Winners - Challenge #17 - Rustic Glam

Hello and Happy Holidays! Niki here. We apologize for being a day late, we've had some technical issues behind the scenes. Thank you to every single person that was able to enter my Rustic Glam challenge. I knew it would be a challenge and am overjoyed to see that you all rose to the occasion and nailed it with such amazing designs! Huge round of applause to you all! After much thought and deliberation I was finally able to choose a winner.

And the winner is............

WINNER - #2-Jenny Marples of Pushing the Right Buttons 

I was absolutely flabbergasted about the texture and bling on this amazing design. It has everything I would consider rustic and glam. I just want to reach out and touch all of the yummy texture and then had this on my wall! Outstanding and so very awesome sauce!

Congratulations Jenny!  Pamellia will be in touch by email to send you a personalized winner's badge and to provide details about being our Feature Artist for the next challenge.

RUNNER-UP -#9-Chris of Rubbaluvva

This altered jar has the bling and the burlap touches any rustic glam girl would love and that is why I enjoy it so very much. The flowers and the twine along with the lace are so chic and beautiful! I would totally put this in my bathroom and use it to fancify my q-tips. Wowzers and awesome sauce!

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Now let's have a look at our DT favourites:




Anne's Favourite - #4 - Jennie, Live the Dream

I found it so hard to choose a favourite this month, there were so many outstanding entries!  Jennie stole my heart with her gorgeous handmade flowers, the beautiful crackle, the wonderful chicken wire and the dreamy stars....  Jennie's tag just epitomises 'rustic glam' in my eyes!

Autumn's Favourite - #14 - Marty F

Marty melted my heart with the warm plaid and gorgeous dimensional poinsettias on her beautiful Christmas tag.  The touches of pearls and luxurious texture were the perfect glamorous additon to this beautifully designed tag.  What an inspiration!!!  Thank you Marty for sharing this amazing project with us!

Branka's Favourite - #6 - Elli

There were so many stunning entries and it was really hard for me to pick a favourite this month. I have chosen Elli's fabulous tag at the end. I am in love with her yummy textures, beautiful muted tones and a brilliant layering! So glittery, so frosty, so awesome!

Lisa's Favourite - #3 - Nicole Wright Designs

It was so hard to pick a favorite this month...I loved all of the Rustic Glam projects!! But in the end, I chose this amazing project by Nicole Wright!! I absolutely adore her Vintage Tree Lot Trailer!! It's so creative!! I am a life-long camper so this project just makes me happy!! The details are spectacular!! I want this for my fireplace mantle :)

Sara Emily's Favourite -#3 Nicole Wright Designs

I absolutely had to do a coin flip this month! There were so many wonderful entries! But in the end I chose Nicole's festive project, because there's something so kitschy about this trailer! And I do mean  that in a good way, Nicole! How can you not look at this and just smile?! Way to go, and a great addition to the tree lot!

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A huge congratulation everyone! Thank you so much to everyone who played along with us last month and don't forget to grab your badges! You earned them!!

While the design team is taking December off we still will be around and commenting on your wonderful designs for this Holiday season! We all want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! See you back here in 2017! 

Hugs to all, from the 'Anything But Cute' Design Team

Challenge #19 - Rustic Glam

Hello Everyone!

Niki here and I am your hostess this for this month's challenge here at Anything But Cute. Thank you to everyone that was able to join us last month for Autumn's challenge. It seems that the theme was a big hit with you all and so many lovely entries! Don't forget to check back with us on November 12th, when Autumn and the team announce the winners of the "Autumn Day" challenge. Now on to this month's theme.

Can you believe that it is November already? I hope all of you had a spooktacular Halloween and got to see some amazing costumes! Now that we are into November and the weather is turning cold I find myself starting indoor projects. This challenge theme was inspired by my major overhaul of my master bedroom. I made a DIY rustic whitewashed wall and the entire room has a rustic glam vibe to it thanks to the wood accent wall and a chandelier. Isn't it fun to combine two hobbies?

RUSTIC GLAM

Think of Southern charm meeting some Bling Bling. Create a mixed media design featuring rustic elements such as whitewashed wood, chicken wire, burlap, soft subtle tones and neutrals. Don't forget to add the GLAM part with some sparkle and BLING!

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And now for some inspiration from the talented Anything But Cute design team!


Anne - Redanne

I decided to challenge myself and use everything that Niki asks for in her fabulous challenge and I had lots of fun making it!

