On the Second Day of Christmas Crafting...

 

This piece caught my eye at a thrift store. When I go to garage sales and thrift stores, I see what things could be after altering. Do you? This was rusted and ugly and had no backing, but I saw it in my mind with new paint and a pretty winter scene hanging behind it.

Giving new life to this old card holder was fun. The copper acrylic paint looks good and I created a backing out of foam board to fit the circle. A ribbon and bow finishes it off and I'm ready to add cards to it. Um, does anyone still snail mail holiday cards out?... 

Things are Starting to Bloom

 

Spring may be on the calendar, but Winter refuses to let go! There's a chance for snow in the forecast for tomorrow night!! Meanwhile, I've started to create new deck decor out of a few metal pieces I found last year. This is one way I can declutter my garage while keeping my hand in creating new art.

I also have a few frames in the garage that need to be filled and hung on my house walls, which will have to wait until I paint or print what I want to frame. But back to my floral metal work. It was a dull unstained metal structure. Even the flowers had no color to them. At first I was thinking of my front deck and different shades of blues, but that deck is going in a different direction, and my back deck is looking bare. So I used a few bright Spring colors of acrylic paints for my flowers after spray painting the branches white.

My deck opens with French doors from my bedroom, a zoning concession made for my wheelchair-bound husband. It is also much bigger than the limits the city usually has. The VA rehabbed the house, requiring two accessible for motorized wheelchairs. The four front steps and landing were covered by the deck and ramp. I didn't want the contractor to mess with the backdoor as its door also led to the basement, so I suggested a deck with the French doors. 

The handicapped access part of the deck was a Lift with a dedicated electrical box. We also had stairs from the deck to the backyard. Sadly, my husband didn't get to enjoy the deck for very long, but when he sat out in the sun, he enjoyed every minute! 

Thinking Ahead in the New Year

 

I was thinking...

...since my Christmas crafts aren't packed away for the year, and I plan on actively signing up for a craft fair or two, that I should continue creating crafts that I'd like to sell in the Fall. So saying, I've inventoried, packed and labeled the bulk of my holiday craft items from this year and last. I'm going to build up my inventory and have enough items to make a good profit. And if I don't sell it all, I will use it through the years. It's a win-win situation!

So my project today is still Christmas-themed. I pulled out another thrift store find, a holiday card holder in the shape of a wreath. I sanded the rusted metal until it (almost) shone, and have it a new shiny copper color. Next I used designer paper leftover from a project I made a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...

I adhered the paper to a stiff backing and then glued it to my card holder. A small bow and a red ribbon finishes it off. An easy upcycle that I can safely wrap and put away for next year. Besides altering thrift finds, I have a list of craft ideas that will help decrease my stash of craft supplies by making things from scratch.

My blog will see all kinds of projects, as my card stash has practically disappeared, I have a new sewing machine with which to play, and plenty of things to alter. So please visit often. You never know what will show up here! LOL

It's a Guy Thing at Scribbles Designs

Today's DT project is inspired by the theme at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog. Crafters are asked to create something "FOR THE BOYS." I've had this piece of metal forever, it seems, and was inspired to create a sign for the backyard grill. We have a natural gas grill, so we've been known to grill throughout the winter (except when it's buried under a foot of snow). LOL

My sign is a little bit bigger than a US car license plate. I colored a cute digi image from the Scribbles Store called #920 BBQ Apron. The words are made from black glitter letters and I used Washi tape to make a border on each side. I dug deep to find some BBQ-themed buttons, using tiny gears from Tim Holtz. The rope came from my garage and adhered with a glue gun.

Whatever you are inspired to create, don't forget to link it up with Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog for your chance to win digis from the Scribbles Store.

Time to Emboss at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog

It's that time of month for a new challenge at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog. For the ext 30 days, you are challenged to let your embossing powers rule the craft table. Wet embossed, dry embossed, hand embossed, machine embossed - whatever your Muse tells you to create, Scribbles Designs wants to see it! 

I used a leftover piece of embossed cardstock to frame my paper-pieced image from the Scribbles Store. I love this image- it's called 952 Tea Cup Stack. I printed my image out on a few digital patterned papers, then fussy-cut each cup with a different paper. I think the stack turned out well, don't you?

