Papercrafting: Layered Turkey Thanksgiving Cards

 

This whole trip down the Crafting rabbit hole started with card making. It will always be my first love and the "ber" months, are my favorite cardmaking time of year. Sharing this year's Thanksgiving cards sent to family and "framily" (friends who are like family!). 

Supplies: 

• Craft Smith Rose Gold Paper Stack (an older stack from Michaels)
• Recollections 110lb Cardstock, Cream (Michaels)
• Recollections 65lb Cardstock, Kraft (Michaels)
• Recollections 65lb Cardstock, Metallic Copper (Michaels)
• Coordinating Glitter Papers (Online)
• Foam Squares (Dollar Tree)
• Self-adhesive Rhinestones (Stash)

I always cut my components first. I have a tendency to make heavy cards and I'm trying to skinny them down because postage keeps going up! Still, even when I do need two stamps per card, it's less expensive than buying cards. 

My cards are generally 5x7. I cut the solid copper panels 4.75x6.75 and the patterned papers 4.5x6.5. Layered as shown.   

The layered turkey is a Cricut Design Space image from my CDS subscription. I cut the base layer from kraft cardstock, and the detailed layer from a coordinating glitter paper. Attached these using my tape runner. 

I used foam squares from Dollar Tree to attach the turkey to the base. I also did the GOBBLE sentiment in Cricut Design Space. 

To finish, I went to my rhinestone collection and found these antique gold ones that worked. Added these to the "GOBBLE", and done! I thought I was going to use the sequin mix shown above, but once I "rediscovered" these rhinestones...

Gobble til you wobble! 

Gingerbread Week: Gingerbread Nutcrackers

 

Welcome to Day 2 of my impromptu Gingerbread Week! It's clearly a theme this year everywhere I go. Today I'm sharing what I did with some plain ceramic Nutcrackers I found on sale at JoAnn (RIP!) after Christmas last year. 

Supplies:

• Ceramic or Wood Nutcrackers
• Multi-Surface Acrylic Paint
• Acrylic Paint Pen
• Puff Paint
• Misc. Embellishments

I found these at JoAnn for 70 or 80% off after last Christmas. This technique could just as easily be done with wood Nutcrackers or thrifted ones. 

At the time, I had yet to find the viral Rustoleum Nutmeg spray paint, nor could I find the exact color I wanted in brush paint so I did what we Makers do and mixed my own! Added some of the Espresso to the Fawn until I was satisfied. 

I covered everything but the edges of the base using a sponge spouncer. 

Then, I grabbed a white acrylic paint pen and just doodled my way around my Nutcrackers! The thing I love about these Gingerbread projects is, there's no one way. No right or wrong. 

For no particular reason, I painted the edges of the bases gold. Then I grabbed some Tulip Puffy Paint and added more detail to my Nutcrackers. 

And, of course...these weren't complete until I added a little bling. My tried and true Creatology Gems (Michaels) for the win! To finish, I added a white pom-pom to the top of their hats. 

Come back tomorrow for another fun Gingerbread Project! 

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Welcome to Vintage Charm Party #517!

Gingerbread Week: Sweet Shoppe Galvanized Metal Houses

 

This week's BFF Open House continues here through tomorrow. 

Gingerbread is so very on trend this holiday season. It's everywhere and on everything. Natch, as a Maker, I had to play! I ended up having so much fun that I decided to do a Gingerbread Week of projects!

I mentioned when I shared my Christmas Card Box that I was incorporating a Sweet Shoppe theme as part of my Christmas Decor, so this is part of that. It won't all come together until after Thanksgiving.  

Supplies:

• Little Houses (I found these Galvanized Metal ones over the Summer when Dollar Tree had them on clearance for $.25!)
• Acrylic Paints 
• Dotting Tools
• Decorative Gems (Creatology, Michaels)
• Mini Gingerbread Figures (Ashland, Michaels)
• Adhesive
• Glitter
• Oversized Bottle Caps

As I mentioned, I picked up these little galvanized metal houses over the Summer when Dollar Tree was clearing out a lot of their galvanized metal pieces. Had no clue what I was going to do with them (story of my life), but for a quarter each? No brainer. You could even make similar from cardboard or use a wood house cutout. Grabbed my Waverly No Prep Paints in Truffle and White and painted the base white and the house Truffle. 

I picked up these cute Gingerbread minis at Michaels (on sale of course!!) and thought they'd be perfect for the idea I didn't know I had. 

I had these oversized bottlecaps in my stash from a previous pickup somewhere and they were the perfect size for the opening in the metal houses. I used JudiKins dimensional glue and some glitter on hand to line the edges of each, and also to glue in the gingerbread pieces. I used E6000 and hot glue to attach the bottlecaps to the metal pieces. 

Then I got out my ball styluses to dot the houses with white paint. You can also do this with paint brushes. 

