choc-o-holic: noun

 

a person who craves or compulsively consumes chocolate

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Hi everyone!

Getting ready for Christmas?

 Thanks for joining me today, it's my turn on our crafting blog hop to to share an idea with you! yay!! So,are you in need of a quick and easy "girlfriend" gift?

 

I hit pay dirt on Pinterest, where seriously I have gotten more fantastic ideas from than I ever thought I would. I found this on Kims Kandy Kreations blog where she is crazy for chocolate! You gotta love a person that admits to being a choc-o-holic...like me...just saying!

 

I started with a 6x6" shadow box frame that I purchased from Walmart. I double matted the white paper that has the sentiment printed on it with silver and brown paper to match the Hershey candy bar wrapper.

The font for "in case of emergency" is called Petunia Bounce which is lately been my new favorite font and Cheddar Salad  is used for "Break Glass" ( another old favorite, I mean, come on, isn't that name Cheddar Salad  just cute? )

I created a second double mat, with the same brown and silver paper

and with my hot glue gun adhered the Hershey bar to that mat.

( I realize the Hershey bar looks wonky on the right side, but trust me it's flat.)

 I cut this flourish from my Cricut cartridge, Paper Trimmings, p. 23. I cut it at 1 3/4" out of the same brown paper that I used for matting.

 Trim off the end of the flourish ( discard or keep for another project! )
and then cut it into 2 halves. Adhere to top and bottom of the candy bar.

 Now, all you have to do is reassemble the Shadow Box frame and your done!!

Well, except for wrapping it up and giving it! Easy to do, right? And I won't tell if you eat the other candy bars ::wink wink:: I heard calories don't count if you eat while gift wrapping...hmmm?

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Check these wonderful crafty ladies out, and get creative!

 



Chrissy from Muse of the Morning showed us some great Pinterest ideas for hand making ornaments plus her very own Stuffed Star Ornament!

and

Heather from Feather's Flights Biased Apron Tutorial

and 

Melissa from Love Bug Living who did a Stocking Stuffer Round-up

 

scoot: verb

to move, run, or go somewhere quickly

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Hi WOYWW people!! How are you? Well, I am busy BUSY so this will be short and sweet today. I am so busy with the Art MoB, I am making another wall hanging. If you look closely, you can see the sketch for it taped to my shelf.  And if you look to the right you can see where I had my business card made into a mouse pad!

Gotta scoot...lots of desks to visit while I am letting things dry. WOYWW Christmas cards are almost completed. Thanks to everyone who asked to exchanged cards!! Busy, busy, BUSY!
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Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!

to

 

to

....visit Melissa from Love Bug Living and see her stocking stuffer round-up. She is going to show you tons of neat little things you can make yourself to tuck into a stocking!

 

and previous posts from:

 

Chrissy from Muse of the Morning shows you a bunch of handmade ornaments to create

and

Heather from Feather's Flight has a wonderful biased apron tutorial for all you crafty sewers!

 

Naughty: adjective

 

guilty of disobedience or misbehavior

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 So far in our Handmaking for the Holidays we have had 2 stops along the way:

 Chrissy from Muse in the Morning provided us with a bunch of hand made ornaments tutorials and  Heather from  Feather's Flights has an adorable Biased Apron to whip up for that home maker in your life! ( makes me wish I could sew, heck, makes me wishes I were a 1950's homemaker, too!!! lol...ok, kinda sorta on that one! ) Next up,on Wednesday will be Melissa from Love Bug Living...I can't wait to see what she has come up for us for the Holiday create-a-thon!
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Meanwhile, in the hills of North Carolina I am still creating Christmas cards for the Art MoB store, I am hoping that December will be a busy month for us! ( November kinda stunk, it was VERY slow until after Thanksgiving and then picked back up some.) But I am loving this card, I think I have saved Santa a trip MANY times over the years!

 First I outlined him in my waterproof Faber Castell Pitt Pen, then applied Art Grip Aquarelles to color in the flesh tone, using my water brush to smooth them out. The suit was painted in with Delta CeramCoat acrylic paint, the belt and shoes filled in with my Sakura Glaze pen, the fur trim is Ranger's Frosted Lace stickles and the beard is a layer of Aleene's Tacky Glue followed up with Plaid's Soft Flock fibers. The Naughty or Nice writing is done with my Ranger Distress marker in Antique Linen.

