Steampunkin' Under The Sea at Faery Ink

I am over on the Faery Ink Blog today to show off a brand new image that I turned into an underwater canvas. 'Steampunk Mermaid Destiny' will be on sale price for a week, so grab her now!! All info and links here.

I am entering my canvas into the following challenges:

1. The Crafter's Cafe - #218 Make Own Background/Dies or Punches
2. Creative Fingers - #163 ATG
3. I ♥ ProMarkers - #383 ATG
4. Classic Design Team - #4 ATG
5. Crafting By Designs - Girls
6. Crafts Galore Encore - #63 ATG
7. Crafty Catz - #461 ATG/Female
8. Pammie's Inky Pinkies - #1918 ATG

Love Letters at Ching-Chou Kuik

It's week 2 of our challenge and inspiration at Ching-Chou Kuik so why not come and join us?  The theme this month is EASTER/SPRING and you can enter here. 

You can also join in with the challenges over on our Facebook Group here. 

For the DT inspiration this week we were challenged to use a nursery rhyme or a song.  I have chosen 'Love Letters' by Elvis Presley to make a card using 'Far Away Messages'. ('Love Letters In The Sand' as sung by various artists also works well for this image).

Products used:

• Papermania cardstock
• Shell and foliage dies
• Tonic Tim Holtz paper distresser
• ProMarkers - Burnt Sienna, Caramel, Sandstone, Pastel Beige, Walnut, French Navy, Black, Aegean, Dusky Pink, Putty, Almond, Bright Orange, Pumpkin, Gold, Sunflower, Burnt Orange, Spice, Peach, Holly, Marine, Turquoise, Lush Green, Raw Sienna, Mustard, Coral, Sunkissed Pink, Cocoa, Vanilla, Tan, Cinnamon, Mint Green, Tulip, Orchid, Amethyst, Fuchsia, China Blue, Amber, Arctic Blue & Cobalt

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Cut It Up - #143 Digitally Yours
2. The Corrosive Challenge - #3 Anything Goes
3. Creative Moments - #138 Anything Goes
4. Crafty Creations - #362 Anything Goes
5. Colour Crazy - WK10 Anything Goes

September Challenge at Crafts Galore Encore

Well hello there fellow crafters. It's been a long summer, but almost time for the kiddoes to go back to school. 

This month at Crafts Galore Encore we are sponsored by the wonderful Fabrika Fantasy

I am quite into ocean themes and mermaids right now, but as I'm always colouring people and skin I wanted to use something without.  'Sea Necklace' was my perfect choice, and I can combine with mermaids another time!

Product list:

• Kraft card
• Tonic Tim Holtz paper distresser
• Anita's 3D Gloss
• Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Stormy Sky
• ProMarkers - Burnt Orange, Spice, Ginger, Blush, Coral, Pastel Pink, Dusky Pink, Almond, Antique Pink, Sunkissed Pink, Caramel, Sandstone, Vanilla, Midnight Blue, China Blue, Cobalt, Amber, Sunflower, Tulip, Cinnamon, Satin, Bright Green, Leaf Green, Meadow Green, Warm Grey 1-3, Khaki, Pastel Beige & Moss

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. A Bit More Time To Craft - #51 Anything Goes
2. CCC Digi Creations - #80 No Patterned Papers
3. Crafty Catz - #382 Anything Goes
4. Crafty Gals Corner - #138 Anything Goes
5. Simon Says Wednesday - Anything Goes

Koi Wonders at Ching-Chou Kuik

We're nearing the end of another challenge at Ching-Chou Kuik's blog.  There's still time for you to add your wonderful creations, so pop on over.

It's Anything Goes for this week's inspiration so I have used the wonderful image 'The Koi' (she is part of a set) to create my sea-themed card.

