Tuesday 11 December 2012

Christmas wreath making

The Countdown to Christmas continues; it's just 2 weeks today until the Big Day! I am still opening the windows of my nostalgic advent calendar. I took this photo a few days ago when I actually had daylight in my bedroom.
These are a few of the images I found inside last week. That snowman and snowlady are fun aren't they.

We have our lovely fruit wreath hanging on the front door but I had not yet bought a wreath for my studio door. Although it is far too cold, even with the little heater on, at this time of the year to be crafting out there it is still good to look out of the kitchen window and see a Christmas wreath hanging. Last week, amongst the Christmas decorations, I spied an Oasis ring base in my local Wilkinson's store.






Although it is not actually designed for making into a hanging wreath I decided that I could adapt it. It is supposed to be used flat on a table.













I tied a piece of string around to make a hanging loop and then soaked the oasis with water.













I had cut some greenery and holly from my parents' garden. These were about the only 5 holly berries left this year, the birds had eaten all the rest.











I started by trimming some of the fir and yew branches into pieces that would slightly overhang the oasis. I then pushed them in place.
I had also bought a couple of ornaments and pine cones which cost just a few pounds in total. It did not take long to put it all together...would you like to see the end result...............





Here it is hanging in place

and here is a close up showing the additions.

I'm really pleased with it and the total cost was less than £4.

Now  I understand that Billy got hold of my blog on Saturday whilst I was out dancing at my work party and  our Dance Class Ball. They were both wonderful evening with lots of laughter and dancing. Yes I wore my Cinderella Slippers and yes they caused quite a stir at both events. I promised a photo but it was so hard to get something decent in the poor light at home before I left. Here are a couple but in real life they looked so much more sparkly.
I also have a really sparkly card for my challenges today.


This is the card I made for my dear Hb. He saw this stamp when I bought it and hinted that he would love it to be used for his Christmas card.


Here is the stamp in close up. It is called Christmas Bunnies Stocking by Lili of the Valley. I coloured it with Promarkers and highlighed with Prismacolor pencils.
I really went to town with all the bling as it did not need to go in the post. I made it a box instead.
The round and tag sentiments are also LOTV. The ticket sentiments are Whimsy. I even found some fab matt finish jingle bells...they actually ring. I added lots of Glamour Dust for sparkle on the hats and fur trims. The ornament die cuts are Memory Box and all the other additions are hand punched by me. There is even a festive blue and silver ribbon in there. My Hb loved it.








I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;

Cupcake craft Merry Christmas #222
Forever Friends Fortnight Challenge Christmas #51
Cutie Pie Christmas #34
Dream Valley Christmas #34
Joanna Sheen With love at Christmas
Pan Pastel Inspired by a carol or song #48 My song is "Baby it's cold outside" by Tom Jones and Cerys Matthews.
Totally Gorjuss O no snow #161
Forever Friends Monthly challenge Christmas
Ladybug Crafts Ink Sparkliscious
A and T Emerald Faeries Christmas #38
Bearly Mine Anything Goes #65
The Ribbon Girl Ho Ho Ho
Sweet Stamping Christmas Anything Goes Their very first challenge ;0)

I hope everyone is keeping warm. It has been freeeeeezing here today, the temperature just about got above 1c all day and is plunging down to -6c tonight...now that's pretty cold to me. I was at home today as my silversmithing class has finished until January so I was able to finish my crackers and get some wrapping done. My heating kept kicking in all day and Billy stayed put. He says thank you for all the comments on his post on Saturday and that he is now resting his paws as he wore them out typing. Thanks for taking the time to visit, I know how busy everyone is at this time of the year.

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x





38 comments:

  1. Gorgeous wreath you made! I bet it's neat to look out and see your studio space dressed for the holidays. I bet you had fun being Cinderella!
    ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉
    *M*E*R*R*Y* *C*H*R*I*S*T*M*A*S*!*
    ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉
    ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  2. It looks so festive Teresa especially today with the frost everywhere...brrrr!
    Jane x

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  3. This is such a cute image and you have coloured it so gorgeous! Thanks for joining us at Forever friends monthly.
    X - Natalie - X

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  4. Thanks Natalie, I love this stamp!
    Jane x

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  5. Aww, so cute and I love your colour combo. Thanks for joining us at Cutie Pie xx

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  6. This is a lovely Christmas card, so many fabulous details and I love your shoes as well.
    Thank you for joining us at Bearly Mine Designs this week.
    Pauline
    x

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  7. Hi Jane, I just popped back to say thank you for sharing your beautiful card with us at Forever Friends this month as well.
    Pauline
    x

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  8. Thanks for your visit with both your challenge hats on Pauline ;0)
    Jane x

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  9. Good job on the wreath Jane, it looks amazing and what a great price as well!!!!
    Your shoes are lovely, so glad both events were fun!
    Your hubbie has great taste in card stamps, I have to say! ;)
    V xxx

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  10. Good morning, Jane! You made really beautiful wreath and I like the natural materials! Also the card with bunnies and blue colour is wonderful! I'm happy to hear that you had fun with your magic Cinderella shoes! x Teje

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  11. Thanks Vivienne..last years one cost me £25! M loves his bunny card..it's fun how the different colours look. Keep cosy.
    Jane x

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  12. Good morning Teje my wreath is a pretty green one isn't it! I had such a fun weekend thank you .
    Jane x

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  13. Your wreath is stunning & your card well that's just so sweet!

