Fifty Shades of White ...

So this is my first Christmas card of 2013.

As a rule, I don't make Christmas cards but this fortnight the challenge at Tiot is White on White so it was almost a no brainer to head to a Christmas theme.

I have seen some really cool and stylish projects created in only white but I must confess to an element of terror at the prospect of pulling it off myself  I saw this topic was coming up some weeks ago and had visions of a sitting at my desk with absolutely no idea what to do (Help!!).  But, once I got all my white papers out and started to play about, I realised how many whites there were and I actually started to get really picky about which would qualify as white!! 

So, I opted to only the brightest white for everything and used dimension rather than textured or varying shades of white (is that possible or is there only one white?)

My ledge was created in the card and then covered in white flock embossing powder. I stamped and embossed the snowflakes in holographic powder.  Onto the ledge, I added the reindeers and trees which were all cut from mini alterations dies.

The 25 was also an alterations die cut from white glitter card which looks really creamy when sat against bright white but does give some nice contrast and matches with the snowflakes.

The white ribbon and crystals added the finishing touch to my card.

This is a more tricky subject (in my humble opinion) but well worth getting to grips with as it gets easier once you get all those lovely white things from your stash.  I love a challenge and this one didn't disappoint.

Hope to see all your great posts and come and visit your blogs for a peek.

xx

Woodland Scene

For this card, I used lots of alterations dies.  I am, by default, a scene maker and find myself connecting stuff together to create a story so I decided to start by die-cutting lots of images and colouring, inking, adding snow and embossing them and see where it took me.

I covered my card with vintage dictionary paper and I must share this funny story with you ...  I chose a page at random from the dictionary - my only criteria was that I didn't want a page with any images.   I trimmed the white edge and placed in on my craft sheet ready to ink with distress stains when I glanced down to find that the page I had chosen had a definition of fornicate on it!  Definitely not required!!  Fortunately the flip side was far less racy ... but just glad I spotted this before I had to judiciously place some of my trees!!

So, I covered my card with the text and embossed the snowflakes in white glitter before pouncing the card on my craft sheet with Stormy Skies, Tumbled Glass and Picket Fence distress stain.  I added the snowflakes which were cut from glitter card using 3D silicone glue.  25 was inked with Evergreen Bough and a flourish stamped and embossed with Silver Fox Enamalz over the top.

I coloured the fence and deer with vintage photo distress stain and used white Enamels Accents for the spots on the deer.  The snow is flowersoft.

I fixed all the elements down using different heights of 3D glue ... job done!

I'm entering this card into Play Date Cafe PDCC160, Simon Says Snowflakes Challenge,   Sweet Stampin' Dies & Punches Challenge and Stamping for the Weekend Challenge 23 Let it Snow.

Hope you are all having time for your Christmas Crafty Projects. x

Santa Card

OK ... starting to enjoy this Christmas crafting lark and Christmas card making more specifically!!  It's more of a surprise to me than anyone else.   The only snag is that I've left it rather late in the day either to get necessary supplies or to have the time needed to really get going - oops!!  (Note to self:  start earlier next year!!)  Big thankyou at this point to David and Brenda at Craft Obsessions for hunting out my order at short notice and nearly crashing their website in the process!! Thanks guys!! 

So onto this little card.  I covered my card with a lovely script paper which I overstamped with some flourishes by Dusty Attic.  I used some vintage music paper which I stained with Festive Berries and Gathered Twigs distress stain which I then flicked with water to give it texture.  I then embossed a more complicated flourish design over this with Gold Sparkly (Cosmic Shimmer) which is hard to capture with the camera.

The image was down loaded, edges distressed, curled and inked with a little more Gathered Twigs (what a great brown it is!)

The poinsettia is a mini Tim Holtz Alterations die cut from vintage paper and inked with deadazzles for the centre.  The leaves are cut from Glassine paper which was scrunched and inked with alcohol inks.

Anyway, can't stop ... got another card to make!! xx

Christmas Bird

I've had to succumb to making some Christmas cards so this is the first one Hot off the Press!!  I bought the mini cardinal die some weeks ago as he was SO cute but when I saw his big brother, perched on this twig ... well it was a must have item!

I covered my card in vintage music paper which I inked with vintage photo and peeled paint and I stamped the holly with gathered twigs.  The bird is cut from chocolate co-ordinations paper so I sanded him down to reveal his red core and dry brushed some red acylic paint to brighten him up.  The spruce foliage was painted with acrylic paint and a little glitter added.  I used polar white flower soft for my snow.

