Hello Friends
Over the last few weeks I have been busy making Christmas cards and gifts for family and friends and I thought I would take a little time out to create a little Christmas wall hanging for my craft room.
As a child I pestered my parent incessantly for a pair of ice skates, but I didn't actually get my first pair until I was 12 and although they were second hand and a little battered looking, they were the best (and most memorable) Christmas present I ever received. My Brother and I would spend hours skating on the frozen rivers and lakes near our home..... such happy memories!
As a child I pestered my parent incessantly for a pair of ice skates, but I didn't actually get my first pair until I was 12 and although they were second hand and a little battered looking, they were the best (and most memorable) Christmas present I ever received. My Brother and I would spend hours skating on the frozen rivers and lakes near our home..... such happy memories!
I was so thrilled when I heard that Tim Holtz has re-released this skate die, it is one of my all time favourites!
I started with a canvas base 5" x 7", giving the base a coat of Ground Espresso Distress Paint. I used a candle to mark a few areas of the canvas before applying Crackle Paint. Once dry I rubbed away parts of the paint, where the candle marks were. I watered down some Salty Ocean Distress Paint and covered the whole canvas.
I added lots of die cuts to the top, including the latest Tim Holtz Festive Greens and some older Holiday Greens die cuts together with Tim's Mini Poinsettia and Idea-ology flower centres. I added some seed beads to the ends of some of the greenery.
I gave the skates a coat of white paint to the boot part and covered this with Clear Rock Candy Distress Paint. I used embroidery cotton to lace up the skates and added jingle bells to the laces. The blades were covered with silver embossing powder.
I really enjoyed making this, I hope you enjoyed seeing it!
I rarely seek out challenges to join in but I found three this time, to round the year off, that I would love to join in with! I would like to join in with Suzz's challenge - Most Memorable Gift, over at Frilly & Funkie Challenge Blog.
I would also like to enter the 'Tis the Season' challenge over at That's Crafty Challenge Blog.
And also, over at Emerald Creek they are having a Happy Holidays - Anything Goes Challenge and I would love to join in there too! I was inspired by many hours of ice skating with my brother!
I rarely seek out challenges to join in but I found three this time, to round the year off, that I would love to join in with! I would like to join in with Suzz's challenge - Most Memorable Gift, over at Frilly & Funkie Challenge Blog.
I would also like to enter the 'Tis the Season' challenge over at That's Crafty Challenge Blog.
And also, over at Emerald Creek they are having a Happy Holidays - Anything Goes Challenge and I would love to join in there too! I was inspired by many hours of ice skating with my brother!
As always, thanks for looking, hope to see you again soon.
Hugs, Anne xx
This is stunning Anne! Love the texture and that gorgeous blue cracked background. The skates look amazing too.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the wonderful inspiration.
Hugs
Samra
Paper Talk with Samra
These skates are truly stunning And and I love the way you have showcased them. I adore ice skates but for some reason I could never skate....just kept falling !!!!
ReplyDeleteTFS and sending best wishes
Annie xx
Thoroughly enjoyed the story about your memorable skates. Isn't it lovely to remember those things especially at this season? What a fabulous project you've created, and I was intrigued by the candle wax. YOu come up with the neatest ideas. Love the skates, especially the red laces! and adding in the festive foliage to the skate tops...just awesome. TFS, Merry Christmas, and thank you for the wonderful ornament card! Hugs
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely memory Anne and now you have captured it within your crackled canvas to be looked at daily. I love those TH Skates and you've used them to their full potential by adding the laces and embellishing so beautifully with those berries and bells.
ReplyDeleteIf this was mine I would have it displayed all year round!!
Warm Hugs Tracey xx
P.S You could also enter this in the *Tis The Season Challenge* over at That's Crafty! xx
P.P.S :)) So glad you had chance to share this with the That's Crafty Team Anne and join in with the Tis The Season Blog Challenge.
DeleteWinter Wishes Tracey xx
Oh Anne it's great to see you playing with this die again, this hanging is glorious with the brightly coloured foliage, berries and flowers peeping over the top! I also just adore the little bells you attached to the laces, - brilliant! Oh and by the way, thanks so much for the lovely card I was lucky enough to receive some time back! I was intrigued by the stamp you use, it's beautiful! xxx
ReplyDeleteI always love it when you get your skates on! Fabulous weathered crackle in the background and the vivid pop of your poinsettias against the Salty Ocean is fabulous. You might even convert me to the joys of red one of these days!
