Christmas value!!!!

On a recent garden centre trip I was quite taken by the lovely little villages made up of beautiful model Christmas houses, unfortunately the cost of them was beyond my purse so sadly walked away (for that read dragged away by hubby he! he!)
So, started on Christmas cards when we got back and while looking through my stamps -PING! - I got it into my head to make my own little village.
Of course I had loads of corrugated card so what better than to use some up and take the pile down a little. I started the first house in a bit of a rush and of course it came out a bit wonky (I know - embrace the imperfection, it has stayed wonky!) 

The next one I made just using what was left from the first bit of card so that came out a bit small - that's ok too, none of the little expensive villages had the same size houses. 

I carried on and eventually made five little houses.

All were gessoed then painted with Paper Artsy Fresco Finish Snowflake and Sky - not very neatly as this was what I wanted

Some texture through a Dylusions stencil using
some leftover Dries White (glue I think, didn't bring it home)
When that had dried I painted over with Silver Adirondak Dabber

A couple of leftover sticky back pearls

Dries White through another Dylusions  stencil

Crackle glaze over part of a wall
Hearts cut freehand from some old painted scraps of Dictionary paper

Some scraps and more stencils

A large die cut snowflake originally destined
for a Christmas card

Lace, snowflakes, ripped mop up baby wipe, button, snowflake cut  from more dictionary paper

More snowflakes, some through the stencil and some stamped using
a Stampendous snowflake background stamp

As you can see I pretty well made a little village for free!

And when it was dark I added some little led lights

This is staying on my table at the caravan as part of my Christmas decorations - we are hoping to get up sometime with my grandchildren so I hope they like it!

OOer! I've just realised I've gone on a bit, hope you are still here! 

I've decided to enter a few challenges

The Artistic Stamper Creative Team blog challenge - Christmas

4 Crafty Chicks - Christmas

and although there isn't a lot of stamping I'd like to enter

The Fashionable Stampers challenge - Shabby Chic Christmas

Vintage Stamping Challenges - Traditional Christmas Time

Thanks for looking, Chris

WOYWW

Having missed the WOYWW boat last week I was determined to be a little earlier this week. We went off to see "Philomena" last week and somehow one thing led to another and we ended up having lunch out and then doing some Christmas shopping all followed by a fish and chip supper and quiz here at our retirement complex! Both were really entertaining (the film and the supper!)

Okay, I'm stalling...what is actually on my desk is just what I left before we went away, and what I took away with me on top of it....well...that's not really true either...when I got back Rita had done my ironing and left hubbies trousers over the ironing board so I ended up dumping some stuff on that too!!! It's not a pretty sight!

You can have a good look around if you like, there's a bag of completed cards, distress markers in Christmassy colours, my trusty pencil case, one of my art journals with some new pages completed, some new wool tops, papers, stamps etc., etc.
It's all got to be cleared away pretty quickly as I've got to make a couple of birthday cards.
So, want to see some really wonderful work desks? I suggest you go to Julia's Stamping Ground and follow the link you will find there. Some will be messy, some will be neat but I can assure you that you will be made very welcome!

Thanks for looking, Chris

Oops! VERY late calendar pages!!

Oh dear! I was already late when I took these these photos - as you will see I had already started to fill in days.
November was done by using Crafty Individuals leaf stamps along with Lavinia and Stampotique mushrooms

Here is the finished October page

I must remember to link this to Kate Crane's Kathryn Wheel blog. I have enjoyed doing this 365/12 calendar journal for nearly three years now.
Thanks for looking, Chris 

Anyone for the White Heart?

Sorry, I'm not offering to meet you for a drink (although if I could  I would love to)it's just my way of introducing you to my latest project!

I bought a wooden heart on a rare visit to The Range - couldn't wait to get started - gessoed it, took a photo then left it!

So today I set to and finished it, I photographed as I went along.

                 
         painted with Paper Artsy Snowflake Fresco opaque, 

Spread on a little crackle glaze then more Snowflake,

                            

           added texture using a Dylusions stencil,

flourish and.....

                                               

.......mini tattered florals.....

                                                                 

                           ..snowflake onto a text stamp....

