MY ARTISTIC ADVENTURES CHALLENGES (JAN 16/2014) - "ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS"

Yippee, it is time for the 2nd  "My Artistic Adventures Challenges"!  Heather has made it so easy for us with her "On the First Day of Christmas" theme.  If you are just getting your head wrapped around crafting in 2014 check out this new crafting challenge rules here!  She has put together an incredible design team, you will certainly be inspired!  I feel so fortunate to be working with this talented bunch.

"On the First Day of Christmas" I dreamt of snow falling and pretty little bluebirds eating the holly berries just outside my window.

Heather's Bluebirds Music Tags collage sheet is what I built this tag on.  I adore the serenity I feel just looking at this image, the perfect vintage holiday of my dreams.  I have carried over this inspiration from my own Christmas In the Bank post.

To start I covered a larger #8 manila tag with a Graphic 45 paper, then popped up the music background from the collage sheet and popped the bluebird image on top of that.  Tip:  create a lot of basic dimension when you want to go over the top with your embellishments.

Trims from my stash included the cream pom poms, silver metallic rick rack, silver "feather" rope, seam binding (bow made with my Mini BowDabra), feathers, a paper rosebud and vintage blue glass beads which I "liberated" from a strung garland.  Soft blue chalk ink on the rose and then blue, red and silver Stickles to finish.

In keeping with another of my goals for 2014, I used the pieces left from this and my Christmas In the Bank project to create two more holiday tags.  I will add ribbons when I use these, love building up my stash!

Note:   I have entered my tag in the ABC Christmas Challenge, Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge

JOYFUL WISHES - PAPER WREATH

In keeping with my goal of crafting Christmas throughout the year..

I have been doing these paper wreaths with different themes since last summer.  It started with a birthday wreath, then I did quite a few fall/halloween versions some of which I posted, I have patriotic and beach themed ones waiting for me to get back to them :)

This one is built on a 8.5 inch styrofoam wreath and paper strips 10 x 1 and 3/4 inches.  I used Graphic 45's Christmas Past for most of the papers on this one.  From my stash;  vintage plastic snowflakes, flowers, sparkly leaves,  stickers and a lot of (mostly) Platinum Stickles.  These are very light, I have used E6000 t0 glue a sawtooth picture hanger on the back to hang it.

Note:  Done this size it can be stored in a pizza box.

Thanks for having a look!

Note:  I have entered my wreath in the ABC Christmas Challenge, CraftyHazelnut's Christmas Challenge

CHRISTMAS IN THE BANK (01/2014) a

It's time to start thinking about Christmas!  I know you are rolling your eyes and groaning but honestly if you do a bit each month along the way you will be ready.  I am not going to offer challenges this year but try and keep to my goal of crafting Christmas continually throughout the year and sharing my ideas with you.  I would love to hear what you are doing!

I fell in love with Graphic 45's "Twelve Days of Christmas" and plan to use that throughout the year.  My first project is what I call a mini/mini.  It's more than a card but less than a typical mini album.  I have used two paper bags and bound it with my Bind It All.

The cover background is "My True Love", inside I have used "Joyeux Noel", the first day tag and an assortment of scraps from other G45 papers (one of the great things about G45 is the ability to mix a lot of the basics).  I have left the inside free of embellishment so that it can be personalized at the time of gifting.  I will tuck in a few scraps so they don't get misplaced or used elsewhere.  I have used a vintage snowflake as the element to build the cover upon.  Yes, I am going to use my vintage holiday stash this year!  I love the mini bottle brush tree.  (use E6000 glue)

VINTAGE HOLIDAY SHADOW BOX

I have had this vintage box in my stash for ages just waiting for the inspiration.  I loved the pink and turquoise "sputniks" and that it reminded me of our home in the late 50s/early 60s.  Until mom switched to "Early American" LOL

I did a bit of repair and strengthening with cardstock and double sided tape to the inside top frame first.  It then got a couple of coats of sepia toned decoupage finish.  I covered the bottom with a sheet of music themed sparkly paper.  Pink, turquoise and platinum Stickles highlight the design and I used a chunky turquoise gliter to outline the inner frame.

