MY ARTISTIC ADVENTURES (ON THE THIRD DAY OF CHRISTMAS) CHALLENGE - MARCH 16, 2014

It's time for the second of the two monthly challenges at My Artistic Adventures!  On the 16th of the month Heather offers a Christmas Challenge, the theme this month is "On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me" and you must use three of something.

I hope to have 12 peat pot ornaments by the years' end!  Basically I have set myself a challenge within the challenge LOL  For this project I have used Heather's Vintage Angels collage page.  She has incorporated all of my favourite elements into this sheet; a sweet vintage image, music paper and birds!  Heather gets wild and crazy creating new sheets so be sure to check on her Etsy shop often!

My project was created using a 3" peat pot painted with white gesso as the base.  I have covered the pot with bits of lace and trim, topped the rim with antiqued silver tinsel trim and used an "evergreen" tinsel stem for the handle, which will blend in with the green of my tree making the ornament appear to float.   I have filled the pot with satin and pearl flowers (liberated from a bridal piece), light blue vintage stems and blue mercury balls from my stash of vintage Christmas bits.  I used a plastic snowflake as the base to build up the stars (each one is popped up with foam dots) as the background for the angel image.  Two of the cardinals are wired to "fly" in front of the stars.  I have used Stickles on all the edges of the images for that extra vintage touch.  Bows front and back are the final touches.

Note:  I have a large stash of glitter products but the one that I go to consistently are "Stickles" from Ranger. The fine nozzle  allows me to lay down a nice edge, which is my preferred look and I find that less glitter drops off  than when using other products.

Come and play along with us, check out the lovely projects from Heather, Helene, Carol and Shawn!  See you there!

MY ARTISTIC ADVENTURES (ON THE SECOND DAY OF CHRISTMAS..) CHALLENGE -FEB 16/2014

It's time for the 2nd of the two monthly challenges at My Artistic Adventures!  On the 16th of each month Heather is offering a Christmas challenge, this month the theme is "On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me.."

I have chosen to stay the traditional course with "two turtle doves"!

This is a 3" peat pot which I covered with white gesso to start.  Make sure you let this dry for 24 hours as the peat pot really holds onto moisture...like it is supposed to for it's "real job" LOL  I adhered some vintage looking silver tinsel around the top and attached an evergreen tinsel wire for the handle.  The pot is covered with a piece of vintage hardanger needle work and a bit of fancy trim along the bottom.  A plastic snowflake sits behind my Victorian scrap lady, the two plastic white doves are wedding favours.  I filled the "basket" with white millinery pieces, vintage silver mercury balls and used white batting as the filler.  I reduced and printed out Heather's Victorian Vintage Calling Cards collage sheet to use as my print image (two turtle doves).  The finishing touches are bows both front and back.

Note:  looking for white embellishments, think wedding supplies.

I have had the idea for a set of these rattling around in my head for a bit but I was inspired to get on with it when I received an ornament built in a peat pot from Michelle of Nook and Cranny in a holiday swap.

How about you check out Heather's Challenge at My Artistic Adventure and join in?  Do go and see what the other design team members have done, I am fortunate to be included in such a talented bunch!

Note:  I have entered this in the first Craft Hoarders Anonymous challenge "What's Your Style".

CHRISTMAS IN THE BANK (02/2014)

As I have done for several years now, I try to continue crafting for Christmas throughout the year so that when the holiday comes around I have "Christmas In The Bank"!  I plan to share some of my projects with you on the 12th of each month.  If you are also crafting Christmas throughout the year, leave me a comment and I will come to visit!

I was tickled to find this project!  "Vintage Mitten" ornament/tag digital collage sheet from My Artistic Adventures.  Not only has Heather created the images needed (available through instant download), she has also done an easy to follow step by step video.  Talk about value!  I loved that these were so "stash friendly", the images were provided for me, all I did was dig through my bits and pieces to embellish them.

I asked Heather if she would do just the Candy Canes (she is happy to do special requests), I think they make the perfect table favours as well as ornaments!

I love it when some bit of the Christmas "leavings" can be rescued.  These little tags were punched from a bottle bag that had seen all of it's lives used :)  I punched some card stock to back them and finished them with a teeny eyelet and a bit of baker's twine.  A few more bits into the "Christmas Bank"!

MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS TAGS

Have you been creating with Nancy Maxwell James and her "A Very Vintage Christmas" offering, if not it is all still there at Sugar Lump Studios.

My take on her Merry Little Christmas tags - day #2.

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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