The Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas Challenge 2015 (Part Two)

Hi everyone and welcome! If you joined me for yesterday's post HERE you'll know I've been joining in with Linda Coughlin's 'Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas' 2015 challenge, sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique as a way of creating my festive cards again. Armed with Linda's tags for inspiration, a pad of the Tim Holtz 'Yuletide' Paper Stash collection and a heap of my favourite Distress products I set to work creating cards in batches of three. As the deadline for submission looms (December 27th) I'm showing them in two parts, so grab another cuppa and we'll get started on a run through of the second set...

Linda's Tag #7 featured stencilled snow flakes and a fabulous large, glittery layered feature flake. The silver embossing paste stencilled background was a breeze but my need to keep the cards relatively flat this year resulted in layering up just two large snowflakes, one cut from silver card, another from Coordinations card covered with a sweep of Distress Stickles.

Linda's Tag #8 featured banners, baubles and die cuts, which initially had me flummoxed. By pairing back the whole design to one featuring just the banners and baubles (with some Holiday Greenery) it worked with the patterned backgrounds. The stamped baubles were painted with Distress Inks and covered in clear embossing powder to make them shine.

Linda's Tag #9 featured a Distress Spray Stained background and gold highlighted stencilling. Once again I opted to use this inspiration on a tag to coordinate with the background papers. Instead of stencilling though I embossed the holly design and brayered Tarnished Brass Distress Paint onto the raised parts as a resist to the Distress Spray Stains.

Linda's Tag #10 featured lots of white paste texture and gold die cuts. Teaming this with the backgrounds required another tag, painted with Picket Fence Distress Paint and stamped before being dry and heat embossed. To coordinate I used the same Ledger Script stamp on the Yuletide papers and added those gold die cuts to finish.

Linda's Tag #11 was another feast of snow inspired texture which had me temporarily stumped again. Once again I employed the snowflake stencil for the background and used the matching embossing folder for the Picket Fence Distress Painted tag. The die cut trees were left un-shimmered this time for a more rustic, vintage look.

Linda's Tag #12 featured plaid and holly heavily throughout. Who knew that Tim Holtz' Plaid stamp would work over the top of the Yuletide papers! The ephemera on either end needed toning down with plenty of Distress Ink to stop them overpowering the alternative die cut 'holly wreath' in the centre of the design.

So that's it for Part Two of my Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas 2015 run-down. I hope you've enjoyed seeing the fruits of my labour! By now I'm hoping the recipients will (in the main) have received their cards. A huge thank you to all those hard working postal service people across the planet who help us every year to spread a little love to family and friends.

As for me I'm now signing off for a few days so that the rest of the jobs (online and off) can be completed prior to the 'big day'. I hope you all have a relaxing, enjoyable time this holiday season, whatever your plans are. Merry Christmas and huge hugs to you all, Jenny xxx

The Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas Challenge 2015 (Part One)

Hi everyone and welcome. How are you all doing? Super organised and just counting down the 'big day' or still running around like a headless chicken with a 'to do' list as long as your arm? Whatever your current state I hope you all make it through to your own celebrations in one piece and get the time to enjoy the results of all your hard work.

For a few years now I've been joining in with Linda Coughlin's 'Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas' 2015 challenge, sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique as a way of creating my festive cards and this year is no exception. Armed with Linda's tags for inspiration, a pad of the Tim Holtz 'Yuletide' Paper Stash collection and a heap of my favourite Distress products I set to work creating cards in batches of three. As the deadline for submission looms (December 27th) I'll show them in two parts, so grab a cuppa and we'll get started...

Linda's Tag #1 featured gold embossing paste stencilling and a large poinsettia. Given the need to keep my cards flat I opted for a stamped poinsettia, coloured with Distress Inks, covered in Micro Glaze and spritzed with Distress Spray Stains. The gold stencilling ended up looking relatively subtle on the patterned background.

Linda's Tag #2 featured more gold stencilling and shimmering Christmas trees. I used the 'Tracks' stencil and silver embossing paste this time to emulate a 'forest scene', with my own shimmering die cut trees and Yuletide trims. 'Painting' the inner portions of the trees with Distress Ink was essential for making them more prominent.

Linda's Tag #3 featured a dramatic Holiday Knit background with a reindeer. Replicating that look on a tag it made easier to coordinate with the Yuletide papers and provided a backdrop for the die cut reindeer and holiday wreath. I used a stencil and Tarnished Brass Distress Paint for the pattern rather than die cutting it.

