Magic Christmas Memories

One, two, three, one, two, three... keyboard test :). Well hello crafty peeps and a very happy New Year to you all! It's been a while since I last blogged... I hope you have been keeping well.

I don't get to craft much these days. My crafty mojo seems to come and go as it pleases and it's not always possible to catch it at a convenient moment lol 😀. It seems though that it tends to make a brief appearance around Christmas and the festive period so I thought I'd share my most recent Christmas themed make with you. 

This scrapbook layout took me a year to complete from when I made my background... I know! 😱 I guess, the creative process needed some time to mature ha ha ha. 😵 Luckily this sketch gave me an idea how to finish my layout.

I absolutely love this photo of my Dad and the little me (many many moons ago!) saying 'hello' to Santa. I wanted to create a page that would reflect my memories of Christmas when I was a child. 

In Poland, Christmas celebrations start with a festive family dinner on Christmas Eve and that's when we also get our Christmas pressies from Gwiazdor (a Polish equivalent of Father Christmas). It was my family's tradition that, before we sat at the table, my brother and I would always go outside to wait for the first star to appear in the sky. When it did, it was time to start our celebrations. 

In that short period of time that we were outside Gwiazdor would always visit our home to leave presents under the Christmas tree. As you can imagine the arrival of that first star in the sky always had something really magical about it.

NB. I've got no idea what used to happen on cloudy Christmas Eves where we couldn't see any stars... I don't recall having to sit outside all night so there must have been an alternative plan of some sort ha ha ha!

For my background I used a Sleigh & Reindeer (Dreamweaver) and a star background stencil and various embossing pastes from Dreamweaver. I also added some lovely shimmer with Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls mist.

The wooden planks have been 'freestyled' from patterned paper, inked with distress inks, and embossed with wood texture embossing folders. I've not tried this technique before, and I love how these came out. The texture is just fab! 

The beautiful chippies are from Dusty Attic and I painted them with DecoArt paints. I secured them to the page using my trusty Adhesive Sheets.

I die cut some poinsettias and added lots of foliage to embellish my page. I also fussy cut a handful of lovely elements from old Christmas cards. I layered them using 3D Adhesive Dots.

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed walking down the Christmas memory lane with me. That's all from me for now. Till next time... 

Big crafty hugs

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I am entering the following challenges:

Country View Challenges Jan 2022 - Your Year to sparkle and shine

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Something New

The Scrappy Sketches - Mapka

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On the Eve of Christmas Eve

Hello Friends!

Blimey! Where has the time gone?! I know I always promise (including to myself) to craft and blog more, but life has been so busy... non-crafty things always seem to get in the way... I'm sure you all know what I mean. So please forgive me for being such a poor blogger and visitor of late... I do try to visit your beautiful blogs whenever I can, although I don't always have enough time to let you know I've been...  But I do and will try to organise myself better soon! :)

Last time I blogged it was Halloween, and now it's nearly Christmas! Sheesh... I'm almost ready with my preparations. What about you? This year I only managed to make a few Christmas cards, which I hope to share over the coming days...

The first one up... is this frosty Poinsettia card.

With this year's cards I was totally in a die cutting mode so I decided to dust off my lush Cut 'N' Boss Machine (one of the best and most memorable gifts I've ever received! - thank you Santa!). I played with a selection of dies I've had for years but (please don't tell anyone, especially my hubby!)) never actually used before...Gasp! Please don't judge me... I'm sure you all know all too well what happens when a good sale comes up and you end up buying supplies in wholesale quantities...! Some dies are like a good wine, you leave them unopened to mature and they just get far better with time.. LOL :)

For this card I used the following dies and punches:
Tim Holtz Sizzix Tattered Poinsettia
Stampendous Dreamweaver Holly and Swirls DL3005
Spellbinders Layered Poinsettia
Marianne Creatables Dies LR0181
Martha Stewart Pine Branch

I also used the following supplies:
Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L: DODZ 3D, Adhesive Dots Small, E-Z Runner Grand Refillable Dispenser
Papers: Simple Stories - December Documented
Dylusions Ink Spray - White Linen

That's all from me for now! Tomorrow is Christmas Eve (yay!), and that's when me and my family will be gathering for our Christmas Eve dinner to celebrate the reason of the season... and that's when we get to open our Christmas pressies! Soooo excited to see what Santa prepared for me this year! :)

Thank you so much for stopping by today and for any sweet comments you'd like to leave. Your time and thoughts are truly appreciated. Warm festive wishes to all



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I would also like to enter the following challenges:
Country View Challenges - December 2017 Christmas
A Vintage Journey - Winter Wonderland 
Frilly and Funkie Challenge Blog - Most Memorable Gift

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Sunflowers In Spring? Why Not?!

