Deb's Bake Shop

My friend, Deb, is a fantastic baker. I wanted to give her something for Christmas that had a baking theme. So, when I saw this cute gingerbread house at Hobby Lobby, I thought it was perfect, and I added her name to the little sign...

In my head, I planned to add the gingerbread house and a bottle brush tree that matched, to a large glass container I already had at home. Unfortunately I completely misjudged the size of the glass container! But, not to be defeated, I decided it would be cute added to a crate that I had...

Using the crate, allowed me a place to hand paint,

Deb's Bake Shop.

I also added some glitter to some snowflake buttons and glued them onto the crate...

I hope Deb loves it enough to bake me something yummy!

Linking To:

  Someday Crafts, Sew Much A Do, Ginger Snap Crafts,  Creations By Kara,  Rae Gun Ramblings, Ivy & Elephants,   Seven Thirty Three,  The Shabby Creek Cottage, Seven Alive,  Bear Rabbit Bear Crafts, Made In A Day, Katherine's Corner, Redoux, Chic On a Shoestring,  Simply Sweet Home, The Shabby Nest,  Momnivore's Dilema, Somewhat Simple,   Live Laugh Rowe, Have A Daily Cup Of Mrs Olson, Simply Designing, Truly Lovely,  The Cottage Market,  Funky Junk Interiors, Bowdabra,  Tatertots & Jello,   Blissful & Domestic, A Vision To Remember, Boogieboard Cottage, Lovely Crafty Home, DIY Showoff, Craft-O-Maniac,  DIY Home Sweet Home, Under The Table and Dreaming, Keeping It Simple, Homemaker On A Dime, I Should Be Mopping The Floor, The Dedicated House,  Lines Across, Coastal Charm, Reasons To Skip The Housework, Sugar Bee Crafts, Chef In Training, Nifty Thrifty Things, Cherished Bliss, A Bowl Full Of Lemons, Me & My Boys, Mad In Crafts, Flour Me With Love, Not Just A Housewife,  Today's Creative Blog, Tip Junkie,  Homework, Kammy's Korner,  I Gotta Create,  Thrifty 101,  Lamb Around,  Domestically Speaking,  The Kurtz Corner,     C.R.A.F.T.,  Finding Fabulous, The Answer Is Chocolate, Skip To My Lou, Sumos Sweet Stuff, The Thrifty Home, Or So She Says, Diana Rambles, Adorned From Above,  Cedar Hill Ranch, Classy Clutter, Flutter Buster, Crafty Texas Girls, Twelve O Eight, Nap Time Creations, The Shady Porch, JoJo And Eloise, Hope In Every Season, The Foley Fam,  House Of Hoff,  Our Home Away From Home, Living Well Spending Less, Remodelaholic, A Lived In Home, Flamingo Toes,  VMG206,  Finding Silver Pennies, Mad Cap Frenzy,  Gingerly Made,  Pink When,  Minnette's Maze,  Made To Be A Momma,  Start At Home,  Lil Mrs Tori,  Homecoming,  The Vintage Farmhouse,  Pink Recipe Box,  Sweet Haute,  Table For Seven,  Be Betsy,  It Happens In A Blink,  One Dog Woof, 4 You With Love, A Stroll Thru Life,  A Bright And Beautiful Life,  Crafty Goodies,  Live Love Create,  The Koenigs Create,  Bloom Designs,French Country Cottage, Daisy Cottage Designs, Orchard Girls, Elizabeth Joan Designs, The Scoop, Stone Gable, Knick Of Time, Lou Lou Girls, 

DIY Altered Readers Digest Books

Someone recently gave me a bunch of old Readers Digest books to use for craft projects. I used them to make vintage style books to be used as Christmas decor. I have to say that this is one of those projects (like so many) that I became a little obsessed with. Sometimes I just can't stop myself, and if one turns out cute, then 12 or so might be even more cute! Well, actually, I didn't make quite that many yet.

Here's how I did it...

I covered the book cover with 2 coats of gesso...

I picked images from the Graphics Fairy website that I wanted for the books and printed them out on regular computer paper. If you use an image with writing, you'll need to print it in reverse.

I coated the front cover of the book with Mod Podge and then laid the image down onto the book...

I used a hotel key card to press the paper firmly onto the book.

You have to work quickly or the paper is difficult to peel up.

