Monday, 4 April 2016

Inspiration by Gwyneth - April 2016 - Artistic Expressions

Good Morning Everybody!

Hi everybody.

For our April posts every Dragons Lair Designs Inspiration Blog Design Team member will be working with the wonderful new collection "Artistic Expressions" that was launched in the Dragons Lair Designs Store on the 1st.

I think the colours are very cheerful in this collection, and lend themselves to a lot of different creations.

It was because I thought the collection very cheerful, and because there are lots of different floral elements within the collection I decided to make a gift to cheer a person up in hospital for this Dragons Lair Designs Inspiration blog post.

We all know now that lots, if not all, hospitals don't let people bring in real flowers.  And even silk or paper flowers catch a lot of dust, and what's worse a display of "fake" flowers is prone to be damaged when being moved around during cleaning, or in transporation to or from the hospital.  So I set about thinking about a way I could make a display that could be opened to be admired, but that could be closed up for safe carying home at the end of the patient's stay in hospital.

This is what I came up with:



These are what I used:

Stamping Dragon Designs Item:
Items from the "Artistic Expressions" collection available - here - in the store.


Consumables:
Book shaped box file; 250gsm Super Smooth white paper; Ultra tacky double sided tape; Glue Gun; Pink lace; White Gesso; Nuvo silver Crystal Drops
Equipment:
Scissors; Paint Brush;

Cards & Method:
I wanted the box to be easily moved, carried around and stored, without risk of too much damage, so I decided that keeping any decoration on it flat would be the best option.  I took various backgrounds and elements from the collection into My Craft Studio to create a flat A4 sized panel for the front of the box.  Once I was happy with the layout I printed it out, cut it out, and then gave the edges a bit of a rough look by running the open blade of the scissors up and down it.

I also took lots of the different floral shaped elements, and the leafy branches, into MCS, resized and replicated them, and made several sheetsw of flowers and branches up.  These I also printed out, and began cutting out over a couple of evenings - though I still had some left to cut when I got to the next stage of my creating.  I also printed out one of the background panels that included a torn edge pattern.

I decided to make my creation using a book shaped box file I'd bought in a sale quite some time ago.


As the inside was a flowery pattern, of a similar bluey colour as within the collection, I decided not to cover it up completely.
But the outside wasn't to my taste, because, as most of you know, I do very little of my crafting with English wording on.  neither of these two pictures show clearly that the top, bottom and right sides have the look of the sides of paper sheets in a book.

So I gathered everything together, and put a large craft mat over the kitchen table - not a crafting in bed project this time.

And decided to paint the front and back of the box using white Gesso. I did remove the price label first.

I wasn't looking for perfection, just a good covering.  This is the back of the box after painting.
The front looked the same.

I then put some ultra tacky tape behind the panel I'd created for the box front and stuck it on.
I did the same with the similar with the similar panel sticking it inside the front cover.

I used the same tape again to stick in the square panel just down from the top inside the back of the box.

I then used a hot glue gun to stick the leafy branches inside the back of the box slightly up from the bottom and over part of the panel - not sticking down completely but giving some shapeing.  After that I used the glue gun again to stick the flowers on one by on from the bottom of the box and up part way over the bottom of the branches, until I had a display of flowers inside the box.

I also used the glue gun to attach some extra flowers to the panel inside the front cover.

I finished off by adding silver Nuvo Crystal Drops to the flower centres.

This shows the "book page" look of three sides of the book box file.

This is a closer look at the inside front of the box.
 This is a closer look at the inside of the box.

This is another look at the box when opened on display.


-oOo-
And that is it from me for today.
Please keep coming back regularly to look at new posts as, over the next few weeks, you'll find various "Inspiration by ..." posts appear on this "Dragons Lair Designs Inspiraiton Blog", as well as other posts by different Design Team members.  I'll be back with more posts over the coming months as well, so keep an eye out for those.

You might also like to sign up for the Dragons Lair Designs Newsletter - Here! - where you can have news about new collections, etc., sent straight to your E-mail box (there are even newsletter freebies to be had.)

Stamping Dragon Designs Links
  • If you fancy trying out some of Dragons Lair Designs, please do visit the Store to find all sorts of digital goodies (you'll find great digi-stamps and lots more).
  • We are also on Etsy, so you can pop along - here - to find some Dragons Lair Designs digital downloads.
  • And why not join the "Dragons Lair Designs Fan Group" Facebook group. It's a small, fun, group where we have lots of different activities which include exclusive challenges, daily inspiration and giveaways - and there's a loyalty club for those who take part as well.
  • "Like" Us on Facebook
  • Dragons Lair Designs Challenge Blog : new challenge 1st Friday every month
  • Follow designer Janette Padley on Pinterest!
  • See us on CraftsUPrint
  • And on Etsy

Till next time - Have Fun Crafting!
Dragons Lair Designs Inspiration Blog Design Team Leader
(And if you are wondering "who's Gwyneth?" - then you'll find an "About Me and My Blog!" piece on my blog.)

Sunday, 3 April 2016

Lynne's Artistic Expressions

Artistic Expressions

Lynne here.
I thought I would
try something a little different using the new "Artistic Expressions" collection available from the Dragons Lair Designs online store -
A star book card which has many sections.
 This photo shows star when opened -


 This is front cover when closed -
When you open out book -
View from top of card -
All embellished with papers and elements from the lovely
Artistic Expressions kit



Here are some links to the Dragons Lair Designs family of sites you might like to check out:


Dragons Lair Designs Sunday Showcase

The rules are simple! 

1. Leave a link to a recent Dragons Lair Creation (not a repeat and new within the last two months) that you have created using any of Janette's products, in the Linky below.

