I am excited to be sharing with you my first creation for The Fuzzy Wuzzy challenges. This first challenge is a colour challenge and you can incorporate a few or if you really want a challenge all FOUR colours! The colours you add must be the main colours of your design and you can add a touch of other colours if needed.

Also the winner of the candy has been announced so make sure you pop over to see if you were the lucky one!

This month there will be 4 prizes and 4 winners! How cool is that? You have 4 chances of winning something!

I decided to add a touch of Aussie to start off with this month and I couldn’t go past the gorgeous new image illustrated by Karen’s Doodles Joey Goes to School

The colours for the challenge are

As you can see I decided to attempt to use all the colours! Was a fun mix actually and I enjoyed trying something new.

I went for a distressed look, ripped up some cardboard boxes and I put it through the cuttlebug and cut out the centre using the Deckled Rectangles. Because the hole wasn’t big enough I moved the die a little in each direction until I got the size I wanted. I liked how it flattened the corrugation too which made it look even a little more older.

I wasn’t sure what to do with the top left corner and a friend suggested I added some flowers so I pulled out the blossoms nestabilities and using the same papers cut the shapes. I like how it turned out.

Here is a close up of the kangaroo and her joey

I coloured with copic markers trying to get very fine flicks and I will admit I wasn’t at all happy with my first attempt so this was my second attempt. :) I wanted a red kangaroo but wasn’t quite sure of their particular colourings. That’s where google comes in so handy! I studied some images as I was colouring which is really helpful I find.

The Fuzzy Wuzzy team have created some gorgeous cards to inspire you this month so I hope you’ll stop by and take a peek and join us with a creation using an animal of any kind by any designer!!

I look forward to seeing your fabulous creations!

Thanks for stopping by,

Hugs

Zoe xxoo

Well the day has come where I am very excited to announce the ladies who will be playing along side each other for Make it Crafty. I had so many wonderful ladies to choose from and am so honoured that you applied to be a part of this new exciting technique challenge idea of mine. I would have loved to give everyone a position and I will be contacting a few of you to ask if you would like to join as a guest over the coming months. BIG THANKYOU!!

The team I have selected all bring something different that they will be sharing with you over the next few months so I do hope you’ll follow along and share this experience with us.

Without further ado I would like to introduce you to the team.

I am so honoured to have you all to play with ladies. Thank you for trusting in my new idea and for your support and excitement thus far. BIG HUGS!!

Please stop by the team’s blogs as I have heard whispers that a few have had time to whip something up to share with you today!! :)

Sooo… I figured with this exciting news we needed to CELEBRATE with some CANDY!!

I have put together a collection of lots of different yummies!

Included is:

1. $10 to spend on any Make it Crafty digi stamps
2. Tim Holtz embossing folders – checkerboard & cracked set
3. Tim Holtz on the edge ‘Brackets’ die (one of my FAVOURITES!!)
4. Cuttlebug Forest Branches embossing folder
5. Pack of 10 A5 Xpress-It Blending card
6. 6mm X-Press-It double sided tape
7. 3 packs of charms
8. Websters trimmings
9. Sticky Stitches
10. Prima Pearls Flourishes
11. Prima Flowers
12. Color me Crazy white flowers
13. Kaisercraft clear script background stamp (perfect for stamping on the flowers!!)
14. Copic 0.3 black multiliner
15. Copic Spica clear glitter pen
16. Pink Copic Ciao markers – RV10, RV04, RV06

Because I LOVE birthdays, I have decided to draw the winner of the candy on my birthday!!

So you have until 11:59pm September 26th to enter! AND I will announce the winner on the 27th!!

How to enter:

If you HAVE a blog

1. Become a follower if you are not already (this is so you can hear about the challenges!! I don’t want you to miss out!!)
2. Add the thumbnail candy to your side bar and optionally mention it in a post.
3. Return and add a link to your blog below
4. Make sure you remember to return to see if you have won!

If you DON’T have a blog

1. Become a follower if you are not already (this is so you can hear about the challenges!! I don’t want you to miss out!!)
2. Mention the candy and challenges to a friend via email or on a group where allowed
3. Enter your name below linking to www.makeitcrafty.com.au
4. Make sure you remember to return to see if you have won!

Note: Candy will be redrawn if I do not hear from the winner by August 4th.

CANDY IS OPEN TO EVERYONE!! SPREAD THE WORD!! :)

Here is the Sidebar Candy Image

Copy and paste this code to add badge
<a href="http://www.makeitcrafty.com.au/challenges/welcome-new-dt-plus-celebration-candy" target="_blank"><img title="make-it-crafty-celebration-candy" src="http://www.makeitcrafty.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/celebration-candy-thumb.jpg" alt="Make it Crafty Celebration Candy" width="250" height="250" /></a>

Thanks for all your support everyone and I can’t wait for our FIRST CHALLENGE this time NEXT WEDNESDAY!! Mark your calendars!!

