THE LAST MAKES FOR OCTOBER.....

Seventeen fabulous entries at the moment in the October CI Challenge -  view them all HERE!  Still a couple of days to go before close of play though, so best be quick....

I still have some inspirational makes left to show you from The Team, including a step by step from Gio (who is also our October 'leader'), so I had better show them to you before its just too late.

This is Gio's make...

... which is a rather fun idea - adding a card to the back of a shadow box - a present and card all in one!

Gio picked this box up on her travels, but if you can't find one the same you could maybe substitute it for one of our little wooden compartment trays?!

Here are her step by steps in words, then in photos...

-Stamp the image on white silk paper using CI-420 'Christmas Postage Stamps'
-Cut out the stamped image and colour the little stamps using Distress Inks and a little paintbrush
-Paint the wooden shadow box with copper acrylic paint
-Rub it with Treasure Gold
-Cut to size some book pages and glue them to the shadow box
-Glue the mini stamps to the shadow box
-Cut to same size of the shadow box a white cardstock and fold it in half
-Stamp the lady from the CI-421 'A Christmas Delivery' on the cardstock
-Lay the 'Magic Roundabout' mask and sponge Red Barn Distress ink through it on the left side of the card and colour around the stamped image
-Colour the stamped image with Gelatos using a small paintbrush
-Spread Sparkle Medium through the 'Beautiful Border' mask along the bottom of the card
-Glue the card to the back of the shadow box

And here are two more of her sweet little decorated bottles..

Plus two more colourful cards from Gio...

... the first features an 'Alice' stamp CI-381, and the second our little angel from CI-396.

Helen has made great use of the multi stamps from CI-420 again, in the form of cute little Christmas ornaments...

 
...and Sylvie has created a very festive make from the same stamp set too...

I love how she created a double swirl/flourish using our Elegant Swirl Die - great idea!

Now I have another Halloween make by Sylvie - a creepy box!!

Sylvie has used the crowned bird from CI-378 and some gold corner charms to decorate her box (or coffin maybe?) 

Lynne has made two adorable Christmas cards using the stamps from CI-420 individually - lovely!

My final make for tonight is one just received from Brenda - she's called it Santa's Stable (CI-396) - it is a freestanding picture card, and very lovely it is too!

So pleased you could join me today in viewing the lovely makes above.

Jean x


 

LESS THAN A WEEK LEFT TO GO......

Better get your entries in to the CI Challenge (which you will find HERE) super duper quick!  Thank you for all the comments on our last post featuring Coco's makes - much appreciated.  And because there is less than a week to go I had better show you some more inspiration quickly too, before I also run out of days in October!

To begin I have two lovely Daniele style cards, the first in celebration of Christmas.....

This features a festive stamp CI-421 and little Monty Moodle.  Love the colours Daniele has used here.

And the second in celebration of Halloween - rather clever - a Halloween ball perhaps?!

Stamps include CI-339 and CI-346,  also rather liking the black lace from CI-350.

Brenda has made a really nice festive framed image with CI-421.....

Then moving swiftly back to the theme of Halloween I have a fabulous creepy make by Laury....

Loving this - great use of the MDF cogs (so very popular), and stamps -all to be found HERE, HERE and HERE.

Effie has made a spooky tag.....

Cool hat on that kooky bird from CI-378!

And Helen has gone quite birdy mad herself with makes using the freaky birds from CI-349 and CI-361...

My final makes for tonight are beautifully composed by lovely Lynne....

....and feature two of the Alice Palace stamps CI-375 and CI-400.

I hope you have found the display tonight inspiring?!  Will have to return very soon with the rest of the October Challenge makes, including a step by step by Gio.

Extra hour in bed tonight in the UK - yipee!

Bye for now,

Jean x

COCO'S TOWER OF DOOM?!......

...Seemed like a good title for this post because tonight I want to show you an amazing Halloween tower make by clever Coco, plus some of her other especially spooky makes, all made to support our current October Challenge.  Quote from the lady herself about her fabulous tower - 'every piece was entirely heat-embossed. I used greyboard, folded it to get a dimensional box and tower, and put sticky canvas all around each piece with strong glue at the edges. I played with a lot of embossing powders, masks, crackling, inks...'  
With such a fantastically fabulous result, I'm sure you will agree?!....

...Wow loving the crackle on that crow!  Coco has featured CI-249, and CI-361 on her make as well as masses of imagination! You can read how she went about making her very original 'Tower of Doom' on her blog HERE.

Coco also created a cracking complementary board plus a brilliant box (to contain mini bottles, bones and vials - of course)...

CI-360 was additionally used for the box.

You are particularly lucky tonight as now I have another superb make by Coco to show you, featuring the same stamps, and which I also absolutely adore too....

The script to the sides is from CI-406.  What a simply stunning display of creative work!  Many, many thanks Coco.  Please leave a comment of support if you can.

Back soon,

Jean x

CARRYING ON WITH HALLOWEEN AND CHRISTMAS INSPIRATION......

We had a great show at Port Sunlight. It was very busy indeed and great to see so many familiar faces - such a nice show that one - lovely organisers and always friendly visitors as well.  Thank you for all your support everyone, it is very much appreciated!

I have a nice big file of the team's makes for the ongoing October Challenge - but only one entry so far on the Challenge page, so come on in and join us with your link soon!

Here are some more inspirational images from the team..

Firstly from Effie is this little festive beauty, complete with 'snow'...

Effie has used a new stamp CI-420 in making this.

Daniele has used the same stamp to make a beautiful Christmas card....

And I have used the same stamp again, but in a much simpler style of make (in the hope I can repeat lots quickly - probably in December knowing me!)....

Plus I have another using CI-421 in a very similar simple style (having a bit of a love affair with doilies at the moment).  Both have glitter added but you can't really see that in the photo....

The snowflakes are by Tando and you will find them Here.

And another two cards here by Laury - again showing how the same stamps can be used in so many very different and lovely ways....

Laury has also decorated a gift box for Christmas in a fabulous colour scheme - very striking....

This box features CI-142 and CI-258, some of our earlier stamps - lovely to revisit the earlier ones!

Also to remind you that the Challenge is about Halloween as well as Christmas I have a couple of freaky makes - first one was cleverly made by Ginger....

 

.... and features CI-354, a clock face, plus CI-360, and CI-361.  Followed by this scenic spooky make by Brenda.....

Well I certainly hope you are all very inspired now to have a go, so watch this space...

Finally just a quick mention that both Helen and I have projects in the latest issue of Craft Stamper.  Here is a little taster of mine (however the photo in the mag looks a little darker than this)..

Thanks for joining me tonight.

Back soon,

Jean x