Last Class of...

...2011.

Andy held the last "Tim Holtz style" class for this year at Pinnacle Crafts and we all had a fabulous messy time LOL

The first thing made was a decorated bird house.
The house started as bare wood and we used Distress stains to add colour. We then had a play with some alchol inks on glossy card which we then die cut with sizzix edging dies to create panels for the eves.
The decoration was left to our own choice and I went for the TH Sizzix die that creates pine cones (sorry this is so fuzzy) - the finished effect was fine but I don't think I would use this die again as I found it a bit fiddly to get them to form the right shape. The house isn't completely finished - I have some Prima blooms & berries that I want to add and also some 'snow'.
We used Distress Ink pads to add shading and the stamping for this card topper.
Perfect for any occasion and great for any chocoholic...LOL
We then played with some more alchol inks and embossing folders to try out different effects.
The background for both pieces was created using Aqua/Storm/Blending solution. But this one was 'swiped' with a Stazon black pad...
...and this one was highlighted using the silver mixative. Very different finishes.

We had a super day, Michael Buble singing Christmas songs in the background - fun and laughter over messy hands and fingers (even Andy's dog Holly has 'crafters paws' - she managed to get at a bottle of blue ink and now has blue front paws).

Andy's classes are always fun but very productive - thank you Andy for a fab day - we'll all be looking forward to seeing what you come up with for 2012.................

Day 9...

...already - isn't time flying.

Now the song might say "9 ladies dancing" but the folk at "Catch the Bug" want to see a 'girly' card.

Now lots of 'girlies' like to watch Ice dancing so I thought the JJ Calendar image for November was perfect.
Very simple layout again but keeping with my chosen colour scheme.
My trusty Copics provided the colour and lots of Crystal Ice Stickles to give that icy feel.

The edge of the image panel was stickled too........................

Day 8...

...over at "Catch the Bug".

The song says 'eight maids a milking' so the challenge is "Milk & Cookies" - how could it be anything else LOL.

Would you believe, amongst all the Bugaboo digi images I have there isn't a single one with cookies or milk on...so I decided to add this element to my card by creating a background printed directly onto the card...
...the background has just had a few areas shaded with Inktense pencils and then the main image was mounted over the top - the old style Santa is so cute. Santa has been coloured with Copic pens.
Still keeping with the aqua & red colour scheme but the stickles over the tree have made it seem a bit more green.

I was rather pleased with the way the pencils worked on the kraft card so I might have a play with that technique when I get a few moments spare...................

Handmade Christmas card...

...my first to arrive by post.

Isn't this a cutie...
...The lovely Helen sent it to me.

Many of you may know Helen from her blog "It's All Fiddle Fart" - she is the Queen of finding wonderful stash items at bargain prices in Poundland and the like. If you haven't visited her blog you really should pop over there and have a browse as she has a whole load of gift ideas that are perfect for colleagues, teachers, extra stocking fillers...each year she comes up with fab ideas so do have a look at some of her past creations.

A big thank you Helen, I love my card - have a lovely Christmas....................

Something a bit...

...different.

For the last week or two I have seen a lady knitting away on the train of an evening making scarves and each day she has been knitting a different colour. Monday evening I sat across from her and we got chatting - she showed me the yarn she was using and explained that it was all garter stitch and only 7 stiches to a row.

I had a day off Wednesday and after sorting out the car (reason for day off) I wandered over to Barleylands as I was sure I had seen the yarn at Craft Arena. I was very lucky, I got the last two balls (enough for two scarves) and the lovely Denise also showed me how to cast on using this funny yarn and provided a project sheet showing how to work with this yarn.
Wednesday evening I sat down with this and by bedtime I had this...
...a finished loopy scarf.

I was lucky that the only colour Denise had left was shades of brown as this matches my coat. However, I know it comes in some beautiful shades so hopefully I can get some more........................

Day 7...

...of the "Catch the Bug" 12 days of Christmas.

The song line is - "Seven Swans a swimming" but the challenge is to use the given photo as inspiration - toughy one this.

I really don't find it very easy to come up with ideas that are 'inspired' by a photo as my mind tends to be a bit too literal.
I looked at the photo for a while and decided to just take on-board the idea of a central subject and a carpet of fir. This is what I came up with...
Another Bugaboo digi image - this time a cutie of a Santa.
The image is coloured with Copics and any 'furry' bits on Santa have been stickled whilst the tree has been highlighted with a Stardust gel pen to give a bit of a frosty shimmer.
The fir sprigs were punched with a Martha Stewart punch from aqua/blue CS. I attached them to the card using stickles and then added a bit more to give a hint of snow.

That's day 7 sorted..................

Day 6...

...Six geese a laying.

The folk at "Catch the Bug" want to see something with humour for today's challenge.

Here's mine...
I thought this 'Stella' image from Bugaboo was just right.
Still trying to keep to the red/aqua/kraft colour scheme here along with the stickles.
The sentiment comes with this image and I think it is perfect LOL
So that's six down...and six to go..................................