The Paper Funday Gifted Gnome

 

     A new month means a new challenge at The Paper Funday. An Anything Goes papercraft challenge with an optional twist, which this month is No Patterned Paper......which I sort of forgot, oops, although strictly speaking it's coloured paper, not patterned.

     He's been printed onto white card and also onto the coloured paper. Using alcohol markers I coloured his hands and nose, then using a glitter Gel pen coloured the gift with silver.

     After cutting out all of the clothing and colouring the shaded areas I began to stick them onto the white card using a good strong PVA glue. Once all the glue was dry I ran a clean, dry brayer over the image to make sure it was all nice and flat.

     Using another piece of the coloured paper I cut a mat layer and mounted the image panel onto it, then onto a white card blank. The centre of the flower has some orange flock added to give it a little pop of bright colour. I found a greeting disc in my stash but it needed a little something, so I die cut a disc from the coloured paper and mounted it on foam pads. 

     If you haven't already seen the team inspiration on The Paper Funday then please pop over and have a look at all the great ideas, once you've made your project come and join us.

I would like to enter this project in the following challenges:

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - #223 Anything Goes

Inkspirational - #308 Paper Piecing

Gem of a Challenge - Wk3 Anything Goes

The Paper Funday's 5th Birthday

     The Paper Funday is celebrating it's 5th birthday with a separate challenge to the usual, please join us in our celebrations, you might even win a prize.

     For my birthday card I have used a flower die to cut out the centre of a white layer, then mounted it on foam tape above a piece of patterned paper.

     The greeting has been heat embossed in gold across the centre bar which does not cut the card.

     To add a tiny bit of interest and to tie the whole thing together I have added some small pearls in each corner of the top layer.

     The card is still thin enough to go standard post and by facing the pearls to the back when in the envelope, it should run through their machinery without causing to much fuss.

     Come along and join in the celebration at The Paper Funday. Follow the link to join in the fun.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Crafter's Cafe - #303 Feminine

Creative Fingers - #267 Anything Goes

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - #2248 Anything Goes

Beautiful Blossoms - #11 Anything Goes or Mood Board

Die Cut Divas - Flower(s)

Paper Funday Christmas Has Landed

 

     December is upon us already, where did the year go?!  This month's challenge at The Paper Funday has begun, it's an Anything Goes challenge with an optional twist this month of Snowmen or Birds, but that's not all........there is also a chance to win a prize if you join us in our 5th Birthday challenge which is being run alongside the usual one.

     

     This is a small Christmas Journal made with greyboard covered with Christmas papers. I have made one very much like this before and it was such a hit I had to make it again.

     There is a small pocket on the back flap to hold the cover of a note book, this way the note book can be removed when full and a new one added. The note book was made with some copy paper covered with a patterned card overlay and stitched together.

     

     Inside the front cover is a small pocket to hold a tag, next time I think I should add a larger pocket to hold receipts. Double sided papers are perfect for this type of project and I do happen to have just a few!!!

     This project was for our monthly challenge at The Paper Funday which you are welcome to come and join. 

     If you have the time then take a look at our 5th Birthday challenge which is running alongside the usual one, this one is for Birthday or Anniversary projects and there are prizes to be won, so come and join our celebrations.

I would like to enter this project in the following challenges:

Kraftin' Kimmie - Anything But A Card

Crafting From The Heart - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

Creative Crafting Uncles - Foliage and Leaves

Thank You

 

     A new month means a new challenge at The Paper Funday, an Anything goes challenge with an optional twist and this months it's Thank You.

     In the UK November is a month of remembrance for all our armed forces and others who were lost fighting for freedom, their symbol is the poppy.

     I already had this image stamped and embossed after borrowing the stamp from a friend, all I had to do was mount it on a red mat layer and add a die cut poppy. I felt that no words were necessary, none would have been enough.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Festive Friday - #FF0146 Remembrance Day

Use Your Stuff - #496 Anything Goes

Cats and Bats

     Another month, another project for The Paper Funday. This is an Anything Goes papercraft challenge with an optional twist, for October the twist is use yellow, orange and green. 