Attached the Gingerbread Cookie pieces to the top of the house with E6000 glue. Any strong adhesive will work. 

If you've followed me for a minute, you know the requisite "It Don't Mean a Thing, If It Ain't Got That Bling" applies so I grabbed my Creatology Gems from Michaels and added them! I swear, the jar is going to last me for the rest of my life. 

Almost done!

To finish, I used Tulip Dimensional Paint to add some snow atop the bottlecaps. Now, all done!

Stay tuned this week for more Gingerbread ideas! 

Fall Decor: The Only Way I'll Do Centerpieces Now...The Pool Noodle Hack

 

I tried my hand at the pool noodle hack for creating centerpieces with Halloween, and I'm never going to do them any other way! If you aren't familiar, follow along to learn what I'm talking about. 

Supplies

• Foam Pool Noodle
• Assorted Silk Flowers, Picks, etc. 
• Fairy lights (Optional)
• Table Runner (Optional)
• Wire Cutters, Zip Ties, Wire Cutter

This was an early Fall find from Dollar Tree, and I knew it was an "if you snooze, you lose" item, so it was a no-brainer to buy. 

The basic construction steps are:

• Fold pool noodle in half (or you can cut into two pieces if you want)
• Secure with zip ties or wire (I used the extra long ties from DT)
• Thread candleholders through the middle 
• Go wild

I started with the pumpkins shown in the first pic just to give myself some sense of balance. I had these pumpkins in my Thanksgiving decor already so I just used them differently this year. This is my favorite part about DIYing things. You can reuse your existing supplies in different ways!

I tend towards non-traditional colors mixed with traditional ones. When I saw these lavender leaf bunches, I fell in love. I really love how they worked with the copper and other Fall colors. I cut each "branch" from the stem, and this is the best part: you stick the ends directly in the pool noodle. It provides the perfect surface. And when you're ready to change it out? Equally easy. Just pull them out! 

I already had the white and taupe pumpkins. I picked up other stems from DT and Michaels. This is a great way to use the bunches they have every season, since you end up cutting everything apart anyway. I spent less than $10 on florals I didn't already have, between 60% off florals at Michaels and $1.75 stems from DT. 

Keep filling in blank spots until you're satisfied wit hw things look. 

You can use candles or not. If you don't want them, skip the earlier step of threading candle holders in the middle of the pool noodle. The next step I did is also optional. All up to you! I found some remote control fairy lights for a good price online so...

I threaded them throughout the centerpiece and...

I'm so happy with the outcome! I loved my Halloween centerpiece. I love this one even more, and I can't wait to play with Christmas! The pool noodle hack allows for dimension and depth. 

Have you tried the pool noodle hack? 

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Vintage Charm Party 516

Sundays on Silverado #275

Fall Decor: Painted and Gold Leafed Fall Pumpkins

 

I'm not doing a lot of new Fall Decor projects this year, but a few. Made these metallic and gold leafed pumpkins to coordinate with my Fall Sign. 

Supplies: 

• Ceramic or Resin Plain Pumpkins (Michaels)
• Acrylic Paints in Choice of Colors
• Mona Lisa Leaf Size and Gold Leaf (Michaels)

I picked these up last year and didn't get around to using them. I saw some this year too. I like these because they look like ceramic but are resin, and a lot lighter in weight. They also take paint really well. 

Grabbed paints in my palette from my paint stash. 

I painted each pumpkin with "Grape" (the one without the label). Once dry, I went over them with a metallic paint to give them a sheen. 

To finish, I dry brushed some of the copper onto the pumpkns.

I painted the stems mostly as a guide for the gold leafing. It made it easier to see the glue once applied. 

NOTE: There's a difference between GOLD LEAF and FOIL. I used LEAF. The easiest way to tell them apart is on the foil, the underside will be dull. On the leaf, it's the same on both sides. It also comes packaged with layers of tissue in between. 

Using a small paintbrush, I applied the leaf size over the stems. Allow to dry until tacky. You will also need a stiff brush to apply the actual leaf. I just use a stencil brush.

Leafing is messy. No way around that! So I used a repurposed plastic container, lined with wax paper. That makes for easy cleanup since the paper catches the excess and is easily wadded up and thrown away. 

Hold the leaf by the tissue between the layers, and apply over top of the adhesive. 

Next, take your brush and start pouncing on the leaf. Where there was no adhesive, the leaf will fall away and you can use the bigger pieces on the next item. 

Some of the leaf may stick to areas of paint, which in this case, I didn't care because it added to them. If you're being very picky, make sure any areas you don't want leaf on are completely dry. This is also why I painted the stems in case the leaf missed any spots. 

I almost want to take down my Halloween table centerpiece to put up my Thanksgiving centerpiece because that's what happens with us Makers, isn't it? Not quite yet! 

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Sundays on Silverado