Fresh Cut Ornaments

I've finally found an opportunity to share with you my "best seller" at the craft show from a few weeks ago, Fresh Cut Ornaments. On the cover of a magazine (Cottage Living maybe?) I saw where they had decorated a simple Christmas tree with log slices hung by ribbon. It looked easy enough so I decided to give it a try. Max just happen to have cut a few logs that were perfect for this idea so I loaded them up and headed out to the farm. Using my dad's band saw, I went to work cutting the log into slices. Once we got the correct blade on, it worked like a charm and before I knew it, I had over 50 slices from a log and a half!

Once I got them home and the slices dried out, I began adding to the simple version I remembered from the magazine. I seldom leave well enough alone so I picked up some very inexpensive holiday picks from the craft store thinking that they would add to the rustic charm of the ornaments. First, I threaded my ribbon through the small hole that I drilled into the log slice. After knotting the two open ends together, I pulled the tails down and around so that they would be lying against the wood. Next, I stuck the holiday pick through the hole as well, pulling from the back side to ensure a very snug and tight fit. Originally, I pulled the excess wire around and tucked it into the pick where it wasnt visible but later decided to cut it off using wire cutters so that it was flush with the wood. After snipping the tails with pinking shears and adjusting the holdiay pick so it was "just right", I was all done! Except, it really isnt quite finished. This was regular wood, and I wanted PINE wood so that it would smell good. Hmmm, to make it smell like pine...great idea! I searched the stores for some kind of oil to scent the wood with but didnt have any luck finding a Chrismasy smell. It occurred to me that I had some home fragerance oils from The Body Shop, the kind you use with a tealight burner, that just might work. I added several drops of this piney Christmas scent to the bark around the log slice and it instantly gave it a wonderful Christmas scent! Problem was, several drops of scented oil times a dozen ornaments equals a scented overload headache!

I was please with how the simple ornaments turned out but I wanted to try one more idea...snow! So I picked up a small tub of Snow-Tex and gave it a whirl. Using a regular butter knife, I added dollops of Snow Tex to the top of the ornament, dabbing here and there to make it as realistic as possible. While the snow was still wet, I added some clear glitter to give the snow a glistening sparkle. After the snow had successfully "fallen" on the ornaments, I set them into a cupcake tray for them to dry before I put on the decorations. Drying time depends on how thick you lay it on, but I let mine sit over night just to be sure it was good and dry. But its dry to the touch in just a few hours, although a bit soft.

So here are a few of the ornaments on my tree:

I hope you found this not-so-brief tutorial on Fresh Cut Ornaments enjoyable. These ornaments really are very easy and quick to put together, give it a try!

Christmas Tags

A few weeks ago I received an order to make up 50 Christmas tags. Using my Nesabilities and various scrapbook papers, I pulled together these easy to make tags. Each was threaded with thin hemp rope for a natural look and adorned with a bell for a festive touch. The tags were printed with a Merry Christmas greeting as well as a standard To: and From:. A quick and easy way to use up your left over Christmas scrapbook paper!

The Truth About Santa Claus

This isnt my story but one I wanted to share at this very special time of year.

The Truth About Santa Claus
============================

I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma.
I was just a kid.

I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her on the
day my big sister dropped the bomb: "There is no Santa Claus,"
she jeered. "Even dummies know that!"

My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to
her that day because I knew she would be straight with me.

I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth
always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of
her "world-famous" cinnamon buns. I knew they were world-famous,
because Grandma said so. It had to be true.

Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites,
I told her everything. She was ready for me.

"No Santa Claus?" She snorted... "Ridiculous! Don't believe it.
That rumor Has been going around for years, and it makes me mad,
plain mad! Now, put On your coat, and let's go."

"Go? Go where, Grandma?" I asked. I hadn't even finished my
second world-famous cinnamon bun.

