Morning Everyone
This is our final challenge in the Christmas in October with the Hatters. Thank you so much to everyone who has entered the challenges and very generously shared your ideas with us.
This months seems to have flown by and I have to confess, with concentrating on Christmas, I do feel a little disorientated as to what month it is. Really strange.
Anyway, back to this weeks challenge. We are asking you to create a Christmas present or stocking filler. As always with the Hatters challenge themes, they are open to your interpretation.
I have made this for my friend’s husband. He asked ages ago if I would make something for his study so this is what I went with. I am going to give him this and a bottle of something at Christmas. The domino is the year of his birth? Depending which way around you look at it! he he! Not telling any secrets. Whats a few years between friends!
I started this by cutting an aperture large enough to take the butterfly. The aperture in the book cover needs to be slightly larger so that you can see the pages. I then just kept cutting away at the pages until it was the depth I wanted. I then distressed the book cover using crackle medium, paint and gold wax. I then used a corner stamp and black archival ink to stamp the corners.
I used a piece of the board, which I had removed from the cover, to make a little plaque. I roughly cut a shape, covered it with paper, gave it a coat of one step crackle and distressed it. I stamped the sentiment and edged it with gold pen. I attached the die cut to the book cover and then glued on the plaque over it using hot glue.
I added some chain around the book and attached some embellishments. Just to share with my crafty friends over here in Spain, this chain is available from any hardware stores and costs a few cents a meter.
For the butterfly. I stamped the image twice onto glossy card stock, cut it out and coloured it. I coloured the back of the butterfly with black ink. I attached it to the book, inside the aperture using diamond glaze. Stamps used: Butterfly – Creative Expressions. Corner stamp: Chocolate Baroque.
Thank you to everyone who joined in last weeks challenge. Fabulous projects as always. We hope you will join us again this week.
To see full details of this weeks challenge, Janet’s, Chrissie’s and Sandra’s inspirational pieces please click here
Happy Crafting everyone. Tat tar for now!
Best Wishes Florence x
Florence sorry am very very late getting here have been a little unwell. this is amazing and the domino well how clever of you to use it fr his age. A stunning creation and as always a beautiful piece of art.
Marie
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Wow Florence! Your coloring on the butterfly is outstanding! I had no idea you stamped it and colored it in! So vivid and beautiful! I love your style on all the creations you make! You are very talented and this idea to use a book as artwork is fabulous! This is a wonderful Christmas present for your friend! I would love to have this in my home!!! ~Vanessa
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WOW! This is gorgeous!
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I love it when you work with books, your lucky friend.. i have done nothing at all about christmas, goodness it is still october.. you have made great strides into your lists..beautiful work. c
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Great fan of altered books and yours is lovely. x
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Great little book Florence, love the idea of the domino, looks fab, hope he enjoys it.
Sam xxx
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Fantastic christmas present Florence,he’ll love it for sure.
Janet x
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A huge THANK YOU TO EVERYONE for your visits and for your lovely comments. You are all so kind.
Sending hugs to you all.
Florence xx
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Your husband’s friend is so fortunate to receive a gift that has been made with such care and detail.. you’re such a great artist!
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Stunning creation Florence! That butterfly is amazing and I love the idea of the domino for the age :o) Hugs D
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Just simply amazing. The charms are sweet and unique. The butterfly is a work of art. I so enjoy your posts….so inspiring!!! Regards G
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Your altered book looks great. Love the colours and butterfly
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A super altered book Florence 🙂 and hope you get back in tune with the seasons lol
Von 🙂 ♥
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So do I Von!! 🙂
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Wow, loving your work Florence, I’ve just scrolled through to see what I missed while I was away.. Your altered book is special, Been having a few hiccups with my lappy which is why I didn’t comment sooner
hugs loy xx
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Hi Joy, Hope you are both well and had a great time on the cruise. Lucky things!!! Great to have you back.
Hugs, Florence xx
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Hello Florence!
