Monday, November 26, 2012

Join us for our Little Somethings Workshop!

It's that time of year once again....Time for the LBH Little Somethings Workshop!


Saddle up and get yourself over to the LBH to reserve your seat...We still have a few available.
 I think we all know that everything is Bigger and Better here in the Lone Star State... so this year, we're bringing you Bigger and Better Little Somethings in true Texas Style!!!


You will love creating all kinds of Holly-Jolly Projects....perfect Little Somethings to give to your friends, neighbors, co-workers, teachers, etc. This year you will be creating 10....that's right 10 projects while experiencing a little YeeHaw Yuletide excitement! You will also receive a Project Guide...filled with Rootin' Tootin' Tutorials for all 10 projects!

Five Sessions to choose from:
Thurs. 11/29 6pm-9pm
Fri. 11/30 10am-1pm
Sat. 12/1 9:30am-12:30pm
Sat. 12/1 2pm-5pm
Sun. 12/2 2pm-5pm
Cost: $40

What to bring and When to Come???
Just load your Scissors in your Holster and arrive 15 minutes early...with a Smile on your Face! 
Everything else is provided for you. 

Join us for this Craftastic Event and you'll receive some Very Merry Elf Ranger training! You will be creating some magical Stocking Stuffers in the LBH Creative Corral,  creating Dashing Designs with the Wrapping Wranglers, and Cookin' Up some great Goodies in the Boot Scootin' Cafe! 

Be on the lookout...Santa will be making his annual appearance ...So be on your best behavior!  
Stay on Santa's Nice List...Complete all your training...and YoU will receive a special Elf Ranger Badge! At the end of the Workshop, YoU can go Saddle Up and Take a Photo with Santa! Show him your Badge and he will give you a Goodie Bag filled with wonderful products donated by your favorite Companies!
Don't delay...Sessions are filling up fast! 
You can stop by or call the LBH to reserve your seat.
(817) 431-7930

Merry Christmas Y'all!
Miss Tracy & Santa

P.S. The WINNER of Day #12's Ornament is....
DEE DEE
Congrats Dee Dee! Please contact the LBH to claim your ornament.

Friday, November 23, 2012

Join us for Great Deals & a FREE Make & Take!


Awesome Deals this Friday & Saturday!!!
Black Friday Bundles from Fancy Pants and BoBunny are selling fast...tons of product all for $5 to $15 bucks!!!


and a FREE Make & Take!!!
Come learn the wonders of Washi Tape Sheets!!!

Even more GREAT SAVINGS on some of your 
favorite ProDucTs!!!

ALL TOOLS - 25% off
ALL PUNCHES - 25% off
ALL Mini Books - 25% off
ALL Albums - 30% off
ALL Stamps - 30% off
ALL Surfaces - 30% off
ALL Mini Theme Kits - 25% off
ALL Fall Collections - 25% off

AND
You will earn DOUBLE BUCKS on your Blue House Shopping Rewards Card!!!!

Come see us!!!

Thursday, November 22, 2012

12 Days of Christmas Ornaments Day # 12

Happy Thanksgiving to each of you!
 All of us at The Little Blue House hope you enjoy you day, This is Lynette bringing you the final ornament of the 2012, 
12 Days of Christmas Ornaments.

Letters to Santa
Years ago, when my first grandson was born,I purchased a " Letters to Santa " ornament. Each year his Mom puts a copy of his letter to Santa in the tube. It is fun to look back and see what he has asked for in the past years. I hope you will make one of these ornaments and start a tradition for your child or grandchild.

