Completed calendar 2016

Edited on 07/01 I have added pictures of all 12 pages

As a fitting post for this end of year I thought I would show you quickly my completed calendar 2016.


I used a small ring binder mechanism to hold my pages together but didn't fix it to a cover in case I want to use it again.
And now I can tell you without spoiling the surprise that I used the Spellbinder Grand Creative Book Pages set to die-cut my pages.

The increasing sizes of the pages and the acetate page allows glimpses of later pages.

I hope it all makes sense now!

And a quick reminder of all 12 pages:

Before I leave, I would like to point you in the direction of my Gallery, which you can access by clicking on the Gallery at the top of this page. There you will get a view on many projects at once and review my output for the year if you have time to kill...
For the Bloggers amongst you, you might like this set-up for your own blog. I have created a specific page for this "Dynamic view", called the Flipcard because, although I think it is interesting, the classic post view is better on a day to day basis for the regular readers.

Time to wish you a Happy New Year, full of creativity!

Storage part 2

I finally got inspiration to finish my second can of a trio (see the first one here) and seized the chance of doing a bit of crafting!

I used the same masterboard as last time and just added the stamping. I chose images from the KTZ-50 Paris Monuments stamp sheet and black dye ink.

One more to go...

I am entering the We Love 2 Create, Tando Creative and That Craft Place challenges

Frosty Trees

The theme for this card is provided by the Craft Barn and the technique by the SSS Monday challenge, "Just a pinch".
My pinch is clear embossing powder, as this is the closest to salt in appearance and was ideal to create a frosty look on a tree.

I inked the Crafty Individuals stamp (CI-429) with pens, which allowed me to avoid some of the branches (the "frosty" ones) and embossed with clear EP.
With a brayer I applied blue ink over the top, making sure the top of the sky is darker than the horizon.

And that is it really.... It looks a bit drab but winter landscapes do look grey and, of course, my photo is suffering of a lack of proper sunlight!


And with Christmas round the corner it's time for me to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

Also entering the Polka Doodle, That's Crafty and Allsorts challenges.

Calendar Challenge last page!

Yessss... made it! I now know how Hercules felt!
The theme this month was Tree and Gold/Silver and I chose an old freebie stamp set and stamped the tree in black Versafine and the some of the smaller motifs with glue (Flitter glue or similar).
When the glue was touch dry (but permanently tacky) I applied gold foil over the top.

Stamping with glue is not easy... It's transparent so there is no way of seeing how well it has stamped, in this case the gold motif have a "distressed" look about it, which is when one invokes the grunge inspiration...



There may be a bonus post with a few pics of my assembled calendar if Christmas preparations don't swamp me completely!

Also entering the Artistic Stamper and We Love To Create challenge.

Christmas shine

Christmas is the time where glitter is a pre-requisite rather than an afterthought so I decided to finally have a go at a glitter technique I have seen many moons ago (we are talking years here...).

It's a very simple technique, on a stamped image apply a double sided adhesive sheet, rubbing with a bone folder to ensure a perfect bond, then a fine glitter over the top. Preferably a white/transparent glitter... but mine is blue so the result is not as good as it should, let's face it, it does cover the image a little bit too much. However it SHINES!!!

I then decided to substitute glitter for mica powders as they are finer so should work better than my blue glitter. This was quite fun as I proceeded to "paint" the mica over the image with a brush, in different colours of mica. Rather successful experiment, I think. Although you'll have to look at the photograph below to actually see the design as, even with the cloudy weather, the mica just bounce the light at this angle!





For my last experiment I had the curiosity to try the double sided adhesive technique with a non shiny substance... Fun Flock, and although it does dampen the image's colours quite a bit I like the result.

And finally all tags together.

The Hollie Hobby Christmas stamp is an old freebie from a magazine and I coloured the images with alcohol markers.

What is your favourite result?

I am entering my glitter tag in the Live and Love craft, Bunny Zoe's Crafts and Tando Creative (W2) challenges.
And all of my tags enter the SSS Wednesday and Craft Barn challenges.

Bleu Blanc Rouge

I am making another appearance on the Rubber Dance blog today and I have made something quite different (for me).