     This card is a CASE of a card by Shelly Matteson, her card is a bit more orangey than mine but in my defence I was using up some gorgeous papers I inherited from my mum.

     The background paper already had a sun/moon type look to it so I cut a moon in vellum and stuck it over the lightest area of the background.

     The colourise pumpkins were cut from some Clarity papers mum had in her stash, I chose a greeny purple one to fit the twist. The leaves come from another sheet of Clarity paper that had amazing Autumn colours on it. Shaped leaves give a bit more texture and depth to the overall picture with bats and cats in black card being set off by a black mat layer. To make the whole thing a little more magical I mounted the picture on some pearlescent orange card. 

      I won't be giving this one away for two reasons, one being I really like it and the second is we don't tend to celebrate Halloween even though the colour are amazing. It will grace the walls of my work area until next year at least.

     Please come and join us at The Paper Funday, it doesn't have to be Halloween and it doesn't have to be a card, as long as it's made with paper or card that's fine with us.

I would like to enter this project in the following challenges:

Dragonfly Dreams - Autumn

Two Old Bats Halloween - Anything Halloween

Try It On Tuesday - Autumn

Inspiration Station - #54 Halloween colours

Get Creative - #126 Purple, green black and orange

Unicorn - #92 Autumn/Halloween

The Paper Funday Maiko

 

     Welcome to this month's project for The Paper Funday, a digi stamp from StarStampz called Maiko In Spring. 

     

     I printed the stamp twice on smooth card, I should have payed more attention to the size as the finished card ended up being A5, so that's by hand delivery on that one!

     I cut out one Maiko ans set her aside while I coloured the background piece. Using a sponge and some Distress Inks I added blue and greens to the card, a colour wash would have buckled the card so it had to be something dryer.

    

    As the edges of the Maiko might be visible I coloured her with the same alcohol pen I was going to use on the top image, but only arouns the outside edges. I coloured the cutout Maiko and added a few touches of silver to her kimono, which sadly don't show up in the photograph.

  To add some texture and make the tree more interesting I dug out my stash of Flowersoft. Using tiny dabs of PVA i aimed for where I thought the flowers might be.

     Once the glue was dry I tapped off any excess Flowersoft and mounted the background on to some dusky mauve card, then on to a thin layer of dark blue. I was going to put this on to a white card blank but the white blank took away from the image so I chose to use a piece of dusky blue card to make a card blank.

     The Maiko cutout was then mounted on foam before going onto the background, like this she now stood out from the blossom on the tree.

     The card looked a little empty around the edges so I added a knot made with Mizuhiki cord to lift it slightly.

The Paper Funday is an Anything Goes with paper challenge, it also has an optional twist, so please pop along and join us with your papercraft project.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Crafting Happiness - #145 Anything Goes

Creative Fingers - #259 Anything Goes

Gem Of A Challenge - Wk15 Anything Goes

Summer Rain

 

     This month at The Paper Funday we have two sponsors, this design is from Sheeski Designs - Shopping In Yorkshire.

     I saw a sample on Sheepski's Etsy page that caught my eye, the simplicity appealed to my level of colouring skills, I chose to use blue instead of black but the basic idea is similar. This was done with a mix of alcohol marker brands, it doesn't seem to matter how many pens you have, finding the right shade is a task in itself.

     A simple mat layer cut with nesting dies helped give the card some curves and finding a fabulous piece of patterned paper from Clarity really finished it off. There is no greeting at present, this will be added when it's needed, although I quite like it without.

    Please pop over to The Paper Funday to see all the inspiration from the team and have a look at some of the great images from our sponsors.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Creative Fingers - Anything Goes

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - Anything Goes

Love To Craft - Anything Goes

Bowled Over By Paper

      The Paper Funday's challenge this month is as usual Anything Goes, but the twist is to make something that is neither square nor rectangular. A 3D project seemed the way to go for me, so I broke out the Spellbinder die set Vintage Hexagon Bowl. There is a really good video tutorial on You Tube to walk you through assembly which I found very useful, especially when it came to the stitched edges.

    

      To start with I cut out all the panels using two 12x12 sheets of double sided thick paper. At this point I began to think about durability, after all the work I was going to put into this bowl I wanted it to last.

