Uniko Challenge #50 .........

Happy Friday .......

I can't believe we're on the last day of November ..... only 24 days to go until Christmas!!  Are you all ready for the big day?  No ...... Me neither!

Let's see November out with a little reminder about the latest Uniko Challenge.
It's Challenge #50 and the theme is ......... Celebrate

As you can see from the gorgeous inspiration photo there's an optional twist too ........ GOLD.  Perfect for this time of year.  In fact looking at the photo now, I'm thinking New Years Eve and parties ...... but hey! let's not get ahead of ourselves shall we ...... it's not quite December yet.

I'm still making Christmas cards ........ and I've a few more to go yet.  Here's one based on this month's challenge ......

I've taken some of the colours and added in the optional twist with a touch of gold heat embossing

The sentiment is from the Uniko Festive Sentiments set ..... I love the two different fonts that are in these stamps and there's so many sayings that you an create.

The set with the snowflakes in, is unfortunately out of stock on the website at the moment ....... BIG & BOLD Snow .......  I'm sure it'll be back on there soon though.

I simply stamped the snowflakes in various inks ...... blue, gold, silver

and also heat embossed some using gold, white and a clear sparkle powder.

A few dots of glitter glue, and a little Distress Ink brushed around the edge, and we're done

You have until midnight (GMT) on Friday December 21st to play along, so lots of time to join in the fun.
Check out the Uniko Blog for full challenge details, and also more inspiration from the rest of the Design Team.

Thanks for popping by .... enjoy the rest of your day and have a lovely weekend.
We're off out with a group of friends this evening.  A few weeks ago Chris started a new job.  He's left the brewery and is now Bar Manager at a large Thai restaurant in Douglas, so we're going to check it out.  Surprisingly we haven't been before ..... we've tasted their street food at the Food Festivals which was delicious, but we've never actually been to the restaurant.  Could this become a new favourite perhaps!

Cheerio until next time ....... see you in December!

Let it Snow Artist Trading Coins .........

Happy Wednesday .......

A very wet, and very windy Wednesday here in the Isle of Man .... or as we say over here 'it's blowing a hoolie!!'  I have to go out in it later too, not looking forward to that!

Let's quickly talk Artist Trading Coins again shall we ......... circular pieces of artwork, measuring two and a half inches in diameter, and like ATC's (Artist Trading Cards) they are made to swap.
If you haven't made any yet, trust me when you do you'll be hooked!

Here's set number three ....... Let it Snow! made for a Christmas Swap that's currently going on on Facebook ...... 

They're made from little MDF circles, painted with PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Acrylic Paints, and then I've stamped and heat embossed the snowflakes (from Tim Holtz Swirly Snowflakes) using a sparkly white embossing powder ......

The words (from the Happy Little Stampers Let it Snow stamp set) have been stamped using Black Versafine ink and heat embossed in clear, so that the ink is set and won't smudge

And I've finished off by adding a few dots of White Enamel Accents onto the backgrounds

Why not check out the Facebook group and join in the Christmas swap.

I'm also sneaking in before the deadline for November's Country View Crafts Challenge which is all about Artist Trading Coins.

Thanks for popping by ...... enjoy the rest of your day. 
I'm off into town shortly ...... I won't be staying long!  Well, I have a date with Mr Buble and this to decorate when I get back ...

It's been up since Monday so I think it's time it was filled with pretty baubles don't you!

Cheerio until next time ......

More Artist Trading Coins .......

Happy Friday .......

Well that was a busy week!  I don't know about you but I'm definitely looking forward to the weekend.

It's been nothing but Christmas, Christmas, and more Christmas this week.  Cards, baubles, late night shopping.  We had the Christmas lights switch on in town last night, more shopping, and even more Christmas cards.  I even posted my first one, and ........ wait for this ....... I BOUGHT a Christmas card this week !  Oh yes I did!!!!!  Have you seen the price of them these days ..... I only bought the one, it's very nice but, it cost me a small fortune!!  Let's hope I don't need to buy any more!!

Anyway enough of all that ....... I'm playing along with a Blog Challenge today.  This month's challenge from County View Crafts is all about Artist Trading Coins ....... one of my new addictions!

I've recently joined an ATC/Coins Facebook Swap Group, put together by Kylie, the brains behind Happy Little Stampers and also Kylie is Addicted to Stamps fame.  If you enjoy creating these little works of art then why not join us ..... it's great fun.

Here's a set of three I've made for the Christmas Swap .......

Don't you just love snowmen!
This little guy has been with me for a while, and he's still a favourite .....

My coins are made from MDF, and I've given each one a coat of white Gesso then used various inks or paints to add the colour.   The actual  stamping has been done using Black Versafine ink which has then been heat embossed in clear.

The words on this one were hand written and I finished it off with some dots of White Liquid Enamel and a touch of glitter.

Another of my favourite snowmen ....... the new Bundled Up from Penny Black

Stamped directly onto the MDF coin using a Black Archival Ink ..... and then highlighted with glitters and a gold shimmer pen

And finally ..... a flurry of snowmen from Newton's Nook (I think it's called Frozen Fellowship)

These little guys were stamped onto white cardstock, coloured with ZIG markers and then fussy cut and glued onto the MDF coin.
A stamped sentiment and a few drops of the Liquid Enamel add the finishing touches ...... brrrrrr!

