14 December 2014

Secret Santa at A Vintage Journey

Hi everyone and welcome. If you've joined me from A Vintage Journey or from Nikki's blog you'll already know that today's the day when we reveal the Secret Santa projects each of us created for a fellow Creative Guide.

You'll see on the main blog post over at A Vintage Journey that this is a blog hop with a very special Give-Away twist.
Find the other Creative Guides' blogs here;
Brenda - Bumblebees and Butterflies
Astrid - Astrid's Artistic Efforts
Jennie - Live The Dream
Nikki - Addicted To Art
Jenny - you are here!!!
Jools - Creative Journey
Julie - Juliz Design Post
Anne - Redanne
Julia - Create With Me
Chris - My Corner of Heaven
Alison - Words and Pictures
S@andy - My Crafty Life on the Internet
Annie - Curious & Crafty Treasures
You'll find out more about our special blog hop at the end of this post.

And now to the gift I created...


It was a privilege to be chosen to create a present for my lovely teamie Jennie Atkinson (Live The Dream), but it also filled me with trepidation - well have you SEEN the incredible works of art she creates?!! I settled on altering a journal with the idea that she could take it with her on one of her sailing holidays for doodling, drawing, making notes or whatever else takes her fancy.


To make it easier to pack the umpteen layers I wanted to include needed to be relatively flat! When you're faced with a huge blank kraft coloured space it can be hard to know where to start but it occurred to me that adding an initial layer of tissue wrap would help to define where things should be placed. After applying a thin coat of gesso, some texture paste stencilling and a couple of strips of lace it was time to have fun with Distress Spray Stains. By sticking to a very neutral 'Jennie style' colour palette with drips and light misting I knew it wouldn't detract from the top layers.


You'll recognise items from Tim Holtz ephemera packs and a fun Found Relative behind the tag window. Some stamping, stitching and rub-ons added detail whilst Idea-Ology can always be relied upon to heap on industrial style interest.


And to top it all off the lettering, spelling out the name of Jennie's aptly entitled blog. Cut from grungepaper it had a combination of Walnut Stain, Peeled Paint and Brushed Pewter Distress Spray Stains added which marbled together to create a fabulous aged metal look. I've not included photos of the back of the journal here as that was left relatively plain; the tissue, gesso layer but stencilled with paint before being spritzed with Distress Spray Stains to help reduce the overall thickness.


So that was Jennie's Secret Santa gift and I'm pleased to report that she liked it!
As for me, I was BEYOND excited to receive this INCREDIBLE perpetual calendar from the wonderful Anne (Redanne)!!! She seriously got it spot on with this and I now have it sat proudly on display in my craft room helping me to keep track of those deadlines. Thank you Anne xxx



And now, I mentioned at the top of this post that this is part of a very special blog hop. We would like to give each and every one of you who enter our challenges and who read our blog posts a Christmas gift and the nearest we could think of doing this is to offer our Christmas Give-Away. Over at A Vintage Journey blog you'll see a lovely present for one lucky person.

Now just to be friendly we would like you to -
1. Visit all the blogs of the Creative Guides (listed at the beginning of this post) and leave them a comment.
2. Go back to the A Vintage Journey blog and leave a link up on the Linky below to a post on your blog where you have mentioned our Give-Away and linked it back - this might be a new post just with the Give-Away info in it or you could include it in a post you are writing for something else (just like you would if you were entering a challenge).

If we have more than 30 links there will be a second Give-away added and if we get more than 50 links there will be a third..

Make sure you have linked by 23.55 on Sunday 21st December (when the Linky closes). The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced on our next challenge post on 26th December.

Good luck everyone, enjoy the hop and thank you in advance for taking part.
Jenny xxx

49 comments:

  1. What a beautiful journal you created Jennie! love all the layering - die cuts, metal, pretty papers - a lovely place to record life's journey!

