're not into 12 x 12 scrapping, how about an 8 x 8 or a journal page?

We'll be back on Wednesday with another GUEST project so see you then!

Have a great day!

Chris and the CVC team xxx

Announcing April's winners...

Good evening everyone, we hope you've had a great weekend!

It's time to announce the winners of last month's challenge.  As usual we have left it to random.org to choose the lucky winner of the £20 shopping voucher donated by our Sponsor, Country View Crafts, and here is what the generator produced...

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WINNER

 #71 Krafting Mum Louise  http://craftingmumlouise.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/meljen-cats-and-kittens.html

 As the challenge topic was chosen by our lovely Sue D last month it has been her task to choose her Top 3 projects and the one to which she would like to bestow a 'Special mention' for originality and creativity in reflecting the theme.  These are her choices and comments...

TOP 3

25 Jane's Journal Jane's Journal: My last birthday celebrations

"I love the natural colours alongside the Kraft card."

75 Becky Crawsome Creations: Getting in touch with my frilly side!

 "Great use of die cuts and rusting techniques"

86 Kristiina paperimajuri: Adventure awaits special delivery!

"Love the washi tape and the black and white images against the paint splatters."

DTMSM (DT Member's Special Mention)

 

 "My special mention has to go to 83 Pamellia http://mylittlecraftthings.blogspot.ca/2015/04/a-vintage-journey-guest-creative-guide.html this is an awsome piece of artwork, and it started life as a pizza box!"

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Congratulations to all our winners, emails are on their way!  Commiserations to everyone else and a HUGE THANK YOU for joining in with us - better luck next time!

Don't forget, we'll be back in the morning with another fab project post, hope to see you then - nite, nite!  >:o)

Chris and the team xxx

It's a stunning sea scene from Margik!

Good morning everyone!

Don't you just love Blogland?  It never ceases to amaze me how crafters from every walk of life and all parts of the globe come togeher to share their interests and passions here!  This morning we have a post from Margik who was not only the winner, but chosen as a Top 3 too!  Margik is here sharing her gorgeous make with us today...

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Hello everyone, my name is Mar but I am known as Margik in the blog. I am from Spain. I am extremely honoured to be a Guest Designer at Country View Challenges this month and thanks so much to Chris and the team for this opportunity.

I enjoy spending time creating paper craft items, mixed media artwork, art journaling, mini-albums and altered projects from time to time. I also love painting and drawing. I wouldn’t say I have a particular style, only that it is very versatile. I like to try different things all the time, and I am always looking for new techniques. Whilst mixed media and scrapping is my number one hobby at the moment, I am also very passionate about music, literature, cinema, photography… love art in all its forms. I like to enter challenges and it’s definitely a pleasure to share.  http://margikscrap.blogspot.com.es/

 ‘Simply scenic' is a favourite theme of mine because I absolutely adore to do illustrations. So I decided to create a sea scene with a (22x22 cm) cardstock frame and the fabulous Lynne Perrella stamp as focal point of the topic.

I used acrylic paint and Crackle Medium DecoArt, crackle paint (Rock Candy Distress), a mix of paints and sprays (Archival, Distress, Adirondak), stamps, stencils, texture paste and embossing powder (Ranger), Distress markers, and some embellishments. I hope you like it!

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Absolutely stunning Margik, so very creative - thank you!

Has Margik's make prompted some additional lateral thinking for you?  We hope so because we'd like to see what you're all doing and how you define our challenge topic this month!

Have a great weekend,

Chris and the CVC team xxx

It's the Scottsih Highlands for Jennie!

Hello friends!

This morning we're being treated to a gorgeous make from Jennie.  Now, we don't want to give out personal details but can we just say that Jennie lives in a such a beautiful, scenic place that she has been spoilt for choice for her projects.  This one is fab, fab, fab!

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For my second project this month I decided to scrap a scenic photograph  on a mixed media background in order that the photograph remained the focus of the layout. The photograph was taken when we were tied up in the Caledonian Canal waiting to go on to Fort William and Loch Linnhe following day. It was one of those wonderful evenings in the Scottish Highlands when everything falls calm and quiet. Please join me on my blog if you want more details of the mixed media background.

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Jennie, you have a style all of your own and coupled with this gorgeous photo' you have it nailed - thank you!

Whether you want to use personal photo's of where you live, where you've holidayed, where you honeymooned or something completely generic by way of designer papers, dies or stamps, it matters not - we want to see them ALL!