      To make my bowl stronger I used project acetate on both sides of each panel. As this acetate is thin I was able to cut two sheets at a time but the holes didn't punch out cleanly so I had to use my Crop-A-Dile. A bit tedious but well worth it and it did punch through four layers at a time.

     

     With the paper sandwiched between two sheets of acetate I started to crochet around the edge of each panel, it didn't take as long as I thought it would. I used a #20 crochet cotton on this one as that's what I had to hand, I would say if you are using a larger thread number you may need to make sure you have plenty. 

     Sadly I don't think the tutorial tells you just how much thread you will need as it may vary, just make sure it's a full ball or several matching skeins.

     To make up the bowl I set it out on the worktop and moved the side panels around until I was happy, then took a picture to refer to.

     Sewing up was very quick and easy as I had left long tales as advised in the tutorial

     This bowl came out around 4inches tall, 5inches at the bottom and 8inches at the top, perfect for sweets, pot pourri or as a small hamper.

     The Paper Funday is a papercraft challenge, not just cards, so please pop along and join us with your papercraft projects.

I would like to enter this project in the following challenges:

A Place To Start - Anything Goes

Crafting From The Heart - Anything Goes NO Cards

Crafting Happiness - #143 Anything Goes

613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes

Creative Fingers - #256 Anything Goes     (Top 3)

Embossing With The Paper Funday

 

     Welcome to my contribution to this month's The Paper Funday Challenge, this month our twist is Embossing - Hot or Dry, or both if you wish.

     I chose to dry emboss with a Tim Holtz embossing folder - Elegant. I have inherited a large craft stash for my mum so it seemed right to use some of it on this project, Clarity papers caught my eye but I can't tell you which set it comes from, sorry.

     There were a few areas of damage on the piece I chose, so I cut it down to a 4inch square and ran it through the embossing folder. I have a Bigshot so for my machine I used the base plate, the folder and one clear plate, the 3D folders are much thicker than the ordinary ones so you'll need to adjust your sandwich according to your machine.

     Once embossed I used a little silver Pebeo gilding wax on a hard foam pad to add highlight to the raised areas. I left it for a few minutes then gave it a gentle buff with a soft cloth to get a nice shine.

     I wanted to have a coloured mat layer under my patterned paper but nothing in my stash was the right shade, so I made my own. I cut a square of white card and used an alcohol marker to colour the edges, no need to do the whole card as only the edge will be seen.

     After sticking the embossed topper to the mat layer I then cut another mat layer in silver paper and mounted that underneath on foam tape.

     Once stuck onto the white card blank I went in search of a suitable greeting. My card stash needs lots more birthday cards so after a little rummage I found some greeting toppers, the birthday one wasn't quite right so I used a Best Wishes instead. Mounted on foam tape and tucked in the top corner finished this card off and with the colour scheme it could be for a man or a woman.

     If you haven't been to The Paper Funday then please pop over and take a look at all the lovely inspiration you'll find there, then come and join us with your project.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

The Paper Players - PP638 Tic-Tac-Toe  (last row down)

Can You Handle The Pressure - Anything Goes Embossing     (Top Winner)

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - #2317 Anything Goes     (Honourable mention)

Love To Craft - #74 Anything Goes

Doodle Wreath

This months challenge at The Paper Funday is as always Anything Goes with a December twist of Holiday Time. This great digi stamp is from Varada Sharma, called Doodle Wreath.

     The larger card was made by fading the image to 50%, then laying the full strength image over the top and turning it 90degrees. Sounds complicated but believe me it's not, I'm not very tech savvy atall, all done in a basic version of Photoshop.

     The faded image I coloured in light green and the darker in dark green, I think it gives it some depth. A little Distress Ink Bundled Sage around the edge helped knock back the bright white. All the berries were coloured with a Christmas Red Stickles.

     A thin mat of red mirri card helps the red berries stand out a little more, this was then mounted on foam on a white card blank.

     The small card was inspired by the way a png image has a black background when viewed in my photo package, I rather liked it for a more masculine card. Again changed in Photoshop with a little tech support from my son, once he explained about a paint bucket symbol it made sense, choose the bucket, choose the colour and click where you want to tip the bucket!

