Left Of Centre Celebration Event - 10th March

Welcome Lovely People...Come on in, pull up a chair, and have a look around :-)

 

 

As most of you will have seen from my previous posts, Left Of Centre Creative Challenges Blog is Celebrating their 1st Birthday.

 

 

To Celebrate, they are doing an event throughout March to showcase the Design Teams work and the Sponsors who have supported us throughout our first year and continue to do so. As well as some new sponsors, who will be supporting us throughout the next 12 months.

EVERY DAY we will be posting makes using images from our wonderful Sponsors.

 

 

We are so very VERY lucky to have an amazing list of spectacular sponsors, and here they are:

 

Delicious Doodles - http://deliciousdoodles.blogspot.co.uk/

Ike's Art - http://www.ikesart.com/

Rick St Dennis - http://www.zibbet.com/Rick1949

MelJen Designs - http://meljensdesigns.com/

Dilly Beans - http://sillydillybeans.blogspot.co.uk/

Sassy Studio Designs - http://sassystudiodesigns.blogspot.co.uk/

Limited Runs - http://limitedrunsstamps.blogspot.co.uk/

Eiglassing - http://eiglassing.blogspot.co.uk/

Smeared Ink - http://smearedink.com/

The Stamping Chef - http://thestampingchef.com/Shop/

Aurora Wings - https://www.etsy.com/shop/AuroraWings

 

WOW look at all those amazing names!!!

 

 

For my first event make, I have used a gorgeous image, from the very brilliant Delicious Doodles.

 

 

The Image I used is a very beautiful one called 'A mothers Love' which was one of the images used for our challenge 'New Beginnings'.

 

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Here is what I made....

 

 

I wanted to make something that wasn't all cute and cuddly, like most new baby cards.

The Image is coloured with my WHSmiths bendable colouring pencils.

The edging of the image and the sentiment is Heat Embossed with blue embossing powder.

 



 

I stamped a simple heart stamp, onto the mirror board, and then heat embossed them with clear and blue embossing powders. I cut some of the hearts out to add, giving some dimension.

The card was finished off with lace and lots of flat backed gems.

 

 

I know this is a bit of a different new baby card, but I hope you like the fact that it is a bit more mature and alternative...not everyone likes cute and cuddly.

The image is very adaptable, as you can make it look dark, or you can make it look all pretty and normal.

 

 

I hope you will join us for the Month long Celebration event, as well as for our current Challenge, over on the Left Of Centre Creative Challenges Challenge Blog.

 

 

Thank you for your continued visits and feedback.

 

 



One new challenge and one Inspirational Post!

Welcome back lovely people.... How was your month of Love?? Mine was loveless lol

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Inspirational Post for Left of Centre Creative Challenges 

Today see's the Mid-Way post for the Left Of Centre Creative Challenges, Challenge #26

'Diecuts'

What a nice easy theme.... You can make anything with a dark/alternative theme, as long as it includes some diecuts...The more the better lol

The Left Of Centre Creative Challenges Blog have a great list of wonderful Sponsors, and this months sponsors are the very brilliant 'The Stamping Chef' and 'Ike's Art' !!!!!

All of our Design Team members have made cards using some of the sponsors gorgeous images...Once you have used them, you are hooked!!!

To get to Sponsors Blogs and Shops, please click either the badges above, or the following links:

http://thestampingchef.com/Challenges/

http://www.ikesart.com/

Keep an eye out this month, as the Left Of Centre Creative Challenges Blog is having a 'Celebration Month Event' due to it being 1 year old... We will be announcing some new Sponsors, as well as daily blog posts showing makes from the Sponsors who have kindly supported us for the last 12 months.

It will be a great event, and we hope you will be able to join in with the fun!

Right....Down to what I have made for Challenge #26 - Diecuts

For this make I have used some Corner Diecuts, Spellbinders small Lattice Die, x-cut decorative frame Die, ticket die and a Tattered Lace Chandelier Die that I was lucky enough to win as a Facebook give away.

I would Like to think that is plenty of diecuts to make it a diecut themed card lol

I loved this Image by THE STAMPING CHEF so much, that I had to make this card as soon as the images were received. The image is called 'BITE ME'.

This was one of the first images I coloured with colouring pencils (YES, that's how long ago I made this lol), and got me hooked on them.

I have used glossy accents on the eyes of all 3 skulls.

