Hi there! Grace here.
I hope you’re all safe, happy and healthy! And if not, I hope you’re coping okay with whatever you’ve got going on. That’s the main part, eh?
On this well-being Wednesday, I found myself with not much to say. The world is mad, that is all I can say 
So I decided to have a calming afternoon, get away from the constant news and just play. I had my own little SHAC for one in Brooklyn.
Safe Happy And Creative.
Stay Home And Craft.
My Mum recently sent me a suitcase full of goodies! A lovely customer (and friend) kindly offered to bring me back a suitcase on her way through, from England to NYC.
In this suitcase, there were CRISPS (and lots of them), 4 HUGE Dairy Milk chocolate bars in that white bag (not much left), hair products, some make up, perfume, Yorkshire teabags, a soft blanket etc etc.
My Mum knows me well 
Normally we get to have an NYC visit together, like this…
But of course we’ve been unable to this year… so I got the care package of all care packages!!!
Wrapped up in that new blanket was these…
Stunning, right? I had asked her for them nicely awhile back, but didn’t expect them to be in the bag. Honestly, I didn’t expect anything. Except for Walkers crisps and chocolate. So it was a real treat. A real gift.
Also included in the bag was a set of each of these! HEART EYES.
So today I went straight for the Christmas Collection and decided to try them out.
INGREDIENTS
- A4 Parchment Poppets – Christmas Collection – Artwork by Marina Fedotova
- Pergamano Embossing Mat
- Perga Colours & Mix Mat
- Pergamano Blending Pen
- Nested Scallops Squares A5 Square Groovi Plate
- Embossing tool 0.8mm-1.3mm
- Embossing tool 2.0mm-2.8mm
- Northern Lights Designer Paper
- 7×7 Black Card Blanks
- Barbara’s Words Sticker Collection
- Crafter’s Companion Glue Runner
STEP 1: I picked which poppet I wanted… Paloma. Mainly because she’s chatting to a Robin. And my Oma loves Robins. (Funny what speaks to each of us!)
STEP 2: I started with a little whitework on the snow & bobbles, from the back of the parchment. Because that’s the easy bit, right?
So far so good!
STEP 3: I started working gently on her dress… I went a little overboard on her wings, but I’ve got plenty of time to get better!
Then, following my Mum’s advice…
STEP 4: I scribbled my colour choice of Perga Pen on the mix mat and put a droplet of water next to it.
I used my blending pen to soak up the water first and then went into the colour.
This enabled me to colour in parts of her scarf, hat and leaves with a much lighter and less intense look.
STEP 5: I then embossed the border around the edge using the nested scallop plate.
STEP 6: After trimming her up, I backed it all up on Northern Lights Designer Paper and a black card blank.
STEP 7: Don’t forget the sticker sentiment!
“It won’t be easy, but it’ll be worth it”… that just about sums up this Christmas for me. Whatever it ends up looking like. This is me asking the Robin to help me get home for Christmas
Thanks Mr. Robin!
So, VOILA!
There’s my first COVID Christmas card.
I’m looking forward to playing more now… I’m not the most confident crafter yet. Would you be… if Barbara Gray was your MUM?! Talk about pressure to not be terrible I think it’s pretty good though, and you know what? It’s not actually about the finished piece. I had a reeeeeally lovely time doing it.
Thanks for spending time with me on this Wellbeing Wednesday!
Lotsa love, Grace xo
Clarity – The Home of Art, Craft and Well-being.