Twelve Days of Christmas

Wow who would have thought, here we are with the last Imagine if . .  blog hop for the year, and of course its our last chance to show off all the awesome Xmas goodies Jo has designed for us all.  This time we are showing off either a chipboard book or a MDF box, all beautifully xmas themed.  Not only are we sharing our creations with you we are running a wee competition for you all to WIN xmas goodies for yourself . . . but more about that later.

Time has been very much against me this week, so luckily the paper collection I've used in this book has made my life A LOT easier.

 

The G45 'The Twelve Days of Christmas' collection has been used throughout.  I adore this collection which I bought last xmas with the idea of making xmas decorations for this year . . . no time for that option sadly.  To accommodate the 3 double page spreads I actually removed one of the chipboard pages from the book, then created a pocket for the tags to slip into.

 

G45 has cleverly captured the spirit of this 'story line' well here with the design work on these pages, they have been ideal to create my tags with.

 

On the reverse side of the tags are the lyrics of some of my favourite 'non-traditional' xmas carols.  Sadly my printer 'ate' one of the songs, and is still presently jammed with paper, I think due to this damp humid weather we are experiencing at the moment.

 

Lots of Imagine if . .  chipboard and felt have been used to embellish this book.  Apart from being a very rushed job, this has been a fun project to complete.

 

The competition I mentioned above is infact similar to the theme of this book.  We are asking you to visit all the Design Team posts (as per usual) following our links provided and gather a clue from each site. . . . my clue is "2 running deer".  When you have visited all the sites and have gathered all the clues, simply follow this link to the Imagine if . .  facebook page and simply write "I WANT IT ALL".  Leaving a comment at every visit I'm sure will increase your chances to win .  If selected Jo will then ask you for all the clues, and you will WIN IT ALL.

 

Easy peasy, now for the necessary directions.  Before me you would have visited Katrina and next follow this link to see what Ngaere has instore for us all this week.

 

Imagine If . . product used here are:  stockings

                                                            flourish frame

                                                            candy canes & santas hat

                                                            mini xmas tree

                                                            chipboard book

                                                            felt xmas tree decorations

                                                            lettering

 

Thanks for visiting today and over the last year.  Good luck with the competition.

 I hope you all have a happy and safe Xmas and New Year. 

 

Its a BOY

Time is running out on me very fast, with only a few hours left to get this latest entry into the I am Roses monthly challenge. This month the challenge is to include a frame along with their regular requirement of a minimum of 2 of their products.

 

Here I've made a little tag to welcome a boy into the world.

I've used  a G45 'Ladies Diary' paper for the tag, painted a little frame & cut this image from a G45 'Little Darlings' paper.  The lettering was painted to match.

 

I've used I am Roses buds, S10 blooms, carnations (which I painted to match) and a daisy.  Some muslim, cones, stamping, gold stickles, seam binding & string finish my tag.

Simple but still very effective.

Family Portrait

Things are moving a bit slower this month as to sharing my creations with you.  I've had to get on with next months DT projects while I've had the time, so sadly you'll have to wait till then to have a peep . . . but they ARE worth the wait, even if I say so myself.

This layout has been created for the monthly LO sketch challenge at Artfull Crafts, where this month their theme is either 'furry friends' OR the sketch.  I enjoy using the sketches for inspiration.  Here I've made a quick and easy layout featuring some of my lovely English friends after a family photo shoot.  The whole extended family were involved, but had to wait until little Mia (shown here) was born.  Watch out for more of these gorgeous photos to come.

 

I started the page with a G45 'Playtimes passed' paper which I've had in my stash forever, then kept things extremely simple because of the busy paper.  Although its hard to see on the photo I love the effect of the punched corners.  All papers were inked with TH Walnut Stain to give a bit of definition.  Don't you just love the little felt car & caravan, which has come from Imagine if . . . ,  the colours and theme fit the page perfectly.  I've popped a tag with my journaling on behind the photo matt.

 

I hope you will join me in this competition, its one I take part in every month, I love to support the locals.  Keep an eye open for how I'm going to showcase more of these gorgeous photos, but until then thank you for visiting, and enjoy your long weekend.

 



Another Gift Box

It was time to send a friend some goodies, so I thought they would look much nicer packed up in a lovely little gift box, than just wrapped up in bubble wrap, what do you think?

 

Lots of 'softness' in these colours.  G45 Secret Garden paper used over a painted paper mache box, finished with luscious lace, pearls and some I am Roses flowers.  This was made in an evening.

 

I hope the recipient likes it as much as I do.  Thank you for visiting.

Another Gift Box

I just can't help myself at the moment, as here is yet another gorgeous gift box.  This is my DT entry for the latest challenge at Creative Craft Cottage where the theme this time is 'Say it with Flowers'.

As the colours in this G45 paper are so rich I had to be very careful with my choice of flowers.  Here I have started with the burlap rose (which I've just learnt to make), then complimented it with more soft coloured flowers.  The buds I've used were actually blue, but everything can be painted can't it?  A small doily under everything was also painted to match.