Supplies:
paper towel cardboard tube ( makes two )
piece of art metal - 4 1/4 X 6 or
piece of cardstock - 4 1/4 X 6
distress ink
sandpaper or sanding block
embossing folder and cuddlebug
versa mark
paint ( acrylic )
heat gun
tacky tape
ribbon 3/8" ( 12" length )
glitter tape
scroll die cut ( Cricut, Teresa Collins, Dec 25 )
small alpha stamps
black archival ink
2 small pieces of chipboard
2 small pieces of cardstock
Two - 12" pieces of baker's twine
scallop diecut or punch
12' jute

To get started:
Cut your cardboard tube ( paper towel ) in half. Trace around the end onto chipboard- cut two. Punch or diecut 2 scalloped circles ( needs to be slightly larger than chipboard circle ). Adhere chipboard circle to center of scalloped circle. Clip scallop up to the chipboard circle and bend up all around circle. Punch two holes in each circle.
Embossed enameled metal or cardstock:
Cut art metal or cardstock 4 1/4 X 6. Emboss using your favorite embossing folder.Paint with acrylic paint. Let dry. Sand. Slide distress ink pad over raised areas. Immediately cover with clear embossing powder and heat set. If you want your painted background color to be "enameled " as well, cover completely with versamark and while wet, cover with clear embossing powder and heat set. This step was used on the metal, but not the cardstock.
Place tacky tape on the back of the embossed metal or cardstock.
Wrap around center of tube. Add a small amount of glossy accents under seamline to secure. Wrap tacky tape around each end of the tube and place ribbon over tape. In between the ribbon and enameled metal or cardstock,add glitter tape. This will overlap the metal slightly. start and stop each of these steps at the same place. I used an " old school " 1/4" punch and punched a hole from each end as far in as it would reach which was just the other side of the glitter tape.
Lace your 12" length of jute through the holes. Tie a knot in the jute at each hole. ( hint: If you place a needle or pick in the loop of the knot, it will tie the knot at that place ). Bring the two ends up and tie an overhand knot at the top of the jute.
Tie two ends of baker's twine in a bow. Pull the two ends through the two holes of the scalloped end through the tube lacing through the second scalloped circle and tie another bow.
Stamp  " Letters to Santa " on the diecut scroll. Adhere to the tube. To insert the letter, just untie the bow, place letter in tube, and re-tie.
Hope you have enjoyed all of the ornaments brought to you by the Gals at the Little Blue House. Be sure to comment to win your Letters to Santa ornament.

Lynette Chiles
Hope you have a Blessed Day!

The WINNER of Day #11's Ornament is...
ANDRA VILLEGAS

andra.villegas said...
Cute house! It is a "keeper". My favorite memory of LBH is meeting up with friends for a fun! I've met lots of new friends there also!!
Congratulations Andra! Please stop by or contact the LBH to
 claim your ornament.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

The Little Blue House 12 Days of Ornaments: Day #11

Good Morning!
It is now Day #11 of our 12 Days of Ornaments feature...I can't believe how fast the days have flown by! Miss Tracy here, and I have a special ornament that has been brought back by popular demand.  It is our very own Little Blue House ornament! 
Designed by: Tracy Pounds

I have updated it this year with some fun Washi Tape sheets, glitter, and paints. The house itself was designed for us by Heart of Texas and are available to purchase at the LBH. It is very sturdy and will look fabulous on your tree or as a holiday decoration in your scrap space. Take a looksie at my tutorial...

Supplies Needed:
LBH House 
Folk Art Metallic Blue Pearl Paint
Viva Decor Pearl Pen - Blue
White Craft Paint
Chalk Ink - Black (Midnight Confession)
Metallic Distress Stain - Pewter
Washi Tape Sheet 6x6
Sticky Back Vellum
Silver Halo Glitter 
Ribbon & Brad
Paper Piercer 
Hot Glue
Houses, Medallion and Create Joy stamped image, and all other supplies are both availabe at the LBH.

Okay...let's build a HouSe!
Begin, by painting over your house with the Blue Metallic Paint. Be sure to fold and paint in the crevaces of each fold too. (the little door will be attached to the body of the house...be sure to pop that off before you paint)

Our next coat of paint will actually be the Viva Blue Pearl Pen. I like to paint with my Pearl Pens all the time. Just squirt out a blob and grab your paint brush and a apply to the house. 


I really like the two-tone look...
Paint over the entire house.

Now grab your roof top...it will get covered with the Washi Tape Sheet and because Washi Tape is a somewhat transulescent, you need to paint the roof white. Paint over the entire top and fold crevase of the roof and a portion of the underneath side like so...

