Another week over .....

Good morning ..... Happy weekend!

I can't believe we're half way through November already ...... how did that happen!!  This last week has really flown by, probably because I've been busy trying to keep up with Loll's 12 Tags of Christmas event ...... it's been so much fun!

Day 12 was yesterday ..... but the event is staying open until the 16th (tomorrow), so I've still got time to link up my last 2 tags ....... I did say I was going to do all 12!

Here's my penultimate tag ........ (this was going to be the last one but ........ I couldn't get any decent pictures last night of the one that was going to be number 11 so I've swapped them round ..... does that make sense?!)   Pop back later to see Tag number 12.

Tag #11

'Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!' ..... the last line from the poem 'Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore.  It's something that sticks in my mind from when I was a child.  I had it in a book, and we would always read it on Christmas Eve, and I remember it being such a BIG book, in the shape of Santa.  I'm not sure what happened to it though, which is a shame ..... it probably wouldn't seem so big now!
Anyhow ..... I did buy another one the year that Chris was born (1990) ...... it comes out every year with the Christmas decorations and we read it on Christmas Eve ....... to our Grandson now! Christmas just wouldn't be the same without it!

Back to the tag ....... the top half of the tag (the sky) was inked using Distress inks - Tea Dye/Vintage Photo and Aged Mahogany.  I placed a circle mask on there first to create the moon.
I then stamped Santa and his reindeer (IndigoBlu's Here Comes Santa stamp set), using Potting Soil Archival ink, across the moon.

The town silhouette is from Inkylicious and has also been stamped using the brown archival ink.  i then sprinkled the tag with chunky white embossing powder, and added a touch of glitter to the moon.

The sentiment banner across the bottom is a chipboard embellishment I found in my Christmas stash ...... I think it's from an old BoBunny collection, not sure which one though, but it's perfect for this tag.

To finish off I added the festive red bow along with some die cut holly leaves and a couple of shiny sleigh bells

Only one more tag to go!

Oh well must dash ....... busy day today.  Trip into town this morning ..... if I can get everyone out of bed that is! (I think hubby might just have a hangover ...... it was rather later when he got in last night!)  Chris needs to go to the opticians, hubby needs new shoes ..... and I need to look for the all important frock for the Christmas Do ...... something I'm not looking forward to.
Then it's off to the wine store to pick up what we ordered from the wine tasting a few weeks ago. Good job I'm off the antibiotics finally ...... I can actually have a glass or two (HIC!)
Then this afternoon, it's off to the north of the island .... up to Ramsey, and my favourite shop. According to their Facebook page it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in there so ...... it may be time to add to my every growing bauble collection or, even do a spot of Christmas shopping.  They always have gorgeous scarves in there (a weakness of mine) and beautiful handmade jewellery.  Their scented candles are just heaven, and they have fabulous home decor pieces ....... could be an expensive trip!!

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy your Saturday.  I'll be back later on with that final tag!

Cheerio until then

Linda

xx

10 done ..... only 2 more to go

Hello again!

It's time for Tag number 10 for Loll's 12 Tags of Christmas event.  I've had so much fun playing along this week ..... it's a shame it's all coming to an end (sigh!) What am I going to do next week?!! 

Today's tag is all about the Festive Gent .......

Tag #10

I love this Tim Holtz die!

He's been cut from black cardstock, and then his scarf has been cut again from a piece of red, and layered over the top.  I then sprinkled him with a little chunky white embossing powder, to give the look of falling snow

The background has been done using Distress Inks, and those favourite Clarity trees again, and I added a festive greeting to the bottom.

To add a bit more texture to the background I used a stencil along with some dimensional paste across the top and the bottom of the tag ....... more falling snow!

I attached the gent to the tag using foam pads and then added the cute little wreath.

Two more tags to go ....... they are made (yeah!!) I just need to take some pictures and then I'll share.
I've got until the 16th so no need to panic just yet.

Well that's me done I think.  Today's tag shared - check!  Dinner's out of the way, and the washing up done - check! .... ok dishwasher's loaded and switched on!  The little man is bathed and in bed - check!  not an easy task this evening I might add ........ he put up a bit of a fight!!

It was Super Hero Day at pre-school and I had the job of getting this one clean ....... Spiderman, no problem for SuperGran!!

I think it's time to relax, put my feet up and catch up with some TV.  Hubby's out this evening, wetting his work colleague's baby's head ....... so I won't be seeing him this side of midnight!!

Thanks for popping by ..... I'll be back tomorrow to share my last two tags with you.

Cheerio until then

Linda

xx 

Have you joined in the challenge yet? ......

