Followers (I'd love to have you join)

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

A Bunch of Bountiful Baubles



I love how this wreath turned out.  These are the colors I have spruced with for the last few years; powder pink, robin’s egg blue, soft mint… 

This wreath looks like it might be easy to make but it was truly a labor of love.

 I first strong ornaments (all the same size) on a wire clothes hanger (you know, you’ve seen this on Pinterest).  Well, let me tell you, you can’t just slide the bobbles on the hanger and expect it to look like a wreath.  The tip of all the ornaments first need to be hot glued so they don’t fall off. Then, once you have your hanger chuck-full of ornament you need to add some more so they start to bunch up.  Then hot glue all ornaments  together (in inconspicuous places) so the glue doesn’t show and the wreath is solid and doesn’t wobble all over the place.  Never again - it is really quite tedious work.  

After I did all that, I added more ornaments (not on the hanger but all around the perimeter) -- Some larger, some smaller, some tiny.  This helps fill in all the gaps and flat or empty looking places. 

Then I added a very pretty beaded ribbon I found at the big craft store and topped it off a big hand tied silver bow.
I finagled a “hanging loop” thru the glued ornaments and made sure it was around the inner clothes hanger so it would be nice and secure to hang from a door.  There had to be an easier way to do this from the beginning but I forgot to do it at the start -  I have a knack for making things more difficult than they need to be :( )

The final touch was the “Merry Christmas”, cut with my trusty Cricut and some glitter paper in coordinating colors.

I did make it for the craft fare with two other wreaths that were much easier to make. This one I priced high at $75 -- (because of the amount of work and because I secretly hopped it would sell – I want it!) Only problem is, it’s to thick to fit between the front door and the screen door.  I do have a nice floor wreath hanger I can put it on though.

 Here is other one I made.  I’ll defiantly make one like this again.  That was just wrapping silver garland around a foam wreath base and added a few clusters of ornaments with hot glue and a per-made “Merry Christmas” sign. Oh, and don't forget the bow.  Easy-Peasy!  

 And it fits behind the screen door!

 
Places I am Sharing on: 

Cut it Up - Challenge #110 Christmas Tic-Tac-Toe
Bitten by the Bug 2 - Christmas Word Challenge 
Fantabulous  Cricut -  Challenge #291
Crafty Ribbon Challenge - Christmas #178


Thanks for looking.  God bless and happy Scrappin!

Love Birds or Snowbirds?



Over at Simon Says Stamp they are featuring Concord and 9th products (also here or here).  One I have of theirs is a lovely set of love birds called By Your Side.  I was going to use it for a St. Valentines card but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get on the band wagon and show case them as well.  The dies cut so nicely in my Cuttlebug.  

I think this relatively simple card looks so regal with the “slide-through” die design by Concord and 9th die and the dimensional flower embellishments by Anna Griffin. 

 I Love how the silhouette of the birds is showcased on the inside of the card with double sided paper. 

The pop-dotted flowers and the slide behind die give this card a distinctive 3D look which is perfect for the layered challenge over at Die cut Divas’ blog

Products and supplies:

  • Card base – in cream
  • Gems – in tan for eyes
  • Ink – Studio G in magenta (VP0030)
  • Ink dauber – for edging
  • Printer – for inside sentiment
  • Double sided paper (pattern on one side, solid on flip) – I used an Anna Griffin layer for this and slid it behind the birds but over the top of the rest of the card base.
  • Gold foil paper – for tiny die cut butterfly
  • Rose stickers 3D “kiss-cut” - Once again I have used an Anna Griffin product for this.  Anna has some beautiful “print then cut” flowers available on Cricut Design Space as well.
  • Die – Birds – “By Your Side” from Concord & 9th
  • Die – Butterfly  - “Up inthe Sky” cut and emboss dies by Cricut  
  • Adhesive – I use Tombow tape runner


Place I am sharing this:


Hope you enjoyed my card today.  God Bless and Happy Scrappin’!

Sunday, December 4, 2016

Flurries of Jolly Sock Snowmen Families



These Where My Favorite
Today I am sharing a series of Snow Families I made for the craft fair.  They sold very well (Set of 3 for $12.).  I should have remembered to keep a cute set for myself-- Oh well.

 Supply list and details below photos:

Sorry for the bad photo on this one








* Supplies:

  • White Sock- White in both child and adult male size for bodies
  • Colored Socks and footies- coordinating patterned socks and footsie (in both adult male and female sizes and colors) for clothing and hats 
  • Nylon knee-highs – I used these and liners so rice wouldn’t poke thru the socks.  I put the rice in the base and topped with stuffing for the head tied it off; cut off excess and put the fill knee high in to the white sock.    Note:  glue seemed to work better for getting the hats inn the “just right position”.
  • Rice – to weight the base of the snowfolks
  • Stuffing- for the head and some of the upper body
  • Rubber bands – to “squeeze-in” section (head, body, etc.)
  • Hot glue and glue gun - while I sewed on most of the features some needed stability of glue, or in some cases, glue worked better or I was tiered and glue was easier.   
  • Buttons, beads, decorative straight pins, gems, and embroidery floss – for eyes, nose, and mouths
  • Ribbons, bows, small flowers – to accessorize, of course ;)
  • Needle and thread – to attach eyes, bows, secure hats and scarves, etc..  Note:  A curved needle worked better for me to sew on the eyes, etc.…
  • Knit hat and scarf - I bought one small set from the craft store all the rest where just cut piece of socks.  
  • Yarn - scarves and tie-offs

Place I am sharing these on:




 
The Faceless  Masses


*  When I go to make my  supply list, it always surprises me on how many supplies I actually use – it makes it seem more difficult than it is.  This was a lot more involved than my gnomes.  The gnomes where so easy to make (in an up coming post IF I can find any pictures of them).


Hope you enjoyed these little cuties.  Gob bless and happy scrappin'

Friday, December 2, 2016

Just Some Notes



Hello crafty friends. December is here!  let the Christmas joy begin!  I hope you all had a nice November and a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.  My prayers to all those who have been dealing with fires, floods, and tornadoes – what a crazy month it was.  Hope the new month finds more peaceful times for all.    

While I was absent in the blog world in November I was very busy with crafts (and family).  I did a few craft sales and set up a booth in a gift store.  I'll let you know how that goes when everything is “tallied” in January. 

I have a lot in store for you this month.  I’ll be doing several posts: Sock snowmen, gnomes (if I can get the photos), Christmas wreaths, and some more cards. 

I am wondering if any of you would be interested in some post on craft supply “garage sale and thrift store” finds?  Let me know in a comment below – I have some good finds ;). 

Also, some exciting news – I will be the guest designer in January over at the CropStop!  (Thanks Karen, for the great opportunity!)

Next  post: Sock Snowmen

God bless and happy scrappin’!