The Crafty Bat: May 2017

Wednesday, 31 May 2017

NEW Stampin' Up! Product Sneak Peek

Hi all

Thought I would quickly do a blog post to share with you all one of the NEW products which is being released TOMORROW in the NEW Catalogue.

If you love being organised, have a bit of a planner addiction and so on then this is definitely for you

It is available TOMORROW 1st JUNE from 8am. You can order this from MY STORE along with all the other NEW products

Xx The Crafty Bat xX

Exciting News!!!

Hello all

Just a quick post to share some exciting news with you all...

I applied to be apart of another Design Team....... Well I am pleased to announce I have been accepted on to the team over at Making Memories Crafting EEEEEKKK!!!

I am so proud and pleased to be apart of the Design Team and to be working along side some talented ladies.. Big Thank you to Sonia for the opportunity

Xx The Crafty Bat xX

Perfectly Flawed

Hey all

Welcome back to another of my blog posts... Today I have a mixed media canvas to share with you all.

This canvas I worked on over a few days as I had no clue where I was going with it let alone what materials I was going to use.... This all started with just a plain canvas which I then covered in Matt Medium and torn up book pages, then I put gesso over the whole thing and it evolved from there.

So here is Perfectly Flawed

In the picture above it does not show how bright and vibrant this piece really is, so I managed to get another picture of it to show how this....

I just love love love how bright and vibrant this piece came out, Here is a list of products I have used to do this canvas:

Canvas 20 x 20cm

Visible Image Stamp Set - Face It

Visible Image Stamp Set - Own It

Visible Image Stamp Set - Create It

Torn Book Pages

Matt Medium

Gesso

Masking Tape

Lindy's Stamp Gang Magicals - Blazing Black, Urban Amethyst, Luminous Lemon and Poppin' Pink

Crackle Paste

Crackle Medium

Versafine Onyx Black Ink Pad

Archival - Watering Can Ink Pad

Paper Snips

Tip Top Taupe Ink Spray (Home Made)

Dylusions Paint - Black, White and Slate Grey

I hope you like what I have done with this canvas as much as I have bringing it to life, I love how vibrant and bright it is and the pictures just do not do it justice. It was so much fun making this as I did not plan anything out with it at all and I defo want to try this more and more just to see what happens, as they say there are no mistakes in crafting just happy accidents.

Xx The Crafty Bat xX

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:

Crafty Setiments - Not A Card

Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

Crafty Creations Challenges -Anything Goes

Crafting By Designs - Anything Goes

Love To Create - Anything Creative/Mixed Media Goes

Mixed Media World - Anything Mixed Media Goes With A Twist (Moodboard)

Dare 2 B Artzy - Girly

Artistic Inspiration - Anything Goes/flowers theme optional

A Vintage Journey - Use A Quote

Tuesday, 30 May 2017

Teamie Tuesday - Memory Keeping

Hi all

Well it is that time of the week again already - Another Teamie Tuesday challenge make, this weeks challenge is Memory Keeping.

For me this was something VERY new to me and I have been wanting to do some scrapbooking for a while so last week I did my first layouts including today's makes.

Here they are

First one I have for you is of my nephews when they were young I have always had a nickname for my eldest nephew which is the one in red (hehehe my little Twinkle Toes), He has always been known by this since he could walk as he always walked on his tip toes even running on tip toes too. Bless him! He is turning 18 this year :O I feel old.

His little brother who is in his walker has always been known as Lukey and he is turning 16 this year :O

Here is some close-up pictures of this layout

For this layout I used the following products:

Urban Underground 12x12 Designer Series Paper which is now retired

Urban Underground Embellishments (retired)

Bermuda Bay Glitter Card which was from Sale-A-Bration.

I also have another layout to show you all using more Stampin' Up! products

This layout is of myself when i was about 4 with my wonderful grandparents who helped to raise me sadly my Grandad passed away in 2003 but my Nan is still with us even though she has dementia and is now in care home :( breaks my heart to see her going the way my Grandad did. I miss him dearly me and him were very close, Me and my Nan were close but as close as I was with my Grandad. My Nan taught me a lot of things from reading, writing to even baking and I loved baking with her. The picture featured is from one of my Nan's birthday's

More close up pictures of the above layout.

The products I have used on the above layout are:

Lift Me Up Stamp (also available in wood-mount) and Up & Away Thinlits Dies

Cherry Cobbler Ink Pad

Berry Burst Ink Pad (NEW IN-COLOUR AVAILABLE 1ST JUNE)

Tranquil Tide Ink Pad (NEW IN-COLOUR AVAILABLE 1ST JUNE)

Pop Of Pink Designer Series Paper (Retired)

Lift Me Up Designer Series Paper (Retired) which was used to layer up the picture featured.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing this weeks challenge pieces, You can order 24/7 from my On-line store and your order will be shipped directly to you.

