Crafts Galore Encore Challenge #125 - Anything Goes

 Hi Crafters,

It's July 1st and that date means a new challenge is starting at Crafts Galore Encore. You have a whole month to create up to three different projects with an Anything Goes theme, so nice and easy.

Here is my card....

This is my first Christmas make of 2024! I am so behind, I usually start making my Christmas cards in January but this year seems to have been very challenging for me. I will have to get cracking on the rest of my festive cards soon otherwise I will never be ready for the Big Day.

I have layered two papers from a collection of Christmas 12 x 12 papers, not sure what make they are as they were purchased in a mixed bundle a long time ago. I cut an aperture in the top paper being careful to cut around the sweet swirls to create a 'window' for my Gingerbread Couple. This sweet digital image is called Decorations - Gingerbread Holly and I have coloured it with Copics. I added some glittery enamel dots to the centre of each sweet swirl and added the sentiment which is a Creative Expressions Die.

Our sponsor this month is Polkadoodles who are offering the lucky winner a prize of 3 digital stamps.

The Design Team have been busy creating their inspirational projects for you, check out their makes here.

I hope you will come and join in the fun this month.

See you soon,

Lorraine

xXx

Crafts Galore Encore June Challenge #124 - Anything Goes

 Hi Crafters,

A mixture of sunshine and showers here all week, some of them were quite heavy downpours but hopefully the week ahead will start to look more like summer. After all, it is the 1st of June!

That date means a new challenge is starting at Crafts Galore Encore. You have a whole month to create up to three different projects with an Anything Goes theme, so nice and easy.

Here is my card....

Our sponsor this month is Beccy's Place who are offering a $10.00AU Gift Certificate to the lucky winner.

The Design Team were fortunate to be given some images to use and mine is called 'Make a Wish'.

I printed the image twice, once for the background and once more to colour with Copics. I used a Versamark Clear embossing pad and a stencil from The Crafters Workshop called 'Mini Numbers Collage' to 'stamp' rather than stenciling through it and then heat embossed with white embossing powder to create a resist for my inks. Distress Oxides in Twisted Citron, Mermaid Lagoon and Shaded Lilac were then pressed on to an acrylic block, spritzed with water and 'stamped' on to the background to create this watercolour background. A little stamping in black at the corners defined a frame. I then fussy cut the second set of candles and added 3D foam for dimension. Banner cut the sentiment which came with the image and die cut a Happy Birthday Sentiment to add to the sides of the card.

Have a great day!

Lorraine

xXx

Crafts Galore Encore May Challenge #123 - Anything Goes

 Hi Crafters,

We are back again for another new month long challenge at Crafts Galore Encore. Starting today you have a whole month to create your projects and enter our 'Just For Fun' challenge with an Anything Goes theme, so free reign to make whatever you like.

I created my background using Distress Inks through a checkered stencil and added some detail stamping using a Creative Expressions stamp called 'Enigma'. The castle image was stamped on to a separate piece of card, fussy cut and adhered to my background. This was from a stamp set by Lindsay Mason called 'I Dreamed of Castles' along with the sentiment. Black card stock for mounting gives a bold frame for the zesty background.

Come and join in with us, the Design Team have been busy creating some very inspiring projects for you, take a look at them here on the challenge blog.

Take care,

Lorraine

xXx

Crafts Galore Encore April Challenge #122 - ATG

 Hi Crafters,

It's April 1st, but no fooling around here today as we have a new challenge starting at Crafts Galore Encore.

We are an ANYTHING GOES challenge so we love seeing your beautiful creations using all sorts of techniques, styles and themes.

We are sponsored this month by Hetty Clare who are offering 2 digi stamps to the lucky winner. The Design Team have used images, kindly donated by Hetty Clare for their projects and here is mine using Rabbit & Hearts.

I have created a small circular card and after colouring this sweet image with my Pencils I masked it and then stenciled the heart background using Distress Oxide inks. I added a few black and white splatters, then wrote out the sentiment and after inking the edges I mounted on to coordinating card stock. I then added three enamel dots and outlined the image in a charcoal pencil to add definition and make it pop from the background.

Come and join in with us for a chance to win 2 digi images from Hetty Clare.