The backing panel was made with distress inks, clear embossing powder, creative expressions Halloween mask and mica spray. I love the shine that comes across with that mica powder, really makes the image pop.

I have finished the card off with ticket dies for my cheeky sentiment words, lots of flat back gems and some large shaped gems that I filed the back down so they sit flat on the card.

This was the first dark but fun card I made, and it is also my favourite. I have been dying to share it, but have had to wait agessssssssss....

I hope you will pop over to the Left Of Centre Creative Challenges Blog to join in with this great challenge, and the exciting month long 1 year Birthday Celebrations.

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Start of a New Challenge at LEJ Designs Challenge Blog 

Well, March is our 3rd Monthly Challenge of 2014, and the new rules are going well. The monthly challenges allow people more time to make their entries, and get them blogged and linked up.

http://lejdesignschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/

Please click on the above image or link to take you to our wonderful LEJ Designs Challenge Blog.

The only way you can get your hands on the LEJ Designs Images, is by winning them through our challenges.

We have chosen a nice easy theme for you......

FAVOURITE DIECUTS

You can make anything you like, as long as it includes your favourite diecuts. You couldn't get more simpler that that could you?!

Here is What I Made

My favourite diecuts are the gorgeous labels range from Spellbinders. I cant use these enough. I have the decorative edged ones, grand ones and the normal ones. I find them very versatile and easy to use.

I have also used an x-cut border die and the absolutely gorgeous La-La-Land heart banner die. I have seen this die on so many cards, but never knew who it was made by. As soon as I found out, I had to buy it straight away.

I coloured the image with my WHSmith colouring pencils. I love how easy they are to blend.

This image was wonderful to colour and shade.

I finished the card off with lots of flat backed gems and a distressing tools for the matting layers.

I hope, as always, that my make has inspired you to visit the LEJ Designs Challenge Blog and join in the new monthly challenge. Remember it is Anything Goes, so the only thing stopping you entering is you.....

Thank you for your visit, they mean a lot to me



Left Of Centre Challenge #24

Welcome to the second week of the current Left Of Centre Creative Challenges 'Demon Lovers' Challenge. 

The Left Of Centre Creating Challenges Challenge Blog is mainly for the alternative, dark and gothis side of crafting, however we won't turn anyone away if you want to share your work with us. 

We offer fortnightly Challenges, with great themes that get your brains ticking over...

Left Of Centre Creative Challenges

We are lucky to have a list of amazing sponsors for your challenge, and this week we have the incredibly talented "Rick St Denis". 

If you haven't had chance to visit his shop before, you really really have too. There is something for everyone, and his images are so wonderfully detailed.

Rick St Dennis

So, Here is what I have made for this "Demon Lovers" Challenge...

I have to say, I had so much fun making this wedding card....mum thought I was making a normal card, till she saw the image that was going on it lol 

I used the Rick St Dennis image "Zombie Newly Deads". I coloured this in with my colouring pencils. 

I used my grand nestabilities for the main matting and layering diecuts and also a jocrafts die for the doves and heart. 

I used matching coloured rustic ribbon, with lace over the top. Different embellishments like skeleton leaves and pearl sprays etc...

I finished the card with the sentiment made from Alphabet pegs and cut out into individual letter pieces, and purple card candi. 

It would be lovely to see some of my regular blogging friends to join in with some of the future Left Of Cebtre Challenge themes...let your hair down and have fun :-) 

Thank you for your visits and lovely kind words.

February Just For Fun Mid-Way Inspiration

Where has the love gone??? Well, this year, well every year lol, I didn't get a valentines card...aaawwww I hear you say! Never mind, my prince will come one day :-) on his horse, pulling a cart full of crafting goodies lol

Each month means we see a new challenge over the the Just For Fun Challenge Blog....and this is the Mid-Month Inspirational post.

The Just For Fun Challenge Theme this month is LOVE....

http://laineyscraftyspace-justforfun.blogspot.co.uk/

This month, we have a wonderful prize donated by Mandz, one of our fabulous Design Team members....

I am Team B, but as it's the month of lurveeeeeee I thought I would show some love and do both posts :-) 

Here is what I have made....

All images are from a Fizzy Moon Serif CraftArtist Digi Kit. 

I think these little characters are so sweet and wanted to do a "cute" wedding card for once, rather than a mature one. 

