Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas-Tag 6

Finally back to my "Tags" for the Funkie Junkie!  I'm on "Tag 6" and I've got about 12 days to finish 6 more!  Don't worry... I'll finish!  I was hoping to be further along after this weekend, but I always think I have more time than I do!  Above is Linda's tag and here's how I was inspired:

I kind of made two tags for #7... I was inspired by the snowflakes, glitter, and red.  I took some of my wooden snowflakes and painted them with white gesso, then Modge Podge and then covered them with glitter.  I used some chunky glue dots and liquid glass to adhere them standing up in two of the cubbies flanking Tag 5's Santa frame.  I added those bells to the top left and that cute cardinal for some pops of red on this one.

And on this one, same snowflake treatment, but I already had the red bells hanging from Santa's frame, so I added a tiny little deer critter instead and that cute little Tim Holtz phrase.  I have another cardinal, but I wanted them to be a little different and I'm saving the other one 'cause you just never know when you're gonna need a cardinal!

Here's a little bit wider angle to show some of the neighboring cubbies...

And a little bit wider yet!  As you can see, I still have quite a few cubbies to fill!  Back to it!  And be sure you check out the shop over at the Funkie Junkie Boutique here!  And sign up for the mailing list because there are awesome deals and sales all the time! 

Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas-"Tag" 1

So.. my friend Mitra ... she plays along with this Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas every year for a long time... and this year, she's "making" me play along too :).   And how could I not since she started me off so nicely with an awesome foundation!  It's basically 12 weeks of inspiration... a tag is posted and you use it to create yours... BUT... it doesn't HAVE to be a tag... and of course Mitra doesn't create tags.. and if you've never checked out her blog you must and I will give you a few links along the way here, but I suggest becoming a regular, because you're not only going to see some pretty awesome art, but it's a really good read too.. and I will admit to a tear being shed here and there.  ANYWAY!... in my usual style I didn't take a pic of my base before I got started so I'll share a pic that Mitra took before she shipped it off to me and at the bottom of the post a few choice links so you can check out her process.. without further ado... from a mere golf ball display shelf found at her local Restore she created this for me:

The jars are for her and you should check out this entire post here! (When you're done of course).

So here we go... my "Tag" #1

My plan is to fill up all of the shelves with a little something inspired by the tags.  They won't all be scenes.. but this one is!

I loved that I had bought these pretty pinecones on clearance last year.. they were perfect along with the glittery foliage cut using a Tim Holtz die (the larger one) and a Craftin Desert Divas die (the small ones).  They were perfect for the corner and I'm sure I'll be using more of all of these.

I was also very happy that I got those adorable reindeer and trees also on clearance after last Christmas... probably even before, because I'm sure the day after Christmas they were moving the Valentines display into the Christmas area... but Yay me!

I recently purchased some Tim Holtz word stickers which I LOVE and since the tag had some such words on it, I thought maybe I'd use one... and will probably use them in a few places on this piece.

And I went out in my backyard and spent just a "few" minutes looking for the perfect rock.  I forgot to mention that my for my "floor" I used a piece of green felt and glued it directly onto the shelf (funny because the back of this thing was originally covered in green felt...lolololol).  And then I glued on some cool Elements Earth Textures from Art Glitter (which happens to be located here in the Phoenix area!) and some Flower Soft in autumn colors.

I made the conscious decision not to cover the backdrop because I want as much as possible of that pretty papered background that Mitra covered the backing with to show when I'm done.  And you'll see that when this is all over.  Now.. I already have something in mind for #2 so I've got to get going!

There it is!  And I can't promise I won't be adding things as I go along, but for today, this is my #1.  Now!  Check out these:

The shelf before and after is here!

The shelf in all it's glory completely finished along with a look at Mitra's prior years' "tags".

And should you decide to play along, in order to be eligible for the participation discount and for the give-away at the end of the challenge, be sure to link back to the blog as well as the Funkie Junkie online store at http://www.thefunkiejunkie.com/

Dreamcatcher Ornament

 

This is something I've been thinking about for a long time.  I love dreamcatchers.  I have a board on Pinterest dedicated to them because there are so many beautiful variations.  All different shapes and materials and colors.  For my center I used a doily made by a friend of a friend who was nice enough to share with me.  The flower on top by the bow is a combo of one I crocheted (behind) and another one made by the other, much more talented crocheter...lol.  Mine is behind because... well.. it's not nearly as pretty.. lol...but it had some gold thread in it and I wanted to include one of mine in this as it is a gift.