Have a great day!

Lorraine

xXx

Crafts Galore Encore March Challenge #121 - ATG

 Hi Crafters,

Today is the 1st of March with a new challenge starting at Crafts Galore Encore. We are an ANYTHING GOES challenge for the month so it will be lovely to see what creations you show us this time. I have made a Spring/Easter card using this fabulous image from our sponsor Sheepski Designs.

I have coloured this lovely image using Copic Markers, then fussy cut out and added to a patterned paper background. The Sentiment die is from Memory Box.

I hope you can join in with our challenge this month, we have a prize of 3 Digi stamps from Sheepski Designs for the lucky winner.

The Design Team have been busy creating some fabulous projects to spark your imagination and inspire your creations, check them out HERE and come and join in the fun.

Lorraine

xXx

Crafts Galore Encore February Challenge #120 - Anything Goes

 Hi Crafters,

Well that's January over with, I always feel much better after I get that month under my belt each year. I think it's because it feels a little closer to Spring with the hopes of warmer, brighter weather.

So it is February 1st which means a new ANYTHING GOES challenge at Crafts Galore Encore.

We are lucky enough to be sponsored by Last Minute Manda who kindly provided images for the DT to use. Here is my card using Pipsqueak Coffee and Flowers.

I have used two sizes of Carnation Crafts Pretty Shabby Squares dies for my layers. A new (to me) Marianne Designs Brick Wall Die - CR1558 and then of course, this fabulously cute Pipsqueak image which I have coloured using Copics. The sentiment stamp is from Sentimentally Yours, a little Distress Oxide ink for the background and voila!

Last Minute Manda are offering 3 digi sets from their Selfie Store to the lucky winner so get those creative hats on and come and join in the fun with us at Crafts Galore Encore. Also check out the beautiful creations from the Design Team for inspiration this month.

Lorraine

xXx

Crafts Galore Encore January 2024 Challenge

Hi Crafters,

I'd like to wish you all a

Happy New Year!

Thank you for joining me this morning for our first challenge of 2024 at  Crafts Galore Encore.

We are always an Anything Goes challenge so it will be lovely to see what you create this month.

Now I know that Christmas 2023 is over but it's never too early to get started on this years festive makes :o)

Here is my card using an image that I coloured from our sponsor this month, Jan's Digital Stamps called Snowmies.

who are offering a $6 store voucher to the lucky winner.

I have coloured this fun image with Promarkers and added a snowy scene background. I distressed the edges of my layers and banner detail to add a little interest.

You can check out the inspirational creations from the rest of the Design Team here then come and join in with us. You have 3 chances to win by entering the maximum of 3 times with a new project. Please remember to link your blog post to the challenge with your entry.

Have fun!

Lorraine

xXx

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge #118 - December 2023

 Hi Crafters,

Well it is December 1st, it's getting very close to Christmas so I hope you have all your plans, cards and presents in hand. I still have a little more to do, it has been so busy here with Craft Fairs leading up to this time.

The first day of the month means a new challenge at Crafts Galore Encore where we are an ANYTHING GOES challenge.

We are sponsored this time by Gecko Galz where the prize is a whopping $25 store voucher!

I have used a set of images from their shop to create my Twist and Pop card.

Here is the inside...

...and here is the front of the card.

Recipe

Twist and Pop Die - Tattered Lace

12 x 12 Papers - Scrap n Cup

Images - Christmas Gnomes by Lee Seed

Coloured with Promarkers

Poinsettias created with a Spellbinders Die

Holly - Highlight Crafts Reflections and Die.

Sentiment Die - Duo Die

Tonic Studio Scalloped Square, Oval and Rectangle Dies

Please check out the rest of the Design Teams creations on the challenge blog HERE.

Have fun!

Lorraine

xXx

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge #117 - Anything Goes

 Hi Crafters,

We are here for the start of the November challenge at Crafts Galore Encore. We are always an ANYTHING GOES challenge so get those supplies out and wow us with those makes!

Here is my card using a fabulous image from our sponsor called 'For Santa'.

I have created a full fronted shaker card where the acetate covers the whole front of the card and not just a window. This is the first time I have created one like this and I was quite pleased at how it turned out.