"Where" turned out to be Kerby's General Store, the one store
in town that had a little bit of just about everything. As we
walked through its doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars. That
was a bundle in those days. "Take this money," she said, "and
buy something for someone who needs it. I'll wait for you in
the car." Then she turned and walked out of Kerby's.

I was only eight years old. I'd often gone shopping with my
mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself.
The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to
finish their Christmas shopping. For a Few moments I just
stood there, confused, clutching that ten-dollar bill,
wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for.

I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my Friends, my
neighbors, the kids at school, and the people who went to my
church.

I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby
Decker. He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he
sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock's grade-two class.

Bobby Decker didn't have a coat. I knew that because he never
went out to recess during the winter. His mother always wrote
a note, telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we
kids knew that Bobby Decker didn't have a cough; he didn't have
a good coat. I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing
excitement. I would buy Bobby Decker a coat!

I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it.
It looked real warm, and he would like that.

"Is this a Christmas present for someone?" the lady behind the
counter asked Kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down.

"Yes, ma'am," I replied shyly. "It's for Bobby."

The nice lady smiled at me, as I told her about how Bobby really
needed a Good winter coat. I didn't get any change, but she put
the coat in a bag, smiled again, and wished me a Merry Christmas.

That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat (a little tag
fell out of the coat, and Grandma tucked it in her Bible) in
Christmas paper and ribbons and wrote, "To Bobby, From Santa
Claus" on it. Grandma said that Santa always insisted on
secrecy. Then she drove me over to Bobby Decker's house,
explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially,
one of Santa's Helpers. Grandma parked down the street from
Bobby's house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the
bushes by his front walk. Then Grandma gave me a nudge. "All
right, Santa Claus," she whispered, "get going."

I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the
present down on his step, pounded his door and flew back to
the safety of the bushes and Grandma. Together we waited
breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open.
Finally it did, and there stood Bobby.

Fifty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent
shivering, beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker's bushes. That
night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus
were just what Grandma said they were: Ridiculous.

Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team.
I still have The Bible, with the coat tag tucked inside:
$19.95.

More Christmas Cards

Are you tired of seeing Christmas cards yet? Okay, only a few more and I promise I'll get on to something new. I have two simple Christmas projects to show you soon so stay tuned for those.

I have four more Christmas card packs made up for the craft show Im going to this weekend. The first two feature focal points that included in a digi pack I purchased from Sweet Shoppe Designs called Christmas Mix. I like to stamp but digital images are a bit easier for me to use since I can size them to my own specifications and they're already colored. An important factor when Im pressed for time!

This card features a simple holly image centered on Anna Griffin paper with a bow adhered to the corner. The distressed backgrounds and hemp bow give it a natural look. Here I used the stocking image and simulated them hanging by a chimney. I love tiny images that resemble postage stamps! The white background is matted on distressed kraft paper, again, giving it a natural look. My next card features one of my favorite stamps, the one I used to make my mom's Christmas cards last year. It is added to a simple candy cane striped background with a dark green ribbon folded around the corner's edge. Quick and easy! It's funny to me that during each card making process I think to myself, 'Oh I love this, I think this is going to be my favorite!' That is, until the next card comes along! Here's my current favorite but maybe that's because it's the last set that Ive made... I stamped a basic snowman image onto white cardstock using a denim blue ink topped with a touch of black, kind of using the "rock n roll" technique. I then inked up the piece with brown to give it a nice worn look to coincide with the pattered paper's tattered edges. I finished it off with some pearls for buttons and an inked up snowflake that I just happen to have enough leftovers of. Oh, and if you'd bring your nose a little closer to your monitor...come on, get close...now take a big sniff...mmmm, smells like Icicles!

I must run, other projects await my attention and time is running out. See you next time!

Snowman Cards

We had our first significant snowfall this morning so I thought it was only fitting to bring you two snowman cards. Both use the same image and layout, they just have different color schemes.
The inside reads: Wishing you a warm holiday season!

Gotta run, I have lots of work to do yet before this weekend's craft show!

