NOW it's OK to do Christmas!!

Since it is November and all the other holidays have been cleared away I think it's OK to finally start on Christmas :)

The papers, chipboard shapes and Ephemera I used for this layout are all from Couture Creations ''Christmas Emporium'' collection.

These are lovely papers - double sided, two of each design in the pack, not too thin, not too thick....in fact they're just right! A mix of Christmas designs in blue, grey, green, and red. There are birds, music, holly wreaths and sprigs, postage stamps and vintage photos to choose from - what more could you want!

I chose to use a blue/grey and white combination for my masculine layout

No title this time - but doesn't he look like a Christmas Angel? 

The background treatment for this layout is so simple, and something I haven't done for quite a long time. Rather than my usual obsess over mixed media, texture paste and paint I have used heat embossing to create my snowy overlay. For the white edges of the papers I used the Emboss-it Dabber to wet the torn edges then dipped them in white embossing powder and heated. The snowflakes were stamped with Emboss-it ink and then heat embossed the same way. To add the extra white snow ''dots'' on the top  I dabbed the embossing ink with an ink blending tool through the Kaisercraft 12x12 Christmas Quarters Template.

I have a Christmas gift for you...leave me a comment here on the blog or on the my2angels Facebook page if you would like your own Kaisercraft Christmas Quarters Template. On the 1st of December I'll get my random number picker to choose one of your comments and send it to you :) 

While I was in the embossing mood I also made the pointsettia flowers decorating this layout. I had previously made some ATC's for my regular swap - the technique for this month was using bleach. I made an extra card for myself - you can see it on the bottom left of the photo. The pointsettia is stamped and embossed onto the same blue paper as the background. When you paint the petals with bleach they turn into that lovely lighter turquoise. I liked the effect so much that I repeated it several times for this layout :) The centres are just a scatter of Silver Microbeads over a few dots of Glossy Accents

The ATC card and the photo are popped up on Kaisercraft Foam Tape.



Other flowers are Two tone Antique Blue roses, White half-open rosebuds and White Pointsettias. I substituted the orange stamens in the centre of the Pointsettias with a Clear Rhinestone Dot.
Two Large Silver Snowflakes and a Happy Silver Snowman are hanging down on some Silver chain and to finish off there is a scattering of Crushed Ice Sugar Beads.

In the bottom corner of my layout (for balance) is a gorgeous  Family Silver and White Charming Word. There's another dangling Happy Silver Snowman charm there, and a Silver Spoon is not quite containg some more pretty Sugar Beads. The two chipboard shapes under the photo above come from the Christmas Emporium Chipboard Shapes pack and card with the wreath on it below comes from the Christmas Emporium Ephemera pack.

Don't forget to leave me a comment (a nice one please) to be in with a chance to win that Kaisercraft Christmas Quarters Template :)

Merry and BRIGHT - our OTP Light Kits

For those of you unable to make it here to the Gold Coast for a Christmas OTP class - we have something special for you too.

Our Charming Lights kits are available as a great gift idea for corporate events, family or even to just spoil yourself!

Each jar will be painted and fabric-coated when posted out - all you have to do is add the pretty trimmings contained within the Kit. Each measures approximately 20cm in height, with a 12cm diameter base.

Please allow a couple of days after ordering, as we make up kits as we receive the orders.

Black and Gold

A classic colour combination - this is a truly stunning light. The gauzy, gilt flower on the front is just breath-taking.

Traditional Theme

This light is a perfect match for those of you with a more traditional Christmas theme.

Blue and Silver

Of course I needed to do one to match the pastel tones of my favourite Kaisercraft Christmas range. Match them with some cards made up with Silver Bells paper and you will have the perfect Christmas table centerpiece.

Pink, Silver and White

And of course - we have Pretty in Pink (with Silver & White) for those of you who love love pink.

Purple Passion

A luxurious and rich purple with gold accents - this gorgeous light would make a wonderful adornment to any woman's (or girl's) bedroom.