 

I started with another frame ornament from Hobby Lobby.  It was not my intention when I took the frame apart to paint it with some gesso to give it a base.  I planned on making another shaker ornament.  And as I looked at it hanging there drying with the frame all by itself it struck me that I could make a dreamcatcher with it... and then I thought of the doilies and as luck would have it there was just one in there the perfect size and shape.  So... I knew I wanted to use gold and since the doily was cream that was my color scheme.  I used some gold embossing paste and a lace stencil and added the lacey texture to the frame.  When that dried, I added a couple layers of gold metallic acrylic paint.  Then I took the doily and some gold double layered metallic thread I had and attached it to the frame also weaving some of the gold thread through the doily along the way.  I glued the crocheted and paper flowers, gems and feathers on.

 

For the hanging parts, I cut some feathers from the Cricut cartridges Artiste and Southwest out of white glitter paper and glossy gold paper.  I chose some lacey ribbons in white shades and tied them all on.  Then I thought the rusty bells from Paper Sweeties would be a nice addition.

 

 

My final addition was the little cherub piece that I found in a box of old jewelry parts that I had taken apart and kept for just such occasions instead of selling them in a garage sale for a quarter or taking them to Goodwill.  I thought they would make meaningful additions to something else I'd make.  This one was on an earring that a friend of mine gave me when we were teenagers... she picked it out because I loved Van Halen and it resembled one of their album covers.  I think it's perfect for this ornament.

 

This one will be hard to let go of, but I did make it as a gift so it will be off in the mail this week (hopefully... ).  But not to fear, I will make another for myself eventually.

 

Thanks for stopping and don't forget to come back tomorrow for Atlantic Hearts!

Mini Me?

Let me apologize up front for all of the words.....

 

 

I'm linking this up to a challenge at LESSology.  The challenge is to make something altered with a Dress Form.  This may be a stretch, but I did dress up Emma :) so I figured why not give it a go?  I'll definitely be checking back with this challenge blog because I think it will push me to do more of this type of project which I LOVE to do, but I get so overwhelmed getting started and also along the way.  But I keep remembering that whatever you do, if you don't like it... change it!  And have fun!  You should give it a try.  This challenge runs through the end of the month.

 

I got a birthday gift at work in August from a very sweet friend and co-worker.  And part of it was this tin that had a couple notepads in it.  Honestly I think I was more excited about the tin than the notepads...lol!  It had a window in it and immediately I said, I'm gonna make something with this!  So when I was trying to decide how I was going to present the coming story I knew how I wanted to dress Emma, but not what kind of project I would make... maybe a card?  And then I remembered the tin.  I should have taken pics along the way, but I have no patience for that... once I got going that was it.  The tin was silver and I had Pat spray paint it white for me.  I was going to do it myself, but I don't think he trusted me and from the mess he made I'm kinda glad I let him do it...lol!  I had gotten some tips and a beautiful tin from a new blog friend, Mitra so I decided to try some of them out.  (See her post here.)  I started by using a Tim Holtz stencil to add some texture paste in a lace pattern to the front and back... hmmm... I should have photographed the back... but it's like the front without a window... so I think you can imagine that.  When that was dry, I added some gold Perfect Pearls over the texture.

 

 

Then on the inside more texture past in a grid pattern and when that dried, I painted over it with some pearl paint mixed with Lagoon re-inker.  First I brushed it on and then I kind of dabbed at it to make it a little more textural in the flat areas.  While that was drying, I used Paper Sweeties Pretty Posies Sweet Cuts, stamped them with the coordinating stamp set with Versamark and then embossed them in gold.  Pulled out the old watercolors and added some additional color to the already pretty papers leftover from one of last year's special paper packs.  Of course I crinkled them, uncrinkled them and sprayed them with gold color shine.  After everything was dry, I proceeded to use liquid glass and popup tape to add all of the flowers plus some leftovers I had stamped for the Mason Jar wedding card (stamped from Party Time).  Probably the trickiest part was strategically letting only certain things show through the window.  I also added a few crocheted flowers (my very favorite embellishments).  These were not made by me or mom, but instead a friend of a very sweet friend, Tracey.   You can see her beautiful projects here.   I've been kind of hoarding them and will only use them for special projects... and this is a special project (and hopefully soon I'll have another one coming).  I cut the leaves from some gold linen paper I found at Hobby Lobby.  I added lots of Paper Sweeties gold sequins, creamsicle ribbon, and the sentiment and some gold bling gems from CTMH, as well as the wooden bird and I cut the acetate and gold heart from the new PML overlays.

 

This altered tin has been a labour of love this weekend.  So... what you've all been waiting for... some of you have probably been wondering what it is with me and Emma.  I couldn't put my finger on it and then one day I was looking at some old pics:

 

 

IDK... do you see what I see?  Maybe not... maybe I'm crazy... but....

Don't forget to stop back tomorrow for the Three Amigos Blog Hop!