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Saturday, December 10, 2011

Pleasantly Suprised

Wow...what awesome trips to the mailbox the last few days...I got some of the sweetest things in the mail from some of the sweetest gals in all of blogland. First up I need to tell you about the awesome ornies I got from Bumble Bee Lane's Christmas ornie swap...I lucked out and got Amy herself and she sent one of her yummy smelling waxed Santa ornies (hooray and thank you Amy)...


And then to my delight I got a beautifully wrapped pkg (sorry I was too excited and I just tore into it) from Patti from Raspberry Lane and she really spoiled me and sent 3 yummy smelling ornies (Thank you Patti)

Then , to my suprise, I got a package in the mail from dear sweet Linda from Parker's Paradise...I have no idea why she decided to send me something other than she is just the nicest person...Can you believe she sent me this beautiful pillow ??? How does she ALWAYS seem to know just what to send...she always knows when you need a little pick me up doesnt she ???? What a blessing and I want to send a big cyber hug out to Linda and say Thank You...
I am happily finding homes for all my sweet orbies and the pillow...The hubs and I decided to make it a small Christmas this year...getting these extra "presents" has made my holiday extra special. Oh and I got the sweetest card form Lil Raggedy Angie too...which is great since I think soooo many people arent doing cards this year...which is a shame cuz I love hanging up all the cards and look forward to catching up in a non-digital way. ANyway...thanks Angie, you're a doll !

I have made a few little extra ornies myself to fill in on  my downstairs tree since it was fatter and fuller than what we usually get and my house smells so yummy from all the cinnamon...
I also have been tweeking a few things and just finished up this little sleigh last week and I got the little tree at the thrift for .59 and I dressed it up with some homespun and bells...looks kinds cute right ?
I have been a decoupaging fool and am literally adding these winter labels to just about everything...Here are a couple little displays that I still dont have just right, but they are coming together...

I also have been practicing my blanket stitch (you guys know I dont sew much) and think I am definately getting better...

I have found that doing these little projects are very manageable with not feeling well ! I just wish I had enough energy to get my house clean, bake some cookies and get the gifts purchased....I have only boought one present so far...I dont think I have ever been this far behind except the year I had my other blood clot (it was December then too). Oh well...Christmas will come on December 25th regardless of how much I have done. I have decided just to bake my kids MOST favorite cookies this year...maybe I can get away with 4 kinds and call it quits.

Ou tree's look pretty nice...just cant seem to get the lighting right to show just how pretty they really look but here goes....


Okie doke gang...I am off to wrap the gifts for our church giving tree (I did manage to get those purchased at least, so thats progress....right ?) since they are due at church tomorrow morning !!! I will try to post again later in the week and I have silently been "lurking" on many of your blogs, but just havent been commenting....sorry gals, I promise to try harder !!!

Grace to you,
Margie

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Free Tutorial

Well folks I have had such an overwhelming response to my last post about the santa hat box and all my Christmas boxes that someone actually asked for a tutorial. Well, as usual I am a little pressed for time, since I spent last night in the ER with what they think might be another blood clot (yuck). I am fine and we are keeping a close eye on things, so no worries gals.

On to the more important things in life...decorating for the Holidays !!!. Well I dont have another octagonal box, but I am going to give the simple steps to transforming ANY box into a prim work of art for literally pennies with stuff you probably already have around your house. These boxes also make wonderful gifts when you stack them in set of 3 and put little goodies inside. You can use any shaped box you can find...this will change the way you look at your "trash" ladies...todays tampon box could be tomorrow's beautiful prim decor item.

OK, so you dont want to use a tampon box ???? You can use any box...like how about a USED Priority mail cube box ? Just please be sure not to use a NEW one as it is a federal crime ot use Priority boxes for anything other than priority mail.  Well if you dont want to use a tampon box or run the risk of a federal crime ( cuz I know some of you are already contemplating breaking the law...tsk, tsk) Dollar Tree has these 2 pc sets of boxes in their gift wrap section for $1...Here's what they look like ...

Then I just base coat them in the colors of my choice which today were black &barnyard red and I also had one more slightly larger box that I painted yellow...I think it was a left over gift box from last Christmas that I then painted a golden straw color.

Then you just decide on the pics you want to use...Now some folks just print the pics out on those awesome kraft paper sticker labels, which is awesome and easy, but kind of expensive and it means unless you have those little buggers on hand you cant just do this project at the last minute, which as most of you know, is how I roll. So I use good old Mod Podge shown here...
But I have also used good old Elmers school glue with a little water added and gotten the same effect, so literally, this is a really easy project. Next you will need the actual photos you want to use. Now here's the fun part cuz you can use just about any image you want...anything form old Christmas cards, old calendar pics you name it. I used some vintage style labels I have saved on  my computer which I am offering for you to use today...simply copy the pics and then you can size it to your liking using your favorite resizing program...I use Picasa to crop my pics and then make them look older using their "sepia" tone. I then can print them in a myriad of sizes from wallet to full 8x 10 which is what I used for the large santa box. These labels will be about the right size already depending on the box you're using. Here are the pics I chose...


