Merry and Bright Lantern

I'm up on the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts blog today with a Christmas Lantern.

I have to admit I had one idea for this lantern and it turned into something completely different.
I started by assembling the lantern, just to be sure I was doing it correctly and so I would know what I would need to paint.

I disassembled it and started painting.

This is a really heavy duty chipboard and paint doesn't absorb into it like it does with thinner chipboard.  I did not put down a layer of gesso. I just went right in with a thin layer of black acrylic paint.  The entire piece was covered.  Once the black was dry I stippled on metallics.  I used Dina Wakley Paints in Gilt, Ancient, Penny, and Sterling.
To decorate the top I used the snowflake border from the Winter Shape Set.  Two snowflakes fit perfectly on each side of the top.  The snowflakes got a quick coat of silver paint.I wanted to add glitter, but didn't want to deal with using glue to make the snowflakes tacky. I decided to run them through my Xyron sticker maker on the painted side.  I added a clear glitter and had very little mess.
The snowflakes were glued to the top.

Here's where I changed my mind.  I decided I wanted to make this look like an actual lantern and not a winter scene inside the lantern like I had originally planned.  I took plain tissue paper and Tim Holtz's Frosted Film to line the inside of the panels.  Vellum would work too, but I like the frosted film because it gives an icy look and feel.  I did not attach the one side that isn't notched so you can add a flameless candle inside to make it look like a real lantern.

Grit paste with glitter sprinkled on top made the snow on the lantern.  The top was covered with grit paste and my pieces were stuck in while it was still wet.

The santa was colored using acrylic paint and then aged using alcohol inks.  The deer were aged using alcohol ink too.  The berries on his neck are old mercury glass that I colored using alcohol ink.   

The front of the lantern has the Tim Holtz Holiday Wreath that I stuck some extra greeny into and then added some frosted berries.  The big bow is from the fold up bow die.  The bells are from the new ideaology assortment. The sentiment is from the holiday chip quotes. 

This thing is really hard to photograph!

Happy holidays!

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A Vintage Journey- Winter Wonderland

Snowmen and Bottlebrush Trees are a few of my favorite things

It doesn't get much better in my book than snowmen and bottlebrush trees.  When I was sent some Soft Fallen Snow embossing powder from Emerald Creek Crafts I knew I wanted to make a beautiful bottlebrush tree with it.

I used a Tim Holtz woodland tree and dyed it with glimmer mist and Iced Spruce Distress Spray.  Once my tree was dry I used Picket Fence Paint on the branches.  While the branches were wet I sprinkled them with the embossing powder.  I gently heated the powder.  Don't over heat or the tree with start to smoke! I just might have done that, maybe...  I kept layering on the embossing powder until I was happy with the coverage.  

I glued on vintage mercury glass beads and topped the tree with Mirrored Stars.

I set my tree aside to work on my snowman.  The snowman is made out of Activa Premier Clay.  I have a tutorial on how to make the snowmen here.  

His little hat is the topper from an old ornament top, a plastic Christmas light cover, a jingle bell, some tinsel, and tiny plastic Christmas lights.  His scarf is ribbon from Tim Holtz.  

Once he was finished I glued the large tree and the snowman to the tart tin.  

I added a couple tiny trees to balance out the scene.  Some teeny presents and snow complete this winter scene.  

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Simon Says Stamp Hoping for a winter wonderland

Emerald Creek Dares Wishing You a Merry Christmas

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday with your friends and family! 

Jess

Merry Christmas from all the girls

I have to admit when I started working on this panel I wasn't sure where it was going.  The background is Barn Door Distress Spray, a gold glimmer mist, and white paint flicked on after the sprays were dry.  Once I saw the red and gold shimmer I knew it had to go Christmas.  I layered on some green polka dotted paper, random text paper, and vintage ledger paper.

 

Christmas Home Tour

Here's a sneak peek of my house decorated for Christmas.

The snowman area in the kitchen.  Which is usually the gumball machine collection area.

Mum and I made these paper mache snowmen this year.  I love this guy.  He looks like a bellhop.

This guy has the best brass cone hat.  

This girl is a favorite.  Mum made her years ago.  I also like the creepy guy in the top corner.  He is also paper mache, but painted in a Tim Burton type style.  

This is my cookbook nook on opposite side of the kitchen.  It's full of bottle brush trees, some vintage goodies, and toilet paper roll snowmen my daughter made.  

The banner across the kitchen table.  The little red sign says "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."

 I will admit this Kellie Rae Roberts sign stays up year round even though she says it's Christmas.

A few more signs from the kitchen.  

China Cabinet is full of Christmas goodies. 

Vintage Christmas aprons hanging on the old bed springs.  

This is the scrawny fake tree.  Last year Kathryn asked if we could decorate it in all Disney.  Now it's our Disney tree.  

Love Frozen Charlottes.  

Candle holder gets a different twist with Shiny Brites.  

End table in the living room.

Coke crate filled with mason jars and greenery.

The real tree.  

My favorite shelf in the whole house.  So many goodies on this.  

The advent calendar.  This thing was a bear to make, but I love how it turned out.  

Even the bathroom gets a bit of Christmas spirit.

There you go.  A sneak peek around the house! What's your favorite decoration or spot in the house during the season?

Jess