Shine Bright and Create: October 2024

Monday, 28 October 2024

Halloween Projects

I have a few little Halloween projects to share but haven't got around to writing a blog post on them.

I have decorated a little coffin shaped box along with some coasters. I came across a box of pale pink clover leaf coasters in a charity shop for 50p, they looked like they hadn't been out of their box and were just what I needed for a project like this.

I started out by painting my little coffin shaped box from The Works, with a thin coat of white gesso. I also did the same with the coasters.

On the Inside of the box, I decided to use some Art Alchemy Sparks paint in Night Shadow. This velvety rich paint goes a long way. These paints come in many colours, but I think some shades can be hard to find as new ones come out.

My images are from the Watercolour Witches digital download collection by Magik Graphics. I love this collection! They are not currently trading, but I am sure that they will be back at some point.

These images have been printed using my Epson Ecotank inkjet printer and I have used the Craft Master rice paper which I would recommend, especially if you are using an inkjet printer. I purchased my rice paper a while ago through an offer on Create & Craft but I know that you can purchase it directly from Highlight Crafts.

They recommend a stencil spray to adhere the rice paper to a sheet of A4 copier paper so that it will pass through your printer but I had a can of Crafters Companion Stick & Spray in my craft stash which does the job equally well when used lightly.

I used a decoupage transparent mixed media glue/medium, from Stamperia to seal my images to the coasters and the box.

To add texture along the side of my box, I used a little sand texture paste from Pretty Gets Gritty and then I painted over the top with some black gesso.

Finally, I added some clear lacquer to seal my projects and give them a nice gloss. I also edged the little coffin box with some gold wax. I intend to use this as a little jewellery box for my dressing table.

I have a few more coasters to finish off but I'm really pleased with how they have turned out.

Have a great week, whatever you have planned for yourself.

Happy Crafting

Challenges

A place to start - AG - Rising Star

cupcake inspirations -purple/black

Dream Valley - AG

Crafting Happiness - Bats

Love those pretty papers - Halloween

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers - Halloween

We love to Create - AMM

Creative Knockouts - Halloween

Crafts Galore - AG

CD Sunday Plus - AG Winner

Kims Conjour of Dreams - Witch wisdom - DT Favourite

Monday, 7 October 2024

Aqualicious Florals Birthday Card

I'm sharing a 6 x 6 inch birthday card today which I have been made using the gorgeous Ultimate Aqualicious Florals Cardmaking and Papercrafting digital download Kit from Opulence by Design Crafts.

Along with the 6 x6 white card base I used the John Next Door 6 x 6 inch Deco Frame Maker die set from his Frame Maker collection , which I based my card around. This is a fantastic die collection.

The Ultimate Aqualicious Florals Cardmaking and Papercrafting digital download kit contains 40 PDF pages - this one is another bumper kit with a great selection of shaped toppers, decoupage, panels, floral numbers, inserts etc, and the papers are just beautiful. Do have a look for yourself.

I chose the papers that I was going to use for my card, along with an insert for the inside of my card and changed my mind on the flowers which needed to be bigger and not reduced. There are a very good selection of flowers in this kit so I really didn't need to adjust anything to fit my project.

I also decided not to use my hydrangea die as I found it easier to cut out the hydrangeas from Amanda's papers and decoupage a few of the flower buds on top, rather than phaf about with tiny bits that come out of the die....some end up on the floor and the others end up like a jigsaw that never look the right way around....

To create some dimension under the hydrangea, I just added a few foam pads. I cut out about 3 of these hydrangeas and just slotted them together, using the roses to nestle them in, hiding any edges. I also added Diamond Sparkles Stickles glitter glue to the centre of the buds.

I have also die cut a set of John Next Door's Shadow Leaves with some of the paper left over from one of the kits. I keep a folder with my left over pieces of paper from my download kits as these are really hand for die cutting your flower and floliage. These leaf dies have a lovely embossed detail on them but unfortunately it doesn't show up in the picture. I added few die cut stems as fillers too and then added more Stickles glitter glue.

I have added my insert to coordinate with the front of the card

I made an 1/2 inch dimensional envelope using my Crafters Companion envelope maker board which came with my Ultimate Pro. I have had this for so many years and still use it all the time for scoring and box making.

I didn't add a sentiment to the front of my card as I didn't feel there was a place for it and apart from added a little shimmer to the edges of the petals (which unfortunately doesn't show up in the picture) using my clear glitter overlay brush pen along with edging the toppers with a Sakura stardust pen, my card is finished.

If you are interested in more inspiration and demos from Opulence by Design, you can follow her on Youtube

opulencebydesign - YouTube

or Instagram Opulence ByDesigns

These were the hydrangeas in my garden this summer, hopefully they will flourish a little better next year.

Have a great day, whatever you have planned for yourself.

Happy Crafting

Challenges:

613 Ave Create - lots of leaves - Top Rocker

CD Sunday Plus - AG

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - AG

Allsorts -AG

Crafty Calendar - AG

Creative Fingers - AG

Wednesday, 2 October 2024

Pink Orchid Get Well Card WOYWW

I'm Sharing a 6 x 6 inch get well card today that I made using the Cymbidium Pink Orchid Arrangement Topper Sheet from Opulence by Design Crafts.

I'm linking to the weekly blog hop for 'What's on my workdesk Wednesday' (WOYWW), where we all see what everyone has been doing. If you'd like to know more about it, please visit Sarahscraftshed.co.uk. This week marks their 800th week.

On my desk is everything that I collected to make my card. As I do not have a craft room and I find it too heavy to keep moving my die-cut machines around, I find it easier to cut what I need upstairs and then bring what I have done in a folder down to where I am crafting.

I used John Next Door's Celtic Frame Maker die set (5 3/4 Frame Maker). John's products can be purchased directly from The Art of Craft. He designs some gorgeous collections at a very good price range.

I also used the free digital download paper from Opulence by Design Crafts Watercolour Wonders Lemon & Strawberry Cheesecake Wash as I thought it would go perfectly with these beautiful orchids on the topper sheet.

The green colour block paper has also come from one of the collections along with the pastel pink layer, I used for the base of the frame. (this was from the Ice Queen Poppy Collection)

To embellish I used a few of the variegated Ivy Leaves from Opulence by Design Crafts

and a few twiggy stems from one of my Tattered Lace collections that have been die-cut in pink cardstock.

I thought these Orchids were just beautiful when I saw them and the delicate Celtic frame dies would be the perfect die set to arrange my card around.

To create my floral embellishments, I used the orchids from the same topper sheet as they were exactly what I needed, along with some foliage. I also used yellow Stickles glitter glue in the middle of my blooms with a Sakura clear glaze pen.

There was a selection of sentiments on the base of the Topper Sheet to coordinate with your project or keep for another one.

The ivy leaves are a very handy foliage to add to your project and I find it quite easy to fussy cut Amanda's flora and foliage. There are quite a few free downloads on her website too and the papers certainly come in handy when you can add them to a project like this.

If you are interested in more inspiration and demos from Opulence by Design, you can follow her on Youtube

opulencebydesign - YouTube

or Instagram Opulence ByDesigns

I have also managed to finish off my Autumnal wreath. These are all the lovely banners and embellishments that I printed off.

Shabby Art Boutique have some fabulous downloadable printable crafts that you can subscribe to and then download for free. They are ideal for your journals, scrapbooking etc..