CHRISTMAS CRAFT CREATIONS DESIGN TEAM

Happy Christmas everyone!  

I'm delighted to be part of the Design Team at Christmas Craft Creations - one of the great advantages of being on a Christmas Design Team is that by the time Christmas comes round you have at least 12 cards all ready to go!

So my first challenge was a real challenge as it is Gnomes - I do not have any gnome related crafting items at all. Luckily one of the ladies I follow on Instagram recently did a video tutorial on how to draw a gnome so I thought I'd have a go!  Eventually I was quite happy with the little image that I created.

I wanted him to be more of a woodland gnome so created a wintery scene for him using some stamps from Tracy Evans and Lavinia stamps.  I think he needed a little playmate too so I drew a smaller one.  I finished the card off with a sentiment from Stampin Up from years ago and some Nuovo drops in that gorgeous neptune colour.

COLOR MY HEART COLOR DARE - #528

Well give yourselves a clap on the back if you are still crafting along with us at this very busy time of the year - we are glad to have you with us here at Color My Heart.  As a treat we are giving you carte blanch on choosing any colour you like for your project.

I really love how this card turned out - do you ever find you make something and really don't want to give it away?  That's how I felt with this card.  I have made a few of these wreath cards over the Christmas but this was the first one I made and it really got me hooked.  

I started off by pencilling around a roll of tape for my circle as I don't have a circle big enough for what I wanted.  I used Tracy Evan's stamp set Pinecone for my card.  I used the smaller stamps to create the wreath using Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Iced Spruce, Evergreen Bough and Rustic Wilderness.  I stamped the Pinecone branch at the top and cut out two extra pine cones to add on top to give a bit of dimension.  I used Tim Holtz foliage dies and a branch die from Stampin Up for the top of the pine cone.  The little bird is from Tracy Evans set Wire Birds and the stars in the background are the same set.

I cut out and added the words Pine Cone and added embellishments and a layer of Dazzling Diamonds glitter all around the outer edge of the cards.  I just used Versamark clear ink and added the glitter to it.  Much less messier than trying to use glue.

Wot no Christmas card?

I'm taking a break from Christmas themes to join in with the As You See It Challenge which is offering up this lovely image to inspire us.  

I've spent the last 10 days recovering from my first bout of Covid - I'm really disappointed as I had so many lovely Christmas festivities to go to including singing a solo in our little local 12th Century church.  Luckily I  had already made my Christmas cards but there again a tale - here in the UK our postal workers have gone on strike on odd days.  Two weeks ago I sent all my cards out and I know a lot of them haven't been received - especially the special one to my son and his girlfriend.  It's not like we just bought them out of a packet is it when we hand make things. So a disappointing lead up to Christmas all round.

It was therefore a nice break to get back into my craft room finally today and make something not Christmas related.  I have this lovely little stamp from B P Bipasha for Aallandcreate which I hadn't inked up.  I actually ended up buying two mistakenly so one is going to be offered soon as a freebie.

I used an old Tim Holtz music stamp for the background and then added some distress inks in Brushed Corduroy and Fossilized Amber.  The little image was stamped in Versafine Clair and coloured in with Distress inks - Rusty Hinge, Spiced Marmalade and Fossilized Amber.  I used some deckle scissors to cut around the edges and aded some Black Soot - ther eis some sparkle twine behind and a touch of Spectrum Noir glitter just to give it a bit more life.

This is their image and here is my card:

I'm delighted to have been chosen as the winner for this challenge

Fiona's card definitely has a medieval vibe going here with her neutral tones and the antiquing that she has done. The music background picks up on the music theme from our inspiration photo and manages to look like a medieval music score as well. The main image of the vase with the flowers and the bird also picks up on a theme from the photo as well as colours in the photo, but keeping the colours muted adds to the overall antique look of the whole card. Just lovely!

IT'S ALL ABOUT SANTA

I love this image of Santa by Tim Holtz  I managed to get a hold of this set which included some stamps and some stencils by Stampers Anonymous.  I created my background and added Christmas sayings from the Tim Holtz Tiny Text set around the outside.  Santa was coloured in with Distress Inks and I used an old pair of deckle scissors to cut out the shape.  The added little bits are from the same set but I also think you can get them in Tim Holtz Christmas Ideaology sets.

When my children were little and we left out the sherry, mincemeat shortbread and carrots for Santa and his helpers I used to leave a little note for  my children from Santa - I even went to the bother of singing the edges to make it look as though the letter had been burnt coming down the chimney. My children are now 31 and 28 and I am now seeing Santa again through the eyes of my granddaughter who is 3 and this year she is really excited.  Christmas is a time for memories.

