Twelve Days of Christmas Day 5: Repurposed blocks and Chalkboard Art

Happy Fifth Day of Christmas everyone!  Today I have a little something different to share with you!  If you have been following my blog for any length of time, you know I have used some of my sons old wood blocks to create some fun seasonal projects and I thought it would be fun to add a Christmas project to the block series!  The blocks looked like this  before I started:

I took those plain old blocks that were sitting in a box collecting dust and turned them into this:

The fun part of this project is the Chalkboard Technique theme.  I actually used a free printable on one of the blocks and I used Papertrey Ink Stamps on the other one.  The honest truth is they are both easy and fun to make, it just depends on how much time you have and what sentiment you want.  I spent an hour tonight loading up fonts for the chalkboard technique so that I can make some wall art in the next few days.  I really want to put my spin on the whole digital side of this technique, it's just going to take me a little bit of time to put it all together.  In the meantime, I Googled free chalkboard printables and you would be amazed at how many free printables there are out there!!  The sky really is the limit with this technique!  The first block I have featured here is the stamped block.  I used PTI Photo Finishers stamps along with a sentiment from Stylish Sentiments: Holidays.  I stamped them with Versamark ink onto some Glitz Design Patterned paper and embossed the images with ultra fine white embossing powder.  Then I took a dried wipe and dabbed it on a white ink pad and added some white highlights like you would find on a chalkboard.  I added a nice big red bow and some pretty little embellishments to finish the little package.

 For the second block, I used a free printed chalkboard from this site.  I resized the printable in Photoshop so that it would fit on my block.  I printed the image and added some white ink just like I did on the stamped image.  I embellished with a big red bow, snowflakes and holly leaves.

I hope this inspires you to look around the house and repurpose some of those things that are collecting dust and make something pretty with them!!  It is so fun and very cost efffective too!!

Supplies Used:

Wood Blocks

PTI Photo Finishers and Stylish Sentiments Holiday

Versamark Ink

Ultra Fine Embossing Powder

Snowflake Dies

PTI Holly Jolly Dies

PTI Peace be Still Dies

Ribbon, Bells, and Boughs from my stash

Thanks for stopping by and joining in the fun of the Twelve Days of Christmas!!

Kristii

More Pink Persimmon Goodness!!

Good Morning my friends!! I have some more Pink Persimmon goodness to share with you today!!  I finally tried my hand at the popular Chalkboard technique and I just have to say I love it!!!  The new Pink Persimmon Christmas House stamps are perfect for this technique!!

This stamp set is absolutely fabulous and can be used in a variety of ways!!  I can't wait to incorporate the carriage in a project!! I love it!!

I used some October Afternoon Patterned papers from my stash to highlight this card and the black patterned papers are from Glitz Design. 

I started with some black patterned paper and I stamped the main image with Versamark and then sprinkled fine white embossing powder over the image and then heated it with a heat gun.  Then I shadow stamped the image using white ink just shifting the image slightly to create the shadow effect.  Finally, I used a paper towel and blended some white ink onto the background to add to the chalkboard effect.  It's a fun technique that's rather easy and very effective.

Thanks for stopping by and sharing in my love of stamping!!!!
I hope you have a wonderful day!!
Kristii

Pink Persimmon Goodness!!!

Happy Sunday dear friends! In case you haven't heard, Pink Persimmon has some new Christmas stamps available!!!  You all know how much I love Pink Persimmon Stamps and this new release is no exception!!  Lisa Pace has created a new set in her Antiquated Collection called Winter Girl and it's beautiful indeed!!

 Don't you just love this sweet little girl and the vintage text is absolutely amazing!!

I colored the sweet little girl with Copic Markers and added some Snow Tex to the trim on her hat. What a fun little detail!  I have lots of ideas for this sweet little girl including a project or two for my 12 Days of Christmas Series!!  I can't wait to let the creative juices flow!

I love the little bell and greenery accents too!! I added some gold embossing powder and ink to the berries and the bell! Love, love, love gold this season!!  It totally makes me happy!!

Thanks for stopping by!! I'll have another fun card for you tomorrow featuring more brand new Pink Persimmon Stamps!!

