Rustic and Glam: Layered and Gold Leaf Christmas Slat Sign

This is  a sponsored post. Materials were provided to me. Project idea and comments are mine. 

The team at Oriental Trading Company provided me an opportunity to play with some of their great products to come up with a Christmas project and needless to say I had too much fun. 

I created this layered piece using a plain slat board , a wood tree shape , a plain frame and Christmas themed scrapbook paper but the most fun part of this piece was the gold leafing! Foil and shiny is so popular right now ( wouldn't matter if it wasn't, I love shiny things). I also love marrying the most basic and  rustic supplies and the glam (for example, my Christmas tree includes Swarovski crystal ornaments and a tree topper made using a toilet paper roll). 

Here's what I started with: 

Plain Slat Sign

Unfinished Christmas Tree

Traditional Christmas Scrapbook Paper Pack

Gold Foil Leaf

DIY Unfinished Frames

Acrylic Craft Paints

Gold Leaf Sizing ( I used Mona Lisa brand I had on hand)

The unfinished tree is actually meant to stand up but since I never use things as intended, I glued the stand to the back of the tree to give it some dimension. 

I painted the sign using black craft paint and then dry brushed it with cream paint. I did the same for the unfinished frame. 

I traced the tree onto a piece of the scrapbook paper , cut out, and used Mod Podge to apply it to the tree. Once dry, I lightly sanded the edges.  

I cut the "Love Peace Joy" sentiment with my Silhouette from gold glitter vinyl  and applied it to a slat board piece I had in my stash ( also painted black and dry brushed cream. 

Now for the fun part! If you've never worked with gold leaf before don't be intimidated. Do be prepared that it's messy. It's like glitter and once you start to brush it off it gets everywhere so plan accordingly or plan to walk around picking tiny flakes of leafing off of yourself. But, there's nothing like it so it's worth it. 

You need a good glue and I've had success using Mod Podge or PVA glue but really you should use a glue made for gold leaf which is what I used.  I didn't want complete coverage so I just randomly dabbed my glue here and there. It sets up in about 30 min. 

You can see here the random way I did the gold leafing. When your glue is set you lay a sheet of the leafing on top and then use a stiff brush ( stencil brushes work well) to pounce it onto the glue. It will adhere to wherever the glue was and then pieces of it will break away. I save my excess to use for other projects. 

I did the same to the frameand then used more of the scrapbook paper under the glass as shown and cut a gold glitter vinyl reindeer to go on top of the glass. Once all my pieces were ready I glued them to the sign and done. 

Stay tuned! I will have a couple more projects using the supplies I received!

BFF Open House Link Party

Happy Friday Eve all. Hunkering down here in the PNW on snow watch like so many parts of the country. I'm a busy elf working on handmade presents and finishing up decorating.  And then I see more awesome ideas linked up at my party and my head spins even faster! Here are some ideas that may or may not make it yet this year but definitely pinned for next! 

Let's start with these printable but originally hand lettered gift bags by My 3 Monsters courtesy of Lolly Jane. LOVE and who can't use extra bags this time of year? Post includes a tutorial on how to easily print on paper bags. 

Speaking of getting your jingle on, leave it to Mich in LA to see this brilliant idea in a jingle bell! I want to spend the night in her brain sometime. And they're not just for earrings. You have to see what else she did with them. 

These sparkly polymer clay Snowflake Ornaments from My Busy Beehives would be a great addition to your tree or to make and give as gifts. Beautiful! 

I'm on the hunt for a new dessert for Christmas. I make one of two of the same cakes each year and want to try something new.  This Chocolate Raspberry Forrest Cake  from Chocolate and Carrots looks wonderful and the chocolate trees don't look too hard. What do you think? 

Now, on to this week's party! Stay warm. 

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

BFF Open House Link Party

OK let the countdown officially begin. Twenty-four days until Christmas and twenty-three days until the first day of Hanukkah! Rev your engines. It's crunch time people! 

