Wednesday, 8 April 2015

Our BLOG CANDY winner!

Good evening friends!

We have pleasure in announcing our blog candy winner from our Blogaversary commenting competition tonight.  We asked random.org to choose our winner from the number of comments we'd received at the point our challenge closed, here is the result...



Our blog candy bundle goes to.....



crafty creations

Please contact us using the email widget on the sidebar and let us have your details so we can post this to you.



We'll be announcing our challenge winners over the weekend.

Have a lovely evening,

Chris and the team xxx

Tuesday, 7 April 2015

Alison's using kraft with mixed media

Good morning everyone!

We hope you all had a good Easter holiday and commiserations to those of you that had to work!

Alison is with us this morning to share her 2nd project and what a beauty it is!...



For my second krafty creation of the month I've been playing with the Mixed Media thinlits again, and this time it was the honeycomb die which started the whole thing off.  There's a crackly krafty bee collecting pollen to create glossy, crackly honey in his krafty honeycomb, and it's all over a gesso-printed background.  Come and check out the details over at Words and Pictures.



This is beautiful Alison, we're loving your style - thank you!

No matter your choice of genre, whether you're into mixed media or not, tags, journals, cards, whatever your preferences, we'd like to see how YOU are using kraft card.  The lucky winner will be chosen at random so remember, your entry just might be the lucky one!

We'll have the first of our Top 3 guests appearing on Thursday so please join us to share in the fun!  >:o)

Chris and the team xxx

Sunday, 5 April 2015

Trace is all heart!

Happy Easter Sunday folks!

We're delighted to have our talented Trace back with us in the team and she's joining us this morning to share her 2nd DT make for April and what a make it is!...



Well for this make I made a little book with plenty of space to fill with messages for that special someone. I used kraft resist paper stack, plenty of distress goodies including the new abandoned coral and a wonderful Eileen Hull die to make this mini book. All the details can be found on my blog here. x



This is fabulous Trace, beautifully done and a great example of using kraft card - thank you!

Alison will be with us on Tuesday sharing her second project so please remember to hop back and join us.

Have a great Easter holiday!

Chris and the team xxx

Friday, 3 April 2015

A krafty journal from Sue D...

Good morning all!

This morning we start the month's individual project features and as Sue D chose the theme, she gets to post the first and what a beauty it is!...



Hi, it's my turn again to get crafty with the kraft, and this time I've used some Dina Wakley stamps and paints and made a journal page.
Full details can be found here at Sue The Iron x



This is gorgeous Sue, what a fab journal cover and a great example of using kraft card to start us off - thank you!

Each of our DTMembers craft in their own style and we all have different genres we prefer. So, whether you like contemporary, vintage, shabby or any other style you're bound to find at least one example of it posted here throughout the month.  Most of our DTMs provide a full, step x step post on their personal blog so if you'd like to see the detail you can hop across to see the techniques and products they've used.

Whilst we love sharing our projects with you, we like to see what YOU'RE up to so please join in with us by entering our challenge so we and our followers can see what you're making.

Thanks for such a great theme Sue, it' a corker!  Have a great month everyone!

Chris and the team xxx

Wednesday, 1 April 2015

It's our April challenge!

Good morning craft lovers!

It's April 1st but there's no April fools here today, just a great line up of creativity and imagination from our DT to inspire you to join in our challenge this month!

Sue D (aka Sue the Iron) has chosen our theme for the month and what a great theme it is...


Whether we're into card making, scrapping, mixed media, altered art or any of the other popular crafts, we can all find ways of using kraft card in our projects so this really is a challenge where you have carte blanche.  We're looking forward to seeing all the creative and inventive ways you can come up with for using kraft in your projects, all we ask is that you follow our simple rules.

You can enter as many projects as you like and the winner of our £20 shop voucher, generously donated by our sponsor Country View Crafts online shop, will be chosen at random using random.org.

As usual, we have a previous winner joining us today and leading out the DT...



