Christmas Sparkles & Festive Wishes

All cards and presents now received so able to record them here!

This is a long post but I wanted to put all the Christmassy stuff in one place

Very smugly had the cards all done and dusted really early (well, very late for me but really early for most)

BUT

then when I came to write them I decided they needed tweaking

SO

tweaking I began and ended up stressed and fraught and crying 

not helped by a sniggering husband sitting across the table saying

"you do this to yourself every year ... "

Worst thing is him being right of course!

I had intended to stick the little stars actually onto the card itself  but did not like the look at all so went to Plan B ... to "simply" attach them to a strand of silver thread and have them dangle ... pleased this would solve two problems at once as tying the silver thread around the ribbon kept it nice and flat for posting 

but, oh my goodness the time it took!

longer than making the whole batch of cards in the first place

got there in the end though & this then had the 120 or so cards for friends sorted!

Products used :

Distress Ink Pads : Chipped Sapphire / Evergreen Bough / Dusty Concord / Black Soot

Versafine Clair Ink Pad : Twilight

Clear embossing powder

Inkylicious Stamp : Winter Cabin (small)

Tim Holtz Alterations (for Sizzix) Thinlits Die 663095

For the message on the back of the card : 

Tim Holtz (for Stampers Anonymous) : Christmastime CMS352

Encore Ultimate Metallic Ink Pad : Enchanted Evening

For family & close friends I made shaker cards

Those that know me know cards that open are not my thing

Tags are my thing

but no way were those shaker bubbles fitting on a tag

so went with opening cards - case in point ... as I handed my sister her envelope she said, "I hope it opens" 

The bubbles and frame around them were bought last year but I did not get round to making them then and am no longer able to recall from where they came ... I got six of the hearts and six of the circles 

Did my favourite splooshy-sploshy squishing of ink pads on my craft mat and spritzed with water and dragged the card through to get my favourite sorts of backgrounds.  Used the same colours and one of Tim's (we've met so are on first name terms LOL) stencils to make the tartan edge

Then there were four cards for our little great-nephews

three pretty much the same - 

and as Henry loves dinosaurs and has a wicked sense of humour I knew he'd 'get' the funny side of his card

Not my own design but one copied from one of Tim's design team members (so sorry I did not make a note of her name)

I bought the "Oh Deer" clipboards when Tim launched them in 2016 but had no inspiration to use them at all.  They languished in a box in the loft for three years until I decided this was the year to use them

Again all based on a design from one of Tim's design team members & just tweaked to make the most use of what bits and pieces I had already

The stencilled backgrounds on the actual clipboards are done with Finnabair's fantastic Icing Pastes

I did six with a green theme  

And two with a red theme

But then decided I did not really like the paper dolls so did four totally of my own design and wish now I had had this idea sooner - but I hadn't so had to resign myself to giving gifts I was not really happy with

They are all fully functioning clipboards but I did add a note suggesting they should be used for decoration only

Then I made six journals (for drawing, shopping lists, general note taking - whatever rocks your boat)

I did four of the burgundy ones and two of the blue

Products used (burgundy cover) :

All Finnabair's (for Prima Marketing) products unless otherwise stated -

Art Basics Heavy Gesso : Black / Clear

Art Basics Modelling Paste

Art Basics Heavy Body Gel

Finnabair Manuscript Stencil

Art Alchemy Acrylic Metallique Paint : Plum Preserves / Dark Velvet / Emerald Green / Stormy Ocean /

Art Alchemy Acrylic Opal Magic Paint : Violet Green

Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst Spray  : Jazzy Jivin' Purple / Autumn Maple Crimson / Bayou Boogie Gold / Milk Chocolate Brown

Art Alchemy Opal Magic Wax : Royal Robes / Turquoise Satin

Art Alchemy Antique Brilliance Wax : Amethyst Magic

Art Alchemy Metallique Wax : White Gold

Art Ingredients Glass Glitter : Gold Rush

Art Ingredients Micro Beads : Berry

Products used (blue cover) :

All Finnabair's (for Prima Marketing) products unless otherwise stated -

Art Basics Heavy Gesso : Black / Clear

Art Basics 3D Gloss Gel

Art Basics Heavy Body Gel

Finnabair Bubbles Stencil

Art Alchemy Metallique Paint : Ice Queen / Midnight Sky / Deep Waters / White Pearl

Art Alchemy Acrylic Opal Magic Paint : Blue-Green / Violet-Green

Art Ingredients Mica Powder : Copper / Deep Water / Purple / Bottle Green

Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst Spray : Afternoon Delight Denim / 

Voodoo Violet Blue

Art Alchemy Metallique Wax : Old Denim / Electric Violet / Old Silver

Art Ingredients Glass Glitter : Midnight Blue

Six little tins also got made - again loosely based on a design from one of Tim's team but I used only minimal "pre-made" bought items and tried to stamp and decorate as much as I could myself

 When eldest nephew number two & his wife were asked what they would like for Christmas they both messaged me back separately saying ALL they wanted was one of "Auntie Debbie's stitched tree decorations"

Now I had stopped doing these for a few reasons and certainly had figured the nephews and nieces-in-law were just being polite when they got one each year ... seems i was wrong!

Took some effort to track down the Mill Hill kits as the supplier I always used no longer trades but I found a few (and have stocked up for next year too!)

Other issue is my poor eyesight now (no sight in one eye and really rather bad in the other one) so I had put off even trying to cross-stitch or do beading

Out came my old illuminated & magnifying light and I surprised myself with being able to cope

So they got one each ... a Red Cardinal and a Panda

 I always make something with a dove theme for Phil's brother and wife and family in memory of their son

This year I decided on parchment ... now I LOVE to see parchment work but it has never been a craft I have enjoyed and long ago decided it was not for me

so why, oh why, did I decide on parchment?!?!?!?!?!?

My friend was very kind to lend me some of her Clarity Groovi plates (she does not live close so it was a through the post job) and I bought a whole load of pricking and piercing tools

but soon realised I was out of my depth ... was happyish with the the little I did but soon realised that even if I aimed for next Christmas I would never have them ready in time if I stuck to the pierced backgrounds I had envisaged

SO - I fully admit I cheated and ran the vellum through an embossing folder

No way can these be classed as parching so I have invented a new name - velluming ... definitely something I will avoid at all costs in future!

But cards were made in memory of our dear Nick again this Christmas and were handed out by his mom and dad yesterday

 And yes, yes, I know the doves are very poor and crumpled and twisted but, to me, they are okish as they look like they are fluttering across the card

All it leaves me to say - to those of you still awake after reading all my drivel is I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and that the new year brings you only good things.

Much love xXx