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  2. Jenny this journal you created for Jennie is BEAUTIFUL!!! Very vintage! Your calendar is gorgeous too. Karen.x

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  3. Beautiful gifts Jenny. Love your notebook and all the stunning pieces you done to create it. I know Jennie will treasure it. Love your perpetual calendar too, over useful gift. Hugs Rita xxx

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  4. Just saw your wonderful note book on Jennie's blog already, truly stunning, love all the layers! Anne's gift to you looks fabulous too!

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  5. Oh Jenny you have created the most wonderful journal, such a fabulous idea for a gift and beautifully made. It's sheer delight looking at the gifts you made and received. Xx

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  6. Oh my, Jennie is so lucky to receive this amazing creation from yourself and what a gift from Anne. Christmas certainly has come early for all you girls.

    Warm crafty hugs from Shirl x x x
    ShirlsCards.

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  7. I hardly visit blogs these days - just don't know where y time goes - but I saw this on Bloglovin and had to come and see it for real. It is beautiful and anyone would love to receive this. Jennie will be in raptures to receive.
    Hugs, Neet xx

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  8. Such a beautiful journal and loved the the way you have done up the cover. What a thoughtful gift for someone on the move!Merry Christmas to you. Hugs, Rupa

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  9. As you can imagine, I'm completely in love with the journal cover you've created for Jennie - stunningly lovely neutrals, and amazing textural layers (and of course pitch-perfect composition - but that pretty much goes without saying here). Love the sprays on the lettering - what a cool look!

    And a fantastic gift from Anne - can't wait to see that in detail over at hers...
    Alison xx

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  10. Hi Jenny. Wow, I love the thought behind all of this. That is the beauty of crafting for someone in mind...you have done a superb job!!!
    Dot x

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  11. What a fabulous book, I just love all the elements you layered together! Such a gorgeous gift to send someone, and what a fabulous gift you received as well! Lucky girl! holiday hugs :)

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  12. I think you more than rose to the challenge, Jenny. It's wonderful!

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  13. Gorgeous and so thoughtful. The layers are so intricate but so well placed. Love it!

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  14. Oh wow Jenny, the journal you made for Jennie is stunning, I am sure she must be totally in love with it too! I am so pleased you liked your gift too. Anne xx

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  15. How perfect is your journal - that cover is awesome

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  16. Stunning journal Jenny and I'm sure Jennie will be delighted with her gift

    Have a wonderful Christmas and a Healthy 2015

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  17. Jenny, the journal for Jennie is wonderful Love all the layers and of course the girl with her best friend! Beautiful. What a fabulous gift from Anne! Happy Sunday!

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  18. Gorgeous journal, Jenny. I love everything about it. Love the new look blog. Apologies if it has looked this way a while but I have not been on blogs much. My time is rather frittered away on work leaving precious little time to create. But I have achieve a goal I set in January, I have almost filled my first art journal 😊

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  19. Beautiful Journal, love the theme so perfect for Jennie
    Gorgeous details and colours

    What a fantastic present you received from Anne

    Jools x

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  20. Good evening Jenny,
    I am totally in love with your stunning Journal.
    Absolutely beautiful, great use of all those wonderful embellishments.
    Great calendar and so useful.
    Have great week ahead.
    Hugs

    Patricia xxx

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  21. This is such a lovely journal so perfect for this time of the year hugs Nikki

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  22. A wonderful gift - such a stunning collage! Nxx

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  23. What a beautiful and very personal journal Jenny, it will be treasured and put to very good use by Jennie I am sure! And your calendar from Anne is so perfect! Thank you for sharing them with us and wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

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  24. A gorgeous journal Jenny and yes what a great calendar you received...fab! x

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  25. This is a beautiful journal, so well done, and I love the colours, and what a lovely gift from Anne!!!

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  26. Seriously, this is just a beautiful piece of artwork! I know how Jennie must treasure it! (I would!) And the perpetual calendar is a perfectly sweet and USEFUL gift you have received from Anne. I'm really enjoying seeing ALL the gifts. It's like sitting down in my living room with all of you!

