Critter Christmas

Oh where did that weekend go?! Just before I head to work I want to set another Christmas card challenge for my friend Linda. This week I’m going with Critter\s Christmas so the card should have any type of animal\s on it.

For my card and tag I inked up a funny reindeer image from Art Impressions. As soon as I spotted the reindeer with the wobbly bottom I had to get it – I know some of my family and friends will get a laugh out of that fella when they see him on their Christmas cards.

Stamp – Jingle Set (Art Impressions)
Embossing Folder – Snowflake Scroll (Darice)

After stamping, colouring and cutting out the reindeer I adhered him to a card panel that had been embossed and stamped with the sentiment. Then I cut out and coloured an extra bottom which shakes as it’s been adhered to the larger image with an action wobble.

I had to add a little sparkle so out came diamond stickles to go on the bells.

Next up I made a matching tag. Even reindeer are taking selfies now:)

Stamp – Jingle Set (Art Impressions)
Dies - Film & Polaroid – (Greeting Farm) and Romantic Rectangles 2 (Spellbinders)

Linda has already set her challenge here - it's a good one and one of my favourite techniques!

29 Again and On The Road Again

I just love sending and receiving humorous cards, so as soon as I saw Art Impressions' 29 Again stamp set I had to get it!



I started by stamping and cutting out the images and coloured them with ProMarkers. Then I added some embroidery thread to the balloons and added a layer of glossy accents on them, the earrings and lips. I wanted to emboss the background and thanks to my friend Sally I have a pretty Cuttlebug flower folder called Caramelo that I think goes well with with lady's dress - thanks again, Sally:) After that it was just a matter of adding baker's twine and the sentiment. I used one of the colour combinations from the Die Cut Diva's Challenge for June - Is it Yours, Mine or Ours so am submitting the card into that challenge.

Last week I blogged about the start of my friend Linda's holiday here and now I'll post some more about our little trip around part of the country. Our first stop on our trip was Waterford and the first place we visited there was Waterford Glass. I hadn't visited Waterford Glass since I was on a school tour many, many, many years ago! Needless to say everything had changed quite a bit, including the location. Anyway we went on the tour and here's a flavour of what we saw.

It's hard to imagine this is how a Waterford Glass bowl starts out!

Shaping the bowl in moulds

Marking the design on the piece

Cutting the patterns in the glass

Some of the commissioned pieces

Although it doesn't look like a typical piece of Waterford Glass, below is one of my favourites. The piece was divided into quarters and the etchings on each quarter represented the seasons. Here you can see the flowers, birds and butterflies of summer and beside it the bare trees, acorn and pumpkin for autumn.

After visiting the showrooms in Waterford Glass we had a little walk around Waterford and then headed on our way again. Linda is a big fan of Nora Roberts who set some of her books in the village of Ardmore, Co Waterford, so naturally enough we had to stop there. I don't remember ever visiting Ardmore, so thanks to Linda and Nora I have become acquainted with this gem of a place.

The beach there was beautiful and more or less deserted

We took a stroll up to St Declan's Cathedral and the round tower which are situated on a hill overlooking Ardmore Bay.

An ogham stone in the Cathedral

Hopefully you won't have fallen asleep after this long post! So I'll stop now and post some more photos from our trip another day.