Have a wonderful evening,

Kristii

Supplies Used:

A Merry Christmas Stamps

Pink Paislee Snow Village 6x6 pad

SnowTex 

CopicMarkers: R27, YR12, YR31, E50, E33, BG11, BG13, BG15, BG0000, 0 Colorless Blender

A Little Make It Monday #138 Magic

Happy Friday Dear Friends!!!  I hope all is well with you!!  I'm starting the weekend off right with a little Creative Therapy using the Papertrey Ink Make it Monday #138 Challenge along with the Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes Challenge. 

Here's my take on the Challenges:

I have been in the Christmas Card Zone this week and what better type of card to make after a hectic week than a Peaceful Christmas Card!  Makes me take a nice deep breath and enjoy the peaceful moment!!  I used Papertrey Ink One Liners Dies and some Silver Shimmer paper.  Sigh....Silver Peace....makes all the stress totally go away!!!  I used the Inlaid Die Cut technique described here. Love, love, love this technique!!  I die cut the patterned paper and the Silver Shimmer paper and pieced them together as the video explains.  I also die cut the edge of the tree using the One Liner die too!  It all works together perfectly!!

I used PTI In the Meadow Dies to die cut the deer and the tree and I used some Basic Grey Christmas scraps for the base of the card.

Such an effective technique!!  I hope you give it a try!! You'll love the results!!

Thanks for stopping by and wish you a peaceful evening!!
Kristii

Papertrey Ink October Blog Hop

Good Morning dear friends!!  Happy Friday!  I am so excited to share my little project with you today!! It sure does feel good to get a jump on the Holiday Season by already having a set of tags made for the packages under the tree!! I don't know if you're like me, but I'm usually making quick tags at 11:59 on Christmas Eve. I tell myself each and every year that I'll do better and this year I am a little more on top of my game!!  These tags were made for the PTI October Blog Hop.  Here's the challenge:

photo credits:  greenery ::: joy ::: black&kraft ::: red berry wreath ::: jingle bells ::: clay heart

Before you know it, all of the gift giving that goes hand-in-hand with the upcoming holidays will be here.  This month we thought we would challenge you to get a head start and create a quick set of five gift tags.  They can be as simple or as complex as you wish, but be sure to make at least five!  For something unique, try using unique materials for the base of your tag such as paper clay, metal, jar lids, wood veneer, fabric, canvas, felt or anything else you can dream up!  Just think how good it will feel to have these tags finished up BEFORE you even start wrapping!  We look forward to seeing your creations and we hope to see you back here on the 25th!

 and here's my take on the challenge:

I used a hodgepodge of supplies for these tags!  You know me, I love to mix and match stamps!  The patterned papers are Snow Village from Pink Paislee and they absolutely perfect for any and every Christmas project!!  I don't think I purchased enough for this year and I will be looking to buy a little more!

 I used the house from PTI's Spring Hills set...who says you need to use Christmas themed stamps for Christmas tags?  I love getting out of the box!!  The stars were die cut using the PTI Star Border Die.

 I stamped all the houses twice for each project - once on patterned paper and once on cream cardstock.  I fussy cut each roof out and glued it on the cream colored house.  I kind of mixed my love for simple and layered on these tags and chose to leave the houses in their primitive state.

 The Merry Christmas Stamp is from Bells and Boughs and the Santa Image is from City Scene Christmas Sentiments...I just love that sleigh embossed in gold....so festive and totally makes me want to Believe!!

All of the embellishments are from the Pink Paislee Snow Village Ephemera package and the ribbons are all from PTI.

 The Merry Christmas Stamp is from Love Lives Here Holiday and the trees are die cut from the City Scene Dies.

Thank you so much for stopping by and I look forward to more ideas from all of you!!
Kristii

Day #3 Bleach Bottle Santa

Happy 3rd Day of Christmas dear friends!  I have something a little different for you today!  For those of you who love to use recycled products in your crafts I have the perfect jolly old elf for you to try!

Supplies:

1 white bleach bottle

1-2 skeins white yarn

41 white pipe cleaners

Red felt

Flesh colored felt

2 google eyes

1 white 1/2 inch pompom

Scissors

Ice pick or nail to punch holes

Glue

Instructions:

·      First remove the label from an empty and clean bleach bottle. Then cut the bleach bottle in half length wise through the handle so that each section has half of the handle and half of the spout.

