Thursday 28 November 2013

DT Project #2 by Minxy, Featuring;


Hay Snazzy Gang
{oops I totally forgot, HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all our American friends xo}
Here I am back as promised with my second offering which is a little different.
A friend {Sandy} gave me the idea to make some napkin holders and from that sprung the whole table arrangement idea.

For the mat I took a sheet of kraft card and stamped on it using the G45 Christmas 1 set of stamps in 'red geranium' & 'fern green' archival ink.


I then placed one of the G45 'my true love' papers in the centre, followed by a Snazzy's doily from their multi pack that I distressed with distress ink. To complete I die-cut a heart from the G45 'golden rings' paper to go in the centre of the doily. To make the mat heatproof I attached a sheet of heat resistant acetate with brads.


For the napkin ring I die-cut one of the Tim Holtz snowflake rosettes from the G45 '12 days of christmas' paper, followed by a punch out in the G45 'swans a swimming' paper, and topped with images I fussy cut from the G45 '12 day of christmas' paper. I also rounded off the edges of the rosette with scissors.


Finally I used one of the cool little G45 christmas tags and pockets, as a name place setting.


I hope you like today's offering, Be sure to stop by next week as we have the first post from 1 of our new DT members.

Till next time, Stay Inky

Monday 25 November 2013

DT Project #1 by Minxy, Featuring:

Graphic 45 '12 Days of Christmas'

Hay Snazzy Gang
And welcome to my first project of the week.
I knew as soon as I saw the papers that I wanted to make an advent type calendar but I really wanted to showcase the lovely matching stamps so I opted for a 12 day calendar and came up with this


My aussie friend Jen had just done a wonderful live stream on a square version, which you can check out HERE. She is a very talented paper crafter.

For the tree above I used 12 outside boxes which are 6 ³/8" squared, which you will score each side at 2 ¹/8"
And 12 inside boxes which are 6" squared, which you score each side at 2".
I just used a thick card {about 250gsm} for my construction.


 I cut along the score lines {marked with red above} and folded the boxes, Gluing only the outside set at this stage, Once all 12 outside boxes are done I assembled them, {you can do it any way you like but I thought the tree was nice and festive} just make sure that the thicker edges are all on top/ bottom, as when you place in the draws the thick edges will be at the left/right and it will fit perfectly, and look equal.

Once my tree was assembled I used some washi tape to cover all the edges.
I then picked out 2 contrasting papers from the 8x8 G45 pad and cut out 10 x 2" squares for the upright sides {a light pattern}, 3 x 2" squares {dark pattern} for the 2 undersides and top, and 6 1x2" sized pieces for the thinner tops.


I decorated each edge with paper flowers and die-cut holly. I also used some of the G45 stickers to add more detail to the sides, And one of the G45 double sided cardstock pieces for the top.


For the draws I cut out another 12 2x2" squares, again from one of the lighter G45 papers
I stamped each piece with 1 of the Hampton Art matching numbered stamps, first in fern green archival, then over in black to give a slight shadow effect. {done roughly by eye}

I then trimmed each one down to fit the draw front box, inked all the edges with vintage photo distress ink and stuck in place as the thin black line shows below
 I used a small circle punch to make a semicircle {shown in red} as the draw pull, assembled them all and there you have it. One complete advent calendar.

If you wanted to make 24 day tree you would just have to make 2 and place them back to back.

I hope you like todays offering, and you've understood my ramblings!
I'll be back on thursday with another fun idea for you to try.
Till Then..Stay Inky

Saturday 23 November 2013

Snazzys DT Kit Graphic 45 Project #3

Hello again, this project came from all the fussy cutting I did thinking I would use the pieces for the Christmas House I blogged here last Monday. I changed my mind, and that has been a recurring theme.

First, I thought I would make a collection of ATCs, which I kind of did. Then I thought I would use them as toppers on a set of Christmas Cards, which I didn't. Finally I thought I would make a sort of hanging, which is here.....

 
Along the way I added some shrink plastic charms, some furnishing trim and a selection of toning beads just to jazz it up a little. Not my usual sort of project at all, it's very pink and the trim took me longer than the rest of the bits put together, but it turned out OK.

Now, don't forget, next week we have the start of the first cycle of projects from Snazzys new DT and I'm sure you will give them a very warm welcome. I can't wait to see what they make!

Take care
Val xx

Thursday 21 November 2013

Snazzys DT Kit Graphic 45 Project #2

Good afternoon, hope you are all enjoying the lovely sunshine we have here today.

Just a quick post with some very simple cards I made with the leftovers from Monday's project.

 
I'll pop back on Friday with a hanging I made from all the fussy cut pieces I didn't use in Monday's project.
 
