Monday 22 June 2015

Create without fear - journal page

Today I was inspired by my friend, and fellow teamie on the TCP Design Team, Erin Stewart, to get back to art journalling.
       
     
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I used the following materials:
       
MEDIUMS USED: Acrylic paint, white gesso, DecoArt Ultra-Matte Varnish, Archival Ink (Jet Black), Posca Paint Markers (white and black), Molotow Paint Marker (black).

OTHER PRODUCTS USED:  Dylusions Journal, various stencils and stamps, used paint tubes, old paintbrush.
    
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Summary Process:

I started this page without any plan as to what I was going to do.  I used a page in my Dylusions Journal on which I'd cleaned off some stamps and used some excess texture paste.

I built up layers of acrylic paint with baby wipes, followed by lots of layers of acrylic paint through stencils and with stamps. I also added circles using a bottle cap.

The sentiment was stamped in Archival Ink and then the whole page was given a coat of Ultra-Matte Varnish by DecoArt.

I glued the now empty tubes from the first layer of colour to the right of the page and added an old pair brush to the left.

The page was further decorated with white and black paint markers and finished with Archival Ink in Jet Black around the edges.
   
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Here are some more photos:
   
     
     
   
      
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Thank you as always for popping by.
  
xxSAMxx
    
  

Forgetful Father's, organised!

Good morning folks! I do hope you popped by yesterday to see my newest creation for the That Craft Place "Layers" challenge. I got my nerd on and made a Star Trek themed canvas, so pop back to my home page if you haven't already seen it!

Today I'd like to share with you a "drop box" I made for my Dad for Father's Day. He could be much worse but still I thought he'd benefit from somewhere to dump out his keys, loose change and maybe mobile phone when at home so that they are in one spot easy to find!
     
   
This box measures approximately 5" square and started life as a gift box that was being used as my Wife's Grandmother's box of sewing bits and bobs. "Nan" is still with us thankfully but she gifted the box to me when her hands started failing her.  I hope I have done her justice in recycling this box!
   
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I used the following materials:
  
THAT CRAFT PLACE MDF / GREYBOARD: Greyboard keys

MEDIUMS USED: Gesso (black & white), DecoArt Fluid Acrylics (Paynes Grey & Quinacridone Gold), Pinflair Buff-It (Slate), DecoArt Ultra-Matte Varnish.

OTHER PRODUCTS USED: A4 Greyboard sheets

All products above available from That Craft Place.

ANYTHING ELSE: Ghastly pink holographic gift box (5" x 5" x 3" tall), Sizzix Bigz die (Basic Shapes), Stencils by various brands (Spots, Chicken Wire, Bricks, DIY acetate stencil), Winsor & Newton Heavy Structure Gel, Patterned paper.
       
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Summary Process:

Box prepped with black Gesso.

Texture applied to the sides of the box with a palette knife. I used my favourite texture gel medium through various stencils. I also applied some extra texture straight to the box sides with the palette knife.

Greyboard circles cut using a Sizzix Bigz die.

Greyboard circles and keys adhered to the box using the texture gel medium.

Colour and overall "rust" effect applied using the DecoArt rust technique by Andy Skinner:
 
   
Raised areas highlighted with Pinflair Buff-It in Slate.
     
Box lined with patterned paper.

2 coats of DecoArt Ultra-Matte Varnish applied to the inside and outside of the box to finish.

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Here are some more photos:
   
   
   
       
   
   
And finally a "before" photo of the box! I discarded the lid for this project as it likely wouldn't be needed for the box's intended purpose:

 
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Thank you as always for popping by.
  
xxSAMxx
   
Please can I enter this project into the following challenge(s):
             

Sunday 21 June 2015

Live Long and Prosper!

Good morning!  It is time for a new challenge over at the
That Craft Place challenge blog

This fortnight the theme is

LOTS OF LAYERS

As a huge science fiction fan, Star Trek ranks pretty much at the top of my favourite TV shows.  I do confess though that The Original Series is not my favourite series in the Star Trek franchise, indeed it's downright painful to watch at time, however it is such a landmark series that one can't help but be a fan for that reason alone! (Besides, who doesn't love a bit of Spock!).

Anyway, that's me thoroughly nerded out, so sorry about that!


For this A4 sized canvas I thoroughly enjoyed getting messy with sprays inks and lots of other stuff!