 

 

I actually created the box primarily to send a journal back to its owner, then decided this person deserved a little bit more.  I've filled the box with all sorts of goodies I hope she can use, topped off with doilies and a few handmade xmas decorations.

 

 

 

I'm really pleased to have learnt to make these burlap roses, they are really very easy.  I followed instructions I found here on You Tube.  I actually received a few in a swap, and have always wanted to make them for myself.  I'll definitely be making more of these.

Thank you for visiting, and please join us with your entry at Creative Craft Cottage.  As always, if you don't have a blog, just email your entry thru.

Floral Fantasy winner

Yay my entries have just been chosen as September's Overall Challenge winner over at Artfullcrafts.  The theme was 'floral fantasy', so anything with flowers could be entered.  And as I love flowers .... it was a no brainer but to enter.   I was running out of time so entered 2 oldies, but favourites of mine, both with lots of handmade flowers.

 

 

This boot was made in a swap, so sadly now I don't have it any more.  I really enjoyed this challenge, which started by painting the dark grey boot with gesso before I covered it with several layers of satin, then lace fabrics.  I made the majority of the flowers, mostly the yoyo style, then added lots of pearls, pheasant feathers, ribbons, small doilies, mini roses and leaves.

I was sad to see it leave our shores, but love the shoe I got back in return.

 

This layout is a real favourite of mine, here I was trying out new ideas and I'm very happy with the result.  With such a pretty picture of 2 gorgeous girls, I had to make something special.  Here I've started with G45 paper, then used lots of lace, feathers and a Dusty Attic skeleton clock face.  I've used some of the same flowers as the boot, and added some of my crocheted ones as well. 

I particularly love all the stitching, a technique I will use again.

 

Thanks to all the crew at Artfull Crafts for my selection, and I hope to continue to contribute to your monthly challenges with more of my projects.

Jamie - The Hunter

This layout has involved a bit of experimentation.  I was blog hopping (as you do) and came across a challenge run by Vicky Alberto and she asked that we use at least two techniques we haven't used before.  After much deep thought this is what I've come up with:

 

I've started with G45 French Country papers, layered up on a bit of burlap, adding the Dusty Attic windmill DA0639 (for that rustic, male feel to the page).  To lift the darkness of the page I've matted the photo's with a rich gold cardstock, which allowed the sunflowers to come in with a bit more colour.

 

The two unused techniques I've used are the fussy cutting of the flowers, and I've played around with the embossing on the windmill, then stamped over the top of it also.  Two techniques I'll definitely use again.

 

I've loved the opportunity to join up with another great group at Swirlydoos where they sell monthly kits of gorgeous products, and run some awesome challenges.  Sadly I feel with the price of the postage the kits are not cost effective for me to join in on, boo hoo, so I'll just have to participate in on a limited number of their challenges. 

 

Thank you for looking, and please leave a comment.

Orchid Garden

I'ts a very busy time at the moment, with fortnightly challenges just renewed and time to get onto those monthly challenges as well.  Todays layout has been put together after much thought to enable me to again enter several challenges with this one entry.  NZ Paper Chase (on facebook) has their monthly challenge of 'blue and green should not be seen', and Dusty Attic as usual has a monthly layout sketch to follow.

Here I have used G45 French Country paper, TH filmstrip die, Dusty Attic Branch#2 DA0882, Flutterbies DA0389, Flutterbies #3 DA0766, Dusty-in-Bloom Cornsilk DA0806

Firstly I distressed all the edges, then splattered the page in paint.  I also painted some muslim for under the flowers. The film strip was inked then crackle painted (not that you can really see).  The branch was inked, then stamped with texture paste, inked again, then I flocked the leaves.  I spritzed all the flutterbies with water to seperate the wings, then painted, misted and stickled.  Lastly I added my beautiful new flowers.

Challenges entered with this are:
nzpaperchase - 'blue and green' monthly challenge
dustyattic - monthly LO sketch   ********WINNER*******  
southerngirlschallenge - no spoolin

Thank you for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed the visit. 

Violets for Granny

I made this layout earlier this month, but have been too busy with other things to share it with you all. 
This is a lovely photo of my grandmother(in her youth), who unfortunately I didn't get to know at all as she died some 40 odd years ago.  Through her though, I have inherited the 'crafty' gene.  She was a brilliant seamstress & homemaker.  She sewed all the clothes for her 5 children, embroidered beautifully, could cook a banquet out of nothing at all(all on a coal fired stove of course) preserved every possible fruit and vege she could get her hands on. She loved her garden, I remember lots of flowers and a large vege garden ALWAYS. Her favourite flowers were violets.  All in all my granny was one clever lady.  I'm sure she would appreciate this layout.

Products I have used here are G45 Secret Garden paper and tags, dusty attic chippies DA0670 mini wire dress form (inked) & DA0543 baroque corners (gesso, texture paste, stickles), old lace, feathers, pearls and flowers from my stash.

Challenges entered:
dustyattic - monthy LO sketch
creativecraftcottage - mothers day