Hi everyone. Liz here to do the monthly Challenge winner's post. Congrats to all the everyone who entered our Spring challenge. We hoped you loved the new EASY upload of your project into the Gallery - and the way you could see the other entries throughout the month.

We hope you've been enjoying the beginning of Spring too. Yesterday we dug the garden over and added some compost and sheep manure. And today we're off to buy the seedlings. We love have a free supply of veges (NOT flowers!) and so hopefully the frosts have ended.

This month's prize has been generously donated by Kaisercraft. The winners will share in $100+ worth of prizes from the Butterfly Kisses collection (arriving instore this week).

Please make sure you look at all the entrants on the Gallery - and then keep reading below for how to win a prize simply by commenting on them. We loved looking at the variety of "Spring Fling" entries.

CONGRATULATIONS to:
First Time Entrant Winner is:
Kelly Hosken with this wonderful pot of colourful flowers. She says, "These little pots always bring a smile to the people I make them for.  They're nice and bright and cheerful and are quite cost efficient:  a couple of sheets of card stock makes a pot.  They don't need water and look cute on a windowsill."


Congrats Kelly and thanks for entering the challenge.

Sketch Winner

Yoko Houthuijzen with her Shine layout. We loved the way Yoko has selected the perfect papers and embellishments to compliment the photos. Congrats!



Thanks to Sketches in Thyme for supplying us with the sketch this month.

We also loved this great layout based on the sketch from Denise Spicer-Boyes. We'll send a little something your way too :-)





Over All Challenge Winner
Shiree Arnold! Look at the fun she's had with this layout. Here's what she wrote, " Living in Taupo means we get pretty cold winters, so I love it when spring arrives and it starts to warm up."
Thanks Shiree. We'd love to know what products you've used on this corrugated card masterpiece. It looks like a lot of fun!



Commenting Winner - will it be you?

This is a new category to encourage you to look at the projects submitted during the month and comment on them. You have until Friday midnight 7th October to be in the draw to win a prize.
Click here to see the projects in the Gallery.

Congratulations to all our winners. Please email the girls in the shop with your address details and let them know which category you won. They will send out the prizes next week: info@artfullcrafts.co.nz

Be watching here tomorrow for the next Challenge - and find out who is Centre Stage for October!

Hi there - Christine here with a Christmas set of 6 cards and a recycled box to put them in!
I have used papers from Kaisercraft's Turtle Dove 6x6 pad. I used my sewing machine to make a border. I have  added a tag and then used the Collectables in various places.  Each card has a MFT diecut scallop border from the red shiny paper, from the pad, to hide where the papers join!








I have then made this box for the set of cards to go in, as a set like this would be a neat gift.  The box is a Bell Tea box! A perfect size for fitting 6 cards & envelopes in.

I painted the box with Kaisercraft olive paint and then added paper to the top and edge. I used my Spellbinders Parisian Accents edge die to make the lacy edging.
The Happy Christmas ribbon is from  Artfull Crafts and the berries & leaves are from Kaisercrafts Twig & Berry collection.
Well I am off to have a cup of tea! 

TFL

Happy Creating!

Christine

Hi everyone, where has this week gone? Today we will be finishing off my Christmas Canvas.

The next stage is to add your paper to the inside of the canvas. The hardest part, is that while it is a 30x30 canvas that I have used, and the paper is 30x30cm, it will not fit inside the space available, so you need to trim it down until it is just wider than the space.  I have used Kaisercraft Turtle Dove Calling Birds page.  I was careful to make sure Santa was intact, but cut off the angel on the right hand side, because I wanted to use that later.  Because I had two sheets of this, I cut out a 2nd Santa and children, and inked around the edge with a brown distress ink.  Then I added foam dots on the back, and then layered it on top of the other image, to give dimension to the page.  As with the photo below, if the piece is two big, it will sag, and I find it best to add some cardboard to brace it through the middle, but I still use the foam around the edge. 

Time to really play! I started with some Twiddleybitz chipboard,  and I sprayed it with Glimmer mist, and then painted glimmer glam over parts of it.  When spraying with any sprays keep some gauze beside you, and wipe up the excess with it, then you have coloured ribbon to use later.
 I also sprayed some white roses
then i cleaned it up, with the gauze.


Then I painted some parts with glimmer glam, to give a sparkle, and glued it to the right hand side of the canvas. If you have some tulle on hand, then why not staple it on top? Then I decorated and added few other Twiddleybitz chipboard pieces.
I painted the top again with glimmer glam, and covered the bottom with left over paper (make sure you sand and ink the edges)and then add a little piece of gauze that has been cut up. Then I added the blue rose - after curling the stem. Wrap the stem around a pencil or something small, and then pull it off (Smooch bottles work well).
 



