Jingle Bells

Jingle Bells

Hi There!

Have you still got your

bells jingling?  I have

hung a few from my

twiggy tree and when

I pass it quickly, the

jingles can be heard...!

.........it doesn't take much

Here's Louise Thomson

spreading the love....

"This post comes with a 

'fake snow disclaimer!'

 Hold on to your woolly hats folks, 

it's time to get Christmassy! 

I started out with a wooden heart.

I gave it a coating of gesso, some

 grunge paste for a 'rough around the 

edges' look, and then a coating

 of Fresco chalk paint

I blended a few distress oxide inks over 

the edges, wiping back some of the ink

 with a wet baby wipe for a soft look. 

You might notice from this picture

 I had stencilled on some snow however,

 I later sanded this off as I wanted a 

bigger area for stamping.

I used paper artsy set HPXM08EZ and 

stamped the single tree and the tiny stars

 (from the top of the three trees stamp)

 in iced spruce ink.

I layered on a few more trees in a dark blue,

 then added the reindeer, embossing them 

in a sparkle embossing powder.

On the other side of the heart I stamped

 stars and snowflakes from PaperArtsy 

and one from a new woodware set.

I also added a little more ink around

 the outside. I rubbed the whole outside

 edge in clear embossing ink and used the

 sparkle embossing powder to coat it

Using the clear embossing ink again, 

I dabbed patches of ink over the heart

 and sprinkled with chunky white embossing

 enamel before heating to emboss. 

Finally I added die cuts from Find It Trading Dies

 and Sizzix and increased the glitter content

 just a little further using some stickles glitter. 

I wish the camera showed up sparkle a bit better!

The reverse side was finished with a 

sentiment from Woodware (and maybe,

 just maybe, some fake snow!!) 

Hope it's inspired you to start feeling festive, 

I could definitely settle down in front

 of the fire with a hot chocolate and a 

chunky knit blanket now!!! "

Materials;

Wooden heart

Gesso

Grunge paste

Fresco paint - chalk

Distress oxides

Paperartsy HPXM08EZ

Clear embossing ink

Blue sparkle embossing powder

Woodware stamps - little festive branch

Woodware sentiments -Christmas cheer

Chunky white embossing enamel

Sizzix winter greens die

Find it hanging stars die

Stickles glitter glue

Heat gun

What a delightful Christmas Ornament

Louise, Thank you for a great project

Certainly made me feel jingly!

Not sure about the cocoa but I

could really do with a 

chunky knit blanket!

'Till Tomorrow

Mickie xx

Animal Farm

Animal Farm

Hi There!

This week we are going

to play with the animals

To be specific the new

Zinski stamps by PaperArtsy

Here's Helen Chilton to get

us in the mood

One of a Kind door sign.

Cut your mount board to the size required

 and blob on some gesso.

Next sprinkle the Brushos into the Gesso -

I used Alizarin, Lemon Yellow and Turquoise

Then take a credit card or palette knife 

and scrape it out - instant colour.

Here's the piece fully covered and with

 a few nice scratch marks for texture.

I then decided to knock it back a 

bit with some stencilled gesso.

Nothing too precise, just rubbed on

 with a baby wipe.

Then get stamping with the Zinsky rabbit...

 (I think?)

To colour in I've added the same Brushos 

to white paint for a pale-ish layer....

...and then used neat Brushos to add

 darker shades on top.

Add white paint to bring out the eyes 

and then stamp a bunny ear border. 

I've also added extra pattern 

to the upside down one.

I then over stamped the border in black 

as I didn't think it stood out enough 

and printed the words on the computer.

Here we go with some chain and washers added.

A close up of the 'one of a kind'."

Products used:

PaperArtsy Stamps
Brusho:
Gesso:
Crafters Workshop template:
Silver pen
Mount board

A fun start to the week

thank you Helen

Love the inspired treatment

of the odd one ...  Her expression

seems to be saying "what?  

How did I get here?"

'Till tomorrow

Mickie xx

Better & Better

Better & Better

Hi there!

Are you on your holidays?

If so, you will be well chilled

if not, try this card today, it

is so relaxing to do.........

Here's Helen Chilton to show

you the way.....

Step 1: Stencil in gesso onto part of your card.

Step 2: Then stamp the fancy clock over

 the top in black.

Step 3: Colour in with pencils - 

I used Derwent Coloursoft. 

I like the way the stencilling

 shows through.

Step 4: To make the stamped image pop,

 add highlights with a white pen.

 I tend to put the pen on the craft mat 

and then dip in a bamboo skewer/cocktail 

stick as you have more control 

over the flow of ink.

final pic"

Supplies:

Stamps used:

Pencils:
Stencil:
Gesso:

white paint pen
rub ons

A nice quick project -

thank you Helen

The white paint pen really

does make the image appear

three dimensional

'Till tomorrow

Mickie xx