Saturday 28 December 2013

Before Christmas is well and truly over for this year.............

.............I just want to show you a gift I made for some crafty friends for the 2013 Pay It Forward.

I got a shock when I paid a long overdue visit to my own blog today and realised it's about 6 weeks since I posted anything!!!  I'm afraid crafting has had to take a bit of a back seat to family stuff recently but I'm hoping things settle down a bit in the New Year so I can delve into all the fab crafty stuff I have waiting to be explored..

Anyway, way back early in the year I pledged to make a gift for five crafting friends who expressed a wish to receive something from me.  These items had to be sent before the end of 2013 and as I left it so late I decided to make something for Christmas that they would hopefully like enough to use for several years to come.  I took inspiration from two places for these MDF hanging hearts.  The first side was from a lovely crafter I met through Twitter and you can see Hazel's decorations HERE.  The inspiration for the second side came from a project by Anna-Karin Evaldsson in the December issue of Craft Stamper Magazine

1st Side


I used co-ordinating papers, distressing all the edges to cover this side, with lace to cover the join. I applied Versamark ink with Cut n Dry foam around the edges and applied Wow Bright White embossing powder. I used my Tim Holtz/Sizzix Tattered Poinsettia die to cut the flower and leaves adding Distress Dry Glitter to the edges and the centre. I stamped the 'BELIEVE' circle and die cut it with a Spellbinder die and then inked the edges.

2nd Side


For this side I first gave a coat of PaperArtsy Fresco Finish acrylic paint but I'm afraid I can't remember what colour it was, lol!  I also can't remember which order I did the background in as it was before the mayhem of Christmas preparations but if includes stamping random text using Archival ink and a pine branch using Versamark and then heat embossing with Wow Bright White EP before blending Distress Inks over the top.  I think the Merry Christmas is an Inkadinkado stamp which I stamped in Red Geranium Archival and then die cut with a Spellbinders label die.  I inked the edges and then using the Tim Holtz/Sizzix Tattered Pinecone die I cut and twirled and curled and glittered all the pinecones I needed, lol!  I have to admit I don't find these pinecones very easy to make and they look more like flowers than cones to me, lol, but they ended up looking quite nice I think.




I was actually more pleased with these hanging hearts (the MDF blank hearts were from the MDF Man who can be found at lots of craft shows around the country and bonus....... his workshop is only 15 minutes away from me ;D) than I expected to be and will definitely make more as gifts for next year.



Well I hope you have all had a wonderful Christmas and that you are looking forward to New Year celebrations now.  Thank you for making time to visit my little bit of cyber space during this busy time of year and I will try to be a better blogger in the New Year ahead.

I would like to wish you all a very happy, healthy and prosperous 2014 and especially all the poor folk who have been affected badly by the awful storms we have been lashed by this past week, I hope your lives get back to normal as soon as possible.

Lots of love and hugs
Lesley  Xx

33 comments:

Anonymous said...

Lesley, they are GORGEOUS, I'd have been thrilled to receive one, so I'm sure the recipients were.

Deborah Wainwright said...

Lesley these are really lovely I love the colours and hearts are always my fav great presents xxx

PaperArtsy said...

Fabulously festive Lesley! Love them!

margaret said...

Lesley they are absolutely fab!!!!

Helen said...

gosh, they are gorgeous Lesley!! I am sure the recipients will love displaying them for years. Glad you got time to create, you need to take some "you" time too...

Lynne K said...

As one of the lucky recipients, I can confirm that they really are gorgeous, and the photos don't do them justice. Thank you again for mine, Lesley. I love it and won't be taking it down when Christmas is over. xx

Lynne K said...

As one of the lucky recipients, I can confirm that they really are gorgeous, and the photos don't do them justice. Thank you again for mine, Lesley. I love it and won't be taking it down when Christmas is over. xx

veronica said...

oooh, they're lovely Lesley - am sure everyone was thrilled with them. Hearts are a great idea, think I may have to pinch it for next year........assuming I remember , that is!

Lin said...

Oh Lesley these are beautiful and I am sure they will definitely be used for many years to come xx Happy new Year xx

Unknown said...

Gorgeous! xx

Beryl said...

