VINTAGE CANDY CANE CONE WITH SANTA

After a bit of fooling around with my first effort, now I am quite happy with this little project.  Again I started with a 7" paper mache cone on which I painted rough strips in a maroon red and creamy white, you don't have to be perfect because the next step is to cover all of this in a good white glue and coat with Diamond Dust.  I tried several other colors but a silver tinsel pipe cleaner for the handle worked best in this mix.  The red rim is wired tinsel trim from Michael's adhered with DST.  I adhered a line of vintage silver tinsel garland along the inside top (DST) and that along with a bit of snowy white paper shreds make a fine winter nest for the vintage '50s  snowman with plastic holly pick.  I added a rosette (the smaller TH die) made with a MS pp and topped with a vintage button.   A bit of ribbon and a sparkly pompom finish it off.  While I find Diamond Dust stays pretty well put, I have sprayed this this with a light coat of fixative.

I am entering this in the "Vintage Christmas" Challenge #39  over at Sugar Creek Hollow,  "V for Vintage" challenge at the Alphabet Challenge Blog, "Anything Goes" challenge at Simon Says Stamp Challenge, "Glitter and Sparkle" challenge at Divas By Design

CANDY CANE CONE

This year cones are a favourite!

I started with a paper mache cone on which I painted rough strips in a maroon red and creamy white which I then covered in Diamond Dust.  A tinsel pipe cleaner for the handle.  The red rim is wired tinsel trim.  I adhered a line of vintage silver tinsel garland along the inside top and that along with a bit of snowy paper shreds make a wintery nest for the vintage plastic snowman with holly pick.  A rosette made with a MS pp and topped with a vintage button.   A bit of ribbon and a sparkly pompom finish it off.  I may yet glitter up that little snowman....that will take a bit of pondering LOL

WOYWW

It's time once again for a sneaky (not so sneaky but I wanted to say that LOL) snoop into the crafting spaces of sister crafters around the globe!  Don't know what I am talking about...check out Ms Julia's for the skinny.

hmmm...not that I am in a panic but I have started more projects than I will get done but no panic!  I always get into a holiday panic LOL    Left to right; see those little VINTAGE angels picked them up in a thrift store today for almost nothing, in front of them are some VINTAGE picks .50 each! (I remember all of these from the Ben Franklin Five & Dime when I was a kid - love them!), a grinch and a santa chenille ornament a favourite make of mine this year,  the DH brought me home a bag full of these little plastic alpine cottages which I have yet to play around with.  The red and white cones will be a Christmas version of the Candy Corn Cones I did earlier.   I haven't finished the cigar box assemblage which I showed you but here is one I did finish.  Have a great week!  I typically try and visit a few of you each day...so hope to be sneaking up on you soon!

ADVERTISING THE SYMPHONY (VIOLIN IMAGE)

It's been awhile since I have put up an image for you!  Remember to click on the image and save the second one for better print resolution.  Fa la la!

CHRISTMAS CIGAR BOX ASSEMBLAGE - SNOW DAY

I bought a stack of empty cigar boxes from a local cigar store a couple of years ago, putting something like this together has been in the back of my mind ever since.  I wanted it to be clear that this project started life as a cigar box so finding the balance of what to cover and what to leave took some pondering LOL  Oh I spend a lot of time pondering!

The papers are from Cosmo Cricket and October Afternoon, the retro images on the cover come from TwistedPapers.  My little reindeer is vintage and even though her red flocking has faded to orange and is sloughing off in places she is the star of this piece for me.  The trees and fencing are dollar store finds.   Diamond Dust icy garlands, teeny pompom snowballs and gold star sequins decorate my trees.  The aged mica flake snow is from Paper Valise.  Lots of Glossy Accents and Stickles add more sparkle (I see more opportunities for glitter when viewing my pictures LOL).  Thanks for looking!

I met (on line) an incredible artist from the UK, Susie Jeffereson.  She is the one who created my blog background.  Susie has just created a series of holiday configuration boxes and done a video on each one...go here to see them!  http://www.1stfloorflat.co.uk/

A little peek!

