This is a unique challenge blog where we are inspired by and focus on the Vintage; shabby; mixed-media; art journaling; industrial, timeworn and steampunk genres and encompass the talent, flair, expertise and ideas of many artists that we are inspired by. We welcome all types of projects - cards, journaling, assemblage, layouts, albums, atcs, altered art in fact whatever you want to share (as long as it is in good taste).

Friday 26 December 2014

Ring out the old - Ring in the new.

Welcome everyone, it's Brenda here wishing you and your families happy Boxing day. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas day yesterday with family and friends and hopefully some lovely presents too.

I am hosting this last challenge of the year, and what an amazing year it has been since March when we started AVJ. We have the most amazing group of regular Creative Guides, some fantastic guests and pretty awesome readers and challenge entries.

So to complete the year and take us into 2015 we would like you to -

Ring out the old and Ring in the new.

I found this poem to help focus us -

“Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.” Alfred Tennyson

Think about the key words from the poem - old, new, bells, snow, year etc. and interpret one or more of them in anyway you like. So for instance use something old/new on a project; include bells or snow on a card; design a new year card/project/invitation etc. Be creative in your interpretation and just tell us what your links are to the theme and/or key words from the poem and what your Tim inspiration is on your project.

Let's have a look at how the Creative Guides have interpreted it and what Tim inspiration they have incorporated.

Ok what has a telephone book got to do with the theme you might ask? But every new years day we ring family and friends to wish them a Happy New Year, we ring out the old and ring in the new. My telephone/address book is getting old but holds a wealth of information collected over the years. Being part of this wonderful group of talented crafters this year and running the Secret Santa, I realised I could do with a separate telephone/address book to keep their details in. This is just a kraft coloured book with pages made of what seems to be brown wrapping paper which I have made into an ideal place for all those useful numbers.

For my take on Brenda's fun challenge, I focused on old and new along with snow and bells and all while "ringing out" the craft year with Tim's 12th tag of 2014! For all the details, please click Here. Wishing you all the best of 2015!


My interpretation of Brenda's fun challenge was to upcycle one of my previous projects.  I used Tim's Assemblage Clock for a second time.  Please come on over to my blog here to see the details.
Wishing all of you a "safe" and  Happy New Year


Here in Scotland the last day of the year, Hogmanay, is very important to the New Year celebrations and much used to be made of getting everything in order for the New Year on that last day. But for those few minutes before the ringing of the Midnight Bells it is the time to wish for health and happiness for the year to come. As soon as the bells have rung, the visiting and partying starts! 

I decided to interpret those few moments before midnight by making a New Years Card using one of my favourite Tim dies - the weathered clock. There are more details on my blog if you would like to know more.



My focus is the bells ringing in the New Year as the clock strikes midnight on my snowy wreath
Using Distress Inks, Sprays, die cutting and embossing 
Please click here for more details
Happy New Year, all the best for 2015!

For Brenda's challenge this fortnight - I highlighted the fresh beginning we all get with the ringing in of a new year.  My main focus is a portion of The Prayer of St. Francis that I photocopied out of a book.  I used several techniques from Tim's Dec 2014 tag on my project - using Distress Paint to color my grungeboard die cut figures, sprinkling Clear Rock Candy Glitter on the moon, covering the arch with Frosted Film, adhering some Industrious Stickers in various places and adding a little bell!
To see more details and close up photos of how I put this together - please visit my blog post here


My card has old rusty (but happy) bells ringing in the New Year across the spattered snow; my old Christmas neutrals bumping into the bold vivid blues and greens that I reach for in January; and lots of new Tim Holtz toys - the Festive Gent (all new and sparkly, and in a hurry to get to the party before midnight!), the Holly Bough embossing folder, the Holiday Greens and Distress Sprays.  Come and see more details as well as the decorative envelope for the card over at Words and Pictures.




As a lover of windchimes, I decided that I would create my own as my way of ringing out the old and ringing in the new.  My main inspiration for these, other than angels, is Tim's fabulous 'Riveted patchwork' technique which you can find in CCC VII, P57.  The products and steps are featured on my own blog here if you want to see them.  Chris xxx

As always the winner of the challenge, as chosen by the team, will receive a £10.00 gift token from our wonderful sponsor Country View Crafts. Do check them out as they carry a huge amount of Tim products as well as other amazing lines. We also choose three other people as a Top 3 who become out Pinworthy mentions and all winners are pinned to out Pinterest site.