I used my grande nestabilities, to make the main diecut, and normal nestabilities to do the image and matting for it. 

I fussy cut the flowers, and glittered the flowers an parts of the image. It was so hard to take photos that showed the glitter, but it is there...honest! 

I know it is too late now to make valentines cards, however the theme is "LOVE" so you can make anniversary, wedding, with love cards etc....

I hope you will pop over and join us for a chance to win that gorgeous ribbon collection! 

Bloody Valentine Blog Hop

I hope you are all warm and ok on this wet and cold day. Looking forward to the snow?

Today sees the start of the 'Bloody Valentines Blog Hop', over on the
 Smeared and Smudged Challenge Blog

This hop is dedicated to the dark side of valentines, rather than the cute and cuddly.
The wonderful Left Of Centre Creative Challenges Blog are taking part in this brilliant hop.
As I am lucky to be on the Left Of Centre Design Team, I jumped at the chance to contribute to our efforts.


As you know, I really enjoy making alternative/darker cards, as well as normal ones. This was something I really enjoyed making....so I best show you what I've made lol

I started off with two black and white images. I coloured them with colouring pencils and added glossy accents, to areas I wanted to stand out. 

I distressed the edges with Tim Holtz distress ink and a shaving brush. I love the stippled look that the brush gives. 

The backing is made with a stencil and many layers of Tim Holtz disttess ink, in many colours. 

Backing and images have been matted with kraft card.

I finished the card with some red flat backed gems both round and heart shaped. 

I hope you will explore your dark side and join in this wonderful event. Simple click on the Smeared and Smudged link above for more details, prizes and instructions of where to visit first. 

Thank you for all your continued support and compliments on my work.

Why be Nice when you could be NAUGHTY!

Welcome back lovely bloggers, crafters and friends.... I hope you are all warm and dry....

As my regular visitors will know, I have really gotten into the 'alternative/darker' side of crafting. 

Although I have only just started exploring this kind of stuff, I LOVE it!!!! I have gone out and purchased lots of new images and papers etc and I am addicted to colouring. 

I think what I love about this kind of crafting, is you can play with colours and things that you wouldn't normally be able to do with mainstream images and makes. 

I have gotten so messy with inks and mica and sanding... it's so freeing being able to play and experiment and know that it will work, even if it goes a little wrong (boy do I go wrong a lot) lol

Well enough waffle, I suppose I should show you what I have made.......

For this card, I have used an image from The Stamping Chef 'on cloud 9'. This image is quite cutsie with the heart bubbles and the fluffy cloud, however I tried to make it a bit more Naughty and Darker by having blood drips from the bubbles and the colours used.

For the colouring, I have used WHSmiths coloring pencils.

The black backing card is cordinations card srock with sanded edging to show red through. 

The harlequin paper was distressed, but I also wanted to have it work with the other colours, so I coloured some of the diaminds with red and grey. 

I have distressed the edges of the image and harlequin paper with a tim holtz distressing tool. 

The heart I freehand ripped, punched holes and added eyelets. I threaded thin red ribbon, to give it a sexy corset look. 

I had so much fun making this card as it is sexy and dark and makes me think of tattooed burlesque dancers.

I would like to enter this into the "PunkYouGirl" challenge Hearts & Harlequins.  http://punkyougirl.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/challenge-9-hearts-harlequins-and-dt.html

I would also like to apply for a place on their Design Team. As I said, I haven't been making this kind of stuff for long, but I am very passionate about crafting and this style is a huge passion of mine now. 

My email address is pinklisa1980@hotmail.com

I would also like to enter this card into the following challenges:

 

1. The Stamping Chef - Challenge #15 Anything Goes

http://thestampingchef.com/Challenges/2014/02/05/challenge-15-anything-goes/#comment-95

 

2. Addicted To Stamping - Challenge #75 Hearts

http://addicted-to-stamps-challenge.blogspot.co.uk/

 

3. Challenges 4 Everybody - Challenge #38 Anything Goes

http://challenges4everybody.blogspot.co.uk/

 

4. Glitter n Sparkle - Challenge #71 Valentines/Add Some Red

http://glitternsparklechallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/

 

5. Scribble and Scrap - Challenge #11 Always Anything Goes

http://scribbleandscrapcrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/challenge-11-always-anything-goes-and.html

 

6. One Crazy Stamper - February Anything Goes Challenge

http://onecrazystampercom.blogspot.co.uk/ 

 

