Monday 27 October 2014

Christmas, In The Pink!

Hello again and Welcome!

Today I'm sharing my second post this month as one of the Guest Designers for the fantabulous Craft Hoarders Anonymous challenge blog. The theme of their current challenge is 'Layer It'. Be sure to pop by to check out the uber talented Design Team creations. For my make, I was thinking both Christmas and Pink, and decorated a Melissa Frances chipboard house with beautiful papers by Maja Design and oodles of other additives to create lots of layers for a snowy Christmas scene.



Click to enlarge each image for greater detail.

Prior to adhering the Maja Design papers to the chipboard I gave them lots of pink frantage. Also painted the windows and decorated them with lace curtains. Then cleaned all the panes so that you can see the happy children playing inside. Once papers were attached I stencilled texture paste thru a Heidi Swapp dots stencil for faux snowflakes. Before the paste dried I liberally sprinkled on Distress Glitter in Clear Rock Candy for lots of sparkling spots. The fence, trees and any visible edges were similarly painted, dabbed with distress glitter and Snow-Tex. Also used a glitter pen to draw little sparkles on the window frames, having already either gilded or glittered outer rims of frames. Painted Idea-ology feet form the base.

Although you can't see too well from this photo the roof has also been stencilled and glittered with a row from the Tim Holtz 'Holiday Knit' stencil. (I love all the latest TH stencils although given their tag width lots of patience is required for one area to dry before one can align and progress!). I've punched lots of little snowflakes too, coated them with clear rock glitter and placed them with a pink Swarovski crystal in centre of each.

The metal elements are by Nunn Design and Tim Holtz Idea-ology - Rudolph and the bell adornment took some coats of Krylon gold leafing pen beautifully. There are jingle bells atop the fence posts, pearls hanging from the rafters and a diecut beaded garland along the eaves. Gesso came in handy for snowy effects. Dressed the trees with a pearl trim too. Little tufts of cotton wool are in the chimneys as faux smoke. Also wrapped up some presents, sprinkled glass glitter, lined up diecut deer and metal charms to create this joyful Christmas scene.




Well who is missing from the front?? Santa of course!!! Here he is at the side wading through all the diecut and punched snowflakes (not to mention handfuls of glitter falling onto his head that are making him a little cross - Santa is not overly fond of pink!).

He's waiting for the children to go asleep and for Rudolph to clear the chimney. Gosh, that little teddy must be getting cold!









On the other side of the house you can see part of the special Christmas story (by Stampington) that the children inside have been stamping and embossing reading.

I hope that they disappear fast to their beds so that Santa can commence deliveries. You can see the sturdy reindeer keeping a close eye. They will signal to Santa once the children are fast asleep by shaking their heads to sound those bells strung around their necks.





Finally, at the rear, it is clear that Santa's Christmas delivery is now safely complete as you can see gold reindeer dashing off through the sky to reach their next destination. The children have snuck out to admire their snowman. To make him they had to do some dry embossing and then brayer over several coats of Versamark before melting white embossing powder to give him a nice thick coat. I'm sure they will head back into the warm house soon as all that snow and even more icy stencilling on the roof will feel very chilly. Definitely time to open those presents!

~~~~~

Very many thanks again to Gloria and all at Craft Hoarders to allow me feature amongst their guest designers this month. It's been a pleasure.

Thank-you so much for your visit and taking the time.
Wishing all a super crafty week.
Nicola x


I wish to enter house to the following challenges:
Allsorts - Christmas
Live & Love Crafts - Pink
A Creative Romance - Pink
Vintage Udfordring - Use at least 2 patterned papers
In The Pink - Spots or Stripes
Inspiration Journal - In Disguise - (Cotton wool for chimney smoke)
It's All About The Vintage & Beauty - Anything Goes
Country View Crafts - Sparkle and Shine
Winter Wonderland - Gold Christmas
Sparkles Christmas Challenges - For A Child

Friday 17 October 2014

Angels we have heard on high...

Good Morning and thanks so much for spending a little part of your day with mine. I'm showing today one of my tree ornaments that I've made from padded layers of cotton batting, tea dyed lace and heaps of glitter and bling.


I've applied gilding wax and Krylon gold leafing pen to the centre little resin angel. Completed by stitching on two jingle bells that really do jingle!

Regardless of your creed or beliefs I hope that someone is watching over each of us today and every day.

Warmest wishes,
Nicola x

I wish to enter ornament to the following challenges:
Country View Crafts - Sparkle and Shine
Inspiration Journal - 'In Disguise' (fabric for ornament rather than clothing)
Oldie But A Goodie - Christmas
Inky Chicks - Christmas
The Mixed Media Challenge - Vintage
Simon Says Stamp Monday - O is for... Ornament

Monday 13 October 2014

Happy Fall Y'All

Greetings from bright and crisp Dublin! It's lovely to have you stop by today.

Earlier this year I was thrilled to be invited to feature in a Guest Design spot at the super talented challenge blog "Craft Hoarders Anonymous" run by the awesome Gloria Stengel. I'm one of the lucky ladies featuring there this month over two challenges. Their first challenge theme is "Happy Fall, Y'all". Here's my make:



It would be great if you could take the time to check out all the other wonderful guest designers featuring at Craft Hoarders today. Better still, why don't you drag out those hoarded fall-themed items (You've got them!) and make a project to share at Craft Hoarders Anon. You can make something for fall, Halloween, Thanksgiving, or any other fall or harvest celebration! The entry link is here.

My own card says THANKS which is very appropriate as most of the 'ingredients' were provided by generous others. Huge thanks to Linda for the wheat, Alison for the hessian fiber, Lynne for the rafia, Jenny for the Maja papers, Lynn for the chipboard letters (my very first candy win when I had just set up my blog) and Astrid for the versatile leaf stamp. Gosh isn't blogland rich with international giving!

Many THANKS again for visiting - it's very much appreciated.
Wishing you a kind and colourful week.

Nicola x

I wish to enter card to the following challenges:
Inspiration Journal - 'In disguise' (wheat as decoration rather than foodstuff)
City Crafter Challenge - Leaves
Simon Says Stamp Monday - 'O' for October
Crafty Creations Challenge - Use Orange
Frilly and Funkie - Autumn Colours
Mixed Media Monthly Challenge - Ribbons, Twine & Fibers
Artist Trading Post Exchange - Anything Mixed Media Goes

Friday 10 October 2014

Here comes Christmas

Hello! Thank-you so much for your visit. I'm sorry for being MIA recently but 'real' life has very much required my time and energy.

I'm glad to be back posting in blogland with a Christmas make from last year that I hadn't posted. The stamped image is by Crafty Individuals.



Looking forward to catching up,

Happy Weekend to all,
Nicola x

I wish to enter card to the following challenges:
Crafty Individuals - Halloween Madness / Christmas Frenzy
It's All About the Vintage & Beauty - Bingo - Ribbon, Flowers, Lace
The Ribbon Girl - Glitz and Dazzle
Country View Challenges - Sparkle & Shine
The Mixed Media card challenge - Vintage