Wrapped in Red

Hello and welcome!

My Christmas crafting has officially commenced and I'm delighted to welcome glitter back into my life!

I was most fortunate to win a beautiful stamp set ('Woolen Mittens' by Oxford Impressions) from lovely Lynne and it is finally getting its first inking. The stamps are wonderful to use with fab deep etching. Isn't this little sweetheart cosily attired?

I stamped mdf bell shape (by Creative Expressions) with bells and text using Ranger 'Vermillion Red' (having masked off area for figure) and then overpainted with well watered paint (Paper Artsy 'Nougat'). Stamped and embossed the little Girl (EP is Sparkle & Sprinkle 'Japanese Lacquer'). I wanted a lovely deep red for her coat and it took several tryouts to get it right! Made her booties a tiny bit darker. Added glossy accents over both and left to dry overnight. Stamped and embossed snowflakes on the bell (EP- WOW White). I'm no use at colouring in faces so just added a hint of blush to her cheeks from one of my own blushers (Chanel). Painted her bonnet, ribbon and socks with white Paper Artsy paint (again tried out other white products but they kept sinking into the mdf - guess I should have sealed the surface first). Glued twine around bell's rim and dabbed it with gold and red Stickles.

Stitched around the backing paper with my handy IKEA sewing machine having lightly stamped some green mistletoe at paper edges. The paper is by 'My Mind's Eye'. Stencilled Snowflakes over bell and background paper with Memory Box 'Tiny Snowflakes' stencil and coated the paste with my go to choice of sparkle (a girl has got to have one!). Added more stamped bells (both distress 'Candied Apple' and 'Festive Berries' were on my table at the end so not sure which one I used for which. Then the little girl went and grabbed one of those new Distress Crayons and scribbled 'Snow' - just as well she drew in the right place!).

Added bunting (by Melissa Frances I think) to top having dabbed them with Stickles along with some Tim Holtz greenery that I've given snowy effects to. Stamped some stockings too and splattered white paint around generally. Decorated further with teddy and mittens charms plus little wooden stars with a toothpick stick for little one to hold. Finally, a red bow and two jingle bells completed the picture.

As always, your visit and any comments that you leave are most appreciated.

Nicola x

I wish to enter card to the following challenges:

Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes with a Stamp and Ribbons
That's Crafty - Feminine challenge
Inky Chicks - Christmas in Summer
Crimbo Crackers - Anything Goes
ABC Christmas Challenge - N for No rules
Winter Wonderland Christmas challenge - Make It Cute
Sparkles Forum Christmas - Snowflakes
Christmas cards all year round - Anything Goes
Aud Sentiments - For a Girl + sentiment
Deep Ocean Challenge - Christmas in July