27 October, 2021

Christmas mouse

Just a quick post today to introduce the first Christmas card of the season. 
I've been invited to prepare a GD project for the newest challenge over at Penny's papertake. I said yes, but the thing is: I've had this conversation in the beginning of September, and since the challenge was scheduled a few weeks from then, I completely - and I mean totally - forgot about it. Only a couple of weeks later it occured to me that there might be some unfinished project in the back of my mind, and suddenly it dawned on me... Didn't I take on a GD task ages ago? I anxiously checked my inbox, already convinced that I screwed up, because it really has been a long time since I have been in touch with Geesje. 
Sweaty and shaking I finally realized that the due date was yet to come - what a relief! I could have sworn that I've already embarrased myself, and now it turns out I could play it off as "being late". So, I picked one of the digi's I've been offered almost a month ago, but since the challenge was still a couple of weeks away, I put it aside for a bit - and promptly forgot about the challenge once again! What a mess!

Last week, I remembered that unfinished task again, and while checking my inbox again I was now completely sure that I've missed the challenge - only to realize I had, in fact, a few days left. Off to work before I ultimately forget about my due project! And here it is, my twice forgotten GD task featuring this adorable mouse from Digi Doodles. It's a Christmas themed motif obviously, but I decided to use rather untraditional colours. 
The checked background paper has been on my mind for quite some time. I was thinking about creating a card inspired by the pink ribbon, but I can't help thinking that the whole pink October thing is just a way for people and businesses to look good, to gather attetion and revenue. I'm all for awareness and research, but I can't understand what a discount code for a random store will do just because it's printed in pink? It seems to me that the symbol of breast cancer gets abused a lot this way, and therefore, the whole thing just doesn't resonate with me. 
Anyway, as I had the paper at hand, I thought I might as well use it in my Christmas project. At first, I matched it with a couple of other papers to create the general layout of my card. Then, I painted the little mouse with coloured pencils. I mostly kept the pink and grey colour scheme, except for the holly. 
After that, I made one major change to my card plan: originally, I wanted to place a white ribbon on the grey cardboard, but I opted for a sheet of white embossed paper instead. I used a border punch to create an eye catcher on the left part of my card, and printed a simple Christmas wish which I placed on a piece of pink cardboard.
After I glued everything together, I think it doesn't look too bad alltogether. I'm thinking about adding a bit of glitter to the mouse's cap, but I'm not sure whether I should add shimmer or not. I'll be happy to take your thoughts into consideration whether my card is finished enough, or is it still in need of a little something?

challenges:
- as you like it: critter or people (definitely critter - I think they're easier to incorporate into my projects because I'm better at colouring animals than people, and I find it easier to match papers/embellishments when I feature an animal, even though I can't really explain why this is happening)
- C.R.A.F.T.: non-traditional Christmas colours
- cardz4guyz: any animal
- crafty catz: ATG with optional twist "add some layers"
- crafty sentiments: ATG
- craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge: ATG as long as it's Christmas
- craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper
- creative crafty uncles: males go feminine
- creative moments: ATG
- love to craft: ATG 
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22 October, 2021

Outdoors

Hello there and welcome to a new challenge over at the Alphabet challenge blog! 
Our theme is "Outdoors" this fortnight, meaning you have a pretty easy task to go with. I'm late with my DT presentation today as we've had some unexpected errands at home, but anyway, here's my work:
As you can see, I went for a bookmark this time. I took one of those slim digis from bugaboo and painted it with regular coloured pencils. Since the brown I've chosen looks rather red-ish, I went with it and searched my stash for matching papers. I opted for a sheet of random zig-zag patterns as well as a sheet of this brown paper that turns out to match the monkey's fur. 
For the back, I used a sheet of light green cardboard which I decorated with another layer of green patterned paper. To finish my project, I used two green ribbons. I cut them to the right length and added a couple of wooden beads on each string before tying it with a knot.
Initially, I wanted to use crimp beads for that, but then I thought they'd looks quite pretty if I just leave them like this. The beads are not fixated meaning they can slide up sand down the ribbon, but since their diameter is rather tiny, they'll not move until you decide to play with them during a reading break. I didn't really plan that, but I think it's a fun twist on the motif of a monkey that is bouncing off a branch somewhere in the jungle.