From the title you might guess (correctly) that this is about the French flag. But those are also the colours of the Rubber Dance challenge this month.

Paris has a special place in my heart and with very little in the way of supplies I managed to get the page to "say" what I wanted to say.
Distress inks create a French flag background.
Marianne's Eiffel Tower die-cut is symbolic for Paris
The word Souvenir is both for Paris as a tourist destination and for the remembrance of the victims.


The word Always is illustrating famous Casablanca film quote "We'll always have Paris".
In combination these words also deliver their message.


Both stamps are from Rubber Dance, Souvenir from Travel and Always from Nostalgic Couples.




For those new to Rubber Dance stamps, if you want to try their stamps without breaking the bank check this blog post for special offers. And err.. yes I have been unable to resist so I got a big grab bag...



Thanks for coming by,

Also entering the Penny Black and more challenge.

It's....Frosty

It's now all hands on deck for a last flurry of Christmas cards... I realise now I may have underestimated the number I need so I must get on!























The background is a piece of white core cardstock embossed with a Fiskars Snowflakes plate and sanded back. A recycled tag brings some sparkle with the holographic word and a small gem. The door die-cut is from Memory box. I used stamps from my Rubber Dance grab bag (if you want yours I have a link top right), namely the silver embossed Winter wishes tag and Baby it's Cold sign both from the Winter Wonderland set. And behind the door...

It's Mr Frosty the snowman!!! also from Rubber Dance. I coloured the image with alcohol markers . Thanks for coming by,

Mr Frosty is entering the following challenges: SSS Wednesday Challenge, That Craft Place, Polka Doodle, SSS Monday Challenge, Inkychicks, WOW Embossing powders

Winter Trees

We have reached the final challenge for this year at Vintage Stamping Challenges  and I wanted to make something different, something a bit theatrical, a grand finale for Christmas. And the theatre box was born...

In my box I was trying to create the impression of looking through trees to the lit window of a house on that special night. I hope I have succeeded!

My lit window is the Girl with Bird stamp, from Flonzcraft also available in a large stamp sheet full of silhouettes.









I die-cut round apertures of increasing sizes in each of my panels and decorated them with die-cuts:
* stars: Papertrey Ink (centre of Snowflakes)
* Tree branches, Deer and Christmas tree: Memory Box
I cut the tree branches and Christmas tree from a piece of watercolour paper on which I had tested Brushos, not very successful as a background, but I loved the variegated look it gave the die-cuts. Quite pleased I saved it from the bin...

Hop over to the Vintage Stamping Challenge blog to see what the rest of the DT has made this month. Join us in showcasing some winter trees for the chance to win a $20 voucher for the Flonzcraft shop.  Remember your make doesn't need to be vintage but it does need to have some stamping (rubber, polymer, foam...), no digis allowed!
Thanks for coming by,

Also entering the Country View Crafts -Create a scene, Memory Box, Crafty Sentiments, Craft Stamper and That's Crafty challenges.

Gift bag from a blank sheet of paper

The idea for this make is the fusion of the Craft Barn's weekly theme of paper folding and Paper Artsy's fortnightly's theme of  Masterboards.


I first made a Masterboard using Leandra's now famous method, Fresco paints and heavy gel through a stencil. I added background stamping with motifs from ESN10 and EEV06 in colours.
Finally the foreground images all come from Hot Pick 1008 and have been stamped in black.























I was going to add some gilding flakes but decided they are too precious for my bag, which could well join the trash after one outing. Instead, I used a piece of partly used gold foil -ready made distressed look!- here and there using a glue stick.

I made the bag up following the instruction given on the Craft Barn blog here, except I arranged for the glued side to be less intrusive by placing it in the "spine".

I finished the bag by threading some ribbon as handles and voila one unique gift bag!

I forgot to mention the size, this bag is perfect for 5 sets of PA stamps (A5) so I'm keeping it for myself, you know, on the off chance...

I am also entering the Tando Creative (W2)challenge.

