Challenge 29 'Whole Lotta Fun,' NEW Digi Release & Winners of Ch 28

How to play:


This fortnights theme is 'Whole Lotta Fun' and we want to see HOLES somewhere in your design. Create a card or craft item featuring holes e.g., apertures with hung images or as part of a layered design, punched holes, cut outs, etc....

You must also include a DIGI IMAGE somewhere, but this doesn't have to be a Bee Crafty one.
Please submit your entry by Saturday 8th May (Midday UK) by posting on your own blog and using Mister Linky below.
The PRIZE is any one of Bee Crafty's digi images.

NEW DIGI RELEASE 'Toy Chest.' Go to the shop here.

Here is a version coloured with Prisma colour pencils...

Now for some inspiration for this fortnights challenge from my Design Team...

Kim's gorgeous and well designed card uses a feature hole to hang 'Wish Fairy - Original Girl' from

Sheri's lovely layering shows a more subtle way to use apertures in a design with 'Bunny and Flowers'

Victoria's clever use of a treat cup and water with the 'Fish' digi is a great use of an aperture

Check out Elaine's blog for some top tips on Victorias technique

Winners of Challenge 28
Firstly is this beautifully designed and crafted card by BJ

And this wonderful, elegant set using Bee Crafty Wedding images by Minerva

Congratulations! You both win your choice of a Bee Crafty image :)

Challenge 28 'Engagement, Wedding or Wedding Anniversary.' Winners of Ch 27 & a Goodbye to DT member Lori

How to play:
This fortnights theme is 'Engagement, Wedding or Wedding Anniversary.' Create any craft item to meet this brief.
OPTIONAL - Create a coordinating set (e.g., card, favour box, place card, gift box, tag...)

You must also include a DIGI IMAGE somewhere, but this doesn't have to be a Bee Crafty one.

Please submit your entry by Saturday 24th April (Midday UK) by posting on your own blog and using Mister Linky below.

The PRIZE is any one of Bee Crafty's digi images, also.....an EXTRA PRIZE....I'm rolling over one of the extra prizes from last fortnight; '1 digi for the best coordinating set.'
  
Now for the fab DT creations (and a couple from me too)
Victoria's gorgeous set uses a great colour combo and the 'Wedding Cute Bride and Groom' image

Sheri's elegant monochrome set works beautifully and uses the 'Wedding Cake' image

Kim's pretty, Spring card with lovely bow detail uses 'Butterfly on Flowers'

Bee, a Spring time engagement card using 'Wedding Bay Tree' and a wedding card using 'Wedding Cake'

WINNERS CHALLENGE 27...

3 digis for the overall winner
Crafty Kitten for her great use of colours and techniques which combine to make a lovely card using 'Fluffy Bunny Birthday'

1 digi each for 3 runners up
Linda and her great colour choices with this Bee Crafty 'Slice of Cake' freebie

Audrey's beautifully made card with lovely choice of materials

Emma for her fun and richly coloured card

1 digi for best use of a Bee Crafty image
Toucan Scraps for her very clever use of the 'Easter Bunny' freebie and great tutorial

Pop by the shop to choose your prizes then drop me an email at mail@artisangroup.org.uk
  
Goodbye to Lori
A sad goodbye to a very talented lady. Lori has produced some truely inspiring designs during her time with Bee Crafty she has also been a pleasure to work with.
Thank you for all you hard work and best wishes with your many creative ventures Lori x 

Challenge 27 'Birthday' BEE CRAFTY IS ONE YEAR OLD!! & Winner of Ch 26

Happy Birthday Bee Crafty....One year old this month!
How to play: This fortnights theme is 'Birthday.'
Make a craft item (card or other) with a birthday theme, it must also include a DIGI IMAGE somewhere, but this doesn't have to be a Bee Crafty one.
OPTIONAL - Create a coordinating set (e.g., card + gift bags, tags, boxes...)


