Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Birdhouse Christmas Wreath

Hello there! Anyone still finishing handcrafted Christmas projects? (I am lol.) I got some baking done today too. ;-) I'm delegating gift wrapping to my husband! Anyway, I was tired of my old door wreath so I finally got around to making myself a new one. I found a cool twig wreath base online and went from there.



I picked up various foliage picks from the craft store and pulled them apart to use for all the greenery and burlap leaves. The birdhouse and red bird are both dies from Eileen. They make it really fast and easy to put these guys together! I adhered my patterned paper to the mat board before I cut the parts out. (For the bird I glued red cardstock onto both sides of the mat board. The birdhouse I distressed a bit with Vintage Photo Distress Ink and added the wreath around the hole and some Industrious Sticker borders. I also smeared some Rock Candy Stickles on parts of it to give it some sparkle.

Once the house and bird were done and dry I just went to town with my hot glue gun and all the foliage parts. It was easy! It only took me an evening to make this up.

close up!



Thanks for stopping by and Merry Christmas! I wish peace and joy for you all (and not crazy busyness!)

I'm also entering this into the 'Anything Goes' December Challenge over at Emerald Creek Dares. Have you seen the sneak peek at the cool embossing powders they've teamed up on with Seth Apter?? I can't wait to see the full reveal at Creativations! =)

Dies Used:
Sizzix: 
Eileen Hull Birdhouse 3-D (Sizzix )
Eileen Hull Bird (Sizzix )

Other:
Sizzles matboard
Tim Holtz Paper Stash - Christmas
Distress Stickles - Rock Candy
Tim Holtz Adornments - Wreaths
Industrious Stickers - Borders
Ranger Collage Medium - MatteDistress Ink - Ground Espresso

Sizzix & Simon Says Stamp links in this post are affiliate links which do not affect the price you pay but allow me to earn a small percentage of a sale. Thanks! (My husband also thanks you!)

Thursday, December 14, 2017

Mixed Media Monthly December Challenge!

It's mid-month inspiration time over at Mixed Media Monthly. Our theme this month is 'Believe' and you still have time to enter!


Our sponsor this month is Boozybear, creator of unique chipboard shapes and stencils to inspire your mixed media projects. I love the detail in them. I used the following sets on my Christmas steampunk project:

yummy chipboard shapes!

… and here is my project, assembled in the large Vignette Tray:



I lined the tray with Christmas paper from my precious hoard of Basic Grey cardstock (guess I need to use it at some point lol). I added clear crackle texture paste to parts of it, especially in the corners. Once that was dry, I misted it with a green/gold Tattered Angels mist to get in the nooks and crannies and add a nice shine. The chipboard shapes I painted with various colors of Silks Acrylic Glazes. The clock hand 'ornaments' also got a coating of Stickles for more sparkle. The Fresh Cut Pine Die Set was perfect for adding Christmas tree branches.


To make the electrical cord for the light, I used Eileen Hull's Twist & Style Tool to twist some wire into shape:

There is the wire hiding under the branches.

The tool is really easy to use. Eileen recently did a FaceBook Live video where you can see how (you can forward through the chit chat to get to the how-to part). I also have a tutorial on how to use it to make flower stems (same idea) HERE.

Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to check out our MMM challenge posts (main & mid-month). We'd love to see you enter. =)

Also, I am entering this into the SanDee & amelie Steampunk Challenge Blog Winter Challenge. Check out the fun there too. ;-)

Dies Used:
AJVD:
Fresh Cut Pine Die Set

Chipboard Shapes Used:
clock mechanicals
shabby snowflakes
bulbs
gear cluster

Other:
Idea-ology Clock Key
Idea-ology Vignette Tray
Sizzix Twist & Style Tool
Distress Collage Medium - Matte
Kraft Core Classic Paper Stack
Silks Acrylic Glaze
Prima Texture Paste - Clear Crackle
gesso
Distress Paint - Tarnished Brass
Stickles - Purple, Pink, Twilight


Sizzix & Simon Says Stamp links in this post are affiliate links which do not affect the price you pay but allow me to earn a small percentage of a sale. Thanks! (My husband also thanks you!)

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Featured in Cloth, Paper, Scissors Magazine!

