Happy Christmas … may your heart be filled with joy!

Hi everyone, this is a scheduled post today as I would like to share the Christmas card I made for my darling husband, which I never publish until I have given it to him on Christmas morning. 

I would also like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas - I hope you have a wonderful day whatever you’re doing.

I decided to make another joyful Lavinia scene, with Tilly and Tango dancing around as they decorate the Christmas tree, though this time they are carrying baubles rather than lanterns! This is an 8" square card, so plenty of room to build up my scene with the imposing Wild Pine Christmas tree! It took me several hours to make this, but I am pleased with how it turned out so I hope he will like it!

I cut a 7" square of stamping card and created my background snowdrifts and sky by blending Della Blue Elements ink using hill and circle masks. I then stamped the focal tree "Wild Pine" in Shady Lane and Pinecone Versafine Clair, and the mice in Pinecone. I added a variety of background trees in 1st/2nd generation stamping, then stamped a fence and gate in Acorn VFC and added a little robin by stamping a bird in Acorn VFC then coloured the red breast with a red Signo pen and added white gel pen to his tummy. 

I coloured the main tree by painting with watered down Olive Elements ink in flicking motions, added a wash of Wink of Stella, then coloured the tree baubles with blue, yellow and green Posca sparkle pens. I added a star on top of the tree stamped with Brilliance gold ink. I added baubles being held by the mice by drawing small circles with black fine liner  using my Lavinia White Orbs stencil, then drew the bauble top and string and coloured the baubles with Sakura Stardust pens. I added some overhanging branches in the top left corner, and added snow to them with a white gel pen, then added a small lantern sitting on the fence post and created the lamplight with yellow Stardust pen. I highlighted the moon and background trees with clear Stardust pen and added snow to the drifts, fence and gate with white Posca pen, then added white gel pen and pastel pencil highlights to the mice. 

Finally I added a highlight of Spectrum Noir sparkle pen to the moon and matted the finished piece onto green linen card stock and an 8" square card blank. I then decided to add some embossed and some Posca snowflakes (which made the card go wrinkly so I had to place it under a pile of books to flatten out!!) and stamped my sentiments.

Here's an angled picture to capture some of the sparkle.’

As this is a special Christmas card I also decorated the inside, with Tilly and Tango in a frenzy of excitement with their Christmas baubles!!

Stamps: Lavinia Wild Pine, Small Pine Trees, Christmas Tree Group, Red Pine (small), Fern Branch, Tilly and Tango, Gate and Fence, Bird Collection, Small Lanterns; North Star Mini, Snowflakes (Small), Snowflakes; sentiments - Uniko Christmas Wishes, Woodware Christmas Sparkle. 

Media: Lavinia Elements inks (Della Blue, Olive); Versafine Clair (Shady Lane, Pinecone, Acorn, Morning Mist, Medieval Blue, Nocturne); Brilliance pigment ink (Galaxy Gold); Versamark; detail white embossing powder; Posca Sparkle pens (blue, yellow, green); Sakura Stardust pens (turquoise, yellow, clear); fine liner pen (black); Wink of Stella; Spectrum Noir sparkle pen (clear);  Signo pen (red); gel pen (white); Posca pen (white); 

Tools: Lavinia Mini Hill Masks, Hill Masks, Circle masks, White Orbs stencil.

Challenges I would like to enter:

12 Months of Christmas #107 - Anything Goes Christmas (3rd entry)

613 Avenue Create (December) - Anything Goes with option Any Winter Holiday (3rd entry) - TOP ROCKER

ABC Christmas - Y is for Your Choice (Anything Goes) (3rd entry)

Allsorts #760/761 - Cold and Ice

Christmas Craft Creations (December) - Christmas Decorations

Christmas Crafts All Year Round (December) - Anything Christmas Goes (3rd entry)

Crafting Happiness #154 - Christmas Trees

Crafty Calendar (December) - Christmas (3rd entry) - TOP PICK

Creative Aunts #84 - Christmas Magic

Creative Crafting Uncles #48 - Christmas and/or Happy New Year 

(3rd entry)

Creative Inspirations (December) - Happy Christmas (3rd entry)

Daring Cardmakers - Bauble

Double D - Winter Snow Scene 

(2nd entry)

Dragonfly Dreams (December) - Christmas (3rd entry)

Dream Valley #306 - Anything Goes (3rd entry)

The Holly and Ivy #153 - Anything Christmas Goes (3rd entry)

Inkspirational #305 - Celebrate 

(2nd entry)

Lavinia Creative Challenge (December) -The Magic of Christmas (5th entry)

(version of card without sentiment)

Most Magical Time of the Year #15 - Christmas (3rd entry) - TOP PICK

Peace On Earth #54 - Anything Christmas Goes 

(3rd entry) - WINNER

Simon Says (Monday) - Let It Snow 

(2nd entry)

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Party Time!

Word Art Wednesday #627/628 - 

Anything Goes 

(3rd entry)

I’m going to be taking a little break from crafting and blogging now until after New Year so I can hopefully spend some quality time with husband, friends and family. We are having a quiet day today, just the 2 of us, but have some plans to get together with friends over the festive period.

So to all my blogging friends and followers, wishing you a very happy, healthy and peaceful Christmas and a Happy New Year, and I look forward to seeing you all in 2024.

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,