Welcome everyone to a very special post added as an extra into the normal routine of blogging for A Vintage Journey. We
have the most amazing group of gifted and talented Creative Guides who
are also the most incredibly kind, supportive, helpful, giving and
friendly people you could ever wish to be with on a design team with. As the festive season advances we turn our thoughts to designing and making for other people in our lives, in fact some-one of our very own team. Unfortunately when we started the process for getting this post done we didn't have Deb, Amanda and Olga with us so they were not able to join in and share a make with us but the other Creative Guides are here and so
it is with great pleasure that I am able to share with you our
Christmas gifts to each other.
For the second year running we have run a Secret Santa gift exchange with everyone's name going into a hat and being pulled out to see who they would make something for. You might like to grab a cuppa (or something stronger depending on the time of day you are reading this) and peruse the wonderful array of projects that have been winging their way - some across the world - to each other's houses.
I wanted to create something that Brenda could bring out each year to display with her cards, something that was vintage and dimensional. I also wanted to create something a little different and use one of Tim Holtz dies to create a type of shadow box. I always love to create dimension in my pieces of art, along with adding layers to add a design that are both tactile and interesting to look at. I used Tim Holtz Arched Frame and Sized Arches dies to create my piece decorated with Tim Holtz Merriment and Yuletide papers. I really enjoyed creating this piece and I hope Brenda enjoys displaying it!
I was Secret Santa for Anne Redfern this year and I made her a little Christmas book along with a box to store it in. I was inspired by a book made by Anna-Karin whom I link to on my post. It's the first small book of this kind that I have ever made - and I am so happy with how it came out. I hope Anne is too, that she will enjoy it for years to come and will think of me as she turns the pages! You will find a plethora of photos showing just how I put this together and how I decorated each page on my blog post here.
As my parcel was travelling to the US I had to ensure that it would get there in one piece so I decided to make this little Christmas folio book for Sandy to record some Christmas memories. Do hop on over to my blog if you want to see the pockets and tags inside.
Brenda to Alison
My Secret Santa gift this year is for the lovely Alison. Although I had a number of things in my head that I could possibly make, in the end I opted for a canvas board hanging. I wanted to include some of the things that I think Alison loves like vintage, grunge, weathered texture and the colours blue and brown, I also wanted to add dimension and collage and in the end I think I achieved all those things. I put it in the post hoping she would like it. :o) xx
Nikki to Astrid
When I knew I was making for the very talented Astrid Maclean I decided to be inspired by her. I know how much she loves texture and making mini books so I decided to make her a little book featuring some of her creations for A Vintage Journey in 2015. The photos are Astrid’s work and I have tried to use the style of each of her designs on my page layouts. Photos of all the pages can be found over at Addicted to Art today.
Sandy to Julia
I received a lovely gift and handmade card from Jennie. Thank you so much, it is a treasure. The attention to detail and vintage goodness is truly special. I will add my holiday memories to the many tags and cards inside.
I was so happy to see that I got the lovely Julia Aston as my recipient. I sent the handmade folio that I made at my class with Tammy Tutterow and a card of course. I have already received a thank you note from her. She now has a spot for her treasured holiday memories.
To see more details simply visit my blog.
Happy Holidays,
S@ndy
Jenny to Annie
I was lucky enough to draw Annie as my recipient and when it came time to create a special gift for her fate intervened. My new Tim Holtz Sizzix 'Village Collection' dies had just arrived and I was desperate to find some time to play with them. Then Tim's December tag design was released and I figured it would be fun to combine those techniques with these dies, especially as it meant a battery operated candle could be placed inside (Annie loves candles you see!!!) And so my creative adventure began...
I know Julie has a dollshouse and an interest in miniatures, so when I discovered I was to be her Secret Santa it seemed obvious that a little house was in order! I had a lovely time creating the wooden roof, and enclosing the cottage in its own private little picture frame courtyard with a couple of frosted fir trees. And of course it simply had to light up! I hope she likes it. Hop over to Words and Pictures to see more close ups by day and by night. Merry Christmas to all!
Annie to Jennie
I wanted to make something for Nikki that was a little different to my usual papercraft projects. As I have a lovely stash of Tim Holtz fabric and I saw a pattern in a magazine, I knew I wanted to make one of these make up purses for Nikki as her Secret Santa gift. I really enjoyed doing some sewing again and thanks to Nikki, I will be doing a lot more!
Having met my lovely Teamie Jenny (Buttons) in London this year at Wendy Vecchi's workshop, I was delighted to make my Secret Santa gift for her. I made a Glistening Christmas Tree Decoration using a small balsa wood Birdhouse. Please stop by my Juliz Design Post to see lots of photographs and techniques used.
Aren't these the most fabulous gifts that you would like to receive? As being a recipient I can't tell you how exciting it is to both make and send a gift but to also open your parcel to see what is inside the one that has been lovingly sent to you, each and every one is a treasure.
It would be lovely if we could send all of our readers and challenge entrants a gift to say thank you for being part of our journey, so in the spirit of giving presents at Christmas we have a give-away for you instead.
Here is a little Tim Holtz collection for the lucky winner who will be chosen on New Years Day from the comment list below. Just remember the date on your comment must show 2015 as we will close the entries at midnight the start of 2016 (London time). Good luck and thank you for all your visits.
See you again tomorrow with another Destination Inspiration post.
Have a great Sunday.
hugs Brenda and all the Creative Guides xxx
For the second year running we have run a Secret Santa gift exchange with everyone's name going into a hat and being pulled out to see who they would make something for. You might like to grab a cuppa (or something stronger depending on the time of day you are reading this) and peruse the wonderful array of projects that have been winging their way - some across the world - to each other's houses.
