Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Envelope #365

December 31, 2014

This is it. The last one. Envelope #365. I never thought that I would be able to make it but I am so happy with the results.

The most satisfaction that I enjoyed this year was the alphabet series and the stencil/crosshatching/plaid (tartan) patterns.

I hope that you enjoyed following along. I am still determining if I want to commit to another 365 challenge next year.

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Iron Craft 2014 Challenge #26--Year End Cards (Project 52)


For our final Iron Craft Challenge, we were asked to prepare something based on "Celebration." I chose to share my holiday Christmas card. I always celebrate Christmas by sending out handmade Christmas cards. This is the seventh in my series of Stained Glass Christmas cards based on the Twelve Days of Christmas.

These are done with hand tinted vellum and are designed to simulate stained glass. You can leave the card open on the mantel with a battery operated tea light and it looks like stained glass. The card is a tri-fold card with the first two panels (with the openings) fold upon itself to hold the vellum.

The insert is made from Japanese confetti mulberry paper made with silver and gold leaf. It is mounted on gold metallic card stock.


Envelope #364

December 30, 2014

This was another one of my favorite styles. I called it Whale Belly because it reminded me of the parallel lines that appear on the underside of a whale's stomach. There was something very calming and meditative about trying to draw lines that did not connect.

Monday, December 29, 2014

Envelope #363

December 29, 2014

The last three doodles will be dedicated to my top three favorite styles of doodles for this entire year.

My third most popular style of doodle was Bubbles. I don't know why I derived such pleasure out of this sort of doodle but it was a very relaxing and comforting style. The funny aspect of this doodling was that I would create clockwise circles on some occasions and counterclockwise at others--with no discernible difference.

Sunday, December 28, 2014

Saturday, December 27, 2014

Friday, December 26, 2014

Thursday, December 25, 2014

Envelope #359

December 25, 2014

Merry Christmas to those who participate.

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Project #51--Disney Projects: Lady and the Tramp


This is the final in the Disney series of paper cuts--The Lady and the Tramp. It has been fun cutting out all of this characters and there are several more to do but this will bring the year to a close on this series. The only project that I have left is the final Iron Craft Challenge and I will have completed all 52 projects for the year (26 Iron Craft Challenges and 26 projects of my own). It has been a very good year for crafting for me.

Have a great holiday season.

Envelope #357

December 23, 2014

Monday, December 22, 2014

Christmas Box

Top View
The brief was for a Red Christmas Box. I hope that this fits the bill. The interior is 7" by 9" by 2" and is designed to hold a knit hat.

Interior with velvet paper inserts

Envelope #356

December 22, 2014

Sunday, December 21, 2014

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Friday, December 19, 2014

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Envelope #350

December 16, 2014

I think my tin soldier is a little tipsy. Must have been the eggnog. 

Iron Craft 2014 Challenge #25--Cupcake Ornaments (Project 50)


This week we where challenged for time. We had to create something in less than one hour. The implication was that were are so rushed with holiday plans, travel and commitments that we would have limited time to craft.

This is a craft that is similar to one of the projects that I shared last month.  For the Snowball Ornament, I used modeling paste and glitter. For the Cupcake Ornament, I decided to use modeling paste, acrylic paint (for the yellow and pink "frosting") and rainbow sprinkles. I will use hooks to hang them on the tree.

For display here, I used cupcake papers and would use these as name card holders for each place setting. I wanted to use the foil cupcake liners but didn't have any on hand. For each of the bulbs, I filled a different amount of rainbow sprinkles in each  to see which amount I preferred. You could also use candies (like red hots) or larger nonpareils.


Monday, December 15, 2014

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Envelope #348

December 14, 2014

This past week was brought to you via Sharpie Chisel Tip markers. Each envelope was designed with two colors and all of the doodles were designed using the separate edges of this one type of marker. The thicker lines were designed using the broad edge of the marker (sometimes doubled or tripled). The thinner lines were drawn only using the tip of the marker.


Saturday, December 13, 2014

Friday, December 12, 2014

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Envelope #343

December 9, 2014

Project #49--Disney Projects: Mickey and Minnie


Continuing the Disney cutouts, here is one of my favorites. I am mounting this for a Christmas present for someone special.

Just one more Disney cutout and two more Iron Craft Challenges left in the year. Where has the time gone?

Monday, December 8, 2014

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Saturday, December 6, 2014

Friday, December 5, 2014

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Envelope #336

December 2, 2014

Iron Craft 2014 Challenge #24--Candy Advent Wreath (Project 48)


For this project, we were asked to create something for the holidays. I was a little stymied because I had just completed a 30 day series called Christmas in November (You can click on the label Christmas2014 below to see all of the projects in that series). So, for the Iron Craft Challenge, I needed to come up with one more project.