White and Silver

For those of you with only a small space to make festive and no room for a proper Xmas tree - consider our classic white and silver Charming Light instead. Wouldn't it look gorgeous surrounded by a few Xmas pressies?

All kits are available for the reasonable price of $24.99 (not including postage). This includes everything you need to make these gorgeous lights (you will need your own scissors and glue).

What you will receive in your kit.

Prepared jar, painted and fabric/mesh adhered.

Lid pre-drilled for lights.

Battery operated lights (2 x AA batteries not included).

Electrical tape to secure your lights.

All beading (where required) on selective kits is pre-made for you.

Any handmade poinsettias in selected kits are pre-made for you.

Basic Instructions for putting it all together will be sent via email.

Don't have the colour combination you require?  Send us an email via the website on the "contact us" tab and we will do our best to assist.

Each kit has various products - they differ between the kit colours. Here is an example of the Black and Gold Kit.

For those of you who don't want a Christmas theme - perhaps a baby night light or photo framed light might be more your style? Please feel free to email us with your ideas and we will create something personalised to suit your needs.

 

Use a favourite photo...

or what about this gorgeous baby/nursery nightlight. What little darling wouldn't sleep better with all those flowers and feathers (polyclay baby included in kit)?

To place your order pop over to the website here

DIY Christmas Lanterns

DIY Christmas Lanterns

For those who attended the 2015 my2angels retreat back in July and have been asking how I (and Shelley) made the Christmas Lanterns you all received, here is a step by step for you all.

 

We will have 4 Sizzix window dies in stock next week, if you would like to reserve one please email me via the website here (or you can email me if you know my address).  Dies cost $26.99 excluding postage which is approximately $7.40.  Don't want to purchase the die but want a kit made up for you, let me know and I will advise of costs.

So let's get started

Cut 4 windows out of sturdy cardboard or chipboard from the TIm Holtz Window Die.

If using pattern paper to cover your windows, glue paper to chipboard/cardboard FIRST, leave to dry then cut out the windows. 

Cut out the inner framework from one of the windows

Snipe two "end" pieces off all four windows.  Bend the other top 2 "ends" outwards.  Ink all over the insides of the windows. 

Cut 4 pieces of acetate measuring 7cm x 9cm and glue to the insides of the windows.

Glue two windows together (make sure the cut "ends"of windows are at the bottom.  I used the hot glue gun, much quicker and you don't have to hold the windows for so long waiting for liquid glue to dry. 

BASE

Cut square measuring 3.5cm in diameter and cut a circle in centre (our sugar beads jar is the exact size you require) - PS: Upcoming blog post is a step by step Christmas Bauble Card using our sugar bead

Glue the base to 2 of the windows

Then glue the remaining 2 windows to base.

Bend the "ends"on the window ledge and glue these to the bottom of your windows.  DON"T glue to line up with the base - you need a gap approximately 1cm, for the tea light to sit level

ROOF:  Cut 1 piece of sturdy cardboard or chipboard measuring 12cm x 12cm - score/bend towards each corner and pierce hole in centre

Adhere pattern paper and ribbon to top of roof (I used our white scalloped edge ribbon)

 

Inside of roof, adhere aluminium foil or tape sheets (this may help reflect your light) or just ink/adhere pattern paper - your choice

 Start to decorate lantern.

I cut out baubles from Silver Bells Carol and "hung" them from our white rhinestone chain.  Also I "hung" one of our Joy typewriter keys

To hide all glue or rough edges spray with Snow Spray, glitter, diamond dust or whatever will match your design

 

Paper I used for my blue and silver lantern is Silver Bells "Carol" available in the paper pack here

If you are planning on making several - we made 60 for the retreat - I found spray painting all the die pieces this was so much quicker

Please contact me if you have any questions or need to translate my "blonde" instructions lol

New Arrivals at my2angels

Kaisercraft Silver Bells

Soft pastels and pretty snowflakes will have you dreaming of a snow-capped Christmas trees and silver bells.  This beautiful collection will leave you with no doubt that Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year.

