This weeks challenge at Woodware is "Frantaged Christmas". I love the Frantage range of embossing powders, glitters and mica fragments. But I decided in the end to keep it simple and use one of my favourite powders "Shabby White". Just before I started writing this post I checked the Woodware blog and found that Debs has also used this Stampendous stamp (CRR143 Snowy Postcard). She has gone for some lovely whites and blues. Anyway too late to change mine but hopefully it will entice you to get hold of this gorgeous stamp.
I stamped onto kraft card for my background. I also used the pine cones and sprigs from a Stampendous jumbo cling set CRS5040 Pine cone Boughs . I stamped the snowy houses onto white card as well to cut out the oval. For more accuracy I used the "Emboss Gloss" wand to apply embossing ink to the roofs of the houses and the snowy banks. Then I sprinkled on the Shabby White powder.
I also added a bit to the cones in the background and also along the bottom edge. I wanted to keep a vintage feel to this card. Sadly in the photos you can't see the sparkle and shine, but it really does catch the light.
Hope you have a good week.
Siobhan x
Jill at The Stamp Man has changed the format for the challenge blog. We have switched to a monthly challenge to give us the DT and you more time to design a project. As I love Birds, Bees and Butterflies I wanted to include all of them in my project.
When I was down in Yorkshire last month for a craft retreat we were shown how to make a box frame by the lovely Liz (some of you may know her as Lizzie Bobs). This is the one she made for me, which I have already posted , but it is so lovely I want to show it off again.
So I have used this as inspiration to make a larger version for the Stamp Man Challenge.
The original template uses a piece of card 8x8 inches:
Score all the solid lines, cut the centre cross and cut out the 4 solid corner boxes.
Here I have scored and cut out from a 12x12 sheet of white card stock. Instead of cm I have scored at 0.5 and 1 inch increments to make the frame element slightly bigger than the 8x8 version.
Fold all the score lines and use a bone folder to give them sharp creases.
Now just trim off those extra triangles and you are ready to decorate. Don't stick anything together until you have finished inking and stamping. I used Distress inks to colour the whole frame then masked of sections to stamp on the front of the frame and the edges.
For the base just measure the frame and cut a square just slightly smaller so there are no bits overlapping. I just coloured this piece about 2 inches in from the edge all round as I new I was making a separate centre panel.
The centre panel was a 16cm square of white card covered with text paper from my Oxfam bargain French dictionary. I added some antique linen Distress ink to age it then added layers of stamping. The gorgeous bird cage is a recent Stampendous stamp called "Bird Manor". I am sure you recognise the Tim Holtz stamps. The Papillon set is one of my favourites and perfect for this project as I wanted a Victorian nature journal feel to my piece.
I also added some gold embossed stamping around the edges and some Stampendous Frantage powders. If you haven't already tried these then I urge you to have a go. They are just gorgeous. I am gradually building up my collection, but my favourites are the shabby and aged ones.
So Liz, thanks for sharing this idea with us, and inspiring me to have a go. I was really pleased at how it turned out. I am going to have a go at a Christmas version.
Stampendous have just had a new release of stamps and I can't wait to get my hands on a few of them!! Luckily I have a birthday coming up and will be leaving my wish list lying around along with The Stamp Man's web address!!
There is still time to enter the challenge and as always there is a gift voucher up for grabs for the winner.
Hope you have a good weekend.
Siobhan
Just a very quick project this week. We are getting a few jobs done in our house at the moment. As you can imagine the place is in a bit of a mess and naturally lots of things get dumped in my craft room!! Hopefully by the end of the week things will be back to normal and my shattered nerves recovered.
So here is my very quick up cycled tin to fit with our up cycling theme at Woodware this week. I get these white tins from work and they are a great size to hold pens.
I cut a piece of nice background paper with not too much pattern on it (this was a Magenta paper). Then I stamped several layers of foliage stamps along the bottom edge.
These are from the latest Woodware release JG5272 "The hedgerow" .
I stamped in two shades of green then a brown to give me a layered look. Then I added a sprig stamp (Stampendous) and embossed that with gold powder.
The final touch was a band of gingham ribbon around the top. I can now store all my new brush markers in one place!!
Hope you are having a good week. I can't believe the clocks go back this weekend. I better get the head down next week and start my Christmas cards!!