WOYWW! (What's on your workdesk Wednesday)

Time for some global peeping!  Hosted by Julia,  Mistress of Peep at  Stamping Ground, do join in the fun!  I don't always seem to know what a "short" description is but will try LOL

From the left; a cigar box assemblage I am working on, still working on tags (a start on my Merry holiday cards above), blue and red gift bag tags for McLean's "Winter Wonderland" bday party and a small notebook from a crop I attended on Saturday.

Hope you have all had a great week, happy WOYWW and I will attempt to come around to as many desks as I can!

"FEELING BLUE" - FUSSY & FANCY CHALLENGE # 76

For the first time ever I am suddenly really taken with blue for the holidays.  I saw this challenge on  a new followers blog (thanks May!) and thought perfect!  The beginnings of this tag were an attempt at the 12 Tags of Christmas probably 2 years ago.  Wasn't happy with it but had put so much effort into it that I didn't toss it in file 13.  I had a request for a stocking tag for Baby Jack and pulled this one out.  I have a few more skills now and thought perhaps I could do something with it!  Baby Jack's mom said "what a tiny head that snowman has"... part of being a snowman with attitude I think!

Check out the fabulous creations at the Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge Blog!

VINTAGE HOLIDAY CONE IMAGE

A few weeks ago the DH came home with some vintage paper pieces for me.  They are all of Dutch origin and I'm fairly certain date to the early 1950s.  These included some Christmas themed cones.

My friend Heather has once again worked her special magic and erased the "wear and tear" from one of the cones and created several sizes of the image.  I am delighted to share these with you. Remember to click on the image and then save the larger image for best resolution.   These are gif files and will print out exactly as you see them.  For durability print them out on a heavy paper, using double sided tape on the white edge to hold them together.

If you want to get some ideas and see this at it's best, Heather has used the cone for a Really Reasonable Ribbon design team project which she has posted today.   And oh it is sweet!   The perfect name has been used for Really Reasonable Ribbon check out all the possibilities!

MERRY MITTENS AND SNOWMAN BANNER

Credit to Linda Albrecht for the design, published in the 2010 ``Sommerset Holidays & Celebrations``.  I absolutely fell in love with this and actually did it after Christmas last year.  I actually like crafting Christmas after the holiday, it gives me quite a good feeling to think I have a leg up on the next year.

Spied in my craft studio by Ms Snoopy, she has been hinting for quite sometime HA!  Still going to her house but for McLean`s 7th bday party...he has decided on a ``winter wonderland`` theme.

This was a trial project and several of the snowmen heads are looking to the side, I didn`t guide the dh quite enough for the drilling of said heads!  A character giving feature, surely.  Base pps and many of the chipboard embellishments are from Cosmo Cricket.  A sweet line which gave me a retro 50s vibe.

 By now you know I have NO photography skills and I am not likely to gain any!

MIRACLE - A BABY ANNOUNCEMENT LAYOUT

As Jack will be celebrating his first birthday in January,  it was more than time for me to scrap his birth announcement!  This is a layout based on one from "Clipper Street" (a lss in Vancouver) that I did years ago, I have used it for most of the 10 grands!  This has been on my desk for quite some time actually.  Very little inking and a bright clean style, so unlike my usual!  The pp are American Crafts, the rest are bits from my stash.

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WOYWW!

What! What?   Yep, What's on your workdesk Wednesday!  It's a free license to snoop on crafty sisters around the globe.  Who knew this would be so much fun?  The Grand Snoop Mistress is Ms Julia at Stamping Ground - check it out!

From the left; still working on tags and looking through that same old photo album looking for old photos to use,  a pile of snowflakes destined for "Angel Tags", an envelope of tags destined for my daughter Allison,  some new rolls of holiday trim and ribbon with a couple of vintage ornaments sitting on top.  The pink and black Christmas cards..been working on those for a couple of years!  This was when I discovered how I HATE doing the same thing over and over.  So after cutting out the base, mats and stamping the fronts...I just lost interest LOL  So I try to do a couple each year until the darned things are finished!   I never was really keen on the design but I had been given all of this pink qood quality cardstock.  I have learned mostly to say no thank you now!