Take care
val xx

Monday 18 November 2013

Snazzys Design Team Kit Graphic 45

Hello Val here with a very warm welcome to the start of first cycle of projects from Snazzy's brand new Design Team - if you missed the introductions then you can meet the new teamies Minxy here, Claire here, Lucy here and Diana here and I can't wait to see what they make!

Here's the first kit they have to work with....


.... Twelve Days of Christmas from Graphic 45 8x8 Paper Pad, Cling Stamps, 12x12 Stickers, 6x12 Pockets & Tags, and 6x12 Banners.

Very traditional with beautiful imagery in stunningly rich colour combinations. I have to confess that I loved these papers but actually found them quite difficult to work with, I'm much more of an inky painty crafter and find papers, stickers and embellishments a bit of a challenge but I had agreed to make a couple of workshop projects for Snazzys with the kit sooo....

  Firstly, a custom workshop especially for the wonderful Kathy & Co who are a delight to have in the studio (and if you want to see more of what they get up to you can find their ringleader's blog here)

I initially envisionaged, and started, a lot of fussy cutting from the papers but then decided workshops are supposed to be fun and fussy cutting is not for everyone so changed tack. These are the elements I used from the kit to which I added a house shaped shadow box, Sand and White Acrylic Paint from Eco Green Crafts, 12x12 sheet of Bazzill black cardstock, a Tim Holtz Ideaology Christmas Muse Token, Wizard Frosted Shrink Plastic, Tsukineko Versafine Ink in Olympia Green and a Creative Expressions medium glass vial coloured with Ranger Snowcap Alcohol Ink Mixative.


I finished up with a very different project than I had first intended but I was happy enough with it in the end.

  
I sneaked a quick photo of the calm before Kathy & Co arrived for the class.......
  

...and here are the finished results courtesy of Kathy's blog as I had forgotten to charge the studio camera. I know, must try harder!


Well, I will be back later in the week to share the cards I made for Wednesday's workshop and show you what happened to all the fussy cutting I did - nothing goes to waste lol, or at least that's my excuse reason for all the hoarding of bits and bobs.

Meantime, get well wishes to Debbie who was too poorly to join us on Saturday, and I hope you all manage to stay toastie in the colder weather forecast for this week.

Val xx

PS This workshop is also timetabled for Saturday 23 November and I have a couple of spaces, full details over on the main website.  


Friday 15 November 2013

introducing new DT member Diana Hetherington

Well hello there everyone!!!!!

i am so very excited to be here with you all and to be a part of this fabulous design team. a huge thank you to Val for choosing me along with the wonderful designers you have all met in the last little bit!!

My name is Diana and i live in beautiful Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. I am married and have a beautiful full grown son, a wonderful soon to be daughter in law as well as two fabulous furbabies!

I am a crafter at heart. I have been scrapbooking for 15 plus years – first starting off with 8 1/2 by 11 layouts then quickly jumped into the 12 x 12 layouts followed by an addiction to Tim Holtz (who i may or may not have stalked but that is another story which if you are interested about you can read all about it here) and his tags/techniques. Lately however I have swayed a little into the mixed media side... okay i have been swayed a lot with my introduction to all things Dylusional.

Creating to me is an escape although I have nothing to escape from…but is a time for me to play and how i love to play.

I love to teach any form of anything dirty; though I can be clean if requested but why would one want to be really!!! Especially with the creation of the craft scrubbie!!

I am addicted to shopping for anything that has an R (Ranger products) in it. Or an SA (stampers anonymous) or a TA (Tattered Angels) or a P (Prima) or an B (Basic Grey) or a ….

Okay with any letter of the alphabet in it!!

I currently teach at A PILE OF SCRAP! art journalling classes once a month as well as some canvas and tag classes. I do enjoy travelling to teach as well. When I go on vacation my scrappy bags take up more space than my clothing/personals bag! true story!!!But doesn't everyone!!!

Questions? Please feel free to email me and you can always catch me and all my craftiness at my personal website at missusgmoments or on my Facebook page.

Val asked each of us to pick a project that we felt best represents us or one of our favourites. that was a hard one for me as my style, if i was to have a style, switches quite frequently but with that said the one project i have chosen to be one of fav’s is this


and it can be found here!!

HAPPY SCRAPPING!!!

Wednesday 13 November 2013

Introducing New DT Member - Lucy Edmondson

I am absolutely thrilled to be joining Snazzys as a new DT member and would like to introduce myself. I live in North Hampshire in the UK with my husband of nearly 30 years, Colin. I am primarily a rubber stamper although I am more into mixed media and dabbling with altered art than card making as I like to work with lots of different surfaces and materials. I enjoy being very messy and inky and am unfortunately incapable of being Clean and Simple. I'm a very thrifty crafter and I like to upcycle and to trawl through charity shops or find a use for things that would otherwise be thrown away.

