Steampunk Flying Easel

I'm muscling in on Team B's challenge this week as I love Steampunk! It's been very popular in recent times, but for those of you who don't know about it, the definition is:

"A genre of science fiction that typically features steam-powered machinery rather than advanced technology."

Our sponsors this week are:

I have chosen 'Kidz Hot Air Balloon' from Bugaboo Stamps as these are seen a lot in Steampunk art. 

Jodie, the designer of Bugaboo Stamps has this to say about the image: "I drew this image after my little girl who loves balloons and daydreaming =)

she has cerebral palsy and her walking isnt so great so in this image she can go anywhere she dreams of =)"

This is my first flying easel card, which I wanted to try after seeing many on Pinterest. I'd never thought about only die-cutting half a shape before, but it's not too bad once you get everything lined up properly. 

I've used the following materials:

• Papermania Kraft card blank, patterned paper, postcard and brads
• Acetate butterflies from Inkylicious
• Ribbon and glitter glue from my stash
• Metal cogs from MDF Man
• ProMarkers - Cool Grey 2, 3 & 4, Tea Green, Mint Green, Pine, Burnt Sienna, Cocoa, Caramel, Sandstone, Raw Sienna, Mustard, Tulip Yellow, Buttercup, Satin, Dusky Pink & Rose Pink

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

1. 613 Avenue Create - #69 Anything Goes

2. Brown Sugar Challenge - #91 Anything Goes

3. Challenges 4 Everybody - #40 Anything Goes

4. Craftitude - #63 Anything Goes

5. Crafty Catz - #228 Anything Goes

6. Crafty Girls - #16 Anything Goes

7. Crafty Hands - #13 Travel

8. Creative Knockouts - #34 Anything Goes

9. Glitter n Sparkle - #82 Add some ribbon

10. I Love ProMarkers - Not Quite Straight

11. Scrapping 4 Fun - #15 Use a Stamp/Digistamp

12. Simply Steampunk Challenges - Anything Goes

13. Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything Goes

14. That Craft Place - Anything Goes

Gothic Shadow Box

Hello and welcome to some more DT inspiration.  This week at The Crafter's Cafe Challenge Blog our theme is 'Add Glitter' and our wonderful sponsor is

I have chosen the image 'Skull With Roses' as I really love this type of art and wanted to use something different. 

Rick has to say about this image: "It's an image that I have done in various ways many times-life and death or new life and death I think are common themes in western art.For some reason skulls and roses seem to be linked often - maybe it's the influence of the Dia de Muerte designs from Mexico?

I think this design also has it's beginnings in Tattoo art."

It is such a striking image, I wanted to make more than just a card.  I've never made a shadow box before, so my husband giving me some chocolates gave me the perfect excuse to try one!

I've used the following materials:

• Chocolate box
• Black tissue paper, white card, ribbon and glitter glue from my stash
• Core'dinations Glitter Silk card
• Pearls from Crafty Devils
• X-Cut Scalloped Circle die and circle die
• Sizzix Dies Love Set #3
• ProMarkers - Satin, Pastel Beige, Sandstone, Caramel, Burnt Sienna, Cocoa, Lipstick Red, Berry Red, Crimson, Tea Green, Mint Green & Pine

I would like to enter this shadow box into the following challenges:

1. ABC Challenge - Just As You Like

2. Card Makin Mamas - CMM85 Earth Friendly

3. Challenges 4 Everybody - #40 Anything Goes

4. Crafty Catz - #227 B is for... box, bling, brown

5. Crafty Girls - #16 Anything Goes

6. Crafty Hands - #12 Anything Goes

7. Hiding In My Craft Room - #146 Flowers

8. Just B Creative Crazy - April Just Because (anything goes)

9. Pile It On - #16 No Designer Paper

10. Scrapping 4 Fun - #15 Use a Stamp/Digistamp

11. Totally Gorjuss - #232 Die Cuts/Punches

Sweet Springtime

It's already April and our theme over at The Crafter's Cafe Challenge Blog this week is 'Spring'.
Our sponsors are:

I have chosen 'Sun Shade' from Dr.Digis, as it looks like an umbrella and we have had some April showers here at the moment!

