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Saturday 4 January 2014

A Heart Full of Christmas




Hello all!  

It's still Christmas here at Words and Pictures - we go all the way to Twelfth Night round here (how could we not, with that Shakespearean echo?!) - so I've another little Christmas offering for you today.

In fact, I made these little hearts last year, but never got a chance to share them.  There are actually a few more in the set, but these are all the ones using Artistic Outpost stamps, and that's what today's post is all about, so here they are...



The hearts themselves are made of a sort of white melamine (I think they may have come from Ikea, but not sure any more), and the stamping is done with Archival inks, and the blending with Distress Inks.














The images are all from either the Snowy Woods plate or from Sleigh Ride... 












Most are the same front and back...

















But some have an alternative on the reverse side...








The melamine took the Distress Inks in a slightly strange way, but I rather like the effect I ended up with.
















The white snowflakes were done with SuperFine white embossing powder.














Some simple twine or white cord to hang them up by, and that's your lot - some simple, but I think quite effective, little decorations.

The new Referral Programme is up and running over at the Artistic Outpost blog, so if you're creating with the Artistic Outpost stamps this month, come and share your work with us - we love seeing what you make!

For now, I'm going to enjoy what's left of my Christmas, and I'll see you out there soon.




He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.
Roy L. Smith

58 comments:

Helen said...

oh these are so pretty! Love the distressed look of the distress on the surface!! Enjoy your last days of Christmas..

Fliss said...

These are absolutely beautiful Alison and perfect for decorating the tree.
Hope you enjoy the rest of Christmas time too.
Hugs, Fliss xx

Jennie Atkinson said...

Beautiful Alison - and yes we are still going strong here until Twelfth Night!

Deborah said...

They're lovely, Alison. I particularly like the white embossed snowflakes on the blue. Melamine has never looked so good!

froebelsternchen said...

AMAZING hearts Alison!
I love them all!

Happy 2014 my dear friend!
xxx
Susi

Unknown said...

STUNNING work, Alison. So much love and care put into each one :)!!

xErin

Martina said...

Dear Alison, your hearts are totally stunning! Love them!
I hope you spent the festive season well? I wish you and your family a healthy and happy New Year.
If you want, then have a look over at my blog. Because there is something to win :-)
Hugs MARTINA

Dorthe said...

Dear Alison, they are the sweetest christmas greeting hearts ,-I love the ones with old time images in sepia.
Hugs,Dorthe

Ana K. said...

Beautiful hearts!

trisha too said...

Absolutely charming, Alison!

A Happy New Year to you!

:)

pearshapedcrafting said...

All so beautiful, love the blue and white ones especially! Had a few problems with my phone so also want to say Happy New Year to you! Hope you are feeling better now! Chrisxx

Dagmar said...

Alison, your hearts so lovely and absolutely beautiful! A happy new year to you and your familiy, Dagmar

Chrissy said...

Gorgeous hearts Alison..love the blue and white snowflakes..
Wishing you a very Happy New Year 2014..

luv CHRISSYxx

Anonymous said...

Beautiful decorations Alison, I'm sure they look fabulous on your tree. We've called time on Christmas so all of our decorations are down and packed away now. Hope you're having a lovely time.
Sue C x

Anonymous said...

Fabulous decorations Alison, I'm sure they look lovely on your tree. Enjoy the rest of your Christmas break ! Sue C x

Astrid Maclean said...

Gorgeous, all of them Alison! And of course Christmas carries on till the 6th of Jan, in our home we wouldn't have it any other way either...

Yvonne Garner said...

How divine! AO images are timeless and new and fresh each time you use them. Thanks for all your visits and kind words on my blog. Enjoy the rest of your holiday and I wish you a very Happy New Year!

toni said...

Happy new year Alison! I love that it's still Christmas I really don't want to take my tree down we've put red berry lights on this year and there's a lovely glow coming from it !these hearts are gorgeous and will be lovely to get out again in what will seem like only a few months time ! . Best wishes for a happy year of creativity x toni x

Redanne said...

These are so beautiful and I bet they would look fabulous on the tree, nothing nicer than hand made Christmas decorations. Sadly, we took our decorations down today and it looks so bare everywhere.... Hugs, Anne x

Almo said...

Beautiful hearts Alison, I decorted a few for my family this Christmas and they loved them. So much prettier than shop bought. Happy New Year. Hugs Mo x

Silvia(Barnie) said...

Fantastic, these are lovely hearts.

Julie Lee said...

These are so beautiful; I love the colours and the images - they have inspired me to get out my AO stamps and plays some more.Not much longer until Twelfth Night now, sadly, but if Sir Toby is to be believed, there will still be cakes and ale and lots of crafty fun too! I can't wait to see all the lovely new projects you create in 2014, Alison. Julie Ann xx

Brenda Brown said...

A gorgeous set of hearts for the tree. Love the different designs on them. Christmas disappeared from our house today and now I feel in a bit of a black hole with few lights to being some cheer and sparkle.
Take care.
hugs {brenda} x0x

2amscrapper said...