Hello Friends! I hope this post will find you well! :). A very warm welcome to my newest readers and the regular followers, too! So happy to see you here!

Can you feel it? Can you smell it? Yes, Spring is finally in the air! Beautiful sunny banks of daffodils, cheerful bunches of tulips, magnolia blooms... aaah, I love this time of year! 

In keeping with the season our Stampendous HQ powers are focusing on all things Spring this week and I wanted to join in, too! Here's a birthday card I made for my Mum and while sunflowers are not normally associated with Spring, I thought these lovely sunny blooms would be a great addition to my delicate springtime lilacs hiding in the background.

I stamped the Lilac and Sunny Vase flowers on the Mixed Media Paper and coloured the images with Inktense pencils. I then die cut the images with the corresponding Sunny Vase and Lilac die sets. I varied the height of the blooms with my trusty 3D Foam Squares from Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L.

For my background and vase I used some papers from 7Dots Studio which I stamped with Scrollwork Leaves and which I embossed with the Dreamweaver Metallic Gold Embossing Paste over the Corner Flourishes stencil. The little tag is from the Sunny Vase stamps set.

For the bottom of my vase I sprinkled some flower dust - aka Frantage and (my newly re-discovered loOOOove for) the encrusted jewel technique. I used Bronze Glass Glitter, Spoonful of Rust, Copper Lux Mix and Shabby White Embossing Enamel. 

I finished the card with a little butterfly - because I absolutely looove butterflies and always look for an excuse to add one in lol :).

Also sharing today are:

Stampendous Blog
Pam Bray
Louise Healy

I hope you've enjoyed today's post and thank you for all your lovely comments that you may wish to leave (please do!) :). Have a fabulous day!

Big crafty hugs




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Stampendous and DecoArt - Medialicious Blog Hop Finale!

Hello! And welcome to our Stampendous and DecoArt blog hop finale! We have been hopping (and hoping!) all week to bring you the latest, most awesome products, techniques and inspiration projects! I hope we didn't disappoint and oh boy, I have been drooling over the projects shared by both DTs! If you've missed my Steampunk heart card, that I shared on Monday, you can check it out here. Be sure to check out other projects shared this week as you don't want to miss out on this treat and on the fabulous prizes!

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Here's what you need to do to enter into a draw for the Mega Prizes!!!!! Comment to win one of three HUGE prize packages that includes Andy Skinner stamps and DecoArt Media™ Paint plus more! US winners only, please see Stampendous Official Contest Rules here for more details. Want to see all that’s in each prize package? Take a look below:

Stampendous:

ASCRS07 Cling Handle with Care

ASCRS08 Cling Skuldoggery

ASCRS09 Cling Unexplained

DecoArt:

Quinacridone Magenta

Cobalt Turquoise Hue

Cobalt Teal Hue

Primary Magenta

Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide

Paynes Gray

Carbon Black

Titanium White

Prussian Blue Hue

Phthalo Blue

Quinacridone Gold

Diarylide Yellow

Pyrrole Red

Green Gold

Primary Yellow Media Mister

Titanium White Antiquing Cream

Patina Antiquing Cream

8oz Bottle Lamp Black Americana Acrylic Paint

Now, onto my today's make. For the focal point I used my all time favourite butterfly stamp from the Butterfly Trio set which I die cut using Butterfly Die Sets die. I stamped it with Sepia Archival ink and painted it with diluted acrylic paints.

My background was stenciled with paints over the Mandala Stencil and I added some stamping with the Script Lines and Andy Skinner's Unexplained Stamp Set. I distressed my background panels with paints and distressing tool.

The sentiment is from the Bible Promises Perfectly Clear Stamp Set which I heat embossed with Detail Black Embossing Powder.