Woo Hoo!!! I finally got my hands on a copy of the current issue of Cloth, Paper, Scissors magazine so I can share my happy news. =) Way back when they had a reader challenge called 'Make It Shine' where you had to create a holiday card that featured all sorts of shiny surfaces, mediums, etc. I entered and my card was selected as one of the winners!

Looky, it's in print! Yeah!

Here is a much better look at the actual card:


I used shiny cardstocks, glimmer mists, metallic ink and transfer foil to pile on the bling factor. =) I'm happy to finally be able to share this with you. Thanks for stopping by and Merry Christmas!

Dies Used:
Sizzix: 
Evergreen (Sizzix / SSS)
Prancing Deer (Sizzix ) retired
Holiday Words: Script (Sizzix / SSS)
Lace (Sizzix / SSS)

AJVD:
Scattered Stars Strip Die

Stamps Used:
Tim Holtz (S.A) - Fabulous Flourishes
Tim Holtz (S.A.) - Mini Holidays 2

Other:
Tattered Angels Mist - Sapphire
Ranger Perfect Pearls Mist -  Blue Smoke
Silver Pigment Ink
glue stick
Ranger Vintage Transfer Shiny Foil Sheets
metallic cardstocks
Distress Ink - Antique Linen

Sizzix & Simon Says Stamp links in this post are affiliate links which do not affect the price you pay but allow me to earn a small percentage of a sale. Thanks! (My husband also thanks you!)

Friday, December 8, 2017

NEW Eileen Hull eBook Just Published!

Hello everyone! Eileen Hull has a new book out, Gifts to Die For, that is stuffed full of ideas that are perfect for this time of year! From holiday decor ideas to the perfect way to package, or make the gift itself, you will find plenty of inspiration complete with links to supply lists and tutorials. It's only $9.97 through the end of December. I am fortunate to have several projects in the book and I've done a little roundup here of a few of the Christmas decor ones (click on the images to go to the original posts).

GIFTS TO DIE FOR with Eileen Hull and friends
click to see the details and purchase
Time to get festive with…


a gingerbread house built on a platform made from Eileen's Candy Drawer Die. A battery box for the mini lights incorporated into this decoration fits into one of the drawers!

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A christmas tree perched on a base made with Eileen's Cookie Box Die. The top is hinged and you can tuck a small gift inside.



This ATB tower nativity scene is one of my favorite projects. It's made with the Block/Cube/Bank 3-D Die and Blocks/Cubes 3-D Die. It's a lovely reminder of what Christmas is all about.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you check out the book! Stay tuned next week and I'll have another roundup of projects that are featured in it. Have a great weekend!

Sizzix is having another big sale this weekend! Check it out and take advantage of the prices. ;-)



Thursday, December 7, 2017

Christmastime in the Village

Hello! I am honored to be a guest designer on the Frilly & Funkie Challenge Blog today. The challenge theme is 'Most Memorable Gift'. When I was in grade school, I received a dollhouse one Christmas. I was ecstatic! It was a four room, yellow Victorian with real shingles! The inside was completely empty, waiting for my decorating touches. That gift sparked a passion for miniatures that lasted all the way through high school. As I got older, I gave away my dollhouse (my boys weren't interested lol) but I retained that love of tiny houses and settings. These days I indulge it by making little vignette boxes/ projects and of course diminutive settings for Tim Holtz Village houses. For this challenge, I decked out the village for Christmas! The neighbor down below is quite festive. ;-) 

(There are lots of photos!! Scroll on down past the supply list for the tutorial tips.)


I have decided I like the top loading lanterns the best because I can build
the whole scene outside the lantern and then just lower it in. Much easier!



The jingle bell garland around the top is merrily musical!

Here are details of the scene before I placed it into the  lantern:




I wanted to contrast the two neighbors. The house on the hill is a bit on the 'frilly' side while the person living down below is a bit 'funky' with their over the top Christmas decorating. I think it's quite fun all together!

Details:

The little snowman is made from paper clay and
covered with glitter (like my craft table!)

The Mini Christmas Things die set is perfect for making
all the lawn decorations for my little house. I was inspired
by a neighbor's house down the street. Their yard is stuffed full!

