Grungy Christmas!

Yes, although we are in the Halloween month I have done something Christmasy for you :D  I have decorated the Christmas Birdhouse in a bit of a grungy style.
 

 
 

 
Everything that you see is supplied in the kit apart from the paint and glitter. Such a shame you can't see that!!!!!
 
Thank you for looking today, take care xxx
 

Gift Book

I have decorated an A5 book for my project this time.  I like to keep a note of the presents I give at Christmas each year so that people don't get the same thing each time!!!  I can also keep an eye on my spending that way too :D
 

 
I covered the book with 2 layers of white gesso before adding some white modelling paste through the pretty STEAMPUNK CHRISTMAS TREE STENCIL.  I also added a little texture paste through some punchinella here and there.  While this was drying I took 3 snowflakes out of the MINI SNOWFLAKES PACK and painted them in pale blue before covering them with stickles.
 

 
A small bookplate was painted with primary Magenta, covered with Crackle Glaze then had Titanium antiquing Cream rubbed into it when dry.
 
When the book cover was dry and set I painted over the whole piece with Titanium White and added some little stamped snowflakes in Archival Plum, using the 2nd stamping.  The stencil was replaced and Primary Magenta was stencilled onto the tree.  Some pale blue was dry brushed in places.
 

 
I stamped the word 'Gifts' onto some white card and glued it to the bookplate before glueing it to the base of the tree.  The snowflakes were glued in place and some more stickle dots were added here and there for extra sparkle.  Some fancy lace finished the book off.
 
Thank you for popping by, take care XXX
 

Winter Wonderland

Hellooooo!  I have been having a lot of fun creating a Winter Wonderland for The Craft Barn using *Tando Creative* products.  The prompt was to use *Tando Snowflakes* which is a lovely selection of chippie snowflakes all in one pack!  I went a little further and created this scene using the wonderfully versatile *Art Room*... its very sparkly and such a shame that you can't see that...

a closer look...

For details of how I created this please take a look over *here*.

I hope your Christmasy preparations are going well!!!!  Take care xxx

Christmas Bling!

Hello!  Who doesn't love a bit og bling at this time of the year!!!!!    I have taken the *bauble branch* and a few little *stockings* from *Tando Creative* to make a Christmasy hanging.  (Its tricky to photograph with so much glitter on it though, sorry) 
 

 
The baubles and stockings were painted with acrylic paint before being glittered and gold beads added.  The branch has been painted then had liquid glass added.  These were all mounted onto a decorated wooden container saved from last Christmas.  I think it came with dates in it!!!  I lined the box with glittered Christmasy paper and painted the sides green.  Then went over the edges with a Gold Micron pen.  The 'Merry Christmas' is from my stash and painted & glittered to match.
 
There is an on going challenge on our *blog* where we make a monthly draw for a chance to win some Tando goodies.  As one of our weeks is always an anything goes week you can enter anything you would like and you don't have to use Tando at all...but if you do you are entered twice in the draw.  Take a look at the tab at the top of our blog.
 
Thank you for looking today, lots of hugs xxx

Christmas Houses

With Christmas very upper in my mind now  I have made some decoration pieces to share with you.  Looking at the *TRIPLE HOUSE HANGING* I saw that its very 3D and each house can actually be free standing!  So that's what I have done...

Each house is around 5inches tall to give you an idea of size.  The main parts have been painted and a chunky Gold Pilot pen run down the edges.  Inside the frames I have added some stamped pictures along with some stamped holly.  The rooves are covered in corrugated card.

You could of course add Christmas photographs inside the frames if you wish ;-P  Here it is as its 'supposed' to look...

I used :
Triple House Hanging
DecoArt Media Paint - Primary Magenta(a good Christmas red), Yellow Green Light & Titan Buff.
Crafty Individual Stamps - Christmas Santa Smiles & Merry Christmas


If you would like to play along with us then please do!  Take a look at the November Tab at the top of the Tando Blog for more details.

Thank you for looking today and please pop back soon! Hugs xxx

Skater tag!