Hello, I’m Chris, usually known as ‘Pearshaped Chris’!  I’m thrilled and honoured to be asked to take part at Country View Challenges as a Guest Designer.  I started crafting as a young girl, encouraged by my Mum, who used to knit, sew, use natural dyes etc ; although in those days it was known as ‘saving money’!!!  It was only recently, when asked about my crafting, that I realized I have been doing crafty things for pretty much all my life, although once I retired I had more time for it!  I enjoy most aspects of crafting, especially if it involves getting messy or trying something new!


I love using Kraft card and love the effect of white and pastels on the card. I needed an anniversary card for a young couple so used two of my favourite bird stamps to make this card. I hope you will pop over and see what Mr Bird is planning!



Hi, it's my turn to choose the challenge theme this month and I've gone for Kraft card. I love using kraft, it just seems to make all the other colours pop. For my first creation I've used a Sheena Douglass stamp to make a Fathers Day Card.
Full details can be found here on my blog.


 I love playing with neutrals and was tempted stay neutral that but decided the kraft looked great with a splash of colour in the shape of abandoned coral. I made a box to fit my collage style cards into...treasured  family memories in a box . All the details can be found here.


Springtime has to be blue/greens, grasses and butterflies for me... and so my butterflies are very krafty!  They're made with the Bigz/Texture Fades butterflies released this year.  I've also used the kraft card with one of the new Tim Holtz Mixed Media Thinlits, and mounted the whole tag onto kraft card too.


 
 I love using Kraft card, it is so versatile. For this birthday card I used it as the base of my card, but also behind the leaf aperture that was created with the Tim Holtz Layered Leaf die. If you want to see more, just click here


 I made this card for Chris's birthday which was just a couple of days ago using Tim Holtz papers and dies as well as some other bits and pieces. Both the card itself and the butterfly are kraft card, although the butterfly has been painted , crackled, inked and splattered, so it's not so obvious here.


My 'Hope' triptych has a background of treated, textured kraft card with kraft flowers and leaves.  Kraft card is such a great medium to work with.  Details of the how with the what can be found in a picture format step x step here.  Chris xxx


I often use Kraft card, it's such a versatile and easy card to work with so this was a fun challenge.  For this make I've used one of my favourite techniques, combining Kraft with gesso and embossing it...
...there are more photo's and a how to on my blog if you fancy dropping by :)
Donna xx


I have decided to make a start on my Christmas cards, I know you might be saying it is too early but at least I won't be panicking at the end of the year.
More details from my blog


I love kraft card and just how versatile it is! For this postcard I used Translucent Embossing Paste to reveal the kraft card beneath so it became the pattern in the background. As I am going to post my postcard I needed to keep the decoration very flat so I kept the decoration simple, and to a minimum. There are, as always, more details on my blog! Gabrielle x


Crafting with Kraft - a favourite of mine! I recently taught a beginner's scrapbook workshop here in Shetland and based one of the layouts on Kraft cardstock. I find it is very versatile and works well for vintage layouts as well as modern ones.  For a few close ups and how I made a second layout from the same elements please hop on over to my blog.


I have used Kraft card as the surface to create a grungy background using gesso, inks and sand paper. there are more details over at Addicted to Art today.



Phew, what a line up and welcome back to the ranks Trace! >;o)

We love sharing our projects with you and we hope you like them just as much as we've loved making them.  As ususal, we'll be bringing you a new, themed project every other day from today throughout the rest of the month so please bookmark us and remember to come back and visit.

The challenge is open to all crafters and we'd like YOU to join in.  To do so is very simple, just make your project demonstrating out theme and post it on your blog/web page then link that page to us using the InLinkz linkie below.  As well as a £20 shop voucher from Country View Crafts awarded to the (randomly chosen) winner we also award blog badges to our Top 3 chosen projects and to one special project that we think has shown the most originality.  All winners are invited to come and guest with us in a future challenge.

Now it's over to you!  We hope you'll have fun with this theme and look forward to seeing just exactly what you come up with.

Have a fun month!

Chris and the team xxx



Sunday, 29 March 2015

Astrid's fluttering to the end of the month...

Greetings everyone,

This is our last post for March and what a project!  Astrid is here sharing a beautifully creative card with us all...



