Sweet Dreams...

Sweet Dreams

When I saw Moxie Fab World's Tuesday Trigger, I knew I wanted to make a card based on the photo. Such dreams to be dreamed in this lovely cottage retreat! The textures, patterns and colors, all in harmony against a crisp white wall. Today, in the midst of winter, I can just imagine being snugly tucked under the soft comforter, nestled by the pillows, with book in hand, traveling to some far away place perhaps in the midst of romance. And then off to dreamland. . .

I'm so glad Cath extended the deadline for participating in this Tuesday Trigger. Even though it was extended, I'm still just barely making today's deadline! Seems as though there hasn't been much time for anything crafty these days, but a bit of creativity sure has been needed in the Attic.

My design is based on the white panel door as well as the comforter, rug, and gingham bench. The leaves represent the pattern in the bench pillow against the white fabric background. The dark pearls reflect the nail heads and wooden legs on the bench along with the antique hardware.

While arranging and trading, shuffling and rearranging papers again, I pulled a bit of teal from the scrap file to see if an extra strip of this color was needed - can there ever be too much teal?

I decided a strip would be good, and tossed the scrap aside:

And suddenly I had an aha, a brain pop, an idea for another card! Maybe this happens occasionally or frequently for you, but I do believe it my first occurrence. I was so excited I almost didn't even finish the first card just to skip on to the next! But finish I did. And then this happened:

Two cards in one session at the craft desk! Unheard of - hasn't ever happened in the Attic before! I almost believe I like the second card better than the first - what do you think? Oh what a delightful afternoon of creating I had while my girls napped their day away! Mostly scraps were used - only the white frame and teal oval were freshly cut. I had inked and embossed an extra piece of the gold tapestry design just in case I needed it; the branch was intended for the original card and then traded for the teal (more teal, yum!); and the background was a separate piece I was going to use before I decided to emboss the panels directly onto the actual card base for the first card. I still want to make a card using the negative of the bird image and backed with the embossed paper - perhaps on another day. Another idea!

Thanks Cath for a great Tuesday Trigger - and a wonderful afternoon crafting!

And thanks too, dear friends, for stopping by. I hope your dreams are sweet and all that you dream them to be.

Blessings,

 

Materials Used: Paper: Neenah Solar White, Memory Box (MB) Gingham Pool, The Paper Company Metallic Cover Seaglass, Lily Bee Design Autumn Spice Tiny Tablet; Dies: MB Serene Bird, Sizzix Branch with Leaves, Papertrey Ink Beautiful Blooms II #1, Spellbinders Floral Ovals and Classic Ovals Large; Ink: Hero Arts Soft Pool Shadow Ink and Butter Bar Midtone Ink; Other: Recollections Autumn Pearls, Sizzix Embossing Folder.

O Holy Night

Yes, it's true. Most everyone else has moved on to flowers and hearts, thoughts of love and wishes for spring. And I continue to enjoy the Winter offerings and my card share remains Christmas. Since one of the purposes for this blog is to treasure the everyday, this design needed a place in the Attic. It was the only other Christmas card made this year (see this post for the first card).

Ever have a vision for a card and when finished, it's exactly what you imagined? I have a lot of visions, but rarely, oh so rarely, do vision and reality ever shake hands and say, "glad to meet you!" But this was one of those cards - couldn't have happened any easier or met my dream any more completely. Although, I do believe this one is a record holder for most time spent in one creative endeavor! I was creating and time went on, unnoticed; the day was grey and cloud banks were threatening snow, Christmas music was playing and the scent of mulberry filled the air from the candle burning on the antique chest. Abbey napped contently under her blanket and roused only  occasionally to see if any help was needed. Thoughts of to-do's were put away for some other day and replaced by memories of past Christmas Eve's in church; windows reflecting candlelight and banners hung on stone walls, the warmth of friends gathered in, and occasionally a treasured snowfall on the way home. The memories of Christmases past and anticipation for those yet to come.

