A Frozen Lamp to Light the Night!

Hello, crafty friends! I hope you are well and looking forward to a happy holiday season. It's been a bit of a stressful week as our mountain home is in the path of the wildfires in Gatlinburg. It was reported via national news that our home (and the entire resort of Black Bear Falls) burned to the ground. Receiving that phone call was a very surreal moment. Thankfully for us the reports named the wrong resort. Our home has minimal damage, for which I am much relieved, but deeply saddened for the homeowners in Gatlinburg Falls where there was not one home left standing. The good folks in Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains National Park area definitely need prayers and positive thoughts. Many have lost homes and businesses. They're in a severe drought situation and the wildfires continue to burn. What makes it even worse is that the original fire that was started in the National Park and quickly spread to Gatlinburg is believed to have been arson. I can't understand who would do such a thing.  

On a lighter note, I'm back today with a fun project for the latest challenge at The Frilly and Funkie Blog! 

My sweet friend, Kathy, is our hostess and her guidelines are as follows: Let's get ready to Deck the Halls by creating some home decor for the holiday season. You can make centerpieces, wreaths, banners, ornaments, wall hangings, or little vignettes  ...basically anything BUT a card for this challenge. If you don't celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, then just make some home decor with a wintry theme.

At the end of the challenge the team will choose their top four picks. Our first place winner will be invited to join us in a Guest DT spot at The Frilly and Funkie Blog . Three additional talented participants will receive badges to display on their blogs. Everyone who enters and adheres to the challenge guidelines will be entered into a drawing to win a $25 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique! For entry specifics and inspiration from my fabulous teammates just click on the blog link above.

My snow and ice encrusted oil lamp is my 2016 nod to one of my favorite Disney movies, Frozen! I found this little lamp while antiquing, with this particular challenge in mind.

It begins it's transformation with a coat of gesso followed by two coats of Tim Holtz paint in Antique Linen. The next step adds Tim Holtz Spray Stains, Prima Color Bloom Spray, and Prima Art Powder - I'll leave a list of the colors I used at the bottom of this post.

Prima flowers, Prima Art Stones, cheesecloth and white seam binding are colored in coordinating stains. Tim Holtz mini snowflakes that are die cut from chipboard also receive a coat of paint and stains. The cheesecloth is soaked in Prima Sculpture Medium and molded to a shape of my liking.   

A few iced twigs from my stash are tucked in here and there. Of course there is a bow, this time from seam binding. In the end my lamp is embellished and dusted with gesso to a frosty finish. I feel it will fit in quite well in Queen Elsa's ice castle-lol.  

Thank you for joining me today! I'm beyond blessed to have such amazing, artistic friends. Y'all always inspire me with your work. I can't wait to see what you'll create for this new challenge!

Hugs,

Ranger Inkssentials Non-Stick Craft Sheet	Tim Holtz Tonic Studios 9.5" Titanium Scissors	Ranger Inkssentials Glossy Accents	Tim Holtz Tonic Studios Kushgrip Snip w/Non-Stick Blade & Cap	Natural Jute Twine
Ranger ADHESIVE - WHITE FOAM ROLL 1/2" X 1/16"x 2.1 YDS.	Ranger Inkssentials Wonder Tape - 1/2"	Prima Art Basics - Heavy Gesso - White 17 fl. oz. (March Pre-Order)	Prima Art Basics Double-Sided Texture Brushes Set 1 - 3 pcs 63873 (March Pre-Order)	Ranger Heat It Craft Tool
Sizzix® Accessory - Cutting Pads, Standard, 1 Pair	Prima Sculpture Medium Natural	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Antique Linen	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain Spray - Tumbled Glass	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain Spray - Antique Linen
Prima Color Bloom Fairy Pond	Prima Art Ingredients - Mini Art Stones (March Pre-Order)	Prima Art Ingredients - Art Stones (March Pre-Order)	Prima Art Ingredients 3D Powder Fine: Texture Powder 100ml (March Pre-Order)	Rayon Seam Binding
Sizzix Bigz Die w/Texture Fades - Snowflake Duo by Tim Holtz

Joyful Noel Card!

Hello, dear friends! Are you busy with holiday preparations? It's Christmas central at my house, and am I ever thankful for Maja Design Papers! They are helping my holiday crafting to go so smoothly.

I'm honored to be up on the Maja Design Blog today! Today I'm sharing a Christmas card created with the festive 'It's Christmas time' collection.

