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!

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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