Midwinter

Hello, well things have certainly been a little quite on here, but I needed to be disciplined and make a start/complete the Christmas cards.  I've made quite a few, mainly in batches even though it's not as enjoyable, but needs must.

I've had these aperture cards since -  forever, so time to use!  I embossed the central aperture with the TH Snowflake EF after inking it with various shades of blue,  the little scene is from Artistic Outpost Midwinter and some background stamping of TH Tree Line, and a couple of die cuts.

Well, at least that's a few more for the pile.

I am entering this at Stamping Sensations - Get Ready for Christmas

Thanks for calling in,
Avril xx

Another One for the Box

Hello, and thanks for popping in.  I've had another play with the Tim Holtz Textured Snowflake, cutting a few in Acetate and Vellum.
The background was cut from a masterboard that had been dipped in various blue inks with some random music script stamped in Chipped Sapphire. I randomly stamped a snowflake with Versamark and brushed on some Perfect Pearls -very difficult to see in the photo, before matting on silver card.
I used my finger to spread adhesive on the acetate snowflake before covering with a filament type glitter that has been in my stash for ages, this was attached to another cut from vellum.  I added a self adhesive rhinestone to the center, which when I've looked at the photo has disappeared! (this card was a nightmare to photograph, so I won't edit it).  The sentiment was cut from the Tim Holtz Holiday words.
The weather forecast isn't too good for the weekend, so hopefully I'll get some more Christmas cards in the box.

I am entering this at ABC Christmas Challlenge - W for Wishes

Have a great weekend, whatever you're doing.
Avril xx

Snowflakes

Hello, and thanks for visiting today, I've not had a lot of time for crafting or blogging lately and I've felt as though the old mojo was a bit lethargic of late, so what better way to give it a kick start than to buy some new Christmas goodies (any excuse)!!
I really liked the look of the Tim Holtz Snowflake last year, so...... it's now in the stash, and I love it.

The base of this card is from a little play - ages ago.  The article was in a Craft Stamper mag -  (I think they used carrot tops) I used bits from one of the conifers in the garden, position them on card and use sprays over the card.  When dry you have a lovely white outline.

These have been in the  'box' just waiting to be used.

I randomly stamped music script and embossed with Gold EP and then sprayed on some Tarnished brass spray stain.  I cut two snowflakes, coloured one with Tarnished Brass stain, then stamped them both with the music script and heat embossed with Gold EP.  I ran the white one through the matching snowflake embossing folder and highlighted the raised area with gold ink and layered with foam dots.
My matching base card was coloured with stain as I didn't want different golds.

Well, at least I've made a start on the Christmas cards and used something out of the bits box!

I'm entering this at:
  Allsorts - Lets Make a Start on Christmas
  Christmas Card Challenges - Anything Goes

Thanks for calling in, I do appreciate it.
Avril xx

Brrr.... It's Cold enough for snow!

Only kidding,  but I thought I'd share another Christmas card using the  Tim Holtz Snowman Blueprint sketch,  with a few extra silver embossed snowflakes.  I've used some very old papers, which I inked around the edges with Chipped sapphire and a piece of torn embossed greetings,letting the Merry Christmas show, this was also coloured with the C S ink.  A bit of muslin and a Tim Holtz Snowflake flurries die cut.  A  reasonably flat card, so perfect for posting.
I am entering this at:
  Country View Crafts -  The colour Blue
  Allsorts - Christmas
  Rubber Dance - Colour theme (I've picked Wintry Sky and Tis the Season)
  Penny Black and More - Anything Christmas

Thanks for visiting, I do appreciate it.
Avril xx

Brrrrrr It's Cold!

Hello, I'm back after a lovely relaxing holiday - fabulous weather - it was 33 in the shade and night time about 25-  and now back to reality and feeling the cold!
Thank you for all your visits and lovely comments on the scheduled posts, I did appreciate them.
My Christmas cards were all made before I went away, most of them in small batch production lines, great when time is short.
For this one, the main image is a Flonzcraft stamp and I added a snowy background. The background paper was stamped with  Stampendous 'Postcard Greetings' before embossing with a Tim Holtz snowflake folder. The snowflake die cuts were coated with Twinklets Diamond Dust.
That's it for now, some catching up with DT comments and then I can start visiting you lovely blogs to find out what you've all been doing.
Enjoy your weekend.
Avril xx

