Magic Christmas Memories

One, two, three, one, two, three... keyboard test :). Well hello crafty peeps and a very happy New Year to you all! It's been a while since I last blogged... I hope you have been keeping well.

I don't get to craft much these days. My crafty mojo seems to come and go as it pleases and it's not always possible to catch it at a convenient moment lol 😀. It seems though that it tends to make a brief appearance around Christmas and the festive period so I thought I'd share my most recent Christmas themed make with you. 

This scrapbook layout took me a year to complete from when I made my background... I know! 😱 I guess, the creative process needed some time to mature ha ha ha. 😵 Luckily this sketch gave me an idea how to finish my layout.

I absolutely love this photo of my Dad and the little me (many many moons ago!) saying 'hello' to Santa. I wanted to create a page that would reflect my memories of Christmas when I was a child. 

In Poland, Christmas celebrations start with a festive family dinner on Christmas Eve and that's when we also get our Christmas pressies from Gwiazdor (a Polish equivalent of Father Christmas). It was my family's tradition that, before we sat at the table, my brother and I would always go outside to wait for the first star to appear in the sky. When it did, it was time to start our celebrations. 

In that short period of time that we were outside Gwiazdor would always visit our home to leave presents under the Christmas tree. As you can imagine the arrival of that first star in the sky always had something really magical about it.

NB. I've got no idea what used to happen on cloudy Christmas Eves where we couldn't see any stars... I don't recall having to sit outside all night so there must have been an alternative plan of some sort ha ha ha!

For my background I used a Sleigh & Reindeer (Dreamweaver) and a star background stencil and various embossing pastes from Dreamweaver. I also added some lovely shimmer with Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls mist.

The wooden planks have been 'freestyled' from patterned paper, inked with distress inks, and embossed with wood texture embossing folders. I've not tried this technique before, and I love how these came out. The texture is just fab! 

The beautiful chippies are from Dusty Attic and I painted them with DecoArt paints. I secured them to the page using my trusty Adhesive Sheets.

I die cut some poinsettias and added lots of foliage to embellish my page. I also fussy cut a handful of lovely elements from old Christmas cards. I layered them using 3D Adhesive Dots.

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed walking down the Christmas memory lane with me. That's all from me for now. Till next time... 

Big crafty hugs

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I am entering the following challenges:

Country View Challenges Jan 2022 - Your Year to sparkle and shine

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Something New

The Scrappy Sketches - Mapka

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Peeking Out From Behind Autumnal Leaves...

So.... It's been a while, hasn't it? I hope you're all keeping well! :)

I thought I would show you this little project I made a while ago but just haven't had a chance to share.

This is a little layered mini album / shadowbox thinggy I made as a keepsake from my nephew's Christening. I was inspired by the awesomeness of layered shadow card kits from Heartfelt Creations. I didn't have the exact supplies so decided to free style it and create my own thing using a selection of dies (Spellbinders and Marianne's Design).....

and punches and flowers from Hobbycraft and 49 and Market...

and Mini Prills and lots of other lush embellies... :). All secured in place with a range of adhesives from Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L.

Thank you so much for your visit today...

Big crafty hugs!




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I would like to enter the following challenges:
Country View Challenges October - Plant-tastic
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything But a Card
JUGS #462 - Celestial Elements (stars)

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On the Eve of Christmas Eve

Hello Friends!

Blimey! Where has the time gone?! I know I always promise (including to myself) to craft and blog more, but life has been so busy... non-crafty things always seem to get in the way... I'm sure you all know what I mean. So please forgive me for being such a poor blogger and visitor of late... I do try to visit your beautiful blogs whenever I can, although I don't always have enough time to let you know I've been...  But I do and will try to organise myself better soon! :)

Last time I blogged it was Halloween, and now it's nearly Christmas! Sheesh... I'm almost ready with my preparations. What about you? This year I only managed to make a few Christmas cards, which I hope to share over the coming days...

The first one up... is this frosty Poinsettia card.

