Flora and Fauna in Frame ~ Scrapkopilka

Hi there! I'm back again with another craft project and this is a re-purpose made, something that I have saved for some years in  the waste not want not bin. They are mostly my treasure and too hard to be part with for sentimental value reason I think {smile}. 

For this project, I altered a frame that was once a lamp on my living room wall. Back in August 2011, my children and I painted the walls and I took down the lamp. It's been there for some five years ever since we moved into this cottage (erm, it's just an ordinary house but I love to call it as cottage because of my love for the wonderful cottages in England). Unfortunately I noticed some crack so I thought it's best to replace with a new one. Luckily we had bought two same lamps but kept the other in a box since other walls are fixed with different lamp designs.

So this is what I came out with:

Supplies: patterned papers (Making Memories, Tim Holtz Idea-logy), Tim Holtz distress ink, Kaisercraft stamps & wooden flourish, butterflies from sticker sheet backing, buttons, lace and blooms  

Previously I took part in Scrapkopilka Joint Venture "Spring Planner" Stage 1 and this is Stage 2: Make a frame / garland / pillow + MA - cloth / tape. 

I remember the frame so decided to decorate it with spring in mind.

...Before and After...

The actual frame of the lamp was in dark brown...

 then I spray painted with white at my lawn and leave it under the sun to dry.

 Once dried, I measured a super thick cardboard to fill in the empty frame. Thank you Lili {my sister} for the cardboard. I really like its durability yet it took me a while to chop it off with cutting knife because of its thickness...left me some sweat! I used PVA glue to adhere the two together and leave it to dry.

 Tada...and its ready for decoration...how fun is that! 

 Some blooms are store bought, some are from Lili, some are from my children's broken hair ornaments so I figured I gather them all in one place and create a garden scene. I find the blooms are very colorful so decided to leave the lamp post as it is for natural balance. I think this frame of flora and fauna will look nice in my mother's living room {{{love you Mom}}}. 

I am very pleased with the end result and so looking forward to make another project for Stage 3. Hop on to Scrapkopilka for more great challenges. 

I would also like to partake in these challenges:

1. A Random Fan : Anything Goes (1/5)

2. Craft My Life : Anything But A Card (2nd entry)

3. Bunny Zoe's Crafts : Distress

4. Crafting From The Heart : Always Anything Goes

5. Craft Your Passion : Up In The Air / Things That Can Fly

6. Created With Love : In The Garden (1/3)

7. Just b Creative Crazy : April's Just Because Linky Party (3rd entry)

8. Little Scrap Pieces : Show It Off Saturday Linky Party

9. My Sheri Crafts : In Celebration of Moms

10. Jo's Scrap Shack : Fun-Day Friday Challenge "I Love You Mom"

11. Brown Sugar Challenge : Anything Goes

12. Creative Moments : Anything Goes / Spring

13. Challenges 4 Everybody : Anything Goes (2/3)

14. Crafty Calendar : Things With Wings

Thanks so much for dropping by. I value your visit and come back soon.

Hugs and smiles.

Art Journal for DS4J New Digi Release & Tutorial

 Hi everyone! I am happy to share my humble piece of art work with you today. This double art journal spread use hot from the oven digi images. Yes that's right! DigiStamps4Joy has just released new images in the shop this day. This time I decided to do fuzzy cut and if you feel the same too, you can click here to get Flower Frame image the one I used for this project. 

I have also included a step by step tutorial on how I made this art journal. I suggest you have a cuppa by your side as you read this lengthy post.

 Supplies: DS4J digi image (Flower Frame), Elit watercolor, Faber Castell watercolor pencils, Tattered Angel glimmer mist, drywall fiber tape, patterned paper scraps, Kaisercraft acrylic stamp, Versafine ink pad, baby wipes, Artline permanent black pen, bottle cap, home made mod podge, gesso, modeling paste, sequins, gems and sentiment from Ginger's House 

 I made window frame for interest and 3D look.