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  27. What a great vintage feel cover you made! I love that kind of artwork so much! Inky greetings, Gerrina

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  28. LOVE LOVE LOVE this collaged cover! So many things to love and see on it, and love the cut rectangle and how the cover makes the border!

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  29. Wow - all you AVJ ladies sure are super talented - all these Secret Santas are superb. No doubt Jennie simply loves this gorgeous gift Jenny and I'm sure you are totally thrilled with your bounty from Anne. Fantastic all round! Nicola x

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  30. Jenny, the journal you altered for Jennie is touching to say the least!! It's so beautiful and the layers!! Look at those layers--Look at those pieces of lace peeking through!! Jennie is going to LOVE this!! Lucky Girl!!
    OMG--LOVE your calendar from Anne!! She's soooo good!!
    Merry Christmas, Jenny!!
    XOXO-Shari

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  31. First off-thank you for including allow your DT links in this post, it helps so much! I love everything that you did with this piece! 2nd-Merry Christmas! ~Niki

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  32. such a beautiful and thoughtful gift Jenny....love the details and its clear Jennie loves it too. Your gift from Anne is perfect for you and I know it will be treasured.

    TFS and I wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas and best wishes for the New Year 2015

    Hugs Annie x

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  33. WOW! This is absolutely incredible. I love decorated journals and this one is so stunning. Such beautiful details - perfect!
    Rebecca.
    x

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  34. Oh this is sooo cool! I love it, vintage, inspirational, wish it was my secret Santa x

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  35. How wonderful. I love the tissue paper and gesso. How thoughtful to put the name of her blog on the book.

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  36. Fabulous project, I'm joining your give away too :)

    Love
    Maarit

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  37. I loved your altered journal cover, actually I adored your lettering, tried to figure out which die or which chipboards did you use, I didn't find it in the post, or did I miss it?

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  38. This really is such a special present for Jenny - the colours so subtle! She must love it! Love the gift you received from Anne too! Chrisx

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  39. What a marvelous and thoughtful way to create a gift. I just love that you put the name of her blog on it. You are so clever.
    Happy Holidays,

    S@ndy xx

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  40. The Journal cover is awesome Jenny!! Such a gorgeous vintage look and so beautifully assembled! The calendar from Anne is gorgeous! I've been wanting to make something similar for a while now so I'll have to pop over to see how she did it!! ox

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  41. Jenny, the textures, die cuts and images you arranged onto Jennie's journal are perfection, so beautifully done.
    Anne's present is a brilliant idea, loved it. Congrats also with your win at CC3C.
    Julie x

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  42. Beautiful journal with inspiring messages. What more a gift could give?
    Really awesome.
    Cheers :)

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  43. I found you via Sara Emily's blog (saras closet) and I am so glad I did! I love this wonderfully vintage art journal...so many delightful details and a great mixed media piece. I'm adding you to my reader! Merry Christmas!

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  44. Amazing creation! You are a pure genius.Love the details ..absolutely awesome!

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  45. wow......one word for both of you " amazing " I love the the journal , inpsired me, and Anne's present is a brilliat Idea... how wonderful Secret Santa
    hugs
    Irma

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  46. Wow, what a beautiful and thoughtful gift! Anne will be happy with it! So very inspiring.

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  47. Gorgeous, it has such a beautiful vintage feel to it!

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  48. Jenny, Your journal cover is beautiful. I love how you personalized the journal from the colors you chose to incorporating Jennie's blog name. Such a thoughtful gift.

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  49. Hi Jenny, although I saw there was a Christmas giveaway, I was unable to visit everyone...I adore this book you created for Jennie, just perfectly vintage and love the present you received from Anne. As you can tell I am way behind in visiting but will now wallow in your always beautiful creations.Ruth x

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Thank you for stopping by and leaving your comments - they are really appreciated and will be published when moderated. Jenny xxx

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