Merry and Bright

Hello Gypsies and Merry Xmas!

Now that Xmas Day is done it's time for the crazy Day-after Xmas shopping. But in between bargain hunts, take some time to create a keepsake or two for this season. This is one of my favorite seasonal projects, featuring one of my favorite subjects – my little gal. 

This is a 12x12 canvas with a base cover of olive green paint – note that I didn’t paint all the way to the edges, but left an uneven border all the way around.

Next I layered strips of paper – don’t forget to tear and shred those edges for extra grunge!

The letters are made using Tim Holtz Grunge Letters. I like to mismatch the letters to the backing so some letters hang off the edges of the backing and nothing is perfect. 

  The backing is painted with chunky paint – I used a sponge brush to get extra chunkiness - the letters are painted olive green and dappled with gold Stickles. I used my “finger-tool” for the Stickle application. 

The Xmas tree is made from paper curls. I love curling paper and it’s such a quick and easy way to create dimension in a piece. The heavier papers work best for this one. Cut strips of paper and use the edge of a scissor blade – like you curl ribbon. Gentle pressure while pulling the blade over the paper and voila! Paper curl!

I built the paper doll using basic shapes and a mix of papers. The collar, hat and mitten trim is actually net ribbon scrunched and shaped to fit. Brads decorate the hat. And the arms and legs are accordion-folded, and only tacked down on the ends for movement and bounciness.

For the photo, I printed a pic on canvas – the canvas adds another texture and is more interesting that plain old paper – then cut to fit. Go for a headshot that is slightly larger than the paper doll for a more whimsical look.

This is a great gift for the holidays, or a sweet way to celebrate a birthday – change the color scheme and voila! Instant birthday celebration canvas. I added random buttons and brads but you could also add personal keepsakes or tiny pics too.

Thanks for stopping by the caravan today. Be sure to come back for more fun, and don’t forget to have a very Happy New Year!

~ Materials ~

12x12 canvas

Paper and brads by Theresa Collins

Grunge Blocks by Tim Holtz

Love is the Key

There's something special in the air these days. Some of you say "snow?", some of you say "hail?"

 I say "LOVE".

As in Authentique's "Lovely". And to celebrate the loveliness, I created a tiny canvas of paper and some wonderful flowers from Petaloo and trims from May Arts. We are all doing a cross-promo this week and here's my little contribution.

The canvas is 5x7", and I "painted" it with Victorial Velvet Distress Ink. I rubbed the ink on the canvas's edges, then used a paper towel to smear and fill in the canvas with color.

After I stamped and fancy-cut the wings, legs and top, I created the tutu with layers of ribbon, book pages, and Petaloo's Darjeeling flowers. More ribbon wraps the canvas and holds the key.

 I also love love love the tiny hat pins from Petaloo. Adorably small, and perfectly pink, I used a beaded and a silver pin in the top corner.

I hope you've enjoyed this little bit of loveliness. Don't forget to stop by Authentique and Petaloo all this week for more creativity!

Materials Used

"Lovely" by Authentique

"Darjeeling Flowers" by Petaloo

Ribbons by May Arts

Distress Ink by Ranger

Going to the dogs...

Today is my turn to join the fabulous Authentique-Canvas Corp. Blog Hop. I'm so excited to share this project with you today, which literally.....went to the dog!

Daisy is my special Saint. She's got the best expressions, and she's such an original. Which means she's perfect for Authentique's "Original Collection".

To create the shadowbox effect, I used the backside of the "Stretched Canvas" and "Stretched Burlap" mini-canvases, and covered the edges with paper and more burlap. 

For the roses, I cut a circle of burlap, and used the pre-made "Canvas Minis" circles. I cut a spiral in each and twirled away. The leaves are cut from more burlap, free-hand.

To create the burlap ruffle, I took 1" wide strips cut from a 12x12 "Burlap Fabricpage" and crunched and glued them around the edge of the canvas back.

~ Products Used ~

"Original" - Authentique Paper

12x12 Burlap Fabricpage

6x6 and 2x2 Stretched Canvas

4x4 Stretched Burlap

Burlap Minis rectangles

Canvas Minis circles

1 Authentic Saint Bernard

hickory dickory dock!

this week authentique paper and basically bare are having a little get-together. i received some really whimsical kits from basically bare and was immediately inspired to create a special nursery canvas.

i started with a 9x12 canvas board and painted the edges with brown acrylic. then i tore and roughed up a sheet from authentique's "lively" collection and glued it in place.

the clock and owl are kits from basically bare. i used glue&seal to adhere papers to the bare pieces, then sanded the edges. a little bling and "hootie" the owl is ready to sigh, "there he goes".

i have lots of chipboard letters that belong to different paper collections, none of which matched the papers. so i chose the letters for the title, painted them all with brown acrylic and then flocked them with brown "sparkly fluff" from the craft lounge.

there goes that mouse again...

i used a piece from basically bare's flower kit to create the mouse. a googly eye and a curly wire tail and he's off and running.

thanks for stopping by the caravan today and be sure to stop by again!

~ materials ~

basically bare - clock, owl and flower kits

authentique paper - "lively" collection

the craft lounge - sparkly fluff

bits of this and that

CHA-cha-CHA day 3

*** CHA-cha-CHA CONTEST ALERT ***

visit the caravan and leave a comment to get entered in a fabulous drawing! 

the more you visit and comment, the more chances you have to win!

the prize package includes 6x6 authentique paper bundles and some nifty extras to inspire your own creations! 

the winner will be announced on july 22!

welcome gypsies! CHA is seriously under way and authentique has been celebrating with "christmas in july" all week on their blog. so i thought i'd share a little of my christmas spirit on mine too!

authentique's new "festive" collection + a canvas = a keepsake of my favorite elf!

this little cutey is on display in the authentique booth this week!

merry christmas to all and to all a good night!

looking for more merriment? stop by the authentique blog for more "festive christmas in july"

~  materials  ~

red 3D glitter gel paint - viva

"festive" paper collection - authentique

twine and tinsel twine

joy!

celebrating you

hello gypsies! while i was going through some boxes i found this photo - my little gal was 4 months or so, and we took this for my husband's first father's day. my daughter turns 11 today - the "double toothpick" birthday, so i wanted to make something to "celebrate".

this is actually a canvas that is trimmed out with a ruffle made from old book pages, then covered with a page from our "celebrate" collection.

i used maya roads' canvas pennants to create the banner, edging each pennant with distress ink and stringing them together with martha stewart's "glitter eyelash" in sparkly red.

i wanted to add some dimension and sparkle to the hot air balloons, so i cut extras out of another sheet of paper, then traced the lines with glossy accent and glittered them with martha stewart's crystal fine glitter. using the glossy accent gave it almost an embossed look. 

some little elements from the collection, martha stewart's "glitter eyelash" in sparkle red, paired with little bits of this and that finish it off.

thank you for stopping by authentique today, and i hope you leave inspired and ready to celebrate a little something of your own!

materials used

"celebrate" collection - authentique

canvas pennants - maya road

glitter eyelash ribbon and crystal fine glitter - martha stewart

little bits and treasures - my dresser drawer