I have always been inspired by Kat and her Advent Calendar series so I decided to do an Advent Calendar but I wanted to do something that was quick and easy and readily accessible to anyone who needed a quick project.

Materials Needed
Flat Chipboard Wreath (I bought mine at Michaels--Floral and Craft Ring, 6in)
Wire edged ribbon
Individually wrapped flat candies (I used Peppermint Patties--non holiday bag)
Circle Labels (I used Avery Round Labels 8293, 1.5 inch diameter)
Number Stickers (I used EK Success Sticko Dimensional Stickers in black glitter)
Double sided tape

Assembly
First prepare your candies. I placed a round sticker on 24 separate pieces of candy. I then placed a number on each round sticker. The numbers ranged from 1 to 24. To complete this project, you will need the following quantities of numbers: ones--13, twos--8, threes--3, fours--3, numbers 5 through 0--2 each).

Once complete, set the candies aside. Take your wreath form and wrap wire edged ribbon in an up and over pattern until your wreath form is covered. Secure in place with double sided tape.

Start placing your candies on your wreath. There is no pattern here. Simply fill up the wreath form with one layer of candies. Make sure to start with your lowest number so by the time Christmas arrives your wreath will be empty. Adhere each candy with double sided tape. You can use a glue gun for this layer if you wish or if you need a more secure base. The stability of this layer is the most important.

Candies Ready for assembly.
Covered Wreath waiting for Candies
First layer completed
Once the first layer is completed, add a second layer using double sided tape. Be careful when placing these candies because you don't want the bottom layer to come off when these candies are individually removed.
Second layer completed
Once the second layer is complete, continue with the top layer. I ended up with three layers. Once all candies have been attached, Loop a length of ribbon through the center of the wreath to hang.

Read for December 1
As an alternative to the Advent Wreath, you can simply do a Merry Christmas wreath. This wreath is constructed in the same way as above but I used a 12 inch Floral/Craft form, holiday wrapped Peppermint Patties (in red, silver and green) and the letters corresponding to Merry Christmas. For this project, you will need the following letters: R--3, M & S--2 each, and A, C, E, H, I, T, Y--1 each.


Notes:
You can cut out your letters/numbers yourself rather than buy stickers. Similarly, you can print the letters/numbers directly on the stickers if you want. I just wanted to show a no-fuss, quick project that didn't involve paper cutting.

If you have nice handwriting, you could even simplify this even more my writing the letters/numbers.

Monday, December 1, 2014

Sunday, November 30, 2014

Envelope #334

November 30, 2014

Marbles. This took forever!

It's the beginning of the end. Only 31 days left in this challenge.

Christmas in November #30--Acrylic Painted, PearlEx and Glittered Ornaments

Side View
For this project, I decided to add Glitter to the process. I discussed using glitter in this post, Yesterday, I discussed using acrylic paint and PearlEx powders.

Today, I wanted to use the draining cup solution that I had left over from yesterday.

For this project, I used a plastic ornament. Pour the black Gesso/gold PearlEx from the draining cup from yesterday and rotate the ornament until the interior is covered. Once satisfied, place the ornament upside down on a Dixie Cup to drain. Once drained, add a second color of acrylic painted thinned with the Flow Release/water solution. Since I was pleased with the coverage, I dusted the interior with a different color of PearlEx (the pink PearlEx you see below).

While still tacky, add the glitter of your choice to the interior of the ornament (I used gold ultrafine glitter that I had left over from a previous project). This is a great way to use small amounts of leftover glitter. Cover the opening with a paper towel and shake the ornament, Repeat adding glitter until you get the coverage you like.
Top View
If want to start the process from scratch and don't have leftovers in your drainage cup here are the steps:

Prepare your ornament with the vinegar/water solution and let dry.

Prepare black Gesso with the Flow Release/water solution. Add an extra drop or two of the solution because you want this super runny. Coat the interior of the ornament.

Turn upside down and place on a Dixie Cup to drain.

Add the PearlEx of your choice and shake.

Add another layer of the extra thin black Gesso solution and rotate the ornament to cover the interior. Let this layer interact with the PearlEx powders. Turn upside down and place on a Dixie Cup to drain.

Add a second color of thinned acrylic paint or a second PearlEx color. Drain if necessary.

Add the glitter and let air dry. Replace lid.

Notes:
I have a container of multi-colored glitter that I add small batches of unused glitter that are too small to complete an entire project. I can use this glitter for this project so just use the remnants of leftover glitter.

If you don't have a Gesso/PearlEx solution leftover, don't try and speed up the process by adding PearlEx to your Gesso directly because this mixture will get gloppy and less pourable.


This completes the 30 Days of Christmas in November. I hope that these projects have been helpful and enjoyable. Happy Holidays and Happy Decorating.