Sweet Angels

Hello,  I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas - and that you were on Santa's 'nice' list.

I made this tag for someone who was definitely on the 'nice' list, and if you want to check out the details, please pop over to the Artistic Outpost Blog, here.

Thanks for calling in,
Avril xx

Merry Christmas

Just a short popst to 

 Wish You All a Very Merry Christmas

and to thank you for all your visits and supportive comments throughout the year, I do appreciate it.

Best Wishes to you All

Avril xx

Gloria

Hello,  I'm over on the Artistic Outpost blog today with a Christmas card using one of the New Release stamps sets - Gloria.  For all the details, please pop over to Artistic Outpost.

Avril xx

Last 3!

Well, I've done it, all 12 Tags of  Christmas Funkie Junkie Style the challenge which is  run by Linda Coughlin, and sponsored by theFunkie Junkie Boutique.
Not in order, but when you have all 12 to pick from because you start at the end.......well,

Week 5

I followed Linda's inspiration of the white card dipped in Tarnished Brass stain and for a bit of extra sparkle I also dipped the Kraft card before die cutting the holly from the Holiday greens Thinlits.   The vintage seam binding (60's dressmakers seam binding from stash) also got the dipping treatment. I stamped a Gothic script with Potting Soil Archival, but when I layered my kraft card over, I felt as though the size of the script was too big.  I gold embossed the die cuts, distressing the gold EP and heat setting before placing them back inside the cut out.  I die cut a further couple of kraft holly springs and pressed them into Versamark, lightly sprinkled on gold EP for a more distressed look and again heat embossed.  The sentiment is part of the same Gothic script stamp, gold embossed and fussy cut.  I left this one till last to make as I wasn't happy with the script stamp that I had, but in the end I love the way it turned out.

Week 7

I took inspiration from Linda's blue background, with a little Brushed Pewter paint smearing, some stamped snowflakes in silver and heat embossed.   A glittered die cut deer and glittered snow words and a layered die cut snowflake.  This is quite sparkly, but so difficult to photograph.

Week 9

I followed Linda's inspiration for the base and folds of the tag, and again decided to make this into a gift card/money wallet, hence the little pocket, which was dry brushed with Tarnished Brass paint and stamped with fern green.  I used an oval Nestie to cut the top opening.  Again I decorated a little kraft envelope.  Using leftovers from the pocket I die cut the greeting from the handwritten holiday words, added gold twine and a little bell.

That's it, all 12 complete, wasn't sure if I would really manage it with so little time - a bit stressful when I should be busy doing other things - but I am so pleased that I did manage to complete and on time.  I really enjoyed the challenge and it was nice to use someone else's ideas and inspirations, so a big 'Thank You' to  Linda for all the wonderful inspiration you've given for this challenge and for the prizes she is offering.

Most of my cards were already written out before I started this challenge, so I now have a good start on next year's cards!  

Thanks for all the positive comments you've left each day, I do appreciate it.
Now to organise Christmas,
Avril xx

Another 3 for the ~Funky Junkie Christmas Tags Challenge

 I'm nearly there -  I've completed 10 of the 12 Tags of Christmas Funkie Junkie Style hosted by Linda Cloughlin and sponsored by the Funkie Junkie Boutique.
I'm still not quite in order, but that doesn't matter, as long as they all get linked up by 19th December.

Week 10

I used Linda's inspiration of the kraft and and stamped white spots, which I heat embossed.  The snowflake was painted with Antique Linen  and then the edged covered with Versamark and heat embossed with white EP.  There's also a vellum layer, this was also heat embossed with white on the tips.  The little star button whas covered with Red Tinsel  EP and I used the frayed threads from the burlap trim to 'tie' the button.  I kept everything neutral and used Watering can Archival to stamp the sentiment, which was clear embossed.

Week 11

I've kept to Linda's red/white and snowflake theme, but as I don't have a suitable large sentiment, I made my focal image the white snowflake, which was embossed  in the matching folder and then  heat embossed with white EP.

Week 12

I followed Linda's inspiration for this, I didn't have a suitable script, so there's some music score faintly stamped in the background.  I decided to decorate and add a small kraft envelope, which will contain money or a gift card.

I've just 2 more left to complete, so it's back to the craft desk for me tonight.

Avril xx

Funkie Junkie Tags, Part 2

Welcome back to part two of my take on the Funkie Junkie's 12 Tags of Christmas which is sponsored by the Funkie Junkie Boutique.  So here goes with the next 3,

Week 4

I used Linda's inspiration with the poinsettia, I used Antique Linen distress paint on a heavy card base and when it was dry, splashed on some gold paint.  I kept the stenciling to one corner and initially masked off the holly leaves as Linda suggested.

A little bit out of order now
Week 6

I love Kraft on white, so I virtually cased Linda's tag adding a little pop of red too.

Week 8

Again I followed Linda's inspiration apart from the missing lamp post.

Not much personal inspirations with this little lot, but I'm happy with them and being able to case Linda's tags means I have a good chance of finishing the 12, fingers crossed!!

