TREE INSPIRATION FROM PINTEREST

Oh how I love the inspiration to be found on Pinterest.  

Here is my version of a Christmas tree that I found there.

THIS IS THE INSPIRATION I GOT OFF PINTEREST.  IT IS FOUND HERE.

CUTE SANTA HATS

My friend Christine made these adorable Santa hats the last couple of years for the bazaar and I somehow ended up with three of them.  I wasn't sure what I would do with them, I just knew they were adorable. 

So this year we went from a seven foot Christmas tree to a nine foot Christmas tree which created a 'happy accident', I needed more ornaments.  I decided to tuck the hats into some holes and loved how they looked.



I have also been whining that my sewing machine died on me last spring.  I was able to get a new one on Cyber Monday for a REALLY great price.  (Kind of a little reward to myself for working so hard on the craft bazaar).

I plan on making a few more Santa hats for the tree to fill in some of those holes.

Thanks Christine for the inspiration.(Be sure and check out her adorable blog that has lots of cute ideas she has made with fabric.  She is quite the seamstress and crafter)

Finally....The Home Stretch

The last of the bazaaar items have been completed.

Snow filled Christmas balls.

Snowflakes and rhinestone Christmas balls.

Oh joy!

Home, the best place to be.

Red and green polka dot Christmas balls

Old window/new use.

Another old window with a new use.

No Vinyl Used...Can You Believe It?

Check out these cute items my daughter Maria made for the bazaar. Can you believe that absolutely no vinyl was used in making these. She was inspired by a post over at Under My Polka Dot Umbrella.

Please excuse the rubber band around the tree, it was to make sure it didn't slip while the glue was drying.

Maria is planning on adorning the tree with some a red berry garland.

And who wouldn't love this little guy tucked in with the holiday decorations.

...and You Guessed It, More Stuff

It's getting close...just 9 more days.

Last Week Canvases, This Week Blocks

Here are some block sets I was able to get to this week.  My goal was to make 12-15 sets but the FLU BUG (stomach flu) decided to come for a visit...UGHHHH!!!  Not fun but I hope to survive it.

{Now that Halloween is over I don't feel so awkward posting Christmas items.  I kind of felt like maybe I was pushing Christmas stuff too soon but if I don't do it early then I am cramming at the last minute trying to get inventory for the bazaar}

Canvas Art

If you haven't discovered the many uses for artist's canvas then you should give it a try sometime.  They are quite versatile and very easy to work with.  No cutting and sanding wood, just a great base for any project ready to be painted, stained or left plain.  I buy mine when they are on sale at craft stores.  JoAnn's has them for 40% most of the time and then occasionally they will do 50% sales.

I saw something similar to this in an Uppercase Living catalog and decided to make my version of it. 

On this one I glued down some scrapbook paper onto a 14"x18" canvas then added vinyl ornaments and some ribbon.

This canvas was inspired by Wordle, a program that lets you cut and paste text into it and it arranges the words in random order.  Click on the link and try your own version, it's really fun.  This is my version using the vinyl lettering that I cut out.
On this particular project I used a black stain to create an interesting background rather than just leaving the canvas white.

Oh, Christmas Tree

I saw a tree similar to this one last year and wanted to give it a try. 

This is what I learned:

1. It was much more time consuming than I thought it would be.
2. I used an 18"x14" artist's canvas as the base.  Vinyl lettering doesn't stick very easily to plain un-prepped  canvas.
3. I used spray paint (RUST-OLEUM, American Accents, Heirloom white) to seal the canvas and hopefully make the lettering adhere better.  Note: it helped a tiny bit.
4. Designing the tree on the computer took about 2 hours plus another 11/2 hours to peel the excess vinyl then another 45 minutes to painstakingly rub each individual letter and graphic to the surface.
5. It was so worth it when I was done, I love it.  {Once the lettering is on the canvas it is pretty secure and won't peel off, unless of course someone takes their fingernail and does it on purpose.}If anyone knows where I might have seen this please let me know as I cannot even begin to remember where I saw it.  I would love to give credit to the original artist.

There is a linky party at Funky Junk Interiors I am joining.

Reversible Autumn/Winter Blocks

I did manage to get some crafting done in between babies being born.

I have been wanting to make some reversible blocks for Autumn and Winter since I did the ones earlier for Spring and Summer, you can see those here. Autumn on one side and Winter on the other.


I also managed to get another craft done for the bazaar.

Midnight Crafting Madness

Here it is 12:35 AM and I am just finishing up a few crafts to add to my bazaar inventory.

Dollar store frame + scrapbook paper + vinyl = fast and easy craft.

I was inspired by a Super Saturday craft from another blog (can't remember where I saw it, sorry) and changed up a few things to make this Christmas project.


Close-up and personal...


again...


and again...


and again...
I made some of these Christmas ornaments a few months back and wasn't quite happy with them.

So I added some glue and glitter.
You can never go wrong with glitter on ornaments, don't you agree?
I am now off to slumber land...goodnight all.



Joining some linky party love, go check out the great ideas being shared.

HAPPENINGS FROM THE CRAFT ROOM

I was able to get a couple of projects done this weekend for the bazaar.

Wow, can you believe it is August already? November's craft bazaar will be here before I can blink. Gotta Get Busy!!!

Subway (Christmas) Art

I know it is July but making things for Christmas is what I need to do now so that when November comes I am not scrambling to get holiday items made (click here to see a slide show from last years bazaar).

Besides...I have fallen in love with subway art and wanted to make something using that technique.

(I am aware that 'donkey' looks like it is sloping upward to the right, I plan on fixing that)

I am joining some linky parties with this project. Check them out, there are some very creative and talented people out in blogland.

Get your craft on Thursday

Strut your stuff Thursday

Just A Girl, Show and Share Day

Just Another Day In Paradise Christmas In July Linky Party

Tatertots and Jello Subway Art Party

Couldn't Resist 'ONE MORE' Christmas Craft

Well I thought I was through putting up my Christmas decorations but I couldn't resist making this canvas saying. When I get an idea I MUST act upon it or it drives me crazy. Do you do that too or is it just me?


I am joining up with the CREATIVE CATS linky party, (the last one until after the new year).

Holiday Blocks

Here are two sets of blocks that I made for the holidays. Using scrapbook paper is my new "most favorite" medium to combine with vinyl lettering. The possibilites are endless.





Another fun thing to do is to lightly sand the edges of the paper to rough it up then gently rub an ink pad (I used black) around the edge to give it a worn look.



I will be joining the the DIY Show Off Holiday Highlights party here.