A Place to begin - New - 4th December 2023

 This month at a Place to Start our them is anything New, could be a supply, a new home, new baby anything that is new to you.

I have made a card to welcome a new baby, the image is one I have used before, it has been on my computer for about 10 years.  I only have the illustrator down as SDD and I cannot remember what the initials stand for, the image is called Girl Bunny

This time I have paper pieced her frock with some Stampin Up paper, using the same paper and an edging punch for the top of the card.   The bunny has ben coloured with copic pens and a typed sentiment completes the card.

Check out all the new thing from the team at: https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/

Entered into:

Gem of a challenge - AG 

Dream Valley Challenge - AG 

Digi Choosday - AG 

Simon Says Wednesday - AG 

 

 

Crafter's cafe Challenge - Feminine 15th November, 2023

 The challenge at the Crafter's Cafe will be running for two months over the December/January period 15th November - 12th January. 

 Check out https://crafterscafeblogchallenge.blogspot.com/ for all the details

This month's theme is Feminine

There are two great sponsors

Sheepski Designs

and 

Odynetika

Check out the stores for some wonderful images.

I was able to spend some time  for this challenge and made three projects.

Project #1 was an entry into my art journal, I have sketched a backround o houses and cobblestones walk way, keeping colours to an absolute minimum I have used Sheepski's, Shopping in Yorkshire.

Entered into:

#2 Is another page in my art journal, this time I created a background digitally.  Charlie - crazy hair is from Odynetika, which has been coloured with copic pens, fussy cut and added to the background.

Entered into:

#3 This time, a hristmas card using Odynetika's Sophie, Carolling.  Coloured with copic pens. keeping it bright with the background paper, sentiment completes the card.

Entered into:

 

 

You are a Star

This month's freebie at The Outlawz progressive challenge is Stars by Sandra.  I love using these backgrounds as I can get back into some digital work.  The image was a png, so I layered it onto some bubble patterned paper, then coloured the stars and circles.

I created a 5 point star similar to those in the background and coloured it with the same patterned paper, but in a different shade.  Typed the sentiments.

Once all were printed I fussy cut the large star (and inked the edges) and the sentiment which are all attached with 3d spots from Stampin up.

 Entered into:

The Outlawz Progressive Freebie Challenge for November

Gem of a Challenge - AG 

Use your Stuff - AG 

Crafts Galore Encore - AG 

 

A Place to Start - 6th November, 2023 - For a Child

This month at A Place to Start the theme is For a child.  I made a birthday card for a young boy. Coloured with copics and a white gel pen, the image is from My Besties, The land of Pan group.  

Bright coloured cardstock and a cute sentiment I found on the net completes the card.

Checkout all the children projects at:

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/

 

Entered: 

Gem of a Craft - AG 

Allsorts Challenge - AG 

Polkadoodles Challenge - AG

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - AG 

Use your Stuff - AG

Pearly Sparkles - November 2023

 Our last challenge for 2023 and the the is Christmas.  I have chosen an image from Sheepski designs, called Mini Car. Coloured with copic pens.

Check out all the Christmas projects at:

http://pearlysparkleschallenge.blogspot.com/

Entered into:

Gem of a Craft - AG

Girlz Creative Christmas Challenge - AG 

Digi Choosday - AG 

Simon Says - AG 

Fab N Funky - Show us some colouring 

Crafter's cafe Challenge - Flowers, 15th October, 2023

This month  Beccy's Place is sponsoring the Crafter's Cafe Challenge.  Check out Beccy's store, she also sells clear stamps and dies as well as the cute digital images.

 I Went a little different this time, I chose an image from her freebies, which can be found on her BLOG.  I chose an image called Lavender ,  created a striped background, layered on the lavender, placing it into a vase.  coloured with pencils, I added a small flower as well.

Entered into:

 Alphabet Challenge - N is for Nature

Polkadoodles - AG 

613 Avenue Create - AG 

 

I also received an image from Beccy called Poppies, included in the set is a group of poppies, a single poppy which I requested and multiple sentiments.

After many years of doing different hobbies, I have come back to where I started as a four year old with a very patient mother,  I am again doing embroidery, using up scraps of material and all the pieces of thread that have been lying around the house. To stop recluttering with embroidered pieces of material, I decided to create a treasure book/journal of needlework. 

