Today is 'Magpie day' with Gabrielle!

Today we're introducing a MAGPIE DAY!  -  "What is that?" we hear you ask. 

From July we will be posting every other day with posts appearing on our sister/project blog on the other days. With all our DT Members and guest posts we will be bringing you as much variation (and inspiration, we hope) that you can take. Occasionally we will have a spare slot and on those days we will be holding a MAGPIE DAY - there will be an eclectic collection of things as it can be anything at all (hence the name 'magpie'), a step by step from a DTM, a special guest highlight, a collection of projects from the team, who knows, you'll have to wait and see! >;o)

Our lovely and talented DTM, Gabrielle of crafty thoughts, has volunteered to be our first Magpie today, so over to her....

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I am currently having lots of fun playing with paint and experimenting with different effects. Today I'm sharing a tag made with Fresco paints by PaperArtsy, Grunge Paste and a stencil. I covered a tag in thin layers of Yellow Submarine, Hey Pesto, London Bus and Beach Hut paints and, when dry, a layer of French Roast that I wiped off with a baby wipe - this leaves a cool aged look! I then measured a card from the Found Relatives pack and cut an aperture that's a little smaller!

Then I mixed paint into Grunge Paste and through a stencil to create the leaves. When this is dry you can do the same for the petals (using Claret paint) and the centre, masking off sections of the stencil to make sure you don't have extra, unwanted petals or leaves! I added a little more green paint directly to the leaves and stems so that they stand out and drew round the stencilled flowers and leaves with a charcoal pencil so that they become even more 3D!

I then masked off the stencil again and stamped a text stamp through the stencil so it appeared only on the petals. I added a Remnant Rub under the photo but left the top free so the lovely background could be seen. I hope you have a go at mixing paint into Grunge Paste - I'd love to see what you make!

Gabrielle

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This is gorgeous Gabrielle and great tips and techniques here, thank you!!

Okay folks, this is our last post, you have until 11.45pm on Monday to get your projects finished and linked to have a chance of winning our fab £20 shop voucher from our sponsor, Country View Crafts.

Enjoy the rest of the month and GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE!

Chris and the CVC team. xxx

Dagmar has tagged it today!

We love the fact that blogland opens up the world to us, we have entries from all around the globe but especially throughout Europe and the USA. Our post today gives us pleasure in introducing you to another previous winner of our DTMSM blog badge, given to entrants who we feel have submitted the most creative and original project. Dagmar was our winner in April and she has returned today from Germany for this guest spotlight...

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Dagmar of Schaerfchens Creative World

Hello, my name is Dagmar, I am married and live with my man and our three dogs in our large house with lots of space for creative ideas. I am since about 3 years infected with the stamp virus and am very excited this month as a guest designer to be there to be able to inspire you. I wish you lots of fun and creative ideas.

First I covered my tag with aluminium foil tape, I then embossed it with one of Tim Holtz’s embossing folders. Next I covered my tag in the German firm Rico Design patina effect paints, I used the colours Rust and Verdigris. After this had dried, I swiped some black acrylic paint over it.

 

The tool stamps are from the Dutch stamp company Stempelwinkel. Both the letters and the fragments are from Tim Holtz. The little cogs and washers were cut with one of my Silhouette cartridges.

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Such a beautiful tag Dagmar, rich in interest and awash with decorative elements - thank you! (Thank you also goes to Astrid for assisting with some translation.) We hope you'll visit Dagmar and show her your support.

We have one more post to go... Have we managed to convince you to take the plunge yet? We do hope so!

Join us on Saturday for our last salute to June and this fabulous challenge.

Thanks for dropping by today - have fun!

Chris and the team xxx

Doreen's got mail!

We have a gorgeous project for you today from Doreen, the last of our newest DTMs to join us this month. Doreen has a very different style for a lot of her makes - very elegant - and we love it...

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Doreen of Doreen's Dream

Hello to you all,  for my second project  this month I have done a little masking and inking up:

You can get full details on how I made this from my blog.