Linda's Tag #4 featured more silver stencilling and Holiday Greens holly, making it an easy design to replicate. I opted out of the plaid background as the pattern came from the Yuletide papers again. The joy of using that collection comes from the fact that you get two sheets of tickets and two with a mix of ephemera snippets.

Linda's Tag #5 featured Scribbly Christmas stamping and Festive Scribbles die cuts, again a look that was easy to replicate. My version was more of a forest scene again and I took the dramatic decision to use some black kraft core Coordinations card for the central tree to make it stand out even more on the stamped design.

Linda's Tag #6 featured a Wendy Vecchi stencilled Christmas tree with stencilling behind. I opted for more subtle stencilling at the top and bottom of this design with gold embossing paste through the Old Ledger stencil and stencilled lettering combining with paper snippets. The gold embossed tree provided a focal point.

So that's it for Part One of my Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of  Christmas 2015 run-down. I hope you can join me again tomorrow for a whistle-stop tour of Part Two. In the meantime whatever you're up to today take care of yourselves! Jenny xxx

A Secret Santa for a Vintage Journey

Hi everyone and welcome! If you've joined me from A Vintage Journey 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. So here's what I created for my recipient...

(click on each photo for a closer look)

I was lucky enough to draw Annie as my recipient and when it came time to create a special gift for her fate intervened. My new Tim Holtz Sizzix 'Village Collection' dies had just arrived and I was desperate to find some time to play with them. Then Tim's December tag design was released and I figured it would be fun to combine those techniques with these dies, especially as it meant a battery operated candle could be placed inside (Annie loves candles you see!!!) And so my creative adventure began...

I just love that using stencils and Distress Spray Stains together on burlap creates such a sharp image! No bleeding at all! Just tons of texture, perfect for a winter cabin. A dry embossed roof, some Texture Paste and Rock Candy Glitter snow was sprinkled on the roof and ground and of course it wouldn't be the same without Frosted icicles. I added a wreath to the door (complete with red bow and altered Mirrored Star) in honour of Tim's tag design, but the various colours of layered greenery he showed came in so useful on my design for creating a Christmas tree in the 'garden'. The jingle bells needed some colour (courtesy of some Red Pepper Alcohol Ink) and a touch of Mushroom Alcohol Ink worked wonders in ageing the large Mirrored Star at the top and the skates on the ground. Finally Tim's clever idea for using altered pearl beads as snowballs worked a treat and I splattered Picket Fence Distress Paint around to emulate that final shower of snow.

And here's the little cottage all lit up with that all important candle!

I'll be entering it into the final Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2015 Challenge - December.

And as for me? I was thrilled to bits to receive the most stunning gift from Julie!!! I know - how lucky am I to be the proud owner of a Lavalette original! Honestly, the level of sparkle and magic is ridiculously hard to capture on screen so you'll have to trust me here - this extraordinary little bird house has a magical quality about it and will be a treasured part of my festive decorations for years to come. Thank you Julie!!! xxx

Now, if you haven't been there already, you REALLY need to get over to A Vintage Journey to see the remaining Secret Santa gifts!!!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, and whatever you're up to, take care of yourselves. Jenny xxx

Big News for IndigoBlu and a Canal Grande Canvas

Hi everyone and welcome! I'm sharing some big news and a brand new mixed media canvas over at the revamped IndigoBlu Blog today and would love you to join me. Here's a sneek peak to whet your appetite...

More news? OK then. Back by popular demand, Kay Halliwell-sutton will be on your screens again this weekend with some fabulous shows on Hochanda. See her there on Saturday 12th Dec 2015 - 8pm, and Sunday 13th Dec 2015 - 7am, 9am, 12pm, 4pm and 7pm.

And last but not least I want to share another of the canvases created at my Poppy Canvas workshop back in November - this time it's one was by the incredibly talented artist Kezzy (Kezzy's Craft Journey). Please make sure you go over and see it HERE and leave her some well deserved love.