Slowly peel the paper off of the book...

If part of the image doesn't transfer, or some of the paper sticks to the book, don't worry, that just adds to the vintage charm once the next step is complete.

Next, I took some dark brown wax and rubbed it over the book with a rag. Anywhere paper is left will be a little darker which enhances the aged appearance.

It would be perfectly fine left as is, but what is Christmas without a little sparkle?!!! So, I added a light coat of Mod Podge, then sprinkled the book with glitter...

It's just the right touch...

Remember, I said I was a little obsessed, so here are a couple more...

For something a little different, I added red and green glitter to this one. Then I glued on a bow I made using a strip of fabric and added a small candy cane

These books are so much fun to make! I think I'll go make a few dozen more!

Linking To:

  Someday Crafts, Sew Much A Do, Ginger Snap Crafts,  Creations By Kara,  Rae Gun Ramblings, Ivy & Elephants,   Seven Thirty Three,  The Shabby Creek Cottage, Seven Alive,  Bear Rabbit Bear Crafts, Made In A Day, Katherine's Corner, Redoux, Chic On a Shoestring,  Simply Sweet Home, The Shabby Nest,  Momnivore's Dilema, Somewhat Simple,   Live Laugh Rowe, Have A Daily Cup Of Mrs Olson, Simply Designing, Truly Lovely,  The Cottage Market,  Funky Junk Interiors, Bowdabra,  Tatertots & Jello,   Blissful & Domestic, A Vision To Remember, Boogieboard Cottage, Lovely Crafty Home, DIY Showoff, Craft-O-Maniac,  DIY Home Sweet Home, Under The Table and Dreaming, Keeping It Simple, Homemaker On A Dime, I Should Be Mopping The Floor, The Dedicated House,  Lines Across, Coastal Charm, Reasons To Skip The Housework, Sugar Bee Crafts, Chef In Training, Nifty Thrifty Things, Cherished Bliss, A Bowl Full Of Lemons, Me & My Boys, Mad In Crafts, Flour Me With Love, Not Just A Housewife,  Today's Creative Blog, Tip Junkie,  Homework, Kammy's Korner,  I Gotta Create,  Thrifty 101,  Lamb Around,  Domestically Speaking,  The Kurtz Corner,     C.R.A.F.T.,  Finding Fabulous, The Answer Is Chocolate, Skip To My Lou, Sumos Sweet Stuff, The Thrifty Home, Or So She Says, Diana Rambles, Adorned From Above,  Cedar Hill Ranch, Classy Clutter, Flutter Buster, Crafty Texas Girls, Twelve O Eight, Nap Time Creations, The Shady Porch, JoJo And Eloise, Hope In Every Season, The Foley Fam,  House Of Hoff,  Our Home Away From Home, Living Well Spending Less, Remodelaholic, A Lived In Home, Flamingo Toes,  VMG206,  Finding Silver Pennies, Mad Cap Frenzy,  Gingerly Made,  Pink When,  Minnette's Maze,  Made To Be A Momma,  Start At Home,  Lil Mrs Tori,  Homecoming,  The Vintage Farmhouse,  Pink Recipe Box,  Sweet Haute,  Table For Seven,  Be Betsy,  It Happens In A Blink,  One Dog Woof, 4 You With Love, A Stroll Thru Life,  A Bright And Beautiful Life,  Crafty Goodies,  Live Love Create,  The Koenigs Create,  Bloom Designs,French Country Cottage, Daisy Cottage Designs, Orchard Girls, Elizabeth Joan Designs, The Scoop, Stone Gable, Knick Of Time, Lou Lou Girls, 

Fairy Dust

This project was a collaboration 

between myself and my daughter, Carrie.

I had purchased a set of these cute little bottle pendants that have a cork in the top. My plan was to tear the word, original, out of a dictionary and put it in one of the bottles.

So, I tore it out and then brought out a bottle of glitter.

All the while, Carrie is watching and I could see the wheels turning in her brain!

She flipped through the dictionary and tore out the word, fairy.

Then she circled the word, fairy, with a fine tip Sharpie...

She handed me the piece of paper and said, "here...this will be much cuter!"

I poured some glitter into the bottle, rolled up the piece of paper to fit, and placed it down in the bottle...

 Carrie added a little bead charm to the bottle...

Carrie was right..

the fairy dust is much cuter!