Please submit your entry by Saturday 10th April (Midday UK) by posting on your own blog and using Mister Linky below.

As this is our birthday, there are EXTRA PRIZES!!!

• 3 digis for the overall winner
• 1 digi each for 3 runners up
• 1 digi for best use of a Bee Crafty image
• 1 digi for the best coordinating birthday set

...Now enjoy the great DT creations and be inspired! Find the images used and more here.

Lori's gorgeous birthday bundle uses lovely colours and embossing and features 'fluffy bunny birthday'

Sheri has created adorable pink and chocolate party favour bags which also function as place cards using 'bear with balloon'

Trix's card sees 'ballooning mouse' against a pretty, party backdrop of soft, fun colours

Kim offers a great set with a cleverly designed box and coordinating card using 'little lady birthday'

Victoria uses 'ballooning mouse' and super blue tones in her lovely, beautifully made, coordinated set.

Winner of challenge 26 'Spring' - is this fab card by zoe who has created a clever Spring scene, congratulations!

Challenge 26 'Spring,' an Easter FREEBIE! And Winner of Ch 25

How to play: This fortnights theme is 'Spring.' You need to make a craft item (card or other) which oozes a Spring feel (this can be in your theme, colour choices, images, flowers, etc...), it must also include a DIGI IMAGE somewhere, but this doesn't have to be a Bee Crafty one.

Remember the Bee Crafty shop has lots of Spring themed images, especially in the Whimsical Girl and Floral ranges and a good helping of bunnies to choose from! (You could also use the freebie below.)


Please submit your entry by Saturday 27th March (Midday UK) by posting on your own blog and using Mister Linky below. The PRIZE is one of Bee Craftys downloads!
...Keep reading to see the lovely DT creations and be inspired!

And an Easter FREEBIE 'Easter Bunny'...Please take the following image and enjoy, all I ask is that if you post an item using this on your blog, you mention it is from Bee Crafty and link back to this blog. (This was given out as a limited edition freebie last year.)

Check out Sheri's gorgeous use of this freebie

Spring designs from the DT...
Lori's perfect choice of Spring colours and pretty spots and gingham work really well with 'Whimsical Girl'

Kim's soft yellows and pretty florals are a great seasonal background to 'Fluffy Bunny Birthday'

Trix's charming Easter card with subtle distressing looks great with 'Seated Bunny'

Sheri's card is bursting with bright Spring appeal with her colour choices and 'Whimsical Girl Summer Ice Cream'

Victoria has used such pretty papers and cleverly carried these through the 'Bunny and Flowers' image by paper piecing for a great Spring feel.

And an extra offering from Victoria..... where there is Spring there must be BUNNY WRAPPED EASTER CHOCOLATES!!

 Winner of challenge 25 (Embossing) is...Michelle...there is some serious crafting goinging on in this beautiful card! I was really struck by the embossed wood paper and how this added to the design, well done!

We're trying out Mister Linky starting this challenge to make the process a bit easier, fingers crossed! Please add your name and a link to the specific post below, if you have trouble just leave a comment - otherwise you don't need to leave one :)

Challenge 25 'Embossing,' Winner of Ch 24 & Goodbye to Elaine

How to play: This fortnights theme is 'Embossing,' you need to make a craft item (card or other) which features embossing somewhere, it must also include a DIGI IMAGE somewhere but this doesn't have to be a Bee Crafty one.

Please submit your entry by Saturday 13th March (Midday UK) by posting on your own blog and leaving a comment below, with a direct link to your item if possible (see the link tip to the right). The PRIZE is one of Bee Craftys downloads!

There are lots of different approaches to embossing and many tools available, my DT have used a variety of techniques and included some tips to inspire you with their examples...

Victoria spotted a great tutorial on The Cuttlebug Spot which inspired her to create this fantastic double embossed card using 'Seated Bunny.'
 

 
Sheri has combined two embossing techniques to great effect in her super boys card using 'Seated Boy.'
 