I love these!

Anonymous said...

Dear Alison
Apologies for not wishing you a Happy New Year before now but my time on-line has been very limited this past week.
Oh those are so special, I really like that you created a whole collection of them.
Here's to 2014 being very special for you and how I look forward to another year of blog posts from you that will be brimming with the most divine art.
Wishes
Lynne

Hettie said...

These are gorgeous Alison. Just spotted and pinned them on Pinterest. Wonderful
Hugs
xx

Netty said...

Lots of lovely winter hearts. Happy New Year Alison, hugs Annette x

Unni A said...

They are all very pretty! Beautiful hearts!
Happy new year!
hugs, Unni

Gerrie Johnnic said...

So very pretty Allison! Luv the hearts...

Princess Judy Palmer said...

Oh my! That Christmas time stuff just isn't ready to leave us be yet is it? I have to laugh because it is still very prevalent. Lovely hearts. They make such a nice collection. Thanks for sharing them!

Nan G said...

Darling set of ornaments.

Margaret said...

They're beautiful! I think each one turned out wonderfully.

I frequently see little wooden hearts in the craft stores, but never thought to make them ornaments! Terrific idea!

barbarayaya62 said...

Alison all your hearts have something to see, everyone of them is full of wonderful details! Great works!!! BARbarayaya

Anonymous said...

They're all so beautiful & I'm sure you'll be hanging them on your tree for many years to come.

Anonymous said...

These are delightful Alison!
Enjoy your last day of Christmas today!
Alison xxx

chrissie said...

Very beautiful Alison and so good that you enjoy Christmas so much :) Afraid our cards were taken down to make way for my birthday cards :( January 1st was a really daft day to enter the world lol

Love Chrissie x

Maggie said...

Gorgeous decorations I love them so cute and lovely stamped images you have used. Our decorations come down and up go the birthday cards daughters first(when she was at home) 4 days later Hubby 4days later mine now its only hubby and me fighting for card space lol.
MaggieH

Tracy said...

Happy New Year Alison!!
Your Hearts are just so beautiful and vintage in feel,looove them all!
Wishing you all good things in the coming year.
Love and hugs
Tracy
xoxox

Asia King (aka Joanna K) said...

Oh these hearts are beautiful! I'm so glad to see that Christmas is not over yet:).

Happy New Year Alison! xxx

Lisa Minckler said...

I'm jealous...you have an Ikea...eeek! How much fun would that be? I hear rumor they are putting one in nearby and I might just pass out with anticipation.
ANYWHO.....your hearts are beautifully crafted and as always you showcase them with pristine skill! Beautiful work and a continued Happy New Year.
hugs,
Lisa

cathylynn said...

Fabulous idea to decorate these Ikea hearts! Each one is done to perfection! Love them all!
Hugs, Cathy-Lynn

Marjie Kemper said...

Beautiful ornaments! How fun to have the holidays extended so long... enjoy!

Terry said...

Gorgeous collection of Christmas hearts! What a great way to decorate a tree! Hugs!

Candy C said...

Alison...these Christmas hearts are gorgeous! I love the simplicity of them. The stamps are so beautiful, they speak for themselves! Love it! <3 Candy

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Christmas should go on and on! I love these heart ornaments...great images on them!

Paper Profusion said...

Oh thank-you Alison - you have given me an idea - these are fantastic. Nicola x

Cocofolies said...

What a wonderful set of Christmas hearts, I love especially the first one, but all are sweet and different, fantastic work Alison!! Sorry if I miss time to follow your links today and catch up with everything, I hope things will arrange later after a while... Hugs, good night if you read me now! Coco xx

Kasia said...

Beautiful! Love this white with blue snowflakes, so lovely!

Keren Tamir said...

These are truly gorgeous

Unknown said...

Oh my goodness Alison, these are the SWEETEST ornaments.

Anke said...

Oh Alison your tags are so beautiful and lovely.

Happy New Year !

Hugs
Anke

Smile_Art said...

Absolutely lovely hearts! Your works are amazing, as always :)
I wish you happiness and smile in New Year, my dear :)
Thanks, that you visited my blog.
G.

Sandy said...

Wonderful hearts Alison - the images are perfect for the hearts and stamped so beautifully!
Sandy

Shirley said...

You must have lots of fabulous memories when you start undressing your tree Alison. These hearts are so pretty.

Note to myself start looking for little wooden keepsakes to alter for the tree.

Warm crafty hugs from Shirl x x

Kezzy said...

Wow these are super gorgeous and I really like the effect of the distress ink, its a bit like when they are on gesso. I love the stamps you used, I really should try and have a play this year. Hugs :-) Kezzy xxxxx

scrappymo! said...

These are so beautiful!

Mrs.B said...

Gorgeous little heart ornaments, a perfect vintage touch for the tree.
Avril xx

Mary Elizabeth said...

Marvelous -- I can see a whole tree covered with these adorable hearts in my mind's eye. Such a lovely decoration for Christmas. -- Mary Elizabeth