My butterfly was inspired by this gorgeous canvas from Kirsten Sheridan. The little plastic spoon was painted with acrylic paints before it received a Fran-tage Magic treatment with Copper Lux Mix and Champagne Crushed Glass Glitter. This is how it looked before the paints/Fran-tage make over...

And that's after the make-over...:-)

To finish off my card I added some splatters with Perfect Pearls Mist in Heirloom Gold.

DecoArt paints used: Americana Country Red, Bittersweet Chocolate, Milk Chocolate, Island Blue, Golden Straw and Media Fluid Acrylic Quinacridone Gold (perfect for vintage rusty makes).

Other Supplies:
Inks: Spiced Chai StazOn Mini, Sepia Archival, Jet Black Archival, Walnut Stain Distress Ink
Papers: Authentique Latest & Greatest, BazzillBasicsPaper Ambrosia
Adhesives: Multi-Medium Matte, E-Z Runner® Grand Dispenser, 3D Foam Squares - Black, Small

Here's the full line-up of the blogs playing today:

Stampendous Blog

Pam Bray

Jamie Martin

Louise Healy

Asia King

Janelle Stollfus

Lea Fritts

Alison Heikkila

Katy Leitch

Mark Gould

DecoArt Blog

I hope you've enjoyed today's post! Thank you for stopping by and for all your lovely comments. Have a fabulous weekend!

Big crafty hugs



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Seasons Givings Giveaway Blog Hop - Year 5

Hello Friends, I am absolutely delighted to be again taking part in the Seasons Givings blog hop. This is the fifth year running of this fabulous initiative started by our talented hostess Latisha Yoast. This is a wonderful blog hop to say 'thank you' to all our blog readers and followers for their time and kindness whenever they visit our blogs.

My blog had been a bit neglected in this last year and I am really sorry for being such a bad blogger in the recent months. My attention and focus were very much directed to finding my own feet in the new job, settling in the new house and I've started professional studies, too. Somehow these things have exhausted my creative muse which was hiding somewhere reappearing only occasionally and for very short moments. But even with such infrequent posting I have been really touched to see that many of my blog friends remained in contact and for that I want to express my heartfelt gratitude ❤❤❤.

This blog hop is so fabulous for two more reasons. The participating blogs wil be sharing some wonderful crafty inspiration as well as offering some delicious giveaways as a way to say 'thank you'. So be sure to visit them all to see what gems and treasures are waiting for you there!

My inspiration for you is this mixed media canvas panel which I created at the back of this Retro Girl With Attitude project that I shared a while ago.

Supplies:

Stampendous: Beautiful Braid Rubber Stamp, Peacock Background Stencil, Creative Palette Rounds

Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L: Black 3D Foam Tape, Thin 3D Foam Squares - Black, 3D Foam Pennants, Home & Hobby Extreme Double-Sided Tape - 1/4"

DecoArt Americana Acrylics: Ocean Blue, Ultramarine Blue, Bright Green, Antique Green, Light Buttermilk

Spectrum Noir markers:
Hair: LY1, LY3, GB1, GB3, GB7, GB9, GB10, EB7
Face: FS1-FS5, CR2, CR3, CR6, IG1, IB2
Blouse: JG1, DG1, CG2, CG4, GB2, GB10

White and gold chalk markers, Sakura Clear Star pen, black chalk pencil
Tim Holtz Idea-Ology - Small Talk stickers

Now,  onto my giveaway:

The package includes:
Cling rubber stamps - Stampendous
Adhesives - Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L
mulberry paper roses

Stampendous cling rubber stamps: Lion Reader, Pajama Cat, Lion Crown, Unicorn Forest, PenPattern Cake, Snowy Sled, Tin Man Reader, Sir Toad, Birthday Jazz Cats, Lion With Lamb, Eagle Rock, Picnic Ants, Bundled Kitty, Puppy Pals, PenPattern Frog, Hippo Cycler, Amazing Shoes, Snowman Warm Ears, Newspaper Pup, Hedgehog, Running Horse, Patriotic Painters, Hanging Jeans, Teacup Sailing

Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L: Mounting Squares (clear), Black Photo Corners, Clear Photo Corners, Click 'n Stick Mounting Squares, White Photo Corners x2, 3D Foam Easter Shapes, 3D Foam Party Shapes. Thin 3D Foam Squares - White

To enter my Giveway simply leave a comment at the end of this post letting me know what your favourite achievements or memories in 2016 have been - crafty or otherwise. I have quite a few ones to cherish, we moved onto a new house, I started a new job, we visited my family in Poland in the summer, my best friends have welcomed new arrivals into their families... just to name a few! :)

You do not have to become a follower of my blog to enter this giveaway but I would be delighted if you chose to become one :). You can follow my blog via the Google Friend Connect ('Join this site' button in my sidebar), on Bloglovin' or by subscribing by email (or you can enter your email in the sidebar gadget).

You can enter until midnight (GMT) on 6th January 2017 and I will draw the winner on the 7th January 2017 :). I will endeavour to contact the winner directly - please be sure I can easily find a way of contacting you back - either via your blog or by leaving your email address with your entry. If the contact is not successful, I will draw another winner/s.

You can also find me on Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Flickr :).

Ps. I have another surprise giveaway on my Instagram profile so be sure to check it out,  too! :)

So here's the list of who's joining in with the Fifth Season of Givings!:

Lawn Fawn
Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L
Reverse Confetti
Taylored Expressions
Paper Smooches
Neat & Tangled
Technique Tuesday
Clear & Simple Stamps
Richard Garay
My Sweet Petunia
JustNick
Stamp Simply Ribbon Store
Sunny Studio Stamps
Inchie Arts llc
Scrapbook Update
Buttons Galore
Latisha Yoast (our lovely hostess!)
Julia Stainton
ChariMoss
Cristina Nunez
Wanda Guess
Vera Yates
Amy Tsuruta
Mary-Ann Maldonado
Lori Craig
Lydia Fiedler
Jenn Shurkus
Lisa Henke
Dina Kowal
Libby Hickson
Emily Leiphart
Cindy Lawrence
Kelly Klapstein
Erica Houtghton
Elise Constable
Julee Tillman
Lee Murphy
Lisa Arana
Giovana Smith
Karen Baker
Lindsay Amrhein
Dana Joy
Marcie Sharp
Megan Hoeppner
Alicia Thelin
Asia King (you are here!)
Debbie Seyer
Yvonne Van De Grijp
Tenia Nelson
Michelle Woerner
Christina Griffiths
Lori McAree
Barbara Anders
Jill Hawkins
Veronica Zalis
Leigh Penner
Margie Higuchi
Amy Coose
Melody Rupple
Karen Letchworth
Heidi Ramsey Blankenship
Jennie Harper
Jodi Collins
Jessica Frost-Ballas
Gracie Chavez
Stephanie Klauck
Savannah O'Gwynn
Terre Fry
Neva Cole
Maria Levine
Misti Oblander
Ceal Pritchett

My biggest thanks are going to Latisha for organising and hosting this fantastic event!

Now,  it's only time to wish you all a very happy New Year,  full of love, happiness and kindness to and from others. And of course, may this new year be full of creativity and positive energy to achieve the impossible!

Big hugs

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Caution, Retro Girl With Attitude! Stampendous And DecoArt Blog Hop

Hello everyone! I am still officially on a blogging break and I haven't been able to craft lately. If you've seen my last post you'll know that there's been a lot going on in my non crafty life and also that my hubby and I are in a process of moving house. Unfortunately the process has been quite traumatic for us and things just keep getting delayed. We still haven't moved yet and we're kind of constantly on a 'high alert' and 'high hope' too that the move will finally happen soon. But I am popping in this week to play with Stampendous and DecoArt peeps with a couple of projects I made a while ago :). Before I tell you all about this week's shenanigans I'll also add that Maureen (the winner of my Seasons Givings giveaway) and I had finally made successful contact :).

So onto this week's big event! The whole Stampendous gang is super excited to play this week with our friends at DecoArt. Mixed Media Artist and DecoArt International Education Coordinator Andy Skinner has designed some fantastic stamps for Stampendous and we’re going to be showing them off all week long.

Andy will join us along with his team of international mixed media artists including Julia Stratford-Wright, Mark Gould, Mel Hookham and Jools Robertson. Plus there will be posts this week on the DecoArt blog as well. Naturally the Stampendous Design Team will be checking in as well.