Here's sharing my step by step tutorial:

This is the third art journal spread in the book and to prevent it from getting so bulky, I removed some pages and save for other projects. I placed the printed digi to mark the page for window frame.

My thanks goes to my daughter Anis who patiently come forward every time I call for help to demonstrate so I can snap pictures {smile}. Slowly cut the frame off the drawn line so you will end up with a slighty bigger frame.

Remove the access for further use.

Start adhering scraps of patterned papers randomly...

and applied a light gesso over the pages.

Thiis is always my favorite part where I love splattering some paints and spritz water to let them run over the gesso. I use baby wipes if I find some parts are too overly colored. I glimmer mist the pages as well and keep on doing until I feel satisfied.

I must have taken 10 pages for the window frame so here's adhering every pages with home made mod podge (equal parts of PVC glue and water mixed together and kept in a bottle).

A black piece of paper is placed for backing on the next page and adhered together with the window framed pages.

Fuzzy cut...patience is so much needed!

Used baby wipe for re-purpose.

Erm, I still can't avoid perfectionism in me so I cut off the access for neatness...hihi.

Coloring often reminds me of my kindergarten days. So much fun!

Behind the scene...teeheehee...can you spot a plate of fried noodle? It was kinda hard to stop when I am focusing but I did stop for a while to feed my poor stomach...{smile}. It's my favorite food and made the dish before I started this project or should I say I should eat first before I started this project...oh well.

Moving on to these challenges to try my luck:

1. 613 Avenue : Anything Goes

2. Addicted To Stamps : Thing With Wings

3. Challenges 4 Everybody : Anything Goes (1/3)

4. Dream Valley : Say It With Words (1/3)

5. Scribble and Scrap : Always Anything Goes

6. Digi Galore : Anything But A Card

7. Crafting At The Weekend : First Challenge Anything Goes (1/3)

8. Card Makin' Mamas : Earth Friendly (I recycle an old encyclopedia to make an art journal book)

9. Docerela Creations : Anything Goes

10. Crafts 4 Eternity : Use Up Some Scraps

11. A Random Fan : Anything Goes (2/5)

I hope you have enjoyed my artistic journey this time. I know I will have another fun project coming up next so stay tune.

I highly appreciate your visit today and I will do my best to come see your creations as time goes by.

Thank you and big hugs,

"Favorite Song" and DigiStamps4Joy New Digi Release

Hi there and wish you a happy Saturday! It's that time again we at DigiStamps4Joy brings you seven new digi images today and some inspirations by the design team can be viewed at the blog and more lovely digital images in the shop.

I have made a center step card with I've Got Talent. Click here to get her. I have also added a 3D Flower that I cut into half and tuck in under the foamed layers. Click here for the digi flower.

Supplies: DS4J digi image, Copic Sketch, patterned paper, Tim Holtz distress ink pad, Versafine ink pad, Kaisercraft border stamp, sentiment from Ginger's House

I  have stamped the edges of the card for interest and distress it as well. Distressing and layering are some of my favorite techniques.

Once again I'm entering these challenges and wish me luck {smile}:
1. Craftitude : Anything Goes or Spring/Easter (1/3)
2. Scrapping 4 Fun : Use A Stamp/Digi Image
3. STAMPlorations : Stamps & Your Favorite Technique (2/3)

Thank you so much for your visit today. That simply makes my day brighter.

Hugs and smiles,

Guest Designer and Cantilever Box

Hi there! I am happy to be given the honor by Creative Knockouts a Guest Designer spot this week for their Anything Goes challenge. {{{Thank You}}}

DigiStamps4Joy is happily sponsoring the challenge at the Creative Knockouts running from 24-30 April 2014. 

This is my creation Cantilever Boxes for some inspirations and they are made with unconditional love for my two elder girls. This will be their lovely keepsake I'm sure. Already Anis is loving her red box while 'Alyaa will get to see hers when she comes home next Thursday. 