SHABBY CHIC VINTAGE CHRISTMAS GARLAND SWAP

Did you know that "hangie things" are my absolute favourite!  Banners, bunting, drops, flags,  garlands, pennants, swags - by any name!  Of course I was going to be in on another of the fabulous swaps hosted by JoAnne of the Vintage Dragonfly. 

JoAnne supplied the pattern (choice of two) and we are required to create 6 pieces to swap.  We were to use white, cream and/or  ivory and perhaps the barest touch of other colour along with vintage images. 

I have made all of mine the same; background pps are Graphic 45, the holly border along the top is a MS punch which I embossed in clear for a bit more shine,  the rest is bordered with Opal Liquid Pearls which pick up a bit of the Evergreen Bough Distress Ink which I did the edges in, my vintage image (I'm sorry source forgotten!  Still haven't recovered brain cells lost from anesthetic!) is layered on cream cardstock which is edged with Platinum Stickles, the image is covered with Sugar Beads (translucent microbeads), at the bottom I have used a Prima ivory flower, some ivory stamens from my stash, glittered leaves from a floral pick and a coil of gold bullion wire (both Michael's) and finally a cream tassle.   

JoAnne will put six of our contributions together and mail us back a completed garland!  I can hardly wait! 

INTRODUCING OUR NEWEST GRANDDAUGHTER

Sydney Alaina

Born October 18, 2012

Joining her parents Tyson and Holly, sister Madison and brother Liam.  Sydney makes 10 grandchildren between both of our own children.  I know how that happens LOL but we certainly never thought we would be so blessed.

A simple card made with Graphic 45's "Little Darlings"

The little blob there..sealing wax with a sentiment stamped in.  Looks a bit better IRL!  

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS MATCHBOX ORNAMENT SWAP

Except for a few touches here and there, I am ready to send off my ornaments for the "Very Merry Christmas Matchbox Ornament Swap" hosted by Joanne of "Vintage Dragonfly".  We are to do eight ornaments using the small 32 count matchboxes.

My idea was to recreate a snowy Victorian or Edwardian style house. The bottom four I used Liquid Embroidery puffed up with my heat gun for the snow.  Ran out!  And couldn't find it locally.  The top four I have used "Polar"  Flower Soft for the snow which looks nicer IRL than in the pic.  I have glittered each one with "Warm Highlights" microfine glitter from GlitterRitz.  Inside I have adhered an angel image from Digital Collage Sheets outlined with Stickles.  I will put a small chandelier bead and some other goodies inside each one.  Thanks Joanne for yet again a great fun swap!

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LEST WE FORGET

I have taken opportunity in the past to do posts about the service of each of our parents.  I have linked those posts at the bottom if you are interested in having a look.

Today I want to share with you what has been a new tradition in our family.  Our son-in-law Spencer is an RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) and whether working on the day or volunteering, he will be dressed in his red serge uniform in a parade or at a local ceremony.  Of course Allison and the now four children turn out for the ceremony and typically one side of the family or the other has arrived for a visit at the same time.  This picture is a few years old but I particularly like the various flags in the background and the glimpse of a kilted piper there on the bottom left.

Add caption

Not only will we recognize the meaning of the day but it is also a day  to remember and think about each of our parents and their service.

http://scrapbookinwithg.blogspot.ca/2010/11/lest-we-forget-november-11-2010.html

http://scrapbookinwithg.blogspot.ca/2010/11/lest-we-forget-2-november-11-2010.html

http://scrapbookinwithg.blogspot.ca/2010/11/lest-we-forget-3-november-11-2011.html

SNOWFLAKE ANGEL CHRISTMAS TAGS

I'm still working off the tags shared by Nancy Maxwell James of Sugar Lump Studios.  She has just posted a fabric album using these same images "Little Angels" from Digital Collage Sheets.