I've used the following materials :

• Anita's card blank
• Dovecraft twine
• Papercrafter patterned paper, embellishments and sentiment

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

1. 613 Avenue Create - #66 Anything Goes/Spring

2. Artistic Inspirations - #86 Easter Animal/Anything Goes

3. Crafty Catz - #225 Springtime

4. Creative Card Crew - #59 Spring

5. Papertake Challenge - Spring has Sprung

6. Sister Act - #51 Anything Goes

Steampunk Attitude

I'm still really loving Steampunk and KennyK has some wonderful Steampunk Burlesque images, which I've just started to use.  This one is called 'Scarlett West'. She has such attitude about her, which gave me the inspiration for the sentiment.

I have used the following materials :

• Papermania card, gems, Chronology patterned paper and Urban stamp 'Cogs'
• Lace from Hobbycraft
• Pearls and eyelets from my stash
• Black gel pen
• Ink It Up! pigment ink, gold & silver duo
• Cosmic Shimmer Ultra Thick Embossing Crystals 'Clear'
• ProMarkers - Cool Grey 2, 3 & 4, Black, Arctic Blue, Sky Blue, Cyan, Ruby, Crimson, Cardinal, Oatmeal, Soft Peach, Sunkissed Pink, Pastel Beige, Caramel, Cocoa, Burnt Sienna

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

1. 613 Avenue Create - #65 Anything Goes

2. Artistic Inspirations - #85 Anything Goes/Easter Colours

3. Allsorts - #253 No Flowers

4. Card Makin Mamas - CMM84 Buttons, Bits & Baubles

5. Craftitude - #62 Anything Goes/Corrugated Card

6. Crafty Girls - #15 Anything Goes

7. Cute Card Thursday - #315 All Boy

8. Divas By Design - Anything Goes/Birthday Blog Hop

9. Kenny K's Krafty Krew - Anything Goes w/twist pastel colours

10. Papertake Challenge - Anything Goes

11. Simply Steampunk Challenges - Anything Goes

12. Sister Act Card Challenge - #51 Anything Goes

13. Suzy bee's Bloomin Challenge - #23 Anything Goes

14. The Crafting Cafe - One For The Boys

Bottle Tag

After a successful craft market at the weekend,  I decided to create a new product especially for the next one.
KennyK's wonderful image 'Happy Hour' gave me an idea to create gift tags for wine bottles.  I think these are a great way to present a bottle as they can be personalised and altered in so many ways.  I've even seen some on Pinterest which have a pocket for a little bar of chocolate!

I have used the following materials :

• Papermania card, ribbon, brad, metal flower and stamp
• Sizzix embossing folder, dots
• X-Cut circle die-cutter
• Gold glitter pen
• ProMarkers - Oatmeal, Soft Peach, Blossom, Pink Carnation, Fuschia, Arctic Blue, Cobalt Blue, Forest Green, Pastel Beige, Caramel, Cocoa, Burnt Sienna

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

1. 613 Avenue Create - #65 Anything Goes

2. Artistic Inspirations - #85 Anything Goes/Easter Colours

3. Craftitude - #61 Anything Goes/Add a brad or eyelet

4. Crafty Catz - #224 Anything Goes

5. Crafty Girls - #15 Anything Goes

6. Divas by Design - Anything Goes

7. Kenny K's Krafty Krew - Anything Goes w/twist pastel colours

8. Papertake Weekly Challenge - Anything Goes

Wembley Craft Market

On Mother's Day I attended World Women Wembley's first craft market of the year. I was a little skeptical after my first one last year being so disappointing, but this one was much closer to home.
It did start rather slow but I then had a customer who bought 4 cards, which made me happier. After that it was very slow again, but right towards the end I made lots of sales.
I think it was definitely worth doing. It was nice to get out and meet some new people, as well as making some money to fund my new ProMarker habit!

The event was covered by Get West London, which was great publicity. There will now be a market held on the last Sunday of each month. 

If you are in the Wembley area and would like more details, please check out www.worldwomenwembley.com