Winter Projects

Hey all!

I've been pretty busy for the last month.  In mid-December, I held an ornament class.  Six ladies attended and we had a wonderful afternoon getting creative with printed tissue paper, inks, stickles, glitter (Oh, my.  The glitter...) ribbon, and Copic markers.  I took pictures.  Unfortunately, I didn't get them off my old phone before it went on to phone purgatory - where it belongs.  :/  You'll just have to believe me when I say that some absolutely splendid ornaments - and even better memories - were created.

The big project this December was creating seventeen little cardboard houses, reminiscent of the villages people placed under their trees in the 40's and 50's.  We used them to decorate our tables for the Warren Players' production of "It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play".  I was making little houses almost right up to the last minute.  Each one contained an LED tealight so that they softly glowed on the tables during the production.  Each one was a little different.  They were well received and I sold almost all of them.  I guess that's a good sign.  :)

We also made snowflakes for The Snowflake Project sponsored by the Sandy Hook and Connecticut PTAs.  There were about fourteen of us that came together on January 5 to create a beautiful "snowfall" from Warren County, PA.  My little friend, Dakkota, and her mom also stopped by.  They donated another spectacular snowfall from The First Church of God folks.

Here are some photos, taken by my wonderfully talented friend, Jeanette:

Simply gorgeous and "snow" much fun!  The deadline for submitting these to Sandy Hook was 1/12/13.  I boxed them up on January 6 and went to the Snowflake Project site to retrieve their address.  Sadly, the address was gone.  They had been bowled over by an absolute blizzard of snowflakes, distributed them all over town, and simply couldn't take anymore.  They suggested that we hang them in our town and send them pictures.  We will do exactly that, so that they know Warren County, PA is thinking of and praying for them.

And finally, my church has thrown down the gauntlet.  They have created a snowman contest for the month of January.  The goal is to populate the church with snowmen of different sizes, materials, and designs.  Well, you know, I just couldn't pass up an opportunity to create a little guy of my own.

With the exception of the bird, he is made entirely from scratch.  He has a paper mache body, covered with a soft, powdered glitter.  His nose is from Martha Stewart's crafting clay and colored with Copic markers.  The eyes are painted on and the hat and scarf crocheted just for him.  The arms are the stems from hosta blooms.  They're not as sturdy as I would have liked them to be, but I didn't have time to go foraging too far from the house.  I had so much fun making him that I'm considering making one or two more...

Stay warm out there, folks!

Kath

Christmas in July

In this age of technology, it's a huge frustration when a computer goes down.  Mine went silent on June 12.  Since then, I've limped along with my iPad, but frankly, it just doesn't do everything I'd like it to do.  So, my blog writing has suffered.

The lack of a computer has not hampered me from creating new things, however.  I've been super busy cranking out item after item.  Over the last ten days, I've been feverishly working to get sample items together.  I wanted to use them to apply for Heidi Swapp's media team.  I completed all of the samples, only to find myself stymied by the lack of proper computer technology.  Kind of tough to actively promote your technology skills with...well...technology.  Three hours before the deadline, I gave up.  There will always be next year.

I also recently put together a mini album.  My sister's branch office assembled a "Christmas in July" basket for a company picnic that was held last week.  She asked me to create an album for the basket.  I pulled out my Christmas papers and went to town.  It was kind of fun to bring out the Christmas stuff again.

The album measures 5" x 5" and there is room for a minimum of 18 pictures.  There are four pockets in the album, a tiny "openable" as Heidi Swapp calls them, and lots of pretty things.  My sister was thrilled.  I hope the recipient of the Christmas in July basket was also thrilled!  :)

This page features one of the pockets and some little embellishments on sticks.  It's finished off with some silver and white twine.  Super cute!

Pennants are a hot theme right now - love these made from lots of pretty papers in the stack.  The embellishments at the bottom include a snowman - his scarf flapping in the winter wind -, a little penguin floating his star shaped balloon, and a sparkly snowflake highlighted with a blue Swarovski crytal.  

Another pennant banner, this one being held up by two cute little snowmen.  This banner floats free of the page so that a picture or journaling can be added under it.  

Another pocket page - this one on the side between the two pages.  I love the cream and blue winter-y colors on this page.  More glittery snowflakes are highlighted....

This pocket holds a journaling tag, or two, if you prefer.  More pretty blue and cream colors.

I love plaids.  This one is so cheery!  More sparkly snowflakes and Swarovski crystals.  

My favorite page of the book!  This is the cover of a mini open-able flip album, as Heidi Swapp calls them.  There is room to mount pictures and journaling on this page, if desired.  But the coolest feature is....wait for it....

The pages flip up to reveal MORE places to put memorabilia, pictures, journaling, notes, or whatever you desire.  On this one small 5" x 5" page, the flip book allows room to store at least five pictures.  Amazing!  More pages of the flip book follow....

This last page is a pocket, too, which allows it to hold more than one picture or memorabilia.  It could also be used to just frame some pictures and skip the pocket altogether.  I love versatility!!  :)

ANOTHER pocket.  More great ways to store things in a small space.  The tag sports red glitter dots along the top edge.   I also love that super glitzy, glittery arrow.  So pretty!

Aren't these guys adorable?!  Love, love, love them!  This is a pocket page, too.  You can see the tag sticking up out of the top of the pocket.  

Here's the tag.  I love the word "this".  Remember this.  Feel this.  Think about this.  Experience this.  Celebrate this.

The back of the "This" tag.  Sweet little bow and some gingham.  You can't go wrong there.  :)

And finally.....

Santa Claus!!!  

I hope you enjoyed this little album.  I had a great time making it.