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

How many days?

Hi everyone! 

How many days until Christmas day?

 

 People usually keep count via the traditional advent calendar. Opening a window to reveal a picture or a piece of chocolate. We go a bit over the top in our house... 

We have the advent calendars for the kids with the daily chocolate gift...you would think that would be enough wouldn't you?

We also have an advent house that we have had for so many years - It plays Christmas music, the Santa turns around....

and the house lights up!

The kids love it and won't let us not have it...even though the pictures have long since stopped being a surprise!

We also have a family tradition of advent gifts each year...and somehow we always manage to leave it until last minute causing a huge panic...(Note to self )- buy the gifts by October and wrap them in November next year!

And this year I decided it wasn't enough countdowns...we needed to add to it all....

And yes, it is (as of this moment) 20 days (and 14 hours) until Christmas day...

I decided to make this after having a shed built a few months ago - there were some blocks of wood left over...and I didn't like the idea of throwing them all away...

So I painted the block with Decoart Gesso. Then I stenciled some snowflakes with texture paste all over the block of wood

I used Decoart Americana Frost Gloss Enamel as dots and swirls

Buttons were stuck underneath the block 

When the texture paste was dry I covered the block of wood with DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics in Titan Buff. This was followed with Raw Umber Antiquing cream applied all over and left to dry. I then wiped it with a damp cloth, being careful to not wipe too much Antiquing cream away.

The calendar was finished with Decoart Ultra-Matte varnish

I added a chalkboard using balsa wood and chalkboard paint. 

I made a little tray for the chalk by cutting a piece of soft balsa wood and wrapping sandpaper around a pencil and using that to sand away the wood.

I wrote the words 'Days until Christmas' with an italic embossing ink pen and sprinkled it with gold embossing powder. 

The gold embossing was a bit too bright and dazzling - so I just rubbed it with a pencil eraser and it toned it down perfectly without losing any of the metallic embossed effect.

A little wipe of White Fire Treasure Gold with a soft brush was used to just highlight the texture snowflakes and add a delicate glimmer.

Hope you like the additional countdown calendar!

Happy Crafting!
Laura
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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!

 

 

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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
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Anything Steampunk

 Hi everyone!

    It is a new challenge over at Sandee and amelies steampunk challenge this month 

"Anything Goes!" 

I love it when the subject is as open as Anything Goes....the only problem is that sometimes it can be difficult to think of something when it could be anything!

 I was ok this time because I had a pendant that I wanted to alter and had been meaning to do it for  awhile...I was just waiting for the right time...

The pendant was a bright silver - so the first thing I did was paint it with Decoart Media fluid acrylic paint in Carbon black. When dry I gave it the lightest dry brushing with Decoart Dazzling Metallic paint in Champagne Gold.

 I cut some printed script paper to go inside the pendant and cut out a face from a vintage photo

After attaching them to the pendant I filled the pendant with Glossy Accents.

I then selected some cogs and gears to sit inside the frame - carefully setting them in place in the wet glue with a pair of tweezers

I then attached a brass watch charm to the base of the pendant and covered the join with a jewellery finding.

I attached more tiny cogs and gears and the word 'love' - and there it is...

an 'Anything Goes' Steampunk pendant!

Not a very long post today - Sometimes Steampunk can really be that easy!

Even if Steampunk isn't your usual style why not come on over and give it a go?

If you have never tried it before then this challenge is a perfect placed to start...

 You might just have a lot of fun doing it!

Come and join us at Sandee and amelies Steampunk Challenge....

Happy Crafting!
Laura

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