A Merry Christmas

Morning Everyone,

Just popping in to wish you all a  Very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year. Thank you for following me, I have made some wonderful friends and I am very grateful for each and every comment that you leave.

The Copic Marker Europe Team have all put personal messages on cards, so please hop over to see the creations and messages.

I cut the Tim Holtz on the edge Snowflakes out and coloured with  BG10 before adding some Martha Stewart punched snowflakes in accetate covered with diamond dust and then added the spacer and pearl brad.

Ingredients:-

Image by Magnolia Tilda with Lamb Currently 40% off at BunnyZoe

Text Stamp "A Merry Christmas" Text Currently 25% off at BunnyZoe

Papers:  Winter Angels by Magnolia Currently 25% off at BunnyZoe

Spellbinders Ovals

Spacers

Vintage seam binding - gorgeous

Stocking charm

Snowtex

Tim Holtz Holly

Kort & Godt Berries

Copic Markers: Dress/Hat: BG10, BG000, BG0000, W3, W1

Shoes: E44, E42, E40, W3, W1

Hair: E25,E31, E50

Skin: E00, E01, E000, E11, W1, W00

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:-

Fashionista - Winter

Everybody Art - Anything Goes

Card Mania - Snowflakes

Hooked on crafts - Christmas

Magnolia Down Under - Anything Goes

Marvelous Magnolias - 2 magnolia stamps (image and text)

Hugs Tracy x

Last Published Card

Hi Peeps,

Well it's almost upon us, are you ready? I think I am.  It's a bit weird finishing work on Friday and having 3 whole days before Christmas, well actually not weird, blooming fabulous, lol.  It's been lovely, although I have been sorting my craft room out ready to switch rooms with my son, and I have been sorting through each night for the last week and over this weekend, I have taken bags of rubblish out and sorted out bags of stuff for my sister/donating and ebay, yet it doesn't look any tidier yet.

I have for you today a few cards.  First up is my last published card in Papercraft Essentials.

Ingredients:-

Image Snowman by Marianne Designs

Marianne Designs Holly Die

Marianne Designs Red Berries

Marianne Designs Anja's Squares

Marianne Designs Creatables Anja's Leaves 2 LR0227

Marianne D Creatables English Rose LR0162
Flat Backed Pearls
Marianne Design Vintage Lace

And do you remember that cute little Marianne Design Bear and Snowman that I got two orders on, well here they are, this time they are shaker cards:-

Ingredients:-

Image Snowman by Marianne Designs

Marianne Designs Holly Die

Marianne Designs Red Berries

Marianne Designs Elines Star Die

Papers by Pion

Vintage Distress Ink

Go Kreate Die for the base
Spellbinders Circles

Text by Craftwork Cards

Medium pencils on the kraft card and Copics on the pink card

I'll be back tomorrow with a little Christmas Wish should anyone be around.  If your not I'll take this opportunity to with you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Hugs Tracy x

Santa's Little Helper

Hi Everyone,

Hope you are ready for Christmas and not too shopped out.  I'm almost ready, just need a volunteer to do all the wrapping for me, but don't think that's going to happen.

I have for you today a Christmas Card using one of the gorgeous images by Robin Pushay called "Santa's little helper" by Crafts and Me. We have a bumper Winter Wonderland challenge over at CraftsandMeChallenges  lasting for a whole month to give the team some time off, so hope you can join us.  This is also my DT card for Copic Marker Europe, lots of inspiration on this site from all my lovely teamies, so well worth a visit.

I love how the tree turned out.  I basically coloured it using G99, C7, C5 and touches of YG03.  I then used a couple of sharpened prisma pencils to add the leaves.  The original image has beads around the tree but I so loved how it turned out that I didn't add them back in.

Copics Used:-

Reds; R89, R39, R37, R35 and shaded with C5, C3

Baubles; YR24, Y15, Y11

Tree; G99, C7, C5, YG03 and prisma pencils

Skin; E00, E01, E11, E000, E0000

The gorgeous flourish swirls are by Cheery Lynn and are called Victorian Romance Flourish.

