Because you asked ....

I got a couple of emails asking me how i made the vintage style  paper ornaments from my post here.

So I thought I would put a little tutorial together for you!  Now, I do not by any means lay claim to be the originator of this style of ornament ... I saw something very similar on the blog House Revivals. If you have time, stop over and visit Amanda at her fab blog!

Back to this ornament .... it is easy peasy...

Cut 24 - 32  circles all the same size, for one ornament ... on this example I used 3" circles.    You can use a punch, diecut or just traced cut out circles.

Once the circles are cut, fold each one in half, having the text running side to side and the fold running up and down.  Fold in any direction if you are using patterned or plain paper.  I used Stampin Up paper designer paper.  You can use book pages or sheet music pages as long as they are not too fragile.

Using a gluestick or quick drying liquid glue, coat the entire side of a folded circle.

Stack another folded circle on top of the glued folded circle.  Keep gluing and stacking until you have a little stack of about a third of the papers.  Make two more stacks with the remaining folded circles (this is easier than creating one giant stack.

Then glue the stacks together to form one giant stack.
Now the tricky part ... glue the "spine" the folded edges of the stack ... just run the glue stick up and down to get all of the edges coated.

Decide what you want to use as a "hanger" ... in the example below I have used a fine string with a crystal button and jewel.  A pretty alternative (and an easier one to use) is a narrow ribbon.

Lay the ribbon down the spine of the ornament.  at the bottom end of the ornament, tie a know in the ribbon so it will stay in place, Form a loop at the top of the ornament and tie another knot.

In the example below I threaded one hole in the button and left it on the top of the ornament.  I then ran the thread down the spine and looped it through the crystal.  ran the thread back up the spine and through the other button hole and then tied a knot.
This sounds difficult but it is really very easy.  Once it is done, glue the top folded circle, and attach it to the bottom have circle so that you have a 3D circle.

At this point you will want to make sure that 1/2 circles are not stuck in clumps ... as in this little example, make sure you separate the clumps and spread out all of the half circles

 Still declumping this ornament, but you can tell that more of the 1/2 circles are free.

 Next you do the honeycombing ... on one half circle stick glue dots or double sided tape in the
area of the red dots ... which is roughly 1/3 of the down the sides of the ball.  flip to the next half circle and stick a glue dot on the edge of the paper in the centre. Just keep repeating the pattern of 2 glue dots on one circle, and one glue dot on the next until all of the circles are stuck together in intervals.  Your ornament should look like this!

 Option finishing touch is to lay some fast drying liquid glue down on all edges and then dip in glitter.  This just adds a bit of glimmer and shine!

Here you go, a finish ornament.

Another option is to just do the layers, and do not do the honeycombing ... this looks good on smaller circles or punched shapes.  I used the Stampin Up ornament punch to create this little ornament.  You could also try a heart punch or a tree punch or anything else you can dream of!

 I hope  you enjoyed this tutorial and I hope you can make yourself some fab little vintage ornaments!  A box of these makes a fabulous little hostess gift!

Thanks so much for stopping bye!

a little giftspiration!

I just had to join the Simon Says Stamp & Show challenge this week ...  Which is Giftspiration!  Giftgiving!

Since I had made little presents for my local scrapping buddies, I thought I would share one!  and yes, I am still on a house kick ... I am just loving making houses of all shapes and sizes right now ... so of course I made a little bird house gift!  These photos were all taken by my friend Izzy, I have such camera and lens envy!

 A little winter birdhouse perched up high on a crystal candlestick .... I actually found a couple of crystal candlesticks at the thrift store ... so the price was totally right!

 A view from one side ... lots of distressing of the corners and paper and brushed on several layers of paint ... the glitter is from SU.

 I also used a lot of Diamond Stickles from Ranger on the edges of the roof and floor.

 The flowers are Prima, tim Holtz and Kaisercraft ... the bling is Prima and the Plaquettes  are Tim Holtz ...

The "vintage" seam binding is from etsy.  I had a great time making this little house and Izzy loved it so I was thrilled!

And finally a hot of all of the little prezzies I made from my local gals. (this photos mine) The Teacup ornament was totally inspired by my dear blog buddy Lynn.  You really must go visit her at Trash to Treasure Art ... her blog is full of fab inspiration!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

taking on a challenge ...

I decided to participate in the Simon Says "house rules" challenge.  I have never done a challenge at Simon says before, but hey, you know me, if it says "house" ... I'm all over it!

I just have an affinity for houses, birdhouses, homes ... all things home ... and yes, I am a Cancer and that is my little "homebody Cancer self" talking ...

This is what I started with ... a 2x4 cut as a picket ... a basic house shape!

Here is the "almost" finished project ... sitting on red cardstock and waiting for the glue to dry!

A little detail ... used the Tim Holtz Philosophy tag and dabbed on some Adirondack Snow Cap  paint, also some burlap ribbon and some wonderful vintage seam binding.

 This image is from Graphics Fairy, I muted the colours a bit, the bling is and old button by Bazzil, and the clear flower shape is from Pink Paislee.

The roof is made from shipping tags that have been resized, inked, stamped with a Tim Holtz "Letters to Santa" image.  I added lace to the front edge of the roof

And voila!  Here is my picket house, finished ... and standing close to house I made a few weeks ago.
I used another Tim Holtz stamp for the background trees and a french script stamp by Stampin Up ...