Not a jungle, but nevertheless - a few impression of Radensko polje as autumn is slowly taking over.

challenges: 
- 613 avenue create: ATG with optional twist "school daze" 
- a bit more time to craft: ATG
- a place to start: purely handmade
- as you like it: critter or people (I'll almost always go with a critter as I think they're easier to colour that humans because I'm not good with skin and hair. Also, they're easier to incorporate into my crafting projects as I consider animals to be neutral objects, white images of people usually predispose a certain theme by the way humans are depicted doing something, or wearing a certain style of clothing, or... Maybe my crafting just reflects the real world where introvert me would pick almost every animal above almost every human!)
- cardz4guyz: any animal
- crafty catz: ATG with optional twist "add some layers"
- crafty gals corner: Halloween colours
- crafty sentiments: ATG
- craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper
- love to craft: ATG 
- love to scrap: ATG but a card
- my time to craft: Halloween/fall colours
- path of positivity: fall into a book (there's no book like "The Jungle Book" when it comes to jungle animals - even though I honestly remember watching the cartoon more than reading book. But, I'm sure this little monkey will find a friend whom he can guide through many, many stories.)
- pennys papertake: ATG
- scrapping4fun: ATG
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08 October, 2021

No layers

Another fortnight, another challenge. We've arrived at the letter N today over at the Alphabet challenge, meaning I've completed my first full DT turn of the alphabet wheel. I'm hosting the current challenge and will be picking the top projects, too, but first things first: it's "No layers" I'd like to see on your creations. My initial thought was a "Not a card" challenge, but I'm not sure whether there would be enough participants to make it fun as I see card projects entered most of the time. Instead, I made it a challenge without layers. If it is a card, I'm totally fine with it, just make sure to create on your card base itself. If you opt for something else, I truly can't wait to see what you'll come up with.
However, it does not have to be a CAS card. It could be, of course, but maybe you'd like to show me something full of bright colours and patterns? Some doodling? A full-page scenery? Be inspired by the DT projects or create something completely unrelated. Set your fantasy free and I'll be thrilled to see your entries. 
For my DT inspiration, I first thought about creating a non-card project. I have a book of colouring pages I haven't touched yet and the no layers challenge seemed like a good reason to start. However, it all came down to a card in the end. I went through my stash of digis for a suitable motiv, and settled on these wonderful ladies from Dr. Digi's. I printed them on a thick white paper and cut the piece into a size that I would use to create a card base. I then settled on a colour scheme that goes from red to purple - I'm not sure why, but I feel like those rich and heavy colours match the curvy singers. One evening, I put on some music and coloured the motif with coloured pencils. I have to admit I had a bit of a struggle with the hair, but apart from that I think everything turned out quite OK. 
Once the colouring was done, I added a line that resembles the stage. Then, I used sharpening remains of coloured pencils to create the blurry background. 

I then glued a couple of star-shaped gemstones on the card base, and randomly placed a few dots and stars using colouring pencils. I think it adds to the atmosphere full of glitter and an imaginary smoke machine. Also, it covers the fact that I'd usually pick a red/purple background paper at this point, which I obviously couldn't do here. 
After that, I used silver stickers from my stash to create a birthday message. I've deliberately decided to leave a large empty space under the "stage" for the good wishes when I printed the motiv, but I've forgotten to keep in mind the size of the letters. Meaning: I had to realize the birthday note doesn't fit on my card base - a crafter's nightmare. Creating a new card was not an option, so I tried to work my way around my mistake by bending the inscription. I somehow like this effect even more than a "Happy birthday" that's in a straight line, and I truly hope it doesn't give away that it's only an emergency solution!
In the very end, I added a couple more tiny gemstones around the birthday sentiment itself, and voilá: the curvy divas are ready for their performance. 

challenges: 
- krafty chicks: stamp act
- 613 avenue create: ATG
- a bit more time to craft: ATG
- a place to start: purely handmade
- allsorts challengeblog: ATG with optional twist "I love..." (I love music - there's always a tune in the back of my mind, and when I'm off to an evening in my crafting corner, I'll usually put on a collection that fits my current mood and runs in the background while I'm working on my project. Every now and then, music makes it on the front page of my artwork, too.)
- C.R.A.F.T.: ATG
- crafty catz: ATG with optional twist "girly"
- crafty sentiments: ATG
- day of the month: my party day
- little red wagon: girls just wanna have fun
- love to craft: ATG 
- pennys papertake: ATG
- scrapping4fun: inspired by an artist (I'll go with Ella Fitzgerald this time, and I'm not sure what else I could say - I just love her voice and the perfection of her tunes. I don't always get to incorporate music in my crafts in the form of music sheets or a music-themed artwork, but one of the reasons I fell in love with this digi was that you can literally feel the music it radiates.)
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