Today we have another guest blogger post for you. So its over to Sam
My name is Sam Healey and I am 37 years old and live near Upton upon Severn with my husband Steve and a mad Irish setter called William and a lab cross called Oscar. I have a chronic health condition which has meant I have been unable to work for a while and so I started out by doing an Open University degree in Humanities and Classical Studies to keep my mind active and when this finished I was a little burned out study wise, so wanted a hobby to relax with and I somehow fell into card making and then all sorts of other crafts too, I love my sewing machine and I love knitting.
I love getting inky and I adore rubber stamping and the house is now bursting at the seams with stamps and papers LOL - so much so that we've had a small summer house built in the back garden as an extra little 'studio' for me to work in. I now have a small online craft business selling rubber stamps ands all sorts of paper craft products which I hope will eventually lead me back to the world of full independence and I am at the moment planning some workshops too once I find a suitable venue. ;o)
For you today I have made a card which reflects the move into Autumn (which is a bit odd considering we haven't really had much of a Summer). I inked a background with Distress Inks. I stamped the sentiment, from Creative Expressions, with Flitter Glu and then added Gilding Flake. I added the tree image underneath and heat embossed with Cosmic Shimmer powder in Viola Black Aurora. For the leaf embellishments I stamped onto acetate (with more stamps from Creative Expressions Autumn Foliage) and embossed again with powder. I then turned over and put Zig Two way glue on and waited for it to turn clear. Then I brushed Cosmic Shimmer Mica powders over the glue (using Autumnal colours). I then cut them out. I used a black card base with an acetate strip across the middle. I added the topper and then arranged a ribbon with the leaf embellishments around it. I finished by adding some faux stitching with a Sakura Gelly Roll silver pen. I hope you like it.
You can find more info on my BLOG. I also have a challenge BLOG if you fancy trying a new challenge.
Thanks to Sam from all the CBN DT. I am sure you will agree that Sams card is just perfect for the season.
Good morning to all you followers and new people out there in blogland, this week we have some cards from a few of our wonderful design team for your inspiration.
This week we have the pleasure of getting to know a little more about the owner of our sponsor company this month: Sara Davies from Crafters Companion answered some of our questions:
How long have you been crafting?
Since i was very young – I didn’t start cardmaking until I was in my late teens, but I did a lot of baking, cross stitch, candle-making and other papercraft stuff with my mum when I was a kid, and the crafting element clearly stayed with me!
What is your favourite product line? I would say this, but our ultimate pro – i just love that it’s everything a paper crafter needs in a handy little laptop-size suitcase! I honestly couldn’t manage without it, and can say hand on heart i use it multiple times in every project is do!
What do you watch/listen to when you're creating?
I have to have absolute silence! I get totally immersed in what im doing – especially if im doing something like colouring in! If it’s something I don’t have to concentrate on much, then I can sit with Create & Craft on in the background.
What is your favorite color combination to use on your cards?
Well as everyone knows, purple is my favourite colour, so most of my cards tend to include that somewhere! But i do like turquoise as well.
When creating a project, do you plan it out or go with the flow?
I’m a big planner! I have to have everything thought through before I start, then i don’t actually stick everything down until I’m 100% happy with how it looks!
What type of adhesive do you use?
Different ones for different things – if I’m doing quick demo’s then our super strong tape pen is super, I use the collall glues a lot – the all purpose for matting and layering, then the 3D glue gel for decoupage or embellishments, and if it’s a large area, I do like a spray adhesive
What is your favorite kind of cardstock?
For colour in my projects, it has to be core’dinations, because you can do so much with it. If it’s a nice strong card for a base card, the Centura Pearl is awesome and has a fab sheen to it.
About how many projects do you create in a month? Lots and lots – i’m really lucky in that i get to craft for a living!
This week we have the loverly Elaine as your guest blogger. So its over to Elaine
Hello Everyone, my name is Elaine and I love Butterflies and Crafting! Thank you for the Crafty Bloggers Network team for giving me this opportunity to join them as a Guest Blogger.
I have always been artistic, I used to paint with acrylics and enjoyed art at school. However I came to crafting in a different way. My Grandma passed away and she used to make cards, so I inherited her stash. I was looking for a new hobby one day and I came across the box I had inherited and began making cards. I often think it was a gift from my Grandma watching over me because I really love crafting, and I know she would have been very proud to see my creations.
I am known for my love of Butterflies, I raise them most years as well and share photos of the process on my blog alongside my creations, and often Butterflies feature in my crafts often too.
I began my blog, Craft My Life in September 2010 and it was the best thing I have ever done with my crafts, I feel it has challenged my crafting to improve and evolve and I have moved into all sorts of crafts from it, where before I mainly focused on cards. I have been blessed to have featured on Design Teams, and as Guest Designer to a few places too. I have also had my work featured on upcycled.co.uk and in various craft magazines which is a huge honour.
I have recently began my own challenge on my blog, My All Crafts Challenge, to showcase the wonderful creations around in blogland. Its a challenge which focuses on non cards or scrapbooking projects because I quite often alter items and make other things which don't fit in the usual challenges and I wanted to offer a place to show off these creations. I encourage the crafters that get involved to visit other crafters entries and make new friends!
My style is different-one of my friends recently told me she always knows when I have made a card because I have a distinct style, which I find hard to explain myself. One of my main goals though is to showcase the papers and image I have without crowding them.
In the card I have made for this post, I have used one of my favourite themes, a Monochromatic card. I used a Stampin' Up stamp which I stamped in blue ink to match my Papermania Burleigh Blue papers and embellishments. I then cut around it with a nestie and embossed it. I chose my papers and made one as a main panel underneath my image, which I then matted on Cardstock. I used the stripe paper as my base, and used another patterned paper as my border then placed the panel on top. Lastly I added Papermania ribbon and a matching bow, and three Card Candy in the opposite corner.
Thank you so much for reading this and please pop by my blog, and enter my challenge if you would like, I would love to visit you and get to know some new talented crafty friends!
Elaine-xxx-
Thanks Elaine for taking part in our GDT section. And if you would like to appear on the blog as a GDT please email me at slcarrington@btinternet.com and i will fit you in the schedule.
Sarah
Well it's time for our third challenge :D thank you to everyone who entered our 2nd one, once again it has been a tough job to decide the winners, especially as we had to pick 2 of you!
Darice Border Embossing Folder and Flowers from stash
and the prize is most of the supplies she used to make it.
The challenge is Purple, thats it, so it can be anything you like, card, scrapbook layout, ATC or altered project, or anything else you can think of just so long as it is or has purple in it.
We are looking for 4 dedicated crafters, you can be a scrapbooker, card makers, altered artist ect who loves to work as part of a team .
You will be expected to meet post commitments, work with sponsors, leave comments on our wonderful entrants cards and be an active member in Crafty Blogger Network Facebook group & have fun crafting that it!!!
