Guest Designer at Frilly and Funkie!

Hello Friends

I am over the moon thrilled to be Guest Designer over at Frilly & Funkie Challenge Blog, after being chosen as Design Team Favourite for the Most Memorable Gift Challenge.

The current challenge is being hosted by the super talented Zoe who has chosen the theme of 'All You Need Is Love' .  Zoe says 'Create a vintage or shabby chic project with the word 'LOVE' somewhere on the project.  It can be the focus or just a tiny detail'.

Here is what I created for my guest piece:

I created a small 6" x 6" canvas.  I apologise that I did not do a step by step but I was busy preparing samples to take to Creativation (more of that another time) and I wanted to get this completed before I went and just ran out of time....  I will explain though, how I created the canvas.

1.  Paint the canvas with white acrylic paint (or you could use gesso)
2.  Apply a crackle medium - I used Weathered Wood Crackle Medium
3.  Once dry, apply Tim Holtz Broken China Distress Paint
4.  Gently scrape away small sections of the crackle and apply a covering of Viva Decor Rusty Paper, randomly, and wiping some off here and there (the corners are lighter) and leaving some heavier in places to give the appearance of natural rust.
5.  Die cut a heart from red card, apply two coats of clear Embossing Powder and then a final coat of red Embossing Powder.
6.  Whilst the third coat is still hot, ink up a patterned (red rubber) stamp with Black Archival ink and apply this to the embossed heart.  Leave a moment or two to cool and then remove the stamp.

7.  Cut a small red heart, give this three coats of clear Embossing Powder, ink up the 'love' word stamp with Black Archival ink and press this into the heart.
8.  Take a Tim Holtz Idea-ology pocket watch, line it with some music design paper, add the embossed small heart and some die cut flowers.
9.  Attach the watch to the canvas over some messy thread (a tip picked up from the lovely Tracy Evans).
10.  Stamp the 'love' sentiment onto tissue paper with Black Archival ink, and once dry attach this to the canvas with Distress Collage Medium.

I just love the sentiment, it is a Visible Image stamp, with quite distressed wording, and I think it works well with Zoe's love theme!

Thank you again to Linda Coughlin and the Frilly and Funkie team for having me as Guest Designer, it has been a real privilege!

Thanks too, for your visit, I hope to see you again soon, maybe even tomorrow!!

Hugs, Anne xx

Secret Santa at Anything But Cute

Hello Friends

Is there anything nicer for a crafter, than getting a handmade gift from a crafty friend at Christmas?!

This year at Anything But Cute we decided to do a Secret Santa and I got to make a gift
for the uber talented Pamellia of  My Little Craft Things. So, what to make for such a talented crafter?  It had to be a 3D project using one of Eileen Hull's fabulous dies!  I used the Cantilever Sewing Box die to make Pamellia a little box to store some of her crafty bits and bobs.  I am happy to report that Pamellia loved her gift....

I added a flower to the top using Tim Holtz's fabulous Poinsettia die.  The flower is removable so that the box will look a little less Christmassy....

The box opens up and there are lots of little compartments to store crafty things.

I used some beautiful Maja Design papers for the inside and outside of the box.  The struts and insides of the trays are painted with IndigoBlu English Cottage Acrylic paint - Grandma's Teacup, it matched the papers so beautifully.

I also made a tag and included one of Tim Holtz's Idea-ology watches, decorated inside with the words 'Remember the Now'.  The little knobs on the top of the box are also from the Tim Holtz Idea-ology range.

Finally, I sent Pamellia quite a simple card.  Those who know Pamellia well will know how much love she has for the neighbourhood woodland creatures, particularly the squirrels.  When I saw this delightful image I knew it just had to go on Pamellia's card and I wanted it to be the centre of attention.

I was so lucky to receive my gift from my lovely and talented friend, Sara Emily of  Sara's Closet.  Here is a sneak peek of what Sara sent me, you will never guess what it is!

 I hope you will find the time to go over THERE and have a look, it is quite exquisite.  About a year or so ago Sara did a tag with a similar technique and I lusted after it for ages, the tag has been shared over a 1,000 times on Pinterest, so I think a lot of others were lusting after it too!  Sara, I LOVE MY GORGEOUS GIFT, it will be so incredibly useful, particularly over Christmas!

It has been such a pleasure participating in the Secret Santa with my lovely teamies at Anything But Cute this year!  It has been great fun ladies!!  We are taking a little break during December at Anything But Cute but we will be back with our Winners Post on 12th December and with a new challenge in January!

I am adding this to Country View Challenges where the challenge theme is - Christmas
I am also adding my little sewing box to Simon Says Monday Challenge where the challenge theme is Christmas Gifts.

Thank you for looking, hope to see you again soon.

Big hugs,  Anne xxx