     The berries on this one were coloured with red Liquid Pearls but this time I used plain red card for a mat and a silver peel off greeting to finish it off.

     Digital images are great, you can change the size, orientation and play around with them to achieve different effects. To see what else can be done with them pop over to The Paper Funday and have a look at the DT samples.

I would like to enter these cards in the following challenges:

Winter Wonderland - Anything Christmas Goes

The 12 Months of Christmas - #95 Anything Christmas Goes

CraftyHazelnut's Christmas - #623 Anything Christmas

The Holly and Ivy - Anything Christmas

Autumn Butterfly

 

     This months challenge at The Paper Funday is Anything Goes with an optional twist of Autumn Colours. I love the colours of Autumn so I chose to use them on a butterfly.

     The butterfly was stamped using a John Next Door media plate and a selection of dye based inks, the main body of the silhouette being in yellows with a touch of rusty orange around the outside.

     To get the shimmering flowers the inked image had to completely dry then using the same media plate a stencil was laid on top and a generous layer of Versamark was added to the media plate. This was then stamped on top of the coloured shape and dusted with pearl mica powder. A very light spray of an in-expensive hairspray was used to fix the mica.

     To finish of the image panel some silhouette stamps were used with Versafine black ink and then the sentiment was added.

     To get the same shade of orange as a mat layer a plain white layer was coloured but only around the edge that would be seen, then a black mat layer before going onto a white card blank.

     You will see that the card changes with the angel of view, the mica is always there but when it catches the light it really shines.

     Come along and join us at The Paper Funday with your creations this month, we have lots of inspiration to help get you started.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Try It On Tuesday - Sparkle and Shine

Sunday Stamps - SSC295 Autumn Bounty     (Top Cup)

Art Impressions - #339 Stencil or Mask

Signs Of Autumn

 

     A new challenge has started at The Paper Funday this morning, this month's twist to our Anything Goes challenge is All About The Candy. I have chosen to stay with an Autumn theme by using one of our sponsor images, Signs Of Autumn by Jan's Digis.

     This digi comes blank or pre coloured, I chose to colour a blank image but used the pre coloured as a guide to help me see where one leaf stopped and another started.

     The blank image was printed four times on smooth white cardstock, this gave me one image to die cut with a rectangle, two to trim and layer, with one left to experiment on. I planned my colours on the play piece and tried out various combinations before colouring my main image with alcohol markers.

     Using foam pads I layered the jar after giving it a little curve and added the leaves on top. A small Thanks stamp added to the bottom makes it a useful little addition to my card stash.

     The main image panel was matted on a dark orange card then a very dark brown before going on a 7x5 Kraft card blank.

     Pop over to The Paper Funday to see all the fabulous inspiration the team have come up with, then come and join us with your project.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

(PIN)spirational - #294 October

Everybody-Art - #521 Autumn

Shopping Our Stash - #480 Leaf Me Alone

Try It On Tuesday - Autumn     (Top 5)

Use Your Stuff - #468 Autumn/Fall

Thinking Of You

 

     A new challenge at The Paper Funday has begun today, we are an Anything Goes challenge with an optional twist, this month's twist is Thinking Of You.

      My card is quite small at only 4 inches square but it packs a lot of Autumn colour. The leaves were made by using double sided sticky sheets on card, then covering it with gilding flakes, I find this is much easier and faster than using special glue when covering a large area.

      The leaf dies are Vintage Leaves from John Next Door, they have a solid shape and a veined shape to match. Using the gilded card and some black card I cut several leaves to make a small bunch, each leaf has a little shaping so they don't sit completely flat.

      To continue the Autumn theme I have used a Autumn Orange linen card from Crafts Too, which is matted on black and then on to a Kraft card blank.

      A simple sentiment was stamped in black across the top, a small but bright card just to let someone know they are in your thoughts.

      There is a wealth of inspiration over on The Paper Funday challenge, pop over and have a look, then join in the challenge with your own project.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Hand Stamped Sentiments - #397 Inspiration 

Get Creative - #115 Fall/Autumn

613 Avenue Create - #202209 Anything Goes/twist-Leaves

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - #2236 Anything Goes

Love To Craft - #70 Anything Goes

Inspiration Station - #37 Leaves and Autumn Colours

The Paper Funday Friendship

 

     The new challenge at The Paper Funday has begun. It's an Anything Goes challenge with an optional twist, this month's twist is Friendship.

