Steampunk Christmas Tree by Guest Designer Catherine

Hello Crafter's

This week we have Guest Designer Catherine on board to show you her fantastic makes with the October Steampunk goodie box.
I've been crafting for about 12 years on and off but obsessively for about 6 years.  About 4 years ago I started dabbling in mixed media and now can't seem to do anything without getting six hundred things out to add to my creations. I still love clean and simple but increasingly my artwork is become more layered and textured and paint is replacing ink more often now. I love my creative time where I can explore colour, texture and pretty things!

CHRISTMAS TREE CANVAS

Hello all... Catherine here from Inkyfingeredcat. I have a Christmas tree canvas that I made using the fabulous steampunk goodies in this months box.  

I started with a canvas board and added papers, some of the bingo cards and tissue paper from the packaging to coat the base. 

I then added paints in yellows and oranges to blend them together. 

Next I added some of the Bistre powder and water to darken down the background.  I've never used bistre before so must admit it was nice to try it out even if at this point the effect wasn't quite what I wanted.

Next I set about cutting up papers to make the tree shape.  I was inspired by some folk art trees I had seen and wanted it to look quite abstract knowing I was going to then construct the embellishments on top to ''dress" the tree. 

So by the time I took this picture I had managed to put together the trunk from the zip, some tinsel and trim with the ribbon and string and a few embellishments.  I had also added some shading with Inktense pencils.  I had also decided blue was the contrast colour to use and stapled the pieces together with some blue staples.  I had also decided to let the tree stand out more I needed to add some cream paint around the edge of the tree to balance it a bit more. 

Now the really fun bit adding loads more embellishments.

 I used the fabulous metal cogs and the gorgeous blue gems to continue to dress the tree. I also added some blue mica to the wooden cogs and some glass glitter ... after all a Christmas tree needs bling! 

I also added more bistre to the edge and some more Inktense pencil shading to ensure it was all defined.  I finished off with a little bit of the pearlescent paint flicked across the whole canvas to give some lovely flecks glimmer.

Really pleased with how this turned out and at how I have barely made a dent in the Goodie box... which means plenty more projects to be made! 

Catherine x

Wow, what a fantasic and creative project, thank you Catherine. If you love this then check out Catherine's blog https://catiecuddles.wordpress.com

Thanks for looking and please leave a nice comment 

Jules xx

Butterfly Tag by Linda

Hello Crafter's

We have made it to the weekend again, hope you all have a good one!!

Linda is back with a fab butterfly tag.

Sadly this is Linda's last post for Artful days, I am sure you will agree she has given some great inspiration on how to craft with your boxes

Using a piece of the A5 botanical papers from Craft Emotions I covered a tag. I distressed around the tag with DI walnut stain.

 I then stapled the butterfly burlap wired ribbon to the top of the tag.

To decorate the tag I used the following element: wooden butterfly was added to the edge of the ribbon.  I then used the pink spiders web, maple leave, 3 mulberry flowers and adhered one of the bird embellishments inside the flower.  To finish off I added 3 of the stick pins.

Linda's blog -  http://lindasimpsoncraftypieceofheaven.wordpress.com

So a big thanks to Linda for all her hard work in designing with the box. 

The October box is out now available to but whilst stocks last, www.artfuldays.co.uk 

Thanks for visiting and I hope you can leave a nice comment.

Jules xx

Box Card by Linda

Hello Crafter's 

Linda is back with a box card using the Goodie from September's box. 

 I first created the box using pearlescent card and made a card wrap which folds over the box.

 I used this beautiful paper which is from Craft Emotions A5 Botanical papers.

I cut down a piece of the cream hammered card to fit inside the box. I distressed with DI bundle sage and used a couple of stencils from my stash and stencilled through them with DI forest moss. I then cut out the fence using one of my die and adhered to the outside of the box. I then decorated the background with the birds, butterfly and roses. The butterfly trail I used the gold micro beads.

To finish off the front of the box card I added the metal butterfly charm and 4 pearl flat back gems.