The image is from Digital Collage Sheets.  I used pink mica flakes, creamy tulle and lace trims, turquoise seam binding ribbon, a vintage ornament and bits to create the tag.

I first used white bottle brush trees but the darker coloured ones ground the scene.  I used dabs of Glossy Accents to adhere a sprinkling of Diamond Dust on the trees.  A bit of cotton batting makes a snowy gound and fills the bottom.

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!

RETRO SANTA IMAGE

It seems like there is no time between Halloween and Christmas and I always have trouble letting go of the former :)  This 6 inch hang tag advertised a 1950 Christmas Savings Club.  Remember to click on the image and then click again on the larger image to save the best resolution.

THE 4TH, 5TH AND 6TH DAYS OF CHRISTMAS - AN ATC SWAP

Four Calling Birds - the ATC Artist is Francie

Five Golden Rings - the ATC Artist is Wendy (also our swap hostess)

Six Geese A'Laying - the ATC Artis is Terri

Do go and check out their blogs! 

ON THE SECOND DAY OF CHRISTMAS - ATC

The ATC Artist is Blanche

Do go and check out her blog!  Click on the title of this post to visit Wendy, hostess of our swap.

12 TAGS OF CHRISTMAS BY TIM HOLTZ - #9

(#3 for Sandi)  Crazy over rosettes - don't have the die but it is still on my "maybe wish list".  I made a gazillion rosettes last year for different projects and really had an inspired (which totally worked which is not always the case) idea!  Use the ScorePal!  Cut 12" strips of paper in half the width you want the total diameter of your rosette to be.  Then score where you want the fold lines ie every 1/2" works for larger rosettes and 1/4" for smaller.  Don't worry about hills and valleys you can still fold back and forth.  So watch Tim's Tutorial for all the rest of the bits after you have cut and folded your paper.  Is that cheeky of me or what?  For this tag I used a 1 1/4" inch strip and cut a nice edge with "postage stamp" decorative scissors. 

Dipped into my vintage buttons for the "accoutrement's" picked out a few that I liked on this and Bob's your uncle!  Well actually Bob is my DH.  It is sleep deprivation folks - I predict there is going to be an official syndrome named after Tim that occurs on the 1st 12 days of December every year.

12 TAGS OF CHRISTMAS BY TIM HOLTZ - #7

Ok so I have managed to finish two out of seven!  I know there are any number of crafters who are keeping up - I swear they do not sleep!  Love learning all of the techniques but holy doodle they are labour intensive.   The technique on this one that I know I will use lots is inking the top of the embossing folder before embossing!  You just hit the high spots and then after you have embossed your piece you hit those high spots with ink..try it, you will like it.

HOLIDAY ATCS - ARTChix Studio Images

Another set of simple holiday ATCs this time using fun vintage images from ARTChix Studio.   I've used white german scrap trim on each of these which I have colored with VersaMagic chalk inks and a gold leaf pen to match each scene.  You can often find inexpensive white paper trim and ink it to match your project.  I've either created a title and added it to these or used a Quickie Glue pen and fine glitter to highlight the title that was there (Joyeux Noel, Bonn Anie).

HOLIDAY ATCs - CRAFTY SECRET IMAGES



I've used images from "Crafty Secrets" which is one of my favority companies to make these relativelysimple holiday themed ATCs.   Since I have scanned these you can't see where I have used pop ups to raise some of the images.  But that and some Stickles, a bit of glitter, German Foil (can you see the bird on PEACE?), a holly brad or leaves and a gem, gilt or silver foil pen and my favorite Sugar Beads - I've  used here and there to make the most of some sweet images. 

ON SANTA'S LAP 1949 - A CHRISTMAS PROJECT

I've entered this  in the "Anything but challenge" at "Pages In Time".

I adore this picture and just can't leave it alone.  It's the DH at Woodward's Department Store in Vancouver BC.  I've made a series of these for each of the kids and myself now.  Maybe each of the eight grandchildren need one too!  Below this is a copy of the 1950's Children's Christmas Songbook that I used for the background on this one.  Have fun and let me know what you use it for!