·      Make the hat. Cut the red felt into two triangular pieces with a base of 9 1/2 inches and height of 15 inches. Sew the long edges together and then turn the stitched side in. Cut 9 pieces of yarn 4 1/2 inches long. Fold the yarn pieces in half. Place the looped end on the tip end of the hat with the loop extending about 1/2 inch on to the tip. Tie in place with another short piece of yarn. Glue the hat in place along the side to side seam line on the outside of the bottle.

·      Next make the hair and beard. You will be making 41 looped yarn pieces. The measurements are for the length of the loop not the length of the yarn piece needed.

·     You will need:

10 - 12 inch loop pieces

2 - 10 inch loop pieces

2 - 9 inch loop pieces

2 - 8 inch loop pieces

3 - 7 inch loop pieces

2 - 6 inch loop pieces

2 - 4 inch loop pieces

2 - 5 inch loop pieces

16 - 2 1/2 inch loop pieces

·      Make the loops by winding the yarn around a piece of cardboard the length of the loop pieces needed by using 20 loops for each. Secure in the center of the loops with one pipe cleaner, twisting to hold tightly.

·     Punch 7 holes about 1/2 inch apart, 1/2 inch from the edge, down the sides of the bottle. Punch ten holes across the bottom of the bottle about 1 1/4 inches from the bottom. Punch 16 holes across the middle of the bottle directly under the bottom edge of the hat.

·      To make the face: Glue the flesh colored felt to the bottle between the bottom of the hat and the holes on the bottom and sides. Cut to fit. You may do the next steps of making the face now or wait until you've attached the hair. Glue the pompom 2 1/2 inches from the edge of the bottom of the hat and 4 3/4 inches from the side edges for the nose. Glue the two google eyes above and to each side of the nose. Cut three circles of red felt one inch in diameter. I used a water bottle lid as a pattern. Glue one on each side of the nose for cheeks and one 1/2 inch below the nose for the mouth. Punch a hole under the nose between the nose and mouth. Insert one of the 7 inch yarn loops here for the mustache.

·     To do the hair and beard:  Insert one of the 2 1/2 inch loops in each of the 16 holes under the bottom edge of the hat. Twist the ends together in the back. Starting with the 4 inch loop going down the sides, put first the 4 inch then 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,and finally the 10 inch loops in each of the 7 side holes on each side of the face. Now insert the ten 12 inch loops in the ten holes across the bottom.

·     Create a loop out of extra pipe cleaners and attach to the back of your santa to hang.

Thanks for joining me in today's 12 days of Christmas celebration.

I'll be back tomorrow with some Glitzy Inspiration!!

Kristii

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!!!

May your day be filled with all the Peace and Joy the season brings!
Kristii

Happy Monday before Christmas!!

Happy Monday before Christmas my friends!!  I have lots to do before my family begins to arrive!! I'll be getting up early and staying up late to get it all done, but it will be worth it when I will be able to relax while they're here!!

We are taking a couple of weeks off at Prickley Pear Rubber Stamps to enjoy the holiday, so I will take the opportunity to share some Christmas projects that I am working on in these days just before Christmas.

Vintage Christmas with Lisa Pace's  Antiquated Collection by Pink Persimmon :

I stamped the absolutely beautiful image onto Papertrey Ink Rustic Cream Cardstock and colored with Copic Markers. Then, I covered the card base with a Glitz Design Beautiful Dreamer Whatnot.   I added a couple of strips of Melissa Frances Deck the Halls paper and stitched the edges.  I added lace, buttons, and a sweet little leaf along the bottom edge.

Along the top edge of the card I added a beautiful red seam binding bow, a button and a K and Co. Chipboard embellishment.  Sigh....I just love vintage goodies!!!

This weekend I made two batches of one of our favorite Christmas candy recipes and I thought I would share it with you!

Rocky Road

Ingredients:
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 (14 ounce) can EAGLE BRAND® Sweetened Condensed Milk (NOT evaporated milk)
2 cups dry-roasted peanuts
1 (10.5 ounce) package miniature marshmallows

Directions
In heavy saucepan over low heat, melt chocolate chips and butter with EAGLE BRAND®; remove from heat.  In large bowl, combine peanuts and marshmallows; stir in chocolate mixture. Spread in wax paper lined 13X9-inch baking pan. Chill 2 hours or until firm.
Remove from pan; peel off paper and cut into squares. Store loosely covered at room temperature.

So easy to make and absolutely delicious!!

Thanks for stopping by and I wish you a very Merry Christmas!

Kristii