     This card started with a white card blank, embossed with a woodgrain folder, then distressed with brown ink.

     The large circle is cut from a cork sheet, making sure the dies were off centre. Sunflowers always brighten things up so three were made with yellow card, centres coloured with brown pen and then covered with brown and black Flowersoft. A few green leaves tucked in here and there made it look more real.

     Friend was die cut into Kraft card and backed with gold mirri card. The straight end was tucked under the cork ring, a little foam tape underneath the word lifted it up enough for the forked end to sit over the ring.

     A few small glass drops were added to the card for extra interest. Rather simple and thin enough to post as standard, a bright little card to make a friend smile.

     Please drop in to see all the inspiration at The Paper Funday, then come and join us with your creations.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Creative Fingers - #236 Anything Goes

Love To Craft - #69 Anything Goes

Crafts Galore Encore - #102 Anything Goes

Paper Funday At The Beach

 

      The new challenge this month at The Paper Funday is anything goes, with an optional twist of A Day At The Beach. I love the beach so I chose to follow the twist with this card.

     I started with a white card blank and taped it to my craft mat with masking tape, so I could keep a white border all the way around the card. Then I stamped the lighthouse image with blue ink and the sentiment block aswell, with the ink left on the stamp I stamped on masking sheet, cut out and covered the block area.

     With the masking sheet and tape in place I used a stencil to make the background. Using a little of the same ink as the stencilling I added some colour to the stamped image, but not very much.

     The masking sheet was removed from the block area and the sentiment was stamped in the same blue ink as the image. Once completely dry the masking tape was removed from the card edges, a simple, flat card was the result.

     Our challenge at The Paper Funday is anything goes but you can follow the twist if it inspires you, please take a look at all the DT inspiration and then join us with your creations.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Cardz 4 Guyz - #299 Summer

Gem Of A Craft - Wk14 Anything Goes

Try It On Tuesday - Summer

Father's Day at The Paper Funday

 

     The new challenge at The Paper Funday begins today. We are an Anything Goes challenge with an optional twist, this month it's Masculine. I chose to make a Father's Day card.

     Using Kraft card I die cut the words with John next Door's individual letter squares, this gave me the chance to lay it out like scrabble tiles.

     I wasn't sure how well the die cut letters would stand up to a woodgrain embossing folder, so I used a ball tool to score the grain lines and a little green ink to highlight them.

     For decoration I have used die cut ivy touched over with a little white ink, a few punched flowerpots and some stamped and cut garden tools. All of these items have had a little shaping so they aren't completely flat.

     On the back of the main panel there is foam tape all around the outer edge but also in between the letters so it doesn't sag. Some of this tape is visible from the outside at an angle so it has been coloured brown with an alcohol ink pen.

     The main panel was stuck onto a satin gold mat layer on a white DL card blank. All the decorations were then added to the card with a strong PVA glue or tiny foam pads.

     With the addition of acetate this could be made into a shaker card for added interest.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Shopping Our Stash - #471 Make Mine A Tall One

Try It On Tuesday - For The Man In Your Life

Say Hello To The Wallace Family

 

     This month's optional twist at The Paper Funday is 'Family', this is the Wallace Family by Lavinia Stamps. Did you know a group of hedgehogs is called an 'array'?

     The main image panel was started with a leaf print taken from a media plate onto water colour card. I like smooth card but there is less buckling with watercolour card when using paint or fluid ink.

     Using a stamp press the Wallace family were stamped with Versafine ink three times to get a good coverage.

      A little black pencil under each hog grounds them before a light dusting of Distress Ink across the bottom of the panel adds a hint of green. There is a narrow black mat layer to make the hogs pop but when put over a plain white card blank it didn't look right, so using the same Distress Ink I stamped around the edge of the card blank and blended the edges too.

