Happy New Year! The Christmas Countdown has come to an end. THANKS to everyone who joined in the challenges. We had over 70 entries again this year and its always fabulous seeing other people's ideas. We hope you have an enjoyable Festive Season and Happy New Year.

Head to the Gallery to see all the amazing entries and leave comments on the projects that you've enjoyed. We all love encouraging feedback!

We still have 40% off ALL Christmas related products and there are plenty of 20% -50% off bargains in the Specials category. Enjoy!

In each category there is a winner and also a drawn winner. Could the winners please email info@artfullcrafts.co.nz with your address and let us know which challenge you won. The prizes will be sent out after Liz returns from her holiday in mid-January.


Challenge Winner: Liz Crabbe with a set of elegant cards




Drawn Winner: Hanna Maryam with a set of cards

Challenge Winner: Sue Smith with a layout using interesting elements and frames

Drawn Winner: Vicki Parker with her elfish layout


Drawn Winner: Deborah Smith with her angel decoration

Challenge Winner: Sophie Frizzell's white-on-white window tag was inspiring

Drawn Winner: Anne Squire's owlish tag

Wild

 

Weird

Wonderful

Happy New Year!
May I take this opportunity to thank you for your support this year. We do appreciate it and look forward to serving you in 2016.

Shop and Website Hours
Don't forget that the physical shop is closed for 1st and 2nd January. Otherwise we're open on shortened hours 10am - 3pm Monday - Friday and 10am - 1pm Saturdays. Normal hours resume Monday 11th.January . For those who live out of town, the website is open all hours and Lisa and Kayrn are working in the shop to pack and send your parcels.

for the final time for 2015
What an amazing year it has been but boy has it gone quick
My Mum always said the older you get the faster time goes and yep Mum was right! (but then Mum's always are)
so what has been your highlight for 2015?  .....   Me? well I have had a few from teaching at AE and SENZ which allowed me to meet more wonderful ladies in the scrapping industry whether they were class attendees or other tutors I have really enjoyed meeting everyone and that is the one thing about the scrapbooking hobby everyone is so eager and friendly it is an honour to know you xxx
But another highlight I cant overlook was our much anticipated trip to Europe and the UK. It seemed to be forever coming but then WOW 4.5 weeks came and went and we were home again and back into work....highlight of that trip was Cinque Terre an amazing collection of 5 little villages off the coast of Italy, but then I also loved Gibraltar and the Barbary Apes, Unfortunately Paris and I didn't agree....was it the rude people, the lack of little cafes and bakeries I expected to see or finding eating places difficult. Don't get me wrong the iconic places were absolutely amazing and I would go back to see them again in a heartbeat....maybe it was just the end of a long time away and I just wanted to get home to my scraproom lol
Anyway I'm sure your highlight was amazing and one you hopefully got to scrap ...if you didn't get pics then look out 2016 as I'm sure you will be clicking away to your merry hearts content and making some amazingly wonderful layouts or OTP items
Ok so as this is my last post for this year I better put up some pics and stop reminiscing over another year that's almost gone



Closeups of the front folded pieces to create the cover....I have added some glitter snow (gesso with glitter added) around the edges and made it quite lumpy...I love the effect it gives, If you want more sparkle use some stickles from your finger so you don't squirt out to much in one place, a nice red or gold glitter would be really effective.
To the top pic I have layered the baubles and used stickles on the lines to give some definition and very lightly inked the edges using vintage photo.

Ok well that's it from me I sincerely wish you and your families all the best Christmas you can possibly have and please be safe over this time especially New Years - Drive safely - Drink responsibly but enjoy yourself we do want you back in the Artful Crafts fraternity in 2016 and beyond
Take Care and Love to All











  



  

Hello hello! Lisa here, interrupting the lovely flow of Christmas goodies with a couple of layouts I've made using two of the recent releases from Kaisercraft: Sail Away and Provincial.  They're both really nice and might have slipped your notice in amongst all the festive releases, so maybe this might tempt you to treat yourself for the New Year. :)

My first layout uses Sail Away, which is a travel/nautical themed range, with lots of red, white and blue.  I've layered three of the patterned papers as a base for my photograph (taken beside the sea at Oamaru one Sunday) and then added clusters of various embellishments around it- some of the Collectables, some washi tape, some wood veneer, and a couple of other bits and pieces from my stash. (I've been hoarding those little seagulls for years-- I knew I'd find exactly the right project for them eventually!)