Avril xx

12 Tags of Christmas Funkie Junkie Style

Hello......well, it's official, I've put the 'big girl panties on and bit the bullet' so to speak, and I'm joining in with the Funkie Junkie's 12 Tags of Christmas....and I'm definitely a late starter as the challenge started in September.  This is the 5th year Linda Coughlin has run the challenge with prizes and vouchers sponsored by the Funkie Junkie Boutique.
This is my first time of joining in although I've followed the challenge for the last couple of years, but after visiting Alison last week and reading how she was now challenging herself to complete all 12 tags,  it gave me the push I needed, poor DH has forgotten what I look like!
So, week 1 -

I decided to make my 'tags' as cards and I more or less followed Linda's design, but when I mixed gold paint with embossing paste it was a bit runny and smudged, so back to the drawing board and gold embossed stars along with 3 (table confetti) stars.

Week 2 -

A similar design to Linda's, as I had the Woodland tree and Nordic stencils

Week 3

I kept to the gold/black theme, but heat embossed instead of stenciling.
Well, that's the first three, I'll be back with more soon as I'm on a roll!!!

Avril xx

Golden Christmastime

Hello, and thanks for popping in, I'm posting on the Artistic Outpost Blog today and I'm featuring another card from the December New Release.  For all the details please pop over to the blog.

Avril xx

Anything Goes at FSC

Hello and thanks for calling in today.  It's the last challenge of 2016 at Fashionable Stamping Challenges and it's one you all like - Anything Goes.  Again, we have Flonzcraft as our sponsor and they are offering one lucky random winner a $20 spend in their online store.
I've used one of my favorite Santa images from Tim Holtz along with the Festive Knits rubber stamped backgrounds.   Some festive greenery and a die cut word on some burlap to finish.

The rest of the DT have some fabulous inspiration for you, so please pop over to the main blog and you will find all the challenge details there as well.  Just remember, we are a stamping challenge and we must see real stamping as the main element of your creation.

I am entering this at:
  The Artistic Stamper - Christmas

Enjoy the rest of your week,
Avril xx

Artistic Outpost New Release for December

Hello, I'm so pleased you've called in today and I can tell you about the New Release of Artistic Outpost Stamps for December.

                                                           Christmastime

                                                                  Gloria

I've got a couple of projects to show using these gorgeous Christmas stamps which are available from Our Daily Bread Designs.

For my first project I've  used Christmastime, stamping with Flitterglu and Gilding Flakes onto navy card .  To keep the silver tones right, I covered the edged of my base card with the same flakes.  This really is a fabulous stamp and ideal for 'flat' cards to post.

Next, using one of the images from Gloria,  The background of my tag was sprayed with Tumbled Glass spray stain when it was dry I stamped the Music Script from the Ephemera Backgrounds with Versamark and heat set with Gold EP.  I also mixed some Tarnished Brass paint with Texture Paste to used through a flourish stencil.  My image was coloured and fussy cut, and I added stickles to her wings, and layered her onto a couple of  soft white feathers.

 

The rest of the Design Team have some wonderful inspiration to share with you, and that's not all ...

Prize Information:

Just for commenting on the Design Team Blog Posts, you have a chance to win a $15 Gift Certificate to the ODBD Website.  You have until December 9, 2016 at 10:00 PM CDT to leave comments on the participating designers blogs for a chance to win! One random winner will be selected from the comments left on the designers blogs, the winner will be announced on the AO Blog on December 10, 2016, be sure to check back there to see if you have won! 

So, please visit all the Design Team 

 *   Terry  *  Julie  *  Lisa  *   Avril - you are here

Thanks for your visit, and I hope you've enjoyed seeing the New Release as much as I've enjoyed using them.                                                                                                                          

Avril xx                                                                                                                               

Promises to Keep

Hello, I'm over on the Artistic Outpost Blog today with another Christmas card,  and if you want to know all the details, please pop over here.

I am entering this at Craft Stamper Take It Make It - Snow and Ice

I know it's unusual for me to post twice in one day - but this is a busy week.....more to follow!!

Avril xx

Celebrations at TioT

Hello, it's time to tell you about the new challenge over at Try it on Tuesday which is 'Celebrations'
What kind of  'Celebration'  is up to you - Birthday - Christmas, whatever the Celebrations we would just like to see what you Celebrate.

Over the Christmas holidays we always have lots of Celebrations with Friends and what better way to help the Celebration along than with a bottle of wine.  Rather than just a bottle bag, I've made a 'bottle card' or whatever you'd like to call it!
I've used and image from Artistic Outpost 'Snowy Woods' coloured it with Distress inks, added lots of Chunky White Embossing enamel and some festive Greenery.  The sentiment is also from the same set.

The rest of the DT are Celebrating is lots of different ways, so please pop over to the main blog where you will also find all the challenge details.

Thanks for calling in, have a great day
Avril xx

Poinsettia bargain

Hello, and thanks for visiting today, just thought I'd share a very simple card that's nice and flat for the post.  I bought this Tim Holtz  Thinlits set from Ebay for about a third of it's normal price and it was new, such a bargain!  I used the Tim Holtz Linen background stamp with Pumice stone DI and then spritzed with Tarnished Brass stain, added a piece of torn gold handmade paper before adding the die cut poinsettia.
That's another for the box, think I need to write them out as I know there's not nearly enough, and I'll need to buy some!

I am entering this at:
  Stamping Sensations - Floral Fancies
  Allsorts - CAS
Thanks for calling in, I do appreciate it, especially as I've been such an intermittent blogger of late, hopefully this will be a better week.

Avril xx