Distress Crayon Card, Rainbow of Colour, Thanks

There's a Poppystamps challenge that's almost at its end, but I've managed to make 'something' for it.  I say 'something' as at home I refer to this as my 'Crayola card made by a three year old'...

Crayola's not just a UK brand, right?

  

Take a look at you'll see what I mean...

It's kind of hideous...  but it kind of works (I think/hope)!

I don't embrace lots of colour so I'm never going to say anything too wonderful about this design - but at least I chucked in lots of white (or similar) where I could. 

And no...   I didn't really use Crayola Crayons.

Distress Crayons - use a light coat of Distress Collage Medium - Matt (or similar) to cover the card base first.  Helps the crayons to blend when smooshing colours.

But do use a dry baby wipe to smoosh/blend colours or your finger will start to get very warm!

And yes, as you can tell I went for a smooshing/scribbled look.

But then I don't do 'neat'...  it kind of freaks me out.

So I've smooshed and I've scribbled.

And I've embossed onto vellum, recycled an old purse only fit for the bin, made a tiny box frame that yes, I did purposefully choose not to stick together too neatly...

and I've done some 'selective' distressed edges.

Because I can and I like them.

And no distressed edges was too neat and all distressed edges would have been too much.

Perfect logic...

I've also messed around with layers - that 'thanks' has six or seven and the centre of the daisy in the frame has even more.  Seem to remember it being in the 'teens' somewhere  (didn't want to use sticky pads as used those under the frame).

There are also a few layers on the butterfly, the cream 'purse' flower centre and that rectangle underneath the vellum has a few, too.

I like messing with layers as it adds something depth wise...  but apparently camera's aren't so keen  - hence the blurriness in some places.

It's also very time consuming and no fun at all.

But at least it kept me busy for a while...

Supplies Used:

Holtz/Distress Crayons:

Festive Berries

Spiced Marmalade

Mustard Seed

Twisted Citron

Peacock Feathers

Mermaid Lagoon

Seedless Preserves

Dies:

Sizzix Originals 'Shaker Box' - Square w/Window

Poppystamps 'Ragged Daisy'

Poppystamps 'Viola Leaves'

Memory Box 'Peaceful Butterfly Wings'

Memory Box 'Blissful Butterfly Border'

Memory Box 'Tall Birch'

Papertrey Ink 'Wet Paint Cuts'

Spellbinders 'Nestabilities' Rectangle

MFT 'Rectangle Peek-a-boo Window (Die-namics)

Ink:

Holtz/Distress - Walnut Stain

Tsukineko/Memento - Tuxedo Black

Other:

Stencil - The Crafter's Workshop 'Art Is'

Holtz Distress Collage Medium

Embossing Powder - Clear

Embossing Folder - Cuttlebug 'Butterflies 3x3 Tag Team Combo'

Challenges I'm Entering...

Poppystamps

PSC #33     'Rainbow Wishes'

Pixies Crafty Snippets Challenge

An entire card full of snippets 

So this card won't win any prizes and may in fact be more awful than I realise, but that's ok as it gave me time to experiment with four 'new to me' items - most of which I've had for a while now.

(I have been told on more than one occasion that I'm too hard on myself...   but as that will never, ever change we may as well all accept the fact that if I post something and think it 'sucks' - even if only a little bit - I'm just going to go right on ahead and tell you).   

*

For those of you that know me...

Life's a struggle right now and I just hurt - a lot.

So yes, I've been missing...  and yes, I'm not ok.

But I'm better than I was.

I just need a little more time., then I'll face catching up with you all - which I will, so don't bother telling me not to. x

I'm just not up to pretending right now.

But I have missed you...

and I thank those of you that know me well enough to know already that me disappearing = me going through rough times.

And you who knows but gets in touch anyway because she's worried (you know who you are) - thank you, too.

You are all far more of a blessing than you realise.

And for those of you who don't know me and have no clue as to what I'm going on about...

Let's just say that life can be very unfair and I'll leave it at that.

After all, we can all relate to that at some level or other.

And so as not to completely depress you all...

Think of something you like to do that makes you happy - and then (as long as it's safe for you/others and it's not illegal) go make time and do it this week if you can.  

Thanks for stopping by today...

Donna. x

Butterfly Tag, MFT Blueprints 4, Friend

Happy Friday to you.

I have a small tag to share for the new challenge that starts today over at Tag You're It.

Hope you like it...

With this background setup for the photo the gears in my head are already spinning on how this little tag will become a future card someday!

I just love the fact that tags can make a basis for unusual card designs, and whilst I can appreciate that they won't always be to everyone's liking I just can't seem to help but love making them.

You see for me, creating something 'cohesive' on such a small scale is still a learning curve.
But I embrace that challenge each and every time as I'm convinced that it'll help me to become a better crafter.

I guess we all have our areas that we focus on in the hopes of improving, don't we?

My inspiration for today's new challenge came from this...

...  so I went with the intricate inlay theme and tried to keep my design as simple as possible.

And on the plus side, it also gave me a chance to play with a die that I've had in my collection for a very long time.

Don't forget, we've moved to a monthly format now - so that's more time to play along if you decide to join us.

Hope you do...

Donna. x