I think we make a pretty good team!

I'm working on another fairy dust necklace that I am excited to share soon!

Linking To:

  Someday Crafts, Sew Much A Do, Yesterday On Tuesday, Ginger Snap Crafts,  Creations By Kara,  Rae Gun Ramblings, Adventures In Dinner, Ivy & Elephants,   Seven Thirty Three, Southern Lovely, Delightful Order, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Seven Alive,  Bear Rabbit Bear Crafts, Made In A Day, Katherine's Corner, Redoux, Happy Hour Projects, Joyful Stamper, Chic On a Shoestring, Miss Mustard Seed, Blissful Bucket List, Ladybird Lane, Simply Sweet Home, One Artsy Mama, The Shabby Nest, Craft Junkie Too, A Little Knick Knack,  House of Hepworths, Momnivore's Dilema, Somewhat Simple,   Live Laugh Rowe, Have A Daily Cup Of Mrs Olson, Simply Designing, Truly Lovely, Create Craft Love, The Cottage Market, Country Momma Cooks, Funky Junk Interiors, Six Sisters' Stuff, Bowdabra, Addicted 2 Decorating, Tatertots & Jello, Young & Crafty,  Blissful & Domestic, Nap Time Crafters, A Vision To Remember, To Sew With Love, Boogieboard Cottage, Lovely Crafty Home, DIY Showoff, Craft-O-Maniac, Etcetorize, DIY Home Sweet Home, Under The Table and Dreaming, Keeping It Simple, Homemaker On A Dime, I Should Be Mopping The Floor, The Dedicated House, Pinkapotamus, Lines Across, Coastal Charm, Reasons To Skip The Housework, Sugar Bee Crafts, Chef In Training, The Farmhouse Porch, Nifty Thrifty Things, Cherished Bliss, Natural Mothers Network, A Bowl Full Of Lemons, Me & My Boys, Mad In Crafts, Alderberry Hill, Flour Me With Love, Not Just A Housewife,  Lil' Luna, Today's Creative Blog, Tip Junkie, The Trendy Treehouse, Homework, Kammy's Korner,  I Gotta Create,  Thrifty 101, Craftionary, 5 Days 5 Ways,  Lamb Around,  Domestically Speaking, Tales Of A Trophy Wife, The Kurtz Corner, Fine Craft Guild,  Katies Nesting Spot, Hubby Made Me, The Thriftiness Miss, Homespun Happenings,  Curb Alert,   It's Overflowing, C.R.A.F.T., The Sasse Life, Finding Fabulous, The Answer Is Chocolate, Sugar and Dots, Sarahndipities, Skip To My Lou, Sumos Sweet Stuff, The Thrifty Home, Or So She Says, Diana Rambles, Adorned From Above,  Cedar Hill Ranch, Classy Clutter, Flutter Buster, Crafty Texas Girls, Twelve O Eight, Daisy Cottage Designs, Snappee Turtle, If It's Not Baroque, Sassy Little Lady, Nap Time Creations, The Shady Porch, Life We Live 4, JoJo And Eloise, Hope In Every Season, The Foley Fam,  PJH Designs,  House Of Hoff, Hickory Trail, Our Home Away From Home, Living Well Spending Less,  Miss Mustard Seed, Remodelaholic, A Lived In Home, Flamingo Toes,  VMG206,  Finding Silver Pennies,  Ashley's Dandelion Wishes,  French Country Cottage,  Mad Cap Frenzy,  Gingerly Made,  Pink When,  Minnette's Maze,  Made To Be A Momma,  Start At Home,  Lil Mrs Tori,  Homecoming,  The Vintage Farmhouse,  Pink Recipe Box,  Sweet Haute,  Table For Seven,  

Mixed Media Christmas Collage

I recently had the honor of guest posting at Sugar Bee Crafts where I shared how I made this

 Mixed Media Christmas Collage.

In case you missed it, 
here's the tutorial...
 
 Supplies:

Polymer Clay

Rubber Stamps and other items to make texture

Knife

White Acrylic Paint

Red Acrylic Paint

4 x 6 Canvas  

Mod Podge 

Glitter

Button

E6000 Glue 

Start by conditioning the clay and pressing it out to about a half inch thickness. I do this on a cookie sheet so it's ready to stick in the oven.

