Hot Gift Bags

 International Art & Soul, a challenge which has been put together to incorporate any type of craft, paper, wood, flowers, recycling, glass - the world is your oyster :).  Come on over an join us with you artwork :)

Challenge #8 - Hot Colours

This theme is probably my least favourite as it means I have to work with colours I am least comfortable with, I am a blue and purple lover, the calm colours, not the reds and oranges which to me are angry colours :) :) :) But what to do, it is a challenge after all and it is rather good to be removed from ones comfort zone every now and again.  I hunted through my images but there was nothing I wanted to colour with reds and oranges except flowers and I feel I have done a fair few of them recently so needed another idea.  I knew I had a bunch of design papers as I keep adding to my collection, don't know why as I don't like working with them but they do look pretty in the shop :) :) :) and when they are free in a magazine then it would be sacrilege to throw them away!!!!  A hunt through my papers found a few A6 sized sheets in the dreaded colours but so small - what to do with them.  Then a brain wave, (I get the odd one every now and again :) :) :) ) - make some really small bags which I can use to give to my friends with wee gifts inside.  I have to admit the bags were a bit fiddly to make but I love the outcome, even though they are red and orange :) :) 

Challenges entered:-

New Beginnings

Time for another challenge over at

IKEsWORLD

and this fortnight it is

#8 NEW YEAR - NEW BEGINNINGS

We are onto the second week of the challenge so there is still plenty of time for you to enter and win the fabulous prize of $20 to spend in the IKEsWORLD store.  To win the prize or be voted in the top 3 you MUST use and IKEsWORLD digi, lots to choose from so why not pop on over to the shop and have a look around.

For my creation I opted for the forever useful, greeting card and used the digi Scheherazade.  So how I linked this to the theme of New Beginnings, well I see this as a Birthday Card or just a card to be given to somebody to encourage them through a tough time.  I live in Saudi and really could not resist this digi and knowing how some of the female species here, especially the  younger ones, are so longing for more independence and chances to learn about the world outside of the Kingdom my link for New Beginnings was born.  It takes courage to 'step out', to find out who you are, to not conform to other's wishes, to be YOU.  There are many 'New Beginnings' happening in the Middle East at the moment!!!!!

I first placed a sunrise photo I took in Kenya on my recent adventure there, behind the digi so it would show through the arches.  I digitally coloured the arches but left the rest to be completed with Promarkers later.  Two copies were printed, the one for the background and th second so I could fussy cut the beautiful lady and attach her with foam tape later.  Next I took orange card for my base layer and added a black velvet matt.  With the digi coloured and fussy cut I then added this double layer.  Next I added an orange card die - Joy Crafs Middle Fleur De Lys  which I embellished with blue Liquid Pearls to match the blue gates in the digi.  Next, I  added a veil to one side of my card, not because I personally 'cover'  it is something I am far from comfortable in doing but because there is a sense of the mysterious when you see a veiled woman, what is hiding behind, why are you hiding and in many cases when only beautiful eyes are visible a (and I don't mean to offend) sense of the erotic. Lastly I added some blue gems to cover the glue dots I had used to attach the veil.

Ingredients:-

• Orange card from Craft Creations
• Scheherazade by IKEsART
• Promarkers - black, cool grey 3 4 and 5, burnt orange, starfish, caramel, cyan, sky blue and pastel pink
• Flex markers - blush, dusky pink, linen
• Die - Joy Crafs Middle Fleur De Lys
• Blue Liquid Pearls
• Black velvet, gems and material from my stash

I am entering this project into the following challenges:-

• Artistic Inspirations - W, E3 - (deadline Jan 5) Anything Goes
• Card Mania - 2W, 3E - (Week 1) Happy New Year
• Digi Makeover Challenge - W, SIO, must use digi - Anything Goes
• Make it Monday - W, papercrafts only - Always Anything Goes
• Paper Playtime  - 2W, F - moved to Pause Dream Enjoy (Tuesday Challenges)
• Stamp and Create - M, 1E/week - (December) Anything Goes
• The Crazy Challenge - 2W, 4E - (Week 2) Celebrate the new year
• The Pink Elephant Monday Card Challenge - W, cards - (deadline Jan 5) Anything Goes
• Whoopsi Daisy - W, SIO - Celebrations
• 613 Avenue Create - W - Challenge #52 Anything Goes w/optional Twist - Black & favorite colour.
• Challenges 4 Everybody - 2W, 3E - (2nd Week) Challenge #36 Anything Goes.
• That Craft Place - 2W, 1E - (2nd week) Anything Goes
• Pumpkin spice - W - #52 Anything Goes
• Chocolate, Coffee & Cards - 2W, 3E -  No. 55 - (W1 of 2) - New Beginnings
• Digitally Sweet - W, Digital images/projects  - No. 68 - Anything Goes
• Sister Act Card Challenge - W, Cards. - No. 38 - Anything Goes - challenge runs till Jan 10, 2014
• Stampin' For The Weekend - 2W, 1E – (W2 of 2) - Anything Goes
• As You Like it Challenge - 2W, E3- (W3 of 3) Favortie Digi and Why
• C.R.A.F.T. - W, 5E -#239 New Year/New Beginnings/New Baby
• Crafting for all Seasons - 2W, 3E - #67 Anything Christmas but a card (ends Jan07)
• Crafty Creations - #253 Anything goes (ends Jan08
• Digistamps 4 Joy - 2W, SIO  - #82 Anything goes (ends Jan07)
• Divas by Design - 2E - Anything goes (ends Jan07)
• The Stamping Chef - Always Anything goes
• Quirky Crafts - Eyes Open