Hello, its Karen here with a tag that I have made using this months pretty colour scheme.
 

 
I used a lovely *Ice-Skate* from a pack of 6 as the centre piece.  The 'spots' were made using the new *Mini Mask - Sequins*  These mini masks are fabulous for areas!  The spots were then covered with *DecoArt Liquid Glass*  which is fabulous stuff!  The skate was mounted onto some painted corrugated card then onto some glittery card.  Some wide organza ribbon, wire and a bead finished my tag off.  I will be adding a sentiment at a later date.  Here is the colour theme...
 

 
Thank you for taking a look today. 
Hugs, Karen x

Christmas Bunting

Hi!  Don't you just love this time of the year for crafting?  We can really go bonkers with the decorations;-p   This time I have been playing with the *Christmas Stockings* and made some bunting!
 

 
The 7 stockings have been covered with old book paper and then dry brushed with some gold.  I didn't use the stocking tops but used some old lace instead to give a more vintage feel.  They have been threaded up with wooden heart buttons and string.
 

 
Thank you for popping by again today, hugs xxx
 
 

Christmas Robins!

Helloooo!  I adored having a play with these little fellas!  These *Robins* are NEW this year and so darned cute!  They come in a pack of 6 and you can choose from MDF or Greyboard.  I used the greyboard ones and made up some decorations...
 

 
They have a lot of sparkle so I also took a pic with a flash so that you could see that...
 

 
The bodies of the robins have been covered with paper that I decorated myself using bronze paint and some stamping...I coloured the berries with a Posca Pen.
 

 
Once glued together I covered them with some DecoArt Clear Glitter paint to give them sparkle.  Two of them have been mounted onto matching cotton reels while the other four have been stuck back to back to make two hanging decorations.  Here is the pack as it comes, complete with separate wings and tummies...
 

 
I hope you enjoyed a little bit of Christmas in amongst all the Halloween stuff hahaha!!!!!  If you fancy playing along with our themes at anytime than do take a look at the tab at the top of the *Tando blog* for more information about how you can win a prize if you do.
 
Take care out there my lovelies xxxxx

Christmas snowflakes

Hello and its the start of another week!   Did you know that Tando Chipboard can go through your embossing folders?  The folders can create a whole new genre to play with.  You can also use our MASK/STENCILS as embossing folders, which is what I have done here.  I used the *snowflake mask* to create a Christmas card...well a few actually :-D
 

 
Not sure if you can see that this is embossed in the picture.  I covered the mask with embossing ink before running it through my Big Shot and embossing.  Then I hunted own my gold Perfect Pearls and added it with a soft brush (it only sticks to the embossing ink).  I roughened up the edges and mounted the piece onto some fancy paper before attaching it to the card base.  A ribbon and sentiment finished it off.  Oh and some clear glitter as its Christmas!!!!
 
Thank you for looking today, Hugs, xxx

CHRISTMAS TREE SHELF

Hellooooo!  Christmas is coming!!!!! I have a different hat on today and its for The Craft Barn.  They asked me to make up an Advent Calendar for them and when I saw that Tando were releasing this lovely Tree shelf thingy I thought I would use that to put little advent parcels on...

Its big at around 19inches high!  I went to a cheapy shop and bought little matchboxes to wrap in Christmasy papers.  Here it is necked...

I covered it with torn book pages and added lace and little gold hearts.  But there are so many ways that this could be decorated isn't there?

Here is the tree in an even more necked form haha!

Do pop over the The Craft Barn Blog as Dawn and Neil have done two fantastic advent calendars that I know you will like!!!!  For more information on how I put this together please take a look *here*.

Thank you for popping by my lovelies, take care xxx

 

Soon be Christmas haha!

Hello and welcome to a brand new week where we are getting all painty!  I certainly got paint up my arms, down my jeans........haha!  I have been thinking ahead and have painted up a CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN KIT for you and yes, you do get all the elements to add to it.    The picture of this on the website has paper added to it so I thought to give it a different perspective as well as use non traditional colours.  I have used metallic paints in copper and turquoise.