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Did you get a lot of your shopping done? Are you decorating? I didn't do any shopping and the decorating seems to be over whelming this year!! lol Oh me, oh my!.....errrrr.....Ho, Ho, Ho!

entering this card into:

 

Pause Dream Enjoy - #47 Anything Goes
 

 

 

fusion: noun

 a merging of diverse, distinct, or separate elements into a unified whole

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I finally got a chance to play with some more of my new Ranger Dylusions sprays. On the background board I sprayed the Fresh Lime all over and spattered the Vibrant Turquoise on the right side and bottom where I had planned on painting my mermaid. I also spritzed it with water to get those under water bubbles ;)

 

I first drew her body with the XS Faber Castell Pitt Pen and then took my water brush and smoothed out her body. I had to take my Golden gesso and paint over her to tone down the skin color. Then I re drew over the black line with my Faber Castell Colbalt Green brush and drew her facial features with my Zig Ocean Writer, filling in her lips with the Colbalt Green and adding Ranger's Glossy Accents over them. I used Ranger's Patina stickles for eye shadow.

 I love her hair. I used plain white yarn and sprayed the same Dylusions colors and let it dry, then adhered the strips of yarn with my Aleene's Tacky Glue, curling some strands and unraveling some bits of yarn to get that wild floating in the water look. I added small sea shells, ( used from an old shell necklace from Hawaii ) flowers and gems into her hair with my Tacky Glue. ( I love the sea shell I added for her bra top, it was one I bought back from my last beach trip! )

The tail was created with a fusion of Faber Castell's Metallic Gelatos and netting, outlined with Patina stickles.

I had to take a break from Christmas crafting and make something different. I love drawing mermaids and always think of my friend Jamie when I make one. I hope you enjoy it...I know  enjoyed the undertaking another mermaid.

entering this in:

 

Anything Bt A Card Challenge 7- By the Sea or Inspiration picture
Pin and Tack: Spark Your Creativity Now! Anything Goes!



prudent: adjective

 

exercising good judgment or common sense

 

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Tim Holtz - 12 Tags of 2012 - November
Pause Dream Enjoy Challenge #47 Anything Goes

Die Cuttin Divas: Challenge #92 Thanksgiving

 

 

I first cut my tag from the Cricut Stretch Your Imagination cartridge, then lathered on Rangers Ditress Stains in Mustard Yellow, and Barn Door. Now here is where I learned a lesson using my new acquired Dylusion Spray, Melted Chocolate....it covers everything and it absorbs all colors. Oh well, I still love it, will just have to be more prudent when applying it! Since I didn't have a hatch background stamp I used my Faber Castell Pitt Pen to make lines across the background.

 

 I then cut a piece of burlap and glued it into the corner with Aleene's Tacky Glue, layering the fall leaves cut from the Simply Scarecrow cartridge and the branches cut from the French Manor cartridge. I had some wheat from an old floral arrangement so I glued them down and added a twine bow. I then added letters from Reminisce's Unwritten.

 

To finish it off I added the Inkssentials Glossy Accents and for the sheer fun of it...just to see how it would react, I added a dollop of Citrus Alcohol Ink while it was still wet. It spread out pretty well, but I like the mottled look on the right corner of the acorn.

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I am joing a group of ladies for a little Christmas incentive :
Chrissy from Muse of the Morning - http://www.museofthemorning.com
Heather from Feather's Flights - http://www.feathersflights.com
Melissa from Love Bug Living - http://www.lovebugliving.com/

Chrissy, our creative leader has a slew of Pinterest ideas for handmade ornaments that she posted all the links to, you really should go check it out if you are planning on making some ornaments this year for your tree, or maybe as a great gift idea!! Go check her out on Muse of the Morning and also check out her adorable stuffed star ornament....makes me wish I could sew!