Take your little door and ink over with Black Chalk Ink. Then add a little more sparkle by swiping over it with Metallic Distress Stain (Pewter). Set aside to dry.



While your paint is drying, cut a 6x6 piece of Washi Tape Sheet. I used this lovely black & white print from We R Memory Keepers. We have several colors and prints available at the LBH.


Follow the steps below to cover your roof top.







It will look like this when your are done...


Fold and secure the body of the HouSe together using hot glue. 
Attach roof to house also with hot glue. 
Attach door and attach the Create Joy medallion right above the door slightly below the roof.


To create a hanger for our HouSe, simply puncture a hole in the middle of the roof fold. I used my paper piercer and pushed it around to widen the hole.

Now tie off a piece of ribbon to the desired length that you want your hanger to be. 

 Feed the loop end of the ribbon through the hole from inside the HouSe and then pull up tight. The knot will keep the ribbon loop from coming through the roof.


Using more of the same ribbon, tie a double bow onto your loop and secure to the base of the roof with a little drop of hot glue.

I used a black journaling pen to add the 2013 to my ornament.

To cover the window openings, I cut a couple of pieces of sticky back velcro and secured them into the House. By doing this the sticky will be on the front of the window.

 Turn your house over and sprinkle some Silver Halo Glitter Mix over the sticky side like so...

Tamp down lightly with your finger and then tap/wipe away any excess glitter. Using my paper piercer again, I punctured a hole through my door and through the HouSe. I then ran a small brad through the hole and secured. Now I have a doorknob.


 What a beautiful blue HouSe!  I hope this ornament will bring back all the great memories of the Inspiration and Joy the LBH has brought you over this past year!

Be sure to check back tomorrow for the Final Ornament of our Series...and if you would like a chance to WIN this LBH Ornament, simply post a comment here! Share with me one of your favorites things or memories about the LBH...One lucky commenter will be chosen to WIN!!! 

I'm so thankful for YoU!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Miss Tracy :)

Also, just want to remind everyone that the Little Blue House is closed Wed. and Thurs. this week to spend time with our families for Thanksgiving. We will reopen on Friday at 10am with all kinds of BLACK FRIDAY FUN!!! Stop by if you can.

The WINNER of Day #10's Ornament is....
SCRAPAHOLICKK


 ScrapoholicKK said...
Susan, this idea of using a tin is genus. My tree has many vintage ornaments and this beauty would fit in just fine. Love it! My mom's homemade apple cider has always been my fav at Christmas.
Congratulations! Please stop by or contact the LBH to claim your ornament.



Tuesday, November 20, 2012

12 Days of Ornaments - Day #10

Welcome to Day #10!
Susan here to share my vintage-style ornaments with you today.  I used mini hinged aluminum tins to create tiny shadowboxes for trimming the tree.

Here are the supplies you will need to recreate these little scenes, all of which are available at the LBH.

Supplies Needed:
Christmas paper with small images (Kaisercraft Turtle Doves "Lords")
Coordinating patterned paper (Simple Stories Handmade Holiday)
Old music paper
Lightweight scrap paper (copy paper)
Medium Snowflake Rosette Die (Tim Holtz/Sizzix)
Decorative punch
Small embellishments (Studio Calico wooden snowflakes/bits of artificial greenery)
Small metal hinged tin
Glossy Accents
Stickles (Diamond and Xmas Red)
Red and green Distress Markers
Silver glass glitter
Shaved Ice
Sugar Dust
White paint dabber
Red metallic ribbon
Red and green twisted cording
Pencil
Water brush or small paintbrush and water

Let's begin! 
(**Note that the lid of the small tin will be the left side of the shadowbox and the bottom of will be the right side. The lid is slightly larger than the bottom.) The instructions below are for the right ornament above. See the variation at the end of this post for instructions for the ornament on the left.

First you will need to make a pattern for the paper pieces which will be glued inside the tin.  Lay the tin on a piece of scrap paper and trace around it. Cut this out, place in tin and adjust until it fits well.  Then cut the final pattern out of the center of a scrap paper, leaving a margin around. 

