Christmas Cards Inspired by Anneke De Clerck

Welcome and a very happy Sunday afternoon to you all. Today I would like to share a couple of Christmas cards I've made that were inspired by the PaperArtsy blog.

For the backgrounds I followed the technique used by Anneke De Clerck which you can read if you click on the link Here.

For this one I used Memory Box Alpha Worn Out stencil with PaperArtsy Chalk acrylics in Spanish Mulberry, Snowflake and Beach Hut.

Before attaching the background to the card I rubbed the edges with a little Treasure Gold in Sapphire and Pewter.

For the coloured star I stamped the large star from Jofy 07 in versa-mark and then white embossed onto card I'd previously coloured with Pan Pastels in Phthalo Blue shade, Magenta Extra Dark and Ultra Marine Blue. This was then cut out and given a coat of Distress Stickles Clear Rock Candy.

The white star was stamped in Adirondack in denim and clear embossed. This too was given a coat of clear rock candy after being cut out which in various places has made the ink bleed---- I must confess I rather like the distress look it gives.

The sentiment was also stamped in denim onto white card and clear embossed and then mounted onto some remains of the pan pastels coloured card. The ring was made from some coloured jewellery wire with a silver bell threaded at the top and then some blue ribbon attached.

Card no 2, for this I used Tim Holtz Measured stencil with PaperArtsy Chalk acrylics in Autumn Fire, Pumpkin Soup, Toad Hall and Guacamole.

I then added some Antique Linen Distress ink with a blending tool as I didn't like the stark white contrast of the card. This had Treasure Gold in Renaissance added to the edges.

The baubles were stamped using the same Jofy set as before, the white ones stamped in Tea dye distress ink and clear embossed and the coloured ones were from the Pan pastels coloured card in the Magenta extra dark, Ultra Marine Blue and Hansa Yellow Shade and white embossed.

Both lots were given a coat of PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Metallic Glaze. Small holes were then punched in the tops and cream coloured bakers twine attached. Gold coloured wire was used for the ring on this one. Merry Christmas was stamped and then gold embossed on white card.

I was very pleased with the end results and will use this technique again for backgrounds.

Plus as a bonus that's 2 christmas cards made!!!

Well the nights are drawing in now so that means for me it's more crafting time as I won't be gardening and watering. Thanks as always for stopping by today and I love to read your comments as I know how busy everyone is. Take care and I hope you all have a good week. Jane x

Autumns Bounty mixed with Cold as Ice

Today I'm mixing my crafty make with another of my passions and that's foraging for wild mushrooms.

This was our pickings at the weekend and boy the smell in the car coming home was fantastic, mind you the pasta sauce made with them was just pretty wonderful too! The remainder have been sliced and laid out on a tray over the Aga and dried ready for using in the winter.

Now onto todays make--- 'Cold as Ice' is this months challenge theme over on Tando Creatives Blog of which I was the lucky winner of in September. I am entering this piece as I really enjoyed the theme although I would ask for my name not to be entered into the draw for a prize this time.

For this I started by brayering the Tando Large Snowflake with PaperArtsy Chalk acrylic paint in Mermaid, Beach Hut, Snowflake and Pewter. I then made a small hole in the top ready to hang the finished decoration from.

I then threaded 3 christmas tree light embellishments that I had left from last year onto some ice blue fringed wool and attached these to the top.

Next the snowman was cut from white and black card using the slice machine. The hat and arms were cut from the black version and stuck onto the white snowman. The hat was lightly rubbed with Treasure Gold in Sapphire, 2 holly leaves attached and the berries were from a packet of red metal nailheads. The edges of the hat and the bottom of the snowman were dabbed with Versa-Mark ink and embossed with Stampendous Aged Ivory Enamel. I then tied a length of silver tinsel gift ribbon round the neck for his scarf.

The trees were cut using Tim Holtz Movers and Shapers die, embossed with the aged ivory and then dabbed onto the versa-mark ink pad and sprinkled with ultra fine pewter glitter and lightly heated with the heat gun to melt it in place.

Let It Snow was stamped with versa-mark ink and embossed with white powder onto dark blue card and cut out by hand.

I then wanted a base for the trees and snowman so I tore a piece of corrugated card, painted it with white gesso, embossed with the aged ivory and while it was still hot sprinkled with some white flower soft.

Everything was then stuck onto the snowflake using pinflair glue.

Its hard to pick up the silvery shimmer of the pewter paint in the photos on the snowflake but I think you can get a vague impression.

Well that's all from me for now, a blend of 2 seasons! Thanks as always for stopping and reading this blog and I really appreciate all your lovely comments. Take care and have a good week. Jane x

'Star of Wonder' Christmas Card

Hello and welcome again, today I would like to share a Christmas card that I have just made using a set of Crafty Individuals stamps, some PaperArtsy chalk acrylic paints, mica powders and a few other odds and ends.

Items Used

Crafty Individuals stamp set CI 270 and CI 171

White card scraps for stamping

Kraft Card

Green glitter card

PaperArtsy Fresco Chalk acrylic paint in Mermaid, Inky Pool, Pewter, Autumn Fire, Pumpkin Soup, Pansy, Blush and Metallic Glaze.

Black archival ink

Distress ink in Vintage Photo

Clear embossing powder

Stampendous Aged Ivory embossing enamel

Copper and perfect pearls mica powder

Versa-mark ink

Brilliance Pearlescent Olive ink

To begin with I cut a square of kraft card and randomly stamped the harlequin design in 2nd generation vintage photo. Next I distressed the edges with a pair of scissors and made a couple of small nicks to give an aged appearance. I then added some vintage photo ink to darken the raw edges and rolled the corners.

The palm trees and building were then stamped in the vintage photo and then brushed with the copper mica powder. Then the bottom part of the card was lightly brushed with the vintage photo to give an impression of sand.

The 3 kings were then stamped in black and embossed with clear powder.

Next I coloured some oddments of white card with the paints ready to stamp the 3 kings onto and cut their cloaks out.

Starting at the top the colours used were;

Pansy, blush and pewter.

Autumn fire, pumpkin soup and the metallic glaze.

Mermaid, inky pool and pewter.

The cloaks only were cut out and then stuck onto the stamped figures on the card.

The star was stamped onto white card with versa-mark ink and embossed with the aged ivory enamel and then cut out and stuck above the stable.

Star of wonder was then stamped in black onto the kraft card.

The card blank was decorated with the words being stamped in black and the star in pearlescent olive, then the edges lightly inked in vintage photo and then lightly brushed with the perfect pearls mica  to add a subtle sheen.

The kraft card was mounted onto a piece of green glitter card that had been dulled by adding some vintage photo ink, then attached to the card base.

I really like the sheen and sparkle on the 3 kings robes and cutting them out and layering them onto the stamped figures adds real dimension.

This set of stamps is a new acquisition and I have enjoyed my first 'play' with them, if you have a few spare minutes pop over to Crafty Individuals blog and see what their DT have been up to

http://craftyindividualsblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/carrying-on-with-halloween-and.html

I would like to enter this card for Crafty Individuals monthly challenge titled 'Halloween Madness and Christmas Frenzy'.

and

Hels Sheridan's Sunday Stampers challenge titled 'Stars'

Thank-you as always for stopping by and I hope you have a good week, looks like autumn has arrived so it's a good time to get crafting!

Take care, Jane x