Then I decorated a little Twiddleybitz sleigh with paper, and distress stain, and some bling, some red roses, small leaves, and a little clock button, and a small metal bells that I had. 


Finally I added the angel that I had cut out earlier and I fitted it in behind the birds nests, and then I added another Twiddleybitz Dear Santa chipboard that  I painted with glimmer glam, and then added Kindy Glitz crystalina. Leave to dry!

I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial and are now keen to try one of your own!

Hi there
It is Vicki here to share some projects that I have created using Kaisercrafts gorgeous new range Twig and Berry
I am not sure what inspired me for this creation but with the christmas range in front of me I thought why not create an angel!
So I started with a coil of corrugated cardboard as the base and started dressing it up using Kaisercraft doilies along the way.
I added cones of patterned paper to form the dress of the angel and folded some pieces to provide detail on the dress.
I have used sew easy floss as lacing on the dress.
I only had a polystyrene ball on hand which I have used for the head. Not content with the look of the polystyrene I dipped the ball into Barnes Easycast Resin. I kept dipping the ball into the resin by using a thin needle as a handle. The end result is a kind of porcelin look which was perfect for my little angel.
For her halo I used a Kaisercraft album ring and wrapped it in cream lace before adding two rows of pearls from the pearl strips.
No angel would be complete without wings so I have used the flourishes on the Twig and Berry Sticker Sheet for the wings. I completed the angel by adorning her with Kaisercrafts pearl strips.

So here is my Twig and Berry angel:


While I was having fun using Twig and Berry I created this layout:
I loved playing with the easycast resin again to create some embellishments for the layout - and my favourite heart punch came in handy for the layered hearts.
As usual I found a little place to hide my journalling tag!
And with the leftovers from the creations above I created this card
I hope you like my creations! I would really love to see what you create so make sure you load your creations onto Artfull Crafts facebook page and share them with us.
:)
Vicki

Hi there
It is Vicki here sharing a couple of layouts I have made using the latest Artfull Crafts Sketch Kit - Buddy. These kits are fantastic value - I especially loved the teal colourings of the kit but how could you not just love the cogs, pearl strips, alpha stickers and word stickers which are included in the kit!


First up I have completed this layout of Natasja and her Dad.

Looking closer you can see that I have cut out some of the pattern from the Authentique - Loyal Paper - Brave to make these flowers and used some seam binding for the edges:
I love to hide my journalling so in this layout I have used the chain and coiled paper clips which are included in the kit to make the journalling space behind the chipboard square.
Now I know the journalling tag is blank at the moment but that is because I am leaving this journalling up to my husband to do. He reads the journalling I have done on some layouts and has said he wanted to write something so this is his chance!
To get you started on this layout I have created the following sketch:

With the rest of the kit I completed another layout using those cute little cogs.
Another of my favourite things in the kit were the gorgeous self adhesive alphas and words which I have used to create the journalling.

I added some chipboard alphas from my stash for the title.
To help you out here is a sketch of this layout:

So that is what I did with the kit. I would love to see what you create with this kit! Be sure to post it on the Artfull Crafts Facebook Page.

Don't forget to head to the store to purchase yours now. Strictly limited stocks.
:)
Vicki

EVENT ALERT!! MISS BETSY CARD CLASSES - here in Timaru! Saturday 13th October. Betsy Clark (from Kaisercraft workshop magazine fame) is going to run two of the classes that were sold out at SENZ. We know you've been waiting for this and we've organised it for a whole Saturday so our loyal out-of-town following can make it! Join Miss Betsy on Saturday October 13th - $40 each class (includes a pack of goodies worth more than $45). Do both classes and stay for pizza dinner and complete cards until 10pm. Bring basic kit. Book in NOW for this great day!
Class One: 10am - 1pm  Attitude Stepper Cards Kaiser's new Attitude range demands attention with its grungy masculine appeal. Betsy Clark (AKA Kaisercraft's Miss Betsy) will put you through your paces, teaching you a variety of "Stepper" cards. Be prepared to be "tortured" on many levels and expect to get your hands dirty with distress stains, alcohol markers, inks and more. As well as completing a few cards, you'll also head home with a pack filled with products to keep you creating for weeks to come. The men in your life will love you for it.
Class Two: 2pm - 5pm  Magnolia Grove Easel Cards You'll easel-ly love this class! Come prepared to create a very special Triple Heart Card (Betsy has permission from the owner of the template to teach it - from Cardmaking Paradise), a twisted easel masterpiece and more. You'll be playing with Kaisercraft's new Magnolia Grove collection, calico, tissue paper, distress stains, glimmer mists and other products that you might not think to use on cards. You'll leave the class with completed cards and inspiration sheets for more projects you can complete at home.