That's it for now! Have a great weekend, and whatever you're up to take care of yourselves. Jenny xxx

'Tis the Season at Frilly and Funkie

Hi everyone and welcome! It's the second week of the current Frilly and Funkie challenge 'Tis The Season' and the turn of the Funkie side of the Design Team to share their projects with you. Our host Nancy says "With Christmas quickly approaching I've chosen the theme of: 'Tis the Season!' I'm keeping it super simple. You may create any type of vintage or shabby chic holiday themed project - whatever winter holiday you celebrate!"

At the end of the challenge the Design Team will choose their top four picks. Our first place winner will be invited to join us in a Guest DT spot here at Frilly and Funkie. Three additional talented participants will receive badges to display on their blogs. Everyone who enters and adheres to the challenge guidelines will be entered into a drawing to win a $25 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique!

As this is our last challenge before we break for the festive holidays I wanted to finish the year in style and what better way than with Tim Holtz 'Winter Village' dies! Hopefully you'll be able to see the sparkle in the photos (what IS it with glitter and lights!!!)

(click on each photo for a close up)

Tim has put together some fantastic videos to share hints and tips on constructing the three village variations and I highly recommend that you watch them before starting to play as they make a real difference to the outcomes. I'd also strongly suggest covering and stamping each piece before putting them together; this includes adding Frosted, window frames, the door and any paste/glitter that you choose to use.

For this chapel I used sanded Kraft Core card to cover the base layer of kraft card. The walls were stamped with the Nordic background stamp in Tree Branch Archival Ink before being sanded again to age them. All the sanded and kraft surfaces were also inked with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink. And the snow? That's texture paste covered in Rock Candy Distress Glitter (and in real life it sparkles beautifully!!!)

The greenery which adorns the roof was also cut from Kraft Core card using a mix of Tim's holiday dies. The berries are left overs from last year's crackers and the charms come from the huge range that Linda stocks.

Hope you've got a little inspiration from this for your own seasonal projects, especially if you are about to embark on creating your own village structures (or are patiently waiting for the dies to arrive!!!) For even more inspiration from my incredibly talented team mates make sure you head on over to the Frilly and Funkie Challenge Blog. Then it's over to you! We've already had many fabulous entries, but with prizes and Top 3 badges up for grabs there's still plenty of reasons to join in the fun.

Thank you for taking the time to stop by and whatever you're up to for the rest of the week take care of yourselves, Jenny xxx

It's beginning to look a lot like an IndigoBlu Christmas...

Hi everyone and welcome. In amongst all of the other creating going on here I realised it really was about time the Christmas cards needed tackling! It's the time of year when we need great looking cards that can be created quickly and are reasonably flat to please Mr Postie. So I've put together a few ideas using various IndigoBlu stamps to share with you - the bonus being that all IndigoBlu Christmas stamps are on sale right now HERE!!!

(click on each photo for a closer look)

This first one was inspired by a beautiful canvas created by my DT team mate Mirella Baniecka. I used the Rain Droplets background stamp across the background with ink and WOW! white embossing powder. The lace elements from the Nottingham Lace A5 set were stamped with ink and the same embossing powder, then layered underneath with a Postbox Red / white gesso painted tag and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Dinkie stamped central panel. A couple of pearls and hey presto, that's one off the list!

Next up it was time to use one of my old layered die sets, cutting a couple of layers from the centre of the card. I removed the central panel and stamped the Wishing You The Spirit of Christmas Dinkie onto it. Using the same ink I stamped the Big Holly leaves in a random fashion and coloured them with a mix of Hot Cocoa, Emerald City and Postbox Red paints. Adding the white lines with a gel pen gives them an extra sense of dimension. To finish I raised the central panels up with foam pads in a staggered formation.

On to card number three, this time inspired by DT team mate, Ksenija Rizova's beautiful card. I repeat stamped the tree from the Snow Globe A6 set to create a simple background, embossed the snow globe itself with WOW! white embossing powder onto vellum before ink stamping the houses on the reverse. I splattered Snow White paint onto a smaller square of card, and painted it on a larger square before adhering the fussy cut globe to the smaller square with FlitterGlu; as there's no water in this glue it doesn't make the vellum wrinkle!!! Finally I stamped the sentiment portion of the globe stamp onto card and layered it over the embossed version.

More die cuts on this one; I cut a piece of card small enough to fit inside Tim Holtz' Postage Stamp frame and stamped the Flying Santa A6 image onto it. Having coloured in each house with Distress Inks and blended the edges with the same, the whole panel was heat embossed with WOW! clear embossing powder to give it a softer look. Some Tim Holtz Holiday Greens die cuts were ink blended and the word Noel (from the Happy Christmas Dinkie) was stamped onto a smaller stamp shape. I used more foam pads to layer the whole thing up.

