MDF transformed by our Zoe :D

Hello there,

A quick pop in today to share an MDF make that one of our twin's, Zoe, built covered and sealed herself.

Zoe (almost 16!  how did that happen!) has just set off for her 2nd residential as a part of the National Citizenship Service, which is a fabulous opportunity for her and we are so proud that she grabbed the chance to so it.  BUT she was away all last week on an outward bounds adventure, home for the weekend and she's off again till Friday!  One week was bad enough for a Mummy, let alone 2!  I'm sure many of you will know exactly how I feel lol  But at least she has wi-fi and a signal this week so I can stalk her and make sure she isn't being eaten by some big monster or other irrational invention of the Mummy brain!

So, back to her make...a while ago I ordered one of the totally gorgeous MDF Remote/Phone holders from That Craft Place and gave it to Zoe to make as a way of getting her to relax during her exams.  She loves altered art and transforming stuff so these MDF makes are just the right thing for her.  Lisa Horton designs the most amazing laser cut projects that are such high quality and fit together so well that once you buy one, trust me you are hooked!

Here is what Zoe did with it....

Everything she used is available at That Craft Place who you really must check out.  Their web address for the bricks and mortor shop is www.thatcraftplace.co.uk

Materials:
My Minds Eye Chalkboard 12x12 paper pad, MDF laser cut Remote/Phone Holder, Black Gesso, Paint brush, Matt Medium and Gloss Medium by decoart - that's it apart from scissors!

To make it, she thought ahead (which I have got to say never occured to me lol) and drew around the MDF parts on scrap paper BEFORE she put it together and painted it black!  There's a top TIP, as she then had a template for the papers she used to cover it!  doh!  One of the many many reasons I love her so much lol

Another TOP TIP (mine this time lol) was to make sure she sanded the edges of the paper at a 45 degree angle to finish the paper edges.  This doesn't only make it look better and adds a little distressed effect but it also helps the paper bond to the MDF and completes the seal (reduces peeling later).

Here's some more pics:

Thank you so much for stopping by and taking a peek at Zoe's project and if you would like to leave her a comment she would love to hear your thoughts :D

Crafty Hugs

Sandie and Zoe xxx

Challenges entered on Zoe's behalf:
http://lilpatchofcraftyfriends.blogspot.co.uk/ 14
http://a-step-in-the-darkness.blogspot.co.uk/ 25
http://inspirationdestinationchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/AG-no-42.html 42
http://simplypapercraftsforalloccassions.blogspot.co.uk/ 9
http://creativefingerschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/ 87
http://craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.co.uk/ July

Anything But A Card over at That Craft Place...

Hello again,

Over at That Craft Place Challenge the theme this fortnight is No Cards!  A theme that used to fill me with dread, but I think the uber talent of my design team must be rubbing off coz I don't shake anymore...I just panic a little lol

So here it is, my design team inspiration for No Cards!

I used 3 of the Creative Expressions Betty Stamp Sets to make this altered cube into a paperweight!

One sentiment from the stamp sets...

Pic shows the base of the paperweight!

I was super pleased with how this came out I can tell you and it is actually one of the samples I made for the Creative Expressions Stamp Launch at Stitches Trade Show earlier in the year but wasn't allowed to share at the time.

There are 8 Creative Expressions Betty Stamp Sets to choose from and ALL are available at That Craft Place (or any Creative Expressions stockist).
Don't forget that other Betty Stamps can be found at That Craft Place Etsy Shop in digital format along with the fabulous Sugar and Spice digital stamps.

Here's the what's for this one:
The base is a wooden block (mine measured 2" square and was one letter in a LOVE block set I had for years, possibly from Dunhelms lol) but its the size of a toddlers block so any block will work.
The block is painted with Pinflair Buff it, watered down a little and painted on, and then I melted Metal Magic and Shabby Green Frantage on the corners and down some of the edges.  Really there is no rules to this, just make it different!
I coloured 3 of the stamps up with Copics and stamped one of the sentiments.  All were cut down to a little under 2" square and I rounded the corners with scissors as it was too small for a corner punch.
I used gloss medium to stick them on (its super sticky) and the stuck a cheap plastic draw knob to the top and flat backed pearls to the bottom for feet!
Add a little cord to the top and then gloss the whole thing to seal the colours and paper together, it also makes the colours pop!
All the supplies used can be found at That Craft Place FB group or from their actual shop shop which can be found via the new gorgeous Website.... http://www.thatcraftplace.co.uk/

Here's a couple more pics...

