Getting Merry and saying goodbye!

 

Hi everyone - it has been some time - I have turned into a reluctant blogger! Today sees our final challenge at A Vintage Journey.  I know, very sad - but the craft world seems to be moving away from blogging into the instant social media world! For me, I hope this changes - I find most (not all!) of social media quite toxic and find I am using it less and less. I feel it creates more harm than good - but that's just me! 

For our final challenge we have created on the theme of Merry Little Christmas - ATC's to celebrate this wonderful time of year. I created some inky backgrounds with Distress inks / oxides and added some background stamping. The stamps are a combination of Sara Naumann (PaperArtsy) and Tim Holtz.

I have combined stamping on some painty backgrounds with stamping and fussy cutting on book paper.

Can't beat a few splatters to finish off! The designs originate from a recent Tracy Evans workshop I did. Tracy was one of the original AVJ DT! 

Our final make is another ATC to say goodbye!

This time a gelli print background with a fussy cut bird from Tracy Evans (AALL and CREATE).

The words say it all - I cherish my 6.5 years with AVJ -  a wonderful experience and some fabulous friendships made! But we must focus on today - even in Covid times - and adapt as we can to what is 'in the now'.

Love and hugs to everyone at AVJ, past and present, and the wonderful followers of our blog.

Nikki

xxxx

Flourishing Vases Thank you card

Hi everyone. I am very pleased to be back on the Simon Says Stamp Monday blog in the Designer Spotlight this month. For my first week the theme is Thanks / Thanksgiving - featuring products from AALL and Create.

I used Flourishing Vases stamp set by Tracy Evans and the Digital Bubbles stencil along with paints from PaperArtsy  (I used Bougainvillea, Forget Me Not and Mulled Wine.)

For the background, I add a couple of colours to my Gel Plate and brayered. I placed the stencil on top, lightly pressed and then removed. I then took my print off the plate. I used a similar background for the vase and flowers but in lighter colours.

I fussy cut the flowers and vase so I could raise them slightly.

'Thank you' was stamped in 2 colours using my stamp platform.  The stamp is from Darkroom Door.

Do pop over to the Simon Says stamp blog where there is, as always, loads of inspiration from their talented design team. And if you join the challenge there is a $50 voucher for one lucky winner.

Thank you so much for your visit, see you next week!

Nikki 

Dragonfly Journal Page

Some journal play this week in my A4 journal.

I used Dina Wakley paints and stamps from AALL and Create (Tracy Evans). A little different to the butterfly card I made with the same stamp sets! You can see it here if you missed it.

My original journal page was kraft card - but I think it is covered. I stared with random black coverage and white around the edges. I added some scraps of paper and card and both thick gesso and texture paste through 2 stencils (Tim Holtz dot fade and the stripy one!). I then began building colour - mostly with my fingers.

I added random stamping with archival ink from the AAll and Create border stamp set (the random circles) and stamped 3 hearts, the dragonly and words on separate scraps of paper. I added a little colour to these before adding.

The circle was a leftover die cut.

I would like to join the fun at The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge Blog:

(I used 2 stencils, gesso, Dina Wakley paints, texture paste and ink)

Have a great weekend.

Nikki

xxx

Oxides and AALL and Create stamps (Tracy Evans)

Just a quick card today made with new stamps from AALL and Create - Designed by Tracy Evans. I treated myself to a couple of sets having seen them, and some wonderful samples, at the NEC recently. 

I have used Stamp Set #45 and Border Stamp #34. My background uses Distress Oxides with one of the border stamps (love the circles!) and also the small Serenity Prayer text stamp off Set #45. I also added this text to the butterflies.

Thanks for visiting!

Nikki