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Wednesday, December 23, 2015

One Last Christmas Display

Hello all and welcome back to the blog today. I have one more Christmas display to show you prior to Christmas. Cutting it close on this one haha! 
I have recently gotten my hands on the new Tim Holtz Paper Mosaic Kit from my work Simple Pleasures and I couldn't wait to break it open and play with it. 
Ever since I saw Tim's video on youtube with this kit, I've been wanting to check it out



To begin this project I took a piece out of Tim's configuration book, I'm going to create a scene inside this. 

I started out by using the Distress grout onto the entire backside of the box, I used a pallet knife to spread my grout. I probably should have made it a bit smoother but since this was my first time, it was a learning process
(for some reason my photo wouldn't stay upright for this post, sorry about that.)



I sat that aside to dry thoroughly

While that was drying I started with some things for the scene I was going to create.
I used Tim's Trophy Antlers and applied some multi matte medium all over them and sprinkled glitter onto them
Also, setting that aside to dry

I then cut a piece of Tim's older Christmas paper and used distress ink to the edges and top. I used the paper distress tool to distress my edges as well



I wanted to add a poinsettia to this so I created a small one using Tim's movers and shapers poinsettia die. I simply cut these out with red and green paper that i previously stamped music onto, I then used distress ink on the edges



I wanted to use glitter and prills for the center and I applied these with glossy accents glue


I love how the center looks so real with the prills and glitter

Once my "grout" was completely dry, I began by placing some of my mosaic pieces here and there onto the back of my box.
(I previously cut the pieces out using Tim's Christmas paper)





Once I figured out how I wanted my pieces to lay out, I started gluing them down with the paper mosaic glue
when they were all placed and glue down I applied one more coat of glue to the entire back



I set this aside to dry

When all of the glue had dried completely I went ahead and applied my paper mosaic glaze over each mosaic tile. Again, I set this aside to dry



I forgot to mention that prior to applying my mosaic pieces I used distress ink to go over the entire background of my box
It's really kind of cool how the distress ink blends into the background as your applying your glue and mosaic pieces



I used one of Tim's script thinlet word dies to create my "joyful" word and I also used one of his woodland tree miniatures (sprayed with distress spray)
For the silver tinsel around the edge, I simply hot glued that





This is how the back and sides turned out, I love it!



Thanks so much for coming by and checking out this fin and festive display. I hope you and yours have a Blessed Christmas!! 
CHEERS!!!








Monday, December 14, 2015

Tim Holtz Flip Frame Christmas Display

Hello and welcome back to the blog today. I had a bit of free time last week, (just a small bit) and I know I haven't been crafting a whole lot lately due to my busy schedule so I wanted to really sit down and go back to some of the things I love to do. 
Tim Holtz has always been one of my favorite styles and designers and as soon as I saw his flip frame, my brain went into overdrive. I love the idea of a flip frame for multiple uses but for today I made a Christmas display.


This Christmas display is loosely based on one of Tim's older 12 tags. It's from his post way back in 2011, if you want to check out Tim's tutorial here is the link

On the edges of the frame I added some snowflake paste so it looked like there was little snow, I sat that aside to dry.
(Snowflake paste is something that my store Simple Pleasures where I work sells it and  has gotten it in stock like 3 times and it keeps selling out, we cannot keep the stuff on the shelves.)



Next, I added some of Tim's Holiday letterpress blocks to the outside of my frame with my glue gun BUT first I added some really nice red glitter to each letter. I simply added a little glossy accents to the front of the letters and dipped them into the red glitter face first, setting them aside to dry



my last step was the centerpiece, which was mostly explained on Tim's Blog with his 12 Tags of 2011 Tag 2 
I used the general idea for the reindeer and background for my display. Tim used Seasonal Craft Resist for the background behind his reindeer and I am out of the seasonal SO, I used some of the butterfly craft paper that I had. To add the resist, I used versamark and stamped the word "Believe" from the stamp set called Handwritten Holidays.  I then used clear embossing powder to heat set. This way when I went over the entire background with white distress stain, the word "believe" resists the stain, so it pops. 
Once my middle section was mostly complete I added two Jingle Brads to the bottom and also made a poinsettia for the bottom right side. 
My poinsettia was made using Tim's Tattered Poinsettia Die
and for the leaves I used Tim's Holly branch die. I also used these little things called "Prills" in the center of my poinsettia
They are these tiny little beads that you just adhere with glossy accents or any other clear glue. They are fabulous, we have them at Simple Pleasures and we ship!! They are the best thing and they give the center of my poinsettia a realistic look. I also added a touch of gold glitter to them
 Check it out:


I just added a bit of greenery around the reindeer to mimic a wreath and attached an ideology snowflake with burlap ribbon
I love how it turned out, so festive!