I was so honoured to work with Lisa Ditzie Horton on the launch samples for the Creative Expressions Betty Stamp sets launch along with the design team and I will share some more of my samples soon :D

That Craft Place Challenge starts now and so get your thinking caps on and enter the No Cards challenge.

Happy Crafting :D

Sandie xxx

Challenges:
http://toptiptuesday.blogspot.co.uk/ three images
http://www.addictedtostamps-challenge.blogspot.com.au/ 141 ag
http://ema-ginationstation.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/AG-30.html 30 ag
http://artbymiranchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/ 30 ag
http://avenue613.blogspot.co.uk/ 121 ag
http://buckwellscraftychallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/buckwells-crafty-challenge-colour.html April colour palette in my images

Betty Boot's New Release...number 1!

Hello again,

Wow!  What a new release for our Betty Boots!  You must must must check out That Craft Place Etsy Shop to see all the gorgeousness but we also have showcase posts by the design team to show off all the new designs.  This is the first of two showcase posts (but I am showing off two more designs with my challenge posts today to keep you busy!  So four, yes 4, post from me today! phew!

So, on with number 1...

Whisper Betty mounted onto a paper mache heart with fridge magnet attached

Fussy cut with a border to add definition between Betty and the background

Isn't she just lush!

Here's the what and hows:
Image: New release, Whisper Betty from the Betty Boots collection from That Craft Place Etsy shop, also available at these links:
That Craft Place - shop full of lush crafting goodies
http://thatcraftplaceblog.blogspot.co.uk/ - Challenge Blog 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/271008489659989/ TCP Facebook Shop!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/184329015068367/ TCP Natter & and Chatter FB group
Other stuff!: 
The backing is primed canvas, I drew around the heart and then cut and trimmed to size.  I coloured the background with Brusho paints by wetting the canvas and then sprinkling the Brusho powder in tiny amounts onto the wet canvas.  The colour spreads and mixes to give a vibrant backing.
The canvas is adhered using gloss medium (from That Craft Place) and then I stamped Betty Boots in black Archival ink.  
I then adhered Whisper Betty using the same gloss medium (lazy lol) and then coated the whole thing with the gloss medium.  The edges are covered in Cosmic Shimmer gilding wax and then also covered in the medium.  I did put on two coats to protect it.
The flowers are die cut from old book pages and then covered in Cosmic Shimmer mica powders after soaking them first!  Dried using the heat gun (no patience lol) and then I added rolled paper flowers to the centre.  The pearl finished off the flowers.
The heart and the butterfly are punched from the left over canvas after cutting out the heart (hate waste lol)) and then layered up to give them dimension.
Final touches of pins and charms and there you go :D

Here's the close ups:

The layers of the butterfly really show the texture of the canvas, its why I chose to use it

Great pic to show the texture 

Once placed the flowers, hear and butterfly were also sealed with the Gloss Medium

Brusho's give such a vibrancy

Whisper Betty

I left the brush strokes when sealing with the Gloss Medium to add texture, and its quicker lol

They will kill me but here it is on the fridge!  The pic is of my twins, about 3 yrs ago!!! They're 15 now lol

  Thank you so much for stopping by and please don't forget to check out the main blog for the rest of the teams new release makes, they really are uber talented :D
Here's the links again:

That Craft Place Challenge Blog

http://thatcraftplaceblog.blogspot.co.uk/

Don't forget...this is 1 of 4 posts today!  Press home and then scroll down and up to check out the others :D

Happy Crafting :D

Sandie xxx

Challenges:
Lil patch of crafty friends - #5AG
Glitter and Sparkle - #126 AG
Not Just Cards - #13 AG
Tuesday Throwdown #233 AG
Inspiration destination - #22 AG
Creative Fingers - #69 AG
Scribble and Scrap - #39 AG
613 Ave Create - #113 AG