Hugs Tracy x

Another Published Card

Hi Peeps,

Well my back is aching from bending over wrapping up presents.  Another night and I should more or less be done, won't be able to walk mind you, lol.  I have my department meal tonight at BROWN's, so I guess I won't finish the wrapping until Thursday night.  I still have christmas cards to write, but I have to say I am terrible at getting these done, which is dreadful coming from a cardmaker.  I even miss the last posting dates for overseas.

Just popping back with published card no. 2.  Again I have used Ice-skating Don but this time coloured using distress inks.

Ingredients:-

Ice Skating Don by Marianne Design

Whimsy Postcard Stamp

Marianne Design Ribbon Roses

Marianne Design Large Petra Ovals

Marianne Design Poinsetta

Marianne Design English Rose

Marianne D Creatables Anja's Leaves 2 

Tim Holtz on the edge Snowflake Die

Marianne D Creatables Sign Board LR0191

Go Kreate Die for the base

Flat Backed Pearls

Stardust Stickles

Hugs Tracy x

Magnolia Snowman and Exciting News

Hello Peeps,

I am so super excited today to announce that I have been invited to join the Live and Love Crafts Team. OMG, I just love everything in that shop.  You guys know that I am quite versatile in my creations and how I am in love with the vintage look.  Well if you haven't heard of Live and Love Crafts Sandy stocks the most beautiful vintage embellishments and as you know I am the Embellishment Queen, although I think I have competition in this team, so I had to say YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS. LLC also have my favourite Snowtex, Diamond Dust,  cheesecloth, Tim Holtz Ideaology Film Ribbon, shabby seambinding and all things vintage. Well anyway I am mega excited, don't know if you can tell, lol,  and I have some Marilyn Monroe stamps itching to get inked and looking for some gorgeous vintage embellishments so watch this space, lol.

Right, onto another Christmas card.  I have used the magnolia Snowman, well actually this one is a Snowwoman, and I needed to fit the world Grandaughter in, so I added a letter into each make it crafty chipboard bauble.

You will see I made a shaker card and already you can see that diamond dust......

Snowtex on my cones, just love that stuff

Ingredients:-

Image by Magnolia

Scroll by Magnolia

Medium Copics

Make It Crafty Chipboard Baubles (store currently closed for christmas)

Make It Crafty Chipboard Snowflake (store currently closed for christmas)

Marianne Design CR1224 Christmas Tree

Snowtex by LLC

Diamond Dust by LLC

Spellbinders ovals, scalloped ovals, circles and scalloped circles

Lace

Accetate

Marianne Design Ribbon Roses

Flat Backed Pearls

Vintage Seambinding by LLC

Berries coloured with my copics by LLC

Challenges I'd like to enter:-

MDUC - Christmas

Midweek Magnolias - Snowman

Lovely Hanglar and Sweet Magnolia - Christmas

Magnolialicious - Pink Christmas

Hugs Tracy x

Surprise

Hi Everyone,

How's the shopping going? I'm all done, going to spend a couple of evenings wrapping and then I am going to have a massive sort out in my craft room and switch rooms with my son at the same time. Yikes.  I think if I moved house the worst room to pack up and move would be my craft room, lol. I also need to do some catching up with you all, so I'll be visiting your blogs real soon.

I have two cards to show you today.  For the first one I have used a Penny Johnson image called Surprise and it's currently on sale in the store with a whopping 40% off!  I think this stamp can be used for birthdays as well as Christmas and I really enjoyed colouring it with my copics.

Image: Surprise by Penny Johnson

Text: Magnolia A Merry Christmas

Papers: Wild Rose Studio

Copics

Spellbinders Circles and Lacey Circles

Marianne Design Red Berries

Magnolia Doohickey Leaf and Swirl Die

Snowtex

Tim Holtz Holly and Branch Die

Velvet ribbon from my recent win at the Ribbon Girl

My second is a very different style of Christmas Card for me today.  I have a friend who really is a clean and simple girl, it's not my style and I find it really hard to do, but I have given it a go as I wanted my friend to have something she would like.

The image is riding through the night by Whiff of Joy and is also on sale right now at BunnyZoe, links below.

