Advent Calendar (Helmar)

Well, it is really beginning to look like Christmas! Next weekend I will officially be starting to fill the boxes in my new advent calendar. I altered the Dusty Attic chipboard advent calendar with a lot of various distress inks and metallic stains to give it an antiqued look.

My trusted Helmar's 450 quick dry came to the rescue to hold all of the the boxes together and the Premium craft glue was very helpul too with the paper "layout" insert and embellishments. The papers are Fabscraps' gorgeous new Christmas line.

Here is another view. I used Helmar's decoupage paste to adhere the paper to the front of the boxes and sanded the edges before assembling them. I wanted to reveal all the grooves for a rustic feel - instead of simply covering the entire square surface with paper.


A close-up of the left - it really shimmers in real light. I used a mix of Dusty Attic and Fabscraps chipboard pieces on here.


A close-up of the right - I just love how perfectly the Fabscraps lamp post fits!


All together this was about a 10-hour project to complete (but worth it!). I even taught an 8-hour workshop for Paper and Lace on this project (mind you the frames were pre-built and the box numbers had to be adhered after the class). Thanks again to all the wonderful ladies who attended (and some even drove from far away in the snow!).

New Pion Collection!

Play Time is a newly released Pion Design collection - love the retro look of these papers!

For capturing the sunniest of memories, Pion Design is now releasing the paper collection Play Time. This irresistible collection features 12 patterned papers in a fun-filled design that will bring back childhood memories for all of us.

There is nothing sweeter than the sound of laughter and play, and with the sophisticated sweetness of this adorable collection you will all be able to capture some of those magic childhood moments. Cars, airplanes and paper dolls are just a few of the images, and the subtle shades are accented with brighter hints of red, blue, green and yellow. With its playful colors and images, Play Time will surely brighten your day and offer you plenty of crafting occasions.

Play Time consists of 12 double sided papers in the size 12x12” as well as 6x6” and is ready for immediate shipping.

Christmas Display (Meg's Garden/ 2Crafty/Helmar)

With Remembrance day past, I am now in full Christmas swing! Here is a bracket shaped display I made that I will hang with a ribbon on the inside of one of my doors (instead of a wreath this year). I used an older paper line from Meg's Garden - A Vintage Christmas (specifically the sheet of paper "Santa's Garden"). Using Helmar decoupage paste, I adhered the beautiful paper to a cardboard bracket shape that I had traced.

Next, I added a 2Crafty chipboard baroque corner and some Green Tara flowers and sprays using Helmar 450 quick dry glue. Meg's Garden carries a variety of gorgeous embellishment products.

On both the corner and the title chipboard I inked the chipboard grey and then roughly covered it with gesso but letting some of the grey uncovered. I used Clearsnap chalk ink on the chipboard and also an the edges of the bracket shape.

I wanted to let this pretty paper shine without covering it up too much. It is truly my favorite paper from the "A Vintage Christmas" paper line!