Sunday Round-Up

Hello Sunday Blog Hoppers, it's that time again and this week I have some Halloween project links to share with you all.

First off have you seen this fabulous Gory Brains Cap project? Not for the faint hearted LOL! But great for a bit of scary trick or treating!

Next up is some fabulous art. Some of you will know that I'm bit of a fan of sardine tin altering and I spotted this wonderful Halloween altered tin from Shelly Hickox recently.

Then we have some really cute Coffin Critters from Spooky Pooky Creations, spotted via Needlework Craft Gossip. They are so cute, I love Dracula!

Finally some more Halloween fun from Future Girl with these really fabulous Fanged Pumpkins! LOL!

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Before you go, I think my Sunday Round-Up news posts might be catching on! Check out Lou Mac for her Sunday Round-Up and Simonne for her Sunday Round-Up. If you have a Sunday News Round-Up blog post let me know and I will link to it here!

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Have a great Sunday Hopping.

Kim

Prima Meets The Quixotic Paperie Sketch Challenge

Hey Guys, have you played along with our first Sketch Challenge over at the Quixotic Paperie Blog yet? It's a great sketch from Mary and if you play along you could win a £15 gift token to spend in Quixotic Paperie or see your work on the blog.

Well here is my take on the sketch, I've used paper from the Prima Marketing Alla Prima pack and the Prima Marketing Londonerry cling stamp set for this card.

The stamping uses the Archival Coffee ink pad.

A little bit of stitchery, a bit of tearing, some mulberry paper and embossing for this make.

If you want to see the sketch then pop on other to the Sketch Challenge post, there is more inspiration with this fabulous sketch here on the blog and on the design team's blogs (listed in the sidebar).

Have fun with the challenge and have a lovely Saturday.

Kim

You Are My Type Of Friend

Some grungy colour for your fabulous Friday!

I've got my Creative Expressions make today and after all the Clean and Simple cards I've been doing I thought I would get down and inky for this one.

The sentiment is from the Vintage Typewriter Stamp Set.

The swirls are from the Funky Floral Stamp Set.

I've used Tim Holtz Distress inks from Ranger to add the pinks and purples.

Well I hope you enjoy your grungy Friday doing whatever you do on a Friday!

Catch you later.

Kim

Book Review – Witch Craft: Wicked Accessories, Creepy-Cut Toys, Magical Treats, and More!

Review – Witch Craft: Wicked Accessories, Creepy-Cute Toys, Magical Treats, and More! Compiled by Margaret McGuire and Alicia Kachmar, Published by Quirk Books 2010

(Cover photo copyright Quirk Books)

You may have noticed a few Halloween-inspired makes on my blog recently; now, I am completely rubbish when it comes to anything scary but when it comes to cute Halloween I am most certainly there and Witch Craft: Wicked Accessories, Creepy-Cut Toys, Magical Treats, and More! is definitely on the cute side of wicked!

Witch Craft: Wicked Accessories, Creepy-Cut Toys, Magical Treats, and More! is full of Halloween-inspired makes and would be great for anyone looking for Halloween party ideas or gifts for both adults' and children's parties. The book is in a dinky 15.5 by 22 cm (~6 by 8 ½ inches) format, which I only mention because it adds to its cuteness! There are 27 projects that, as the title suggests, cover lots of different craft areas from food to decorations. Just as with Microcrafts, also from Quirk, which I reviewed in September, many of the projects are from crafters active on Etsy but unlike Microcrafts, Witch Craft includes crafters from various countries, such as America, Japan, Canada, Thailand and Denmark

There are a lot of projects in this book that I would like to try; for example, I loved the sparkly red shoes from Alicia Kachmar, then there is a super-cute crochet witch from Sayjai T that I want to get my crochet hook out for, and the Plushie Poison Apples project from Jacki Gallagher is to die for! Tee Hee! Of course there is the food as well, such as Maki Ogawa’s Ghost Toasts or Peanut Butter and Jelly Skull Sandwiches that looks spookily yummy and perfect for any party. This book really does cover a lot of crafty areas, and I haven’t even touched on the jewellery and accessories.

High production values are obviously standard at Quirk: like Microcrafts, this book is beautifully photographed, and the step by steps are short and simple and, even though a little bit of crafty common sense would help, many of the projects can be done by a total novice. There aren’t any step-by-step pictures but there are patterns and diagrams for some of the projects to help the making, and there are tips all the way through. There is also some great information about each of the designers in the back, as well as a shopping guide.

I enjoyed reading Witch Craft and I definitely plan to try out some of the projects. The book is very cute and I do like the whimsical approach and presentation style of the Quirk guys. If you are looking for a book as a Halloween gift that contains the SPIRIT of a contemporary crafter then this is for you (did you see what I did there?).

