Happy Monday!!

Hey everyone,

It's monday again and time for another post from me! This week I have a 12 x 12 layout to share that features a tonne of distressing!! I love to distress EVERYTHING!! It's an addiction :-). The layout was made entirely out of Aprils Crafty Alley Kit with the exception of adhesive. See how packed it is?? And guess what? I still have about 80% of it left in week two!!! Ok so here is my layout.....

The Early Bird papers have a cooking theme. I was going to scrap something I had baked but then thought the papers would be perfect to scrap my dog Oscar.....

He eats ANYTHING!! And never turns down my cooking, even when it goes wrong.

See how versatile the papers are? I really heart them! And this months embellishments are really cute too. These brads are large enough to stamp on and adding one of the buttons to the wool flower gives the project a finishing touch.....

I hope you like my layout!! The design/sketch for this layout is my own so feel free to use it in one of your own projects. Stay tuned on Wednesday as there will be a technique video from me and it may involve.... you guessed it..... distressing!!! Yaye!!!

Louise xx

Ps... did you enter Robyn's challenge yet?
Pps.... Did you try to grab that awesome blog candy from Cathy????

Stamping with Chalks (using April kit supplies)

Stamping with Chalks

Tutorial created using April Monthly kit supplies available here.

If you would like to download a pdf document of this tutorial, click here. (Download may begin automatically).

For today’s tutorial, I have a pretty basic technique – perhaps even to be called at the “Beginner level.” Maybe it will be a reminder to you to dust off your chalks, or if you are new to stamping, perhaps it will inspire you. So many times when we first begin down the road of paper crafting we find there is just SO much out there. Of course, we’d love to own it all, but our budgets may not allow for it.

I wanted to create this tutorial to share an idea that you can do using chalks and an embossing ink such as Ranger Distress Embossing ink, or VersaMark. Chalks are a lot more affordable than ink pads and you can usually purchase them in sets or color families giving you a lot of color choices with little investment.

So take out your favorite stamps, some embossing ink, and some chalks and lets get creating!

I happen to own a lot of chalks, as I enjoy creating with them, but for this tutorial, I’m going to use the set of chalks that came with my April kit from the Crafty Alley Kit Club.

Step #1
Ink up your stamp with your embossing ink.

Step #2
Stamp image on to your cardstock.

Step #3

Add chalk to your dauber, cotton ball, or finger tip.

Step #4

Pounce chalk over ink (you can vary the effect by apply several different colors of chalk).

Step #5

Use a brush to remove excess chalk using a light sweeping motion. Chalk will adhere well to the embossing ink, so your image will be fine.

Step #6

You can vary the stamps you use and combine different images. I am using small images to add to my journaling spot and will repeat the steps above using the other colors of chalk from the set.

(Sorry about the poor quality of lighting in my room for this tutorial, my lighting depends a lot upon the weather outside).

Step #7 - Decorate

The supplies used to decorate my tag are from the April kit. I used the ribbons and fibers at the top, and added one of the scissors buttons as a charm. I then added a charm that I made from glass beads. I attached them using the wire stems from the paper flowers in the kit. I had removed the blossoms for use in another project. I slipped the stems through the beads and used them like you would jewelry gauge wire by twisting them to form a loop at the top and bottom of each bead. I then added some recycled jump rings from some jewelry that I had taken apart.

The orange flower was created using the orange cardstock from the kit; which I die cut using a Tim Holtz Tattered Floral Alterations die. I added the lace trim and daisy trim from the kit along the bottom and added a half backed pearl to the flower center.

I truly hope that this tutorial has been helpful for you. This technique makes lovely cards, and accents to scrapbook pages, I just happened to be creating a journaling tag for a mini album that I’m creating for my little girl. If you have any questions, please only ask, I’m happy to be of help.

Hugs,

❀ Robyn xx

"What's For Dinner?" Layout

Are you enjoying Spring weather as well? I think Spring has finally arrived here in Co Kerry; at least my garden thinks so. My veggie plants are really growing with the sunshine we've been having the past couple of days. Sooo happy to *hopefully* have the winter weather behind us!