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I used the following materials:
  
THAT CRAFT PLACE MDF / GREYBOARD: A4 sheets greyboard (which I hand cut the arrowhead shape from, and die cut the circles from using a Bigz die by Sizzix)

MEDIUMS USED: Gesso, texture paste, DoCrafts Artiste Spritzing Ink (Crimson Red, White, Ocean Blue, Gold, and Hematite), Mod Podge Gloss, acrylic paint, DecoArt Metallics (gold), Pinflair Buff-It in Slate.

IMAGE: "Spock" by Mayzy Art, printed onto That Craft Place Watercolour cardstock and coloured with DoCrafts Artiste Watercolour Pens. I then wanted to glaze the image with Mod Podge Gloss and did so after testing over a practice image coloured with the same Pens (to check that the inks didn't run). Was very pleasantly surprised that the colours didn't run at all!

OTHER PRODUCTS USED: Stencils, gems, flatback pearls, PVA craft glue, Pinflair Glue Gel.

All products above available from That Craft Place (except Mayzy Art image).

ANYTHING ELSE: Drywall tape from hardware store, large kiddies school style letter stencils, sequins.

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Here are some more photos:






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LINKS YOU NEED - THAT CRAFT PLACE
   
Website
Facebook Shop
Facebook Natter & Chatter Group

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For those interested, the image depicts Spock doing the typical "Live Long and Prosper" hand gesture as used by the half-Vulcan by way of greeting.

The letters NCC-1701, whilst seemingly random, actually depicts the registry number of the Enterprise ship on which the series is set (sort of equivalent to the model name/number of a car).

The large arrowhead shape behind Spock represents the Enterprise insignia, and the arrowhead design in its various incarnations later became synonymous with the whole Star Trek franchise.

Anyway, thank you as always for popping by, I hope you enjoyed looking at this creation as well as reading the thought process behind it.

Myself and the other That Craft Place DT very much look forward to seeing your creations!
     
xxSAMxx
   
Please can I enter this project into the following challenge(s):
   

Thursday 18 June 2015

Anyone else love the ocean as much as me?!

I'm back today with you the last of the 3 ATCs that are going in my "Erin box" to be given to my fab crafty friend Erin Stewart when I see her in August!

For this ATC I had a play with spray inks again including and got messy with structure gel!
        
 
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I used the following materials:
  
THAT CRAFT PLACE MDF / GREYBOARD: A4 greyboard sheets (cut to 3½" X 2½" ATC size), MDF seahorse.

MEDIUMS USED: Gesso, DoCrafts Artiste Spritzing Inks (Ocean Blue, White, Hematite, Gold), Archival Ink (Jet Black), Heavy Structure Gel (gloss).

OTHER PRODUCTS USED: Cheesecloth, micro beads.

All products above available from That Craft Place.

ANYTHING ELSE: Mini alphabet stamps by Dovecraft, other small unbranded alphabet stamsp (magazine freebie I think!), mini clock parts, all from my stash.
       
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Summary Process:

MDF seahorse prepped with gesso before being sprayed with Gold Spritzing Ink.

Spritzing inks (Ocean Blue, White & Hematite) sprayed onto white cardstock.  Glued to chipboard ATC. Micro beads mixed into copious Structure Gel and applied with a palette knife.

Whilst gel still wet, pushed clock parts into the medium as well as added the cheesecloth (which I had sprayed with spray ink and dried before hand).  Also added the seahorse at this point.

Once completely dried, edges inked with Archival Ink (Jet Black).

"Treasures of the ocean" stamped onto white textured cardstock in Archival Ink (Jet Black).  Edges inked with same ink.

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Here are some more photos:

   
 
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LINKS YOU NEED - THAT CRAFT PLACE
   
Website
Facebook Shop
Facebook Natter & Chatter Group

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Anyone else love the ocean as much as me?!
Thank you as always for popping by!
  
xxSAMxx
   
Please can I enter this project into the following challenge(s):
    

Wednesday 17 June 2015

Now who opened that can of worms?!

Hi folks and thanks for coming back!  If this is your first visit then welcome!  Do please leave a comment, and if you have a blog I'll pop by to visit you also!

THIS is the little project that I had almost finished last week before my glue gun gave up and died on me!  So yesterday I was FINALLY able to finish this and share with you!
 