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Stunning Doreen - beautiful stamping, such an attractive and elegant card, thank you!

We love all genres of crafting here so whether you're a card maker, a scrapper, into tag art, mixed media, even knitting and sewing, whatever it is we'd like to see what you've made please.

If you think it's all over, you'd be wrong because we STILL have more posts to come. On Thursday we have another guest highlight so please pop back and take a peek!

Chris and the team xxx

Chris has been left hanging!

We're just about into our last week of this challenge but we still have MORE to show you...

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Chris of My corner of Heaven

Utilizing our packaging is a popular pastime and makes for a very inexpensive project. This cardboard hanging has been made using primarily Tim Holtz products but you can use anything you have. As usual, a step x step and list of products can be found on my blog.

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There are so many things we can re-cycle so if you're stuck for an idea why not take a look around and see what you can salvage and put to good use....? There's still plenty of time to enter as our challenge doesn't close until just before midnight on the last day of the month.

Please remember that ANYONE can win, we choose our lucky winner by random (random.org) so it could be YOU that wins the £20 shop voucher from our sponsor, Country View Crafts.

On Tuesday we'll have Doreen's second project so please drop by and share some blogland love with her!

Enjoy your Sunday,

Chris and the team xxx

Georgie's got game SET & MATCH!

We love it when our winners say "Yes" and accept out invitations to do a guest highlight with us and today we have a beautiful set of makes from our guest (or is that guestS? >;o)  )...

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Georgie C of Little Blue Craft Box

Hi there, I’m Georgie and live in the quiet county of Dorset with my husband, son and two dogs. Since the age of two I have been messing around with colour, be it paints, crayons and even shoe polish (much to my mum’s annoyance) :) and from there a love of all things ‘art' grew. I couldn’t believe it when I was awarded the DTMs Special Mention for April and asked to be a guest designer. It’s such a privilege.

With this month’s theme being 'Only Men Allowed’ my thoughts went straight to Fathers Day, so I created a tag in place of a card, and a pillow box to house the iTunes card that my husband would like from our one year old son… Yup, still trying to figure out how Isaac will buy this too! :) Pillow boxes are perfect for giving away little gifts like this and a great way to get creative.

For the tag - I swiped over with Distress Inks Antique Linen, Old Paper, Weathered Wood, Stormy Sky and edged with Black Soot. Stamped some cogs.Then I ran it through the big shot with the cogs embossing folder and gave them a layer of archival ink and some Treasure Gold. I added a few cogs using the Cheery Lynn die and applied Sapphire, and White Fire Treasure Gold to them. I chose the Tim Holtz sentiment ‘know in your heart you are loved’ - it’s for Father’s Day after all. Then actual cogs and winders for watch making to give it that something extra.

For the pillow box - I wanted something ‘art journal’ style, so the same Distress Inks were used along with some Tattered Angels and Gelatos on heavy weight cartridge paper. I chose the Tim Holtz sentiment because this is meant to be coming from my son :) and he is still little(ish), so it seemed appropriate.

Thank you Country View Crafts for letting me come and guest design for you.

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Beautiful texturing and layering in these Georgie and fabulous colours, such gorgeous makes - thank you!

So many ideas, so many options.... We'd like to see more of what you're up to please so don't be bashful just jump on in - CREATE & ENTER! >;o)

Our next post is Sunday when I'll be showing you my second project, I hope to see you there.

Have fun!

Chris and the team xxx

Brenda's all of a twitter for her man!

We're absolutely loving the projects we're seeing so thank you to all who have entered already - fab, fab work!

Our project today is from Brenda who has made something special for the man in her life...

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Brenda of Bumblebees and Butterflies

For my second piece for this challenge I have made something for the most significant man in my life. He loves birds and while on holiday in Hawaii a while ago he took lots of photos of different species that we don't find here at home. I have altered a photo frame which is rather like a shadow box so that I could add some 3D embellishments and one of the photos that he took.