Thanksgiving: noun

the act of giving thanks; grateful acknowledgment of benefits or favors, especially to God

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Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends!

quandary: noun

a state of perplexity or uncertainty, especially as to what to do; dilemma

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To sentiment or not...that is a very good question!

 

My 6x12" wall hanging for the Art MoB:

 

 

It's a modern looking tree to be sure, but I just cannot decide on whether or not to add any wording to it, and then what would fit the design? I am in a quandary!

 

UPDATE:

Thank you for all the suggestions, they really did help me to think it through, and this is what I came up with! I hope you lke it :)

 I printed out the words using Petunia Bounce font, cut them out and lined weach word in alternating red and green pens, then attached them with jump rings. Lots of fun movement which I like.

 I added a pretty double bow using my Bow Easy tool and ReallyReasonable Ribbon, adhered with Helmer's 450 adhesive.

 

 

The details:

1. I start with a 6x12" chipboard and gesso the background, let dry.

2. I then cut chipboard strips and covered each one in scraps of left over Christmas paper adhered with Aleene's Tacky Glue.. I also made sure that each strip had a special effect to it ( like adding Rangers stickles to the peppermint stripe piece, or gems to the holly paper)

3. I used my stencil to get the brick effect by spritzing it with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, Candy Apple Red, let dry.

4. Using the same stencil I went back over it adding gesso this time, let dry.

5. I used Stazon ink and stamped my Christmas words in a random fashion.

6. I applied 2 layers of tissue over the words to mute them using Golden Matte Gel Medium.

7.I edged the board with Dylusions Ink Spray, Melted Chocolate ( with a sponge ), and then dabbed Cinnamon stickles to the edge.

8. Adhered the tree chipboard shapes with a layer of tinsel pipe cleaners in between each piece.

9. The last step is threading Really Reasonable Ribbon twine through the board and the beads for the hanging apparatus.

 

Here is a slide show for the creation process:

 

I have to say I got tickled after stamping the sentiments onto the brick background. I arranged the words going up, down and upside down to give them a random appearance, only to realize that

 Ho, Ho, Ho upside down becomes Oh, Oh, Oh....lol  Ho well, it is what it is!

 

entering this in:

 

Pan Pastel's challenge #45 - Red and Green

Try it On Tuesday - November 2 - Christmas Sparkle

Really Reasonable Ribbon - Challenge #60 Anything but a Card with ribbon

 

Danny Kaye:

 18 January 1913 – 3 March 1987) was a celebrated American actor, singer, dancer, and comedian. His best known performances featured physical comedy, idiosyncratic pantomines, and rapid-fire nononsense songs.

Jamie and I watched him during our Christmas marathon of movies in the 1954 production of White Christmas...it was so much fun decorating the tree, drinking egg nog and watching this movie!
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Here's another 6 x12" wall hanging that I created using a lot of Faber Castell products. The background was made with the Metallic Gelatos. I scribbled some on the board and then spritzed with water using my finger to blend. Then I rubbed a little bit of the Gelato on a wax sheet, added water to it and then dabbed my paintbrush in and splattered it around.

I used the Art Grip Aquarelle pencils to color in the brushes. I also embellished the brushes with rhinestones, beads and pearls. I used my Pitt Pens to doodle on them and the Pitt artist pen Big Brush to color the stamps and give each brush it's unique inspiration.

I took images from magazines to create the brush tips.

The writing is straight, promise it is, but this picture makes it look a little warped. I like the eclectic look of my Dymo Label Maker along with the chipboard letters. The texture on the jar was created by using a crumpled piece of kitchen wax paper and then glued on.

The edge of the board was made using my charcoal pencils, smudging it with my finger and then I used my American Craft Galaxy Marker to create the white dots. Strung with twie and beads ( some recycled from an old pair of sandals! )

entering this in:

 

Pin And Tack: #3 Anything Goes

 

Dame: noun

Used formerly as a courtesy title for a woman in authority or a mistress of a household.

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Hi everyone, this post will be a little picture heavy but well worth it: if you like humor, and adorable cuteness anyway! ::wink:: I have had the honor and the extreme pleasure of trying out Kim Hughes new mini album kit called "Oh, what a Dame", featuring the Glitz Designs Cashmere Dame embellishments and papers! I haven't had this much fun in awhile, it's a fantastic kit. She does provide you with step by step instructions or you can just make it anyway you want! It makes for a fun girlfriend album, or an All about Me album, or like the one I made, a mini album filled with sassy quotes....I call it..