Recipe

Pre-Coloured Image and Background 'For Santa' from The Paper Shelter

Square Stitched Die by Cottage Cutz

Pom-Pom Trim

Shaker mix

Sentiment Die - Creative Expressions.

As you will have guessed our sponsor this week is 

The Paper Shelter

who are offering 3 digital images to the lucky winner.

So now it's time to get out those supplies and start creating for a chance to win this fabulous prize. If you are stuck for inspiration please take a look at the Design Teams creations here.

Have fun!

Lorraine

xXx

Crafts Galore Encore October Challenge - #116 Anything Goes

 Hi Crafters,

Well, how did we get to October already?!

The first of the month sees a new challenge at Crafts Galore Encore and as we are an ANYTHING GOES challenge we are looking forward to seeing what you create this month.

I have made a shaker card this time using this fabulous and fun image from our sponsor - All Dressed Up Stamps

Recipe

It's Snowing - All Dressed Up Stamps

Coloured with Promarkers

Lisa Horton Stitched Scalloped Circle Dies

Tattered Lace Hemstitch Square Die

Background paper from stash

Joy Craft & Marianne Designs Snowflake Dies

Stampin' Up Sentiment Stamp

Acetate and Glitter for shaker element

Challenges I'd like to enter:

to be added

Pop over to the challenge blog and join in with the fun there.

All Dressed Up Stamps are offering 2 digital images to the lucky winner.

Take care and enjoy your Sunday.

Lorraine

xXx

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge #115 - Sept. 2023

 Hi Crafters,

Today is the first of September and that means a new challenge is starting at Crafts Galore Encore.

We are an ANYTHING GOES challenge that lasts for the month so lots of time to create up to 3 new projects to enter into the challenge.

We are sponsored this month by Fred She Said who are offering a $10 store voucher to the lucky winner.

My project is a tag this time.

Recipe

Pre-Coloured Image - Raking Digi by Fred She Said

Daisy Mae Designs Stitched tag & Stitched Arch Dies

Paper and Ribbons from stash

Tutti Designs maple Vine Frame Die

Stampin Up Sentiment and Heart Stamp

Challenges I'd like to enter:

My Time To Craft - #515 Use Die Cuts

Crafting Happiness - #146 ATG

the Crafter's Cafe - #300 Colours of the Garden

The design team have been busy creating lots of great projects to inspire you, take a look at them here. We look forward to visiting your blogs and seeing what you create.

Take care,

Lorraine

xXx

Crafts Galore Encore August Challenge

 Hi Crafters,

August has arrived and that means a new challenge at Crafts Galore Encore. We are sponsored by Colour of Love this month who are offering a prize of the 3 digi images that the Design Team are using this time. Check out their fabulous creations over on the challenge blog here.

I've used 'Witchy Possum and Batty Bat' a fabulous Halloween image to make my shaker card.

The image was coloured using Polychromo Pencils and I've used a Stampin' Up sentiment stamp. My background was created by blending Distress Oxide Inks and water splatters.

Challenges I'd like to enter:

 Crafting Happiness - #145 ATG

Critter Crazy Challenge - #77 ATG + Feature a Critter

We are an Anything Goes challenge lasting one month so lots of time to create your projects and enter them on the challenge blog and be in with a chance to win our prize.

Colour of Love

That's all from me today, I'll see you again soon,

Lorraine

xXx

Crafts Galore Encore July Challenge - Anything Goes

 Hi Crafters,

Here we are again at the start of another month! That means a new challenge at Crafts Galore Encore. We are an ANYTHING GOES challenge so nice and easy to join in with us for a chance to win a fabulous prize from our sponsor each month.

We are sponsored by Beccy's Place and so here is my card using one of her wonderful images called 'Champagne'.

Recipe

Image - Champagne by Beccy Muir

Coloured with Promarkers

Tonic Studio Scalloped Rectangle Dies

Star Dies

Paper - Wedding Block by Artoz

Beccy's Place are offering a $10 AU voucher to the lucky winner, and you have a whole month to get those entries in.

Check out the challenge blog HERE for more inspiration from the design team.

I have two posts today so pop back in a minute and check out my Allsorts design team inspiration for this week.

