Dictionary Challenge - Z

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a woman in possession of a zip die must use it when the letter of the fortnight for the Craft Barn Dictionary Challenge is 'Z'. I also have a zebra stamp but I used that for the previous alphabet challenge so it was a no-brainer. The die in question is by Sizzix and I cut it twice to get the metallic effect of the teeth and pull. The die wasn't long enough so I had to do a bit of cobbling together (technical term). The background is Tim Holtz's knit stencil with ripe persimmon, dusty concord and cracked pistachio brushed through. The stencil wasn't wide enough so further cobbling together was required. I added some zigzag paper in the opening of the zip and the definition.
Aaagh!!! Just realised I've forgotten the pearl! Watch this space...
I totally forgot the twist which was to have a pearl on the page so here is version 2 with 3 pearl buttons on the top peeking out from under the zippered woolly.

Dictionary Challenge - C

This fortnight's letter for the Craft Barn dictionary challenge is C. I chose 'Create' and decided to use an unmounted stamp which depicts a detail from Michaelangelo's 'Creation of Adam'. I have been fortunate to see the original artwork in the Sistine Chapel and it is breathtaking. The background is made with Turquoise, Violet and Ultramarine Brushos. The main image is stamped with Versafine majestic blue. I added some washi tape and a small unmounted stamp.

August

Dictionary Challenge - N

I seem to have mislaid a week somewhere. Perhaps due to being laid low with flu I miscalculated how many days were left to complete this fortnight's challenge on the Craft Barn blog. The letter is 'N' and having recently completed my 'N' ATCs last month I was stuck for ideas. A search through the dictionary gave me 'Nosegay' and reminded me of a very old stamp I have by a company called JoRoCo. I initially had ideas of making my own nosegay with die cut flowers but I am still exhausted by the smallest activity and so a readymade bunch of blooms seemed perfect. The stamp is quite small which I felt was in keeping with the definition so I added some patterned paper, deckle edged frames and some embossing. this rose folder by Crafts Too has a slit in the top so you can emboss a long strip and the patterns match up so the join is seamless (why don't other companies think of these things?). The main image is stamped in grey and the stems etc were outlined and coloured with marker pens. I added Glossy Accents to the centres for added texture.
I am very sorry I haven't been able to visit you all this time but I will try and make amends.

Memory Box Challenge - July

I've been suffering from a bad bout of flu which has left me trying to catch up with various challenges. This month's challenge on the Memory Box blog is to use the above sketch. I decided to give it a quarter turn and came up with this card:

I used some old, uninspiring patterned paper and added a Memory Box stencil (starry, starry night) with Victorian velvet DI. I shaded the edges with chalk and laid them out according to the sketch. The die cut is of course my favourite Chloe stem. the sentiment is from a Kaiserkraft set.

UK Stampers ATC Swap - T for Ticket

For my final ATC this month I have used a Brusho background overstamped with a Tim Holtz ticket stamp and sentiment. I used a ticket punch to cut the corners.

UK Stampers ATC Swap - T for Teacup

My second ATC this month is T for Teacup.  The gingham tablecloth is a Kaiserkraft stamp and the teacups are from a Dovecraft set called Tea Party. The lettering was done with the aid of a stencil.