Image: Santa riding through a winter night by Whiff of Joy

Paper Magnolia Holly Santa

CC Designs Holly Die

Flat Backed Pearl

Hugs Tracy x

White Christmas

Morning Peeps,

Well I'm almost there thank goodness, 2 more cards to make and Housework on the Agenda this weekend, oh and I need to pop back to the Garden Centre for another pack of outside lights.  We don't normally decorate the outside but I have wanted icicle lights for years and we finally got some, but underestimated the length of the front of the house, so need another set to go from the front door across the garage.

It's challenge time at Marianne's Divas and the theme is an easy one, "Christmas".  Remember you need to use a Marianne Design product and mention it in your post.  Awesome prizes as always.

My card is a commissioned card, based on a previous design of mine and the chap I showed it to fell in love with all the white and ordered two for his daughters, ahhhh bless him.  Don't forget these dies are currently on sale BunnyZoe, links below. 

Marianne Design Products Used

Christmas Tree CR1224; Poinsetta LR0122

8mm Flat Backed Pearls

Stardust Stickles

Dotty Embossing Folder

Text by Craftwork Cards

Have a good weekend.

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:-

Alphabet challenge - W for Winter White

Crafty Anns - White on White

Winter Wonderland - Trees

Hugs Tracy 

Snowflake Angel

Hi Everyone,

Well as you would of seen yesterday, my Christmas Tree is up but all my other decorations are still in there boxes, I just keep running out of time.  I'm off to the shopping centre tonight to finish the Christmas Shopping so a weekend of wrapping and I'll be almost tthere.  I've booked my Tesco delivery slot, just need to add the final bits and I'll be all done.

I have another Christmas card for you today using another Robin Pushay image, Snowflake Angel.

Ingredients:-

Image Snowflake Angel by Robin Pushay

Paper Magnolia Winter Angels

Jute Fabric

Tim Holtz Holly Die

Hugs Tracy 

I've Been Published & My Christmas Tree

Yikes Everyone, I've been published. Check it out, Papercrafts Essentials, 88 along with Bev Rochester and Suzanne McManus.  So exciting.........

I was pleased to be asked by Winnie of Marianne Designs to make 3 projects for the magazine. This is my project 1, Make It Crafty Circular 3D Chipboard Frame.

Ingredients:-

Image Ice Skating  Don by Marianne Designs

Papers Scandinavian Winter by Marianne Designs

Fabulous Marianne Designs Christmas Tree

Marianne Designs Poinsetta Die

Marianne Designs Misletoe
Marianne Design Branch Forest

I'd like to enter my 3D frame into the following challenges:-

Cards and More - Pearls
Flourishes - Non festive colours
Loves rubber stamps - Let it snow
Papertake - Snow white
Sweet Stamps - Sparkle and Bling
LadyAnn's - Anything Goes
ABC - Let it Snow
Artistic Inspirations - Anything Goes

And My Christmas Tree is finally up.  I finally got some new lights from Notcutts Nursery.  They have multi settings and are little cones, so cute.  Right now they are 50% and are only £15, so grab yourself a bargain HERE. I decided to change my colour scheme this year so this tree is decorated Tracy style, although it looks alot prettier IRL.  Sorry about the music, this was Hubby's input........

Here's a still picture.

And a close up of the lights in the midst of decorating

If you are shopping at Notcutts look out for this little fellow, the dancing christmas tree.  My sister got him last year and he is hilarious.  He sings, turns around and wiggles his bum.

Hugs Tracy x

Winter Daisy

Hi Everyone,

I have another Christmas card for you today.  Don't forget that there is upto 25% off right now in the BunnyZoe shop, so who needs to wait until the January sales.

Image: Daisy Winter by Marianne Design (currently 25% off at BunnyZoe at the moment)

Paper: Magnolia On Christmas Day (also 25% off at BunnyZoe)

Marianne Design Snowflake

Marianne Design Creatables Open Book

Marianne Designs Holly

Tim Holtz Holly

Tim Holtz Poinsetta

Hugs Tracy x

Dotty Background Tutorial

Hi Everyone,

I have a little tutorial for you today on creating dotty backgrounds.  When you colour an image sometimes it can look flat.  You can make it pop by adding a background and I thought I'd show you how I do it.

I have used my colour wheel to help me decide which colours to use. I have chosen a Triadic Colour.  This is 3 colours from the colour wheel that form a triangle, as seen in the below picture.  These colours are all different but when used together in the right proportions will create the perfect balance.

