Christmas?! It's not even Halloween yet!!!

Those were the words I uttered when asked to do an ornament sample using the 2017 November Kit. I really wanted to squeeze every last bit of Halloween goodness out of October before ever even thinking about Christmas. Alas, it wasn't meant to be, so I started listening to Christmas music and got crafty :)

I made this first ornament using the Ornament Frame Set - Round and Retro Xmas Round Ornaments Collage Sheet from the November Kit. The paper is from the Tim Holtz 8x8 Kraft Paper Stash - Christmas, I really love the Tim Holtz Stash Pads because they are a nice weight and have such wonderful vintage images and patterns. I also used a Clear Plastic Round Dome on this ornament so it could be a "shaker" ornament.

Notice how the Santa image in the photo above is obscured by tiny clear micro beads, inside the plastic dome, when the ornament is moved or shaken. Alpha Stamps had a kit with shaker ornaments last year, too. You can see the many ornaments I made with last years kit (and other available components) on this blog post.

My favorite thing about this ornament is the pleated Cream Ribbon with Velvet Polka Dots I used to add a frill to the edge. It looks like it was complicated to do, but, because this ribbon holds a fold really well all it took was hot glue and folding (in little pleats all the way around the back of the ornament) to accomplish.

 My second ornament uses many of the same supplies as the first ornament but I did use a different ornament shape. It is Ornament Frame Set - Bauble and it is quite nostalgic in shape. So I just had to use this wonderful nostalgic paper from the Tim Holtz Christmas 8x8 Paper Stash!

I think the paper is perfect with this sweet snowman image from the Retro Xmas Round Ornaments Collage Sheet. Using a snowman image made it pretty much mandatory to use lots of snowflakes, such as the Flat Back Clear Iridescent Snowflakes and the Tiny White Snowflake Buttons. Of course I really had to apply lots of snow drifts with my trusty Dimensional Snow Writer.

To top it all off, I used a Christmas Snow Essence label from my Tiny Little Christmas Labels Collage Sheet applied it to a 3cm Tall Bottle with Cork with a few strips of Super Sticky Red Liner Tape - 1/8 Inch and added some snow (Flower Soft in Polar White). I think it looks adorable nestled in among the snowflakes and Maidenhair Fern Pick - Platinum.

I hope you are inspired to start making Christmas ornaments now, even if Halloween is still around the corner. Just think, you will be able to use them on this years Christmas tree!

My complete supplies list is available here.

 

 

retro Christmas and bitchy women...

What do retro Christmas and bitchy woman have in common, you ask, why Authentique Paper of course! Two of my favoritest paper lines at the moment are Retro Christmas and Fabulous and they are brand spankin' new at Alpha Stamps! I couldn't resist making sample art with both pads as they are heavy on mid century kitsch and feature lively vintage color pallets.

First up is a Sweet Retro Christmas Cabinet to make you wish Christmas would get here quicker! Yikes! Forget I said that... we haven't even celebrated Halloween yet! Anyway, here's a look at the cabinet...

 A festive wreath and gingerbread boy and girl decorate the front of the cabinet.

 Opening the right hand door reveals a red tree festooned with snow and snowmen!

I used a pair of craft scissors to cut the "branches" on back of the tree off so it would fit better in the cabinet.

 The left hand door opens to show off a pretty candy jar decoration...

 and a teddy bear opening up a gift.

I really love the plaid paper from the Retro Christmas pad... it adds a touch of coziness to the mix.

I'm still pondering adding an image to the back of the cabinet as it looks so bare, but, will anyone see the back of the cabinet when it's being displayed? What would you suggest?

Moving on to bitchy women, lol... Using the kitschy Fabulous paper pad I made a Bitch Book Box filled with ATCs. 

 This project came together super fast using the easily glued together ATC Sized Faux Book Box. I used some book page images from a copy of Looking Glass Book Box Collage Sheet Part 1 that didn't get used on a previous project so it looks like a real little book. The red glasses the blonde is wearing are cut out of the glasses paper in the Fabulous 12x12 Paper Pad. They fit her perfectly!

 The title down the spine (and the bitchy quote on the front!) lets you know right away what this book is all about!

Inside I used three different prints from the Fabulous paper pad and a quote from Bitchy Words Collage Sheet that says "Let's get drunk and judge people" I'm still looking for the perfect image to add to that open space above the quote...

I hope you enjoyed my ramblings today and are inspired to go make something fun! If you're interested in the products I used you can find my supply lists by clicking on these links Sweet Retro Christmas or Bitch Book Box.