"Quote this"

I just love the retro images in this kit! Kim gives you ribbons, gems, tulle...all sorts of goodies to have fun with! I added quotes, and drew figures, but Kim leaves you lots of room to do whatever you want! A great kit leaves the imagination free to roam!

I enjoy altering embellishments like the typed paper that came with the chipboard typewriter. I printed out my own saying, cut it size and then cut a slit into the typewriter and slipped what I wrote into it. The top of the paper has a pop dot strip under it which gives lift and dimension.

I used one of my favorite techniques, printing out sentiments on the computer and tracing over it with my Faber Castell Pitt Pens using my up light box. It gives it a handwritten apperarance, but so perfect and even!



 I also like to print out a saying, hold it over the up light box and then tape a shape or a scrap piece of paper over what I printed and then run it back through the printer. Perfect placement every time! The sentiment in the heart was created that way, and then I hand stitched around the edges before adhereing to the page.

The 2 pages side by side.

 I love using my Dymo Label Maker, which in it's own right has a very retro look to it.

The folders are not only cute but gives the mini album and interactive element.

I fussy cut the bathing beauty out of one of the cards that came with kit, and Kim gives you detailed directions on how to make the Gorgeous Dame banner hanging on the hanger.

I love fun quotes that make me laugh, not everything has to be serious all the time, and Pinterest sure has supplied me with a ton of humor!

 

I love changing an embellishment, you don't have to accept it for what is is. Case in point, the wording on this tag isn't what I needed so I covered their words up using my Dymo Label Maker, therefore making it my own.



I fussy cut the flowers from scraps and added them to the inside and the outside portions of the folder. Nothing should go to waste in this beautiful kit! 

Even the Cricut got involved, I cut the wine glass from the French Manor Cartridge, colored in the wine with the Faber Castell Art Grip Aquarelle pencil and then used my water brush to smooth out the look, adding a small touch of Ranger's Antique Linen Distress stickles for a few sparkles. 

The friendship quote is the perfect way to end this mini album, all ready to be dedicated to that special friend. The inside of the letters were filled in with my Ranger Distress Marker, Broken China.

I would love for you to pop over to Kim's blog ( Lazy Cowgirl )and tell her what a wonderful job she did putting this together. She has really been busy putting this together, as soon as she gives me a price for it, I will post it, plus the link where you can order one for yourself!
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UPDATE:

You can purchase Kim's "Oh, What a Dame!" mini album from her Etsy store for ONLY $20.00!! Wow!! What a great deal folks, I hope you rush over there and get one!
 

TP : noun

toilet paper

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Jamie is here visiting me! yay! We are going to be busy putting up my Christmas tree. Yes, it's a little early for it, but I love having someone to decorate with. Doing it by yourself isn't as much fun! :(  And don't fret, I refuse to decorate the outside until the day after Thanksgiving!

 

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So...I have a little funny that I made for Jamie's visit. I drew this on the TP roll in the guest bathroom, and I can't wait to hear her reaction! I hope she gets a kick out of it. I'll actually know before this posts, so I will update it before it gets published! You are getting a before and after reaction!

I used my Faber Castell Pitt Pens to draw it but I did slide a piece of wax paper in between the sheets so the pens wouldn't seep to the next layer. ( Cartoon idea from Pinterest, from a site that has TONS of quotes! )

 

It was a big hit, I waited until she went into the guest bathroom, and it happened. She roared with laughter, it was great hearing that she appreciated it. Then it got even better, she yelled from the bathroom for me to bring her phone to her to so she could take a picture of it! Success! Isn't it great to have a friend who understands your humor? It is the best for me!

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And I am late ( for a very important date!! ) which is for WOYWW of course; because we stayed up late last night drinking home made egg nog ( which Jamie made the night before, yummy!! ) and having a marathon Santa movie watching while decorating the tree! But this morning I woke to find Jamie at my desk creating a wall hanging of her own, for me!! She is the bestest!