Christmas Tags at Fashionable Stamping

Hello, it really is like waiting for a bus around here - wait long enough and one eventually does turn up!
Anyhow, I'm here to tell you about the new challenge at Fashionable Stamping Challenge which is, yes you guessed - Christmas Tags. We have a wonderful sponsor, Flonzcraft, who are offering one lucky random winner a $20 spend in their online store.
I used the Tim Holtz holly stencil for my background, coloured with Forest Moss and Peeled Paint and Fired Brick for the berries.  While the stencil was still in place I stamped a script stamp over the leaves using Iced Spruce DI and then sprinkled Clear EP over and heat embossed for a lovely shine to the leaves, before colouring the rest of the tag, just a shame I covered most of it up! The main image is Tim Holtz 'Letter to Santa' stamped with Potting Soil Archival. I used Brushos to paint his suit.  Joy to the World and the Snowflake were both freebies from magazines.
It would be lovely if you could join us - we all need Christmas Tags and it's a good excuse to make a start, but remember we are a stamping challenge and you need to use real stamps and these must follow the theme, for all the details and some wonderful inspiration from the rest of the team pop over to the main blog.
I am entering this at:
  That's Crafty - Anything Vintage
  Artistic Stampers - Christmas is Coming
  Allsorts - Anything but a Card
  Vintage Stamping Challenge - Anything but a card
  Eclectic Ellapu - Leaves & Foliage
  Live & Love Crafts - Favourite Christmas Colour Combo (Red & Green)

Thank you for all your lovely comments on my canvas I loved making it, although I must say I did feel a bit out of my comfort zone showing it, so thank you.

That's it for now, enjoy your Sunday.
Avril xx

Handmade Gift or Gift Tag at Try it on Tuesday

 

Its time for another challenge at Try it on Tuesday and this time its 'Handmade Gift or Gift Tag'
I decided on a handmade  gift bag as well as the tag.  My image is this lovely Gibson boy from Flonzcraft and I stamped him onto an oval cut from Shrink Plastic, and the size turned out just perfect to fit my little tag.

I hope you will join us and show your 'handmade' - my very talented teamies have some great projects to show so please pop over to the main blog for the details.

This is a scheduled post, so thanks again for your continued visits.

Have a great week

Avril xx

In the Holiday Spirit at FSC

You have all month to enter the new challenge at Fashionable Stamping - which for December is ' In the Holiday Spirit' chosen by Terry.  As long as there's some stamping on your project, it's up to you as long as it's 'In the Holiday Spirit!  We again have our very generous sponsor Flonzcrafts who are offering one lucky random winner a $20 spend in their online store
I love the anticipation of children in the lead up to Christmas Eve and their thoughts of Santa Clause, so I decided to use this Rubber Stampeed Santa and an Inkylicious 'Twas the Night before Christmas' verse.  I used a Christmas printed vellum over my blue base layer and then stamped a snowflake with Versamark and brushed with Perfect Pearls for the next layer, but then covered it with my main images!!  The poinsettia was cut in vellum and stamped with a music script in Versamark and then brushed with Blue Patina Perfect Pearls, I also ran a Versamark pen around the edges before I added the PP.
My lovely team mates all have very different themes, so please pop over to the main blog and I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
This is another scheduled post as I am enjoying a different kind of Santa to my 'frosty' looking card, I took this photo last year, and as we are at the same hotel, I'm sure I will be seeing this little scene again this year.

Have a great Sunday.

Avril xx

Santa

I made another batch of cards, and again quite an easy design.  I decided I wasn't buying any more Christmas papers until I have used up ALL of the sheets already sitting waiting to be cut into, you know what I mean, you used the best and the rest just gets left!  This looked a little 'bright' so covered most of it up with the Stampendous Christmas Greeting which was stamped with Aged Mahogany and heat embossed with clear powder. My Santa image is Inkadinadoo,  coloured lightly with Distress inks, was cut and layered onto Nesti ovals and then lots of Glamour Dust added - which of course doesn't show in the photo.

 I am entering this at:
  Vintage Stamping Challenge - Traditional Christmas
  Make It Monday - Anything Goes

I've got a few scheduled posts over the next couple of weeks, as I'm off for a little break and some winter sun.   DD has declared as I live nearer to her work - she may as well move back and keep the house company (as well as saving on her bills) - well at least the house won't take any warming up when we get back!!

