Home Decor: Family Chinese Zodiac Wall Art

 

Lunar New Year, most popularly known as "Chinese New Year" (but celebrated in other Asian countries) is this coming Sunday. This year is the Year of the Rabbit which is my Chinese Zodiac sign and also happens to also be a milestone year for me. For as long as I can remember, I've always loved rabbits. Even before I knew I was one! In thinking about doing a project I decided to do one that incorporated my sign, as well as my husband's and son. Since this is the first project I'm sharing in the New Year, it makes sense that it's a New Year project, right? 

Supplies:

• Wood Art Boards (I used 11x14 and 8x10)
• Acrylic Paint
• Chinese Zodiac Images (Designbundles)
• Vinyl (Cricut Glossy Black)
• Cutting Machine (I used my Cricut Explore Air 2)
• Gold Leaf Adhesive and Gold Leaf (I used Mona Lisa)

You can find wood art boards in the fine arts sections of craft stores and at art supply stores. I have a few leftover from when I found them on clearance in the arts and crafts section at Target. I wanted a clean graphic look so while red is customary, I chose to match my neutral home decor and painted the boards white and used black vinyl with gold leaf accents. 

A couple of coats of paint (Apple Barrel, White) and you're all good. Allow to dry thoroughly or else your vinyl won't stick properly and the transfer tape will pull up the paint. 

Confession time! I initially planned to put all three Zodiac signs on one board and thought I'd given myself enough space between when I sized the images. I didn't. So after cutting and weeding and not wanting to do that over, I just painted the smaller board and put mine and my husband's on one, and our son on it's own. The two of us made him so this worked in my brain! 

This was a great project that let me test some new skills I learned in a workshop by Abbi Kirsten which was how to use a PNG file to create an SVG file in Inkscape! I bought the graphics from designbundles.net.  

Since gold is another color you see in Chinese art, I decided to add some splashes of gold leaf. I love the Mona Lisa products (Michaels) which are easy to use. I just did some freehand brushstrokes where I wanted to gold leafing, let dry per the instructions on the bottle (actually a little less since the air is so dry where I am) and then applied the leafing using a strong bristled stencil brush. 

Wishing everyone health, peace, and prosperity in the Year of the Rabbit / 2023!

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BFF Open House

 

Happy Friday Eve once again Creative Peeps! Hope you're easing into the New Year OK. The images out of California with the flooding are overwhelming and I hope any of you there are safe and dry. 

I've squeezed in a few cards I haven't bothered to post but that's as creative as I've been so far in the New Year. We keep our decorations up until after Twelfth Night so this week was focused on taking down and putting away and now my house feels so naked! Which works with an unintentional theme for this week's features. 

Penny's Treasures shared her very cute After Christmas Decor. I'm inspired to come up with a plan for next year to tackle the starkness that follows taking down the decorations. Love this! 

Thrifting Wonderland reminded us that thrift stores also hold post-holiday sales in January and what a wonderful time it is to score some finds to add to our collections. 

My Thrift Store Addiction also shared some inspirational post-holiday finds that are perfect for Winter transition. 

Finally, it's still very much hot chocolate season but what about Hot Chocolate Pancakes? Thank Lou Lou Girls for these! 

Thanks to everyone who linked up last week and can't wait to see what you've been up to in the New Year!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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BFF Open House

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR Creative Peeps! I hope everyone rang in the New Year safe, warm and dry. The weather has been crazy all over the country. Ours was typically quiet and I think we marked the New Year somewhere around London time! 

Each start of the year since I retired a couple and a half years ago has been to focus on my blog, branding, etc.  And each of those years have brought some other life realities into my life that have derailed things. So I'm determined that in 2023, I'm going to achieve this goal.

I have succeeded in upping my creative game by attending more workshops and seminars so let me share this one that's coming up. If you're interested in working with SVGs (Scalable Vector Graphics" and learning more about them, then you want to check out the FREE SVG Crafters Summit which will take place Janauary 12-14.

Thanks for understanding my oops in getting last week's party up. Even not working, the holidays messed with my brain schedule. Let's take a look at some of the ideas shared and again, thank you for sharing your creativity here throughout 2022 and I can't wait to see what you all have in store for 2023!