This makes a super fun display piece for Christmas. 
I hope you have enjoyed the little tutorial, I'm off to take it to work with me and share it with my co-workers!! 
CHEERS!!




Friday, December 11, 2015

Christmas Gifts using Tim's Holtz Mini Mason Jars

Hello everyone and welcome back to my blog. I'm excited that you have decided to stop by today. 


I have a fun project to show you using Tim Holtz's mini mason jars. These little guys are the cutest ever and the perfect size for a small gift. Of course I have to personalize it for sure. 
I wanted to do something fun for the ladies I work with and I decided to stuff these little jars full of candy and some candy cane chap stick. 
For each Jar I did the following:
I applied a small amount of glossy accents to the front of my Tim's letterpress blocks and dipped each into a different color of glitter. Once dry,  I then attached a screw eye to each letter, hanging one of Tim's little snowflake charms and gluing silver tinsel around the top of each

For the lid, I used Tim's Tissue Paper and colored it with Dina Wakley's red paint.  After that was dry I used multi matte medium to glue the tissue to the lid and trimmed as needed. 
I used a hot glue gun to attach the green tinsel and mini bulb ribbon and also the letterpress letters to the lid. 

That's it! Easy peasy! I hope the ladies like these fun little gifts.
We do sell all of these products at Simple Pleasures (my work) and we ship!!! YAY!



Thanks so much for coming by the blog today, I hope you have a Merry Christmas everyone!! 


Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Stampotique Challenge 225 - Alphabets

Good morning everyone, I hope your having a wonderful week. It's time for another new challenge over at Stampotique Designer's Challenge Blog. This week I am hosting and my challenge to you is "Alphabets" 
Use your alphabet or image stamps to create a letter

I decided to do a journal page for this challenge and here is what I came up with this week


I used Stampotique Stamps:

Never-ending Wall, small - By Arwen McCullen which I used to create my letter "A"
Twinkie - By Daniel Torrente

I sure hope you will come by the Stampotique Designer's Challenge Blog and join us this week. 
Cheers!

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Steampunk Ornament Swap

Hello everyone and welcome back to the blog today. 
I wanted to tell you about a little swap that I did with some friends from Virginia. We have been swapping ornaments off and on for about four years now and since we are all into steampunk and we decided to do a steampunk Christmas ornament swap this year. 
Steampunk is always so fun and creating something in this theme isn't the easiest thing but it sure was fun to do.

This was the ornament I made



I used a old vintage key as my butterfly body and then just added some other elements. I added a vintage looking snowflake to the back of each and a vintage button to one wing
I can't tell you how fun this was to create.

Here are the ornaments that my friends sent to me:

From my friend Chris - the details on this is amazing


and from my friend Deanna - this one is so elegant and beautiful


This was such a fun swap to do and I'm glad I took part. 
Thanks for coming by and enjoy your day. 
Merry Christmas!!

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Stampotique Challenge 224 - Sequins

Hello all and welcome back to the blog today. I hope all of you in the US had a wonderful Thanksgiving and spent lots of time with family and friends.
This week over at Stampotique  Designer Challenge,  Valerie is our hostess and she is challenging us to use sequins. Here is what Valerie says about this challenge:
"Let's see where your creativity takes you. Sequins come in every size, shape and color and can be used in so many ways. Where will they end up in your project?"

I made a Christmas card for this one:



I have to say that using sequins this week was so fun, I never use sequins in my projects so this was a great challenge.
I used a Stampotique stamp by Daniel Torrente called Santa Baby 

Come on over to the Stampotique Designer's Challenge Blog and join us this week. There will only be two challenges this month but you can still enter all month long to win that 30.00 gift certificate. YAY!!!
Have a wonderful Day!!!

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Winner of the Watch Part Necklace

Thanks to everyone who supported my Etsy shop by sharing and liking and such. I really appreciate it more than you know. I'm excited about this new adventure, it's always tough starting a new shop and getting the word out so I'm thankful to have such support. 

Without further waiting, the winner of the watch part necklace is...................

"Can't wait to check out your etsy shop...you know you are one of my favorite artists..."

YAY! congrats Jeannie, please email me with your address and I will get your necklace in the mail asap.

to everyone else here is link to my etsy shop I have restocked, below are just a few of the items in the shop. 








Thanks for coming by and cheers to you!!!