Linda's blogs 

http://lindasimpsoncraftypieceofheaven.blogspot.com

http://lindasimpsoncraftypeiceofheaven.wordpress.com

Love the trial of micro beads from the butterfly

Thanks for visiting and hope you can leave a nice comment.

Jules xx

Mini sea tin by Chris

Hello, well its been a very wet day here, just drying off now and enjoying Chris's post. 

Hi everyone, Chris here again with my second project for the August Goodie box: At The Sea! I had such fun making this little tin collage. I love making mini art and the contents of this month's Goodie box is full to the brim of products that are a dream to work with at this scale! 

This started life as a Caran D'Ache Neocolours crayon tin. I have lots of these crayons so I've moved them into a jar on my craft table. 

For this project I sorted, cut and assembled all the bits and pieces I wanted to use before committing to anything. This involved 'fussy cutting' into some of the gorgeous Graphic 45 papers (12 generous 6" X 6" sheets) included this month, to create a focal image and accompanying text. There are lots of words and delicious phrases all about the sea on quite a few of the papers. Wonderful. I also created some paper bunting and a wavy 'fringe' to represent the sea with the handy piece of denim in the free pack!! The only item I've added is some pretty vintage lace which I had in my stash. 

Don't you just love that cute lighthouse? I definitely didn't want to paint it but I did need to create some light emanating from it. So where did I start? 

I cut into a couple of the Graphic 45 sheets to fit each side of the tin (these papers are so beautiful) darkening the edges with Archival ink first. I made sure that all the edges of each collage piece was carefully inked before sticking down. It is definitely worth doing albeit time consuming and fiddly! It was then a case of gluing down all the collage items in various layers. 

I do love the little picture cards included this month. I have no idea where Julie finds all of these products but they all complement the theme so well. How great to have everything sorted for you. I love it! Now for further additions...

I cut a strip from the piece of denim, then shaped the top in a wave-like pattern. I made little folds to correlate with the top of each wave and stapled along the bottom to hold each little fold. I was so pleased with the result. A couple of little triangles cut from some of the off-cuts created the illusion of light. Now for the focal image. I do love this: a typical, quirky, Graphic 45 image. Takes a bit of time cutting it out but worth it, I think. 

As you can see, I've added a couple more of the sentiments, a bit of ephemera and coloured in the light on the lighthouse with archival ink in 'Dandelion'. I also inked the edges of the lighthouse before adhering it to the page. Now I just needed to add some shells, gems, sequins and ephemera to bling it all up and complete the 'beach' theme. Great fun.

I do love the string of little blue beads, and the cute sailing ship. I absolutely adore that sun! The photo doesn't do it justice. It has a beautiful Amber gemstone in the middle which catches the light! Too gorgeous to use really! As you can see, you also get a very generous amount of shells in various sizes. I do hope you like my little collage. It is sitting proudly on a bureau in my dining room catching the sun all afternoon! I have a few more step by steps on my blog if you're interested, but I think you get the idea of just what you can make with this month's fabulous selection. 
Until next time, enjoy your crafting!

Chris's blog - http://loopsandlines.blogspot.co.uk/

Wow, this is stunning Chris, I love the light coming from the lighthouse, such inspiration :)

www.artfuldays.co.uk

Thanks for visiting and hope you can leave a nice comment. 

Thanks 

Jules xx

Beach Hut Canvas by Chris

Hello Crafter's 

Chris is on the blog tonight with her Beach Hut canvas.   

Hi everyone, Chris Cresswell (aka artmadnana) here with my first project from this month's gorgeous Goody box: At the Sea! I thought last month's contents were scrumptious but this month's has me salivating! Absolutely loads to play with. Now, as soon as I combed through the delicious items my first project just leapt at me. Once I found the little canvas, I knew I wanted to make a layout of beach huts!

I started by painting the canvas with a blue chalk paint from PaperArtsy. It's an opaque paint so only needed one coat. 

I chose this colour to closely resemble the colour of the tissue paper that Julie wraps the box and items in as I wanted to use this for the background. I cut one of the large sheets Julie includes into four pieces, then scrunched them up tightly before laying them out flat again. Using matte medium I then adhered three of the cut pieces to the canvas, squishing each layer to create various ridges for added texture. 

