Shadow Boxing, Holiday Style

Getting ready for a Holiday craft workshop at the end of this week. Here's my Christmas Shadow Box, to be used as a sample. My craft bag is packed and I'm lucky the store supplies the scissors and glue guns. I had fun shopping antique and thrift stores for holiday tchotchke and figurines. I got some great deals as you can see from my box above.
The pocket backgrounds are from leftover patterned papers. I first used Ranger Inks Stain to give my natural wood box some holiday color. The white "dots" you see on the joints of my box's pockets are from the felt ribbon I used to go around the outside of my box.

I love how the altered shadow box turned out and look forward to  Christmas day when my guests will come for dinner and see it. You can check out my Facebook page for all the unique creations made at the workshop: https://www.facebook.com/PatacakesPaperPlay/

Challenges I am Entering:

Love2Create -Anything Mixed Media Goes

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers - W is for Winter

Craftyhazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes

A Inky Mess - Anything Mixed Media Goes

Altered Eclectics -Anything Mixed Media/Altered Goes

Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper - Anything w/patterned paper Goe

Eclectic Elapu - Anything Festive Goes

Rhedd's Creative Spirit - ANything Altered Art Goes

It's Day 7 of the Reindeer Games at Scribbles Designs

A long time ago, when Norse gods ruled the universe, Thor, god of sky and thunder, was said to ride a chariot pulled by two giant magical goats. But few people know that before he had goats there was just one magical beast - a mighty reindeer, named after his master. At that time, Thor was called Donar by the Germanic people. Thor and his namesake would thunder across the skies, lighting up the night and bringing order throughout the universe.
One winter night, Thor and Donar came upon a man resting beside a fire in the woods, a large cumbersome sack at his side. The man seemed to have no fear of the god and his beast and welcomed them to join him. He told them he took frequent stops on his travels, bringing gifts to children throughout the land. As he and Thor talked, Donar lay his head down on the man's lap. 
Thor was astounded,as Donar was friendly to no normal being. Recognizing this man as an equal, he decided to gift him with his longtime friend. The gentleman laughed deeply and thanked Thor for such a mighty gift. It would shorten his work very much.
The man drew a bright red cloak over him and hitched the reindeer up to a sled he had parked behind an outcropping. Renaming him Donner, Santa took hold of the reins and waved farewell to Thor. That night his journey went so smoothly that he looked for more flying reindeer to pull his sled, and so Christmas has gone smoothly ever since thanks to the Norse god and Donner.

Welcome to the 12 Days of Christmas celebration, where we at Scribbles Designs are Raising the Hoof with a new release every day from December 1 through the 12th. I was lucky to play with the infamous Donner, which can be found HERE. The celebration includes holiday inspiration, games and prizes. To find out how you can be a part of this, point your sled to Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog and get ready for the ride of your life!!

Challenges I am Entering:

Animal Friends - Anything w/an animal Goes

Crafty ANimals - Anything w/an animal Goes

Happy crafting!!

Christmas Time at Ike's World Challenge Blog

Nowadays we say Merry Christmas or Happy Christmas, but I bet in Victorian times, it wasn't all that merry. Look at poor Mr.Poe, wearing a stiff collar and heavy clothing, all dressed up with nowhere to go. His writings certainly don't paint him as a jolly fellow.

And yet even with his somber expression, he does look pretty dapper on my Christmas card. I think the greeting "Silent Night" is perfectly fitted for him, whether he spends his night in his cups, or stays up til all hours writing lost love and tell-tale hearts.I have a couple friends who love r.Poe's writings and would appreciate this card. One of them will get a nice little surprise in the mail this holiday.

Poe with Candle is the name of this Ike's Art digi image.I colored him in traditional Christmas colors to jolly him up. Speaking of jolly, the theme at Ike's World Challenge Blog is CHRISTMAS TIME. Any project qualifies for a chance to win free digis from Ike's Shop.Just remember to link up before the end of the month.

Now wouldn't that be a great way to end the year?  Free digis from Ike's Art!! My kind of Christmas present!! Good luck, and happy crafting!

Challenges I am Entering:

Alphabet challenges - S is for Season's Greetings

Pattie's Creations - Winter/Christmas

Winter Wonderland - Anything Christmas Goes

Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper - Anything w/patterned paper goes

The Holly & Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes

Silver & Gold & Metallics Line the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog

Finishing this year's theme collection of COLORS, the Path of Positivity challenge blog asks for projects using any kind of METALLICS - gold, silver, copper, aluminum, metallic gel gen, glitter, charms - whatever media your Muse inspires you to create with. It's an optional theme, but if your project follows this theme with a healthy amount of metal featured, your entry will be eligible for the Most Inspirational prize from Sparkle n Sprinkle, the guest sponsor this month.