...and there had to be some lace!

I think I'll be making some more for presents some time!

I have no idea what blogger is doing tonight but this has taken me an age to write and I have no idea what is happening with the photos!!!

I would like to enter the following challenges

Ali-Craft monthly Challenge 6 - White

Try it on Tuesday - White on white

Thanks for looking, Chris

Not at all Christmassy!

On the way back from church this morning I persuaded hubby to call into a garden centre that we pass - we have had occasional lunches here (Beetham Nurseries near Milnthorpe on the A6 if you're interested) as they are good value and we also like their plants. Today however I wanted to look for something Christmassy and possibly find some Christmas presents. We did find something for Christmas but as I may alter it I won't show you just yet......but....I did find these

Strangely part of the red has come out pink on my camera!!

Some gorgeous lace and cotton and a metal stencil(£2.99!!) that was hanging amongst the decorations.
Just couldn't wait to use the stencil! I already had some paint mopped up from a painting session in my journal so with just 3 distress colours( salty ocean, stormy sky and walnut stain) set to and made a background. Some scraps and an image stamped and stored here at our caravan, coloured with distress markers. I also used part of a waxed wrapper that Booths have started to use for their bread(Thank you Booths)stamped with a music  stamp. 

 As I'm enjoying 'Strictly' so much at the moment there was only one possible title for this page.

I'm sneaking in last minute to the Simon Says Stamp 'Got ink?' challenge 

 Thanks for looking, Chris

WOYWW

I'm home at the moment(who said  "For a change"?)so no problems with connections. I don't know why but we seem to get very poor reception up at our caravan during the day and early evening then suddenly at about 10'o'clock it seems to stay on for longer!!(just as I'm beginning to nod)

We've had an interesting three weeks - but not a lot of crafting done! My Italy journal still needs bit of tweaking, Christmas cards started but a long way to go yet and following my attendance at a Coptic Stitch book workshop I've had no time to make another while it's fresh in my mind. We've had lots of lovely outings and walks, playing with our grandchildren and a few social events.

So back to the day - Wednesday - not just any Wednesday but the day to reveal our desks to anyone who wants to peep - all courtesy of Julia at the Stamping Ground.

Not a great deal here - I did start some Christmas cards up at the caravan and intended making more here but since I was voted on to our Board of Directors(sounds grand doesn't it - until you realise its only our retirement complex and a bunch of owners I'm talking about)I've been busier than I'd expected as within days of being voted on I was asked to form part of a new committee involving the catering! 

So what can you see? Paint splattered cards stamped with Lindsay Mason's little reindeer from last years 'Christmas Tinchies' and a lot of surrounding mess.

Here is the lovely book I made by the way - I am looking forward to putting it to use!

The book has lovely watercolour paper in it and opens flat

The cover paper I designed using stencils and stamps and the stitching
which wasn't as hard to do as I expected

So, it's great to be back but I'm afraid I'll have to come and visit later, hubby and I are off to see 'Gravity' in 3D (as you know not my favourite way to watch a film but Hey! George Clooney in 3D - I can do that!)
See you later, Chris

It's beginning to look like.....

there's a chance of a connection! I can't believe that it's ten whole days since I last blogged! While we were home I didn't have much to blog about then we came away and although I have been busy just couldn't get the internet to connect for long enough! 
I'm going to be brief just in case it goes again!
Before we came away I had two cards to make - under pressure - but both safely delivered now!

We've had quite a lot of rain up here (and a heavy frost this morning) but it hasn't stopped us going out! When we have been in I've been making a few Christmas cards - experimenting really as I want to do a few the same.

My new mini JOFY Paper Artsy tree is my favourite at the moment but I still like my Artemio tree and holly. As you can see - not finished - I think I'm going to go with the JOFY stamp with the cut out words from an old PA Squiggle ink stamp set (egg and nog 1)I have used the holly swirl from this set very year since I bought it!
Right, I think I've pushed my luck for long enough now - I'd better press the publish button!

Thanks for looking, if I haven't been able to leave comments using my phone I will do my best tomorrow - going home where there is no lovely view but at least a consistent connection!! Let's hope for a warmer night! Chrisx