Hugs and I wish you all the luck in winning some candy.

Zoe xxoo

Enter Your Link HERE!!

Hi everyone, I am back. I wasn’t lucky enough to actually go anywhere BUT I have been running around trying to organise many exciting things. Tomorrow I announce my FABULOUS new design team plus to celebrate there will be a surprise! So don’t miss it!!

I hope you have all been well. I have missed creating and sharing with you but soon you will be swamped with lots of creativeness to get you inspired!!

Today I actually have something to share – woohoo!!

If you aren’t a facebook fan then you missed out on the fun naming comps I had over the weekend! I have two new characters and they needed a name! There were FOUR lucky winners who won free digi’s so to be in on my impulsive fun games make sure you come play on my fan page!!

Meet Daphne Princess named by Sandi. :)

Daphne Princess is now available
for only $3.00AUD

I decided I needed to make a card with her. My initial idea did NOT work and if you saw it you would be falling off your chair right now in laughter. I had this idea that I was going to drape some material behind her like curtains. I don’t sew and have NO IDEA how to make curtains of ANY size so I googled some images and began experimenting. After about an hour and lots of wasted material I decided she didn’t really need to have draping material behind her. heehee

Instead I pulled out some of my VERY OLD (2002) favourite papers I had been saving for a special occasion.

I used the on the edge dies for the scalloped borders and then wove some ribbon through the holes. I used some lace edge material from websters and decorated a little tag to stick in the pocket.

Was fun to experiment but sometimes I guess you just have to know when to give up or at least find a pattern with instructions!! heehee

Daphne was coloured with copic markers – Dress – Rustic Blue B93, 95, 97 & 99, Light Skin E000, 01 & 11, Dusty Blonde Hair – YR31, Y18, Y28

Hope you enjoy Daphne. Don’t forget to pop back tomorrow!!

Hugs and take care

Zoe xxoo

I am really excited to share with you a new monthly challenge “The Fuzzy Wuzzy Challenges” that I will be a part of. Some of my fav girls have been preparing an awesome challenge blog where it’s all about CRITTERS! All those cute Stamping Bazaar, House Mouse and anything furry will be a part of this challenge site!

You’ll enjoy seeing some amazing creations by the very talented team:
Kellie, Stephanne, Kylie, Sue, Marley & Myself!

The first challenge is going to take place on September 3rd so mark your calendars!

But we need your help to spread the word far and wide and of course we wanted to make it worth your while so we have a super duper Candy to share!!

Up for grabs is:

*$30 (AUD) gift voucher from Tickled Pink Stamps

*Two digital stamps of your choice and an unmounted
Hansel rubber stamp from The Stamping Bazaar

*$15 (AUD) digi stamp gift voucher from Make It Crafty

*One Popcorn Bear set – Golfing Popcorn

*One TGF Marlene Stamp

I told you it is AWESOME!! To help spread the word jump over to “The Fuzzy Wuzzy Challenges” blog and check out all the deets to see how YOU could win this Fantabulous Candy!!

The winner of the Candy will be announced Sept 3rd so you best get cracking and start spreading the word to get your chance to win!

Hugs all and I hope you are looking forward to playing along!

Zoe xxoo

Same story! Sorry I haven’t been adding as many crafty creations lately! It will all be changing very soon! I am very close to finalising my new Design Team which I am very excited about and our first challenge will be on September 8th! So I hope you’ll take note and come back to check out the challenge!

On to my little creation today! Some family members had a little boy recently and so I have been scrambling to create something a little special for them. I wanted to create something a little different and was looking around for some ideas when I came across a template for a cute little pram.

I know some of you who know me will be thinking ‘Zoe why didn’t you design your own?” but I was in a hurry and I thought it looked pretty cute. :)

Although the template was good, I thought as I was making it there were a few things I would do differently. The biggest issue I have with it is that the angle of the wheels make it difficult to stand properly so I have had to do a lot of propping up to try and make them straighter. I thought the design of the hood was pretty nifty though. :)

I also got the idea for the ‘onesie‘ card from the same designer. After seeing her design I drew up my own version and added a little flap to the bottom that folds around the bottom of the card to hold it together. Looks pretty cute in real life. :) I added some miniature button brads too.

I purchased the CUTEST little outfit as a gift. It’s got a sweet little giraffe on the T-Shirt and says “I want to be tall like you”. The pants and little cap have a giraffe pattern on them and the little jacket says “Busy Growing”. Then I found these little booties to match.

I must get going so I can get this all wrapped up and posted today. Hopefully it will stay safe in the mail!