I used a digi image from Sparkle n Sprinkle called Flower Silhouette with a gold and silver color combo. This combo runs through my background papers as well as in my flower blossoms. Then I spritzed on some Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist for an overall shimmer.
I dug into my jewelry and metal stash and was able to embellish each flower as well as a few butterflies and even the Happy Birthday greeting. To enhance the jewelry bits, I adhered a little fine crystal glitter from Stampin Up.

As I draw near to the end of the year, I am seeing a difference in my crafting stash. My paper has been reduced by about 20%, and my holiday stash is half what it used to be! This has been an ongoing goal, one which has kept me from having the time of my life in stores like Michael's and Hobby Lobby. Sigh! But I am seeing a light at the end of the paper crafting tunnel.

I really like the way my birthday card turned out. The inside's sentiment reads: "May your birthday bloom with wonderful surprises" I know so many people whose birthdays fall in December, this card is completed just in time for a special friend.

Back to the challenge at the Path of Positivity. while the theme is optional, ALL projects must be positive, encouraging or affirming in some way. Lord knows we need all the support from each other that we can get - am I right? So you have until the end of the year (boy, that sounds so weird to write out) to create and get your projects linked up to the Path of Positivity challenge blog for your chance to win some awesome prizes from Sparkle n Sprinkle. I can't wait to see what you come up with!! See you on the Path!!

Challenges I am Entering:

CAS-ual Fridays - Shades of Gold

Pattie's Creation Designs - Birthday

Classic Design Team - Anything Goes

Oddball Art - AG w/optional Holiday Haunts & Silly Stripes

Sparkle n Sprinkle - AG w/loose glitter, emb powder, etc

World Wide Open Design Team - AG/must be on DT

Christmas Cheers

We're down to the wire, crafters. For those of you who are still working on holiday cards, just 23 days to go; and for those of you who have your card needs covered, brava, and why not use the extra time to start building next year's stash?
Today I created a card for my granddaughter, Bella. She's in middle school now, and made the cheerleading squad. She should get a kick out of this one. I used a Bugaboo digi image called "BB Cheerleader Girl." I like using images in unusual ways, like a cheerleader for a holiday card.
Once again, my stash has supplied everything I needed for my card. I even re-discovered my Fiskars roller. It really gives my patterned paper added dimension. My card turned out so well, I think I'll use it at my next card-making workshop later this month.

Challenges I am Entering:

Bugaboo Holiday Chaos Day 2 - Sketch Challenge

Christmas Crafts All Year round - Anything Goes

CraftyHazelnut's Patterned Paper - AG w/patterned paper

Sheepski Designs - Celebrations

Don't forget to check out Day 2 of the 12 Days of Christmas Raise the Hoof celebration at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog. The game question is the easiest of them all, as Santa's reindeer only have ONE job to do on ONE day of the year. Now hoof on over there to answer the question for your chance to win Day 2's digi release!!

All I Want for Christmas...

 

So many friends, so many Christmas cards needed. Here's another card, this one destined for my letter carrier. I had to use Stella from Bugaboo Designs with the sentiment inside reading:

"...is Santa's naughty Boy list"

I am still diligently using up my stash, although the temptation to run to Michael's is almost irresistible. However, I need to use up before I buy up. That's what keeps a craft room from becoming a crap room...

You can find "Stella Christmas - Boy List" digi at the Bugaboo Store HERE.   Now to get back to my Christmas card making. Happy crafting!

Challenges I am Entering:

Catch the Bug Awkward Holiday Chaos Day 1 - Snow

International Art & Soul - Funny Christmas

Card Mania - Christmas

Merry Little Christmas - AG (Christmas)

*Don't forget Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog's 12 Days of Christmas Raise the Hoof celebration. Here's a clue to Day 1's question:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0byH9h1ClBY

Shhh! It's our secret! See you there!

Kitty Bee Sponsors Your Scrapbook Place

Can you believe that Christmas is just 24 days away?! Thankfully I have mailed all my cards, but am still working on those I need to hand deliver. Which brings me to my card today, featuring a digi image from Kitty Bee, the guest sponsor over at Your Scrapbook Place challenge blog.

I've been pulling papers out of my dwindling holiday stash (yay, me). Coloring my image with Copics, I doodled olive green dots around the image and framed him with a paper doily. I embellished simply with a line of adhesive jewels, a hand-tied bow, a coupe tiny snowflake stickers and one lonely little die-cut tree. It was a simple design, so I created another Christmas card with the leftovers from this project and a different image (I'm sure it will pop up on my blog later this week).

The theme at Your Scrapbook Place challenge blog is always ANYTHING GOES, so no excuses, crafters. Get out your inks and adhesives and papers and link your projects up for your chance to win the random draw prize from Kitty Bee Designs!! Happy crafting!

Challenges I am Entering:

Crafty Catz - AG w/optional TOO CUTE

Kitty Bee Designs - All Wrapped Up

Mod Squad - Happy Howl-a-days

Cards 4 Guys - Christmas Critters

Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes

Animal Friends - AG w/an animal