See you again soon,

Lorraine

xXx

Crafts Galore Encore June Challenge

 Hi Crafters,

The beginning of a new month means the start of a new challenge at Crafts Galore Encore. We are an Anything Goes theme so nice and easy to join in with us and we have a fabulous prize from our sponsor, check out my post below for details.

Recipe

Image - 'Kitties' by Polkadoodles

Coloured with Promarkers

EK Success Border Paw Punch 

Carnation Crafts Basket of Wool Vignette and Die

Challenges I'd like to enter:

I Love Promarkers - #536 ATG/ Inspired By a Film

The Cutie Pie Challenge - #182 Four-Legged Friends

Worldwide Crafters & Colourists - #5 ATG

The Crafters Cafe - #297 Animals

Our sponsor this month is Polkadoodles who are offering 3 single digital images to the lucky winner.

Please take a look at the other ladies creations in the Design Team HERE.

Have a great day!

Lorraine

xXx

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge #111 - ATG

 Hi Crafters,

Happy May Day!

Well we have started a new month yet again, I must be getting old as the months just fly by!

This means there's a brand new challenge at Crafts Galore Encore starting today. We are always an ANYTHING GOES theme so it's nice and easy to join in, head on over to the challenge blog here to see what the design team have created to inspire you using some wonderful images from our lovely sponsor this month.

Image - Little Beach Bear coloured with Promarkers from our sponsor....

Last Minute Manda

Background Papers - The Colour of Spring pad from Polkadoodles

MFT Stitched, Scalloped Basic Edge Dies

Tonic Studio Alphabet Dies

Challenges I'd like to enter:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - ATG

Incy Wincy Designs - Fun Folds +or Summer Fun

Come and join in with us this month, we love to see what you create each time for our Anything Goes challenge.

For details of the prize from Last Minute Manda please head over to the challenge blog.

Lorraine

xXx

Challenge #110 - Spring is Coming!

 Hi Crafters,

This is the first of two posts today, highly unusual for me to post twice in one day but it happens to be the start of a new month and a Saturday so it's Crafts Galore Encore challenge and also Allsorts challenge too.

The Design Team are creating with a Spring theme using the wonderful images from our sponsor but you can enter any project with an Anything Goes theme.

Kate Hadfield Designs

Our prize this month is a £6 Store voucher for Kate Hadfield Designs.

I have decided to make a page for my Art Journal that I made the cover for about a year ago. I don't get a lot of time for 'messy' mixed media play so this is the first time I have had a chance to create something to go inside it, here is the first page.

I started by pasting some torn pieces of music paper on to the page and then I used texture paste through a  stencil over the top. I inked with various Distress Oxide inks on top of that and finished with some white acrylic paint through the wavy lines stencil from Polkadoodles. A bit of script stamping and gilding wax around the edge to finish it off. Then I decided to add some white Frantage which I've had for ages to lighten the centre of the page. The images were coloured with Promarkers and cut out and placed to create the scene. I managed to find the wavy 'Spring is Coming' stamp in my stash. It's surprising what you manage to collect in 15 years of crafting!

Challenges I'd like to enter:

Sweet Stampin' - Spring

We Love 2 Create #3 ATG

Please take a look at the other DT members makes on the challenge blog here, they have all been super busy creating some fabulous inspiration for you all so why not join in with us?

Hopefully I'll see you in about half an hour for my second post of the day.

Lorraine

xXx

Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit....

 Hi Crafters,

...that's what we always said as children when the first of the month came around in the hopes of a little luck that month. Did you remember to say it this morning? I never liked the 'Pinch, Punch first of the month' saying - at school I'm sure that the boys (and some girls) used this to justify being spiteful to other classmates. Do you have a saying in your part of the world when the first of the month comes around?

Anyway, I've waffled on long enough, it's time to share my DT card for the new challenge starting at

Crafts Galore Encore

Recipe

Image - Easter Hippity Hop by Jan's Digi Stamps

Coloured with Promarkers

Spellbinders Grand Stately Circles Die, Tonic Studio Scalloped Circle Die

Ribbon and Enamel Dots from stash

Challenges I'd like to enter:

Jan's Digi Stamp Challenge - ATG Feb 2023

Our sponsor this month is Jan's Digi Stamps

who are offering a $6 voucher to the lucky winner.