    Thank you for sharing with us at Emerald Faeries, good luck!
    Hugs Shell xx

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  14. Hi, ooooooh so cute is your creation and thank you for joining in our challenge over at Forever Friends Challenge and good luck hope to see you again next time DT Member Sandra H xx

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  15. lovely creations but oh my I do love yours shoes too!!! Thanks for joining us at Christmas at Sweet Stampin with our 'anything goes challenge, hope to see you again soon, hugs xx

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  16. Beautiful card,such a sweet image and lovely layout. Thanks for joining us at Forever Friends this month. good luck. Merry Christmas. Tracey DT member xx

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  17. Hi sweetie, ur card is lovely as is ur wreath... But holy cow... I love them shoes.... Many days?? Lol xx

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  18. Absolutely beautiful wreath and you made it, even more special! Love those slippers!
    Your card is the cutest! I just love the bunnies and all the tags and ticket sentiments.
    Happy 12/12/12 to you, xoRobin❤

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  19. What a cute card! Lovely....Thanks for joining us at Forever Friends!
    Hugs Rachel

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  20. Billy did a wonderful job as a guest blogger.(-:
    Very pretty wreath, Jane. It looks so good against the wood of your studio.
    Very fun to see your party shoes again.
    I'm sure your husband loves his card.

    Happy counting down and stay warm......
    12/12/12
    Anne
    PlumCreek22

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  21. Thank you all you lovely ladies for the above comments. It really is the count down now isn't it? Keep warm, we're off dancing tonight so also keeeeeep dancing ;0)
    Jane x

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  22. Such a beautiful card with that fabulous image, very cute. Ove your festive wreath and awesome Cinderella shoes too, thanks for joining us at the Emerald Faeries Challenge this fortnight.

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  23. That is a beautiful wreath, Jane! You did a lovely job and it looks so pretty on your studio door. Your sparkly shoes look gorgeous! I think the card for your hb is very sweet and so festive :)
    Have a happy week, and keep cosy!
    Helen x

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  24. Beautiful wreath, Jane, and it looks so inviting in your studio door... It waits spring and you to be crafting there again! And those shoes...wow! I am sure you were THE princess of the both parties in those...I love them!

    And Billy-boy...I am actually pretty happy he got his paws into the keyboard, he's been famous around the blog-land for so long now that he just had to have his say :) and we all loved him blogging! Kisses to him!

    Have a wonderful day and we'll see at mine tomorrow again!

    Yours,
    Mia

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  25. Thanks Jaq...love your profile pic!
    Jane x

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  26. Keep cosy too Helen, another cold one today.
    Jane x

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  27. Spring seems a long way away Mia,brrrr its so cold at the moment. Billy is curled up next to me keeping snug. I am sure he will be back to blog again ;0)
    Jane x

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  28. Oh my goodness, I LOVE, love, love your shoes! How beautiful are those! Your wreath is rather snazzy as well, I'm still hoping to get a fruit one after earlier inspiration from your fabulous blog. Bethx (thelinencat)

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  29. I feel like Cinderella going to the Ball in them Beth, they are just fab!
    Jane x

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  30. These are stunning christmas creations you have made!! Thanks for joining my challenge over at Cupcake Craft Challenge this week! Good luck! Hugs and sunshine!

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  31. Gorgeous card, really beautiful! I'm sure your hubby will love it. Thanks for joining us at PanPastel UK this week
    Claire xx
    PS fab shoes too x

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  32. Great wreath (our little westie was so scared of the wreath he could see through the glass panels on the front door last night we had to take it down in the middle of the night - to get some relief from his frantic barking!!) your shoes are fabulous (and so is your card - thanks for joining in with the Ribbon Girl challenge, hugs Mary G x

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  33. Awww what a lovely post, so many stuff, love the wreath, advent calendar... shooooeeees ;) and stunning card :) Thank you for joining us at Christmas at Sweet Stampin this month and good luck xx

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  34. I really don't know what to say except your card is simply gorgeous. I just love everything about it, the colours, the sparkle etc. Thank you for joining us at The Emerald Faeries. Good Luck xoxoxo

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  35. A lovely christmas creation. Thanks for sharing with us at Dream Valley and good luck.
    Mags
    x

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  36. Gorgeous card Jane! Thanks for joining in our Christmas challenge! Laura (Joanna Sheen DT)

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  37. Gorgeous card! Love the design and color. Thanks for joining us at Forever Friends.

    Karen

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