You will find Witch Craft: Wicked Accessories, Creepy-Cut Toys, Magical Treats, and More! already in the shops, as it was published in 2010 and it is available from Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.

(Just so that you know – this book was sent to me by Quirk books to review. My views are honest, unbiased and unpaid, well other than a free copy of the book that is!)

Sunshiney Day

I'm obviously in a Clean and Simple mood with my makes at the moment and as today is a beautifully sunny Autumnal day I thought this little notelet would fit the bill!

The stamp is from The Cat's Pajamas range over at Make The Day Special.

I hope you are having a beautifully Sunshiney Tuesday.

Kim

La-La Land Crafts Inspiration Monday

It's La-La Land Crafts Inspiration Monday and this week it is all about punches. But before we move on to the my make this week have you seen the cute Thanksgiving inspired stamps?

You can get them as digi stamps right now and they will be available in rubber in a few weeks.

I've used Baking Marci for my DT make this week.

Isn't she cute?

Don't forget to go check out the other lovely DT makes over at the La-La Land Crafts Blog today and Friday and then you can always link up your La-La Land Crafts makes to the Customer Gallery to win a prize.

Have a good Monday you all.

Kim

Sunday Round-Up

How are we all doing, Sunday Blog Hoppers? 

I've got something today that will get your crafty fingers tingling!

It's the Make With Me initiative from Mencap, the charity supporting people with learning disabilities and their families and carers. They also have a Bake With Me initiative for all you bakers out there - mmmmm - cake...

Well as Halloween is fast approaching, the Make With Me and Bake With Me guys have some great free projects to share such as some scarily yummy Edible Bones from the bespoke East London Baker Lily Vanilli and some fabulously freaky stitching from the Sublime Stitching stitcher herself, Jenny Hart.

There is lots of information on how to get involved on the Make With Me website, such as holding crafting parties to raise money or donating some of your own projects to inspire others. Also check their Facebook and Twitter pages too.

So my crafty cogs are turning, thinking what I can do to get involved, perfect for us crafty bloggers don't you think? What do you reckon? What can we as CRAFTY BLOGGERS do...? LOL! Spread the news? Hold a craft event? Donate some projects? Donate some cash?

Enjoy your Sunday.

Kim

If You Scare Easily Then Look Away...NOW!

This might be a bit scary...

You might want to look away...

Lock your doors and windows...

It's the haunted house stamp from the Artistic Outpost Haunted Halloween Stamp set available from Quixotic Paperie.

The base of the ATC is from the scary Echo Park Apothecary paper...

Are you suitable scared now?

Well I did warn you in the title!

Don't have nightmares!

Kim 'The Zombie Crafter' Dellow

U R Unique And A Facebook Flash Giveaway With Creative Expressions

Hey all, hope you are having a good week? I've got a little Clean and Simple Notelet card for my Creative Expressions DT make this week.

And some Giveaway news - if you pop on over to the Creative Expressions Facebook page today, 'Like' them and add one of your favourite crafty tips you could be in with a chance to win a Creative Expressions Stamp set. BUT you only have 'til 5pm so you better get over there quickly!

My make uses the Vintage Typewriter stamp set. 

Oh and don't forget the Creative Expressions October Card Of The Month Competition with a chance to win the Vintage Typewriter, Vintage Communications and Fanciful Phrases stamp sets.

Catch you later.

Kim

Some Odd Girl Opulent Christmas Tag Tutorial

Hi everyone, here is a step by step I recently put together as part of the month long celebrations for Kristy's Birthday over at her blog The Odd Girl.

It is a special Christmas Tag using the Some Odd Girl Angel Kaylee.

You will need:

Stamps - Angel Kaylee, Alphabet stamps, Music stamp

Papers - Prima Printery

Colouring - Prismacolor pencils

Inks - Versamark, Black

Usual Suspects - Scissors, Silicone glue

Equipment - Heat Gun, Crop-A-Dile, Paper distressor

Other - Ribbon, ZIG Embossing powder (Black Sparkle), Acrylic Paint (Gold), Sponge, ZIG Wink Of Stella Pen, Eyelet

Prepare your tag by cutting out several tag shapes to the size you want and make each tag slightly smaller than the one before. I used one of the '2011' labels in the Prima Printery paper pad but you could easily use a sentiment stamp or other cut-out. Also cut a small strip the width of the tag.

Stamp out the music in Versamark ink on your top tag layer, the smallest tag, and add the embossing powder, shake off excess and heat to melt the powder.

Distress the edges of all of the tag layers, sentiment and paper strip, I use a seam ripper for
this job.