I wanted to create something that Brenda could bring out each year to display with her cards, something that was vintage and dimensional. I also wanted to create something a little different and use one of Tim Holtz dies to create a type of shadow box. I always love to create dimension in my pieces of art, along with adding layers to add a design that are both tactile and interesting to look at. I used Tim Holtz Arched Frame and Sized Arches dies to create my piece decorated with Tim Holtz Merriment and Yuletide papers. I really enjoyed creating this piece and I hope Brenda enjoys displaying it!
I was Secret Santa for Anne Redfern this year and I made her a little Christmas book along with a box to store it in. I was inspired by a book made by Anna-Karin whom I link to on my post. It's the first small book of this kind that I have ever made - and I am so happy with how it came out. I hope Anne is too, that she will enjoy it for years to come and will think of me as she turns the pages! You will find a plethora of photos showing just how I put this together and how I decorated each page on my blog post here.
As my parcel was travelling to the US I had to ensure that it would get there in one piece so I decided to make this little Christmas folio book for Sandy to record some Christmas memories. Do hop on over to my blog if you want to see the pockets and tags inside.
Brenda to Alison
My Secret Santa gift this year is for the lovely Alison. Although I had a number of things in my head that I could possibly make, in the end I opted for a canvas board hanging. I wanted to include some of the things that I think Alison loves like vintage, grunge, weathered texture and the colours blue and brown, I also wanted to add dimension and collage and in the end I think I achieved all those things. I put it in the post hoping she would like it. :o) xx
Nikki to Astrid
When I knew I was making for the very talented Astrid Maclean I decided to be inspired by her. I know how much she loves texture and making mini books so I decided to make her a little book featuring some of her creations for A Vintage Journey in 2015. The photos are Astrid’s work and I have tried to use the style of each of her designs on my page layouts. Photos of all the pages can be found over at Addicted to Art today.
Astrid to Tracy
I altered a book box for Tracy as I wanted to make a gift that would be useful. I created it in vintage style and along with the box there is also a tag holder. I thought perhaps Tracy could use the box to store her Christmas cards. To see more of how this was put together just visit my blog.
I altered a book box for Tracy as I wanted to make a gift that would be useful. I created it in vintage style and along with the box there is also a tag holder. I thought perhaps Tracy could use the box to store her Christmas cards. To see more of how this was put together just visit my blog.
Sandy to Julia
I received a lovely gift and handmade card from Jennie. Thank you so much, it is a treasure. The attention to detail and vintage goodness is truly special. I will add my holiday memories to the many tags and cards inside.
I was so happy to see that I got the lovely Julia Aston as my recipient. I sent the handmade folio that I made at my class with Tammy Tutterow and a card of course. I have already received a thank you note from her. She now has a spot for her treasured holiday memories.
To see more details simply visit my blog.
Happy Holidays,
S@ndy
Jenny to Annie
I was lucky enough to draw Annie as my recipient and when it came time to create a special gift for her fate intervened. My new Tim Holtz Sizzix 'Village Collection' dies had just arrived and I was desperate to find some time to play with them. Then Tim's December tag design was released and I figured it would be fun to combine those techniques with these dies, especially as it meant a battery operated candle could be placed inside (Annie loves candles you see!!!) And so my creative adventure began...
I know Julie has a dollshouse and an interest in miniatures, so when I discovered I was to be her Secret Santa it seemed obvious that a little house was in order! I had a lovely time creating the wooden roof, and enclosing the cottage in its own private little picture frame courtyard with a couple of frosted fir trees. And of course it simply had to light up! I hope she likes it. Hop over to Words and Pictures to see more close ups by day and by night. Merry Christmas to all!
Annie to Jennie
I
decorated a candle using a napkin, which I cut to fit the candle then
removed a layer of the tissue. The napkin was tightly wrapped around
the candle and held with pins. I then applied my heat gun to the candle
and watched the tissue melt in to the wax. Another way to adhere the
napkin is to wrap some greaseproof paper, holding it really tight.
Having tried both techniques I really like using the pins as it is
easier to see what you are doing as you have to be careful not to
overheat the candle as you will melt the wax. My second gift is a little
notebook and pen, made from card, with some Tim Holtz paper stash to
embellish. One of my mum’s crafty friends sent her a notebook and I
thought they made the perfect little gift for friends. I have put the
link to the tutorial on my blog if you want to pop over for the
details.
I wanted to make something for Nikki that was a little different to my usual papercraft projects. As I have a lovely stash of Tim Holtz fabric and I saw a pattern in a magazine, I knew I wanted to make one of these make up purses for Nikki as her Secret Santa gift. I really enjoyed doing some sewing again and thanks to Nikki, I will be doing a lot more!
Having met my lovely Teamie Jenny (Buttons) in London this year at Wendy Vecchi's workshop, I was delighted to make my Secret Santa gift for her. I made a Glistening Christmas Tree Decoration using a small balsa wood Birdhouse. Please stop by my Juliz Design Post to see lots of photographs and techniques used.
Aren't these the most fabulous gifts that you would like to receive? As being a recipient I can't tell you how exciting it is to both make and send a gift but to also open your parcel to see what is inside the one that has been lovingly sent to you, each and every one is a treasure.
It would be lovely if we could send all of our readers and challenge entrants a gift to say thank you for being part of our journey, so in the spirit of giving presents at Christmas we have a give-away for you instead.
Here is a little Tim Holtz collection for the lucky winner who will be chosen on New Years Day from the comment list below. Just remember the date on your comment must show 2015 as we will close the entries at midnight the start of 2016 (London time). Good luck and thank you for all your visits.
See you again tomorrow with another Destination Inspiration post.
Have a great Sunday.
hugs Brenda and all the Creative Guides xxx