Autumn - SewPaperPaint

I decided to create a framed mixed media home decor item for my bedroom.  I've had this awesome deep frame for ages and decided to do a little collage featuring one of my favorite Verve stamps inside.  I used neutral tones with touches of sequins, vintage glitter and pearls to complete my rustic glam framed art.

Branka - Vintage Handmade

I used my mini burlap panel (reversed side), my DecoArt white crackle paint and my Chalky finish paints, a Stampendous Shabby Blue embossing enamel, some dies and some flat back pearls to create my rustic Christmas window for this wonderful Niki's challenge theme.

Lisa - A Mermaid's Crafts

I love Niki's theme of Rustic Glam!! I upcycled an old bamboo box lamp by covering it in super-heavy gesso and then crackle medium. Once the cracks appeared, I added antiquing medium and replaced the bamboo with chicken wire mesh decorated with glitter. For added glam, I finished it off by stringing crystals that sparkle in the light :)

Niki - Pawsitively Creative Crafts

I went with a faux deer head (the only type that I would ever have in my house) and added some wood stain, acrylic paints, sanding techniques, stencils, modeling paste and of course I had to add the bling bling with some diamonds and faux snow. Yeppers, snow. Carpe Diem!

Sara Emily - sarascloset

Niki's theme is so much fun! Rustic and glam is such an interesting combination of elements! I used crackle and wood grain, burlap and chicken wire, gilding and bling to make my mixed media card. I have a brief tutorial on my blog for the easy peasy wood grain if you'd care to take a look.

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Can you believe my teamies?!? Such a talented group of ladies we have here! Please hop over to the team blogs to see more photos and get some details on how these projects were made. And don't forget to leave some bloggy love while you're there. It brings a smile to our faces. :)

I hope that we have inspired you to try something new and maybe even take it a step further and just enjoy the challenge of being challenged. I know this one was a challenge for me and I am super stoked I was able to do it!

The winner will receive the honour of being our Feature Artist for an upcoming challenge!

Here at Anything But Cute we just love to see all the seasoned and expert mixed media artists, but we also want to encourage those who are just getting their feet wet. Our design team will always be on the lookout for these exceptional projects and artists. You just never know when we might be giving out something special to a lucky mixed media newcomer. We all have to start somewhere, right?

Challenge runs until December 4th - we can't wait to see what you come up with! Happy Crafting from the entire team and thanks for visiting Anything But Cute! Carpe Diem!

An InLinkz Link-up

Feature Artist - Shabby Garden - Welcome Suzz!!

Hello Lovelies!!

Niki here and I am super stoked to be sharing this post about our Featured Artist! This artist was the winner of my "The Birds and the Bee's" challenge in June. I would love to introduce you to Suzz from Suzz's Stamping Spot! Say hello and welcome to Suzz!

Suzz is a multifaceted artist that doesn't limit herself to one style. She shows so many wonderful ways to make mixed media designs, everything from geometric to grunge and shabby chic. I don't know how she does it but WOWZERS! Hats off to you darlin!

Suzz has created another stunner for our Shabby Garden moodboard designed by Lisa. Her attention to detail and texture has me gobsmacked! Get ready to drool and oogle over this tempting and splendid creation!

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Hi Suzz here!  I am thrilled to be a featured artist at Anything But Cute!  The design team is creative and fabulously talented and inspires me every month with their art.

I am Suzanne Czosek (stampersuzz)  of Suzz's Stamping Spot.  I am a mother to 3 wonderful children, 2 dogs and a wife to a wonderful husband. I live in the Midwest in the USA. 

I have always been inspired by art and enjoyed trying new techniques, crafts and mediums.  A good friend of mine at work started me on card making and I have been hooked ever since. 

I am in love the Shabby Garden Mood Board provided by Lisa for this month's challenge.  Who doesn't love a beautiful garden full of texture, beautiful colors and a shabby effect?

You could spend days wandering through these gardens enjoying the smells, the feel and the beauty of the garden.  This had me thinking of how I could emulate the effect of the garden fence in all it's distressed glory alongside the cottage.

I started with the fence by creating a template for the pickets. I cut out enough for the front and back of my mini book.

I then painted them with a lovely soft lavender.

After they were dry I added a layer of Distress Crackle Paint - White to the posts and strips to go behind the fence posts.  I then let that dry and repeated the process on the back sides of the fence.