The background has had SNOWFLAKES stencilled with TEXTURE PASTE before being painted with an off-white and highlighted with a little turquoise.  I have added clear glitter paint here and there to add to the sparkle!!!

If you would like to see more of the Design Teams work with the fabulous TANDO CREATIVE GOODIES then pop along HERE!!!


Thank you for taking a peek today and is it too early to wish you all Happy Christmas????? :-p


HUGS xxxx

Festive Fun!!!!!

Holidays are coming....holidays are coming... Time to make a few tags for my parcels!!!

These have been made using the gorgeous stand alone Tando SET OF 3 STANDING FIR TREES except that I didn't stand them up haha!  They are such a pretty shape aren't they?  They have been painted with acrylics and then some lush Sparkle Medium spread through Tando's SEQUIN WASTE MASK..  The tags have been painted white and covered with scrunched up patterned tissue paper and rubbed lightly with Treasure Gold wax.  A little stamped tag and some ribbons finish them off!

This post celebrates the 1st week of our DECEMBER CHALLENGE at Tando Creative.....Festive Fun!  We know its a busy time for us all but if you enter you can win some fabulous Tando goodies that you can choose yourself!  How cool is that?  You don't have to use Tando but if you do you get entered twice!  Here are the goodies that I used all available from *HERE* at very reasonable prices too!

The lovely trees...

The Sequin Waste Mask...

Do enter if you can my lovelies!  Take care...holidays are coming...holidays are coming...haha!  Hugs xxx

Lots of Sparkle!!!

Yes, lots of lovely sparkle for you this week.  Are you feeling the sparkle of Christmas yet?   I am kicking it all of with an old favourite...a *Christmas Stocking* .  At the time of writing its on special offer - 2 for 1 - and its reduced!!!!  A brilliant thing for you or your kids to decorate while they are waiting for Santa!!!!!  Here is mine...
 

 
 I have painted the lower part red and added some Sparkle Medium through one of our lovely *Flourish Masks*.  I dabbed Texture Paste on the top section and then rubbed in a little Treasure Gold.  After glueing the pieces together I added teensy pom-poms to the points and a string tie.  For those short on time this little stocking would look very pretty covered with paper too!  Oh and wouldn't Bunting look amazing done with these?
 
Here it is necked hehe...
 

 
and the gorgeous flourish mask...

Have a fabulous Sparkly Happy Christmas!!!!  Hugs,  xxx

Quick Christmas Cards!

Hellooooo!  If you are stuck for an idea for 'batch making' your Christmas cards try something like this!  They are quick and easy for a 'production line' hahahahaha!!!  This one is Black & Gold to fit our topic this week.  Sorry that the sparkle doesn't show up that much :-(

I have used the Tando STEAMPUNK CHRISTMAS TREE MASK for mine but there are other Christmasy masks available as well!  Simply take some black card and cover it with some Sparkly Clear Glitter paint.  When dry spread some Sparkle Medium through the mask.

I have also done some that have a dry-brush painty background to add more colour.  Using different colour mediums took some of the boredom chore out of making so many cards!!!

These really do look striking in real life. 

The Steampunk Christmas Tree Mask...

For this Christmas masks and lots of other goodies do pop over *here* for a browse, there is loads to wet your crafting appetite plus we have some new releases very soon!!!!

HUGS xxxxx

SANTA, PLEASE STOP HERE.....

ooooo its nearly Santa time!!!!!!!!  My daughter adores Christmas so what better early present is there for someone like her hahaha!  A personalised *Santa, Please Stop Here* sign :-D  I love that this is personalised...you just add the names required onto your order!

There are 6 stockings in all so 6 names can be added!  As there are only 3 in my daughters family I have tucked the other 3 away safely to be added later.  I also made an extra hole so that the stockings 'balance' out, easy to do! The main section has been painted white and then over stamped with fir trees. 

The houses have been covered in glittery paper with corrugated card for rooves.   I went round the houses with a red watercolour pencil.  The stocking were treated in the same way.