Background papers are glittery picks from  Laundry Line by MME - a favourite I have been hanging on to for several years.   Again Stickles for a glittery outline and a bit of shabby ribbon for the top.  The snowflakes I picked up at Michael's, added a bit of microfine warm highlights glitter to soften up the pure silver they started with and centered them with a vintage pearl button.  Snowflakes and button adhered with E6000.

MY "MERRY FAMILY" CHRISTMAS TAGS

No they really aren't "my" family!  These images are from Michelle of  Digital Collage Sheets.  Fell head over heals for this set LOL  I just couldn't resist playing on the sober expressions.  I have some special plans yet for "Granny Mary Merry"!   Still working on producing a pile of tags for our girls, so keeping these simple - Stickles, dimensional embellishments and a bit of crinkled ribbon!

WOYWW #179

Yep it's time to join in on the "Global Snooping" of craft rooms, an event grand enough to be a topic of discussion on  BBC radio and hosted by Julia at  Stamping Ground!   I didn't get around to many desks this week and I am quite anxious about what I may have missed!

I still have Halloween bits on my desk though I have tried to hide them this week.  I hit the Halloween sale bins at Michaels this afternoon, how could I resist black tinsel wreaths for $1.99, huge wired ribbon bows for .99?  Thinking I will go back tomorrow for a few more wreaths...perfect for decorating the fence out front now that I have had time to think about it!  As difficult as it is, I am moving past Halloween.

Upper left corner, a stack of small tags I have punched from old photos.  The DH came home with two gigantic ledgers filled with 30 years of old family photos stapled into them.  Yep stapled!  There are only a few photos identified with names or dates but they are an Italian family in New York city.  I especially love the Coney Island pics!.  I am sure the story of how the albums landed in Victoria BC would be quite something.   I will include some of these tags as swap gifts.

Upper right corner, one of the matchbox ornaments I am working on for a swap.  The large tags (not quite finished) are part of what I'm putting together for our 4 girls, hoping to give them an early start on their gift wrapping stash.  I have used my Cricut to cut a number of tags from patterned paper and I will go through the old holiday cards to see what could be punched for tags.  Too precious and they don't get used.  These images make me laugh every time I look!  I'm calling that center one "Granny Mary Merry"...I may do a few holiday cards featuring her.  The images are from "Digital Collage Sheets" on Etsy.  Have a look at Michelle's offerings there, the image resolution is fantastic.

Have a great WOYWW!  I hope all of our Sister crafters on the East coast have escaped severe damage and injury!  Hope to visit more this next week!

PRETTY IN PINK ANGEL TAGS

I am working on doing a pile of holiday tags for each of our four girls, wanting to give them a bit of an early holiday gift wrapping stash.  I will embellish a few for each of them but mostly they will be simple.  Make them too precious and they don't get used!  I have cut a lot of simple tags in different sizes on my Cricut from patterned paper, I will dig through my old cards and see what tags can be punched from those.  Some of my favourites are punched from old photos..I will share those later.

These are inspired by Nancy Maxwell James  (Sugar Lump Studios) "SnowFlake Angel Tags".   I used the same images as she did from Digital Collage Sheets on Etsy.  I found some sweet K&CO poinsettia tags in my stash and decided to use those instead of snowflakes.  Also from my stash;  pp  "Eskimo Kisses" from Basic Grey, bits of a Zva pink crystal swirl, crinkly ribbon and various colours of Stickles.  I used #8 manila tags as the base.

I am very impressed with the quality of the images from Michelle at Digital Collage Sheets, do check her Etsy site out!  And if you aren't familiar with Sugar Lump Studios well you have quite a treat in store for you!

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS (ART JOURNAL PAGE)

I had plans to do a bit more around Dia de los muertos this month but somehow time just disappeared!  We were fortunate to have experienced this celebratory time on a trip to Mexico a number of years ago.  

The sugar skull images come from Passion Fruits Images on Etsy.  The wings I traced from a  chipboard piece then dug into my sequins, vintage glass teardrops, hotfix crystals, sparkle pens and went crazy!  The sacred heart I did on a 10 Second Studio form, then hit it with some black gesso. I'm not completely happy with this page but I am glad to have gotten something down on a page!