Challenge #15 AND a new DT Member!

Happy 1st of May everyone - it's time for our new challenge!

First of all we have to thank everyone who joined in last month's challenge - great entries - the winners will be announced soon.

We still have a DT call out but if you're interested please hurry as the closing date is tomorrow, May 2nd. We have a new member to our team joining us today, I'm so pleased to introduce Astrid (of Astrid's Artistic Efforts) whom many of you will know already as she is a stalwart in our crafting community. You can read more of Astrid's interests on our DT page. 

WELCOME ASTRID!

Now to our May challenge... This month our theme has been chosen by Donna and it is:

'Nature's glories'

Please make sure you follow the rules (they're very simple) to be in with a chance of the main prize of a £20 shop voucher from our host, COUNTRY VIEW CRAFTS. The winner is chosen at random (random.org) and we also award 'Top 3' and Special mention blog badges to those we think have shown the most creativity and originality in interpreting our theme.

As usual, our DTMs have created some fabulous projects to get you thinking and they are headed by stunning projects from our two, wonderful, March (Blogaversary) winners...

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Susan Janicula of

paste sister (klistersøster)

I was surprised to have been selected as one of the winners of Blogaversary challenge, and it is a great honor for me to be asked if I want to be a guest designer.

I live in Copenhagen, Denmark with my husband and I have for many years made creative things. My main interest is scrapping, being on my blog and to follow what is happening of new initiatives within scrapping. Most I like vintage and steampunk and there must also be room for humor and bright colors in what I do.

I've always admired the boxes/drawers with collected things from nature at Natural History Museums, and I've made a mini drawer with a bit of Mother Nature. I've used the container from Tim Holtz's Matchbox die to build up the drawer.

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Sue O'Connell of

Something out of Nothing

I have been card making and scrapbooking professionally for 14 years but it all started when I swapped Geography GCSE for Art at school and fell in love with the subject.  I make bespoke scrap canvas, scrapbooks and cards, and love to demonstrate products for companies and teach workshops on crafting all over the North West and cannot think of a nicer way to spend my spare time. My philosophy is ‘There’s no such word as can’t’ and I love altering stuff I find on car boot sales, in charity shops and making anything out of nothing.

I am honoured to be asked to partake in this month’s challenge at Country View Crafts as a guest. I am with some very talented people.  I haven't constructed a canvas in a while and so I started off with a 20cm x 20cm deep canvas I purchased from a car boot sale for £1.

I have used cosmic shimmer mists, distress ink, old books, WOW clear embossing powder, watercolour paints, chipboard letters, Promarker pens.  The stamp sets I used are Stampers Anonymous- 'Classic Favourites 5'  Heartfelt Creations- 'Melodious Songbird' and 'Easter Lilies' and PaperArtsy- 'Jofy 09'  Some of them you can purchase from the Country View Crafts Shop.

Get the full instructions from my blog. Have fun crafting, Sue

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Donna

of Donna's Little Crafty Corner

I had a gelli print laying around that I had made using some die cut leaves as stencils and thought it was perfect as a base for this card to which I couldn't resist the temptation of adding a big floppy 'tattered floral' flower to.  More details on my blog.

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Gabrielle

of crafty thoughts

When I think of nature I think flowers and these fabulous Lin Brown designed flowers (for PaperArtsy) seem to fit the bill perfectly! The pages of my large journal were painted with PaperArtsy paints and the spots are Grunge Paste through a stencil. The bottles (again, PaperArtsy!) were stamped on packaging from some of Tim's new dies!

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Jennie

of live the dream

How can you not love a challenge entitled Nature's Glories!  I recently gave in and bought the final Distress Inks I didn't have which included Mowed Lawn and I love the way it mixes so well with Vintage Photo.  If I could I would have a garden full of white flowers and greenery, so this wish inspired this tag.

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Astrid

of Astrid's Artistic Efforts

First of all, I am super excited to be part of this wonderful team, and look forward to seeing all your wonderful creations for this month's challenge.

When I think of nature, the seasons often spring to mind. Each season has its own wonderful array of gifts to bring. I created a 4 panel accordion flip card, each depicting different elements of nature through the year. For details please visit my blog.

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Chris

of My corner of heaven

This time of year is so special, the residual brown hues of winter being left behind by the vibrant new growth of spring and summer. Not to be outdone are the birds who, when you can't see them, you can hear. I had to add a bee to my tag as we seem to have an abundance of early honey seekers again this year! Inks, dies, stamps and Tim's Idea-ology all came together for this celebration. How and what can be found on my blog.

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Now it's over to YOU! We hope these projects have added some inspiration to our theme and we look forward to seeing what you create. GOOD LUCK!

Chris and the team xxx

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