Trace around tin.
Test pattern inside tin

Place this scrap paper over the paper with the images and use as a viewfinder to "audition" which image or portion of an image you wish to use.  Then trace inside the window, cut the image out and glue into the tin with Glossy Accents.  Repeat this step for the lid using music paper - since the lid is bigger, you will have to make another pattern.

Using pattern cutout as viewfinder. Use Glossy Accents and Stickles on the image wherever desired and let dry.
Smudge Glossy Accents around the inside perimeter of both sections and immediately sprinkle with Shaved Ice.  Turn over and tap gently to remove excess.

Glossy Accents and Shaved Ice along inside edges.

Paint tiny snowflake with white paint and sprinkle with Sugar Dust while wet. Let dry and then glue in place inside tin. Glue tiny bits of greenery at the bottom of the image, apply a light coat of Glossy Accents and sprinkle with Shaved Ice. Tap off excess.

Painted snowflake
Snowflake with Sugar Dust
The image I used for the left side of the ornament was a brown and white line image from the Christmas paper. I colored the wreath with a green Distress Marker and a waterbrush and the ribbon with red marker. I added Glossy Accents over the red ribbon and tiny dots of red Stickles for the berries. This was then glued in place on the lid.
Finished wreath inside lid
Glue on red metallic ribbon around the outside of the tin.  This was a bit wide for the lid, so I cut approximately 1/16" off the edge for the lid. (Note - this ribbon did not fray because of the metallic content.)

Glue ribbon on outside
Apply a thin line of Glossy Accents around edge of both parts of the tin and sprinkle with silver glass glitter. Let dry.

Apply Glossy Accents around outside edges
(this photo shows the second ornament)
Fold cording in half and tie a knot about 2" down from fold. Lay knot at top of tin on hinged side and wrap around tin, glueing in place.

Folded cord with knot to form hanger
For a finishing touch, I punched two shapes from the coordinating paper to glue on the back of the tin for dating and signing the ornament.


VARIATION
The second ornament was made in the same manner, except for the image in the lid.  I used the medium snowflake rosette die to form a 3D snowflake from music paper. 

To create the snowflake rosette, use the die to cut your paper of choice. (**Note: this die is wonderful because it not only die cuts the rosette but also perforates it so you don't have to manually score it. However, when the die is new and very sharp, it often cuts right through the perforations. To compensate for this, try adding a strip of copy paper or even cardstock along with the paper you want die cut to reduce some of the pressure of the die. You might have to adjust this several times.)

Punch out any loose bits and accordion-fold the entire strip, creasing gently. Glue ends together, forming a circle. Be sure to keep the "mountains" and "valleys" of the folds in a zigzag pattern. You shouldn't have 2 mountains or 2 valleys side by side.

Die cut rosette
Place wrong-side-out on a slick surface and gently press down in the center, also keeping the folds intact. (**This is much easier to do with a partner/4 hands!)  Glue a small circle (or the decorative piece from the die) to the center as a base to hold the snowflake.  (**Hot glue is best for this step.)  When the glue is set, turn over and glue a decorative element (I used a wooden snowflake which I previously painted and dusted with Sugar Dust) to the center which will help to reinforce the rosette. 

Rosette wrong side out, ready to be pushed down

Glue on base
Apply a thin line of Glossy Accents along the outside edge of the snowflake rosette and sprinkle with silver glass glitter. Shake off excess and, when dry, glue to lid of tin.

Apply Glossy Accents to edges
Sprinkle glass glitter on edges

Finished stacked snowflake
To finish, continue steps of first ornament above.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing my ornaments. Please leave a comment here on today's post for a chance to win one of these little vintage shadowboxes.  Let us know your favorite Christmas dessert and why - is it a traditional family recipe or just something you like?

Don't forget to visit tomorrow and Thanksgiving Day -
 only TWO more ornaments to go!

Happy Creating,
Susan

The WINNER of Day #9's Ornament is...
LINDA HAHN
Congratulations Linda! Please stop by or call the LBH to claim your ornament.