Tuesday 30 April 2013

UPDATE ON THE APRIL CHALLENGE, PLUS USING THE NEW DIES AND STAMPS...

We now have 30 superb entries into the April Challenge with just 1 1/2 days to go to link in your entries.  The subject for this Challenge was chosen by Gio and is 'Spring in Fashion' - perfect for the lovely sunny day we have here in the UK today!  Have a look at the entries so far, and treat yourself to a little blog hop HERE.   Don't forget that you are entitled to a 25% discount on our website at www.craftyindividuals.co.uk just for entering - so do email us for your discount code valid for a few days yet.

We released some new stamps and 3 new dies recently.  Daniele, Helen and Lucy have had fun using the new stamps ..



Daniel's card is soooo pretty and uses the new Summertime stamp CI-386.  And Helen and Lucy have both gone for Linda's new stamp design Summer Garden CI-385 to adorn their projects - beautifully...




As mentioned we also released 3 new dies at the same time ...


And I have made a few quickie cards using them - you will find the new dies on our site HERE ...




In all these cards I have used a suitable 'nesting' die to cut an aperture in my card, and then I have used a strip of acetate down the centre of the aperture to hold the die cut or stamped image in place as my focal point - so it kind of 'floats'.  Very effective and easy!  This is a card made in a similar way with our Gilded Cage Die.  I cut the birdcage twice - once in our background papers and once in a plain darker card.  I glued the two die cuts together - but slightly offset, to give a 'shadow' effect.  I then cut extra 'branches' using the same die, and curved these separately around the aperture as you can see.  Add a few pearls and it makes a very pretty card.


My final crafty image for today is another by lovely Lucy.  Lucy has used our new elements stamp Plain Sewing on a hessian background to create this great piece ..


She has also incorporated one of our little wooden trays on the project, which are so very useful for making small shadowboxes with sweet pretties inside - and what's more still only 99p!

As you know we now have a little 'Moodle' puppy, who is just adorable.  As his hair was growing ever longer we took him to the doggy beauty parlour recently, where he had over an hour's hands on beautifying.  So our little 'Boris' went in like this (Malcolm spotted the similarity!):


And came out like this (and smelling beautiful too)!



He was quite happy to pose for the camera - just as long as was necessary (with a doggy treat at the end of course)!

Bye for now, back soon,

Jean x

13 comments:

Sam & Poppy said...

Love samples ladies. Just my opinion but I think Monty Moodle might just be the most handsome dog around!

Redanne said...

Those new stamps are really beautiful and all the samples are wonderful! The show was stolen by your gorgeous little puppy though.....

bolletjelucky.blogspot.com said...

Everything looks nice and pretty and your dog stole my heart too,hihi,greetings Miranda

Craftyfield said...

Clean and simple lovely style... (the dog not the cards !)

Marianne said...

Oh my Love your puppy!! Your cards too :-))
xxx Marianne

ionabunny said...

30 entries, that's quite a blog hop but there are some beauties there so time well spent. Love the shadow birdcage. Simple but effective. May have to borrow that idea. Must remember to get an order in now I have my scrummy discount code! Hee hee

Netty said...

loving all the fab examples and your lovely pooch is growing so fast, methinks he is very much loved.....xx

rachel said...

stunning work - and I forgot all about that code - just received an order from you today - beautiful goodies - thankyou - put that one down to experience!! Hugs x

Valerie-Jael said...

Lovely samples, but Boris definitely steals the show! Valerie

Words and Pictures said...

Beautiful inspiration, but I'm afraid it's another piece of upstaging by Boris - how adorable!!
Alison x

barbara macaskill said...

Boris is going to have all the little girl doggies stopping by to visit! I bet those eyes and that beautiful smile will get them every time!

Sid said...

Fantastic art and love the doggy !!

Craftychris said...

ooh your puppy is gorgeous! So are the projects and the new stamps xx