This is a work in progress as I try different methods of stiffening material, printing on material etc.  Which leads me to the Poppy I wrote about.  After embroidering the image I fussy cut (bit nervous I was going to cut the stitches, I am sure I will get more confident as I go, here is my embroidered whitework  poppy.  Attached to this inside cover of the Book/Journal

Check out all the beautiful floral projects at:

https://crafterscafeblogchallenge.blogspot.com/

Entered into:

 Crafty Catz - Monochrome 

 A Perfect place to craft - AG

Beccy's Place - AG 

 

 

Autumn Card

 This month at The Outlawz Progressive Freebie challenge, we were given a cute image from Anne Fenton, called Pumpkin and Cat.

I had just found a pack of craftpaper, that I had forgotten about when I saw this image.  I have printed the image 3 times to make a border on a slimline card.

Coloured with copic pens, I added whiskers with a fine black marker.  The saentiment is a stamp from Stampin Up.

Entered into:

The Outlawz Progressive Freebie for October 

Crafty Animals - AG, must include an animal 

Little Red Wagon - Fall Colours 

Fab n Funky - Show us some colouring

A Place to Start - Anything Goes - 2nd October 2023

 Another month and A Place to Start has a great sponsor Conie Fong for this month's challenge which is Anything Goes. I chose an image called Witch to do an Art Journal page.  

The image is coloured with copic pens, the background is Paper Artsy Fresco Chalk paints, my go to every time.  Some shaped collage for the houses and tree.  Glitter added, of course and A fun quote I found on the internet.

Check out all the projects using Conie Fong images at:

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/

 

Entered into: 

The Outlawz Monday Greetings - Fall/Halloween greeting

Fab N Funky Challeng - Show us some colouring

A Perfect time to craft - AG 

Crafting Happiness - Halloween 

Crafts Galore Encore - AG 

Crafty Animals - must include an animal 

 

Pearly Sparkles - October 2023

 This month's them is "Let's go cute"  I have used an image for Digi Stamps for Joy called Bath Time, coloured with copic pens and glitter.  I have also added a duck from my stash.

 Check out all the cuteness at:

 http://pearlysparkleschallenge.blogspot.com/

 

Entered into: 

Crafty Catz - Spots and/or Stripes

Polkadoodles - AG 

Crealicious - AG with Autumn colours 

The Creative Crafters -  AG 

That's Sew Lovely

 The Outlawz current challenge in Twisted Thursday is Anything Goes, with the theme That's Sew Lovely.  I have been working on a Treasure Journal of embroidery for a few months.  Basically winging it as I go, trying new things to see how this journal will come together.

I wanted the material to have the consistency of paper, so that you could turn the pages without the material flopping around.  I think I have the combination right,  I am using a combination of stabilizing fabric and glue.There will be good and bad pages,  I am using up all the odd pieces of fabric I have stored around the house, not to mention embroidery thread inherited from my Mum and my Mother In Law, hate to think how old it may be, but it is still workable.

My inkjet printer is printing the images, for the process of printing I am using  a stick and stay spray with cardstock for backing. as I am limited to A4 size for printing, there will be lots of odd joins.  There will be three signatures.  I'm working on pockets, tags etc and I expect the journal to take years to complete.

My Mum taught me some basic stitches when I was 4 years old, many many years ago and it is something I still love to do.  There will be lots of different hand sewing in the journal and I expect along the way I will find better ways to do things. 

For now, here is the cover, made from a cardboard box and a cross stitch pattern I did earlier this year.  The other two pictures, show two pages for the journal, they back onto each other.  The cottage and crinoline lady are a centre page, with the washing page backing it, the side edges have not been completed on the washing page as I am thinking of adding a fold and/or a pocket.  

Wish me luck, at least I cannot say I have nothing to do.

 Entered into:

Twisted Thursday September challenge - That's so lovely

Ellibelle's Corner  Wednesday Challenge - AG 

 Creative Mixed Media-AG

Floral Card

  This month at the Ourlawz Progressive Freebie challenge, Sandra has given us a floral pattern to create a project.

I chose to go digital for this card, I have layered the pattern with a digital patterned paper, adding a small shadow.  Typed a sentiment which is also layered with the patterned paper.  I added small yellow centres and once printed used some liquid pearls for other centres.

I have reprinted the sentiment, cut it out and layered with 3d  squares.

Entered into:

The Outlawz Progressive Freebie challenge for September 

613 Avenue Create - AG 

The Corrosive Challenge - AG 

Dragonfly Dreams - AG