Sunday Sparkle

This look simple (actually is simple), but goodness, I struggled. I made this tag four times before I got it like I wanted.

Here we go. 

I used a manilla tag base that I covered using this specialty glitter paper in gold. Simply spray the back of the paper with the spray adhesive. Adhere. and trim to fit the tag. 

I cut the Classy Deer from deep brown glitter paper. 

Then using one of my absolute favorite SweetStamps Embellishments - the velvet hydrangeas - I layered them around the deer image and into the corner.  These hydrangeas are flocked and glittered and simply wonderful to work with. 

Also, if you missed the blog hop on Friday - please click here and take a look at some beautiful projects. 

Merry Christmas!

Classy Deer SweetCuts Die

Velvet Hydrangeas Blue

All Purpose Spray Adhesive by Krylon

Oh Christmas Tree

Welcome to the SweetStamps.com Sweeties Holiday Blog Hop!!

With the Holidays right around the corner we thought it would be fun to share some lovely Holiday inspiration with you!

If you are arriving from Shelly's Place, welcome to MaggieGrace World.   If you haven't and would like to start at the beginning, please go back to the Sweet Stamps Blog. I promise there are lot's of great ideas and inspiration being shared. 

Be sure to leave comments along the way for your chance at winning!  We will randomly choose one winner from all the comments left!

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I am all about easy and fun projects and this is no different than most of mine. 

Today I'm sharing a cute little Christmas Tree Ornament. (it will hang or stand)

I can see several of these across the Mantel in assorted sizes. 

The list of materials is at the bottom of the post. 

Make yourself a cone from green cardstock. I make my cones using a half circle and simply rolling into the cone shape and gluing in place. The tree part of this is about three inches tall and I cut a 5 inch circle in half to make it. 

While that is drying, Dig through your scraps (we all have those don't we) and pick several assorted green ones. (Or use strips of green papers).

Cut several of the Fancy Leaf shapes. These do not have to be complete cuts. Be sure and cut some from both directions by turning your paper over to the "wrong" side for some of the cuts. Trim just the leaves from the cuts and discard the flourishes. 

Flex the leaves a bit to give them dimension. 

Using Glastique as an adhesive, glue the leaves around the tree. Start at the bottom and let the first row hang off a bit below the edge. Move up the tree and overlap the leave all the way to the top. 

(I placed my cone over a styrofoam cone and pinned the leaves that wanted to slide off. using tiny pins and angling them under the next row area hides the holes very effectively.) 

Let this all dry over night.

Lightly mist the entire tree with spray adhesive and sprinkle with extra fine chocolate glitter.

The "star" at the top is a glitter paper cut using the Mini Flower Die. I cut it twice and used one openwork petal piece and the two solid backer bits. A tiny Pearl from the Brown Pearls kit accents the center with a bit of extra fine chocolate glitter. 

To stand this one, I glued two vintage spools together (you can buy reproductions at most any craft store) and set the tree over the stack. I glued the top one into the cone. 

See - very easy to make.

Make several and set up your own little forest of these. 

Don't forget to comment. Every comment gets added to the drawing for goodies. Also be sure to leave your email address in the comments (Blogger may or may not let me in on that information depending on your settings) 

Thanks for stopping by.

Seems I am ending this hop, I  sure hope you gathered some inspiration along the way. 

This link takes you back to the SweetStamps Blog. 

Check out all of Sweet Stamps "sweet" goodies here!

Happy Hopping, Happy Shopping

and...

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Fancy Leaf SweetCuts Die

Mini Flower SweetCuts Die

Brown Pearl & Rhinestone Collection

Glastique Gloss Finishing Glaze

InLinkz.com

Christmas Spirit

There's a song in the air

There's a star in the sky

Forget all of the hustle and bustle of the season. All of my thoughts lean toward a grungy stable, with average appearing, unlikely people, and a tiny Baby. 

We have beautiful stained glass depictions of the story in our church and when I spotted the Stained Glass Nativity stamps, I knew I wanted to recreate the idea of those windows. 