A few ink splatters finish it all off. Some closer shots below:

The second layout is made with the gorgeous Provincial line- a French-inspired, shabby chic range with lovely muted colours. I wanted a textured look for this layout, so chose some of the Cobblestone paper as the main focus, pairing it with a quote cut from the Willow sheet.  A scalloped border from the small paper pad spans the space underneath.


I've then added a selection of layered embellishments on the right hand side: a gold doily, some Collectables, paper flowers, acetate shapes, a wee cork tag and some washi tape.

A closer look:


And that's it! Two lovely collections that are well worth checking out in the shop here. 

As always, thanks so much for looking, and I'll see you again soon! Local ladies, I might even see you in the shop-- I'm working some days over the holiday period so please do say hi when you pop in to stock up on goodies. :)

Cheers,
 Lisa :) 

A week away from the big day.......Are you sorted - Prezzies bought and wrapped, turkey in freezer ready for thawing, stuffing prepared and of course who could forget the Christmas Pomp with real custard and money hiding inside.....
My answer to that is NO!!!
This year we are having a very quiet Christmas but I cant wait for it....The kids are all going to be with their respective partners Families and then they are coming to us in Cromwell sometime during the afternoon and we will have a BBQ tea
so probably not turkey but nice yummi steak and salads and Trevor's world famous (well it is in our family) Cheesecake with lollycake base. Then we will do our secret santa prezzie swop and indulge in a few celebratory drinks.

Anyway the theme this week for the challenge was Tags...I have made 2 one a little bit cute and the other one of my favourite styles nice and messy and lots of muslin and straw flowers and gesso.

I have used the Large Prima tags for both these tags

Hello all. Betsy here this morning to share some Christmas goodness.

We have been having a lot of fun at Artfull Crafts, as we build up to Christmas. The Christmas events day was most enjoyable and prior to that we had the visit from Finnabair which was a fabulous day. The ladies all went away on an absolute high, with their completed projects. Betsy didn't participate, as she's not so keen on getting her hands dirty, LOL, but it certainly was amazing watching all the fun and of course admiring all the finished canvas's etc. She did get some hints and ideas though!

As you no doubt know, I am just a card maker, so was a little out of my comfort zone again making these tags. Anyway, I will share them with you and would love to know your thoughts.








For both these tags I have used  Couture Creations, Christmas Emporium, which is lovely. It has a rather vintage feel to it which I seem to be drawn to.








Very simply and quickly made ladies.

It is gift tags, wrapping and stocking fillers for this week, with the challenge finishing midnight Wednesday, 23rd December. Do enter the fun ladies, there are prizes to be won and we love seeing what you all come up with. There is also 40% discount of all Christmas stock in store, so do take advantage of that for next Christmas.

" This season, keep your eyes and heart open for unexpected ways that God will reveal to you the hope of Christmas."

God bless you all,
Betsy.

Hi there, how are you today?  Christine S. here posting a set of Christmas tags for the last week of Artfull Crafts' Christmas Countdown.  I've been enjoying creating with the Home For Christmas collection this year & my last share for this range is with a set of tags.  The base of these are actually sold by Kaisercraft as a wooden garland set,  but I decided they would make lovely tags as well.  The recipients can then hang the tags on their trees or as a little piece on a wall, etc.


Now let's have a closer look at each piece.

    

The tree with the crossword puzzle paper has a few Artfull Embellies on them, plus a gold star brad that can be purchased at the shop.  The other tree has paper layers with some scrap pieces of crochet in between.

    

Don't they look great as tree decorations? A Christmas Bell Wooden Shape has been added & topped with some ribbon & Pastel Polka Dot Button on the heart tag.  The dove tag is simply adhered with papers from the collection with the added bow.


Last but not the least is the star tag which is layered with a few Artfull Embellies as well, which are the Red Glitter Butterfly, Small Wooden Shape, Natural Wooden Peg & itty bitty bloom that can be bought at the shop too.
There's also 40% off on all Christmas stock at the shop, so grab yourself a bargain now before they all run out here.

As always, thanks for dropping in & keep an eye out for more gorgeous inspirations from the design team this week.  We look forward to seeing your beautiful creations. :)

Have a very merry Christmas & a great New Year to one & all!!

Cheers,

Christine S.