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, 

Dried Flower Christmas Tree Canvas

This Christmas canvas adds beauty to your holiday decor and is easy and inexpensive to make!

Here's what you'll need to make your own...

Stretched Canvas

Acrylic Paint

Burlap

Scissors

Tacky Glue 

Dried Flowers...For this, I used dried lavender and another type of flower bud.

Jute or ribbon

I first painted the canvas. You could paint it solid but I used a damp rag and used a wash technique.

I first painted it a light blue and then added a little brown on top of the blue.

I didn't paint the center because it will be covered up.

Make sure you paint the sides, though, because they will show.

I cut a piece of burlap, frayed the edges, and glued it to the canvas with tacky glue.

I glued 3 of the flower buds onto the burlap to form the tip of the tree.

Then I started gluing down the dried lavender to form a shape of a Christmas tree.

  Once, the tree was formed, I glued in more of the flower buds.

  

I used a twig from the flower buds to make the trunk of the tree, and made a bow out of jute and glued it to the trunk.

This would make a great gift that your friends and family would cherish for many years to come.

 

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, 

Guest Hosting at Sugar Bee Crafts

Today I had the pleasure of guest posting at Sugar Bee Crafts!

Go HERE to check out the post.

Here's a little peek at what I shared...

Head over to Sugar Bee Crafts to get the complete tutorial!

Christmas Lampshade

Don't throw away your old lampshades!

Turn them into unique art for different seasons.

The Goodwill has a BAD habit of writing on their items with either a wax pencil or marker. For some things it's okay and the marks will come off easily. Not the case for this lampshade!!!

It was in great shape except for the broken metal piece at the top which could be easily fixed. I just glued it back together.

 However, they wrote on the fabric with marker!

The marker shows when the light is on!!!

I removed the fabric...

I wrapped the entire frame of the shade with jute...

Finally, I knotted twine around the tops of bottle brush Christmas trees and hung them from the top of the shade...

The trees can be removed so the shade can be used year round.

You could leave it plain or add other embellishments to create your own unique shade!  

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, The Wilderness Wife,  

Simplicity Swine Goes To The Ball

The Cattle Baron's Ball is an event held across the country to raise money for The American Cancer Society.

The Ball held in my county auctions off Piggy Banks to raise money. Local artists are asked to decorate the pigs and I have been fortunate enough participate over the last few years.

In the past, I have created a Santa Pig, a Princes Pig, plus some I can't even remember.

This year, I had a complete artistic block!

My pig changed 4 times before I came up with this...

I covered her, yes it's a girl, with a vintage Simplicity pattern. Hence the name, Simplicity Swine.

Even the dots for her eyes and nose are part of the pattern.

I made her a hat out of a vintage brooch, a button, a small spool of thread, and a rope rosette...

 The spool is a tiny one I bought at the craft store and I wrapped it with a little thread.

I'll probably never know how much she sold for, but I'm happy to have conributed something to this important cause.

I'm sure Simplicity found a nice home!

 

   

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, 

Stone Tile Coasters

I recently had the opportunity to write an article for the local publication, Fayette Woman Magazine.

 I was asked to provide tutorials for 3 different hostess gifts that anyone could make easily and inexpensively.

One of the projects I chose to include in the article was a set of coasters.

If you have followed my blog for any length of time, then you have seen many projects I have done using patterned napkins. This is just another example of what you can do with napkins.

Here is the complete tutorial...

Supplies:

Stone or Ceramic Tiles

Mod Podge

Patterned Paper Napkins

Scissors

Paint Brush

Felt Pads

 Cut a napkin into 4 pieces. One napkin will cover 4 tiles!

Napkins typically are 2,3, or 4 ply. Separate the layers so that you are left with a single layer. 

 

Coat the top of the tile with Mod Podge, avoiding the sides.

Add the napkin to the tile and top with another coat of Mod Podge.

Gently tear away the excess paper from the edges of the tile. This works best if the paper is still wet from the Mod Podge.

When dry, give the coasters another coat of Mod Podge to ensure that they are sealed and durable.

 

Add felt pads to the bottom of each coaster to prevent them from scratching furniture.

If you are giving them as a gift, tie them together with a piece of  jute or ribbon for a nice presentation.

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,