Beetle Box Workshop

I have recently started teaching a few workshops at a local craft shop. I made this beetle box a while back from a recycled wooden chocolate box and decided it would make a good project for a workshop. This was my original as posted a while back made with the amazing beetle stamp from the Chocolate Baroque Steampunkery stamp plate.

The boxes we bought for the workshop were deeper and this was my prototype for the workshop.

This is a darker version using some different techniques including a rust paint technique on the clock face, the main ingredients being a rusty texture paint from Decoart, some walnut ink with emerald mica and some Frayed Burlap stickles.

Finished off with some card candy rivets.

The group of 6 included some quite experienced crafters, some complete beginners and a couple in between. These boxes are the results of the three hour workshop. Top row Jack and Amanda's, middle row Brenda and Julie's and bottom row Neil and Victoria's.

I was so pleased with their results and so were they. Everyone made their own mark and each one had it's own character! They wanted more workshops on similar themes, so I have my work cut out now to come up with some interesting project ideas!

Elaine

A Little Shop!

A friend of mine recently opened a new craft shop locally. Although, it's not my usual style, I wanted to make a card in the shape of a little shop and this is the result.

I started off with the Memory Box window die and then used that to design the rest of the layout. I made one window into the door and added different die cut layers mounted on foam tape for dimension. Backing the die cut with acetate, I added various little crafty items into each window, including paper, gems, ribbon and charms in the windows, added  pink blinds (just like the real shop has) and backed each window with pink spotty paper, making each one a self contained box for mounting. Finally, I made a shop sign using Letraset and a weeny open sign. The depth of the items in the window meant each panel was quite deep, so this became a very 3D layout! The size is almost A4.

Elaine

Christmas is coming!

Some new Christmassy stamps have been launched over at Chocolate Baroque. They are........... Christmas Creatures

and Gift of Christmas

You can buy both on a special offer here.

The Design Team have been busy exploring the potential of these festive stamps, with some brilliant results, pop over to the DT blog every couple of days to see the results of everyone's creative efforts!

Here is one of my designs, I have stamped the poinsettia frame and embossed in dark green EP and used different H2O paints to colour the design and decoupage the flower and leaves. I've cut out and mounted the design on forest green card, which has a sentiment from the Christmas Cheer plate, I love this traditional design and some corners all embossed in Gold WOW embossing powder.
Do pop over to the DT blog  here and leave a comment to be in with a chance of winning these lovely stamps.

Elaine

Leafy butterflies

This is a card I made for a friend. Suffice to say it had a special meaning for her.

I wanted to use my leafy background technique to create a really vibrant sunset effect. I used Adirondack dye inks in Sunshine Yellow, Watermelon and Cranberry applying the ink with shaving brushes. I applied the ink using a leaf from my Plume Poppy plant as a mask.  I also used Wild Honey Distress ink in the mix and edged with Chipped Sapphire DI. I stamped the sentiment which is a partially masked clear stamp from a Studio G set and the butterfly, a freebie from Craft Stamper magazine in black Versafine ink. Finally I used some bleach to take most of the colour out of the butterflies. I didn't quite take all the colour out as I was nervous of damaging the surrounding inking!

I loved making this card, it brings together several elements and a technique that are favourites with me.

Elaine

Beautiful Butterfly

I made this card some time back using the Papermania Beautiful range which includes several nature themed papers, stamps and embossing folders. This is an 8 x 8 inch card.

The postcard and script are embossed with folders and inked to highlight. The stamped butterfly was coloured with coloured pencils and then covered with glossy accents, as was the clock. I finished off with some punched and inked leaves.

Thanks for popping by.

Elaine