Christmas round up

Hi Crafty Friends

So here we are in the middle of February, so it must be time for a round up of last Christmas's makes. As you may know, things have not been too good at Serendipity Towers, but I'm hoping we're on a more even keel now. So here is a picture heavy blog to try to catch up.

 This is a giant 8x8 card, which I rarely do - mainly because I find it difficult to think of what to fill it up with. But these large stitched edge frames made that bit easy. Some are Sue W. and some cha cha cha. The trees are very old Marianne dies which I haven't used in ages (since I got my more realistic ones). But I like these for a change. The image is (as ever) a part of one of my 3 winter scene stamps. (by Art Kure). I cut the sentiment banner using two Spellbinder border dies and bent a long sentiment stamp to fit on it.

I made this one for a friend who has 2 black cats. The door is an embossing folder free with a magazine (along with the wreath die) and the brick embossing folder is Tim H. I letter-pressed it. I drew, cut out and coloured the pots without the aid of dies, stamps, templates etc (How old school is that!) The cats are cha cha cha.

We had a lovely, messy mixed media day, when we made Christmas baubles, based on MDF shapes, many of which were supplied by Trish (many thanks). This is mine. I added texture with plasterer's tape and cheese cloth, then gessoed the background. I sprayed it with Brushos I'd mixed with water and put in mister bottles. I then added handmade flowers, leaves from an old Xmas dec, bits of jewellery etc, more gesso and a lot of dry brushing with metallic or pearlescent acrylic paints. I finished it with a hefty dollop of glitter.

Here are 2 fabulous creations made by club members, Jackie and Glyn respectively.

This next was a quick card, very good for using up scraps of paper and involved a bit of easy colouring. The baubles are Spellbinders.

These two were so quick we did both in one session. The narrower front panel adds interest to a small card (A6). The top one involved layering very sparkly silver glitter card behind the baubles and making a very narrow frame, both of which were a bit fiddly. I just love this die so I think worth it.

I made this one for a friend, using my Sue W. shadow box die, which I just HAD to have and have hardly used 😳

We seemed to have been making Christmas cards for ever, so there must be some still lurking about which have so far evaded the camera. I'll be back when I've pinned them down.

happy crafting

Jxx