here's how I got started...

here's how I got started...
a 20 minute podcast by Crazy BeYOUtiful

Monday, December 9, 2013

a little vintage holiday decor...

and literally…

it's LITTLE!

it's full steam ahead working on CHA samples, but yesterday this idea popped into my head…
I couldn't concentrate…
so I HAD to take a break & see if it would look good…

I like to make a small Christmas goodie every year for Rick's bathroom…
and I had an IDEA…

to play along, follow these simple steps…

drop some of the smallest pearl baubles into a sandwich bag & add about 3 or 4 drops of red pepper alcohol ink

seal the baggie & squish the bag to color the baubles…

remove them & set them out to dry…it's pretty quick…





if you haven't tried misting with the distress stains, you're missing out on a lot of fun…
this just *might* be my favorite way to use them…

just pop the top & put the stain into a mister

TRUST ME…you WILL love them!


here's my green tree…
use potting soil archival ink on the blending tool to ink the wood base easily...


next, use Glue N Seal to lightly & randomly paint the branch edges…

the photo below shows that the Glue N Seal does activate the distress stain, since it's water based..

BUT...no problem…
just run the brush under water & it removes the distress color quickly & the brush bristles are unharmed…





since Rick likes vintage bling, peeled paint distress glitter was perfect…

I put the tree (with the wet Glue N Seal) into a sandwich baggie & sprinkled it with the distress glitter…

and here's a TIP…

shake the tree inside the bag to remove the excess glitter...

after I removed the tree & set it aside to dry, I cut the bottom corner off the baggie & funneled the glitter right back into the container & tossed the baggie...NO MESS!

it's kind of like those pastry/frosting bags…




to make the tree secure in the base, make a small hole in the wood base & insert a nail…
make sure to cut it if necessary, so it sits flush in the base…

use hot glue to fill the hole in the shoe form & the nail holds it securely in place...


now add the red baubles to the tree with Glossy Accents

in this next photo, you can see how awesome the glitter looks...


add a bow to the base with the red natural trimmings

the finishing touches are some of tim's remnant rubs…

they adhere easily to the child sized wood shoe form…
MUCH easier than trying to stamp on a curved surface…


vintage…quick & FUN…
kind of a darkish photo, in the laundry room…lol...




this is a better one

and here's the LITTLE decor that fits perfectly in his bathroom…
complete with a mirrored star tree topper...


here's plan B, just incase you don't have a shoe form…

vintage tin reflectors will make a perfect stand for the large tree too…

this will be CUTE ...


and if you have a little tree, a wooden vintage thread spool is a great fit...



now it's back to the studio…

today is all about new stamps, new stencils, new art parts, new _______ & ________…

when they arrived I felt like a 5 year old on Christmas Eve!

if you have a little spot that needs a little holiday decor…
or need a super sweet hostess gift...

try this little project & 

make art!
wendy
ps…GO BEARS!










17 comments:

Scrapthat said...

Very cute Wendy and that shoe form part just cracked me up! LOL TFS and I'll say it though I know it's not needed ...Have fun making art for CHA with your new goodies! :D

slbt17 said...

very nice ... I envy you ... you get to play all day ....
I know you did put in your years in a VERY noble profession - so you deserve this time ... I still envy you and hope I will someday be able to deserve the right to play all day!
lucky you!
Sandra ltb

Jenny Marples said...

This is wonderful Wendy. You read my mind with the trees - thanks for the tip about the glitter in the bag. I love that shoe form. What a find that was! Good luck with getting through the sample mountain. You must be snowed under right now prepping for CHA. Can't wait to see what's in store. Thank you too for the lovely comments. They mean the world to me coming from crafting royalty. Jenny x

Helen said...

I love those trees! Great tips too, for less mess....

Hels Sheridan said...

LOVE LOVE LOVE and I bet Rick does too! TFS ... have fun with those new goodies x

Wilma said...

This is so very very cute! thanks for the step by step pictures.
Have fun with al your secrets new goodies!! Looking forward to it.

Dorothy said...

What a cool idea!!!

Debby said...

so pretty! need 100 hours in the day to do all that needs tending to here.

Julie S said...

:) So cute.

Lisa said...

Oh wow, this is so creative and fabulous!! I love it!! As always, thanks for the amazing inspiration!! Have a great evening :)

Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts

Marci said...

How cute! Thanks for the practical tips(like the baggie and the thread spool). The shoe form is wonderful.

Vic said...

Perfect little tree! Thanks for the tips.

Sharon Y said...

Fun little tree! Perfect bit if bling. Have fun with the CHA prep. Looking forward to the sneaky peeks.

Tona said...

I ADORE this project!!!

Linda Coughlin, the funkie junkie said...

The glittered tree with the red pearls is brilliant - thanks for sharing. I love the wooden shoe with the remnant rubs too!

Art By Wanda said...

Love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's hard to believe CHA is just around the corner!! Wasn't the last one just a couple weeks ago :)

Anonymous said...

Tree + shoe = complete cuteness!