With this year's cards I was totally in a die cutting mode so I decided to dust off my lush Cut 'N' Boss Machine (one of the best and most memorable gifts I've ever received! - thank you Santa!). I played with a selection of dies I've had for years but (please don't tell anyone, especially my hubby!)) never actually used before...Gasp! Please don't judge me... I'm sure you all know all too well what happens when a good sale comes up and you end up buying supplies in wholesale quantities...! Some dies are like a good wine, you leave them unopened to mature and they just get far better with time.. LOL :)

For this card I used the following dies and punches:
Tim Holtz Sizzix Tattered Poinsettia
Stampendous Dreamweaver Holly and Swirls DL3005
Spellbinders Layered Poinsettia
Marianne Creatables Dies LR0181
Martha Stewart Pine Branch

I also used the following supplies:
Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L: DODZ 3D, Adhesive Dots Small, E-Z Runner Grand Refillable Dispenser
Papers: Simple Stories - December Documented
Dylusions Ink Spray - White Linen

That's all from me for now! Tomorrow is Christmas Eve (yay!), and that's when me and my family will be gathering for our Christmas Eve dinner to celebrate the reason of the season... and that's when we get to open our Christmas pressies! Soooo excited to see what Santa prepared for me this year! :)

Thank you so much for stopping by today and for any sweet comments you'd like to leave. Your time and thoughts are truly appreciated. Warm festive wishes to all



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I would also like to enter the following challenges:
Country View Challenges - December 2017 Christmas
A Vintage Journey - Winter Wonderland 
Frilly and Funkie Challenge Blog - Most Memorable Gift

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Christmas Is In the Air And A Snowy Postcard

Re-eited: Yaaaay! My card was featured in the Designer Spotlight at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge! Woot woot!!! :)

Hello everyone and my warmest welcome on this pre-Christmas weekend :) I thought I would pop in to share another Christmas card I made - this one was inspired by Tim Holtz's December tag from 12 Tags of 2015.

I don't often play with tags (although I always promise myself to create more of them) so I extended the theme of Tim's inspiration tag onto a card.

I more or less followed the steps on Tim's tutorial. For the sprayed burlap panel I used Red Pepper Color Wash and Dreamweaver Holiday Greetings And Holly stencil. The main panel was stamped with Brilliance Pearlescent Olive ink (my fave ink ever!) using this gorgeous Stampendous Snowy Postcard stamp (my fave stamp ever!) and I added some shading with Inktense pencils (my fave pencils ever!). I also heat embossed in Detail Black the Christmas Air sentiment.

For the wreath I used a punch and dies from Martha Stewart, Spellbinders and Marianne's Designs and mounted the foliage with heaps of DODZ™ Small. Then I added a handful of baby cones (picked up outside my work office lol) and a Bella Bow sprayed with Red Pepper Color Wash. Spraying the felt bow made the ink concentrate in some parts more than in others and I loved the vintage, washed out look it created.

Finally I gave the card a light dusting with the Dylusions White Linen ink spray (my fave ink spray ever!) and a light brush with Everlasting Chalky Finish paint (my fave paints ever!).

Looks like I managed to squeeze in quite a few faves of mine in this little card lol. Oh well, I hope it was worth it and that you'll like my card! :).

Thank you for stopping by today and I'm sending you all lots of warm pre-Christmas hugs! xx




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Also linking to:
Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2015 - December
That Craft Place Challenge Blog - Christmas
Vintage Stamping Challenges #39 - Winter Trees
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Die Crazy
Country View Challenges - Create a Scene
The Craft Barn Weekly Challenge - Tree
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Just a pinch (of snow dusting)
Emerald Creek Dares - Celebrations Around the World

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Autumnal Wishes With Watercolour Brusho Background

Good morning Friends! Can you feel it? Yep, autumn is definitely here! To celebrate its arrival and the glorious colours it brings I decided to create this autumnal birthday card.

And as it happens, today over at Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L's blog I am sharing a step tutorial for this Autumnal Birthday Card. 

I'd love it if you found a few moments to check out my tutorial and if you do, please let me know what you think :).

Supplies:
3D Foam Leaves, Home & Hobby Extreme Double-Sided Tape - 1/2" Permanent, DODZ™ - 3D, DODZ™ - Small, Quick & Easy Dual Tip Glue Pen, Donna Salazar with Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L® Pigment Powders Gold and Brown

Other supplies:
Yellow and terracota cardstock, green patterned paper scraps, watercolour paper
Stencil - Designs by Ryn, Hibiscus
Rubber Stamp - Anita's
Spellbinders - Spiral Blossom One die (for the big rose flower); Martha Stewart Pine Branch punch
(Dylusions), Spiced Chai StazOn Mini (Tsukineko), gold permanent pen
Ribbon (May Arts), distressing tool, paper flowers, gems, water mister

Media:

Brusho crystals, Barn Door and Fired Brick Distress Inks (Ranger), White Linen Ink Spray, DIY pigment sprays (gold and brown)

Do you like my today's offering? This is the first time I played with my new Brusho crystals (a birthday pressie from my BFF). For more details on how I made this card be sure to check out my Autumnal Birthday Card Tutorial.

Happy Autumn/Fall everyone!