The pointsettia was cut from vintage book pages, inked with festive berries and painted with Rock Candy distress.  The centre is beadazzles,  The holly leaves and spruce foliage is cut from Kraft Glassine which I inked with alcohol inks. 

I used tissue tape to create the ruffle and some pearls and gems to finish it off.

I'm going to enter this card into the following challenges:  Fashionable Stamping 'To Die For', Gingerloft 'Leaves' and Totally Gorjuss 'Anything Goes ... with Glitter'.

Starting to feel a bit festive ... hope your Christmas plans are coming along too ... x

Pumpkin Carving

For those of you who regularly visit my blog this page will be a bit 'deja vue' and you are right, this is second time lucky for my pumpkin carving page!  


I've been working on creating blended layouts recently where my photos fall into the background so the page becomes like one big canvas rather than having elements layers onto the page.  It's quite a tricky and time consuming process but I love the end result.  However, in trying to do the same with these photos, I realised it is almost impossible with multiple photos with very different colour schemes.


So to cut a long story short, whilst I thought the end result was not the best I've achieved, I thought it did work ok.  However, the photograph exposed all it's weaknesses and when I asked my family for their honest feedback ... well it wasn't exactly great!!  So, I've dismantled it, binned it and removed the post (my mother always told me to leave my disasters in the kitchen so I'm metaphorically doing the same with that page!)

This layout is more along the traditional lines but it does work better on this occasion - I hope.  It's not so much fun scrapping the same photos twice and I'm ready to move along, so I'm off to see how my next blended creation is going to turn out!

Hope you are all having a creative week ... x

Memories

I found this postcard in an old book shop some time back and she was perfect for this week's challenge at Gingershap Creations - GC141:  Granny's Photo Album.

The name of this challenge conjured up a vintage feeling for me so I decided to keep to a limited muted palette to achieve this.

I used the Tim Holtz tattered pinecone die to make my linen flowers which I must admit, was a little challenging as they kept trying to unravel - thank goodness for glue guns!  Using the die with paper is definitely easier!! 

The flower stem, bird and ribbon are all by Prima and the letter stamps are by Darkroom Door (and are one of my favourites).

Do you have any old photos or postcards in your stash you could turn into an album?  

Looking forward to seeing what everyone creates for this one!

Have a great week ... x

25

Christmas is definitely upon us and this week at Gingersnap Creations is was GC131 Random Redhead Challenge on Candelabras, Chandeliers and Candles.

So this was the perfect theme for a Christmas tag and the perfect way to use my Halloween Alterations  Die, Candlelight Fright, in a different way.

I inked my tag with Barn Door and then clear embossed it all over with a baroque style design.  This month we are very fortunate to be sponsored by Penny Wise Arts who stock a massive range of beads and sparkles for crafters so I used their black glass micro beads over glossy accents to bring out the swirls in my embossed background.

I painted my candelabra with crackle paint and used beadazzles for my flames.  

The numbers are cut from Ranger's Foil Tape which was embossed using an embossing folder.  The foliage was cut using Festive Greenery alterations die and distressed with the damask embossing folder.  I cut the snowflake in acetate and used a Star Dust stickle around the edge.

A little bead trim and some ribbons completed my tag - all ready for the challenge and for Christmas.

Hope you and your families all have a very Merry Festive Time.  xx

Escaping the Machine

This week the challenge over at Gingersnap Creations is GC110 Gears, Cogs and Watch Bits.  The whole of July's challenges are being very kindly sponsored by Dezinaworld and some of the imagery I've used has been donated by them for this project.

I bought my background machine image from a secondhand book shop which sells plates from old books.  I cut it out and then used an the steampunk alterations die to create my cogs.  I used black UTEE on them all and sprinkled a little embossing powder into the last layer.

I used the mini gears from the movers and shapers alterations die set to cut some further cogs in metal and metal mesh.

The wording is from a dymo machine and the winged wheel is by The Artistic Stamper.

I haven't done a steampunk layout before although I've always loved the style so this was fun to do.  I've got some photos of old mining equipment to scrap and I'm going to attempt to use a steampunk style on them.  If this turns out OK, I'll add it to the blog ... 

Hope this inspires you to join the challenge! Have a crafty weekend! x