Just a pre-intro to my post: Our family enjoyed a lot of company at our house this past week. When I say "a lot" I mean a lot. :c) It's been SO much fun though. My daughter Kendalle and I prepared 132 plates of food at our home over a 6-day period. So, we've enjoyed lots of laughs and a lot of new memories as well. Okay, so all that to help explain the layout that I have for you today. I wanted to create a scrapbook page of one of the groups we had for dinner the other evening. My hubby says he thinks that I "thrive serving a big crowd!" I'm not sure about that...I sure couldn't have done it without my sweet little daughters!

In the midst of recovering from it all, I was having fun playing with my Crafty Alley kit (April) and came up with this 12x12 layout. I am really enjoying all of the great products in the kit!

All of the papers and embellies (except Primas) are from this month's Crafty Alley Kit Club available here. The unique flower was created using the green linen A4 paper, ribbon, papers, and a brad from the kit.

The layout also goes along with the challenge (SEWING!) on this Crafty Alley DT blog here. I've used machine stitching on many of the paper embellies, mats, and borders.

One of my favourite colours is yellow, for some reason, it just makes me smile. :c) Perhaps because it brings a small bit of instant "sunshine!" ✲ This is the Bling cardstock by Bazzil from the kit.

Don't forget to play along with the current DT challenge: sewing! You have one week left to be entered in the draw for a €10 voucher to the Crafty Alley Shop. You can view the DT Challenge here.

Haven't the other DT members been creating gorgeous projects?! I loved Michelle's card and Louise's fun stitched journal cover! Katie is away until Monday, so will look forward to seeing what she comes up with as well once she home to her kit. Didn't you love her beautiful card and album? I was hoping she'd give us a peak at the rest of the album. :c)

Until next time,

❦ Robyn xx

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Sharing a smiley:

"There are no mistakes, just opportunity for embellishments."

A quick project to share with you today

Hi all,

Well as some of you know I am still away at the moment and am having a fab time!! I'm super busy though so have just popped on to share something with you today.

As I'm away I haven't got my hands on my Crafty Alley Kit yet - but I can't wait to start creating with it ! Have you got yours yet? If not - be quick!

This is a book that I made from scratch last week. We threw a Bridal Shower for my friend, and during the shower, we set up a little crafting station, and during the course of the evening, every lady there made and decorated a page with either her best recipe, or piece of household/marital advice. We then popped all the pages into this book I made!

I made it using old cardboard backing pages from pads, and bound 36 pages into it. I then decorated it - it took a very long time but I was very happy with the result!!

I added lots of different ribbons, fibres, feathers, lace, buttons and charms...

I hope you like it!!

Katie xx

Crafty Alley Kit Club - April Kit

Hi Everyone! Here is the video to share with you exactly what is in the brand new Crafty Alley Monthly Kit Club for April. You can view further details and purchase this kit HERE


Kit price: €30 + P&P
Free Delivery For Orders Over €50 (within Ireland)
(€5 Flat Rate Delivery For All Other Orders) (within Ireland)
For Large Quantities and International Orders Please Refer To Shipping

It is truly a great value with this full kit! I don't know of another kit club anywhere that includes a full package of several products such as the brads, self adhesive photo corners, the felt layered embellies by Am. Crafts, and more.

Spaces for this kit club are limited, and spots are already being filled. If you would like to get your kit (while stocks last) you can click HERE. A new kit will come out each month, and you secure your place in the kit club beginning with this currrent April kit.

Happy Creating!
Robyn xx (on behalf of the Crafty Alley shop)

Spring Flower Card

Hi there and thanks for stopping by. Today I'd like to show you a card that I've made using some of the gorgeous papers from the DT April Kit.

To achieve this look, I took some plain yellow paper and used my MME Bloom & Grow clear stamps and Tea Dye Distress inks all of which I got from the Crafty Alley.

For this card I've not even used half a sheet of the Cosmo Cricket Early Bird : Apron Strings as it's double-sided. So the scrap part I was able to re-use again turning it over. I've ran the papers through my sewing machine and then inked up the edges using Frayed Burlap Distress inks.