Last (but not least) my personal favourite. Anyone who saw my 'Silver and Gold' canvas HERE will know I'm in love with the new Laurel Leaves A6 stamps. It's so easy to draw a circle and stamp layer after layer of the different sprigs on top of each other, some with inks, some mica powders some with WOW! white embossing powder, et voila, one festive wreath!!! I cut around mine to raise it on foam pads but you could easily just leave it flat. The Wishing You The Spirit of Christmas Dinkie you saw earlier was used here too as it fit perfectly and I 'hung' a Teardrop Bauble on one side to finish, heat embossed again with WOW! clear embossing powder to contrast with the wreath.

And breathe... ! Five festive cards done in a jiffy and ready to send. I hope these have given you some ideas if, like me, you're pushed for time at this time of the year. And remember to check out that IndigoBlu sale for some great bargains!

I'm entering the following challenges with these;
That's Crafty! Challenge - Season's Greetings
Card Mania Challenges - Christmas

Let's Craft and Create Challenge 108 - Christmas
One Crazy Stamper December Challenge - Christmas
WOW! Embossing Powder Challenge - Winter

That's all for today but I'll be back on Wednesday with my next DT project for Frilly and Funkie. In the meantime have a great end to your weekend and take care of yourselves. Jenny xxx

Silver and Gold for The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge

Hi everyone and welcome! I'm so excited today to be a Guest Designer for the latest Mixed Media Monthly Challenge entitled 'Silver and Gold'. This month the challenge is sponsored by IndigoBlu. Check out the challenge blog HERE for all the details of the amazing prize up for grabs and to see the gorgeous projects from the super talented Design Team.

So as promised in my last post HERE I'm sharing my Guest Design piece (which doubles as the first of my CHA samples). As well as featuring the IndigoBlu Laurel Leaves stamp set and stencil there's a sneak peek of something else... check out the flower!!!

(click on each photo for a closer look)

When working with a limited colour palette I find it's a licence to go mad with the design and layering. To get a real mix of textures into this I started with fine and course modelling pastes followed by corrugated and plain card. More stencilling, this time through the Laurel Leaves stencil, and I added a layer of Sheffield Steel Mega Flakes over some of the stems. Then came some tissue transfer with stamped Laurel Leaves stamps adhered to the outer edges using Slap It On matte medium (delicate enough not to tear at the tissue).

I worked on building the 'spray bouquet' by adding some gauze and lacy flowers around a cheap frame embellishment from my stash. I took some time to stamp, emboss, gild and fussy cut lots of Laurel Leaves stems using Chariot of Fire Mega Flakes and white embossing powder. These were then arranged along with die cut linked flower shapes (a Sizzix Frameworks die covered in Lindy's Stamp Gang embossing powders).

Don't you just love that flower?! It's a layered die cut shape but the added stamping (using a brand new design that will be released to the trade in January 2016) takes it to a whole other level of gorgeousness. To finish I added shots of silver and gold Metallic English Cottage Artist's Acrylic paints along with Lindy's Stamp Gang Flat Fabio and Starburst Mists. A few seed beads and an embossed wooden word completed the project.

I hope you've enjoyed seeing what can be accomplished with stamps, stencils and those all important metallics. Hopefully you feel inspired to join in the fun over with the latest Mixed Media Monthly Challenge - hop on over to see what the amazing Design Team have created to reflect the Silver and Gold theme, and remember to check out the awesome IndigoBlu prize that's up for grabs too.

I want to say a huge thank you to Donna and the team for inviting me to play along this time.

This will be entered into the latest Lindy's Stamp Gang December 2015 Color Challenge

http://www.lindystampgang.com/sprays/flat-colors/cafe-au-lait/

http://www.lindystampgang.com/sprays/vintage-sprays/pirates-plunder-gold/

http://www.lindystampgang.com/sprays/two-toned-sprays/silent-night-silver/

http://www.lindystampgang.com/embossing/midnight-gold/

http://www.lindystampgang.com/embossing/silver-moon-turquoise/

What a great start to December! Whatever you're up to take care of yourselves, Jenny xxx