This months hostess Code is: 6HYKZY3Z . This can be used on any order of £25 minimum excluding shipping and you will get a gift from me. EXPIRES 31st May then a new code is generated.

Now let's go on over and see what the other lovely ladies have been doing:

Michelle - Uglybugplans

Alyson - Scarlet Moon Crafts

Xx The Crafty Bat xX

Saturday, 27 May 2017

Cherish Those Memories

Hi all

Welcome back to another of my blog posts.. Today I have some more Scrapbook layouts to share with you all.

So here they are:

Grandad's Girl

This layout is of me when i was a baby and toddler with my late Grandad, I was the apple of his eye and he was my everything... Best Friend, Hero and like a second Dad to me.

This layout is of my Nan and Grandad

These wonderful people helped to raise me and what a fantastic job they did I wouldn't be who I am today if it was not for them and my dad. All I have ever wanted to do is make them all proud especially my Grandad as he is no longer with us. It is so hard some days without him. They loved and still do love each other un-conditionally the greatest couple I have ever known and love.

Like Father Like Son

And last but by no means least here is a layout I have done of my Dad and Grandad. They are so alike it is un-canny everything about them. My dad has so much of my Grandad in him even his ways from sense of humour to being a family man and more.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing more of my layouts which I did on Wednesday while having another scrappy day with my bestie... I sooo blame her for me getting HOOKED on doing this hehe.

I will have to admit thought that some of these pictures have been so hard to do a layout on not because of how to bring it together but due to the cherished memories and looking at my Grandad knowing he is not with us in person anymore. There will be a few more layouts to do with my Grandad but they will be the hardest of all to do.

Until next time :)

Xx The Crafty Bat xX

Friday, 26 May 2017

Scrapping4fun Challenge #91 Soft Colours

Hi Crafters

Today I am sharing with you my DT inspiration piece for the next challenge over at Scrapping4fun Challenges blog.

The theme for this challenge is Soft Colours (Anything Goes)

Here is my piece... Inspire Mixed Media Art Canvas

To make this mixed media art canvas I used the following products:

20 x 20cm Canvas

Gesso

Modelling Paste

Iridescent Medium Gel

Glass Bead Gel

Paper Roses

Dylusions Mica Spray - Tempting Turquoise

Dylusions Mica Spray -Bubblegum Pink

Cosmic Shimmer Vintage Ink Spray - Clover

Cosmic Shimmer Vintage Ink Spray - Purple Orchid

Distress Ink Mica Spray - Silver

Craft Sensations Deco Stencil - Medallion

Deco Art Urban Ink Stencil

Palette Knives

Here are some more pictures of my canvas including some close up shots:

In these pictures you can see the Iridescent shine.

Close up of the medallion done with modelling paste

Close up of the Inspire wording done with iridescent paste

Close up of the paper roses

Close up of the Glass bead gel medium

I hope this has given you some inspiration for this challenge and I look forward to seeing your entry into the challenge. I must admit the pictures really do not do this piece any justice the colours are so soft and subtle in person I absolutely love how this all came together.

You can enter here - Challenge #91 Soft Colours (Anything Goes)

Xx The Crafty Bat xX

Thursday, 25 May 2017

My First Ever Scrapbook Layouts

Hi Crafters

Hope you are all well :) Today I have something new to share with you all which is also something new to me :)

I have started to do some Scrapbooking/memory keeping and I have to say I am now HOOKED!!! I have really enjoyed doing these.

I have my first layouts to share with you all which I did on Tuesday while having a scrappy day with my bestie.

So here they are, each one is 12x12. My first one is of my wonderful late Grandad who sadly passed in 2003 and he was as my spread says My Hero.

Here are some close up's of this layout

The picture in the above layout is my Grandad when he was in his 20's.

Now for my next layout which is of me and my dad. I was only about 3 or 4 in this picture

Now for some close up pictures of the layout

Me and my dad have always been close since I was born and we still are he is my world without him and my grandparents I wouldn't be the person who I am today. I have always been Daddy's Little Princess and even now he still calls me Princess so this layout had to be done.

On the layout above I have used some elements from one of my Pickle Paper Patch Kits which are AMAZING!! if you enjoy scrapbooking/memory keeping you will love the products in which Jane supplies... You can find them here Pickle Paper Patch

I hope you have enjoyed seeing the start of my Scrapbook Journey as much as I have enjoyed making the start on it.

