Craft Stamper October Challenge

Hello Friends 

Welcome to October and another new challenge from the Craft Stamper team!! This month the challenge is ' Take A Technique' which is any technique involving our strapline which is on the front cover of the magazine. 

Ink Stitch Paint Collage Print Paper. 

We want to see you use any one or all of those techniques as well as stamping on your project. 

 The design team are all show casing these lovely ATB boxes today, which is part of this month's prize. However you do not have to use them you can make any project you like. We just want to give you ideas on what to do with them.

My project today reflects all things Autumn. This is my favourite season of the year.  I decided to use things that you can find right outside of your door. I have a couple of huge trees that grow right over my house. So I picked up some of the branches and acorns that had fallen off of them. I cleaned them and set them aside to dry out for a few days. I would also recommend baking the acorns if you are keeping them indoors to to kill off any bugs.

 I decorated the ATB but left the top off as I wanted to  to use it as a container. I primed with gesso then painted three sides of it with several distress inks. The colours were quite bright so I went over it with the brown distress ink to dull it down a little. I then went over the top with clear crackle paint and it left a really nice distressed texture behind.

For the front of the ATB I cut out a square of card and created a background with the leaves stamp. Then I stamped the sentiment over the top. I then stamped a whole bunch of leaves in various colours and fussy cut them out.  I  glued each one of the leaves to the the branches.  

Once they were glued down I fanned the branches out and secured them with some twine. Then I used acorns to hold the branches in place inside the ATB.  To finish I glued some twine around the top of the ATB to give it a little border.  

I really enjoyed making this ATB.  I have never worked with one before.  I will admit I sat and looked at this plain box for about three days wondering what to do with it before I went with this idea. I love that I managed to bring a wee bit of nature from outside inside.

Now on to our awesome prize for this month. Our lovely sponsor Calico Craft Parts are giving away these lovely prizes. 

Top row left to right: 3" plain ATB cube kit, mini cogs style 1, geometric cut out ATC blank.

Middle row left to right: Mini fancy shapes 1 wood plaques, 2" square aperture ATB cube kit, mini crowns style 3.

Bottom row left to right: Fleur De Lis frame ATC blank, Mini butterflies style 3, Fancy cut out frame ATC blank.

So we would love it if you joined in with this month's challenge.  You can find all of the rest of details over at the Craft Stamper Blog.

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today. I hope you leave inspired :) 

Mandi xox

Products I used

Calico Craft Parts - 3'' Plain ATB Cube

Unity Stamp Company - Maple Girl

Distress Inks - Spiced Marmalade, Fossilized Amber, Shabby Shutters & Vintage Photo.

Clear Gesso

Clear Crackle Paint

Twine

Branches/Acorns