Special Christmas Gifts

Today I am going to showcase some beautiful items made by my close friend Annette who lives in Madeley, Cheshire.

Annette, like me has a passion for all things vintage.  She is an avid collector of fabrics and haberdashery and uses these to create lovely 'upholstered' photograph albums and keepsake boxes.  Annette has an amazing eye for colour and flair for putting different textues and colours together.

The albums Annette decorates are lovely in themselves - many by Past Times - with beautiful vintage style illustrations of birds, flowers or angels.

 Gorgeous details are the signature of Annette's work.























This winter album has stunning frosted artificial fruits and flowers with Ivy leaves.

 The finished album is a work of art that would grace any surface. What is more you can fill it chock full of photos.

There are enough openings for 35 photos of all different sizes.

This is one of my favourite albums by Annette.  It is like the taste of the English countryside which a hessian background decorating with muted country flowers and stunning ivory lace.

Annette has selected top quality silk flowers including a rose kissed with pink, light blue delphiniums and entwined with ivy.

All Annette's albums come gift wrapped in an ivory organza bag with bow and a diamante heart buckle.












These are other items are available through Annette's Folksy shop - Nostalgic Keepsakes
http://folksy.com/shops/nostalgickeepsake

WH Smith Products

I am doing a bit of gloating today.

This time last year WH Smith asked me to design them a few items - a diary cover, a slim calendar and a family organiser.  The brief was fairly simple - they wanted them to feature birds, butterflies, flowers and lace and have a feminine, vintage feel. 

These items are now for sale and I have to admit to getting very excited when I saw them on display.  I have stocked up on them to give as Christmas gifts.

I am honoured that I have just been asked to work along similar lines for some items for 2015.

Here is the link to the family organiser.  Unfortunately I couldn't find a link to the slim calendar.

Pick yours up now :)

Feels like Christmas

Don't worry I am nearly done sharing my Christmas wares and I can move on to other things!

As well as Christmas gift tags/ gift labels I also have a range of 100% recycled postcards featuring my vintage Christmas designs.

These postcards are printed on 100% recycled ivory card, which makes them a little different.  On the reverse are the words 'Carte Postale' and a feint division line down the centre so you can keep the address and message separate, or you can write over the entire reverse, should you wish to send them in an envelope.  However, without the need for an envelope these vintage postcards are a very 'green' choice for Christmas.

A charming design with a little girl carrying a winter bouquet.

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a Robin, would it.

Father Christmas with a sack full of presents.

Children walking their dog in a wintry landscape. Note this postcard is printed by a different company to the others. It is printed on white card that has a slight sheen to it.  Not recycled, but beautiful non the less.

A little girl in a red cape delivering gifts and Christmas greenery.

My postcards are sold in packs of six for £4.95.
Should you be interested in the idea of not having to write your Christmas cards this year, look at my listings for personalised postcards - postcards with your personalised message printed on the back. These may be viewed in my first post.
www.clarycedesign.co.uk

More vintage Christmas offerings

Continuing on yesterday's theme, I will share you with you today some more gorgeous vintage Christmas stationery that I am offering in my shop/shops this season.

My gift tags / luggage labels are printed on 100% recycled ivory card and are hand punched by me: all featuring artwork that I have created using photoshop.  The tags are packaged in packs of 6 with ready cut natural hemp twine included.

Designs include Santa / Father Christmas, robins, angels, Christmas trees and Christmas parcels.

 How charming are these two Christmas Angels!
Taken from a vintage Christmas card, I have added a background from a vintage French Postcard with a festive red stamp.

Available through:
www.clarycedesign.co.uk

These pretty gift tags have a little girl on them who is struggling with an armful of Christmas greenery and parcels. Again taken from a vintage Christmas card, I have layered her over a vintage postcard with a bright red stamp.

Available through:

www.clarycedesign.co.uk








Another charming Christmas design featuring a little boy and girl taking their dog for a walk through a wintry landscape.  The background on this artwork is again taken from a vintage Dutch postcard and has fantastic postmarks on it.

www.clarycedesign.co.uk

Another chilly winter landscape is depicted in the artwork on these Christmas gift tags.  It shows two girls transporting their Christmas tree home on a sledge.  This uses a stunning German postcard as the background layer.

www.clarycedesign.co.uk

Another lovely vintage design featuring a young boy struggling home with a Christmas tree and a basket full of Christmas treats. Doesn't look as though he will make it home with many left!

www.clarycedesign.co.uk











Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a Christmas robin featured somewhere in your decorations.   This pretty vintage robin is perched on a wintry branch singing his heart out.  Again he is layered over a striking french postcard with a festive red stamp.

www.clarycedesign.co.uk

This design is a little different. A stunning Victorian illustration of a little girl wrapped up against the cold, carring a bunch of winter roses, has been layered over a vintage French carol sheet.

www.clarycedesign.co.uk

Last but not least, good old Santa / Father Christmas himself.  This jolly vintage Santa has been layered over a background from a vintage postcard with purple handwriting and a green stamp.

www.clarycedesign.co.uk










Print your own Christmas gift tags / labels 

In case you are feeling creative here is a free digital download of a sheet of gift tags that you can print off yourself onto A5 card.  Alternatively you may use A4 card and print two copies, turning the card around inbetween.  Happy printing, cutting, punching and threading.

Dreaming of a Vintage Christmas

Sadly for me, my last blog of the same name is no longer accessible to me, so I am starting again.

However, there is nothing like a fresh start to give me a kick up the backside and encourage me to post more regularly!

Bearing in mind the time of year, I will share some of my vintage style Christmas stationery offerings for this festive season!

This is what I am sending out this Christmas.
These gorgeous postcards are 100% recycled and don't need an envelope! How green can one be this Christmas.














What is more, you don't need to write the message, as it is done for you - your wording in a variety of font choices.
All you need to do is address them, put on a stamp and pop them in the post box.








This is how to take some of the hassle out of Christmas!





I have various design available :

This is a popular design featuring a little girl laden down with parcels, who I have layered over the reverse of a vintage postcard to give the overall design a lovely nostalgic feel.














Here are more designs to choose from including Santa with his sack and two angels.















Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a robin would it.  Other designs include two children going for a winter walk , more angels and a lady muffled up against the winter chill.









44 Days til Christmas so be sure to visit my shop and place your orders soon!
www.clarycedesign.co.uk
See you there....