  

The base papers are distressed and stitched together. 

I took a chance on my arm being once again strong enough to handcraft these poinsettias. All of the paper embellishments are fussy cut from the collection. With Maja Design you can really 'let the papers do the talking'. 

There's a great deal of dimension to this card but I'm having difficulty capturing it in my photos. Each element is popped up with one or more layers of foam adhesive. 

A couple of die cut chipboard snowflakes, some lace and pearls from my stash, and a twine bow help to complete the card.    

A light dusting of gesso adds a frosty finish. 

Thank you for visiting today! I also thank you for your kind words on my last project. They warm my heart and mean so very much to me. I send wishes to you for a joyful holiday season!

Hugs,

Maja Design Paper Used: 

Other Products Used: Spellbinders Poinsettia Die, Tim Holtz Snowflake Die, Tim Holtz Distress Tool, Lace, Loose Pearls, Natural Twine, Kraft Chipboard, Gesso, Foam Adhesive, Sewing Machine, Thread. 

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(Use the hashtag #majadesigninsweden or the tag @majadesigninsweden

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Bountiful Harvest!

Hello and welcome! I'm almost completely recovered from the broken arm, and am head over heels happy to be back in my craft room. It was so difficult to use my computer keyboard these last couple of months that I was rarely online. Now that I can type again I've been running around to y'all's blogs to get a peek at everything I've been missing. I have missed all of you beyond words!

I'm thrilled to be hosting our brand new 'Bountiful Harvest' challenge at The Frilly and Funkie Blog! It begins today and will continue for two weeks. Simply create any vintage or shabby chic project celebrating the bounty of the season in the rich hues of autumn. I can't wait to see your interpretation of the challenge!

At the end of the challenge the team will choose their top four picks. Our first place winner will be invited to join us in a Guest DT spot at The Frilly and Funkie Blog . Three additional talented participants will receive badges to display on their blogs. Everyone who enters and adheres to the challenge guidelines will be entered into a drawing to win a $25 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique! For entry specifics and inspiration from my fabulous teammates just click on the blog link above.

We recently returned from a week of fall leaf peeping in the Smoky Mountains. The stunning colors provided the inspiration for my card. Maja Design's 'Walking in the Forest' is the perfect paper collection to bring it to life.

The flowers, cheesecloth, and lace are hand stained using Tim Holtz distress sprays. The larger postcard is a digital image purchased from Etsy (a long, long, time ago). I wish I could provide a link to the seller but I no longer recall which shop I purchased it from. The smaller image is part of the paper collection.      

Gesso and Distress Sprays are combined to add some random splatters to the top and bottom of the card. Last but not least is a twine bow (because I adore bows)!   

It means so much to me that you took time out of your busy day to visit or leave a comment. I send wishes for peace and blessings to all of my crafty family, and a safe and joyful holiday for those of us in the U.S. preparing to celebrate Thanksgiving!

Hugs,

Ranger Inkssentials Non-Stick Craft Sheet	Tim Holtz Tonic Studios 9.5" Titanium Scissors	Ranger Inkssentials Glossy Accents	Tim Holtz Tonic Studios Kushgrip Snip w/Non-Stick Blade & Cap	Natural Jute Twine
Ranger ADHESIVE - WHITE FOAM ROLL 1/2" X 1/16"x 2.1 YDS.	Ranger Inkssentials Wonder Tape - 1/2"	Maja Design Scrapbook Paper - Walking in the Forest 12x12	Maja Design 6x6" Scrapbook Paper Pad - Walking in the Forest	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Carved Pumpkin
Ranger Tim Holtz Mini Distress Ink Pad - Frayed Burlap	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Spray Stain - Carved Pumpkin	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Spray Stain - Fossilized Amber	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain Spray - Forest Moss	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain Spray - Frayed Burlap
Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain Spray - Gathered Twigs	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain Spray - Brushed Corduroy	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain Spray - Aged Mahogany	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain Spray - Wild Honey	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain Spray - Rusty Hinge
Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain Spray - Peeled Paint	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain Spray - Barn Door	Mixed Earth Tone Mulberry Paper Wild Roses - 30mm SAA-328	Prima Art Basics - Heavy Gesso - White 17 fl. oz. (March Pre-Order)	Prima Art Basics Double-Sided Texture Brushes Set 1 - 3 pcs 63873 (March Pre-Order)
Ranger Heat It Craft Tool