 Form the clay into the shape of a Christmas tree or use a knife to cut it.

Cut the tree horizontally into 4 sections.

Notice how I didn't make the bottom perfectly straight.

Add a different texture to each section. 

I used ball chain and rubber stamps.

Assemble the tree and bake in the oven following package directions.

See ink left from my stamps? Don't worry, we're going to fix that!

Allow clay to cool completely.

Paint the tree with white acrylic paint to cover any left over ink. 

   TIP: Save your trays that meat comes on from the grocery store. Stick them in the dishwasher. They don't melt! They make great paint pallets!

Brush a coat of Mod Podge onto the tree and sprinkle with glitter.

Working quickly, before the Mod Podge has time to dry, rub your finger across the tree. This will allow the glitter to remain mostly in the recessed areas.

Paint a 4 x 6 canvas with red acrylic paint. Paint snowflakes using white acrylic paint and sprinkle the snowflakes with glitter while the paint in still wet.

  

Add paper to the bottom of the canvas using Mod Podge and sprinkle on a little more glitter. I used paper from an old book, but you could use scrapbook paper, magazine paper, fabric...the possibilities are endless.

Glue the tree onto the canvas and add a button or some other type of embellishment to the top of the tree.

This whimsical collage will be a great keepsake year after year!

Here are a couple of projects from last year that you might want to check out...

JOY Wood Blocks

or...

Burlap Christmas Trees

Linking To:

Savvy Southern Style,  Someday Crafts, Sew Much A Do, Yesterday On Tuesday, Fabric Bows & More, Ginger Snap Crafts, Beyond The Picket Fence, Primitive & Proper, Creations By Kara,  Primp, Rae Gun Ramblings, Adventures In Dinner, Ivy & Elephants, The Artsy Girl Connection,  Seven Thirty Three, Southern Lovely, Delightful Order, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Seven Alive,  Bear Rabbit Bear Crafts, Made In A Day, Katherine's Corner, Redoux, Happy Hour Projects, Joyful Stamper, Chic On a Shoestring, Miss Mustard Seed, Blissful Bucket List, Ladybird Lane, Simply Sweet Home, One Artsy Mama, The Shabby Nest, Craft Junkie Too, A Little Knick Knack, The Vintage Farmhouse, House of Hepworths, Momnivore's Dilema, Somewhat Simple,   Live Laugh Rowe, Have A Daily Cup Of Mrs Olson, Simply Designing, Truly Lovely, Create Craft Love, The Cottage Market, Country Momma Cooks, Funky Junk Interiors, Six Sisters' Stuff, Bowdabra, Addicted 2 Decorating, Tatertots & Jello, Young & Crafty, Sassy Sites, Blissful & Domestic, Nap Time Crafters, Love Notes By Lauryn, Cherished Treasures, A Vision To Remember, Craft Envy, Petite Hermine, To Sew With Love, Boogieboard Cottage, Lovely Crafty Home, DIY Showoff, Craft-O-Maniac, Etcetorize, DIY Home Sweet Home, Under The Table and Dreaming, Keeping It Simple, Homemaker On A Dime, I Should Be Mopping The Floor, The Dedicated House, Pinkapotamus, Lines Across, Coastal Charm, Reasons To Skip The Housework, Sugar Bee Crafts, Chef In Training, The Farmhouse Porch, Nifty Thrifty Things, Cherished Bliss, Natural Mothers Network, A Bowl Full Of Lemons, Me & My Boys, Mad In Crafts, Alderberry Hill, Flour Me With Love, Not Just A Housewife,  Lil' Luna, Today's Creative Blog, Tip Junkie, The Trendy Treehouse, Homework, Kammy's Korner,  I Gotta Create,  Thrifty 101, Craftionary,

5 Days 5 Ways,  Lamb Around,  Domestically Speaking, Tales Of A Trophy Wife, The Kurtz Corner, Fine Craft Guild,  Katies Nesting Spot, Hubby Made Me, The Thriftiness Miss, Homespun Happenings,  Curb Alert,   It's Overflowing, C.R.A.F.T., The Sasse Life, Finding Fabulous, The Answer Is Chocolate, Sugar and Dots, Sarahndipities, Skip To My Lou, Sumos Sweet Stuff, The Thrifty Home, DIY By Design, Navy Wifey Peters, Or So She Says, Diana Rambles,