Big crafty hugs



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I would like to enter the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Wonderful Watercolour
Vintage Stamping Challenges #37 - Use a die
JUGS #314 Trend Week - Use a stencil
Country View Challenges #32 - Add some texture
Fashionable Stamping Challenges #104 - Changing Seasons
Frilly & Funkie Challenge Blog - Autumn Splendor

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Sunflower Love Wedding Layout

Hello everyone! I hope you had a wonderful weekend.

As promised in my previous post with the Sunflower Wedding Card I'm back today with more happy sunflowers to share. And this time I have a scrapbook page to show you!

Better still! Today over at Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L's blog I have a lovely tutorial for this Sunflower Wedding Layout - I hope you will have a moment to check it out :).

When I sat at my crafty table I knew I wanted to make a layout to commemorate this beautiful wedding day we were so blessed to be a part of.

But I must confess - at first I was struggling with a big creative block and I couldn't find a way to get out of it. Until I reached out for my trusty Scrapbook Pages Pinterest Board and this immediately kick started my creative mojo. The inspiration & the structure for this layout came from this amazing layout by Camilla featured on Maja Design blog.

Supplies I used:
MyStik® Permanent Strips,
3D Foam Squares - Black, Regular,
Thin 3D Foam Squares - Mix Black,
Adhesive Sheets - 4x6'',
DODZ™ - 3D,
DODZ™ - Medium,
DODZ™ - Small,
3D Foam Christmas Shapes,
Lace Ribbons (Donna Salazar with Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L®)

Other supplies:

Papers - BoBunny Sweet Life, Graphic45 Place In Time;
Cardstock - Core'dinations
Stampendous - Lemon Yellow Fun Flock, Sea Green Ultra Fine Glitter
Flowersoft;
White Rub-Ons - Craft Consortium;
Acrylic paints -- DecoArt;
Spellbinders - Foliage die set;
punches: Woodware - Daisies; Martha Stewart - Pine Branch
Flowers - Prima Marketing & other;
Ribbon - May Arts;
small wooden frames, word stickers, small gems, letter beads, craft wire

My layout includes a bunch of handmade flowers - be sure to check out my tutorial to find out more :).

And what do you think of my cute little banner? :)

So there you have it - my offering for today :). I hope you like it!

Thank you for stopping by and for letting me know you've been. Sending you lots of warm wishes for a creative week ahead!

Big crafty hugs

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Near The Sea - Stampendous And May Arts Big Play Time!

Hello Friends! I am so delighted to see you visiting today because oh boy, we've got so much in store for you!

Prepare yourselves for heaps of inspiration, crafty tips and AMAZING prizes - all courtesy of two fantastic blog hops going on this week.

As always, to take part in the prize draws make sure to visit all participating blogs and leave some love! Actually leave lots of love cuz it makes us really happy! :).

First up is the Spellbinders Partner Blog Hop. It’s summer time and we are hopping together with some fabulous companies in the Summer Road Trip Partner Hop with Spellbinders.

Today's featured partners are:

Stampendous

Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L®

Canvas Corp

DCWV 

Spellbinders is giving away some spectacular prizes during the hop! There will be three daily prizes and one grand prize! See the official contest rules here.

Better still! You know how much Stampendous people love their fans, so they will have some fun prizes on their blog as well. Three lucky winners will win one $20 Rewards Cards to go shopping on their website. To be eligible, you must be a US or Canadian resident, comment on their blog and that of each Stampendous designer’s blog posts each day of the hop and tell us in what state you live. Stampendous Official Contest Rules apply.

If that wasn't enough, our Australian friends will have a chance at a prize from our distributor down under, The Stencil Specialists, for commenting on Stampendous blog and designers blogs during the hop. Wow! Please make sure you add the region you live in when you comment.

Here's the full list of Stampendous DT blogs playing in this blog hop:

Stampendous Blog

Featured Designer – Tenia Nelson

Featured Designer – Lyn Bernatovich

Laura Drahozal

Janelle Stollfus

Lea Kimmel

Asia King (that's me!)

Spellbinders Blog

But that's not all! Be sure to check out the Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L®'s blog as there will be more prizes to be won there - if that's not early Christmas, then I don't know what is! :)

You still with me? Good, because there's more fabulousity coming!

Stampendous is also hopping this week with May Arts ribbon specialists! Amazing or what?! Again, three lucky US residents and one Aussie crafter will see some fabby prizes going their way. Same rules apply to be eligible to win - leave some love on the participating designers' blogs and make sure to let us know in your comments where you live :).

