Christmas Tiny House

Howdy!  I wanted to share with you a project I made, that isn't all paper.  I made these tiny wooden houses for my holiday craft fair.  (Yep.  Me.)  But, I cover them with paper and fun embellishments.  My husband does a little wood working, and so he did help me in the beginning.  But, I'm a quick learner {smile}.  I made a few dozen of these for my holiday craft fairs.

I started with a scrap piece of MDF.  (please, I don't know what that stands for, or what it means.)  And I cut house shapes out of it.  My house shapes aren't perfectly symmetrical.  Which, is how I like it!  I think it helps add character, and interest to the finished product {smile}.

here is one of my holiday favorites:

Recipe:  The tiny wooden 'house' roughly measures 2 inches wide (at the base) and 1 1/2 inches tall (at the peak) and 3/4 inch thick.  Super cute size!  I painted the block (all over) with white chalk paint.  Just one good, thick coat.  Then I took my sanding block and sanded it smooth.  This took off some of the paint, giving my naked block a distressed look.  It also help soften the corners.  Then I applied a cream sealant.  I didn't want the block to continue to 'loose' its paint.  

Now the fun part! Decorate!  I used two scrap pieces of my Tilda pattern paper. (love, love, love this paper!)  I used my Paper It to adhere the pattern paper to the block, and it also seals the paper.  To help cover the seam of the two papers, I added a scrap piece of white crochet trim.  I added this beautiful rhinestone flat-back snowflake.  It has so much sparkle in real life.  I tied a tiny bow with a scrap piece of pink silk 1/4" ribbon and adhered it to the other side of the snowflake.  I added a trio of flat-back faux pearls; one in the attic, and two on the side.  (I thought it added a fanciness, and a sweet feminine touch.)  The word 'NOEL' is actually a rub-on.  My final touch, was to add 'snow' to the roof.  I adhered glitter to the roof, and then sealed the glitter with an application of Paper It.  I didn't do anything to the back.  So, it is left plain, well, distressed {smile}.

Thank you for stopping by and having a look!  I will get busy making a few things for some challenges I want to enter.  Hopefully, I can get some 'good' photos (fingers crossed).  So, please come back again soon!  But, until then, happy crafting!

Vintage Noel in Paris Card

Howdy.  I haven't stopped Christmas crafting yet!  I have just been side railed with a few other obligations.  I was baking individual size Lemon Cream Coffee Cakes, 3-inch Traditional French Apple Tarts, and a few dozen Boston Cream Cupcakes.  And  yeah, I had to make pretty gift cards to go with them {smile}.

But, I did find time to make some holiday cards and a few gift bags to match {smile}.

I am playing along with two different paper crafting challenges:  Mix It Up Challenge and Brown Sugar Challenge. 

So, let's start with Mix It Up Challenge.  They have a sketch and an inspirational photo.  You can use either or both.  How sweet is that?  I used the inspirational photo!

I was inspired by the red and green colors of the holiday photo, along with the holiday theme.

The other challenge I am entering is Brown Sugar Challenge.  These talented ladies have an Anything Goes theme.  Always great ideas from the design team.  They use items from the current sponsor and create some of the most beautiful paper crafts!

here is the card that I made:

Recipe:  I used real red card stock from Stampin' Up!  I just llove the heavy weight.  The pattern paper I used is from a few years ago.  I don't remember who made it, but that is all I have left {frown}.  The green gingham pattern is the reverse side of the holy/polka dot pattern.  

I machine stitched a piece of cream cotton trim and red gingham ribbon to the card front.  Tied a double bow with the ribbon.  I tied a larger double bow with kraft twine and tied a silver Tim Holtz pinecone to the twine.  Then layered my trims:  rat twine and red ribbon.  

I added a dark green glittered paper blossom to the top of the bows.