And let me tell you. You’ll want to get your commenting fingers ready… Each comment on a post this week will enter you to win a fabulous prize package! (one comment per post, per person). Contest open to everyone! We have three packages and each has a Fluid Media Starter Kit, all three of Andy Skinner’s new Stampendous Stamp sets and a Jumbo Acrylic Handle. Look at this great prize!

My project today was initially inspired by the strong retro vibes that I can now see everywhere in fashion, home decor and furniture shops. Totally infused with geometrical shapes and neon love. 

When I stamped the Fashion Dame I thought she looked like a girl with quite an attitude so I added the Caution sign from the Andy Skinner's Toxic stamp set, which I thought was quite fitting :). The chipboard buttons were also stamped with Toxic stamp set using the texture design.

To create my background I stared by misting my Linnie Blooms canvas panel with DecoArt Media: Primary Yellow and Yellow Green Misters. When the panel was dry I stenciled Dreamweaver Translucent Embossing Paste through the Pop Rectangles Stencil which I sprinkled with the Summer Shine Embossing Kit. After shaking off the excess powders I heat embossed the paste with the embossing powders overheating in places to get nice thick bubbles. This panel was all about drama and fluorescent toxic hazardous effects (a bit like my life at the moment lol) :). Quite a change from my usual feminine flowery makes :).

The image was coloured with Distress Markers and for stamping I used Black Archival ink and Blue Hawaii StazOn Mini ink. I also used 3D Foam Squares - Black, Regular from Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L.

So, here are the blogs playing today:

Stampendous Blog

Asia King

Pam Bray

Janelle Stollfus

DecoArt Blog

Oh, and I almost forgot...! Please look out for the new issue of the Craft Stamper's magazine (April 2016). I have a couple of quick makes in there using the free cover stamp :).

I hope you will join us for this week's medialicious blog hop! Don't forget to comment as you visit participating blogs to increase your chances of winning! That's all from me for today and I'll see you again on Friday during our big blog hop finale!

Big crafty hugs

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Challenges for this project: 
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Create your own background
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Touchy Feely
That's Crafty! Challenges - Masks and Stencils 

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Christmas Is In the Air And A Snowy Postcard

Re-eited: Yaaaay! My card was featured in the Designer Spotlight at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge! Woot woot!!! :)

Hello everyone and my warmest welcome on this pre-Christmas weekend :) I thought I would pop in to share another Christmas card I made - this one was inspired by Tim Holtz's December tag from 12 Tags of 2015.

I don't often play with tags (although I always promise myself to create more of them) so I extended the theme of Tim's inspiration tag onto a card.

I more or less followed the steps on Tim's tutorial. For the sprayed burlap panel I used Red Pepper Color Wash and Dreamweaver Holiday Greetings And Holly stencil. The main panel was stamped with Brilliance Pearlescent Olive ink (my fave ink ever!) using this gorgeous Stampendous Snowy Postcard stamp (my fave stamp ever!) and I added some shading with Inktense pencils (my fave pencils ever!). I also heat embossed in Detail Black the Christmas Air sentiment.

For the wreath I used a punch and dies from Martha Stewart, Spellbinders and Marianne's Designs and mounted the foliage with heaps of DODZ™ Small. Then I added a handful of baby cones (picked up outside my work office lol) and a Bella Bow sprayed with Red Pepper Color Wash. Spraying the felt bow made the ink concentrate in some parts more than in others and I loved the vintage, washed out look it created.

Finally I gave the card a light dusting with the Dylusions White Linen ink spray (my fave ink spray ever!) and a light brush with Everlasting Chalky Finish paint (my fave paints ever!).

Looks like I managed to squeeze in quite a few faves of mine in this little card lol. Oh well, I hope it was worth it and that you'll like my card! :).

Thank you for stopping by today and I'm sending you all lots of warm pre-Christmas hugs! xx




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Also linking to:
Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2015 - December
That Craft Place Challenge Blog - Christmas
Vintage Stamping Challenges #39 - Winter Trees
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Die Crazy
Country View Challenges - Create a Scene
The Craft Barn Weekly Challenge - Tree
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Just a pinch (of snow dusting)
Emerald Creek Dares - Celebrations Around the World

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Keep Calm And Hurry Santa!