Blogs taking part in the May Arts hop today:

Stampendous Blog

Asia King
Janelle Stollfus

May Arts Blog

OK. I think I've kept you waiting long enough. I can finally reveal what you've been so patiently waiting for LOL - my today's inspirational offering! What a better way to celebrate summer than with  a breeze in the sails and a nautical theme! :)

Supplies:

Stampendous: Wind in Sails, Near the Sea, Aged Ivory Embossing Enamel, Boss Gloss Embossing Ink

May Arts: Paper Cord Ribbon in pink, light blue and ivory

Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L®: Adhesive Sheets 4x6", MyStik® Permanent Strips, 3D Foam Squares - White, 3D Foam Pennants, DODZ™ - 3D

Spellbinders: Nested Lacey Pennants, Labels Eighteen

Plus: Cardstock by Bazzill Basics Paper®
Inktense Pencils (Derwent) - Dark Chocolate, Saddle Brown, Bark, Sea Blue, Willow, Iron Blue, Iron Green
Coffee Archival Ink and Frayed Burlap Distress Ink (Ranger Ink), Gothic Purple StazOn Mini Ink by Tsukineko®
Patterned papers (Vintage Experience, the Works), watercolour paper, metal ornate corners, burlap & canvas flower, self adhesive pearls, eyelets, decorative pins and brads.

Instructions:
1. Create a kraft card blank with A5 card front.
2. Using pink cardstock prepare a mat 1/16 inch on each side smaller than the card front. Adhere to the base with MyStik®.
3. Trim a panel from patterned paper 1/16 inch on each side smaller than the mat. Ink the edges and adhere to the base with MyStik®.
4. Dab embossing ink onto metal corners with Boss Gloss and sprinkle with Aged Ivory Enamel. Shake off the excess and heat emboss.
5. Adhere the corners to the card with Adhesive Sheets in the top and bottom right corners as shown.
6. Die cut a large Lacey Pennant from coordinated papers and adhere to the card, allowing the top left corner to hang off the card.
7. Create a centre panel from patterned papers, pink and beige cardstock (use the photo for approximate proportions) and adhere to the card using 3D Foam Squares. Add pearls along the right side as shown.
8. Stamp Wind In Sails onto watercolour paper with Coffee Ink and colour with Inktense pencils. Die cut and emboss with Labels 18 die. Adhere to the card with 3D Foam Squares.
9. Stamp Near The Sea sentiment on a scrap of kraft card in purple ink. Trim and form in your hands to create a small wavy banner. Adhere to the card.
10. Cover the 3D Foam Pennants with matching papers, add eyelets and suede twine and layer at the top of the card as shown.
11. Finish the card with a canvas flower and paper twine bows adhered with DODZ™ - 3D. Add final touches with brads and decorative pins.

If you are new to to my blog - please feel free to stay a bit longer and check out my other creations. If any of them sparked an idea for your next project, make sure to click the 'Follow Me' button in my sidebar to stay up to date with my future crafty shenanigans :). Also, do let me know how I can find you and visit you back.

We can also connect on Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter or Facebook!

That's all from me for now - I hope you enjoyed my today's offering. Thank you for all your kind and heart warming comments. Enjoy the creative ride and 'see' you again soon!

Big crafty hugs




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Mr & Mrs - Shabby Vintage Wedding Card

Hello Friends! I'm vigorously waving hello to all my 'old' chums but also to all the new ones, who have joined my blog gang - thank you so much for being here with me :). And thank you so much everyone for all your lovely comments on my previous post with the Spring Art Card!

Today - a fairly short post - I'm not feeling well at the moment (really sorry...) but I would love to invite you to have a peek over at Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L's blog where I'm sharing this Lord and Lady Wedding Card. I would be so happy if you had a moment to find out more about my project!

Supplies I used:

3D Foam Creative Sheets, 3D Foam Leaves, Thin 3D Foam Squares - Mix White, 3D Foam Squares - White Mix, Creative Photo Corners - White, MyStik® Permanent Strips, E-Z Dots® Repositionable, E-Z Dots® Permanent, DODZ™ - 3D

Other supplies used:

Stampendous: Stack Art Angel Wings stamp set (script), Cling Married Monograms, Crystal Micro Glitter, Indigo Blue Flock, Cotton Ball Flock

Dies: Spellbinders Gold Majesty Circles, Marianne Designs Lord and Lady

Inks: Midnight Blue StazOn Mini, Faded Jeans and Tea Dye Distress Inks

Paper: K&Company Blue Awning collection

Thank you so much for stopping by today and all your lovely comments!

Big crafty hugs



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Challenges for this card:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Spring Flowers
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - In the Middle

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