I used the Notebook embossing folder to make "siding" pieces to go
on all the walls of the blue house. Also, the pine tree cut hides the
light wire running down the corner of the house. ;-)

aaaand here it is with all the lights shining:



Whew! You made it through the first half of the post. Be sure to head on over to the Frilly & Funkie blog to check out the challenge and all the fab projects their design team made. Enter and you'll have a chance to win a $25 spending spree at the Funkie Junkie Boutique!

(In case you missed it, I completed a huge Halloween Village lantern project in October, check it out!)  


Dies Used: 
Sizzix (all Tim Holtz):
Village Dwelling (Sizzix / SSS
Village Manor (Sizzix / SSS
Village Bungalow (Sizzix / SSS
Village Rooftops (Sizzix / SSS
Village Landscape (Sizzix / SSS )
Village Christmastime (Sizzix / SSS)
Winter Wonderland (Sizzix / SSS)
Retro Merry Christmas (Sizzix / SSS)
Mini Christmas Things (Sizzix / SSS)
Paper Snowflakes (Sizzix / SSS)
Layered Snowflake - 660040 retired

A Jillian Vance Design:
Towering Tree Die set
Tranquil Tree Die

Other supplies:
Tim Holtz embossing folder Notebook
Tim Holtz Layering Stencils – Mini Set 28
Distress Ink – Antique Linen, Hickory Smoke, Pine Needles

Distress Oxide Ink – Broken China, Brushed Corduroy
Distress Spray Stains – Pine Needles, Cracked Pistachio, Mowed Lawn
Distress Dry Glitter - Rock Candy
Stickles Rock Candy, Pine Needles
Tim Holtz Ranger Grit Paste
Tim Holtz Mini Woodland Tree Lot
Tim Holtz Small Woodland Tree Lot
plaster cloth
Deco Art Snow paste (house tops)
Main base snow mixture 'goop': Cerulean Blue liquid acrylic paint, Prima Art Basics Light Paste, Prima Art Basics Gloss Gel, heavy body Titanium White acrylic paint

Simon Says Stamp and Sizzix links in this post are affiliate links which do not affect the price you pay but allow me to earn a small percentage of a sale. Thanks! (My husband also says thanks!)

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All right, here we go with some tutorial action!
There are lots of videos on how to put together the houses, Tim Holtz has several on his blog. I'm mainly going to cover the base construction and lighting. See the tutorial on my Halloween Village blog post for more info as well.

I like to construct the bases out of foam core board (found at office/craft stores).


I played around with the placement of the houses and the trees before
gluing parts down.


I built up the terrain and filled in the supports with wadded paper and tape. Plaster cloth strips are easy to use and form nicely over the base.

oops, I forgot to take a photo after I did the plaster.

The roof lighting on the blue house was a bit tricky! Thanks goodness for fake snow; it covered up all the yucky wires and glue. I tacked all the wires in place with hot glue.



I wanted to have some shingles showing so I glued them around the edges. I also hot glued the bungalow dormers right on top of the wires. There was a big gap but that is what the fake snow is for. ;-)


I used a palette knife to spread on the snow texture paste and then sprinkled it with Rock Candy Dry Glitter while it was wet.


I used part of a garland of star LED lights I found at JoAnn's to light the houses themselves. I glued down a couple of bulbs where they would be underneath the houses and left the rest loose to position in the 'sky' once the base was inserted into the lantern. I then hot glued the houses in place and prepared my 'snow mixture goop'. I adapted a recipe I found on a model railroad landscaping tutorial to use media that I already had at hand (imagine that!) I used equal parts Prima Art Basics Light Paste, Prima Art Basics Gloss Gel, and Liquitex heavy body Titanium White acrylic paint. I added a tiny drop of Cerulean Blue paint. Once I spread it over the base I sprinkled it with the Rock Candy glitter. I had all my little decorations ready to go so I could stick them in the wet snow to glue them in place.

The battery boxes/switches for the light strands I fastened into the lantern lid with heavy duty hook and loop tape. You need to be able to swap the batteries in them!

Thanks for stopping by and checking out this really long post! I hope you are inspired. =) Merry Christmas to you all!
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