Open Theme

.. at Sunday Postcard Art. Well, there is the obvious one ... New Year et all ... and the not so obvious ....
This collage is based on a German song: Wir sind Kinder dieser Erde (we are children of the World) ... we all belong to one world.

This is the last day of 2010. It was tremendously difficult in parts but also full of miracles and adventures. I made so many new friends giving me the opportunity to explore endless possibilities, and I cannot tell you how much I appreciate each single one of you
... wishing you a very happy New Year full of happiness and wonderful moments, take care wherever you are and whatever you do, Petra. xx

images used:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/statelibraryqueensland/3231320936/sizes/o/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nypl/3109331183/sizes/o/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/brooklyn_museum/2674094997/sizes/l/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/uw_digital_images/4951162833/sizes/o/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fylkesarkiv/3612844311/sizes/o/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nypl/4055707843/sizes/o/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/2179058148/sizes/o/in/photostream/
Art-e-ology
http://www.custombackgroundsfortwitter.com/free-backgrounds/xmaslights.jpg
http://www.custombackgroundsfortwitter.com/gallery/category/free/
http://www.dieruebe.at/service/a9757/56
Graphics Fairy

A Little Giveaway

Having been trough all my paper scraps for my Gingersnap paperscrap recycling project it doesn't look as if I have used any paper at all so I thought I bundle it and make it a little paper scraps/ribbon/twine giveaway. If you are interested, just leave me a comment (you don't need to become a follower). I will draw the recipient for the giveaway next week 05 January. Happy crafting and good luck :-), Petra.

Paperscrap Recycling ...

The Once in the Blue Moon challenge at Gingersnap Creations is something special this month: The DT will give you options from which you can choose your favourite project as inspiration for your own creative work. How cool is this?
My project is: how to use your paper scraps. Being a bit of a hoarder when it comes to paper, I cannot really throw anything away keeping even the very slim cut-offs you get when trimming paper for square or rectangular shapes. I am sure you can imagine that my box with paper scraps is rather big (lol). This was now the opportunity to dig into it and do something useful with them.
My plan was to create a card with scraps only ...First I ordered the scraps into colours ... it only took a couple of hours (lol). Once this was done I made a plan of which colour to use for what and started creating
... well, ok, my scraps were not big enough for the card base, I cut it from Elzybells's Kraft card. The next step was to design the background with bigger scraps which preferably would have some printed words. I found some cut-outs from an old book and various bits from some patterned papers and arranged and glued them onto a bigger piece of watercolour paper
Some stitching and distressing of the edges completed the background. Having lots of thin strips of paper I chose the green ones and wove them into a sort of meadow structure whereby some strips are used as flower stems which are also stitched
I cut some leaves and did some stitching and then created some flowers, there is a brilliant tutorial for the flowers here ... I had to adjust it slightly like not cutting the strips into equal width ... I like it better like this (lol)
A little girl (image from Carol Anne) visits the garden to pick some flowers. I had printed both images the girl and butterfly wings (image from the Graphics Fairy) some time ago for another project but never used it. The word sentiment was stamped with a Little-Z stamp and Brilliance ink.
Do you have paper scraps as well? Get them out and start creating .... it is fun, it is cheap and the result will be amazing. Show us what you do with your paper scraps! Petra.

Bleach Stamping and a Little Ornament

Gingersnap Creations focus in December was bleach and how it can be used in crafting. The tutorials from Sharon, Debby and Jo were fabulous and showed just how much fun and how easy it is to use bleach for painting, stamping, .... I finished the bleach series experimenting with different stamps and different cardstock. You find the tutorial here!
Bleach stamping is sooo much fun and it creates effective and sometimes surprise images. I used one of my experimental ones to create a little hanging ornament
The base cardstock is covered with calico which I stamped with French images and Brilliance ink from Clear Choice Stamps ... some sewing aound the edges ... lots of ribbons and fibres at the bottom .... The focal point is the bleached and over-stamped image of a fleur de lis embellished with some gems and layered on some Bazill cardstock. The finishing touch is a little rose I found in my stash.
Happy Crafting! Petra.

Santa is Coming Soon

Just a few more hours .... Petra.x

images: Graphics Fairy, Vintage Catnip, Free Christmas Clipart
linked to: Sunday Postcard Art

Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year 2011

Just a few more hours and Christmas Eve will be here.
This is a special time of the year ... family time and time to share with those we love. It brings precious memories, feelings of warmth and happiness, and an air of expectation and joy.

Thank you to all of you for your amazing support and lovely and encouraging comments this year! I've learned so much through all of you and cannot help but feeling tremendously grateful to each one of you. I wish you and your families a warm and peaceful Christmas and a very happy New Year.

*****
Frohe Weihnachten und ein gesundes and glueckliches Neues Jahr.
Petra.

Gingerbread Christmas

What would Christmas be without Gingerbread? Gingerbread (or Lebkuchen in German) as we know it today came originally from Belgium in the 13th Century. It was introduced into Germany through the city of Aachen. Lebkuchen is a traditional little Christmas cake, the ones best known are from the area of Nuernberg. If you would like to read a little bit more about the history, the German Food Guide lists some interesting details.
Lebkuchen come in all sorts of different shapes and disguises including gingerbread men, women and children
These are made of felt from Lupin Handmade, handcut, hand-stitched and embellished with embroidery thread, ribbon and gingham fabric ... unfortunately non-edible ... sigh what a shame ... but the chocolates are (lol). Have a wonderful Christmas, Petra.x

Linked to: City Crafter Challenge
Paper Play Challenges
The Shabby Tea Room