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

An InLinkz Link-up

Nikki's krafting with texture

Hello out there!

Well, we've reached the end of the month - where did it go?

Nikki is bringing us our final post for the month and she's been busy...

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Nikki

For my first make earlier this month I completely covered the Kraft card with inks and paint. Today I  wanted it a lot cleaner and love how the card is a great surface for stamping and embossing. A few more details over at Addicted to Art today.

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This is great Nikki, what a fab way of showing us how simple stamping with kraft can be so effective - thank you!

Well folks, if you haven't joined in yet, you have until 11:55 pm tomorrow to get your project finished and linked.  We'll be back on May 1st with a new challenge so until then...

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

Chris and the team xxx

Ana's wowing us today!

Hello dear crafters!

This morning we are absolutely delighted to post the project of not only one of our regular challenge entrants and Top 3 winners but of someone who is making quite a name for herself!  Artistic, talented and always ready to contribute, we welcome the very talented Ana K!

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Hello dear crafters... I'm really delighted to be here with you again. My name is Ana and I am from beautiful Slovenia. Creating came into my life by accident, but quickly I became addicted...I love everything old or old looking and that you can see in my creations...I love to create mainly collages, but I also love making altered projects and books...during creating process, I completely “eliminate rest of the world” and I can say that crafting is my escape from reality...

For this month challenge I decided to make a collage...Craft card is perfect for crafting and can be used in so many ways….with a help of scissors and white acrylic paint can be easily transformed into wood looking background….

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Ana, this is so beautiful and such an artistic and creative way to use kraft card - thank you!!

Crafters, you have just a few days left to finish your projects and enter, we hope you will!

Have a great day!

Chris and the team xxx

Jennie has a telegram from Paris

Hello there!

We're kicking off the weekend with a wow of a project from our Jennie...

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Jennie

 This is such a great challenge for me as I nearly always use Kraft cardstock for the base of my cards! I have decided to make an easel card for my second piece this month and also used some Kraft die cuts in my collage. I love adding soft colours with the Kraft and the pinks of the handmade flower (Victorian Velvet and Seedless Preserves Distress Ink) go so well I think. There are some more details on my blog if you would like to join me.

 

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This is gorgeous Jennie, demonstrating just how beautiful kraft can look - thank you!

We have just under a week to go folks so please start thinking about making your entry if you haven't done so already!  >;o)

We'll be back on Monday with our final guest post for April and the only clues we'll give you are that she is carving out quite a niche for herself and we're fortunate to see her as one of our regular entrants here at CVC.... don't miss it!

Have a great weekend!

Chris and the team xxx

Olga is sharing her floral card...

Greetings everyone!

Today we're joined by Olga Direktorenko from the Ukraine who was chosen as our Special Mention winner in February.  Olga, of Building Your World, has made a beautiful card to share how she uses kraft card her way...

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Hi everyone,
My name is Olga and I am from Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine where I live with my dear husband, our three wonderful children and a dachshund. I have always been attracted to visual arts and when I got acquainted with paper craft about a year ago I immediately fell in love with it. It is also a great pleasure to realize there are so many talented crafters around the world that are ready to share their passion and experience.

 I love using kraft card in my projects, especially for fall and winter holiday ones. But this time I will try to make a spring kraft greeting card. 

I like how it turned out. I think there is something... well... British about it :)))) What do you think?

Thank you for looking and have a wonderful happy day!

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A stunning card Olga and so cleverly put together - thank you!

Well Ladies and Gentlemen, you have just 7 days remaining to join in our challenge.  Although we're approaching the end, we still have more to show you, the DT squeeze every last day they can to post!  >;o)

Our lovely Jennie will be here on Saturday with another gorgeous make so we hope to see you then!

Have a great day,

Chris and the team xxx

A postcard from Gabrielle...

Greetings everyone!

Today we're joined by our talented Gabrielle (and she's using one of my most favourite images of all time) with this stunning make...

