LBH 12 Days of Ornaments: Day #3

Hello! Hilary here to help you create your next ornament.  In case we haven't met, I am one of the behind the scenes LBH gals that help with the prepping of the projects at the LBH.  I love to create and recycle so today's ornament is made from recycling a soda can or two. It's fun and a bit messy. I found leftover small can scraps to be very sharp! Be warned and extra careful.

Recycled Poinsettia Ornament
Designed by: Hilary Kern

Supplies Needed to Create this Ornament:

Empty Soda Cans

Layered flower die ( I used Sizzix Flower #6)

Rounded leaf die (Tim Holtz Alterations Tattered Leaves)

Die Cutting Machine

Versamark Ink Pad

Red Glitter embossing powder

Heat Gun

Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls Mist

3 small brads or bells (Mine were Jingle Bell Brads I had)

Glassine Paper

Peeled Paint Distress Stain

Coordinating Bakers twine

Crop-a-dile hole punch

½ inch chip board circles (optional)

Scissors-Tonic work great!

Glossy Accents or Strong Glue

Permanent Marker

     Open can with scissors cutting away flat cylinder from top and bottom. Cut the layered flower with your die and cutting machine. This may take several passes to get all the layers. (Printed part of can facing up, worked well) You can also just draw a flower and cut - you will need at least three layers in graduated sizes.

   Use Peeled Paint Distress Stain on Glassine Paper, you will need enough for 2 leaves. Die cut, or hand cut, 2 tear drop shaped leaves out of stained Glassine Paper.

 Emboss printed side with Versamark and embossing powder. again be careful as the metal will be hot after embossing.

     Mist bottom and top flower layers with Perfect Pearls Mist. This will help add a little  dimension to the flowers. Allow to dry.

Cut 2 chipboard circles to use as spacers in between flower layers. On smallest flower mark 3 dots, with permanent marker for brad placement.

    Layer from bottom- Start with the large flower, chipboard spacer, medium flower, chipboard spacer, and finally small flower. Remember to stagger flower Petals.

    Holding layers together use small hole punch or Crop-a-dile to make 3 holes for brads.

Insert brads into holes or glue jingle bells to center.

       Use bakers twine to make hanger and secure around a brad or two. Glue leaves into place. The leaves will cover the brad backs and bakers twine. Bend the tips of the petals to shape flower - Be careful the edges are sharp.

Now you have a colorful, recycled ornament to place on your tree or a special package. Traditionally Poinsettias are Red, today white and pink are also used in holiday décor. This soda can technique would make beautiful Spring Blossoms too!

Make sure to leave a comment for your chance to win this ornament.  Tell me how you like to use flowers in decorating for the holidays.

Keep Recycling!

Hilary 

WINNER from Day #2: Karen Blakeney
Congrats to Karen! Please stop by the LBH to claim your Ornament...
Thank you for commenting!

12 Days of Ornaments: Day #2

Good Morning!

Welcome to Day 2 of our 12 Days of Ornaments!

Rhonda Merry here to present our next ornament.

I love handmade ornaments.  I have made ornaments for 

my Christmas tree every year since my kids were little. 

 Usually with my kids but now with the Little Blue House.

 I will never tire of this.

Today I have a lovely little Christmas tree

ornament to make with you.  It seems like a lot of steps

but it didn't take long to complete at all.

  

List of Supplies used:

4" round paper mache ornament

small print paper by Authentique

green paper for tree by American Craft

Fiskars leaf/petal punch

Pencil

tweezers

gold craft paint:Folk Art Metallic Gold

gold wired tinsel trim

Maya Road star pin

paint brush

Quick Quote Chalk Inks: Limeade, Biscotti

Helmar 450 or a quick dry adhesive

Mod Podge

cork, scrap piece of  for trunk

Here's how I made it...

Paint the edge of the ornament

 with the Metallic Gold paint and let dry.

(You can speed up the dry time with a heat gun)

 Using the ornament as a template,

draw 2 circles with your pencil and cut out.

Coat both, the back of your paper circles and

the ornament with Mod Podge.

This will give you a slick surface to better 

position the papers. 

Trim excess paper and ink the edges with

the Biscotti Chalk Ink.

To make the tree I used the Fiskars

leaf/petal punch. The smaller leaf

is what I used to make the tree.

I'll save the larger leaves for another project.

Ink the edges of the pieces.

Using a pencil or your paint brush, give

the leaves a little curl by pressing and rolling

in your hand.

Next, attach the trunk and place the star to

 give you an idea of the placement for your first 

tree piece. Start from the top and work down.

Place a little dollop of your quick dry

 glue on tip of leaf, 

 and layer.

The great thing about the tacky glue

is that it is forgiving and will allow you 

time to adjust the leaves of your tree.

Time to trim the tree.

Place your star.

Measure out the tinsel and clip.

Place a little glue under branches,

and adhere your tinsel trim.

Oh, Christmas tree,

how lovely are your branches...

Be sure to post a comment and you may be the lucky winner that gets to hang this ornament on their tree! 

Merry Crafting everyone!
Rhonda

WINNER from Day #1: Melody Soroka
Congrats to Melody! Please stop by the LBH to claim your Snow Globe Ornament...Thank you for commenting!

LBH 12 Days of Ornaments: Day #1

Good Morning Dear Friends!
It's time once again for one of our favorite features here at the Little Blue House!

Today is Day #1 of our 12 Days of Ornaments Extravaganza!