Your proyect is gorgeous, really. 🙂 Do you speak Spanish? Puedes creer que en todo este tiempo no tenía ni idea de que vives en España…y eso que está escrito llí en tu about page…soy un desastre!! Viendo tus fotografías y trabajos, asumí que vivías en un bonito pueblo de la campiña Inglesa o Francesa… ¡Qué bien tenerte tan cerca! 🙂
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Hi Giavana, I am fluent in Spanglish!! 🙂 Muchas Gracias mi amiga 😉
Hugs, Florence x
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¡Genial! ¿Entonces me autorizas a comentar a tus posts en español? 😉 Me es mucho más fácil…
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Your altered book is fabulous and such a special gift…the butterfly looks like it is going to fly away…Bravo!
oxo
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Awh Florence, this card is so beautiful.. I really love the butterfly 🙂
(I really love everything about it, actually!) Have missed you, but uni semester’s come to a very very close end, just an exam and presentation to go and I’m free to enjoy the summer blogging and commenting all I like 🙂 Can’t wait to see more of your cards! 🙂
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Hi Fatimah, Pleased to hear Uni is going well. Can’t wait for you to start blogging again and to see your amazing recipes. I have missed you to. Hope you and your family are well.
Sending you all my good wishes.
Florence xx
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Your friend is very fortunate to receive this great book. Florence you are very organized starting on your Christmas presents already.
Lorraine
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Love your altered book and am sure he will as well. I love making these but the cutting away is hard going but worth it in the end. Smashing make Florence and one am sure will be appreciated. Annette xx
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What a clever way to represent someone’s age.
This is beautiful, the butterfly certainly draws the eye in but I adore the details such as the chain.
Wishes
Lynne
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Hi Florence, this is just a fabulous altered book the work in it is wonderful. Hugs Sandra XXX
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This might be my favorite of all time from you. LOVE IT Now I am off to see my son. Yeah! hugs til then. Wendy and Jazz
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Have a great time with your son Wendy.
Florence x
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Lovely creation, Florence. 🙂
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This is fantastic! Once again your colouring skills are stealing the show. The butterfly is so vibrant and beautiful, Florence. This will definitely be an added little treasure to your friend’s study! Tracy:)
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Wow, Florence your creativity abounds! I love this.
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Such a wonderful looking book, Florence. The butterfly adds dimension and brilliance nestled in its spot. Your friend’s husband will certainly appreciate this lovely piece.
Oh, yes, time is flying by…I cannot believe that October is almost over and I have nothing to show for it…sigh…Oh, well, it’s not over yet…col..
Blessings,
Marianne xo
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How very beautiful!
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wonderful – I just love the niche opening ! I have wanted to do one myself and now am inspired on by yours. I am sure your friend will just love this piece – lucky guy!
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wow…super duper in love with this card.
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Gorgeous! I have to say altered books are my faves, I know there’s lot of time involved, just to start, cutting the pages to size, gluing etc. And after that the fun part of painting and altering.
I have to steal that domino tile idea! 46..I suppose 🙂
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Hi Gio, Now was he born in 1946 or 1964! My lips are sealed!! 🙂
Florence xx
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What an absolutely gorgeous project, Florence! Such a beautiful alteration… love the stamping on the cover, and the butterfly looks wonderful surrounded by the text, and glowing with colour. I absolutely love it! Going off to find some more books to play with… thank you for the inspiration.
Alison x
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A wonderful project Florence, & a gift I’m sure will be treasured! xx
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Hi Florence,, lovely work. Sorry, I cant join in just now, still feel rather bad! Hugs, Valerie
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What a fabulous gift Florence – your friends husband will love it.
xxx Hazel.
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Wow, a fantastic alteration. The butterfly looks ready to fly off the page, colours are stunning as well. Great idea to use the domino instead of numbers.
Yvonne x
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Fabulous project – I do love these altered books and this one is gorgeous. I’m quite sure he will love it.
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I have to agree with you about feeling as though it is December after all the Christmas things that have been on my mind the last month but I have enjoyed it all –thanks Florence.
Love this book and I’m sure your lucky friend will for sure.
Best Wishes Chrissie xx
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