After centering it onto my embossed "frame" I added the sequins, metal sentiment and silk ribbon flower to embellish. I have a new neighbor who I wave to when I walk our dog, Wilson. She loves to drink tea, so this card will be going to her this weekend. Although she might want to switch to iced tea. The temps in Chicago will be in the upper 80s!! Unseasonably high for this time of year, but at least my tomatoes have more time to ripen.

I hope to see your card or project at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog! Good luck and happy crafting!

Digital image: Scribbles’ 952 Tea Cup Stack 

Pixel Scrapper Digital papers (printed, hand cut and paper pieced) from: ”Good Vibes” Blog Train (Merritt Bayes, Sunny Rush Ranch Designs, R Martin, Bits o’ Scrap, Little Monkey Shine Designs.

Challenges I am Entering:

Crafting with Friends - Anything Goes

Simply Papercraft - Anything Goes

Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - Anything Goes

Button, Button, the Outlawz Needs a Button

Happy Monday, crafters! It's a new week, and a new challenge at the Outlawz Monday Greetings, and Rick St Dennis is this week's guest sponsor. I got to play with this awesome digi image called Morning on Valhalla, featuring a favorite character of mine, Morning Goddess.

I snagged a metal art piece at my local thrift store and distressed it by sanding the edges and inking them. After coloring my image with Copics, I framed it with a paper doily before standing it up against the pole holding my sentiment. I re-colored the "O" in LOVE and framed it with a paper doily as well., adding a button to the center of the flower. I added some bunting on the base of my art, then threw some flowers at my Goddess' feet.
This year, hubby and I celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary! I know, I can't believe it either! LOL I used my Pan pastels to color up the number 40 and hung it onto my piece with a couple more buttons. It's my anniversary present for him and I hope he likes it. (After 40 years, it gets mighty difficult to figure out what to get him)
I hope you check out Rick's Shop to see all the amazing images he has to offer. And don't forget to link up your card or project, using at least one button, of course, at the Outlawz Monday Greetings challenge.
Happy Crafting!

    Challenges I am Entering:

Altered Eclectics - Anything Goes       

Naughty or Nice challenges - Anything Goes

Rhedd's Creative challenges - Anything Goes

Sisters of Craft challenges - Anything Goes

Crafting when We Can - Based on a Movie (The Honeymooners)

We Love2Create - Anything Creative/mixed media

Golden Wedding Anniversary

 I was commissioned to create an anniversary card for a friend. Her friends are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary later this month. Wow! That's a log time being married to the same person. So I had to make a card worthy of their evidence of love for each other. I am not the best "florist", maybe because I have allergies and they sometimes "leak" into my crafting. But today I think I brazened past my subconscious barrier and created a nice spray on my card.

Of course, the sentiment is very important for this very special occasion. I found one on Pinterest and framed it before adding to the inside of my card. I embellished with gold, jeweled rings, and the tiny white box is for my client's signature.
So, a chunky card needs a box envelope, so I pulled out my Ultimate Crafter's Companion and Envelope Creator to make it. Below is the front of my card with a detachable tag.

 Here is the back of my box envelope. The flap has a small Velcro fastener to keep the box closed.

So there is my commissioned card for a 50th anniversary celebration. Everything I used came out of my stash, which follows my 2016 crafting resolution of using up my stuff. My favorite find is the gold button with chain swag that covers the Velcro fastening.
Now I hope my friend is as happy with the card as I am!

Challenges I am Entering:

613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes/Optional twist: pale, pastel
Crafting When We can - Inspired by a Song - Endless Love
Crafty Calendar - Anything Goes

Anything Goes at Your Scrapbook Place

Happy November, crafters! Today starts a new challenge at Your Scrapbook Place challenge blog. Our sponsor is Sweet Pea Stamps, and we are sad that the store will close very soon. There are so many talented artists whose images have brightened our days. Look for them on Etsy and Facebook.
Meanwhile, I created a card using  an image from Sandra Caldwell, one of my fave artists from Sweet Pea.The image is called Three Stooges. These guys were my hubby's favorites when it came to slapstick and guaranteed laughter.
Which makes my sentiment perfect for my card: "A good time to laugh is any time you can"
The challenge at Your Scrapbook Place runs the full month of November, and has an Anything Goes theme. So get crafty and link up with us for some fun, inspiration and a chance to win free prizes!!