Now all your layers are distressed start building up the tag by glueing each of the tag
layers in place. Add the gold acrylic paint to the distressed edges of all the papers using a sponge. I used some Cut n' Dry but you can easily use a make-up sponge for example.

Add the acrylic paint in lumpy blobs and smooth some of the blobs out to lightly add sparkle to the paper. Leave some of the blobs to dry to give a more bumpy opulent gold look to the tag. When the paint is dry tie the ribbon into a bow and the ribbon to the paper strip and stick it to the tag. 

Stamp and cut out the 'Christmas' to stick to the '2011' cut-out and add a light touch of acrylic paint to the edges. Stick the sentiment to the tag.

Colour Angel Kaylee and add sparkle to her wings, hair and shoes with the ZIG Wink Of Stella pen and stick her to the tag to finish.

Hope you enjoyed this opulent little sparkly tag. 

Don't forget to go take a look at all of Kristy's birthday celebrations!

Kim

Pin It

Say Hello To Josie!

Have you seen Josie yet? She is a perfect Halloween cutie! She is one of the Simply Betty stamps available from Make The Day Special.

I love her button eyes and owl friend!

Catch you all later.

Kim

La-La Land Crafts Inspiration Monday

Going all spooky this week with La-La Land Crafts Inspiration Monday, so be prepared for some major league cute spookiness!

I've used Skeleton Luka for my Halloween make and you can get him as a rubber stamp or a digi-stamp.

I've used Pink Paislee papers and embellishments.

If you are looking for more scares then don't forget to pop on other to the La-La Land Crafts blog today and on Friday. 

Happy Monday to you all.

Kim

Sunday Round-Up

Oh Sunday, lovely Autumnal Sunday. I have to admit to a little bit of plot losing this week. It hasn't been one of the happiest weeks ever but it is a roast chicken dinner Sunday and that can make up for a lot of heartache in my book. 

The way to a girl's heart is through her stomach - well this girl's heart anyway!

I feel like it might be time to snuggle down and do some designing today, and see if I can persuade David to bring the Winter rug down from the loft - he says it isn't Winter yet so it can't come down. Boo!

As you were all so keen on the M6 Picture on Thursday here is another for your enjoyment...

Can you tell I was having fun with the shutter speed on my camera? Oh hours, and hours, and hours of fun!

Thanks Claire, Silvia, and Toni for your lovely comments about the M6, you made me smile! Gabrielle suggested that it should become a regular feature - perhaps 'Road Of The Week'. What do you think? Anyone got any road pictures you want to share? Could become the new craft blog phenomenon!

Well, I'll let you think about that, but whilst you do I have a couple of links to share today. First up have you checked out this month's My Mojo Monthly inspiration and guest from Sarah's blog La-De-Dah yet? You will be very happy you did - it's the very inspirational Tammy Tutterow this month.

I've been doing some catching up with my blog hopping. I have actually got something from July that I missed the first time round but I'm so glad I spotted it, better late than never! It is this wonderful Journal page from Juls over at The Glitter Chick. Gorgeous!

Anyone looking for some fabulous flower tutorials? Lee over at A Wee Bit Of Craftyloops makes and shares how to make beautiful flowers and she has some blog candy on offer too.

Next up might interest you folks into your image colouring. I recently spotted this video on Youtube for Colour rending of skin tones using Copics for fashion illustration that I thought was really interesting and gives a different way of using your alcohol markers to the one we all use in our crafty colouring. Always good to take inspiration from different areas don't you think? There are some colour rending videos for clothes too worth checking out. Ok so they are bigger images than we all use but still lots of interesting colouring tips that could be adapted!

Right, last link this week - for all you The Octopode Factory fans, have you spotted that Lily is looking for some new DT members? Go check it out on her blog. 

Hope you all have a lovely Snuggly Sunday.

Kim

Anyone For Cake?

Tagging it today for Quixotic Paperie with some yummy cake from Victoria Case SCACD - Celebrate.

This originally started life as a card but I didn't like how it turned out so turned it into a tag instead!

The papers are from Echo Park Life Is Good and I've added a bit of sparkle with the Viva Decor Glitter Liner. 

Better not obsess about cake as we do the weekly shop...Could be dangerous!

Have a good Saturday

Kim

A Little Message

Yay! A make! I know you all loved my picture of the M6 yesterday, but never fear there are no photographs of major roads in the UK on my blog today. I have same one layer stamping instead. Sorry transport fans!

I've used the Creative Expressions Vintage Typewriter stamp set to build up this image. 

You know if you missed the picture of the M6 I do have more, all you need to do is ask and I could probably fill the blog with them for a couple of weeks!

Have a fun filled Friday!

Kim