On the 20th Day of Christmas Crafttng...

 

I wanted to take a class at my local junior college. I've tried water colors on my own but there's so much I don't know, never taking an actual art class ever. So a couple weeks ago the college sent out a brochure for continuing ed classes starting in January, and s Sketching & water Color Painting Class was offered.  I was so set on taking the class...

until I discovered that all their non-credit, continuing ed classes are only offered at their other campus, with which I am not familiar, and would likely skip on those January class days when the the temps are sub-zero or the roads are unplowed or icy. 

So I decided to check out YouTube and Pinterest and fill my art journal with exercises in sketching, as well as inspiration tips and tricks from  other artists. This is one of my art journal pages, although it is more mixed media than plain old water colors. The main scene is water colors, but I added the snow using white acrylic paint. I think I did an okay job. In fact, I just might print this up and make holiday cards for next year. What do you think?

We are now at Day 20 of the 20 days of Christmas crafting. Have any of my crafts, artwork or upcycling inspired you this month? I hope so!! 

24 Days of Christmas - Day 4 - Holiday Mussie Tussie

 

Does anyone remember when Mussie Tussies were popular? I even facilitated a craft workshop for Valentine's Day back in the day. Well, I'm bringing them back this Christmas. Inspiration hit me one night as I was sitting and contemplating my polished nails in the bathroom. I saw an empty toilet paper roll sitting NOT in the trash basket and, well, here is my finished project.

First I covered my cardboard troll with designer paper (I believe it's from DCWV), one end extending from the stapled-closed bottom; I cut 1/2" slits in the paper before folding them over the top opening, and adhering it all with spray adhesive.

I added a piece of coordinating paper to the bottom, the houses and snow-covered ground adhered to the bottom to make my little scene. To give the bottom a little dimension and shine, I added a line of pearls. Up top, I ringer slightly larger pearls and added the silver bow.

I had to stuff the bottom of my Tussie with tissue paper so that my tiny gifts could be seen when hung up. If you zoom in, you can see the Christmas tree, candy canes, snowflakes, star and kitty. I used a piece of leftover lace with which to hang my ornament/wall decor/holiday gift. 

Last Christmas I decorated cardboard book boxes, filled them with handmade trinkets and gave them to my neighbors. This year they'll get my Mussie Tussies with a tag, in place of a card.

Sorry I missed yesterday's make. I had just returned from a 2-week cruise. I had crafted the forst 2 projects before I left, but didn't have time before nor after to get yesterday's made and posted...

For the Guys at Scribbles Designs

Today I created this card for the challenge at Scribbles Designs. The theme is For the Guys, and I just had to make mine humorous. I used a digi image from the Scribbles Designs Store called Snow Sign and placed it directly onto a scenic paper from the Nature of Christmas Paper Kit from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles before printing it up.

My image needed minimal coloring, but I did use Copics and gel pen on the image, sentiment and paper. I tossed a few glittery snowflakes and a row of pearls for embellishments and there you have it. Got to give it to "him" - it's a very clever way to get out of shoveling that white stuff, don't you think? LOL
You have until the 14th of the moth to link your own projects to the Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog for your chance to win free digis from the Scribbles Store. Good luck and have fun!

Give Peace a Chance

I was inspired today to  create a Christmas card for  my 2019 stash, which was depleted last month. I absolutely adore this digi image from A Day for Daisies. It's called Placing the Stars
http://adayfordaisies.com/stamps/fairies-nymphs/placing-the-stars and I've used it before.
Today I colored my image with Copics, adding some shading with colored pencil. I've been doing this often now, using both markers and pencils to get a deeper depth tp my images. I used 2 patterned papers from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles for my background from these Paper Sets:

I printed out my image (with its blue background) twice, cutting out the image and the patterned paper bow and adhering them to the first layer with dimensional tape.

Then I popped it  all on a piece of cardstock with stitched edges. To finish off my card, I gave the ribbon, angel wings and edges of the blue frame some shine with Stickles. I had some extra tiny stars die-cut from a border die. My sentiment goes (I think) perfectly with the image: Star light, Star bright, A wish for Peace on Earth tonight. If only...

Challenges I am Entering

ABC Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes

Cute & Crafty Christmas - Anything Christmas

the Sisterhood of Crafters - Make It Sparkle (gold & Stickles)

City Crafters - Give Peace a Chance (paper-pieced bow)

It's Day 10 at Scribbles Designs' Raise the Hoof 12 Days of Christmas

You may have heard of Olive the Reindeer. There has even been a boo written about her. Well, this is NOT about that Olive. This Olive is a real diva. She blew into Santa's reindeer village a long time ago. Her dream was to meet the one and only Rudolph, have him fall madly in love with her beauty and charm, and they would lead Santa's sleigh together (which would ultimately lead to a few Christmas movies with her name in lights).

Poor Olive! She strutted around, teasing all the other reindeer. She even had her nails polished a bright red to match Rudolph's nose! She was a true coquette, very popular with the bucks. She didn't have any doe friends, but she was so busy trying to get close to Rudolph that she didn't notice.

Of course, Rudolph was in love with Clarice, and nothing could pull them apart. Try as she might, she got nowhere with Rudolph, and only got Clarice angry with her. And when Clarice is upset, Rudolph is upset. And when Rudolph is upset, Santa is upset. Olive's attitude and actions produced a domino effect, with her being the domino, or reindeer, to topple the hardest.

Olive knew she had to change, or at least set her sights on another buck. She's still on Santa's turf. She hasn't made up her mind yet, but loves to flirt and have "fun with the boys." The does are okay with her, as long as she stays away from the bucks that are already committed to other does. That's fine with Olive. After all, there were plenty of bucks on the tundra, and there was plenty of time before she had to settle down...

Welcome to Scribbles Designs' Raise the Hoof 12 Days of Christmas holiday celebration! Today is Day 10 and Olive is today's new release! Each day from December 1 - 12, Scribbles is releasing a Christmas digital image. For more information on the celebration, click HERE to go to the main blog.

My card is a hybrid, a mix of digital and hand-colored images and embellishments. Here's what went into it:
Image: Olive from Scribbles Designs
Papers: Marta Van Eck Winter Scene Paper 9; Eena's Creations Winter Overlay 17; Decosse's Dynamite Doodles Black paper from Naturally Cool Paper Kit.
Elements: Digi Dewy Christmas Day Holly Sticker 2; Santa's Reindeer free clipart from Wilson Info
Wordart: Mandy's Lovable Designs Classic Christmas Red & Green Banner

Having Snow Much Fun at Squigglefly!

Betcha can't guess the new challenge this week at Squigglefly?! That's right, Show us your Snow on your cards and projects. Use a Squigglefly image and you'll be in the running for free digis, too!
Today's card uses a January new release from James Horvath called "Tom Cat." I colored my image so that he looks like he's perched on a hill of snow, and then used a famous quote from a recent Disney movie to bring home the challenge theme.
So do you have any snow where you live? We had a green Christmas, which was a little disappointing, although the weather was perfect for bikers and travelers. Chicago is a little "iffy" when it comes to winter weather. We have had our share of blizzards some years, and I seem to remember a holiday or two when all we wore were light jackets.
As I grow older, I tend to enjoy a good snow only if I have nowhere I have to drive to. It's pretty to look at but not so great to travel round in.