I will warn you, making ATC's or coins can be very addictive, they're so cute!!! Now I just need to swap them.

Thanks for popping by .... enjoy the rest of your day and have a great weekend

Cheerio until next time ......

Its beginning to look a little bit like Christmas ........

Happy Sunday ......

I do hope you've enjoyed your weekend.
It's been a little crazy here, trying to get back to normal after our trip across to the UK.  We're almost there though ..... just the ironing mountain to conquer now.  That can wait until tomorrow I think!

It was workshop day yesterday ....... the annual festive crafty get together.  A little early I know but, December is getting pretty booked up already!

I haven't done a workshop for a while so it was nice to see everyone.  We had a full house too, with a couple of new faces,  so it was a busy day ...... full of glitter and sparkle and lots of fake snow.  We had  Christmas tunes playing, lots of mince pies and of course ...... chocolate!  We were definitely in the festive spirit ...... I definitely was at the end of the day ..... I'd earned it!!

We made pretty Christmas baubles using products from Lavinia Stamps ......  these were the ones I'd made as samples ........

They are so easy to create.  You buy the empty bauble, which comes in three sizes ..... the ones above are the small (8cm) and the medium (10cm) size.   They're also available in a large 15cm version which is huge!  You'll have to wait a little longer to see those .... there's currently three on my desk waiting to be finished!!

They're a beautiful, clear plastic bauble which really does look, and feel like glass and you can fill them and decorate them however you like.
We had fun with the Lavinia printed acetates that fit perfectly inside.
There were lots of fairies ....

Little winter scenes ......

And a few woodland creatures.  I chose the gorgeous stag ......

As you can see there was a little bit of glitter involved ....... lots of iridescent, shredded cello, feathers, and of course fake snow.  

We used pretty paper flowers and leaves, berries, ribbons, and pine cones to decorate the tops.

The worktable looked like it had been in a blizzard by the end of the afternoon, and there was glitter everywhere .... and I mean everywhere!!!  It was so much fun though, and such a busy afternoon that I didn't get chance to take any photos ..... sorry guys, I know, I'm rubbish!!!

You'll just have to take my word for it ...... it was a beautiful collection of baubles at the end of the day and each one was so different.

To finish off the afternoon we also made some quick and easy Christmas tags.  The ones that I've been making for this year's 12 Tags of Christmas with Loll & Friends went down very well, especially the little snowman from Day 1, the three tags from Day 11 (I love those too!) and look,  this little chap made another appearance ........ he's my tag for Day 12 of the event

He was actually the favourite of the afternoon.

Simply stamped in black ..... using my MISTI of course ......

Highlights added using a bit of green glitter for the holly leaves, and some red glitter glue for the festive berries ......

A sentiment heat embossed in gold over the top  ......

And a touch of the Midas Gold Nuvo pen for a little added sparkle

He had to have a touch of snow too.

Well, that's the Christmas workshop done for 2018, as always it was a fabulous day .... thanks ladies.
And .... the 12 Tags of Christmas with Loll & Friends has come to an end too ..... yes, it was the last one this year ....... sigh!

I've really enjoyed playing along each year with this event ...... and I'm so proud to have been one of Loll's Friends/ Guest Designers for the last 4 events.
So as I link up my final tag ...... I'd like to say a big Thank You to Loll and wish you and all your Friends, and family, the very best holiday season. 
The run up to Christmas has officially started!

Ho! Ho! Ho! 

Hubby thinks I should wait until December before I decorate the Christmas tree ....... so, I put this one up instead ...... I'm calling it my winter tree.

Well I had to make sure the lights worked, and it was a shame to put it back in the box ....... it looks so pretty!! Not sure whether the little man likes it, his reaction was ...... Grandma, where are the leaves? 

Wait until he sees the new Christmas tree ..... that's covered in snow!!!

This is what we brought home with us ..... I just hope it looks like that when I get it out of the box!!

Thanks for popping by ...... enjoy what's left of your weekend.

I'm going to have to sit on my hands and resist the temptation to get the Christmas decorations out!!

Cheerio until next time ....

The weekend is here ......

Happy Friday .....

Well we're home!  The crossing wasn't too bad, a bit like a roller coaster in places ....... up and down, side to side ...... but we had a cabin again so we slept for most of it.
We crammed in as much as we could whilst we were in the UK ....... sadly not enough time to see everyone though.

It's business as usual again now.   There's exciting DT stuff to do, I've still got a couple of tags left for the 12 Tags event, and I have a  Christmas workshop tomorrow (Saturday).  Things are getting a little Christmas crazy around here and it's not even December yet!!!

Speaking of Christmas though, I'm catching up the 12 Tags of Christmas with Loll & Friends ......

Here's my tag, or should I say tags, for Day 11 ......

Inspired by the girls from STAMPlorations, I've used some of the fabulous festive sentiments from their Christmas Typografia range
I love large sentiment stamps and these are perfect for creating really quick and easy, yet stunning Christmas cards, and they are great for tags

I simply stamped and heat embossed the words onto my coloured tags .......