And here are the strange annelids that I have tried my best to recreate!  They are a "real world" critter and are used in the Harry Potter universe as a potion ingredient.

   Giant Tube Worms in the Galapagos (Image credited to Wikimedia Commons)
   
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I used the following materials:
       
MEDIUMS USED: Gesso, Air Dry Clay, Acrylic Paint, Spray Ink, Distress Ink (Pumice Stone).

OTHER PRODUCTS USED: Very well washed out tuna can!
                 
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Summary Process:
     
To age the sickly shiny tuna can I scratched the metal with sandpaper then tarnished by holding each section over a candle flame.  This covered it in soot too but after this was washed of it left a beautifully aged tin can ready for its label.

Label created simply myself and printed onto thin copier paper. Aged with Distress Ink (Pumice Stone) using the Tim Holtz "wrinkle free distress" technique.  Once dry further ink in the same colour sponged onto the edges.

Stuffed a little tissue paper into the bottom of the tuna can and added a disk of air dry clay which I painted in the off white colour.

Tube Worms created from air dry clay.  Painted with air dry clay in the off white colour and shades of red and pink added to the head.  Brown spray ink, watered down, brushed in splodges onto the bodies of the worms as well as the disk in the base of the tuna can.

About half the worms were put in place in the tuna can whilst still wet and bendable, the others bent into shape and left to dry before being hot glued into place.
     
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Here are some more photos:
 
 
 
           
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So continues Project Harry Potter!  Not sure what to make next, I have several ideas up my robe sleeve!
   
Random Harry Potter fact... I chose 7oz as my measurement of worms because Hogwarts never adopted the metric system!
         
Thank you as always for popping by.
     
xxSAMxx
      
Please can I enter this project into the following challenge(s):
          

Do you have a dark side?

I'm back today with you the second of 3 ATCs that are going in my "Erin box" to be given to my fab crafty friend Erin Stewart when I see her in August!

Yesterday once I'd blogged about the first ATC (and dealt with the Tesco man!) I was able to lock myself away and finish the little project off that I was desperately needing my glue gun for!  So straight after this post will be another showing you that!

Anyway, here goes!  For this ATC I had a play with spray inks including the DoCrafts Artiste Spritzing Ink in Hematite which I think is my new favourite colour!
   
   
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I used the following materials:
  
THAT CRAFT PLACE MDF / GREYBOARD: A4 greyboard sheets (cut to 3½" X 2½" ATC size), greyboard cog, greyboard key.

MEDIUMS USED: Gesso, DoCrafts Artiste Spritzing Inks (Crimson Red, Gold, White Hematite), Archival Ink (Jet Black), gold embossing powder.

OTHER PRODUCTS USED: Fibres

All products above available from That Craft Place.

ANYTHING ELSE: Ranger Antiquities Frosted Crystal embossing powder, Mini alphabet stamps by Dovecraft, chicken wire stencil, all from my stash.
       
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Summary Process:

Spritzing inks sprayed onto white cardstock.  Dried.  Drips of the same ink applied.  White Spritzing Ink applied through a chicken wire stencil.  Once glued to chipboard ATC edges inked with Archival Ink (Watering Can & Jet Black) and Ranger's Frosted Crystal heat embossed round the edges.

"Embrace your dark side" stamped onto white cardstock in Archival Ink (Jet Black).  Edges inked with same ink.

Key greyboard gesso'd.  Three coats of gold embossing powder applied.

Cog greyboard gesso'd.  Sprayed generously with Spritzing Ink in Hematite.

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Here are some more photos:

 
 
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LINKS YOU NEED - THAT CRAFT PLACE
   
Website
Facebook Shop
Facebook Natter & Chatter Group

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Thank you as always for popping by.  I'll share the last of these 3 ATCs tomorrow but in the meantime pop back to the home page in 5 minutes to see today's other blog post!
  
xxSAMxx
   
Please can I enter this project into the following challenge(s):
    

Tuesday 16 June 2015

A dream is a wish your heart makes

Hey folks! Well yesterday my wife had a day off work so that she could accompany me to a hospital appointment (her dedication is extraordinary).  After the appointment we took a trip to a shopping park which included a Hobbycraft so I was able to replace my glue gun that died early last week!  The wait has been torture!!

Anyway, today I'd like to share with you the first of 3 ATCs that are going in my "Erin box" to be given to my fab crafty friend Erin Stewart when I see her in August!