You have lots of time so if you've the motivation then enter more than one.

We have a special post on Saturday from a previous winner who was also chosen as one of our Top 3 winners too - very rare.  We hope to see you then!

Have fun!

Chris and the team xxx

It's a quirky spin from Gabrielle!

Good morning everyone, we hope you had a great holiday weekend!

This morning we have a fab twist on the theme which is a personal glimpse into the childhood of our lovely Gabrielle...

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For my second project this month I recreated a little scene that I remember so well from school break times! Ok, we might not have worn hats but we did sit on a wall waiting to be called into the latest playground game! For more on how I made this, please do pop over to my blog! Gabrielle x

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A great take on the theme Gabrielle and not just creative but soooo endearing too, thank you!!

So, how are you all getting on?  We hope you're getting the feel of just how liberal you can be with this theme?  We're dying to see what you all come up with so if you've got more than one idea then please feel free to enter as many times as you'd like.

We'll be back again on Thursday when our talented Jennie will be here with her second make, we hope to see you then.

Have a great week!

Chris and the team xxx

A wow of a scene from Donna...

Good morning everyone, we hope you're enjoying your holiday weekend!

As is our custom, we kick off our individual project posts with the theme owner going first so it's over to Donna...

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A quiet scene with a solitary circling bird flooded with cool yet vibrant colour for my second make on this them...

...full details and some step by step pics are on my blog :)

Donna xx

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A stunning scene Donna and what fabulous use of colour - gorgeous!  Thank you!

If you're a stamper then this theme will be right up your street, we can create such amazing scenes with creative use of our stamps.

We hope this is whetting your appetite...?

Our next post is Tuesday and Gabrielle will be here to show you what she has chosen for her second project.

Thanks for dropping by!

Chris and the team xxx

Welcome to May's challenge...

Happy May 1st everyone and welcome to this month's challenge!

Donna has chosen our theme for this month and what a great theme it is...

Whether you're a stamper, into your dies, perhaps you're making Christmas cards already, there are so very many ways we can create 'scenic' projects.

Here are examples from our talented DT to give you something to think about...

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DONNA

So my turn to pick the theme this month and for my first make for the Simply Scenic challenge I've gone for a scene bursting with lots of warm bright colours...

...there are step by step pics on my blog :)

Donna xx

GABRIELLE

Donna set me a real challenge this month and so I've had to have a good think to what constitutes a scene! I chose to use a photo from a photographic session for my simple journal page (simple and a scene... think I just about fitted the brief!) More details, as always, are on my blog. Gabrielle x

JENNIE

I decided to use a favourite photograph of the Eiffel Tower for my art journal page and just about everything in my stash with a Paris theme! Please hop on over to my blog if you would like to see some more details.

NIKKI

 

The theme this month inspired to me to create a couple of scrapbook pages using photographs from my visit to South Africa earlier in the year. Be great to see you over at Addicted to Art if you would like to see some more details.

SUE B - SCRUMPLESCRUNCH

I have to admit that I struggled with Donnas Challenge this month, I constructed this collage/mixed media picture over a period of weeks, it was a case of stopping and coming back to it, adding media until I was happy with the look.

I have a step by step on my Blog.

SUE D

What a scary challenge this month from Donna, but a challenge wouldn't be a challenge if it wasn't challenging right?

Here's my beach scene, and details can be found here on my blog x

TRACE

For my first project this month, having struggled a little with the theme I went for a collaged 

scene using all my favourite Tim Holtz goodies and a new house die . Some tissue tape, Decoart crackle paste and plenty of idea-ology helps to complete my scene. All the details can be found on my blog here. Trace x

ASTRID

A scenic card using some simple masking techniques and having fun with Distress Inks. For a step by step and more details, do come over to my blog.

CHRIS

I used some lateral thinking for this challenge.  My wall hanging depicts a scene from bygone days or perhaps it could a scene from a play....?  Step x step pictures can be found here, on my blog.  Chris xxx

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Thank you team, so many different takes on the theme and all beautifully done!

We hope these have inspired you to join in....?  Our lucky (random) wnner will receive a £20 shop voucher from our generous sponsor, Country View Crafts and 4 others will be chosen by Donna to receive blog badges.

Please remember to familiarise yourself with our simple rules before you link so that you don't disqualify yourself.

Have a great holiday weekend, we'll be back with the first of our individual project posts on Sunday, hope to see you again then!

Good luck!

Chris and the team xxx

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