How many now?

There's only 8 days til Christmas!

The MiC gang and our Special Guests thought it would be fun to have a 'grown up' advent calendar as we count down the days til Christmas full of inspiration just for us creative minds!

Each day a sneak peek will be revealed on the MiC store blog with a link for you to follow "to open the door".

All you have to do is stop by the store blog each day to open the next door!

PLUS Zoe has Christmas Candy full of lots of crafty goodies that you don't want to miss out on!

AND THERE'S MORE GIFTS

But what's even more exciting is that you will have a chance to win the Make it Crafty goodies that I have played with today!!

By leaving a comment on this post you could win

Chipboard Circle Flourish frame 

The comments will stay open until the 31st of December and the winners will be announced in the New Year on the MiC store blog. You can join us for all 24 days - giving you 24 chances to win some MiC goodies! If you join us late,  simply go back to the start and catch up!

This is what I have created with my MiC goodies!

Don't forget to leave a comment below before December 31st and stop by the Make it Crafty Store blog to 'open the door' to 24 other inspirational projects!

Thank you so much for joining us and we wish you and your loved ones a wonderful loving Christmas.

We've been exploring again

We had a family get-together  last weekend in a  remote, rugged part of the country, with no cell-phone reception.....no internet....but it was fun!

 Ever heard of Ngawi?  Cape Palliser?  It's on the Wairarapa coast, overlooking the Cook Strait and can be a pretty wild place when the weather blows in, but luckily we had a great weekend for our trip.   We saw the lighthouse at Cape Palliser but didn't climb up to it ( did that about 20 years ago....)   got up close and personal with some NZ fur seals ( a lot more there these days, they're making a real comeback after being decimated by the early settlers ) , but didn't see any penguins though the signs everywhere said to look out for them.

One seal wanted to join us for lunch in the van, then another tried to block us from leaving by lying in a puddle behind us!  We did ask it to move nicely, but it swore lots then decided to let us through!

 Around past the seal colony is the lighthouse, with a long climb up the stairs to it.

 The fishing boats at Ngawi are launched straight off the beach using bulldozers!!!!  And what a collection there are sitting there . Some had names, some had faces, the pink one had a collection box to raise money for a new paint job! LOL!

And where we were staying , we had a great view of this old truck! I remember my uncle having one of these when I was a kid, and I loved sitting on the back.......

And we stayed at " More Beer Lodge".  yep , G's cuzzy has bought it and guess what he likes to drink......

4 weeks to go

That’s right, 4 weeks till Christmas! Woohooo!   There are all those gorgeous MIC christmas images ready and waiting, and even a dog fairy that I’m going to have to colour when I find a spare minute….hehehehe . So, no excuses for not getting some gorgeous christmas cards made!

I used the  front door wreath for a quick card , its a classic image and perfect for a background or a focal image if you want.

And I just LOVE this chipboard holly border!!!!! I coloured with copics and added highlights with a white gel pen.  Added a bit of glittery netting, a diecut star covered with stickles, some DP from Pink Paislee, and that’s it.

MIC products used

Front Door Wreath Digi stamp

Christmas borders chipboard

Pink & Brown

Welcome back to another challenge at Southern Girls. 

Ok, so this fortnight we want you to use pink and brown on your projects.

This round we have 3 lovely sponsors

Marianne Design 

Dtsart

LOTV

I've used Don & Daisy 3318 from Marianne design

Fence Die Marianne D Creatables

Leaves Marianne D Creatables Classic LR0133

The paper is a mixture of scraps, flowers and ribbon from my stash.

I'm enetring this in Papertake Weekly- use ribbon and pearls

Now its a beautiful day today and I have lots to do....but first, a coffee in the morning sunshine. Ahhhh, bliss!\

Getting closer

In fact, it's only 6 weeks till Christmas and I really need to start thinking about it!  Luckily , Zoe has just released all these gorgeous Christmas characters and backgrounds so we have plenty to play with!  There is even a cute dog fairy waiting to be coloured up! Hehehe!  

I got the chance to be the first to play with this adorable Christmas Town Digi, I just love its wonky houses.  This is coloured with copics and I ended up sponging the night sky with distress inks as I just couldn't get it even enough with my pens.

 The chipboard  santa sleigh and snowflakes I just stickled . The paper is Kaisercraft, the flower embelly from my stash. 

Make it Crafty Products:

Christmas Town Digi

Winter Sleigh Scene Chipboard

Snowflakes Chipboard

I'm entering this in Joanna Sheen Challenge- Cold and Frosty

Quirky Crafts- Layer it Up and Let it snow!

A drop of rain

Had a wee dash of rain this afternoon.....and my lovely boy decided to do some excavating around the new garden shed/cottage/man cave  below......

Dirt + Rain

= Yukky Brodie!

Nice!  He can have cuddles with his dad now.......!!!!!

Yum! Gingerbread!

