Bearly Mine Designs Challenge - December 2014 - Christmas Decoration

 It is a sad day as come the end of December 2014 Donna has decided to shut down Bearly Mine Designs.  More details about this can be found on the Bearly Mine Inspiration and Challenge Blog.

I have enjoyed working with Donna and the wonderful papers she has created over the years and I have worked with some lovely fellow Design Team members.  I wish Donna and all the Design Team members all the very best for the future.

Well as the saying goes "the show must go on" so it's time to tell you what the very last challenge will be at the Bearly Mine Designs Inspiration and Challenge Blog.  The challenge will be a "Christmas decoration".

 I think I should have kept a tally on how long this took to make.  All I will say it was a very long time.  The wreath shape started out as a 10" circular cake stand that was no longer needed.  It took ages and ages trying to cut the middle out with dies and then a craft knife.  I then covered the whole wreath with some sparkly red fibres and then added some fine gold trim and strips of green organza ribbon.

I then set to over some days to cut various flower shapes out from the Bearly Mine Designs "Christmas Traditions 2" backing papers.  I have printed different papers on each side as with something like this you can't have a bare white underside showing!!

The dies I have used are:  "Build a Flower" Signature dies by Joanna Sheen, Tim Holtz rosette strip die, Tim Holtz holly garland strip die and a freebie flower die from a magazine.  I have also used some leaf punches.

I then had some chipboard leaf shapes so I have inked them with Tim Holtz's Peeled Paint, Shabby Shutters and Crushed Olive distress inks.

It is the first day of the month and therefore time for another challenge over at the Bearly Mine Designs Challenge Blog. 

I have finished this Christmas wreath with buttons, brads, chipboard leaves, die-cut holly/cones, chipboard bows coloured with Graph'it pens, sting to hang it up with with, two wooden die-cut birds which I have coloured with Pan Pastels to look like robins and finally I have added a dangly Santa key to the middle of the wreath (I've had this Santa for some years now and I can't even remember where I got it from but didn't want to part with it so it's perfect to live on this wreath to go up in the house).

Due to the fact that the Bearly Mine Designs Store is having to close at the end of December, Donna is having a 50% off all digi sets sale so hurry on over and grab a bargain.

I am entering this Christmas wreath:

Top Tip Tuesday - Buttons or bows
Creative Inspirations - Season's greetings!
Simon Says Challenge - Anything goes
Crafting for all Seasons - Tis the season
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
4 Crafty Chicks - Die-cuts
Brown Sugar Challenge - Anything goes
QKR Stampede - Anything but a card
Winter Wonderland - Dies and punches
Polkadoodles - Nordic Christmas
Fussy and Fancy Friday - Happy holidays
We Do Doobadoo - Let's get festive!
Paper Creator - All about Christmas
613 Avenue Create - Anything goes with optional twist to make a calendar

Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper December Challenge - Anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut Christmas Challenge Extra - Anything goes