The Artsy Addict: christmas decorations

Showing posts with label christmas decorations. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

A FaBuLoUs Drawing to say THANK YOU

I just wanted to send a THANK YOU to all the people who have "liked" my facebook page. To say Thanks, I'll be doing a drawing this weekend for a set of Peppermint Stands. Another way to say thanks... I've even made them all pretty so you don't have

to find time to make them during the busy holiday season. :) Everyone who has liked the The Artsy Addict page by Friday, December 7th at midnight, will be entered to win. Thanks again! & Happy Holidays!

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Merry Christmas Banner

Hi there! Today I’m going to be doing a tutorial on this cute Merry Christmas banner. Hope you all enjoy and have a great holiday season!

Products and Tools:

10 – Wood Label Banners

Coordinating Paper, Paint, & Glitter

Wood Glue

I used these 4 colors of paint:

& BoBunny Mistletoe Coordinating Papers

Step 1: Trace Block Letters

• Tools: a sharp pencil to trace your banners

• Use the backside of the paper you want to display when tracing.

• Press and hold the wood with one hand so that your image doesn’t shift while tracing. With the other hand, trace around the image. Before moving the wood look to make sure that your trace has not shifted, otherwise when you cut it out, it will not fit correctly. Great Job! Tracing is one of the trickiest parts. You can relax a little and have some FUN now!

• Note: Always trace before painting! If you forget you'll have tracing marks around the wood and will need to go back and touch up. It creates an extra step and takes more time.

• Also Note: When working with a large number of pieces it helps to number the wood and paper so that when you go to assemble the pieces they match as perfectly as when you traced them. There is usually some variation with the wood so this helps you to not be playing the matching game when trying to glue your paper to the wood. See picture below

Step 2: Prep Wood

If your wood has any unsmooth surfaces you’ll want to sand your wood before painting.

Step 3: Paint Wood

• Tools: paint & sponge brush

• Paint ½ inch border around the front of the banners

• Paint complete sides and backs of banners for a more completed project.

Step 4: Cut Paper

• Tools: a pair of scissors to cut your banners and to do any trimming. I find it easier to cut detailed areas, etc. with a smaller pair of scissors

• Cut letters right on the line that you traced. Don’t worry if when you lay down your image on the wood if it is a little smaller or larger than the block. I'll teach you in a later step how to disguise your imperfections.

Step 5: Distress Paper

• Tools: Everyone has there own technique and tools for distressing. I prefer to use what I call a cat eye. It is a small inkpad that is in the shape of a cat eye. Color Box is the company that makes them. I usually recommend chalk only ink, pigment inks are a little too harsh when distressing. The only exceptions I make with this is if you really want the Black or Dark Brown to really be solid and pop, then use a pigment ink. We carrying these in The Wood Connection. If you need to distress with a color you don't have, you can use a technique called dry brushing.

Distressing with ink pad

• Take your cat eye or distress tool and flick around all the edges of the paper. Start very light and if you want more, you can add. It’s always better to have too little than too much.

Dry Brush Distressing

• Wood Connection has an awesome tutorial on how to do this. For more information, you can click this link... Dry Brush Distressing.

Step 6: Glue Paper to Wood

• Tools: you’ll need Darice Wood Glue and sponge brush for this portion of the project.

• Sponge wood glue on the front of one piece of wood at a time. ***Try to use it sparingly, a thin layer, not too much. It will cause your paper to bubble after you adhere it, if you put too much on. ***

• Once you put the glue on the wood, line up starting on one side and add your paper. Be sure to press firmly all along the surface to prevent bubbling. Repeat same steps on all of your wood.

• As you’re adhering your paper to each piece of wood, continue to go back and put pressure on areas that may be starting to bubble on past wood. With pressure you can, in most cases, work out bubbles that seem to form. I have found that with less glue, fewer bubbles form.

Step 7: Glitter Letters

Wood Connection has an awesome tutorial on how to glitter wood, for more information click the link... Glittering Wood.

Step 8: Glue Wood to Wood

Now you’ll want to glue your banners together to create a three-dimensional look.

Step 9: Create Christmas Banner

• Tools: Banner Punches, Smooth cardstock, Stamps, Embossing Powder, Embossing Gun, Mini Hole Punch, Distressors, Ribbons, 3 Dimensional Adhesives, etc.

• Note: If you have more questions about the "Christmas" banner portion of this project, you can email me at theartsyaddict@live.com.

A BIG THANKS to the Wood Connection for allowing me the opportunity to guest post! A $25 gift certificate will be given when you enter the raffle on The Wood Connection Blog.

Until next time... Happy Crafting & Happy Holidays!

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Holiday Traditions and Memories

Ever since I can remember I've been soooo excited for Santa! I remember at Christmas a few different years as a young girl, getting up almost every ten minutes and running into the living room to ask my sister, "Did Santa come yet? Did he come?" After awhile, you could tell she started to lose her patience with me and said, "If you don't go to sleep, he's not coming!" So I'd race back to my bedroom and jump into bed! My heart would race as I thought... ohhhh I hope he comes! I hope I've been good enough this year!!

Of course, this time of year is not about the presents, but to remember the birth of our Savior. I will always have a special place in my heart for Santa and the spirit of giving at Christmas. It is one of my favorite times of the year!

I decided to share a project I made from a couple years ago... hoping to inspire some of you to remember your childhood memories of Christmas and to reflect back on your children's memories of the Christmas season as well. It might be fun to get together as a family and share your favorite Christmas memory or have some paper next to a cute project you've made with a header that says "What is your favorite Christmas or Childhood memory?" (This is always a great idea if your family doesn't like to be put right in the spotlight)

I'd love to hear your memories and stories of Christmas! It gets me really excited about this time of year!

So please take a moment to comment and tell me your favorite childhood memory of Christmas or a tradition that has carried on in your family... I would love some ideas for my future babies!

Materials used for Santa Project:

Wood: The Wood Connection - (This alphabet is no longer available but there are really cute current alphabets that you can use) ***If you don't live close to the wood connection or a local wood shop, I can ship you some wood from another current alphabet, please email me for further details***

Paint: Brand: Delta Color: Burnt Umber

Paper & Embellishments: Bo Bunny Christmas Tis' The Season ***This paper has been discontinued but you can find lots of really cute christmas paper at my favorite online scrapbook store, Happy Scrappin' Scrapbooking.

The Santa - I found this porcelain lamp at Michaels but we have some really cute wood Santa's in The Wood Connection that you can use or you can find or make your own cute Santa.

Thanks for stopping by!