Believe for always

Hi everyone!  A seasonal creation today!

I recently bought a heat tool after mine had exploded in my hand ages ago...Yes, I was without a heat tool for over a year!....I don't know how I managed!

Anyway I had to finally give in and buy one because some embossing enamels were sitting there having never been used and I was desperate to try them out....and I never did have the patience to wait for things to dry....

 I made a background by swiping some Ground Espresso and Gathered Twigs DI on the craft mat, spritzed with water then swirled the card in the ink. I stamped some images from a Tim Holtz Christmas set in Ground Espresso DI and a script stamp in Jet black Archival ink to give layers and depth.

   I decided to use a stamp by Artistic Outpost - the vintage Santa is such a gorgeous image. I stamped it in Potting Soil Archival ink and blended some Vintage Photo DI over his coat and hat.

   I had just bought a Sizzix Thinlits Holiday greens die cut set and was so keen to try them! I had also had purchased a Sizzix flourish die cut by Pete Hughes called 'Graceful Flourish'

  ...I was soooo thrilled with it. It is a very delicate flourish and is so beautiful - the main thing I love about it is it's versatility. While it can be used whole as a gorgeous flourish, it can easily be cut into small sections to give various flourish accents. My favourite craft items are the ones with the most versatility - and so this is perfect.

     I cut out the flourish, the holly and snowflakes and wanted to cover them with Stampendous Frantage Embossing enamel. I began to dab them with clear embossing ink.... 

The holly was covered with Aged Hunter Green embossing enamel.

 The flourishes were covered with Aged Bronze embossing enamel 

 .....and the snowflakes were covered with Aged Ivory embossing enamel.

   I love that thick enamel effect!!!

I stamped the word 'Believe' in Archival ink and cut the word out before attaching it to the hanger with two bronze brads

I attached some lace to the bottom of the hanger along with some twine and I used twine to form the hanger at the top.

A final spritz of a snow effect with a bristle brush and some watered down Picket Fence DP.

And there is a Vintage Christmas hanger with enameled embellishments!

I hope you like it!

Happy Crafting!

Laura xxxxx

Wish upon a Star

Hi everyone!

 It is a new Challenge at Our Creative Corner today! Our wonderful Trish is hosting her first ever challenge and she has chosen the perfect seasonal challenge for you....



My challenge to you all this month is a very simple one... 

Stars!

I have a passion for stars. Stars are incorporated into my email addresses, internet log ins, business name and even my tattoos :)
 

I would love for you all to share your creations, full of stars! 

 

Star stamps, star die cuts, star embellishments, star shaped backgrounds, it's up to you! 

Use lots, or just the one, as long as there is a star somewhere, you're good to go!

I can't wait to see all your wonderful creations!

 

 

**************************************

 

 

Each Christmas I try to find time to make a Christmas wreath but I have never got around to it. This year I had bought a pre cut circle wreath and was determined to make one....

 

Trish's challenge of using stars in our project seemed the perfect inspiration - why not make it entirely of stars?

 

   
I planned to use different size stars, patterns and texture...add some flourishes, fern, holly as added embellishments....

Should I add a splash of colour? At one point I was really tempted to add bright red to it but then I started to really adore the developing colour scheme of ivory, brown and gold...Making this was so much fun!

I knew not much of the circle would be seen, but I wanted the parts that would be seen to be crackled instead of plain.

The circle base was covered with Decoart Americana Acrylics in White Wash. Then a layer of Decoart Crackle Glaze was applied with a spatula. When the Crackle Glaze was dry Decoart Raw Umber Antiquing cream was applied before being wiped away with a damp cloth.

       I cut the stars by hand because I wanted rustic (wonky!) shaped stars rather than each shape be identical. I cut several sizes of stars and covered some with text paper

Some were covered with German Gothic font print

I added some pictures from french dictionary pages

Some were stamped with script

Some were stamped with images

Some were stamped with music 

I embossed some stars and covered them with White Fire Treasure Gold

Some stars were stamped and then covered with embossing powder...

I painted the holly leaves with Decoart Dazzling Metallics Champagne Gold acrylic paint (which is one of the BEST gold paints I have ever used!) and while the paint was wet I sprinkled them with Antique Linen Distress Glitter. It is already a gorgeous sparkling gold paint, but the glitter just added some extra dazzle and a beautifully delicate texture!

