Friday 12 December 2014

Let's celebrate!!

Hello everyone and a very warm welcome to you all! Great to have you visiting at this very busy time of year!

Today sees the start of a new challenge over at A Vintage Journey. Our host is the lovely Nikki, and this is what she had to say about the challenge theme:
You can make something to celebrate Christmas if you wish but lets not forget about those December birthdays, anniversaries, Hanukkah and New Years. It may be fun to focus on celebrations other than Christmas, it's up to you.

Well, I decided to alter one of Tim's wonderful worn covers.
Of course Nikki makes it clear that the projects don't necessarily have to be Christmas related, but, Christmas is a big deal in our extended family, and so my mind automatically did turn to Christmas.

I know Tim has designed a special Christmas version of this book cover, but mine originally was the "Chronicle" one.

Singing Christmas carols is a big feature of our festival celebrations, - two of my husband's siblings are professional musicians, (he is the oldest of 7 children) so with Christmas family gatherings of up to 30 people, singing carols in 4 parts is a regular occurrence. This led me to the idea that it would be great to finally have a place to keep some of the sheet music in. So, onto my project:
I started by adding areas of texture using two of Tim's layering stencils. When the texture paste had dried I covered both sides with washes of Distress Paints in Antique Linen, Weathered Wood, Pumice Stone and Walnut Stain. I also added some spritzes of the Distress Sprays in Pumice Stone and Walnut stain, while the paint was still wet, this helped to blend them.

Below you can see the back:
When everything had dried I added some stamping, using the pine branch stamp from the Christmas Nostalgia stamp set. The vines are a Johanna Sheen die.

Time for some embellishing:
The layered Snowflake, to which I also added a cut out snowflake from a Sheena Douglas embossing folder, raised bits highlighted with copper Treasure Gold.
The perfect stamp for this project, from the Festive Sounds stamp set by Tim of course. I stamped it and embossed with copper embossing powder, fussy cut it and then inked around it with Vintage Photo. The embellishments are several older Spellbinder dies and some bits and pieces from my Christmas stash. I also melted some bits of embossing powders around it, to fit in with the little arch below:
A little rusted up Tando arch. First I stencilled the numbers 2 and 5 from one of Tim's stencils, when dry I coloured them with a Faber Castell Big Brush pen and then fitted the arch over it. The rusting was done with the help of two Ranger Antiquities powders, Rust and Verdigris.

I decided to fix the ring binders inside with some twine, to make it easier to add further pages if needed.
Well, that was pretty much it. Finally a place to keep all my carol sheets together, even though I won't be using it much this year as we are off to sunny Australia in just a few days time. Carol singing around the Barbie is not quite the same somehow....
Hope you will pop along to the A Vintage Journey blog to see the wonderful projects my team mates have created, and hopefully you even find some time to play along and celebrate with us! It's always good to have a creative break from all the other holiday preparations!!! Remember if you do, you are in with a chance to win a voucher from our wonderful sponsor: Countryview Crafts, or win an honourable place as a pin worthy on our special Pinterest board.

Now before I sign off, I just wanted to mention that the design team have been doing an exchange of gifts as a Secret Santa bit off fun. If you want to see whom I sent to and the amazing gift I received, do come back on Sunday, when all shall be revealed!

FINALLY, - WORD VERIFICATION ON MANY BLOGS IS A BLOGGER GLITCH, - GET IT SORTED BLOGGER! I FOUND IT CAN JUST BE IGNORED, COMMENT AS USUAL AND IGNORE THE SILLY WV....

Thank you for visiting like always and have fun celebrating in the weeks to come!!

37 comments:

S@ndy Diller said...

Just love your book Astrid. It sounds as if you have lots of celebrating yet to do. Happy Holidays to you and yours.

Julia Aston said...

what a lovely place to keep your holiday music Astrid - love the paste stenciling, the beautiful snowflake and pretty title!

Pamellia said...

Absolutely stunning Astrid! I love the stencils you used and the way you blend the colours is incredible! Vacation time is almost here, you must be getting very anxious! See you on Sunday! holiday hugs :)

Maryanne said...

Wonderful,Astrid! I love the snowflake! Have a wonderful holiday with your family.

Rita said...

This is the most beautiful book cover that I've ever seen Astrid. And the idea of using it to keep music sheets appeals to me. I just love the stencilling and the colours you have used to bring it together. Hugs Rita xxx

Rupa Swaminathan said...

Such a beautiful book! I loved everything about the cover, especially the textures and the color...looks like stone! Superb creation Astrid.

Valerie-Jael said...

Gorgeous work Astrid! very festive. Hugs, Valerie

Maryann Laursen said...

Oh my goodness, this is so gorgeous Astrid, I´m in total awe with the beauty in this album here. You have just as always made yet another masterpiece here hun. I just love it.
Have a wonderful and safe trip to the other side of the world soon, and just enjoy spending the time with your family.

Deborah Wainwright said...

Another Wow Astrid loving all the texture and colours. I especially like the little rusty arch looks very effective. It is a great idea to hold the sheet music and maybe something to be handed down.