This gorgeous green lace ribbon also comes in the kit.

And here's a close-up of the gorgeous flowers and pearl-headed pins, that is also in the kit.

The image I've used has been coloured using ProMarkers and then I've inked up the edges using Frayed Burlap distress inks.

And here's the end result.

Hugs Michele x

Blog Candy Alert!

To celebrate our new design team blog and kit club I am giving away one kit as blog candy. To be in with a chance to win follow the guideline over on The Crafty Alley Shop Blog!

Good luck everybody

Cathy x

Patchwork Fun......

Hey everyone,

How was your Easter weekend? Well, I had a lot of fun as I got to play with April's kit from The Crafty Alley!!! It really is packed full of all you can need for a month of crafty fun!! My first project is ''off the page'' but can be adapted into a layout or a card. I started a family journal to write down things we said or did, when Finn walked etc....and altered the cover using the Kit. The kit includes Tim Holtz grungeboard squares and they are so versatile!! I had planned to share a layout this week but was inspired by Robyn's challenge and used some sewing in this project. I inked up the squares with 6 different coloured Tim Holtz distress inks and stitched them into a patchwork background.........

Then I used a tag from the Kit and distressed the edges......

There is a whole sheet of borders and how cute is this ruler one? I distressed the edges of that too and then pleated it. Some distressed stitching and buttons added the finishing touch.

I love the end result. The ink on the grungeboard gives a faux suede effect. And guess what? I haven't even dented the kit, I still have about 97% left!!! It's packed!!

Louise xx

Announcing the Crafty Alley Design Team Challenge!

I am so very excited to present you with the very first ever Crafty Alley DT Challenge! I had planned on posting an Easter/Spring technique challenge for you but when I saw the gorgeous Design Team April Kit that Cathy had put together I knew I had to change my plan. Have you seen the kit yet? Gorgeous!! The Design Team has a lot of fun projects to share with you this month, but that will be shared in other posts.

Okay, so for this weeks challenge...I present you with: Clean and Cute Sewing!

Here's how it will work:

• You will be given 2 weeks to work on the project type of your choice, whether it be a card, scrapbook layout, tag, altered item, etc. using product of your choice.
• Must include sewing of some kind in the form of sewing machine, hand stitching, or even faux stitching; which I give a short demo on in the downloadable tutorial below.
• Post your project to the ning network HERE. There will be a special photo album for the DT Challenges.

Plus...there will be a prize! Because it's the very first challenge, the winner will receive a €10 voucher for the Crafty Alley shop! Woohoo!

Here is the sample which I've created using the gorgeous Crafty Alley April Design Team Kit.

If you would like to download a tutorial for this project, you can click HERE. (Download will begin automatically and is in pdf form).

To purchase your very own Crafty Alley Exclusive Design Team kit for April, click HERE for further details. Quantities are very limited, so it's first come/first served. You will definitely NOT be disappointed with it! I ❤ it!

I hope everyone has a blessed Easter weekend, especially Resurrection Sunday! We're all looking forward to seeing your challenge project. :c) Thanks in advance for playing along. Don't forget to post your project photo to the ning network so we can all enjoy it.

Crafty Hugs,

Robyn (on behalf of the Crafty Alley Design Team)

PS - Here's a sneaky peaky of the April kit - :c)

When you've completed your challenge project, you can post it to our ning network as well as link to your blog post as well (using Mister Linky below).

Fun with Liquid Pearls

Hiya everybody,

I just thought I would share a recent project with you today.

I was in the mood to make a clean, fresh card and this is what I came up with.

I chose a simple colour scheme, and dressed it up with extra sparkle. The flowers I made myself using the Peony Nestabilities dies, handmade paper, Glossy Accents as adhesive and Stickles to add sparkle.

I used a Mo Manning stamp, matted onto the large Circle and Scallopped Circle Nestabilities, and then finished the card with my favourite product - Liquid Pearls. The effects you can get with these are beautiful.

Liquid Pearls, Glossy Accents and Nestabilities are available to buy at http://www.craftyalley.com .

Hugs,

Katie xoxo