Hello my lovelies! Thank you so much for your lovely comments on my previous post with my most exciting news ever! :)

I am really sorry for being such a bad blogger again! I am so overdue a visit to my favourite blogs - please forgive me, my friends. Life has been trowing some stuff at me again - some really good and some really awful. And in the whole mix of things I just haven't had much heart left for blogging. But I truly hope this sad spell will pass soon! 

I am just popping in today to share a card I made for Stampendous for the July 2015 stamp release. This week the DT are sharing some gorgeous festive makes with the big Santa vibe so I thought I would join, too. And yes, that's my first Christmas card blogged this season! Wow, it'll be Christmas before we know it!

Supplies:

Stampendous:
Cling Classic Santa
Cling Keep Calm
Kaleidoscope Embossing Powder
Red Micro Glitter

Mixed Media Paper

MEM01 Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink by Tsukineko®

VM001 Versamark™ Watermark Ink by Tsukineko®

Dreamweaver:

DWDL3005 Holly Die
DWLL3005 Holly And Swirls Stencil

Plus:Cardstock by Bazzill Basics Paper®

Adhesives by Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L®: E-Z Runner® Permanent Strips, 3D Foam Squares Regular - White, DODZ™- Medium, 3D Foam Snowflakes

Chameleon Color Tone Markers: RD4, BK4, YO3, CG8, NU1, NU3, BR5, OR4, GR3, PK3, PR4, BL3

Christmas themed patterned papers; green handmade paper, Martha Steward Doily Border punch; Crushed Olive Distress Ink by Ranger; Olive Green StazOn in by Tsukineko®; glitter brad and self adhesive pearls, May Arts ribbon.

Instructions:
1. Create an A5 card blank from kraft cardstock. Add a background panel from patterned papers 1/16th inch smaller on each side than the card blank.
2. Cut a panel 4.5" x 6.5" from a light/plain background paper. Stamp the Classic Santa image in the centre using black ink.
3. Sponge Crushed Olive ink through the Holly Stencil in the corners of the panel as shown.
4. Cover a handful of small foam dots from the 3D Foam Snowflakes sheet with Red Micro Glitter. 

5. Add the 'berries' to the stenciled holly leaves.
6. Punch a Doily Border along the left edge of the panel. Adhere the panel to the card.
7. Stamp the Classic Santa image again on Mixed Media Paper and colour in with Chameleon Markers.
8. Cover the image with embossing ink and sprinkle with Kaleidoscope Embossing Powder. Heat with the heat tool.
9. Cut the main oval image out and adhere to the card with 3D Foam Squares over the stamped frame - use the project photo as a guide.
10. Stamp the Keep Calm sentiment with Olive Green ink onto patterned paper, cut out and mat over green cardstock. Adhere to the card over 3D Foam Squares as shown.
11. Die cut holly leaves from handmade paper using the Holly Die. Crinkle, shape the leaves and adhere to the card as shown.
12. Add more glittered foam 'berries' to the holly leaves.
13. Finish the card with a ribbon bow, glitter brad and self adhesive pearls.

Thank you so much for stopping by today and if you'd like to see some more inspiration with the Big Fat Festive Fella do make sure to hop over to the Stampendous' blog! We're also hopping with Action Wobbles so bags of creativity and prizes are guaranteed!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Big crafty hugs x





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On A Bed Of Moss And Berries, There Sleep The Woodland Fairies

Morning everyone! A very happy welcome to my newest followers - thank you so much for joining in! :).

Time for another post for Scrapbook Adhesives By 3L® and my today's offering is still very much in an autumnal mode. I really enjoy driving through roads lined up by old trees displaying their full autumnal glory. And I love watching the leaves flirtatiously dancing in the wind :). And the smell of the wood smoke from nearby fields and gardens... hmmm... I always think it's quite a romantic time of year. Would you agree?

Today I have a mixed media wall art for you to enjoy. This project was quite 'involved' so here you will find out more about the medialicious part of it, whereas over at Scrapbook Adhesives By 3L's blog I am focusing on the adhesive side of things :).