To compliment your Silver Bells creations my2angels has designed a new range of handmade embellishments

only $2.75 each while stocks last

Kaisercraft Home for Christmas

Add a rustic touch to your Christmas memories with this festive collection.  Colours, textures and patterns take on a natural feel that will have you spreading the peace, love and joy this Christmas.

my2angels has created more handmade embellishments to add to your creations with this rustic traditional range
 only $2.75 each while stocks last

PLUS Kaisercraft dies and templates to compliment your work

Lastly, Kaisercraft BTP

Hanging Baubles and Tear Drop Baubles

 to view all the new goodies pop over to our new arrivals section here
but hurry I can see the Silver Bells (which are seriously gorgeous IRL going fast, not to mention the complimenting dies and templates!)

Julie Nutting Christmas Ornaments

Have you seen these cute little Julie Nutting Wood Ornaments in the New Arrivals section!! I don't know how there are still some of these left....they look gorgeous decorated, and would be a great Christmas activity to share with the kids. 

They are totally customise-able (is that a word? It is now!!) and so much fun to play with. I have decorated mine (''Joy'') to match this year's Christmas colours at our house - red, white and gold.

First up the wooden pieces, the centre and two wings, had a coat of white primer and a light sand to prepare them for other media. Starting with the wings I added a few coats of gold metallic paint and followed that when it was almost but not quite dry, with a dry brush and a coat of Gold Perfect Pearls. This last powder coat gave the colour a smoother look and added a lovely shimmer.

On top of that I added a fairly thick, but deliberately uneven coat of Clear Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint. I love the old, antique look of crackle and wanted this for my ornament. While the crackle was still wet I sprinkled a little Stampendous Champagne Glass Glitter onto the top. Christmas should have a little bling ;) The back of the wings is exactly the same.

While I was waiting for the wings to dry and the crackle to activate I painted the bauble element. I just used ordinary acrylic paint - nothing fancy or expensive. There are a couple of coats of each colour, mostly to minimise the brush strokes and get an even coverage. The wood is etched quite deeply, so it's pretty easy to paint inside the lines. The entire back is painted with the darker red as well.

Loving the delicate shimmer of the Gold Perfect Pearls on the wings, I brushed Forever Red Perfect Pearls over the darker red section of the front, and over the whole back. 

I was still waiting for the wings to dry, so a little bling was added - five tiny Red Rhinestones around the neck of my ''Joy''s dress and a length of Gold Rhinestone Cup Chain circling the cut out centre of the bauble.

And STILL waiting for the wings to dry (it was a dampish sort of day down here in Sydney and some of my crackle paint was quite thick), I coated the back of the bauble with Clear Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint. Then I did the front as well and left it all overnight.

This is what it looked like when the pieces were finally dry.

Assembly and decoration was the easy bit. The wings are attached to the centre bauble with Hot Glue - they are a bit too heavy for Glossy Accents. The ribbon and tassel are both included in the kit. Colouring the silver cap on the tassel with a yellow Copic Marker made it gold. Copics are alcohol based, so they colour metal and rhinestones easily.

Gold Toned Jump Rings and Gold Iron Chain hang from both the top and the bottom, decorated with Christmas Charms. Tracy sent me these pretty dangles a couple of Christmases ago, made  using Golden Eye Pins, Gold Bead Caps, Gold Rhinestone Rondelle Beads, Golden Stardust Beads, a Christmas Holly Charm, and a Small Gold Star Charm.
Small Red Roses cover the middle of the bow and decorate our Christmas ''Joy"'s hair.

You could also cover these pieces with patterned paper and use distress inks and stains. How about adding some feathers for fun?
I've seen the kit divided up and made into two separate ornaments too - one made from the centre section, and one made of just the two wings...drill a hole through the top and hang them together, slightly offset.

Have fun!