Secret Santa at A Vintage Journey

Hi there, what an exciting day for us all at A Vintage Journey. A few months ago Brenda put all our names into a hat and revealed secretly to us all who we would be making a gift for. I was told that Jenny from Pushing the Right Buttons was to receive my gift. I was so excited about getting Jenny, having met this lovely lady back in August at Wendy Vecchi's workshop made my Secret Santa gift feel extra special to make.

I decided a Tree Decoration would be a lovely keepsake gift that could be taken out each year and remind Jenny of Secret Santa at AVJ.

My daughter had brought me several little Birdhouses home from Michaels in America, sadly this was my last one but I'm sure she will be making a trip again with her work soon to get me some more. I started by giving it a coat of paint and Weathered Wood. Next adding a thick Layer of white Crackle paint.

Sorry I don't have any more ongoing photos as I got so excited with the Crackles Lol. Let me just show you on my photos.

Next I added a thick layer of paste around the base of my house and onto areas where I wanted it too look like snow had fallen onto mossy areas. I then dripped 2 shades of Green Alcohol Inks onto these areas along with some chunky white embossing powder along with a finer white and sparkly ones and let it completely dry.

Once dry I heat set the powders, they expanded and gave a super snowy effect.

My roof is sheets of Bark available from That Craft Place (links on sidebar) which I glued in layers onto my roof.

I sealed my crackle effect with Deco Art Matt Varnish and sprinkled on some Glamour Dust for a Glistening effect whilst still wet. Next I start to sprinkle on several layers of different snowy embossing powders from Frantage and Wow powders.

Next I added Deco Art Glistening Snow Writer to form icicles around my house adding on extra sparkle from Glamour Dust.

My Icicles on the roof were die cut and Heat Embossed with Wow powders. More heat embossed snow on the roof.

My cute little Robin was shaded with Distress Inks and Black Liquid Pearls adding onto his eye. My little date sign was made from a Coffee Stirrer. I used a crackle effect and added some Red Glistening embossing powder to the edges to frame it. My date was added from Tim's Transfer Sheets.

Around the back you will see all the effects applied again and a Transfer from Tims Sheets.

My Secret Santa was Alison from Words and Pictures, I was lucky to meet this wonderful lady at Andy Skinner's workshop in November so was really pleased to learn my gift was from her. She has made me this amazing nostalgic 3D Christmas scene, I love Dolls Houses so this was the perfect gift for me. I absolutely adore all the incredible details and when the light is switched on at night as its sits on my Fireplace Hearth it looks glorious.

And if that wasn't enough she also sent me some bags filled with embellishments for my stash which I have shown a few and the super Festive Tag. Thanks so much Alison, I feel honoured to have a Crafty Keepsake from you.

Please stop by Alison's BLOG to see more photographs and details of my gift.

I can't wait to hear what Jenny thinks of her gift from me and see what the other Creative Guides have made. Please pop over HERE to see the reveal.

Crafty Hugs,

 Julie x

I wish to enter this in to the following Challenges:

• Happy Little Stampers - Mixed Media Anything Goes
• Live and Love Crafts - Challenge #24 Sparkle
• Altered Eclectics - 25 Days to Christmas
• Country View Crafts - Create a Scene
• Frilly and Funkie - Tis the Season
• We Love 2 Create - Anything Creative/Mixed Media Goes
• Wow Embossing Powders - Winter Challenge
• That's Crafty Challenges - Seasons Greetings