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What a lovely thought Brenda and a gorgeous photo frame, the moss, nest and eggs are such a creative touch - thank you!

We hope you're liking the projects you're seeing so far and the creativity of our DTMs...? The next post we have for you is on Friday when we're featuring another guest. Do pop back and join us to see who and what will be here please.

Chris and the team xxx

Astrid has a special message...

Today we have a wonderfully distressed card from Astrid, with a special message straight from her heart...

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Astrid of Astrid's Artistic Efforts

A male friend needed some serious cheering up, he has the tendency to always see the negative side of life (and he reminds me a bit of the serious looking gentleman from the Tim Holtz Paris to London set). So, I made him a card with a little reminder that it is possible to discover that life is good! Here's hoping he won't take it the wrong way.... If you want more details on how I put this together, just click HERE.

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What a lovely thought, a fab message and a gorgeous project Astrid - Thank you!

Astrid has shown us that it's not all about Fathers' Day this month, we can make cards and projects to gift as random acts of kindness to any male. What a great thought, they're so often overlooked.

As we've reached the 16th we're half way through the challenge but never fear, the DTMs are here, lol! Yes, we have LOTS more to show you yet and our talented Brenda is here on Wednesday with another kewl make for you to feast your eyes on.

See you then!

Chris and the team xxx

Sue's playing with alcohol and foil!

Today we are delighted to feature another of our newest DTMs, Sue B. She is delighting us with alcohol, foil and texture...

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Sue B of Scrumplescrunch

I enjoy working with Alcohol Inks especially dripping the colours onto foil, and I think the effect is perfect for a Masculine card.  I embossed the foil with a texture fade and lightly sanded to highlight the design, then adding the metal elements to complete the effect.

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Gorgeous colours, a fabulous look and loving that depth of texture Sue - thank you! Do hop across to see more details on Sue's own blog.

Astrid will be here on Monday so please don't miss her next project, you certainly won't be disappointed!

Have a great weekend everyone,

Chris and the team xxx

Alison has men at work!

Many of you will already know Alison (aka Butterfly) and her inimitable style. She has a treat in store for you today with this beautiful project...

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Alison of Words and Pictures

For my second make this month, I had a ball playing with Tim Holtz's French Industrial papers, and my favourite corrugated cardboard.  If you'd like to see some more of the inside, and find out what mundane ingredient is at the heart of this mini-album, do come and visit me at Words and Pictures.

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What a fabulous album Alison and what a tease this second photo is, we want to see what's inside! Thank you!

Do hop over to Alison's blog and check out the detail and see what she has hidden in that album. We'll be back on Saturday with another post and a project from another of our newest DTMs, Sue B - hope to see you then.

Chris and the team xxx

A textured tag from Sue

We're just through the first week and we're still going strong - how are you doing? This beautifully textured tag is by our talented Sue......

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Sue of Stamping Sue Style

For my second piece this month I've made a tag and stepped into my comfort zone of shades of brown ! I love the sentiments by Wendy Vecchi and this image of the man just seemed to sit perfectly on the side.

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The depth of colour and texture on this tag is delicious Sue!! Beautiful - thank you!

How are you doing? Have you thought of something creative on a masculine theme yet? We hope so because we want to see them and every entry has an equal chance of winning the £20 shop voucher from our sponsor, Country View Crafts.

Alison will be here next, on Thursday, with her second project so please be sure to pop back and see what she has been up to!

Have a fun day,

Chris and the team xxx

Jennie's saluting the skipper!

Jennie is sharing her 2nd project of the month with us today and dedicating it to her nearest and dearest...

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Jennie of Live the Dream

"A very masculine card inspired by the piece of paper from the Tim Holtz Destinations Paper Stash. When on board our boat we live by the clock for tides and navigation and use sheets like these for the calculations (I say we ….. ! I only do a little bit …..).  I have been meaning to use this wonderful timepiece embossing folder for ages, so this was the perfect opportunity.  It looks quite effective given it is made from gold card stock and  Black Distress Paint! If you want to find out how I made it then hop over to my blog for more details.