Let's start with a tour shall we? Now we know why Heather from Woods of Bell Trees always impresses with elegant projects. Look at her creative space all decorated for Christmas! Gorgeous! My office decorations consist of leftover supplies on the floor lol. 

Love this decorating idea from My Busy Beehives. A Jingle Bell Monogram! 

Also loved these "Ho Ho Ho" Vinyl Lettered Pots from White House Crafts. Simple, clean, fresh! 

I've always wanted to make a Yule Log and every year I say I'm going to try and every year.... Well this may finally be that year with this idea from 3Winks Design! How about a platter of these? Genius idea. 

Now, on to this week's party:

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

Dollar Tree Tree Topper

I decided I wanted a new Christmas Tree Topper this year for no reason other than I did, and makers make right? 

I was originally looking for the kind that have the coil thingy and went to Dollar Tree looking for one to use as a base but they didn't have any. But, makers make right? We also have to adapt and improvise so that's what I did. 

Supplies: 

• 2 Gold Glittered Dollar Tree Star Ornaments (Large)
• Toilet Paper roll...yep...toilet paper roll
• Gold duct tape 
• Gold and Black glitter vinyl (scraps in stash)
• Large bottle cap ( I had in my stash )
• Gold wire
• Hot glue and glue gun

Cost: $2 since I had everything on hand except the Star Ornaments

I covered the  toilet paper roll with duct tape. Using my Silhouette I cut the gold glitter vinyl to fit inside bottlecap and cut the number "25" from black glitter vinyl.  The number works especially well this year since we celebrated our 25th Anniversary earlier in the year but obviously also works for the date of Christmas! 

Now in the spirit of radical honesty, this part didn't go totally as planned. If you look really closely at the bottlecap, you can see the grid lines from the transfer tape because I layered the numbers after I put the circle of vinyl inside the bottlecap. I should have done this before I put the circle in the bottlecap which would have made it easier to get the transfer tape off. At least that's what I'm telling myself. So since I couldn't get the transfer tape off without screwing up my numbers and a lot of swearing, I left the transfer tape on and it looks like ledger paper or something. At least that's what I'm telling myself! 

I marked the toilet paper roll where I was going to glue the stars ( front and back) but to make this contraption sturdier, I used some jewelry wire to secure the two stars together at the top and right and left sides. Then I glued my oopsy bottlecap to the front and done. 

Since I'm just taking down Thanksgiving and we won't get our tree until Friday, I can't show it to you atop a tree but here it is atop the mantle. 

This was my Thanksgiving mantle which I never posted so "Happy After Thanksgiving"!  I update my chalkboard for each holiday but I'm kinda thinking I'll leave this sentiment through Christmas since PhD boy ( man...he's a man...but that doesn't sound the same) comes home on Friday for a month!!! Not that I'm excited or anything. 

I've been practicing my lettering too! 

BFF Open House Link Party: Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving ! Our annual feast day of eat ti'l you can't move then shop til you drop tomorrow. We skip "Black Friday" but those of you who are going out be safe and have fun. Since I'll be hosting the rest of the day, throwing the party open early and wishing everyone a very HAPPY THANKSGIVING. Thankful that you make my little party a part of your weekly routine!

Here are some features from last week's party !

How perfect and timely is this from Lolly Jane?! If you're like me, the leftovers are the best part of Thanksgiving. 

Printables are such a great and simple way to change up your decor. My Busy Bee Hives has a great collection free for you to download!

Time to start finishing up handmade gifts and Mich in LA has a great way to use an eclectic bead mix. Love these handmade earrings and Mich has a tutorial you can follow!

This time of year we all use a lot of ribbon but don't throw those ribbon spools away. Raven Would has a great idea to turn them into ornaments! 

OK on to this week's party! 