Thanks for coming by,

Snowflake aperture card

Never mind Christmas cards I also need a few New Year cards, and ideally I would use the same design to make a batch all at once. The simpler the card, the better, and this idea showcased here is perfect.

I'm using a Papertrey Ink Snowflake die, Distress inks and an Indigo stamp from the Retro Christmas sheet.

I had to add a piece of paper to cover the back of my stamped panel to tidy up but otherwise that's it,  bar adding the appropriate greeting (Christmas or New Year) if I feel it's absolutely essential later.

Have you got any recipes for quick Christmas/New Year cards?

I am entering the IndigoBlu, Country View Crafts (the colour Blue), Polka Doodle, SSS Wednesday Challenge, Uniko Studio and Craft Barn  challenges.

Abstract

Paper Artsy's challenge is Abstract and Leandra showed some very inspiring pieces and fascinating artists' videos.
I started without a plan, but inspired by Michael Lang, and followed Leandra's advice to "go big", OK not as big as Michael, but a 30x40cm panel I prepared by recycling a stiff piece of cardboard (a watercolour pad's backing) and a linen shirt!

I would describe my painting process to you if I could remember but.... anyway it'd be boring and not particularly instructive. Essentially I tinkered... with this colour, that colour (all Fresco paints of course), some glaze... I attempted a circle like Mr Lang but didn't finish it...
Didn't know where to go next but suddenly I "saw" something and picking up that impression, I went with the flow and added a bit of texture with a palette knife just to test out my latest acquisitions from my prize win last week... (thick gel medium BTW).

So here is my abstract in the 4 orientations it could go.

Which one do you prefer, A,B,C or D? Do you "see" something in any one of them? Answers in the comments please....

Here's the one that I chose although I couldn't explain why! I've managed to take this photo in the sun so the colours are a lot truer to life than the above.

Hope you have a great Sunday,

Also entering the We Love 2 Create challenge.

Owl and grey

Time for the November calendar page at the Craft Barn where we need the colour grey and an owl.

Let's get the apologies out of the way first...

The photo is pretty bad but there's just not enough light at the moment, between the days getting shorter and the sun shunning us in the UK so I used the flash.

And the page isn't very good, mainly because I only had one owl (from some magazine freebie) and my image transfer turned into a nightmare and I had no spare owls. Not sure what happened there, I guess it's the type of paper...

I inked my base in grey ink with a brayer and partially stamped the Impression Obsession Branches CAC, having masked the moon first.

To enhance the owl image which looked white after the transfer I added alcohol marker in a few places where I could make out the original design.

Hoping my next (and last page) will go better...

Also entering the Tando Creative(W3) challenge.

Paris sous la neige

As soon as I saw the latest Fashionable Stamping challenge theme and the inspirational makes from the DT I knew I had to join in! Winter in Paris, sounds like the perfect opportunity to show off my Paris stamps...

For the readers wondering what the weather is like in Paris in the winter, it's cold and miserable, not as cold as New York or Helsinki but barely warmer than London. The Côte d'Azur it ain't...

I created my base from Kraft cardstock and used Pan Pastels in light blue, violet and yellow to paint a foggy atmosphere. I had never used Kraft with pastels before and I was surprised to see that whilst the Pan Pastels applied like a dream, regular pastels wiped off all too easily on the Kraft.

I then stamped the lamp post, corner and Paris title from a stamp sheet by Katzelkraft (KTZ50).

The main image, Notre dame church (from the same set) has been stamped with Versafine on watercolour cardstock and coloured with blue and brown Bistres powders.
Then, to complete the Parisian winter I added some "Neige" (snow) with white embossing powder and a stamp from an older Katzelkraft set. Not that it snows that often in Paris, but...
The "Hiver" (winter) word is also from the same Katzelkraft stamp set.

For embellishments, I was keen to use some of my latest stamps, a tag stamp sheet from Crafty Individuals, stamped and embossed on Kraft cardstock. A bit of twine... et voilà, l'hiver Parisien sous la neige!

Thanks for coming by,

Also entering the That's Crafty, SSS Monday Challenge (N is for Neige), We Love To Create, That Craft Place and WOW Embossing powders challenges.