This altered shadow box was so much fun to make. It's full of textures, flowers and vintage flavour - I am really happy with the way it turned out :). Despite the fact that it evolved completely from the original plan - but which creative play doesn't? :)

My woodland fairy started its life as a little resin-plaster mask which I was hoping to decorate in a Venetian style with layers of frilly fabrics and lace. I bought this mask ages ago in a charity shop - it had some flourishes painted in bright colours and covered in glitter. But that wasn't the 'look' I was after so I decided to cover it all up with layers of base paint.

The picture above is to show you what the mask looked like before the big make-over :). Inspired by the autumn season I painted the mask yellow. I tried to add some fancy features to the mask with a stenciled butterfly. I also added some stenciling to the background. Click through to read more about the stenciling process and supplies I used.

At that point I thought the mask looked rather tribal and I couldn't find anything else in my stash to help me with my Venetian theme. So I took a different route altogether and decided to go with a woodland theme :).

The mask was going to become my woodland/tree witch. After painting my mask again the texture of the stenciled butterfly still showed through and it looked like little tree bark wrinkles, which I quite liked.

As I wanted the mask to look more like a face, I needed to find eyes for the empty eye sockets. After a long and unsuccessful hunt I decided to try to create the eye lids with my trusty DODZ™-3D. Let me tell you a secret - I can't live without my DODZ™-3D! This stuff is unbeatable in so many ways, waaaaay beyond its primary function of big glue dots :).

With a little help of texture paste to smooth out some parts, the DODZ worked perfectly! That's how my fairy became a sleeping fairy :).

I painted the face with Enchanted Chalky Finish paint (so appropriate for my enchanting fairy! lol) and then gave it a couple of washes with Quinacridone Gold and Dazzling Metallic paints. I rested the fairy's head on a bed of dry flowers, fruits, berries and faux moss (most have been rescued from old charity shop finds) and secured in place with lots of glue.

For the frame I first added heaps of Texture Crackle, layering it quite thick in places and I let it dry overnight. Next I chipped some chunks off, exposing the raw wood of the frame - I wanted to create an old, rough, chipped paint effect. I painted the frame with Enchanted, Coffee Bean, Country Red and Quinacridone Gold, wiping it off in places with a baby wipe. Then I misted it with White Linen and a DIY Gold Mica spray.

Finally I added some gold highlights with a Rub-N-Buff wax.

Supplies:

DODZ™ – 3D; Dodz™ XL; Quick & Easy Dual Tip Glue Pen; Pigment Powders: Gold, Pink, Brown (Donna Salazar with Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L®), DIY Gold pigment powder mist

Media:

Color Wash ink sprays (Ranger) – Red Pepper, Butterscotch, Lettuce; Dylusions White Linen Ink Spray; Vermillion Archival Ink (Ranger)

DecoArt: Dazzling Metallics: Silver Sage, Oyster Pearl; Americana Acrylics: Country Red, Multi-Surface Satin: Muted Gold, Coffee Bean; Chalky Finish: Enchanted; Media Fluid Acrylic Quinacridone Gold; 
DuraClear Ultra Matte Varnish, Texture Crackle, Fabric Stiffener, Vintage Butterfly stencil

Dreamweaver Translucent Embossing Paste; wooden frame, resin-plaster mask, Gold Rub-N-Buff wax

Stampendous – Cling Vintage Letter; The Crafters Workshop Mini Chickenwire Reversed stencil

The cheese cloth head scarf wrapped around the face and the frame was first inked up and then soaked in the Fabric Stiffener.

I would love to know what you think of my Sleeping Fairy :). Please also check the stenciling and adhesive details over at Scrapbook Adhesives' blog - and I would really appreciate it if you had a comment to leave a comment over there as well :).

Thank you all so much for all your kind words - your comments are always so appreciated! Have a fabulous week my friends!

Big crafty hugs




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Challenges for this project:
Country View Challenges #32 - Add some texture
JUG #316 - Hexagons
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Wrap It Up
Rhedd's Creative Spirit Altered Art Challenge October - Anything Goes
Fashionable Stamping Challenges #104 - Changing Seasons
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Throwback (inspired by Autumn is in the Air challenge)
Try It On Tuesdays - Lots of Layers

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