I had a lot of fun with this project ... I can't wait to make another, and another ...

Thanks so much for stopping by and taking peak!

December Daily ...

for those that scrapbook, making a mini album documenting the month of December is a fairly popular thing to do ... over the years I have resisted ... especially as my daughter has gotten older and December is usually spent by her studying for finals, working, volunteering and hanging with chums.

This year, I decided to actually take on the challenge ... who cares if the 16th is all about final exam, or the 4th was spent grocery shopping ... it's all part of life ... and hey that's a great thing!

I had a lot of fun making this mini ... using odds and ends, Jenni Bowlin papers, Stampin Up stamps and a lot of vintage lace, odds and ends, photos, envelopes etc.

Here's a few of my favourite pages!

This is the cover ... i love the mixture of textures from burlap sacking to vintage doilies and Starbucks cup holders ... hey those things are corrugated so i keep them in my stash!  perfect for little things!

 Some detail of the cover, I just love the vintage doily stamp from Stampin Up ... I especially love it for backgrounds!  And chunky german glass glitter ... I just love the stuff!

 I actually even used the non corrugated side of the Starbucks cup holder as a star, i just liked the pattern!  The vintage bird image is from Crafty secrets.

 I left the stars hanging on bakers twine ... i hope it looks good once the page has photos.  On the 9th I am going to see Cirque Du Soleil ... so I added a vintage envelope to stash my ticket stub in!

I loved this old photo that i picked up at an antiques shop.  I had to add circus hats to them, hoping that they will laugh!

My favourite pages ... love the crafty secret images and the rocking horse paper is actually wrapping paper ... as soon as I saw it I knew I had to include it ... it reminded me so much of a rocking horse that my Dad made for me when I was a little girl.

I only have the one picture ... and it's very tiny scan of a slide ... adorable rocking horse, right!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by ... I really appreciate all of your comments and visits!

on retreat ...

so I went to a crafting retreat, hosted by my dear friend Sue.  all of my scrap friends were able to attend so it was an absolute hoot!

The strange thing, is that me ... who takes photos by the millions ... actually forgot to take many pictures ... but i did take a few!

I designed and taught a mini album class, and forgot to take photos ... it was cool, and somewhat masculine ... but i have it locked away in my head so at least i have that!

I designed this fab little christmas bunting class with my friend Sue, and I taught the class ... it was loads of fun! The products are all Stampin Up ... their new scalloped tulle is so easy and fun to play with!

My other friend Sue, and Iris both took the class!  It was fab to have friends in the room!!!

Sue and I also designed and taught this fab tag class ... it was my kind of fun, all messy and grungy!

 i created this little christmas house for the display table.

 The wreath is made from satin ribbon that has been "fringed" and heated so that bits of it melt.

 An easy peasy card for the display table ... punched out flocked velvet acetate sheet that is folded for dimension.

 I made lots of these little vintage style paper ornaments for the christmas tree!

A gathered fabric tree!  Stampin Up has some very cool fabrics and trim, loved this sweater trim!

and finally i made this little house for display ... i think i need to make a whole village of these!

Diane and I win the 50/50 ... even Sue is amazed!!!  what a hoot!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Halloween is for the birds ... errrr ...

okay well in my view at least it is for birdhouses!!!  I've been altering little birdhouses for Hallween decor and it has been fun!

 First up ... this tiny little slant roofed birdhouse ... full of bones and bits and a creepy little rat nibbling on a hand ... this one was sent to my matchbox swap partner.  I love the glittered roof on this one!

                                                      

A little glittered bad added nicely to the spooky feel

The little hat was totally easy to make, as was the ruffled collar ... this is what happens when clowns go bad!

 Remember this shadow?  I left it as a teaser on my blog in a previous post.  Here is the finished product ...

This bird house had a kind of industrial theme with gears and sprockets attached and some stenciled onto the roof of the house as well ... The birds are all stamped and then coated with glossy accents ... the little stand used to be a black and white shot glass ... now its all shiny and black.  This one went to my dear blog buddy Lynn for her birthday!

 Gears and bones ... and flowers ... i do love my flowers ...

 The stencil was done with a sliver/pewter coloured cream paint ... i loved the effect!

This one is my daughters fave ... a kinda cute county look to the haunted house, set up high on a crystal glass from the thrift store.

I filled the glass with little pumpkins, some bones and a bit of green satin ribbon to resemble leaves.

 I used some stickpins that I received last halloween in a swap ... and i grunged up the the flower a bit ... then added glitter ... because i do love my shiny glittery stuff ...

 What a happy looking skelly!  Gotta love E6000 glue ... it holds anything in place!  Even creepy skelly arms ...

And finally, my fave ... this little birdhouse is mounted on an old white and black candleholder, that is now a matte black ... The creepy little doll was my daughter's necklace ... 

I distressed and attached a little picket fence to both sides ...

 

I love the bottle of red ooze ... it's just a dylusions red ink spray mixed with some glossy accents ...

and the flowers were coloured with the same red ink ...

 little skelly hands are all over this house ... no bodies though ...

 Here they all are ... I kept the two on the right ... they look perfect on my desk for Halloween!

Thanks so much for stopping by!!!