Happy Friday!

Time to remind you all of the current Take It Make It Challenge over on the Craft Stamper Blog.

Have you joined in the fun yet ....... or are you still going through your stamp stash to find a non-Christmas stamp to create something festive with?

Use circles and turn them into festive baubles, triangles for Christmas trees, ovals into tree lights or do you have any birds in your stamp collection?  Well why not turn them into ........

a festive robin

I've used one of the Scribbly Birds by Dina Wakley for my little guy ...... how cute is he! Quick and easy too ..... great if you're doing a lot of cards.

I stamped him in a brown Archival ink and then used Spectrum Noir pencils and Distress ink to colour him in

I added a festive greeting (and sneaked in a pretty little snowflake too!).  Then sprinkled a touch of Chunky White Embossing Powder here and there to give the look of snow.

You don't get more Christmassy than a cheeky little robin!

Are you ready to take the challenge?  Or, are you still looking for ideas?   Well, there's more fabulous inspiration from the rest of the DT on the Craft Stamper Blog today. Why not pop over, take a look, and then join in the fun.

Our sponsor this month is The Artistic Stamper .......

And as always there's a fab prize for the winner ....

You have until November 26th to get your entries in ..... and you never know, you could be adding these to your stash!  Good luck!

Speaking of Craft Stamper ......... I've been doing a happy little dance around the old craft room because ...... I've been published in my favourite craft magazine - whoo hoo!!!

You can find me in this month's Stamping Contrasts article, alongside talented members of the magazine's regular Design Team, using the gorgeous IndigoBlu stamps Snowflake Lace and Dinkie Merry Christmas Circle.

We all had the same stamps to work with ..... but each wintry design is so different.  It just shows how versatile these fabulous stamps are!

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

Cheerio until next time

Linda

xx

A Tag on a Tag ......

Good evening folks,

Just a quick post this evening with today's tag for Loll's 12 Tags of Christmas event.

Day 9 (for me) ....... a tag, on a tag!

Tag #9

If there's a sparkly gift like this one, under the tree for me ..... I will be pleased!

I took a piece of white card to make the tag, inked it with Distress inks (Tea Dye/Vintage Photo & Aged Mahogany) then spritzed it with water.

I stamped the pine branch (from SU's Ornamental Pine set)  across the top using a green Versafine ink, and the pine cones (from the same stamp set) were stamped onto white card using a brown Archival ink, then fussy cut and attached onto the branches.

The parcel is really simple .... just a piece of gold glitter card with some festive red ribbon attached, finished off with a matching bow, and of course a gift tag!

That's 9 down ..... 3 more to go!

It's actually Day 12 of the event tomorrow (Friday), when the fun comes to an end (sigh!) ........ No wait!!  It might be day 12 but, the event is open until the 16th (yeah!!) ....... so loads of time to get 3 more tags done!

There's already lots of fabulous tags linked to the event.  For those of you that are interested,  Loll' set up a Pinterest Board for them.  Why not pop over and see ....... they look so good all together!

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy what's left of Thursday.

Cheerio until next time

Linda

xx 

Starry Starry Night .......

Good morning!

Happy Thursday to you.  At least it's not raining this morning ...... yet!!  One of the joys of living on the Isle of Man ..... the weather can be a little changeable, usually by lunchtime!

It's not all bad though ..... hubby sent me a link the other day, 45 Reasons Why Living in the Isle of Man Ruins you for Life!  see what you think!

It's the dreaded One Layer Week over at Less is More ....... always fun!  And this time the focus is ....

Starry, Starry Night!

We still need to keep to the CAS rule, lots of white space, and there must be stars on there (obviously!)

I decided NOT to go all festive on this one ...... I needed a change, I'm getting all Christmas'd out!!

I used Distress Inks to colour the panel (Stormy Sky/Faded Jeans and Chipped Sapphire) after I'd stamped the stars using Versamark and Clear embossing powder.
The embossing powder acts as a resist to the ink ..... once I was happy with the colour I buffed over the stars with a piece of kitchen roll removing any ink left on them.  The darker the ink, the more the stars show through

I then stamped my favourite Lavinia fairy .....

Added some foliage around the edge, and my sentiment ....

And a touch of Clear Wink of Stella to her wings ....... a girl needs sparkly wings!

One Layer Week ..... done. Thank goodness!

Here's something else about the Isle of Man ...... not everything means the same over here as it does in the UK (or anywhere else for that matter!)  Check this out ...... it made me smile!

Thanks for popping by ........ have a great Thursday!

Cheerio until next time

Linda

xx