Please take a look at the other DT members makes on the challenge blog here, they have all been super busy creating some fabulous inspiration for you all so why not join in with us?

That's all from me today,

see you again soon,

Lorraine

xXx

Crafts Galore Encore February Challenge

 Hi Crafters,

I'm back again but today I have my Crafts Galore Encore design team inspiration for you.

This challenge is always an ANYTHING GOES theme, so nice and easy to join in.

We are sponsored by Sheepski Designs who are offering 3 digital stamps to the lucky winner from their online store. I have used one of their lovely images for my card today.

I decided to make a split front card. I have taken away a section of the card front and replaced it with some acetate which I had embossed with a Sheena Douglas leaf design embossing folder - hopefully you can see it in the close-up below?

I have coloured this gorgeous 'Blossom' image with Pencils for a change from my Promarkers. I still have a way to go with the technique but I enjoyed using this different medium.

Here is an angled view where you can see both the inside and outside of the whole card.

If you'd like to join in with us you have a whole month to enter a maximum of 3 separate new projects, it doesn't have to be a card. Link back to our challenge blog in your post to make sure you are eligible for the prize from

Sheepski Designs

Challenges I'd like to enter:

Incy Wincy Designs - Valentines +/ In The Garden

Creative Inspirations - February - ATG

See you again soon,

Lorraine

xXx

Happy New Year at Crafts Galore Encore

 Hi Crafters,

A Happy New Year to all my followers, commenters and friends.

It's been a rather strange few weeks as hubby has been unwell and in and out of hospital over the festive period with kidney problems but he seems to be making a good recovery now thank goodness.

I hope you are looking forward to this new year of 2023 and excited for what it might bring.

We are starting a new challenge at Crafts Galore Encore today with our always ANYTHING GOES theme and would love for you to join in.

 This fun image is from our sponsor Hetty Clare Art and is called 'Happy Hour', those little birds look like they are having a fun time don't they? I think they are drinking a Strawberry Daiquiri as one of the little birds is holding a strawberry so I have added a strawberry die cut to follow the theme. The image is coloured with Promarkers, Copics and Pencils.

Challenges I'd like to enter:

to be added

Come and join in the fun HERE, you can enter up to 3 times - provided each one is a new project, make sure that you link back to our challenge blog in your post too that way you are eligible for the prize which is 2 Digital Images from Hetty Clare Art.

Lorraine

xXx

Ho, Ho, Ho at Crafts Galore Encore

 Hi Crafters,

Well December has arrived, far too quickly for my liking, but here we are none-the-less. I can always remember some of my older relatives saying how time goes quicker as you advance in years but at 57 I was hoping it wouldn't have started just yet!

Anyway I'm here today to share my DT inspiration for the new challenge at Crafts Galore Encore. As always we are an ANYTHING GOES challenge so nice and easy and a whole month to get your entries in too. We are sponsored this month by Gecko Galz who are offering a fabulous $25 voucher to spend in their store!

I have used an image from this wonderful festive set called Retro Christmas Colour Digital Collage Sheet

Recipe

Image - Retro Christmas Colour - Gecko Galz

Papers - Digital Scrapbook.com (Pixel Scrapper)

Carnation Crafts Poinsettia, Fir Cones and Bells dies and Vingettes

La, La Land Corner Die

Poppy Crafts 'Ho, Ho, Ho' Die

Gems and Ribbon from stash

Challenges I'd like to enter:

Christmas Crafts All Year Round - Dec. Waiting For Santa

Country View Challenge - Christmas

Incy Wincy Designs - Christmas

Sparkles Christmas Challenge  #143 - Non Traditional Christmas Colours

Moving Along with the Times #149 - Christmas

Creatalicious Challenge #248 - ATG opt. Christmas in Non Traditional Colours

Come and join in the fun HERE, you can enter up to 3 times - provided each one is a new project, make sure that you link back to our challenge blog in your post too.

Thank you for visiting today, it is greatly appreciated and I hope to get round to see you all soon.

Bye for now,

Lorraine

xXx