This Magical Forrest Vase shared by Love My Little Cottage is perfect to stay up throughout Winter. 

The House on Silverado shared another wonderful Winter transition project with this Winter Scene Terarrium. 

If you need a Thank You card and/or want to learn a new papercrafting technique, this card from Paper Seedlings does the trick! 

Finally, one thing I definitely want to do more of in 2023 is thrifting. If I'm lucky enough to find a gorgeous frame to work with like the one Masterpieces of My Life did here with the framed music sheet, I'll be ecstatic. 

Alright...let's get 2023 off to a creative start! 

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BFF Open House

Given how the last week has been it's kind of fitting that I'd almost forget my last party of the year. Oops! So here 'tis...all party, no features and apologies. Wishing everyone a safe and Happy New Year  filled with more creativity and whatever sparks your joy! 

 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

BFF Open House

 

Happy Home Stretch Creative Peeps. It's GO time! Hard to believe, isn't it? Actually organized enough this year to have everything done including gifts wrapped with just cooking left. Picked our son up from the airport yesterday and looking forward to just hanging out and enjoying time together. I hope that whatever you're doing...staying home...traveling...hosting...ordering takeout...whatever...is peaceful and joyful. I committed to reducing my stress this year and not trying to overdo it. 

This week I shared some Hanukkah gifts I made. The same technique can be used for any occasion or just everyday decor. 

And of course, there were lots of inspiring and creative projects shared at last week's party so let's take a look at a few! Wishing you all the joys of Christmas and love and light in the remaining days of Hanukkah! 

We love seeing red cardinals in the trees and they are such a symbol of Christmas. This Cardinal Sign from Artsy VaVa is just perfect for the season!

This "Hot Wheels" Christmas Ornament is such a fabulous idea for car lovers big and small. From Me and My Inklings.What a great way to honor toys that may no longer be played with or to purchase new in honor of someone's favorite vehicle. 

If you're taking a potted poinsettia or amaryllis as a hostess gift, Saved From Salvage has a great way to dress up a Hostess Gift and make it more special. 

Finally, My Thrift Store Addiction shared a delicious holiday treat. Chocolate Filled Puff Pastries in Christmas shapes! Pretty and delicious. 

Stay warm and safe with the crazy Winter weather that's hitting everywhere! 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Alcohol Ink and Gold Leaf Hanukkah Candles

 

Sharing some Hanukkah candles I made for friends. While I'm not Jewish, the Hanukkah story resonates with me as one of perseverance against the odds and a reminder to never give up. Always thrilled when recipients of things I make are happy with them!

Supplies: 

• Plain Tall Jar Candles (Dollar Tree)
• Alcohol Inks
• Gold Leaf and Adhesive
• Gold Adhesive Foil (Cricut)
• Digital Cutting Machine ( I used my Cricut Explore Air 2)
• Mod Podge Matte
• Vinyl Gloves

I ordered a box of alcohol inks from Amazon and selected two shades of blue. Remove the stickers from the candles and clean with alcohol to remove any residue. 

NOTE: Make sure and protect your work surface. I used an empty box. 

This was my first time using alcohol inks so I just winged it. I turned the candles upside down and then started dripping the inks down the candle, alternating the two blues. The ink dries quickly, but just to ensure it was really set, I let them sit for a couple of days after I was all done. 

I decided to seal them so went over them with a coat of Mod Podge Matte. Once that was dry, I applied gold leaf adhesive (Mona Lisa) around the top, then applied gold leaf using a stiff bristled stencil brush. 

Gold leafing is MESSY so I used the same box to catch the excess. 

In Cricut Design Space, I chose a font I liked and sized the word "Hanukkah" to fit the length of the candle, then cut it out using a gold adhesive foil. Then applied to each candle. 

I also made some gift tags for the recipients to use for their own Hanukkah gifts. I love using scraps to make gift tags, so I grabbed coordinating colors along with some sequins and washi tape to embellish. I cut out some dreidels and stars from some of the scraps. 

I cut out the tag bases from blue cardstock, then just went about decorating them. 

Happy Hanukkah to all those celebrating! 

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