Product list:

• Kraft card blank
• Cheesecloth
• Shells
• Flowers
• ProMarkers - Midnight, Denim, Blue Pearl, Powder Blue, Indigo, Holly, Lush Green, Leaf Green, Burnt Orange, Pumpkin, Amber, Bright Orange, Mango, Cool Grey 1 & 2, Turquoise, Duck Egg, Cool Aqua, Dusky Pink, Sunkissed Pink & Pastel Pink
• Wink of Stella, clear

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. I ♥ ProMarkers - #341 Summer
2. Classic Design Team - #16 Anything Goes
3. A Bit More Time To Craft - #50 Anything Goes
4. Crafty Creations - #348 Anything Goes
5. Creative Moments - #125 Anything Goes

Sea of Wonders

Now I'm starting to get some more sea-themed embellishments, I couldn't resist another mermaid card (no tail on this one though!) and an excuse to colour up another gorgeous Aurora Wings image.

Product list:

• Cream cardstock
• Graphic 45 Voyage Beneath The Sea patterned papers, Ephemera card and chipboard embellishment
• Shell ribbon
• Cheesecloth
• Starfish
• Eyelet Outlet brad
• Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Inks - Dried Marigold & Stormy Sky
• X-Cut circle nesting dies
• Aurora Wings 'Whisper of the Sea' digistamp
• ProMarkers - Burnt Sienna, Cinnamon, Tan, Dusky Pink, Almond, French Navy, Aegean, Sky Blue, Shale, Crimson, Berry, Lipstick, Holly, Lush Green, Mint Green, Black, Cool Grey 5, Warm Grey 4&5, Blue Pearl, Powder Blue Midnight Blue, China Blue & Cardinal

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Stamps by Aurora Wings (FB) - Sketch
2. Stamps by Aurora Wings - The Elements (water)
3. Lemon Shortbread - #47 Anything Goes
4. Your Scrapbook Place - August Anything Goes
5. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - August Anything Goes
6. Come and Get It - Time To Die (die cuts)

Mermaid in a Vase

Well I've already shown you the card I made for my friend's 50th birthday, so today I will show you her present.  We'd been talking a while ago and I said I really wanted to make a mermaid in a jar, so that's what I did! 
I didn't want anything too cutesy, so chose to use 'Pin Up Mermaid' by JadeDragonne.  She's absolutely perfect for this project, sitting in her shell.  It was quite fiddly adding all the glass beads for bubbles. I couldn't get the invisible thread to knot big enough, so had to glue them in the end! 
I'm so happy with how this project turned out. It's just what I had in my mind.

Product list:

• Glass vase
• Course stone granules
• Shells
• Plastic foliage
• Glass beads
• Cheesecloth
• Starfish
• ProMarkers - Burnt Sienna, Cinnamon, Tan, Dusky Pink, Almond, Cardinal, Ruby, Lipstick, Black, Aegean, Duck Egg, Cool Grey 5, Burgundy, Antique Pink, Pale Pink, Saffron, Blush, Satin, Slate, Violet, Lavender, Caramel, Sandstone, Vanilla & Cool Aqua
• Sakura Gelly Roll, White

I am entering my mermaid into the following challenges:

1. Passion for ProMarkers - WK406 Fun in the Sun
2. Morgan's ArtWorld - #15 Anything Goes
3. Brown Sugar - #261 Anything Goes
4. World Wide Open Design Team - #24 Anything Goes
5. The Crafty Addicts - #39 Anything Goes/Girly

A Dark Undercurrent Shadow Box

Do you ever see an image you just have to have?  I felt like that with the Aurora Wings image 'A Dark Undercurrent'.  I love darker images and skulls, oh and mermaids! 