ReplyDeleteAlison x
How incredible is this! What a stunning display for your crafty space. I loved reading your sweet story and now know why the skate die has long been your fav. <3 We're so thrilled you shared with us at Frilly & Funkie. Merry Christmas, Autumn
ReplyDeleteFabulous hanging Anne.
ReplyDeleteI really can't believe that we are less than a week away from Christmas and I'm still making cards (***groan***). Where has the time gone?
Toni xx
Fantastic skates - the white crackle definitely looks like worn leather - and the addition of the greenery is lush and wonderful. Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas Elaine xx
ReplyDeleteGorgeous ice skates and a lovely memory. I dreamt of ice skates too, but no natural iced landscapes down here... a beautiful marriage of blue, white and red.
ReplyDeleteSo stunning Anne, I love the colors and sometimes it is necessary to treat ourselves to the things we love. Hugs, S@ndy
ReplyDeleteGorgeous... Love that bright blue with the red!!!
ReplyDeleteI have tried to ice skate a couple of times as an adult but my ankles kept turning in. Fantastic ice skates and I really am in love with the Christmas Greenery at the top. There are so many wonderful things to believe in Anne - I do know I believe in YOU!
ReplyDeleteSandy xx
Ann, this is absolutely brilliant!! I just love every detail! Love the blue used and the crackle and right down to the red beads for berries! Gorgeous my dear!
ReplyDeleteJackie xo
What a beautiful wall hang Anne. I adore the blue and red palette, it's so bright and festive for the holidays. This is made even more special when you know the story of your first pair of skates, what a lovely image to go with a stunning creation!
ReplyDeleteWell the family arrived on the weekend and the Christmas festivities have begun. Between the holiday madness and taking care of two sick baby squirrels, I will barely have a moment to spare until after New Years. I love the holidays but oh boy, things can pile up and it can be exhausting. Wouldn't trade it for anything though. lol. Hope all your planning is going well, hugs :)
Oh I love your festive skates and how beautiful they look with the flowers and stitched laces. What a lovely Christmas memory and thank you for sharing that and your beautiful art with us at Frilly and Funkie!
ReplyDeleteAnne, this is such a gorgeous canvas! I love all the texture and crackling...and the color palette is just WOW! Your floral embellishments are divine. I love your Christmas memory, too! Thanks for playing along in our Most Memorable Gift Challenge at Frilly and Funkie! Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteAnne, you have melted my heart with your story and your beautiful artwork inspired by those much loved skates! Your crackled background is stunning in the blue/deep brown, and your skates look so incredibly lifelike with the crazing and embossing. Really love this piece, Anne. Just got home, and now trying to catch my tail! Still have to finish the tree, and pretty much else, too! Thank you so much for playing along with Suzz's challenge at Frilly and Funkie. We are so honored! Merry Christmas hugs to you!
ReplyDeleteThis must look awesome on your wall, it's so beautiful! The background colour with the crackle and the ground expresso ink showing through is perfect to hold those wonderful skates and the super pretty flowers and greenery. You are such an incredible talent! Hugs! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
ReplyDeleteLove this hanging and the texture you created on the background and the skates themselves. Your Christmasy floral spray is gorgeous. Your memory is similar to mine but I had to borrow skates and we didn't have a pond but a skating rink that someone made in the yard at the local elementary school. I was terrible at it and could not wait to go home and have hot chocolate - that was the best part. Thanks for joining us at Frilly and Funkie.
ReplyDeleteHugs!
Cec
Oh Anne, I know how much you love the skates die and have seen many of your amazing creations with it in the past. This has to be one of my favourites with that bright yet beautifully aged blue background and fabulous festive bouquet over the crisp white skates. Thank you for joining us at Frilly and Funkie and for sharing your special gifting memory. Jenny xx
ReplyDeleteAnne, I was so excited to see this take top honors at Frilly and Funkie! A beautiful piece of artwork with a lovely story of your memories! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Anne. Thanks for sharing this with us. Happy creative weekend, Angela xXx
ReplyDeleteThis is fantastic ! Anne . Such a lovely memory too that you share that brought back many happy memories of my skating days ( I was more a speed skater than a figure skater -ya know me, I don't do ladylike lol ) Love the crackle you have given the skates . It makes me think of the delicate cracks you'd see in the ice as you skate. The christmas foliage is glorious and those red laces - yes everyone had to have fancy or bright coloured laces - seal the deal . Congratulations on your worthy win at Frilly and Funkie .
ReplyDeletehugs x