Hey Doll!

One last post on Christmas crafting before taking a break to celebrate Christmas with my family. These Matryoshka Doll ornaments are another result of taking Christy Tomlinson's 12 Artsy Ornaments of Christmas e-course. I got so many good ideas and inspiration from taking this course both this year and last year, that I highly recommend taking the course if she offers a third round next year.

I love the color combination of red and turquoise. It's a contemporary spin on the more traditional red and green Christmas color palette. I bought a bunch of gift bags, tissue and tags from Target in the red and turquoise theme, so it seems to be really big this year. So I decided to paint my Matryoshka Doll ornaments in these colors. Have you been able to guess what I used as the base for these little cuties?

It's a light bulb! What a great way to up-cycle your burned out bulbs! Maybe next year Christy will teach us how to make something out of those curly CFL light bulbs :)

Paper Clay Ornaments

Another one of Christy Tomlinson's projects from her 12 Artsy Ornaments of Christmas e-course is making ornaments using clay. I remember doing this when I was a young girl, so making these brought back some wonderful memories.

There are all sorts of clays you can use. For these particular ornaments I used Paper Clay, which is in my opinion the easiest to work. Once I cut out the shapes using cookie cutters, I pressed words, images and textures into the ornaments using rubber stamps, paper lace doilies, and natural elements like evergreen needles.

After the ornaments air dry completely, I decided to add some color. I did a few test runs on some of the ornaments using different mediums and techniques before coming up the one I used here.

These were all colored with layers of Tim Holz Distress Inks applied with a sponge applicator. The sponge applicator is key because unlike a brush the sponge keeps the ink on the surface of the ornament and not in the stamped design sections.

Then to add more detailed color to the flowers, etc. I used a Q-Tip and the Distress Inks to those specific areas. I sprayed the ornaments with a light layer of sealer and once dried I brushed on some Mod Podge. The Distress Inks are water soluble which is why I sprayed the sealer before applying the Mod Podge.

And a few ornaments I just left plain without any color just because I like the way they looked that way.

Snow Globe Ornaments

These days I've been a busy elf creating ornaments and decorations in my "workshop." I was catching up on my friend Cerri's Blog the other day and came across some darling snow globe ornaments she made from a tutorial she found on Ashlee's Blog.

I have a thing for snow globes and cloches and just about anything you can put under glass. There is just something about these miniature scenes that has always fascinated me. So I couldn't resist making my own collection of these ornaments.

I used vintage elements and bottle brush trees that I've collected from flea markets and resale shops to create the ornaments.

Well, I think I hear Santa calling so I'd better get back to work!

Ornament Swap

Every year, my friend Natalea Kandefer hosts an ornament swap and I have been fortunate enough to have participated in several of them. Doing so results in a variety of wonderful ornaments handmade by some very talented artisans. This year in addition to Natalea and myself, participants included Kimberly Laws, Vivian Neroni, Sandy Camarda, Patty Szymkowicz, and Linda Richter.

 The extra ornament above was created by "Sandy Claus."

In addition to making some fun ornaments, we all try to package them in pretty wrapping. This is how I wrapped my ornaments.

I've been collecting these tiny one-ounce jars of Bonne Maman preserves for a while now and I thought they would be great for making itty-bitty snow globe ornaments.

I topped the lids with holly, berries and snowflakes and made a hanger out of red and white baker's twine.

Prize Winner!

Can you believe it? Valentine's Day is only 9 days away and I don't have any of my decorations put out yet! Except for this one......

This darling Be Mine ornie was made by my sweet friend Natalea and I was lucky enough to win it in her Have A Heart Giveaway!

Thanks for helping to decorate my house for Valentine's Day Nat~I love it!!!!

Happy Day After Christmas!

Christmas is over - it came and went so quickly! I am exhausted, but thought I would share a few pictures that I didn't get a chance to post before the holiday.

I found this door mat for my front door at Target and it states my "One Little Word" for 2012.

Surprisingly, I actually got some last minute Christmas crafting accomplished on Friday and Saturday mornings.

I made this Christmas Cloche from a class taught by the Gilded Life Girls in Christy Tomlinson's 12 Artsy Ornaments class.

A cute little glittered tree in a glass toothpick holder.

This cute bird nest ornament is one I made from another of the 12 Artsy Ornaments classes taught by Margie Romney-Aslett.

I found this candle idea on Pinterest using cranberries, fresh evergreens and a floating candle.

We all had a wonderful Christmas (I hope you did too) and like the doggies, I am ready now for a long nap!

The Tree Is Lit

I put up my white feather table top tree instead of my big tree again this year. Last year it was because of necessity. This year it was by choice. I love this little tree and it fits perfectly in the corner of my living room.
It is filled with handmade ornaments from my friends and some from shops like Anthropologie and Crate & Barrel.

And some are made my little 'o me as well.

This fabric Santa ornament was made by my sweet friend Natalea. I think he is adorable!

Tuesdays at Joli Paquet

~ Photo Courtesy of Cerri Campbell ~

Isn't she adorable? You can learn how to make this sweet ornament designed by Cerri at the Joli Paquet blog today. And she'll also share a fabulous tip for using Glimmer Mist sprays! Cerri's studio is also featured in the new winter issue of Creating Vintage Charm magazine available here.