Christmas Cards

In preparation of the upcoming craft show I'll be attending, I’ve been busy making holiday card sets. Tonight I have three to show you, so let’s get to it!

The first one is just a basic layout with a nice Christmas saying cut out my Nestabilities dies. A few rhinestones jazz up the corners and that's about it.
Next is a Christmas card with nontraditional colors of pinks and greens (my favorite combo!). I found the little tree die cut at the checkout counter and grabbed it as a last minute Gotta Have It! Those marketing people really know what they're doing... To add some interest to the little trees I stamped them with a music sheet background stamp, ink distressed the edges, and topped with either a rhinestone or button. The trees sit atop a sparkly white square, which is difficult to see in the photo.
The third card took me back to my Copic markers, let me explain. Years ago, like 5-10, I bought these clipart CDs from Provo Craft HugWare. I don’t know if they even make these things anymore but Im glad I decided to dig them back out. I had some snowman paper I was trying to make a card from but needed a focal point. A quick Google image search turned up nothing but then the thought of these CDs popped into my head. Again, I haven’t used them for ages so imagine my surprise when I found a snowman that would work. The cool thing about these graphics is that they come either colored or black and white. Since the colored version didn’t match my paper, I chose the black and white and colored them with my Copic markers so they’d coordinate with my patterned paper. I haven’t colored for quite some time and I forgot how painstakingly long it takes to do multiple cards. But I’m pleased with the results and will be turning back to my ancient CDs to see what else I can make with them. Unfortunatly, when I printed the images I didnt leave quite enough room to allow for the Nestabilities die, but I was able to salvage them by rotating the oval. Both ways turned out cute and I didn't have to waste my coloring efforts.

Back in the Christmas Saddle

Where does the time go? I'm sorry to have left you hanging for the past couple of weeks but it seems that since I started my new job, Ive had less interest for crafting. But, I'm back in the saddle, so they say, ready to giddy-up for the holidays.

We have a craft show the weekend after Thanksgiving so I have several projects to finalize before then. Never mind a recent order I received for 100 custom Christmas cards...ack! Or 50 handmade tags...gasp! Or the Christmas cards Ive promised family members...oh no! *Insert McCulley Culkin face here*

Today I bring you two Christmas card sets that I recently completed. The first is a Christmas tree patterned paper set on kraft paper. I love the natural look of kraft paper, especially during the holidays. The Happy Holidays in the bottom corner is actually a Doodlebat, DB 'Tis The Season Words, which is a fun distressed take on common holiday words and sayings. To go with the distressed look, I scuffed up and inked the edges and set with tiny pearls. If there was a scratch 'n sniff feature on this blog, you'd be able to enjoy the scent of this card too, Christmas Lane. Ive discovered Card Scents and have enjoyed adding them to my holiday cards. The inside of the card reads "May the magic of Christmas fill each corner of your home and heart."

My second card is a simple piece of holly patterned paper, distressed with green and brown inks to soften the look. Set with tiny pearls, the pattern paper pops off of the contrasting cardstock, while the scalloped oval completes the theme. Inside reads, "A heartfelt Christmas wish of peace and happiness, this holiday season."

Hopefully I'll be back soon with more to share!

Winter Wishes & Snowy Kisses!

As promised, here's a start on my Christmas cards for this year. Sadly, they're not for me but for my sister. Lucky girl, if I do say so myself.
Because I took these pictures at night, their true colors arent really coming through but you get the idea. Im no photographer so its hard to tell the the card front is actually about an inch shorter than the card back, so the snowflake overlaps the front and back. The exposed blue needed a little touch of something so I used my white ink pad and dusted around the edge and corners. It reminds me of a frosted window pane!

Im still working on cards for my mom so hopefully I'll have those to post tomorrow. Lord willing I'll find some time to actually make some cards for myself! But for a teaser, Im thinking that they'll be some sort of an ornament... Oooo, exciting!