Supplies: patterned papers (Basic Grey, Moxxi and Foof-A-La), golden brads (from Taiwan), colorful brads (Basic Grey), distress ink pad (Tim Holtz and Memory) and cardstocks

"Joyfully You" and DS4J Mid-Challenge Reminder

Hi my friends and welcome to my new follower and friendly friend Marta aka Maremi SmallArt who always respond immediately to my chat via Facebook {smile}. I came to know Marta through her amazing scrapbooking pages and creations in several blog challenges and that takes me to visiting her blog some time back. Last month I requested for friendship on Facebook and our new found friendship took off from there. If you live in Ireland and planning for a party where face painting is included, contact Marta who does beautiful face painting as well. 

On to a challenge topic, I bring you today a reminder for a fortnight challenge hosted by my fellow teammate Alex for DigiStamps4Joy. Alex wants you to make any paper creations for Easter/Spring. I tried to envisage the beauty of spring in some other parts of the world because where I am, the flowers bloom all year round. Here's my card:

Supplies: DS4J digi image, Copic Sketch, Carla Craft punches, Tim Holtz distress ink pad, sentiment from Ginger's House, Kaisercraft stamps and others from my stash

The image I colored is Misteri with Dancing Shoes. Click here to get her.

 Once again I'm trying my luck in these challenges:

1. Robyn's Fetish : Square Card
2. Bearly Mine : Spring
3. Card Galore : Include your favorite color (mine is RED)
4. Copic Markers Spain : Flowers
5. Digi Galore : Flowers
6. Crafty Hazelnut : Anything Goes
7. Imagination Crafts : Anything Goes
8. Flat Friends : Include A Sentiment
9. Doodle Pantry : Any Digi Goes
10. Lady Bug Crafts : Here Comes Spring
11. Just B Creative Crazy : Linky Party Anything Goes

Thank you for your visit today and may you enjoy the beauty of spring!

Have nice moments always.

Hugs and smiles,

Guest Designer and "I feel so Blessed"!

Hi everyone! I am fortunate to be given the opportunity by Doris Te to be Guest Designer for Crafting By Designs for their April Anything Goes Challenge. 
{{{{Thank you Doris}}}.

It has taken me many moons to make something special for one of my girls and I've been meaning to make a mini album as time goes by {chuckle}. I have some collection "hoarding" ready made albums from ordinary papers to paper bags to light chipboard waiting for decoration but I seem to find no time to give them some make up! But when I found a hidden hinge mini album tutorial on You Tube way back in February, I knew I  had to do it. I just can't resist the temptation and finally on this day I can showcase my work after a serious one day full of concentration work. 
This album consists of six pages and the size is 6.5" by 6.5" made from cardstocks. The cover measures 7" by 7" made from thick sturdy chipboard. Oh boy, I sure did have a hard time cutting the super heavy chipboard with precision knife yet hard work pays off {chuckle}.

Top and bottom views.

This hidden hinge album is easy to make. I have referred to a You Tube tutorial for better understanding on how to make the hidden hinge binding system.

The instructions on the making process by Super Happy Scrapper is excellent.

I love quotes and this is from Digistamps4Joy which you can get here.
I have used Kasiercraft Sweet Nothings Collection designed papers to cover the hard cover and punch some butterflies. My daughter wants simple front cover so I go for minimalist.

This was the starting point...

 
I had lots of fun making this album I plan to make another one in near future. I am still waiting for my daughter to pick her favorite designed papers so I can start decorating the pages. She finds it hard to believe I made this. Perhaps it looks like store bought {smile}.

Meanwhile, I am in the middle of finishing off another project. Please check back soon and see what I shall have in store for you.

I would love to take my mini album into these challenges:
1. Crafty Calendar : Things With Wings (1/3)
2. A Gem of A Challenge : Spring Is In The Air
3. Time 4 Scrap : Spring
4. Totally Gorjuss : Die Cuts / Punches
5. Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge : Frame It
6. A Creative Need : Signs of Spring (1/3)

Thank you for your visit, take care and have a nice day.

Hugs and smiles,