Siobhan x
This week we are using a monochromatic colour scheme with red as our main colour. I don't use much red but after making this simple Christmas card I might make a few as they are easy to batch.
I decided to use this lovely Dreamweaver stencil "JOY". I was initially going to do a paper piecing job on it, but then I changed my mind and decided to keep it very simple.
I used normal embossing paste on the stencil then covered with fine red glitter. The white background was embossed with a larger Dreamweaver snowflake background. You can't fully appreciate the sparkle in this picture, but it really does catch the light. This will be my minimal Christmas card for this year. But I think I will try it in some other colours as well.
I am having a bit of a break from stamping at the moment. I have been sewing!!! I have nearly finished a patchwork craft bag. I will put it on my blog when it's finished. My husband just commented that it doesn't look like a bag I have made!!! That is a compliment from him.
Hope you are having a good week. Already I am looking forward to the weekend and Strictly Come Dancing and a glass of wine.
Siobhan x
This week we were asked to make a vintage Christmas card. I was lucky enough to be given this beautiful new Stampendous Christmas stamp CRR143 Snowy Postcard.
The perfect choice for a vintage Christmas card. I stamped it twice onto white card using black ink. I cut out the oval and lightly coloured the sky with chalk then added yellow in the windows and some glitter.
For the outer post card I just blended some brown inks to give it that vintage feel. I then matted it onto copper card and used my Crafty edger for the background panel. The holly was cut out and glossy accents used to highlight the holly berries.
I used pearls to accent. The pearls above the oval are a new Woodware product. They come on a clear backing roll. Great to give a touch of opulence!!
I made this before I went on holiday to Ireland thankfully. I was organised for once!! I had a lovely few days spending time with my Dad and sister and her family. I will post more about that next time. Hope you have a good weekend. The forecast isn't good so I am hoping to get some crafting time!!
Siobhan x
This week at Woodware we are doing another sketch challenge. This one looks like a window so that's what I did with it.
I needed to make a birthday card for my husband Graham. The last time I used this stamp he actually said "I like that!" Not words I hear too often these days!! So I just had to use it for his card.
And here it is:
All I have done is punch out a circle from a post-it note and used it as a mask, then blended shades of blue inks over the top. I spritzed lightly with some pearl Pearl-Ex powder mixed with water to give it a lovely shimmer. You will just have to take my word for that as you can't really see it in the photo.
Then I have stamped the wonderful "Crowscape" from Stampendous in black. I trimmed it into 4 pieces to create the windo effect. Honestly... a 10 min card. I am trying to unpack from Beamsley and pack for Ireland so I am a bit all over the place!! When this posts I will be in Ireland.
Have a good weekend everyone.
Siobhan x
Linda and I got back home on Sunday night tired but happy!! We had a great weekend of crafting, talking, eating and craft shopping. I almost managed my target of 40 Christmas cards to take over to my Dad in Ireland this weekend. Tonight I am having a break from putting insets in them!!
Although this retreat was do your own thing, Janet and Michelle made sure there were several mini workshops and demo's. That's what's great about having so many talented crafters in one place...we can learn so much from each other. Liz, my crafting buddy from Livepool showed us how to make a box frame. This is one she gave to me which I love.
Isn't it gorgeous!! Linda did a demo on her grungy alcohol inked embossed mirri card, Janet did a lovely paper pieced Noel. I did a little demo on the cards in my last post. Barbara did some paper punching and Emma showed us how to make a lovely little folded book. So as you can see something for everyone.
Here is what I was making in batches of 4.
I love this little Penny Black robin. He is old now but gets an airing every Christmas.
This is a Hero Arts cling that has a solid background which lends itself to using Distress markers and spritzing with water. Simple but so effective, I think.
Another cutie Penny Black stamp. My Dad likes ducks (and geese), so this one should go down well.
A more grungy background for this gorgeous Crafty Individuals stamp.
Another old favourite is this Hero Arts Pinecone. So simple but I love it.
This is a Magenta cling stamp. I usually do it with Autumn colours but I wanted something more wintery. You can probably guess, I only took one border punch with me. The other two I had intended to take were still sitting on my desk when I got home!!
I think I will have a break before I start my own Christmas cards. But I think they will be simple this year.
Siobhan x