2. Creations should be made up mostly with Janette's products.

3. Make sure you complete all fields in linky so we can reach you in the
 event that you win.

4. All entries are due by midnight GMT on Friday.

5. Only one entry per person.

All entries will be put into a random list generator and one person will win
a product of their choice from Dragons Lair Designs store!

We can't wait to see your projects !

Ok that all said here is your Sunday Showcase Freebie.



The team wanted to play too, here are there projects :D

Janette

Lynne


DONT FORGET THE NEW ARTISITIC EXPRESSIONS COLLECTION IS ON SALE SAVE 40% UNTIL 14th APRIL :D
CLICK IMAGE TO GO TO STORE.


See you next week :)


Dragons Lair Designs Links: 


Saturday, 2 April 2016

Artistic Expressions Art Folder Prompt

I had to bite my lip to keep it shut so as not to ruin the surprise of this amazing kit!  Artistic Expressions is an explosion of color and fun!  I always find myself sitting down to start a project and looking at a blank wall in my head.  So I decided to have a play with this kit to give me a go to for some instant inspiration!  Now the key to this is I must not cheat if I open this little art folder prompt!  I have to try the card I pick at random and see if it will work on the project.  So, now, finally! I can show you my "Art Folder Prompt"!



The heart is layered with foam dots and the word "ART" is by Lost Coast Designs in the "Doodle Words" set.


Inside is pocket folders to hold the index cards I made digitally and printed out and then assembled the tabs. The back of the paper is Distress Ink with water splats to match the wonderful splats in this kit!  No titles on the tabs just numbers that mean something to me cut from a vintage book and inked.


As you can see, I also created my prompts in Photoshop on another piece of paper from the kit and then cut and inked before attaching one to each card, eight cards in total.  They include "Vingtage", "Collage", and "Two Colors".  Like I said...no cheating and I will let you know how these work out.  I have 2 more prompt related projects this month using this fabulous kit so stay tuned and give it a try!


Friday, 1 April 2016

A New Challenge Launches On Our Sister Site Today - "Anything Goes" challenge

It's the 1st Friday of the month and therefore time for the start of this month's new challenge over on the Dragons Lair Designs Challenge blog. After covering as a stand in, temporary, DLD Challenge Blog Design Team Leader for the last couple of months (in addition to being Team Leader for this DLD Inspiration Blog), this month I'm handing over the reigns of the DLD Challenge Blog to Nan.  I wish her every success in her new role.

Nan has chosen "Anything Goes" as the theme for her first challenge in charge.

The challenge is open to anybody, no matter what level of crafter and no matter what medium, and your entry doesn't even have to have anything DLD on it.  You are allowed 1 entry per person per month, and everybody who enters is in with a chance of getting the prize as the winner is chosen by "Random".

So go on, click over to the Challenge Blog and have a go, and let us see your creative entries.

You'll also see some lovely creations created by members of the Design Team to give you some inspiration.

-oOo-

Dragons Lair Designs Links:

We'd love to have you join us in our Fan Group and post up some pictures of any creations you make using any DLD download.

Artistic Expressions - New Digital Download Collection Launch At Dragons Lair Designs

Some of the design team members from this "Dragons Lair Designs Inspiration Blog", and our sister blog "Dragons Lair Designs Challenge Blog", have already been teasing you with a few creations they've made using this fabulous collection even before it was available in the online store!


Well - the launch day has arrived!-
And everybody can now get their hands on the new -
"Artistic Expressions" Collection
Here!

It's a great digital collection that can be used for all sorts of crafting. Whether you are into scrapbooking, cardmaking, or other forms of papercrafting, it has lots to offer.  And because it comes in a digital format that you download as soon as you've bought it you can print and start crafting immediately, or you could do some digital or hybrid crafting with it.

There's even a

40% Discount

on everything from the collection for a limited period from the 1st to 15th April.

And if you choose to buy the two packs that form the main collection together, as one item, you will get an extra few items completely free (ones that are not available any other way.)

And if you read to the end of this post you will find a link to get another part of the collection completely Free!

If you've missed seeing any of the "Teasers" around the online crafting world over the last week or so then have a look at them now - I'm sure that they will inspire you to get crafting with the new kit.  There are also a few items you won't have seen, so something new to inspire you as well even if you have seen all the "sneaky peaks" and "teasers".

Gwyneth
A few days ago I gave my online friends and fellow members of some FB groups a sneaky peak of my first creation made using the new Artistic Expressions collection.

Well, today I have the whole card to show you.


Jacqui
Jacqui has been having some fun making some digital scrapbook layouts using various items of the collection.

And she also made a card layout


Susan
A few days ago Susan teased you with this little calendar tag.

 Well the tag forms part of a larger page in the calendar she's building up over the year.


Diane
Diane gave you a sneaky peak during the last week by showing this lovely little card.

For today's launch Diane has made this gorgeous little card.


Nan
A week ago Nan teased everybody with this little bit of a creation she'd made using this collection

Keep an eye out for her post showing you what she's made in the near future.

Janette
Janette's teaser was a little corner of a scrapbook layout - but she's not shown us the whole creation yet, so keep an eye out for that before long.



This is a wonderful digital collection that work well for all sorts of crafting, not just digital crafting.

I think that the stunning items made by the Design Team members show the versatility of this collection, so don't miss out on getting it at the launch discounted price and go to the store now to make your choices and get what you'd like.

Freebie!

 As I said near the begining of this post - we have a freebie exclusively for readers of this blog - a quick page layout -

- which you can download by clicking - Here! - it comes as a zipped up file with ToUs etc.
Enjoy Crafting!


-oOo-

Dragons Lair Designs Links:

We'd love to have you join us in our Fan Group and post up some pictures of any creations you make using this collection, or any other DLD items.

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