The background to this card was made using Tim Holtz Distress Sprays and the so called salt technique. If you want to see how to do that and see some more detail, please hop over to my blog.



This is gorgeous Astrid, amazing artwork and so very imaginative - thank you!

Well, now we're done and it really is over to you.  If you'd like to enter then you have until 23:50 // 11:50 pm on March 31st to enter.  Our winners will be announced towards the middle of April so remember to keep a watchful eye for the announcement.

Have a great day and thanks for making March such a pleasure!  >:o)

Chris and the team xxx

Friday, 27 March 2015

Feeling blessed!

Good morning folks!

It's Friday, yay!  I'm looking forward to the weekend and, hopefully, getting some crafting done at some point.  Although we're approaching the end of the month there's still time to get creating and enter our challenge.  Here is my final DT make for March...




I'm tending to do more and more altered art and home decor projects and less cards these days and absolutely loving it!  My favourite media at the moment is Tim's Distress spray stains and Gesso - these are what I've used on this canvas.

If you'd like to see the details of how this was done then you'll find a step x step post on my blog.



Astrid will be here on Sunday with our very last post - please don't miss it!

We hope that you'll take the opportunity of the weekend to get something made and entered - you could be our lucky winner of the £20 voucher!

Have a great Saturday and Sunday!

Chris and the team xxx

Thursday, 26 March 2015

January's winners


Good evening all!

Sincere apologies to you all, I seemed to have had a complete mental aberration and failed to publish our January winners! (Friends told me my age would catch up to my memory and it has - arrgghhh!)  A big thank you goes to Gail for pointing it out!   Here, late but just as worthy, are our January winners...



WINNER (Chosen by random.org) of the £20 Country View Crafts shop voucher is...







Our TOP 3 (chosen by Brenda) are...


(Congratulations Margik, this is only the second time that a randomly chosen winner has also been one of our Top 3 - well done!!  >:o)  )

Brenda said: "This layout drew me in with the repetitive use of one image. It is cleverly designed with lots of fabulous elements and layers."



Brenda said: " I love the finished effects that Linda has achieved with her altered journal cover and that she tried a new technique to her."



Brenda said: "Samantha has created a fabulous 3D project using a new die. I love the whole shabby chic appeal to this bird cage."



Our DTMSM (DT Member's Special Mention) is...



Brenda said: "This is a very beautiful shabby card with lots of textures and layers. The glitter and crackle are gorgeous additions and I love the monochromatic look."



Well done to all of our winners, emails with badges and invites are on the way to you all!

Have a great week,

Chris and the team xxx

Wednesday, 25 March 2015

It's a master board from Sue D...

Good morning all,

Something a little different this morning and with somewhat of a tease from our talented Sue D...



For my second piece this month I've made a master board.
If you head over to my blog here you'll be able to see what I've made with it x



Ooooooh, there's lots of love in this board Sue, it's beautiful, thank you!  Do be sure to head over to Sue's blog to see what she's made with this.

On Friday we will be announcing our BLOG CANDY winner so if you haven't already left a comment on our initial post, click here and leave one to be in with a chance!

Our next project will be the last for the month and it will be featuring our talented Astrid, on the 29th - cya then!  >:o)

Take care all,

Chris and the team xxx

Monday, 23 March 2015

Sue B's friend is a little cherub!

Happy Monday everyone!

We told you that Sue B would be here this morning to chase away those Monday morning blues and we're not failing in that promise.  Sue's card is gorgeous!...



A mixed media card using numbers and letters on the background.



Oh Sue!  Fabulous colours, wonderful texturing, a great design and all on this lovely card for your friend, it's beautiful - thank you!

We're on the downward slope now to the end of the month and the end of the challenge but we still have more to show you.  Sue D will be here on Wednesday with her second make - another beauty!

See you soon, have a great day.  >:o)

Chris and the team xxx

Saturday, 21 March 2015

Nikki's dreaming of love...?

Hello there!

It's Saturday, we're ¾ of the way through the month already and here to provide us with some motivation and inspiration is our Nikki with her 2nd project for the month...