A perfect birthday card for the Skipper I think!"

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Fabulous use of these Tim Holtz materials Jennie and a terrific example of just how layering up can make such a difference - brilliant! Thank you!

You may not be into vintage or be a Tim Holtz fan but we all like to layer up now and again to add interest to whatever we're making. What are YOU creating? We hope you're going to join us and show us what male oriented projects you've thought up.

Sue will be here on Tuesday with another of her fab makes so please come back and visit us then. Have a great weekend!

Chris and the team xxx

Our May winners

Thank you all for supporting our May 'Nature's glories' challenge, we had lots of stunning entries once again. It amazes us how you come up with some of these creations - so, so creative!

We're  delighted to announce our winners as follows.....

Chosen by random.org, winner of the Country View Crafts' £20 shop voucher is:

#155 Karen B of Being Karen - Scrapbook page:

Congratulations Karen, your voucher and badge will be emailed to you shortly.

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As it was Donna's choice of theme for May, she has the honour of choosing our blog badge winners...

Our Top 3 badge winners are:

#88 Julie Anne Lee of magpie heaven

"Fabulous texture on the canvas, lots of interest and lovely colours."

#94 Paula Whittaker of  Just For One Day

"Every side of this little ATB is gorgeous!"

#107 Maddy Herbison of Izzwizz Creations

 "Each and every panel of this screen card is beautiful."

Congratulations go to Julie, Paula and Maddy for your gorgeous entries, blog badges are winging their way to you!

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Our DTMSM (DT Members' Special Mention) badge for May goes to:

#114 Katy Leitch of Postcards from the Attic

"Such a great and innovative use of recycled packaging, a lovely piece."

Well done Katy, great work, a badge is on its way to you too!

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Thank you to everyone who has visited, commented and/or entered our May challenge, your support is appreciated.

Have a great weekend,

Chris and the team xxx

Julie is guesting with elegance!

Toay we are featuring a guest and Top 3 blog badge winner from April's challenge, Julie Lavalette. Julie is sharing her creative and elegant style of crafting with us...

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Julie Lavalette of Juliz Design Post

"Hi, My name is Julie Lavalette and I live in Central Scotland. I have enjoyed crafting from a young age and found my love for paper craft reignited about 8 years ago when I needed Wedding invitations for our Wedding. I love my craft to tell a story and to become keepsakes or heirlooms for my family and adore all things Vintage. I think I was born in the wrong era. I have a dolls house which I also enjoy crafting for and I like to go around Antique Fairs to window shop or museums for inspiration. I also love a car boot sale to find my little treasures to alter or add to a project as find myself more recently crafting in a mixed media style."

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When Chris sent me the theme ‘ Only Men Allowed ` for my project I must admit I initially panicked a bit and thought I don’t do men things... So this was a big challenge to me, but I do love a Challenge.  It took me about 2 days and probably nights thinking what I was going to do and then I remembered the Opening Ceremony at  the Olympic Games and the part where they went through the Industrial Revolution and it all looking very masculine and the men standing with their Top Hats on. I now had an idea and started to plan my project.

I wanted to give my project depth with lots of layers so it gave the impression you were peeling back the years through History and stepping back in time. I started off by ripping some layers off a piece of cardboard to reveal the corrugation and sealed with a coat of Gesso. I then layered a mixture of papers, stamping, texture paste with stencils and freehand, also adding die cuts using various mediums all over my project. Thanks for having me over at Country View Challenges and I hope you all have enjoyed my project as much as I did in making it.

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Wow, the detail of this project is quite, quite stunning Julie - a fabulously stylish steampunk piece, beautiful! Thank you for guesting with us today!

In every post we publish, our team and our guests strive to bring you variety of ideas and genres to tempt and challenge you. We look forward to seeing what you're up to in YOUR craft rooms.

Jennie's up next, on Saturday, with another beautiful make. We hope you'll join us.

Chris and the team xxx