VALENTINE'S DAY TAGS

It felt like I was overdue to get my hands into something that wasn't Christmas.  Feeling a bit like that yourself LOL

The "stars" here are the images from paperwhimsy, "Salmagundi Suite Ola".   I covered #8 manilla tags with patterned papers from the Making Memories line "Je T'adore"  and 4" paper doilies (I like the grease proof ones from Wilton as they resist ink smudged fingerprints) to create the backgrounds.  All edges are inked with Tattered Rose Distress Ink and Pink, Gold or Platinum Stickles.  Pearls are from my stash.

Do check out the images at paperwhimsy, I love the versatility of this particular set.  There are enough images with one printing of the set for me to do 8 to 10 large tags, all different!  This first tag I used today for my daughter's birthday.

WOYWW

Short for What Is on your Work Desk Wednesday...!  Want your own opportunity to do a global snoop..check out the STAMPING GROUND!

Though I intend to craft Christmas all year long in 2013, I was feeling like a bit of a change was needed.  On my desk today are the start to a few Valentine tags.   Paperline from Making Memories, Martha Stewart lacey heart punch, pink Stickles and GeckoGalz images.  I am doing a GD spot in February at GeckoGalz so best put my mind to it!

Here in Canada we also celebrate Boxing Day (the day after Christmas) - I am declaring it PJ day at my house!  Hope all of you are having a lovely week!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND WARM WISHES FOR THE NEW YEAR

Thank you to all of my followers and those of you who check in regularly to see what I might be up to!  I so appreciate your encouragement and support.  For the most part the last six months have seen me housebound, creating and connecting with all of you has truly helped me keep a happy, healthy outlook.  We often do not know that we have made a difference in the lives of those whose paths we cross, you have made a difference for me.

All my best wishes for your holidays and the coming year.

This is a gif file (courtesy of my friend Heather) and will print out on whatever background you choose.  Remember to right click and save the larger image!

VINTAGE SHEET MUSIC MEDALLIONS

I thought I was crafting tree ornaments .. with no plan other than to start with a round coaster, a pile of sheet music (which I have collected with gusto!) and see where that might lead... really these are a bit larger than typical ornaments but small enough that wall space can easily be found.   Meant for two young friends...

Image from GeckoGalz "Tiny Dancer"

What last gifts are you crafting?

WOYWW

What's on your workdesk Wednesday!  Check it out at Stamping Ground and give Ms Julia's desk a good snoop!

From the left; you can just see a paper tree made from a Martha Stewart kit bought a few years ago on clearance, two more to go (leave them in the clearance bin if you come across them), packets of reindeer and starlight mints, a vintage house I am rejuvenating, a couple of 1910ish vintage pop-out Christmas cards (the pop is pooped and needs propped up!), a laser cut silhouette and music notes for considering and in the middle a paper cone medallion made of vintage sheet music with ballerina image and destined for a young ballerina I know :)

Yes I finished the paper chain from last week and here it is on the tree...I got three good wraps around the tree for all my effort

The snowscape I was working on from two weeks ago... though the ribbed jar makes it hard to photo

Have a lovely week, take time to breathe.  Whatever gets done is great and what you thought you wanted to do won't be missed on the day!  Merry, Merry to you all!

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS MATCHBOX ORNAMENT SWAP

My swap ornaments from the Vintage Dragonfly  "A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS MATCHBOX ORNAMENT SWAP"  have arrived and in time to show them off for the holidays!   JoAnne thank you for yet another marvelous swap.

What a delight each of these little bits of art are!  Of course my photography doesn't do justice!  I have them all on a little tree in the dining room so that I see them often.

Left to right;  Laurie Jackson, Peace Schulyer, Oliva, Tabitha Lenox (Kim)

Donna Authenreith, Melinda Lysen, LunaLilly, JoAnne (Vintage Dragonfly)

WOYWW

Like December does every year, the days are just zipping by!  It's Wednesday again and time for What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday (a wild roll through craft rooms around the globe) hosted by the fair Ms Julia at Stamping Ground.  Check it out and join us in the fun!