SORRY PICS NO LONGER AVAILABLE



As you all know, normally my photos are copyright protected, but today you can use all 3 of these labels in any way you wish...for your personal use or if you want to make 1000 boxes and sell them at a craft show...well, God Bless ya, you have my blessing and express permission. Go forth and create !

Uh, er, well, now that I got that little overly exuberant theatrical experience out of the way (because yes, I actually said it out loud)...um, on to the tutorial.

Ok, so now you want to print out your pictures and trim them down so no white edges are showing from the paper (I, being very frugal just use regular old copy paper but you can use any kind you want...I wont tell). Here's how mine looked after I cut them down...


Next you're going to paint the mod podge all over the front of the box. I usuallu go in both directions to get good coverage. Then place your item where you want it and paint the mod podge (or watered down glue) over top of it. Be sure to press out any bubbles as you go and smoothing them out with your fingers...if you have a stubborn bubble simply pop in with a pin and add more glue. Then let it dry which takes about 10-15 minutes.
Next I add some stain or antiquing medium...frankly its which ever I have handy. I have used regular minwax left over stain or the little bottles or craft stain as shown here. It's Folkart brand Antiquing medium #810 but you can also use watered down brown paint for the same effect.

For light colored boxes I just brush on a few random splotches and then either rub in with a rag or add a water laden brush to disperse the stain.


For the red box I like to add a TINY bit of black paint in the same manner....
And then just use a watery brush to feather it out. Repeat until you get the desired effect. When adding the stain, just be sure to be ready to immediately wipe it off (gently) from the pictured part of your boxes. Once it's dry I either spray with a sealer or just mod podge again for a final sealant. Let dry completely and voila....awesome Christmas decorations for next to nothing...
This same process works on wood and glass too so the possibilities are endless. Here are a few other examples...



I hope this was helpful and as always, feel free to email any questions. Just think of all the BIG boxes you could do up and place on top of your kitchen cupboards or under a tree...oh the possibilities are endless. I would LOVE to see what you gals come up with so please be sure to share your final projects !

Well, I am off to to put my legs up and take a short break.
Grace to you,
Margie






Friday, December 2, 2011

It's Beginning To look Alot Like Christmas...

Well, I am finally feeling like I have some holiday spirit. The hubs and I went and got our trees, yes trees...we get 2...one for the main floor and one for the downstairs family room ( aka the guys Steeler man cave). I know I am quite spoiled, but I am a Christmas junkie and I need my tree fix. I will get some pics up after I am done ...just got the lights on so far.

Of course I would have gotten the trees all done if I hadnt decided to repaint my china hutch. Remember when we got the hubs gramma's stuff  and I painted it blue ? Well, I just wasnt happy with it, so I redid it last night and I like it much better...Havent gotten all the "stuff" put just where I want it yet, but I do like the boxes on top...just gonna add some white lights.
I have had these boxes for ages and they have patriotic pics on the other side but I figured I could easily have them do double duty and put Christmas/wintry labels on the other side...pretty thrifty, right ?

Also i got this old hat box from the hubs gramma and I just KNEW I could make it beautiful...what do you think ????
I love the way it turned out...It was fun to paint, distress, decopauge and stain and see this wonderful ginat box come to life....figured I would have paid close to $50 in a prim shop (which of course I would never do because thrity is my middle name).

I got so inspired by redoing the hutch that I decided to work on the small buffet...Hiked this all the way up from the garage all by my lonesome too...Yes, I work out (well, that WAS my work out). Anyway...here's how it looks...
DO NOT enlarge the picture PLEASE...my floors are very dusty and my baseboards havent been cleaned in forever ! hahaha

Well to round out all my crafting escapades, here are some ornies I made while watching Christmas movies the last couple days...


I had  tons of fun hooking the little stockings and making the snowmen with some old wire I have had sitting around for who knows how long...and I love my checkered ginger...I had some wool that just wouldnt hook well and I figured it would be great for some gingers. Tomorrow I am planning on some cinnamon applesauce ornies, baking some cookies and finishing my trees.

I do still have several wool bundles left if anyone is interested along with some rug hooking kits. My first post of the new year will have another rug hooking tutorial...I decided we are all too busy right now, but feel free to keep those questions coming. I am enjoying answering all of them.

Well, guess that about all thats new right now. I have an aching back at the moment, so off I go to take a break and watch yet another Christmas movie....I record them ALL and love watching them...even all by my lonesome !

Grace to you,
Margie