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

BFF Open House Link Party

Happy Friday Eve all. Can you believe this time next week those of us in the US will be stuffing our faces ( no pun intended) or passed out in a food coma? I'm not sure how Thanksgiving is only a week away but it is. 

Here are some ideas from last week's party that you can still do in time for the big day. 

Love this Farmhouse Center Piece from Woods of Bell Trees. Isn't it gorgeous? 

Whether you're hostessing or going as a guest, these fun Wood Earrings from Sugar and Succulents are a great wardrobe addition. 

If like me, you buy fresh herbs but don't use them all before they go bad, this idea from The Crafty Lumberjacks is perfect. Herb smudge sticks. 

Continuing on my quest to bring more chocolate to Thanksgiving, this is another find from Pinterest that I'm looking at adding to my desserts. Fudgy Chocolate Pecan Pie from Real House Moms. YUM!

Now on to this week's party! 

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

Jazz Loves Disney....And So Do I !

This is a sponsored post through partnership with One2One Network, Disney Music and Verve. Opinions are mine. 

I recently had the opportunity to review the album "Jazz Loves Disney". It was perfect for me since we  are huge Disney fans. 

The first thing most people think of when it comes to Disney (well, after Mickey Mouse) are the parks and the rides. But for me, it's also the music. Every attraction has a theme song increasingly tied into the movies. 

To say that we are Disney fans is an understatement. We've been to the parks for so many of the special occasions in our life starting with our honeymoon, to  childhood trips with our son including while dropping him off at college and then celebrating his graduation. Most recently we celebrated our 25th Anniversary there.  

On roadtrips there and back, Disney music was  part of our travels. When not there? We've celebrated birthdays and other occasions with Disney music. One of my favorite memories is from when our son was little and we staged Disney parades marching  to Disney music throughout our house. 

You get the picture of why I jumped at the chance  to review this album. This is Disney for grown ups. These are some of the classic Disney songs done in mellow and memorable ways that will have you humming or singing when you're not thinking about it. Not in that eyes glazed over because your kids want to listen to things over and over ( been there, done that and no offense to some Disney tunes but you know what I mean!) but because you enjoy the music. 

You can download from iTunes or Amazon and here is the full track listing: 

Track Listing:

1.  Jamie Cullum – "Everybody Wants To Be A Cat" – from The Aristocats

2.  Melody Gardot – "He’s A Tramp" – from Lady And The Tramp

3.  Stacey Kent – "Bibbidi Bobbodo Boo" (French version) – from Cinderella

4.  Gregory Porter – "When You Wish Upon A Star" – from Pinocchio  

5.  China Moses – "Why Don’t You Do Right" – from Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

6.  Raphaël Gualazzi – "I Wanna Be Like You" – from The Jungle Book

7.  The Rob Mounsey Orchestra – "A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes" – from Cinderella

8.  Hugh Coltman – "You’ve Got A Friend In Me" – from Toy Story

9.  Anne Sila – "Let It Go" – from Frozen

10.  Melody Gardot & Raphaël Gualazzi – "The Bare Necessities" – from The Jungle Book

11.  Laika – "Once Upon A Dream" – from Sleeping Beauty

12.  Nikki Yanofsky -"Someday My Prince Will Come" – from Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs

13. The Hot Sardines – I Wanna Be Like You (French & English version) – from The Jungle Book (US release only)

I didn't think anyone could sing "Let It Go" from "Frozen" as well as Idina Menzel, but Anne Sila's rendition is wonderful. I  also love Melody Gardot's "He's a Tramp" from "Lady and the Tramp" but honestly, there isn't a song on here I didn't enjoy. 

This quote from Stacey Kent who did "Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo" sums things up for me: 

The song BIBBIDI BOBBIDI BOO, speaks to the child in us all, that still believes - or would like to believe - that we can do magic. As we grow up, we are at the risk of losing that sense of possibility but music has always had the power to transform the world and make it a better place; If that’s not magic, what is?”

I need a little magic in my life right now and for me, nobody does that better than Disney.