Thanks for visiting, I really do appreciate it.

Avril xx

White on White at Try it on Tuesday

It's time for a new challenge at Try it on Tuesday and this time the theme is ' White on White'
I have gone for a Christmas theme and have used a Tim Holtz snowflake EF for top and bottom and a Crafts Too for the sentiment.  I added Glamour dust to the lettering and snowflakes and on the edges of the matted white layer, but unfortunately it's not showing the the photo, I love White on White, but they're so difficult to photograph.

We would love you to join us for this challenge and if you need any inspiration just hop over to the main blog where my wonderful teamies have some gorgeous creations for you.

I am entering this at:
  Ali-craft Blog - White on White
  Inkspirational - White on White
  Make it Monday - Anything Goes

Thanks for visiting, and I hope you have a great week.

Avril xxx

The first batch!

Well, I have actually made a start on my Christmas Cards!  Thought I needed to after doing some blog visiting last week and realising that it's 1st November on Friday.

I have used the Stampendous 'Snowy Postcard' on kraft card and stamped again on white for the scene, which was given a good sprinkling of Flower Soft,  which I bought about 4 years ago and this is the first time it's been used.
The background paper was stamped with HeroArts Christmas script using Versamark and dusted over with Perfect Pearls bronze.  I have made about 12 of these, although a bit tedious, I find doing a 'production line' of stamping and cutting,  then as I watch T.V.  I do all the d/side tape bits ready for assembly, easier when time is short. To stop the boredom I use different papers and ribbons.

I am entering this at:
 

Talking of time being short.........that's it for now, hope to show the next 'batch' soon.

Avril xx

Lets Get Inky at Try it on Tuesdays

Hi Folks,

Its time for a new challenge at Try it on Tuesdays and this time its 'Inky'.

I don't know about you, but I love playing with inks and just seeing where it take me, and this tag was no different.  I started with a white tag and used Tim's Marbled Stains technique, using Iced Spruce and Picket Fence and because I don't as yet have the Metallic stains I used a few sprays of Perfect Pearls which gave a gorgeous simmer in places.  I then started stamping the snowflake, first with Picket Fence, then Silver Paint Dabber, followed by PaperArtsy Snowflake Fresco Finish. Silver homemade Frantage for a sparkly border.



The next layer is Vellum, again stamped with the snowflake, first in Iced Spruce then Snowflake Fresco. This was then put through a crimper, before adding silver embossing. To give depth, I used an ink duster on the reverse, first with Evergreen Bough and then Festive Berries.  The main image is Inkadinkado, stamped on white card, coloured with DIs and Stickles, and again a silver embossed border.  The fivers were stained with Festive Berries and Evergreen Bough - you should have seen my hands - must remember to wear rubber gloves!!

I hope you will join us and show us your inkyness and if you need any inspiration, please pop over here to sew the rest of the DT's inky offerings.

Again a scheduled post - I hope everyone is well and safe.

Avril xx

Christmas Home Sweet Home for Fashionable Stamping

Hi Folks,

Its time for another challenge over at Fashionable Stamping and this week it's   Home Sweet Home. My teamies have again excelled themselves and created a wonderful variety of 'Home' themes, so please do pop over here and take a look.  We are again sponsored by the lovely Marina of Cottage Crafts who will will give our winner a €7 voucher to spend in her online shop.

For my card, I  used one of the new Christmas stamps from Stampendous. I stamped  on to a shaped card, distressed the image with Vintage Photo, masked the image and used the free stamp from this months Craft Stamper  for the Snowflake border, and stamped in Iced Spruce, which was also used for the shading. I stamped again and  coloured with Promarkers and DIs added Diamond Dust, which gives a lovely crunchy sparkle, which of course, doesn't show in the photo, and attached with 3D foam.

I don't know about you, but I do try to make all my Christmas cards, so there was a little batch of this one!

I am entering this card in:
  4 Crafty Chicks - Winter
  Everybody Art - Oval shape
  Its All about the Vintage - Snow
  Joanna Sheen - Cold & Frosty
  The Crafty Pad - Christmas

That's it for now, hope to catch up with you later- had such a hectic week I haven't managed many visits, so I need to see what you've been up to!

Avril xx