After everything dried I gave it a lovely spray of gray distress stain and followed it up with a smear of black dye ink over the surface.  Then I spritzed a little water over the black ink.  I ended up with a lovely mix of gray, white and lavender peeking through.

Next up I created a few houses to put as the main covers to my mini book.  These were just cut to scale with my fence.

I decided to create a roof line with tissue tape wrapped around the front.  I then decided a heart cut out would be pretty and used a die to cut a heart shape in the roof. I place them on top of each other with the tissue tape facing out and centered the heart and cut them both at the same time.

I then sponged on the same shade of lavender inside and out of the house. I stamped a ledger stamp in soft gray to add a little siding to my house.

I stamped some images and sentiments on the houses.

 My favorite part is the pretty bits and pieces on the front of the fence.

Thanks to the Anything But Cute team for letting me play along with them this month!

Suzz

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GOBSMACKED right? I know I sure am. The added flowers, clock and butterfly to the distressed fence is beautiful and shabbyliscious! How can you not be inspired to join in with this challenge after taking a gander at Suzz's creation. Get those shabby garden ideas out of your head and onto some canvas or paper and join in with Lisa's Shabby Garden Mood Board!

You have until the 4th of September to play - and you'll find all the challenge details as well as lots of inspiration from the brilliant Anything But Cute design team by clicking on the challenge link.

Happy Crafting and Carpe Diem!
~Niki

WINNERS - Challenge #14 - The Birds and the Bees

Hello all of you lovelies! Niki here. I sure hope you all are having a wonderful summer full of family time, good food and crafty time. As the summer months get into full swing it is easy to forget to put aside some time for yourself, I know that is the case for me. I want to thank every one that was able to find some time to get into their art rooms and enter our last challenge. The scope of entries was vast and it made it difficult to choose a winner. After much deliberation and thought my winner of  The Birds and The Bee's challenge is:

WINNER - #7 Suzanne C

I chose this fantabulous and quirky design because it is full of wonderful mixed media techniques and leftovers. Suzz used scraps from previous projects and ended up with this stunning creation. The use of inks and textures, not to mention the awesome sauce face, left me smiling. Bravo!

Congratulations Suzz!  Pamellia will be in touch by email to send you a personalized winner's badge and to provide details about being our Feature Artist for the next challenge.

RUNNER-UP - #6 Felix the Crafty Cat

I have to applaud the use of pistachio shells for the wowzers texture on this shrine that Angela created. The eyeball at the top of the shrine is genius and so fun. I really enjoy how the bee is the center of the design and all of the texture in the middle pulls the viewers eye to the bee. Fantabulous!

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Now let's have a look at our DT favourites:




Anne's Favourite - #6 - Angela

I absolutely love Angela's wonderful bee shrine, it has a real steampunk feel and I love that she created texture by using pistachio nut shells and other random found objects!

Autumn's Favourite - #25 Maja Rijkers

I was smitten by the artistic quality of Maja's journal page.  I love the layers and detail in her beautiful background and how beautifully the focal images blend with it.

Branka's Favourite - #4 boozybear

I am in love with this brilliantly created layout! So many amazing elements and fantastic layering! Beautiful stencilling work, great stamping and a super cool messy design which I love!

Lisa's Favourite - #26 Kim

I absolutely love the amazing texture Kim has created on her canvas!! The colors are so soft and beautiful!! The paperclay flowers look amazing!! The bird's nest pops so beautifully!! Stunning!!

Sara Emily's Favourite - #17 Isle of Crafty Creations

I just fell in love with the rusted and metallic effects on Jane's wall hanging! Her attention to detail on this is fantastic, from the stencil work in the background to the gilding waxes that gave this a real metal look. To think this is air dry clay and MDF just blows my mind!  And she tops it off with a wonderful quote--just perfect for Niki's Birds and the Bees challenge!

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A huge congratulation everyone! Thank you so much to everyone who played along with us last month and don't forget to grab your badges! You earned them!!

There is still plenty of time to enter Anne's current challenge Summer Time Fun! We can't wait to see what you come up with this time!

Hugs to all, from the 'Anything But Cute' Design Team

WINNERS - Challenge #13 - Celebrate Your Style

Hello everyone! 

