Hello Little Robin

Happy Thursday my lovelies.  I hope you are all well.  We are in the final stretch of the school holidays now so it's been operation back to school shopping for me this week.  This is my least favourite part of the holidays the school store is always absolute madness and because my daughters uniform can only be bought there I have no choice but to endure and it always annoys me how costly it is.  If they insist on our children wearing this uniform the least they could do is make it more affordable.  It's safe to say I won't be treating myself to any crafty items this month!!

Anyway, that's enough moaning for today that's not why you've popped in.  Well everyone seems to be making a start of their Christmas cards of late, as I've noticed quite a few cropping up across blogs and Instagram, so I thought I may as well join the party and make a start on mine.  So I had a rummage around in my older stamps and found this little beauty.  She is an old Sugar Nellie image 'Hello little robin' and she's a real sweetie.  Don't you find with all the new goodies appearing on the market you forget about your older stamps and that's a shame as I have some beauties.

Image:  Sugar Nellie 'Hello little robin'

Sentiment:  LOTV Christmas tags

Medium:  Tim Holtz Distress Markers

Papers:  The Paper Boutique 'A whisper of winter'

Dies:  Whimsy Stamps 'Christmas branch' set, Whimsy Stamps 'Hellebore flower' die set

I also changed it up a bit and had a go at colouring with Distress Markers.  I've never really got the hang of these but I'm fairly happy how this turned out, although a lot more practice is needed.  I also pulled out some Christmas paper from last year.  This is beautiful and I see they've brought some more gorgeous papers out this year too and I know I don't need them but I'm afraid I'm just going to have to have them lol!

I also had a play around with some foamiran and had a go at making my own hellebores.  I can see this being my flower of choice this festive season as they're beautiful.  I used white foamiran and coloured the centre with blue oil pastel but my photography is ploppy and the light in my conservatory doesn't help so you can't see the colours properly but you get the gist.

Here's a closer look at the image.  As I say a lot more practice is needed with the markers.  As you can see I went a little sparkle happy, but hey if you can't add lots of glitter to your Christmas cards when can you lol!!

Distress Markers used

Skin:  Tattered Rose, Vintage Photo

Clothes:  Chipped Sapphire, Milled Lavendar, Spun Sugar, Weathered Wood

Fur Trim:  Picket Fence, Weathered Wood

Basket:  Vintage Photo, Aged Mahogany, Bundled Sage, Scattered Straw, Barn door

Right, that's all from me today.  I'm off to feed the troops before they lynch me, as apparently I'm taking too long cooking tea!

Take care folks and happy crafting.

Ann-Marie

xxx

Challenges:-

Moving along with the times  -  things with wings

Addicted to stamps and more  -  anything goes

Simon Says Wednesday challenge  -  anything goes

The Holly and Ivy Christmas challenge  -  anything Christmas goes

Creative Craft Cottage  -  Christmas

Merry little Christmas challenge  -  anything goes

12 months of Christmas link up  -  optional twist - sparkle, glitter and bling

Creative Inspirations  -  something seasonal