Bells of Joy

Bells of Joy is what I named today's tag.  I was inspired by Linda's Week #10 in her Funkie Junkie Tags of Christmas challenge which is sponsored by her store The Funkie Junkie Boutique.  Her tag used the cool tinsel stencil which I loved as soon as I saw it.  I had decided to tinsel it up with some shimmery silver embossing paste sprinkled with glitter.

After I created this over the top shimmery background I was trying to decide how to play against the beautiful background.  I took inspiration from Linda's tag with her focal point of a wreath and scattered snowflakes and decided to use a big snowflake.

I wanted a bright color to go with the silver and the citron spoke to me.  I splattered, sprayed and died my snowflake, ribbon and background.  I then dangled some bells from the bottom.

When I think of bells of joy, I think of walking into church with the ground covered in snow, seeing my breath and listening to the bells sing. Christmas Eve Mass at midnight the church filled with everyone celebrating the birth of the Savior.

Wishing you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!

Suzz

Winter Hues

Hi!  I am hosting the challenge at Frilly and Funkie with the theme of Winter Hues.  The weather this time of year in the Midwest gets to be a bit chilly, icy, snowy and overcast. These elements of the season create a beautiful palette of colors which I am calling Winter Hues.    This challenge requires you use any or all of the following colors: blue, white, silver, gray in your vintage or shabby chic project.

Everyone who enters and follows the rules will be entered into the draw to have the chance to win a $25 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique

I played around with a mix of blues, silvers, grays and whites and created a card and a canvas.  The card layered the music stencil with crackle embossing paste and snowflakes over that layer with white embossing paste.

I stenciled the music over an inky background stamped with text.

I started with a mix of dripping sprays down the front of the canvas.  I then added a layer of stenciled snowflakes which I sprinkled with chunky white embossing powder mixed with crystal glitter while the embossing paste was wet.    I then heat dried the embossing powder and it created nice puffy embossed snowflakes as well as capturing flecks of white embossing powder to add more snowy effect.

The words were added using white embossing paste and stenciling them onto the canvas.  While the letters were wet I sprinkled them with a shimmery blue glitter.

After I finished the canvas I decided to do a little different take on the canvas:

I scraped off the glittery blue and created white letters using the same process as the snowflakes. I also added circles and a few stamping of branches.  Every creation is a journey and you never know if you have reached the final destination. :)

Please join in on the fun with us and play along showing us your winter hues!

Suzz

Ranger Tim Holtz Hickory Smoke Distress Spray Stain	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain Spray - Peacock Feathers	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain Spray - Brushed Pewter	Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Layering Stencils - Snowflakes	Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Mini Layering Stencils - Set 18 THMST018 (April Pre-Order)
Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Layering Stencil - Concerto	Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Layering Stencils - Christmas	Tim Holtz Distress Glitter Stormy Sky	Tim Holtz Distress Glitter Clear Rock Candy	Tim Holtz Distress Glitter Pumice Stone
Prima Art Basics - Heavy Gesso - White 17 fl. oz. (March Pre-Order)	Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi Embossing Paste - White	Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi Embossing Paste - Crackle	Ranger Embossing Powder - Weathered White Antiquities	Stampers Anonymous Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi Stamps - Les Roses Background Stamp
Wendy Vecchi Select a Stencil UC	Ranger Wendy Vecchi Archival Ink - Watering Can

Snowflakes

Well the weather finally decided to turn today. :)  We are seeing our first set of snowflakes and bursts of cold gusts of wind.  I figured why not share my snowflake ornament created for Darkroom Door using their new Snowflake background.  I even have a few step by step shots for you.

 This all started with a series of white snowflakes cut using the Sizzix Snowflake die. The bigger the die cut the easier to put them together.  Also you need an image that is symmetric for this to work.

Then I stamped each snowflake with the snowflake background using the Versamark embossing ink.

 After I stamped the snowflake with the ink I sprinkled a shimmery clear embossing powder. (I used Stampendous Kaleidoscope embossing powder one of my favorites.   You could also use clear embossing powder and sprinkle ultra fine crystal glitter onto it while it was still warm to get a shimmer.

 I then played with different dye inks to see what color I wanted my snowflakes to be.  I chose a gray dye ink, but I have to say the coral was really pretty!

 I did make a mistake because I didn't sponge the back side of the snowflakes in the same color. If you do this when you put together your ornament and if you don't line it up perfectly you won't be able to tell. :)  If you do sponge the dye ink on the back side.  Do this first before you stamp the other side and heat set the dye ink so when you assemble them the tape/glue will stick. I find that the dye ink has so much moisture that sometimes tape won't stick unless I dry (heat set) the ink.

Now to start the folding process...

 You will need to crease the snowflake down the center. I used my bone folder and my cutting board to line up the center. It is tough on those small ends to get it folded but work on the main crease and you can then work on the ends individually. 

You need to fold all your snowflakes.  I used five snowflakes on mine but you can decide how many you want and how full your snowflake is.

Once they are all scored you can now attach them to each other.  I used tape on mine but work with whatever medium you like. I used a stronger tape and my tape gun to get them to stick together. 

 Keep attaching them together until you have one left.  Then you are going to put your hanging device in the center with any charms you want dangling below the ornament.

I just used some thread and created a loop on one end and left the pieces hanging out the other end to tie my pearl charm to the bottom. 

 I really had to lighten the photo up for you to see the snowflake shape.  This makes me appreciate the cold weather as the snowflakes are beautiful!

Keep warm,

Suzz