7. Through The Craftroom Door - February Challenge

http://www.ttcrd.blogspot.co.uk/

 

8. Papertake Weekly Challenge - Anything Goes

http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.co.uk

 

9. Craftitude 'Paper Crafting With Attitude' - Anything Goes or Valentines/Love

http://craftitudechallenges.blogspot.co.uk

 

10. Quoth The Raven Nevermore - Valentine, How doth I loveth thee

http://poequoththeraven.blogspot.co.uk

 

11. Crafty Girl Challenges - Challenge #11 Anything Goes

http://4craftygirlzchallenges.blogspot.co.uk

 

 

 

  

Thank you so much for your visits and lovely feedback you leave me..... my followers and commenters are very important to me...

Two Fantastic Challenge's to Announce......

Welcome back fellow crafters, bloggers and friends.

 

Where did January go??? AND it is already the 7th of February!!!

 

 

 

Well, this doesn't happen very often, but two of the Challenge Blogs that I am on the Design Team of, are launching Challenges and Mid Month Inspirational posts today.

 

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The first Challenge Blog to be launching their second ever Monthly challenge is the brilliant LEJ Designs:

 

LEJ Designs Challenge Blog

 

Their challenges launch on the 7th or each month, and end of the 5th of the following month. There are always crafty goodies to be won, please see the main blog for more details.

 

This months theme is..... Can you guess???..... Love/Valentines

 

 

Here Is What I Have Made

 

 

I used Kraft card for the matting and layering and the punched border.

The wonderful image I coloured with my water colour pencils and a thin Koi water brush.

I used a bold rose patterned paper I got from my craft stash.

I finished off with flat backed gems, diecut heart and leaves and a lovely flower and feather.

 

 

This image can be found on the blog page http://lejdesignschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/

 

 

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The second Challenge Blog that is Launching their Mid Month Inspirational post is the wonderful Left Of Centre:

 

Left Of Centre Creative Challenges

 

The Challenge Theme is......... Cute Vs Creepy........ and we are extremely lucky to be sponsored by the brilliantly talented MelJen's Designs

 

 

 

Here Is What I Have Made

 

I really struggled with this one....It is hard to mix Cute and Creepy together..... I used the image 'Nibbles the Cat' and coloured him with bright, slightly alternative coloured Spectrum Noirs.

I added white pens and glossy accents to highlight areas of the image.

 

I stamped the sentiment 'Why Try To Fit in? ..... Be Yourself!' as I think it is a very important message and went well with what I wanted the card to be like.

For the backing, I have used Kanban card and a pink glossy card, with diecuts. Finished the card off with card candi and a lovely ribbon.



 

The idea of the card was to have the cat clash/stand out from the rest of the card, but not to worry about doing so. He should be what he wants to be, rather than what outside influences tell him he should be.

I am not sure if the card works, but I like to think it fits the theme brief.

 

Please take a look at the main blog post to find details of what MelJen's are offering the lucky winner of this current challenge.

 

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As always, I hope my work has inspired you to pop along to both blogs and play along with their wonderful challenges. Let your hair down and let your imagination flow......

 

Thank you for all your visits and really kind words.

 

 



Just For Fun February Challenge

Love is in the air, everywhere I look around.... I have to say, I am feeling the love for my fellow crafters and bloggers :-)

A ne month means we see a new challenge over the the Just For Fun Challenge Blog....

The Just For Fun Challenge Theme this month is LOVE....

http://laineyscraftyspace-justforfun.blogspot.co.uk/

This month, we have a wonderful prize donated by Mandz, one of our fabulous Design Team members....

I am Team B, so usually only join in on the Mid - Month Inspiration post.

This month, you are so lucky, as I am joining in both posts as I just love the theme.....

Here is what I have made....

I love these little fellers and couldn't resist using them for a valentine's card.

I printed off a topper sheet from the house mouse CD, as well as some matching backing paper.

I glossy accented the love hearts in the images to give them a lovely shine to catch the eye.

The gold hearts are made by pasting gold pearl creative expressions paste through a stencil. I then used a heatgun to dry this and give it the lovely bubbled texture. I then cut the individual hearts out.

I think this is a really cute and fun valentines set, that would bring a smile to anyones face....male or female....

I hope this has given you some inspiration to pop over to the chalkenge blog and join in the fun....