Hi everyone!    Time for me to play with some goodies I've had for quite some time ( like a year or more)  and never quite got around to playing with....the Base chipboard house and the Gingerbread decoration kit. Zoe has done a wonderful job creating these chipboard 3D kits and I certainly wouldn't want to make one from scratch!  Eeek! Too much like hard work!

The directions are great too, I  found it so easy to follow, no chance of left over bits or things going wonky! LOL

First I put together the basic house and painted the whole thing with gesso. I use this in preference to acrylic paint as it gives good coverage and dries heaps faster and I'm impatient.  The roof additions from the Gingerbread house kit were painted the same way and then plastered with Aleene's Glitter snow , its gives a great textured effect.

The base of the house I painted with a bronze acrylic paint as it was all I had that was in the right shade.....I think it turned out to be quite a good choice in the end too! A lucky accident...hehehehe.

Once I had this together I added the  snowy bits (technical terms here people...) and some more glitter snow to the roof cos this is a snowy scene of course.  Now time to decorate.

I made a base our of card and covered it with paper, stuck the house on it and added the painted fence, some buttons for colour then printed and coloured a tree and some dancing gingerbread men. These are attached using some acetate, to make them stand.

 Now I'm thinking, where is the snow on the ground?!!!!!!! Hmmmmmmmmm........

Make it Crafty Products

Base House Chipboard

Gingerbread Decorations Kit 

Gingerbread Man Dance Digi

Gingerbread Dancing Digi

Large Pine Tree Digi

Animal Crackers

Ok, so this fortnight at Southern Girls we are going Animal Crackers.. yep we want to see those four legged,  winged... any type of animal project

This round we have 3 lovely sponsors:

Marianne Design 

 Meljen Design

 The Paper Shelter

This was my excuse to get another Christmas card done, as I've been really slack lately, no inspiration , can't be bothered, blah, blah, blah......!But its spring and we finally have some nice spring weather and I'm feeling much more inspired....hope it lasts! LOL

So I've use Prancer from Meljen Designs, and in case you son't know who Prancer is, he's one of Rudolph's buddies! Looks like there is a sale on over at Meljens, 20% till the end of October, so why not check out some gorgeous digital images.  

The paper is Pink Paislee I think, the poinsettia and christmas tree dies are from one of our other fab sponsors, Marianne Designs

I'm entering this in Fab'n'Funky Challenge- Animals

Perfect Sentiment- Christmas critters

How many sleeps?

Well I don't know , but I do know that Christmas is creeping ever closer so what a great time to get started on some chrissy cards. And it just so happens that Zoe has some great new steampunk santa images just released !  And the new chipboard coming out is to die for....gotta get my paws on some of that!! LOL

Now he's kind of untraditional so I've gone for some untraditional colours, to match the Bo Bunny paper I've used.

I used some Glitter snow  on the edges and the snowflakes,  and some gilders paste on the mini decorations. They're actually nice and shiny IRL.

MIC products used

Christmas Eve Countdown Digi Stamp

Christmas mini decorations chipboard

Snowflakes chipboard

I'm entering this in Digital Tuesday- Steampunk

and Ooh La La Creations-Santa

Time for some FLY!

Had a great time on Sunday helping out at the Flygility tournament our club held on Sunday, down in Wanganui .  I was official photographer and managed to get quite a few very cool shots. Its a crazy sport and the dogs LOVE it! They run a course of obstacles ( jumps, tunnels etc)  hit the box at the end that releases the tennis ball, catch the ball and race back over the obstacles to the start/finish line. And what makes it more exciting is that they seem to know they are racing another dog in the lane beside them  and  can get quite hyped up, while the owner is shouting at them to GOOOOOO!!!!

                Nie doing her seal impression, go little girl!

Toonie on the turn...even little dogs can go fast!

Shaylar hoofing it out of the tunnel

Ted E about to inhale the ball!

My lot don't do this however....Vinnie has no teeth to catch a ball, Riley WON'T catch a ball in case Brodie tries to take it off him, and Brodie....well Brodie has started fly training, but hasn't yet progressed past the       " Cheat and miss most of the jumps , steal the ball and run away" stage...hehehehe.....

Spots & Stripes

This fortnight at Southern Girls we want to see projects with "Spots and/or Stripes". Our 2 lovely sponsors are Little Claire and Dtsart

For my card I have used a cute image from Little Claire called VW Campervan. I had an ulterior motive for picking this image....it's the other half's birthday in a  couple  of weeks time and he loves our VW van so what could be better?

The paper is MME that I've had for soooo long, still trying to use up some stash!  The washers (well it IS a guy's card!!!) are from a hardware store, coloured with alcohol inks and finished with glossy accents.  

I'm entering this in Deep Ocean Challenge- more than 2 colours

and Tuesday Taggers- Lots of layers

It's Zoe's Birthday!!!!!