Hugs all and thanks so much for stopping by today.

Take care

Zoe xxoo

Today I bring you my creation I made for the lovely Crissy Armstrong a fabulous illustrator and founder of Sundays with Crissy. This month we are creating a project based on our Favourite Time of Year. You could imagine that as a special holiday, season of the year or even a special moment in your life. This month Crissy is giving away a gorgeous pad of designer paper and FIVE of her gorgeous digi stamps of your choice!

I have a few favourites throughout the year but with winter here at the moment SPRING is my favourite time of year right now! heehee I can’t wait to see the flowers begin to burst, the weather warm up and of course see the butterflies come out in full colour. So of course in my project I needed to include flowers and the gorgeous Rose Butterfly I have fallen in love with that Crissy designed for Whimsy Stamps.

A little while ago I probably spent a few hours watching youtube videos by Tim Holtz and Ranger and I fell in love with the Memory Glass. I got some and had been sitting on it trying to think of some fabulous idea to do with it. Didn’t come but I made this instead. heehee

How did I make it…

I started by adding some distress inks to one side of the glass and then I added stickles all over it to give it frosted textured glass look. Hard to see in the photo unfortunately (I tried MANY photos).

Then I stamped the other piece of glass with a flourish stamp, it didn’t turn out dark enough so I decided to clean it off and ink again this time I added embossing powder to make it dark. Being glass however the embossing powder also stuck in places I didn’t want but I left it for a vintage look. Next time I will try using a static pouch first and see if that helps.

Then I put the two pieces together in the frame, added cinnamon stickles around the edge of the frame and also added some distress stickles under the area the butterfly would be positioned.

I made the butterfly by printing it and then colouring it with copic markers. The markers seem to take to the inkjet shrink film a bit better too than other film I have played with. I added my lightest shade first and then to create the darker areas I ‘dotted’ the next shades on.

The flower was made using the three smallest dies from the blossom nestabilities set which I cut from the shrink film then heated and whilst they were still hot I curled them up and held them in position until they had cooled. Then I inked the back with distress inks and added stickles around the edge which darkened the ink along the edge.

I found the glass leaves at the sewing store and I made the beads and the leaf and butterfly charms were given to me from a couple of friends.

Here is a close up of the gorgeous butterfly

I had a lot of fun making this as it was something other than a card! woohoo! :) I hope I have inspired you with this little charm project today. If that wasn’t enough and trust me it isn’t you’ll definitely want to drop by Sundays with Crissy to see what the fabulous crew have been up to.

Unfortunately I just missed out on the new Simon Says Vintage challenge but hopefully I will make it for the next one! :)

However I would like to share this project with the following challenges that I haven’t missed! :)

1. Digital Tuesday – Butterflies or Lace
2. Crafty Creations – Winged Things
3. A pocket full of posies – All the glitters
4. Stampotique Designers Challenge – Wings, wings, wings
5. Flutterby Wednesday – Open
6. C.R.A.F.T – Mini Beasts (insects)
7. Incy Wincy Designs – A Bugs Life

Thanks so much for popping by! All your comments mean the world to me and bring a huge smile to my face. Thank you.

Hugs and take care

Zoe xxoo

Well I made a bit of a boo boo and had what I thought was going to be a quick nap and warm up in bed and 6 hours later found myself awake at 2am! Argh! However, I thought with the house so quiet other than some sleep noises from the other room (heehee) I would take the opportunity to do some crafting! woohoo. :)

Soooo I thought I would colour up this new house I asked Alex to create especially for us Aussies!! It’s an old Shack set in the Outback with sum gum trees, a windmill, rustic old wood, and it wouldn’t be complete without a dunny! heehee

I thought I would create a rustic feel and so I grabbed a cardboard box and cut it to size for my backing. Tore off some paper at the top to expose the corrugated card and then inked the edges with distress inks. I LOVE the aged mahogany distress ink.

Then I decided that I wanted to get some gum leaves. Well, I am not sure this is a good move at 4am. I was out there with my torch peeling bark off the paperbark tree, grabbing a few leaves off the ground and picked a few from the tree, all the while the dog next door notices me and goes crazy! I switch off the torch and stood there silently for a moment until the dog calmed down. And then quietly snuck back inside. hahaha  Talk about feeling awkward!

Here’s a close up of the image

Click Here to Buy the Aussie Outback Shack – Only $3.50 AUD

I printed the image out on X-Press It blending card (The BEST blending card for copics in my opinion) and a little plug here – I do sell it worldwide and even have sample packs to get you started.

I coloured with my copic markers – this image was one of those images where I was glad I had a few different shades of brown. :) I coloured the main house in the E40′s range and then coloured over the top with the greys to make the wood look older.