I first made the mottled blue background paper using distress inks. I simply streaked a bit of the blue and a (now discontinued) whitewash color. Then dried that with a heat tool. I stamped my image with ink and embossed the image with Copper Kettle Embossing Enamel. 

Now for the fun part. I used NO Embossing adhesive and covered the entire image with Bahama Aqua Embossing Powder, then dumped that back in the jar. This leaves a wonderful shimmery patina on the blue background. Now carefully dab the Embossing Powder Adhesive all over the image (does not matter if you go over the lines), trying not to remove the shimmer. Cover with UltraThick Clear Embossing Powder. Take a toothpick and trace the Copper Embossed lines, removing a fair amount of the Clear Powder from the lines. Emboss again. This gives a texture very similar to stained glass. 

Fussy cut the "window" image and, using Super Sticky Tape, adhere it to the card base. 

Beautiful - Elegant - Understated - Christmas. 

Enamel Embossing Powder Adhesive	Enamel EP BAHAMA AQUA	3/8" Super Sticky Tape 55 yards	Distress Ink Pad SALTY OCEAN
Enamel EP VINTAGE COPPER	Stained Glass Nativity Small

InLinkz.com

The tale of a long awaited FINISH -----

Once upon a time - The Man's Mama Norvan (Grandmother) made things too. 

We have some of these pretties at our home. 

They bring very special memories to our heart and mind. 

Sadly, we lost her in 1995. 

That was a long, long time ago. 

We cleaned out her home.

Years of possessions. 

Some came to live at our home.

Some with the other children and grand-children.

I ended up with several things.

Including a Payday Candy Bar Box of stuff.

(don't judge - it was a project box and I had great intentions) 

Many years.

Many re-locations of that poor box.

I went searching in my archives and located a picture of it on the shelf in the studio.

See. 

Things are changing in my world. 

Life is Beautiful and I am staking claim to some of the serenity that comes from

cleaning - purging - finishing

(overcoming hoarding is a battle - but I will leave that for my other blog) 

and in the midst of the battle, I lay hands on a Payday Box.

I did not have to open it.

I knew.

But because you don't - here is a quick picture of the contents. 

POLYESTER FABRIC (hideous stuff really) 

Thread.

Some cut circles

Bits of Cotton

Needles

and a few finished yo-yo bits.

I have two of the creations made from this project box, so I knew what it was. 

I'm finishing things.

INTENTION - the word of the year.

And this was the perfect kind of project for clearing my mind of some things. 

Here's what I've accomplished.

I dumped it all out.

Sorted. 

Tossed. 

Traced one of the existing circles. 

Cut as many more as I could from the fabric in the box. 

Cut cotton balls into smaller bits.

(Gathered the remaining fabric bits in a baggie - told you - this is battle)

And made myself a plastic project box. 

Hours were spent alone.

Silent (or with music).

Thinking.

Praying.

Pondering.

Crying.

Healing.

Loving.

Moving forward. 

But also -

Threading her needle (with her thread)

The rhythm of hand stitching is meditative, relaxing.

Allowing room for mind wandering.

I made yo-yo after yo-yo

Hundreds of them.

Placing the finished one in a plastic bag.

Picking that bag up and smiling.

This little pile kept growing. 

My heart filling with memories of Mama Norvan

Wondering where each scrap came from?

How it came to be that she started making these?

Wondering how she decided which bits went together?

I was relaxed in this process.

Creating without pressure.

(you know putting a project on hold for -  say - 19 years takes a LOT of pressure off) 

And one night this week, I finished as many of these as I could make with the contents of the box.

and TA-DAH

Fun little scrap fabric wreath ornaments. 

I found my two and added them to the pile. (the far right one was made by her, as was the one between the two pink ones) 

Several of these have been spoken for.

All will most definitely stay in the family.

And - that is now one box that is no longer part of my HOARD. 

I also have plans for all those fabric bits in the plastic bag too. 

(overcoming hoarding is a battle - please do not judge) 

LIFE IS CRAZY BEAUTIFUL.