I didn't get around to many desks this last week..and I will try to make it up!  But had childhood friends up from the states for a three day weekend which we spent in a lovely seaside resort!  Great laughter, eats and fun.

I have managed a few projects this week but right now I am working on a kit - yes a kit!  A Bethany Lowe vintage style music sheet paper chain.  Four sets, six feet long...I will be awhile at this one :(

Have a lovely week!

WINTER WONDERLAND - 1953!

Turquoise and red at the holidays always take me back to my childhood.  Mom always flocked our tree (using the vacuum) and often in a colour, I remember at least one turquoise tree!  I painted this 18" papier mache cone awhile ago and waited for inspiration to hit.  Off white acrylic paint for the lst coat, then "Weathered Wood" crackle medium (I adore this stuff!) with a turquoise acrylic on top.

Deb, a friend since childhood recently gifted me with cards that her mother received when she was in a TB sanitorium through 1953/54.  What a treasure trove!  Lucky me!  I adored Evelyn and feel extra special to be gifted these.  Amongst these I found the perfect special card to use - shiny red foil and a pop out snow scene!

The top is trimmed with a giant chenille stem which I wired on by punching holes every 2" and using regular chenille stems.  A bit of silver ric rac for glitter beneath that and around the edge of the card front.  I used Holly and Candy Cane Stickles to highlight the scene.  A glittery turquoise pom at the bottom and a vintage style chenille Santa complete the piece.  Yep, I guess I am not done with cones yet nor the chenille figures!

I am entering this in the Divas By Design "Let It Snow" challenge...this is a great challenge site if you are unfamiliar with it, do go and have a look,  the "Snowmen" challenge at 4 Crafty Chicks,  "Anything Goes As Long As It Is Festive" challenge at Whimsy Stamps

WOYWW!

Where did the last week go!  Oh my it is Wednesday and time for "What's on your workdesk Wednesday"!   Interested in seeing what is going on in craft rooms around the globe?  Well go and check it out at Ms Julia's Stamping Ground

Can't believe that it completely slipped my mind, sat down to do some visiting and there it is.  Early evening lighting doesn't make a great picture but then my skills don't either!

My desk doesn't really look like it but I have been crafting, crafting, crafting this week.  A crop on Saturday and I have finished four of my Candy Cane Cones, a Music Sheet Medallion and I am working on some tiny alpine houses for doing snowscapes.

Right now I am working on setting up this snowscape, I will include bottle brush trees and a glittery covered reindeer.  That is if I can find the reindeer, I am thinking he doesn't want to be covered in glitter...bah!  That's just the way it is once I find him...no time now for dithering or dickering.  I will make some tags to hang from the lid along with a few green and red ribbons.  So short, sweet and late, I will try and make it 'round to see you!

MEDALLION OF VINTAGE MUSIC SHEETS

I am calling this a medallion because it doesn't have a hole in the centre as a wreath does.  There have been lots of wreaths seen in the last couple of years and while on my "want" list - you might know that I am terrible at churning out multiples of the same thing LOL All those cones!

I used the tips Michele of PRIMP provided in rolling the (oh so many!) cones.  Though instead of closing the cones with a bit of masking tape, I used a small strip of double sided tape (DST) on the bottom left inside corner.  The cone is then adhered on the inside and you won't have any tape bits showing.  Production line!

The music paper was about 60 years old but thick enough to not be fragile.  I used a 9" chipboard cake plate for the base and sketched out about a 4 inch circle in the middle to start the cones on.  There are three layers of cones;  the 2nd layer is the same size as the first back layer with each cone placed on top of and between the bottom layer and the third and top layer are 1/2 the size of the other cones as I wanted to create more depth and abundance.

The pink ruffle is a vintage horse competition ribbon (first time I have used one!), on top of that is a vintage tin Christmas tree light reflector topped with a mini TH rosette and that is finally topped with a vintage sparkly glass button.  I distressed the edges with Victorian Velvet Distress Ink and pink Stickles.

I am entering this in the "Distressing" challenge at Sugar Creek Hollow, the "Anything Goes" Challenge at Simon Says Stamp