Yes Virginia...............

Time for our monthly challenges at Stamping Sensations and Penny Black and More where our themes are Festive Floral's and Anything Christmas. And as always there are some fab prizes to be won, at Stamping Sensations there is a great hamper of crafty goodies from 'be Creative!' and at Penny Black prizes from Penny Black, Crafts U Love and Crafty Ribbons.

My top creation is for Stamping Sensations and uses some of the new papers from this month sponsor Be Creative, they are actually the offcuts from another card I made for a magazine article so will fit into this weeks Snippets Playground. I decided on a chipboard frame which I covered in gesso and then some of the sponsors papers. I then used a Penny Black stencil to ink some leaves on both the outer frame and inner section. I added gold Frantage to the edges, stamped a Penny Black Poinsettia twice onto more of the paper, heat embossed with detail gold before cutting out, layering up and adding pearl stamens to the centre. I decided it needed a little something in the corner so printed and cut out a TL Holly corner and cut the top layer of flower heads from the same paper as the Poinsettia and finally added some pearl flourishes.

The sentiment on this months Penny Black piece is a stamp I happened to see on a blog a few weeks back and had to have it, I found the wording just enchanting. It's quite an oldie and wood mounted of course but Google searches drew a blank, so I mailed John at PB Stamps in the States.......I knew if anyone could source it, he could. And sure enough he did and would you believe it only took four days to arrive across the pond......with I might add a few other essentials.

Then I just needed my Virginia and in the back of my mind when I saw the stamp I thought I knew the perfect image in the form of this sweet little Victorian Nicecrane design. I stamped Penny Black Festive Florals in detail gold onto a piece of neutral coloured design paper and did the same with the sentiment which I placed within an oval aperture.

I cut Virginia out twice so that I could shape and decoupage her dress, placed her to the side of the aperture and added some liquid pearls and bow. It's one of those rare cards that I envisaged from the moment I saw the sentiment and it turned out just as I imagined.

My final share today is another for Stamping Sensations using another sheet of paper from this months sponsor, a paper pieced Penny Black stamp, a bit of background stamping, some lace and ribbon and a tiny TL Noel.