We look forward to seeing you for a fun, crafty day with Miss Besty.

Hi everyone
I seem to be on a Christmas roll at the moment, even though it is September.  But if you want to make your own Christmas decorations, or gifts, then you need to start early, especially if you are using products that are not always in your stash.
This next project was inspired by everyone asking me for information on my tree canvas that I had loaded in the Gallery.


So I am going to do a step by step through the products that I use to decorate my new christmas canvas.

Firstly I prefer the back of a canvas to the front, I love the fact that I have a built in shelf, that I can put three dimensional things into. This is a deep edged canvas.  I was going to show a picture of the finished project, but then I thought perhaps by not doing that yet, you will get some inpiration to make up one of your own. I have used a 12x12 canvas.

So firstly I use Gesso. You can use Modelling Paste as well if you have it. It is better, but it is more expensive. So use what you can afford.

I use a knife or something smooth, a credit card works well (I always find that I can't go shopping after doing that, so wouldn't recommend unless you have a new one!). Do it thick enough that you can't see the staples, and the ridge or any grooves in the back of the canvas. (I don't always want to cover the grooves, so the thickness is up to you). Sorry but now you have to let it dry around 12 hours - I just leave it overnight.  Don't try to dry it quicker with a hair dryer or heatgun. I have heard that if you dry the top, the bottom stays damp and it can grow mould and your project will not last very long.

Next day, we are up to the next stage.  This is a tricky one, if you want make it to dimensional, it is hard to stick things to it, so if you have modelling paste do not put it on to thick, if you are impatient and you don't have modelling paste you can use gesso again.  Lay a template over the canvas. I have used the Crafter's Workshop template snowflakes. (I do personally like the Crafter's Workshop ones, mostly because I have 20 odd designs but they are 30cm x 30cm so it tends to work well for scrapbooking).  But use whatever you prefer.

Spread gesso over the design around the edge, fill up the design, spread it smooth over the top, as below.

 Then very gently pick up the template from two corners at once.  
NOTE: Now I know you are tempted to wash this off now, but if you are a scrapbooker or art journal person, lay the stencil with the gesso side face down on some cardstock, and then rub with a brayer, or rolling pin gently, and the gesso will go onto the page, pull up the stencil, put the paper aside to dry and then later on you will have a page ready to spray or ink or well what ever you want for your next project.  You can wash your stencil now.  Yes now you have to let it dry again for 12 hours!

Believe it or not this is going to be quite a vintage look, but for some reason I decided to use a very bright blue paint, oh well, the brain wasn't really in gear.  But that's okay because now we really get to play with some more cool products.

I used the stencil again, and I worked out where it been originally, and I stencilled using silver paint, over the design, to get some snowflakes really showing up. I used a dauber as the design was quite hard to get into.  Now that we are brighter than ever, it's crackle medium time.

You cannot be thrifty with crackle medium so pretend you are spreading peanut butter or jam onto toast, (quite thick). Spread it all over the blue paint, then leave it to dry overnight.  No trying to hurry it - it doesn't like it at all.

Now that has taken that bright blue away a bit, and I love it, but.... we want layers and layers. Layers are important just like in scrapbooking or cardmaking.

Glimmer mist was next, but I often use distress stain to do the same trick. I find that it adds a really awesome look quickly, I have used a brown and an aged brick, not too red, but enough to help drop that colour down, especially in the cracks.  This dries really quickly,so  use a heatgun very carefully if required (hair dryer works fine). 
Next I used distress ink and rubbed all the edges and then again over the top of the whole canvas. Then I rubbed some versamark ink over parts of the canvas, and tipped on some distress embossing powder, then use a soft paintbrush to gently move it around, and then tip off the excess. 

Heat set the embossing powder, with a heat gun.  Do not use a hairdryer it will not work!


Finally I used a sealer, to ensure that it doesn't flake if it gets knocked, and if those pesky summer flies land on it, then it is able to be wiped.  Sorry it was a bit glossy and the photo was not as clear as I wanted it.

Now the fun part.  Decorate it, (but that is next week's project!).

Here is another one I have done with similar techniques:
And finally here is a scrapbook page, using the left over gesso from another project.  I saw this sketch some where a couple of years ago and this was my version of it.  This has had distress ink over the top of the gesso to make the backgound.  

So go and get your hands dirty and create a canvas. Pop back next week for more messy fun!