All the lettering has been painted red and glitter added to give it sparkle.  I loved the sparkle but wanted it to glow as well so I rubbed some Treasure Gold around the whole thing.  I glued some rough string around the main section and tied on the stockings with a finer string.

This would make a lovely Family item to come out year after year...well...until Santa stops coming hahaha!  Saying that......he always comes to our house!

Take care out there xxx

CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN

Yes...it will soon be here...very soon haha!!!!  Once its December then Christmas is on it and what better way to start the celebrations than with a Countdown Calendar? 

This is a Tando Kit and you get everything that you need (even the hooks) apart from the decorating materials.  I have painted mine but it could easily be covered in gorgeous Christmas papers.  The stockings are around 3inches long to give you an idea of the scale and the whole thing is free-standing.

I have used acrylic paint on this one, along with some random stamping.  For the sign I used a woodgrain stamp to make it look more realistic.

The stocking have been painted and then glittered...got to have sparkle at Christmas haha!  Or should that be hoho!!!!!  Here is how it arrives, along with your instructions...

It doesn't take long to put together so there is plenty of time before 1st December :-D

Take care xxx

CHRISTMAS BOWL!

Hi there!  Its not far away is it?  Christmas I mean haha!!!!  I know I shouldn't really say it but I love how this bowl turned out :-D  Its one of *TANDO CREATIVE'S* 3D bowls.  I shall be using it for sweeties.  You build up the layers to get the shape and there are two shapes...an Oval Bowl and a Heart Shape Bowl.  Its a bit tricky to photograph so that the depth shows up though, sorry!  You can see the depth further down.

Its incredibly strong when its put together (which is easy) and I have added a couple of coats of satin varnish.  I decorated the centre 1st with paints and stamping...I love this reindeer by The House of Zandra.  He has been coloured with Derwent Inktense Pencils with some glitter added to his antlers!  The message stamp is by Crafty Individuals.  I couldn't resist adding the bobble trim.

You can see the depth of the bowl better when its naked...

and the Heart Shaped Bowl, which is gorgeous...

This is all for the *TANDO CREATIVE CHALLENGE* for this month...A USEUL PIECE OF KIT!  You don't have to use our products to enter but if you do you are put into the PRIZE DRAW twice.  Plus...you get to choose your prizes :-D. 

Thank you for coming to take a look, I really appreciate it, HUGS xxx

Christmas Tree Re-visited!

Hello, today I am revisiting an old project that  I did way back in 2010 :D  Tando has been doing a lot of retail shows lately and there has been a lot of interest in the CHRISTMAS TREE BOOK.  It has 4 pages of shaped chipboard and stands at 24cm high.  It can be a freestanding piece as I have done here or made into a lovely book full of Christmas Memories.

*Please bear in mind this was decorated before we had the lovely Tando Mini's to play with and if I did this now they would be included!*

Each page has been covered with patterned paper with a layer of gesso to dull down the colours a little.  Snow effect paste & glitter applies round the edges.  Then the book was put together with a Bind It All.

Page 1

I hand cut 2 trees in 2 sizes from green card and attached to the centre 'fold', adding a red pot.  The tree was decorated with tiny stamped, coloured & cut out parcels and gems.  I wrapped some tiny Christmas Lights around it to add some more dimension and added a quote.

Page 2

 The snowman has been made from felt, with  a fabric scarf.  Punched out snowflakes and a quote have been added.

Page 3

A pretty Tando REINDEER SMALL RUNNING has been painted and added to die-cut trees, along with a few teensy white pom-poms and another quote.

Page 4

I made little fabric stockings with the felt tops and glued them on.  Then teensy pom-poms were added to the toes.  A stamped Father Christmas was coloured, cut out & added to the page, along with the quote.  Here is the book as it comes to you...

Lots of dimension going on with this piece and it looks lovely on the Christmas table :D  I have used a lot of fabric and stamping here to decorate it but why don't you go and take a look at our Christmas Section where you will find mini stocking, parcels, snowflakes etc to decorate yours!

Thank you for looking today, HUgs xxx