   
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I used the following materials:
  
THAT CRAFT PLACE MDF / GREYBOARD: MDF Words (Wish)

MEDIUMS USED: Gesso, texture paste, spray ink, Distress Ink, Archival Ink, Crackle Accents, Glossy Accents,

OTHER PRODUCTS USED: Metal brads

All products above available from That Craft Place.

ANYTHING ELSE: Greyboard "paisley" shape, mini alphabet stamps by Dovecraft, clock stencil, all from my stash.  Crochet trims from my local sewing shop: Cottontail Crafts.
       
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Summary Process:

All MDF & greyboard prepped with gesso.

Clockface stenciled onto front before applying more gesso.

Spray inks applied and spritzed with water an dabbed off.  Distress Ink (Peeled Paint & Gathered Twigs) added to the edges and raised areas.

"Make A" stamped onto white cardstock in Archival Ink (Watering Can).  Edges inked with same ink.  Glossy Accents applied.

"Wish" MDF gesso'd.  Sprayed with walnut ink spray before a coat of Mod Podge Gloss added.  Glossy Accents added to top.

Paisley greyboard gesso'd.  Crackle Accents added.  Walnut Ink rubbed into cracks and excess wiped off.  Edges inked with Archival Ink (Tree Branch).

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Here are some more photos:
 

 
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LINKS YOU NEED - THAT CRAFT PLACE
   
Website
Facebook Shop
Facebook Natter & Chatter Group

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Thank you as always for popping by.  I'll share the second of these 3 ATCs tomorrow.
  
xxSAMxx
   
Please can I enter this project into the following challenge(s):
    

Sunday 14 June 2015

Harry Potter collection - Dragon Tonic

Tonight I would like to share with you an altered glass bottle that I turned into a bottle of Dragon Tonic (a la Harry Potter!).


The label reads:

Dragon Tonic
Cures sick dragons
Contains: Eagle owl feather, peacock feather, wart of the giant people toad
   
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I used the following materials:

BOTTLE: 330ml glass Coca Cola bottle, gesso, acrylic paint in various shades of green, Archival Ink (Watering Can & Jet Black), croc scales stamp by Tim Holtz, Mod Podge Gloss,

LABEL: Distress Ink (Pumice Stone)

CORK: Air Dry Clay, Spray Ink
    
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Here are some more photos:
 
 
       
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Thank you as always for popping by.
       
xxSAMxx
   
  

Saturday 13 June 2015

Keys (book page swap 12 of 12)

Welcome to another of my blog posts showing you the wonderful pages I made as part of a wonderful book swap with 13 fellow crafters dotted all over the world!
  
More about this swap can be found in my Book Swap Introduction HERE.
  
So, onto the twelfth and LAST page of 12! This page was for Ann Ledgerwood, using her chosen theme of KEYS.
This should hopefully have been received by now!
   

I used the following materials/steps for this page:
 
The background was made using an embossing folder by Joanna Sheen (I think!).  I then used distress inks to colour and highlight.

The key and lock are again from Lisa at That Craft Place (I do occasionally shop elsewhere, only very rarely though as they have everything you need in one place!).  I painted them black before heat embossing with gold embossing powder several times to get a nice thick luxurious feel to them.  I added a little archival ink to the edges to give them depth.

The textured cardstock is by American Crafts and the crochet trim came from my own local craft shop, Cottontail Crafts.
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Here are photos of the rest of the book page:

  
And the back of the page:
   
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I'd like to quickly finish off by showing you the page that Ann made for me, using my theme of Science Fiction:
   



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A big thank you for stopping by!  Thank you for sticking with me as I've shared with you all 12 pages in this series. 
   
Do please check the home page for the others if you haven't done so already!
 
xxSAMxx
   

Flowers & Happiness (book page swap 11 of 12)

Welcome to another of my blog posts showing you the wonderful pages I made as part of a wonderful book swap with 13 fellow crafters dotted all over the world!

More about this swap can be found in my Book Swap Introduction HERE.

So, onto the eleventh page of 12! This page was for Marilyn Honicke, using her chosen theme of FLOWERS & HAPPINESS. Hopefully she should have received this now! 