We thought it would be fun to share the excitement of today and as a fun way to get everyone involved we have a surprise for you!!  Check out this image especially drawn for Zoe by Little Miss Muffet Stamps which features a Sweetheart dress for any occasion with a festive Gumnut flower sun hat.  The Zoe Hatter image will be available as a freebie for today only in celebration for Zoe's Birthday!!  How cool is that?!  If you want to play along, just email Barbara at ForgottenScraps@gmail.com and as long as it's September 27th anywhere in the world then the offer is still open!!  Share you're creations in the MiC FB Group too - we'd love to see what you make!

Happy Birthday Zoe !!!!!

It's A Boy!

A  quick card from me this time, my hands are sore ( recovering from building a fence!!!!!!)  so I didn’t really feel the love from my copics! LOL!

A good friend is due to give birth sometime in the next 3 weeks so I thought it was time to make a card for her. They’re expecting a boy……just hope its right or there’ll a baby girl wearing a lot of blue, and a tiny leather jacket and very cool kiddie boots that were presented at the baby shower a while ago…..hehehehehe!

This cute image from MIC is Mother and baby. I had to laugh when I saw the hair being pulled, every time I pick up one of her poodles, he pulls my hair with his teeth.  Good thing he is adorable or I might take offense!

I don’t normally do clean and simple cards, this is as clean & simple as I ever get . The paper is Kaisercraft and the gorgeous chippie frame is another of Zoe’s little masterpieces of cutting, just perfect for finishing off the card. I tucked the image in behind the frame at the bottom and popped it out up the top and it looks quite effective IRL!

MIC products used

 Mother and Baby digi stamp

Ornate oval frame chipboard

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to our blonde dork aka Brodo Waggins, Brodie Wagglebum , Dick , Doofus and the list goes on. Yes the idiot is 4 years old today and No , we don't expect great changes in his maturity levels, yet!!!!!

Where to start?

My Mojo has gone on holiday, I just couldn't even think what I could share with you all this week!  There is cotton wool in my head.....arrrgh! Must be something to do with the crazy spring weather we've been getting. We've got gorgeous warm sunshine now, half an hour ago it was  hail. There was a huge dump of snow on Mt Taranaki last night, it 's looking magnificent !

Luckily I have a pile on my desk with half-started images and untouched images and orphans....unloved, unused and abandoned!!!!!   and I  found in this mega-huge pile some previous merges I had done and never got around to colouring. What could be better than Sophie day dreaming in Paris?  And pencil colouring on kraft too, something I have really begun to enjoy .  I played around a bit with the skin colours this time and can honestly say I've no idea what I used! LOL! She looks a bit sunburnt  I think.....

The paper is Prima Romantique, perfect for Paris of course.

The Background is the Ivy, window and wall from the paris elements  collection, and I've placed Sophie on a chair which can also be found in the Paris street cafe elements. I merged these images in Microsoft Word , so easy to do with Zoe's fab images as she spends so much time making them user friendly in this way. We LOVE YOU ZOEEEEEEE!!!

MIC crafty products used:  Paris Elements Digi Collection

Sophie day Dreaming digital stamp

Flowers

Morning everyone! Time for another challenge at Southern Girls and we want to see flowers. Now how easy is that? The sponsors this time are LOTV and Dtsart.

On my card I've used a LOTV stamp called Pom Pom.  These images are just so cute, I've never been able to resist them.

The large flower I made using hand dyed crinoline , with a sizzix die, held together with a brad.

I'm entering this in Fashionable Stamping  Challenge- anything floral/ handmade flowers and no digis allowed

Flower Power

Aren’t these new images from Make it Crafty just the coolest?   I had to colour one up this week just cos! Spring is on the way here and I just felt like a colour explosion was needed….LOL!

  And I got to use my  new washi tape for the first time. The butterfly I coloured first with copics then polychromo pencils .   Melody I coloured with copics but sorry I forgot to write down colours.

 The paper is Crate Paper Restoration and I thought it was ideal,

MIC products used

Melody Digi Stamp

 Swirly Corners chipboard

Spring Swing Butterfly chipboard

I'm entering this in Totally papercrafts - Zesty Summer Colours

Canvas

Take a blank canvas and slap on some stuff and voila! Pretttttttty! LOL!

I decided last week to have a play with some of my purchases from Senz and made some resin flowers with the Easy Cast resin and molds I bought.  What to do with them? I just happened to have a blank canvas sitting there waiting to be plastered with stuff so off I went. First some gesso, and some texture paste, sprayed with glimmer mist and splattered with some alcohol inks, laid on some muslin , textured with a piece of jute and left to dry. Maybe I should've left the colouring till it was dry cos is took ages...but I'm too impatient!  hehehehe.....

Then I started layering on resin and paper flowers, a couple of shells, pearls and viva pearl pens, then prayed all with more glimmermist.

Next I  added some MIC chipboard dragonflies, flourishes and of course the gorgeous  bird and birdcage.   These I coloured with a mixture of alcohol and metallic inks , and glimmermist.

Messy and lots of fun!

Make it Crafty products used

Chipboard  Exotic Flourish

Dragonflies

Leaves from Swirling Trees

Oriental Bird