Pamellia and the entire design team here and we are back to announce the Winners and Runner-Ups from our first anniversary challenge "Celebrate Your Style". We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who entered our birthday challenge last month and supported us for our one year mark! It was so amazing to see all those gorgeous projects that were posted! You all put a lot of love into your fabulous creations and we are completely blown away by the variety of projects and creative ideas! 

As we tallied up the votes, it turned out that we had a three way tie for the winning spot and a two way tie for the runner-up. So without further ado (in no particular order)

WINNERS

Coco #18

Maria #68

Suzz #79

Congratulations to Coco, Mari and Suzz, you really impressed us with your projects!  Please contact Pamellia (pamellia1162@gmail.com) with your full name and mailing address to receive your Gift Vouchers. Deadline is June 25.

We would like to send out a special thank you to the sponsors who donated these wonderful Gift Vouchers and helped to make our Anniversary challenge one to remember:

THE FUNKIE JUNKIE BOUTIQUE:

Store - The Funkie Junkie Boutique

Blog - Frilly and Funkie Challenge Blog

Facebook - The Funkie Junkie Boutique

EMERALD CREEK:

Store - Emerald Creek Craft Supplies

Blog - Emerald Creek Dares

Facebook - Emerald Creek Craft

ALLEYSTAMP:
Store - Alleystamp

Etsy Store - Alleystamp

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And now on to our Runner Ups!

Aisha #34

Jenny #83

Congratulation Ladies! Your work is amazing!

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Random Prize Winners

27. Becca Cruger
54. Melissa SunshineHoneyBee
73. Paper Talk With Samra

We would like to thank Linda at the Funkie Junkie Boutique for donating a box of products for our random draw. I have divided it up into three packages, please contact me (pamellia1162@gmail.com) with your full name and mailing address to receive your prize. Deadline is June 25.

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Now let's have a look at our DT favourites:




Anne's Favourite - Ruth - No. 119

Ruth created the most beautiful textured background and the flowers are cleverly made with more beautiful mixed media backgrounds.  A stunning creation.

Autumn's Favourite - #116 Miranda

Miranda's genius mix of drawing and mixed media stole my heart!  This fabulous stylized owl is unbelievably cool and inspiring.  I am totally blown away with Miranda's drawing skills and use of color!

Branka's Favourite - #119 Ruth

I am really impressed by this fabulous canvas with amazing rich textures and breathtaķingly beautiful handmade flowers! It's a fantastic vintage looking make!

Lisa's Favourite - #67 Nikki

I am mesmerized by the gorgeous colors in Nikki's canvas!! I love how they go from bold stripes to a subtle, muted blend!! The butterfly is a perfect touch!! It's absolutely stunning!!

Niki's Favourite - #32-Lys

I was drawn to this gorgeous design by Lys because of the dark and gorgeous background and the texture! Bling, bling! I just wanted to reach out and touch this! Can you believe that the texture was created from potpourri!?! Talk about an upcycle and genius was to use a household item. Wowzers Lys!

Pamellia's Favourites -

93. Jane's Journal

Jane's tag hypnotized me with the amazing colours, and the black and white accents create such a whirlwind of contrast and interest, I LOVE the entire look! So dreamy!

128. boozybear

This layout is just incredible. One of those projects I wish I could reach into my computer screen and touch! So many wonderful products and they all work together in harmony!

20. Electra

I've never seen so many wonderful colours used together before! I would expect a jumbled mess, but instead, this gorgeous piece of art just shines! Well done!

Sara Emily's Favourite -#119-Ruth

The background on this canvas is mesmerizing--I wish I could reach out and touch the texture! To top it off, Ruth finished it in the most beautiful colors and topped it with handmade flowers cut from handmade mixed media papers. This is a must see up close, so be sure to pop by Ruth's blog!

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Honourable Mentions

2. MARYVONNE         16. Isle of Crafty         24. IRIT SHALOM         25. Cara

      

39. Asmah Zainal          48. Ann Chuang         52. Jane's Journal         59. Joi@RR

      

65. Mixed media lerret             81. Karen P              92. Elina              104. Ikemo

      

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A huge congratulation everyone! Thank you so much to everyone who played along with us last month and any month last year! We thank you for your continued support and look forward to many more Birthdays!! Don't forget to grab your badges! You earned them!!

There is still plenty of time to enter Niki's current challenge THE BIRDS AND THE BEES! We can't wait to see what you come up with this time!

Hugs to all, from the 'Anything But Cute' Design Team