More Deco style...

...for Christmas.

A recent issue of "Simply Cards and Papercrafting" had this wonderful embossing folder as part of its freebie...

...and with a bit of cutting out it was very easy to make it dimensional. Another pass through, embossing this time onto black mirri created the front door...

 ...and the Christmas tree die-cut is one of the dies from a recent Spellbinders set of two Deco style trees. The wreath was created using silver mirri and the pearl CS that was used for the main part of the card. It was die-cut using the Sue Wilson "Cape Daisy" from Creative Expressions...

 ...and the background was embossed using one of the Texture embossing folders from Crafter's Companion - I think it is call Dry stone wall or something similar.
A bit of matting & layering and a torn piece of card to create the effect of snow...

...and  there we have it - the finished card. It doesn't have a sentiment on it at the moment as I will decide upon the one to use once I've decided who will get the card.

There are still a couple of Deco items to show you from the workshop so do stop by again to see what else Andy (Pinnacle Crafts) had lined up for us.......................................................

A bit of...

...Deco Christmas.

Andy's workshop on Saturday was themed around Deco colours, ideas and images...

 ...this card used the Hunkydory "little book" which contains 144 fabulous Deco Christmas images...

 ...and the poinsettias were made from pearl CS that had been layered with glittered vellum.
Many folk would be surprised to know that the Deco period used a lot of pastel colours...

 ...but pink & blue (as used here) were very popular...

 ...you can just make out the glitter on the flower and if you look closely...

 ...you can just make it out on the background. There was a lot of Matt & Layering on this card...

...a total of 5 layers before the topper & embellies so this is a weighty piece...

...and although it will fit in an envelope, it would probably be better in a box.

This was the first of 3 lovely cards that we made during the workshop - I'll show you the others another time..........................................................

A Night to Remember...

...captured in a Cluedo themed memory book.

Lots of photos but I'll try and keep the waffle to a minimum LOL

You have already seen what the outside of the book looks like as I posted this pic in the previous post.

However, I thought I'd post it again and just let you know a bit about what you are seeing. I decided to go with 1.5inch book-rings rather than using my Bind-it-All (largest o-wires are only 1.25inches and it would also restrict the recipient from adding any other keepsakes)and used my crop-a-dile to set an eyelet at the leading edge on both the front & back to attach ribbon closures.
The first few pages just introduce the main characters - Mrs White (Patsy)...

...Col. Mustard (Simon)...

...and Miss Scarlett (Paula).
The playing cards from the game provided great themed embellies...

...and the "Detective Notes" sheets will be perfect for Simon to add some journalling before the book is handed over.
There is at least a double spread for each of the 'rooms' that appear on the playing board...

...this one, as you can see, is the 'Study' - well she is sat at her desk; what more do you want **giggle** - and throughout the book the RH page has backing paper created by photocopying the appropriate part of the playing board.
The LH pages are much plainer. Some have photos...

...with embellies and some just have the playing card embellies.
Some of the photos were 'staged' by Simon...

...it was the only way we could ensure that there were suitable pics for every room.
Some photos didn't need staging...

...food? - kitchen; of course!.
There were numerous group photos...

...and as you can see...

...the Detective Notes will be useful for Simon to record the names of the folk in the pictures.
A bit of a knees-up...

...in the 'Ballroom'.
Definitely a staged pic...

...I think she would have had more luck potting the balls with a cue rather than a pint LOL
At the back of the book I made a pocket page...

...which will be ideal for containing small keepsakes.
On the very back page I've used the 'Murder cards' envelope...

...I tucked a couple of tags in the envelope so that Paula and Simon can write their own wishes.
I didn't have a full set of playing pieces but the ones that I did have are joined together to create a 'danglie' from the book-rings...

...and all the book-rings were decorated with a mix of ribbons/fibres/string.
The title on the front cover was created on a panel of black CS edged with gold pen and the lettering was from the Papermania 'Deco' range.

I hope she likes the book and it really does bring back memories of a night to remember....................................................................

I love Deco Ladies...

...like the ones you see on Clinton Cards.

So when Andy at Pinnacle Crafts mentioned that he was going to do a Deco Style class - I was there, and my place was booked.

Today was the class day and it was wonderful. Andy told us we would be making a variety of cards using the Deco idea of classic clean lines and period colours - i.e. not just black & white which a lot of folk associate with the Deco style.

The first card we made was mainly B&W but I used a little hint of peachy-pink as a highlight accent.
The image was a clear stamp from the new DoCrafts range Perfect Pets and so was the embossed frame. The border was one of the newer Martha Stewart border punches. With a bit of added bling the finished effect is quite classy.

Although it doesn't show in this photo (my wonderful skills with a camera coming to the fore - yet again LOL) the pattern is created from turquoise miri card cut using an EK Success trim punch and then glued in rows down the whole of the front of the card.
The panel was cut in silver miri using a Cuttlebug die and then mounted on the turquoise card before being raised with 3D foam.

The Deco period saw travel becoming very popular so this easel card was made to look like the lady is standing on the deck of a ship.
Kanban scenic card was used for the sea & sky and the the decking.
The rail and the lifebouy were cut on the Cricut and by carefully placing the lady, she looks like she is holding onto the rail gazing out to sea.

This card was a 'take' on one that Andy did a little while ago using an Edwardian lady. For this class we had a digi stamp of a 'flapper' which we coloured using Copic pens.
The background of the card was created using matte silver card covered in glitter card 'bricks' to give the look of a wall. The door was cut from white gloss card using the "Ornamental Iron" cart on the Cricut. The railing was cut using a Martha Stewart deep edge punch - gunmetal miri card was used.
Funny enough, the design on the railings was very close to the design of the door. As you can see, I stuck with the turquiose colour when I was colouring this image as this is a shade that I really like.

Another lovely crafty day with a bit of all sorts of crafty things...colouring, punching, stamping, blinging, cut & sticking.

All the cards were 5 & 3/4inch squares but we had a standard side fold, a tent fold and a couple of easels.

I have so enjoyed my day...............................