change of plans...

I intended to post a project today using my 

art parts dimensional sign board...

however...

since I'm starting to work on this post at 5:30AM...

it's really dark out &

 I neglected to take a photo of the finished piece...

duh...

so...that will be a post for next week...

instead...

moving on to...

plan B...

I'll show you how to make this large Christmas ornament...

it's a whopping 7 1/2 inches tall...

this was soooo much fun!

I used just the solid base from the art parts large packet watch...

there are 2 solid bases in the package...

so, you could work on 2 at once...

like the old commercial...

double your pleasure...

double your fun...

you could also use the frames & cut your own base...

that would allow you to make 4 ornaments from the package...

you'll want some of my white embossing paste...

and tim's rock candy dry glitter...

a little goes a long way...

but I will NEVER run out...

EVER!

below shows how the base started...

first, stain the base with tumbled glass distress stain...

I used 2 layers for a brighter color...

I cut a snow bank template from scrap cardstock & laid that in place, then added the white embossing paste...

to the bottom of the ornament...

remove the template, 

scrape the excess paste off the cardstock & return it to the jar...

then sprinkle the wet paste with the rock candy glitter...

when that was dry, I stamped Merry Christmas with jet black & embossed it with clear embossing powder...

then stamped 2 of tim's snowflakes, multiple times 

using brushed pewter metallic stain...

(remember I worked in surgery...so I chopped the stamp apart to use the tiny snowflakes individually)

then edged the ornament with the same pewter stain...

 I stained the ornament top also...

I used french ultramarine archival, with my spatter stamp,

 to add texture to the top of the ornament...

the branches were stamped with olive archival...

the edge of the ornament was darkened with chipped sapphire, using the blending tool...

to stamp with stains, you want the dabber top fairly dry...

***just a little hint...***

I stained the 2 art parts flowers with barn door stain & stamped them with polka dots...

the fern art parts were stained with

 the NEW evergreen bough stain...

lol...

that seemed an appropriate color choice...

they were stamped with jet black & the houndstooth stamp...

I had scraps of my Clearly for Art, which was covered with vintage dictionary paper, so I used that for the snowman...

I stamped the snowman 2 times...

used one full image & chopped the second to get extras of the hat & face & scarf...

I covered the hat with the black embossing paste & lightly sprinkled it with the dry rock candy glitter...

here's what he looks like...

his scarf was inked with the tumbled glass marker...

his hat is embellished with tinsel twine & 

an idea-ology flower that I colored with red pepper alcohol ink...

I painted a thin layer of rock candy stickles over the whole guy & when that was dry, I added shading to the edges with pumice stone stain, using the water brush...

he's very dimensional...

after you heat the CFA & shape him, the hat & the scarf...

oops almost forgot...

I added the word snowman after it was inked,

 with the tumbled glass marker...

how did we live without the markers?

I use them every day...

if you don't have them...

maybe Santa will bring them?

 I added a long fastener to accent the saying...

 here's the finished piece again...

I think this will look cool hanging 

inside a large fresh wreathe on the front door...

this is a great "double dipper" project...

you have fun making it & 

a special someone gets a fun handmade gift...

plus...

 an added bonus...

since it's made with art parts & CFA...

it's simple to pack away for next year, without fear of it being squished...

OK...answers to a few questions...

#1...I live in the middle of nowhere & must order on line. if the embossing paste freezes will it be ruined or will it be OK?

I had to do investigating on this one...

here's the answer, direct from our supplier...

it can freeze & thaw 3 to 4 times, without affecting the quality of the paste...

let it come to room temp & DO NOT heat it to thaw it...

good to know!

#2...did you use the stains full strength in the misters when spraying the wet embossing paste...

YES! 

but you could mix your own concoction with reinkers & water...

but keep in mind, that since the reinkers have been mixed with water, they will not react again if you want to use them for techniques on art journal pages...

that's why I used the stains full strength in the mister...

easy & always ready for action...

#3...will the pastes work with Dylusions sprays?

you bet they will!

#4...I have color washes. can I use them instead of the stains with the paste?

you bet! 

 #5...did you cover the CFA with paper so the paste would stick or because you wanted to see the text?

the paper gives the paste tooth to grab on to...

but I have painted the CFA with Glue N Seal & then applied the paste...

that will work too...

back to the paper part of the question...

if you apply a thin layer of paste, 

you get the added benefit of the text showing thru...

the more layers...

the better your art will look...

I think that's all the questions I received...

if I missed anyone, please let me know...

here's another take on embossing paste snow...

this time it's applied as an accent, only on the edges...

this is up on the Sizzix blog & was created by Eileen Hull...

she totally transformed her cupcake holder die into a tree...

look how cute!

ok...that's it for today...

I hope you enjoyed the pocket watch "turned ornament" tutorial...

and that you are inspired to...

make art!

wendy

PS...GO BEARS!

WAIT...did you notice?

no brown inks were used on this piece...

I know...SHOCKING!