This one is perfect to make into a Christmas tree ..... a simple tub on the bottom and a few dots of glitter glue here and there for the baubles,

Or why not add a sprinkling of Chunky White Embossing Powder to give a great snowy look.

Simple fussy cut holly leaves on the bottom of this one ..... very festive.

A popular technique at the moment is to give this spotlight effect ...... achieved by simply blending the same colour of ink as your base card but, a shade or two darker, around the edges of your tag

I love the effect .... don't you.

I'm also linking these tags up the 25 Days of Christmas Tags 2018 ...... hosted by Tracey McNeely

 

Thanks for popping by ....... I know it's getting late. I've been trying to blog all day but things just kept getting in the way!

I'm going to put my feet up, catch up on some TV and have a nice G&T ...... I've earned it today.

Cheerio until next time .....

 

We're heading home .......

Happy Thursday ......

What's this .... no tag?
No, I've got something a little different today ...... Artist Trading Coins.
If you're not familiar with these, they're just like ATC's (Artist Trading Cards) except they're circles.  Two and half inches in diameter and, as with ATC's, they can have any design on them or be any theme, and they are mean't to be swapped.

I recently became a member of an ATC/AT Coin group on group on Facebook, started up by the lovely Kylie (Addicted to Stamps and More).  There's quite a few of us on there now, from all over the world, and the idea is we swap our little works of art with each other. 

There's a swap going on for November, we have to create a set of three Coins with a Christmas theme.  This particular set will be winging its way to Australia very soon!

These coins are made from MDF, which is a great surface to work on.  They can be made from card though ..... perfect if you have a 2.5 inch punch.

I gave the coins a quick coat of white gesso then painted them with a PaperArtsy Fresco Finish paint. The stamping has been done using a brown Archival ink.

Santa ......

Rudolph ...... (just look at those eyes!!!)

and I had to give him a shiny nose .......

and finally the poinsettia, which has been stamped in Versamark ink, and then heat embossed in copper, and coloured using one of the paints again

If you're on FB and fancy joining in, check out the group .... we're a very friendly bunch!
You'll find all you need to know about making AT Coins and ATC's and how to get involved in the swaps etc.
I will warn you though .... they are very addictive, and so much fun to make.

I've gotta dash ... we're heading back home today, on the afternoon ferry.  Fingers crossed it's a little calmer on the water than it was when we came over.  Although, it sounds like its a little windy out there so maybe not!

We've still lots to do this morning though, including the packing! I'd better get a move on.

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your day and I'll see you on the other side.

EDITED ........ to link up to this month's Country View Crafts Blog Challenge which is all about Artist Trading Coins.

Cheerio until next time ....

Guest Designer of this year's 12 Tags of Christmas with Loll and Friends

Happy Wednesday evening ......

Yes it's me again!   As you all probably know by now, and if you don't then where have you been?!!!! ....... it's the time of year when the lovely Loll Thompson hosts her 12 Tags of Christmas with Loll & Friends

It's year number 5 for this fun event, but sadly, this is the final one.
So, whether you're a regular to this event or, you've never played along before, this year is your last chance!

We're at Day 10, and there's been some amazing tags so far ..... so much gorgeous inspiration. Check out the blog ......  I promise you, you won't be disappointed.

As you know I've been playing along all week, but today, I'm thrilled to say it's my turn to be Guest Designer ...... thanks for having me again!

 

When Loll invited me to share in the event, this little guy had just appeared in the craft room. 
He's called Bundled Up ..... he's from Penny Black ....... and he's just sooo cute!!! I love him .... can you tell!

I've stamped him here onto Kraft cardstock using Distress Oxide inks and I think he looks fab!

I did use my MISTI,  stamped one colour at a time,  and built up the image gradually. 
So, I stamped the hat and his eyes with Black Soot, added the holly and the berries using Peeled Paint and Festive Berries, his carrot nose with Carved Pumpkin,  then I did the scarf with the red again ..... you see what I mean.

Once I was happy with the depth of colour, a quick blast with the old heat tool to make sure the ink was dry, and then I went over the top of the inks using Prismacolor Pencils in the same shades, to give a more solid, detailed look

To colour his face and body I used PaperArtsy's Snowflake Fresco Finish Acrylic Paint mixed with a little water, and finished with a white Prisma pencil over the top.

I heat embossed the sentiment across the bottom ......

A little bit of white ink dusted around the edges of the tag, lots of chunky white embossing powder to give the snowy effect, and some crystal glitter for a little icy sparkle to finish.

 
The festive red berries are Nuvo drops ......

I've had so much fun playing along with all the 12 tags events ..... thank you again Loll, for having me as one of your Guest Designers ..... it's been an absolute pleasure.

I do hope you can join in the fun, and make this final event the best one ever!
Full details, and a list of prizes up for grabs can be found over on Loll's Blog.

There's still lots of time to play along.  I know we're nearly at the end of the 12 Days of inspiration tags but, the actual link where you can add your own tag is open until November 23rd.

Happy stamping!

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your evening.

Cheerio until next time .....