I always start by topping up my Colourless Blender marker so it is nice and juicy and a good flow of ink.

Work in small areas and quickly.  Start with the blender and lay down some ink from the side of your image outwards.

Then add some random dots of one of your chosen colours.  I have used V12 but I managed to cut it out of the picture, oops! Then go back with your colourless blender pen and blend.

I then added some random dots of V17 and immediately went back in with my colourless blender to blend again.

Now do the same adding this time BG72. Don't forget to blend again with the colourless blender.

And again with YG93.  I think your getting the idea now.

Ensure each time that you blend with that colourless blender.

Go back in with any colour that you think is lacking.  I went back in with the V17.

Personally I like some depth so I have added some C5.  This is down to preference but I really want it to stand out.

You can see it progressing now.

Continue all the way around your image.

I still wasn't happy with the depth so I have added some black polychromo pencil and blended out with Sansador and a paper stump. If you are going to do this you MUST ensure you are finished with your copics, you don't want to damage the nibs.

Here's the result.

Image was a freebie on last months Docrafts Art Deco Magazine

Dress V17, V15, V12, V000

Skin E000, E00, E01, E11

Black C7, C5, C3

Dotty Background: V12, V17, BG72, YG93, C5 and Black Polychromo Pencil

Hugs Tracy x

Celebrations at BunnyZoe

Hi Peeps,

Are you all shopped out.  I'm not yet but plan to be completed by the end of this week, provided all things go to plan.  It's challenge time at BunnyZoe's and our theme for December is Celebrations.  Right now at BunnyZoe there is up to 25% off on the Christmas Shop and this little cutie image also has 25% off, so grab a bargain whilst you can. I have chosen Christmas as my celebration, but it can be any celebrations, birthday, christening, birth etc.

Just look at these little cuties by Wild Rose Studio.  They are called Teddy Giving, soooo cute.

Image Teddy Giving by Wild Rose Studio

Paper - Magnolia Santa with Christmas Flowers

Marianne Designs Creatables Open Book

CC Designs Holy & Berry

Flat Backed Pearls

Marianne Designs Berries

Reindeer Charm

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:-

Anything Goes Challenge - Traditional Christmas Colours
Bearly Mine -Christmas
Deep Ocean - Christmas
Cupcake Craft - Christmas
Fashionista - Winter
OOZAK - Anything Goes plus Red

Hugs Tracy x

Day 7 Make It Crafty Advent Calendar

Hi Peeps,

There's only 18 days til Christmas!

The MiC gang and our Special Guests thought it would be fun to have a 'grown up' advent calendar as we count down the days til Christmas full of inspiration just for us creative minds!

Each day a sneak peek will be revealed on the MiC store blog with a link for you to follow "to open the door".

All you have to do is stop by the store blog each day to open the next door!

PLUS Zoe has Christmas Candy full of lots of crafty goodies that you don't want to miss out on!

AND THERE'S MORE GIFTS

But what's even more exciting is that you will have a chance to win the Make it Crafty goodies that I have played with today!!

By leaving a comment on this post you could win

The Make It Crafty Chipboard Book and a set of those gorgeous chipboard Clocks

The comments will stay open until the 31st of December and the winners will be announced in the New Year on the MiC store blog. You can join us for all 24 days - giving you 24 chances to win some MiC goodies! If you join us late, simply go back to the start and catch up!

This is what I have created with my MiC goodies!

I couldn't help but go Vintage again, just love this style!

The image is a free download from Moonlight Magic, gorgeous!

Here's the book when opened, using another image from Moonlight Magic

And just look at the Mic clock

I've used some new goodies from the Live and Love Craft Shop, OMG I just love everything in that store.  

Don't forget to leave a comment below before December 31st and stop by the Make it Crafty Store blog to 'open the door' to 24 other inspirational projects!

Thank you so much for joining us and we wish you and your loved ones a wonderful loving Christmas.

I'd like to enter my book into the following challenges:-

Crafty Ribbons - Tag/Label
Crafting all seasons - Flowers
Creative Moments - Anything Goes
Crafty Boots - Anything Goes
Live and Love Crafts - Anything but a card
Anything but a card - Anything but a card

Hugs Tracy x