The main panel was embossed with an embossing folder (Dots by Quickutz). The little panel that Seated Boy is sitting on was embossed by hand using my Score Board & Tool.

 
Start with a larger piece of paper, you can then trim to size. Tip: If score tool is not scoring easily, lightly rub a piece of wax paper over your cardstock. The tool will now move more easily.
 
Kim has used heat embossing on her charming birthday card using 'Little Lady Birthday.'
 

Here are some tips for heat embossing on a digital image:

Option #1: To emboss the entire image, print image from a ink jet printer. Ink stays wet longer. Apply embossing powder immediately so that it will still stick to the image. Emboss with heating tool. (I didn't do ithis option on my card.)

Option #2: If the embossing powder doesn't stay on at all for you using option #1, try using a Zig emboss writer. It's a pen so you would just go over the entire image and then apply the powder. Work with small sections as it dries up fast as well. Emboss with heating tool. This is what I did on my card.
 
Lori's very pretty card using 'Whimsical Girl and Bird' is embossed with 2 different Quikutz folders - Large and Small Dots - in addition to some heat embossing with clear embossing powder and heat gun on the image.

 
Trix has created a charming, rustic card with 'Fluffy Bunny and Flowers' which uses an embossed background.

 
Winner of Challenge 24 'Sew Cute' ...is Renata for her beautifully made and cleverly stitched card, well done!

 
Goodbye to DT member Elaine. Elaine has been a great member of the Bee Crafty Design Team, producing consistently lovely, well crafted cards....but due to other commitments has had to leave us.
Best wishes Elaine, you will certainly be missed!

Challenge 24 'Sew Cute' and Winner of Ch 23

How to play: This fortnights theme is 'Sew Cute,' you need to make a craft item (card or other) which features real or pretend (faux) stitching / sewing, it must also include a DIGI IMAGE somewhere but this doesn't have to be a Bee Crafty one.


Please submit your entry by Saturday 27th February (Midday UK) by posting on your own blog and leaving a comment below. The PRIZE is one of Bee Craftys downloads!

Here are some tips that might help...then read on for the great DT examples...
 
1. Use a sewing machine. Elaine and Victoria have used sewing machines but produced really different results, Victoria recommends embracing the 'shabby chic' effect as a design choice (or if your sewing machine skills are a bit lacking!)
 
2. Consider different ways to get the stitched effect - this is Sheri's advice;
I like to use a piercing template/ruler to ensure a straight line.
To secure the template and paper in place pin it down to the foam mat while working.

Instead of a Gel Pen, I prefer using a Poster Paint Marker by Sharpie. They give me a dark smooth line for the faux stitching. (I use the Extra Fine Tip marker)

3. You could use an embellishment which already has stitching on it, such as a ribbon - see Kim's card below
 
4. A really easy way to get a stitched effect is to neatly draw on dashed lines, particularly effective around the edge of die cuts and images (use a fine liner or similar in black or a colour to compliment your design.)
 
Design Team Inspiration
 
Sheri's beautiful, romantic card using 'Whimsical Girl The Kiss' is delicately framed by her great stitching technique (see above for tips on how to achieve this look.)
 

Victoria's gorgeous colours work really well with her shabby chic stitching and the 'Whimsical Girl Heart Garden' image.

Trix has combined rustic textures and made great use of 'Whimsical Girl The Kiss' by cutting out the image.
 

Elaine's beautifully constructed card sees some great stitching which frames the 'Whimsical Girl Heart Garden' image.

Kim's charming Valentine card features 'Whimsical Girl Heart Garden' and cleverly uses ribbon which already has stitching in it!

Lori has used fantastic colours and bold stitching detail on her 'Whimsical Girl The Kiss' card. 

Winner of Challenge 23 'Romance' is...Crystal for her gorgeous altered candy box, such a pretty project and great example of romantic upcycling! (Love the ribbon ruffle.)
 

 
What a huge response to this challenge, and so many lovely craft creations, thank you all for participating :)