I covered the flourishes with Aged Gold Frantage embossing powder - I love that enameled effect

I covered the fern leaves with Aged Ivory Frantage embossing powder

Other foliage was covered with Ground Espresso Distress ink

I also added some holly leaves covered with Ground Espresso Distress ink

I lightly dabbed the edge of each star with Ground Espresso Distress ink before arranging the stars around the wreath.  Different sizes, shapes and colours were arranged randomly to emphasize contrast. I stuck them down layering until I was happy with the result. I added flourishes and foliage to the stars.

 I then added further decoration of 3D plastic stars that had been painted with Decoart Dazzling Metallics Champagne Gold acrylic paint. I must admit I LOVE this paint!....have I mentioned that already?

I covered some Grungeboard letters with gesso then coated with several coats of Decoart Dazzling Metallics Champagne Gold acrylic paint (of course!) This was followed with a coat of crackle glaze followed by Raw Umber Antiquing cream which was wiped away when dry to reveal the crackles. The word 'Noel' was added to the wreath along with an extra star added.

A bow made out of twine ribbon was added

A length of twine added to hang up the wreath

To add the finishing touch of an extra festive sparkle and a snowy, wintery shabby chic effect, I spritzed the entire wreath with Perfect Pearls Spray in Biscotti and some White Linen Dylusions spray.

I finally have my handmade Christmas wreath!

I hope you like it!

Please hop over to Our Creative Corner and see what my talented team have made to inspire you this month...

Why not get Star Struck and enter our Challenge this month!

Our wonderful sponsor this month is

Tando will send a parcel of goodies to the randomly drawn winner - it could be YOU!

You could be our winner and be invited to appear as our Top Talent!

You could be one of our Top 3

Come and shine at Our Creative Corner!

Happy Crafting!
Laura
xxxxxxxxxxxxx

The gift of love

Hi everyone!

      I had made a lot of photo albums for my mother-in-law over the years...special occasions were celebrated with yet another little hand made book filled with photos of her grandchildren to show to her friends. This time I made one for my best friend who had her first child on the 3rd February...a beautiful little boy. I had already made a gift with her in mind (I had a hunch that she might be expecting back in late May when I made the Baby Steps creation for Our Creative Corner)....but I wanted to make something for her and her husband that featured the new arrival....

Luckily, like all proud parents my friend and her husband had loaded lots of gorgeous photos on FB, so I could take my pick and leave them unaware! I did some alterations on Paint Shop....I find colour distracting in some albums and my preference for a mini album like this is to keep the colours muted. I had an idea to keep the colours obviously pale baby blue but add some vintage-ness with some greys and browns. So making the photos a muted grey/brown sepia seemed the best thing.

       I constructed the book by folding a strip of card accordian style, and cutting two strong pieces of cardboard to form the front and back. Both sides of the accordian book were filled with photos.

     I began by stencilling some Antique Linen DP - Harlequin, Art is and Swirly Q's. Then I covered the pages with Weathered Wood, Frayed Burlap and Vintage Photo DI. I used a flourish stamp using a Colourbox dye ink in Raw Silk. I stamped some letters and numbers in Antique Linen DP and added some splatters and spray with white acrylic paint. A hedgerow stamp was stamped in Coffee Archival ink and then I randomly stamped my favourite script stamp everywhere using Coffee Archival ink. I kept the cover of the book deliberately plain as I wanted the focus to be on the photos - So the cover was just decorated with some of the same flourishes, numbers and letters and paint splatter - the front of the cover had a film strip stamp and the back had a flock of birds....

A little bit of Walnut Stain DI was dabbed around the edges to add a vintage look and then I was ready to add the photos.

After the photos were stuck into the album I stamped some quotes on tissue paper and stuck them into the book with Matte Multi-Medium. I also added some chit chat stickers that had been dabbed with Weathered Wood and edged with Walnut Stain.

Then I decorated the book with various embellishments...I used a lot of metal items, buttons and lace to keep a theme flowing throughout.

A glittery ribbon in gorgeous blue tones was wrapped around a page and attached to a pendant in which I had placed a photo of the sleeping little one and covered the picture with Glossy Accents glue.

 I found a crystal bead in my craft stash and attached it to the pendant along with a silver heart that says the word 'Love'

The album was secured by a ribbon that was glued to the front of the album with a piece of velcro...the rest of the ribbon was left unattached to the book. This ribbon was looped through a metal decoration at the other end with the connecting velcro piece.

Thanks so much for being here and I hope you like this little book that contains a LOT of love!