I'm adding this into the following challenges:

Try it on Tuesday - All about Santa 

Moving along with the times - Christmas 

Paper Funday Challenge - Holiday 

Allsorts - Anything Goes with option of Trees - Santa is holding a tree

Christmas Cards All Year Round - Santa 

Christmas Tags

I love to make my own tags at Christmas - and most of them go on family gifts.  I must admit I tend to save them too after the recipient has opened their present - I would hate to see them get put out with the waste paper so I'm building up quite a collection of old tags to re-use - how's that for recyling.  I don't even think they've ever noticed either!

This one though is a new one this year.  I used one of Tim Holtz dies to cut out the tag out of some cardboard and added a layer of gesso on top and then some Antique Linen Distress Oxides.  I  used one of Tim Holtz stencils for the background and some embossing paste.  When the paste was dry I went over it with some Distress ink to add the various colours of green, brown and red.  The wreath is one of Tim Holtz Ideaology pieces and I added the baubles and some cut out holly pieces.  The deer is a little wooden one from my stash and I inked him up.  I added some glitter, some Tim Holtz velvet ribbon, a sentiment from Tim Holtz Tiny Text and some added glitter around the outer edges  of the tag - finishing off with some ribbons.

Im adding this into the following challenges:

Just Add Ink #634 - Anything but a card

Creative Moments - Christmas 

Mixed Media Place - Mood Board - I've used Distress Inks 

Creative Crafters - AG 

Papercraft Challengers - Deck the Halls 

The Sisterhood of Crafters - Trad Red and Green 

Creative inspirastions Festive Foliage 

Tag Tuesday - Winter Holiday

Christmas Kick Start - Christmassy

Simon Says Monday - Tag 

My second tag was made for the Snippets challenge - where you are to use snippets or paper or similar for your project.    I had some pieces of Christmas paper left over from another project and began by gluing them to a piece of cardstock.  I then too a Christmas Tree die and cut out the image - it's so effective.  I added a shiny white star to the top.  The tag is another made with a Tim Holtz Die - I used a branches stencil for the background using Iced Spruce Distress Oxide Ink and then added some background stars and snow from a Tim Holtz stamp set.  The extra pieces are from Ideaology - and the little presents are a very old Stampin Up stamp.

Hand Stamped Sentiments SC 404

A sketch challenge again for you this week at Hand Stamped Sentiments.  I look forward to seeing what you all do with this one.  This was perfect for me as I have been making a lot of wreath cards lately using some small stamps from Tim Holtz and Stampin Up to create my wreath.

I start off by drawing around a circle with a pencil.  I have a roll of masking tape that is just the right size.  I start at the top with my small stamps using Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Iced Spruce.  I then in fill with some smaller stamps - I use the tiny stamps from Stampin Up Merry Patterns which is just perfect for this.  The fir cones are from Tim Holtz.

The Bow is a sizzix die and I added a bit of white sparkle paper to the inside.  The Deck the Halls sentiment is from Sunny Studios Holiday Style and is white embossed on red card stock cut out with an old SU die.  I added the white pencil marks around the edge.  The Boughs of Holly sentiment is from Tim Holtz Tiny Text.

I used a Versamark pad around the edges of the card and added some Dazzling Diamonds to the edge and kept it simple by layering onto white card stock. 

This is our last challenge for 2022 - I would like to thank all of you who have played along with us during the year and wish you all a Very Merry Christmas - we will see you again on January 10 2023.

COLOR MY HEART COLOR DARE #526

Welcome back to another challenge from Color Dare.  Shh,, don't tell hubby but this is actually his Christmas card.  I'm safe to show it as he never reads my blog and I'm not even sure he really understands blogland!  

I used Toffee Sage and Periwinkle style colours for my card and I'm really pleased how it turned out as they aren't my usual colours for christmas.

I used Tim Holtz CMS313 Carved Christmas for my main image of the stocking. I kept it simple with that soft blue colour.  The background behind has the same stamp which has been stamped in the toffee colour, spritzed with water then added to water colour card stock to give a soft impression of the same stocking.  I used the same blue to add colour to that layer.  The layer behind that was simply stamped with a stamp from Tim Holtz CMS 142 Mini Holidays - using the holly stamp just around the edges.

The foliage has all been made with Tim Holtz thinlets Holiday Greetings Mini.  I added a bow made from Sizzix and a piece of Ideaology to finish off the card.

I'm adding this into the following:

Inspiration Station - Stockings 

We love 2 create - AG

We Love Stamping - I love my husband, Christmas and Tim Holtz stamps  in that order lol!