Xx The Crafty Bat xX

Tuesday, 23 May 2017

Teamie Tuesday - Summer

Hey all

Today's post is our regular Teamie Tuesday,

so this week's theme is Summer and all I could think was the beach lol.

Here is what I have done for this weeks challenge, I thought I would mix it up a bit with including NEW products, Retired and Old products

For this project I used the following products:

Wood Texture DSP (New Stampin' Up! Product Available from 1st June 2017)

High Tide Stamp Set

Picture Perfect Stamp Set (Retiring)

Whisper White Cardstock

Paper Snips

Bakers Twine

Distress Cutter

Brads

I hope you have enjoyed looking at this weeks piece and I hope it inspires you to think outside the box and give it a go :)

Don't forget any order placed through MY STORE this month using the Hostess Code 6HYKZY3Z on an order of £25 minimum excluding postage will get you a free gift from me.

NEW Stampin' Up! Catalogue launches 1st June 2017 - If you would like a NEW catalogue from myself posting please fill in the form HERE and I will get one posted out to you.

Now let's go on over and see what the other lovely ladies have done for this weeks challenge

Michelle - Uglybugplans

Alyson - Scarlet Moon Crafts

Xx The Crafty Bat xX

Monday, 22 May 2017

May Blooms

Hi all

Today I would like to share with you all a recent make which I have been doing and this one was done for the May Progressive Challenge over at Simply B Stamps.

Here is what did with this months image

This month I wanted to do something a little different with doing cards for the last two months :)

I hope you like what I have done every element is either handmade or hand-coloured

Here is a list of products I have used to make this piece including some NEW Stampin' Up! products which will be launched on 1st June 2017.

May Blooms Digi

Powder Pink 12x12 Cardstock (New Stampin' Up! Product)

Fresh Florals DSP (2 pieces) (New Stampin' Up! Product)

Watercolour Pencils

Blender Pens

Watercolour Card

Flowers

Dylusions Ink Sprays - Funky Fuchsia, Crushed Grape, Bubblegum Pink

Dylusions Mica Sprays - Vibrant Turquoise

Berry Blast Ink Pad (New Stampin' Up! In-Colour)

I hope you have like what I have done and it gives you some inspiration.

I would like to enter this piece into the following challenges:

Always Fun Challenges - Anything Goes

Crafty Cardmakers - Floral Profusion

Crafting When We Can - Bright & Colourful

Great Impressions - Feminine

Crafting from the heart - Challenge 160 Anything Goes

Bored At Work - Bloobel Progressive Challenge May

Hi all

Today I have my progressive chalenge entry for Bloobel to share with you all. This month image was Bored At Work and we were asked to add something with him.

So here is my Piece

For this piece I used the digi image Bored At Work which was the Progressive image to be used by everyone taking part and then I also added in one of the NEW images "Coffee to the rescue" as soon as I had seen Lisa release this image I knew I had to include it with my challenge piece.

I have used the following products:

White 5x7 Card Blank

Bored At Work Digi

Coffee To The Rescue Digi

Watercolour Pencils

Blender Pens

Vintage Backing Paper

Island Indigo Card stock

Paper Snips

Black Soot Distress Marker

I really enjoy taking part in these challenges and love Lisa's digi images they are so easy to work with. You can find them on the Bloobel Website and even join the Facebook Group.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing my piece for the challenge and you take part in next month's.

Xx The Crafty Bat xX

Sunday, 21 May 2017

Mixed Media ATC's

Hey Crafters

Today I have something a little different to share with you all something I haven't done for a while some ATC's. One of the ATC's I have created was purely created for a swap being run by Stephanie one of the DT ladies for Vera Lane Studios.

Here is my ATC which is for the swap which is Black & white with a pop of colour

I knew I had to use the Beetlejuice digi for this piece and I love how it turned out I am going to be doing a few more in this style as I really enjoyed it.

After I had finished the above I thought I may as well make another while I had some ATC blanks cuts ready to use..... So here is another I made which I can not use in the swap

BUT when Stephanie saw it she loved it so much she has asked me to do a swap with her which I am honoured to do as I LOVE Stephanie's work been following her for a year or more.

So what did I use to create both pieces?

For Beetlejuice ATC

Beetlegeuse Digi by Vera Lane Studios

Watercolour Card

Watercolour Pencils

Blender Pen

Basic Black Cardstock

Paper Snips

Tombow Glue

Stampin Dimensionals

For Hatter ATC

Mad Hatter Digi by Vera Lane Studios