Australia now that sounds fun? Xx

chrissie said...

Wonderful alteration Astrid and such a lovely vintage feel to it.

Have a wonderful time whilst you are away

Love Chrissie x

Ruth said...

What a lovely idea, beautiful alteration Astrid. The rusty arch is perfect. Carols being sung always mark the beginning of Christmas for me so a perfect choice for celebrating. Ruth x

Redanne said...

A truly stunning creation Astrid, you have aged it so beautifully, I do love that little arch and the gorgeous snowflake!

I hope you have THE most wonderful time in Australia - I do remember Christmas around the barbie.... but I am sure you will make the most of your time there! Hugs, Anne xx

Jenny Marples said...

No one alters paste stencilled backgrounds quite like you - this is staggeringly beautiful! Jenny x

Stamps and Paper said...

Stunning work Astrid and a lovely transformation....fabulous colours and textures as always

Anne

Inky and Quirky Designs said...

Wonderful use of textures again Astrid,beautiful creation

Have a great weekend
Big hugs
Donna xxx

brenda said...

It is a pain Astrid, switching comments to embedded also gets rid for good so people are not put off.

Love the sound of the family gathering for carols. Also love your creation here today.

B x

Juliz Design Post said...

Another beautiful work of art Astrid, love how it is going to be filled with Christmas song sheets and your snowflake I adore.
Julie x

Ros Crawford said...

Well move over Tim Holtz!! This is amazing! And what a great use it will have ... Enjoy your day!

massofhair said...

Astrid this is imho one of your best ArT covers in 2014. So much to love and stroke, will be back to see again and again...

Have a wonderful warm time in Australia with your Family, enjoy each and every moment :-) xxx

Nicole Wright Designs said...

Astrid, you are truly the master if texture and grungy! Your book is stunning. Always a treat to come and see how inked and layered. I'm sure with all those in-laws your home is filled with lovely music and laughter. Always a treat to see you've posted. Thanks for stopping by my blog to share the love.

Terry said...

I would not expect anything less than gorgeousness from you, Astrid! The texture and colors are so lovely. What a great album to hold those celebrated music sheets. Happy Weekend!

Marisa Job said...

Another beautiful creation! Love all the texture and the color palette you used! Hugs!

Dorthe said...

How fun it must be with such a big family, for christmas celebratings .
I love your carol holder, and how you made it look so wonderfully textured and grungy , it is a beautiful saver of sheet music, Astrid.
I wish you a wonderful christmas far away with your little family, -
Hugs,Dorthe

Asia King (aka Joanna K) said...

Gorgeous album cover and that snowflake on the front looks fabulous! xx

Silvia(Barnie) said...

Wow, that's another breathtaking project. Fabulous details and the snowflake rocks.

Julia S-W said...

Grungily gorgeous Astrid! Love all the texture and your snowflake is stunning.
Have a wonderful trip when you go.
Enjoy your weekend.
Juliaxx

Jackie PN said...

What a wonderful cover- surely a treasure to be passed down through
the years Astrid! ")

Nikki Acton said...

Fabulous textures and vintage feel, Astrid, another stunner! Nikki x

Words and Pictures said...

Oh, how I envy you the four-part family harmony singing... my lot get thrown off if I depart from the tune to sing my beloved alto lines!!

What a glorious celebration of Christmas music and family traditions. Stunning as ever!
Alison xx

Jools Robertson said...

Beautiful cover for the Christmas carols
Gorgeous colours and little Tando Arch is lovely

Jools x

Jennie Atkinson said...

Another beautiful and useful project Astrid - what a great idea to alter the book cover using so many textures and lovely colours. Have a lovely time in Australia xxx

Unknown said...

Just gorgeous, Astrid!! What a lovely altered book to keep those special sheets of Christmas music! How Fun!! I would love to be a part of a musical family and sing Christmas carols!! I have not sung Christmas carols since I was a teenager (sang with the girls glee club!), at least with a group of people (I don't think singing in the shower counts!) :) This is a wonderful worn cover for the Let's Celebrate challenge :) It's certainly a celebration of your artistry!!
Have safe & wonderful travels in Australia!! It's summer down there isn't it? :) Oh, what fun!! Merry Christmas to you and yours, Astrid!! XOXO-Shari

Dianne said...

Hello Miss Astrid, how special to have the whole family sing carols, and now you have created a gorgeous book to hold the songs, even the back is stunning. I LOVE YOUR WORK, thanks for sharing...

crafty creations said...

Wow amazing work and such a wonderful keeper

Have a wonderful Christmas and a Healthy New Year

barbarayaya62 said...

This book is stunning! I love your unique style! BArbarayaya

Elaine aka Ellapu said...

I absolutely love the texture and colours of your TH cover. It is beautiful. Thank you for your inspiration hun xx

sarascloset said...

GASP! Wow, this is one humdinger of a book! You always amaze me with your very special talent of making things look as it they've been around for centuries! And I say that with respect and admiration! I love the painting, the layers, and the entire idea of keeping a book of your favorite carols. Breathtaking!

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