While making this card, I fell in love. Head over heels, totally smitten, happy and giddy, in love! Tim Holtz Ideaology Frosted Film - love! I am so excited to have this product - the effect is amazing. The glisten in the above photos doesn't begin to compare with the real glimmer. When holding the window to the light, it glistens and sparkles like frost covered glass. How I wish you could see the sparkle! The film has a removable backing, similar to Contact paper. Before cutting the inside window layer, I placed the film on a piece of transparency. Just like with Contact paper, it's important to adhere the Frosted Film slowly, working out any air bubbles as they occur. Once the film was adhered, I cut the inside of the window. Using removable adhesive, I adhered a template of the Grand Gothic Luminary to the transparency side and colored the openings with Sharpies. Here is a video from Summer CHA 2012 with Tim Holtz describing other ways to use the product. This film certainly eliminates a lot of the glitter issues Abbey and I have on the craft desk since we're a bit challenged in keeping glitter contained - and she's such a helper! But we do love our sparkle and this is an easy way to keep us happy! 

New love discovered and a blissfully content way to spend a day preparing for Christmas. A memory to recall and hold dear, one for the Attic archival treasures. I hope you're enjoying some time to cherish the holidays past and welcome the Winter offerings of reflection and renewal into your spirit this day!

Blessed be,

Materials: Stamps: Hero Arts CL559 Greatest Gift, PaperTrey Ink (PTI) Nativity Silhouettes (inside sentiments); Dies: Memory Box Grand Gothic Window and Grand Gothic Luminary; Punches: Martha Stewart Branch; Paper: Neenah Solar White, Bazzill White,Gold, Little Yellow Bicycle Winterings WI-101; Tim Holtz Kraft-Core Nostalgic Collection ; Inks: Hero Arts Soft Sand Shadow Ink, PTI Enchanted Evening; Tim Holtz Sizzix Bricked and Woodgrain Texture Fades Embossing Folder; Other: Tim Holtz Ideaology Frosted Film; Transparency;Ranger Adirondack Paint Dabber Snow Cap; Rock Candy Distress Stickles; Prisma Glitter; Crystal Stickers Glitter Dome White, Sharpies

A star led the way

Happy New Year to one and all! I hope this year brings much happiness, creativity, and blessings to you and yours.

The Christmas season was quite busy here with many unanticipated activities. I now find myself wishing to hold onto the season for as long as possible. There is still a bit of snow on the ground here in Missouri, and it is good to be at home for lengthy stretches of time now that the busyness has settled.

Materials: Stamps: Hero Arts - S4878 Old Letter Writing,CG222 Music Background; Penny Black 4272K A Splash of Winter

Inks: Memento - Summer Sky, Danube Blue, Elderberry/ Dies: Memory Box - Deer Trio, Star of Wonder; PTI - In The Meadow

Since my blog is just now emerging, I'd like to share the Christmas card I made for my husband this year. The month of December found me entranced by Heather Telford's blog and the beautiful snow scenes she created by layering inks and stamps and the use of masking fluid for snow. After studying the tutorials and video she provided, I couldn't wait to try her technique. The best way for me to learn something new is to try to recreate a design - I followed the tutorial and used the same or similar materials. I used Penny Black's tree image, "A Splash of Winter" and the same colors as Heather except for the substitution of Memento Danube Blue for the Paris Dusk. I also used Hero Arts Music background and Old Letter Writing stamps instead of the ones by Penny Black. I didn't have any masking fluid for falling snow, so I splattered paint with a toothbrush and Pearl Acrylic Paint Dabber. Certainly not the same effect as Heather obtained, but at least I had a light snowfall! I noticed an updated post from Heather that Masking Fluid can be found at Hobby Lobby or Michael's - I'm feeling a visit to the local craft store in my very near future!

This was a fun technique, very calming as I blended the colors and saw the multiple layers develop. I am looking forward to more creative sessions and snowy scenes as I settle in for quiet, contemplative, and restful times during our Winter that has been slow to arrive this year. I welcome the respite, a time to reflect and renew for the New Year waiting to be born in us all.

Wishing you times of reflection and renewal,