My thanks to all of the amazing Creative Guides for their wealth of ideas, their inspiration and their eagerness and enthusiasm in making projects and sharing everything with us all. Don't forget to use our labels in the side bar if you ever want to find something 'old' on the blog and to become a Follower if you want to keep up with all the 'new' posts coming through.


Before we finish today we are announcing the winner of the Secret Santa Giveaway. Thank you to all 27 of you who took a jaunty trip around all the Creative Guides blogs and left such wonderful comments. we really appreciate you taking part and joining in the fun of the season. We didn't get to include the second and third prizes but stay with us on our regular trips out as I will include them in another Giveaway soon. Random Org has chosen the winner ...........



...... and she is -

SHARI from 'Ain't that Artsy Fartsy'

Congratulations Shari on your win, please email me with your address so I can get your prize in the post to you. My email address is brenda_brown25@hotmail.com

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(picture courtesy of the Graphics fairy)

So as we ring out the old and ring in the new we all wish each and every one of you 
HAPPY NEW YEAR
with peace, joy and good health in 2015.

huge hugs Brenda and the Creative Guides xxx


20 comments:

  1. Wishing all a very happy crafty new year for 2015! So interesting to see what this theme brought to mind in each of us Creative Guides - wonderful inspiration ladies!

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  2. Wishing all readers, followers and Creative Guides a happy, healthy and creative 2015. Isn't it amazing how one theme can produce such a variety of interpretations? Great inspiration from the team as usual - now I can't wait to see what you all can do.

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  3. beautiful inspiration from the dt and a wonderful challenge idea! Happy New Year!

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  4. Fabulous inspiration from you all ladies, super projects!! Have the most wonderful new year!!

    Big congrats to Shari!! Enjoy all your goodies!!

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  5. Thanks to you all...what a great theme to see out the old year...I hope to join you. Your projects are amazing as always. Well done to Shari, what a great prize she won. Here's to another year of crafting inspiration and sharing. Hugs xx

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  6. Fabulous creations DT! A Huge CONGRATULATIONS to Shari.....I'm so glad you won. Karen.x

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  7. Fantastic year of art from the team can't wait to see 2015! Wishing you all a healthy, happy 2015! Brilliant projects for this challenge from the DT!

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  8. What fabulous NEW YEAR inspiration from my teamies and I can't wait to see what our readers and followers make! Congratulations Shari - enjoy your goodies!

    Wishing you all - readers, followers and Creative Team - health, happiness and creativity for 2015. Jennie x

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  9. Congrats Shari on winning Secret Santa.
    My Teamies have given so much inspiration for this challenge....stunning.
    Wishing all our blog friends, followers and my Teamies a wonderful 2015 filled with health and creativity.
    Happy New Year, Julie x

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  10. Well done to Shari for winning on Secret Santa! As always, the team has come up trumps with such wonderful inspirational projects... Wishing everyone much happiness in the New Year. Anne xx

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  11. Congratulation Shari!
    Enjoy all those fab goodies

    Such wonderful inspiration from the creative Guides

    Wishing everyone a Happy New Year
    All the best for 2015

    Jools x

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  12. well done to shari - and thanks for the inspiration! I have a project to link up - can't find the linky ....http://fisherscardsandcrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/a-big-thankyou-to-chris-and-dave.html will try to link it myself - I think I must be being a bit crackers!!! Hugs rachel xx

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    1. Sorry Rachel, it was the Christmas crackers got to me I think. It seems to be there now. xx

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  13. Stunning array from the DT ladies! Loving all these makes. Happy New Year to you all. Enjoy your goodies Shari. Nicola x

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  14. Congratulations to Shari and Happy New Year to you all!

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  15. Congratulations Shari! Great work from all of the Creative Guides...can't wait to take the next few days visiting each of your blogs for a close-up! Another very fun theme, and so many ways to interpret! Happy New Year all!

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  16. Thank you for all the fab inspiration and for the fun challenge! Happy New Year to all!

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  17. Thanks for the inspiration ladies and a really original challenge idea :)

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  18. Wishing the entire team of AVJ a vary happy and crafty 2015 and as usual amazing creations by all of you.

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  19. I am always so blown away by your talented design team! WOW, what a line up of gorgeous creations! Thanks for another fabulous challenge and Happy New Year to everyone! hugs :)

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