I am on the DT for Unruly Paper Arts, a US Blogozine, and also make things for Crafty Individuals. I'm a past DT member for Happy Daze and the Artistic Stamper and have previously taught craft classes which I enjoy very much. I have also had a lot of my work published in UK magazines.

Val has asked us to chose a past piece of our artwork we have liked and which we feel represents our style. I chose the Tin Man which I made quite some years ago but still makes me smile. Although it was not a very 'stampy' project, which is unusual for me, it reflects my quirky side and was made almost entirely from watch parts. Further details can be found on the blog posting here.



My blog is http://lucystruecolours.blogspot.co.uk/. I am so looking forward to making things for Snazzys and hope you will like some of the things I make!

Monday 11 November 2013

Introducing.....Claire Snowdon

Hello Everyone

Another introduction today to a brand new member on the design team!

Hi Everyone!  My name is Claire Snowdon and I am so excited to have been asked to join the Snazzy design team!  I live near Durham in the North East of England with my husband and two cats - Dexter and Crunchie. I work full time for a pretty busy company but love to spend time in my craft room mostly at the weekends.  I enjoy trying lots of different types of crafting and started out scrapbooking about four years ago - this soon turned to card making which is what I spend the most time on - although I do enjoy dabbling in mixed media and altering items too from time to time.  Mostly I just love anything messy - I love ink, paints and most definitely stamping!  I've been blogging since 2009 over HERE at Claire's Crafty Makes and love all the inspiration and challenges blogging opens up.
Here is a couple of altered beermats I made recently using Fresco paints and some of the stamps from the Paperartsy JOFY range:



I'm really looking forward to creating for Snazzy's and will be back in a couple of weeks with my very first DT project!

Thanks for stopping by today - be sure to stop by the blog again later in the week to see who else is joining the team!

Claire x

Friday 8 November 2013

Introducing......

ME!!
Hay Snazzy Gang, Minxy here 
I've been asked to do a little re-introduction of myself to kick start the brand new team who you will be meeting next week.
So here goes...

Hi my name is Nicky and i'm a craft-a-holic
I've been into making 'stuff' for as long as I can remember. I started with card making, then atc's and slowly progressed into mixed media, I've also dabbled in jewellery making, fabric art, and many other things in between,  i'm a very eclectic crafter, almost a jekyll and hyde type, going from inky painty stampy grunge to pretty cute and shabby chic.
I've been blogging as The Altered Inker since 2005. But have 2 other blogs, 'Adorable Overdose' which was when I went through my cute phaze in 2007 and more recently {this year} 'The Shabby Palace' which is my shabby chic blog, All of which are linked from my main blog.
I also make utube vids under both The Altered Inker & The Shabby Palace.
Now for something a wee bit more personal...
I live in somerset with my OH Tony of 8 years and my 2 black rescue kitties Wallace & Gromit. I'm originally a londoner and i've battled with depression most of my life.
I'm a shy crazy friendly person with a very sarcastic sense of humor, and I love sharing my craftiness and craziness with the world.
So that's me in a nutshell

I would like to welcome each of the new DT members to the team and I look forward to getting to know each of you better over the coming months, And to welcome all newcomers to the blog too, I hope I can inspire you to make art xo
I'll see you on the 25th with my latest project.
Stay Inky

Thursday 7 November 2013

New, new, new!

Hello. I hope the weather is treating you kindly where you are as it is pretty wet, grey and miserable here.

Today's the day I finally get to start sharing the lowdown on our new Design Team. Over the next week each of our new DT members will intoduce themselves, and share with you a favourite project they have made which they feel reflects their style. Just a little getting to know you.

The first posts of new six week DT cycle will start w/c 18 November when I will show you the new kit the team will be working with, plus a workshop project I have made using the kit. The DT members will then blog their projects over the following four weeks. The cycle will end with a little challenge to keep you occupied over the Christmas break - can't have everyone eating, drinking and making merry all of the time! Alternate cycles will then end either with a challenge or with a Guest post from a fellow blogger we admire.

As part of the of the 'getting to know you' I have agreed to a little introduction myself. Don't worry, I'll keep it brief.

For those who don't know me I'm Val, an addicted stamper of over 20 years standing and I'm rather liking my new inky/painty/stampy behind the scenes perch. I was a partner in Snazzys until the Spring of this year and will continue to teach workshops there and create samples for them. I will also continue to demo at some shows and, for the moment, will also do the admin on Snazzys blog.

I don't know really know I have a style of my own but I'm happy to work with pretty much anything as long as a stamp and ink appear somewhere along the way. My favourite make has to be my Steampunk Phantom who was actually made entirely from leftovers from other steampunky projects which appeals to my mean Scottish blood lol! He is looking a little jaded these days but still my favourite and perched by my desk.


Thanks for popping by and I'm sure you will give a warm welcome to our new Design Team over the next week.

Val xx