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 For my second project this month I made another postcard where I made good use of the properties of kraft card. Kraft card has a brilliant surface for paints and will also stand up to being sanded quite vigorously and so forms the basis of my postcard. As always, there are more details on my blog! Gabrielle x

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This is fabulous Gabrielle, what a brilliant way to use kraft - thank you!

Whether you're into cards, tags, scrapbooks, journals, postcards, altered art or anything else, we're convinced that you can make something using kraft.  Readily available, easy to work with and, as Gabrielle has pointed out, great for texturing and sanding, what a fab theme for you to work with this month!

We'll be back on Thursday with another guest project which you won't want to miss!  See you then!

Chris and the team xxx

Doreen is all overcome!

Welcome everyone!  >:o)

Our talented Doreen is with us this morning to share her 2nd make for April and she's taking the opportunity to demonstrate kraft with PaperArtsy products - beautiful...

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Hello to you all,I am back with my second sample

I have used a Kraft Tag, Kraft Card and some Fresco paints.

Details from my Blog

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This is gorgeous Doreen, kraft card is such a great contrast - thank you!

Whether you're a stamper, a painter, into mixed media, whatever it may be, we'd like you to step up and share your crafty ideas and talents with us.  You have until April 30th to enter and you could be one of our lucky winners!

Gabrielle will be with us on Tuesday so please come back and join us again then.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Chris and the team xxx

Donna's been squirreling away her kraft card

Hello out there!

We're continuing our theme this morning with a gorgeous card from Donna in her own wonderful style...

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For my second make of this month I've taken some Kraft for a little trip to the English countryside...

 ...a little step by step is on my blog if you fancy stopping by :)

Donna xx

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This is beautiful Donna, kraft card makes such a fab basis for a nature themed project - thank you!

We'd like to see what you're making with kraft card.  Make something and join in with us by linking to our original post and be in with a chance of winning our CVC £20 voucher, a blog badge or an invitation to guest with us!

Doreen will be here on Sunday with another of her beautiful makes - we hope to see you then!

Chris and the team xxx

It's kraft and gesso from Brenda today

Good morning all!

One of the things I love is to see is well-seasoned and talented crafters challenging themselves to try different things, to experiment with techniques and products, because that's how we all develop, how we progress and keep things interesting.  

When I look at Brenda's blog I see all the artistic and imaginative pieces of art she creates (and most ARE art!) but she is here today to share something simple that she hasn't done before but boy, it is soooo effective!.....

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Brenda

I find it really hard to create straight onto cards when I make them but I took the plunge here using some stamped images and collage pieces with daubed gesso as the base layer.

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These are gorgeous Brenda, you always manage to make things look soooo creative - thank you!

To join in our challenge all you have to do is to use kraft card.  You can make something as simple or as elaborate as you like, kraft card is the only requirement to join in other than following our rules of course!  >;o)

We have another fabulous project on Friday, from Donna, so please make a note and pop back to visit us then.

Chris and the team xxx

Imaginative kraft from Lys

Good morning all!  >:o)

To start off our week we have a guest sharing a gorgeous, imaginative project with us. Many of you will already know Lys of Impression Scrap and for those of you who don't, you're in for a treat...

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Bonjour! My name is Lys and I live in a village in south west of France. I started scrapbooking about 10 years ago and I just discovered mixed media and the huge possibilities it offers to creativity. I have too little time to craft beside my full time job as a psychologist, but meeting children everyday gives me the opportunity to leave open the door of this wonderful, inventive and inspiring world that is childhood.

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I’m so happy and honored today to join  Country View Challenges’ team! The theme “use kraft card” was a bit baffling for me, as these days I play more often with Spring colours… but a challenge is a challenge! So I made this page, quite light, showing how a shrub pops out its wintry peel coat to open to the Spring sun…

Thanks Chris and the beautiful team of Country View Challenges for inviting me today!

Best wishes,

Lys.

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This is beautiful Lys, thank you!  What a great example of using kraft to create something different and inspiring!  For those of you wanting to see more of Lys's work you can find her blog here.

Brenda will be here with her 2nd project on Wednesday, don't miss it!  >:o)

Take care,

Chris and the team xxx