The Christmas Table

The Christmas Table

Hi there!

We're nearly there!  Just time

for to get that Christmas table

set up and ready for the biggest

meal of the year!

Forgotten the napkin rings?  

Worry not, here's Helen Chilton

 some Christmas napkin rings

 using a JOFY mini stamp and Starlights.

"I've used micropore tape but equally you

 could use tissue paper. 

Measure the circumference of the ring and

 stick 6 strips to a craft mat or waxed paper.

Paint over with Starlights Pearl.

Stamp the leaf and berry design along the 

pieces of tape.

Paint with more Starlights: I used Emerald,

 Apple Green and Red/Dark Orchid.

Wash over with some Rich Gold.

While that's drying, paint the gessoed napkin rings

 in Pearl and the insides and edges in Rich Gold

Peel off the tape....

..and stick to the ring

Paint Emerald round the edges...

...and then a pattern with the 

Rich Gold over the top.

Add wired beads and bells to finish.

Here's a close up:"

Products used:

PaperArtsy Mini:
Imagination Crafts Starlight paints: 
Tissue and Wax Paper:  
Papiermache Rings:

Thank you Helen for a fabulous project

They look so rich and festive!

Aren't they lovely Everyone?

l might just have to make a

set myself!

'Till tomorrow

Mickie xx

Jingle Bells

Jingle Bells

Hallo Everyone!

Whoop! Whoop! It is Saturday 

and here is the last jingly project.

Feel almost sad - it has been such 

fun to see the different 

interpretations applied to the theme

Helen Chilton is going to

see us out with some

winter snowflakes......

jingling all the way of course!

"I used standard sized cards that'll fit

 a standard sized envelope (usually my

 cards never fit anything!) and the 

Precios Marieke Snowflake dies.

This was my first one, very quick and simple, 

in fact too simple for me - I don't like it much!

The greetings are from a

 JOFY and Kay Carley set.

I thought things got a lot better when 

I added some colour in the form of Brushos - 

Pixie Powders would be good too as they've 

got a bit of a shimmer (didn't think of them

 'til afterwards!). You only really need a tiny

 sprinkling of powder here:.

Stamp a greeting and glitter the snowflake...

...and add an embellishment.

Then I thought I'd add a bit more texture with

 some embossing. I've used a Tim Holtz embossing

 folder that looks vaguely like snow, but any 

would do - swirls, patterns etc. 

When embossing directly onto the card like this, 

emboss with the card open so that you can

 get the pattern right up to the middle fold.

Sprinkle the Brushos again - I liked them

 over the textured background....

...and then add the glittered snowflakes 

and twiddly bits.

This one's embossed again and I've 

painted the snowflake with Starlights 

and then glittered it:

As I had the Starlights out, I decided to back

 the snowflakes with a painted circle.

This one ended up like this:

The hardest thing for me with all these was 

keeping the card clean as I'm not 

by nature a clean crafter!"

Products used:

Find It Trading Dies: Precious Marieke:
PaperArtsy stamps: Jofy and Kay Carley
Brushos:
Cosmic Shimmer 
Imagination Crafts : 

Rich Gold, Orange Oxidised, Bright Fuchsia

Glitter
Cards & Envelopes
Tim Holtz Texture Fades embossing folder: Bubbles

Nice little masterclass to send

us jingling on our way Helen.

Many thanks

Now that die looks a useful

one to have in one's stash.....

'Till tomorrow 

Mickie xx

Iconic

Iconic

Hi There!

Are you all having a good 

time?  Do make the most

of the "light" evenings we

have left for tomorrow we

can craft the night away!

I have a fabulous project

from Angela Radford for

you today and here she is

to tell you all about it....

"Hi all, Angela here to show you how

 I decorated this gorgeous little wooden Icon.

So here we go. I removed the hinges first

 as I like to keep them nice and shiny! 

You may wish to just sand the surface 

a little before the next stage then seal 

the wood with a coat of Gesso.

I like to start with a dark background

 for this technique

Then add the Crackle glaze.

 A nice thin layer is best then leave to dry.

Cover the area where the crackle glaze 

was applied. Do this with one stroke, 

don't be tempted to over work it or

 the crackling wont happen. You can 

see here how quickly the crackling starts.

I like to blend the bottom of the paint

 a little as the crackle starts to appear.

Once that is completely dry you 

can start to add more colour.

Next I used one of the PaperArtsy stamps 

on Tissue paper. 

You can stamp straight onto the surface 

of the paint but this is just a technique that 

I find works well.

Cut the stamped images so they will fit

 where you want them and apply glue

 to the back of the tissue and smooth

 the image onto the icon and then seal it

 with the glue.

Allow that to dry and then repeat this

on the inside.

Next I added more detail using a stencil 

and grunge paste.

 I have left the grunge paste white as 

I like the way it makes the design pop.

 I used a white pen and outlined some parts

 of the door to make it stand out more.

And here we are all completed inside.

And the outside. 

Happy crafting everyone, Angela xXx"

Products used:

Wooden icon

Paper Artsy Stamps

Paper Artsy Fresco Paints

Paper Artsy Crackle Glaze

The Crafters Workshop Stencils

Glue

Tissue paper

Embossing Ink

Stazon Black Ink

White Pen

Thank you Angela, I love

that sentiment - this icon

would make a lovely gift

for someone who is

having a tough time

So, as I know of such a

someone I shall have to

set to and replicate this

lovely icon

'Till tomorrow

Mickie xx