Recycling at it's Best Part I

So the other day I went to JoAnne's and purchased a few things including a 3-ring Project Life Binder/Album.  I needed a new album and I love the 3-ring ones.  When I opened the plastic wrapping, there were two triangular shaped cardboard pieces inside that help the album keep it's shape.  I tossed them into the trash bin.  Moments later, I took a second look.  They sort of look like Christmas trees.  So I took them out and put them to the side.

Well, I thought I'd tackle them today.  Take a look at the shapes:

Can you see what I see?

I searched through my paper stash and selected some papers to use to cover the "trees".   After "mixed media"ing the papers, this is what they look like.

Here's a photo of the supplies/materials I used to create these pieces:

A beautiful hodge podge of random items; focusing on green and Christmas.

After each sheet dried, I tore them up in pieces and decopauged the paper to the cardboard trees.  I left these to dry...I'll decorate later this evening or tomorrow.  

I remembered that I had these wooden spools so my plan is to use the wooden spools for tree trunks.  I'm so excited about decorating these trees.  Even without decorations, they are so cool!  I also plan on using these bingo markers that I've had forever...so excited!!

Supplies for mixed media patterned papers:

Cranberry Crisp SU! Ink

Wild Washabi SU! Ink

Olive CTMH Ink

Black Archival CTMH Ink

Spring Green, Christmas Green, Golden Yellow, and White Acrylic Paints

Pistachio Distress Ink Spray

Black Glimmer Mist

Tim Holtz Stencils

Homemade Hot Glue Masks

Silver Paint Pens

Gold Leaf Flakes

Misc Stamps (script, poinsettia, Christmas words, etc.)

Bubble Wrap

Sample Credit Card (cardboard)

Bottle Lid

Toilet Tissue Tube

I'm Behind in My Scrapbooking

I know that's a statement most scrapbookers say, but that has never been my thing.  I'm always up-to-date with my scrapbooking.  But seriously, I'm behind!  I realized last night that I still have not completed my 50th birthday party pictures from last December and so on...

I'm a year behind!  I need a scrapbooking weekend!  I've been really busy working on DT submissions, some blog/website challenges and now with Christmas boutique items.  I need to start just scrapbooking again!

I bought a new album the other day so I placed the pages and empty sleeves in the 3-ring binder (soon to become my fav!).  I finished a few pocket pages of Christmas 2014.

Here are a few photos of Christmas Eve with the in-laws.  This is the first time we got together in two years.  Not everyone showed up since my niece offerred her home at the last minute, but there were plenty of the family members there.

Don't you love that scrap paper tree?

I have found that the key to creating pocket pages is organizing my embellishments.  Put them in a tray helps so much!  I separated the embellies by color schemes (blue/silver, red/green, vintage, etc.). I have participated in so many swaps for many years, it's nice to finally use my stash.

It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Craft Fairs, Holiday Boutiques and other fun shopping events, oh my!

I've been working on boutique items for the past couple of weeks.  Being holed up at home for a few weeks gave me some extra time, but unfortunately I couldn't work as much as I wanted in the Command Center.  Our stock is not going to be as large as usual this year...but that's ok.

I'll post individual items soon, but for now, here's a sneak peek into my inventory box....

Our first sale is at Tracy High School on December 5th.  This is one of our favorites.

December Flower of the Month

Woo Hoo!  I'm back in the Command Center at least part time.  My foot still throbs when leaving it down for too long, but at least I can do some things.  I've been working on the December Flower of the Month from Lila Grey Digi Stamps.  (Click on the box to the right to go directly to the website and Etsy store.)

I had to do some research on Pinterest to get started on this one.  I knew the holly would be a dark green with red berries, but I wasn't quite sure what my background colors would be.  I've mentioned before that I like to start with four colors.  So after doing some tough research (I swear I only got side tracked once or twice...or more), I came up with these four colors:  yellow, green, lt. blue and silver.

I printed the holly on the top left corner on white cardstock.  I also printed the same size holly on regular printer paper to cut out and make a mask.  I recently bought masking fluid on clearance at Walmart for $1.50, but didn't feel like playing with something new this time.

I placed random Christmas/winter phrase stamps on the sheet to start.  I then used a yellow inkpad and sponged closest to the holly; painted lt blue acrylic paint to fill the rest of the sheet.  Added white texture paste and a stencil in random areas around the sheet.

Once that dried, I started on the holly.  I used a green watercolor pencil to add lines on one side of each holly leaf and the edges.  I then used a waterbrush to spread the watercolor around.  I didn't like the end result so I pulled out a green watercolor marker and repeated the steps.  Yes, I liked that much better!!  I used a red marker to color in the holly berries and put crystal effects on top for extra shine. Once dried, I used an alcohol marker in lt. gray to add a shadow around the entire image.

Ok, back to the background.  I added lots of extra layers with the following:
washi tape
silver ink
musical notes stamp/ink
black ink and a straw
pencil doodles
black and yellow glimmer mist drops

I decided I the background was too bright so I added white gesso over the background to soften it a little.  I also added green ink between the yellow and blue.  I thought it would give a natural color blend when I added the two colors near each other but they stayed  separate.

I thought I was done until I realized that I didn't like the black circles on the right side.  So, I used a white reinker and drizzled white ink all over and added some green ink marks using the ink pad.

Yup, I like it!

Inks:
Honey CTMH
Certainly Celery SU!
Silver
Black Archival
Desert Sand CTMH (used with the musical notes stamp)
White Re-inker SU!

Acrylic Paint:
White
Lt. Blue

Pens:
Really Red SU!
Forest Green Marvy