Now for something less Christmassy.

Right OK, that's it, my boredom threshold has burst.  Now for something less Christmassy........ buttons!  Handmade ones too.  As they are made out of cardboard you obviously can't use them on your clothing, but they are perfect for using on cards and paper projects.  You can use your scraps too, especially those favourite papers that you cannot even bare to throw away the last little piece.

I was inspired to have a go at making these by last months Craft Stamper magazine,  The large ones where made just by covering cardboard or chipboard with paper and then using a die-cutting die (nestabilities circles) to cut them out.  Then a single hole puncher for the holes.  Crackle glaze was added all over and then left to dry before lightly inking over the top. 

I then tried some shrink-plastic, cut using  a nestabilities die again, then spritzed with Cosmic Shimmer spays.  The Cosmic shimmer spray will not dry on the un-shrunk plastic but once heated the colour will intensify and set.  Before the plastic gets too cold, stamp with a patterned stamp of your choice inked with Stazon ink.  You can rub on Perfect Pearl powder at this stage.

The last type was made by sticking stamped dictionary paper with glossy accents to a clear button and then trimmed to fit.

I have some air-dry clay to try for the next batch, but already I have found uses for the buttons.

Noel

We have the coughs in our household at the moment.  It was started by Rob who unfortunately had his GCSE mock exams during the worst of it, then it was passed to Nige and now me......how I managed to crawl into work and host children's Christmas parties is a miracle itself. But now I have just got home, school has finished, my slippers are on (with 3 pairs of socks as I get very cold feet), fleecy blanket tucked around legs and hubby is preparing lunch. 

So I am looking forward to catching up with you all, sharing some projects and reading some blogs.

Here's the projects I  made as my stint as a guest designer for the Chicken Soup blog.

I used Tim Holtz distress ink to stamp images for both projects and then brushed over perfect pearls powder.  This left a lovely bronze shimmery image.  On the card I also used a good measure of stickles and glimmer misted old sheet music as background paper.

Well, I'm off to have a play with something I created earlier.  But don't worry I shall be back to share soon.

Holly, Holly, Holly......

It's time for Christmas Club Story No3. 

Each year I make a christmas garland for the front door.  Each year we wander the local woods and hedgerows in our quest for holly with berries.  Each year we return back from long wintery walks from the woods to usually discover that there is no holly with berries this year and cut laurel and ivy instead from the playing field hedgerow (that is only around the corner from us).

Why do we do this every year?  It's tradition isn't it.  But this year.....

Look what I found.......

Berries!

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas...

If you have read this blog before you will know that I am a fan of colour.....pastel..... whats that?  beige...blugh! and the dreaded magnolia (not in my house).  Now I am not saying that we should all have a riot of colour in our houses or about our person but for me, the brighter the better.

So when it came to making this Christmas Victorian Style Tag, I didn't want to use the typical creams, dark green or browns that you might first think of using.  Instead I chose to glimmer mist the tag with pink and teal sprays after stamping snowflakes with Versamark ink and then heat embossing with Holographic powder.  Then, on some scrap white paper I sprayed Cosmic Shimmers in blue and green.  I used this to cover the front of a Slide mount while dabbing Distress ink on the inside.  Gold Embossing powder was used to edge the mount.  An image of two children opening their presents from one of last years Christmas Cards was just what I was looking for the inside.  A slick of distress stickles and a couple of embellishments finished the Victorian look.

The ticket is a free down loadable print off which you can find here and the inspiration is from the Chicken Soup blog here.

Tradition

Traditions.....What Christmas traditions do you have?  One of ours is making sure that my sons Ist Christmas bauble goes onto the Christmas tree each year.  I made it myself and now it is on it's 15th year.  It reminds me of when I was little and we had the same tradition, though not a bauble but a little silver bell that apparently was from my Nan's sisters wedding cake.  Why it ended on the tree I don't know, but sometimes traditions just happen, with no real reason.  But it is still a memory from my past, one that we follow and I hope my son will follow.

I used a great technique for my layout that helps you use up lots of those scraps we crafters seem to keep.  Just choose the colours and place random rectangles or squares of paper around your photo, layering as you go.  It works for me.  The main paper was from K&Co, though not very christmassy, the pattern seemed to fit.  As the subject was about baubles.....and they go on Christmas trees (stay with me here) I die-cut a couple of sissix trees and glittered them with stickles. 

So now the project fits Day 3 of the Chicken Soup Challenge and Sian's 'Christmas Club'.  Don't know about either projects?  Then hit the link buttons and find out what your missing. 

Chicken Soup Anyone?

Brrrrrr!, it's far too cold to go out at the moment.  We only had a light covering of snow here but  those of you who are snowed in don't need an excuse to spent a cosy afternoon indoors crafting.  Need inspiration?  Then check out the 12 Days of Christmas Challenge at The Chicken Soup Blog.

Each day a new inspiration will be posted with ideas from the Chicken Soup designers.  You have until the 6th January to link up your crafty offerings to their blog.  There will be giveaways for the entries and post on your blog too and you may receive a random prize.  Guess what?  The news just gets better.  They will be featuring guest designers too.......and I'm one of them.......  WooHoo! 

So wrap up warm, crank up the heating, get a mug of hot chocolate ready and get over to The Chicken Soup blog now.......and get inspired.

Christmas Club......How did that happen?

We all have a favourite Christmas memory or story don't we?  Sian over on her blog 'High in the Sky' has been encouraging everyone to share theirs.  Sian has a friend who somehow encouraged her to dress as an Elf!  By Sian's description of her friend  I have one just like that as well!

Picture the scene.......'Can you help me put on a little Christmas magic show for my infant class' .......two weeks later after many hours of making props and practising our routine, there I am standing on stage, in front of the whole school (including the teachers), dressed as a fairy (Holly Berry) climbing into our handmade cardboard vanishing cabinet while Jackie (Mary Christmas), dressed as Mrs Christmas is about to magic me away.  I disappear (I can't tell you how as it's a secret) and our school caretaker appears in my place.  Ha! that even surprised the cynical Year 6's. 

 I managed to return to continue our show that included toy rabbits from hats, a teaching assistant choreographed dance and a 'I'm a teacher get me out of here' bush tucker trail (retrieving a plastic reindeer in a plate of jelly and cream  without using your hands, and donut on a string eating)

HOW DID ALL THAT HAPPEN?

Jackie happened, that's what!

Now do you want to hear the story about the time we organised the 'Gunge the Teacher' at the summer fair and got a bit out of hand?.......or the time we were rap stars and I slipped and had to steady myself by grabbing the Headteachers leg?  But they aren't Christmas stories so you will have to wait for another time to hear them.