I got her coloured up then wasn't sure what I was going to do with her.  Decided I wanted to keep her for myself though, so I've made a shadow box.  I found a template on Pinterest and worked my measurements from that.  I had to trim the image down a bit and not place it centrally, so not to lose too much. Having printed and coloured before deciding on a shadow box, I realised the box would be a little too small. I have used 12x12 card though which is the largest I have!! I think it still looks good though and I've only lost a little bit of her tail. 
Product list:

• Papermania cardstock
• Collall Tacky Glue
• Shells & sand (Michaels)
• Gems
• Acetate (Cuttlebug)
• Distress Inks - Stormy Sky, Forest Moss & Dusty Concord
• ProMarkers - Warm Grey 1-3, Coral, Sunkissed Pink, Dusky Pink, Midnight, Denim, Powder, Cardinal, Lipstick, Indigo, French Navy, Cobalt, Raw Sienna, Tulip, Canary, Forest, Apple, Pine, Cinnamon, Caramel, Sandstone, Satin, Turquoise & Cyan
• Wink of Stella Clear

The image coloured up

Of course I had to use some glitter!

The shadow box cut out

Image glued into the box, and the box assembled

Sand, shells and gems placed into the box and an acetate window glued on (Oops, I forgot to photograph at this stage, so this is a close-up after hanging instead!)

Outer frame measured and cut, then Distress Inks blended on and sprayed with water

And finally the finished piece

I am entering my frame into the following challenges:

1. I ♥ ProMarkers - #333 AG
2. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - #56 AG
3. Morgan's Artworld - #8 AG
4. Pile it On - #129 Interactive and/or Birthday
5. Simon Says Monday - Splash It On
6. World Wide Open Design Team - #21 AG
7. Cupcake Inspirations - CIC403 Mythical
8. Aurora Wings - #48 AG
9. CCC Digi Creations - #71 Add Some Glitter
10. Ching-Chou Kuik Blog - April Under The Sea
11. Crafty Awesomeness - April AG
12. Crafty Catz - #367 AG
13. Crafty Creations - #339 AG
14. Creative Fingers - #128 AG

Mermaid Friendship

I am one of those guilty of having many images that I haven't used yet.  You win some then you win some more, but you have birthday cards and Christmas cards and DT cards to make and before you know it month's have gone by!

I really fancied making a shaker card, so decided to use the beautiful 'Lilies Commitment' from Ching-Chou Kuik that I won a while ago.  Lilies are my favourite flower and I thought this image would work well as a friendship card. 

I started by colouring the image and fussy-cutting, then decided on a 5x7 card which I made from 350gsm white cardstock.  I cut a slightly smaller piece of dark blue GlitterSilk card to serve as the front of the shaker.  I positioned my image and sentiment to decide where to die cut a circle for the shaker portion. Once the circle was cut I placed it over the card base and pencilled in where it would be.  I coloured the base card with a matching ProMarker to serve as a background for the shaker window. 

I then glued a circle of acetate to the window and added 3D foam tape around all the edges.   I put all my sequins and pearls within the coloured portion of the base card before adhering the window card.  

I finished off by attaching the image and sentiment, plus some silver net and shells.

Product list:

• White cardstock
• Dark Blue Core'dinations GlitterSilk
• X-Cut circle die
• 3D foam tape
• Cuttlebug acetate
• Silver net
• Pearls
• Sequins (Walmart)
• Shells (Michaels)
• ProMarkers - Burnt Sienna, Coral, Sunkissed Pink, Blush, Burgundy, Mango, Soft Peach, Pine, Apple, Pumpkin, Amber, Olive, Pear, Black, Ginger, Saffron, Oatmeal, Mint, Tea Green, Sky Blue, Arctic Blue & Powder Blue

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - #56 AG
2. Pile It On - #129 Interactive and/or Birthday
3. Work It Wednesday - March AG Spring
4. The Crafter's Cafe Challenge Blog - #171 Easter and/or Spring
5. TTCRD - AG WK 18th April
6. World Wide Open Design Team - #21 AG
7. Ching-Chou Kuik Blog - April Under The Sea
8. Crafting By Designs - Girls or Flowers
9. A Perfect Time To Craft - #4 AG
10. CCC Digi Creations - #71 Add Some Glitter
11. Ching-Chou Kuik Facebook - April Spring is in the Air