Winter Reflections

Winter is finally coming to West Tennessee. It was warm today, but we're expecting 20° one night next week. Brrrrrrrrrr!

One nice thing about winter is the number of poems and quotations available with the click of a mouse to be used in our art. And doesn't this just come in so handy since the All Things Altered blog hop theme is Winter? Be sure to click on the the list below to  see the work of some really talented designers.











There is also a great prize package pictured on the first blog in the list below, Scrapbook Flair. To be entered to win the main prize package:

1. Leave a comment on all the designers' blogs.
2. Sign up to Follow the blogs.
3. Leave a message on the Scrapbook Flair Blog telling Pam you followed the directions!

1. Pammejo: http://pammejo-scrapbookflair.blogspot.com/

2. Nicole: http://canadiannickelscrapn.blogspot.com/

3. Gloria: http://www.gloriascraps.blogspot.com/

4. Irit: http://iritshalom.blogspot.com/

5. Debbie: http://studiobeecreations.blogspot.com/

6. Jennifer: http://hydrangeahippo.com/

7. Jess B.: http://thatzuneek.blogspot.com/

8. Barbara: http://blackholeartstudio.blogspot.com/

9. Eileen: http://eileenhull.blogspot.com /

10. Candice: http://candicewindhamdesigns.blogspot.com/ 

11. True: http://truesgiftsfromtheheart.blogspot.com 

12. Pinky : http://blueyecicle.blogspot.com/ 

Be sure to read through all the blogs on this hop.There are several additional prizes on individual blogs.

Supplies

Duetica Lettering Arts Studio, Mandolyn Font

Assorted patterned cardstock, (Graphic 45, Bo Bunny, Stampin’Up!® cardstock, Not Quite Navy and Whisper White)

Sizzix Big Shot

Sizzix On the Edge Die, Snowflake Flurries (656920)

Sizzix Bigz Die, Reindeer Flight, (656923)

Sizzix Texture Fades Embossing Folders, Fancy and Floral Frames Set (657197)
Chipboard for die cuts

Gallery Wrapped Canvases, 2 , 8” x 10”

Hinges, 2

Crystal drops, 3

American Crafts Hemp, light blue

Versamark Embossing Ink

Ultra-Detail Embossing Powder, Silver

Metallic Trims, Paper Dreams Factory

Computer-generated poem by Robert Frost, Quotation and Title

Viva Décor Inka Gold, Platinum, Cobalt Blue and Violet

Colorbox pigment ink pads, Black, Chestnut Roan and Peacock Blue

Aleene’s Tacky Glue

Stamps, Stampin’Up!®

Metal Charms

Slate Blue Craft Paint

Paint Brush

Directions

Note: These directions are for an 8” x 10” canvas. If you use a different sixe, you will have to adjust all measurements.

1. Paint both canvases front and back with blue paint. Set aside to dry.

2. Cut one printed paper 6 ¾” x 8 ¾”, solid cardstock 6 1/8”  x 8” and a second printed paper 5 ½” x 7 ½”. Ink all edges with brown ink.

3. Cut four snowflake borders with Sizzix On the Edge die. Apply Inka Gold in Platinum and add Cobalt Blue and Violet sparingly.

4. Set type using the Mandolyn font and Duetica Lettering Arts Studio software. Print on white cardstock to fit within the borders of the Sizzix Texture Fades Embossing Folder. Fussy cut the border and lightly apply blue ink..

5. Stamp the swirl stamp with Peacock Blue Ink.

6. Adhere all paper layers for the cover and adhere this set to one of the canvas pieces.

7. Color the Snow Flurries with Platinum Inka Gold and add light touches of Cobalt Blue and Violet. Adhere across top of the cardstock layer.  Note: You will have to add a small portion to make this go from end to end. I used the small metal snowflake to hide the joint where the additional snowflake was added.

8. Attach the title block and metal snowflakes.

9. Apply Versamark ink to the reindeer and cover with Silver embossing powder. Heat to melt the powder and then edge the deer with Cobalt Blue and Chestnut Roan inks.

Inside

1. For the left side, print out the quotation. Trim paper to cover the canvas inside the frame . Print out the quotation, cut the width slightly smaller than the opening and tear the top and bottom edges. Ink the edges with Cobalt Blue and Violet. Stamp the snowflakes using Cobalt Blue ink. Roll the top and bottom corners with a pencil and adhere inside the opening. Cut 3 8” pieces of blue hemp. Run the hemp through the hole in the top of the crystal. Tie all together with a knot. Use a pushpin to attach the crystals to the inside top of the canvas.

2. Cut two pieces of printed cardstock to make frames for the canvas back edges. Trim out the center of each piece with a 1 ¼” border. Place the snowflake trim as desired, then cover  the “frame” portion with the paper frames. Apply Platinum Inka Gold randomly with your fingers along the edges of the frame, then go over it again with Peacock Blue  and Black inks to create an aged  look.

3. Apply Platinum Ink Gold to a purple pennant border. Trim to fit around inside edge of the frame.

4. For the right side, print poem and trim to fit inside the opening.  Add a scrap of the paper used on the left side background to add interest and tie the two sections together.

5. Complete the frame border as in Step 2 above.

5. Add the second silver embossed deer in the lower right corner.

Finishing

1. Apply the second metallic trim to the outside edges. (If you don’t have the color trim you want, you can color the trim with Inka Gold, Viva Décor Metallic Paint or alcohol inks.). Join the canvases using  two small hinges.

Now that we have Thanksgiving out of the way, remember to shop small businesses/handmade this holiday season. Anyone can purchase a mass-produced product that will be as old as yesterday's news before long. When you purchase hand made, you're buying a gift that will be treasured for years to come. 

Now, go hug someone you love and spend the day snuggling instead of shopping!