Beginning today, Nov. 17th, each day we will feature a tutorial for a hand-made ornament. The 12th ornament will be featured on Thanksgiving Day...Just in time for the Tree to go up!

You will also enjoy a chance to WIN one of the ornaments featured by simply posting a comment each day...We will draw a winner each day! So bookmark us, become a follower, and craft with us over the next 12 days! Many of the supplies used are available at the LBH and the ornaments will be displayed on our tree.

I have the great pleasure of featuring Ornament #1:

Every year I create an ornament for my tree that preserves my memories of the LBH. This year I designed a snow globe. This could easily be adapted and changed to other colors...I think I'm going to make one for our family cabin (which is green)....or it could simply be an adorable holiday house...

 LBH Snowglobe Ornament

Designed by: Tracy Pounds
Supplies Needed:
(all supplies available for purchase at the LBH)
Custom Wood House - LBH
Inka Gold - Cobalt Blue
Mini Bottle Brush Tree
White craft paint & Icicle or Diamond Stickles
Corrugated Black Paper
Scrap piece of Black Cardstock
Candy Jellies - 1 for doorknob
Clear Fillable Ornament
Faux Snow
Hot Glue and Hot Glue Gun
Dryer Sheet

These ornaments are very simple and fun to make. Follow along and I will show you my easy "How To":

Begin by applying the blue inka gold to your wood house. Inka Gold comes in a variety of colors so you have several options of colors for your house. Apply it with your finger. It dries instantly and has a wax-like feel with a satiny-smooth finish.....gorgeous!

Cut two rectangles from Black Corrugated Paper (Fancy Pants) for the roof top.You will want 8 mountains which measures very closely to 1 1/2 x 1 inches.

Hot glue into place, wrapping around both sides.

You will overlap them and it will look like this when you have both pieces in place....

Remove the wood base from your mini bottle brush tree.
Twists off easily. 

Paint this base white...this way it will blend right into the snow.

Cut a small door from a scrap piece of black cardstock and glue into place. Attach a Candy Jellie Dot (Queen & Co.) for the doorknob.

Glue the Mini Bottle Brush Tree to the House. Slightly off set as shown here... 

 Glue the white base that was on your tree to the bottom of your house. This will give it some lift and make it easier to attach inside the ornament. 

Dab on some Stickles (Ranger) to the rooftop and the tree using your finger. Allow to dry.

Here's a great tip! To eliminate static electricity, take a recycled dryer sheet and rub inside of the ornament...\

This helps get rid of the static :)))))))

Apply some hot glue to the bottom of the white wood base and attach inside one half of the ornament. Hold for a second till it is good and dry. 

Lay the ornament down and using a spoon, pour in a few of the faux snow pellets behind the house. Be careful not to overfill. 

Attach the over half of the ornament and hold up so that the snow fills around the house and tree. 

Tie off some fun ribbon to the top and waa laa....You have an adorable LBH SnowGlobe Ornament! All ready to hang on the tree!

I hope you have enjoyed my tutorial and please post a comment...One lucky commenter will be chosen and announced tomorrow morning! Tell me one of your favorite memories of the first Christmas you celebrated in your home. 

Be sure to come back tomorrow to see Ornament #2 

designed by Rhonda Merry. 

Merry Crafting,

Miss Tracy :)

Come and enjoy a Make & Take compliments of Reverse Confetti!!

We are huge FaNs of Reverse Confetti Stamps and Dies! Come check them out and leave with a Fun Project!

Here's a look at a couple of them...

Hope to see you in the HouSe this Saturday!!!
Keep Creating,

Miss Tracy :)

The LBH 12 Days of Ornaments

It's that time once again!

Time for the LBH special presentation of...

As we enter this wonderful holiday season... 

We are reminded that giving is more important than receiving. Our gift to you...12 fabulous tutorials to create some wonderful hand-made ornaments! 

Beginning this Sunday, Nov. 17th, we will post a step by step, photo illustrated, tutorial on that day's featured ornament...and we encourage you to leave a comment on that post! One lucky commenter will receive that day's ornament as a gift from the LBH!!!

Our 12th ornament will be featured on Thanksgiving Day. Craft along with us and you will have 12 fabulous ornaments to adorn your tree with! 

Be sure to follow the blog and bookmark us...so that you don't miss a single tutorial! 

Merry Crafting!
Miss Tracy  & the LBH Gals :)

Join us for Mixed Media Mania...Tuesday 11/12

What is Mixed Media? 

Very simply it means a work of art created with more than one medium. There are no rules and just about anything goes! Want to learn more? Come join me for our new monthly “Mixed Media Mania” classes at the LBH which will focus on the wide world of mixed media techniques and projects.

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Mixed Media Mania
Tuesday Nov. 12th
10am-1pm & 6pm-9pm
cost: $45
"O Christmas Tree"

 You will be combining assorted papers and fabrics and adding several textural products to make your own "paper cloth" to create a mixed media tree.  Depending on the choices you make along the way, each finished tree will be your own unique piece of art.  Be prepared to get your hands dirty and have some messy fun!

Supplies to bring:

Non-stick craft mat

Heat tool

Scissors

Fast-tack, clear-drying tacky glue

Small palette knife if you have one
1" - 1 1/2" inexpensive bristle brush (also called a chip brush)
small disposable plastic container (like a yogurt or sour cream container)
gloves if desired

Please stop by the LBH or give us a call to reserve your seat!
(817) 431-7930

Hope to see you then - I look forward to creating together!

Susan