THE MALE ROOM CHALLENGE - DECEMBER 2022

Welcome to another challenge at The Male Room Challenge.  This month we are looking for your Transportation inspiration.  Well I'm still in Christmas mode and had a rummage through my stamps - I have the usual car train stamps etc but my eyes lit up when I spotted this stamp by Tim Holtz from his CMS 142 Mini Holidays collection.  I just had to use those camels lol!

I started my card off by using versamark ink and stamping the Three Wise Men and their camels, the star and the sentiments.  The sentiments are all Tim Holtz. The star is from Stampin Up. I used white embossing powder for the star and the words and black for the camels.

I then went over it all with Tim Holtz Distress Oxide in Chipped Sapphire, some Black Soot and Fossilised amber around the star.  I wiped off the excess on the embossed bits to make them shine again.  I used a Tim Holtz star stencil and just lifted off some of the ink.

I'd like to wish you all a very happy and peaceful Season and thank you for playing along with us all year.  See you next year.

I'm adding this into the following :

Peace on Earth Christmas - Nativity

CREATIVE ARTISTE #189 - GUEST DESIGNER

I am delighted to be a Guest Designer at Creative Artiste this month joining their talented team of Designers.  The challenge theme is Anything Mixed Media Goes.

I'm loving my art journey into Mixed Media and always find this challenge blog inspiring with all the lovely entries and inspiration.  I'm finding it harder to make projects now that don't include some sort of mixed media.  I find it very relaxing.

I really wanted to make a piece of Christmas decor and use these delightful Tim Holtz hangers I bought last year.

I started off with a Christmas word embossing folder from my stash and added some Tim Holtz Distress Collage Medium in Vintage and then added some Walnut Stain Distress Crayon.  It gives it a lovely waxy finish.

The Robin bird is from Tracy Evans set called Robin and Nuthatch and I added it to some circles to create a bauble.  It's a great robin stamp to colour with it's fluffy feel and I've already tried to colour it many different ways.  The Joy bauble is from Tim Holtz dies Circle Words Christmas.  I added some foliage also from Tim Holtz Holiday Greetings Mini and added Grit Paste Snowfall also from TH.  The Sentiment is from Tm Holtz Tiny Texts Christmas.  

HAPPY LITTLE STAMPERS WATERCOLOUR - DECEMBER 2022

It had to be a wintry card for our December challenge over at Happy Little Stampers.  Although this doesn't actually mention Christmas it would still make a lovely Christmas card.  The lovely images are from Anita Jeram for Colorado Craft Company - this set is a few years old ow but I just love her images. This one is called Snow Happy.

I stamped the images first with Versafine Clair in Acorn and then coloured them in with Tim Holtz Distress Inks.  I then did a colour wash of a background in Salty Ocean behind the images.  There is some of Tim Holtz Grit Paste snowfall behind the animals to create the snow and also on his little snowball.  

I'm adding this into the following challenges

Krafty Chicks - Stamping 

Time Out - Winter 

Critter Crazy - 

Four Seasons Challenge - Winter 

SS Stamp - Wednesday - AG 

The sisterhood of Crafters - winter 

Try it on Tuesday - Winter Wonderland 

Proud to have been chosen as a Golden Egg at Krafty Chicks 

ONCE UPON A TIME - DECEMBER 2022

Welcome back to another challenge from Once Upon a Time.  Our cover for your inspiration is The Legend of the Poinsettia - another book I don't know and I was really interested to learn about this plant.

I used a lovely poinsettia from a stamp set by Creative Expressions called Winter Flowers and Foliage.  It's actually a set I'd forgotten I had so I was happy to find it just at the right time of year.  I used Versafine Clair ink in Shady Lane to stamp the flowers and then used Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Festive Berries and Candied Apple to colour in the flowers.  I then stamped some of the green foliage in the background and gently covered it with a a layer of Old Paper Distress Oxide Ink with Walnut Stain on the edges. 

The bauble cut outs are from a set of dies from Tim Holtz called Circle Words, Christmas.  I stamped another poinsettia behind the words and cut them out and added a touch of glitter pen. 

HAND STAMPED SENTIMENTS - #IC403

We have another lovely Inspiration Board from Hand Stamped Sentiments for you  this week.  I took my inspiration from the top right hand corner and the tree and the baubles.  I liked the fact that it seemed to be a little bit out of focus so I used that to make a soft watercolour effect on my card.

I used stamps from Tim Holtz old set CMS322 called Christmas Classic. As well as tthe lovely Santa image in this set which is the one I always seem to use it has some lovely foliage stamps which can sometimes get overlooked so I decided they needed a chance to shine.

I used Versafine Ink in Morning Mist which is a soft grey to stamp the images then used some Tim Holtz Distress Oxides to colour in the holly and the berries.  I used a very soft wash of Tim Holtz Evergreen Bough around all the stamping and part way down the card.  