A lot of this card is made from leftovers from a scrapbook page I did. I have combined Paper Artsy chalk paints and Distress Inks including the lovely Cracked Pistachio. Do pay a visit to Addicted to Art to see more details.



A fabulous card Nikki, great colours, a fab design and a lovely shabby feel to it - thank you!

Have you been making something that you'd like to share with us and our followers?  If you do, why not link up and join in, it's not difficult.  >:o)  Our theme this month means that you can ALL join in, lol!

Sue B will be here on Monday to chase away that Monday morning feeling and, oh boy, we can promise you that she'll certainly be doing that!  

See you Monday,

Chris and the team xxx

Thursday, 19 March 2015

A day in Paris - Journalling from Kerstin

Greetings all!

Today we're featuring a beautiful art journalling contribution from a very creative guest and one of our previous Special Mention winners - Kerstin of Scrapbook Dreams...



Hi and welcome everyone, Kerstin here, I come from Germany. When the team from Country view challenge asked me to be a Guest designer, I was just honoured and happy.
I have been creating for many years now, always in search for new techniques and yet unexplored territory in craftland.

My big passions are colours and structure. I'm a big Mixed Media Style fan and love the things that are old and nobody wants anymore, because they have a history! My newest love is Mr. Art Journal, with Art Journaling I have found one of "my" favourite genre - as it combines words and pictures, thoughts and feelings, application of various innovative techniques and the idea of telling stories in a brave new crafty world! But I also like to invent always new and so I will also often be good for a surprise!


Anything goes - the perfect theme and so I have chosen - no surprise - Art journaling, because it makes me happy!. (It relaxes me and helps me to stress management.)  It's a memory on a very beautiful day in Paris last year.

I hope you will inspired to discover the fascinating world of Art Journaling.  In fact, there are no rules for journaling, anything goes. This is actually the oft-quoted "The journey is the reward" and the images are created precisely.  In journaling very different forms of expression can be used: painting, drawing, photography, collage, stamps, stencils, writing, .... and much more. Often it is a combination of different techniques in Mixed media style, that leads to pages .

On the first photo you can see which materials I've used. I have worked with decoupage technique (napkin), used stencils, stamps, distress inks, laces and grandma's old buttons.


Primed with diluted white gesso, let dry, then use a wonderful napkin with decoupage glue, just the stencils with white gesso, dry it with heating tool. Drawing some branches with black acrylic paint, use some suitable stamps with archival pigment ink and another stencil with distress ink (diamond), glue on some embellishments and last but not least - a personalized text in spidery handwriting and voila - a new art journaling page is finished. Just start having fun and try it out!

Thank you very much for inviting me! 
Best wishes, Kerstin



This is stunning Kerstin - imaginative and beautifully artistic - thank you!

From cardmaking, tags, scrapping, postcards, journalling, mixed media 3D and home decor projects and much, much more - we would like to see what you're up to!  Join in and risk being one of our winners!  We are awarding TWO £20 shop vouchers from our sponsor, Country View Crafts online shop as well as a special BLOG CANDY for one of our lucky commenters (must be a comment left on our initial March post).

We'll be back on Saturday when Nikki will be sharing her 2nd project of the month - don't miss it!  >:o)

Have fun!

Chris and the team xxx

Tuesday, 17 March 2015

Jennie's saying it with flowers...

Good morning all!

We have a wonderful start to the day today, a second post for the month from our Jennie and she's saying it with flowers...



I decided to have some fun experimenting with some bits and pieces, gesso and Luminarte Primary Elements Sprays, Powders and Acrylic Glaze Silks. It was so much fun and I am so thrilled with the final result. Do join me on my blog if you want to see the odd collection of elements I started with and some close up details.



A gorgeous palette, fabulous textures and what a stunning result - thank you Jennie!

Whatever your style, whatever your preferred type of crafting, let's see what you're creating this month.  Just link up via our first March post and you could be the lucky winner of a £20 shop voucher from our sponsor, Country View Crafts.

We'll be back on Thursday with another guest post, from a previous Special Mention winner, Kerstin.  We hope you'll join us then to share some crafty love!

Keep crafting and have fun!

Chris and the team xxx