 

The place will be lonely when she goes home this afternoon!

 Thanks for visiting me Jamie, I love you girl! 

hand caught in the cookie jar: idiom

If someone is caught with his or her hand in the cookie jar, he or she is caught doing something wrong.
 

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Try it on Tuesday has a new challenge- Memories, and a DT call, so I thought I would make a birthday card with a little humorous twist! :) The words and the man are drawn with my fabulous Faber Castell Pitt Pens ( love them!! ) and the background is created with their metallic gelatos. ( I was going to invest in some Pan Pastels but I think I'm going to buy some more Gelatos instead! I love how smooth they are, and they go on like a dream!! )

 

Yep, this man is caught with his hand in the cookie jar for sure, forgetting his wife's birthday! Hope he buys her a REALLY nice present to go along with my card! He'll need to! ;)

Dancing in the rain : slang

not letting the bad stuff get you down

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This is a 6" x 12" wall hanging created on chipboard.

 

The background was made entirely of Faded Jeans Distress Stain. Once applied the board was spritzed with water. Then heat set.

The dancer and the umbrella are 2 digital images that I merged and printed out. Then I cut it out and painted it black with acrylic paint and adhered it to the board.

 

 I used Sail Boat Blue alcohol ink and Diamond stickles to create the rain. First I tilted my board and dropped the alcohol inks letting them run down the board, once they were dry I came back with my Diamond Stickles and lightly streaked the drops. At the top of the board I slathered on the same Diamond Stickles and using my finger I spread them out and downward to give the illusion of a rain cloud. This is one of my favorite techniques.

 The bottom of the board was created using the Faded Jeans Distress stain and the Sail Boat Blue alcohol ink, but used in the opposite direction as the water dropplets. I was hoping to achieve a puddle splashing effect with my ballerina dancing in the rain. The entire board is edged with my charcoal pencil and smudged.

Really Reasonable Ribbon - Hemp Cord

Dymo Label Maker

Ranger - Diamond Stickles, Faded Jeans Distress Stain, and Sail Boat Blue Alcohol Ink

stealth: adjective

intended not to attract attention

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awww....my last days of persecuting Max with the camera are coming to an end. It's his own darn fault for being so cute, but trust me, he gets his revenge, like escaping from the back yard and making me run after him, making me pick up poop, and licking me to death! I have learned the art of the stealth photo....here he is at his favorite place; he loves to look out the window...love how he takes his toys there with him....He is such a cutie pie! I really miss having a pet :(

 Ooops....caught red handed...what a look I am getting! If looks could kill, I think my camera would melt in my hands!

 awww look.....he thinks he can hide from me! I think he is begging me to stop with those adorable puppy eyes!...It doesn't really work though...bwwwaaaahhhh!!!!

camera-shy: adjective

 

unwilling or afraid to be photographed or filmed

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I am puppy sitting again for my brother, this time for 6 days!! yipee...poor Max, though, is not use to having his picture taken so much ! He did pretty well at first...

But now I am getting pictures like this...which makes me laugh at his expense...poor baby, he is becoming camera-shy! He sees my camera and runs off now! :(

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Christmas give away

 

So to draw the name of the winner for my Christmas give away, I tossed all the names on the floor and after 4 tries, one name made it into the bowl....very scientific, I know....and I don't want to spoil the surprise, so watch the VERY short video :)

 (excuse the grunt..or is a groan? when I had to bend down to open it up....gawd I am getting old!! )



 

If the winner would contact me at

sandeesetliff@yahoo.com

please put Christmas winner in the subject line and make sure to include your address :)

You have one week to claim your prize!

 If this person does not contact me, then I'll just send it to someone else!

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If you came from WOYWW to see my desk...well, not a whole lot to look at as I am at my brother's house, but I did bring along some Christmas cards to address for a card swap in one of my groups.

 

If you would like to exchange a Christmas card with me, please drop me a line with your address at:

sandeesetliff@yahoo.com

Put WOYWW Christmas card in the subject line and make sure to include your address and I'll send mine to you!

 

Have fun today....I know I will!