     The image panel was then put on foam tape before being added to the lightly decorated card blank. A greeting was needed but it had to be something simple. A single layer die cut looked alright but I wanted it raised, this one has no room to add foam pads so I cut it out four times and glued the layers together to form a 'chipboard' like greeting.

     The Paper Funday is an anything goes challenge but we always have an optional twist, this month it's 'family', so pop over and join us with your papercraft creations whether they're family or not.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Dream Valley - #269 Four Legged Friends

Simon Says Stamp - Masculine

Critter Crazy - #62 Anything Goes with a Featured Critter

Stamping Sensations - Anything Stamped/option Flora or Fauna

Mum's Dragon

 

     This months optional theme at The Paper Funday is April Showers, there's no rain on this one but the flower would make a perfect umbrella. The image is by Lee Holland, it is available as a digi stamp, although this one is an acrylic stamp.

     I stamped with Versafine black ink on smooth white card a couple of times, my colouring is not great so I thought I should have a spare just in case.

     My Mum is Welsh so the dragon had to be red rather than green. I used watercolour pencils and a water brush to colour him in.

     The image panel and mat layer are cut with a notched square die set and mounted on to a dark green card. I kept it all flat as it had to be posted and I didn't want any hiccups to delay it's arrival.

     The Paper Funday is an Anything Goes challenge with an optional twist, so whatever you have made with card or paper is fine with us.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

613 Avenue Create - #202204 Anything Goes/option April Showers

Send A Smile 4 Kids - Cards for Mum's/Special Ladies

The Fairy and The Unicorn - Anything Fantasy Goes

Crafting Happiness - #122 Anything Goes

Spring Blooms

     Today is the start of our March challenge at The Paper Funday. We are an anything goes challenge with an optional twist, this month it's Spring.

     My chosen digi image is from Eureka! Stamps called Frame Full Of Flowers. It comes as a line drawn image ready for you to colour, but as my colouring skills are pretty basic I chose to work it another way. 

     I did colour an image but it didn't look very good so I decided to just fill in the background areas with black to make the flowers and foliage pop. Having coloured an image I had something to use as reference on this one, trying to pick out what was a leaf rather than background was much easier.

     Just black and white was nice but it needed a lift, so I used a gold glitter gel pen to highlight all the flower stamens. I also cut off the rope border that surrounds the image to mount it on black card.

     To make it a little more Spring like I used a bright yellow mat layer for that pop of cheerful colour. Mounting it on a white card didn't look quite right, it took away from the image, so I used a Kraft card instead.

     A very simple card made with a pretty digi stamp, hopefully proving that if you are like me and not so good at colouring, you can still use them to create individual artworks.

     Please pop over and join us at The Paper Funday with your creative projects, we would love to see what you have made with paper and card.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Crafts Galore Encore - #97 Anything Goes

Crafting Happiness - #121 Anything Goes

Paperminutes - #733 Spring

Paper Funday Hugs and Kisses

 

     A new challenge begins today at The Paper Funday, it's anything goes but I have chosen to follow the optional twist of Hugs and Kisses.

     This is made with a mix of old and newish dies from John Next Door. The old die is the cut out heart in the middle, it's from a set that goes well with the pop out box. This has been cut into the front of a DL card blank so that the purple card behind can be seen.

     The newer dies are the strip dies used to make the edging at top and bottom of the card and the embossing on the silver satin card. To use dies as embossing templates is easy and it gives them yet another use. Place a silicon embossing mat under the card you wish to emboss, place the die on the card and run through the machine, you will need to adjust your 'sandwich' - for my machine I use two pieces of card from a cereal box with my clear plates, leaving out the 1 & 2 shims.

     Each silver heart has a scalloped edge purple heart underneath to tie it in with the card liner. It looked a little bare so I used some silver peel off borders to bring in a little more silver, I have lots of peel offs in my stash so it's time to use\them up. I don't feel it's cheating, I know if I tried to stamp a long border like that it would fine until the last bit so at least this way it looks even.

     The Paper Funday has lots of inspiration for you so please pop over and take a look, then come and join us with your creation.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Shopping Our Stash - #463 Heart and/or beets

International Art & Soul - #126 All About Love/Hearts

Use Your Stuff - #440 Embossing