Happy Christmas and a thank you

Good morning Peeps, before I move on to my challenge post I want to add a few contemplative or maybe philosophical words.

I have received so many beautiful Christmas cards from fellow crafters and would like to say an open thank you to each and every one of you. Looking at them all hanging in my hallway I realised the handmade ones almost outnumber the shop bought ones and confirm what an incredibly talented bunch you are, they range from CAS to cute to traditional and I am drawing immense pleasure looking at each and every one of them and appreciating your different crafting styles.........how boring things would be if we all shared the same styles of crafting!

Looking forward to 2018, as many of you know I have not enjoyed the best of health in 2017 and I am not out of the woods yet and have more surgical procedures to come in the New Year. I don't do social media but have tried so hard to keep up with all of your blogs, but with all the will in the world I seem to have failed miserably and some weeks not got beyond DT commenting commitments.

Running three challenges does take a fair amount of time and commitment but is well rewarded by the high volume of entrants we continue to see and the wonderful sponsor who support us. Also I find craft is a good stress and pain buster and I love my DT work for the various companies I create for, so as far as blogging goes I will approach 2018 in slow steps and see how things go and hope you understand if I don't visit as often as I might wish or have done previously.

OK, got that out of my system and moving onto our new challenge at Allsorts which will run for two weeks over the Christmas holiday period. Mervi is our host and has chosen the theme of 'Seasonal Flowers'. Our sponsor is Stamp Addicts plus we have an extra prize as well, hop over the the challenge blog to take a look.

Also, Lesley from Chocolate Baroque is back on Hochanda today with a 'Best of Show' programme which will incorporate stamps that have been featured during the year, below are a few samples using some of the stamps that will feature. Also, I posted over at the Chocolate Baroque DT blog on Thursday and totally forgot to do the same on my own blog, so here rather belatedly is an edited version of that post which means this is a mega long post and you may need a cuppa or even a glass of something to get you to the end.

First my Allsorts creation at the top inspired by a lady demoing at Crafting Live last month using serviettes, so had to give it a try as I was so impressed by the results she was achieving. She was using Imagination Crafts texture paste which looked really thick compared by so many on the market and having used it have to say it's certainly one of the best I have tried over the years.

So I started with an 8 x 8 canvas which was pre-primed so I went straight in with the texture paste stippling it at the corners and around the edge. Next a Christmas serviette, cutting out the section I wanted and then carefully separate the three layers as it's the top one you use. Apply a generous coat of decoupage glue (I used Imaginations Craft's) roughly where you want to place the cut out image and carefully lay into place...............it's pretty fragile so you only get one shot at this part, then gently pat over the surface using a piece of kitchen towel...........the glue I used dries very quickly, you can also softly brush the edges of the serviette with any glue remaining on the brush.

I then stamped a sentiment and stenciled some holly before going around the edges with acrylic paint  using an almost dry brush and then gilding polish. Finally added some liquid pearls and glitter to the centres of the Poinsettias. It was fun and I made several of these to give to the children as an alternative to Christmas cards.

And here are my Chocolate Baroque shares......................

 Distress Inks and stenciling and stamped from Tangled Garden and Words of Inspiration.

Acrylic paints and crackle glaze and stamps from Lily Fuchsia and Hyacinth multibuy 

More oxide inks, flowers from Lily Fuchsia and Hyacinth multibuy, sentiment from Birthday Words 

Regular Distress Inks , stenciling and stamps from Breath of Spring and Birthday Words

Stamps from Lily Fuchsia and Hyacinth multibuy and Birthday Words

Using Rose Steam Script onto a Dylusion's background

Using Katya onto a Brusho background, she was a real favourite with both the DT and viewes

Using leaves from the Take it or Leaf it set inked with Distress Markers

Using the large Baroque Corners onto a background of Distress Oxide's

Using Chequered Flowers onto a masked Distress Oxide background, I absolutely love this stamp

Wishing you all a Happy and Peaceful Christmas.