I love the way the ground turned out. It looks so close to the type of colours you find out there. I used the Auburn Hair Set (E13, E17, E19) I must admit these are my g to colours lately. I just love the richness of the brown/red.

I blended the sky with, B000, B00, B21, B24 & B26.

I would like to share this card with the following challenge sites:

1. Stamptacular Sunday Challenge – Boys!
2. Cards for Men – We’re off on an adventure – to the aussie outback!! :)
3. Party Time Tuesday – Anything Goes
4. Pile it On – A little bit country

Well it will be light outside soon. I might see if I can make myself sleep for a few more hours so I am not a wreck ‘later today’ heehee.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Hugs & take care

Zoe xxoo

I am finding it hard to find time to craft these days! I am busy buzzing around working and chatting and all the house duties and and and…  heehee But I do have an idea I am working on for Sundays with Crissy coming up this Sunday. If you haven’t got your Christmas card in yet over at Sundays with Crissy you better hurry!

I have lots of news I wanted to share!

Firstly I wanted to chat to you about digi stamps.

As many of you know I sell some cute digi houses and landscape images that you can combine with your other digi or rubber stamps! Just this past Monday I was lucky enough to be accepted for my very own group at Crafters Digital Art Center. It is beaming with crafters who love and are new to digital stamps. All the groups are run by digi stamp artists and it really is a fantastic place.

There are heaps of tutorials on all different ways to use your digi stamps. Even beginner basic videos showing you how to open your digis and print them. So if you are new and a little worried about trying out digi stamps I highly recommend joining this site to find out more about it. There are even some free digi stamps to help get you started!

So of course, WHEN you join I want you to come find Make it Crafty and join the group. I am creating it as a place where we can freely chat together, get to know each other and you can ask me questions, receive feedback and just have fun! I would really love to get to know you all personally rather than through this often one way conversation medium. :)

I have even created a free digi stamp for all the members of my group to use. So please do come an check it out. There are many fabulous artists, friends you already know, challenges, advice, articles and more!

FREE DIGI STAMP

FLOWER SALE

Until Sunday I have 20% off all Prima and Petaloo flowers. Grab yourself some gorgeous Color Me Crazy flowers and stamp them, emboss them, colour them and more! They are so much fun.

Just enter the coupon code: FLOWERSALE20 at checkout to receive your discount.

Rubber stamps!

So I love digi stamps for their amazing flexibility, immediate download and huge variety BUT I still love rubber too!

Soooooo… I am thinking about creating some of my little houses as rubbah!! What do you think? Do you like this idea?

I’ll have more questions on this later but would love to hear your initial thoughts on the idea.

Facebook!

Make it Crafty has just hit 375 fans on Facebook. Wooohooo. I often stop by and chat with everyone, ask questions, give little tips and so forth. If you haven’t ‘liked’ me yet – lol I would love you dto drop by, ‘like’ me and say hello.

Ok I think that’s enough to keep you clicking!!  :)

Hugs and take care and I hope to have some inspiration for you soon.

Zoe xxoo

I am excited to announce Alex is back with a new house! The houses have been very popular and after having a bit of a break during summer I asked Alex what he could do with an old tin can and well… he blew me away! I am certain you are going to love it too!

I couldn’t wait to ink it up and share it with you all so with the weather being soooo cold today I thought I would spend the day in and relax with some colouring.

I came across this image ‘Darn it‘ by Mo Manning the other day and thought it would be perfect to team up with the Rusty Can House.

Here is a picture of the Rusty Can House

It is NOW available!! Click Here

Here is a close up coloured…

I used papers from my newest pad Up, Up & Away by Kaisercraft and I needed to add something top left corner. I wanted to provide some inspiration for the Flower Challenge I have running this weekend at Facebook and after playing with a couple of ideas I didn’t like it finally hit me!

A few minutes later I was rummaging through the mans plastic containers collecting different sized washers and nuts. I thought, this is a steam-punk inspired house so lets make some steam-punk inspired flowers!! heehee Then I grabbed my craft foil and punched out the leaves and cut some thin shreds to add with the flowers!

Here’s a close up.

I am rather pleased with the outcome actually (as she pats herself on the back). hahaha

Hope I have offered some inspiration for you today and please do come and play in the flower challenge – only a couple days left! Hope you love the new house as much as I do too!!

Hugs all

Zoe

I am having a little weekend challenge for those of you who LOVE your flowers! Create any type of project, whether it be a card, scrapbook page or altered item and incorporate hand made or altered flowers and then pop on over to facebook and upload your project to the wall or add a link to your blog.

It’s that simple! Then Monday night I will randomly select a winner to win a pack of Color me Crazy flowers.

Challenge is open to everyone world wide. Come play!

Hope your weekend is full of crafty time!

Hugs

Zoe  xoo