I then smeared 'Forget-me-not' Archival ink over the surface, catching the ridges, once it had dried. This varied the colours slightly, hoping to create a watery sea-like background. Now to add a beach! This was made by just cutting a strip off one of the yellow/orange Graphic 45 paper sheets included in this month's box, and edged with archival ink in 'Dandelion'. 

I then took some of the burlap/jute from the box to cut and fray a strip long enough to cover the yellow strip of card. I attached this with matte medium. A sticky affair! Beach complete. Now I needed to make a template for my beach huts to ensure they would all be the same size. Why are we all so in love with beach huts??

Now the fun part! Cutting out and gluing beach huts from the gorgeous choice of Graphic 45 papers included this month. You get twelve 6" X 6" sheets to choose from and they are all wonderful. I added little doors and some bunting too. 

Cute aren't they? Julie has included generous lengths of different colour string this time. The turquoise was perfect for the bunting but slightly too thick. So I untangled the strands and just glued the flags onto one strand. Perfect. The colours in the papers are just delicious. Now, all that was needed to complete this summer scene was to choose from the multitude of shells, gems, charms and other ephemera to bring the beach to life. And I still have so much left to make several more items yet! Hope you like it! There are more photos on my blog if you want to pop over! 

Chris's blog - http://loopsandlines.blogspot.co.uk/

Thanks Chris, I love this canvas and the huts are super cute, especially with the little doors.

We have just 8 boxes left, so if you would like one please click here

Thanks for visiting and hope you can leave a nice comment. 

Thanks 

Jules xx

Tag by Linda

Hello Crafter's 

Linda is back tonight with a sea themed tag.

Tag 

First I used Pebeo modelling paste through Tim Holtz sun ray stencil.  Once this was dry I then distressed with DI squeezed lemonade and then peacock feathers.

 I then took one of the ephemera card and attached at an angle onto the tag, I then added the silver sentiment charm and a few of the gems which look like tiny shells.

On the bottom of the tag I layered up some hessian, a strip of denim and added another of the shells.  Using 3 of the flowers arrange them around the shell and inside the shell, snuggling the small glass bottle inbetween.  On the other side I then adhered a couple of buttons, ephemera shells, gems, a large shell and the silver star fish charm.

To finish off I added some of the little sequins, gems and small shells around the tag. I then cut two pieces of the twine in jade and rust threaded the fish charm and threaded through the hole at the top.

Linda's blogs 

http://lindasimpsoncraftypieceofheaven.blogspot.com

http://lindasimpsoncraftypeiceofheaven.wordpress.com

Fantastic Tag, loving the stencilling, really sets off the embellishments from the box. 

Thanks for visiting and hope you can leave a nice comment. 

Thanks 

Jules xx

Easel Card by Linda

Evening all, hope you are all well. 

Linda is up on the blog tonight with a sea themed Easel card using the August Goodie box.

Easel Card

For the base of the card I have matted and layered turquoise pearlescent card and two of the Graphic 45 "Beneath the Sea" papers.  Before adhering to base card I have wrapped turquoise twin and threaded one of the starfish charms, this will add as the stopper for the easel.

For the easel part of the card I have again matted and layered turquoise pearlescent card and another 2 of the papers from Graphic 45 "beneath the sea". You can see that the charm works brilliantly as the stopper.

I then broke one of the lollipop sticks to create a sign, I then wrote using Micron pen "by the Sea" and added one of the small seashells.

In this corner I have added some hessian, threaded rust coloured twine through the octopus charm, added the sea shells and button. The blue beads I have adhered inside one of the shells and draped down to rest in another shell with tiny shells inside. I filled the small glass bottle with glitter.

To finish off I cut out the quote from one of the papers.

Linda's blogs 

http://lindasimpsoncraftypieceofheaven.blogspot.com

http://lindasimpsoncraftypeiceofheaven.wordpress.com

Great piece Linda, love the shells upside down :)

If you would like to create something similar we still have a few boxes available on the website.

Hope you like Linda's work and can leave a nice comment. 

Jules xx