The bauble stamp is an old one from Gina K Designs called Season of Joy which  just suited this perfectly. I stamped it in Tim Holtz Archival in Mermaid Lagoon.  The other sentiment is also Tim Holtz Tiny Text.  I covered the card with a few splatters of white gesso and added some sparkle from Spectrum Noir glitter pen - as it's Christmas lol! 

I'm adding this into the following challenges - 

The sisterhood of Crafters - Winter 

SimonSays Stamp Wednesday - AG 

four Seasons Challenge - Winter 

GDP#371 - Winter 

Simon Says Stamp Monday - cold

Merry Little Christmas - AG 

COLOR MY HEART COLOR DARE - #524

I'm taking a break from the Christmas projects at the moment with this one for Color Dare Challenge.  I've used the lovely stamp from Visible Image called Break Free.

The background was made with Tim Holtz Distress Ink, a Tim Holtz stencil and a script stamp I use for backgrounds.  I masked off the flower image before creating the background so that it wasn't showing behind the vase.  I added some glossy accents to the bits of the glass to make it shine.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.....

My favourite time of the year to craft is Christmas.  Every year I find new Christmas products that I just have to have and I love all things vintage and Tim Holtz at Christmas.

Here are a couple of projects I've recently made both very different styles.  The first is a Tag as I love making Tags too

I've used Tim Holtz products on this tag apart form the reindeer papers which were from my stash and the Believe die which is from Hot off the Press.

I'm adding this tag into the following challenges:

Christmas Card Throwdown - Santa and Friends 

Stamping Sensations - Christmas 

We love Stamping - Christmas 

Jingle Belles - Inspired by their banner 

Try it on Tuesday - Traditional Christmas 

My second card is a complete contrast to the tag above.  I've used the lovely Pinecone stamp set by Tracy Evans and made it into a watercolour card with very soft stamping.  All inks are Tim Holtz Distress Oxides.  I wanted it to have a very wintry feel and I really think it worked.  There is snow added with paint to the top of the branches and the pinecone and a smattering of Spectrum Noir Sparkle pen to make it shine.

I'm adding this into the following challenges:

Allsorts - Trees and Leaves

Less is More - Outside 

Inkspirational - the wintry feel of their image 

Krafty Chicks - CAS 

ABC Christmas - W for White snow 

The holly and Ivy - Christmas AG 

HAND STAMPED SENTIMENTS - #402

Our colour challenge for you this week from Hand Stamped Sentiments screams Christmas colours - I love them.  Cherry Cobbler is definitely one of my favourite reds for the season.

I started off by using the lovely tree stamp from Winter Woods stamping the tree three times.  I added some soft colouring to the bottom where the deer are standing.  The deer are from Tim Holtz dies as is the sentiment. I added some stamping to the deer for texture and interest and a few dots to the doe. I added some fine silver thread to the bottom of the card and the sentiment.  There is Wink of Stella pen over the trees to make them shine.  I layered the image onto Cherry Cobbler cardstock.

COLOR MY HEART COLOR DARE #522

Welcome back to another colour challenge at Color My Heart.  Yellow - what a funny colour - is it one you use very often?  I know I don't - not as the main colour so this challenge took me out of my comfort zone which is what challenges are all about.  I chose to pair my yellow with that dark blue Sapphire so it would show it off and not be too washed out.

I've gone back to some Tracy Evans stamps here for this make. I used a double length stamp for the left hand side Feathered Bloom No 79- with all those lovely feathers I had to add a bird to the card.  The right hand side I left blank just with the yellow and some splatters.  I separated the two sides by using some old Washi Tape in grey.

The clock and flowers are from a separate set (Wildflower no 565) and I cut them out and added them with dimensionals so the bird could sit behind.  The bird is from  Birdsong no 393.  I don't often do these Double Length cards and love how this turned out.  

SANTA BY NIGHT

That's it - I'm officialy in countdown to Christmas mode.  This is my favourite time of the year to craft and I love making Christmas cards and tags - I've yet to be brave enough to try some of the home decor the Tim Holtz girls make but maybe one day.

Until then I'll continue with the cards and here's one for the Christmas Card Throwdown who gave us this sketch to work with 

I used some scrap paper to blank off the section to represent the  panels and stamped a Tim Holtz sentiment and this lovely little Santa and sleigh by Sunny Studio.  I covered the rest of the card in Chipped Sapphire Distress Oxide ink with a touc of Black Soot at the very top.  The colour is much richer in real life.  I then took a Tim Holtz stencil and Stampin Up Silver Embossing paste to stencil the lovely stars.

Allsorts Challenge - Sparkle and Shine

The Holly & Ivy - AG 

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Christmas