How absolutely gorgeous this is Lesley. I'm going to bookmark this post as inspiration for when I manage to get my mitts on some of those hearts.
Wishing you all the best for 2014.
Beryl xx

Jacqui Chimes said...

These are lovely - I hope 2014 is a good year for you and your family

Hazel Agnew said...

Fabulous Lesley. Love everything and they do look like pine cones to me, x

Elaine said...

Lesley, these are really lovely. I am hankering after the Tattered Poinsettia die, but by the time I decided I needed it, everyone had sold out! I love your design. The white embossing around the edge works brilliantly. You have done really well with those pine cones, I can't get them to work for me at all! I am sure your recipients were thrilled to bits to receive their packages, what a beautiful seasonal gift, definitely worth making more of these beauties. Hoping 2014 brings you a better year my lovely friend. Elaine xxx

Sally H said...

I too can tell you they are even more gorgeous in real life! I will treasure it always, my lovely friend. Just spotted the MDF man is local! Oh My Goodness! I may have to pay him a visit!!!!

snazzyoriginal said...

These are truly beautiful, so glad you got some 'me' time to craft xx

Aquarius said...

Good to hear you are OK - I was beginning to wonder although I've been out of touch myself just recently. This heart decoration is beautiful and great that it has two sides, I'm sure whoever receives it will treasure it for years to come. All the best for 2014. Hugs, Val xx

Unknown said...

Ooh very nice, what a great gift x

Paula (PEP) said...

Your Tattered Poinsettia looks absolutely lushly wonderful against the shabby chic background & I love the touch of lace covering the join. Your 'Believe' captures the absolute essence of Christmas for me & almost brought tears to my eyes. Your Tattered pinecones look very real to me - I saw ones like that when we lived in Sweden scattered on the forest floor. Your white embossing is a lovely contrast.
Take care over the coming year & I do hope that you have an easier one.
With much love
Paula (PEP)

Unknown said...

Lesley these are beautiful!! I shall definitely be trying out something similar when I have some time. Enjoy the rest of your Christmas xxx

sam21ski said...

Certainly hope 2014 is a better year for the family xxx

Great makes with the hearts, they look gorgeous and glad you found some 'me' time to make them

All the very best for 2014.

Sam xxx

Val said...

Gorgeous gift Lesley and great use for the heart, particularly at this time of the year.
Hugs
Valxx

yoursartfully said...

These are simply beautiful Lesley.

Lin x

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Gorgeous hanger, love both sides. Happy 2014 ! Shirleyx

Astrid Maclean said...

Stunning makes Lesley and they look just fantastic hung together like that, fabulous!!

Minxy said...

I got one.. I got one, many thanks sweetie for this awesome heart, it got hung straight up in my window, framed by my twinkly lights xo

Minxy said...

I got one.. I got one, many thanks sweetie for this awesome heart, it got hung straight up in my window, framed by my twinkly lights xo

lisa said...

This is stunning, Lesley, that poinsettia looks really velvety. Your friends will have been thrilled to receive their gifts I'm sure.
I hope you had a lovely Christmas and I wish you and your lovely family a Happy Healthy and Peaceful 2014.
You are not on your own being a bad blogger lately, I have been terrible but intend to be better next year. See you in Blogland very soon.
Hugs Lisaxx

Redanne said...

They are gorgeous Lesley, love the poinsettia and the pinecones look wonderful. Lucky recipients! Hope you have a happy and healthy New Year. Hugs, Anne x

Suzi B said...

These are stunning lesley and worth the wait :))
wishing you a happy 2014 xx
Suzi B x

massofhair said...

S T U N N I N G work Lesley, so glad you shared them, shame not too.

Am also needing the tattered poinsettia and tattered pine cone dies, they are too delicious not to have.

You are the third person to be inspired by the CS Dec 2013 issue. I made the Advent village :-) x

Brenda Brown said...

These are beautiful gifts Lesley and perfect for keeping and displaying year on year. I love the heart design with festive images, they are great together.
Wishing you a new year filled with joy and happiness and I look forward to seeing more of your fabulous work in 2014.
hugs {brenda} x0x

Words and Pictures said...

They're absolutely lovely, Lesley! And why shouldn't we take a break now and then - family and Christmas deserve our attention too!!
Hope you're having a lovely Christmas, and wishing you a wonderful 2014!
Alison xx