I used the following materials/steps for this page:
The background of this page is made from nail varnish.  It is done using a technique I used to do on my own nails at one point (before my hands got too shaky to keep the nail varnish on my nails and not half way up my fingers!).

Anyway, that is a technique called water marbelling and a well ventilated HOUSE is recommended!  I think I was high for a day or two after doing this!

The key and lock are laser cut from greyboard by Lisa at That Craft Place.  I painted them both white before heat embossing with Ranger Snowflake Embossing Tinsel. 

I added black glitter card to the back of the lock, face down so that the glitter shows through the keyhole and flourishes on the lock.  I painted the back of the lock black before adding the "HAPPINESS" to the back and heat embossing using the Embossing Tinsel by Ranger.

The flowers, bakers twine, paper and cardstock were all from my stash.
  
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Here are photos of the rest of the book page:
   



  
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A big thank you for stopping by!  Please come back tomorrow to see the final book page in this series and check the home page for ones posted already!
   
xxSAMxx
   

Sunday 7 June 2015

MDF Printers Tray - That Craft Place challenge!

Good morning!  It is time for a new challenge over at the
That Craft Place challenge blog

This fortnight the theme is

ANYTHING GOES


This month I had a torturous time trying to make the perfect creation to hopefully inspire you folks and tempt you with the That Craft Place laser cuts! I made 3 creations in the end, the first of which was the "Joy to the world" door hanger that I blogged about a couple of days ago. I then set to altering a wicker heart I'd had for some time, which I blogged about yesterday. Both of these I'm very happy with, but weren't quite what I was aiming to share for this challenge.

Finally, I managed to create this wonderful project using one of Lisa's MDF Printer Trays along with lots of other goodies available from That Craft Place. It took me some time to get this to a stage I was happy with, but I got there!


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I used the following materials:
  
THAT CRAFT PLACE MDF / GREYBOARD: MDF 8" x 8" Printers Tray (comes with the 4 corner brackets included). Greyboard flourish. MDF musical note. MDF flower. MDF scallop edged circle. MDF "Inspire" & "Memories" words.

OTHER PRODUCTS USED: Gesso, Archival Ink (Watering Can & Tree Branch), Distress Ink (Gathered Twigs), Mod Podge Matte, Crackle Accents, Glossy Accents, acrylic paint, spray inks, alcohol ink, gold embossing powder.

Map decoupage paper by Craft Consortium. Patterned papers. Paper flowers. Metal embellishments. Springy thingies (those blue things in the bottom left!) Crochet trim.

All products above available from That Craft Place.

ANYTHING ELSE: Greyboard tree from Hobbycraft. Thimble, skeleton leaves, chipboard "S", butterfly embellishment, mini pegs and tiny bottle of gems from stash. Vintage sheet music. Brown twine from my Pa's garden shed!  Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous grid stamp.
       
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Summary Process:

All MDF & greyboard prepped with gesso.

Printers tray heavily inked with Archival Ink in Watering Can.  Crackle Accents added to corner pieces.  Flourish also inked with the same Archival Ink.

Papers adhered to back MDF piece. Distress ink brushed on and grid stamp added with Tree Branch Archival Ink before being sealed with Mod Podge Matte. Same process followed for the reverse of the piece.

Greyboard tree trunk painted with a mix of brown acrylic and PVA to make more of a thick glaze. Top of tree painted with green acrylic paint and a darker green spray ink sponged over. Crackle Accents added.

Other MDF and greyboard pieces decorated with acrylic paint, spray ink and/or gold embossing powder.  MDF words finished with Glossy Accents.

Springy flowers and paper flowers sprayed with blue alcohol ink.

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Here are some more photos:






And finally, the reverse of the completed printers tray:


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LINKS YOU NEED - THAT CRAFT PLACE
   
Website
Facebook Shop
Facebook Natter & Chatter Group

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 The papers and embellishments were chosen to represent various aspects of my memories growing up.

The map paper is to represent holidays I took to the Isle of Mull with my family, and the sheet music and mdf note signifies my musical upbringing with singing and piano lessons as well as involvement in the local amateur operatic society. Then the scissors and thimble represent my crafting, which was encouraged from a very young age!

Thank you as always for popping by, I hope you enjoyed looking at this creation as well as reading the thought process behind it.

Myself and the other That Craft Place DT very much look forward to seeing your creations!
  
xxSAMxx
   
Please can I enter this project into the following challenge(s):