My focal piece is actually a digital download.  I printed the image on white linen card stock by Paper Trey Ink.  I originally purchased the digital image to print on kraft card stock.  I haven't given up on the idea.  {smile}   I thought this image would look better on white.  To help accent the white polka dots (aka snow falling)

Thank you for looking!  I hope your weekend is wonderful! and creative!

Light Bubbles: bokeh

Howdy!  I hope you are well.  Me, yes.  Thank you.  I had another arts and craft fair this past weekend (Friday and Saturday) at one of my favorite places:  Tramway Community Church.  The folks there are so nice, helpful, and just a joy to be with.  {smile}

Anyways, my mom came up to spend some time with me, and help me sell my paper crafts.  And let me just say, that it was pure joy!  We talked, and sold, and talked some more.  It was really wonderful to spend some time with her, and just hang out!  I made a little money, which is always sweet, especially during this time of year.  So, pluses all around!

For those who don't know, I live in the east mountains of Albuquerque, New Mexico.  And well, we are just below 7500 feet.  Sunday it snowed like crazy.  So my husband got a chance to use his snow plow for the first time this winter season.  And the weather created a delay in my mom getting back on the road to head home.  It did give us a little more time together, but just not the same.  It's kinda like be held hostage at the airport.  You have food, a bathroom, and the people you are traveling with, but all you really want to do is leave.  [No hard feelings mom {smile}]

I wanted to make my mom a card, to say 'thank you' for her help, and let her know that I really enjoyed the time we spent together.  So, I went looking on the internet, and wanted to see if anything out there inspired me.  Well, of course I found something!  

I ran across this photography technique called: bokeh.  It's when parts of the image and/or light are out of the field of focus.  So, when you are photographing something and there is light in the background or side portion, and this part of the image just isn't in focus.  Looks pretty.  And so I ran with it!  

gold, is the accent color

silver, is the accent color

So, both cards are made with soft suede card stock as the base.  The 'blue' piece is aqua mist card stock.  I cut 3-4 branches from a Memory Box die.  I punched 1", 3/4", and 1/2" circles and a trio of snowflakes from vellum card stock.  I added several clear faceted sequins, and then added gold/silver sequins.  

I die cut the letters for 'JOY' out of gold glitter paper.  For the silver version, I heat embossed 'noel' in silver and then stamped 'JOYEUX' in soft suede classic ink.  

The final touch, was a spritz or two with iridescent spray.

But now, that I am writing this post, I think, why did I make my mom a holiday card to say 'Thank You'???  Ugh, sometimes my mind just gets stuck.  As I am preparing for yet another holiday craft show, my mind is stuck in holiday mode.  Sorry mom.  Let me get back into my craft room, and make something a little more appropriate. 

Anyways, I hope you like these, and I hope I have inspired you to create something unique and wonderful!

Holiday Banners

I am having a great weekend.  I got to see some wonderful girl friends and I got a lot of crafting done!  Yahoo!

And so, I want to share with you what I made.  I created some banners (ok, 2) out of thick chipboard, and some wonderful holiday pattern paper: Christmas by Fancy Pants.  Here is what they look like:

I used a variety of the pattern papers.  I just love the mix of blue and red and green.  Just gorgeous and festive and playful.  Love it.  

I cut a large scallop trim piece from one pattern paper and matted it onto cherry cobbler card stock.  I machine stitched it, to give it a home-made and nostalgic look.  I also used cherry cobbler card stock to create the scallop circles under the rosettes.

I created the rosettes by hand.  I scored a 1" x 12" strip of pattern paper every 1/4".  I stamped and heat embossed the letters in early espresso embossing powder onto shimmer white card stock.  I matted the letters onto cherry cobbler card stock, and then ocean tides card stock.  

I used ocean tides ribbon from Paper trey ink.  I tied red vintage buttons on to each bow.   I have both banners for sale in my Etsy shop HERE.  Don't forget, my easy shop will be closed the day before, the day of, and the day after each craft fair.

Thank you for looking.  I'll be posting more soon!